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Neutral
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Anya
The castle walls were huge. Extraordinary, extravagant, or and other words in the dictionary thats used to describe 'too much'. They were also something that the Royal families cousins never got to see from the outside much. Not anymore, at least. When she was young, Anya would have the chance to break through those big old wooden doors all the time- to feel the warm fresh air flood through the cold and dark hallways after using all of her might to get them open, was something she craves on a hourly basis now. All because of this silly dispute. She only got out maybe once every two weeks, to go for a stroll or see what the towns folk had to offer in their family run shop. Or simply just to socialise. Of course, this wasn't without being heavily guarded, but she didn't quite mind that. She actually enjoyed the company of her guards. They had seen so much and it was ever so interesting to hear about. To imagine what she would have done in their shoes. She would have been scared out of her wits, but adrenaline was something she wanted. And she would get it in a few minutes, for today she got to leave the stone cold slabs of her abode. She wasn't the most important member of the royal family. Just a distant cousin. But their price had chosen to go out with the guards and died in pursuit. So her brother was the next heir- well the only one who was up to the task. But they had moved in with the current king and queen just before the whole war thing got bad. Really bad. She must have been around eight. So now she had to be in the spotlight a lot more, and it wasn't something she particularly appreciated. Especially when she was out. Everyone was looking... Staring. She knew it was because she had an abundance of guards at her side, but still. She flashed a smile and a wave to a few people, but all she got in return were glares. What in the world had she done wrong? After that, she kept her head down and followed them to a little market. That's where she got a little freedom but it didn't last particularly long, as one of the guards was adamant that she had enough time. She argued back but she eventually followed them along once again. They all stopped suddenly at a stall a little bit outside of those wretched walls. A meat man. She assumed they were all stocking up so just huffed impatiently before she took a closer look. The meat trader. He looked... off. Almost out of place. But she wasn't sure why. Like his tall frame was to big for the stand. She found herself observing the interactions between her loyal guards and the stranger. Something was off. But the question is what exactly? Now, that was a question she couldn't put her finger on just yet. |
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Darkseeker
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Frigus The young mans bright blue gaze gleamed in the early morning light, he had two decent sized hogs slung over his shoulders, headed in the direction of the palace. sadly he only had 2 pfennings left, the two silver coins tucked in his shoes rather than his pocket, a safer place, for robbers don't check shoes or tell you to empty them, they look in your pockets. It seemed like a warmer morning, but not humid. the sun was dry and baking the cobble stone roads but the air was fresh and cool. His snowy white curls sparkled like crystals in te sunlight as his small freckles shown, adding to his innocent, shy look. He really was the definition of a gentle giant. . As he stepped through town, the sound of his shoes tapping and scuffing the stone, he noticed a few alley ways, frowning as he could see a couple poor small kids huddled up between the houses. probably siblings, either cast out by there parents simply so they could eat more, or sent out while the parents were out at work. he had a soft spot for them, the poor. and especially poor children, but in reality, he was just a really big soft spot. as he walked through town a glint of armor caught his attention as he spotted a couple guards who seemed to be following by the side of a relative of the throne. he froze, eyes wide, telling himself, im here to do business, just your job. you are a meat trader for the royal guard. don't expose yourself, now do what normal meat traders would do. he swallowed and dipped his head with a forced smile but his eyes were still wide in wonder, "your highness." he said as he bowed casually then let his gaze flicker towards the guards, "hello gentlemen, 10 pfennings a hog. they're rather a good catch t-this day, plump and fit." he said as he held one up, trying not to struggle, "t-this ones got a nice set of tusks on it. a rather pretty head could do well on your wall as well, c-couldn't it?" He said with a nervous smile. but as his bright blue gaze flickered back towards the royal woman, he stared a moment, she seemed almost... familiar... he couldn't quite put his finger on it. it was hard to remember but he recognized those eyes and freckles. he debated on speaking but decided against it, pulling his gaze from her back towards the guards. |
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Neutral
