A Little Freedom in the MorningWednesday 28th March: Approx 7am
It could be called a gift. It could be called a curse. In reality, she supposed it was both. Sharp eyes watched the flickering shadows the sunlight caused as it filtered through the clouds and then again through the branches of the trees, causing small spots of light to dance on grass as the branches moved a little. Feign interest kept her eyes on them for now.
It had its dangers of course. But it’s advantages… Ears flicked slowly as she was lost to her thoughts, though her attention was still as keen as ever. Tail flicked slowly through the grasses as she sat there. Spend too long and you risked getting lost in the mind of the beast, making changing back to human form far more difficult. Get injured and that injury threatens to get worse as soon as you start to change forms again. And although it was possible to change between forms without reverting back to human, you risked becoming exhausted and then being unable to demoprh.
Racheal had faced all three of these problems on the training island. Whether that was down to poor judgement, lack of training, or need at the time, the feral mutant still wasn’t sure. All she knew was that she couldn’t let it happen again. She’d spent about a week now training. Well, private training anyway, she didn’t really count the Exile training as suitable for her planned future, though at least this time round she’d managed to be partnered up. Wonder’s would never cease.
The small ginger and white long haired cat’s tail flicked again, before she looked lazily up at the sunlight through the trees. She’s seen this domestic long hair in someone’s back garden before. There was a girl there, sitting with her on her lap, stroking her softly as the cat sunned it’s self. She had seemed so peaceful, Racheal couldn’t resist trying to mimic the feline. She’d managed it pretty easily, and would use her when she could. The one problem with her was her long hair. It tended to matt… and removing matts as a feline was fairly difficult. But still, most of the time, it didn’t matter.
She stretched slowly, tail high as she stood up slowly, the tail curling a little at the tip to one side. All in all, she looked just like a lazy cat. And this was training? ~Of course~ She thought silently to herself. ~This angel is one of my best morphs… and one of the most useful in the middle of the city. As powerful as they are, tiger’s are somewhat useless there~
Not that her heart was fully up for leaving any more. Since meeting Michael, Connor and Jordan she had started to consider changing her mind. Sure, the Exiles remained a pain in her neck, but at the same time, she had been making connections finally. She even had friends really, she supposed. And Connor… he’d offered her the chance to talk at any time. It was an option she wanted to consider more seriously but wouldn’t let herself. Lazily, she patted at one of the sun spots, head tilting slightly. If she got too close to these people she’d really change her mind. And then what? She’d have to tell them. And then… well, she wasn’t sure. What would they say? She was a traitor… could they deal with the idea of a traitor in their midst. That idea hurt. A lot. That was why she had to go, before she hurt anyone, endangered them somehow.
It still lingered, in the back of her mind, that incidents on the training island could have been avoided. After all, she had seen the Brotherhood on her scouting. If she had told Garnet about the ‘teams’ she’d seen, maybe their fiery leader would have known what was going on and been able to send a message out about it to stop anyone getting hurt. She had known something was wrong with Paige, but she didn’t speak up once, hoping it was a problem she wouldn’t have to deal with. True, the good doctor had managed to relieve some of the guilt from the morpher’s shoulders, but it was still there, lingering in her mind.
~I need a change~ She decided simply, pondering for a moment, before deciding which morph was next. Her ears twitched slightly as she grew in size slowly, controlling the morph carefully. First she grew bigger, the subtle bone changes in her legs not overly visible at first beneath the long hair which grew a little with her body. The tail hairs shifted, some growing longer, some shorter, as it became more ‘flag’ like, her ears growing longer as well as a golden colour slowly moved down her coat in a slow wave. She was determined to try and make this morph as perfect as possible. Eyes closed for a moment, green emerald feline eyes shifting to those deeper brown ones of the canine. It didn’t take long really, till the shift was fully complete. Smooth. The golden retriever stood there, tail wagging, as her head turned round to look over herself carefully, before spotting it with a gently growl. One hind paw was still littered with white hairs. Not bad, considering though. Her tail gave another wag as she stretched again. Not too much energy expended either. All in all, this training was paying off. It would be nice to get rid of those flaws, but they were liveable with, and becoming minimal.
The instincts of the canine kicked in a few moments later, and her ears perked forward briefly, barking softly as the scents, registered so differently from the feline, flooded her for a moment. The cat cared little for scents really, relying more on it’s hearing and sight. The dog on the other hand, especially the retriever, relied more on it’s sense of smell and hearing. Her sight was adequate, but less focusable. Reading was extremely difficult!
Shaking herself, she bounded forward for a moment, chasing an invisible ball for a few moments, before lowering her head to sniff at the grass. Rabbits. Foxes. Rodents. All sorts of visitors could be scented on the ground, mostly night time dwellers. Still, it was enough to excite the canine, her tail wagging high now as she traced one of the scents a short distance. Racheal didn’t mind, letting the canine have some freedom for a bit.
It felt good, to be able to freely release her powers like this. Especially as she knew her domestic morphs would never harm anyone. In general, it was just a nice way to start a morning. Even if the sun had only graced the sky for a few hours now. And it was quiet too, most of the students either asleep still or wandering down towards breakfast. Today was promising to be a very good day so far. She might even consider daring the dinning hall for breakfast in a while at this rate!
(TBC: Connor)
"I was wrong, to think that I might belong. But I will never forget what I was... Who I am.. What I did, just to learn that"
"You know. I have this power. And yet.... I've yet to sneak in to a girl's changing room!"
Even sleep wasn’t the same any more, he couldn’t get more then a few hours, four to five at best if he was lucky, anywhere between two and three could be averaged. The reason Connor tended to have to shower more often, besides his need to feel clean he had to release a lot of energy and most of the time that was done in the danger room, but it was so enclosed and since the amnesia he just hasn’t been exactly the same. Last Monday Connor’s father came with an unexpected present for everyone, kittens! They were so cute Connor ached knowing he had to be gentle with them and yet he wanted to play with his still unnamed orange cat. Two days and he still didn’t know what to call the little guy.
Deep down Connor would always be more of a canine guy, that didn’t mean he loved his kitten any less, he just was more suited for the rough and tough mannerism of the loyal dog then he was of the less active felines. At least as kittens there were more playful and so Connor could spoil the kitten with attention and keep the little one happy and with their playful bouts. He was being very careful though, Connor also made sure to keep away from the scattering of few dogs that were out for their early morning walks before the bustle of students flooded the school for the waking hours of the better part of the day.
A laugh came so easily to his lips as Connor dragged the trip of a thin stick along the ground, the movement causing the orange and white kitten to rush after it eagerly, pawing the ground trying to catch whatever it was that caused the movement. Tiny claws popped out briefly before curling back in, vibrant yellow eyes peered intently at the ground where the stick remained motionless, pawing at it quickly again as soon as movement was seen.
The nineteen year old lay relaxed on the ground, his knees bent and his head turned to watch as his raised arm continued flicking the stick across the ground, the pouncing kitten alert and focused solely on the movements that Connor was causing. That was until movement not too far off caught both their attentions, Connor knew it wasn’t human just by the strides, his hand already reaching for the kitten and scooping it up onto his stomach as the feral sat up, turning his head towards the direction he had heard the movement… keen hearing meaning it took a bit for his target to get into view. The ginger kitten squirmed slightly and Connor offered it a hiding place under his buttoned shirt, not the most secretive of places as the tiny nose could be seen peeking out one of the gaps between the buttons. It was Connor’s turn to squirm a little as the tiny claws flexed into his skin, his hand cupping the little form under his shirt to offer some assurance.
The feral’s eyes watched the Labrador for a moment, a smile settling on Connor’s lips as the x-gene in the dog signalled its true mutant identity. Another chuckle came at the sight, it was definitely not weird considering he knew Racheal’s powers from last time he had been round her and sensed it, but it was still strange to see the powers in effect.
"Hey again Racheal." He wasn’t sure how to really welcome her, instinctively it was to hold out his hand but that was because of the canine form, for now he just cradled the anxious kitten, his legs crossing over, the cool material of his light blue jeans a little tough since they were relatively new. Some leaves still clung to the back of Connor’s white shirt, the thing grey lines that faintly ran down the material keeping the shirt from looking too plain.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
Bounded happily along, finding a butterfly, newly emerged, to chase happily, snapping a little in the air, though she would never harm the creature. It was all just a game. That was before a familiar scent caught her nasals and her head turned slowly in surprise, ears perking as she spotted the familiar figure. Connor. She paused her bounding before trotting towards him, tail giving a small wag, about to greet him when another scent caught her nasals, not quite as strong, as, like most young, the kitten’s scent was far more subtle.
"Hey again Racheal." She nodded a little, moving slowly closer, till she was about 3 foot away, before lying down flat on the grass. All the time, the retriever tail flicked slowly from side to side. Her soft, deep brown eyes were on that tiny bundle hidden against his chest. Despite the canine’s boundless energy, she forced herself to stay still.
Racheal was far more a cat person than a dog, and she liked to think that was despite her powers. They were one of the few carnivores, unable to survive without meat unlike their canine counter parts. In her mind, they were the true hunters. And they were so varied! Where as with canids you merely had domestic, wolf, wild dog and fox, cats you had leopards, lions, tigers, ocelots… and so on. They were so varied, and so athletic. They could run, climb, swim, and even dig though it was hardly preferred.
