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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 24, 2008 13:07:34 GMT 10
Shad got to his feet in one smooth movement. He jerked his head toward the pile of clothing and moved slightly toward Tes. "No, I don't know," he snapped at her. "I don't know you any more than I know him." He jerked his finger toward the stranger.
Shad shook his head "What's one more?" he muttered, disappearing into the dark to get his bow while Tes spoke. He stopped by Kavlin. He gently laid his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Come on," he said softly. He led the way back to Tes and stood, slightly behind her, to listen to the other man's story. "I'm leaving this one to you," he whispered to her.
He quickly ducked inside the cave. His anger had returned, but he knew that this was not the time to display it. "What I need is to get back to my solitary lifestyle," he muttered as he moved around, getting one of his torches lit and rekindling the fire. He was thankful that a few red coals were still glowing. He soon had a nice fire buring and a slab of meat across it. "Any of you all hungry?" he called.
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Post by tesumi on Feb 24, 2008 15:15:30 GMT 10
Tes muscled relaxed and she couldn't stop the grin that slowly made its way to her face. "Heh, I'm a bit more of a handful then kitten brother but thats ok." she chuckled slinking down into a sitting position. There was something about this wolves way of speaking that softened her somehow, it reminded her of what she missed without bringing back any painful memories. She didn't relax completely even though the newcomers energy was pretty calm. Tes uncrossed her arms and rested them on her knees, "Hmpf.. you and me both on that one...." she murmured then shook her head and sighed. He could be lying you know...but who would lie about something like that. If he didn't really get kicked out of his pack I'm sure he would come up with a better excuse.... She waved her hand at Shad when he came over, "Yeah yeah I got it, Kavi come here will you? You look like a mess..." she said waving her hand for him to join her. She seemed almost completely at ease but she was really still pretty tensed up, just in case this wolf did want to fight. Tes reached out her other hand and offered it to the Voskon, "I'm Tes....."
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Post by fateandfaith on Feb 24, 2008 16:33:10 GMT 10
Ceytravf stared at Tes' outstretched hand a moment, thinking. A lady of his kind would have expected him to take the hand, turn it over, and lay a gentle wolfen lick along the large vein in her wrist. He knew little of the Northerners' ways, so he figured it was much safer to simply offer her the human greeting. It would be sufficiently awkward if their ways differed, to say the least.
Traf shook her hand gently. "I am Ceytravf. Though most call me Traf. Well, lately, with the wild company I've been keeping I've been going mainly by two barks and a yip." He smiled, his amber eyes twinkling, as he rose to his feet and began to dress, slipping a long-sleeved deerskin tunic over his head and pulling on a pair of boots. He last slid his small knife and hatchet into his belt, leaving a small satchel and a white and silver wolf's pelt where it lay.
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 25, 2008 11:01:34 GMT 10
Shad listened to Tes and the stranger talk for a few minutes before getting to his feet. He paced back and forth across the fairly large cavern before he couldn't take it any more. He had to get out. Otherwise he was going to end up saying or doing somthing that he'd regret. He slung his bow over his shoulder and slipped a spare knife into his boot. "There's the cave, help yourself," he muttered, walking past the trio that sat just outside the entrance. "I'll be back later." He stalked off into the forest toward the small stream that he carried water from. He knew there were several decent places to sleep there. He just hoped that it wouldn't rain before morning. He hated being wet.
Shad dumped himself on the ground beside a large tree and stared down into the stream which reflected the moonlight back to him. A slight peace fell over him as he watched the ripples move with the flow. He leaned back against the tree, blending with it and the ground and was soon asleep.
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Post by tesumi on Feb 25, 2008 11:36:31 GMT 10
Tes snorted as Shad stalked by. She shook her head and turned back to Traf, "He's a rather grumpy thing isn't he? Not at nice as I was hoping, granted I've officially known him as long as I've known you but when I was watching him he seemed much...more sociable." she sighed. Tes leaned her head back and rested it against the tree, she was suddenly feeling a bit nervous she amused that was because Shad had departed. Tes looked over Traf again and frowned, You shouldn't be so calm around him idiot. Do you even know the reason why he got kicked out of his pack? You know he could have massacred his entire family or something... she thought, scolding herself. But for some reason she couldn't imagine him doing that, not a person with such a calm friendly aurora. Fine, go ahead and get yourself killed. Thats not my problem...well actually it is but whatever go ahead and be stupid...*sigh* always so difficult... "Would it be pushing it to ask you how long you've been running alone?" she asked, breaking the silence. Again her voice was a bit distracted, her eyes wandered over to Kavlin and she realized for the first time Shad left him alone with her. Ha, poor kid's probably scared out of his wits. I wonder if he'll run...Well he has Reg, but can a rat do against a cat?
