First night out... (Ashley Only)

[Mandy]

It was pitch black and the first time she had stepped foot outside of the house since she had been brought in nearly unconscious over a month ago. Ashley had promised he would take her out for her first run in wolf form and he kept every promise he’d made her, including bringing her beloved dog, Aries into the house. Aries who still loved her unconditionally and kept her company when Ashley was away. Who wouldn’t leave her side unless she told him it was okay, it was obvious to everyone in the house that he adored her and had missed her, just as obvious that he was and always would be her best friend.

But now, it was just the two of them, Ashley and her, as they wandered into the woods alone, her arm wrapped around his waist as she smiled brilliantly with both excitement and anticipation. Her blue eyes were glowing vividly as her wolf finally realized she would get her freedom tonight. And, as Ashley had instructed she squeezed his hand before slipping behind a large oak and stripped swiftly leaving Ashley in the smaller clearing. And, like never before the transformation came easily and quickly to her; one moment she was standing on two legs as human, and the next she was on all fours covered in a chocolate fur with golden highlights all through-out. This time the transformation was nearly pain free, unlike the horribly painful first one.

With a grumbling chirp, she bounded forward toward where she left Ashley waiting to come upon him in his wolf form, that of a large ebony wolf with a stripe of white. Her she-wolf was in control for the moment and she wagged her tail as she came face to face with him, a wolfish grin splitting her maw and letting her tongue loll out. A whimper came softly from her throat and she quickly licked his maw in affection and greeting before slowly running her body the length of his own, whispering to his mind.

I feel so alive!

She lowered to her front paws, her rump in the air as her bushy tail continued to wag in a clear invitation for Ashley to play. In this moment, she was obviously allowing her wolf to come out, as she was normally much more controlled…although when it came to Ashley who knew anymore! Her very human blue eyes danced as she admired Ashley’s wolf form, clearly knowing her thoughts would be easily read by him. He was very handsome and large in this form, his muscles clearly giving him strength, while her smaller size gave her speed.

It was wonderful to be away from the strain of having to be so controlled in the house, especially in front of Ada who her wolf still wanted to dominate for some strange, unknown reason. She had this scary and horrible thought that if she couldn’t tamper that feeling down she may have to leave this pack, unable to join it…and worse of all leave Ashley. She didn’t know if she could bear that, after all, the feelings for him were getting stronger every day, not abating like Ashley had speculated once. But, now was not the time to think like that! Her wolf was finally free and able to express herself and play.

A grin appeared upon her chocolate maw as she remained bowing, waiting for Ashley to either join in the fun or make her get serious for a hunt. Although, she sincerely hoped he would play with her before they went looking for a meal and whatever else Ashley had in mind for this evening.

[Ashley]

Selecting tonight for Mandy’s first Run had been a dueling decision – both difficult and exceedingly easy. They had spent so many nights together as Ashley tried to craft, with the limitations of human language, just what the experience was like, but he always knew that the words fell far short of the real experience. So after several nights of trying, and Ashley feeling like his descriptions were meager, pitiful excuses, he and Mandy changed, and he outstretched that tendril of his mind for Mandy to view. Through that intangible Werewolf node he would show her images, scenes, scents and sounds. Convey the emotion, the excitement, pleasure, curiosity; and sometimes (though he only gave her small examples, not wanting to worry her) a snippet of other feeling – wariness and light agitation. Even though he could give her more than just words with their mystic, telepathic connection, he still felt that it paled in comparison.

Mandy had been progressing amazingly, but unfortunately it was not as simple as that. He would have harbored no hesitations if these were not dire times. With such a large forest and thick foliage as the town of Clearwater had, he could keep her away from the population and nix any problems that may arise – such as Mandy confusing a whiff of human scent for that of their actual prey. But Mandy stumbling across an unassuming passer-by was the least of their worries. There was still a rogue to be dispatched, but somehow he eluded the pack’s hunt for weeks.

It was that renegade who caused Ashley any hesitation in agreeing to take Mandy out tonight. That damnable beast. He was a perfect example of primitive werewolf… violent, cutthroat, brutal… yet so maddeningly sly. It had been weeks – months – since the pack heard the first story of a human mauled in the forest. When Jude first read the news from the Sunday paper aloud to the rest of the pack, they were ready to dismiss it as just another animal attack. After all, that happened from time to time in dense forested areas such as Clearwater. It was Adelaide who insisted on inspecting further, and it was thanks to that insistence that Hunter and Jude were sent to investigate, and returned with dire news.

Did Mandy realize Ashley knew of a rogue Werewolf in his pack’s territory before the day she was bitten? How would she react to that information? Of course, he hoped she would take it coolly and with understanding; she very well could be resentful and blame him for not catching the scoundrel sooner, before she had been bitten and her life turned upside down. He forced the thought out of his mind.

