Mockingbirds and cat calls

[smokeywild]

The walk from the forest's edge, to the town, and through it was quick if a bit chilly. Once they had reached the destination that Hunter had chosen, Maira was happy to proceed him inside. It was warmer in there and the smells of food were making her stomach rumble, both perfectly good reasons for her to hurry inside. She listened as Hunter commented on how he knew a place where the food would be better, but right now her stomach wasn't about to be picky. She nearly laughed when he said something similar.

When Hunter led the way toward where the meal was laid out, Maira followed and silently dished up her own plate. Not quite as full as his, but she had caught that rabbit after all so it at least was enough to take the edge off her hunger. Once their plates were dished up, Maira looked around for a table and saw one close to the fire. Her feline nature immediately set her feet moving in that direction and as soon as she sat down in the chair closest to the fire, she sighed in happiness. A good meal, a fire, and interesting company. What more could a girl want for an evening?

[Myuuchan]

Htd. folowed Maira to her table of choice without any complaint- After all, he enjoyed a nice comfortable fire as much as anyone else. Now that the weather was beginning to warm, it wasn't always needed, but even in the height of summer, an open fire added a pleasant touch to an evening. "You know, usually people don't get quiet until they're stuffing their mouths with the food on their plates." he lifted a brow, giving Maira a curious look. She'd fallen quiet rather suddely... He knew he'd been talking a lot, but he didn't think it was so much as to scare her into silence. He plucked his fork up as soon as he was settled, practically shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth, giving a small, but very content sigh. Food... Now, that was better.

He at least had the courtesy to chew and swallow, before he spoke again, though he did lean forward and prop his elbows on the table. He was more comfortable being casual, and he wasn't about to change that, just because he had a lady for company. If she was much of a lady, she likely wouldn't have been flaunting about naked, earlier, in any case. "Man. I know we just got here, but already, I'm liking the idea of camping out tonight less and less. For some crazy reason, sleeping in a bed just seems like a better idea." Htd. almost grumbled. It was interesting to watch him eating with that feathered ruff around his face. His fork was guided nimbly over the top of the glossy black feathers, ducking down below them to disappear on its voyage through to his mouth. It was peculiar to watch, but the idea that someone might have been watching never seemed to cross his mind.

"I'd invite you out to where I've been staying, but it's a pretty long hike, and it's already getting late. It'd be nearly morning before we got out there, I'm afraid." he continued after downing another bite, pushing his food about on his plate for a moment or so. "It's definitely worth seeing... Hunting around it isn't bad, either, but I'm not sure if I'm up to that long of a walk, and you... Well, you..." he shrugged. "I could always fly, but you'd have to run, and that just wouldn't even be fair, now, would it?" Htd. quirked one dark brow, glancing up to her with a quick blink of his peculiar silvery eyes.

[smokeywild]

When Hunter sat down at the table she'd chosen by the fire and commented on her sudden silence, she smiled and apologized, "Sorry, I'm just thinking." After that she at least tried to pay more attention to him as they both ate, and he spoke. When he mentioned how he just wasn't looking forward to camping out that night and how a bed sounded really good to him right then. She was about to offer the spare bed in the house she was staying at but he kept on talking.

What he said next, took Maira a bit by surprise but she hid it by taking a drink from the mug in front of her. It was just water but all she really wanted from it was the mug anyway. Why would he invite her out to where he'd been staying when they'd just met? At least she would have had a reason for inviting him to where she was currently staying.

When he started talking about how far away the place was, Maira frowned slightly. It was getting a bit late but that had never stopped her from going out before. It had never stopped her from doing anything actually. She loved being out at night and so once he quit talking long enough for her to get a word in, she told him, "Running at night is quite pleasant, even this time of year. And quite frankly, I'm getting bored hanging around here, I could do with a bit of excitement." The suddenly spark in her eyes showed that she was indeed interested in getting out of the town they were in. Oh how she hoped that after the finished their meal they could just leave!

[Myuuchan]

Htd. regarded her silently for a long moment, before a grin cracked his features. It was hidden behind the feathers at the collar of his cloak, but there was no mistaking the way his silvery eyes narrowed at the corners. "I'm sure you think I'm odd, for inviting you out there." he commented, after stewing over her words for a moment. "I may be tired, but I'm more nocturnal than anything. I'd get my second wind before too long. I don't really need to sleep, all that often. It's kind of odd."

