Just Bein' Me -- KIERA

[kiera]

Kiera's shoulders visibly relaxed as Annaika shifted. She seemed painstakingly slow, her teeth not even fully shifting. Kiera's heart was racing slightly, though she would have never told Annaika. She was confident her pack would never hurt her, and they would obey her commands, but if Annaika's body language communicated threat then there would be possible issues. Kiera shifted her weight from foot to foot. The dull thudding ache was beginning in her stomach again. She winced and tried to ignore it. She licked her lips, pushing her need away. She wanted it so badly, desired it, craved it. Shifting. She couldn't not now. Yet she could. The dark voice of her addiction whispered in her ear. It told her to abandon Annaika, that her own needs were more important. Kiera muted the voice, answering Annaika's question.

"You no longer threaten them, but you're still an outsider." The wolves had visibly calmed, though their confusion was evident to Kiera. They were used to their alpha's two bodies, but a mountain lion that wasn't a mountain lion? Was Annaika a threat or wasn't she? She looked like the alpha, moved like the alpha and made the same strange noises. Yet she didn't smell like wolf, but had the clinging scent that alpha had. They were the same, and nothing alike. It confused the pack, making them nervous. They were even nervous around Kiera in her human form. They only accepted her with the knowledge that somewhere inside her was the wolf that was their alpha. Even so, the darted uneasy glances at the two humans.

"You need to follow my instructions okay? Trust me." She looked at Annaika, her gaze steady. Being introduced to a wolf pack was perilous, but worthwhile. Kiera could have led Annaika away, taken her out of danger, but Kiera wanted to do this. She knew Annaika could do it. Kiera wanted Annaika in her pack. "Move slowly, small steps. No quick movements or sharp sounds okay? Keep your head high, you aren't submissive. Keep your muscles loose and relaxed. Selwyn is going to come over, but he won't hurt you. He'll sniff you and bump against you. He's just testing you. He might stand on two legs and press against you, don't back down. Stay strong and don't meet his gaze." Kiera nodded at Annaika. She had gestured to the ashen male wolf, naming him. In the wolves' language, they had no need for names. Scents identified everything. Kiera identified them in human form with names, it was easier for her. Selwyn was her second, and in charge when she was human. It was his duty to assess Annaika. Kiera gestured for Annaika to walk forward, sticking at the other girl's side.

tagged. Annaika
outfit. click.
notes. X
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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[Sandy]

Annaika nodded to Kiera, forcing herself to breath slowly and relax. She could do what Kiera said. It wasn't much different then a mountain lions' prowl, except she was in human form now. She knew how to appear brave, though the wolf pack was testing that skill harshly now, and she could be strong enough that she wouldn't back down from the wolf Kiera signified, even though her instincts were screaming otherwise.

Wolves. Enemy. Flee, the mountain lion hissed. Annaika tried to calm it the best she could but it just wouldn't allow itself to be calmed. The best she could do was keep it down so it didn't influence her body. The mountain lion and the wolf weren't really enemies, unless they were warring over prey or one was too near to the others den but they were close now, one mountain lion and a pack of wolves, so they were enemies, in the mountain lions eyes.

She made herself obey Kiera, moving slowly and smoothly, again much like the prowl of a mountain lion but this was even slower, and she held herself high. Kiera was right: she wasn't submissive and would never submit to another unless it was absolutely necessary. She focused on the wolf but didn't look directly into it's eyes--that would surely be a threat to the wolf because though her eyes changed between mountain lion and human form they still possessed some of the harshness that a mountain lion had and, of course, because Kiera had told her not to.

Kiera knew her wolves well because the wolf did indeed sniff her, and bump her. Hard, which Kiera hadn't mentioned, but Annaika managed to keep herself still. She even thought she heard him growl a bit, though she couldn't be sure because she was concentrating on not fleeing and not fighting. How'd I do? she asked softly as the wolf finished, sure that Kiera would be able to hear her. Can I back away now?

words - 328
muse - great
tagged - kiera
other - hope it's okay. didn't know exactly what to do P:

[kiera]

Kiera watched nervously as the wolf she had named Selwyn approached Annaika. Kiera had predicted Selwyn's behavior well, though it helped having both seen the ritual before and performed it. She crossed her arms over her chest, unmoving. This was not her time to interfere, but to watch as an outsider. Eventually, Selwyn backed away and turned his back on Annaika. He let out a low warning growl. He would tolerate her presence, for Kiera's sake, but she was not pack. Kiera breathed a sigh of releif. Being accepted wasn't easy, she hadn't expected them to accept Annaika. But they hadn't attacked her and although they wouldn't have really hurt Annaika, they could have given her quite the scare. Kiera looked to Annaika, smiling and nodding.

"Yeah, you can back away. You did great." She walked up, giving Annaika a swift hug. "Thats a seriously hard thing to do, what you just did. And it meant a lot to me so thanks." She turned and gestured towards her pack who had backed away and were still casting glances at Annaika and Kiera. They were less wary now, Annaika having been determined safe by Selwyn. Now they were curious. Some of the younger yearlings were creeping closer to Annaika, wondering how a not wolf could smell like a cat. In the wolves' mind. Annaika was a not wolf, like Kiera. Each of the animals had names and scents. A moose was a moose, a lion was a lion. A human was a human. Kiera, was neither human nor wolf. She got her own catagory. She was a not wolf. Now Annaika had come along and she was like Kiera, but not. She was a not wolf that wasn't a wolf. She was a not wolf that couldn't be pack. But she wasn't a threat. She confounded the pack.

