in the land of my father

Bindu Epals · 08-01-2010, 10:46 PM

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Pebbles and wet sand crunched underfoot with every step that Bindu took. It was a nice day; the sun was at its peak, casting a comfortable warmth on the coast line, and there were only two clouds in the blue sky. One was a puffy white, and the other a wisp on the horizon. Shards of seashells and colored rocks dotted the water's edge, and from far above a seabird cawed out to its flock. The wolfdog was irritable today, despite the weather, as the little stone embedded within her right forepaw still hadn't come loose. Though she was inclined to keep trotting, the teen was sure to jiggle the paw at every chance she got. The pain was irksome. And however pleasant the day, Bindu had seen others like it and was not impressed. The nagging hurt in her paw called for more attention. So this was Bindu; a half-starved, shaggy, red-clad teen harassing the coastline.

Sometimes Bindu fancied that she could see her homeland. The big water shimmered on the horizon like the great sands, golden at dusk and at dawn. If she focused closely, bright figures rose out of the water like proud cacti, only to disappear when she dared to blink or glance away. At times, Bindu even mistook the ocean for her deserts. The teen would splash into the water in delight during these nostalgic moments, only to result in a mouthful of salt water and heavy disappointment. Never did she dream of ever missing the wastelands of home. Now it could be paradise. The conflicts could all have been resolved. Puppies would be out of the dens by now and chasing after lizards. Maybe her mother found a cure to the two-leg disease. Who remembered Bindu, the herd master's child?

The wolfdog shivered so violently that she was forced to retire her steady pace and slow down. The frequent tremors were strange to Bindu, because her pads were slippery with sweat and her skin was growing sickeningly warm. Her gait drew to an altogether close with one powerful stomach grumble. Dark eyes were immediately drawn to the ocean. The hunger was almost unbearable, so there was only one option; find food, ASAP. A low growl formed in the heart of Bindu's throat when she changed course towards the water. She both loved and feared the ocean- love for its life, and fear for its dark depths. In the desert, there were no oceans but small ponds and the occasional stream. Death by water was rare, and a reflection of common sense. As the teen approached, her black orbs filled with instinct. Food- her body needed fuel, but this was a dangerous source of it.

Before she was aware of it, Bindu was wading into the waves, up to her knees before she was forced to stop. The constant push and pull of the ocean was too powerful for a weak wolf to splash any farther. Between the cycles of current was a second or two of calm. In these moments, the wolfdog could just barely discern little arrows of darkness flitting between her legs and around rocks. She liked the tiny fish. They seemed so blithely peaceful. The bits of their speech that Bindu could pick up were usually about safety and each other and the current. For these reasons, the dog-girl refrained from snapping at the minnows. She had begun to think of them as her friends.

The water increased Bindu's quaking, so she accepted her empty stomach and climbed out of the sea. For a few minutes she meandered down the coastline absently. That pebble was really irritating. Step, flick, step, jiggle, step, shake. Cycles upon cycles passed of this little habit, lost to an empty audience and a robotic wolfdog. Many hours of these actions had been repeated; walking, searching for food, trotting, walking, searching for food. Bindu was completely unaware of her mounting insanity. Her mind wandered from one subject to the next, reverting to an almost primitive state. It was difficult to concentrate on anything.

At first, the smell was dismissed as a hallucination, but Bindu's curiosity grew as the scent intensified. Her pace increased to a brisk trot. In the distance ... was that ... meat? Yes, the more she focused, the more her shadowed eyes could determine the streak of red against the white sand. When that conclusion had been reached, the pace instantly upgraded to a sickly gallop. A dead seal carcass had washed up on the coast. It was being picked apart by scavenger birds as Bindu watched, so she tried to go faster. The acceleration was short-lived, but the traveler was upon the cadaver in seconds. The red-webbed whites of her eyes revealed the pitiful excitement beneath them. Jaws dripping with saliva, the teen wasted no time and went about scaring off the birds. When they had been deterred by her sickly look and smell, she descended on her prey with sad vigor.

She ripped at the rancid meat with everything she had left, cracking the bones apart and licking at the slime within. There was barely enough meat for a puppy, but to Bindu it was a grand feast. The meat was soon gone and the bones were all split, but the glory of the meal still lingered. Pride settled in the wanderer's jaws and she snatched up a bone, prancing around with it for everyone in her mind to see. This was HER bone, and she had earned it. A small voice spoke up, all too familiar. "You're disgusting." The child snarled and whirled around. Her bloody eyes searched for the hallucination. It stood at her side in the form of a red wolf male. He grinned, a nasty smile. "You are getting closer, Bindu. Closer to your death," the male commented airily. He vanished as Bindu dropped her bone and snapped at his shimmery form, reappearing somewhere to the rear. "My kin will skin you and drink your blood-" The wolfdog heard no more, as the hallucination was gone. She panted and trembled.

This was not turning out to be a good day.

With a heavy heart, the insane wolfess picked up her bone and continued to follow the line of the ocean.

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Element · 08-02-2010, 09:04 AM

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((Yay, Psych joined! ^^ I really like Bindu's character so far. xD Mind if I drop in?))

Element's body was low to the ground, his belly fur almost brushing the floor - but not quite. His paws lightly touched the floor in a slow, steady manner as he crept up, unseen, on the large squirrel resting inches away. In its paws was a small, brown nut, and it munched on it happily - and obliviously. It rolled the assumed acorn over in its paws repeatedly, nibbling on it in bits and pieces that was almost reminiscent of a strange, furry typewriter. Element's eyes flashed.

The ebony cat stopped in his tracks, emerald eyes darting to and fro for any disturbances that would interrupt his catch. He then focused on the squirrel and slowly moved his head from side to side, measuring the distance in the gap between himself and the small animal that would soon be his prey. The squirrel wasn't far now, he decided after noting its position. And he bunched up the muscles in his hind legs and leapt.

