Faltering Footsteps

[Lyra]

Walking had become a chore. Every step took thought, took an effort that was found through willpower alone. If not as stubborn as she was, she would have stopped moving long ago. As it was, she was running low on even will.

It had been nearly three weeks since she had left home. Her parents' intolerance toward those they considered to be less than human had forced her to keep her condition, as she referred to it, a secret. Fights with her parents had escalated over the past months, occurring more and more frequently. Finally fed-up with the constant remarks and insults directed at the various beings they encountered on family outings, Lyra had revealed her other form to her parents. An hour later found her locked in her room, curses and none-to-subtle threats being flung at the door. The tears that fell on her pillow were long in coming but quickly controlled. She did not have time to be feeling sorry for herself. Gathering the little bit of money she had saved up, she had packed a few other things in her schoolbag and grabbed her wand, thanking whatever deity was watching over her that she knew enough magic to at least get the door open.

It's amazing I had the wand to get out of there, she mused, bringing herself back to the present. I'm just glad no one thought to take it away from me when they locked me in there.

The weeks since her departure had not been kind to the girl. Her money had run out within a week, the soles of her shoes soon following. Having no money for food and nothing to protect delicate human feet from the harsh winter ground, she had changed once more, assuming the form that had started her current problems. Black fur now covered her thin form, though, in her condition, it did little to keep the cold out. A wound she had thought long-since healed festered under the black fur, giving her distinct limp with each step she took. All of her energy went to keeping her feet moving, each movement taking extreme concentration.

Left hind. Left fore. Grit teeth. Right hind. Grimace. Right fore. Sigh in relief as the pain subsides ever so slightly.

Only to start the pattern all over again. It seemed as though she had been doing this for days on end, though really it had only been a few hours since her last break. The exhaustion creeping in was overwhelming, threatening to halt her in her tracks. Giving in and just going to sleep was sounding more and more welcoming, and the steady gait she had managed to maintain until that point faltered slightly, paws stumbling clumsily across the forest floor. A whimper followed the clumsy motion as pain lanced through the canine's right hind leg once more, fiery tendrils racing up the limb.

Deciding it was time for a break once more, Lyra scanned the surrounding area. There didn't appear to be a good place to rest in the immediate area, so she pushed forward once more. Green eyes darted briefly to the sky, trying to gauge how much daylight she had left. The pale pinks and reds of sunset met her gaze, brining her the shocking realization that it was almost time to find a place to settle down for the night.

Lyra moved a bit further, jade orbs coming to rest on the opening to what appeared to be a cave. She looked around once more, assuring herself that she was, indeed, alone, before moving toward the opening. Hesitant footsteps echoed off the walls as she took her first hesitant steps in, unsure of what she would find.

((Apologies for the long, probably boring, post))

[Rogue]

Ooc: Not at all. Do not forget that Lycans cannot perform wand magic.

Ic: It had been a very cold day, and Rogue had spent the most of it lazing in front of the burning fire in the tunnels. Her only reason for moving was to melt into her mortal appearance and stock up the fire again, before curling down into hre she-wolf form once more and resting by it's flaming side to draw in it's warmth.

The orange and gold flames reflected against her snow-white pelt, turning it an autumn shade of dead leaves, an orange-brown colour, while her amethyst eyes reflected a darker colour, closer to black. She exhaled, letting dust and dirt swirl into the air from the air escaping her muzzle, and she closed her eyes, falling asleep until the late evening.

The she-wolf awoke to the sound of struggling paws on a cold ground. Opening her eyes, she raised her head and turned to face the entrance of the tunnels, just catching the shadow of another wolf with the sun setting behind it. Quickly lifting herself from beside the just-smouldering fire, she padded over to the entrance and her jaws tensed as she spotted a black she-wolf, clearly exhausted and having a good deal of trouble with her hind right leg.

Rogue could smell the wound, and this was the only reason she did not snap her jaws at the female and drive her right back into the freezing outside. Instead - much unlike her moods as of late - the pale she-wolf caught the green eyes of the other and moved past her, her bushy tail brushing the side of the black lycaness.

