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 Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:41 pm
...//Solo - Journal Entry We went to go see Arrikanez and Andi today...Dad was a little scared to go, I think...he doesn't seem to like hospitals at all... I wasn't scared, just really sad. Andi smelled sick, and not good at all...but I left his easter present anyway...maybe he'll see it when he wakes up?
I think Dad's taking care of some of the bills - or I heard him say that. I don't understand, does it cost to be in the hospital? I'll ask Dad later.
...hope Andi and Arri get better soon. I don't like scenting death on people...
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:44 pm
...//Solo - Syrie's Entry (04.13) The kitsune flipped up the screen of his laptop and the machine whirred to life, screen going bright for just a few moments. He rubbed his eyes sleepily, but had work to attend to. On the couch in the smallish study he occupied lay Nalira - exhausted, tear-streaked, and fragile looking - and Khia. The two were curled under a blanket, sound asleep for the moment.
Syrie sipped at the steaming liquid in his tea cup. It wasn't just tea, but no one else needed to know that. He opened one of his programs and went to work, checking this and that, typing out payment ledgers, etc. This is what he did...how he contributed to the Stationary Shop.
Had the children not been sleeping, Sy would have whistled at the ongoing medical expenses being charged for Andi and Arri's care. He shook his head a little, and then filled out the requisite paperwork required to have all bills sent directly to him. He'd already drafted a payment to the hospital for the first week - the amount was staggering, but there was no way he was going to keep the duo from having the best care available.
Along with Arri and Andi's hospital bills, Syrie cut checks and made payments for the Shop's upkeep to various companies. When he'd completed that, he went hunting for information about the "Arcaine Wolves" - though his expectations were low. At the very least, he wanted to do some research. He'd sleep after he did that...
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 8:04 pm
...//PRP - Meaning of Dreams (04.13.2005) Lemonlime Nalira opened her eyes slowly, glancing around the dimly lit room. Groaning, she rolled over onto her side, staring at the floor. She gently rid herself of the blankets covering her in a warm embrace, feeling the frigid air wrap itself around her body. She turned, placing the blankets around Khia, smiling softly, running a finger over his fringe.
Nalira glanced at the window, and couldn't help but smile as the lightning danced to the beat of the thunder over the dull grey sky, and the powder white snow drifted past as if joining in with their song. Her eyes traveled over to Syrie, her smile fading as she moved weakly over to him. She ran her tongue over her parched lips, sighing heavily.
"I'm sorry for being such a Burden last night, Syrie. I was a mess. Uh .. Thank you, though."
It was an awkward moment for Nalira. She found it very difficult to say sorry, yet, when she did it came from the heart. She gave him a slight smile, and sat Indian-style on the floor, entwining her fingers together. Syrie Khia didn't stir in his sleep, at least - not yet. He made a purring sound in his sleep, and shifted a little, snuggling himself under the blankets more. Syrie watched the girl awaken - truthfully, he'd nodded off at his computer, and when she'd moved it had caused him to wake as well. Syrie was a light sleeper when worried over things. "Ah...you must be thirsty..." The kitsune snagged another cup, and poured tea into it after warming the liquid in a small microwave. "There you go..." Syrie's tail swished as he sat back down, offering the girl the steaming liquid. "Easy though, it's hot." He said nothing about the distraught state she'd been in, but the gentle expression in his steely grey eyes would have spoken volumes as to his concern. The corners of his lips pulled up in a return smile for Nalira. "Ah...well, don't thank me yet little one, I've yet to get your mother back. And I aim to do so." Lemonlime She took the cup gracefully, nodding a thank you and allowing herself to become lost in the warmth of the cup. His words rang in her ears, but it took her a while to register what he had just uttered. When she realized, she placed the cup down, an excited look on her face.
"You're going to get mum back? Oh Syrie that's .."
She trailed off slightly, her smile vanishing. Syrie couldn't stop the Wolves, not even she could. They were vicious, bloodthirsty beasts bent on keeping their species alive. They were almost immortal.
" .. An awful idea. You can't stop them, besides." She hesitated slightly, looking down at the ground. " .. She's probably dead." Syrie Syrie watched Nalira carefully, noting both emotional changes she went through, his tail swishing slowly against one of the chair legs. "Nala..." He chuffed, smiling gently as he used her pet name; "I am much stronger than I look...and even if I can't stop them...I can't just sit here and do nothing. Lemon is a friend." He paused, closing his eyes for a moment. "And more than that...I am a healer. I cannot leave someone in pain." He meant both Nalira and her mother. Everything he said was true...but what was also true was that he was a rather old kitsune, and while he wasn't prone to fighting - he could. And horribly. "I've been thinking about it...and it's something that has to be done...." Again, the short man paused before speaking. "Will you help me find your mother?" Lemonlime Nalira opened her mouth to protest, but stopped in her tracks. She couldn't let her mother die. She looked up at Syrie, confidence and determination shining in her amber eyes.
"Of course."
She frowned slightly, remembering the note she had thrown on the ground. Maybe Syrie would understand what it meant. "Syrie, when I found her missing, they left a note. It said:
'It happens for a reason, it's what is meant to be, you can't control what happens, because it's destiny.'
What does it mean?"
She asked softly, her voice coming out in husky breaths. She entwined her fingers in her hair nervously, biting her lip tenderly as she awaited his answer. Syrie His ears perked a bit, but he frowned at the cryptic words. There were many things that could mean... Death. Rebirth...everything happened for a reason - though one didn't always want to acknowledge that. Destiny...well, as for that ...Syrie believed that a man could change his destiny if his will were strong enough. "It could mean many things... life and death...separation....the cycle of the world. Many of my own people believe things like that." He reached down to pat her hair gently. "I don't believe in destiny....a person can change the world if their will is strong enough. And we will retrieve your mother - without a doubt." The kitsune's tail swished, and he rose from his chair, going over to a tall wardrobe and opening one of the many drawers hidden within. The soft light of the room glinted off a golden chain, and then a gem the color of blood. Actually, the gem was quite creepy as it seemed to be wet - as though the blood were fresh. Actually, it was just enchanted. "This is...a very special talisman. I was going to give it to Khia one day, but I think you need it more..." He offered the gem to the scarred girl, tail swishing against his legs.  Lemonlime Nalira extended her hands, gently grasping the talisman in one, and covering it with the other. She stared in awe, her eyes glazed as if in a trance.
" .. Thank you, Syrie. But .. what does it do? What is it for? Why do I need it?" She whispered, her eyes closed in thought. It could mean many things? Death. She knew it had to be, because that is the only thing in store for her mother.
She licked her once again parched lips, cursing herself inwardly for being so quizzical. She placed the Talisman around her neck, opening her eyes and staring up at Syrie. Syrie Syrie didn't think the girl would want to know that the blood that had formed the gem was his own, so he kept that to himself. "It's a protection amulet. It will keep you from serious harm...Lemon would never forgive me if I allowed you to get hurt." He had other reasons, but that was the main one. The magic used to create it was very old, blood magic...and it would be very difficult for anything to mortally wound her while she wore it. He smiled down at her. "Now..tell me...do you have any idea where your mother might be? And...what sort of beasts am I dealing with?" The russet kitsune dug through his wardrobe again, pulling out some small strange seed-like items and tucking them behind his ear, and elsewhere he could access quickly if need be. Lemonlime Nalira smiled slightly, staring at the Amulet which clashed loverly with her blood that was concealed within a small vile around her neck. She frowned, taking a seat near Syrie, sighing heavily.
"They are wolves, as you know. They are vicious, bloodthirsty beasts that are bent in keeping their species running by the likes of me. The Alpha wants me to protect them, whether it by using me as bait .. or much worse. When I was little .."
She paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath.
" .. When I was little, they told me that as Queen, I had to allow them to control me." She showed him her arm, which had large markings carved over it.
"They carved that into my arm as a way of reminding me where I really belong. If they where to ever need me, the scar would produce a searing pain, and I would have to go to them, no matter what. I refused, and this is why they have mum.." She was controlling herself rather well, mostly because she couldn't cry anymore. Syrie The kitsune touched the markings gently, feeling the magic flaring up under his fingertips - Nalira would likely feel a light prickling, though it wouldn't hurt since Syrie wasn't trying anything. "They say you are their Queen, and yet they try to use you... " There was something more to this...Syrie knew it - felt it in his bones. A ruler usually controls her people, not the other way around...perhaps they want to use Lemon to keep you from discovering something important..." He mulled this over, petting Nala's hair gently. "That is very helpful...thank you..." Tail swishing, the kitsune frowned and shook his head slowly. " At any rate...I think we need to get your mom before they do something terrible to her...Do you know where they are?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:46 pm
...//Solo - Syrie Entry II A quickly scribbled note stuffed into the color-shifting Tome's pages, the sheet is stained and chewed on...and it seems one side has been singed for some reason - but the text is legible.
Lemon is still MIA, and I've not been able to get anywhere near the Stationary Store to contact her. As a matter of fact, I'm stuck out at the Sanctuary right now - the bedammned sprockets accidentally knocked over some of my research while playing Hide-and-Seek...and what was supposed to have been a routine visit has become something much, much more.
I believe that their accident may have effected one of the other tinctures - but am not certain. things that are dropped in this liquid seem to....vanish. O_o
Must research that more...but ....I'm worried about Nala and Lemon, so once I get the lab cleaned up, I'll be heading out. Veloren is watching Khia, and when I leave I'll put Tei and Kae in charge over here for a few days...
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:47 pm
...//PRPs - Two For the Price of One OOC-ish PD with Jiro
((*smirks at Jiro* You know...You'd look just like a girl if your hair were down >3 *pokes fun at him*
Khia: *gnaws on Syrie's arm sleepily* ??
^__^ ))
((Jiro: ....... *Looks at Akiya, who sighs from all the images he's getting*
Mou.. must you tease him so?
Jiro: Long hair is a sign of honor and respect in some cultures.. whether I look girly or not has nothing to do with it *Akiya holds up a sign that sys he looks like an angel with his hair down.. massively girly*))
((*flicks his tail* Yes yes, and in some cultures they mutilate their bodies for prestige and honor... I dont see you putting disks into your lip!
^_^ Yes! icon_biggrin.gif
Khia: *slightly awake now* Khia likes Jiro's hair. It's pretty. *yaaaaaaaaawn*))
((Jiro: I'm not into dismembering myself. Now others... that's okay.. *He blinked at Khia's statement and though he turned his head away quickly, there was a hint of pink on his cheeks and a little smile on his face* Pfft.. whatever ><
*Holds up another sign* awwww X3))
((smart bugger, even if you're girly. ^_^
Khia: *eartassles wilt* ._. Khia isn't smart when he wakes up.
See now, you've made him think he's done something bad! Naughty Jiro!))
((He's a lot smarter than he looks.. I'm still looking into how that is.. but it might be my fault >>
Jiro: *Ignoring Sy, he scoots over to Khia and pats his head gently* nah, you didn't do anything bad *He rubbed noses with him, actually comfortable enough with this Tale to do it* Sorry if I made you feel bad...
Akiya sign: SHOCK!))
((It's amazing how smart they can be...Khia's pretty sharp too...but he doesn't talk so well thanks to his muzzle...
