It is currently 15:26 Pacific Time on Fri Jun 11 2004. Currently the moon is in the waning Half Moon phase (42% full). Cockroach Mansion -- Upstairs The dark opulence of the mansion's decor continues into the upper floors, where rooms are numerous and hallways are long. Most of the rooms are empty and haven't been opened for years; only a few are furnished and even fewer actually occupied. Still, the hardwood floors are in good repair, and the hallways are well-lit. Once again the bitch was gone when Chaney woke up. This time, however, there were a couple of interesting chewy things left behind, and one had something -fascinating- stuffed within. Licking it out probably took all of three or four seconds. There were more voices and scents outside the door later - the Alpha bitch and a young male - then silence. Now the Alpha's scent accompanied by human footsteps up the stairs and to the door. Chaney looks up from chewing on the emptied Kong, her ears perking forward. She lies with the toy propped under one forepaw and stares expectantly at the door. The door, in the manner of all good doors, opens, and the Alpha steps through. Only it isn't the Alpha, it just smells like her. "Afternoon, Chaney," she says cheerfully, as she unfastens her sling and lets it drop. "Being a good dog? Time to start your lessons, I'm thinking." Chaney, like all good lupus, trusts her nose more than her eyes, and if the scent says this is Alpha, then this is Alpha... though she gives a brief whine of puzzlement. She sits up and looks at Natalie. Natalie only grins at her, careful not to show her teeth... and shifts. Slowly. Up through the vicious-looking near man, then onto the fear-inducing crinos. As the change continues she drops onto three legs - her left fore held off the ground - for the massive hispo before finally ending up in lupus. Chaney watches the transformation with rapt attention. Her ears flatten at Crinos and stay there; the war-form and the dire wolf form are intimidating even if she's not affected by the Curse. Once Natalie's in lupus, the cub gets up and trots over, her tail wagging low, her head ducking underneath the Alpha's as she seeks to lick at the other's muzzle. Holds-the-Line allows the puppy behavior for a few indulgent licks before she turns her muzzle away from the taller wolf. You can do this as well. Do you remember what I am called? Chaney backs away a step and cocks her head. Alpha. You are Alpha. Alpha, yes, but not alpha of alphas. I am Holds-the-Line. Who are you? The older wolf plops her butt down to study the cub. Chaney readily amends her answer to 'Holds-Alpha' but then looks confused. Am. Am? I am. Holds-the-Line flicks an ear at her. You are Many-Faces, she decides. Many-Faces is your name. You are Garou, Many Faces. Chaney does not understand 'Garou' and abruptly trots off toward her abandoned chew-toy. Holds-the-Line surges up into hispo and bounds after her, seeking to slam her weight into the others hindquarters and knock her off her feet. Listen! Pay attention! Chaney yelps as her hind legs fly out from under her and, tail-tucked, tries to scramble to her feet and flee toward the far corner of the room. Holds-the-Line's not about to let that happen, though. She stands over the now-smaller wolf, a lip just flickering up to show a hint of teeth. Many-Faces. Stop. This massive wolf looks like a cave painting come alive. She weighs easily twice or three times that of a normal wolf; her shoulders, neck, and jaw bulky with muscle. Sandstone-beige fur bristles over her body, darker brown hairs scattered singly here and there. Frequent small scars suggest she is the survivor of plenty of fights. Eyes of an unusual orange-gold watch the world intently. Chaney flattens herself against the floor, ears flat. She whines pathetically, her lips pulled back in an appeasement "grin". Holds-the-Line sits again, and as she does so, shrinks back into lupus. You are Many-Faces, she repeats patiently. I am Holds the Line. Who are you? Chaney, panting, answers obediently that she is Many-Faces. Yes! Holds-the-Line nudges at Chaney's flank with a nose, then gives it a lick. You have cleaned off the blood. This is good. What do you know of when I found you? Chaney has to think about this for a moment; her tongue vanishes back into her muzzle after licking at her chops. Chain break. The chain broke? the Alpha repeats patiently. Then what? Holds-the-Line pages: The collar, by the by, is not around for the snacking on. Chaney thinks about this some more, not used to pondering the past or telling stories, even crude ones. Human run. I chase. I bite. (Had to d/c due to coming storm.) You paged Holds-the-Line with 'It basically comes down to (and this is after much probing) that a human came down (basement?) who shouldn't and Chaney got angry and he ran and Chaney killed him (I bite) and others. The rest Natalie knows. It's all very vague, from Chaney's perspective.'. **** Later **** (Downstairs) Already inside and on the laptop is Jeremy, tapping furiously away as he sits in a chair inside the parlor. He has the Wi Fi hooked up and he seems to be scouring one window after the other, tapping in lines of codes, over riding passwords and marking something off as he goes on a small notebook next to him. He's goth'd up as always, despite it being humid and slightly sunny. Emily has just entered the house. She is clutching a paper cup of the evil goodness that is Starbucks. The woman seems to live on the stuff. For once, she doesn't yell as soon as she gets in the house, meandering instead into the front part of the house. Spying Jeremy, she grins slightly. Why judge when she's drinking hot coffee? "What are you up to then?" Upstairs, muffled, comes Chaney's howl. She's been doing that a lot since Natalie brought her. Never barking. Ever. But lord, but this cub does love to howl. Jeremy glances upwards