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Anya The loud chatting and chanting of the guards seemed to drown out the hesitant sales pitch of the trader, so that his stuttering and spluttering was only just heard by the woman on the outside of the group. Something about a hog with tusks. That's all she gathered at least. She didn't get much else. The guards started fleecing each other for silver and coins before they dumped it on the table in exchange for the hog. She watched the exotic man curiously, he seemed nervous. She would be too if there were a loud bunch of armored strangers coming at her, but it was something else. He was looking at her. Just the same as she was looking at him, only her eyes were filled with curiosity, while his with worry and... something else. She wasn't sure what but it was there. They locked eyes for a short moment before the stranger looked away again back towards the guards. Anya had seen those icy blue eyes before, she was sure of it, but the question is where. Maybe she had seen him some other time and forgotten. Probably. She thought with a small huff. After a moment of pondering and thought, she pointed her gaze at the ground, trying to keep her thoughts to herself. As much as she could, at least. After a few more minuets of three guards bargaining and bartering with the meat trader, she finally spoke to fourth guard, who was standing peacefully next to her. "Do you all come out here often? I don't recall seeing this seller before." Anya noted calmly. She had already felt that they had been stationary for too long, and keeping her mouth shut was the purest form of torture. "Not really Your Hi-" The guard paused. Anya encouraged her guards to just call her by her first name. 'Your Highness' was too much for her. She wasn't exactly entitled to that title, so when she wasn't around the rest of the family, she went by 'Miss Anya,' or simply 'Anya.' She wished to be treated by the guards as an equal and so they did. "Miss Anya." The guard finished swiftly. "That's why we are taking so long. We need to stock up. We have families to feed as well you know." The guard chuckled before going silent again. "Yes, I'm aware of that. I was just pondering," Anya informed the guard with a knowledgeable smile. Once the men had a few large sacks of meat, they escorted her to the palace, but not before they gave the salesman a nod goodbye, giving her own reluctant wave. The large walls of the gardens and small huts came too soon for Anya. She was greeted by one or two maids in the gardens who had a few plates of food. She invited them to come and sit with her, and with a little convincing they did. She convinced them to tell her what was going on with the war and whatnot. Apparently it was getting worse. She could barely believe it, but the war had. Only because the humans current king had sent a few soldiers into the werewolves side to scout a few things out, they had been caught, and sentenced to death. Long story short, they never made it back. After that, the two kingdoms had everything intensified. |
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Darkseeker
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Frigus The young man's shoulders relaxed as he saw the soldiers begin searching for a few coins. he was rather pleased that they hadn't questioned him whether it be with uncertain looks or words. he knew he could easily be caught right now. his job was looking death in its eyes. feeding his enemy. he felt guilty about it most days. but he knew it wasn't the guards faults that the kingdom was at war. it was the kings. and he knew it wasn't all the humans faults. his own king had over reacted. he had heard that there was a history in his kingdom that around the time he was only about a year or two old that there was a different king, from what he heard he was noble, kind, and enjoyed the company and alliance of the humans, but then the current wolf king overthrew him. murdered his wife and no one knows what happened to the young child. some say he was killed too, others say a royal servant may have snuck him away. no one knows but he put his hope into that heir, hoping that if he was alive, he'd stand up and fight to fix what has gone wrong. to bring back peace. but he knew it was a long shot. so he goes on with his life. living in the world he has. . The Royal woman's voice called to his attention as he looked up rather startled with her question at first, "Do you all come out here often? I don't recall seeing this seller before." he gulped, pondering what to say. he hated having to lie. but his gaze flickered towards the guard as he seemed to stop himself from saying, 'your highness' strange he thought. "That's why we are taking so long. We need to stock up. We have families to feed as well you know." he listened to the guards words, he didn't seem wary or unsure of him, so he felt a little better. he gave a gentle smile and dipped his head, "im from an old village a while down south, didn't have much promise there and there were too many risks there. i decided to move farther up, i have more luck with selling here." he didn't completely lie, he was from an old poor village and he did have poor luck selling and making a living. and there were too many risks, thieves around every corner, fights breaking out, some he questioned there mental stability. but he knew why. everyone was hungry, angry, stressed, and overworked there. he couldn't help them, not if he was robbed every time he had something to give. and he needed a living too. it simply wasn't a possible thing there. |
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Neutral
