Between all his mild lacerations and cuts, his brief exposure to the gas, the hallucinations and the nigh constant running Kitan had been performing all night, Kitan was feeling fairly beaten. It seemed events were conspiring to make his day as difficult as possible.
He grimaced through the aching pain in his scraped, tattered body and continued to run at his inhuman speed. He momentarily entertained the notion of climbing more buildings, but thought the better of it; it would be rude to their new friend, who was obviously incapable of climbing, and besides, every time he had gone to the rooftops today something bad had happened. Granted, he had only been to the rooftops once today, but the point still stood.
He noticed he was leading the sprinters, and he twisted his head once he confirmed the street would continue on straight for some time. His glance backwards confirmed it: the other two were still behind him. He briefly wondered why the new werewolf seemed to be trailing after him specifically.
He noticed an alleyway and decided that since he had no idea where they had wound up or where they should go, he would lead the other two down it. He quickly sprinted into its entryway and stopped, panting. He slumped against the wall and slid down it to sit. He landed uncomfortably on his tail, but felt a bit too exhausted to move at the moment.
Kitan briefly leaned over to check and make sure there was no sounds of guardsmen approaching, nor anyone shouting about werewolves. He heard a door or window close, but it didn’t seem that anyone was sufficiently motivated to leave and yowl to the guards. The fox shifter couldn’t even be sure the shutting noise had been in response to seeing them.
He sighed in relief and took a deep breath. “Okay. I think we’re safe, I don’t hear anyone.” He turned to the newest werewolf. “So... Shade, I guess you don’t know who he is?” Kitan had apparently neglected to pay attention to the anatomical details needed to properly discern the new werewolf’s gender during the escape.
The Fox and the Hound
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Shade was wheezing pretty heavily by the time they ducked in the alley, his chest heaving as his tongue hung out. Damn that she-wolf was fast. Letting out a loud groan he sat his rump down nearly touching Kitan and stared warily at her. She hadn't attacked Kitan at all and judging by her recent action most of the aggression was centered at him. Hesitant he glanced at the boy then at her. Perhaps...
Shade decided to be the first to show some sort of peace.Getting into a squat he gave himself a bit of a shake and grit his teeth as he forced himself to change again. He couldn't stop the low whine that escaped him as his bones strained against already overworked muscles and sore joints. More then one popped and grinds as he coughed on the agony. He'd forgotten how much it hurt when he shifted when strained. After what felt like ages he let out a shaky wheeze, his near skin covered in sweat and his eyes narrowed as he stared at the female.
"You're wrong pup, thats a female." Shade grunted as he kept his crouched position near Kitan. Speaking with the female he let loose a low rumble. "Why did you go after the boy? We don't have any quarrels with you and I damn well know I'm not on your turf. I smelled before we went on the property."
Shade sat silent and waiting for an answer, prepared to cover Kitan's eyes should she shift and be naked. After all, there was some things this boy shouldn't see yet and a woman's bare tata's was one of them. He grunted a bit at the thought. Poor kid probably never saw a naked person in his life better yet a female. Nah, he'd let him keep his innocence. At least, until the hit the taverns.
Shade decided to be the first to show some sort of peace.Getting into a squat he gave himself a bit of a shake and grit his teeth as he forced himself to change again. He couldn't stop the low whine that escaped him as his bones strained against already overworked muscles and sore joints. More then one popped and grinds as he coughed on the agony. He'd forgotten how much it hurt when he shifted when strained. After what felt like ages he let out a shaky wheeze, his near skin covered in sweat and his eyes narrowed as he stared at the female.
"You're wrong pup, thats a female." Shade grunted as he kept his crouched position near Kitan. Speaking with the female he let loose a low rumble. "Why did you go after the boy? We don't have any quarrels with you and I damn well know I'm not on your turf. I smelled before we went on the property."
