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Deviation Actions
Literature Text
The shaken librarian took in her new surroundings from her path, nothing looking quite familiar and the surroundings a far cry from her home of Libran. Her silvery gray eye's roved the area but the forest's height and density covered a vast amount of her sight.
She looked at her little home she'd set up for her time until she could figure out what was going on. She'd already survived there for three days now so she guessed it OK. The books didn't tell her much on what was going on and why she'd woken like she had but she didn't think it exactly wise to go to a physician now.
Keeping as quiet as she could be to not draw attention, as per "The Idiots guide to surviving a camping trip" She listened as the forest life went on it's normal routine around her, the city girl not even sure if her supplies was high enough in the tree she'd tied it up to.
She let out a slight shiver.
'Calm down, Anna. Nothings here, the medication will kick in again and this weirdness will be gone then home again... unless you're eaten by a mountain lion or bear...'
She thought to herself, reassuring at first then back to the anxiety.
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A figure studied the file in front of him as some footage played on. His index finger and thumb petting his dark goatee as his red eye's went over details. His blue businessman suit and tie over the black satin shirt a vast contrast to those almost crimson orbs
"Some see a troubled youth. A stray cat,"
He spoke in a smoky voice as some thing's came to light. Details like this specific felines certain talents and gifts. Details on her breed and unique qualities.
He had eye's and ears on many corners of the city Taurous and so chases weren't missed often. The sheer volume of times the 'Cat Burglar' would draw any peering eye's attention as he flipped through inventory.
Depending on how you put it, she was working for the opposing team.
"I see potential. And if nothing else... a collectable. Thing's I like, I keep. Let's bring home what belongs here, hmm?"
He gave a wicked smile to the men he'd been working with for ages now it seemed.
The memory ran through the mercenaries head as he kept watch over this particular hunt. He'd been learning her particular routes and travels, silently and unnoticably watching and monitoring the cat that would soon be prey.
The ninja was stealthy and it would aid, after all, the bounty was high for this particularly tricky one.
He sprung his trap, initiating a system with his colleagues as they began to attempt to herd her.
The first a bait for the trap. Since it took a thief to catch a thief, and money spoke volumes, Killstash spared no expense in finding a trinket of quite the value he could part with... at least until it would be brought back.
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A Large black wolf following a trail that has been intriguing him lately. /“Where are you?”/ He thought to himself, changing back, a very well made looking man in his mid 20’s looking about, two wolf ears and a large bushy tail donning his appearance in his otherwise humanoid looking form. The male had a scar running from his ear down the side of his face, where he got into a battle with a fierce creature, probably a bear or another larger wolf. The boy looked about, his ears flicking as another wolf entered the scene, had been following by close. “Any luck Lance?”
“None so far...She’s close though, I can tell..I knew we were missing someone..I’m so glad...we’re going to meet finally…” He said, looking at the other wolf. The other boy looked much smaller than him, still well built, but not impossibly so like Lance was. He had a Brown and white tone to his fur, with markings present on his tail tip and ears. “Talus and Dan have been scouring the East, I’ve heard nothing from them so I doubt they’ve found her yet…”
“We’re close Corbin..I can feel it..” Lance said, looking around the area, his ears flicking hearing someone close by mumbling now. He gave a hand signal to Corbin, making him change when he changed, two wolves now prowling forward towards the voice, smelling the food and the newcomer. The smell was the same that had drawn them there in the first place. The large black wolf moved forwards out into the clearing, staring at her with his green eyes, followed by the smaller brown wolf at his side, white markings on his face around his eyes and jowl. The two looking to an outsider like they just found an easy lunch. “Finally...we found you..”
“Are you sure...She doesn’t look..”
“No Corbin, this is it..I know it..” He spoke moving forwards towards the small girl, not realizing how intimidating he must be, thinking she’s just going to greet them.
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Karin was all suited up, she pulled on the last strap on her thieving gear, pitch black, allowing her to meld into the shadows with ease. Soundless, and on her small frame, practically weightless, allowing her to perform all kinds of maneuvers necessary for getting around the city without being noticed. The best bit of all, it was enchanted, so when she changed into a cat, it melted down, meaning she didn’t have to change, or waste time on the mission that could risk her capture.
The girl looked over her sheet for today’s task, a fanged grin curling on her lips as she saw the prize. The larger the numbers, the better the buzz, she was excited that this item had come up now. A harmless collectors piece, ready to be the star in the biggest and most prestigious auction in town. People from Leonis, Aries East and Carpricopia were coming, all very wealthy, all wanting to go for this prize. She could just imagine the disappointment on their face to find that they had been anticipating a moment that would so easily be ruined, as she walked away and made the drop. This was the game changer, the piece that was going to push Tantalus into prosperity. She’d finally be able to do this, release Atlus’ dream, and live an easy and happy life. Tonight was extremely important for her and she couldn’t wait.
The girl waited for the correct time, she had a plan made for her by some of her informants, it all seemed legitimate, and checked out with everyone on her side, so she made her way to the start area, that had been given the clear by her scouts in the know. She flipped her way up, gracefully, climbing up the side of a building and sneaking in from the roof, slinking into the ventilation system, where she changed into a cat, padding her way silently and swiftly along and through the pipes, following a map that she’d studied prior to the mission until she came to a safe room.
The girl poked her paw out the grating after hearing that the coast was clear, double checking with one of her devices, that scanned for body heat, unbeknownst to her that the room was blocking all heat signatures from her device. She unlatched the screws and brought them back up into the pipes, making sure they didn’t fall and make a noise. Once off, she pulled the grate aside ever so slightly, just enough to slink out of and jump down to a safe spot, on top of a cabinet. She saw it, in the center of the room, the prized jewel that was her ticket to a new life. What life it was the ticket too, she thought she knew. She moved over, taking precautions not to set off any traps, her smile widening, her hands gripping onto it, replacing it with a weight just in case there’s a trigger there, not expecting any company at all, thinking things are going easy.
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Anna heard a slight rustling at first, noticing she must have gotten lost in her musings and reading through some of the pages in the book, she looked up as two wolves came into her clearing. Her brain said run but her feet decided to feel like lead as the slight girl looked positively terrified, the almost frizzy brunette couldn’t even scream out as she took heavy steps back, trying for a slow pace to not draw the creatures hunting instincts further. She was going to climb the damn tree at the first sign of aggression, she’d already determined though not putting into account she both lacked climbing skills and her dress ware wasn’t exactly fit for the deed let alone being out camping.
Her body wasn’t fully changed yet as the medication was still holding it’s ground in her veins so she didn’t wear the tell tale signs of what was hidden and caged away so she always just put the gray hair to a point that her family must have just gone gray early in life anyways and just lived with dying it.
/’Great, wolves. I did not put them in account, I can see the obituary now... “Anna L. Carson: age 21; A librarian who should have just kept adventures in the books.”’/ Her mind reprimanded her physically being there bringing up the visuals of the attacking wolves that seemed to have haunted her dreams of late for reasons unknown to herself.
“W-wolves... N-nice doggies.” She finally stuttered in her soft and rather soprano voice putting her arms up, a slight ironic chuckle slipping through at the end as if her body was trying to make ease of the situation.
/’Maybe if I let the food drop, they’ll loose interest?’/ The thought crossed her mind as she peered at the tree from the corner of her eye without moving the direction of her face to them.
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The first of the mercenary troupe watched from his spot, clung to the ventilator shaft like a human gecko, as the true prize snuck in for the bait. Between the room’s hidden heat signature hiding technology and his specialized suit made for the occasions like this, he might as well have been invisible as she jumped right in front of him onto the cabinet.
With quiet motions, he pressed a button to activate a block system in the vent shafts too small for even a mouse to get through the grid without loosing some fur. There was no doubt she was the one, he then closed up the vent she came through as the network of specialized traps suddenly came alive preparing for the prey.
She’d gotten away from other before because they were unprepared for a small cat and a girl.
Now it was time to show the right tools can accomplish any job.
The ninja lowered himself to the ground with almost snake like movements, then letting his feet tap the ground so the cat could hear his presence. Knowing she might get to the next level but she wasn’t going to get out of the building with the piece just as she replaced the jewel with a weight.
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Lance looked at her cowering, he raised his eyebrow and stepped forward, his wolf form very large and intimidating. "Why do you cower? We ran there for territory we came to talk.."
Corbin looked at her and sat down giving Lance a look as if to say are you sure this is the right one. "You look like you've never seen another wolf before..." The smaller Brown wolf stopping mid sentence sniffing the air, "I know that the city doesn't have as many Deamons as the great forests do, but you must of seen another before, you're acting like a Human, c'mon now...Why are you hiding your tail and ears anyway?" He said, very blunt and to the point, not convinced that she's the one Lance has been looking for, changing back to his Humanoid form, the boy having brown eyes, wearing a tribal style poncho, some Chinos and going bare footed, his feet looking more like paws.
Lance shot Corbin a look, changing his form as well, he had similar garb except his looked more like an important figure, a pair of antlers adorned with beads and strings poking out I his hair just next to his fluffy black ears, wearing a similarly decorated necklace and arm bands all up his wrists, some of the bracelets have parts from a watch attached, a few teeth from different animals, and a couple bullet casings, all trophies from his battles. The taller male, with his tanned reddish skin, and striking green eyes stepping forward, looking at her, his scar much more visible like this, making him look very imposing. "What brings you here..?"
