Beating the Master at their Own Game

Terra · 01-23-2012, 07:40 PM

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OOC Feb 7

It had taken quite a bit of convincing to get Caspa to come to the festival. Terra's friend had been rather preoccupied with a search of some sort, though she refused to tell Terra what it was exactly that she was looking for. Eventually Terra had pointed out that everything was at the festival, and that there was a very good chance that whatever it was was probably there. Even then, Caspa had put on the brakes until Terra told her that she'd set it up for them to do a magic show there. It was a lie, but Caspa came along, agreeing to check out where they would be hosting the magic show. Terra had spent most of yesterday running around organizing the magic show she'd claimed, and giggling from all the attention she'd gained from the males she'd dealt with. Several gifts had been given to her, as well as sweet words. Terra hadn't let them touch her though, having learned that she was supposed to find a mate for that.

Eagerly she rushed through the crowds, occasionally distracted by what looked like a rather gorgeous male or shining piece of jewelry. All the flirting might have taken a fair amount out of the girl, if it weren't for the fact that she was being propelled by being in heat, and there was no real rest for her either way. At last she reached a tent, where less canines were. Part of Terra wanted to head back, rub with all the canines again, having gotten used to the press and rather enjoying it in her current condition. She was curious about what the tent contained though, seeing the occasional canine duck in and come back with a look of surprise and pleasure. Such a thing intrigued her. Terra glanced over her shoulder at Caspa. Coming? Terra strode toward the tent, her tail wagging happily.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 01-24-2012, 08:53 PM

Words: 2323
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My longest post ever. O_O Sorry. You can skip to the last paragraph if in a hurry!!

She had viewed the festival coming to the lands with a mixture of interest, as the event was something she might have conceivably imagined to deal with the problem of gathering all the disparate luperci of the pack together for a common purpose and a sense of unity, but then, it seemed it wasn't really about that. The fair was for all the packs, of the entire land, and there were outsiders there too. It was not merely entertainment and collective activity, but traders - probably - hoping to skin a profit out of the local wolves, dogs and everything in between. Judging by the rumours of how many were present, it would be easier to lose the entire Court among the throng than to try to bring it together in one place. And while so many of them were abroad, their own borders could become more weak and insecure by the day, which resentfully the white hound realised meant she could not so easily spend her days combing the country for her assailant, the formidable Amy. Still, although her sense of duty nagged at her, it was not such a hardship to be constrained to within a day's journey of her home. Her old routine was beginning to come back now that much of her strength was too, and in some ways it felt like life had come full circle.

So as the tales of the riches and amusements coming back from the festival became more and more enthused and suffused with excitement, she revelled in the peace of her simple journeying around the immediate borderlands, keeping a watchful eye on the court's actual borders at the same time as checking every piece of ground she could for tracks from that fateful wagon. Sleep came easy after such exertions, which was a blessing on the cold and bruise-aching nights on her hard floor. She saw very little of anybody else, and caught herself talking to her chickens a few times, which she told herself firmly to put a stop to: no good anybody thinking she was beginning to lose her mind. There was little chance of that: Caspa was one of the staidest characters she knew. She was utterly honest, although sometimes she would omit information in order to preserve either safety or peace. She was reliable and kept her word at all costs. She did not let emotions rule her heart or her mind. Although she followed a strict and almost religious way of life, she was by no means fanatical. She did not even seek to evangelise. If anybody was going to go crazy it would probably be Terra - it seemed that Caspa's magical partner in crime had been sent giddy by the presence of the festival, and the multitude of new sights and faces she promised it held, which Caspa had no interest in whatsoever. She already owned everything she needed and she only cared to give up her time to the ones she owed allegiance to. She was not a gregarious dog, or not more than her nature intended. She could never have lived alone, but apart from her nearest and dearest, Caspa was happiest that the outside world did not intrude - even more so lately considering recent events.

It wasn't as if every stranger she ran into was a sociopath, or as if she held any kind of contempt for the rest of sentient creation - quite the opposite. A few times while travelling, she had encountered a kind soul - or, in the case of that dark rider, possibly a manipulative and devious one - but still one that had been willing to offer her assistance or alms, which she accepted fully in the charitable spirit they were given, understanding that such things came around and time came often enough for her to do the same. And she had, more than once, been of assistance herself. In alignment with the ancient shepherding blood in her veins, Caspa often thought to herself that if her calling to this earth was simply to help the needy and to redirect the lost, she could feel enough of worth had been accomplished. Well, no matter what, she was sure she would feel that eventually. All she was was an instrument, and all she could ever do was the will of the divine.