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Anya Anyas maids, Lydia and Kira sat at a small round table with her, clearly feeling uncomfortable. Anya knew that. But it was only because they had orders to serve her. They would relax in a but. They had been told do everything for her, and Anya was more than sure that if they had the chance, they would even talk for her if they had the chance, she knew it. But she didn't want them to act like that- instead she wished for them to be of a friend to her. Just so she had someone talk to. The maids often stuck to the task the king and her father had told them, so when someone low on the hierarchy -like herself- asked something other of them, they often were reluctant, but after a while they relaxed and started chatting happily to her and each other. Just like always. But instead her own thoughts where with what the meat trader had said about the poor village. She knew things had gotten bad with the smaller villages money-wise but she hadn't thought there people moving around because of it. She knew how much effort it could take to move around now and how much extra money it was, and it made her somewhat grateful that she was in such a privileged position. The village surrounding the palace was a bit better than the villages further away, but it was just because it had lots of jobs available for the people who needed them most. Eventually, her thoughts drifted yet again, back to where she had seen those icy eyes of the stranger before, but she just couldn't put a finger on it- and it quite frankly annoyed her. She was quite good when it came to remembering people, but obviously not quite good enough. But his looks were so exotic, the hair, the eyes, the freckles, she highly doubted that would be the case. But the more the thought about it, the cloudier her thought process had gotten. The less she could remember. The only reason why she wasn't remembering must have been when she was quite young, but in that case, how had she met him? She assumed he only moved so that there was some more business opportunities. So why was he around as a child? Why... why...why... She eventually gave up and let her brain rest for a short while as she got up to leave the small table and make her way to her chambers. She had a small balcony in her room, looking over the surrounding village. As she peered across the small town, she found her eyes glued to the small meat stand just outside the walls. It was on her subconscious mind, but it was almost as if she looked long enough, she would some how find a way to figure this out. |
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Darkseeker
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Frigus the young man watched when they had to leave, now empty handed from the heavy hogs he was free to keep walking. he'd have to make some decent catches before tomorrow morning if he wanted food and money to stay somewhere overnight. he needed somewhere safe to sleep. with the war getting worse it wasn't safe hopping between alley ways for rest anymore and he knew he could just shift and sleep in the surrounding forests but it'd be easy to tell he wasn't an ordinary wolf, he was larger than even the average werewolf. He didn't know what he'd do just yet but for now, he'd improvise with what he had. he had 22 pfennings now. enough to last him about a day and a half if he was lucky. he just couldn't get behind on work and had to spend wisely. but then something caught his eye. . turning his head to the alleyway a frown curved upon his face, it was the poor children still in the alley way, all alone, frightened and dirty looking. he huffed and looked at the coins in his pocket before glancing back towards the children. they deserved a chance at life the same as him if not more. He walked over to the bred stand that was right next to the meat stand, "how much for a full loaf?" he asked as he looked at the man behind the stand, he had gray hairs and almost seemed sick looking, bony arms yet somehow still had a belly and his eyes had gray deep set bags under them. yet he still had a gruff strong voice, "5 pfennings." Frigus frowned. it was a heafty chunk but the children needed it. He reached into his pocket and took a good look at the man and grabbed two more extra and handed him the seven, "keep the change, please." the man looked shocked but handed him his bread as Frigus took it and headed down to the alley with the children. . the poor things were huddled up in a corner, two little girls, one seemed to be about 8 and the other looking to be 5. He offered a gentle smile and crouched low, extending his arm out towards them, bread in hand, his voice gentle, "come on, its ok..." he said as they still remained still, the older little girl holding what looked like to be her younger sister close, as if she was protecting her, "hey, im here to help... i wont hurt you." the older one looked at him with suspicion and hesitated for a long while of silence but Frigus kept the gentle look and sat down, scooting a little closer as he set the bred down near them. eventually the older sister carefully reached her hand out and grabbed it, she seemed to inspect it before glancing at him in wonder. Frigus only nodded and smiled, "that's it. eat up, it'll be alright. i know its not the best but its gonna make you feel better." the children eventually split the bread and looked at him as if they had seen a ghost. clearly not used to that behavior. |
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Neutral
