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Betrayal. The lonely form of an underfed bronze biped walked slowly through the ruin of a once-great human city, a scowl twisting his scarred features into something fierce. A cold bitterness had set in his heart, one born of sacrifices made and unappreciated, of mental and physical scars won only for the ungrateful, of double-standards set and enforced by the meek. Was there any room for honor in this 'civilized' world he had stumbled into so long ago? Some of his friends had maintained it, but the name of the game was apparently just having the right friends. Even Storm's gamma had been completely bereft of loyalty. He missed his homeland, where leaders held their own omega more important than the alpha of the neighboring pack. Ties of loyalty had been strong and true there, not the transient, ambition and fear driven things they were here.
He looked up to spy the vague outline of letters that had once stood atop what was once a human sporting goods store. He couldn't know that, but as he walked in, pushing the decrepit door aside, he saw a wide range of tools that he understood. Inside, he found what was obviously a pack, which he immediately picked up and rummaged through. Nothing inside, but it was filled with compartments to hold smaller objects. Checking to see how each of his tools would fit inside, he recognized a good find when he saw one. His deerskin satchel twisted to the other side, and working the straps of the human sack out of their respective places and tying them to one another, he secured it to his hip, placing his two axes, fighting blade, wrist-brace, craving knife, and latest carving inside. It was only after this noisy process that the scent of another wolf reached him through the musty smell of the building. His ear snapped to attention and his eyes darted out into the shadow.
~The lyrics are from the best song ever written.
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----- Sorry about the wait. :/
----- Having traveled away from the pack all together, Maria decided to try her chances elsewhere and see what she could get herself into as long as it wasn't too much trouble. She had a hard enough time just getting by in a conversation and she couldn't imagine what she would have to go through if she got in to some sort of trouble outside of her new home and away from her son, who knew more English than she did. Though she had been able to pick up a few words and even complete a sentence, it didn't mean she fully understood what she was talking about. Sometimes, she had a hard time learning the words that didn't make sense, especially with someone teaching her that didn't know her own language.
----- Maria was surprised when she found a city in this land, and even more surprised when it was nearly torn down. She had been hoping to find some sort of advanced civilization but when she had joined a pack, she should have know that it was out of the question. Her mind had eventually wandered what happened here, whether it problems from the war they experienced or if it was just torn down by savage canines and other animals in the process of wolves taking over the planet. Eventually brushing it off, Maria found a store that sparked her interest. She had seen places like this, though not so big, and found things that helped her in the long run.
----- There were lots of things that were helpful but some of them she didn't want to carry back with her. Making her way into the hunting section, she was shocked to see some of these things. Though, were wolves any different these days? Then again, she imagined humans killing other animals for fun while they, on the other hand, did it to survive. Picking up a broken bow off the floor, she examined it and cradled the tool while she turned in order to find the string that would go along with it to complete the tool. She hadn't been paying attention to anything else around her, at this point, but was intent on finding string to match this equipment so she could maybe hunt for herself in a way she knew how.
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Sorry for taking an hour to finish this, lol, I kept getting side-tracked!
The thane's senses were keen and his muscles tensed, ready for a burst of motion, but none came. The smell was certainly there, but he saw no one. As his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness of the shop's interior, he began to slowly stalk forward, unsure of who he would find here. As he rounded a bend where two walls of the store met, he saw something he hadn't expected.
The walls held up an array of items, which, in their sheaths, he did not immediately recognize for what they were. It took him a moment to realize that they were steel blades...not swords or axes, but smaller, knives and hatchets. Keeping his mind on the task at hand, he swept the area with amber eyes, before seeing a deeper darkness of black fur in the gloom. Ah, the source of the scent.
"Greetings," his voice rang hoarsely through the room. He had been silent since the morning. Now that his eyes were used to the darkness, he could see that he had little to fear. She was considerably smaller than he was, and though her hand held the curve of what he guessed was a bow, it didn't appear to be strung, and he didn't see any arrows. "I am Skoll, I mean you no harm."
