RP:Meet Your Wolf

Summary: Mahri introduces Meri to her wolf properly for the first time with the help of Rumiko.

Elves’ Camp

Mahri wandered around the elve's camp, mostly watching the children with a wistful light in silvery eyes before looking away. The lycan is dressed in her usual uniform of black. Shirt, skin-tight yet supple black leather pants with the dagger strapped in easy reach on the tight. Her boots covered those leathers to mid-calf. Even leather covered her hands, the fingers bare and the thumb hole on the left hand sewn closed so the missing digit didn't appear so obvious. Mahri paused now and then to have a word or two with an archer or merchant.

Meri was not on ground level. The blonde lycan was currently standing on a platform up in the trees. Mahri would probably be able to catch scent of Meri without issue though, if not the blonde’s general scent then she would certainly be able to smell the pungent scent of Meri’s hand rolled cigarettes. Even if the other lycan happened to overlook the blonde positioned up in the trees, Meri was not about to let this familiar face pass by without greeting. “Oi.” Meri calls out to Mahri. “Two days time, yeah?” Had it been two days? Meri was never a stickler for schedules. Either way, their paths have crossed. Rather than remaining up in the trees, the blonde steps off the platform and falls to the earth. One might expect to hear a hard thud as her feet impact the ground but the psion’s landing is silent and soft.

Mahri glanecd up once she hears the familiar voice and a grin turns up the corners of her mouth even as Meri jumps off the platform. "Oi, yourself! It's been about that lone, aye." Eyeing the blonde, Mahri tilts her head, "Ready?"

Rumiko had 'slept' the day away. Or so she would have most believe. After locking herself in her gifted room, the nymph had returned home for a few hours to check in on her heir and the handful of family that still littered the Isles. One in particular had been an accident, but she was grateful for the run in all the same. The sound of voices carried through the halls from the lycan just outside the home, and it was also what finally drew her from what had become her sanctuary. It was leathers she wore today, coupled with a corset that only made her look all the more thin. Heeled boots made soft sounds as she made her way out the door, her gaze finding not just the woman she was expecting to, but also the one she needed. Funny how they kept finding one another. "Good..." What time even was it now? "Hello." It was called down over the railing, and without invitation, Rumi started down towards the ground.

Meri’s gaze does not remain settled on Mahri for long, they soon flit upwards toward the sound of another familiar voice. Rumiko. The nymph’s presence brings a smile to Meri’s lips, though it does not last for long, not when compared to other instances that the blonde has flashed this grin. The woman looks serious and contemplative. “I am ready, if you are still comfortable.” This statement was made because of Rumiko’s presence. Meri elaborates for the sake of the other, seeing no reason to leave Magik’s sister in the dark. Besides, if Meri -does- ever end up changing her name? Rumiko should know. “Hi Rumi. Mahri and I were just talking about having a bit of a lesson of sorts. To see if I can’t learn to control my wolf….So you know, I don’t have any accidents with your brother.” Meri pauses. “Or anyone else I am growing fond of. Like you.”

Mahri follows her sister-in-law's progress from the tree house to good old tera-firma. Funny, considering she'd bonded to a dragon and rode her frequently. In any case - Meri needs those lessons and her eyes turn back to the blonde but not before she flashes a smile to Rumiko, "Hello, Rumiko." Her nose twitched catching familiar scent's from the nymph that had nothing to do with the camp or even Sage itself. Her smile turned a little less sincere then but only because she missed where Rumiko had been. "Yes, I'm certainly still comfortable. It's not my comfort but yours we need to be sure of. You," she emphasised," need to be ready for what we're going to do."

Rumiko 's left brow inched higher at the semi-cryptic talk, though the moment the subject was revealed, she turned that curious look solely on Meri. "You are new to it?" Being a lycan. "I wouldn't have known." She carried herself very well on two legs for one not in full control. The subtle change in Mahri's demeanor is noted, and without further explanation she tilts her head to one side, green eyes locked on silver, "She misses you. A sail soon, yes?" Again her attention shifted towards the collected, and she'd dip her head in understanding. "It might be a good idea to have a third party for that, actually. And worry not, You cannae turn me." Rumi knew that wasn't exactly what Meri meant though. "If memory serves, there is a river nearby, unless you have a better secluded area for training?"

