Werewolves (RP 8): A Time for Questions and Answers (6/16-4/18)
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:19 pmMae
A low growl agitated the air in Timothy's side of the training arena. He had begun to pace restlessly at the base of the wall nearest the dens and his short, broken tail repeatedly lashed the back of his legs. To the human of his likewise caged counterpart his behavior could be interpreted as more of the same unpredictable, unapproachable, dangerous Timothy. But as so happens when one has watched long enough, understanding comes suddenly like some strange new power; the movement became a coherent language.
Clear and unmistakable though the conscious mind could not fathom how it knew, one became aware that there was something in the clearing above the ditch that should not have been there. The idea was vividly communicated and so immediately known that a sense of alarm followed closely thereafter - whatever had intruded was not only moving, but was also dangerous. Timothy was further agitated and began ducking in and out of the shadows, following along the base of the wall as he presumed the creature to move.
In the area around the ditch nothing was out of the usual, Timothy appeared to be the only one who was not at ease, and given what was usually expected of him, it would be easy to overlook his restlessness.
******
Joshua had gone ahead long ago and at a certain point when the path had become too narrow Mildred's truck had to be left behind, so Jenn and Mildred had continued north on foot.
Jenn had never been to the mountain before, to her it was new and breathtakingly beautiful almost too much at once. It was like the richest, most brilliant park Jenn had ever seen and it went on as if forever without end - tree trunk after tree trunk, vibrant green overlaying fervent green upon deep green - the muddy ground was the only thing of which Jenn was not fond, but even it offered some amusement, and she took for granted the easy well-trodden path on which she was walking.
It must be admitted that Jenn had felt an exhilarating sort of anxiety when the truck drove under the shadow of the boughs. Somewhere around here she had imagined that there were strange creatures hiding from the knowledge of man in the bushes and behind the wild bulwark. Yet somehow, here, where she was likely to be closest to them, the werewolves as a reality felt faraway. It was as if the creatures had been the figment of imagination in the night or a falsehood of the mind, for here, there was nothing to be seen. Not for miles ahead and behind, it was all empty forest and empty field before that, without a bird or badger or bug to make it seem any less tame than the world of buildings and pavement that Jenn knew.
But Jenn lacked much experience, though Mildred had likewise felt a sense of trepidation upon returning to the mountain. She knew more than Jenn about her surroundings and that knowledge acted both for wisdom and a barrier. Mildred was not taken to imagine away her experiences with the werewolves, and some part of her viewed the forest just a little bit differently than she did before, yet despite her experience she was a person of practical mind and faced only what was right in front of her.
The path was long, and Mildred had brought her rifle - Jenn seemed to take comfort in that, as Mildred was skilled and able, even so Mildred knew better than to put all confidence in a weapon and anyway the elder woman had come to lend aid to a rancher who hopefully had no need for its use.
A short time passed through the quiet mountain countryside, and the path continued to grow ever more narrow, when at last someone was seen coming toward them on the path ahead. There was no horse, and the person was considerably more bent over than the tall and stalwart Joshua, so Jenn could not mistake him, nonetheless only Mildred immediately recognized the identity of the man heading up the path.
"John." Mildred said when they had gotten close enough.
"Joshua told me you were coming, thank you, Mildred." Mister Trodder replied and he acknowledged Jenn presently. "You have come to see Tammy, but the trail becomes too steep ahead and it is too dangerous for us all to cross together. I cannot carry a wayward calf, so let us go back and return to Mildred's truck. Tammy and Joshua will come back by another way and we will wait for them."
Mae
A low growl agitated the air in Timothy's side of the training arena. He had begun to pace restlessly at the base of the wall nearest the dens and his short, broken tail repeatedly lashed the back of his legs. To the human of his likewise caged counterpart his behavior could be interpreted as more of the same unpredictable, unapproachable, dangerous Timothy. But as so happens when one has watched long enough, understanding comes suddenly like some strange new power; the movement became a coherent language.
Clear and unmistakable though the conscious mind could not fathom how it knew, one became aware that there was something in the clearing above the ditch that should not have been there. The idea was vividly communicated and so immediately known that a sense of alarm followed closely thereafter - whatever had intruded was not only moving, but was also dangerous. Timothy was further agitated and began ducking in and out of the shadows, following along the base of the wall as he presumed the creature to move.
In the area around the ditch nothing was out of the usual, Timothy appeared to be the only one who was not at ease, and given what was usually expected of him, it would be easy to overlook his restlessness.
******
Joshua had gone ahead long ago and at a certain point when the path had become too narrow Mildred's truck had to be left behind, so Jenn and Mildred had continued north on foot.
Jenn had never been to the mountain before, to her it was new and breathtakingly beautiful almost too much at once. It was like the richest, most brilliant park Jenn had ever seen and it went on as if forever without end - tree trunk after tree trunk, vibrant green overlaying fervent green upon deep green - the muddy ground was the only thing of which Jenn was not fond, but even it offered some amusement, and she took for granted the easy well-trodden path on which she was walking.
It must be admitted that Jenn had felt an exhilarating sort of anxiety when the truck drove under the shadow of the boughs. Somewhere around here she had imagined that there were strange creatures hiding from the knowledge of man in the bushes and behind the wild bulwark. Yet somehow, here, where she was likely to be closest to them, the werewolves as a reality felt faraway. It was as if the creatures had been the figment of imagination in the night or a falsehood of the mind, for here, there was nothing to be seen. Not for miles ahead and behind, it was all empty forest and empty field before that, without a bird or badger or bug to make it seem any less tame than the world of buildings and pavement that Jenn knew.
But Jenn lacked much experience, though Mildred had likewise felt a sense of trepidation upon returning to the mountain. She knew more than Jenn about her surroundings and that knowledge acted both for wisdom and a barrier. Mildred was not taken to imagine away her experiences with the werewolves, and some part of her viewed the forest just a little bit differently than she did before, yet despite her experience she was a person of practical mind and faced only what was right in front of her.
