Ten Thousand Lightning Bugs... Teach Me to Dance

[Ailbhe Latis]

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Ready Mal? Time is set at October 24th, 7 days after Ailbhe's arrival in AniWaya... I'm gonna say at about 6:00pm.
WC: 521
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Night was falling over the Serena Reserve, Wapiti roaming freely through the sparsely knit deciduous and coniferous trees and open meadows of streaming gold. Winter was certainly showing its enjoyment of the land- frost was beginning to chill upon the evergreens, and the long grasses of the fields parted and made room for a chilly breeze. And yet, amidst all this freezing fun, fireflies danced through the twilight, poking in and around tree trunks and fluffy grasses. The sky, just beginning to darken with the slowly sinking sun, was glittering with early moving stars these bugs acted like. Against a deep violet, crimson, and darkening blue sky, the sight was gorgeous- a scene any aesthete creature would enjoy.


Vanishing in and out of the tree line like a risen specter, Ailbhe's white coat kept a mark on her every move. It had been about a week now, since she had arrived at the Serena Reserve and joined the AniWaya. Sleek silvery fur glowed with a gorgeous sheen in the slowly dying light, and icy gems glinted with far more energy than they had a week ago. Ailbhe had certainly filled back out in comparison to her once emaciated look. Thin stilts were now strong pillars of ivory, ribs had vanished beneath thickening winter coat, and fluffy plume had puffed out in good health. And yet, the four-year old still hadn't left her lupine form. Her fellow packmates had begun to ask her why she had yet to change to Optime, and started working on a hut for herself. Her response? She just wasn't ready yet. But with the coming cold biting at wet ebony nose, she knew she would have to change soon.


But she just couldn't. It was like the heavens forbade it- she just couldn't relax long enough to change. Anxiety, it seemed, had taken it's toll on the new AniWayan. A full week of living with these wolves, and still she had yet to decide on a craft. A full week, and still, she hadn't made her own hut. She hadn't managed to catch anything for the storage. She hadn't even made a close friend she could talk to. All the pent up nervousness and will to get something, anything accomplished... it was keeping her from shifting. Such a terrible thing the mind was, to tie up all her wishes with colors of worry.


And so, here she was, darting through the trees like a wayward banshee, trying to run off some of her anxieties. Translucent claws dug into the ground in a sudden stop as a heavy sigh left the burdened female. Now, she walked slowly through the tall grasses of a meadow, almost completely lost within their light embraces. Light smiles would cross slim maw as various fireflies danced through the air before her, behind her, and around her. Oh how she was missing dancing... it was difficult to dance in lupine form, after all... but an improvised dance weaved its way into her walk, orbs of frosty light glinting with each firefly that passed.


Well... at least she could try to have fun, right?

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[Maldrid]

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It seemed now to Maldrid that he liked to spend at least some of his time out and away from the Crimson Dreams territory. Even though he loved it there, he would want to go on long runs that would take up half the day and that called for him to go out into the neutral territories. The thrill of running was something that Maldrid loved. It was second only to him playing a good song on on of his musical instruments. It wasn't too much of a surprise to him when he felt like going for a run. He made sure to grab his lute and recorder before setting out in lupus form.

Today it was rather rainy, a perfect sort of day for Maldrid because he loved the sound, feel, and smell of the rain. Running through it would only add to his vigor. Maldrid walked out onto the front porch of Haven Manor and took in the sights and smells before sprinting off into the distance. He ran as hard as he could to try and catch all of the rain he could in his pelt and face. He ran around the packlands, going through the territory and then heading out of the packlands in a westward direction. Maldrid ran until the sun was starting to set and the bright colors came out.

Maldrid then shifted into his optime form to play a tune or two before he struck out back to Haven Manor. He took out his lute and started to play a melody. He let whatever emotions were inside come to life as he played. The song filled the area with its sweet sound. The tone of the song was a happy one that would lift the spirits of most who heard it. It was a jumpy song that made Maldrid almost want to just jump up from where he was sitting and get the jitters out, not this time though. He was too tired from his run to even stand at this point in time.

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[Ailbhe Latis]

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WC: 472
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High-stepping through the drizzly world glinting with hidden fireflies, the spectral fairy let her whims and anxieties float away with the occasional breeze, wash away upon the shoulders of each warm drop of water that landed upon soft, slippery white fur. Icy gems closed as cloud-spun lady stopped where she was, swaying lightly. Snowy harks raised as a hum left the four-year old dancer, swirling into the cloud-washed skies and around the long grasses, swaying, swaying... silvery blue gems shot open, bright and intrigued.