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Anya Anya leaned steadily on the balcony as she watched the strange mans every movement. The main think that she had noticed as he walked, was how much taller he was than everyone else. Oddly tall. She hadn't really noticed it at first, but she was a little bit away when they were in a closer proximity. All the guards were quite tall anyway, but maybe she just didn't note it quite as much. After he disappeared into the alleyways, she turned and went back out into the gardens. There were a few of the Soldiers children running around the little huts around the palace, and a few gardeners tending to their huge gardens. Life was so peaceful inside of the huge stone walls, but boredom was starting to settle in again. She hadn't been back for long, but her busy mind needed something to think about, to work with. So she watched the little children run in circles until it made her dizzy. She chuckled under her breath before looking at the gates. She wanted to get back through them again, but she would have to wait another week or so to do that. Maybe she would bring something for the towns folk? Perhaps some warm food? or net clothes for the children? Something. She already knew that in week at some point there was going to be a feast with some nobles, but it was different there. She had to be seen and not heard, unless she was spoken to. She was treated like a punished child in these sort of affairs, and it was something the could only dream to change. And it would. As soon as she figured out how. She wanted to change a lot of things, but being such a protected being, in a world of war, she was considered fragile and too uneducated to make any of them. That was something she was going to change, whether the universe liked it or not. Anya watched a few people walk past the gates of the palace, giving them small waves and polite smiles. After a while, she got bored again and turned her attention up to the sky. The sun was slowly setting, casting its last orange rays of light across the tree line and onto the village. It was quite the sight to behold, and she couldn't exactly pull her eyes away from it. This was a daily accordance, and she couldn't stop her gawking. It just went to show how easily captured she could be. But she wasn't the only one. Even the guards seemed to be caught up in the pink clouds above them, which made Anyas smile just as bright at the setting sun. When she turned the other way, she could start to see the moon rise, along with the millions of little stars. She smiled as she tried to get both of the stunning features of the world in her view, but when she failed, she simply settled from the assortment of oranges on the side of the sun. |
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Darkseeker
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Frigus the young man decided he had done what he could for the children. he didn't have a house to let them cozy up in. he didn't have clothes or a blanket for them. he'd give them his shirt if he could at least to keep them warm but it had a few holes and he couldn't expose his birthmark in case any human knew what the tattoo like shape was a representation of. He huffed and stood, giving a small smile with a worrisome look in his eyes, "take care, little ones. stay safe." he felt terrible for them but he had to go. . The tall man had been walking down the street for some time when he looked up to see the sun setting, its brilliant colors splashing against the villages and castle, its beautiful shades of warmth flowing over the earth like a sea of light and color. It was mesmerizing and lit his snowy hair brightly, his bright blue eyes staring out and glowing like beacons almost. he put his head down suddenly and avoided looking up. he didn't want others to stare at his inexplainably bright glowing eyes. another indication he wasn't fully human. he knew he couldn't hunt in time tonight. he'd have to do that in the morning and sleep before nightfall. he couldn't let the night time urges get to him. he had to be at a relaxed state of mind to avoid being frightened into shifting or doing inhumanly things. he didn't have time to find a safe place, he'd have to find an empty alley. soon he came across one and curled up in the back against an old wooden fruit crate, curling up on the ground, pulling his arms together to rest his head on as he curled his legs up and slept on his side. closing his glowing blue eyes and facing the wall to keep himself from over thinking himself to staying alert and awake. he needed to sleep and stay asleep through the night to avoid irrational desitions based on mainly instinct. it was harder for him to use his brain efficiently at night, which made it easier to snap and lose temper as well as be frightened and to hunt things in wolf like ways of which exposed him, and he didnt want to wake up in blood and have to find a way to clean himself without anyone seeing. |
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Neutral
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Anya Just before the nighthad fully ascended, Anya retreated to her lovely warm chamber, where candles flickered from side to side softly, making her room seem to dance. It was her safe space. Where she could sit for hours and ponder, but recently it just hadn't been enough. She sat infront her dressing mirror, just looked into her own eyes. After a moment, though, she managed to scare herself and looked away swiftly. It was getting late, and she just couldn't find the sleep she needed, so opened the doors to the balcony to let in some fresh air before looking out again. The small lights in the widows of the small cottages were mesmerising and looked to be something out of one of those old novels she used to read when she was little. And there's was nothing stopping her from leaving to be apart of the story... Apart from the dozen guards stationed in the palace and a few at the gates... She would bribe them. And bribe she did.
