Post by Eliora on Aug 28, 2022 18:47:44 GMT -5
(Thea and Voss; anyone else wanna join just let me know)
It’s been about ten years now since the initial outbreak that destroyed the world. In the beginning, it was a time filled with chaos as the world literally went up in flames. The world had become disrupted as Rabsorosis spread after its release from Dr. Rutherford’s research lab. They put up a valiant struggle enforcing social distancing, mandatory vaccinations with boosters, etc. In the end the struggle of trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy as everything around them fell plunged them further into the dark ages.
After about two years of the initial outbreak, the World Governments started to fall one by one under the weight of struggling infrastructure and continuous civil unrest. The remaining populace would fight tooth and nail trying to obtain dwindling resources. Societies and territories were built and destroyed as time moved on. The earth itself seemed as unstable as the civilizations that resided on it. It was as if it were trying to cleanse itself of what ailed it as natural disasters occurred worldwide. Making the struggle for survival even more fierce.
The disease affected people differently, no two symptoms were the same and those who managed to survive were not unscathed. There was a ‘Time of Slumber’ where all life seemed to be paused on earth. It was almost instinctual for those infected to seek safe shelter, wherever that may be, for the long slumber. Like a caterpillar going into its cocoon or a bear going into hibernation. This lasted for at least two years, though some stayed in slumber longer than others but eventually they all reawakened. It had allowed the Earth a time of peace as it started to heal. During that time the disease became watered down and soon died out but its mark on the world was permanent.
During the Reawakening Period, or rather as a symptom of it, no one could remember their lives before the Time of Slumber. They had no recollection of familial ties or communal connections. Everyday they were discovering things about themselves and the world they were living in. communities and territories were once again formed and governing systems were created to maintain balance. Those of a like mind congregated together, while others did not. Naturally, this brought about clashes of many sorts which brings the world to its current state as it was still recovering from its previous devastation.
~*~
The night was young as the moon and stars shone brightly in the sky acting as guiding lights for those who travelled across the way. The buildings were empty skeletons of their former selves. Out in the street, a small group of infected called the Wanderers, were traveling down the decrepit deserted streets of Moncrief on the Northside. The nearby stores and houses had been reclaimed by nature as well as a good portion of the streets. The reflections of the moon and periodic fires danced merrily in the night It was truly beautiful, though the group had no time to take in the sights.
After all the chaos, the remaining populace managed to gain some semblance of civilization. There were territories and tribes, safe neutral and danger zones, etc. A trade system had been set up as well which went a long way to helping maintain balance, though there were often skirmishes for territory and power as well as to settle disputes. The territory they were currently walking through belonged to a shifter hybrid. She was nice enough though she didn’t like being crossed and tended to get violent.
She was one of the nine communal leaders and is very territorial. The only way to move through there was with her permission. The small group was being tracked and they were ok with that. They were only passing through to get to their home camp. They had injured members and posed no threat to their people or territory. Theirs was a nomadic group always traveling peacefully on the outskirts of the other territories. Although they strive to be peaceful, many equated peace with weakness, which in turned always found them in one dispute or another.
In the middle of the group was an enormous golden lion with a black and gold mane framing its head as its sharp cognac eyes golden eyes pierced the darkness allowing him to lead his group home. He was the leader of the small group, and he was pissed. He had maintained pretty good relations with the nine communal leaders though they told him that he and his group would need to handle the different tribal territories on his own. He had been assured that they wouldn’t interfere if he didn’t cause too much commotion in their territory. The whole reason he’d gone to the communal leaders was to ask them to step in to lower the number of attacks that they were experiencing after a run in with a group that wanted their females to gain passage.
He wasn’t happy in the least for their bullshit response. Just remembering it fueled his anger again. It never fails, when there was a power change in the territories, the new leaders seemed to have made it some sort of right of passage to attack them to show their strength. Unfortunately, it was dog eat dog out there, quite literally sometimes. He felt they had as much right to a safe space as anyone else. He’d been invited to join the tribes of different leaders but remained neutral and hadn’t joined anyone. He’d wanted to create a safe space for them though as it turned out their living situation was anything but safe, though he would continue to try and find that safe place for them.
