Days of Regret [OPEN]

[Aalaria Windwalker]

As long as the moon is on my back,
And the future is bright ahead,
I will live on.

Nothing could have spared Aalaria from the pain she felt every day. She closed her eyes and the images were still there: the corpses, the lycan, the roars she made out of devastation and frustration. And what made it worse was that no one wanted to help her.
Being a weretiger meant she was pure evil then, did it? Even if she could mostly sommon it on command? Well, that's what they said...
Aalaria sat warily on abranch that stretched out over her cave as though it was trying to protect her from any more suffering. She hd been waiting for the chance to hunt, but it was oddly quiet. There were no birds calling as the rose over the horizon, no growls as a wolf passed by, no snapping of twigs or crackling of leaves as a hunter or the hunted crept by... Silence.
It was like even the predators and their prey were avoiding her, trying not to help her. It wasn't as though she had a fearsome reputation as she hunted in the dead of night and stalked so easily that no one knew she'd passed through (except for the absence of some creature or another.)
So, why the silence? Strange. Maybe he was back. It was silent last time he came. Well, if he was back, then Aalaria was ready. She'd trained harder than ever to defeat him.
So, who was it that was there? Him, or someone else? Aalari clutched instinctively at her sword. Who?

[Arwen Loup Garou]

So much had changed in a days time. I'd gotten my sister back, Midian had his mate, and we all had a new life to share in, that of Arya. I was very concerned over what Synge and I had read in the files we nabbed from Tempest Hollow when we retrieved Arya, but that could wait. Tonight I wanted to hunt, I wanted to run.

Knowing that the others were together left my heart light, and my paws quick though silent as I sped through the familar parts of the forest. I loved the way I moved, completely in tune with my surroundings, whipping through a maze of green like the wind. My muzzle hung open, air rushing in and out of my lungs as I pushed myself faster, farther. It felt right to have my muscles bunching and releasing beneath me as I pelted through the forest.

I entered territory that was new to me after a time. I'd been so caught up in speeding through the land that I'd gone farther than my normal hunting grounds, further east. Catching a lycan's scent isn't something you do everyday, unless you're another lycan I guess. Still, it's kinda rare outside my pack anyway. This scent was entirely new. Female, feline....tiger? I'd seen tigers before, but never in the wild. And I wasn't fond of visiting zoos, if you can guess why, I'll even give you a cookie. So the musky, cat scent was vaguely familiar, and odd. I knew there were many breeds of shifters, weres, lycans, whatever you want to call us. Each has their own brand of magic, of power.

I slowed, nose tilted to the sky as I traced the scent. It was heavier to my left, her home was there. A faint trace of steel...was she armed? Another anomaly, an armed shifter. Usually, our other abilities compensated for man made weapons. I decided caution was best, a whole bunch of lycans can have bad attitudes, and territory wasn't something to mess with. Believe me, spending your whole life in a group of nomad-gypsy-lycans, and you've experienced the territory disputes if at least by association.

It was quiet here, dangerously so, almost....sad. As I came around a large outcropping of rock, her scent moved higher. I followed my nose with my eyes and found her perched on a branch that reached over a cave. Her hand rested easily and familiar on a sword...the steel that mingled with her scent. The cave smelled strongly enough of her to suggest I'd wandered right to her doorstep. I sat back on my haunches, my head tilting to the side as I regarded her curiously. Waving one paw in the air, like a dog would to shake, I had my mouth parted in a grin, my tongue darting softly in and out as I panted. Then, I opened my mind, seeking hers. "Well met, Tigress. Forgive my curiousity, I caught your scent and had to meet you." I tried for a shrug, but generally the more human gestures just looked ridiculous when I was a wolf. Keeping the wolfish grin on my face, I introduced myself. "My name is Arwen. Arwen Loup Garou."

[Aalaria Windwalker]

