With Tooth and Claw {IC}

[May]

OOC

With Tooth and Claw

The Pack

The clouds gathered over head like some ominous sort of forecast. Setting the tone for the night, making it less and less likely that there might be people out and about. Which was a welcome relief. The rain itself would be cooling while it lasted, ending the heat from the day that the sun had baked into the ground and been caught up in the branches of trees. It was healing, refreshing, and all the things the rain should be. With all the added bonuses of keeping the human population out of the woods where they didn't belong.

As the sun set it brought a bit of cool before the sky let loose of it's tears. The grounds around the pack started to light up on their own as the light from the sun faded. Not that it was needed, they could all get by just fine without the light. But it was nice, and a force of habit really. Some things just didn't go away even after you were turned into a wolf like creature. Habits from mortal life that didn't fade as your humanity was stripped of you. And just like they didn't really need to cook their food, it was still nice to give it a little heat.

Cook fires started up as though who's inclination to cook took over and they started on their parts of the meal that would be brought together for everyone to share under the slightly sagging eaves of the tent that served as their meeting place. It was one of those large tents like the ones you'd see at a big out door wedding, old and sun worn and in need of patching in some places. It did well enough to keep the rain out during the summer months and snow off during the winter. It made them feel a bit more civilized. Just a bit. Even if most of the pack tended to show up at the table for supper in little to nothing at all. Often with dirty hands, that they ate their food with. But boys will boys.

Tension was an ever present thing for the last few months. Things had been building for years, but the last few months had been the worse. There was so much unknown, so much at stake here. But today they could relax, today they could feel alright knowing that even the craziest of humans would probably be staying in their homes tonight and that they had nothing to fear. It wasn't even close to full moon either. Everything would be nice today, like it used to be.

A bell rang out through the little commune of the camp that they lived in. Dinner bell. That brought the lingering ones out of their tents and lean-to's and huts and whatever it was that they had decided to call home. And just in time for the sky to pour out its blessing of rain upon the forest that they called theirs.

The long table was set with mismatching plates and glasses. It went well with the chairs that didn't match either. Little did here. Things broke easily, it was too much of a hassle to keep up with keeping everything the same. In the center was plated a mound of food, mostly meats and a few vegies. And around the table quickly filled in the empty spaces with the varying forms of the pack, talking among themselves, the head of the table filled with the silent and ever watching form of their Alpha.

[tirgesfu]

Jory yawned and starched under his arm. He rolled on his straw filled mat on the ground and smacked his lips. His lean to of old willow wood and white oak had walls on three sides and opened up to the central area. There were holes in the woven braches but that let the air flow through as well as the starlight.

Jory was part of the pack but he liked his own little space. His three sided hut was his spot to brood, to find peace, and to keep his stuff. Not that he had much stuff. But Jory did have a treasure box, an old cigar box he found on a hunt. It wasn’t cardboard but a thin wood with a faded picture of some over stacked sexy broad smoking, not only from the cigar in her lips but from between her legs as well. Jory liked the box. He kept a few things inside and didn’t share it with anyone. It was tucked in-between two twigs and his mat in the corner.

Jory dirty finger nails dug under his arm pit as he sat up on his mat. Damn he thought, must had screwed that in heat dame in a pile of poison ivy. He smiled at the thought wondering where the rash must be on her body. With a chuckle he stood up and sniffed the air. Ah, dinner. Someone even took the time to cook the meat tonight. He briefly wondered if the fact they were gathering for a heated meal meant they was some big group meeting in the works. He was still new to the order of things.

He wandered over to the huge tent and sniffed the fires as he passed by. He once again found a seat not in his usually place. Jory always was amazed at how easily everyone sat in the same seat over and over. Each had his or her place. Not Jory. He made it a point to sit in a different place ever time. Caused a bit of cold looks when he took someone’s seat. He sort of enjoyed that small discomfort.

Just as the bell rang Jory found a seat right by the head of the table, a place he didn’t seek very often. But what the heck. He smiled, his dimple creased his cheek and he sat.

“Smell’s good.” He said as he looked to those around. “Makes my fangs water.”

