Late at night, a rat scurried about in a back alley. Its tiny claws clicked almost inaudibly against the cobblestones as dashed to and fro with its pink nose in the air, nostrils flaring as it took in the scents of the city. Suddenly, it caught a new smell, one that was strangely familiar, and yet different. It hesitated as it decided whether to flee or investigate, then followed the scent.
Moving through the dark alley that was so familiar to it, the rat followed the scent to a huddled form wrapped in cloth. As it approached, green eyes suddenly appeared out of the shadow of a hood. They reflected the moon light everywhere except the black slit that was the pupil. Feline eyes met the rat’s beady ones for a split second before a hand lashed out, impaling the rodent on claws where there should have been fingernails.
Alalia held the rat close to her face, inhaling the coppery scent of blood as she watched it writhe in agony, squeaking as it tried futilely to remove itself from her claws. After a few moments, she grew tired of watching its death throes, and ripped its neck from its shoulders with her other hand. Pausing for a moment, she contemplated the head now lying in her left palm, raising it so she could look into its beady eyes, now glazed over in death.
The cat-girl had always wondered about death. Most creatures aware of their mortality concentrated their thoughts of dying on some sort of afterlife, where their soul would live on. She, however, had no soul. She had a life force, but it had been created by dark magic, and it was nothing like the spark of life others possessed. She assumed that when the dark magic left her, the construct of blood and earth that was her body would return to the dust it had been made from.
Tossing the head and her thoughts aside, Alalia licked the blood daintily from her claws, still holding the body in her right hand. Once every drop of blood had been licked off, she took the rat’s body in her left hand, then used the razor sharp claw on her right index finger to slit its stomach open, exposing the innards. With her first two fingers, she scooped out the intestines and put them in her mouth, closing her eyes briefly as she savored the taste of raw organs. Swallowing, she licked her fingers clean and proceeded to eat until all that was left of the body was a shell of skin and bone. Raising that to her lips, she lapped out the blood that was left inside, the still-warm liquid running down her throat and causing adrenaline to pound through her veins, making her feel alive and alert. Once again, she licked her claws clean, savoring every last drop of blood that stained them.
Casting away what was left of her bloody meal, the cat girl stood, her tail lashing about as adrenaline continued to course through her limbs. Her hunger had been temporarily sated, but her blood-lust was nowhere near quenched. She wanted to kill something else, to let the sweet, coppery scent of blood fill her nostrils and awaken her predatory instincts, to feel her claws penetrate flesh and muscle. She forgot the sword at her hip, wishing only to use her fangs and claws, the weapons that she had been created with. Throwing back her hood, she exposed her feline ears and nose to the moonlight and anything else that should lay eyes on her. Her stride became the fluid, graceful stalk of a predator on the hunt.
Curiousity killed the rat
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Alalia Morrigan
- Citizen
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:14 am
- Race: Cat Shifter
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Anonymous
Myx briskly made it to downtown Thar Shaddin through the small cracks and holes he had previously discovered from his exploration of the ruins of the historic district. It cut his travel time nearly in half, and it was a useful trick when sometimes he went fast from being an explorer to being a tavern-goer (a drunk, really). He gave little thought to the encounter back in the ruins of the old fort, though he thought back briefly to Jenica, a fascinating or at least very coincidental encounter.
He had a more pressing matter to attend to, which was to find his cat so that he could promptly get himself a drink at the tavern to help him unwind for the night. Of course he did realize that the night was somewhat young and having no engagements tomorrow meant he had the whole night--but in a place like Thar, what were the chances two extraordinary things would happen in one night? Now to find his cat (which was separated from him during their run from the standoff at Fort Marn) Myx referred back to the previous times they had gotten separated. The cat while somehow otherworldly seemed to need physical sustenance once in a while. That is to say, it often hunted for stray mice once in a while. Myx decided that a smart place to check would be one of the alleys near the tavern, as the cat also seemed to know the general area that Myx was at, and showed up with almost complete consistency within a dozen feet of wherever Myx would decide to stop moving.
A particular back alley seemed likely to contain a stray cat or two, he mused, and turned the corner to check it out, squinting his eyes as it was hard to see even with the moonlight painting the night with its valiant but feeble efforts to provide some lumination.
He had a more pressing matter to attend to, which was to find his cat so that he could promptly get himself a drink at the tavern to help him unwind for the night. Of course he did realize that the night was somewhat young and having no engagements tomorrow meant he had the whole night--but in a place like Thar, what were the chances two extraordinary things would happen in one night? Now to find his cat (which was separated from him during their run from the standoff at Fort Marn) Myx referred back to the previous times they had gotten separated. The cat while somehow otherworldly seemed to need physical sustenance once in a while. That is to say, it often hunted for stray mice once in a while. Myx decided that a smart place to check would be one of the alleys near the tavern, as the cat also seemed to know the general area that Myx was at, and showed up with almost complete consistency within a dozen feet of wherever Myx would decide to stop moving.
A particular back alley seemed likely to contain a stray cat or two, he mused, and turned the corner to check it out, squinting his eyes as it was hard to see even with the moonlight painting the night with its valiant but feeble efforts to provide some lumination.
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Jenica Sabiny
- Citizen
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:29 am
- Race: Vampire
While one predator began the hunt, another quietly moved near the buildings, glowing with the unspoken delight of a satiated hunger. She was never so focused or intent as when she'd just had her fill, and her body thrummed with power. If a threat approached her now, it would find itself against a very able vampire - and unlike before, she wouldn't be satisfied until she'd killed the foe, and perhaps entertained herself with his or her entrails.
The elf was lucky. Jenica snorted lightly, thinking back to Nami and the change in the woman. She didn't register such things unless they were blatant, and a naked nymph was definitely blatant enough for Jen to take note. Nami had seemed...darker, somehow. But then...
