The Fear in Our H.e.a.r.t.s. { Kiera }

[Sky~]

He often wandered he, really without purpose -- but the bustling, busy streets of the city held no interest for him during the day. Now, it was dusk -- the reddening horizon was clear proof of that as he slowly raised his eyes to study the sinking sun; knowing all too well that soon, it would be his turn to enjoy the night. He'd actually worked today, and that involved sitting at a desk. For six hours -- with nothing but a mountain of paperwork to keep him company. Running the company had never been something he'd enjoyed, but after his parents' early deaths, his older brother and himself had taken over the business. His own disposition was too reckless for office work, his attention rather fixed on other things -- managing financial accounts wasn't exactly his idea of a good time. But then again, when responsibility called, he could show up. For a time.

But the night always called him back again.

Jay's deep, green eyes flickered with slight bemusement. The power of shifting was a curse, and a dream come true. He was sure he couldn't survive without his other form; a large, dark-furred wolf that took only moments for him to transform to. The human shifters, he barely talked to. As for the animal shifters . . . he stumbled across them occasionally. But that was usually when he was in wolf-form. And most creatures weren't exactly fond of a large member of the canine family. He was more of a loner, and though his curiosity of packs was often picked -- he was usually rejected, even by the wolves. It was like his human life followed him wherever he went. His talent marked him for different. Humans and animals alike could sense it, and kept well away.

He preferred to see it as ignorance, or jealousy -- just to keep away feelings of regret. To know, truly, what the hell he was. Wolf or human? Or something in between? If someone could answer that for him, he might actually settle down in his reckless, sly behavior. Be a bit less of the mystery he was, a bit less dark in his humor and reserved in thought.

Though now, as he strolled amongst the trees, eyes occasionally flicking towards the setting sun, he let out an irritated sigh, instead halting near a tree, and sitting down with his back to it -- one knee raised as he rested his elbow on it. Jay remained motionless for a moment, and, rare as it was, of course it didn't last. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he frowned darkly towards the numerous new texts and calls; just barely resisting the urge to throw the thing into a damn river. One life pulled him towards everything he hated; business, strangers, human ignorance. The other, towards everything he felt he needed; freedom, solitude and quiet.

It was impossible to balance. He knew what he had was good, money, a successful business, nice living space, cars . . . but those only held so much amusement. Eventually, his interest shifted to other things, and when there were no other distractions to be had, he found himself in these dark moods that often left him in indecision. His eyes, now fixed blankly upon the glowing screen of his phone, closed for a moment as he tucked the thing back into his pocket.

[kiera]

Kiera didn't often make stupid mistakes. Today, today was an unfortunate rarity. She was careless, and it would cost her in the end. She was flashing through the woods, her bracken and cream colored pelt could be seen for an instant through the trees before it vanished. She loved the feeling, the breeze through her fur. Her ears flicked and her tail swished against her hind legs happily. The ache she had awoken with this morning was gone, and wouldn't return for a week at most. If she had been in human form, she would have sighed contentedly. She was a wolf though, so she simply ran. It was a rare day that Kiera wasn't with her pack. She wanted to run, simply run and explore and revel in her time in her shifter form. She had needed it, she knew she had a problem. If she was human, she would have scowled.

She couldn't exactly go to a therapist or a rehabilitation scenter. She could picture the conversation now.
"Okay honey, why don't you tell us your problem? No one will judge you."
"I have a physical and mental addiction to my shifter form."
"Love, now there are no such things as shifters. Do you see things that aren't there? Do voices tell you to do bad things?" She growled, her lips peeling back in the smallest of snarls. No. Anyone would either think she was crazy, or they would kill her for what she was. She couldn't help what she was, and she wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. She just...couldn't. She had an addiction and she knew it. She couldn't make herself better and she wondered if she even wanted to be better. She was afraid to admit that maybe she didnt.