That notwithstanding, it did pretty often feel like she had a free choice in the matter, and those were the moments that gave her the most trouble - where there was no clear and simple right or wrong, just a problem to be solved, with multiple factors, multiple possible outcomes, and none of it perfect. This was the sort of conundrum that the Winter Festival posed, and she had a feeling that given a few more sessions of persuasion, she would end up going.

This in mind, she'd spent the immediate past few days turning her investigations further towards the location of the great grey city of Halifax, taking an old push-cart she'd found in the gardens of the Chien Hotel one day while scraping dead leaves away from the surface of the earth where her poppies were planted. This year, she would like to plant daffodils and other bulbs too, and then later, some sunflowers. The first year had been more of an experiment to see whether anyone noticed or cared about her small input into the grounds, but as the intervention had not even received a single comment, she felt confident enough to continue to work the land. Plants were important; they were like people, they needed the odd gentle push in the right direction, to stop the entire face of the earth becoming encrusted with weeds. It was only due to animals and their smaller brethren the insects that plants could exist at all, and the two worlds were constantly rubbing shoulders and having significant effect on one another: something Caspa had found quite interesting to ponder over during her many hours of sitting and thinking about whatever happened to drift into her mind. Truly, it made for some really fascinating conclusions, although she doubted she would ever find anybody with a patient enough mind to discuss such in-depth philosophies with.

The push-cart was slow, but so was Caspa with her still-tender ribs and a general all-over weakness which was perhaps due to expending a lot of energy on rebuilding bones, and perhaps due to lack of a really satisfactory diet - yet again - this time not due to the thrill of emptiness and ethereal lightness, but the difficulty her broken jaw had posed with chewing. Her sharp shoulders had squared a little sulkily at the thought, wondering if she was forever doomed to her slight and inferior build, or if she could work up to a modicum of strength. Noss although he had been nothing but critical had seemed to think she was not entirely a lost cause, having given her the advice to bulk up more - which must surely mean he thought it possible? This not being Caspa's field of expertise, nor really her interest - in the end, the body was nothing more than a vessel to be transcended - she had returned to less personal and more important considerations, such as how to get the damn cart to stop snagging on every rock. Whenever she found herself actually pushing it through the city, she'd enjoyed the smooth sidewalks and paths, apart from the cracks that littered the concreted areas and were hungry for wheel-rims to catch in their grasp. She'd eventually had to redesign the cart, fitting the old bicycle wheels she'd scavenged far to the north and making a sort of leather tyre to fit over them. This worked much better, and she could trundle it forwards quite peacefully, although it began to seem a little redundant as she travelled - what she was really looking for was alcohol for Strelein, but all these shops and houses had been ransacked to the bone long ago. Mostly all she found to bring back were dead animals who had succumbed to the harshness of winter, and Caspa was too young to the world and too far removed from the human times to recognise the significance and silliness of the sight of herself pushing along the cart neatly packed with fresh corpses, strangely akin to a weary once-a-month shopper in a supermarket parking lot.

She had eventually had a little luck, meeting a wolf who traded a bottle of wine for a dead pheasant while Caspa was in the very northmost reaches of the city. She had been resentful at first of the enacting of her dire prediction that this far towards the forest side of the town would leave her bound to run into some of the inevitable overflow from the ubiquitous festival. But then, the wolf had been pleasant and the trade easy and satisfactory for both parties. Caspa made her journey home rather more jauntily than usual this day, and left the bottle outside Strelein's door for him to find. She could surely track down some stronger brew soon in time to fill the bag she was working on in return for his services on the magician's robe, but the wine would serve for now to tide the tailor over. This had been the same day that Terra had come to her with starry eyes and become quite insistent on Caspa's accompanying her. The hound had eventually agreed to come, although for just a day or two, at least partly because she knew the trade fair would make finding liquor a much simpler task. She took her time over packing, as well as assuring herself that there would still be wolves within the borders - it was of course not her responsibility, but for her own peace of mind she always had to make sure and double check most things - and ran through the show in her mind several times to ensure she had remembered all of the equipment. The coat went at the very bottom of the wooden cart, folded and bound in waterproof leather. She would keep it as a surprise for Terra, right until the morning of the show. With its myriads of pockets and stunning design, Caspa knew the expression on her friend's face would probably be nothing short of priceless, if she could manage to stand still long enough to look at the garment.

