Quick! Shelter~! (Andro/open)

[nessyo]

♥ Chocolat -

Chocolat had misjudged the weather.

The sky had grown dark and grey and ominous, with that strange luminous quality that came from sun shining through grey stormclouds. It lit the shoreline in an eerie half-light, one that had slowly encroached alongside the clouds from the shining and bright day that had dawned with the morning. When she'd wriggled free from the fence that surrounded her humans' territory, the thought of a storm had been the furthest thing from her mind. Even as the grey clouds had crawled up behind her, she hadn't been concerned: the storms she was used to were slow-building, the thing of evenings. The summer storms here were still new and unfamiliar.

With the dark clouds overhead far form her mind, Chocolat instead turned her attention to something that had been fascinating her recently: the legends of the lighthouse. Occasionally her humans took her to places with lots of dogs and their humans, and though she always felt out of place in such events, Chocolat nevertheless usually managed to find a dog or two to listen to, or a conversation to overhear. One such conversation had taken place amongst a group of yorkies, talking about a lighthouse near the shore: she hadn't gotten involved, but she'd not-so-subtly listened, because the shore was quickly becoming one of her favorite places in this town that her family had moved to.

The lighthouse, it was said, was haunted. Nobody went there, and the only thing that lived inside was bugs and rats. On the face, Chocolat had shuddered and thought that it must be an awful disgusting place-- but she was still young, and there was a part of her that howled for adventure, and that part of her wouldn't let the lighthouse out of her mind. It'd been a week now, and she couldn't resist temptation any longer. She'd just go quickly, she told herself: just a quick visit, to look at it from a distance and nothing more.

And truly, that's what she'd been intending, but the storm had other plans. As soon as she saw it in the distance, the dark clouds above gave a loud CRRK of thunder, which made her yelp and jump, looking at the sky in alarm: that storm had gathered much much faster then she'd been expecting! And storms recently had been awful, dry but full of lightning, occasionally sparking fires. It might be good to find a place to shelter...

But all there was was the lighthouse, dark and creepy and several yards away.

Perhaps it would be better to run the way she'd come- but another loud crack of thunder decided her, and so, tail between her legs, she ran for the lighthouse and scurried inside, looking for somewhere dark and not-too-cobwebby to hide.

Outside, the rain began to fall: it wasn't one of those dry storms after all, but a normal summer storm, with hard rain and loud thunder and the occasional flick of far-off lightning. The particulars didn't matter too much to her: Chocolat was afraid of the thunder, though she refused to admit it to herself, and she wasn't feeling too keen to come out of her impromptu shelter.

Not that she found said shelter very comfortable-- shivering slightly in the corner, she looked around nervously as often as she peered out the cracked walls at the storm: what if the stories were true and this place was haunted?

[Tagliagole]

<sup>Andronikos paced around the rickety platform atop the lighthouse, fiery eyes glancing every now and again over the horizon. A look of heavy contemplation lined his sharp, aristocratic features. The slightest of frowns tugged at the corner of his lips. For a moment, he paused and faced the rolling black clouds. It was the only reason he remained stationed atop the building's deck. Andronikos was quite used to fearsome storms, being a born and raised street dog, but he was no fool to strut about amidst the torrents as if it would hold no consequences to his well-being. He sought shelter once he was certain the storm would not simply pass over the city.

This entire situation was a hindrance to his scouting. He had been making great time, inspecting the city and its surrounding areas, when suddenly the atmosphere grew heavy with moisture and the clouds darkened to near obsidian. He had been by the beach, a place none would want to be when a storm such as this rolls in. The tide grew frantic in its cresting. It had licked his paws, and so he left, not wanting to get blindsided by a wave and drug into the currents. It was a slight chance, but a chance none-the-less. He would not risk it.

As he looked over the railing, his attention was drawn from the murky sky and roiling depths to a slight figure. From this height, he could not make out the full-details of said individual, but he knew it was a canine, dark in coloring, and most certainly unaware of the storm from their lackadaisical stride. He pondered for a moment on going down to warn the individual. It seemed, however, that the action was not necessary, for the first crack of thunder sent the canine fleeing in fright; straight to the Light House. But a moment later, the downpour began. He took one last look over the turbulent scene, rain pelting his hide, before he retreated back to the safety of the tower.

The inside of the Lighthouse was about as charming as its outside facade. Dust and webs decorated every surface. Rats could be heard, and one occasion seen, skittering about. The faint droning of insects and the creaking of the structure simply added to the macabre setting. Personally, Andronikos much preferred his former home, which was the ruins of an Ancient Roman civilization. Although, he couldn't complain, as he willing left that sanctuary. This provided enough shelter for him to survive for the time being until he truly found a place to settle.

Even though he was willing to stand this building, he could not help the feeling of mild disgust he felt for the somewhat revolting place. It felt below his standards; that of a prince and king. Swallowing back any negative emotion that may be revealed, he made his way down to the canine who too sought refuge here. His steps, thought deceptively light, did not stop the battered wood from groaning in protest to the added weight he supplied. That was fine with him, as he had no intention of sneaking up on the dog and startling him or her.

As he rounded the last bend, hellfire eyes came to rest upon a quivering female. He paused for a moment, head high and stature telling tales of his sovereignty, as he examined her. She appeared young, not that of a whelp, but rather on the cusp of adulthood; a good few years his junior. Her coat, at first glance, appeared black in its majority, but upon closer look, he could tell it was merely a dark russet color. She seemed purebred, a German Shepherd?, and well-fed, indicating her as a housepet. His examination took only a moment. He stepped down the last two stairs and paused once more, giving the frightened young female a good berth so she did not feel threatened by his looming presence. When he spoke, his voice was calm and a deep baritone with the faintest of accents lilting his words.  "Salve, parvulus. I am Andronikos. Why do you quake so ferociously?" He questioned quietly, curious as to what drove the dog to shake as if death knocked upon her door.

Words: 701
Tagged: Chocolat
Muse: Good
Notes: He spoke latin to her. All he said was: "Hello, little one." Mister Stick-up-his-arse isn't used to others being afraid of thunder or ghosts, so he's curious</sup>. xD