In These Hallow Halls (anyone)

[catchmeifyoucan]

Ghosts and goblins travel well within these sacred lands. Were I to meet a member of those undead, so I would wish them a night of peace, and be not surprised by their appearance.

Deep brown eyes blinked slowly as the owner of those orbs stood alone atop a single grave. Be it human or something other, he cared not; it was his perch, and he had before begged the spirit's forgiveness for using it as such. He only hoped dimly that his request had not gone unheard, and that his own life was not held in compromise from the transgression.

"Lost souls, if only I could keep thy company for a single night. The dead hold such silence, but if tho couldst speak, I woudst hear thy tales...." he murmured under his breath.

Like a statue of a gargoyle, his paws held like iron on the narrow strip of stone where he kept precarious balance. Where it not for the simple fact that he was so light, he would have fallen or perhaps not even been able to keep his place, but the wolf was as close to a skeleton as the living could reach. His skin hung loosely over his bones like a cape, almost as if there were no muscles or organs beneath. Distended stomach, thin limbs, a tail that was but a string....

"Thou give me but a name... and thou woulst have my ear for an eternity....."

[shadoahrhelm]

Gypsy shuddered in the cool, crisp moonlight. Another night alone. She thought miserably. She had come to know the solitude of the cemetery as home sweet home, but oh how she longed for the sea. She missed her crew, captain, mate; her family... She surrendered herself to such thoughts often; they, her only company on these lonely nights.

Curled up in the soft dirt of a freshly covered grave, a sigh escaped her jowels, and she wrapped her thin tail around her nose for comfort.

While trying to sleep, her sensitive ears received a strange sound. Now, the cemetery creates many curious noises, but a whisper? Gypsy rose silently to her haunches, nose aflare, trying to pick up a scent. The sound again, yes, this time she was sure it was the whisper of another. Rising a slight bit more, she looked around the graveyard. Astonishingly, not ten feet from her, laying on a gravestone, was another dog. Male, or so it smelled. Realizing he hadn't yet noticed her presence, she stole the opportunity to sneak closer, evaluating the other. She could hear him whispering clearer now, '...my ear for an eternity...' So as not to disturb the other, Gypsy layed on the soft dirt and grass, listening to the words that drifted in the night. So haunting and beautiful. She thought.
Upon closer inspection of the male, she noticed the thin structure, boney frame, saddened eyes, just like her. Who is he? she wondered. Why is he here in this lonesome place?

[catchmeifyoucan]

As his last whisper drifted along in the moonlit air, the old creature imagined for just a moment that he could see them, moving endlessly away from him, dissipating in the harsh breezes so that their dimly illuminated sounds would meld with that of the earth and sky itself. On a clear night, perhaps, where the air was as still as the dead that lay in the land, maybe the words would travel far, far enough to embed themselves into the passing thoughts of a lone creature. And perhaps the words of others would come to him, become a part of him and fill the void of what was and what would be.

"Thou give me but a name...."

Anything would do, for he was as nameless as a fleeting thought, as unknown as a spider's cry. His words left his lips like a silkworm's thread, iridescent and fragile, able to be followed but broken just as easily as naught. The dead were the only beings silent enough to hear him, the only beings still enough to keep from breaking him with a touch. So fragile was he that even falling from his perch due to wind could shatter him into a million peices.... or so it seemed.

Shadowed, he remained, though sitting on the grave-top, the markings of his pelt could at least be guessed at. A tabby mix that would have been far more fitting adorning some tomcat in a bustling village.

It was a change in the air that brought his brown gaze up, his ears, one able to rise in graceful curiosity, the other long ago reduced to hanging as nothing but an extremely furry lop at the side of his face, catching the brief echo of something that might have been a voice, might have been just a thought crossing through his mind, or something different entirely.

"Another finds sanctuary on thy hallow grounds," he murmured, lowering his head to gaze once more at the graves all around, "May they find welcome here, and be at peace...."

[shadoahrhelm]

Her gaze dropped, floppy ears pinned themselves to her thinly boned skull at his words. "May they find welcome here, and be at peace...."

So he noticed her? She couldn't figure out how, but then again, such a magical and mysterious aura surrounded him, anything seemed possible.

Shivering slightly, out of nerves it would seem, she stepped from the shadows of the graves, long thin legs leading the way. Her torn and tattered scarf blew lightly in the wind, giving an almost ghostly appearance to the bony mutt. A deep gulp of air and she whispered softly, just barely audible to the male.

"I hope I'm not intruding, or bothering you..." she started. "I couldn't help but to wonder what another would be doing in this place so late in the evening."

Her black orbs cast themselves to the graveyard floor, slightly afraid, and yet strangely excited at the meeting.

[catchmeifyoucan]

As the night stretched on into it's darkened span, a great wind skimmed low over the ground, rustling the grasses of the flat ground of the cemetery. Smoothly drawing itself over the gravestones without once touching a single one as feathers made of nothing but invisible force twitched and adjusted. Great wings spread out, flapping a single time toward the beast atop the stone.

