Tanuchan

Happy birthday! *hugs*

Thanks for the votes... *blushes* I'm both surprised and embarassed at having won, since Wyv, Quincunx, and Orlan are so much better than me at writing prose! All descriptions were enjoyable to read, and I wouldn't know which one to choose were I to vote -- what I opted for not doing since I was one of the authors. I feel honored for having been chosen... *hugs all* ~Tanny

We have started our mission As instructed, it's at The Underground ~Tanny & Venefyxatu

Supressing a groan, Tanny sighs and nods at Salinye, leaving the room. I just can't believe in this... a mission for Wyvern... what have I ever done of so wrong to the gods? Once outside, she scans the other people leaving until she sees again the man who had been appointed as her partner. Examining him at the same time as going into his direction, she registers how his green-shaded clothes dress him perfectly, a comfortable fit that wouldn't hamper his movements for being either too tight or too lose. He turns his profile to her, lighting a cigarette - and that surprises her. A Ranger, smoking? He turns and with sure steps he goes towards her. Tanny can see the light gray eyes, surrounded by scars, in his pleasant, clean-shaven face. "Stephen Hascodem?" Stephen briefly nods his head. From the way her voice sounds when she says those two words he gets the feeling that she's not really looking forward to this quest. "Greetings, Shapechanger. Tanuchan, I believe." She nods. Then, feeling suddenly foolish for letting gestures talk for her in front of a clearly blind man, she whispers a 'yes'. "I have heard of you, Wolf-Lady. Unfortunately, not enough to say that I know you. But I hope we'll get along well, if we are to be successful in our quest." The voice is pleasant although guarded, and both leave the Guild Underground in search of a better place to talk and plan. Soon they find a comfortable bench in the Courtyard. "So, what are your skills? It might sound blunt, but we don't have long before Scarlot decides to push us into the Portal herself." Tanny doesn't answer at once, taking her time to get used to the presence of this surprising Ranger. She senses that he is also observing her, somehow learning about her even if he can't see her with physical eyes. "I have all the skills of Wolf and Tanuki, including this one's Illusion spells. I use also earth and water energy to weave magic. I'm good enough with throwing knives and bow, and I know which side of a sword hurts." Stephen chuckles briefly at her choice of words but becomes serious again almost immediately. "So you are a ... mage?" She didn't sound like one... could I have been wrong? "And one who would lower herself to go off adventuring with one such as me." His voice trails off a little at the end, and that surprises Tanny - coming from one who seems so sure of himself. She pauses for a second before answering, deciding to find out later why he seems so bitter about mages. "No, I'm not exactly what you would call a mage. The Illusion spells don't really count since they're natural for the shape and other than that I weave the energies of water and earth for some... effects." The corners of Stephen's mouth curl up slightly when she mentions manipulating elemental energies. "Good. We'll need that if we're going to end up between two warring orc tribes. I take it that you can heal others as well then?" Tanny nods unconsciously. "Yes, I can do that, at least to a certain extent. But it surprises me that you know about the weaving of elemental energies... I mean, people usually don't see the difference between that and Magic." "Because people think that if something looks the same, then it must be the same. I know next to nothing about magic because no wizard would share his secrets with anyone who is not a wizard themselves, but I do know about elemental energies. I never really had to explain this before, but... let's say that I can reach into the earth to gain information. I wouldn't be able to do that if the earth wasn't infused with an energy of its own." Tanny wanted to interrupt by telling Stephen about some of the mages she knew here, at the Pen, but she decides to let it rest for now. Instead, she asks about his connection with the earth. "So you can ... read...? the earth's energy. Can you manipulate it as well?" "No, at least not that I know of. When the thought occurred to me I felt as though the power would just... sweep me away. Getting information is all I do with it, really." She checks her curiosity, feeling that the time isn't right yet for talking about that subject but definitely planning to bring it up at a later time. "And what about your other skills, Stephen? If I may call you so." "I have healing skills as long as the right herbs are near, and other than that I'm pretty good at scouting. I can put up a fair fight with my quarterstaff and my arrows don't miss very often." Tanny moves a bit in surprise, to which Stephen reacts with a grin. He didn't talk about his archery skills very often, or about his other skills or anything else for that matter, but the reactions were usually the same. "The only time I hit someone I wasn't supposed to hit was because he was moving on the wrong moment." Stephen blows the last smoke away and lets the last bit of his cigarette burn up in his hand before crumbling the ashes into the wind. "You didn't sound really happy with this quest. Why would that be?" "You don't know Wyvern, do you?" "No, I don't." "He's our resident... schemer. He doesn't lack creativity, but for some reason every single scheme he comes up with goes horribly wrong for those involved. And now we're involved in his very latest." "You're saying that we're going on a quest that's bound to go wrong?" With a gloomy nod, Tanny confirms this. "Probably even worse than that." "Great. I guess we'd better get this over with as quickly as possible then. What say you we start by checking out the things this Wyvern was so generous to give us and then, when we get to the orcs, we decide the best way to get rid of it all?" "Seems good to me... and... Stephen..." The slight change in her tone catches the ranger's attention, as she finishes, "Any Mage who thinks they're lowering themselves to go on a quest with you is a fool." He hesitates a bit, knowing by her tone that she's not saying that out of pity or the need to reassure him. Not being really able to understand the subtle human emotions that come from others, he's slow to pick the undercurrent of respect. But once he senses it, he lets a small grin come. "Still, I'm glad they didn't team me up with one. It shall be an honor to accompany you." Later, when Tanny and Stephen arrive at the Treasury as instructed, they find an impatient Scarlot waiting for them next to a loaded cart. "It's getting about time... I have other things to do than waiting for adventurers all day, you know! You'll find everything you need in the cart." With these words, she picks the leaf from a branch hanging from a pair of tiny pegs and lets it fall to the floor. The moment the leaf touches the ground a portal opens, reaching from where the leaf has fallen to the branch. When they don't move immediately, Scarlot snaps, "Go on, do I have to carry you through? As I said, I don't have all day." One after the other, they go through the portal, Stephen pulling the cart. As soon as they get through, it closes behind them and they find themselves on a gently sloping hillside with not a trace of civilization to be seen anywhere near. "Maybe Wyvern has put a map indicating where we can find these warring orcs somewhere in the cart," Tanny suggests with a sigh. And proceeds to ruin her hope by searching through the cart and finding none. "He didn't," she groans. "How typical. Now, what do we do?"

