con bravura
#1
Words: 545
[html]

Oh HEY Big Grin This is backdated, this thread. Not sure exactly what day to set this, anytime between the 22nd and 31st December works for me!? Few posts with Caspa and Terra to start with maybe?


It was a grey day, with a low amber sort of sunlight spreading over the walls and baroque fittings of the Chien Hotel. Caspa had not wanted to go far afield during her convalescence, but the agreement to continue the rehearsals for her and Terra's theatrical and magical diversion had been made long before the fight and she was forever dutiful to honour her word. So her plan was to stay nearby, and work upon one of the more sheltered lawns. If somebody saw them, the worst that would happen was that some of their secrets might be spoiled. She'd found a walled grassy area, maybe once a games field, down a small brick path near the edge of the grounds of the hotel. The walls were just tall enough that she couldn't see over, and it was a nice square shape which could serve as a stage.


Caspa had left Terra's coat with the tailor, for him to work on whenever he had a spare moment. This plan was a secret from the other half of the double act, though she was likely to ask what had happened to the garment. Caspa had sacrificed her leather bag and re-made it into sleeves for her own leather trench coat. She was wearing this now as she waited, wandering around the perimeter of the lawn, the weatherbeaten hem almost brushing the ground despite having been designed long ago for humans. It kept her warm on the more freezing days which her desert-heritage skin felt much more sharply than the Court members that were nearer to wolf blood than she. The sleeves were baggy, having been used as a satchel for quite a few months, and hopefully roomy enough for the hiding sorts of tricks that Terra had helped discover. She had thought long about restitching them to the shoulders of her coat, but told herself logically that she had no plan to move from here and would never need to carry away luggage anywhere. The few things she owned now lived under her windowsill in a hidden alcove. She sighed and looked up at the sky, feeling the wound under her jaw pull as she lifted her head. She wasn't going to be much use to Terra today, after her beating she was dealing with at least one broken rib and her head didn't move around very easily either due to the pain in her jaw. She hoped the fiery woman found her here: she'd left her scent trail as a signpost, as well as four sticks laid in the shape of a flying bird - a sort of wide "M" - at the head of the brick path. It felt like she'd been here awhile though, but perhaps time was just weighing heavily on her as it often did when waiting. Waiting for Terra, waiting to heal, waiting for revenge... She paced carefully back over to the brickwork arch that was the entrance to the walled lawn, noticing the iron gate that once covered it leaning over to one side almost resting on the ground. Maybe they could fix this place up as a practice arena: it was really quite shabby and obviously hardly ever used.

<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]
#2
[html]

OOC

Coming out of the hotel Terra stretched lazily. She got ready to trot over to the border, checking that the scent was still fresh, and maybe catch something to eat. That plan was sidetracked as she spotted an unusual pattern of sticks on a brick path to the side. Her curiosity drew her to investigate, finding Caspa's scent over it. She recognized it as an m, but wasn't too sure what Caspa was trying to tell her. She puzzled over what the m could stand for before deciding that it stood for magic, the show that they were trying to put together.


She remembered that they had promised to practice together, and realized that Caspa must be setting this up. Tail wagging she ran along the brick path. Entering the game clearing she saw Caspa standing there, the magic supplies put together. There were the cups, and the funny pig statue, and a box that Terra had requested with a mirror slid into the side. Hello! Ready to practice? Bounding over Terra sniffed at her friend, checking her over. There was the faint scent of blood, drawing a frown from her. What happened to you?


<style type="text/css">
.terraleap b {font-weight:bold; color:#fffe61; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #1a1f0a; }
.terraleap p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 16px; margin:0px;}
.terraleap {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-color:#c9c84c; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/wGvcK.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #1a1f0a; padding: 190px 0px 3px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#1a1f0a; letter-spacing:.6px; word-spacing:.9x; line-height:15px; text-align:justify;}
.terraleap .ooc {margin:5px 0px 10px 0px; font-style:italic; letter-spacing:1px; text-align:center; width:100%}
.terraleap p b:before { content: open-quote; }
.terraleap p b:after {content: close-quote; }
</style> [/html]
#3
Words: 376
[html]


Her reverie was shattered by the bounding vision of russet hues that emerged from the gateway. Terra came leaping in without a care in the world, making Caspa's ribs ache just to look at her mobile friend. She nodded a swift greeting, her own long and little-used tail giving a few stately sweeps from side to side. It took her aback when the coy-wolf asked after her injuries at once, for the few she'd encountered since had not commented. Maybe they were just being polite though, and Terra was never one for playing entirely by the rules - and as a friend, of course, she was entitled to be concerned. There was no way Caspa was going to tell her the truth, even though it was completely against her principles to lie. Her hand went to the 'M' symbol around her neck - she had already wondered once or twice if Terra had noticed the symbol she'd laid on the path as being the same as her necklace, after all, the girl had held that item in her possession before. It stood for nothing, in Caspa's mind. She could not read the Cyrillic letter: to her it depicted a flying bird. She continued to run her fingers over it as she answered, "I got mixed up in some trouble. There was a cougar." Well, there had been a cougar. Days before, in the city, keeping a blind wolf company. She hadn't exactly lied, merely knowingly misled the other. And as it was entirely meant for her protection, Caspa thought she could be excused this small deviation this once. "I can't run or jump just yet but it is getting better. Slowly." The worst movement she could have made would be to laugh - but Caspa never laughed, so she would never know the agony that would have ensued. She slipped her leather trench coat from her shoulders. "Do you mind borrowing my coat for now? It should work just the same. Just don't ask why." She winked, a strange eye movement above such a serious mouth - made even more serious now by the deep split on the bottom lip that was sure to scar.

