Looked into a mirror || Open

[Charis Dermott]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] The Children packlands where unnatural. That was what Charis was thinking as she sat calmly in the heart of the Slipping Meadow. No one was around - probably off doing other things, surely - but it didn't bother her. She was quite content sitting exactly where she was, without any disturbances. She had to think. About what, exactly, she didn't even know. Her thoughts were in an unusual jumble in her normally organized brain, and it was bothering her immensely. Why were her thoughts like this? They always were sectioned off, placed in specific places, with labels and tags. But it was like she was lost in a huge, scary world, where she had no clue where anything was. Her pale face twisted and in a violent movement she lurched to her paws, disrupting the dirt around her, and began to pace in a wide arc around the plain. Her steps were hard, predatory, and her neck was bent low, her shoulders rolling like a tiger's underneath her skin. It was almost as if she were stalking something, but it was clear that she was not. She just kept walking tightly around the clearing, her face hard and expressionless, but her body clearly agitated. She pressed a sigh through her nostrils. Why, her brain whispered at her. Why so stupid... The earth seemed to quail under her paws. The tension around her was palpable, like an aura, and right now she looked very powerful, like she had promised she would be. But her brain was not as promised. She had to fix it. She turned in a tight circle and began to pace in the opposite direction. Her lips peeled back away from her teeth, snapping at a bird that hopped too close to her. With a startled tweet it flew away, and she paused, breath like hisses, watching it go. She stared after it for many moments before she blinked very slowly and began to pace again with renewed vigor. This wasn't right. It wasn't her. The smells that now clung to her fur, mixing into a new unique perfume - a pack-like smell. Charis. A pack-like smell. It did not mix. Her blue eyes swept across the clearing, expecting someone to pop out of the grass. She had to be expecting this now. The question that kept rolling through her brain was simple: had she made the right decision? Was her choice to join the Children beneficial to her? Of course it was to her survival. But was it really? Wait, why was she even thinking about this? Wasn't this what she'd always wanted ... something different, a new start? Oh, of course. Red, that very wolf who had sparked her to doubt, to fire. She felt annoyed now, but kept her face as passive as it could get while she was in this mood. Continuing her intense pacing Charis started to review everything about her life, history, everything she knew to make sure what she had done was the right choice. Again, wait! For heaves sake why was she so mad? Just because a wolf had said he was surprised doesn't mean she hadn't made the right choice, heck since when did she care what other said? That made a soft grown rumbled from her throat, painted tail lazily flopping behind her walking legs. A thought edged into her mind, she was not going to stop until everything was back in it's place! Speech

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Pan Fion (Red)]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true]

[atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h448/soarly/Wonderwhy/Tables/PanFionscrollytableback.png][scrolly:h(333),w(418),sy] Red had never been this deep into the fabled Lumera Valley. The scenery was stunning, with the rolling emerald hills and few scattered forests with a long silver stream weaving around them. He allowed himself to have a moment to admire the wonder of the nature's handiwork, but mostly his mind was worrying about the borders, whether he had trespassed the Children's territory or not. He knew that most of the Children wolves were far too gentle with strangers, but he didn't like being berated, gently or not. It would be too humiliating for his ego. Of course, Red had caught some whiffs of the border markings, but he wasn't totally sure where they were. Probably because either that his sense of smell was weakening, or the patrols hadn't reinforced the border markings recently. After a quick check for any approaching packmember, the white lupus sat down, his eyes scanning the steep meadow, feeling slightly more relaxed. There wasn't an important reason for him to venture so deep into the valley, except for an overwhelming desire to explore. A desire that he hadn't been able to shake off just yet. There were several dark dots scattered all over the meadow: rabbits. Red grimaced when his stomach gave a sudden gurgling growl, and remembered that he hadn't eaten since the night before. He didn't usually hunt so close to the packland for several reasons, but here he was, feeling so hungry, albeit a sudden hunger. He would wait until he knew he had left the packland completely, but as far as his eyes could see, everything was a part of the valley. He didn't know when or how long until he finally left the valley. Red stood up and turned around carefully, with his brown eyes on a hopping dot a few metres away from him. With a flick of his ears, he was surprised to see how fearless those animals were of a wolf. Perhaps they weren't being hunted that much. The lupus stilled, allowing the rabbit to hop slightly closer, before he broke into a sprint. Red was much better at speed and agility than strength, thanks to his slender body and long legs, so it wasn't much of an effort for him to catch up with a fast prey. However the rabbit gave him a good run; soon he was deep into the meadow. He was blinded by his great hunger and the vicious longing to kill therefore he didn't realise how far he had went. When he finally got his jaws around the rabbit (who had stumbled slightly over a stone), he suddenly saw a white wolf close by. If his nose wasn't buried in the dead prey's fur, he would immediately realise that the wolf was a Children member. All of his senses were on red alert and, after quickly snapping his prey's neck, he dropped the limp body to his paws to get a better look. She was obviously a member of the Children - well, who else would be this deep into the territory... Wait. Red looked around guiltily; he had went too far inside the territory. He was about to apologise when a faint growl rumbled from the female wolf, and Red's ears perked up. He knew that wolf. And she hadn't seen him yet, which was odd since she was usually attentive. Or at least it was what he had perceived at their first meeting. Red frowned, he was completely unsure what to do. Of course he could say hello, but he was the intruder here and he didn't know how Charis would react. And he could leave without saying any word, but wouldn't that be rude? A small part of Red's brain reminded him that it didn't mattered to him before; it was what he usually do so why was it any different now? He stayed there silently, before shrugging slightly and turning around, facing the place where he thought the border would be. He stopped again to take his prey with him and then he moved forward wordlessly. [/scrolly]

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[Charis Dermott]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] ooc: I am so so so sorry for the wait. Forgive me? :3 Pacing usually did the thing. The phantom could stride for hours in any maneuver just thinking, but apparently it was certainly not helping this time. She had been so sure, and it was unlike her not to be right in the choices she made. The cool air that hung like drapes over her had no motion until her annoyance seemed to have caused her to wind it up a bit sending scattered scents of her fellow pack members and prey to end up in her coal black nose. Charis inspected them, one by one remembering them as they flew into new tabs of her files. Some where unknown, some where old, or new, but one caused her alarm beyond all. Too familiar beside the rest. And too fresh for her own liking. Charis was familiar with most of the pack scents by now, but this was defiantly not one of them. Muscles clenched to an abrupt halt her upper body swaying in the sudden motion. Like a robot her crystallized ice-blue eyes turned with her pretty face scanning the meadow. Of course he stood out to her nearly as much as white on black and her look formed a frown as it registered that he, Red the very wolf, the mirror, was moving towards her. Tall and lithe, muscles rippled in the flew motion he was gliding across the grass closer to her. The dead body of his rabbit that became his prey hung from his mouth, eyes still fixed on her. She guess that rabbit had been in her territory. Her territory? That still sounded weird ... She would have confronted him immediately about it if he hadn't been familiar, but she thought she could let him off just this once. Her limbs relaxed and with a smooth, but slow gait Charis brought herself a couple of steps closer to him. Red was roughly three meters away from her when she lifted her right paw, pointing it at his upcoming chest much like an accusing finger. She took in a deep breath, filling herself up with it, then let her passive, emotionless mask to take over her lovely face before speaking loudly enough for him to hear. "What brings you all the way here?" It wasn't meant to be rude, or accusing as her pointing paw might have seemed, merely curious. Personality she wouldn't have expected him to venture so deep into a pack land. Gently placing her paw back steadily on the ground she continued, "Out for a stroll?" she asked, tone light yet sharpened by the sheer edge of her emotionless front. Her previous annoyed emotion that had been cause by the very wolf that was making his way to her seemed to soften a little as she stood like a statue, only head facing the male. Speech

