Was it wrong to break a promise or a rule? For the most part Rico normally believed it generally was not. But that depended on the circumstances. The wyvern shifter had been at the mansion almost a month now. During the day he was happy for the most part. But at night the walls seemed to close in on him. Since coming here he was kept under close observation at first.

But after a while he was granted the liberty and freedom to move around so long as he stayed in view of a X or a security camera at all times. Rico understood why with his history of giving in to animal instinct and eating people. Mutant, beast and human alike. But food was not a problem here. He practically had everything he wanted. But there was a itch that needed scratching and Rico could not ignore it any more.

He longed to feel the wind under his wings. To be free of the world and soar above it carelessly on the rivers of air high above. Shifting to his dragon form was not something he was really able to do as of late. Rico had promised Juliette Lawson but the way he figured..... it was better to ask forgiveness then permission.

Feeling restless with the instinctive need to shift and fly around above Rico stayed up until most of the mansion activity had come to a stop in the middle of the night. A few sleepless souls would no doubt be up and about. There always was. But fellow residents and students were not the problem. The problem was getting outside past the security cameras and night shift staff making sure Rico and a few others deemed dangerous would not go anywhere without supervision.

Having built up the courage for the attempted sneak out tonight Rico left out of his room and closed the door carefully as to not make to much noise. A grandfather clock down the corridor ticked away giving a almost creepy air to the corridor lacking any activity. His predatory senses were very much active but not for the purpose of hunting prey as was the case in the past. Tonight he wanted to go cloak and dagger.

Rico crept through the mansion his ears listening for the slightest sound, his eyes looking for the outline of body heat in the darkness. So far it was going well. But as anybody would tell you. Plans never really worked out as you planned them.

Leon lay on the floor of his room, trying to get comfortable. Honestly, sleep should have come easily, the dorm carpet was soft compared to the streets. Maybe it was just the change in scenery, he hadn't really slept in a room for years. It felt unnaturally quiet without the sound of cars, music, and yelling that came with the city ambiance. He supposed he would eventually acclimate, but right now it just made him nervous, out of his element. It didn't feel like he was settling down just yet, his body wasn't relaxed enough. He gave a short annoyed huff before getting up. Maybe a walk about would help. He hadn't really explored the mansion that much, with all the people in it he was afraid to go walking about during the busy hours of the day, but evenings it was a bit less active. He grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, pulling it carefully on. It already had a few holes where a few of his spines had pierced, but it was the best one he could find at keeping his quills covered up. He double checked the bandages around his tail, even though there shouldn't be many people, he didn't want to lose a stray spine on the carpets for someone to step on tomorrow and end up hospitalized.

He quietly opened his door, slipped out and started walking, his padded feet hardly making a sound. He looked around, despite it being dark, his eyesight was pretty clear. The layout and decor reminded him of how rich these people had to be, else they had some majorly generous donors keeping this place looking like a palace. Well, at least in his view. It was easy to call it a palace when you really didn't have anything to your name for comparison.

Everything seemed to be going to plan. At least until he rounded the bend in the hallway. It was another resident like him. Well not quite like him. This person had a red lion like mane and a tail. Not just the visual features catch Rico's interest, but also the smells. They were nothing he had smelled before and like all creatures, unique to the stranger. Kind of like a scent signature. Curiosity won out in the end and Rico forgot about his mission to sneak outside.

"Oh, hey." Rico said and walked over. "Glad to see I am not the only restless soul walking about. I don't think I have seen or smelled you before." With that he extended a hand. "I'm Rico. I came here a few weeks back, still pretty new here and getting use to things. How about you?"

Leon was caught off guard when someone else rounded a turn and greeted him. He took a visual step back to keep his distance, he didn't want the guy running into him. Only then did he process what was being said and was hit by the strangeness of it before remembering who else went here. He had an enhanced sense of smell himself, though he generally didn't rely on it. Despite all appearances, he wasn't all that animalistic in demeanor or mentality. He was just literally venomous, though his spines were wrapped up by his jacket and bandages around his tail. The most visible ones were at the 'tuft' of his tail, which were hard to wrap properly, but thankfully they were the ones that were not poisonous.

