forever young. [open]

[lip 2]

open to anyone! 785 words!

The eighteen year old raced through the forest, trees whipping around him as he pounded his paws into the soft earth of the summer months. Vivid emerald and muddy amber tones were muted with the sun long since having been put to rest below the imperfect line of the horizon. A feeling of release and pleasure ran through his veins as he pushed himself harder and faster, attempting to go over his sixty four mile per hour limit. He could do it...he just had to concentrate. If it was a full moon it would be easier but it wasn't and he didn't want such a feat to be easy. Darting between tree trunks, hopping over boulders and fallen trees, pushing himself farther and farther away from society and all it's rules, regulations, and laws, destruction, and decadence, he eventually reached a clearing with grass that felt like blades against his thick, Nutella colored fur and skin. Halfway across it, he skid to keep from hitting a large boulder that he was actually quite fond of especially during a plump moon when he could bathe in its glorious moonlight perched upon it. But he had miscalculated the distance he needed in order to stop fully and it didn't help that he tripped over another rock with his paw.

The actions, tied together, led to him tripping a large distance and while tripping, he let out an inaudible yelp from the sound of his crash, and he transformed, in the air, back into his human form, leading his naked body to slamming into the boulder with a slight puff of smoke and dirt flying into the air. If it was a cartoon, he would have stars or birds flying around his head while his bright, stormy sky eyes would be spinning in order to make sense of the world around him again. After a few minutes, he seemed to climb out of the dent he'd made in the rock, shaking his head to get the dust off and, well, shaking off like he was a puppy trying to get water off his fur. He chuckled at the mess he'd made, looking at the destruction he'd made trying to come to a halt. The blades were bent in a million directions, flattened and uprooted in most places like a train tried to land in the clearing. Blinking a few times, Lennox shrugged it off and climbed over the rock with ease, knowing he had some clothes waiting for him on top. He always walked here first, left his clothes, and then went off to do whatever he wanted in his wolf form. That and in places where he always stopped, he had clothing stashed. He knew this forest like the back of his hand so it was no surprise, really.

Stretching his legs and arms once he was at the top, he reached down and, hopping on one leg, put on his black briefs before putting on his loose fitted skinny jeans. Then, stumbling a bit, he put on a simple black v neck shirt, the necklace around his neck longer than before. He didn't take it off, even as a wolf, and it was white gold so he knew he was safe. As a wolf it fit fairly tight and he knew if he grew anymore, it wouldn't fit around his neck anymore. As a human, though, the white gold skeleton key encrusted with diamond dust reached just under his, well, pecks, a little lower than his chest but still above his navel. He pulled it out from under his skirt, not bothering to adjust the chain before he started putting on his small black socks and messy looking Chuck Taylor high tops. Running his fingers through his thick and messy bed head locks, he let out a satisfied sighed and a mocking little howl, "Ah-oo, ah-oo, ah-ooooo," but it came out very low, as if it were supposed to be a secret. But just as he was about to jump down from the rock, his ears perked and his nose twitched at the sound of grass rustling and twigs breaking.

Immediately, he looked around, getting down on all fours as if ready to pounce on whatever was in the clearing. Whatever it was, he arched a heavy eyebrow and let out a low, defensive growl, threatening whoever it was coming after him to back off because he just wanted to go on his merry way. After all, according to his cellphone, he knew his father or mother would be calling him nonstop to get home soon enough - if they haven't already left a thousand messages.

[Kohana Mijoro]

Kohana was sprinting through the woods as free and happy as could be. His little Coyote pup form was darting hither and thither, leaping over roots, ducking under branches, staring at a the little white tail keeping a few feet ahead of his open mouth. The little hare kept twisting and dodging and poor Kohana was having a bit of trouble keeping up with the thing.