Khia: *swishes his tail in a happy manner, licking at Jiro's cheek in a friendly gesture - despite being humanoid, he's more feline/lupine than anything* Oh..mmkay. *reaches out to touch Jiro's hair* It's soft too...
O_O *stare* I thought Jiro hated everyone?))
((*Scribbles furiously at sign* Sign: Cause Khia kept pressing Jiro to come play and didn't just give up on him. Plus, he wasn't rude to him or anything so Jiro doesn't feel threatened... *Flips sign* So he doesn't have to be defensive... *nods*
Jiro: *He wasn't sure he liked the licking part but he didn't sy anything as he touched his hair* heh.. you should go back to sleep if you're tired... and maybe later i'll let you braid it or something...))
(( Oo *flicks tail* Curiouser and Curiouser...well, Khia is a "never say die" sorta kid... *watches the pair*
Khia: *rubs at his eyes a bit* Braid? Dunno how to do that...will you teach Khia? *stretches, fur shifting a little and moving in that strange almost living manner that it does sometimes* Like long hair..maybe grow hair out...
[*whistles* he will have long hair, because I like it!]))
((I think his way of doing things is the best way to get to Jiro. He hasn't been rude to Vidya *Note to self: Finish Hide and Seek* so yeah..*Is a sucker for long hair and holds up his floor length* Gee can I be more obvious >>
Jiro: Sure I can teach you... here.. I'll show you.. *He carefully pulled out his chopsticks and then the clasp that kept his bun in place, letting his hair fall and settle about him as it would ((Sign: *Shall be drawing this one day >>*)) Not really caring about how damn girly it did make him look, he took a thick part of his hair and mde it into three sections* all right here we go.. watch closely, okay?))
((it's not a bad way to approach things...not at all ^_^ Viddy is hard to hate tho, she's so darned cute! icon_heart.gif
Khia: *watches intently* Mmhmm... *pays attention, and will probably try braiding his eartassles once shown* Your hair is longer than Viddy's....
-draw that, yes please! icon_xd.gif be suu pretty -))
((hehe I'll be trying X3 I'll show it once I finish it heh and yeah Viddy is soo damn cute! But Jiro thinks girls are freaky so we'll see
Jiro: *He showed him his perfect braid when he was done* See? Nothing to it really... I learn by watching Shouhin. He braids his hair all the time.. makes these tiny little braids and all...*He blinked* Yeah I met her.. played hide and seek with her...))
(( ^_^ I keep trying to draw the fuzzbrat in his gi, but I fail miserably lately *gnaws own brain* hee...Khia likes girls..they smell neat to him.
Khia: *tries to do the same thing to his ear tassles, fails miserably and then huffs* Too short... but understand now...Khia will practice. *swishes his tail* Who's Shouhin? *As always, Khia's words were shortened, simplified, and augmented to make it easier to speak with his muzzle - it wasn't that he was stupid, but it was hard to talk!* Viddy nice, gave Khia candy and little Wren-pet. ))
((hehe drawing a gi is sooo hard >< *Nearly rippped out hair when he tried* well Jiro's unsure of them yet. We'll see how it goes...
Jiro: It takes practice... but yeah no one is perfect at it. I sat and practiced for hours on myself til I got it right.. mainly cause watching Shouhin do it was so cool! *He blinked and then pointed to Akiya* Shouhin means father where we live.. it's a really weird place, the Homegrounds... but it's a nice place.. filled with lots of people with wings and some shapeshifters too... that's how I realized you were one.. your smell was kinda like theirs...Viddy is nice.. though I think she and her plushie were having an issue >>))
((Yip, 'cause you either get it right, or it's all wrong and you want to KEEELLL EET...I mean..yeah. time for bed X_X;;;
Khia: *nods slowly, yawning again* Shouhin...It's a nice word.... sort of like Sensei... *rubs at his eyes and makes a chuffing sound* Mm..Sorry...but I think it's time to go back to bed.. *wags his tail and then looks for Syrie*
>.> Bed time, brats. *picks the midget up and carries him off* You two can play later~
*crawls to bed, ooc like*))
((haaai Bedtime for me as well *Picks up his little imp, who was waving bye bye to Khia* Play later... after you finish playing with Viddy of course... but this kinda counts as a playtime *Saves for later journal*)) Shamisen Lesson & Jiro
Exiting on the other side of the portal, the two found themselves next to a small little house just off the main one. Jiro loves his playroom and his normal rooms, but he needed a spot of his own where he could train or mediatate peacefully. Thankfully, both of his parents understood and they had no trouble making him a house of his own. Well.. more like a dojo than a house.
"We can practice in here. It'll be quiet and no one'll disturb us. They know before entering." Actually smiling for once, he opened the door to let him in. "In we go. I can ask Yuhin if he could make us some snacks too, if you'd like."
Khia's fur was crackling a bit from the magic that transported him - as he aged, the energies around him reacted more and more with the energies that allowed him to shift forms. It didn't hurt, acutally, it tingled - usually - so he was in a good humor.
"Maybe later? Shouldn't eat near instruments, right?" He'd taken good care of the shamisen Jiro'd given him; as per Syrie's instructions. Also, the fuzzy black shapeshifter had started plucking at it tentatively, but he'd not wanted to actually try anything without his friend.
"That's a valid point. We can eat something later, when we're done." Once inside, he ran on ahead, his bare feet silent on the wooden flooring as he hurried over to the left side of the room and pushed open a door. Grabbing some comfortable pillows, he set them in the middle of the room before darting back. A few more trips and he soon had two music stands, music books and his shamisen all set up. "I've been practicing a bit.. cause I couldn't help being curious.. and you were always away, or your parent was.. same difference."
Leading him over, he sat down in normal japanese fashion and waited for him to sit down. "So how have you been? It has been awhile since last time we got to hang out..." Though he was worried about the odd other side of himself, he didn't want to mention his worries to Khia. It wasn't like he could understand and he wasn't even sure if he could explain it correctly. For now, it was time to have fun with his friend, one of two.
Khia followed, helping if he could. "Oh, I was messing with it too...I...yeah, it's been kinda crazy. Sy got sick, so we had to hide out a bit..." Khia had missed being around his friends for so long; he was gregarious by nature - and Syrie's hermit like ways didn't do so hot with him.
Shamisen in lap, the shapeshifter settled comfortably and gave Jiro a "smile" - head tilted, ears cocked happily. Perhaps there was something different about the way Jiro smelled now, but Khia wouldn't notice that since he couldn't remember the boy's scent from before. As it were, he was more interested in having some fun with the kimono-clad boy than thinking too hard.
"That has to suck.. thankfully, no one here is sick. If we were, then we'd hafta go see Dyrid.. he's the doctor here for everyone. And though he's really nice, his meds are really, really nasty and I don't like taking them." His nose wrinkled at the memory of Dyrid's cough medicine. He thought his throat was burning for hours and though it did make him better in about a day, he never wanted to take anymore. "So it's best to stay as healthy as possible!"
The smile he recieved made him smile in return before he nodded and then reached out to open the book to the basic page which explained the strings. "Shouhin says that if we follow the basic exercises, we can memorize the sting names and such... it's best to learn from the bottom up.. or something." Which wasn't as fun in his book, but he did it anyway.... Sometimes.
Khia nodded. Having Syrie sick did suck. Very much, since the kitsune was chronically ill, and the medicines he took smelled horrid - quite possibly as bad as Jiro's doctor's medicines. "Syrie's stuff is the same, it stings my nose and I can't smell when I'm around it too long. Nasty stuff..."
The shapeshifter listened with interest - books! The bane of his existence, but still...this was something he wanted to do. Khia paid attention, reading and memorizing the string names and plucking at said strings while quietly mouthing the names. "Your Shouhin is smart, isn't he?"
"Shouhin? He's rather old.. he just doesn't look like he would be. Actually, if you look at him.. other than his height, he can come off as rather goofy. But he's really smart. He used to be a general.. though he didn't wanna be." Since he wanted to know everything about his father that he could, he begged Sah to show him the section section of the main library, though there were five huge ones in the house alone. The secret section was home to all his journals from all his different lives. He read through them to try to learn more about him.
And so, they sat and plunked away at the basics til they felt they were ready to try to handle a simple tune. Saukra was an old Japanese nursery rhyme, but the tune was really simple, so Jiro thought they could handle it. "So what do you think? You like it? Next time we hang out, let's do something you like, neh?"
Khia seemed to be rather content to play the shamisen - to try to play it, anyway - and he nodded. "This is harder than I thought...but it sounds pretty." The tune wasn't something he knew, but as they worked, they seemed to get decent at it.
"Mm..we can maybe go see the Sanctuary? Or Ren. That would be fun..." Since Syrie was a hermit, Khia didn't get to do many things...beyond studies and martial arts, he generally just went along with the kitsune to the various places that he worked.
"Sure, you'll hafta show me around cause I've never been to those places. Though I do remember you mentioned Sanctuary to me before. I'm still curious about it and I wanna see it." Playing with someone else was fun and he found he rather liked this. Though playing in front of his parents was fun as well, it was different this way. And when they messed up, they just grinned sheepishly and trudged forward.
"Yeah... the music is really soothing.. Yuhin found me some recordings of shamisen music.. I'll look for it in a bit so you can hear what it sounds like when it's mastered."
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:48 pm
...//PRP - Enter: Hiromi!! (05.24.2005) Jiro: *Sighing, he got out of the outfit and back into his normal kimono, looking sorely vexed as he looked at his Shouhin, who was looking away* least he doesn't take pictures ><
Khia: *flicks his tail and shifts his hand so the nails are sharper, longer; using it to shred the suit before tossing it back at his parent* I'll get 'em later, okay? He won't get to keep those, promise.
>.> damned kids, always against me... ;__; woe, woe is me
Jiro: Is there a reason for us to be with you? *He made a face at Sy before he nodded and smiled to Khia* I'm sure you can get them X3 so what do you wanna do?
Khia: *watches his hand changing back with a mild sort of interest, it stings but not so much anymore* I wish he'd stop treating you like a girl... >:/ *shrugs* Well...dunno, there's not a lot ot see here.. except in Sy's lab...but I'm not allowed down there...
*cries, slinks off to go develop the film* >.>
Jiro: *he found his change rather fascinating so he was watching curiously, almost wishing he could do something like that* Meh.. well it's my long hair that does it, I suppose. but it's not like I'm gonna cut my hair anytime soon.. so i guess it's one of those minor things I'll hafta suffer through... *Shrugs gently* Pfft this place is boring then... how can you stand it?
Khia: *flexes his hand a bit* Oh, I don't stay here much...I go spend time at the Sanctuary, or with Ren... So I'm not here much. *flicks his tail* You could see the sanctuary, if you wanted...it's kind of dangerous though...
Jiro: *His brow shifted at the word dangerous* Oooh let's go there then X3
Khia: *grins* I thought you might say that... *pulls a small whistle-type thing on a chain out of his shirt, smiling* Syrie made it for me, so I can go when I want... *puts an arm around Jiro and blows the whistle, fingers covering two of the four holes to activate the spell for the Sanctuary*
The magic is gentle - it's Syrie's magic, so it's based on the earth - and it deposits the duo on a hill just in front of a rather imposing white building. The Sanctuary - large beasts can be seen padding about, and on the porch of the building lies the largest of them all. A huge purple and black beast with massive wings, fangs, and multiple tails; despite the beast's great size, it seems to perk like a dog at Khia's appearance. The whole place is lush, green, and save for this area, it's mostly untamed land, dangerous land.
