| [ti]AW[/ti]Every Leopard has its Home; ...but this is not it | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 12 2013, 09:21 PM (254 Views) | |
| Alpha | Feb 12 2013, 09:21 PM Post #1 |
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Now this scenery…this land was more like it. Tree aplenty as far as the eyes could see with hardly a hint of dark grey to mar its brilliance. Though she fancied the rooftops of the city as her domain, nothing compared to the feel of the earth beneath her calloused paws. It was always the same; like taking the first steps toward home as though within the lush encampment she would find whatever it was waiting for her…patiently still. This of course was not the cause, but that did not keep her from reveling in the splendor any less. Here, she could smile…within the woodlands she could howl to her heart’s content. Here she could call this place her home and walk upon the heavy branches as if they were her own territory. Of course…they were not, and it would have been foolish to claim such a vast land for herself, but it did not change her perspective any less. With body as open and free as the day she was brought into the world, she vaulted from tree to tree like a wild thing, feeling the bark beneath her claws and engorged her senses with the smell of the forest. A civil nature was far from attainable, not when her mind was enthralled with the wild nature of things. She leapt for another branch with arms extended, her mane streaming wildly behind then shrouding her once more as she grasp onto her goal. Hanging from the branch, she swung herself up then, wrapping her legs around her perched then released her grip to hang down and look upon the ground. She watched in leisure as the broken twigs and leaves from her gallivant flittered down and lined the earthen floor…before she swung herself up once more only to coil herself against the crook of her tree. |
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| Dmitri Erin | Feb 12 2013, 10:01 PM Post #2 |
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Sometimes he had to get out. He wanted to leave the city behind and go where it was less noisy, without the constant press of bodies and the need to watch them, to measure what they would do. Out here he could relax and take a deep breath from the air, clean and pure. It was hard to imagine what the planet their ancestors had come from could be like, twisted beyond the point where it was livable. He'd shed his clothes a short distance back before turning into his animal form. It wasn't one he was proud of, but like all shifters he was enthralled to the need to change. Out here at least he'd get the privacy that he craved. The feel of the dirt under his paws as he ran across it was like a splash of cold water in his face. It wasn't a fast pace, not one that would devour the ground. Just one of pure joy as he moved across the ground. Reaching a thick section where the snow covered the ground and threatened to slow him Dmitri turned to the trees. His claws dug deftly into the wood, muscles built from years allowing him to maintain his grip and move to the top. The cold air was biting, his dark eyes wide as he surveyed the area. There was nothing in site, save for a few birds that could be seen flitting carelessly between the trees. He leaned down against the branch, the sharp chittering of a powerful male calling out his claim to the area echoing across. Dmitri had no territorial need, simply calling out to establish his position. The air was silent, as always. Who would be there to hear his claim? Round ears rolled forwards, still listening to see if there was something else out there that would challenge his call. |
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| Alpha | Feb 12 2013, 11:08 PM Post #3 |
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As the call echoed and reached her distant ears, the female found that she was not alone within the impressive stretch of land. To assume she would be would have been a foolish inclination, yet she was none the less surprised by this...disturbance. And it was a claiming call at that. Territorial aggression peeled the female from her comfortable branch, and aloft again, bounding from one stable branch to another. Her voice rang high with a challenging howl, deeming her occupied stretch of the forest her own to do with as she saw fit. By her powerful legs she leapt onto another tree and fixed her claws within its strong bark. She held herself in place just long enough to gather her feet beneath her, as she erected herself upon her perched, towering at her fullest height within the canopy of the trees. Then once more, her voice rang out, not a roar of sorts but a howl as was accustomed to her kind. A repetitive rendition that reverberated off the prior in canon until it became a seamless song of claim. |
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| Dmitri Erin | Feb 13 2013, 03:59 PM Post #4 |