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Karin slipped the jewel into her bag when she felt something was off, her ears flicked hearing something move above and around her when the vents closed off. She kept perfectly still listening and waiting, once she finally heard the foot taps in the same room as her she sprang into action quickly. The girl threw down a smoke bomb creating a haze in the room, two shadowy figures moving in opposite directions barely visible in the dark, both small, one being her in her cat form, the other on closer inspection being her decoy, her cloak acting as a distraction in the confusion as she quickly plotted her ways out of here. She knew of a few exits and opted not to go for the vents as she had heard they got blocked off, instead she darted out of the room through the door, making a sharp left in the corridor sticking to the wall and keeping low. She moved swiftly in her cat form through the dark, her tail flowing with her movement, in its wrappings, so as to keep her fur from malting on her heists. The clothes she wore shrank to fit the cat, like a smaller version, specially tailored and enchanted by her trusted suppliers. She had evaded the mysterious and unwelcome guest so far, but knew that right now she couldn't breath easily just yet. She needed a way either to the roof or to the sewers and she was opting to try and go up, unwillingly setting off another trap under foot when she ducked into a stairwell with the idea to make a beeline to the roof. /"Just what I needed! Oh well, let's see how good you are, because no one out thieves me../ she thought to herself with a smirk, thinking it was another thief from one of the other guilds trying for the same prize. There were a few other rival gangs to Tantalus, and it wasn't uncommon for one or more of them to try and snag the same things, more often than not though, Tantalus came out on top. To her right now, this was now game on, not realizing that she was the prize, not the jewel....
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Anna would have given a sigh of relief that they weren’t going to kill on the spot and her mind suddenly ran over their words, catching where they were implying she was a wolf which did bring to mind suddenly images from a couple of nights ago, the dreams and the reason she was out here. And as if two, very large wolves weren’t intimidating enough? The books stat’s and measurements on wolves came rather short when standing in front of the real things but transforming to their humanoid form, they were like giants to her mind.
“Not too many Deamons come to the library.” She stated indicating a small pile of books in her shabby city dwellers version of a camping tent that was most likely over priced for what it’s worth was. At least attempting to try and not take a step further back. “Though books do seem to fall short in describing how intimidating you look...” she trailed off, admitting that factor in her reactions.
“I’m not a wolf.” She then stated adamantly, shaking off the feeling of fear and practicing her tone as if speaking to Mittsy the neighbors hunting dog... though they didn’t have the silencing collars the hound did. Unaware really that the large pills she took ritually altered any part of her she raised her bangs revealing her ears, only slightly pointed like a dainty elves. “And I don’t have a tail.” /‘that I’m aware of’/ she mentally added.
But the largest guy to possibly walk the earth stepping towards you could break much barrier and facade one builds as Lance stepped forward. She swallowed slightly. “As I mentioned, I’m a librarian.” That she knew for sure and nothing changed there yet. “As such, I don’t get out much and decided some fresh air might be good.” She held up the book ‘Idiots guide to surviving a camping trip’
Then it dawned on her as her face fell. “If I’m in your territory, I’ll move my camp. No trouble at all.” She really would rather not be hassled, being quiet was her thing, fighting... not so much.
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The first of the ninja didn’t even flinch as the smoke bomb went off, his mask protecting his air passage ways, his eye’s narrowed watching the shadow(s) exit the doorway, sending a silent signal to his colleagues.
The cat’s unaware trigger set off a sightless, odorless sedative chemical into the air, just at ground level and it washed over her feline form as she went up the first step. Even if she didn’t breath it in, it would sink in through the skin and fur through hair follicles.
Sensors from that point started closing off routes to semi herd the feline. Nightshade, Death-strike, Knight-strike and Knighthawk keeping silent at each of their posts in the route to the roof as they made calculated moves to scare the cat and to alter her path. Their motions flowing and graceful as they made ease to the locations necessary for the tactic in well practiced formations on cue.
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"Don't the humans have camping sights? That's pretty ballsy of you to go camping in the woods, even on the outskirts." Corbin said looking her and her possessions over.
Lance didn't change his gaze as he spoke, "How can this be..I can sense no one else in the area..is this some trap?" He said, his already fearsome gaze lowering now, looking around for where the wolf is. "I smell a wolf here...new, not like the others in the other clans..and if it's not you then that means one of two things...you're lying, or you are concealing one..." Lance was straight and to the point, he wasn't looking to play around, he knew the other packs would catch wind of a new wolf in the forest, wanting to either dispose of or recruit the new one to their own pack. To Lance, a new wolf was crucial, he wasn't going to let the chance of expanding his pack slip from his hands...
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Karin ran up the stairwell getting spooked by sudden movements, making her change her course, unable to detect the sedative, her thief armor protecting where it covered like her torso and tail, but the exposed bits getting hit by the chemical, mainly her paws, and face, let alone her breathing it in, speeding the process p the drug entering her system.
She ducked out into a corridor on the top floor, avoiding some movements, steering clear of the window, aiming to get to the fire escape that leads to the roof. She started feeling the affects of the sedative the more she ran, making it almost to the ladder with the hatch to her freedom, when it started to really take its toll. /"W...What the hell is...going..on..."/ she thought, her body going numb, heart trying to race because of the stress of losing her prize. /"S...shit...playing...dirty...."/ she thought, figuring that they were going to take the gem and leave her there. She saw some figures making their way over, her low light vision, though now drowsy, making them out, not recognizing them. /"sh..shit....looks like this mission is gonna be longer than I thought..."/ she thought, using the last of her strength to pull a cord on her dark attire, sending a small spark out, that starts to slink away, sending the 'complications' signal back to her group.
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Anna was baffled by this, there were indeed campsites but this had been the first place she’d run to. A place she’d woken before and decided a good place to figure things out. Already having gone through a couple of witching books and other items that may explain what was going on... but they didn’t explain anything at all and it was deterring. She looked from Corbin to Lance and it was to her knowledge that she was human but a lady doesn’t show her bloomers to a man, no matter what species.
“M-maybe your smelling things?” She offered the suggestion, keeping her hands up making no swift movements. “My neighbor has a Catahoula Cur dog. Perchance you could be smelling her on my clothes?” It made sense, kind of? When she did get to see animals, when they weren’t giving her the most evil of eye’s and warning calls at her, they always seemed to smell other creatures on their owners hands and clothes.
Here were the wolves. The nightmares of her dreams that attacked and killed. The creatures that brutally could shred a person.
She tried not to shake, lowering her silver eye’s to look away from the fearsome being. “I’ve never even been near a wolf. Before you, never seen one up close except this one time and he killed that man.” And she knew what the definition of concealing meant but it made no sense to her what he meant so she said the first thing that did make sense. “You can look through my tent. My supplies.” She indicated the release rope that would lower her camping and food supplies from their safe spot tied up in the tree. “I’m not concealing anything or anyone.”
To her knowledge, she hadn’t hunted any creature so she had nothing to hide there.
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Knighthawk stepped forward, looking over the cat as she pulled a cord on her suit as her strength finally gave way. Looking to the woman and three men, the last entering soon after having been the one to have initiated setting off the trap with four more ninja dressed warriors of the Knight Clan, he knelt down and with well insulated gloved hand, picked the cat up by the scruff.
“Cat burglar,” He spoke in a dark raspy voice, knowing she was out for the count as he swiftly checked over her suit for other gadgets or instruments that he soon disposed of by placing them in a bag before removing the wrappings on the feline form. “welcome to the collection.” his face hidden but the sneer could be heard there.
Knight-strike gathered any of her burglar gear in a sack as Knighthawk handed it over before producing a cat bag that would inhibit her from transforming back to her humanoid for. Her head being the only part left out of the bag.
The jewel being put back to it’s rightful place as they vanished into a blur of speed back to their hover cycles for the ride back to the V.O.R.E. Base to bring back the ‘prize’
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Lance wasn't convinced, but he signaled to Corbin to go investigate, his eyes never breaking from Levana's gaze. Corbin walked over and looked up at the supplies "These one's here right?" He said, yanking on the rope, letting the supplies come down. Once down he changed back down into the wolf form from before and started sniffing about her property trying to suss out what the source was. He sniffed the lot, and seemed to find a trail, leading straight to her. “No I can smell the dog, but the Wolf is defiantly different. And it's on you Miss..But there's no Wolf around here..." He said poking his head into her tent looking around. "All signs say that you're her...You weren't sold some funny smell spray were you?" he said meaning perfume, knowing of it only in passing, not too well versed on City culture. "This doesn't make sense..."
Lance looked her over and pulled up a log. "we are going to stay here and guard you at the very least, until we get answers. There's a new wolf in the forest, and the packs all need a new member..that is why we are here. You will be vulnerable if the source is truly leading to you. But you are involved, and you are going to help me find her.." He said perching down on a fallen tree nearby, his decision final.
Corbin seemed to be amazed by the tent looking about. "Why do you need this? It's like...It's like a cave, but it's made from clothing..What a strange thing..Is this not fragile?" he said looking out at her, her bedding partly on his head now.
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Karin winced feeling her scruff being picked up, expecting them to take the jewel, and put her back down once they had. She could feel them grabbing it, but was confused when they spoke further. They seemed to know who she was by nickname, what little consciousness that was left of her she could pick out that much at least. Finally her will gave out just as they started taking her gear from her, falling victim to the sedatives, going out like a light.
