Sometimes Things Change

[Larka]

Wandering, always wandering. Was there any other useful trait he possessed? This particular evening found him in a volatile mood. Tobias paced restlessly, his head casting from side to side in search of some unknown scent. He had no idea what he searched for, it was quite possibly nothing, but he found himself irritable. So, without quite knowing how, he ended up at the edge of the human civilization. The darkness thoroughly enveloped his dark fur, shrouding him from their sights. That didn’t stop the tame cousins from howling at his scent. The pretentious howling of the dogs only proved to further foul his mood. He growled softly, watching the lights of the homes flicker and go out. Most of the humans would be settling into deep slumber, while others would be seeking the pleasures of the local tavern’s food and drink. It was that drink that he craved; the drink that had likely lured him to the edges of danger. The drink’s mind-numbing qualities were a relief to him, allowing him to escape his reality for at least a time. It was a discovery that he had delighted in during his time as a human. Still, he couldn’t help but hesitate. Humans were their natural enemy; to walk among them would certainly mean danger. But then he had done it before. Tobias lowered himself onto his haunches, wrapping his tail around his paws miserably. He could afford some time to think on his own.

[Bryn]

Lenora came up behind Tobias, her steps soft and quiet on the last vestiges of the forest floor. Before her stretched the beginnings of human civilization. She had no idea why Tobias had decided to come here, why his wandering had lead him here. She knew him well enough now to suspect that perhaps even -he- didn't know exactly why they were here, but there were. It wasn't really a comfortable place for a wolf. Humans...well, Lenora had never liked humans that much, and never really felt comfortable living near their dwellings. I wonder if we'll stay here for long? Tobias never seems to stay in any one place for very long, he really is a loner, I don't know that he would be -able- to settle down in to pack life, even if he were the Alpha, and he would be content with nothing else -but- the position of Alpha, I think. So perhaps it is for the best that we never attempted to form a pack, but just to wander. They had been wandering for some time now, and were far from Lucinus City, where they had first met. That day still stood out vividly in Lenora's memory, every detail, she remembered. It was for her, in many ways, a turning point in her life. Dogs were howling, doubtless they had caught the scent of their larger, more fierce cousins, but dogs were beneath Lenora's interest. Dogs were the servants of man, they let themselves be caged, penned, tied up, without any struggle at all. They obeyed man's every whim, wanting to please their masters. Lenora was a wolf. Her life was her own, she was free. Free to go where she wanted, when she wanted, free to sleep where she wanted, without a human telling her where to do so, and she was free to hunt and eat whenever she wanted, and didn't wait for some two-leg to come along and feed her. And so she ignored the dogs' barking, giving it enough notice only to register that it was there. Her keen nose took in all the scents. Lots of dogs, of course, and lots of strong human scent. But none of it was particularly fresh, certainly not enough for there to be any humans in their vicinity. She looked up at the moon with her green eyes, observing its beauty and speaking a short thanks to Nieve, the goddess of wolves, that she and Tobias had had safe travels this far. On sudden impulse, she edged a little nearer to Tobias as he sat there, clearly looking miserable, though about what she did not know, and laid her nose on the rough, black fur of the back of his neck. It was a small gesture, but she knew that it was unlikely he would tell her what he was thinking, and this was the best way she could think of to comfort him.

This post has been edited by Bryn on Feb 26 2009, 11:06 PM

[Larka]

Tobias was startled out of his thoughts was the arrival of Lenora. He started to bristle but then calmed as he caught Lenora’s scent. A soft sigh escaped him. Would she ever give up? He had long ago resigned himself in defeat to her persistence. She seemed deaf to his warnings about being a danger to her. “Why do you persist in following me? I am only a danger to you.” Tobias spoke in a defeated tone. He spared her a glance before looking back to the human dwellings. Bleakly, he returned to his thoughts. Tobias slouched forward, his head lowered. He did not stir until he felt Lenora’s touch on the back of his neck. He bristled slightly but made not move against her. No matter how foul his mood, he had promised himself not to hurt her. Ever. He couldn’t let himself hurt another innocent again.

