Things Look Better with One Eye Closed

"It tastes good," Nathifa said in response to Arlyn's look. She inhaled the sharp smell of the beverage and took another sip. It didn't do much for her in terms of a caffiene jolt, but it had become a morning habit

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Kitai gave a small wave to Kieran as the tea that she ordered was delivered. He was probably one of the few in the Rebellion that wouldn't yell at her for not killing Yoko much less having sex with him. A couple of Birch's friends - the ones that she knew from her childhood now called Greentail and Cricket - had come down the stairs and were now getting their own coffee

((sorry if I don't respond right away, I'm working on a request art for one of my friends on dA))

((Back in 10.

And that's okay. ^^ Reminds me that I have request crap to do too. XD))

Kierans first instinct when Kitai waved at him was to lower his head, and he did just that. However, he knew that wasn't the custom amongst the Rebellion, and that the werewolf might think that he was being rude. On the other hand, he didn't know how to react. Did people nod? Wave back? Was he supposed to just...stare, or something?

((gotta go, my sister just got back))

((That's okay. I had to go too anyways. ^^))

Kitai sighed at Kieran's now unnecessary habits such as bowing his head. She wondered when he was going to learn that he was just as equal as anyone else in the Rebellion. Maybe Siva could help him with that; the Society warrior seemed to have taken a liking to him as almost like family.

Kieran cast a quick glance around the room and sat back in a table in the corner, far away from everyone else. The hybrid sometimes gave off the wrong impression, as if he thought that he was too good for everyone else. With the way he avoided people and rarely talked to anyone, he could see how some might think like this. Actually, he felt more like they were all good, decent people and he was some vile, disgusting being, not wanting to tamper them with his presence. A lot of people had taken to just ignoring him, which he didn't seem to mind. Others would do strange things that he didn't know how to react to, like wave or nod their heads. The Rebellion made a happy little picture, sitting in the common room together. He didn't want to be a misplaced brush stroke.

((I work until 10 my time tonight, so I won't be on until 10:30, 10:45. Depending, but probably closer to 10:30.))

Kitai went back to her tea, grateful that Akaelin wasn't downstairs to yell at her for not killing Yoko; even sleeping with him. She looked around to see if Arakil had woken up yet but her brother was nowhere in sight.

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Nathifa sighed again and closed her eyes, reaching out with her mind trying to find her mate's energy signature.

((whee, shortpost))

((btw, this week is Hell Week for Marching band. Like today, we (the colorguard) have rehersal from 1-9 tomorrow and Wednesday. Then I'll be gone at the state fair all of Thursday.))

((Good luck with that. Between work, band getting a portfolio together, visiting colleges, and art trades I never should've started, I've been rather busy myself. XD))

Akaelin came in several minutes later, and Arlyns head turned towards the door. His nephew was soaking wet from the rain last night. Arlyn remembered it because as soon as he laid down, it started, and he had had to find shelter underneath a tree. It was also why he had slept so soundly last night. The heavy drumming of the rain drowned out other noises and scents and gave him a sense of peace.

Arlyn understood that Akaelin had wanted to get some things done, but didn't see why the younger wolf hadn't come back to the Inn when the rain started.

"Where were you at?" Arlyn asked as Akaelin sat down at the table with him and Nathifa. Akaelin moved rather stiffly, and his jaw was somewhat clenched, but other than that he looked fine. He cast a quick gaze around the room, then shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't want to talk with so many people around.

Nathifa cautiously wrapped her arms around Akaelin in case he decided to turn away from her and rested her head between his neck and shoulder. Her power automatically started to work in drying and warming her mate. "I'm sorry," Nathifa said. "I just want to try to be a leader that the pack deserves for this war."

((Am being kicked off the computer - apparently for not practicing trombone at 8:00 this morning. see ya))

"I wasn't out all night because I was mad at you," Akaelin said reassuringly, stroking his mates hair. "I'll tell you about it later though." He didn't want to get the Rebellion worked up over something that could be easily handled. Arlyn rose from his seat, excusing himself. A quick look to Akaelin, however, told the rebellion leader that the older wolf also wanted to hear about what had happened.

"Was it something with Sai?" Nathifa asked. She kept her voice low as she spoke, since there were a number of people in the room that had exceptional hearing, though she doubted that any member of the Rebellion would be bold enough to eavesdrop on Akaelin. But the few members of the guard that Birch called in might not be above such tactics that would let them learn about the group that they had just joined.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Akaelin answered after thinking for a moment. “It’s…possible, I guess.” For some reason, he didn’t think that it had been Sai directly. Still, he wouldn’t put it past her. “Did Birch’s friends arrive?” If they had, he wanted to get out of the area and get moving. He felt nervous staying in one spot for too long. By the time they had left Sanctuary, the wolf had almost been a nervous wreck.