Then she'd threatened the male. And Jenica had reacted with...what? Jealousy? Anger? She couldn't figure out what had risen at the nymph's threat, but it was strong enough that she wanted to give it a name. And so, after she fed, she followed. It had taken her the better part of three hours to find the male, but there he was, wandering aimlessly. She couldn't imagine what he could be looking for at this hour, and she didn't much care, but Jenica wasn't one for introductions. Instead, she lurked behind, and waited for him to either notice her or return to his home. Once she knew the house...
A slight glint of red. She blinked it away.
And now a new scent on the air. The vampire froze and stiffened. She knew a predator's scent, having lived in it enough. Now, a decision: confront? Or move away? It wasn't a vampire or the nymph, but was it a threat to the male? She half-hoped it was - it would give her the opportunity to test whatever had overwhelmed her earlier, see where it came from, perhaps see how strong it was. If this predator attacked him, would she really defend him?..
She stepped into the alley and leaned into the darker wall, using shadows to further blanket her presence. They would muffle, but not cover her scent - the other would know she was there. The scent had a tangy aftertaste - this one was on the prowl. Jenica shuttered her eyes and remained motionless at the end of the alley, waiting for the other to notice her or not, to strike challenge or not. The shadows only helped to conceal her; they didn't cover her form or make her invisible to the naked eye. Instead, they made the shadows of the wall itself appear darker, and when she moved, it would look at though a piece of shadow lifted off to form into the shape of a woman.
The elf was lucky. Jenica snorted lightly, thinking back to Nami and the change in the woman. She didn't register such things unless they were blatant, and a naked nymph was definitely blatant enough for Jen to take note. Nami had seemed...darker, somehow. But then...
Then she'd threatened the male. And Jenica had reacted with...what? Jealousy? Anger? She couldn't figure out what had risen at the nymph's threat, but it was strong enough that she wanted to give it a name. And so, after she fed, she followed. It had taken her the better part of three hours to find the male, but there he was, wandering aimlessly. She couldn't imagine what he could be looking for at this hour, and she didn't much care, but Jenica wasn't one for introductions. Instead, she lurked behind, and waited for him to either notice her or return to his home. Once she knew the house...
A slight glint of red. She blinked it away.
And now a new scent on the air. The vampire froze and stiffened. She knew a predator's scent, having lived in it enough. Now, a decision: confront? Or move away? It wasn't a vampire or the nymph, but was it a threat to the male? She half-hoped it was - it would give her the opportunity to test whatever had overwhelmed her earlier, see where it came from, perhaps see how strong it was. If this predator attacked him, would she really defend him?..
She stepped into the alley and leaned into the darker wall, using shadows to further blanket her presence. They would muffle, but not cover her scent - the other would know she was there. The scent had a tangy aftertaste - this one was on the prowl. Jenica shuttered her eyes and remained motionless at the end of the alley, waiting for the other to notice her or not, to strike challenge or not. The shadows only helped to conceal her; they didn't cover her form or make her invisible to the naked eye. Instead, they made the shadows of the wall itself appear darker, and when she moved, it would look at though a piece of shadow lifted off to form into the shape of a woman.
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Alalia Morrigan
- Citizen
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:14 am
- Race: Cat Shifter
A new scent made Alalia's feline nose wrinkle, before a smirk spread slowly across her face. It was that of a human, with the heavy odor of old alcohol hanging on him. She followed it, her tail lashing about and her upper body leaning slightly forward with concentration and anticipation of prey. Finally she found him, standing out like a beacon against the moonlight. She was amused to see him squint, struggling to see in the light that was more than adequate for her cat-like eyes.
Creeping through the shadows, she came closer, moving with the easy fluid grace of a natural predator. "Don't struggle," she said softly, her voice nearly a purr. She kept moving as she spoke, careful to stay hidden, making it seem as though she were merely a disembodied voice. "Die quietly and I'll make it easy, nearly painless, even." She flexed her fingers, feeling her claws slide in and out, longing to sink them into the man's flesh, feel it tear and rip as blood oozed out.
Suddenly, she froze, momentarily forgetting about the human. There was another predator nearby. The scent of old blood was in the air, along with another, strange smell, or perhaps lack of it. She smelled no perspiration, heard no intake of breath or beating of a heart, but something was there. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as her feline ears twitched and her nostrils flared, trying to catch some clue as to what was there. She wasn't worried that she couldn't handle what was out there, but that it would be a competitor for prey, her prey.
Alalia realized she had stopped moving, and quickly began to slink forward again, careful not to make any sudden moves. She aloud a low growl to rise from the back of her throat, both to frighten the human and warn the other predator away.
Creeping through the shadows, she came closer, moving with the easy fluid grace of a natural predator. "Don't struggle," she said softly, her voice nearly a purr. She kept moving as she spoke, careful to stay hidden, making it seem as though she were merely a disembodied voice. "Die quietly and I'll make it easy, nearly painless, even." She flexed her fingers, feeling her claws slide in and out, longing to sink them into the man's flesh, feel it tear and rip as blood oozed out.
Suddenly, she froze, momentarily forgetting about the human. There was another predator nearby. The scent of old blood was in the air, along with another, strange smell, or perhaps lack of it. She smelled no perspiration, heard no intake of breath or beating of a heart, but something was there. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as her feline ears twitched and her nostrils flared, trying to catch some clue as to what was there. She wasn't worried that she couldn't handle what was out there, but that it would be a competitor for prey, her prey.
Alalia realized she had stopped moving, and quickly began to slink forward again, careful not to make any sudden moves. She aloud a low growl to rise from the back of her throat, both to frighten the human and warn the other predator away.
