I Want An Escape, O

[MonsterEternal]

[shadow=silver,left,300]

The females' aqua tipped ears flicked back and forth as she trotted across the sand. She was new to this place. It was strange and she didn't know what to make of it. A large gust of wind buffeted her ebony fur harshly, making her close her eyes as it passed. She opened them again, looking up at the cloudy sky with her bright green orbs. She watched, almost mesmerized as little flakes of snow drifted down, landing on the sand and on her back. If it had been any time previous, she might have played in it, leaping about and yipping with delight. But that was not the case. She shook herself, folding her loudly colored wings and moving on.

Padding onward, Ale looked closely at her surroundings. She wasn't prepared for this cold. Even through her relatively thick fur she could feel the bite of the cold air. After she was about to get annoyed with herself for not seeing anything, she found it. An opening amongst the clutches of rocks near the cliff. She almost smiled to herself as she entered it, paws hitting the ground at careful inter vols, weary of the sharp rocks all around her. She moved back, laying down in the shadows. She wanted peace. Quiet after all that happened to her. She knew she should have been looking for a pack. She would. Eventually. But at the moment resting and looking for a bit of company was satisfactory.

Watching the cave entrance, the female sighed. The sound of the waves crashing almost randomly against the shore was almost calming. If only she could be calm right now. The memories were like silent attackers, ever present in her mind and keeping her from moving off the subject of her past. Well It wasn't time for that. She had to occasionally look at the future. Maybe, if she was lucky, she would meet someone. Another wolf to at least be around. she needed company. It had been a while since her pack members died. She had to find somewhere to go. Even if she didn't really want to. It was part of survival. Flicking her aqua tipped tail in a show of annoyance she dropped it. This was too much to deal with. Or, she didn't want to have to deal with it. Either way it didn't matter. Things played in her mind many times. Over and over.

[/shadow]

[*the CARDplayer!]

Oh it was cold. Dayum, it was cold. The she-wolf was freezing her tail off which would be wrapped around her body as she tried desperately to keep warm. As much as she adored her scales, they were very cold and although such a large creature as herself was surely warm with thick fur but the scales had a downside, and even Minstrel had to admit it. Because of that quarter, maybe half side of reptilian blood, she caught hypothermia easily.

Of course that never stopped the wolf! Until you now.. maybe today. Her teeth was chatter and she hissed with disappointment. Cold weather sucked. If only she could adjust tempetature like some wolves, but no, she had the poisons running through her fangs. Ugh, she had to start moving again or she was going to become a wolfsicle.

Getting to her dainty small paws she started out into a brisk run, trying to warm her cold system. She hated this weather, the seasons of weather. She had no idea what reptiles did during the winter, probably hibernated which didn't suit the so easily excited and enthusiastic one. Her breath was nothing but mist and fog she sped up.

Racing along the frozen shoreline, freezing her scales off when her ears pricked up at the sounds of water. She was on neutral terms about water, after all she believed that some of the land snakes had some cousins in the water. Although some scholars didn't believe that. Sticks in the mud.

Golden eyes on the prize, she stood tall as she cam across the cave, cold and sharp. But she was an adventurer and she would be damned if she would let this oppurtunity slip by her. So she padded inside, snaking out her forked tongue quick like she has seen snakes do. Instead of sniffing the air, they tasted it. And she had that same ability, as she continued to dart it in and out from her two fangs before pausing, hissing softly and smiling as it echoed in the dank cave.

It was then, as her eyes were finally beginning to adjust that she came across the sleeping wolf. Who looked incredibly warm with her thick black fur, curled up in a ball. Well, never one to let sleeping dogs lie, she poked said wolf with her coiled scaled tail.

[MonsterEternal]

[shadow=silver,left,300] She might have been cold outside, but now it was no problem. Her eyes had fallen shut at some point. It didn't matter now. She was comfortable, in a light, almost empty sleep that held her captive to its rest. But it didn't last. She felt the presence of someone else even before she was jolted from sleep by them poking her. Who the heck poked someone in the middle of a nice rest? Audacious they must be, to say the least. Nerve.

She had to hold her tongue as she awoke to keep from spiting out some words she might regret. Looking up at the wolf who had woken her, Ale began to study them, lime green eyes narrowed. This wolf was tall, by most standards. Tall and lean. A build similar to Monstrums' own she thought, moving on. She thought they looked a bit chilled. But what would be the cause of that then? She blinked drowsily and looked again, eyes focusing better and giving her a clearer view of this newcomer. She noted the scales and figured they couldn't be too warm. Thus, the reason for the cold look of this wolf. The piercing golden eyes were looking at her with interest, something the two must share at this point. Ale had never seen anything like this wolf. As curious as she was, all she could think of was how much she wanted to get away.