Eventually, Kohana was exhausted and the hare kept right on going as he finally slowed down and plopped onto his belly to catch his breath. If he kept failing hunts like this, why, he was going to have to eat his own paw! Ok probably he wouldn't eat his paw, but still. It was kind of annoying. He got up and gave a little shake, then went sniffing around bushes for something smaller. Maybe a rodent of some sort?

The thunder of something heavy crashing into something made him wince and duck down. He blinked and turned his head to his right at the sound. HIs ears flattened against his head, and his Coyote instincts told him to run, but Kohana was curious. Cautious, but curious none-the-less. He went creeping silently towards the sound. It had been nearly 20 meters away and he was just getting to within sight of the clearing when he heard the playful little howl. Freezing on the spot, Kohana ducked again ears and tail flattening. He was a little paranoid now but he was too close to run off without being heard anyway. It had not sounded like any sort of wolf, he had never heard of a whispered howl.

Bewildered, he moved forward again. He was not careful enough and broke a branch beneath his paw. Rolling his eyes at himself, he gave up all pretense of being sneaky and just stepped on out. He had left his pack in a little burrow he had made while he was in the area. He didn't like to risk losing it, so he didn't have his knife, but surely there wouldn't be anything he couldn't handle this far out in the woods right?

From somewhere above, he heard the warning growl. Crouching, Kohana gave a little whimper and tried to look up. He couldn't see the teenager on the rock from this low to the ground. Afraid of getting chased if he ran, most predators tend to get a little to excited when you run from them, he didn't move. He just gulped a little and hoped it was something harmless.

[lip 2]

open to anyone! 628 words!

The lean boy remained tensed, muscles ready to spring at whomever came after him though he knew he wouldn't actually fight them or bring any harm to them unless they did so to him first. Taking a sniff of the air, his bushy eyebrows came together and he peeked out from over the edge of the rock. He noticed the coyote and a huge, playful grin fell on his face, "Holy crap you're so adorable lookin'!" he seemed excited as he jumped down from the rock as if it were such an easy feat for a human and he sat on his bum in front of him, hand immediately reaching out and scratching him behind the ear like he was a dog or a pet. This was his usual reaction to any type of canine animal and the majority didn't run away from him since he posed as no threat. Plus, he smelled like a wolf. He knew this because he'd been told on numerous occasions. In his wolf form, he usually could communicate with the other animals but he didn't feel like getting naked and then he'd probably scare the little guy off considering how big and scary he'd look once he was done turning, "Sorry if I scared ya'. I'm used to being alone out here, ya know? Hey, you look hungry..."

[/i]

With that, his blue orbs glanced around the large grass before he saw the gray tuft of fur. His ears and nose twitch before he seemed to jump up from where he had been sitting a moment ago and he landed right next to the hare, his hand darting out and grabbing it by its neck which gave a tiny pop sound. He seemed proud of himself, and shocked he'd even been able to do such a thing. Turning around, he easily headed back over to the coyote and laid the now dead hare in front of him so he could eat it. Despite being a lover of meat, he still had an appetite for human food - well cooked with lots of spices and if it was done in anytime of Irish traditional manner, he knew he would be ridiculously excited and could eat probably twice his weight in that alone...especially if his mother cooked. Dear Lord was she blessed with one hell of a gift!

"If you don't eat all of it, I'll get mad,"[/i] but even as he said it, he was smiling, "Nature didn't intend for us to waste the life of another,"[/i] that was how he justified all his kills when he did hunt in his human form. Normally, he only did it in his wolf form, "Plus, that thing was so freakin' cute,"[/i] he cocked his head to the side a bit before sitting back down to let the coyote eat. No problem there, seriously. As long as he ate the entire hare, minus things like the fur and bones, Lenny would be satisfied. The bones he could toss to the side and the fur could be used for something. He didn't like wasting anything when it came to food. If it was digestable - he damn well ate it without really thinking twice about it. But the more he sniffed the air, through the usual smells of nature and the dead hare, he realized the coyote didn't exactly smell entirely like a coyote. His eyebrows came together for a second as he played with the skeleton key necklace dangling around his neck. So this coyote wasn't entirely a coyote? Well, he probably walked right into a trap and didn't even realize it. How stupid of him. He really needed to think twice before he did things or he was going to end up getting himself killed. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/font][/justify]