She was quiet for the entire journey, sleeping the whole way, the noise of the bikes, or the surroundings as they traveled not stirring her. She was out for a few hours before finally starting to gain her consciousness back again. She felt groggy from the chemicals, and didn't feel right, yawning looking around "What a weird dream..." she mumbled out, her vision starting to come into focus now. "..W..what the..where am I?" She said trying to move, feeling constricted. "H..huh..?" She said trying to see what had her caught, waking up faster now she felt she was in danger.
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Levana watched him but made no movement of aggression, the search being concentual after all. "Funny smell spray?" She questioned at first then got it. "Ah, perfume. No, I don't like it much personally. It makes me dizzy just having co-workers or guests to the library wear it." She stated off offhandedly.
Her eye's went wide suddenly and she sniffed her wrist, now worried. "I smell bad? Nobodies ever mentioned my library smelling bad enough as to tell me I need perfume." she more or less mumbled to herself as Lance spoke again. She was starting to figure he was the spokesman
Her stare turned back to Lance at his decision. "Sir, How am I going to find a wolf??" That didn't sound like something she'd expertise in from any view, then moving to the tent, trying to avoid the one currently inside as much as possible while maintaining a somewhat decent posture, she grabbed a book that was set aside in the stack involving canines of the wild as to show all she knows about nature is on the pages. "You two really don't need to stay, won't your packs miss you? Besides, wouldn't I know if I were a wolf or a fish or anything else?" She asked while carefully pulling the medication bottle out from under the side of Corbin as it had fallen as he was investigating
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"Ah, she's awake." The smoky, almost shiver inducing voice of J. Killstash spoke as the guest came to just as she'd been set on the table. His red eye's looking over the small form on the display table, he circled around her with fingers stroking the black chin / mustache combo goatee. "You won't be getting out of the bag, kitty-cat, it's enchanted for a species like you." He spoke patronizingly mockingly as if she was being a silly child, then turned his attention to one of the mercenary in the room. "Nightshade, bring in the neck wear my new piece will be wearing now." He didn't even look at the woman.
He was paying well for their service.
The ninja was clothed head to toe with a visor over her facial mask as she walked up to the cat with a collar with a name tag. It was eccentrically garnished and studded as if to mock her species and gender as a whole. With a click, the collar was unlatched as the woman clicked it around the cat's neck.
"You seem pretty knowledgeable of enchanted items." Killstash spoke as the other 'dressed' the cat. stopping his circling in front of her and looking down at her face. "This collar will grow and shrink to your size no matter your form. It was expensive, that entailed, you now belong to me and are part of my collection. Sweet thang."
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Lance gave her a straight forward look, "The pack will regroup here. This is where the trail ends, on you, so we shall stay until we figure out why. Besides, not all the wolf packs coming after the new wolf will be looking to recruit. Some go out of their way to kill the loners, so as to eliminate competition, or to hinder those of us who need a new pack mate...you're covered in the scent. So it could be trouble for you, not all the packs are nice at all...especially won't tolerate a city dweller.." He said
Corbin wrinkled his nose when she pulled the medication bottle out. "Oh god what's that....Smells vile.." he said his attention drawn to it, acutely aware of what she does, didn't notice the bottle before she picked it up. He moved up right in front of her and shoved his large dangerous snout in her hand sniffing at the medication, having the same reaction, wrinkling his nose, which in turn bared some of his long pointed fangs, all lined up ready to rip anything to shreds. He moved back and looked up at her. "What is that junk? You don't eat that do you?" He said knowing there was something wrong about it, not liking it one bit.
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The girl looked around, the voice sending a chill down her spine, drawing her attention to the man sat at the table she's been put on. "W...Who are you...Where am I?" She felt uneasy with this character talking as he does. "Hey what'chu on about..And who you callin' Kitty cat punk?" She said starting to squirm now, feeling that she can't change form and rip the bag open, trying from the inside to pull her head out of the hole, hating being constricted like this.
"Neck wear, what? New piece?" She said her ears flicking hearing the clicking of the collar and the jingle of the name tag when a ninja started walking towards her. "Oh no...Oh FUCK no! Get that shit away from me! What're you pulling! I ain't some pet! Get the Fuck away from me!!!" She growled trying harder now to pull her head away, struggling and snarling when the collar is pulled on, lashing out at the woman, trying to bite at her hand, growling and kicking in the bag. "Get OFF!" She yelled out, her glaring gaze switching to the man again as he started explaining, a lump in her throat forming when he uttered the words, "belong to me".
"Oh no..This can't be happening, this is all jus a bad dream! I belong to no one pal! You got a huge mistake! RRrrr You're messin' with the wrong Deamon pal! I'm gonna fuckin' get you back when I can get outta this damn case! I swear!" She said grumbling, her struggles just making the bag fall on it's side, with her in tow. "Woowoah! Oofh! ><" She yelped out, the constriction messing with her righting reflex. "Let me GOO!" she growled up at him, eyes full of fire and spite for the man, despite not being very intimidating at a kitten with a pirate patch of fur on her face, something she often hid from people, not changing into a cat too often.
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Levana swallowed at this added bit, after all, it wasn't a secret by any means that the forest life would kill any city life if given the chance. It was something she was always told growing up either during bed time stories or during schooling.
However at Corbins sudden interest and disgust in even just the bottle, she gasped and shuffled as far back in the tent as she could away from those teeth. Holding the bottle protectively to her and hiding it in her hands even as he back peddled the other way to look up at her.
When she was able to catch her voice again she gave a nod as she straightened her hair. "Yes, I do. I've been taking these since before I can remember. They're for anxiety... or something like that." To be honest, she really didn't know but they seemed to calm something down and let her function on a daily basis in the city.
She tucked the bottle into her pocket out of his sight, "There, out of sight, out of mind."
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"Pardon my rudeness." He grinned with bleach white teeth, so even and straight, clearly from money and it's powers. "My name is Killstash." He tipped his fedora to her. "J. Killstash, eccentric collector of rare things or anything that catches my eye."
Nightshade didn't even flinch as the cat bit into her insulated gloved hand. The get-up specialized for all weather types and different outings for the mercenary duties and it's hazards mostly. There were exceptions of course.
"I hear you got a couple of names yourself. I think I'll call you..." He looked to be thinking for a moment then his eye's seemed to glimmer with mirth. "Sprinkles." he sent a spine tingling chuckle through the room as the ninja woman righted the bag then grabbed a long tube looking object with a syringe at the end. It's electronics beeped to life as she pressed some buttons on the side and pinched the syringe into the back of Karins neck so the chip soon was implanted into her as the chemicals sabotaged any existing I.D. chips or tracking measures.
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"Really? You take smelly things in a bottle to get over your stresses? Ever heard of taking a walk?" Misunderstanding the need for medicines like that, more used to his pack environment, where mental problems were shared, or where he knew he could go on a journey to clear his head, making a pilgrimage to some of the pack's sacred grounds, where he could connect with nature again. He knew nothing of the stresses of city living, and only saw medicine as something to cure physical wounds.
"Don't you just take a pilgrimage to get re-in tuned with nature? Or are the stories of the City dwellers abandoning nature really true....if they are no wonder you are so full of bad stress...I can feel it, you've got a lot of negative energy built up in you waiting to be released, it's not healthy to bottle up like that..." Corbin looked out at Lance, "Perhaps that's what we're sensing...I mean we've never experienced this amount of negative energy before, maybe we're just mixing it up with what we feel when we sense the presence of a Lone wolf..."
Lance looked at Corbin, he had a feeling of pride for the younger wolf, he was very in-tune to nature and energies, and unbeknownst to Corbin, was being considered for next pack mate to replace Lance when he becomes too old to lead. "Perhaps, If that is the case, what do you think we should do then Corbin..?" He said, interested in Corbin's approach, happy that he's taking such a peaceful route when violence is unnecessary, unlike one of his other pack mates..
Corbin looked back at Levena then to Lance, then back again. "Well we won't know until we solve the energy problem, so perhaps we can help this woman by taking her on a pilgrimage, maybe getting in touch with nature will help her, and if it does, then we shall find out if it was that all along, because once her energies are positive again, we should be able to tell the difference. If it was that, then helping out another is a worthy quest of ours.."
Lance stood up and looked around, his ears flicking hearing his pack coming to him now. "Then it's settled. Tell me Human, what is your name?" He said looking down at the small girl. Some more wolves appearing in the clearing now
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The small cat winced when she was grabbed again, something pricking the back of her neck, she tried to wriggle away, but was being held there, to allow the chip to go in without any trouble. "I-I said Leggo of me!!" She snarled at the woman, shaking her head, making the collar jingle softly when she did. The small cat hissed at Nightshade before her attention and death glare were bought back round to Killstash's attention.
"Look pal! I don't care who yah are, but this prank has gone too far, if you want that stinkin' jewel then take it, but I don't see why I gotta be in this box, and don't even try sendin' me to the police, cause you make enemies with Tantalus, it's gunna hit you big time!" She said, trying to scratch and pull at the bag to pull her head free, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable like this, missing the point that Killstash was making as she struggled.
She raised her eyebrow at him and stopped struggling when he decided to nickname her, "Ex-cuse -me? Sprinkles? What the heck are you on about yah loon? Mah name is Karin! Karin Thorn, you know, Famous Cat burglar, or did you not know who you were messin' with. Ain't you heard the stories? Urrgh when I get outta this...damn...bag I'm gonna rip you a new one pal, now, I'm not gonna say this again, Let me go, if you know what's good for yah!" She said viciously, full of spark and malice for the man so casually talking to her in her time of need, as though this was all a joke.
