Closed Wandering the Woods (Jemona)

[Besnik]

Besnik 12th of Winter ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Having had a wonderful night of sleeping, finally with a roof over his head for he had gotten around to renting a room at World’s End Grotto, Besnik was in the mood for a short trip in the woods around Zeltiva. Most of his belongings, what little there were, sat in the corner of the small room within the city, but a long fabric cloak of poor quality was wrapped around him and he wore loose fitting trousers. He stopped just inside the trees, a little ways from the last of the houses on the city borders, and removed the trousers. The cloak was long enough to cover most of his body and no one was around, so he wasn’t particularly worried about someone stopping to question him on the lack of clothing. Besides, he wasn’t going to be staying in his human form long enough for anyone to care. Curling the material up into a ball, he shoved the trousers between the roots of a tree before reaching up to position the cloak so that it was only tied by a simple knot at his neck, leaving it to look more like a cape. True to plan, Besnik quickly made the change in a switch from human to animal. In a flash he’d reformed, red hair growing out to cover the top half of his body whilst from his chest and lower face white fur curled outwards. His long tail, adjourned at the end with black that showed at the nape of his neck in human form, was held in a relaxed position, fluffier than the rest of his soft, thick fur. Eyes more intelligent than an animal’s yet more instinctual than a human’s looked out from a gently featured face, the Kelvic now standing by the tree as a dhole on four legs. The canine lowered his head slightly and shook his pelt, ensuring everything was positioned as it should be. He felt no difference between the two forms, yet still preferred to be an animal. This was possibly due to living and hunting on four legs as he travelled, but he didn’t really care; all he knew was that it was more comfortable to be back within the woods. Trotting forward, toes holding his weight as was normal for the stance of his species, his body moved with grace. A dhole was a strange creature; not quite a dog, not quite a fox, yet with the movements of a cat and a call that resembled a high pitched bird’s whistle more than anything else. It suited Besnik very much, for he himself was a mix of odds an ends. He was a social creature, yet travelled between places and often left friends behind in his search for new adventures. He was kind and overstepped boundaries because he loved showing affection, yet in circumstances could be truly aggressive. Being a Kelvic in itself was a mismatched existence, always stuck somewhere between human like common sense and animal like instincts. He leapt easily over a large log that had fallen over the forest path, carrying on with his journey. Besnik’s posture showed nothing of stealth for he wasn’t out hunting, so rabbits felt safe enough to only look as he passed rather than make a run. He was a predator, that much was easy to see, yet he meant no harm for the time being. The cloak had remained tied around his neck, flowing over his back and trailing ever so slightly behind him, the black end of his long tail peeking out as it extended slightly longer than the fabric. Had he been hunting, the cloak would have gone too, yet he was merely wandering so it had remained. To an observer, one might think he was a Kelvic, or knew morphing, or they could mistake him as a domesticated animal belonging to a rich owner who’d wanted to keep their lovely pet warm from the winter elements. Besnik halted after a short while, a scent reaching his nose. It was familiar yet not, but made him tremble slightly. It was almost like the scent of a rabbit, yet one enticing him even more so to give chase. He turned his head, looking for the source of the scent with an excited anticipation showing in his eyes. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||

[Jemona Ravencass]

It's cold outside I hate the seasons here (Winter 12th, 512AV) It was only Jemona’s fifth day in the seaside city of Zeltiva but already she was getting bored. The food in all the establishments here was far too salty and though she loved fish, there was certainly a limit. Leaving her pack and her clothes behind in her room, she had shifted into her feline form and was now making her way towards the outskirts of the city and up towards the woods. The gulls overhead were taunting her, she just knew it, and she made a mental note to catch on if she could while up in the woods – though she thought to herself they probably taste of salt too. She looked up at them and licked her lips; the chase would be more than worth another sea-flavoured meal in her stomach. She intended to catch one as soon as possible and maybe then the others would leave her alone. Padding lightly up the streets, trying not to get too underfoot, she took in the city around her. There didn’t seem to be any other cats as far as she could tell and the thought saddened her; she had hoped to at least make some new friends on her quest. There had still been neither hide nor hair from her Master but she’d just about plucked up the courage to begin asking around. She had planned to enquire at the library within the next few days. Surely if anyone knew of the mysterious rare book and its seeker, they would. She made her way up through the pass and back towards the forest. On the path, the sand stuck to her fur and when the wind picked up it made her cough, but as she moved deeper into the woodland, the ground softened into the soft, familiar feeling of earth and moss and her claws retracted a little. She dug up a patch of moss and sure enough it was the same as back home; that was a comforting thought. Scrabbling up a tree to get a better view, she kept an eye out for any unfortunate birds pecking around anywhere close by but there were none to be seen. The breeze up in the branches was pleasant and she could just about see the ocean crashing in the distance. It was cold, but her thick fur was more than enough to keep her warm – there wasn’t even any snow though the winter was starting to settle in. It seemed to her a good enough place to nap, but her hungry stomach convinced her to perhaps come back later. She climbed slowly back down the bark, shaking herself lightly and stretching herself out – first her front paws, then her back legs. Her tail swayed gently as she walked silently through the forest, listening out for anything that sounded like food. While attempting to shuffle through a particularly interesting shrub that looked like it might have contained a nest, her earring snagged on a branch and she tumbled forwards. She lay there for a few moments; suddenly extremely melancholy. If her Master had been there, he would have laughed at her…said she was silly, then freed her, stroking behind her ears. She missed him so much it hurt and her heart felt heavy. Exhaling heavily, she untangled herself and moved on. Moping wasn’t going to help, it never did. She was going to go catch something to eat and then press forward with her quest. She was angry at herself for being so unproductive before.