[Kohana Mijoro]

Finally he saw the older teen's head peep out over the top of the rock. He blinked up at him and started to sit up, head tilting cutely as he spoke. "Holy crap you're so adorable lookin'!" Yes...yes he was. Thanks for noticing! But as the young man leaped down off the rock, and sprang up to him, Kohana ducked again, ears flattening with another tiny whimper. He moves so fast...

The hand shot out quickly, faster than he expected, and all he could do was shut his eyes, half expecting something bad about to happen. He did not like being petted by strangers. The Coyote was fearful of strangers and had a tendency to want to keep out everyone of his claimed territories, but this time, he was the stranger. So he just accepted the little rub. It was the scent of Wolf on the young man that really freaked out the Coyote. In the wild, wolves would chase and kill coyotes in their territories. It took Kohana a few seconds to realize the scent was actually coming from the man himself, and not anything he had contacted recently. So he was not about to do anything stupid when the hand was so close to his neck.

I thought Grandfather's stories were just that...stories...

Because there was definitely something off about the movements of this one. "Sorry if I scared ya'. I'm used to being alone out here, ya know? Hey, you look hungry..." Yes...yes he was...Kohana stayed crouched, watching him look around, then flinched backwards a little as he leaped again, grabbing the hare with a sickening crunch of bone. Just like that, instant death. The Coyote wanted so badly to run, his fear was starting to make Kohana nervous as well, and it was all he could do to keep his emotions even so he did not smell like it.

The hare was laid out in front of him. "If you don't eat all of it, I'll get mad. Nature didn't intend for us to waste the life of another. Plus, that thing was so freakin' cute," It was a fairly small one, he wouldn't have any problems eating it, but it was again, the warning in the man's words that made him nervous. He believed him when he said he might get mad, and it didn't matter that he was smiling. Still, Kohana could tell he was sincerely just trying to help. It made him slightly less nervous, but he was still fully aware that he was dealing with someone that wasn't quite human. The word werewolf crossed his mind, but that was just silly. No werewolf would be so nice surely he would be a thousand pieces by now right? Weren't they supposed to be super territorial and all that?

Besides, Kohana never wasted a meal. You never know when you're going to get another one when you're on your own. Sometimes he missed his mother's cooking...As a Native American, and the stories his Grandfather would pass on about how the Lakota used to hunt, and how they used every part of the Buffalo was always interesting. It had been the White Man and his guns, shooting down the massive herds, taking the horns and leaving all the rest of the animal that wiped out almost all of the wild buffalo so long ago.

Kohana inched forward, grabbing the hare in his teeth before scuttling backwards again. He didn't like the way the young man was watching him so he ran off with it a few feet, stopped, looked back up at the teen before flopping down cutely and started eating. His tail swayed back and forth a few times in flattened area of grass.

[lip 2]

open to anyone! 648 words!

Watching the coyote step away and then go to eat, he still observed his movements, trying to figure out if he was an actual coyote or not. Just because he looked like one didn't mean he was one after all. He'd learned that when he'd discovered a race called demons but this animal didn't smell like one. He smelled, well, like a coyote just different. Lennox stretched his limbs in every direction, a puppy like grumble coming from his vocal chords in the process. He was tempted to shift again but once again held back, the coyote's cautious behavior behooving him not to pull such a frightening move. So he leaned back, closer to the rock, and linked his fingers together to cradle the back of his head as he crossed his legs at his ankles, "Bro, you're the weirdest smellin' coyote ever, seriously,"

[/i] he said it once he, from his vantage point, could tell the canine was almost done with his meal, "I mean, you smell like a coyote but then you kinda smell human too, "[/i] he shrugged, "Probably all in my head anyway,"[/i]

