Deep in a northern Canadian woods, the male Ca'guuror wandered through the forest. His bare feet made only the slightest crunching upon the ground, as the thick layers of fallen pine needles cushioned the soles of his feet. Although others would wince in pain and hesitate to walk upon the prickly bed of needles, the pain was a welcome relief to the young male. It reminded him of every time he shape shifted, the now exquisite pain of the bones breaking and rearranging at his whim. He smiled to himself, exposing four sharp canines that he usually sported, his natural forms strange pupilless gold eyes casting around the woods he was walking in. He stopped his walking, and looked around slowly. He could see nothing, but that did not mean there was nothing near by. He changed forms partially, picking an anthropomorphic form of a panther. Light tan fur rippled along his flesh, coating him as his ears grew long and pointed. His face slightly elongated and his nose changed into a feline's. His hands and feet became paws with black fur, and claws slowly retracted into the sheaths a normal feline would have. He stood still, twitching his ears like satellite dishes, trying to pick any noise out of the slowly falling dusk, while his nose took in the smells, attempting to detect any trace of anything that might be around. He remain this way for several minutes, watching as clouds rolled over the sun, blanketing the pine woods prematurely and bringing the scent of a promised deluge and slight stink of burnt ozone. A thunderstorm then. He could live with that.
Not hearing anything out of the ordinary wild life, and slowly began walking again, but kept his anthropomorphic form. He had learned from his time in training, it was far better to be safe then sorry. His slightly animalistic instincts in this form where better then a simple human form, though not as good in full animal form. However, he had much more dexterity and ability to react then in animal form. So he chose a good mixture of the two, allowing him to be proactive in his own defense, with out diminishing this own offensive capabilities to much at the same time. He reached a tall pine tree, and looking around, he let his claws slide out and dug them into the bark of the tree. He climbed up the trunk of the large tree, and reached a branch large enough to hold him comfortably. He settled upon it, his back pressed against the rough bark and his legs stretched out along the branch. His skin tight black leather vest clung to his torso, and his baggy black cargo pants clothed his legs and waist. He relaxed, a smile playing across his lips again as he sat, peace settling upon his body as he took in the nature and beauty around him in this remarkable place.
Post by Joseph Goebbels on Aug 1, 2011 13:59:06 GMT -5
Joseph shifted on the tree limb, feeling something heavy settle in the selfsame tree his claws were currently wrapped around. He blinked large, golden orbs, fluffing the deep, red orange plumage on his chest. Nothing really to worry about if it was as he suspected. Bears let him the hell alone, they didn't think it worth the small bite of meat. Pumas kept to themselves. Only man seemed to think it was worth it to screw with the werefalcon. He grumbled to himself, his brace settled against the tree trunk next to him. One shift of the gigantic thing that was sharing his roost, and the brace went crashing down to the ground. Joseph's head ripped out from underneath his wing and he leaned forward, watching the steel leg brace bounce from limb to limb, and come to rest on the ground below.
God damn it. That would have bent it if not broken it entirely. He opened his beak and hissed loudly, turning his head to see what puma or bear had earned the privelege of losing an eye. His eyes rested upon something that looked like a mix between a puma and a human! Another werebeast. Well, this one was going to get it. He screeched at the person, puffing up his little body in indignation. He wasn't going to let him sit in peace, he was going to give him the what for!
"Faith moves mountains, but intelligence moves them to the right place."
He blinked as the brace went plunging to the ground, slamming into several limbs on the way go. What the hell? A brace in a tree, where nobody else was? A sudden hiss drew his attention away from the fallen object and slightly to his left, farther up a tree where a falcon had shifted from it's obvious slumber, or it had taken off long ago. Or would it?? It's obvious lack of fear already marked it as different then a normal falcon that would have fled at his simple presence. As it screeched, the male slowly raised an eyebrow at it. His slightly smile split into a complete smile, and his lips parted as he spoke in deep, gravely voice that sounded as if it had not been used in ages. Reality was, it really had not been hardly used in the past fifty years of the male's life, but that was the past and best not dealt upon.