He didn't reach for Rico's hand when offered, not out of disrespect though. He never touched anyone if he could help it, too paranoid about his unwanted spines to get comfortable enough to allow it. Even though his spines were on his back, they were prone to breaking off, and all it took was one. One quill send a person convulsing in pain, and possibly kill them. He could barely live with himself as it was, he was already a monster, but if he killed anyone... he didn't know if he would be able to.

"Um... not long," he said hesitantly. He hadn't been at the mansion especially long, so most of the people he didn't know. "I'm Leon." He wasn't the best conversationalist.

Rico was not so much offended by the refused handshake but confused. He did not dwell on it though just assuming it was out of shyness or due to a mutation. That was one thing that came in all shapes and sizes around this place. And honestly that was what Rico liked best about the mansion. Nobody would feel out of place. Well, at least they should not. Rico lowered his hand and listened to the other mutant.

"Um... not long, I'm Leon."

Rico crossed his arms and smiled. This guy really was the timid type. But from what he had experienced in the world there were three kinds of people. Shepard's, sheep, and wolves. Rico was the latter. More predator and confident then meek. But he figured that was just because this guy was new.

"Well its nice to meet you Leon. I know it can be a bit overwhelming at first but you will get use to this place after a week or two. Took me a while. I still cant seem to get a normal sleep pattern though. I got a bit of the cabin fever at the moment." At that paused in thought. Going against his better judgment Rico decided to tell this mutant what he was doing.

"I got a itch I really need scratching and really want to go outside for some fresh air. Buuuut....... I kinda am not suppose to go anyplace out of a cameras view or a X. But I don't remember them saying anything about me not being able to have some alone time for a bit so long as a fellow resident keeps a eye on me. You mind doing me a solid here and coming outside with me for a little bit. Would sure beat having to slink around like a ally cat so nobody notices me leaving."

It was not breaking the rules he was given. Not really. The way Rico figured it. He was just bending the rules a bit. Not breaking them.

Rico seemed the talkative type. Leon wasn't all that used to it, having practically lived in his own head for a long time. Conversation did not come naturally, and he felt at a loss for what to really say. He guessed he could relate a little, since he was having issues getting to sleep, he guessed he would probably go through his own version of cabin fever eventually. "Yeah... I'm not used to soft carpets," he said, completely missing that he had said carpet. To him a hard floor was normal, so he hadn't thought twice, even though it probably sounded strange without context.

He hadn't known the mansion had cameras when Rico mentioned it, but he guessed that was normal, and probably a requirement with a school full of mutants. He personally understood why, if there was an accident... it was a bit relieving that there was someone keeping an eye on him. He didn't know if there were any other poisonous mutants around, but at least this place was prepared. Not that it made him feel any better about himself.

"Sure..." he said when Rico asked him to come with him outside. Some fresh air would probably be nice. Even though the mansion was airy and spacious, it still felt stuffy and enclosing to him. It was going to be some time until he felt comfortable with an actual roof over his head. "Just... keep your distance, my spines are very poisonous," he added in. He wanted to be sure that this guy knew about the danger of being around him so there were no misconceptions. He didn't plan on getting close to anyone while he was here, anyone close to him had either been poisoned or rejected him on his appearance, so there wasn't any benefit for associating with him, just a risk of pain for both parties.

"Yeah... I'm not used to soft carpets,"

At that comment Rico could not help but laugh. "Yeah, this place is a bit to rich for my blood as well. All the more reason to enjoy it while we can. I'm pretty sure I cant stay here forever." Thinking back on it the mansion sure beat the cheap apartments he had. He could have swore that some of the roach's were as big as mice.

"Just... keep your distance, my spines are very poisonous,"

Ah, now that explained a lot right off the bat. "Oh, No worry's. While I am pretty sure with my healing ability I would get mildly sick. I will keep a safe distance. Better to be safe then sorry." Rico tried to be as casual as he could be as if the whole thing was no big deal. Not that it was not. But sometimes just treating another soul like a 'normal' person was the best thing to do.

Rico went down the halls of the mansion and the stairs to the main door now no longer concerned about the cameras. Pushing open the doors he went outside into the cool night air and took in a deep breath and exhaled with a stretch. "Now that is much better. Hey, something just came to mind."

