Bitter-Sweet Cold

[gash]

Large, heavy snowflakes fell slowly from the cloud-covered sky. As they delicately floated down to the vast, white, frost-covered trees, Gash trudged through the thick snowy carpet that spread out over the forest floor. The cold was bitter, and every breath through the wolf's nose stung a little. But no matter, he was used to this kind of temperature. Even though his shaggy black hair had ice cubes clinging to it, and the metal rings on his eyebrow burned against the skin under his dark gray fur, he was not cold. In fact, he was quite warm for the condition he was in. His jeans were soaked to the knee in melted snow, and his jacket had no way of staying shut, he managed to stay warm.

Gash leaned against a tree and gazed around him, ears back and bright green eyes looking suspicious. A low growl arose from the back of his throat. Something was following him, but he didn't know what. One of his hands exited his pocket and went instinctively to the chain that hung around his neck. He grabbed his amulet and clipped it off the chain. Looking around one more time, he slipped his hand - still clutching the green amulet - back into his pocket. He started trudging through the snow again, this time more alert.

The gray wolf was never too careful. Being spotted by the wrong person might put him into jail, and that would ruin his reputation among villains.

[♥ Teh Amazing ♥]

If it seemed cold on the earth, what about the sky? Surely, no flying creature would be able to fly in such weather, right? Even so, there was clearly a red mass in the sky. Small, yes, but still visible, even with the wall of snowflakes.

You wouldn't think so, but the snowflakes were making his wings hurt. The griffin could fly in he weather, but no one ever said it was easy. He sighed as his silver-feathered wings got heavier and heavier, soaking wet. Finally, he couldn't stand it. He headed toward the ground, eager to stop and rest.

He landed on the ground with a soft thump! Looking around to make sure he was alone, he was started to see that he wasn't. Just a few feet in front of him was a wolf who seemed to be frostbitten, yet still walking. Well, then again, the griffin wasn't in anything but gloves and shoes and was sitting up to his knees in snow. So it couldn't he couldn't be that bad off.

"Oi, you there... You look like you are going to be a popsicle any minute now." There was a hint of amusement in the griffin's voice.

[gash]

Gash whipped around again, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the griffin. "And you don't?" he retorted. "What're you doing here anyway? Isn't it a little cold today for a bird like you?" His grip tightened on the amulet that was hidden in his pocket. Gash's already fiercly green eyes seemed to glow even brighter. "I don't think you should be out wandering in a dark forest on a day like this," he warned in a low voice. "Especially not with people like me around..."

The sky darkened even more, until everything was nearly impossible to see. Two bright green orbs seemed to glow brightly in the darkness. Unfortunately, the two orbs just so happened to be Gash's eyes. The wolf slid his hand out of his pocket and smirked, his white teeth forming a devilish smile.

[♥ Teh Amazing ♥]

The griffin didn't seem to even notice the darkness. He stood up, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Well, excu-u-use me!" He snorted. "I suppose you are the big bad wolf?" He walked over to the wolf, not sensing any danger whatsoever. "Besides, it's not dark at all, for your info." He looked the wolf up and down before darkly exclaiming, "Get that smirk off your face."

He turned around, his wings folded to his back. "Anyway, I thought you might be of assistance. I'm looking for... Hey, what's that?" His pure red eyes gained a sneaky look as he stared at the wolf's pocket.

Something valuable, I hope...

[gash]

Gash's smirk disappeared, and he frowned. "None 'o your buisiness." The glow still remained in his eyes, and poisonous green flames rose slowly around him. The wolf approached the griffin. "And for your safety," he warned in his heavy Australian accent, "I suggest you don't mess with it." Gash snapped his clawed fingers and the poison surrounded the griffin as well.

"Ya see this?" he asked, gesturing to the flames that circled around them. "Tha's poison, it is. One touch an' you're fried chicken."

[♥ Teh Amazing ♥]

For some strange, abnormal reason, the griffin didn't seem frightened at all. He still had his arms crossed and his tail flicked back and forth. "Whatever. I could fly away, but I don't wanna. It's too hard to fly in this weather. Anyway," He sighed in a sarcastic tone. "I suggest you tell me what is in your pocket. You wouldn't want it to go... Missing."

He smirked a little and stared at the flames with curiosity. "Poison, eh? Quite an ability. Probably.." There was a gleam in his eyes. "Caused by something." He shrugged and held out a fingerless-gloved hand. "Anyway, I'm Destiny. Laugh and die."

[gash]

Gash's eyes narrowed to green slits. He shook Destiny's hand reluctantly. "Gash," he said. "And what does it mattuh to you if it's powe'ed by something er not?" Gash's poisonous abilities were only reinforced by the amulet. He was capable of creating flames and poison without it, but with it his powers were even more deathly than usual.

