You and I walk a Fragile line

[Astrid]

((OOC:: Date: June 3rd late afternoon, open to anyone and everyone. Have fun, it's mostly a thread where characters can interact ^^))

Astrid walked the very outskirts of the peaceful town. She'd learned to survive in this wolven form. She could feel the extent of the new muscles, new ways her brain connected things. She could feel, or couldn't feel, the way the muscles in her forelegs and hind legs moved differently than arms and legs. The new, strong muscles for her tail. Her ears now able to rotate some degrees, swiveling and twitching at sounds human ears could not find and focus on. It was horribly fascinating. It marked her as the odd creature she was. She couldn't change the wolf instincts and the way she seemed to take a step back in the modern world. The primal being in her awake and ready to fight and ensure it's survival into the age that was rapidly modernizing. It was futile fight that couldn't end to well in the last length of running. It was still the beginning of the race though, and Astrid let the being run.

The blonde-ish wolf was sniffing the grass and air on the edges of town, already fearful of the townsfolk, and not wanting to go into the more vulnerable, human body. She also didn't want to feel the rather uncomfortable transformation, the minute of vulnerability that marked the transformation's end. There was also the matter of witnesses. She wasn't well camouflaged, that was for sure. Any creature that had the coat like her shouldn't have been. Yet Astrid always managed to be stealthy. She was actually debating making a run in the town and stopping by the local butcher's to take some food. It was more dignified than begging even if it was wrong. Astrid wouldn't hurt her pride any more, and neither would the wolf in- or rather out.

She took light steps on the turf, careful to make as little noise as possible, bright blue eyes intent on the forest, nose intent on the smells. She was trying to pick out an last chance of prey before making a made dash for the smell of cold blood and flesh that wafted through the town to her highly tuned nostrils. Her ears twitched with the sounds, waiting for the obvious crunch of human feet so she could run into the dark, heinous cover of night. In a way it was sad to see what the proud vikingess had become. A mere wolf in the huge circle that was this place. Little territory of her own that offered small scrawny bits of meat stuck to the bony structures of unlucky prey. The constant fear of discovery and banishment that would ensure her early demise.

Astrid made quick work of the surrounding area, bigger than your average dog, and much, much stronger. Her agility was more to be feared as was her speed and strength. The combined mass of wolf and human working it's way into both forms and leaving a highly aggressive canine. It was sad such a creature would have to flee at the sight of a full grown human who approached. Fire arms far exceeding her own abilities when not provoked. Astrid felt the warm breeze of June brush through her pelt, the wisps of air catching in her fur, and pressing it further into her thick coat and skin. She was protected in the winter, that was for sure, her summer coat sleek with a shiny gloss to it. The hires fine and placed in the natural pattern of fur. Her muzzle, longish, and working furiously to find any form of prey item. Icy blue eyes showing her own anxiousness and frustration. They weren't the eyes of a wolf, though they were put in that same, slanted fashion. Wolves eyes are no doubt intelligent, but they have the eyes of animals, the eyes that showed instinct was the law and thought process. Astrid's eyes were deeper and human, scary human, set into the head of a wolf.

Astrid moved away from the outskirts, having possibly found the scent trail of a small mammal. She went in search, paws digging and working furiously to find the source of the stench. Ears tuned into the specific direction. Her fur was bristled in the excitement, the edges of each individual hair telling her, her surroundings. From the fern that grazed her shoulder, the the tree bark on her flank, even the breeze that ruffled her scruffy neck fur. All welcome sensations that kept awareness present in Astrid's mind well her sole focus was on the possible meal. She involuntarily sent her pink tongue to lick her maw, white fangs exposed momentarily as her lips parted to let the pink appendage through. Black pupils were narrowed as Astrid, if that name could be put on this wolf, worked its way into a crouch.

