Drew smiled thinking of him mom, and his sister for that matter. Apparently this was a difference between the packs.
His eyebrows both lifted high. That was... intense. He didn't even know you -could- gift a child that young. He would have placed money on an infant being unable to survive the trauma of he change. It wasn't gentle or easy to put your body through that. And then to literally be a puppy in the pack... would they have been blind? Totally helpless in their wolf form like the pups of their cousins?
Their parents must have been extremely desperate to try that. Not that he blamed them, Drew was fairly certain he could watched a child of his suffer like that.
"I'm not sure I could have managed that young, and I know I had to put a crimp in sleep overs as a kid."
Suddenly Drew understood why the old guys made kids wait. They had to see their parents go through. Had to see the good and the bad and understand that his was a gift, but a gift with consequences. To never have that choice was hard to imagine.
"She said... The Yei haven't given her that direction yet. They might some day, but they haven't yet."
It was hard to explain some of their beliefs. Hell Drew knew he was an oddity that he was willing to be so far away from the Sacred Mountains but he believed it was right for him. It was what he needed to do. He also believed he would be going back to those mountains some day. With those rock solid beliefs at his core Drew couldn't doubt his mother's at all. If I was right or became right, she would know and act on it.
"Don't you have any humans in your pack?"
Nice to meet you...again. (Attn: Drew)
They pulled up to the Sushi Bistro that Tavi and her mysterious cat friend had found. It had been quite good despite the odd name. She had become a familiar sight there. When you ate things raw there were only so many places you could out while still managing to look like a socially acceptable member of society.
It seemed from what she had seen, she and Drew had that in common. When she thought about it, never once had she needed to make an excuse for the nights of the full moon because he had never asked her out on those nights. Then there were the cats; a reaction like that wasn't normal, not from every single feline in the place.
If that weren't enough, when she came back the scratches on Drew's face from the cat who had attacked him were gone.
Only two species healed that quickly...and one of them wouldn't have been out in the sunshine.
Taking hold of his arm before they headed inside, Tavi pulled him over toward a small manicured little island of greenery between the restaurant and the store next to it. The little section wasn't big but it did boast one tree to stand under for shade.
Holding onto his shoulders with both of her hands, she leaned forward onto her tiptoes and spoke in a quiet voice, knowing now that he would hear her easily. "Your scratches are gone....cousin."
Leaning back she looked him in the eye. "So, you're not a dog person...you're a wolf person. Kadzait, I'm guessing because I certainly don't recall seeing you on our full moon runs." Tavi looked him over briefly, more interested in the discussion than being terribly suggestive,"and I'm pretty sure I would have noticed."
Tavi reached out a hand to him. "Let's start again. Hi, I'm Octavia Emiliano of the Vyusher R'asa, I like raw meat, long walks and howling at the moon. And you?"
Drew
13 years ago
Octavia Emiliano
13 years ago
Tavi shrugged when he pointed out that it was a rough situation. "Desperate times, desperate measures...so they say. My friends were mainly a part of the R'asa so there was no troubles. Except that they quickly out grew us in appearance." For a while all the children did that; at least until they got past the age of gifting but by then Tavi and Tobi were mentally old enough to want to be with adults and not hanging about with the ten year old crowd. It left them spending most of their time together.
She nodded about his mother and her choice to stay human. What must it be like to have that choice? Sometimes people of the pack chose not to be Gifted. It was rare, almost unheard of, and they usually went their own when they reached adulthood. Perhaps it was something in their personality or perhaps it was because they were going against custom and were a disappointment to their parents for not following tradition. Such a choice was a tough one; anyone who made it had to have a very good reason for it among the R'asa. Tavi would admire the courage and the sheer amount of perverse will it took to do such a thing. Of course, she was not exactly the 'follow the rules' type to begin with.
