In a New Land (Open)

[Rykker Whitevine]

Rykker ate and was oblivious to poor Frosts indecision about showing her alternate form which was her human side. He wouldn't mind, he was like most men any beautiful woman was nice to have around, as long as they didn't look at him oddly of course. Though he was a good looking man despite some of his oddities. He wasn't ugly, just different not what most people were expecting. He thought she was a beautiful animal so if he knew she was Kelvic he would guess that her human form was no less beautiful then the white ball of fur that stood next to him eating her dinner at the moment. He finished his meal and then realized that he had forgot water for the poor young wolf. "Oh... I bet you are thirsty too." He took his glass and found a nearby bowl and poured some water into it and set that down next to what looked like an empty plate just like his. He then sipped his water watching her not in any way that was weird, or suspicious just curiously. He was watching her movements, her grace, strength, and the way her fur moved with her body. A silly grin crept on his face as he wondered if she could be his, his companion, pet? He hated that thought who wanted a pet? A pet seemed so... well he didn't know at the moment. If he himself knew anything about Kelvic bonding he would probably like the idea. Though he would have a problem if he was told that they were similar to slaves as he had been one himself and would never have anything resembling that, but Frost not really knowing much about Kelvic bonding herself and probably not able to explain it or even be in anyway like a normal bonded Kelvic Rykker would just take it as being extremely close to someone. That he wouldn't mind, especially to more an animal presence then human. Really Rykker deep down just wanted to be accepted. He might not act as if that were true having the attitude that he didn't care about what most people thought about him, or how the acted toward him, but it did. That was just a shield he held before himself like a warrior did to block oncoming blows to them. After a few moments, and he thought both of them were more then willing to leave. He got up, patted his leg, and walked outside. He hoped she would follow again, this time to his dwelling, but if she didn't he would be disappointed, but not hold it against her. He realized that she was more then likely a wild wolf that had just become more accustomed to humans where they were no longer fearful of them. Which then had him thinking and fearing for him, because he knew there were hunters out there that would covet that beautiful pelt of white fur on her body. Suddenly as he looked back to see if she was following or not he had a wave of protectiveness toward the young wolf that he hadn't felt before. There was a part of him that wanted to run scoop her up into his arms and take her to his house anyway just to keep her safe from dangers. He stopped and grumbled to himself knowing that was just wrong you couldn't cage up anyone, especially not a possible wild animal. He shook his head at himself, and a shiver ran up his body as he remembered having to stay with the Zith unwillingly until his father finally stepped forward to finally claim him. Not that, that had meant he was a free man, he wasn't he would always be a run away slave, but he hoped he was far enough away, and enough of a heart ship to his family that they wouldn't go looking for him. He tried not to look back again or to his side, because he was afraid if he looked and she wasn't there he would succumb to his desire to look for her and make her come with him for her own safety, which he knew was just wrong. So with deliberate steps he walked toward his little lodge in the Savintar Warrens. He opened the door, and without looking down or behind him left the door open. It wouldn't be until he sat down on the couch that he would see if the wolf had actually followed him home, and with a breath of relief let out if she did.

[Frost]

Frost's nose twitched as she snuffled the bowl of water, considering her thirst, before she began to lap it up. She was focused entirely on filling her belly, which she hadn't realized was so empty until the man ordered her a steak. Once done the water, her tongue lapped the droplets off her muzzle, then sat back on her haunches and looked up at him curiously. He was a nice person, for looking like one of the beings that took her mother. She thought he an attractive being, for a human, but there were things about relationships she just didn't understand. She hadn't been human again long enough.

The expression creeping on her face almost made her laugh inside. It was, to use the human word, cute. Like he was excited. As it was, she snorted her amusement and nosed his hand. She snorted again into his hand and then nipped it lightly, not drawing blood but indenting his skin with her fangs. She was considering the wiseness of showing her human form, and she figured it couldn't hurt if she tried. But, if he attacked her for deceiving him she'd be too exhausted to fight him off, even if she just ate. Her wolf form was a better form for fighting, and she would attain it again just to defend herself. Otherwise, if he accepted her she'd most likely feel happy. Most only saw her as a wolf or a human, and if anyone understood her past they would view her with what she thought would be disgust. She didn't have a 'normal' childhood by most standards.

As he rose, she did as well, stretching her body slowly and flicking her tail in the air once as though to say "carry on" to him. When he began to walk, she followed. She wasn't done trailing the man, whose name she didn't know. She had bolstered her resolve to show him her human form, and if she thought about going to her own cabin she would be too chicken to find him again as wolf or human. She hurried to walk at his side, her sleek body keeping pace and watchful for his steps so he didn't get a paw under his foot.