[May]

The Pack

Today wasn't going to be one of those days in which his choice of seat annoyed anyone. Today they'd actually say something about it, but it wouldn't be in anger. "You're sitting in my seat you know," came a soft female voice from just to Jory's side. Though she sounded annoyed, there was a lot more teasing in her tone as well. But before he could really reply, before he could turn and look or speak, she was down in his lap, settling in without permission. Though the way she sat implied that they knew each other far better than they did, especially with the way she was wiggling against his lap and not really noticing the way her shorter dress was riding up some. But it didn't stop Rebeca in anyway that they didn't know each other that well at all.

"Guess we'll just have to share then," she went on, smiling brightly at him over her shoulder. "Won't be too bad, promise." She laughed at that, shaking her head and waving off the start of their Alpha as he started to protest the two of them sitting together. "Jory, right? I think that's your name at least. Sometimes I forget silly things like that."

"Rebeca," called Darius voice over hers, loud enough so that she couldn't ignore the slight growl in it. "You are going to break that chair bouncing about it, go sit in your own."

But she didn't listen and shook her head at the older man. "No, I want to sit here and I'm not going to make him move either. The chair will be fine darling."


The Society

It was another one of those Thursday afternoons. Everyone in the office was itching for the weekend and nothing was getting done anywhere. Just because it was a special kind of office, with people who weren't all human, didn't mean that office dynamics functioned any differently. Quite a few of the 'lesser important', at least the way the many of the filed operatives looked at them, employees were just sitting and watching the hands on the clock tick by.

Of course now was also the prime time for making it look like one was working as well, even if that meant wandering to talk to people. A short little woman looking around the age of thirty or so was slipping in and out of offices, a chatty face, if that was possible, plastered on. Her, literally, flame red hair was up in a messy bun, a few pens and pencils sticking out of it as it bobbed up and down in her scurried walk. She was on a mission it seemed, or so the bright and eager light in her golden eyes spoke. Finally, she found her destination and slipped into the offices of one of the lower upper management to see their secretary.

The firebird, for that's what she was in human form, with all the fly away feather like hair framing her middle-aged face, came fluttering in with unseen wind and perched herself neatly on the edge of Karin's desk. "Soooo," she started in her rich, hard-to-pin-down-just-where-exactly-she-was-from accent that spoke heavily of European roots. "Anything exciting to tell from today? Any new wars about to start? What news do you have for Elena?"

[Fallenreaper]

Society, Karin

Karin’s small lips turned up in a smile, her ears rose, like folded leave to hear Elena better. Her finger click clanked on the key board while eyes tired to never leave the papers held upright on the stand at the side, breaking to glance down at where her think fingers pressed. Only once she paused in her typing, thankful that she was stationary, to push up her glasses and finished the sentence. Karin turned her head toward her office friend. She held papers in her hand, snatched from the stand in an attempt to hide she just chit chatting and twisted her hips about face in the roller office chair. It was wonder she didn’t fall back in that quick motion as simple as it had been.

“Sorry, Elena, nothing,” her ears folded back in guilt,” I was too terrified to listen too long on the gossip in the coffee room. The only bit I got was one of the employees were caught…”

Her face blushed, red flushed across the kirin’s cheeks as she couldn’t bring herself to speak of intimate relationship or the fact they had been caught literally with their pants down for hanky-panky in the society office library. A girl named Helena she believed was mentioned. In some way Karin envied what it must like to feel that sort of lust and love, a male’s breathe along the length of her body. Her mother’s scornful look flickered across her mind, interrupted her daydreams, papers fluttered to the carpet while her body leapt up. The chair clacked backwards in her rush upwards while the white rectangles floated across the floor.

“Oh no…,” Karin fell to all fours, legs pulled together as she tucked her skirt underneath in her scramble to reach for them.

[tirgesfu]

Rebecca. Of course he had seen her, smelled her, and sniffed the air she left behind. But he was shocked that she was here in his full senses. Shock that easily turned to pure thrills. Knowing that her teasing on his lap might dissolve way to quickly, he wrapped his arms around her hips and encouraged her wiggles. He smiled. His dimple was almost as deep as the sparks in his eyes.

“Oh I promise you the chair is just fine.” His eyes did not leave Rebecca’s face. “I’m good at sharing.” Finally he rotated his head the smile and dimple falling just a bit as he looked to the Alpha. “She’s fine. I won’t bite.” He didn’t hold the lead male’s eyes long. No reason for an outright challenge. Jory was just teasing a bit on his own. Rebecca felt way too good and Jory knew that could mean trouble. But it was the sort of trouble Jory had always enjoyed. He was new enough to this table to not be positive of the mating. But the growl in Darius left Jory with the firm idea that Rebecca held some sort of place. She might be just yanking his chain. Jory didn’t mind at all. Use me, use me, he thought as he smiled at her again.

