Reason Conquers All

[Shekru]

It was a night they both had off. That gave Fygwesk time to eat, and Danask time to be less surly, and their Handlers some time to think, and talk, and whatever.

Fyg stood leaned over the rail of the herdbeast pen, watching Fygwesk fill his stomach on the still-warm carcass of a large female. Thankfully, he was cognisant of his Handler's affinity toward the beasts and kept his carnage mostly from her sights by unfurling his wings and hunching low.

His Handler was bundled in a large blanket, though clammy sweat was plastering her hair to her brow. She stayed outside, though looked paler than usual. A sort of gray palor showed in her face and cheeks, but her eyes were wild, alert. Ears tuned out the sound of Fygwesk's feasting, and drank in the sounds of midnight. No birds, but insects, chirruping and singing to one another.

With a small mental sidenote, the Handler told the brown to convey an invitation, which he sent out to Danask politely.

[panther]

Danask had been heading for the pens anyway, her hunger was beginning to grate on her, and well, Danae felt like she needed the walk, she pulled on her long green velvet coat, luxuriating in it for a moment ,before she jogged out of the door after Danask.

She caught up with the wher easy – thanking the Wher’s short legs for that small grace at very least.
She walked at a good speed, her hand on Danask’s shounder, feeling the hide beneath her incredibly comforting. She sighed softly as the exit from the Wher hold went ot onto the feeding pens, she looked amazed as ever when the walls opened out and revealed that landscape, that marvellous landscape beyond the hold She wanted to get on either Danask, or a Runner and run forever. Just for the exhilaration.

But then, Danae realised Danask had failed to inform her, but, Fyg and Fygwesk were both present. She sighed and looked forward, then noticed that Fyg was rather very unwell looking. She narrowed her eyes. Fyg got ill? Wow… She would never have imagined that in a million turns or so.

She opened the gate for her bonded, and lead one of the Wherries out, letting it go, and Danask began a much slower hunt this night. The gold obviously had no intentions of hunting down her prey in an energetic manner, But then the gold was tired from patrol – not to mention mildly lazy.

“Fyg?” She called as she approached, turning and folding her jacket under her as she sat beside the brown handler.

“What’s the matter Fyg? You don’t look great. It’s not the Murders is it? That’ll resolve itself – honestly.” She said without thinking – for that was where her current worries were lying.

[Shekru]

At mention of the murders, the woman's lip practically peeled over her teeth and where unease had settled previously, rage flourished. "Shard it all, but it won't! One of us has t'figure it out, an' I'll be damned if the pieces fit in my 'ead yet." A fist pounded the rail of the pen, and the few herdbeasts that'd been standing near it trotted away in fear. Fyg practically bristled with whatever was going on inside her head, but then lowered. Hands curled atop the railing and she crouched low, head hanging. Several deep breaths were sucked in purposefully, and one hand rummaged around in a small pouch. What was withdrawn was a root of some kind, and disappeared between her teeth.

"Ain' right. Fygwesk's better'n any huntin' hound, an' even he can't sniff out who's gone all stabby-happy. What if it's someone that -belongs- here an' we've gone an' told our Whers to be -fine- with 'em? Thinkin' bout it makes m'head hurt, but there'll be politics 'bout it if that's what happens. An' you know I hate politics."

When Danae sat, Fyg did too. Plunking down, the brown handler looked at the red-head. Frustration rode evident in Fyg's features, but also worry, somewhere beneath the surface. Beneath that paler-than-healthy skin and wild eyes. "Got a problem." She said then, voice -very- low.

[panther]

“I know Fyg, I know. But, we can’t do any figuring until we have something more to go on. And Danask should be able to find something, but there’s not a trace of them. Whoever it is that’s been doing this, It’s bad, I know it, you know it, but we’ve got to wait until if they strike again, hope we’re on the prowl, and that we catch them in the act. There’s only so much a Wher can do.” She shook her head, but she looked peeved too. Who could blame them. They were the ones with the best chance at finding this person, and so far? So far? They’d found nothing, not a person, not a suspect, not even an extra clue.