On his back was a young woman lay fast asleep in a light gown as her thick curly hair covered her face. She was special and most times she was the very reason for the fighting they dealt with. The young woman on his back began to stir causing the lion to look over his shoulder. “Manny are we home yet?” she whimpered.
The lion chuffed softly and gave a low growl for a long moment. He’d learned that this calmed her when she began to fret. He chuffed for her again before shifting to his tall muscular human form. His black and golden mane flowed down his shoulders and back “My fair Poison Queen, we are almost there.” He said as he brought her around to his chest, holding her up with one arm. She was much smaller compared to him. For some reason he didn’t hold any romantic feelings towards her, despite her extraordinary beauty. All he ever felt for her was a brotherly love and affection. He was the only one that they knew of that could withstand her poison she was so self-conscious about.
She giggled softly and snuggled into his neck. “Don’t call me that. Its embarrassing.” She said with a blush. She didn’t seem too bothered by his nakedness. He chuckled as he adjusted her high in his arms. He could hear the chuckles from their clan members as they all continued to make their way to their camp. “Silly lizard, its supposed to be empowering.” He chuckled. “Aint that right you guys?” he called out and the others wholeheartedly agreed.
“Yeah, Mikka!”
“Own your greatness!”
“Own your power!” they exclaimed trying to cheer her up.
She’d cried herself to sleep after their run in with the clan in Durkeeville because they wouldn’t give them their females. It was getting harder and harder to keep Mikka out of the wrong hands. They would abuse her abilities and she was too sensitive for that. They discovered she had a peculiar relationship with poison, she could metabolize and exude it. No one could touch or be around her without being poisoned. It got even worse when she was afraid. Many had died trying to get close to her, all except Manny. As a result, she stuck close to him, never leaving his side. As time passed, they found that others could come withing a certain proximity to her without being affected by her poison the more comfortable she was.
“Will they be, okay?” she said looking over his shoulder at their clan members who were bandaged and limping though they gave her a big smile when they saw her looking their way.
“We are fine Mikka. Don’t worry.” An older woman said in a motherly voice as she tried to put Mikka’s worries to rest. “When we get back, I’ll make your favorite.” She said with a smile and Mikka lit up like the very stars themselves.
“Yay! Thank you, Big Mama!” she said and wanted to hug the woman but knew she would never be able to.
Manny cleared his throat and shifted her on his shoulder. “Alright calm down, we are almost home. We only have a few miles left to go. So come on and get comfortable so we can cover it quickly.”
“Ok.” Mikka said and held on tight through Manny’s shift as she climbed to his back then relaxed once more and played in his mane, absently braiding it in random spots. She couldn’t wait to go home where she knew everyone would be safe and the injured could get treated. She always got anxious when they were away for too long. Although they left some fighters, there was always the chance of someone attacking the tribe while they were gone. She laid back down on Manny’s back and hummed a melody as she watched the stars, thinking back to the time of awakening and the disaster that had caused for those around her, all except for one Manny, to be unable to get close to her. He was the only light to the endless dark tunnel.
~*~
Stretched out lazily across some bedding on the roof of a decrepit building looking up at the stars, sat a partially shifted fox woman with a large harpy eagle in her lap. It looked like it used to be some sort of resort office building in the past, before the ‘Time of slumber’. Sadly, it didn’t seem as though anyone could remember much about what caused everything to look like it was abandoned. “This is so beautiful. I’m so happy to be able to see this sight every night. And it never gets boring.” She said with a chuckle.
All she wore was a yellow sundress and no shoes, as her hair fell in thick curls down her back, preferring to feel the earth beneath her feet. “The ocean is like a lullaby. The sound of the waves crashing could easily lull someone to sleep. Don’t you think so, Harpy?” she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to the bird’s feathers. The bird made a soft noise as if in agreement.
