Blood on the hills (Serenity please)

by **Iff** on October 21st, 2013, 5:23 am

20th day of fall, year 513

Iff stood from where she had been sitting, a rock that afforded a sweeping view of Zeltiva which lay far below her at the base of the steep rise of land. The climb had been tiring, but she had come up here to hunt and it was best to be about it.

Iff's desire to hunt was more emotional than rational, and for a fact she had little chance of success. She was not skilled with a ranged weapons and did not own one. Instead, she had made a spear out of a pole cut from a young maple and tipped with the broken off blade of a kitchen knife. The thing was crude looking but ought to be deadly enough, if she could throw it into a deer.

Iff moved with infinite care through the low shrubs, bent over sharply at the waist so that she did not project above them. She had surveyed this area on previous days and knew that a deer trail lay ahead, although as of yet she had seen no actual animals.

by **Serenity Avatra** on October 21st, 2013, 11:04 pm

Serenity was having a pleasant day. Her fur coat held the cold autumn wind at bay, coming across as a mere soft breeze. The rusty taste of blood filled her mouth as she licked her fur clean of the red that coated her paws and lips. The deer had made a wonderful supper, being fat from a summer's worth of grazing. She let out a purr, content with her situation.

Padding along a game path that she had wandered across, Serenity lazily navigated her way through the foliage. She sniffed, a familiar sent washing across her. The smell of a human. It did not belong here, they belonged in cities. But she, she felt at home in the wild. At least, in this form. She hunkered down on the ground and slowly stalked towards the sent. Soon she could see a body crouched among the shrubs. It looked to be female, and for that she was glad. The females were not as commonly cruel as the men.

Serenity thought for a moment, then decided it would be polite (and fitting in with human customs) if she introduced herself. She silently moved until she was a few meters from the girl, then Shifted. A shower of golden sparks fluttered around her body. When the light died down, the panther was no more. In its place was a fair skinned girl with long, flowing, black hair; violet eyes gazed at the girl whom she had shifted behind. Her pack was at her feet, having previously been attached to her foreleg, the strap now too large to fit. If she would have thought about it, extra cloths were contained in it, but she much preferred to be nude. It took her a moment to find her voice, but then engaged in the normal human pleasantries, "Hello! I am Serenity. What are you named?" Yes, that sounded right. That is what normal people said. She waited, in great anticipation, for the girl to turn around and respond.

by **Iff** on October 23rd, 2013, 3:53 am

Iff's head snapped around at the sound of the voice, and she stood suddenly, silent for the moment as she examined the nude girl before her. She held her makeshift spear loosely in one hand, butt planted on the ground and tip in the air. There was something about this girl, something familiar...

Iff was shocked by the girl's nudity only because it was far too cold for it, especially from the perspective of a Myrian more used to the tropics. At last she spoke.

"I am named Iff of the Hellcats. I have come for the hunting of deer, although my weapon is poor for this purpose. It is tradtional for the people of these parts to wear clothing; if you appear in town as you are the menfolk will become agitated and ply you with stronger drink than is healthful."

by **Serenity Avatra** on October 23rd, 2013, 5:28 pm

Serenity let the Iff eye her up, as she did the same. The girl was a bit taller than her, and her hair around the same shade of black as her own. She had strong arms and legs, or as much as she could tell through her clothing. Liking what she saw, she looked up to Iff's face. Sizing on another up was a common feline ritual that the humans seemed to have adopted. She could see why, it was a good idea.

As their eyes met, violet meeting deep brown, a flood of emotions washed over Serenity. The hole, a hole that had been around since her birth, had been filled, causing a warm wave of relief to spread over her. Her eyes moistened, her long search was over; she had found a bond mate! Across their link she could feel similar feelings coming from Iff, and knew that she could feel her too. The link would be ever present, connecting them mentally as well as physically.

Serenity rushed over to Iff, locking her in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she was to happy to care about her appearance. And that was saying something, as cats are notorious for being vain. After a few sweet moments, she slowly pulled away, thinking that the sudden hug might have been a faux pas for humans. She doubted the girl would care much, but she did not want to be rude.

by **Iff** on October 24th, 2013, 3:38 am

Iff suffered only a moment of surprise at the sudden connection, the flood of feelings that came pouring in through that at first casual gaze. The Myrian often bonded with tiger Kelvics, and though Iff had never experienced such a thing before she had seen it happen. She accepted Serenity's embrace warmly, pulling the woman in close to her so that her face nestled into the hollow of her neck, her hand firmly on her back, pressing her close.

