Werewolves (RP15) The Waking Dawn
Quote from Adriana on May 20, 2023, 9:03 pm---
Logan neared Zeit's cottage. She had seen Kratos and the others further up near the pathway to the cabins.
She observed the cattle in the distance, who had come nearer to the fences close to the cottage-perhaps recognizing their keeper was near; yet they still kept to themselves at a distance. Logan was grateful for this fact.
Now she held the young bucks hooves together with one hand and climbed over the fence, and closed the distance between the pastures and the yard, nonetheless did not go up to the house, and kept towards the fence.
"I will clean this for tonight... perhaps Timothy will not eat all of it, this time.." she said, narrowing her eyes. There was a tree at the furthest corner of the homestead yard. The grass was overgrown.. nonetheless, Logan took some rope out of her bag and tied it to the tree, then hoisted the poor creature up by his head. She removed her jacket once more, and rolled up her sleeves (what little good that would do the white shirt), then took out a sharpened knife from her belt and began to work... it seemed the conversation had ended, at least on Logan's part.
---
Logan neared Zeit's cottage. She had seen Kratos and the others further up near the pathway to the cabins.
She observed the cattle in the distance, who had come nearer to the fences close to the cottage-perhaps recognizing their keeper was near; yet they still kept to themselves at a distance. Logan was grateful for this fact.
Now she held the young bucks hooves together with one hand and climbed over the fence, and closed the distance between the pastures and the yard, nonetheless did not go up to the house, and kept towards the fence.
"I will clean this for tonight... perhaps Timothy will not eat all of it, this time.." she said, narrowing her eyes. There was a tree at the furthest corner of the homestead yard. The grass was overgrown.. nonetheless, Logan took some rope out of her bag and tied it to the tree, then hoisted the poor creature up by his head. She removed her jacket once more, and rolled up her sleeves (what little good that would do the white shirt), then took out a sharpened knife from her belt and began to work... it seemed the conversation had ended, at least on Logan's part.
Quote from Kaqurei on June 21, 2023, 10:57 pm"S'pose so," Levi said to Bianca. He sighed and looked down. "Where d'ye s'pose is home to him? He had a home, for certain, 'fore he set out to be an Alpha here, wouldnae you say? An' innit strange how much trouble finds us out here in the middle o' nowhere? Almost like it's looking for him..."
His voice had grown quiet, and he kept his eyes fixed on the ground.
-
It was hard to say how long Sabrina had been standing there, watching Logan work. Or what thoughts were on her mind. Or where her shoes had gone. But there she was, just standing, barefoot, watching with her arms gently crossed, her hands seeming at rest, posed as if for a picture, cradling her elbows.
"S'pose so," Levi said to Bianca. He sighed and looked down. "Where d'ye s'pose is home to him? He had a home, for certain, 'fore he set out to be an Alpha here, wouldnae you say? An' innit strange how much trouble finds us out here in the middle o' nowhere? Almost like it's looking for him..."
His voice had grown quiet, and he kept his eyes fixed on the ground.
-
It was hard to say how long Sabrina had been standing there, watching Logan work. Or what thoughts were on her mind. Or where her shoes had gone. But there she was, just standing, barefoot, watching with her arms gently crossed, her hands seeming at rest, posed as if for a picture, cradling her elbows.
Quote from Adriana on June 21, 2023, 11:38 pmLevi brought to mind an uncomfortable series of thoughts that Bianca was trying to avoid. In fact, the topic caused her to tense up and look sternly away from Levi, in the direction Kratos had gone.
"It doesn't matter. We're here, right now, and he's a good person, Levi. He'll do whatever he can to protect us. If people would cooperate with him maybe we'd actually be able to help him help us." she clenched and un-clenched her fists, then remembered her tone, and how little good it had done her with Saber. She felt her ears turn red and continued to look away.
"Honestly.." she trailed off, more to be said, but not to be heard.
"No-I'm sorry. I'm just as confused as you are." she said, still not facing Levi and holding her upper arm with the opposite hand.
-- -- --
"You are like them, Biela Líška."
Logan observed, working without moving her eyes. Her blade was sharp and her opposite hand worked close to it, so she could not afford to turn her gaze to Sabrina.
Levi brought to mind an uncomfortable series of thoughts that Bianca was trying to avoid. In fact, the topic caused her to tense up and look sternly away from Levi, in the direction Kratos had gone.