“We must go fishing tomorrow. Maybe we’ll come across some pretty seashells we can trade.” The young woman said with a smile and picked the eagle up only to sit it down beside her so she could lay down snuggly on her pallet. It sat in a corner and faced the ocean. “Hey, so you think the leader will let me visit the library?” she waited for an answer she knew she wouldn’t receive. “I hope so. I don’t understand why they keep them locked up so tight. Well, no worries. Adventures come upon the rising sun right Harpy?”
The large eagle made a soft noise and ruffled its feathers as it walked closer her and laid down comfortably against her. The woman chuckled softly and curled around the eagle as she fell asleep. Dreaming about what tomorrow will bring.
~*~
A tall woman in a torn black dress paced in irritation inside the shelter she claimed as her own. Her long white hair was braided up in plaits swaying lazily with each step. She liked the Wanderers and felt that they contributed to the spreading of communication and goods when those territorial idiots were too far up their own asses to appreciate. They were like pollinator bees, when kept the colony feed by helping flowers reproduce. Seeing as how she saw herself as a bit of a Queen Bee, she could appreciate what they did for the communities and felt they should be given more protection than was provided. She said as much at the communal meeting, and it almost ended up in a turf war between Northside and Westside.
The asshole that rules over the Westside territories was an arrogant brute whose answer was always bloodshed and violence to solve any issues that arose in his territory. It was, once again, his territory that the meeting was called on. He used the Wanderers as part of a coming-of-age ceremony that he did collectively in his territory. They had to successfully obtain a female from the Wanderers. Although the Wanderers preferred peace, they were fierce fighters and wouldn’t stop fighting unless their opponent lay dead at their feet.
“Sianna”, someone called to get their leader’s attention and she growled low. “Don’t call me that. I’ve told you all once before to call me Sia. Sianna just rubs me the wrong way,” she said with a feigned shudder.
“Oh, uhm…” the man standing before her looked so put out and confused she nearly laughed at him. “What was it you came in here for?” she asked as she sat on a stool. It was part of a handmade set that was gifted to her from one her clans.
“I just wanted to let you know that the Wanderers have made it safely out of our territory and to the boarder zone where their current camp is set up.
“Any sign of the Reaper?” she asked, worried that the crazy maniac would attack the group. Since they were no longer in her territory, she could no longer give them aid. It was frustrating that they didn’t want to join any of the major territories, it’d make things so much easier on them. She respected their reason for not wanting to, but she couldn’t say she understood it at all.
“No ma’am.” The man answered and hesitated before speaking again. “I have been really curious about something for a long time.” Sia waved for him to continue as she crossed her legs. “I hear a lot of people talking about the reaper but have never seen it. Does it only attack the clans and territories? Also, how is it that the Wanderers can walk around outside of the territories freely as if they had no care in the world?”
“Those are valid questions, and I would be lying if I said I knew. Some say the Wanderers is a clan that belongs to the Reaper, which would explain why they can freely travel the borderlands with no worries. Some say that they made a deal with the Reaper, offering it souls for free passage. That one would kinda explain why the always kill their opponents, though to be fair for them its kill or be killed.” She said with a shrug before bouncing to her feet. “There could be a shit ton of reasons as to why they may be connected to the Reaper. It’s all just speculation, no one really knows aside from the Wanderers and the Reaper.”
Sia walked over to the male and gently ran a claw against his skin as she slowly walked around him. She’d wanted to taste more of his scent, his essence, and by the change of said scent he quite enjoyed her being so close. “If they had some connection with the Reaper, do you really think they would have come to the Communal Leaders for help?” She asked rhetorically. Her words seemed to wrap around him with each step and soon his eyes clouded over.
She had drawn a little blood from him and brought it to her tongue. “Sweet.” She hissed and smiled as she ran her hands up his abdomen to shoulders before cupping his face. He was a neophyte member, one of many, who were awaiting entry into one of the clans. By the marking under his jaw, she knew he’d been claimed by the Head of Oceanway. “Such a lucky boy, you’re going to a good home.” She purred and pulled him in for a kiss.
