Lucy
"Yes, I don't imagine the floor to be comfortable." Lucy chuckled as she gently pulled the boy upright with a kind smile. "but no, I am no doctor. I'm simply a regular mother with a werewolf as a house guard. As for Shade's little story, you'll have to wait a bit to ask yourself. From what I understand, he went through quite the day already thanks to you."
Lucy smiled as she gently and slowly pulled him to his feet and lead him to the bed. She tucked him in with a smile and got to work cleaning the floor, readily speaking with him as she worked.
"I'm sorry if he's been quite the bother for you. In all honesty, I thought he killed you and he was looking to hide the body. When he told me the gist of you however... Well, I am amused to say I think you're one of the few males he's actually taken a liking to. You should be quite proud."
"Honestly, you probably remind him a bit of himself when he was your age." Turning she glanced at the door, lowering her voice to a heavy sigh. "I don't know much about him before he came here except his... affairs with women. Yet I just have a feeling... that maybe you're someone he wished he was before."
"Anyway, do you have anymore questions? It is you're choice. Given about an hour and you should be able to get up yet I wouldn't suggest sleeping. You may not wake up."
--------_-----------------_------------------_--------------------_----------------_----------------_-------------_------------_--
Shade
Shade blinked as he frowned, his back to the door as he stared intently at the picture in front of him. Collar him? Lucy? Why would he allow her to collar him like some dog? He growled a little as his lip curled up in disgust. He may act as a guard for this family but he was no pet. He'd never be a pet.
"No, she didn't collar me." Shade growled darkly. "The might guards of Marn did. They did it when they captured me and I can't take it off. No, Lucy would never collar me even if she'd had the option. She thinks it's just as ridiculous as I do."
The Fox and the Hound
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia finished settling her dress and ran her fingers through her hair. Luckily she always shed most of the dirt she'd accumulated when she shifted, but she disliked looking like she'd been caught in a windstorm, especially when she was in a human city. They were always so judgmental about things like cleanliness and neatness.
She emerged from the bathroom much more presentable, then tapped Shade on the shoulder to let him know he could turn around. She had raised an eyebrow when he said that he had been collared by guards. "I am glad she did not put it on you. But why do you stand for it? Surely you could find a mage to remove it and flee this awful place with its stink and magic-fearing."
She looked away from him and glared at the floor so he didn't think she was challenging him. Despite what he said about Lucy being the alpha female, he was still a formidable wolf and she would not dare challenge him on his home turf. "I would not suffer to be collared. I killed those who tried it, and I do not know a single shifter who feels differently. Especially wolves."
She emerged from the bathroom much more presentable, then tapped Shade on the shoulder to let him know he could turn around. She had raised an eyebrow when he said that he had been collared by guards. "I am glad she did not put it on you. But why do you stand for it? Surely you could find a mage to remove it and flee this awful place with its stink and magic-fearing."
She looked away from him and glared at the floor so he didn't think she was challenging him. Despite what he said about Lucy being the alpha female, he was still a formidable wolf and she would not dare challenge him on his home turf. "I would not suffer to be collared. I killed those who tried it, and I do not know a single shifter who feels differently. Especially wolves."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
When she told him that she had thought him a corpse which Shade had dragged in, he opened his mouth a bit stunned. He had managed to pick up that Shade was a somewhat unscrupulous character somewhere along the line, but murder? Was she being serious right now? She seemed like she might have a sense of humor. He just couldn’t tell.
He listened to the rest of the conversation with dutiful focus, but he turned back to the line which so shocked his pure head. “Uh. I... Has he done that before?” He squeaked from the bed. “The thing with the corpses in your house?”
He listened to the rest of the conversation with dutiful focus, but he turned back to the line which so shocked his pure head. “Uh. I... Has he done that before?” He squeaked from the bed. “The thing with the corpses in your house?”
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Lucy
Hearing the anxious tone in his voice Lucy felt her heart sink a little though she forced a smile on her face. Apparently the boy hadn't been warned of Shade or his.... habits. Scrubbing at the floor she tried to think of a way to explain it to him without spooking him much worse.
"Shade.... Shade is the type of man whom I wouldn't want to be on his bad side." she said slowly as she glanced at him over her shoulder. "I wouldn't doubt he's killed judging by the gleam he gets in his eye. Without that collar around his neck, he'd probably have killed most of the inmates in jail and half the guards with it. He's never brought bodies home of course but.... still. I wouldn't put it past him to kill a man."
Seeing his expression her eyes softened almost pityingly. "Don't worry, if he hasn't killed you yet I doubt he'd kill you now. Just... Just realize you're lucky is all I'm saying. You must have shone something on him or I doubt he'd of helped you back in that alley let alone lead you here."
