Chasing shadows

[dark2]

Darks day was getting increasingly worse, he would not of minded the female wolf that had come up to him an flirted the only thing that made it rather worse was the fact that she was part of the rebels, HOW MANY TIMES HAD HE HAD TO SAY NO TO THEM we wanted nothing to do with their affairs, exploring was his life and an explorer he will be for ever more,after that infernal Rebel dark was so annoyed that he found him self tumbling down one of the steep bluffs near the coast, what really did it was the fact he was so Marjory angry that he had gone of track of where he was going, he had now ended up on the outskirts of Caperna.

Dark was rummaging roughly through his bag chucking things out and slamming them against the nearest tree his face was flushed with anger he knew it was in here somewhere suddenly his blood red eyes flickered black dark rolled to his left his eyes where now blazing black an arrow zipped past his left ear implanting itself in a nearby tree, picking himself up dark edged his way over to the tree a letter was attached to the arrow
[glow=red,2,300]"Danger in Darien you will find what you seek in Caperna."[/glow] Dark tore up the note he slammed his fist in to the nearby tree leaving a little dent on the surface he had been looking forward to Darien it was only a small town not many people he would have been fine there just would of come and gone no chance of that in Caperna oh well he would just have to find what he was looking for there then he might even see what they had for sale there and see if he had anything worth enough to trade but only if he had calmed down by that time


Dark walked back other to his bag, suddenly a searing pain developed in his left foot he knew what it was he got it so many times when he had walked for mot of the day rolling his eyes he changed to his wolf form, sniffing the tip of the arrow on the floor he dashed off toward's the city

(occ is that OK for a post)

[Willow]

[OOC: yep, very good post, I'd say one teeny thing: where you've put 'would of been fine', it should be 'would have been fine', and ‘dashed of towards the city’ to ‘dashed off towards the city’. Now, let's see what kind of reply I can come up with...]

Bright green eyes gauged the distance to the next spur of rock cautiously, glancing down at the long fall and sharp rocks waiting should that distance be misjudged.
Satisfied, lean muscles tensed under a thick grey, brown and black coat, before releasing explosively and casting the wolf out into open space, tiny stones skittering down the small plain of rock that levelled metres above the foothills ground as they were displaced by the large paws.
With a huff of effort and relief, the wolf landed on the next small platform and turned her large head to look back over her shoulder at the series of rocks she’d had to jump over, most without a run-up. The rock she was on now thankfully sloped down to the ground with barely a crack. No more leaps-of-faith.
Still, the adrenaline thrumming through her felt good. Her muscles felt loose and strong, and a sense of comfort came with the breeze ruffling her fur like phantom hands. It was really enjoyable to live wild for a while.

Turning back, the wolfess set off at a steady trot down the slope, tail swaying easily in time to her gait, her tongue lolling out of her parted jaws as deep lungfulls of air passed through her teeth.
A roiling in her gut reminded her of her last meal, more specifically, when it had been. Two, three days ago? A large doe with a slight lameness in her back right leg. While the idea that predators targeted the young, old, sick or injured was generally false, the female wolf had done so this time for ease’s sake.
A pink tongue rasped across her muzzle, before she slowed her pace and dipped her nose to the ground, starting to scent for a potential meal. Maybe a small snack to tide her over until she reached the next town...Caperna, wasn’t it?
The rich smell of a rabbit suddenly welled in her nose, twitching her head in its direction as if a rope were attached to her skull. A rabbit would do very nicely...

Sinking into a crouch, the wolf slowly slunk forward, eyes on a patch of long grass that was sprouting in the foot of the slope, through the soil that had overtaken the smooth stone.
A tiny hole just before it caught her eye, drawing her closer. May as well try to make things easier for her and lie right over the prey’s bolt-hole.
Once there, she could see the smudge of brown fur showing through the grass, then a single black eye looking out.
The rabbit froze, and before it had fully turned to run from her, the wolf had lunged forwards and grabbed the unfortunate creature around the middle...


Yawning, the wolf continued pushing her way through the long grass, tongue swiping her muzzle again as her jaws silently snapped closed.
Caperna wasn’t that far away, now. Only another ten or so minutes run...which was quite good timing as evening was closing in.
Despite the instinctive enjoyment of being free from human constraints, it would be good to be back amongst people again. Get used to hearing her name spoken aloud again rather than the implied word that came with wolf communication. Willow, rather than the vague remembrance of a waterside tree.

Huffing softly, Willow picked up her pace, and soon fell into the graceful, easy lope that covered ground so quickly. A hunter’s run. Time to reacquaint herself with humanity again.

