WELCOME

Cerulean eyes shined as they were gratefully kissed by the rays of moonlight above. Eighteen year-old Taylor Mitchells lay within the spears of lush, dew soaked grass, her arms above and gently propping up her head. Her back lay flat, parallel with the Earth beneath, and her long, beautiful legs jutting out from her body crossed at the ankles. Multi-colored locks of curly golden hair covered her head, the moisture of the night darkening the parts that grazed the ground, and her natural light highlights gave her a three-toned appearance. Donned in nothing but a dark green tank top and daisy dukes, Taylor's beautiful cross tattoo on her right shoulder was exposed to any onlookers, and her bare feet happily stroaked the cool ground without complaints (her feet didn't like shoes). Well life is undoubtedly boring without you, sweetie, that's for sure. She thought aloud, her voice melodically beautiful, harmonizing with the multitude of songs that lofted out of the thick forest around her. Crickets, night birds, locusts, and the occasional owl hooting.

Cory's angel face appeared in the stars above, smiling down on her. She couldn't help but smile back at such a beautiful memory; though her chest tightened with the ongoing sorrow she carried upon her shoulders. Tay's eyes began to tear though she abruptly snapped them shut, only to open them again just as fast, pleading with the dark abyss of space to hold his image there. He was gone, so she rolled on her side showing her back to the sky to face the forest line in front of her. Not now...hold yourself together girl. We can do this later.. She told herself internally, smiling half-heartedly as she uncrossed her arms from her chest. Taylor didn't remember even moving them, though she could still hear his voice perfectly in her mind telling her that she did that to try and stop crying. Apparently it worked.

Sighing, she rolled her weight into a sitting position, waiting to be stumbled upon by the shifters said to live around here, though she had no idea that she had already planted her rump deeper into their territory than any loner was welcome and knew not of the danger she had forced upon herself by simply walking through here. Cory was the one who had told her of the large, hidden pack, and how his birthmother used to reside safely within their boundaries. She hoped to find him here amongst the others like them, but subconsciously she was almost convinced that he was dead after all this time, though consciously she insists on searching for the inevitable. Was she cracked up, or just a determined dreamer?

We'll be together soon...I promise.

//OOC: If the color is annoying, since I see hardly anyone uses it here, then I'll get rid of it.\\

<sub>It had been a while since he'd come to the edge of this forest, and now he stood amongst the trees, gazing up at the splendor of them. They were tall and huge, with twisting trunks and knarled branches that curled into shapes similar to fingers. But they felt like home. Everything about this forest reminded him of how he had so missed this place - this little sanctuary that provided shelter to all nearby shifters. The ground beneath his paws was soft and spongy with moss, yet chunks of bark still gathered there, along with leaves that were leftover from the dying trees. It was a familiar routine - the trees dying and then coming back to life once more in the spring, and it was something he had witnessed more than once in his lifetime. Obviously.

There was no snow on the ground despite the fact that it was winter and for this the shifter was glad. Though he could bear the snow, he disliked it, and the thought of the cold made a shiver run along his spine, making his fur stand on end. Bane glanced once more up at the trees with soft yellow eyes, and then continued on his way, nose to the ground.

He was scouting for the pack, as was his usual job. Everything about him was built to be a scout, though the alpha had yet to rank him to that position, and he was feeling a little bitter about it. The teenager deserved it - he was doing it even when he wasn't required to. Shouldn't that be enough? With a grimace, he trekked on, following the path that he always took.

Bane had been gone from the sanctuary for some time - up to trouble you would probably presume. But no, he had just needed to get away from it all. He'd packed a few belongings and then moved into the apartment that he rented out in the town for occasions like this. But now that he was back, he was starting to realize how much he'd missed it. Everything about it, from the forests, to the open meadows, to the streams and the crisp, fresh air. The black wolf opened his maw, breathing in a giant breath of air to confirm this fact, and then let it out in a gentle huff.

