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Post by Magda Sol on May 22, 2010 17:24:41 GMT -4
The Green County woods was not a place people normally ventured, it was, plainly put, creepy. Travelers looking for the fall color usually turned around shortly after entering and drove away as quickly as possible. The locals wouldn't even get that close. When the place was first settled there had been rumors of evil lurking in the woods, evil that lured hunting father and husbands away from their families. In the later part of the twentieth century their had been an old lady who made her home in the woods. School children told stories about her, fully believing that she was a witch. Teenagers would dare each other to venture into the woods and find her cabin, the bravest among them would knock on her front door before running away.
The reality was not far from the legend. The old woman, Agatha, had indeed been a witch, but not the sort to turn men into toads or children into pies. She had been a kind witch, who got a kick out of the frightened visitors, and for a time, warded off the real perils that made those woods their home. Agatha wasn't always alone either. Around the full moon she would set another place at her table, and wait by the window for her guest. Sometimes the guest would show, sometimes she wouldn't. It was a hard day when Magda came to visit Agatha only to find the witch had died peacefully in her sleep. The two had been friends since the shapeshifter had moved to the States.
Twenty years after Agatha's death, the cabin was still well maintained, Magda had made sure of that. The garden and lawn had been overrun, but the interior had changed little. Most importantly, the intricate trio of circles carved into the basement floor remained intact.
On this particular morning, the circles contained a rather naked woman. Waking from sleep, Mags looked around contented. Once again, the magic had contained the beast. We have gone forty-nine months without a fatality, she thought to herself to celebrate, ice cream will be served in the break room.
Stretching to her full height, she attempted to ease the cramps caused by her latest bought of involuntary shapeshifting before heading to her pile of clothes. Last night had been the last night of the full moon, and the woman was eager to hit the road. The woods had become darker than usual lately, and Mags didn't want to linger. She had tried to find the source of whatever the hell was lurking out there before, but it hadn't ended well. There was a only so deep one could venture into these woods before every instinct just screamed at you to run away with your tail between your legs.
The loup-garous scowled as she reached the front door. There was a smell. A not-natural, not-friendly smell. Something had been here. Something had been curious. Looking for her? For the beast? That was a chilling thought. No good would come of this smell. It was time to leave. Time to maybe not come back.
A shiver ran down Magda's spine, and she began her trek to the edge of the woods. If she was walking a bit faster than normal, then so be it.
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Post by Alexander Blutmond on May 22, 2010 19:15:06 GMT -4
Alexander had traveled many miles all over the world and he'd made his way to Green County after hearing rumors of a monster in the woods. He'd arrived halfway through the full moon cycle but didn't find anything running through the town tasting the local cuisine. And he didn't mean the restaurants. However there was no mistaking the scent of a shapeshifter, following it lead him to a cabin in the middle of the woods.
He slowly snuck up to the window and peered in, sure enough there was the so called monster inside. Alex was about to ask why it didn't come out to play when he saw the markings keeping it in place. He'd never heard of werewolves being restrained by incantations which meant this one was something different. It also wasn't hard to guess this one was female. He decided to stick around and see what was up.
It wasn't till the end of the full moon cycle when he woke up that he saw the woman in human form. he hadn't watched her transformation back but the sound of her leaving the cabin woke him. Crawling out from beneath the tree he'd slept under and changing back into his human form he walked over to the girl with an inhuman speed.
"Fancy place you got there, do you own or rent?"
He could smell the beast in her but something said this one didn't dine on the six billion two leggers that inhabited the planet.
"I'm Alex", he said as he extended his hand.
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Post by Magda Sol on May 22, 2010 19:34:30 GMT -4
The scent, and the person attached to it, had been waiting for her. At it was fast. Magda let out a soft warning growl as it came close. He had a human form, but his smell suggest he was something else entirely. Something dangerous, and something that had seen her other form. Animal, but not. Like her then. A beast. He had blood on him, human blood.
"It belonged to a friend." Agatha was long dead, but the magic she had used to protect the place was still intact, so the cabin still belonged to the witch.
It was human reasoning that caused Magda to answer his question, the beast wanted to either attack or escape. The human knew was curious about the newcomer. It was a very stupid curiosity, but she was determined to figure out who and what this man was.
"Magda. What exactly are you doing out here? These woods are dangerous." She left out 'what are you?' if he didn't know that she knew that something was off about him, then he might be less likely to attack. And he was the violent type, Mags could just tell. Animal instinct maybe.
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Post by Alexander Blutmond on May 22, 2010 19:47:57 GMT -4
"It belonged to a friend."
"Hmmm... you don't say, where is this 'friend'?"
He heard the growl, one of the perks were excellent senses. He saw her tense up, he could sense that she wanted to run or pounce on him. He was welcome to either one.
"Magda. What exactly are you doing out here? These woods are dangerous."
