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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 3, 2011 19:17:27 GMT -5
" But follow me. Comrade is nice and sometimes gives me food if I am good." She smirked as she headed down away from the docks and south towards the location of the bar. Charity turned down a old winding alleyway with cobblestone lineing the floor from a much earlier period in the city's history. One could feel the sense of magic that kept humans away from this section, made them feel unease and move off to safer parts of the city. As they walked a swinging neon sign with the image of a fuchsia and purple Cheshire cat grinning as it was stretched out atop of the famous words.
The Cheshire Cat Pub Where All Madd Here
She walked under the sign and turned to open the heavy metal door .... to show the woman into a whole new world of madness and insanity.......
" Welcome to the city Miss Ratha." She giggled as she walked inside.
Charity smiled as she slid up through the crowed, dwarfing the many taller species that were all around the joint, drinking and carrying on. Many didn't give her a second glance sensing power from the kid and that she was probably no ordinary child. She walked straight on up to the were rat who was busy tending to the crowed. He stood tall and slender, a hint of asian mixed in with generic American DNA to help create his taller frame. His eyes were a steel blue with his hair a light shade of silver and kept somewhat short and well groomed. His hangs curved inward parting in the center to help frame his sly looking grin. The man looked like any other man around town accept for the occasional nervous twitch of his nose. As soon as he spotted Charity he moved over to the side bar and motioned for her to sit down.
" Ah Miss Charity, where is your charge tonight hmmm? Render will be upset with you if your just finding trouble again." he mentioned as he watched the child a bit.
" Um.... around....." She smiled innocently at the rat.
" Eh! I brought Ratha here to meet you Comrade!" She smirked as she jumped up on a stool and turned to see if the girl had followed her or had gotten lost.......
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 3, 2011 22:17:25 GMT -5
Ratha had to admit to herself, she wasn't perpared to meet the city like this and it showed on her nervous face. She twitched and jumped at every small noise that landed on her ears and hissed at people who bumped into her or even got too close. Great Lioness Sekhmet! This place is complet madness! How could anyone live her, she growled to herself and walked into the bar with Charity leading. Of all places she had to pick...it was near a city.
Her eyes darted up when she smelled the rat and stopped dead in her tracks. She knew he was a rat, but a handsome one at that. His evey weren't the dung brown color the rats of the sands were or his coat (hair) was well groomed. She only let a hint of a blush dance across her cheek as she sat down on the stool near her new little friend.
"My name is Ratha, and I am new here to this....place." Ratha didn't know what to do at this point, her mind went a little blank as the were rat watched her. "I-I have to say I'm a bit taken a back by your city...its so loud. Hard to hear if anyone is coming to attack your back." Why am I making small conversation!!! Ratha shook her head quickly. "I need information and I can pay with these." She tossed the bag of rubies onto the table in front of the man known as Comrade. "I need to know about the clans that run these lands here in this area and if there are any shifters, lions shifters that is."
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 4, 2011 19:21:12 GMT -5
" Ratha hmm?" Comrade mentioned as he looked up not knowing the name and for the young man not to know a name meant it had to be a new person in town. He starred up to the new woman to take her in and size up her character when the scent of cat hit his nose, and large cat to boot. Comrade often fought with his were nature of the rat, his fear of predators especially cats often made him jumpy many a night. He closed his eyes with a deep breath escaping his chest, his body shivered for only a second as he stood there. Mentally he told himself to calm down and stop acting like a rodent. He finally recomposed himself with a smile and a air about him of a very skilled haggler and informant.
" Pleasure to meet you Ratha." He grinned, leaning on the counter as he looked up to her face. Letting one of his aids tend to the other patrons for a moment as he spoke with the two women.
" They call me Comrade here, I am the barkeep and owner of this place." He nodded to her.
" On the down-low I am the man to speak with if you want to know anything or anyone. I have many a connection here." He smirked as she spoke of the city.
" It is noisy but once your used to it you can maneuver it quite well. The noise is handy to cover your trail so to speak. Especially when your inner animal isn't as quiet as mine." He smirked as he watched her a moment. His eyes went immediately to the bag and moved his hand to see the inside contents. He looked astounded as he looked back up to the woman.... was she stupid or naive he wondered to himself as he closed the bag once more. He looked around before slipping his hand inside and takeing out one ruby and placed it under the counter in a safe spot before he shoved the bag back towards the woman.
" Hide these woman, your going to need them. No one deals with Rubies in this place, city cash is what you need cause normal folk will think you stole these from some museum." He warned her though he knew they were quite valuable and was a good token to bargain with at other times. He wasn't going to be cruel though and take all the woman's valuables so he took the one which was pretty pricey he figured and left her the rest. He leaned closer to her to speak out of others hearing range.
" Shifters have long since been hunted into extinction child, or at least that is what their kind wants us to think...." He told her looking her over again and sizing her up.
" I have heard their might be a few left..... talk is there was a leopard spotted in the woods, not were though.... but different. " He told her looking into her eyes.
" Witches find wind of this though they will be flushing out every were creature in the city to find that shifter...... their hydes fetch a fair price on the black market.... so a smart shifter would not go around telling people what they are so willingly." Comrade told her, hinting he had a fair idea she was a shifter but would not say so if he was asked.