Meri dips her head in several nods. First is to Mahri, and it is meant to indicate that she was just fine with Rumiko being present so long as everyone else was. The second nod is given to Rumiko and it is meant to answer that she is a new lycan. Well, relatively new in the grand scheme of all things werewolf. The blonde holds up two fingers, “Two years, ish. It’s a long story.” Not that she minded giving it to Rumiko, but she didn’t feel the need to make Mahri sit through it a second time. The third nod came at the mention of the river. “The river is fine by me if it is fine by the two of you. The only add-lib I have in all of this, really, is that Magik has invited us all up for dinner whenever we’re done. He’s cooking, I am presuming.” If the river seemed like a suitable location, Meri’s would lead the way in that direction. “So how exactly is this supposed to work, Mahri?”

Mahri swallowed hard at the message passed along, knowing w hom it was from, and gives a nod. Clearing her throat a couple times, the lycan offers, "The river would be perfect. I don't think we're going to do any shifting today though. The hardest part is meeting your wolf and gaining an understanding between you two." The way Mahri spoke, lycanism might as well be a living thing and not a disease. For her, it was. Not only is Mahri a lycan, paid killer, hunter and theif, she was also a druid. And maybe that afforded her a deeper ability to connect with the beast housed within her mind and body. With Meri leading the way, Mahri would fall in step with the nymph. Somewhat out of habit, but mostly because of her naturally protective nature.

Rumiko nodded in return, "Two years is still relatively new." Indicating the druid at their side, "You are in good hands." She would be willing to listen to that story when it came, if for no other reason than to learn more about the woman getting comfortable with her brother. The way Mahri spoke about her wolf was not new to the nymph; she'd spent quite a bit of time learning the ways of lycanthropy from the different packs- and lone wolves. "When it comes time for that shifting lesson, I can provide a ring, if you need." Warding wasn't her best skill, but small areas was something she could enclose, just to ensure a potentially angry werewolf wasn't on the loose this close to people. As for dinner, "Is that what he is doing?" She'd wondered what that scent was.

Mystical Stream

Meri :: The way Mahri spoke about lycanthropy was also not new to Meri. She might be a relatively young wolf in the big picture of it all, but Meri knew enough to know that some people treated lycanthropy as a cursed disease while others embraced it more as a way of life. She was relieved to know that Mahri’s thinking was more in line with her own. The blonde will hopefully give both Mahri and Rumiko plenty to talk about during the short walk down to the water. “Aye, yes. That is what that smell is.” Meri noticed the way Mahri swallowed hard at the mention of the invite. “A thank you, I suppose. He was pleasantly surprised that Mahri decided to take me under her wing.” A wink to the other lycan, “Something about her being a lone wolf.” Meri shrugs. “I’m glad to know that I won’t be able to turn either of you though, should any shifting happen.” Meri was curious as to why Rumi might be able to resist the disease associated with the bite, another day. Over drinks. The two would have to exchange stories. They reach the banks of the river and it will become painfully obvious to Rumi that Meri may not be magically inclined. “A ring? That’s kind of iffy. I’m allergic to silver.” Wrong. Ring.

Mahri breathed in the scent of water and magic at the stream and looked around. Yes, this would do. She hadn't said much on the way here; she had plenty going on in her head at the moment. But as soon as the trio arrive, Mahri puts it all out of her head and concentrates on the purpose of them being here. Another deep breath, then, "Rumi, if you would cast that circle I'd appreciate it." She steps several feet away and gestures for Meri to join her where they would be in the center of that circle. Some protection is better than none. Once Meri was standing in front of Mahri and they were facing each other, the lycan sits cross legged in the fragrant grass on the banks of the stream. A hand spreads out in front in invitation to Meri to do the same, but then holds her hands palm up, expecting the blonde to take them in her own. "First, you need to meet the wolf. Let me know now if you aren't ready for this. It can be intimidating and scary the first time."

Mahri breathed in the scent of water and magic at the stream and looked around. Yes, this would do. She hadn't said much on the way here; she had plenty going on in her head at the moment. But as soon as the trio arrive, Mahri puts it all out of her head and concentrates on the purpose of them being here. Another deep breath, then, "Rumi, if you would cast that circle I'd appreciate it." She steps several feet away and gestures for Meri to join her where they would be in the center of that circle. Some protection is better than none. Once Meri was standing in front of Mahri and they were facing each other, the lycan sits cross legged in the fragrant grass on the banks of the stream. A hand spreads out in front in invitation to Meri to do the same, but then holds her hands palm up, expecting the blonde to take them in her own. "First, you need to meet the wolf. Let me know now if you aren't ready for this. It can be intimidating and scary the first time."