He stopped there for a moment, allowing himself a little bit of time to actually eat. His stomach had at least stopped grumbling, but the food just wasn't as satisfying in flavor or texture as he had hoped it would be. He'd make do, of course- He always did, but that didn't mean he had to enjoy it. The meat was just a little dry, the bread just a little bit stale, and the the vegetables felt just a little bit greasy, in his mouth. But he spared Maira the complaints, doing his best to simply satisfy his hunger. He always had the option of hunting again, closer to morning, before the animals all hid away for the rest of the day to come.

"Running at night is all right, I suppose. But when I say it's a long way, I mean it," Htd. gave her an almost apologetic look. "We'd be doing good to get there before dawn, by my figures. But if you really are bored..." his eyes sparkled with the returning of that previous grin. "It's definitely an enjoyable place to see. Plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, and of course, all the rooms are furnished... There's several bedrooms to choose from. I'd even let you have first call." he gave her a quick wink, pausing again to take a few bites of his meal. "Of course, I have to finish this, but if you really want to go, then... As soon as we're done..." Htd. arched a brow, giving her an almost hopeful sort of look.

[smokeywild]

Maira was actually mostly ignoring the taste of her food now as she was just focussing on getting it eaten so they could leave when Hunter started talking again. She was only half listening as she was starting to plan just what she was going to do with her clothes... This wouldn't be like going for a run in the forest where she could stash her clothes in her little cave. She needed to take them with her and the pack she normally used for that was back at the house she was staying at and if she went back for it she'd have to explain just who Hunter was, how they'd met, where they were going. None of which she currently wanted to deal with.

After a few moments of silence, while Hunter concentrated on his meal too, he started talking again and Maira listened better this time as it seemed to relate more to her than him being nocturnal had. "I don't mind a long run, I promise. I may not have stamina quite equal to a wolf, but what I do have isn't bad either," she slipped in during a break in what he was saying. The next part nearly made her laugh and the look in his eyes that went with it would have if they hadn't been in a crowded place. "Of course I want to go, you've got me all curious now!" she told him as she finished up her own meal and took another couple drinks of water to wash it down with.

Waiting for him to finish his dinner, Maira once again returned her attention to the problem at hand. How was she supposed to get her clothes with them wherever they were going? If it was that long of a run she most certainly wouldn't be doing it in her elf form. That'd be just silly. Four legs are much more efficient than two when it comes to running after all. But what to do about her clothes....

[Myuuchan]

Htd. stifled a laugh. "All right, then," he shrugged slightly. "We'll go. Give me just a minute here, I don't want to get my feathers dirty." he almost pouted, lifting a hand to gently pat at the feathered ruff that hid his face, before he went back to eating. It was a few more minutes before he had his plate cleaned. After all, he'd taken quite a bit more food than she had, and it took him a while to get it all down. But then he neatly stacked his silver on top of his plate, pushing his chair back slowly. They didn't always have wenches tending the tables, but he could see one bustling about, tonight. He wouldn't have to worry about his plate, then. He dug in his pocket for a moment as he rose, setting enough coins on the table to pay for both of their meals, before beckoning Maira back toward the door with a quick jerk of his head.

He started walking without another word, a little more spring in his step, now that he'd had something to eat. A full stomach was always an enjoyable thing to have, and he savored it with a small, content-sounding sigh. "Man. It's been a long while since I ate that much," he mumbled, taking a moment to stretch rather luxuriously, before he hopped down the few steps into the cobblestone street, glancing around. "...And if I know this city well enough by now, I'd say we ought to head out past the walls before we try shifting." he almost frowned, turning his head to give her a curious look. "Sound good to you?"

He didn't wait too long for an answer, though, before he started walking, lacing his fingers together behind his head, tilting his head back to gaze at the sky while he almost idly made his way down the street.

[smokeywild]

There was just something about the way Hunter patted his feathered ruff that made Maira giggle. A big mysterious man patting a feathered ruff and pouting at the thought of getting them dirty... Yep, Maira had a very hard time of keeping her mirth restrained to -just- a giggle. Luckily, Hunter made fairly quick work of his meal and he was stacking his silver on his plate before she knew it. She was just reaching into a pocket for her purse when she saw him deposit enough coins for both their meals on the table. She raised an eyebrow at that and smiled ever so slightly. So mister mysterious was a gentleman.