"It doesn't matter. We're here, right now, and he's a good person, Levi. He'll do whatever he can to protect us. If people would cooperate with him maybe we'd actually be able to help him help us." she clenched and un-clenched her fists, then remembered her tone, and how little good it had done her with Saber. She felt her ears turn red and continued to look away.
"Honestly.." she trailed off, more to be said, but not to be heard.
"No-I'm sorry. I'm just as confused as you are." she said, still not facing Levi and holding her upper arm with the opposite hand.
-- -- --
"You are like them, Biela Líška."
Logan observed, working without moving her eyes. Her blade was sharp and her opposite hand worked close to it, so she could not afford to turn her gaze to Sabrina.
Quote from Kaqurei on June 22, 2023, 1:05 amSabrina raised her eyebrows. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Logan."
-
Levi was quiet a moment. When he did finally work up the gumption to look at her, and found her facing elsewhere, he debated leaving well enough alone.
She sounded so certain. And then suddenly, not. Her posture spoke to the truth of her latter words, not the former.
Far be it from him to be the needling voice of doubt to soldify her fears. "I'm just not sure what we're supposed to be cooperatin' on," he said, as though he'd already agreed with her, though he left that part unsaid. "Back home, the Sabres pack is like a sort o' invisible community within a community. We have kin all over: in the big cities, in the little villages. Just livin' our lives alongside natural folk and mindin' our own affairs. But when there's trouble, we know we can count on each other, to rally together to face it. We have a purpose and rules. All packs do. Aye, they may vary from pack to pack, but there's the expectation: wolves within a pack have rules they adhere to. Loners don't. They havenae pack, they havenae rules, and that's where the danger lies. From what I've seen so far, we're a bunch of loners out here, a bunch of loners all pushed together. I donnae know what our purpose is. But all packs have to start somewhere, aye?"
Sabrina raised her eyebrows. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Logan."
-
Levi was quiet a moment. When he did finally work up the gumption to look at her, and found her facing elsewhere, he debated leaving well enough alone.
She sounded so certain. And then suddenly, not. Her posture spoke to the truth of her latter words, not the former.
Far be it from him to be the needling voice of doubt to soldify her fears. "I'm just not sure what we're supposed to be cooperatin' on," he said, as though he'd already agreed with her, though he left that part unsaid. "Back home, the Sabres pack is like a sort o' invisible community within a community. We have kin all over: in the big cities, in the little villages. Just livin' our lives alongside natural folk and mindin' our own affairs. But when there's trouble, we know we can count on each other, to rally together to face it. We have a purpose and rules. All packs do. Aye, they may vary from pack to pack, but there's the expectation: wolves within a pack have rules they adhere to. Loners don't. They havenae pack, they havenae rules, and that's where the danger lies. From what I've seen so far, we're a bunch of loners out here, a bunch of loners all pushed together. I donnae know what our purpose is. But all packs have to start somewhere, aye?"
Quote from Adriana on June 22, 2023, 10:50 am"No... you would not." Logan responded evenly, "I have only said a little." she added, masterfully removing the hide from the deer. This was child's play, Logan had done it a hundred times before, and was quite literally a child when she did it for the first time.
Even with Jackie's handiwork, the hide was usable. She set it neatly aside.
In the past, Logan had said as little as possible to Sabrina, perhaps a consequence of proximity-as Sabrina was seldom about or otherwise occupied- and also that their ways were so opposite one another.
Logan knew as well, that Sabrina was afforded a higher degree of respect than perhaps even Ulric, he who was slow to offend and quick to understand. She could not guarantee that this woman possessed the same patience; therefore, she opted to avoid conversation altogether.
Nonetheless, she had been the first to speak, and part of the respect owed, was to say what was on her mind and finish what was started.
"Your family-it is called Sabres."
Sabrina's name had never been mentioned on the mountain that night, but Kratos and the Sabres Alpha had both uttered word of a daughter, and the countenance in relation to Sabrina was unmistakable. She possessed the same presence-or lack thereof-to be seen or unseen on her own will, a marvel in Logan's eyes.
She did not continue her work on the deer now, and instead, turned with the blade still in her hand, crossing her arms while holding the knife away from her flesh.
"Your father-he is the Alpha?"
"No... you would not." Logan responded evenly, "I have only said a little." she added, masterfully removing the hide from the deer. This was child's play, Logan had done it a hundred times before, and was quite literally a child when she did it for the first time.