And then Lenny fell quiet, shifting a bit so he was flat on his back, hands still cradling the back of his head. He was laying in the part of the grass he had flattened out from skidding to a stop into the large boulder. He seemed perfectly satisfied with a coyote only few feet away from him and a normal human wouldn't have been. Were there even really coyotes in this area? He didn't even know. He couldn't remember seeing one in all the years he lived in Arc City. Didn't they normally belong in the dessert or the savanna or something along those lines? This forest seemed a bit too lush and green for a natural coyote's taste. Maybe he was an actual coyote who escaped the zoo or something...though she couldn't say he remembered if Arc City had a zoo or not. He went to one once as a child on a school field trip and it had been the first and last time. He couldn't remember if it was outside the city or within the city limits. He shrugged the thought off, though. He figured if the animal wanted to kill him, it would have tried already and even if he tried, all he had to do was shift and he would run off and leave him alone. He didn't really want to to scare him off though.

He was so used to being alone out here since Veronica's disappearance that he'd forgotten how nice it was to have a companion. It did beat solitude no matter how many times he told himself he was better off being alone when in the forest. This was his sanctuary right? His home away from home. His place to goof off and be himself and not worry about anyone or anything. His stress reliever. But even all those places needed some sprucing up every now and again and though this coyote wasn't suddenly his best friend, he was a nice acquaintance. He was hoping that the hare would prove enough that he wasn't going to kill him, "If you're a shifter or something like that,"[/i] he said with a slight bit of a yawn, all the running getting him to whined down more, "You might as well just tell me. We're in the middle of nowhere. Who am I going to tell? Who would even believe me?"

He was being honest as he picked up his head, craning it a bit to look over at him. He wasn't telling him to shift into a human but any indication to settle his nerves would help tremendously thank you very much. He normally trusted his nose so he was hoping it hadn't failed him - up to this point in his life it hadn't.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/font][/justify]

[Kohana Mijoro]

He was still not very comfortable sitting there eating with the other teen so close. He was not sure yet, how much he could trust him. The Coyote seemed frightened and wanted to be away, Kohana usually trusted his instincts, but this was different from anything he had experienced before. He was intrigued to say the least, but if anything his Grandfather had ever said really was true, then he was probably in a whole lot of danger. Why had he come, sticking his nose where it did not belong?

At any rate, he had some food finally. How long had it been? Just a couple days really. He'd gone longer before. Some areas were just crappy for hunting. He kind of liked it here though. He was starting to relax a little, the fellow took him for a random wild coyote and that was the way he liked it, so why be concerned if he wasn't exactly what he seemed? "Bro, you're the weirdest smellin' coyote ever, seriously. I mean, you smell like a coyote but then you kinda smell human too. Probably all in my head anyway," That's why...

Kohana nearly choked on the bite he had taken. It was all he could do to stay quiet and still and not bolt right then and there and blow his whole cover. Maybe if he pretended he didn't understand, which he shouldn't anyway, and keep it up he could be let to live? Hell, for all this guy knew, he could be someone's pet.

People kept some pretty exotic pets these days, and a Coyote puppy would be perfect to some people. He could be smelling the human child who'd been petting him just this morning for all he knew. Some people smell like their pets, so why couldn't pets smell like their people? Besides, he was wearing the bead and bone necklace like he always did. It was just like a collar. It didn't have any tags on it but that didn't necessarily mean anything. It was a little hard to spot sometimes, blending in with his fur but if the teen really examined him, he'd find it.

Still, Kohana was grateful the teen had looked away because his ears had flattened again and he'd stopped eating for a second. He covered it by sniffing around the bunny, as if looking for anything else to eat. He had suddenly quite lost his appetite. Hard to eat when you're nervous. It was mostly gone anyway, and he wasn't all that big to begin with, but he still hated to leave anything behind.

