Hammerthynn checked his watch and made his way down to the run. He was not surprised to find Marthinus huddled on the ground, no doubt suffering through the slow start of the process. It was a pain that any amount of years could erase and he remembered his, almost 100 years ago. Was it worse to be a child, barely 12 and half blinded, suffering in the dark with your own father watching coldy? Possibly, but Hammer tried not to remember such things.
He stood in the darkness, waiting for Xeph to appear. He was almost always there for first turnings, especially his Beta's. Hammer could hear the grunts of pain coming from Marthinus, the rapid breathing and frightened smell wafting off him. He'd need to learn how to control his fear, Hammer noted quietly to himself. So old to be teaching new tricks. He allowed himself a slight smile as Marthinus' change took over him, tearing through his clothes and his fur...black fur, grew out. Interesting, he thought, the idle white sheep by day, the black killing machine by night.
The smell of fear intermingled with familiarity - the Alpha was approaching now. Turning his head a bit over his shoulder, he spoke so softly, 'You almost missed it.'
His words were barely audible, but he knew Xeph would hear them loud and clear.
December 5th 11:48 PM
He had forgotten what Hammerthynn had called this place already or maybe he didn't care to remember just yet. Marthinus sat in his dark quarters on Kadzait grounds and picked at his fingernails, a new nervous habit. What did he have to be nervous about? Oh right, the fact that December 5th, today, the moon would become fat and bloated, ushering him into his new life whether he was ready or not.
Pick...pick.
He had healed completely from his gunshot wounds not too long after they moved him from the Nachton hospital to his quarters here. They were monitoring him, he was fairly certain. At least Iov was. Mentally Marthinus corrected himself - no one called him Iov, not that he noticed in the several weeks he had been there. He was either Hammerthynn, Hammer or just plain avoided. Of all people to be his teacher, he had the indifferent bastard with one eye. As far as Marthinus could tell, Hammerthynn kept to himself or spoke only to Xephier. The Alpha.
His Alpha.
Pick....pick.
Marthinus shifted uncomfortably in his comfortable chair. He felt anxious suddenly and annoyed at how loud his surroundings were. The scratching in the walls, the foot steps moving back and forth in his head. He picked now at his button up shirt. The normally soft linen was dragging across his skin like sandpaper. He looked at his clock, reading the illuminating red numbers.
11:59 PM
He wasn't stupid, he knew what the sudden irritating things were a prelude of what was to come. The full moon would be fat and heavy in the sky just past midnight tonight. Standing Marthinus immediately walked out of his room and down the steps to the open foyer. Passing a few bodies he went out of his way to avoid touching them and nearly ran out the door.
Running into the property woods, Marthinus knelt down in the wet grass, his face was twitching, his back muscles writhing. Oh god here it comes, he thought. The end of his humanity, finally sitting precariously on the edge. The one thing he had hoped to keep in life, to make it out of this crazy fucking world with his humanity and dignity in full check. To come sliding into heaven's gates with both in hand - here came the end of this dream. This hope.
The moon held her sway, as he knew she would...and she was not gentle.
Marthinus arched his back and grunted with the pain, his body breaking into a thousand pieces. His fingers painfully curving, his hands balling up and separating into half formed pads. Tearing at his shirt, he felt his ribcage tighten and his body start to slope. His head, oh god his head - teeth growing and tearing the inside of his mouth, his jaw opened and dislocated, finding its new natural setting. Marthinus felt his body stretch, writhe and mutate into something...something so feral, so primal and with one painstakingly long and wretched breath, Marthinus stood and let loose a howl that pierced the night.
Falling back down on all fours, the process finished by breaking the bones in his legs only to reassemble them in their natural wolf form. Finally opening his eyes, Marthinus looked into the night and witnessed his rebirth. He could see deep into the forest and smell the filth of animal sweat and now fear from hearing his howl. More importantly, he could smell him.
Turning back towards the manor, his new wolf eyes searched, finding the figure standing in the dark. The one watching him with one damned eye.
