Everything was still. Still, and utterly silent. Not even the ravens crowed, nor did the cicadas hiss. The grass shifted with only the movement of a small mamal amonst the sheaves, and the sky above was a low, forboding slate of sinister clouds. A storm was awaiting, the scent of rain strong even before the fall suggested its beginning. Most creatures had taken shelter, seeking the comfort of dry safety. One, though, remained out, sitting atop on of the massive stone pillars that still stood.

His blue hair loose, tumbling over his shoulders and down his back, Yuri remained as still as the air he so desired to soar in. Knees tucked up to his chest, the elf frowned at the heavy ceiling of clouds, his back aching. The sky seemed so low that he could almost touch it, especially now that he sat so high. Why could he not be a part of the sky? Why could he not lift himself to the sun with the feathered beasts of this world? He knew he would, one day, he knew it. But when? When? He'd sought the sky for so long, stood the high places of the earth so many times, but never could his feet leave the earth that called to him just as strongly, had held him down and clutched him to its heart.

"When?" He whispered, the only noise his words and the only motion his lips. Would someone have to teach him? Or was he forever tied to the earth? He had no wings, nor magic, nor means of escaping into the freedom of pure air and space, so why was he so sure he would be able to one day?

He sat silently, again, for a very long time, then stood slowly. Pulling a flute from his boot, he began to play, his eyes on the sky as his fingers sang of the wings of birds. Even as a heavy rain started beating down he played, wishing the clouds would sweep him into their weightless depths.

He walked along the Ruins of the Ancient City, as his boots pressed against the soft dirt below him, it would form into mud, due to the now heavy rain fall that showered the earth for however long it would last. He had hoped the rain would stop just as fast as it started, however, that was not the case as the clouds only became larger and continued to smuther the sky. The bothersome rain drops smashed against Phiros' figure as he continued onward, toward no particular destination. Why he was here.... it was merely to visit a familiar place. He had been to these Ruins before, in fact, it was the first place he's been to in Imythess, that is, the first place he remembered. Yes... after the large gap of nothingness, coming to this place was the first memory Phiros had. He treasured that memory, for that fact alone. It seemed like it only just happened. He and a couple of others taking down a group of Undead. A truly marvalous memory. He could still hear the sound of his wings ripping through the weak flesh of the Undead creatures. The sound.... it was... What's that sound?

A gentle, soothing call fluttered through the air, crossing Phiros' walking path. It sounded like it was coming from some sort of instrument. A flute or something of that sort. He couldn't really tell, for the source of the sound was far from where he currently was. The sound... it made Phiros feel as if he were gliding along the currents of the wind... like the exhilerating feeling of flight. Like the relaxing feel of sleep.... of solitude. That sound.... I like it Phiros thought, now opening his wings and taking flight. He would head toward the sound and discover just what exactly was causing it. Whoever it was, they were a gifted being....

OOC - .... I was thinking maybe Yuri could see a flying figure heading toward him, whether or not he would freak out would be totally up to you. But yeah, i just thought it would be a cool sight.. for Yuri, I mean.

Soaked to the bone, his clothing clinging to his body, Yuri continued to play, his eyes closed against the sting of the rain. It was a wonderful place, he had decided, to be so high and so alone to be able to play and ponder the world and enjoy the carressing fingers of the wind - when it blew - all to himself. True, climbing to the top of the column had been difficult - nearly impossible - but it had been worth it. Besides, the kind trees had helped him, and he had to avoid smiling as he listened to them sing with their silent voices as accompanyment to his fluting.

Though the rain fell heavily and pounded with an enourmous drumroll, there was no thunder, nor wailing wind, and the flapping of something like a sheet in a gust caught the elf's attention. Lifting his eyes, it was a moment before he saw the winged creature in the air - a mere silhouette beneath the darkening clouds.

Yuri started, his fingers faltering as he stared. A bird? No, certainly not. It was too big, and no set of feathered wings would create such a noise. Lowering his flute slowly, he kept his eyes on the creature as it drew closer and he crouched just slightly, replacing the instrument in his boot. Perhaps the best thing for him to do would have been to promptly fine his way off the top of the pillar - if the creature alighted here and decided to not like Yuri then the elf was surely dead. But it was a cumbersome thing to grasp his way down the cracked stone and smooth bark, both now so wet he would probably slip to his death anyway.

Bit late to consider running.