Rogue paused at the very opening of the tunnels as she faced the back of the black she-wolf, her telepathic voice echoing, Sit down by the fire. That said, the pale she-wolf followed the other in out of the chilled winds and she sat on her haunches, waiting to see whether the darker lycaness would obey.

Beside the clan elder, Rogue was the eldest female of the tunnel pack, although she had never classed herself as a 'tunnel lycan'. The hard stare in her eyes told that of wisdom and strength, and with the limping wolf in no fit state to fight, it was only a fool's errand not to sit before the fireplace as she had been told.

What is your name stranger, and what brings you here?

[Phoenix]

OOC: Only if they are born lycans, Turned Lycans can perform wandmagic

[Lyra]

It had taken Lyra only a few steps into the tunnels to realize that she wasn't as alone as she had first thought. The sound of a fire crackling caught her attention and she could only assume that the shelter was already occupied. A defeated sigh whispered into the night air, the sound carrying with it the emotions welling up within the creature.

Just as she was about to leave when the occupant of the tunnels approached her, brushing past in favor of standing behind the ebon she-wolf. Lyra tensed slightly at having the other behind her, nerves once more getting the better of her. The order to sit before the fire came as a bit of a shock, but she gratefully obliged. The warmth of the fire radiated out from the hearth that contained it and Lyra felt a sense of happiness rise within her. Following the snowy she-wolf’s lead, Lyra settled down on her haunches.

Jade orbs turned to the dancing flames before her, watching as the fire twisted this way and that. Shadows flickered in and out of existence on the stone walls, the distorted shapes disguising the true identity of the source. She continued to watch the impromptu masque until the other spoke. The question was an obvious one, one she should have been expecting, but the lycaness still had trouble finding the proper response.

“I’m Lyra,” she replied finally. The telepathic speech was soft, much as her own voice would be if she were in her human form. A sudden flash of embarrassment washed over the she-wolf as she realized she really had no solid reason for being where she was. The past several days replayed in her mind and she nodded to herself, deciding she might as well be honest.

“As for why I’m here,” Lyra continued hesitantly. “Well, it’s a long story. I just happened upon this place and thought it might be a good place to spend the night. You see, I’ve been wandering for quite some time. I really didn’t mean to intrude- I never would have come in if I had thought someone lived here. I’m really sorry to disturb you…”

The lycaness fell silent, her rambling voice drifting into nothingness. Why was it that she could never give a simple answer and leave it at that? With a sigh, she turned her attention back to the shadows dancing across the walls.

((OOC: Thanks for clearing that up for me!))

[Rogue]

Ooc: Ah, I see.

Ic: Rogue's eyes remained emotionless as she studied the other lycaness, her lilac orbs swirling with flecks of silver in the reflective fire. Glancing once more at the entrance, as if to wonder whether this she-wolf was fibbing and had brought company, Rogue decided to place what miniscule amount of benefit of doubt she had left in her on this ebony lycaness, and she turned to the tunnels.

Don't move. Echoed in the other she-wolf's mind as Rogue padded off into the darkness of the deeper tunnels, disappearing around a corner. Moments later, a woman clad in an old, rag-like grey dress walked out of the darkness that was the tunnels; a medical kit in one hand, and a warm black cloak in the other. She kneeled down by the other she-wolf, and one only needed to see the familiar shade of violet in her eyes to know that she was indeed the pale lycaness that had been here moments earlier.

Leaning forward, her long snow-white hair swam over her shoulders as she placed the cloak in front of Lyra and put the medical kit down beside herself. "Change into your human form." She told Lyra, keeping her eyes on the medical kit as she unclipped it's edges and moved her abnormally thin hands around inside of it, attempting to find some sort of antiseptic and bandage.

Rogue was no nurse, but she had seen Xavier, another member of the tunnel lycans perform various acts of medical emergency on several lycans, including herself when she was sliced at the wrist with silver. Finding the small bottle of antiseptic, she collected up a small cotton ball to dab it on with, all the while giving the other lycaness time to change forms and reveal whatever wound was troubling her on her leg.

[Lyra]

Don't move.