"Well now. What do we have here? A falcon, and not simply just a falcon. A falcon who did not flee upon my presence. So an unusual falcon." He stood up, and in doing so a long tail grew from his spinal column, extending outwards and balancing him so he could leap up on to the same branch the bird was resting upon. He landed in a semi crouch, his hand/paws splayed out before him on the branch and his head tilted slightly to the left. His solid, gold pupilless eyes gazed directly into the falcon's own eyes, his four sharp canines glinting. "So, an unusual falcon. Far away from the rest of the world. So, going upon intuition and experience, I am going to make gander that you are either a shape shifter like myself, or a were-falcon. Which is it?"
He was relaxed in this position, awaiting this other creature's response in whatever fashion it chose to present it in. His tail swayed side to side slowly, balancing him but also able to act like a gripping tool if he needed it to. Several great drops of rain splattered on his shoulder length, dirty blonde hair but he ignored them. He could feel it, the static electricity building up. The arm's upon his hair stood up as a blast of lighting streaked across the sky, illuminating them both. They had better move quickly. A blast like that would decimate the tree they where both in, and the tree was a prime target being high then all the others. Of course, he could redirect it if he so wished, but he chose to let nature take it's own choice. The Gods deemed what should happen and shouldn't. Who was he to change how things happened if he didn't really need to.
Post by Joseph Goebbels on Aug 1, 2011 14:31:04 GMT -5
Joseph felt like leaping on this stranger's face and clawing his nose. That brace enabled him to walk, without it he couldn't leave this form without being stranded! He hissed again but the falcon part of him was urging him to take flight. Not out of fear, because the air was strange. He had to see what happened to the brace anyway. He flicked a bit of bark at the shapeshifter angrily and took off, gliding down to the ground to look at his brace. Bent, but not too badly. He'd have to have it repaired, but that was a risk in itself. Something stamped with a symbol like that would raise some eyebrows, especially here so close to people who wanted his hide. He fluffed his feathers again. Of all the rude...
His mind didn't get to finish the thought. The area was swathed in bright white light, temporarily blinding him and forcing him to take flight again. Heat crackled in the air, and a great boom hit his small eardrums. Lightning, he'd seen it before. But this close? Never. He alighted again in a nearby tree and stared at the burning wreck. Before he could gingerly go back and fetch the bent up medical brace, a large chunk of the tree fell right onto it. He heard the horrible sound of crashing wood and flattening metal. Now he was most definitely stuck. Oh if that shapeshifter had the sense to leap free of the tree he'd claw his face off!
"Faith moves mountains, but intelligence moves them to the right place."
As the air changed, Ca'guuror quickened the electrical signals in his body to enhance his speed slightly, and he back flipped off the branch and away from the tree and clenching his eyes shut, landing upon the ground as the brilliant bolt slammed into the tree. He was to slow to dodge the shock wave of the blast though, and stumbled as it rolled past him. As he stumbled, a chunk of wood slammed into him, sending him flying backwards into another tree with a crack. He shoved the door sized slab of wood off himself, grunting with the pain running through his body. He quickly assessed the damage. Minor scraps and some bruises covered his body, but after rubbing his eyes to clear the spots before them, he looked at his right shoulder he growled while shaking his head. A foot long sliver of wood hand lodged into him, and he knew it was going to be hell getting out. Ignoring it for the time being, he kicked the chunk of wood aside and strode towards where the tree had been, flames leaping from the smoldering wood.
He eyed the tree, and looked at where the brace had been upon the ground. Flattened beneath a burning piece of tree, there was no way he could go after it. He sighed and looked around, spotting the falcon in a nearby tree. "Glad to see you got out ok." He fingered the sliver of wood lodged in his arm, and grimaced. He slowly let all his animal traits disappear, for they were not needed at this time. He needed all his energy to close the wound that would be left after he removed the wood.
Gritting his teeth, he reached up and wrapped his hand around the sliver, took a deep breath, and jerked hard. A wet grinding noise sounded as the wood ground against the bone it had embedded into and the male gasped. He jerked again, and the wood came out, coated in blood and gore. He concentrated on the wound, using his ability to control electricity to enhance the speeding process. He sat down, as this would take several minutes. He quickened the electrical signals, trying to stop the flow of blood. Already he could tell he was going to need more electricity. His body was running low of its own. Rain pelted down around him, soaking his pants as he stood up. He smiled, albeit a slightly pained one, as he realized he had all the electricity he needed and simply began pulling upon the static in the air. The bleeding stopped, and he nodded. That would have to do for now.
