Silk Threads (CA - Silas & Zander)
Quote from Adriana on July 9, 2023, 6:48 pmMy flight came to an abrupt stop in the form of my head crashing into the wall. If I were in my first form, I would have broken my neck. In this form, I’d just have a headache tomorrow.
My bullet made contact, I could smell blood. Zander was out of the house.
The female was coming at me again, and I ducked, missing a giant fist by a breath. She moved to swipe my feet out from under me, but I dropped forward, landed on the pads of my fingers, and threw myself feet first straight up into her snout. She coughed, sneezed and stumbled backwards, and I made for the exit a second time, this time making it out.
I caught up to Zander and ran past the car, already knowing it was toast-then tugged him by an arm down the road. It was a straight path, but this was a rigged game, with the gravel road being the only certain safe path.
“Can you change?!”
My flight came to an abrupt stop in the form of my head crashing into the wall. If I were in my first form, I would have broken my neck. In this form, I’d just have a headache tomorrow.
My bullet made contact, I could smell blood. Zander was out of the house.
The female was coming at me again, and I ducked, missing a giant fist by a breath. She moved to swipe my feet out from under me, but I dropped forward, landed on the pads of my fingers, and threw myself feet first straight up into her snout. She coughed, sneezed and stumbled backwards, and I made for the exit a second time, this time making it out.
I caught up to Zander and ran past the car, already knowing it was toast-then tugged him by an arm down the road. It was a straight path, but this was a rigged game, with the gravel road being the only certain safe path.
“Can you change?!”
Quote from Indy on July 9, 2023, 7:41 pm"What? Like a pair of jeans?" I was running next to him for all my two leg's were worth, and realized that was a stupid question.
Of course, he didn't mean it like a pair of jeans. He meant it like going from slow and scrawny college student to a mass of fur and teeth.
"I.... once," I shook my head. My lungs were starting to wheeze and there was a burning in my legs that reassured me I'd never been a marathon runner and wasn't about to start now, "In my room, when I was alone, and it was quiet, and no one was trying to kill me. Also - who are you, what's going on, and why am I here?".
"What? Like a pair of jeans?" I was running next to him for all my two leg's were worth, and realized that was a stupid question.
Of course, he didn't mean it like a pair of jeans. He meant it like going from slow and scrawny college student to a mass of fur and teeth.
"I.... once," I shook my head. My lungs were starting to wheeze and there was a burning in my legs that reassured me I'd never been a marathon runner and wasn't about to start now, "In my room, when I was alone, and it was quiet, and no one was trying to kill me. Also - who are you, what's going on, and why am I here?".
Quote from Adriana on July 9, 2023, 8:22 pmThe American education system as it’s best.
They still had vehicles. I did what every blonde girl about to get mowed down in a horror movie does-I paused and looked back. Nobody was following. I half expected to see the bear of a werewolf behind me.
Very likely, they were tending the bullet wound I’d put in the old man’s leg. I wasn’t exactly proud of it but had to get us out.
“We have a long ways to go, plenty of time to talk, but we’re going to go up a little further and get off the road. And you need to change. It’s going to take us hours on two legs.”
The American education system as it’s best.
They still had vehicles. I did what every blonde girl about to get mowed down in a horror movie does-I paused and looked back. Nobody was following. I half expected to see the bear of a werewolf behind me.
Very likely, they were tending the bullet wound I’d put in the old man’s leg. I wasn’t exactly proud of it but had to get us out.
“We have a long ways to go, plenty of time to talk, but we’re going to go up a little further and get off the road. And you need to change. It’s going to take us hours on two legs.”
Quote from Adriana on July 9, 2023, 8:24 pm… Meanwhile.
Robin glared down Steele and Glasses with her arms crossed.
“If we had just stuck to the original plan and left the kid out of it, none of this would have happened.” she growled, voice low.
Taking a jar of smelling salts from a first aid kit, she went over to Glasses and picked up his head, holding it under his nose.
… Meanwhile.
Robin glared down Steele and Glasses with her arms crossed.
“If we had just stuck to the original plan and left the kid out of it, none of this would have happened.” she growled, voice low.
Taking a jar of smelling salts from a first aid kit, she went over to Glasses and picked up his head, holding it under his nose.
Quote from Indy on July 9, 2023, 8:31 pm"Uh....huh..." I was struggling for air enough that talking wasn't coming as easily as it was clearly coming to him.
I stopped as Jack paused - although when he went back to running, I stopped dead in my tracks. It was the opportunity I needed to catch my breath.
"Maybe, I can't, when I feel like I'm about to die," I snipped, "I was studying and then I was in the trunk of some guy's car. Sorry if I'm feeling out of touch with my furry self right now, which by the way took me hours of meditation the first time".
I crossed my arms, and started to walk. He was right. We needed to move fast, but I had nothing left to give.
"Uh....huh..." I was struggling for air enough that talking wasn't coming as easily as it was clearly coming to him.
