Climbing... (Dejah)

[Kota]

Deep brown eyes gazed at her as he waited patiently for an answer. He wouldn’t force Dejah to reveal anything to him, though he did wish to know. Perhaps she had lost her wing in battle, whilst fighting an enemy, or maybe it had been torn off deliberately. Dakota hoped that if she told him, he could continue to piece together parts of her past. Though he loved her, and wanted nothing more than for her to become his mate, she remained very much a mystery to him.

"When I first came here, I was living with a feline fire demon named Sythe"

Keeping his face passive, the warrior tried not to look surprised at this. Of course, just because Dakota could only have one mate, it did not mean the same for Dejah. Though it pained him to think of her with another, he would not reveal these feelings to her. It was petty and an unnecessary point. Instead, he nodded his great head in acknowledgement as she continued.

"Benefit to both of us since I was stationary during the day and he was weaker during the night"

Hmmm… That was interesting. She used to be stationary during the day, which obviously meant that she hadn’t always been able to shape shift into a feline form. Of course, this made no difference to the wolf. He desired her in both her humanoid and feline form, due to her savage character and dark personality. He loved who she was, whatever form she took. Though, he had to admit to himself, with the humanoid form she seemed to be her true self. There was something that came with the feline form, something he didn’t like. But he was going to win her over in the morning, no matter what.

Finally, as the words of what happened to her wing reached his ears, they drew back across his skull. Dakota had never heard the name Sharkira, but he could already guess that she was Dejah’s mother. Why would anything else attack her for being with a creature that was not a werewolf? A bitter feeling of disgust rose within the wolf, and he snarled as he looked away from Dejah. Hackles rose up his back as he imagined the immense pain she must have gone through, the blood pouring down her back, draining her of strength. It was then that he realised just why she needed something as severe as the collar. He had been so blind… No wonder she was so bitter, when her own mother had harmed her in such a brutal manner.

Turning his head back to look at Dejah, something strange had happened to the wolf’s eyes. No longer were they a gentle brown, but were now a sharp gold. It was the colour that revealed the animalistic anger that was building up inside of him. It rarely surfaced in the warrior, but he felt such a contempt of Sharkira that he couldn’t help it.

”Just one of those mother daughter bonding moments…”

“That creature is most certainly not your mother.” He growled with a harsh tone. “A mother cares for you, is there for you when you are in pain, helps you to get up when you fall. Sharkira merely gave birth to you, that does not make her your mother. The way she has treated you, she is more your master, and you her slave. When you disobeyed her she broke out and attacked you because you had not followed her own selfish plans.” He turned his head sharply and looked away, eyes flashing furiously. “How I’d like to meet this woman, and let her experience the true anger of a wolf…”

[FoxDragon]

It was an educating moment watching the werewolf’s expressions during her words. He snarled and his white fur rose up in aggression. There was no way even to imagine having a limb torn off. It was one of those things you needed to go through to understand. To understand that you were going to die from blood lost if nothing was done. Just to know mere minutes could hold the end. Fighting pain with pain just to have your eyes remain open as a blow to end it was coming down. It was just one of those things to see and be glad to live through even if you shouldn’t…

Orange orbs didn’t show the register of note made on his now golden eyes. The animal wanted to play for awhile? Such anger he must have felt because she could not recall this happening during her little tale of skinning him. His harsh words darkened by his growl were nothing she hadn’t heard before.
”The creature that brought me into this world is my mother.” she said back with no sway of tone, ”The definition you give so freely means I have no mother. It is true I don’t know what a true one is…”
It’s the only part of the reason I’m glad I can’t… her mind cut the thought off. It was not a good reason, it was one of fear.

Eyes never left the golden ones that stared back at her till his head turned, but her face stayed. The ones that had been a sweet puppy brown only minutes before. ”I was her slave Dakota.” the half-elf said. Her horn crested face showing nothing along with her voice. Whether or not she was angry with this was something she was not letting on. ”Her selfish plans were in order long before I was born. I was planned to be her slave, put into the position without being able to fight it. I didn’t leave because of her my dear; I was chased off by the tribe.”

Wing shifted and tail gave a sway as she paused before letting herself continue, ”Do not think freewill is what made me leave. No, I did not know what that was till I came to this place. My life was the only thing that made me leave. I only left to live.” she said letting her eyes blink very slowly, ”They drugged Sharkira just so they could kill me while I was awake…”
The gargoyle swallowed as a hand lifted to her throat feeling for the black leather that was not there. Claws touched her throat for the comfort she wasn’t finding.