The small cat winced as she felt the chemicals now burning away the Tantalus' tracking chip, "O-Ow! What the heck is that, What'd'you do tah me?!" wanting now to scratch at the little wound, the chemicals itching away, her little pin prick claws making the bag material make a little zipping sound as she tries to get the itch. She was so confused, all this happened so suddenly, one minute her prize was prayed on by some other faction, then suddenly she was in a bag talking to a weirdo and being dressed up like some pet...where was she anyway she thought, realizing now she hadn't really taken a moment to look around. It certainly wasn't the museum anymore, it smelled and the decor was all wrong. She now took the time to look at Killstash as well, as the man talked, who was this guy? His smirk sent shivers through her again. There was something about this man that rubbed her the wrong way.
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Levana didn't really have much room to answer the questions Corbin asked, but hadn't ever really thought of it before. True, she walked to work because her apartment wasn't far from the library. But nothing like what he was describing
"Well, no. I haven't really been out of the city and this is kinda my first time out in nature..." She stroked a strand of hair that lay lazily over her shoulder nervously listening to them discuss the 'issue' with each other. It seemed she'd not have much of a choice in the matter if she wanted to make it out alive.
She watched the larger one stand, now knowing the one who investigated her tent and supplies as Corbin since the other called him by name. "Levana Carson, but please, just Anna is fine." She stated when asked. “And yours?" She asked. Se wished she could be invisible since she was already at the back of her tent when the rest of the pack seemed to show up.
Ches being amongst the group to arrive with the others, the small red wolf gave a sneer to the campsite. "Jeez! It wreaks like the city all over."
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"I've heard of you Karin." He stated at her like she was a misbehaving child, patronizingly as he snapped his fingers.
Death-strike dropped a file in front of the bagged cat, it making a slapping sound as it hit the table, opening to the first few files that splayed out slightly letting her see her name on it, some tidbit's of information on her, nicknames and deeds.
"I said I collect things that draw my eye, you're mine, pretty kitty. That pain won't last long, it's just you're new chip." There was a hissing sound as the release latch to the collar sealed over, making the collar look like a solid ring around her neck with no hint of a release latch left. The room clearly being a office room with desk and a elaborate desk chair. There were other display tables with various collectables. But there was something also eerie about the room... maybe it was the way the curtains were only opened slightly letting minimal natural light into the 8th story room or maybe it was the stuffed and mounted bear to the right corner of the room from the desk were Killstash had been formerly sitting and a couple of other cat's that were permanently perched on a file cabinet.
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"Anna...Very well, I am Lance, this is my pack.." He said hearing the others come into the clearing with them, "This is Corbin, Ches, Dan Cha Pi, and Talus..." He said, pointing at the wolves, Dan being a medium sized brown wolf, with a white underbelly and white tipped ears, he had a longer snout than the others, and a thinner looking face, making him look wiser in a strange way. Talus being a Whitish gray wolf with lighter more white fur on his face and paws, bigger than all of them but Lance, who is the biggest wolf, by a couple inches. Dan changing back into his humanoid form, following suit since Lance is in his, looking at the girl. "Is this her? The Lone? Where are her ears and her tail..?" he asked, the boy with short hair, matching his fur colour.
Talus shooting Ches a look that says to calm down, though he can see his point, sniffing the air and looking at the surroundings, "A City dweller..? This is the Lone?" He said much more curiously than offensively.
Lance looked at his pack, mainly to Dan, "Corbin thinks that there has been a mistake, and that we are picking up on the Girl's negative energy...we are going to take her to a sacred spot to try and alleviate the issues that she has bottled within...Then we can shed some light on whether or not that is what we were sensing, as opposed to a new Lone..Gather only what you need Anna, we shall be departing soon..No doubt that the others are on their way to you..."
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Karin's ears lowered when he looked at her told her that she was his. "W...wait...You....didn't want the Gem you were going after me?" She said, her expression completely stunned to find that out, her fur fluffing out when the file is thrown in front of her, showing everything, her past, her heists, Things about Atlus and her initial kidnapping. There was even information about how Iso, the Son of Mr. Le Blanc, her original owner had set up the whole thing to get her kidnapped, but she was too in shock and was just skim reading to catch on that information, that to this day, she was still unaware of. She was gob smacked, ears flicking when the collar hissed at her, melding into a solid loop.
She was quiet for the first time since she woke up, just trying to get that all through her head, and couldn't do anything but stare at him in confusion. "T...This can't be real...Why'd you wanna go after some Two bit thief? There're tonnes of them in Taurous, why me!? I have GOT to be sleeping, cause this just feels like some fucked up nightmare..." She said. It felt too surreal, too strange, but most of all gut wrenching, because if this was real...she was in for a whole load of trouble being put into a life like this. Her freedoms, her lust(nonsexual) for the thrill of the heist, her friends, her family...She knew Slavery existed in Tarous, but she never envisioned herself in that position.
The room was creeping her out, especially the stuffed bear. It left an uneasy feeling in her stomach and a lump in her throat as it stared down, lifeless, yet menacing, just as menacing as the gentleman sat in front of her claiming she belongs to him..
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On first appearance, from a distance, Ches could easily be mistaken for a fox with his red coat, rusty brown mane and saddle the continued half down his tail and black outer legs, brows and ears while his paws, inner legs, underbelly and his muzzle was a grayish white. The brows giving his wolf form a devil look. The smallest of the group though quite stout, like a adolescent wolf in form, lowered his ears at Talus look but obligingly shut his yap.
Levana looked to each wolf as they were indicated and named out. Stepping out of the tent, though still trying to stay away from Corbin. Something seemed off as she made a head count and names, there wasn't a single female in the small troupe unless Dan was the girl with the wise look until he transformed... nope.
She gave a courtesy still, trying not to be rude. Two wolves was one thing, five another beast altogether. "Pleasure to meet you." Her quiet voice greeted the group as a whole, glad they weren't attacking and killing like in the stories and dreams. She wasn't going to explain again she didn't have the canid ears or tail. Though a part of her did seem a little envious of them for some odd reason. "Can I assume the ladies of your pack are at home?" The question really was silly.
Putting out the torch lamps around the camp as to prevent fire, she gathered a water canister and some bare essentials from the supplies still on the ground from Corbins investigation that were easy enough to carry without taking everything on the site. After all, this camp set had taken two trips to get here alone. She raised the supplies tarp again and secured it to the tree to keep out of reach from other creatures that may be nearby. The medication in her pocket, she swiftly had all ready.
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Killstash let her have her panic moment. It was delicious watching her going over what he said as if it were too much for her kitty brain to take in. The only freedom she'd have now was in her mind and he'd enjoy even breaking into that in time.
Oh he knew about some of the workings of Tantalus, his spies wide and hidden and his out long arm in many affairs. It didn't worry him one bit in his position and his possession of this particular little bit.
"The Gem was already mine, Sprinkles." He stated, mocking her by calling her the new pet name. His smoky voice carried a hint of entertainment as he gave her head a slight stroke "Thanks to you, I can claim it stolen and claim in on it's insurance." He chuckled at her expense. "Keep dreaming, baby. This is getting good to me." He ran a hand down her back over the bag, sending an even more unsettling and chilling feel despite his smooth talking and debonaire appearance.
The ninja's made no movement as Killstash spoke to his prize, but they were ready on command for one of their best paying clients as mercenary.
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"We do not have any females in our Pack anymore....We are currently all Male. This is my whole pack.." Lance said to her as he made sure that the others behaved while Anna took her things.
Corbin had a good feeling about the journey they were going to make. He took a quick liking to Anna despite just meeting her, but he could tell there was something about her, and that whether she knew it or not, this journey was going to help her. "Oh one warning as well, don't challenge us to anything, we don't wanna get bound or anything! That would just be trouble, so any games you have, we won't be joining you..I hear that there have been people who have been bound over smaller things! So we should be okay if we avoid conflict!" He said reassuring her, walking beside her when they set off.
He kept in his wolf form the whole time, finding it more comfortable to be like this. "So What is life like in the city?" he asked along their way, curious about life outside the forest.
"The City life is loud and stressful Corbin, we've been through this..the birds have seen this, the life we live is much better, more peaceful and centered~" Talus chimed in, his voice earthy and gentle, despite his large appearance, also staying as a wolf when they walk.
Lance kept at the front, keeping mostly quiet, his ears flicking sometimes catching the sounds of nature, monitoring Levana, making sure she doesn't try to pull anything, but is pretty certain by her mannerisms and aura that she's not going to be too much trouble, one of the reasons why he didn't object to Corbin's idea.
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Karin was unaware that some of the members of Tantalus were either working for or were easily bought out, she hadn't heard of this guy before, and didn't know how far his influence spread. She tried to move away from him when he brought his hand down to stroke her soft head, about to yell a snarky retort at him when his hand ran down her back, no one treating her like a cat in years, so the sensations being strange and surprising, making her yelp out, like a spider just crawled up her back. "MRREE-EEEE!" Her fur fluffing out in shock, shaking it off, glaring up at him, correcting her meow half way through yelping it out.
"Q-Quit that! And Stop callin' me Sprinkles! Look pal you've made a big mistake! I ain't some normal cat, you want one of them, go to a fuckin' pet shop!" She said still pushing against the walls of the bag, trying to squeeze her way out, her little paws making little bumps in the bag just looking kinda cute, struggling about making the bag fall over again, rolling about trying to kick it off while on her back, the bag nearing the edge of the table in her struggles.