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Pan Fion (Red)]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true]

[atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h448/soarly/Wonderwhy/Tables/PanFionscrollytableback.png][scrolly:h(333),w(418),sy] Red halted once he heard Charis making a sound, indicating that she had seen him. He turned and saw her familiar cold appearance and crystal blue eyes moving towards him, lifting a paw at his chest. His natural instinct told him to drop and cringe under her presence, apologising for the stolen rabbit, but Red fought it. So he only stood there, head raised high, his soft brown eyes still on Charis's blue ones. The limp body of his rabbit still was being clung in his jaws defiantly. This act could be considered as a challenge, but his presence wasn't cold or threatening. Instead it was careful and considerate. He guessed their...friendship, for the lack of a better word, would stop the pack wolf from attacking him. It seemed that he was right when Charis chose to speak to him instead of hissing at him. There was a curious undertone to her words, so Red thought it would be safe for him to reply freely, "I'm searching for a way out." The words were chosen carefully to reveal his situation, but not to reveal how utterly lost he felt. Of course there was the familiar soft but emotionless feeling in his voice. He noticed how relaxed (or relaxed to a certain degree) Charis seemed and he took this as an invitation. Slowly Red lowered his head to drop his rabbit to his paws and raised it again to look at the female. He hadn't forgotten how he had criticised her when she told him about her pack, and he doubted she did too. What he had seen until now told him that Charis didn't seem entirely at home in this place. But she didn't dislike it either. It was more like an acceptance, really. It did make sense since it was in every wolf's blood to be in a pack, despite some of them choosing to fight that instinct. Packs could provide those wolves a sense of security that a loner life couldn't offer. Both Red and Charis were the living proofs of this fact; Red was scrawny and dishevelled, and Charis was healthier and stress-free (or as he'd think). As he thought about this there was a tiny smile on his lips, "You've certainly chosen a difficult place to live." [/scrolly]

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[Charis Dermott]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Though she would have said that a normal wolf would surrender under the pressure of her literally pointing at them, Red was different and Charis seemed to be reminding herself about that for like the tenth time (which in her world was a lot)! It was odd how hard it was for her to accept that she wasn't the 'only one' who was unique and practically knew everything about one from a simple glance. Her icy eyes followed his every tiny movement, as a flick of a tail until the poison lupus finally replied in a slightly muffled voice from the rabbit's dead figure in his mouth. Searching for a way out? Hmm ... was it really that easy to get lost in a territory? Oh, wait. Maybe he couldn't find the border. The female made a quick mental note to notify Reynard to reinforce the crossing line. But whatever the reason she still raised a brow that was now slowly molding into a questioning frown. Though her eyes flicked instantly again as Red dropped the rabbit on the ground. She lingered on the small figure for a moment, wondering if he'd caught it in her territory. But she was quick to focus her attention back to the other. It was clear that here she was dominant, the more superior. And she liked it no doubt. It was more ... her, Charis Dermott. The leading female and not: Charis Dermott the female who can't accept change. "You've certainly chosen a difficult place to live." His words didn't cut deep this time, merrily brushed her aura. The lupus had made sure not to make the same mistake again. Though his words she saw as a teasing from his small smile it was still something to think about. Joining the Children hadn't exactly been her choice. Well in a way it had been, but it was necessary and her father was smart enough to teach his children to like things that where necessary. The pack wasn't yet home ... her duties meant training until she proved herself to be a worthy member. Challenge, another thing the female fancied. So it really wasn't hard to learn to like things. You simply had to see the good side in everything. And in any case a pack meant survival and a warm, secure, safe place you could reside through winter and other hard times. While she truly loved the freedom of being a Lone Wolf, ever since the time she said 'yes' things have changed on both her inside and her outside. Learning to be more accepting and calm, her wary and secretive personality still stayed though. On the outside she was defiantly fresher and cleaner. As for Lumera Valley being a difficult place? At first yes, but really Charis would have thought of Red being more traveled around these parts, if not exactly waltzing into the middle of the territory, but around it. There were still things she needed to learn. Completely lost in thought, Charis had forgotten about the white and red being. Lightly she sighed then chuckled. "Maybe. It's always different in someone else's eye." Her words have been thought out already and she tried to add some wit into them. The lupus was warmer these days –as in her ice shield less thick. "As much as you are like me," The female started, taking a few cautions steps closer, "You are so different, I don't know how. Perhaps more secrets lye within your soul," Her voice was spiced with mysteriousness, with a sort that seemed to encourage him to tell her more about himself. Their brief meeting hadn't allowed her to open him up like a Christmas present. Really she didn't know much about him. She dearly hoped he wasn't smarter and was able to get more information out of her. Speech

