08-25-2009, 08:28 AM
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| http://digital-bonsai.com/katew/rp/kae/kae_columbus.jpg); background-position: bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat;"> This might be wonky because I am insanely tired and I probably should not be writing. D: The coyote hybrid had never been particularly inclined to stake claim to any particular space as her own. The general vicinity was good enough for her; she hadn't taken a permanent residence in Inferni until she gave birth to Ahren's litter. It was no surprise it had been almost four months since her return, and she had only now sought out her own dwelling. Nothing had seemed right, intially. She had spent many weeks sleeping in Gabriel's cave, taking a few nights just crashing on the coast, curled into a ball in her four-legged form with the sound of the waves in her ears. The silvery hybrid had also inspected many different places she could have stayed; there was an interesting sort of rotted-out vehicle down in Harrow Road, but it required a lot of work the hybrid woman simply wasn't skilled enough for. The other caves had also seemed dreary at first, too gray and empty. Back then she had fewer possessions and less of a need to store things away, and even now her cave was bare of decor. The hybrid had also explored the mansion, but even before her trip there, the Veritas had known she would not find a place that felt like home. Kaena had spent the better part of her life sleeping on the open ground or curled in her lupus form in a den; sleeping in a wide-open bed in a square space was just odd to her, though she understood why some canines chose to do it. Many Luperci had taken to more human characteristics in more recent years, though Kaena could recall a dim and distant time when most remained in their four-legged forms. It was not that they could not shift; it was just not as common to do so nearly ten years ago when the hybrid woman was young. Still, humanization was not necessarily a bad thing. Those herbs given to her by Naniko were certainly a technology learned from humans, and perhaps it was that very thing which had kept her from suffering infection this time around. There was some good in acquiring human ways, she was certain of it. The silvery canine was quite content to watch the storm, these thoughts churning in her head as she considered her own situation. She now remained in her two-legged form more often than not, simply for the dexterity it provided. The hybrid woman understood more of the world now, and she had taken to manipulating objects in it, something she had not often bothered with in her youth. She had been far more concerned with simple bloodshed and violence then; now more important things loomed in her mind. There was still that dark thing, as much a part of her as her very bones—that lurking vile part of her, pacing in the deeper corners of her mind. Still, she quelled it as best she could, concentrating her energy on the greater tasks at hand—protecting the family and the clan. There was much that could still be done to strengthen the coyotes; the hybrid woman was sure of it. There was always something. A wander around the borders, a decoration to be added. There was a figure in the rain, murky and unidentifiable at first. Her golden eye narrowed, peering forward to make out who it was. The hybrid was rather surprised to see Halo emerge from the rain—the coyote hybrid hadn't seen her anywhere near the caves, and she'd eventually figured out that the younger coyote indeed lived in the mansion—but the one time the coyote had been there since their first meeting, her grandchild had not, though her scent was strong enough around the place to confirm the elder woman's assumption. Her recent injuries as well as her search for a place of residence had kept her rather busy, and Kaena was immediately guilty she hadn't sought the younger woman out sooner. It had taken a few weeks to procure what was needed from the city, though, and there was some comfort in that. What was the rush? They were members of the same clan, after all—bound to run into each other sooner or later. The cloudy hybrid smiled and stood up. It was a slower process than usual, and she used one hand to prop herself up on the rock. She stepped aside, beckoning quickly to the younger woman. "Please, come in," the grizzled woman said. "This isn't the greatest weather for a walk," she added, jester's grin planted on her scarred features. She wondered what would have driven the burnt cinnamon furred coyote from her comfortable home in this dreary storm; certainly it was fun to watch, but to wander in it? The coyote was sorry she couldn't start a fire in here; it would have to be tiny and close to the entrance, otherwise she ran the risk of suffocating in the smoke. Still, it was warmer and drier inside of her cave than outside in the storm. Besides, there was something the two of them had been meaning to take care of lately—the tattoo loomed in Kaena's mind. |