Mandy’s shoulders were warm under his half-clad arm, and he enjoyed the tight clench she had on his waist. He felt like a lifeline; he liked that. Some would not admit to taking pleasure in a thing like that, but Werewolves are different. They take pride in relying on each other, working as a unit, and Mandy’s need of him made him feel all the more accepted by her, and like it did not matter that one of his own kind had virtually destroyed life as she knew it.

Stop it, Ashley… he silently chastised himself. This is no time to let himself delve into deep reflection about things that can not be changed. This is, however, a time to enjoy Mandy’s company for as long as their perfect night may last. Let it be forever… I need this. She needs it.

He strode in silence for a moment more, enjoying the night’s crisp breeze and piney scent. The eve tightened in around them as they tromped farther from the pack’s house and entered the woods, and the few glistening stars overhead radiant enough to pierce the canopy were the only light they could see. It would not have been enough for a human to venture by, but it was plenty for Ashley, and Mandy’s growing nocturnal skills. Before too long, he stopped, and smiled warmly to Mandy. She already knew what to do, so he delivered a brusque kiss on the cheek before she slipped off into privacy and Changed…

By the time she returned, this time a quadruped covered in velveteen fur, Ashley had already shifted and positioned his rear comfortably on the ground. His gaze was trained in Mandy’s direction and his ears were pert as he sat sentinel, straining with all his senses to ensure nothing snuck up while Mandy was only a few feet away and in the vulnerable, clandestine stages of her Change. He knew she was returning, he could hear the dainty patter of her gait, but he did not react until she emerged through the foliage, leaping over to him and jittering like an animated pup.

His rump popped into the air and his maw parted, tongue lolled out of his mouth, and returned her grin. He took two quick steps closer to her, and the white tuft at the tip of his tail waggled vehemently.

‘And you look absolutely radiant.’ He bumped his head against hers, and nipped at her cheek, catching her just beneath the ear and tugging at her fur. When she dropped her chest to the ground, it was over. He couldn’t resist…

His emerald eyes met her very human blue orbs, and he hesitated for just a second… before lurching forward and bowling her over, barking a laugh. But instead of stopping or pinning her down, he bounded in circles, while looping around her, taunting with joyous eyes and very mischievous yips.

[Mandy]

When the handsome ebony wolf before her complimented her, she gave out a soft yip of embarrassment, unused to being thought of as beautiful by anyone until Ashley. It helps that his thoughts on how he really sees her is so clear, that he loves her brown hair with its golden highlights, her intelligent blue eyes, her lean body in both human and wolf forms. It’s truly enough to bring a blush to her cheeks, thanking god that there’s fur to cover the red tinge. Of course, it’s easily forgotten that Ashley could feel the blush through her mind’s eye.

Yet it is completely forgotten as Ashley bumps against her and gently catches the fur beneath her ear right before she drops down to her chest, unable to handle not being able to play like a wolf wants to do with a close pack mate.

It’s when Ashley lunges forward and bowls her over that she manages to choke on a very humanlike grunt and laugh. Coming quickly to her paws, she yips back happily at the handsome wolf as he runs in circles around her. Bounding toward him, she leaps into the air and her front paws come onto Ashley’s back and she gently grabs his scruff playfully growling. Unknowingly she is doing what an alpha would do, or what a mate would do. And then she’s gone.

Leaping quickly and agilely over his taller back, she sprints off deeper into the woods before spinning around and racing back toward Ashley much as an excited puppy is want to do with its excess energy. This time she runs straight for the ebony wolf, a short howl coming out, her tongue lolling out and an ecstatic grin across her maw. As she reaches him, she once again leaps easily over his back before spinning around and sneaking in a nip and lick along his tuft cheek.

It’s then that she catches the wayward thoughts that Ashley had been thinking earlier. She freezes in her tracks and plops back onto her rump cocking her head to the side as she stares intently at the black wolf.

You knew there was a renegade werewolf out there before I was bitten?

There’s a frown in her voice as she considers this…well, she doesn’t blame Ashley or his pack for what happened to her…it’s truly not their fault this monster was still out there…they were actively trying to find and eradicate him from Clearwater…yes, he may have known but It was not Ashley’s fault her life was turned upside down… And, just like that before Ashley can say anything Mandy walks up to him and slowly rubs her head along his own and then under his jaw in deep affection.

You thought I’d be upset with you for this?

