Meeting by the Tunnels

[lidarose]

Vicki was just outside the tunnels, staring at them. Did she want to go inside now, or wait? This was right by the border of the Inu lands, and one of them might need healing, as they did from time to time. Besides, if she went into the tunnels, there would be nothing to hunt. Then again, it always made the others in her pack a little antsy when she was out too long, as they often needed her healing as well. She was in no rush to go back into the dark tunnels, though. She'd miss the fresh air and the smells that came with it.

Maybe I could just lie down here, she thought, plopping onto the earth. She would normally go to the forest and hunt owls, but she already did that, and was feeling quite full and content. The fact that the woods are supposed to be haunted just makes hunting there more fun, in her mind. Still, hunting there usually wore her out. Maybe she could just sleep...Her ears twitched as she heard something approaching and she looked up. So much for a nap. What would she encounter this time? A wolf that needed healing? A random creature passing by? A new friend? Okay, it probably wouldn't be a real friend, but she could dream, right? She sniffed the air and stiffened, waiting for the creature to make itself known.

[Rivaxorus]

Zephard had no idea why he was here, the fact that it was a big risk anyhow. If any of the packs found him, they had orders to kill him on site, every wolf would be given a description of him, so him being here was like asking for death. His misty black form solidified itself making his actual form as he stopped when spotting another wolf near the entrance to Waru pack camp. This was just what he wanted, to run into someone from the pack lands, who would pretty much rip him apart. The pure black wolf, hid behind a tree in the woods. His mouth open a bit to take in the wolves scent, definitly a Waru pack member. Yet, why was she just sitting there near the entrance. Perhaps she was waiting for someone from the Inu pack.

The dark wolf ducked down and watched her with his glowing purple eyes. His master mark was the only thing different about him now, and it was of the death element. So perhaps he would have a chance. It depended on who believed him or not, perhaps it was for the best he was left alone for when Minlo did take over. Although it had not happened yet, he was avoiding using his ghost spells. He waited though, to see what the wolves reaction would be.

[lidarose]

Vicki could see the purple eyes watching her from behind a tree. What on earth? She sniffed again. Definitely another wolf. She slowly stood up and walked toward him with calculated movements. She didn't want to scare the poor guy, who seemed to be trying to hide from her. He did smell...odd. She couldn't place why, but he definitely was not from her pack, nor from the Inu pack that was so nearby. If that was the case, why was he even there?

"Hello," she said in her most soothing voice, talking to him like he was a scared pup and not a master of the death element. "Whoever you are, would you care to come out of hiding? I know you're here..." She decided it was best not to mention that he smelled odd, nor that his purple eyes were actually kinda creeping her out. Maybe she could introduce herself. She stopped a few feet away from the tree Zephard was hiding behind, deciding not to come closer unless he indicated he wanted her to. "I am Vicki, a healer from the Waru pack. How may I be of service to you?" She smiled sweetly, showing only the very tips of her fangs. Even though this guy's smell made her hair stand on end, she helped others, no matter who they were. Besides, it was probably the eyes and smell creeping her out simply because she'd never seen or smelled that sort of thing before. It didn't make this guy a threat. She sat and waited for some sort of indication of what this wolf wanted her to do.

[Rivaxorus]

Zephard perked his head and smiled at the girl, his smile was friendly and his looks were dazzling. Then he sniffed himself, guessing he smelled, wondering why he did though, most of the time he smelt of fresh rain and coals which to some was very comforting. "Sorry for startling you dear..." he apologized to her. It seemed like she didn't know of him, after all. The black wolf sat down in front of her, looking around to make sure no one else was watching them. The worst thing he needed was dragging this girl into his own mess. That was one thing he hated most, he didn't want anyone to get hurt because they were friends with him. It was his worst nightmare to relive the days when the packs took everything from him, and for what? There was nothing wrong with him, yet.