With that he turned to the other mutant. "Maybe tomorrow you should go speak to the Doc at the infirmary. Might be a good idea for him to take some samples of that poison. If its venom maybe he can work up some antivenom to help if any accidents happen. Cant remember exactly when. But I also remember reading somewhere that venom is actually very important in the medical community. They can help with medical treatments and breakthroughs for medicines. Like treating high blood pressure, or treating heart attacks. Just food for thought."

As much as he wanted to shift forms and fly tonight. Rico decided to hold back. "Maybe another time....." Rico mumbled as he looked at the sky with longing. For some reason he just did not want this person seeing his body rip itself apart from the inside out. It was not exactly a pretty sight.

Leon hadn't met anyone with a healing ability. Well, he hadn't met many people period, so that wasn't saying much. He was thankful that Rico was on the same track as him though, even if his poison didn't outright kill him, it would probably be unpleasant anyway. He had been stabbed a few times with his own spines when they broke off in his fur, and despite being immune to his venom, they still hurt a lot.

He walked outside, and looked at the different shades of colors. His eyes weren't like normal human eyes, he could see in the dark, so all night time did was change the coloration of the leaves from a bright green to a more dulled viridian. It was a bit more noticable here. The city usually had lights everywhere, so most things were still lit up, but here it was more pronounced. It was... interesting, but not much of a big deal.

"Maybe tomorrow you should go speak to the Doc at the infirmary. Might be a good idea for him to take some samples of that poison. If its venom maybe he can work up some antivenom to help if any accidents happen. Cant remember exactly when. But I also remember reading somewhere that venom is actually very important in the medical community. They can help with medical treatments and breakthroughs for medicines. Like treating high blood pressure, or treating heart attacks. Just food for thought."

Leon hadn't met the 'Doc' but he would not be eager to in any case. He didn't want anyone getting close to his spines, regardless of intention. "All I've seen my venom do is cause unbelievable pain." he said, somewhat sourly, "Not much good in that." He didn't know anything about medicine or venom outside of the fact that snake bites, spider bites and any other thing involving natural poisons were bad for you, so Rico's words of encouragement were lost on him.

"All I've seen my venom do is cause unbelievable pain."

Rico did not really know what to say to that. He did not really know much about venom. Just a few odd facts here and there from magazines read out of the desperation of boredom. But he did know what it was for his mutation to cause pain to himself and to others.

"Well....." Rico said lowly and trailed off. "Most mutations have something that makes it not all that great. I'm a shifter of sorts. I have heard stories of shape shifters that can turn into animals with just a flash of light. Quick and painless. When I do it. Its a bit more traumatic. And very, very, painful." Rico went quiet again and listened to the hooting of a distant owl from the woods near the school. To the relaxing sounds of the crickets and there songs. In that instant he found a brief moment of clarity in the peace of it all.

"For the longest time I use to hate my power. Wanted to be human. But in the end I just came to accept that we are what we are. We can sit around all day depressed or we can just accept the life that was given to us. I cant say I know how you are feeling. I highly doubt you would ever understand how I feel when it comes to my mutation. But we can at least empathize with each other. Though our paths are different. We all fight the same struggle. Control. You will learn to manage your spines. For good or ill. Time heals all things and here we have plenty of that."

Rico felt a bit stupid now. And shook his head. "Sorry, I think my therapist is starting to rub off onto me." Out of habit Rico pulled out a pack of reds and lit the cigarette with a bic lighter. "Oh! You don't mind do you?" He asked really fast having realized he should have asked before lighting it up. But if the smoke bothered Leon at least Rico could walk further out into the darkness of the night.

Leon listened, but honestly wasn't convinced. He didn't doubt that whatever Rico did caused him pain, mutations were cruel enough to do that. But the talk of controlling and managing his quills was an empty phrase for him. He couldn't stop his quills growing any more then Rico could stop his hair from growing. Rico at least looked normal, and if he was a shape shifter, his powers only affected himself. Leon couldn't be close to anyone without putting them in danger. His venom wasn't something that was temporary, or that he could take a break from. Being what he was now, he would gladly take powers that tore himself apart to become something else every so often then being a poisonous monster 24/7.