" As for the clans..... there are many for many species in these parts, but if your interested in the were packs. There are four, North, South, East and West. South is ran by Marius the tiger and his sister Eponine, the north leader disappeared, some say witches may of assassinated him. He left behind his newly created Beta Skye Rune a artic wolf were to carry on... but she wishes to have no parts of the Alpha role so far. To the west is the timber wolf twins Kazuki and Kazuya, beta there is Sani, they call him the Skin Walker though. Native American boy who has a spirit form as well as his were shape. The East pack...." Comrade looked away for a moment and then slowly returned his gaze to her.
" Most of them were wiped out..... both Alpha and Beta are gone.... some are blaming the witches, others are blaming other forces..... which ever way you look at it the East isn't fairing so well. Soon their might be territory disputes between clans over that land amidst the city if a Alpha doesn't rise up. Most were's are territorial for the most part, especially the predator types." He spoke as one of the patrons roared at another in warning for over stepping their bounds. Comrade nearly jumped on the counter at this as a panic look crossed his face. A long worm like tail elongated from his spine as he was in a state of surprise. After a moment, with one foot on the counter and his hands ready to propel him forward he sighed and settled back behind the bar. He cursed as he grabbed his tail and starred at it in frustration before swiftly throwing it behind him to sway with a mind of it's own.
" Sorry.... it's a were rat thing." he smiled in a bit of a sly yet geeky manner since he was a rat..... and predators were always putting it's mind at edge. It was amazing that the man could run a establishment like this with such a frenzied species of creature always nibbling away at his own human mind.
Charity laughed a bit amused by the show and clapped at Comrade.
" You should see it when he gets angry, he goes all master splinter though and kicks some tail! Or changes into a rat and runs away whatever comes first!" Charity giggled as Comrade shot her a distasteful look like a big brother warning a sibling to be quiet. Really..... did the girl have to make him look like a utter fool! Sheesh.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 4, 2011 22:56:15 GMT -5
Ratha could see the quick spark of fear in his eyes and smiled inwardly at herself. At least the rat knew that she was the top of the food chain, and she wasn't something to mess with.
"Charity told me you were a man to talk to about such things." She watched him open the bag and the look on his face surprised her. Didn't he find the rubies worth something? Once he told her she needed something call 'cash', she sighed to herself and took the bag. "Don't worry rat, no one could touch these worthless stones while my claws are on them. But I don't know what this 'cash' is." The lioness grinned at him showing her fangs at the cornors of her soft lips.
She listened carefully to Comrade's words and a low growl rumbled through her chest. Shifters hunted!!! Like common witless animals! If any of her pride mates ever heard of such a thing, war would be upon this place. She felt the heat rise inside her and her body shook as she thought about the poor shifters who fell to these witches and hunters. "T-This is dishonor towards the Great Lioness Sekhmet...S-Shifters being hunted...killed by these witches just for their hides....h-how dare they!" She slammed her fists against the bar table, eyes changed to their golden lioness color trying to hold back her rage. "If they ever try to lay a hand on me or any shifter I find I will tear them apart with my own teeth!"
Ratha stopped and breathed for a moment. Control yourself Ratha...this isn't the time or the place to release your fire upon the world. Her eyes closed and she bowed her head slowly. "Forgive me...its just hard to take in..." She sat quietly listening to the rest of his information about the clans. It seemed only 3 clans had true rule and one could be pride leader of one that had been destroyed. Something to think about.
When Comrade showed his tail out of fright from the loud noise, it made her smile and her mood improved slightly. He may be a rat, but the shift showing his little weakness made her happy. She leaned back a little watching the two play tease between each other seemingly like sibblings. Her mood improved more and she smiled more at them.
"Even if your a rat, you seem like an intresting person Comrade." Ratha leaned forward in a teasing way close to Comrade's face so their noses touched slightly. "I will probably be around here more often to learn of this place." She leaned in forward so their cheeks rubed together in a cat like mannar and she purred in his ear. As she did so, she slid another ruby stone into his pocket. "For making me smile with your tail. I get into rages easily when its about shifters."
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 5, 2011 18:54:54 GMT -5
" I do trades here child.... if you want...... I'll trade you another ruby for it's worth in cash." He smiled to her as she leaned forward and brushed up so close to his face in her feline like manner. It made a shiver go down the males spine, the scent of cat making him want to run so far and fast and at the same time he stood there thinking of the trades he could do with this woman, both items and information alike. He forced himself to remain calm, forced himself to remember he was human and in no way threatened by the woman before him. He took in a deep breath as well as her scent should he ever need to remember it later.
"I am glad I have made a woman such as yourself smile, and you are a very interesting person as well. I would not mind having you as a every day patron." He smirked in a casual manner as he nodded towards the clock.
" If you want to change things around here and want to be a bringer of justice you should speak with the man known as Claudius Lothair. He is a cursed witch who was turned upon by his own kind for merely having the curse of the gargoyle upon his head. Heh, it almost cost him his own head when they found out witching blood was not the only thing in his veins as of late. He is seeking out reform in the way this city is policed as well as in how the coven of witches works. He is trying to start his own task force, with his own ideals of equality in place. He isn't home tonight though if you want to speak with the man, he will be out patrolling." He told her as he looked to the time on the clock. The moon would be up in a short hour.... and he would be cursed to the shape of the rat for the rest of the night. He sighed at this knowledge as he shook his head.