[dark2]

Dark skidded to a sudden halt, a strong new scent over than that of the old boring human scent blew softly around darks head, he knew what the scent was it was that of another wolf but was really confusing him was the fact why was it a lone wolf a lone female wolf at that, most wolfs were and hardly ever were on there own he even noticed the same thing went on for when most humans turned into their wolf forms they were usually in groups as well, dark formulated what could be going on in his head suddenly he let out a low rumbling chuckle, how could he have gotten himself worked up over one lone wolfs scent it as long as it was not a danger to him he was fine and he could easily handle one lone wolf human or just normal.

Dark picked himself up looking at the now dazzlingly clear city of Caperna he looked around at the entrance to the city quickly scanning it with his
wolfen eyes not many people seemed to be going in to the city by foot or paw and there were hardly any wolfs,most people that were on foot that had the characteristics of someone with a wolf form seemed to be worried about something and were scuttling there way into the city, rolling his eyes Dark quickly changed back into his human form frustration rising through his body showing on his now beetroot like face his eyes were locked on tight at some nearby normal wolfs he knew why the humans were so worried wolfs were so untrusted by some people people looked like the same thing was happening here.
[glow=red,2,300]"Lousy wretches don't know what there missing"[/glow]


forgetting his earlier worries dark head toward's the entrance, but instead of in human form he went in his wolf form,a wolfish grin crept on to his face, while he was going about his business he would also see if he could create a little stir just by staying in his wolf form, he knew that it most likely would.


(ok if willow meets dark in your next post you cna say abit about whats happenign to dark and take a little controll of him)

[Willow]

Before he could move, the female wolf he’d sensed bounded past him in a lithe, grey blur, ignoring the people she veered past until she passed a young rabbit shifter so closely that her fur brushed the little girl’s arm.
The familiar spike of fear-scent hit her nose, pulling her head around to look at the child over her shoulder.
Shifting for a moment, she gave the girl a reassuring smile, before dropping to all furred fours and shooting through the gates of Caperna, tail swinging in a jaunty circle as she took a corner at speed, nearly knocking over a pedestrian.

Ignoring the angered yells of the baker, she slowed to a lope as she traversed the streets, the toughened pads of her paws coping easily with the comparatively smooth road. It felt like running on silk after the days of rough, sharp rock she’d endured crossing the Tenahk Mountain Range and the Kanat Highlands.

The image of the male wolf she’d just past flittered into her mind for a moment, conjuring up a canine grin. He’d looked so shocked...
An idea blossomed in her conniving brain, making her pick up her pace and take a U shaped side street, coming back out near the baker’s.
Shifting, she walked calmly out of the street, her gaze moving right over the wolf entering the gates, landing on a store to his left.

Keeping her pace smooth and natural, she headed to the store, passing straight by Dark without a second glance.
By that point, he was a few shops past the one Willow had picked out, and was heading steadily up the main street.
Stopping just short of the store she apparently had an interest in; she shifted slightly, enhancing her senses.
She was downwind of him. Good.
Shifting fully, she slunk after the larger canine, keeping her paw steps silent to his ears. She maintained a quiet trot to catch up, the noise of her movement lost in the bustle and chatter of the surrounding people.
When she was only six or seven metres away, she stretched further, bunching her muscles tightly then launching herself forward in a huge leap, landing right on Dark’s back, dragging him over onto his side.
Making use of the surprise advantage she’d given herself, Willow sprang up and pinned Dark before he’d fully registered he’d been knocked over.

A low whine slipped past her sharp teeth; a question. ’Who are you then?’ Her waving tail added an implication of laughter to the sound.

[dark2]

Darks mood was getting increasingly even more worse than it previously had been quickly brining up his hind legs he smashed them up against the females body throwing her of (um if thats controlling your character ill chance it) rolling back in to a more comfortable position he stared eyes narrowed at the female and spoke with a edgy tone, but noticing that she seemed to mean know harm he changed it to a more suitable formative tone
[glow=red,2,300]"I Am Dark And you are"[/glow]
He looked her up and down picking out important Bits about her head was up high and the same with her Tail a sign of high ranking(is that OK i was just looking at your profile to see what i could say) by his standards anyone with high ranking should be treated a little with respect no matter what their intentions were to be.

Dark looked around him sensing something far of into the distance but somewhere in the city a little bit of a disturbance but not enough for him to truly worry about it looking back at the female he awaited her answer.

[Willow]

Willow wasn’t best pleased with being kicked, but given the situation she wasn’t too surprised at the reaction.