Aalaria shifted unevenly on the branch as the smell reached her nose, mingling with her bated breath. She sniffed at it curiously, wondering what this new discovery was. As the scent filled her mind, she began to recall it. This was... wolfish, if anything, but had a small dose of human. A lycan? No, it was Loup Garou.
Aalaria's head twitched quickly down at curious creature, now sitting back on her haunches. She listened to her soothing words as they entered her mind. She'd not heard anything like it in sometime.
She pounced from her perch and landed on all fours, curiously looking at the Loup Garou, her tail twitching as though it had a mind of its own. She was very fascinated with wolves and if she had to be another "were" it would be a werewolf, but alas she was a weretiger lycan.
Aalaria stood up fully, raising up onto her back legs. She made a motion with her mouth, resembling a smile. She dipped her head in greeting to this curious traveller.
"Welcome to my territory, Arwen," Aalaria greeted humbly. She didn't often call the area she lived in her "territory". "I am Aalaria. It is a pleasure to meet you, Loup Garou."
As she said it, her ears twitched about, a slight motion and easy to miss, but it was there. It was a motion that she'd made since she'd been a cub and she would probably never stop doing it. It was a security movement that made her feel safer.
Why did she do it? Not because she didn't trust Arwen, no. Because she was scared, scared of the world beyond. What if there were more Loup Garou in the area? What if they were the same as the humans in the village?
But, the motion was only small for a good reason. She doubted that idea very much, as this Arwen, so far on her first impression, was nothing like the humans.
A good thing, too.

[Arwen Loup Garou]

The tigress seemed as curious about me as I was about her, which was a good thing since it meant we weren't tearing out each other's throats. I sat patiently as she leapt from her tree limb with an agile grace that belongs only to the feline persuasion. Then she stood erect, the perfect blend of tiger and human female. It was an amazing mix I'd never seen, merely heard of through stories. I grinned back at her, my wolfish smile growing as she nodded a hello. "Thank you, Aalaria. It is a pleasure to meet you as well." Satisfied that I was safe with this weretiger, I stood and plodded toward her.

There was a wariness about the situation, though we were polite enough. It's not unusual for lycans to be wary of one another. Whether it was my presence or something else that left her seeming a bit unsettled, I wasn't sure. "If you don't mind my asking, how long have you lived out here? I have a cabin a ways off, west of here, and a bit south. Granted, I've never run out this far until tonight, I'm surprised we haven't crossed paths before." I sat back down, nearer to her, forest green eyes gazing up at her. I hadn't even known there was a weretiger near the cabin I called home, and here, one night as I'm running on a whim, I run smack into her home.

I shifted my front paws nervously. Regardless of our being on good terms, I felt the need to inform her of the other Loup Garou with me. It was a small chance they'd come into contact with one another, but it's better to be safe. "I will warn my family that you are here, so they do not encroach on your hunting grounds. Similarly, I should tell you that there are others in the area. My family, my pack. My sister, Stryker, her mate Midian and thier daughter Arya. Synge, Midian's brother is also with us. They shouldn't cause you any trouble, though." I grinned up at her again. Synge would flip when I told him there was a weretiger nearby! We shared a fascination with other shifters, the many different types of weres and lycans from stories and myth. However, we hadn't seen many ourselves. "Please, visit me, or us, anytime. You are welcome in my home." I meant it, it was the least I could offer, as she proved to hold no ill will against me for wandering into her home. Questions flooded my mind, and I was eager to ask her a million and one, but paced myself. I felt drawn to her, to know of her and her life. In turn, I would share with her whatever she wanted to know about me. Did she know of the Loup Garou? Not only was our last name taken from the French term for werewolf, but it was also somewhat infamous to other shifters, as our clan was quite large, and the only gypsy/werewolf pack in existence.

[Aalaria Windwalker]

At the mention of other Loup Garou, Aalaria felt a little twinge in her, but as Arwen went on, she felt far more comftable. She could sense an invisible barrier, but it seemed to disintergrate as the time went on. Aalaria didn't feel so uncomftable or unsettled anymore. The atmosphere seemed to have changed from wary lycans to friendly, fellow shifters.
Aalaria's tail flicked with an air of satisfaction. She was pleased that she'd met Arwen and was curious about her lifestyle. What was it like living as a Loup Garou?
Aalaria nodded in a pleased motion. "I would be honoured to meet the rest of your family," she said, "and you and your people are free to wander in and out of my territory. You appear trustworthy."
It was true, Arwen seemed to be very likable and, either because she liked wolves anyway, Aalaria seemed to "click" with this girl.

[Arwen Loup Garou]

I snickered as her tail twitched excitedly, and wagged my in return. It thumped the ground with happy echos, THUMP THUMP THUMP. I opened my jaws in a grin, letting my tongue fall out the side of my mouth. "No harm will come to you from mine, that I can assure you." If anything, we'd all be stoked to have another shifter near by to hang out with. And a tiger, at that. "Thank you, you've been more than gracious." The desire to hunt had left me, overrun by the thrill of finding a new friend and fellow lycan.