She followed him into his little lodge, waiting for him to go in before butting the shutting door open and slinking inside. His scent was everywhere here, and she began a thorough exploration of his den, identifying everything there by scent before slipping away into his bedroom and butting the door into a shut position. The cabin was small, but the bedroom would afford her some privacy to change unless he decided he wanted to follow her to make sure she didn't break anything.

Her transformation would begin with beads of white-blue lights that would eventually surround her and brighten to an almost blinding point. When the lights would fade, she'd be crouched near his bed stark naked and reaching for a blanket to cover any immodesty she found Vantha were fond of keeping secret. She had no clothes on her body, and the only coloring on her except for her eyes were the sweeping tattoos.

[Rykker Whitevine]

When her nose hit his hand again a smile formed on his lips. He could get used to this little wolf being in his life. He was going to get a surprise though in a little bit, as to his relief she showed up behind him as he sat down and noticed her nose the door a bit and come on in. He breathed a sigh of relief at least he knew she would be safe tonight and longer if she decided to stay with him. Which he was hoping for since he didn't know that she was also human underneath that wolf form and had her on cabin too. He watched but tried not to be too obvious about it as she trotted on by him, and he gave a soft giggle as she seemed to be taking over his space rather fast thinking she was going into his room to pick her spot on his bed to sleep. He didn't mind, she probably deserved a bit of comfort since he was sure she was more used to being outside in the cold, and hard snow. He went back to just relaxing with his thoughts of the day, when suddenly a short moment after she went into the room there seemed to be a flash in the room with the half closed door. His eyes went wide, and he ran into the room thinking that maybe the young wolf had knocked over a lamp or something causing a fire. However when he got to the door and pushed it open he stopped dead in his tracks his redish gold eyes wider yet as he looked around and there was no white furred wolf but a gorgeous women wrapped in his bed cover. He blinked as he realized that the bed cover was covering her naked body that was pale, and colorful tattoos that swept along her body that he could see. He finally recovered from his shock and rubbed the back of his neck a smile snaking onto his face. "Well, this is quite a surprise. I was thinking I would find a pale eyes white furred wolf in here." His smile worming into a cocky grin and he finished by saying, "But instead I see a light eyed fair haired young women..." He paused his mouth turning into a sexy smirk now, "Am I too suppose you are one and the same?" He found it interesting that he was face to face with what he could only think was a Kelvic. He had only heard rumors of such creatures, but now he was possibly faced with one.

[Frost]

Frost remained crouch, expecting anger that she had deceived him for free food. Yet, he seemed to be humored by her sudden appearance and unbothered that she had taken the liberty to cover herself with his bed sheet. She relaxed slightly, but still expected some sort of reprimand. Yet none came. Instead, he commented on her appearance and she nodded at his words of her being both the wolf and herself. In most cases, people who had seen both forms enough times usually made that connection. She was colored exactly like her wolf self, and her personality hadn't changed a bit. Well, other than the fact that she didn't have to nose his hand anymore or whine to comfort him. She had a voice and could speak Vani like all the Vantha running around here. Common defeated her, but in Avanthal that language was hardly as common as Vani.

"I am both, yes," she said softly, her wolf voice transformed into the alto one of a young woman. Her blue eyes watched his body language, just in case she made him angry, and she had missed the sexy smirk that had opened on his lips. She wouldn't have known how to act if she had seen it anyway. Physical attraction and intimacy was unusual for her. She was not a mating wolf in her pack, and so she never participated in such a privileged act with a male. She was all innocence and very much a creature of Dira's design.

"You aren't angry at me?" She said eventually, lifting ice eyes to the fire and gold ones of his own. she straightened out of her crouch, holding the sheet to her slender form. She still watched him, but not as warily as before. He didn't seem averse to her presence. Even as a wolf he had accepted her where most grown people would have shooed her away. "Why?"