She’d bit her lip and drew blood and did the same to him, marking him as one of their own. Her blood created a connection that she could tap into if needed or wanted. She did this with all who lived with her territory. Those under her were all welcome to do their own personal trading or whatever they needed in the Gateway center where they traded among themselves, whereas the Norwood Flea market is where she allowed Outside trading. This lovely gentleman came from the latter.
After her awakening she’d discovered this strange ability by accident after fighting for food with a male in her waking area. He’d Managed to pin her down and it aroused her. Her pheromones filled the immediate area and disarmed him, but they were already so wrapped up in each other’s arms. After they’d had sex, she found that she could control him to a certain extent, or rather he would obey her orders. She could ask or request something of him and he could refuse, but her orders were obeyed. Her blood would even call them to her if she were in trouble and would, even to the death to protect her. She found that to be wild and mind blowing.
That had only happened once as the territories were being established and she was adding new people. The asshole Tony who reigned over the Westside territory, tried to bulldoze his way in and they fought tooth and nail. He was met with a force that she herself had been unaware of at the rime but was very grateful for. As he’d limped away, he’d called her soft and proclaimed to come back to take her territory because a woman had no business trying run anything other that her mouth. He’d said that the territory will fall from implosion.
Shaking off the rants of a pissed off beast, she returned to the task at hand. When she saw that the wounds on them both had healed and she could feel the connection to him, she patted his cheek and called for his clan leader to come and take him home. She does at least five a day and he was her last. When he’d gone, she walked into her room and found her first member waiting for her naked. He was a large leopard shifter with piercing golden eyes as he tracked her. He calmly walked over to her and swept her into his arms as he carried her over to their shared bed. “Come. Sleep. We check clans tomorrow.” He said in broken English as he held her until they fell asleep.
~*~
Running along the Shadows, a Gigantic bicolored black and white wolf with Violet eyes traveled freely through the territories. She’d been known as some sort of boogeyman among the communities, which her late-night snacks didn’t help with. She cleaned the mess left during the day, in way of the dead. She would consume the fallen in all manner of speaking. When the moon was at its peak, she roamed free. Those who were lucky, or unlucky depending on their interactions, enough to meet her always pissed themselves. It was disgusting but they were the ones who were spreading the whole “boogeyman” thing. They would even leave people tied out for her to take. depending on the path of their souls she would simply move them to a better fitting territory.
She wasn’t as bad as they made her out to be, but she was no angel. She was still trying to figure out how to deal with her ability and wondered if she was a wolf with a human conscience or a human stuck in a wolf’s body. It was a confusion she battled with ever since she awakened. Her awakening was a pure nightmare fuel. Unable to differentiate between the living and the dead yet being able to interact with both. The wolf shook her head and happily trotted through the streets, playing with those who enjoyed the night as much as she did.
She didn’t feel she fit in with any of the others that staked claim to these places. They seemed so small compared to her. She leapt onto a nearby building laughing mischievously as she heard the screams of those within. At full speed she ran over bridges, down expressways, and jumped into the St. John’s River for a nice swim. Swimming with manatees and dolphins was an experience that she really enjoyed. Standing in the middle of the green bridge she lifted her head and gave a big, long howl at the beautiful moon in the middle of Main Street bridge, enjoying the way it carried on the decrepit buildings.
She spent the night traipsing wherever she wished enjoying the freedom that came from those who didn’t know better. When she felt the darkness within her stir, she knew that she needed to get back to the Borderlands. She followed a clan known as the Wanderers. They had no ill will towards anyone but always seemed to be in the middle of constant conflict. They helped to calm her darkness after her travel through the clans riled it up. It was almost as if she were soaking up the clan’s negative energies and threw her entire system out of balance.
She felt like it was a part of herself that she needed to embrace but frankly she was afraid to. She was already alone. She didn’t need anything to make it worse. She stuck to the shadows as she seemed to fly through the territories to get to the Borderlands. She saw the encampment and inwardly smiled as she smelled the delicious food and heard the merriment they were enjoying. It calmed her. Being sure to keep the black side of her pelt to them she did a patrol walk of their encampment to make sure they were safe before laying atop an empty building to watch over them.