" Tonight is the full moon..... and others like me will be forced to our infected shapes....... some were's though are much more deadly then I and twice as nasty in their animal shape. They don't abide by the laws of the pack and hunt humans and other creatures of the night. " He confessed in her. He would be forced into the shape of a common pet rat, his hyde a silvery color like his hair with steel blue orbs that looked like little marbles in their sockets. Charity again had to chime up.
" Yeah, it's not like a were rat can do much more then bite your toe or threaten ya with infection. " She smirked as she looked over to the young man who looked back with a bit of annoyance.
" Comrade usually just locks himself up in a cage all night till morning comes cause he's afraid something is going to eat him." She taunted as Comrade snapped at her in a sibling like way.
" Shut up dog, you try surviving in a city full of predators that think your lunch." He reminded her as she smirked in her own coy little manner.
" Eh, careful rat I'm not just any dog." She reminded him since she knew he was aware that she had both Cerberi and witching blood in her veins. Comrade snorted at this.
" I should call Render to come pick up her pup." He shot back as Charity looked to Ratha in her best innocent gaze.
" Eh, you won't let him call Render on me Ratha will you?! I can probally track down Claudius if you want to visit with him. Or we could just sit here and watch Comrade spaz out all night as a rat." She smirked deviously.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 5, 2011 19:38:42 GMT -5
Ratha smelled the fear in the rat's scent and chuckled. Ah to be a shifter and to learn the lesson of her pride, by the change of scents on animals or the humans she could tell their emotions. "I am not a child in my pride's eye sir, I am a hunter and keeper of fire. I shall trade you these stones for this so called cash." She felt him inhale her scent and her body shook slightly causing her face to flush red and her purrs become louder. The young lioness stopped herself quickly. Not the time Ratha!
She moved away from Comrade and listening about another who was a witch and another creature. How these people treated each other based on their species was down right wrong and dishonorable. "This Claudius sounds like a good man to become allies with." She nodded with a smile. "I would like to meet him sometime soon before establishing myself in this strange city."
The moon. She blinked at his comments and nodded. She realized that there were creatures that lose themself to their animal rage and hunger against their will and thats the firm line between her kind and the kind of the weres. She was a little glad that she never had to go through such horrors in life. "Yes I smelled the night air, the moon will be upon us soon and her power is a mighty hold." Her blush grew and she reminded herself to work on her speak. "I guess what the humans say is true, maddness comes during a full moon."
"I can protect myself Comrade. I am a huntress and no person, animal or human, can hurt me without my permission." She grinned pridefully at herself and laughed at the two arguing again. Such people like these were wise friends, at least she saw that for now. Their characters will show as time goes on.
"It seems like you, rat, need a protecter." Ratha had a bit on concern in her eyes. She may have only met them tonight, but a person like him against wolves, tigers, and Sekhmet knows what else was not a fun way to live a life. Every month dreading the moon's touch wondering if some creature would pick you up finally for a midnight meal. "I can stay with you Comrade and be your protecter. I don't mind it at all and for now until my den is finished I need a place to stay. I will offer you more rubies as pay."
Ratha smiled over at Charity and ruffled her hair playfully. "You may take me to this man when the night is over and all is still uh when its all over. I can take on many at a time, but protecting a small rat like him and keeping you from getting in trouble from this Rander would be a bit difficult for me." Her head turned to the rat with a soft smile. "What do you say?"
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 5, 2011 21:27:27 GMT -5
Comrade chuckled at this. " No offense, it is just something I say be if child or adult. If you mind it then I shall not use it." He smiled in her direction as she agreed to trade rubies for cash. He went to the safe and pulled out quite a bit of money in small bills and slipped it to her.
" The price of three more of your rubies." He whispered to her as she spoke of seeing Claudius the next day. He nodded as she spoke of protecting herself.
" I have no doubt with your predatory nature." He commented to her as silvery eyes left Charity for a moment as he spoke to the young woman curiously wondering why she was taking to wanting to protect him. Few besides those he paid ever cared if he was eaten or not.
" Maddness? This city is full of it and more, between the moon and the simple nature of evil in this city. Some say this city is the gate to hell, but really what city isn't?" He smirked as he got back on task listening to her words and concern.
" Hmm..... The few apartments upstairs have been rented out and the one that will be open is still in the mists of being repaired. If you don't mind staying with a rat you can use my place for a few days till I can get the other apartment opened up. I have a guest room." He pointed out to her as he nodded to himself. Wondering maybe if he was half crazed as well to accept her offer of protection though he had only known her a short time. She seemed though true to her words and Comrade was good at picking out those with lies licking upon their lips when they spoke.
" I'll accept your offer of protection in exchange. I'll let you know now though. I am not as bad as other were's loosing themselves to their beast. I spook quickly but I retain a human mind for the most part despite having no way to speak in human tongue. I am from a long line of were's by blood and have grown up since birth like this. A were freshly infected though has more problems controlling the animals mind." He nodded his head to her as he watched her reaction.
" Not many would want to babysit a rat on the full moon. I can barely keep my own workers from troubling me since it's always 'fun' to watch me run and fight instinct. " He admitted as he swung his tail around and grabbed a pitcher by the handle with it. He swung it back around pouring water for both the child and this interesting newcomer before setting it back down. He let his tail hang low once more as it always took a little bit to settle himself back down after a startle to send the shift away.
