Fable - Ask A Meeting In Nature

[Stryder Wulfe]

Stryder growled. It was a deep thing, as if formed in his chest. It was animalistic. He was animalistic. Folding his arms, he listened to his pack. They were debating, being loud and obnoxious, but most importantly ignoring his opinion.

Finally he snapped, stepping forward with a roar, "SILENCE." His animal side was emanating like waves off of him. It was an intense feeling. The nearest of his pack backed and bowed a bit.

"We will side with them. Axel came to me as a personal favor. He doesn't remember it, but we classed together once upon a time. He is a friend. He is an asset." Stryder shouted at his people, "Do good for him, he does good for us."

Stepping forward a bit, he continued, "How often is Hofkiin attacked? Never. Every once in a blue moon we will shift and protect the Walls. In return we are paid handsomely.

"I have spoken." His last words were final. They all knew it. Come and battle to take the title of Alpha if you wish to change the command. None of them could take him, and they all knew it.

With that he turned and strode from the tavern. His words still rang in his ears, and it did nothing but confirm his ideals. He would protect, and be paid for his services.

Deeper in the forest he went. It was relaxing to be near nature. His people were animals at their core. Trees and all that were comforting. It was actually a reason chose this path. One constantly tread.

Yet, ahead in his view, stood a woman with hair the color of vivid flame. She was petite and held an inate power it seemed. Something about her spoke of the great energies. It was quite odd to see a person this far into dangerous woods.

"Excuse me, miss, are you alright? Do you need help?"

Pyra Strello Thissle

 

[Thissle]

“Oh kind Sir, I am looking for a patch of honeysuckle that I have a great tart recipe for,” Thissle replied. This man had caught her off guard, and with her hearing that was hard to do.

It was the first time she had seen the stranger. Even at that moment she felt calm and happy. In the evening she liked to cook her tarts for the next day’s adventures. Thissle was the youngest of her mother’s child.

She was usually more aware of her surroundings, but she was looking at the forest floor for these flowers. To get the wild honey before dark would mean a good nights sleep. Stryker was looking at her when she saw the flowers, but she let out a giggle anyways.

 

[Pyra Strello]

Pyra ran through the woods, barefoot as usual. She had to hunt often, dude to the fact that she is a second generation of vampire. And since she mostly eats animals, it was more difficult as well, because they don't satisfy as fully, and so in turn she has to hunt that much more.

From not far off, Pyra could hear a familiar voice, one belonging to her friend. Thissle! Then she heard a very unfamiliar voice, and before she could stop herself, she had plunged forward and was running full speed.

Getting closer and closer, Pyra could hear the voices more clearly now. Then she caught a whiff of his smell in the wind. Werewolf. She had only ever met a couple, and they were brief encounters each time. But they tended to be more animalistic, all grunts and hair and hormones. She hoped this one was nice, at least.

Pyra also feared for her friend. If he did anything to try to hurt her.... Closer and closer, now. Before she came into their view, she hid behind a tree to eyeball him safely. As quietly as she could, she sent her friend a thought wave through the air, like a bullet into her ear.

"Thissle! Werewolf!" Knamyrah hoped that she heard the whisper. She knew he could most likely hear her, too, and probably smell her as well. But hopefully, he didn't know which direction she would come from.

After a moment of silently watching them, Pyra decided there wasn't a threat and walked forward, calling out to her friend and eyeing the wolf. Handsome, she thought, surprised. "You and your honey suckle. Gonna get yourself hurt girl." She smiled at her friend, and opened her arms to give her a hug.

 

[Stryder Wulfe]

Well before the woman showed herself, Stryder caught her scent. Even against the wind her smell was fragrant, powerful. He was a tracker. This was his primary skill as a Wolf. When the young vampire stepped into the clearing, his fangs elongated a small hint. The wolf inside him, his inner beast, always was on edge against those who drank blood.


It was in his heritage, his genetics.

Yet he also did not heed to it. Instead he forced a small smile at the vampire. She was clearly of the knowledge of his species, for Vampires senses were also heightened. His smile turned to a full grin, at the thought that clearly they could never hold a candle to his own.