It’s been about ten years now since the initial outbreak that destroyed the world. In the beginning, it was a time filled with chaos as the world literally went up in flames. The world had become disrupted as Rabsorosis spread after its release from Dr. Rutherford’s research lab. They put up a valiant struggle enforcing social distancing, mandatory vaccinations with boosters, etc. In the end the struggle of trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy as everything around them fell plunged them further into the dark ages.
After about two years of the initial outbreak, the World Governments started to fall one by one under the weight of struggling infrastructure and continuous civil unrest. The remaining populace would fight tooth and nail trying to obtain dwindling resources. Societies and territories were built and destroyed as time moved on. The earth itself seemed as unstable as the civilizations that resided on it. It was as if it were trying to cleanse itself of what ailed it as natural disasters occurred worldwide. Making the struggle for survival even more fierce.
The disease affected people differently, no two symptoms were the same and those who managed to survive were not unscathed. There was a ‘Time of Slumber’ where all life seemed to be paused on earth. It was almost instinctual for those infected to seek safe shelter, wherever that may be, for the long slumber. Like a caterpillar going into its cocoon or a bear going into hibernation. This lasted for at least two years, though some stayed in slumber longer than others but eventually they all reawakened. It had allowed the Earth a time of peace as it started to heal. During that time the disease became watered down and soon died out but its mark on the world was permanent.
During the Reawakening Period, or rather as a symptom of it, no one could remember their lives before the Time of Slumber. They had no recollection of familial ties or communal connections. Everyday they were discovering things about themselves and the world they were living in. communities and territories were once again formed and governing systems were created to maintain balance. Those of a like mind congregated together, while others did not. Naturally, this brought about clashes of many sorts which brings the world to its current state as it was still recovering from its previous devastation.
~*~
The night was young as the moon and stars shone brightly in the sky acting as guiding lights for those who travelled across the way. The buildings were empty skeletons of their former selves. Out in the street, a small group of infected called the Wanderers, were traveling down the decrepit deserted streets of Moncrief on the Northside. The nearby stores and houses had been reclaimed by nature as well as a good portion of the streets. The reflections of the moon and periodic fires danced merrily in the night It was truly beautiful, though the group had no time to take in the sights.
After all the chaos, the remaining populace managed to gain some semblance of civilization. There were territories and tribes, safe neutral and danger zones, etc. A trade system had been set up as well which went a long way to helping maintain balance, though there were often skirmishes for territory and power as well as to settle disputes. The territory they were currently walking through belonged to a shifter hybrid. She was nice enough though she didn’t like being crossed and tended to get violent.
She was one of the nine communal leaders and is very territorial. The only way to move through there was with her permission. The small group was being tracked and they were ok with that. They were only passing through to get to their home camp. They had injured members and posed no threat to their people or territory. Theirs was a nomadic group always traveling peacefully on the outskirts of the other territories. Although they strive to be peaceful, many equated peace with weakness, which in turned always found them in one dispute or another.
In the middle of the group was an enormous golden lion with a black and gold mane framing its head as its sharp cognac eyes golden eyes pierced the darkness allowing him to lead his group home. He was the leader of the small group, and he was pissed. He had maintained pretty good relations with the nine communal leaders though they told him that he and his group would need to handle the different tribal territories on his own. He had been assured that they wouldn’t interfere if he didn’t cause too much commotion in their territory. The whole reason he’d gone to the communal leaders was to ask them to step in to lower the number of attacks that they were experiencing after a run in with a group that wanted their females to gain passage.
He wasn’t happy in the least for their bullshit response. Just remembering it fueled his anger again. It never fails, when there was a power change in the territories, the new leaders seemed to have made it some sort of right of passage to attack them to show their strength. Unfortunately, it was dog eat dog out there, quite literally sometimes. He felt they had as much right to a safe space as anyone else. He’d been invited to join the tribes of different leaders but remained neutral and hadn’t joined anyone. He’d wanted to create a safe space for them though as it turned out their living situation was anything but safe, though he would continue to try and find that safe place for them.
