RP Name: Ian E’kurn
Age: 17
Sex: Male
Sexuality: Bisexual
Race: Elf
Appearance: here
Powers: Shapeshifting and magic dealing with nature
Bio: Ian is a druid, a group of peace-loving elves that live in the deep wilderness and practice several types of magic. His kind, however, is slowly being wiped out by humans who are slowly destroying what makes up their homes (forests and the like). Due to this destruction, his village planned a long journey to a neighboring one in the mountains. However, Ian was not old enough to have learned to shift into his flight form and they regretfully left him behind. Thankfully, he was scouted by a school for the “gifted” before he was discovered by the humans renovating the land.
Other: Since Ian is an elf, which is a secretive race, he is very shy and easily frightened by people. He doesn’t speak much and sometimes goes out of his way to avoid people. His favorite form is his feline one, though he has many others as well.
Note: Still tagging, and I'm sure I accidentally skipped a post or two. >__o
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Ian stared in awe, jaw slightly agape, at the school that was to be his new home. A nomad by tradition, Ian was amazed by the building. Not only was it extremely large, it was strangely immobile.
Ian swallowed thickly and followed his temporary guide to the dorms; he showed reluctance to being alone with what his mindset deemed a sentry, and was relieved when the human left shortly after showing him to his room. Ian gazed around and tilted his head to the side, a little confused about the arrangements. He set his bundle to the side of the room and left, feeling a little claustrophobic and needing some fresh air.
Once outside, and starting to hyperventilate, Ian noticed the lack of age in the trees and thus their height. He felt the need to be high—to feel safe. In a moment of clarity, he looked at the building and grinned. Crouching low to the ground, he closed his eyes and concentrated before suddenly sprinting towards the wall nearest him. Halfway there his body seemed to cave into itself, and amazingly, it was a large feline instead of a small boy dashing at the wall.
Just when it seemed the big cat would smash its face upon the school, it leaped and was then running up the side of the building. Feline-Ian clawed over the edge of the roof, slipping a little, and collapsed panting. He was used to climbing nearly vertical surfaces, but that included trees and rocks—not buildings.
Catching his breath, Ian stood and turned to observe the area and was shocked by the beautiful view. He plopped himself by the edge and just enjoyed the scenery, he let his paws dangle over the side and huffed a relaxed sigh. He had not given much thought to the other students at this place, and so far was enjoying the solitude.
((Sorry about that, I usually type long introductory posts. It’s a curse I tell you. Anyway, Ian might be enjoying the lack of people but I’m not! Someone approach him please? >__o ))
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Zen was wandering around the school when he saw this large feline run up the side of the school. Interested, he turned into his fox form and hopped up to the roof as well. He walks over to the feline laying at the edge and sits down near him. Telepathically, he speaks to him. <Hello.>
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Surprised, Ian made a snorting noise and turned to find a fox sitting not far from him. He did not hear the other approach, but he forgot it with the thought that foxes are crafty creatures and most likely soft on their paws. Having never seen a fox before, he stood and took a few steps toward the other, his tail flicking in curiosity.
Suddenly, words filled his head and he started, hackles rising slightly. Though the words themselves were a bit confusing, he could understand that it was a greeting and not anything hostile. Though, presumably, any living thing could understand the Elven language—Ian was surprised when he learned that some humans could not understand him. He guessed it had something to do with the fact that they loved to ignore things, this school being proof enough of that.
He shook his head a little, it was not the time for musing on things like that. Being a fox, his companion should surely understand the language. He hoped the humans here could understand his language better than the workers who were intent on destroying his home, but he would have to find out at a later time. Ian grinned, his ears perking, and chirped, “Hullo! ‘m Ian, nice ta meetcha.” Noticing his lapse into his village’s slang, the cat’s cheeks tinged a reddish hue and he made a coughing sound before starting again. “Sorry about that. You sure are quiet pawed, I didn’t hear you at all!” Ian tilted his head to the side and continued in a curious tone, "I've never seen a fox before; and, though you have the structure of one, you have lots of tails!" Ian's own lifted unconsciously as he spoke, "And your color is strange... I think it's neat!" Ian took a few more steps until he was directly in front of the other, he sat and inquired, "And what’s your name?”
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Xennessa's eyes quickly adjusted to a movement up the side of the building. She focused in on a large cat speaking to a fox on the roof. She shook her head. Animals did not "talk" to each other, did they? She lost the thought as another one entered her mind. What would it be like, standing on that roof, over looking her new home. She concentrated on the feeling, trying to taste what it might be like.
When she opened her eyes, she was standing on top of the roof, ten feet away from the fox and the large cat. She screamed and slid to her rear, clutching the roof for support and instaneously realizing she was afraid of heights. How had she gotten up here? She could not think of anything as her mind focused on the ground, hundreds of feet away.
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Ian waited patiently for the fox to answer, he was extremely curious about the other’s strange appearance. Suddenly, there was a loud whoosh of air displacement that made him jump to his feet. A girl was next to him and screaming her head off whilst staring in horror at the ground.
‘Where in the world did she come from; people don’t just pop up out of thin air!’ Ian thought frantically, his ears laying flat against his head in shock and to muffle the newcomer’s screams.
‘That doesn’t matter now; if she keeps being terrified like that she might end up falling off!’ Ian crouched and sprang, leaping across the space between them in the hopes of placing himself between her and the edge of the roof.
