FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE [C]

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] Cole regained strength slowly. Each minute had seemed measured in a small eternity, and each hour in a longer one, and each day had become its own miniature infinity. She was filled with wild energy, distrustful of the situation she had found herself in. She did not trust Husher's intentions. In fact, she trusted him about as far as she could throw him. Less, in fact. Her eyes stared at him blankly as he slept, her body stiff from a lack of use. She had been walking around their small camp lately, and with growing resolve. She wasn't lame. Just healing, which was frustrating to no end. He breathed, jerked a little in his sleep, and Cole stiffened reflexively. Her jacket was wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl, and a blink of light weaved its way into the little alcove as the morning sun broke over the horizon. She waited for him to wake up, counting his breaths, watching his expression change in his sleep. He wasn't going to kill her, Cole knew. He had invested too much time into her well-being. But for what? As these thoughts continued to plague her, as they often did lately, she was torn through with a gut-wrenching sort of hunger. There was never enough food. Analoya territory was over-hunted as it was, and the two of them living on the edge of it did not help. It was a miracle they hadn't been found yet... She couldn't stand it any more. Without a backward glance, Cole shapeshifted into her leopard form and slunk out of their hideaway, pushing the rock to the side. She only managed it because it was not firmly in place, wriggling her body through a small opening. She broke into daylight and thought about running, leaving the strange man behind her. What did she owe him? He had taken care of her because he had wanted to. Cole had never asked for his help and she certainly had never wanted it. She blinked into the morning sun. It had been a long time since she had moved so freely, it seemed. By now the snow had melted, and she knew without a doubt that they would need to relocate soon. We. She caught herself on the word. I, Cole corrected. I will need to relocate soon. With that thought in mind, the leopard began to slip through the underbrush, heading steadily away from Analoya territory. Her leg was sore from misuse and the injury, but she discovered that it was moving more loosely than it had been the past few weeks, and she no longer felt the sharp stitch of pain all the way down her shoulder. She moved steadily and quietly, falling into the mindset of a hunter. Her nostrils flared with the scent of the damp forest, and from the southern wind she caught the smell of Fallen territory, all desert. She headed that way, looking for some kind of game trail. Analoya stunk of felines, and she tried to stay on the very border of the territory, masking her scent to the best of her ability by trekking through damp snow-melt. Cole didn't know how long she prowled before she got lucky. The scent of deer flared in her nostrils, and she adjusted her course, so that she would be downwind when she approached the herd... Of course, when they came into view, she realized that it was only two individuals, not an actual herd. They grazed idly on patches of new spring grass, looking up cautiously now and then. She followed them for over thirty minutes, before an opportunity presented itself. The deer that appeared to be a yearling had strayed from the elder doe, wandering into an alcove of trees. Cole slid through the shadows, closing the distance between them until only a few yards separated them. The yearling kicked at the earth, nibbled at some sort of-- Cole burst forth, a flash of gold-and-red. The yearling startled and ran, but Cole was too quick. Her outstretched paw caught the deer by the haunch and unbalanced it. She took the opportunity to leap and stick half-on and half-off the animal's side, her hind legs drawn up to drag furrows across its underbelly. Within seconds she had grabbed the flailing deer by the jugular, dragging it to the ground. Within matter of minutes, she had killed it. She felt unsafe where she was, but her limbs were trembling from the exertion of the hunt. She had not moved so much since before her injury. Cole reclined on her haunches and licked the blood from her chops, eyeing the dark forest around her. Something cracked, and her lips curled back to reveal her teeth, her hackles raising and her ears lying flat. She felt watched, or followed, and this apprehensive feeling disturbed her deeply.

[HUSHER]

The silence was too complete and all at once, he was awake. His sensitive lupine ears flickered about - awaiting muted footfalls outside or a recent scent, but anything left of the girl was hours old. She was gone.

Having spent so much time with Cole, Husher had acclimatized to her presence and now that she was no longer there, he couldn't help but feel her echoing absence in the caved shelter.

She had been healing well, and rebuilding her strength. Though few enough words had passed between them, it would have been a lie to say that she was pleasant, when there was nothing to suggest she remained in the area, Husher was instantly worried.

Shifting the entrance rock aside with nose and shoulder, the black wolf was off through the brush before he had considered whether or not letting her go was best. The paternal anxiety was strong, and the instant he picked up her trail his large paws beat through the melting snow with haste.

Another might have been irritated that she had vanished without a word, or angry, but Husher and Cole had come to a uneasy understanding. What was more - he saw a lot of himself in the girl. She was independent, and tough. Begrudging of gratitude, and dodged favors wherever she could. It wasn't that she didn't want to be in his debt, it was more than that, and the man couldn't blame her. Regardless, the knowledge that she had not thanked him or acknowledged her likely demise if he had not stepped in weeks ago wash over his conscience like a wave. It didn't really matter to him.

Simply put, Cole was a person of action not words, just as Husher was. People in their world had little use for ˜thank you" or I.O.U.s, either you did or you didn't, and that was all.

Pausing to catch a scent, Husher realized she had slowed down though it was not because of her injuries. The soil had not been unevenly disturbed to suggest a limp, rather it was a deliberate reduction of speed where she had lowered to the ground and paused. Suddenly, a yowl echoed through the trees and before the call had ended Husher was off through the trees in silent, deadly speed.

