Bored To No End (Anyone!)

[Shantik]

His light paws were stretched out ahead of him. His head rested upon them, both his ears were bent back and a sigh escaped his maw.Eyes were half-closed as Guardian readjusted his rear end, trying to get comfortable. One does not get this bored, this fast, very often. His tail began to slap the ground softly, making the dirt come up. He shrugged his shoulders, all hope of excitement gone.

He turned on his back, exposing his belly and throat to the cloudy sky. What he would give for some livening up right now. . .

[smartie]

Hallow wasn't exactly the best place for a wolf to end up. For one, there were many humans, and if just one became alerted to the presence of such an animal, the whole town would most probably be made aware within the minute. This thought did cross the mind of Smartie, a slender, grey wolf. Lighter stripes of grey were stricken across her body, with two under her radiant red eyes. A tuft of fur bounced on her head as she strolled cautiously around the town.

As she went along, the scent of dog wafted to her nostrils, and immediately she dived into the shadows of a house. Peering out from the side, she carefully eyed the mutt as he lay sprawled over the ground. Glancing around here and there, the she wolf slowly crept to wards the dog. Her nostrils twitched with curiosity, and her tongue licked against her teeth. Her instinct was to pounce upon him and rip that exposed throat to pieces.

However Smartie contained herself, aware that his yelps would alert the human residents as well as the canine residents. She was in no right mind to deal with them and their teeth that was for sure. Stopping a relatively safe distance away, she sat on her hind legs very quietly, and sat observing him as he lay. Whether he noticed her would be up to chance if he were to glance behind him. The mere sight of her would probably send him on the defense.

[Shantik]

Guardian flicked his ears. He did not notice the newcomer at once; he was too lost in his own thoughts to catch the scent as the breeze changed direction. He was shocked to smell the same scent that he had once recognized upon one of his parents. He turned, floping onto his side to look at the she-wolf, having to turn his head to the direction of the scent.

He flicked his ears in curiousity. Now that he saw the problem, there was no threat. Another lost wolf. He thought to himself. Maybe I could help her out. He smiled and sat up. Giving his head a brief shake, he drew his ears up, making himself look more and more like a brown wolf than a 'half-breed'. "Are you lost?" He inquired, smiling warmly.

[smartie]

Guardian was unaware of the actual danger he could be potentially put in with the presence of this wolf. She was not so easily swayed by kind words, in fact, such angered her; that was the way she made. Little things could set her off but she had developed a great deal of self control, hence why she had not pounced on the other whilst he was still dazed.

Smartie did not reply to the male, but remained sitting on the cobbled ground, flexing her paws against the smooth round stones. Her ears were perked and her tail was curled around her side. Her red eyes were narrowed but she showed no signs of expression. Merely, she was a statue, saying nothing, not moving an inch.

The striped female's lips twitched as she watched the male, his smile and his curiosity irking her a little. Why had he so suddenly leaped up to the change of helping another... especially one which was a wolf? Was he feeling OK? Or was he simply oblivious to the fact that she was a beast as she had been referred to many a times by the humans. A casual growl escaped her breath as she watched Guardian with slight amusement.

[Shantik]

At first, Guardian frowned when the striped female did not respond. Maybe she was mute. . . or maybe she just didn't want to talk to him. Whatever the reason, he got up and shook himself. "Does this mean you know where you are?" He asked her. his fluffy tail, almost too fluffy to be a dog's, twitched with indignation when she had refused to answer the first time. Now he sighed and gazed at her for a moment. "I think I undersand if you don't trust me." He murmered quietly. "Me being just a half-breed, but if you need assistance, I can help. I'm not doing anything anyways." He shrugged, hoping that she would change her mind.

[smartie]

Well, he certainly caught on quick didn't he? Of course she knew where she was. That was why she was here. If she did not know where she was, then it was most likely that she would not have ventured into this town in the first place. Smartie knew better than to wander in such light into a town inhibited by humans and a dog pack. Smartie flicked her tail so that it rested now behind her which probably gave off vibes of aggitation from his questioning.

It was not that she didn't trust the wolf. Smartie could tell that he was genuine enough because he sounded it, and if he wasn't then he would have just ignored her when he realised her presence. Or he may have gone on the defence, called for his dog pack friends and attacked her. But he hadn't and Smartie had chosen simply not to trust him. She did no one. A sly smirk rolled across her lips as he continued. She figured that he deserved some sort of reaction.

He wasn't doing anything? Well, that was something she could consider. Perhaps she could get off with some easy meals if she stuck around with this mutt. She could seek a sheltering place hidden from the residents of Hallow, and have him retrieve food for her. Yes, what a plan. Smartie could even play sick, or injured or something to fool him into showing her sympathy. But would it work? Well, there was only one way to see, and that was to break the icy silence she held over herself.

"I'm just looking for some food. Got any ideas where I can get some?" she said in her most casual and sweetest voice. Her eyes softened a little, and she rose to her feet to make herself seem more genuine. Well, she didn't expect to get any 'help' without making some sort of an effort.

[Shantik]

Guardian smiled, glad to get her speaking to him. He sighed again and began to walk deeper into an alley. "This way." He tipped his ears towards the location to indicate the way before trotting off at an easy pace. Might as well be a little slow. He didn't know for sure if the she-wolf was injured or sick.