[Besnik]

Besnik ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Red ears were perked high on the dhole’s head, piercing eyes scanning the sight before him. Each of his four slender limbs trembled, muscles tensing and almost shooting him forward before holding him back at the last moment. He wanted to run, to give chase to the smell invading his senses. It was like a rodent. No, he shook his head, not like that at all. Something small enough to chase, that he could tell, yet big enough to get his teeth around and have a good grip to shake. He itched to rush forwards, yet didn’t quite know where the source of the scent was and so held himself back. He had to find where the other animal was, stalking giving the canine almost as much pleasure as the chase. He began to regret having kept the cloak tied by the knot around his neck, but it was too late to change that now. The Kelvic crouched, falling into his hunting mind set as he shifted his weight so as to exert less pressure on the ground. Alert eyes scanned the scene in front of him as he carefully moved across the forest floor, nose almost touching the ground. His head jolted up, all movements ceasing and one slight paw half lifted from the ground, at the rustling of a shrub a few paces in from of him. The picture of the canine could be seen as though frozen in time, only the slight blowing of the edges of the cloak covering him and twitching of his tail as it waved slowly behind him giving away that time continued its steady march onwards. Besnik was surprised at the creature that stumbled through the shrub, startling for a moment as he took it in. He’d expected a large rodent or small mammal, something naturally found in the wilderness, not a house cat. It was confusing to say the least. The earring snagged on part of the shrub was the most surprising, and the Kelvic only got over the shock of the other animal’s appearance as it untangled itself and stood. It hadn’t seemed to notice him, and his urge to chase was now growing stronger. He crouched for half a second with tensed muscles, before letting out a high pitched whistling bark that was typical of him. His eyes narrowed, lip curled up slightly, as he darted forward in a sudden movement. His paws stretched out, muscles working to propel him forward to chase the cat before him. His plan was to run quickly, obeying his most animal instincts, until he either reached the cat or something stopped him. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||

[Jemona Ravencass]

It's cold outside I hate the seasons here (Winter 12th, 512AV) Jemona froze. There was something there, she could smell the earthy scent of…dog? No not quite, fox maybe? Well whatever it was, it was far too big to be prey. Just as she started walking back into the deeper forest her whiskers twitched, something was running towards her. If she had been in human form she would have screamed, but as cats lack that ability, she screeched, jumping at the ferocious looking animal hurtling towards her. She turned tail and ran as fast as she could, dipping between trees, trying to confuse the orange monstrosity who was hot on her heels. Running completely on instinct, adrenalin flooding her veins, she put a little distance between them, but her hunger was catching up with her and she felt herself slowing down. Making a last attempt to save her skin, she clambered up the tree that had miraculously appeared in front of her and she kept climbing until her breath finally drew short and she had to stop. Looking down, terrified that the creature in front of her knew how to climb, she stared mapping out escape plans. Being a predator herself, in most situations anyway, she knew how patient they could be when food was close enough. She hissed down at the orange animal below her, but part of her was excited; she hadn’t run that fast or that far in such a long time and the adrenalin made her feel all tingly. Deciding that maybe running for a little longer wouldn’t do so much damage, she jumped across onto a large branch on the next tree and then let herself drop, righting herself before she hit the floor then running off deeper into the forest. The air rushing past her was starting to smell less of salt and more of actual forest and was pleasantly cool. But the thing behind her was rapidly gaining and it was getting a little too close for comfort, she could feel it’s hot breath on her heels and she was running out of energy again. The fun was rapidly draining out of the situation, being quickly replaced by danger and terror. She couldn’t actually die! What would Master do without me…? The plants were getting too dense to run through and if she didn’t stop soon she would pass out, definitely not to wake up again. The animal was big, she couldn’t even tell how big, but she hoped, prayed ,that her human form might just be big enough to scare it away. Closing her eyes, she shifted: legs extending, fur retreating to her head and her tail disappearing. She looked down, naked and with wide eyes at the creature before her. It was certainly a strange animal, like a fox or a dog but not quite either. The air was freezing without her fur and she shivered a little, wrapping her arms around herself and backing herself up against a tree in case it pounced again. “Well?” She spoke to the creature “scram! Just go away!”