Iov Hammerthynn
18 years ago
Xeph
18 years ago
Xeph had been lloking forward to this night for a while. Not with any sort of joyous anticipation, but more because that feeling of "wait and see" would be given a push in the 'see' direction instead of the 'wait.'
As the night grew dark and the moon rose, he took his Change upon himself rather than wait for the exact moment of midnight. Let Steyn's first scent be wolf-scent, he reasoned. He made his way out to the Long Run, where the two trails he sought were not hard to find. The musky, rich scent of his Beta, he would recognize anywhere. And the scent of the former human, the were-to-be, was ripe with the stench of fear. Xeph wrinkled his nose at it, explosing his gums and letting the scent seep in, learning it in intimate detail. He knew his Pack, by sight, by scent. Marthinus was Pack.
On silent feet he padded up behind Hammer, who stood quietly, watching the spectacle before them. Xeph had seen it before, many times. The Change was never easy the first time. There was no way to calm the new wolf, to explain any further than they already had. Xeph was sympathetic. Regardless of who was involved, the first time was always hard.
When Hammer whispered to him, soft enough for only Xeph's ears, he swiveled them and cocked his head at Hammer, offering up the canine version of a grin. Hunger gnawed as the moon came up, but Xeph's iron will took over during the full moon. When most of his kind suffered the madness, he stayed fairly solid. He had yet to reach the control he'd seen some exhibit, able to act completely normal regardless of form or time of month, but he could stave off a rampage and, at times like these, he could be the relatively cool head that kept two madness-driven wolves from each other's throats.
He butted his head against Hammer, knowing the Beta would be under the change himself soon enough, and let him know, in his best way, that he would be there to help smooth the way.
As the night grew dark and the moon rose, he took his Change upon himself rather than wait for the exact moment of midnight. Let Steyn's first scent be wolf-scent, he reasoned. He made his way out to the Long Run, where the two trails he sought were not hard to find. The musky, rich scent of his Beta, he would recognize anywhere. And the scent of the former human, the were-to-be, was ripe with the stench of fear. Xeph wrinkled his nose at it, explosing his gums and letting the scent seep in, learning it in intimate detail. He knew his Pack, by sight, by scent. Marthinus was Pack.
On silent feet he padded up behind Hammer, who stood quietly, watching the spectacle before them. Xeph had seen it before, many times. The Change was never easy the first time. There was no way to calm the new wolf, to explain any further than they already had. Xeph was sympathetic. Regardless of who was involved, the first time was always hard.
When Hammer whispered to him, soft enough for only Xeph's ears, he swiveled them and cocked his head at Hammer, offering up the canine version of a grin. Hunger gnawed as the moon came up, but Xeph's iron will took over during the full moon. When most of his kind suffered the madness, he stayed fairly solid. He had yet to reach the control he'd seen some exhibit, able to act completely normal regardless of form or time of month, but he could stave off a rampage and, at times like these, he could be the relatively cool head that kept two madness-driven wolves from each other's throats.
He butted his head against Hammer, knowing the Beta would be under the change himself soon enough, and let him know, in his best way, that he would be there to help smooth the way.
Marthinus T. Steyn
18 years ago
The noises, the sounds...the smells were driving Marthinus insane. He shook his head, feeling his ears wiggle softly and the chill went up his body to the tip of his...tail? The sensory over load was making him jittery and nervous and without thinking, he began to trot over to the familiar smell, the soothing scent coming from the one eyed beast watching him.
Marthinus crouched low to the ground when he saw the wolf next to Hammerthynn. His tail immediately tucking under him - its scent...so familiar. Blue grey eyes darted back and forth between the man and the wolf and Hammer's posture explained the other's presence.
The Alpha.
Instinctively Marthinus remained in the docile position, unknowingly recognizing the leader of his pack. His feelings and reactions were half human, have wolf but increasingly becoming feral. Suddenly Hammerthynn took a step closer to him and his first instinct was to raise his hackles and snarl.
That was not the correct instinct.
Marthinus crouched low to the ground when he saw the wolf next to Hammerthynn. His tail immediately tucking under him - its scent...so familiar. Blue grey eyes darted back and forth between the man and the wolf and Hammer's posture explained the other's presence.