________________________________________________
Shade
"I can't remove it and neither can a mage." Shade growled bitterly. He glanced at her with a frown, watching as she herself glared at the floor. Seeing it as an act of peace Shade sighed as itched the back of his head. "It's.... complicated to explain but in a way I'm glad I've got it."
He felt himself go into the past, looking at his mother and father with naive eyes. His heart ached a bit as he thought of his mother, of her scent and her voice and just her simple presence.... He let out a sigh, glancing at her for a moment before catching his screw up and straightening with a clear of his throat.
"No matter. I apologize for attacking you and Lucy is not the person whom placed this on me." Shade stated with a gruff tone. "So, any other questions Mrs. Gia?"
Hearing the anxious tone in his voice Lucy felt her heart sink a little though she forced a smile on her face. Apparently the boy hadn't been warned of Shade or his.... habits. Scrubbing at the floor she tried to think of a way to explain it to him without spooking him much worse.
"Shade.... Shade is the type of man whom I wouldn't want to be on his bad side." she said slowly as she glanced at him over her shoulder. "I wouldn't doubt he's killed judging by the gleam he gets in his eye. Without that collar around his neck, he'd probably have killed most of the inmates in jail and half the guards with it. He's never brought bodies home of course but.... still. I wouldn't put it past him to kill a man."
Seeing his expression her eyes softened almost pityingly. "Don't worry, if he hasn't killed you yet I doubt he'd kill you now. Just... Just realize you're lucky is all I'm saying. You must have shone something on him or I doubt he'd of helped you back in that alley let alone lead you here."
________________________________________________
Shade
"I can't remove it and neither can a mage." Shade growled bitterly. He glanced at her with a frown, watching as she herself glared at the floor. Seeing it as an act of peace Shade sighed as itched the back of his head. "It's.... complicated to explain but in a way I'm glad I've got it."
He felt himself go into the past, looking at his mother and father with naive eyes. His heart ached a bit as he thought of his mother, of her scent and her voice and just her simple presence.... He let out a sigh, glancing at her for a moment before catching his screw up and straightening with a clear of his throat.
"No matter. I apologize for attacking you and Lucy is not the person whom placed this on me." Shade stated with a gruff tone. "So, any other questions Mrs. Gia?"
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Grateful for a collar? Gia couldn't help the gasp that escaped her, or the horror that crept into her eyes and expression. There was something terribly wrong with this wolf, something fundamentally wrong. She gulped and took a deep breath, trying to force herself back into control. He needed to be back with his own kind, somewhere far away from this place and its collars that had obviously messed up his head.
"You didn't exactly attack me," she said slowly, still struggling to contain her emotions. She stomped down hard on the wolf, not letting the animal's keening out. The wolf was even more horrified than Gia herself - one of her kind, her night-brother, pack-brother, blood-brother, content to be collared and even appreciative of it! Gia mentally subdued the wolf even more, careful to keep her voice as even as she could make it. "We really just snarled at each other for a bit."
Maybe... maybe if she killed the person who put it on him its magic would cease. Gia had seen enough magic workings to know that if the caster was killed, sometimes the magic ended. She didn't even know Shade all that well, but she knew him enough because he was a werewolf like her, and collars broke their spirits and their souls quicker than anything else. A werewolf was not a dog to come at the command of a master, and Gia would die before that happened to her. Because there was always the chance that in knowing Shade, she too could come to the attention of the guards and she too could be subjected to collaring.
She tore her thoughts from collars as much as she could and grinned cheerfully, though there was still a slightly desperate, panicky edge to it. "Now that I'm dressed, shall we rejoin your friends?"
"You didn't exactly attack me," she said slowly, still struggling to contain her emotions. She stomped down hard on the wolf, not letting the animal's keening out. The wolf was even more horrified than Gia herself - one of her kind, her night-brother, pack-brother, blood-brother, content to be collared and even appreciative of it! Gia mentally subdued the wolf even more, careful to keep her voice as even as she could make it. "We really just snarled at each other for a bit."
Maybe... maybe if she killed the person who put it on him its magic would cease. Gia had seen enough magic workings to know that if the caster was killed, sometimes the magic ended. She didn't even know Shade all that well, but she knew him enough because he was a werewolf like her, and collars broke their spirits and their souls quicker than anything else. A werewolf was not a dog to come at the command of a master, and Gia would die before that happened to her. Because there was always the chance that in knowing Shade, she too could come to the attention of the guards and she too could be subjected to collaring.
She tore her thoughts from collars as much as she could and grinned cheerfully, though there was still a slightly desperate, panicky edge to it. "Now that I'm dressed, shall we rejoin your friends?"