Jiro: *his eyes swept about the place they had landed into, taking a deep breath to get used to the smell and feel of this place. It was definitely different than his home but he liked all the creatures wandering about in it.* Nice.. *Seeing the huge beast that seemed rather pleased to see Khia, a brow shifted as he smirked* pet of yours, Khia?
Khia: *shakes his head* Heka is Syrie's Lupix...she's the oldest one here... *whistles, calling the great beast to them* But she's the best way to get around here. None of them are mine...though I wouldn't mind having a bond-brother or sister...
Heka nuzzled the small shape shifter with her large head; the creature was easily the size of draft horse, if not larger, but she had a gentle air about her, and when she chuffed at Jiro, sniffing him, she didn't seem to be intent on hurting him.
Jiro: Ah so tis a she.. that's nice.. *He watched the creature with thoughtful eyes, his body not in any way tensed or on the defense. To him, animals were easier to read than humans were. It wasn't hard to tell the difference between a violent one and a passive one. He inclined his head before her out of respect* Pleasure
Khia: *smiles, because Jiro seems to understand that she's not just a beast, but something more* She's watched over me since I was a pup...It's kind of weird, but I think of her like a mom almost... *scratches the back of his head* Heh...I'll have to bring you back when there are pups...maybe we can convince your Shouhin and Syrie to let you have one!
The great lupix fluffed her wings and seemed to dip her head back, accepting Jiro as a playmate for Khia, and as someone welcome to her home. Her tails swished idly as she sniffed at the air for a moment before padding off towards the house.
Jiro: Heh, it might be easier to convince my Shouhin than Sy, maybe. There are tons of amazing creatures back home. Like the hell hounds. They're awesomely huge dogs that had huge horns and can spew flames. And they eat just about everything he can. Shouhin doesn't like them cause only one demi-god can control them and they give him the creeps, but he let me have one as a pet. So I'll ask and see what he says cause I would love to have one of these creatures... *He was also rather amazed as well, but he watched her wander back towards the house curiously* So she protects the house?
Khia: She's bonded to Syrie...she watches this place for him. He's got a lab underneath... Ilkhe is probably around too...He's a great white lupix, but he's mean and bites kinda hard... *grins* Sy wouldn't mind, he likes you - if he didn't, he wouldn't let me play with you. C'mon, we'll go check out the house real quick, and maybe see if Heka will take us to stream..it's too far to walk.
Once on the porch, Heka dropped as if she were dead, laying there peacefully. From the woods, a glimmer of white and a low growling can be heard, but it comes no closer with the female there.
Jiro: Ooh, one that bites. Sounds like a challenge! *And did he sorely love his challenges* Heh I think he likes me only til he can fully make me want him to kill him and rip out all important body organs so he can't be reborn... you have such a weird caretaker... Mine's a bit goofy but at least I can occasionally figure him out. Sy makes me think he lost his mind to the looney farms... *Nodding to the plans cause he rather liked how it was laid out, he waited for him to lead the way, though his eyes flickered towards the woods, his gold eyes turning red as he grinned evilly. Ooh what was in there? But the moment passed quickly as his head turned* Lead on then X3
Khia: As nasty as he can be, Sy's not really a bad guy. He might be crazy though, that...well...yeah, he's probably crazy. *laughs, amused at the thought; leading the way down to the house. Heka didn't even stir when the duo went into the house - it wasn't dusty, since Syrie hired people to clean it, but it didn't seem lived in* Hmm...well, there's bound to be something in the kitchen... *slips into the kitchen to fetch a small pack that he keeps there and fill it with things they can eat for snacks - apparently, Khia does this alot*
The inside of the house isn't ornate, but large and airy, very beautifully made - quite possibly there were hidden passages and things here for boys to discover while exploring.
Jiro: Heh, I'll go with the crazy thought and stick with it cause it works. *Snickering in amusement, he let Khia go dashing off to the kitchen as he wandered just a little bit, but not too far. This place was big, kinda like his home.. though the inside schemes were rather different, he found he liked it in his own way. Whoever made this place had some taste in decor... he'd admit that much. A wicked smirk showed on his face as he wondered if there were trick doors and such here as well. Old houses always had them*
Khia: *slinks back out with the pack over one shoulder* I know what you're thinking, and yeah...there are all sorts of hidden things everywhere here... I found a few when Ren came out to help me make bracelets... *swishes his tail* And somewhere under here...is Sy's lab, with the sprockets. I've seen it, once...
Jiro: Hmm? *He smirked and figured that his face was obvious. When it came to his mind being read, no one could get past his shields, not even his Shouhin and he hadn't even really tried yet. But he wouldn't dare something like that* Really really now... well I'm sure if we stumble upon it while exploring, there's no harm done, right?
Khia: *wiggles his ears a bit* Exactly...who knows, maybe we'll find something intertesting....if the sprockets don't get us first! *He'd thought to take Jiro outside, but exploring the house seemed a bit more interesting suddenly - maybe it was having a friend there...mischief was so much better with more than one person!* C'mon...I bet there's something in the library! *bounces*
Jiro: hehe why are you worried about sprockets? If it's just gears, then it's no big deal, right? *Bouncing along with him, he nodded* Lead on! Let us raid da library!
Khia: *flicks his tail* If they were normal, I wouldn't worry...but they're Syrie's.... *As if that explained everything! Khia led Jiro down the hallway to the right, going past a front bedroom that looked unoccupied, and several smaller rooms - the library was at the far right front of the house, and it was huge. Filled floor to ceiling with tomes, scrolls, and other assorted things - it was no wonder Syrie felt at home in the Stationary Store!* Here we go! *sniffs at the dusty books nearest the door* Wow...I'd forgotten there were so many books....
Jiro: Huh.. *And in fact, that really did explain everything. Nothing was ever normal if it belonged to that fox. Looking at everything in this place, noting that it did look rather unlived in..w hich seemed like a waste of space to him, he smiled happily when he saw the library.* Heh this is nothing to compared to at home.. we have five major libraries each one about the size of this one.. but I wonder if this one might have books Shouhin doesn't.. maybe him and Sy'll hafta trade or something...
Khia: I bet he'd let him have them...Sy's read all these...long before I came... *he sniffed the air a bit, it smelled of Lupix, but that was only natural, wasn't it?* I wish we stayed here more often...I come alone a lot...now that I'm big enough to study by myself, and I can defend myself... *starts digging through books to get to a desk so he can search it* Say...Jiro...do you like Viddy and Ai?
Jiro: Huh? I think it'd make Shouhin's day to have new books to read.. *He was looking through some of the books that were at his eye level, curious enough to pull a scroll down and look at it* Hmm? Viddy and who? *His brow was jacked up before he recalled that Aido was called Ai and he shrugged* I like Viddy just fine.. she's nice enough, for a girl. That Tybalt seems too clingy to her but that's just how I see it... Aido? *His expression was closed* I don't care for her muchly. She's not a friend of mine
Khia: *pauses digging through the desk to look up at Jiro* Hmm...oh well. I'll keep that in mind if I get to bring more people over at a time... This place has the best swimming hole ever...it's like...perfect! *tosses a broken pen and some paper out of the desk, but doesn't find anything useful just yet; though the deeper into the room they get, the stronger the lupix scent is, which confuses him - usually the beasts dont come into the house, definitely not this far...*
Jiro: It doesn't matter if I don't think highly of Aido or not, Khia. If she's your friend, invite who you want. it doesn't matter to me. I don't have to talk to her, ya know... ooh swimming holes are da awesome. I like swimming. *He had been picking up the smell as well and his demon wing shifted a bit* Is it normal for the creatures to come into the library? I didn't know they liked to read..
Khia: I prefer small groups anyway..people stare a lot when I'm around. *shakes his head* No...they generally don't come in here...most are too big to make it very far in the house. *he frowned a bit* It's possible a pup got inside..maybe got hurt and got stuck? *it seemed as likely as anything, the library was full of wobbly stacks of books, armour, and items. Anything could happen in there*
Jiro: I'm not good with large crowds, period. You and Viddy are my only friends...*When he did his explaining, he was wandering about, pressing his nose close to the cases and sniffing around* Huh.. well if it's a pup then it would make sense.. since it's not very big.. I saw how big Heka was so things would have definitely got knocked over if it was an adult...
Khia: *sniffs at the air again, creeping through the books and winding around strange objects* It's...stronger over here..maybe...it's still alive? *tries listening with his ears, but can't hear anything for the breeze outside* I don't have many friends either...You, Ai, Viddy, and Linny...I know some others, but they're not really...friends..yanno?
Jiro: *Since he knew that following Khia was the best idea, he stuck close to him* I think something is cause I can hear a faint heartbeat *His wings were vibrating gently as he checked where he could* Yeah.. I know exactly what you mean.. I know some of the others.. but there are some I would rather just ignore completely then try to get to know...
Khia: *flicks his ears and peeks around a tall bookcase; a huge pile of books were laying in the middle of the floor; it looked as though maybe a stack had been bumped, and everything gone tumbling down.* I think...maybe it's under there? *he paused, thinking on that* Yeah...I kind of feel that way too...Sy says I shouldn't, since in a way we're all siblings...but...I just can't warm up to everyone.
Jiro: I think it has to be..*Seeing how the books had fallen over, he bit his lip a bit. Something had definitely gotten trapped under all those books. The scent was way too strong here and it was the only logical choice* Shouhin says that too.. that I should try to get along with them. But I just can't do that. It's like how he can't really get along with his own kin.. it's just how I feel about it. There are people that I'll never warm up to.. don't wanna either
Khia: *starts pulling the books off of the pile, tossing them aside carelessly* Me too...I'm happy with the friends I've met so far...I mean, you can't like everyone, right? Plus, we grow up...and grow apart... *glances over at Jiro* C'mon, let's see if we can dig it out...can't just leave it here
Jiro: *Was already doing the same thing, but he was stacking them elsewhere. To toss them was disrespectful to the books.* Exactly. No one can like everyone, that's simply moronic. And when we get older, true friendships are tested to see if they are really worth all the time and effort.. least that's what I think... *He gathered up all the books into his arms that he could before he moved them away* You don't think he'll be mad about this? Syrie?
Khia: If he noticed, I'd be surprised... *shoves books out of the way, following Jiro's example and stacking them to move - at least that way they don't have such a nasty mess later* Hey..I can..hear something now! *it was true, there was now a soft whining sound, it got louder the farther they dug into the books, and they could probably see a few swatches of darkish fur showing through the books* I wonder how many...of the friends we make now...will last when we're older...
Jiro: *He saw the patches of fur as well and quickened his pace, hurrying to get more books off the poor thing as possible* I dunno... it's not something we'll know til we get there... I just hope that you and I are still friends when we get bigger.. cause I would hate to lose your friendship... since you're the first person to reach out to me and not just immediately walk away...
Khia: Same here - You're the first guy, other than Linny, that I got to talk to much. Plus, your scent is nice. *his tail swished as he pulled more books off the whimpering pup; murmuring to it softly in a language he'd probably learned from Syrie* What a pretty girl you are..yes...