The squirrel gave out a terrified squeal as Element crashed down on it and bit into its neck swiftly, cutting the squeal short. Satisfied with his catch, Element took the squirrel in his mouth and began to pad down to the shoreline, where he would enjoy his meal in view of the ocean. What a good day.

He had been walking along for a while that day in the thick undergrowth and sandy grounds. For a while, he just enjoyed the feeling of being alone and uninterrupted, but soon, hunger took place. Hunting was one of Element's favorite things - he did it with relish, enjoying the thrill each time. He strove to finish each hunt perfectly, his cat instincts telling him what to do, when, where, and why. It was just the beauty of being a cat. Of course, no one would have noticed him while he was walking through the so-called forest - he was making sure he was being stealthy, not followed. He had soon found out from 'Souls that there were wolves and dogs almost everywhere you looked, and not all of them were friendly. His mind wandered to the canines he'd met, and shook his head in marvel at the few times he'd gotten alone in this strange and mysterious place.

There had been the unlikely duo, Daisuke and Schwarz, the former being his temporary student for the Low Speech. There had been the strange Tannin and his mysterious, almost bloodthirsty hints, and sweet Aislinn who seemed to want nothing more than to live in peace. There had been BIOS, whose knowledge of and ability to make poems had astounded Element greatly, and who he liked very much. There had been others, but Element thought that there were plenty of dogs - and not a very many cats - in this 'Souls place. Another thing they seemed to do, he thought, was spatchcock their silly laws unnecessarily, and expect all the creatures to follow them.

And here was another proof of that! Element padded out into the open, where lazy clouds and the sunny views were ahead. But he wasn't focused on the sky, oh no - he was looking at the red-tinged Luperci walking along the ocean's edge. She seemed to be in her teenage years - a few weeks lingering with the dogs at 'Souls had taught him how different canines looked in the different ages. Yes, she looked to be in teenaged, maybe seven or nine months old, but she didn't seem to be very well cared after. Her coat was matted and shaggy, wildly tangled in some places. But even the thin layer of fur didn't cover the ribs that seemed to jut out under her, and the skeleton that seemed painfully clear. This pup must be starving, or worse, Element reflected as he drew closer, still unnoticed.

The canine was shivering violently, and finally began to slow. Then, to Element's interest and slight astonishment, she began to walk into the ocean.

Sense told Element that this dog was so hungry, she didn't care where her food came from - or how she got it. Aware of the large squirrel dangling from his jaws, he crept up behind a tree so he could see her - but she couldn't see him. He was upwind of her - the was good. She wouldn't be able to sniff him out, either.

But luck seemed to be in the dog's favor. Halfway into looking for food, she found a large seal carcass. To Element's disgust, she began to tear into it, ignoring the rotting flesh and the several vultures and carrion birds flying around overhead. She licked the slimy grime from its bones and, with a flourish, plucked a bone from the seal's skeleton and began to dance around with it, as if she was a show pony with a shiny new ribbon. Element's green eyes flashed in the darkness. Was this puppy quite insane?

It seemed so. The puppy quickly perked up like she heard something, then snarled and snapped at something invisible. Dropping her bone shortly after, she began to pad down the shoreline and towards Element.

Element's instincts were to run, but he was curious about this strange dog. Where had she come from? Why was she so dirty, when dogs were supposed to live in packs that cared for one another? What was she doing here, and what was her name? Element silently slunk out from the shadows and into the dog's clear view. He was near enough the forest so that he could run if she decided to attack him, but near enough so she could see him in the full sunlight.

Bindu Epals · 08-02-2010, 04:38 PM

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I know you. B1 you fiend, using the word of the day so subtly.

Trotting wasn't so bad anymore, now that Bindu had something to hold onto. The bone shard was sharp and poked the side of her mouth a bit, but it was comforting to carry it. Thoughts fingered the past as she went along, memory began to spatchcock images that held dulled scraps of emotion. The wolfdog's first prey, a hare; a hidden oasis hideout; the cave, her home. Faces came, also, but they weren't as easily recognizable. It was almost nice to think of these things. Like a secret world of happiness. Thinking back, Bindu wasn't even sure if any of it was even real. Some parts of her memory were faded, calling to unrest. Slowly, the thoughts disappeared, to come out on another day with a filled belly. White paws struck the wet sand in an uneven rhythm, and for a while its mellow noise occupied her mind.

Before her paw had the nerve to start acting up again, another strange smell pervaded the girl's being. After such a strange scent had rewarded Bindu just a few minutes ago, she was eager to look up and sum up her luck. A sleek black figure stood on the sands, and, like the carcass, was like a sore thumb on the white grain. The wolfdog knew what this thing was- it was a cat. She had seen a few on her travels, and had even picked up some of their language. A cat was like a dog except smaller and faster. Two ears perked up instinctively, one bent at the tip. The teen started to growl.

Bindu was disappointed. This cat looked unremarkable, all too familiar. There had been one just like this a few weeks ago, in a river, catching fish. The wolfdog vaguely remembered chasing it off and stealing its haul. This creature, then, was a mirage, come to haunt her for her wickedness. It stared at her. Green met black for a few seconds. It was Bindu who broke the gaze- this image made her uneasy. The hallucinations were scary. They whispered things to her, about blood and death and other things that a teenaged wolfess shouldn't have to listen to- or stomach. This cat was here to do the same. What little hope Bindu had for some other life vanished. A sigh escaped from her panting muzzle, and she spoke to the image.

"Howdy," she began, feeling desolate. "you's a new one." The sun hit the cat's black fur, turning it to a soft gray in some places. It was a handsome little thing, and it held a squirrel in its jaws. Probably to taunt her for stealing that fish; the little devil. Since she knew that escape was impossible -the voices always followed-, it might just be best to take a little rest and brave through this encounter.

