|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 7:57:36 GMT -5
Okay William, now this really was stupid of you.
Pushing through bracken, ducking under branches, his bare feet pounding against slick moss and hard dirt...
Already extremely out of breath...
He chased after Peri.
He really had meant to stop in the apartment lobby, pick up his key and then wander, dejected, back to the apartment to sort out a reasonable excuse as to why he was now six hours late for work
But something had caught his eye through the glass of the front door, and seeing Peri race across the road and plunge into the thick forest had given him a chill.
And would almost certainly end up with him getting another bite to add to his collection, oh yes, well done William.
It wasn't even as if he knew where he was going, the hangover still fresh in his mind, even the soothing sights and smells of the forest were loud and blaring, disorientating the little man and leading him further into the woods, not even certain if he would even find Peri.
And then what was he supposed to do?
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Aug 29, 2012 8:17:11 GMT -5
Allowing herself a few moments before struggling back into a standing position, Peri let out a tiny whimper, her head still pounding. Despite the euphoria that came with the change, she was still pretty skittish from the stress, the worry that she'd been really quite unfair to Will now crashing down on her.
Maybe she could fix it... She could always drop by to his apartment later, make sure everything was patched up? Puffing out her chest, Peri tentatively sniffed the air, making sure she was alone and safe to get the pent up wolf out of her system, if just for a while. Wait...
Oh you've got to be kidding me.
Backing up, startled, the sound of quickly crunching leaves and twigs filled Peri's ears, making her aware that there was someone coming her way, and quickly. Turning tail, she darted into the trees, trying to get upwind of whoever it was, so that she could make sure that she saw them, and they did not see her. The scent was awfully familiar, however...
A strange grunt escaped her lips, that could only really be translated to a curse, as she realized who it was, carefully weaving through trees and undergrowth to make sure she was found. After all, such a difficult path could only really be traversed by the paws of a wolf...
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 8:29:45 GMT -5
The forest was really starting to assault William's nose and ears from all sides now. The feel of grass and leaves under his feet, the smells of plant rot and the sounds of small furry animals invading his nose and tugging at his ears.
It was all he could do to stop himself from dropping to all fours right here and now, and it made his whole body ache.
But he had to find Peri, and the process of the transformation might give her enough time to lose him.
He had to...He wasn't sure...
Apologize? Forgive her? ....Look hurt at her snapping?
Oh god, what was he doing?
He stopped for a second and flopped against a tree, running a hand through his hair to try and keep his head straight, his breath coming out in little gasps.
He couldn't hold it for long. He didn't want to hold it for long.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Aug 29, 2012 8:37:57 GMT -5
Crouching low in the undergrowth, Peri crept forward, keeping her stomach low to the floor, ears flat to her head, fully ready to run at the first sign she'd been seen, feeling practically spring loaded with adrenaline. From the edge of the small, earthen cliff that ran alongside the pathway, she scanned the trees, suddenly aware that Will had stopped in his tracks somewhere down the line.
Whereas that was a small relief, she couldn't help but worry as to why he'd stopped, and not either continued or gone straight back. Was he okay? Hopefully the hangover hadn't got him retching into the bushes... Creeping even closer to the edge, she narrowed her eyes, vaguely able to make out the image of him slumped against a tree, seemingly... in pain? Oh no.
She stood a chance at escaping him, wolf against wolf, but wolf against wolf? It was an unfamiliar chase to her, and the idea generally scared her. Deciding to keep watch from her makeshift post, she couldn't help but whine softly, the suddenly urge to run with him as wolves almost overwhelming. It was something that she'd never done before... and the idea seemed so unbelievably wonderful that it had her tail wagging, just thinking about it. Stupid immature pup logic.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 8:49:53 GMT -5
Nope...There it went.
Unable to contain himself any longer, the woods too much of a battering ram on his already battered senses, William crumpled to the ground against the tree, feeling his vision blur and his teeth begin to sharpen even before he hit the forest floor.
He had just enough time to realize that he was still fully clothed before it hit him. No time to strip before his spine began to bend and twist, a guttural little whimper escaping his lips as his mouth jutted forward into a muzzle and brown fur began to spring up all along his body.