One the books were off it's head, the pup looked up at the two boys and let out a howl. It had been trapped for days, it was hungry and it's leg hurt! So howl it would!
Jiro: Heh thanks.. I like your scent too.. it's actually calming to me... *seeing the pup, his ears twitched as it began to howl. ow ow ow loud! But he looked it over before he knelt down* Aww.. its foot is hurt... *Taking his amulet, he pressed it carefully over the hurt foot and closed his eyes. It took a bit before it began to glow and healing green swirls of energy surrounded the entire pup, making it feel all better. Panting a bit when he was done, cause it was draining and he was still learning the spell, he put the locket away* T-there.. that should make you better...
Khia: *watched Jiro heal the lupix pup with a curious glint to his eyes - healing magic was something he was familiar with thanks to Syrie. He couldn't cast it, but he could recognize it* Oh wow...where'd you learn that Jiro? *crouches next to Jiro and the pup, that is now licking at Jiro's hand a bit* Here ya go, this is better tasting, I bet... *digs through the pack to give the lupix some of the food he'd put in there - sandwich meat, and bread* Think she likes you, man.
The howling stopped when the magic healed it, and the doe eyed pup whined softly, it's tail swishing as it tried getting to it's feet; it was a little wobbly from not eating for so long, but it was fine. And grateful for being healed and for being fed; the creature pressed it's head against Jiro's chest gently, ears perked.
Jiro: She? Interesting... huh? Oh.. Heh my Shouhin and practically all the other beings who live in my dimension know magic of some sort.. my parents know a bunch of healing magics so they taught it to me and my brothers.. Since I'm still learning, I use the locket as a focus point.. but it drains me.. heh cause i'm not used to it *He blinked rapidly as the pup bumped against his chest, not sure what to do about it before he pet her gently* I just healed her... I didn't really do all that much...
Khia: *folds his arms behind his head, grinning* Yeah...but for her..that's a big deal. It's everyone for themselves out here, yanno? Plus, she's a baby...so she got lost, was scared, and then got trapped here... *churrs quietly to the rosy hued pup* Healing would be a neat trick...come in handy, wish I could learn *chuckles*
Her tail wagged behind her as she looked up at Jiro - this boy saved her, perhaps she should stay with him to repay him? Yes, that's what she would do...she would repay him his kindness some how!
Jiro: Aww poor little thing.. *He stroked her head a bit more before he looked at Khia and grinned* I can teach you! Or ask one of my brothers, who are stronger and much better at it. If you're around my place long enough, you can learn a lot of magic.. *He then looked at the pup some more* So.. does she have a name?
Khia: Awesome! Maybe I'll learn it along with the shamisen.... *laughs a bit, his fangs flashing* Hanging around you, I"m bound to learn a lot of neat things... *blinks a bit, and reaches out to pat the cranberry colored girl* I don't think they have names...Syrie says that they go by what we call them...so you can name her, if you want. Bet she'd like that.
As if to say "yes!" the now calmer pup shook herself and turned around once before sitting down right in front of Jiro.
Jiro: hehe it's very well possible! I don't see why not *He smirked as he usually did, watching him pat the pup. Why was he suddenly meeting a bunch of girls? Not to say they were all bad, btu he was used to an all male community for the most part* Huh... hmm name name... it has to be something good. I refuse to give her a crappy name.. *He rubbed his chin a bit* How about...Hiromi?I read that's a good nice name...
Khia: Be nice, since Syrie leaves me alone so much of the time.... Hiromi? That sounds pretty... *flicks his tail and gnaws on a stick of jerky idly; because of the special nature of his body's physiology, khia has to eat a lot more than normal people would* Eh...guess we're gonna find out if your Shouhin minds you having one much sooner than we thought.
The lupix pup raised one large paw at Jiro, cocking her head to the side. Naming her started the bond between them; eventually that bond would grow, as would beast and boy.
Jiro: Ya know.. I'll ask Shouhin if it's cool to make you an amulet so you can just come over whenever you want.. it's better than being alone, neh? And it makes it easier I think for us to meet up and such as that.. better than having to go to the Shop all the time neh? *Nodding in agreement, he copied her motion as he wondered what he was supposed to do about the paw in the air thing. Finally, he just took hold of it and held it* Seems so.. I doubt he'd mind...
Khia: Really? It'd be fantastic! I don't like being cooped up in the shop or Sy's study all the time..it's very boring. *watching Jiro with the lupix pup was kind of amusing, like he didn't know what to do with her, but that was fine. He'd figure it out soon enough* I think she's accepted the name you gave her Jiro.
'Jiro..' So that was the bright one's name. Hiromi - for she already thought of herself by that name - swished her tail and cocked her head to the other side. Yes, she'd bonded with this boy, she would watch him, protect him, and pay him back for healing her. In the meantime, she'd just lick his cheek; which she did before bouncing around a bit.
Jiro: *His nose wrinkled as she licked him, really not used to such affectionate behavior. Not even his hell hound was that licky.. but he could get used to it. He was pretty sure of that* I bet it is.. there's always someone around my house.. like a lot of people.. Oh I so want you to meet Jitn! He's really cool. He's a unicorn hybrid *nods* Oh good I'm glad..
Khia: *chuckles a bit* A unicorn hybrid? wow...I've never seen one.... *ear tassles wiggle a bit* Hmm...maybe we should give her a bath, so your Shouhin likes her more? Plus it gives us an excuse to go swim?
Hiromi: *chuffs and settles at Jiro's feet, whining softly; she was still a little hungry, and thirsty, but would wait patiently*
Jiro: Hmm I agree, a bath sounds good but let's get her fed.. cause who knows how long she had been trapped there.. she must be starving.. *He stroked her back with a gentle hand* Shouhin likes clean things and since Yuhin is expecting again, it's best to make sure he can't get sick...
Khia: You're gonna have more siblings? *tilts head, but nods at the food thing* Yeah..um...kitchen again then? *starts leading the way out of the cluttered and oh-so-treacherous study and towards the nice clean kitchen*
Hiromi: *follows Jiro quietly, big feets padding silently behind him*
Jiro: Is the pack already empty? *He got up and studied him carefully* hehe you're like the twins, they eat a lot XD Well probably cause I'm sure she can eat a lot on her own... *Looking at the mesy library, he swore to come back and straighten it up cause it was bothering him before he followed, his boots causing dust to swirl about him for a bit. Though he made sure that Hiromi was still following behind him*
Khia: I didn't bring much, honestly...and these guys eat a LOT... *not to mention the way he himself ate..* Hehe...yeah..well..doing the change...it kinda requires that I eat a lot. *once in the kitchen, the shape shifter zipped back and forth, pulling food from the fridge and cupboards for the lupix, and also for Jiro and himself* Want something to eat? There's all sorts of things here....
Hiromi: *perks up when in the kitchen and immediately starts tearing into the food that Khia sets down for her, downing it with an almost frightening speed*
Jiro: Huh? Well anything is fine hehe I don't eat that fast *Watching how she ate, he knew he would have to train her in slowing down cause if Yuhin saw that, he might not let him keep her inside...* So how much do you say a Lupix eats in a meal?
Khia: *offers Jiro a sandwich before eating the one he made for himself* Mm...well...I'm not sure. Heka hunts her own food...I imagine that since they're so large they take a lot of meat to fill up. If I had to guess...I'd say about five pounds of meat a day, minimum. *his ears twitched a bit* 'Course, they're pretty self sufficient....
Hiromi: *was now not ravenous, so slowed down her eating, actually listening to the boys chatting*
Jiro: Yeah but Hiromi isn't full grown yet, so that means she'll hafta learn how to hunt, right? *Thanking him for the sandwich, he bit into it and waited til his mouth was clear before he spoke again* Huh that's not too bad.. we got through more than that a day.. so she should be fine.
Khia: Hmm...well...I bet Heka wouldn't mind teachin' her how to hunt. She's the "mother" figure around here... *Khia finished his sandwich quickly and then started gnawing on a piece of fruit; his metabolism was just high enough that he almost always was hungry*
Hiromi: *licks her chops and lays at Jiro's feet when she's done, quite content and happy now that she's had food to eat, and water since Khia put that down too*
Jiro: All right.. then we'll hafta stop by here often enough so she can learn how to properly hunt.. cause I'm sure the hell hounds won't know what to do *Seemingly amused at the thought, he looked down as he felt her warmth and smiled slightly at her* It's nice.. I mean having a pet that's focused on you...
Khia: *nods, going to the sink to wash his hands before cleaning up the mess Hiromi made in the kitchen; he wasn't a messy child, just forgetful sometimes* It'll be fine, Lupii are really smart, so she should learn how to act where you live pretty quick...
Hiromi: *thumps her tail and chuffs softly; napping a bit*
Jiro: Lupii huh? *He then got up and helped cause he had been taught sitting around while another worked was extremely lazy* Neh lemme help X3 I mean she is my pet so I should help clean up after her hehe
Khia: Alright~ The floor's kinda messy now, so if you wanna get a rag from the sink, we can sorta mop it.... *khia didn't mind cleaning, as a matter of fact the catlike part of his nature demanded he be clean* *cleans up the sandwich mess while Jiro cleans the floor near where the Lupix pup is sleeping*
Hiromi: *dozes* zzZZzz
Jiro: Not a problem! I'm used to cleaning up messes back home anyway. *Wandering over to the sink, he got a rag and then went to clean up the space where he could. Seeing how she was asleep, he gave her a soft rub before he finished up* There all clean X3
Khia: *stretches and tosses the last of the mess in the garbage; looking around to make sure everything is clean* Yeah! :3 Goes much faster with two! *wiggles his ears a bit* She's awefully cute...maybe I'll be able to convince Syrie to let me find a pup of my own...
Hiromi: *thumps her tail in her sleep*
Jiro: I don't see why he should say no? Least if you have a pup of your own, you would be quite so lonely neh? *Grinning he nodded* Oh yeah, cleaning by yourself sucks a lot! It's always better with two or more helping out hehe and sometimes music. *Looking back at her as she slept, he nodded* Un.. she is cute... neh neh.. since you asked me what I thought about Viddy and Ai.. tell me what you think of the other Tales that you know.. other than Linny cause i like him too hehe
Khia: I think he just doesn't want me getting eaten Oo;; but I'm bigger now so maybe... *swishes his tail happily* Music is wonderful, I wish I'd remembered to bring the player...I always forget when I come here. *tilts his head to the side* Mm...I think the Cap'n is full of feathers and hot air, Nala's okay, but she's got a nasty scent now..it's a bad scent that isn't really hers... *frowns a bit* That guy with the wings and spiky hair seems a little snobby...I don't like many of the others too well...though everyone seems to like my fur. 'Livia's not bad either, but I haven't seen her in a long time...