((OOC: Kinda short, but he didn’t want to say a lot))

[Bryn]

She heard his sigh, though she didn't know what the reason was for it. It seemed as if Tobias was always sighing about one thing or another. “Why do I persist in following you?” She repeated his question, trying to answer it for herself as much as for him. “Because I care about you, Tobias. I don't want you to keep living like this, to be stuck in your past. I know you can overcome it, and I want to help you do that. As for you being a danger to me...I'm willing to take that risk. If you harm me, so be it. I will not hold it against you.” Lenora felt him stir briefly at her touch, but he stilled again, and she stayed that way, wishing he would tell her whatever terrible secret he was hiding. Surely it couldn't be nearly as bad as he thought it was, and she was sure that if he would just speak it, he would be more able to let it go and get on with his life. The defeat in his tone saddened her, it was as if he had given up before even trying to overcome his problems and just decided to live with it. But living with it had made him into this. An emotionally battered shell of a wolf, far from what he had once likely been. She almost smiled at the irony, for his body, scarred and marked from a hundred past battles, matched the soul that it housed. But I will change that. Somehow. How, she didn't know. It would require Tobias to open up to her, and it would take a lot to get him to do that. The little he had told her already was likely about as much as she would get for a while. She breathed deep, his scent filled her nostrils, for her muzzle was still resting on his neck. It almost overpowered even the strong dog and human smells of the place. It wasn't unpleasant, really. She lifted her muzzle from his neck and moved up beside him, again laying her head against him. “Why did you come here, Tobias?” Her voice was not condemning, just curious. It was such an odd place for a pair of wolves to come. “What is it here that draws you?”

[Larka]

Caring. The word seemed foreign to him and he longed to understand the meaning. Secretly he longed to be able to care and be cared for without inhibitions. But that could never be his life, not with the wrong he had committed looming over him. He looked back towards the human village. Besides he was a monster; transformed into a creature to be feared rather then loved. A creature that did not belong to any creed. “I mean you no harm Lenora. But harm consistently comes to those who linger in my shadow. As I have warned you before.” Tobias responded in turn, his tone flat. A shift in the wind carried their scent to the dogs and he growled softly as they began to raise the alarm. He watched as a human emerged from him home, carrying a lamp. The man’s angry shouting could be heard and the dogs submitted into silence. With no livestock to attend to, the man returned to his home and the light extinguished. Tobias relaxed and granted Lenora his attention now that the threat of discovery had been evaded. He lifted his head a bit, glancing towards her and then back to the human dwellings. “I come, because I belong here. A part of my brethren reside within the territory of humans. They are part of me, and I of them.” He chuckled darkly, enjoying his riddles. He had many secrets, some of them darker then the next. It brought him some measure of glee to leave the details of his life obscure, letting them decipher his true meanings by their wit alone.

[Bryn]

His words came to her ears, and the left one flicked in his direction, to better catch them. “There is always the risk of harm coming to us, Tobias. This life is full of danger. I'm quite happy to accept whatever danger there might be in staying near you.” Perhaps the fact that he is so worried about me means that he is learning to care. Or perhaps it is just a guilty conscience, not wanting to feel responsible for another's death? Or a combination of both. What is in your past that is so dark, Tobias? What is there that you feel the need to hide from me? She sighed, unable to answer those questions at the moment. Sometimes I doubt if I will ever be able to answer them, he's so close mouthed about it. She watched with interest as the farmer quieted the dogs. She didn't fear discovery by the dogs, though the thought of a human taking Tobias away from her, as had happened with her former mate, filled her heart with dread. But even so, she was quite confident that she and Tobias could fight off those dogs, and even the human, if he had come. But nothing happened. The barking died, leaving the night still and quiet once again, save for the soft rustle of the wind and the steady breathing of the two wolves. A thought struck her. I feel that strongly for Tobias now. I would gladly be his mate, and bear his pups. And somehow, that didn't betray the memory of her former mate. She remembered the dream she had had. It seemed so long ago now, in the woods, the first day she had met Tobias. She was shaken out of her thoughts by Tobias' words. More riddles. She almost sighed again, but held it back. Why must he always speak in riddles? He seems to take some strange joy in speaking that way. Or perhaps it is simply a mechanism for defense. “How can your brethren come from here, Tobias? Do wolves live here, in hiding?” She shook her head, trying to puzzle out his riddles. The answer seemed obvious, yet something told her that the obvious answer was wrong. There was something she was missing here. Something he hadn't told her. Either because he didn't trust her enough to tell her, or because he feared she would reject him if he did so. Her mind jumping back to an earlier thought, she spoke again. “If you are not capable of caring, as you so often say, then why is it you always warn me of the danger of staying near you? Why bother to do that? Unless you care about me in some way.” She rested her muzzle once again in the thick, rough fur on the back of his neck. And why do you fear to care, as you so obviously do? What is it that happened to you that has so scarred you and hardened your heart? She could only hope that he would tell her, someday. Because she realized she had little hope of guessing it on her own.