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Chrishton Radu
- Citizen
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:07 am
- Name: Chrishton Radu
- Race: kitsune
*sniff*
Chris ran a finger under his nose to wipe it clean. It was cold at night in Thar Shaddin. It was cold every night, and nearly every day. The kind of damp, unpleasant chill that seemed to permeate everything, particularly the stone buildings and gutters beside them, in one of which Chrishton was sitting, doing nothing but listening and watching, and looking homeless. He was doing this not just to observe the city, but also because he was, in fact, homeless.
He didn't like it much. Not in his human form anyway, but he was so used to general unpleasantness that it just didn't bother him enough to make him think of something better to do. Sleeping was an option, but the interesting things always happened at night. When it was coldest.
So far nothing had happened, and he'd been hiding around town for two days doing nothing but watching and keeping a low profile. The guards were extremely determined to find him and presumably kill him for the trouble he had caused. Breaking out of jail, attacking guards, using magic... Murder was probably in there too, not that he'd killed anyone yet. Either way they wanted him, but sitting in the middle of the street in the dark, ragged and homeless, made him as invisible as the bum two blocks down. Herblem, he said his name was. What an awful name.
Chris sat with his chin in his palm and watched the silhouette of a man as it walked along an orange wall of candle light down the street. He heard the whispers of one of his spirit foxes.
"Oooh..." it said in an unusually comprehensible voice "that's interesting..."
"Eh?" Chris grunted.
It didn't elabourate. They never did, useless bastards.
He squinted and kept watching what he could see, and then it caught his attention. The shadows were moving wrong. Someone was bending the light. This part of the city had some electric lights shining down the streets, and dim though they were, they didn't flicker. He could make out a subtle, barely noticeable bending movement on the otherwise still line cast by a nearby wall. It was something he was very familiar with.
"Mmm..." He grunted to himself, and continued to look both homeless and schizophrenic.
Chris ran a finger under his nose to wipe it clean. It was cold at night in Thar Shaddin. It was cold every night, and nearly every day. The kind of damp, unpleasant chill that seemed to permeate everything, particularly the stone buildings and gutters beside them, in one of which Chrishton was sitting, doing nothing but listening and watching, and looking homeless. He was doing this not just to observe the city, but also because he was, in fact, homeless.
He didn't like it much. Not in his human form anyway, but he was so used to general unpleasantness that it just didn't bother him enough to make him think of something better to do. Sleeping was an option, but the interesting things always happened at night. When it was coldest.
So far nothing had happened, and he'd been hiding around town for two days doing nothing but watching and keeping a low profile. The guards were extremely determined to find him and presumably kill him for the trouble he had caused. Breaking out of jail, attacking guards, using magic... Murder was probably in there too, not that he'd killed anyone yet. Either way they wanted him, but sitting in the middle of the street in the dark, ragged and homeless, made him as invisible as the bum two blocks down. Herblem, he said his name was. What an awful name.
Chris sat with his chin in his palm and watched the silhouette of a man as it walked along an orange wall of candle light down the street. He heard the whispers of one of his spirit foxes.
"Oooh..." it said in an unusually comprehensible voice "that's interesting..."
"Eh?" Chris grunted.
It didn't elabourate. They never did, useless bastards.
He squinted and kept watching what he could see, and then it caught his attention. The shadows were moving wrong. Someone was bending the light. This part of the city had some electric lights shining down the streets, and dim though they were, they didn't flicker. He could make out a subtle, barely noticeable bending movement on the otherwise still line cast by a nearby wall. It was something he was very familiar with.
"Mmm..." He grunted to himself, and continued to look both homeless and schizophrenic.
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Anonymous
All Myx ever wanted was to find his cat. Instead he found that while he was wondering why the alley was so dark, a disembodied voice from the alley with a strangely feline quality to it started to whisper to him from the darkness. The voice had to it a quality to it that could almost be attributed to youth, a quality when combined with the constant purr became quite discomforting. It could also possibly be, he mused, that the voice asked him to die quietly.
A sudden rush of bravery came to Myx then. It had partly to do with that as he thought more about the situation, the more he thought that 'gee, it doesn't feel very pleasant to die, and a little bit worse than that to come back to life'. The other part had to do with his cat being MIA and he reasoned, he probably would survive tonight whatever he did. Now that Myx had done a fair job of psyching himself up he decided to say something valiant.
"Look," he started his reasonably scathing reply before the disembodied voice turned decidedly more hostile in tone. It hissed from the darkness, not too far from him Myx judged, and involuntarily raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He decided no talking was necessary and also decided he had enough of being interrupted by something he couldn't see. If he was going to be threatened and interrupted, he might as well be able to see the culprit.
Myx gave a brief concentration (and it was very brief as this was the simplest spell he knew) and materialized a globe from the outstretched palm of his off-hand. The globe of light was a perfect sphere about the size of a small child's head. It came into being silently, but the light that shone from it seemed almost sonic in the way it intruded into the darkness as sound cuts through silence. If the same globe of light in the historic district was a mad opera singer screaming lumination into the surroundings, this one was much more reserved, even somewhat shy in shedding light into the surrounding darkness.
But it sang clearly and did a reasonably good job of shedding light around Myx.
A sudden rush of bravery came to Myx then. It had partly to do with that as he thought more about the situation, the more he thought that 'gee, it doesn't feel very pleasant to die, and a little bit worse than that to come back to life'. The other part had to do with his cat being MIA and he reasoned, he probably would survive tonight whatever he did. Now that Myx had done a fair job of psyching himself up he decided to say something valiant.
