The road is long

Pandemic D'Angelo · 03-29-2012, 06:37 PM

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The reflection of sunlight dancing off his fur seemed almost blue in colour against the perfect black of the wolf’s thick coat. This month belonged to spring and kept the urgent currents of the river cooler than he’d prefer, but not unbearable. The backpack he had acquired at some point in Freetown had been left on the shore of the wide river. Pan hadn’t brought much with him, but as the day had matured into a healthy afternoon with a spotless sky, it had slowly filled up with metals and rocks, and on top dozed the dead carcass of an unfortunate rabbit he had caught only a few hours earlier. With the ruminants of a dead empire found everywhere, the large male did not really lack resources to practise his skill, but there wasn’t enough to be wasteful, and he was certain he had found fragments of flint scattered here at some point earlier.

He was only knee deep in the leaping water, but he was more or less soaked anyway, from crouching into the masses of river every time he thought he found something worth investigating. The Salsolan hadn’t intended to waste his day like this, but here he was, wading around in the search of small metal pieces. Black muzzle remained slightly crinkled with the ghost of his dropping mood, but he knew well that he would be grateful for gathering useful objects later. He was no longer in Freetown, and would dine with his family in the evening. It was wonderful to spend some time home.

His first six months as an apprentice had kept him in Freetown more often than not, and although he had taken an extended leave to get some time in Salsola, he knew he needed to keep practising. And yeah, for that he needed different materials.

Wander · 03-29-2012, 07:08 PM

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The petite doe roamed quietly along on her nomadic path, having gotten lost along the way to her destination further southward. Her left hand was firmly grasped on a cane which scanned it's way over the ground, warning her of upcoming protrusions of the ground, when it hit something rather soft, that made a soft clinking sound. Her brow furrowed, mint sights curious, as she crouched down a little, the hooded pitohui resting in her right hand fluttering his way to some tree branches as Wander focused on this strange object.

The babbling sounds of the river and lack of proper eyesight failed to warn her of the owner of the bag, leading her to believe that no one else was around. And when no one else was around, what was the harm?

Quietly, Wander set her cane aside to reach her nimble fingers into the bag, inspecting its contents. Typically, trifling through another being's objects would completely deter her, since it was considered rude, but when life depended on opportunity, that detail was overlooked. The femme failed to find anything interesting in the bag, and closed it carefully, before her hand brushed along something soft and fluffy. And dead. In her dismay, Wander let out a trembling yelp, stumbling backwards a little, and she abruptly wiped her hand off on her cloak, startled.

Pandemic D'Angelo · 03-29-2012, 08:13 PM

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The large male was not paying attention to his belongings up on the shore. It wasn’t a question of trust that others would not take what was not theirs, but because he outright slacked at keeping an eye on objects he owned when he wasn’t in Freetown. He was raised better, and the trade spot was full of pocket thieves and similar, but he had never encountered petty criminals on home base before. He wasn’t far away either, though had his back to the approaching woman and her cane.

Silvery hues squinted down at the roaming masses of ice cold water, and arms quietly dived again and again to pick up rocks and the occasional mystery object. Though, as soon as the thief’s yelp leaped from the stranger’s lips, the black man’s form hesitated and turned to pursuit the sound with audits and visuals. Eyes grew with the surprise that hit him when he saw the cheeky woman by his belongings. A growl nearly rose from the depths of his throat, but intuition kept his voice and form still. There was no visible reaction from the other to the fact that she had been caught touching what wasn’t hers. Peculiar.

With building fury boiling within his muscular chest, he began to make his way back to the shore. Whiskers pulled back and his lips withdrew to reveal a quiet snarl of disapproval. Sharp clawed fingers curled into giant fists as he moved, expecting her to run now when it was obvious to see that he had taken note of her and was moving in on her.

