New Frontiers

Jaden Ohanzee · 11-05-2011, 09:19 PM

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Date: Nov. 7th

Setting: Wentworth Valley

Time: Just after dawn

Character Form: Optime

Mood: friendly

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Words – 700+

The morning shown new and crisply cold over the trees of Ickika no-Hoen. Underneath the nearly bare autumn trees, Jaden jogged at a quick pace and tried to get used to the pressure of a full pack on his back once more. He stopped momentarily to make sure his bearings were proper and tugged lightly on the tightening strap for it. The satchel was made of dark, Russian leather and adjustable for use in any luperci form. It was an Uva Atka tool that, just like the haunting memories and dark skills the pack taught, had lasted through most of Jaden’s adult life. Valiantly carrying his weapons, herbs, poisons, and few miscellaneous tools, its soft confines lasted across Canada and back and forth along the shores and mountains of Nova Scotia before being retired when he settled in Ichika no-Hoen. Since then he had used it little. He simply didn’t need to carry around all his belongings when he had a home and places for them. Donning his satchel was comforting because it had been a constant and stable attribute of most of his life but also unsettling as it reminded him of days spent hunting other wolves for reasons not his own.

It had only been a week since Samhain. The festival was a blur of wonderful smells, friendly faces, and fire light thanks to the wine provided and indulged in by the man. So much had happened that night and what of it that was clear had incurred a lot of thought with in Jaden. The Ichikan’s head coyote, Razekiel Lykoi, finally gave himself for observation. The Shishen hadn’t met or seen him until that night. As far as coyotes are concerned, Razekiel was rather tolerable and had a strong air of leadership to him. But he was still coyote. Jaden took comfort in the fact that anything he needed to communicate with the higher-ups could be relayed through a strong blooded canine like Nayru.

Images of X’yrin, his soon to be travel partner, and her intoxicated but utterly welcome closeness swirled around Jaden’s mind as well. Since then, nothing had really changed between them, as far as he’d observed anyway. The woman still had an insatiable and exhausting lust for combat that Jaden found he himself was truly begging to enjoy as well. No, their friendship really wasn’t too much different. Yet, it had seemed that during the last week she had grown restless. Her lighthearted and subdued attitude had bled away and it was almost like she was dragging herself about. As a friend and pack colleague who he spent a lot of time with, this bothered Jaden greatly. When he finally brought it up, she admitted to a restless heart. She missed ‘being out in the unknown’. Though he hadn’t shown it, the Shishen was afraid then that he would loose a friend to wonder lust. So when X’yrin explained that all she needed was to show him ‘what it was to be a nomad’, there was no hesitation in the man’s response. Verloren would be fine on her own now that they were settled in at their home in New Glasgow and there wasn’t much else to do but train and watch the Ichikan boarder. Such things could wait for a few days or even a week. If this simple trip would solidify X’yrin’s position as Ichika’s newest warrior and keep her in the pack, he would gladly oblige.

So there he was in Wentworth Valley, packed and ready to travel. All he had to do now was a wait for the woman to arrive as well. He peered around at the trees and a wicked idea was born to him. Many of them still had their leaves because the nearby mountains providing cover form branch stripping winds. Jaden began to rub his hind quarters against trees he passed, purposely leaving an easy to follow sent trail. When he felt he had left a reasonably fine trail for the woman to follow he stopped at a large tree and tossed off his satchel. His packed moon blades clunked dully against each other inside; a surprise and he hoped a treat for his companion to analyze sometime during their trip. Moments later, he was up the tree and concealed by dark bark and blood red autumn leaves. Stock still, he waited for his prey.

Jaden does. "Jaden speaks." Jaden thinks.

X'yrin Exultare · 11-05-2011, 10:39 PM

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ooc: 735 words Nov. 6th Gah...my poopy post.

A wandering heart knew no rest. It grew tired... exhausted, but never found the means to put itself at ease. It pained its host, drained the body of vital life hoping to ail its own disease, but further distressed the body. She did not know how much of this wear she could take; how much more she was willing to endure. The longing of the heart grew nigh unbearable til at last she confessed her desires to kind ears. The Shishen... no, her friend had been kind to listen and understood the burden she bore. He did not look to her with discourteous eyes, nor turn his nose up at her wavering loyalties. Instead, he kindly took her hand of offer and agreed to let her show him what she desperately longed for.

Precious time could not be wasted. After many days without, she finally mustered the energy to greet the lands before the break of dawn. She needn't take anything other than her shoulder, herself and her companion. All else was a insignificant, in her eyes. So used to the light travel, if anything need be found, it could be sought in the wild or made by her hands. This venture would be a blessed return to what she knew and how she lived, and she hoped to share the experience with her friend.