Jiro: Tybalt is a feather duster, end of story.. I dun like him much, maybe cause he thinks he's better than me, I dunno... I've never met Nala so I can't say anything.. Have you met Adonis? He's the freak with the sparkling wings.. he makes my eyes burn to be honest >> and he thinks he's perfect..his smell says it all... I'd love to knock him down a peg. Angelus still lives in my house.. he's annoying but.. I guess he's not that bad >> but I dunno the others well... ::Ended Here::Stolen from Jiro's Journal, because Syrie is lazy
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:49 pm
...//Solo - Some Kind of Lonely On this particular set of pages, the writing is a little more controlled, much clearer and easier to read, save for the places where it appears that something fuzzy - or perhaps furry - brushed against the ink before it was dry. The entry reads as follows:
It's been a long time since I tried writing in my tome...guess I'm just used to it recording things automatically...but sometimes I get the urge to write out stuff. I met this really neat Tale a while back, he's got fire-red hair, and head-wings and some neat clothes. Jiro, yeah...we went out exploring, and we found a Lupix pup - it bonded with Jiro, so now she belongs to him...I think it's a good thing, he'll take good care of her. Definitely. Something about him is just...much older than he looks. I really like his scent, and he's easy to talk to...
Kinda feel bad for him, Tybalt picks on him a lot; I hear such horrible things about the Cap'n now, I'm really hoping they're not true, 'cause he wasn't bad at all before. The Cap'n I remember had a good scent, like the ocean...but he wasn't mean, not really...not to me, anyway. We got along pretty well, even if we didn't talk much - kinda wish we had.
Learning that you gotta get to know people a lot before you can really decide stuff about them.
Man, I really miss Ai and Nala...Livvy too, I haven't seen them for a good long time, I think maybe it's 'cause I'm always out and off with Dad...it's really fun and all, always interesting...but sometimes I'd like to just sit and visit with my old friends. Guess lately I feel like I don't have them, 'cause I'm never around. I know it's not really true, 'cause Dad says so. He wouldn't lie about something like that.
Just...get lonely growing up alone. That's all. Wonder what they'd say if they knew I was a ...
Here the ink blurs too much to read, but apparently the shape-shifter had felt the next paragraph didn't need to be written. His thoughts stood on the parchment style paper of his color-shifting tome for the world to read - a testament to just how much he missed his friends, and how concerned he was about what they might have thought about him; regardless of the fact he smudged it out.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:24 am
...//Solo - The Progression of Things Hours turned into days, which turned into weeks, which rolled into months in a neat and orderly fashion. The progression of time could not be stopped - oh, with the right kind of magic and a strong enough will, one could bend time into slowing down so much it seemed to be stopped...but never for long, and after wards, the world moved just the same as it ever did.
Khiarhu tightened the green belt around his waist and brushed at the bone colored fabric that encased his small, furry body. His karate gi felt very natural to him now; it should - he'd been wearing it, practicing constantly in it, for months now. Even though he attended the classes religiously and had never given anyone the slightest reason to dislike him, Khia still found that most of his "peers" couldn't be around him for very long without either getting really upset, or trying to fight with him for real.
The shapeshifting child would have loved to indulge those kids - and indeed he had been forced to do so, once or twice just to protect himself - but he knew that his father wouldn't want him to...nor would his sensei appreciate it. Martial arts were for self defense. To teach discipline. Focus. Strength. Not to "kick a**" as most kids thought. Khia had learned that the hard way when he'd been punished for starting a fight just to fight.
But now, things were different. He was many weeks into his training, and within that amount of time, the small shapeshifter had learned a great deal about respect, discipline, and patience...along with the actual martial arts moves and stances. Oddly enough, he learned the art of fighting very quickly; far too quickly for anything human - but of course, Khiarhu was definitely not human. He was a Tall Tale, and one based off of a very special sort of magical creature. Battle related trainings stuck with him very quickly, as shown by his rapid progress in the dojo.
Once more, the shapeshifter smoothed his gi, he wasn't nervous, not really...but he was apprehensive, to say the least. Today was another of the rank promotion tests. He'd be going up to the next level, hopefully. It all hinged on how well he could perform his kata - the deliberate and precise movements could give him such troubles! After all, the child wasn't human...his limbs moved differently than your average persons, so he had to work twice as hard to make the movements correct - and his Sensei gave him no quarter: Khia did it 100 percent perfect, or he didn't advance.
He watched a petite young girl with red hair doing a kata he himself had done a month hence, she was good - she was also stronger than she looked - but she was in a class beneath his so he didn't know her well. The dense black fur that covered Khia's lithe little body rippled a bit, the underlying colors changing to show his apprehension, his excitement as he waited for his turn. Three more try-outs, and then he would take the stage.
---
"Khiarhu Zaire"
His name rang out over the loud speaker and he started, shaking his head a bit. He'd been zoning out and hadn't realized that it was his turn! Dammit! But it seemed that he'd only just been called forward, so that was fine.
Khia moved out onto the dojo floor and bowed to his Sensei, and to the other judges, and then finally to his peers before settling his silky little body into the beginning stance of his kata.
Syrie stood to one side, his tail swishing as he watched his youngest - but most self sufficient - son start the stylized movements that would determine whether or not he would advance to the next level, or if he needed more training first. The russet kitsune was very proud of his boy, either way. It always amazed him how dedicated the child could be, despite the obvious handicap of having a body that was strung together differently that his classmates; that was something that had made it hard on the boy, he had to find different ways to make the motions as fluid as they needed to be.
And he had.
The boy was moving with a fluidity that was wholly inhuman, but was beautiful to watch; not a movement was wasted, not one motion out of place - Syrie's slate grey eyes glittered brightly, and his chest filled with pride; Khia did so well, he was almost certain he'd make the rank - even if he didn't, that was fine with Syrie.
What was important to the fox was that his child always try his best. And that was something the boy always did.
---
The pounding of the blood in his ears was the only thing he could hear, but he could sense and smell everyone in the room. His Sensei...Syrie...his classmates. He paid the people no mind, simply lost himself in the slow, stylized movements of the kata. He'd spent days perfecting his motions, and it showed.
Even his normally blank faced Sensei was smiling when he finished; his small chest rising and falling rapidly. He was pleased. He had done his best, and that was that. Khia bowed once more, to his classmates, the judges, and his Sensei before stepping down to allow the next "applicant" their turn.
---
Later that evening, Khia and Syrie celebrated with the rest of the family. Veloren gave his little brother a beautifully wrought leather and ruby bracer; a gift - something the lykin had made with his own hands.
"Here you go Khia....It's a little bit big just yet, but you'll grow into it, I'm sure." The lykin smiled and hugged his little brother, candy pink hair standing out even more than usual. Khia grinned and tugged at one of the skull-bunny clips that the Siamese colored creature wore.
"Don't you think you should wear something a little more...boy-ish?"
Veloren just shook his head and swatted his little brother. "Get on with you, brat!"
Syrie flicked his tail and ushered his son to bed - it was late, and Veloren had been the last one to come; since he found it hard to get time off of work. "Come now, to bed Khia..."
When Khia went away, Veloren crossed his arms and frowned at his adoptive father. "Sy...I...Can I talk to you...? It's...kind of important..."
Naturally, Syrie gave his son his full attention, and the pair stayed up for at least half the night, talking....and not all of it involved Khiarhu.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:25 am
...//Solo - A Seed is Planted... Dark tipped ears twitched a bit as Veloren moved hesitantly to his little brother's room. He wasn't certain he should tell the boy what had gone on...but Khia did deserve some sort of explanation as to why his normally cuddly older brother suddenly couldn't stand the physical contact.
He owed Khia that much since he'd accidentally slapped the child.
"Khia...?" Veloren peeked his pink-haired head into the shapeshifter's room but didn't enter until he got an answer.
"Come in, 'Ren." A smallish circus-colored ball came rolling out and then bounced itself onto the bed where it shifted from brightly colored ball to small fuzzy child. "Whatcha' want?" The boy's tone wasn't unfriendly, but he did sound wary.
Ren frowned a little at the wary tone to his brother's voice, but he understood very well that he was the one to put it there. "Khia...about the other day...I over-reacted, and I know you accepted my apology...but I thought I should tell you why."
The delicate, candy-colored lykin wasn't certain he could explain it to Khia - it wasn't that he thought the boy was too stupid to understand...it was just something he had barely been able to talk about with Syrie, let alone anyone else.
He sat on the bed next to Khiarhu, smoothing out wrinkles in his baggy pants - a big change from his usual feminine attire. "Khia..." But he paused, shaking his head a little.
"You know, this is really hard for me kiddo...I just, don't know where to begin..."
Khia looked over at his brother's downcast face and reached over timidly to touch his hand. "It's okay 'Ren - you can tell me when you're ready."
For a fuzzball, the shapeshifter was highly perceptive, and very very smart...he guessed that this had something to do with Ren's hermit like behavior, his change in dress, and also with the remodel to his apartment - but he didn't know why.
One dark tipped hand curled tightly around Khia's slim black one, and the other went up to wipe at misty eyes. "Khia...you know about se...er, mating, right?"
Syrie liked his kids well informed, and he taught them the facts of life when he felt they were emotionally and mentally ready to understand it - not just when they came of age - so Khia knew the basics.
"Yeah...Dad told me some of it. Said mating is best when you do it with the person you like the most." Simplistic terms, but true for the most part; rutting could be done between anyone in season, with no emotional attachment...but it was just animal sex. Fun, but no dice.
The lykin brushed his pale pink hair from his face and nodded; Khia understood enough to get the gist of what he was gonna tell him. "Yes, and it's good when you like the person, and you want to. But if you don't want to, and someone forces you...then it's very bad - it's rape. It hurts you, and not just your body -but inside too."
Here Khia's ears lay back a little as he mulled over his brother's words for a moment. His agile little mind quickly made a connection.
"Like when you hit me. I felt sick inside..." The Tale's entire body language spoke volumes; the slap Veloren had given him had really hurt his feelings.
"Yeah...like that." Ren felt terribly guilty, and he reached out to stroke the boy's hair gently. "I'm really sorry Khia...but...maybe you'll understand better when I'm done explaining." The lykin took a shakey breath and started again.
"When I worked at the cafe, there was this man..."
And very slowly, and in terms the small creature would understand better, Veloren explained just why he had slapped his younger brother for touching him - it wasn't because Khia had touched him, but because he'd been startled and frightened - a flashback, to that horrible, horrible night.
Crimson eyes glowed faintly as the child listened to his beloved brother Ren telling him that some...filthy b*****d had raped him. The blood coursing through his veins was dangerous when riled, and he was riled - but as much as he would have loved to go off and hunt that human down, Veloren needed him now.
Small, but still so smart, Khia scooted closer and gently put his arms around the lykin. "...It's okay...I understand. Ren didn't hate Khia...he was scared." A long pink tongue snaked out to lick at the siamese colored boy's cheek; Khia really was canine sometimes, but it made Veloren smile and brush at his eyes.
"I...it means so much...to hear you say that..." And then the lykin was in tears, clinging to his brother and crying into that silkysoft, strangely alive fur of his - much the way he'd cried while Syrie held him. Even though he knew his family loved him, some part had still expected them to blame him for the rape, to shun and disown him; and the relief that came from Syrie and Khia's understanding did wonders to ease his pain.
Syrie had remodeled his entire apartment, without ever knowing why until recently...and Khia had seen his brother changing strangely without ever knowing...until now.
Somehow, the telling...the crying...left both creatures exhausted. Veloren fell asleep on Khia's bed, still holding the small furry child.
Khia..on the other hand, was wide awake, and plotting.