"I'm Zephard, I'm just wandering the lands, I haven't been here for years. Not much commotion about how the packs are trying to kill me." The male didn't seem very phased by the fact that everyone was hunting him. Even though he was only part ghost, everyone hated and feared him which he thought was probably for the better of his and their being. He flicked his ears and raised his head, his voice was like an angel, but deep enough to be a male for sure.

[lidarose]

"There is no need to apologize. I mean, I wasn't startled so much as..." Vicki tried to think of another word to describe it. "It just seemed a little eerie to have eyes staring at you and you don't know what kind of person they belong to, you know?" Trying to express her feelings wasn't exactly her strong suit. "But now that you are speaking, it doesn't seem that there's anything dangerous about you. In fact..." She sniffed. "Your smell was a little foreboding somehow before. Now, it isn't." She looked perplexed. "Maybe I'm just going crazy again." She laughed lightheartedly, then stopped, hearing the next words. She tensed for a moment, but didn't show any other signs of being a little freaked out by his last comment.

"I don't understand. Why would the packs try to kill you?" she asked. "I mean, I can tell you're a mixture of the death and ghost elements, but it's not the elements that make the wolf. It's the choices the wolf makes that determines if they should or should not die." She smiled slightly. "And you certainly don't seem like the kind of guy that should be killed. I mean, it's not like you attacked me as soon as you saw me or anything..."

[Rivaxorus]

I perked my ears up at her, I guess I wouldn't be able to lie to her. She must have had the aura reading ability, which was just my luck. at least she wasn't one of the other wolves who would have ripped me up on site. What she said was true, but most ghost elemental wolves played their part in pretending to be good it was what Minlo wanted. Though of course, I was completely in control of my body for the moment, and no harm would come to her unless more fearful wolves came. "They actually judged me by my father, I used to be in the Kuki pack but my father went under Minlo's control, he slaughtered a lot of the pack so they feared me and when they told the other packs their side of the story. I was an instant target for killing." I explained to her flicking my ears. Today it was bright, a little too bright, I was more of a night person.

"Why are you waiting outside here anyway. You can't be waiting for Inu wolves, they only stay within their pack most times." I asked, after all it was true. Inu wolves were treated like trash, having the japanese word for dog. They had no dog in them, that species had gone extinct years ago when the first non elemental wolves appeared. I stood up and looked at the collection of islands out near the water. It was a large gap to swim, but that was Inu wolves specialty.

[lidarose]

Vicki quenned upon hearing what this poor wolf's father did, but didn't react further until he finished. Finally, she said, "Hmmm...I see. But just because your parents do something doesn't mean you'll do it. In fact, it would be all the more reason to take good care of you so you don't do something like that. Isolating you and making it so everyone wants to kill you only encourages that kind of behavior. After all, you'd have to...kill...in order to survive if everyone was out for your blood. It makes no sense to me." She started pondering a little, then heard him ask her why she was outside. She smiled slightly.

"Why go inside if you don't have to?" she asked, stretching out. "The tunnels make my fur dirty, anyway." She chuckled. "And, sometimes, Inu wolves do come here. Admittedly, it is a rarity, and when they do, they often require some help, but I don't really mind. It gives me an excuse to stretch out in the sunlight." She smiled wider. "I know they are treated badly by other packs, but that is what makes me want to help them more. I have some good friends in that pack." She stared off into space for a moment. "It's too bad I only see them when they need healing."

[Rivaxorus]

I smiled, this girl didn't care whether or not they were from a pathetic pack, she was kind to the heart and I liked that. She must have been the Waru packs healer, I was just hoping that Gabryl doesn't show up. The blood thirsty war hound was older then almost all the wolves in these lands. He had lived through the gods war twenty years ago, so his mind was corrupted with nothing but killing. He turned back to her from his vision on the islands and sat down a few inches away from her.

Something is watching you.

