Lament IC

[Gedanken]

Unmei
Rapture Laboratory
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The blur of days pass by too quickly; merging together into barely recognizable shapes. Every day, I pace or lie, unable to do nothing more than bark or show my teeth in wariness. With each setting of the sun, I suffer. They… torture me! What have I ever done for them to cause me such pain? I ask them that every time they come, but there is never any response. I hear snippets of words, broken, garbled in my ears long-since closed off to the humans. I’m something different from a dog. I’m not normal. What do they mean? Is there something wrong with me?

Dreams haunt me from happier times. I remember running across a field with my friend; quick moving images of places that we visited, then the fall. I shudder to think it. Are these scientists harming me because of that?

Silently, I count the passing of the days; light dimming from the barred windows beyond my cage.

A month passes, and still I remain. So many experiments, so much horror. I can’t bear to live in a world such as this…
But, as the sun closes its eyes on yet another day… I feel something different in the air…

----------------------

The needle’s point imbedded itself in the scruff of the dog, drawing blood, and then withdrawn within moments. The man stepped back and inspected it in the light, and nodded in satisfaction. “We should be able to find something different out this today,” he said, glancing to his comrade who was found leaning against the door to the room.

“I doubt it,” the other responded. “Every day it’s the same; we learn nothing new.”

“Well, we’ll just have to see won’t we?” The scientist sneered, slamming the door shut on the dog’s cage, and walking back over to his co-worker. Together they left, with a few mumbled words that quietly passed through the wood on their exit. Unmei lifted his tired head, his ears flicking forward to try and catch the inaudible words. But most of it was indistinct to his mind.

He sighed and settled back down; resting his chin on his fore-paws. He’d been restless today. His dreams hadn’t been the same. They were all he had. Even if they caused him to suffer just as much in his sleep, than when he was awake.

Every time he closed his eyes now, he saw images of trees, a long stretch of them. They were lined in such a way that a path was visible. It was almost tempting to follow it, but Unmei had always stayed. Behind him, he could hear the sounds of his past owner.

He didn’t even realize that he’d fallen asleep until bird-song burst out from all around him. Blinking, the dog glanced around. It was the same forested area as before, however this time, a blazing orange bird sat atop a branch. It looked down at him, its head tilting to the side. Unmei watched it, his ears twitching with each new noise that assaulted them. The glowing creature hopped onto a lower branch, its wings unfurling a little in its descent. Without a word, it tilted its beak in the direction of the woods.

”You want me to follow?” Unmei’s words echoed back to him and he flinched slightly, unused to his own voice after living for so long without it. The bird dipped its head.

Hesitant, the white dog took a step forward, then another. The instant he set in motion, his new guardian lifted itself off of the branch and beat the air with sun-caressed wings. It gracefully flew ahead of Unmei, its pace slow. He shadowed it, his eyes set on the creature determinedly. It turned only twice; once to the left, and once to the right. At those times, Unmei found himself staring at his surroundings. Large trees grew forth from the grass, flowers he’d never seen before swaying gently in the sunshine.

Soon, the bird alit upon the lower base of a small tree, and turned its head silently to the opening that now spread itself before Unmei. Again, he paused, unsure as what he was supposed to do. But the silence proved itself too much and he padded on again, his eyes fixing upon what lay in the middle of the clearing. A huge tree stretched out towards the sun, its bark silver in the light. As the dog inched closer, what looked like etchings in the trunk became visible; a carved image of a creature similar to himself, with its head raised towards the moon.

Unmei examined it, and then glanced back at the glowing bird. ”This looks familiar.”

It nodded, its wings raising outwards. Words abruptly engraved themselves into the bark below the carving and Unmei turned to look. The Bird of Paradise will show you the way forward, son of wolf.

”Wolf?” Unmei gasped, his amber eyes widening. ”But I can’t be…”

Suddenly, a tremor struck; the light darkening. The Bird of Paradise emitted a trill, and then faded to nothing. The image carved into the bark was changing. The moon was slowly being covered by another disc, turning it to black.
Unmei sat up sharply, his sides heaving. The world around him was the familiar cage and room combination once more. He breathed in deeply, and then let it out.

He wasn’t a dog. He was a pure-blooded wolf.

The realization hit him fast and hard, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it.

The door opened up to his room, displaying the false light beyond. Unmei lifted his head, his eyes set determinedly. He wouldn’t be cooped up like this anymore.
The same scientist as before entered. He walked over to Unmei’s cage, talking quietly to him in a reassuring manner, “I have something here for you.” The wolf watched him in silence. He waited, his eyes boring holes in the man. The human unlatched the cage door and made to throw in the piece of meat, however he never got the chance to. Snarling, Unmei rushed forward, biting at the scientist’s hand. He cried out in pain and flailed backwards, unprepared for the assault.

Taking the opportunity, Unmei leaped out of his prison.

His claws rapidly clicked in succession on the tiled floor as he landed. Scrambling, he dashed for the open door, shoving it aside as he passed through. As the alarm was raised, he charged down the corridor, his surroundings a blur. Panting, he swerved down yet another hallway, his eyes setting on the double-doors. Snarling, he made for it, lowering his head and slamming it straight into the wood. Again and again, he attacked it, yells and shouts echoing down the corridor.