"No time like the present then. I hope you like to run as much as I do." Something about the animals in us, us being shifters in general, we loved to run. Or to fly, as I've heard of bird shifters too. If she was willing, as she seemed to be, we'd head for my cabin where I could introduce her to the rest of my family. And, of course, as is customary, I'd cook up a huge meal for everyone. "I'd love for you to stay for dinner too. I'm a food nut, I cook all the time. I'll make steaks." I yipped, making a quick circle around Aalaria. I felt like a pup, and I knew Synge, at least, would be bouncing off the walls like I was when he met Aalaria. "While we run, we can talk, get to know each other some more." I bumped her leg with my muzzle and started off into the forest, following my earlier trail to lead us back to the cabin.

[Aalaria Windwalker]

Aalaria's tail whipped the floor in excitement. "I'd love to come!" She replied happily, standing on all fours. As Arwen passed, she pushed her head playfully against her's, as all cats do to show contentment. She began to jog forwards, arching her back as she ran.
Then came the speed.
She folllowed Arwen onwards, her front paws extending and grasping at the ground in front of her like she was leaping into space, then slamming down forcefully, before bringing her back paws forwards and springing forward again. The wind whipped at her face as she ran, her eyes blazng threw the night.
The moon reflected off her eyes, giving her the look of a cat who'd just been freed. Freed from herself. Freed from her past.
Free...

[Arwen Loup Garou]

Watching the way Aalaria ran was just so cool! It was different than a wolf, the way her legs pushed off from behind as her front paws pulled her body forward. We ran together, against the wind, trees whipping past. From glancing over at her, I knew she was enjoying this as much as I was. There's just something so freeing about running for a lycan. Nothing else compared. As we left her territory into what I considered mine, I sent out a mental message to my family. I felt Synge first, so I spoke to him. "Synge! You'll never guess who I'm bringing home for dinner! Her name's Aalaria, and she's a weretiger. Be there in 5, tell the others!" I felt his burst of excitement as if it were my own.

We were just about there, rounding the thick of pines that surrounded the small meadow my cabin sat in. "Almost there!" I called to Aalaria's mind, just as we passed the pines and ran into the meadow. "This is my cabin. As I said before, you're welcome anytime." I grinned at her as I slowed my pace. When I came to the porch, I shifted. My thick, silver fur receded as my bones reshaped themselves. In just a few seconds, I appeared human again. I grabbed the gray yoga pants and red tank top I'd left on a lawn chair and tugged them on. "That's better. Can't cook with paws." I chuckled, going over to pet Aalaria. I hadn't had the chance to really feel her fur while I was a wolf, so I was curious. She was soft, as I expected. I rubbed behind her ears and under her chin, while we waited for Synge. I could smell him, so I knew he was nearby. I didn't however, smell Stryker, Midian, or Arya, and wondered if they'd taken Arya out into the woods. Synge would no doubt let them know that food was on it's way, and that we had a visitor.

I opened the door and waltzed in, "Come on in and make yourself at home Aalaria." I gestured to the living room, then the kitchen as I gave her a mini tour. "Steak ok? We all like ours rare, but if you want me to cook it longer, I sure can." While I talked I wandered into the kitchen and pulled a massive package of tenderloins from the fridge. I set about seasoning them and slicing potatoes into a large dish. Au gratin potatoes, steak, and salad would be good enough for dinner. I had a loaf of garlic bread in the freezer too. As I cut and seasoned the potatoes, letting the meat absorb it's seasonings, I chatted with Aalaria more. "So, if its ok to ask, how did you...I mean, were you born a shifter, like us? I'm not sure how it works, but I've heard it's different for some species. Like us, the Loup Garou, we can't bite you or scratch you and then, poof, you're a werewolf. It's more than that. But there's still some wolves out there, that somehow manage to turn others, just from a bite." I shook my head and added another layer of potatoes to the dish. I heard the door slam, and knew Synge had arrived. "Hey Synge! We're in here!"

[Aalaria Windwalker]

As Arwen stroked Aalaria's head, she nuzzled her hand playfully. As a weretiger, her senses changed slightly and she enjoyed being stroked. She also assumed her human form, so she wouldn't ruin Arwen's home accidentally.
The aroma of the house caught her nose as the door opened. She could identify a scent from place to place, and when she'd been to the village, she'd caught smells of the houses as she walked past.
This partiular house had a warm, soothing scent that made Aalaria relax entirely. It stroked her insides as she breathed in and out slowly. That really made a feeling erupt in Aalaria, a feeling that was difficult to explain, but came from the image of a happy family that appeared in Aalaria's mind.
"Steak's absolutely fine," she replied, "I'm not picky. Rare is great!" She watched Arwen walk about the kitchen. She wanted to help, but at the same time didn't want to make a mess of it, as she'd never cooked before. Thinking about it, a lot of the food in the room was new to her and she'd never seen or smelt a lot of it.
"I've been a weretiger since birth," she explained, "I'm not sure how I got the genes. As far as I know, my parents had no lycan in them, and my sister wasn't either, unless she just never showed me how she changed." She shrugged slightly. "I don't know, all I know is I've been a weretiger forever. Can I help?" She wanted to help; she didn't like seeing anyone doing all the work.
As she said it, the door banged behing her and her head turned quickly. This was an instant reaction since her sister died. So, she was going to meet another Loup Garou? She felt her heart leap; the Loup Garou seemed to be very nice people. She wasn't sure now why she'd ever been unsure of them.