The black wolf was upon the cats sooner he had estimated, and ended up leaping across the churning squall of leopards. His nose filled in what has eyes could not, Cole's foe was female, also a leopard and a lot bigger than the little red cat.

Without hesitation, Husher kept silent, and took the first opportunity he had. It was an unconventional 'opening', but the old soldier was good with separating a brawl. His powerful jaws snapped, trapping the larger cat's tail in his teeth and he pulled.

A high pitched scream reverberated in his ear drums and he released her in time to dodge sharp claws that whipped past his face. He repositioned himself protectively in front of Cole as the leopard collected herself, spitting venomous words and false promises about his death. Husher ignored her speech, focusing instead on her movement, anticipating her line of attack.

I'll dispose of you, and finish with the girl," she boasted in a nasty tone.

A deep, deep growl issued from Husher's throat that started so low it was barely audible and ended with a flash of white teeth. His hackles rose, his ears pinned to his head, fixing the cat with an unnerving stare.

The leopard faked a start, spitting and growling furiously. Time slowed in Husher's world, and when she blinked golden eyes, her spotted tail dropped. There. She looked past him to Cole and Husher was on the feline. There was no warning, no possible way to anticipate the attack. The wolf had found her Tell, and it was over.

Husher leaped just before she did, and the wolf caught her by the throat. The noises she made were fowl enough to turn stomachs before his teeth crushed her windpipe and all was silent. The smell of fresh blood was three fold. The leopard's, the deer's, and ... Husher was beside Cole in an instant.

"You okay?" he asked simply as his intense hues searched her pelt for fresh injuries. No lecture, no speech about safety. It was just as it had been the first time. He had offered his help without her expectation, and in return, he anticipated no gratitude. It was not the way they worked. A thanks suggested one person owed the other - which was not a smart move to make in the Menagerie.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] Snap, rustle. She had her eyes jerked to the left, and she took in several images at once: a felinesque face blurred by leaves and branches, tawny eyes, and then the violent motion of that quick body leaping forward. It all happened in the hairsbreadth between one blink and the next, and then the cat was on her, the two of them dissolving into a writhing, spitting, hissing mass of fur and claws. It had been too long since she'd engaged in a fight. This feline was larger than her, but that was to be expected. Cole's mind was blank of emotion, even surprise, as the other cat seized her by the shoulder in her strong jaws. It was Cole's bad leg, but the wound wasn't deep and Cole twisted out of the other cat's grasp, one of her paws lashing out to catch the other leopard by the side of the face, dragging the jaw of the Analoya downward and away from Cole's face and neck. She couldn't hold her there, though, because the leopard lashed out and struck her with her forelegs, wrapping them around Cole's neck-- The tawny leopard yowled and whipped around, abandoning her attack on Cole to face... Cole couldn't believe what she was looking at as Husher positioned himself in front of her, black fur and steady gaze. Everything was familiar about him. His scent, the way he held himself. Her jade eyes looked past him to fixate on the Analoya, waiting for her to continue her attack. Cole shifted her weight, bristling, her teeth exposed in a grimace. They were in a violent standoff, the leopard eyeing Husher up, but then she faked an attack and her eyes flicked to Cole. A stupid mistake. The wolf was on her in an instant, and the Analoya's blood spilled out across the musty earth. Cole didn't flinch as she watched the leopard's eyes roll back, struggling feebly against Husher's locked jaws. As soon as she was dead, he dropped her, and turned to Cole. She didn't really feel anything when she looked at him, then. She guessed that the appropriate reaction would have been shame. She blinked and licked the blood from her chops before replying. "Yes." They were only scratches and nips, decorating her shoulders and face. She did not bother to ask the question in return, after looking at his face steadily and then his shoulders. The leopard hadn't even seemed to have nicked him. Cole gave him one more long glance before pacing away from the corpse and the wolf, returning to the side of the deer. "I was restless, so I went hunting." It was the best explanation he was going to get. Cole didn't say she had thought about leaving, nor did she say that she intended to stay with him. In that silence she realized that they had many things to discuss, and she wasn't sure how to approach the situation. He had saved her not just once but multiple times. He had nursed her back to health and bothered to come looking for her once she had disappeared. She felt grateful, but she still felt cautious. He could leave, disappear, and then she would be left taking care of herself--but he hadn't yet. "If you are interested in staying together," Cole began, suddenly. The idea had seized her. "We should leave soon. We're lucky we haven't been found." She was quiet, looking at him over her shoulder, trying to gauge his reaction. But he seemed trustworthy, or as trustworthy as anyone ever was. And more than that? He was reliable, and skilled, and Cole owed him. She didn't know how to repay that debt.

[HUSHER]

Husher let her explanation go without elaboration or comment, and instead focused on her proposal. The suggestion sounded amicable, but forced him to consider the future. Did he want to stick together? So far she seemed smart, didn’t complain, was straightforward and, (he anticipated) a decent fighter when she wasn’t outnumbered or injured. Still, he had one goal and the girl had already waylaid him from that mission long enough. No, that wasn’t reasonable. To be fair, he had been waiting out the winter and past extra hunting time he would have just spent stewing away in his dark hole – she had cost him nothing.