The path was long, and Mildred had brought her rifle - Jenn seemed to take comfort in that, as Mildred was skilled and able, even so Mildred knew better than to put all confidence in a weapon and anyway the elder woman had come to lend aid to a rancher who hopefully had no need for its use.
A short time passed through the quiet mountain countryside, and the path continued to grow ever more narrow, when at last someone was seen coming toward them on the path ahead. There was no horse, and the person was considerably more bent over than the tall and stalwart Joshua, so Jenn could not mistake him, nonetheless only Mildred immediately recognized the identity of the man heading up the path.
"John." Mildred said when they had gotten close enough.
"Joshua told me you were coming, thank you, Mildred." Mister Trodder replied and he acknowledged Jenn presently. "You have come to see Tammy, but the trail becomes too steep ahead and it is too dangerous for us all to cross together. I cannot carry a wayward calf, so let us go back and return to Mildred's truck. Tammy and Joshua will come back by another way and we will wait for them."
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:20 pmCat
Toby hobbled his way through the living room and was halfway to the door before he realized he didn't know where he was going. Should he go outside or should he get his meat out of the drawer upstairs? It didn't matter where he went, there was someone in every corner of the house. At moments like this, it was hard to know who was up for extra company and who just wanted time to themselves.
Toby bit his lower lip.
The meat in his drawer would go bad if he didn't get it soon; it would attract raccoons and flies. How mortifying it would be if someone came into his room and saw raccoons and flies hovering around his drawer!Still, he hesitated.
The day wasn't over yet. A lot could still happen that could land him back upstairs in that bed with some kind of injury or missing limb. Then he would starve to death, and they would find him years later, and be guilty they forgot and-- Well, he knew the rest. He'd had this thought process before.After a moment, Toby decided he would go outside. His meat wouldn't spoil for a few hours yet. He wanted to look outside and enjoy the peace while it lasted instead of worrying about the next thing to go wrong. Thus he continued on his previous course and headed out the door into the yard. The mountain air was fresh and enjoyable. He breathed it deeply in a contented sigh, then suddenly he paused.
..There was a strange smell on the grounds..
Cat
Toby hobbled his way through the living room and was halfway to the door before he realized he didn't know where he was going. Should he go outside or should he get his meat out of the drawer upstairs? It didn't matter where he went, there was someone in every corner of the house. At moments like this, it was hard to know who was up for extra company and who just wanted time to themselves.
Toby bit his lower lip.
The meat in his drawer would go bad if he didn't get it soon; it would attract raccoons and flies. How mortifying it would be if someone came into his room and saw raccoons and flies hovering around his drawer!
Still, he hesitated.
The day wasn't over yet. A lot could still happen that could land him back upstairs in that bed with some kind of injury or missing limb. Then he would starve to death, and they would find him years later, and be guilty they forgot and-- Well, he knew the rest. He'd had this thought process before.
After a moment, Toby decided he would go outside. His meat wouldn't spoil for a few hours yet. He wanted to look outside and enjoy the peace while it lasted instead of worrying about the next thing to go wrong. Thus he continued on his previous course and headed out the door into the yard. The mountain air was fresh and enjoyable. He breathed it deeply in a contented sigh, then suddenly he paused.
..There was a strange smell on the grounds..
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:20 pmAim
Falling in step with Bianca, Chime found they were soon upon the other cabin. Wondering what the other was thinking, for she lack her curiosity, she glanced at her before studying the building in front of her.
As words were spoken, Chime smiled, though she too didn't know if it was cleaned. Feeling a bit of guilt, she would see about getting that added to the chores if not..
Aim
Falling in step with Bianca, Chime found they were soon upon the other cabin. Wondering what the other was thinking, for she lack her curiosity, she glanced at her before studying the building in front of her.
As words were spoken, Chime smiled, though she too didn't know if it was cleaned. Feeling a bit of guilt, she would see about getting that added to the chores if not..
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:20 pmDeseree
So perfectly did he blend in with the darkness, that his existence melded with the shadows. There was no indication of his presence. No scent, or sound... even as his figure shifted and he pushed himself from the wall. It was as if the cabin had conspired with him not to speak of his presence, as the floor gave no sound while he made his way across the room.
There was some degree of unfair advantage aside from skill... he did not move as a man, nor exactly as a werewolf, for certain features lent him a more feline form.
Now he crouched at the door on the opposite side, resting his arm against it. Long ears were erect, and his tail twisted against the ground as if it was a being independent of himself. He considered the presence of the two young girls who had entered, and his eyes went to a case resting by his right foot..
Click
The door was closed, and a light downstairs came on.
"Do you guys even use this cabin? It looks brand new!"
The ever cheery Bianca chirped to Chime, buzzing around from place to place eagerly.
"I can see why you don't - the pack is still small, right? Anyway... we could at least use it to play games haha! That's a little childish right? I'm thinking of hide and seek.. also," she went on...
Deseree
So perfectly did he blend in with the darkness, that his existence melded with the shadows. There was no indication of his presence. No scent, or sound... even as his figure shifted and he pushed himself from the wall. It was as if the cabin had conspired with him not to speak of his presence, as the floor gave no sound while he made his way across the room. 
There was some degree of unfair advantage aside from skill... he did not move as a man, nor exactly as a werewolf, for certain features lent him a more feline form.
Now he crouched at the door on the opposite side, resting his arm against it. Long ears were erect, and his tail twisted against the ground as if it was a being independent of himself. He considered the presence of the two young girls who had entered, and his eyes went to a case resting by his right foot..
Click
The door was closed, and a light downstairs came on.
"Do you guys even use this cabin? It looks brand new!"