Her long belly fur grazing the ground, as her haunches and foreleg muscles bunched together and moved ever so slowly forward in a crouch. Long ears were pinned tightly to her skull, tail swishing low and barely brushing the green ground. Her muzzle twitching involuntarily with the scent and anticipation. She didn't know what could be ahead, mammal or magical creature, and it was clear that in Astrid's half human, half wolf thought process at this moment, hunger was very much present.

[Arthur]

A squirrel. Again with the squirrel business. Why did Arthur constantly find himself fighting with his mind and having to figure out how to get out of squirrel form again and again? The boy was most certainly not pleased at that given moment. Oh, he did enjoy the warm sunlight against his fur. He loved the feeling of a pleasant summer's day. What he hated, however, was how he couldn't control his transformations. Gothel had told him it was probably because he was still quite young. Twelve years old was still a child as far as adults were concerned, after all. However, Arthur still didn't like it. He wanted to be human, not a fluffy little squirrel. Speaking of which, he was making his way toward the town at that very moment in squirrel form. His long, scruffy tail twitched from side to side as he scurried along and his fluffy ears were erect. However, he wasn't as alert as he appeared. Arthur's mind was elsewhere.

He couldn't help but wonder why it was only him that seemed to have shape shifting powers. He didn't even want them. Arthur realized he shouldn't complain, especially because there were probably others with worse situations than his own, but deep down he did want to shout out how irritated he was. He couldn't even keep himself in human form for more than a few hours without suddenly turning into something small and fluffy. He hated it!

Quit complaining, Arthur. It's not as if you're going to run into trouble. It's just going into town. What's the worst possible thing that could happen?

That thought did cheer up the little squirrel somewhat. For all he knew, he was worrying over nothing. There was no way that anything bad could possibly happen, especially with so many people present. Arthur realized he was probably safe. This thought allowed the boy to loosen up and put a bit of a spring in his step as he walked along. He didn't realize, however, that at that very moment a pair of azure eyes were boring right into his soul. He had walked directly into Astrid's line of sight.

Almost as if something was telling Arthur that something was wrong, he came to a stop. Blue eyes grew wide as he looked around, squirrely nose twitching as if he was sniffing for something, and he waited. Was something there? Arthur didn't know. He did, however, have a very bad feeling about what was going on.

[Lilo]

Lilo had found her way onto one of the roofs of a nearby building and was sitting down, much like a dog would, on the side of said building, which overlooked the general area of the town. She leaned forward a little as her ears flicked, certain that she heard a scampering of some sort, but shrugged it off, believing that she was hearing things.

Yet, Lilo smiled to herself all the while until she leapt off the building and into the busy townsquare, letting off a small howl. it wasn't all that loud, not enough to get the attention of anyone in particular which she just pouted before rishing up on her two legs for a moment before back down on all fours again and racing off, zig zaging between the townsfolk until she reached her destination, a fruit stand as she licked her lips at the pieces of fruit available.

[Giselle]

(ooc: also remember to pace the thread properly)

The red head slowly lowered herself to the ground and sealed her wings for the time being. She was sure that no one would kick her out of the town, but even then she was scared that someone would laugh at her. Taking a few steps from her spot, she was still getting used to feeling of knowing the whole world was to be discovered because of her new powers.

She had been called a nymph, a member of the fairy family, yet she had no idea what to do about it

[Astrid]

Astrid's nose had not betrayed her. The sweet, if that's what it could be described as, of a squirrel wafted through the warm summer air directly to her nostrils. Blue orbs focused, pupils seeking out the animal of interest. It wasn't even one of those severely boney, sickly, squirrels. It was a rather healthy looking fluffy one. The was good. Astrid's tongue circled her maw once more, taking a tentative, slow, step forward. Her shoulders moving noticeably, as her head was so low to the ground, body so intent on her prey. She was slowly letting the animal who likes to hunt out. She was still iffy on the subject of killing with fang and claw. It felt different, and if she kept human enough, she felt the oddness of flesh on tooth. She shivered at remembering the thought. Axes and swords were different. Astrid's steady orbs were now focused intently on Arthur, the squirrel suddenly putting an odd 'skip' in his step. It was the oddest thing she'd ever seen one of her prey do. Oh well.

