Silk Threads (CA - Silas & Zander)
Quote from Adriana on July 18, 2023, 6:50 pm"Yes." I replied, searching the ground for sticks. I gathered a pile of them and began to tear the already shredded legs of my pants up to my knees. I sat the pieces aside - I'd use them to make a splint for Zander once he took back his human form.
Then I jumped up and caught the branch of a Douglas Fir and pulled myself up easily into it-scaling my way to the top, as long as it'd hold my weight.
"Get some rest." I peered down at Zander through the branches, my ears erect. "I'll keep watch." - further up I went, until the needles became sparse and the branches became narrow. I perched myself up there with my tail wrapped around the base of the tree.
"Yes." I replied, searching the ground for sticks. I gathered a pile of them and began to tear the already shredded legs of my pants up to my knees. I sat the pieces aside - I'd use them to make a splint for Zander once he took back his human form.
Then I jumped up and caught the branch of a Douglas Fir and pulled myself up easily into it-scaling my way to the top, as long as it'd hold my weight.
"Get some rest." I peered down at Zander through the branches, my ears erect. "I'll keep watch." - further up I went, until the needles became sparse and the branches became narrow. I perched myself up there with my tail wrapped around the base of the tree.
Quote from Indy on July 18, 2023, 7:24 pmI watched Silas climb up the tree with the ease of a trapeze artist. He looked so comfortable in the shaky brambles of the pine. Even the way his tail wrapped around the tree looked so perfectly secure. No, he looked even more secure than a trapeze artist. He was a cat in the shape of a werewolf.
There was nothing appealing about sleeping on the ground. At least in camping, there was the illusion of a thin canvas to pretend it was all inside. I felt like some kind of animal.
Except I was some kind of animal. With a thick double-layered fur-coat. I shut my maw before Silas could catch the complaint and laugh at me the same way I'd laughed at his tail. I fell to the ground, starring at the strips of cloth and sticks set beside me like it was some kind of impossible riddle. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to sleep like this. Yet just as soon as I had the thought, my thoughts became sluggish. I was tired.
Impossibly tired. If I thought running a mile in human form hurt, this was that ten-fold. Every joint ached. My body didn't want to move. If hibernation was an option, I'd have gone for that. I don't even remember closing my eyes and I was already soundlessly asleep.
I watched Silas climb up the tree with the ease of a trapeze artist. He looked so comfortable in the shaky brambles of the pine. Even the way his tail wrapped around the tree looked so perfectly secure. No, he looked even more secure than a trapeze artist. He was a cat in the shape of a werewolf.
There was nothing appealing about sleeping on the ground. At least in camping, there was the illusion of a thin canvas to pretend it was all inside. I felt like some kind of animal.
Except I was some kind of animal. With a thick double-layered fur-coat. I shut my maw before Silas could catch the complaint and laugh at me the same way I'd laughed at his tail. I fell to the ground, starring at the strips of cloth and sticks set beside me like it was some kind of impossible riddle. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to sleep like this. Yet just as soon as I had the thought, my thoughts became sluggish. I was tired.
Impossibly tired. If I thought running a mile in human form hurt, this was that ten-fold. Every joint ached. My body didn't want to move. If hibernation was an option, I'd have gone for that. I don't even remember closing my eyes and I was already soundlessly asleep.
Quote from Adriana on July 18, 2023, 8:38 pmNo sooner had dawn rolled around, did Silas begin working to make a splint for the now human-Zander's leg. He measured sturdy sticks against his friend's leg and bound them with cloth, then began fastening the whole mess to the lad's leg with careful skill. In the daylight, he had relented his secondary skin to avoid attracting any unwanted attention.
They'd have to walk back to the gas station just to call a ride, and that could take hours. Silas worked carefully to avoid waking the undoubtedly exhausted Zander for a little while longer.
No sooner had dawn rolled around, did Silas begin working to make a splint for the now human-Zander's leg. He measured sturdy sticks against his friend's leg and bound them with cloth, then began fastening the whole mess to the lad's leg with careful skill. In the daylight, he had relented his secondary skin to avoid attracting any unwanted attention.
They'd have to walk back to the gas station just to call a ride, and that could take hours. Silas worked carefully to avoid waking the undoubtedly exhausted Zander for a little while longer.
Quote from Indy on July 18, 2023, 9:04 pmI woke up to the sun directly in my eyes. I rolled over. And instantly regretted it when every single muscle and nerve burned.
"Euuuuggggggg," I moaned, not trusting myself to sit up.
Without opening my eyes, I could still sense the environment around me. Birds. Warmth. Silas. Dozens of herbs and grasses that I'm sure had names, but I wouldn't have known them. Despite the sunlight on my skin, I felt chilled to the bone. And also, like someone had microwaved my muscles and bones while I'd been sleeping.
"What...." I cracked open an eye to see where Silas was brooding, "Happened.... Did you... drug me, or something?"