The feral mutant wasn’t about to ask how he knew who she was. She remembered enough about him to have a few ideas. Plus she had only seen one other golden retriever about, a young male, which made her unique about them for now. Especially as plenty of people knew she was a morpher now, after being put on the teams and before that even.
~Hi Conner~ She said calmly in response. Truth was, the only thing that threw her was that he had chosen to call her Racheal. She was used to being called Feral when in morph. It helped her separate her mind from those of the animals. It wasn’t really a big deal, just a home comfort she guessed. ~Who’s the kitten?~ She asked curiously as she lay there.
The retriever lay motionless, except for her flag like tail which swayed slowly through the grass. She would have demorphed, but felt somewhat awkward doing so in front of people, after the reactions of some. She was just glad that, unlike her brother, she could morph practically any clothing she wanted along with her, though never other objects, which could make life difficult at times. But still… at least she would be dressed when she did choose to demorph! That was always a bonus point!
"I was wrong, to think that I might belong. But I will never forget what I was... Who I am.. What I did, just to learn that"
"You know. I have this power. And yet.... I've yet to sneak in to a girl's changing room!"
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
It was amazing really, Connor had gone through a swing of emotions, all of which were typically locked up inside of him so not to hurt the others around him, more importantly Connor’s own family, but over the last few days the feral had decided he really disliked his abilities. They destroyed the normalcy of his life, every day was a challenge for the simplest reasons, food was a nightmare when not prepared properly, cleaning was even harder to ignore if he could smell dirty clothing or even the dust in the carpet. Most mutants had the ability to turn off their abilities, and that was something Connor envied more then he admitted, before he lost his memories it was something he had grown used to and though still had his wishful thoughts he tried not to let it get him down as much as it was now. Madison could just absorb the feral senses from either Connor or her father, she didn’t have them naturally so that meant unlike her older brother Madison had the off switch to get rid of them and that had always been an envious trait Connor never admitted to wanting.
~Hi Conner~ Another ability of Racheal’s, however not one Connor had the girl use with him before, then again, she hadn’t used her morph around him either, at least not for as long as he could remember and she had said they hadn’t known each other much at all before hand. The one power Connor did love was his ability to store the mutant abilities of other students, so far it seemed he could only do three, part of him could sense that it was possible to do more and yet there seemed no where to put them. Though Madison had to warn Connor that due to the adamantium encasing his skeleton that Connor lost the ability to morph his bone structure, which currently was a drag because it looked like a lot of fun to run around like an animal, at least he could alter his physical appearance, that was something new and interesting he could try one day.
~Who’s the kitten?~ Another smile came easily to Connor’s lips, his vibrant eyes peered down at the tiny ginger form and his hands carefully lifted his shirt enough to help remove the kitten from within it, though the feline remained in a cautious stance on its owner’s lap, with the tiny pink nose lifted enough to sniff the strange new scent of the creature that had plopped down beside them.
"Dad took Chris out Sunday and someone threw a bag of kittens out of their car window, apparently it nearly struck dad’s bike, he wasn’t pleased at all, only when he realized what was thrown he got even more upset, Chris said he almost imagined him charging after that car." There was a distinctive displeasure in his attempt at casual voice, though an affectionate petting helped lighten the tone somewhat, especially at the last half of the sentence where he looked like the image of his father chasing down the idiots that abandoned these lovely kittens, "So he brought them home, one for Arisa and I and another for a girl called Talia.. I can’t think of a name for him though." It was hard since he was also wondering what names he liked before he lost his memory and if there was a specific name he may have called the kitten, or if he would name it with a human name or just pick a word from a language that meant something nice that also sounded nice… or maybe just call him Ginger, or something else rather cliché and obvious, Connor just couldn’t decide on what he should choose.
"There’s obvious names, like Ginger, but then there’s actual proper names, or things like … I don’t know… Dad was in Japan for a bit I think, I thought of choosing a word from there that I liked as his name… or something more simple…hmm…" Connor rolled down onto his side, letting the kitten find its way onto the ground as Connor laid on his side facing the golden retriever. "What do you think?" While a hand rested against the kitten lightly to allow gentle fingers to stroke and pet him, Connor’s eyes lifted to stare over at the deep darker eyes of the morphed mutant, he didn’t seem at all dissuaded by the fact he was talking to what appeared to be a dog, instead acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world… Such habits were easy for Connor to fall into since he could so easily read mutant powers and recognize scents, it made doubt of any kind near on impossible and always helped ease him into someone’s company he was familiar with even if they were in some altered form.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
The golden retriever watched the worried kitten carefully, Racheal being careful to curb the double amount of excitement about seeing the kitten. It was a beautiful little thing in her mind, and clearly already had a foul belief about dogs, which would have brought a chuckle from her in human form. However the canine kept as still as she could, watching the kitten with soft, curious eyes.
"Dad took Chris out Sunday and someone threw a bag of kittens out of their car window, apparently it nearly struck dad’s bike, he wasn’t pleased at all, only when he realized what was thrown he got even more upset, Chris said he almost imagined him charging after that car." It took every ounce of will power not to growl or tense at that. Who in their right mind threw such beautiful creatures from a moving car?! If they weren’t wanted, take them to a shelter. But throwing them from a moving car… they could have been injured, killed… die slowly without their mother. A gentle whimper escaped her at the thought of such small creatures being abandoned like that. So unbelievably cruel. Her own displeasure was echoed in the voice of the male feral.
"So he brought them home, one for Arisa and I and another for a girl called Talia.. I can’t think of a name for him though." Was that two or three kittens? Her immediate guess was three, partially because she knew litters of two kittens was rare, normally it was between 3 and 6. As for deciding on a name, it wasn’t something she had to do often. She’d had a kitten once. About a year after Jake had supposedly died. She’d called it Skye, a small silvery grey kitten. She had loved it. But at 6 months it had hit Halloween and some cruel children had decided to drown the small kitten as part of a ‘trick’. Her ears flicked slowly at the memory, though Connor’s words brought her bacj to the present slowly.
"There’s obvious names, like Ginger, but then there’s actual proper names, or things like … I don’t know… Dad was in Japan for a bit I think, I thought of choosing a word from there that I liked as his name… or something more simple…hmm…" The retriever watched the kitten as it soon found it’s self displaced on the ground. Ginger seemed too obvious really, too common. He was a beautiful kitten though, and she stayed as still as she could manage to avoid scaring the small creature, her keen ears still focused on it’s new owner. "What do you think?"
Canine eyes were lifted slight to meet Connor’s, without moving her head. Easily done really. Some people would have felt odd about this, like Garnet had felt strange talking to her in kestrel morph. It wasn’t necessarily the talking to an animal which got to them, but having a conversation with it. And yet Connor… he seemed to take it like it was the most natural thing in the world, and for that she was highly grateful.
But he had asked for names and that got her thinking. She wasn’t brilliant at naming animals in her mind, and looking at the tiny ginger creature once more, she couldn’t help but wonder what sort of name would suit him. Ginger, in her eyes, just didn’t seem to fit. Her head tilted slowly, trying not to scare the small creature.
~I’m not sure really… but maybe you should pick something to match his personality~ She suggested slowly, tail giving slow wags still. ~What’s he like?~ She asked slowly. Of course, there was something really bugging her about the entire situation, but that wasn’t rare. Racheal was just annoyed about the fact that these beautiful creatures had had their lives placed in such uncaring danger.
~If it wasn’t so… What’s the word.. cliché, I’d suggest Lucky… just because all of them were lucky. Lucky to have survived… and lucky to have found a good home~ She said in quiet confidence. ~Not that I can understand why someone would want to get rid of such beautiful creatures to start with~ She continued, shifting her weight a little so her hips rolled to the side in a more relaxed manner, keeping the movement slow as to not scare the kitten.
~The only one I’ve ever named before was a pretty little silver tabby kitten called Skye…~ She said slowly in thought, watching the kitten with a mental smile, wishing she could encourage it into gentle play without scaring it at all. Her ears twitched slowly as she lay there in thought, her eyes bright. Kittens. In her mind, you couldn’t get any cuter.
Hannah: "In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are"
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
At least there was one thing they agreed on easily with naming the kitten and that was Ginger really wasn't something that would suit well with the cat and Connor was very hesitant and yet at the same time he was really struggling to come up with something he liked wholeheartedly. His fingers gently stroked the kitten and then the feral's arm moved to help support his head as he laid on his side, the strong blue eyes shifting slowly between the kitten and the morphed form of Racheal.
~I’m not sure really… but maybe you should pick something to match his personality~ ....Again Connor stared focused on the kitten as it tried to assess the strange animal it so far had little contact with, the kitten was very affectionate, curious, cuddly... loved attention and being close to Connor. Not yet ready to explore the world on his own meant that Connor got to have the yellow eyed kitten trailing along after him and crying for Connor whenever the new owner had to leave for classes or any other reason. It was nice to know there was something so dependant on him, there was nothing better then feeling wanted and right now Connor was feeling that, not only with the kitten but with Chris and even his father showed interest, as did the sisters but they had a lot of their own things going on right now and Connor respected they had busy lives..