Adrenaline pounded through his body, a feeling of power as his body twisted from man to wolf.
When it was over he lay, panting, at the foot of the tree, allowing a few moments for his mind and senses to adjust, his clothes still hanging in tatters from his limbs.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Aug 29, 2012 8:57:09 GMT -5
Peri's eyes widened as she witnessed his change, a mixture of fascination, slight disgust and awe passing over her features. That was the horrific, painful change that she had to go through whenever the beast got impatient, and now she was seeing it first hand... She wasn't alone. Gazing at Will as he lay beneath the tree, Peri seemed to come to sort sort of decision, making a fluid, soundless leap from her hiding place, down onto the path, the sunlight filtering through the trees casting patterns across her pelt.
Sometimes you just had to trust your intuition, and right now, Peri felt closer to him than she had to anyone in a long time. They both had this curse, and very little idea of how to deal with it... wasn't that reason enough to put a little trust into him?
Bowing her head slightly, thick fur ruffled and messy, she shuffled awkwardly, pawing at the ground as she waited for him to recover from the change, wondering how he'd react to seeing her wolf form. Of course, seeing a wolf with snake bites was always going to be a bit of strange experience...
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 9:09:53 GMT -5
The forest was no less invasive to William's senses in this form, but they felt...cleaner somehow, sharper. He felt as if he could simply sniff the air and smell a hundred different animal trails darting about the trees.
But this feeling of euphoria wasn't going to help him find Peri. Hopefully the change had still allowed him enough time to catch up with her. Besides, he was faster now, not as fast as many other wolves, but certainly faster than his stumbling little human self.
...Not that finding her as a wolf would be any less awkward than finding her as a human, of course.
He mentally shook himself and clambered weakly to his feet, trying to shake the remains of shirt and trousers from his legs and tail, trying not to think about what would happen when he changed back.
That was when he noticed her, his nose picking up her scent.
The wolf stood just a few feet shy of him, piercings glimmering in the sunlight, her head slightly bowed.
He gave a startled yelp and backed off instinctively, his rump banging into the tree behind him and forcing him to stop.
Peri...
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Aug 29, 2012 9:17:09 GMT -5
Whining softly in both shock and a burst of nerves as he backed away from her, she too shied back, head dipping close to the ground, hackles raising slightly in alarm. Well, that hadn't been the reaction she was going for... This really had been a bad idea. What had she been thinking? She really expected him to accept her this way? For all she knew, he was probably a born werewolf, used to all of this.
She was just some bitten mutt with no sense.
Moving back a little, almost tripping over her own paws, she began to shakily turn tail, filled with embarrassment and disappointment, wondering whether it was even worth running anymore. Thinking of keeping her dignity was foolish, she'd pretty much lost it all by now, feeling as if she'd been stripped of all her shields now, stood bare and vulnerable. Maybe that's why his reaction had hurt her so much...
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 9:29:49 GMT -5
William shifted in surprise as Peri started to turn away, his shock at having her suddenly appear seemed to have caused a negative reaction in her.
But he had wanted to find her, he had practically come running after her like a little lost pup. And now that the initial shock had worn off he was...glad she had come back.
Very glad...
Although still unsure as to what he...actually wanted to do.
He took a hesitant step towards her retreating back before finally giving himself the mental shove to start trotting after her, his tail wagging slightly.
Well, he had gotten this far
"P-peri?..."
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Aug 29, 2012 9:40:30 GMT -5
Wincing a little as he called out to her, Peri stopped dead in her tracks, a little hesitant to turn back round. She didn't know what to think, at first he seemed horrified by her, and now he was chasing after her? She supposed he'd made the effort to do so right from the apartment complex, but... Ugh, her head was a mess.
Slowly turning round again, she sat back on her haunches heavily, trying to look as indignant as possible, not quite meeting his eyes.
I'm... I-I'm sorry if I startled you, but jeez, that wasn't really the reaction I was going for...
She couldn't help but sound a little sulky, batting at a passing trail of ants with her paw as she spoke, sending up small puffs of dust and dirt. But still, question after question popped into her head, threatening to bubble over into madness.
Why did you come after me...?