Overhead the nameless owl kept a low circle around the auburn maned female as she withdrew from her den and set pace for the the border into the Wentworth Valley. She maintained a comfortable trot upon her four legs, Secui form recalling the sensation of stretch and recoil. It felt too long since she bothered to return to this form, though it couldn't have been more than a few days since last she was formed like this. Whispers of the primal mind scolded her for keeping such a proud form hidden away. Why conceal it like some dirty secret? How would he have felt to know this magnificent body was shrouded in secret? But for that matter, why did she care? Why be bothered with what some stranger might or might not have thought of her? He was nothing more than an enigma now, a fleeting image that needed to be buried and forgotten within the recesses of her mind. She needed to relinquish whatever attachment her feral mind had to him and regain some kind of normality to pull her from this slump. Normality found in the comfort of the wild, shared with her respect Shishen.

She needed to hurry. The test of her powerful legs came when she at last broke into a sprint for the borders. Her legs working rhythmically in harmony, carving a path through the crisp morning greens to the start of their adventure. Undoubtedly Jaden was ahead of her, unless of course the warrior chose to take a leisurely stroll same as she before commencing their travels. Her companion sounded overheard rising from his protective circle over his master to scout ahead into the nearing thick of the woods. It dove into the trees, leading the female on in soft 'hoots'. X'yrin followed in silence, her senses awakening as she feel deeper into the wild's comforting embrace. As the longed for world opened before her, she shivered excitably, upon her lips the first real smile she had worn in a while. She paused a moment, inhaling the richness of unclaimed land, resurfacing the same allure she had felt those nights ago.

And upon her nose as well was the scent of her male companion, though he was no where to be seen. The woman's ears fell back, sounding a soft whine of distress fearing she had been left behind. His scent was fresh, only just marked and defined enough for her to track. Perhaps she could catch up to him if she hurried. It was her own fault for taking so long. She huffed soundly in disappointment, lowering her muzzle to the ground to follow the Shishen's scent. Literally, she crept around the base of a tree, her nose quivering in concentration as she circled it round and round again, nearly making herself dizzy in the act. Why had his scent stopped there? He couldn't have just vanished into thin air, and there was no other scent (familiar or otherwise) to indicate he was taken. He was simply... not there

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Jaden Ohanzee · 11-05-2011, 11:55 PM

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At least you got more then 300 words down >.> Words – 200+

The morning was nicely cool. The leaves now surrounding Jaden wavered gently as he put his wait on their branches. The bark under his claws was cold and a little slick with early morning frost. It took the man a minute to shuffle his stance and find a comfortable way to crouch in the tree. He breathed softly, keeping noise to a minimum and eyed the forest around him. A slight fear that his prey may have walked upon him while he set up gripped his stomach with icy fingers. How foolish would he look then? A wolf climbing a tree just didn’t belong. Luckily, the forest held no curious eyes. Jaden was undiscovered and, after settling, held completely still. Only his deep blue eyes lurched about in search of X’yrin.

The female showed her secui muzzle a little while later. She had her nose to the ground and moved along with hurried steps. Jaden couldn’t help but grin as the woman wandered from tree to tree along the very path he had purposefully marked. He even let her wander around the bottom of his tree a few times and watched as she passed his satchel again and again. He gave her ample time to make up her mind as to why his trail ended here before finally striking.

The Shishen relented on his cruel game for a cruel surprise. He let the tree go and felt the brief sensation of free fall. MORNING! he called just before landing behind his target. He swatted her tail and grinned, expecting her to amusingly jump away in surprise.

Jaden does. "Jaden speaks." Jaden thinks.

X'yrin Exultare · 11-06-2011, 12:23 PM

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ooc: 300 words.

Her feral mind was limited to the ground. The thought that her companion might have sough to hide in the trees hadn't crossed her mind. Perhaps this absence was abandonment, or worse case, disinterest in what she wanted to share with him. The latter seemed more plausible, and truth be told, she wouldn't have blamed him. She hadn't been the most courteous wolf lately, sulking through chores as if they had burdened her. Most likely this was punishment for her deserving conduct. X'yrin seated herself at the base of the tree, whimpering sadly with loss.

The rustling branches overhead turned her ears toward their sound, causing her to rise with alarm. Above screeched her companion, spying the assailant as he fell from the tree to attack his master. A boasting shout of 'morning' took the woman completely by surprise as did the swat to her tail. The split second attack raised her hackles and had the woman fleeing the tree in fright. She howled sharply, sprinting blindly ahead to put distance between herself and her attacker. How could she let her guard down like that!? Why was she being attacked? And why... why had her attacker bid her 'morning'? Abruptly she came to a stop, her momentum causing her to skid slightly before she was able to round on her black and red assailant.

A scowl marred her pretty face as she bore through the woods to her grinning companion. She raised her head, chest swelling with anger as she marched back toward him, her rigid tail bobbing behind her. "That wasn't funny!" she pouted , putting a damper on her supposedly angered display. "You are lucky my friend recognized you," she jerked her muzzle to the silent hovering owl. "Or he would have torn your ears off for attacking me!"

