A Dark Desert Night {Kael and Vhaidra} [Closed ~ MM]

[Sela]

Night settled upon the Llynthíel Quarter, Shedar rising slowly in the dark sky. It was a calm night compared to the hustle and bustle of day. Darkness descended like a blanket over the city, sound muted, lights dimly flickering from windows panes. Morgayn Pittersmith adjusted the hood on her cloak, her single eye watching the barmaid who sat before her, enraptured by her story.

"Course a good girl like you don't want to hear these things," the old woman murmured, her coarse voice echoing in the empty tavern. The young blonde woman closed her mouth and nodded. "Ye do, hmm? Well, don't take it for right fact but... there's been talk of wolves in the Quarter. Strange talk for Dimesca, says I. Wolves only live in Elmserith. What they be doin' in these parts, I wonder? Hadn't been wolves 'round here since before the Blight. It couldn't be true, right?"

"Right," the barmaid replied stupidly. The tavern owner had joined the girl, listening intently as Morgayn smiled, revealing yellowed teeth and spaces where there where no teeth at all.

"Yer a smart lass. Sure n' you don't believe the nonsense of ol' bored housewives. But humor an old woman, eh?" Both owner and barmaid nodded. "Folk said this wolf, if it exists, ain't just a wolf. It's a person. A shifter. Y'may scoff but pay heed, friends, for these are dark times. Dangerous creatures lurk in the shadows. Hungry creatures waitin' for an unsuspecting fool. An' it could be walkin' among you, plain as day. Course, you wouldn't know till it's too late. Wolves are hungry beasts, lassy. Shapeshiftin' wolves are even hungrier. They feed off the body and soul o' their victim. To be eaten by a shifter is torture. Best be careful on these nights. Wolves love that tender meat.  It'll rip the flesh from bone if you aren't careful. Gouge out your pretty eyes fast as a blink. Eat your tongue before you can scream. Leave your remains to be found in the mornin'.  That is, if you believe such things."

Morgayn sat back taking pleasure in the horrified stares of the owner and barmaid. Silence hung stagnate in the tavern as the darkness from outside seemed to creep in, shadows creating ghastly visions on the floors. The old woman's chuckle broke the silence as she shook her head.

"Now then, don't you worry. These just be the tales of legend. Nothin' to fear, eh? Now be a dear and fetch me another pint, would ye?"

OOC: This thread will not be moderated. The first to post in this thread has the responsibility of establishing a Timestamp for the thread. Otherwise, enjoy!

[Vhaidra Spektor]

Anenon 20, 127 AB

Outside the tavern, the tales were not so unlikely. There was a wolf after all and it seemed to have enough sense not to become too visible. Its muzzle raised in the air to sniff and find a scent of something good to eat. Vhaidra had already eaten a rabbit, but the canine that took over at this time made her have more basic needs than anything and eating was what any animal enjoyed doing. She could still think clearly enough to remember that she needed to find a source of income, but it was unlikely she would do anything of the sort tonight.

The wolf's green eyes glimmered in the light of the full moon. She was larger than normal wolves, which made her more suspicious, and her dark brown, almost black fur blew lightly in the soft night breeze. She sat quietly in a side alley, where the candlelight from windows, that she knew of, could not reach her. The tavern was directly ahead and the acute senses of her werewolf form allowed her to hear a little more clearly. The rattle of metal pans and muffled voices floated to her ears. She could not make out quite what was being said, but could at least tell that the voices were excited over the topic of their conversations. Vhaidra was not hunting for people. She did her best not to eat humans, though it has happened a few times. But her body felt the need to prowl and stalk whatever would satisfy her needs, whatever they may be. She was not sure herself sometimes. All she knew was that she currently had nothing better to do.

The large beast opened its mouth to yawn, sharp teeth showing brightly against the dark background of her fur and the shadows. Her bushy tail swished once to rest at the opposite side of her body as she waited for someone or something interesting to come her way. The only worry that crossed the creature's mind was whether or not she was well-hidden and if she would make the right decision on whom she would follow.

[Kael Forestfire]

It was night, the full moonlight easily illuminating anything she could possibly see… and Kael was bored. Not just bored, but terribly bored. She’d gotten used to this world, to its strange and prejudiced people. Kael had learned to mimic them, even down to their interesting markings and the way it could ripple in their tests. However, Kael could never hide her golden eyes and that usually gave her away before they got to the tattoo testing. Then again, it was not her nature to worry about it. Kael enjoyed the thrill of the chase, of eluding those temperamental River Guards and Mage Priests. It was awfully amusing to watch them flounder about, looking for her when she was no longer in that shape.

As it was, come dark she could no longer hold the form of the small grass snake she’d chosen and slithered up on top of the tavern. Then her form had left her and she’d crouched there in her own skins, as bare as her name day. Golden eyes glittered mutely in the moonlight as she looked around. Her time was just fading when she’d caught sight of it, a wolf. And not just any wolf, but one that so obviously did not belong here in this city, and probably not this world. A realm drifter! A slow curve of the lips revealed Kael’s thinking. Moving backwards, she then sprinted towards the edge of the roof and leapt! There was even a battle cry before it was cut short, and she shifted.