Rumiko stopped walking, but only for a moment. "Lone wolf? Mahri?" It was the blonde she spoke to, though her gaze slide over towards her bonded sister soon enough. "Since when?" She'd known the wolf hadn't held the rank of Beta for a bit, but not that she'd cut ties completely. "Though, not everyone is built for pack life." The last bit was thrown in for Meri's benefit; there would be no pressure for her to join one from the nymph. The unspoken question was offered no answers; that would be a subject for another time. The mention of an allergy to silver earned a grin, and the redhead would shake her head as she stepped around Mahri to prepare the circle. "Tis not a physical circle, but I do understand. I have a similar reaction to iron." A weakness for a weakness. At the blacks request, Rumiko draws a dagger from her hip and sets the point against the tip of her left ring finger. A single drop of blood was all she need sacrifice for the magic she pulled from the ground; though it wasn't from the flora she partook. Those sensitive to the magics would feel the cold, staleness of the wisps as they swirled around the trio, and only once she had enough would fingers flare outwards from her hips, casting a shadow across the stream on both sides to give them all ample room to move should they have need. Once the space was expanded to it's fullest, the edges would flash with a brilliant green before vanishing completely, leaving behind a burned ring on the ground. Should one try to cross the line, it would be frigid at first, and if they persisted, pain would follow.

Meri :: Rumiko’s reaction to the lone wolf comment had Meri lifting a brow and shifting her gaze to Mahri. It was slowly coming to Meri’s realization that perhaps Rumiko knew Mahri better than Magik did. Not that it was a competition, the woman was just prone to making these observations and filing them away. In this case, it was a harmless habit. She was fond of all her classmates. A different audience? Well. Meri joins Mahri in the center of this circle, that she soon realizes is not an actual ring. A protection ring, like a spell. Riiiight. The blonde was feeling a little blonde right now, but everyone had their strengths. Magic was just not Meri’s. Meri mimics Mahri in the sense that she seats herself on the ground in front of the other lycan and at first she is even copying the palm up positioning of her hands, but Meri is quick to realize this is not what Mahri wants. Meri takes hold of Mahri’s hands, albeit with a bit of reluctance. Meri has never been the most touchy-feely sort. There are obviously a few exceptions in her world, like her daughter and Magik. “I am not scared,” she says, her tone of voice is a soft one but the volume is loud enough that both Mahri and Rumiko should be able to hear her.

Mahri quirks a brow at Rumiko before shaking her head with a small grin. They'd talk later about it. Once the circle is cast, and that chilled mist sneaks up her back making the wolf tremble from it, and Meri is settled in, silver meets blue and holds them. Maybe it's because she had been an alpha before a beta, but Meri might feel a pull of authority from the black. "Good. You shouldn't be. Now, close your eyes and focus inwards. Feel for the energy of the wolf." Meri might feel warm energy flowing from Mahri's hands to her own. Soothing and comforting. Mahri closes her eyes and focuses, sending a piece of her essence along that phyisical connection. If Meri had followed directions thus far, she might feel a polite mental knock, a request for entrance into the most intimate of places a person had; the mind.

Meri :: Authority is something that Meri has always had an issue with, it might have been what landed her in this position to begin with. Or so it was explained to her. Was this reasoning good enough to be justifiable? Probably not, as here Mahri was trying to correct the mess Meri’s makers had left her with. It wasn’t easy for Meri to sit still in this position, to try to relax not only her body but also her mind. The soothing energy that Mahri was feeding into Meri helped to ease this process, but it would be a process. Meri was doing her best to follow Mahri’s directions, her eyes were closed, she was trying to focus inward. The other lycan would have to wait patiently though, that knock on the inside of Meri’s mind would not be answered immediately. There is a moment where it finally clicks with Meri, Mahri would be able to feel the blonde’s mental walls come down. Inside of Meri’s mind, she’d be met with conflicting emotions. Obviously the woman that was sitting before Mahri tended to be pretty easy to get along with, prone to jokes and rambunctious and silly behavior. That wolf though? It was nothing but a ball of rage, except the anger was really only the surface emotion. It was just a mask for the hurt, betrayal, and abandonment both Meri and the wolf felt. Afterall, there was a time when she counted the woman who bit her as a friend….Why wouldn’t Meri feel hurt she was left to die after being bitten?

