Edges of Insanity [OPEN]

[Reli Kain]

Once he'd joined her outside, Ryn seemed to get the hint that he was to lead the way from here. She followed him at an odd run (fast, but staying behind him), coming close to his heels. They turned down an alleyway, ending up facing the park's entrance. Reli followed back into the park. They crossed to the park, she figured this is where they'd go, but she'd let him take the lead just on the off chance he knew somewhere else - Or more likely I just don't care anymore. They walked into a more forested part of the park, Reli stared about her, trying to memorize where they were so she could still recall it weeks later. His voice broke her concentration.

"You first." Ryn stated. She looked at the side of his face and cocked her head to the side trying to decide if that was arguable. Deciding it wasn't, she shrugged and began to tug of her clothes. She pulled her both her hoodie and her shirt off in one lot, letting them sit in a bunch on the ground where they landed. Undoing her bra with one hand she attempted to undo her jeans with the other. This proved to be a horrible attempt, so after she'd shrugged her bra off she used both her hands to pull off her jeans. Landing on the ground with a 'fwoomp', she proceeded the task of striping herself of her shoes (made more difficult with her jeans around her ankles). Pulling the last of her garments off, kicking the pile so that her underwear actually had a chance of not being stolen by a homeless person, she looked at the sky out of habit and shifted.

The ground rose to her as she fell forward onto her hands - paws. She heard her bones creak, crunch and crack as they changed form. Her tendons snapped and fused, forming the appropriate muscles. Her spine slotted out extra pieces of bone, sliding out to form her tail, fur rushing to cover it. Tiny sounds of billions of hairs pushing their way out of Reli's skin, forming thick and thin fur in patches. Her jaw stretched with a grinding sound, teeth retracted into her gums and a wet shucking sound as her new ones were pushed out. Her nails sunk under her skin, changed compesition, and slid out again as claws. Finished, she opened her eyes, taking in the black and white world.

[ryn]

Ryn watched casually as she got undressed noting that underneath all those layers of clothing; She was actually rather cute. When she started to shift Ryn watched in awe. It had been over a century since the last time he'd seen someone shift. He couldn't watch himself shift after all. He had forgotten how painful it looked. It wasn't dissimilar to what one would see in a werewolf themed Hollywood production. Ryn's shift wasn't as brutal as this. Once she was completely shifted he smirked at her form. He preferred her naked human version of course. He picked up her clothing along with his own, and placed them safely under a thick brush. "I see, so its that kind of form....well then" He stated as he green eyes took on a very vibrant shade of green akin to neon. The first changes were subtle at first. His ears extended, and grew pointy. His teeth grew longer...sharper. His nose broadened and became more canine.

Ryn gritted his teeth as black/brown hairs began to sprout from his body. At the same time his skeletal structure began to change to accommodate his required form. He gripped his face as it stretched and extended into the neccesary form. His hands, and feet turned to paws as he leaned over on all fours. All the required changes took place in under 15 seconds. To Ryn however it always felt like a life time. Once the shift was a complete, several new scents hit him all at once. Only once interested him however. He shifted his gaze towards the one who had shifted just moments before him. She had a pleasant scent; one that he could not detect in his human form. Ryn just examined her for the moment, unmoving. Getting his information from scent. Finally he approached padding up to her silently. Ryn stopped right in front of her, sat on his haunches, and tilted his head eyes still on her in anticipation.

[Reli Kain]

With just her eyes she followed his movements, hiding their clothes together in what was probably meant to be a kind manner. His words confused her though, This kind of form? What other form is there? Unless... Oh. He was expecting a wolf. Of course. I've half a mind to bite his ear off. She hadn't thought about that, the main reason she'd been so upset was because of how wolves treated her form, and she hadn't even thought about what he - the wolf - would think of her form.

She had kept her eyes on him, otherwise she might've missed his shift. It was so quick - one moment his bipedal furless self was there, the next a larger than average wolf stood on all fours near her. It was times like this Reli wished she didn't have dichromatic vision, she had no idea what Ryn's pigmentation was. Then the wolf turned its gaze to her, unmoving for the moment. Then he padded over to her and sat back on his haunches, right in front of her. He tilted his head but kept his eyes trained on her.