I stopped as Jack paused - although when he went back to running, I stopped dead in my tracks. It was the opportunity I needed to catch my breath.
"Maybe, I can't, when I feel like I'm about to die," I snipped, "I was studying and then I was in the trunk of some guy's car. Sorry if I'm feeling out of touch with my furry self right now, which by the way took me hours of meditation the first time".
I crossed my arms, and started to walk. He was right. We needed to move fast, but I had nothing left to give.
Quote from Adriana on July 9, 2023, 8:46 pmI looked back at Zander. Sighed. Walked up to him and caught his legs, flipping him over my shoulder and holding him by the back of the knees. At least I could sprint,
”You got… a nice little nap..” I panted, “What’s your excuse? Need you... to be a little more motivated to live here pal..”
Sprinting until we were a solid five miles from the cabin. It’d take the car about two minutes to catch up, it took me a good thirty to sprint it. I didn’t put Zander down yet, not until we’d gone well into forests on east side of the roadway.
”Watch your step.” I said, putting him down. My chest heaving, feeling like my lungs were on fire. No buildings, no towns, for miles and miles and miles. I slumped against a tree and ripped off the tattered remains of the cheap suit shirt, that were damaged when I first changed.
“I have to go back for a car if you can’t change, even if I have to drive mine on the rims..”
I looked back at Zander. Sighed. Walked up to him and caught his legs, flipping him over my shoulder and holding him by the back of the knees. At least I could sprint,
”You got… a nice little nap..” I panted, “What’s your excuse? Need you... to be a little more motivated to live here pal..”
Sprinting until we were a solid five miles from the cabin. It’d take the car about two minutes to catch up, it took me a good thirty to sprint it. I didn’t put Zander down yet, not until we’d gone well into forests on east side of the roadway.
”Watch your step.” I said, putting him down. My chest heaving, feeling like my lungs were on fire. No buildings, no towns, for miles and miles and miles. I slumped against a tree and ripped off the tattered remains of the cheap suit shirt, that were damaged when I first changed.
“I have to go back for a car if you can’t change, even if I have to drive mine on the rims..”
Quote from Indy on July 9, 2023, 8:49 pmSteele said nothing. His attention was fixated elsewhere on treating his own wounds. With the practiced ease of one who had done it thousands of times before, he pressed his body weight against the entrance and exit wounds on his thigh. Besides a grunt here and there, his reaction to the ordeal was minimal.
The young man began to stir, blinking slowly as he stared up into the doggy countenance of his companion. His face scrunched. Then he sat up quickly - only to find his head bursting at the seams. He helped, clutching his head with his hands and moaned. Only then did he became aware of his mentor's condition behind him.
"What happened? Where are they?!"
Steele said nothing. His attention was fixated elsewhere on treating his own wounds. With the practiced ease of one who had done it thousands of times before, he pressed his body weight against the entrance and exit wounds on his thigh. Besides a grunt here and there, his reaction to the ordeal was minimal.
The young man began to stir, blinking slowly as he stared up into the doggy countenance of his companion. His face scrunched. Then he sat up quickly - only to find his head bursting at the seams. He helped, clutching his head with his hands and moaned. Only then did he became aware of his mentor's condition behind him.
"What happened? Where are they?!"
Quote from Adriana on July 9, 2023, 9:55 pmRobin stared on at Steele with considerably cold eyes. She had changed forms and was holding her head back with gauze stuffed up her nostrils-it didn't do anything for the red river that ran down the front of her shirt.
"Pipe down. Your fault anyway. Steele. What did you mean before when you said "dogs are only as good as their use"?" she narrowed her eyes harshly on him and crossed her arms.
Robin stared on at Steele with considerably cold eyes. She had changed forms and was holding her head back with gauze stuffed up her nostrils-it didn't do anything for the red river that ran down the front of her shirt.
"Pipe down. Your fault anyway. Steele. What did you mean before when you said "dogs are only as good as their use"?" she narrowed her eyes harshly on him and crossed her arms.
Quote from Indy on July 10, 2023, 12:23 am"You got in the way," the boy moaned, then moaned again when his words made his head pound.
Steele's attention shifted back. His gaze betrayed not the slightest emotion. Robin's query was considered, and then in another instant his gaze was steadfast to his protegee.
"You are a child," he sneered, "You can't follow basic orders. You can't be depended upon. You are a liability”.
“—But Robin, she—”
“Did as she was told”.
His gaze fell hard to Robin’s, “Take him home”.
“Not until you answer my question,” Robin kept her gaze. Her eyes flickered to the wound and back to Steele’s eyes.
Steele's attention returned to Robin, as though seeing her for the first time, “Does a knife wonder why it was made to be sharp? You have teeth, and you have claws. You are in my service not because of your winning personality, but because of those”.
Robin shook her head and looked to Glasses, “Let’s go.”
He made half a protest, but it fell short. He wanted to go chase after their contract, but his head was pounding too hard. He couldn't even stomach the sound of gunfire. He stood up slowly.
