The calm of the forest [Lance-Balthazar-Haraka]

The spooky forest had seemed so dead quiet last time he was here. It seemed like the perfect place to teach William some basic things, or to try. The baby was still in the phase of growth where they learned through observation and tasting everything. Haraka wasn't exactly expecting to get anywhere, but at least out here? Nobody would watch him try to teach a baby things, fail, then give into play time and animal care. Of course, it being quiet didn't mean nobody was there. Last time the mixed blood had been here, he hadn't even been part of a guild yet. It would be careless to act too casual and knowing around a place you hadn't visited in years. This was why Omaras was fully dressed in guild attire and certain body parts were tucked far away. The last thing needed was making random strangers think he was a monster. Then again the mix blood didn't exactly look normal even at him most well dressed. Humans don't have ice blue skin. Safe doesn't normally include a man with big curved horns. Friendly usually lacks talon like nails that look to be carved out of stone. At least the necklace under the young looking mans dress shirt kept glowing from being yet another thing there to remind the world that the shrimp demon wasn't normal. The world reminded him far too often for him to ever forget just how lucky the man was to be alive. Even those who seemed the nicest tended to have their limits on what they deemed should and shouldn't be allowed to be born.

Every new life was born clean and pure though, each one with endless possibilities. Yes, they might turn out bad. Wasn't that possible in any species though? Any could have a child grow up to be dark and bitter. Was it placing culture, stereotypes and meaning over those too young to comprehend even what the sun is? William wasn't the only reason he felt this way. There was a time he was found in a place where culture deemed it wiser to cull the half demon baby rather than take a chance. His grandmother decided instead to find him a home. She hadn't been perfect, but the dragon woman had still been a wise and loving person. Then again, that ice dragon walked a grey area in racism. She hadn't normally killed any babies, but she was quick 'release' someone from demonic possession when it happened in her area. The woman also hadn't been above killing demon or part demon children who showed 'symptoms' of becoming 'corrupted' by their 'not clean' blood. Then again, did he actually know anyone who wasn't a child that wouldn't fall under the moral grey area? Maybe he was the one in the wrong here though. There were so many people okay with it. Perhaps he was the one who was in the wrong, but accepting that would be like saying he didn't think he should have been left alive. But of course, his dark thinking was interrupted by a clam tapping its foot on Harakas forehead. On his face sat William who probably had no idea what an adult would be thinking.

"Hey there, why are you poking me? Are you hungry? I'm alright, it's alright, you can calm down." Each word was picked based on how the clam reacted to them. It hadn't been curiosity or hunger, just for some reason the creature had been concerned with him. Was it a bad sign when babies start poking you with worry? No, animals were more perceptive than a lot of people, as were babies when it came to emotions. This didn't count as a worrisome thing. A few fingers reached up, softly petting the young ones shell at an attempt to calm them. It seemed to work well enough, William flying off of his face. The creature tucked itself next to its persons neck, it's foot going back inside its shell for now. Of course by that time Omaras had been walking distracted for quite a few minutes. By the time the young looking man looked around, he found the need to stop. Black dress shoes stopped moving, dark sapphire irises moving to look at the man and the fox near by. At least it didn't look like the animal was bothered by him, but that was normal for most animals that didn't try to kill him. So? He wasn't sure if talking was or wasn't a wise idea. Still, it would be worse to be totally silent. "Hello there stranger."

Did he normally talk to strangers in a forest? No, not in this kind of forest. "Talk to the person I almost walked into while being temporarily blinded by a baby animal? Less awkward than staying silent." Yes, there was a difference between a random stranger and the one you were a few steps from walking on. Then of course there was a loud sound and a skidding young bat male. That couldn't feel all that nice, mainly on ones pride. Was the person okay? Why were they running through this sort of place in the first place? That sort of fall was definitely caused by some speed and failure in balance. An obvious thing to note was the fox running off, it was likely a wild creature. Most wildlife would run from loud sounds like that. Did this guy just threaten to mug him? "You could try to mug the guy that basically has a tiny curved blade on every finger, but it likely wouldn't go over well for you." Well, that was basically what his talons felt like. It was very useful for cooking at least, saved a lot of time. It also meant he had to keep them clean, but that was a must anyway. Part of him wished the pale haired stranger had remained sitting with the fox. Even if that didn't necessarily mean the guy would have spoken nicer, the body movements would have likely been a bit less grumpy. Why? His hands would be full of fox.

Thinking these things wouldn't make the animal return though. Maybe the person would act a bit nicer if he helped with the fox? But first things first, was the bat guy alright? Dark sapphire irises moved in their pools of blue aquamarine. Should he offer a hand? Not offering it could be rude, but to some people offering it would be a suggestion of weakness. So, he spoke again with his soft and gentle voice, "Are you alright? What has you in such a rush?" Haraka soon felt a certain mollusc poke a bare part of his neck with their foot. Before he could respond to that though, a new voice had entered the scene. An apology? Omaras looked over, spotting the tiny demon. That sounded like a lot of isolation, if he didn't count the tiny demon as one for conversation. Well, that at least made it feel a bit less like the guy was contemplating starting a fight. "It's alright, isolation can be pretty rough." From what he has heard and read he was pretty sure that was accurate. "It's a pleasure to meet you both... Well." He glanced over at the bat demon, "three technically?" He shrugged a bit with his shoulders before looking back at the tiny demon. "I'm Haraka, the baby demonic clam on my neck is Count William Akeldama the II."

The mixed blood didn't know why the makers of the trap even used corpses as a fuel for the summon trap. It was basically a resource that would rapidly decay. In any case he still felt the foot tapping against his neck. He knew this tapping, it was the 'I am hungry now' taps. One hand reached into his dress vest, pulling out a small bag made of thick fabric. In his hand reached, Williams foot easing its poking at their person. Out a small chunk of raw meat was pulled. The young looking old man placed it on top of the babies shell, knowing it was an easy to find spot. In response the demonic clam brushed its foot over the shell before grabbing the chunk of meat than pulling it into its shell. After that? William closed up, most likely to start focusing on eating. He would have explained how he got his pet, but he really didn't feel like possible getting in a fight to defend his baby clams right to exist.