<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]
#4
[html]

OOC

Caspa was lying for some reason. Terra had fought with a cougar, the reason for the scar on her right shoulder. Terra didn't know what had caused the wounds though, and thought that it might be a cat of another sort. It was perfectly possible that Caspa had gotten them mixed up. After all, when fighting with a cat of any kind they seemed ferocious enough to pass as a mountain lion. That was the whole reason why Terra didn't steal from them often. It was too much trouble. When they had a fresh kill though, Terra usually gave into the temptation.


Glad that her friend was feeling better Terra nodded with contentment. She was puzzled that the cloak she'd worn last time wasn't in the pile, considering how determined Caspa had been for her to wear it. Thinking that she'd gotten off the hook Terra sighed as Caspa's own jacket was slipped off and passed to her. Terra shifted into optime, letting her bones melt and grow as her fur lengthened. Accepting it she slipped it on and stepped back, viewing the set up.


Nodding her head towards the box with the mirror Terra grinned. Shall we start with that? Terra had a terrific trick in mind for that one, to make items disappear from inside the box without Terra touching it.


<style type="text/css">
.terraleap b {font-weight:bold; color:#fffe61; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #1a1f0a; }
.terraleap p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 16px; margin:0px;}
.terraleap {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-color:#c9c84c; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/wGvcK.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #1a1f0a; padding: 190px 0px 3px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#1a1f0a; letter-spacing:.6px; word-spacing:.9x; line-height:15px; text-align:justify;}
.terraleap .ooc {margin:5px 0px 10px 0px; font-style:italic; letter-spacing:1px; text-align:center; width:100%}
.terraleap p b:before { content: open-quote; }
.terraleap p b:after {content: close-quote; }
</style> [/html]
#5
Words: 216
[html]


She really had no idea how plausible her cougar insinuation was. She had only met the one, and it had been fairly harmless, apart from scaring a bystander who didn't understand its friendly intentions. Then a building had fallen on him, but still the cougar had not actually done any damage. But of course she hadn't actually given any details. She hoped Terra would merely think she was embarrassed at getting into such a foolhardy situation. Nor did the coywolf ask about the missing coat - it seemed to be Caspa's lucky day, for her friend was full of enthusiasm for her mirror box and happy not to fixate upon the two tricky topics. Caspa herself was filled with curiosity to see what this contraption could do, and nodded earnestly, "Yes, show me that... what does it do?" She had only brought her juggling knives for her own use, the rest of the objects were for either Terra's magic or for dramatic improvisation. "Will the pig like it?" The little pottery statue stared up with menacing cheerfulness at them, dancing in his fedora hat. The question was ridiculous, but phrased perfectly seriously. To Caspa, it made utter sense, and perhaps it did to her partner-in-crime as well.

<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]
#6
[html]

OOC

The mirror box had been built on Terra's behest, but she hadn't shown anyone yet. Eager to reveal her idea Terra stepped up to hold it. She wasn't sure if it would work the same way as the other tricks Caspa had taught her, since it was based off a thieving trick. Still, it had seemed nice enough to her. Now all she needed was something to put inside, and she could show Caspa her first real idea of what to do with the show.


Caspa's words startled Terra a little bit before she remembered what she'd done to turn the statue into an object of fear. Grinning lightly she faced Caspa. I certainly hope so. He lives to be entertained, after all. Her words were partly in jest, but partly serious. It wasn't often her trick was so complete as to leave a lasting effect afterwards. Terra hadn't expected Caspa to fall for it so completely, but having both of them caught up in the moment believing it was real had done it.


Terra straightened, making sure both the pig statue and Caspa were included in her audience. She opened the box, revealing a pure black inside. No sign of the mirror could be seen, just a regular box. Nothing special here. Now I merely need an object to place inside. Terra nodded her head to Caspa, asking the dog to pass her something that could fit.


<style type="text/css">
.terraleap b {font-weight:bold; color:#fffe61; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #1a1f0a; }
.terraleap p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 16px; margin:0px;}
.terraleap {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-color:#c9c84c; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/wGvcK.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #1a1f0a; padding: 190px 0px 3px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#1a1f0a; letter-spacing:.6px; word-spacing:.9x; line-height:15px; text-align:justify;}
.terraleap .ooc {margin:5px 0px 10px 0px; font-style:italic; letter-spacing:1px; text-align:center; width:100%}
.terraleap p b:before { content: open-quote; }
.terraleap p b:after {content: close-quote; }
</style> [/html]
#7
[html]

SSWM Word Count :: 396 A wild Skoll appeared!