At her slower pace, she had taken a much longer time returning to the festival than Terra, and when she arrived she was glad she had dressed in her head-shadowing hood, shoulder-shrugging cape as well as wide belt with myriad hanging down pouches, concealing most of her from the world. It was not as if she was shy, but in such a new situation as this, Caspa preferred to see rather than be seen. She kept a close eye on everybody as she followed Terra, although she was not really expecting to see the both dreaded and longed for yellow dog features. A place like this, with so many honourable and well-reputed luperci would never stand for trade in living canine flesh, and so Amy would find no welcome here, or at least that was what Caspa assumed.

She really didn't have any idea what she was doing or where they were going. She didn't want to trade anything until she'd got her bearings, and she hardly knew what had gotten into Terra, flying around like a butterfly on fast-forward. She felt more like a carthorse than a luperci, trudging after the fiery-coloured coywolf, pushing the wooden bicycle-wheeled cart containing all of their strange apparatus they would be using for the magic show. She found somewhere to park it, in a shady out-of-the-way spot next to a smaller tent on the banks of the lake. Her scent was all over everything inside, so there was doubtless no risk of theft - besides, who would steal from a magician? She hoped their occult reputation was spreading, as it might offer extra protection here in these neutral lands, surrounded by unknown faces. Then there was also the fact she knew one of the most skilful finger-smiths for miles around in the form of Terra herself. That canine was looking back at her now, her interest obviously piqued by the small and mysterious tent: she fired a short and simple question before heading immediately away. Caspa's eyes lifted to the heavens: some question, it was more of a request - no - a command. Not wanting to lose sight of her partner though, she followed, but not without some hesitancy. What was this tent they were entering, so near to the setting of the sun at the end of the day? If it was somebody's private quarters they might have been in trouble. Ducking inside after Terra, the first thing she scented was the sweet smell of tea brewing, a sensation that took her instantly back to her childhood amongst the sophisticated and highly humanised tea-drinkers of her family - that was, almost all of them. The interior seemed a little hazy, and Caspa blinked as her eyes adjusted. An elderly, bright-eyed male was looking inquisitively from her to Terra, one hand resting idly on the end of a long staff - or perhaps not so idly: she noticed one end of it was tapping against the floor. "Oh... good evening," she greeted him rather awkwardly, unsure why Terra had brought her in here, then shot the woman a meaningful stare: she needed to let Caspa in on the secret of what this tent was for, and fast, or the Afghan-bred wolfdog risked making a terrible fool of herself.

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Terra · 01-24-2012, 09:17 PM

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OOC wow that was fun to read! really good! post in the practice thread too? skoll not jump in yet, so just us two still

Terra caught the look her friend gave her, and smiled apologetically. She didn't really know what the tent was for, though the smell did intrigue her. Looking around Terra smiled gently. The old wolf seemed to be fairly secretive, something that tempted her. For once Terra wasn't gripped with the need to flirt, instead having her trickster personality take over. Smiling softly she met the male's eyes. Good evening. I've watched people coming from your tent. Exactly what secrets are you telling them? Terra couldn't answer Caspa's unspoken question, as she didn't know the answer herself.

His head raised, a serious expression on it. Good evening, young hybrid. I reveal the future to those who wish it. Terra stopped herself from snorting in disbelief, her tail wagging slightly. A challenge then. She didn't believe that the future could be read, though she knew that a person's actions could be gleamed from observation. That's probably what this man did, observed the mannerisms of his guests and then spouted out a bunch of vague stuff that was sure to come in. Of course, she couldn't insult the old man. He was an elder. She glanced to Caspa with a wink before taking a seat. Will you read mine?

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 01-25-2012, 10:35 AM

Words: 412
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Eee thanks, that's good to know as it was really pure vomit-posting... Quick, somebody stop that Caspa! I told you she'd be awkward. xD aand I'm on it. I think.