[Larka]

He spared an irritated grunt at her acceptance of danger. Why did females insist on attaching themselves to him despite his warnings? Then, when they were killed or harmed he was left with the guilt of his failed protection. He growled softly at his thoughts. Was it truly his fault? He had given her fair warning so her death hadn’t been fault. But no, it was his fault. He had allowed himself to be lured into a false sense of security. He had been arrogant with his confidence in his strength. It was a mistake he had learned from, and one he wouldn’t make again. So he ignored the pleasure of her company and allowed himself to fall completely into his bitter persona. She would see that this was how it had to be. It was for her own good. For the moment, he ignored the query about his brethren, focusing instead on her insistence that he was indeed a caring heart. She would witness one of his terrible secrets soon enough for herself. It was only a matter of time. Perhaps if she was smart, she would heed the instinctive fear and give him a wide berth. “I warn you so I do not have to carry the guilt of your pain when you are hurt. And so I do not have to become your protector, little one.” Tobias said gruffly. He intended the little one to sound scornful, but his tone fell short, sounding almost gentle. So much for giving her the impression he had hoped to achieve. “No, there are no hidden wolves in this village. And they are not the brethren I was speaking of.” He cringed away from her touch, longing to accept the contact but unwilling to give into his weakness. Retreating from her a few paces, he turned towards her. “You have searched hard within me for my secrets, Lenora. I have many fearsome secrets. Many of them drive me mad, but there is one that I will share with you now, and then you will know me as a true monster. Even you can not deny that within me lurks our sworn enemy.” Tobias breathed deeply after he spoke. The rush of air set his body tingling which intensified into a warmth consuming his body. Distantly, he could feel his organs shifting into their new locations. He slowed the transformation, still growing accustomed to the strange sensations. Within a matter of moments, the black fur fell away from him, leaving behind a softer pink skin. He straightened up to his full height, standing on two legs. Tobias shivered as the wind brushed over his skin. He reached into a tree where he had hidden some clothing and pulled them on over his head. His fingers traced the jagged X scar on his shoulder. It stood out roughly from the smooth skin. Tossing his head, he flicked some of the black hair out of his eyes, only to have it fall back into place. With the transformation complete, he stood with hunched shoulders. Without moving, he waited for Lenora’s reaction.

[Bryn]