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Element · 08-04-2010, 09:08 AM

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Hardy har har. Want me to make Bindu a table?

Element watched in interest as the wolfish dog with the bent ear-tip pranced around with her bone for a bit, then noticed him. Her expressions morphed from eager and keen - probably seeing if he was more prey - to disappointed, as if she expected something else, to downright miserable. Element wondered with slight curiosity what on earth she was miserable about. Was his fur really that unkempt? He began to wash it thoroughly as the canine spoke.

"Howdy. You's a new one."

Element stopped washing and glanced at her. She looked utterly miserable, and these strange words didn't help very much. For a moment, he felt something strange deep int he bowels of his soul, and realized that he was feeling sorry for this scrap of fur. Kindness took over him as he moved closer to the canine, until he was almost face to face with her. He dropped the squirrel at her feet.

"You look as though you could use some proper food," he said smoothly, remembering the rotting carcass she had eaten moments earlier; the minim of quality. "I just caught this; you can have it." He felt a slight pang of hunger protest this generous gift, but he ignored it. He was a cat; what kind of cat was he if he couldn't just go and catch another bit of prey? Besides, this scraggly girl seemed as though she needed it a lot more than he did.

Bindu Epals · 08-04-2010, 04:02 PM

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You really don't have to, but ... I would appreciate it ... :1 This post be a short one, my apologies.

In an attempt to ignore the illusion, Bindu's dark eyes flicked away and began to probe the sea in idleness. The curves and waves of the water allured the southern belle like the sands of her home, if not more because of its mystery. Each motion was like a mother cooing her cub to sleep, but at times like a stag leaping into battle. If this black devil were not plaguing her, if her bones didn't ache so, Bindu would have run down the coastline as a result of her eager thinking; something she hadn't done in a long time. Such was the effect of a stomach with something in it.

"You look as though you could use some proper food," the mirage declared, its voice an evil taunt. Food! Of course, proper food was always useful- any kind of food was, whether it be a seal carcass or an elk calf. The young wolfess offered the cat a minim glance and just as quickly returned her stare to the water. Bindu was frustrated; the pitch-black feline was closer, now, and was speaking in a recognizable language so that she could hear and understand its awful words. If she was able to trust her perception skills, the wolfdog might have sworn that the hallucination was actually kind of warm as well. This was just a trick of her own impure mind, provoking her with warmth and life. In a few minutes, the cat would be gone. Bindu gave a whine and settled onto her stomach, paws splayed out, tail twitching.

What bothered Bindu most wasn't the feline but its catch; the squirrel. It almost smelled like a prey animal would, but the wolfdog knew better than to belief the damned ruse. The cat, the squirrel- they weren't real. They weren't real. Over and over again, the teen repeated this sentence in her head. It became a steady chant. They aren't real. They aren't real. Eventually, the mantra became a mottled mumble; a stream of words deprived of sanity or emotion. Bindu recalled the images of her father that she'd seen during her trip. Sometimes he came and said nothing, and at other times he'd come when he knew she was weakest and he would whisper cruel words. At these times, memories from the past tried to come to mind, to aid what little sanity was left, but after a few days the remembrances were forgotten.

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Element · 08-04-2010, 04:14 PM

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Wee! What do you want it to look like? Also, I saw what you did there. They're worth points, yaknow, words of the day.

Element looked at this pup in concern as she let out a low whine and sat down on the floor, glancing out at the ocean. Her eyes seemed cloudy, as though she was concentrated completely on something else. She ignored his catch, which bothered him. She was hungry enough, eager enough to gobble up rotting carcasses of long-dead fish, but not enough to eat the freshly caught prey? It was a totally perplexing idea to Element, and even more so when her eyes seemed to reflect hatred and anger a moment later, quickly returning to her unfocused gaze.

Was she insane? It was a possibility; he had heard of strange and highly disturbing things, such as a wolf who had eaten puppies. Why wouldn't an insane wolf eat only rotting foods? Still, the starving state of this female irked him so, and he prodded his catch towards her.

"Please, eat," he said, and nosed her in the side. It wasn't a rude or harsh gesture, simply to ensure that she really was alive and not a figment of his imagination. The furred side that his nose collided with was, indeed, real, and he looked into her eyes with his own green ones. Usually Element wouldn't offer food to others, especially if they seemed able to catch prey for themselves; but this girl was hardly capable of doing anything, much less creep along the undergrowth to catch something to fill her obviously empty stomach.

Bindu Epals · 08-04-2010, 06:12 PM

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Are you stalking my posts or something? I post and come back here and then bam, I see you posted already. :0 The speed limit here is at awesome, okay? Can you tone it down a little, hmm?

And I don't really care. Anything will do. (: thank you.

It felt nice to lie down after a long day of trotting, Bindu noted, as her paws began to fill with a warm tingle that worked its way up her ankles, legs, and finally into her chest. While her body was feverishly warm, the flush of heat was still pleasurable. Should the ghost cat be elsewhere, prowling another wolf, the teen acknowledged that she would almost feel at ease. However, the red wolf had visited her today, which made sitting still more uncomfortable. If Bindu paused, she opened her mind up to bad images- like the devil cat, and her father. Nevertheless, the young wolfess did not-could not-would not regret the time occupied with her catch of the day. The memory of that delicious, savory meal was almost enough to forget about the cat ...

but not quite.

Bindu allowed herself another fleeting glance at the creature before she turned away again; this time, she convinced herself, for good. The teen continued to mumble under her breath and squeezed her dark eyes shut for a few seconds. If she tried hard enough, the mirage would go away. Satisfied with her efforts, Bindu looked eagerly at the -hopefully- empty space where the feline had been. She dreaded the image of the black cat that remained. It gazed at her intently.

