out for fun, who knows what I'll find.

[Silvia Loup Garou]

((OOC: couldn't fit this in the title: TAG STYKER/OPEN))

It's Friday night, I'm feeling alight, got the night off, and it's party time!
I love the City.
The lights, the sounds, the up all night way of things.
Even here, at 2 am, there's clubs open, serving alcohol, and stuff out the back that isn't so up on the books, if you know what I mean.
Entering the Club, I'm glad I choose my shorter skirt, and higher boots. Looks like a night to be on the dance floor.
But, rounds first.
I go up to the bar and order a drink, redheaded slut on the rocks, and sipping my drink I light a cig, and inhale deeply as I look around, my back now resting lightly against the bar.
Doesn't seem to be any of my usual friends around... if you call them friends.
I don't mind being around people, I just don't like it when they get too close.
People have absurd notions of control and stuff when they scratch the surface in a relationship.
I start walking around a bit, cig in one hand, drink in the other, still observing for now.
Couple of cute guys. Nothing I'd fuck, without more liqueur in me.
And I'm not really looking for action tonight.
After downing the drink, a good song comes over, so I stub the cig out in an ashtray on an empty table on my way to the dancefloor.
I let my focus leave the room, turning to the music, the beat hitting my whole body as I move.
Not a bad start for the night.

[Stryker Loup Garou]

Midian and the others had agreed to let me go out and have some fun. I was wary, I'll admit, but hey, Midian and Arwen were around so all I had to do was call if I got into trouble. Very comforting to know I had two badass werewolves who would come to my rescue if needed. Besides, I needed this. I was still young by both human and the clan standards, being twenty, but I'd lost out on allot when I was kidnapped. Wolfnapped? Er, whatever. Taking a deep breathe and smoothing out the simple black dress I wore, I noticed people were looking at me. Midian was the only one that claimed my heart so it wasn't like I was going to start flirting with them, even though one winked at me, eww, and I made my way up to the bar, not even sure what the hell I was doing. "Erm, just water please." He looked at me as if I was crazy, but happily gave me a glass with water and ice and I was contented to drink that without interruption.

A feeling stole over me, I stood up, a snarl tearing from my vocals, casting my eyes around the club for the source. My first thoughts were on family, and I wasn't about to become some victim again! As my hand shook around the glass, shattering and allowing the cold water and ice to seep into my skin and dripping on the floor, I managed to calm down enough to look embarrassed. "Sorry, I-" I laughed bitterly, shaking my head, someone touched me and I kicked them in the shin. "Don't ever touch me. You know, this was a bad idea. I can't trust any of you." I began to push, make my way through the crowd. "I'm not Lyra anymore, I know that. But the Lyra would know what to do instead of being to hasty." I sighed more angry at myself than anything. Walking through the dancefloor, scents hit me while I moved, bumping into someone(Silvia) and staring up at them. "Excuse me." I spoke soft, moving past when another feeling hit me, stronger. I just couldn't place my finger on it. "Dammit Arwen, Midian, I'm gonna need you." I muttered. "Or maybe Syren, if she was around." I added as an afterthought.

[Silvia Loup Garou]

Bad thing about dancefloors: they can get crowded, and that means you bump into people.
So lost in the music, it was her scent that actually bumped me first.
Loup Garou.
I can smell the Luna.
Though I had no doubt of my sense of smell, when she bumped physically into me, and I got a view of her amulet, it was confirmed.
Amethyst... No one had Amethyst when I was still around. Judging by her age, I don't think I know her.
As much as she smells familiar, I don't recognize her at all.
She says excuse me, her mind not at all here, or she might have smelled me... poor girl looks really confused actually, I can hear names she mutters under her breath, bringing back memories I don't care to drag out of the closet.
Another time, another life.
I'm not a pack creature, I need to be free. And all the Loup Garou want to tie me down.
But, bumping so unexpectedly into her, my mind doesn't seem to want to drop it and keep dancing.
She doesn't recognize me. I can walk away now, and she'd never know.
But if she keeps stumbling around like that, she's going to cause a scene... and... fuck. Why should I feel obligated to help one of them out anyhow?
Well, if helping her get off the dancefloor without a fist fight means I can go back to my own sweet oblivion, it's the path of least resistance.
I pass her a calm look, to let her know she didn't bother me with the bump, my voice low enough so that only she can hear it over the music, as close as she is.