" Since the time is close. I'll show you to my apartment so you may have use of it tonight. You probably will not wish to see my shift... normally it's quite smooth but on these nights..... it's more a horror show than anything." He confessed to her as he sighed and gave the sign to the others that he would be leaving for tonight. He opened the gate and stepped out from behind the bar.
Charity smirked at this. " Render will only talk my ear off... but I would rather not hear her chaste me about being bad." She grinned devilishly as she listened to the conversation more. She was going to protect the rat?! She had never heard of anyone offering such a thing before to him unless Comrade asked for it first. She wondered why the woman wanted to babysit a rat as well but she was more intrigued by seeing Comrades apartment.
" Oh! I want to go up too! I promise to be good!" The young female smiled since she never got to see the man's apartment. He was usually working and she had no reason to be up there of course so this would be a first.
" Good my ass." Comrade frowned at her shooting her another look of dissproval as he showed them to the stairs waving.
" You can bring your drinks with you, I'll take the glasses back down in the morning." He told them as he started upstairs.
" Also it will be a long night..... so we can go back down later or even for a walk outside. Like I said, tonight is the full moon, the rouge weres will be the one's traveling the shadows. Most were's will move out to the woods as to not hurt others in their animal forms. Though even those meaning ill will in the shadows will not venture out to the lit streets so you would be safe there. That is the number one rule of this city, if your unsure stay to the light. The light will protect you." He told her as Charity nodded.
" When the nightbreed hunts we need to do it concealed, if the witches spot us where good as dead. So unless your crazed you stay to the shadows of the city and hunt in the darkness." She nodded to her.
" No humans are to know we even exist." She informed her of the other most important rule of this city.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 6, 2011 6:53:46 GMT -5
Apartment? Goodness don't I miss living in dens so much, Ratha smiled at herself at thought of living in human living spaces. Pure, utter maddness. If he mother saw her or her hunter sisters they would probably chew their own tails off out of confusion. But for now this was all she could do, for tonight wasn't a good night to be out and she had no time to start construction on her den at the bay while watching her back for crazied weres. "Never thought I would stay in such places as these. So unnatural."
She was glad he accepted her offer and was a bit surprised to know that his family bloodline had were in it for a very long time. It shows he can control his baser needs very well then, but again he is still a rat....a handsome rat. After grabbing her drink the lioness followed closely behind him, looking at everyone in the bar as if she was on a hunt. Almost everyone in the bar had scents she had never came acroess before. They were human and had some strength to them, or an animal smell flaired up around them.
"Its a shame...to hide the true being you are...human tribes in my land knew of our pride and honored us...100s of years ago they use to worship us as gods, but we didn't hurt them nor take anything unless it was rightful our or a gift between the two clans. But I will do as you two say, I do not want to cause trouble or bring attention to you all. Its not right for the ambitions or pride of another's breed to cause harm to those who wish to be hidden." Ratha placed a gentle hand on Comrade's back and looked up at him with a soft smile, eyes seemed to glitter with a few tears from what she had to do during her stay in the city. She was always proud of herself and her pride and worked hard to get to where she wanted to be. She showed courage, ambition, and strength and thus was let go on this mission to establish a sister pride in other lands. Now it seemed her mission might be lost if something isn't done.
"Well you don't have to set up the guest room, rat. I sleep on the floor." She said, trying to change the subject away from the city or if he saw, why she was almost in tears.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 6, 2011 20:01:28 GMT -5
" Unnatural? Heh, we really do come from two different worlds. I have known the cities since I was born. I know nothing of living naturally, that the same would go for most were's in this city. Where do you come from anyway?" He asked as he went to open the door to apartment 01, his place. He showed them in as he turned to look at her eyes. He caught a hint of tears but did not draw more attention to her, especially with Charity here. He knew some people were prideful and did not want to rock the boat of someone who was going to be around him at his most vulnerable. He felt her hand on his back as he looked to wondering why she was being nice, especially to a prey item were such as himself.
" Humans fear that which they do not understand, and with fear comes hate and mistrust. It's the whole reason why really the witches are against us at times and the reason we all went into hiding. We posses things they will never understand, and cause of that they wish to destroy it. Maybe one day we will be free to walk openly in the sunlight with them, but that will only come in time and much education on everyone's part." He explained to her simply as he showed her inside and sighed as he flicked on the light.
The place of course looked like a typical bachelor pad. Things tossed around without care, dishes stacked in the sink from days of being so exhausted after work he could barely feed himself before crashing. Black leather sofa's and a red wine colored chair decorated the open living room as well as bookcases lining the walls filled with texts on all sorts of subjects from bar tending, antiques, rare objects, and of course the were breed and martial arts. The walls were a dark grey with a light rug. The counters and cabinets of the kitchen connected onto the living room were a shiny black with a splash of red here and there giving the room a clean modern feel with a hint of Asian inspiration. Shoes and random clothing was tossed around the abode as well since Comrade lived on his own and rarely had company over. He sighed as he picked up a few things and tossed them into a hamper.
" Sorry for the mess..... don't often have company. This is the living room, that's the kitchen first door bathroom, second door guest room, last door my room." He showed her as he walked down the hall and opened his room so she could see inside. He had all sorts of weapons, human clothing and other daily items as well as a few rat type supplies and grooming brushes that he used when he shifted and was in either his animal form or his half feral form.