"Are they now? Then what is it you're doing out here?", he slowly paced a circle around her taking in her scent, testing her boundaries. He avoided answering what he was doing out here, he was sure she could figure it out.
"So what is it that makes these woods so dangerous? It's not like there's a monster out here is there?"
He couldn't help as a small grin came to his face. He knew what she was and he could feel that she knew he wasn't an average joe. He walked back around to face her, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So what are you miss Magda? I know what I saw the past two nights but even in all my time I don't think I've seen anything like you before."
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Post by Magda Sol on May 22, 2010 23:28:16 GMT -4
"Gone, I'm taking care of it for her." By gone, Magda meant dead, rather than on vacation. Actually Agatha was buried not far from where they were standing, in what had once been an herb garden. Still though, occasionally the old woman's presence could be felt in the cabin. Other's might have found it creepy, she found it comforting.
"Oh yes, ask an of the locals," the woman said evenly as Alex cicled around her. She could hear him inhaling, taking in her scent most likely. "A witch haunts these woods, and all number of hell beasts."
Both myths had some measure of truth, Agatha's spellwork, and thus her presence, could still be found. Mainly around the cabin and the edge of the woods closest to town. The witch protective nature had certainly survived her death. Hell beasts, might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there were dangerous creatures other than Magda hidden in the trees.
The shapeshifter's breath caught when the not-man touched her, brushing a few strands of hair back with a gentleness that surprised her. Logically, she should have been trying to make some sort of an exit, but whatever kind of predator Alex may have been, it was hidden behind a pretty face. Over a thousand years, and Magda was still susceptible to such things. Mother would surely have a thing or two to say about that.
"I could ask you the same thing. Most people would have fled at the site of my other form, or attacked. But you are certainly not most, or even people for that matter." Two could play at avoiding questions, and a battle of wits was much preferable to any other. Except maybe a battle of cooking, everyone won with those.
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Post by Alexander Blutmond on May 22, 2010 23:49:40 GMT -4
"Gone, I'm taking care of it for her. Oh yes, ask an of the locals, A witch haunts these woods, and all number of hell beasts."
"Oh really now? Well I certainly can't leave a girl as pretty as you all alone in here now can I?"
Alexander held her chin gently as he studied her face. He knew she was a powerful one but she seemed uneasy around him but he didn't blame her. He knew she was speaking the truth about the witch and other things in the forest. He could sense them before he'd entered but he wasn't worries about them. He heard the sharp intake of breath as he brushed the hair back, but he wasn't convinced it was all from fear.
"I could ask you the same thing. Most people would have fled at the site of my other form, or attacked. But you are certainly not most, or even people for that matter."
"Then why don't you ask me? And why would I ever want to attack such a beautiful creature? And no, I am certainly not most people but neither are you. Now what is it you'd like to know? Just remember I asked first, so I want answers before I give them."
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Post by Magda Sol on May 23, 2010 12:19:39 GMT -4
"Oh really now? Well I certainly can't leave a girl as pretty as you all alone in here now can I?"
It was such an obvious line that Magda couldn't help but roll her eyes, but she was almost smiling. That was big for her, usually she frowned, occasionally there was a scowl. Having the instincts of a killer beast didn't make one a walking party. It made her effective a driving off drunk college boy's though. "How chivalrous of you."
The ghost of a smile disappeared when he called her out for avoiding his question. Magda really didn't like talking about what she was, she didn't need the pity or fear that it inspired. Most of the witches and wizards that she had encountered over the years had been able to help her contain the beast, so it evened out. The few that had tried to take advantage had met very grizzly ends. It didn't play well with anyone.
"I'm a loup-garous. During full moons I well, you've seen it. It's uncontrollable, born of vengeance. If allowed to run free the beast would destroy everything in its path. I've been that this for...over a thousand years." Magda paused, remember waking up after the last time it had been allowed free range in a populated area. Men, women, children. It had left no survivors. "So, what about you?"
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Post by Alexander Blutmond on May 23, 2010 12:46:34 GMT -4
"How chivalrous of you."
"Why of course my dear lady, just consider me your knight in shining armor", he said as he made an elegantly ridiculous bow.
He saw the smile disappear from her face but she seemed to be relaxing a bit. The threat of her attacking or running off didn't seem as high. She seemed uncomfortable telling him what she was.
"I'm a loup-garous. During full moons I well, you've seen it. It's uncontrollable, born of vengeance. If allowed to run free the beast would destroy everything in its path. I've been that this for...over a thousand years. So, what about you?"
"Well first off allow me to say you look excellent for a woman over a millenia old. As for myself..."
He stood next to her putting an arm around her shoulder holding her tightly as he gestured his hand towards the sky.