~What’s he like?~ Again the words repeated themselves in Connor's mind.. but you couldn't really call a kitten 'Affectionate' or 'Loving'. Racheal continued on and Connor let his eyes focus on her canine features as she spoke mentally to his mind, so weird and yet...so casually done. Even Connor realized how odd someone like Chris, unused to mutants, would consider this, but Connor was not only used to Amlarie's different features, but respected that mutants were who they were and just like you can't always change their personality you can't change who they are and what they can do. Racheal was so kind and patient and that's all that mattered, no matter how different she made herself look Racheal would always be Racheal, somewhere deep down inside, beneath all her animalistic virtues and otherwise, there'll always be a part of her still there, still controlling the beast she's in, and that's something Connor trusted without a doubt.
~If it wasn’t so… What’s the word.. cliché, I’d suggest Lucky… just because all of them were lucky. Lucky to have survived… and lucky to have found a good home~ Lucky? ...A good home? Connor smiled softly at the thought, this was a good home he supposed, not that he really found it any different to Amlarie's, well of course it was different but both places he felt safe. He'd rather live somewhere less active, somewhere where things didn't seem so dependant on secrets and mystery and unknowns. He didn't like the idea that the mutant school was not known for what it really was and that was upsetting to think they were living in fear of the public. It was just like Amlarie said, people were dangerous, it didn't matter how powerful or powerless mutants could be, the humans had their own weapons and they could be just as dangerous as any mutant.
But moments like these were really special, they were calm and peaceful and made moments of happiness that seemed so few and far between at times, even if currently Connor couldn't remember most of the better moments. The kitten wasn't the only lucky one, if anything Connor felt just as lucky, he felt lucky to be with Chris and his sisters and his father, lucky to find out who he really was even if it was all still so far from really discovering the truth of his past. He knew from eyes of others but that didn't make it feel right, he still felt empty and lost and right now he survived on heresay handed to him from various people.
~Not that I can understand why someone would want to get rid of such beautiful creatures to start with~ The picture was so cute, the three of them there, all relaxed, a kitten, dog and Connor, it felt almost serene even if they were holding a conversation that was, to Connor more so, something very important. ~The only one I’ve ever named before was a pretty little silver tabby kitten called Skye…~ The sniffing kitten progressed slightly closer to the canine, there was always the cautious behaviour in the little guy, always so careful and alert before running around blindly. New people unnerved him and yet given time with them the ginger feline could feel more then comfortable enough to bounce around contently unfazed by their presence.
"Lucky?" The thoughtfully spoken word sounded as if it struck home with him, he liked the fact that Racheal made it sound as if the kitten was finally somewhere safe, but on top of that Connor felt lucky that by some random event he ended up with such an adorable creature growing so fond of him. They were both lucky in his mind, he was lucky to find the kitten and the kitten was lucky to be found, both managed to find a good home that they were missing and they were lucky to finally have somewhere they felt somewhat more secure and free to move about.
"I like it, that suits everything." The compliment was directed towards Racheal as Connor's arm lowered to the ground, stretching out above his head and letting his head rest down on his arm. "Yet another rescue successfully handled by the mutant wonder.. I'm going to start getting jealous with your acts of heroism." There was a soft laugh though he felt really fond of the fact that the girl seemed to handle problems he put so much time into and she just swooped in and came up with the ability to help fix it. Everyone had their faults of course but that didn't stop Connor from admiring her ability to be both involved and standoffish at the same time, to give people space and a helping hand with the same ease.
"Are you out for a run before morning classes?" He wasn't in the mood to go to classes and Connor was already told he didn't have to go till he felt he was comfortable enough to. And while Connor wanted to stay up to date with his work that he figured he was getting pretty far behind in, he still also wanted to have time to himself and sitting in cramped loud roudy classes were more off putting then helping him settle in. Part of Connor wished that he could just escape somewhere more quiet, to a home away from here that was quiet, like that private cottage that Amlarie had, he'd not mind going back there and just resting for a while, somewhere out of the way and more isolated.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
As the kitten slowly explored, Racheal remained relatively motionless, allowing the small feline to find his feet with her large canid form. Still, she was happy to see that the kitten didn’t seem to totally object to her presence, and her tail wagged slowly as she watched the small feline. The scene they created wasn’t lost on her mind. It was like something she had once saw in a book, and even back then she had through it a peaceful scene, and now it just felt that. Of course, she was sure in the book that the dog had been the boy’s playfellow, not some girl in canine form, but the idea was there at least.
"Lucky?" She had thought it a bad plan, but there was something in his voice which made her realise that Connor was actually seriously thinking about it seriously. It was that thoughtful tone. She relaxed more as she switched her gaze back to the kitten before her brows lifted to allow those deep canine eyes to lift to the other feral as he spoke again.
"I like it, that suits everything." If it was possible, there would have been surprise in those gentle eyes, instead her head lifted slightly, ears perked high and forwards at his words. But then, she supposed he was right. She was, in a way, lucky to have found this place herself, but at the same time…. How could she possibly ever belong here? She knew that it wouldn’t be long till someone decided to talk to her about her tardiness with lessons, and she could never feel peaceful in the Exile dorms. She wasn’t so… ready to leave any more, not since so many people had started actually become forwardly friendly with her again. She didn’t have to be alone… but she didn’t trust herself. Still, these thoughts passed ffrom her mind as Connor continued.
"Yet another rescue successfully handled by the mutant wonder.. I'm going to start getting jealous with your acts of heroi[/i] Had she been in human form, she would have blushed. As it was, she lay her head on the grass with a wag of her tail, tilting her head almost shyly at the compliment, one forepaw resting near her muzzle in the gesture. She knew it was a joke, but at the same time, there was just something that made her smile inwardly at that, her tail tapping the floor.
Racheal certainly didn’t see herself as a hero, no matter what anyone might think. And she would never think of herself like that. All she did was try to help, in her sometimes rather shy, awkward manner. Connor might see her as doing it with ease, but she found it difficult sometimes, to be able to help and not feel overpowering. As far as she was concerned, people should, in the end, make their own decisions. Like it had been Connor’s decision to choose Lucky as a name, or to step towards her that night in the lake. They had to make those steps. She was just there to support them when they did.
"Are you out for a run before morning classes?" Was he expecting her to? She vaguely remembered telling him she didn’t attend classes. Perhaps he was trying to get her to go. Or perhaps he was just being curious and maybe forgot that tiny snippet of information. It had been a long, somewhat rollercoaster of a night after all and she wasn’t sure she could remember every detail.
She shook her head a little through the soft grass as she lay there, her eyes on Connor. ~No… I don’t have classes. Actually I was training a little.~ She explained softly, her ears flicking. A little was perhaps somewhat of an understatement. Though she had only been up maybe a couple of hours, having had an early breakfast before coming out to do some training.
~I realised that I was being tired out too easily during my morphs. So I wanted to try and build up my endurance~ She explained gently, smiling as best the golden retriever could manage. There was no need for how she found it out, exhausting herself through too many morphs when with the Exiles on the training mission, mostly because she had switched directly between morphs and then stayed over her three hours in her kestrel form. It had been her own fault really. But in a way, worth it.
~What about you? Do you have classes today?~ She asked softly, stretching out slightly, tail still wagging. He had mentioned before that he was starting classes again, though she had to admit, it would be nice to spend some time with someone who wasn’t on her team. More so, just to spend time with Connor. She had enjoyed last time, after they had settled the original problems. And so there was a slight hopeful look to those canine eyes as she watched him.
Hannah: "In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are"
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
It wasn’t until after Connor asked the question, and a good pause after, that Connor remembered Racheal had already stated she didn’t attend classes. Was he really that desperate for her to be in a class with him that he so easily forgot? There had been a brief moment where Connor felt a little embarrassed by the repeated question and let his eyes trail along the ground before meeting the canine’s whose in turn were staring back at the feral mutant.
~No… I don’t have classes. Actually I was training a little.~ Training to use her powers? The thought hadn’t really occurred to Connor, it seemed obvious now that he thought about it, but people probably expected him to train as well, Racheal wasn’t the only one to have mentioned about training and yet it never really clicked that connor was probably meant to be doing the same.
~I realised that I was being tired out too easily during my morphs. So I wanted to try and build up my endurance~ It made Logan’s son wondered what his weaknesses were, the thought of using his claws at all was scary, he hated them, he hated how dangerous they were, how much they hurt coming out, and hated more then anything the fact they slipped out unintentionally at times. Than again, Connor also hated his sense of smell, his hearing… so far he hated everything he could do, though Madison mentioned they ability of mimicking abilities, that sounded cool, but he’d never attempted it. If the feral couldn’t control his own powers, how on earth could he control other peoples? Madison did say that they had great control over the powers they absorb, but Connor wasn’t at the point where he was ready to take chances.
~What about you? Do you have classes today?~ Tender fingers were thoughtfully stroking the newly named kitten as Racheal asked her question, which made Connor’s fingers cease their stroking and the ginger feline seemed to focus a lot of attention on the now motionless fingers, rubbing his tiny face against the tops of Connor’s fingers as if trying to coax the petting to continue.