Astrid began taking another step forward, coiling in on herself, muscles bunched, paws spread and straining to push against her own body weight. In an instant with a ferocious bark, Astrid uncoiled, maw wide and fangs gleaming in the lowering sunlight. Her forelegs tucked and outstretched, ready for the impact of the ground, hind legs splayed and ready. Alas, the girl was to far to make an easy spring onto the squirrel's sleek body. She landed a little ways to the side, and behind. Black pupils were narrowed dangerously, the fur and flesh on her muzzle was drawn in on themselves, a silent snarl formed on her face. If you've ever seen pictures of a snarling, or fighting wolf, that was Astrid. Eyes appearing to be wide, yet eyes that were so human it was scary. She'd yet to see the squirrel face to face, preferring ambush to a seen death. It was, in a way, fair. They didn't see it coming, and she'd end it early enough. A snarl of frustration, vibrated in her throat, and metallic snaps ensued. Astrid's jaws were opening and snapping together, reaching and stepping for the little squirrel, aiming for the tail to easily pick it up and do away with the inferior rodent.

The hair all along her body was bristled, and she looked like a very fluffy, very angry canine. How in the name of Odin's ghost do you miss?! Humanity screamed at the blonde haired canine. How incompetent can you be?! The furious blonde continued to redirect her anger between squirrel and self. Why couldn't it have been slower or bigger?! Why couldn't she be faster or have a better aim? It was all so frustrating. The metallic clip of tooth on tooth continued as Astrid continued to reach for the squirrel. She hadn't seen his eyes, his face. In a way, she was lucky not to have killed the squirrel on impact, for she would have taken a human life. Worse yet, she would have unknowingly eaten him, unaware that someone out there would be wondering where their little blonde boy had gone.

Astrid's ears only twitched at the howl, dismissing it. If there was another wolf out there, so be it. She'd defend her kill. She was strong as a human, and doubly strong as a wolf. She could fend for herself, she'd done it so far. In all the time she'd been in the forsaken, dark forest, she had never taken the time to think that there were others like her and Hiccup. She'd thought that it was some strange thing that must have occurred when she'd spent a rare occasion with the boy without any other teens. Maybe they'd intruded on one of the gods' sacred places and were cursed for it? If it was a curse.... being driven from home sure did feel like it.

[Arthur]

One ear twitched, and then the other, and at last Arthur registered the presence of another being. What gave it away was the howl. It seemed distant, fortunately, but Arthur couldn't help but let his body grow tense at the sound of it. If something really was out there, he would be one dead squirrel. Come on, why can't you just change back to human form? It'd make your life so much easier! Arthur reprimanded himself. However, the reprimand didn't come soon enough. The sound of Astrid leaping and landing nearby caused the boy to practically leap about a foot in the air as a startled sort of yelp escaped him. What was that?

Arthur turned at last and, to his horror, found himself facing down a blonde colored wolf. His own blue eyes grew wider still as he took a couple of shaky steps back and tried to piece together some kind of explanation if the wolf, Astrid, tried to come at him. He didn't doubt that she would try to snatch him up. To a wolf he must have looked like a very delectable little squirrel kabob. That was more than enough of a good reason for Arthur to try and make sense of the situation. Better yet, they were both animals. Maybe he could try explaining the situation to her.

"W-Wait, don't eat me! I... I'm not a squirrel!" Arthur squeaked. The statement must have sounded very foolish, given the fact that he was stuck in squirrel form again, but at the moment Arthur chose not to register the silliness. He had his life to defend. If he was going to live another day, he had to try and reason with Astrid.

Just on the safe side, maybe you ought to be prepared to run.