[Rykker Whitevine]

An expression of sadness moved past his face, but disappeared rather quickly replaced by his smiles and grins as he saw her fear, and wariness suddenly. It reminded him of all the other looks he had got in his travel between Xy to here. People didn't trust Ziths and he looked far too much like one to make most people comfortable. However he shrugged it off and continued on trying to make her feel comfortable again like they had been when she was in her animal form. Even if he was so tired himself of constantly feeling like he was an outsider that was scary, and dangerous everywhere he went. He was glad that she spoke Vani to him it made it easier he knew some common, but his primary language was Vani the language of his mother. Rykker knew nothing of wolf packs, or how they operated he just knew that she was becoming very interesting to him. He liked when she started to relax, but was still concerned when he asked him why he wasn't angry. He cocked his head and a frown passed over his dark features. "Why would I be angry? You are what you are, and well wolf or woman you still pulled at something deep within me. One of not fitting in? Carrying a stigma that might not be true of you? Not fitting in very well...." He smirked at her as he slowly came all the way in and sat on the bed next to her. "By the way, If you're more comfortable with being nude I am quite used to it. My father's people were.... Ziths... they hardly ever wear clothes..." He shrugged. It was his turn to look a bit frightened of her reaction. He tried not to ever admit it, but for some reason he felt he had to tell her, like if he did it would help with her staying around as.... well he didn't know that part, but he just didn't want her to go away. He started to take off his shirt, he wasn't afraid of being naked in front of anyone really he wore clothes to keep others comfortable and because despite having a layer of dark gray fur all over his body it was still too cold for him to go without warm clothes. He walked across the room to lay it on a chair in the room as he did so he said, "I was born a slave, to a Vantha woman and a Zith man. My mom was of the Whitevine hold hence my name being Rykker Whitevine. I didn't know my father until I was in my twenties, and then it was a curse and a hope..." He walked back to where she was and quietly sat back down beside her. He didn't know why he was telling her all this, but for some reason... It felt good he hadn't told anyone about himself since leaving Xy for his mother's homeland. "Curse in the fact that the minute he finally accepted me ... well... my mom died and I fought with my relatives and then comes the hope, my father let me have run of the way like none other slave and I ...." He shrugged. "Walked off and walked away from my father's world, slavery, and his violent ways..." He looked over at her hoping that would excuse him from anything that she may be thinking.

[Frost]

Frost saw the brief flicker of sadness, but didn't know what to make of it. It was quickly hidden, though, smothered under smiles and quick grins that showed he was happy, or excited, that she was there. Her blue eyes shone as well. She didn't really understand the fine work behind creating smiles. The movements always felt awkward and odd. She didn't feel uncomfortable because he had fur and claws. After all, she spent the greater part of her time a furred and clawed creature of the wild. She was uncomfortable, thinking he, like most other Vani, would be upset with her.

She continued to watch him as he sat next to where she crouched on the floor, not moving away and not tensing. She didn't see any true weapons and his posture wasn't a threatening one. So she relaxed for him, because she realized he was upset that she acted frightened of him. "You and I know much the same things, then," she said quietly. Her blue eyes glittered at his remark at being naked. "I haven't been naked with other humans. Vantha don't like the nudity, and unlike Zith I don't always have fur covering my body." She smiled slightly. Still, she took the cue and relaxed now, moving to sit on the bed but not removing the blanket from her body. She didn't know what it was about nudity Vanthat didn't like, but she saw that they didn't parade around in their skin.

As he began to speak to her again, she silently listened. His heritage was indeed something troubling for her, because while she had only faint memories of her parents dreams of large bats plagued her. She dreamed of the Zith that carried her and her mother away, but this 'Rykker Whitevine' told her that Zith also could enslave themselves, which was very odd for her to think of. "You found your way up here?" She asked eventually, wondering how she should repay his trust. She tilted her head at him and considered him for a few moments. From what she could tell he didn't think along the lines of his father's kin, and that made him an okay human.

"I was abandoned by the Zith when I was a pup." She said suddenly, her voice as blank as it always was whenever she remarked on the nature of the world. Unchangeable things weren't important to her, and her past couldn't be altered. "They took my dam and left me because I was too young and weak. I was found by other wolves, though, and they took me in and raised me like them and I forgot being human too." Her blue eyes narrowed slightly. She didn't tell anyone about her past. "I became maid to the pups of my Alphas. I don't remember much of my humans, the dam and sire. I lived so long away from them. But I left because I found my second form again. Being human is uncomfortable for me, and so I go around as a wolf a lot." She looked away from him afterwards. It felt odd to speak about such things. Just as strange as smiling felt.

