07-29-2009, 03:44 AM
[html]
| http://digital-bonsai.com/katew/rp/kae/kae_jaws.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:221px; padding-left:25px; padding-right:25px; padding-bottom:10px;"> Halifax. There was business to attend to here, and the coyote walked with a purpose in her step, though she was certainly wandering without a clue as to her actual location. The city streets were winding and confusing to the coyote, who was quite used to moving through territory as the crow did, straight and without wavering from the most direct path. These city streets with the buildings and barricades confused her, especially since she still did not know this Halifax nearly as well as she had the prior territories. Still, she was determined to find what she needed here. Some weeks had passed since she had last seen her tawny gold grandchild and promised to brand her a Lykoi permanently, surely sufficient time for the girl to complete the gift she had planned in return for Kaena, that tooth of Astaroth's on a necklace. The woman's golden-yellow eyes eagerly roved over each of the signs on each of the storefronts, seeking that familiar word: tattoo. She could read pretty well anymore, though she often stumbled on larger words and was worthless when it came to writing. She might have been able to spell her name and perhaps scratch out some semblance the letters it consisted of, but beyond that she could not translate verbal speech into written word at all. Creating images was quite different, and the Lykoi woman found her hand was quite steady enough to create inked images, so long as she had a reference to go by. Her wounds ached. Her shoulder was healing, but it was doing so slowly. The woman sorely missed the healing talents of Fatin Kali, and she gingerly touched that open wound across her right shoulder, certain now to scar her already battle-worn body. After several minutes of wandering, the Lykoi matron finally happened across that which she had been seeking, a tattoo shop. Eagerly, she wandered to the door, trying with one extended silver hand. It opened slowly, and she entered cautiously, peering around before darting inside, moving quickly. The sun was still high in the sky, but the clouds threatening drizzle had obscured them somewhat, making for dim light for the Lykoi woman to work with. No matter. There were only two colors she needed, black for the outline and bloodred for the interior. The six-pointed star was marvelously simple, and the duo of colors worked well together. She had always thought of Inferni as a red and black word, bold red emblazoned with a dark outline. The woman was slower to gather what she actually needed; the woman took two of everything and carefully inspected each item she selected to insure time had not ravaged it. There were needles and ink, but the gun itself was most difficult. Kaena gnawed through the cord attaching it to the wall, leaving as little of the frayed power extension as possible. There was also the matter of a mirror, and she found one with a hole in the handle, perfect for hanging so she could see her own tattoo and use it to reference Halo's. There was a thick black marker on the counter, and she tested it on the painted white wood, pleased to see it had not dried out. She tucked these things into a plastic bag she had found, and put this inside of her canvas bag. Hurrying now, she mentally reviewed the list in her head, and then headed out the door, allowing it to close noisily behind her as she scurried down the city streets, adrenaline pumping through her as if she had just stolen something. Scavenging the ruins always gave her that feeling, as if she was committing some great crime against the ancients by using the items they'd left behind. |