Virginia
`"STOP!"` **Mikaela yells, running through the streets of Kazumaki. He was chasing after a tall man in a black jumpsuit that just stole from a small antique shop near where Mikaela was guarding.**


**It was a beautiful day in Kazumaki. The sun shone brightly above the citizens, on land and sea. The streets buzzed with activity. The smell of fried fish, salty sea water, and plants filled the air.**

**Mikaela runs down a few stairs, his footsteps changing to loud thumps on wood. He runs on the docks, his tail pressing against him and his ears pinned down. The theif looks back, grinning before making a sharp turn, jumping over the gap between the concrete of the sidewalk and the wood of the dock. Mikaela gets distracted, staring at the theif running away as he runs aswell. He scowls, about to stop to get back onto the streets but didn't realize the small ledge that connected one dock to another. His foot gets caught, and he falls forward. Being near the edge of the port dock, he falls off the end of the dock.**
Alba
**As Harpy meandered along the riverbank, he was suddenly interrupted by a loud splash and the sound of bubbling coming from the water. Despite not being known for his curiosity, Harpy couldn't help but feel intrigued by the commotion. Perhaps it was the way the water rippled and danced in the aftermath of whatever had fallen in. Maybe it was the way the sunlight shimmered and reflected off the surface of the water. Whatever the reason, Harpy felt a strong urge to investigate the source of the disturbance and satisfy his newfound curiosity.**

**As Harpy swam towards the surface, his keen eyes caught sight of something unusual. A drowning hybrid struggling to stay afloat in the water. Although Harpy knew that people of their kind had killed his own, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of compassion for the struggling being. His brows furrowed with concern as he slowly approached the hybrid. However, he quickly realized that time was of the essence and decided that he couldn't waste a single moment.**

*I need to help them.*

**Harpy, with his sharp talons, closed his grip around their arm and pulled them closer towards him. His intense gaze fell upon the breathtaking being in front of him. The fish-like creature, was fascinated by the beauty of the person in front of him. The moment was filled with a sense of curiosity, as Harpy was trying to comprehend the essence of this being, who seemed to have caught his attention.**

**As Harpy swam towards the surface, he felt the cool water rush past his scales and skin. With each stroke, he propelled himself upwards, closer and closer to the top. As he emerged from the depths, he couldn't help but wince at the sudden intensity of the sun's rays on his face and body. However, he quickly regained his composure and focused on his task at hand - helping the person he was assisting keep their head above water. Despite the stinging sensation caused by the sunlight, Harpy remained steadfast and determined, using his strength to ensure that they both remained afloat and safe.**
Virginia
**Mikaela, for a quick second, gained consciousness and got a glimpse of someone infront of him. He quickly fell back into unconsciousness.**
Antoinette
|| not much to say 😭

|| also u don't need to ping I have notifs on
Alba
**As they followed Harpy's lead, they soon found themselves tracing the coastline. The distance wasn't terribly long, but it was just far enough to provide them with adequate cover. Harpy carefully guided them towards the bank, nudging them onto the shore before dragging himself onto land. His sleek, midnight-black tail caught the light, glistening as it arched behind him. The two spots on each side of his tail were a stark contrast, pure white amidst the darkness.**

**Harpy pressed a talon to their throat gently, careful not to accidentally hurt them. He tried to find a pulse, they were alright. Harpy thinks they will be fine, as not a lot of water is in their lungs. He brushed some hair out of their face, trying to see them more clearly.**

`"*Mrrrp?* Are you alright?"`
Virginia
*It's really bright in here...*

*Why is it so loud..?*

*My fur feels heavy... Who's talking?*

**Mikaela jerks up, instantly coughing out water. They sharply breath in, coughing more. They sit up, sand sticking to their clothes and skin from the water as they try to figure out what's happening.**

"Wh- **Cough** Where-" **They try to speak, but just cough more.**

**After a minute or so, once the coughing fit died down, they take sharp breaths in. Their eyes were wide with fear and they held a hand on their chest as they heavily breathed after facing possible death.**