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Xennessa's eyes landed on the large cat in front of her and she backed up several feet. Her eyes swirled black and her skin turned ashen gray, a black vine tattoo somehow snaking down her arm. She bared her teeth.
Then, in an instant, it was all gone. The fear of heights. The black eyes. The gray skin and snaking tattoo. Xen was very out of breath. She leaned back and her prominant ribs heaved as she gulped the air. Xennessa did not feel like herself, needless to say.
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Feline-Ian landed between the girl and the edge of the roof and sighed in relief. Turning to confront her, Ian’s hackles rose as a strange change came over the girl. Her eyes became dark as a raven’s wing, and her skin turned the color of rock. A dark as night vine grew from her shoulder down her arm, but it seemed flat—not plantlike at all. Then she was as he originally saw her, and seemed out of breath.
He backed just out of reach and watched her cautiously, unsure and wary of the girl. She seemed a little distressed by the change. He felt a longing to comfort her, and just managed to keep his distance by pacing side to side. A small whine rose in his throat.
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Xen's eyes fluttered to the large cat in front her. She shifted a small smile, but her expression could not apologize for the part of her he ahd just seen. Xennessa herself was just now meeting it. She felt suddenly cold and distant from the humans on the ground. She just wanted to sleep. But more of her wanted to control her teleporting, as she just discovered she had it.
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Ian watched the girl’s grimace and grew frustrated with the distance he had put between them, it was obvious she also had no idea what had just transpired. She shivered and gave off waves of exhaustion, though her expression changed to one of determination. Ian snorted at the foolishness of doing anything in that condition and pondered shifting back to his more humanoid form, he thought better of it as the girl continued to shiver however.
He inched around her side and settled behind her, giving her a nudge as if to say, “Here, lean against me”. Ian felt that this very moment was probably not the best time to test his theories about these people being able to understand what regular humans could not ((the Elven language, all at the school should understand it. it's just normal people who ignore the supernatural that have trouble ;D )), and the girl seemed to be freezing.
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She felt a warming comfort come from the animal before her, as if he understood much more than her at the point in time. Granted, she was bright, but not always on top of things. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head gently against him. Her composure said it all, she had not been hugged in a while.
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The girl draped her arms over Ian’s shoulders and settled against him, and he felt her shudders lessen. At first feeling a little constricted by the hug, the tension soon left his frame and his features softened when he looked down at her. She seemed… lonely. Ian too missed his home, and the people who had left him behind. He awkwardly angled his head to rub it soothingly against hers and purred huskily, eyes closing in relaxation from the warmth now gathered between her body and his soft fur.
After a while, Ian decided to chance it. “So…” He murmured quietly, “You feeling better, miss?”
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Xennessa was wrapped in comfort as the large cat spoke. She was not nearly as surprised as she should have been. Her black gloved hands ran lightly between his ears. She buried a small grin into his neck.
"Much better, thankyou," She added quietly, her wisps of black hair framing her pale cheeks calmly. Her eyes seemed to be half closed, as if on their subtle way to sleep.
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Ian blinked in surprise as the girl ran her hand gently between his ears. ‘What is sh—ooh?’ his though trailed off and he found himself pushing against her hand. ‘Okay, scritches good…’ the end of his tail twitched in pleasure. He looked down at her again, noticing she was moving lazily. Worried he insisted, “You shouldn’t fall to dreams whilst up here, miss. You might catch cold.”
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Xennessa nodded and then sat up. She stretched lazily and swallowed every thought and feeling that attempted to push themself into her now moving mind. She scratched the cat softly behind his ears and kissed him lightly on the nose, drawing out her next words in her soft Irish accent.
"Well, then I better be off to bed. Thank you." She smiled and then concentrated heavily on her cozy four-poster in her room. She imagined the cool down comforter and her fluffy pillows. Moments later, she was falling fast asleep in her own bed.
[[It's actually 1:30AM, here. So, I'd better go to sleep. G'night. Talk to you tomorrow.]]
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The girl seemed to agree and Ian was glad she wouldn’t push herself and get sick, he flicked his ears as she petted him again. And opened his mouth to ask her if she felt up to returning to her quarters alone, “Eep!” he squeaked when she interrupted him by giving him a kiss on the nose.
She then seemed to begin concentrating on something, and Ian leaned towards her inquiringly. Suddenly there was a pull from behind his naval and he found himself sitting in the middle of a room in the dark, he shakily looked at his hands and noticed he had shifted back in his surprise. He heard a soft sigh and stood on wobbly legs to find the same girl from before fast asleep. Embarrassed, Ian stealthily left the room only to wander aimlessly through the building before finding an exit.
He scratched his head and debated finding his way to his quarters, he shrugged and walked a ways into the foliage surrounding the school and climbed the tallest tree he could find. Slouching into a sturdy branch and leaning against the trunk, he frowned and muttered sullenly, “so small…” His eyes drifted shut and he smiled softly as the night surrounded him and carried him into dreams.
((I see, good night. See you tomorrow. ^^))
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Junoe was in the woods, perched in a tree as a wolf, wings folded so tightly to her back they could hardly be seen against her equally white fur. She grinned a wolf grin. New people. More new people. This was driving her more insane than she already was. Good thing or bad thing? She just couldn't tell. She hadn't actually seen these new ones yet, she just knew they were here. And... close? Had she really been gone that long? It didn't seem like it, but maybe. She spread her wings and jumped down to make a fairly large crash on the dry leaves of the forest floor. She wasn't hunting roday, and the sound was nice, a natural sound.