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 9:51:17 GMT -5
William was startled by the sudden question.
not in the least because he had been wondering it himself as he scampered out of the complex and after her.
He knew the appropriate answer, of course;
I-I wanted to c-check you were...o-okay...
But yes, even as he said it he knew is sounded stupid and weak.
If he just wanted to check she was okay he would have stopped at her apartment, or given up when she wasn't in the lobby.
Maybe taken the time to check up on her later in the week, if they passed each other in the corridor.
But instead he had chosen to hurry off after her, hair and clothes a mess, barefoot and panting, into the woods.
Instead he had chosen to crumple and change right, it seemed, in front of her...
..And now here he was, talking to a fellow werewolf for the first time, as a wolf...
That went just a little over seeing if she was alright, really...
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Aug 29, 2012 10:11:45 GMT -5
Huh. Even for a bad liar, that was pretty weak. Peri was a fool in a lot of ways, but she wasn't exactly stupid. She knew a lie when she heard one, at least. Closing her eyes, she felt slightly sick, wondering what he actually meant. Wondering if someone was okay didn't warrant a full on chase into the forest. No, that required something a whole lot stronger.
Figuring that was a dangerous mental path to go down, she steered her mind back to the wolf before her, still just as awkward and nervous in his wolf form as he ever was, watching her own pitiful reflection in his eyes. Well, damn. At least he tried... It was more than anyone else had ever done. Not that she had a lot of experiences to speak from, after she'd been bitten, her family was a thing of the past, as well as her friends, and her new life hadn't really left her open for anything longterm.
It was a scary thought, realizing just how alone she actually was.
But then again, allowing someone in would require a lot of things Peri wasn't quite sure she was capable of. Trust, for one. Being open... talking about her past. She just couldn't do it.
This had to stop, before she caused any more damage than she already had.
I appreciate that, but... I'm not important. I don't need someone worrying about me... When you go home today, please just try and forget that any of this ever happened, last night, today... Just forget. I promise you, things will be better that way.
Trying to ignore the cold sinking in her stomach, and slight ache in her chest, Peri rose to her feet, mind reeling. She was doing the right thing. She was being an idiot. She was making sure she didn't hurt anyone... but she was also just giving up. Again.
She'd given her one plea to the jury, now it was just a case of whether or not he'd accept it... Then at least she could say she'd tried.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 10:25:02 GMT -5
William felt himself slump as her words hit him, a feeling of aching sorrow and disappointment flooding his mind as she told him to just forget everything that had happened...and move on with it all..
But how was he going to forget so easily?
True, he had only known Peri for...well...it could barely be twelve hours now, and half of that he hardly even remembered.
But as stupid and as cliche and as awful as it sounded, she had made him feel...Alive...He remembered that much.
And she was a werewolf; just as cursed and as changed as he was. Surely that alone meant...Something...
Something more than forgetting and moving on.
b-but you're the first....I-I mean I've hardly...s-since...
He pawed desperately at the ground, aware that he was whining again.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Aug 29, 2012 10:55:27 GMT -5
That doesn't mean you won't meet others...
Damnit, he was going to make this difficult, wasn't he.
It wasn't exactly like she could just forget either, being that she remembered the majority of the night fairly clearly, and seemingly couldn't get it out of her mind...
I'm just another werewolf. There are so many others, others that would probably be more suited to your company...
This tailed off into an awkward mumble, shaking head head slightly. Why did this have to be so hard?
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Aug 29, 2012 11:05:19 GMT -5
William lowered his head and whined softly, flopping down to sit where he was.
Better company, Peri had said. But he didn't want the company of just any other werewolf!
The only other werewolves William had heard of were pack wolves; working at the Steel Mill had allowed him to pick up whispers of the two clans that roamed the area.
But what would do he want or do with a clan wolf? Or even a clan? They hunted and scouted and tracked and fought.
William just wanted to get on with what remained of his life, not get bogged down in anything like that.
And he doubted that Peri did either.
Gazing up at her with large, sorrowful eyes, he tried to shrug nonchalantly, a mean feat in his current furry form.
But...I-I don't want...
He trailed off miserably.
|
|
