Murphy McManus (Neophyte) 05/07/09 08:14 PM 76.214.162.159	A Time of Change [[Open]]
	Murphy had felt it coming for many days now. The moon was hitting the point in the sky where she would bare all and shine down bright and full across London's dank streets, and even the muggles seemed to sense that something was awry and not right. For those that felt that it was safest to stay in on a night like this, they were the lucky ones. They were the ones that would be living to see another full moon. The others? Well, it was the wrong night to be feeling brave. Something had gone wrong, terribly wrong the night the full moon rose to glisten in the abnormally clear London sky. It seemed that even weather had a sense of humor. Only when the moon was at its fullest and most tempting would the dreary clouds over London disperse to make Murphy's life a living hell. For one agonizingly long night every month, Murphy suffered what he considered his curse, his unholy affliction for the sins he'd done. It could only be cured by setting right all of the corrupt in the world, to prove his loyalty to the Lord and His word... but once every month, Murphy became dangerous and crazy. He became wild. On the eves of the full moons, Murphy would hole himself up in on of the small boat shacks on the Serpentine in Hyde Park. It was abandoned, so he fitted it with heavy chains and shackles that he would make sure and fit himself in before sunset. When he changed, he had no control over his thoughts or his actions, and he wouldn't have innocent blood on his hands when there was something he could do about it, and that was taking all precautions to be away from everyone he knew until his "affliction" had passed. Connor and Ivy both knew what he was, and respected his choice to hide himself away, but Travi... Murphy was exceedingly glad that Traviata didn't know of his terrible curse. What would she think of him? Would she be so disgusted with him as he was of himself that she would leave the Rat Pack and never even look back? It was something Murphs didn't want to experience. But tonight was a dangerous night. And it started with a link that just wasn't strong enough. A long, eerie howl echoed throughout Hyde Park. It rippled through the trees and across the still water of the Serpentine as Murphy tore himself from the small boat house. The chains and shackles Murphy usually used to keep him confined dangled from his powerful wrists and ankles, drawing blood from where he had pulled for forcefully against them. He lifted his massive head up to the sky and stretched up on his hind legs, sniffing the air tentatively as his maw opened to expose a row of sharp teeth. Tonight was a very dangerous night.
Traviata Guerrini (Neophyte) 05/07/09 09:32 PM 98.228.109.122	Re: A Time of Change [[Open]]
	Traviata felt the need to constantly leave whatever location she was sitting still at. She hated being in, hated always being confined to one place- and that only got worse on nights of the full moon. "You know what they say," she murmured to no-one, cigarette dangling from her mouth. "All the crazies come out." Her eyes darted across the crowd of people bustling along the floor of the pub. Thursday nights were always wild for some reason or another... and on the full moon? It just got worse. She'd had a few, and was a little bit tipsy on her feet. She was a strong, powerful Italian woman, though - raised on wine right from the bottle. She could hold her liquor, despite the buzz in her nose and toes. Feeling rather brave, she headed out the doors of the bar. There were fewer people scuffling on the streets, which suited the somewhat guarded little kitten quite well. Traviata shoved one hand in her pocket, the other holding onto her cigarette loosely as she exhaled a large cloud. Her eyes raised to look at the crisp clarity of the sky; the definition of the moon was one she rarely saw in London. A part of her was very much wishing she knew where Murphy was, because something about full moons always got her going... and he was the only person who had ever been able to make her feel alive like he did... but, just like every full moon, he was gone off doing something she had no idea about. It made a weird sense of suspicion and jealousy sweep over her; Traviata shook it off as quickly as it set in. There was a silent understanding between the two of them, something that neither would ever speak - but it was like some intense loyalty masked as possessiveness - a possessiveness that almost spoke in the tongue of ownership. Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she drew another long drag from her cigarette. Hyde Park sounded like a great idea to her at the moment. The night seemed to be beautiful; it wasn't too hot, it wasn't too cold. There was a nice breeze, and for once, the sky was clear and not a drop of rain was coming from the sky. Traviata saw that as a golden opportunity to enjoy some fresh air. Hell, maybe she'd even go running around in her lovely feline form looking for a Faerie circle or a loose Pooka or something. She was planning on romping rather freely, as she'd been in a brilliant mood lately thanks to life in general {and particularly because of Murphy}, but that was quickly stifled when a bone-chilling howl fell upon her all-too-sensitive ears. Traviata's hair stood on end, and she felt a sense of fear begin to wash over her. Instead of going away from the sound like any sane person would, however, her curiosity got the best of her... and with as much silence as she could muster, the Ceilican began to steal away after the loud howl. Her eyes snapped open at the sight of a massive, grey beast before her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her pulse began to quicken substantially. Fear started to overtake her, but it would not overtake the curiosity that drove her to explore further. She hugged her body against a tree, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She dropped her cigarette to the ground and squashed it under the toe of her boot, hoping to eliminate the scent. "Shit," she whispered, her chest heaving with breath she struggled to keep silent.