The ever cheery Bianca chirped to Chime, buzzing around from place to place eagerly.
"I can see why you don't - the pack is still small, right? Anyway... we could at least use it to play games haha! That's a little childish right? I'm thinking of hide and seek.. also," she went on...
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:22 pmMae
About the same time Bianca and Chime were entering the cabin a shadow passed fleetingly over the gap between the two dens and vanished. The Alpha had been seen to fold a piece of paper he had been reading and then head off under the trees behind the dens prior to the shadows passing. One of the two imprisoned werewolves grew restless and made a snap at the air that very moment, but all else was quiet...
Two emerald green eyes gazed down. "The wolf that cried wolf." She thought to herself, and her thoughts were not known. "I'll remember that."
Then silently and low she passed over the ridge of the cabin roof to its far end, and there looked down over the side. Two windows were open just below the rain gutter to let the mountain air in...
*****Ulric felt immediately embarrassed and a hot wave washed from his chest to his cheeks as Logan compensated to shake his hand.
It was more of a matter of principle than anything else. A werewolf does not exchange hands because the ritual as a gesture of peace shows that there is no weapon held between the two parties, however, such a ritual among werewolves was a display of ignorance or deceit, for their hands were a weapon never cast aside. The Svalnaglas pack was unique in their dealings with mankind, but even so shaking hands was a custom they shared only lightly with non-werewolf outsiders.
Ulric feigned a casual manner, and would have been glad had the heat gone out of his face before Logan took him into her embrace. As she turned to leave he returned to the window and waited until she had gone from the room before he winced and mentally scolding himself for the embarrassment. Then at last he sighed and assessed the window a second time.
There was no way anyone could have entered the cabins with everyone being in the kitchen, and Ulric could see no way whereby to climb the wall to the second floor and enter by the window. Therefore the only plausible conclusion Ulric could reach was that the item had been left prior to that morning, and perhaps the very same evening Logan had encountered the Svalnaglas spy three days ago. There would have been opportunity since everyone was out that night, and the lack of a traceable scent seemed to add to the theory.
Unfortunately Ulric underestimated the skill of the spy, and the thought of the roof never even crossed his mind...
****Standing over the window Diane smiled, her quarry completely unaware of her presence.
"How this reminds me of the old games of hide and seek." She thought quietly to herself. But Diane was far from unaware herself, and she knew that another past acquaintance had not long left the room. The time was not right for pursuit.But there was another matter of business that had brought the lithe black creature across the roof, and that matter awaiting in the next room drew Diane's gaze to the other open window.
****
Not long after the Alpha had left, the whole house had seemed to grow quiet and Melinda was let alone to attend to herself.
As the crisp mountain air came in through the open window and Melinda peered out, there would come a strange sight to her eyes; A long blue thread was hanging from the roof just out of the rain gutter.
Not long considered, this peculiarity had been purposefully intended to keep Melinda's attention if but for a mere moment, and then Diane came down through the screen and landed just within the room.
Standing in front of Melinda with a smile on her face, Diane was dressed in the same dark azure blue she had worn the first time she had seen Melinda.
"Well," Diane said, tilting her chin down just right. "Look who it is."
Mae
About the same time Bianca and Chime were entering the cabin a shadow passed fleetingly over the gap between the two dens and vanished. The Alpha had been seen to fold a piece of paper he had been reading and then head off under the trees behind the dens prior to the shadows passing. One of the two imprisoned werewolves grew restless and made a snap at the air that very moment, but all else was quiet...
Two emerald green eyes gazed down. "The wolf that cried wolf." She thought to herself, and her thoughts were not known. "I'll remember that."
Then silently and low she passed over the ridge of the cabin roof to its far end, and there looked down over the side. Two windows were open just below the rain gutter to let the mountain air in...
*****
Ulric felt immediately embarrassed and a hot wave washed from his chest to his cheeks as Logan compensated to shake his hand.
It was more of a matter of principle than anything else. A werewolf does not exchange hands because the ritual as a gesture of peace shows that there is no weapon held between the two parties, however, such a ritual among werewolves was a display of ignorance or deceit, for their hands were a weapon never cast aside. The Svalnaglas pack was unique in their dealings with mankind, but even so shaking hands was a custom they shared only lightly with non-werewolf outsiders.
Ulric feigned a casual manner, and would have been glad had the heat gone out of his face before Logan took him into her embrace. As she turned to leave he returned to the window and waited until she had gone from the room before he winced and mentally scolding himself for the embarrassment. Then at last he sighed and assessed the window a second time.
There was no way anyone could have entered the cabins with everyone being in the kitchen, and Ulric could see no way whereby to climb the wall to the second floor and enter by the window. Therefore the only plausible conclusion Ulric could reach was that the item had been left prior to that morning, and perhaps the very same evening Logan had encountered the Svalnaglas spy three days ago. There would have been opportunity since everyone was out that night, and the lack of a traceable scent seemed to add to the theory.
Unfortunately Ulric underestimated the skill of the spy, and the thought of the roof never even crossed his mind...
****
Standing over the window Diane smiled, her quarry completely unaware of her presence.
"How this reminds me of the old games of hide and seek." She thought quietly to herself. But Diane was far from unaware herself, and she knew that another past acquaintance had not long left the room. The time was not right for pursuit.
But there was another matter of business that had brought the lithe black creature across the roof, and that matter awaiting in the next room drew Diane's gaze to the other open window.
****
Not long after the Alpha had left, the whole house had seemed to grow quiet and Melinda was let alone to attend to herself.
As the crisp mountain air came in through the open window and Melinda peered out, there would come a strange sight to her eyes; A long blue thread was hanging from the roof just out of the rain gutter.
Not long considered, this peculiarity had been purposefully intended to keep Melinda's attention if but for a mere moment, and then Diane came down through the screen and landed just within the room.