**Mikaela looks up after taking a few breaths, his glossy, wide eyes meeting the figure infront of them. They stares at them for a few seconds before speaking in a scratchy tone from the coughing.** 

"What happened..- who are you.." **Mikaela shivers, his clothes outlining his body as hid fur dripped with water.**
Antoinette
|| the message had more of a change for details on appearance, but I was distracted by my show 😭

|| so apologies in advance
Alba
**As you gaze up at Harpy, he looks down at you innocently as he adjusts his position. You can see the sunlight reflecting off his razor-sharp fangs, glinting menacingly in the bright light. Despite his imposing figure, there's a certain grace to the way he moves, almost as if he's aware of his power and chooses to wield it with precision though with patience and kindness.**

`"Mm.. Hello. You fell into the water so I helped you out a bit,"`

**He would pause, cocking his head to the side.**

`"I'm Harpy, and you are?.."`

**Harpy listens to your response intently, a little shy though.**
Virginia
**Mikaela's pupils become thin slits from the bright sun. He takes in Harpy's features for a second before responding** 

"I.. I'm Mikaela.." **He speaks in a small voice, almost as if confused. His ears stay low and he shows sign of fear yet wasn't scared. With anyone else he would have ran away by now. But, come on, this guy saved him. Mikaela had to give him credit for it, so he decided to not be mean.**

"I apologize if I caused you trouble." **Mikaela says, sitting up and grabbing the bottom of his shirt. He wrings it out, making a small cat growling noise out of annoyance from the water. His tail flicks behind him, flattened from the fur being wet.**

**Mikaela looks up while wringing his shirt out, freezing for a second. He was almost astonished by Harpy, admiring the glimmer off his soft skin for a moment.**
Alba
`"No, no, it's fine. Though.. What happened before you fell into the water?"`

**"He tilts his head slightly to the side, and his gaze locks onto yours with an almost palpable intensity. You can feel his eyes boring into yours, making it difficult to look away. The air around you seems to crackle with the charged energy of his unwavering stare, and you begin to wonder what thoughts are racing through his mind."**

**As your eyes shifted towards him, he seemed to have caught your attention and Harpy's lips curled upwards, forming a subtle smile that revealed his warmth and approachability. The lighting in the room was soft, yet it highlighted the delicate features of Harpy's face, casting a gentle glow on his skin. It was as if his skin was adorned with tiny sapphires that sparkled with every movement, making him appear almost magical. As you looked closer, you noticed the faint shimmer of glitter on his skin that seemed to catch the light and reflect it in all directions, creating a seemingly otherworldly aura around him.**
Virginia
**Mikaela falls silent, taking a moment to take in his features before shaking his head.** "I was uh.. Chasing af-" **He stops, his eyes widening** "Shit.." **Cursing under his breath, his ears perk back up** "Well I was *About* To catch a thief but.. They got away.."

**Mikaela stands up, squeezing the water out of his blond hair, then brushing it back with his claws. He hisses a bit, annoyed by the whole situation.**

**Taking a moment to look around, he bites his lip. The empty beach stretched out far, the docks not visible from where they were.** "Where are we..?"
Antoinette
|| It's ok I take tons of time aswell 😢
Alba
**Harpy's gaze locked on yours, then it shifts away in thought.**

`"Just a bit down the coast, it's not too far though."`

**Dark stormclouds slowly start to roll in..**

**Harpy would chew on his lip awkwardly for a bit,** `"I'm assuming you're a guard of some sort."`

**He would brush some of his dark hair with white streaks out of his face, blinking out some water. Harpy's eyes were glossy, like an alligators, when it removed water out of its eyes.**
Elizabeth
SORRY FOR LATE REPLY ||
Virginia
**Mikaela glances down at his guard uniform** "Yes, I am.." **Through a heavy sigh, he looks up at the storm clouds** "Could this day get any worse?" **He throws his arms up in annoyance.** 