The Alpha.
Instinctively Marthinus remained in the docile position, unknowingly recognizing the leader of his pack. His feelings and reactions were half human, have wolf but increasingly becoming feral. Suddenly Hammerthynn took a step closer to him and his first instinct was to raise his hackles and snarl.
That was not the correct instinct.
Iov Hammerthynn
18 years ago
The Alpha nudged Hammer's hand and he reached down to give him a scratch on the neck. He resisted the urge to tell him to play dead as the tell tale tingling coming up the back of his neck reminded him again that the change was close to imminent. Marthinus began to approach them, cautious and scared. As he came closer, the moonlight lit his features, giving Hammer a clear view of the new pack member.
Marthinus was black as night with specks of white dotted around his muzzle and eyes, a true sign of an old dog, so it was odd to see the were acting like a year old pup. Hammer haunched over now, letting the change take him slowly as Marthinus finally stopped in front of them, eyes darting back and forth at him and Xeph. Hammer took a step forward and suddenly Marthinus snarled at him.
His change came on quickly and painfully now, a low gutteral growl turned into a savage bark/bite in the small black were's direction. He leaned forward and by the time he was on all fours, his change was nearly complete. Shaking the torn clothes off him, Hammer's reddish brown hackles were up and he bit at Marthinus.
Reasserting dominance, Marthinus cowered and again stayed low to the ground, tail tucked under. Hammer circled him, his dead eye socket glaring at him. With his nose he nudged Marthinus under his jaw, urging him to stand straight but followed it with a slight snap of his jaws, a reminder to remain respectful.
Hammer shook his fur out, easing down his hackles and looked over at his Alpha, good grey eye narrowing at the one green eyed, one grey eyed were.
Marthinus was black as night with specks of white dotted around his muzzle and eyes, a true sign of an old dog, so it was odd to see the were acting like a year old pup. Hammer haunched over now, letting the change take him slowly as Marthinus finally stopped in front of them, eyes darting back and forth at him and Xeph. Hammer took a step forward and suddenly Marthinus snarled at him.
His change came on quickly and painfully now, a low gutteral growl turned into a savage bark/bite in the small black were's direction. He leaned forward and by the time he was on all fours, his change was nearly complete. Shaking the torn clothes off him, Hammer's reddish brown hackles were up and he bit at Marthinus.
Reasserting dominance, Marthinus cowered and again stayed low to the ground, tail tucked under. Hammer circled him, his dead eye socket glaring at him. With his nose he nudged Marthinus under his jaw, urging him to stand straight but followed it with a slight snap of his jaws, a reminder to remain respectful.
Hammer shook his fur out, easing down his hackles and looked over at his Alpha, good grey eye narrowing at the one green eyed, one grey eyed were.
Xeph
18 years ago
The show of dominance was fitting, although Xeph still bristled instinctively, arching his neck and flashing his white teeth in the moonlight. Ears forward, he watched with interest as Hammer and Marty settled themselves in the hierarchy of their little group. The desire to hunt and kill was rising, and Xeph had very little need to quell that. His job tonight was simply to keep Hammer and Steyn on track; to keep their minds on their prey and not each other. That much he could do with no problem.
As the wolves settled down for the moment he threw his head back and issued forth a long, low howl, resonant and mellifluous. The different harmonics sounded clearly to his sensitive ears, resounding through the Long Run and well into the deep of night. When the ululating noise died down, he stood and shook himself, then walked forward. He didn't look back at either were; to do so would mean 'stay.' Instead he assumed they would follow him.
Putting his nose to the ground, he began to search.
As the wolves settled down for the moment he threw his head back and issued forth a long, low howl, resonant and mellifluous. The different harmonics sounded clearly to his sensitive ears, resounding through the Long Run and well into the deep of night. When the ululating noise died down, he stood and shook himself, then walked forward. He didn't look back at either were; to do so would mean 'stay.' Instead he assumed they would follow him.
Putting his nose to the ground, he began to search.
