[Creatures of Nature - 5th Period - 7/9]

[whathasbeenlost.livejournal.com]

D had sent out a handwavy notice to his students, directing them to meet at a clearing within the preserve a short way behind the school.

Waiting until everyone had gathered, D bowed to the class. "I am your teacher for this class; you may address me as D. If you are curious as to my qualifications, then I will say that I have been running my family's pet shop for many years and have had many patrons, ranging from children to businessmen to the current president of the United States in my world."

He pulled a scroll from his sleeve and unfurled it as he spoke. "Firstly, I would ask that you sign this contract. It will allow you to remain in this class and, if you adhere to the rules it states, you will come to no harm from the creatures you will meet. Should you break the rules at any time, I will not be held responsible for what happens to you - and bear in mind, what might happen could very well be unpleasant in the extreme depending on the creature involved."

Smiling serenely, D produced a pen (also from his sleeve) and brought the scroll to the closest student to sign and pass around. When he received it from the last student, he nodded. "Now, secondly, shall we all introduce ourselves? I would like to know your name and what, if any, experience you have had with creatures of your own world."

After they had all gone around (and D had undoubtedly taken note of whom to watch out for), he clapped his hands together, plainly rather excited to be getting to the meat of things, as it were. "Now then, on to what you all are probably here for."

D looked to the trees at one side of the clearing and beckoned. A unicorn emerged slowly, glancing warily at the gathering of students as it walked over to stand at D's side, standing as large as a medium-sized horse. Its horn gleamed slightly in the dappled sunlight coming through the trees and D smiled, lifting a hand to stroke the creature's back soothingly. It knickered softly at his touch and calmed, turning its head to look curiously at the class.

"This is a unicorn," D said. "They are animals of legend on earth, and rarely seen in modern times. Many times they have been mistaken for other animals - antelopes, rhinoceros, or even horses, though you can see here that the differences are quite plain when viewed at a close distance. The horn is his most obvious characteristic and is purported to neutralize poison.

"You can also see their hooves - cloven, like a goat's hooves - and the tail, which resembles that of a lion."

D stepped away from the unicorn, tucking his hands into his sleeves. "When men wanted to hunt a unicorn, they knew that it was a solitary creature and very fierce. The only way to subdue such an animal was to have a maiden - a virgin woman - wait within a clearing for the unicorn to approach, whereupon it would lay its head in her lap and fall asleep." He shrugged. "Slightly exaggerated though the claims were, he will still only allow you to approach if you are pure of body, and he will more easily accept women than men. Those of you that are male and virgin can still attempt to come close and speak to him, but if he stamps his foot, I advise you to retreat."

Leaving the unicorn to stand at one side, D moved to the other side of the clearing. Another creature came through the trees at his signal, this one like the unicorn, but somewhat more exotic, its shoulder only coming up to D's waist. It made no sound as it walked and the grass didn't seem to move around its hooves.

"This is a Qilin," D said. "From China, the country of my ancestors, it is a creature of great nobility and power. The Qilin is very peaceful and does not like to even trample the grass when it walks. Of course, if angered, they are known for their ferocity in exacting revenge for any wrongdoing."

The Qilin inclined its head to the group, seeming less wary than the unicorn had been. "You may approach and ask questions of the Qilin with no questions made of your purity, but it demands greater respect, being so noble," D said. "I will be on hand if there are other questions or problems."

[OOC: Wait for OCD is up! Classes after this will probably not be quite so long, I hope. If anyone has problems ICly with the contract D wants them to sign, they can talk to D privately in his thread.

ETA: Going to bed for now, but will reply to you guys in a few hours! *runs from comment avalanche* Okay, now I'm headed home from work, but I'll continue replying when I get home. *determined!*]

Comments

Sign In - The Contract

[whathasbeenlost.livejournal.com]

The contract states:

• You will treat all creatures with respect.


• You will follow all rules and stipulations given by D.


• You will not harm any creature except to save your own life.

Descending, each below each, if you please.

Re: Sign In - The Contract

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn Hood

Introductions

[whathasbeenlost.livejournal.com]

"I would like to know your name and what, if any, experience you have had with creatures of your own world."

Re: Introductions

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

"My name is Gwynn Hood. I grew up in the forests of my homeland and have found that animals and creatures of the wild are much more reliable and trustworthy than some men of the land."

Re: Introductions

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"My name is Naminé, and I haven't much experience at all, I'm afraid." She lifted a shoulder. "I was well-acquainted with a duck who was a magician and a mouse who was a king, and had other friends of that nature, but I would hesitate to call them creatures."

Re: Introductions

[wannabehunter]

Jo shrugged. "Most of the things you'd call creatures of my world are pretty focused on eating people."

