Werewolves (RP 9): The Song of the Mountain - Part 1
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:10 pmIndy
She felt the reassuring tug at the end of the other side. Now came the hard part. It was too high on the mountain top for there to be much the way in trees. Even the nearby shrubs seemed questionable at best. And in any case, there wasn’t enough rope left for a secure knot. There was, however, an abundance of sturdy rocks. She could use that.
Carefully, she investigated the rocky earth behind her with the tips of her toes. It was not difficult to find traction; she wedged her feet in a small crag running parallel to the crevice. The angle of the mountain was such that she leaned forward, while her upper torso rested in the shadow of the cave towards the crevice. She pushed her weight against her hold experimentally. Then she wrapped the rope twice around her right fist, secured a knot just below, and with her left hand held it just above the knot.
"Okay. Bad news. This is as good as it gets. There’s nothing secure enough for me to tie it too, and that’s all the rope anyways".
She exhaled, musing, "It’s not the best odds, but they’re the best you have. I can support your weight — as a human.
But you’ll have to do some work. Be smart with where you place your feet. Only step where the mountain will probably take it, and make sure you test each place before you put the whole of your weight on it. After you place each foot, you can use the rope to climb — but don’t overstrain yourself. And get as much extension in your arms as you can, so if you’re reaching with your right arm, turn your right hip into the rocky face.
Work smart, work careful and do it as fast as you can. If you hear something about to crumble, then be prepared to move"
"There's nothing to it," she assured him, "Ready?"
---"Oh, okay, thanks…"
If Theo felt any of Toby’s awkwardness, he didn’t feel it. He seemed merely confused by the strange thing pinned by his ear; he was still convinced it would do as much good as an earring.
He smiled reassuringly as he spotted Toby’s uneasy face, "Don’t worry. I’m sure Kratos will like them".
He glanced up at the storm clouds, "I guess we can get started? Maybe we can hand out a few before the moon comes"
Indy
She felt the reassuring tug at the end of the other side. Now came the hard part. It was too high on the mountain top for there to be much the way in trees. Even the nearby shrubs seemed questionable at best. And in any case, there wasn’t enough rope left for a secure knot. There was, however, an abundance of sturdy rocks. She could use that.
Carefully, she investigated the rocky earth behind her with the tips of her toes. It was not difficult to find traction; she wedged her feet in a small crag running parallel to the crevice. The angle of the mountain was such that she leaned forward, while her upper torso rested in the shadow of the cave towards the crevice. She pushed her weight against her hold experimentally. Then she wrapped the rope twice around her right fist, secured a knot just below, and with her left hand held it just above the knot.
"Okay. Bad news. This is as good as it gets. There’s nothing secure enough for me to tie it too, and that’s all the rope anyways".
She exhaled, musing, "It’s not the best odds, but they’re the best you have. I can support your weight — as a human.
But you’ll have to do some work. Be smart with where you place your feet. Only step where the mountain will probably take it, and make sure you test each place before you put the whole of your weight on it. After you place each foot, you can use the rope to climb — but don’t overstrain yourself. And get as much extension in your arms as you can, so if you’re reaching with your right arm, turn your right hip into the rocky face.
Work smart, work careful and do it as fast as you can. If you hear something about to crumble, then be prepared to move"
"There's nothing to it," she assured him, "Ready?"
---
"Oh, okay, thanks…"
If Theo felt any of Toby’s awkwardness, he didn’t feel it. He seemed merely confused by the strange thing pinned by his ear; he was still convinced it would do as much good as an earring.
He smiled reassuringly as he spotted Toby’s uneasy face, "Don’t worry. I’m sure Kratos will like them".
He glanced up at the storm clouds, "I guess we can get started? Maybe we can hand out a few before the moon comes"
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:10 pmCat
Theo's voice pulled Toby from his thoughts. He blinked rapidly and looked to his friend, nodding in response to the suggestion. Yeah, good idea.. He mumbled, then reached up to touch the device in his own ear, Okay, if you touch it with your finger, you'll feel a small plastic piece sticking out. That's the button; if you want to talk to somebody, just press it down and hold it while you speak, then when you are finished speaking let go. Toby explained, demonstrating as he did.
His words, though a little fuzzy, echoed through Theo's earpiece.