"Watch yourself little Loup Garou. I'd hate to have to break somebody's arm for laying a hand on you while you're so confused.
You might want to hit the chairs in the corner, get your mind back to you before you stumble through the crowd."

[Stryker Loup Garou]

Feeling the magick thrum through my amulet, my fingers reach up, lingering on the cool amethyst stone for comfort, the girls look kept me from bolting outright. I was supposed to have fun, but this wasn't what I had in mind. Yet her words that I heard made me pause, instantly on the alert, trying to find any sign of who she was, but seeing nothing. I had to go with my senses, which weren't that great either. Munin, any help? I figured it was worth a short, scanning through my brain for appropriate responses. Well if she knew about us, the Loup Garou, she was bound to know the story of little Lyra who disappeared. Everyone in the clan knew, and those that knew of us would have probably heard it through others, still, I wasn't that keen on shouting how my whole story, nor parts of it for that matter. I just couldn't help the words that seemed to effortlessly come from my mouth. Man, the others were gunna kill me for this, and I hastily gulped for some more time to think. Obviously, that didn't work.

"I don't need you to do that. You think after being kidnapped and abused I would be weak enough to not handle myself?" I demanded, cold fury seemed to enter my system, and adrenaline was soon behind, coursing their way through my veins as if ready for a fight. "Listen here, I can take care of myself-" My words cut off, my mind sending out a sharp, mental jolt and carefully I backed away. "Why do you smell like, like her?" I asked, sniffing the air. I remembered that scent, so like my mothers. No, this was just a trick! "Stay away from me. I don't care if you smell familiar, or smell like my mother, just stay away." Fear now laced my voice, ready to summon the munin to change into my beast form if needed. That or I could shift into my normal wolf, but that wouldn't do much if I was in mega trouble. Which, judging from my emotions, I had landed myself in it pretty deep. Oh well, can't say this was a night of non experience.

Backing away carefully and throwing my hands up, I intended to turn around and leave this woman alone, confrontation wasn't something I had in mind tonight, so leaving would be a better option. That way, no one would get hurt and I wouldn't feel guilty for people maybe having nightmares for their life if I suddenly transformed. I thought of my daughter Arya, Midian, Arwen, everyone in the clan. If I backed away now, then, yes, I wouldn't have to expose us, and people could go one believing werewolves didn't exist. If I had to fight, well, I glanced around. Front door, fire exit door, windows in the bathrooms. Yes, I could force ourselves out if a fight would take place. Then, no one would get hurt apart from the ones in the actual fight. See, some of Cole's battle strategies were still within my brain, I wanted to smile smugly, instead, I sort of grimaced. Next time, I'm going somewhere else.

[Silvia Loup Garou]

One little comment to try and help, and the girl explodes.
My eyebrows raise as I watch her, but that's almost the only reaction.
Something's wrong. I don't know what her problem is, but she really isn't all together.
But, what do I care? I was offering to help, and she jumps all over as if she can help herself.
Truth be told, I don't think she can.
She's a scattered mess. She's going to cause a scene, and I'll let her do it all on her own.
I did my good deed, I'm not going to bother with it much further.

"Look kid, you're in public, calm the fuck down, and get some control.
You can't handle yourself, or you wouldn't be spazzing out like this."