Re: Introductions

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"My name is Karal Austreben, and I have had some experience with horses. My father was a stableman, and I was a horseboy until I was nine. I brought my horse, Trenor, with me to Fandom. I have also had contact with companions, gryphons and kyree in Valdemar." He glanced down at Altra, sitting beside him, who nodded - :May as well come clean.: - then up at D. "And this is Altra. He is a Firecat. I am a Priest of Vkandis Sunlord, and he is also a servant of the Sunlord."

Altra snorted at the description.

Re: Introductions

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm Isabel Evans and I have a cat. Or I should say, the cat has me."

Re: Introductions

[turtle-toughguy.livejournal.com]

"I'm Raphael... Uh, hmm." He thought about what 'creatures' he'd had 'experience' with for a very long moment. "Mostly mutants? Master Splinter's a mutant rat, I have three brothers like myself, and we went up against a mutated wolf pup and a young-- Actually, I dunno what the hell it was. A big, really ugly snapping turtle thing that looked nothin' like us. Other than that, just your average strays and horses."

Re: Introductions

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"My name is Aravis. I have spent my life with horses, and came to know two that could speak within the last year. The country I now call home is adjacent to Narnia, where beasts are free and speak with the tongue of Man, so I have met many more like that. However my longest experience lies with horses, dogs, jackals, goats...farm creatures and pets."

Re: Introductions

[abhorsentobe.livejournal.com]

"My name is Sabriel." Sabriel paused, thinking. "Um, I have met and petted cats, dogs, horses and rabbits?"

Re: Introductions

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Cedric Diggory," he said, "and I've taken several classes at my former school on animals and creatures such as care of magical creatures."

Re: Introductions

[smartestone]

"My name is Hermione Granger, and I actually had a class like this called Care of Magical Creatures at my other school," Hermione says. "There probably should have been a contract involved in that one."

Re: Introductions

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"My name is Lana Lang and I've ridden horses all my life. And, well... my boyfriend has turned into a black panther twice and I had to take care of him." She hesitated, thinking. "Oh, and I studied creature languages with Mary Poppins, so I can speak several animal languages like cat, snake, dolphin, etc."

Re: Introductions

[likethegun]

"My name is Sam Winchester, and most of my experiences with creatures in my world have been with unpleasant ones," he said.

Re: Introductions

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"I'm Dawn Summers, and I've had some experience taking care of a cat and taken some animal languages. But mostly I've spent a lot of time with creatures that want to eat or kidnap me."

Re: Introductions

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

"My name is Willow Rosenberg," Willow said. "I have experience with the regular animals, demons, werewolves and, thanks to a recent trip, even the talking kind."

Re: Introductions

[snow-white-boy.livejournal.com]

"My name is Haku, and at home I have a pet rabbit," he nodded with a bright smile.

Re: Introductions

[ashockingbitch]

"I'm Jenny Sparks, and...not a lot, honestly. I'm not much with animals. Although if it's giant, mutated, and trying to destroy a medium-sized to large metropolis I may have been called out to take care of it at one time or another."

Re: Introductions

[oncourtandstage.livejournal.com]

"Uh, I'm Troy. Bolton. I had a pet fish once? When I was a little kid? And, yeah, that's about it."

Re: Introductions

[electric-sitar.livejournal.com]

"I'm Demyx," Demyx said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I haven't had a whole lot of experience with animals, exactly. That's not going to be a huge problem, is it?"

Approach the Unicorn

[whathasbeenlost.livejournal.com]

The unicorn stands waiting, dark eyes curious but wary. If you would like to approach, you must be a virgin - if you have to ask, you're probably not. Men, be careful, but those of you who have been chaste may attempt to come close.

[OOC: Like it says, if you have to ask, you're probably not. If you're not sure, ping me OOC or on IM.]

Re: Approach the Unicorn

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn approached the unicorn slowly and respectfully. "I do not understand why anyone would wish to harm such a beautiful creature."

Approach the Qilin

[whathasbeenlost.livejournal.com]

It stands and watches, almost floating above the grass. Fearsome though it may seem, it has a serene and very noble air about it. Come close and speak to the Qilin, but it may not acknowledge you if you do not give it the proper respect.

[OOC: ...Have fun?]

Re: Approach the Qilin

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

Gwynn was in awe as she approached the Qilin slowly.

Talk to D

[whathasbeenlost.livejournal.com]

He's watching and hoping no one gets gored.

Re: Talk to D

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

Naminé approached D after class. "Might I have a word with you?"

OOC

[whathasbeenlost.livejournal.com]

Questions, comments, and making sure the world doesn't end.