He might take some hits for this later. But it was easy right now to not think about any of that. Right now he smelled something wonderful and delicious. And the food hadn’t even arrived.

[May]

The Pack

"Biting isn't going to bother her," Darius shot back at the pup, for that's what he was in the Alpha's eyes. But he dropped it for the time being, finding it hard to say no when Rebeca turned that look of hers onto him. "Please, not where I have to watch," he said to her, sighing in a very resigned way that he wasn't going to get what he wanted without causing a scene.

"I am aware of our agreement," she nodded, smiling brightly at the older man, snuggling back almost against Jory, his arms around her encouraging all on their own. If only she could hear his thoughts. She reached out a slim hand and patted Darius' arm in a way that he wasn't at all reassured about.

When she looked back over her shoulder at Jory her own smile brightened at the look of that dimpled smile looking up at her. "Aren't you a cutie," she chuckled, shifting to sit sideways on his lap now, glancing away just long enough to look up at the food being set on the table. She was hungry, and the look of it flickered up into her eyes as she looked back again to him. "You settling in alright?" she asked as she actually waited to reach for something to eat unlike most of the others around them who jumped at getting there first. Meat did that to them, it was understandable. "I know you haven't been here all that long, wanted to make sure that everyone was playing fair."

The Society


There was a flicker of a pout across Elena's face that didn't last. She was intrigued to hear what it was that Karin had actually heard. But judging by the blush that had made its home on her face, it was a couple fooling about. Karin seemed a little shy in that area still, even after all these years. Which was a pity, poor girl. "I have not heard that one," she chuckled, watching as the papers slipped from the other woman's hand. She only managed to get one or two before they were all on the floor.

"Marty, over in lycan pack management," she started, just watching the kirin pick up her own papers because if she tired to help, she'd just be in the way. "You know, the one I swear has got to be part tree or something how stiff he is...anyways, he was saying that things had been stirring up in the south between some wolves and humans. He says it's like a powder keg waiting for its fuse to be lit."

Her eyes were all alight, like this was the best thing she'd heard all day. Office liaisons was one thing, but this was another altogether. "We could be on the verge of a whole new human world. Ooooorrrrr the big dogs can come in and snuff the whole thing out and be the power hungry bastards they're portrayed to be sometimes." The firebird snorted a laugh, rolling her eyes a bit at that.

[Fallenreaper]

Society, Karin

Karin’s hand, fingers with onyx nails, reached out for paper nearest her and silently cursed her clumsy nature in her human form. Her body curved on all fours, her ox tail hung out of her skirt and flickered with anxiety her mind was in. Ear didn’t want to miss anything, they swayed towards Elena while eyes searched for the rest of her work papers. Yes Marty was a bit…stiff, or in Karin’s opinion strict at times and humorless, he couldn’t smile or joke while he tolerated her klutz even less with a prompt frown. Maybe it more of a scowl that made her shiver and pop back into her Kirin form, the only time she was grace was as a deer shaped dragon, to dart away beneath some cover. The shivers crept up on her, even the thought of him made Karin uncomfortable.

When Elena mentioned the conflict between wolves and humans, it made her lift her eyes to meet the firebird dead in her eyes. Her remaining papers, save for the one that had floated beneath the desk, were clutched tightly in her hands slowly creased by the strength in the grip. War…the idea of conflict brought war, a topic that Karin hated very much. She handed off the papers to Elena, her body leaned back to settle her bottom on the heels of her feet, for the firebird to hold onto. Great Buddha, it was anyone’s guess how long she could keep them from flying away and scattering once more to the carpet.

“You really think they would let it go that far? Most conflicts end in war and…,” Karin’s hand went absentmindedly to run the length of the scar that nearly ended her life, a painful reminder she rather forget. Quickly enough distracted by another thought,” I missed one!”