‘I am Dark, and you are?’
Dark’s replying question and his obvious irritation brought the lazy wolf-grin back to her face.
‘Trouble.’ She answered succinctly, lifting her head and closing her jaws as she flicked a mildly amused glance towards the commotion in the city. The baker was still fussing, but something else caught her attention; much further away.
What was it? Willow mused silently, ears tilted in its direction.

‘Trouble, but my name’s Willow.’ She elaborated, still listening and thinking. ‘Hear that?’ She asked; standing from her casual lying position, ears pulled back slightly; curious, but not quite suspicious. Yet. Her tail slowly lowered, becoming more parallel to the ground. ‘Want to investigate with me, Dark?’ She cast a glance down at him, analysing and memorising him. She’d noticed his size before, but now she really paid attention; as far as wolf shifters go Dark was pretty big. Massive, in fact. Four foot or over...at least eight inches taller than Willow at the shoulder.
‘Note to self: do not attack unless he’s been previously drugged, poisoned, or otherwise incapacitated.’ She thought, though no sign of it showed on her sleek-furred face.

Another slight unusuality was the scar on his face, ringing the left blue-tinted red eye.
Though curious as to how he got it, Willow didn’t mention it. Instead, she huffed softly and turned towards the unknown commotion; satisfied that Dark would be able to look after himself if the disturbance in the distance turned into a scrap. Even if the guy had no clue how to fight, his sheer size should be enough to either put off enemies, or absorb the bulk of their attacks without much worry.
All this assuming he was going to come with her at all.

She flicked a summer-green glance back at him over her shoulder, questioning and silent.

[OOC: sorry it's so short; I'm tired and it's late.]

[dark2]

Dark Started at this female as she said her name a smile lit up on his face as she said something about trouble a word he loved, listening to willow seemed to lighten his mood, as she tunred away he a frown lengthened across his brow, the disturbence was getting a little bit bigger and an ear splitting noise scratched at his ears, she started to walk of but stopped waiting for him to come shaking his head he smiled.
[glow=red,2,300]"well lets go"[/glow] he quickly bounded of into the direction of the disturbence, sensing that it would be just up ahead and sensing just a little bit of fire he decided instead of the direct aproch of what was happening he would go the sneaky, looking over at willow he nudged his head pointing over to a nearby building
[glow=red,2,300]"Ladies first"[/glow]

As he jumped Up onto the building Dark felt a certain power and a fimallier scent from years ago, suddenly he was being thrown back into one of his own memeories,

"dark quickly hes coming" Dark rushed back out onto the balcony there he was the shadow but Dark knew his real name Castor frined of his brother luke a dangerous foe.
"what are you doing here i told you last time that my brothers cuase is lost" Castors eyes snapped open a swirling vortex of hate and bloodlust an echoing luagh filled the house.
"your time as is at an end Dark or shall i call you Darkrennesspretlight yes the name that does nto truly belong to one of Darkness"

Dark was back in the real world the memorey but a memory in the twirling sands of the desert with his knew eyes he loooked upon castor(dont thing that was that good)

[Willow]

As Dark tore off, Willow shifted slightly to allow herself to speak human. Wolf language didn’t have a very good translation for ‘oi!’
“I know I’m fast, but you’ll have to slow down! Compared to you I’ve only got little legs,” She groused, half-teasing as she stretched out into a ground-devouring lope, lithe form kicking the distance behind her with each powerful bound.

Normal wolves can reach about forty miles per hour in a chase, and are built for stamina. Willow could reach perhaps fifty mph if she really pushed it, but usually hung at around forty or forty-five in a run.
A quick look at Dark made her think he could reach, what, sixty miles per hour? Either way, he’d have to slow down a little or go ahead and wait for her to catch up.
Huffing, Willow threw herself forwards, keeping level with him, silently grateful he wasn’t running absolutely flat out. It wasn’t often she tasted dust, and didn’t want to any time soon.

Her second-long thoughts stopped when the faint smell of smoke and fire buzzed in her nose, the scent fluttering like a moth making her want to recoil from it. Willow’s wolf instincts were trying to lock her muscles; make her turn around and sprint just as quickly in the opposite direction, but she ignored them.
Slowing as they approached the building, Willow trotted to a stop, tongue resting in the cradle of her lower teeth as she panted, glancing up at the low-slung structure.
‘Ladies first,’
Willow rolled her eyes and imitated a human bow, lifting one fore-paw slightly and curling it under her chest as she bent her neck down, then gave Dark the best sarcastic look she could manage before leaping up onto the building, scrabbling with her back paws slightly to haul herself up.