"Jean says I don’t need to attend classes for a while… I go to some, but I don’t feel like going today, Max always starts fights with Riley and it’s irritating me, I have him in first period for English." It didn’t occur to Connor yet that Racheal would know full well how irritating Max could get, he knew they were on the same team but that didn’t mean that Racheal and Max didn’t get on, after all, Chadstone seemed able to charm anyone else if he was in the mood, and he was generally sweet talking with most of the pretty girls, and Racheal was attractive as far as Connor felt, and she didn’t go overboard with flaunting her subtle pleasant looks by smearing makeup and the like over her face as if it were a canvas…
"I have dad for wilderness activities at forth period, I’m thinking of going there… what do you do all day if you don’t go to classes?" From hesitant thoughts to curious ones, Connor realized he’d get pretty bored running around aimlessly all day, there were periods he had off but he’d get bored rather quickly, which lead to the feral wondering what Racheal did in order to keep herself occupied.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
Soft, deep eyes watched the kitten now curiously, as her golden muzzle lay in a relaxed manner on the grass, her ears perked forward in that retriever style, an inward chuckle coming as the kitten seemed to try and encourage those paused fingers. But Racheal had realised what made those fingers pause. Classes. Perhaps he was having problems or something with them. Or just didn’t like them. She could understand both really. But her silent question was soon answered.
"Jean says I don’t need to attend classes for a while… I go to some, but I don’t feel like going today, Max always starts fights with Riley and it’s irritating me, I have him in first period for English." It took every effort, for the sake of the kitten, to hold back the snarl which threatened in the throat of the canine. Her eyes lifted to Connor’s, something near sympathetic in them. Max could start a fight with a leaf it moved the wrong way it seemed. Across her shoulders hairs rose slowly. If she did attend classes, no doubt her current run of bad luck would see her sharing a class with the stone mutant. And that would drive her insane. It was pure luck that had currently allowed the pair not to tear each other to pieces. Or at least try. Though more than once since this whole team room escapade had begun she had been forced to bite her tongue.
The strangest thing was, there were times that Racheal would actually agree, in a round about way, with the youngest Chadstone. And yet that only seemed to serve to infuriate her further. A strange relationship perhaps, just how they were forced to interact. But the same problems seemed to seep through all relationships between the Exiles. Strained, words through clenched teeth. When it had to be done. Everyday was a chore. There were a few she realised straight away that, if they weren’t forced to this situation, the chance of at least a sort of like was there. Jess, Fred, Nick to some degree… perhaps really is was just those three, though with Frost, there was a little bit of admiration for how she was so confident at times. But she didn’t like it either. As for Garnet… Doubtful. At least anything beyond mutual respect. It certainly made life somewhat interesting.
"I have dad for wilderness activities at forth period, I’m thinking of going there… what do you do all day if you don’t go to classes?" Pulled from her thoughts, her eyes had drifted to lazily watch the kitten, but they lifted again to Connor, her head lifting slowly, shaking herself a little to relax the canine body, hair lowering slowly on her hackles, pads stretching for a moment in thought.
~I suppose it does sound pretty boring..~ She noted slowly at his question, tail curling up against her flank slightly, wagging slowly against the golden fur. ~But I do quite a bit… Michael’s helping me with my reading sometimes, and I spend some time in the library. I like to go to the lake, forest or stables to think, though I haven’t ridden again. And I train. I enjoy drawing a bit as well.. nothing amazing, just some doodles from time to time. And I guess I spend a lot of time just watching animals.~ There was a little bit of confusion in that mental voice, as if it wasn’t really a question she was used to answering. Her paws shifted before her in a manner which suggested she felt a little awkward about the question, continuing slowly.
~I guess, in someways, I’m just enjoying this whilst it lasts. Outside of here… my life isn’t so peaceful. This place has so much… more than I could even dream of. Here, there is anything you could want, need. It’s right there for you. Outside… outside these rules it’s a constant battle to survive…~ The words came quieter, more thoughtful, as if she was talking to herself, more than to Connor. As if she had in someways forgotten that her words were reaching him, to him. Noone had asked her about her life beyond these walls. People such as Dr McCoy had probably guessed some of it. But not all. How could they? And noone had ever really asked.
However, a small shake of her muzzle broke that brief spell of thought, swiftly reverting back to safer ground, her tail tip giving a single flick. ~But I sympathise with the Max issue…. I’m sure he goes out of his way to get into fights… Personally I can’t stand him. Which is why I spend as much time as possible keeping clear of him when we have to be in dorms together~ There was a hint of her strong dislike for Max in her voice. Not hatred. Quite. But not far off either.
Unable to resist any longer though, she inched her muzzle closer to the kitten, the soft eyes back on Lucky, her tail wagging again as she rested it on the grass beside the kitten, hoping she hadn’t scared the small creature at all. In the mean time, her mind wandered. The feral had said far more than she had intended to, hinted at more than she ever wanted to. But then, perhaps Connor would leave it be. Perhaps.
Hannah: "In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are"
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning~I suppose it does sound pretty boring..~ Well, to someone who couldn't sit still for more then ten minutes without starting to twitch, 'boring' was a reoccuring disease with him. One that constantly had to be treated. If someone didn't have something to occupy themselves with, he was sure the risk of having nothing to do was far greater then one who had classes during the day... Not that Connor was particularly thrilled with Classes. He liked school, he liked the work, but the groups, the crowds? It tested his patience, and Monday it proved to be too much. ~But I do quite a bit… Michael’s helping me with my reading sometimes, and I spend some time in the library. I like to go to the lake, forest or stables to think, though I haven’t ridden again. And I train. I enjoy drawing a bit as well.. nothing amazing, just some doodles from time to time. And I guess I spend a lot of time just watching animals.~ Actually, that sounded like a wonderful time! Connor loved reading, it was painful, like someone who loved chocolate, but was allergic to it, he just couldn't sit still long enough to get more then a handful of pages done at a time.
Though the library... Connor didnt mind it too much, libraries were after all quiet, but still, he preferred outdoors, most definitely! If it could be done outside, he'd prefer if it was! The woody areas of the school... Connor wouldn't mind checking them out, nature was very much his thing.. though.. he almost squirmed at the mention of the lake. All in all, it seemed they had a lot in common.. though she drew pictures and apparently Connor liked photographing them. Maybe he'd walk around with his camera at some point, since it was obviously a hobby he can't remember, something might come back if he tried though.. maybe.. Though thoughts of such things faded slightly as Connor got the feeling that perhaps his question hadn't been as simple for her to answer as she made it initially seem. It didn't come to him as to why she appeared suddenly awkward, though he didn't really dwell on it either, as due to her form, he figured he could easily be misreading her body language anyway.
~I guess, in someways, I’m just enjoying this whilst it lasts. Outside of here… my life isn’t so peaceful. This place has so much… more than I could even dream of. Here, there is anything you could want, need. It’s right there for you. Outside… outside these rules it’s a constant battle to survive…~ A cute meow seemed to come from the newly named 'Lucky' though Connor himself was caught lost for words. It sounded as if Racheal had her scars, didn't they all though? It was odd, because part of him almost protested at the fact she had been forced to suffer, Racheal was by far too strong from what he had seen to give up easily, but still, her strength of character didn't need to be tested as vigirously as it seemed to have been. Perhaps that's what made Racheal who she was though, of course it did, but it didn't seem fair. Though he was curious to see the world through her eyes, to see how she managed outside these walls.. obviously a hell of a lot better then him, that was sure.
~But I sympathise with the Max issue…. I’m sure he goes out of his way to get into fights… Personally I can’t stand him. Which is why I spend as much time as possible keeping clear of him when we have to be in dorms together~ The chuckle that came mirrored her views, he would have done the same if in her situation, and he sympathised in turn with her for having to deal with it more regularly than he.
"I don't think I'd survive in a dorm room with him. Actually.. I don't think he'd survive in a dorm room with me." There had already been some brief mention of his temper at some point in their earlier meeting. The Enright's got their temper off their father, Arisa was the less effected of the kids, Madison let her temper control her in some ways, where as Connor supressed it to a point it popped when he got too angry about something he couldn't deal with. "I can't really sit about for too long, but I like reading too.. just can't get more then a couple of pages at a time. I don't draw, but I take pictures with a camera. I spent ages looking through some of my folders.. I really like taking photos of just.. anything it seems." Unless Connor felt it was important, he was never someone who pushed for information on someone, and he took what he was given and rarely asked for more. At least not intentionally, though he did have his curious moments, they were few and far between.
"Do you like horse riding?" She liked the stables, and mentioned she hadn't ridden again.. he wondered if there was a reason or if she just hadn't gotten around to it. It didn't really click that Connor was jumping slightly, hopping from one trail of thoughts to another, first talking of Max, then about his likes and matching them with Racheals, and then asking a question.. Talking about Max just, well, it wasn't worth stressing over the guy, and talking about personal things still wasn't easy, so perhaps part of him was just trying to distract her with a question. For now, Connor was happy with just talking, her company and admiring the adorable orange kitten that stumbled his way between the two.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
Deep brown eyes were fixed silently on the kitten now, smiling inwardly. Cats were so cute. And independent. This creature had some courage to it, which for his age was impressive. Lucky. Yes, she believed he was and would be. She was sure Connor would be devoted to the small living creature in his care. At that thought her eyes shifted slightly to look at the other feral. Connor… The morpher couldn’t make her mind up about him. Few touched her on the realms of friendship, but now with Michael, and now Connor as well. Plus there were others, Angie had been kind to her, Dr McCoy had her trust, a rare thing indeed. So that made four. But Connor was different. Well, they all were, but she felt she could trust him on a level. She had indulged secrets to him which she hadn’t even told Michael, things so deeply hidden in her past. It was strange to think about, unknown. Thankfully, his words slowly drew her attention from her thoughts.