Getting up from the table and following him outside at a jerk from his head, Maira once again tried to figure out what to do with her clothes during their upcoming run. Once they were outside, Hunter gave a rather feline stretch and Maira couldn't help but smile at the sight as it reminded her of his other side. When he jumped down to the street from the porch, Maira followed him more slowly by actually taking the few stairs down. As he started walking and suggested they wait to shift until they were beyond the city's walls, Maira nodded in agreement and told him, "Probably wise."

The walk out of town wasn't very long as the town wasn't very big, but it gave Maira long enough to figure out something that -might- work for carrying her clothes with them. It was just going to look really funny, and feel a bit awkward until she got used to it, but Maira would survive. Well, so long as Hunter didn't laugh at her too much that was...

[Myuuchan]

Htd. didn't have the same difficulties as she did, worrying about her clothing and all. His magic functioned differently, but such was to be expected. His was learned, hers was innate. Or, he assumed that his was learned. He found himself frowning deeply at another reminder of his memories, lost to him. It was strange, tracing back through things he remembered, and trying to reach the things that he didn't. No memories of childhood. A few faces, but no names for them. No order, either. He had no way of knowing what those memories were.
He struggled to push the thoughts away as he walked, pausing when he realized he'd outpaced Maira a bit. "Sorry," he started apologetically. "I was thinking, got lost in myself for a minute, there."

He slowed down to wait for her to catch up. "The walls are just ahead." He spoke and gestured at the same time. The road ended in an archway, with gates standing open, though there were guards posted right beside them. "There's just the few houses out there past it, but at this time of night, they're all locked up, so we should be good to make a run for the forest." He perked up as he spoke, clearly pleased by the idea. It was that which restored a bit of spring to his step, though he restrained himself until they reached the gates. A stiff nod was given to the guard that he inadvertently made eye contact with, though he said nothing. The guard nodded in response, shifting on his feet with a small rattle of armor.

Beyond the gate, the path became only beaten dirt, with a narrow trail of grass down the middle. The city had every intention of paving with cobblestones, but it had never reached beyond the walls, just yet. Htd. didn't care, he preferred the bare earth. "Over here," he murmured, averting off the path and moving into the grass, following the wall until they'd be safely out of sight. There was no one around to see them, now. "All right," he grinned. "We should be good."
He didn't wait for her to act or reply, then, before he made his change- Likely, he'd make her envious, the way his clothing melded into his body, as he changed shape.

[smokeywild]

As she was a bit lost in her own thoughts, Maira didn't notice that Hunter had gotten a bit ahead of her until he slowed up and apologized for doing so. She just smiled at him and told him, "Its alright, I was thinking too." Once they were outside the walls of the city and they veered off from the path until they were out of sight, Maira sighed with relief. Being inside the city always made her rather tense and just getting outside the walls she always felt like she could breathe easier.

Before she even started shedding her clothes, Hunter's form was already changing clothes and all. She glared at him slightly for the ease with which he did that and then proceeded to remove her own clothes, laying out her shirt flat and then placing her other garments and belongings in a neat pile on top of it. Once everything was off of her, she tied the shirt up around the pile into a bundle, the sleeves making a nice strap for her to carry it with even while in leopard form.

Everything else ready, Maira finally let the leopard inside of her flow to the surface. The leopard was never demanding, but she truly did enjoy a good run at night. Having a companion for the run would be a nice change from her normal solitude as well. Once her shift was complete, the leopard stepped forward to the bundle and nosed her way through the sleeves/strap until it was situated just right on her back. Then, in the way that felines do, the leopard informed her companion she was ready for their run and waited for him to take the lead.

[Myuuchan]

The black panther averted curiously silver eyes when Maira took the time to shift, his ears flicking and his tail twitching. It was a calm night, though it was becoming gradually cooler as time passed, and he thought he saw a slight misting to his breath, right before his nose. It didn't matter to him - After all, it was easier to run in cooler weather. Animals were not given to the endurance that humans had in heat, something he couldn't really recall learning, but was absolutely certain of when he thought of it. Just another piece of knowledge, something experienced and learned, that he couldn't remember...