Even with Jackie's handiwork, the hide was usable. She set it neatly aside.
In the past, Logan had said as little as possible to Sabrina, perhaps a consequence of proximity-as Sabrina was seldom about or otherwise occupied- and also that their ways were so opposite one another.
Logan knew as well, that Sabrina was afforded a higher degree of respect than perhaps even Ulric, he who was slow to offend and quick to understand. She could not guarantee that this woman possessed the same patience; therefore, she opted to avoid conversation altogether.
Nonetheless, she had been the first to speak, and part of the respect owed, was to say what was on her mind and finish what was started.
"Your family-it is called Sabres."
Sabrina's name had never been mentioned on the mountain that night, but Kratos and the Sabres Alpha had both uttered word of a daughter, and the countenance in relation to Sabrina was unmistakable. She possessed the same presence-or lack thereof-to be seen or unseen on her own will, a marvel in Logan's eyes.
She did not continue her work on the deer now, and instead, turned with the blade still in her hand, crossing her arms while holding the knife away from her flesh.
"Your father-he is the Alpha?"
Quote from Adriana on June 22, 2023, 11:06 am"I'm just not sure what we're supposed to be cooperatin' on,"
This line resonated with Bianca. Her grandfather's "pack", all seemed to have a common goal-to protect the peace between the people and the werewolves, and to do what he could in defense of both.
What was the goal here?
Whether or not it was his intention, Levi kindled the doubt further. But this kind of talk frustrated Bianca in more ways than one. She knew the Alpha's intentions were good, and the doubt was met with the memory of him shielding her from the storm with his great back and body as the shelter.
"... We don't have all the pieces, yet-maybe none of us do, maybe not even Kratos. You said it yourself, trouble keeps finding us. Maybe there's something on this mountain worth defending. You said everyone acts like a loner-loners don't all end up in the same place by chance. We're all here for a reason, Levi, and that should be reason enough to have faith that we'll figure it out."
The resolution had returned to her voice and she met Levi's face, her brow knit. She cleared the tears from her eyes, that hadn't yet fallen, with the heel of her hand.
"Kratos can't do it alone, though. Whatever it is. Nobody can do anything alone. He needs us. So.. I'm going to stick it out. Come hunters, or gangs, or storms- whatever."
"I'm just not sure what we're supposed to be cooperatin' on,"
This line resonated with Bianca. Her grandfather's "pack", all seemed to have a common goal-to protect the peace between the people and the werewolves, and to do what he could in defense of both.
What was the goal here?
Whether or not it was his intention, Levi kindled the doubt further. But this kind of talk frustrated Bianca in more ways than one. She knew the Alpha's intentions were good, and the doubt was met with the memory of him shielding her from the storm with his great back and body as the shelter.
"... We don't have all the pieces, yet-maybe none of us do, maybe not even Kratos. You said it yourself, trouble keeps finding us. Maybe there's something on this mountain worth defending. You said everyone acts like a loner-loners don't all end up in the same place by chance. We're all here for a reason, Levi, and that should be reason enough to have faith that we'll figure it out."
The resolution had returned to her voice and she met Levi's face, her brow knit. She cleared the tears from her eyes, that hadn't yet fallen, with the heel of her hand.
"Kratos can't do it alone, though. Whatever it is. Nobody can do anything alone. He needs us. So.. I'm going to stick it out. Come hunters, or gangs, or storms- whatever."
Quote from Kaqurei on June 22, 2023, 2:14 pmThose tears stung Levi. He felt personal responsibility for them, somehow. He shouldn't have said anything. Shouldn't have said anything at all. "I'm sorry... I..." he trailed off.
And yet... He looked like there was something more he wanted to say. Something else he shouldn't say. He cast a furtive glance over his shoulder, before looking at Bianca again. "What is it about him that wins such loyalty?" he wondered. "I donae see it... but 'Brina, too. Met him once and just... believes in him. I can only s'pose Alpha Sabres sees it too, whatever it is." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I-- I ask because I really am curious. Whether I like it or no, I am here to stick it out too. I've no where else to go. But I admit I dinnae start off on the right foot with him. I havnae seen this side that you and 'Brina and the others trust so much. We met as enemies and I was his prisoner for a time and I think he still looks at me like he's just waitin' for me to make the wrong move or whathaveyou and that'll be that."