Skoll Haskel thought himself an awesome tracker, but none of trails in the pack were interesting enough for him to wander after. He would chase after the mostly worn-away scents of prey to find himself lost, or if the smell happened to be fresh, his growing and clumsy body inevitably scared the other animal away. Even now, despondent after a rabbit had been spooked by his loud footfalls, he lay down on his belly in the snow and huffed loudly. Though the first snowfall had given him and his siblings a ton of delight, the grownups in the pack had been preoccupied with preparations to get them through the cold weather. And so, more often than not, he found himself bored—or he found himself getting into trouble.

Today, however, the pale golden puppy got to his feet and wandered back toward the hotel. Some of his comrades were guaranteed to be inside, especially since the day was rather overcast and it wasn’t much worth standing out in the cold. Closing his eyes and let the weak tendrils of sunlight comb its fingers through his wolfish coat, he sighed and quickened his pace to just get inside and distract himself. Winter was fun and different, but the beast of warmth and light craved the warm and bright months that his elders had promised would follow.

On the way there, however, he paused, one white paw lifted midair. His ears pricked and his leathery black nose wriggled, and he turned around to see fresh prints on the ground as well as shapes that made the shape of a bird’s arching wings. Maybe a clue! Remembering all the stories he forced out of every adult with a voice, he decided that this was a mystery to solve! Grinning smugly to himself for his clever powers of observation, he trotted along after the smell and the sticks toward a walled-in area.

His mouth dropped open when he made his entrance, glancing at the two females. “Caspa! Terra!” he blurted, his tail already wagging prestissimo. They seemed to be in the middle of doing something, however, so with great effort he suppressed the rest of his excited yapping and resisted the urge to go running into them. Instead, he tried to keep himself low to the ground, though his green eyes were huge as he looked the pair over questioningly.


Image courtesy of ilovememphis@Flickr; coding by the Mentors!

<style>
.skoll1 { background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/2BMJL.png); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position: top center; background-color:#d8cc97; width:100%; max-width:600px; min-width:500px; margin:0px auto; text-align: left; padding:320px 0px 10px 0px; color:#616d6a; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; line-height:18px; border:1px solid #FFFFFF; outline:1px solid #000000;}
.skoll1 b {font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#fffbe0; text-shadow:#000000 2px 1px 2px;}
.skoll1 p { text-indent:30px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px; }
.skoll1 p.ooc { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11px; }
p.template-credit {text-indent:0px; text-align:center; font-size:10px; font-style:italic; width:425px; text-align:center; margin:0px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#8
Words: 515
[html]

This revelation was new to Caspa but she merely nodded sagely. It made sense that the pig lived to be entertained, considering the weight of importance he placed upon a good show and the numerous times he had demanded sacrifice when displeased. Thankfully, they had an unlimited member of imaginary audience members to satisfy his appetite, although Caspa had no idea what would happen when the real ones turned up and he started asking for their souls too. Well, that was a problem for the future. Terra was showing her the interior of the box, and Caspa peered inside. Yes, it really was perfect, with its mirror if you didn't look at it from just the exactly wrong angle, it was simply a box. Terra asked for something to put in it, and her unglamorous assistant glanced around thoughtfully. This was the virgin voyage of the mirror box, and surely something special should be used to christen it and bring luck to their future work with it.

Just then a small and familiar voice hit her ears and she lifted her head to espy the young son of the King. He looked a little reluctant to interrupt, and quite a lot bigger than he was when she remembered discussing fairies with him by the beautiful and serene temple that Caspa had taken a huge fancy to since that time, spending most of her meditative hours there. She flashed him a conspiratorial smile, always ready to favour the boy with one of her rare expressions of pleasure, and hoping to allay his fears of barging in. His presence would be eagerly received by them both, she knew without questioning Terra. They had worked alone for long enough, and it was time to start bringing in the outside world and carefully gauging its reaction. For now, though, she just wanted to tease the boy a little and make him smile - or squirm, if she could.


"Aha, good timing - a perfect subject," she announced, turning back to Terra. "You wanted something to put in the magical disappearing box, for the first ever time... what item of better quality to try out than a small boy?" Looking at the box, it did seem as if he would fit, despite his increased stature - so fast he had grown, he was going to be large, like Liam who had quickly outstripped Caspa and many other pack members in size, too - but the mirror contraption inside would ensure it wasn't possible for him to squeeze in. Still, they could at least let him think they were considering it before turning something else into thin air... that was a trick sure to have an impact, if all went to plan, which it rarely did during their chaotic rehearsals. At least other things were often born from the madness, and Caspa's meticulous mind was constantly recording and running-through the logistics, like any good stage manager - she would not let the finished product retain any trace of this spontaneity if she could help it, which of course, she probably couldn't.

<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]
#9
[html]

OOC here.

The voice of a young pup reached her, and Terra spun around to see Skoll. Her tail wagged briefly in greeting, though she didn't drop the mask of knowing that she held when she performed her tricks. Well, it wasn't really a mask per say, just something that slipped over her whenever she performed a bit of trickery, something designed to keep them hidden. It wasn't so much a conscious act as something she did without thinking, raised as she was to guard secrets jealously.