”Till I went into heat I would have been safe or as safe as any slave is with there master.” in other words just kept alive, ”After that, I would have just been her breeding bitch put down after she got want she wanted. I wouldn’t have known either, the magic ruling me to make be obedient and mindless.” velvet stopped letting claws run over her neck. They ran from one side to the other going over the two wounds the Collar had inflicted as she pulled him off. There was a little pain of the sore areas, but nothing to make her wince or display. The half breed’s mind went back to his last sentence…

“How I’d like to meet this woman, and let her experience the true anger of a wolf…”

It caused Dejah to sigh at his words. ”My dear Dakota,” she started reaching forward to rest a hand on one of his shoulders, ”Laughter feeds many while anger feeds the few. Sharkira is one of the few that feeds off anger…” Her other hand ran over the cheek fur that was facing her. The half-elf held no fear of being bit, but she held no fear about a lot of things.
”When she comes back,” it could only be a matter of time, ”She will coo and complement you. Say and do things to cause you rage. You don’t know what the wolf means to her…meant to the tribe. You will be a god in her eyes, but a god that can be killed…”

Dejah let her hand go over his shoulder before both fell to her sides. Face turned away as her orange orbs went down cast. There was nothing else she could do…

[Kota]

Anger continued to blaze within the wolf as he listened to her speak. Darkness flashed across his turned face as she contradicted him, though he wasn’t angered by what she had said, but rather what it meant. Dejah was right of course, she was a darn sight more level headed than himself at that moment in time. Sharkira was her mother, and there was no changing that. Dakota could accept that such a fact was true, however he couldn’t comprehend how a mother could be so cruel. Such an interesting point which paired the two creatures; the lycanthrope had never known true spite from his mother, and the hybrid had never known compassion from hers.

Large white ears stayed flat against his skull as velvet words reached them. If nothing else Dakota was a good listener, and he never interrupted Dejah while she spoke. He could feel her orange eyes on his face as it remained facing away from her. He couldn’t look at her right now, such things she told him he didn’t want to believe were true. Yet he could not deny that they were. His heavy chest rose and fell as he breathed the tension away, Dejah’s voice slowly aiding the taming of his anger.

The warrior’s voice was uttered. Dejah stroked his cheek and a growl escaped from his muzzle, his lip turning up in a snarl. Quickly realising what he was doing, Dakota shook his head to free his mind of the ruling animal. Slowly his head turned to face her once more, the gold of his eyes fading into soft brown again. His ears moved to point outwards, but remained lowered, no longer displaying anger, but shame. The wolf’s eyes shone with sadness as he looked at Dejah, giving her the look of a dog who knew he had done something wrong.

“Forgive me,” he whispered softly, the anger gone from his tone also. “I don’t know what has come over me…” The warrior sighed heavily and shook his head again, closing his eyes before looking back at Dejah. “I wasn’t thinking straight, but I was just so angry. I find it so hard to believe these things have happened to you, even though I know they have.” He gradually lifted a paw, running thick black claws through her long hair. “I’ve known the horror and terror of battles when fighting for my pack, but listening to your past has made me realise that I have experienced very little compared to you.”

At the mention of Sharkira, and what she would do to him, Dakota lifted his head to the heavens and sighed. "Again, my anger has done the talking before sense could kick in." He turned to look back at her. "If your mother should return, I can't promise that I won't lose my temper, but I know that I couldn't beat her with pure brute strength. I will be careful though my dear, that I can promise you..."

When her face turned away and her body fell limp, Dakota bit his lip. I shouldn’t keep bringing up her past, he thought solemnly. She was away from her homeland now, and even though her mother could very well return, he felt it his duty to make her life better while she was with him.

Ears perking up slightly, the white wolf lowered his head and placed his muzzle underneath her chin. He wasn’t going to lick any more, that wasn’t going well, but his eyes seemed to be having a slight effect. So, with the bridge of his muzzle beneath her chin, Dakota looked up into Dejah’s face with big shining eyes. “Come on,” he said softly, a smile turning on his mouth. “We’ve still got a few hours until the sun rises, why don’t we go and do something?” His tail wagged slightly as he lifted his head and cocked it playfully. It was a ridiculous suggestion, but he wanted to make her feel a little bit better. Maybe not happy as such, he had while to go before he could do that. But he wanted to take her mind off the past…

[FoxDragon]

He didn’t go for her hand. Started with the beginning motions, but pushed them away. Oh well…
A paw went through her black locks, but it wasn’t enough to make her turn eyes on him. His words, they were…she couldn’t make the words for it. ”Believe what you will Dakota.” she said softly, ”Be angry, it matters not to me.” Yet, possibly? ”Experience is different to different people. What have I gained from my past? How to survive outside the battle? No, I only survive because I don’t need to.”
Eyes closed a moment, ”Don’t promise anything…” she whispered. Promises from others were like an emptying funnel. They went in never to be seen again. Others were not bound to keep them…

Orange orbs noted the movement as suddenly there was soft fur under her chin. Hands clenched a second not knowing what to expect. Slowly she eased back to a comfort level. His large brown eyes peered up at her. Her eyes caught a glimpse if she looked down. The dark, puppy color was back in whole. The werewolf was back for the moment.

“We’ve still got a few hours until the sun rises, why don’t we go and do something?”