On his back was a young woman lay fast asleep in a light gown as her thick curly hair covered her face. She was special and most times she was the very reason for the fighting they dealt with. The young woman on his back began to stir causing the lion to look over his shoulder. “Manny are we home yet?” she whimpered.
The lion chuffed softly and gave a low growl for a long moment. He’d learned that this calmed her when she began to fret. He chuffed for her again before shifting to his tall muscular human form. His black and golden mane flowed down his shoulders and back “My fair Poison Queen, we are almost there.” He said as he brought her around to his chest, holding her up with one arm. She was much smaller compared to him. For some reason he didn’t hold any romantic feelings towards her, despite her extraordinary beauty. All he ever felt for her was a brotherly love and affection. He was the only one that they knew of that could withstand her poison she was so self-conscious about.
She giggled softly and snuggled into his neck. “Don’t call me that. Its embarrassing.” She said with a blush. She didn’t seem too bothered by his nakedness. He chuckled as he adjusted her high in his arms. He could hear the chuckles from their clan members as they all continued to make their way to their camp. “Silly lizard, its supposed to be empowering.” He chuckled. “Aint that right you guys?” he called out and the others wholeheartedly agreed.
“Yeah, Mikka!”
“Own your greatness!”
“Own your power!” they exclaimed trying to cheer her up.
She’d cried herself to sleep after their run in with the clan in Durkeeville because they wouldn’t give them their females. It was getting harder and harder to keep Mikka out of the wrong hands. They would abuse her abilities and she was too sensitive for that. They discovered she had a peculiar relationship with poison, she could metabolize and exude it. No one could touch or be around her without being poisoned. It got even worse when she was afraid. Many had died trying to get close to her, all except Manny. As a result, she stuck close to him, never leaving his side. As time passed, they found that others could come withing a certain proximity to her without being affected by her poison the more comfortable she was.
“Will they be, okay?” she said looking over his shoulder at their clan members who were bandaged and limping though they gave her a big smile when they saw her looking their way.
“We are fine Mikka. Don’t worry.” An older woman said in a motherly voice as she tried to put Mikka’s worries to rest. “When we get back, I’ll make your favorite.” She said with a smile and Mikka lit up like the very stars themselves.
“Yay! Thank you, Big Mama!” she said and wanted to hug the woman but knew she would never be able to.
Manny cleared his throat and shifted her on his shoulder. “Alright calm down, we are almost home. We only have a few miles left to go. So come on and get comfortable so we can cover it quickly.”
“Ok.” Mikka said and held on tight through Manny’s shift as she climbed to his back then relaxed once more and played in his mane, absently braiding it in random spots. She couldn’t wait to go home where she knew everyone would be safe and the injured could get treated. She always got anxious when they were away for too long. Although they left some fighters, there was always the chance of someone attacking the tribe while they were gone. She laid back down on Manny’s back and hummed a melody as she watched the stars, thinking back to the time of awakening and the disaster that had caused for those around her, all except for one Manny, to be unable to get close to her. He was the only light to the endless dark tunnel.
~*~
Stretched out lazily across some bedding on the roof of a decrepit building looking up at the stars, sat a partially shifted fox woman with a large harpy eagle in her lap. It looked like it used to be some sort of resort office building in the past, before the ‘Time of slumber’. Sadly, it didn’t seem as though anyone could remember much about what caused everything to look like it was abandoned. “This is so beautiful. I’m so happy to be able to see this sight every night. And it never gets boring.” She said with a chuckle.
All she wore was a yellow sundress and no shoes, as her hair fell in thick curls down her back, preferring to feel the earth beneath her feet. “The ocean is like a lullaby. The sound of the waves crashing could easily lull someone to sleep. Don’t you think so, Harpy?” she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to the bird’s feathers. The bird made a soft noise as if in agreement.