Caspa's words had her turning to examine Skoll, her normally friendly eyes holding an intense study. She shook her head. For another trick perhaps, but this is a box that can't hold the living-at least not do so and return them in the same condition. A little disappointed with that fact Terra looked around the clearing before her eyes fell upon the pig. He was the perfect size for the box. It was tempting to seize it, to reveal herself as the true source behind the show, but couldn't risk such an open act. Instead she selected a small teacup. It had a blue carving pattern around it, only a small chip in the handle. This will go instead.


Carefully she placed the teacup inside. Dipping the box down she allowed a view of it for both Skoll and Caspa. The mirror behaved, and didn't reflect the cup, leaving it as the only item inside the plain wooden container. Certain that she'd proven the box was normal Terra proceeded to tap the sides, showing there was no way for the teacup to leave. Popping the lid closed Terra placed it on the table. She walked around it, muttering slightly as her hands slid over, neatly sliding the mirror into place. The teacup was now on the other side of it, with the reflection leaving the box looking the same size. At last she thumped it on the top and opened it, displaying the now empty insides to her audience.


<style type="text/css">
.terraleap b {font-weight:bold; color:#fffe61; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #1a1f0a; }
.terraleap p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 16px; margin:0px;}
.terraleap {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-color:#c9c84c; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/wGvcK.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #1a1f0a; padding: 190px 0px 3px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#1a1f0a; letter-spacing:.6px; word-spacing:.9x; line-height:15px; text-align:justify;}
.terraleap .ooc {margin:5px 0px 10px 0px; font-style:italic; letter-spacing:1px; text-align:center; width:100%}
.terraleap p b:before { content: open-quote; }
.terraleap p b:after {content: close-quote; }
</style> [/html]
#10
[html]

Word Count :: 403 I can sum this post up with "GASSSP!!!"


His two favorite pack-mates (well, besides his family, of course) turned to look at them, and Skoll could feel a goofy grin spreading across his face, especially when Caspa smiled at him. He wiggled in place then glanced at Terra and the funny box she was holding, tilting his head once again when he noticed her strange expression despite her tail-wagging. He was about to burst with questions and greetings when the ghostly wolfdog spoke up.

“Magic disappear box?!” the small prince yelped, not sure whether he should be excited or extremely concerned. Wait—they were going to put him in there? He blinked then turned as if about to flee. “I just remember I gotta go eat a frog,” he declared, hoping to excuse himself as politely as possible as Terra’s scrutinizing emerald gaze fell on him, examining his dimensions to see if he would indeed fit in the magical box. He took a breath and puffed himself up as big as possible, hoping they wouldn’t just try to cut off his tail to put that in there.

But then the coywolf shook her head, and the sigh of relief caused the child to deflate, even if her words sounded ominous. Her eyes flicked toward a pig figurine, which Skoll glanced at too, but she decided on a teacup and announced that that would go inside.

Terra tilted the box so that the puppy could glance inside, ears twitching as he tried to figure out what was so magical about it. But then she closed the lid, planting it on a table and circling it, muttering what had to be magic words or something. He watched, rapt, sidling against Caspa’s leg in case the box decided that it changed its mind and still wanted to swallow him up with the teacup.

Skoll pricked his ears when the young woman hit the top of the box then opened it for him to see inside—the teacup was gone! He gasped loudly and scrambled backwards. “Where’d it disappear to?” he asked. “Where’d you find the magic disappear box? The temple? Were ya really gonna put me inside?” He whined at this last bit, though it was obvious he was excited over the apparent magical artifact and its item-swallowing abilities. Maybe that funny lady was right about there being spirits!

He tossed Caspa a sly look then asked Terra, “Did the fairies give you it?”



Image courtesy of ilovememphis@Flickr; coding by the Mentors!

<style>
.skoll1 { background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/2BMJL.png); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position: top center; background-color:#d8cc97; width:100%; max-width:600px; min-width:500px; margin:0px auto; text-align: left; padding:320px 0px 10px 0px; color:#616d6a; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; line-height:18px; border:1px solid #FFFFFF; outline:1px solid #000000;}
.skoll1 b {font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#fffbe0; text-shadow:#000000 2px 1px 2px;}
.skoll1 p { text-indent:30px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px; }
.skoll1 p.ooc { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11px; }
p.template-credit {text-indent:0px; text-align:center; font-size:10px; font-style:italic; width:425px; text-align:center; margin:0px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#11
Words: 3+
[html]