**He looks back at harpy** "Thank you.. For saving me."
Alba
`"I hope not,"`

**He tilts his head, curling his tail in closer.**

`" Of course! I know somewhere we can stay, mind if I take you there? It's not going to be safe here in the storm, sea creatures like feeding on unsuspecting ones on the bank."`

**Harpy flashed an awkward smile, he messes with the vitiligo spots on his wrist shyly.**
Antoinette
|| also I'm forcing chicken to watch md
Virginia
**Mikaela's tail flicks side to side for a second** "I guess.." **He says with a hint of uncertainty** 

**Mikaela looks to the shore, then the sky where the dark clouds were almost fully covering the sun. Although he really didn't trust Harpy, he decided to go with him since he didn't really have any other choice.**
Alba
**His head was slightly tilted forward, suggesting that he was listening intently. His eyes, which were piercing and intense just moments ago, had softened a bit, giving way to a more thoughtful expression. **

`"Can you swim?"`

**As he observes the scene, the man inclines his head to one side, and his unique auricles, which are positioned on either side of his head, flatten just a bit. This subtle change in his body language suggests that he is slightly concerned.**
Virginia
"..I mean.. I *Can*.." **He mutters, frowning a bit.** "But I don't. I'm a cat.. I hate water" **He flicks his tail to the side, crossing his arms**
Alba
`"Well.. I suppose you'll just have to trust me then,"`

**He chews on his lip awkwardly. Harpy looks back up at you, sitting up a bit as he drags himself closer to the bank.**
Virginia
**Mikaela dosent move. He just nods a little**

"I.. Guess I could.." **He mutters under his breath, fidgeting with his hands. He looks back up, his ear twitching a bit as he tilts his head in curiosity**
Alba
**Harpy nods, offering to take your hand as he led you to where the water and surface sand met.**

`"?..."`
Virginia
**He hesitantly takes his hand, staring at the water with slight disgust**
Alba
**Harpy tugs you underwater gently, pulling you close to him as they venture deeper into the water. It was quite dark in your eyes, but Harpy could see just fine.**

**It seemed to take forever as they ventured deeper into the water...**
Elizabeth
LMAO SUCH A CUTIE||
Virginia
**Mikaela holds his breath, focusing more on the feeling of being underwater than not being able to breath. He eventually stops trying to swim, and pulls himself closer to harpy as he lets him pull him.**
Antoinette
|| I had no clue how to word what I was trying to say
Alba
**Harpy simply pulls you closer so you wouldn't have to swim anymore, you were tied close to his side as they eventually reached a tunnel in the ground. Harpy swam throgh it. And suddenly, there was a wide space with an air pocket. Harpy gently rests you on the rock.**
Antoinette
|| also TY FOR THE VISUALS NOBODY EVEER ADDS THEM AND TBEY HELP ME SO KUCH
Virginia
**Mikaela instantly gasps for air, relieved to be out of the water.** 

*Back to square one.. Soaking wet.. Fur is heavy.. Cold..*

**He sits up, looking around.** "Woah.." **He awes, the smells and sounds overwhelming him. There was a hint of sea water smell and he could hear water crashing against rock.**

"Where.. Is this?"
Alba
`"Just a little place I hang out at sometimes,"`

**Harpy would smile at you, brushing your wet hair out of your eyes.**

`"You alright?"`
Virginia
**He looks at harpy for a second as he brushes his hair from his face.**

"Yeah.. Yeah, im alright" **He says with a small smile**

**The faint sound of rain on the surface of the sea could be heard quietly echoing throughout the cave**
Alba
**Harpy flashes an innocent smile, sitting up against the stone walls.**

`'I think we'll have to wait until the storm dies down. Some sirens like murdering sailors around these parts."`

**His gaze fixates on yours.**
Virginia
**He shivers a bit, the depth of the sea affecting the temperature in the cold stone cave** "Damn sirens.." **He wasn't too fond of sirens for many reasons.** "Uh- no offense or anything.." **He looks up at Harpy**
Alba
"Uhh, it's fine,"

**He brushs it off, smiling awkwardly.**

**Caesar presses a talon to the surface lightly, swirling it around in boredom. His pyrokinesis sparkled slightly, making light little smoke clouds here and there.**

"Uhh, it's fine,"

He brushs it off, smiling awkwardly.