Wander · 03-29-2012, 08:46 PM

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The petite dame was still trying to get the feeling of dead animal off of her hand, still unaware of the bulky stranger making his way to her, unable to hear him over the sound of the river, until he got close enough. Her hood had fallen to obscure her vision, but once she thought she caught a sound, she quickly tugged off her hood to listen, her jade gaze quickly turning to the river, hark fallen to her crown as she looked up at the large obsidian fellow, who was uncomfortably close at this point. Wander scrambled to her feet rather clumsily, a look of dismay on her visage.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, didn't see you. Didn't know the bag belonged to you, so sorry, kek, the doe rambled nervously, ducking down a bit and covering her head in a submissive manner, cringing and gritting her teeth as if to brace for any kind of impact as she stumbled a few steps back. A certain tangerine and charcoal bird fluttered about the stranger, feathers puffed as he screeched up a storm, flapping about the charcoal brute before landing dutifully on Wander's shoulder, still puffed as his crimson eyes remained on the stranger.

Sorry... Genuine apologies...

The dame glanced up again, head turned more to the left for the sake of keeping this stranger in sight, or at least, what little sight she had. She continued to cringe back,

Mistake. It was a mistake. Don't hurt me, please...!

Pandemic D'Angelo · 03-29-2012, 09:41 PM

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He was deaf to her puny excuses; his scent clung to his belongings and should make it obvious to all. Pitch black ears lay flat against thick locks, unwilling to listen to her genuine apologies. It didn’t really take much to get anger to flow through his veins. It had been a prominent problem during childhood, and though he had worked with his issues and had managed to find ways to leash his easily sparked anger, he didn’t seek to gain control over his tantrums outside the family. One thing was to control himself within Salsola’s borders and with his Masters back in Freetown, but this was a mere stranger.

Pupils scrutinized his backpack and he could see that it had been tampered with. It was pathetic that he hadn’t caught her presence before her greedy fingers had touched what was his. A persistent bird fluttered about him and darted to land on the thief’s shoulder, but he ignored it. Pandemic was a giant and few creatures outmatched his size; a puny bird was the least of his problems. Companions weren’t uncommon, and a small bird nothing.

Once he reached the shore, his impressive form darted straight for the petite woman, and his right fist unwrapped to give her a powerful slap across her rude face. He intended it to be the first strike of many. Salsolan traditions had formed him, and they didn’t take well to being disrespected in any way.

Wander · 03-29-2012, 11:16 PM

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The further the obsidian beast crept forward, the further she seemed to sank, which only enraged Gamble, who was still puffed up on the small dame's shoulder. She continued to prattle off apologies, making her body as small as possible before the charcoal beast, fearfully watching his hand before he took his strike.

Wander's fierce protector quickly took to his wing with the assault, and attempted one of his own, at the very least attempting to disorient the formidable foe, beak and claws attempting to gain purchase as what they could ensnare.

The doe had stumbled a bit back, in shock from the blow, and she squinted her 'good' eye, feeling a vast sting over her visage, and she hesitated before looking back, to Gamble and the stranger, still rather bewildered for a few more moments until she realized what was happening. Quickly, she removed her cloak and tossed it over the irritated bird, reigning the furious Gamble back in and holding him gently in her cloak until he relaxed.

Wander licked at her lip a tad, wincing at the tiny cut she received from her earlier blow, which immediately returned her attention to the obsidian brute, those jade sights wide and frightened as she muttered another apology, taking another few steps back.

Pandemic D'Angelo · 03-31-2012, 12:51 AM

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A bit uncertain how he'd react to the toxin, so herp a derp XD

The first strike did not hold much of his strength behind it, but she would definitely feel it. The initial anger wasn’t at its peak, for though he cared little for her dishonest apologies, he wasn’t immovable. Ivory teeth grinned at her, unpleasant and disapproving, and his throat vibrated darkly with the promise of the abuse that was coming her way.

Only one thing caused the giant of a man to hesitate, and that was the crude little bird that once again took wings to defend its foolish owner. Platinum coated eyes widened for a moment before instinct forced them shut as the little creature darted at him, flapping its feeble wings against his face. Clawed hands rose to protect his face and to slap away the silly little thing. A small bird was nothing.

But then, the strangest, tingling sensation seemed to spread across his face. Surprised, he drew a sharp inhale as he took not one, but two steps back and away from the woman and her bird. The black man blinked and touched his numb cheeks, extremely confused as to what could have led to this. He had never experienced anything similar. Pupils hugged by grey darted to the cloth that had captured the bird, and his jaw dropped as his mind worked to understand what was happening.

