A Wolf Without a Pack

[dwdruid]

"Let's see here, firewood chopped and piled up, check; supplies stocked and locked away, check; windows and doors locked and barred, check! Alright, everything's set, time to go!" With these words, Seth left his cabin's door before locking it down and hiding the key. "Nobody should be able to get in now," he reasoned, as he adjusted his satchel. He preferred his backpack, but it's hard to carry around when you're on four legs and there was no better way to travel. These were Seth's last thoughts as he headed for the town of Hexasol.

Only one week had pass since Seth came here, to this place he never even knew existed a month ago. A week of settling in to the old, rustic cottage that was once owned by Grandfather. However, today he would travel the mile south down to the town, and find out about himself and others. Seth knew he had something called a "talisman", that it allowed him become his inner animal, and that this place somehow related to everything else. Here, he might find the answers to who he is! Breathing in the fresh Canadian air, Seth slowly started to change, enjoying every sensation he gained from it. As his cotton and denim clothes became a coat of fur, boots and hands became paws, and a tail grew from his back, Seth gave a short howl as the large gray wolf enjoyed the pure bliss from the change. And so Seth began his trip to the town that he hoped held the answers he so craved!

[Waddle]

The surprise of discovering she had a twin had faded from Hatty's mind. All that was under her shock of long red hair were sly, sneaky thoughts. Where is that girl? she wondered as she stalked through the undergrowth of the forest. The bed of needles underfoot silenced her footsteps. She moved stealthily, flitting from one tree to the other, pausing behind bushes and holding her breath, listening, listening for the breath of someone else, listening for footsteps or even the brush of clothing against tree bark. Nothing. She could feel her heart pounding with excitement - these games always made her nervous in a good way. She imagined herself as an American spy, trying to get information on these Canadians as the two countries were about to go to war. If she were caught, she would be put to death. She had to find her quarry and retrieve the information.

The information was, really, just to jump out and surprise her twin, shouting 'I FOUND YOU!' Nothing much too it. Being a super-spy from the States was much more entertaining.

Moving from her nice hiding place, she crouched and raced across an open space to hide in another clump of bushes. Now, she did hear something. That's not... That's a man's voice! Suddenly, her fantasy became real before her eyes. Stepping slowly, first laying a booted heel to the ground, then the sole, she made her way toward the voice.

"...doors locked and barred, check! Alright, everything's set, time to go!"

Someone lived out here? Hatami didn't even have to muster her courage - she had plenty to spare. She approached the voice slowly, and soon saw the man. He was young, in his twenties or so, standing outside a small cottage.

"Nobody should be able to get in now."

Wanna bet, tough guy? She had the irresistible urge to try to bust into the house after he left. While she was even making plans for such an endeavor, her storm gray eyes went wide. Whoa. The man transformed into a wolf. Just like that. He's got a talisman! She wondered what side he was on. A wolf was a predator. So is a puma. Still, she was an Undecided. This guy could be an Innocent, for all she knew. But she wanted to know more.

His howl jerked her out of her reverie, and she stood, stepping boldly from her hiding place. She waved, beaming. "Hullo there!" she called. "Don't worry, I know about what you are. I'm one too. Mountain lion." Approaching, she took a careful glance of the house, then the surrounding forest, checking for anyone else in the area. Then her eyes returned to the wolf. She stopped five yards from him and sat down on the ground easily, stretching her long legs out and propping herself up on her elbows. "I've never met another one like us. What side you on? Undecided, here."

[Sorry if it's a long post, I had lotsa muse I probably should have used on another post in a different thread. But that can wait. ((: ]

[Augustus is a SWOObat]

August quickly ran across the thickest branches, scanning for her new twin. She liked heights much better. Her heart beat and breathing were in sync, both quick and edgy, full of excitement. Hatami was "it", but August liked to keep tabs on her. It always helped to help her find a good hiding place. Something made August's ears twitch. It was a noise that came from behind her. Her head snapped to it's direction. Oh. August had been completely off about her sister's whereabouts. Immediately, she switched direction and ran to her sister. Her feet scratched across the coarse bark. August's feet were calloused, but that didn't stop them from getting the occasional scratch. She had gotten use to wearing shoes, but at times, she got these random urges to fall back into her bad habits. Dirt was caked along the soles of her feet, and blood from her new scratch left a small, almost imperceptible, trail along the thick branches.