"I don't think I'd survive in a dorm room with him. Actually.. I don't think he'd survive in a dorm room with me." Well that was making the assumption Max could survive her… though she had always wondered who would come off worse in a fight, tiger or statue. Still, Max was one of those people who wore the feral mutant’s nerves thin. Though at least she didn’t seem to be the only one. Actually, she knew she wasn’t the only one, but at least Connor was the sort to actually get on with other people it seemed. The rest of the Exiles were debatable on that fact!
"I can't really sit about for too long, but I like reading too.. just can't get more then a couple of pages at a time. I don't draw, but I take pictures with a camera. I spent ages looking through some of my folders.. I really like taking photos of just.. anything it seems." The feral mutant had met people like that before. Jake was like that… well… had been anyway. But she had gotten used to having to stay still for long periods, and it was then that she might steal a moment to read. As for drawing… she enjoyed it, but she didn’t think she was that good really. Photos though… they were different, they could spark memories, be reminders of other times… better times. The canine watched Connor closely as he spoke, ears perked a little, letting the kitten be. Either she didn’t notice, or she didn’t care, that the other feral was skipping subjects. Not that she cared. Like him, she didn’t really want to spend her time talking about Max. As far as she was concerned he wasn’t worth the breath or energy.6 He wasn’t there right now, so why not enjoy a far more pleasant company?!
"Do you like horse riding?" Unlike the other feral, Racheal didn’t see this as a change of subjects. He was discussing their hobbies, and she had, after all, mentioned she had been riding. Why should he not ask? Not that it was an easy question to answer. She shifted her weight slightly as she considered the question, letting her muzzle drift nearer the kitten as she lay it down for a moment, relaxing as she considered the answers. She had enjoyed it, she supposed. But it was strange. Of course, if anyone would understand her slightly complicated answer, Connor would. As a feral, and being able to sense her powers. Her answer came slowly, softly.
~I did enjoy it… I only went riding once, on my first day..~ Connor hadn’t been there for the ride. It had been Laura and Heath who had encouraged her to try for the first time. She hadn’t spoken to either for a while… actually, she wasn’t sure, besides Connor, she hadn’t really spoken to anyone from her first day, besides Ben. And even with Ben it just tended to be words in the corridor. Strange really, it wasn’t a conscious decision, just how things had happened. ~It’s just… strange. I can become a horse, a thoroughbred mare. I know her wild instincts, her behaviour. To ride a horse when you know that so personally.. it’s strange. I admit they seem happy enough, but I just can’t get over thinking how my mare would react~ She spoke softly, mentally, lifting her head a little once more.
~When I morph… it’s not just me changing shape. I gain the instincts of the animal, and, in a strange way, those instincts form a personality. Golden Retriever.. gentle, playful, kind hearted. If I’m not doing something which interests her, I can feel her asking to go and play or explore. Tiger, protective over her cubs, a hunter, territorial. And so on. And the horse, flighty, fearful.~ Her words came easily as she tried to explain. She’d never really tried before, merely just letting people assume what they wanted. ~Recently as well, their instincts aren’t confined to their own bodies.. even when I’m human I can feel them, hear them. Especially the felines I morph most often~
Her ears twitched slowly as she spoke. Great. Now she probably sounded insane, but at least she had said it, had tried to explain. Her thoughts were brought back to the original question, and she paused for a moment in thought. ~So since that ride… I’ve felt weird about going riding, plus most of the time I’m on my own and I’m only a novice… I don’t want to do anything wrong. But I guess I would like to go riding again sometime~ She added as an after thought. Racheal really wasn’t too sure about riding, certainly on her own. But she did know she had enjoyed it. And that she might try once more before she left.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
~I did enjoy it… I only went riding once, on my first day..~ Like many things Connor didn't remember the first day Racheal had at the school, which was probably a good thing, if he was to remember anything, that day wasn't particularly the best one to remember.. Not with Riley's abnormal behaviour and the demon that invaded their front hall. It just wasn't a memory he could deal with right now, not when he was trying hard enough to make this place feel like home. ~It’s just… strange. I can become a horse, a thoroughbred mare. I know her wild instincts, her behaviour. To ride a horse when you know that so personally.. it’s strange. I admit they seem happy enough, but I just can’t get over thinking how my mare would react~ Listening intently, Connor found himself completely comfortable.. it could be because she was sitting there in the form of a canine, meaning Connor couldn't imagine Racheal would react as negatively to anything Connor might do due to his more animalistic nature as some others had.
~When I morph… it’s not just me changing shape. I gain the instincts of the animal, and, in a strange way, those instincts form a personality. Golden Retriever.. gentle, playful, kind hearted. If I’m not doing something which interests her, I can feel her asking to go and play or explore. Tiger, protective over her cubs, a hunter, territorial. And so on. And the horse, flighty, fearful.~ It made sense really, at least to Connor. Not that he understood just yet how heavily his instincts effected his lifestyle and personality, but just the way Racheal spoke made it all seem logical.. to him anyway. The idea of running off... just runing, it didn't matter in which direction, anywhere, everywhere, just to keep running until he had no idea where he was... and no one knew who he was.. And maybe then he'll feel stronger, able to learn about himself without restrictions of other peoples expectations.
~Recently as well, their instincts aren’t confined to their own bodies.. even when I’m human I can feel them, hear them. Especially the felines I morph most often~ At least she could turn into an animal, that might make people tolerate her oddities more willingly, after all, a feline does what a feline was born to do, where as Connor only ever looked human. But he wasn't like them... they didn't make the sounds he did, they did move like him, they didn't think like Connor did.
~So since that ride… I’ve felt weird about going riding, plus most of the time I’m on my own and I’m only a novice… I don’t want to do anything wrong. But I guess I would like to go riding again sometime~ Was that an opening for him to make an offer? Probably not entirely.... then again, perhaps it was! The orange kitten pawed the ground, playing with a single blade of grass as Connor watched in thought, his lips hesitating in their movement before throwing hismelf out on the limb.. at least that's how it felt.
"If you would want," The feral began smoothly, strangely focused on his own breathing, "we could go horse riding at some point." Carefully his fingers reached out to stroke the kitten, though he smiled finally up at the canine as he added with a touch of eagerness; "It would be fun," Or so he wanted to believe, and why not? What could go wrong? It'd be nice to have a moment where he wasn't reminded that he didnt remember someone, and being with Racheal, he never got those disappointed looks, it was so freeing.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
Deep brown eyes watched the newly dubbed ‘Lucky’ play, her head lifting now, more confident that the young feline had no worries about the canine which had unknowingly interrupted it’s previous playtime. Like all kittens it was a cute creature and Racheal couldn’t help but feel fond of it already. Part of her disliked the fact she’d come across in her canine form.. as a human she’d have been able to offer some attention. But she didn’t have the chance to dwell on such thoughts as Connor’s words once more brought that steady gaze to him, ears perked slightly as she listened closely.
"If you would want," The words seemed controlled, as if the male feral was focusing on how they came across a little more strongly than if it was suggested normally, and that made her pay more attention, relaxing a little as she listened to prevent the retriever growing over excited by her own curiosity of what was to come.
"we could go horse riding at some point." To go riding again, perhaps one last time before she left… Her mind pondered the idea, almost missing the enthused add on, the smile clear on the other’s features, making her smile inwardly. "It would be fun," Probably be just the two of them she realised, not that she had a problem with that. Actually, if she was honest that was an upside.
There were three people she had built trust up with since arriving. And even then it was only in the past weeks. Connor was obvious one, and knew more of her past than the other two, after the night on the lake. True, she hadn’t spoken to anyone of her betrayal, the mistake which had lead to her loosing Jake. But still, that which was said was important, a secret of her past. Then there was Michael. Strange how dropping a book on someone’s head could lead to a friendship like it had. And perhaps it was her strange view of the world which had allowed her to open up to him. After all, he might not be physically strong, but he managed to appear it in every other way. Even if he didn’t feel it. Lastly there was Hank. He had taken the time to explain things simply, even to organise getting her fed after she managed to half starve herself after the training island disaster. Not that that had been deliberate. But injured tigers don’t always feel like eating.
That said, there were certainly others she liked, or realised she could like if she had the confidence to get to know them. Angie was one, and the tiger present and chocolates were still in her room, kept proudly as was the card. She’d not received gifts in a long time, and she was disappointed in herself for not looking for the other before she left. She owed her life to Ben, she realised that, after the rescue mission. And it’s hard not to have positive feelings towards people who save your life. And the list went on. She remembered those she’d met on her first day, who, despite the uproar, had seemingly gone out of their way to try and help her settle in. And silently, she saw herself betraying their welcoming. Which only seemed to bring her mind back to Connor. Connor who had been the first person she’d seen since arriving, even if he didn’t remember it. Was she betraying him as well by leaving? Maybe.. probably. Part of her wanted to tell him, to try and explain. But she knew the words would never come. She supposed she could always try writing a note, but then she would hardly be able to write it properly then. Of course, there was always the option of asking someone for help. But who? And who wouldn’t then ask questions?