Sitting back on his haunches, the pup started licking his paws, pointedly not looking at the teen. He could feel his eyes on him. "If you're a shifter or something like that...You might as well just tell me. We're in the middle of nowhere. Who am I going to tell? Who would even believe me?" Would this guy not quit?

His ear flicked a little, and Kohana tilted his head to the side, rear leg coming up to give his ear a real good scratch. He seemed so enthusiastic about the scratch and how good it felt that he toppled over. A quiet yip and the Coyote was sitting up again blinking and looking a little miffed. He bit at his hind foot for making him fall over, then licked it as if forgiving himself.

Standing, he gave a real good shake, loped around in a little circle staring at the bunny, then came back to it with a little pounce and ate another couple bites, still standing this time with his tail swaying back and forth. It felt good to have a full belly, he always did like the feeling.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do about this...thing...werewolf...freaky ass human...whatever it was. He was rather surprised the teen even knew about shape shifters. Sure he could admit that was all he was, and he would probably be fine, but Kohana had not lived this long on his own without a little precaution and subtlety. Besides, it wasn't as if the boy was going to try to take him home or something right? Right?

[lip 2]

700 WORDS - TAGGED: OPEN

When he didn't get an answer, Lenny gave a bit of a pout, sitting up and crossing his legs Indian style, his hands grabbing his legs in front of him. It was then, while looking at the coyote, that he saw the necklace and right there was when the scent of human hit him. That explained it. He hadn't caught on to it before and now, with that mystery solved, he smiled, "D'aw I'm an idiot,"

[/i] he put a hand on the nape of his neck as a sheepish grin fell on his face,
"Didn't notice you had a necklace on. Explains the human shit..." Then the coyote had an owner? He would say that was weird but the idea appealed to him. A coyote for a pet sounded pretty awesome to be honest.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and called his home. When one of the maids answered the phone, Lenny was thankful it wasn't his father; even after she started telling him, more frantically than anything, that his father wanted him home right away or he would send a group out to drag his ass back, "Hey, Sonya," he cut her off, "You think dad would let me keep a coyote?"[/i] as she seemed to suddenly yell over the phone, he laughed like the puppy he was, "I know, right? It sounds so freakin' awesome!...Well, it's just until I find his owner. He has a necklace thingy around his neck...he's gotta belong to someone, right? Plus, when was the last time you saw a coyote in Arc City?"[/i]

And the eighteen year old who had spent his entire life there, had most definitely never seen one.

He remained silent for a few moments as Sonya, that old maid, continued on and on about how his father would most likely hang him if he tried bringing home another pet. Last time, it was this large parrot that had escaped from some exotic pets store and it was repeating what everyone said for a month before he woke up and the bird was gone. Probably a snack for one of his pack mates. He'd been upset for about a week before he forced himself to get over it because his father would destroy him if he didn't, "It shouldn't be more than a week...or a month...or whatever. If I don't find it's owner by the end of the week, I'll just let him free in the forest again. It isn't a big deal," he held the phone away from his ear as the words were yelled and hurled toward his ear drum.

When it got quiet, he spoke again, "I'll be home in a bit. I promise. In time for dinner!"[/i] and then he blew a sarcastic kiss threw the phone, met with more yelling before he hung up. He remained in place before looking over at the coyote, "Now how in the fudge pops am I going to get you home?"[/i] he scrunched up his nose as he tried thinking of numerous ways. He didn't want to put a collar on him and a chain. That was rude. As a fellow animal (sorta? maybe...yeah) he wouldn't appreciate having such things put on him. Scratching behind his one ear rapidly to relieve an itch as he continued contemplating, he could think of anything other than hoping he would follow him and the chances of that were slim to none.