Just as he felt a hand brush his back, the doors gave way, leaving him with a big enough hole to escape through. Not caring about the splinters, he struggled through it, his front paws landing on the icy ground outside. He scrabbled and kicked, trying to free his back end from the painful claws of both timber and human. Finally, he dropped onto the snow, his tongue lolling from his open mouth.

Ignoring the exhaustion that pulsed throughout his body, Unmei leaped up and darted away.

Freedom, the word whispered in his mind. Freedom.

[Metronome]

Although he was smaller, Orren was far more agile than Zinzie. This was proved as Orren vaulted over wooden crates that blocked his way, while Zinzie just plowed through them. Behind them, shouting filled the air. Pots, pans, and cooking utensils flew at them as they made their escape. In Orren's mouth was a large slab of raw meat which the two had just stolen from the very angry butcher behind him. Fortunately, the human was no match for their speed. Even the most clumsy of wolves would outstride the two legged flesh wads.

Orren could taste the juicy meat as he carried it; it was so tempting to tear into it right here and now. His stomach ached for real meat, not the shit he'd been eating recently. He was sure Zinzie felt the same way, although he hardly ever complained. Finally, they darted down an alley and hid to reap their spoils. Orren set the hunk of meat down and looked up at Zinzie. "You okay?"
"Yeah brother. It's just a scratch." The butcher had gotten a swipe at Zinzie with a large two pronged fork, but it wasn't too bad. Orren could tell that Zinzie was more eager to eat than to worry about his wound.
"Alright then, let's eat." With that, the two wolves viciously attacked the meat. Nearby, crows watched them with jealously. However, only one bird dared to get close enough to pay the price. A crow hopped within striking distance, craning his neck out to peck at the beef. Orren whipped around and tore the bird to shreds in mere seconds. Desert.

When the two finished devouring their meal, bird included, they lumbered off to find a suitable shelter to sleep. Orren led the way as they crept inside an old, run down building that looked promising. Orren flopped himself down to enjoy his full stomach while Zinzie took out his last wad of human plant drugs. Orren was pretty sure the humans smoked it, but seeing as they lacked opposable thumbs, Zinzie just ate it like an idiot. "You can't go out until that shit is out of your system, you know," Orren huffed in irritation. He tried many times to knock sense into Zinzie, but the guy was as stubborn as he was tall. They'd learned the hard way that when he was high, Zinzie couldn't put on his human facade.
"Yeah, I be knowing it good, bro. Just chill, I got this." Orren growled softly at the pitiful response, but said no more. He laid his head on his paws and, before he even knew it, dozed off.

[Caylie Unicorn]

Stretching her paws forward Styr stands and lifts her face to the sharp wind which blew against the wall; turning and trotting along the top of the large wall that surrounded a portion of the city she leaps onto a small house and then into an ally. Stretching her jaws and flicking her ears forward she turns and makes her way through the alleys of the city trotting past the poor low class citizens who leans casually against the walls heeding her no mind, they had seen her well enough before taking her for an over sized dog. Lifting her broad black head Styr sniffs the air catching the scent of other wolves, and meat; making her way through the alleys she follows the scent with slow confidence.

[Gedanken]

Viktor
Steel City

Today was just like the last, and the day before that and the day before that. It was typically dull, but he was alive; that was all he cared about. Shoving the box back until it clicked into place, Viktor backed up, rolling his shoulders in the illusion as he shook his fur out in his wolf form. "Another job done, eh?" Jake said, walking over to stand by his right. "Yeah..." He was just glad that he was so careful in everything that he did. Working allowed him to seem normal. It brought him money (a wad of paper and small bag of metal that had little use except for exchange), and that was all he really needed in order to survive.

He may look it, but he wasn't dumb. By acting in this manner he had more of a chance of living for that much longer. He'd seen what had happened to the 'large dog' that had patrolled the streets those couple of months ago. It'd been too large, enough of a suspicion for the people to hunt it down. Viktor shuddered to think of it. Thus his odd way of dealing with the passing days began. He doubted whether there was even any other wolves left beside himself. Quietly, he stepped further away from the wooden boxes, already planning ahead.

He bade goodbye to his work-mates and headed over to the warehouse; a temporary home for the manager of their small community. Viktor nodded calmly as he entered. "Good evening, Samuel."

Samuel smiled thinly. "Good evening. You've finished for the day?" He leaned across his small desk, watching the tall man with those narrowed eyes of his.

"Yes."

His boss nodded and dropped back against his seat. He tugged open the left-hand drawer that decorated the underside of the furniture, then pulled out the familiar small black bag. He dropped the bundle on the table. "The usual." He gestured to it with a single nod of his head.

Viktor moved closer and reached to take it. Samuel just pushed back against the desk in silence. He'd never been one for patience. Taking the bag in his teeth; his human appearance taking hold of it in one hand, he retreated to the door.

