It's Raining Cats and Dogs in Here... [Veles]

Veles grinned the entire time that he and Sybil tended to the chores, she had even quipped a joke into the mix. Good to know she was still enjoying herself as much as he was. As she listened to his small ramble regarding his list of things to do, she was still taking interest. The questions she asked about trading with the humans were very unique. It showed an amazing awareness of working alongside others, even though she had been raised in relative solitude. She strove for efficiency, and the community as a whole growing more intelligent. It was certainly admirable.

"I have trained the humans, though not in your way. Nothing can ever train them to not be wasteful. It is almost as if that is built into the core of their being. I think it might be due to their lacking lifespan, they simply don't have the time to learn respect for the world on which they live, of the ecosystems that cohabitate it with them. Humans will always be picky, always be wasteful, but if they know I can provide their choice meats for them, they don't feel the need to come to my woods, hunting for their own. If I kill and butcher seven elk for them, they would come to claim twenty. They do not know moderation of self control. Eventually all the game in this forest would dwindle as it was either consumed by the fires of man, or escaped from the obviously dangerous lands. I have trained the humans to let those who understand the woods to hunt within them." Veles began. When he had first come to this section of land, there was a tiny village of humans close by, still a few miles out from the edges of Librium. The twenty inhabitants of that village would come to the forest each week and claim as many deer and elk for their appetites. They would be killing more beasts as the others were being carried to the wide trench they had dug nearby and dumped to eventually decay, most if their meat still upon the bone.

"When I came to this land, I had no intention of ever claiming land as my own. But the forest was crying out in pain as the humans raped the careful balance nature maintained. After a month of observing them, I couldn't take it anymore. I killed them all, even the young. They had forgotten the prime lesson Terra had taught us with the Enlightenment. Balance is key. Don't take too much too quickly. It was actually then that I learned of Librium and her corporations." Veles continued. To think he was telling this story in the home he had built since that time, the sheer numbers seemed to catch up to him in a rush. This truly was his home. He had spent even more time here than in the north with his Pack growing up. Oh how life had changed him.

"Shortly after I massacred that small village, it was swarmed by humans in combat gear. I hadn't bothered to learn the names of those I had killed, but apparently one was the son of someone very important. He came in his own vehicle, while all the others crammed into various others. Everyone shown him the greatest deference that I have ever seen humans express. I thought he might have been some sort of human king. He was a very hard man, even as he looked over the flayed corpse of his son, he gave not hint of sorrow or remorse. He called out into the woods, not knowing where I was, but he was sure that I was watching. When I approached, he ordered his many men away and they obeyed without hesitation." he continued, leaning himself back against the counter top. His gaze never left Sybil as he told his story.

"The man asked me if I was working for anyone or specifically against human settlements, which both resulted in no's from me. When he looked again to the body on the ground, he explained that it was his son, and he would have wished a better end for him. I told him exactly why I had attacked the village, that his son had died over game. He looked back to me and was silent for nearly a minute. Then he offered me a job. He wanted me to kill a man that I had never met, cut out the target's heart and return it to him. I said ten thousand and he simply nodded. He beckoned one of his men and demanded a file be gathered together, including a drop location. He told me the day after completion, my money would be in the same location. If I did well, he would find me. I guess I did well." Veles couldn't help but grin wolfishly. Perhaps what he did was unsavory, but he did it well.

"After I got settled in the area, they asked about my willingness to travel. They had me travel to Bastion outside of official routes and collect a data packet from an unknowing science team up there. When I returned my handler was in the meeting room with another man, just after he handed me my payment, the man quipped that I played a good game of fetch. His neck was broken shortly thereafter. Now I still have a handler, but I get left assignments in an empty room. It has likely held me back from more prestige with the ranks of Umbra, but I've never really been concerned with that. So long as I can live here comfortably, my life is just fine. This conversation just brought to mind how long I've lived in this area, I wouldn't mind a trip back north, someday." Veles let his sentence drift off for a few seconds.

"So kitten, any of that sound interesting to you, or would you rather bask in the sun and snooze all day like other cats?" the werewolf teased Sybil. He had dismissed his foul feelings about cats, but it was still fun to taunt her relentlessly.

As Veles told his story, Sybil fidgeted slightly. She always fidgeted, so much feline energy. As she mentioned Librium, he grinned. So she wanted to wander into the city. Maybe now she would see how the city-scape just couldn't compare to the woods of Terra.

"Fair enough, though you might want to try on a few more clothes than just those to wander through the city. Now we could either wander back to wherever you have yours stashed, or you would wear a bit more of mine. The police won't much like us going into town in our other forms. I might even need to hide my face, if we go in during the day. Those cameras might still be keeping an eye out for me."

Veles began walking back down the hallway to his bedroom, intent on rummaging through his wardrobe for something a bit more Sybil's size. His initial efforts had obviously been a bit off, considering she hadn't chosen much of it to wear. Though, Sybil did prefer a lack of clothing, it seemed. He couldn't help but smirk softly, recalling her form, bow in hand, muscles taught as she drew the string back.

Maybe I shouldn't give her any more clothes his internal monologue quipped, his grin growing wider.

Striding into his room, he opened his chest of drawers and closet doors. His clothes were a bit more utilitarian than most. Slightly baggy to allow for movement, many pockets, thick materials. He was an outdoorsman, what else was he supposed to wear?

Gathering a set of pants that didn't really fit him too well, he thought if they would fit Sybil properly just as she wandered into the doorway.

"Well as much as I'd hate to, lets get you dressed.." he teased. Rummaging in a few more drawers, he found an old tee shirt that would have likely been much tighter. It might just fit Sybil's form quite well.

As Sybil began changing into the clothes he offered, Veles truly did regret her form being covered up more and more. Sybil was stunning in all her own ways. Even her skin, though it was marred with a few scars, some of which Veles had inflicted, was beautiful. She was young, resilient, healthy; every bit of that shined through even the subtle things about her.

Just as she tugged the top over her head, fitting the soft material into the proper position, Veles stepped in closer. As she quipped if he was happy, he leaned in and stole a quick kiss. "Purr-fectly pleased, pussy cat." he teased.

Veles decided that since she had gone through all the trouble of getting dressed, he might as well, too. Slipping his shorts down, leaving him only in his boxers, his appreciation of Sybil changing in front of him was easily visible, though he didn't comment on it at all. He collected a darker pair of denim pants, not quite black, but close enough. Sliding them on he grabbed a shirt quickly, and donned it in no time. Collecting two bundled up pairs of socks, he tossed one to Sybil before walking to and sitting on his bed. "If you'd prefer bare-foot, that's fine too, there are some boots in the closet as well. Likely too big and bulky for any real comfort, but better than taking a twig through your foot first thing in the morning."

After slipping his socks on, Veles walked back to the closet again and nudged out a pair of boots. They were fashioned from a a single piece of leather each, only thin lines of stitching could be seen. Their soles were some form or rugged rubber meant for wear and tear as well as traction. Sliding his feet in, he snugged them up before fixing his pant legs over the tops of the boots. Collecting a large coat from a hanger, he deemed it a bit too heavy. "Weather's too nice for this." Placing the long coat back into the closet, he instead grabbed a hooded sweat shirt that zipped in the front. Finally he gathered a blank, black baseball cap.

Giving Sybil a grin, "Ready?" he asked just before stepping from the room. As he made his way back into the great room, he turned off the displays of the world outside. He checked that his weapons display was closed, and glanced into the kitchen. Everything seemed to be in order, but his nature made him always check. As Sybil followed him, he asked her to press her hand against the small display near the door. "It will record your hand print, for when you choose to wander this way again. You will be able to get in, whether I'm here or not." he explained.

Veles led them both out of his den, slipping back into the wild world again, but before stepping off the rocky ledge, he inhaled a few times and stopped to listen carefully. Something smelled strange in the distance, but he couldn't put his finger on it. It wasn't in the direction of Librium, though, so their journey would likely go without incident. The two weres began their trek down the rocks, and into the thick foliage of the forest. He began to follow Sybil, as she made her way in the woods. While in some ways it felt instinctual to lead in the point position, somehow it also felt natural that he should be following the cat around. The nature of cats and dogs was full of fun quirks.