Tanny blinks, not very sure whether she wants to trust Stropha. "I don't know... I'm no telepath. Mindspeech is just like another language for me; my race uses that to communicate while in our many animal forms. I can't read thoughts or use it for any kind of prying, if that's what your... friend... is concerned about. Maybe I'll just settle for my human self around you..." She sits down in the same spot she had been as a wolf, eyeing Stropha warily.

OOC: Aw... I didn't know that Door was sentient! Sorry!

Tanny nods, grinning. She sends a thought to the former Knight Templar, though not sure he can understand mindspeaking. Well, he is a kind of mage... ::Peredhil is always Polite. Even to Doors, who do a most important work of protecting privacy and never receive enough thanks, being even beaten and destroyed by those who don't care.:: ~~~~~ OOC: as a wolf, Tanny communicates through mindspeech. Usually, most humans cannot understand her; possible exceptions are shapechangers, rangers, and mages. Mindspeaking back is possible just if the person has this ability himself.

As Loki said, respectfully going against your request... Forgive me The power you put in your words drove this one out from my Muse. I did enjoy your poem for several reasons, and I wish you could post more often. *hugs* ~Tanny

Equester's sharp gaze does not disturb Tanny, who holds it with a strength of her own. There's friendliness in her eyes, and also understanding. She chooses to keep to her wolf-form, but somehow Equester feels that she smiles mysteriously. Tolerance, respect, and an open heart. You will see, and understand also.