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He was satisfied with the silence that greeted his ears, and turned back to himself. Dmitri didn't care to linger in this form. He wasn't as large as other shifters, and holding up the appearance of a predator when he looked more like a child's pet was difficult. His long forelimbs allowed him to keep a strong grip as his weight shifted, knocking some of the snow loose to the ground below. There was no need to do more in his mind. Most big predators stayed clear of the area around the city, not caring for turf battles with the fiercer halflings and shifters. The silence didn't remain, broken by the unique cry of a snow leopard. Perking up he caught it as it echoed, fierce and demanding. This wasn't the same as the call of a lone devil calling out that he was there and belonged there. This was the cry of a leopard who had claimed this territory, and would fight for it. He wasn't a territorial creature. In most instances he would ignore it and move on. This was close to the city though, and he needed to know who it was that had decided to move next to their gang. He could pass as a normal animal thankfully, something he'd figured out to do when Matthias started using him as target practice. The devil dropped to the ground, pushing himself through the snow to find the source of the call. His black fur stood out like a beacon in the woods, only bettered by the dark branches of the trees and bushes that covered the ground. His paws held the same cool touch as the ground he trod on as he approached the tree, pretending to be on the hunt while his ears swiveled up, focusing on the leopard halfling higher up in the trees. Ponderously he climbed up the tree, the scent of a squirrel that had made a nest nearby drawing the predator closer. |
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| Alpha | Feb 13 2013, 04:21 PM Post #5 |
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standing still upon her branch, when her call was not challenged, the female let the final verse of her call fade quietly away. And she too came to a pause though in the manner of a recline against her newly claimed tree. Carefully she braced her back against the curve of the trunk and branch, then let her legs straddle the timber with tail hanging freely and curling by its tip. A sense of accomplishment enveloped her by her simply an act as what was just conducted. At least she could smile to herself in knowing her part of the land would not be disturbed for now, until she saw fit to return to the rooftops of the city and let whomever and whatever has its way. With that certainty, albeit temporarily, in mind, she was able to look around from her height with ease, paying little mind to the crest birds as they ascended through the dense canopy toward nests hidden therein. A stout ear did twitch however with the sounds of tearing bark not created from her own claws. With eyes narrowed defensively, she peered down at her tree spying not only the insects that scurried at random, but a small furred creature slowly making its climb. And such a small thing it was, tugging on the female's likeness for creatures of its size. Some misguided use of the maternal instinct perhaps, but it did not warrant any less of her immediate affections for it. The tension of her muzzle lessened as she offered a gentle croon in place of her claiming howl. A coax to lure the small creature to her that she might lavish its single striped form with certain unrequited affections. Edited by Alpha, Feb 13 2013, 06:34 PM.
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| Dmitri Erin | Feb 13 2013, 06:15 PM Post #6 |
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The croon from the halfling got his attention. He glanced back at her, drinking in her form once more. The smooth change from feline to human drew his eyes, noting the spotted coloring over her body. Her eyes were mismatched, fixing his attention. It wasn't the look of a predator moving after a convenient toy it had found to batter around. It wasn't the look of a hunter, something he was used to fighting off even with the disadvantage of his size. The halfling didn't look the least bit threatened by the presence of another predator either. No, the look in her eyes was one of fondness, a dreaded look usually followed by attempts at petting and cuddling him. This was not welcome. Dmitri yawned widely, a mouthful of sharp fangs demonstrated to the halfling. He took his time, looking utterly bored with the presence of the other before he turned his head, continuing to investigate the presence of the squirrel. There wasn't a very good chance that he'd be able to follow it up much higher. Like all predators there was a limit to how far he could climb before the tree stopped supporting him. He'd either slip through the branches or snap them off. Dmitri stuck his nose towards the hole, measuring her again. She had a slim form, one with muscles that showed she moved around a lot. Her comfort in the trees showed a lot of balance. What were her intentions here? And what would drive her to attempt to cuddle a tasmanian devil? |
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| Alpha | Feb 13 2013, 06:41 PM Post #7 |
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A simple touch would have sufficed, just enough to caress the course fur of the animal and settle the growing need threatening to overtake her. The animal remained just out of reach with small jaws splayed wide in a display of boredom...but the show only quickened the beat of her heart and had her tail twitched excitedly. From her branch the female slipped down having locked her strong legs around the base of the limb to carefully arch herself down in a backwards bend. Her tail remained free to aid in her stability as she rocked herself toward the trunk of the tree and dug her claws into its textured facade. Then carefully she held out her hand, parting through the cascading strands of black and silvery white in an attempted to grasp the little devil and give his little form a pet. If her hand did not reach him, then without a doubt her length tresses would. Again the female treed to coax the little creature forward, yowling softly to lure him in. She meant him no harm...quite the opposite in fact; a warm bosom to lie within as she held him in her arms. Perhaps a nice groom until he saw fit to leave. But his attentions were apparently fixed on the nest within the tree, leaving her attempts for a time to remain unheeded. |