Arthur couldn't agree more with his inner thoughts for once. He dropped down to all fours and began to back away, slowly, from the larger being before him. Scruffy, orange-brown squirrel was not going to let himself be eaten. Not without running away if he had the chance.

[Astrid]

Astrid put the brakes on right then. The squirrel... was talking to her. She'd never run into that problem when hunting before. The creatures were simply to stupid or scared to talk. Maybe they couldn't? If they couldn't... why could this rodent talk? Astrid couldn't stay locked in place, still instinctively hunting, she lowered her head so her eyes were level with the odd squirrel, taking a step to match each of his. Granted her steps were larger, she made them slowly- if only to give the squirrel a fleeing chance if he were indeed a dumb prey creature. Her doubts were steadily growing though. His eyes. And orangeish-brown squirrel should not have blue eyes. A squirrel shouldn't have these blue, human, eyes. Astrid's mouth was still in a twisted, uncertain snarl, her gums and teeth exposed. Her tell was wagging uncertainly above her.

"Not a squirrel? Than what are you?!" She also made the attempt to speak to the creature, her human voice sounding odd to accompany the gnashing teeth and snarling face of the blonde canine. "You look like a squirrel! A talking one... but your eyes..." Astrid shook out her head, icy eyes never leaving the rodent. She was moving slightly to the side of the creature, natural herding instinct. It was a small effort to give her a head start if the creature made a mad dash for the trees, after all dogs can't climb. Plus, running at something from the side always seemed more effective than going from behind.

Astrid was impatient, and not to mention hungry, but if this wasn't a squirrel... she didn't want bad blood on her hands. She was already a teenage girl who turned into a wolf, she didn't want to be a murder as well. Murder, killer, what's the difference? Her inner voice hissed. Murder implies the killing of an intelligent being? While killer is anyone who takes a life, dumb or smart? It was awful lonely (though Astrid would never in a million years admit this simple fact). She reasoned it was the wolf, wolves being pack animals they generally seeked the companionship and company of others of a pack.

Astrid shook out her head once more, ears twitching to detect any increase in heart rate of the tiny squirrel that would indicate he was going to run. Or any snapping of twigs to show that another creature was coming. Astrid at this moment in time, was seriously questioning her sanity. She was a werewolf (not unknown to viking myths and legends), and was talking to a squirrel. A squirrel she had wanted to kill prior to his ability to talk. Explain that to anyone, therapist or random stranger, and someone would send you off to the crazy farm. Astrid was tempted to sign herself up.

Astrid watched the squirrel closely, if he were to fall, she didn't think she could restrain from pouncing. If he were to run, she'd no doubt chase him down. Her tail was starting to wag impatiently, and her ears were starting to pin back against her skull. The snarl on her face twitching and deepening ever so slightly. "Explain." Was her simple demand.

[Arthur]

"I... I..." Arthur was stammering, probably letting on too much that he was frightened of the wolf before him, but he didn't really care. He didn't quite know how to explain his situation. Hell, before then he had just been a servant boy of sorts. No one would have even cared if he went missing. In fact, his adopted father had ordered the hounds to chase him out of the castle when they discovered that he was a squirrel! They hadn't even given him a chance to explain himself. Actually, Arthur probably couldn't have explained himself. Sir Ector probably would have dismissed it as insanity, or kicked him out of the castle anyway for fear of the unknown. What if this wolf didn't believe him? He couldn't get himself out of squirrel form at the moment. Fear had taken its grip and rendered his senses pretty much useless. Cerulean blue eyes locked with icy blue ones for a brief moment. Strangely human eyes for a wolf... wolves shouldn't have had such blue eyes. Not that Arthur had seen a wolf up close before then, but still... it was strange.

"I don't know if you'll believe me when I tell you this, but..." Arthur gulped as he tried to think of how best to explain his situation. He didn't know how to put it. Would anyone outside of Gothel's group have believe it if he said outright that he was a shapeshifter? Arthur doubted it. Even he hadn't believed it when he had first figured it out. At last he registered that Astrid had moved to his side, and he froze on the spot. He couldn't run now, even if he had the chance. It was more than a little disturbing for Arthur. Knowing death was so close to him at that moment freaked him out. At last, he shook his head. He had to explain.