I lifted a hand to block out the sun, and noted it was a human hand. I didn't even remember changing back, "What? When did that happen..."
I woke up to the sun directly in my eyes. I rolled over. And instantly regretted it when every single muscle and nerve burned.
"Euuuuggggggg," I moaned, not trusting myself to sit up.
Without opening my eyes, I could still sense the environment around me. Birds. Warmth. Silas. Dozens of herbs and grasses that I'm sure had names, but I wouldn't have known them. Despite the sunlight on my skin, I felt chilled to the bone. And also, like someone had microwaved my muscles and bones while I'd been sleeping.
"What...." I cracked open an eye to see where Silas was brooding, "Happened.... Did you... drug me, or something?"
I lifted a hand to block out the sun, and noted it was a human hand. I didn't even remember changing back, "What? When did that happen..."
Quote from Adriana on July 18, 2023, 9:07 pmI stared at Zander. I raised an eyebrow. I flipped my pockets inside-out. Shook my head. "Yes, I drugged you, braced your leg, because, a half lame werewolf is going to get me back to civilization a lot faster than going by myself-oh, wait."
Grumpy. I needed caffeine. I hadn't slept all night.
"Shortly after you fell asleep. You can't push yourself that hard your first go, you need to ease into it. Stretch your muscles. Learning to gain control is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow, steady efforts."
I held out my hand and picked up a branch I'd broken into a makeshift walking stick. "See how much weight you can put on it."
I stared at Zander. I raised an eyebrow. I flipped my pockets inside-out. Shook my head. "Yes, I drugged you, braced your leg, because, a half lame werewolf is going to get me back to civilization a lot faster than going by myself-oh, wait."
Grumpy. I needed caffeine. I hadn't slept all night.
"Shortly after you fell asleep. You can't push yourself that hard your first go, you need to ease into it. Stretch your muscles. Learning to gain control is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow, steady efforts."
I held out my hand and picked up a branch I'd broken into a makeshift walking stick. "See how much weight you can put on it."
Quote from Indy on July 18, 2023, 9:14 pmI wanted to cry at the implication I would be getting up and walking out of here. Except, I wasn't looking to move in permanently. I sat up. I tried not to feel nauseous. My head felt too light, and too heavy. I took the stick. And without shedding a single tear, managed to stand shakily to my feet.
The brace on my ankle felt surprisingly sturdy for something Silas had put together on the fly. My weight still made the joint sting. I huffed a breath and took a step, using the stick to help balance me. I had a similar sensation of walking on three legs, just as I had last night - awkward, and liable to crumble over like the world's saddest tricycle.
"How... far do we have to walk?" I looked around the vacant wilderness with dread.
I wanted to cry at the implication I would be getting up and walking out of here. Except, I wasn't looking to move in permanently. I sat up. I tried not to feel nauseous. My head felt too light, and too heavy. I took the stick. And without shedding a single tear, managed to stand shakily to my feet.
The brace on my ankle felt surprisingly sturdy for something Silas had put together on the fly. My weight still made the joint sting. I huffed a breath and took a step, using the stick to help balance me. I had a similar sensation of walking on three legs, just as I had last night - awkward, and liable to crumble over like the world's saddest tricycle.
"How... far do we have to walk?" I looked around the vacant wilderness with dread.
Quote from Adriana on July 18, 2023, 10:41 pm“A while.” I responded grimly, watching how he walked. Or hobbled.
”You expend a great deal of energy when you take on your alternate form. Moreso when you push yourself as you did. I recommend waiting until you’ve eaten and rested to try again.”
“A while.” I responded grimly, watching how he walked. Or hobbled.
”You expend a great deal of energy when you take on your alternate form. Moreso when you push yourself as you did. I recommend waiting until you’ve eaten and rested to try again.”
Quote from Indy on July 18, 2023, 11:02 pmI stopped. Looked around me. The metaphorical tumbleweed blew by.
"Right, do you think they have a Johnny's around here?" I retorted, "Or am I going to be hobbling for the next two days?"
I stopped. Looked around me. The metaphorical tumbleweed blew by.
"Right, do you think they have a Johnny's around here?" I retorted, "Or am I going to be hobbling for the next two days?"
Quote from Adriana on July 18, 2023, 11:11 pm“You should able to use it by then. But in the meantime, hope you like rabbit.”
I hooked an arm under his shoulder to help him out.
“You should able to use it by then. But in the meantime, hope you like rabbit.”
I hooked an arm under his shoulder to help him out.
Quote from Indy on July 23, 2023, 12:33 amSilas hadn't been kidding about the rabbits.
We walked until my stomach couldn't take the pain in my ankle- a bright white knot radiating upwards. As I rested, he took his second form. I watched him go, both bitterly depressed and bitterly jealous to see how effortlessly he loped off. Without the joy of my second form, I was only left with the bleakness of an impossible task of getting home and a painfully sore, tired, and hungry body.