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| Dmitri Erin | Feb 13 2013, 11:02 PM Post #8 |
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He watched nervously as she twisted around. He had confirmed that the squirrel wasn't in there, and he'd have to look elsewhere, find another reason to stay close to the halfling. Sighing he turned his gaze back to the tree's thick bark, avoiding directly meeting her eyes. The drop down did interest him, looking at the acrobatic way she twisted herself so she could drop down around the trunk. He moved so that he was closer to the inner part of the tree, ears twitching as the display of no interest continued. He wasn't threatened by her presence. He could easily take her on if he had to. That was the whole point of the display, to bluff to the other predator that there was no concern about the close proximity. Her hand reached towards him again. There was no denying the fact that she was trying to coax him over to be cuddled. Why she would think a wild animal would move over and let themselves be touched by something that screamed predator was bothering him. Either she had picked up that he wasn't a normal animal, or something else was going on. The soothing sounds to try and lure him closer started up again, Dmitri turning his head to face her this time. There was true earnestness in her eyes. This was a good way to keep an eye on her and find out what she was doing near the city. Dmitri just loathed what that was going to require him to do. Letting anyone fuss over his appearance filled him with disgust. There was a reason why he came all the way out here when he had to shift. Slowly he stretched out his head, sniffing at her fingers with cautious interest. He could smell where she'd been, the plants from the north showing up plainly in her scent, along with the faintest trace of asphalt. |
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| Alpha | Feb 13 2013, 11:42 PM Post #9 |
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Exhibiting an air of caution was the least of her concerns once the small creature made eye contact with her. It was the first show of interest from the little predator, and it was enough to instill home that perhaps her day would not be over without having a delicate touch of his fur. She left her claws extended for him to smell, inching closer still as she allowed herself to further extend. She could feel he bark rub away from her legs, their fragile flesh falling away under the strain of supporting the heavy body now with the pull of gravity added. She would not have been able to keep the posture for long, and with an almost pleading whine, she cupped her hand in offering to the creature. To have and keep him was not the motivation for her actions, simply the thought of sharing her time with something not a threat was enough to lean her toward the devil. She was a creature of no forethought...or rather she chose not to cater to it. This was put a moment in time she wanted to make her own and fit this little thing within. And in the strain of her bend, as he core contracted, she deeply inhaled and noted the creature's scent for the first time. Animal but not. A defining scent as one would find as a differentiation between the wild wolves and the domestic dogs. He was like her...but not he same as her. And with this realization, her hand fell away and the female swiftly curled over her branch to reclaim her seat upon it. Her interest now gone. Edited by Alpha, Feb 14 2013, 12:42 AM.
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| Dmitri Erin | Feb 14 2013, 12:17 AM Post #10 |
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She grew more excited once he turned her attention towards her. The halfling was appearing rather simplistic in the pursuit of her goals interested in nothing more than the chance to touch him. An action he loathed but wouldn't stand against for the sake of the group he affiliated with. The added whine drew him a little closer, taking a single hesitant step forward. It was easy, letting his mind follow it's instincts. The slight push to approach instead of run or bite was the only real sign that he wasn't what he appeared to be. His ears stayed trained on her as he investigated. Her hand dropped away sharply, startling Dmitri. He could have easily kept his balance, but it would take thought. Keeping still after such a swift retreat wouldn't fall under a normal category. The withdrawal of the halfling let him know that she'd picked up his scent. Had she met shifters that had locked away their human sides to live in their animal form? Dmitri knew how that was. He knew more about the instincts and behavior of a wild animal than anyone in the gang besides Matthias. They were targeted by the eagle as well, but hadn't learned that Matthias would lose interest if he didn't pick up that it was unusual. Slipping over the branch Dmitri scrabbled at it's side, struggling to keep balance. His claws could be heard tearing into the wood briefly before he found his purchase and pulled himself back up. Letting out a harsh screech of anger at having almost been knocked out of the tree he worked his way along, moving to drop back down and continue his investigation for 'prey'. He kept close to the tree the halfling was in, not wanting to leave her sight as he nudged down to where he could see some mice tracks. Edited by Dmitri Erin, Feb 14 2013, 12:53 AM.
