Sunflowers and Moonmonsters
Quote from Kaqurei on September 1, 2023, 10:09 amJosh always found something poetic in the easy-come-easy-go of life. One minute things goin' your way and you're king of the forest. Then some big lug comes along with a job to do and you're fresh meat. It was humbling, in a way. One day, he was pretty sure there'd be a bigger lug than him. Just hadn't happened that way yet.
He wasn't used to being thanked, and that much showed in the brief twitch of his nose before he sneezed something that sounded sorta like yerwelcome.
He sat back, watching the women eat, and felt some kind of primal satisfaction that didn't come with a lot of his other jobs. He dun good. Nobody really even had to tell him so.
Josh always found something poetic in the easy-come-easy-go of life. One minute things goin' your way and you're king of the forest. Then some big lug comes along with a job to do and you're fresh meat. It was humbling, in a way. One day, he was pretty sure there'd be a bigger lug than him. Just hadn't happened that way yet.
He wasn't used to being thanked, and that much showed in the brief twitch of his nose before he sneezed something that sounded sorta like yerwelcome.
He sat back, watching the women eat, and felt some kind of primal satisfaction that didn't come with a lot of his other jobs. He dun good. Nobody really even had to tell him so.
Quote from Mae on September 1, 2023, 2:47 pmIn ordinary circumstances, in ordinary places, the time to eat is also a time to think. But in times of hunger, times of want, all thought is given to the food. One doesn't think about how it tastes, though it is bound to taste more delightful to the tongue than anything a satisfied person can enjoy. It is bound to fill a person, as well, with more gratitude and happiness than any regular meal can.
Mercy was filled, body and soul, before long. She ate a good portion of the deer, rested for a time as her body made use of it, and then she consumed more. The soft organs, such as the eyes and tongue were eaten first. The fleshy organs were later eaten, after the muscle. The bones were broken for the marrow, and were presently soft enough to be consumed, but Mercy did not eat the bones, nor the flesh of the deer. Neither did she eat the stomach, intestines, or bowels.
A werewolf could eat and make good use of such things, it is true. But when softer tissues were available, breaking down harder materials came at the expense of energy needlessly. For with the capacity to matabolize great quantities of energy came also the ability to consume prey much larger than oneself, and the softer tissue was easier to convert to energy. Yet a werewolf possessed likewise the ability to slow their metabolism, and need less when less was available. Thus the breaking down of bone and hide could be useful in times of scarcity. Thus was their endurance and power to survive, though their affliction would necessarily kill them in the end.
When Mercy was finished, she returned to the stream and both drank and washed the blood from her face and body. By then, there was just a little time left in the night.
Mercy would use that time in an unprecedented and yet entirely natural way. As she lay on the grass, feeling happy and content, stretching into her new limbs and strengthening her form wherewithal - for the transformation was not complete until after that first meal - Mercy was filled with a sudden and powerful desire to sing. So she did. She sat up and lifted her head and howled to the moon and the stars overhead.
In ordinary circumstances, in ordinary places, the time to eat is also a time to think. But in times of hunger, times of want, all thought is given to the food. One doesn't think about how it tastes, though it is bound to taste more delightful to the tongue than anything a satisfied person can enjoy. It is bound to fill a person, as well, with more gratitude and happiness than any regular meal can.
Mercy was filled, body and soul, before long. She ate a good portion of the deer, rested for a time as her body made use of it, and then she consumed more. The soft organs, such as the eyes and tongue were eaten first. The fleshy organs were later eaten, after the muscle. The bones were broken for the marrow, and were presently soft enough to be consumed, but Mercy did not eat the bones, nor the flesh of the deer. Neither did she eat the stomach, intestines, or bowels.
A werewolf could eat and make good use of such things, it is true. But when softer tissues were available, breaking down harder materials came at the expense of energy needlessly. For with the capacity to matabolize great quantities of energy came also the ability to consume prey much larger than oneself, and the softer tissue was easier to convert to energy. Yet a werewolf possessed likewise the ability to slow their metabolism, and need less when less was available. Thus the breaking down of bone and hide could be useful in times of scarcity. Thus was their endurance and power to survive, though their affliction would necessarily kill them in the end.
