«We Could Be Legends»

[Amer]

Toby shook his head. "You monster. You don't wear mismatched socks." He said. He paused. "Be... because I called Wolfram a-a wet sock."

"Maybe I'm standin' up for you 'cause I'm trying to do somethin' right for once in my life." River growled, shaking her head as she eyed at the teenager. "Faster? Sure, I'll buy that. Stronger? Nope. Smarter? Sane? Well, I knew you didn't know me, but I expected you knew more than that." Does he even have eyes? Or ears? Didn't he just see that horrid display? Or the fifty others? "And if you ever call me 'better', I swear, I'm gonna just outright lose it." She muttered, backing up and leaning against a tree. How stupid can these idiots get? Maybe I don't want them to look to me. But do they think of that? No.
"No, you're not goin' to find him. Mapleshade would recognize you if she is out there, and a wolf or wyvern would be very noticeable, so me, Jessi, and Misty are out. Hooded crows aren't from around here, so Lach's out 'cause he'll stick out. Jenna, Toby, Indigo, Camilla, Delilah, and Finlay can't, either... So that leaves Zion and Sherri." She reached up, wiping sweat off her forehead, smearing her blood that was slipping out of the cuts on her hands onto her face.

"You are better then us, River." Wolfram murmured, ducking his head slightly. He fell silent, listening to her quietly. "Stay quiet, stay quiet, just shut up...and—
"No!" He snarled suddenly, "I won't let you! She know's who Zion is, even in eagle form! He was the one who blinded her, and who know's what'll happen if she finds him. And as much as I hate Sherri, I won't put her life at risk." He glared at River scathingly, "I'm going, and if Mapleshade finds me...." He gave a lopsided grin, "good. I'll give her a piece of my mind," morphing quickly, he waved his tail at the group in almost a parting wave, and set off, muzzle to the ground.

Toby's head snapped up to look at her. "Why can't I go?" He asked curiously. "I mean, I get some of the others, but I'm small, fast, and can easily go through the rubble without a problem."

Toby frowned. "I'm not very memorable. And if for some reason they recognize me, I'll..." He paused, the words not coming out of his mouth. "...Kill them." He finally said.

"Ok, first of all, no one is bird watching. No one would notice any kind of crow, except for a cat like me," Sherri said. "Yeah. I can go. After all you've done," she blushed at the slightly sentimental comment.
Indigo reached out and clutched Toby's arm, before awkwardly unpeeling her fingers. "No Toby! Look at me. You're not going." She would never admit it in the future if she used enchantment in those words.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

"Ok, first of all, no one is bird watching. No one would notice any kind of crow, except for a cat like me," Sherri said. "Yeah. I can go. After all you've done," she blushed at the slightly sentimental comment.
Indigo reached out and clutched Toby's arm, before awkwardly unpeeling her fingers. "No Toby! Look at me. You're not going." She would never admit it in the future if she used enchantment in those words.

Toby recoiled away, his gaze glueing to the ground. "Please don't touch me." He said quietly. "I should still go, for the reasons I've said earlier, and I think I'm the only one with a first aid kit and training on how to use it." He said, still staring down.

 

[RiverStorm]

"Good, because I was leaving whether you wanted me to or not. And you are not hog tying me, I have more dignity then that. Beside, I'll just find my way out one way or another," Wolfram snapped, and shifted quickly, gave a nod to River, and trotted back down the road. Oh, I hope I find him. And Mapleshade, I'll strangle her if I find her, that good for nothing little—....

"Get the joke, kid. Just get a joke for once."

"Ok, first of all, no one is bird watching. No one would notice any kind of crow, except for a cat like me," Sherri said. "Yeah. I can go. After all you've done," she blushed at the slightly sentimental comment.

"Don't you get it? These guys are professionals! They are trained to look out for things like that!" River growled.