Mentally she shook herself of such depressive thoughts. How strange, she realised, her mind managed to flick from thinking of the positive side of going riding with only herself and Connor, to the reminder she would soon leave this all behind, vanishing in the night. Of course, originally she had considered that few would realise her absence. But now… now she was sure it would not be the silent leaving in the night she had hoped for.
But that didn’t mean that she couldn’t enjoy the time left. ~That would be great…~ The currently canine formed mutant agreed slowly, her tail wagging slowly through the grass. ~I rode Shadow last time.. she’s a lovely mare. I’ve spent some time in the stables since then, just being with them.. it’s relaxing~ Racheal ‘spoke’ lightly, happily, easily masking and in ways, forgetting, the negative feelings which had briefly come over her. ~I used to dream of riding and I was given the chance and only went once!~ She joked softly, smiling inwardly, her eyes bright, shifting a little as she looked down at her paws briefly. She was going to have to morph back to human soon she realised. Although comfortable, she’d grow tired soon enough, and she didn’t want to exhaust herself.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: A Little Freedom in the MorningOh no. That's all that Connor couldn't think up as Racheal seemed to be taking a moment to think, and her body hardly wove a tapestry of excitement in reply to what he had asked. girls were really complicated, well Connor supposed everyone was complicated, but interacting with the opposite gender had always been a rather scary thing for Connor. Aside from his sister's he never really ventured across the social boundries, it was only now that he forgot all his fears and trepidations that Connor managed to interact with girls more calmly, though still slightly nervously inside.
~That would be great…~ Connor's eyes had dropped to stare at the earth he laid upon, almost trying to study each blade of grass and any scattering of fallen leaves that protruded from the blades of lawn. But then there was sudden agreement! Ok, not really bubbling with enthusiasm, though as the male feral glanced up to examine the canine features of his companion, her tail wagged almost lazily in thought. It didn't really matter, whatever she was worried about before, he'd try and take her mind off it with some good old fashion fun! Or at least... he could try.. for all he knew he also had an extreme fear of horses, that'd be just his luck.
~I rode Shadow last time.. she’s a lovely mare. I’ve spent some time in the stables since then, just being with them.. it’s relaxing~ The tone had grown lighter, Racheal sounded happier, a sense of content floating in the air about her as she sent her thoughts into Connor's mind. ~I used to dream of riding and I was given the chance and only went once!~ Connor's hand reached out to let the tips of his fingers stroke Lucky's fur along his back, expression thoughtful for a moment as he thought over Racheal's words.
"It's like that a lot really," The words came with some distraction in his look, irridicent blue eyes studying the kitten, then lifting to examine Racheal's morphed face. He knew it was her, deep down it didn't matter which morph Racheal took it would always be her, just as even in human form all her morphs effected her personality and attitudes at times. "You might want something so much, but if it's right there you can easily over look it, or you don't realize how important it is for you to put time aside for it, because you think it'll always be there waiting for you." With a gentle motion of Connor's hand, Lucky was rolled onto his back, the eldest Enright sibling pinning the kitten down playfully to the ground. Tiny paws kicked and clung to the hand, sharp claws not yet experienced in being carefull accidently scrapped at Connor's skin, though it didn't phase him.. And within half a minute it'd just heal up anyway without any effort, even if that was an idea Connor was still getting used to.
"I'm looking forward to riding then, it's always more fun when you're doing something with someone that's important to them or they love." A hand shook carefully against the kitten's belly, causing Lucky to wiggle about all the more determined to put up a struggle, despite showing no interest in escaping.
"Is there something else you'd want to do but just haven't gotten around to doing it yet? Or you've only done once and want to try it again.." At that point Connor didn't realy notice how general and personal that question could be taken, even if he was referring to things around the school. "Since I've got a lot of free time at this point, if you wanted, we could make a little list and see what we can do to get things done from it.. if you wanted, I don't know.. could be fun if you had nothing else to do." An air of shyness flowed as he spoke and yet Connor was all for it, he may find talking to girls hard, even if he had little interest in them it was still awkward for him, but he really wanted to make friends and so far Racheal was someone he was really growing fond of in that department. She wasn't as awkward as some of the others could be around him.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning "It's like that a lot really," The soft tap of tail on grass still came as Racheal watched Connor play with the kitten, ears perked, head lifted slightly. You might want something so much, but if it's right there you can easily over look it, or you don't realize how important it is for you to put time aside for it, because you think it'll always be there waiting for you." A small nod of agreement came at those words. It was the same for everything. While you had it, you took it for granted. Then it was taken away… people as well as activities. You’d suddenly realise what you’d lost. And sometimes you could never get that back.
"I'm looking forward to riding then, it's always more fun when you're doing something with someone that's important to them or they love." Inwardly, Racheal laughed as she watched Lucky playing with Connor’s hand, using skills he might have to use when he was older, defending himself from other cats. She wondered if Connor realised how important this play was for the young kitten. Forcefully, she dragged her mind back to Connor’s words, ears twitching. Had she shared in an activity where someone where they loved it, where it was important to them, and she only slightly enjoyed it. Sure, there was the reading with Michael but she loved that. No.. to her memory she couldn’t think of that. Not that she was selfish. Heck no. It was just.. she’d never really been placed in that position before, not knowingly.
"Is there something else you'd want to do but just haven't gotten around to doing it yet? Or you've only done once and want to try it again.." Apart from riding, not really. Nothing she was desperate to do before she left. Something she could only do here, or that she could do with Connor. She loved swimming but that was obviously out of the question. Already her brain was trying to work on something.. anything, even as Connor continued.
"Since I've got a lot of free time at this point, if you wanted, we could make a little list and see what we can do to get things done from it.. if you wanted, I don't know.. could be fun if you had nothing else to do." Well, there was training, and her reading sessions. But other than that, and the occasional team based activity, there wasn’t really much to do. Ever since that first time she’d tried to attend a class, only to end up leaving silently, she hadn’t entered a class room, too ashamed to admit to others her age about her lack of knowledge on these subjects they seemed to know so much about. So free time wasn’t a problem. It was the activities that were.
Of course, she should really be preparing to leave. It wasn’t fair on anyone to stay. As strong as Racheal was, years of self-blame had lowered her self worth dramatically. She wasn’t worth the time if she couldn’t.. wouldn’t attend lessons. She couldn’t protect her team mates on the training island, and now the new Exiles seemed to be able to look after themselves better, she wasn’t needed to ensure they didn’t do something stupid. On the training island it had been different. She had been in her element, felt like she had to ensure they were safe, that they ate. The wilderness and the streets were her home. These walls were like binds that stopped that feeling of helpfulness. Not without trying in her small ways. But, they were only small.
Of course, there were the few exceptions. She helped Connor that time. Not for selfish reasons, but there had certainly been that brief ‘buzz’ where she realised she’d managed to help someone. Every time, it was what kept her going, what made her give this place a little more hope. And through those moments she was building bridges, finding friendships. It was what was swaying her mind just a little to staying.
Still, none of this helped to answer Connor’s question. The retriever’s body stretched slightly in thought, tail wagging slowly ~To be honest..~ She admitted slowly. ~There’s not much I can think of. Riding is possibly the main one. And it would be great to go riding with you..~ The important bit to her was the ‘with you’. She really did enjoy the other feral’s company, in fact, part of her regretted now not getting to know him sooner after arriving. That first day should have been a good basis for a friendship. But then, with Connor’s current memory loss, perhaps it was better this way. There was no expectations. They could build a friendship together from scratch without any of the expectations from the past. Surely it was better for him this way?
~However…~ She continued as a sudden thought came to mind ~… If you’re willing, that is, I could always use a training partner. I find it difficult to train properly with the Exiles, and I feel like I’ve become a little lazy in my training. And as much as I can do alone, company would be nice. And it’s better out here as well..~ She found the danger room a little.. claustrophobic, despite the holographic facilities. She could still smell the metal when in morph, a reminder that in truth they were just in this room, pretending it was something else. Outside so much freer.
~That is.. if you don’t have any ideas of course..~ She said slowly ~I’m sure there are various facilities I haven’t used, haven’t thought about. We could explore them together if needs be~ The suggestion came hesitantly, ears twitching almost nervously. It was a strange question perhaps, but she definitely knew one thing. She enjoyed her time with Connor. So spending more time with him was no bad thing.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning(keeps Heath postie for emergency back up in case no other posties are around to occupy herself with...is glade she's done it)
Because there wasn’t an instant response, Connor had to admit he figured that Racheal was trying rather calmly to figure out how to best tell him she’d rather do her own thing and that he his company wasn’t really needed. Not because she maybe didn’t like him, but she didn’t seem like the most social of creatures and he apparently wasn’t the most comforting of people to be around… according to his snappish sister anyway. Madison made it sound as if Connor was some weighted rock, if thrown into the social pool he sank right to the bottom with all the muck and other social ‘misfits’. Not that Madison was trying to be mean, but Connor had asked why she doesn’t hang around with her friends when she seemed to be pestering Arisa and Chris and so naturally she replied in a typical Madison fashion… being as casually hurtful as possible towards anyone else to get the subject off herself.
