:: Crossroads and Reveries :: Jude ::

[Nerys]

::24th Hour::
::11th Day::
::Duodecimber::
::Year LV::

::Nerys::
In the moonlight the River Branwen glowed like a king's ransom of molten silver, fringed at its banks witha frost of diamonds. Across the waters and on the far side of themeadow, the lights of the village shone softly. There was no wind to stir the cloudless moonlit sky, which was set with a scattering of stars.

The night's beauty was lost on the she wolf who stood at the crossroads of two footpaths. Her luminous green eyes seemed to gaze through the village across the river, rather than at it. She was as immobile as stone, her pelt of mahogany and ebony a scrap of night. Only her breath, which loosed little ghosts into the chill air, gave any indication that she might be alive and a creature of flesh and blood. She came here to think on nights when the she had sated her hunger. It was the closest she dared go to indulge her bittersweet desire. She must not be too close. She could never quite remember why but she needed to stay here. This was close enough. The emerald eyes closed for a moment in anguish and confusion. It was good she was alone. She needed to be alone. A welter of emotions to deep for her lupine mind to fathom boiled in the pit of her stomach and the back of her mind, yet she did not move and the piercing green eyes opened again. Still air. No wind and few scents. Faint scent of horse. Faint scent of humans. Faint scent of sky. Faint scent of cats.
The damp black nose at the end of an unusually refined muzzle twitched in disgust.
River and dead grass. Gewyn scent in the air.

That didn't matter. She avoided her own kind and every other. Mostly they all did the same and avoided her. Nerys didn't particularly care: all she cared for was her solitude tonight. She was a shadow. Few noticed the presence of a shadow.

Now We Are Free - Gladiator

[Jude]

OOC: I know this is crazy late, but I actually have time for once! Hope you still want to continue...

Heavy paws padded quietly, but with purpose as the large male wove his way between the trees and under brush. Tonight the brute was alone for once and it was a refreshing change, he could actually hear himself think! Pink tongue flicked out to lick at his dry and cold leathery nose. His brother and sister had remained at their den site, while Jude slipped away to enjoy one night to himself. His mouth was parched, he needed a drink. The hunger knawed at his belly, longing for the sweet scent of human flesh and the flow of their blood across his eager tongue. He hated the way he craved them.

The cool air felt nice against his face, refeshing and crips. The rest of his body was warm, coated in a thick coat of browns, blacks, and creams. His breath hung in the air as vapour as he exhaled rhythmically. Up ahead he caught the tantilizing flashes of the river, illuminated by the silver glow of the moon. Reaching the running waters, he lapped at the water, hoping vainly that it would take away the edge of the hunger. Of course it didn't, but at least he wasn't thirsty anymore. Wait.... What was that? The male froze, catching the scent of another down stream. He lifted his heavy head, scenting the other.

His lips pulled into a sneer. He didn't much enjoy the company of others, but it appeared that this female hadn't yet noticed his presence. Jude moved toward the other in a stalking fashion. He would rip the throat out of anyone who dared call him curious, perhaps it was the hunger driving him on. At any rate, it had been a long time since he had encountered one of his own species besides his siblings.

[Nerys]

::Nerys::
The scent reached her sensitive nose, its heavy musk foreign and familiar all at once. The telling breeze betrayed the newcomer, a Gewin like herself but male. His scent stood out amongst the crisp winter blush of the meadow like damp black earth of white snow. Though she was a bit alarmed that it had taken her so long to determine from which direction the male approached, she remained as still and silent as stone. Naught but her thick winter fur shifted, shivering in the breeze like quiet umber flames. For all intents and purposes, it might appear that she was yet unaware that she was not alone. But Nerys was always aware: she had lived alone far too long not to be.

Why this Gewyn was here, she did not know: few of her kind dared venture this close to the village for she knew from experience that civilazation made them cautious. It was not fear of the humans that made them so reluctant. It was, she believed, an instinctual form of self preservation. The Gewin were a race better left in shadow. A Gewin was a creature of the night and the dark and they thrived that way. But here he was, as far from their home territory as she was and for reasons just as obscure as her own must be to him. Certainly his interests were of little concern to her; she only desired to know of his intentions if they included picking a fight with a certain green eyed she-wolf.

Beyond that, he was little more than a curiosity. Let him approach if he, for some reason, had business with her. That thought almost made her smile, though she didn't know why. Not knowing made her want to smile again, but she remained immobile as ever: the thoughts wending their way through her mind giving no outward indication of their existence. Smiling at nothing - now she knew for certain she had been alone for too long. Business with Mad Nerys. Rich, very rich. Even I want nothing to do with Mad Nerys and this monstrous body. Let him come, it would not hurt: she would not achieve heaven tonight.