A few more minutes later, his nose twitched. He'd picked up the scent of someone, though he knew not who, and so presumed that it was a loner. His yellow eyes narrowed suspiciously, for this was deeper into the heart of the shifter territory than any loner was allowed to come. Muttering to himself, the black wolf padded silently forwards, slipping into the shadows for a moment in order to observe the newcomer. It was a female - another one, his mind observed slyly, for there seemed to be many more female shapeshifters in the area than male - and she seemed unaware of how far she'd wandered in. Perhaps she didn't know? Wouldn't she have recognized how much stronger their scents were here than at the borders? With a mental shrug, he stalked out to make his presence known.

When he was only a few feet away he stopped, giving a small growl. Hello there, newcomer. Do you realize that you're right inside our territory? Loners are supposed to wait at the borders. He tilted his head, watching her curiously. To humans, his words would have been nothing but growls and snarls, but to a shifter, they would understand. And she was a shifter, her scent betrayed it. Quite out of the blue, he changed his form, shifting back into his human self. His dark eyes were still narrowed, regarding her with some interest.

Bane had changed a bit since leaving for that long period of time, but he still retained his good looks. His hair - which had been short when he had left - had grown out so that it came almost to his chin. The style seemed to suit him though - many hairstyles suited him and they changed frequently. His face was a few shades paler than normal, and there were bags under his eyes that made him look more tired than usual, and cast his features into deeper shadow. However, the cold air was helping him feel a little healthier, and his eyes were as bright as ever, ever watchful. He remained in a crouch, waiting for some response.</sub>

Vrictare stumbled through the last of the underbrush towards the scent of others, nursing his rage. He had been hiding in alleys and sleeping during daylight to escape from those who knew of his transformations, and had been making his way in a general...this way direction. But as he came into the outskirts of the town nearby, he had scented something.

Or rather, someone. Quickly shifting into wolf form while no one was looking, realizing in that moment that it was the first time he had consciously shifted, it seemed like a subconscious reaction. He scented the air and rushed towards the smell. He knew that smell. It was not unlike his own, though he seemed artificial. This scent was more...natural. It had only been as he had neared the borders that he had realized what it was; a true were, the kind whose myths had put the fear of him in everyone. He resented that. He also resented that they had a home to call there own. Why didn't he?

He cautiously, then, with more confidence made his way towards where the scent was emanating from. Going through the same motions he had the last time he had consciously shifted. Emerging as a sleek, black wolf, he slid into the forest, following the scent and sounds that were suddenly full of clarity. Suddenly, like a sense he's never known he'd had, Vrictare heard, being the best description, a voice. "Loners are supposed to wait at the borders." Huh? That sounded almost like a military camp rule...

Vrictare walked cautiously towards the voice-thing, until they were in plain sight. Shrugging, suddenly self-conscious, he realized he knew nothing about these natural unnaturals, none of their etiquette or violence. Attempting to speak English in wolf form, instead he came away with that strange shifter-language, and managed to mutter "My name is Vrictare Valen. Who's land is this? Er, is there anywhere to hide?"

//ooc: XD I didn’t realize the weather conditions. –duh-\\

An emmense wave of peacefullness embraced the young boy as he strolled along the thin mountian path, whistling a tune that came randomly even to him. Each note passed smoothely, some an octive different than the previous, although none sucsseeded in making his girlfriend any less timid. Cory grasped her hand gently, one foot infront of the other with a small kick in each; not quite skipping, though not quite walking like the norm. Taylor clung to his hand like it was the very life she was breathing, her fingers intertwined with his tight enough to halt the bloodflow, which she easily did not knowing her own new strength. His fingers were turning a purpleish hue, though he never seemed to notice for he was quite caught in the moment of his unheared of mentoring.

Taylor’s frigid optics wandered to her feet, her red painted toes hanging over the rocky edge of the cliff. The air was thick, and the sun shown brightly in the cloudless sky giving the miles of land hundreds of feet below them a whitish, ghostly contrast. To be quite honest, she had never before been more frightened than now as she quickly inched herself along the edge to keep up with her bubbily lover, the wall she clung to no further away from the tall mountain wall that six inches. She whimpered every so often as rocks fell from beneath her, though Cory wouldn’t allow her to fall to her death as he easily hoisted her small form back up to the rocky edge before she fell more than a few inches. Glancing over to him, her eyes widened in fear... - wait, was he grinning?!