She seemed to float over the ground gracefully, her head high. She emerged from the trees, on the banks of the river. She halted as she scented something she had missed. She cursed herself for her stupidity and turned her head, pinpointing the scent. Human. She looked at Jay serenely. She didn't think she knew him from the University. She wondered why she hadn't scented him earlier. She stepped slightly closer, her eyes locked on his. She breathed in deeply, her ears flicking. He smelled like...wolf? She looked at him in confusion. He smelled like human, but also like a wolf. She stood uncertainly, waiting for him to make a move. She couldn't exactly shift human in front of him. If she just walked into the woods as a wolf, then out as a human it would look suspicious. She was stuck, until he made a move. She contemplated running. Her eyes darted to the trees and she tensed her muscles.

tagged. Jay
outfit. click.
notes. Hmmmm
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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[Sky~]

He hadn't truly been paying attention to much; too involved with in own thoughts, personal struggles, that he hadn't noted the growing darkness. It was now, undeniably, dusk. Time to change. Time to escape. The sun had sank beneath the horizon -- and that was the only thing he needed. Getting to his feet again, he ran a hand through his dark hair -- a slow smile growing upon his face as he scanned the trees; decided. He was spending the night out there. Screw work. It wasn't like they could do anything, the CEOs, his own brother. Hell, he owned half the company.

The flash of a light cream form caught his eye -- and all thoughts of himself dissolved within an instant as he narrowed his eyes, hand dropping back to his side as he eyed the trees. Human eyes weren't as profitable as wolf eyes, and he longed to shift already. What was with all these delays? He needed a little time to trust . . . let loose. And the only way he could do that, was as a wolf.

Jay paused for a moment, watching the trees for another sign of movement -- and just when he'd decided it'd been a shadow, he'd spotted the creature. A small, lithe cream wolf -- watching him, just as intently as he watched her. For a moment, his gaze was undecided; the intelligent gleam to the eyes of the canine before him hinted at something more than just animal instinct.

Well -- it'd been awhile since he'd done something unpredictable. Something exciting. A dose of adrenaline might just be the fix. With a half-grin in spite of himself, he allowed his eyes to briefly close, and, when he opened them a moment later -- a new blaze was there. Stepping forward, a large, timber wolf stood now in Kiera's path. His dark, green eyes remained -- flecked with intelligence, suggesting traces of human. His thick fur was smokey black; almost a shadow in itself. Slightly bemused, though knowing what he'd done had been risky, he eyed the stranger quietly, before letting out a quiet bark. If he'd been mistaken, it was only another wolf -- one that would probably turn tail and run any moment. But if that trace of wiser intelligence he'd thought he'd caught in the other's eyes; well, then he'd found himself another shifter. And a wolf at that.

[kiera]

Kiera in wolf form stumbled back with surprise as the human she had been preparing to flee from suddenly shifted into a wolf. Another wolf? She whirled towards him, moving forward as she shifted midstride. She was crouched in human form before him in seconds. She was wearing jeans and a flowy blue top. Her dark ebony hair cascaded around her shoulders and framed her face. Her face was slightly irritated as she straightened. She brushed dust from her jeans and planted her hands on her hips. She glared at the wolf before her. "What the hell?! You could have given me some warning you know." She rolled her eyes, smiling slightly despite herself. She wasn't really annoyed, just surprised and trying to recover. She took a step forward and crouched before the other shifter. She grinned and tilted her head at him. "Next time, I recommend saying something along the lines of..." She trailed off and thought for a moment before doing a poor impression of a man's voice. "Hey you. You look like a shifter. I'm a shifter. I'm going to shift now and freak you out. Sound good?" She grinned at him and straightened back up again.

She walked a few steps away casually, finding a large boulder. She sat down, crossing her legs and leaning her face on her hand, her elbow situated on her knee. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you going to shift back? I won't bite I swear. I don't often find other wolf shifters." She winked teasingly and sat back. She tapped her foot. How long had she been in her shifter form before stumbling upon this guy? Long enough to hold her addiction, but not by much. She really needed a fully twenty hours usually, she had about twelve. A fleeting look of concern passed her features. It just meant she would have to come back sooner. It was worth it, she wanted to talk to this guy whoever he was. Plus his appealing looks hadn't gotten past her. She liked him as a human, maybe she would as a wolf. Who knew? She wanted to see. She was an open person. His dark timber fur made her reluctantly think of her brother. She winced slightly, looking at the water and away from the silent wolf.

