[Closed] Captured beast within a human skin

[onewiththewild]

WHO: Toboe and Bader
WHERE: Around the city
WHEN: The day Toboe arrived
WHAT: Continuing this
WARNINGS: None so far

[ the question makes him tilt his head, confused ] All wolves do that. [ she did that. Didn't she...?

if she pays close attention, however, Toboe's shadow is of a wolf, not human. And if she pays close attention and really hard, she can glimpse through Toboe's illusion and in place of a boy the is a wolf for half of a second there.

But he listens to her, finishing his steak fast, and after he grabs the paper to lick it. ] Shelter?

Comments

[proteus]

Not here. [ Or anywhere, for that matter. The only wolves that could pull such a stunt were either things belonging to her ilk, which Toboe could not be. Or werewolves, which he blessedly wasn't or she would have sniffed it out and been half way to the next state over. ] Wolves might not be common around here, or anywhere. But you're the the first I've seen change shape like that. And I've met a few wolves.

[ She can see his shadow, and from there construed that this was a wolf masquerading as a boy and not the other way around. It stood to reason that would be the case, and even if it did raise some questions it made her more inclined to help him. ]

The people who are brought here are called imPorts, and for whatever reason the people in charge like to make a show of keeping us taken care of. They'll offer you work, and from what I hear it's all on the up and up. [ She shrugged knowing was still going to stick with petty crime, but to each their own. ]

That woman you met after coming here meant to take you to one of the houses. They're nice places to live. Big, too.

If you're not afraid of living with humans.

[onewiththewild]

Uh? But how do they protect themselves? [ Illusions were in big part, used so nobody would know they are actual wolves and they wouldn't try to kill them. Wolves had almost gone extinct 200 years ago and the ones left had no choice but to pretend to be something they are no, just so they could survive. Kiba has a lot to say about his pride as a wolf, but as Hige said, pride means nothing if you are dead. And he is right.

But he looks at Bader, tilting his head like a pup would do ] But you can do it, too.

But I'm a wolf. I don't know... if I can live with them like that. [ since they don't know him and they aren't his owners ] I used to have an owner. She died, but- [ Toboe smiles softly, a bit sad ] I like humans a lot, but I know they are scared of us.

[proteus]

I had to give a lot before I could learn to do this. [ Bader hedged carefully and without going into specifics. It could just have easily been said she had sacrificed a large part of herself to continue blending in with people. Whatever she had been born as, she was no longer supposed to be among humans. ]

Wolves might not exist in abundance anymore, but the irony is some of them survive because a few decent enough people have learned to leave us be. [ That was a complicated and open ended statement if ever there was one. Bader couldn't read minds and didn't need to to know that the details would have just upset him. ]

And by sticking together, of course. [ Bader reached out and laid a hand on Toboe's head, feeling fur instead of hair. That kind of contact among other people came with a lot of social niceties and awkwardness, but they weren't people and Toboe engendered some aort of protective instinct. ]

[onewiththewild]

Really? [ that's so weird. Every wolf in Toboe's world can do it naturally ] Hm... wolves are extinct in my world and the last of us had to hide from humans. [ Toboe smiles softly ] I have only met other wolves recently. We formed a pack too! It was only five of us, but it was enough.

[ Bader's hand is accepted and Toboe smiles at her until suddenly he remembers ]

Ah...! before I came here, I was with an old man - his name is Quent! We were together and he- [ the pup retracts, thinking about what happened. he doesn't want to say it, but they in fact, died together.

Actually, Toboe sort of thinks everyone that arrives here probably died, but he can't bring himself to ask to make sure ] Do you know if he is here?

[proteus]

You don't have to be on the verge of getting wiped out to see the advantages in avoiding people. [ Bader barked a short, if a bit grim, laugh. The hint of pronounced canines stood out with her mouth open wide as she chuckled and smiled. ]

Quent? [ Head tilted she makes a thoughtful noise and considers if that was a name she had heard before. For her own saftey she kept an ear to the ground whenever there was word on new imPorts coming in. Best to size up competition before they let on. ] Can't say I have. Is he a human, or...?

[onewiththewild]

I... like people, though. [ he does. So much. he died to save a human, that's how much he loves them ]

And yes, he is human. He was very hurt. [ dead, Toboe. he died. everyone did ] Maybe he is alright. [ since Toboe is guessing only dead people come here, if Quent wasn't here, it meant he wasn't dead, right???? Right. no ]

[proteus]

People are great, but that doesn't mean you should trust them right away. [ Toboe was somewhere far on the naive side; not dim, but she suspected a natural and instinctual fear of people had never properly fostered. ]

I'm sorry about your friend, but anyone coming in hurt would have been taken to the hospital. [ She had half a mind to check there, too for anyone word on especially interesting imPorts, and to scout out someway to swipe a blood bag whenever the Red Cross rolled into town. ]

I could show you around the place. [ She smiled, toothy but warm. ] Just so you don't get lost and wander somewhere that isn't safe for puppies.

[onewiththewild]

[ if only toboe could argue he doesn't trust people right away, but he does. Leara, Quent... he can't help it. ]

Hospital... [ Toboe would have to learn what that is and where. But in any case, he nods back at Bader, to answer her question ]

Alright! But I can handle myself, really! [ he strikes a pose, as if to show his muscles - and they aren't big at all ]