"I'm human. I know I don't look it, but you've got to believe me! I... I just got stuck like this!" Arthur squeaked. Why was his voice squeaking so much? A result of puberty, or was it fear? He didn't know. All he knew was that he had begun explaining and subconsciously had grabbed his tail to run his paws through the scruffy fur in an attempt to calm himself down. Admittedly, it wasn't working quite that well. "See, I... I have this ability to turn into animals. Small ones like... like birds and rodents and stuff. I just... can't control it." Arthur said. Oh, he wished he could do it at will. Gothel had said he would be able to once he had gone through more training, being able to shift from shape to shape whenever he wanted, but at the moment it was spontaneous. Most of the time it appeared to be a result of sleep. Maybe he had more control while he was asleep. That would be something. Arthur briefly considered trying it out that night to see if it worked. Back to the situation at hand, though, he realized Astrid probably didn't believe him.

"I always get stuck like this. I can't control when it happens and when I change back. You've got to believe me..." freeing his paws from his tail, Arthur took notice of the fact that he was shaking. Fear really was taking over. He couldn't help it! Being confronted by a big, blonde wolf with blue eyes while stuck as a squirrel would scare the poo out of anybody as far as Arthur knew. But, for all he knew, he probably hadn't done enough to save himself from being eaten, or at least chased. If he got the chance he would make a run for it. For the moment, though, he was rooted to the spot he stood at. Probably better in the long run that it happened that way. If he ran while she was still nearby, he might have been snapped in half without a second thought.

[Astrid]

At first, Astrid was suspicious. It could be an attempt for Astrid's conscious to win out and let the poor rodent go... or this rodent could be human like he said. Ugh, it was so confusing. If she could be a werewolf, what kept this squirrel from being a human? One who couldn't control his transformations. It was actually quite pitiful. She was able to control her changes, well with side effects. His side effects... not as bad except he couldn't change back. It puzzled her. Astrid's eyes lost some suspicion, the story wasn't unbelievable... he human act of nervousness (the squirrel very human-like brushing his paw through his tail), and the human eyes.

"Okay. Say you are human. What are you doing here? I could've easily killed you, any other... werewolf, could've." She said the 'were' part very quietly. It wasn't that she was ashamed of it- the she doubted the pride to be seen in it. If this kid could turn into other animals, granted they were small creatures, and she could turn into one, large, formidable predator. Astrid knelt down her head, and grabbed a big wiff of squirrel. There was something different about the squirrel, it had the stench of stone and human to it. It told her 2 things. 1) He was human 2) He wasn't from the dark forest. So why the hell was he coming here? Didn't he know about all the predators here?! She hadn't been able to detect the human scent of the squirrel from so far away, she'd have to remember it next time. Ugh, more things to be wary of.

Astrid watched the shaking squirrel, amusement present in her eyes. She'd seen squirrel quiver before her, but none like this, very human, being. Not to say if he made a mad dash for it, she wouldn't chase him. She probably would, anything that ran easily catches a predator's attention. Astrid looked around the area, eyes squinting through the trees and looking for any other bodies in the forest. She wasn't in a pack, therefore she was at the mercy of those stronger in numbers. Having the help of a fearful, tiny, fluffy, squirrel probably wouldn't help. Paranoia and suspicion only seemed to be heightened in the new werewolf 'life' and it wasn't really a bad thing. It kept her alive.