However, Leon didn't voice this. He knew it was pointless. Everyone in the mansion seemed to have this thing about accepting what they were. But then most of them had abilities that made them amazing. Few experienced more then a bit of inconvenience it seemed, true some could be dangerous, but it wasn't something that couldn't be worked around in some fashion. For Leon, there wasn't any way to escape. He covered up, but his spines didn't just vanish. They poked through if he got agitated and moved in the wrong fashion. They broke off and became hazards if they weren't collected and disposed of. In the best case scenario they got tangled in his fur and ended up sticking into him. He couldn't relax for a moment when he was around people least he miss one. But he would never be able to convince anyone of how hopeless his case was. He wasn't smart, or charismatic, or even all that likable, the only reason he was invited here was because he was a mutant, not for any talent in his own right.

The smell of the cigarette burned in Leon's nose, irritating it greatly. He hated strong scents. The look on his face would have said it all if he had been looking at Rico at the time. But he simply looked away, "Your fine," he lied, not wanting to ruin the guys night with his own pathetic issues.

Out of the darkness a  rifle shot rang out from the direction of the woods. Rico did not seem to pay the shot that disturbed the peace of the night any mind. He just stood there puffing on his cancer stick and finally muttered as he flicked it away. The burning hot cherry hitting the walkway and casting a explosion of embers.

"Nothing more irritating then poachers." Rico said to Leon. "Still, I think it would be some good fun to remind them that they are not at the top of the food chain." Rico never thought he would ever think it. But he was really missing the whole people running from him in fear thing. He did not get that kind of treatment from his fellow mutants here at the mansion. But then again Rico was pretty sure the X's did not exactly go around advertising to everyone about his habit of going feral and eating anything and anyone that can fit in his mouth.

"It will be nice to do some hunting of my own tonight." At that comment he looked to Leon and added with a chuckle. "I aint gonna hurt em. Just scare em a bit." At least that is what he intended. "What do you think?" He asked.

Leon heard the gun shot. It startled him a little, it seemed louder given the utter lack of background noise he was used to from the city. He didn't know enough about guns to really tell what kind it was by sound, though he would guess something big and very capable of killing him. He never really liked them since in all likelihood he would one day end up on the other end of one. Still, Rico's comments came as relatively disturbing to him. While he by no means thought poachers were in the right, the thought of hunting them down was something monstrous. Of course he was a monster, but even so, the last thing he wanted to do was go around purposefully trying to hurt people. He had enough guilt on his conscience merely from accidentally poisoning people. He could only imagine how his sanity would crumble if he started hunting people down like an animal.

"I do hope your kidding," he said, not quite able to hide the disgust at the idea in his tone, "The last thing I want to do is go after anyone, even if in jest." He had the feeling Rico hadn't caught on that he was not the spontaneous or adventurous type. He just wanted to get through his life without killing anyone.

"I do hope your kidding,"

Rico could not help but feel a bit insulted by the tone of disgust in Leon's voice. "And why not?" Rico countered with a tone of irritation in his voice now. "I cant help with my urges to hunt any more then you can stop yourself from growing those spines. But what would you know? Your not of the blood. You are not Ostroja."

"The last thing I want to do is go after anyone, even if in jest."

Rico could not help but laugh at that. "Well you are such a bright shining example. Fine then, you can stay here while I go put the fear of god into them. I get to satisfy my urge to fly and hunt. Some poachers learn to hunt elsewhere and keep there lives. Everyone wins." Walking away now Rico stopped to look over his shoulder. "Its only a matter of time until a stray bullet comes flying out and hitting the mansion or god forbid, a student. They have to learn now that coming to these woods to shoot guns is not the best of ideas." Looking back forward Rico muttered under his breath. "Besides, there is something in those woods that will not be as kind as me."

Not warning Leon Rico focused on the change in his body. The flesh under his cloths wiggled like worms as cells mutated and changed. Bones grew bigger and more denser. Others cracked loudly as they broke to take other shapes not that of a human. The cloths once fitting and loose grew tight and ripped. It was not exactly a pretty sight seeing a human body rip itself apart from the inside out. But that was just the nature of things and just the way it was.