Kiera turned back to the pack, looking at each of them. Her eyes held slight confusion as she looked from member to member. She was searching for an injury, or a missing member. None seemed hurt, but as she took a second look she realized one was missing. She was a female, Selwyn's mate, that Kiera often called Carissa. Carissa was heavily pregnant. Understanding shone in Kiera's eyes, partnered with relief. She turned and smiled at Annaika. "Have you ever seen newborn wolf pups?" The pack had moved from the rendevoux to the birthing den for Carissa. The birthing den wasn't far from the river they now stood by, which would explain Selwyn's irritable and hostile nature. If Kiera was correct, in a matter of days there would be new pups to add to her pack.

tagged. Annaika
outfit. click.
notes. I know its a bit unrealistic, but then again we also have people shape shifting
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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[Sandy]

Annaika breathed out in quiet relief and within seconds was back at Kiera's side. Now that she wasn't being approached by a wolf she could examine the pack more. They weren't moving much but even Annaika could see the coordination among them. They looked up to Kiera and Selwyn. Because they were the highest ranking, Annaika figured. Well, of course they looked to Kiera for direction since she was alpha.

"Have you ever seen newborn wolf pups?" Annaika hesitated and glanced at the wolves. Kiera wasn't asking out of curiosity so that meant that there were wolf cubs. Despite being a mountain lion, Annaika yearned to see the cubs. She was a zoology major because she adored animals, wildcats in particular, but she loved all other animals too. Umm...No but I don't think that's such a good idea. Annaika looked at the wolf pack pointedly.

Despite her words she still wanted to.

It was stupid, she knew that, because she was a mountain lion, an enemy of wolves when it came to prey and pups. She was lucky that they had decided not to kill her, thanks to Kiera, but Annaika doubted they could push that luck much farther. Still. To see wolf pups that weren't in a zoo or documentary? To see them with a wolf pack? That would be more amazing then anything Annaika could come up with.

words - 227
muse - good...finally =D
tagged - kiera

[kiera]

Kiera grinned and shook her head. Annaika didn't quite understand obviously. The pups weren't born yet. If the pack had moved to the Den Site today, it meant the pups were within two weeks or so. Plus, not even Kiera would be able to convince the pack to let a newly acceptable Annaika near the mother and pups herself. Kiera moved closer to Annaika, grinning at her new friend. She laughed quietly. "I would agree today is not the day, you need some more time. Plus the pups probably won't be born for another week or so. And even then, they won't be introduced for the pack for a while after that. You have plenty of time to gain trust. If you're interested that is." She smiled hopefully at Annaika. She really enjoyed the other girl's presence.

Kiera winced as a sudden violent pain his her stomach. Her arms clutched around her waist and she bent over. Something akin to a human growl passed her lips. The pack was alert in moments, growling and whining anxiously as Kiera was bent over with pain. Selwyn was glaring suspiciously at Annaika. Kiera straightened back up, pushing the pain away. She needed to shift. She had only been in her shifter form for an hour here and there. She usually need a constant 12 hours at the very least, usually 20 was better. 12 would hold her for nearly a week. One hour gave her almost nothing. She gritted her teeth and turned to Annaika.

"I don't know about you, but I came out here to shift. She grinned weakly. "My pack can manage without me, now that I know where they are. I'd love to see your domain of this forest, if you were willing to show me." Her anxiety to shift was obvious. She was just praying Annaika wouldn't ask. She wasn't sure if she would be able to answer.

tagged. Annaika
outfit. click.
notes. Where is this thread going from here? Any plan?
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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[Sandy]

Annaika watched Kiera curiously and considered asking what was wrong but decided against it. Annaika liked to keep her personal business personal and she didn't want to butt into Kiera's. Well, I'm glad they aren't born yet but...yeah, I'd like to try to gain their trust. Annaika actually looked embarrassed at that, something she rarely was. She was Annaika the mountain lion Shifter, she didn't get embarrassed. Well, she did but she didn't show it.

Kiera seemed to pull out of her sudden bout of...something, which relieved Annaika. Yeah, let's shift,but I warn you: you won't be able to go most of the places that I do. Wolves don't climb trees. Annaika shot Kiera a smug but friendly grin and looked back at the wolves. If you agree, though, I think it would be best for me to shift away from them. I don't think they'd react the best to me suddenly being a mountain lion again. Can I just back away or do I have to...do something?

As a mountain lion, Annaika knew never to turn your back another another predator until you were far enough away. For instance, when a deer turned its back on a mountain lion it was because it was either unaware or fleeing, both of which made it free for the taking. Running and turning backs from predators made you prey, in the eyes of a mountain lion, and Annaika didn't think that wolves and other predators were much different in that matter.

words - 245
tagged - kiera
muse - fleeting

[kiera]

Kiera had lapsed into her own thoughts, only half concentrated on Annaika. She shifted her feet, kicking idly at a stone on the ground. Her eyebrows furrowed and she glanced at her pack. They were milling around, as distracted as she was. Doubtlessly they wished to return to the Birth Den. They had agreed that Annaika was no longer a threat, but she wasn't of the pack either. Kiera looked towards Annaika and nodded absently. "Same as approaching, don't make any loud noises or sudden moves and it would be better not to turn your back." She motioned towards the trees with a smile. "You should shift within the trees, I'll join you in a minute. Don't worry, k?" Kiera smiled again and gave Annaika a little wave. She would be able to maintain more control over her pack in her shifted form.

She closed her eyes with a dream-like sigh and her human skin melted away. It was replaced smoothly by fur and within seconds her gray wolf form had taken over. Her tail wagged excitedly and she turned back to Annaika. With a canine grin, she butted her head gently against Annaika's leg reassuringly. She turned back to her pack who had moved forward to greet her in the customary way. She wanted to ensure all was well, that she hadn't distressed them, before she joined Annaika. There was nothing more important in Kiera's life than her pack.

tagged. Annaika
outfit. click.
notes. X
credits. carolyn's sweet blasphemy *

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