~The lyrics are from the best song ever written.
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----- Haha, it is fine. I've just been so bored all morning that I have been correct all the albums in my iTunes and assigning them pictures for my new iPod Touch so it's all pretty. XD I have only gotten through the B's but there's a bunch there!
----- Maria wrapped herself up in her task of finding string for her bow. The dark female reached through different boxes scattered on the floor of the store and even moved to shelves that have been rummaged through way before she arrived. Her eyes scanned up and down until she saw a box with a bow as a picture and she added a smile to her face. Reaching for it, she stepped back into the small displayed opening and sat down on a fake "tree trunk," holding the bow between her legs while she opened up the package and pulled the strings out. There was a number of them and she draped them over her leg and looked at the box. She tried to read some of the words but was unable to read the majority of them.
----- With a sigh, she dropped the box to her side and gently picked up one of the few strings draped over her leg and just as she went to string the bow, something caught her attention. A smell that wasn't hers or anyone else she knew was thickening around her and her heart started to race. She held on tight to the bow, though it was temporarily useless and would hold no value of defense except to hit whoever it was over the side of the head. The other appeared and she stared at him. At that moment, he seemed as no threat but she knew she could never be too careful.
----- He spoke, and at first she didn't understand. "Greetings" was a word she had never heard before. However, when she heard the words "no" and "harm" she relaxed, feeling her heart rate slow down and she offered him a smile, "English no good," she said softly, hoping he might understand and use simpler words so that she could understand. Times like these she felt like such a child, unable to understand anyone around her or having to be taught new words just to have small conversation with another adult.
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Seeing what she was doing, he was reminded of seeing Yvret One-Eye string his DoomHarp. That was the first time he had seen a bow, though the one that wolf bore had been something different, many wheels could be seen, and it was altogether more complex than the one the black wolf held in her hands now. Perhaps the difference between a wolf-killer and a prey-killer, he mused. Since it was not strung, it was no danger to him.
"English no good?" he repeated, perplexed. So, she wasn't a speaker of the tongue that he spoke, but what did she speak? It didn't much matter, he supposed, since he didn't know any language other than the common tongue in these parts. "Well, in that case..." he began, mostly to himself, "Skoll." He pointed at himself. He then pointed at her, cocking his head to the side, a gesture which he hoped was a pretty universal question mark. "You?
A cool wind blew outside, but it could not be felt within the confined of the building. The windows shuddered audibly, though not violently. Pointing at the curved stick in her hand, and then doing his best to emulate its use, he spoke another word, "Bow." He would feel somewhat silly before anyone else, but there was no one to be amused by the sight of an eight-foot, scarred warrior playing charades for this peculiar wolfess.
~The lyrics are from the best song ever written.
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----- I am not sure if that's the correct word for "bow," the weapon, but it will work for now, lol. (hover for translation, by the way)
----- He understood and Maria was grateful for this. He repeated his name and she nodded, looking up to him without bothering to stand from her seating position. He asked about her and registering the word, she smiled. "Maria," she spoke with her thick Italian accept, rolling her tongue over the "r" in her name. There was a pause and she looked down at her bow, stilling holding the string and she returned to attached the piece of thread to each end of the weapon. Tightening it around the top first and letting it slide through her hand, Skoll pointed to her weapon.
----- "Arco... bow," she said, first saying the Italian word for the weapon, following by Skoll's version. Her eyes turned and she looked at the closest arrows to her, leaning slightly to reach for one placed on a stool not far behind her. "Freccia?" she asked as she grabbed it and holding it up, showing him what she was asking about. After holding it up a moment, she set it into her lap next to the extra strings while still holding the first one tight so it wouldn't loosen any before she attached it to the bottom.