Standing in front of Melinda with a smile on her face, Diane was dressed in the same dark azure blue she had worn the first time she had seen Melinda.
"Well," Diane said, tilting her chin down just right. "Look who it is."
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:22 pmIndy
Jackie had been content to watch the day grow old at the bottom of the pit. She had no initiative to speak, no reason to move her body to action, until she saw Timothy begin to stir. She watched his agitation with particular interest. How easy it would have been to think it nothing more than madness… yet there was some quality in the air that made her fists clench with tension. Her blue eyes flashed when he snapped at the air.
“What is it?” she inhaled slowly, tasting the air as she did so, “Is there danger nearby?”
---
Theo felt his lungs shrink as though an invisible hand was trying to squeeze the air out of them as soon as he heard the voice on the other side. She was alive ! She really was…
“It’s… I mean, my name is Theo," he sucked in a sharp breath," We met once, sort of. I mean, you probably remember, but I wasn’t exactly—I mean… I just wanted to thank you and… yeah”.
The door opened. He took in the site of a woman he’d seen only on two occasions, and on this third meeting she seemed very different. Paler, maybe ? Afraid ? He suddenly felt very sad, though he knew he’d done nothing to hurt her like this. He wasn’t the monster that had done this. Yet even so, he cast his eyes to the ground like he had.
Suddenly he became aware of the object in his palm. He’d had the object in his pocket all morning, and had withdrew it as he walked up the stairs. He unfurled his hand.
“Here,” he mumbled, presenting a necklace with carved, wooden beads,”I never thanked you properly and this. Is uh, the best I can do”.
--
Melinda’s grey eyes settled on the odd blue string trailing in the wind for all of a faction of a moment, yet that was as long as it took for the lithe, black form to swing through the screen and settle with the ease of a cat beside her. To Melinda’s credit, she flinched only in the way someone might if a fly landed on their nose. Then she look as though bored or minor inconvenienced by her visitor's entrance.
In another fraction of a moment, Melinda assessed what there was to be known of this being. The form was slender and feminine, covered in dark fur, and had bright intelligent eyes. This would be the third werewolf she had ever seen in this form; and like any two humans, much was different and much was similar. Yet inexperience meant there was only so much she could take from her form alone, so she allowed her gaze to settle on what was familiar. The bright blue of her garment, though she had never seen before, had a design very similar to what was found in high fashion stores. Some might conclude this made a person vain, and that such vanity indicated weakness. Yet Melinda knew this not to be necessarily true. Appearance was the first sight a stranger judged you upon. Therefore to compose oneself well and with intention, was to control the judgment made upon you. It was a tool like anything else, and so Melinda made note of it.
The usage of the string by her window, however, was a curious tool for this creature to use against her. As a human amidst creatures far more powerful in body and reflex, she could not have reacted in time to stop this being’s entrance with or without it. It had not even served to tempt her into opening the window, either, for she’d already chosen to do so long before she’d seen the thread. So if it had not been used to gain entrance, was it meant to cause her unease or unrest ? Or perhaps this tool’s purpose had a different motivation: to illicit a reaction, and thus to inform her intruder something about herself.
More would be revealed shortly, yet for now she would have to play along until her intentions were made known.
“I see you know something of myself,” Melinda replied in even tone,”Yet I know so little of you. What should I call you by, miss ?”
Indy
Jackie had been content to watch the day grow old at the bottom of the pit. She had no initiative to speak, no reason to move her body to action, until she saw Timothy begin to stir. She watched his agitation with particular interest. How easy it would have been to think it nothing more than madness… yet there was some quality in the air that made her fists clench with tension. Her blue eyes flashed when he snapped at the air.
“What is it?” she inhaled slowly, tasting the air as she did so, “Is there danger nearby?”
---
Theo felt his lungs shrink as though an invisible hand was trying to squeeze the air out of them as soon as he heard the voice on the other side. She was alive ! She really was…
“It’s… I mean, my name is Theo," he sucked in a sharp breath," We met once, sort of. I mean, you probably remember, but I wasn’t exactly—I mean… I just wanted to thank you and… yeah”.
The door opened. He took in the site of a woman he’d seen only on two occasions, and on this third meeting she seemed very different. Paler, maybe ? Afraid ? He suddenly felt very sad, though he knew he’d done nothing to hurt her like this. He wasn’t the monster that had done this. Yet even so, he cast his eyes to the ground like he had.
Suddenly he became aware of the object in his palm. He’d had the object in his pocket all morning, and had withdrew it as he walked up the stairs. He unfurled his hand.
“Here,” he mumbled, presenting a necklace with carved, wooden beads,”I never thanked you properly and this. Is uh, the best I can do”.
--
Melinda’s grey eyes settled on the odd blue string trailing in the wind for all of a faction of a moment, yet that was as long as it took for the lithe, black form to swing through the screen and settle with the ease of a cat beside her. To Melinda’s credit, she flinched only in the way someone might if a fly landed on their nose. Then she look as though bored or minor inconvenienced by her visitor's entrance.
In another fraction of a moment, Melinda assessed what there was to be known of this being. The form was slender and feminine, covered in dark fur, and had bright intelligent eyes. This would be the third werewolf she had ever seen in this form; and like any two humans, much was different and much was similar. Yet inexperience meant there was only so much she could take from her form alone, so she allowed her gaze to settle on what was familiar. The bright blue of her garment, though she had never seen before, had a design very similar to what was found in high fashion stores. Some might conclude this made a person vain, and that such vanity indicated weakness. Yet Melinda knew this not to be necessarily true. Appearance was the first sight a stranger judged you upon. Therefore to compose oneself well and with intention, was to control the judgment made upon you. It was a tool like anything else, and so Melinda made note of it.