Lenora listened to his words, her muzzle still resting on the back of his neck. “Your warning is made in good faith, but I would not hold you to blame for any harm that might come to me for choosing to stay with you. How could I? It was my choice to make, and it is for me to face the consequences of that choice, be they good or ill. So you need not burden yourself with guild if such a thing happens.” Little one, he had called her. Perhaps he was trying to be harsh, and the thought made her own fierce independence rise up. She had survived many years alone, and was well capable of taking care of herself. And yet she knew that he wished her to leave for her own good, and even though the words may have been intended harshly, they did not come out that way. There is hope for him yet, I believe. She had to believe it. His next words, however took her completely by surprise. In her experience, Tobias was not one to give up secrets easily. And yet here he had agreed to do so, with hardly any urging. Her heart beat quicker, but somehow his words filled her with foreboding. Our sworn enemy...how can -our- sworn enemy lurk within him. Surely he cannot mean some kind of demon, for if that was so, he would have said that -my- sworn enemy lurks within him. What does he mean...? Her thoughts were broken off by a change that began to overtake him. A smell that she knew well, and hated, began to permeate the air. Tobias' scent was still there, but it was steadily getting weaker. Or perhaps, just changing. Her eyes became round green pools of shock as they widened. Her nostrils flared, and her lips pulled back involuntarily, baring her teeth for a second. No! No! This cannot be! Her mind raced, trying to come up with an explanation, some reason that this could be happening. She knew now, what he meant, by 'our sworn enemy.' Men. The sworn enemy of all wolf-kind. The killers of her mate. A low growl slipped from her throat, but she cut it off, quelling the unconscious reaction to the stench of human that now hung strongly in the air. One thing, and one thing only, kept her from throwing herself at the throat of the human monster who had replaced Tobias. The tiny hint of his scent that still hung about the human. So weak, almost impossible to find, amidst the human stench. It was all that held her hatred of humanity back. All that saved her razor fangs from seeking his flesh. She could still see the scar on his shoulder, but it hardly registered upon her mind, the stench of man was too strong. She tried to speak, to ask him what, how, this had happened. But the words wouldn't come. She felt...almost betrayed. Her mind told her that this was still Tobias, but her heart remembered only the death of her mate at the hands of humans. Humans like this one that now stood before her. And yet she was unable to attack him, because of the memory of what he had once been. She raised her black-masked face to she sky and loosed a long, shuddering howl, then turned and fled, her paws carrying her swiftly towards the forest, she vanished into the night. She didn't care if he followed her. She made no attempt to confuse her trail. She just needed to be alone for a few minutes. To gather herself and bring the powerful emotions his transformation had elicited under control. She wondered if he even would try and follow her. He had made so many attempts to dissuade her from doing so, perhaps he would be glad that he had finally rid himself of her company. A part of her hoped that he would not follow her, that part, governed by her survival instinct, no longer trusted Tobias. (If indeed it had ever truly trusted him.) But mostly she hoped he would, hoped that he would follow her and offer some explanation for the act almost of betrayal that he had committed. So she laid beside the trunk of a huge oak tree, waiting. Waiting to see what he would do. Emotion still ran strong in her, though reason was beginning to reassert itself. In a way, he had not broken trust with her. He had revealed to her one of his greatest secrets. In a way, her flight had been a betrayal on -her- part. The thought stung her. Stung her to the core. He has been betrayed too many times. And now I have done it again. I who professed to trust him, to believe there was good in him. I fled at the first sign of hardship. What kind of friend have I been? And yet I say to myself that I love him. And she still did love him. The wolf, Tobias, anyway. She could never love the man, Tobias. At least not for himself. But perhaps she could learn to endure him for the sake of the wolf. Perhaps. Sighing, Lenora rose to her feet. Her nose sought and found the strong scent of human, and her own scent on the path she had taken in her flight. Slowly, she retraced her steps. Hoping that her betrayal had not hurt him, yet fearing that it had. And still she struggled within herself. Part of her wanting to stay with him, part of her wanting to flee far, far away. Tobias had always said that some secrets were better left untold. Lenora believed him now. Believed that statement with all her heart. But she could not betray his trust in her. Could not bear the guilt of that betrayal, so she made her way back to him. Slowly, but surely. She recalled a proverb she had once heard. Aithnitear cara i gcruatan. A friend is known in hardship. How true that was. ~Lenora

This post has been edited by Bryn on Jun 9 2009, 06:03 PM

[Larka]