Caspa should have known that Terra had as much idea of what was going on as she herself did. There was certainly an impulsive streak running through the coywolf that the calculating Caspa lacked. She didn't disapprove in any way, but knew she would have to keep her wits about her to avoid getting quickly out of her depth. At least she had some basic academic intelligence, which most of the time allowed her to keep up, and when it didn't she had a really good line of knowing stares which papered over the gaps. Terra had jumped to a conclusion now though, which was the right one. Of course she would be capable of this, though - a lucky guess was never pure luck, but a mixture of keen intuition and practice, and Caspa knew Terra had a natural talent, because it was what most mental magic was crafted from. There was always a logical explanation for these things. When his answer came, though, it was accompanied by the claim of something absolutely not logical nor reasonable, and almost blasphemous. Only prophets could do such a thing, and this man was not even a follower of the true light: he wore no symbol, for a start, and he would never have been peddling foresight in an occult environment like this. Mere mortals were not given this skill, so he was a fraud. She knew that - in the same way as Terra had done - an educated guess could always be made: but to claim it as a true extra-sensory skill? Caspa disapproved highly: it was dishonest and misleading to the uninitiated. Unfortunately, her friend was more open-minded and stepped forward, seemingly taking the bait. Caspa did not want to stand by and watch the old man make a fool of himself. "Excuse me," she stammered hurriedly and swung to slip back out the way she'd come in, when the luperci male's voice halted her for a moment. "Are you scared of the dark, too, pilgrim?" Caspa's ears clamped beneath her leather hood, feeling suddenly a little ashamed without really knowing why, as well as rather surprised by his words - could he have recognised her symbol or her face? Or was it just another educated guess, inspired by her squeamishness? - but her decision was still resolute. "I'll be outside, Terra," she muttered and made a final dash for the exit.

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Terra · 01-25-2012, 09:29 PM

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OOC Jan 25

A small frown fell on Terra's face as Caspa moved to escape. Even worse, the old man made a point of proving his mysticism by attacking that move. Terra knew that Caspa was close to justice, holding goodness strong. The comparison to light and dark was older than her, and she struggled to keep from baring her fangs. Of course not. She's a warrior. She seeks out the darkness and destroys it, not hiding behind a mask and hoping it passes her by. Feeling a more personal draw to defeat the old man and prove her worth Terra turned to face Caspa.

Stay. This will be interesting. Her usually bright eyes were dark, revealing the flip side of the trickster personality. She wasn't just fun and games, but wild and beyond control. Terra took as she wished, and did as she needed with no regret, no guilt, no matter what it was. Her eyes destroyed all innocence her youth might give her, appearing to be older than everyone in the room, even the man sitting across from them. This was Coyote, in all her essence, standing in the room, ready to take on the world and laugh at it's antics.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 01-26-2012, 07:02 AM

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Caspa wasn't too flustered to notice the tiniest of threats in Terra's words - or perhaps it was only there for her to understand, not even intended by the fiery magician, considering the darkness Caspa saw in what some might consider an innocent and harmless endeavour, that of reading fortunes and invoking the spiritual world. Despite her rushed excuse, she was firmly in command of her reflexes, as at all times. So it was no great effort to halt in the doorway, her ramrod straight back as expressive as her steel-riveted face would ever be. Terra concluded with a command, one that seemed to tie together her coyote and wolf nature. Curiosity and strength. Caspa was dog-wolf, and she felt to her small amusement the realisation that perhaps a little obedience was not entirely out of place. She was not going to drop her ferocity, though: her feelings remained unchanged. She turned slowly on the spot, eyes blots of ink out of reach of the dim filtered-canvas light. The old man was tipping a kettle into a teapot, his face calm and benevolent, but she caught him flick a mildly interested look their way and knew he had missed nothing. If he realised the challenge Terra had set up before him, he didn't seem to care. Perhaps he had dealt with thousands like them before. She moved forwards to hover forebodingly over the edge of the table, silently assenting to stay and observe, but retaining a lofty and aloof bearing. "Do drink your tea," he said then, and Caspa realised there were two cups on the table in between them. It smelled much like the spicy brews she remembered from home, but had never tasted; they had been the province of the adults - mostly the male adults. She was tempted to try it, now that she was mature enough in the eyes of her tradition. But if he had added something to the potion, thought to serve them a devil's brew of befuddlement or entrancement... "What are your ingredients, uh," having no name to formally fill in the gap, Caspa was taken aback for a second before the solution presented itself in the words "and your name? And what, exactly, is your claim here?" Her relentless expression demanded no quibble, but the grey-cinnamon wolf's voice sounded unruffled. "Nothing sinister, stranger. Herbs, tea-leaves, and goat's milk. My name is Macarius, and I am a guide... in more ways than one. I can reveal paths that were once unseen." He gave her a toothy smile. "And who might you two be, who have brought the fire and wind of changes into my humble pavilion?" Caspa felt her hackles rise at his vagaries, but despite herself could already find herself wondering what he meant by the peculiar phrasing which seemed somehow to fit the pair. Of course, he was invoking some kind of occult symbolism, but she had no idea what it meant and her active mind was already seeking the patterns and inferences despite herself. "I am Caspa Al-Fateh," she answered; she had nothing to hide.