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan lay still in the bed, trying to compute this new information. Shade was just so goofy, between pissing on muggers and pretending there were killer bees around, it was difficult for the kitsune to imagine the werewolf killing people.
He nestled under the covers, warming himself up. He did feel sleepy, but decided it was best to listen to Lucy. He tried to think of interesting things, to keep him awake, but now he just kept thinking about Shade’s terrifying werewolf form. It was a thought which, to his credit, did keep him awake, and probably would for a few nights to come.
Kitan wasn’t entirely comfortable with the thoughts he was currently having, so he looked back over to Lucy to try and talk about anything else. Unfortunately, two ears and a tail had manifested upon her as she looked the other way. Kitan came to the sudden realization that she too was a werewolf, though had he been paying attention more closely he might have noticed that he tail and ears did not distort her hair or clothing in the slightest; for this delusion was a subtle one indeed.
Kitan flipped the other way in the bed, trying not to look at her, and unhappy frown on his face.
He nestled under the covers, warming himself up. He did feel sleepy, but decided it was best to listen to Lucy. He tried to think of interesting things, to keep him awake, but now he just kept thinking about Shade’s terrifying werewolf form. It was a thought which, to his credit, did keep him awake, and probably would for a few nights to come.
Kitan wasn’t entirely comfortable with the thoughts he was currently having, so he looked back over to Lucy to try and talk about anything else. Unfortunately, two ears and a tail had manifested upon her as she looked the other way. Kitan came to the sudden realization that she too was a werewolf, though had he been paying attention more closely he might have noticed that he tail and ears did not distort her hair or clothing in the slightest; for this delusion was a subtle one indeed.
Kitan flipped the other way in the bed, trying not to look at her, and unhappy frown on his face.
The fox and the hound
Something was very wrong. Shade knew this the second he walked through the door with Gia, the aura that pummeled him causing him to pause as he stared around with a frown. What happened in the short time he left? The once cheery-until-Lucy-saw-him feeling had vanished, replaced now with heavy grim. He frowned harder as he glanced unsure at Kitan, the little pup looking almost... sad? What in the crap?
"Ah, I see you've returned." Shade blinked as he glanced at Lucy who'd finished cleaning the vomit (thankfully). She smiled as she walked towards him, pausing must infront of him with a look in her eye. Seeing it as a hint he lowered his head obediently, putting his ear close to her lips. She glanced at Gia before whispering in his ear. "He's got a bit of a head rattle. He's fine but I think you better keep an eye on him."
"Lucy, what did you say to him?" Shade asked not taking his eyes off the boy. He kept his voice low enough only she could hear. "Something's wrong with him. What happened when I left?"
"He... He asked a couple questions and I answered them." was the sad response. "I told him about your... jail experiences."
"What?" Shade stiffened as he stared down at her with tightening eyes. "You told him what?"
"About you killing." she answered flinching away from his rigid body. "I... thought he'd known."
"He did." Shade growled as he tried to keep his temper down. "He knew but he didn't damn well take it seriously. Now what? Is he scared of me?"
"I...I don't know." came the honest response. "He hasn't spoken to me since."
"..." Shade huffed as he straightened, his body remaining tense as he stared at the boy with dark burning eyes. He sidestepped around Lucy, toeing off his boots with a growl before heading towards the large bed where Kitan sat. Glancing over his shoulder he showed his teeth. "Get out. I've got a mess to damn well fix thanks to you."
Lucy said nothing, just turned and left while the door remained ajar behind her. He glared at Gia sharply before huffing, his nose wrinkling as his struggled to keep his own mind.
Dammit.
"Ah, I see you've returned." Shade blinked as he glanced at Lucy who'd finished cleaning the vomit (thankfully). She smiled as she walked towards him, pausing must infront of him with a look in her eye. Seeing it as a hint he lowered his head obediently, putting his ear close to her lips. She glanced at Gia before whispering in his ear. "He's got a bit of a head rattle. He's fine but I think you better keep an eye on him."
"Lucy, what did you say to him?" Shade asked not taking his eyes off the boy. He kept his voice low enough only she could hear. "Something's wrong with him. What happened when I left?"
"He... He asked a couple questions and I answered them." was the sad response. "I told him about your... jail experiences."
"What?" Shade stiffened as he stared down at her with tightening eyes. "You told him what?"
"About you killing." she answered flinching away from his rigid body. "I... thought he'd known."
"He did." Shade growled as he tried to keep his temper down. "He knew but he didn't damn well take it seriously. Now what? Is he scared of me?"
"I...I don't know." came the honest response. "He hasn't spoken to me since."
