Grand Canyon

[Eyes Only]

Calein was on vacation in the grand canyons her clothes were hidden nearby in the bushes in her pack. and she had a collar around her neck so no one would freak out...she was in her wolf form. the collar had her name and her grandfathers cell number. her grandparents where at the cabin socks was with her too. she was running along the river at the bottom of the canyon. her grandfather had convinced her to go for a run. well why the heek not.socks stayed well away from the water.
socks! lets play tag!
bah!
awww your no fun Caelin Whined

[trinn]

Panting, Sahira rested at the bottom of the grand canyon, crouched at the edge of the river. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth, trying to cool her body down. Looking at her reflection, it was not a human that she saw. No, for the first time in a year she had let the beast out. The golden eyes of a jaguar stared back at her, looking unwaveringly at the half-human she now was. She was far too tense to attempt phasing back to herself. Not with the blood that was on her hands. Growling, she dipped her clawed hands into the river, washing the blood from her spotted fur. Those government agents had made a mistake in trying to hunt her. But how had they found her? How had they known that Katrina Novovich was actually Sahira Linden? Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Sahira's right ear swiveled back. Standing to her full heigh, she watched with narrowed eyes the direction from whence the sound came. Soon, a white dog came into view. Although, it seemed more like a wolf with a collar. Finding no danger in a dog, Sahira crouched back down, wiping away the rest of the blood from her arms and face.

[Eyes Only]

Caelin froze. well more like skidded to a halt.
what the kriff is that?! she asked socks whos fur stood on end startled.
i dont know hey hey! what are you doing?! cant you smell that blood? what if its dangerous?! socks said for Calein hesitantly curiosity overtaking her fear as the erm...Jaguar-person? hadn't made any hostile movements.
she sniffed the air nearby ears tiled forward in curiosity.
she looked at the Jaguar person "aroo??"

[trinn]

Here the wolf bark at her, Sahira tilted her head to look at the canine. Lifting a clawed hand, she waved at it to go away. Feeling like that was enough, she returned to washing away the blood. Once her muzzle was clean, Sahira shook herself, sending water droplets flying. Standing, she stretched, popping bones. Looking over, she saw the wolf was still there. Stupid thing. Doesn't it know I'm dangerous? Turning her back on the wolf, Sahira walked aimlessly along the river. She had to calm down, to shift back to human.

[Eyes Only]

calein trotted off to her pack and grabbed one of her extra water bottles (shed packed a few) she grabbed one and ran back to the jaguar person.
what are you doing? it obviously wants you to go away! mrowed socks
it looks thirsty. ill give it an extra water bottle and go away.
calen trotted up to it following it.
"ruuuf" she manage to make a sound without puncturing the water bottle.

[trinn]

Hearing the dog retreat, Sahira began trotting away. In this form, running was more comfortable than walking. Catching the sound of approaching footsteps, she halted and spun around, crouched and ready for an attack. At sight of the dog, she growled in annoyance. Why wasn't the thing freaked out by her? And why was it coming closer to her. Her feline eyes noticed the water bottle in the animals mouth, and her ears flattened in confusion. Relaxing, Sahira reached out for the bottle. Grasping it, Sahira took it away from the wolfish dog. Somehow, holding the human product in her hands triggered something in Sahira. Finding control, she pushed back the warmth that always covered her body in this form. The warmth slowly drained from her fingertips, her arms, her torso. Finding her humanity again, Sahira's beastial body shimmered, the transformed. Human again, Sahira gasped and sat down hard. Her clothes were in shreds, hanging loosley on her body. Blinking, adjusting to her human vision, she looked at the dog. "Thanks." she said, voice hoarse. Uncapping the bottled water, she took a deep drink.

[Eyes Only]

calein looked at the person baffled. shapeshifter? like me! she debated shifting then decided against it. better for the person to think she was just a wolf. calen looked at the person confused

[trinn]

Now quenched, Sahira capped the bottle and set it aside. Crossing her arms over her knees, she looked at the odd dog, speculating. Spotting the collar, she reached out to take a look. "Calein?" she said aloud, releasing the collar. "That's a weird name for a dog." Reaching out, she patted the dog's head. "What are you, anyways? One of those white german shepherds. And what are you doing so far from home?" Sahira sighed, wanting to help the dog but new she couldn't. Not in the rags that were now her clothes. "Go on, then. Get back home." She gave one last pat to the dog's head.