Her comment on luck had the corner of his mouth lifting. She was the only one that had been found … twice in fact. No, luck for Husher had nothing to do with it. Preparation and experience had kept him hidden and her as well for as long as they had managed. Still, now that spring had come and the Analoya were venturing further out, their safety had been compromised.

”Let’s eat and run. We can talk about it once we leave,” he said, scanning their surroundings. As long as they were exposed, he was not comfortable discussing their numbers, lodging, or intentions.


Blood painted their mouths and legs, their stomachs bulging with the first full meal either of them had had in weeks. It felt … wonderful. He wanted to call the success of the hunt, but the man in him reined back control. It would be dangerous and stupid, so he remained quiet.

Back to the den, they dove into the burrow. Once he knew Cole was settled he disappeared for a short while before ducking into the hole and shifting into the tanned, light eyed man he was to move the rock back into place. He cleared his throat, took a swallow of water from a canteen and handed the half-full jug to Cole without thinking.

There was an ease to which he had accepted Cole’s presence that did not go unnoticed by even Husher himself. He was a husband, and a father. He was use to looking after his girls, and though the fact never occurred to him on a conscious level, Cole slightly eased the hole that Akane and Sakura usually filled.

”We weren’t followed, but our tracks were hard to cover. We should be okay for a good sleep but in the evening, we should break camp and head north,” he said in a quiet monotone. The implement of ‘we’ invited and accepted Cole into his plans without comment or ceremony and without waiting for her reply he lay back with a sigh, his stomach grumbling as he digested fresh deer. They could talk later. Now - some shut eye.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] ”Let’s eat and run. We can talk about it once we leave." Cole nodded. There was no telling who might or might not be listening, and it was better to be safe than sorry. Not to mention, she felt half-starved, and turned to dig into the carcass with no abandon. It had been too long since she had had a full meal... By the time she was finished, the feeling was almost uncomfortable. In the past she had always been careful to keep from overeating, but in the Menagerie it was always difficult to know when she might get her next meal, and it was best to gorge than to starve. The journey back to their "den" was relatively quiet, and Cole spent the time contemplating. He, that man with those gray eyes that broke her heart, had always told Cole to weigh the pros and cons. The pros of any involvement with this wolf seemed to outweigh the cons. At the moment. Her eyes slit a bit at the thought, and she slid gingerly into the den, thinking of how he had had multiple changes to abandon her or kill her and he had never taken them. If a man could gain something from cruelty, then she would have been at the disadvantage. But he did not seem able to gain anything from being cruel; nor, however, had he gained anything from his kindness. That was the mystery. She took the water with human hands, although they felt stranger after being in her leopard body. Her eyes fixed on him in the dimness, his features rugged and familiar. The pros. She knew him. She had grown to... expect his reactions. That was as close as she ever came to trust. ”We weren’t followed, but our tracks were hard to cover. We should be okay for a good sleep but in the evening, we should break camp and head north." Cole nodded unceremoniously, not one for unnecessary words. It was that easy, then. She looked at him for a long moment, her green eyes hard to read. They had made a deal, or a pact of sorts. Those sort of things were flimsy at best and dangerous at worst, but Cole did not feel as apprehensive as she expected to. Without another words, the rogue turned over onto her side, her back facing him. After a few minutes of shifting, she finally turned into her leopard self and laid sprawled out. Sleep came easily then. * * * * * Cole wasn't sure how much time had elapsed, but Husher was shaking her shoulder and she was awake. It must be evening, then. She drew herself up onto her four legs and yawned, rolling her shoulders to get the stiffness out of them. That damn leopard had to have bruised her, but Cole just rolled them again and shifted into her human form. She sat with her legs crossed and regarded him for a moment, head cocked to the side. "Why are we going north?" Her voice was not a whisper, just a low conversational voice. Just in case anyone was listening, which she doubted, tones like that drew attention less than a whisper. She moved to the corner and began to ready her meager possessions. She returned her knife and sheath to her belt and fastened the wrist blades to both her forearms. Next came his jacket, which she had not worn in quite some time, with the warming weather. She shrugged into it and meticulously began to clean and pack Husher's medic kit, although she was sure that they were probably immaculate, doing a mental inventory of their possessions. She was thanking whatever gods existed, from Xiuhtecuhtli to Allah to Christ, that she finally had something to do.

[HUSHER]

It felt right. Husher couldn’t explain what it was about this odd, quiet girl but something made him feel better for having her around. Maybe it was that he was lonely? He had been a dedicated father and husband before the Menagerie, and he loved his girls. His heart throbbed, an ache spreading across his chest at the thought of his loss. His hand scraped through his short hair and he squeezed his eyes shut.

Akane, where are you? he thought, then looked across the way to the sleeping red-haired girl. He would have to tell Cole about looking for his daughter. While she was healing he had not bothered to speak to her about personal things. They both seemed to rather enjoy the lack of forced small talk. Still, if they decided to stay together they were going to have to open up to each other … just a little bit.

Maybe she had even seen Akane? She would not have been in this area, but it was the only place he could really find to hole up for the winter. Now that the weather was turning it was time to move on. With that thought in mind, he moved across the dirt floor to gently shake Cole.

Once she was awake, he began packing up. He noticed with approval that she was helping, and only a short time went by before she asked for the reason they were headed north. He thought about it, then shrugged as he finished packing his gear and began shifting the rock for a last time.