It was only now that her body had the good presence of mind to tighten her muscles, tenseing all over, ready to bolt at a moments order. Staring the wolf down for a moment, her human memory kicked in and reminded her who she was facing. Settling on her haunches, still tense, she wrapped her tail about her frount paws protectively. In some corner of her mind, she knew the wolf in frount of her was Ryn, but the only message her brain seemed to be relaying was that the werewolf she was staring at wasn't her Uncle. Anyother werewolf was automatically bad news. She may have sat there like that all night, had an unlikely saviour not passed between their muzzles.

A butterfly fluttered by, right past Reli's nose. As it jerkily moved off, so did her gaze, before she pounced over at it flailing her forepaws in its direction. She bounded after the flying insect, temporarily forgetting her companion, spinning after it in circles. She finally landed on all fours, her head lowered to the ground, her behind raised and tail swishing, as her quarry got away.

[ryn]

The sudden motion caused Ryn to flatten his ears against his head, and bear his teeth for just a moment as he realized what was going on. He watched intently as she chased the butterfly forgetting completely about his existence. His muscles rippled in anticipation of joining the chase. He could barely contain himself. It was a good thing that he chose his full canine form. The bipedal version of his shift was not playful at all, but plenty violent. Ryn stood up and broke into a sprint. His muscles recoiled in a spring like effect propelling his form forward. His eyes locked on the insect. He leaped over Reli who seemed to have given up chase. He was several feet of the ground and closing in on the fluttering form. His pupils dilated and focused, as he opened his jaws. He had one the game. Ryn's jaws snapped shut, as he began to descend back to the ground landed a little less than gracefully.

Ryn licked his chops, and was surprised that he tasted , nor felt nothing wriggling in his mouth. He looked up and saw the butterfly fluttering past a high park light. So if had gotten away. Who cared anyway? That sort of prey was for lack of a better word useless. However the wolf inside of him was in a playful mood, so he all but let it take over. Ryn padded back over to Reli, and mimicked her stance. His tail twitched in the air as he watched her. Making a low whining sound; he dashes suddenly to the right for about two feet then took up the stance yet again. This time he yipped at her. He growled playfully, and nipped at one of her paws before breaking into a sprint into the trees.

[Reli Kain]

She twitched downwards, tensing lower to the ground in shock as the wolf - Ryn, Ryn! It's Ryn remember! - flew over her. She raised herself, dancing forward a few steps (almost running after him) before seeing how close he was to the insect. Seeing how much fun he seemed to be having, she let him have it. He disappeared behind a set of trees for a moment. But Reli heard the 'thump' as he landed from a pounce. As he padded back, she lowered her head, returning to her previous stance, watching as he returned, ready to play.

He copied her, flicking his tail and lowering his head, before he made a low sound and dashed away to the right, crouching again. She kept watching, interested in this mood-shift from his furless bipedal form. He yipped, seemingly inviting her to play, before growling in a manner that definatly said 'Come play'. He nipped her paw before sprinting away. The game is on!

She gave two quick yips and bolted after him, running at high speeds. A few meters away, she caught up so that they were running alternativly next to each other. She gave another playful bark next to his ear while they ran, and shot ahead for a moment. She circled around, running behind him, before finishing the circle and running ahead again. Scents filtered through her nose and some subconcious part of her brain searched for prey more substantial than the butterfly.

((Sorry for the long reply, Very suddenly I had some very full days, and no access to a computer.))

[ryn]

This was a rarely used for for Ryn. Usually when he shifted it was to his more monstrous bipedal form. This form was to fragile and frail for his liking, it was almost no different in hardiness than being human. Well if you didn't take into account his ability to rapid heal. Ryn kept his eyes locked on the fox losing sight of her on when she darted behind of him. She was fast, faster than him even. However that only made this more fun. He nipped playfully at her heels as they ran. Ryn could pick of the scents of several other creatures in the park. Very few actually had the scent of a human. He wasn't worried, or at least this form that he was in wasn't worried. It was too busy playing to care what was going on around it. It was easy for Ryn to keep his consciousness separated from this this form and simply watch. Occasionally he urged it to do specific things but overall he simply spectated. The other form he took was more intrusive. In fact he could feel it merging with his mind even in his human form. It was the thing that scared him the most. Losing his self of self, and becoming that which he was before. when there was no line drawn between Ryn the man, and Ryn the Monster.