Shrugging, Tavi shook her head to his question. "Not in our Kumpania. There are sometimes humans but it is rare. We travel often and stay amongst ourselves because we are not welcome. It is a cycle that breeds more of the same really. We aren't welcome therefore we don't welcome outsiders... round and round. Its a big secret for a human to keep. Normally they become a part of the pack as a human because they love someone in it; say a sibling or someone who was bitten. They might not choose to become one of us but they have reason to keep our secret. This is the first time in a very long time that the Vyusher have stayed in one place long enough to form very many ties of trust." Which may or may not happen. It was hard to say; she wouldn't begin to predict what went on in the mind of the Sarkis and Savia...and they were her parents.
"So you have a lot of humans in your pack?"
She nodded about his mother and her choice to stay human. What must it be like to have that choice? Sometimes people of the pack chose not to be Gifted. It was rare, almost unheard of, and they usually went their own when they reached adulthood. Perhaps it was something in their personality or perhaps it was because they were going against custom and were a disappointment to their parents for not following tradition. Such a choice was a tough one; anyone who made it had to have a very good reason for it among the R'asa. Tavi would admire the courage and the sheer amount of perverse will it took to do such a thing. Of course, she was not exactly the 'follow the rules' type to begin with.
Shrugging, Tavi shook her head to his question. "Not in our Kumpania. There are sometimes humans but it is rare. We travel often and stay amongst ourselves because we are not welcome. It is a cycle that breeds more of the same really. We aren't welcome therefore we don't welcome outsiders... round and round. Its a big secret for a human to keep. Normally they become a part of the pack as a human because they love someone in it; say a sibling or someone who was bitten. They might not choose to become one of us but they have reason to keep our secret. This is the first time in a very long time that the Vyusher have stayed in one place long enough to form very many ties of trust." Which may or may not happen. It was hard to say; she wouldn't begin to predict what went on in the mind of the Sarkis and Savia...and they were her parents.
"So you have a lot of humans in your pack?"
Drew
13 years ago
Drew didn't think it was too big of a secret. Of course, most of the Illamar he knew were on the rez and as such in the middle of nowhere. And who were they going to tell way out there? Even if they did tell some one, no one would believe it and thanks to superstition and traditional beliefs any negative consequences would fall as much on any human who revealed them as any of the Amaroq. So he might just have a different view of things than Tavi.
"Well aside from the constant traveling... that isn't too different from us. I can't understand it. Who wouldn't want a pack of rampaging wolves to contend with three days a month?"
It was a light hearted answer to a serious issue. Drew knew why and he knew that the odds of other Navajos accepting them were slim and none. But... well... he didn't want to dwell on it. It was one of those things he wanted to work on eventually, but didn't quite know how to start. Some day he'd know.
His expression became somewhat pained and he scratched his head looking for a good way to say this. There wasn't one so he went with honesty.
"Nope. Not many. Up until recently... they weren't exactly treated well. That is changing. Personally I think it is a good thing. Gives you a more diverse group of people and view points, and if we can accept humans maybe some day humans can accept us."
Drew didn't like to talk about the negative. He remembered people hassling his mother. He'd just been a kid so he hadn't understood it all but he did remember his father being badly hurt over the matter. It still made him mad.
"Well aside from the constant traveling... that isn't too different from us. I can't understand it. Who wouldn't want a pack of rampaging wolves to contend with three days a month?"
It was a light hearted answer to a serious issue. Drew knew why and he knew that the odds of other Navajos accepting them were slim and none. But... well... he didn't want to dwell on it. It was one of those things he wanted to work on eventually, but didn't quite know how to start. Some day he'd know.
His expression became somewhat pained and he scratched his head looking for a good way to say this. There wasn't one so he went with honesty.
"Nope. Not many. Up until recently... they weren't exactly treated well. That is changing. Personally I think it is a good thing. Gives you a more diverse group of people and view points, and if we can accept humans maybe some day humans can accept us."
Drew didn't like to talk about the negative. He remembered people hassling his mother. He'd just been a kid so he hadn't understood it all but he did remember his father being badly hurt over the matter. It still made him mad.
Octavia Emiliano
13 years ago
Tavi laughed at Drew's sarcastic statement and shrugged her shoulders. "We are misunderstood. Its true. We are all actually kind and cuddly."