”Well, much farther south we’ll hit The Wall, not to mention it gets pretty hairy with the Analoya down there. I figured we’d head through the mountains a bit to that lake, fill up the canteens and figure it out from there,” use to taking command he paused. Husher was never one to neglect his resources, and it was impossible to know how much Cole knew of the Menagerie. He paused and turned to her, setting his steady gaze intently on her task.

”Unless of course, you have another suggestion?” At the moment, he didn’t much think Akane would have ended up in Carna. He still needed to check the Fulsi and he knew there was another one or two he had yet to learn about. That was the thing about being rouge without a group … you knew more, and less than others.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] The explanation he gave made sense. Not to mention, staying in Analoya territory was making Cole increasingly jittery. Of all the places... they had decided to hole up in the territory of some of the largest and most vicious of the Menagerie's inhabitants. Of course, it had just showed up competent that Husher was. Cole knew that most people would not have been able to go so long without being discovered, and for this she silently thanked him while simultaneously appraising him. He was an asset. It was as black and white as that. He was an asset if they stayed together, and while human beings were always such damned variables... he seemed fairly steady with his behavior, if the past few weeks had anything to say about his character. "That sounds good to me. I prefer retro territory to the land of the Rings any day. Not to mention, I'm not a huge fan of concrete plans. You gotta change 'em as you go, y'know what I mean?" She shrugged and proceeded to hand him his supplies. "I can carry anything you need me to." Cole realized, kind of suddenly, that she was ready to go. She should be used to it by now, but occasionally her total lack of possessions surprised her. Even with him, when they had been allowed only the bear minimum, she had had little items special to her. Now there was just the ink on her skin and the clothes on her back. She did one last survey of their little "home". "Better head out before we lose the rest of the day." She gestured for Husher's help, and the two of them moved the rock from the entrance-way. Upon stepping outside, she promptly shifted into her leopard form, and after a moment of getting her bearings Cole began to set out in a northern direction. She was familiar enough with the territories to know that they were heading towards Bellator and then Nilda. So long as they were moving though, Cole was happy. It eased her nerves if such a thing was possible, and loosened her jaw. They had spoken only the bear necessities in the past few weeks, but after a few miles Cole decided that she should at least get a better understanding of her new "partner". Lord knew she would worry herself sick if she didn't. They had broken from Analoya territory by now, into meadowlands. She was prowling low to the ground, her abnormal coloring offering good camouflage in this sort of environment. Her ears were active, her eyes scanning the horizon and foreground, her tail swaying idly behind her. "Why are you a rogue?" Cole asked, like a woman out for information. Which she was. It said something about him, that he would prefer to be alone than in a group, but what did it say? That he fit with none of the Rings? That there was something keeping him from them? She didn't know.

[HUSHER]

He nodded, taking in her thoughts and information while multitasking and finishing up packing their provisions. Some, he would leave here. It was often that he returned to a location, and, once in a while also came upon a site another person had left lightly stocked (and had been grateful for it). So before they set out, he left water, a touch of supplies from his kit, and a blanket – the minimum.

With her comment about leaving he grunted in agreement, helped her move the rock then shifted it back into place himself when she had moved forward. He took care to remove his traces, scattering the leaves behind them and fluffing some of the snow.

After shifting to his wolf, Husher allowed Cole to set the pace. She could gauge much more easily how fast she could travel than he could, and he knew she wasn’t stupid enough to exhaust herself completely. It was a rare companion he had teamed with that knew their own limits, and didn’t endanger others to prove they could surpass them.

Out of Analoya, he could feel her brooding. It was, perhaps, the weeks of close quarters that had him so attune to her physical states, and changes. Admittedly, they were subtle, but little got past Husher. Finally, she broke. Asking her why he was rouge.

It was a telling question. It would sum up a lot about him. The most immediate answer was the last one he had wanted to tell, but at the same time was the one she most needed to know if they were going to stick together. His mission was dangerous at best, deadly at worst.

What he did know, was that revealing who was close to you in the menagerie was like giving someone your belly. In the future if something happened between them, Cole could go for Akane and find her first. That, was his biggest worry. However, he was rarely wrong about a person – and though the red-haired girl seemed a bit addle minded occasionally … she struck him as the loyal type. He couldn’t deny that he had acquired a concern for her, though his regard for Akane was his priority no matter what.

He knew she was here, somehow – he knew. With an inner sigh, he decided he would trust this girl, and hopefully … she could be trusted. Still, he would be vague about details … just in case.

