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 Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:06 pm
 Amidst plain and meadow and mountain and sand and sea and forest lied not any of these things specifically but a jungle. It wasn't nearly as expansive as one would think, like a few droplets of moistened wood that happened to link together into something the size befitting a small pack or less, and within the first our or so a wary traveller might get themselves lost. It might be tree after tree after tree, sometimes with an added dab of water trickling from some higherplace that might plop onto one's coat, further adding to the annoyance of being disoriented. Sometimes the woods seemed so enclosed one might not be able to hear correctly even, like being trapepd in a box of brown and green wood, and feel so isolated as to believe the world's population had died and left him behind. Yes, the first hour within might not be so very inviting . . .
Oh, but the first layer in the jungle was nothing compared to the treasures and oddities within! Flowers of vibrant hues and distinct shapes, scents, sizes, tastes - yes, tastes. Some trees even bore fruit that fell to the floor for one's picking, the pallet tingling if one felt so inclined as to forget meat for a moment and attempt to sink their chops into soft and scaly skin alike, or prickly and sour, or bittersweeet, or who knew what else! Within that protective first layer that so often turned out visitors who knew not how to get in lied an almost unearthly realm where the eyes could drink in colors and never tire of where the head might swing. Indeed some of the natives in this particular jungle were rather flamboyant.
Yet beauty also came with danger, and danger with it came a sort of mysticism.
There was a strange air about the inner jungle, as complex as the outer layer but in different fashions. Inexplicable sounds might be heard at night, like wolf and bird combined, or the buzzing of insects that could keep an inexperienced traveller up for hours - or sometimes something far worse. This particular femme fit the category of being one of the lesser "beastialities" lurking in these parts, even if most of the time her maw was soured by a close-lipped and unimpressed frown; one could not help how one's face was shaped at birth, and she had suffered and seen enough to not enjoy smiling like most. Many claimed to look for enlightenment, but how many broke that instinctual bond so many wolves had - that call to form groups (packs, she reminded herself) for survival?
Spiritual enlightenment meant nothing if it was sullied by the constant company of other influences. The ebb and flow of personalities, the aging process, the uncheableness of change - all lied outside of this wonderously wet world where rain often greeted no matter what the season. Even the cold times were rather mild compared to other parts of the realm of Telk, allowing the immense variaty of flora species to thrive without danger. The only way Elaine knew it was getting close to winter was the shortened span of light that filtered through the canopy. Soon, it would be the moontide's period of reign . . .
Solidarity with nature meant constant walks about the jungle, and thus it was with light steps that the stoic femme casually wound her way about, looking currently to find the river that ran through the belly of the wet woods. Unwary wanderers usually landed themselves near there when lost, being that the river was the best means of being led out or in the tangle of vines and trees. Elaine did these periodic guides not out of charity (for so very little was left in that heart of hers), but rather to bother the local cannibals. She tired of hearing their uncouth smacks whenever they gnawed through flesh and, later, bone; this was her form of getting back rather passive-aggressively.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:42 pm
 Bera had found the river, but not for guidance. He was not lost; it was not that he had ever visited this jungle before, but he was a hard wolf to confuse. When he wished, he would be able to find his way out. No, he needed the river for its water, and not to drink.
He was not a local cannibal, being that this was not his territory, but a cannibal he was, when it suited him. When there was no other way to dispose of a wolven quarry. Today he had hunted regular prey, a tree-faring mammal that had sought fallen seeds and not managed to return to its natural habitat before Bera fell upon it. He had eaten it all, down to the marrow, then scattered the cracked bones and fur until it was no longer obvious where he had eaten. Now he had come to the river to wash the blood from his paws and mouth. Even if the death was in no way suspicious, in fact quite regular for a predator, Bera still practiced such careful cleaning and hiding for when it mattered.
