The People of Gertragia

Finally, freedom! She couldn't have counted the number of days she was trapped inside that horrid spacecraft. Stupid human--forcing me into flames and then pretty much keeping me captive! Letting out a shrill squawk, the bird glided through the air of Gertragia. It had been so long since she had actually went around stretching her wings, and her feathers of different shades of reds, oranges, yellows, and even a green here and there were starting to become dull.

Of course, a little race around Gertragia knocked the dullness out of her feathers instantly. Well, that and coating herself in flames. Said fire quickly died down as she sped throught the air. She was still in her young bird appearance, due to the quick rebirth from ashes event a while back. Anriah was just glad that she was once again strong enough to fly freely.

The little phoenix swiftly swooped down, perching herself on a thin beam holding up a corner of a torn tent. These living conditions were horrible! Who could live in this dump? Oh, right... The people below... Anriah tilted her head to the side, beady black eyes observing everything.

Oh, she completely forgot! A light glow surrounded the fire bird's body. When it faded, a few people, mainly kids, looked up and pointed at her. Ah, yes. She was now visible once more! This got her killed a few months back, but she was smart enough not to allow that to happen again. Her attention was captured by a human with a few people following behind. Oh, great... More of 'those' people. What is it with humans and forming little armies these days?

Though her mind was screaming for her not to do anything, the phoenix opened up her orange beak. Flames flickered out of her mouth, shooting out only inches away from where the raven haired human was talking to some homeless aliens. Anriah let out a squawk and a few soft chirps once the flames shooting from her mouth abruptly stopped. She was satisfied for the time being. Though, she kind of felt sorry for those who might get burned from the fire... Oh well!

Ah, sweet success! The Phoenix spread her wings, taking off to the sky. Well, it really wasn't the sky since she was only six feet above the ground, but she was still in the air. The bird skillfully dodged any citizens in her path; however, she went through the flames. Due to her species, the flames only caused her feathers to glow.

Anriah glanced back at the human chasing her, letting out another squawk. She then sharply turned into one of the many alleyways. Her ‘quick escape route’ was soon cut short as said alley had a dead end. Letting out an irritated huff, the multicolored bird landed on what looked like a large trash bin.

The Phoenix turned around, flapping her wings a few times to kick off some ash from the smoke of the street. Now all she had to do was wait. The human should come, she was sure of that.

How come all the humans she encounters are always so smart? She liked it better when people just considered her as a 'pretty bird' back in 2000.B.C. Ruffling her feathers a bit, the bird shifted around, making herself comfortable on the 'trash bin'. "You are quiet observant--that much I can tell."

A thought crossed her mind: Instead of making it seem like the boy was speaking to a bird because he was insane, why not make it seem as though he were talking to another of her kind? Anriah instantly began to glow. Her small form was instantly replaced with that of a teenage girl. The feathers on her head turned into long red-orange hair that still resembled that of fire. She crossed her legs, the appropriate sitting possition for a girl in a dress.

"Much better. Now, you want to know why, hn?" She let out a light giggle before continuing. "The reason is because I am curious. More and more humans seem to be gathering their own little armies--some of robots, others of aliens. Just now, I escaped from some some 'mad man'--Katesan, I believe. He forced me into flames and then pretty much held me captive for months. Stupid creature." Anriah shifted on the 'trash bin', still trying to make herself comfortable on the metal. "My question is this: Why? You humans are a dying race, yet you still thrive for survival. You are just kids, yet you are already forming armies, trying to stop cival wars, even fighting creatures of other dimensions! I have seen many things in my many lives--the Romans, the Tsars. I have watched many people grow and die. It always dumfounded me. Why do you humans fight? What is your motive?"

The Phoenix girl watched intentently the human's actions. She was still unsure about the whole 'communicating with the humans' thing, but it would have to do for now. After all, there wasn't much else to occupy her time.

She shifted once more on the metal. "I do not mind about comments on my appearance. Most tend to capture my kind because of that, so we are use to being told that." Anriah scooted back on the 'trash bin' once the human advanced towards her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, sir Neon. I am Anriah, so commit it to memory. And, yes... Speaking in a more private area would be nice."

ooc: Such a failed post! D: I'm typing this at school, so... Yeah. x3

But, but... How...? Anriah stared at the new entrance, completely dumbfounded. That was supposed to be a wall! Shaking her head to clear her scrambled thoughts, the Phoenix girl decided to just not think on it. Thechnology these days confused here way too much.

Anriah sighed, uncrossing her legs, and heaving herself off the 'trash bin'. The girl followed after the ravan haired human, entwining her hands behind her back. The fire she had caused out in the street was almost completely extinquish, but the thick smoke coming from it was already flowing into the alley. Her own lungs could easily purify the smoke, but the human probably couldn't. The Phoenix slipped inside the opening in the wall, nodding in response to Neon's 'question'.