Caspa allowed a look of sham disappointment to creep into her eyes at the answer, but at least the innocent frog would remain undevoured. For now. Skoll was wise to wish to evade their threat, for the combination of Terra's motions and the reveal of the empty-looking interior were quite effective, if she did say so herself - well, she supposed she could do so without fear of pride, as this particular trick was Terra's brainchild. It still made her heart skip a beat, to see the emptiness that her brain told her could not be possible. It wasn't even like you could see the line where the mirror halved the box. She remained utterly cool outwardly, though, and merely watched Skoll's flustered expression with amusedly high-lifted brows. Were they really going to put him in there? "Oh yes," she answered not skipping a beat. "I never make empty threats. But watch to see what happens next before you judge us too harshly." When the teacup returned, if Terra didn't decide to make its invisibility permanent this time to scare Skoll even more, then he would realise they would only have brought him back anyway. She did like to thrill and excite the audience, but this was her friend from the fairy meadow and she did not wish to really frighten him. She could not answer the rest of his questions, preferring the trick to retain an air of mystery anyway, but was quick to slide her words in before Terra could make one of her surprising remarks that gave him who-knew-what ideas. "Magicians never reveal their secrets," was her regretful statement, "but there are no fairies involved. These are real magic powers, not stories." Her emphasis on 'real' aiming to show him that there wasn't even a supernatural explanation... but not too explicitly. She winked at Terra, hoping the woman didn't mind Caspa labelling her a magician and speaking on her behalf.

<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]
#12
[html]

OOC here.

Terra smiled calmly as Skoll scrambled backwards, perfectly shocked. He wasn't the only one surprised, though Caspa was as difficult to read as ever. It had taken a fair amount of time for Terra to get used to the subtle changes and be able to read them. Even while Caspa remained outwardly calm, her next tangle of words managed to reveal the mess inside. There was no way that Skoll could fit inside, and she put a fair amount of pressure on Terra to come up with something fairly spectacular now as well.


Terra wasn't too sure what a fairy was, but would have happily accepted that tidbit. As long as Caspa didn't decide to bring ghosts in Terra would be fine. Ghosts were just too frightening, too unnatural. She suppressed a small shudder at her words. Not my powers. Terra glanced at the statue of the pig again, this time subtly reminding Caspa of the tiny god they were supposed to be keeping satisfied. She reached into the box without much thought, making it look like she stuck her hand into another dimension before pulling the teacup out, unharmed, with the mirror returned into place. She placed the teacup where Skoll could investigate it before closing the box and putting it back. Caspa, your knives?


<style type="text/css">
.terraleap b {font-weight:bold; color:#fffe61; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #1a1f0a; }
.terraleap p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 16px; margin:0px;}
.terraleap {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-color:#c9c84c; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/wGvcK.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #1a1f0a; padding: 190px 0px 3px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#1a1f0a; letter-spacing:.6px; word-spacing:.9x; line-height:15px; text-align:justify;}
.terraleap .ooc {margin:5px 0px 10px 0px; font-style:italic; letter-spacing:1px; text-align:center; width:100%}
.terraleap p b:before { content: open-quote; }
.terraleap p b:after {content: close-quote; }
</style> [/html]
#13
[html]

Word Count :: 303


The dog-woman’s warning made Skoll stare at her, gulping, and nod quickly. The two of them held power over him that not even his normal caretakers did; scolding and grounding was effective, but not so much as threatening to make a young boy disappear into another dimension. He just hoped the females didn’t loan the magic disappearing box to his parents for when he was naughty, at least before he outgrew it and was freed from its looming threat.

She went on to speak of magicians and secrets, and while he was slightly disappointed, he knew better now than to complain. He couldn’t help but let out a snort when she spoke of “real” magic powers, though; he didn’t see any distinction between that and other make-believe stuff. Whatever it was that had made the teacup disappear was certainly magical, though, whether it came from rituals or fairies or something even he couldn’t imagine.

Terra mentioned her powers, and when her emerald eyes flicked again to their porcine audience member. The yellowish fur rose on the nape of his neck, but he was distracted by the young coywolf reaching back into the box to rescue the teacup, setting it down before him.

Immediately the golden boy scampered toward it, sniffing at it with such haste that his dark nose knocked it over. A paw clamped down it to keep it from fleeing, and he frowned when there didn’t appear to be anything weird or changed from it. The thought that he could maybe be brought back like he’d gone in took away some of the fear from the freaky wooden mechanism, though he still wasn’t fond of the thought and hoped to get bigger soon.

Then, like a good audience member, Skoll sat down and sat still, awaiting the rest of the show.


Image courtesy of ilovememphis@Flickr; coding by the Mentors!

<style>
.skoll1 { background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/2BMJL.png); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position: top center; background-color:#d8cc97; width:100%; max-width:600px; min-width:500px; margin:0px auto; text-align: left; padding:320px 0px 10px 0px; color:#616d6a; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; line-height:18px; border:1px solid #FFFFFF; outline:1px solid #000000;}
.skoll1 b {font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#fffbe0; text-shadow:#000000 2px 1px 2px;}
.skoll1 p { text-indent:30px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px; }
.skoll1 p.ooc { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11px; }
p.template-credit {text-indent:0px; text-align:center; font-size:10px; font-style:italic; width:425px; text-align:center; margin:0px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#14
3+
[html]