She mentions I smell like her mother... I never had any kids...
Could this be my sister's kid? No... she was gone. All the clan was fumbling around looking for her when I left. I bet she's been kibble for years.
Why am I even trying to figure it out?
It doesn't matter, that's behind me.
She's got the clan to help her.
If she bumps into some asshole and he takes a swing, she can handle it herself, she seems to eager to do so.
Blowing it all off as not even worth my time I push my hands out in a shooing motion,

"Go on then, if you don't want my help and you want to wander around in a daze and pretend you can take care of yourself, that's your baggage, not mine."

I turn my back to her, my senses peeled in case she jumps me from behind, but other than watching my own back, she's not worth much more consideration.
Not my problem.
I go back to dancing, trying to regain the mood I had before her interruption on my senses.

[Arwen Loup Garou]

Midian and I were teaching Arya checkers, both of us only paying half attention. We were worried about Stryker. She deserved a night of, on her own. But due to her past, it was hard for us to let her go. We kept our mental links wide open so that if anything happened, one or both of us could be there in a flash. Arya was getting sleepy, it was a late night for her. We hunted earlier, her first time in wolf form, and I was shocked she still had energy. Finally, a little after 2am, she couldn't stop yawning and almost nodded off in her father's lap. "I'm gonna get my little lady to bed. You ok for a minute?" I smiled, "Sure Midian, go ahead." I gave Arya a kiss goodnight, and sat back watching the starts.

A tap on my shoulder startled me. I had a strange feeling, and wanted to get to Stryker, the sooner the better. Midian felt it to, it was his hand that got my attention. "Something's up. I'm worried about her, Arwen." I nodded, standing up. "Yeah, I caught the same vibe. You stay with Arya, I'll go see what's going on. No worries, I'll keep her safe Midian." He chuckled lightly, grinning. "I know you will, Arwen. I know you will." Stryker could take care of herself, there was no doubt about that. But I'd be damned if I left Arya without a mother. I'd do anything in my power to keep Stryker safe, alive, and well. All it took was the okay from Midian and I was off like a shot, tearing through the clan's perimeters and on passed the cabin. I might have changed into something more club worthy, but I didn't want to waste any time getting to the city and my sister.

Loup Garou are fast, in either form, and I barrelled into the club soon enough. Not only is my sister's scent strong, but I catch a whiff of someone I haven't seen or heard from in years. It's been 3 years since Silvia and I last talked on the phone, she had no idea Stryker as back, or that Stryker was Stryker, not Lyra. "Holy shit." I mutter as I walk in and scan the crowd for them both. Sure enough I find them together. Stryker's about to blow or bolt, clearly uncomfortable, and Silvia, well she's the same. Don't piss in her cherrio's and she won't burn down your house. Or something to that effect. If I don't move fast, they're gonna be exchanging more than words. Hey, its possible.

I slide up between them. "Stryker, stay put. SILVIA!" I call a bit louder, my hand staying on my sister's arm. Silvia turns and I grin. "So, you treat your neice like any other city slicker, huh?" I knew Silvia's moods, hell I got told I was just like her all through my childhood and adolescense. I step forward and hug her. I was the only one in the clan she kept contact with, most of the time anyway. She was a free spirit, untamed, and couldn't stand to be chained down. I got that, but I still needed the clan. Silvia was born to be a lone wolf, I only shared those traits with her. I back off, still grinning. "You have no idea who this is do you?" I gesture to my sister and laugh, almost in Silvia's face. "Lyra. Remember, my little sis? Yeah, she's Stryker now, but we got her back. You'd be proud Aunt Silvia." I wasn't kidding, Silvia would be over the moon to hear about how Stryker busted out of her cage and killed the sadistic bastard that held her captive for years. At least I got them sort of reunited, and no claws had come out.