Shade sat silent and waiting for an answer, prepared to cover Kitan's eyes should she shift and be naked. After all, there was some things this boy shouldn't see yet and a woman's bare tata's was one of them. He grunted a bit at the thought. Poor kid probably never saw a naked person in his life better yet a female. Nah, he'd let him keep his innocence. At least, until the hit the taverns.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia followed the fox into the alleyway, planting herself diagonally across from him in the small space. She stared, wondering again why he didn't hide his ears. Didn't he know that he could get in trouble for that? People who feared magic didn't exactly like seeing it paraded around on someone's head. She sat down to regain her breath, panting lightly - the fox was fast, though he probably had to be if he went around with his ears (and tail!) out.
The big werewolf forced himself into the alley as well, prompting Gia to stand again, wary. He didn't seem like he wanted to fight her - which was good because she would lose - so she restrained herself from growling again. He clearly wasn't chasing the fox, and the run had worn him out a bit, so Gia felt like she could relax. Only slightly though, as she still had no idea what either one of them was about.
She watched as he shifted, suppressing a wince of her own at his whine and the length of time that it took for him to shift. Gia remembered that feeling, the sensation of each and every bone (even the little ones she hadn't thought she'd had) changing itself to something else. She could smell the sweat and shifter-magic on him, a strange blend of cloudy grey and sparkling silver in her scent-sight. There was also, again, that tang of not-shifter-magic, and for the first time she noticed a collar around his neck, and she couldn't hold back an irritated snap at whoever would collar her kind.
Well, if he was going to be nice about things, so could she. He clearly didn't understand her when she spoke before, and since there was no reason to think he'd understand in human form, she shifted. In the blink of an eye she was human, none of that painful flesh-ripping-bone-tearing-muscle-screaming that she associated with her early years. She drew her knees to her chest, hiding the bits most humans found scandalous, out of consideration for the fox, though the big wolf didn't seem to have a problem being mostly naked around the kid. Then again, they were both males, and apparently that made it okay in some circles. The complexities of civilization had been difficult and mostly lost on Gia since she had been bitten.
"I thought you were hunting," she responded, yellowy eyes locked on to the big male's. "Hunting him. I smelled fear and blood. Our kind is feared enough without you adding to it by hunting down a fox."
The big werewolf forced himself into the alley as well, prompting Gia to stand again, wary. He didn't seem like he wanted to fight her - which was good because she would lose - so she restrained herself from growling again. He clearly wasn't chasing the fox, and the run had worn him out a bit, so Gia felt like she could relax. Only slightly though, as she still had no idea what either one of them was about.
She watched as he shifted, suppressing a wince of her own at his whine and the length of time that it took for him to shift. Gia remembered that feeling, the sensation of each and every bone (even the little ones she hadn't thought she'd had) changing itself to something else. She could smell the sweat and shifter-magic on him, a strange blend of cloudy grey and sparkling silver in her scent-sight. There was also, again, that tang of not-shifter-magic, and for the first time she noticed a collar around his neck, and she couldn't hold back an irritated snap at whoever would collar her kind.
Well, if he was going to be nice about things, so could she. He clearly didn't understand her when she spoke before, and since there was no reason to think he'd understand in human form, she shifted. In the blink of an eye she was human, none of that painful flesh-ripping-bone-tearing-muscle-screaming that she associated with her early years. She drew her knees to her chest, hiding the bits most humans found scandalous, out of consideration for the fox, though the big wolf didn't seem to have a problem being mostly naked around the kid. Then again, they were both males, and apparently that made it okay in some circles. The complexities of civilization had been difficult and mostly lost on Gia since she had been bitten.
"I thought you were hunting," she responded, yellowy eyes locked on to the big male's. "Hunting him. I smelled fear and blood. Our kind is feared enough without you adding to it by hunting down a fox."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
With Shade’s hand blocking his eyes, he could not see, but his ears still worked. He heard her shift with a faint noise and wondered what determined whether or not shifting was painful. He cringed at the thought of one day personally experiencing what Shade had just gone through.