It wasn't helping that his father was going to have his neck for this. The pack itself was filled with supposed animals to add different species into the mix. This most definitely would not go over well with him...but the coyote was still very skinny and didn't seem to know how to hunt...too well - well enough to keep him alive but it would help his conscious if the pup at least improved and he could teach him in his wolf form. Plus, having an added activity didn't hurt. It could help keep him more focused on things outside the pack-though that would just piss his dad off even more. FML...whatever, he was going to do this. He just had to figure out HOW.[/font][/size][/justify][/blockquote][/div][/center]

[Kohana Mijoro]

"D'aw I'm an idiot," Yes...yes you are...Kohana heaved a sigh of relief in his head as the guy finally came to a satisfying conclusion about whatever scent he had. He frowned and tried to sniff himself but he couldn't figure it out. He really wasn't supposed to smell human but some noses just must be so much better than his. Hopefully if he stayed this form longer the human smell would go away. Maybe if he took a bath? He was wondering when the last time was he had actually had a bath. A real bath and not just splashing in puddles. It had been a while. It had been a while since he had a drink of water come to think of it. He licked his muzzle and his nose felt kind of dry.

He thought he was safe, but then of course, the young man pulled his phone out, and started talking about making him a pet. Another sad sigh crossed his lips. He kind of liked the kid, he had some odd qualities, he certainly was not a normal human, but he had a disarming personality. But then the thought of being someone's pet was a little weird. He was human too after all! He learned the name of the area to be Arc City. He had never heard of the place. He continued to listen, without actually appearing to. The pup had taken to wandering around the clearing. He kept a distance from the teen, and was starting to inch towards the safety of the bushes from whence he had come. Maybe if he just took off now he could get away?

But when he said it would only be for maybe a week or so, he started to consider. It might be kind of fun. It would require him keeping his form the whole time, and leaving his pack behind out here in his burrow, but he figured it should be safe enough and surely he could run away if he needed to. There probably wouldn’t be any place the kid could put him he would not be able to get out of, as long as he wasn’t put in a small cage or something, which he would not like anyway.

As the young man drew near the end of his conversation, Kohana had decided he would give the guy a chance. It would certainly be a new experience. He might learn something about these so called 'werewolves' and creatures of darkness that were supposed to be so evil. Part of him hoped he wasn't about to walk into a major trap, the other part of him laughed to himself. He would make the guy regret taking home a wild animal that’s for sure! He hoped there weren’t any dogs at the place; they tended not to like him very much…

”Now how in the fudge pops am I going to get you home?" Kohana snickered. He had plopped himself down off to the right of the teen at some point during the conversation. He was laying on his side, stretched out comfortably, his tail curled up over his legs. He was staring off towards the bushes but as the silence drew out, he lifted his head, sitting up a little and peeked up at the kid. The Coyote tilted his head, one ear lifted the other flopped over cutely. He licked his nose again and yawned, flopping back down. He wasn’t all that big, about a foot tall at the shoulder and about three from snout to tail tip. He weighed about twenty pounds or so. He could be rather easily carried, assuming he was in the mood to allow himself to be picked up. It would not be normal for the pup to be willingly handled. He would run, claw, and bite, at least at first. He would definitely make it difficult for the guy to catch him, unless he did that super speedy move but then that would just scare him. He better be glad he hadn’t run off already as he was really want to do. The Coyote of his nature had settled down, dismissing the kid as a threat, at least not right now so Kohana would give him a chance too.

[lip 2]

700 WORDS - TAGGED: OPEN

"Alright, fudge it, let's go," he stood, as if telling the coyote to follow him, "I'm sure you'll want more food and, if I read and know correctly, animals who get fed by humans almost always end up following said human, especially if young, in order to obtain more food easily," he said it as if reading from a text book, "an example would be fox, ducks, bears, and even dogs," and coyote was a type of dog right? Right. Okay so if anything, he'd catch another rabbit and lure him in that way. If that didn't work, he wouldn't take the coyote home...it would be too much work and he had to be home soon unless he wanted to get destroyed yet again by his father.


----NOT DONE BUT I GOTTA GO. I'LL FINISH WHEN I GET BACK ----