His eyes closed, those deep brown orbs extinguished beneath. Words were almost too loud for tonight, and nearly not loud enough. With the wind he felt his body give a shiver, his scent roiling about him in a confusing mixture. It was mostly male, of course, but there was a lingering wisp, a small trace, of female that was not the one he was speaking with. Who it was, why it was there, was unknown, but even now the very force of the wind was threatening to unbalance him, to lift him from his perch and dash his body upon the dirt below. Yet he stayed, though he swayed with it's lulling chill.

"Thy presence disturbs not the creature you see before you," he sighed softly, still refusing to bring his eyes to hers, though his gaze did lift, seemingly pushed by the very wind he swayed with, to watch as her scarf billowed out in that ghostly way, "In such a sacred land, what is there to do but seek solace from the dead, and listen to the echos of the lost..?" he paused for a long moment, his head slowly, always slowly, turning away, his wispy form trembling with something that must only be cold, as witch such a thin frame, it had to pass right through him, "Call me what thou will.... but if thou would grace mine ears with thy name, there may be more ease to conversation...."

[shadoahrhelm]

Her form began to ease from its rigid position, the cool wind blowing through her fur. She delighted in cold weather, and she allowed the wind to play through her locks of jet black 'hair'. Face pointed up wards, enjoying the air, she nodded in agreement to his words. Of course he must be there in mourning or at least honoring those dead, how stupid could she be?

A frown slightly pasted itself over her muzzle at the mention of his name, or rather, lack of. She didn't know anyone without such a title, it was always assumed to be given at birth. Questions flickered their way through her mind, none though dared leave her velvet jowels. Instead, as a way of distraction, she looked him over. So bony was he, possibly starving, and rather ragged and cold looking. Sympathy melted her stone insides, those that usually kept her from such contact with others. She quickly jolted herself from these mindless silent rambles at the question of her own name.

"I... My name is Gypsy Valor. But... but you can just call me Gypsy," she stammered.

Pink-brown nose lifted as a strange smell reached her still form from his almost gargoyle pose. A strange mix, mostly male, but a slight breath of female. Did he have a mate? And if so, how could she let him appear so starved? Didn't mates take care of each other? Again, no questions daring to escape into the chilled air, for fear of angering or upsetting the male.

[catchmeifyoucan]

The chill seeped into him deeply, both clarifying and muddling his mind as his vision blurred that slight bit. Was what he viewed from the world simply a vision, or was it perhaps as real as it felt? There was little to tell him of such, even dreams could feel, taste, and smell real, but all it took was waking.... just waking.

Would he wake?

"Gypsy..." the sigh was quiet, musing, and tediously, the creature moved his haggard head in a slow nod. To himself or to some other, it mattered not, only that it was done. His focus was mainly upon the wind, upon the air before him.... so many things drifted in it. So confusing, as the scents and feelings of the living often were... curiosity and wonder blossomed as a taste of nectar in his maw.

"Thou wouldst ask thy questions if thou must.... fear not mine reactions, for what am I but a simple beast unfit for the world," where in many, that statement may have seemed self-pitying, for him it was little more as if he were stating fact, his gaze lingering on the ground below for a long moment before he shifted. His bony spine slid under his skin, the thin muscles in his patterned legs responding to some unseen signal.

Surprisingly smooth movements, he had, despite how he swayed to every nuance of the wind playing through his long and thin fur, and as he leapt to the ground with barely a noise save for the slight 'chuff' of soil being parted, he did not shatter as it had seemed he might. He simply turned, and finally gave notice to the newcomer completely, looking her in the eyes and seeming to stare deeply into her, through her, and around her all at once.

[shadoahrhelm]

[ooc- sorry for the lengthy pause and shortness of my response. Too much needing to be done and too little time to do anything at all]

Playing once again with the frosty night air, her nose wrinkling at every scent that dared cross it. Scenes filled her mind from the town and docks below the cemetery, formed by such smells. There was rum, the usual lingering cloud of the town; fish from her beloved docks; domestic animals prowling both sea and land; and even the wilderness of beyond the trees. Though her investigation of the smell-filled world was quickly pushed away.

Quite taken aback from his apparent telepathic abilities, her attention was once again solely on the male. She turned to face his downward leaping form and watched the graceful landing. He seemed to almost stare through her, almost as one would watch the world through a window. Ears pinned once again, both head and eyes shifted away from his intense stare, a deep intake of air filling her lungs. She sighed and allowed her restless mind fill the night with it's thoughts.

"I..." she couldn't find the right words. "I was merely wondering, why it is you seem so thin and fragile." Her words picked up strength and her head was returned to it's normal proud position with confidence. "And, don't you have a mate? Or someone to take care of you? Keep you from starvation?"

Looking quickly away once more, but without submissive posture, she awaited his reply, hoping he wouldn't find her rude.