Images of her drunken father clashed in her mind and she tried to push them away. It didn't work. She remembered him shifting into his lion form, and viciously beating herself and her twin brother Jason. Her brother had been a wolf shifter too, his fur was pitch black. She frowned as she remember the night everything changed. Her father had always beat her brother and her when he was drunk. Sometimes when they were human, sometimes in their shifter forms. The last one had been the worst. He had attacked Kiera, but Jason had dived in between. Their father, furious, had slashed his claws across Jason's chest. The twins were 8 years old. Jason had fallen, shifting to human form. He didnt move, he was so bloody, pouring from his chest. Kiera and her father had shifted. Her mother had grabbed her, prying her away from Jason's body. They had fled, Kiera and her parents, escaping the possible revelation of their secret and prison for her father. Kiera had lost her brother, so she thought. She was unaware he was still alive, though with no memories, and going by the name of Jonathan.

She refocused on the wolf shifter, waiting expectantly.

tagged. Jay
outfit. click.
notes. Fun fun fun!
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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[Sky~]

Jay watched Kiera silently, studying her reaction with gleaming jade-hued eyes. Their shade still held the same intensity they had when he'd been human, though now, they shone with something akin to amused humor. He was motionless as stone as she strode forward, again, trusting his instinct -- waiting, for a moment. It was then that she shifted; revealing herself for who she was -- and, therefore, proving him right.

"What the hell?! You could have given me some warning you know."

At that, he could only offer a wolfy grin, and a soft growl that could be taken as a laugh, if he'd been human. His gaze ran over her features, committing her face to memory -- she was an attractive, young girl. Evidently, with spunk. His dark form trotted around her once in a large circle -- flexing the muscles of his other body, comforted by the familiarity of them. His eyes however, did not linger long from her -- instead, they were again met by her own gaze -- tail softly wagging in silent humor.

"Are you going to shift back? I won't bite I swear. I don't often find other wolf shifters."


Jay had trotted after her, moving with ease, before he morphed, a little reluctant, but then again -- he could express himself better with a voice. His jade-hued eyes flicked towards her as he sat down near the base of the rock, his back leaning against it's cold solidity. "Sure, I'll shift back -- how else do you expect me to answer you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, and offering a teasing grin.

"And as for the warning . . . would that be half as much fun? You should have seen your face. But I'll keep your approach in mind, maybe use it next time," his voice was still amused, eyes still warmly humored, though his grin had faded to something more along the lines of thoughtfulness. "And who have I had the pleasure of running into? I'm biased towards other shifters, especially other wolves. They're better company than most," Jay's attention was again fixed on her; she seemed to be hurting from something, mentally. With quiet concern, his smile faded, "I didn't scare you that much, did I? You all right?" his voice had dropped into a lower, more gentle murmur, expressing concern. Concern that he rarely felt for anyone.

[kiera]

Kiera wiped pain and sorrow from her features like a washcloth. Very briefly it was replaced by hostility. Who was this man to be questioning her? She calmed down. She always reacted badly to questions surrounding her brother. Not many even knew she had had a twin. There was nothing more painful than losing a twin. She smiled at him, the hostility and pain gone. She raised an eyebrow. "Oh I definately reccommend my approach. It always works for me." She leaned forward, resting her head on her hand once more. She smiled at him, looking him up and down. Who was this guy? She decidedly liked him. She laughed and put mock annoyance onto her features, feigning hurt. She put a hand over her heart, frowning teasingly. "Scare me? Why yes! You gave a beautiful innocent and delicate flower the scare of her life! She fluttered her hand dramatically and winked at him before putting her hand over her forehead. "I just may swoon."

"Or maybe not." She grinned and straightened up, resettling her chin on her hand. She raised a brow at him. She wondered how old he was. He was certainly handsome, almost in a rugged kind of way. The fact that he was a wolf shifter made him all the more interesting. Kiera, Kiera Fernidge is who you have had the pleasure of running into. I would say more appropriately I am who you have had the pleasure of terrifying. Though I'm sure you'll think of someway to make up for it." She smiled suggestively at him, not suggestively sexually, just suggestively like she had a plan. She stood, sticking her hands in the back pockets of her jeans as she moved towards him. She looked at him curiously.

"And you are?

tagged. Jay
outfit. click.
notes. What a fellah!
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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[Sky~]

Jay's eyes flickered at the bit of hostility that arose in her eyes, and briefly, stifling the urge to grin, leaned back so he was laying down, propped up by his elbow. It wasn't like he had anything to hide, especially from another shifter. Aside from the fact that he was rich; that usually only won fake friendship and all that crap. Something he never felt like dealing with. In fact, usually, he was reluctant to any sort of relationships; usually the fact that he was a shifter kept others away, and the other, well, when he did decide to work . . . it took up too much time. Another reason for his various escapes.