 

[Thing2]

Sherri caught the whole conversation with her catty ears, and rubbed away her tears fiercely, not liking this cat shifter one bit and looking for a chance to condemn him. Red welts formed under her eyes where she had rubbed so hard, and she sniffed a little for lack of a tissue, but she spat fiercely, "Oh, Wolfram, stop being so hypocritical! Think about..." your own actions for once. Sherri blushed a deep scarlet, quite impressive on her pale, freckled face, it's brilliance brighter than her orangey hair. Oh dear, Sherri, you've done wrong. I've been so self-centered recently, haven't I? Sherri blinked to prevent more tears from springing up. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry," she said in a guilty voice horribly ashamed. "I've been the worst of us, haven't I?" Those words were up for personal interpretation, and she hoped at least one person would disagree with her. Or maybe not. Maybe she should bear a little pain for all this, feel a little convicted.
Indigo simply stared at her with a long face, soulful eyes suddenly staring deep into Sherri's own soul, it seemed. Her pursed lips almost traced the faintest smile, wondering if the group would work harmoniously at last.

Jessi turned to Sherri. "Sherri, no, you've done nothing wrong. You and Brisa have been the only ones not arguing like a pack of wolves-" She glanced at the wolf-shifters. "-No offense."

Sherri nodded quietly, still looking at her feet. I guess.

"It's not my fault that I'm untrusting. You can't say I don't have a good reason, look what happened to my mom! Just because you trust Misty doesn't mean I should," Wolfram glowered slightly, a growl to his voice, "looks can be deceiving, River. She may look and act innocent, but so did Mapleshade, while standing over the body of the woman she had just murdered. And you aren't going anywhere, you're staying here. You've already run far enough, and God knows how many Pure members might be swarming around out there..." He drew off, looking at Toby and Sherri, "for your information, Toby, I do in fact like some people, just not others, and for good reasons. And Sherri, yeah, yeah, I should think before I speak, whatever. I get it," he leaned against his car, eyes glowering slightly. "If you all trust Misty, fine. Just don't expect me to trust her."

"I never asked anyone to do anything! You all tell me that I don't listen, but you all must be as deaf as a person without ears." Wolfram shot a scathing glare at the girl, before staring back at the road for any sight of Connor.

Brisa returned the glare in full force, her eyes glistening back and forth between black and green. “Oh, you know full well what I meant, Wolfram.” She replied defiantly.

"No one asked you to trust her, and I doubt anyone is going to make you." Toby said. He paused. "Okay it was a little unfair of me to say you hated everyone. Sorry."

"Look, Wolfram." River growled, eyeing him. "You don't need to trust her, but you don't need to accuse her, nevertheless. If we were in your shoes, we might not trust her either, but we're not. And don't you dare preach to me about how looks can be deceiving! I know better than any of you, at the least as much as you, about that. But Misty Hero and Connor Asfaw are both some of the only people who haven't cut me open just to watch me bleed. They're my friends." She finished, turning away from him to peer down the winding road for the big black he-wolf. "And if you weren't right, I'd run out there to look for him just to show you I can."

Wolfram snorted, a strange contorted look of both satisfaction and disgust on his face, "whatever you say, River. You know everything after all," he spat sarcastically. Don't come crying to me when she turns on you, because I'm just going to say 'I told you so!'
"So we have to believe you," it would be good to shut up now.

River slowly turned to him, her head cocked slightly, a odd look on her face. "I'd watch yourself." Her lips curled, erupting into a grin. "I mean, aren't you the one whose always trying to take charge? And then decides, 'oh no, I'm too weak to do this. Here, you tell everyone what to do!' well guess what, Wolfram? Oh wait, and aren't I the one who always stops everyone from tearing into you? Stands up for you? Well, I'm done. I'm so flippin' done. I hate all of this, I don't want to lead! And I don't know what to do, so why don't you tell me?! Go on, I'm listening! How are we gonna make it out of this, huh? Once we 're-group' where are we gonna go? How are we goin' to stop Mapleshade from hunting us down, killing us and everyone that we love? How is life gonna go on, now that the whole city is gone? And what if Connor doesn't come back soon? Which of us if gonna go out and risk it to look for him? You? Me?"
She wandered forward, face twitching. Just shut up. Shut up, shut up. Why don't I just ignore him? "Go on! Tell me, Leader! We're all here, listening. So say it." She glanced around, before stopping, staring at him with a face full of pain. "Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. 'Please'." Nice lil' outburst there, Riv. Real nice. Bet everyone knows I don't have together now! I mean, they already did, but... But I'm having a one-sided conversation with myself in my brain.