“So far, we’ve got to keep trust, if we have no reason to be suspicious of some one, then we just have to have faith.” But that was the thing. Danae’s faith was wavering, and wavering with one of her own. The glove, that glove that Fyg had dropped was the opposite hand to that of the murderer dropped at the scene. The very idea made her come out in a cold sweat. What if the murderer were one of their own indeed.

She looked at Fyg. Could the woman really do it? Could fyg really have Killed Perina? She shuddered. She had been getting close to that Vitku lad of recent, but surely she wouldn’t be that possessive? She was capable enough with a knife to have done it. But then so was all but even the shortest of children, and Perina wasn’t all that tall.

Then Fyg’s tone dropped, and Danae felt her heart race. Problem? What sort of problem could Fyg have… oh shards what if the woman confessed. She realised she’d been quiet for a little while longer than necessary. But she came round, narrowed her brows, and quirked her head to the side a little, “What is it?”

[Shekru]

Danae made sense, and Fyg knew it. But Shart it! It was frustrating, and Fyg was certainly not the kind of person that waited well. For anything. Action was Fyg's rod and shield, and being denied those things.. by several things.. made her -mad- with tension.

She realised she was being looked at, even after she had admitted to having a problem. The intensity with which Danae looked at her made her look back at the woman. When she took a while to respond, a brow quirked on Fyg's face. "It can wait. Are -you- arright?" She asked, then. Concern. It was wildly on her face in a rare, open display. "Kinda feel a bit foolish, didn' mean t'rant'n'rave atcha. M'sure y'got your hands full with all that's goin' on. Shoulda used m'head." Said head shook, and Fyg looked at the ground again. "Been a bit up in my own head. If you need t'talk, confidential like, you go right ahead, y'know? Whatever we may disagree on in action, you c'n always come an' talk t'me if y'need to get somethin' off your chest." That said, Fyg looked back at the woman and then asked, "Y'got somethin'

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]"

[panther]

Danae shook her head and looked back at Fyg, “I know, trust me I know.” but I’m not telling, I don’t want Fyg to know, she’ll hate me – her exact thoughts. Last she knew Fyg and Alder were not the best of best friends. So, she thought it could be best to leave that for another time. She smiled lightly, “but no, not really, nothing to share, but you – have a problem – so, be self centred for a moment, Fyg, and tell me. I’m all ears and waiting to hear.” Even with her fears for the woman’s innocence on the murder scene. She couldn’t help but warm to Fyg’s bizarre but welcoming drawling charms.

Her fingers moved like a wraith over her own skin, barely touching. “You know, you really don’t look well, you sure we should be outside? I mean, you’re all sweaty and in a blanket.” She stressed looking at the thick blanket over her friend. “I mean your Fyg of the Wild. You don’t get cold… or I would have presumed Sick. What is the matter? You been to see a Healer? I mean, I know you probably don’t want drugs, but sometimes? It’s better than waiting it out.” Danae warned, concern shining through now. She was a caring woman – generally, and especially so when it diverted attention to a subject she was avoiding.

She sighed, knowing Fyg would recognise that she did have something, but she was unwilling to tell, she sighed again – defeated mentally – and nodded “I got something – but – I’ll tell you now – you don’t repeat it, and you go first, else I’m saying nothing. Faranth knows, I don’t want this blowing out of proportions. I mean… mmm”

[Shekru]

"Been t'see a healer arreddy." Fyg responded, looking less than thrilled about the whole idea of seeing healers, for ANYTHING really. "Ain' much t'do for it 'cept chew this awful stuff." She holds the pouch out for Danae's inspection. It's a root of some kind, easily recognizable as something to settle the stomach. "This, rest, an' no huntin' for a while, which sorta sticks in my craw, you can 'magine. Hate sayin' it outloud, mostly." Fyg's thoughts then bled through her Brown, and from Fygwesk to Danask, with a request to have them passed on. Fyg had a secret, and now Danae would know it to.

When the thought passed through the chain, Fyg stayed quiet, scowling at nothing in particular. She chewed the root in her teeth a bit more before looking to Danae, for all the world looking like she'd rather focus on something else. "So. What's your thing?" She asked, then, referring to Danae's admission of 'something'.