As the lady werewolf explained her motives Kitan laughed a bit, realizing the multiple levels of humor to the situation. Not only did was he currently hiding in an alleyway with two indecent werewolves, one of those werewolves was holding a hand over his face and the other apparently thought he had been getting attacked. And to top it all off, he had mistaken the gender of the new werewolf.
As his laughter faded into a mild chuckle, he said “That’s silly. Shade was just training me. He was being kind of a jerk about it, I guess.” He poked his head up, forcing Shade to quickly move his hand to compensate, realizing what he had just said. “Oh! Uh, I’m sure you had reasons. Good ones. Just like now. But uh, I can cover my own eyes, I think. That’s probably easier.”
As the lady werewolf explained her motives Kitan laughed a bit, realizing the multiple levels of humor to the situation. Not only did was he currently hiding in an alleyway with two indecent werewolves, one of those werewolves was holding a hand over his face and the other apparently thought he had been getting attacked. And to top it all off, he had mistaken the gender of the new werewolf.
As his laughter faded into a mild chuckle, he said “That’s silly. Shade was just training me. He was being kind of a jerk about it, I guess.” He poked his head up, forcing Shade to quickly move his hand to compensate, realizing what he had just said. “Oh! Uh, I’m sure you had reasons. Good ones. Just like now. But uh, I can cover my own eyes, I think. That’s probably easier.”
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Shade's eyebrow twitched at the 'jerk' comment. Oh this kid. He grinned tightly as he grabbed the kid and tossed him roughly on the ground, pining him down by lounging across the boy's hips and legs. Meeting his startled eyes Shade gave him a sadistic chuckle before giving his sides a poke, tickling him roughly with a dark smirk.
"What's this? I must have misheard you! I could have sworn I heard you call me a jerk but I know I've mistaken. After all, I've shifted twice for your sake and saved your ass all in one day! If I didn't know you better I would have thought you were being ungrateful." Shade growled out the last part as he dodged the smacking hands and continued his tickle torture, glancing up at the other shifter with a raised eyebrow. "So, you thought I was killin' him huh? Guess he thinks you were close."
"Anyway, the names Shade." He gave her a nod in greeting. "This big mouthed pup is Kitan, as he said my current pup in training. Pleased to meet you. As an apology for the mishap from earlier and due to my gentleman upbringing, here.
Sitting back he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his shirt from earlier before handing it to her. He grinned. "We don't want you flashing the nobles, they tend to get a bit flabbergasted about it. Well, the women don't mind my manbits but their husbands or fathers tend to get a bit upset. Been chased out of town more then once for it."
Giving his eyes a roll he glanced down at his charge with a hum. Then resumed his torturous tickles. No rest for the wicked after all. Keeping his eyes on the boy's face he spoke a bit louder. "Anyway, I apologize for how I behaved to you earlier. I thought you were after this useless puffball."
Taking a glance he gave her a lady killer smirk as his eyes narrowed in amusement. "Am I... forgiven?"
"What's this? I must have misheard you! I could have sworn I heard you call me a jerk but I know I've mistaken. After all, I've shifted twice for your sake and saved your ass all in one day! If I didn't know you better I would have thought you were being ungrateful." Shade growled out the last part as he dodged the smacking hands and continued his tickle torture, glancing up at the other shifter with a raised eyebrow. "So, you thought I was killin' him huh? Guess he thinks you were close."
"Anyway, the names Shade." He gave her a nod in greeting. "This big mouthed pup is Kitan, as he said my current pup in training. Pleased to meet you. As an apology for the mishap from earlier and due to my gentleman upbringing, here.
Sitting back he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his shirt from earlier before handing it to her. He grinned. "We don't want you flashing the nobles, they tend to get a bit flabbergasted about it. Well, the women don't mind my manbits but their husbands or fathers tend to get a bit upset. Been chased out of town more then once for it."