Oh, he didn't blame Ren at all! Not even for slapping him - when the boy thought about it, if someone had done that to HIM...he would have struck out at anyone that touched him too.
No, it wasn't Veloren's fault at all...and Khia loved his brother too much to hold it against him anyway. Instead, the boy was plotting ways to make this "better"...and his dark blood boiled over and filled his head with images of himself...tearing at the man that did this, fangs sinking into his throat, ripping, destroying.
Khia purred a little, and then nestled closer to his candy-pink sibling to sleep.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:33 am
...//Solo - Underwater Calm Acres and acres of rolling hills, hidden valleys, mountains reaching to the sky; deep, cool lakes and winding streams filled the area known to a select number of Gaians only as the Lupix Sanctuary. The property wasn't fenced, but it was protected by a barrier made from strong, ancient magic that kept it tucked safely away from most of the world. (With the ferocity that some of the Lupii, it was probably safe to assume the barrier was less to keep people out as it was to keep the creatures in.)
Grand Manor had been on the Lupix Estate long before the russet kitsune had ever worked there; his previous business partner Gabriel had been very cryptic about the Lupix Sanctuary and it's origins, and had always maintained that both the property and the beasts "had been part of his family for generations". Syrie had never quite bought the story, but he'd needed money and had been able to develop a level of rapport with the beasts that had allowed many pups to be tamed enough to unleash upon Gaia for gold. Eventually, it was that bond that persuaded him to purchase the property from Gabe and make it his own.
The "lead-in" to the Sanctuary from Gaia occurred on the far out-skirts of Barton, closer to the Durem edge where it was thankfully mostly uninhabited. A long, tree-lined drive led up to the Grand Manor - an expansive, sprawling home with three visible levels, a wrap-around Victorian style porch, and more rooms than one man could ever use. (Even with extended family!) It was a gem, a beautiful place with marble floors, fireplaces, and chandeliers..but there was also an air of "home" about it - the Manor felt lived in. Comfortable.
Hyugen's Library, Grand Manor; Lupix Sanctuary
"Khia, honestly young man, what has come over you?" The short russet kitsune shook his head a little as he spoke to the small black fuzzball standing before him. The child's ears were back, and it was obvious that he was not pleased by the chastising he was getting from his parent, but there was no defiance - he knew he'd done wrong.
"I'm not going to spank you, or send you to your room this time...I think that a more fitting punishment will be to straighten the Library." Said library was absolutely huge - one could spend months in the cool, dusty-paper scented room and never get through half the books contained there. Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you weren't having to clean it) the room was well used by not only Syrie for his research, but by all of the "kids". Being so well used, Hyugen's Library couldn't help but being a complete mess with random stacks of paper and books, scrolls and maps, and various other things.
Khia's ears pressed close to his head and his tail drooped. This was not his idea of fun! He'd intended to spend the day outside, playing in the lake - it was the one place he could vent his mounting frustrations without getting into trouble. It was also the one place he could still think, and he badly needed to think.
"But...that's unfair!" His eyes glittered and he growled, bristling at his parent. It wasn't that the kit resented Syrie's punishment, nor the man himself, it was just...too much. He was being punished for the results of mostly accidental actions that he couldn't even explain or validate to himself. Very unfair, and it made the ever-shifting undercoat of his fur change to something almost sickly; emoting his displeasure and unrest like nothing else could.
Syrie noted his son's coloring, the reaction to the punishment and he felt badly, but he had to be firm. Regardless of whether Khia had meant to be so rough or not, the boy needed to learn to control himself, control his growing strength.
"Tell you what kiddo, you clean up to the globe today and you can go swimming." He wasn't giving in - Khia would be punished, but, making him do the whole thing was a little excessive. Besides, he was certain it would be cleaned eventually - Bree and Beck needed some punishment too, for playing in his lab when they shouldn't have been. Yes, that was a much fairer solution; after all, it had been an accident.
Sterling Lake; Lupix Sanctuary
Deep under the sun-and-breeze-kissed surface of the water, where temperatures dropped low enough that any normal person could not have survived even the barest of seconds, Khia played. He spun around underwater with the help of webbing between the pads of his feet, breathing the dark, frigid water through recently formed gills.
Fish swam lazily by - they perhaps knew that he was no true threat to them just yet; many were nearly twice his size - but they were aware of him, and wary too. One day, these murky creatures would be his prey, but until that day he could swim beside them, turning loops underwater and swirling around the rocks and debris near the bottom of the lake.
So many interesting things could be found deep in these depths that most would never dare (nor be physically able) to go. The ruined remains of what might have been a ship, mostly buried beneath the muddy bottom suggested that once the entirety of the Sanctuary grounds had been far under a large body of water. The half-buried skeleton of a great beast, it's muck-covered white bones gleaming in the light of phosphorescent algae left further testament to the fact that nothing - not even worlds such as Gaia and the realms attached to it - was ever as it seemed.
Perhaps that was why the small Tale found it so comfortable to be under the water. He too was not what he seemed and the urges he felt, the compulsions to bite and maim and hurt, were sometimes hard for him to bear. Those times he would escape under the water - the chill shocked him into being calmer and the amount of effort required to swim around the way he liked to tired his body so he was relaxed.
It was peaceful, under the surface of the lake. Things happened the way they were meant to, the way that they needed to in order to keep it balanced. Deep crimson eyes covered now by a waxy whitish film to protect them looked about in the murky water peered about in the depth-imposed twilight. Khiarhu wasn't trying to see anything in particular so much as just look.
This was his vacation. His favorite place to be as it afforded him a lot of relaxing quiet and he didn't have to worry about harming anyone accidentally...or those wicked, black urges that he'd been feeling more and more of the late. It worried Khiarhu and he wondered if maybe he should tell his 'dad'...Syrie had never once looked down at him or looked strangely at him because he was so different.
Even among Tales, Khiarhu stood out - his pitch black furr with the ever-changing under-colors...the way it constantly moved of it's own volition; even the fact that he changed shape were all ways that he was set apart from the others. Sure, there were some weird Tales out there - giraffes, snakes...dragons - but even they were somehow more acceptable. (At least, in Khia's mind that was how it was.)
But under the cold water, down where the pressure alone could have killed him if he miscalculated one thing, he didn't worry about any of that. He let his mind and heart and soul drift free of cares or worries; wholly and completely relaxed. Sometimes, he went under the water to meditate on nothing...and sometimes he did it so he could clear his mind and think on important issues in his life...other times he went under to cool the heat in his body caused by growing or whatever else.
The only person that could understand him at all and help him was the russet kitsune that had been chosen by the Tome to be his caretaker. What if he started going past just the want to maul and maim and hurt people? What happened if he didn't talk to Syrie and he suddenly started going out and actually giving in to those terrifyingly compelling urges?
What if he hurt someone he cared about, like Ren or Syrie or Ai or Jiro? Any of the people he loved? No, he couldn't risk it. It was then, under the cooling, heavily silent water, that he came to the realization that not only should he tell Syrie...he needed do to so before something horrible happened.
A plan of action in mind, the shape-shifter swished his flattened tail and began swimming slowly up to the surface; he made sure to give his body plenty of time to adjust to the decreasing pressure - even though he could morph his body however he wanted, he was still subject to many of the standard laws of physics and well..life. If he rose too fast, he'd explode.
Yuck. Khia-bits in the water. Ewww.
As the 'shifter slid his lithe body sinuously through the water, he could hear a voice calling to him. Syrie's voice. A little lump of dread formed in the pit of his stomach - not because he was afraid of what his dad might say...but because he was, for the first time, genuinely afraid that maybe, just maybe, the kitsune might not be able to help guide him through.
Or worse, he would find out about his plans to get revenge for Ren and try to stop him. Khia might not have wanted to hurt his loved ones, but anyone that hurt them would pay - he had no issues playing life-and-death with someone that hurt his loved ones.
"Khia? Are you down there again? Come on, it's getting late - let's go home." The slender golden haired man flicked his ears back and forth, listening for some hint that his child was under the water and coming up. The child's scent ended at the edge of the lake, but there was no telling how long Khiarhu would stay under; he'd already been calling him for over an hour!
When a wet, black shape neared the surface, Syrie let out a breath of relief. "Oh thank Inari, I was hoping you'd come up...I bought some of that coffee ice-cream you like so much. We can have it after dinner."
Khia shifted his form back to that of a land-dwelling furrball and shook his body like a dog to get some of the wet out. Once he'd soaked Syrie, he went and gave the man a quick hug. "Dad?" His fur took on a rather odd undertone; a worried one. "Can we talk about something? It's...kind of important..."
"Of course we can kiddo...come on, let's get home, get dry...and we can eat while we talk? Sound good?" Syrie's tone hadn't changed too overly much, but he was internally fretting - Khia was a semi-serious child most of the time, but the under-coat color shifting spoke volumes. His boy was very concerned about something - had been very concerned for quite some time, as a matter of fact - but at least Khia was finally going to tell him.
The pair of humanoids made their way slowly back to the Manor where they would clean up and get something to eat. Khia would haltingly explain to his parent just why he'd been so withdrawn recently; why he'd spent so much time under the water. It was very concerning to the kitsune, but he listened seriously as his child spoke, and when Khia was finished all he had to say was: "I'm glad you told me Khia...we'll figure this out, okay? Just hang tight." Syrie hugged the boy tightly.Clearly, he would need to look into this before something got out of hand.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:35 am
...//Solo - Alone in the Temple of the Damned WARNING: This post may contain storyline that is "controversial" or "disturbing" - read at your own risk. ALSO plot points revealed here should not be "common knowledge" - IE, no Tale or Author should know about most of this unless Khiarhu or IC!Syrie has told them.
Weeks had passed since Syrie and his Tome-born son had spoken about the strangely violent urges that were courting the child's actions and thoughts. Since that time, Khiarhu had become more and more prone to acting out violently, and to skulking away in the depths of Willow Lake. Syrie was at a loss on what to do for his child. It seemed no matter how hard they both tried to keep the dark little Tale from flying off the handle, they could not keep him from going mildly berserk.
However something niggled at the back of his mind - they both knew, thanks to research, that Khia was partially based from one of the greater demons - gallu demons; however it had been assumed that the unknown aspects of his genetic structure were related to his being born from the Tome and Study's magic. What if that were not entirely true? It seemed as thought the Tome and Study pulled creatures from one's mind - based off your response to it's question - as well as from alternate dimensions and merged that with it's own magic to create each Tale.
What if he'd been wrong? What if Khia wasn't simply based from gallu? He'd been researching many different demonic types around the time he and Huni had started the Stationary Shop...but some of the facts were fuzzy. What if gallu weren't the demons he'd gotten his shape-shifting from? Perhaps two had gotten mixed up, and then merged to form what the Tome had pulled from?
The russet kitsune had started going back through his research data records on his computer, inspecting each and every entry and comment thoroughly. It took him a week and a half before he found any leads at all; what he'd discovered gave him quite a pause - there had definitely been some muddling in his brain!
Khia was still gallu - with his fiery temper and brilliant strategizing - but it seemed that the origin of his felid traits was not simply chance; rather, those traits came from another sort of Greater Demon - a higher ranked shapeshifting creature known as Raksasha. From perusing his notes, Syrie recalled that while Gallu could shapeshift, their skills were fairly basic. It was the feline raksasha, second only to the Demon Locusts in the hierarchy of greater demons, that had the amazing skills his child exhibited.