[panther]

Danae’s eyes widened, “Really? I – I thought… I mean. Wow.” She shook her head, there was her thinking it was something to do with the murder! But actually? It was so far off that track!

She took the pouch, and looked in, smelled the contents and handed it back with a distasteful look on her face, “Rather you than me…” she shrugged, “But – good luck and all that, I mean you need help? I know where to get a healer” She smirked, then laughed a little, “I’m not… fantastic at those sort of situations, I panic,” She shook her head. “but, if you ever get scared? I’ll help, and after? I can help then – that part I am good with.” She gently smiled and felt honest and incredibly genuine about it.

Then, Fyg turned the topic to her. “Well. Uhm.” She grimaced and looked at her friend “yours makes mine look pitiful, here’s me maudling over this, and you? I mean you’re – well, yeah.

“Alder and I, are kind of … together. But he doesn’t get the concept of slow… and he’s kind of scary.” She said, spilling it all in the form of two sentences. That was the epitome of it. “Not major at all really, but it’s so badly timed. Last thing I want right about now is him… well being Alder.” She shrugged and looked to Fyg.

[Shekru]

Danae's surprise didn't make Fyg feel any better. The woman practically hunched into her shoulders and looked positively broody, but she was smiling. That tiny, almost invisible tick at the corner of her mouth was, for the observant, sign enough. "Yea, yea.. I, uh.. Well. Ain' told him yet, so.. Don' really know how to. Ain' like he's got a Wher I can go through." Grumble grumble.

The switch in Danae's demeanor when Fyg asked of her information made the other woman feel a bit better. She wasn't being put on the defensive anymore, and that seemed to free her up. She looked at Danae curiously, and when the words came out, Fyg smiled. It was a knowing smile, amused, partially, but knowing. "Arreddy knew." She stated.

She leaned back onto her hands, grinning. "Alder'n I actually had a good long talk 'bout things, after that blow up on the hill. I was on guard duty, an' he was comin' back. He seemed frustrated an' felt like he had t'explain himself. I was hard on 'im, an' I think he wanted t'prove me wrong, so he tol' me he had somethin' of a likin' for you. Took a lot out of him t'say anythin', but I kinda arreddy saw it. Both of ya, really. Was waitin' for sommat like that t'happen. Took y'long enough!" She nudged the Goldhandler playfully. "Ain' wrong t'feel that way. Alder doesn' know slow 'cause he lives like Whers do. Action. Waitin' is hard, but he'll learn. He's willin'. Sensed that much. Just gonna be hard for 'im, is all, but you draw th'line. Of th'two of ya, you're th'one that needs easin' into somethin' like this, not him. Th'more he unnerstands that, th'better it'll be on both of ya."

Fyg laughed then, quietly. "Told 'im 'e hadta stop bein' a skirt-chaser, an' he agreed. So, he's all yours. Just r'member, he's had t'give of himself t'try an' make this work, y'know."

[panther]

“Oh” Danae grimaced again “Sorry about that, but if you want, I can give moral support? But I think he should be told, I mean… well you know, should be told.” Dan shrugged, she tried supportive! But she hadn’t had a lot of girl friends for a very long time, and when she did? Their issues weren’t anything like this.

He didn’t have a Wher? Did that make things overall easier? Or harder? She couldn’t really tell, “Do I know him?” She was getting nosy now, she knew it, and soon? Soon Fyg would whack that curious nose with a stick or something. But Danae would push it a little further.

But then she was flabberghasted. “you! You knew!” She sat there, mouth agape. “He promised! He promised he wouldn’t say I can’t believe it! Already! I – Rggghhh! When I get hold of him!” She growled, and fmed to herself under her own private storm cloud that rained heavily, thunder rolled and lightening crashed.

“oh…” Then she realised, that he hadn’t told Fyg they were together – just hat he liked Danae, and liked her lots. She was happy for the darkness it hid her blush quite well.