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Post by emmaline on Feb 25, 2008 11:39:37 GMT 10
Kavlin stood back against the wall of the cave, Reg lurking off somewhere near the back. He observed them talking, mentally assessing. Who to trust? Any of them? When Shad left the cave, seemingly not in a good mood, Kavlin grew antsier. This situation didn't feel safe from any angle he looked at it from. Two unknown Voskons in a small confrontation, the man he'd come with disappeared, deep in a dark forest, in an unknown area... He inched nearer to the mouth of the cave and leaned against the wall, idly rubbing away flakes of blood from his face. If he needed to, he could leave the cave as quickly as he could, run to... where? He didn't know his way back to Daism from here.
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 25, 2008 13:15:39 GMT 10
Shad slept fitfully, dreams haunting him. After a half hour of waking up every five minutes in a cold sweat, he forced himself to his feet, angry at himself. "What were you thinking, Shad?" he asked himself. "You left Kavlin, a kid who has no clue how to take care of himself in the woods and who trusted you, alone with two people you don't even know." He called himself every name under the sun that he could think of as he moved back toward the cave.
He ignored Tes and Traf as he walked straight to Kavlin. "Kav, I'm sorry," he said softly, looking straight into the boy's eyes. "I shouldn't have walked out on you." He didn't wait for Kavlin to respond, but set to work creating a second bed out of skins he had piled along the walls. He made sure the bed was close enough to defend, but far enough away that an intruder who not necessarily see it upon entering the cave. He then laid enough skins to make two additional beds closer to the fire so that Tes and Traf could make thier own beds if they decided to join him and Kavlin.
"You can sleep there," Shad said quietly, motioning toward the bed he had just finished. "Do you need anything else?"
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Post by emmaline on Feb 25, 2008 15:05:33 GMT 10
"I-it's okay," Kavlin said, surprised at the apology. Had Shad come all the way back for him? He watched in stunned silence as Shad worked on making a bed, then offered it to him. It certainly seemed that way. "Thank you," he said quietly, touched by the thoughtfulness of a man he'd only just met. "No, nothing else. Sorry to be trouble. If you hunt tomorrow, Reg and I will help out as much as we can." He settled into the bed, Reg curling up on his chest. "Goodnight, Shad." Kavlin wasn't at all sure he would sleep with Tes and Traf around, but the day had been long and strange, and within moments of thinking back he had drifted off. Reg slept as well, lightly so he would wake at the slightest movement coming near.
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Post by fateandfaith on Feb 25, 2008 15:40:04 GMT 10
Ceytravf watched the Falsko go, unable to help being a little amused. He could imagine how he'd feel in the situation. Judging by the little he'd seen of the man's possessions and the mere fact of where he made his home, Traf surmised he was a hunter. If he was correct, then Traf was lucky, for he could think of a few ways he could repay the Falsko's hospitality with his wolf's-eye knowledge of the forest. Traf appreciated the bits of kindness, no matter how coldly it was offered. And Traf could well understand his reluctance. He wanted to know his host, however, and the little half-blood that smelled of Voskon but didn't move like one.
He turned his attention back to Tes as she spoke to him. He couldn't help but take a shine to her almost instantly. She was feisty but with a faint air of sadness about her, and one of the few Voskons he'd come across after he'd left the East that hadn't tried to kill him on sight. And even if she was Northern, the scent of a fellow Voskon was comforting. Like the other, lesser scent, Traf thought, though he still hadn't figured out quite what it meant.
The humor drained from his face as Tes' question brought up memories. He shrugged, and there was no disguising the sadness in it. "Too long," he muttered under his breath, then sighed. "It'll be four years two full moons from now."
His thoughts wandered back, flitting from face to face in his memory. His mother. His two littermate-sisters who likely had children of their own now. His youngest brother, who'd always tried so hard to be like him. His numerous other siblings. And he missed them dearly. He shook his head, having resolved long ago that were he to revisit his memories, they would only be happy ones.
After taking a moment to shake off some of the sadness, Traf looked across the fire at Tes. "You're rather far from home as well, kitten, and in such strange company," he remarked, leaving it open-ended. He was curious, of course, as he knew little of non-Eastern Voskons, other than what his father had taught him, and that consisted mainly of how to kill them. But he wouldn't pry.
