Then There Were TWO [Jazzy]

[Willow Faye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height:858px; background-image:url(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/sketchedesigns/willowtablecopy_zps067d4e3a.png~original)] "...?" The caracal cub sat down by the iron fence and tilted her little head in confusion. "Rawr!" She stood up straight and tall as she could, hissing and spitting at the fence before charging it. Unfortunately, she hit her head on a bar and was sent flying back. "Eigh!" She hit the earth with a soft 'Oomph.' 'Well, then...' She stood and thoughtfully assessed the bars, this time walking up slowly and wriggling her tiny body through the bars. "Wow... She cooed softly, morphing into a little girl with big eyes and a familiar sort of face. She walked with grace and elegance and- "Oomph!" She squeaked, tripping to the earth...Perhaps not so graceful after all. She quickly jumped to her feet, brushing herself off and glancing around with a blush, being sure no one else was around before continuing on her way. Blue eyes glowed in the woods behind her, and the slight snap of a twig had little Willow turning and looking before picking up her pace. Before she knew it, she hit the earth again. This time she hit the ground hard enough to lose her breath. She gasped and wondered how she had tripped again... until she felt the weight on top of her and connected the dots. She screamed in panic and clawed at the dirt with her fingers, trying to pull out from underneath the creature. "This is Fulsi territory!" The older, snow-leopard cub pushed Willow on to her back and pinned her tight. "What do you think you're doing?!" She snarled and snapped at the air. "Je suis désolé ! Je suis désolé ! Permettez-moi de passer !" Willow choked on her sobs, her panic sending her into quivers of fear as she desperately struggled. "English!" The snow-leopard was losing her patience, digging her claws into the pearly skin of the intruder. Little drops of blood seeped out from beneath her paws. At the sight of this, Willow panicked and threw a fist in the face of the snow leopard, who tumbled backwards. She took her opportunity to jump up and run with all her might, leaping up to catch the first branch of a tree and swinging up with a bred-in agility. She snapped off a branch and held it out like a protective spear for the fast-following young Fulsi.

[Jazz]

Jazz had only just been dropped back in earlier that week. She didn't much know what was going in anymore, she missed her father and was on the hunt for him. Prowling the Fulsi territory in her Bengal tiger shift, still only just half way between her baby size and full grown, she still had a lot of baby fluff. It was on her hunt that she caught the scent of another Fulsi and a stranger, unfamiliar scent, and yet familiar in a way she could not place. Grabbing her attention, Jazz followed the trail carefully until she heard the first scream. This stopped her instantly, she was on full alert. The scream had been one of true panic. It only took a moment before Jazz was back on the trail, this times he had quickened her pace to a gallop. She was near enough to hear the French being spoken. The language familiar to her ears, she skidded to a halt in view of both as the girl swung into the tree.

Jazz shifted quickly and ran in front of the Fulsi cub. Throwing her hands up in a stop gesture toward the snow leopard, she took a moment of concentration to send a message to the cub. The Keepers had long ago given Jazz an alternate way to communicate since they had taken her voice. It had taken years to master, but she could speak through her mind into another's. 'Easy, she is saying sorry. I don't think she knows what is going on, let me.' Jazz gave another little movement of her hands in the same motion as if to say, easy, we can all be calm here. Once she felt at least a little comfortable with the snow leopards ability to calm down, Jazz turned her back on her ring-mate and looked up to the girl perched in the tree. Looking up at the girl, she looked strangely familiar, and yet, Jasmine could not put her finger on why.

Her eyes looked up, soft and gentle, the eyes of her mother. She reached a hand out to the girl slowly, offering peace. 'It's okay. Do you understand English?' Jazz wasn't sure she knew enough French to speak it, but understanding it was hardly a problem. She felt very comfortable with this girl and hoped that the unexpected message in her head had not frightened her. It was, unfortunately her only true way of communicating. It was certainly better than relying on others to try and figure out what she meant by her actions. That rarely led things in the right direction.