The awful thing had the prettiest eyes, despite its foulness. They were a lively emerald green. Staring into those verde depths, Bindu was reminded of the grass that framed the coastline, sparkling with the color of life. No doubt, in those waters of jade swam a nasty shark. But it was almost nice to see them. They were beautiful. This confused the deranged teen- what illusion was so detailed as this one? So perfect? The creature spoke up abruptly, catching Bindu in her (albeit perpetual) moment of minim strength. "Please, eat," it pleaded gently, its round orbs shining with sincerity. The wolfdog was almost about to scoff at the cat, at herself, for nearly believing. Her wiry head, framed with matted fur, was on the verge of twisting away. All actions against the midnight feline were immediately halted when his nose nudged Bindu's side.

A small, astonished 'woof' came out of her generally disused muzzle, accompanied by a startled twitch. She had felt it. His nose, hard like a marble, against her side, soft and thin. Bindu sprang onto her feet like a cougar; up and backwards. She had felt it. What was this thing, if not an illusion? Was this really a cat? A cat ... and a squirrel? A talking cat and a squirrel? A talking cat that was offering her the squirrel? A low growl rumbled from the teen's gaping mouth, which practically spelled out, 'the hell?!' Unable the help itself, a heavily freckled paw shot out from underneath the wolfdog and jabbed at the cat (perhaps a bit more roughly than intended). It was met with skin and fur. This was a real cat, then, wasn't it?

Bindu was still suspended in disbelief, though her own senses were screaming at her that, yes, this was a cat, and that he had a squirrel. "You's a real cat," squeaked the hybrid, still not able to believe herself. Deliberately, the dark eyes that captured the poor feline wandered down to the squirrel. It was just lying there, oozing sweet blood. Bindu didn't need any permission, just confirmation. More cautiously than before, the same paw poked at the squirrel, and found it to be solid. Beautiful, lovely, amazing solid.

The moments blurred together; jaws found the squirrel; teeth tore; blood and flesh were swallowed without chewing. Flavor exploded within Bindu's maw and throat. It was delicious, it was food. The squirrel was gone in record time. The shattered remains lay sadly on the sand, and Bindu licked the blood from her tainted muzzle. Her bandana dripped with the scrumptious juice.

She stared at the cat in silence.

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Element · 08-05-2010, 09:32 AM

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I just happen to be an efficient roleplayer, thankjooverymuch. :< And -will PM code to table-

Element almost jerked back as the canine let out a soft, abrupt 'woof' after he nosed her in the side, as well as a strange twitch. What was wrong? Had he gone too far? Before he could wonder any more, she sprang to her feet and stepped backwards, looking in him in bewilderment and astonishment. If the sight wasn't so pitiable, Element might have been amused - but he was already confused as it was. And then, confusion was wiped away as a threatening growl escaped from the wolfdog's maw.

Element tensed himself, prepared to leap clean over the dog and take her by surprise, enabling him to escape, if he had to. Although he felt sorry for this pup's state, he was in no mood to become the menu. His ears flattened and he leapt backwards as a scraggly paw flashed out and jabbed him in the ribs. He was about to bound away when the dog muttered something;

"You's a real cat." The girl's voice was laced with disbelief and a squeaky tone that rendered all former aggression nil. Before he could reply, her eyes wandered from the feline down to the squirrel below them, wafting sweet and delectable smells towards the feline and the canine alike. Yet another paw flashed out and jabbed the squirrel, and as soon as she made contact with it, she absolutely went wild. Her muzzle seemed to drill into the squirrel, and she ripped meat from it in large chunks, licking blood from her mouth as she did so. Element slowly edged away until he was a couple feet from the girl, enough to escape if needed. But it didn't seem as if she was threatening anymore; in fact, she was absolutely startled to find out the feline was real.

Was she insane? he wondered as she now stared at him. She didn't growl or make any other moves to harm him, and was simply gazing at him with large, round eyes that showed no hostility. He stared back.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked, not knowing what else to say. The squirrel had been a rather large one, and although it probably hadn't completely filled her belly, it must have been better eating than the rotting meat she had consumed earlier.

Bindu Epals · 08-06-2010, 09:49 PM

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:0 I just hit 'preview' and saw this and I literally took a really large breath in and exhaled really slowly. xD This is AMAZING. THIS. Wow. Thank you.

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Bindu felt like she could peer into those vert eyes for eternity, but she was less concentrated on them than she was on the cat's expression. It's face was strange, but somehow -was it the brows? or maybe the curve of the maw?- the teen could distinguish uncertainty from the sleek black hairs. She wasn't searching for uncertainty. The only expression worth noting was the one that hinted at another squirrel. The blood of said prey was still lingered in a spot-tossed maw, mixing with saliva; an entirely delectable taste spread throughout the wolfdog -nay- a warmth. It wasn't like the heat that formed beads of sweat on Bindu's feet, or the odd hotness that made her shiver. This kind sensation was bubbly, instinctive. Dark eyes met green ones. The teen wanted to feel it again- she wanted more food to satisfy her body. She wanted another squirrel. Bindu tried to think of different ways of somehow getting some more out of this cat, but her mind drew one large blank. Why did the little feline offer up his catch in the first place? Strange.

The cat was, yes, uncertain. It spoke up, and its tongue was high speech. "Are you feeling better now?" The moments ticked by like sand in an hourglass. Bindu let each word drip past her train of thought. Her dark eyes revealed everything going on inside of her head, painfully slow. It was hard to concentrate, but the words came more easily than they had before the squirrel. 'Feeling'. Feel. Touch. 'Better'. Good. Nice. Not bad. The teen's eyes narrowed to slits, and her wave-tipped head dipped to the side. Her maw tilted down, and then upwards. Yes, feeling better.