"..." Shade huffed as he straightened, his body remaining tense as he stared at the boy with dark burning eyes. He sidestepped around Lucy, toeing off his boots with a growl before heading towards the large bed where Kitan sat. Glancing over his shoulder he showed his teeth. "Get out. I've got a mess to damn well fix thanks to you."
Lucy said nothing, just turned and left while the door remained ajar behind her. He glared at Gia sharply before huffing, his nose wrinkling as his struggled to keep his own mind.
Dammit.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia listened to the fierce words exchanged between the two and stifled a sigh. This house... it was not a happy place. For one thing, there was that off-his-nut werewolf who was grateful - grateful! - for being collared. Gia was refusing to think about that any more until she'd had some sleep and food and her heart stopped racing. For another thing, this whole alpha relationship he claimed he had with Lucy was the oddest thing. Gia didn't have a single problem with humans being alphas, but Shade wasn't treating Lucy like his alpha now that he was mad at her. Growling at her, making her clean the mess up, making her flinch from him, commanding her to get out... she wasn't alpha when he was mad and really, that was the only time it mattered.
Kitan, on the other hand, looked like his already bad day had gotten worse. Gia herself wasn't surprised at the news that Shade had killed people - he looked the type and acted it too, plus there was that festering collar clamped around his neck to show that he knew how to find trouble - but the fox was so naive and innocent, it was clear whatever Shade had mentioned (or not, perhaps) Kitan hadn't taken it or him seriously. Well, it would be a wake-up call for the kid, at least.
Shade turned a glare on her and she raised her lip at him, snarling silently and elegantly. Her fear and reverence of him was lessening, now that she saw how much of... well, he appeared to be a bit of a wreck, in all honesty. He seemed to be trying to do a good thing by Kitan but he also seemed completely flummoxed as to how exactly to do that. "I'm starting to see why you were collared," she commented, swallowing down her instinctive hate of the word. It was probably the rudest thing she had ever said to anyone. "You're floundering like a fish out of water, aren't you?"
Where had this sudden courage come from? You are better than a wolf who was grateful to be enslaved, the wolf commented. The creature usually had little good to say about Gia and so the woman was pleased with the compliment. You are better and you know it, and now you are making sure they know it too. It is the way of things. You would never suffer to be dominated by one like him, and there is nothing wrong with letting him know it now.
Kitan, on the other hand, looked like his already bad day had gotten worse. Gia herself wasn't surprised at the news that Shade had killed people - he looked the type and acted it too, plus there was that festering collar clamped around his neck to show that he knew how to find trouble - but the fox was so naive and innocent, it was clear whatever Shade had mentioned (or not, perhaps) Kitan hadn't taken it or him seriously. Well, it would be a wake-up call for the kid, at least.
Shade turned a glare on her and she raised her lip at him, snarling silently and elegantly. Her fear and reverence of him was lessening, now that she saw how much of... well, he appeared to be a bit of a wreck, in all honesty. He seemed to be trying to do a good thing by Kitan but he also seemed completely flummoxed as to how exactly to do that. "I'm starting to see why you were collared," she commented, swallowing down her instinctive hate of the word. It was probably the rudest thing she had ever said to anyone. "You're floundering like a fish out of water, aren't you?"
Where had this sudden courage come from? You are better than a wolf who was grateful to be enslaved, the wolf commented. The creature usually had little good to say about Gia and so the woman was pleased with the compliment. You are better and you know it, and now you are making sure they know it too. It is the way of things. You would never suffer to be dominated by one like him, and there is nothing wrong with letting him know it now.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan didn’t want to listen to the werewolves. There were too many werewolves and they sure did seem to be snarling and angry all of a sudden. Unfortunately, he was cursed to overhear just about everything with his saucer plate sized ears.
So what, then. He didn’t feel like thinking about what they said about him. They thought he was weak and a little dumb, and they could even be right for all Kitan cared at the moment. He was far more interested in just burying his face in his pillow and worsening his pouty mood, dreading what was surely going to be a talk with Shade trying to justify his killings.
Just when Kitan was about to snap and start the inevitable conversation himself, Gia snarled something about the collar at Shade. Kitan pushed his head back down, reversing the minute movement he had taken to face the pair. If she wanted to talk to Shade, she could do that for as long as she wanted; anything to stall his own little chat.
So what, then. He didn’t feel like thinking about what they said about him. They thought he was weak and a little dumb, and they could even be right for all Kitan cared at the moment. He was far more interested in just burying his face in his pillow and worsening his pouty mood, dreading what was surely going to be a talk with Shade trying to justify his killings.