[Ashley]

His playful growls come out as a mutated, wolf’s-version of a chuckle as she topples over and then scrambles back to all fours. He parts his front legs to support her added weight as she rears up to playfully pose herself on his back, nipping at his scruff and ears, but does not buckle beneath their weight. He may have stumbled, if her purpose was to shove him, but his muscular wolf’s physique had little problem supporting both their weight in this game. A low, unthreatening grumble gurgles from his throat as he tosses his head back and swivels his neck around, trying to nip at her but not quite able to reach. At that moment, something brief but notable zipped down their telepathic connection. It was not words or a picture, but it was something covertly telling Mandy… do not forget. She had obtained an advantage spot on her “prey”, even if she was not trying to hurt him. After all, in the wild, cubs learned their future fighting tactics through play.

He tosses his head back and half barks, half yowls as she plods away. His tail curls up along his back and flops to one side, wriggling with delight. His eyes train on her shadow as she flips around and comes barreling back towards him, and as she is upon him he drops to his chest, rump and arched tail remaining in the air. Though there was no need for him to drop down, as Mandy easily cleared his height, and then some. He watched her graceful, smooth movements as she soared over him, slowing the image down in repeat in his mind and admiring her silky russet coat as it glistened in the vague, treetop-diluted starlight that only their Werewolf eyes could amplify.

He pushed his head into hers as she pilfered a lick on his cheek, and lapped out his long, pink tongue and kissed her muzzle in return. He was just about ready to execute a new, super-stealthy (and cheater, as he was the one with experience) move to one-up her and continue the game, when Mandy’s expression faltered, and all the play withdrew into seriousness. He closed his maw and cocked his head to the side, looking at her in confusion and worry. What she said next could not have been any farther than what he could have guessed.

How did she know that? Ashley wondered to himself, locking his mind so she couldn’t pick up on his surprise, though she would be able to pick up on the mental-barrier he constructed in that moment, if not wholly blocking her from emotion, certainly blocking out the minute second it took him to reason through his shock. Had it been in the back of his mind since he changed? Had he given off some clue? Or had Mandy just somehow connected with him so wholly, that she picked up on some vestige of a thought he’d hardly entertained several minutes prior, and before they were even in wolf form?

He didn’t know how to proceed. Address her question, or pose his own?

Then a pang of guilt trickled into his blood once more. He glanced away for a brief second. On one hand, she was Mandy, inquisitive, caring, and curious. A pup. And an extraordinary being. On the other… she was Mandy, a pup. Leaders do not need to display weakness with pups, it can be a dire mistake.

His gaze returned to her, and he met her eyes, an act of respect that was rarely afforded in wolf form. And as he looked into those sky-blue eyes, so young but unafraid to look him right back, he thought… piss on caution. The communication barrier in his mind melted away.

His heart pounds with joy as she steps close to him and nuzzles him sweetly, forgivingly. He returned the gesture without hesitation, reveling it in.

‘I… I didn’t think you knew,’ he was still somewhat unsure of how Mandy had come to that realization, though all the pieces were there, waiting to be puzzled together. ‘Of course I didn’t really expect you to be upset at me for it, but sometimes you just never know. But Mandy, we did know about the rogue before you were Bitten. We couldn’t locate him… but the truth is…’ there was a mental sigh, ‘the truth is… We knew about him when he came to town. We didn’t know who he was, or half our job would already be done now. But it had been so long since we’ve had any upset living here in Clearwater, we got lax. I got lax. And we thought the only person who would come try a stunt like this was long gone.’

‘We didn’t start hunting him until a couple days before you were Bitten, when the first body was found… he had been in Clearwater long enough to figure out whatever his plan is now… because we… I… did not obey protocol and deal with him properly when he first arrived in town. He’d been here for months before his first attack.’

He drew himself back and again looked Mandy eye-to-eye, gauging both her physical and emotional reactions, and immediately regretting his confession. Certainly she wanted to be understanding, but if she saw the obvious blame in the way he did, she could prove to be a headache in the coming moment, what with not being in a confined, reinforced room with nowhere to run off to.

[Mandy]

Mandy notices when Ashley’s mind quickly puts up a mental barrier at her question. Her head quickly cocking to the side as her interest was piqued. Why would he so quickly block his mind now when she could easily read from it earlier what had been there? Was her question really so shocking that he would throw it up now? If she hadn’t been in wolf form, her face would’ve taken on a hurt cast, instead she continues to stare at Ashley as he so obviously collects his thoughts.

But it’s after her affectionate nuzzle that she finally notices the mental barrier gone now, as if it had never been there. And she lets out a wolfish sigh as she is nuzzled in return. She sits back on her haunches as Ashley begins to talk, her blue eyes staring intensely at his handsome wolf form and into his beautiful emerald eyes.

So it was true, the Clearwater pack had known a rogue had been in the territory before she had been a victim of his. But, the fact that they couldn’t locate him was not Ashley, nor any other pack member’s fault. It may be true that he had been in town for awhile, but how would they know where exactly if he kept hidden and to himself? If his horribly evil scent never crossed the pack’s trail, none would be the wiser to his nefarious plans.