[Rykker Whitevine]

When she asked about him getting here he nodded his head in the affirmative. "Yes, I had been looking at maps as my father let me wonder more freely around Xy. Before all I saw was the caverns where we harvested Salialana for our masters, because I am only half Zith I was treated like a slave like my mother." He suddenly stopped, as if talking about his mother still pained him, it did. He would never forgive him father for not protecting her well enough, being selfish by taking her out of her hiding, and taking her from the life she was supposed to have as a great healer in his opinion. It didn't matter to him in this one instance, even in all other instances he acted as if he were the center of the world at times himself, that he would not be alive if that had happened. A light grumbling growl of frustration, and his hand that had claws on it, courtesy of his father in him, though, he kept them short. He then started absently clawing at himself almost as if he wanted to claw half himself out of him. He did this after she spoke of her father's kin attacking and stealing her away. Swirling golden eyes, more gold then red now looked into her cool blue ones. "Another life wasted that could have been different - better, if only my father's savaged kin hadn't stole it." He grumbled out in his lowest, deepest voice. His other hand continued to claw at his arm as he spoke, then as if he finally realized it he stopped looking down it his hand like he had no clue why he was allowing himself to do such a thing to himself. He then uncomfortably crossed his arms against his chest making sure his hands were under his arm pits, however thin red lines formed where he had been clawing. He fell silent as she continued, and he sensed like himself talking about her past was not something she liked to do, so she just allowed her to do so. Everyone needed to get those sad bewildering things out sometimes. He felt even more close to her, which was a foreign thing for him to feel. The only person he had ever allowed himself to be close to, be vulnerable with, and actually shared himself with was his mother before... now.... He looked over at her again, she seemed so fragile in her human form so different then in her wolf form. She did seem very awkward in her human form. "I'm sorry that because of part of who I am you lost a part of yourself, and didn't learn from your true parents. Please I beg of you not to hold it against me..." He looked away. So many people looked on him in horror and he wondered what Ziths had done to them and it made him loath himself even more to outwardly look like such a savage, brutish, cruel race. He knew not all Ziths were like that, but more were then weren't because of that good Ziths had a hard time making it outside there own colonies. He growled again at himself in annoyance of his behavior. It always warred with him his want to be close to people, and his need to keep a distance because in truth he was afraid that within him lurked the savageness of his father rather then the healing, kindness of his mother. He looked so much like his father's race, was that where it ended, or did he have more of his father in him? He shuddered at the thought. He knew he could be a selfish, self centered bastard at times, but he never wanted to be brutal, or unkind to anyone. He suddenly realized that the woman beside him as close, and kindred he seemed to feel toward her he didn't even know her name. "I'm sorry, but I don't know your name, may I have it?" He asked not knowing if it were her way to even tell it." He then stuck his hand out. "A proper introduction starts like this." He extended his hand out toward her. "Then you do the same we clasp hands shake it and then say our names." A smile drifted onto his lips again. "Rykker Whitevine, at your service."

[Frost]

"I don't know where Xy is. It is a Zith city? What is Salialana?" Her nose wrinkled at the alien words. Her blue eyes glimmering as she cocked her head at him.

Her eyes followed the movement of his hand and she reached out and smacked it away, as though he were some disobedient pup bothering something that shouldn't be bothered. She growled quietly before leaning back, swatting at the hand whenever it started at his arm again. Self-inflicted wounds weren't something she found appealing. Why hurt yourself in an already savage world that would kill the weak in a moment? "Who says my life was wasted?" She said. She growled again quietly. "I enjoy the life I was given. Something taken from me was returned. I have a large family now, and my parents will hopefully not have suffered long in their lives. My life is not wasted." She showed her teeth at this before swatting at his errant, clawed hand again, before he tucked them away.

His next statement brought a snarl of frustration and she jumped off the bed to pace restlessly, her blue eyes showing a wolf-like impatience. Not really at him, but at what he thought.

"You do not have wings. You aren't the one at fault." She said shortly. "I learned from more than one dam and sire because the Zith took my other parents. Why would I hold that against you? It is past. The past is dead, and it can not be changed. It can be watched and remembered, but it is not something one should allow to rule their present." She stopped her pacing and faced him, an almost feral gleam in her eye fading to something that was at the least half human. "Why are you afraid of yourself? Because you have two parents, one with an unsavory nature? I hunt helpless animals for a living and eat them raw. You aren't your father, nor your mother. You're something different and yet the same." Blue eyes flashed coolly as she looked down at the seated male. Rarely did she ever lash out and only on misbehaving cubs.

She looked down at his hand, questioning it in her eyes, but with his explanation she reached out and took his hand, a small smile taking its turn to glint in her icy eyes. "I am Frost, Rykker Whitevine," she said eventually.

