Pyunzhetri  His name was Pyunzhetri. Others simply called him Py. Gender/Age: Male, nineteen winters Location: The forest Blackness Relatives: Parents alive; Py is an only child Physical description: 6'3", a fairly average height. Red-tan skin, rich, slightly wavy black hair that falls to his shoulders, and partially braided, with feathers and beads attached to the ends. He has very dark brown eyes which are usually very cold and foreboding. He has a handsome, sharp face, with small lips, arched eyebrows, and medium-large eyes, a little bit of stubble scattered across his cheeks and clefted chin. His nose is medium-large, with slightly large nostrils, and very straight and angular, but not quite pointy. His voice is pleasant and low, a baritone; he is quite a good singer(and he enjoys whistling/humming, too). He values his appearance, especially his clothing. Emotional/Mental description: Py is quite fond of animals, and he has a little bit of an empathy for their feelings, in close range. He isn't much of a healer, though. Animals are the only people, besides his parents, that Py is polite to. Py is extremely selfish and arrogant, and has quite an ego. Some people describe him as stubborn, hardheaded, and sardonical. He is sarcastic and rude and very hard to get close to. Py isn't very literate or skilled with numbers, but he has a biting wit. The song "I am a rock" by Simon&Garfunkel best describes Py. Py isn't afraid of much, but he has a deathly fear of tabriz, enclosed spaces, and crowds. Py prefers cold climates to warm climates, and he likes to be in the dark: living in the Blackness is no problem for him. Py likes the outdoors, especially the beach. Py has never been on the open sea, but since he likes wide open spaces, he thinks that he could like it. Py isn't afraid of dragons, or heights, so he would be able to cope well with imprinting a dragon. In fact, Py loves the exhilaration that comes with being high up. Skills: Py is very limber, so he runs, jumps, swims, and climbs with the greatest ease. He is very nimble and can always find a way out of a tricky physical situation. Also, as mentioned before, he has an skill with animals; he makes friends with them easily. Py also seems to have an internal clock; he is never tardy, always timely. Goals: Py has a few goals, but he really doesn't want to do anything with his time. He prefers to spend his days dreaming or having fun. However, despite preferring to stay home and to never witness change in his life, Py has an itch to travel, and to find something in his travels. In Py's selfish nature, there is something deeper: he wants to have something to protect. Whether that thing may be a mate--hardly likely, since he doesn't want to get married or have children--or a possession, he isn't sure. But it may be that he wants to protect a dragon..as being a dragonrider is of paramount importance to Py. History: Although Keep born, Py and his family were exiled to the Blackness when Py was eight winters old. He and his family had been poor then, and his father had 'borrowed' one too many Keepfowl. Instead of having his hand cut off like most thieves, Py's father and his family were banished. They wandered through the Blackness for weeks until by some luck they found a clearing, near a river, a waterfall, a lake, and a cliff. There was an abundance of wild fruits and vegetables, as well as fish and wild game, so Py's family stayed there. Pets/Hobbies/Possessions: Py has a faun-colored female hawk that he named Faun(he doesn't have much of an knack for thinking up names). He has a lot of homemade clothing that is very dear to him, as well as a short blade that he values very much. Py's hobbies include hunting(sometimes with Faun), climbing, running, swimming, and exploring the land around his home in the Blackness. Py strode confidently through the Blackness from the clearing in which he lived, his hawk, Faun, flying over his head, landing once in awhile to snatch a mouse from the ground. Py broke through the tangle of vines and stepped, red-skinned feet bare, onto the slab of rock that was his cliff. He peered over the edge, enjoying the exhilarating height, and watching the waterfall below churning the tranquil lake into foam and bubbles. Py began to whistle, pulling his shirt over his head, folding it, and gently setting it aside. He turned the whistle into a song, all his deep, magnificent voice booming over the little area cleared of forest: "A man of the Forest Black should be invincible; Succeed where a less fantastic man would fail; Climb a wall no one else can climb; Cleave a beast in record time; Swim a moat in a coat of heavy iron mail. No matter the pain he ought to be unwinceable, Impossible deeds should be his daily fare. But where in the world Is there in the world A man so extraordinaire? C'est moi! C'est moi, I'm forced to admit! 