"We'll get em in the morning," he mumbled, not looking at his mentor's face and keeping his eyes trained on the floor, "Dart him when he doesn't expect it... won't even know what hit him..."
Robin grabbed the keys and waited for Glasses in the car.
He followed and slumped inside wordlessly. He didn't look at Robin's eyes and instead starred at his toes.
“Are you alright?” Robin asked looking over with concern. There was something gentle that hadn’t been there before. Motherly, even.
"I'm fine," he snapped, still not looking upwards.
“Don’t listen to anything he said. Don’t let him get in your head hon.” Robin said, starting the engine.
"Shutup, you have no idea what you're talking about, dog" he sneered the last word, but still looked pointedly at his toes.
“That’s alright.” she said quietly, “I know you don’t mean that. You’re just saying it because you’re hurt. Maybe that’s why he said those things, too.”
The headlights went on.
He didn't have a response to that. Something burned in boy's chest to say she was wrong, and something else said she wasn't. The drive proceeded in silence.
"I don't think you're just a dog," he mumbled, almost inaudibly, after ten minutes.
The car purred to a stop on the side of the road. Robin climbed out of the driver’s side. Then she was beside the passenger door and opening it, pulling Glasses out and drawing him into a tight hug.
“It’s gonna be okay.”
Glasses was more than startled, "Wh-what are you doing, I'm--"
The word stumbled, "I'm fine". But he didn't pull away.
Robin held him for a while, stroking the back of his head. A stray tear might have even moistened his shoulder.
Something had been decided back there. She wouldn’t be going back to Steele.
"You got in the way," the boy moaned, then moaned again when his words made his head pound.
Steele's attention shifted back. His gaze betrayed not the slightest emotion. Robin's query was considered, and then in another instant his gaze was steadfast to his protegee.
"You are a child," he sneered, "You can't follow basic orders. You can't be depended upon. You are a liability”.
“—But Robin, she—”
“Did as she was told”.
His gaze fell hard to Robin’s, “Take him home”.
“Not until you answer my question,” Robin kept her gaze. Her eyes flickered to the wound and back to Steele’s eyes.
Steele's attention returned to Robin, as though seeing her for the first time, “Does a knife wonder why it was made to be sharp? You have teeth, and you have claws. You are in my service not because of your winning personality, but because of those”.
Robin shook her head and looked to Glasses, “Let’s go.”
He made half a protest, but it fell short. He wanted to go chase after their contract, but his head was pounding too hard. He couldn't even stomach the sound of gunfire. He stood up slowly.
"We'll get em in the morning," he mumbled, not looking at his mentor's face and keeping his eyes trained on the floor, "Dart him when he doesn't expect it... won't even know what hit him..."
Robin grabbed the keys and waited for Glasses in the car.
He followed and slumped inside wordlessly. He didn't look at Robin's eyes and instead starred at his toes.
“Are you alright?” Robin asked looking over with concern. There was something gentle that hadn’t been there before. Motherly, even.
"I'm fine," he snapped, still not looking upwards.
“Don’t listen to anything he said. Don’t let him get in your head hon.” Robin said, starting the engine.
"Shutup, you have no idea what you're talking about, dog" he sneered the last word, but still looked pointedly at his toes.
“That’s alright.” she said quietly, “I know you don’t mean that. You’re just saying it because you’re hurt. Maybe that’s why he said those things, too.”
The headlights went on.
He didn't have a response to that. Something burned in boy's chest to say she was wrong, and something else said she wasn't. The drive proceeded in silence.
"I don't think you're just a dog," he mumbled, almost inaudibly, after ten minutes.
The car purred to a stop on the side of the road. Robin climbed out of the driver’s side. Then she was beside the passenger door and opening it, pulling Glasses out and drawing him into a tight hug.
“It’s gonna be okay.”
Glasses was more than startled, "Wh-what are you doing, I'm--"
The word stumbled, "I'm fine". But he didn't pull away.
Robin held him for a while, stroking the back of his head. A stray tear might have even moistened his shoulder.
Something had been decided back there. She wouldn’t be going back to Steele.
Quote from Indy on July 10, 2023, 8:58 amWhen I was deposited back to my feet, I felt positively bruised all over- both physically, and whatever ego I had left in the situation. I could feel the exhaustion rolling off Jack in waves. I looked away, slightly guilty- then furious I felt guilty in the first place. Since I was pretty sure this was all Jack's fault.
The guilt came back in a wave all at once, "The keys I- I'm pretty sure I left those back in the cabin, unless you grabbed them..."
I shook my head. There was no way Jack would walk back into that willingly.
When I was deposited back to my feet, I felt positively bruised all over- both physically, and whatever ego I had left in the situation. I could feel the exhaustion rolling off Jack in waves. I looked away, slightly guilty- then furious I felt guilty in the first place. Since I was pretty sure this was all Jack's fault.
The guilt came back in a wave all at once, "The keys I- I'm pretty sure I left those back in the cabin, unless you grabbed them..."
I shook my head. There was no way Jack would walk back into that willingly.