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Post by tesumi on Feb 26, 2008 2:05:21 GMT 10
Tes glowered at Shad as he stalked back, not because she was opposed to his presence but because his smell took away all the caution that was building in her. Irrational calm washed over her making her sigh with obvious irritation, she decided to just go with it and 'enjoy' it. After all she would never get close to this feeling on her own accord. Tes heart plummeted to her stomach at the sudden rush of sadness, making the air so thick she could have reached out and grabbed it. The look in Traf's eye, almost haunted, mirrored her own not so long ago. She suddenly felt sympathetic knowing that pain all too well, she could only imagine what horrible events lead up to his expulsion. At least his pack is probably still alive...She comforted herself with the idea no matter how bad his pain was, it would never match hers. No one would go through what she had too, not while she was alive at is. Tes shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked back up at Traf, trying to find words to comfort this person who she had only known for an hour. Maybe it was the influence of Shad's blood but whatever nervousness that had been directed to him had disappeared and she felt a strange comfort in his presence. Her head snapped back up again at his rather indirect question. She rested her hand on her chin and thought for a moment. "Hmm, I haven't seen my home for about two and a half years..." she murmured, wondering if he had even heard of the great war that occurred there. It was hard to find someone who didn't but then he wasn't living in the east at that time (or so he says) so maybe she was lucky. Tes shook her head and chuckled sadly "But that too is a story far too long for such weather, much longer than yours I'll bet." She leaned back on the tree and turned her head to look into the cave. From what she could tell Shad and Kavlin where sleeping, which would make it much easier for her if she decided to leave. "As for my company, we've only been traveling together for a few hours. I met Kavi in a tavern then I decided to go spy on him for a while and found this Falsko. I followed them out into the forest and Shad caught much in the way he came across you, probably why he's so irritated. Heh I don't blame him though..." She said with a wry grin, she figured her words sounded odd in the natural way she spoke them but these kind of things where so normal for her. Tes peeked over at Kavlin and Shad again before rising, stretching her arms over her head. "By the way, are you planning on staying here for the night?" she asked remembering she still had a place reserved at Marco's for a few days.
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Post by fateandfaith on Feb 26, 2008 16:19:02 GMT 10
A kindred spirit of sorts, Traf thought as emotions played across Tes' face that he realized could not have been that different from those than had just flowed through him, though hers were better veiled.
As he listened to her speak of the others, he reached out for the wolf pelt lying across his things. He pulled it over his shoulders, breathing the familiar scent in deeply and taking comfort in it. It reminded him that when a kindness was offered, you took it, honored, and repaid it, with honor. He kept that in mind when he answered her.
"I had planned on staying here even before I was so warmly welcomed to," he joked. "I might as well, I suppose. I don't have any better offers. Besides, this Shad seems to be a hunter, and he might be able to benefit from a wolf's view of the woods."
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Post by tesumi on Feb 27, 2008 4:43:54 GMT 10
Tes nodded and grinned slightly. "Perhaps he might find a lion helpful in a hunt as well." she chuckled lightly with a wink. "But it would be...unwise for me to stay tonight. I should probably leave now actually..." she said with a sigh. Tes ducked into the cave and silently made her way to the sleeping figures of Shad and Kavlin. She pressed her hand to her mouth to suppress her laughter, "Honestly what kind of host falls asleep on his guests? How rude!" she whispered, shaking her head with a grin. She dropped down to a kneeling position and rested her chin in her hand as she watched them. My...he looks....awfully conflicted, was I really that much of a bother? she thought frowning to herself. "How can someone frown when they sleep?" she sighed reaching forward to flick a strand of his bright red hair out of his face. After a few moments she smiled softly and ruffled the rest of his hair gently. "Thank you for your hospitality, maybe you'll be in a better mood tomorrow..." she whispered. She picked herself up off the ground with the intention of leaving but suddenly remembered Kavlin's injury's. Ah right, I was suppose to attempt to fix those... She crept over to Kavlin with her feline stealth, the whole time her eyes where fixed on Reg. Well...lets just hope he doesn't cause a big fuss...she growled settling herself right in front of Kavlin. After a few moments of thought she gingerly wrapped her fingers around Reg's middle and scooted him away a few inches so she could reach Kavi's chest. "Easy Reg, I'm won't hurt him..." she murmured just in case the rat had awakened. Then she began to gently prod at his wounds with a feather light tough, frowning and rolling her eyes every once in a while. Ugh, I forgot how delicate humans are...Well might as well get this over with... she mumbled to herself. She leaned forward and rested her head carefully on his shoulder bring extra careful to not wake him. Tes inhaled deeply, nose wrinkling at the sour smell of his blood, and let out a low purr. Each breath to took caused her to get louder and longer until she had a nice rolling purr. It was a pleasant soothing sound, and mixed with the calming scent of Shad's blood the atmosphere in the cave was very comforting. After a few minutes Tes pulled away wincing. Her hand brushed across her chest and she frowned at the new purple bruises lined along it. "Ouch, you really got yourself into a mess didn't you? Well thats all I can draw out for now...Hmm I'm surprised it worked, never tried it on a human before." she mumbled to no one in particular, still rubbing the painful bruises she drew away from Kavi. Tes picked herself up off the ground and loped out of the cave before her presence caused anyone to wake. She smiled gently to Traf and reached for her cloak, pulling it over her shoulder to hide the hideous bruises that tainted her perfect skin. "I'm heading out now, I trust you won't....eat anyone while I'm away? I've have to admit these two have caught my interest and I have yet to get the opportunity to question them. So if you do hurt them be aware I will hunt you down and kill you." she said in a light musical voice though her slight figure strangely intimidating, he would be very foolish to doubt her strength.