"I am the son of the wolf who took the right hand of Tyr, the wolf who is bound by Gleipnir but at the time of Ragnarok he will break free and take the life of Odin. I am the grandson of Loki, trickster of gods. The brother of Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson, who chase the moon and sun. I will forever to walk this earth until Ragnarok where I will fight with the Jötunn horde against the gods of old. I am the stuff of nightmares, devourer of the innocent, I am a Son of Fenrir."
He was pretty proud of his little speech, he'd always enjoyed giving it when he could. The only problem was that most of the people that heard it didn't last long afterwards.
"Now my dear, why is it you restrain the beast? And what is this magic that keeps it locked away? Surely you can't feel it inside you, screaming to be free. Trying to get out and run free, have fun, cause mayhem. Why do you keep that part of yourself locked away?"
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Post by Magda Sol on May 24, 2010 23:43:04 GMT -4
Alex's antics were amusing if nothing else. Her husband had possessed the same charm, although Filipe's had been much more prominent. He had also lack the intense air that surrounded Alex, and it kind of killed the effect. It was hard to completely relax around someone who seemed like they could rip your throat out on a whim.
She swallowed deeply when the not-man explained his true nature. Inheriting one's powers from your Nordic wolf-god of a father was a bit more impressive then being blessed with suck by a long forgotten bitch of a goddess. Especially if that meant he had control in his non-himan form. Part of Magda wondered how the beast would fair against him in a fight. Fenir was still alive so he probably didn't have the right tools for the job. But who knew, maybe there was a limit to how much damage she could take. She'd never had to regrow a limb before, ripping off the beasts head might do it in.
"I know what it's like to loose everything, what it can do to a person. And that thing is not me, it has no right to use my body to kill others." There was a hint of anger when she spoke the last part, two and a half millennium had stopped Mags from being pissed off at what she had become. "I know what that thing wants, but there is some amount of pleasure at being able to deny it that pleasure. It probably hates me as much as I hate it by now."
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Post by Alexander Blutmond on May 25, 2010 0:09:24 GMT -4
"I know what it's like to loose everything, what it can do to a person. And that thing is not me, it has no right to use my body to kill others. I know what that thing wants, but there is some amount of pleasure at being able to deny it that pleasure. It probably hates me as much as I hate it by now."
"But it is you my dear, it's been you for as long as you've been it. It's body is your body, your mind is it's your mind. As much as you hate it, it's a part of you just like you're a part of it. Besides what do you owe any of these people? I'm willing to bet you're used to people hating you after they know what you are. So why run away and keep it locked up? Let it free and take the revenge on those who hurt you. So is it only the full moon that does it or is there a way to trigger the beast to come out?"
Alexander looked at Magda, she seemed somewhat tense around him. He didn't think much on it, his mind wondering if there was a way to make her angry enough that the beast would come out.
"So this cabin must mean a lot to you for you to take care of it and have a place that you can go and transform in it. I'm willing to bet you'd get pretty pissed if something happened to it wouldn't you?"
He could feel his body start to transform partially into the wolf. His teeth and nails grew longer and sharper, his ears growing a bit pointier, his hair growing a bit longer and darker and the final step were his eyes turning into those of a wolf, from the grey eyes he had in his human form to bright blue ones that in the dark would glow red when light hit them.
He reached out and grabbed Magda by the shoulders, lifting her up to look her in the eyes. His claws digging in to her skin a little. His voice becoming a deep growl when he spoke.
"If you don't want me to destroy this cabin, then you better transform and stop me."
Dropping her, he turned and started moving towards the house slowly. He wanted to see her unleash the creature, he wanted to see the power it had, he wanted to see the destruction it could bring, but mostly he wanted to see the pain it could inflict on the humans that condemned him whenever they found out what he was.
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Post by Magda Sol on May 25, 2010 16:38:30 GMT -4
Alex's argument for letting the beast loose was a familiar one, she'd been hearing variants of it from every power hunger wizard looking for a pet, or supernatural being with a grudge against humanity that she'd run across since the changes began. Magda's answer had not changed, no way in hell. Whatever their motive's might be, the former human had never had a reason to want to harm normal people. If they were frightened of her, it was for a very damn good reason. They were supposed to be afraid of something that could and would kill them if given half a chance. It was a survival instinct. It would be stupid to hold it against them.
"So this cabin must mean a lot to you for you to take care of it and have a place that you can go and transform in it. I'm willing to bet you'd get pretty pissed if something happened to it wouldn't you?"
Her only reaction to that was a low warning growl. There were several reason why the son of Fenir shouldn't be tampering with the cabin, but he probably would care about any of them. The charming facade was gone now, leaving his cruel streak for all to see. Magda was pissed at herself for falling for it, she should have listened to her baser instincts, and avoided any conversation.
She showed no fear when he half transformed, and only anger when her grabbed her. Alex could clearly inflict a whole world of harm upon her, but the loup-garous didn't care. Whatever he did to her would heal eventually. She was more than ready to fight him now.