[Willow Faye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height:858px; background-image:url(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/sketchedesigns/willowtablecopy_zps067d4e3a.png~original)] Desi, the snow-leopard, huffed in frustration at the message in her head from the tiger-shifting female. She had heard of this female upon occasion, if for nothing else than that she was the daughter of two great leaders... and could not talk. Clearly that did not stop her from speaking with her mind. It was an interesting thing really, but Desi scoffed and rolled her eyes, morphing into her human form. Her human form appeared tampered with. The design of her spots looking faded upon her skin towards her neck, forehead and arms. Her eyes were stark, icy, and cat-like, and for a young female she was actually quite tall. Her thick, silver hair was pulled back into a high pony, the hair running straight down her to her waist from there. Willow watched everything unfold thoughtfully, still in a fight-or-flight mode. It's okay. Do you understand English? The voice floated in her head and her eyes locked on the familiar eyes of this new female. Translucently blue eyes gazed down with warmth. 'It's okay, mon petit chou.' The image pounded out of her head painfully and she was brought back to gazing at the eyes of the new female. She caved, dropping her 'weapon' and in response to Jazz's reached out hand, Willow leaped into her arms, legs tight around her waist and arms tight around her shoulders, little hands balled up in that ever so long hair. She broke down in sniffles and cries until her eyes caught the visual of Desi morphing into human. The eyes were demonic to her, and her skin and hair un-natural. She had seen Anthropomorphics before, but never a messed up shifter. "Qu'êtes-vous?" Willow hissed in her human form, a habit formed quite thoroughly. She was born wild, and the form did not matter to her. Desi snarled back, snapping her sharp teeth close to Willow from behind Jazz. She circled around to the front of the hissing and spitting Willow and the calm of Jazz. "This creature is already born of evil. What do you think you're going to do with it?" Desi growled, the duty to her ring always coming to her before true justice, much like many shifters. Willow turned around, her stark eyes grabbing Desi's attention... "I am NOT the evil. It is you who are!" She growled powerfully, and Desi analyzed her familiar and fierce little face. There was a rareness to that thick, black mane and jaw-dropping eyes. But she couldn't place it. She snarled back, grabbing the back of Willow's shirt and yanking her from Jazzy, tossing the child to the ground. "We should dispose of this!" Desi shook with her temper, stepping close to the shaking but now defensive Willow. Although Desi stepped forward to shake up the child, her eyes gazed at Jazzy waiting for the authority to proceed...This in itself was a miracle, as Desi respected few.

[Jazz]

Jazz was taken by surprise as the child leapt into her arms. Literally. She found herself with the girl clinging tightly to her body. Jazz relaxed a little, having tensed up as the child collided with her. She put her own arms around the child, gently, letting her know she was there and everything was fine. It was while she was gently stroking the girl's back that she heard the hiss and everything else happened too fast for her to prevent. Desi was very defensive and in full on attack mode. She didn't see any reason this child was evil. She was just frightened. Seemingly an instinct of survival for her was that she spoke in French. Jazz found nothing wrong or strange about this.

Suddenly everyone was calling each other evil and before she knew it, Desi had yanked the girl from her arms and Jazz's eyes lit up like a fire. No one ever took the time to listen. She was often ignored because of her inability to actually speak up.

'ENOUGH!' Jazz let the sharp message fly out-- anyone nearby would have heard that shout in their head. Her eyes were still blazing, but that should have gotten their attention. She moved swiftly and sharply between the pair of them. 'We do not dispose of confused children who have wandered into our lands. She is scared, she reverts to French when scared, CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?! Jazz stood her ground, staring fiercely at Desi. Her voice was sharp and broadcast again to anyone within range. She certainly cared for the ring. It was her home. Her father was the most important person in her life and he had instilled a deep concern for the well being of the ring, but she also knew how to be compassionate. She knew the difference between a scared child and a true intruder.

[Willow Faye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height:858px; background-image:url(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/sketchedesigns/willowtablecopy_zps067d4e3a.png~original)] Desi's jaw clenched, and her lip wrinkled back to reveal her threatening pearly whites. Her cat-like eyes narrowed and a growl rumbled deep with in her chest as she stepped forward. Even after Jazz's message was loud and clear, Desi held her ground, snarling away. But still, Jazz remained eye contact, and with in a minute, Desi retreated back one step and was silent. Disgruntled, but respectful, she eye-balled the little Willow. "So what do you intend to do with it?" She huffed. "Smells of Carna." She muttered, looking at the little form at their feet... Such a small, innocent child for sure, right? But, no... Desi saw her potential. She saw the darkness in her soul through her eyes. They would create a monster out of this cub. She observed Jazz next, the firey hair and the firey heart too. She could sense that this female was of her own generation... It was rare to see that, because few were brought in at that time of their age group, or born with in the Menagerie during that time. "Je suis Willow, Who are the names of the two of you?" Willow looked up with a powerful glance at the both of them, stepping closer to Jazz and shoving her little hand into her's, holding tight, and glancing over at Desi. " Félin? She grinned. "Meow, meow, meow!" She giggled at Desi, and the cat-like female could not help but to grin a little, lifting an eye brow up at Jazz. She wondered if it were too late to make a Carna cub into a Fulsi cub. Of course, she had no idea just how precious this cub was to the Carna. "Meow!" The child squealed, demanding attention. Desi leaned down a bit and released a terrifying leopard's roar. Willow hissed back, charging towards her and Desi responded by nonchalantly tripping her. "You're going to babysit?" She shook her head, waiting for any other bright ideas on the subject. Cute little hisses and meows would become mighty roars someday. It would not be the first time that a creature would shed his own brother's blood. It was how this world worked...Their world.