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Ian awoke with a start at a loud noise somewhere below him, to the right. He twisted and sat so that his legs hung off the branch and leaned forward, his hands between his knees, for a closer look. ‘This forest seems kind of small for something that would make such a loud noise…’ he thought warily as he scanned the foliage below him.
Quickly he spotted a large, white shape through the brush, and he gaped. ‘A snowy creature in a mottled forest…? Unlikely, but…’ He brought his feet back under him and tensed before he sprang onto a branch from the neighboring tree, hoping for a more unobstructed view. His first form was that of a feline after all, and curiosity killed the cat.
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Even over the sound of her own crash she noticed the scraping noise and clamber of a small animal in the trees. A squirrel, maybe? Possibly. She went silent and folded her wings tightly to her back again. She was deeply attuned to the forest, and closed her eyes, ears perked forward in concentration.
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Ian stood on his perch and craned to see whatever it was he’d spotted through the trees, and his eyes widened when he beheld a large animal standing before him. The creature’s structure was similar to the fox he had seen earlier, and slightly to his own feline form. Though it was much larger than the fox, and it was different from a cat as well.
He squinted and thought for a moment before it hit him, ‘It’s a wolf! …But it’s so much larger that the wolves I’ve seen, and it’s fur… Is this what a mountain faring wolf looks like I wonder?’ He lowered himself to a crouch, one hand on the branch between his feet and one grazing the tree’s trunk for balance. ‘It’s so… pretty. I haven’t seen many bright furred creatures in my lifetime. Hm, it seems to be listening to something. Might be hunting, I’d better sit tight so as not to disturb it.’ Ian’s eyes softened.
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Her head whipped around suddenly to look directly at him, but sadly she could not see him. She just knew where the creature she'd been listening for was now located. It had moved, perhaps closer. But it didn't smell the same as everything else. She quickly and suddenly spread her wings, taking a huge downstroke without leaving the ground. If it was a normal forest animal, it should turn tail and run.
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Ian gave a soft intake of breath as the wolf’s head turned to stare straight at him; he tensed slightly and stilled his movements. ‘If it’s hunting I’d better keep out of it’s way, I could probably defend myself from a normal predator but that thing seems pretty big and—‘ The thought didn’t complete as the wolf seemingly grew wings and flared them with great force.
Ian squeaked and lost his balance; he spent a half second flailing whilst still on the branch, and then fell to the ground. As he landed on his rear his breath left him with a quiet “oof” and his heart rate sped up dramatically. ‘Stupid stupid stupid, you don’t spend your entire life learning to climb trees just to fall off of them! And since when do wolves have wings? Did I miss the messenger or something?’
A red tinge stained his cheeks and he concentrated on slowing his heartbeat back down to normal, the adrenaline rush made him slightly lightheaded and he temporarily forgot the very reason he was on his a** in the middle of the forest in the first place.
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"Um." She heard and simultaneously saw something crash to the floor. "Oh... hm..." She spoke quietly to herself and walked over calmly, sitting down in front of him. New student, again. She folded her wings again for fear of one being caught on the branches. She'd actually hit one pretty hard, and a single white feather landed on her nose as she leaned down to sniff him gently. She preferred to play the part of nature born wolf around new students for as long as she could hide it.
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Ian looked up in surprise as the wolf sat in front of him, he tensed as it leaned closer but all it did was scent him. The elf was glad that it didn’t seem hostile, but was embarrassed from interrupting the wolf’s business. “Um, I’m sorry. Did I bother you?” He spoke quietly, happy that he was speaking to an animal and that it’d have no problem understanding his language. Though that one human from before had understood him, unlike the cruel people who destroyed his home… He hoped he’d be able to fit in at this weird school.
His eyes focused again, as if coming from a great distance, and he smiled as he stated, “your fur is very unique, I have never seen such a snowy color before, um.” He scooted back a little, wary of the other’s closeness. “What are you doing in these woods? It seems that you would be better suited to a more mountainous region.”
His smile faded a little as he thought, ‘I don’t see wings anymore… maybe I was touched by the dreamchild for but a moment.’ He blinked a few times and then shook his head, looking a little disoriented. ‘But I’m sure that is what I saw.’ Unconsciously he pouted a little.
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Her eyes became mere slits for a moment, but she gave him a wolfish grin full of teeth before communicating to him through telepathy rather than speaking. Yes, perhaps with these I would belong in the mountains. She was speaking of her wings, and spread them slightly so that they showed over her shoulders. Hm, was her cover blown already?
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Ian, speechless for a moment, suddenly burst out in gleeful laughter, “I knew what I saw! The dreamchild does not have her way with me as of yet.” He sat up straight and stared at the wolf intently, “You speak as that other did last night, with meaning and not words. How interesting.” He chuckled softly and added, “I see you are a she; I am known as Ian, and what may I refer to you as?” Ian made a small nod and then tilted his head to the side in an inquisitive manner.
Suddenly, his eyes moved to under one of her wings and he gasped softly. “You have displaced some feathers,” he said woefully, knowing that she had flapped her wings and snagged them on the brush because of him “it must be uncomfortable.” He sat on his haunches and made as if to move towards her but hesitated, “…May I?” He asked softly, wanting to help but unwilling to groom the other without permission.