I turned to the woods, watching a dark figure, with glowing red eyes watch me. Yet, it's attention seemed to be glazed over at the female I was with, it didn't even seem wolf like. It's shape did, but when I looked at it, it felt different. Why was that? What was that creature. Suddenly my instincts took over and I jumped or at least tried to jump on top of Vicki as a blast of invisible air came towards her. It managed to drag a wound on my shoulder but that was it. When I looked back up to where the creature was, it had vanished.

[lidarose]

All seemed calm. Vicki sighed contently, watching Zephard. It was just another day of meeting a random wolf who didn't seem like others accepted him. It happened only too often. Then, she noticed him turn to the woods and instantly perked up. Was something wrong? Did he hear something or see something? All Vicki saw was a pair of red eyes before she was suddenly tackled by Zephard. It was so sudden, she couldn't even react. She saw something hit Zephard's shoulder and stiffened. That blast of air...it would have hit her squarely in the face had Zephard not tackled her. Did something...want to hurt her? Why would that even be?

"Wh-what was that?" she asked in a shaky voice. She didn't have enough time to sniff before the thing disappeared. And that's when she saw his shoulder where he was hit. "Oh! Are you hurt? I can heal that right up!" The fact that her life might be in danger momentarily forgotten, she squirmed to inspect Zephard's wound so she could heal it. "If you would please get off me so I could see...that would make things much easier." She was no longer afraid. Rather, she was now calm, as healing was something she could do and has done many a time. It distracted her from all else until she was done.

[Rivaxorus]

Zephard looked at the fae and blinked, almost forgetting that he was on top of her. When she mentioned the healing of his small wound he shook his head, "Oh sorry, and I'm fine, nothing but a scratch." Which in truth, was a fact. It wasn't bleeding much and it was only a scrape at his shoulders,t hey were just lucky the thing didn't attack again. If it did, he wouldn't have had any time to get away from the second attack. He looked over at the woods, wondering where the strange creature had gone, it didn't even leave behind a scent. What was that thing, was all eh could be really wondering about at the moment. "Well, at least it's gone" He muttered with a sigh.

The black wolf stood up and narrowed his glowing purple eyes at the forest, his thoughts on that creature still. 'What kind of thing doesn't leave a scent? Or tracks for that matter?' He wondered. Then turned back to the fae. "At least your alright. We don't need to chase after the thing, there is no trace of it left." He said. Hoping at this point that they weren't going go and try and catch it, eh didn't want to go after the thing.

[lidarose]

Vicki smiled.
"Do you really think that I don't know it's just a scratch?" she asked with a laugh. "I heal all wounds, minor or otherwise, and besides, you saved me. Whether it was from a major wound or death itself, I don't know, but I have to repay you either way. I could start by healing the wound you induced by protecting me. At least, that's my logic."

She sniffed the air, then her face fell. "Odd. I don't smell anything besides you. You'd think a creature would leave a scent...I would pursue it if I wasn't needed here, and if I could tell which direction it went in, because...well...I'd rather my next meeting with whatever that was be on my terms, not its." She sighed. "But there's nothing for it right now. I'll...take my chances and stay, I guess."

She stood and looked in the same direction as Zephard for a second, then turned back to him. "Anyway, I'd like to heal that wound as a start to repaying you for protecting me." She smiled. "Looks like you're a good wolf, after all. A bad one would have just let me take the hit. Well, a bad one or a scared one, I should say."

[Rivaxorus]

Zephard blinked and turned to the fae, repay him? He did it because he wanted to, not to get paid back in something. Yet, instead he smiled, "Guess there's no stopping you still." He shrugged, not even paying attention to the slight sting on his shoulder. He turned around to show her his injured shoulder, getting closer. Dipping his head and closing his eyes relaxing himself. Relaxing would just make everything a bit easier, he blocked everything out and just thought about things for this moment when she would be healing him. Although, second thoughts came back to him, as he took in a deep breath and opened his eyes a bit.