"Why?" piped the wolfdog abruptly. One paw prodded the scrap of un-eatables that was all there was of the squirrel, as a crude explanation. Bindu wanted to know why this cat had sacrificed his food. She had to know, if it could possibly lead to a rounder belly. "Why'd you be giv'n this to me? Don't ya' want it?" Bindu's throat hurt a little from disuse and her words were strained, but she pressed on, eyelids somehow narrowing with every word. "What kind of cat are ya'?" Because this creature was very odd; it used high speech, it gave up its prey, it was ... weird. The young wolfess shifted her weight from her front paws to her hindlegs, satisfied after giving the first civil reply in a very long time.

Element · 08-07-2010, 09:46 AM

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So glad you like it! xD I lurv making tables <3 This one was made by Daisuke!

Element watched on as the dog's eyes narrowed into small slits; he was barely able to see her sights now. They revealed turmoils of emotion, but overall, another pang of hunger. He cocked his head as she seemed to think of something long and hard; finally, she uttered one word - 'why'.

Why? He saw as she prodded the squirrel skeleton with a single paw. "Why'd you be giv'n this to me? Don't ya' want it?" Well, of course Element had wanted it, but if he had walked by with a plump bit of prey while this pitiable creature sat starving, he wasn't a cat. He was a monster. Obviously he wanted it, but what was the harm in sharpening his skills and just catching another one? He was about to reply with these points in mind when the girl took a fresh jab at the feline;

"What kind of cat are ya'?" Element almost cracked a smile at this. What kind of cat was he? The canine's eyes showed the uncertainty that she felt, the confusion. She didn't know why he gave up his prey, probably didn't know why he could speak the same language she did. He felt slightly more comfortable now that he was sure she wouldn't attack; she was simply...confused.

"A cat kind of cat," he said simply. "To be more specific; a bobcat domestic cat hybrid." Element's mother had boasted of his ancestors being related to the big cats, and he felt that if he told this canine, it may explain the language. He went on. "As for why I gave you the prey...I couldn't sit and see you so hungry when I had prey myself. It wouldn't feel right." Indeed; for Element, although he could be cold and aloof at times, he didn't enjoy seeing creatures in pain - he never played with his prey before killing it, and always killed it instantly; and if he saw someone in danger and felt that he could do something well within his power to help, he felt obliged to do so.

Element looked at the canine more closely now. It was clear by the stout muzzle, slightly rounded ears and circular face that it was a wolf, not a coyote. The tones in her fur blended from a faded russet color to a rich gold, to white and slight patches of gray. She wore a red bandanna, decorated with swirly patterns that made Element's eyes swim. He looked to her eyes; although they were narrowed, he could see a gleam of deep red hidden in the depths.

Bindu Epals · 08-07-2010, 01:12 PM

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Big Grin

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The young hybrid listened intently as the cat answered her, "A cat kind of cat," Confusion dotted her thoughts. The cat-kind-of-cat continued, "To be more specific; a bobcat domestic cat hybrid." Bindu knew what a bobcat was; she'd seen a few on her travels and had been given a few silvery scars courtesy of a few particularly testy ones. This little black doll looked nothing like a bobcat, except for maybe its size and its teeth, which blinked like a flashlight as it talked. Therefore, the wolfdog concluded that a 'domestic cat' must be black, but other than that she knew little about them.

But Bindu was able to reach a few more verdicts about the cat based solely on its bobcat lineage. It could have inherited high speech from its blood, since many bobcats spoke the more advanced tongue. Or perhaps that was the domestic cat in it- did domestic cats use high speech? She didn't dwell on the mystery for too long, although this was the clearest her head had been in days. The cat held some sort of mojo that seemed to make things better.

The onyx-pelted feline went on to explain his motive in giving her his squirrel. The concept of right and wrong perplexed Bindu; it made her head swim. For so many weeks her own morals had slowly faded away until instinct had shone from underneath like a cold diamond. There had been no virtue, no kindness, because nature was harsh and to survive on your own did not require ... goodness. This feline's talk awakened sleeping ethics within Bindu, and she had the sensation of almost understanding. Her dark ruby eyes softened involuntarily, and her tail thumped weakly on the sand.

Bindu was almost content to watch the cat watch her. It had relaxed, or so its face told her.

A spontaneous emotion bubbled up from the pit of the wolfdog's stomach, one that made her want to do something or say something to make this feline know how he had helped her. It was a silly thing, so Bindu told herself, because the cat knew that he had given her food which therefore made her stronger- so why would she want to point something like that out? A stranger feeling than gratitude had been felt in many a wolf, but to the loner it was alien. She said nothing, but decided that this feline wasn't bad.

"What's-your-name?" Bindu snapped, at a loss of what to do or say. The simple question came out like bullets from a machine gun, as the teen's familiarity with a nicer tone was non-existant. Some insanity crept back into her head as the girl waited for the cat to answer.

Element · 08-08-2010, 10:53 AM

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Sorry for the short post, I'm feeling blah today. >.<

The two sat, staring at each other, Element thinking about why the canine almost got into a fantod about all of this. But as he looked at her, she seemed to have calmed down about it all. In fact, after he uttered the soothing words, a warm light had flooded in to her eyes, seeming to awaken something in her. The softness in her eyes was accompanied by a soft thumping of a wolf tail on the soft ground. He wondered how long this canine had been on her own - it seemed that all traces of sanity and decency had been thoroughly erased, save for the now soft light of her eyes and the strange emotion of something he felt coming from her.

He looked back to her as she barked out a question - what was his name? Element felt mildly surprised at the tone in which she asked this; it was almost like she was barking out an order, although he knew it must have been from lack of proper civilization. Again, he wondered where she came from before he remembered her question and decided it would be rude not to reply. "My name is Element," he said. He wondered what the wolfdog with the crooked ear's name was; did she even have one, given the manner of her replies and the seemingly strange insanity that crept back into her eyes after she asked his name? Maybe he didn't want to know where this dog came from...but of course, he did. He was a cat, and a cat's curiosity is never quelled.