Perhaps the lesser skills of the gallu were why Khia had been in so much agony trying to do difficult shifts in the beginning? He determined to to research that more...but later, when he had leisure time. Not then, not when his son was having such a hard time with even the simplest of things.
'Oh Khia, I'm so sorry...' Syrie had thought to himself, rubbing his temples as he felt the onset of another migraine approaching. It was misery, thinking about the pain Khia went through because honestly, the boy's trials were mostly his own fault. He had helped to create the pitch colored shape-shifting fuzzball - his mind, the Tome, and whatever plane of existence the child's body had been formed from.
He vowed then and there to find a way to bind some of the darker aspects of his son's nature in a manner that wouldn't harm him - that wouldn't have a horrific backlash, and set to work. The russet kitsune felt that he could base the "limiter" off of the blood-magic he had used to create the protection gem he'd given to Nalira long ago...
+++
While Syrie was hard at work trying to think up ways to help his cranky son, Khia was spending his days tolerating as much poking and prodding as he could before exploding out of the lab to run with the wild Lupix. Sometimes, when he ran with the wild beasts, he would think about the child he thought of as his hunting partner; Jiro had been on a few hunts with him, and though the boy himself was not beastial, he seemed to take almost as much joy from the chase, the capture, and the kill as Khiarhu himself did.
Much of his time was spent blocking out the sudden "sights" and "sounds" that seemed to blossom from almost no where - in reality, it was just that his senses, already heightened, were being pushed towards a new level than before. More and more of the "affable, puppyish" nature that had hung on him and made him a "lovable ball of fluff" were being replaced with a more feline grace and a quiet sort of cunning.
Khiarhu hadn't told his father about that particular development, but mostly that was because it hadn't been an "issue" when they'd spoken before...at least, not like it became. He spent some time learning how to control it, muffle it so that it didn't drive him crazy; and when he was able to turn the exquisitely heightened senses on and off at will, he felt a great sense of accomplishement: there was something he'd done all on his own.
Still...things were getting worse and worse for him - those dark urges whispered to him constantly, calling to him like a long-lost lover - and he was tempted. So very tempted to just give in. It wasn't until his wicked little brain settled on his earlier plans for revenge on the man that raped and scarred his beloved brother - the candy-pink Lykin, Veloren - that he started actually considering letting whatever dark "beast" he carried inside him, out...
+++
Back-Alley, Durem; Gaia
It was cold, so cold that no one paid any attention to a small furry child - this was Gaia, land of Hopes, Dreams, and Very, very Strange Things. On small fuzzy black felid/canid looking creature was probably one of the last things any Gaian would notice, so Khia blended in very well.
He'd shifted his form ever so slightly so that he appeared fairly bland and typical: fuzzy black four-footed creature with big floppy ears, a long fluffy tail, and some lighter dapples on his legs and flanks. The Tall Tale looked like any number of other "pets" walking along the main drags; some without masters. (The feral "pet" population on Gaia was rumored to be getting out of control, but no one could be bothered to comment about that.)
As such, he skulked along the back alley's of Barton, entirely unnoticed by anyone or anything that might implicate him later. Tonight, he was on the hunt: His quarry had been discovered three days before, and the shapeshifter had been staking him out since then. 'It will be tonight...' he thought to himself, small jaws cracking open to let the moonlight glint off saliva-dampened teeth far, far too sharp to be unintentional.
Khiarhu's crimson eyes brightened, nearly glowing with malevolence - he couldn't tell, but as he walked his shadow grew to nearly eight times his actual size - the shape also altered a bit. Something was going on in the little furr-ball, something important, a potential turning point in his young life though he did not know it just yet.
Limbs tingling and itching just under the skin in a manner that no amount of scratching, chewing, or biting would ease, Khia glided over little mounds of trash and refuse. The garbage didn't bother him, nor did the feel of the wet pavement cause him any pause; he would glide, silent and sure-footed, no matter what manner of filth he had to step over. The Hunt was on!
The prey's scent grew heavier in his nostrils - so close! - Khia could almost taste the man's flesh in his teeth, could almost feel that strangely soft flesh yielding like a flower to the sun under the terrifying violence of his claws. It sent a nasty little thrill up his spine; the under coat of his fur - forever changing colors with his state of being - went to a nasty bruised color with splashes of a deep red. These changes were not something one would see unless they knew to look, and anyone close enough to the child that they might know to look would have blanched and backed away.
Darren Spicer lived in a middling sized apartment in a good part of town. He had a respectable job - he was one of many people employed at the Bank of Gambino to keep track of people's accounts. He was a generally liked and respected individual. Very normal and boring, with his brown hair and non-descript green eyes. Nothing special about him at all, and certainly nothing that would send up "red flags" if he were talking with you. But there was another Darren Spicer that only came out on rare occasions.
That Darren Spicer rented a tiny, tiny apartment on the third floor of a dilapidated old building in the slums of Durem. The sort of place that "respectable" people usually avoided - the "girl next door" was a drugged up prostitute, the "guy down the hall" was a crack dealing addict. It served him well as a base of operations, however. From that squalid little hell-hole the brunette plotted and then carried out his darker fantasies.
It was in the dingy room with it's sputtering and yellowed over-head light that he plotted how he could get his hands on the beautiful little piece of a** that worked for the "cosplay" cafe. For weeks he had flirted shamelessly, employing every trick he knew in an effort to get the cream and chocolate colored Lykin to accept a date with him - hell, a roll in the hay was really all he wanted. But Veloren had continuously, politely, declined.
Rejection didn't sit well with the banker. Rejection festered inside him, transforming into a quiet sort of anger, that manifested eventually as the rage that drove him to stalk the candy-pink boy's apartment; drove him to force himself between those silky thighs to commit the basest of heinous acts.
Oh! How the boy had wept! How broken his cries had been until he'd given up, until the light had gone out of his beautiful eyes! How glorious Darren had felt when he'd had the Lykin's body pinned beneath him, shuddering as he repeatedly lunged his hips forward. The sharp scent of blood coupled with the sheer audacity of ******** the winged boy in his own bed had only excited him more; he'd been unable to force himself to leave without taking something from the bedroom of the kit he'd so defiled.
And how he would pay for his pleasure that day. Khia would see to it! The Tale could picture, very vividly, what Spicer had done to his sibling - his wicked little brain supplied imagery for things he shouldn't have know yet - and somewhere deep in his gut, he could feel what had been done, as though it were something he himself had been a party to. Soft, yielding flesh...the scent of despair...quiet little whimpers of pain and shame. These thoughts electrified the shapeshifter; he was growling before he even realized it, and it took him moments of stillness to silence the sounds rumbling up from his chest.
'Silent! I must be silent or he will see me...' But as Khiarhu shifted his small body back to a bipedal form and opened the door that would lead him up - up to Darren Spicer's den, up to his Prey - he had a wicked thought. Could he risk it? Could he shift his form to look like Ren as he delivered his judgment upon the base human? As quickly as the thought came to him, the shapeshifter dismissed it. Veloren would never forgive him if he used his face and form to perpetuate such acts of revenge as Khia had planned.
The felid/lupid child crept silently up the stairs to the apartment he knew belonged to Spicer - his sensitive hearing told him the man was there, puttering around with a drink and yes, he was alone. Khia grinned to himself, then shifted to a more human shape; his flesh taking on a pale pinkish tint, eyes changing from red to a bright blue color. He wanted to be cute because it seemed that this man had a thing for defiling cute.
Knock-knock. Sharp tapping at the door, but not insistent - children do not bang on doors stridently unless they are terrified. Khia wasn't terrified. He was exhilarated - every fiber of his being was super-charged with energy, with power. When the man opened the door, Khia's expression was one of innocent worry, as though he wanted to be there, knew he shouldn't, and couldn't quite make up his mind to flee or stay.
Darren was charmed by the exquisite face and form before him. He was also inebrated enough that he couldn't recall his number one rule: Do not bring anything "home". The lovely, pale kitten-child was ushered in - oh, this was wonderful! So young, so supple...and the stupid brat had come to him. Just when he needed another bite of vitality to make himself feel alive! What luck!
He turned to refresh his drink, watching the boy-child look around the rat-hole of an apartment. His hands trembled from the alcohol and excitement when Khia pulled the drapes shut - oh yes, little whore! Even better, he wouldn't have to fight the boy to get him into bed - perfect, because the liquor had him too stupid to deal with a reluctant, balky kid.
"Hey mister...I've seen you around...I like you." Utter innocence from Khia, but his tail was twitching in the manner of snakes waiting to strike. "Wanna have some fun?" The taller man downed his drink and set the heavy glass down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His response was slurred, and he fumbled clumsily with his clothes even as he approached his small companion - brain too inebriated to realize that the boy was no longer smiling sweetly, that those guiless blue eyes were swiftly turning red...
Hours later...
Ears flat against his head, Syrie Zaire jogged along the back streets of Durem, following the fading-but-still reasonably strong scent-trail left by his small, furry black-coated son. Why the hell had Khia come here in the first place? Of all the places to run off to when he was on the verge of a major change - when he was so easily roused to extreme acts of violence! It just didn't make sense to the kitsune; however he had long ago learned that when dealing with the world of Gaia not a whole lot ever did make sense, and when it did...watch out!
The dismal little apartment building he ended up at left him with a slightly queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach - something was not right, oh no, not at all. There was a deep sense of trouble that sank into his bones and chilled his spine...a Father's intuition? Warily the kitsune allowed some of his "shields" to drop, and immediately a wave of exquisite suffering hit him like a twenty ton hammer; he staggered, but grit his teeth and climbed the stairs - now afraid to see what he might find, but unable to leave it alone.
Syrie's ears went flat against his head at the sight that greeted him when he entered the apartment. Blood was everywhere, and in the middle of the floor lay what was once a man, but was now shreds - Syrie had seen victims of explosive magic that were held together with more than the wreckage of the man scattered on the carpet before him.
"Oh...Khia...oh...what have you done?" He fell to his knees and uttered a little prayer to Inari - for his soul, for his son's soul, and yes - even for this man who had raped and abused his beloved child. Nothing else could have roused Khiarhu into such extravagant violence - not even with his moods as tense as they were.
Fire. Fire cleansed everything. Fire was Inari's favorite toy. Inari shook his silver heads, countless tails swaying as he stretched his influence into Gaia briefly to ease his Child's pain. 'Sweet Child, Go...' Syrie wouldn't understand the words consciously, but he got up, and walked out of the apartment; numbed. Inari's blind eyes glittered brightly and went red, flames hotter than the sun roared through the apartment - searing only that which the Gold and Silver kitsune-god wanted removed from existence. His beloved child would not be implicated, nor would his acolyte's son...Inari had not forced Syrie into Gaia to have the boy chained and demeaned.
The world swam before Syrie's eyes, and he found himself a goodly distance away from the ramshackle apartment building before he even was aware he'd moved. He knew, deep in his bones, that Inari had touched his life again; it was a warm feeling, a safe one. But one that did not last long as he kicked his body into motion, following the faint scent trail that the boy left behind. He knew he must find his child!