”What did you do?” his dark voice boomed. Fingers continued to rub against his face, as if the unpleasant sensation could be wiped away.

Wander · 03-31-2012, 01:15 AM

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You got it pretty spot on xD

Once Gamble had adequately calmed, Wander took hold of him with her gauze-bandaged right hand, and gave him a little toss, sending the bird over to a nearby tree's limb, before her jade sights looked rather blindly to the charcoal beast, who staggered back a bit.

”What did you do?”

The booming voice took her by surprise, clearly not sure as to what the ebony beast was implying, and she looked puzzled until her reeling mind finally caught up to her, a tiny gasp sucking in through her lips.

Oh! Did Gamble get you? I didn't mean- he's a hooded pitohui, you see? The man I got him from told me he has some kind of... Um... she fell silent for a moment, clearly raking through her brain to remember what the merchant had said. Neuro-something. Venom, kek. Not dangerous, but unpleasant!

Despite the toxin not being highly dangerous unless consumed, Wander was still worried about the damage her bird may have inflicted, and she hesitated a bit, debating silently with herself. The dame was somewhat held back by a fear that he would strike her once more, but she cautiously took a few steps forward, a hand in her own satchel as she shuffled forward ever carefully. Fingers grasped what she recognized was her roll of gauze.

I-I'm not sure I want to help, but... I can try, but... Could you come closer? she asked in a downright bashful manner, blinded eyes scanning over that obsidian visage for some kind of clue as to an expression, though it still remained much like a blob, to her discontent. Harks were held back in a docile, submissive manner, clearly still nervous. Her pace was almost deliberately slow, her feet shuffling about as though she were skating on ice, hands held out to make sure she wasn't misjudging her lacking depth perception. The dame was quite lost without her cane, and placing quite a bit of trust in the large fellow, hoping that he wouldn't retaliate with more violence. A slender hand reached towards him faintly.

Do you have any cuts? Show them to me, kek?

Pandemic D'Angelo · 03-31-2012, 03:22 AM

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wheeoeo

She spoke, perhaps of the bird perhaps not. Fingers rubbed against the unpleasant tingling spreading on his face, and the dark vibration within the depths of his throat remained. Venom, she said? Birds weren’t venomous—they were merely pretty things with the occasional sharp beak. The young male snorted at what he was told, but accepted it without further difficulties. She could be lying, but something had triggered this unknown experience of a tingling, numbing face. Dark lids hooded stormy eyes as he glared at the strangely helpful woman, for he didn’t know what he was supposed to think.

A snort was given at her request and he shook his head at first; most unwilling to trust a thief with a venomous bird. But after a moment, he stepped towards her, palms falling from his pitch black face. Eyes were narrow with his suspicion. He had been born within the dark caves of Anathema, and as a young child he had become a founding member of Salsola. Distrust for strangers was in his blood, and he thought he’d rather see her head roll. But she knew what he did not, and if this bird was in fact venomous, it would be to his advantage to take care.

She asked for cuts, and fingers darted up again to investigate. They returned, stained by crimson dots. Apparently. Dark lips hid away the threatening frown that had accompanied his face for a while now, for he was willing to play more nicely. Crouching before him, he made an effort to make his gaze soften. ”Here,” he mumbled, placing one finger near the base of his snout and one above his left eye.

Wander · 03-31-2012, 03:43 AM

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Her touch was one of hesitance and insecurity, clearly worried about being in such a close proximity of the large male, though her nimble fingertips carefully examined the tiny cuts her bird had dealt, frowning lightly, keeping a hand on his face, tucked the gauze away for a moment before getting out a tiny jar of honey. It had to be one of her least favorite substances; sticky, slimy, and above all else, it was a film. It made her stomach clench and skin crawl thinking about it, though the dame carefully unscrewed the lid in order to treat his wounds.