Bindu Epals · 08-08-2010, 07:01 PM

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S'alright.

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The dark-shaded feline looked a little startled for a moment before he gave his name ... Element. Elle-i-men-t. Like water and sunshine and grass and wind? What a peculiar name for a cat! Bindu's dark red eyes probed Element, as if, now, with a name, he had stepped into a new light. For the third time, he had set something into motion within the loner; a name. A simple word used for identification. Bindu marveled at that word- that name- Element. It introduced her to a new level of personality. And a little closer to civility.

An unexpected feel blossomed somewhere in the pit of the wolfdog's stomach just when she was about to bark out something nonsensical, forcing her mouth to gape slightly open. The squirrel was delicious, but it had been large and was eaten rapidly. In normal circumstances these conditions would have only resulted in a mild stomachache, but they were added to Bindu's half-starved status and mingled within her belly in an un-agreeable way. Dark eyes fluttered for a moment, then blinked tightly closed. Instinctively, her white paws turned away from Element seconds before everything -the squirrel, the seal carcass- was retched onto the beach in a few forceful hacks.

A pained expression passed over the young wolfess's face as she coughed the last bits up, yellow joining the red on her muzzle and staining the sand. There had been many revolting things through the course of Bindu's travels, but vomit was something that she would never lack disgust in. Adding to the growing unease, the image of a red wolf appeared near the vomit. Though his mouth moved and his jaws clicked, no words came forth, only a sickening orange fountain. Bindu's body trembled from the loss of weight and the sight of the mirage; that awful picture of disappointment. A fantod rose within the girl's chest. Anger at herself, anger at the hallucinations, anger at the ocean.

In a sudden spurt of emotion, the hybrid launched herself at the image, away from Element. Jaws were opened wide, longing for a taste of that ugly gray-and-russet fur. The only satisfaction given was the click of her yellowed fangs, snapping together on empty air. Bindu's body knew that it had no strength to chase a shadow after the moment had passed, and for a few seconds she stood there, collecting her breath and glancing back and forth for the red wolf. He -it- was gone.

Element was still there. He wasn't an illusion- he was real. A real cat. Bindu turned deliberately, dark eyes flicking back and forth in continued search. When she was at a comfortable distance from the distinguished feline, the wolfdog sat on her rump and glanced at him, abandoning pursuit. "It's'a picture," Bindu tried to explain her madness, "the wolf is. Always goes away." It felt good to talk about the red wolf. Nevertheless, the confessions were sealed with a mere mumble. "Coward." Element was left to interpret what he would.

Element · 08-10-2010, 10:10 AM

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Element politely averted his eyes as the wolfdog's face contorted into one of pain. He heard the sounds of retching behind her and felt sympathy; he knew all too well that eating something rapidly, as she had done, would result in the stomach rebelling - especially if one was starving. For the umpteenth time, he wondered where she had come from. Surely not from one of the packs? From what he gathered from Nayru in Dahlia de Mai, the packs were like a close-knit family; they wouldn't let one of their own starve like this. He shook his head in confusion and turned back to the she-wolfdog, as the noises had ceased.

She didn't turn back to him. She stared into empty space just above the puddle of yuck she had made moments before, breathing heavily. Element wondered if she was about to collapse; he wouldn't be surprised, given her unkempt and bony state. But she simply stared. Element cocked his head; he was about to say something when the girl sprang.

Her jaws snapped down on empty air as she lunged forward, landing in the mess. Her head whipped around, seeming to look for something, as her sides heaved for breath. Finally, she looked at Element, and he could see the frustration and anger in her eyes. What was going on?

"It's'a picture," the female said. "The wolf is. Always goes away...coward." She mumbled these words, almost as if she was embarrassed. Element, despite himself, felt a pang of pity for this poor, bedraggled creature. She was starving, alone, going near insane, and now she was seeing things that taunted her and then disappeared. Element wasn't sure how to handle this; he'd never met someone quite like the girl before. He realized that she had thought he was an image before because that was probably all she had seen; images, taunting her. Another pang of pity. Element decided to try to comfort her, offer her advice, even if he wasn't sure what would comfort the poor canine.

"I'm sorry," he said carefully. Then he realized that, perhaps, the wolf's solitude and lack of company was what made her this way. "Perhaps other wolves like you would help?" He knew this was risky - there was always the chance that this dog didn't want company - but it was worth a try. "There are many nice wolf packs around," he said. "They're all very close, like a family. I'm sure they'd be able to feed and house you for a while. If you want to join them, I'm sure they'd be more than happy as well." Element was almost sure that was how it worked; he'd seen lone wolves appear on the borders of packs, and the pack leader coming and accepting them in. From what he'd seen of most of the packs, he was sure they would help this pitiable creature, whether she wanted to actually join them or not.

Bindu Epals · 08-10-2010, 05:35 PM

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I totally KNOW the word of the day Tongue

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Element's condolences were accepted with a light nod from the teen, butterflies flitting about within her skull. Bindu wasn't as focused on his words as she was on the sound of his voice, but even so she understood what he was trying to say. His next sentence, however, drew a doubtful glance from the teen. Wolves were dangerous, shifty creatures -Bindu herself was impurified because of her wolfish characteristics- so how could they help anything? Wolves never committed themselves to anything, and would absquatulate before doing any good. The teen was confused by Element's suggestion, but she listened on in dubious curiosity.

"There are many nice wolf packs around," informed the feline gingerly, treading on light feet. Something stirred in the wolfdog's memory at the mention of 'wolf pack', almost as if she had seen it in a vision. A dog-woman, murmuring words into a mismatched set of ears ... 'Mother.' Her mother must have said something about a wolf pack once, but the details were blurred. Bindu's head angled to the side, enjoying the fading memory. Element's voice deliberately trickled back into her mind, "... able to feed and house you for a while. If you want to join them, I'm sure they'd be more than happy as well."