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Terra · 01-26-2012, 11:16 AM

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OOC Jan 25

Terra sniffed at the strange drink curiously. She'd never seen anything like it before. It smelled a lot like heated plants. Sticking her tongue out Terra lapped at the drink, only to pull back slightly as she found out how hot it was. Hot water wasn't for drinking. It burned the tongue, though it could feel nice on one's fur. Curiously she looked at Caspa to see if she would drink the strange mixture, giving Terra a cue to follow. She declined however, leaving Terra to make up her mind on her own. Gently Terra lapped at it, listening to the exchange between them with some amusement.

Straightening Terra smiled at Macarius. It seems we are at odds then. Your game is to reveal the unseen, mine to protect them from discovery. His words of bringing fire and winds of change didn't effect her as it seemed to for Caspa, feeling no connection to the elements. She carried no wind, the rushing partner of the traveler, and had no need for fire, though she did enjoy it's warmth. Perhaps if she understood it's deeper meaning Terra would have realized, and been able to mock it like she did the rest. Terra's ignorance simply left her unchanged though, seemingly unaffected. He blinked his eyes at her, shifting in his seat. You would reveal the unseen? Discover my name then. Terra finished her tea, putting the cup on the table with a challenging clink.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 01-26-2012, 07:01 PM

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Although at first Terra recoiled from the hot brew, soon after that she'd finished it all before Caspa had even tried hers. She watched as the trickster placed her cup down between herself and the clairvoyant, in a manner that suggested she was throwing down a gauntlet. Caspa inwardly grinned and took up her own cup, sipping it slowly and in a rather genteel manner as she watched what could be some interesting fireworks unfold between the two metaphysically sparring partners. "I cannot reveal that," the strange cross-breed said in steady tones, leaving an artful pause before concluding, "for you already know it, and nor is it a path. They can point ways out, but there is not always a good reason. Names are as changeable and unreliable as fire... or the wind. " Caspa wondered if he was mocking them now, or just enjoying his own little word-games. The tea was truly delicious, though, having an aura of the sophisticated and previously unattainable adult status left over from her puppyhood. She wasn't going to show much appreciation, though, ungrateful woman she was. He wasn't paying her any attention, though, thankfully, but turning Terra's cup in his hands, his eyes growing distant, but he wasn't looking at the tea leaves. "But I can tell you your name, although it is not a true reveal, for reasons already stated. I can hear the earth... you are named for her. Your name is Terra." It was only then, after a flash of disbelief, that Caspa remembered only minutes before she had spoken the exact words 'I'll be outside, Terra' and of course Macarius would have remembered this. The sly fox had chosen to dress this up as proof of his powers. "You heard me say the name," she pointed out to him in a disinterested tone. Now his eyes did turn to her, and that same smile was back. "But of course, my dear. I would never claim anything else. What! would you believe such an exact reading were possible?" and she could only stare reprovingly down at him, knowing he'd scored the first point, and with relative ease.

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Terra · 01-26-2012, 08:45 PM

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OOC Jan 25

Names held plenty of meaning for Terra, and they weren't interchangeable. They held one's essence, one's spirit, which is why naming was always done so carefully. When one didn't live up to their name it was a sign of something gone terribly wrong. True, the names in her pack came from abilities and talents that they held. There were titles, such as Storyteller, but that wasn't the same as a name. More than that, it was a way of tracking a person beyond their scent. Sight and smell might fade with time, but asking those around about a name was sure to get answers.

She stiffened as he spoke her name, and glared at Caspa as she revealed the source of the leak. Her name wasn't something to banter around so easily. Turning she smiled softly. Easy win for you. Especially when it was handed over. What kind of path can you see then, if not one leading to people's souls? Terra understood that canines were named differently here, but it still held true for her. Their names tended to reflect who they were, telling of their family, their past, their deeds. Terra had been named for her strong connection to the earth, her wild instincts more powerful than most. Now she challenged him to find a path she didn't already see herself, or tear open one she kept hidden inside.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 01-27-2012, 05:26 AM

Words: 400
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The hooded hound was lost as to the exact reason she was receiving a glare from Terra. She hadn't thought the other was one to mind her mistakes being shown up, as she wasn't exactly the most egotistical of characters, although she did have a pride and charisma that belied her easy-going and careless semblance. She was usually happy to admit to her mistakes, as was Caspa, and Caspa had thought the coy-wolf used to her unrelenting honesty by now. She had no idea that the fact she'd spoken the name already could be a problem, being yet unaware - as was probably the intention - of the other woman's antics around the country under an alias. Until she was told of this, she was likely to have difficulty understanding why she needed to keep certain things quiet.