Giving his eyes a roll he glanced down at his charge with a hum. Then resumed his torturous tickles. No rest for the wicked after all. Keeping his eyes on the boy's face he spoke a bit louder. "Anyway, I apologize for how I behaved to you earlier. I thought you were after this useless puffball."
Taking a glance he gave her a lady killer smirk as his eyes narrowed in amusement. "Am I... forgiven?"
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia watched curiously, carefully hiding her slight smile at the wolf covering the fox's eyes, as righteous fury of defending the helpless and the good name of werewolves everywhere fading slightly as the two shifters joked around. She took the proffered shirt and slipped it on, breathing in the smell of civilization on both it and him. A city wolf. She didn't run into those too often.
"You are forgiven," Gia replied, then tilted her head at his smirk. "Is there something wrong with your face?"
He was certainly a fine looking man when he got out of that ridiculous werewolf body, even if his face was pulled in that way. She could well understand his comments about females eyeing him up - not that she was going to do that. He'd already shown a preference for the half-man-half-beast form of their kind, and that was rather unacceptable to her. Why be a werewolf who couldn't communicate beyond crude body language when you could be a wolf, sleek and faster than a deer?
Training... now that she could understand. When she was roughly Kitan's age she too had been trained, shown how to control and utilize her shifter powers, fight off those who would do her harm. There was great merit in being a teacher of a young shifter, and Gia let slip a scrap of a smile at that. Then she frowned lightly. "But what do you teach him, if you hurt even to shift? Fighting and running alone?"
"You are forgiven," Gia replied, then tilted her head at his smirk. "Is there something wrong with your face?"
He was certainly a fine looking man when he got out of that ridiculous werewolf body, even if his face was pulled in that way. She could well understand his comments about females eyeing him up - not that she was going to do that. He'd already shown a preference for the half-man-half-beast form of their kind, and that was rather unacceptable to her. Why be a werewolf who couldn't communicate beyond crude body language when you could be a wolf, sleek and faster than a deer?
Training... now that she could understand. When she was roughly Kitan's age she too had been trained, shown how to control and utilize her shifter powers, fight off those who would do her harm. There was great merit in being a teacher of a young shifter, and Gia let slip a scrap of a smile at that. Then she frowned lightly. "But what do you teach him, if you hurt even to shift? Fighting and running alone?"
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan laughed as Shade relentlessly tickled him. He squirmed on the ground, crying out, “Okay! Okay! You win!”
Once he had disentangled himself from his smirking aggressor, he listened to the new werewolf talk. An interesting choice of words led to him suddenly choking on the remnants of his mirth. Something wrong with Shade’s face? He glanced nervously over at Shade, recalling with horrid clarity the abomination he had witnessed during his episode. He shook his head as if to shake free the thought; she couldn’t possibly have known about that. Maybe she was talking about his goofy grin.
“Y-you’ve pretty much got it. Shade was going to teach me how to fight.” He shivered out of the last bits of his fear to readopt his happy-go-lucky smile. “So uh, you know our names now, but you haven’t told us yours. What is it?”
Once he had disentangled himself from his smirking aggressor, he listened to the new werewolf talk. An interesting choice of words led to him suddenly choking on the remnants of his mirth. Something wrong with Shade’s face? He glanced nervously over at Shade, recalling with horrid clarity the abomination he had witnessed during his episode. He shook his head as if to shake free the thought; she couldn’t possibly have known about that. Maybe she was talking about his goofy grin.
“Y-you’ve pretty much got it. Shade was going to teach me how to fight.” He shivered out of the last bits of his fear to readopt his happy-go-lucky smile. “So uh, you know our names now, but you haven’t told us yours. What is it?”
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Shade sat back and watched the female, frowning when he heard the face comment. He hadn't even realized he'd done anything with his face until she pointed it out, then he just felt stupid. No, giving her a quick look over once more he distantly wondered about her and her motives.