Post by Joseph Goebbels on Aug 1, 2011 21:45:56 GMT -5
Joseph preened for a moment, indignant. He saw the sliver of wood driven into the creature's arm and felt a bit of satisfaction. Served him right for knocking off something he depended on. He slowly let go of the transformation, his face twisted into a nasty glare. "Thanks for that. Now I don't have a brace. I can't walk." he snapped. "I came up here to get away from morons, and now you've broken the only thing that...god! You stupid boy, what were you doing charging up a tree in that giant form, shaking the earth like some damn earthquake?!" he brushed soot off of his suit, irritably rubbing his leg. He couldn't stand, so limped to a tree and rested against it. He was braced to take flight again, there was always a risk berating people like that, they could snap his neck. Canucks, wild things with no regard for proper authority. "A bit of respect for your elders would be nice." he ran his fingers through his hair.
Ironically, he'd come to nestle in the tree after starting another drunken brawl in the city of Quebec. Starting fights when he was an inch under five feet, skinny as a rail, and nearly forty five wasn't an intelligent idea. It was even worse trying to break a bottle and knife someone three times his size. After nearly being strangled he'd thought it best to fly as far as he could without stopping. As it was, he was nursing a bruised eye and two large bruises around his skinny throat. What could he say...the old Nazi had a temper. He rummaged around in his pockets and came up with a cigarette, lighting it and puffing away angrily. Now he'd have to fly to find someone who could make him another brace. But no...he couldn't leave that one there. He got up and eyed the chunk of wood, kicking it aside with his foot. He picked up the bent piece of metal. It was still serviceable if repaired, just...flattened. It needed to be reformed.
"Faith moves mountains, but intelligence moves them to the right place."
Grinning as the old male berated him, Ca'guuror's eyes roved over the man. He couldn't help but chuckle. It was so amusing, somebody so short and crippled, but at the same time SO firey. He tilted his head, noticing the injuries, though slight, upon the male. SO obviously this temper he was letting flare was trademark for him, or at least common place. He was not at all perturbed by the berating, and could tell that is elderly gentleman didn't really mean anything by it. Besides, he had accidentally just smashed the man's brace so had to give the male some sort of leeway. He parted his lips and spoke.
"Well, maybe you should leave the brace upon the ground next time sir. I am very sorry about that. If I had seen it, I would have made sure to remove it from harms way. However, I did not for see such a horrendous bolt of lighting completely smashing it flat. So you will pardon if I don't really apologize for that part." He contemplated the man's dilemma. It was obvious even to a stupid person the man could not walk with out the brace. Alas, Cag did not have the tools to fix the object either.
"Since I did just smash your brace, sir. Would you like a ride home perhaps? Or simply a cane to help you along the way? I could easily make one for you." He smiled, watching the male closely to see his reaction. He could gleen much just by simply watching a person's expressions and body motions when asked simple questions. It was a simple trick really, even a human could perform it if they paid enough attention to the details. "Your choice good man. Either way, it will be no problem to myself."
Post by Joseph Goebbels on Aug 1, 2011 22:48:55 GMT -5
"Oh a cane. Why didn't I think of it?" Joseph sneered. "What a revolutionary idea. A CANE. That doesn't take care of my blistering pain. I can use a cane with the brace not instead of, you..." he chewed the inside of his mouth for a moment. "Go bugger off and bug someone else." he grabbed a branch of the tree next to him and tested his leg. Pain shot up his thigh and into his back, the twisted ankle clearly not able to support anything at all. He snarled and leaned back against the tree. Even if he had a cane, he would still have to put weight on it. He couldn't take the pain without a drink. He settled there and puffed on his cigarette angrily, then sighed. "Look. I'm sorry." he grumbled.
"Faith moves mountains, but intelligence moves them to the right place."
Waving his hand at the apology, he shook his head. "No need to apologize. You are in pain. Pain drives even the best men to do even some rather unpleasant things. Well, if you can't walk, can you ride? I would be more then willing to carry you out? Or," Cag passed, looking around the clearing and sighing, "I can offer a more drastic, rather risky alternative." He looked back at the man biting his upper lip softly and thinking.