His deep, green eyes had shifted away from her to glance towards the city lights, for a moment, before his attention returned -- surprised that the look of annoyance disappeared so quickly from her features, replaced by a smile. "I like to keep people guessing, but I'll give it a try," he replied with a half-grin, slightly bemused as he ran a hand through his dark hair.

"Scare me? Why yes! You gave a beautiful innocent and delicate flower the scare of her life!"

His eyes rolled once, though he teasingly winked towards her, his smile one of amusement, "I hope she'll recover, I wasn't aiming to scar anybody for life," propped up on his elbow, he leaned slightly forward, studying her with quiet interest, though he let out a chuckle at the mention of a possible swoon, "Don't flatter me," he warned jokingly, eyes still lit by good-humor.

"Kiera, Kiera Fernidge is who you have had the pleasure of running into. I would say more appropriately I am who you have had the pleasure of terrifying. Though I'm sure you'll think of someway to make up for it."

It was a pretty name, one that matched the girl's pretty features. Jay's devilish smile returned for a moment as he nodded once, eyes suddenly mischievous with teasing, "Well, whatever you want to call it -- it was a pleasure," he replied. For once, he was actually interested enough to attempt to get to know her better, and though his expression was thoughtful, a slight grin remained as he offered her his name, "Jay Vaisero."

[kiera]

Kiera smiled at him, her hands in her back pockets as she switched her weight to one leg. She was standing in front of him, but she didn't feel awkward. She didn't think he would either. It was the wolf way, they were very physical. She tilted her head at him in a questioning way. "Well, Jay Vaisero, I would ask you what you're doing all the way out here, but I think you've inadvertantly answered that question." She smiled at him and laughed quietly, her eyes twinkling. She looked him up and down. "I would ask you about yourself, but I would prefer to guess." She grinned and put her fingertip thoughtfully on her lips. She tapped her mouth lightly, walking slow circles around Jay as she looked him up and down. She was observant and could probably guess pretty well if she wanted to, but she preferred to make up a personality and a history for him. It sounded more fun, unusual, out of the ordinary. Like them.

Her movements and air were light, graceful, cheerful. She put a hand on his shoulder as she walked around him, still pondering thoughtfully. Again, she wasn't attempting to be sexual. The wolf inside of her was physical. It was how she always was. "Jay Vaisero is somewhat aloof. You don't often go out of your way to get to know others." She paused, shifting her weight and standing in front of him. She looked him up and down. "Jay Vaisero is somewhat aloof. You don't often go out of your way to get to know others." She continued to walk, silent for a few moments as she contemplated. "But you're willing to take a chance." She grinned. She felt like she was being too serious. She skipped on light gracefull feet around him.

With a light sigh and a laugh, she sat herself down in his lap and hooked an arm around his neck. That move was tinged with a flirtatious edge. She hadn't flirted with anyone in a long time. She didn't exactly have time to. If it wasn't her addiction getting in the way, then there was something else that stopped her. Fear? She wasn't sure. She finished with a breathless laugh. "You are also a knight in shining armor in disguise. You're here roaming the woods searching for a damsel in need of a brave rescue. At which point you will sweep her dramatically off her feet and carry her away probably to some majestic white steed that you will use to ride of into the sunset." She burst into teasing laughter, imagining Jay - the wolf shifter - riding a white horse into the sunset.

tagged. Jay
outfit. click.
notes. Hehe, I like him!
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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[Sky~]

Jay reflected her easy smile, and only straightened so he was sitting with his legs stretched out, arms behind him on the grass -- head tilted up to watch her as she moved closer. The closeness was something he didn't mind, even preferred; it made her seem less of a stranger, in wolf-sense, and often times than not, his the canine aspects of his personality could easily relate to someone like Kiera. Another shifter. Another wolf. If she'd been stand-offish, she would have seemed more like a threat, like she was hiding something . . . in those strange ways, it was how his shifted form affected his humanity. And though it was difficult to explain, he could see in her movements, that Kiera felt the same.

He grinned at her comment, head tilting slightly to the right, listening with amused interest. Her easiness around him only soothed back any affront he might have felt towards another stranger. And the way she acted, wolf-like in her physique; only made her that much more interesting.