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She hesitated slightly. Junoe... She didn't hear many using language like that, but she was certain she'd heard it used before, maybe a long time ago. Noticing what he'd indicated she simply turned so that her side was facing him, and lifted the wing so that it sat like a large umbrella over his head.
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Ian sat once again as the other turned and spread her wing above him, the only sign he needed that she’d granted him permission to touch her, and he grinned. He spoke as he started realigning the askew feathers with skilled and agile fingers, “Mm, may Elune shine upon this our meeting, lady Junoe.” After each feather back in place he’d pat gently to help it settle with it’s brethren before moving on to the next, “I apologize for startling you, were you on the hunt?”
As he worked a look of longing settled on his features, ‘Oh how I wish I had my wings… if I was old enough for my flight form like the others they would not have left me behind.’ But the moment quickly passed and he brightened, ‘there seems to be much wildlife here, maybe I won’t be forced to stay in humanoid form as I’d feared. It’s so much more comfortable in this forest than in that… thing ((referring to the school; he is not used to giant, immobile buildings)).’
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No one has touched my wings in a long while... I don't let them often. Probably one of the most sensitive parts of her body, but he had uniquely skilled hands. No need for apologies, brother, I was not hunting. If I had been, you would not have seen or heard me. She ducked and twisted her head around beneath her own wing to look at him with bright, intelligent golden eyes. Are you a new student at the school over there? She tnded to be more civil in her wolf form, which may seem a bit odd. One would think she was more animalistic as an animal, rather than a human.
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Ian smiled affectionately, “I am honored you allow the contact then, it has been awhile since I have groomed through feathers as well. Indeed, the last being my friend a few cycles ago when he first gained his form of flight. He was very excited, as I recall, and hurt himself by taking off and landing too quickly.”
He paused at her bold statement and chuckled huskily, “I do not doubt your confidence, lady Junoe. As this humanoid form does not have the best of hearing.” Ian brought his hand down to tap lightly at one of his slightly pointed ears. He stretched a little to continue working as she turned to be able to look at him.
“Ah, student? If you mean taken under apprenticeship then yes.” He glanced at her and continued, noting that her eyes were also different than those of wolves he knew of at home, “What is a… student, might I ask?” He looked back to her wings, not wanting to ruffle any feathers by mistake, and after a second made a soft exclamation, “Ah! There, all better.” He patted gently once more before bringing his arms down, he leaned back on his elbows and looked at her, no longer minding the closeness.
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She folded her wings again just as tightly as before, so as not to damage them again, so that, once again, they were completely invisible, no matter how large they were. She tilted her head at him and laid down with a slight sigh, resting her head on her paws. A student is simply a person of any age that, simply put, takes up apprenticeship. But within a group, and taught in a variety of things rather than under the wing of a single master of a single craft. She was trying to explain as it would be explained to someone of an older time period.
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Ian made a small, animalistic noise in the back of his throat as Junoe hid her wings; a look of awe at that particular talent shown openly on his face. He gained an intent expression as she explained the particulars of modern teaching procedure, and tilted his head slightly in confusion by the end. “However do the… students… complete their apprenticeship if there are several masters and… several crafts?” He made numerous pauses during his question, bewildered.
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Her ears twitched lightly. She felt kind of bad that she couldn't explain it any better for him than this, but it wasn't an easy task. With something called testing. You receive... She sighed. It's like getting a small look at each different craft, then later choosing which best works for you.
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Ian scrunched his brows and thought hard on the matter, he closed his eyes and shook his head lightly however, “I... can not understand. Thank you for running with me through it, but even by example I…” He trailed off with a sigh.
Frustrated, Ian sat back up and turned to the wolf, an anxious expression on his face. “Lady Junoe, if you are not busy, would you mind running with me?” Unnoticed at his sides, his hands twitched against the ground; pent up energy not helping his anxiety.
He longed to feel the wind whistling through his fur, the ground flying beneath his paws… He gave Junoe a pleading look, he did not think about the fact that she would have no idea that he could shift. Though he had accidentally alluded to it throughout their conversation.
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Of course not. She did not show it as badly as he did, but she almost always had pent up energy. Especially after a good hunt. She'd just gone hunting yesterday, after all. But I may not be 'running', exactly, the whole time. But she would not leave the ground for too long. She stood and shook herself, sending a few clinging dead leaves flying into the air. Lead the way.
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Ian smiled gratefully, his eyes lighting up at the mention of her wings again. “I understand, thank you for allowing me to act as your packmate for the time.” He stood and bowed slightly, looking serious for only a moment before beaming at her. “Hokay, lets… go!” He took off at an easy sprint, before turning it into a full dash, not at all doubting that she would be able to keep up. Speed blurred him for a minute, and he seemed to almost cave into himself… and suddenly it was a feline running, and not a boy.
This feline form had a smaller stature than his normal one, built more for enduring fast-paced distance travel than anything. His favored feline form was a dark bluish-purple, perfect for stealth, and the stocky limbs were strong to take out enemies or prey. This form, however, had no need to be hidden, and his fur had a bright golden tone speckled with black spots. The legs and spinal column longer and more springy in order to quicken his lopes and allow him faster maneuverability. ((sorry about that long description… >__o there we go with that problem of the writing running away again))
Ian chirped happily and sped up again before falling into a more sedate pace, panting a little from the change and initial exertion.