[Reli Kain]

Reli barked in a happy, high pitched tone as her spurs where bit at. It was all part of the game. She bounded onto low hanging branches, down to the floor and almost seemed to walk on air with how much she jumped. She was so glad to be out here like this - he was letting her forget, letting her loose herself in a game. She was growing less and less privy to the idea of running away for a few days. How could I run when I'm having so much fun? She was having a great time, and with a werewolf no less! Perhaps she should try speak to him afterwards... If he was a wolf worth knowing, her father would surely be pleased that she'd befriended him... A vauge scent caught her nose (distracting her from her train of thought) and she ran sharply away for a moment, before the scent became boring and she shuffled back soon after. Running circles again, as she ran behind him once more she was struck by an idea. She ran behind, far from his tail, and took a running leap onto Ryn's back, planing to sink her claws in a little to get some grip.

[ryn]

((bah sorry got the net back Wednesday and been too busy to post till now))

The weight of her landing on Ryn's back caught him by surprise. He wheeled suddenly to shake her off but her claws caused him some discomfort so he stopped moving, and titled his head so he could see her. He didn't try to talk to her telepathically. He wasn't exactly how the whole mind talk thing actually worked. Instead he showed his teeth growling low, and long at her. Her weight was nothing to him it was just the fact that she was on his back at all bothered him. Ryn subconsciously kept his wolf side calm. Perhaps this was just the way she was used to playing. It was probably the case; she did seem like the type to play odd games. Chasing, nipping, and yipping were about the extent of Ryn's playing abilities. He gnashed his teeth in frustration, his fur bristling and tail sticking straight out. Ryn was starting to have a hard time keeping himself calm.

[Reli Kain]

((No worries.))

At first, the game seemed like such fun. Reli had managed to land on his back and had sunk her claws in just in time not to be thrown off as he wheeled around. He suddenly stopped moving and turned to look at her. She gave a typical grin, but wasn't met with the same enthusiasm. Ryn bared his teeth to her grin. Uh-oh. Her playmate didn't seem to like her game. It wasn't any one thing that tipped her off, but the combination of the long, low growl and his fur and tail bristling that told her that this game was over. Whimpering in submission (and in mourning for her game) she retracted her claws and rolled off of his back. She lay on her own back, bareing her stomach in submission. But the show of submission wasn't overly believable, her tail still swished on the ground in an almost ferocious manner, getting dirt and sticks and leaves stuck in her fur. Submission had always been hard for Reli - she'd only managed to submit properly to her father - not because she was aggressive or stubborn but simply because everything was a game to her. Even submitting. Even now, on her back, she had an idea forming, trying to figure out how she'd have to move to nip at his nose when he accepted her. Not an appropriate response, but something typical of Reli.

[ryn]

His aggressive display did the job of getting her off of Ryn's back. He watched as she lay there in submission. He had never seen this kind of behavior before, but he recognized the gesture based on pure instinct. Ryn shook a bit to fix the fur that had been moved out of place by her claws. He sniffed the air curiously wanting to find the source of many of these scents. Ryn turned his attention back to the girl turned fox, and made his way over to her. He lowered his ears and, sniffed her curiously before nudging her gently with his nose. Ryn's ears shot up as a sound in the trees caught his attention. He raised his head and gazed into the darkness his green orbs making the darkness seem as if the sun were shining to him. He spotted the source of the sound about 40 yards away. A rather large rabbit was foraging through the brush. Ryn's mode suddenly shifted as he went from playing to hunting in a second flat. He bound gracefully over Reli, and began to silently pad his way into the tree's stalking his prey.