Ivory harks swiveled to her right, barely catching hints of a sweet, bouncing melody. A flute? Following the sound, the white female's step bounced in time with partial tempo, head bobbing in an alternate beat. In an improvised, running moonwalk, the arctic wolfess found the source of the graceful beat- a gorgeous male Optime. Slightly taken off guard, nervous female stopped her groove and stuck to staying beneath the grasses around her, watching, slowly progressing at an almost stalk now. His pelt color was a wonderful, rich color, reminiscent of sunrises and honey brown toast. Near-translucent gems were wide with interest. Such a color as his would be a wonderful dye... but what could make a color like his soaked fur? And what was making that wonderful sound?


Staring, gems focused on his instrument, before fading off again. Mind wandered amongst favorite pastimes- dying her sister's hair, dancing in the sunshine, long chats under a starry sky... blinking lightning bugs bopped on past her line of sight as she began to sway again, slowly getting lost in the sound of his instrument. Once more, her step slipped into something more like a dance than a stalk, and she became far more careless in her attempts at staying hidden. Oh how she wanted to change- to shift into Optime and dance for real. To let go of her stresses and finally be able to dance again...


As her thoughts whirled with the circling rains, stresses found answers and happiness began to replace them. White lupine soon found other things were changing, becoming only partially aware of lengthening hind-legs and strengthening forelegs. Fluffy ruff lengthened and softened, streaks of blue and lavender becoming more apparent as each lock grew, while icy gems closed once again in pleasant surprise. Ivory harks moved a little farther back on her head, while torso lengthened and joints crackled into existence at her ankles, elbows and knees. Finally, free of the longer grasses and completely shifted, ivory femme slipped into a graceful dance but a few yards from the playing male.


Still enjoying the embrace of his lovely melody, and the swirling bouts of drizzling rain, Ailbhe had finally relaxed enough to shift as she should. A smile lit up marble maw. "Oh, how I missed this..." She whispered, slipping into a fluid twirl.

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[Maldrid]

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OOC: Sorry, kinda suffering from writers block about now. *stretches* here goes!

The appearance of the female startled Maldrid a bit, but when he noticed that she was dancing he continued to play the song. She wasn't going to be hostile to him if she was dancing in that elegant manner. No, if one wanted to hurt him they'd dance in a slightly awkward way. One that betrayed their motives. If that were the case Maldrid was more than cabable of defending himself. His years in the wilderness had made him be prepared for almost anything that would wish him harm. Yes, he'd be able to defend himself and he'd be ready whenever that time would come.

Now was a time of peace and serenity. Now was a time when he could let all of his worries melt away into the soft sound of music. Maldrid continued to play, watching the female perform her dance. It was a truly beautiful sight and the sound of the recorder only added to it. If he could stay in this moment forever, he would. Peace was now in his mind and all thought of the future was devoid from his mind. Maldrid continued to play his music now, but this time he switched to a more calm and smooth song. One that would be appropriate for the elegance of the moment.

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[Ailbhe Latis]

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You're not the only one love. ;D
WC: 158
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A peaceful feeling washed over the female as the brute didn't shift, but simply adjusted his playing to better fit her dance. Maldrid continued to play his music now, but this time he switched to a more calm and smooth song. One that would be appropriate for the elegance of the moment. Her dance slowed and became more graceful, smooth- similar to a ballerina's swan-like style. Her flexibility was obvious as she would twirl and bend nearly in half, balanced on clawed hindpaws, and then recover in a single smooth movement.


All she could think about was how lovely his music was. The recorder he played reminded her of earlier days... days from before the fire that destroyed her home, before the newcomers that tore apart her family... those golden years of her life where things just couldn't seem to get any better.


"You play beautifully..." She complimented the Musician as she paused a moment before him.

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[Maldrid]

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Maldrid watched the female dance in front of him in tune to the music. It was a sight to behold. She was very gifted at it. It mesmerized Maldrid as he watched. The beauty and grace of a dancer was one that he loved. The way they could twist and turn themselves to portray a specific event, person, or thing. It was much the same as his music, how it portrayed certain things. More in particular it conveyed emotion, and having a dancer there could only amplify its effect.

Maldrid continued to play his soft melody. Closing his eyes he was alone to his own thoughts and feelings. When he opened his eyes he was subject to the privilege of watching a talented dancer. After she had paused a moment she commented on how he played. Maldrid stopped playing his song and smiled. "Why thank you. You aren't so bad yourself."

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