[Stryker Loup Garou]

The last time someone swore at me was him and terror flooded through my body, my mind sending thoughts rapidly to Arwen and Midian, our mental link was open in case something like this happened, and clearly, we were all right in thinking of possibilities that could arise. "Fine, fine. I don't care." Shivering, I began to move away, mind clearly elsewhere since old memories flooded back, clouding my mind for mere seconds before a calming prescence stole over my body. Hell bent on getting out of there, I did relax partly, the adrenaline that had flooded my system earlier now seemed distant, leaving my muscles slightly limp. "I'm gone, you never have to see me again." Though Cole will need to hear about someone knowing about us. Still, nothing even clicked in my mind about who she was, so I thought nothing of it. "Arwen." I smile swiftly, knowing that aura around me, even my amulet hummed to prove who it was, that was good, safety and we could get out of here.

"Stay put?" I asked, arching my eyes while I stared at Arwen. Then I laughed, a sound that wasn't heard over the music unless you were a werewolf, so it didn't matter when no one looked our way. "You know this-" I struggled to find the words, "I want out, I'm not hanging around someone that reminds me of-" Cut off again, I really needed to figure out that nifty trick Cole has where his voice gets louder when talking to the whole clan. Though somehow that may defeat the purpose of having no one else care about us. "Wait." Shaking my head, hair flicked into my eyes as I backed away again, this time was more to figure out my thoughts that began sending rapid fire messages all at once, I could barely get a grip on one when another went whizzing by. Great, more confusion to add to my list of other confusion, for what Arwen was saying, it kinda made sense, not that I would admit that out loud. Swallowing, I looked at Arwen, then at Silvia, then back at Arwen.

I knew of Silvia. She hated being chained down and part of the pack, I was younger back then and more interested in playing tussle than actually paying much attention. Yet it made sense for her scent to resemble my mothers, for they were sisters, blood was the same. Right now, my body screamed at me to run, standing still, almost frozen while my eyes seemed distant. Finally, what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes, I gathered my thoughts. "Aunt Silvia?" Great, now I felt incredibly humiliated for my actions before so instead of humiliating myself any further, my lips were sealed, not saying another word. Looking at Silvia, taking in her appearance and her scent, which was like my moms but different too now that I took the time to commit it to memory. Her scent was werewolfy too, but not Loup Garou, confirming she was indeed, a loner. What could I say to someone who I barely knew, that I made a fool of myself in front of and snapped at? Next time, I was definitely taking someone with me, for situations such as these.

[Silvia Loup Garou]

As I'm dancing, which really isn't working out because my mind's still rolling over this chance encounter.
This is a big city, what are the chances of running into a Loup Garou anyhow?
It's got to be somewhere near impossible...
And then I smell another. One I do recognize, Arwen showing on the scene just as I start to remember.
Well, if the scene was going to draw any of the Loup Garou around, I'm more than glad it's Arwen.
I turn and hug her as she points out I'd pass my own niece off as another city slicker.
My eyebrows raise yet another time this night.
The clan got Lyra... Stryker? back.
I don't say a word, as Stryker calls me Aunt Silvia, looking me over, and shutting her mouth after that.
I step forward, looking deep into her eyes, that Amethyst amulet glowing in the neon lights of the club.
She has her eyes... and Arwen's eyes... so like my own.
I look from her, to Arwen, no expression on my face as my mind copes with what I see.
It was because of this one disappearing that drove my sister mad.
So mad, no one could help.
I felt so helpless... I watched my sister die, before she ever took her own life.
And now she's back.
Part of me wants to embrace my niece, and tell her just how much she meant to my sister.
How much it would mean to her to know she's back with the family.
Another part of me wants to smack her in the face and demand to know how it is she's back, but my Sister's still dead.
If they could have found her, back then, my sister would still be alive now.
But that's not her fault, she's obviously been through allot, and all my anger lashing out on her isn't going to bring Misty back.
No, I can't strike her. But, I don't know how to hug her either.
I'm not the lovey type.
So I stand there and nod my head.

"I should have seen some resemblance, even if I didn't recognize her. You've grown up allot... Stryker."

The name even feels weird on my lips.
I held her in my arms as a baby, I shared my sister's thrill at her first words, her first steps...
I cut off the feelings there, abruptly changing course,

"O.K. girls, we can't be having any family reunions here in the middle of a dance floor. I was suggesting before, now I'm saying it outright, let's move to the chairs in the corner, so we can all sit down."