It was surprisingly easy to leave, and to think that she had never tried it before. Well, if she could get out, then was it just as easy to get in? Naybe she should give the guards a talking to. They weren't getting paid to let the spoilt and tilted prisoner out! Either way, now she was out in the streets, in a fine gown, surrounded by sleeping beggars. She felt a little guilty for this, mainly because she didn't want to make anyone feel inferior if they were to see her but it wasn't like she had anything less attractive to wear! And it was dark so it she couldn't be seen very well, so that made ger feel a little more secure in this new area. She walked up and down the alleyways, the bit she never got to see and let her eyes wander. There were a few homeless families looking at her pleadingly, and a few people sleeping, along with a few drunken sailors have a wale of a night. She kept on walking for as long as she could before she spotted something bright in the back of what was seemingly an old waggon. She let her curiosity take over and marched over, only fo see the meat man who had been occupying her day sleeping peacefully. She had a mind to wake him up and bombard him with questions, but instead she chose to wake him up and see what kind of mood he was in- probably a bad one for being woken up, but really, what's the worst that could happen? "Hey," she said softly in attempt to ease him awake, but when she got nothing, she said in a slightly louder tone of voice, "Hello?" |
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Darkseeker
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Frigus The young man eventually fell into a deep sleep, the bottom of the waggon wooden and hard and maybe a little splintery but it was able to hold warmth unlike the stoney streets that bruised his sides when he slept. it was a lot more comfortable than the ground and he felt a little safer elevated. As he slept he didn't expect himself to dream a bit either. Soon a landscape faded into his mind, a familiar land. one he had grown up in. his kingdom. the kingdom of the wolves. He could see, looking around him that he was passing things rather quickly. his heart rate was fast and there was a strong sense of fear, he looked down at his legs. furry and moving fast. he was morphed and running... but from what? he looked behind himself and could see the wolven royal guards chasing after him, panic flooded through his body and mind as he began to pant in his sleep. . He felt like his heart could explode at any moment, loud words echoed through his head as he heard a familiar voice, but he couldn't quite pick up from where it was belonging to. it was a mans voice, loud, powerful, and stern, yet held a good feeling that he seemed to long for, but the words were filled with anger. with regret and betrayal, "Frigus! you've failed us! you've failed us all! our people and our kingdom! you've betrayed us all!" he felt overwhelming guilt and fright and he met a dead end, stuck in an alley with the guards closing in, one lunged towards him then out of nowhere he woke up to a voice and snapped out at the one who had made the noise to feel his jaws slightly morph as he bit down, enough that the bight would look like a canine had done it, but as soon as he realized he was awake, he leaped back frightened and quickly morphed back into human form within the blink of an eye, his glowing blue eyes bright and frightened, having the metallic flash of a wild animals eyes. . panting in fright he soon let his eyes adjust and he froze in fright, glancing between her and her arm, "i-i-i-i.." he was stuck on a speeding broken record, "i-i,m so sorry! i didn't mean it! oh no...." he looked around and then to her arm, hoping she didn't bring anyone with her and hoping she hadn't noticed the quick morph, it was hard enough trying to explain the bight, "i swear i didn't mean it, im so sorry... i-i uh..." he clenched his jaws together in uncertainty, realizing he was still standing on the edge of the wagon pressed up against the wall. He huffed and stepped down cautiously, his bright glowing eyes certainly a sight to see, but they held a sense of guilt and worry in them as well as much fear. he held out his hand towards her arm and swallowed, "m-may i see?" he said as he wanted to make sure he hadn't done much damage, but he knew he had broken the skin, for he could taste blood and the smell of it was a bit strong. |
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Fall 
Day 