Harpy presses a talon to the surface lightly, swirling it around in boredom. His pyrokinesis sparkled slightly, making light little smoke clouds here and there.
Antoinette
|| ;DD nope still remember, but dying atm soa gimmie liiiiiike about a day
Elizabeth
Wkjdwqiduqdhwuq ok!! ||
Virginia
**Mikaela pulls his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He leans his head on his knees, slightly tilting his head to the side with curiosity as he watches Harpy.**

**A slight blush forms as he sees Harpy innocently messing with his magic from boredom, quickly fading away as he shakes his head. The way the light sparks seemed to blend in with eachother made Mikaela mesmerized at the sight.**
Alba
`"Doesn't sound like this storm is gonna let up any time soon,"`

**He sits up from the pool, looking at you.**

`"Tell me something random about yourself,"` he smiles.
Virginia
**He shrugs, looking up at him to meet his gaze.** "Alright.." **He hums, thinking about something** "Well I really hate water." **He says with a chuckle**
Alba
`"Well, that's a bit noticable,"`

**Harpy chuckles, curling in his tail as he tilts his head to the side, his gaze fixating on yours.**

`"Well for me, as you can tell, I have vitiligo, that's why I have this- weird skin,"` **He tilts his head, running a talon over the blotches of beige here and there over his brown skin.**
Virginia
**He frowned over the "Weird skin" Comment about himself. He may hate people for their inhumanity at times, but he had a soft spot for pitying others. He tried not to show it, though.** "Their not weird. Although they certainly are unique." **Mikaela glances down at his arm, softly smiling.** "Although It's quite beautiful.."
Alba
**Harpy fiddles with his fingers a bit shyly,**

`"Thank you.."`

**He'd pause, then tilts his head.**

`"Also, I like your hair,"`

**He reaches for a few strands,**

`"May I?"`

**Harpy brushes your hair out of your eyes, smiling (acoustically.)**

`"I just have a habit of fidgeting with things, couldn't help myself,"`

**He chuckles, pulling away.**
Virginia
**He smiles a bit** "Your alright!" 

**Looking over at the opening of water that went into the sea, he watched the water smoothy move in little ripples**
Alba
**Harpy's auricles twitched slightly, he was hearing something. Probably some nearby sirens or something. They annoyed him a little..*
Virginia
**He tilts his head a bit, his tail flicking to the side.** "Hm?" **He could tell Harpy was concerned from his expression.**
Alba
`"Oh, nothing, just some nearby sirens. Can't tell which pod though.."` 

**Harpy would mumble, obviously tense. Lightning crackled loudly outside.**
Virginia
**Mikaela could smell the foul, yet sweet scent of sirens. He couldn't really make out how much there were, but it wasn't too strong.**

**He growled under his breath, his cat ears slightly pinning down.**

"Do siren songs affect you?" **He says, looking up to Harpy**
Alba
`"Well.. What do you mean?"`

**He tilts his head, his tail tip twitching.**
Virginia
"If a siren was to start singing, would you be able to resist it? I'm not sure if they affect you.."
Alba
`"Oh! Siren's cant attract other sirens, however, we do communicate through our songs and low frequency sounds,"`

**Harpy chuckles softly,**

`"I don't know about you, though, you are a mixed hybrid, you **Should** Be able to, I suppose."`

**Harpy hears the sirens sounds grow a little louder, and his pupils narrow a little. In his ears, it seems they were looking for something.**