She made a comforting noise deep in her throat, a reaction to the woman's tears, then said

"You must come with me to my home. We will get you clothing and other things."

Iff felt something like a new mother. She must see to her duties as a Wave Guard and make a good wage, as she would be feeding two now."

by **Serenity Avatra** on October 24th, 2013, 5:52 pm

Serenity was happy. Though that was a huge understatement, it was true. She had been getting by in life so far, learning what she could, in a state of contentment. But for once in her life, she felt better than just 'normal', she felt complete.

She nodded and, finding her voice, she replied, “That sounds good, I am a getting cold in this form.” She shivered, shrinking her body and crossing her arms over her chest. “Where is your home?” She sensed that Iff had taken a motherly mind set about her, a gesture that she found endearing. Serenity did have a profession, as a poison crafter, and she had been told that her wages were above average. Combined with the fact that she did not need very much to live, she had a pretty miza in the bank. She could not wait to go off with her bond, and explore her world.

“Shall we head towards the city? I know a way that is a little faster than the path, but if you would rather take the set route, that is fine too,” Serenity suggested to her bond, her voice like sweet and soft like notes off of a harp. She bobbed up and down in excitement, wanting eagerly for her bond to lead the way.

by **Iff** on October 26th, 2013, 3:09 am

"My house is near the docks. I have few things and there will be plenty of room."

She gave Serenity one more once over, thinking about what sorts of things the woman would need. As she wandered the wilderness naked it did not occur to Iff that she might already have a civilized life, complete with necessities.

She turned to go to town, when a voice spoke from behind them.

"What do we have here?"

Turning, the two women saw a group of 3 men who had been watching them from the bushes. They were large men, dirty and muscular, and they sized the women up with insolent eyes.

"Looks like a party to me," one of the other men said. "You girls are in luck."

by **Serenity Avatra** on October 26th, 2013, 4:28 am

Serenity spun her head around to look at the man that had spoke. He was tall and broad, defined muscles smeared with dirt, as if the had spent a while away from civilization. She found it odd that three such gentlemen would be hiding in a bush listening to them. Did they know what they had witnessed, the great act of bonding.

Serenity found that she liked the men a whole lot less when one grabbed Iff by the arm an attempted to force her to the ground. A film of red was cast across her vision. No one touched her bond, ever! The violet eyed seemingly innocent girl, easy to take advantage of, became less so when the grasses were showered with golden sparks. The large cat gave the men a low growl, hunkering down ready to pounce. She did so, looking like the shadows had turned against them.

Serenity took enormous satisfaction in sinking her teeth into the man that had harmed her bond's' neck. The taste of blood flooded her mouth, along with a screen that ended in more of a gurgle. Another man swung at her, and she ducked out of the way with a small hop, countering with a swipe at his legs. His leg snapped with a crunch. She hoped her bond had managed to escape the remaining man.

by **Iff** on October 27th, 2013, 3:24 am

Iff allowed the man who came at her to take hold of her, feeling that in some way she was drawing the men away from her new bondmate. She let the spear fall from her grasp; it was an unfamiliar weapon for her anyway and she preferred the use of her hands.

And then suddenly the man was gone, removed by her new bondmate. She turned immediately to the next nearest man. Though burly, the man was shorter than Iff, and so she lifted her leg rapidly and shin-kicked him in the throat. He made a gurgling sound of surprise but did fall, and so she bent her leg at the knee and then fired another shin kick into the same spot as before. This time he went down, clutching at his throat and gasping for air.

by **Serenity Avatra** on October 27th, 2013, 5:29 am

Serenity shifted back into her human form, three men laying dead around the two girls. Red was smeared on her face, she wished that she had a cloth or something to make herself more presentable for her bond. Her sharper than normal teeth flashed as she shot a worried smile to Iff. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" she almost growled, "What did they want? I assume you do not want to eat them, they were very tough anyway."

Wiping her mouth and hands on a cloth she took out of her pack, she whimpered. It was very cold now that her fur coat was gone and the little bit of adrenaline that was produced had faded, she started once again to shiver, her teeth clacking together. "C-can we g-go to your house n-now?" she asked, wishing to leave the cold as soon as possible.

The boxes of the men would be discovered soon, but the causes of death were so strange that Serenity doubted that anyone would be sent after them. She had no qualms with killing, but her bond might, and through mirroring she mid adopt some of her traits. She was e item, but also a little nervous for this to start happening. But mostly, she was just glad to not be alone.