[Besnik]

Besnik ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Besnik was delighted as the large cat made to run for it, eyes lighting up and ears set forward as he ran for it in excited hop-like leaps. The bounding slowed him down, covered more vertical distance than horizontal with each movement, but the large canine could spare the speed and was having too much fun to care. He may not be a dog, but he enjoyed chasing smaller, furry things just as much as any predator. A whooping, high pitched bark sounding vaguely like a hyena’s laugh escaped his maw, unable to be contained, and his tongue lolled out the left side of his mouth. The canine dodged, curving past trees in an elegant manner as his dexterous body made through the forest as though objects in the way were obstacles to clear as routes designed specifically for him over the land. The cat was apparently quicker at manoeuvring that he was, able to scale a tree in seconds whilst he almost crashed into it, skidding to a halt with claws buried in the mud. The smaller animal hissed down at him, sending his ears flat against the back of his head in annoyance. He crouched, tensing his muscles, before jumping. The jump of a dhole at its largest potential could reach around two metres, their long agile legs allowing them to behave like springs when time called, but Besnik was rather worn out and not taking a running leap. He reached only half way to the cat, snapping his jaws together, before landing back in the dirt. One paw stretched up on the tree bark, weight balanced on his back legs as the Kelvic pawed with his other front leg, whining. He snarled at the hissing animal, irritated, and let out one of his high pitched, whistling barks. Quick eyes followed the cat’s dash as it dived over to a neighbouring branch and dropped to the ground. His eyes narrowed at the action as he swivelled to once again give chase, ducking and jumping through parts of the forest as they headed deeper. He let out another whoop, tail waving behind him high in the air in excitement. His long body stretched out as he tore through shrubbery, noting how thick it was becoming. More and more scent trails were evident from the prey that became more common further away from the city, trails which the Kelvic would have followed had he not been having fun and wearing the hindering cloak. The fabric didn’t matter so much now, for the cat was more than aware that he was chasing it, but it wouldn’t help him trying to track prey stealthily. Confusion stuck Besnik as the cat suddenly turned, a feeling that changed into surprise as a flash came from the other animal. Startled into once again halting, Besnik fell back so as most of his weight was on his hind legs and one paw was held shakily in the air, frozen much like a frightened hunting dog though more curious than afraid. Understanding dawned on the Kelvic as instead of a cat there now appeared a woman before him, naked with her arms wrapped around her body. He was stunned, not having met another Kelvic in a long time, and simply stood watching as she backed up against a tree and yelled at him to go away. He cocked his head to the side, simply staring at the woman. It was difficult to comprehend that one of his own kind was stood before him, another mismatched cross between an animal and a human; one destined to follow an instinct to search and serve another being. Shaking his head, he realised that the feline thought he was merely an animal, aggressively attempting to catch her. He backed up a few steps, perking his ears up, as he let himself switch forms. The change was natural, a flash and he was stood as human rather than canine, just as comfortable on two legs as he had been on four. Red hair receded, only remaining on his head, the nape of his neck blending into the black shade that tipped his tail. The cloak tied around his neck had loosened slightly and he had to reach up his hands to undo it fully, before wrapping it properly around himself so that he was properly covered. He cocked his head to the side, a friendly grin on his face. He was unsure how to react to another Kelvic, so just went with his usually friendly personality. “Sorry about that,” he chuckled, hoping she’d calm down after realising they were the same, “I wouldn’t have done it if I knew what you were; I was just in a pent up mood. Sleeping in the city can make you feel pretty confined.” Normally he’d elaborate, explaining why that feeling appeared within the walls of rooms, yet he stopped himself from carrying on. He’d picked up bad habits from people he’d met on his travels, almost forgetting there was no need to explain animal-like actions to another animal. It was a natural fear for a Kelvic to hate being shut away, the thought of being trapped equally the thought of being forced to stay as one form or the other. It was an especially strong hate within Besnik to be confined, given his history; his mother had been captured by slave traders when he was only just old enough to care for himself. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||

