Aoi Ryu was flying low overhead as Torashiro paced through the ever thickening underbrush and gnarled trees. This forest was anything but beautiful, and Shiro barely afforded it the destinction to call it by such an enchanting name. It was twilight, that magical time between day and darkness when anything is possible, and she was caught in the mysticism of the day.

She strolled deeper into a tangle of trees and was surprised to see a glen, a small one, but a beautiful one nonetheless!! Aoi Ryu swooped down into the clearing taking up most of the space. Shiro glided up beside him and snuggled up to his surprisingly warm hide. She nestled into a comfortable position and gazed up at the ever increasing numbers of stars.

This was more like it, a beautiful part of the forest!

Jim was taking a walk around the forest. He didn't have a job right now, so he decided just to wander. He saw a girl and a dragon. "Ello," he called. "What brings you here?"

Shiro turned her eyes to greet the newcomer, a man had entered the clearing. She sat up and noted that Aoi Ryu was guarded. She stroked his scaly side lovingly and calmed him.

"Aiya, I was just taking my dragon, Aoi Ryu, for a walk in the forest when I found this place."

She stood up and noticed that she was about six inches shorter than this man. She pouted, she hated being petite..the darn Japanese in her.

She politely held out her hand, "I'm Torashiro Rana, I just came to Hogwarts! I've been offered a position in the library, do you like to read?" she asked to start casual conversation.

He chuckled. "Oh, trust me, my eyes practically inhale books." he said. It was true. When he was at Hogwarts he almost lived in the libary. "Currently, I'm out of a job, but I have good saving in Gringotts so I'm in no rush." he said. "How old is your dragon? It's smaller than most I've seen.'

Shiro looked at Aoi Ryu, "He's still pretty young, only a hundred and twenty five years old or so. He was my grandfather's and my Mother's. Now Aoi is mine," she leaned closer to rub at the spot just under his wings Aoi liked her to rub.

"I'm glad to hear you're a book lover, I think books are my favourite thing in the world. I can go anywhere without ever leaving!" she said excitedly...her eyes shifted from their usual glossy black to dark blue in her happiness.

He chuckled. "Me and my friend tried making a spell that let you actually go in a book." He turned serious. "Going into Dracula was not a good choice. He died and I didn't use the spell that much."

Shiro looked at the man who had not introduced himself. He was mysterious, but she liked that he was different...a bit dark.

"I'm sorry to hear about your friend," Shiro said sadly, "I would love a spell to go into books...but I think imagination is fine!! I would never have thought of those consequences!! But if you must die what a way to go..doing something you love..." her voice trailed off.

"Oh, pardon me!" he exclaimed. "I didn't introduce myself." he said. "Name's Jim."

((I thought it was part of your personality...LOL being all mysterious))

Shiro's grin widened, "So, JIm, then... Do you have a pet?"

Aoi Ryu stretched one leathery wing blotting out the sun for an instant. Shiro leaned against his side and he drew his wing around her shoulders in an embrace before setteling it back against his body.

(Well, there is more to my char than meets the eye. Shiro doesn't know he's an assaisin.)

Jim shook his head. "No, I don't." he said. "My old job had...er some danger."

(( Wow assassin...did not know that!! gonna have to really go read your profile to see whom I am Rping with, LOL))

Shiro's grin faded. "Oh! Well... " she paused for a moment,"I enjoy having Aoi, he is a good friend. Like tonight, I came to the forest to just walk and I'm glad he was with me. This forest is so depressing, I can see why it's forbidden... you despair just to walk in!" she laughed at how childish she sounded.

"I have worked in many places, but I don't think any job I would have would be too dangerous for Aoi, he kind of helps me in tight places." She was grinning again thinking of the protective properties of a dragon.

He chuckled. "Yes, a dragon can scare off most threats. How Charlie Weasely can survive muptiple encounters, I'll never know."

Shiro had heard of Charlie Weasley. He was known as a great dragon handler, but she had never met him.

"Have you met him?" she asked politely interested. "I wonder if he works with Asian Mountain Dragons like Aoi Ryu?" she mused half to herself. "

'I've met him in the Leaky Cauldron." he didn't say he was supposed to kill him but decided not to. "He was a good guy. He deals with all drgons apprently."

"Hey, did your eyes change color?" he asked.

"I don't know if that's good or bad." he said sitting down on a color. "What emotion are you feeling right now?"

Shiro thought about it, tested her emotion. "Right now I'm content." She allowed herself to relax and her eyes changed to a soft lavender. She was still leaning against Aoi's side and his breathing had become regular, he'd fallen asleep. Shiro really was content, this meant she was in no immediate harm. Perhaps she was on her way to making a new friend! Since she had let her guard down her eyes morphed to a deep indigo, because she was happy and excited at the prospect.

She didn't know exactly what he'd seen to ask about in her eyes, and she didn't want to ask. She suspected it would be either purple for her deep interest because of the topic about Charlie Weasley, or green, for her brief moment of envy.

Suddenly they heard a growl.