Exactly as she'd prompted, the next thing Terra did was bring the cup back - well, next after reminding her about the pig with a glance, which Caspa in her sceptical short-sightedness was more likely to forget than the credulous coy-wolf, and thus more likely to offend - or at least be required to act as if she had, for the sake of keeping the suspension of belief going. She had never credited before how much hard work this show business was: play-acting was more of a mental strain than being herself. Well, most of the time. She enjoyed the challenge, though and enjoyed the unspoken and almost sixth-sense type link between herself and her fellow actress. She'd felt a strange kinship with Terra since the moment they'd met, although they were truly as different as chalk and cheese. Perhaps it was just that she hoped some of the other girl's characteristics would rub off on her, or just that she liked to be around the sprightly female. The unspoken link between them faltered slightly with the demand for her knives. What did Terra mean, did she want the blades for something? She had never used them before, apart from to steal them from Caspa, and then all she did was keep them hidden. Caspa frowned: was it another short-fall of the small language barrier? Skoll was sitting and waiting, so she did not want to slow things down by asking for an explanation. She decided instead to change the direction, see if Terra could keep apace with her for a change rather than it being the other way round. Caspa might be just the silent sidekick, but she had a few tricks up her sleeve too. Her thick eyelids half-covered her eyes, her brows lifted haughtily.


"You want my knives, do you?" she queried, choosing to wilfully misunderstand. One by one, she drew the five Sabatier once-chef-quality blades from her leather belt, hefting them with practiced hands. "Here they are," she continued without giving time for any answer, flourishing them at elbow-level in a manner designed to draw in any nearby eyes. "You can have them if you can take them," she finished with a sudden defiance, and whirled away into an open space of the flat lawn, putting distance and a sidelong shoulder between herself and the other two for safety, throwing first one then two and finally three while still holding another two in her hands, until those also joined the swirling cascade of weaponry. She meant for Terra to perform one of the first tricks in their repertoire, if she felt up to the nimble-fingered movements it required, today. If not, she supposed the coy-wolf would be answering to the pig again. Her eyes flashed as they focused on the revolving trajectories of the knives, but it was with humour and not anger this time.

<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]
#15
[html]

OOC here.

The honest truth of the matter was that Terra was making it up as she went along, reaching into the bag of tricks they had stored and pulling them out in any manner she imagined. Caspa might want a calm routine for the magic show they were performing, but Terra was a master at sleight of hand, managing to keep even her partner off balance, guessing at what would happen next. She wanted Caspa to juggle the knives, a skill that greatly impressed the coyote, and obligingly Caspa did just that, though in a much more exaggerated manner than Terra would have imagined.


Not even hesitating Terra growled playfully, her tail swishing. She darted up to where Caspa stood, watching the knives carefully. Grabbing them wrong hurt; she'd missed in practice and had gotten some cuts on her hands for the effort. Now though, the act appeared thoughtless. Terra smiled happily. Why Caspa, I don't want your knives. Skoll does. She moved swiftly, grabbing the knife fast enough for it to be hard to spot, neatly chucking it into a place beside Skoll, though still far enough that the pup wouldn't get hurt as the knife bounced off the ground. Keeping eye contact Terra continued her prattle, snatching the knives and chucking them next to Skoll. You should know better than that. I don't need knives. I don't even know how to fight. I have to rely on warriors for that. She winked playfully at Skoll.


Now there was only one knife left. Terra moved to do something daring, snatching it between her teeth. An act never practiced before. Just as expected, Terra missed, the knife instead choking her.


At least, it appeared that way to her companions. Terra had secreted the blade into the jacket, cutting herself with her own teeth. Blood came out as she fell down, choking. She coughed and coughed, trying to dislodge the knife.


<style type="text/css">
.terraleap b {font-weight:bold; color:#fffe61; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #1a1f0a; }
.terraleap p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 16px; margin:0px;}
.terraleap {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-color:#c9c84c; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/wGvcK.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #1a1f0a; padding: 190px 0px 3px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#1a1f0a; letter-spacing:.6px; word-spacing:.9x; line-height:15px; text-align:justify;}
.terraleap .ooc {margin:5px 0px 10px 0px; font-style:italic; letter-spacing:1px; text-align:center; width:100%}
.terraleap p b:before { content: open-quote; }
.terraleap p b:after {content: close-quote; }
</style> [/html]
#16
[html]

Word Count :: 318 Big meany. :c


The elegant dog-woman frowned when the coywolf asked for the knives, and the golden boy looked between the two of them with one paw still pinning the teacup. Soon, however, Caspa drew the knives and hoisted them effortlessly. The blades glimmered, drawing Skoll’s eye, his jaw unhinged slightly in awe before Caspa made her unexpected challenge and swooshed away, just like a ghost. His head craned at an almost painful angle to watch her until the rest of his body pivoted, and he gasped for the umpteenth time as she threw them up—one, three, five—and caught them, spinning them deftly, metal dancing in the air. It was so pretty and dangerous and it near hypnotized the child. Caspa was perfect, only Caspa could do this, only a ghost could do this—

Terra growled and stepped forward, the image shattering for only an instant before it came back together like the surface of a pool. She spoke, and his name broke him out of his trance. She plucked one of the blades from the air, and then suddenly there was a knife embedded into the ground next to him. Once the fact registered more clearly in his mind, he got to his feet hurriedly and scrambled backwards to place distance between himself and the other knives flying at him. Once the fourth knife had landed and there was a pause, his body whirled around to face the two women, his plumy tail curled uncertainly between his legs.