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 27, 2008 9:07:32 GMT 10
Shad awakened the moment Tes stepped into the cave, but kept his breathing even, pretending to still be asleep. Her touch on his hair brought back long forgotten memories. No one had touched him like that since his mother's death. He ached to fling his arms around her like he'd always done his mother, but he knew better. He was glad when she turned her attention to Kavlin. Her purr was comforting and he watched in fascination as the bruises on Kavlin slowly faded and transferred to Tes. What kind of magic is that? he wondered. He'd never seen anyone do such a thing before, but he didn't like the marks on Tes's skin any more than he had on Kavlin. Why would she take his pain away, just to lay it on herself? Shad decided that he would find out...if it took him the rest of his life.
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Post by fateandfaith on Feb 27, 2008 16:47:12 GMT 10
Ceytravf wondered at what she meant. It was as if she believed herself to be a danger to those around her. He found that most curious. He could be most animalistic in his emotions when riled, could be ruled by instinct. But he'd never gone too far, never hurt anyone who hadn't earned it. The more he learned about Tes, the more questions he had.
At first he watched her interacting with the others, but he turned away after she'd been with the human a few moments. It seemed as though she was performing some sort of ritual. It seemed private, at the very least. He busied himself arranging the skins Shad had left for him near the mouth of the cave, so he'd know if anyone approached, much like a guard dog might lay by the door to its master's house. His brow furrowed at that thought. He felt like that comparison should bother him, but it didn't. He was content just to be of use. He shrugged it off, figuring he was just more tired than he realized.
He looked up as Tes was leaving. "Kitten," he said with a sigh, "the last thing I want is to hurt the first people I've come across in months who haven't chased me off with torches and pitchforks the moment they realized what I am. It's...refreshing to be around them, to say the least." He paused, wondering if he should offer to accompany her to wherever it was she was headed. He would have offered even if she were male, no matter what race she was, though he worried she might take offense to it. He knew his sisters would have, and he liked his head where it was.
"Take care, kitten. I trust you'll be alright alone wherever it is you're heading?" There, that sounded neutral enough.
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Post by emmaline on Feb 28, 2008 5:09:32 GMT 10
Reg lay curled on Kavi's chest, listening attentively to his breathing. He wasn't tired, not with so many unknowns around--his senses were going wild, listening to rustles in the cave, smelling the wilderness, the scents of other races. His mind was opened wide and observing. Kavi, however, was almost worryingly tired. It had been a long day for him, and his injuries, though slight, had been taking a toll what with all the activity in the forest. Reg stiffened as Tes approached, but remained still. She didn't smell disturbed, she wasn't sweating or salivating too much, so he decided to wait and see what she would do, slitting one eye partially open. One foot twitched as she touched Kavi, but he stilled it. He let himself stay limp as she moved him over slightly, then watched as a strange thing happened. He could feel some strange energy thrumming through Kavi's body for several long moments, a soft, calm energy. His nose wasn't far from where the blood was near the surface of Kavi's skin, and he could smell the difference as it receded, back where it belonged. Amazing! he thought as Tes pulled back and left. --Thank you,-- he whispered her way after she had left the cave, not sure if he actually wished her to hear him or not--he hadn't spoken to anyone but Kavi in a long while, keeping his hard-learnt skill close. Settling more comfortably on Kavi, head over the human's heart, he closed his eyes and fell into sleep.
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