He watched as the boy chatted almost hopeful to the newcomer, a twitch of irritation taking him once more. He dropped his guard too easy, he needed to learn not to trust that easily. He let out a low sigh that rumbled from his chest. Another lesson he'd beat into the boy's head if he got the chance away from the she-wolf but for now, he'd be nice to both. After all, he didn't want to get on her bad side again.
He watched as the boy chatted almost hopeful to the newcomer, a twitch of irritation taking him once more. He dropped his guard too easy, he needed to learn not to trust that easily. He let out a low sigh that rumbled from his chest. Another lesson he'd beat into the boy's head if he got the chance away from the she-wolf but for now, he'd be nice to both. After all, he didn't want to get on her bad side again.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia smiled at the fox and nodded. "I am Gia." She was pleased at his friendliness - no hard feelings from the fox, at least. Kitan, she supposed she ought to call him that instead of simply 'the fox.' The wolf was quieter, though whether that was because she had questioned his abilities as a shifter or he was merely a reserved sort (she thought that one unlikely, judging from the self-confidence he oozed), Gia didn't know.
She looked at the big male - Shade, his name was Shade - and asked, "Before fighting, why not teach him to cover his ears? Then fighting will not be so necessary." She looked directly at the fox and added, "Pass as human, and they do not know you are a fox. Humans do not see things they do not want to see."
Shade was being quiet and Gia wondered about that. Was he sizing her up, as she was him, wondering if they'd have another go-round later? She didn't think so - he seemed fairly relaxed, and seeing him tickle and tease the boy had been reassuring to her. Gia bit back a question about his collar, though she didn't know a single shifter who would allow themselves to be collared and it raised a million thoughts in her. She looked at him curiously, breathing deeply and taking in his scent again now that the tension had mostly passed between them. City wolf and recent shift-magic presided over everything, but underneath she caught a hint of cooking and female and girl-child. Did he live with humans? Was he a kept pet? She fought with herself to keep her lip from curling at the idea. She supposed there was nothing wrong with friendship and affection, but to be collared and kept as a dog... nothing could be more abhorrant. Was he preparing the fox to be a pet as well?
Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she nodded decisively at the fox. "Look as a human looks and you will have much less to fear from them."
She looked at the big male - Shade, his name was Shade - and asked, "Before fighting, why not teach him to cover his ears? Then fighting will not be so necessary." She looked directly at the fox and added, "Pass as human, and they do not know you are a fox. Humans do not see things they do not want to see."
Shade was being quiet and Gia wondered about that. Was he sizing her up, as she was him, wondering if they'd have another go-round later? She didn't think so - he seemed fairly relaxed, and seeing him tickle and tease the boy had been reassuring to her. Gia bit back a question about his collar, though she didn't know a single shifter who would allow themselves to be collared and it raised a million thoughts in her. She looked at him curiously, breathing deeply and taking in his scent again now that the tension had mostly passed between them. City wolf and recent shift-magic presided over everything, but underneath she caught a hint of cooking and female and girl-child. Did he live with humans? Was he a kept pet? She fought with herself to keep her lip from curling at the idea. She supposed there was nothing wrong with friendship and affection, but to be collared and kept as a dog... nothing could be more abhorrant. Was he preparing the fox to be a pet as well?
Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she nodded decisively at the fox. "Look as a human looks and you will have much less to fear from them."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia kept glancing over at Shade as they talked. Kitan wasn’t sure why, but she seemed curious about something. He hadn’t the foggiest what it could be, but then she repeated her question and he quickly lost interest in that topic.
Kitan frowned at her continued line of questioning and shied nervously back to his side of the alleyway. His back to the wall, he kicked at the ground bashfully and replied “That’s because... well, I can’t. Shift, that is to say. I can’t shift.” He twitched anxiously. “I was raised by a dwarf, and he couldn’t teach me. Now no one seems to be able to teach me, not even other shifters. Maybe if I ever found another kitsune? I don’t know. I even asked a mage.”
He continued, sounding a bit defeated. “I’ll start wearing a hood, I guess,” He reached up and flattened his ears against his head, “if my ears don’t push on it too much. I count myself fortunate I’m stuck like this, rather than with a fox face.”