[Eyes Only]

she thinks im a dog? Caelin huffed. oh well she wagged her tail. then got up and started towards where she hid her pack.
bwahaha! socks rolled over meowing in laughter she thinks your a doggie!
caelin ignored the cat. she wanted to go shift back and get dressed now.
hmmm strange she could have sworn her pack was farther away not within sight... she went into the bushes anyway. curled up with the pack to wait till she could change were no one would see her...

[trinn]

Hearing a strange sort of meowing, Sahira looked about until she found the source, a cat that was rolling on its back. Was she going delusional? A dog and a cat in the canyons? When the dog trotted off again, Sahira stood and looked about. It would probably be best to hide out here until night fall, when she could sneak into town and hopefully find a change of clothes.

[Eyes Only]

Calein waited till she couldn't see the lady and shifted grabbed her clothes and changed into them she picked up her pack and stepped out of the bushes sat down and got out something to eat and drink. "food"
what she didnt realise is she forgot to take off the collar.

[trinn]

Sahira's wanderings took her back to the spot she had met the wolfish dog. Coming around a bend in the canyon wall, she tensed when a woman came into sight. She stayed that way for a moment, fists clenched, muscles taunt, ready to fight. After a moment, she relaxed, realizing the woman wasn't a government agent. And what was that around her neck? Sahira's eyes widened as she recognized the collar. That was the wolf! The strange behavior of the dog was now obvious. Moving quietly, Sahira came up behind the girl. "Thanks for the water." she said, her voice still a little rough.

[Eyes Only]

Calein stilled "er um...your welcome..." dagnabbit... forgot the collar.
you idiot! socks looked at her. silly pup kinda pointless if you forget to take it off
"its to keep me from getting shot or confused with a wild wolf..." she mumbled knocking over the cat half playfully half in annoyance.

[trinn]

So, it was a wolf. "Good thinking." Sahira said, taking a seat next to the girl. "If I had thought you were a wild wolf... well, I don't want to think about it." Looking over at the cat, she wondered what the deal with it was. Sighing, Sahira ran a hand through her hair, wishing the sun would go down faster. "So." she said after a moment. "Are you they after you too?"

[Eyes Only]

"who?" she asked clueless "um im just here on vacation with my grandparents came out for a run" she wondered who they were..
"this is socks"she picked up the cat

[trinn]

Sahira was relieved when the girl had no idea what she was talking about. Still, it wouldn't hurt to enlighten her, just so she was prepared for a possible future. Before going into it, she mad her greetings to Socks. "Hello, Socks," she said, running a hand down the cats silky fur. That done, she turned serious, looking the girl in the eye. "They, are a group of government agents. This group is dedicated to hunting people like you and me, to capture us. I don't want to frigthen you, but you need to know. If you think you're being careful now, think again. If I were you, I wouldn't shift at all, not if you can control it." Sahira let her gaze break away from Caelin, scanning the canyon's ridge. "If you want to continue going on vacation with your grandparents, don't indulge in your ability."

[Eyes Only]

"....oh.... cant controll it entirely but i dont change if i dont want to least not all the way. its just....now sometimes i just get this urge to run like a wolf..."

[trinn]

Eyes flashing, Sahira turned on the girl. "Didn't you hear anything I just said! For love of your life you can't shift. I don't care if you get the urge to run, don't do it." Shaking her head, she tried to calm down, tried to push away the warmth that had started crawling back over her. "Look, just promise me you'll be smart and be careful? You've done me a great favor today. I'd hate to know you were taken by those men."

[Eyes Only]

"ill be careful! i wont shift." she said reassuringly. she was always careful anyway. "you dont by any chance need a place to um crash do you?" she gestured at the torn clothing. "I'm sure my grandparents wont mind."

[trinn]

Tapping her fingers together, Sahira considered the offer. On the one hand, it would be great to know where she was sleeping tonight, on the other, she didn't want to lead the agents right to the girl. "If I do, I'll be there at midnight. When I look like this," Sahira said, flicking a torn edge of her shirt, "It's safer when I move at night. Where do you live, then?"