" You can have full access to anything here." He told her as he looked about the drab place, it was a true bachelors pad after all and Comrade very rarely entertained anyone.
" The fridge is stocked as well, mostly alcohol and a mixture of various foods. I'll have to go shopping though again if I am going to have company for a bit." He pointed out as he looked to Ratha. He moved over to his nightstand and pulled out a small electronic notebook. He handed it to her with a sheepish smile.
" Heh... if you need to know ever what I need to say when I am in rat form just turn this on and lay it down. I can type out what I am trying to say at least when I can not speak. That is sadly one of the few advantages to tiny rat feet. I can manipulate keys well." He told her as he waited for her to take it.
" If you have anymore questions ask now..... I'm.... well I'll go change in a few moments.... it's not pleasent .... so I will go in my room to shift." He told Ratha as Charity was busy looking about the apartment and then went into the kitchen to of course cook something for everyone if they liked it or not. She wanted to play around with the mans cool sleek looking appliances was all but also thought maybe Comrade and Ratha needed some alone time to work out their deal.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 6, 2011 20:49:36 GMT -5
Ratha smiled at his question and thought about her land far away from this place where time itself didn't touch it. "I will tell you about my land and a bit of how we lived when we settle down for the long night. This human form is getting a bit much for me tonight...I will shift with you." She wondered if he would freak out, but hopefully she can show him that she ment no harm to him. She was starting to really like this rat for some reason, maybe because he was so charming and handsome. Goddess Sekhmet, have I really been craving for a mate that badly or do I just miss home she asked herself.
"Your home is welcoming, thank you for allowing me to stay." She then blinked at the electronic pad she was given and snifed it wearly. "Odd...but we have no use for this." She tossed it lightly on the table and used her clawed finger to poke at his forehead. "Shifters have an ability to understand others. Because you retain a bit of your humanity, I can talk with and understand you in your animal form. Its almost like mind speak, but all shifters can talk to other animals the only problem is witless creatures do not think like shifters or humans do. They have no light in their eyes as my people say."
The lioness followed the rat, her human shoes slipped off quickly so her bare feet made no sound as she walked. "We can shift together." Ratha told him and smiled. "I will not notice you shifting while I am so you don't have to worry about scaring me." She discarted the top layer of her clothing so all she wore was a very short and plan undergarment that stopped to above her knees. The lioness' body was lean and toned, but beautiful. She had a few burn marks on her chest area along with some scars along her arms and throat from battles to prove herself. On her shoulder was a very dark looking scar of three claws going down from her shoulder near her neck to a little over her breast. It was the mark of a fire keeper of her clan.
"Charity!" Ratha called out to the girl. "If there is raw meat in there please leave it out as is. I'm starving and would like to eat something when I shift so not to worry the rat. Have to show him I have a full stomach so he knows I'm not hunting." She laughed and looked back at Comrade's face. "To your room?"
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 6, 2011 21:12:26 GMT -5
Charity called out at this with a grin. " Right!" She agreed as she went about investigating the home like a little kid finally getting inside that 'forbidden' room.
Comrade nodded, he had only tapped minds so to speak with a few other mind to mind communicating creatures so while this wasn't extremely new it was still weird for the male rat.
" Ok....." He responded as he lead her to his room. Once inside he looked to her almost sheepishly from the remark of showing the rat she was full. He stripped down to his black silk boxers. Normally he could shift his clothing fully but on the night of the full moon it was a bit harder on him so he usually went naked but tonight he would abide by common city gentleman like nature and retain his boxers for modesty sake.
"And... thanks..... Nnng." He started to speak but stopped swiftly as pain wracked his body. Tonight was not a smooth change like it normally was. The moon as it rose dragged out the wild beast in him. He cried out as bones snapped, repositioned themselves and snapped again, all the while crunching tighter and tighter together to make a smaller framed body. His skull erupted forward as skin raced forward to cover the protruding skull. The worm like tail snapped and writhed in pain as it grew smaller upon his form. Comrade panting and grunting in pain, grinding teeth and holding himself in the least he could do to console his shifting form as fur raced cross his body like grass erupting from the earth in a violent manner. He raised his twisted head towards the ceiling, crying out in a gargled manner from the pain he was feeling from head to toe as his body continued to shift and change. At last the human like cries gave way to violent squeaks as his form became more rat than human. His body convulsed in pain, twitched a few more times before it was finished. He slowly got to his paws, silver fur covering his small rat body as blue marble like orbs looked up and around him at the distorted world that was once his room. He backed up a moment, preparing to meet the mind of the rat. It on Que slammed him for all it was worth.
'Runrunrunrunrunrunrunrun!!!!" It screamed in his mind.
'Predator!Cat!Canine!Danger!Danger!Danger!GetCover!' the words all jumbled together like one ongoing sentence. Comrade panicked and backed up a few paces, getting ready to run under the bed to the darkness to try to escape from the scents in his new world. His tail shook and quivered as he hissed and chattered with his teeth in warning... if something attacked him before he got to safety he would fight.... he would fight for his life. That was when the human mind slowly took over again. Consoling the rats mind, making it calm down. His breathing that was labored slowly became regular as Comrade tried to get sight on the other shifter in the room. He stood up on his back legs as he tried to balance himself.