“Well, you know, next time you see something like that? Tell me would you?” She shook her head and felt well out of her depth. Fyg was well acquainted with this ritual dancing… thing – and she? She was almost blind.

“I know…but I mean… slow’s slow… right? How can he be so thick sometimes not to know that when I say three or four times that it’s going to be slow, he’s not going to get any for a while?” She shook her head, “Yeah, I’ve made a few ground rules, but, it’s scary. I’ve never… well … outside of a Run?” She shook her head, what she was trying to purvey should be obvious from that.

“Just, when he’s so forward? And like its second nature? I get scared, then he gets hurt because I push him away, and then I feel bad. And … well I can’t get rid of this nagging feeling that it’s all some elaborate plan for him to get what he wants.” Danae shrugged, and looked at the grass as it collected the dew of the night.

“You know, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me, I mean you know who he is, and obviously been around for a while, but you didn’t say anything? Shards… I’ve not been that wrapped up have I?” Turning the topic back to Fyg’s unmentionables.

[Shekru]

"Mebbe not personally, but y'know of 'im. He's stayin' in my Dig. Mebbe 'til this murderer is caught, maybe longer." She chewed her lip, then went wide eyed.


"Whoa, whoa! Slow down!" Danae's tirade about Alder -telling- surprised Fyg a bit, though she laughed again. "Ain' like that, it was b'fore he told you, I think. He was strugglin'. Told him a few things, I think, that seemed t'help him settle his mind. Not 'bout you, but 'bout things as I saw 'em." The brown handler said, smiling. Obviuosly, Fyg was not much of a gossip. In fact, one could count Fyg's female friends on.. well, one finger. And that one female friend was seated beside her.

A short laugh, then, and Fyg clapped Danae on the shoulder. Some color crept back into her skin, made her look healthier. "Your slow and his slow are -very- different, lady. His slow is dinner first, rustlin' in the furs second." She laughed again, but it wasn't a cruel sound, nor was it at Danae's expense. "Outside a Run, it's better." She said, then, perhaps assuaging some of Danae's fears. "It's not about -need-, but about want. About touches, an' whispers. Laughing. Sharing, not taking. Alder's been given what he wanted of others, but it ain' your body he's after. It's you, as a whole. This is new territory t'him, too. There's love, edgin' round the corner, an' he's not sure what t'do with it, so he approaches th'only way he knows how. Full bore. Ain' gonna work. You're not ready, an' he needs t'respect that. Take him on walks, get him t'talk. Put distance b'tween his body'n'yours, make him focus. Go practice Wher-Ridin' with him, s'a good way t'keep his head in the game an' talkin'."

Danae's sudden disbelief made Fyg smile. It was a quiet one, but visible. "I don' go talkin' that much. Some things ain' mine to tell, an' t'be honest, of anyone, you needed t'know, n'case it interferes with my ability t'perform my duties. Which, for a little while, s'gonna." Fyg chewed her lip for a moment and then, added, quietly, "S'the cook. Viktu."

[panther]

Danae looked at Fyg, half surprised, “You know, you really are kind of obliged to tell me if you’r having some one take up elongated residence under my halls.” She said then shrugged, “But I don’t blame you, but it is better that I know. Last thing I want is for Hester or Terwin to come at me asking where he is, and then me saying I don’t know, when he’s right here under our grassy roofs.” She half laughed, “But, if you like him, and can live with him? You’d better tell him, and you might want to start thinking about a new dig – might be a bit small afterwards.” She nodded.

“So, Alder jumped, because you pushed him… basically?” She said to the woman beside her, hoping that wasn’t the be all and end all of the case – she would have liked it if Alder had been completely brave enough to step outside and into her world of his own accord, but? A nudge? She could take a nudges, Faranth knows! She needed a good heavy nudge or two to show her the right direction at the best of times.

She giggled haplessly at the definitions Fyg gave of Slow, “Well, I didn’t get dinner first, a bit of a discussion, but no actual food. There was meant to be food… but it never arrived.” She reminded herself, then smirked, But as she listened, Fyg described it, and she felt herself blushing heavily. Want? Really? She couldn’t actually imagine herself wanting it… she would be happy just being comfortable with him. Was it really necessary? Ok. With Alder? It would become necessary, whether she liked it or not, so, in that respect? She was glad that it was better outside of Runs. She didn’t have much time for that, it didn’t feel right. Just sort. “as a whole? You sure?” She sounded bewildered, perhaps an edge of fear to her voice too.