"Look," he started his reasonably scathing reply before the disembodied voice turned decidedly more hostile in tone. It hissed from the darkness, not too far from him Myx judged, and involuntarily raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He decided no talking was necessary and also decided he had enough of being interrupted by something he couldn't see. If he was going to be threatened and interrupted, he might as well be able to see the culprit.
Myx gave a brief concentration (and it was very brief as this was the simplest spell he knew) and materialized a globe from the outstretched palm of his off-hand. The globe of light was a perfect sphere about the size of a small child's head. It came into being silently, but the light that shone from it seemed almost sonic in the way it intruded into the darkness as sound cuts through silence. If the same globe of light in the historic district was a mad opera singer screaming lumination into the surroundings, this one was much more reserved, even somewhat shy in shedding light into the surrounding darkness.
But it sang clearly and did a reasonably good job of shedding light around Myx.
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Jenica Sabiny
- Citizen
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:29 am
- Race: Vampire
Faintly, she smelled the scent of old dog. She ignored it.
Now the other one knew she was there. The stance clearly and quickly became territorial in the other one, but Jenica wasn't interested in a fight with this one. She was busy studying her insides.
It wasn't jealousy, she could tell that much now. But once again, the hackles rose. It wasn't as strong now, which she reasoned was because while this creature made clear threats, Jen knew exactly what the nymph could do, while this one was an unknown.
And now, also, she knew the male had tricks in his sleeves. He wasn't helpless, he was just curious. Still worth keeping around, but perhaps he could defend himself. He tried to speak - no go. The creature didn't want his words, it wanted his flesh.
He was annoyed, now. Even from this distance, she could sense his nearly invisible hackles raise in frustration. So he raised his hand, and some distant memory of hers made her flinch. She expected the light burst, but instead...
It still hurt her eyes, but it wasn't agony. She could handle dappled sunlight, so this was easy. But the light drove away the shadows, and it made her form more obvious. So much for concealment.
That was fine. Perhaps the other needed to see what it was facing.
Jenica stepped from the wall, allowing the shadows to flow off of her like misty tentacles. She moved fully into their line of sight, and stood as relaxed as ever. Her clothing was different, and she'd rubbed the blood off her skin, but the metallic smell forever lingered around her. The creature's nose undoubtedly smelled how strong it was on the vampire.
Jenica looked at the man, her gaze lazy as ever. She nodded a greeting, then sucked in enough air for a comment.
"Myx."
She was clean now, mostly, and fresh. Although no clothes she wore ever fit her properly, they were at least not covered in old and new blood, not scratchy and stiff.
She looked past him to the stalker, finally acknowledging its presence. Her presence. Jenica did nothing other than stand, silently, watching it move. Every movement was an evaluation. It was feline, she could smell that, which meant it could move quickly and silently. But Jenica wasn't one to play fair. Not anymore.
She issued no vocal challenge, or made any sound to indicate she recognized a fellow killer's territory. She chose to ignore it. Let the other one attack or not, as it wished. Myx's light made the shadows retreat, but there was always more to use.
Now the other one knew she was there. The stance clearly and quickly became territorial in the other one, but Jenica wasn't interested in a fight with this one. She was busy studying her insides.
It wasn't jealousy, she could tell that much now. But once again, the hackles rose. It wasn't as strong now, which she reasoned was because while this creature made clear threats, Jen knew exactly what the nymph could do, while this one was an unknown.
And now, also, she knew the male had tricks in his sleeves. He wasn't helpless, he was just curious. Still worth keeping around, but perhaps he could defend himself. He tried to speak - no go. The creature didn't want his words, it wanted his flesh.
He was annoyed, now. Even from this distance, she could sense his nearly invisible hackles raise in frustration. So he raised his hand, and some distant memory of hers made her flinch. She expected the light burst, but instead...
It still hurt her eyes, but it wasn't agony. She could handle dappled sunlight, so this was easy. But the light drove away the shadows, and it made her form more obvious. So much for concealment.
That was fine. Perhaps the other needed to see what it was facing.
Jenica stepped from the wall, allowing the shadows to flow off of her like misty tentacles. She moved fully into their line of sight, and stood as relaxed as ever. Her clothing was different, and she'd rubbed the blood off her skin, but the metallic smell forever lingered around her. The creature's nose undoubtedly smelled how strong it was on the vampire.
Jenica looked at the man, her gaze lazy as ever. She nodded a greeting, then sucked in enough air for a comment.
"Myx."
She was clean now, mostly, and fresh. Although no clothes she wore ever fit her properly, they were at least not covered in old and new blood, not scratchy and stiff.
She looked past him to the stalker, finally acknowledging its presence. Her presence. Jenica did nothing other than stand, silently, watching it move. Every movement was an evaluation. It was feline, she could smell that, which meant it could move quickly and silently. But Jenica wasn't one to play fair. Not anymore.
She issued no vocal challenge, or made any sound to indicate she recognized a fellow killer's territory. She chose to ignore it. Let the other one attack or not, as it wished. Myx's light made the shadows retreat, but there was always more to use.
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Alalia Morrigan
- Citizen
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:14 am
- Race: Cat Shifter
Alalia flinched when a light suddenly appeared in the human’s hand, the slits that were her pupils narrowing further. When her vision cleared, she noticed that the predator that she had sensed before had revealed herself. The coppery scent of old blood rolled off the woman in waves, filling her nostrils and nearly overpowering her.
The cat-girl looked at the woman, who seemed to know the human. That made it unlikely that the other predator was competition, but she might protect the desired prey. From the pale skin and lack of breath or heartbeat, it seemed fairly safe to assume that newcomer was a vampire.
