welcome to your new hell, Welcome to the Menagerie. Or as we like to call it, Dome Sweet Dome! We are an eight-year strong futuristic shapeshifter and sci-fi creature roleplay, dedicated to bringing you a world unlike any other; a world in which your character has become an experiment and must fight for survival in a domed city, cut off from the rest of the world. Choose to be any animal in your fight for survival in an artificial world built by the Keepers as they subject you to experiments beyond your control. Choose to wander the world inside the walls alone, as a Rogue, or find safety in numbers in one of the groups known as Rings. How will you survive?
60 - 65 ºF
blustery with scattered showers spotty sunshine
YEAR 2309
shift bans.
» Cougars (aka Puma, Mountain Lion, Panther)
» All Tiger Species
» All Lion Species
» All Wolf Species
» African Leopards
group bans.
none.
encouraged !
FEMALE CHARACTERS! create a RETRO or ANTHRO and get 250 CP + a free skill! read me for more info!
last updated: april 19th, 2016
Click on each Ring or Retro group image to view their ranks!
GROUP UPDATES
CARNARING
Jocelyn Edelwolfe is the new Alpha! Seija Mulviene is the new Beta, and Grey is the new Delta. Lead Hunter is now Boone Haywood, Head of Border Patrol is now Noelle Ndango!
FALLENRING
-
FULSIRING
Fulsi has a standing treaty with the Nakoma, granting limited access to their fresh water.
NAKOMA TRIBE
-
ANALOYA PRIDE
a while back, the Analoya suffered a suspicious poisoning of their river, luckily with few casualties; the Bellator are suspected of having taken part in it, and there are whispers that Pride leader Wanderer is talking alliance with the Nilda for access to their clean water.
BELLATOR HERD
As new leader of the Bellator, Loril has instituted some rank changes. See this thread for more information!
LAWAII FLOCK
no updates!
NILDA PACK
no updates!
CARNARING QUICK STATS
ALPHA -- Jocelyn Edelwolfe, Clouded Leopard, played by IronChild
BETA -- Seija Mulviene, Spotted Hyena, played by Seija-chan
DELTA --Grey, Mackenzie Valley Wolf, played by Kriss
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The persistent wind sent questing tendrils through crevices and cracks, then leaped eagerly through the gap of an opening door, only to abruptly come up short as it closed against the gust. Charm shook her head against the sudden transition from white noise to the murmur of voices, and paused beside the entrance. The lobby of the skyscraper was busy at this hour of the morning, as the Ring began its day. Some loitered around the tables, finishing breakfast, while others organized into their patrols and received their assignments.
Casting a critical eye over the happenings revealed no ripples of discontent or unease, so she gave a satisfied nod. Today would do. It was cool and breezy, but clear, the air crisp with coming fall, and the hunt was singing in her blood. Dalton was healthy enough to take care of things in her absence, and Tarrik was well on his way to joining him. It was time to find the woman responsible for putting them in such a state that they needed to recover.
She crooked a finger toward the gathering at large, and a tenderfoot caught the gesture and trotted over. “Send Baze, Mac, and Jared to me. Jared first, tell him to grab my gear. Then run upstairs and tell Dalton I’m headed out for the day.” The girl nodded and darted off, intent on her errand. Charm leaned a shoulder against the wall while she waited, exchanging greetings and smiles with those who passed or came over to speak with her. The head medic came by with a few questions, and by the time that was wrapped up, the three she’d requested were waiting for her.
Taking her bow from Jared, she braced it with her boot to string it, then strapped it to the pack he held. When he offered it to her, she shook her head, and he slung it into place on his own back. Gesturing them outside, she followed, pulling the door shut behind her. Mac - Mackenzie - looked puzzled, but Jared was resigned, Baze expectant. She nodded at him. “You know what we’re after?”
His lip curled. “Trust me, that’s one scent I won’t be forgetting any time soon.” She may or may not have nudged him toward getting a good sniff of Dal when her friend was brought in semiconscious. If anyone could track down the mysterious brunette “rogue,” it would be Baze.
“Excellent, off we go then. Mac, we’ll fill you in when we get out of the city.” She shifted, as did the other two, while Jared swung onto her back. His hound shift was perfectly capable of keeping pace, but it was easier to have someone carry the pack than to devise saddlebags that would stay secure. She knew better than to run off without medical supplies, extra weapons, and some food.
Baze and Mac would travel as bloodhound and eagle, respectively, though they could trade off with Jared if necessary. Satisfied, Charm shook her mane and set off at a canter, Baze loping along beside her as the eagle leaped into the air behind them.
ooc; Wasn't sure where to put this, but figured they could end up in the foothills on the northern side of the mountains? Intending to skirt around to the other side to search the retro lands and stuff.