“Thanks, We’re actually going out tomorrow morning after duties, watch the sunrise by the cliffs. Least that way if he tries it on, A little nudge and I can be rid of a big pain, right?” Humour obvious in her comment. “But, because it’s going to be morning time, no whers. Runnerback for us. Separate runners.” She noted.

The smile Fyg held was kind of cute, and it made her respond with a gentle smile of her own, Danae grinned as Fyg said the name. She smiled – Fyg had confirmed her suspicions, “He’s very pretty though Fyg… and he’s younger than you? Shards – you do like to deceive me don’t you? If you put him in a line up with twenty others? I wouldn’t have picked him out for you. But more luck to you!” She grinned, “He’s lovely, he’s the lad who found the flitter clutch with you, right? Got the Gold, decided to call it something after yourself.” She paused, “Good for you.”

“Which, reminds me, seen as we’re kind of chatty tonight – you never told me your rfull name, I’m meant to have these things for records you know, and I could force you to tell me on those grounds, ut I’d prefer you just told me because we’re friends.” She said suggestively.

[Shekru]

"Which'd be why I'm tellin' you now." Fyg stated, smirking faintly at the note of 'residence'. When she asked of Alder, she arched a brow and shook her head. "Nah, he did it on his own. That was -all- Alder. Iunno, mebbe he felt like he needed t'defend himself in front of me. Ain' complainin', he was annoyin' me with his flippant treatment of women. Like 'im better when he's focused on what really matters, instead of distractin' himself with Unnecessaries."

Her unsureness surprised the brown handler, and Fyg smiled, gently. "Positive. Much rather choose to, instead of gettin' thrown into it by Runs. More fun when y'get to say 'I want this' instead of 'I have no choice'. Y'get to choose how, and when, and who. And -where-, which helps." Fyg looked a bit amused for a moment, then looked at Danae as she detailed what she knew of Viktu. Fyg nodded to the majority, and added, "Aye, after Perina died I took 'im back t'my dig to calm 'im down. Can' imagine.. he was real tore up about it. I've seen friends get hurt, but she was special to him, an' now she's gone. Hated seein' him upset. Like he lost someone in his family that he chose. Can't choose who you're born with, but y'can choose who you call family, an' he an' she were family, far as I reckon from what he says. Liked her. She was plucky." Fyg looked sad, then. Openly, completely somber. "Was gonna get to meet her, too. Viktu wanted to introduce us, I think. Would've liked t've known her."

The question of her name switched Fyg from somber to on guard. "Fair certain you know better'n to try an' force me t'do anythin'. Y'may control the mind of a Gold and could get my Brown t'talk, but y'know I'd outright leave if I didn' agree with somethin' that was bein' put in front of me." She bristled, then. "I use th'name that comes from m'mother's side, as she's the one that put time into raisin' me when that shardin' low-life rider acted like he'd never seen th'woman he'd lain with to bring me into this world. Wasn' my idea t'join two names t'call kids by." Her voice dripped with venom in rememberance. "How badly do you want to know a name that I hate?"

[panther]

“aha, well then that’s fair enough, and good” The second part to the Alder situation. “Well, if you know me at all, you’ll know I won’t let him get away with a lot of what he used to get away with. I’m no expert, but When I say no, I mean no.”

But then Fyg reassured her on the Run vs consensual thing. She sat awkwardly now, her knees grounding tight together as though an inch would ruin it all. But what Fyg said spoke truth. It was unedeniable logic. Totally undeniable. And that? That Danae hated. Mmm, sounds like it makes sense – I guess I’ll be able to answer that for myself soon enough” She groaned, she didn’t want that, not at all. Not now.