Murphy McManus (Neophyte) 05/17/09 02:44 PM 75.50.46.138	Re: A Time of Change [[Open]]
	The figure stretched up on it's hind legs again and lifted it's massive head up to the sky again, sniffing tentatively at the crisp May air that sifted through the large park of central London. It had been a long time since the beast was free and able to do as it wished, and the release was wonderful, blissful at the prospect of freedom. Dropping down to all fours, a deep, low growl escaped past the werewolf's row of razor sharp teeth. It flexed it's muscles and tendons in it's legs and body, getting a feel for the strength and power is possessed. He shifted his weight against the soft dewy grass and dug his claws into the soft earth to ground himself. He could feel the power rippling in his veins. But something was distracting him, preventing him from taking the night as his and wrecking havoc that he so desperately wanted. The massive shackles around his paws had cut deeply into his skin and fur. The shackles had done their job, and stayed clasped tightly around both his massive wrists and ankles, but the chains that had been attached were a different story. They dangled uselessly from the shackles, creating loud, obnoxious jangles everytime he moved. He flattened his ears flat against his large head and gnawed uselessly at the metal, only drawing more blood from his wrists and ankles. He'd have been content gnawing his paw off until morning had a scent not caught his nose. His head whipped up and a snarl curled at his lips as he let loose another eerie howl. Smoke, and fear... both so strong he could almost taste them. His muscles tensed and his body sprang forward towards the thicket of trees where the scent was the strongest.
Traviata Guerrini (Neophyte) 05/25/09 01:46 PM 63.18.149.41	Re: A Time of Change [[Open]]
	Traviata had never had a run-in with a werewolf before. Not like this, anyway. She'd had a few unhappy encounters with Garou in her time, but nothing like this. She'd learned about werewolves that were created through bite, through transmission of a virus - but never had she gone through the unpleasant experience of meeting one. She was normally quite the fearless woman, but she had no idea what might become of her if a beast like that got her between its jaws. Her eyes darted around, surveying the area. She was looking for places that might offer her escape. If push came to shove, she could risk exposure and go into her feline form to run away or climb a tree, but she wanted to avoid that if at all possible. Traviata saw a small opening in the trees that led to darker, harder-to-see places. Her breath caught as she waited for the right moment to take off running. Another howl rippled through the night and sent a chill right through to her bones. She looked toward the direction from which the howl had come, and her eyes widened in fear. The thing was coming right for her. Drawing her wand in preparation, she closed her eyes. Traviata took a very deep breath, muttering a quick luck charm in Italian before pushing away from the tree she was leaning against. It was now or never, so it seemed - and she took off running, just as fast as her nimble legs could carry her.
Murphy McManus (Neophyte) 05/27/09 12:54 PM 76.214.136.208	Re: A Time of Change [[Open]]
	Murphy's muscles tensed and recoiled like a well order machine, each long stride springing forward a good few feet like he was practically flying across the grass. When on all fours, he could easily outrun almost anything, but the thick underbrush of the unkempt bushes slowed him down a little (and was possibly the only thing saving the woman's life). His instincts told him to chase chase chase! Catch catch catch! But there was a lingering feeling tugging at the back of the beast's mind, like a foggy memory of something very long ago. But the instincts were stronger, so is body followed what his thoughts were telling him to do... chase. He saw a figure bolt out from behind a tree, and his ears flattened against his head again, a low, deep growl rumbled deeply in his throat. Movement was what drew his attention. To shift directions so quickly, Murphy stamps his claws into the soft earth to try and catch his balance as he slid into the side of a tree. He yelped out in pain as his ribs made contact with the bark, but he shook himself out of the daze and bolted off following the running figure again. He could smell her, smell the fear. It smelled... enticing.
Traviata Guerrini (Neophyte) 07/20/09 12:33 AM 98.228.109.122	Re: A Time of Change [[Open]]
	Much as the charm seemed to be helping Traviata gain speed, it did nothing in the way of putting the creature off of her trail. She could hold her own in a fight against just about anyone, but this was a completely different situation. A Ceilican bitten by a werewolf? It was too dangerous a risk, and she wasn't at all sure what the outcome would be. There was no telling, truly, and she couldn't take a risk. What if it destroyed her bit by bit? She imagined that the pain would be much like the touch of iron... And that was something that Traviata could quite easily live without. She took another sharp turn and gave a flick of her wand. The little bag she'd been carrying charmed into the shape of a bird and went zipping off. It wouldn't work well for Traviata to lose what few possessions she had with her just because she needed to escape a werewolf, and she knew that if she decided to take the feline route for such an escape, she would wind up doing just that. She looked over her shoulder long enough to see the werewolf crash into a tree. Hearing its yelp of pain, she figured she had a moment or two to breathe. She couldn't have been more wrong. Traviata gave not more than a moment's pause and she could feel the creature's presence growing ever closer. It was gaining on her - and she really didn't have anywhere to run, aside from constantly circling around the park. Closing her eyes, she swallowed and ducked quickly behind a large tree. After a second or two, she moved to the opposite side of another tree, hoping to throw the beast off. She knew better, however; werewolves had a keen sense of smell. Giving the scene a look around, she allowed herself to change. Her figure grew to a large 6'6" and she gained muscle and feline features, claws extending where her fingernails used to be. She climbed about half-way up the trunk and waited. There was no way she could outrun the beast. She had no other choice but to lure it in and fight it. She didn't want to kill it. She knew that there was a person under there, and somewhere deep down her instinct told her that it might have been someone very important. To whom, she couldn't know, but that was more reason for her not to kill the creature. She just wanted to fight it enough to intimidate it or send it running. Traviata just wanted it to leave her alone.