He made a small purling noise when she indicated that she was ready, eying her bundle of clothing with mild interest. It wasn't a bad idea at all... Now she just had to hope that it wouldn't inconvenience her on their run. He rose from his haunches, leading the way with first a few steps. He was careful, treading warily across the crisp grasses, moving toward the trees that surrounded the city. Now would have been a bad time to wake someone, and he was careful in creeping past the few houses that filled the space between woodland and city wall, glancing back now and then to make sure that the leopardess was following his lead.

Finally, they reached the edge of the trees, and it was then that he allowed himself to relax. Feline body stretched and then lengthened in stride, and his pace quickened into a smooth and graceful run.
He was mindful not to outpace her, but neither did he hold himself back - If she wanted a run, she'd get one, just trying to keep up with him. The ground was a blur, traveling beneath his feet at a steady pace. Each tree was averted smoothly, breath coming regular and steady as the warmth in his muscles grew.

Several miles showed only deeper forest, and he slowed his pace ever so slightly.
It was several more miles into the woods before they passed the fence. It looked both new and run-down at the same time, the path marked by two stone pillars to either side of a narrow dirt road, now too overgrown to see clearly.
Now was when they could slow. He was the first to do so, falling back into a languid walk, eyes darting this way and that as he moved down the path.

The first flowers of spring poked their heads through the dirt lining the trail, trees forming a graceful avenue alongside the weed-covered road just beginning to blush with the rosy shades of buds.
Beautiful, but abandoned.
Slowly, the path changed into one of cobblestones, and in the dark, the house was visible, cold and empty against the dark night sky. Hedges and flowers were overgrown in what had once been gardens, spilling out into the tall lawn, and all the doors that might have once looked welcoming now stood closed, shutting out the world...

[smokeywild]

Once they snuck past the last few houses between the city and the forest, the leopard watched half in awe and half in exhiliration as the panther took off like a shot into the forest. He was fast! Not wanting to be left behind, she pushed herself to catch up with him and after only a moment she was able to match his stride.

Before she knew it, the forest gave way to some signs of human habitation again. It started with a fence and a path, and then some signs of gardens and cobblestones. And then, in the moonlight, the leopard was able to see the sprawling building before her. When the panther slowed to a walk, the leopard followed suit as it made it easier for her to gawk and take in her surroundings. How could such a huge, beautiful, old place belong to Hunter? And out in the middle of nowhere no less...

While the sight before her was lovely, it was also a bit unnerving. Such a big place surely should have had somebody living in it. Servants at least... Without meaning to, the leopard edged closer to the panther as they walked the last short distance to the house.

[Myuuchan]

The panther's chest heaved with uneven breath as he padded across the manor's overgrown lawn. His fur flaked away from his body as he walked, changing into black feathers as it dropped away, his form changing back to that of his human self. He was almost to the steps before he straightened up, adjusting the feathered ruff of his cloak, glancing over his shoulder to the leopard that had followed. His metallic eyes glinted, and though his smile was hidden, it wasn't hard to see it in his face. "It's a beautiful place, isn't it?" He commented softly, tapping the toe of his boots against the bottom stair, knocking off any dirt he might have otherwise tracked in.

The door wasn't locked - He shrugged gently beneath his cloak as he pushed it open, blinking into the inky darkness that filled the foyer. The air was still a bit stale, with a strong smell of dust. He disappeared into the shadows within, a small light appearing a moment later, as he found his reservoir of matches, and took a moment to light the small lamps around the foyer.

The floor was covered in dust, with distinct footprints of both human and animal left in it, leaving a path that was clear enough to see the intricate parquetry of the hardwood floor. doorways opened to the left and right, though the hallways were just as dark as the entryway had been, a moment ago. A pair of grand staircases curved upwards from the outer walls, just behind those doors to either side, meeting to lead to an open sitting room, on the floor above. The ghostlike shapes of sheet-covered furniture was barely visible in the sitting room above.
The foyer reached to the ceiling of the second floor, with a crystal-adorned wrought-iron chandelier hanging before the large, dust-covered window above the elegant double-doors of the entryway.