Who was her new sister talking to? August struggled with her dying excitement. Had her sister forgotten her already? She was sure they were playing a game, unless Hatty got bored and found someone new to play with. Curiosity overwhelmed her panic. Hatami just admitted to having a talisman, meaning either her new friend had one or Hatty was just really stupid. August hadn't known her sister for too long, but she desperately wanted to believe the former option. New talismans were always a good thing. She eyed the canine curiously, her muscles tensing for an action not thought out. August hopped out of the tree, panicking and unsure of what she just did. Her feet his the floor with a light thud, and her landing was more graceful than she anticipated. August was not what you could call graceful. She walked fine, only tripping occasionally, but at the most important moments her brain seemed to stop functioning. Rare events like sticking a landing, in result, made her grin from ear to ear.

"Hullo there." August's grin got a little bigger. She had read all kinds of books, seen all kinds of movies about twins, but never thought she'd get to do what they did. "Don't worry, I know about what you are. I'm one too. Arctic Fox." She copied her sister's words almost verbatim. It was like Deja Vu, hearing the same words but in her voice, practically identical to her identical twin's. "I've never met another one like us. What side you on? Here she faltered. August hadn't told her sister she was a Hunter, unsure if it would affect their relationship. August was just too attached to her sister to risk losing her. She'd rather lie to her face, that went for the stranger as well. Unlike Hatty, August had met other talismans, and they always treated her different when they found out her alignment. "Undecided, here." She smiled, making the lie more convincing. Lying was her specialty, that and eat mass amounts of candy. Despite her bubbly personality, August was meant to be a Hunter. Maybe she could convince her new friend that he was too.

[dwdruid]

Seth had only take a few steps before he heard a girl's call off to the side. He quickly turned his body to the sound in a flash of fear. Had a human found him? Did they witness him changing? Would he have to move away before he truly moved in? Searchng for the voice, Seth found a small red-headed girl between the trees. As I tried to think of a peaceful solution to my problem, I noticed something 'off' about the girl. She looked normal, but her scent was 'wrong'. It reminded me of my own scent, the scent of a pradator, strong and proud. Then she spoke again, and I nearly collapsed due to shock. "Another one like me? and a montain lion? I never knew people like me came in different species! Seth thought excite so verydly.

When the girl came foreward and asked him about his 'side', yet another! female had her way to him. This one looked unnaturaly a lot like the first one, almost as if they were twins, but subtle differences in their faces proved that they weren't really related. The new girl was also like me, only this time she was an artic fox! WHat luck! Here I was, off to town to find others like me and I find two after I barely left my home! The fox-girl spoke almost the exact same words as the first, and also asked my for my 'side' claiming that she was 'undecided', but for some reason I could smeel that she wasn't completely truthful.

Suddenly realizing that I was being rude, I shifted into my human form and put on a smilt to greet them. "Greetings ladies! My name is Seth, Seth Douglas Fenris and it is a pleasure to meet your acquantance. I've only just moved into my Grandfather's cabin here," he mentioned as he motioned to the small building behind him, "just one week ago and I haven't yet had any time to meet any locals. I knewn that I'd be able to find others like myself in this town, and I am so very glad that I was able to meet the two of you. But I must ask you, what do you mean 'What side are you on?,' and what does it mean to be 'Undecided' as you claim?" Seth hoped he wasn't being rude, but the only way to find the answer to his questions was to ask them.

[Waddle]

Hatty glanced at her sister for a brief moment, wondering why she was copying everything she was saying almost word for word. Then it hit her, and a sly smile quirked the corners of her lips. Turning back to the man, she listened to him, the smile never leaving her face. "Well, it's good to meet you, Seth." She had the brief and random thought that the main difference between her and her sister were their accents. Hatty, herself, sounded like some sort of country hick - Which I am, and proud of it, - while August sounded from the city - Which she is. For some reason, the idea pleased her immensly. Probably becuase it proved the fact that she was different from her sister. She'd always had an issue of being like someone else. Discovering her twin had startled her, and she had tried to deny it. But now, she quite liked it. There were so many good things about that. Tricks on others would be hilarious. Oh, just wait till I tell Mom and- I mean, Alanna and Darren.