Alalia sank into a crouch as she contemplated this new turn of events. Her element of surprise had been lost, and now a vampire had gotten involved. She knew that she didn’t stand much of a chance against the undead, since her primary skill was killing, and vampires were notoriously hard to kill, or re-kill, as the case may be. Vampires also usually possessed some sort of skill with magic, and although she had been created by use of the dark arts, she herself had no aptitude for them.
The cat-girl flexed her fingers, allowing her claws to slide in and out. The smell of blood in the air was intoxicating, nearly driving her mad with the desire to feel it on her claws, see it spill to the ground in a crimson fountain. Her tail lashed about, expressing her frustration at the dilemma. Slowly, she reached up to her throat and unfastened her cloak pin, allowing the garment to fall to the ground. One of her claws barely nicked her throat, drawing a single drop of blood, which landed on her finger. Placing the finger in her mouth, she sucked it clean, her large green eyes closing as she savored it.
Alalia rose with the lithe grace of a born predator, her cape no longer hiding her form or encumbering her movements, her hand falling from her mouth dangerously close to the rapier hilt that glittered at her waist in the strange light, just like her eyes, narrowed with lust and anger. “Do not interfere,” she growled, the words rumbling from deep in her chest, giving her voice a feral tone. Her ears were pulled back against her skull, and her elongated eyeteeth were exposed as her lips curled back in a silent snarl. Even though she knew her own fangs were nothing compared to a vampire’s, they were weapons in their own right.
“Find your own prey.”
The cat-girl looked at the woman, who seemed to know the human. That made it unlikely that the other predator was competition, but she might protect the desired prey. From the pale skin and lack of breath or heartbeat, it seemed fairly safe to assume that newcomer was a vampire.
Alalia sank into a crouch as she contemplated this new turn of events. Her element of surprise had been lost, and now a vampire had gotten involved. She knew that she didn’t stand much of a chance against the undead, since her primary skill was killing, and vampires were notoriously hard to kill, or re-kill, as the case may be. Vampires also usually possessed some sort of skill with magic, and although she had been created by use of the dark arts, she herself had no aptitude for them.
The cat-girl flexed her fingers, allowing her claws to slide in and out. The smell of blood in the air was intoxicating, nearly driving her mad with the desire to feel it on her claws, see it spill to the ground in a crimson fountain. Her tail lashed about, expressing her frustration at the dilemma. Slowly, she reached up to her throat and unfastened her cloak pin, allowing the garment to fall to the ground. One of her claws barely nicked her throat, drawing a single drop of blood, which landed on her finger. Placing the finger in her mouth, she sucked it clean, her large green eyes closing as she savored it.
Alalia rose with the lithe grace of a born predator, her cape no longer hiding her form or encumbering her movements, her hand falling from her mouth dangerously close to the rapier hilt that glittered at her waist in the strange light, just like her eyes, narrowed with lust and anger. “Do not interfere,” she growled, the words rumbling from deep in her chest, giving her voice a feral tone. Her ears were pulled back against her skull, and her elongated eyeteeth were exposed as her lips curled back in a silent snarl. Even though she knew her own fangs were nothing compared to a vampire’s, they were weapons in their own right.
“Find your own prey.”
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Chrishton Radu
- Citizen
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:07 am
- Name: Chrishton Radu
- Race: kitsune
Something was going on behind him. Chris had a hunch. It was the kind of hunch that came to a seasoned veteran of shady affairs, and probably to anyone else who could notice the shadows doing their little tricks, which abruptly stopped when the area was lit up by a new source of light.
"Ughhmmm..." He half grumbled to himself, for the listening pleasure of the spirits around.
He wanted to turn around and see what was happening, but he also wanted to stay quiet and not draw attention to himself. Furthermore, he was tired, and cold, and not at all keen on fighting in his human form... And a fight was what he suspected was coming.
Perhaps it was time to change forms, get some fur on, use some magic. At least he would be warmer like that. Yeah... Sure. 'Why not?' He thought. Two bloody days was long enough.
The homeless man's form shrunk into the ground to about half its size, not making a sound as it changed from a human to a kitsune, white fur, twin tails and all. His trusty old clothes vanished with the change, having been painstakingly bound to his human form only. A handy trick, provided he always wore the same stuff... Which he generally did.
The fox sprung away in an instant, seeking cover in the shadows cast by the new source of light, and begansearching for a way up to the rooftops.
"Ughhmmm..." He half grumbled to himself, for the listening pleasure of the spirits around.
He wanted to turn around and see what was happening, but he also wanted to stay quiet and not draw attention to himself. Furthermore, he was tired, and cold, and not at all keen on fighting in his human form... And a fight was what he suspected was coming.
Perhaps it was time to change forms, get some fur on, use some magic. At least he would be warmer like that. Yeah... Sure. 'Why not?' He thought. Two bloody days was long enough.
The homeless man's form shrunk into the ground to about half its size, not making a sound as it changed from a human to a kitsune, white fur, twin tails and all. His trusty old clothes vanished with the change, having been painstakingly bound to his human form only. A handy trick, provided he always wore the same stuff... Which he generally did.
The fox sprung away in an instant, seeking cover in the shadows cast by the new source of light, and begansearching for a way up to the rooftops.
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Jenica Sabiny
- Citizen
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:29 am
- Race: Vampire
Jenica shuttered her eyes as a sudden whiff of fox struck her. This city had no boundaries, and the animals simply went where they pleased. The thing was probably looking for stray trash to feed on.
Unlike the creature before her.
The vampire crouched as the cat creature bared its fangs and claws. She took every threat on its own ground, and although she might be stronger than this one, she wasn't starved. And she knew that the hunger gave a predator an edge that a satiated one couldn't have. Even if she could win, she'd have inconvenient bruises and slashes over her body. And she had no interest in fighting.
Inhale. Expel.
"This one is under my protection."
She tilted her head at the silent human, meeting the cat's desperate gaze. It wasn't necessarily a true statement, but it might deter the hungry thing.
"There was a fox. Hunt that."
Foxes were clever and cunning. Perhaps that chase would lead the cat through several alleys and tricks, and farther away still from the human. If not...
Jenica rested her hand on the earth, sending a ripple through the ground to the nearby shadows. They throbbed and shuddered in reply, acknowledging her request, then stilled again. But the power was in the air now, surrounding the entire group...as if a third, larger and completely emotionless threat rested just out of eyesight, deep within the shadows. The type of killer that didn't care what it killed.
Jenica rose again, and now it looked as though the shadows near her rose with her movement. And then a slight hint of wonder. As if they spoke, and merely asked -
What is this?
She looked away from the cat and to the shadows that had asked, searching for what might have sparked their interest.
Unlike the creature before her.
The vampire crouched as the cat creature bared its fangs and claws. She took every threat on its own ground, and although she might be stronger than this one, she wasn't starved. And she knew that the hunger gave a predator an edge that a satiated one couldn't have. Even if she could win, she'd have inconvenient bruises and slashes over her body. And she had no interest in fighting.
Inhale. Expel.
"This one is under my protection."
She tilted her head at the silent human, meeting the cat's desperate gaze. It wasn't necessarily a true statement, but it might deter the hungry thing.
"There was a fox. Hunt that."
Foxes were clever and cunning. Perhaps that chase would lead the cat through several alleys and tricks, and farther away still from the human. If not...
Jenica rested her hand on the earth, sending a ripple through the ground to the nearby shadows. They throbbed and shuddered in reply, acknowledging her request, then stilled again. But the power was in the air now, surrounding the entire group...as if a third, larger and completely emotionless threat rested just out of eyesight, deep within the shadows. The type of killer that didn't care what it killed.
Jenica rose again, and now it looked as though the shadows near her rose with her movement. And then a slight hint of wonder. As if they spoke, and merely asked -
What is this?
She looked away from the cat and to the shadows that had asked, searching for what might have sparked their interest.
Last edited by Jenica Sabiny on Sun Mar 19, 2006 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Alalia Morrigan
- Citizen
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:14 am
- Race: Cat Shifter
Alalia frowned at the vampire’s first statement. “Why would you wish to protect a human?” she asked. “It is like a cat protecting a mouse. They are weak, good for nothing but to serve as prey for stronger creatures, predators like us.” A slow smirk crept across her feline features. “Perhaps you wish to save him for a later meal,” she added. She didn’t know whether her guess was correct, but it would no doubt put suspicion and fear in the human’s mind, perhaps even enough to make him flee. If that was the case, it would be mere child’s play to hunt him down when the vampire was not there to protect him.
The cat girl smelled the fox, but paid it no mind until the vampire brought it up. There was no challenge, no thrill in hunting wild animals. When they died, all they felt was fear and confusion, their eyes rolling in their head, flat and unintelligent. When a human died, it was different. Through their fear, they understood what was happening, were aware of their own mortality. “Foxes are mangy, filthy creatures,” she said simply, “and of no interest to me.”
Alalia tensed as all the shadows around her started behaving unnaturally, and didn’t calm when they stopped. It seemed she had been right when she assumed that the vampire had some skill with magic, but she took no pride in it. In that particular matter, she would have actually much preferred to be wrong. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her ears pressed flat against her skull, her tail lashing about as she felt as though she were being watched by the air itself. This was an opponent that she could not defeat, for how could she fight something that she could not see, hear, or smell. She knew the threat was there, but it felt as though it were surrounding her with some oppressive force.
Becoming desperate, the cat girl lashed out verbally at the vampire. “Do you need magic to fight me?” she asked jeeringly. “I thought vampires were supposed to be stronger and faster than anything living. Perhaps that is all merely stories used to frighten children; it seems that is all you would be good for without your tricks.”
Alalia hoped to achieve two things with her comments. First, she hoped it would distract the woman from whatever mischief she was up too, and secondly, she hoped that she would be able to goad the woman into attacking her physically. That, she knew that she could handle.
The cat girl smelled the fox, but paid it no mind until the vampire brought it up. There was no challenge, no thrill in hunting wild animals. When they died, all they felt was fear and confusion, their eyes rolling in their head, flat and unintelligent. When a human died, it was different. Through their fear, they understood what was happening, were aware of their own mortality. “Foxes are mangy, filthy creatures,” she said simply, “and of no interest to me.”
Alalia tensed as all the shadows around her started behaving unnaturally, and didn’t calm when they stopped. It seemed she had been right when she assumed that the vampire had some skill with magic, but she took no pride in it. In that particular matter, she would have actually much preferred to be wrong. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her ears pressed flat against her skull, her tail lashing about as she felt as though she were being watched by the air itself. This was an opponent that she could not defeat, for how could she fight something that she could not see, hear, or smell. She knew the threat was there, but it felt as though it were surrounding her with some oppressive force.
Becoming desperate, the cat girl lashed out verbally at the vampire. “Do you need magic to fight me?” she asked jeeringly. “I thought vampires were supposed to be stronger and faster than anything living. Perhaps that is all merely stories used to frighten children; it seems that is all you would be good for without your tricks.”
Alalia hoped to achieve two things with her comments. First, she hoped it would distract the woman from whatever mischief she was up too, and secondly, she hoped that she would be able to goad the woman into attacking her physically. That, she knew that she could handle.
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Chrishton Radu
- Citizen
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:07 am
- Name: Chrishton Radu
- Race: kitsune
Getting to the top of the building wasn't difficult. Using a window ledge for leverage, he launched himself up high enough to catch the next window up, and continued his upward momentum using his claws in cracks between the large stone blocks of the wall. Like a weightless white rag, the fox floated over the edge of the flat roof and landed as silently on all fours just in time to hear something truly interesting.