“We must go fishing tomorrow. Maybe we’ll come across some pretty seashells we can trade.” The young woman said with a smile and picked the eagle up only to sit it down beside her so she could lay down snuggly on her pallet. It sat in a corner and faced the ocean. “Hey, so you think the leader will let me visit the library?” she waited for an answer she knew she wouldn’t receive. “I hope so. I don’t understand why they keep them locked up so tight. Well, no worries. Adventures come upon the rising sun right Harpy?”
The large eagle made a soft noise and ruffled its feathers as it walked closer her and laid down comfortably against her. The woman chuckled softly and curled around the eagle as she fell asleep. Dreaming about what tomorrow will bring.
~*~
A tall woman in a torn black dress paced in irritation inside the shelter she claimed as her own. Her long white hair was braided up in plaits swaying lazily with each step. She liked the Wanderers and felt that they contributed to the spreading of communication and goods when those territorial idiots were too far up their own asses to appreciate. They were like pollinator bees, when kept the colony feed by helping flowers reproduce. Seeing as how she saw herself as a bit of a Queen Bee, she could appreciate what they did for the communities and felt they should be given more protection than was provided. She said as much at the communal meeting, and it almost ended up in a turf war between Northside and Westside.
The asshole that rules over the Westside territories was an arrogant brute whose answer was always bloodshed and violence to solve any issues that arose in his territory. It was, once again, his territory that the meeting was called on. He used the Wanderers as part of a coming-of-age ceremony that he did collectively in his territory. They had to successfully obtain a female from the Wanderers. Although the Wanderers preferred peace, they were fierce fighters and wouldn’t stop fighting unless their opponent lay dead at their feet.
“Sianna”, someone called to get their leader’s attention and she growled low. “Don’t call me that. I’ve told you all once before to call me Sia. Sianna just rubs me the wrong way,” she said with a feigned shudder.
“Oh, uhm…” the man standing before her looked so put out and confused she nearly laughed at him. “What was it you came in here for?” she asked as she sat on a stool. It was part of a handmade set that was gifted to her from one her clans.
“I just wanted to let you know that the Wanderers have made it safely out of our territory and to the boarder zone where their current camp is set up.
“Any sign of the Reaper?” she asked, worried that the crazy maniac would attack the group. Since they were no longer in her territory, she could no longer give them aid. It was frustrating that they didn’t want to join any of the major territories, it’d make things so much easier on them. She respected their reason for not wanting to, but she couldn’t say she understood it at all.
“No ma’am.” The man answered and hesitated before speaking again. “I have been really curious about something for a long time.” Sia waved for him to continue as she crossed her legs. “I hear a lot of people talking about the reaper but have never seen it. Does it only attack the clans and territories? Also, how is it that the Wanderers can walk around outside of the territories freely as if they had no care in the world?”
“Those are valid questions, and I would be lying if I said I knew. Some say the Wanderers is a clan that belongs to the Reaper, which would explain why they can freely travel the borderlands with no worries. Some say that they made a deal with the Reaper, offering it souls for free passage. That one would kinda explain why the always kill their opponents, though to be fair for them its kill or be killed.” She said with a shrug before bouncing to her feet. “There could be a shit ton of reasons as to why they may be connected to the Reaper. It’s all just speculation, no one really knows aside from the Wanderers and the Reaper.”
Sia walked over to the male and gently ran a claw against his skin as she slowly walked around him. She’d wanted to taste more of his scent, his essence, and by the change of said scent he quite enjoyed her being so close. “If they had some connection with the Reaper, do you really think they would have come to the Communal Leaders for help?” She asked rhetorically. Her words seemed to wrap around him with each step and soon his eyes clouded over.
She had drawn a little blood from him and brought it to her tongue. “Sweet.” She hissed and smiled as she ran her hands up his abdomen to shoulders before cupping his face. He was a neophyte member, one of many, who were awaiting entry into one of the clans. By the marking under his jaw, she knew he’d been claimed by the Head of Oceanway. “Such a lucky boy, you’re going to a good home.” She purred and pulled him in for a kiss.
