Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 16, 2009 21:31:49 GMT -5
((Ireth and I are playing some more. This is a very mixed up version of a movie/fairy tale/ yada yada. This way we don't get too busy cooking things up on DH proper. XD))
The prince stood in his stirrups, his wolfhounds panting excitedly beside him. They weaved through his horse's legs, who just watched them dully. It had to be here somewhere... The hounds whined excitedly, all focusing on one track. There it was... And not a moment too soon. He looked up, watching the sun begin to set. Wild animals were always more dangerous after nightfall.
"Hup," he said, settling down and setting his hounds free. They surged forward as his stallion followed. With luck, I should have a new trophy by nightfall.
His hounds grew more excited the deeper into the forest they got. The cries reached a fever-pitch as his horse suddenly screamed and reared back. Surprised, the prince slipped from the saddle and fell. He gasped as his back slammed into the ground, then his head hit a tree truck behind him. Blinking rapidly, he struggled to retain consciousness and failed. Black welled up and overcame him and he remained awake long enough to watch his horse ditch him and run away.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 16, 2009 22:42:02 GMT -5
The wolf ran at full speed through the forest, with a horse, hunter and hounds at his heels. He heard the horse scream over the baying of the hounds, and didn't stop or turn to look, but kept running, his tongue lolling out as he panted. Almost there... almost...
He burst into a secluded glade, slowing down and sinking to his paws at the roots of a knotty willow tree. He lay still for several minutes as he caught his breath, ears pricked for any noise that wound indicate he was still being pursued. None came. Huffing a sigh, the wolf stood again and shook himself off. The moon would be overhead soon...
There it was. He felt its cool rays wash over him, lighting the tips of his fur with silver. He tensed as his body shifted involuntarily, bones and muscles rearranging, fur disappearing and revealing smooth, pale skin. Soon a young man crouched on his finger- and toetips in the wolf's place, panting softly. Ooh, he ached.
He stood up, brushing his dark curls out of his face and circling the willow, kneeling down in front of a cavity in its roots. Sighing in relief, he pulled out a tunic, loincloth and breeches from where they had been hidden earlier that day, and dressed quickly. Leaning against the tree, he sighed and folded his arms across his chest. This happened all the time... one of these days he wasn't going to be so lucky.
He frowned a little, remembering the hunter he had been fortunate enough to escape from. Was he alright? He hoped the young man hadn't been injured when his horse had reared. It would be fine to go back and check on him now. He was safe.
He headed back down the path, following his own pawprints in the soft earth. The hunter lay crumpled at the roots of an oak, his wolfhounds surrounding him. The boy-who-had-been-wolf approached them carefully, letting the dogs sniff his hands and clothes as he moved to crouch beside the hunter. He seemed to have hit his head from behind... there was only a bit of blood on him, probably from the rough tree bark.
The wolf-boy carefully picked up the hunter, cradling him gently in his arms and carrying him back to the clearing, where he laid him down on the grass in the moonlight. His wound wasn't serious; he would be awake sooner or later.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 16, 2009 22:49:26 GMT -5
The prince's eyes flickered open after a few moments, a little dazed. He sat up slowly and held his head with a groan, feeling the back of it with his free hand. Just a bump... His hounds circled him, whining and licking his face and arms. He calmed them, wincing a little. "Shhh, you're hurting my head..." he said softly, looking around. "How did I get here?"
The wolfhounds just whined, sitting at his sides and behind him. He drew his knees to his chest and rested his aching head on them, closing his eyes again. A soft moan escaped him as he wrapped his arms around his legs.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 16, 2009 22:56:03 GMT -5
The wolf-boy crouched next to the hunter and looked at him in concern; he seemed to be in a fair amount of pain. The wolf-boy's blue eyes were calm as he spoke, his voice soft.
"I carried you here from where you fell. Your wound doesn't look serious; the swelling will go down eventually, but I can find you some herbs that will help, if you permit me."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 16, 2009 23:00:05 GMT -5
His eyes opened slowly again as he looked in surprise at the strange boy. "It's just a bump. I doubt I even have a concussion. Though I'm not interested in testing that yet."
He looked the boy over curiously, without moving his head. One wolfhound whined again and he put a hand on its head, scratching its ears. "I'm not exactly in a condition to stop you at the moment. Why are you in the forest alone? And unarmed no less?"
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 16, 2009 23:14:50 GMT -5
"I live here, though not of my own will," the wolf-boy answered, his eyes growing somewhat cold, as though recalling a harsh memory. "I was taken from my kingdom and trapped in this forest by a sorceress. I've tried to escape many times, but I don't know the world outside of this wood, and it's too dangerous for me during the day. In any case, I'm bound to this glen, to this willow." He stood and moved over to it, and patted the tree's trunk.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 16, 2009 23:24:15 GMT -5
The prince raised a brow, "Uh huh. And I thought I was the one who hit my head. And in this world, your name would be?"