'Ratha?' he panted mentally trying to find her, his mind almost searching for consolment from the trama of the full moon shift.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 7, 2011 7:24:30 GMT -5
Raha shift was more smooth and clam. Her body was naturelly use to the shift since she had done it since birth. Her bones cracked and shifted under her skin and she only gave out soft sighs of relief when she was forced down onto her feet and hands from her bones. Her tail smoothly curved out and swayed in delight and her fingers and toes shortened into large paws. Fur sprouted from her body, showing a golden color and a light white under belly uncommon to most lionesses. Her face then her eyes were the last to shift. The blue was swallowed up by the bright gold.
The lioness stayed very still for a moment, her mind connected to the animal of her soul and heart and then she shifted on her paws. Ratha purred softly to herself, even if its been only hours I so missed my true form. She knew now she would have to be careful where she shifted, but for tonight she didn't want to think about that.
Golden eyes darted when she heard Comrade's voice. His scent was so full of fear and begging for some form of comfort that her nose twitched, annoyed but she understood. To him she was a predator, a creature that lived off of the flesh and bone of other animals. Her kind killed and ate him....maybe even not in that order. She took a few slow steps in front of him and laid down, her head bowed against the floor.
'Comrade, I can hear you. Come closer to me, I would never hurt you so please don't be frightened. You fear is starting to make me sneeze haha." Ratha's laugh was musical and her voice was different almost. More meaningful and spiritual. Because the shift was her true form, she was using the true voice of her soul from inside her. 'I won't hurt you...please Comrade.' Ratha's paws opened wide for him to crawl to her chest so she could groom and nuzzle him only knowing the comfort a lioness could give.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 7, 2011 19:55:46 GMT -5
Comrade stopped in his tracks, looking up to the lioness who towered over him even when he was standing upon his back legs. He got back down onto all fours telling himself mentally it was ok, nothing was going to eat him... nothing at all he assured himself as he creeped forward to the giant lioness before him. He sniffed the air cautiously, raising one paw in caution as she called to him in his own mind. The voice was soothing, which made the beast in him curious. He creeped a bit closer now, looking to her in uncertainty.
' Sorry.... it takes me a moment........ it's the whole...... rat thing.' He told her, pausing in her mind as he spoke and fought back the need to run. He mentally thought he was crazy for doing this, walking up to a lion whom he wasn't sure if the control she had was total or partial.
'This is.... strange to have you understand me..... usually people just grab me and toss me around like a animal. It's weird to be addressed like a human still like this.' he confessed as he was in her paw reach now and slowly inching closer and closer as his gray pelt shimmered in the moonlight from the window of his room with every move forward he made.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 7, 2011 20:14:58 GMT -5
'Thats a cruel practice to toss you around like that.' The lioness said softly and let her eyes smile at the rat before her as she watched him get closer. Ratha made sure she didn't move a lot and let her breathing slow. 'I will only play with you if you want me to.' She winked playfully at him.
She leaned her head closer to Comrade so their noses touched softly and licked his head sweetly. 'Your very cute in rat form. I've seen evil rats from the sea of sand who had coats of dung and red tiny eyes. You are different.' She purred soothingly to him and nuzzled gently.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 7, 2011 20:45:53 GMT -5
' Rats are low on the totem pole in this city.' He admitted as he let his nose nervously touch hers. He sneezed as she licked his head and he looked up rather stunned as she called him cute.
' Mostly people say ew, not cute.... and of course. My mother was a white rat, my father was black. I am a domestic rat, not a desert rat.' he pointed out to her as he hopped over her giant paws and sat amidst them a bit more bold now. He looked up to her with large blue beady eyes, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. He creeped up a bit closer till he put his paw to her chest fur.
'This .... is honestly as close to a cat I have ever gotten in this form...... I usually end up freaking and running away.' He confessed to her with pure honesty as he tilted his head a bit and let his tail whip once behind him with mere thoughtfulness.
' People often see rats as evil creatures Ratha, what did the rats do to you in your lands?' he asked her softly in her mind as he let his little paws feel through her coat as if trying to figure out his own mind at the moment.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 7, 2011 21:02:05 GMT -5
'In many cultures, rats are worshiped.' Ratha admited and purred louder at the feel of small hands feeling around at her fur. Her body shook a little at the intamit touches and she felt the heat rise again. She wondered by she felt something like this towards a rat, but she couldn't help it. It was like a flood after the first rain storms of the wet season. The lioness couldn't stop the water no what her heart felt.
'I won't let anyone harm you I promise...I am a hunter after all.' She curled her paws about Comrade more so she could keep him close by. She raised her ears a little at his questions about the rats of her land. 'A long time ago, as the elders told us as cubs, the rats use to be allies with us. We worked together with them to protect their nests and lands while they became our scouts. But one day the rats turned on us, leading human hunters to our clan grounds to kill us for our fur. We fought back...but at a deep cost of our pride...many died...that is why we kill the rats of the sands on sight and why I was so angry that here the practice of hunting shifters for fur...it is a dark and sad history...' Her eyes grew sad with remembering as a cub the sadness in the old one's eyes telling the story. That old one was a surviver of the war of the human hunters and lost her mate in the battle.
'Its too sad to think about...would you like me to talk about my land and my clan?'