[Jemona Ravencass]

It's cold outside I hate the seasons here (Winter 12th, 512AV) Still a little apprehensive, Jemona stood up and dusted herself off. “Well…yeah… I know what you mean.” She smiled and ruffled her fingers through her hair. Thinking back to the first time she’d ever been shut away – an accident on her Owner’s part that had left her a little traumatised – she shuddered. “I totally understand…” It had been a long time since she’d seen another Kelvic and he seemed to be nice enough, minus the whole chasing her thing. Maybe this could be the start of a new friendship. “Um, I know I’ve only just met you and all, but I’m kind of on a bit of a quest right now… I was wondering if you’ve heard anything in Zeltiva about a tall man with long hair, searching for a book? It’s just…well…he’s my bondmate and is missing…” She babbled a little, trying to get the sentence out, she knew if she went into detail she would never stop talking so she kept it short. Absent-mindedly she ran her fingers over the ring in her ear. “Oh gosh! Where are my manners! I’m Jemona…” She smiled and reached out a hand to shake his; if there was one thing she knew how to deal with, it was courtesy. It had taken some time before she’d figured out how the rules of society generally worked, her start in life had not been the most civil, but she had a great teacher and was always eager to learn. Her Master was always very insistent that she maintained her manners when she was out, especially without him: she represented him, he always said. Now she could grace fairly any new encounter with sustaining any major faux pas, she still hadn’t quite got a handle on her obsessive enthusiasm though yet; no one’s perfect. “So how did you end up here then? How long have you been here? Have you tried the food yet, because frankly I think it’s all pretty awful, I mean, everything tastes of salt!” The questions poured over her lips and she couldn’t stop them; here was a new person, a new kelvic, possibly a new friend for her and it had been so long since she’d had a conversation: she was practically starved. She still couldn’t decide what animal he was; it was a weird combination of wolf and dog and certainly a beautiful creature – she just thought it would probably be rude to ask. She, herself, was very proud of her other form. Cats were hardly rare among the kelvic race but still, she took a certain amount of pride in her lovely coat. But after so long without adequate access to a hairbrush, she was starting to look a little rough around the edges: she hoped it didn’t show.

[Besnik]

Besnik ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Besnik was glad that he’d met someone who understood what he meant without him having to explain him animalistic tendencies, evident from the large beam covering his face. He knew plenty of humans and got on well with them, but it was frustrating when he tried to show his thanks through small gestures that were never understood. Meeting another Kelvic put him in a great mood and he hoped she’d stick around long enough for him to get to know her; perhaps he could finally have another Kelvic as a friend. He listened to her slightly desperate plea, partially understanding her pain. He felt the pull to find a bondmate as much as any Kelvic, and the idea of losing one pained him even if he’d never felt such a bond before. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know anybody with that descriptive. Perhaps you could ask around in shops or at the library?” He didn’t know the people or the city of Zeltiva well enough to be of much help, but he hoped that would provide the other with a start. The canine tilted his head at the hand, raising a brow, before taking it and pulling her in for a short hug rather than a hand shake. He wasn’t known for respecting personal boundaries, made worse by his overly friendly nature. “I’m Besnik,” his loud voice matched his personality as he introduced himself. He laughed as the questions came from her in a seemingly endless flow, his own curiosity about her barely being held back so that he could answer what she’d asked. “I’m just a traveller stopping in Zeltiva so that I can get to know the city. I tend to do that, going between cities so that I can get more understanding about them, but nothing ever holds my attention enough for me to want to stay once I’ve discovered the majority of sights. How about you? Was there some sort of lead on your quest that brought you here? I’ve personally only been here since the start of the season, and I’ll probably be gone by the end of it.” Besnik grinned as she mentioned the food, “Some shops can be found selling a bit of meat without the taste of salt, but it tends to go off easily around here. I’m not sure why, but you have to travel pretty far into the forest before you can find anything worth hunting.” A chilly breeze passed by them, sending a shiver through the body of the Kelvic who was only wrapped in a cloak. Jemona’s lack of clothing didn’t bother him, his mind noting no distinction between forms and his wearing of clothes only due to habit from living in cities and protection from the elements. “It’s pretty cold out, have you got any clothing nearby?” he asked, willing to walk and talk if she needed to get them. He, too, needed to pick his trousers up from where he’d left them just on the border of the city. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Besnik|| ||3 years|| ||Kelvic|| ||Bondmate - Valo||