[M] We Moved Out and You Moved In

WARNING: This thread contains material exceeding the general board rating of PG-13. It may contain very strong language, drug usage, graphic violence, or graphic sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.

He'd spent several hours picking through the debris of human civilization, and all he'd found that might be of use were some nails that looked like they wouldn't rust. Spending so long searching had given him time to think, though.

When he'd started towards Mistfell Vale, he had intended to head straight there--well, as straight as he could be while hugging the coast. But as he got further towards Cercatori d'Arte's old territory, and put the mountains behind him, he found himself wanting to see what had happened to Thornbury. It had been years since they left it, and they'd cleared out everything they could, but could something useful survive?

Pythia had told him nothing would, when he mentioned the possibility to her. Then she'd spat water in his face and laughed about it. Typical.

It would be a few days before he had to make a decision. Once he did, either Pythia would leave and he'd never see her again... or she would try and meet him on the coast in Mistfell Vale's territory. He didn't know what she'd pick; Pythia didn't know what she'd pick.

The life of a loner was disparagingly the same as being in a pack. There was little more being a loner had to offer, but River found that the luxuries of a home were unnecessary. All she needed as a tent, her book of demonology, and her coven to find completion. Being complete was boring and she was beginning to despise it. So, she listened to Kalfou when he said "do this" or "how about that", and followed along with his mischief. She found it helped to cure her boredom, but there was always a small voice in the back of her head that said to stop. The voice said that what she did was wrong. River was never good at listening.

River explored Thornburry as she collected hearts from small prey that would serve as sacrifices later on. The bodies in which those hearts once called home sat strung around her hip. It was a collection of rabbits, squirrels, and even a mongoose she'd outsmarted somehow. Traps were becoming beneficial to her collecting and thanks to Kalfou, she was able to macgyver some simple ones to aid her.

The stormy female felt she had enough and was about done with her venture when a strange smell drifted to meet her nostril and alerted her to the possibility of fun. River walked in the direction of the stranger's scent before mismatched eyes fell upon a rather boring looking male. The pressure of the dark spirit that was latched to her pressed down on her shoulders and was now a comfort to her, knowing Kalfou was there with her. She could almost hear him sneer as his head rested close to hers, mouth widening to reveal nothing but darkness. River approached the stranger with a confident swagger. You. Stranger. What calls you to this place?

When the other wolf started to approach him, Halan had knelt in front of a house whose roof had collapsed, and whose brick walls had been steadily taken apart for other structures. There was a mess of rotten, termite-eaten wood in front of him that he had been poking through. If it had ever been full, most of its contents were gone, perhaps taken a long time ago, maybe even when this place was pristine. What was left was plain and unadorned--and mostly shards of brittle plastic. Even as he picked a large piece up to assess it, it crumbled from the pressure exerted by his fingers.

He was pretty sure it was supposed to be a plate; he'd pieced together broken pieces of plates before, but he didn't use plates.

Halan had smelled the other wolf around before he saw her; as soon as she came within earshot he looked over, unsurprised. But he was taken aback by the fact that she was walking around with fucking hearts, and had the bodies those hearts probably belonged to swinging around her waist. "The ruins." He saw the mongoose and rose to his feet, cautious. "What are you doing?"

OOC: Mind slapping an M on this? River is gruesome. Also, sorry for the wait. :D

Once she came closer, the stranger finally stopped hiding and rose to his feet. If he had been hiding, River wasn't sure what from. She may appear dangerous, but she lacked the proper skills to successfully overcome a real enemy. Kalfou was now lingering over her shoulder, undoubtedly undetected by the stranger. Most never knew the dark spirit was in their midst, unless they were especially sensitive to spirits, but River had yet to meet someone like that.

Instead of answering her question, the opposing luperci asked her what she was doing. Her lips pulled back to reveal shiny daggers in the form of a confident smile as her hips swayed, pressing her weight to one side. The collection of animals swung with the motion as well as the leather bag that hung from the opposite hip, drenched in blood, dripping slowly to the ground below. As I recall, I asked you a question first. But, River motioned to the adornments around her waist.

I, am making a fashion statement of the boldest variety. You like? She couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. If the stranger knew the true nature of her intentions he might just upchuck his last meal. Kalfou laughed deeply, spirit claws digging into her shoulder as he did so. River tossed a small grin in the spirit's direction before refocusing on the other luperci. So, find anything interesting in that pile of rubble?

The fur along Halan's nape rose when she bared her teeth at him. It didn't seem to be deliberately aggressive, but this woman gave him the creeps. "You'll attract flies. And it's a waste of perfectly good hearts." He certainly wouldn't want to eat a heart after it had been out in the sun for who knows how long. "I think cranberry would work better than blood as a dye, too."

He glanced down at the pile he'd been sorting through at her question. "Only broken plastic, useless to our kind. And not very pretty, either." Indeed, it was faded puce, not that Halan knew that word. He merely knew it was ugly. "I don't think there's much of anything here," he said as he brushed himself off, and then gestured to indicate that he meant the entire cluster of ruins, not just the spot he'd been poking around in when she saw him.

When she glanced over at her shoulder, his gaze tracked hers, and focused on a faint, shimmering shape. Just as soon as he opened his mouth to say something, it was gone. He was sure he had seen something, though. Surely--surely he hadn't imagined it.

The Grim girl's grin widened as she looked over at the motley male, he seemed so on edge. It was doing nothing but excite her, and the dark spirit that lingered close to River. Her tail flicked with anticipation as he spoke, mentioning that she was wasting the hearts. He didn't even know what she was going to use them for. The hearts aren't meant for eating. Besides, the ones they're meant for don't discriminate. An offering is an offering. River swung her hips, and lightly patted the hearts. A low growl resounded in her ears, from Kalfou who always enjoyed her interactions with strangers.