The clearest path through the dust on the floor led to the right, with another directed straight ahead, through the arched, open doorway that set beneath and between the elegant staircases.

"The place isn't much cleaner now than it was when I found it, though. I'm not sure what drove me to go out and just wander the woods, but I'm glad that I did. It's quite a find..." Htd. looked up and around, sighing softly to himself. "Some of the doors upstairs are locked. I haven't bothered trying to get them open. There's a big ring of keys in the kitchen, though, so I'm sure they'd all open if I took the time to try it."

He waited for Maira to enter before he moved to shut the door, tilting his head toward the hallway that led off to the right. "I could use a drink first, though, if you don't mind. I'm sure you could, too, after a run like that." He chuckled to himself, lighting a stray candle that had been laying beside one of the glass lamps, carrying it with him into the hallway to light the rest of the lamps that lined it. The rightmost wall of the hallway was interspersed by two doors. The left was open, divided from a large, formal living room by a delicately carved wooden railing with spindles, and decorative support beams, here and there.

Htd. continued to the last door on the right, nudging it open and quickly lighting that room, as well. It was a beautiful kitchen, lined with counter tops and cabinets. A small table with chairs sat to one side of a little trap door, which presumably led to a cellar.
Htd. blew his candle out, sitting it on that table, picking up one of several glasses that sat there, instead.
"One thing I will say, whoever built this place sure had a taste for luxury..." He grinned over his shoulder at her, before he moved to the farthest corner of the room, where a graceful, small stone well rose from the floor. "Don't even have to go outside to draw water. Stays thawed all year round. It's all great craftsmanship, is all I can say... Must've taken ages to build."
One hand loosed the rope of the well's bucket, letting it drop and splash into the water below. He watched it sink for a moment before he pulled it up, re-typing the bucket's rope and tilting the wooden pail just enough to pour water from it into his glass.
"If you're thirsty, you can grab one off the table, or in the cabinet in the corner." He added nonchalantly, before taking a deep, refreshing sip.

[smokeywild]

Still being in leopard form when Hunter resumed his human form and started talking to her, Maira just listened to him. She followed him inside when he led the way, admiring the workmanship on the inside of the house just as she had on the outside. It still unnerved her how such a big place was out in the middle of nowhere and totally unoccupied, but considering Hunter was at ease here, she tried to be as well.

The room he finally led her into was very obviously a kitchen and once inside she couldn't help but stop and stare. It was beautiful, not as graceful as those she grew up with among the elves, but still quite beautiful. Having the water inside was incredibly convenient and well planned. The only thing lacking about the nice big kitchen was that it afforded no privacy for a leopard who wanted to shift back into an elf. Considering that, unlike Hunter, when Maira shifted from feline to elf she wound up naked a bit of privacy would have been nice.

At the offer of water, the leopard finally realized just how thirsty she really was and decided that privacy was highly over-rated when compared with a nice cool glass of water. Shimmying out of her makeshift pack, the leopard slowly retreated to her sleeping place inside of the elf and Maira regained control of her body. Once fully back to normal, Maira looked up from where she crouched on the kitchen floor and answered Hunter, "A drink sounds wonderful, thanks." Then she stood and went to the table to grab one of the glasses. After filling it, she happily emptied the whole thing before filling it again.

A couple sips into her second glass of water and Maira was able to set it down. When she looked at Hunter to ask him if he knew anything at all about the house, she caught the look in his eyes as he looked her over. A small smirk turned up the corner of her mouth and much as she wanted to tease him she didn't think it'd be a good way to build their friendship. Instead she just went back to her clothes-turned-travel-pack and quickly sorted them out and put them back on.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye as she put her clothes on and she had to try hard not to laugh. He just watched her, and strangely she kind of liked how he watched her. Normally she just ignored those that oggled her, she wasn't embarrassed or offended so why bother telling them not to look? There was just something a little different about the way Hunter watched her though... Maybe it was the fact that he was different than any man she'd ever known before. Either way, once she fully returned her attention to him, she couldn't help but smile a little.

"So," she started, that smile still playing on her lips, "Care to show me around this huge place? Maybe we can take that key ring with us and try and open some of the mystery rooms." At the thought of their upcoming mini-adventure Maira's smile grew.