[Synge Loup Garou]

Waking up, the others were gone which was fine by me. I wanted to swim and so, getting up, I found a handwritten note from Midian, saying that him, Stryker and Arya were going for a walk in the forest and that they would be back soon. Arwen had gone off on one of her walks, it was typical of her, and so, stripping into my boxers, I head outside, sniffing the air. I knew where the river was, and it would be nice and cool for a dip. Taking off at a run, I move through the trees for a few minutes, before the sound of the river came to my hearing. With a big smile, I run, dive and splash into the water, feeling the cool liquid roll over my body. Taking a quick breath, I dive under, moving like an arrow through the water. When my air was about to run out, I dive up, taking deep lungfuls of air and grinning.

Walking through the water, I get back upon the shore and shake, hair getting into my eyes. Finally being able to swim made me feel better, and then, Arwen's presence was in my head. Excitement burst forth as I ran back to the cabin, grinning from ear to ear as I plow through the door, and right into my room. Grabbing a towel, I dry off my hair, getting out of the wet boxers and pulling on dry ones, then a pair of faded jeans that Midian had gotten me for my birthday, a teeshirt with a wolf howling at the moon, which Arwen had gotten me, I ran my fingers through my now dry-ish hair and making it look all spiky like. A weretiger! An actual werertiger! I was burning with joy, I loved learning and meeting other were species.

Running through the house again, I run outside before opening my mind to Midian. It was harder to do in human form than wolf, but when you were family, it was allot easier, if I make any sense. I told Midian Arwen was home with a visitor and food wouldn't be too far off. If I knew Midian, he would be bolting back home with the two girls. He never missed a meal. Come to think of it, neither did I. Running back, I push open the door for like, the third or fourth time, it slammed behind me and I winced. "Whoops." I cringe slightly when Arwen calls out that they were in the kitchen. The scent was easily to identify, as I move slowly into the kitchen. I smile, "Hey, you must be Aalaria." I look at her than at Arwen. "Arwen has probably told you who I am already. Name's Synge." I hold out my hand for Aalaria to shake, brimming with total excitement that hadn't faded.

[Arwen Loup Garou]

For most shifters, nudity isn't something we really think about. It's natural. When you're not your animal, when you shift back to human, you're naked. We aren't shocked by it, most of the time we barely notice. It doesn't have anything to do with sex, just like our need for touch, it's just how it is. Still, it's only polite to offer clothing to a fellow shifter, in my opinion. "If you want to borrow something, my room's the top of the stairs, on the left. Help yourself." I smiled at her, noticing that the aroma's in the house intrigued her. I listened to her story while I continued to slice potatoes. "Wow, that's rare, but I've heard stories of lycan family that have somehow repressed the strain. It ends up coming out sooner or later, somewhere down the line. We can't predict it, and no one knows why it happens, at least, not that I've heard of. Still, that's pretty cool. Makes you unique!" I wiped my hands on a towel that I had on the counter and turned with a smile to Aalaria. "Sure! I love the help."

I moved over, sliding the large casserole dish between us. "With each layer of potatoes we need to add a bit of cream, some seasonings, and cheese." I started another layer of potatoes. "Pour just enough cream to come beneath the layer. A sprinkle of salt & pepper, then tons of shredded cheese over that." I popped a bit of cheese into my mouth just as Synge made his way into the kitchen. "Hey bud!" I mumbled over my cheese as he introduced himself to Aalaria. "I take it you gave the other's a holler?" I'd finished slicing the potatoes and left Aalaria to that task while I took out salad fixings.