He lifted his head, maw dripping wet, as he heard the sounds of another coming through the jungle. It was impossible to stay silent in such a lush environment, with all sorts of things crackling underfoot and vegetation pressing in so close that you couldn't help but brush up against some. He stayed silent, waiting for the other to come into view. If it was another wolf, he would not mind social time if it were instigated. He was not one to start a conversation on his own, however, unless there was something to be gained by it.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:33 am
Even against the colorful background, she could spot someone by the river, and as Elaine approached she slowed her steps - not out of caution so much as it was allowing time to assess the creature, for Elaine was ever suspicious of those she first met. Wolf, obviously, and an adult one; male by the sturdy figure, the difference in scent from most femmes; intriguingly with no presence like those normally found - not lost but rather there with some sort of purpose; and those bright colors, the contrasting swirls . . . He might have appeared from this very wood if she had not known it. But Elaine liked to credit herself with knowing quite a lot of about the inhabitants of this jungle; this one was certainly a traveller.
So, why did he come here? She could scent something beyond him, but it was hard to pinpoint. Washed out perhaps by the river. "I'd advise you to be cautious here," she said once completely out of the bushes and fronds, black mane spread to the left side of her neck and parting about her muzzle. Her slow entrance and fluid movement, coupled with the green coloring and low, smooth voice, might have made her look quite exotic. For now, her usual snarl was put away into an unreadable expression, ears relaxed but swivelling about as if ready to detect any companions this one might have. "The jungle holds to no pack rule or moral."
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:40 pm
His green eyes remained locked on the matching female, the silence stretching for longer than most would find comfortable. His face was inscrutable; if he was surprised at seeing another wolf in the jungle, he did not show it. The one who stood before him matched the flora around her, with an ugly matted mane that could have been rotted moss ripped from a tree. Her overbite did not do anything to add to her appearance.
Bera finally seemed to hear her words. "Thanks for your concern," he said. His voice was soft and smooth, like the river over the rocks. Though those rocks could hide inescapable currents. "But I came out here for that. Less complicated, and all." Less complicated for what purpose, he didn't explain, nor did he care to. He was a suspicious creature, a sneaking, skulking sort, even when he didn't have to be. It made people avoid him, but on the other hand, they didn't suddenly find him odd when he actually had something to hide. And in this jungle? Who would care what his motives were, in a place such as this, where things died every moment, their cries muffled by the very ecosystem?
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:42 pm
She did not mind the silence as much as most would, more accustomed even to the gaps of conversation than to actual speech - after all, though there were many creatures that lived in the mists of the jungle, not all were talkative; or, for that matter, sociable. When the male did speak, the first of her several responses to his words began with a slight tilt of the had, a few strands of ink-black hair falling away from her eyes. "Less complicated?" Her irregularly-shaped mouth stretched into what probably was a wry smile, chest rumbling with the bass of a chuckle more often associated with males than they were females. Elaine's tongue rolled over the words slowly like incoming tides, languid as her movements, perhaps even closer to lazy - though she was anything but.
"I would not say that, traveller. Little to do with rules, yes, but less complicated? I would say the lack of law might indeed make worse one's life. But then that may well be the reason you came." Though by looks and sound alone, this one did not seem hampered by much, let alone despaired by something. No, the male was collected like a well-piled selection of river rocks, smooth from the constant movement of water. "This particular jungle I can speak for when I say that there are as many dangers as there are beauties awaiting. You came here knowing this?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:51 pm
A smile flashed on Bera's face, revealing yellow-white teeth, coming and going so quickly that it would be easy to think it a trick of the imagination. When he spoke, his tone was not amused. "Yes," he rumbled. "I do know of this place's dangers. When I say complicated, I mean by wolves, yea? A wolf's law you can argue with. The jungle..." He rolled his shoulders in a shrug. "She doesn't listen to you. Or anyone else. Takes favoritism out of the picture." The jungle didn't favor the lawful or the lawless. Whoever survived, survived, half on their own merits and half because of a gracious turn of the jungle's random nature.