Tobias sighed quietly at her words. When would she learn to trust his judgment? When would she learn that he could not offer her anything? Rather he would only take from her until she had nothing else to offer expect her life. He was a monster; nothing more then a black hole that stole the life of any who were close. He wasn’t surprised by her growl, he fact he expected it. Just as he expected her teeth to tear into his skin. Surprisingly he didn’t feel her jaws close around his flesh to tear him apart. Instead she cried out. Under the mass of emotional scars his heart stirred, responding to her cry. Agony lanced through him with familiar sharpness as she fled. Why did it hurt so much to see her run from him? He had spent the duration of their relationship trying to drive her away. So why did he feel such guilt now that he had succeeded? He had used her greatest fear against her, it was something he had thought of before, but wanted to avoid doing so before now. It was his last resort and it had worked, but it didn’t stop him from hating himself. With a sigh, he watched her flee from him. His heart chased after her, but his body remained rooted on spot. Tobias tried to convince himself that she was better off without him. As she left his sight, all traces of remains of her vanished from his senses. His weak sense of smell couldn’t find traces of her on the air. Tobias sighed softly, hating his weak human sense. She was truly gone then. He didn’t even have her lingering scent of comfort him after her rash departure. Betrayal stung him under the anguish of his guilt. His body was caught between remaining human and returning to his wolven form. His could feel organs and bones shift as longed to return to his wolf form and pursue her, but he retreated back into his human form. He could not undo this mistake without making another. Tobias sighed again and leaned against the tree nearest to him. His chest felt painfully tight and he shivered in the cold air of the night. What had he done? Guilt overwhelmed him and he felt his stomach sour. It was done and it was for the better. There was no arguing with that truth. She would be better off without him. With a defeated sigh, he sunk onto the ground at the base of the tree. His fingers combed through his hair, pulling at the roots as he held his head in his hands. Tremors shook his body as the cold leeched at his warmth. He sat alone for some time before he happened to glance towards where she had disappeared. His teeth caught in his throat as he noticed her return. Unable to deny himself, he extended his hand to her, hand spread to show his harmless state. Tobias hesitated for a moment, trying to find some way to communicate to her. His hand continued to shake from the cold as he waited for her reaction. Within his human throat, he yielded an attempt at a whine while his gaze pleaded with hers. Now he longed to touch her as he had never longed before. Strange human emotions burned in his chest, luring out feelings he had long ago condemned.

[Bryn]

Lenora didn't know exactly what she was going to do when she got back to Tobias. All she knew was that she had betrayed him. Had hurt him deeply. His scent guided her to him. His human scent. She could not pick up the tiny hint of Tobias the wolf. Not yet, at least. All that came to her nose was the powerful stench of humanity. But she forced herself onwards. She wasn't even sure if he wouldn't attack her, if she came close. But, strangely enough, she still trusted him. Trusted the wolf, Tobias. And the soul of the wolf Tobias now inhabits the body of a man. The mere thought of a wolf's soul inhabiting a human body revolted her. He became visible to her long before she became visible to him. Her eyes saw so much more keenly in the darkness than his weak human ones. His scent raged in her nostrils, all the stronger now. Her survival instinct told her to run, her memories of a slain mate told her to attack. She managed to hold them in check. Barely. And yet...he looked so...pitiful, sitting there. It was obvious he was cold, he had no warm fur coat, as she did. And as he did until a few minutes ago. Yet she hated to use that word of him. The wolf Tobias was a fearsome fighter, not one whose physical state could ever be described as pitiful. And yet that was how he looked. When he saw her, his hands stretched out towards her, palms open. As if he wanted to touch her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be touched by a human yet. Not even this one, that had once been Tobias. A whine came from his throat. Or a human approximation thereof. That comforted her, oddly. There was still much of the wolf in him. Perhaps he wasn't as human as his form made him seem. She opened her mouth to speak. “Why, Tobias? Why, and how? How did this happen to you?”

[Larka]

Tobias’s nostrils flared instinctively as he tried to catch her scent on the evening breeze. He frowned as he only caught the scent of the pine trees around him. He felt blind as a human without his senses to guide him. A frustrated sigh escaped him but he never took his eyes off her. Calmly he assessed the knowledge that she could kill him quickly in his current state. As a wolf, his size and strength had been superior to her. But as a human, his frail skin lacked the protection of his thick coat. And all his previous experience with battle was useless now; he was as defenseless as an inexperienced pup. He was unbothered by this realization however. For years he had been preparing himself to die. And after his betrayal of her, she deserved it. Tobias didn’t dare take his eyes off her in case she disappeared again. His hand stayed suspended in the air as he forgot it was there. He ducked his head down, his green eyes peering out from under the black strands of his bangs. “Lenora.” His human voiced whispered into the air, searching her body language for some sign of understanding. Could she understand him as they were now? Or had he been robbed of communication with here in this form as well. Tobias shifted a bit, his head tilting to expose his throat to her. It was a petty offering. The closest thing he had come to an act of submission in years but at least this way she’d know that he was no threat to her. He considered returning to his wolf form, but fear held him back. If he returned, they would be able to speak freely. A stab of fear made him tremble. He didn’t know if he could bear to hear her horror about the monster he was.