"Yeah, four others arrived," Nathifa said. "Kitai's brother she left after she ceased being human has apparently joined and is one of the ones that Birch summoned. He thinks that a good chunk of the rest will join up with us later when they see how bad it's getting. Not all of them are awake or down here yet, but I'm sure it won't be long."

((back in 10.))

"Alright," Akaelin said absent-mindedly. "As soon as they are, I want to get going. We'll head up to Kanten to see if anyone there will want to join us." His eyes drifted over to Kitai, who had made the suggestion, and his mind wandered back to last night. It would be awkward for him to ask Kitai to kill Yoko, and the wolf was mostly beating on himself for not doing it. Every single time Yoko got close enough to kill, something - namely Kitai - got in the way.

"Here they come now," Nathifa said, looking to the stairs. Arakil and the were-wolverine known as Icespitter came down the stairs and joined Greentail and Cricket at the counter for some coffee. "As for Kanten, the guy Relan who ran the inn there was more than willing to help us last time; I doubt that he'll want to stand by as another war happens, even more so if the people who are causing the war threaten to destroy the world."

((btw, came up with animals for the other two weres. Greentail is an alligator and Cricket is a crane. They and Icespitter are open for anyone to control around))

"You mean the guy who yelled at Sai when she cracked a plate over my head?" Akaelin thought aloud. Yes, that was the guy. He hadn't really talked to Relan at all, so it wasn't like he could count on the mans assistance for sure. He let out a small breath and rose from his seat. "I'll be right back this time," he promised, even though wandering alone was probably the last thing that he should do right now.

"And the one that made the mass muffin batch," Nathifa added. "Come back soon."

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Arakil saw Kitai sitting alone and went to go join her table. "I didn't really get a chance to talk to you last night," he said. "It's been five years now."

"One question first," Kitai said. "Birch told me that you get to suggest a name for yourself when you get accepted as a full member of the guard. So why Wolfslayer?"

Arakil looked down as if ashamed. "Because of vengeance that I know that I now will never be able to take." Kitai nodded in understanding. Although she was just fine with Quill's presence now, it was understandable that her brother hadn't gotten over his grudge.

"Will do," Akaelin said as he started to follow Yokos scent back into the room he had shared with Kitai the previous night. He shuddered inwardly at the thought of what they had done in there. But he hadn't come in just to horrify himself with mental images. If Yoko truly wanted to help them, Akaelin thought that maybe the fox had left something behind. Maybe something that could help them. He peeked under the mattress, under the bed, and in the closet, but there was nothing. He had started to walk out of the room when he saw the corner of a piece of paper sticking out of the drawer of the nightstand. Hopes rising, the wolf opened the drawer, and pulled out the paper.

"Please don't let this be a note from the mangement saying not to destroy the furniture," Akaelin mumbled to himself as he opened it. There were only five words written on the paper, and Akaelin only understood the first.

Nara.

Ask for Far Dorcha

He knew where Nara was, but who the hell was Far Dorcha? Perhaps this was some random crack message that had been left in the night stand for a long, long time. But then again, Yoko also knew where Nara was as well. Would going there help them in some way?

He stuffed the paper in his pocket and came out of the room, closing the door behind him. He met Nathifa back at the table with a smug smile. "Told you I'd be back," he said slyly as he retook his seat.

"Did you find anything?" Nathifa asked. "I know you wouldn't just be looking around in Kitai's room for no reason. Unless you were checking to see if they used protection, which I highly doubt that you were."

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Cricket followed where Arakil had gone over to the table where Kitai was. Her face lit up when she saw her old childhood playmate despite the wolfier features. Weres didn't bother her like they did most people in Salinas because a) she was one and b) she knew a lot of them.

((Hey, I gotta go for tonight. I have to get up early for work tomorrow, and then I go straight from there to band. It’s gonna be a long day. >.<))

"Who uses protection?" Akaelin said, rolling his eyes. Protection was for guys with bad timing. Even so, Kitai was already pregnant. It wasn't like it mattered.

He shrugged, leaning back so that the chair stood on only two legs. "Yeah. I was hoping that maybe Yoko would've left something informative behind. Five words, and only the first one makes sense." He unfolded the paper for Nathifa to see. "Don't see how it would help. Perhaps we'll head there after Kanten."

Sarian was annoyed with how Faorn popped into every conversation. And there Faorn was again, looking over Nathifa's shoulder. Faorn seemed to go roaming and lurking everywhere. Everywhere and anywhere.

"Kanten? Where's Kanten? And What's in Kanten? Kanten Kanten Kanten, that's a funny word." Faorn babbled.

"Kanten is the city that sheltered us in the tunnels underneath the main part of it during the last war," Nathifa said. She gave Faorn an annoyed look, but tried not to lose her temper. The werewolf had no business poking into conversations between her two leaders and would probably end up hurt one day either by Akaelin's hand or Nathifa's own. "We are thinking that they may have their fighting force still intact and be willing to help us."