Just when Kitan was about to snap and start the inevitable conversation himself, Gia snarled something about the collar at Shade. Kitan pushed his head back down, reversing the minute movement he had taken to face the pair. If she wanted to talk to Shade, she could do that for as long as she wanted; anything to stall his own little chat.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Shade tried to stay calm, to keep his head cool as he stared at the female with a growing burn. He could feel the rage inside coming close, near its breaking as he struggled physically and mentally against the transformation that fought to take him over. He grit his teeth, fighting to think through the growing fog in his brain. He needed... he needed it to stop or he'd do something he would regret. He turned his brightening eyes to Gia and grit his teeth.
" Get out of the way." He spat as his shoulders began to crack and his ears pulled themselves back. He let loose a loud animalistic snarl as he gripped his forearm with growing talons, drawing blood as they dug deep into his skin. "I SAID MOVE!"
Shade felt his body slouch as part of the animal took hold. He roared in pain and fury as he threw his head to look back at Kitan, locking eyes with him for only a moment before breaking it to look at the vase. Grabbing it roughly he threw it at Gia's head, running right after as he leaped up and gripped the top of the doorframe with gnarled hands. He threw his feet through the open space above Gia and let go, landing on all fours with a snarl.
His back arched as he let out a scream of agony before his trembling body curling in on itself temporarily, his muscled back stretching and twisting beneath his skin. He turned his gaze to glare at a frightened Lucy and a terrified Rebbecca. Seeing them, cowering from him whilst Lucy tried to hide Rebbecca from him with her own body, made the memories of his young days flash into his eyes. He howled as if in mourning, his still human face twisting in emotional pain as he gripped his head with nails, drawing blood once more.
He needed this to stop.... he needed to get away and find help. He staggered to the door, nearly ripping it from it's hinges in his attempt to escape. After the first couple steps outside a flash of pain made him gasp as he hit the porch deck, his eyes nearly rolling at the panicked pain that hit him. His fingers reached up and grabbed at the collar, his mind racing as he tried to understand what to do.
The collar.... Shade gave his head a shake as he forced himself back onto his feet and into the streets, leaping high onto the roofs in an attempt at secrecy. He needed to find Drayel.... He needed this damn thing reactivated or it would not end well. Help.... Drayel you idiot, I need help......
" Get out of the way." He spat as his shoulders began to crack and his ears pulled themselves back. He let loose a loud animalistic snarl as he gripped his forearm with growing talons, drawing blood as they dug deep into his skin. "I SAID MOVE!"
Shade felt his body slouch as part of the animal took hold. He roared in pain and fury as he threw his head to look back at Kitan, locking eyes with him for only a moment before breaking it to look at the vase. Grabbing it roughly he threw it at Gia's head, running right after as he leaped up and gripped the top of the doorframe with gnarled hands. He threw his feet through the open space above Gia and let go, landing on all fours with a snarl.
His back arched as he let out a scream of agony before his trembling body curling in on itself temporarily, his muscled back stretching and twisting beneath his skin. He turned his gaze to glare at a frightened Lucy and a terrified Rebbecca. Seeing them, cowering from him whilst Lucy tried to hide Rebbecca from him with her own body, made the memories of his young days flash into his eyes. He howled as if in mourning, his still human face twisting in emotional pain as he gripped his head with nails, drawing blood once more.
He needed this to stop.... he needed to get away and find help. He staggered to the door, nearly ripping it from it's hinges in his attempt to escape. After the first couple steps outside a flash of pain made him gasp as he hit the porch deck, his eyes nearly rolling at the panicked pain that hit him. His fingers reached up and grabbed at the collar, his mind racing as he tried to understand what to do.
The collar.... Shade gave his head a shake as he forced himself back onto his feet and into the streets, leaping high onto the roofs in an attempt at secrecy. He needed to find Drayel.... He needed this damn thing reactivated or it would not end well. Help.... Drayel you idiot, I need help......
Re: The Fox and the Hound
The wolf lost it. Gia ducked as he chucked a vase at her, slipping easily out of the way of the flying pottery. He did some dramatics to get out of the room as well before tearing off down the hallway and out of the house. She had seen shifters lose control before, and that was not the first thing that had been thrown at her, but she was shaken all the same. Despite her thoughts about him not being fit to bow to (and he clearly wasn't if he would terrify the only people who cared for him with his dramatics) he was still a very powerful creature and Gia would not like to be in his way.
Clean up his mess, the wolf commanded. The thing that had gotten her into this mess in the first place was thinking that the wolf was terrorizing an innocent shifter - well, that was true now and he'd thrown some bystanders into the mix as well. She wouldn't chase him because she knew that wouldn't accomplish anything except injuries, but she could try some damage control here.