He looked back at her, noticing her soft red eyes, which made him a little curious. He had not seen a wolf, or any dog for that matter, with red eyes. He shrugged it off. That wasn't anything to worry about. It wasn't like red eyes portrayed evil like in some old stories. He decided to give the she-wolf a little trust. After all, she couldn't be that bad. . . could she?

[smartie]

Hopefully, this alley route was not a path to some horrible trap into the clutches of a human surely? The half breed seemed content enough to take her to some food, and he didn't appear to be particularly bright. She felt safe otherwise but to be sure, she kept her senses keen; her ears were listening intently, her nostrils scented slowly and she flexed her muscles ready to spring from a surprise ambush.

This pace was reasonable enough and Smartie was almost sure that the male felt more afraid than she did walking through this alley. Didn't he live here? If so, what was he too be afraid of? Internally she laughed. Well if only he knew how stupid he had been to turn his back to this wolf. But she wouldn't pounce on him. Not now at least. She didn't feel it particularly necessary.

"Smells funny round here," remarked the grey wolf as she moved slowly behind Guardian. Indeed, it smelled strongly of humans; a putrid smell in her opinion. They were a species she absolutely loathed. "Where we going?" she questioned and perked her head in a curious fashion. Her eyes were not symbolic of the bad will in her, they were just a quality that had been passed down from her parents. Much like her unique striped fur.

[Shantik]

Guardian didn't answer immedietly. Instead, he slipped into a hole in the wall of an old broken building. The dim light from the inside made him pull back his ears, but he sat down comfortably in the moss and piled newspapers in the corner of the dark room. "No humans or any other dogs even know about this place." He explained. "It's just an old celler beneath an abandoned house. There are some rats around and I can go out and get some other food if you want." He motioned to a spot in near the center of the room, where some torn blankets lay. "Make yourself comfortable."

[smartie]

A quiet tut escaped from her maw as she breathed in the stale air of the alleyway. It seemed that this place rarely saw light as it was do dark and dreary. Eyeing the place suspiciously, she stopped as Guardian slipped into the side of one of the cottages. So he was leading her into a trap. Well, she wouldn't be so foolish enough to follow him into this dark cellar.

"I'd rather not," was the reply given to the suggestion to make herself comfortable. What did he think she was, dumb or something? She was onto his game. Her eyes narrowed and shifted around, and the large canine took a few steps back, glancing to the path she had taken into this lane. "That your home?" she inquired, shooting a look to the entrance.

[Shantik]

"Call it what you want." Guardian lay down, stretching out his legs in front of him. This stubborn female would be annoying for others, but this half-wolf was rather ateint, though he was pretty sure that she didn't trust him much at all. He shrugged. "I guess we should get to know each other." He sat up. "My name is Guardian." He said with his ears forward. He dipped his head to her, inviting that she also introduce herself.

[smartie]

Slowly Smartie was becoming increasingly weary of this half dog- Guardian as he called himself. Why was he being so damn friendly? It just wasn't right! If a big bad wolf came strolling into your town with a suspicious eye, you wouldn't welcome it with open paws! Smartie gave a low growl and watched him sprawl out on his rags from the outside side of the entrance. Turning her head a little she glanced the path again, and then turned and began to walk down it.

She didn't want to get to know anyone. Holding her head low she slinked around the side of the cottage and looked both ways to make sure it was safe to cross the road. The clip clop of a horse trodding over the cobbles however made the female wolf retreat. She held her breath for a second and turned to see if Guardian had followed her, wondering where she was going. He probably will come out was the thought that ran through her mind. Stupid little mutt. Bristling her fur, she waited for a few moments to see if he really would.

[Shantik]

Guardian looked after the gray-striped female for a moment, a little dissapointed that she would not even tell him her name. He shrugged, got up, shook his fur, and followed out the door, but instead of following her, he sat right outside the house and cocked his head at her. "Why are you leaving?" He inquired.

"Oh, wait, hold on." His sudden idea made him certain she might trusthim a little. He lept over the wall on the end of the alley and looked around, being very silent. He flicked his ears at the sound of a crow. Creaping forward, he kept his eyes on the black bird. With a mighty leap, he grabbed the raven in his jas and bit down hard. After a short barage of flapping wings, the bird fell limp.

Guardian lept back over the wall with the crow in his jaws. He set it down in front of the wolf. "Here. I thought you might at least be hungry." He dipped his head and stepped back to allow her room to eat.

[liasonswithlions]

At the sound of the raven cawing and flapping and creating a rucus, the large black crow hobbled over to the edge of the roof he was perched on. He would have curled his lip if he had any. Instead he cawed loudly at them, his wings held out wide to make him look menacing. He was much braver when he was roofside and well away from their snapping jaws.

"Chrr, Why don't you pick on someone your own size mongrel! Chrr."

[Shantik]

Guardian looked up, startled at being caught taking the life of another creature. His ears flicked back as he realized he might have done something very wrong. He looked up at the crow, feeling guilt well up in his chest. "I'm sorry, sir Crow, if I have taken the life of one of your kin. But it is the nature of dogs, cats and all carnivores. I am deeply sorry." He bowed his head.