Aye

*goes look for a dictionary, shaking her head* lol You know, just reading the words if fun After I get all the meaning, I'll be able to comment better... hopefully... *still chuckling, starts looking up the words*

"You seem to be new around here, and somewhat lost... ? Maybe I can help you." Equester turns around fast, surprised not to have heard the woman, who's right behind him, until she had spoken. "Please, enter and try to make yourself comfortable." She smiles, urging the knight and the raven into Wyvern's room. "Our Elder uses to be busy with his... erm... scheming business... but sooner or later he's chased into his office." "Chased?" "You will understand... soon." Tanny looks around, and shudders at the memories of her last visits to this very room. I need a safe place, I guess... "So, what brings you here? And... I hope you don't mind if I make myself more comfortable..." Locating a nice spot two steps away from the prospective new Initiate, where the sun comes through the window and warms the floor, Tanny shimmers into her wolf-form and lies down, enjoying the warmth. The black wolf grins and winks at the surprised new friend, and gives all the impression to be waiting for his story. ~~~~~ OOC: Welcome, Equester. I've PMd Ayshela about your request to move this, don't worry. Either her or any Elder who comes around first will do that for you. Meanwhile, I see that you're already familiarizing yourself with the Pen, so... have fun! *welcome hugs* ~Tanny

*adds her laugh and enjoyment to all the others* I really like this! Light hearted, and so descriptive!

To stay here and look and see that a loved one has a burdened heart To be away and try to reach out to be fooled by distance and tricks of life To sit here and stare blankly struggling with words that dance away. This is what I don't want and fight to overcome; but life has many tricks, imposed on us for unknown purposes. We suffer what we don't want so that we value what we can get. And what I want is to be here to listen to you when words flow freely To offer a hand with a firm grasp to help when the ground becomes too rough To bring you within reach of my heart to warm your life and banish the cold As you do for us all when we face the darkest shadows. *hugs* ~Tanny

And me ~Tanny

Tanny's grin turns into a half-grimace as she thinks of how bad she is at riddles, but maybe she can survive based on her cooking skills... Or, with any luck, she could just give the Sphinx a big indigestion while running away ~~~~ Hm... well, I can give it a try. But I'm *awful* at riddles

Tanny reacts instinctively at Stick's shimmering in and out of their plane, throwing a line of energy to earh and drawing its energy into her - grounding and centering, trying to reach out with a shimmering net of earth energy to catch Stick. However, as she reaches for more energy, she also gets engulfed by the strange shifting in planes. A multitude of images flicker in front of her, in what looks like a series of snapshots of different worlds. She feels herself losing control over her shape, going back to human form but as a baby, then turning into an old woman, then shifting into a transparent tanuki... Hold! Get a hold on yourself, girl! You control the change, you control the energy that flows in your own body! The words of the old teacher and clan's Loremaster help Tanny to get a firm grip on her drifting mind, and she feels herself back to her solid human body. A bright light flares, blinding her, then there's darkness. Stick looks around himself lazily, wondering at the darkness that seems to shape itself in mutating forms. It's like a darker darkness shifting shapes in the light darkness that surrounds him. Dark darkness... light darkness... how odd this sounds... He muses lightly, almost smiling, staring dreamly into the subtle shades of dark. A floating point of light calls his attention, and he blinks slowly, trying to focus his thoughts. Part of his mind prods him, saying that light is significant, while the other half keeps being distracted by the shifting darkness. "Stick! Stick, are you alright?" Tanny looks at her dreamy friend, touching and then shaking him. "Stick!" Being somehow still linked to earth, she senses a spidery web around Stick; shaping the enerby as a broom, she sweeps the ghostly energy cobwebs away from him. Stick blinks, awareness returning to him. "Tanny?" "Are you alright, Stick? What happened?" He looks around, noticing for the first time the weird shades of darkness that are broken by Tanny's ball of light that floats over her shoulder. "Where are we... and where are the others?" She probes ahead with her senses, puzzled and holding securely to her link to earth. How is it that I can still hold a link to earth? "Knight... what did he do? Did he try to follow you, Tanny?" She shakes her head. "I have no idea, Stick... last I noticed, he seemed to be in doubt whether to follow Riven... then, when you started to shimmer in and out, he shoulted something. I know nothing else."