She looked at Lucy with the softest gaze she could manage, Lucy who was cowering with her daughter. "We aren't all like that," Gia said in a voice she would use on a scared, wounded, cornered animal. She might not get humans all that well, but animals... animals she could do, and humans were never more animalistic than when they were in the thralls of violent emotions like rage and hate and passion and fear. "I'm sure you know that though... if you thought he was like that you would have never let him around your daughter." She reached out a hand to Lucy, palm up in a sign of submission and trust, and waited for the woman to take it. Touch was a big deal among wolves, touch calmed and soothed and reassured and it was all Gia could offer. But it was also the greatest gift she could give, an acceptance in her own language, to a woman who was not a wolf.
Kitan would come next. He had seemed perfectly content on his bed before Shade lost control and started throwing things, but Lucy was the one Gia had seen and Lucy was a kind human. Kitan would learn that shifters (and people in general, really) are not always nice creatures and it would be good for him to learn that, but a kind human and her innocent daughter needed to be calmed before Gia could deal with anything else. There were few enough kind humans that Gia felt very protective over the couple she knew... including the shadow priest. She had to continue continue her search for him soon, but first this. First clean up Shade's mess.
Clean up his mess, the wolf commanded. The thing that had gotten her into this mess in the first place was thinking that the wolf was terrorizing an innocent shifter - well, that was true now and he'd thrown some bystanders into the mix as well. She wouldn't chase him because she knew that wouldn't accomplish anything except injuries, but she could try some damage control here.
She looked at Lucy with the softest gaze she could manage, Lucy who was cowering with her daughter. "We aren't all like that," Gia said in a voice she would use on a scared, wounded, cornered animal. She might not get humans all that well, but animals... animals she could do, and humans were never more animalistic than when they were in the thralls of violent emotions like rage and hate and passion and fear. "I'm sure you know that though... if you thought he was like that you would have never let him around your daughter." She reached out a hand to Lucy, palm up in a sign of submission and trust, and waited for the woman to take it. Touch was a big deal among wolves, touch calmed and soothed and reassured and it was all Gia could offer. But it was also the greatest gift she could give, an acceptance in her own language, to a woman who was not a wolf.
Kitan would come next. He had seemed perfectly content on his bed before Shade lost control and started throwing things, but Lucy was the one Gia had seen and Lucy was a kind human. Kitan would learn that shifters (and people in general, really) are not always nice creatures and it would be good for him to learn that, but a kind human and her innocent daughter needed to be calmed before Gia could deal with anything else. There were few enough kind humans that Gia felt very protective over the couple she knew... including the shadow priest. She had to continue continue her search for him soon, but first this. First clean up Shade's mess.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan lie on the bed for a few moments, utterly stunned by the fury of Shade. It has seemed a mild insult to the fox shifter, but Shade’s reaction implied it meant more than it seemed. Kitan was scared. Werewolves were all crazy, if such little things set them off. He wanted nothing more to do with them, any of them, these people who killed and accepted killing.
He slinked out from under the covers as quietly as he could. Rolling from under the blanket like a puppy learning its first trick led to the kitsune landing on all fours beside the bed. He could hear Gia attempting to calm Lucy and someone who Kitan assumed was Lucy’s daughter, and with her distracted, assumed it would be easy to slip away.
His scampering carried him to the back of the house, whereupon the little shifter opened the door as quietly as he could. The ground was damp with morning dew, so Kitan switched to a bipedal stance and slinked out across the dirt and stone. A single bound let him hop the meager fence, and like that, Kitan had exited the property.
He stood on the street, staring into the sunlight with a cool breeze before him and the gate at his back. A hand held above his eyes successfully blocked the worst of the glare, leaving him to ponder his next action. The kitsune stood there a moment before turning down the street, resolute that to forget the whole experience he needed to pick up where he had left off. He began moving to find his bag of letters, dropped under the moon by an alleyway, and hopefully, had remained even as the moon had fled to be replaced by the sun.
Despite his enthusiasm to leave this all behind him, he merely walked. He felt a bit under the weather to allow himself his usual jaunty sprint.
He slinked out from under the covers as quietly as he could. Rolling from under the blanket like a puppy learning its first trick led to the kitsune landing on all fours beside the bed. He could hear Gia attempting to calm Lucy and someone who Kitan assumed was Lucy’s daughter, and with her distracted, assumed it would be easy to slip away.
His scampering carried him to the back of the house, whereupon the little shifter opened the door as quietly as he could. The ground was damp with morning dew, so Kitan switched to a bipedal stance and slinked out across the dirt and stone. A single bound let him hop the meager fence, and like that, Kitan had exited the property.