Cat
Theo's voice pulled Toby from his thoughts. He blinked rapidly and looked to his friend, nodding in response to the suggestion. Yeah, good idea.. He mumbled, then reached up to touch the device in his own ear, Okay, if you touch it with your finger, you'll feel a small plastic piece sticking out. That's the button; if you want to talk to somebody, just press it down and hold it while you speak, then when you are finished speaking let go. Toby explained, demonstrating as he did.
His words, though a little fuzzy, echoed through Theo's earpiece.
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:10 pmMae
Ulric sensed the risk Jackie was taking. If he was not especially careful, she would end up in the same predicament he was in. Listening intently to Jackie's expert instruction, Ulric gripping the rope firmly in both hands.
"Okay," He said, taking a deep breath and swallowing hard. "I'm ready."
Ulric pulled gently on the rope to prepare Jackie for his weight, then he proceeded exactly as she instructed. One tedious step at a time, relying wholly on the strength of Jackie's arms, Ulric hoisted himself off the precarious ledge and up the wall.
The wall was steadfast. The stones that composed it seemed ageless and eternal, for they did not yield beneath Ulric's feet. Every step brought him nearer to the surface, but it was always uncertain to him how far he would have to climb. There was darkness above him and darkness beneath him. His strength seemed limited. His arms began to tremble and his feet slackened for want of rest. If there was light anywhere above him, why couldn't he see it? He felt his limbs growing weaker, his heart struggling not to despair. He could feel Jackie's strength through the rope and knew she was straining to bear him. Her strength would not last forever. Though he ached for rest and yearned to see some hope of light, he knew that neither would find him in that dark moment. He pressed on.
"Hold on." Ulric said, trying to comfort the arms on which his life was solely dependent. His breath was weak. "I'm coming."
The distance below his feet felt a million miles down, and the distance above him might have been nearly as incomprehensible, but Ulric kept climbing.
******
The air rumbled.
Kratos lifted his head. He saw the branches swaying and could smell the rain fast approaching. The wind swept through the trees causing the branches to creak. Aspen, pine and elm began to lean and quiver. Leaves were rattling into an uproar.
"Bianca," Kratos said turning his head and inviting her to walk closer with him. "Have I given you a rank yet?"
Mae
Ulric sensed the risk Jackie was taking. If he was not especially careful, she would end up in the same predicament he was in. Listening intently to Jackie's expert instruction, Ulric gripping the rope firmly in both hands.
"Okay," He said, taking a deep breath and swallowing hard. "I'm ready."
Ulric pulled gently on the rope to prepare Jackie for his weight, then he proceeded exactly as she instructed. One tedious step at a time, relying wholly on the strength of Jackie's arms, Ulric hoisted himself off the precarious ledge and up the wall.
The wall was steadfast. The stones that composed it seemed ageless and eternal, for they did not yield beneath Ulric's feet. Every step brought him nearer to the surface, but it was always uncertain to him how far he would have to climb. There was darkness above him and darkness beneath him. His strength seemed limited. His arms began to tremble and his feet slackened for want of rest. If there was light anywhere above him, why couldn't he see it? He felt his limbs growing weaker, his heart struggling not to despair. He could feel Jackie's strength through the rope and knew she was straining to bear him. Her strength would not last forever. Though he ached for rest and yearned to see some hope of light, he knew that neither would find him in that dark moment. He pressed on.
"Hold on." Ulric said, trying to comfort the arms on which his life was solely dependent. His breath was weak. "I'm coming."
The distance below his feet felt a million miles down, and the distance above him might have been nearly as incomprehensible, but Ulric kept climbing.
******
The air rumbled.
Kratos lifted his head. He saw the branches swaying and could smell the rain fast approaching. The wind swept through the trees causing the branches to creak. Aspen, pine and elm began to lean and quiver. Leaves were rattling into an uproar.
"Bianca," Kratos said turning his head and inviting her to walk closer with him. "Have I given you a rank yet?"
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmAddie
Maybe it was just the change of weather, but there was a chill that crept over Bianca's flesh and caused her furs to prick. She cast her gaze to the Alpha and came up beside him, shaking her head.
"No-but I haven't been here very long-and anyway... I didn't know there were ranks. You don't have to worry about it right now, though.." she responded, looking on towards the hills with concern. "Why don't you think the others replied? They probably knew it wasn't exactly smart-but still.. Ulric always replies..."