As he let go of Destiny's hand, Gash fingered the silver cross that hung on a silver chain around his neck. The cros didn't do anything special, but it did bring courage to the wolf and it reassured him when things were getting bad. The wolf's hair lifted as if a breeze had come up from the ground, and the flames rose a few feet higher. They danced around Destiny and Gash like tall green imps at a party. "Aren't you even a little scared to buhn yuhself?" he asked, his accent rumbling along with his low growl.

[♥ Teh Amazing ♥]

Destiny shrugged. "Sometimes. Not today." He thought back over what else the wolf had said. "I guess it doesn't matter if it was caused by anything," he lied. "Just curious." He smirked.

Really, Destiny was one of the best theives out there. If there was any kind of jewel or something, he wanted it. To him, it wasn't about the power. It was the fact that he liked collecting. It was a habit. And he was starting to think that it might be caused by some kind of stone.

He glanced at the flames, and then back at Gash. In an innocent tone, he asked, "Are you scared of me?"

[gash]

Gash simply blinked. "Oy'm no' o'fraid o' berds," he growled. He usually fried birds and had them for breakfast. He wasn't so sure about Destiny though. The griffin didn't seem completely 'bird'.

"Ah yew af'er my confedential objec'?" he asked. No matter what, Gash would protect his amulet, and revealing the fact that it was an amulet would probably make Destiny want it even more.

((I hope his accent doesn't prevent you from understanding what he says... -_-'))

[♥ Teh Amazing ♥]

{{Ahh, I can understand x3}}

Destiny blinked like he was the most innocent griffin in the world. "What? Why would you think that?" Inside, he was grinning. He does have something.

He took off one blue, fingerless glove and started chewing on his hand lightly, still looking up at Gash. You could clearly see that under his gloves, there were scratches on his palms and knuckles.

I wonder just what it is that he has...

[gash]

Alrighty mate, no more outbursts, Gash said to himself. He needed to keep quiet about the amulet. Gash didn't trust Destiny a whole lot, and if he was to keep his secret to himself, it was time to shut up about it. "I don't trust yeh, mate," he muttered. "Wha're yuh'p to?" Gash sqeezed his amulet, still hidden in his pocket, and the flames flew up over their heads. He and Destiny were now in a sort of dome, and there was no escape, even if Destiny tried flying.

"Nice try li'ull berd, but the'hs no escaping now."

[♥ Teh Amazing ♥]

Destiny put back on his glove and stared at the wolf. "Kay, first of all, don't treat me like a little kid anymore, 'kay? I'm eighteen... Nineteen... I don't know anymore." He crossed his arms again. "Second, who says I'm going anywhere? And third..." A sly smirk spread across his beak. "You shouldn't trust me. You're right."

He thought it over. "Well, you can trust me on some things." He shrugged. "Not everything. There's no reason to be harsh. I don't trust you much, either, but you don't see me complaining about it."

He's smarter than I thought.

"And I'm not a bird. Get it through your thick head. Griffin. G-R-I-F-F-I-N." The chatterbox snorted. "I wouldn't even say that I resemble such low creatures.."

[gash]

"Faih enough. Oy dun't know how old oy am eithah anymoah," the wolf growled. "An' moy head ain't thick, mate. Remembah that oah yew won't have a head anymoah." His eyes widened a little, but the glow was still too intense to see his pupils.

"What yew say we make a li'ull deal?" Gash suggested. "Oy'll show yeh wha' oy'm hoydin', an yew'll go awoy." Gash was thinking that if he let Destiny catch a glance at the amulet, the griffin would leave him alone. But he still didn't trust Destiny, so he had a backup plan. The backup plan wasn't entirely complete, but... It was better than nothing.

[♥ Teh Amazing ♥]

Hmm. It might get me a step closer to getting whatever he has. Destiny pretended to think it over. "I dunno. It's been fun bugging you." He sighed and shrugged. "Whatever."

I could snatch it... Maybe. Let's see just what it is before going into all the trouble.

The griffin tapped his shoe onto the snowy ground. "Well, get on with it before one of us freezes to death!"

[gash]

"No cheatin', oah yew'll be my dinnah." The wolf slid his hand out of his pocket and held the amulet between his fingers, slowly spinning it so the griffin could see the bright green jewels from every angle. For extra protection, tiny sparks of poisonous flames surrounded Gash's hand.

"Interested, mate?" he asked. He walked slowly towards Destiny, holding the amulet with the sparks dancing around it dangerously close to the griffin's eyes.