~To be honest..~ Here it came, how did he react? Brush it off as being totally fine and that he understood? Just pretend he hadn’t heard anything? Or tell her that’s fine but come to think of it there was somewhere else he had to be? All of which would make clear his awkward discomfort at the let down. It wasn’t every day after all that Connor tried to plan friendly activities. Bright eyes stared down at the ground, fingers still toying absent –mindedly with the kitten who was determined to keep up the play. ~There’s not much I can think of. Riding is possibly the main one. And it would be great to go riding with you..~ Glancing up at the canine’s features, a small smile curving sofly on Connor’s lips as Racheal made her comment… definitely a better one then what he had tried to brace himself for.
~However…~ Or maybe the let down was coming slowly and steadily, trying to be tender and sweet instead of the more quic approach… like ripping a bandaid off quickly so the pain was swift instead of slowly, which meant the pain was dragged out. ~… If you’re willing, that is, I could always use a training partner. I find it difficult to train properly with the Exiles, and I feel like I’ve become a little lazy in my training. And as much as I can do alone, company would be nice. And it’s better out here as well..~ Training partner! Connor hadn’t done any training at all… he knew he had a team and he knew they were obliged to take part in training sessions, but Connor seemed to be withdrawing from his abilities instead of exploring them. But this meant she was thinking of things that they could do together! Oh cheers and joy for the shoving aside of paranoia!
~That is.. if you don’t have any ideas of course..~ She said slowly ~I’m sure there are various facilities I haven’t used, haven’t thought about. We could explore them together if needs be~ Sure there was… there had to be if she hadn’t much of an idea what else to do, that or she was just very selective and what the school offered didn’t just reach the cut for her taste. There was a soft chuckle from Connor as he pulled his hand away from the kitten, folding them flat on the ground and then resting his head down on them as he laid chest down and eyes focused on the female morpher.
"What sort of training… did you want to fetch?" It was a tease, mainly because Connor didn’t really like the idea of practicing with something considered man’s best friend! Especially since as a canine Racheal had seemed so placid and docile. "I haven’t really trained at all… " It was obvious he meant since he returned because before hand the Enright’s were well known for their heavy use of the danger room as well as training outside and anyone on a team had to get warned to be careful of invites to the Danger Room. Connor held back depending on the sparring partners experiences, or went full out if they seemed either on par or stronger… Madison however went full out even if her partner couldn’t actually figure out how to use their power, usually resulting in Madison getting impatient and mocking them, both verbally and with expertly using their own powers against them. Some missed the warning, some didn’t realize the challenge… most learned soon enough that while Connor was a good sparring partner when you wanted to push yourself, most learning to run screaming in the opposite direction if Madison was approaching with a glimmer of glee in her eyes. "So perhaps it’s a good plan after all." The other feral admitted with an almost shy smile… he really fretted that he’d make a fool of himself, or worse, in any case, he supposed he couldn’t just keep hiding from things.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
Careful eyes watched the male feral’s face closely, ears twitching slowly as she watched the slight changes as she spoke. What was he expecting? Maybe he did have some ideas himself. And then she mentioned training and that seemed to be a completely new field. Maybe it wasn’t something he’d considered. She guessed for most people it wasn’t.
"What sort of training… did you want to fetch?" That gained an instant reaction of interest… from the retriever anyway. Ears perked high on her golden furred head, tail wagging for a moment as, for the briefest instant, Racheal lost control of the canine. But she soon regained her power, and a light, playful growl escaped her lips at the suggestion, though her tail was still wagging, as if, in part, the dog was still in control.
"I haven’t really trained at all… " It took her an instant to realise that, of course, this was to his memory. After all, the first day they’d met, even if he didn’t remember, he’d had torn clothes, bloodied slightly from training. It wasn’t until later she realised more, after all, that night she had been witness to his healing power. Again, something she had to piece together slowly. But as far as putting mental jigsaws together, she was getting a lot better at that! Still, she didn’t mind. After all, although she’d done bits of training on her own, building her endurance, she struggled at times to find a training partner willing to take her on. Occasionally she managed to find an Exile willing to take her on. But perhaps it was because her power was so… different. Her weapons were claws and teeth, close contact. Dangerous. It wasn’t like she could just miss someone by an inch by a range attack. She was good at evasion, generally, especially with range attacks. Her feline forms had the reaction times to deal with it, something not easily matched. That wasn’t to say she didn’t have downsides, things that made her more wary of who she chose. Of course, the point wasn’t to kill your opponent, but sometimes you couldn’t be sure with the Exiles! But with her issues with demorphing, the way her injuries normally worsened, a simple cut could sometimes become more dangerous. And morphing took time. The feral mutant wasn’t prepared as quickly. Yes, she could speed them up, but she still needed vital seconds some of the others didn’t. All in all, it made training difficult and, in her eyes, a waste of time. But perhaps, one on one with someone, with Connor, they could find someway of over coming those problems. Besides, it was a good excuse to spend time with him!
"So perhaps it’s a good plan after all." Her tail brushed through the grass as she lay there, ears perked. So, she’d found something they could both make use of, even if training might not be put down to quality time together, it was still time. But he’d raised a good question. Just how were they supposed to train together? After the episode at the lake, she had discovered about his ‘claws’ and wasn’t too sure she wanted to go up against them head on. After all, unlike Connor, this feral had no healing powers. If anything, it was the reverse!
”Well…” She started slowly. ”First things first, I wasn’t thinking of something quite this tame, perhaps one of the larger felines instead” A mental chuckle came across as she spoke. ”Though I better morph human first if I’m going to stand a chance. Beyond that… I’m open to suggestions. Preferably any which won’t end in too much damage.” Her deep brown eyes seemed to convey the gentle smile her canine form couldn’t quite manage.
”But first to demorph…” She hesitated slightly, ears twitching. Racheal had become wary of demorphing in front of others. Even other mutants sometimes found it too much to see. She sat up slowly with a stretch, possibly more feline than canine for a brief moment. ”I’ll be right back… it’s not exactly the most.. dignified process” Her voice was light as she spoke, though she waited briefly to see if he had anything to add, any immediate suggestions which she should take note of before starting the rather disturbing process. Disturbing, that was, for anyone except Racheal herself!
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: A Little Freedom in the MorningSorry it's short... been trying to add more but it didn't fit, so hope this is ok enough.
"Well…" Began the other feral, "First things first, I wasn’t thinking of something quite this tame, perhaps one of the larger felines instead" Larger felines, Connor wondered what kind, though at the same time he felt as if he already knew, when he tried to guess he knew instantly he would be right about those guesses, and that whatever else he tried to think up that she might be able to turn into was wrong. "Though I better morph human first if I’m going to stand a chance. Beyond that… I’m open to suggestions. Preferably any which won’t end in too much damage." The underlying message was obvious, but then again, even if it wasn’t said it’d still be obvious, to be careful and not let things get too far, no one should end up hurt after this! So swept up in the thought of being careful with her animal forms, and the fact he was going to train with her, that Connor didn’t even think about how easy it’d be for him to heal any wounds he’d risk obtaining.
"But first to demorph…" Racheal made it sound so trying, not exactly mysterious, but as if she was trying to warn him, and before Connor could really think too much on the matter, she continued. "I’ll be right back… it’s not exactly the most.. dignified process" Connor smiled, that was her choice, he wasn’t going to say anything to sway her to stay if she thought it was best to vanish off for a bit, "Sounds like Madison waking up in the morning," The male feral thought teasingly of his sister, though sat up cross-legged and allowed the newly named kitten to crawl its way into his lap, gaining a few moments of Connor’s sole attention as he once again petted the orange kitten affectionately.
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning "Sounds like Madison waking up in the morning," Ears twitched a little at that comment, the retriever sitting up slowly, head tilting before a mental chuckle escaped her. It had taken a moment for the name to gain a face. Of course, Racheal had heard of Madison vaguely before, but the link in her mind was made to that first day, when Connor had pointed out his two sisters in a photo of Angela’s over breakfast.
~Well… I’ll be back shortly with something a little more suitable for training.. Lucky, keep an eye on him~ The gentle tease came surprisingly easy, a soft joke, before she turned, slowly trotting towards the nearest gathering of trees. At least, unlike her twin, she was capable of morphing clothes. It would have been far more awkward if she could only morph the tight fitting clothes Jake had been forced to wear in order to maintain his dignity.
Once she was outside, she demorphed slowly, flexing her fingers slowly as she sat there. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt, just some things she found in the wardrobe and threw on. Racheal wasn’t really knowledgeable about fashion, not that she really cared. She wore what she could get that fitted, and even then it wasn’t always necessary that it fitted correctly. Now for the big question. What to morph for training. Natural instinct drew her towards her tiger morph. But then she often used her, maybe another would be good. A smile teased her lips at that thought. Hmm, yes. It’d been awhile since she’d used her. And she could be good fun.
Eyes closed as she focused on the familiar form, black marks appearing on her skin, which soon changed to fur, the black spots startling till the fur around them turned black as well. The spots were barely visible now, giving the impression that she was a solid black, though in the right light, the base colour seemed more blue-ish, allowing the black spots to become visible. The black panther, aka the black leopard. Panthera pardus. These beautiful creatures inbreed for human desire have a cruel nature at times, and could hold quite the temperament. Perfect for some fighting. What she lacked in power compared to the tiger, she made up for in her light, agile nature.