He kept his head on his knees, watching the boy carefully. If he was insane, at least he didn't seem to be dangerous. Yet. But then... this was the direction that wolf had been running in. What if this boy was a part of its pack? They accepted humans sometimes... and those humans were often completely mental.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 16, 2009 23:38:28 GMT -5
The wolf-boy drew himself up to his full height, looking down at the hunter with an air of dignity much belied by his plain, ragged appearance and feral surroundings.
"My name is Prince Jason of Elsamane. You know me better as the wolf you were hunting. I can only hope that now you've seen me in my true form, you'll be less inclined to skin me for a cloak." If you even believe me at all. And why would you? I wouldn't believe me.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 16, 2009 23:44:48 GMT -5
The prince blinked, then starting laughing. "Okay, now I know I hit my head harder than I thought. He's been dead for a year, and there's no way you were a wolf. You're too-" He cut himself off, shaking his head slightly and standing... coming to an inch shorter than the other. His green eyes narrowed.
"Thank you for your help, but I must be going. My people will be concerned when my horse returns without its rider." Turning back to the way he'd come from, he started into the trees, his hounds following him reluctantly. One turned and whined, looking at Jason with eyes as blue as his own. The prince called out sharply and the dog turned to follow its master.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 0:01:04 GMT -5
Prince Jason blinked, then started to move after the hunter, calling out after him. "But -- wait! Will you at least give me your name?"
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 0:10:02 GMT -5
The prince paused and looked back, brushing a blond curl from his face. "Prince Zephyros of Talsarind, the country you are in. Good day, sir."
He turned and moved into the trees, disappearing from sight in a moment. He had been dressed for a hunt, after all. The hounds took a moment longer, their white fur still somehow fading into the underbrush.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 0:28:53 GMT -5
Prince Jason sighed, backing up against the willow and sinking down to sit at its roots. So he was in Talsarind... he knew the name, though he had never seen the country beyond the border it shared with Elsamane. He wished he could get out of this stupid wood without having to come back to the glade every night to turn human again.
The sound of footsteps on grass and swishing silk and velvet came to his ears from somewhere out of his line of sight, and he spoke without moving or looking around, his voice like ice. "Lovely evening, is it not, Alaheidra? The moon is almost full tonight."
"Stunning," Alaheidra answered just as coldly, coming around to Jason's side of the tree and settling down beside him. "Who were you talking to a moment ago? I heard you calling for someone."
"What business is it of yours?" Jason's lip curled, and he shifted to make more space between himself and the woman, and averting his gaze from her face. "I get lonely with only you to talk to night after night. Often I talk to myself."
Alaheidra laughed, taking the prince's chin in one long-nailed hand and turning his face toward hers. "You don't enjoy my company, Jason? After all I've done for you... giving you a home, providing you with clothes, making sure you're safe and well... my little pampered puppy princeling..."
"Taking me away from those I love," Jason snarled in retort, baring his teeth and standing up quickly to escape her clutches. "Leaving me with nothing but a name and a curse."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 0:37:35 GMT -5
Prince Zephyros stopped when he heard voices, turning and creeping closer to the glade. His dogs remained silent, a blessing he could only thank God for. One slid up next to him and he wrapped an arm around its neck. The dog licked his face and he shoved it down, his eyes locked on the events in the glade. The other two just sat behind him, waiting for orders. The bitch kept close to her master, beginning to growl at the woman until her master hit her in the side. "Sh," he hissed softly, praying neither sound carried. He was lucky this time.
So... she calls him a prince as well. Perhaps I was a bit hasty... I need to learn more about this. He does act rather canine.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 1:28:27 GMT -5
Alaheidra stood as well, wrapping an arm around Jason and pulling him against her. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she crooned into his ear. "We've been through this a thousand times before, Jason. I'm not going to repeat myself again. We have more important things to discuss..."
She ran her hand lightly down his side, and Jason shuddered, repulsed, struggling against her. "Stay away from me, hag!"
Alaheidra gasped and flinched as though he had struck her. "Manners, my princeling. Do you kiss your sisters with that mouth? Oh, yes..." She chuckled nastily. "Not anymore, you don't." She spun Jason roughly around so that he was facing her, and held his arms to keep him from struggling.
"Once more I ask you, Jason of Elsamane. Will you join with me in marriage and be my King, and I your Queen?"
"As always, one more time you come to me with your demands." Jason looked emotionlessly up into the woman's eyes. "And as always, one more time I give you my decision." He stood on his toes and leaned in so their noses were almost touching, and hissed, "I would rather die."