Marthinus T. Steyn
18 years ago
For as steady as his footing felt, Marthinus still felt this overwhelming need to run. Where could he go now? Not back to Tacharan, certainly. His world not only changed that day in the hospital but that moment in the Long Run, the forest, Hammerthynn and the Alpha - everything around him. Looking up into the bright night, even the moon looked different to him, the face seemingly laughing at him. Urging him to run.
The Alpha took lead and Marthinus watched as he sniffed the ground. Blue eyes darted around at the grass and colors exploded up at him. He took a deep breath and let his palette decipher the scents. He sniffed after the Alpha, looking for a scent to chase.
The Alpha took lead and Marthinus watched as he sniffed the ground. Blue eyes darted around at the grass and colors exploded up at him. He took a deep breath and let his palette decipher the scents. He sniffed after the Alpha, looking for a scent to chase.
Iov Hammerthynn
18 years ago
Hammerthynn lowered his head to the ground, watching Marthinus discover the world around him while he brought up the rear. He crouched low, very much ready to attack anything that even remotely resembled food. This slow moving was putting him on edge - his hunting was quick and merciless. Each slow step sent vibrations up into his jittery joints, forcing Hammer to just barely quell the madness within.
Hammer let out a small snort, edging the Alpha on.
Hammer let out a small snort, edging the Alpha on.
Xeph
18 years ago
Xeph watched both weres. Madness, bloodlust, the urge to hunt and kill... they were all familiar to him, and to Hammer. To Steyn, perhaps... not so much. It wouldn't be unusual for a new were to go absolutely crazy with the need to kill, and Xeph hoped to channel the urge into a good old fashioned hunt.
What Marty might do when he came to and perhaps realized he had deer intestines stuck between his teeth, well, that was another story.
As the musky odor of game hit his nostrils he stepped back and waited for Steyn to hit it. Let him lead the hunt. Let him vent the eventual madness on an animal. Xeph would guide and follow at once, as he'd done before with new weres. Follow, yes, but provide a proper channel for the rage and the frenzy.
He caught Hammer's eye, bared his teeth ever so slightly, and let his beta know that this hunt, this night, was Steyn's.
What Marty might do when he came to and perhaps realized he had deer intestines stuck between his teeth, well, that was another story.
As the musky odor of game hit his nostrils he stepped back and waited for Steyn to hit it. Let him lead the hunt. Let him vent the eventual madness on an animal. Xeph would guide and follow at once, as he'd done before with new weres. Follow, yes, but provide a proper channel for the rage and the frenzy.
He caught Hammer's eye, bared his teeth ever so slightly, and let his beta know that this hunt, this night, was Steyn's.
Marthinus T. Steyn
18 years ago
Marthinus had been sniffing the ground, tasting the scents as they crossed his path, each filled with information about the animal or were that left it. Finally tearing his eyes away from the auras, he noticed Hammerthynn growing even more restless and realized he was doing the same. He kept rolling on the balls of his feet, his haunches ready to spring when it hit him.
It was intoxicating - the rich, delicious smell and then he was off, ignoring the Alpha and Hammer as he pushed off his hind quarters and with surprising speed ran after the scent, chasing it till it was stronger and he could taste it on his palette. The Marthinus he had known all his life, the distinguished old man who had built a name for Duibne in the medical community, that had nurtured an empire was forever gone. It was...prey. Food. The taste of blood and the sway of his lunar mistress spurring him on.
At a speed he had only dreamed of, he tore through the woods, jumping over large trunks and through the over growth of the forest around him. Marthinus had no idea if they were behind him but whatever that scent was - it was now close, so painfully close.
It was intoxicating - the rich, delicious smell and then he was off, ignoring the Alpha and Hammer as he pushed off his hind quarters and with surprising speed ran after the scent, chasing it till it was stronger and he could taste it on his palette. The Marthinus he had known all his life, the distinguished old man who had built a name for Duibne in the medical community, that had nurtured an empire was forever gone. It was...prey. Food. The taste of blood and the sway of his lunar mistress spurring him on.
At a speed he had only dreamed of, he tore through the woods, jumping over large trunks and through the over growth of the forest around him. Marthinus had no idea if they were behind him but whatever that scent was - it was now close, so painfully close.