“I am searching for someone, my daughter actually. When I first came here, Carna attempted to recruit me … and so I might have, if it had been conducive to my mission – but it was not. Instead, I spoke with some friendlier people of the Menagerie that don’t seem to hold as tightly with Ring against Ring and I decided it was best to simply remain to myself. More precarious, maybe – but I’d hazard worst dangers to find Akane,” he said darkly and cut off abruptly. He’d said more than he meant to, and waited in anticipation for her response.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] Cole waited patiently for his answer, her eyes scanning the horizon and then the foreground. She looked for signs of activity. A herd of mixed animals (most of them large) was probably very difficult to conceal, but she saw nothing save the swaying grass, the portion they were passing through yellow and long. She knew she had asked a loaded question, and she didn't doubt the fact that he was carefully weighing his words. Good. If he had trusted her unconditionally, Cole would have been increasingly concerned. Wait, no. That wasn't even the right way to describe it. She would have been a little more then put off. She would have been downright suspicious, because in the Menagerie she had not met a single rogue that offered her unconditional trust. Granted, they had been living together for weeks, but the familiarity of him did not make him her friend. "I see." It was noncommittal. He had a daughter. Her name was Akane. He loved her enough to look for her, even though Cole wanted to say that she was probably dead. Why was he getting hopeful when the Menagerie was full of so many horrors? Bringing to mind Husher, and how old he looked, Cole was thinking that his daughter had to be a teenager or youth. Most likely an easy target. This would make her plans of staying with him more difficult. Cole wasn't about to sacrifice her well-being for some child, but that seemed to be Husher's intentions. "I'm a rogue because of obvious reasons." She didn't elaborate. He knew her reasons. He knew that she didn't trust anyone, not even him, who had saved her life more then once. The two of them crested a hill and Cole paused, her eyes sweeping across the meadow-land. It unsettled her to be so out in the open. She trekked on, loping to close the distance quickly. She would slow their pace once they reached the cover of the forest in the distance. In the meantime, she had a little curiosity eating at her, something painful. She couldn't help it. She had to ask. "What does she look like? I've been here for over a year and have passed through most of the territories regularly, save Carna." She fixed her jade eyes on him, and then broke them away. "I also have a question. Have you seen a man that is approximately six foot two inches with a more muscular, lean build. He has a wolf shift, black, not unalike yours. Different subspecies, I believe. His eyes are gray. His hair is brown. He carries himself like an experienced fighter, and he would likely be a rogue." His name, for Christ's sake, was was his name? It was blank. All she had was a startling clear image of who he was, giving her a jagged, wolfish smile. Nycole shook her head and continued, not allowing emotion to seep through. It was just information and then a question, as though she had spat off details about the savanna and then asked if it seemed normal to him.

[HUSHER]

I see.
The girl had been very careful to remain impassive, and Husher (with effort) reduced the part of his mind that suggested that Cole had any interest in harming Akane. Still, he couldn’t help but feel that she now had a piece on the board, one that she could use against him; a piece that he did not have. He flexed inwardly – forcing himself to relax a little.

Obvious reasons, yes quite – but he liked that she volunteered an answer to a question asked of him. Though there was little information divulged, the comment was guileless in a way that suggested she simply had no other reasons than the obvious: she was Cole. It had not taken Husher long to realize that this girl was – different; separating her in an abnormal way even here in the Menagerie, where strange was insignia to everyone.

At the top of the knoll, Cole eyed the forest in the distance then sped up to cross the expanse of the green as quickly as she could. Husher however, paused. His nose lifted, sampling the air as his hues scanned the countryside, and ears flickered attentively - allowing the landscape to settle as he waited, and listened with his whole being.

It was an exercise he had learned as a human, feeling your surroundings often saved your life. As a wolf, the application of his powerful senses, and that sixth-sense of otherness often elusive as a man, was effortless in this form.

On the outside, he simply paused, too a look around then trotted after the cat as a careless black dot. He did not fault the girl for her eagerness. Husher if anything was a quick learner, and knew that with different animals came different instincts and impulses. Past her tolerance for his own random checks, it little bothered him.

When they were once again traveling side by side, Cole asked after Akane’s description which immediately had Husher feeling apprehensive. It was one thing to tell her about his daughter’s existence, and his affection for her. It was another thing entirely to all but wrap up the ability for Cole to hunt her down for whatever reason. He met her brilliant eyes for a moment, and before he was forced to give anything … she gave him a piece on the board.

This distracted him for a moment, and he reflected on the man she described. Her tone did not reveal the regard she had for the man, but either way he had not seen him. It could easily be a false effort in camaraderie? No, apart from occasional conversational evasions (which he was just as guilty of) and when she had first told him her name, Cole had not lied to him.

”Well, I have met a mass people since I have been here but no one comes immediately to mind,” he stalled for a moment, then continued despite himself before he flat out refused to. ”Akane is almost sixteen, though tenacious and mature for her age, five four in height, and slim. Long, dark, wavy hair, light eyes like my own, but her features hint toward the oriental, as my wife was Japanese. She is a red fox shifter and very resourceful,” he concluded almost thoughtfully and couldn’t help the pride he had for her creep into his words.

His tongue lolled in a pant. The weather had warmed toward the afternoon, and he glanced at Cole casually to see if she needed a break. ”What is the name of the man you are looking for?” he asked, his tone almost indifferent.