“You both should not be here.” Stryder offered calmly, “This area is infested with beings that could rip even I, limb from limb.” Gesturing over his shoulder, “Not far back that way, is a pack of Wolves.” He didn’t offer that he knew they were werewolves, nor that they were his pack. One of these girls knew, but did they both?

“Is there anywhere I can help you two get to?”

Pyra Strello Thissle

 

[Thissle]

“Pyra ” Thissle yelled with glee. “I haven’t seen you in ages, where have you been hiding yourself?”

Thissle was curious of this new werewolf. She didn’t know what he would have done had Pyra had not showed up when she did. She looked up through her hair. Stryder was looked at Pyra. Thissle was wondering what they were thinking. Thissle looked at the ground to locate more hunysuckle.

The fact that this handsome man was worried about the wolves in the area was weird. She had heard of Stryder but had never seen him. She thought he was cute. But she would not be caught dead with a werewolf in her community. Elves had a bad experience with some rogue werewolves when she was young.

Thissle stopped paying attention to them long enough to pick her flowers. When she finished her work, she wanted to see if Pyra wanted to get something for her new friend at the valley shop? She thought she was being clever, she was humming to herself.

 

[Pyra Strello]

"I don't scare easy'" Pyra said, looking up at him. "But thanks for the... warning, I guess. If you like, you can escort us to town." Looking for her friend, she quickly found her in the middle of a large honeysuckle patch.

Thissle could be so cute and not even try. Her childlike nature was fun to be around, and drew Pyra closer to her. "Come on, Thissle! We're going to town, time for shopping!"

 

[Stryder Wulfe]

Stryder arched his brow, cool in his demeanor. His pack would call him a hard ass, but that had a lot to do with being in control. If he could let go of that, like now, he could see the humor in life.

No one would ever describe the wolf as a bubbly fellow, as these two clearly were. But he still watched their antics without disdain.

Drawing a knife from the hilt at his hip, he hefted the blade a moment. Examining the blade for dirt or sign of other nasty blemish, he flipped it suddenly end over end straight up. A squelch could be heard and then he plucked a falling object. The blade had sunk into an apple, and then the weight brought them both back.

Following behind the two of them then, he carved small slices from the fruit, eating as he walked.

 

[Thissle]

“Pyra, what did you catch to eat for lunch?” Thissle asked. She thought the idea of drinking blood was gross. But, she respected Pyra and the fact that she drinks blood from animals and no other creatures like elves. She couldn’t remember if she had feed Ivy? A growing dragon that she is she has to eat regularly. Thissle made a mental note to get some food form Fern as well. Her falcon was good at hunting but she knew she should get some for her anyways.
“Stryder, what’s your favorite trick to do when riding your dragon?” Thissle asked. She doesn’t let him reply when she starts to ramble about all the cool things her dragon Ivy could do at this time. She was so excited she didn’t see the tree root sticking out of the earth and she tripped and fell to her knees.
She was so embarrassed she could only laugh at herself.

 

[Pyra Strello]

"Lion for breakfast, bear for lunch," Pyra replied. She didn't like to talk about her eating habits, but she didn't mind talking about hunting and eating animals. She hated that she needed blood to survive, and it tended to make others uncomfortable. But, being that she hadn't had human blood for a while, she didn't mind sharing.

"What do you eat, fruits & veggies?" Pyra asked teasingly, shifting toward Stryder as they stepped through the forest. She wished she could eat real food, but the thought of a Werewolf eating apples and oranges humored her.

"Also, Thissle, what are we going to the village for? The quicker, the better. You know I don't much like being in public..." Being around people made her squeamish and uncomfortable, the way it would make a starving man uncomfortable to stand before a feast and not be able to eat it. No amount of animal blood could stop that.

 

[Stryder Wulfe]

Stryder moved along next to the women, silent himself. They spoke of what they had planned. He couldn't be sure as he wasn't paying attention, but there was a chance one of the girls asked a question directed his way. Either or as they spoke he cocked his head.

Using the enhanced hearing offered to his species of Wolf, Stryder was picking up the sounds of padded footsteps. Either someone wearing protective silencing footwear, or...