"No one asked for you to be leader," Wolfram's voice was deathly quiet, and his expression didn't change in the slightest, "I don't need to be stood up for, I'm very capable of taking care of myself when I need to. I haven't come crying to you once, have I? Isn't it always you who steps in?" He paused, very little emotion to his tone. "I'm not your leader, River. I'm no one's leader. I'm just what you said, aren't I? I'm just a little to weak, just a little to cowardly, just a little to mental to lead you. I can't answer those questions, I don't know what to do. I'm just doing my best here, and as for who'll go look for Connor, I'll willing risk it and go out there. Like I've said before, I don't care anymore. I don't care if I die going to look for him, as long as my friends stay safe." He paused, his chest heaving, a strange feeling in his throat. He met her dark gaze with his icy one, and gave a small shake of his head, "I don't know what to do, River. Everyone relies on you, and why? Because you're better then us. You're stronger, faster, smarter and way more sane then us, and because of that we look to you. I won't say I know how it is to try and lead a group of rag-tag people whilst the city is falling apart, because I don't, but I do know how it is to feel helpless with no answers. I can't tell you what to do, that's your own choice, but I'll try my hardest to help, if you'll let me." He blinked slowly, eyes burning as he realized he hadn't blinked the whole time.
"I don't know what to do, River. We need to work together if we are going to get out of this alive."

"Maybe... someone small, like me?" Sherri suggested, still eyeing Wolfram warily, hoping there would not be another outburst. A crow, silhouetted by the blinding sun, flew over head, clinging to a leafless branch on a young tree. Its eyes glinted as it stared ominously. "Or, with wings?" She tried not to stare at Jessi, Zion, and Lachlan. "I can crawl under the wreckage." Hopefully, my cats can too. She thought, wondering how they were faring in her apartment. How many animals -and people- would die?

Toby rolled his eyes as Wolfram and River started fighting. "At this point I think he just argues for the sake of hearing himself speak." He grumbled under his breath.
"People could say the same thing about you." Jessi replied, poking his arm.
"The difference is that I don't constantly argue and say how depressed I am. He needs to stop being a wet sock."
"A... wet sock? Seriously?" Jessi asked, looking confused. Toby stared up at her with a blank look on his face. "No one likes wet socks." He said matter-of-factly. "If they get physical my bet is that Mrs. Loson wins." He added.

"I agree," Indigo whispered. "But having one wet sock is worse. Or a muddy sock." She shuddered as memories of her disciplinarian mother condemning her when she muddied herself outside on a rainy day.

Toby flinched when she spoke, unaware she was that close. He quickly regained his composure. "Yeah, because then you have a dilemma. Do you take one sock of and walk unevenly-anyone who does that by the way probably wants to watch the world burn- do you take both socks off and then have your feet freeze, do you change both socks even though one of them is still clean, or do you wear mismatched socks?" He rambled, frustrated by the complicatedness of wet socks.

Indigo chuckled. "I just accept the fact that my socks are disorganized already. Might as well let that one go into the wash alone." Her brows furrowed. "Wait. Why am I talking about socks?"

Toby shook his head. "You monster. You don't wear mismatched socks." He said. He paused. "Be... because I called Wolfram a-a wet sock."