Kitan frowned at her continued line of questioning and shied nervously back to his side of the alleyway. His back to the wall, he kicked at the ground bashfully and replied “That’s because... well, I can’t. Shift, that is to say. I can’t shift.” He twitched anxiously. “I was raised by a dwarf, and he couldn’t teach me. Now no one seems to be able to teach me, not even other shifters. Maybe if I ever found another kitsune? I don’t know. I even asked a mage.”
He continued, sounding a bit defeated. “I’ll start wearing a hood, I guess,” He reached up and flattened his ears against his head, “if my ears don’t push on it too much. I count myself fortunate I’m stuck like this, rather than with a fox face.”
Re: The Fox and the Hound
"You'll be fine boy. Like the lady said, a human will make up things just to pretend something isn't there." Shade grunted as he rolled his shoulder back. "If you hide your ears, you'll get beaten less but they'll trust you easy. If it was me, it wouldn't effect me but you're.... bonding habits could hurt later on. After all, a secret comes out eventually and when humans feel betrayed things get... nasty. They'd turn on you."
Shade grimaced a little as he began running his fingers across the worn leather of his collar. More then one female slapped his face and the amount of ammo pulled from his flesh could stock the army. Pure luck and his shifting half made him survive this far. He made a face at the thought of the last one he'd taken. A pretty young child with a fiery temper and sunny hair. He couldn't remember her name for the life of him but he definitely remembered the feeling of her father's crossbow bolt wedging itself into his thigh. Two inches higher and it would have shot him in the ass. Humorous in its own right but damn did it hurt.
"We should probably move on." Shade announced as he moved to stand between the newcomer and his pup. He glanced down at her. "Do you have any other clothes? As much as I find your legs flattering, I doubt we'd get far unnoticed."
Shade grimaced a little as he began running his fingers across the worn leather of his collar. More then one female slapped his face and the amount of ammo pulled from his flesh could stock the army. Pure luck and his shifting half made him survive this far. He made a face at the thought of the last one he'd taken. A pretty young child with a fiery temper and sunny hair. He couldn't remember her name for the life of him but he definitely remembered the feeling of her father's crossbow bolt wedging itself into his thigh. Two inches higher and it would have shot him in the ass. Humorous in its own right but damn did it hurt.
"We should probably move on." Shade announced as he moved to stand between the newcomer and his pup. He glanced down at her. "Do you have any other clothes? As much as I find your legs flattering, I doubt we'd get far unnoticed."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia hadn't meant to upset the fox. She hadn't ever met a shifter that was stuck in one form. Stuck for a few days or a week, yes, but not life. What a pair these two made, she thought to herself. The wolf sighed agreement - one shifter who couldn't shift and one who could only do it painfully. She felt a small bit of pity rising up in her. As much as she wanted and needed to find the shadow priest, she could spare some time for these shifters, right? As confident as the big male was, he was still collared. And though the fox was not young, there was something very innocent about him that tugged at her. And the city wolf would probably know somewhere to go.
She softened her expression as she looked at the fox. "A cloak would help, no doubt. I know a few kitsune, but they are all far from here, and I do not think that any of them have had a problem with shifting. I do not know if a mage would help you either, unless he specialized in shifter magic." Her mouth twisted at the words. "And I would not suggest going to one of those. They tend to acquire their knowledge though... unpleasant means."
The wolf (it was so much easier to just think of them as the wolf and the fox with their distinctive scents than identify them by human names) picked at his collar and Gia felt her eyes narrow at it. Her kind should not go collared, no matter who they served. Especially a magical collar - she'd bet all her meager possessions it limited and did not augment his powers. "I agree with moving on. I left my clothing back at the warehouse. Shall I fetch it and meet with you somewhere else? It would not be at all difficult to track you." Between the sweat and blood lingering on the fox, and the big wolf's rangy, sweaty, very masculine scent, she could track the two anywhere.