Xeph
18 years ago
Xeph let one more good long howl rip from his throat before taking off after the rapidly disappearing Marthinus. His own nose told him the man was on track, so he simply continued to follow. The instinct of the hunter would not necessarily kick in though; pups had to be taught the proper way to stalk and kill, and for the moment Marty was exactly that. A young pup.
Xeph let out a low growl, low enough for wolfish ears only. He dropped to his belly, waiting for Hammer to do the same, sure he could exert his dominance over both wolves, even through the madness and the reddish haze that obscured their vision. He felt it too, the predator within; he didn't often hide it, didn't often try to push it down. The Kadzait were alive and meant to embrace the wolf within. Xeph welcomed the feeling, the urges, wholeheartedly.
The scent of deer was all around them now, cloying and intimate as it pervaded their nostrils. A doe, by the taste of her musky odor. This was what he'd hoped for when he'd bought this land; free ranging meals. Room to roam, for those who chose, without interference or danger from the uninitiated.
The leaves and sticks beneath his woolly coat were cool; he waited to see if instinct would drive Marty to obey.
Xeph let out a low growl, low enough for wolfish ears only. He dropped to his belly, waiting for Hammer to do the same, sure he could exert his dominance over both wolves, even through the madness and the reddish haze that obscured their vision. He felt it too, the predator within; he didn't often hide it, didn't often try to push it down. The Kadzait were alive and meant to embrace the wolf within. Xeph welcomed the feeling, the urges, wholeheartedly.
The scent of deer was all around them now, cloying and intimate as it pervaded their nostrils. A doe, by the taste of her musky odor. This was what he'd hoped for when he'd bought this land; free ranging meals. Room to roam, for those who chose, without interference or danger from the uninitiated.
The leaves and sticks beneath his woolly coat were cool; he waited to see if instinct would drive Marty to obey.
Marthinus T. Steyn
17 years ago
The low growl vibrated through his head and stopped him short in his pursuit of the scent. Marthinus shook his head and tried clearing it, but something inside him was telling him to do that would incur a wrath of such multitude, his pain would out live his regret.
Turning back, he saw what the noise had been. It was the Alpha. He was low to the ground and Hammer was mimicking his posture as well. Looking down at his own legs, he noticed he was doing the same, belly to the ground, assuming the submissive stance. The last bit of his rational human thought was dissipating and something else was replacing it. His primal instincts had taken over and Marthinus moved back towards them, waiting for the Alpha to single commands.
Turning back, he saw what the noise had been. It was the Alpha. He was low to the ground and Hammer was mimicking his posture as well. Looking down at his own legs, he noticed he was doing the same, belly to the ground, assuming the submissive stance. The last bit of his rational human thought was dissipating and something else was replacing it. His primal instincts had taken over and Marthinus moved back towards them, waiting for the Alpha to single commands.
Iov Hammerthynn
17 years ago
Good.
Hammerthynn watched Marthinus heed Xeph's growl. The instinct had taken over, now it was time to condition that feral spirit. Hammer lowered his head and waited.
Hammerthynn watched Marthinus heed Xeph's growl. The instinct had taken over, now it was time to condition that feral spirit. Hammer lowered his head and waited.
Xeph
17 years ago
This hunt belonged to Marthinus. Xeph didn't want to stand in the way of the new were's blood-thirst. With that in mind, a flip of an ear, a whuffle, and a soft, soft yip were all it should take to get them moving properly. Hammer and Xeph would flank Marty's sides, letting him take the lead and track the doe. Now that he'd fallen into a crouch he should understand how; belly low, stay close to the ground, slink along like the predator you are and when the time is right strike!
The kill was like an intricate dance. Marthinus was the lead player but Hammer and Xeph's roles were of no small import. Without the flank-wolves to harry the prey, to snap at its vulnerable hind legs, to trip it up, it would be nearly impossible for a new were to succeed.
Once Marty learned, once he'd seen how it was done, he should be able to bring down a deer on his own with little trouble; the Kadzait were larger and stronger than the average wild wolf. It was inexperience that hiundered him at the moment; inherited memories would be filtering through his head, memories that told him what to do, possibly conflicting with the driving urge to attack and ravage.