Macarius' eyes widened with protesting innocence at Terra's grudging words, as if he didn't know what she meant by 'win'. "Yes, well, now we are all acquainted, I suppose we may as well begin." His head shook very slightly, still playing the bemused old soul as he bent again to her tea-leaves. Caspa realised he was studying the arrangement, and rolled her eyes, lifting and turning her head at the same time to study the interior of the tent as if utterly bored by the actions of the male. What on earth meaning could he find in a sodden clump of milled herbs? This was a sacrilege to any vestige of true divine he might contain, as any living soul did. Her distaste could not quash her curiosity fully, though, and it wasn't many seconds before her quick black eyes returned to his downturned head, glinting black-pupil impatience. As if he'd waited for her attention to resume, Macarius chose that moment to speak up. "I see you like an arrow nocked to a bow... but there is more than one on the string." His eyes had become distant again, their glassy surface misting over, and Caspa didn't think it was due to the passing of his years that they had suddenly become so reflective. A trained tear duct reflex or steam from the tea, she told herself, but the cup had been empty. Macarius blinked very slowly, and then breathed in sharply, making it clear he was about to speak again.

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Terra · 01-27-2012, 10:35 PM

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OOC Jan 25

Terra watched curiously as he studied the cup. She wondered if she'd left marks or patterns in there with her tongue that gave herself away. His eyes clouded over though, and a slight chill ran over her spine. He was dying. Not just of old age, but something more. He had some sort of sickness eating at him, killing the old wolf. This understanding did give her a card to play though, one that could turn things in her favor. The problem was that he held them off balance, controlling everything in the environment. Terra and Caspa might be beyond his control, but manipulating others was child's play to creatures such as him and her.

His words were incredibly confusing though. Terra had nothing to do with bows and arrows, having a fear of them. Even further, she knew a bow couldn't work with more than one arrow on it. Was he implying she was foolish? That didn't seem to be the case though from Caspa's expression. Perhaps she had gleaned meaning where Terra had seen none. The old wolf opened his jaws to speak again, but this time Terra beat him to the punch. You're dying. Her words held a still calm to it, stating a fact. The old wolf blinked in surprise. We're all dying. Terra shook her head. Not like you are. Death doesn't cling to your fur yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if you already heard the singing of the stars. She might be the only one to understand that last bit, but for Terra the stars were where one went when they died, and hearing them sing was a sure sign you would join them soon.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 01-29-2012, 05:50 PM

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This had become strange and disconcerting indeed. Now Terra was reading the future, or pretending to - Caspa wouldn't put it past her. There was no other explanation, unless she'd been listening to gossip. The old wolf didn't smell of ill health or even decrepit. She wanted to ask her ever-surprising companion where she was getting her ideas from this time, but something inside her preferred to put up a united front in front of the stranger - perhaps a deep instinctive pack-loyalty of some kind, or just her version of friendship: unquestioning faithfulness to the end. The white hound did, however, prefer to change the subject. Macarius was looking rather askance, and she could understand why. First she'd shown opposition to him and been announced as a destroyer of darkness - actually, she rather liked that - and now the flame-coated woman had told him that he was dying. Caspa was quite amazed at the things some claimed to believe. There was no way to see the future, or hear the stars. Perhaps this was a story, that they were all conspiring to make, and none of them actually believed the things they were saying. Whatever was going on, it was time to move the story forward, away from the macabre direction it had taken. "Any other weapons in your tea cup, Macarius?" she asked in an ominous sort of voice, mostly because she disapproved of the words coming out of her own mouth and could not believe she was playing along.

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Terra · 01-29-2012, 07:08 PM

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OOC Jan 25

The old wolf shook his head. This was his realm, and he wouldn't let it fall so easily. He smiled calmly. I have no weapons. I simply speak the truth. Such as you did not come here for such simple things, but to see the truth. You refuse to open your eyes to that though, even after it cost you. Those last words were directed at Caspa. Terra didn't move from her spot, studying him. It was strange that there was nothing odd in his scent, but each movement, each mannerism, stirred some deep instinct in her, whispering of those that faced death soon. Maybe he even realized this, disturbed by the words.