[Reli Kain]

((I took a bit of license with your actions, hope you don't mind))

She lay there on her back for awhile, waiting as he sniffed and otherwise seemed to stall. He finally trotted over and accepted her, but before she could try bite at his nose his ears shot up and his jaw stiffened. She instinctivly unrelaxed her muscles, her ears twitching in the same direction. She'd heard it too. Smaller than a badger, larger than a city rat. In seconds he had jumped over her form and was silently stalking the rabbit-prey. She herself jumped to her feet and circled around the trees, planning on meeting the rabbit from the oppesite direction to Ryn. Oh such fun! Hunting~ hunting~ going a hunting~! Even though it was a game, she knew to keep her paws moving lightly. The game was for fun, but to get maximum fun she'd have to try win this game. But she only had to try; If she messed up the stalk she was sure Ryn would be angry with her. 10 feet away now, more or less. Her grey eyes took on an iradescent shine in the moonlight as she sought out the first glimpse of the prey.

[ryn]

Ryn paused at the edge of the trees and lowered his nose to the ground. He couldn't see the rabbit anymore but he could still hear, and smell it. He caught a glimpse of Reli circling around to the other side of the trees. He noted her position, and waited. He was sure that Reli would be spotted by the rabbit before she spotted it. If that was the case it would try to make a run for it revealing itself once more to Ryn. His ears twitched picking up even the slightest of sounds as he peered into the brush. Reli was faster and more agile than him in that sort of terrain, but if the rabbit left the forest he'd have the advantage and be able to catch it with relative ease. The muscles in his limbs tightened in anticipation. Ready to propel his form forward in an instant to take down this prey. Then he would feast on it, he'd even allow her to eat it with him. Ryn's tongue flopped out of his mouth at the thought as he waited patiently.

[Reli Kain]

She circled further, keeping her paws soft on the ground, taking advantage of her longer paw-fur to muffle her steps. She spotted it. The brown rabbit, huddleing under a bush. Damn. If it was under a bush she didn't think she'd be able to pounce on it straight off. She have to scare it out, maybe in Ryn's direction. She stalked as close to the rabbit as she dared before she let out a loud bark. It sufficiently scared the rabbit, who turned it fluffed tail and ran. Instinct taking over, Reli launched her self off of her haunches and bolted after the rabbit, closing in over a short distance. Run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run... The rabbit ran well, but not overly fast. It would make a lovely supper. She would love to eat rabbit again - they were so hard to catch, especially without a pack to help. She tried anchor herself back in the chase and away from her rabbit munching daydreams.

[ryn]

The sudden burst of motion spurned Ryn to move as well. Running just outside the treeline he kept his eyes on his quarry as it fled from the fox oblivious to the wolf that followed nearby. Ryn turned sharply and shot into thee trees at high speed. He was gonna try to funnel the rabbit out into open where it would be easier to catch. It was too agile to bring down in the tree's Once it was in the open it would benefit less from it's ability to rabidly change course direction. Ryn nipped at it's heels casing it to do just like he intended and turn for the open. Ryn turned sharply in an attempt to follow and almost slid into a tree. He got his bearings and located the rabbit before resuming chase. He had long lost site of Reli. His wolf side may have even forgotten about her during the thrill of the hunt. Once Ryn passed the tree line; he instantly began to pick up speed. There were no obstructions to beware of out here. There was only him and the prey that he followed.

[Reli Kain]

A large creature shot out from the treeline, right on the rabbits trail. After the seconds it took Reli to realise it was Ryn, she veered off to the side concentrating on using her speed to get ahead of the hunter and hunted. Reli kept her ears pricked, listening to what was happing behind her. The rabbit was suddenly running in a totally different direction, but Reli swiftly accomedated for this change loosing hardly any momentum as she turned. She caught sight of the rabbit again and only then realised where it was headed - for the open. She'd loose it in the open, she was sure of that. She put in an extra boost of speed, trying to reach the rabbit before it reached the edge of the trees. The rabbit passed the tree line half a meter before Reli's snout did. She slowed her pace outside of the tress, conserving energy, just watching the rabbit no longer atcually chasing it. She saw Ryn shot out of the trees not far from her and as he gained speed over the flat land she realised why the rabbit had come out here; Ryn must've realised he had a better chance of catching it in the open than in the bush. She ran at a slowed pace behind Ryn, knowing that she couldn't gain on them but not willing to loose sight of the wolf.