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Looking at what she held, he almost wanted to call it a death note, for what else had the Doomharp been throwing? He had learned the true name for the item, however, and the mechanism by which the simple bow worked. It was not so mysterious and menacing to him as it once was. Still, he had seldom seen it so dangerous in any other hands, the tool was great, but Yvret's eye and hands had been what granted it infamy.
"Freccia," he tried, though he could not quite mimic her intonation. "Arrow," he finished, before he reaching down into his pack to pull his fighting blade. "Knife," he said, before pointing also at the blades along the walls. "Knives." He wondered if he should stop, and give her a chance to let it sink in. He had never tried to learn a different language, and honestly had very little memory of his own experiences learning english.
"Where are you from?" he asked, curious about how she'd gotten to Bleeding Souls without even speaking the common tongue. Surely an interesting tale must explain her appearance here, and second to fighting, interesting tales were Skoll's passion.
~The lyrics are from the best song ever written.
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-----
----- Maria listened to the male speak as he said the English word for arrows, then showed her his knife unaccompanied by the name, then plural, and she looked in that direction. She wasn't sure what to say, but instead just smiled while he instructed her on things that were around the two. It was nice that he was willing to make an effort to talk to her but mentally, she thought it was kind of funny, if not kind of cute. Meanwhile, she tightened the string to the other end of the bow and tying it off and giving it one or two plucks with her finger. Not entirely satisfied, she untied one end and tied it again for optimum use.
----- "Bow, arrow... eh," she paused, pulled the bow up and set it in her lap after moving the strings. She grabbed the arrow and place it perpendicular across the tool as if it were in use. "Food? Hunt," she said with a nod and a smile on her face. "Is working for hunt," she added, grabbing both pieces and standing on two feet. "How know use?" she asked, holding it up for him. He knew what it was, at least, and Maria only assumed he knew how it worked.
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Seeming to warm up somewhat, she began to talk more, and he was pleased. Still her proposition a moment later put him in something of a predicament. He knew how a bow worked, but couldn't shoot one for his life, he had never used a bow and arrow, thinking that it was a cowardly weapon for battle, and trusting on his instincts and jaws for hunting. Taking the bow and the arrow in his hands, he tested the tension first, before pulling it back, trying to imitate the way he'd seen other wolves fire.
"No...I've never used one." He pulled back, unsure of the motion, all four fingers on the fletched end of the arrow, and released, sending the arrow a total of six feet forward, clacking its metal head against the linolium tiles. Embarrassed, he went forward to pick up the arrow, before shrugging and extending his hands, the bow in the first, the arrow in the second. "Skoll not good with Arco." A shame that he couldn't demonstrate some sort of redeeming skill, but fighting was a very niche-based ability.
Maybe she'd show him the right way to do it, or would just laugh inside. At least he had the language thing on his side...sort of. I just hope she doesn't ask how to read or write my language. Now wouldn't I feel stupid, then? Still, given that they didn't speak the same language, this chance meeting wasn't going bad at all.
~The lyrics are from the best song ever written.
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-----
----- Maria smiled when he took the bow and arrow from her and she stepped back. There wasn't much room to shoot anything in this area and her eyes scanned around for something to aim at. While he prepared the arrow, she watched as he held it wrong and then as the arrow flew some feet away, but nothing impressive. He had the right idea, she imagined, but maybe he could handle a few pointers or two. That is, she was able to get them across knowing that there was nearly a whole wall standing between them. It was difficult now and then, though she felt like they were getting at least somewhere. She knew a few words, enough to get by, but not enough to teach anyone anything.
----- He explained that he was not good and he even used the Italian word. "From Italy," she said after a moment, realizing she never answer him in the first place. Maria reached out her hands and took the bow and the area, turned, and looked across the store. There was a chair or two, but nearly all the way across the store stood what seemed to be the exact replica of a deer. Maria had seen it on her way in and noticed that it was fake. It even had a few circles around the area where you aim and assumed that it was for target practice. Without saying another word, she turned to face it properly, holding the bow up steady.