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Pan Fion (Red)]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true]

[atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h448/soarly/Wonderwhy/Tables/PanFionscrollytableback.png][scrolly:h(333),w(418),sy] As he looked at Charis with his ever-observing eyes, constantly taking in details. Even though there were still several new details, Red felt as if he knew Charis quite intimately. She was very familiar to him, despite meeting her for the second time. Being around her was more comfortable than he would expect. He guessed it was because they shared similar traits and they knew what it was like being themselves, cold and detached from others. At this, he wondered if Charis felt the same towards him. Granted, she looked less closed off now, but he hadn't forgotten that she acted sometimes. The memory of Charis being flirty hit him, and his mind recoiled. It felt wrong, remembering her like that. It was just... not her. Again Red kicked himself mentally, reminding him that he did not really know her, despite whatever he was thinking. Hell, she could be considering whether to run off to report to her alpha or to fight him off her territory. She was unpredictable like that and Red found himself not wanting that to change. He narrowed his eyes curiously as Charis merely looked at him instead of replying to his question. Time stretched and it almost reached the point where Red would ask her again, but she broke it off by chuckling and replying. He raised his brow and gave her a tiny nod in response. Her words were equally soft. Not just that; her whole demeanour seemed to relax, less colder. Even though this change was subtle, Red found it oddly different. Had the pack tamed her? The Children was a real family pack, and it shouldn't surprise him to see a bit of their affection in her. But for some reason, it threw Red off. No, that wasn't just that. It also felt comforting. He guessed that she felt comfortable enough around him to relax slightly and he wasn't sure what to feel about this. It was nice but he liked her cold appearance he had encountered at their last meeting. It was distinctive, yet familiar. He shrugged it off; of course Charis was going to confuse him. Charis moved closer and spoke his thoughts out loud, but about himself. He didn't reply straight away; he smiled and averted her gaze instead. So she was equally confused. Of course this was going to happen when two secretive wolves bump into each other. He chuckled, thinking about what was the chance of that happening. It was so odd, bizarre and random. Life could be strange sometimes. Slowly he felt his mask slipping, and this time he didn't fight hard to keep it up. Why would he? He more or less trusted her not to exploit this. But he didn't trust her enough to answer her question. Or he just simply did not want to, he didn't know. What would you say if someone just told you how they saw their mother's murdered corpse and how their father taught them about tough life? It was likely that she would look at him in pity or sorrow. Instantly it hit him, and he realised why he had started to use 'Red' as his name. It was less about hiding himself, but more about forgetting his old, tragic, pathetic life. "I don't know why I am different. I don't have any big secrets." It was partially true, or at least it was to him. Why would his life be a big secret for Charis. It was just a life of another wolf. Just a history of his existence. Nothing big to create such an impact on another's life. He was worthless. "...I am who you see now." He ended bluntly, and his cold mask quickly picked up defensively. Then, when he realised how abrupt his reaction was, he asked carefully, not expecting any answer since he hadn't given any himself; "How about you?" Red deliberately looked at the dead rabbit at his paws, refusing to meet her blue eyes. [/scrolly]

