<div class="floatright">(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/rcburner/Huntsman.jpg)</div><br/><strong>"<em>Chat?</em>  Why in the world would you want to <em>chat</em> with it, my dear boy?"</strong><br/><br/>Rufio would suddenly become aware of the gentleman standing off to the left, who seemed to have been in the middle of eyeballing the formidable creature that, until recently, had been able to spend many comfortable hours in solitude on a lovely sunny afternoon.  Not that one would think it to be a very cheery day, looking at him.  Sunlight seemed to skirt nervously<em>around</em>him before wandering elsewhere, as though the very idea of touching him was abhorrent.  His personal atmosphere was drab and muted like a crusty old painting one might find in a tomb, though a tomb was probably a sight more pleasant than this fellow.<br/><br/>He brought a hand to his hooked chin and seemed to contemplate something for a moment.<strong>"Unless of course you mean to discern its weaknesses.  You seem quite crafty, friend!  I applaud such forward thinking, even from someone who consorts with impish little tarts,"</strong>he remarked, making a gesture towards Sasha that was unpleasantly reminiscent of swatting a fly.<br/><br/>But that brief moment of recognition was all the attention he seemed willing to give.  He turned on his heels and raised what looked to be a massive iron nail towards the dragon's head, tipping his head up so that he might look down his impressive nose.<br/><br/><strong>"What say you, beast?  Will you accept the terms of The Hunt, or must I begin my attack without proper ceremony?  I must confess it has been too many years since I've slain a dragon, and I am itching to give it another go.  And a water dragon at that, in the middle of such desolation?  A rarity within a rarity.  Your head would surely make an excellent addition to my mantle."</strong><br/><br/>His eyes flicked away for a moment.<strong>"That is, if I still have any room left."</strong>Then back to the dragon, seeming to size up his dimensions.<strong>"Maybe with a bit of careful shifting.  If not, I could settle for making a necklace out of your teeth, or perhaps a set of clothes from your hide.  I'm not much one for fancy attire, but I could make an exception for such bejeweled scales as yours."</strong>