[Bryn]

She could see his small human nose flare as he tried to test the wind, and saw his frown as he realized he couldn't. What a terrible thing it must be, to be a human. A wolf's sense of smell was her most powerful tool and strongest ally. To no longer possess that, after having had it for so long, must have been disorienting. She did not fear him attacking her. He had none of the weapons that made humans dangerous, and though she may not have been a veteran of as many battles as the wolf Tobias had, she was still a skilled hunter and fighter. He would know that. This knowledge calmed her survival instinct a bit, but it still cried out every second that she should attack. She held it in check. It was easier now, than it had been. Perhaps she had gotten use to it, or perhaps, more likely, her resolution to not abandon him, even in this difficult time, was getting stronger. A friend is found in hardship. How true that is. And I will prove myself a friend. He has trusted me with a terrible secret, and I will not betray him for it. A strange sound came out of his mouth, and she realized that he was speaking. Only it was in the human tongue, and she could not understand it. A slight frown creased her face as she realized that they could no longer understand each other's speech. Perhaps he will still understand gestures. She wagged her tail gently, trying to show him that she did not mean to attack. Her keen eyes did not miss a single movement he made. The way he tilted his head back, exposing his vulnerable throat, was at first almost her undoing. Instinct told her that he was weakest. She could see the throbbing jugular vein under the thin, pink skin. But at the same time, the very wolfish nature of the gesture strengthened her resolution that he was indeed a wolf in a man's body. That he had not forgotten his lupine nature, that he was still, at heart, the same Tobias she had come to love. A gust of chill air came from behind him. Lenora hardly felt it, protected by her thick coat. But Tobias had no such protection now. His thin human skin had no fur, and would not protect him well at all from the wind. Tentatively, she took a few more steps until she was beside him. The stench of humanity was still strong in her nostrils, and she did her best to ignore it and remember that this was indeed Tobias and not a true human. She sat next to him, her tongue hanging out a bit, and leaned against his side, trying to lend him some of her warmth. The human smell was so strong now. It almost made her want to gag, but stronger also was the tiny hint of Tobias' true scent. She concentrated on that, remembering how he had smelled as a wolf, as what he was meant to be. Perhaps he will become a wolf again. And we can speak. She hoped he would, for she had no idea how they could communicate like this. And she had much to say to him.

[Larka]

His chest expanded with relief and happiness as she moved closer to him, leaning against his side. He thought he should deny himself the happiness, but it ruled him too strongly to simply banish the emotion. As a human he was ruled by his emotions similarly to how instinct ruled him as a wolf. That ruling made him victim to the emotions that overtook him at a moments notice. He exhaled shakily, his breath showing as white mist on the cold air. Her fur against his skin warmed him, cutting the chill of the night. Moving slowly, he slipped his arm around her back, his hand nestling into the fur of her chest. A primal sense overtook him and he closed his eyes, imagining how the first wolf had come to rest with the man in front of the fire. Was this how it had all started for the dogs? Was he taming Lenora as they shared this moment? No, the bond they shared ran deeper then a simple act of taming. They shared the common mind of the wolf, so he could not tame her unless she tamed him as well. Emotion caused his throat to constrict as strange flood of feeling overtook him. Turning slowly, he buried his face into the fur of her shoulder. Droplets like rain formed on his cheeks, falling from his eyes and being dried by her fur. His body shook with the occasional tremor as he took deep breaths. Rain continued to fall from his eyes and into her fur while his heart pounded in his chest. His clouded mind could only acknowledge his gratitude for her presence and the anguish from the return of old memories. Being human was a curse and blessing. He had once feared their weapons, but now he feared a greater opponent within them. The complexity of their emotions. All the pain of his life seemed triple fold in the vivid memories of a man’s mind. He had no desire to return to his wolf form while he was ravaged by the overwhelming emotions. Tobias could not bear the thought of Lenora being able to read his open emotions so plainly if he returned to a wolf form. At least like this she would be unfamiliar with his actions. Slowly he calmed as he breathed in the scent of her fur. His eyes dried and he breathed deeply again. Even with his weak sense, he could detect the traces of the wild on her fur. She smelt sweet like the earth, although he could catch traces of pine suggesting she had lain under a tree recently. He longed for the full range of her scent, but knew he would not have that until he returned to her as a wolf. Tobias lifted his head and regarded her with a curious expression. His fingers travelled through her fur, experiencing the new sensations of touch through his human fingers. Not taking his eyes off her, he explored the textures of her fur from the rougher bristles on her back, to the soft fur of her ears. OOC: Eh, not really what I expected him to do at all. There’s something oddly romantic about this post I think. But I don’t quite know why.