She softened her expression as she looked at the fox. "A cloak would help, no doubt. I know a few kitsune, but they are all far from here, and I do not think that any of them have had a problem with shifting. I do not know if a mage would help you either, unless he specialized in shifter magic." Her mouth twisted at the words. "And I would not suggest going to one of those. They tend to acquire their knowledge though... unpleasant means."
The wolf (it was so much easier to just think of them as the wolf and the fox with their distinctive scents than identify them by human names) picked at his collar and Gia felt her eyes narrow at it. Her kind should not go collared, no matter who they served. Especially a magical collar - she'd bet all her meager possessions it limited and did not augment his powers. "I agree with moving on. I left my clothing back at the warehouse. Shall I fetch it and meet with you somewhere else? It would not be at all difficult to track you." Between the sweat and blood lingering on the fox, and the big wolf's rangy, sweaty, very masculine scent, she could track the two anywhere.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
As Kitan heard the word “cloak” his imagination seized upon the idea immediately. He envisioned himself in a black cowl and a flowing, dark cape, casting spells like a practiced wizard and being generally mysterious.
Speaking of black robed figures, there was one walking down from within the alleyway. Kitan snapped from his reverie to gape at the new arrival. He crouched suspiciously, trying to determine whether or not it was real. He looked up to Shade and, in a masterstroke of his renowned subtly, jerked his head in the direction of the oncoming figure to see if Shade would react when he looked.
Kitan flipped his focus back to Gia, figuring Shade would take care of it if it wasn’t a delusion. He blinked with mild surprise when she announced her intent to track them. “Oh, you’re coming with us? Okay.” His naïve mind questioned this no further, rapidly refocusing on what he increasingly suspected was not a real image.
The mysterious robed man was being very quiet. Kitan again looked down the alley to see the figure still slowly approaching, walking as if in mourning. He frowned uncomfortably; yes, this was probably a delusion. The fox shifter scanned his brain for a way to inform Shade without tipping off Gia, but found nothing, so he merely looked up at Shade hoping the werewolf had understood what was happening.
Speaking of black robed figures, there was one walking down from within the alleyway. Kitan snapped from his reverie to gape at the new arrival. He crouched suspiciously, trying to determine whether or not it was real. He looked up to Shade and, in a masterstroke of his renowned subtly, jerked his head in the direction of the oncoming figure to see if Shade would react when he looked.
Kitan flipped his focus back to Gia, figuring Shade would take care of it if it wasn’t a delusion. He blinked with mild surprise when she announced her intent to track them. “Oh, you’re coming with us? Okay.” His naïve mind questioned this no further, rapidly refocusing on what he increasingly suspected was not a real image.
The mysterious robed man was being very quiet. Kitan again looked down the alley to see the figure still slowly approaching, walking as if in mourning. He frowned uncomfortably; yes, this was probably a delusion. The fox shifter scanned his brain for a way to inform Shade without tipping off Gia, but found nothing, so he merely looked up at Shade hoping the werewolf had understood what was happening.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Shade was about to chat back with Gia when he felt the pup's aura change. He blinked and glanced at the boy's stiff pose, large eyes staring suspicious down the alley. Their eyes locked and with a subtle flick Shade was told to look. He blinked before looking down the alley, his ears and nose on full alert as he peered down the empty space. There was nothing, not a thing. Still despite the boy's attempts to speak with the newcomer he still shifted uneasy, clearly glancing at him with alarmed hope. He stared back into his eyes, trying to understand the boy's fright.
He glanced at the female yet saw nothing frightening and besides the boy wasn't staring at her. He was starring at the alley. The empty alley. It was as if the boy saw something he couldn't, like he was... hallucinating. Finally clicking in Shade let a low growl slip from his lips, knowing the boy didn't want the she-wolf to realize his problem. He needed to straighten him without telling her what was going on. So, Shade tried to locate the approximate location of the thing that scared his kid so bad as he bent down and grabbed a medium sized rock. Then, walking slowly he kept his eyes on the area as he stepped behind the boy, sticking the boy between the two of them.
