TERATO

A Shifty Circumstance

//light lemon! Male Shifter X Nonbinary Eladrin
//see notes at the end for details.

Jensen ran a hand through his dark hair, his pale grey eyes taking in his surroundings. He had been travelling in his true form through the forest, his dark grey skin blending well with the shadows cast by the thick canopy, when he heard a noise in the distance. It sounded like singing, although from this distance it was a wonder he even heard it at all.
It had been a while since his last con, and he was running alarmingly low on cash. As a matter of fact, he had only enough money left for a quick meal in the next village he came across. He wondered, as he melded like putty into his chosen form, if he would encounter one of the Sentinels of the forest. He had heard of Elves in passing, but had yet to run into one. He knew very little about them, aside from the fact that they cared very deeply for nature and that they were stunningly beautiful.
He stuck one of his legs out awkwardly and began to hobble towards the sound, wondering if perhaps he'd be lucky enough to encounter one today. If only he knew.

Toryn had their eyes closed.
They enjoyed taking in the forest like this, with only the sounds and scents around them to tell them what was happening. The stream in the distance sang of the mountains, and the breeze blowing by sighed longingly in it's yearning for the meadows downwind. Birds gossiped between the trees, and crickets began their serenades in the cool grass. The song on their lips echoed that of the things around them.
It wasn't until Toryn heard an uneven gait that cried of pain that they ceased their melody, their eyes opening. They frowned slightly and stood from their spot in the grass, approaching the sound nearby. Their frown deepened when they saw an injured wolf pup, and they approached it slowly, their Eladrin words silky and melodic.
The pup cocked it's head, letting out a whimper. And yet, it gave Toryn pause.
This animal spoke not in a tongue that was familiar. They had assisted many creatures before, and each had it's own way with words, but this was not the grating speech of a wolf. They hummed and sat on their knees, propping their head up on a hand. It had not responded to their Eladrin, either. It was strange for an animal to not recognise the language of one descended from the Fey; very strange.

Jensen had almost changed his mind as soon as his target had walked up. He couldn't tell if they were Male or Female, even with his sharpened senses. Their hair was long and golden, their eyes the colour of honey in sunlight. They had orange markings dotted across their face, although it was unlike any freckles he had ever seen before. Something about this person was... simply radiant. The pointed tips of ears stuck out of the long, straight plaits of their hair, and their skin looked...
He grit his teeth, trying not to get too caught up in the sight before him. He let out a whimper, looking up at the person pitifully. They sat on their knees, and he wondered if they were concerned about getting their white robes dirty. It was very easy to get distracted in their presence.
When they spoke, it was an odd mixture of sounds that he had never heard before. Their voice was soft and soothing, and he felt himself relaxing slightly despite a lack of understanding.
After a moment, he tried to get them to lean a bit closer to inspect his 'wounded' leg. However, they simply stared at him with their oddly wide eyes. He felt his skin start to crawl, and wondered if he should do something. Then, they spoke again.

"Why do you hide yourself?" They asked. It was clear to them that this was no ordinary creature, and that it must be something far more complex. It's eyes widened and it took a step back, and they couldn't help but notice that it's limp had gone away. They narrowed their eyes slightly. "Do you intend to trick me? Or are you merely embarrassed about your appearance?"
It's fur rippled slightly, and they gasped softly as it became a bit bigger. They leaned in a bit more, humming. "Or perhaps it's your voice? You have spoken not a single word despite my queries. Has the mere sight of me stolen your words away?"

Jensen was utterly shocked. This person knew something was up, and yet they stayed. As a matter of fact, they seemed to be teasing him now. He couldn't help but morph a bit in his state of surprise and confusion. After a moment of considering what to say, he decided he'd go for intimidation.
"It is true, I am not a wolf. I am a Great Golden Dragon!" He said, huffing as much like a Dragon as he could. He had seen Dragons a few times, so he assumed his impersonation was decent at the very least. "I was testing you, and you have failed! The only way to make up for your wrongs is by giving tribute."
"Oh, tribute, you say?" The other asked, raising an eyebrow slightly. They hummed. "Well, oh Great Golden Dragon, you still look like a wolf to me. Perhaps you could grace me with your divine image?"
Jensen froze at this. He had never morphed into a dragon before, and he wasn't about to attempt it today. He stamped his foot, allowing his wolf form to grow a bit bigger again. "You try my patience! Pay tribute, or perish."