Her personality had been drastically altered recently, changing her from the one who wanted to know things, be involved and excited about most everything, to a shy, reclusive wolf. She didn't know if getting her small desire for the company of someone else was a very good thing. Her body tensed slightly as she considered darting off into the shadows where she could simply seem to disappear. But that didn't feel like an option with this large reptilian wolf standing over her. Not the most Ludus awakening she ever had. But that was besides the point by now. She shook her ebony head, clearing her mind for a moment. The spasmodic thunder of the ocean waves crashing against the rocks sounded outside the cave, making her feel even more like she was cornered. All the thin female could think was that she needed something to do now. After a moment of panic she relaxed again some. The realization that there was no current threat from the one who woke her won over.

Heaving herself up, the female looked at Minstrel with a curious gaze. She streched out her loudly colored auqua wings before folding them up again and siting a few feet away from the other wolf. As she did, it became more plainly aparent how thin she really was. Ale figured she ought to eat something soon. But right now she wanted to know why she had been woken. Probably just that this one had no patience. It wasn't as if Monstum wouldn't have woken eventualy. She sighed inaudibly, diping her head in greeting, "Hello. I'm Fatale Monstrum. And who are you? Much less, what reason do you have for waking me?" She asked in a soft, almost fragile voice. But underneath the top layer one could tell she hid all potential well away from easy notice. She wasn't as weak as she might look just yet. Her tone was more interested than scornfull, eyes holding the question like a small flame, burning in her gaze. [/shadow]

[*the CARDplayer!]

Minstrel was jealous of such rich fur, she could go adventuring wherever she wished. Minstrel hated to be limited by such miniscule things such as weather. Of course if thick fur meant to lose her precious scales, then no thanks! Perhaps she find another way to travel and do proper wolf things in the winter.

With liquid gold eyes she watched the wolf stir. Her chest was barely moving, her breathing low and calm. Usually, the wolf couldn't act like a snake for the life of her, but as she tried desperately not to alarm the awakening wolf with her odd appearence, she was quiet. Like a snake about to pounce on a mouse.

She smiled widely as the wolf blinked her eyes open. Fatale, as she called herself, didn't seem to pleased to see her. Minstrel was used to that. Her tail snaked out and started to shake in glee. Cool name! My name is Minstrel Snakestongue! And uh.. I don't have a reason? She grinned sort of sheeplishly at that answer and hung her low. It's winter and I'm bored. If I don't move a lot, then I usually fall asleep and that's boring. She tried to explain, but feeling as though she failed to do so.

[MonsterEternal]

[shadow=silver,left,300]
She flicked an audit, looking at this Fae with both amusement, and tinge of annoyance. The ebony wolf could easily remember how her own puppyish nature had once left her constantly craving entertainment. A slow sweeping motion of her tail began as her eyes widened and she became truly awake now. On one hand she was tempted to forgo interacting with this newcomer. Why should she? But, it was a bit late to scramble off now. Fatale would have to deal with it. Even though she had second thoughts on the topic.

Her bones ached as she rose, pulling them under her lean frame and getting up to a sitting position. Her lime colored orbs glanced at the entrance to the cave, but saw little of interest. No, she simply did not have any other options right now. It wasn't like she though this was a bad thing, but after going through plenty of crap in the past few weeks, the thin Fae had a right to be wary of getting close to anyone. Making friends had never been more difficult for her. Still, not being all alone could be a somewhat good thing as she figured.

The sky was still clouded over, the fluffy bits of white snow cascading down and covering the sand outside. She had to appreciate the beauty, even if it did cause her a bit of a chill to be in. She focused back on Minstrel now, looking at her somewhat crestfallen expression. Ale sighed heavily, resigning herself to the fact that this was where she was, and she may as well get to know this other wolf a bit. Her voice was just a touch louder now, brighter if it was possible in her state of mind, "Well, Minstrel, it seems boredom follows you a lot this time of year. Where did you come from anyways? I haven't seen many other wolves. Belonging to a pack or otherwise. But I suppose that's to be expected since I haven't been here long." She mused. If the other paid attention, she might notice that Ale's voice was an infinitesimal amount less hostile. It wasn't like she had any say in who all came here, but the wolf still had to get over some things before she was ready to go and purposely chat it up with anyone else. And that sort of thing seemed a futile goal right now.
[/shadow]

[*the CARDplayer!]