((OOC: Suggestion = thankyou. Still didn't know where else to go though. XD ))

The rain continued to collide against Phiros' form as he shot through the sky, toward the soft sound he had made his target. His massive wings were drenched, his trench coat was soaked, and his hair blew in the bitter cold wind. Still, the sound seemed to alter Phiros' usually aggressive persona into that of a calm one, thus sending him in a state of carelessness. Calm... it was such a nice feeling. Like staring up into the dark sky, being thankful for nature itself, for it's utmost peacefulness. For that reason alone, nature had a tight grasp around Phiros. It was something he could allow himself to love. Something that could take him as himself, no questions, no nothing. Phiros isn't exactly a religous guy, but if he had to say something was a god, it would be the grass, the trees, the lakes and mountains. It would be nature.

This sound.... this precious sound, it reminded Phiros of nature. Something else he could learn to love. Something else that could accept Phiros, something else that had no questions, but all the answers. I have to see who's making this sound... I have to. Phiros closed his eyes, now lost in the heavenly notes of the flute. He was getting closer and closer to the source, but it was still so far away. Suddenly, the pleasent sound that Phiros had lost himself in, had stopped. Ceased to exist. Phiros opened his eyes, now a bit angry. It stopped. No matter, I know where it's coming from now.... Phiros lifted a grin, the sight of a small figure standing on a single stone pillar. The pillar was an easy ten feet, width wise, and stood at twenty-some feet in height. However, the size of the pillar was the last thing on the mind of the now angry Phiros. He was angered quite easily, things smaller and more stupid than this situation got him enraged in the past. When asked why he's such an angry guy, Phiros would answer with "It's the principal of the matter".

Phiros halted his flight, now hovering above the pillar, almost like a humming bird would hover over it's chosen flower. In Phiros' case, he would be more like a giant bat creature. Hovering for a little while longer, Phiros finally landed upon the pillar. The rather skinny male in front of him had a distinct look upon his face. Phiros' smile just grew as he examined the boy for a short time. His wings wrapped themselves around Phiros' body, almost like a thick cloak to cover his already soaked trench coat. He walked over to Yuri, now within two feet of him. With a slight snicker he spoke, "So you're the one responible for that...." he crossed his arms, now glaring, "Sound." he finished, still examining the smaller figure of Yuri. Just then, a slight glint near the boy's ankle caught Phiros' eye. It was a flute! Without a second thought or any sign of hesitation, Phiros teleported to the back of Yuri, not even waiting to hear his reply. Quickly, he nabbed the flute from the boy's boot, where the majority of the flute stuck out quite noticibally. Thinking Yuri would react somehow, Phiros also reached for his neck, with his other arm. He lifted the light body of the Elf-looking stranger, not gripping his neck too tight, for once, Phiros did not mean harm.

He stared deeply into the flute, the way it sparkled as the rain smashed against it was simply remarkable. Almost forgetting he had the boy in a hold, Phiros turned his head and faced Yuri, still smiling his black toothed grin. Just then, his lips would part, "This thing is pretty nifty... I hope you don't mind if I give it a try." Phiros winked, in a cocky manner. He knew this boy couldn't do anything to stop him, and if he thought otherwise, he would try something... and that would be the time Phiros would show him his true strength.
He raised the flute up to his mouth, and a thought came to mind, Shouldn't be too hard... you just do this... he blew into it, a high pitched squeel escaped the flute, sending a shiver down even Phiros' spine. Ugh... ok, I'm done. Phiros rolled his eyes at himself and slipped the flute into one of Yuri's pockets. After that, he let him down, back onto his own two feet. Phiros' arms were still crossed when he turned a bit, now looking at his surroundings. Such a nice place the Ruins were... such a nice place.

"Boy, what is your name?"

Yuri stared up at the winged humanoid as it held itself before him, flying, taking the elf's very breath and using it to support his time in the air. Yuri didn't expect the man would look friendly at the best of times, and the rain and darkness didn't help one bit. He wanted to say something, to challenge the creature to make up a decision as to whether it was going to leave or not, but he got the impression that wouldn't be a good idea. Besides, the winged man chose a moment later, alighting before the elf. He appeared even more forboding up close, and Yuri nearly thought to take a distancing step back, but that would find him closer to the edge of the pillar.

Ah... damn.

Speak, speak, move.... something? Just stop looking at me like that. AGH stop showing off with your wings! The demon - or whatever he was - was intimidatingly tall, and appeared rather smug about something, but all Yuri could focus on was the fact that the other man was doing everything he possibly could with his wings to catch the elf's attention, and even, perhaps, make him envious. Until, that was, the man stepped up to Yuri.

Looking up at the man, he refrained from glowering. "What of it?" Yuri asked, perhaps a little too boldly, considering his situation. "An elf should be free to play whenever and wherever they like." To Yuri, it seemed the other man was mocking his fluting. Perhaps he wasn't great, but he wasn't bad, either. Nearly pouting with irritation, he was about to open his mouth and say another stupid thing that would probably find him killed, but the demon dissapeared that very instant...