Magda growled again when he moved towards thew cabin, and then lunged at his back. She knew Alex's attempts at forcing her to change outside of a full moon were useless. The goddess had told her that was the only time it could happen. Even if the bitch had lied to her, Mags would have figured that out before. The witch hunts during the early modern period hadn't gone well for her, what with the torture and accusations of witch craft. That had been the only time the immortal had ever wished for a change, but it hadn't come until its appointed time.
"I can't change, but I will stop you!"
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Post by Alexander Blutmond on May 25, 2010 16:49:33 GMT -4
"I can't change, but I will stop you!"
Alex felt her hit his back when she lunged at him. She was stronger than he'd expected but if she really couldn't transform he wasn't to worried. Reaching around he grabbed her by her arm and tossed her to the side as he continued his walk towards the cabin. He knew he'd probably made an enemy out of her but it was for her own good, She shouldn't hide what she was. She was practically a god among the humans.
He looked at the house and wondered what was so important about the place. He reached out and lightly scratched his claws down the door, he could feel the power inside the house. Maybe it belonged to a wizard or something at one point.
"Last chance to transform and stop me or else we're going to see if I can break my own record for fastest demolished building."
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Post by Magda Sol on May 26, 2010 18:52:04 GMT -4
Magda's face had lost all traces of civility, her upper lip was drawn back to reveal teeth and her eyes had taken on an almost inhuman sheen. The expression of a beast on the form of a human. Her mind was in a similar state, a mix of the beasts aggression and Magda's intelligence. It was a dangerous combination, and if her opponent had been anything less than the son of a god, his death would have been certain.
She rolled to her feet as her body hit the ground. The initial attack hadn't gone as well as hoped, but as the saying went if at first you don't succeed try, try again. "Do I look like the Hulk to you?"
Magda rushed at him again, as if she were going for another tackle, but pulled a bowie knife out her jacket at the last minute and trust it at his spinal cord. Sure, it would probably heal pretty quickly, but the temporary wound would hurt like a bitch and hopefully paralyze him temporarily. Once he was down, she could really deal out some damage.
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Post by Alexander Blutmond on May 26, 2010 19:09:21 GMT -4
"Do I look like the Hulk to you?"
Alexander looked over at the girl, he could see the beast inside but she hadn't changed yet. Just as he turned back to the cabin she was coming at him again. Except she had a surprise up her sleeve. He had just turned to grab her when he felt the blade going into his spine.
"GAHH!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?!"
He dropped to one knee as he reached around to feel the wound. It was gushing blood one second but it didn't last long, but he could still feel it.
"This was one of my favorite shirts, what the hell??"
The wound might've closed but his spine had been hit and that would take a minute. He held on to the door frame so he wouldn't drop to the ground.
He turned himself and sat against the cabin door as he waited for his back to fix itself. He looked over at Magda, he could see she was pretty pissed. For some reason she reminded him of a Daughter of Fenrir he'd known a few centuries ago. Like her, Magda was fearless and ready to protect what was hers.
"Ok, time-out."
He wiped the blood from his hands on the grass around him. He'd have to get new clothes now. This really was one of his favorite shirts.
"What's with the knife? Just transform already I know you have it in you. From the way things are looking you have two choices, let me get up or kick a guy when he's down. So what are you Mags? A fair player or a ruthless killer?"
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Post by Magda Sol on May 28, 2010 0:02:50 GMT -4
"What the hell do you think it was for? You're the one who started this fight."
Magda was glad to see that the tactic had some effect. Alex could take damage, and the recovery wasn't always instantaneous. This gave her a chance in the fight. Avoid his teeth and claws, aim for parts that took longer to heal, and aggravate old wounds. Thus far, neither combatant seemed to have a weapon that could kill the other. Hell, what exactly killed this bastard was anyone guess at the moment.
Time out? Fair Play? Was Alex serous? He was attacking what more or less constituted as her den - the only place in this part of the country that could contain the beast, not to mention being the focal point for a good portion of Agatha's magic. There would be no letting him catch his breath, Magda wasn't stopping until he was running away with his tail between his legs.
Without answering his last question, she grabbed the son of Fenir by the collar of his favorite shirt, pulled him to his feet, and decked him. Hard. That should satisfy his curiosity. It wasn't in her nature to sit by while something dear to her was being attacked. Back when she had been human the proper response had been running for help. When that had failed, she'd turned to the gods. Now it was possible to stand and fight, so that was what usually happened.
"Leave now!" Magda said in an icy tone. With a grunt of effort, she half pushed and half threw Alex away from the house. Taking a risk, the woman knelt down and grabbed the knife from where it had fallen. She would need its sharp edge, unlike the other shapeshifter, her nails did not turn into claws.
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