"♫Weinig vogel , verrichten niet schreeuw Verspreiding mijn vlieginsigne en vertrek u Slechts wanneer u kom mee voor Verrichten niet roep om mijn mangel Weinig verrichten u weet Welk MIJ ben uitsluitend naar de voorsprong van uw trip Verspreiding uw eigen vlieginsigne en obligatie van anderen Verblijf zuiver voor uw eigen hartje Weinig vogel , voorzien naar de toekomstig Verblijf verlaten , voor eeuwig Slechts nooit uittarten , uw voeling Verblijf verlaten voor eeuwig , slechts nooit zitten verlaten♫"

The tone of the song was soft, and filling. Combined with Zephards soft and bell like voice, it made a beautiful lullaby that his mother always sang to him before his father had been taken over by Minlo. After signing it aloud, he hummed the tune closing his eyes again. He wondered if his mother was with her god safely, the death god may have been evil, but at least that was where she belonged. he flicked his tails to these thoughts, as if he was talking to himself.

[lidarose]

Vicki smiled, touching her nose to Zephard's wound and drawing the life from herself and transferring the wound to her own shoulder. She concentrated, watching as the entire wound left Zephard's body, not even leaving so much as a scar. When she was done, she looked worn, but she was still smiling. She started to draw life around her, but didn't completely heal the wound. She only healed it enough to dull the pain, then let it be. The grass around her looked a little bit withered from her drawing from it, and she immediately went to the water, lapping some up, then walking back over to the grass and dropping it all on the grass to water it.

"There. That's better, don't you--?" she started to ask, then heard his humming. Come to think of it, when healing him, she did hear him singing in a whole other language. The song was beautiful, and she relaxed, wanting to fall asleep mid-question, but she immediately shook herself out of her stupor. She watered the grass a little more, then sat by Zephard. "That is a beautiful song. You have a great singing voice." She wondered where he heard it, but decided not to ask. He'd probably not want to answer, anyway.

[Rivaxorus]

Zephard stopped his humming after hearing the fae's talk. He lifted his head to her, "Huh, oh, it's a lullaby my mother used to sing to me. Said that it was in a language that the gods spoke a long time ago. When the non elemental wolves lived." He said, standing up and swiftly turning around. He checked out his shoulder wound, it seemed to be good as new, he felt some strength in his shoulder as well. The fur would take a few days tog row back, but other then that it looked good. Zephard looked back at the fae sitting down next to her. "That's some power you got, but." He tapped her shoulder which was the one with the wound on it. He knew it would have probably hurt.

"The effects of it are a lot more complicated then you think. When a power like this is used, it may seem like this was what I was feeling but depending on the wound, it turns out worse on you then it did me." He explained. Zephard knew these kind of things because he had a friend who had the power just like it, that and by the looks of it he could tell that it sung more then it should have. He looked at the sparkling water and at the Inu lands, wondering what it was like over there where they lived. Whether they were happy being alone or not.

[lidarose]

Vicki shrugged, then winced a little from the sting in her shoulder. Despite her dulling it, moving her shoulder still stung. And then Zephard tapped it, making her bite her lip and let out a very soft whimper, which she hoped he didn't hear. She hated conveying that sort of thing.

"And it's supposed to trouble me that it might hurt more on myself how, exactly?" she asked with a laugh, as if she hadn't felt her shoulder erupt in stinging agony when he touched the wound. "Honestly, it's fine. Besides, even though the wound hurting me more than my subject can happen, so can it hurting less on me." She smiled. "It doesn't hurt that much, really. I know how to dull pain, you know?" She chuckled. "It might sting for a bit, but all in all, after the wound passes, it will only leave a scar." Her eyes flicked down to the wound on her neck, and for an instant, she looked depressed, but then she perked right back up. "So, no harm done." She noticed him looking at the Inu lands and wondered what he was thinking about, but decided not to ask. She instead looked at her reflection in the water.
Ew. I look hideous with this wound, was her first thought upon seeing it, and she chuckled at herself. How shallow could she be?