Not long after, the carcass of a rabbit was delivered to me. Still warm to the touch. When no instruments were provided as a means to cook it, I stared at it, stared at it again, until Silas laughed at me. It's sushi, he said, like that would make it all better. I wanted to cry. Just pretend it's sashimi.
In my human form, the idea of sinking my teeth through sinew and fur made my stomach flop. And parasites. And diseases. If I didn't die out here in a day, I might in a year from a heartworm. Silas, still laughing, tore off strips with his claws. I wanted to puke.
But I was also, ravenously, hungry. I closed my eyes, took the strip, and tried not to let the tears run too far down my face. The blood ran down my throat. My fingers were sticky. As much as I wanted to wretch it, I wanted to devour it in a bite - and once I started eating, I couldn't stop.
After we finished, we continued. My ankle didn't hurt as badly. The future didn't look as impossible. I still couldn't help but feel guilty that I'd left something important behind. I couldn't say what it was. Only that it was gone.
***
Towards nightfall, Silas encouraged me to take my second form again. At a slow limp and several breaks, we hadn't made much progress. It was starting to look as though the night in the woods could lend into a second, third, and fourth at the present speed. It took several tries. It didn't come as easily as it had the first night. And when I did, it felt like something worn dangerously thin.
Silas urged me not to run hard this time. We took it at a slow lope. I still went with a limp, although the pain had become bearable, and I could more easily shift my weight on three paws than one leg. Even as slow as we went, our time improved greatly. We ran until the middle of the night and my spent body collapsed. As soon as I hit the ground, I was already to human shape.
We rested the remainder of the night. Although I slept hard, I did not sleep soundly in the brisk spring air. I woke up as the sun rose, worn inside-out. Silas hauled me to my feet. We drank a little water we found in a stream. I didn't think about the toxic bacteria probably in an untreated water supply.
We took the road this time. After an hour, we made it to the gas station. I collapsed outside as I was eyeballed twice over by the gas attendant. I didn't blame him. I looked like I'd been mauled by a cougar and survived on bad dreams - it wasn't far off... I waited while Silas made some call.
And then we waited. And waited. And as the sun began to set and my stomach inverted seven times, I wondered if maybe I wouldn't have to worry about parasites after all.
Silas hadn't been kidding about the rabbits.
We walked until my stomach couldn't take the pain in my ankle- a bright white knot radiating upwards. As I rested, he took his second form. I watched him go, both bitterly depressed and bitterly jealous to see how effortlessly he loped off. Without the joy of my second form, I was only left with the bleakness of an impossible task of getting home and a painfully sore, tired, and hungry body.
Not long after, the carcass of a rabbit was delivered to me. Still warm to the touch. When no instruments were provided as a means to cook it, I stared at it, stared at it again, until Silas laughed at me. It's sushi, he said, like that would make it all better. I wanted to cry. Just pretend it's sashimi.
In my human form, the idea of sinking my teeth through sinew and fur made my stomach flop. And parasites. And diseases. If I didn't die out here in a day, I might in a year from a heartworm. Silas, still laughing, tore off strips with his claws. I wanted to puke.
But I was also, ravenously, hungry. I closed my eyes, took the strip, and tried not to let the tears run too far down my face. The blood ran down my throat. My fingers were sticky. As much as I wanted to wretch it, I wanted to devour it in a bite - and once I started eating, I couldn't stop.
After we finished, we continued. My ankle didn't hurt as badly. The future didn't look as impossible. I still couldn't help but feel guilty that I'd left something important behind. I couldn't say what it was. Only that it was gone.
***
Towards nightfall, Silas encouraged me to take my second form again. At a slow limp and several breaks, we hadn't made much progress. It was starting to look as though the night in the woods could lend into a second, third, and fourth at the present speed. It took several tries. It didn't come as easily as it had the first night. And when I did, it felt like something worn dangerously thin.
Silas urged me not to run hard this time. We took it at a slow lope. I still went with a limp, although the pain had become bearable, and I could more easily shift my weight on three paws than one leg. Even as slow as we went, our time improved greatly. We ran until the middle of the night and my spent body collapsed. As soon as I hit the ground, I was already to human shape.
We rested the remainder of the night. Although I slept hard, I did not sleep soundly in the brisk spring air. I woke up as the sun rose, worn inside-out. Silas hauled me to my feet. We drank a little water we found in a stream. I didn't think about the toxic bacteria probably in an untreated water supply.
We took the road this time. After an hour, we made it to the gas station. I collapsed outside as I was eyeballed twice over by the gas attendant. I didn't blame him. I looked like I'd been mauled by a cougar and survived on bad dreams - it wasn't far off... I waited while Silas made some call.
And then we waited. And waited. And as the sun began to set and my stomach inverted seven times, I wondered if maybe I wouldn't have to worry about parasites after all.