River nodded as he explained the plastic was useless, she agreed. The stormy woman walked a bit closer, swaying her hips as she did so. The hanging carcasses swayed with the movement. The blood continued to slowly drip from the leather sac where the collection of hearts rested. She was light on her feet, feminine in every aspect and thanks to her mother she was very aware of it.

So, you only came here to play in piles of rubble in hopes of finding something? What is it your'e looking for? River questioned, having closed in. She now stood only a few feet away from the stranger. What is your name? Their conversation was growing dull and she was growing bored. Hopefully something interesting could come from this interaction.

Realization slowly dawned. Offerings sounded... well, he'd heard plenty of rumors about the dark rituals some Lupercai performed and 'an offering' sounded a lot like that. And here was one of those Lupercai, getting right up in his face. He should be afraid, but... she didn't seem to be aggressive, and he'd never actually met one before. Curiosity triumphed over fear; this could be interesting.

His ears twitched towards Kalfou when he heard the growl. He certainly didn't put any stock in (most) magic or gods, but that she was accompanied by a spirit was a sign that there was something strange about her, beyond her fondness for gathering hearts. "I'm Halan. Who are you... and who is he?"

Interested sparked in this stranger when he reacted to the sound of Kalfou's demonic growl. Her eyes narrowed onto him, and Kalfou silenced, in shock that someone else seemed to pick up his presence. River was the only one thus far, aside from Maelyx, who'd come face to face with him. Other than that, he seemed to ignore everything she said up until she asked for his name. He gave his name, and then asked who she and her spirit were.

This took River greatly by surprise and for a moment, she was quiet. Mismatched gems shifted to Kalfou who was just as in awe as she was. A hand came to sweep the messy hair from her eyes before she shot her gaze back at Halan. Y-you can see him? Kalfou seemed to revel in this fact, and his face twisted into that of pure entertainment. A wide, devilish grin and narrowed eyes. She wondered what he might look like to this stranger. To her, he was nothing more than a shadow with some shape with horns, a wolfish essence, and piercing crimson hues.

I've River, and this is Kalfou. She wasn't sure what else to say seeing as how her demon counterpart was now exposed. No one has ever acknowledged him before. Curiosity washed over her just as it seemed to wash over Halan. River sauntered over to him and sat upon what was left of a collapsed wall. Kalfou was quiet, for once, not even a growl came from him. It brought a grin to River's face. He was never quiet. She figured he was shy now that she was not the only one who knew he was here. Where are you from? She questioned, the mischievousness in her original expression now changed to nothing but sweetness.

It was strange. The longer he was aware of the spirit, the more defined they seemed to be. No longer were they a faint, indistinct shape; the spirit solidified into an upper body that trailed off into a cloud of twisting, roiling smoke. Ruby eyes gazed back at him. Right as he thought the spirit was done manifesting, two horns shimmered into existence. Just looking at Kalfou made him feel slightly queasy... it brought back memories of his trip aboard the ship that had brought him to Nordamerika. Nevertheless, while the sight was not a pleasant one, Halan felt little fear. This woman's companion didn't seem to have ill-intent, despite their form. "I can," he confirmed as she asked if he could see her companion. That no one else had ever acknowledged them puzzled him. Perhaps the Lupercai she lived with were just oblivious.

He sat down on a pile of masonry himself. "I'm from Berlin, over the ocean." With a wave of his hand, he gestured east. "Don't know if you've ever heard about it; it's a big city, like Halifax. I've been here for most of my life, though. What about you? And how'd you two meet?" Yellow eyes fixed on Kalfou. Halan hadn't seen many spirits, but none of the ones he had seen had ever looked like the one before him. He was curious to know more about them. Eager to hear the story, he wagged his tail.

The stormy witch had the feeling her demon was keeping quiet because he knew the stranger sensed him, saw him. It feared him when others knew he was there, which was strangely hilarious to River. She smiled and cast the show of teeth up at Kalfou as Halan confirmed that he could indeed see Kalfou. A despicable growl rumbled from his shadowy essence. It vibrated her body and sent a tingle of power down her arms, through the tips of her fingers which pulled in to clutch tight to her palm for just a moment. Halan changed the subject faster than he brought it up, and Kalfou seemed to ease just a bit.

He explained he was from across the ocean. Ocean. She'd never seen it, despite having been on this Earth for a little over a year. When the other's intense suns focused on Kalfou he pushed forward and pulled back dark lips in what could only faintly be construed as a snarl. With no real teeth, his expressions were hard to make out. He did, however, force his negativity outward towards the other in hopes to rattle him. River chuckled lightly and huffed. To her, the negativity only manifested as a tingle and his thoughts in her head, telling her to leave, or to assert her power over the other canine.

Before she could speak, the demon's voice cut in, low and threatening. River is the one I've chosen to carry out my demonic tendencies. Be careful how you speak to a demon and his summoner, weak one. Or you'll end up like the prey around her waist. River grinned, and cast an impish gaze over at Halan. You intimidate him. I wouldn't worry about what he says. I have fine control over my own actions. River brought all her hair over one shoulder, revealing the musculature in her neck. He haunted me one night on Anathema's Samhain. That's when the barrier to the spirit world is at it's thinnest. He came to me, chose me, to learn his teachings of the demonic realm. With his help, I can draw power from their world. River was proud of her skills, the way she communicate with demons. It reflected in her large grin and the subtle wave of her tail against the fallen cobblestone wall.