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 7, 2011 21:24:33 GMT -5
Comrade noted the sadness in these words and settled back upon his haunches.
' I am sorry to hear of that tragedy. My clan originally came from Japan and we prided ourselves on our loyalty, though our loyalty was only with our own clan..... ' he admitted since not many people favored the rat since it carried disease and was a sign of mistrust.
' I have heard of worship though before, though I have failed to see it." He commented as a afterthought as he continued to listen to her.
' If it comforts you..... you seem stressed sometimes about your land or homesick, may I ask why?" He asked her with his usual voice that she had heard back at the bar. Kind with a bit of that curious tone to it on who she truly was. He snaked around and crept up onto her shoulder peering down into her face to see her better.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 7, 2011 21:37:22 GMT -5
Ratha laid her head down when Comrade climbed up onto her shoulders and closed her eyes so she could see her homeland before her. 'My pride calls it the sea of sand....It is a desert with rolling dunes and small oasises where my clan would stay for water when we traveled to other parts of our clan ground.' She could see the golden lands in her head and she felt the warm sun upon her fur warming her. 'The sun was strong but we loved it. Our clan would live by a large river that even the crocs fear to come near.'
The lioness opened her eyes and looked up at the rat. 'I come from a clan that uses fire not as a source of heat but as a weapon. I was a fire keeper. Thats what that scar on my body was for after I proved myself in a battle against one of the older fire keepers. I am the daughter of the pride leader...I was sent from my home to create for myself another clan of lion shifters...I would become ruler and return to my people to claim the right to become pride leader.'
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 7, 2011 22:12:48 GMT -5
Comrade listened to her well as she spoke about her pride and such things. He shook his head at this.
'I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you are the first lion shifter I have come upon, and their is only rumors of a leopard being in the area...... You need more then one lion to make a pride....' He pointed out to her not to be mean or scare her off but to tell her the truth for once, very openly without the need for payment.
'If you don't mind though a mixed pride....... the east pack is prime for a leader and a person to change things in this city.... I think if you make the right connections you can change things overall... but it will be a long haul.... and only if you want more then just creating a lion pride." The rat pointed out as his tail stilled and he laid against the female lioness a bit.
' Sadly my past isn't so great. Son of a bartender who owns many a chain of bars, I'm just out to prove I can run a business and be a success." He confided in her as he listened to the great noises coming from her chest. To little rat ears the sounds were amazingly loud and at the same time strangely soothing. His rat paws kneaded into the fur, feeling it's softness beneath pink hands covered in paw pads and skin. More able to manipulate items then a cats paw and feel the long strands he smirked to himself in his own mind.
'though if you do take up the pack territory it would even things out once more.... and perhaps prevent war admist the packs in this city.' He told her.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 7, 2011 22:28:47 GMT -5
Ratha sighed as Comrade told her the news of the shifters in the area and her purrs lessoned. 'I guess I will have much to think about while I am here...I'm just afraid if I do not prove myself my family line will lose our leadership...we have been leaders of our clan for generations...I am the first female...and only daughter...if I do not prove myself to them...I will lose to another male...' She growled a little, but stopped herself. She didn't want to frightened Comrade. 'Sorry...just...females could be hunters and fire keepers but not the leader...its not fair...and my father...my father will disown me. Throughout of my whole life I had to work the hardest, run the quickest, become the strongest hunter, be the best fire keeper...all of it for him...now this is the final test...just to show him I can be the leader.'
The lioness stood up on all fours feeling the rat play more with her back and fur. She knew he could hold on, so Ratha stretched her front paws and let her tail raise up high. 'I guess we have something in commen...I will think about taking up the offer of leader of the East pack. Even if its different then what my goal was, its something to start. Maybe if I can lead in battle against the witches or something haha.' Ratha's mood lightened and her purrs became louder again. 'Though I have to protect you once a month, and that is a promise Comrade. I like you a lot and...um...well...I would like to get to know you more...in many ways...' Her tail swished from side to side shyly.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 7, 2011 22:46:38 GMT -5
Comrade nodded as he held on easily as she stretched.
' I can give you what information leaks that I can, when I can. I am in a ideal spot in this city and this also is one of the few bars paranormals can come to be themselves without a care in the world. Leads to alot of loose tongues. Plus I have a few witching customers. Most of the time liberal, though a few come here just to spy on us.' he admitted as he agreed with a nod of his head that they both had issues of proving themselves to their fathers.
' I always have tried to prove myself to my father but I have been always a step behind him no matter what I try. Though with a few underhanded trades of information...... well you see how it is. Even Charity brought you here for information gathering.' He smirked at her as he gave a bit of a rattish corny grin if one ever could.
' I wouldn't mind that actually, and in all honestly.... well I wouldn't mind getting to know you as well." He spoke then stopped. If a blush could ever brace a furred face it would be now as she spoke of -in many ways- Comrade wasn't sure if he had heard correctly...... but well she seemed a nice person so far and hadn't tried to eat him as part of a main course meal. So that was always a big plus in his eyes. This was when a crash came from the kitchen, followed by a few random oops.
" Oh Wait! Wait! I got it!" Charity shouted out as Comrade chattered with his teeth and balanced upwards with his whiskers twitching.