She looked at her little home she'd set up for her time until she could figure out what was going on. She'd already survived there for three days now so she guessed it OK. The books didn't tell her much on what was going on and why she'd woken like she had but she didn't think it exactly wise to go to a physician now.
Keeping as quiet as she could be to not draw attention, as per "The Idiots guide to surviving a camping trip" She listened as the forest life went on it's normal routine around her, the city girl not even sure if her supplies was high enough in the tree she'd tied it up to.
She let out a slight shiver.
'Calm down, Anna. Nothings here, the medication will kick in again and this weirdness will be gone then home again... unless you're eaten by a mountain lion or bear...'
She thought to herself, reassuring at first then back to the anxiety.
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A figure studied the file in front of him as some footage played on. His index finger and thumb petting his dark goatee as his red eye's went over details. His blue businessman suit and tie over the black satin shirt a vast contrast to those almost crimson orbs
"Some see a troubled youth. A stray cat,"
He spoke in a smoky voice as some thing's came to light. Details like this specific felines certain talents and gifts. Details on her breed and unique qualities.
He had eye's and ears on many corners of the city Taurous and so chases weren't missed often. The sheer volume of times the 'Cat Burglar' would draw any peering eye's attention as he flipped through inventory.
Depending on how you put it, she was working for the opposing team.
"I see potential. And if nothing else... a collectable. Thing's I like, I keep. Let's bring home what belongs here, hmm?"
He gave a wicked smile to the men he'd been working with for ages now it seemed.
The memory ran through the mercenaries head as he kept watch over this particular hunt. He'd been learning her particular routes and travels, silently and unnoticably watching and monitoring the cat that would soon be prey.
The ninja was stealthy and it would aid, after all, the bounty was high for this particularly tricky one.
He sprung his trap, initiating a system with his colleagues as they began to attempt to herd her.
The first a bait for the trap. Since it took a thief to catch a thief, and money spoke volumes, Killstash spared no expense in finding a trinket of quite the value he could part with... at least until it would be brought back.
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A Large black wolf following a trail that has been intriguing him lately. /“Where are you?”/ He thought to himself, changing back, a very well made looking man in his mid 20’s looking about, two wolf ears and a large bushy tail donning his appearance in his otherwise humanoid looking form. The male had a scar running from his ear down the side of his face, where he got into a battle with a fierce creature, probably a bear or another larger wolf. The boy looked about, his ears flicking as another wolf entered the scene, had been following by close. “Any luck Lance?”
“None so far...She’s close though, I can tell..I knew we were missing someone..I’m so glad...we’re going to meet finally…” He said, looking at the other wolf. The other boy looked much smaller than him, still well built, but not impossibly so like Lance was. He had a Brown and white tone to his fur, with markings present on his tail tip and ears. “Talus and Dan have been scouring the East, I’ve heard nothing from them so I doubt they’ve found her yet…”
“We’re close Corbin..I can feel it..” Lance said, looking around the area, his ears flicking hearing someone close by mumbling now. He gave a hand signal to Corbin, making him change when he changed, two wolves now prowling forward towards the voice, smelling the food and the newcomer. The smell was the same that had drawn them there in the first place. The large black wolf moved forwards out into the clearing, staring at her with his green eyes, followed by the smaller brown wolf at his side, white markings on his face around his eyes and jowl. The two looking to an outsider like they just found an easy lunch. “Finally...we found you..”
“Are you sure...She doesn’t look..”
“No Corbin, this is it..I know it..” He spoke moving forwards towards the small girl, not realizing how intimidating he must be, thinking she’s just going to greet them.
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Karin was all suited up, she pulled on the last strap on her thieving gear, pitch black, allowing her to meld into the shadows with ease. Soundless, and on her small frame, practically weightless, allowing her to perform all kinds of maneuvers necessary for getting around the city without being noticed. The best bit of all, it was enchanted, so when she changed into a cat, it melted down, meaning she didn’t have to change, or waste time on the mission that could risk her capture.
The girl looked over her sheet for today’s task, a fanged grin curling on her lips as she saw the prize. The larger the numbers, the better the buzz, she was excited that this item had come up now. A harmless collectors piece, ready to be the star in the biggest and most prestigious auction in town. People from Leonis, Aries East and Carpricopia were coming, all very wealthy, all wanting to go for this prize. She could just imagine the disappointment on their face to find that they had been anticipating a moment that would so easily be ruined, as she walked away and made the drop. This was the game changer, the piece that was going to push Tantalus into prosperity. She’d finally be able to do this, release Atlus’ dream, and live an easy and happy life. Tonight was extremely important for her and she couldn’t wait.
The girl waited for the correct time, she had a plan made for her by some of her informants, it all seemed legitimate, and checked out with everyone on her side, so she made her way to the start area, that had been given the clear by her scouts in the know. She flipped her way up, gracefully, climbing up the side of a building and sneaking in from the roof, slinking into the ventilation system, where she changed into a cat, padding her way silently and swiftly along and through the pipes, following a map that she’d studied prior to the mission until she came to a safe room.
The girl poked her paw out the grating after hearing that the coast was clear, double checking with one of her devices, that scanned for body heat, unbeknownst to her that the room was blocking all heat signatures from her device. She unlatched the screws and brought them back up into the pipes, making sure they didn’t fall and make a noise. Once off, she pulled the grate aside ever so slightly, just enough to slink out of and jump down to a safe spot, on top of a cabinet. She saw it, in the center of the room, the prized jewel that was her ticket to a new life. What life it was the ticket too, she thought she knew. She moved over, taking precautions not to set off any traps, her smile widening, her hands gripping onto it, replacing it with a weight just in case there’s a trigger there, not expecting any company at all, thinking things are going easy.
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Anna heard a slight rustling at first, noticing she must have gotten lost in her musings and reading through some of the pages in the book, she looked up as two wolves came into her clearing. Her brain said run but her feet decided to feel like lead as the slight girl looked positively terrified, the almost frizzy brunette couldn’t even scream out as she took heavy steps back, trying for a slow pace to not draw the creatures hunting instincts further. She was going to climb the damn tree at the first sign of aggression, she’d already determined though not putting into account she both lacked climbing skills and her dress ware wasn’t exactly fit for the deed let alone being out camping.
Her body wasn’t fully changed yet as the medication was still holding it’s ground in her veins so she didn’t wear the tell tale signs of what was hidden and caged away so she always just put the gray hair to a point that her family must have just gone gray early in life anyways and just lived with dying it.
/’Great, wolves. I did not put them in account, I can see the obituary now... “Anna L. Carson: age 21; A librarian who should have just kept adventures in the books.”’/ Her mind reprimanded her physically being there bringing up the visuals of the attacking wolves that seemed to have haunted her dreams of late for reasons unknown to herself.
“W-wolves... N-nice doggies.” She finally stuttered in her soft and rather soprano voice putting her arms up, a slight ironic chuckle slipping through at the end as if her body was trying to make ease of the situation.
/’Maybe if I let the food drop, they’ll loose interest?’/ The thought crossed her mind as she peered at the tree from the corner of her eye without moving the direction of her face to them.
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The first of the mercenary troupe watched from his spot, clung to the ventilator shaft like a human gecko, as the true prize snuck in for the bait. Between the room’s hidden heat signature hiding technology and his specialized suit made for the occasions like this, he might as well have been invisible as she jumped right in front of him onto the cabinet.
With quiet motions, he pressed a button to activate a block system in the vent shafts too small for even a mouse to get through the grid without loosing some fur. There was no doubt she was the one, he then closed up the vent she came through as the network of specialized traps suddenly came alive preparing for the prey.
She’d gotten away from other before because they were unprepared for a small cat and a girl.
Now it was time to show the right tools can accomplish any job.
The ninja lowered himself to the ground with almost snake like movements, then letting his feet tap the ground so the cat could hear his presence. Knowing she might get to the next level but she wasn’t going to get out of the building with the piece just as she replaced the jewel with a weight.
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Lance looked at her cowering, he raised his eyebrow and stepped forward, his wolf form very large and intimidating. "Why do you cower? We ran there for territory we came to talk.."
Corbin looked at her and sat down giving Lance a look as if to say are you sure this is the right one. "You look like you've never seen another wolf before..." The smaller Brown wolf stopping mid sentence sniffing the air, "I know that the city doesn't have as many Deamons as the great forests do, but you must of seen another before, you're acting like a Human, c'mon now...Why are you hiding your tail and ears anyway?" He said, very blunt and to the point, not convinced that she's the one Lance has been looking for, changing back to his Humanoid form, the boy having brown eyes, wearing a tribal style poncho, some Chinos and going bare footed, his feet looking more like paws.
Lance shot Corbin a look, changing his form as well, he had similar garb except his looked more like an important figure, a pair of antlers adorned with beads and strings poking out I his hair just next to his fluffy black ears, wearing a similarly decorated necklace and arm bands all up his wrists, some of the bracelets have parts from a watch attached, a few teeth from different animals, and a couple bullet casings, all trophies from his battles. The taller male, with his tanned reddish skin, and striking green eyes stepping forward, looking at her, his scar much more visible like this, making him look very imposing. "What brings you here..?"