A glimmer of silver and a large feline landed on the earth, large padded paws pounding against the earth. Kael had taken the form of a panther, sable colored fur blending well with the darkness of the night and contrasting sharply with those luminous golden eyes. Pointed ears swiveling forward as she padded forward. It was all fun and games for her, and she obviously had the intention of playing with this female wolf.

[Vhaidra Spektor]

At first, the sound of a woman's battle cry and the thud of a heavy form landing some feet ahead of her caused her to jump, startled. Her head shot in the direction of what had appeared and, though she was unable to see the large animal too clearly, Vhaidra could see its golden eyes. Her body automatically went from sitting to standing on all fours, fur ruffling along her spine. If the wolf did not belong and seemed out of place, the female panther did not either. If any person had been nearby to see this, confusion and shock would be their first emotions. The panther was muscular, just as any large cat should be, and intimidating. She was some-what confused by what was going on, having expected everything to remain uneventful until a person of choice decided to leave the tavern and head home.

Vhaidra sensed that the panther, through her movements and attitude, was not completely serious about its intentions. Her own guard went down slightly, unsure of what was about to happen, but her ears went back none-the-less, stancing and trying to look more imposing. Her fur did not hide her as well as the panther's did, being more brown than black, and if it were not for the cat's shiny coat and the moon light, she would not have been able to make out the form in the dark. Wolf eyes were not as acute as cat eyes, but they could see a little better than the average dog's. The wolf let out a low growl and held her ground, not entirely ominous but wanting to let it be known that she was bringing up her defenses in case she was being challenged.

Those large golden eyes that gleamed in the darkness glowed bright as the panther came forward. It was as if they outshone and took the light from her bright green irises.

[Kael Forestfire]

There were a variety of emotions gathering that she could sense, in the way her ears flicked, the rippling of her fur, the shift in her stance. Kael could tell the other female was instantly put on alert but was not just a beast. There was intelligence in those green eyes that reminded Kael more of… what were they called back away from this realm? Oh yes, lycanthropes. Werewolves. She’d heard numerous names for those humans who could take wolven forms and back again, usually confined to the nights of the full moon where the urge to take animal skins was strongest.

Amusing.

Kael’s maw wrinkled back to reveal sharp teeth, a low and rumbling growl reverberating  through her chest cavity. It was not threatening, but more in a playful manner. Pointed ears flattening against her skull as a long and elegant tail swept along the ground. The panther pulled her large form into a crouch, rear hips shifting before she pounced.
Kael’s entire form seemed like a splotch of liquid ink uncoiling as she moved forward, front paws reaching out as hind legs followed quickly behind. Those deadly claws that could easily come forward didn’t, and she honestly had no intention of landing. Kael’s plan was to make it seem like she was going to, but just before connecting… she would shift.

Flawless!

Of course, there was the chance that the female wolf would not find this nearly as amusing as Kael did, but that was part of the game. A game she played every moment of her life.

[Vhaidra Spektor]

As the other female came forward, Vhaidra's body lowered and stanced, ready to have the weight of the large cat's body and muscle on top of her. She heard the growl and recognized it as playful, which confused her a little more. The fur along her spine unruffled and laid flat again, her tail pausing and ears becoming unflattened, pointing straight up in the air where they belonged. Her face became almost comical. Features that were supposed to be imposing and intimidating to smaller creatures quickly turned almost like a house-dog's, almost all seriousness gone. Normally, when she was in her lycan form it was the only time she was not relaxed, because wilder instincts wanted to take over the rest of her senses. But for once she looked about as animated as her human self.

Leaning a bit to her left, pressing closer to the wall of the house next to her, expecting to feel the panther's paws on her skin, she pulled herself up onto her back legs. Using the wall behind her, she reached out with her front paws to gain an advantage and maybe end up on top of the creature in the end. But before Vhaidra got the chance, the other female's body began to change. It seemed her company was full of surprises. The sudden distraction actually caused her to forget why she was even near the tavern tonight in the first place.

What..?

[Kael Forestfire]

The other female had backed herself against a wall and if Kael chose any sort of large creature, it would only cause her to slam into the wolven female. Not a sitation she cared to illuminate. However, Kael did not have hours to contemplate but rather just a few moments and she shifted into a smaller shape than her normal ones.

It was a bird, a silver and blue feathered bird almost like a swallowtail. With a silver underbelly, silver tipped and long feathered tail, with bright blue everywhere else it was surely a sight to see! The only common factor was those golden eyes that never changed. With a chirrup call, she circled about chattering happily in a sing-song voice.

It was all very amusing to Kael as she was almost certain the lycanthrope had not caught onto her game just yet. Which only made it that much more amusing to Kael, however, smaller shapes took their toll and tired her quickly so she decided to shift once more. It was another flash of quicksilver, like moonlight across moving water and Kael was no longer the small bird.

Instead there was a wolf, large as the other female was and mimicking her colors. Golden eyes instead of green were roughly the only change Kael had made, but she found it to be the best option at the moment. Kael rippled her fur before wagging her tail about. There was no threat about Kael, but if they were discovered it would be interesting. While Kael was sure she could escape, she wondered if the other would be able to. What a quandry that would be!