She paused to sniff at the air once she’d righted herself, ears forward as she took a cautious step forward. What was that smell?
She looked behind her as Dark joined her on the roof, her look questioning.
As she was about to ask if he recognised the scent, she saw his eyes glaze over, unfocussed.
A moment later, he blinked, his eyes clear again.
‘You okay?’ Willow asked, uncertain, wondering if he was about to collapse or something.

[OOC: Is this Castor there now, after Dark’s memory? I didn’t write anything including him in case he’s not actually there, I couldn’t tell. Your post ]

[dark2]

(Castor is here)
[glow=red,2,300]"i dont really know [/glow] he brought up a paw to scratch his head then looke down at what was transpiring down bellow them eh quickly lowered his boday to make himself less easier to see, the man he recognised as castor was down there, a few others something strange and a few of the viallgers castor did not look happy.

Castor stared at viallgers he tapped his ingers on nearby wall, they where beign stupid he knew the person he seeked was here stupid villagers just a waste of his and his master valubale time.
"i have had enough of your excuses now you will die" he was just about to send his men into attack them when a starnge star went zooming past and embbed it self in a nearby wall.
"ah so nice to see you again brent i did not think you would make it what with your master sam power being busy with luke and all" the man brent just smiled a sword was in his hands he glanced up and faster than the eye could see raised his hands throwing something, suddenly a note appeared next to the two wolfs above.

[Willow]

Willow, her comparatively short stature giving her an advantage over Dark, was able to shuffle almost to the very edge before having to crouch down to avoid being seen.
Sharp, narrowed green eyes flickered over the scene below, and had she had a human face, it would have been frowning. As it was, her ears were drawn back and her tail lay almost flat against the roof of the single story building they were crouched on.

Willow stilled completely when the impatient man spoke again. Die? What the hell for?
Her posture shifted subtly, her tail raising maybe an inch off the ground, pointing straight out as her muscles bunched under her coat, the movement causing the tough fur to bristle as her lips peeled back in a silent snarl.

When the note thudded on the ground between Willow and Dark, the female shot it a glance then looked pointedly at Dark, before looking back to the note. ‘You see to that’ her look said, before she turned her attention back to the scene below...

...and cast herself off the roof silently, leaping at Castor’s back, her teeth bared noiselessly. Willow may be violent and love a good brawl, but cutting down defenceless people was high up on her blacklist.

[OOC: up to you whether Castor dodges or gets nailed by an 86 kilo wolf landing on his back.]

[dark2]

Dark watched as Willow jumped of the roof, then quickly glanced down at the note he frowned as he read it
[glow=red,2,300]"In the dark you will find what you seek, seek the shadows of the night,darkness falls not on your own you must be, sopme shadows dangerous some are not, within you will find me."[/glow]

Castor felt the air move behined him turning he grabbed the wolf by the neck and threw it to the floor, using the time availible he quickly transformed into a hawk, flying up high he was just about to soar down to peck at willow when he was suddenly falling out of the sky a very heavy wolf on top him.
[glow=red,2,300]"Ah i knew you where here not very good at hiding are we dark saves a whole lot of trouble "[/glow]

Brent quickly dicapitaed one of Castors men and threw the other against a nearby wall, one of the villagers was dead but the others had escaped, he looked around to find a very anoyed wolf getting of the floor and another pinning castor to the floor
[glow=red,2,300]"well never throught i would see you so early and who is this."[/glow] he looked over to willow smiling, then he looked back around to castor
[glow=red,2,300]"what are you doing here Castor suddenly your all high and mighty with luke now"[/glow]

[Willow]

Willow gagged as Castor’s hand slammed into her throat, her body swinging forward.
Mind still flying though her body had stopped, she kicked with her back legs, scrabbling against Castor’s torso with rough nails, flaying cloth and skin before she was tossed aside, landing in the dust as she rasped, trying to clear the feeling of an obstruction in her throat; the phantom sensation of a hand still wrapped about her neck.

Pushing herself half up to rest on her forelegs Willow hacked, sounding as if she were choking on something as she worked her jaw and throat.
Snarling, she turned her head towards those townspeople that hadn’t already scattered and jerked it sharply, signalling them to run. They obeyed, but as the last few turned they paused, pointing at something above the downed wolf.

Turning sharply in the direction they’d shown, Willow twisted onto her back and kicked up with her back legs, taking all of her weight across her shoulders and the back of her neck as she lashed nearly forty inches of muscle into the air at the comparatively delicate bird bearing down upon her.
She felt her paws score through feathers, missing skin by millimetres as the hawk’s trajectory was rapidly altered by the second wolf crashing into it.