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Karin slipped the jewel into her bag when she felt something was off, her ears flicked hearing something move above and around her when the vents closed off. She kept perfectly still listening and waiting, once she finally heard the foot taps in the same room as her she sprang into action quickly. The girl threw down a smoke bomb creating a haze in the room, two shadowy figures moving in opposite directions barely visible in the dark, both small, one being her in her cat form, the other on closer inspection being her decoy, her cloak acting as a distraction in the confusion as she quickly plotted her ways out of here. She knew of a few exits and opted not to go for the vents as she had heard they got blocked off, instead she darted out of the room through the door, making a sharp left in the corridor sticking to the wall and keeping low. She moved swiftly in her cat form through the dark, her tail flowing with her movement, in its wrappings, so as to keep her fur from malting on her heists. The clothes she wore shrank to fit the cat, like a smaller version, specially tailored and enchanted by her trusted suppliers. She had evaded the mysterious and unwelcome guest so far, but knew that right now she couldn't breath easily just yet. She needed a way either to the roof or to the sewers and she was opting to try and go up, unwillingly setting off another trap under foot when she ducked into a stairwell with the idea to make a beeline to the roof. /"Just what I needed! Oh well, let's see how good you are, because no one out thieves me../ she thought to herself with a smirk, thinking it was another thief from one of the other guilds trying for the same prize. There were a few other rival gangs to Tantalus, and it wasn't uncommon for one or more of them to try and snag the same things, more often than not though, Tantalus came out on top. To her right now, this was now game on, not realizing that she was the prize, not the jewel....
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Anna would have given a sigh of relief that they weren’t going to kill on the spot and her mind suddenly ran over their words, catching where they were implying she was a wolf which did bring to mind suddenly images from a couple of nights ago, the dreams and the reason she was out here. And as if two, very large wolves weren’t intimidating enough? The books stat’s and measurements on wolves came rather short when standing in front of the real things but transforming to their humanoid form, they were like giants to her mind.
“Not too many Deamons come to the library.” She stated indicating a small pile of books in her shabby city dwellers version of a camping tent that was most likely over priced for what it’s worth was. At least attempting to try and not take a step further back. “Though books do seem to fall short in describing how intimidating you look...” she trailed off, admitting that factor in her reactions.
“I’m not a wolf.” She then stated adamantly, shaking off the feeling of fear and practicing her tone as if speaking to Mittsy the neighbors hunting dog... though they didn’t have the silencing collars the hound did. Unaware really that the large pills she took ritually altered any part of her she raised her bangs revealing her ears, only slightly pointed like a dainty elves. “And I don’t have a tail.” /‘that I’m aware of’/ she mentally added.
But the largest guy to possibly walk the earth stepping towards you could break much barrier and facade one builds as Lance stepped forward. She swallowed slightly. “As I mentioned, I’m a librarian.” That she knew for sure and nothing changed there yet. “As such, I don’t get out much and decided some fresh air might be good.” She held up the book ‘Idiots guide to surviving a camping trip’
Then it dawned on her as her face fell. “If I’m in your territory, I’ll move my camp. No trouble at all.” She really would rather not be hassled, being quiet was her thing, fighting... not so much.
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The first of the ninja didn’t even flinch as the smoke bomb went off, his mask protecting his air passage ways, his eye’s narrowed watching the shadow(s) exit the doorway, sending a silent signal to his colleagues.
The cat’s unaware trigger set off a sightless, odorless sedative chemical into the air, just at ground level and it washed over her feline form as she went up the first step. Even if she didn’t breath it in, it would sink in through the skin and fur through hair follicles.
Sensors from that point started closing off routes to semi herd the feline. Nightshade, Death-strike, Knight-strike and Knighthawk keeping silent at each of their posts in the route to the roof as they made calculated moves to scare the cat and to alter her path. Their motions flowing and graceful as they made ease to the locations necessary for the tactic in well practiced formations on cue.
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"Don't the humans have camping sights? That's pretty ballsy of you to go camping in the woods, even on the outskirts." Corbin said looking her and her possessions over.
Lance didn't change his gaze as he spoke, "How can this be..I can sense no one else in the area..is this some trap?" He said, his already fearsome gaze lowering now, looking around for where the wolf is. "I smell a wolf here...new, not like the others in the other clans..and if it's not you then that means one of two things...you're lying, or you are concealing one..." Lance was straight and to the point, he wasn't looking to play around, he knew the other packs would catch wind of a new wolf in the forest, wanting to either dispose of or recruit the new one to their own pack. To Lance, a new wolf was crucial, he wasn't going to let the chance of expanding his pack slip from his hands...
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Karin ran up the stairwell getting spooked by sudden movements, making her change her course, unable to detect the sedative, her thief armor protecting where it covered like her torso and tail, but the exposed bits getting hit by the chemical, mainly her paws, and face, let alone her breathing it in, speeding the process p the drug entering her system.
She ducked out into a corridor on the top floor, avoiding some movements, steering clear of the window, aiming to get to the fire escape that leads to the roof. She started feeling the affects of the sedative the more she ran, making it almost to the ladder with the hatch to her freedom, when it started to really take its toll. /"W...What the hell is...going..on..."/ she thought, her body going numb, heart trying to race because of the stress of losing her prize. /"S...shit...playing...dirty...."/ she thought, figuring that they were going to take the gem and leave her there. She saw some figures making their way over, her low light vision, though now drowsy, making them out, not recognizing them. /"sh..shit....looks like this mission is gonna be longer than I thought..."/ she thought, using the last of her strength to pull a cord on her dark attire, sending a small spark out, that starts to slink away, sending the 'complications' signal back to her group.
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Anna was baffled by this, there were indeed campsites but this had been the first place she’d run to. A place she’d woken before and decided a good place to figure things out. Already having gone through a couple of witching books and other items that may explain what was going on... but they didn’t explain anything at all and it was deterring. She looked from Corbin to Lance and it was to her knowledge that she was human but a lady doesn’t show her bloomers to a man, no matter what species.
“M-maybe your smelling things?” She offered the suggestion, keeping her hands up making no swift movements. “My neighbor has a Catahoula Cur dog. Perchance you could be smelling her on my clothes?” It made sense, kind of? When she did get to see animals, when they weren’t giving her the most evil of eye’s and warning calls at her, they always seemed to smell other creatures on their owners hands and clothes.
Here were the wolves. The nightmares of her dreams that attacked and killed. The creatures that brutally could shred a person.
She tried not to shake, lowering her silver eye’s to look away from the fearsome being. “I’ve never even been near a wolf. Before you, never seen one up close except this one time and he killed that man.” And she knew what the definition of concealing meant but it made no sense to her what he meant so she said the first thing that did make sense. “You can look through my tent. My supplies.” She indicated the release rope that would lower her camping and food supplies from their safe spot tied up in the tree. “I’m not concealing anything or anyone.”
To her knowledge, she hadn’t hunted any creature so she had nothing to hide there.
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Knighthawk stepped forward, looking over the cat as she pulled a cord on her suit as her strength finally gave way. Looking to the woman and three men, the last entering soon after having been the one to have initiated setting off the trap with four more ninja dressed warriors of the Knight Clan, he knelt down and with well insulated gloved hand, picked the cat up by the scruff.
“Cat burglar,” He spoke in a dark raspy voice, knowing she was out for the count as he swiftly checked over her suit for other gadgets or instruments that he soon disposed of by placing them in a bag before removing the wrappings on the feline form. “welcome to the collection.” his face hidden but the sneer could be heard there.
Knight-strike gathered any of her burglar gear in a sack as Knighthawk handed it over before producing a cat bag that would inhibit her from transforming back to her humanoid for. Her head being the only part left out of the bag.
The jewel being put back to it’s rightful place as they vanished into a blur of speed back to their hover cycles for the ride back to the V.O.R.E. Base to bring back the ‘prize’
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Lance wasn't convinced, but he signaled to Corbin to go investigate, his eyes never breaking from Levana's gaze. Corbin walked over and looked up at the supplies "These one's here right?" He said, yanking on the rope, letting the supplies come down. Once down he changed back down into the wolf form from before and started sniffing about her property trying to suss out what the source was. He sniffed the lot, and seemed to find a trail, leading straight to her. “No I can smell the dog, but the Wolf is defiantly different. And it's on you Miss..But there's no Wolf around here..." He said poking his head into her tent looking around. "All signs say that you're her...You weren't sold some funny smell spray were you?" he said meaning perfume, knowing of it only in passing, not too well versed on City culture. "This doesn't make sense..."
Lance looked her over and pulled up a log. "we are going to stay here and guard you at the very least, until we get answers. There's a new wolf in the forest, and the packs all need a new member..that is why we are here. You will be vulnerable if the source is truly leading to you. But you are involved, and you are going to help me find her.." He said perching down on a fallen tree nearby, his decision final.
Corbin seemed to be amazed by the tent looking about. "Why do you need this? It's like...It's like a cave, but it's made from clothing..What a strange thing..Is this not fragile?" he said looking out at her, her bedding partly on his head now.
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Karin winced feeling her scruff being picked up, expecting them to take the jewel, and put her back down once they had. She could feel them grabbing it, but was confused when they spoke further. They seemed to know who she was by nickname, what little consciousness that was left of her she could pick out that much at least. Finally her will gave out just as they started taking her gear from her, falling victim to the sedatives, going out like a light.
She was quiet for the entire journey, sleeping the whole way, the noise of the bikes, or the surroundings as they traveled not stirring her. She was out for a few hours before finally starting to gain her consciousness back again. She felt groggy from the chemicals, and didn't feel right, yawning looking around "What a weird dream..." she mumbled out, her vision starting to come into focus now. "..W..what the..where am I?" She said trying to move, feeling constricted. "H..huh..?" She said trying to see what had her caught, waking up faster now she felt she was in danger.