Forcing her form from the sitting posture she achieved, Karin eyed the stray white color of another document that had escaped. Her hand reached for it but soon, her ears pinned back to her head and tail slipped across the inside of thigh, discovered she would have to crawl under to retrieve it. A sheepish shy grin flashed across her expression with innocent in her twilight night eyes. She pushed up on all fours, one knee stepped forward and then the other as she bent her back, her left arm stretched and head mindful of her horn to touch the tip of the paper. Her forefinger and middle tried to pinch the corner into her grasp, ready to pull it towards her when it was pinned between. Karin was so focused on getting the paper that her surrounding was ignored nearly completely also was way she looked. Her behind was sticking out from under the desk while her front was crouched low, making her position over all a humorous sight to behold especially for those minds that were…naughty.

“Almost got it…a bit farther,” strained Karin, her fingers missed the distance by a few centimeters,” I think mother’s at it again. She’s out match-making for me again so can I ask a favor? If she pushes me into a blind date could you…you know, go with me? Like a double date?”

She hoped that didn’t sound too teenager and the idea of meeting new people, strange and unfamiliar created jitters that just wouldn’t leave her alone.

[Lyzan]

Society

Mark Szilinski

Going through the rigmaroles through the security checkpoint on the ground floor had always been a pain in the ass. It was almost the same where ever Mark went. Yet he'd never gotten used to it. The queue for an exchange of pass, the copy of the clearance form with the Branch's Manager's signature as well as his assignment's papers and then through those metal detectors where all metals needed to be placed in that little basket. Even the shoes needed to be taken off. Not to forget having the briefcase searched as well. Luckily, they hadn't bothered asking why he was carrying packets of raw meat in his briefcase.

Sighs...

Mark went as he rode the lift up to the designated floor where an office in the department he was assigned to waited. He lifted his head to see the electronic number change. Counting along in a whisper as to how many more floors there was before reaching. Pushing his thick black framed glasses higher up the bridge of his nose with his index finger, he then looked straight ahead. Shifting both his hands up since he was hugging the briefcase with some papers and documents tightly over his chest as he then corrected his collar. The door slid opened and Mark stepped out almost in a rush as though he didn't want to stop those behind him. But he'd forgotten that he was alone in the lift and realized how clumsy he must've seen then. He paused in his track. Taking a step back as if to redo the whole exit. Almost turning back towards the lift halfway before noticing a few head turning his way. He shifted back his upper body to the front. Eyes dropping to the floor now as if he was searching for something around his legs. Hoping the act would cover all previous ones. Glancing up, he smiled as the heads turned back. Success.

I fooled them.. Yay!

Should he be entering and confront somebody with a smile then, Mark contemplated.

No... no.. That'll look rather strange.

So he wiped the smile off his face and started moving towards a table. It looked empty from where he stood and saw a woman standing not far from it. He thought it was his but he was wronged as he spotted something rather peculiar yet at the same time ...interesting as well as beautiful bobbing over the edge of the table.

Something's under the table..

His curiosity led him to bring his height sideways, bending as he peered under the table. His heart leapt as he witnessed another beautiful sight to behold. A cleavage. Mark swallowed and the presence of the woman standing next to the desk seemed to be momentarily out of his focus. He cleared his throat but kept his eyes on what was presented to him.

"Umm... Hey.. I mean, hi.. I'm Mark.. Are you... are you looking for your... ummm... lenses?" stuttered the man as he felt his cheek filled with heat before blinking and pulling himself back up to avoid the lady's eyes where he now became aware of the woman standing not far away from him. "Er... Hi.." he addressed her. "I thought she... umm... I thought she lost her lenses.. I thought I can fill her up... erm.. I mean help her up.. Fill her with help maybe? You know.. So that she can be satisfied... I mean relieved.. I mean like.. yay, found them.. You know.. I can search her front.. I mean from the front.. Uh.. No.. no.. Not the front.. He rear.. Ah.. Erm..." he paused. "Or maybe she don't need my help... with her... Umm.. Anyway, I'm Mark.. I was transfered here and am wondering where my ass is... desk! ...is.. Wondering where my desk is.." he blinked and made only a couple of glances over to Elena's face.

He'd held her eyes no longer than a second before looking away. Shifting back and forth from them to the bobbing thing behind the desk before him. He swallowed. His fingers started to drum over the briefcase's sides nervously. Turning his head away from the ladies occasionally to as if look at the interiors of the room. No doubt he'd felt somewhat ashamed as he tried to play it cool and to assume that the woman hadn't actually saw what went through his mind.

[tirgesfu]

Jory tried not to hear the tones behind Rebeca and Darlius as they talked about agreements. Agree away. Whatever they had that crackled the air between them matter little as Jory let his hand touch the smooth soft legs on his lap. At that moment he was sure he was settling in just fine. How nice of her to ask.