----- She squinted one eyes, aiming, and after a moment and a shaky breath, Maria fired and looked up. She smiled when the arrow hit in the bulls eye--not perfectly in the middle, but enough to do some damage. The young female turned to face the older male with a grin on her face. "See?" she asked, holding the bow low now.
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Sorry for breaking our string of awesome rapid posting =\
Noting the way she held the bow before firing, Skoll noticed two things most of all. One: she held the arrow with two fingers, not four fingers and the thumb. Two: she pulled the string further back than he had, apparently putting much greater power and accuracy behind the arrow. Nodding thoughtfully, we wondered why that made a difference, how one held the arrow. He wouldn't question her expertise, though, and he reached out to retake the instrument before an idea struck him.
Remembering his now thin frame, he wondered just how efficient this weapon could be in his hands...it was a cowardly weapon to use on the battle field, but Maria's use seemed logical enough. He felt bad for a moment, thinking of the unfair advantage this tool would give him. A deer, a rabbit, creatures which had lives of their own, and deserved to keep them, for however long they could fight to survive. Still...he wasn't eating as well as he used to, and what use was a fighter to anyone when he didn't have his strength?
"I see," he said quietly, taking up the bow and another arrow, and taking aim. Two fingers on the arrow, full hanf on the bow, draw back as far as he could, and...release! The arrow sailed across the room, to stick into the wall three feet above the target. His sole ear falling to rest against his head, the disappointment was quickly replaced by stubborn determination. Damnit, I'm going to get this if it's the last thing I do...my stomach will make sure of that.
~The lyrics are from the best song ever written.
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----- It is fine. ^^; I was getting tired and running out of things to write about, lol. I am power playing Skoll a little, I hope that's okay. And also... I don't really know how to shoot a bow and arrow so I am going to be vague. 
----- Maria spent most of her lifetime in her shifted form, finding it more comfortable and easier to to do some things with an opposable thumb. Rarely had she been in her canine form and she could probably count the number of times on her fingers. One was to help teach Beppe how to hunt like the old world canine when they moved to this land and one day she was going to show him how to use tools, but at the time she had none, and now she had a whole store full. Hunting was difficult in this form when you did it without any tools and now that she had a bow and arrow and knew where the knives were, Maria felt things were going to be all right.
----- She lifted the bow to Skoll, waiting for him to take it, and then picked up an arrow. Before handing him the arrow, she lifted the bow in his hands, placing them at the correct spots, followed by showing him how to correctly put the arrow in it's spot before it was shot. She took a step back to look at his posture before moving forward and adjusting just a tiny bit. "Mirare... di mollare!" she spoke with a grin, turning to look at the fake deer that she had previously shot and waited.
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Time passed, and as it did, Skoll found himself doing better, though he was still unsure with this new tool. He had fired five shots, before going forward to retrieve the arrows. Two were stuck in the wall, above the deer. One had skidded along the floor, and two were in the deer, though only one had actually made it into the outer ring of the target, and that was a fluke, he was certain. He wasn't very good at this, but he knew that it would take patience and practice to develop the skill enough to be proficient.
As he fired, he would cover new words. By the time his fifth arrow had hit the deer in the shoulder, he had commented on what constituted a 'miss', and what constituted a 'hit'. He mentioned the 'deer' as well, though he didn't want to overwhelm her. How many new words could a wolf learn in one sitting? Probably not many, by memory alone. Practice with the language, much as with the bow, would determine the accuracy with which each was used.
He couldn't use the weapon in a practical sense after so short a time, though having the proper grip on the instrument did improve his shots markedly. There was a determination in his eyes, though. Skoll had discipline, it was what kept him in fighting form after all this time, and honed for battle even in peace time. He would practice until he got it right, and keep on practicing...though how he'd do that--considering it was her bow--hadn't crossed his mind yet.
~The lyrics are from the best song ever written.
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