'Tis I, I humbly reply. That mortal who These marvels can do, C'est moi, c'est moi, 'tis I. I've never lost In battle or game. I'm simply the best by far. When swords are cross'd 'Tis always the same: One blow and au revoir! C'est moi! C'est moi, So admir'bly fit; A vagrant Prometheus unbound. And here I stand with valor untold, Exception'lly brave, amazingly bold, To serve on this planet's young ground! The soul of a man should be a thing remarkable: His heart and his mind as pure as morning dew. With a will and a self-restraint That's the envy of ev'ry saint, He could easily work a miracle or two! To love and desire he ought to be unsparkable. The ways of the flesh should offer no allure. But where in the world Is there in the world A man so untouch'd and pure? C'est moi. C'est moi! C'est moi, I blush to disclose, I'm far too noble to lie. That man in whom These qualities bloom, C'est moi, c'est moi, 'tis I! I've never stray'd From all I believe. I'm bless'd with an iron will. Had I been made The partner of Eve, We'd be in Eden still. C'est moi! C'est moi, The angels have chose To fight their battles below. And here I stand as pure as a pray'r, Incredibly clean, with virtue to spare, The godliest man I know . . .! C'est moi!" Py peered over the edge of the cliff, his soul in league with Faun, soaring over 'his' expanse of land, as far as the eye could see. Below the waterfall bubbled and frothed, spreading ripples across the otherwise clear and tranquil water. Py lifted his muscled arms over his head, touching his hands together. He bent over the cliff, and with a little hop, jumped off the edge. Py spiraled downward through the clean, fresh air, reveling in his ability to 'fly'. Faun darted around him, crying out in pleasure, and as Py neared the water's surface, he molded his perfect physique into an aerodynamic position, slipping silently into the water. Py floated, suspended under water, opening his eyes to see the sun dappling the water and everything underneath, turning it blue-green and gold. He was a fish, an otter, a dolphin, sleek and swift and quiet. Time for some air, Py mused with a small grin, and kicked powerfully to the surface, spraying water into the air as he reached the sweet oxygen. Faun circled overhead, and Py descended again, collecting small pearly shells to add to the ivory necklace he had 'round his neck.  For you see, Py was very vain, and liked nothing better than to strut around in beautiful clothing.  Py was very fond of his clothes, despite the fact that they were care-worn and hand-made, and treated them as silk or velvet.  Py, having gathered a large handful of shells, returned to the surface and pulled himself onto the bank, where he allowed the shells to spill across the sand so he could take a look at them.  With a raised eyebrow and a steady hand, he sorted the blemished shells from the glowing, nearly-perfect spirals and scallops.  Those he pocketed, and whistled for Faun as he stood.  She landed gently on his shoulder, and he started the long trek homeward, on the way gathering his shirt from the cliff.  A myriad of critters followed him through the Blackness, and Py spoke softly and politely to them.  Py could, for some reason, empathize with any animal, big or small, when they were in close range; he liked them, and they liked him.  In fact, animals were the only people, besides his parents, that Py was friendly with.  Other things, especially humans, got on his nerves and made him very rude, sarcastic, and sardonical, not to mention stubborn, selfish, and arrogant..  As a result, even if he had not been banished to the Blackness, Py would have lived in solitary.  Besides, large crowds frightened him, and where there were friends there were sure to be large crowds.  Py reached his home, a large bungalow in the middle of a clearing where he and his parents lived.  There his furry friends departed, and Faun took wing, preferring the lofty branches of the trees to Py's house.  Py entered. "Oh, hello, Py," his mother greeted him.  "You're just in time, as always, for dinner."  Py grinned and helped his mother set the table; then he and his father carried in the food.  After dinner, Py went to his room, where he shut the door and sank gracefully onto the dirt floor.  From under his bed he fished several shiny articles of paper, which portrayed nothing else but...dragons.  Py sighed with longing.  How he wished to be a dragon-rider, one of the many gallant men who owned the vast skies and were able to travel anywhere in the blink of an eye.  And there was something more...inside him itched a vague aching to protect something..not a woman, and not a child, nor any of the animals that wandered the blackness.  No indeed--a dragon was what he wanted. Py heard his mother calling to him, and being an obedient son he reluctantly put away the papers and walked out to see what she wanted of him.  His mother and father were sitting quite close together, smiling widely, his mother blushing with what seemed like pride and a little embarassment. "Py darling, we have something to tell you...." his father said, and his mother interjected, happily, "We're going to have another child!"  For a moment there was silence.  Py's jaw dropped; it had never occurred to him that he could be replaced, that his life could be anything but perfect.  