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Jaden Ohanzee · 11-06-2011, 08:46 PM

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And again. :< Words – 200+

Something Jaden do often was break down laughing. He just didn’t see many things as funny enough to cause rolling laughter. When E’yrin sprinted away with a howl of surprise from his aerial attack, it was the closest he’d get. Jaden backpedaled over a root and fell right on his tail in shock of just how fast the female darted away, laughing heartily. He didn’t bother pulling himself up and just grinned sharply at his friend as she found her way back to the tree. Not funny? he chuckled and followed X’yrin’s motion to her feathered companion. But you wouldn’t let him maim such a good friend. That just wouldn’t be fair! The Shishen breathed a sigh of feigned dissatisfaction. Wasn’t it you who greeted me the exact same way on our second meeting? As I recall, you tackled me! I had no animal guardian to protect my flank.

The ambush had been all in good fun. Hopefully the other Ichikan would see this and spare the man her mighty, puffed-up wrath. He began his shift from Optime to Lupus without standing. From his slightly uncomfortable position, it was simple to push himself onto all for paws. The ground was welcomingly more stable then the swaying limbs above him. Once his form change was finished, Jaden scooped his satchel’s snug foreleg and head loops over him and yanked the tightening strap at his breast. His gaze fell on X’yrin. I’d say we are even. But, I’m sorry if I gave you too much of a fright. He gave her a good natured smile. Are your read for our trip?

Jaden does. "Jaden speaks." Jaden thinks.

X'yrin Exultare · 11-06-2011, 09:12 PM

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ooc: 418 words.

She did not like being on the end of a joke, but couldn't rightly be mad at her companion for too long. Her anger more so stemmed from her being frightened than his attack, and her rigid guard as more so to brace herself should he have another attack in mind. She but turned her head from the Shishen as he recounted her ambush on him in his defense. Of course there was a difference between that encounter and this one; at least then it was a flattering gesture that she was comfortable enough with him to treat him as she did her Shepard. This ambush was just...childish. She turned her muzzle upward defiantly but offered no contest to his rationalization.

As his form shifted to be on all fours with her, she noticed for the first time his satchel. She tilted her head curiously but did not bother to inquire its purpose. If he wished to carry belongings with him, then it was his choice to do so, just as she was fine with nothing more than what the path ahead provided for them. To thrive off Nature had its own rewards. To prosper with only tooth and claw was a sensation she feared she would lose from this domestic lifestyle. She wanted to reclaim it, and have the man dearest to her experience it as well. Kind and fulfill as Ichika as its people were, she did not want him to forget about that part of him that defined him as a warrior, a hunter. The intuitive part of both of them that set them a part from the other families. She wanted him to resurface the primal edge and adhere to, hoping that it was not lost as hers had nearly been. The Nomad looked to him fondly eyes passing her silent hopes upon him.

"Call it what you will," she scoffed softly to his claim, her ego still smarting a little from turning tail like a frightened pup. "But please do not do that every of our trip... or this will be a very, very short tour." She turned swiftly on the tops of her paws and stepped lively showing her readiness for the road ahead. There was no scent to follow, no trail already carved within the wild. They were travelers of the exhilarating unknown. And for the first time, the woman felt like she was returning home... to where she wanted to be. Where she belonged on the Endless Path again.

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Jaden Ohanzee · 11-07-2011, 03:37 PM

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Words – 300+!!

A bit too late now Jaden realized the childish antics of what he had done. He read dissatisfaction upon his travel companions beautiful autumn toned body and guilt soon overrode the man’s lively amusement. She bid her warning with a graceful turn and began their travels. No words were needed to express the commencing of the trip. The woman’s purposeful steps were enough of an indication to answer the Shishen’s question. He watched her tail rhythmically swaying in time with her stride and felt, not for the first time, that he was the one to learn from her. The brute also realized that she might not stop if he had truly put her off and took a few quick steps to catch up. With a playful and innocent nip at his friend’s tail, he found his place at her side.

Shoulder to shoulder, into the unknown the two went now. Jaden didn’t bother voicing his questions of it but he had many. What was he to expect form this excursion? What is it that X’yrin found so fascinating about an untamed world? Even further down the list of appropriate questions was one that bothered him quite often and now over took all else. Would the woman he had spent so much time with in recent days return to Ichika with him? Once she shared what she loved so much, would she leave it behind again? Doubt and fear that she might choose this over Ichika… over their friendship… slipped painful slivers of cold into Jaden’s usually warm outlook. To these questions he knew no answers, but that was his purpose now. For the next short but ultimately undefined amount of time, he could leave all the pressures of Ichika behind and just relax. He could learn what was so invigorating about the nomadic life style. Before him, a new and curious road snaked ahead. Jaden was here to experience it, but there was more to it than that. He hoped finding what was so alluring to this path would help him bring X’yrin back from it once their journey was through.

Jaden does. "Jaden speaks." Jaden thinks.

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