The half-elf took a breath to fill her lungs. ”More like an hour.” she said, ”Time calls me away before the sun starts to rise.” She moved a bit an arm wrapping around his neck the other let gentle but dangerous claws go through some face fur.
”You’ll need to sleep as long as you can when you finally fall under.” Dejah whispered, ”I will leave you be, but I will not be far away.” The hand around his neck moved to go through his mane. Why touch him like this? She didn’t know…
His head rose and she stared at him. His tail wagged again she judged by his look. Silly puppy…

Tail tip moved independently of the rest of the gargoyle’s tail. Wing twitched a second and remained on her back. Carefully Dejah took to her large feet untangling her hands from white fur. Orange orbs peered down on the werewolf, ”What is it you had in mind my dear Dakota?” she asked tail moving from side to side all together. The half-breed was not fond of the idea of being left out in the open, but it was his suggestion to do something with the rest of their time. It would not hurt her in any means to know.

[Kota]

More like an hour.” she said, ”Time calls me away before the sun starts to rise.”

Sighing heavily, Dakota moved his head back straight. This is going to take some getting used to, he thought with a soft smile. As Dejah ran her claws through his fur, he wrapped an arm round her waist, stroking the base of her spine with the furry back of a digit. “My mistake,” he replied softly. “It’s going to take some time for me to become accustomed to your transformation time periods, but I’m sure with some sleep I’ll manage.” He rubbed her nose with his own black one, which was amazingly; dry.

”You’ll need to sleep as long as you can when you finally fall under.” Dejah whispered, ”I will leave you be, but I will not be far away.”

He nodded slowly, not wanting her to leave him. Even as her hand moved through his mane, he opened his jaws wide in a yawn, revealing dagger teeth. Dejah was right, he did need sleep, and by yawning he was only highlighting the fact. Slowly she rose to her feet, and as she did so Dakota also did so. But this was for a different reason. Great paws splaying across the rocky surface, the werewolf took a deep breath and transformed into his four legged state. Standing tall, he shook his thick white fur and looked at Dejah, the ruff of fur around his neck fluffed up comically.

“I’m not sure what exactly I had in mind my dear,” Dakota replied, his voice amplified slightly by the growth of his larynx. “It matters not though, as it’s nothing that can’t be done at a later date, when I have been properly acquainted with both your forms.” A small smile played across the wolf’s muzzle as he slowly moved towards her. Wrapping his great body around hers he lowered it to the ground, stopping in a curled up position at her feet. Looking up at her, he cocked his head and motioned to the gap between his front and rear legs. There was enough room for Dejah to sit comfortably and curl up with him while he slept, as he didn’t want her to be alone and out in the open while he wasn’t awake…

“You don’t have to wait alone while I sleep,” he said softly. “I can drift off with you beside me, and when you turn to stone I can be here to protect you…”

[FoxDragon]

Dejah watched the werewolf get up to his paws. Her eyes remained on him as he form slowly grew, bending over into his feral form. The large canine shook his hide out leaving fur up catching air. The gargoyle’s head didn’t shake slowly; her eyes just gave a slight roll. He needed a brush…
Her horned head gave a nod of acknowledgement to his ‘later date’, but her face was left blank to the rest of his statement. Of course he did.

Slowly the large wolf came to her and wrapped around her form. It’s hard to say he was a big wolf till one had the chance of having him right there. She couldn’t see over his white furred body and his length easily blocked the directions in which he stood. When he laid down around her feet, there was a lot of white fur covering the ground. The area between his forelegs and back legs was probably enough for her to lay down right next to him. She breathed out, he didn’t seem to understand why she didn’t want to freeze next to him. Her feline form was coming from a much smaller form. The materialization of that form caused a rip instead of just having the stone fall away. The half-breed would just have to be very careful.

”I didn’t plan to.” she said slowly lowering herself back to the ground. She sat down with her back to the wolf’s stomach. The thought crossed the half-elf’s mind to stretch her wing out to drape over him, but it’d just cause more problems in a while. She didn’t want his protection but something else. Companion perhaps at least someone to speak to and maybe…
Another useless breath made it pass her lips as her orange orbs looked away. The gargoyle was almost pained on some level. Why did he have to keep saying it? Dejah ground her teeth. He made her feel weak on some level she couldn’t deny, couldn’t fight. She knew she needed someone during her times of sleep just to make sure she’d see the moon or sun again…

Eyes closed as Dejah debated with herself again only to come to the same conclusion; a breath. It came in and went out as she shifted to her a sit, similar to one she would have taken had she been raised properly and been wearing a skirt. Her tail curled around her feet, the sit freeing it from under her. A hand went across her lap as she let to other one fall on the wolf’s side. It sunk into the thick white fur as she slowly gave a stroke with the grain. Slowly her hand went down on his body till her hand rested on his stomach. The gargoyle let herself pet him, but not pet him pet him. She stayed away from sensitive spots, knowing full well she had a pretty good chance at getting his leg kicking…

Her claws just smoothed the fur, ”I’ll be around when you wake up.” she said not exactly sure where she’d be…