"Ah, well, you're more than likely an Undecided like us, then."[/color] She walked up to him and peered up into his face, studying it intently. Let the pranks begin... "You defiently don't look like a Hunter." She poked him in the chest with her finger, then pushed him, trying to make him step back to prove her point. "Too innocent. They'd eat you in a second." Briefly, she hoped that August could catch up to what she was trying to say. "You see, 'round here, it's every man- or woman- for him slash her self. You get caught, you're gonna get eaten."[/color]

Letting her hand drop back to her side, she whirled on one heel to look at August. "What do you think? We can't exactly let him wander into danger. He doesn't know hardly anything about what's going on."[/color] Making her voice deep in a mocking way, she quoted Seth. " 'And what does it mean to be Undecided, as you claim?' "[/color] She scoffed, and her voice was back to normal when she spoke again. "He won't last two days. If the Innocents and Hunters don't get him first, the humans will. Besides... He's a wolf. Wolves are cool."[/color] It was another random and irrevelant thought, but a true one.

[dwdruid]

Seth wasn't sure what to do about the strange girl in front of him. She seemed friendly enough at first, but when she began pushing against his chest and talking abouts "Hunters and Innocents', he started to doubt what he had originally thought. He also couldn't help feeling a little insulted, 'eat you in a second', doesn't know hardly anything', and 'won't last two days'? What, he could take care of himself? He was even older then these two!

It was then that she called Seth's animal 'cool', almost causing him to blush. He wasn't sure if he should be flattered, taken aback, or awkward. Eventually he settled on awkward. After a moment, Seth pulled himsel together and finally spoke up, "Um, excuse me! I hope you won't think me rude, but I find myself at a disadvantage. It seems that you know more about the situation around these parts than me and not only that, but you both know my name while I don't know yours. So if I may, who are you two?"

[Augustus is a SWOObat]

At first, August didn't know what Journey was getting at, then it struck. She wondered if the stranger would really believe Noatak was town full of cannibals. He seemed very innocent, and to her that meant gullible. "My name's Hatami, but you can call me Journey." She gave the stranger a sweet smile. "Don't worry, Seth. We'll protect you from all the baddies." Like me. A little voice that she knew was her own whispered inside her head. August shook it off.

August wondered how far she could push the cannibal thing."August, " "Journey" turned to look at her twin, the real Journey. "Are you sure we should take him under our wing??" August flapped her arms to make a point. "He could just weigh us down. Be easier if we let the locals eat him. One less person to compete with." Maybe it was mean, or a little cold-hearted, but she was joking. So that made it okay.. right?

[Waddle]

It took a second for Journey/Hatty to realize that Journey/August was, in sub-text, telling her that her new name was August. Jeez, so confusing... Why'd I start this in the first place? She listened to her twin closely, all the while studying the stranger before them. He seemed awkward, shy, and out-of-place. Maybe tricking him wasn't such a good idea. He hadn't done anything to either of them. Journey just hoped that he wouldn't be upset with them for scaring him, or annoying him, or whatever they were doing to him right now. More than likely, just confusing and frustrating him.

But she kept the face, not letting any of the tactical doubt and caution show in any part of her body language, or her voice as she spoke. "True... We could train him, though. Teach him how to survive with a talisman. But.. I doubt we'd get anything in return." She shifted her weight onto one foot and pursed her lips thoughtfully, brows drawn together. "Unless... you have something to offer in return for the service?" Oh, great, Hatty, Journey, August, whatever you're calling yourself now. You sound like a prostitute. As the thought passed through her head, she lost the charade. She laughed, and quickly passed it over as another part of the act.

"But seriously?! What could you offer us, besides get us killed?"[/color] The amusement passed. Maybe I'm taking this a little too far. He looks insulted. With a small shake of her head, she continued, "A friend is good to have at your back when you're facing a bunch of cannibalistic humans and animals both. And you seem like a decent fighter, or at least someone with the potential."[/color] She brushed a strand of long hair behind her ear and smiled up at him. "In English, we're bored."[/color]

[dwdruid]

The more Seth listened to the two girls, August and Journey, the more uncomfortable he became. They kept talking about 'baddies', locals eating him, and cannibalistic humans and animals? What kind of an insanely dangerous land had he migrated to? He was beginning to become worried that he was involving himself in something much bigger than he expected. He would stick around until he knew exactly what was going on around this area before he decided to leave or stay.

The one called August then mentioned training, teaching him about what it meant to have a talisman and how to use it. Now she held all of Seth's attention. That's almost exactly what he needed! He tried to think about what he could offer in return, but the girl suddenly burst into laughter. Everything around him was just getting crazier and crazier! She then talked about his fighting capabilities and Seth felt he should probably speak again. "Well, I am a decent fighter I think. I have had to defend myself in the past, but only against untrained humans. It has only been a month or so since I could change however, so I've never had to fight as a wolf. But I'm curious, what can you teach me?"