"Maybe I'm standin' up for you 'cause I'm trying to do somethin' right for once in my life." River growled, shaking her head as she eyed at the teenager. "Faster? Sure, I'll buy that. Stronger? Nope. Smarter? Sane? Well, I knew you didn't know me, but I expected you knew more than that." Does he even have eyes? Or ears? Didn't he just see that horrid display? Or the fifty others? "And if you ever call me 'better', I swear, I'm gonna just outright lose it." She muttered, backing up and leaning against a tree. How stupid can these idiots get? Maybe I don't want them to look to me. But do they think of that? No.
"No, you're not goin' to find him. Mapleshade would recognize you if she is out there, and a wolf or wyvern would be very noticeable, so me, Jessi, and Misty are out. Hooded crows aren't from around here, so Lach's out 'cause he'll stick out. Jenna, Toby, Indigo, Camilla, Delilah, and Finlay can't, either... So that leaves Zion and Sherri." She reached up, wiping sweat off her forehead, smearing her blood that was slipping out of the cuts on her hands onto her face.

"You are better then us, River." Wolfram murmured, ducking his head slightly. He fell silent, listening to her quietly. "Stay quiet, stay quiet, just shut up...and—
"No!" He snarled suddenly, "I won't let you! She know's who Zion is, even in eagle form! He was the one who blinded her, and who know's what'll happen if she finds him. And as much as I hate Sherri, I won't put her life at risk." He glared at River scathingly, "I'm going, and if Mapleshade finds me...." He gave a lopsided grin, "good. I'll give her a piece of my mind," morphing quickly, he waved his tail at the group in almost a parting wave, and set off, muzzle to the ground.

Toby's head snapped up to look at her. "Why can't I go?" He asked curiously. "I mean, I get some of the others, but I'm small, fast, and can easily go through the rubble without a problem."

"You can't shape shift, I'm afraid they'll recognize you easily."

"No, no! I'm not, okay?!" River snapped, listening as he went on. "Point taken, I forgot about the whole blinding thing. But no! You're not going, what if she catches you? What if she pries out of you where the rest of us are? I kn- Wait!" She shifted, lurching forward and skidding to a stop in-front of him. Oh come on, do I have to hog tie you? Let Sherri go, you idiot!

Toby frowned. "I'm not very memorable. And if for some reason they recognize me, I'll..." He paused, the words not coming out of his mouth. "...Kill them." He finally said.

Wolfram craned his narrow head up, and gave the wolf the best grin a cat could, and shifted back into his human form, finding himself on his knees in front of the wolf, "look, she won't get information out of me. I promise. If it makes you feel better, Sherri can come, but I'm not letting her go herself. I won't risk her life like that, I'd rather die. Take it or leave it."

River shifted back, standing tall with her arms crossed. "First off, you can't promise that. People can be forced to do unimaginable things. Ever heard of truth serum? Bet they have it. But..." Oh just let you kid go. If he dies, he dies. But he could find Connor. And I should keep an eye on these idiots. And could Sherri pull this off? She squeals at the sight of blood of a Pure member, let alone her friend... She lowered her voice as to not to be heard by the others. "...I guess one is less noticeable than two. When you get back here, I'm hog tying you and putting you in Toby's backpack."

"Good, because I was leaving whether you wanted me to or not. And you are not hog tying me, I have more dignity then that. Beside, I'll just find my way out one way or another," Wolfram snapped, and shifted quickly, gave a nod to River, and trotted back down the road. Oh, I hope I find him. And Mapleshade, I'll strangle her if I find her, that good for nothing little—....

"Ok, first of all, no one is bird watching. No one would notice any kind of crow, except for a cat like me," Sherri said. "Yeah. I can go. After all you've done," she blushed at the slightly sentimental comment.
Indigo reached out and clutched Toby's arm, before awkwardly unpeeling her fingers. "No Toby! Look at me. You're not going." She would never admit it in the future if she used enchantment in those words.

Toby recoiled away, his gaze glueing to the ground. "Please don't touch me." He said quietly. "I should still go, for the reasons I've said earlier, and I think I'm the only one with a first aid kit and training on how to use it." He said, still staring down.

"Get the joke, kid. Just get a joke for once."