She picked up her last bit of sushi and popped it into her mouth. Taking a sip of her drink, she listened to his talk about his pack and humans. It would seem that things weren't nearly as different as she thought. The acceptance of non werewolves would appear to be a fairly new thing. They might have allowed humans into their pack more often than the R'asa but prejudice still happened. Ignorance and elitism happened everywhere. One day though she and Tobi would do their best to change that.
"Times change. We'll see what coming to the cities does for our people." She was not ready to go find a human and tell all her supernatural secrets but maybe she would feel differently after being in Nachton for a while and making friends. Knowing a person well enough to guess how they might react to such news certainly helped in the divulging of such secrets.
"So shall we push on in our grand quest?" There were leads to follow after all.
She picked up her last bit of sushi and popped it into her mouth. Taking a sip of her drink, she listened to his talk about his pack and humans. It would seem that things weren't nearly as different as she thought. The acceptance of non werewolves would appear to be a fairly new thing. They might have allowed humans into their pack more often than the R'asa but prejudice still happened. Ignorance and elitism happened everywhere. One day though she and Tobi would do their best to change that.
"Times change. We'll see what coming to the cities does for our people." She was not ready to go find a human and tell all her supernatural secrets but maybe she would feel differently after being in Nachton for a while and making friends. Knowing a person well enough to guess how they might react to such news certainly helped in the divulging of such secrets.
"So shall we push on in our grand quest?" There were leads to follow after all.
Drew
13 years ago
"Unless you happen to be a deer or a rabbit or something.... I happen to think we are down right cuddly."
Drew cheerfully protested, well aware that the mere sight of he or one of his family in their other skin as enough to send a sane person running for the hills. While they looked like normal wolves the were larger and could appear more than a little menacing. At least to those who didn't know them. The Illamar he knew were certainly not afraid, respectful but not afraid.
"So long as we don't all turn into Starbucks junkies with cell phones glued to our ears I'm willing to see how this little experiment goes."
The city did still feel a little odd to him, but he was getting used to it. Hell he even enjoyed it some times, there was lots to and a good number of opportunities and interesting people along with good places to run. It was manageable, he might even like it. Although he did sort of miss the -wide- open spaces back home.
He wolfed down the rest his sushi and nodded happily.
"I think we shall. But... no more cat shows. Deal?"
Drew cheerfully protested, well aware that the mere sight of he or one of his family in their other skin as enough to send a sane person running for the hills. While they looked like normal wolves the were larger and could appear more than a little menacing. At least to those who didn't know them. The Illamar he knew were certainly not afraid, respectful but not afraid.
"So long as we don't all turn into Starbucks junkies with cell phones glued to our ears I'm willing to see how this little experiment goes."
The city did still feel a little odd to him, but he was getting used to it. Hell he even enjoyed it some times, there was lots to and a good number of opportunities and interesting people along with good places to run. It was manageable, he might even like it. Although he did sort of miss the -wide- open spaces back home.
He wolfed down the rest his sushi and nodded happily.
"I think we shall. But... no more cat shows. Deal?"
Octavia Emiliano
13 years ago
Tavi quirked a dubious eyebrow at him. "Whatever you say, Chief."
She threw her napkin and cup in the trash and replaced the tray above it, before hopping over the little railing that marked the edge of the bistro's outside area.
"I don't know technology is pretty cool and who doesn't love a good caffeine buzz?"
Smiling at Drew, she smirked when he asked for no more cat shows. Bringing back the earlier conversation, Tavi said. "But they found you SO adorable."
Wrapping an arm around his waist, she agreed. "No more cat shows."
((OOC: both out ))
She threw her napkin and cup in the trash and replaced the tray above it, before hopping over the little railing that marked the edge of the bistro's outside area.
"I don't know technology is pretty cool and who doesn't love a good caffeine buzz?"
Smiling at Drew, she smirked when he asked for no more cat shows. Bringing back the earlier conversation, Tavi said. "But they found you SO adorable."
Wrapping an arm around his waist, she agreed. "No more cat shows."
((OOC: both out ))