When it was all said and done Rico stood in his dragon, or wyvern form as some called it. While the body was a little bigger then a large draft horse he was far more intimidating with scales black as the night. Standing upright on strong powerful legs equipped with wicked curved talons the creature used its long tail to support the upright posture and extended its bat like wings out to the side.

Taking in a deep breath it exhaled with a rumbling sigh and jerked  its head around to set some vertebra in place in its long neck with loud pops. "Stay here......." The giant reptile said with a deep voice. "This will only take but a moment."

Leon had no idea what Ostroja meant, but he knew the tone. "Yeah, I DON'T know anything, I'm just the guy who poison's everything he touches." he retorted, knowing full well that he didn't understand anything about a need to hunt. He was too busy trying not to kill anyone just from him existing. He was quick to concede any argument on the fact that he was a monster, reluctant or not, and that he would always be a danger to anyone who even walked around him. Yeah, he couldn't talk about wanting not to hurt people, since that was all he ever did.

He retreated back into his own space, he was not social at the best of times, his only defense was ever retreat, wither from a physical confrontation or a verbal one. He had no illusion that he was a good person, let alone an example as Rico had put it. He had long given up any hope, and maybe Rico had a point in a way, it would be better if a bullet found him rather than any of the other students. I was not like he was doing any good here, he was no better then the hunters, putting everyone in danger.

His line of thinking was broken by the sound of a human body tearing itself apart. He stepped back and watched, unable to help himself, it wasn't something you commonly saw. When it was complete, he half expected Rico to turn and bite him in half. Instead he just told him to stay here. He wondered if he should follow him anyway. Not that he wanted to hurt anyone, but he guessed he could maybe watch Rico and make sure he didn't get hurt.

Rico had a hunger in his eyes. A predatory one. But it was not the same...... nor less primal then the hunger for flesh. Different though his hunger was. He ran away from the other student with his wings folded to his sides with almost cheetah like speed to disappear in the forest. He weaved between tree trunks. Jumped over some fallen ones, ducked under others.

But in the end he followed the scent of blood and human sweat on the air. Not even skipping a beat he ran between the human hunters without reflective vests to snatch a gun out there hand. The speed of his moving body causing the human to go flying through the air several feet with the motion mere seconds after they let go.

There was shouts and the white light of flashlight beams started to chase the darkness away. Rico longed for the smell of fear. To feel the joy and thrill of hunting prey. This was everything his body craved. With fear came that need for others to be around you and the humans stood side by side. The other now weaponless depending on the other. Rico prowled through the darkness like a predatory cat until he was right behind them and wept his tail to take out there feet from under them in one clean swipe of his tail.

Before the two hunters even landed on there backs on the soft foliage of the woods Rico was on all fours over them. Roaring, his saliva in thick strands flying out with the breath to hit there faces. Rico relished the shock and fear smell that there bodies gave off. In the end it was to much for them and the humans blacked out.

"How disappointing......" He grumbled and sniffed the humans over to examine there health through smell alone. They were so scared they passed out. So much for his fun. Still Rico would not let it be as it was. The dead buck they were approaching before he attacked was still there. The way Rico figured it. Want not, Waste not right? He devoured the tasty flesh of the poached animal and scattered the bones and remains he did not like all over the hunters passed out body's.

The way Rico figured it. If they thought HE was a bad dream when they woke up. Waking up to devoured animal remains, blood, and gore would drive the point home it was not a dream. If anything they would think themselves lucky Rico had chosen to eat the dear instead of them. In the end they would avoid this place and especially not talk about it. Who would believe them anyways? Just another tall tale by a hunter. No different then a hunter seeing big foot.

But for the moment Rico was on all fours over the hunters passed out bodies devouring the buck. The smell of blood in the air, rich and thick. The sounds of flesh tearing and bones cracking. Rico thought he heard something and paused to look in the direction of the sound. Letting out a low hiss a thin milky white lens fell over his eyes and he saw the body heat signature in the darkness. "I can see you. So no use in hiding. Come out now if you are no threat. If not, all the more fun for me. I will hunt you down and feast on your flesh. Bones and all."

Had Rico known who it was. His words would not have been so..... dark. But Rico learned a long time ago. Fear was a useful weapon, like greed, if you knew how to use it.