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| Alpha | Feb 14 2013, 01:06 AM Post #11 |
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Her attention had returned to her surroundings when it was learned the creature was just another like herself though gifted with the power to change. No doubt one that too his animal form...so true form as a means to escape the trials of the fragile flesh rather than embrace it wholly as one should have, and never shed his coarse-furred self. She never favored that kind as they always seemed to look at their changeable state as something to he damned rather than accepted. Though there were a few gems within the rough that managed to hold her good will. Those that adopted their true forms and learned to utilize them in this ever changing world. Bearing witness to that always brought her comfort, yet seeing the like had made her wonder with time if this world was lost to those hat wanted to be covered in flesh. From the base of her tree, she could hear the scrape if his claws, the slow descent back to the ground earning a curious eye fixed below her. Perhaps he would change now that his fun could not be had at the expense of another. It would not have surprised her...and yet he did not change... |
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| Dmitri Erin | Feb 14 2013, 10:55 PM Post #12 |
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The halfling had curled back into the branches of the tree, looking round her surroundings once more and taking in the winter landscape. Dmitri pondered her actions as he moved along, stretching out his form. He was moving at a fairly slow pace over the snow, the crisp surface breaking under his steps as he searched the mouse tracks, curious about her actions. He had come out here after she had howled proclaiming the area as her territory, an action that warranted him coming out to investigate what kind of neighbor the pack had gained. She had done nothing territorial since his arrival, just lounging in the tree and attempting to touch his fur. Thinking of that Dmitri straightened up, checking over his appearance. Looking messy and unkempt took effort. The snow that pulled the dirt from his fur and smoothed it with dampness did not help in this process. Twisting his head he ran his nose through his fur, pushing against the grain to force it to stand against the grain. His teeth nipped through, subconsciously removing irritants from his flesh as he tugged at his body. Once he was satisfied that his fur in that section appeared to be tangled he moved to his other side repeating the process with great care. The eyes of the halfling could be felt on his frame. She was watching him, suspicious of the shifter's presence now that she understood what he was. Her actions were muddled, sending mixed messages to Dmitri's mind. She didn't feel like a predator, more like a cat stretched out and watching below to pass the time. Would she move, or simply remain until she decided to leave the area? Dmitri could bide his time watching her. He had no pressing business today, not when he'd set it aside for use of his animal form. |
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| Alpha | Feb 14 2013, 11:12 PM Post #13 |
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...and still the shifter did nothing but mind his business and made quite a show of mussing up his fur as if to shed the 'clean' appearance. It was quite odd, but an interesting show to say the least. More often than not she had seen others of his kind attempt to keep themselves orderly...but this was not the case she witnessed. Intrigued, the female slipped carefully down from her tree, utilizing one branch after another to smooth her descent until ground was felt underpaw. Her press to the ground was silent, joined on all fours with tail hanging aloft as she crept closer to the small predator continuing to mess himself up. Her muzzle wrinkled curiously, with nose inching closer to further gather his scent. Clearly he smelled of something other than the woodlands, yet his behavior did not suggest that was his calling. Sentience compelled her to inquire with articulated tones, yet she forewent that approach in favor of letting her eyes inquire for her. This sight was a rarity, though not an unpleasant one. She dared to keep herself within the creature's proximity, idle as she lied in wait him to either notice her or change his form. The note of curiosity slipped from her spotted maw to invoke a kind of reaction when impatience inevitably won out. Edited by Alpha, Feb 14 2013, 11:36 PM.
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| Dmitri Erin | Feb 15 2013, 03:26 AM Post #14 |
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His ears twitched as the halfling dropped from the tree, the sound of her weight hitting against each branch echoing across the muffled snow. Dmitri sidled forwards slightly, not in the mood for being startled again by the wits of the snow leopard. He dug deeper into his fur, tugging at a particularly stubborn strand before it held the position he demanded from it. There was little sound to give away the halfling's presence, nothing more than the sound of her breath as it misted before dissipating away. Moving his paws to his ears Dmitri rubbed over them, two quick passes that rolled over the tops. Satisfied with this new state of affairs he halted his grooming efforts, returning to holding himself on four legs. Dmitri was aware of the halfling's near presence, irritated by the rash proximity. She didn't halt her approach, each inch moving her closer to the object of her curiosity. Dmitri did not see himself as a peculiarity worthy of such attention knowing that there were shifters and halflings of the same species. Her actions were peculiar in a manner, almost as if she was pushing for him to break the facade of a true tasmanian devil and reveal the human nature beneath. The curious note drew his attention, unable to ignore her presence any longer. Dmitri growled, a low chortling sound in the back of his throat as he looked over her. He did not understand why she felt the need to examine him so closely, dreading that she, as many others, wished to fuss over his unfortunate appearance. |
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