Taylor gritted her teeth, her eyes piercing with unneeded anger. Cory looked back at her, his brows furred in confusion when she halted compleatly. Are you that unconcerned about your life that you think this is funny?! Taylor scowled, her naturally velvety voice shaking. He replied with a quick nod and threw his head back, erupting with a whole-hearted, roaring laugh at her expression of both total horror and attempted fury. Taylor hadn’t quite figured out how much becomming a loup-garou had heightened her sences, including depth preception. She had only been through the transformation about four days ago at this time, and had been in her wolf form until just that morning where she fianally figured out how to change back into herself. Well fine, if you want to turn bacck... He began to let go of her hand, though she quickly and all naturally closed the space between them, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her eyes widened at how easily the once freakish task had been compleated. Cory laughed again, although less wildly. Burying his head into her golden locks, he inhailed deeply allowing her scent to flow openly through his nostrils. I told you there was nothing to fret about, love.

Taylor laughed with him this time at her own stupidity, sighing as she buried her face into his chest allowing his warmth to surround her. A rumble built within his throat, comming out as a low chuckle. Tay glanced up at him, her peacful face turning into the previous horrified expression as he skillfully heald the wry smrik that meant he was pondering trouble. He bent down and whispered in her ear Time for your next lesson... As suddenly as she has discovered her ew sence, Cory and shoved her off the edge of the ledge. Bottled up inside of her from long asgo was a nice, high-pitched scream of terror that she eager let out. Cory did the same, but his tones were the least bit frightened. The two of them plummeted twords the ground...
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Her vision blurred as she no longer viewed the screenplay of the poast event on the inside of her eyelids. She hadn’t even noticed that she had dozed off, and as the cousioned pawsteps approached further. She inhailed, noticing that the wind took no likings to staying in one direction for the night. She could smell the lupine, and another but from a different direction. Was the pack ganging up on her? She tensed, and exhailed attempting at easy-going relaxation for her first impression. Tay rolled to an upright possition, straining her deep blue eyes into the forest line to the right of her. He emerged into view not but ten seconds later, his massive size being the first thing she took in. Taylor would look like a tan mouse next to him! His face held a slightly arrogant tone to it, almost like laugh lines on a forty-year old woman. His head held high, his tail slightly erect, and his auds pointed and alert, the basic stance of the higer-ranked. Maybe it was simply Taylor’s imagination of his standings, but she kept her eyes sharply peeled for any sign of agression. She had never seen another shifter besides Cory, and he was never cross with her. Breathe girl, you can do this...

An ebony pelt covered his massive tone, the moonlight glistening off of hidden battle scars giving him quite the threatening appearence. His pale yellow irises seemed to see right through her confidence and into her nervousness, but that could have possibly been her imagination as well. His tones, gruff, yet not menicing, echoed in her ears. Heh, she laughed nervously, mentally slapping herself afterwards, At least I’m somewhat where I want to be. I’m Taylor. My apologies, um... She paused, hoping to get a name when yet another wolf walked into the clearing. He was more timid, which she could tell even by his pawsteps. Probably another loner. She smiled inwardly, glad that she wouldn’t be the only one getting her butt kicked if it came down to punishing them for tresspassing. Her eyes wandered to the six-foot boy who had quickly taken the place of the black wolf, taken back in slight surprise by his quick shift. He was well-toned, just as protrayed in his previous form. His long black caressing the sides of his face until each individual strand cut off at his chin. Taylor swollowed, the male seeming much more intimidating in this form than his wolf form even. Where did all this nervousness come from? Relax your doing fine!

<sub>Bane watched alertedly as the female shifter seemed to really notice him for the first time, and saw her eyes widen a little as she took in his appearance. Some found him intimidating, but he didn't think he was, really. He'd met plenty of others who were twice his size and three times as menacing. But still, to know that he at least caused that effect on some gave him a twisted satisfaction, and he smirked a little as he smiled, his trademark expression. His senses were still running high, and he could sense the nervousness ebbing through her, could see her false attempt at a confident demeanor. He wasn't buying it, and she knew he wasn't. His grin grew a little.