The usage of the string by her window, however, was a curious tool for this creature to use against her. As a human amidst creatures far more powerful in body and reflex, she could not have reacted in time to stop this being’s entrance with or without it. It had not even served to tempt her into opening the window, either, for she’d already chosen to do so long before she’d seen the thread. So if it had not been used to gain entrance, was it meant to cause her unease or unrest ? Or perhaps this tool’s purpose had a different motivation: to illicit a reaction, and thus to inform her intruder something about herself.
More would be revealed shortly, yet for now she would have to play along until her intentions were made known.
“I see you know something of myself,” Melinda replied in even tone,”Yet I know so little of you. What should I call you by, miss ?”
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:22 pmCat
Toby sniffed...
Again, his mind received the same information: Something around the cabin wasn't as it should be, but he couldn't make a clear discernment on what it was exactly that he was detecting. It wasn't even noticeable, but then it was..
Could it be he just wasn't getting the scent correctly because of his cold? No one else seemed to have taken notice of this strange whatever-it-was. Maybe his brain just something was wrong here, when there really wasn't. Toby sniffed again to be sure...
No. He was right. There was a barely noticeable, almost invisible something that wasn't supposed to be here that was. But how could it hide from so many wolves? Suddenly, almost as if it had been whispered to him without a voice, Toby's mind went to Granny Buttermilk's potted Phantom Plant that she kept in her living room! Granny always said that the plant obscured their sense of smell. Perhaps something had run through that plant on it's way here-- Or worse, perhaps someone had intentionally used it to disguise themselves.
There was only one way to be sure. Slowly and without taking intent gaze from the shadowed places of his seemingly serene surroundings, Toby unfastened three buttons on his shirt and knelt down on all fours, taking his wolfish form as he did so. His bullet wounds were still very sore and protested the change, but Toby fought through it... His nose wasn't helping. He needed ears... Big, wolfy ears.
...And it might be helpful to have three extra legs instead of just one, since the one that had been shot was still sore.Now as a scrawny tan wolf with unsightly patches of ruffled fur, Toby reevaluated his surroundings. He could better hear the singing of the birds and rustle of the wind through the trees. Just like in his human form, everything seemed perfectly normal-- But it felt even worse now. It was as if there were two layers of reality; the first and most immediately noticeable was fine. The second was like what ninjas used on their way to assassinate someone, and it had been torn.
Lifting his injured leg from the ground, Toby centered his weight on the three he still had use of and hobbled forward. Keeping his ears erect and sniffing the air frequently. It seemed as those his senses were trying to decieve him, but his mind was also at work in this scenario: Something around them was amiss, but nobody else seemed to have noticed it. That meant that whatever wasn't right was an intellegence because it wasn't as noticable as a misplaced shovel or a new lawn chair; it was hiding.. Toby knew the pack kept to subconscious paths around the yard-- People usually did. They had a set path to and from wherever they went. It was easier for their mind to memorize how to get to where and locate landmarks along the way. So Toby changed his focus and began looking for trodden grass that was outside the pack's area.. Around trees, behind the cabins, somewhere an intruder would be if they were trying to sneak around in broad daylight.... Of course, this was a cabin in the mountains, there were literally thousand of places like that! So Toby narrowed it down a little further:
If a intruder was trying not to be seen in broad daylight, and also trying to get closer to the cabins, the places said-intruder could hide were even more limited. Why, if Toby was a ninja, he'd stick to the shadows of the trees, get up into boughs, then go along them until he had reached the roof---
Toby paused. He had been following an imaginary ninja with his eyes along the path he would have taken for himself and now found something disturbing: Several windows were open to let the light breeze in, and one or two were open wide enough to let a body in. Was someone in the cabin?
If that was the case, Toby wouldn't have to worry. There was no way they were getting past Sabrina.. But Sabrina was downstairs. Those were upstairs windows. Ulric and Logan were upstairs, and Theo was too.. So was Tammy and that other lady, right? There were a lot of people upstairs, an intruder would be spotted no doubt..
Toby turned his attention from the window to the surrounding forest with the intention of seeking some other possibility, then paused and quickly looked back. He was thinking like a ninja, he had failed to think like a villain at the same time: The pack had nothing of any value to rob, so the only reason an intruder would try to get into the cabin would be because it was trying to get someone instead of something!
But how could he be sure? The smell was barely perceptible. The others had completely missed it, and he had a cold. Whose to say he wasn't imagining the whole thing? What if he sounded the alarm and they didn't find anything? He'd look like a complete fool.
Toby whimpered slightly to himself. He didn't want to look like a fool anymore. He already looked so much like a fool.... Maybe there was a way to quietly find this whatever-it-was for himself..
...But if it was a danger, and his pack was in danger...
Toby turned his head slightly in the direction of the cabin and gave a few yips. It wasn't an alarm or anything that would cause panic, it was a simple call to Sabrina.
...Sabrina would know what to do.
Cat
Toby sniffed...
Again, his mind received the same information: Something around the cabin wasn't as it should be, but he couldn't make a clear discernment on what it was exactly that he was detecting. It wasn't even noticeable, but then it was..
Could it be he just wasn't getting the scent correctly because of his cold? No one else seemed to have taken notice of this strange whatever-it-was. Maybe his brain just something was wrong here, when there really wasn't. Toby sniffed again to be sure...
No. He was right. There was a barely noticeable, almost invisible something that wasn't supposed to be here that was. But how could it hide from so many wolves? Suddenly, almost as if it had been whispered to him without a voice, Toby's mind went to Granny Buttermilk's potted Phantom Plant that she kept in her living room! Granny always said that the plant obscured their sense of smell. Perhaps something had run through that plant on it's way here-- Or worse, perhaps someone had intentionally used it to disguise themselves.
There was only one way to be sure. Slowly and without taking intent gaze from the shadowed places of his seemingly serene surroundings, Toby unfastened three buttons on his shirt and knelt down on all fours, taking his wolfish form as he did so. His bullet wounds were still very sore and protested the change, but Toby fought through it... His nose wasn't helping. He needed ears... Big, wolfy ears.