Alaheidra's lip curled, and her voice dripped with honey and acid. "You forget your place, little pup. You need me. I'm the only one with the knowledge to free you from your inconvenient little affliction. And I cannot give you that unless you first give me what I want."
Jason wrenched free of her grip and stepped back. "You won't break me, Alaheidra. And you won't kill me. You can't take the risk. You need me as well. A corpse can't fill your womb with offspring."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 1:33:25 GMT -5
Ew.
Zephyros continued to watch, though he was beginning to hate this woman... and definitely regretted how he had treated Jason. At least he could blame his still-aching head. Behind him, the two dogs shifted and one growled at the other. Before he could turn to stop them, they started fighting...
Noisily. Zephyros stood quickly, pulling them apart and clenching his jaw against the tears their teeth and claws made in his skin. Once they'd stopped in horror at harming their master, he dropped them and started to run. If this woman could hold Prince Jason captive, then she was someone he wanted to avoid.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 2:47:48 GMT -5
Both Jason and Alaheidra turned at the sound of canine snarling from nearby. While Jason hung back, Alaheidra moved forward briskly, looking out at the path. There were human footprints and multiple sets of pawprints in the earth, obviously not all from a single wolf-turned-human. A hunter, she reasoned, and his dogs.
She turned back to Jason, rounding on him. "He can't help you, you know."
"I rather doubt he would," Jason replied. "He was after my hide for a cloak."
"Hmm." She walked away, speaking without looking at him once he was behind her. "You know where to find me if you need me... for anything."
Jason watched her leave the glen, then left in another direction, following Prince Zephyros' footprints down the path. They would lead him out of the forest... even if he didn't make it out as a human before morning, at least he'd know the way. And maybe he would get the chance to leave in human form, if the moon was out during the day... This could be his chance to escape!
He sped up, jogging quickly down the path, keeping one eye on the footprints and one eye out for obstacles in his path. Strange... the path twisted and turned, looping back on itself like a river... he followed it nonetheless, praying it would lead him out. He glimpsed open air and moonlight ahead, and sped up into a run, heart leaping in hope--
--and skidded to a halt a moment later, when he found himself back in the glen beside the willow. Groaning in frustration, he ran his hands through his hair and sank down onto the grass, curling up with his knees pulled against his chest. Every time... every bloody time he had a chance to get out, the forest forced him back here!
He sighed, uncurling and rolling onto his back, looking up at the moon above the trees. It stared silently back at him, and he imagined that it was smiling, but he couldn't read any emotion into its white face. Did it pity him? Was it watching over him? Someone must have been, if he was able to survive here for over a year now. Someone had to believe he was alive.
Didn't they...?
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 11:25:15 GMT -5
- - -
Zephyros listened carefully, weaving his way through the trees with only his wolfhound bitch, the most intelligent and well-behaved of his dogs. He held a basket of proper food and some other necessities. After the way he had treated Prince Jason the day before, he felt the need to apologize. He was going to be more careful about being heard... and intended to learn everything he could about what was going on with this... wolf prince. That such a thing was going on in his country, right under his and his family's nose, was unthinkable and he intended to repair the damage.
Besides, being stuck out in the woods, Jason probably didn't get decent food.
Why am I so interested by him? ...It's not just the magic that makes him so intriguing, so what is it? This curiosity is going to kill me. It nearly did last night, if that woman is the cause of Jason's enchantment.
He reached the glen and settled down to wait, knowing that if Jason was the wolf he'd been hunting the day before, then he would be a wolf now and avoiding Prince Zephyros and his dog. The bitch whined and he scratched her ears to calm her. She put her head in his lap and looked up at him with adoring blue eyes. Chuckling, he just scratched her ear and back.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 11:57:54 GMT -5
Jason padded softly through the woods in wolf-form, glancing with disinterested eyes at the lush foliage around him. The same old leaves and trees were only interesting for so long, and being a wolf by day meant that he only saw in shades of grey, and muted colors by night, when he was human. He dearly missed being able to see the world in its true beauty... it was strange, the things people took for granted.
He bent to drink from a small streamlet, sighing a little at the sight of his lupine reflection. That had gotten old quickly, too. At least he appeared well-groomed as a wolf, unlike his wild-looking human form. His hair had grown long in the past year, as had his beard, since Alaheidra would never risk giving him a knife to trim them, for fear that he might use it to kill himself. He did his best to keep them clean in lieu of that.
Lifting his head, he sniffed at the air. He knew those scents... the hunter-prince he had met the day before, and his wolfhound bitch. What were they doing here? Hunting him again? Searching around, he found their tracks and sniffed at them; they were fresh. The trail led toward his glade. He should be getting there himself; the sun was setting.
He knew the path from the stream to the glade by heart, and made it from one to the other quickly. The prince was there, seated on the grass with his bitch. Jason approached them cautiously, not wanting to startle the hound. Had they been waiting for him?