"I could shape shift, and inject you with a slight neurotoxin that would deaden the nerves slightly and ease the pain. Though as I said, it is kind of risky, as I do not know how your body would react to the venom." He nodded, thinking to himself. "Yea, it would be pretty risky. But there is also the chance that it might permanently either relieve or lessen the pain. You never know. It your choice sir." He stood back, watching the man.He was a tough old crow, that much was certain, and he definitely didn't really want help. Though he didn't have much of a choice in the matter at the present time. He could either spend forever trying to fly out of the forest, or let Cag help him out. He awaited the response patiently, kicking at random bits of wood strewn along the ground.
"Would it be as risky if a healer were nearby?" asked a voice nearby. Out of a thicket rose a tall, dark figure. It had been there the entire time, settled comfortably among the branches and dead litter. A sketch pad was held lightly in one gloved hand while the other held a single gold pencil. The almost-finished sketch of a stretching pine spoke for what the owner had been doing just minutes before. If one had looked more closely, they would have seen that a few hasty lines had been added to create the shapes of a bird and a puma in the tree's branches.
Calmly, the figure closed the book before stashing it and the pencil somewhere in the confines of the black duster it wore. Only then did it direct its attention back towards the odd pair. A skeletal face peered out at them from beneath the brim of a stetson, and though it looked at both, the majority of the gaze landed on the old man.
"Hello, Joseph. I did not think we would meet again so soon," Tamreta greeted.
Post by Joseph Goebbels on Aug 2, 2011 1:54:48 GMT -5
Joseph took one look at the shapeshifter and laughed bitterly. "Neurotoxin. Neurotoxin. Boy, have you ever SEEN a cobra bite? Everything turns black and falls off. No thanks. I'd rather walk on the damn thing than have it fall off. Better in pain than a wheelchair." he grumbled, looking back at him. "Good luck to you, psycho." he turned and nearly bumped into a shadowy figure closing a sketchbook. He backpedaled and nearly fell over, his foot refusing to do such a complicated move without any sort of grace. Unfortunately this put him closer to the crazy man who wanted to poison him. But...there was something interesting about this particular disgusting creature. He eyed her a moment, listened to her speak. She knew him.
"Oh God it's YOU. When will you make like a muslim and get a head scarf? You'll put me off my food. Permanently. You and the crippler here will get along famously." Joseph said, but calmed down a bit. At least this was someone he knew. He looked from shapeshifter to Tamreta, then back again. "Well, you two love birds can chat all you want, I'm going to find someone to fix this thing."
"Faith moves mountains, but intelligence moves them to the right place."
Slowly raising his eyes, Ca'guuror studied the new comer with interest. Obviously female, and looking only like a corpse. This was being he hand never hand any previous experience with, and he was impress. That never seemed to happen to him. When she spoke, he nodded and laughed. "Why, yes indeed it would help. The whole point of the operation would simply be to deaden the nerves in his legs. As that is the point of neurotoxin. But if he does not wish it, I will not force it upon him."
Listening to the exchange between the two, who obviously knew each other from prior experiences, the male grinned and chuckled slightly at the word choice of the elderly man. His lips slowly opened and he spoke softly. "Now now, sir. Is that anyway to treat a lady? Even if she is so physically unique? Especially as you have been so lax upon introductions." Cag stepped forward, bowing slightly and taking the female's hand gently with in his own and brought it to his lips, planting a soft delicate kiss upon the back of her flesh. "Good evening madam. My I inquire as to your name?" He slowly released her hand and straightened up. As he did so, his back cracked loudly, still hurting slightly from the bruising he had received early when flung backwards into the tree.
Shaking his head, he slowly bent down and picked up the older gentleman's leg brace, examining it slowly. "It looks like it can be fixed easily sir. It just needs to be," he stopped and contemplated before continuing, "stretched slightly. Give me a second." He stepped away from the two, carefully began pulling the metal apart slightly until he could slid his arm inside. He nodded, then stared at the other male's leg, sizing it up. With a nod, he slowly shape shifted his arm, expanding it slowly with in the confines of the brace, wincing slightly as the metal pinched his flesh hard enough to draw blood in several places. When his arm was about the size of the man's leg, he stopped it from growing and slowly reversed the process, shrinking his arm. Cag slipped his limb from the object, and handed it back to crippled man. "Here. sir. This should help until we can at least get you a replacement one."