He leaned back from his tense posture, relaxing his body into a more comfortable position and so to ease any thoughts of him being aggressive out of her mind. She obviously hadn't known just how far she'd gone into their territory, and so he'd be lenient - it was her first offense, after all. But still, he loved mind games, and he would carry on this one a little bit longer - he loved the idea of having someone think him unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Perhaps because he often was. The shifter's piercing dark gaze struck her, and he tilted his head as he listened to her speak. The girl's soft voice was a bit higher than would be deemed usual for a girl who was calm - so it was obvious that she wasn't (her nervous laugh at the beginning also proved that) - and there was a southern twang to the tone that made him think of the American states.

Finally, he nodded his head briefly, and murmured, "Apology accepted - I'd figured you hadn't known. I'm Bane." It was a casual response, almost as if their meeting was under different circumstances and that they were already well-known aquaintances. With a inconspicuous movement, he flicked back a piece of hair that had been hanging in his eyes, and noted that this new hairstyle would get on his nerves sooner or later. He'd need to get it cut sometime in the near future.

Once again, a scent drifted into the area, and his nostrils flared a little as he took it in. Another loner, another shifter, but a male. Once more, he tensed, and he stood up quickly to confront the other now. A moment later, the shifter drifted in, his black wolf pelt glowing dimly in the moonlight. Bane noted that this one seemed confused and hesitant, and a growl rose in the teenager's throat before dropping from his standing position into the previous crouch he had exhibited earlier. However, before he could speak any words, the other already had started to spout of a fountain of his own questions. Bane's eyes narrowed. What was this strange shifter hiding from? His scent was different too...not like all the others...he shrugged it off, though stored it away in his mental notes. "This land belongs to the alpha, and to the shifters in the pack. As to your question of there being a place to hide, that all depends. What are you hiding from, and what are you seeking?"

As sudden as he had done so before, Bane shifted his form back into the wolf pelt. The change came easily for him - there was no dependance of a full moon or anything of the sort; the transformation was sheer will. They stood face to face now, both pelts the color of ebony with pale moonlight glinting off the fur. However, if one looked closely enough, the other shifter's coat was more of a deep, very dark brown, and there were tinges of lighter orange fur here and there. It was hard to notice in the darkness, though. Both had yellow eyes, and Vrictaire was only an inch of two taller in his wolf form. Bane held his position, waiting for some response from this other new guy. It would be interesting, most likely.</sub>

Vrictare noticed the other loner and made a motion he often made in human form, tilting his head forward in acknowledgment in the manner of a high-schooler with no free hands greeting someone. In wolf form, however, it came off as a more formal gesture, and he quickly stood up. "Er, hello Taylor." he said, more comfortably, in his wolf-voice.

Turning to the large, black, muscled newcomer, he made the elaborate bow again. Looking up, or, rather, down as it happened, as the the wolf was shorter than him by about an inch or two. He nodded at him. "Sorry for trespassing...Bane, was it?" He paused for a moment. "How is it exactly that you control your transformations?" He repeated the same effort of will as the first two times, and pushed himself back into human form, with a bit of effort. He was in a general better mood now that he knew he was on safer ground, but when Bane asked him what he was hiding from and explained the territory, he shivered with anger. His face seemed to twist with hate, as if he was a completely different person. "Of course it belongs to an alpha, idiot, I meant WHO, thank you." he snarled sarcastically, and his form shivered, blurring between human and wolf, before settling back on human with what looked like an incredible amount of will. "Look, sorry about that, it's just.." he trailed off.

"Humans." he finally spoke again. "I'm running from...humans." It took almost a physical toll on him to finish that, for until he had first began to shift in anger, he had thought himself human, too. "They saw me...shift, is what you call it? I can't really control it, so it happens when I'm angry. I'm...not like you guys."

Working on it, guys. Didn't forget. Just museless for a good long post. Sorry... T.T