Again, he pushed the anxiety for Akane back … watching the cat carefully to see how she reacted to the information, and latter question.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] She did not blame him for his reluctance. It seemed as though he cared a great deal about this girl. After all, he was dedicating so much time and effort to look for her, and the way he had let her name slip suggested that he loved her... What was her name, again? She tried to bring it to mind, but it had already slipped away. The change in speed had her leg hurting, but she wasn't going to relent her pace until they were safely under the trees. Maybe it was her leopard instincts, or the fact that out among the green grass she stuck out like a sore thumb. Either way, her eyes and ears were kept attentive. She noticed Husher's pause, but had grown used to them by now--she kept going, anticipating that he would catch up. He did, and while she did exceptionally well at hiding both her disappointment and her relief, the emotions were kept under the surface. It made sense, though. She doubted that he was even here, still involved in the--it was like her mind hit a wall. The name was there, on the tip of her tongue, but something kept her from reaching it. Cole grew agitated at her own inability to remember, and so she stopped dissecting her emotions and returned her attention to Husher as he began to speak, albeit after a small hesitation. He didn't trust her, not completely, but if he did Cole would have been disappointed. Cole remained politely attentive, listening to the description. She created a mental picture and while she knew it probably wasn't perfect, she wouldn't forget the features that Husher had described. "She sounds like her father." It was as close to a compliment as Cole would ever come. They broke into the line of trees, at last, and Cole allowed herself to slow. She paused, lifted her paw gingerly and decided that a couple minutes break would be in her best interest. "Five minutes?" She suggested, and then proceeded to edge towards a larger rock, positioned under one of the trees. She shifted and sat, examining her surroundings. Her eyes never stopped moving. They took in the deeper forest stretched in front of them, and the plains where they had come. Some would call her finicky, but she was just observant. It would be easy for someone to slip out from behind the trees. Once she felt relatively comfortable, she began to stretch the muscle in her shoulder, wincing a bit. His question was what had really made her wince, but Cole played it off like it was pain. She raised her pale green eyes to him, cocking her head in a vaguely felinesque gesture. Her mind had gone blank with panic. Husher had to know that there was something wrong with her; she had had slips in the past, from pain and exhaustion, that he had probably caught on to. She fumbled over his name constantly, and small details, places and names of Rings and retromorph groups. I'm a weak link. The thought was detached. And if he thinks I'm weak, why would he want me to stay with him? So Cole told a half-truth, keeping her expression steady. "I don't know," the rogue confessed. "We worked together. He had a thousand aliases and he would not come into the Menagerie bearing the names I knew him by in the past." That was easy enough. She had a lifetime worth of lying behind her. She began to busy herself with an evaluation of her weapons, not nervously but habitually. It was something she did to calm herself, regardless. Mentally, she was already preparing for him to call her out on her lie. He had to notice how she fumbled with small memories, sometimes, things that should have been easy to answer.

[HUSHER]

If Husher had been in human form, the corner of his mouth might have lifted at her comment. Yes, Akane was very much like himself, and because of it they often butted heads. She can be a down right little shit, he thought with amusement and affection, but he knew she was tough enough to fight it out in the Menagerie long enough for him to find her. She had to.

His attention shifted when Cole suggested a break, and they slowed their pace. She shifted, and parked it on one of the rocks at the base of a tree. Husher remained as a wolf, his senses taking in her movements without real study – however, it was when she began fiddling that his head lifted to watch her thoughtfully.

Quietly and slowly, he moved toward Cole until he stood right before her, his soft pants gusting hot breath across her form. A large black paw lifted, resting it to her hands to stop her movements. He wanted her full attention, and somehow he felt she would be more comfortable with him as a wolf at this proximity.

Husher’s clear and steady gaze settled on the girl patiently until she stilled. ”Cole, what is my name?” he asked gently. Over the weeks, he had noticed the odd detachments and associations, her way of evading certain questions and answering things in pieces.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] Apprehensive was an understatement. She had always been perceptive of other people and their moods, even as a kid. Cole hadn't thought about her childhood in a long time, but as the wolf neared her she had a startling clear recollection of her mother saying, "That girl is a little peacekeeper. Whenever she thinks we're going to start fighting, she says or does something and we forget about it." Funny how things changed. It was strange that Husher was the one that brought on this memory, but he did. He extended a large paw and stilled her movements. Now Cole glanced up, meeting his gaze. She froze upon doing so. The similarity between him and him was startling in this form. He had been a black wolf, too, with these light eyes... The mental image had Cole snapping back from Husher involuntarily, her lips drawing away from her teeth in a silent snarl. She jerked away, stood, and paced a small, tense distance, mentally bristling. He would have asked her a question like that too, looking concerned. He was the one that had done it, though. His eyes were the last ones that Cole had seen, and his apology was the last one that she had heard. What is his name? The question was still there, underlying her irrational reaction. She had not turned away from him throughout the entirety of her movements, looking like a weary animal, eyeing the wolf with an expression of distrust. Her expression, which was normally merely impassive, had become hard and cold. Not just callous, but downright uninviting. "Your name is..." She fumbled. Gray. She wanted to say Gray, because of the eyes she kept seeing in her mind's eye. She didn't She said, instead, what this wolf was. Quiet. "Hush. Your name is Hush." She practically spat it. It was wrong. Close, but it was still wrong. Cole squared her shoulders and notched her chin, her expression defiant and cold. So what if he decided to leave her, she thought. She could make it on her own just fine. She didn't need anyone. The mental image had sloughed off by then, and she was merely staring at Husher again, at the man who had been taking care of her. For that second, though, the similarity had been close enough to hurt.

[HUSHER]

The large dark lupine remained still while she displayed her displeasure and discomfort, waiting patiently for her to reply. If she would. There had to be something else, there was no reason for her to get this upset over a simple question, but everyone had their problems. No one escaped the life without damage, and that was before the Menagerie. In the Menagerie – no one escaped, period.

The difference here, (unlike others he had come across) was his concern for the girl; Fostering her through her wounds, and spending the time getting her to trust him just that little bit more would have formed a bond whether he wanted it to or not. The stress she now displayed spoke of how long it really had been since she had been in consistent, trusting contact with another. She hovered on flight, a distinct repellent smell hitting his nose as her emotions rose and her heart rate picked up. Still, he waited.