[Bryn]

Lenora's nose was almost overwhelmed with the human smell. But she held on to the tiny hint of the wolf that was still there. She could hear his breathing, somewhat shaky from the cold, and could see the pale white mist it left in the chill night air. His heartbeat sounded steadily in her ears, so different, and yet at the same time not so different, from a wolven heartbeat. Her muscles began to tense as he reached his arm around her, nestling his hand in the fur of her chest, but she forced them to relax. It was simply instinct, but everything she had done for the past several minutes went against every instinct she had. It became easier to ignore those instincts. This human form was a part of Tobias, just like his scars, and she would learn to live with it, though that learning might be harder than most. His skin seemed so weak, thin, pressed against the coarse fur of her outer coat. So useless. It hardly afforded any protection from cold, it provided no defense. She could feel him stop shivering as her own body heat communicated to his, and she leaned a little closer to him. When his head lowered to her shoulder, she was puzzled. Her small knowledge of human body language could not tell her what he was doing, but she could feel the drops of moisture hitting her fur. For a split second, she thought it had begun to rain, but a quick glance at the cloudless sky eliminated that possibility. Though still puzzled, she didn't move. His action did her no harm, and perhaps it would do him some good. Perhaps Tobias is finally learning to let go of his past. Perhaps he is learning to live in the present, and to live for the future. His fingers probed her fur, and, she would not lie to herself, it felt good. Almost like a grooming among wolves. She turned her head towards his face, keen eyes taking in every detail. She had never seen a human this close before. On an impulse, she licked him gently on the cheek. If only he would become a wolf once more. Then they could communicate again. She had so much to tell him, and so many questions to ask. Though the questions would wait until later. Mostly she wanted just to tell him how sorry she was for her almost betrayal of his trust. But she could be patient. He would change back eventually. His mind was still that of a wolf, she was sure, and such a mind would not long be comfortable in the weak human body it now inhabited. Her tail wagged slowly back and forth as she waited. Even when he was in this form, she enjoyed being so near to him. The hint of wolf on his scent was stronger now, as she learned to tune out the human stench and focus only on that hint. But she longed for him to be a wolf again.

(Hmmm...Tobias is being very unpredictable. xD So is Lenora, for that matter. *chuckle*)

[Larka]

Tobias stayed still for a while, only his hand moving through her fur. He didn’t bother to think, instead he just enjoyed the new found contentment that overtook him. His breathing steadied into a slow rhythm and his muscles relaxed. He was reluctant to return to his natural form but he knew it was inevitable. The prospect of her questions frightened him but he tried to ignore the queasy sensation of unease. If he knew Lenora at all, he knew she would be seeking to try and understand this new turn of events and how it played upon his damaged mind. But after frightening her as he had, she deserved a truthful explanation of this particular aspect of his life. Reluctantly he drew away from her warmth and moved away a few paces. He stayed crouched to the ground to make the transition less awkward. Distantly he felt his organs move and his bonds grind. The cold no longer bothered him as his thick coat protected him from the chill. He felt the stark emotions of his human mind receded as he returned fully to his wolf form. Tobias sighed softly, missing the vivid feelings somewhat. It wasn’t long before he stood as a wolf again, watching Lenora from across the distance that separated them. He stood as the same ruined wolf he had always been. Feeling uncertain, he avoided looking at Lenora and watched human dwelling instead. His torn ear twitched as he heard the dogs in the town bark a few times. Poor creatures; they would never had the freedom of the wild, nor the freedom of a human’s mind. Without looking at Lenora, he spoke roughly. “Now you know one. Do you still think it wise to keep my company?” He didn’t bother to hope for an answer. If she left again, it would be his own doing for driving her away and he would deserve it.

This post has been edited by Larka on Jun 12 2009, 09:09 AM