Of course, if it was any situation when a wolf was sleeping, one might act annoyed. But Minstrel, an active, moving being didn't understand the concepts of sleep, or resting or hibernation. She had energy always in her system. Her metalbolism was heavy. A good heavy meal lasted her weeks, while she had all this energy to burn and kill. To sleep was to waste. A bard had to be moving, a bard had to be everywhere. Living true to her calling of a minstrel, Minstrel Snakestongue loved the idea of sneaking around and finding the story of a life-time.

But she felt sorry, a bit sheepish when the wolf looked at her with tired eyes and a boring voice. I'm from Jager! Although I wasn't always. I was originally a bard you know. Singers and story-tellers, it's a dying breed you know. With that, she sighed a little and shook her head. But Bret was really nice and took me in! I don't know a lot of people yet, but there is this really grumpy doctor who like, studies snakes and.. like mind-readers. We are a super cool group. And if to forward her point, her tongue flicked out and rattled like a tail as she smiled.

Yeah me too. Haven't been around here. I actually came from the mountains, but minstrels like myself have to travel to get stories and tales of heroes. Her ears pricked forward and if possible, her body jittered a little more. Hey, I know you are all like tired and stuff, but I have this great story, would you want to hear it? She bit her lips and she slouched, paws out like an eager pup. Oh, she had so many stories, but she had been working on one lately that could use some criticism and a hopeful audience. Personally, she really liked it, much better the Story of the Lobelia flower.

[MonsterEternal]

[shadow=silver,left,300]

Peace seemed out of the question now. So terribly disappointing, but she would live. Her lime colored orbs passed over Minstrel once more, taking her in with a new mindset. The annoyance at having been woken was fading quickly. Better to embrace the fact that she was up. But either way, it was still disheartening. Her last meal had been long ago. Soon her limbs would grow heavy, screaming for a rest. She shook her head slightly, banishing the thought. It was not time to be concerned of that. Not yet.

Leaning her thin frame forward, the Fae stretched almost lazily. Her aqua colored audits flicked back a moment, listening for any outside noise other than the roaring of the ocean on the rocks. Finding nothing, she sat down again. An amused air took hold as she listened to this almost pupish wolf talking with such vigor. It had been a while since she herself was like that. But those days, well they were not for mulling over. Just made life worse.

As the Wolf spoke of her pack Ale perked up a slight bit. Jager. They were a bunch she had found herself to be rather interested in now. It was a difficult pick between the two packs. Not that she was sure if she wanted to join yet, but if she had to decide, Cerrac just didn't suit her fancy. Besides, now that she had someone to talk to, she might well make use of it. She had to smoother the urge to flee once more. It was overpowering, but not something she couldn't handle. A small smirk appeared tentatively as Minstrel said something about them being a 'super cool group'. The girl was entertaining to say the least.

Her tail remained still, even in her amusement and the lessening of hostility in her. Joy did not reach her these days. Not the way it seemed to flow through this other wolf. Ale had to admit she wanted to have traits like that again. But desire is nothing without a bit of follow-through. Which she currently lacked anyhow.

A story? Minstrel did seem a tad odd to her by now, but it sounded well enough. She might even like listening for a bit. No harm, right? "I suppose I would like to hear a story. Long time since the last one I heard." Her voice was clear, filtering out the sorrow she held caged in her. Ale didn't bother others with her problems. Not ever. So, now she guessed it was story time. How fun.

[/shadow][/color]

[*the CARDplayer!]

She snapped her jaws like an eager little piranha, like Fatale had offered raw juicy red meat in front of her nose, instead of just a captive audience. Even if she liked the running of the ground underneath her paws and the wind on her scales, her true calling was in her voice, and always would be.

Inhaling deeply, she took a few breaths and she settled down, an eerie calm settling over her before her eyes lit up brighter, golden rays of sunshine on the cold, blistering winter day.

The stories of two brothers, the jackals Kalila and Dimna, true storytellers and bards. It is their role to advise a king in the ways of wise leadership. And so at one point, as a cautionary tale, Dimna tells the king the following story:

... It happened that one day a bedbug had the good fortune to crawl into the bed of a rich wolf, with knowledge and strength and his beautiful young wife. That night, as the handsome couple slept, this bedbug crept delicately all over their bodies, gently nipping at them here and there and sipping their blood. It immediately became evident to the bug that the sweet, silky blood of the wife was far and away the best he had ever tasted! In but a matter of days he was entirely addicted to it, and so he continued to live out his peaceful days and nights in a hazy, happy sort of swoon as contented bedbugs do everywhere, until it further happened that one day a flea sprang from the back of the back of a passing rat as it passed by their bed.