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Xennessa felt a longing to be with another being. She wanted to practice her skills and see if she could identify any more that might be hidden within her. She thought of comfort, of strength, thinking perhaps she might teleport to anyone who fit the description. She felt her body pulled through a cold void and she sat on a branch many feet over a large cat, who she recognized from the previous night.
She realized that of course, she would only be pulled to one person. She only really knew one. She had smiled at Junoe and stolen from others around the world, but this was the only person she "knew". She shrugged and then froze in fear as a large white wolf came into view. She bared her teeth and backed up against the mass of the tree, almost hissing. Her eyes swirled black and her vine tattoo snaked all the way to her wrist.
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She kept up with him easily enough, running by his side, quite glad actually to see him shift. He wasn't quite the same as her, she was certain, but it was a nice change of pace. She ran sideways for just a moment so as to move away and make room, then spread her wings. The automatic wind caused her initially to lift slightly from the ground, but she angled them correctly to put her paws back on the ground. She had a large wingspan, now that they were in the open. She needed it to gain lift off at all. She was glad to see him enjoying himself, and equally glad to be getting a good run with someone, rather than alone.
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Ian was quite enjoying himself, he hadn’t actually let go and run for awhile and it was nice to lose the stress of his troubles in the sensations of the earthmother beneath his paws and the knowledge of Elune shining upon his back. He felt Junoe’s wings flare beside him without looking, and grinned, tongue lolling as he ran. All of a sudden, an almost familiar pop of air displacement startled Ian and he almost tripped. He skidded sideways for a few paces and then stopped, a paw in the air, confused.
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Xennessa smiled and saw that they were running. Her eyes swirled back to normal and she halted in half movement. Ian had come to a startled stop. She crouched low on the branch and over looked the fearsome wolf before deciding if Ian was fine with her, than she should be, too. Xen stood goofily on the branch for a moment before sliding into an upsidedown position and grinned. Her gloved hands and arms were wired with strong muscles. She held her place.
"Hello," she curled in her soft Irish accent.
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She kept running and calmed to a slow as best she could without tripping as he almost had. Her wings could also make good wind breakers if adjusted correctly. She came back to him then and sat, tilting her head in confusion. He'd seemed to be enjoying himself. Something amiss? She looked up at the girl and sneezed lightly, ears back. Another.
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Ian glanced up at the greeting, his confusion replaced with understanding. “Ah, tis you again missus.” He stammered, lapsing once again into the slang of his village in his statement. He glanced at Junoe, noticing the slant of her ears apprehensively. “Erm, lady Junoe…” He paused, at a loss when he realized he did not know the other girl’s name, “She and I met last night, ah, there is not a problem… is there?” His ears and tail fell, the tension between the two girls was high.
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She calmed herself and let herself relax back, ears forward again. Her tongue hung out lazily in a pant. None at all... She had a tendency to be very sensitive to the tension of others, and this girl's own tension as well as her sudden appearance had set her off.
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"Junoe?" Xennessa paused and then flipped to the ground. A light of comprehension flashed over her pale face. "The one I met the day I arrived here."
Xennessa removed a glove to show a pale white hand, a sign of impuissance. Xennessa hardly ever removed a glove, excluding when she slept alone. This was a burning sign of forfeit. She was not here to threaten Junoe, in whatever form she might take.
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She shifted to her human form very sudden, phasing as though a wolf had never been there, and laughed. "Oh, I have met you before. Well, not exactly met. Sort of. Xennessa, correct?" She stood. In this form, she still had ears and a tail, just something she'd never been able to fix, and those same golden eyes burning with intelligence.
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"Right," Xennessa said, nodding. She gave a small smile. She re-gloved her hand. Some sense in her body tightened in on Junoe. Something was different about her. Something about her spelled out the difference. She was not like the other girls Xennessa had seen, ears or no ears.
Xen turned to Ian. She gave a quirky smile.
"If you were running, I would not mind you re-starting. Years of running from police taught me to swing through the trees like a bird." Upon Junoe's and Ian's tightening at her police statement. "No worries. People gotta live, but I gotta eat." She gave a small wink and swung back into the tree.
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Ian’s ears perked again as the wolf assured him that nothing was wrong, he panted lightly from the after effects of the run and looked again to the girl from last night. She took off her hand wrap and extended her arm in some form of peace making, though Ian did not understand the gesture itself the meaning behind it was quite clear.
Then there was a, a human beside him! Ian yelped and sprang back a meter or so, away from the other. His ears lay flat against his skull and his mouth stood agape, his eyes round in panic. He then noticed the tail, the ears. The human’s innotation also was similar to the wolf’s. Slightly wary nevertheless, he filed the name of the other girl into the back of his mind for future reference. He cautiously kept distance between himself and the once-wolf, '...I've never beheld a shift like that before. I could not feel the change at all.'
He watched the girl from the night before--Xennessa... was it?--swing back into the tree, puzzling over her statement... "po-lice?" he inquired.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Xennessa^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
"Police... uhmm. How to explain. Men and woman who try to punish people who do bad things. Well, their job is to catch them, not so much punish. I stole food, which they consider bad, and therefore was chased through many a forest and allyway." She shrugged. He was so clueless about her world that it was almost cute. Her smile dropped, but her ears stayed elevated in amusement.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
"Oh, no worries." Junoe called out after her. I'm used to running from 'law' myself, nothing new." She wondered if Ian had even known that she was a shapeshifter herself of sorts and turned to him. "So sorry, my friend, to have frightened you like that." She stood and bowed slightly, traditionally. "I too am a student, apprentice, at the school, just as you are. But I am still Junoe. Would you like to resume that run, then?" She shifted back just as quickly, with just as little effort. Shifting took hardly anything out of her.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian looked confused again, “bad…? People hunt their own packmates for doing this… stealing?” He blinked and shook his head, another strange concept… humans were so silly. He then looked at Junoe, nodding slightly and letting his ears perk again at her bow, though his tail stayed lower than it started as. “Ah, law?” Something else to confuse him?