[Rykker Whitevine]

He was in the middle of explaining what, and where Xy was when a black swirled into his eyes a sign of anger taking him as she swatted his hand away, a harsh growl came from his throat as her movement reminded him of other times he had been hit. True not as gentle as hers more a reprimand to stop what he had been absently doing before she had shocked him out of his movement on his own skin with his claws. "Don't..." came growling out of his mouth in warning, when she did it again his eyes went completely black the only sign of the lingering annoyance of the offense until he realized what he had been doing. That was when he hid his hands and thought to himself he had to watch that behavior closely. His self loathing couldn't so extremely show on the outside. His eyes after a few moments went from black to swirling shade of grey in his normal gold-ish red eyes as his annoyance left him. He was silent as she said her piece about her life, the past, and the fact that he wasn't neither his father or mother. He found her admirable, brave, and strong. However he would have to think about what she said more deeply about not being either her father nor her mother. If neither of them dwelled in him then what was he? Who was he if he wasn't his mother's son good, kind, gentle, and caring, or his father's son? Then he thought about it and a shudder came through him as he realized he was a mixture of the two, but would he continue to be just a mixture, or would one win over the other as he got older? He didn't say anything else to her about it except to say, "I find you brave, admirable, and strong for your thoughts. I hope if we become friends to learn some of those qualities of forgiveness, and letting go..." It was mostly true what he said, or at least he wanted it to be true, though he had, had his anger for so long he didn't know what it would feel like to not have it. When she finally had introduced herself he smiled. "Please to meet you Frost. I am glad of it, despite what you feel about yourself and your human skills not being good you are good company." He had still been lightly holding her hand as he said it and then let it go finally. He had been half tempted to kiss her hand, but thought better of it, he had not missed the wary look he had given him at giving her hand to him to begin with. "If you must know I am now to all this society of humans as well. Being a slave they don't teach you much but to follow orders, anything I know of reading, writing, and skills I either learned straight from my mother, or from others who were older slaves that I grew up along side." There was sometimes a pang of guilt that he had left some of the slaves behind. Maybe .... Maybe someday he would go back and free them all. How? That he didn't know, he wasn't a fighter, nor was he really trained in fighting. He was more trained in the arts of healing and herbs. That of his mother, it was why he felt he should becoming a healer of animals if not humans. When he turned his back on her to take off his necklace that was his mother's she would see across his back sparse spots where hair didn't grow over scars on his back, and thighs where they whipped him at times for not doing something right, or not obeying. Also other scars from fights he had, had with his family before he left a few times almost maiming him good. Though through hard work he had come out of it with not a hint of limp or walking funny. He took off the necklace and stuck it in a pouch in a drawer. He turned back to her, he always took it off at night. "So, I assume now that you have your own place to stay?" He half asked, but in a tone that already seemed to think he knew the answer. What he wanted, which he still didn't quite understand, was her to stay with him. Why? His mind asked. Why did she seem to be meaning a lot to him so fast. Was it the feeling of kinship he felt toward her? He didn't know, and how could he know if this feeling was a true feeling, or false? He had never had feeling such as these before, he never had let anyone this close outside of his mother.

[Frost]

Frost's eyes gleamed at every growl, but she hadn't let him intimidate her. He had Vantha eyes, and they were so wonderful when they shifted colors. She was envious whenever she saw these eyes, and always felt inadequate compared to Vantha. They could show their emotions without words, and she had to express them individually. Some things just weren't fair.

Finally, as he calmed and then spoke, telling her what he thought of her, her face defrosted into a slight smile. "I am what I am because it is how I survived. You did as well, so you and I are almost no different but for the things we can't alter." She stretched lightly, allowing herself to pause before going on. "It's not wise to hold on to things that can't be changed. There's no chance to change one's past, and so you should work on your future." She looked back at him. She wondered if his eyes would change colors again. "I'd like to be friends with you. I don't have many people to talk to."

She smiled slightly again. "Thank you, Rykker," she replied. "We are both new here then, aren't we? Oh yes, how am I dirty?" She blinked, remembering his words about needing to bathe her and brush her coat. She couldn't see how she was dirty in this form, where she was much more flexible than her four-legged form. "Maybe life as a slave taught you how to be human as well? Along with guidance from your mother?" Her pale eyebrows rose.

As he rose and removed his necklace, she watched him intently. Wolves knew no privacy. They shared their lives completely with their families and eachother, and so she wondered at his scars. She had a few herself from scraps and hunts, but none as extensive as his. When he returned, she couldn't help but reach to touch one of those bare patches of skin curiously, although she was painstakingly gentle and kind about it. His question about her housing brought her attention to him and her eyes glittered. "Yes, I have a house, but I don't stay in it much. My den in the Warrens, like this one. Why?" She tilted her head. "Are you tired?" She asked him, another slight smile at her lips.