"Don't you get it? These guys are professionals! They are trained to look out for things like that!" River growled.

Brisa turned away suddenly, leaning her elbows on the hood of Toby’s car and resting her forehead on her hands in frustration as Wolfram left. That poor guy. He’s so messed up- extreme trust problems, found his mom murdered, anger issues... you know what, screw it, we’re all pretty messed up. Some less than others. But we’re all complete messes. I don’t know where I was going with this... she sighed, annoyed with herself for some reason.

 

[Amer]

Toby recoiled away, his gaze glueing to the ground. "Please don't touch me." He said quietly. "I should still go, for the reasons I've said earlier, and I think I'm the only one with a first aid kit and training on how to use it." He said, still staring down.

Indigo mirrored his actions, before looking at the trees in the distance, unsure of what to say.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Indigo mirrored his actions, before looking at the trees in the distance, unsure of what to say.

Toby wandered behind the car, away from the others. He kicked the ground, sending mud flying off and hitting one of the trees. He was feeling useless, all of his attempts at helping were crushed by Indigo and River, and that was making him frustrated. The only thing I've been doing this entire time is driving everyone around. Which is useless because a lot of them can drive! Just let me help for once!

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Wolfram's gaze flickered around every second, eyes searching the dark woods on either side of him. Paws aching, he pressed forward, pleading for any sign or scent of Connor. He had a horrifying sense of dread in his belly, that something was horribly wrong. It was painfully silent, not even birds chirped, except for far off he heard noise, like that of grinding rocks.
Ears shoved forward, hackles raised, he sniffed the ground, and found no scent of the wolf. He glanced at his wounded shoulder, shrugged, and pelted down the road, a yowl ripping from his throat. It hurt. The strength of the noise he admitted hurt his throat, seeming to rip at the tender flesh of his voicebox from the inside.
It was a desperate yowl, one that a cat or even a human or another animal could translate as 'help me! Something's wrong!'
Something was wrong, but not in the sense a cat's voice could describe. Connor was hurt; the pit of fear in his gut told him so. And if he couldn't trust anything or anyone else, he knew to always trust his gut. That would keep him alive, at least for now.
Paws aching, lungs burning, he pressed on, tree's on either side of him torn from the ground, revealing miles upon miles of destroyed land. He swerved into the broken forest, sniffing the ground, looking at the bushes and fallen trees, hoping and praying he would find hide or hair of the fallen wolf.
'Connor! Connor! Where are you? Answer me! Howl, whimper, yell, something! Answer me!'
It hurt to yowl, but his only hope of saving Bleddyn's father was to call him. His nose was blocked by the overwhelming scent of pine sap from the fallen trees, causing all other scents to be drowned out. Sight and sound was his best bet now, and to keep relying on that sinking feeling in his belly.
Mapleshade's around, Mapleshade's around. It's not safe, not safe, find Connor, run! Run because danger, danger....run back to group, safety! Must find wolf...

 

[Amer]

Wolfram's gaze flickered around every second, eyes searching the dark woods on either side of him. Paws aching, he pressed forward, pleading for any sign or scent of Connor. He had a horrifying sense of dread in his belly, that something was horribly wrong. It was painfully silent, not even birds chirped, except for far off he heard noise, like that of grinding rocks.
Ears shoved forward, hackles raised, he sniffed the ground, and found no scent of the wolf. He glanced at his wounded shoulder, shrugged, and pelted down the road, a yowl ripping from his throat. It hurt. The strength of the noise he admitted hurt his throat, seeming to rip at the tender flesh of his voicebox from the inside.
It was a desperate yowl, one that a cat or even a human or another animal could translate as 'help me! Something's wrong!'
Something was wrong, but not in the sense a cat's voice could describe. Connor was hurt; the pit of fear in his gut told him so. And if he couldn't trust anything or anyone else, he knew to always trust his gut. That would keep him alive, at least for now.
Paws aching, lungs burning, he pressed on, tree's on either side of him torn from the ground, revealing miles upon miles of destroyed land. He swerved into the broken forest, sniffing the ground, looking at the bushes and fallen trees, hoping and praying he would find hide or hair of the fallen wolf.
'Connor! Connor! Where are you? Answer me! Howl, whimper, yell, something! Answer me!'
It hurt to yowl, but his only hope of saving Bleddyn's father was to call him. His nose was blocked by the overwhelming scent of pine sap from the fallen trees, causing all other scents to be drowned out. Sight and sound was his best bet now, and to keep relying on that sinking feeling in his belly.
Mapleshade's around, Mapleshade's around. It's not safe, not safe, find Connor, run! Run because danger, danger....run back to group, safety! Must find wolf...