“…Oh! You are an apprentice as well lady Junoe?” Ian’s head tilted with the knowledge. He blinked in sudden interest as she shifted back, differently than he, with little apparent effort. “Ah, I think…” He trailed off softly. “I think I need some time alone, thank you.” He stood and shifted, bowing in both ladies general directions. “It was nice meeting you lady Junoe, and seeing you again miss… Xennessa.” He shifted again, into his normal feline form, and walked backwards, melding into the shadows.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^WEEK BREAK FOR MIAMI^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian stumbled back to the outer reaches of the forest with a stupid grin on his face. He had been so lost and confused talking with Junoe and Xennessa and had decided to spend some time getting to know his new home, learning about the inhabitants of the forest and of the forest itself. Signs of his efforts could be seen in how he was more confident, he didn’t seem as if he’d flee at first sight anymore. Also, sometimes if he stayed in one spot long enough, plants would lean towards him—as if he were the sun. Animals were also drawn to him, he usually could be seen sporting a bird or two on his shoulders and head and sometimes a wolf, fox, or other forest creature could be seen by his side. Few of the animals were brave enough to face the outside of the forest, or people, and would run into the brush at any sign of either. However, as long as Ian was not afraid, some would stick with him anyway—looking to him as a subordinate to an alpha, or a child to its mother, for signs of danger.
Ian climbed one of the trees and his grin slowly dissipated, thinking of how he would explain this to his craft-master… As Junoe had explained, he was an apprentice here—erm, student—and he would surely be scolded for his absence. The bird on his shoulder chirped and he shook his head lightly, letting it know he was fine.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Machiko^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Machiko yawned and looked around; so many new faces, new people, and things. Where were her friends, though? She frowned, a bit concerned and rubbed the back of her head. She sighed and looked up at the sky, deciding to go outside. She visited her dorm, which hadn't changed at all and left her things. She then walked to the outside and found her favorite spot. Right under the tree in the courtyard, at least that stayed the same. She walked over and plopped on the grass, folding her hands behind her head. "I wonder what's happened since I've been gone...."
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian blinked in surprise as the bird on his shoulder suddenly chirped in alarm and flew back into the forest. From below he heard a mumbled, "I wonder what's happened since I've been gone…” Looking down, he beheld a crop of unusual hair. Blinking again, he smiled well naturedly and piped, “Hullo, and who might you be missus?” His pale hair fell in a curtain about his shoulders as he looked down, his legs swinging a bit from the branch on which he sat.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Machiko^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Machiko looked up and around her as she heard a voice. She then gazed up and saw a boy sitting on a branch. He's a new face. She smiled softly and said, "Hello, I'm Machiko. I'm a student here, but I left for a while. Who might you be?", she asked in a kind voice.
Ian swung his legs a little harder for a moment and jumped down, landing in a crouch beside her and rolling on the balls of his feet to sit on his haunches. “May Elune shine upon this our meeting, lady Machiko. I am known as Ian, I suppose I am a… student here as well.” He paused and tilted his head in a curious fashion, “You are not going to suddenly shift on me are you?” His tone was wary, as he had been unhappily surprised by the last couple of people he had encountered.
Machiko smiled and said kindly, "It's a pleasure Ian and I hope you like it here at this school." She then looked at him strangely and cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Um...shift on you? I...I don't understand what your saying?"
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian looked at Machiko silently for a moment, contemplating. “Well… I am a druid, we shift quite naturally. However, some of the people here seem to know how to shift as well, without having been born into it.” He looked strained for a moment, thinking back to the moments he had seen it himself, “Their shifts are… quite unnatural. It just bothered me and I had hoped that you would not frighten me out of my wits.”
He chuckled, eyes softening. He seemed not to understand that someone may not get his meaning of the word itself, having lived in a village where everyone was born with the skill. He turned to her quickly, beaming, “If you have not seen it done by a druid, you have not seen it at all! Would you like for me to show you?” He bounced slightly, eyes shining.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Machiko^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Machiko smiled and replied, "A Druid! Oh, now I see. I met one before, he came to my mother for help. I think there was a problem in his village. Yes, when my mother finished and everything was fine she showed me all kinds of things, it was really amazing." She then held her amulet in her palm and said, "I'm....something quite, different..." She smiled up at Ian and nodded. "Ofcourse, I'd love to see. That meeting with the druid from before was many years ago so, my memory needs a little refreshing."
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian tilted his head again, showing that it was habit to do so, “I see, that is actually quite interesting. The problem must have been dire for one to leave their village voluntarily…” He trailed off, mouth tightening a bit before brightening at her assent to observe his shift.
He took a deep breath and concentrated, needing a moment since he was as of yet a young druid and a little inexperienced. He seemed to cave into himself and suddenly it was a rather large, purple-blue feline sitting where the boy had a few seconds earlier. He snorted and shook his head side to side, ears flicking. “Mine is not yet perfected,” Ian said ruefully, “though you should see the small ones in their first shifts, it is rather comical.” He grinned, tail curling beside him.