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[Charis Dermott]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Ice Eyes stood patiently after her question, nevertheless after her deduction that she was going to have to wait for the answer; she chose to get the best of the seconds to spare. Deciding upon the examination of her male near-mirror self image, Charis' laser-like eyes - with a apparent dull look - scanned in another picture of Red, like a photocopier only the picture didn't come back out. He hadn't change much, however this female with her extreme intelligence knew that many small bits, but out a big bit. With her mind's eye she imagined her own self portrait standing next to him. Comparing the two it was obvious that he was scruffier, but it didn't show as much. It was also visible that he was indeed thinner. Though these traits didn't exactly stand out they weren't invisible and it shot Charis some happy thoughts about joining her pack. But then the female noticed a slip in his mask before he pulled it no, slower however. Narrowing her eyes a little she tried to unravel his thoughts ... unsuccessfully. The whole reading didn't take as long as it might have seemed, though she hadn't finished before his familiar voice broke her off. Her entire focus immediately was controlled onto him. No big secrets? Sure, she hadn't really expected any huge secrets, but she knew that he would go around blabbing about it if he had any. "... I am who you see now." His following words where ended bluntly and it caught her attention how he pulled on his cold mask so suddenly in a defensive mode. Instinctively she pulled her own mask on as well, wondering about his motives. Charis hadn't entire believed him (but it's not like she believes or trusts easily), she also highly doubt that he'd be showing his true self the same way she wasn't showing hers. Red hadn't answered her question though, instead he asked her one. "How about you?" It did make her ponder on if for a moment, though she wasn't only thinking about that. The way he had now looked down, staring at the prey was something to think about too. It was just so annoying sometimes that he wasn't an open book, yet it was still refreshing to think again and having to figure out things. Lightening her cold mask just a slight bit, the female lowered her head trying on getting him to look up again, "I don't have any big secrets either, unless you consider my past one." She answered him with her normal voice. And that was all she said before lifting her head back up again waiting for his reaction. Speech

Table by Eldarwen · Image

[Pan Fion (Red)]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true]

[atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h448/soarly/Wonderwhy/Tables/PanFionscrollytableback.png][scrolly:h(333),w(418),sy] Charis had given Red a chance to unload himself, to get rid of the heavy burden on his shoulders. But of course, he refused to take it. Why would he if Charis was just a stranger? She wouldn't care, and he would come off as a pathetic lump of fur if he whined how tough his past was. After al, Charis's past could be far worse than his own, and he wouldn't know. He noticed how as soon as he put on his defensive front, she got colder too. It was expected. And because he expected it didn't mean he felt disappointed. They could be friends, perhaps great friends, only if they chose to be open with each other. But, because they had chosen to train themselves to be withdrawn and careful, it was almost impossible. It was both strange and infuriating. Even though this was second time Red had met Charis, he still found her fascinating and enigmatic. His eyes twitched upwards when he saw that Charis had lowered her head, and it surprised him to see that she had lowered her defensive mask slightly. So perhaps she wasn't that annoyed by his secrecy unlike what he'd thought, and this pleased him. It showed him that she respected him enough not to pester him. Curious, Red lifted his head, diverting his attention from his prey to the female. She had the same careful, but less colder, look on her face as she answered his question. It was a good answer. The answer made him wonder who was she, and what was her past like? Charis was definitely not a simple wolf, therefore her past wasn't likely to be simple either, unless she just liked attention. Now that Red thought about it, most of wolves' past was often kept secret as it often revealed who they really were. Like, for example, Red's own past would show how damaged and fragile he was, and he'd rather to keep this hidden. Sure some wolves liked to think that they had changed, but in his opinion, no one could truly change. Especially not with their past pulling them back. Now it was a possibility that Charis chose to keep her past hidden to prevent Red from knowing who she really was. After all they were sort of still in the same game of discovering who each other was without saying much about themselves. "Yes." He trailed off, initially intending to say his thoughts aloud, but decided against it. He didn't know if Charis would see this as a hint of his past; despite it being a difficult clue, he chose not to risk it. [/scrolly]

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