...And it might be helpful to have three extra legs instead of just one, since the one that had been shot was still sore.
Now as a scrawny tan wolf with unsightly patches of ruffled fur, Toby reevaluated his surroundings. He could better hear the singing of the birds and rustle of the wind through the trees. Just like in his human form, everything seemed perfectly normal-- But it felt even worse now. It was as if there were two layers of reality; the first and most immediately noticeable was fine. The second was like what ninjas used on their way to assassinate someone, and it had been torn.
Lifting his injured leg from the ground, Toby centered his weight on the three he still had use of and hobbled forward. Keeping his ears erect and sniffing the air frequently. It seemed as those his senses were trying to decieve him, but his mind was also at work in this scenario: Something around them was amiss, but nobody else seemed to have noticed it. That meant that whatever wasn't right was an intellegence because it wasn't as noticable as a misplaced shovel or a new lawn chair; it was hiding.. Toby knew the pack kept to subconscious paths around the yard-- People usually did. They had a set path to and from wherever they went. It was easier for their mind to memorize how to get to where and locate landmarks along the way. So Toby changed his focus and began looking for trodden grass that was outside the pack's area.. Around trees, behind the cabins, somewhere an intruder would be if they were trying to sneak around in broad daylight.... Of course, this was a cabin in the mountains, there were literally thousand of places like that! So Toby narrowed it down a little further:
If a intruder was trying not to be seen in broad daylight, and also trying to get closer to the cabins, the places said-intruder could hide were even more limited. Why, if Toby was a ninja, he'd stick to the shadows of the trees, get up into boughs, then go along them until he had reached the roof---
Toby paused. He had been following an imaginary ninja with his eyes along the path he would have taken for himself and now found something disturbing: Several windows were open to let the light breeze in, and one or two were open wide enough to let a body in. Was someone in the cabin?
If that was the case, Toby wouldn't have to worry. There was no way they were getting past Sabrina.. But Sabrina was downstairs. Those were upstairs windows. Ulric and Logan were upstairs, and Theo was too.. So was Tammy and that other lady, right? There were a lot of people upstairs, an intruder would be spotted no doubt..
Toby turned his attention from the window to the surrounding forest with the intention of seeking some other possibility, then paused and quickly looked back. He was thinking like a ninja, he had failed to think like a villain at the same time: The pack had nothing of any value to rob, so the only reason an intruder would try to get into the cabin would be because it was trying to get someone instead of something!
But how could he be sure? The smell was barely perceptible. The others had completely missed it, and he had a cold. Whose to say he wasn't imagining the whole thing? What if he sounded the alarm and they didn't find anything? He'd look like a complete fool.
Toby whimpered slightly to himself. He didn't want to look like a fool anymore. He already looked so much like a fool.... Maybe there was a way to quietly find this whatever-it-was for himself..
...But if it was a danger, and his pack was in danger...
Toby turned his head slightly in the direction of the cabin and gave a few yips. It wasn't an alarm or anything that would cause panic, it was a simple call to Sabrina.
...Sabrina would know what to do.
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:22 pmKaqurei
Sabrina was by now the sole occupant of the table. But for her bare feet, she had all the poise and posture of a European princess in a glittering dining hall. Her eyes half closed, she daintily continued to nibble her salad as if there had been no disturbance and her company had in fact not gone. Or perhaps they had never been there at the start. This cavalier attitude was as Kratos had found her in his brief glance, and would have remained so until her meal was finished had not Toby's weak yelp reached her ears. Like those of a cat which had been pretending to be wholly engaged in a nap, her eyes opened, already keen and alert.
And annoyed.
For a moment, she considered ignoring him. But that would not be very prudent if he had managed to find real trouble, albeit only mere moments after exiting the cabin. With the dutiful movements of some sort of dignitary, she swept her salad aside and stood. Briefly, she cast her eyes towards the back door, still ajar from Levi's graceless exit when it became apparent he would be alone in the kitchen with her if he did not flee. He might have muttered something along the lines of needing a breath of air.
With no apparent urgency, she approached the sink and washed her hands. She dried them on a little hand towel hanging there. Then at last did she proceed from the kitchen to the main room. She paused a moment, considering the scent of the stranger who had come and left her instrument. Perhaps she had returned for it, and that was what had disturbed the omega. Perhaps not. So she left the cabin and went to him out in the yard.
"What is it, Toby?"
Her voice was casual, even careless, but even as she approached him she had observed his posture, his uncertain glances towards the trees and the window. It was not trouble with Timothy, then. He was concerned about something else. Had that woman, Melinda, tried to escape by way of the window? The light breeze playing across the grass from the northeast towards where they stood did not convey this to be the case. Certainly, her curiosity had been piqued, but she did not let on so as she crossed her arms and awaited the omega's response.
Kaqurei
Sabrina was by now the sole occupant of the table. But for her bare feet, she had all the poise and posture of a European princess in a glittering dining hall. Her eyes half closed, she daintily continued to nibble her salad as if there had been no disturbance and her company had in fact not gone. Or perhaps they had never been there at the start. This cavalier attitude was as Kratos had found her in his brief glance, and would have remained so until her meal was finished had not Toby's weak yelp reached her ears. Like those of a cat which had been pretending to be wholly engaged in a nap, her eyes opened, already keen and alert.
And annoyed.
For a moment, she considered ignoring him. But that would not be very prudent if he had managed to find real trouble, albeit only mere moments after exiting the cabin. With the dutiful movements of some sort of dignitary, she swept her salad aside and stood. Briefly, she cast her eyes towards the back door, still ajar from Levi's graceless exit when it became apparent he would be alone in the kitchen with her if he did not flee. He might have muttered something along the lines of needing a breath of air.