' I'm going to kill that brat if she has messed something up again." he grunted as his tail swayed abit in anticipation. He heard a few plates click as if they were laid on the floor in the kitchen.
' I am really scared to see what in the world she has done to the kitchen....' he pointed out just remembering Charity + Alone time = Chaos.......... He probably SHOULD of just called Render when he had the chance.....
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 7, 2011 22:59:36 GMT -5
'Your too kind to me Comrade.' Ratha said sweetly and walked around a bit feeling those little hands clutching onto her fur. It felt nice, that little weight on her back as she padded around feeling her form. 'Whatever information you can give me will help me so much.'
She couldn't believe though what she said about them getting to know each other...in many ways. She never thought she would say something so stupid. Besides trusting rats, another sin against her clan was to mix blood with nonshifters...let alone weres. To keep the blood pure and strong within the lion clans, they could only mate with other lions. What in the name of Sekhmet I am doing...?
When the crash sounded, Ratha's body tensed and she lifted her head quickly towards the door. 'Goddess above what in the world is she doing?' She commented and looked up at the rat. 'Causing a riot? We better go see her before she hurts herself.' The lioness pawed her way to the door and nudged her head up so Comrade could climb up her head so he could turn the knob and open the door. 'You have better paws then mine.' She commented.
Deep in her heart...she wished they could be alone with each other more...
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 8, 2011 8:30:54 GMT -5
Comrade nodded to the female lion as he rushed towards her head using his nimble paws to turn the handle. Once turned the door popped open as on cue. He waited for her to pad down the hall, still riding upon her back. As they round the corner one could see dishes and pans everywhere! While most of them weren't used there was some large raw steaks sitting on a plate on the floor and another plate of leftover chinese food heated up. Lastly Charity was sitting on the counter admist the mess. She had reached up for another pan and well caused the rest to crash around her.
" Heh, ooops!" She smiled back over her shoulder as she climbed down and set the pan on the counter. " I'm making cookies!" She explained innocently.
'Your making a mess!!!' Comrade shouted but forgot that Charity couldn't hear his mind nor could understand rat. He sighed as he shook his head.
'tell her to stop making a mess please and to clean it up when she is done....' Comrade told Ratha Times like this he really wished he could retain a human form during the full moon, he would sooooo be calling Render to come collect her little pest right now.
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ratha
The Forgotten
The Fire Bringer
Posts: 35
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Post by ratha on Jun 8, 2011 9:12:29 GMT -5
Ratha eyed the mess amusingly and looked up at the young girl. She may be trouble, but life around them made it intresting and fun. Maybe it was from all the hard work she had been doing over the years, but the lioness felt like a small break was in order. Besides there were no lions around this area and she still had to talk to another man about the East Pack so she could relax just a little.
The blood of the steaks waffed up to her nose and her mouth began to water. Unknown to the other two, she really hadn't eaten for a few days. Seeing the bloodly lumps of fleash calling to fill her belly only made her hungrier. 'I'm going to eat my fill Comrade, you'll need to get down from me I don't think you will like the sight that much.'
Ratha leaned her head down so the rat could jump off and went to the plate. As she did so she looked up at Charity and spoke in her human tongue.
"Comrade said not to make anymore messes and to clean this up." She purred and looked down at the meat before her now. She couldn't hold it back as her large jaws and while fangs tore at her food. It wasn't like catching her own prey but it was meat. The lioness tore, chewed and swallowed slowly, filling up her empty belly till there was no more for her. Ratha was glad that filled her up plenty.
The lioness went over to the living room to Comrade and laid down as she groomed her paws and her bloody lips. Her purrs were loud and happy, stretching out her large body in pleasure. 'Oh thank you Sekhmet...that was good. Comrade, lay with me here. I want you near so nothing happens to you.' She was lying...she just wanted him close to her because she liked the way the small body felt.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jun 8, 2011 17:57:49 GMT -5
Charity sighed at this. " Awww man..... thats no fun." She sulked as she continued to make the cookies.
" I'll clean up when I am done." He went on as she slipped down and placed cookies on the pan before setting it in the oven to cook. She tilted her head in a amused manner seeing everyone in animal like shapes. Her shape..... well it wasn't of a natural animal per say but it was still beast.
" Now I feel left out." She complained a bit, knowing Render had told her never to show her true form to others cause if it leaked out Cerberi had returned to the city they would be hunted down. She moved the Chinese food to the living room where she sat the plate on the coffee table as Comrade climbed off the lioness and moved to this new area to eat in peace.
'You do know though.... us rats are opportunistic.... well eat meat as well as anything else we can get....... Just as long as you don't hunt down and eat a rat I'm fine' he whispered to her mentally as he held up a noodle between two nimble paws and nibbled away followed by a pea and other parts of the lo mein meal he was partaking in. His ears did twitch as Ratha returned into the living room. Finding it quite curious she was acting so protective when they were just in his own apartment.
'You don't have to fret so much here Ratha. This is my own home and unless where invaded we are safe from the night hmm?' He told her as he moved over to her jumping over her paws and looking up with beady blue eyes he stood on his back haunches.
' I don't want you to stress out any........ so you want to watch a movie or something...... I mean not much we can do right now unless you want to go for a walk with a pet rat on your shoulder.' He laughed a mentally in a better mood for once then he usually was on these long lonely nights with only terrorist down in the bar around to torture him.
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