As was his usual routine, Dalton had woken up early. He loved to revel in the morning hours before anyone else had hardly stirred, when he could be engulfed in peace and calm after a particularly chaotic night. Songbirds trilled in the distance, sharp notes echoing through the broken windows of the tiny room that he and Tarrik shared – to most they might have seemed like a false promise of hope in an otherwise desolate environment. To him, it was a reminder of something far more sinister, but thus far he had been able to shun this fact and focus on the pleasantries, like the small shafts of sunlight that stretched across the worn floor. They drew soft, warm lines across his companion, and from the other side of the room Tarrik turned in his sleep.
A smile crept across Dal’s face as he regarded him for a moment, and then carefully stepped out onto the porch. To call it a porch was an understatement, of course. It was little more than a box in terms of space, but he still appreciated being able to step outside all the same. As far as rooms went, they’d hit the jackpot – the benefits of being the beta and delta, he supposed. They were high up, and from his vantage point he could see the spread of the city and much of that which lay beyond it. Useful for keeping an eye on things.
Some time later he started to make his way down the stairs, the smell of lunch and the noise and bustle of his ringmates being too tempting and distracting to ignore any longer. He’d just reached one of the lower landings when a girl quite nearly ran into him, and he staggered back a step in surprise before offering her an easy grin. Apparently she’d been looking for him, and quickly relayed a message from Charm to him as he leaned against a wall. Dal tilted his head, curiosity sparked, then thanked her and dismissed her. He had to wonder what kind of trip his alpha was planning, and whether it was routine or of some greater importance. And, more importantly, why she hadn’t invited him along. Sure, he supposed she didn’t have to bring him – of course not. She’d need him to look after the ring while she was gone. But…at the same time, they were also good friends, and he found it a little odd that she hadn’t at least mentioned it to him face to face. Shrugging, he continued down the stairs until he eventually stepped out into the lobby, a blast of sound greeting his ears.
Fluidly, and out of habit, he shifted. Ever since the incident, he’d had a tendency to do this whenever he had to travel past large groups of people. It helped him to avoid most of the stares he felt as their gaze flicked towards his back. He knew they weren’t trying to be rude or cruel, but it made him feel awkward and uncomfortable all the same. When he had no choice but to be human, he oft wore thick hoodie sweaters – besides, the weather had turned cooler, so he had an excuse to. Of course, his shift occasionally got odd looks as well, since the splicing. Some people avoided him altogether. But it was the lesser of two evils, and his sleek form allowed him to weave through crowds far better than he could as a human. And it also helped him to procure tasty morsels from unsuspecting tenderfoots who fell for the puppy-dog act.
Indeed, he’d just managed to siphon some bacon from one of his friends when his ears perked up; Charm’s voice, and a few others nearby her, though he couldn’t make out what they were saying. He sank to his haunches, watching the doors shut behind them, their voices drifting out of earshot. His curiosity was still madly peaked, but he was torn. Staying behind would be the logical thing to do, and the thing that Charm obviously wanted him to do. There was also the fact that since he’d gotten back, he and Tarrik had tried to stay as close to each other as they could. But at the same time, a few months had passed since they’d arrived back in Fulsi, and he thought this might be good for them both. Plus, this seemed like a different kind of trip. Something out of the norm. And he wanted to know what exactly it was. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned his head back towards his friend. “Amber, can you go upstairs and tell Tarrik I’m going out? I shouldn’t be long. Tell him not to worry, and to keep an eye on things around here.” The brunette raised a quizzical eyebrow, but reached down to give him an affectionate scratch behind the ears, which he returned with a lick to her hand. “Consider it done. Want me to send him your love too?” Her tone was teasing, though Dal’s eyes widened all the same. Before he could say anything, though, she added, “I’ll go tell him right now. Keep safe.” And with that she left, long-legged strides carrying her easily up the stairs.
Dal took a deep breath, and considered following after her, if only to get a word in about what she’d just said, but instead he nodded decisively and prowled over to the doors, fleeing through them when someone held them open for him. Head raised briefly, he scented at the wind, then turned and began to trot in the direction that they seemed to be heading in. It wasn’t long before he was in a full-out sprint, and although he could feel the resistance of his muscles after resting for so long, he pushed through it. He’d never catch up to them if he didn’t keep pace. Before long, their scents grew stronger, and he eased his pace, falling back and keeping low to the ground once he emerged from the city. His shift was useful for this, particularly with the snake DNA that had been infused into the coyote’s, since it lent him the ability to lower his body some. At first he’d hated the snake-bits. But now he’d grown used to it, tolerated it, and even liked aspects of it. He wasn’t sure if his friends could say the same, though.