With no apparent urgency, she approached the sink and washed her hands. She dried them on a little hand towel hanging there. Then at last did she proceed from the kitchen to the main room. She paused a moment, considering the scent of the stranger who had come and left her instrument. Perhaps she had returned for it, and that was what had disturbed the omega. Perhaps not. So she left the cabin and went to him out in the yard.
"What is it, Toby?"
Her voice was casual, even careless, but even as she approached him she had observed his posture, his uncertain glances towards the trees and the window. It was not trouble with Timothy, then. He was concerned about something else. Had that woman, Melinda, tried to escape by way of the window? The light breeze playing across the grass from the northeast towards where they stood did not convey this to be the case. Certainly, her curiosity had been piqued, but she did not let on so as she crossed her arms and awaited the omega's response.
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:22 pmCat and Kaqurei
Toby sat rather awkwardly in the shadowed area between the two cabins. He dared sit right now because he did not feel he was likely to be jumped and mugged by some intruder at the given moment-- and continued to stare up at the open windows and roof even as Sabrina approached. He was watching that imaginary ninja on repeat, sneaking into the window through various ways. All of them plausible.
..If Sabrina was unimpressed and doubtful of what Toby's reasons might be before answering his call, he most certainly did not help his plight with his weak response to her question:
The window is open.
She looked up at the window. She looked at Toby. "...So it is."
A ninja could get in. Toby said simply, finally looking at Sabrina.
That arched eyebrow of hers raised sceptically. "So one might," she said. "Is there... any particular reason for you calling me to inform me of such a possibility...?"
Toby's brows furrowed in confusion and he cast another glance at the window. How did she not get it? He had pointed out all the important aspects of the situation, didn't he?.... Err, okay, maybe not. But in a way, he proved his theory that Sabrina could not actually read his mind... A great comfort indeed... In some cases.
Quickly, he looked at her again, then to the window, and to Sabrina once again. Don't you smell it?
Sabrina was, in fact, completely taken aback by that question. She did not let on so, but it hit her over the head like a mallet. Smell it? Smell what? What was it that the stuffy-nosed omega was smelling that she had not detected already? He was not the sort to cry wolf. He asked the question so matter of fact. Though her expression was utterly unchanged but for the softening of her gaze, she took a few tentative sniffs. But nothing had changed. She could smell the fresh grass, the passing of several pack members, the slight scent of cattle and pine in the mountains... but nothing to cause alarm. Nothing she had not smelled before.
"Smell what?" she asked, with a hint more credulity than she had afforded him before--as if she could smell it, and other things, and was wondering more as to which scent he was referring.
Smell what?! Smell the smell! Smell the smell that wasn't there of course! How could she have missed it? It was a plain as invisible. How else could he explain it. The invisible one? He whimpered pathetically, knowing that was stupid before it even came out of his mouth. It's the strange one. The one that isn't there, but is... Like it's hiding under no smell, but it's a smell.
Her silence was not very reassuring.
So Toby spewed forth a flurry of explanations:It's the smell that isn't there! The not-smell that's all over the mountain. The not-smell smell. It smells like it doesn't smell exactly like Granny's house. She doesn't smell like the not-smell because she keeps the plant in her house, and now it's here too. And I followed the ninja with my eyes and it's possible for anyone to get inside if they use the trees and roof. I'm sure there's a smell under the not-smell. Don't you smell it? ...This was like explaining the Quantum Theory to someone who just didn't care.
Sabrina stared. Toby was not an idiot. He was highly intelligent. She knew this. She'd never admit it, but she knew this. She looked up at the window with renewed interest, her eyes narrowing.
Perhaps Toby's concern warranted actual consideration after all.
Cat and Kaqurei
Toby sat rather awkwardly in the shadowed area between the two cabins. He dared sit right now because he did not feel he was likely to be jumped and mugged by some intruder at the given moment-- and continued to stare up at the open windows and roof even as Sabrina approached. He was watching that imaginary ninja on repeat, sneaking into the window through various ways. All of them plausible.
..If Sabrina was unimpressed and doubtful of what Toby's reasons might be before answering his call, he most certainly did not help his plight with his weak response to her question:
The window is open.
She looked up at the window. She looked at Toby. "...So it is."
A ninja could get in. Toby said simply, finally looking at Sabrina.
That arched eyebrow of hers raised sceptically. "So one might," she said. "Is there... any particular reason for you calling me to inform me of such a possibility...?"
Toby's brows furrowed in confusion and he cast another glance at the window. How did she not get it? He had pointed out all the important aspects of the situation, didn't he?.... Err, okay, maybe not. But in a way, he proved his theory that Sabrina could not actually read his mind... A great comfort indeed... In some cases.
Quickly, he looked at her again, then to the window, and to Sabrina once again. Don't you smell it?
Sabrina was, in fact, completely taken aback by that question. She did not let on so, but it hit her over the head like a mallet. Smell it? Smell what? What was it that the stuffy-nosed omega was smelling that she had not detected already? He was not the sort to cry wolf. He asked the question so matter of fact. Though her expression was utterly unchanged but for the softening of her gaze, she took a few tentative sniffs. But nothing had changed. She could smell the fresh grass, the passing of several pack members, the slight scent of cattle and pine in the mountains... but nothing to cause alarm. Nothing she had not smelled before.
"Smell what?" she asked, with a hint more credulity than she had afforded him before--as if she could smell it, and other things, and was wondering more as to which scent he was referring.
Smell what?! Smell the smell! Smell the smell that wasn't there of course! How could she have missed it? It was a plain as invisible. How else could he explain it. The invisible one? He whimpered pathetically, knowing that was stupid before it even came out of his mouth. It's the strange one. The one that isn't there, but is... Like it's hiding under no smell, but it's a smell.
Her silence was not very reassuring.