`"Fishdroppings (shit), that doesn't sound good,"`

**Harpy tenses and his auricles pin.**
Virginia
**He looks down at the pool of water that extended into the sea, hearing small noises of sirens. He couldn't tell if they were going further or closer.** "Ah, that makes sense.."
Alba
`"Hold on.."` He mumbles, slipping below the surface for a second. Then was light noise of hissing and aggresive talking, though you couldn't make out what it was.
Virginia
**Mikaela crawled to the edge of the pool of water, squinting his eyes to see if he could see what was happening** 

"Harpy?" **He said after a minute or two, starting to worry from the hissing and aggressive talking**
Joelle
**Blood flurried to the surface of the water, bubbling, filling the air around you with a disgusting metallic scent.**

**There were yowls of pain and snarls of aggression faintly sounding and echoing.**
Virginia
**As he saw the pure blue water turn red, his eyes widened in concern.** "Harpy?" **He repeated, a bit louder now.**
Alba
**There was a loud splash, then sudden silence.**

**Harpy rose from the pool, a deep gash on his neck, and a scratch on his cheek.**

**His expression was concerned and slightly panicked, he dragged himself back onto th stone,**

`"Damn those hostile sirens.." He mumbles.
Virginia
**Panic arose in Mikaela's mind as he sees Harpy. He quickly gets up, going over to him** "Harpy? What happened?" **He didn't let the panic show in his voice, but it was clear. His tail clung to himself as he looks at harpys wound with concern**
Alba
`"Some hostile sirens, some of them are a bit crazy,"`

**He mumbles, brushing some blood away, wincing in slight pain.**

`"Did any of them come in here?"` **His auricles spread slightly in panic.**
Virginia
**Mikaela sat beside him with his legs folded under him.** "No, none came in.." **He worryingly looked at his wound, feeling bad as he winced** "That looks.. Bad"
Alba
`"It'll be fine I think, the storm is dying down at least, you should be able to get back at dawn,"`

*Has it been that long?*

**Harpy curls his tail in, wincing slightly as he rubbed the wound a bit.**
Virginia
**He backed off a bit, his panic slightly dying down** "You should probably do something to stop the bleeding atleast.." **His tone had slight compassion in it. His sky-blue eyes gazed over his wound in thought before he took off his outer coat, barley damp from being in the water earlier. He rips off the sleeve, looking back to to harpy** "You can use this for a temporary bandage.. If you bleed anymore while in the water it may attract sharks, or worse.." **Mikaela extends the cloth to Harpy*
Alba
`"Thanks.."`

**He says softly, taking the cloth and pressing it to his wound, it soaked up quickly but the bleeding stopped at least moderately.**

**Harpy flashes gentle smile at you, his dark eyes softening a little.**
Virginia
**Mikaela sighed in slight relief, returning the smile.**

"Ah, and you said it's almost dawn, correct?"
Alba
`"Mhm!"`

**He nods, his auricle twitching a bit.**
Virginia
**The thought of the thief who got away crossed his mind** "Well damn.." **He muttered to himself, looking over at Harpy as he shifts to his human form**

**It almost felt wrong; Not having anything to do during non resting hours. Mikaela was so used to guarding and working 24/7 he didn't know what to do with the awkward silent moment between them.**
Alba
`'Uh.. Are you hungry or something?"`

**He sighs softly, trying to break the awkward silence.**
Virginia
*Mikaela's tail wraps around himself. He shakes his head** "No.. Not really."