Mahri || Outwardly, Mahri takes a sharp breath when she is allowed in. The surface rage, she understood that. She too had been there and had to conquer that emotion to keep herself in control. But, that wasn't all. The hurt, betrayal - those were all too familiar emotions for the lycan. This communication happened both ways though and Meri might find herself also catching a mental glimpse of Mahri's own pain. The loss of her mate, her pack, her children and her home. The betrayal she still felt when her mate chose another, that pain intertwined. However, this is not about Mahri, it's about the lost wolf sitting before her and giving that trust, if not easily or readily, at least giving it. Letting out that breath on a shaky sigh, Mahri let her energy seek the wolf. The mind itself has no shape or space, so Mahri created one. A meadow surrounded by tall, thick trees so close together running between them would be impossible. Into the meadow steps Mahri. A very human woman dressed in flowing Grecian robes and her waist length hair left free. She waited there for both the wolf and representation of Meri to arrive if they weren't there already. Once they did, the lycan says softly, "Meri. This is your wolf. You should give her a name. She feels what you do and you both need to come to terms with what happened to you." There was compassion in her tone, understanding and encouragement for the two to unite. .

Meri :: Ah, if only Rumiko could join them on this little field trip into Meri’s mind. What the nymph saw from outside of the circle was probably not nearly as exciting as what Mahri was seeing within Meri’s mind. It was good that at least one of the two women had some experience with this, for if it were all left to Meri they would be sitting in that darkness for a while. Some sort of seen might have been created, but it was probably better that it was left to Mahri’s influence rather than Meri and her lack of control. Meri’s manifestation of herself bears considerable resemblance to her actual person, the only difference was that her form was predominantly hidden by a long black hooded cloak. The hood was not drawn over her face, Mahri would be able to see Meri’s every expression without it being shrouded in shadows. The wolf also appears within the field. It’s larger than your average wolf, which may not be very surprising for Mahri, and it will greet both women with nothing but rage. The black wolf stares at both Mahri and Meri with golden eyes, though it seems to have more of a fixation on Meri than it does Mahri. Black fur is bristled all the way down the spine of the wolf and the creature has it’s fangs bared, growling fiercely at both. The wolf remains on side of of the meadow clearing, while Meri stays on the other. Already Meri is starting to lack confidence, “I should give her a name?” Meri repeats in confusion. “Isn’t she...me though? Shouldn’t Meri suffice?” How can Meri name what she doesn’t really know. Meri stares at the wolf from across the clearing and it keeps staring back.

Mahri held the image of the meadow in her-Meri’s mind with ease. This didn’t take as much energy as healing did, when she did it. But having a literal piece of herself outside her body was slowly draining. She gave no signs though when she answered regarding a name. “She is and she isn’t. The wolf is part of you. She is the feral and wildest part of you, but she is also her own beast. Give her a name, make her real not just in spirit. Things with names have substance and can be reasoned with. Right now she is wild, full of fear and rage. Give her a name and you can speak with her.” Not speak in the manner they were in that moment, but on a more primal level. She’ll be able to understand the wolf better so long as she can connect with her and work with the natural instincts of a predator. “Give your wolf a name, Meri.”

Meri takes in a sharp breath, not that she really needed to, she was just a figment in her own mind right now. However, the woman that is sitting just in front of Mahri seems to do the same. Rumiko would be able to see it. Was this a good thing? A bad thing? It was hard to say for all Rumiko would see from Meri is stillness beyond that. In the meadow within her mind though, Meri was taking a couple of very slow steps toward the growling wolf before falling into a crouch. This was not an action that the black wolf took kindly too. It did not charge forward on the assault, but there would be a series of snarling and snapping barks issued in warning. Part of Meri is wondering what might happen if the wolf did attack. Would it matter? It’s all in her head, right? She tries to push these thoughts to the back of her mind though, focusing on remaining calm and not showing any fear to the wolf. Finally Meri speaks the name, “Sage.” Is Meri having a cheesy moment? Not entirely. “Because that is where we were born.” Or, more accurately bitten.