When Mercy was finished, she returned to the stream and both drank and washed the blood from her face and body. By then, there was just a little time left in the night.
Mercy would use that time in an unprecedented and yet entirely natural way. As she lay on the grass, feeling happy and content, stretching into her new limbs and strengthening her form wherewithal - for the transformation was not complete until after that first meal - Mercy was filled with a sudden and powerful desire to sing. So she did. She sat up and lifted her head and howled to the moon and the stars overhead.
Quote from Adriana on September 1, 2023, 3:25 pmMy legs were stretched out in front of me; my whole body, from my muscles right down to my whiskers, just wanted to rest. But my senses were too alert, focused on Mercy.
"You did good by me, boy. I'll keep you 'round if you like, you can help with my goats. I ain't got money but, the countries a lot nicer. Won't make you hurt anyone out here." I mumbled, "Your parents don't know a good thing right in front of 'em."
I told Josh, and might've nodded off a moment, until Mercy's song went up. A smile on my maw; I appreciated her song. I didn't want to interrupt with my old raspy voice; and besides, I'd actually never howled. Seemed like a stereotype. But it sure was pretty.
My legs were stretched out in front of me; my whole body, from my muscles right down to my whiskers, just wanted to rest. But my senses were too alert, focused on Mercy.
"You did good by me, boy. I'll keep you 'round if you like, you can help with my goats. I ain't got money but, the countries a lot nicer. Won't make you hurt anyone out here." I mumbled, "Your parents don't know a good thing right in front of 'em."
I told Josh, and might've nodded off a moment, until Mercy's song went up. A smile on my maw; I appreciated her song. I didn't want to interrupt with my old raspy voice; and besides, I'd actually never howled. Seemed like a stereotype. But it sure was pretty.
Quote from Kaqurei on September 1, 2023, 3:59 pmJosh offered a sideways smile to the preacher, a sorta doofy Aww thanks that also said That's cute but I'm really not as different from my folks as you seem to think I am. He was sure he would get bored wearing farm boots and... errr, milking goats? Do you milk goats? Can goats be milked? He was pretty sure he'd heard of goat milk. Maybe. What else would you do with a goat? And his big hands on little goat... udders... He squinted, trying to picture it. He, uh, hadn't really ever seen a goat with udders. Is goat milk actually a thing? Or did he make that up? Or did someone else make that up, like coconut milk? He snorted. Sure wished people would label things on cans with what they actually were.
Going fishing once in a while might be fun though. Get a nice big truck and go fishing. After maybe milking goats. Yeah, would be nice, he supposed.
Preacher sure looked worn out. And Mercy looked content. For himself, Josh was content to get back to what he had been doing in the first place: keeping a look out for trouble.
He'd been scouting about and had just decided to circle back around to the house to check on Rosa when he heard Mercy's song. He didn't really think about it, he just joined her.
Josh offered a sideways smile to the preacher, a sorta doofy Aww thanks that also said That's cute but I'm really not as different from my folks as you seem to think I am. He was sure he would get bored wearing farm boots and... errr, milking goats? Do you milk goats? Can goats be milked? He was pretty sure he'd heard of goat milk. Maybe. What else would you do with a goat? And his big hands on little goat... udders... He squinted, trying to picture it. He, uh, hadn't really ever seen a goat with udders. Is goat milk actually a thing? Or did he make that up? Or did someone else make that up, like coconut milk? He snorted. Sure wished people would label things on cans with what they actually were.
Going fishing once in a while might be fun though. Get a nice big truck and go fishing. After maybe milking goats. Yeah, would be nice, he supposed.
Preacher sure looked worn out. And Mercy looked content. For himself, Josh was content to get back to what he had been doing in the first place: keeping a look out for trouble.
He'd been scouting about and had just decided to circle back around to the house to check on Rosa when he heard Mercy's song. He didn't really think about it, he just joined her.
