The Wanderer [open]

[Hyraxe Meyne]

There was the quiet clicking of claws on the stones laid into the ground. It was accompanied only by the soft pants of what could be mistaken for an animal, if not for the vast difference in appearance. Hyraxe had reverted to walking on all fours, the bones in his legs making it easy for him to do so. It was a convenient way of getting around - four legs moved faster than two. Unfortunately this method of locomotion also meant that he garnered more stares than usual. As if his visage wasn't bad enough. A soft growl warded off the surprised glances, but there were still more piercing eyes running over him, judging him from afar, others, with fear in them. The feeling of being gawked at made him uneasy, and the shapeshifter drew himself to his full height, hands leaving the ground as he shifted his weight to the large padded paws of his legs.

Being able to stand taller than most of them made him feel a slightly less vulnerable, though is tail still flicked in annoyance when he caught someone looking. His eyes flashed when he caught sight of the path out of the castle and into town. It wasn't fair really. Hyraxe could never allow himself out of the school. Humans feared him just as much as the other beings did, if not more. To them he was a monster, inflicted with some disease unheard of. No one wanted to be near him. Of course, telling them his semi-shifted form was a curse would do no better. After all, why anger whoever it was who gave him the affliction?

Fear of the unknown is the very essence of humanity.

Hyraxe tore his eyes from the road, chiding himself for getting riled up over such a thing. What would he need to go into town for anyway? Humans weren't worth seeing or interacting with. And their towns were hardly spectacular. But deep down there was a quiet longing that tugged the strings of his heart. The need to know, to be normal, to be treated as an equal rather than as a beast. He shook the thoughts away, suddenly distracted by the sound of running water. The fountain.

The cat side of him had its interest piqued. He stood stock still, ears pointed in the direction of the sound, eyes watching curiously as light glanced off the surface of the water. He dashed towards it, leaping gracefully onto the fountain's perimeter, the pads of his paws absorbing the impact of the cool marble. Without thinking, he stuck out his hand, swiping at the stream of silver that trickled down into the pool. Something sparked inside his chest. Play. He reached out again, small droplets splashing from where his hand cut the stream. He shook out his paw a little, licking off the excess water, before repeating the game, forgetting for a moment, about those around him, and who might be watching.

[Leo Phoenix]

Leo had fallen asleep late last night in the letter room of the school, so her hair, which she'd put in a messy knot, was looking extra puffy today. I could totally pass off as a lion shifter today, she rolled her eyes as she walked through the forest, keeping the gardens in sight. If she had to chose something else to be, it would be a shifter. For one reason or another she could always picture herself turning into an elegant hunter of the African savannah.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with being the offspring of a vampire and magician. She just wished that she had a more exciting past. It seemed everyone at the school had such cliche histories: run aways, abandoned, single parents, surprise powers - it was all the same. Aside from her name, she was no different.

Leo removed the pen from behind her ear and continued along a train of thought she'd thought she had lost. It was normal for her to have ink lining her arms because she simply couldn't keep paper organized. Her head tilted up and she stopped, her pen millimeters from her fair skin, as she looked at the courtyard. Feet travel far when the eyes are distracted; she instantly imagined the scene dark and somber. The darkening sky was starless and the moon cast as eerie glow over everything. The fountain had long since dried up, abandoned for years. A lone figure, struck with misfortune standing on the fountains bowl...

"Wait, I've seen him before." she murmured under her breath. From what Leo could see, he was all alone but seemingly happy. She herself wasn't one to go out and talk to people, usually waiting for them to come to her. Ironic because her imagination scared most people away.

Making up her mind in that second, Leo put her pen back behind her ear and pulled her sleeve down just past her elbow to cover most of the writing. "Um, hello, my name's Leo - no that's too cliche. Originality is something you're feared for girl. Reach into that scary corner and pull out a unique greeting ... or something." Or something, she repeated, not at all realizing that she'd already made it to the fountain, or even sat down for that matter.

[Hyraxe Meyne]

The youth's hands were thoroughly wet now, and he stopped to lick them dry. While for a human such an action would be redundant, Hyraxe's tongue was textured like velvet, soft, slightly rough and very dry. This little talent though, gave him the tendency to forgo baths in favor of licking himself clean. Which, incidentally, worked just as well, but aggravated him when he realized he was once again giving over to the animal in him. He finished cleaning off his hands, letting out a cavernous yawn. His fangs were seen for a brief moment, before his lips once again sheltered them from sight.

The sound of footsteps caught his attention. They were heading his way. His ears pricked, and he turned his head, scanning for the source of the noise. A girl. She was of a small build - short and slender, almost childlike in appearance. Had he been anywhere else he might have brushed her off as no threat to his safety. But he was in the midst of a school where danger could come in even the smallest of packages. And usually no one approached him, with the exception of those looking to harass him or pick a fight. His instinct immediately put him on guard, hackles raising to make him look bigger. The girl didn't seem to notice, distracted by something, muttering under her breath. He cocked his head curiously, though his muscles were still tense.

He took the time to mark out her features. A pen stuck out from behind her ear, and his eyes caught a flash of ink set into her arm, before her sleeve moved again to cover it. A writer then. His right ear flicked back, uncertain. What was she? Her hair ran somewhat wild, creating a false mane around her head. It reminded him of how his father had looked outside his feral form. Hyraxe shook the thought away, growling slightly at the resurface of the memory. His nose quivered as she got closer. No, she was no shifter. She had not the scent about her. But his fur could feel the familiar prickle of magic as she drew even nearer. A magician then.