Shaking her head Terra leaned over. Smoke and mirrors, that is all I see. You can see that easily from the wounds she still bears. Why not try something a little more difficult? Tell me what you see ahead of me. Terra knew her path was strong, something that she'd hidden herself. Ever since she'd left her birth pack her path had been chosen, and unless something large happened it would remain on that path, a secret hidden, even, sometimes from herself.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 02-03-2012, 07:03 PM

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The pale dog frowned, looming over the seated pair in the gloom of the tent. He had the audacity to tell her she was the one denying the truth, when everything he had set himself up to be here could be nothing but a lie. And she hadn't meant that he'd literally got a bow and arrow, but that was what he'd said was in the teacup already. She was losing patience fast, or at least fast for her usual infinite levels of endurance.

Terra still had enough of an attention span to ask him to go on, though, so Caspa remained despite herself, although she wanted to ask how Terra thought he could tell any kind of truth that had not yet come to pass. Such a thing could only live in the imagination. Whatever he said could only be a lie or at best a guess. Macarius did not seem to wish to be so compliant this time, though. He smirked at Terra, but it was not a spiteful expression, more of a kindly amusement. "I don't see what is so easy about it. It's clear that even you don't know that story." Caspa turned away, her jaw clenching. Somehow, he'd dredged up her recent past... or was it her fault, had she had the matter on the brain and thus interpreted his words as relating to her fight? Still, the mixture of coincidence and guesswork had touched a nerve, although she didn't particularly care herself, she was still determined to protect her pack from the knowledge. She would end up being forced to explain everything soon, if she wasn't careful. Sneaking a look at the meddling medium out of one black eye, she caught him giving her the tiniest of nods, and quickly turned away again. He acted like he knew so much: but it was just an act, and they musn't get themselves involved in it, give him still more ammunition in the form of insight. She could feel his eyes leaving her, and his attention turning back to the coy-wolf who had placed her challenge before him, and breathed more easily.

"Your cup is hard to read," he was saying. "It shows me your path is not as fixed as you think. And nor is mine," he added, and there was a sharpness in his tone.

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Terra · 02-03-2012, 08:32 PM

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OOC

Bored with the game and non answers Terra leaned back. She yawned before looking over to Caspa. She seemed a bit on edge with that last comment about the fight, not that she could blame her friend. The dog had tried pretty hard to keep that cloaked. Terra knew that she had been lied to, she simply didn't press the issue. All had their own secrets to carry. She looked back at the sharp tone of the old wolf and smiled faintly. It is not set? What a pity. I suppose you're out of a job then. Neatly she pounced on the flaw he himself had created before standing.

Brushing against Caspa she paused at the exit. I don't lie about what I see. Well, not see really. More like sense. The same way one knew that another wolf had rabies even before the disease was obvious, Terra knew that something was killing the old man. It might take a year, or it might happen tomorrow. It was there though, resting like a ticking time bomb. She stepped outside, stretching. Shaking her fur Terra blinked, eyes adjusting back to the light. That had been interesting. Not what she'd expected, but it explained the mystery she'd beheld. Her questions answered, she was prepared to finally show Caspa where they were supposed to set up.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 02-05-2012, 06:59 PM

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Terra was a hot-blooded, wild creature compared to the ice-cold Caspa, and although she had been the one to haul them into the dark fortune teller's tent, she was also the first to tire of his prevarications, storming away before much more could be said. Caspa supposed it was for the best to cut this ridiculous charade short, and also knew that as the obedient side-kick, she should have been turning to follow without a thought. Yet, she hesitated.

Macarius was smiling with patient amusement after the russet woman. Hard, but not impossible. Perhaps what you see lies to -you-... he muttered, so quietly Caspa was not sure her ears weren't fooling her. She could hardly believe what she was doing, but she approached the table again. The dingo-wolf looked up at her with wary, disapproving eyes, and she wondered if she was about to be ejected to follow Terra. Quickly she pushed her teacup at him, and in clipped tones spoke, "I do not believe in the skills you claim, but I can see in your eyes you have studied the stillness like myself." She would never have called it Buddhism, but the trance-work Alae had taught her was leading her down a road which she saw reflected in both his constantly impersonal demeanour and some of the symbolic decor in the tent: a road that it seemed Macarius was further advanced upon than she. "Perhaps I can believe that you have a clearer sight than most. Tell me what you see in my dregs. I will repay you somehow for your time." The old canine looked at her knowingly: it was a look he must have practiced, she thought. He could not know why her opinion had shifted: but perhaps he recognised the incipient stillness in her own eyes. "That will not be necessary now, but I may call on you another time," he said dismissing her offer, and then bent over the teacup. She wanted to shudder, but she also wanted to know what wisdom he could dream up for her. She remained steadfast as the elder frowned over the soggy remains. She doubted their hostile atmosphere was really conducive to his craft, which was of course all about reading the faces and movements of his supplicants.