Jory hadn’t really noticed if he had settled in or not. He found himself here, with a bit of shelter and food. It would do. At least until he figured this new thing out. He had a roll or two with some of the others, growls, bites, tussles over who moved where or who ate first. Nothing really serious. Even before the change Jory like a fight or two every once and awhile just to stir his blood up. Although he didn’t answer Rebeca, at least not with words, he had settled in as much as he expected.

He glanced at the food being placed on the table but like Rebeca he didn’t reach for any. Instead he began to reach with his left hand across her lap but stopped. Quickly his hand fell to her knees, slid up the edge of her dress and found a soft bit of flesh to pinch. He took hold of her high thigh and with just a touch of force nipped her skin between his thumb and forefinger.

Biting didn’t bother her, he heard Darlius’ words as he smiled at her. “Playing fair?” He asked as he waited for her reaction.

[Fallenreaper]

Society, Karin

Nearly there! Yes, Karin mentally cried as her fingers wrapped about the edge of the paper to pull it back. Her hands spread out to balance herself, thighs pulled back to rest her ass on the meat of her calves only to stop still on her hands and knees. Bring the paper to her face, folded in half of her other fingers with her forefinger and thumb clasping the edge of her ear piece in her left and readjusting it. Pushing her right deeper into the carpet with the rough material digging in deeper. It was rough on her smooth skin and Karin struggled with a rising frown of discomfort. At least she got the paper, a feeling of accomplishment filled her chest and slight small smile graced her face.

It drained away soon enough.

Dark blue eyes froze wide eyed as the hairs on the back of her neck rose and snaked with a jarring feeling of stares on her. Karin looked down only to have another flash of heat rip across her cheeks and ears pulled back from Elena’s voice. Her hand hastily pushed to the cover the exposure, her frighten nostrils flared a bit as if seeking a predator before a clearing of throat made her jump.

Thunk!

Her head slammed harshly into wooden overhead and she pushed herself back into a sitting posture, calves curled underneath. Pain ruptured though the hit on her head, the closed eyes saw only red for a moment, filled with a throbbing that racked both her thoughts and hearing. Arms wrapped about her head, her horn peered out from wide spread fingers, in furious rubbing motions. He stuttered, Karin felt herself slightly relax at the lack of a loud voice or shouting, tension slowly ebbed away from her shoulder down to her toes in standard high heels, her deer like ear flickered towards the sounds instinctively to catch every sound. Redder and redder Karin became, until it felt like she was going to burn up from blushing and become lost in ashes. Eyes scrunched up in pain, her lips pulled tightly in a hurtful look while her lids fought rising tears tickling at the back of her eyeballs.

The paper was scrunched up badly by her hand that it looked like an abused and tormented white crumpled piece of trash met her eyes as she opened them. A look of horror crossed her face at the state of it. Oh no… Karin stretched out the paper upon the carpet, her fingers moved delicately about the middle making its way to the edges as she vainly tried to undo the creases she made. Pushing her hand out with more pressure in her desperation to get the wrinkles out and avoid looking at the albino man's features, she was a woman after all regardless of how sheltered she was. The kirin just had a hard time dealing with it when it happened. The paper merely made loud crackling sounds, the damage done and now more work piled on Karin’s plate yet again. Knees supported her weight and straighten hands braced against the floor for support, her bottom tucked over her lower legs and left slipped out to glide the edge of her skirt it tighter underneath with her thin tail pulled to rest around her seated position.

The worse part yet was the fact she couldn’t get Mark’s stares out of her head or his…comments. Her eyes took the ground, focused on it while she aimed to control the heat in her face rising from his butchering of sentences into suggestive things. She couldn’t get her mouth to work, thick and hindered by her tongue, Karin could only spy brief looks at Mark as she did with any male before looking at Elena for help.

What do I do? Was her unspoken plead.

This seemed like one of her romance novels but this was real life. It would take a bit of time as her attempts to decrease the paper were pointless, actually managing to rip it with her nervous motions before she placed a hand on the desk’s edge. Karin was upset to find however, her legs seemed to be glued to the floor for several moments before finally she was up on semi steady feet. That was as far as she got now frozen in place by that familiar high tension emotion that both sealed her lips and tied her tongue.