"Wha-?!"

...and the elf found himself uselessly suspended by his neck. Gasping, but not choking, he grabbed the man's arm, heaving himself as high as he could to reduce the strain on his neck. The demon's grin nearly made Yuri feel nauseous, but he managed to find his voice.

"No... that's...don't!" Yuri spluttered, angry now. No one touched his flute! No one put their lips to it! Especially if they weren't an elf! Ugh, no! Not with that horrid mouth... he winced at the shrieking note, if it could even be called a note, screwing his face up against the painful noise. That was one of the reasons no one touched his flute. Finding himself back on his feet again he stumbled a few steps away, a hand to his throat, the other on his flute, then turned and openly glared at the other man.

"No one touches this flute!" He shouted. "No one! What the hell did you think you were doing? I can't... you just... augh!" Too angry for words, his face wretchedly flushed and fuming, Yuri turned away, found himself at the edge of the pillar, and immediately stormed back to the center of his stoney, imprisonning island. Removing the flute from his pocket, Yuri held it out to the rain then wiped the mouthpiece on his sleeve. He kept his eyes on the instrument, muttering under his breath until the demon spoke again. His head jerked up, and, indignant, he spluttered.

"BOY?!" Gawking, he safed his flute in his tunic, then grumbled under his breath again. "Yuri," he glowered, thinking he should at least do one thing that might not infuriate the other man.

Phiros lowered his eyes to a slit as Yuri, as he called himself, seemed to hide his anger toward him. How angry he was, Phiros didn't know, nor did he care. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing an Elf could do to him that he couldn't counter. Nothing he couldn't handle, nothing he couldn't deal with in the utmost vicious of ways. Not feeling threatened by the Elf, Phiros only stepped closer to him, the malicious grin still upon his face. Just then, his lips would part, "So you're an Elf?" he stared at him as his flute was tucked away into his tunic, "What is an Elf doing here, of all places. You're not exactly safe here, you know. There are far more worse things around here than me..... and they would love to devour a little Elf like yourself....boy." Phiros finished, emphasizing the word 'boy', just to tick Yuri off a bit more. He could tell what he said before, and what he did, sent the Elf in a state of anger... so he wished to test his anger, to see just how far he would go. Would he ignore his anger and make the wise decision to let it go? Or will he act foolishly and attack Phiros? Whatever his decision was going to be, it was something Phiros was looking forward to. For some reason, he couldn't help but enjoy this Elf's companionship. He didn't much know the boy, but he could tell he was the type of being who would offer Phiros utmost entertainment.

He paced himself, walking around Yuri, as if he were his prey. However, that was not the case. He had no intension of harming this Elf, for once, it was the last thing on his mind. Being of Demonic blood, you would think Phiros would be more than happy to deliver Yuri's untimely death.... but the truth was, Phiros wasn't the stereotypical kind of Fiend. He loved to kill, yes.... but only when he felt like it, and that time was not now. Lucky for Yuri.

OOC - Kinda drew a blank here.... maybe we should uh..... do uh...... something, haha. Any ideas?

"Of course I'm an elf," Yuri huffed, irritated that the demon would have to repeat that fact to make sure of something so obvious. "What else would I be?"

"And this elf happens to have been taking comfort in the blessing of the rain and playing a certain flute." He touched his tunic, lifting his chin a little as he faced the demon with an amount of defencsiveness.

Feeling a little safer than he probably should, Yuri turned his gaze slowly away from the other being to the surrounding area. Up this high, it was easy to see for miles, even in the din of cloud and rain. The view would have been spectacular at dawn.

"And what might be so terrible about here?" He asked, turning back to the demon with a lifted eyebrow. "These are the ruins of an anceint city; nothing more. Creatures wishing to devour me could live in the grasses of a plain during high summer day, so it comes no surprise I might be at risk here." He ignored the insults this time, apart from a purse of his lips and slight narrowing of his eyes. It didn't matter what this demon said; it didn't change who Yuri was. "Besides," he added, lifting his chin a little arrogantly. "I would taste far too sweet and airy for the likes of some foul creature that lurks in the shadows."

Yuri narrowed his eyes further when the demon began circling him, and crossed his arms, following the man with only his eyes and the turn of his head. The rain had plastered his blue hair to his body, and water continuously trickled down his face and neck. He flexed his hands and realised they were bare, but didn't move to adorn his gloves. "Are you thinking of eating me, now? Or simply assessing how much you could pawn me off for as a meal for some friend of yours."

((Haha, no idea where this is leading, and sorry for the delay.))