-
"True, on all accounts," Sabrina said simply, uncrossing her arms even as Logan crossed hers. Her eyes wandered past her, at the deer. "You're quite good at that." Maybe she meant preparing the deer. Maybe she meant Logan's observations. Somehow, both at once.
She met Logan's eyes again. "You have questions?"
Those tears stung Levi. He felt personal responsibility for them, somehow. He shouldn't have said anything. Shouldn't have said anything at all. "I'm sorry... I..." he trailed off.
And yet... He looked like there was something more he wanted to say. Something else he shouldn't say. He cast a furtive glance over his shoulder, before looking at Bianca again. "What is it about him that wins such loyalty?" he wondered. "I donae see it... but 'Brina, too. Met him once and just... believes in him. I can only s'pose Alpha Sabres sees it too, whatever it is." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I-- I ask because I really am curious. Whether I like it or no, I am here to stick it out too. I've no where else to go. But I admit I dinnae start off on the right foot with him. I havnae seen this side that you and 'Brina and the others trust so much. We met as enemies and I was his prisoner for a time and I think he still looks at me like he's just waitin' for me to make the wrong move or whathaveyou and that'll be that."
-
"True, on all accounts," Sabrina said simply, uncrossing her arms even as Logan crossed hers. Her eyes wandered past her, at the deer. "You're quite good at that." Maybe she meant preparing the deer. Maybe she meant Logan's observations. Somehow, both at once.
She met Logan's eyes again. "You have questions?"
Quote from Adriana on June 22, 2023, 3:23 pmBianca listened, the tears clearing as Levi continued to speak..
"Oh... that's why you're acting like that around him." she observed aloud.
"... I didn't exactly come here on the best terms. At least I chose to come here, so better than you. But anyway.. it doesn't matter how we got here. You said it yourself, sometimes trouble finds you regardless, and every pack is different-but we all sing the same song. Maybe the goal here is to just survive.. but I think there's more to it than that. There's a reason he and this mountain keeps drawing people in and holding them here."
She let the breeze come through and say it's piece, whipping up her hair and rustling the fields around them.
"I'm sorry you still feel like an outsider. I've got your back, okay? You can count on me. I'm the appointed den mother," she shoved a thumb at herself, "so, if Kratos is mean to you, I'll... uh, put him in a corner..." she smiled sheepishly.
-- -- --
Logan's gaze never faltered.
"You have questions?"
She had so many. Her shoulders slackened and her arms fell to her sides. She stared, hungry-hungry for the knowledge that Sabrina might posses and now seemed ready to offer.
Raising her chin slightly, she exhaled deeply and strummed her fingers along her upper arm. She had to find the right question-as though Sabrina was but a wisp that would only answer one before vanishing into mist. Something that Ulric could not answer, and that Kratos perhaps, would not.
She had also sworn not to tell of the bison-people, and had to navigate that cautiously.
"I have many."
She had to continue to work on the beast so that the bacteria would not spoil it. So she turned back to the carcass and continued to work, now cutting it from the tree and beginning the rest of the processing on the ground.
"Do you know of Timothy's family, of where he is from?"
Bianca listened, the tears clearing as Levi continued to speak..
"Oh... that's why you're acting like that around him." she observed aloud.
"... I didn't exactly come here on the best terms. At least I chose to come here, so better than you. But anyway.. it doesn't matter how we got here. You said it yourself, sometimes trouble finds you regardless, and every pack is different-but we all sing the same song. Maybe the goal here is to just survive.. but I think there's more to it than that. There's a reason he and this mountain keeps drawing people in and holding them here."
She let the breeze come through and say it's piece, whipping up her hair and rustling the fields around them.
"I'm sorry you still feel like an outsider. I've got your back, okay? You can count on me. I'm the appointed den mother," she shoved a thumb at herself, "so, if Kratos is mean to you, I'll... uh, put him in a corner..." she smiled sheepishly.
-- -- --
Logan's gaze never faltered.
"You have questions?"
She had so many. Her shoulders slackened and her arms fell to her sides. She stared, hungry-hungry for the knowledge that Sabrina might posses and now seemed ready to offer.
Raising her chin slightly, she exhaled deeply and strummed her fingers along her upper arm. She had to find the right question-as though Sabrina was but a wisp that would only answer one before vanishing into mist. Something that Ulric could not answer, and that Kratos perhaps, would not.
She had also sworn not to tell of the bison-people, and had to navigate that cautiously.