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Levana watched him but made no movement of aggression, the search being concentual after all. "Funny smell spray?" She questioned at first then got it. "Ah, perfume. No, I don't like it much personally. It makes me dizzy just having co-workers or guests to the library wear it." She stated off offhandedly.
Her eye's went wide suddenly and she sniffed her wrist, now worried. "I smell bad? Nobodies ever mentioned my library smelling bad enough as to tell me I need perfume." she more or less mumbled to herself as Lance spoke again. She was starting to figure he was the spokesman
Her stare turned back to Lance at his decision. "Sir, How am I going to find a wolf??" That didn't sound like something she'd expertise in from any view, then moving to the tent, trying to avoid the one currently inside as much as possible while maintaining a somewhat decent posture, she grabbed a book that was set aside in the stack involving canines of the wild as to show all she knows about nature is on the pages. "You two really don't need to stay, won't your packs miss you? Besides, wouldn't I know if I were a wolf or a fish or anything else?" She asked while carefully pulling the medication bottle out from under the side of Corbin as it had fallen as he was investigating
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"Ah, she's awake." The smoky, almost shiver inducing voice of J. Killstash spoke as the guest came to just as she'd been set on the table. His red eye's looking over the small form on the display table, he circled around her with fingers stroking the black chin / mustache combo goatee. "You won't be getting out of the bag, kitty-cat, it's enchanted for a species like you." He spoke patronizingly mockingly as if she was being a silly child, then turned his attention to one of the mercenary in the room. "Nightshade, bring in the neck wear my new piece will be wearing now." He didn't even look at the woman.
He was paying well for their service.
The ninja was clothed head to toe with a visor over her facial mask as she walked up to the cat with a collar with a name tag. It was eccentrically garnished and studded as if to mock her species and gender as a whole. With a click, the collar was unlatched as the woman clicked it around the cat's neck.
"You seem pretty knowledgeable of enchanted items." Killstash spoke as the other 'dressed' the cat. stopping his circling in front of her and looking down at her face. "This collar will grow and shrink to your size no matter your form. It was expensive, that entailed, you now belong to me and are part of my collection. Sweet thang."
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Lance gave her a straight forward look, "The pack will regroup here. This is where the trail ends, on you, so we shall stay until we figure out why. Besides, not all the wolf packs coming after the new wolf will be looking to recruit. Some go out of their way to kill the loners, so as to eliminate competition, or to hinder those of us who need a new pack mate...you're covered in the scent. So it could be trouble for you, not all the packs are nice at all...especially won't tolerate a city dweller.." He said
Corbin wrinkled his nose when she pulled the medication bottle out. "Oh god what's that....Smells vile.." he said his attention drawn to it, acutely aware of what she does, didn't notice the bottle before she picked it up. He moved up right in front of her and shoved his large dangerous snout in her hand sniffing at the medication, having the same reaction, wrinkling his nose, which in turn bared some of his long pointed fangs, all lined up ready to rip anything to shreds. He moved back and looked up at her. "What is that junk? You don't eat that do you?" He said knowing there was something wrong about it, not liking it one bit.
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The girl looked around, the voice sending a chill down her spine, drawing her attention to the man sat at the table she's been put on. "W...Who are you...Where am I?" She felt uneasy with this character talking as he does. "Hey what'chu on about..And who you callin' Kitty cat punk?" She said starting to squirm now, feeling that she can't change form and rip the bag open, trying from the inside to pull her head out of the hole, hating being constricted like this.
"Neck wear, what? New piece?" She said her ears flicking hearing the clicking of the collar and the jingle of the name tag when a ninja started walking towards her. "Oh no...Oh FUCK no! Get that shit away from me! What're you pulling! I ain't some pet! Get the Fuck away from me!!!" She growled trying harder now to pull her head away, struggling and snarling when the collar is pulled on, lashing out at the woman, trying to bite at her hand, growling and kicking in the bag. "Get OFF!" She yelled out, her glaring gaze switching to the man again as he started explaining, a lump in her throat forming when he uttered the words, "belong to me".
"Oh no..This can't be happening, this is all jus a bad dream! I belong to no one pal! You got a huge mistake! RRrrr You're messin' with the wrong Deamon pal! I'm gonna fuckin' get you back when I can get outta this damn case! I swear!" She said grumbling, her struggles just making the bag fall on it's side, with her in tow. "Woowoah! Oofh! ><" She yelped out, the constriction messing with her righting reflex. "Let me GOO!" she growled up at him, eyes full of fire and spite for the man, despite not being very intimidating at a kitten with a pirate patch of fur on her face, something she often hid from people, not changing into a cat too often.
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Levana swallowed at this added bit, after all, it wasn't a secret by any means that the forest life would kill any city life if given the chance. It was something she was always told growing up either during bed time stories or during schooling.
However at Corbins sudden interest and disgust in even just the bottle, she gasped and shuffled as far back in the tent as she could away from those teeth. Holding the bottle protectively to her and hiding it in her hands even as he back peddled the other way to look up at her.
When she was able to catch her voice again she gave a nod as she straightened her hair. "Yes, I do. I've been taking these since before I can remember. They're for anxiety... or something like that." To be honest, she really didn't know but they seemed to calm something down and let her function on a daily basis in the city.
She tucked the bottle into her pocket out of his sight, "There, out of sight, out of mind."
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"Pardon my rudeness." He grinned with bleach white teeth, so even and straight, clearly from money and it's powers. "My name is Killstash." He tipped his fedora to her. "J. Killstash, eccentric collector of rare things or anything that catches my eye."
Nightshade didn't even flinch as the cat bit into her insulated gloved hand. The get-up specialized for all weather types and different outings for the mercenary duties and it's hazards mostly. There were exceptions of course.
"I hear you got a couple of names yourself. I think I'll call you..." He looked to be thinking for a moment then his eye's seemed to glimmer with mirth. "Sprinkles." he sent a spine tingling chuckle through the room as the ninja woman righted the bag then grabbed a long tube looking object with a syringe at the end. It's electronics beeped to life as she pressed some buttons on the side and pinched the syringe into the back of Karins neck so the chip soon was implanted into her as the chemicals sabotaged any existing I.D. chips or tracking measures.
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"Really? You take smelly things in a bottle to get over your stresses? Ever heard of taking a walk?" Misunderstanding the need for medicines like that, more used to his pack environment, where mental problems were shared, or where he knew he could go on a journey to clear his head, making a pilgrimage to some of the pack's sacred grounds, where he could connect with nature again. He knew nothing of the stresses of city living, and only saw medicine as something to cure physical wounds.
"Don't you just take a pilgrimage to get re-in tuned with nature? Or are the stories of the City dwellers abandoning nature really true....if they are no wonder you are so full of bad stress...I can feel it, you've got a lot of negative energy built up in you waiting to be released, it's not healthy to bottle up like that..." Corbin looked out at Lance, "Perhaps that's what we're sensing...I mean we've never experienced this amount of negative energy before, maybe we're just mixing it up with what we feel when we sense the presence of a Lone wolf..."
Lance looked at Corbin, he had a feeling of pride for the younger wolf, he was very in-tune to nature and energies, and unbeknownst to Corbin, was being considered for next pack mate to replace Lance when he becomes too old to lead. "Perhaps, If that is the case, what do you think we should do then Corbin..?" He said, interested in Corbin's approach, happy that he's taking such a peaceful route when violence is unnecessary, unlike one of his other pack mates..
Corbin looked back at Levena then to Lance, then back again. "Well we won't know until we solve the energy problem, so perhaps we can help this woman by taking her on a pilgrimage, maybe getting in touch with nature will help her, and if it does, then we shall find out if it was that all along, because once her energies are positive again, we should be able to tell the difference. If it was that, then helping out another is a worthy quest of ours.."
Lance stood up and looked around, his ears flicking hearing his pack coming to him now. "Then it's settled. Tell me Human, what is your name?" He said looking down at the small girl. Some more wolves appearing in the clearing now
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The small cat winced when she was grabbed again, something pricking the back of her neck, she tried to wriggle away, but was being held there, to allow the chip to go in without any trouble. "I-I said Leggo of me!!" She snarled at the woman, shaking her head, making the collar jingle softly when she did. The small cat hissed at Nightshade before her attention and death glare were bought back round to Killstash's attention.
"Look pal! I don't care who yah are, but this prank has gone too far, if you want that stinkin' jewel then take it, but I don't see why I gotta be in this box, and don't even try sendin' me to the police, cause you make enemies with Tantalus, it's gunna hit you big time!" She said, trying to scratch and pull at the bag to pull her head free, feeling uncomfortably vulnerable like this, missing the point that Killstash was making as she struggled.
She raised her eyebrow at him and stopped struggling when he decided to nickname her, "Ex-cuse -me? Sprinkles? What the heck are you on about yah loon? Mah name is Karin! Karin Thorn, you know, Famous Cat burglar, or did you not know who you were messin' with. Ain't you heard the stories? Urrgh when I get outta this...damn...bag I'm gonna rip you a new one pal, now, I'm not gonna say this again, Let me go, if you know what's good for yah!" She said viciously, full of spark and malice for the man so casually talking to her in her time of need, as though this was all a joke.