Mahri felt the rightness of the name and as she watched Sage, she saw the ears relax and start to rise up. She growled, but the venom was gone and this pleased Mahri very much. “That’s a good name. Do you see how she’s changed already?” The black wolf seemed to gain substance in this mind-scape, becoming more real. “You named her. You are accepting her and that’s half the battle.” While there was still hostility, it wasn’t towards the blonde standing there and Meri would be able to get closer. “Touch her, talk to her and tell her what’s kept you from finding her until now.” Whether it was her own fear of the beast, how she’d been turned, they shared the same fears. Saying it out loud meant confronting how they’d been made and understanding neither were at fault. They had been betrayed by the people who were supposed to teach and protect them. Their maker was at fault and these two needed to bond and communicate. If this was successful the next step would be learning to call the wolf and make the shift at will.

Meri wouldn’t rise back up to her full height as she made an approach of Sage, she’d try and stay low. The goal was to hopefully not give unneeded reason to feel intimidated, it was a strategy that Meri found usually worked with dogs. Maybe it would be okay for Sage too? Meri wouldn’t be able to just waltz right up to Sage, patience would be needed, this would be a gradual process. At some point, both Meri and Sage end up directly in front of one another and the blonde is able to slide a tattooed hand into the wolf’s fur, trying to give her a good ol’ ear scratch like her dogs tend to love. That does not mean there is not an air of caution as Meri tries this, she’s still trying to read the wolf and it’s body language. Getting Meri to accept the wolf was never going to be a hard task, as Meri would explain, “If I knew that all it would take is a name…” At least in terms of calming this anger. “I know it perhaps was not the most ideal turning. Pretty violent. Not much support...but I wouldn’t go back, you know? I don’t miss being human…” Was Meri speaking to Mahri? To Sage? To them both? Did it really matter in this context?

Mahri || Sage crouched lower to the ground as Meri approached. Her snarls and growls had all but ceased to soft whines and the occasional whimper. She might be a beast, but intelligence lurked in those golden eyes. The closer Meri got the closer the wolf crept, stretching her neck to press a cold wet nose against the blonde’s hand before those fingers tunneled into the glossy black fur. Her ears perked forward to listen, her answer a soft chuff of agreement as she pressed closer to the woman. Mahri watched all this from a distance, her robes fluttering in an imaginary breeze. A smile curved her lips but if Meri looked back it would be gone but an expression of approval would shine from her scarred features. The were ready. “Sage, Meri. It’s time.” Slowly her image faded, withdrawing from Meri’s mind through the connection that had been established and into her own body. Silver eyes took a moment to open and she waited for Meri to finish what she needed with the wolf and return to herself as well.

Meri smiled at Sage, or the mental sensation of the wolf’s nose against her hand. Whatever it was, however you wanted to describe it. It was nice. It would be obvious to Mahri that Meri was actually quite fond of her wolf. Whatever the hitch was that Meri couldn’t get over, it wasn’t because Meri hated what she had become. That embrace came easily. The woman has also had time to wrestle with these issues and to come to terms with things, it could be that Mahri just encountered her at the perfect moment for this lesson. The psion could feel Mahri pulling out of her mind with more sensitivity than most and so the blonde said her goodbyes to her recently named wolf and joined the woman back in reality. Rumiko might not have heard Mahri declare that ‘it was time’ - that statement might have been made within Meri’s mind. Rumiko would hear Meri utter the following, “...for dinner?” It might have seemed like such a simple adventure for Mahri and Meri, but the psion was feeling drained. Rumiko would of course have to free Mahri and Meri from the protective circle they created, but once that was done? If Meri had her way? Both Mahri and Rumi would be joining Meri back at the treehouse, or they could go their separate ways. Meri was not one to force anyone to be where they did not want to be, but dinner was certainly on Meri’s mind.

Mahri || Rumiko cleared her circle leaving the scorched earth ring behind. It would grow back in time but Mahri almost automatically willed the grass to grow back just as it had been. There would be no sign anyone had been there. Exhausted herself, Mahri nodded in agreement. "Dinner, yes." Her stomach rumbled to accentuate her need for food even if Magik was cooking. Rumiko voiced her agreement as well and the trio of friends, because that's what they were becoming, right?, would head back to the tree house.