"And where'd you come from? And why are you here?" It was strange, you didn't find a good looking prey piece in the area, though some do hang around the town. That must've been where he was going. Well duh!! If he's human where else would he be going? Her thoughts were dead on. Why would a human in squirrel form be making the dangerous trip through the scarce woods? It was odd to actually be talking to someone with a similar... problem, like hers. It was interesting, too. She'd scented other werewolves around but paid little attention to them, only running into them once or twice. That, surprised her. Astrid's body, though sitting down, was still tensed and ready. Her hind legs giving a twitch every so often indicating their ability to spring in a second. Her ears were twitching and rotating, tuning into the surrounding sounds. Her eyes intent on the little human-squirrel before her. She seemed to have relaxed very little. Sure this squirrel meant no harm to her besides an easy jog or nibble or scratch. She didn't think he had it in him, but still.

To any onlookers, it would be a strange sight indeed. Not only was there an oddly colored wolf, but that oddly colored wolf was sitting before a squirrel making no attempt to end it's life. The squirrel, shaking and scared still remained alive, though fear was the easiest, most exciting scent to catch for predators. But any onlookers would have been heard and promptly had the living crap scared out of them. The town was an easy distance away no doubt, the sounds of it easily heard. The townspeople, on the other hand, probably didn't fancy coming out into the forest that held the magical creatures far more powerful than them. Astrid's thoughts were getting away from her, and she zoned back in from her inner thoughts to hear out the creature she would have been eating by now had she not miscalculated the jump.

[Arthur]

Astrid did make some very good points. He should have known there would be predators outside the castle just waiting for a succulent little squirrel like him to waltz up to them. In fact, that was practically what Arthur had done. He had waltzed right into danger without even realizing it! All because he wanted to go to town and see what kinds of people there were there. Of course, he hadn't realized he had been stuck as a squirrel again until well after he had left the castle. That was when he had begun to chide himself mentally on the way to that point about paying more attention to his form. "I... I was going to town. I thought that I should get a look around to see what was there. Y-You know, so that I wouldn't get lost when my... my mentor eventually asks me to get stuff from town." Arthur explained. He didn't want to give out Gothel's name carelessly. She might not have been well known in the area. For all he knew, it would have been bad to say her name at all.

"I didn't even realize I'd gotten stuck in this form until I was about halfway away from the castle. But I didn't want to go back to ask my mentor to help me change back." he explained, ears drooping downward in a sort of shameful manner when he admitted that much. He probably should have gone back. It would have saved him a lot of trouble. Too late now, of course. Arthur knew he couldn't exactly make a run for it now that he was having a conversation with a wolf. "Actually, I... I've never been this far from the castle before. I didn't know what sorts of things lived all the way out here." Arthur said. It was a naive, stupid move on his part to assume the trip would be a safe one. He could have been snacked upon if he hadn't spoken up when he had.

Now that they had a conversation going, maybe they could get to know one another. ...Nah, that was crazy talk. Arthur probably shouldn't have been talking with her at all. The fact that Astrid hadn't snatched him up when she had the chance made him realize that maybe she really wasn't a normal wolf after all. His squirrel senses weren't exactly the best, but she didn't smell like he expected a wolf too. There was a faint scent of something else about her. Arthur was uncertain of what that was, though.

"I... I guess you live out here, then, Miss Wolf?" Arthur asked. He really wished that he could willingly turn back into human form at that moment. It would have made the conversation so much less odd in terms of appearance. For all he knew, there could have been someone watching them at that very moment and just wanting to laugh at the insanity of the situation. A wolf and a squirrel holding a decent conversation. The very idea was laughable!

[Astrid]

'heh-heh-heh' Astrid gave a dry, doggy way of laughing, her pink tongue sliding briefly over the teeth lined on her lower jaw. Miss wolf? This was a little gentle-manly-man. Astrid shook her doggy head, smirking. "I'm Astrid. You wouldn't have gotten back to your castle, and this would be the farthest you'd ever go from it if it wasn't for me." Astrid let her tongue loll out of her maw contently, taking some pride in herself from saving this itty bitty squirrel-boy. She felt for the boy though, he must be knew to whatever power caused him to change into small creatures. She was, herself, new to the whole wolfy business. Random times could cause claws to appear (not good for her shoes). Other times she'd burst full wolf, thanking the gods her clothing was mildly stretchy so as not to burst and break from the changing of forms. Though her clothes were a little loose fitting even now, hidden away as her temporary 'den' if the badger hole she'd dug deep under a bramble bush counted.