The words 'wolf pack' mingled with Element's concluding sentence; Bindu assumed that he had been talking about these said 'wolf pack's.

The young wolfess knew that she would never, ever join a pack, not even if it meant food and shelter. Nevertheless ... would these wolves really give her food and a place to stay for a while? No membership included? Maybe, just maybe, she could stay in one of them until the red wolf went away to bother someone else. But would they even let her into their herds? Simple questions flooded into Bindu's head in a way that made her feel like she was drowning in them. Wolf pack-food-help? Or not? Dark red eyes rounded involuntarily, and turned to Element with mottled comprehension.

"Where?" she questioned. Out of nervous habit, one of the teen's hind legs reached out to the skin around the dirty bandana and scratched at it idly. Bindu didn't know how she felt about Element's ideas, but she was hopeful if there was food involved.

Element · 08-13-2010, 10:28 AM

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Haha, yeah. xD You know this thing runs on liquid time? You can be in multiple threads; you don't have to wait on slow old me.

Element looked out at the shore on Bindu's question. Her eyes had widened at the prospect of a wolf pack, and he wondered if she ever was in one before. He had always assumed that all canines lived in packs - that was their nature, to work together and achieve goals. But he had also met lone wolves - Daisuke was one, traveling only with his companion, Schwarz, for company. Tannin was another, but he had seemed more deranged than anything else. Perhaps Daisuke was the exception, and most wolves needed companionship to survive? This red-clad teenager certainly seemed as if she wouldn't survive for very long without somebody or something to help her.

He looked down the shoreline. He had a vague idea of where they were, but he couldn't be sure. The mountains were visible in the distance, and he quickly judged where they were and the closest packs to them. He thought for a split second about which she should go to for help - not the Inferni, certainly. And if she went alone, he felt he should warn her against the hostile clan whose borders were littered with the skulls of their enemies. Phoenix Valley, he wasn't sure of; he knew they were friendly enough. And Dahlia de Mai he knew would help the pup; Nayru made her pack out to be helpful and kind.

He looked back to the wolf whose name he still didn't know and gestured east. "You should avoid the Inferni," he said. "They're very hostile." Element pushed away a nagging thought about why he knew the Inferni were hostile and moved on. He then gestured southeast, a little bit away from the Inferni. "That's Phoenix Valley," he said. "They're near enough, and kinder than the Inferni. You could do worse than asking them for help." He then pointed towards the southwest. "And there is Dahlia de Mai," he said, remembering fondly Nayru. "They're also friendly, and I'm sure they'd be happy to help." Element lowered his paw. Those were the three closest packs; if this pup wasn't too injured or weak, he may even be able to guide her to the pack she wished. Although he was fond of the puppy he'd met in Dahlia de Mai, he secretly hoped she wouldn't choose them; he thought he'd been pushing the limits when he wandered in there for a fish. And he was curious of Phoenix Valley; he'd never been there, nor did he know their traditions. He only knew that they were on generally good terms with the rest of the packs, which meant they couldn't be too hostile towards wolves.

Bindu Epals · 08-13-2010, 08:57 PM

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Yezam, I know. Tongue

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Bindu listened genuinely this time as Element told her about the wolf packs that were around the area, one of his paws very active in pointing out direction and the like. The first pack, the one to the east, drew a subtle flinch from the cat's sleek black face, so she knew that he was telling no lies when he spoke of hostility. Its name was swiftly forgotten. Element continued to point out two other packs; one to the southwest and another to the southeast. Like the first, both pack names were easily lost somewhere between logic and self-preservation. Nevertheless, Bindu regarded them with as much attention as she could muster. The idea of staying with a pack was growing more appealing with every second.

The teen coughed quietly and looked to the ocean with an absent mind. Something inside nagged for some thinking, but in a flood of strange and new things, the sea was a steady comfort. Odd- that such a dangerous enemy could have such a calming effect, but Bindu had been traveling along the coasts for a month or two -or maybe three- now. She was accustomed to the water and fancied that she knew it well; that it was scary, cold, moved, and had fish in it.

Regardless, the ocean breathed life in the most remote places, like tidal pools, and even managed to keep a lonely wolfdog alive with said life. Every wind was like the attar of a mother or a friend. The gulls' constant chatter and the lapping of the waves on the shore consisted the most beautiful harmony. Bindu's crooked ear flicked sideways at a particularly shrill bird cry. Her dark red eyes studied the water with a sudden anxiety. She didn't worry about not being able to see the ocean, because in this land, unlike at home, water seemed to be everywhere at once. Most importantly, would she have to swim across it to get to help?

Bindu voiced her thoughts nervously, "Am I have to swim to get there?" Element had motioned that both safe packs were to the south, but at their current position the only southward body was salt water. The teen's questions were wasting time in getting to a better place, but in a small way she was glad to rest now and travel sometime else.

Element · 08-15-2010, 07:03 PM

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Heh. Heh... -awkward-

Element smoothly turned his gaze to where his company was looking; the ocean. He felt as she relaxed some, and knew that the calming effect of the ocean was at work. Now, looking at the calm expanse of water, he could also feel himself relax and wind down from the events of the day. Element enjoyed the ocean; if was free flowing, uncontrolled. Nothing resisted it. Nothing controlled it. The ocean was its own being, wide and open to the world; full of life, yet so ferocious and full of vengeance. So destructive, yet, at times, it seemed hard to believe that the ocean could hurt anything. This was one of those times; small waves rolled off of the shore, making the ocean seem like a beautiful but still pool of water in which nothing dangerous resided. Of course, Element knew better; the ocean could and would claim all things, in the end.