As Fyg wove her story, Danae nodded sympathetically, mmm’ed and aww’ed in the right places, until the bulk of the tale was dealt with. “Well, You can give him my sympathies, it’s never easy to lose some one, friend, family or a bit of both. Anyone you’ve been close with makes it a difficult time. Just, well, I guess every cloud has a silver lining right.” Referring to Fyg’s secret. For it was a silver lining! It was ! It was worth celebrating, and if not for the circumstances, she would have suggested a party, but with the doom and gloom that lingered in the Hold at this moment? Likely not a good idea.

Danae nodded enthusiastically as Fyg spoke of not forcing the brown handler into doing anything “Shards, I know better than that, I was just hoping the suggestion might loose your tongue a little,” She laughed optimistically, “I don’t want you to leave Fyg, hardly. I enjoy your company, you’re likely my best friend in this place.” She looked about her. Alder didn’t count, he wasn’t a friend. Not after what had happened.

But she had heard the distaste in Fygs tone when she spoke of her name, and where it had come from. Danae shook her head, “I don’t need to know, you can tell me one day, when you want to, I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to do. Just a curiosity, I never could understand why you were so set against it. I mean, yeah, it’s normal to sort of go , ‘my name’s Danae, but call me Dan,’ or Such like, but it becomes apparent with Fygwesk… that your name’s more than Fyg – and well? Curiosity is spawned.” She shrugged as though it was something that would spark from anything, cause and effect. And for her? It was. Very much so.

[Shekru]

"You say when. It's your body, and your heart to give away. No one can take that from you." Fyg stated, then, as she mentioned 'knowing soon enough'. Another root came from the pouch and stuck out from Fyg's lips.

As reassurances bounced from the red-head, Fyg smiled a bit. She listened well while the woman went on about curiosity, and she nodded. She understood, but that didn't mean she was thrilled about being prodded for information she clearly didn't want to give. But, it was Danae. And that it was Danae meant that the woman was not trying to learn in order to be spiteful. Quite the opposite. Fyg's ire was not for her, but for the past. A past that was gone, and had been gone.

Fygwesk crooned to Danask when she drew nearer, but did not interfere with her or her hunt. He had his meat, and she would hunt hers well enough.

"However." Fyg spoke again. "I will tell you this. Since nothin' else seems t'work, I've been thinkin' bout.." She leaned a bit closer to the woman to whisper in her ear, lest other ears were near.

[panther]

She looked scared again for a few moments, “Not sure I’m giving my heart away, and I’m not sure I’ll be saying when anytime soon.” She shook her head and masqued her nerves with laughter.

Dan closed the remaining distance and listened close, she opened her mouth and pulled back “Fyg! That’s so cute, but, the other… the other would be” she leaned back in, and whispered the alternative into Fgy’s ear, “And that? That’s a little too close to his name.” She nodded and grimaced.

Danask brought down her kill swiftly, no dallying, no artsy pouncing just a swift kill. She grumbled back to Fygwesk, not overly caring as to the fact he had shown an interest, Fygwesk

“You know? I’ll help you if he won’t, or you know, we’ll work something out, you know, I’m oddly excited for you about this.” Not to mention it took her mind off of a certain male. She shook her head, not wanting to think about it too much.

[Shekru]

Fygwesk knew better than to interrupt a lady with her supper, so he kept his kill away from the Gold and let her be. He did watch her a few times, however, curious as to how the other Whers ate. Huh. He seemed to have more in the way of 'manners'. Possibly his Handler's doing, but it was fascinating to see how the large female went at her meal.

The word 'cute' gave Fyg pause and she looked at Danae as though she had lost her mind. Then she was speaking again, and Fyg nodded. "Aye, bit too close, I think. Ah, well. Ain' like I need it t'morrow, so. Got time." Fyg turned and leaned her back against one of the posts of the fence, looking at Danae more fully now that the woman wasn't just in her peripheral. "We are quite strange." Fyg assessed, and then laughed. It was a bright sound, and the smile it threw on her lips could have been described as glowing.

"C'nsiderin' you're gonna be Auntie Dani, can' see why not. Either way, bein' raised in a Wherhold'll be.. well, different." Fygwesk gave his opinion in the form of a warm croon.