The first time under the Change was never easy, but in Xeph's experience only a handful of weres had ever claimed it hadn't gotten any easier with time. For the vast majority of them, they soon learned how to deal with instincts and memories, and for now they would help Marty along with that bit.
For now.
The kill was like an intricate dance. Marthinus was the lead player but Hammer and Xeph's roles were of no small import. Without the flank-wolves to harry the prey, to snap at its vulnerable hind legs, to trip it up, it would be nearly impossible for a new were to succeed.
Once Marty learned, once he'd seen how it was done, he should be able to bring down a deer on his own with little trouble; the Kadzait were larger and stronger than the average wild wolf. It was inexperience that hiundered him at the moment; inherited memories would be filtering through his head, memories that told him what to do, possibly conflicting with the driving urge to attack and ravage.
The first time under the Change was never easy, but in Xeph's experience only a handful of weres had ever claimed it hadn't gotten any easier with time. For the vast majority of them, they soon learned how to deal with instincts and memories, and for now they would help Marty along with that bit.
For now.
Marthinus T. Steyn
17 years ago
Now he understood what the Alpha was doing, not exerting dominance, but both were showing him that flailing about loudly was not the way to approach his prey. Marthinus was off again, quietly stalking through the woods - amazed at how lightly his body moved but how tense his muscles were just beneath his thick fur. The scent was throbbing inside his head, traveling up his sinuses and pushing the adrenaline in him to inhuman levels.
Then there it was. Standing at a pool of water, drinking from it. Its magnificent body - a full grown doe. Part of him told him to tread lightly, even a doe could certainly hurt him with a well placed hoof but the need to feed was pushing him quickly through the foliage. The tender haunches beckoning him, calling him closer. Marthinus felt weightless as he lunged at the doeand as his jaws opened wide, the buck turned and looked him in the eyes.
It's black, deep eyes and the stink of its fear filled his nostrils...and it was good.
((Marthinus out))
Then there it was. Standing at a pool of water, drinking from it. Its magnificent body - a full grown doe. Part of him told him to tread lightly, even a doe could certainly hurt him with a well placed hoof but the need to feed was pushing him quickly through the foliage. The tender haunches beckoning him, calling him closer. Marthinus felt weightless as he lunged at the doeand as his jaws opened wide, the buck turned and looked him in the eyes.
It's black, deep eyes and the stink of its fear filled his nostrils...and it was good.
((Marthinus out))
Iov Hammerthynn
17 years ago
Hammerthynn's long tongue came out and licked the blood off his jaws. He suppressed a growl as he backed up and watched Marthinus feed on the doe. Foolish. Very foolish, Hammer thought as he looked at his new protege'. Hammer cast a lone eye in the direction of the Alpha and then raised his head high up into the night and howled in a long beautiful pitch, heralding his barely capable but promising new pack member.
((Hammer out))
((Hammer out))
Xeph
17 years ago
It was hardly the cleanest of kills, but it was a kill. Xeph reveled in the deep-iron scent of blood, licked his muzzle, and let the beast within sate itself with that for the time being. Later he would hunt for himself. Nikhila was out here somewhere; it had been years since they'd killed together and after tonight he longed for the concert of a familiar companion to keep stride with and to bring down game with. Most moons he hunted alone. He twitched an ear wryly as he remembered Mrs. Robinson's unwilling yet tasty cat.
No kitty tonight. Marthinus' first kill was filling the air with scents that teased the senses. The new were himself had come off a bit on the rough side, but no matter. He would mend quickly.
Hammer's low howl caught the air and Xeph joined in eagerly, proclaiming the success of this new Amaroq for all lupine ears to hear.
((ooc: Xeph out))
No kitty tonight. Marthinus' first kill was filling the air with scents that teased the senses. The new were himself had come off a bit on the rough side, but no matter. He would mend quickly.
Hammer's low howl caught the air and Xeph joined in eagerly, proclaiming the success of this new Amaroq for all lupine ears to hear.
((ooc: Xeph out))