And with that, I go up to the spot I mention, pulling my cigarettes out of my thigh high boot to light one and take a drag as I sit down.

[Arwen Loup Garou]

I nudged Stryker, who seemed to become mute. "It's cool, sis, don't let her scare you off." I laughed, knowing Stryker was pretty hard to scare, and Silvia was being, well, civil, for Silvia at least. I just stand there, between the two of them while they register the whole deal. I swear if I looked hard enough I'd see wheels turning in both their heads. I laughed all the louder when Silvia said family reunion. Never words to come from her mouth. "Sorry, just funny hearing you use family and reunion all in one sentence. Or at all." I slipped my arm through Stryker's, grinned at her, and followed Silvia. I paused only to nab a waitress and ask for 2 cokes and a shot of rum. I almost couldn't remember what Silvia drank, then it hit me as a red head in a mini skirt 3 sizes too small strutted passed. "And a red headed slut, rocks." I slipped her a twenty and pulled up a chair.

The waitress came over almost immediately and deposited our drinks. I slid the red headed slut to Silvia, and a coke to Stryker. I sipped my own coke to make room, then dumped my shot of rum in it. "Ok, since I'm the only one not lost in this conversation, I'll clear some shit up." I didn't normally smoke, but seeing Silvia light one up made me want one too. I hadn't smoked for....about 3 years now. I waggled my fingers at her until she slid me a cigarette, lit it up, and inhaled. "Did you change brands? These taste like shit." I grinned, taking a good swallow of my drink. Surely they only tasted like shit because I'm not the smoker I used to be. And if it was that bad, I wouldn't have continued to smoke it. "Anyway, let's see. Last we talked, you knew I was still looking for Lyra. Well, I'd gotten a few leads, all of them bunk in the end." I paused to tap the ashes into the tray on the table.

I took Stryker's hand in mine and squeezed. I know she hated to relive this saga, but I could at least spare her the telling of it. "Turns out she freed herself. The assholes who bagged her kept her locked up in a fucking cage, drugged. They beat her , raped her, and elicited just about every other horror imaginable on her. This was a daily occurance. She even quit shifting. But finally, the moon called her back. She'd had enough, broke out, and killed that fuck who'd caged her." I smiled, ear to ear, proud as hell of my badassed little sister. "I wasn't far, just hanging in the woods, but I heard her call." I tapped my temple, then took another drag off the cigarette. "I came running, found her, and took her home. Easy as that. Oh, and get this." I leaned forward. "Midian and Synge, you remember Synge right, he was Midi's little bro, Lyra's age? Anyway, they were at my place, and it took all of 3 minutes before him and Lyra were a couple."

I knew Silvia wasn't big on the whole pack mentality, but there were a few she liked to hear of from time to time. Those of us that were tight knit back in the day when Silvia was still a part of the clan. She'd left after Lyra was taken. Probably the easiest way for her to leave. The only reason she stuck around was our mom, and Misty had died more or less the day Lyra disappeared. "The young pups are all grown up and mated now." I laughed. "Seriously though, Stryker had changed her name in captivity, so it's what we all call her now. We found out she'd had a daughter too, Arya. Took down Tempest Hollow after breaking in and taking Arya back to the clan. Now that you would have gotten a kick out of." Silvia may not be one for taking orders, but causing hell in Tempest Hollow was up her alley. "Let's call that the condensed version. What about you, Aunt Silvia? Whatcha been up to?"