His expression fell slightly, "I miss babysitting the kits while my father joined the elders in the hunt." He murmured, sighing.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Machiko^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Machiko smiled and clapped, "Its still really great." She hugged her knees and smiled, "I wish my family was like that...." She rubbed the back of her head and stood up laughing a little. "Well for a shifter that was cool." She fixed her ponytail, it ran long against her back. She ran a hand through her hair, with her hair up now, more of her face was shown. She really had changed. From the quiet and withdrawn girl who kept all her secrets hidden from everyone to a more open and trusting person. She enjoyed the change and looked back at the school. Thats when a familiar caught her eye. She stared and smiled brightly, realizing it was Johnny. She turned to Ian and said, "I'll be back in a moment." She then walked over quickly to the school and up to the roof. She crossed her arms when she saw him still there and quietly walked up behind him. She looked over him and heard what he said about Galan and smiled. "You know smoking isn't good for you. It messes with your mind"
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian smiled and nodded as Machiko walked away, the grass seemed to grow a little taller around him from the time that he had spent sitting. The bird that had disappeared with the girl’s arrival now flew back and perched on his head, squalling irately at him. He snorted in amusement and trotted back into the forest a ways, enjoying the way the trees shifted with the light breeze.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Junoe had fallen asleep while waiting for Galan to come back from his little expedition, and when she woke both he and Zenharu were no where to be seen. The village below was perfectly peaceful, so she figured that everything had gone smoothly. She flew back a ways and landed in a tree a little ways away from the school at the edge of the forest. She wasn't sure why she was so tired, but she knew exactly why she was feeling a bit lonely.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
While awol deep in the forest, Ian got to spend some quality time with the various animal inhabitants of the forest. Because of this he had acquired a few new forms, though with unique touches to each, they all somewhat resembled the animals he had spent time with. Deciding to see if a few of his new friends were nearby, he shifted out of his catform and into one of his new forms. Now guised as a most convincing timber wolf he howled, and cocked his ears for a reply.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
She heard the howl immediately and nearly fell out her tree. She hadn't heard a wolf call other than her own in many many years. She looked around, but didn't see anyone, and howled a response back instead, jumping down to the forest floor with her ears pinned back a little wearily. Other wolves tended not to like her very much..
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian blinked in surprise; that was a different howl than the ones he had grown used to… No matter, he was always willing to meet new forest friends. He had only spent a week in the depths of the place, after all. There were bound to be animals he had yet to see. He trotted a bit towards the reply, tilting his head back for a return call of good tidings and welcome.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Wings folded invisibly to her back so as to look as normal as possible, Junoe came into the clearing and noticed the grey wolf. Normal male sized grey timber wolf, but a little different. Well, maybe not, she hadn't seen another wolf in a long time. Ears perked forward, she sat calmly and watched him.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Being in an animal’s form comes with the whole package; in Ian’s case he had the wonderfully increased senses of the wolf, and unfortunately, it’s colorblind sight. Since Junoe had the ability to hide her wings, he did not notice them. Her lighter coloration and larger size made him hesitate in his approach, but he shook his head and trotted the rest of the way over to her, tail wagging a few times. Using the short barks and snuffing noises of the wolf, as well as body language, he greeted her. “Hello, I have not seen you in these parts before. Though that may be because I am new to this territory, I hope I am not intruding…”
He lowered his head a fraction before continuing, his explanation slightly warped to be understood by the wolves with which he had befriended. “I was outcast from my pack; but don’t worry, ChipFang has allowed me temporary brothership with his pack.” He referred to the alpha of the local wolf pack, though they were a little far from the school they happened to be the closest to the area and he was sure the other would recognize them. “I am called Long, and you are?” He used his wolven name given by his new wolf friends, they called him long because it was too hard to say his real name and his legs were unnaturally long for the forest wolves he imitated.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
She did recognize the pack name, and also realized how far that pack probably really was from this school and these grounds. How odd. She communicated as he did, though she hadn't done that in a long time either. Her tail was up and ears perked forward. He wasn't making it very obvious on what rank he was in the pack, but he certainly wasn't alpha or beta male. "I don't recognize the name Chipfang, he must be a new leader for that pack. I'm a lone wolf. My name is Junoe."
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian sat down, ears flicking every now and then. He kept his head slightly lowered, though she was a lone wolf she was indeed bigger than him and would probably overtake him in the hierarchy had she been in the local pack. “Yes,” he replied on account of the change of leadership, “Chipfang was second to Swiftclaw, who was exiled after he took to killing the male pups.”
Suddenly he stood and jumped back a little in surprise once her name was given, his tail instinctively curling between his legs and his ears lying slightly back and to the side of his head. “L-lady Junoe?!” Ian sputtered in Elvish, a red tinge could barely be discerned upon his cheek behind his fur.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
She only knew one person whom had ever taken to calling her 'Lady' Junoe, and her head tilted calmly at his surprise. She watched him and spread her wings carefully and slowly, just a bit so he could see. Yes, I'd have to say so. Ian? So the alpha had been killing pups. Not that surprising as she remembered. Just one more thing to store back in her mind for future reference.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian laughed a bit nervously as the other spread her wings a little to show him it was indeed she, “Um, hullo Lady Junoe. Earthmother bless.” He coughed, uncomfortable; the sound was a little awkward coming from his wolven vocal cords. “Erm, yeah. Tis I.” He shifted his weight, still unknowingly submissive. He had yet to test his new forms that much and was relying on pure instinct for his movements. “Eheh, I—erm... I’m sorry for taking off on you like that last we met,” his ears drooped further down, “I’ve learned a few new forms, um.” He continued stumbling over his words, wanting to make up but unsure how.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Junoe laughed in a deep, guttural growl. "Relax." She licked his muzzle gently in a sign to let him know he could relax around her. This wasn't a pack and she wasn't going to enforce pack rules on a fellow student and friend. She would be in a higher position, probably, but wouldn't let that get in the way. Her tail was down and limp, showing how calm she herself was. "No need to be sorry."