Stopping mid stride, he looked over his shoulder. There were members of his pack running his way. One of them being one of his Omegas. Kiln was a powerful warrior, smart and agile, despite not housing the most power. Yet of his pack, Kiln had numerous times gone above and beyond his stations of the time. So, he was appointed to real stature. He had free reign. Simply show the shining example of a second in command for Stryder.

He had left them be mid squabble, now they approached quickly and in form. One of the youths of his group rode Kilns large lupine back like a horse. This young man seemed worried and spoke quickly.

“Sir, we just got word that the Ganderian Pack up North is under attack. They have been losing out for more than twenty four hours. If we don’t help, they may fall.”

Stryder nodded and turned to the girls. He had offered them safe travels. Giving them a ride out was it. Never a special destination. So if he felt it best, he could shift, them ride his large form, and run to the North. Drop them off in a safe little village or some like.

Immediately he began removing his shirt and vest. These he put in a satchel tied to another Wolfs belly. Already excruciating snapping and breaking sounds could be heard. Stryder dropped to his knees, breathing slow and through his nose, eyes closed tight. This was the worst part. Being a wolf was amazing. Even human form is great. Shifting? Not at all.

Imagine the most primary bones and all that snapping, popping, squishing all around as it was moved to this new form.

It took nearly two minutes of insane pain and there, lucky enough to have not gotten stuck in his pants mid shift, was Stryder. Nearly five and a half feet, wider than a door, all wolf no dog, beautiful. His jet black fur was soft, with hints of purple tones and hues it was so dark.

Speaking through the mental link offered to wolves who have shifted, "I haven't fed much. We will need to stop just outside of the forest. Catch some grazers." As he did that, the young human form wolf offered to get the girls on his back.

 

[Thissle]

Thissle was a bit nervous when she was on his back, she held on tight. She was also a little curious about how Pyra and herself would get the spices for her newest potion. They were under the impression they had more time to discuss the financial situation for Thissle. She was low on funds and she needed a lot of thyme and barley. She could promise to repay her friend if she could help her with a little bit of money.

Thissle looked at Stryder and the other werewolves and thought that they were beautiful. They were strong and brave. They were kinder then what she herself had heard of werewolves. She wanted to get something for her honey suckle that would make them easier to break them up into a fine powder. She was trying to stay focused but her tummy was growling.

“Pyra, would you happen to have a pouch for these flowers?” She asked Pyra as the were being escorted to town. She was thinking about how good they smelled, and she smiled to herself and held on to her little handfuls of fur.

 

[Pyra Strello]

Pyra looked back and forth between the wolves amongst the group, studying them, even those who were in human form. They were large and animalistic, and they smelled like dogs to her. She graciously turned down the offer of being carried, preferring to run along with them. It felt good to run, the wind rushing through her hair and the earth beneath her bare feet comforted her.

"Thissle, I do have a bag for gathering what we need. But I want to move quickly, gather our things and go." Pyra felt uneasy about having so many werewolves around her, and she didn't know how long they would be traveling together, so she tried to be as polite as possible while keeping her distance.

The wolves were so dark that they could barely be seen in the dark of the forest in the night, only their eyes and teeth were visible to the naked eye unless your senses were heightened. They also moved quickly and surprisingly silent, she noted. But Pyra felt that they were coming as friends, or at least allies, and she had to admit they were good travel companions.

Thissle seemed to feel comfortable with them, too. Which didn't surprise her, as Pyra knew her friend was more inclined to make friends with any creature, whether of the night or of the day. Pyra loved this about the girl, as it had caused her to open up and become good friends, rather quickly.

Pyra on the other hand, was not very social or friendly, only opening up to a small handful of people her entire life. But Thissle was special, she was the light at the end of a dark tunnel for Pyra, the polar opposite of her dark self, which drew her out of her shell and made her a bit more open, and curious.

"We're almost there, Thissle. What are we going for? We need to be quick and quiet. So you get what you need, and I'll split off and get what I need, and we'll meet back up with the wolves and be on our way. Sound like a plan?" Pyra turned toward the wolf that had been the boy they met earlier. "Stryder, right? Do you need to go into town, or will you be waiting out with your.... Friends?"

Thissle Stryder Wulfe