The wolf growls back at the sleek tigress, squirming under her weight as she pins her down. ::Well, do you give?:: Mumbling and snarling, the wolf finally lets out a deep sigh. ::Okay, okay... but it's not fair when you can shapechange into a cat bigger than me. :: ::Who said war is fair?:: ::War? Who's in a war? And I'd appreciate if you just let me go, Katz. You're rumpling my fur... :: ::Besides knotting it. :: Katz grins at Tanny's indignant yelp, and lets her go. ::Kidding... :: Tanny shakes herself, making a point of letting her tail whip Katzaniel's nose. The tigress sneezes, changing back to tigertaur and glaring. Tanny also changes back to human form and looks levelly at her. "So, why do you want me to sign up?" "Because I won the fight?" "Hmph. Besides that." Tanny snatches the paper from Scarlot's hand, pointedly ignoring her scowl. "It will be fun. And besides, you did leave your curriculum at the guild some ages ago, remember?" Tanny gets a quill to sign at the dotted line, pausing as if to still argue with her friend. "And you've been too lazy," cuts the tigertaur, crossing her arms and letting her claws scratch the ground. "It seems you forgot how restless you were, wanting to have a bit of adventuring. It's good to leave the comforts of the Keep for a while. One never knows when we'll need our sharpest skills." Tanny sighs, finally signing the contract. "Okay, okay... you did win the fight, after all. But I hope I won't repent this. "

The opening screen shows a familiar image, the sillouette and the logo at once bringing to mind double-oh-seven and everything it relates to. The music goes in a crescendo until a loud 'bang' is heard and the screen shatters - or so it seems. From the left side, a figure in a midnight-blue suit enters, a gun concealed in its hand. As the spotlight focuses on it, Tanny turns with a smile, putting aside the gun. "Mr. Bond, intelligent, charming, and elegant, with Her Majesty's special permission to kill, has used his skills in uncountable movies. Surrounded by beautiful, and sometimes deadly women, with access to the latest technologies and a car full of tricks, he has remained one of the most known spies in the fiction world. But how does a real-life spy live and act? We know he must face dangers, but are the rewards as high and desirable as they seem to be for Mr. Bond? Today's program focuses on those secretive, dangerous people who use all their skills to create a persona who's not their own, who endanger their lives for the sake of their country, their organization, or -- why not? -- their ideals. The Spy. " A sudden flash makes Tanny raise her hands in instinctive defense, and she throws herself at the floor, rolling skillfully as a machine gun shoots against the place she has been. Two knives appear in her hands and are thrown in a quick movement, causing someone out of the screen to cry and run. Standing up nonchalantly, the hostess turns again to the camera. "What are the skills and the training a spy must..." A loud crash, followed by two small explosions make her jump and turn, smoke coming from somewhere to her right. "No, no, no... that effect comes just after the... *coughcoughcough*..." The voice is drowned by angry cursing. Tanny hesitates for a second, and with a somewhat rigid smile she keeps to the role of hostess. "Ehm... the training is certainly hard and focused on... " Another loud banging is heard, and this time part of the scenery bulges, making Tanny yelp in surprise and shimmer into her tanuki form, quickly evading the unstable fake wall that tilts dangerously. From under the nearest table, she puts her head out and flashes a nervous grin to the camera. "So, you see how training and instinct go together when reacting to the unexpected..." She gasps and ducks back under the table as the doomed wall crashes down in a cloud of dust and debris, with Gwaihir stumbling through the newly-created opening. "Um... heh... sorry?" Tanny looks at the elf, stunned, and stammers at last, "Ehm... and here comes one who can tell us something about the feelings of a spy... having had contact with one... " The image in the TV screen quickly changes, showing a completely different place. A veiled person enters, talking to himself. Disgruntled by Myth ~~~~ OOC: I don't know if we could do this more than once, but this poem just triggered the idea. It was a shame not using it, so...