[Jazz]

Jazz stood her ground and only let herself relax a bit when Desi stood down. She nodded slightly as a thank you and looked at the child as Desi asked her what she was going to do with it. Jazz looked back at Desi and sent her a message in a much calmer tone. 'I will make sure she is cared for. Carna or not, she is a child here.' Jazz smiled slightly and was caught a little off guard as she felt the child taken her hand tightly. She looked down at her and smiled. 'My name is Jasmine, most people call me Jazz.' Answering her question. Jazz watched Desi carefully as the Willow meowed at her and was glad to see that she could at least be pleasant after such a skirmish. Jazz looked back to Willow with her final meow and was caught off-guard by the roar. She shot a look toward Desi after the girl had been tripped, although she was thankful that this was all more playful than menacing now.

'I suppose so. And perhaps gain some trust even if she does end up back with the Carna. She could be useful.' Jazz looked down at Willow and walked past Desi to help her up, dusting the child off. 'Something so familiar about her, don't you think?' Jazz directed to Desi as she helped Willow stand. She turned to catch Desi's eyes for a moment, she couldn't put a finger on it, but the girl was familiar. she didn't look like a Carna to her, there was something wrong with that picture in Jasmine's head.

'Willow is a very nice name, I like it a lot.' Jazz smiled, looking back to the girl and speaking to her. 'Where do you live?' She asked with friendly eyes, she knew the answer, but perhaps she might also mention with whom she lived. Jazz was working her way slowly, so the girl didn't get frightened and try to run, to questions more pressing like who watched over her here--and particularly important with children her age now, was she born here.

[Willow Faye]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height:858px; background-image:url(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/sketchedesigns/willowtablecopy_zps067d4e3a.png~original)] Desi nodded in agreement, looking at the young child's face.. She studied her flushed cheeks, round eyes, and dark mane. However, nothing specific came to mind. The child simply reminded her of strength, pride, and grace. Willow looked up at Jazz with a big smile and held on to her leg, looking up with those wide, baby blues. "Thank you. Jazz? Like Musique Jazz! You have a beau name." She chuckled to herself. Desi grinned slightly. "Like MJ." It seemed to be a joke to her but the child seemed quite thrilled by the idea. "Em-Jay!" Willow agreed, dancing playfully around Jazz's legs before pausing to look up at her face for the next question. "I live with Papa at the Carna. Me and Papa, we do everything together. Everyone knows Papa."

[/b] She said matter-of-factly, thinking of his scarred face that was a map to his perfect heart. She thought of the bright green eyes that disturbed the darkness... The brightness reminded her of a bright summer day in the middle of a meadow, with promises for better days. She turned her head towards the horizon, calculating the sunset and if she knew exactly where she was... Had she been out too long? Had she gone farther than she was supposed to? She was never to leave the Carna ring borders... But of course, she was so curious...
Papa? Desi growled in her thoughts, half expecting Jazz to listen in and give her thoughts on this. Jazz had good intentions for looking out for the child, but Desi herself remained uneasy. Of course, the child could be idolizing her parents much as children do... Although the rules on birthing were generally quite strict with in the rings. Would someone of lower status have been granted permission with out slaughter? Or perhaps she had miscalculated the solidity of those rules... After all, Jazz was still here and so were her parents...Well...




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[Jazz]

Jazz smiled as Willow spoke about her name. She patted the girl's head softly, rubbing her dark hair gently. 'Merci beaucoup, ma petite mademoiselle.' Jazz looked down at the child clinging to her leg. She hated the facts here. The Carna would take advantage of her youth and vulnerability. She would be molded into a precise fighter with blood thirsty ambition. Certainly Jazz knew nothing of life outside this place except from the stories she had been told, but she knew that the Carna could not be like others outside of this place. People were simply not that bad. The Carna were among the sole perpetuators of the idea that shifters were nothing but animals. Jazz knew that to be untrue. Kindness and compassion with any person and they would never grow up to be animals, shifter or not.

Papa? Everyone knows Papa? Who could that be? Jazz studied the girl's face for a moment, but it was no use as she didn't have extensive knowledge of the Carna members. A select few she was very familiar with, but nothing about this child reminded her of them. Unlike her father, her brief time being held captive by the Carna had not ruined her even briefly. She found herself stronger for overcoming that battle. She knew she was not invincible, but she felt like it at points. Even just on her own--admiring the terrible beauty of this place, she knew she could do just about anything she ever dreamed.

Jazz caught the thought of Desi and gave her a quick look as if not to judge so quickly, but Jazz was a bit timid about asking herself. she had her reservations, but at this point it was an unavoidable question. 'Who is your Papa, mon petit chou?' Jazz asked of Willow, looking down to her with soft eyes. she had also let Desi in on this so she knew the answer might be coming. Jasmine added the French to keep the girl feeling safe, she knew some of it from her mother, and the rest had been taught by her father. Some, though, she had found just came naturally--perhaps a side effect of what the Keepers had done and continued to do to her. Jazz knew she was different. Much like most of the others born here. She was older than reality. She looked and thought much like a teenager, and yet, she could only be about 6 or 7. It was certainly a curious place. Most curious.