A small whimper escaped from the red-orange haired girl. She didn't like the looks some of the beings inside the complex were giving her. Seriously, was this a slave market or something? No, no... Those would just have people dressed in rags and in cages. This place seemed more like a simple black market (minus the slaves) instead.

The Phoenix quickened her pace a bit, inching closer to the human for some sort of feeling of safety. She didn't like getting stared at like that! She wasn't just some thing to be sold to some... Creep! Anriah let out a sigh of relief when they came into another room in which the door was locked, thus keeping out those creepers from what she assumed to be a black market.

She watched as the human went off to lean on a wall. She ignored the chair that shot up from the ground (though it did cause her to flinch), for she was tired of sitting at the moment. Shaking her head, the girl cleared her throat before replying. "I do not have any questions; however, you may ask away."

That question was simple enough. She was actually expecting that question. "I am, what you humans would call, a Phoenix; however, we Phoenixes are only one of the many branches of fairies. People capture us because of our beauty, powers, and the fact that we live forever. No matter how we are brought to death, we just burst into flames and are reborn moments later through the ashes." Anriah accepted the cup of tea, taking a large sip. She didn't get burned like others would. No, the heat from the liquid drink was completely welcomed for her. It was more of a comforting feeling than a painful one.

"We are also valued for our feathers. Long, long ago, the people of Earth caught Phoenixes while we were still a thriving species. They believed that wearing a Phoenix feather granted them eternal life." She paused once more, taking another sip from the tea. Ah, such a nice flavor~. "They were wrong, of course. Wearing a Phoenix feather only caused them to gain some sort of illness since, back then, they didn't have strong immune systems."

Anriah sighed, shifting on her feet. "Anything else you wish to ask?"

ooc: Hmph. Fail. ><

Well, she wasn't expecting that one... She had never been asked that question before, so it was hard for her to come up with an answer. Anriah thought for a few moments before speaking. "I truly do not know myself. I have never had the need to reproduce due to eternal life. Though, with most of my race now under slavery because they were outsmarted, my numbers have dropped. If there ever was the need to reproduce, then, yes, I can." She thought for a bit more before remembering something. "Of course, any children would be eggs, even if I were in my human form at the time."

ooc: Eff- I liked telling stories better. XD -horrible on subjects with reproduction of some random species involved-

The Phoenix girl murmered a quiet 'yes' in response. It was a very lonely life. If you didn't want to be cause, you would be forced to keep yourself hidden by the world. Fairies did have the power of invisibility, thus allowing them to remain as 'myths' and 'legends' in the eyes of those from long ago.

Now, whether or not the human species will be completely wiped off the face of the universe wasn't something she could answer right away. However, she did have some knowledge on this. "You humans are built to get right back up after being pushed down. Often times, a dying race always makes a comeback. You will never truly be 'deleted' from the universe. The Ilets will keep you going, after all. You know of them, correct? They may just seem like human experiments, but they are your ancestors. With them still thriving, the humans will never be extinct. The future is forever changing, so make sure your actions will reflect positively in the days to come." That was really all she could tell him. All other information was too far from her grasp.

Okay... Now this human was just a little too close for comfort. By that, I mean he was actually able to get a light blush to form on her face. However, out of pure politeness, she kept herself from squirming. "Sir Neon, 'having children' is much more complicated than that... I cannot just 'go have' them." Plus, Anriah wasn't even wanting a noisy little brat running around. After all, Phoenix children leave the nest after only a single year, and they squawk... A lot... Of course, those are the purebred ones. Her sister somehow got herself crossed with... Heck, she didn't even know what that thing was! But, her kids were practically mute.

"Eh... Neon? There are still quiet a few (fifty-five to be exact~) of your kind out there. Why not go find one of them? I'm sure they'd be grateful to see you." Now, she was kind of running out of things to say.

Her face seemed to turn the color of her fairy form feathers at that comment. For one, she wasn't even considered a teenager by how long she has lived in her many lives. Sure, she had the physical appearance of one, but that never changed about her. Anriah opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Yes, that one simple comment made her lost of words.

The Phoenix shook her head, causing her long hair to flutter everywhere, before locking her eyes on the human's. "I do not have destination--as long as I keep out of a cage, I'll go anywhere my heart takes me." Yeah, that sounded corny, but she didn't care.

Guys are pretty dense, huh? Anriah took a step back and rested her hands on her hips. "Leaving means going through that room again. I'd rather die than be have a bunch of people look as though they are undressing me with their eyes." Her fairy form would stop them for looking at her like that, but there was still the possibility of them trying to 'buy' her... But, still! There was absolutely no way she was going back through that dreaded room!

ooc: Wewt~ failure. x3