I liked this poem. In my opinion, it gives a good glimpse of what goes on in the mind of those who must work in the shadows, never allowed to show themselves as they are. It conveys well a feeling of increasing frustration, giving also a hint of fears and doubts. At the end, I can see him/her shrugging, sighing, and accepting once again their role even if still frustrated. A counterpoint to all the glamour we seem to associate to the 'job' of a spy The only small things that made me wonder were in these two lines: "It isn’t that I don't deserve. Maybe because, they just don't know " It seems to me that there's a missing object at the end of first mentioned line (deserve what? The praise?), and the comma in the next seems unnecessary. But that may be just me, and the way I tend to write/see things In the whole, a poem that I think tells a whole story in just a few lines. Thanks for that, Gwai.

This is a poem version of a story Degenero Angelus started to write some ages ago.... he liked the poem the first time I showed it to him, so I've decided to post it here even if it isn't exactly what Katz asked (as the prose version isn't mine). The original story is untitled and also unfinished, and can be found here. DARKNESS AND RAIN I. FADING LIGHTS In a tower high an Elven lady sits and stares at skies that weep. Da'Ni by name, Summer by nature beautiful as sunset fierce as the sun, swears and frets, looking at the rain. Born Sh'Rali, also a Queen born to magic, and also to chaos Thirteen summers named then Talent awakens. Talent. Chaotic. White. Forbidden. So locked she was By the few Black talents, Chaotic White in Black Order bound in the tall tower surrounded by steel, cold, so cold... by iron and by pain. But a mistake they made the Arcanum they left magic of thirteen thousand years powerful, black, and white. A white passage she reads decipher she tries how to disapparate the framework of order, steel and iron, that hold by pain and freedom keep away. II. THE DARKNESS INSIDE Gray. All colors blended together All colors fading away Even midnight-black robes, Zaritha's robes, Fade away, Washed by thirteen rain-grayed days. Kalthan beautiful, Kalthan Talentless Harbors the exiles of White Farchai. Yearning for her capital A Black in exile fights for Balance as demanded by the Oath. No killing, no injuring, No destroying to keep the Balance the Black are bound. But to upset the Balance The White seem to be born. The Two Taverns Inn Double-taverned as the name Offering refuge to wandering ones. Zaritha enters, A Black in exile, Eyes that rest upon Minotaur's bulk. In leather's clad, bigger than most katana at his back, He looks and ponders when Zaritha calls.

Whitish-blue, twinkling Bright in the sky, sign of hope Serene spot of light Cold light brings warm thoughts High in the sky, guides the lost Soothing, peaceful sight.

Examining the several booths being set for the Carnival, a black wolf barely notices the Conga line approaching her. However, even if her conscious mind does not register it, her ears twitch at the rhythm. Tanny blinks, all of a sudden noticing her tail doing strange and rhythmic movements on its own. She turns, frowing at her tail... Swish-swish-swish-swish. Swish. SWOOSH! Then she actually listens to the music, and sees Peredhil singing off-key and the whole line of Pennites dancing in a line. The Ancient Polite Bard waves to her, noticing her wagging tail and grinning. How is a wolf supposed to enter that line...? Tanny thinks for a moment, mischievously wishing Wyvern were the last in line so she could bite his tail - as she couldn't possibly grab hips in her present form. Then, laughing, she shimmers into her tanuki form and darts up a small tree leaning into the path of the Conga line. As soon as Peredhil passes under her, she jumps onto his shoulder, holding fast, her tail wagging in the rhythm... seriously threatening to tickle Annael's nose. Peredhil laughs softly at the wet nose nudging his neck and the delicate paws holding one of his ears. Dut-dut-dut-dut. Dut. KICK.

Esaneh's betrayal left deep marks in Nehrathi also. She would never again be so open, so ready to trust others. With the passing of the years, the wound in her stopped hurting, and the presence of friends made her laugh again. As Esaneh's memories fade somewhat, though never to be truly forgotten, she notices small things that her love had made invisible. Nehrathi once again observes the dancers. Her head rests lightly on Rahotep's shoulder, fingers threaded on his. She notices Imhotep looking at them, and she nods with a serene smile, as Rahotep's arms close around her in a protective embrace.

*hugs*