And then there was a blur of brown, Terra going for the last knife—which disappeared just as a spurt of blood erupted from her mouth and she fell.

Skoll stared, open horror on his young face, as his friend choked on the blade. The happy astonishment and even the adrenaline from his own flight from the knives had wiped away immediately, and then the frightened child began to wail.


Image courtesy of ilovememphis@Flickr; coding by the Mentors!

<style>
.skoll1 { background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/2BMJL.png); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position: top center; background-color:#d8cc97; width:100%; max-width:600px; min-width:500px; margin:0px auto; text-align: left; padding:320px 0px 10px 0px; color:#616d6a; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; line-height:18px; border:1px solid #FFFFFF; outline:1px solid #000000;}
.skoll1 b {font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#fffbe0; text-shadow:#000000 2px 1px 2px;}
.skoll1 p { text-indent:30px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px; }
.skoll1 p.ooc { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11px; }
p.template-credit {text-indent:0px; text-align:center; font-size:10px; font-style:italic; width:425px; text-align:center; margin:0px auto;}
</style>
[/html]
#17
5+
[html]

Oh, it was just like the coy-wolf to take such advantage of her when she was in this precarious position, unable to stop what she was doing for fear of messing up their collaborative co-ordination and causing damage to one or both. She had insisted they use only wooden sticks for practice until they had the hang of it, but you never knew when something could go wrong. So she could not stop, nor even raise her voice to answer Terra's teasing words. God only knew what she was doing with the knives: Caspa could hear soft thuds as they hit the ground. Storing the notion that Terra could not fight for another day - that would have to be rectified - Caspa concentrated on keeping her expression filled with the unwitting bafflement that she would have to wear during the genuine performance, as she frowned upwards as if wondering where her knives were disappearing to. As the last one was snatched away, her body jolted, released from its bonds of deep concentration and she whirled round to confront the thief.


What she confronted couldn't have made her jump more if Terra had shape-shifted into a gaping-jawed grizzly. The woman's teeth snapping for the knife, missing and falling with the hilt protruding and then disappearing, her body meeting the ground with sickening emphasis, a fleck of blood flying to add another smudge to Caspa's muzzle. The scent of it was real and she was utterly convinced, if only for a second. How could Terra have been so stupid? She should know better than to try something new with the real deal, something not even attempted with the wooden dummies. Her heart solidified into a chunk of steel, the only sign of her fear the tautening of her dark lips, before she lifted her head and matched Skoll's howls with a single penetrating bark of her own, in the direction of the hotel, although she doubted anybody would hear from this distance. Still, they would need help. She could take bodies apart with skill: she had no idea how to mend them. Caspa flung herself down next to Terra, huge dark eyes raking the coy-wolf's mouth and throat, not seeing the damage she would have expected if the knife had truly disappeared right down the gullet. Perhaps it was this or something in her expression, or just her ever-present hopefulness, but she had a strong sense that the damage had not really been done here. Choking on a knife? It should have torn the back of her windpipe out. Caspa touched the other woman's throat with a hand quick as a wing, tracing the length of it with a spindly finger but the pulse was steady and she felt no sharp edges. She snatched her hand away as Terra erupted in another bout of coughing and sat back on her heels, watching observantly. One ear twitched in the howling boy's direction. His shock might prove even more devastating than whatever wound Terra had sustained. Most wouldn't have expected much more from a child, but Caspa was exacting in her standards. His older brother had shown a great talent for keeping a cool head in a desperate situation, becoming the court's unofficial medic without much experience after the war, and although he was much older than Skoll, she guessed he could learn to do the same given time. He had to learn, at least, that panicking was no way to face a moment of horror. A lesson that could save his or another's life some day. "Skoll," she called softly, "Terra may need our help, so come, watch closely as I check her over." Caspa was almost certain Terra was not badly damaged, but she still seemed to be choking. She didn't know much first aid, but she knew enough to give her a couple of soft thumps on the back, hoping it would help a little while she glanced her over to find where the blood was coming from.
<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]
#18
[html]

OOC here.

Skoll's wail cut Terra's heart. She had forgotten that he was just a pup, caught in the challenge of the trick she was attempting. Caspa was worried as well, checking her body for signs of the knife wound. Terra would have to cough up a knife pretty soon, or end up gutted for terrifying the both of them. Coughing up a knife would be a lot more difficult than swallowing one though. Her mind whirled as she considered the possibilities. The decision reached Terra twisted, and with one last heave dropped the knife to the ground.


Blood from her cut lips had splattered onto it. Terra coughed a few more times before licking her lips, clearing the blood. No repeat there. I'll stay alive next time. It was the closest Terra could get to admitting it was a trick, knowing that Skoll and Caspa would be furious at her if they knew the truth. Rubbing her throat which had grown quite sore from the coughing Terra glanced around. I think the practice is done now. She needed something to drink.