He stood on the street, staring into the sunlight with a cool breeze before him and the gate at his back. A hand held above his eyes successfully blocked the worst of the glare, leaving him to ponder his next action. The kitsune stood there a moment before turning down the street, resolute that to forget the whole experience he needed to pick up where he had left off. He began moving to find his bag of letters, dropped under the moon by an alleyway, and hopefully, had remained even as the moon had fled to be replaced by the sun.
Despite his enthusiasm to leave this all behind him, he merely walked. He felt a bit under the weather to allow himself his usual jaunty sprint.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
It was too hot, the clothes too tight. He snarled as the humanity still pulled at his mind, holding back his demands to turn around and show those female's who was true Alpha. Still, his body was forced towards the filthy ends of the city, his mind's eye focused on one image in his brain.
By now the animal nearly completely forced its way to the surface, his body still human but his mind near all animal. He snarled at a passing male as he landed hard on the streets and charged onwards, his eyes flashing as he bared fangs at him. Then, like a shadow he vanished again.
He'd nearly made it when the power froze his ability to think for a mere moment. In that moment he'd torn a woman's garbage apart and with raising horror he realized how close he was to masacre. The boy, the she-wolf, Lucy and Rebbecca would be in danger if he crossed pathes with them. Desperate he dragged himself into a deadend and forced himself to curl in and flex his fingers into his skull. Then he let loose a loud howling.
"Draaaayel!"
Lucy
Lucy stared in shock as Shade came staggering through the door, pained and looking panicked as he let out an inhuman shriek before running through the door and into the city. Frightened Lucy remembers pulling Rebbecca close, but it seemed to make things worse. Rebbecca let out a cry as she tried to follow him but Lucy held her back, unsure what was happening with Shade or if he was even with his right mind.
Then Gia spoke to her. Looking at her Lucy felt her eyes sadden, loosening her grip on her daughter to sigh in dishearten.
"I... I apologize for Shade." she said slowly as she ran her finger's across Rebbecca's hairline. "He's not like this.... not usually. Something must be wrong. He'd never attack a female or somebody like Kitan. True he'd kill and has killed but us... I can't see him harming...."
"Shaaade.... Where'd Shade gooo?" Rebbecca whimpered as she peered nervously at Gia. "Why'd he go...? I want Shade!"
"He'll be back." Lucy assured her though certainty lacked in her voice. "He loves us too much to stay away for long. After all, we're the last family he's got. Before that collar, he didn't have anybody remember?"
By now the animal nearly completely forced its way to the surface, his body still human but his mind near all animal. He snarled at a passing male as he landed hard on the streets and charged onwards, his eyes flashing as he bared fangs at him. Then, like a shadow he vanished again.
He'd nearly made it when the power froze his ability to think for a mere moment. In that moment he'd torn a woman's garbage apart and with raising horror he realized how close he was to masacre. The boy, the she-wolf, Lucy and Rebbecca would be in danger if he crossed pathes with them. Desperate he dragged himself into a deadend and forced himself to curl in and flex his fingers into his skull. Then he let loose a loud howling.
"Draaaayel!"
Lucy
Lucy stared in shock as Shade came staggering through the door, pained and looking panicked as he let out an inhuman shriek before running through the door and into the city. Frightened Lucy remembers pulling Rebbecca close, but it seemed to make things worse. Rebbecca let out a cry as she tried to follow him but Lucy held her back, unsure what was happening with Shade or if he was even with his right mind.
Then Gia spoke to her. Looking at her Lucy felt her eyes sadden, loosening her grip on her daughter to sigh in dishearten.
"I... I apologize for Shade." she said slowly as she ran her finger's across Rebbecca's hairline. "He's not like this.... not usually. Something must be wrong. He'd never attack a female or somebody like Kitan. True he'd kill and has killed but us... I can't see him harming...."
"Shaaade.... Where'd Shade gooo?" Rebbecca whimpered as she peered nervously at Gia. "Why'd he go...? I want Shade!"
"He'll be back." Lucy assured her though certainty lacked in her voice. "He loves us too much to stay away for long. After all, we're the last family he's got. Before that collar, he didn't have anybody remember?"
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Lucy seemed to be alright... she was even apologizing for Shade's lack of control. That was a good sign, right? Even if the big wolf had been dropped on his head as a child to think that the collar was a good thing, at least he had found a home with people who accepted his condition. The kid was less alright but Gia didn't have much to do with children and so she would leave that to the girl's mother to sort out. Gia retracted her hand and nodded. "I'm sure you know him much better than I do," Gia said, drawing on her meager tact. A lot of wolves had codes, but Shade had chucked a vase at Gia's head and that was just... crude.
She tried another reassuring smile at Lucy and turned around to deal with Kitan, who she assumed would be marginally traumatized by the big wolf losing his temper. Then she blinked at the empty bed once before sniffing the air deeply and following the scent out the door without another word to Lucy. Probably rude, but the fox was more important to keep track of than a woman that was shaken but not panicking.
The fox was easy enough to track still - for one thing, the smell of sick still lingered on the air, and for another thing, she had already tracked him and the scent was easy to remember. She jumped the fence as well, making sure her bag was secured across her chest as she did. She was not about to leave that behind again.
Kitan was only walking so Gia caught up to him fairly quickly. "Wait," she called. "Fox - Kitan, wait."
She tried another reassuring smile at Lucy and turned around to deal with Kitan, who she assumed would be marginally traumatized by the big wolf losing his temper. Then she blinked at the empty bed once before sniffing the air deeply and following the scent out the door without another word to Lucy. Probably rude, but the fox was more important to keep track of than a woman that was shaken but not panicking.
The fox was easy enough to track still - for one thing, the smell of sick still lingered on the air, and for another thing, she had already tracked him and the scent was easy to remember. She jumped the fence as well, making sure her bag was secured across her chest as she did. She was not about to leave that behind again.
Kitan was only walking so Gia caught up to him fairly quickly. "Wait," she called. "Fox - Kitan, wait."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan was contemplating the leftover acrid tang in his mouth when he heard a thump behind him. The noise caused him to look back, whereupon he saw the werewolf girl hopping the fence behind him. He frowned deeply. “I’ve had it with you werewolves” He responded over his shoulder. “You can’t even possibly catch me without your wolf form, and I think you won’t use it to bring even more trouble on the nice people.” He pointed viciously at the house to accentuate his point, throwing his stance wide in a stable position which nevertheless promised imminent action. “You said that mean thing to Shade. This is practically your fault anyways!” He knew that wasn’t being very fair to Gia, but tried not to let his regret show. “I’m leaving!” The kitsune darkly pondered that if Shade had taught him nothing else, it seemed he could at least be less afraid of werewolves who weren’t him.
He started sprinting down the road, testing his theory. Unfortunately, Kitan knew the rooftops were not an option; experience had taught him that not only were the houses often too widely spaced for that mode of transport to be viable, but also that people tended to get irate when you climbed their homes. He could rely only on his impressive natural, or more accurately supernatural, speed to carry him along.
Fortunately, he was fairly confident he could lose Gia even if she became a wolf. Keeping her from tracking him down would be a bigger problem, since she seemed so interested, but for now he was content to merely distance himself from werewolves as much as possible.
Or so he thought. A wave of self doubt washed over him and made him question his choice. His running slowed a bit, maybe even enough for Gia to catch up. He rounded a corner and stopped, feeling bad. The werewolves maybe didn’t deserve his scorn. They had all been trying to help, even if they had been really, really bad at it. He kicked a rock, pondering, listening to Gia’s footsteps behind them but not paying much attention to them.
Another noise caught his ears more intently, the voice of someone shouting in the distance. "Draaaayel!" He discerned that it was Shade’s, and that gave him pause. His thinking had cost him enough time, and now Gia was sure to catch up. He stopped and sighed. “Uhh... sorry.” He said as she rounded the corner, scratching his ear and failing to look directly at her. “I didn’t really mean that.”
He started sprinting down the road, testing his theory. Unfortunately, Kitan knew the rooftops were not an option; experience had taught him that not only were the houses often too widely spaced for that mode of transport to be viable, but also that people tended to get irate when you climbed their homes. He could rely only on his impressive natural, or more accurately supernatural, speed to carry him along.
Fortunately, he was fairly confident he could lose Gia even if she became a wolf. Keeping her from tracking him down would be a bigger problem, since she seemed so interested, but for now he was content to merely distance himself from werewolves as much as possible.
Or so he thought. A wave of self doubt washed over him and made him question his choice. His running slowed a bit, maybe even enough for Gia to catch up. He rounded a corner and stopped, feeling bad. The werewolves maybe didn’t deserve his scorn. They had all been trying to help, even if they had been really, really bad at it. He kicked a rock, pondering, listening to Gia’s footsteps behind them but not paying much attention to them.
Another noise caught his ears more intently, the voice of someone shouting in the distance. "Draaaayel!" He discerned that it was Shade’s, and that gave him pause. His thinking had cost him enough time, and now Gia was sure to catch up. He stopped and sighed. “Uhh... sorry.” He said as she rounded the corner, scratching his ear and failing to look directly at her. “I didn’t really mean that.”