[Stryker Loup Garou]

It felt unreal and too surreal, here was my aunt, my mothers sister alive and well. Biting my bottom lip to stop myself from speaking, I simply stared past her, unable to look her in the eyes. Even if no-one else could feel it, it was like being hit in the face with a hammer. Silvia didn't have to speak, I would be the same were I in her shoes, paws, whatever. "I'm not scared." I replied, walking over to a booth, keeping my head up and my strides quick so I could enter and sit down without too much trouble. "You may not feel it." I murmured, shaking my shoulders at staring at my aunt. "You probably hate me, have so much animosity towards me. I'm alive, my mother dead. It's not my fault. Yea I strayed from the path but it was meant to be safe." Evil forces had been at work, and even now I still blamed myself after talking to my parents. Yes, they are dead but Syren helped me communicate with them.

"I want her back more than you can imagine, more than you will ever know." My voice lowered to above a whisper, reaching out my hands to clasp around the glass of coke, cold to the touch. Pulling it over to me I took a drink, feeling the fizzy cold liquid slide down my throat, even cooling up my insides which was a rather odd feeling. I knew what was about to come, the whole story of how and what and why, I had told it a few times, mainly to Stryker, Midian and Cole and Syren, and at least this time I could keep my mouth shut and try and think of something out without all the images and memories haunting me. "Black market, its as horror like as it sounds." Closing off my inner hearing, hoping that would stop me from listening it, really I couldn't take much more of it anyway, I watched a couple dancing, their movements slow as they gazed with love into one anothers eyes. That alone made me think of Midian, that thought was like an anchor, keeping my above all the pain and loss. He truly was my soul mate, and I was so incredibly happy that I was with him, his mate.

"Lyra is a name of the past. He used it against me, turning the sweet name into a name that would sting and haunt me every night." I explained after Arwen had finished the whole retail of the story. Putting the glass down I left go of Arwen's hand, she had squeezed before talking so it was a relief to get some feeling back into my fingers, reaching up around my neck to unclip the chain with the locket, keeping my amulet secured around my neck though. "This is Arya." Opening it up, there was a picture of her as a baby, and a picture of her now, thanks to the clan. Handing it over to Silvia, and leaning back in my chair, I waited for her to tell her story, what she had been up to. It had been many years since I last looked at my aunt, and it felt too weird. She resembled my mother so much, well of course, they were sisters, but it was hard to look at her and not think of mom. But I wasn't going to cry, nope, that wasn't who I was.

[Silvia Loup Garou]

Arwen laughs at my choice of words, and I gotta admit, she's right... it's not something I'm used to saying.
But they are my Sister's daughters... they are family to me, even if I don't see the entire Loup Garou as family, they are my blood.
They are her blood.
Gotta hand it to Arwen, she's quick on the drinks, the waitress bringing them by instantly, and I take mine, as I notice Arwen waggling her fingers for a cig, I toss her one and drink my drink, taking a drag as I listen to her catch us both up on stuff.
I have to smirk as she mentions the cigarette tasting like shit.

"They put nasty shit in them when the laws changed... all cigarettes taste like shit now."

Sad, but true.
Not to mention, she's still smoking it, so it's not like it's that bad to her.
The kid however, doesn't seem to be doing too good. Well she hasn't looked good since she came in the door, but the more the subject of her own horrors is spoke on, the more damaged she seems.
I don't say a word when she mentions it not being her fault, and that I must hate her.
I don't hate her. I hate her situation. But I don't say much at all, letting them go over the details, taking a look at the locket before handing it back.
My sister's dead, and the ones who's fault it is, seems got what's coming to them from Stryker herself.
As much as I wish I could shred the bastards to pieces, I feel proud that she was able to do it herself in the end.
The question comes to what I've been up to, and I finish the rest of my drink in one gulp, hitting my cig again as I think over what to say.

"Well, you both know why I left.
It's not Styker's fault, but that whole situation killed the only thing that I stuck through all of that clan bullshit for.
I've managed to do pretty well here though.
I got my own place, and I have my fun.
I may be from the wild, but there's something to all the shiny lights and hot bodies of the city."

I take another drag on the cigarette, blowing the smoke out in a huge cloud,

"I enjoy the anonymity.
No strings attached, nothing holding me back."