Bera didn't mean to offend or provoke the female as he spoke. He could recognize her as a regular of these parts. That gave her some standing, even in this rankless land. As part of the jungle she was potentially as dangerous as it. Bera was no fool and he knew what he was dealing with, he wasn't kidding about that. There was just no reason to unduly add another lurking trouble to his life. Neither was he looking for an ally.
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:03 pm
"No, she does not," Elaine echoed, unimpressed nonetheless. But then, was she ever pleased? Not very easily, especially not by a wolf who thought he could speak so lightly of the jungle and merely shrug, as if coming to this little patch of wet woods would lead to some apparent easier life. Hah! She might have smirked. If that dream was real, then yet again the fates had withheld their charity from her.
As it was, Elaine merely gave an almost husky chuckle. "And yet you think this evident lawlessness means the jungle is without its own little breed of wolves with its own little creed? I myself contradict that very statement as an almost native here, though I give no law beyond keeping nosing herbivores out of my collection and teeth away from my kin. However, I am aware that there in fact is a wandering pack residing here as well, more bestial than most." She indicated vaguely with her snout to the east of them. "I do not know its name, but I do know they are cannibals on top of being pure carnivores. Should you hear the clatter of bones, a tandem of paws in synchronized steps, or the clicking and gnashing of teeth, I would suggest staying away, stranger. They do not take kindly to most who seek refuge here."
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:57 am
The hindmost teeth in Bera's mouth ground together. He did not appreciate being lectured, especially by a female who insisted on speaking as though she were high bred and lived, alone, in the middle of the jungle.
"You don't much talk like a loner," he snapped back, "unless you only practice that vocabulary on yourself."
He began to step away from her. His business in the jungle was finished, and he had no desire to stay; especially if staying caused one to speak as obsessively of their home as this female did. "If you truly gave no law," he said, mocking her choice of erudite verbiage, "you wouldn't bother bothering passer-bys with long warnings. Do not," he finished, "confuse yourself with someone who matters."
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:21 pm
At most she just sighed, wondering why she bothered sometimes. Travelers were a strange species in their own right, and one could never tell when they were worth wasting time on or not. Be it so, then; if he left, good riddance. If he stayed, well, more prey to the cannibals then. Bah to the next time so much as a thought about helping out stragglers who come by! Though of course no parting could be so simple.
No, it had to be pro-longed by the mash of pawsteps she recognized could only belong to one individual. Elaine rolled her eyes.  Yeesh, the jungle was weird! Maybe Mordariel was right, maybe the vines really were out to get him . . . Or maybe that was him with his half-sight - no, what was he saying? The place was too bright to be ignored by even that, and his vision was easily graced with splashed of color if not solid forms like regular sight. Still, it proved to be difficult trekking nonetheless, and it was only due to Bera's unusual coloring that the teen managed not to accidentally crash into him in his haste to get away from the vines.
Panting heavily, scars from his face to his shoulders stretching with each deep breath, tongue lolling out of his jaws without semblance of self-consciousness, Adam gave Elaine a curious look as she rolled his eyes at him. Then blinking owlishly (He hadn't even said a word and already she was mad at him? Gosh!), he turned to the stranger who looked a little angry about something, deciding maybe a warm smile might help brighten his day. 'Hiya!' he greeted with his mental voice, hiding the fact that he was mute by forcing his mouth to make the appropriate motions. 'Was Aunt Elaine helping you with something? She can be hard to talk to.'
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Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:38 pm
If the adolescent meant to brighten Bera's day, he might -- under some definitions -- have succeeded. Bera threw his head back and barked with laughter as the boy spoke. "Your aunt? I'm sorry for you, kid, I really am." At least now he had a name, something Elaine had been too busy berating him to provide. "No, no, no help given or taken here," he said.
He tried to continue to walk away. If there were more members of this crazy family, he didn't want to be around when they also jumped out of the bushes. Two was enough! Besides, the stark contrast between complete witchery and innocent giggling was a little hard to handle. Sticking around these two would be like sitting in on a friendly conversation with a fox and a hare -- the set-up would be normal, but the whole time you'd be wondering when someone would get eaten.
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