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 19:42:39 GMT -5
The wolfhound scented him and growled, her hackles rising. The prince soothed her, watching the wolf calmly. "I came to apologize for my actions yesterday. I should not have been so insensitive to you when you had helped me. Especially considering I had been hunting you. I brought some things for you, and plan on being well out of range when your... captor, comes. I doubt you would be treated well if she knew I was coming."
He gestured at the basket he'd brought. "All this is for you. Some decent food, including bread baked fresh this afternoon before I came... and a razor for you."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 20:06:07 GMT -5
Jason looked at him curiously, sniffing the air at the scent of bread and other food rising from the basket. He wagged his tail in gratitude, stepping out of the trees and into the light of the rising moon. He tensed, preparing for the familiar discomfort of the transformation. Even after a year it never seemed to get easier.
He sighed and shook his hair out of his eyes when he was human again, standing up and modestly hiding his groin area behind his hands. "It's good to see you again, Prince Zephyros. Please pardon my appearance. I need to find my clothes again..."
He stepped over to the willow, crouching at the hole in its roots and digging out his clothes. He dressed quickly and turned back to the younger prince, settling down on the grass beside him. He smiled benignly as he spoke, letting the wolfhound sniff at him.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness," he said with a respectful dip of his upper body. "I accept your apology, though I wouldn't call your behavior last night inconsiderate at your own fault, when you take into account that you were wounded. I don't blame you or anyone for not believing me at first. I wouldn't have believed me. After being missing for so long, I doubt even my own mother and father believe I'm still alive."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 20:16:37 GMT -5
"You are probably right..." Zephyros said with a nod, biting his lip to stifle a grin. "After a year, I'd think you wouldn't feel so modest."
His face grew somber. "But then, I guess you spend almost all of your time alone. Here," he picked up the basket and set it closer to Jason, displacing his hound. She made a noise of displeasure and moved over to his other side, putting her head on his leg. He scratched her ears and she made a soft noise, equal parts pleasure and irritation at his bribery.
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 20:35:14 GMT -5
Jason thanked him softly and examined the contents of the basket, pulling back a fold of cloth to reveal an assortment of fruit, cold meat and cheese, as well as the bread Zeph had mentioned. He found a knife and cut a slice from the end of the loaf, biting into it slowly with a soft moan of pleasure. It had been so long since he'd tasted bread... he savored the mouthful, not wanting to miss a crumb. Swallowing eventually, he licked his lips, glancing around the glen. Alaheidra would probably be coming soon... as she always did.
"Forgive me if I seem... awkward," he said slowly. "I've had no one to talk to but my captor for over a year... you're the first person who's ever shown kindness to me in that time. Granted, you're the only other person who's seen me as a man, but..." He shrugged. "I do appreciate it, deeply. You never really know the true value of kindness until you're no longer given any... as with many things in this world."
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 20:48:52 GMT -5
"It's completely understandable," Zephyros shrugged, running a hand through his shoulder-length hair. The curls immediately fell back into his face and he sighed.
"I understand why no one would give kindness to a wolf... I mean," he gave a slightly embarrassed grin, "after all, I wouldn't have been anywhere near you if I hadn't been hunting you. If you stayed further from the edge, you would frighten less villagers and be hunted less, you know..."
The bitch whined and he stood suddenly. "Someone's coming. You probably want to hide the basket before she gets here. I'm going to get out of here, at least until she's gone."
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Jason Hiller
Ireth
University Freshman: Lycanthrope
Just another nancy boy...
Posts: 1,433
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Post by Jason Hiller on Dec 17, 2009 20:53:36 GMT -5
Jason stood up as well, holding the basket. "Please be careful."
He rushed to hide the basket in a tangled, thorny thicket, receiving many small cuts on his hands. Hissing in pain, he stood up, his eyes searching the glen in the direction Alaheidra usually approached from. He prayed Zephyros wouldn't get caught this time.
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Zephyros Aetai
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Small God
Even the mightest Hurricane started as the gentlest of breezes...
Posts: 1,380
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Post by Zephyros Aetai on Dec 17, 2009 21:18:35 GMT -5
Zephyros put a hand on his shoulder, "I'll be back, okay?"
Without letting Jason reply, and knowing time was growing very short for him to hide. Whistling lowly for the bitch to follow him, he disappeared into the trees again, brushing out his tracks. Settling in carefully, he listened closely to see what else he might learn. What exactly did this woman know about the spell? She had spoken as if she had not been the one to cast it, but she seemed to believe she could remove it.
What was the spell anyway? Somehow he was bound to the tree, and something about the moon caused his transformations into a human... Jason was probably the one to ask, but somehow it seemed more interesting to learn about it through the woman.
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