"Foxes are mangy, filthy creatures"
At first his eyes narrowed as he hid crouched on the roof, but slowly a grin twisted up the side of his canine mouth. Alright, if that's how it's gonna be... He thought.
His golden eyes scanned the rooftop while he continued listening to their conversation, and rested on a fist-sized piece of stone. He grabbed it and tested its weight, feeling around its edges with his fingers. It was heavy and sharp on one side, enough that it might seriously hurt someone, but probably not. He shrugged. Good enough. And stuck his head over the side of the roof to get his first look at the people below.
"Perhaps that is all merely stories used to frighten children; it seems that is all you would be good for without your tricks."
That was the one. She was some kind of catgirl, reminding him of someone he'd left behind. The other was the vampire, which he could tell without even bothering to look at her. He could feel it, like a sixth sense. Remarkably, he didn't care about the vampire just then.
The rock came flying away from the rooftop aimed square at the side of the catgirl's head with a pair of golden eyes following its shallow arc.
"Foxes are mangy, filthy creatures"
At first his eyes narrowed as he hid crouched on the roof, but slowly a grin twisted up the side of his canine mouth. Alright, if that's how it's gonna be... He thought.
His golden eyes scanned the rooftop while he continued listening to their conversation, and rested on a fist-sized piece of stone. He grabbed it and tested its weight, feeling around its edges with his fingers. It was heavy and sharp on one side, enough that it might seriously hurt someone, but probably not. He shrugged. Good enough. And stuck his head over the side of the roof to get his first look at the people below.
"Perhaps that is all merely stories used to frighten children; it seems that is all you would be good for without your tricks."
That was the one. She was some kind of catgirl, reminding him of someone he'd left behind. The other was the vampire, which he could tell without even bothering to look at her. He could feel it, like a sixth sense. Remarkably, he didn't care about the vampire just then.
The rock came flying away from the rooftop aimed square at the side of the catgirl's head with a pair of golden eyes following its shallow arc.
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Jenica Sabiny
- Citizen
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:29 am
- Race: Vampire
Taunting. Was this taunting? Vaguely she recalled some human thing, with language. Various meals had done this, trying to distract. Particularly clever ones came up with rather interesting ideas. But they were too used to predators and enemies who really listened to the words, who analyzed and took it to heart.
Jenica just didn't care. But there was one word she wished the creature hadn't said. When she was revealed as a vampire, she spared the human male a quick glance, then looked away again. Perhaps that game had run its course, now.
She crouched again, but this time merely ran her fingers through the dirt. She loved the silty feeling against the cobblestone, and these streets were never washed. They carried the smells of hundreds of years of death and urine and earth brought in on horse and children's feet. And maybe a murderer or two.
The vampire looked up again, and her eyes were blue crystals. She didn't want to fight; every inch of her body language broadcasted this fact. She hated to fight, because although she didn't particularly care, she knew she didn't fight fair. She didn't fight for fun, she fought to annihilate a threat. And if that meant holding them down while slitting their throat, then so be it.
She stood again, dusting her hands. She'd realized that the other was waiting on her to move, to do something. So she'd wait her out. She'd watched the rabbits, years ago, as they teased the farm cats in town. The ones that got away always let the cat attack first.
She was about to speak, to say something somewhat poetic and perhaps even intellectual, but a glint off stone caught her eye. She felt the rock before she saw it; but she was surprised, nonetheless, as it dropped in a graceful arch, righ toward the cat's head.
She only blinked. Now where had that come from? Her focus shifted upward, and she cocked her head and blinked. Something...
Tendrils began to slide upward, along the wall. She knew she'd seen something, and now she'd prove to herself that she had. Slither and slide, up the bricks and wooden planks to find whatever lurked above. She could only guess and let the shadows follow their own plans, but perhaps a midnight, inky snare might catch a frightened rabbit tonight.
Or something.
Jenica just didn't care. But there was one word she wished the creature hadn't said. When she was revealed as a vampire, she spared the human male a quick glance, then looked away again. Perhaps that game had run its course, now.
She crouched again, but this time merely ran her fingers through the dirt. She loved the silty feeling against the cobblestone, and these streets were never washed. They carried the smells of hundreds of years of death and urine and earth brought in on horse and children's feet. And maybe a murderer or two.
The vampire looked up again, and her eyes were blue crystals. She didn't want to fight; every inch of her body language broadcasted this fact. She hated to fight, because although she didn't particularly care, she knew she didn't fight fair. She didn't fight for fun, she fought to annihilate a threat. And if that meant holding them down while slitting their throat, then so be it.
She stood again, dusting her hands. She'd realized that the other was waiting on her to move, to do something. So she'd wait her out. She'd watched the rabbits, years ago, as they teased the farm cats in town. The ones that got away always let the cat attack first.
She was about to speak, to say something somewhat poetic and perhaps even intellectual, but a glint off stone caught her eye. She felt the rock before she saw it; but she was surprised, nonetheless, as it dropped in a graceful arch, righ toward the cat's head.
She only blinked. Now where had that come from? Her focus shifted upward, and she cocked her head and blinked. Something...
Tendrils began to slide upward, along the wall. She knew she'd seen something, and now she'd prove to herself that she had. Slither and slide, up the bricks and wooden planks to find whatever lurked above. She could only guess and let the shadows follow their own plans, but perhaps a midnight, inky snare might catch a frightened rabbit tonight.
Or something.