The small cat winced as she felt the chemicals now burning away the Tantalus' tracking chip, "O-Ow! What the heck is that, What'd'you do tah me?!" wanting now to scratch at the little wound, the chemicals itching away, her little pin prick claws making the bag material make a little zipping sound as she tries to get the itch. She was so confused, all this happened so suddenly, one minute her prize was prayed on by some other faction, then suddenly she was in a bag talking to a weirdo and being dressed up like some pet...where was she anyway she thought, realizing now she hadn't really taken a moment to look around. It certainly wasn't the museum anymore, it smelled and the decor was all wrong. She now took the time to look at Killstash as well, as the man talked, who was this guy? His smirk sent shivers through her again. There was something about this man that rubbed her the wrong way.
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Levana didn't really have much room to answer the questions Corbin asked, but hadn't ever really thought of it before. True, she walked to work because her apartment wasn't far from the library. But nothing like what he was describing
"Well, no. I haven't really been out of the city and this is kinda my first time out in nature..." She stroked a strand of hair that lay lazily over her shoulder nervously listening to them discuss the 'issue' with each other. It seemed she'd not have much of a choice in the matter if she wanted to make it out alive.
She watched the larger one stand, now knowing the one who investigated her tent and supplies as Corbin since the other called him by name. "Levana Carson, but please, just Anna is fine." She stated when asked. “And yours?" She asked. Se wished she could be invisible since she was already at the back of her tent when the rest of the pack seemed to show up.
Ches being amongst the group to arrive with the others, the small red wolf gave a sneer to the campsite. "Jeez! It wreaks like the city all over."
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"I've heard of you Karin." He stated at her like she was a misbehaving child, patronizingly as he snapped his fingers.
Death-strike dropped a file in front of the bagged cat, it making a slapping sound as it hit the table, opening to the first few files that splayed out slightly letting her see her name on it, some tidbit's of information on her, nicknames and deeds.
"I said I collect things that draw my eye, you're mine, pretty kitty. That pain won't last long, it's just you're new chip." There was a hissing sound as the release latch to the collar sealed over, making the collar look like a solid ring around her neck with no hint of a release latch left. The room clearly being a office room with desk and a elaborate desk chair. There were other display tables with various collectables. But there was something also eerie about the room... maybe it was the way the curtains were only opened slightly letting minimal natural light into the 8th story room or maybe it was the stuffed and mounted bear to the right corner of the room from the desk were Killstash had been formerly sitting and a couple of other cat's that were permanently perched on a file cabinet.
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"Anna...Very well, I am Lance, this is my pack.." He said hearing the others come into the clearing with them, "This is Corbin, Ches, Dan Cha Pi, and Talus..." He said, pointing at the wolves, Dan being a medium sized brown wolf, with a white underbelly and white tipped ears, he had a longer snout than the others, and a thinner looking face, making him look wiser in a strange way. Talus being a Whitish gray wolf with lighter more white fur on his face and paws, bigger than all of them but Lance, who is the biggest wolf, by a couple inches. Dan changing back into his humanoid form, following suit since Lance is in his, looking at the girl. "Is this her? The Lone? Where are her ears and her tail..?" he asked, the boy with short hair, matching his fur colour.
Talus shooting Ches a look that says to calm down, though he can see his point, sniffing the air and looking at the surroundings, "A City dweller..? This is the Lone?" He said much more curiously than offensively.
Lance looked at his pack, mainly to Dan, "Corbin thinks that there has been a mistake, and that we are picking up on the Girl's negative energy...we are going to take her to a sacred spot to try and alleviate the issues that she has bottled within...Then we can shed some light on whether or not that is what we were sensing, as opposed to a new Lone..Gather only what you need Anna, we shall be departing soon..No doubt that the others are on their way to you..."
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Karin's ears lowered when he looked at her told her that she was his. "W...wait...You....didn't want the Gem you were going after me?" She said, her expression completely stunned to find that out, her fur fluffing out when the file is thrown in front of her, showing everything, her past, her heists, Things about Atlus and her initial kidnapping. There was even information about how Iso, the Son of Mr. Le Blanc, her original owner had set up the whole thing to get her kidnapped, but she was too in shock and was just skim reading to catch on that information, that to this day, she was still unaware of. She was gob smacked, ears flicking when the collar hissed at her, melding into a solid loop.
She was quiet for the first time since she woke up, just trying to get that all through her head, and couldn't do anything but stare at him in confusion. "T...This can't be real...Why'd you wanna go after some Two bit thief? There're tonnes of them in Taurous, why me!? I have GOT to be sleeping, cause this just feels like some fucked up nightmare..." She said. It felt too surreal, too strange, but most of all gut wrenching, because if this was real...she was in for a whole load of trouble being put into a life like this. Her freedoms, her lust(nonsexual) for the thrill of the heist, her friends, her family...She knew Slavery existed in Tarous, but she never envisioned herself in that position.
The room was creeping her out, especially the stuffed bear. It left an uneasy feeling in her stomach and a lump in her throat as it stared down, lifeless, yet menacing, just as menacing as the gentleman sat in front of her claiming she belongs to him..
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On first appearance, from a distance, Ches could easily be mistaken for a fox with his red coat, rusty brown mane and saddle the continued half down his tail and black outer legs, brows and ears while his paws, inner legs, underbelly and his muzzle was a grayish white. The brows giving his wolf form a devil look. The smallest of the group though quite stout, like a adolescent wolf in form, lowered his ears at Talus look but obligingly shut his yap.
Levana looked to each wolf as they were indicated and named out. Stepping out of the tent, though still trying to stay away from Corbin. Something seemed off as she made a head count and names, there wasn't a single female in the small troupe unless Dan was the girl with the wise look until he transformed... nope.
She gave a courtesy still, trying not to be rude. Two wolves was one thing, five another beast altogether. "Pleasure to meet you." Her quiet voice greeted the group as a whole, glad they weren't attacking and killing like in the stories and dreams. She wasn't going to explain again she didn't have the canid ears or tail. Though a part of her did seem a little envious of them for some odd reason. "Can I assume the ladies of your pack are at home?" The question really was silly.
Putting out the torch lamps around the camp as to prevent fire, she gathered a water canister and some bare essentials from the supplies still on the ground from Corbins investigation that were easy enough to carry without taking everything on the site. After all, this camp set had taken two trips to get here alone. She raised the supplies tarp again and secured it to the tree to keep out of reach from other creatures that may be nearby. The medication in her pocket, she swiftly had all ready.
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Killstash let her have her panic moment. It was delicious watching her going over what he said as if it were too much for her kitty brain to take in. The only freedom she'd have now was in her mind and he'd enjoy even breaking into that in time.
Oh he knew about some of the workings of Tantalus, his spies wide and hidden and his out long arm in many affairs. It didn't worry him one bit in his position and his possession of this particular little bit.
"The Gem was already mine, Sprinkles." He stated, mocking her by calling her the new pet name. His smoky voice carried a hint of entertainment as he gave her head a slight stroke "Thanks to you, I can claim it stolen and claim in on it's insurance." He chuckled at her expense. "Keep dreaming, baby. This is getting good to me." He ran a hand down her back over the bag, sending an even more unsettling and chilling feel despite his smooth talking and debonaire appearance.
The ninja's made no movement as Killstash spoke to his prize, but they were ready on command for one of their best paying clients as mercenary.
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"We do not have any females in our Pack anymore....We are currently all Male. This is my whole pack.." Lance said to her as he made sure that the others behaved while Anna took her things.
Corbin had a good feeling about the journey they were going to make. He took a quick liking to Anna despite just meeting her, but he could tell there was something about her, and that whether she knew it or not, this journey was going to help her. "Oh one warning as well, don't challenge us to anything, we don't wanna get bound or anything! That would just be trouble, so any games you have, we won't be joining you..I hear that there have been people who have been bound over smaller things! So we should be okay if we avoid conflict!" He said reassuring her, walking beside her when they set off.
He kept in his wolf form the whole time, finding it more comfortable to be like this. "So What is life like in the city?" he asked along their way, curious about life outside the forest.
"The City life is loud and stressful Corbin, we've been through this..the birds have seen this, the life we live is much better, more peaceful and centered~" Talus chimed in, his voice earthy and gentle, despite his large appearance, also staying as a wolf when they walk.
Lance kept at the front, keeping mostly quiet, his ears flicking sometimes catching the sounds of nature, monitoring Levana, making sure she doesn't try to pull anything, but is pretty certain by her mannerisms and aura that she's not going to be too much trouble, one of the reasons why he didn't object to Corbin's idea.
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Karin was unaware that some of the members of Tantalus were either working for or were easily bought out, she hadn't heard of this guy before, and didn't know how far his influence spread. She tried to move away from him when he brought his hand down to stroke her soft head, about to yell a snarky retort at him when his hand ran down her back, no one treating her like a cat in years, so the sensations being strange and surprising, making her yelp out, like a spider just crawled up her back. "MRREE-EEEE!" Her fur fluffing out in shock, shaking it off, glaring up at him, correcting her meow half way through yelping it out.
"Q-Quit that! And Stop callin' me Sprinkles! Look pal you've made a big mistake! I ain't some normal cat, you want one of them, go to a fuckin' pet shop!" She said still pushing against the walls of the bag, trying to squeeze her way out, her little paws making little bumps in the bag just looking kinda cute, struggling about making the bag fall over again, rolling about trying to kick it off while on her back, the bag nearing the edge of the table in her struggles.
I like how it's going so to save it, I'll be posting it here, k thnxComments0
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