Finally she answered, throwing his name back in a tone that dared him to correct her – however, his eyes widened in surprise as a haunting memory took over like a tilde wave.

”Oh Hush,” Sakura commanded playfully and laughed. Rain pelted the window outside, the morning sun streaming through the white bed sheets as she kissed him sweetly. It was the first of many times she had called him that in both name and mock protest of something he had done, or said. No one called him that but her.

The memory that had dominated his mind was brief, gone as quickly as it had come but the ache and sorrow in his chest remained, pushing into his vocal chords and making him crave a mournful howl. He sneezed soundly to relieve the feeling and trotted past her with a slight wag in his tail. Husher was a decent actor when he wanted to be.

”You are more correct than you know kid,” was the monotone answer that echoed back to her from the trees as he continued their travels.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] Cole stood, gauging his reaction with her quick eyes, wondering what he was going to say. It was wrong. It was wrong, and she knew it, which made the whole thing even more infuriating. She hadn't expected his surprise, however. And so she said nothing to him. All the defenses, or explanations, seemed null and void now. Her bristling abated abruptly, and the wild look in her eyes fled in favor for a carefully guarded one, which was typical. Her eyes followed his movement, waiting to see if he would add anything to his comment, which did not make sense of her. He didn't. He walked by. Cole watched him for a brief second, not following suit. He had not told her to stay, and his manner seemed to suggest that she was still welcome. She didn't know if she should feel relief or not. Part of her did. And then another part felt disappointed. This would be a much easier way to leave him, now, before she got to know him better. Wasn't it inevitable for them to part ways? Cole shoved these thoughts away and shifted. She did not bother to close the distance between them immediately, merely lost herself to thought and the old familiarity of travel. Why was it, that in that single instant, he had rendered her so speechless and so enraged? It was the similarity. It hadn't been his question, merely his bearing. She had noticed it briefly in the past, but never so... strikingly, the similarities between the two of them. It had put her teeth on edge, and she hadn't quite relaxed. In some ways, this agitated her more than her initial overreaction. The fact that she couldn't calm herself, all because of a memory of him. Cole rolled her shoulders, trying to clear her head, but it didn't work. All she could think of was that black, black wolf looking at her with his gray, gray eyes. Husher was ahead of her by now, substantially. She watched his movement with dispassioned eyes, trying to distance herself from her thoughts-- Only the image evoked several others. Of that wolf glancing at her over his shoulder, jaws parting in a lupine grin. Then he turned, bounded closer. Bowed with over-exaggeration, revelling in the gesture that meant quite simply, play. She had looked at him with feline superiority, huffing a breath out of her nose to hide her amusement, before sidestepping him. He shoved his shoulder into her side and nipped at her tail, bounded off. This time, outraged, Cole pursued him--but she was laughing inside. She remembered why, no matter how hard she tried, she could never completely hate her memories of him. Cole picked up her pace, striding out the distance, until her shoulder bumped into the side of Husher's. It was a quiet gesture, one that meant many things but conveyed them simply. I'm sorry, it said. He had not abandoned her. That was reassuring in and of itself. Although she had showed some inherent weakness, a hindrance, even, he had not abandoned her. Merely continued as though nothing had happened. So she confessed it to him. It was much easier when hiding behind a leopard's face. "I can no longer remember most names. The exception is when they are similar to an object or color or smell or sight. When I think of you, I associate you with quiet, with... hush." She glanced sidelong, scanning the forest. In the shade of the trees, she felt at home. "I don't even remember your daughter's name now. I don't know my full name, anymore. The only thing I can remember is Cole." Maybe that would comfort him some, maybe not. Cole was guessing he might have put these pieces together. The honesty felt strange on her tongue. Since coming to the Menagerie, it was the first time she had admitted to her lack of memory.

[HUSHER]

His senses were behind him, attentive to the feline’s whereabouts as she paused and pondered – then eventually followed him. Giving her his back spoke volumes, and allowing her time to adjust and center herself suggested understanding on Husher’s part. That was Sakura. Before he had been to Japan and met the love of his life, he had been young and impatient … but with a young wife, and an even younger pregnancy his fiery temper had cooled into a quiet smolder. Akane generally was the only one left that had the ability to ignite it; well, her and the Keepers.

When Cole drew close, her shoulder bumped Husher’s and his gaze shifted to the side to spy her. Her walk was different now, more relaxed (if she ever truly could be) and after a few minutes of silence between them she permitted him into the secrets of her life. When her eyes shifted to the wolf’s face, his own light hues were politely occupied on the scenery … though his furred sable ears flickered responsively.

At the admittance of her not remembering her name he did look at her, and paused in his travels. Then and there, Husher made a decision and he shifted into the form of a man. His eyes were pensive, and he squatted down to the cat’s level as he pulled a folded square of thick paper from his pocket.

”I will make a deal with you little sister,” he said in low tones as he looked at the paper and smiled fondly. With a sigh, he turned it around and held up the photo to her. There she was, Akane. Uncommon in this day in age Husher had hired a photographer to take pictures of his family. Where once he'd had both of them in his wallet, he was down to just this one. The colors were faded … but her features were unique, and unmistakable. Picture.