The part of her body that had left the ground landing, sending up a small cloud of dust into the air to lighten her coat by a shade, Willow rolled onto her belly and stood, turning to where Dark and Castor grappled in the dirt. Peeling her black gums back, Willow growled low in her throat, looking for a chance to leap at Castor herself. She owed him a crushed throat.

She spared Brent a single glance as she heard his voice, answering him with a rough, though human voice.
“Willow.”
Question answered, she flicked her attention back to Castor, waiting for Dark to let him up purely so she could knock him down again. Then she’d see how he reacted to having a set of powerful jaws settling about his fine feathered neck.

[dark2]

dark looked around and then back at Willow he quickly Grabbed Castor by the wing and Dragged him over to willow and evil smile lit on his Wolfie face.
[glow=red,2,300]"do what ever you want to him ill talk to the other"[/glow]

Turning back around to Brent he turned from wolf back to his human form, his eyes where focused solely on Brent he felt questions bubbling around his mind, he focused picking one out of the crowd.
"where you the one sending all these notes"
Brent's eyes glanced over at willow who seemed to be having fun with Castor who barley seemed to be moving something was wrong there, when he looked back at dark he sighed he knew now the time was for answers but he could only give so few he was only here to help protect dark.
[glow=red,2,300]"yes and no Sam your brother sent most of them i have sent a few the last two mine, shadows beckon towards you do they not if you look around you the day darkness soon the shadows awaken there you will find what seek of the past, however the message meant what it said be careful for one wrong step could mean the end, one must travel with as you can see that one is already here, however all this will not come to pass if you do not accept the nature of what is to happen, for everything could be undone, you are hunted that is all you need to know from me." [/glow]with that Brent was longer there the last words that also spilled from his mouth was like the whisper upon the wind.
[glow=red,2,300]"turn around Castor"[/glow]

He turned to see Castor in his human form Willow looked a bit confused
[glow=red,2,300]"not here another place"[/glow]
with that he was gone.

[Willow]

Willow lowered her lupine head in a semblance of a nod, but stalled Dark before he could move away.

“I won’t be interrogating him for long; just about the townspeople. You seem to know him; I imagine you have a lot more to ask him. I’ll leave him able to talk so that he can answer you, shall I?”
That matter addressed, Willow shifted so that she could easily pin the hawk shifter on the ground, spreading one of his wings out and kneeling lightly on the primary feathers, careful not to damage the wing. One hand she used to keep the birds body belly-down on the ground, the other she kept loose, resting on the joint of the spread wing.

“Now, I want you to tell me why you were about to massacre those people. You gonna help me out here or do I have to start breaking things?” To make perfectly clear what she would be breaking, Willow slowly applied pressure to the fragile joint under her hands until the bird started to writhe, trying to slice open the delicate skin of her restraining forearm with his talons, but unable to contort his legs far enough behind him.

At the sign of pain, Willow stopped, but didn’t release the pressure. Instead, she addressed the bird calmly, even smiling pleasantly, entirely friendly except for the steady, agonising hold on the wing beneath her pale, strong hand.

“Now, you will get more of the same if you decide you prefer pride over relative painlessness, and eventually I will break the joint, but after that this particular wing won’t be much use to either me or you. Then I start on something else. I’ll let you choose, if you like. The way to avoid all this, of course, is to answer my question. You going to work with me, or are you the stubborn type?” Her pleasant tone remained, but her sweet smile didn’t quite reach her forest, hunter green eyes that, usually so deep, had flattened with distaste as she watched the writhing raptor, waiting for his silence to break before his wing did.

The body underneath her suddenly shifted oddly; a bid for freedom of a sort, but not freedom from her grasp. Freedom from his smaller, physically weaker form.
Willow didn’t let Castor’s shift throw her off balance; she just shifted her grip on his arm to one suited to breaking a human elbow joint, kneeled on his stomach to stop him from moving easily, and rested her now free hand against the targeted joint to perform the two-handed manoeuvre when needed.

“You ready to talk now?” She asked patiently, though she twisted his elbow a few extra agonising degrees for his perceived delaying.

[OOC: you can fill in whatever Castor says to make her confused, and write him leaving etc. Just so you know, Willow’s got her own agenda on Identity, and she won’t be going along with someone else while her own goals go unachieved. She’s gonna be far more independent, so don’t rely on having her there constantly She’s a tad different on here.]