"So what are you? Exactly? You change forms too, but this mentor... is she like you? Does she change shapes?" There was a little bit of excitement in Astrid's tone. If there was another, elder, shape shifter, maybe she/he could help her understand whatever Astrid was 'going through.' It was definitely no stage in female growth, that was for sure. "I mean I've never met anyone else who could shape shift either... Though you go from human to multiple animals... I'd rather be a wolf personally than a.... squirrel." Astrid commented looking over the fluffy rodent form. Predator over prey any day.

Astrid was now wondering about others like this squirrel. Were there others, like his mentor, who also flitted forms by whatever magic was in them? It was an odd thing to think of. She'd thought that maybe it was something from Berk, something in viking bloodlines that skipped generations, only to prey on those of hers. She'd thought herself alone in this, besides maybe Hiccup. Hiccup who probably hadn't lasted over a day in the wilderness by himself. She however, was a survivor and thrived. Being part wolf helped though. Humans have a weak sense of giving up, what they think is hard and kills them, is what makes the wild, feral and living. There are some things even a human thinks cannot bring themselves to do to survive. Once you have a wolf in you and your mind is worn and torn, the tissues throbbing and cannot motivate themselves, there's always that second part that kicks you into a corner and lives for you. That thing being the wolf in Astrid's case. That part of herself keeping her from starvation, dehydration, and the general giving up. She'd thought Berk would have prepared her for the wild, but when you live in a town where everyone contributes, turning into a one woman show isn't that easy.

Astrid snapped herself back from her thinking. "Oh, yeah, I live out here... I guess. And you live in a castle with your mentor. Right?" She tilted her head in the normal quizzical dog manner. It was nice to have a decent conversation, even if it was with a squirrel or a boy. Astrid had casually slid down onto her stomach, her forelegs stretched out in front of her, her hind legs bunched together neatly by her sides. Her bushy tail curved into her left side. Her large ears relaxed and twitching and twisting more out of habit than caution. Her blonde pelt bristled only slightly, the wind not a great comfort to her, nor the close proximity with the nearly bustling town in the middle of no where. All things were weird here, herself and the townspeople. If all were weird, wouldn't it be considered that they were to be average? So being average, they were in a way, normal in a strange new place. It surely never felt like it, but it seemed to be. If a squirrel who was a boy, and a wolf who was a girl could talk with such casualness and not attempt to run or eat one another, the world was quite weird.

[Arthur]

(ooc: Late post is very late! Sorry! ^^; )

Arthur gave a little nod in response to her question. Then he realized she had introduced herself. He'd almost forgotten his own introduction in the mix of things. "My name is Arthur. Well... some people call me Wart. I've never understood the nickname myself, but... it's there." he explained. He still found it a bit odd that he was holding up a discussion with Astrid without her trying to snap him in half or without him trying to run away, but he supposed now that they had each other's names that they couldn't really consider one another as an enemy or as a tasty snack. He liked it that way. It made things much simpler, in his opinion.

Her question of his mentor caused him to freeze a bit. He'd never bothered to ask much about Gothel and so he didn't know all that much about her. All he knew was that she was the most powerful resident of the castle. That wouldn't be much to go on in answer to her question, though, so the little squirrelboy was at a bit of a loss in regard to what he could say. "I... I really don't know. She's kind of... odd. I mean, when I first met her I didn't peg her as a shapeshifter. I don't really know if she can or not. But she seems to know a lot about magic regardless. I know this is going to sound odd, but... I don't even know her name." Arthur admitted.