Addie
Maybe it was just the change of weather, but there was a chill that crept over Bianca's flesh and caused her furs to prick. She cast her gaze to the Alpha and came up beside him, shaking her head.
"No-but I haven't been here very long-and anyway... I didn't know there were ranks. You don't have to worry about it right now, though.." she responded, looking on towards the hills with concern. "Why don't you think the others replied? They probably knew it wasn't exactly smart-but still.. Ulric always replies..."
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmMae
Kratos looked forward again and seemed to survey the ground briefly. Then he lifted his head and walked onward.
"A rank is a title of responsibility." He said, following a brief moment of silence.
"We each have a responsibility to one another; all of us. A rank is only the definition of a specific responsibility we have in connection to certain others."
"Consider, the title of father, mother, brother, sister - you are familiar with these titles in the most basic of human hierarchy. Each title is the definition of its responsibility and the role of its office; Father and mother, by nature of the responsibility they carry, preside over their lesser counterparts: Imagine, for example, if the father should take the role and responsibility of the sister, or the brother attempt to rise to the office of motherhood and its associated responsibilities; If they should so attempt to redefine their roles, chaos would corrupt the unit."
"Beside the mutual responsibility we have to each other's welfare, there are certain responsibilities associated under titles of rank that must be met. Otherwise, there can be no peace on this or any mountain."
"So, Bianca, I would like to appoint you as a den-mother. The nature of your responsibility will be to officiate over one of the buildings at the base of the mountain and its assigned occupants; to keep it in order; both its possessions and its people until such a time as you are otherwise assigned.
Kratos stopped on the incline and turned his head toward Bianca. It was always Kratos' nature to speak rather slowly, so it wasn't surprising to find they had walked quite a distance up the mountain.
"I believe you are uniquely qualified for this rank, though it will pose an immense challenge to you, should you accept it. But, the choice is yours."
Mae
Kratos looked forward again and seemed to survey the ground briefly. Then he lifted his head and walked onward.
"A rank is a title of responsibility." He said, following a brief moment of silence.
"We each have a responsibility to one another; all of us. A rank is only the definition of a specific responsibility we have in connection to certain others."
"Consider, the title of father, mother, brother, sister - you are familiar with these titles in the most basic of human hierarchy. Each title is the definition of its responsibility and the role of its office; Father and mother, by nature of the responsibility they carry, preside over their lesser counterparts: Imagine, for example, if the father should take the role and responsibility of the sister, or the brother attempt to rise to the office of motherhood and its associated responsibilities; If they should so attempt to redefine their roles, chaos would corrupt the unit."
"Beside the mutual responsibility we have to each other's welfare, there are certain responsibilities associated under titles of rank that must be met. Otherwise, there can be no peace on this or any mountain."
"So, Bianca, I would like to appoint you as a den-mother. The nature of your responsibility will be to officiate over one of the buildings at the base of the mountain and its assigned occupants; to keep it in order; both its possessions and its people until such a time as you are otherwise assigned.
Kratos stopped on the incline and turned his head toward Bianca. It was always Kratos' nature to speak rather slowly, so it wasn't surprising to find they had walked quite a distance up the mountain.
"I believe you are uniquely qualified for this rank, though it will pose an immense challenge to you, should you accept it. But, the choice is yours."
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmKaqurei
Sabrina's black lips curled in an appropriately wolfish grin. "No need to worry about that," she said, with perhaps a bit too much pleasure.
Kaqurei
Sabrina's black lips curled in an appropriately wolfish grin. "No need to worry about that," she said, with perhaps a bit too much pleasure.
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmIndy
The rope dug into her palms like a knife, her arms trembled faintly under the strain, yet all the while her expression was resolute. The air was thick, sweltering and heavy — as though it were trying to smother her. Yet short of the mountain tumbling beneath her, she would not yield the rope an inch.
Somewhere below Ulric climbed. It was difficult to see from her vantage without risking her footing. But she’d seen enough dark places in her life to know this one well. The void would swallow you whole if you let it… and Ulric was taking long enough to tempt it. Or to state another way, she’d never tested her fine rabbiting rope before to see how long it could support a person’s body weight.
"Don’t mean to rush you kid, but you might… wanna… a bit," she grunted, " ‘Not sure how long the rope will take it".
---
Theo jerked back in surprise at the little voice in his ear. He looked back at Toby, wide-eyed, as though he’d been stung by a bee. With a slow, faintly trembling hand, he pressed the button down.