Once he managed to catch sight of them, he became more cautious in his stalking-efforts, reluctant to get caught unintentionally for fear that Charm would send him back to Fulsi without a lick of a hint at where she was going. Not to mention, he didn’t want her to be mad at him for following her. So he trailed after them, trying to keep up to her horse shift while remaining hidden in the grass and shadows of bushes.
OOC; ermergerd longpost idk why just..INFLUX of dal muse and muse in general and…I’m sorry if this is not much to go on??? Can change it if you want me tooooo. AND. Feel free to catch him whenever you want u.u; CATCH THE SNEAKING HOBBITTTT
Skyscrapers fell away, the city folding down into smaller buildings until they cut into the southern end of the park. There, near the edge of the border, Charm paused under the trees. Jared slid off her back, allowing her to shift, while Baze plopped down, tail thumping in the leaf litter. Mac swooped down to settle on a nearby branch. From a back pocket, Charm pulled out a piece of paper, which she unfolded to reveal a sketch of a dark haired woman. She held it out so all three could get a look at it.
“This is who we’re after. She told Tarrik she’s a rogue, but let’s not take her word for it. We’ll head for the mountains and split up there. Baze’ll come with me, Mac, you go with Jared. Questions?” When negative head shakes answered her, she refolded the sketch, returning it to her pocket. “Let’s move, then.” She shifted again, waited for Jared to vault back into place, and resumed the journey. They skirted through the scrubland that fringed Fallen territory, and then the land began to rise, as craggy peaks loomed ahead. At about that point, the wind changed, coming from the north - it seemed the Keepers were going to move a cold front in.
Baze lifted his nose to the wind, head turning as he scented, and Charm dropped to a trot. “Baze?” The bloodhound rumbled thoughtfully.
“I’ve been smelling traces of Dalton since we left - I thought it was you, but now it’s stronger.”
She swore, and dropped to a walk, as if to take a breather. “Jared, signal Mac to full circle.” The eagle shifter had primarily been scouting ahead, looking for oncoming trouble. Since they were moving at a good pace, it would’ve been tricky for someone to come at them from behind.
A minute later, and she glided down to land on Jared’s proffered arm. “Um. We’ve got company?”
Charm sighed, head turned to look at the scout. “Let me guess - Dalton?”
“Got it in one. I saw a coyote a ways back, near the desert, but didn’t think anything of it. This time I got a closer look, it’s definitely him.”
She sighed again, then shook her mane in faint irritation. “Alright, you three continue on. Do some poking around the foothills -” she gestured with her nose to the forested rise they were climbing “- and I’ll catch up with you in a bit. Wait for me before you start into the mountains.” Heads dipped in consent, and Jared tossed Mac back into the air, then slid off her back. She shifted, accepting her bow and quiver from him, and turned back to face the way they’d come as the trio vanished into the woods.
After slinging the quiver over her shoulder, she crossed her arms, leaning against a tree as she settled in to wait. The land fell away below her, trees diminishing into scrub, and eventually into sand. If Dalton was tracking them, as she thought he was, he wouldn’t be far behind.
ooc; Don't worry Dal, her foot's not tapping, so you're not in /too/ much trouble. |D
Dalton was a bit out of shape still – he could admit that. Though he’d gotten much better as of late, his body had been slow to recover from the entire ordeal; he’d tried pushing himself too hard too soon once before, out of frustration at his own physical idleness, and that had set him back again for a time. Strained muscles weren’t much fun. As it were, this particular journey was taxing, and more than once he had to stop to catch his breath. That was perfectly fine, he justified, considering Charm and her company came to a halt several times, evidently discussing…whatever it was. He counted his blessings that the weather was cooler, however, and for the brisk wind that had grown steadily stronger over the last few hours. If it’d been during the summer he would’ve had a much more difficult time, he figured, especially as he travelled through the desert terrain bordering the Fallen’s lands. The dry heat that seemed to swell up from the sand under his paws was not something he was particularly fond of, and he quickened his pace again to try and catch up to the group.
His cheery mood was decidedly dampened, however, when he soon began to realize just where the party was headed. Dal’s steps began to lag, his ears pricking up first in alarm, and then drooping back in apprehension. The sharp peaks of the mountain were visible from where he stood lurking next to a patch of brush. Why the hell was she going there? And more importantly, why the hell was he considering following her to there? Well, she is your alpha, his thoughts rationalized. Follow through thick and thin. Yes, but…but the mountains. That’s where it’d all started. Where she…where she was. Or had been. He hesitated, indecisive, his head swinging back to glance in the direction from which he’d come. Dal could always go back to Tarrik, spend the day with him. It would’ve been the smart thing to do, and part of him – a substantial part – wanted to do exactly that. But his curiosity was desperate to be sated. He turned back, dropped his head low, and began to slink after them again.