"I would ask you about yourself, but I would prefer to guess."

"Feel free, I'm curious to see what you come up with," he replied in a soft murmur, a more mysterious veil of thought masking his humor for the moment, though his quiet grin remained; deep, green eyes following Kiera as she circled him, feeling her gaze run across him -- her steady hand running across his shoulder.

She had a deeper sense of observation than she'd ever let on. And though his eyes followed her quick, graceful movements, the grin faded -- replaced by thoughtful curiosity -- interested and eager to hear her findings. So, at the beginnings of her voice, he leaned forward slightly, brow raised in silent question -- what conclusion had she reached?

"Jay Vaisero is somewhat aloof. You don't often go out of your way to get to know others."

He smiled slightly at that, though said nothing, knowing all too well she'd have something more to say.

"But you're willing to take a chance."

And she was right. His grin began to reappear, though he remained silent, brow still slightly arched in his own contemplation. Jay's curiosity towards Kiera was only growing; as well as his tendency to like her -- she was open, friendly, and had a way of doing things that caught his interest in an unusual way -- he was close to thinking he'd finally found somehow who could outwit him.

But just as his own thoughts had begun to gather, she'd lowered herself onto his lap, her slender arm looped around his neck; still, he was unusually calm -- a stranger, yes -- but one who'd successfully won his interest. To anyone else in the park, they might have looked like a young couple, as if they'd know each other for awhile. No two strangers had ever seemed so at ease -- he was willing to bet on it.

"You are also a knight in shining armor in disguise. You're here roaming the woods searching for a damsel in need of a brave rescue. At which point you will sweep her dramatically off her feet and carry her away probably to some majestic white steed that you will use to ride of into the sunset."

Jay smiled at her laughter, and though there was humor in his eyes, their normal intensity was brightened by her closeness, and though, for a moment, he offered a seductive grin, and gently brushed her hair over her shoulder, "And who will be my damsel?" he asked with playful flirtation. Though he couldn't help but softly laugh at the mention of himself, riding a horse into the sunset. "I'm tempted to ask . . . will I be in wolf form, or human form while riding the horse?" he offered Kiera a playful wink as he leaned back again, unbothered by their closeness, and, ironically, more so comfortable with it.

But as for the majestic white steed, if Kiera was his damsel, he was beginning to think he wouldn't mind carrying her off into the sunset. He hadn't enjoyed anyone's company like this for awhile; he couldn't be bothered to leave, nor was there anything that held as much interest than the girl currently sitting on his lap.

[kiera]

Kiera watched his face as he listened to her words. It was really quite amusing. She was silent as he said quiet words in reply to her, mostly inconsequential. She simply settled herself in his lap. She was perfectly comfortable and wasn't really planning on moving. Of course if he asked her to, of course she would. She would just prefer to stay in her current position. She grinned when he reached up to brush her hair over her shoulder. Obviously she wasn't being shoved away just yet. She wondered what amusing little puzzle she had encountered in Jay Vaisero.

"And who will be my damsel?"

Kiera caught on to the playful flirtation in his voice. She grinned, he was willing to play her game. She tapped a finger lightly on her lip for a moment, her other hand drumming her fingers pensively on Jay's knee. She was smiling, but not looking at him. She turned her face towards him, smiling a small flirtatious smile. She raised one of her eyebrows ever so slightly. "Concerning you damsel in distress, you have a number of options." She moved her hand to his shoulder, resting with her fingers on the upper part of his back. "One, you could go find some innocent hiker, shift, give her the fright of her life, leave, shift back to human, then return to "rescue" her from the "big bad wolf"." She smirked at the thought. Wouldn't that be amusing to watch?

"Two, you could give up now because no girl in her right mind would want to be your damsel. She would probably rather just be eaten by the wolf." She winked at him and laughed flirtatiously. She was simply teasing him, because she could. She drummed her fingers again, this time on his back. "Three, if you promise to be a gentleman, I just might agree to be your damsel." She smiled at him, waiting for a reply to that.

. "I'm tempted to ask . . . will I be in wolf form, or human form while riding the horse?"

Kiera laughed, imagining a wolf on a horse's back. She grinned at him ruefully. "Human, just for the sake of the poor horse."

tagged. Jay
outfit. click.
notes. Sorry it's been so long!
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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