Tamreta chuckled at the old man's prickly greeting. His strange ways had ceased to annoy her as they had earlier in their relationship, so she took no offense to what was said. "Though I thank you for the suggestion, I prefer to stay with my hat. It keeps the rain off much more efficiently than any headscarf. Similar to how you insist on keeping that antique brace instead of replacing it, no?" she teased lightly. Her empty eyes slipped over to the other person present and her jaw twisted into a grotesque smirk. "Also, this 'crippler' was only trying to help. Give him a little leeway. He is young and not yet at the grumpy-old-codger stage."
The young man was quite a charmer, and spoke eloquently; both traits that appealed to the reaper. Most were put off by her unusual looks, as demonstrated by Joseph, so it was refreshingly welcome to be treated so politely. "You may inquire. My name is Tamreta Valdis, a reaper, and this is Joseph. No doubt you have already determined what he is and suffered his sharp tongue. Do not worry, though, his bark is much worse than his actual bite," she replied, bowing slightly at the waist. "Would you be inclined to share your name with us?"
She watched silently as the young shapeshifter used his abilities to repair the crushed brace. So he was kind as well. Another good trait to possess in these times. No doubt Joseph would continue to act brusque even after this act, so Tamreta decided to thank him her way. A few silent steps brought her beside the young man and she smiled as soothingly as she could, an action not easily done when one's face was a skull. "If I may," she said briefly, removing the glove from one hand. She layed it gently on his exposed arm and pushed some of her healing power into his body, directing it quickly and efficiently to close up his wounds and ease the bruised muscles in his back. "I hope that is sufficient thanks for helping my friend here.:
Post by Joseph Goebbels on Aug 4, 2011 14:26:39 GMT -5
Joseph took the brace and sat down, sliding it back over his clubbed foot and strapping the painful limb in. He ran his fingers over the steel. He'd need it refitted, but he could at least put weight on it now without feeling like he was snapping his foot off. He eyed Tamreta. "He's young. That's the problem. When you two get as old as I do and your body starts falling apart on you, then you'll act just the same." he pointed out, looking toward the shapeshifter. "Thanks. A goblin who served my best friend made this for me. He's dead now...only man who made something that could fit right." he grumbled. Not many creatures could put up with the fit he made during a brace fitting. At the last one when this brace was fitted, he was not only dead drunk but on morphine at the time. He'd raged endlessly at the smith, who'd taken it in stride. Magda, his late wife, was the only one who could contain such a tantrum whilst still keeping her head. He watched as Tamreta healed the young man. Ironic how a ghoul would be able to knit closed the flesh of others so easily when they looked like they'd been beaten to death with the ugly stick. He listened to her introduce him as a friend.
Friend?
Notable acquaintance. Comfortable acquaintance even. But not completely a friend. He ran his fingers through his hair. "So why are you out here, Tamreta? Hoping to find some lost hunter to suck the life out of, or were you sniffing around for me?" he asked. A few of his friends in Brazil, most notably Klaus, would often remark that one could find Joseph Goebbels by the scent of old scotch and rage.
"Faith moves mountains, but intelligence moves them to the right place."
"As old as you are, Joseph?" repeated Tamreta teasingly. She considered revealing to him how old she really was, but decided against it. It would only annoy the old man, and it was not like she had any reason to tell him anyways. For now that information would be her little secret. "I will keep that in mind, and only hope I can age as gracefully as you have. Losing pieces of myself would not be a pretty sight. You would agree on that part," she said instead. As for his face when she had finished healing the boy...Joseph's thoughts were so easy to read.
Smirking, she lightly prodded the flesh where the wounds had been only moments before before looking back at the old man. "My work is not too shabby for someone who typically eats flesh."
Joseph's announcement of the history behind his brace wiped the smirk quickly off her face, however, when he asked what she was doing here. The way he asked, though, caused her to snort. "I am not as bloodthirsty as you tend to think, friend, and no, I was not searching for you. In fact, you were the one who landed here after me. I could tell because I know of only one falcon who reeks of old liquor," she retorted. "The reason I came here originally was to try and find the ceremonial meeting place of the local sasquatch. I later found out that there will be no meeting because a nest of wild imps that for one reason of another have gone decisively mad. Now I need to find out why, or else my chances of observing the extremely rare sasquatch meeting will be next to none."
She glanced between the two men and measured them up. "Would you mind helping me?" she asked reluctantly. The young man probably would not mind, but Joseph was another matter. "If it helps make up your mind, I happened upon a very old bottle of Lagavulin a little while ago. Consider it a gift with a price."