So Toby spewed forth a flurry of explanations:
It's the smell that isn't there! The not-smell that's all over the mountain. The not-smell smell. It smells like it doesn't smell exactly like Granny's house. She doesn't smell like the not-smell because she keeps the plant in her house, and now it's here too. And I followed the ninja with my eyes and it's possible for anyone to get inside if they use the trees and roof. I'm sure there's a smell under the not-smell. Don't you smell it? ...This was like explaining the Quantum Theory to someone who just didn't care.
Sabrina stared. Toby was not an idiot. He was highly intelligent. She knew this. She'd never admit it, but she knew this. She looked up at the window with renewed interest, her eyes narrowing.
Perhaps Toby's concern warranted actual consideration after all.
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 12:22 pmMae
As Tammy stared at the young man standing in the hallway his emotions were gathered from his face and every glance became as if a word whereby she could read his mind. There was an answer for all the regret he felt, and Tammy in longing to explain leaned forward but could not at once find words.
A gift was presented, a token of thanks. Tammy's countenance fell.
After a long, quiet moment Tammy reached out and took the necklace from Theo's hand. She looked at the white figure on the largest bead for a short time before she at last replied.
"I remember." Tammy said quietly.
The girl had her head bowed in solemn contemplation before she looked up to meet Theo's eyes, and then with earnest emotion said, "I wanted to thank you. All of you, for what you've done, and are doing... for me."
It might have been too hard for Tammy to explain what she meant, at any rate there was a well of emotion in her eyes and she did not go on.For no one else would she have drawn aside, but yes, Tammy remembered Theo, and she knew him not as the boy from that rainy night, but as the creature that she had tended under the light of the moon, for she recognized his features.
"Would you like to come in?" Tammy asked apologetically "I've got to close the door or leave the house, the smell of the meat is terrible."
Once said, the latter became the preference to Tammy, and she left the door and went to gather her things off the bed and pack them back into her bag. Among those things were the pages of Zander's story, and the same strange-scented tea leaves Tammy had given to Levi for Theo when he had been hurt.
******
Diane's smile did not yield as she watched the calculations taking place beyond Melinda's eyes.
In a single, elegant motion the black creature leaned back and slid from standing to sitting on the floor with inhuman grace. Her first finger was drawn down the side of the grey-navy leather on her lower leg, and with a gentle continuous tap she ran her large black claw over the stiff seam.
The long threads of the creature's black mane fell loosely about her shoulders and upon her chest, from it hung the jewelry of a woman, beautiful rings and necklaces that tinkled and clinked as she moved.
The voice of the creature when she spoke was deep and elegant, and unlike others Melinda had encountered its speech was perfectly articulate and eerily human.
"Being quite adept in the field already, it seems a wonder you should look to disappear from humanity." Slinking forward, another graceful change in posture came over the creature as she leaned in and began to prowl toward the door of the room. "After all, crossing the threshold without the right of blood is an unforgiving business. But you need only ask the right people, you know."With this word the green eyes of the dangerous creature flashed at Melinda, and then the long black ears laid back and her head was turned up with indifference.
"I come only to say that your presence in Middlecrest gave a rather distasteful atmosphere to the gala that evening. Your mingling put an end to some rather specific intentions of mine, but I must say that it was all very amusing to watch, if only it appealed more to my sense of humor."
Mae
As Tammy stared at the young man standing in the hallway his emotions were gathered from his face and every glance became as if a word whereby she could read his mind. There was an answer for all the regret he felt, and Tammy in longing to explain leaned forward but could not at once find words.
A gift was presented, a token of thanks. Tammy's countenance fell.
After a long, quiet moment Tammy reached out and took the necklace from Theo's hand. She looked at the white figure on the largest bead for a short time before she at last replied.
"I remember." Tammy said quietly.
The girl had her head bowed in solemn contemplation before she looked up to meet Theo's eyes, and then with earnest emotion said, "I wanted to thank you. All of you, for what you've done, and are doing... for me."
It might have been too hard for Tammy to explain what she meant, at any rate there was a well of emotion in her eyes and she did not go on.
For no one else would she have drawn aside, but yes, Tammy remembered Theo, and she knew him not as the boy from that rainy night, but as the creature that she had tended under the light of the moon, for she recognized his features.
"Would you like to come in?" Tammy asked apologetically "I've got to close the door or leave the house, the smell of the meat is terrible."
Once said, the latter became the preference to Tammy, and she left the door and went to gather her things off the bed and pack them back into her bag. Among those things were the pages of Zander's story, and the same strange-scented tea leaves Tammy had given to Levi for Theo when he had been hurt.
******
Diane's smile did not yield as she watched the calculations taking place beyond Melinda's eyes.
In a single, elegant motion the black creature leaned back and slid from standing to sitting on the floor with inhuman grace. Her first finger was drawn down the side of the grey-navy leather on her lower leg, and with a gentle continuous tap she ran her large black claw over the stiff seam.
The long threads of the creature's black mane fell loosely about her shoulders and upon her chest, from it hung the jewelry of a woman, beautiful rings and necklaces that tinkled and clinked as she moved.
The voice of the creature when she spoke was deep and elegant, and unlike others Melinda had encountered its speech was perfectly articulate and eerily human.
"Being quite adept in the field already, it seems a wonder you should look to disappear from humanity." Slinking forward, another graceful change in posture came over the creature as she leaned in and began to prowl toward the door of the room. "After all, crossing the threshold without the right of blood is an unforgiving business. But you need only ask the right people, you know."
With this word the green eyes of the dangerous creature flashed at Melinda, and then the long black ears laid back and her head was turned up with indifference.
"I come only to say that your presence in Middlecrest gave a rather distasteful atmosphere to the gala that evening. Your mingling put an end to some rather specific intentions of mine, but I must say that it was all very amusing to watch, if only it appealed more to my sense of humor."