Sorry about this. Best not to risk an infection, she murmured softly as she smeared honey on his cuts before putting the jar back into her bag and reaching for her gauze, her mind beginning to reel again with the honey on her fingertips. The doe was quick to apply the gauze to his wounds, remaining rather collected on the outside, though within, she was freaking out beyond all reason.

As soon as she had deemed her patch-work finished, she was quick to stumble her way clumsily to the waterside, tripping over various rocks and roots on the short trip, due to not having picked up her cane. Quickly, she dipped her hands into the cool water, rubbing the honey from her fingers with a shudder.

That should be enough. Sorry, Gamble's a bit protective, she muttered in a disquieted tone, barely audible against the rushing water as her bird fluttered over to her stuff to perch upon it.

Pandemic D'Angelo · 03-31-2012, 09:09 PM

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The black canine resisted the urge to either snap after or withdraw from the thief’s gentle touch. It seemed so wrong for a complete stranger—much too intimidate for a creature that had grown up in a world where only family mattered. She was nothing; a simple weed he had encountered in the wild, and she should not be permitted to touch him. But the large brute remained still, with silver slits watching carefully as she found a jar of reeking honey. Lips wished to pull back with soundless warning, but he forced himself still, allowing her to smear the foul smelling and sticky substance over the minor cuts.

Once done, the other canine abandoned him to clean the sticky mess off her hands. A word that had somewhat puzzled him earlier was repeated again, and he realized it was the name of the bird. As the petite woman spoke, the bird took wings and landed on her sparse belongings. He glared at it darkly, but remembered that the woman had mentioned that it wasn’t really dangerous. Whatever. He rose and slowly turned, finding her form by the banks still. Black claws rasped against the inside of his palms as he paused only for a moment to decide what he was going to do next.

His pace was calm as he made his way over to her. Right hand curled and was sent in her direction; this time with much more force that when he had offered her an open handed slap. He didn’t wish to kill, but he intended the punch to send her on a short trip into oblivion. She had shown him a portion of kindness, but he saw it as folly. Salvia had advanced while he hadn’t, and he would grab every opportunity he could get to climb after his sun and stars.

Wander · 03-31-2012, 09:32 PM

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The dame's hands were quickly at work with cleaning themselves, a shiver darting up her spine due to her displeasure with coming in contact with the sticky honey. A hark was trained on the ebony brute, practically sensing a tension and the fact that he didn't find her apologies or handy-work genuine. In silence, she was formulating a plan to pick up her belongings as quickly as possible, grab her cane, and try to make a run for it.

Gamble's wings fluttered as he stranger approached, and he made a sharp chirp as he took to his wing again, causing the doe to turn her head a bit, the edge of her jaw colliding with a fist as she did so. She hadn't accounted on her glass jaw in an escape plan, and the fragile Wander was quickly knocked unconscious by the blow, falling limp near instantly.

It was a strange feeling, being unconscious. The dame felt as though she were engulfed with a substance, much like being bundled up in a blanket while in a deep slumber, only not nearly as pleasant. She wrestled with herself to gain purchase on the gripping pall, trying to force some part of her to move in her state of vulnerability, though no leg, arm, hark... Nothing responded. After what felt like a century of struggling, the dame succumbed to the unpleasant dark.

Pandemic D'Angelo · 03-31-2012, 09:50 PM

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Nice and easy, and he watched her drop to the ground. Ebony ears flattened and muzzle grimaced as he turned to the bird, flexing his claws with malicious intention. The bird had gotten him once, and if little Gamble was to give him another go, then the outcome was certain to be different, and not in the bird’s favour. Seconds passed without unpleasant surprises, and he snorted contently as he moved to grab his and the thief’s belongings. He would rummage through her possessions at a later time—perhaps her sneaky little fingers had stolen something useful.

Lastly, he walked over to the petite doe’s unconscious form and threw her over his shoulder as if her weight matched a feather’s. He was a giant thanks to good genes, and regularly handling heavy objects and weights in his chosen profession made him much stronger than the average wolf. And this one was young and thin; not a burden at all. Had the male had any rope or strips, he would have tied the girl up properly, but he didn’t. There was nothing a good punch couldn’t do, and so he began to walk home. And he that had feared that he would return home more or less empty handed.

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