True enough, his eyes lifted to her and pupil locked tightly to pupil, he spoke. "Old life creates new life. A battle you can't win, but you must lose in order to be free. You are seeking the end of yourself, so there is nothing else to fear." And with that, Macarius's features fell into an expression that clearly said her audience was over. She stared at him and then turned to go. She was disappointed: it was clear his words were nothing but the most vague, easy to apply to a variety of situations, but with a macabre twist probably based upon her grim exterior. As she retraced Terra's steps, the cinnamon-coated male spoke again and she could tell by his words he smiled. "My temple is always open to fellow students." But she did not stay to ask what he meant.

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Terra · 02-05-2012, 07:15 PM

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OOC

Outside the tent Terra caught eyes with a handsome coyote. So rare to find another of her kind Terra had drifted towards him. Falling perfectly in line with the stereotype he was crude, though there was an underlying intelligence that guided his movements. It became a game, stepping between them, fencing with words. By the time Caspa followed her out of the tent Terra had straddled the male coyote, whispering false secrets into his ear.

Looking up Terra smiled. She slid off the coyote's body and walked toward her friend, tail swaying happily. One look at her friend's face told her what had happened once she left. Don't worry. He's not very good. Very vague, and definitely a master of words. He can't see the future though. Especially if he can't sense what's wrong with him. Terra was completely unaware that that fact was something only those especially in tune with their instincts could pick up. To her it was as obvious as a lie.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 02-07-2012, 06:10 PM

What temple? was what Caspa wanted to know. Did he really have a temple? It would be fascinating to find a place that was truly set apart for those who wished to practice their piety in order to transcend the sins of the world. He had probably used it as a metaphor, though, he was vague enough for that. Her lips set in a grim line as she blinked around for Terra, before realising the unfamiliar looking animal before her was in fact a two headed beast: a closely entwined pair of coyote-golden animals, but she did not even have time to make a withering remark before the one she knew peeled away and came for her with a walk that made even Caspa's blood prickle, her words seemed still laced with whatever honey she had been whispering to the male. "I take my eyes off you for one moment…" Caspa muttered under her breath, then jerked her head towards her little barrow and walked with her friend in that direction. "Why did you tell him he was dying? Did you want to frighten him?" she asked after a moment, having only just digested fully Terra's words. "And who was that coyote?" A small twinkle in her eye now. She wanted in on this secret.

Terra · 02-07-2012, 06:42 PM

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OOC

Terra happily fell in line with her friend. Her sharp ears caught Caspa's muttered words, bringing a small smile to her face. She pretended not to hear though as they approached the wheel barrow. She was looking forwards to the show tomorrow, even if she was dealing with distractions. Pleased she waved at the coyote male. Realizing she wouldn't be coming back he shrugged and headed off. Hearing Caspa's question startled Terra. She hadn't realized not everyone could tell.

Caspa's next question brought a broad grin to her face. Flicking her head Terra met Caspa's eyes. Oh him? Nobody important. Just someone I met while you dallied inside. He had been simple minded, nobody Terra would ever take seriously. He couldn't match her in wits or speed, something quickly revealed in the flurry of actions between them. As for the other question, that was harder to answer. Thoughtfully she looked ahead. I told him he's dying because he is, though I don't know when. Just that something's wrong with his head, and it'll kill him. Luckily it's not contagious.

Let the night take you away

Caspa Al-Fateh · 02-23-2012, 06:55 PM

The white hound crinkled her forehead. "But you can't know that," she stated blankly. "There was no smell, no sign of any kind." Caspa could only imagine basing her assumptions on solid facts, or information from a trusted person. Intuition was only useful in situations where instant reflexes were required. It could not tell you a truth that your other five senses could not perceive.

"Have you overheard a rumour about him?" she wondered. Where was Terra getting her ideas - there must be an answer, Caspa thought. But before her brain tied itself into perplexed knots, she found something simpler to turn her thoughts to. "Show me where to leave this wagon then… but we won't unpack until tomorrow. Things might get lost or wander off in the night." She looked around: any old flat piece of grass would do to perform on, but it would help to have all the equipment ready nearby for the hectic set-up tomorrow.

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