[catchmeifyoucan]

{{I understand that XD it's the same here.... *wails at the loss of computer time* well, anyhow.... ^__^ glad the thread didn't die. I enjoy this one a lot.}}

Nectar and the colors of the words shifted, becoming a base like the very marrow of the chill ice water that both refreshed and cooled an overheated, overtaxed creature. It was the essence of the confidence seeping into her words he could taste, could see. Not as others tasted or saw, no, but in a... different way. All ways were different with the nameless wraith.

If, perhaps, he had been allowed his name.... but no... a name must be freely given, and from the heart. He could take no other, for it would not be true, nor could he give himself a name for that same reason.

He was Nessun Nome.... without name, no name, absent title. Many words for the same predicament.

Since he had last ceased movement, he had not done any more than breathe and sway, never averting his eyes, nor even blinking. He saw Gypsy, yet he also did not.... there was the actual form, yes, but beyond that, around that and through it, was the palest purple glow. Brighter yet dimmer, solid yet as illusionary as the wavering heat on a summer day, it was something that he had yet to find around himself.

It was with a final, long, wavering sigh that he finally moved his eyes slightly, actually looking past her, above her, into the sky and trees and night, where her question still echoed to the stars in hopes of gaining answer and becoming complete in it's circle.

"Thy curiosity be quelled," he breathed lightly, his one good ear turning only the slightest toward her, "Naught but what I find in need, becometh a part of mine being... Perhaps thy spirits will whisper to mine ears but once... but once with freedom...." It was an elaborate way of saying that he basically starved himself to become closer to the dead, "Thou wonder.... tis alone once such as I has always been.... and will always be...."

It was something impossible to hide, impossible to conceal, especially as Gypsy had been scenting the air. At such a close proximity, now, with the nameless creature naught but a few feet before her, his scent was clear, untainted in the crisp night air, even with the wind blowing the light fragrances of the land their way. His reasons, perhaps even his presence there, became something less mysterious and more saddening as the previously thought separate scents of male and female became one.... truly one. Both were he... or she...

The wind strengthened somewhat, and s/he shivered, tail singing to the side slightly in an automatic and futile attempt to block the wind just a small amount. Otherwise, the skinny frame simply swayed, like a toy given to the elements and at their mercy.

S/he showed none of this, however, simply blinking very, very slowly.

"Thou must have thy own reasons for wandering the halls of the anciants...."

[shadoahrhelm]

Rare shivers wracked her small body, resulting from the other's intense stare. Still feeling as though he could see straight through to her soul, Gypsy bore her own way into his eyes, searching. It remained odd to her that he should be nameless, and made a somewhat mental note to attempt the findings of one that suited him.

Mournful black eyes saddened further at his statement. So he was starving himself. What tragedy could convince him to do so, she did not know, nor would she probably ever discover his reasonings.

Though upset at his remark of starvation, her floppy ears perked slightly, discreetly, at his words of being alone. Maybe she wouldn't have to die alone as she had previously thought. If a friend could be found in this other, perhaps loneliness would not be her everlasting fate.

Though silent through his words 'till now, when questioned of her own reasons for stepping in the world of mourn, she had no choice but to answer him.

Always a thinker before speaker, a deep sigh broke away as she studied her thoughts, putting them together in what she could only assume as an understandable remark.

"I suppose I had first come here, because it was the only place left to go. There is no one left in the world for me to belong with, so i chose the only place where death does not part family and friends. The place where everyone is already dead... and... It's a place where I can hide from all the nightmares..." the words murmuring from her throat.

Eyes watering in remembrance of her old life, she looked out in the direction of the sea, memories crashing so like her beloved waves unto her frail heart. Her slight body was suddenly pushed aside with the wind, her soul not strong enough to hold it in place as it usually had.

[catchmeifyoucan]

{{Neglect found it's way to this thread o.o Man I've been away too long >.>}}

A tangible thing in truth was her pain, the shadows of despair and regret wrapping, twisting around and through and stretching above her purple wreathed form with wispy flails that invoked not disgust or hatred, but pity and a return sadness that sought to envelop one's being in the same shadows of phantom hurt. It was possible to drown in such sorrow.... possible to let oneself drift along the current and never return to the mainland of life and what truly was...

S/he let a soft, warm breath escape his/her lungs..... if such a thing were truly possible, perhaps.... would even s/he wish to resurface....? The pain overwhelmed he/r, even from so far away..... how far away was it.... s/he was floating... leaving the world......

The cold wind suddenly picked up, buffeting the form of the thin wolf, passing right through his/her fur and skin as if it wasn't even there.... like s/he was a ghost him/herself. But it also served to snap him/her into reality once more, brown eyes, confused before, distant and utterly foreign, suddenly drifting back to pass over the newcomer...... how long had s/he been gone... lost in the tangle.....? There was no way to tell.....

"Thy choice was well..... naught comes but wayward, yet even poor souls find little solace within the ancients path...." his quiet voice filled with nothing more than great regretful loneliness, yet even that was toned down in his ethereal presence, "Thy sorrow is harbored greatly.... demons engulf you with the tendrils..... find rest here, weary one.... naught will oppose thy presence, in peace or fury.... the spirits yet remain in dreary silence."