"I have many."
She had to continue to work on the beast so that the bacteria would not spoil it. So she turned back to the carcass and continued to work, now cutting it from the tree and beginning the rest of the processing on the ground.
"Do you know of Timothy's family, of where he is from?"
Quote from Indy on June 22, 2023, 9:23 pmDark hungry clouds swallowed the sky, and the ring of the storm warning still pulsed in the back of Jackie's mind. She watched as Logan continued her work without falter - and for her part, she didn't have the heart to tell her what the siren meant.
The change danced on the air - a kind of quickness beneath the pulse of her skin, the smell of lands that had been carried far upon the air's currents. Every inch of her felt alive to stand in the lap of the approaching storm. Beneath it, was she so strange? Sure every full moon she took the form of a beast - and yet here the mountains turned, in continuous transition, never the same from one day to the next...
She walked around the other side of the building, until Logan was out of sight. Still gazing on the heavy clouds, she felt herself relax away from the eyes of others. She had promised Logan she would speak to Kratos... and at the time, she had meant it. But now she did not know where he had gone, and beneath the quickness of the storm, she would not be made to sit idle. While the storm turned, so too did she...
Thus she made way to the road and started what was likely to be a long walk.
Dark hungry clouds swallowed the sky, and the ring of the storm warning still pulsed in the back of Jackie's mind. She watched as Logan continued her work without falter - and for her part, she didn't have the heart to tell her what the siren meant.
The change danced on the air - a kind of quickness beneath the pulse of her skin, the smell of lands that had been carried far upon the air's currents. Every inch of her felt alive to stand in the lap of the approaching storm. Beneath it, was she so strange? Sure every full moon she took the form of a beast - and yet here the mountains turned, in continuous transition, never the same from one day to the next...
She walked around the other side of the building, until Logan was out of sight. Still gazing on the heavy clouds, she felt herself relax away from the eyes of others. She had promised Logan she would speak to Kratos... and at the time, she had meant it. But now she did not know where he had gone, and beneath the quickness of the storm, she would not be made to sit idle. While the storm turned, so too did she...
Thus she made way to the road and started what was likely to be a long walk.
Quote from Indy on June 22, 2023, 9:32 pm"We began in darkness, a long time ago. We saw a crack in the darkness, and the sky came out of it. We saw a crack in the sky, and the water came out of it. We saw the great oceans, and the powerful seas. We crossed the great waters, and endured the great storms from the sky. We changed, but we lived for a long time. Just like the cliffs by the ocean, which are broken, and the heads of the mountain that are in the clouds, we have lived a long time. We are the earth's children."
Theo shifted lazily on the sofa, then blinked his eyes slowly. He couldn't remember where he was, how he got there, or what had happened. Voices murmured and he recognized them as Bianca and Levi's. Part of his heart yearned to join him, but something stopped him - something slipping from his mind the more he thought of it, something that felt precious and important.
He stared at the ceiling and frowned to the dull whine emmenating from outside. Something important... but it was as quick as the shfiting shadows of the leaves, the moment he tried to see the shape of it was gone.
If he went back to sleep, would he remember it? In answer, the weight of his body seemed to sink further into the sofa. He shifted his weight and closed his eyes, allowing his mind to wander once more, unperturbed by whatever it is he had forgotten...
"We began in darkness, a long time ago. We saw a crack in the darkness, and the sky came out of it. We saw a crack in the sky, and the water came out of it. We saw the great oceans, and the powerful seas. We crossed the great waters, and endured the great storms from the sky. We changed, but we lived for a long time. Just like the cliffs by the ocean, which are broken, and the heads of the mountain that are in the clouds, we have lived a long time. We are the earth's children."
Theo shifted lazily on the sofa, then blinked his eyes slowly. He couldn't remember where he was, how he got there, or what had happened. Voices murmured and he recognized them as Bianca and Levi's. Part of his heart yearned to join him, but something stopped him - something slipping from his mind the more he thought of it, something that felt precious and important.
He stared at the ceiling and frowned to the dull whine emmenating from outside. Something important... but it was as quick as the shfiting shadows of the leaves, the moment he tried to see the shape of it was gone.
If he went back to sleep, would he remember it? In answer, the weight of his body seemed to sink further into the sofa. He shifted his weight and closed his eyes, allowing his mind to wander once more, unperturbed by whatever it is he had forgotten...