Quote from Mae on September 1, 2023, 4:39 pmIt was near dawn when Charlie finally found his way back to sleep on Rosa's chest. Rosa held him, humming a gentle melody, when then came the sound of Mercy's wolf-song outside. It rose and fell on the wind and rose again, faraway.
Rosa smiled, and kissed Charlie's head.
"Well done, Robin." She whispered. "Well done."
In Mercy's wolf-song was the sound of love and gratitude. It was a song of peace and plenty, and room to grow. It was a song she sang for Robin.
It was near dawn when Charlie finally found his way back to sleep on Rosa's chest. Rosa held him, humming a gentle melody, when then came the sound of Mercy's wolf-song outside. It rose and fell on the wind and rose again, faraway.
Rosa smiled, and kissed Charlie's head.
"Well done, Robin." She whispered. "Well done."
In Mercy's wolf-song was the sound of love and gratitude. It was a song of peace and plenty, and room to grow. It was a song she sang for Robin.
Quote from Adriana on September 1, 2023, 8:09 pmThe sun would be up soon.
I’d spent the last of the night digging a hole for the bones and hides of the deer.
Then cleaned off in the stream. I was sitting up against a tree, having gathered the bottles into the bag again, when the first rays of light started to shine over the hills. My eyes went to Mercy.
The sun would be up soon.
I’d spent the last of the night digging a hole for the bones and hides of the deer.
Then cleaned off in the stream. I was sitting up against a tree, having gathered the bottles into the bag again, when the first rays of light started to shine over the hills. My eyes went to Mercy.
Quote from Mae on September 2, 2023, 6:56 pmAfter Mercy ate she was full of energy; energy that would take a werewolf miles away on a free run over wild terrain to discover the length and extent of their strength, - to gain a greater understanding of what it meant to be. But Mercy had no interest in running. She spent her energy exploring, seeking out the smells of the bottles and the twinkling lights. She searched the field and the meadow and never wandered too far from Robin. Each of these little choices she made had a reason, an implication, that detailed a more complex mode and manner. But tonight, simplicity was key.
When the dawn approached, Mercy's strength slackened greatly. She seemed to meander about with her head low and her tail hanging. Just as the light came over the trees, Mercy laid down on the roots of a tree near the far end of the field. There she lay, with her eyes drooping and a low, moaning whine coming from her nose.
It was a hard thing to go backwards... to let go of something that one didn't really want but had come to enjoy... Yet, like every drop of blood in the beat of the heart, the way was not one continuous forward, but rather an ebb and flow; Race forward, and then go back. Race forward, and then go back...
Mercy's breathing steadily slowed as her heart beat quickened... She was waiting for it. Like a catapillar entering a cocoon, her body slowed down and her mind turned inward... and there she lay, still and quiet.
The sun dawned. Mercy closed her eyes at last. And then her form changed. Like her human form, much of Mercy's fur fell away in an instant, falling and disappearing, almost as if it disintegrated on the ground when it touched the earth. Her human skin, hair, and eyes were all underneath it. But she would not be able to rise for sometime...
After Mercy ate she was full of energy; energy that would take a werewolf miles away on a free run over wild terrain to discover the length and extent of their strength, - to gain a greater understanding of what it meant to be. But Mercy had no interest in running. She spent her energy exploring, seeking out the smells of the bottles and the twinkling lights. She searched the field and the meadow and never wandered too far from Robin. Each of these little choices she made had a reason, an implication, that detailed a more complex mode and manner. But tonight, simplicity was key.
When the dawn approached, Mercy's strength slackened greatly. She seemed to meander about with her head low and her tail hanging. Just as the light came over the trees, Mercy laid down on the roots of a tree near the far end of the field. There she lay, with her eyes drooping and a low, moaning whine coming from her nose.
It was a hard thing to go backwards... to let go of something that one didn't really want but had come to enjoy... Yet, like every drop of blood in the beat of the heart, the way was not one continuous forward, but rather an ebb and flow; Race forward, and then go back. Race forward, and then go back...