Slowly she slunk back slowly, keeping to the undergrowth for now as she watched the boy and kitten, ears flicking slowly, flattening down for a moment, before Racheal finally managed to grasp hold of the panther’s mind, killing the thoughts of prey which had briefly entered her mind. Silently she berated the panther. A lone creature, it was hard to explain that these were not creatures to harm. Shaking herself, she slunk slowly out, heading towards them, rounded ears perking as emerald eyes fixed on Connor. ~Sorry to keep you waiting~ She said slowly with a purr like noise. ~She decided to give me some trouble today~
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning~Well… I’ll be back shortly with something a little more suitable for training.. Lucky, keep an eye on him~ The smile came before he realized it was there, but there was a light mood hovering in the air, and the chuckle just brightened it up all the more, Connor’s hand affectionately stroked over the golden pale fur, causing the smile to brighten all the more. Looking up as Racheal vanished from his sight, a strange scent lingered one that Connor knew to be hers, it still felt strange, eerie almost, to smell them, to know they’re there and to hear their hearts. Lucky liked at Connor’s hand, the tiny tongue was rough but soft at the same time, the kitten was so small, so delicate and sweet, fragile and playful and eager, Connor suddenly found himself wondering if his father had ever looked down at a younger version of Connor and thought similar things. The Logan who Connor was told about so harshly seemed like a twisted devil, heartless and wild, but the man Connor had spent the last fortnight with had been raw with emotions, determined to do the right thing, full of a stubborn affection, awkward as it was, Logan was a man who burned at the core with a passionate fury, even Chris could see that… and his love was as good as any other fierce emotion that inflated that little man to heights so far above other men. At least so Connor thought, meekly at first, but certainty grew, Chris assured Connor with comments of warmth and gratitude, agreed with the fact that what they had known seemed now like nothing but lies, though confused for Logan himself had admitted often to his flaws and past mistakes.
Something pressed against Connor’s flesh, something unseen, something that caused hackles to rise on the back of the ferals neck, the ignorant kitten meowing affectionately even as Connor’s senses seemed to heighten. Whatever it was, Connor could feel it, like standing in a hall full of students and being forced to speak without any preparation before hand, Logan’s son felt his stomach clench, eyes shifting as if expecting to see someone standing there, someone unpleasant… Max’s face appeared in brief thought but Max didn’t worry Connor in the slightest, just annoyed him unimaginably. An instinctive sniff was given, the action almost wasn’t even noticed by Connor consciously, nothing seemed different; Racheal was still there, her heart fluttered like a distant rhythm, she was silent now, as if in stealth mode, unlike her canine form that had padded around noisily enough.
Moments later Racheal’s new form crept into sight, Lucky eyed the larger feline uneasily, meowing foolishly as it stumbled sideways into Connor’s thighs, pressing the side of its body against Connor’s bent knees as large cautious eyes stared brightly towards the darker feline. The impassive expression that had settled over Connor lifted, warmed, the lips once more twisted into a smile, hands assuring the kitten in affectionate strokes all the while.
~Sorry to keep you waiting~ The forest eyes seemed to bore into him, and Connor noted the shift from playful to fight ready, the same feeling washed over him as it had drenched the feral youths form back when he had entered the Danger Room. It was a thrill, and a panic, a longing to unleash, a desperate clawing to keep it all inside, to keep it all in control. ~She decided to give me some trouble today~ Standing gracefully, the kitten scooped into Connor’s hands gently, flame-blue eyes peered about the trees near them, he could prop Lucky up into one of the low branches… Usually Lucky got subdued when left somewhere he looked stuck, clawing himself into place, even if he looked content to stay there and watch whatever happened below him, usually snoozing off quick enough.
"I’m seeing I have that effect on the female species in whole," Connor mused gloomily as thoughts of Arisa, Madison and Sarah loomed over him as much as the trees around them did, "I should perhaps try a new cologne and see if that helps improve your troublesome natures around me," the eldest Enright mused, another meowing coming from the tiny form within his hold. Despite his comment on cologne, Connor didn’t wear the stuff, it was too overpowering for his senses and made him dizzy, once his sense of smell came back so strong, it was back to the old habits for him. Sprays were like lethal gas as far as Connor cared, it hang in the air and soured his mouth horribly, burned his sensitive eyes and seared his nostrils while he choked. Michelle had satisfied Connor’s need for a subtle scent by finding softer fragrances that Connor found more manageable. Including creams and powders that were applied with dry clothes. Things like apple, cinnamon, vanilla, things that even if they touched Connor’s taste buds it didn’t have so strong a chemical taste that distressed her son, even as a child. Lucky seemed to have developed a fondness for the scent of vanilla and the taste of the cinnamon on Connor’s skin, causing the kitten to lick him more distracted with the tastes and scents then being affectionate.
"I’ll put him up in a tree… he gets passive up high and will be safely out of the way," Without moving just yet, Connor added with a glance about their area, "Did you want to do it here? Or.. wherever, I’ll follow your lead,"
Re: A Little Freedom in the Morning
Forest green eyes turned to the frightened kitten as Connor lifted it. If cats could smirk, Racheal was now, ears twitching. The kitten was a baby.. so foolish, so small and delicate. It mewed when it should be silent, drew attention to it’s self. It would learn. If it lived. Mentally, immediately, Racheal shook her head. Leave it! She silently commanded the panther. This was no rival’s cub nor a threat. This was Lucky, a friend. This fight would be a play fight, like cubs. The panther silently disagreed, a fight was a fight. This human could be a threat to her territory. And its kitten was vulnerable. Humans were too, she knew that. Their skin was soft, easy to break. They had no natural weapons. Their claws were blunt, teeth were short. Rabbits were better adapted!
"I’m seeing I have that effect on the female species in whole," At the words, the large feline’s attention shifted, ears flattening, though in her moment of confusion Racheal gained control once more, not letting the sleek and dark hearted creature move. She would show the feline just who controlled this body and how it would play. She still needed it, not just it’s strength and skill, but it’s ability to access just as swiftly as she moved. But she didn’t want to kill. No, this fight couldn’t be judged on injuries, because she knew that would be a fight she’d loose. No, it had to about skill, about learning to move swiftly, to attack before your opponent and not get harmed, without inflicting harm. Like a kitten’s play.
"I should perhaps try a new cologne and see if that helps improve your troublesome natures around me," Mentally the morpher chuckled at that. She knew what he meant, sort of. The word cologne was fairly new, but she had started to pick up some words like that, less commonly used. And in this tense it was fairly easy to work out what he meant. Calculating, almost cold eyes watched him closely, ears twitching. Of course, his scent held no such odours, not like some who were prone to using enough to make her nasals sting. And her senses were not even as sensitive as Connor’s!
"I’ll put him up in a tree… he gets passive up high and will be safely out of the way," A small nod came from the panther, unwilling from the feline it’s self, but Racheal wanted the small kitten out of harms way. Her dark companion was feeling somewhat vicious today. "Did you want to do it here? Or.. wherever, I’ll follow your lead," Once more rounded ears twitched, and now her tail flicked slowly behind her. In a strange way, it sounded almost like a dance, the way he’d phrased his words. But a dance between them, like this, could be deadly. Especially as the memory of those claws from the lake danced through her mind. Yes, claws.. those could be deadly and where Connor healed Racheal could not.
~Here is best I think~ Racheal started slowly, her mind working over Connor’s words as she tried to form responses before the large feline got carried away with her. ~And yes, getting Lucky out of danger’s way is a good plan, out of my attention zone is best~ As the thought entered her head, she avoided responding to the other feral’s words about his scent. Had the feline been capable of blushing, or not had such dark skin and fur, her sudden thought, quickly pushed away, may have been guessed. For she found nothing wrong in Connor’s scent, if anything quite the reverse, finding it.. comforting. Not that comforting was the right word, but it was the closest Feral could manage.
Almost as if to distract herself from her own thoughts, she started to knead the ground, feeling the soft earth move beneath her sharp, powerful claws. She watched when Connor moved to place Lucky safely out of harms way, her whiskers quivering for a moment in excitement of the hunt, the promised fight. At the same time, some nervousness entered her. Connor was a formidable foe. She wasn’t sure how powerful he was, but she knew he had amazing healing abilities and that those claws could, with the right power, do fatal damage. And whilst she was no push over, her own healing was poorer, and if she was harmed and morphed back to human… the results were unpredictable. It could decrease or could become a fatal blow. In annoyance at the sudden hurdle, her tail gave a powerful flick behind her, before she expressed her words slowly, as if under protest.
~We can’t fight.. not properly. I think you’re healing factor would put me at a.. dangerous disadvantage.~ She said slowly, carefully. An almost thoughtful look passed the feline’s face, as if trying to find a solution to their problem. ~But..~ She continued ~That doesn’t mean we can’t train..~ A mental chuckle, almost sinister escaped the beast. ~How’s your agility?~ She almost mocked, crouching now, tail whipping out behind her. She wanted to test him, to see just how well he could avoid her.
Suddenly she darted forward, low, as if to pounce, before darting to the side, then back, planning on tackling him from the side…
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
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