The journey back to his apartment was - for the most part - uneventful. That was, until he reached the halfway point. A scent reached his nostrils and he straightened, his hackles rising. He turned his head, his ears pricked. That scent was familiar... Curious, he strayed from his path. The trio of scent trails led to one of the least hospitable alleyways, which heightened his curiosity all the more.

His pawsteps echoed. His body falling to the shadows. It didn't take long before he saw them. Pausing, he eyed the strangers. His mind screamed what he already sub-consciously knew: wolves! He opened his mouth to speak, but for a while, nothing came to mind. His head turned to observe the largest of the small group. "Good evening." The only words to make sense. In a way, he was hesitant. As well as wary. More than likely they'd be able to smell it before they'd see it.

[Metronome]

Zinzie was sprawled on his back, gazing up at the ceiling of the abandoned building wistfully. He was completely unaware of any intruder until the larger wolf had actually spoke to him. Zinzie jumped and rolled over onto his feet. Him bumbled around a little before looking up at the visitor with his reddened eyes. A goofy smile was plastered across his maw.
"Hey there my brother. What all and brings you here?"

Orren, who was luckily a light sleeper, cracked his eyes open. As soon as he caught wind of the intruder, he was up on his feet. The grey wolf jumped between Zinzie and the black wolf. His face twisted in a menacing snarl, showing off his collection of sharp fangs. Even though the wolf before him was a good three times his own size, Orren seemed more than happy to take him on to defend himself and his best friend.

[Caylie Unicorn]

Styr leaps lightly into the window of the abandon building having followed the pair to the structure, seeing the three wolves she makes no noise as she leaps off the sill of the window. Styr stretches casually behind them and sits down and licks her side ignoring the growls coming from the smaller wolf, stretching forward she purposefully digs her nails into the wooden floor boards and drags her nails backwards to reveal her presence behind the pair.
Styr grins wolfishly flashing her fangs and lifts her ears warmly in greeting.

[Gedanken]

He hadn't expected such a mixed reaction. The larger wolf rolled to his feet with a goofy smile directed Viktor's way, however his grey companion snapped to attention as if stung; his teeth bared in a vicious display. "I am not looking for a figh-" he began, but was cut off as claws meeting wood scraped a jarring tune. His ears flicked back at the noise, then forwards again just as quickly. Viktor's eyes moved past the pair and to a thick-furred lupine who flashed him and the others a grin. Unlike the small Grey wolf however, her baring of teeth was a form of greetings. Suddenly, the British Colombian felt awkward. After so long alone, to meet up with a trio of wolves just like himself was almost surreal. How long had they all been in hiding? To escape for so long from the hands of the humans, they must've had to act in a similar manner to himself.

Viktor found himself smiling back, despite the mixed feelings that emanated from the three wolves. It only lasted a short while though, as his thoughts backpedaled to his previous queries. Soon, his expression took on a more curious look; his eyes squinting and head tilting to the side. "... I thought I was one of the last. How did you all survive for so long out here, and why haven't I seen any of you around before?" He remembered that saying: curiosity killed the cat, but he wasn't a cat and to ask these series of questions was what he needed right now. His mind was buzzing with so many thoughts, it was impossible to think of anything else.

[Metronome]

"We survived by not being fucking idiots, like waltzing up to wolves we don't know," Orren snarled in a harsh tone. This comment was direction at both the larger wolf and the female. However, the two had actually worked a bit harder to keep their cover. They had to give up their sense of pride and life like vermin. They avoided humans when they could. And, most of all, they took on human forms. Of course, with Zinzie getting himself high all the time, keeping that illusion wasn't always easy.

Zinzie looked back at the female, his eyes unfocused, and gave her just as goofy of an expression he'd given the black wolf. Orren on the other hand, only glanced back at her with a snarl. Clearly, the small grey wolf was not fond of visitors.

[Caylie Unicorn]

Styr ignored the volley of questions and studies the three before her, stretching once more she sits back and scratches behind her ear, flicking her ears forward she turns her blue and yellow eyes to the larger wolf across from her and other two "I stay in my wolf form and away from cities, first time in a city since I was a pup" she glances at the ground and lays casually on her side seeming friendly and carefree

[Gedanken]

Viktor's lips twitched, a snarl of his own rising in his throat. But he was quick to subdue it. He had an instant wariness for the Grey wolf. His companion though, seemed completely the opposite of his snarling and shouty companion. It was strange mixture of like and dislike that Viktor felt towards the two. Although, he didn't think he'd be staying too long, despite his curiosity. His eyes lingered on the female as she spoke. His ears twitched back in a show of surprise. Her first time in a city? Wasn't it Hell out in the wilderness beyond here?

"You'd best be careful here then," he said. "It's just as much a matter of survival here, as it must have been out there." He gestured with a flick of his tail, his illusion forgotten; the same as his cautious behavior. Beside the small aggressive one, Viktor felt almost safe amongst these strangers than he had in a long time. Although, it may have been due to his blood being the same as theirs. His head swivelled back to face the angry Grey. "As I mentioned before, I had no idea there were others beside myself." Again that same narrowed look came to his gaze. "I doubt curiosity could get me killed when it comes to speaking to possible brothers and sisters. Humans on the other paw..."