So, it makes perfect sense to Mandy that they hadn’t started hunting the rogue until his first kill…until they knew he was there, until they knew that he was in fact not a good person. And why on earth was Ashley taking the blame? That would not do.

Standing up slowly, her hackles raise a reaction Ashley could easily misconstrue until her emotions swiftly follow and flow easily toward the muscular onyx wolf; anger that he would blame himself and determination to help him find this murderer, her and Lucas’ attacker. Reaching Ashley, she nuzzles him once more, longer this time, more fiercely, her tongue coming out to lap at his neck and then his ear. Her voice in his mind is fierce and firm.

It’s not your fault…it’s no one but that jerk’s fault, love. I mean, how could you predict he wasn’t a friendly werewolf until he attacked?

She pauses briefly to rub along the length of his body with great affection, the bond between the chocolate and black wolves obviously deep if any onlooker were taking note.

I will help you find him..

Knowing a protest is soon to follow, she mentally puts a hand out to stop him so she can continue.

Remember, I know what he looks like…and I’m sure that I’ll know what he smells like if I were to come across him.

OOC: Blah!! Sorry it's so horrible.. *smacks head*

[Ashley]

Damn it all! She was speaking the undeniable truth! He huffed out one short, exasperated sigh as he was cut off before he could object. He felt the pulsating throes of anger clatter about between their link for a moment, but he knew it was not directed towards him. His own electric irritation jutted through the conduit, and he seemed to manage a wolf’s grimace as he stepped forward and vigorously shook his head. He ignored her question and delved directly into opposition.

‘No! I don’t care how right you are, you’re not going to go up against this guy. You’re too young and he is, obviously, not. Feral Bitten or newly Changed younglings are easy to track. He’s matching wits with us right now, which makes me willing to bet he isn’t a bad fighter, either. The Pack won’t have either you, or Lucas, endangered any more than you already have been because of him.’

He drew himself up in front of her, standing tall and diligent, stubborn against her wishes. For a moment, he was more wolf than Ashley, and it was not only a statement, it was a command… with which there was just one problem. Mandy only had to obey it if she wished. Although Ashley loved her, and she loved him, Ashley and the Pack had not yet required her to swear fealty – neither ceremonially nor spiritually. Moreover, Ashley was not the Alpha, and there was one person who could undermine his orders. Whether or not she would accept Mandy’s help was a question Ashley wasn’t positive of the answer to.

He tried to veil these thoughts, though they were short and sweet, apparently he was an easy read for Mandy. He softened, and nudged her muzzle.

‘We can get any information you or Lucas know about him from your memories. I’m willing to bed Adelaide already has Lucas’s. That will be a world of help on its own, and you can stay safe.’

‘Anyway, right now, we have him on the run. But he is a hunter, and at some point, he will get tired of being the hunted and come to us.’

Although he had not meant to make it so plainly obvious, he had revealed the pack’s latest “plan”. They still had nightly (and daily) runs searching for any hints or clues as to the rogue’s identity or whereabouts, and were doing what they could to keep the population of Clearwater safe (and by extension, protecting the secret of their existence), but they were not actively seeking him out. They had decided to wait until he grew bored and came to them.

Ashley’s tail began to wag, and he nosed at Mandy’s neck and shoulders, bumping her playfully and trying to induce a change of subject.

[Mandy]

At Ashley’s vehement words obviously not meant to hurt her but assure she listened to him, Mandy chewed on her lip thoughtfully, a habit that obviously translated from human to wolf form. She understood what he meant and she honestly hadn’t planned on going up against this rouge wolf, but his words in her mind have another idea popping up. Bait. She could totally be bait for this guy and potentially lure him into Ashley and the others’ clutches.

Her thoughts stop short at Ashley’s commanding tone and his obvious stature change as he seems to grow in height. Although she catches a snippet of his thoughts, she gives a satisfied huff realizing she has no fealty to the Clearwater Pack she does not HAVE to listen to Ashley’s command. Even if her she-wolf wants to. Grr!

Trying to throw up her own mental barrier so Ashley cannot discern her thoughts or plans to go to Ada and present her proposition as being bait (or just doing it without revealing her plans), she can only nod as Ashley divulges that pack’s plan. She nods to this hoping he see that she thinks it is a great idea. That she agrees with it and will leave it at that.

That is until Ashley’s white tipped tail begins to wag and his warm nose gently pushes into her neck and shoulders. With a bark, she willingly allows the subject change and actually crow hops over into him almost like a pounce but sideways before taking off into the woods once more and taking cover beneath a fallen log.

Catch me if you can!