Bedbug, a most amicable fellow, welcomes the flea to his digs; at the same time the canny flea — a bit of a rogue and a rambler — is doing his flea's version of casing the joint. Flea mentions how hungry he is, having been traveling about and such, and tired, and asks if he can stay the night.

Well bedbug is delighted with this, quite happy to accomodate a guest, and tells flea about how nice it is here, and begins to describe the ambrosia of the wife's intoxicating blood that is nightly to be had — in fact he waxes quite poetic about this. On very friendly terms now, the two gab the rest of the afternoon and evening away, working up quite an appetite.

She had heard of this story once before, by her mentor the fabled Jester whose teeth poked up always in a devilish smile and who entranced her with a voice sweet like honey and silk and made Minstrel want to listen forever. It was the kind of effect Minstrel wished she could possess, hope to gain. Dimna and Kalia were her heroes, jackals of a strange breed but who were sly and wise and reminded her of herself in some ways, but far more legendary she can ever hope to be.

By and by the husband and wife come to bed. No sooner does flea get a whiff of the wife's exquisite body-odor, her fine muskiness ravishing his senses, than his hind legs begin to twitch and he inadvertently gives several tiny hops of quivering anticipation.

Because of bedbug's whispered insistence, flea just manages to control himself. Once the husband and wife are asleep, however, the two bugs assail the wife. Bedbug proceeds gently, gently, creeping lightly along and taking great care each time he slowly penetrates the wife's skin with his feedtube. But flea goes utterly berserk, energetically leaping about and nipping the wife all over her smooth thighs and legs, biting her painfully on buttocks and neck, until she wakes and feels the sore bumps all over her body.

This begins a chain of reactions, as the now discombobulated wife wakes the husband and the two of them step back from the mossy dwelling of their hom and commence to search for the culprit. At the first moment of exposure, flea makes four mighty leaps which take him to safety across the room, while slower-moving bedbug is found skulking under a fold in the pile of leaves and oss.

Of course, the wolves cannot hear bedbug's screeches of protest; his pitious cries that it was the flea and not him who had bitten so hard, go unheard. And presently, as the husband and mate steps on him, pressure and the sharp talons of the wolf, he is squeezed between two sharp claws — until he pops!....

So it is with this nifty little tale that Dimna warns the king about too easily trusting a stranger, how one, no matter what circumstances, should be on his toes even when the stranger is kind.

She raised her head proudly, recalling the tale she had kept hidden in her head, just for moments like this. Eyes shining, she bit her black lip and then licked them, bones shivering. Well? What did you think? Was it good, was it terrible? Oh, Minstrel hated this part, the critiscm. A part of her feared that the wolf hated it, would spit at her paws and call her a terrible bard. But, another one of her wished that Fatale would stop being so cold and smile. Tell her story was wise and clever.

[/size]

[MonsterEternal]

[shadow=silver,left,300]
The striking green orbs began to loose their annoyed tint, relaxing a bit. It was no surprise she had simply decided to write off Minstrel as joyful, but no threat just yet. Her bodice remained a bit tense even as she tried to appear less on edge. It was hard, but the Fae always managed it.

Her aqua audits pricked a tad as the Bard began to speak. Even in a relaxed state Ale began analyzing the other. The way those words simply rolled off the tongue of this wolf almost impressed her. The memorized words were recited to her in a way that held her difficult to get attention captive for the moment.

Ale's expression changed as she thought of all this story reminded her of. Such crap she did not want to think of, yet the memories resurfaced regardless of her own personal wishes. The desperation and the terror at seeing her only surviving sibling crowded her like torturous ghosts who's only goal was to suffocate her. She needed to escape it. To get away and free of that all.

But the point of this story held steady in her mind through all of that. It was a nice one she had to admit. But not trusting others was something she was already quite clearly good at. That wasn't the point. The point had to be determined really... She held her Raven head at a somewhat higher angle as she recovered and focused back on Minstrel.

A small chuckle had to be stifled at the wolfs' anticipation of her opinion. Monstrum thought it didn't matter much, but either way she wouldn't make the other Fae wait too long. Her reply was spoken with a soft, thoughtful tone, like every word was something to perfect, planned for long and meant to be gotten right, "I liked it. A story needs a point to be any good, and I can really appreciate yours." Her eyes shone a tone brighter now and the small rising of one side of her maw created a smirk. She wasn't in the mood for a full blown smile, but it was a step. A way toward her goal of getting over past crap and other things... Trying wasn't so hard..

[/shadow][/color]