**His mind wanders around. First about where he is with a random siren.. Then to the criminal that got away.. Then.. He's still on duty.** *I'm gonna get in so much trouble..* 

**Mikaela glances at harpy, looking at the bandage wrapped wound on his face**
Antoinette
Just a little . . . Awkwardness
Elizabeth
Two best friends in a room trend 💔💔
Alba
`"...Mm, it should be about dawn right now, I'll check,"` **Harpy says softly, shifting back into his siren form and slipping below the surface.,**
Antoinette
I'm at school class is starting soon. Ttyl mwah >:3
Virginia
**He watches Harpy slip into the water disappearing into the depths of the blue. After a few minutes Harpy pops up again**
"Is it?" **He asks, his tail slowly moving side to side**
Antoinette
The drama will happen next response mwuhehe

Also imma try to put more effort in detail with my responses
Alba
`"Yeah!"` **Harper says with a soft smile, brushing some wet hair to the side.** `"You ready to go back out?"`
Elizabeth
His actual name is harper but idgaf i just call him harpy 😃
Antoinette
Time for some drama
Virginia
**Mikaela nods, just wanting to be back on the surface at this point.**

**He slips into the water, a chill running down his spine from the temperature of the deep water. He takes a deep breath before going under, taking a second to let his eyes adjust. He looks over at Harpy, tilting his head slightly as he didn't know where to go to get out. Mikaela grabbed Harpy's arm, gently kicking his legs to keep stable in the water.** (Why am I cringing rn 😦 ) **Harpy nodded at him, quickly holding his arm and diving down.** 

**Mikaela begins to hear a soft chirping noise, but it's muffled and not clear. He assumed it was Harpy or just a fish so he ignored it. Unfortunately it began to get louder as he tugged on Harpy's arm, getting a weird feeling.**

**Suddenly, Mikaela felt something grab his leg as he gets pulled out of Harper's grasp. He gasps out of surprise, water invading his lungs.**

**He looks down to see a siren with emerald eyes that pierced into his. He pulls his foot back, trying to kick it off but is unsuccessful as it's sharp talons grip his leg.**
Elizabeth
I will respond— eventually 😼😼
Antoinette
Take ur time love >:3
Alba
**Harper turns around, his claws flicking out of his human nails, realizing it was a siren from enemy territory. Wasn't that pod from Celestia

**Harper turns around, his human nails flicking out to reveal sharp claws as he realizes that the siren approaching him is from enemy territory. As Harper bares his fangs, he notices that the pod is from Celestia's Seas. The two sirens quickly engage in a ferocious battle of tooth and claw. Harper tackles them toward the sea floor, and the darkness engulfs them momentarily before they come back into sight. With their tails thrashing about, Harper wraps his talons around the enemy sirens' neck and charges them towards the rocks. Upon impact, a loud snap is heard, and almost immediately, the enemy sirens' spine shatters. Harper pulls away, his gills flicking as he tries to catch more air. He wishes his gills would convert H2O to oxygen already. The blood on his talons eventually washes off as he shakes his hand, crimson clouds fading away. Harper rushes to Mikaela and helps him to the surface while his gaze rests awkwardly on theirs. He fiddles with his guiltily and awkwardly with his talons.**

`"I should have seen them, that's my fault, are you okay?"`
Elizabeth
Harpy is cringe but i love him anyway

Imagine waiting like 2 months
Antoinette
I'm finding a ton of threads I never replied to
Elizabeth
Pff look at all the unfinished threads in like.. 90% of the server
Virginia
**He watches the crimson cloud of blood below, then the sound of a large snap. He winces, starting to try to swim to the surface for air. He eventually feels Harpy pull him, quickly reaching the surface**

**He coughs for a second before shaking his head to get some water off** "I'm fine- it's not your fault" **He reassured him** "I didn't really know what was happening anyways-" **He says through a slightly raspy voice from the water he inhaled** "But are *You* Ok?"
Elizabeth
Imagine drowning as a siren
Alba
`"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you sure?"` **Harpy's breath was shaky before regulating. He would tugs them towards some rocks, where Mikaela was safe.**
Virginia
"Yes, don't worry about me." **He nodded, sitting down on a large, flat rock. His tail flicked side to side as he leaned on his arms. Through a small sigh he looked back up at Harpy** "That was... Eventful." **Mikaela glanced up at the sky** "At least it stopped storming?"