Come find me // Come back to me
Grand Manor; Lupix Sanctuary
Hours had gone past, and still Syrie felt no closer to his child than before; as a matter of fact, he'd lost the boy's scent trail and was on his way home - Home being the Lupix Sanctuary tonight. He didn't feel up to being anywhere else, and this was the most likely place that Khiarhu would show up at.
As he passed through the invisible barrier of magic that surrounded the sprawling estate, Syrie felt something vile crawling across his skin like oil, or worse. It forced him to throw up his mental barriers as quickly as possible lest he be injured; as it were, he already had a nose bleed from those few precious seconds before his mind could protect itself. "s**t." He muttered, wiping the blood from his face and licking at his reddened fingers thoughtlessly; he should have known. Khia was home.
Khia wasn't Khia though. Not that it mattered. Syrie would have to deal with his son regardless of what sort of horrific creature the boy had manifested into. Syrie felt his son's fragmented mind, felt the confusion, the chaos...the blood lust and the intent of violence. He had to get to Khia before the child was compelled to perform any further terrible acts; one murder was enough!
The kitsune whistled sharply and out of almost nowhere a huge purple lupix appeared; in all honesty, she'd been alerted to Syrie's presence the moment he'd arrived, and had made her way too him - the timing was just perfect between them because of how close they were. Heka's massive jaws hung open in a pant as she allowed the kitsune to grab her mane and vault onto her back. It took five seconds, and the beast was off and running again; her wings helping to speed her "flight" above the ground.
Neither Heka nor Syrie were surprised to find Khia in one of the many clearing in the deep forest surrounding the Grand Manor; Heka wasn't surprised at what was waiting for them in the clearing, she'd been one of the first Lupix to actually see Khia - but her Brother-Become, Syrie, was left speechless and shocked.
His little shape-shifting fur-ball had transformed into a great hulking beast that was, though still obviously juvenile, almost twice as large as the adult Lupix it was mauling. What was worse than the frightening sight before him was the oppressive wieght that Syrie could feel coming from the child. A thought hit him - This is not his true form! It seemed that Khia-the-fuzzy was a limited form, Khia-the-Gallu was an unlimited corporeal form, and ...god help them all, the final was astral and so terrifying that the kitsune's mind refused to wrap around it.
Frozen in place by the blazing hatred and ferocity in the creature's eyes, Syrie could only sit astride Heka and stare in horror as a grey and black colored lupix was ripped literally into pieces. A spatter of blood hit his cheek and effectively slapped him out of his trance. "KHAIRHU ZAIRE!!" His son-monster ignored the sound of his voice and once again sought battle with the wild Lupii surrounding him; they were protecting their home from this invasive monster - protecting their young. Syrie couldn't hate them for sinking tooth and fang into his child-that-was-not-a-child currently.
But something had to be done before Khia killed the Lupii, or they finally overwhelmed him and dragged him down. His mind flickered back to some of his research - the blood jewel! That could serve as a limiter, couldn't it? The kitsune was fairly certain it could...but he didn't have it anymore. He'd given that particular gem to Nalira for protection. Could he make another? It had taken so much from him last time...
Looking at Khiarhu, Syrie knew that regardless of the consequences to himself, he had to try. That was not his son, and he couldn't leave him like that - it just wasn't in him. The kitsune murmured another small prayer to the Kitsune-god, Inari, and closed his eyes as he slide from Heka's broad back and started towards the creature his child had transformed into.
Walking up to the Gallu - for that was the only thing Syrie's brain could think of to differentiate this monstrosity from his child - took a lot from the kitsune; his heart was beating like a trip-hammer in his chest, and his breath was already short; this creature's auratic presence was too heavy for him to bear easily. "Khia, baby...come back to me..."
A calm fell over the blond haired man as he stood looking up at this child - his child. Syrie knew what had to happen now, and he was afraid - but not afraid. The arcane words came into his head and passed over his lips in a soft whisper as he raised his arms toward the creature that had just savaged several feral lupii. The six eyes blinking down at him, fire burning in their depths - those gaping, bloodied jaws with saliva dripping reaching down to take one of the bound and proffered arms into their powerful grip; crunching down and causing the blood to flow like water.
Ears back, the kitsune did not dare cry out at the pain that seared through his arm; instead he focused on dropping all his barriers and the rhythmic mantra of the spell-words; binding words of power that he wasn't so much remembering as releasing from some dark quiet corner inside him. His blood glowed where it mingled with Khia's blood from his many wounds and the blood of the lupix that had fallen before those massive jaws.
Slowly, slowly the blood mingled and became a gleaming, glowing carmine thread - Khia's jaws further crushed Syrie's mangled arm - the blood formed itself into a large, throbbing egg. Further murmurs of magic from Syrie's lips caused it to shatter into smaller ovals. The kitsune would have passed out, but he felt the presence of another there - Heka? Heka! She gave him strength - their bond, it seemed, would allow her to support him in such a manner, and she was selflessly doing so to save his life!
It seemed like eons before the slivers of blood-magic born gems circled the monster's thick wrists; but it was mere moments. A lifetime. More than a lifetime, an eternity was born, lived, and died in those few seconds before the gems affixed themselves to the boy's wrists and burrowed half into his flesh.
The effect was instantaneous - Khiarhu-Gallu shrieked and released Syrie's arm, falling back and hissing while shaking his bleeding wrists. Bloody arm clutched against his side, the russet kitsune staggered but stayed on his feet - still chanting. The last words fell from his lips in a papery whisper, but he knew it had worked. Khiarhu was shrinking, changing back to the sweet child he'd known.
"Thank...Inari..." And the kitsune's world went black as he passed out, falling face forward into the grass and oblivion from the pain wracking his body. Khia's shuddering, shivering body fell beside his parent, torn and bloodied and bigger than before, but entirely familiar to the beasts of the Sanctuary; beasts that carried Brother-become and child back to where they belonged.
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 12:39 am
...//Solo - Aftermath Master Suit, Grand Manor; Lupix Sanctuary
It has been a few days since...the incident. Yes, I know I shouldn't be avoidant and should call what happened something less cottoning, however I don't want anyone to come after my son. Paranoia haunts me now and I fear it will take some time before I can answer my door without wondering if the Gaian PD or worse might be waiting to take him away.
I suppose it's silly to be so worried but I can't help that. Worrying is what a parent does...never mind that the whole situation - everything about it - is just...odd.
When I came to after binding the Gallu with the blood-magic spell (thus limiting his physical and mental manifestation), it was several days later. I awoke in the Manor with no recollection of how I had gotten there. Heka had brought Veloren home and he brought Kaelin; both of my children had been tending Khiarhu and myself during that time and though my wounds had mostly healed I was very weak.
Khia only woke recently, a few days after I did. Apparently both of us heal much better - inside and out - when in a comatose state. He is doing much better than before thanks to the limiters, and Ren spent some time making bracers to fit over them, an outward manifestation of the gems that are currently hidden inside his malleable hide.
I hope they work for a good long while, as does he. Especially since he has grown. My slender child is now a lithe, well-muscled young man - whatever magic snapped in him and was locked away left a lasting effect on his body. He didn't notice he'd grown at first as he was laying in his bed; it was only when he actually tried to get up to use the restroom that he realized he'd grown.
Ren said that Khia spent a good ten minutes 'admiring himself' - I was napping with the Dreams at that point, so have no recollection. He is quite handsome, however.
I would go on more, but I am still quite tired and typing with an injured arm isn't comfortable. Perhaps it is time for another nap...
The injured kitsune yawned hugely as he closed his laptop after saving the entry; he was way too tired, entirely too weak yet, but he was healing. That was important. Syrie slowly shifted his position and curled his body around a soft pillow; snuggling down for yet another nap.
Elsewhere in the house, Khia was sprawled out on his bed, long black-furred fingers idly stroking at the newly grown longer fur on his chest, drifting...
+++
Khiaru's Room, Grand Manor; Lupix Sanctuary
Khiarhu's train of thought was neither here nor there...rather, he was just picking thoughts as they came to him. At least, that's what he had been doing until a particular thought brought a tightness in his stomach and a rather odd sensation a bit lower.
Nails lightly scratched down silky fur as the Tale shifted his body about on the bed to get more comfortable. 'Fur is thicker...my whole body is thicker...everything feels so different. Not bad different but odd when I've been used to the other body for so long...'
Khia let his thoughts drift and settle, drift and settle with the movement of his dark hands. His eyes were closed as the lay sprawled, hands feeling and testing the new body - a form he did not know well yet but would likely become quickly familiar with. There was power in this form - thick sinewy muscles, longer limbs and sharper claws...this was a form meant for fighting. His horns had started to spiral more and were much longer (but thanks to innate magic, they were actually fairly light atop his head). Khia's tactile exploration found that he was now mostly hard planes and angles under silky fur; there were still some softer spots, still places where his 'resting' form had pudge and the gentle curves of childhood. Those were few and far between and quite likely would disappear with time even before he grew again.
He ran his hands all across his body though eventually the former thought came back and his hands settled much lower. Thick fingers curled and grasped, sliding along thick flesh; Khia's muscles shuddered - bunching and flexing in an age-old, instinctive dance until the shape-shifter's spine arched sharply and he growled out something unintelligible in a low, husky tone. He was done, finished; the world was shades of sharp white and odd bursting shapes behind the dark lids of his eyes. Suddenly, the Tale found himself half-deaf and so drained that he could barely make himself do as he knew he should and clean up before curling up into a ball to sleep; tail over nose.
Later, he would wake and think to himself "I rather like being grown."
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:00 am
A gift The night was thick with shadows cast by the moon and stars, making it all the easier for Aido and Rael to emerge near midnight out onto the Barton streets.
Aido was fairly certain this was where Khia and Syrie lived, and she knew Huni and Linny lived here, hopefully if they saw the small parcel on the doorstep they'd give it to Khia for her.
With a large yawn she put a small box on the porch then double checked that the note was securely attached. Satisfied she mounted Rael's back and slid back into the Shadows, heading home.
--When moved the box itself jingles slightly and inside a fairly large bangle sits.--
--The colors aren't stable and seems to shift around the axis of the bangle. Occassionally tiny portions of the bangle itself break off in tiny tendrils. Other times it looks completely stable and unmovable.--
The note attached to the box is written in Aido's own writing, still a tiny bit unstable from lack of practice:
Khia-- Happy Half Birthday! Or at least close to it I hope. Aemu mentioned that you and Linny were born close together but I couldn't find the exact dates anywhere. I hope I'm close.
The bangle's made from Shadows, the first one ever to stay stable for a really long time; hours and hours. I really don't think it's going to fall apart like the other did.
Miss you and hope to see you sometime soon,
~Aido
--Dispite the letter the bangle is actually quite hard and resistant to movement. The shadows seem stable [or as stable as they ever are] and highly unlikely to move anytime soon, if ever.--
The teen made his way up to Syrie's study to flop on the futon there; he was feeling...a bit lost, lonely too. He missed his old friends, but Syrie was always too busy to bring him...finally, he was old enough to make the trip to the Store on his own.
Maybe he'd look the others up again...? The furry beast looked down at the bangle, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. "Thank you....Ai..."
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:17 am
This page crumbles to dust when turned, the words that had been written, the part of Khiarhu's life held within there lost to the Winds of Amnesia, to the Sands of Time and the Lethe River.
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