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Alalia Morrigan
- Citizen
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:14 am
- Race: Cat Shifter
Alalia watched as the vampire crouched, tightening her muscles so she could quickly react if the woman decided to pounce. But it never happened. The cat-girl’s eyes narrowed as she watched her possible opponent run her fingers through the dirt. She couldn’t understand why anyone would do such a thing in the presence of such an obvious threat. For a moment, she thought that the woman meant to throw the dirt in an attempt to blind her, but that didn’t happen either.
Suddenly, feline ears pricked forwards as they caught a strange sound. It resembled that of wind whistling around a solid object, but there was not even a breeze to move the still night air, and it was too quiet of a sound for that. She turned, and stars exploded into her vision.
The rock had caught her right above her left eye, leaving a shallow gash where the sharp edge had torn her skin. Blood began to run down the side of her face, dripping from her chin and staining her shirt. Her catlike grace deserted her as a wave of dizziness and nausea swept over her, and she fell into a sitting position on the ground. Pressing her palm against the cut, she struggled to keep her eyes on the vampire. Now that she was obviously at a disadvantage, the other predator might attack. However, her head was spinning, making it hard to focus on anything.
Alalia watched as the shadows slithered off, making everything look oddly flat. She was a bit relieved that they had found something else that interested them more than her, but the vampire was still there, and it was obvious that she was the real threat. Deciding that she was tired of waiting, the cat girl rose to her feet and unsheathed her rapier, the blade ringing as it was freed from its holster. The action nearly unbalanced her again, but she remained upright, her tail lashing about to help keep her balance.
Blood from her cut had flowed into the eye beneath, causing the cat-girl temporary blindness in her left eye. However, she disregarded that fact, being right handed. She needed to kill something, even if it meant going through the vampire to murder the human. Ration, if she had ever had any, had completely abandoned her, and all that ran through her mind were wild, animal instincts.
Making a few experimental cuts in the air, Alalia watched the woman with her right eye, her left closed and covered in blood. Suddenly, she lunged forward, outstretched blade glinting wickedly in the moonlight.
Suddenly, feline ears pricked forwards as they caught a strange sound. It resembled that of wind whistling around a solid object, but there was not even a breeze to move the still night air, and it was too quiet of a sound for that. She turned, and stars exploded into her vision.
The rock had caught her right above her left eye, leaving a shallow gash where the sharp edge had torn her skin. Blood began to run down the side of her face, dripping from her chin and staining her shirt. Her catlike grace deserted her as a wave of dizziness and nausea swept over her, and she fell into a sitting position on the ground. Pressing her palm against the cut, she struggled to keep her eyes on the vampire. Now that she was obviously at a disadvantage, the other predator might attack. However, her head was spinning, making it hard to focus on anything.
Alalia watched as the shadows slithered off, making everything look oddly flat. She was a bit relieved that they had found something else that interested them more than her, but the vampire was still there, and it was obvious that she was the real threat. Deciding that she was tired of waiting, the cat girl rose to her feet and unsheathed her rapier, the blade ringing as it was freed from its holster. The action nearly unbalanced her again, but she remained upright, her tail lashing about to help keep her balance.
Blood from her cut had flowed into the eye beneath, causing the cat-girl temporary blindness in her left eye. However, she disregarded that fact, being right handed. She needed to kill something, even if it meant going through the vampire to murder the human. Ration, if she had ever had any, had completely abandoned her, and all that ran through her mind were wild, animal instincts.
Making a few experimental cuts in the air, Alalia watched the woman with her right eye, her left closed and covered in blood. Suddenly, she lunged forward, outstretched blade glinting wickedly in the moonlight.
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Chrishton Radu
- Citizen
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:07 am
- Name: Chrishton Radu
- Race: kitsune
The kitsune winced when the rock connected with its target. It looked painful, but she looked like she could take it.
He stood up, revealing himself as a white silhouette outlined by the dark purple sky. All a human could make out of him in the lighting would be the shape of a 6 foot tall, furry, humanoid creature with two bushy tails and big, pointed ears. The vampire and the feline would be able to see much more, such as the fact that he had no weapons on him, and was wearing only a white cloth wrapped like a toga.
"Hah! How's that for a filthy, mangey creature you rotten little bitch!?"
He gloated obnoxiously while standing proud in plain view, first pointing at her and then jerking his fist in the manner of and athelete who'd just won gold.
The fox was clearly inviting an attack. He wanted to be chased, a game he excelled at winning - even against opponents like these. Oddly, the catgirl looked more focused on the vampire, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Chris looked down and could see that the shadows were doing something funny again. Whatever it was, he wasn't one to stick around and find out. He didn't plan on staying there like a target for very long either way.
"Huuup!"
He spun around and jumped off the opposite side of the building, being sure to exaggerate the motion so that the last things that could be seen were his hands vanishing behind the stone wall.
He stood up, revealing himself as a white silhouette outlined by the dark purple sky. All a human could make out of him in the lighting would be the shape of a 6 foot tall, furry, humanoid creature with two bushy tails and big, pointed ears. The vampire and the feline would be able to see much more, such as the fact that he had no weapons on him, and was wearing only a white cloth wrapped like a toga.
"Hah! How's that for a filthy, mangey creature you rotten little bitch!?"
He gloated obnoxiously while standing proud in plain view, first pointing at her and then jerking his fist in the manner of and athelete who'd just won gold.
The fox was clearly inviting an attack. He wanted to be chased, a game he excelled at winning - even against opponents like these. Oddly, the catgirl looked more focused on the vampire, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Chris looked down and could see that the shadows were doing something funny again. Whatever it was, he wasn't one to stick around and find out. He didn't plan on staying there like a target for very long either way.
"Huuup!"
He spun around and jumped off the opposite side of the building, being sure to exaggerate the motion so that the last things that could be seen were his hands vanishing behind the stone wall.