Mercy's breathing steadily slowed as her heart beat quickened... She was waiting for it. Like a catapillar entering a cocoon, her body slowed down and her mind turned inward... and there she lay, still and quiet.
The sun dawned. Mercy closed her eyes at last. And then her form changed. Like her human form, much of Mercy's fur fell away in an instant, falling and disappearing, almost as if it disintegrated on the ground when it touched the earth. Her human skin, hair, and eyes were all underneath it. But she would not be able to rise for sometime...
Quote from Adriana on September 2, 2023, 7:58 pmMy ears were inclined to Mercy upon hearing her whine.
I made my way slowly to the place that she lay. Josh had gone some time ago to check on the others and the night had been long and quiet; Mercy exploring the territory and surely enjoying all her new senses had to offer. There was more to learn, more to feel, but tonight had not been the right time.
I leaned down and scooped her up.
"Come on, Momma. Let's get back to that baby."
My ears were inclined to Mercy upon hearing her whine.
I made my way slowly to the place that she lay. Josh had gone some time ago to check on the others and the night had been long and quiet; Mercy exploring the territory and surely enjoying all her new senses had to offer. There was more to learn, more to feel, but tonight had not been the right time.
I leaned down and scooped her up.
"Come on, Momma. Let's get back to that baby."
Quote from Mae on September 8, 2023, 12:13 amRosa was awake and greeted Robin and Mercy at the door.
"Come in," she said.
Mercy was coming to. She was not very active or aware of her surroundings, but she was able to walk on her (one) crutch.
"Let's get you into a warm shower, Mercy." Rosa said encouragingly. "Robin, you can go sit down. I'll take care of her."
Rosa helped Mercy into a hot shower, and, when she was cleaned and comfortably dressed, helped her get into bed. Charlie slept soundly in the meanwhile, with the soft blue ambiance of morning coming in by the window.
When she returned, Rosa looked for Robin, and to encouraged her to wash the night away before she was too exhausted to think.
"You both did so well." Rosa said softly. "I heard her singing... she won't likely remember it when she wakes up, or anything from last night, but no matter. Some part of her will always be devoted to you, now."
Rosa was awake and greeted Robin and Mercy at the door.
"Come in," she said.
Mercy was coming to. She was not very active or aware of her surroundings, but she was able to walk on her (one) crutch.
"Let's get you into a warm shower, Mercy." Rosa said encouragingly. "Robin, you can go sit down. I'll take care of her."
Rosa helped Mercy into a hot shower, and, when she was cleaned and comfortably dressed, helped her get into bed. Charlie slept soundly in the meanwhile, with the soft blue ambiance of morning coming in by the window.
When she returned, Rosa looked for Robin, and to encouraged her to wash the night away before she was too exhausted to think.
"You both did so well." Rosa said softly. "I heard her singing... she won't likely remember it when she wakes up, or anything from last night, but no matter. Some part of her will always be devoted to you, now."
Quote from Adriana on September 8, 2023, 12:56 am“Yeah? Think so?” I asked, listening to Rosa. It was good to hear her voice after the night. Funny how quickly I came to appreciate it. I was sitting at the dining room table when she’d finished taking care of Mercy.
“Thanks… didn’t feel like I was doing too hot. Josh was a big help though-I dont think I coulda got her to hunt,” I leaned back in the chair where I sat and fixed the scarf on my head. I’d washed my face in the sink and that was good enough for now.
“Did you say you kept in touch with your boys?”
“Yeah? Think so?” I asked, listening to Rosa. It was good to hear her voice after the night. Funny how quickly I came to appreciate it. I was sitting at the dining room table when she’d finished taking care of Mercy.
“Thanks… didn’t feel like I was doing too hot. Josh was a big help though-I dont think I coulda got her to hunt,” I leaned back in the chair where I sat and fixed the scarf on my head. I’d washed my face in the sink and that was good enough for now.
“Did you say you kept in touch with your boys?”