<style type="text/css">
.terraleap b {font-weight:bold; color:#fffe61; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #1a1f0a; }
.terraleap p {text-indent:0px; padding:5px 16px; margin:0px;}
.terraleap {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-color:#c9c84c; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/wGvcK.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #1a1f0a; padding: 190px 0px 3px 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size:12px; color:#1a1f0a; letter-spacing:.6px; word-spacing:.9x; line-height:15px; text-align:justify;}
.terraleap .ooc {margin:5px 0px 10px 0px; font-style:italic; letter-spacing:1px; text-align:center; width:100%}
.terraleap p b:before { content: open-quote; }
.terraleap p b:after {content: close-quote; }
</style> [/html]
#19
[html]
Skoll Haskel

Word Count - 344 :: So not talking to Terra for week. x3

The prince was not experienced with injury and death, despite the war that occurred during his early life. Friends and family alike had been injured and even killed by the conflict, of course, but the Court was a safe place, and his parents had done well in sheltering him from the hate and violence of the world. If there was a disadvantage to this, it was only that he was unwary and inexperienced with danger, and right now any sanity escaped him as he wailed his fear at the sight of his choking friend.

A loud bark cut through his outcry, but Skoll continued to make pointless noise as the wispy wolfdog crouched by Terra’s side. It was only the sound of his name that roused him from his panicking state, and his wide green eyes looked to Caspa. Had he been human, they would be glittering with frightened tears, but all he could do was quiver and stare at her until she urged him to come and watch.

The puppy hesitated, not sure he wanted to be near, to look at his first corpse—but once he slunk over to his older friend, pressing himself against her side to ease his trembling, Terra hacked the knife up. It fell to the grass with a speckle of blood, and the coywolf hoarsely spoke to say that it wouldn’t happen again. Her dark-gloved paw went to her throat, and Skoll stared at her with still-widened eyes before separating himself from Caspa and jumping at her. His pink tongue slipped up the side of her cheek gratefully before he aggressively launched himself at her ear, hoping to give it a bite to remember.

Skoll scolded her loudly, admitting more than he would around any adults but those two. “I’s scared! You gotta be careful, or—or—” His creative threats failed him, and with a huff he skittered over to Caspa and plopped himself on her foot-paw. He let out one last bark in the brownish hybrid’s direction. “Stupid! Even I know notta play with knives!”

table by raze; image from wikipedia commons

<style>
.skollkhan-a05 {margin:0 auto; width:500px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/9efX3.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding: 0px 0px 310px 0px; font-family:garamond, serif; font-size:14px; letter-spacing:1px; line-height:16px; text-align:justify; border:1px #000 dashed; border-top:none;}
.skollkhan-a05 .ooc {font-family:verdana; font-size:10px; text-align:center; text-indent:0px; padding:0px 5px; width:490px; letter-spacing:1px;}
.skollkhan-a05 .wc {text-transform: uppercase; font-weight:bold;}
.skollkhan-a05 p {text-indent: 25px; margin:0px; padding:5px 5px;}
.skollkhan-a05 b {font-family:georgia; font-size:12px;}
.skollkhanname {font-size:50px; font-family: 'Mate SC'; text-align:center; padding:20px; text-shadow:#000000 1px 1px 1px;}
</style>

[/html]
#20
3+
[html]

She eyed Terra balefully. She would have to get to the bottom of this trick sooner or later. There could be no secrets between the conspirators: total trust was necessary for the kinds of tricks they were trying to perform. Either Terra had just regurgitated a blade - which Caspa would like to know if it was even possible - or she'd simply taken the trick a step further than intended. Caspa wasn't sure she had even begun to see the limits of the coy-wolf's wild behaviour. It was all very well normally, but in the middle of a trick like that, such spontaneity could be dangerous. As demonstrated. Or the woman was faking, which Caspa wasn't yet ruling out entirely either.

Her head was aching, perhaps from the unexpected concern or from Skoll's shocked cries. He was rebuking Terra now, deservedly. Caspa added her own stern reprimand into the mix. "We are making magic, not a horror show," she sighed, rubbing a spot of blood off her wrist where it had flicked from Terra's cut mouth. "Please don't kill yourself in front of the children any more, my dear. It spoils the atmosphere," but her voice wasn't as hard as it could have been. She was relieved Terra was all right, and the relief lifted her heart. She was gathering up her knives and putting them emphatically away. They wouldn't be coming out for some weeks more: they could go back to practicing with sticks for now, decided Caspa. As she replaced the last knife into its holster, a weight settled itself on her foot and she peered down to see the soft golden top of Skoll's head. Her eyes softened at his last words. "Hear that? Our Prince has more sense than you and me put together, Terra." She ruffled the fairy prince's ears with a delicate hand. The practice was certainly over now: she felt exhausted from the mental strain of it all. To be perfectly honest, Caspa just wanted a good lie down. "Same time tomorrow?" she inquired of Terra: after today's had been cut short, they could probably do with a consecutive practice.
<style type="text/css">
.caspaseaview b {font-weight:bold; color:#212527; letter-spacing:1px; }
.caspaseaview .ooc { font-style:italic; padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#4d5050}
.caspaseaview p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
.caspaseaview {margin:0px auto; width:400px; background-color:#e8ebe9; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/yDXkc.jpg); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #ffffff; padding: 8px 0px 206px 0px; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#434644; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>

table image credit to Burksy@flickr
[/html]


Forum Jump: