[Yeah, I jumped the gun a little, this will take place after the scene in the hospital is complete]
She was exhausted and at the same time exhilarated when they returned to the house in the swamp. Treating Geller had been a perfect test of what she'd been working on with the hospital staff and everything had gone like clockwork. Well, except for the issues with the lab but that was typical of every hospital. It had been a whirlwind of a night though and one of the things that stood out was how the pack formed and gathered and even how Milo had gathered his Rodere together. And through it all she was standing alone.
She was used to that, being the lone leopard but at the same time... being alone was becoming like having her fur rubbed the wrong way. Once upon a time there had been Patsy and the Pard, even though she wasn't as close with them they were there, there if she needed them. Now.. now there were others that needed someone there and, like it or not, she didn't need Patsy or anyone else anymore. But the other leopards, they needed her.
It was a sudden revelation, one she'd never considered, not even when she met with Mikhail a few weeks ago. It was time that she took charge of the leopards. It was time, time for her to call. It was a simple matter of lowering her shields, the Great Cat within her stretching as it was freed from the confinement of her will. Her eyes closed as focus shifted inward and then out, allowing power to spill from her in warm waves and along that spill of power went the echoing cough of a leopard claiming its territory. The sound echoed on the ethereal plane, a call for leopards to gather.
Her eyes opened then, golden hues seeming even more inhuman as she stared out into the night. Dakota was probably already on her way, the others she was less sure of. Anula and Owen should both have felt the compulsion in her call and responded. Mikhail was strong enough to ignore her call but courtesy at least should have him responding. There were some others in the city, she'd felt them, hints of scent in the wind, she'd just had no reason to seek them before now but was sure they would respond as well.
Whatever had happened to Geller it would not happen to any others. Silent would care for her wolves, Milo for his Rats and she, she would care for the Leopards. It was time for a Pard in the Big Easy.
Dakota was indeed already on her way. If there was one call in this city she wouldn't try to ignore, it was Jess's. And while she might respond should Mikhail have sent out a call, it might nto have been quite as quickly. The only other Leopard she'd have gone to this quickly was Artimes, which was who had been on her mind when her beasts ears pricked up and she heard that call.
Something had happend tonight. She didn't know what exactly but she knew something bad had gone down. Theo and Alex and Karma had scrambled out of the house like bats outta hell, and in such a hurry, she hadn't gotten any clue where they were goin or why. Not that she was their keeper, or that they needed to tell her any damn thing. But it was odd to seem them all leave so fast.
She was in her truck and headed in the direction of the swamps without a second thought. Thoughts going from Art now to Jess, and wondering what had prompted the leopardess to sound the call. The little latino leopard shook her head, and just drove. Drove untill she ended up at the place they had gathered for the full moon, and let out a call of her own. Letting Jess know she was there. And wondering how the hell to get across to the house.
Alyanna was sitting on a bench in the middle of the city just watching the people as they strolled by without a care in the world. But her skin was crawling like there was something wrong within the city. So trying to shake it off. Letting her kitten out some but not to much to let her stretch within that plane which she was on.
That was when she felt the call head raising as the call was from someone familiar even thought her and Jessica didn't get to talk long when they met in New York.But she was still nice to her. And that was also when Alyanna had looked horrible. Now she was somewhat healthier and eating ok. So raising from her seat on the bench. And getting a taxi before telling the driver to drive that way. Motioning with her hand until she told them to stop. Also told the driver she didn't care about the fare for the ride.
It would take the driver a little while to get her out to the swamp where the call was coming from climbing out of the taxi, leaning in the front window to pay the driver before turning to make her way over toward the edge were she felt the other leopard she would give a little wave before speaking. " Hi ."
She turned toward the window when the call came, the wave of reverberation on the metaphysical plane sweeping over the diminutive little Thai. She closed her eyes to bask in the power.
While Mikhail may have been able to resist, Wani could not, and since Mikhail was not around, she was heading down the stairs and toward her car. The swamps were quite a ways out, but Wani followed her sense and felt the power growing stronger.
The tiny Amur leopard was nearly spinning in circles, it'd been a long time since she'd felt another one of her kind, besides Mikhail. The small car bumped and plodded along, bringing her closer to the source.
It would take a while for everyone to arrive and while it would have been easier to meet in the city, meeting in the swamp provided more privacy for this meeting. Her history with Pards was... eclectic... and she had no idea how forming one of her own would progress but she knew that it had to be done out here, where things were just a little more wild. She was exhausted, from working on Geller, from healing Alex, from the long ass-numbing ride from Los Angeles but she was pacing, waiting as she felt them responding.
She slipped out of the house then, taking a small skiff out to making her way from the house to where the boathouse across the water. There were other paths but not ones easily taken on two feet and she could feel the Great Cat within her wanting to take those other paths, she was restless, wanting to play, feeling the others responding to her Call.
A soft laugh escaped her, the sound echoing over the water as she heard... felt... Kota's response. It took only a moment for ease the boat to the dock, tying it off before climbing out and onto relatively dry land. It didn't take long for her to make her way to where Kota had parked, the Great Cat bounding ahead to buffet the smaller cat in playful greeting.
For Owen, so many counted on him to do so much. Call it multitasking. His greatest alliances with his two friends, Steven and Zack had been in a deep peril lately and the thought of that sweet, innocent girl left the nonchalant kitten in a state of doing what is best for someone who acknowledged all of him for what he does for a living. He was at home putting away three canisters that he used before. Most physicians like him wasn't at all as upright, he was clothed in a sleeveless, gray shirt showing off his bare arms, his height of five ft ten wasn't the average height for the ideal male persuasion but his size in comparison to his African leopard from within was much larger, but he did not count height to get the job done where the mind itself was his tools for anything and everything. His laptop opened, he tapped the keys on his keypad until he felt a cold brush against his delicate skin. Something was up, he knew that power and the classy feline was sure not about to stall for time. His dark hair neatly combed, Owen's chance to reunite with a familiar presence.
Jessica! At first, he did not think the woman will ever talk to him again after that incident with his close friend, Zachary. Come to think of it, Zach asked if he and Jessica was still keeping the lines opened between them. His heart leaped in the depths of his chest, he did not turn from this woman when he first met her. The guy was mature from the outside, but the preternatural part of him was young and still learning the ropes around things so he made mistakes, but as a physician he healed that was what he did. Standing to his usual height, he did not grab nothing except he went towards this call.
Jessica wasn't too far, Casanova, his male felidae sensed her from the direction where he knew this power she emanated will be. He will go, he shall go, he let her know he was present in response to Jessica's calling. His blue volvo, shiny and pretty, class was all in it for him as he liked it that way. Getting in, he started the vehicle making a beeline between cars towards the direction where the power will take him. His large kitty grew excited, he managed to put the male over there in his control for much longer. It was time, somehow, he wasn't going to mess this up. He falls, but he gets up everytime regardless. That made him feel as if he was actually growing up from this curious and naive fellow who once lived secluded from people, period. Now, it would not hurt to meet others that shared his breed, not at all.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Sunday 26th of June 2011 08:15:41 PM
Mikhail was still present at his office when the call came to him. It was a familiar presence, the doctor; they had talked once a few weeks past. It was certainly a fascinating conversation, Illuminating even. He would answer it, in his own time. The Consulate turned his attention to the matters before him, politely wrapping his affairs of the moment up before offering the man he was speaking to a slight nod of his head."Vybachte, u mene ye vyklyk" the words in his native tongue offered to his colleague before he stepped away and front his office.
On his way to the elevator, he produced his cellular phone, tapping a single button before pressing the phone to his ear." Have my Car brought around." short call ended the Leopard stepped into the elevator, pulling the tie from around his neck and unbuttoning the top button of his shirt.
It wasn't long until Mikhail was on his way to answer the call, he was alone, having forsook his driver. This wasn’t the business of lesser beings. They would feel his presence far before Mikhail arrived. He was the king of his own castle, and a king did not hide in his castle. Just so happened Mikhail saw the world as a whole as his castle.
He left his car a good distance away, He did not think the woman was dangerous. but he wanted to keep his transport a secret.just in case he needed to make a quick escape he of course left his shoes in the car and waded through the muck, the predators of this place did not scare him, he was the predator here. they would be his prey if he desired it.
The great black beast Mikhail held as his counter strode along side his man flesh while the great Leopard stepped up to join the gathering. Seeing the gathering before him Mikhail, in all his power let eyes wander the group, he recognized all but one here. When eyes returned to Jess, Mikhail shamelessly wet and muddy from the knees down due to his walk through the swamp, gave her a curious look. “I must say, I am rather surprised to have received your call..."
Her arms welcomed Kota, the first to arrive, leaning down to nuzzle her cheek to the smaller woman's. "Hey you." The words a soft rumbling purr. Alyanna arrived next and was given the same welcome, the Great Cat moving amongst the smaller leopards, rubbing against them on the ethereal, welcoming them with soft nips to the ear and playful buffets.
"Others are coming." Her words sure and confident, even though it was easy to see some of the tiredness shadowing her eyes.
Wani and Owen were gifted with the same greeting, smiling as they all arrived. It was a rush, having them here, having them here at her call, she'd never realized how it could be. There was another coming though, one arriving from his own choice and not from the compulsion and she knew that this would be her first test of sorts.
Her chin lifted as Mikhail stepped out of the swamp, watching him with a faint smile still dancing over her lips.
“I must say, I am rather surprised to have received your call..."
Her head canted slightly at his words, "Why? Any Pard would be honored to have you within it and my Pard can use some more strength." Yes, there was an emphasis on the pronoun, claiming the others just that simply as her own. She moved slightly, putting them all within her view.
"I don't know if any of you are aware but there was an abduction and assault on one of the wolves, Charles Geller." Her hands lifted, forstalling any questions at this time, "He is well and at the hospital where I've been treating him in the Shifter Clinic. It came to my attention as I was there though that the Pack and Rodere have formed in the city. Silent is Ulfric and Milo is King. We are all stronger together then we are apart so it is time for the Pard to form as well. I will not allow any of you to be alone." Maybe it was the years fighting city councils and hospital administrations that gave her the confidence she'd never had before but there wasn't even the hint of a waver in her voice. Power spilling from her in a warm wave, surrounding and welcoming them even as her Cat paced around each of their's in an guarding perimeter, even Mikhail's Black Beast was included in the circuit. "There will be no rogues in this city. I am sure that Silent and Milo will agree. Even those shifters that are alone in their breed will find a home. Everyone will have a home and a hunting ground. We ally with the Rodere and the Pack and I will be speaking with those Tigers within the city as well."
She paused then, hands spreading lightly in front of her, simply waiting for their response. Her words held a finality to them that said that this wasn't really an option for all she'd spoken softly and blanketed them in a comforting warmth of her presense. It was as it was. She was forming a Pard and there would be no rogues. Period.
The rapid purr of Wani came when she received the warm greeting from the strong female leopard. It bathed her in comfort. She knew Dakota, though no others, but the scents and sounds of all of them combined was heady for the tiny amur. Her scent of ginger and orange blended with the rest, though she felt another familiar scent. Mikhail. The man who trained her, taught her, kept her safe from the big bad. She put her fingertips beneath her chin, grinned and bowed to Jessica, then to Mikhail, but became curious when the pair began an exchange.
She went still. Listening. The tale of a wolf abducted, in a hospital. She was not a fearful one by nature, but she knew danger was real, there were dark, unspeakable things that went bump in the night, and this city, was a new experience for Wani. Magic, energy, power enough to drown in.
She looked from Jessica to Mikhail, but took the time to wiggle her tiny fingers in a wave to Dakota.
Mikhail stood in her waves of power she was pouring out. she was a strong woman certainly afterall it was her call the summoned the others here. even his dear sweet Wani had come to the calling. The Ukranian Diplomat folded his arms and watched the woman as she spoke. The tales of Shifter's being taken where not new, it had been happening throughout Mikhail's long life. hell, even Wani had been Taken.
While his manflesh listened, the large balck beast that shared his soul, was making thr rounds greeting the other, younger leopards greeting them in the traditional way an alpha greets those below him. of course Jessica's beast did not get that greeting. she got the one of equals. when he made it.
" I am pleased to hear that the wolf is on the path to healing. I do hope that his recovery is a swift one." his eyes left the doctor woman and wandered from person to person, they where young all of them.” While It grieves me, that it takes such a terrible action, in order to incite our joining as a Pard. I am pleased that it has happened.” his tone was polite, and conversational he even had a small smile on his face.
"I would lead beside you, as we have many who are young. Two voices, speak louder then one in matters of diplomacy." he said, the implication was that with two leaders they'd be stronger, she didnt speak of the other two groups forming holding two leaders. He spoke with confidence as well. his words where iron, He was a father without children, save wani. And his aura offered that as it pushed from him, as it was Mikhail did not at all hide what he was, ever. " I know the Tigress Queen very well, She and I have had dealings in the past. If you'll allow. I'd very much like to speak with her on an alliance."
He was there and the welcome from a fellow physician, she was that which he connected to her on the level of healing. Owen smiled at the proper greeting coming from her leopard from within which awoken his laziness of a feline. The two of them has met her for she was a beautiful, and elegant woman who his kitten felt a canopy blanket around him. The young male growled low with a greeting of his own, the african leopard brushed his cheek against Jessica's larger cat feeling that warmth as she had given prior to their first meeting. His head canted to the other male, Mikhail! They had spoken the first time, the fact he acknowledged him on their first introduction said a lot. He liked him right away soon as they met. His heart bounced like a jumpy fish out of water. His leopard introduced itself by brushing their inner feline within their metaphysical plane.
Well, the young male was becoming adjusted to being around others including his own kind. Everyone was here and Owen was more excited right after he heard about the rats and the wolves in an alliance. Thinking of his friend Zachary who was a wolf in fact, it had seemed he was much, much more thrilled in a positive way, The classy and laid-back Physician had learned of Geller's condition. Being a doctor himself, he was glad to hear that Jess has already taken care of the problem, hearing that he was well on the way to recovery. His heart ached, but then the seams loosened around his heart strings.
He liked Geller when he first met him, there was an air around that guy that made him easier to love as if, there was something about him that even had Owen wanting to see him for the second time after the first, so far, he hasn't seen nor heard hair of him after the incident with Zach. As for the rats, he became acquainted with a few, and has even met some during his stay in New Orleans. His African leopard's whiskers twitched a little, sitting on his haunches watching the room with interest, that beige coat and those darker black rosettes made him stand out so it was pretty easier to identify him even in beast mode.
There was a lot to think about while he looked to Jessica then Mikhail, the thought of a pard was great! It has been such a very long time when he was part of one back home when he started out as a newborn cub, then the day he left he was on his own. When Owen came here he wasn't sure rather if a pard really was going to happen or if it wasn't, spoken from an experience he knew well enough. The seriousness from Jessica's voice was not a false hope but a sure one. That alone made him trust her as well as Mikhail it will be formed. He's been alone for a pretty long time, raised himself but kept to hunting things like squirrels, small birds, even a few rabbits did the trick for his survival, he's stayed alive up to this point. He said nothing, just listened to the alphas while standing with the other young leopards like himself.
Mikhail's greeting was accepted and welcomed, she had rarely met another alpha male leopard and though their first meeting was... interesting... it seemed that this one would be better. His words, his offer had her considering, moving slowly towards him, circling him slowly even as her Other Self circled the Black Beast.
This was a delicate situation, he had lead before, she had not. He had said he did not want to lead in this city but then, so had she before now. They held wildly different view of shifters, of leopards, they barely knew each other.... As she circled him her eyes moved to the others. They needed strong leaders to keep them safe.
She stopped her pacing at his side, sliding a hand lightly along the length of his arm before curling it around his waist, settling herself at his side.
"I would appreciate it if you would speak with her and bring her to the table so to speak with Milo and Silent. If we bind all the shifters in alliance we will all be stronger for it."
This was not what she had expected when she called them all but he was right, together they would be stronger.
"Not all of us our known for what we are. Be careful in your speech to others to keep it so. I informed you all about Geller because of the possibility of danger but he does not run openly with the Pack, his confidence must be kept."
Her eyes moved to each of the others even as she leaned lightly against Mikhail, if they were to rule together then they must trust in each other as well and her exhaustion from the too long day was starting to show. "We will be closest to the Rats since Milo and I are together. If you need help call them and they will come," she chuckled softly, "Just be prepared, they are eccentric to say the least." Understatment of the century.
Kota grinned and nuzzled Jess back, settling herself at the other woman's side. She'd been waiting for this to happen. Knowing it would eventually. With Jessie and Mikhail in town, it was only a matter of time before one of them broke down and took control.
So when Mikhail himself came out of the trees, Kota couldn't help but hide a grin. Moving from Jess to Wani, slipping a arm around the little ammur leopard. Eye's went back and forth between the two alpha leopards, and she grinned when Jess walked around Mikhail.
Dakota was the only one here, that had experiance with both of them. Mikhail as her Nimir Raj, and Jess from Detroit, and now. A better pairing of leaders she couldn't think of, and between the two, she knew that she and the others would be well taken care of.
The news that one of the wolves had been taken, made her tense slightly. Not that she was friends with any of the wolves, she didn't really know any of them. The rats were more interesting to her. But it brought back memories of her own, of being taken, and held against her will. Of being fucked with. She didn't like it.
Dakota wasn't exaclty a young leopard. She was far from a kitten, having been a leopard for a good 14 years now. But she understood what Mikhail ment. When Jess said that they would be allied most closely with the rats, because she was with Milo, and warnned them all that they were eccentric lot, Dakota let out a snort of laughter, and cracked up.
"Eccentric....yeah that's one way to put it... at least where Otis is conncened. Alex and Theo...they are just weird." She grinned. And who would know better about Alex and Theo, than Dakota? for fuck sake, she LIVED with them.
-- Edited by DAKOTA SANCHEZ on Monday 27th of June 2011 10:16:16 PM
She tucked herself against Dakota, watching the two Alpha's dance the dance. It made her blood sing. It made the air electric. The little Thai was shivering with the excitement. It was exactly what they needed.
She never thought of her own capture, it came in nightmares, memories embedded into her brain that were false, yet they seemed so real. Tonight, she was thinking of the added protection, the safety for all of them.
She squeezed Dakota, her mask like features breaking into a smile. They were in a swamp, a place Wani had never been, but it was almost like the rice paddies, almost. It was a world away from the last time she was in a Pard, but it felt just as good.
Alyanna would see as Jessie would make her way to the group that had formed. She would greet her along with her kitten as she would gently rub against Jessie feline on that other plane. Before feeling another familiar presence which was Owen. It had been a long time since seeing him. She would make her way over to him to give him a gentle hug. Then when jessica began to speak she fell silent.
Standing there listening to Jessica go into why she had brought us all here . Hoping the wolf got better quickly once finding out that he was taken and assaulted. Well Alyanna had never been in a pard. But she hope that her old problems didn't come popping up. But she would kept herself low so that she didn't give them any trouble. Since this would all be new for her. First time for everything.
Mikhail was unmoving, as the Doctor woman inspected him, encircling him, and his beast. and when she pressed up beside him, he gave a small smile and lowered his eyes in a nod. Moving an arm up to place at the small of her back. "Very well, I look forward to meeting this person, If only to inform him I've no interest in stealing away his mate for myself." That was often the closest Mikhail got to a jest, he was a pretty serious man most of the time. Not cold mind you, but serious.
"It shall be done before the week is out." Mikhail said simply, turning his eyes to the woman at his side for a moment before eyes befell the Pard around them. He hadn't expected to lead again when he came to this city. But, It was in his blood to lead, he was a father without children.
His Eyes focused on Wani and he sported another small smile for the thai woman. "Wani, see to it, that the names of all present are placed upon out lift of confirmed guests." he said simply. and then he stepped from Jessica's side to address the group.
"We are few. But that matters not, for we are one... Know that under my protection, no harm that befalls you will go unpunished..." he left that open, Mikhail certainly had a high opinion of himself and Leopards in General. ."I understand that not all choose to live openly as I do. Caution is the first line of defense, I'll not ask anything of you in that respect. Know that you and any you would call friend or Family are welcome in my home." provided that they where nice about being in his house. "I reccomend that you all share contact information with one another. A Phone call in a moment of distress can mean your life." IT was true, he'd seen it happen before.
He offered the group a bow of respect then and took a step back returning to Jessica's side." With your leave, I"ll see to it, the business witht he tigers is hastily taken care of." his words where soft and meant for Jessica only, but it wasnt like he was whispering or anything
He embraced Alyanna as she had him in return, the contact made him smile just a little. Owen found a place to sit as the comfort was welcoming and he was no doubt copying his feline's laid-back personality. The person he was never changed even as his beast shared a place in his life, it is noted that once infected or turned, the part of you that you once was actually amplifies such as his flirtatious nature to his other traits said quite much. The young male inside of him was a tad disappointed the larger and powerful male was leaving but he assured him they'll see Mikhail again seeing he did mention there was an opening to come into his home which he was feeling more here surrounded by his family or they will become like actual brothers and sisters in the pard.
Jessica and Mikhail was much of parents already, he put trust in them both knowing there probably would not be any other neither of the younger will be as attached to as they are with them. He could see that after listening to Mikhail speak of friends and family, that will mean he can have Zachary and Steven over anytime right? That was a good thing considering everyone of them had created relationships outside of the soon-to be group of wereleopards. Owen's place in the pard will be a little bit awkward at first, to himself he'll admit he wasn't use to being in any large or smaller groups for he was always alone. Once a child raise his or herself, they start to become dependent on themselves than relying entirely upon others to get the job done which old habids will always die hard and coming from the Physician himself said as much from where he was coming from. He never minded getting all the attention as most shapeshifters like him did.
Then again, his inner leopard did need the touch of other leopards so there was a win-win thing. The good thing of not living in a hotel for the rest of his life made him ecstatic after Mikhail mentioned being welcomed in his abode. Crossing his ankles, crossed fingers along his lap, his head gestered to Mikhail as he bowed his head in respect so did he.