But now, now they were bringing something simply horrid, something demanding and smelly, who would scream and cry into all hours of the night and make life hell, a stranger who would take up all his family's time and Py would not be able to stand it! "WHAT?!?!"  Py roared, jumping to his feet.  "Aren't I enough?  Why would you go and do something like that?  How could you let it happen!"  Py winced and blocked all thoughts of...that...from his mind, and just let his conscious fool him into thinking they had deliberately bought some sort of baby-making device, or something.  His mother stared at him. "We thought you'd be happy, darling!" she said, smiling a small, tearful smile, his father turning beet red.  "Well I'm not, as you've probably figured out,"  Py muttered.  He knew he was going to far, but by then he couldn't stop himself.  "Why can't you just get rid of it?"   Py's father stood stiffly.  "I'm not going to sit by and let you speak to your mother that way.  Out!"  He pointed to the door and after a moment of angry defiance, Py dashed out, heading toward the deeper forest.  Faun screeched worriedly, and flew along behind him as Py crashed through the underbrush.  "How could they?" was the only thing on Py's mind, not where he was going, and so, after about half an hour of running blindly, Py stopped and turned in a circle, not quite sure where he was.  Around him was an inky darkness that served as proof of the truthfulness of the Forest's name, and besides Faun's sorrowful murmurings, there was no sound at all.  Py sat down exhaustedly, and put his head in his hands.  Suddenly, there was the sound of angry snorting, and pawing at the bushes.  And even more startling, a wild ryanth burst out of one such bush, straight at Py! With a yelp, Py scrambled to his feet, the wild beast right at his heels.  Luckily, Py was extremely nimble, and managed to use a tree trunk to his advantage, vaulting over the ryanth's head.  But that wouldn't save him for long, as the ryanth could turn faster than Py thought, and Py had to make a hasty jump into one of the low trees.  On the ground was the ryanth, kicking at the tree, but Py thought himself safe for a while.  Hopefully the ryanth would go away before nightfall--although Py had no way of knowing what time of day it was, due to the heavy canopy--and he could go home. If he felt like it...assuming he could find his way home. A gentle, juicy thud on the back of Py's long-black-haired head made him whirl around to see a furry little black monkey throwing small purple fruits at him.  "Hey, there!" Py said, smiling.  The monkey chattered, and Py could sense its playful mood.  In fact, the presence of the monkey made Py much more cheerful and awake, and he engaged in a little game of toss with it.  As he did so, Py looked around, and what he saw made his black eyes wide.  The trees were absolutely filled with monkeys of all shapes, colors, and sizes, as well as dozens upon dozens of brightly plumed birds.  A flock of small passion-pink and orange birds alighted on his head and shoulders, which made Faun intensely jealous.  She fluffed up and turned away, as more monkeys came to investigate the strange new human that had found his way into their tree. Py, encouraged by the camaraderie of his little friends, decided to spend the night, if not the rest of his life, in the canopy of the part of the Forest where he found himself.  Monkeys helped to gather wood, and the birds, not including Faun for she was still annoyed, picked vines and plants to decorate and cover his 'house,' as well as hold it together.  Py sat in the hammock he had made, surveying his newly finished home.  He grinned broadly.  It was a good home, sturdy and served well to protect him from the elements... Now all that remained was to learn how to actually get up there on purpose! So Py practiced swinging on the vines.  It wasn't hard, but it required a rhythm that Py had to practice over and over to make sure of.  However, he soon got the hang of it, and it became his favorite form of recreation.  Of course, the only other form was running for dear life from the ryanths that were determined to trample him to tiny bits. Py was secure in his home, and in the lifestyle he had chosen.  Faun had long since forgiven him, and was always a watchful winged guardian whenever he saw fit to go on a little forest trek, guiding him back to their home.  He rarely thought of his parents, though something often nagged at the back of his mind, late at night, when he was trying to go to sleep... One morning, Py was particularly out of it and rather irritated, having not been able to sleep very well, being plagued by nightmares.  As usual, he swung out of his house on the closest vine, to go looking for his breakfast.  Py wasn't really concentrating on the rhythm; he assumed he had it down.  So after swinging as far as possible, he reached out for the next vine....and missed. Py was vaguely aware of a hard surface under his back, and Faun's frantic screeching as she flew in circles above him.  And...pain.