His ears pressed flat against his head. He had no fond memories of magicians. In addition to the man that had inflicted his curse upon him, Hyraxe had borne many an injury as the result of a magician's malicious prank. No doubt the girl was approaching to cause trouble. His tail tucked itself between his legs, back arching. He was ready to bolt when all of a sudden the girl sat herself down beside him. His ears caught the quiet mutter of 'or something', and his fur smoothed out, the shifter now more confused than anything. She wasn't attacking. Just...sitting. His mind tried to process this information, while at the same time thinking of something to say.

"You're not supposed to sit down."

He blinked dumbly, before realizing what he'd just said, tail flicking about in annoyance at his own ineptness. He had to rectify his mistake.

"You're supposed to attack me."

Oh yes, that was much better. Maybe he ought to just stop talking and hope that the girl went away without thinking him too crazy. His jaw clamped shut, the only movement now coming from his ears, which swiveled in uncertainty, while at the same time on the alert for any other noise, lest this prove to be a ruse to cover for some other attack.

[Leo Phoenix]

Leo looked up at the sound of another's voice. "Attack you? Why would I think to attack you? The only people I attack are those of ink and paper - Not to say that I was planning on turning you into one, cause I'm not - That doesn't mean I can't thought-" Wow, smooth Leo, real smooth. She stood up to leave, walked in a tight circle and sat down again, burying her face in her hands.

This was exactly why she didn't approach other people first. One way or another she always made a fool of herself. Looking at the fountain (too shy all of a sudden to look at him) she said, "Well that was 'unique'. Could you, maybe, forget I did that? I'm not so good at making the first effort in conversations - Obviously by that brilliant ramble there you know. My name's Leo, by the way."

Leo looked at him, feeling somewhat intimidated. Her moods changed so fast it was crazy. One minute bold, the next shy - Possibly the reason for her developing 'insanity', as her friends so loved to tease her. "Oh please say something. I know I'm scary but I hate to be embarrassed just as much as the next girl."

[Hyraxe Meyne]

The shifter's fur bristled slightly at what sounded like a threat. Ink and paper? He had no wish to be turned into anything more than what he already was. Unless he was being turned back to normal of course. But his response quickly cooled when the girl stood - she seemed frustrated. Perhaps...perhaps she found it just as difficult as he did to speak with others. Hyraxe allowed his fur to smooth out again, his posture no longer defensive. The girl meant him no harm, and it was quite possible she was actually just trying to get to know him. It was at this point that he really did not know how to react. No one ever came up to just talk to him. He'd been practically programmed to either fight or flee when people got too close, and now even his instincts were in a muddle.

She was not looking at him now. Had he intimidated her? The shifter was quick to perk up his ears, softening his features. He might not be a social butterfly, but he was not going to pass up the chance to gain a companion. He could not possibly spend his whole life with only a cat for company. Ninja often wandered off on his own anyway. The feline had his own agenda most times. He cocked his head at her name. Leo. Lion. It suited her, at least appearance-wise. She might not have the strong build, but her hair at the very least gave her a sense of being leonine.

"I am...sorry? I didn't mean to embarrass anyone."

He offered the girl a quiet smile, careful not to bare his fangs lest she take it as a threat.

"I am not very good with these things either. Though I used to be. I am Hyraxe. Hyraxe Sama'el Meyne."

His tail flicked slightly, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Does my appearance not...bother you?

[Leo Phoenix]

He sounded confused almost when he'd apologized. He hadn't really meant it then ... Although who was Leo to judge. Maybe he was about as much a fail at making conversation as she was. The moment the thought flashed across her mind he voiced it. Had it not been so clearly obvious that he was a shifter of sorts, Leo would have instantly thrown up walls and deemed him a telepath.

"I absolutely love your name. Unique - Never heard it before - Which instantly makes it awesome." she smiled, but found herself frowning a second later, "Why would your appearance bother me? Well, I mean, I can see why you'd think it might - but of course it doesn't. I'm pretty sure if it did I wouldn't still be here. Um, funny enough, it was actually your appearance that brought me over here." That was blunt. Oh, she was making a fool of herself she knew it. But, what the hell, she shrugged, might as well continue.

"I was writing a neat idea - nothing cliche of course 'cause I hate cliches - and I just got this wild image with you, or at least, how my mind pictured you, as the center figure. I only write horror - though sometimes I add a flare of mystery - and I have this strong urge to pen you in as the main character. That's what I meant before, by the way, when I said I only attack those of ink and paper."

She lifted her hazel eyes to see his face, something she hadn't done the entire time she was rambling. He was handsome, to say the least. Rough around the edges, but almost cute in a way, with his tail and cat like ears. If people only stopped for a moment to look beyond the mirrors reflection... but she stopped herself thinking, suddenly feeling quite rude for staring.

"Um, I've probably told you more then you expected me to say." her cheeks heated, but she didn't blush. Never could to be sadly honest. It was the vampire in her - That's what her father had always said anyway. "Why don't you maybe, um, tell me about yourself or whatever. I don't know. I don't ever make the first move in conversations." Didn't I already say that? Maybe ... Oh well. "I typically scare people away. Thanks for not, you know, running off, by the way."