The words echoed in her mind, the simple command drawing the she-wolf's attention to her companion once more. Lyra watched as the other wandered further into the tunnels. Green eyes darted about the surrounding area, moving from the entrance, to the fire, to the darkness that had swallowed the other lycaness.

It wasn't long before a woman appeared from the shadows. Lyra looked at the human in confusion, almost rising to her feet before remembering the command the pale she-wolf had given her. Her patience was soon rewarded as the flickering firelight illuminated the woman's eyes, a shocking shade of violet coloring the irises. The ebon lycaness soon realized that this was the other's human form, the realization drawing a sigh of relief from the depths of her chest.

The next command, spoken aloud instead of in her head as the previous two, brought the nervousness of moments before rushing back to the forefront. Her human form? Change into the helpless, vulnerable form? The thought did not set well with Lyra. Jade orbs traveled to the medical kit the woman- Lyra realized she had yet to get her name- and she relaxed slightly.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she focused on the two-legged form she used to be so comfortable in. Moments later, a young girl sat in the wolf's place. Black, rather dirty hair cascaded over hunched shoulders to the girl's mid-back as she drew her knees to her chest in an attempt to ward off the cold. The young woman eyed the cloak in front of her but let it lie for the moment, unsure of the other's intentions for the garment.

Bright green eyes traveled down to her right leg and she winced slightly. Apparently the wound was worse than she had thought. The skin around the abrasion was bright red, heat radiating from the tortured cells. Yes, it was definitely infected, as she had feared.

Turning from the injured limb she looked back toward the pale woman before her. The girl opened her mouth, intending to inquire about the other's identity, but quickly thought better of the action. Her jaw snapped shut as she considered the consequences of angering the one whose home she had intruded on. Instead, she opted to sit silently and observe the other.

[Rogue]

Ooc: I'm terribly sorry for replying so late.

Ic: Rogue felt eyes on her as she moved about with the medical kit, tilting the antiseptic bottle against the firelight so to see it better and then working her fingers over the screw top lid to open it.

A ghastly smell filtered through the air as the bottle's lid came off, and Rogue frowned, remembering the smell very clearly as that of hospitals. She recognised this smell as poison ever since a pup, for it one could taste that it was not eatable simply by inhaling it's scent.

Wavering her other hand in the air above the bottle, the smell soon dissipated into nothingness, with only a faint whiff of it here and there. Upturning the bottle onto the cotton ball she soaked the small fuzzy thing, before settling the bottle back down and returning it's lid on securely. Placing the antiseptic back inside the medical kit, she turned to face the (now) young lady who sat before her.

Verdant green eyes glowed back at her, and she could not help but let a flicker of a smile pass at how pretty they were, as well as the messy hair - much like her own, and even the contrast in colour - falling down the girl's back. Giving her a silent but reassuring look, Rogue gently grasped the wounded leg and began to dab at the damaged skin, until the wound turned the same faded, sickly yellow of the antiseptic.

Tossing the cotton ball into the fire - with a loud sizzle - Rogue then reached for the bandage and quickly proceeded to wrap it not too gently but not too tight around the leg of the lycaness, keeping two fingers under the good side of the woman's leg so to give room for circulation. Securing the end, she let go and packed up the medical kit, looking up through her pale tresses as she did so.

"It would probably be best for you to stay in your human form while it heals, and since you are a lycaness, it should only take tonight to heal." Gesturing to the cloak on the ground she said, "Go ahead, otherwise you'll freeze." Then she rose, and walked back through the tunnels to return the medical kit to it's place and wash her hands.

Upon entering the room once more, Rogue considered immediately turning back into her true form, but she decided against this quite soon after. Rogue had never been one to change into her human form, for she also felt terribly vulnerable, and for this lycaness to have turned at but the words and trust of a stranger she had just met, Rogue held respect, and so she remained in her human form to help the other stay at ease.

Settling down by the fire again she kept her eyes on the flames and said gently, "What is your name?" then let it be. If the lycaness wished to ask for her name, Rogue would give it, but in the meantime, she would dig up information on the other before dishing it out. It was simply her way of thinking, and she had learned never to trust. Though her name would no doubt inform the other of this once it was spoken.