Sherri's ear twitched as she detected a far off tom-cat yowl -the kind that can be heard for miles- glancing at the place where Wolfram had been. He's gone, she deduced. She took a few steps away from the others before she stood behind a tree, crouched in the dead undergrowth, and shifted into cat form. She could still be easily seen, of course, but it felt safer to be a few steps ahead of everyone else. She sprinted, her little ginger form streaking in the direction of Wolfram, uttering not a sound. She knew he was far, far ahead of her, of course, but if he was to fall she could close the gap.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Sherri's ear twitched as she detected a far off tom-cat yowl -the kind that can be heard for miles- glancing at the place where Wolfram had been. He's gone, she deduced. She took a few steps away from the others before she stood behind a tree, crouched in the dead undergrowth, and shifted into cat form. She could still be easily seen, of course, but it felt safer to be a few steps ahead of everyone else. She sprinted, her little ginger form streaking in the direction of Wolfram, uttering not a sound. She knew he was far, far ahead of her, of course, but if he was to fall she could close the gap.

Blood, bone, flesh, plaster, wood, sap, pine, fear, must run!
The sharp, metallic scent of blood overtook the scent of pinesap in Wolfram's nose, the bronze scent of fear tinged underneath it. His heart hammered, the feline part of his mind taking over his human one, his memories and thoughts becoming strange and mixed.
'Connor!'
He was desperate now. He scented Mapleshade now, and blood, oh, so much blood. Flesh, and...he scented wolf. Fear, and...desperation, no...that was his own scent. His yowls though fell on deaf ears it seemed. He skidded to a halt, chest heaving, ears pinned, and adrenaline rushing. He looked around wildly, blue eyes wide and searching. No noise...just grinding...horrid grinding sound of rocks...or bones...probably bones...of people...buried...alive....no birds...no paws, no feet. Silence. Why? Find Connor.
He thought he scented the bronze tang of fear that wasn't his own, but from what? He scented wolf, he thought...he crept forward, jaws parted. 'Connor?'

 

[Amer]

Blood, bone, flesh, plaster, wood, sap, pine, fear, must run!
The sharp, metallic scent of blood overtook the scent of pinesap in Wolfram's nose, the bronze scent of fear tinged underneath it. His heart hammered, the feline part of his mind taking over his human one, his memories and thoughts becoming strange and mixed.
'Connor!'
He was desperate now. He scented Mapleshade now, and blood, oh, so much blood. Flesh, and...he scented wolf. Fear, and...desperation, no...that was his own scent. His yowls though fell on deaf ears it seemed. He skidded to a halt, chest heaving, ears pinned, and adrenaline rushing. He looked around wildly, blue eyes wide and searching. No noise...just grinding...horrid grinding sound of rocks...or bones...probably bones...of people...buried...alive....no birds...no paws, no feet. Silence. Why? Find Connor.
He thought he scented the bronze tang of fear that wasn't his own, but from what? He scented wolf, he thought...he crept forward, jaws parted. 'Connor?'

'No. Sherri,' Sherri meowed. She squinted through the dust that seemed to cloud her vision. Most of it was a strange blur of indefinite color and wreckage, a definite downside to feline vision. But in the corner of her eye, quivering movement made her glance twice. Not only could she see the black and white cat now, Wolfram reeked of fear.