"Like… like…. this?"
He heard a faint static in his earpiece, yet the tiny voice was gone. Maybe it was broken. Maybe he broke it. But he couldn’t tell Toby that, or he’d be so dejected. He smiled encouragingly, as though he suddenly understood.
"L-lets… pass them out then".
Indy
The rope dug into her palms like a knife, her arms trembled faintly under the strain, yet all the while her expression was resolute. The air was thick, sweltering and heavy — as though it were trying to smother her. Yet short of the mountain tumbling beneath her, she would not yield the rope an inch.
Somewhere below Ulric climbed. It was difficult to see from her vantage without risking her footing. But she’d seen enough dark places in her life to know this one well. The void would swallow you whole if you let it… and Ulric was taking long enough to tempt it. Or to state another way, she’d never tested her fine rabbiting rope before to see how long it could support a person’s body weight.
"Don’t mean to rush you kid, but you might… wanna… a bit," she grunted, " ‘Not sure how long the rope will take it".
---
Theo jerked back in surprise at the little voice in his ear. He looked back at Toby, wide-eyed, as though he’d been stung by a bee. With a slow, faintly trembling hand, he pressed the button down.
"Like… like…. this?"
He heard a faint static in his earpiece, yet the tiny voice was gone. Maybe it was broken. Maybe he broke it. But he couldn’t tell Toby that, or he’d be so dejected. He smiled encouragingly, as though he suddenly understood.
"L-lets… pass them out then".
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmTeg
Saber rolled his eyes at Sabrina's words as he looked away back to the forest surrounding them. “ Just try not to have too much fun with my wolf will ya.”
Saber took a few steps forward, towards the forest, his back now facing Sabrina. He watched the storm blowing in as if it held some kind of answer to life's deepest questions.
“ I don't think he's what you're expecting him to be.” Saber spoke slowly, a subtle emotion seemed to enter just under the surface of his voice and expression. Was it sadness, or maybe concern? It was hard to tell, but his face seemed void of anything telling besides it's subtle presence.
Teg
Saber rolled his eyes at Sabrina's words as he looked away back to the forest surrounding them. “ Just try not to have too much fun with my wolf will ya.”
Saber took a few steps forward, towards the forest, his back now facing Sabrina. He watched the storm blowing in as if it held some kind of answer to life's deepest questions.
“ I don't think he's what you're expecting him to be.” Saber spoke slowly, a subtle emotion seemed to enter just under the surface of his voice and expression. Was it sadness, or maybe concern? It was hard to tell, but his face seemed void of anything telling besides it's subtle presence.
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmKaqurei
With his back to Sabrina, her face was out of view and thus unreadable. Her voice came easily, however. "I hold no expectations. Those are dangerous in my line of work," were the words, as grave as they were velvet. Then there was a pause. "...What do you expect of him?"
Kaqurei
With his back to Sabrina, her face was out of view and thus unreadable. Her voice came easily, however. "I hold no expectations. Those are dangerous in my line of work," were the words, as grave as they were velvet. Then there was a pause. "...What do you expect of him?"
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmTeg
Saber stood quietly, as he felt a shiver through his body; The storm had brought a drop in temperature that was slowly penetrating his small frame. He stared at the ground for a moment thinking before turning halfway back to Sabrina. Although he could look at Sabrina now, his eyes only met hers for a small moment before drifting off elsewhere.
“ I don't know, I guess I'm expecting him to be the same as the last time I saw him.” He said quietly. He waited a brief moment before continuing. “ ...So how am I suppose to control him anyways? I understand and accept that he's there,” Saber's eyes snapped back to Sabrina's, a piercing focus to his gaze.“ What else am I suppose to do exactly?”
Teg
Saber stood quietly, as he felt a shiver through his body; The storm had brought a drop in temperature that was slowly penetrating his small frame. He stared at the ground for a moment thinking before turning halfway back to Sabrina. Although he could look at Sabrina now, his eyes only met hers for a small moment before drifting off elsewhere.
“ I don't know, I guess I'm expecting him to be the same as the last time I saw him.” He said quietly. He waited a brief moment before continuing. “ ...So how am I suppose to control him anyways? I understand and accept that he's there,” Saber's eyes snapped back to Sabrina's, a piercing focus to his gaze.“ What else am I suppose to do exactly?”