He took note of the transition from sand to scrub with dull acknowledgement, his mind fixated on other matters entirely – namely his desire to avoid the peaks, to find Charm, track them down. One ear was cocked back slightly to listen for any signs of a potential threat, but for the most part he was focused on tracking, his nose testing the shifting winds every now and then to make sure he was headed in the right direction. It was hard to say, but it seemed as though the others’ scents were growing fainter rather than stronger. Odd. The coyote dug his claws into the earth and bounded up the sloping path, weaving agilely amongst trees and around bushes, at times seeming to hug the ground; if there was one good thing about his modified shift, it was that it certainly made it easier for him to get around.
Eventually, he emerged over the top of the rise – narrowly avoiding slamming his face into a tree planted at the edge in the process – and peeked around before nearly letting out a squeak of surprise. There was Charm, of course, leaning with an easy sort of grace against a nearby tree. All at once, the beta felt as though he’d just been reverted to a young boy again – one who had just been caught red-handed with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Oops.
He wagged his tail briefly to show good faith, and slunk over to her with a happy whine, brushing up against her legs and reaching to nose at one of her arms. All in an attempt to look the adorable puppy, in the event of her annoyance at him being a party-crasher. Finally, he sank to his haunches, peering up at her, tail sweeping back and forth across the ground slowly. And then shifted back to his human form, running a hand through his wind-blown hair sheepishly and offering her a little smile. “Charm! Fancy seeing you here. I…uh. Was in the neighbourhood, as it were. And I brought you this.” He reached a hand into his sweater’s pocket, and held out a peach to her. “Sorry if it’s a bit warm, pocket and all…but I thought you might be hungry after all this running around, yeah?” The smile grew a few shades into a grin as he walked over, leaning a friendly arm on her shoulder, tone teasing. “’Cause I know I am. Bacon only goes so far, y’know, and I think I’ve burned more calories in the last hour than I had in a week.” That was a bit of an overstatement, of course, but whatever. “…And, well, I’d say I’m sorry for tailing you, but I figured maybe you’d like some extra company for…whatever it is you’re doing?” he added hopefully. “Or an ankle-biter for any potential creeps, I’m good at that too. ….you aren’t mad, right?”
OOC; sorry for the wait, dal needed a beating to get his butt into post-worthy material |D hope it's okay <3
Her eyebrows rose, and continued to rise, as Dalton crept over, tail low and wagging. She maintained the arch expression as he nosed at her, but a smile tugged faintly at the corner of her mouth. Charm shook her head when he shifted, resigned, and pushed the peach holding hand back toward him. “You should eat it, you’re the one who’s still recovering.” The last was accompanied by a pointed look. Running across half the dome, keeping up with a horse and a hunting hound, wasn’t particularly good for him.
Although she didn’t shake off his arm, she didn’t unfold hers. “When I sent someone to tell you I was leaving, it wasn’t because I wanted company, it was so you knew I was leaving you in charge,” she countered. Although she wasn’t overly concerned, it left her with a faint itch of anxiety between her shoulder blades. Tarrik was currently too weak to be of much use, and he was vulnerable to anyone who decided they had a vendetta. She knew, logically, that someone would have to go through Norah, Jace, and Oscar - the scout she’d set to keep an eye on him - but that only did so much to soothe her paranoia.
Reminding herself that the HoBP and the Lead Hunter were both perfectly capable of defending against an attack, she sighed. “Not mad. Maybe a tad exasperated.” She ruffled his hair to take most of the sting out of the words, then shifted slightly so she could meet his eyes. “I have some things I need to take care of. You need to go home, Dal. You’re not up to par yet, and I won’t have you getting killed because I led you into something dangerous.”
Pulling his head down, Charm planted a kiss on his forehead, then nudged him. “Get going - I have to catch up to the others. I’ll send Jared back with you, he’ll find you.” She didn’t like breaking up her patrol, as she’d selected each individual carefully, but she couldn’t bring herself to send Dal off on his own. The idea caused a tight feeling to constrict her chest. She had come so close to losing him - losing both of them - and it left her with a sense of panic that reared its head whenever either of them ventured somewhere that wasn’t Fusli territory.
She’d always been protective. Having some crazy bitch torture her two favorite people might have made her overly so, but Charm didn’t really think anyone could blame her. Besides, she was Alpha and she’d be overprotective if she wanted, and everyone else could deal with it, Dalton and Tarrik included.
ooc; shorter, but I figured that would work for the moment o3o