(ooc: And... short post is short. ^^; )

[Astrid]

"Wart? Your face doesn't seem to have any blemishes." Astrid asked slightly confused, "but you're a squirrel so I guess I wouldn't know..." She trailed off. Vikings had a way of making some 'unique' names that almost literally described their keepers. In a viking village someone with wart in their name might actually have the unappealing mark. Talking to the boy, technically squirrel, Astrid felt semi comfortable. She'd marked him as 'not food' and that was probably fairly good- for the male at least. Astrid had known she'd had quite the appetite, but a roaring hunger now seemed almost always apparent and constant within her. It was like feeding two mouths, two stomachs, both putting up two different work loads and wanting different amounts. But in the forest you hunted for food, and when hunting for food one got tired and desired more than what could be achieved. An almost never ending cycle, she supposed.

"Pretty odd... you don't know her name?? Oh well... So I suppose you all live in a group of some sort? I can't imagine it just being you and the older woman, there must be more. Never mind, I'm sure there is..." She stated, shaking her head as if trying dismiss the ramble. Her face darted to the direction of the town, squinting her eyes so she could make out the shapes of bodies moving around. People within the town were stirring and getting ready for the night, the large group of people, slowly thinning as the hot sun's heat waned. "How long have you been around?" She asked once more, curiously.

( Don't worry about it ^^, and yus, I've got a short post too.... lazy today ))

[Arthur]

"I can't say I understand the nickname myself. It's just... something they call me. Or... used to. I got shooed out of the castle where I used to live when I turned up looking like this." Arthur explained, gesturing to his overly fuzzy, squirrely body as he finished speaking. He wished he could just change back to his human form whenever he wanted without help. Why couldn't Gothel just stick around with him? Or... why couldn't he just stick with her? Oh... it was so confusing.

"Anyway, I've been hanging around with this woman and the others for... about a week now, I think. I kind of lost track of time." Arthur said. It seemed like it had been ages since whatever had given him his powers. Maybe it really had been a long time. He had only been taken into Gothel's group a week or so ago, but had had the powers a bit longer than that. "What about you? I... I mean... how long have you been around?" he asked.

Whether he was thinking about it or not, Arthur was changing back to his human form. Scruffy fur vanished and soon enough, a scrawny twelve-year-old boy sat in the place of the scruffy squirrel. He hadn't noticed the change, though. Arthur probably wouldn't notice it for another minute or so. He was a bit slow on the uptake of these things, after all.

[Astrid]

Astrid nodded as Arthur explained himself. "Sounds pretty confusing, kicked out of your home for being a squirrel, and chance upon an old lady caring for magical teens. Not your average life story, but I'll take it." The kid was interesting, and reminded her of another unlucky, scrawny boy. Except, he was blonde. The boy had started turning into his human form, changing from the fluffy (delicious as her wolf half saw him as a prey item) rodent, to a scrawny blonde. It was amusing, the boy appeared to have no pain. A much better deal than she had, but she'd grown accustomed to the pain... Maybe so had the boy? He seemed blissfully ignorant of the fact he'd grown in height. Not wanting to be outdone herself, and feeling quiet short, Astrid changed.

With a wince, Astrid was back to viking teen, brushing her blonde hair back, only to have the loose tendrils fall back. She was still completely armored minus the weapon. "I've been around... maybe more than a week. The time goes to fast and to slow." Astrid scowled looking at the surrounding, gloomy forest. Not the enchanted forest nymphs, fairies and unicorns lived in, in childhood stories. Nothing close. The town was still nice and bustling with it's occupants. Though, in Astrid's opinion, anyone who chose to live there was all kinds of different crazy. "Your scrawny." Astrid commented offhandedly, blue eyes searching through the forest, and towards the town.

A good smell was coming from there, and Astrid stomach growled involuntarily. She'd come to hunt, but seeing as her prey was indeed a boy, well she'd have to find other means of filling the whole in her belly.

(ooc: I forgot about this thread o.o I'm a horrible person, for leaving this thread for soooo long ^^' )