He had heard sometimes that the effects of the ocean on skin was balneal; Element, however, was reluctant to try it. Like all cats, he didn't like to get wet, whether it was water from the ocean or not. Before he could think more on the subject, however, the wolf's words broke into his consciousness:

"Am I have to swim to get there?" Element furrowed his brows before smoothing them out again. This girl's improper use of grammar was getting to him, no matter how trivial it seemed. However, that would have to wait. He glanced out at the sea once more, watching the gentle waves lapping at the sandy beach. He then looked to the east, where the moon was rising steadily - there would be no traveling tonight, at this rate. But he wasn't focused on the moon; rather, he was looking at the range of mountains that collected itself far east, several miles away - the pup might not have been able to see them, but Element could. If they continued on east, they would reach the packs without getting their feet wet at all.

"No," he said, "You will not have to swim there." Although a nagging thought in Element's mind told him it was futile to try to teach this pup proper grammar right now, he still emphasized 'will not' in hopes she would catch on. He motioned to where the mountains rose in the east. "If we continue to walk east, we'll come to a large peninsula. That's where all the packs are." Element found it slightly strange that the packs would all cluster in a single bit of territory, when the world was so enormous - he knew they fought a lot, and he knew they had feuds just like any group of animals. Why not, then, did they separate further? Then again, the wolf leaders may not be too keen to switch their territories. With the houses and things the wolves lived in today, he found it hard to imagine them moving too easily.

Bindu Epals · 08-15-2010, 09:55 PM

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<3

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Bindu noticed the slight furrow of Element's brow as he spoke to her, "You will not have to swim there." His tone and expression irked her, made her eyes narrow and limbs stiffen. Emphasis and hostility were similar in the light of two dark eyes, almost indistinguishable from one another. Nevertheless, the teen remained because he had given her food and directions and had nice green eyes. Trust was another virtue that Bindu hadn't felt in a while, but she was making progress, even if her trust was founded on her love -and need- of food (and also pretty things).

The cat continued to explain the directions to which she'd have to travel. Something about a ... a pay-nin-sull-a? So many peculiar words swam in the teen's mind, but sometimes she would catch a hazy idea in recognition. Never more. It was like an alien's memories were floating around in Bindu's stupid head. To bubble to the surface in dreams; but when she woke, just out of grasp.

East was a familiar direction, regardless, and Bindu made sure to remember it- but wasn't that bad pack also to the east? Maybe ... maybe if she ran fast enough, the bad wolves wouldn't know she was even there. Keeping this in mind like a positive charm, the young wolfdog didn't worry too much on the matter. After all, she did run fast- or, at least, she was a fast runner once ... or ever? Fast runner or not, Bindu held little concern, mostly because she was incapable of thinking of the potential conflict for too long.

With the knowledge of which way to travel in and where she was going, the teen wanted to start moving again. In a movement that felt like claws on a chalkboard, she stood and stretched out her legs one-by-one. "Okay," she muttered, eyes blinking in a combination that said, 'let's go'. The dirt ahead was colored an inviting shade of dung. It hummed for paws in motion, seagrass and flowers framing it and swaying enticingly. Bindu stood watching eastward, and she hoped that something good would come of her travels. The wolfess remained there for a few more seconds, red-clad and wild. But not free.

In spite of her ambition, Bindu's body wanted nothing more than to rest for another night before continuing. It refused to move an inch further, every crevice and eave dripping with tiredness. Instinct told the wolfdog to stop; rest; sleep, so she couldn't do anything but. Helpless eyes flicked to Element and then at the rising moon as explanation. Bindu sat. Tonight, whether or not Element would move forward, she would go no farther.

Element · 08-18-2010, 04:05 PM

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Alright, wanna wrap this up? You can make Bindu go to sleep now and just fade to black if you want. :3

The wolfdog looked out east, a seemingly puzzled look on her face. Were the directions too confusing to her? Perhaps. Element knew from the way the sun rose and set the cardinal directions, and had ever since he was a kitten. It was simple...knowledge. Common knowledge, even. But perhaps his rather eloquent way of speaking had confused the poor dog, and he gave her a sympathetic look. Wherever she had come from, it clearly could not have been a place with many civilized wolves - if any at all. She didn't know what he was saying, she has almost no grasp on proper grammar, and she hallucinated - which Element didn't think came with dwelling with others. Still, he hoped that she had grasped enough of his instruction to be able to reach the friendly packs, and hoped that she didn't stray too close to the Inferni - the Inferni who wouldn't like to see a dog on their borders. The Inferni, however, did have a rather obvious warning on their borders - the spiked skulls of wolves would be incredible hard to ignore if she did wander that way.

She snapped Element out of his reverie when she said, 'okay' and began to walk towards the eastern destination. Element was a little taken aback - she was going to start now, when the moon was out and the night was upon them? But then again, it seemed not. Without a further warning, she flopped down on her side and looked to the moon as though she were giving him an explanation without saying anything at all - and Element understood. This poor pup was just too tired to continue on, and Element could relate to that. He himself was rather tired, and he didn't want to linger on.

But what about the girl? She seemed so weak and almost like she would be unable to fend for herself for so long. Element was reluctant to leave her, but he knew he had to be going - but...it seemed so wrong to leave her, so strange that he should go away now. He silently vowed to himself that he would stay near the area - if this wolfdog ever needed help, he would be able to come to her rescue. He was slightly startled at this newfound feeling of protection he felt he had to give to her, but knew that he couldn't simply leave her. It wouldn't be moral, it just simply wouldn't be right in his eyes.

He looked at her with his brilliant green eyes. "Well," he said slowly, "I'll most likely be around. If you ever need help...just ask, and I'm sure any wolves around here would be delighted to give you some." Not entirely sure she understood him, he waited for some sort of acknowledgment from her that she had. He didn't feel like he should leave even now, but knew that if she depended on him, things would be harder for both of them. A single cat couldn't hunt for himself and an almost grown wolf - it would be impossible. It would be better if she learned how to be on her own, in case the other packs didn't accept her. Still, he waited for her to say something - if she was awake at all.

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