I grabbed another large bowl, this one wooden, and started adding bits of lettuce, chopped carrots, and other veggies for the salad. Oil, vinegar, and an italian blend were set aside for the dressing. The last layer of potatoes was on, and Aalaria had done perfect. "Looks great! Thanks, Aalaria! Wanna do the dressing?" Arya had been my little kitchen helper since she'd arrived, and I'll admit, I'd gotten used to another pair of hands helping out. I gave Aalaria a container, told her to add equal parts oil & vinegar, then the seasonings, and shake it up. "Synge, do me a favor, open the oven." I'd grabbed the dish of potatoes, so my hands were full. "Toss those steaks in there too." The oven's temperature was low enough to keep the steak cooking slowly on the second rack while the potatoes browned on top. I set the timer, then cracked open a Pepsi. "Thanks guys. We can wait it out for a bit now. Care for something to drink, Aalaria? Like I said, please make yourself at home. And I mean that. Eat if you're hungry, drink if your thirsty, you know." I shrugged, taking a sip as I sat in one of my kitchen chairs. "Finally got in your swim, huh Synge?" I could smell river water on him still, and knew that's what all his running back and forth had been about, getting dressed and semi-dried. I heard a branch crack outside, and knew immediately that Midian, Stryker, and Arya had returned. I smiled at Aalaria. "Here come the others."

[Aalaria Windwalker]

Aalaria smiled at Arwen, thankful for the clothing. She'd not had any descent clothing in many years, and the thin clothing she wore was from the hide of a roaming deer that she'd caught by chance, but that was about a year ago, and she'd grown quite a bit since then.
She thanked Arwen and found some clothing, a pair of jeans and a sapphire-blue t-shirt. She came back downstairs and the smell of the kitchen hit her again. As she came back into the kitchen, the Loup Garou boy came in, with his spiked hair and she smiled as he introduced himself.
"Hello," she smiled, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Synge. Indeed, I'm Aalaria." She took the boy's hand and shook it.
Soon, she was helping around the kitchen. For a little while, she wasn't entirely sure the names of all the food, but her nose told her more than aromas. Each smell talked to her, and each one had a distinct melody that just cried out their names.
She took a "Pepsi", as Arwen called it, thanking her, then sniffed it curiously. It was... Odd. She tipped it slowly into her mouth without spilling anything and smiled slightly as the strange fizzing sensation reached her tongue. How perculiar!
She was glad she was of help to Arwen and Synge, which was more than what she'd been in the past. This family... Aalaria was sure she'd get along with them.
Her ear pricked to the sound of approaching footsteps. Here they come! She thought excitedly. She felt her heart leap as Arwen announced the family's return. She grinned at Arwen.
"I can't wait!" She replied, simply but truthfully.

[Synge Loup Garou]

I shake Aalaria's hand, grinning from ear to ear as I move over and open the oven door for Arwen. Warm air blasted into my face, drying the front pieces of my hair as they hung over my eyes. Damn, I really needed a haircut. Lifting a hand, while moving backwards for Arwen to put the food in the oven, I push back strands of hair before getting a Pepsi of my own. Pulling the tab and hearing the fizz of dark liquid inside, I lift it to my lips before taking a sip. The fizzy exploded in my mouth, making me grin a little bit more. Mind you, sugar liquid tended to do that to me. "What Arwen said. We all get hungry and thirsty, besides, can't have you starve here. So yea, make yourself at home." I wink, hoping she would take it to heart and make herself at home because we didn't mind, otherwise we would have said something. Anyway, we weren't a bunch of mean people, well, shifters.

"Yea, been here how many days already and still haven't been swimming yet?" I laugh, taking another sip of the fizzy liquid which burns my throat in a nice way. The taste lingers as I lean against the counter. The sound of the branch snapping didn't give me a fright, I knew they would be returning sooner or later. Besides, not many come around here. Which was a good thing. I hear Arya running, that kid just had so much energy, it was so cute. Stryker and Midian had to keep up with her, it was so funny. Especially when Midian chased Arya around, all of us giggled. Anyway, I heard the door open, Arya running in before skidding to a halt as she saw Aalaria. Laughing myself, I introduce. "Arya, this is Aalaria, a new friend." Just as I had finished speaking, Stryker and Midian aren't too far behind and see what the new smell is(not bad, just a different shifter smell).

"And that is Stryker and my big brother Midian." Stryker grinned and held out her hand for Aalaria to shake, just like I had done. I could see her sniff the air, inhaling the girls scent so she would never forget. I wouldn't forget either, her scent was unique, being a different type of species and all. "Stryker and Midian are mates, Arya is their daughter." I didn't think of Arya as not being Midian's by blood. Arya thought the same, ever since she lay eyes upon Midian, she knew he was her dad. By some unspoken bond, it formed between them and now, Midian was her father just the same as if he was the one that sired her.