Husher allowed the feline a good look as he sighed and looked down, hiding the emotions that flickered in the depths. It was hard being parted from his family … his daughter in distance, and his wife in death. When her eyes were on him again he pocketed the picture once more and met her gaze blue to grey.

”If you help me find Akane, I will help you find this person you seek. Regardless of who finds who first, I vow to continue to seeking him even if we are parted, or if I find my daughter first. If we find him first, do you agree to continue to help me?” He asked, and unleashed his full concentration on her.

Grey eyes bored into her, his ears listening to her heart-rate and willing her to tell him the truth. If she did not agree, it was fine but if she lied he would know it. He could not anticipate which she would choose, and if she agreed he would make another pact to watch her back if she would watch his.

Thus far, she had not shown much strength. Then again, she was injured. However, he knew someone from the Life when he saw them, and though he would never admit it to even himself … being alone was taking too hefty a toll on a man that was accustomed to a family. He waited her out, not rushing her. It was important especially in the Menagerie to choose your allies even more carefully than your enemies.

[Cole]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; height:667px; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/bia0zd.png)] Cole notched her chin after the admittance, keeping her expression clear of anything "emotional". She was hiding behind a cat's face and eyes, the only show of coherence being the reflexive evaluation of their surroundings, the twitch of her ears and whiskers, the flick of her eyes. It was quiet for a moment, and she awaited some comment, either sharply delivered or filled with pity. If there was one thing that Cole could not tolerate, it was pity. Instead, Husher surprised her. He shifted into a man, and Cole stopped. She watched him with hesitance, maybe a tinge of distrust, but she remained standing there and that had to count for something. I will make a deal with you, little sister. He flicked what Cole had recognized as a photograph around, so that she could see it. Her eyes took it in, committing to memory the details. She was an attractive girl. Young in the picture, no doubt older now, by the looks of the photograph. Gray eyes, darker hair. Pointed features, almost fox-like with their delicacy-- She broke off her thoughts. It was an old habit, to evaluate things in such a black-and-white fashion. She mentally added to the list, however, with more slowness and pointedness. Hush's daughter. The memories that looking at the photograph brought up were great and varied. Cole remembered the long nights of being presented with files and names and peoples, of being forced to commit their features to memory so that she may find them, anytime and anyplace. But that had always been to "eliminate a threat", and now it was to help find someone, and make sure they were safe. The emotions this evoked were strange. She didn't know how to handle the tenderness, the uncertainty. She met his gaze without flinching. It was simpler when he was in his human form, because it became apparent that there were few similarities between Hush and him. She rolled the idea in her mind. Commitment was something that she had avoided at all costs. It resulted in betrayal and injury. Promises? There was always the chance that they could be broken. But even if he doesn't hold up to his end of the deal, I lose nothing. That thought was clear. Cole didn't know if she wanted to find the man she had mentioned, on sheer impulse. What would she do if they managed it? If he just... just turned up. Her eyes held steady, feline contemplation. It was the face that a leopard wore on the hunt, solely focused on the dilemma at hand. When she spoke, it was softly. "Yes." It was simple, but much of what Cole said and did was simple. And she meant it. She didn't think that Hush was a bad person, and after a lifetime of doing the wrong thing, she decided that it was time to take a risk and do something good. But she had to be honest with him. "If we... If we..." Cole struggled with a way to explain it. "... if we find this man, I can't guarantee it will be a good reunion." It was all she offered, but Cole did not enjoy delving into personal matters. Will I want to kill him? She wondered. It was hard to say. Her anger at him fluxed daily. Sometimes she missed him so much it hurt. Other times Cole wished that she had never known him. Simultaneously, she hoped that they found the girl, for Hush's sake. She couldn't begin contemplating what it would be like to lose a daughter. When she hand him had been involved, before she began to hate him, she had wanted a kid-- Cole cut this off before she could continue. It would drive her mad, if she dwelled on it.

[HUSHER]

Husher rose to his feet, and nodded quietly. He understood. Whoever this man was, he had damaged Cole and it made him question whether or not she actually wanted to find him. Either way, they were going to help each other … and that settled better on his shoulders than he thought it would. Instead shifting again, he turned and started to walk. The packs he carried made a slight noise that somehow vanished when he was a wolf, and his long legged stride would keep their pace much the same as it had been before.

They traveled far that day, stopping periodically to rest. When the sun was slipping from the sky, they made camp filled their stomachs and slept. It would be weeks that they continued this routine, walking through the day speaking to others in Rings about Akane but he noticed Cole never asked about the man she sought .,. and, in turn Husher never felt the need to bring him up. All in good time, he thought to himself. All in good time.

It was nice to travel with someone again. Companionable in both silence and light conversation … often Husher caught himself telling Cole about ‘that one time Husher had gone to Akane’s soccer game’, and about teaching her self-defense. He seemed always ready to share stories about his little fox shifter daughter and even caught Cole’s smile now and then, but he didn’t talk about Sakura.

Cole stayed away from bringing her up, just as Husher stayed away from mentioning the man. They were both too painful to speak of, and respected each other’s privacy (and desire to keep it that way.) For this, Husher greatly appreciated that Cole was not the prying type, and once she had let her guard down even a little he began to understand her more and more.

It would work this friendship they had struck, and, hopefully they would find Akane … soon.