Raising the rock he chucked it hard dead center of the alley, watching with little satisfaction as it cracked hard long the ground. Then with a low growl he lowered his head until he nearly rubbed his nose against the boy's foxed ear. Raising his shoulder to hide his lips from the she-wolf he whispered low enough only the boy could hear.
"It's just a kickback. There's no reason to be afraid." he growled as he kept his eyes on the space he just tossed the rock. Then glancing back at the she-wolf he immediately let out a loud embarrassed chuckle as he itched the back of his head and straightened, pretending to be ashamed of his previous actions. "Sorry, I hate bees. Hope you don't see me badly for usin' the boy as a bee shield. Dreadful insects have an urge to sting me without me so much as breathin' I swear it."
He glanced at the female yet saw nothing frightening and besides the boy wasn't staring at her. He was starring at the alley. The empty alley. It was as if the boy saw something he couldn't, like he was... hallucinating. Finally clicking in Shade let a low growl slip from his lips, knowing the boy didn't want the she-wolf to realize his problem. He needed to straighten him without telling her what was going on. So, Shade tried to locate the approximate location of the thing that scared his kid so bad as he bent down and grabbed a medium sized rock. Then, walking slowly he kept his eyes on the area as he stepped behind the boy, sticking the boy between the two of them.
Raising the rock he chucked it hard dead center of the alley, watching with little satisfaction as it cracked hard long the ground. Then with a low growl he lowered his head until he nearly rubbed his nose against the boy's foxed ear. Raising his shoulder to hide his lips from the she-wolf he whispered low enough only the boy could hear.
"It's just a kickback. There's no reason to be afraid." he growled as he kept his eyes on the space he just tossed the rock. Then glancing back at the she-wolf he immediately let out a loud embarrassed chuckle as he itched the back of his head and straightened, pretending to be ashamed of his previous actions. "Sorry, I hate bees. Hope you don't see me badly for usin' the boy as a bee shield. Dreadful insects have an urge to sting me without me so much as breathin' I swear it."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
The wolf in Gia's mind perked up when Kitan tensed. His words had a nervous edge to them, like he wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. Something had distracted him from their conversation. Her eyes followed his down the alley and saw nothing - ears and nose working as best they could in human form turned up nothing as well. But the fox was clearly unsettled by something.
Shade had had the same response, she saw, though his reaction was to chuck a stone down the alley after growling slightly. He then turned to whisper something to the kid, using his body to hide his words physically. Gia thought she might have heard the word 'afraid' but she didn't know what the kid would have to be afraid of in an empty alley, so she filed it away for later interest. That fox was certainly an interesting one.
He gave some crackpot response about bees, and Gia had to stilfe her laughter. She might not know much about cities or humans (and at this point, she was trying to still find reasons to care) but she did know about wildlife and nature. Why would a bee be down this empty alley, far from flowers and plants and any hives? Silly city wolf. "As you say," she responded benignly. "Shall we move away from the... bees?" She was usually bad with the human idea of sarcasm, but she was pretty sure she got it right here. Bees. Honestly.
Shade had had the same response, she saw, though his reaction was to chuck a stone down the alley after growling slightly. He then turned to whisper something to the kid, using his body to hide his words physically. Gia thought she might have heard the word 'afraid' but she didn't know what the kid would have to be afraid of in an empty alley, so she filed it away for later interest. That fox was certainly an interesting one.
He gave some crackpot response about bees, and Gia had to stilfe her laughter. She might not know much about cities or humans (and at this point, she was trying to still find reasons to care) but she did know about wildlife and nature. Why would a bee be down this empty alley, far from flowers and plants and any hives? Silly city wolf. "As you say," she responded benignly. "Shall we move away from the... bees?" She was usually bad with the human idea of sarcasm, but she was pretty sure she got it right here. Bees. Honestly.