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian snorted gruffly, and nuzzled her, his ears perking up and his tail wagging twice before falling still. “I’m still sorry, you guys were just trying to explain things to me. I was confused and… well, I guess I fled.” He kept near her, almost but not quite touching. He silently fought the wolves desire for contact, trying to take control of the form instead of the other way around. A small whimper came up his throat and he let the slip for a second, he leaned against her and huffed out a contented sigh. He preened her fur a little, eyes half mast.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Junoe hadn't realized how much she missed wolf culture and habits, and nipped his muzzle a bit playfully. "Really, no more sorries. You've been pushed into a new society, and I don't blame you for being frightened." She put a wing around him to help him feel secure. She felt a little motherly, for at the moment he was acting a little bit like a pup, and she didn't mind it at all.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian let out a squeak and retaliated, snapping at her gently, the playful mood catching on him. Her attitude reminded him of those of his village, they being a tolerant and generally care-free people. As she kindly chastised him for the apologies he suddenly switched his inner view of her, deciding to treat her as he would another druid instead of mentally labeling her as human.
As she tented him under her wing, he felt comfort at last in his strange new home. Though she was more knowledgeable in the workings of things than he, she also seemed to know how to treat him in a way that didn’t leave him feeling awkward and uncomfortable. He nuzzled her again, under her muzzle. He forgot that he was still leaning against her, most of his weight in fact. She was larger than him and probably wouldn’t need to strain to hold him up, and he didn’t notice.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
She noticed the leaning, but again it didn't really phase her. Junoe wasn't even sure if he knew what she was really, if his kind could automatically tell those kinds of things, but assumed that either way he wasn't really bothered by it. At his playful response she simply set her head on his, grinning wolfishly. He seemed comfortabl, more stable now, which was very good. Perhaps this time he wouldn't feel the urge to leave, and she was glad to help him stay feeling that way.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
If Ian could squeal joyfully, he would have. Elves being the forest’s children—all of them shared a childish streak, even the elders. He was very warm under her, and his tongue lolled out the side of his mouth as he beamed. His tail thumped gently against her side and he made a gruff woof, gaining a look of concentration. Suddenly a small shudder wracked his frame and he was thrumming. It didn’t last long, and left him a little exhausted. But he was excited he could mix species like that, if only for a moment, to express his happiness at having found someone to connect with. Since meeting Xennessa and Junoe, the pain of separation from his village had lessened. Now, it was all but gone. He panted under his breath, his heart light.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Junoe was a little taken back by his episode, but was soon grinning again, and pulled back from him gently so she could shift to her normal human form, with wolf tail and ears still and always visible. She sat in front of him with crossed legs and watched him. "So tell me about it, Ian, where have you been all this time?"
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
He cocked his head curiously as she shifted back; it was still a little strange to him, so different from his own transformations. He sat as well, though stayed as wolf—the form being more comfortable than his humanoid one—his eyes smiling. “Well, as I said, I was confused by what you guys were explaining and fled into the forest. Once there, I saw animals and plants I have never seen before.” He sped up a little, excited. “It struck me that I had yet to meet the forest, and there were so many new creatures to meet and interact with…” He grew sheepish, “I guess I got carried away, and before I knew it I was spending so much time socializing with the animals that I decided to try shifting into them. Time flew and when I noticed how long I had strayed I panicked a little and came back before really trying them out that much.” He looked at her ears and tail in interest, “I have not thought to try my form’s qualities in humanoid form… It comes naturally to you?”
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Junoe^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
She sighed and looked down at the ground a bit. "Unfortunately, yes." She laid back a bit, supporting herself from behind with both arms. "I don't haave a choice, it's this or winged wolf or... well." She stopped there, kind of trailing off in the hopes he wouldn't notice her hesitation. He really must not know what she was, and hoped desperately that if she did end up having to tell him, it wouldn't make him shy or frightened again.
.:----------------------------------------------.:~^Ian^~:.----------------------------------------------:.
Ian blinked a few times, “Unfortunate? I think it’s neat, very unique. As is your wolf form, I mean… you can fly in it.” His eyes softened; flight form for a druid meant a major stepping stone in one’s progress to becoming revered in the village, another step to becoming one of the elders. His eyes widened with her next statement, however. “No choice?” His tone disbelieving, with his access to as many forms as his capacity to learn them he could not wrap his mind about the idea that a form or a mix of could be limited and, in essence, completely permanent.
She suddenly seemed a little caged somehow, unsure—and it hurt him a little that she felt in anyway cornered, though he had no idea why. He stood and closed the space between them, shifting out of wolf and into his larger, more familiar catform. He wrapped himself around her, curling protectively, and purred deep in his chest.
Continued here.