She’d bit her lip and drew blood and did the same to him, marking him as one of their own. Her blood created a connection that she could tap into if needed or wanted. She did this with all who lived with her territory. Those under her were all welcome to do their own personal trading or whatever they needed in the Gateway center where they traded among themselves, whereas the Norwood Flea market is where she allowed Outside trading. This lovely gentleman came from the latter.
After her awakening she’d discovered this strange ability by accident after fighting for food with a male in her waking area. He’d Managed to pin her down and it aroused her. Her pheromones filled the immediate area and disarmed him, but they were already so wrapped up in each other’s arms. After they’d had sex, she found that she could control him to a certain extent, or rather he would obey her orders. She could ask or request something of him and he could refuse, but her orders were obeyed. Her blood would even call them to her if she were in trouble and would, even to the death to protect her. She found that to be wild and mind blowing.
That had only happened once as the territories were being established and she was adding new people. The asshole Tony who reigned over the Westside territory, tried to bulldoze his way in and they fought tooth and nail. He was met with a force that she herself had been unaware of at the rime but was very grateful for. As he’d limped away, he’d called her soft and proclaimed to come back to take her territory because a woman had no business trying run anything other that her mouth. He’d said that the territory will fall from implosion.
Shaking off the rants of a pissed off beast, she returned to the task at hand. When she saw that the wounds on them both had healed and she could feel the connection to him, she patted his cheek and called for his clan leader to come and take him home. She does at least five a day and he was her last. When he’d gone, she walked into her room and found her first member waiting for her naked. He was a large leopard shifter with piercing golden eyes as he tracked her. He calmly walked over to her and swept her into his arms as he carried her over to their shared bed. “Come. Sleep. We check clans tomorrow.” He said in broken English as he held her until they fell asleep.
~*~
Running along the Shadows, a Gigantic bicolored black and white wolf with Violet eyes traveled freely through the territories. She’d been known as some sort of boogeyman among the communities, which her late-night snacks didn’t help with. She cleaned the mess left during the day, in way of the dead. She would consume the fallen in all manner of speaking. When the moon was at its peak, she roamed free. Those who were lucky, or unlucky depending on their interactions, enough to meet her always pissed themselves. It was disgusting but they were the ones who were spreading the whole “boogeyman” thing. They would even leave people tied out for her to take. depending on the path of their souls she would simply move them to a better fitting territory.
She wasn’t as bad as they made her out to be, but she was no angel. She was still trying to figure out how to deal with her ability and wondered if she was a wolf with a human conscience or a human stuck in a wolf’s body. It was a confusion she battled with ever since she awakened. Her awakening was a pure nightmare fuel. Unable to differentiate between the living and the dead yet being able to interact with both. The wolf shook her head and happily trotted through the streets, playing with those who enjoyed the night as much as she did.
She didn’t feel she fit in with any of the others that staked claim to these places. They seemed so small compared to her. She leapt onto a nearby building laughing mischievously as she heard the screams of those within. At full speed she ran over bridges, down expressways, and jumped into the St. John’s River for a nice swim. Swimming with manatees and dolphins was an experience that she really enjoyed. Standing in the middle of the green bridge she lifted her head and gave a big, long howl at the beautiful moon in the middle of Main Street bridge, enjoying the way it carried on the decrepit buildings.
She spent the night traipsing wherever she wished enjoying the freedom that came from those who didn’t know better. When she felt the darkness within her stir, she knew that she needed to get back to the Borderlands. She followed a clan known as the Wanderers. They had no ill will towards anyone but always seemed to be in the middle of constant conflict. They helped to calm her darkness after her travel through the clans riled it up. It was almost as if she were soaking up the clan’s negative energies and threw her entire system out of balance.
She felt like it was a part of herself that she needed to embrace but frankly she was afraid to. She was already alone. She didn’t need anything to make it worse. She stuck to the shadows as she seemed to fly through the territories to get to the Borderlands. She saw the encampment and inwardly smiled as she smelled the delicious food and heard the merriment they were enjoying. It calmed her. Being sure to keep the black side of her pelt to them she did a patrol walk of their encampment to make sure they were safe before laying atop an empty building to watch over them.