slightly to the ceiling for a moment, then over to Emily. "OH, sending out email and also doing a lil bit of.. um.. surfing." He says, clearing his throat a bit. "You?" Emily is staring upwards as well, a faint line between her brows. "Are we the only ones here?" Shaking her head, she sighs and lowers her gaze. "Had to get out of the house. Just kinda drove around to get to know the town. Oh, and got myself some coffee goodness." The howl fades away, and there's silence for a moment. Then a thump, not loud. Then more silence. "Looks like Chaney is up and awake again." Jeremy says softly. "Um.. we're the only ones here except her." He motions upwards to the ceiling. "She hasn't shut up for more than five minutes. I wonder if she's learned how to make it down here yet." "Natalie said she closed her in there. Said a Garou was supposed to be with her at all times." Emily glances up again, beginning to look a bit worried. "I wouldn't think that she has. Has she shifted yet? Natalie didn't give me a lot of information." Scratch scratch scratch. That sound probably doesn't travel all the way downstairs, though. Neither does the sound of the knob -- latched firmly closed but not actually _locked_ -- rattling. ".. Maybe she needs to eat or .. take a shit or something." Jeremy says, rising upwards as he places the laptop in his bag after closing the lid. "I'm ganna go see." He turns and starts towards the stairs, shrugging his shoulders. "An before you start going on an on about how its not safe, I'm not really scared. I got a taser on me." He pats his belt. "I started wearing it when I found out we had a Lup' here. You know.. just in case." "Do you /enjoy/ courting danger?" Emily asks, sounding rather exasperated. "Common sense says to leave her the hell alone." Not that the woman turns around or leaves. Nono. That would actually make sense. "Think she has enough water?" "I've been dragged out to the mountains, buck naked and shoved down a ten foot hole by the Wendigo here in Claire's because of a tribal feud. After that, I don't think it can get much worse." Jeremy says with a soft huff. "You want to fill up a bowl or something then while I check on her?" Upstairs, the doorknob rattles a little more, then turns. Click. It swings open slowly, while a hunched-over human shape scrambles back a step, melting back into her natural four-legged form. Chaney stands still for a moment, staring at the open doorway with perked ears and an intent expression. "I am so glad I missed that little episode. I have no desire to see you naked." Emily sets her cup of coffee down and glances at the ceiling again. "You know, why don't we glance at the situation really quick and then decide--" Her voice trails off and she looks up again. "Its gotten quiet up there. After that thump?" Peering through the doorway after making his way up the stairs, catching sight of the lupine, Jeremy freezes, then raises up a brow. ".. She opened up the door." He says slowly and softly. ".. I didn't know she knew how to do that... um.. and what is that supposed to mean? I'm not ugly or anything." He says with a loud huff. "Beggers can't be choosers. I'm hot." He continues to watch the wolf as he speaks, taking in a deep breath. ".. Good afternoon, Chaney. You look well today." He says. "Fuck worrying about your ego, Jeremy." Emily's voice sounds strained and she stands halfway up the stairs behind the young man. "Did you just say that she opened the door? We can't /talk/ to her, Jeremy. She doesn't know us." She also doesn't move. Chaney's nose works visibly as she stares at Jeremy, her blue eyes intent. Her tail lifts, curling up over her back, but doesn't wag. Her ears twitch at 'Chaney'. Other than that, she's almost entirely motionless. "Yes.. I'm staring right at her.." Jeremy says as he continues to hold himself still. "You know.. this is kinda scary... I was alright with opening the door and finding her.. but.. um.. I feel like I'm in the movie Cujo.. except she's kinda cute." He says. "Chaney.." He says again in a calm, soft voice. "My name is Jeremy." He taps his chest. "Family." Chaney's ears twitch again at 'Chaney' again, her posture seeming to become more intent and alert -- a slight shifting of forepaws and a lift of her muzzle. Her muzzle wrinkles slightly, showing a bit of fang as she stares back at Jeremy. "Isn't staring right at a wolf a dominance thing? Jeremy? We'll be on the losing end of a dominance fight." Emily doesn't move from her position on the stares, her head craned upward as if she is straining to see something at the top of the stairs. "Unless she can smell a difference, we're just people to her." "She thinks she is a dog right now. I don't know if there is much of a dominance thing going on here.. she's just.. staring at me." Lowering himself slowly to one knee, Jeremy offers his hand, palm outwards towards the lupine, slowly and carefully as he watches her, not exactly giving her eye contact. "Hi there Chaney.. you hungry?" Chaney continues to show teeth, and everything in her posture screams 'dominance', whatever Jeremy says. The extended hand is ignored. Then, very quiet and low, a growl. You paged the room with 'Too bad a high-content wolfdog isn't much at all like a Cocker Spaniel. :)'. "Show your throat." Emily says this quickly. "That's what Marcus and Natalie kept doing yesterday. Jesus christ, Jeremy, she doesn't think she's a damn dog. She thinks you're doing a dominance thing and she can move faster than you so your taser is useless." Her hand on the rail of the stairs is shaking. ".. Yaaah.. I'm so dead..." Jeremy says slowly as he takes in a deep breath. ".. Emily.. I'm actually kinda freaked out. Make my will out to Dakota Winters please... an bury me with the laptop." He starts to edge backwards a bit, withdrawing his hand. He tilts his head upwards as Emily shouts up. He bares his throat, trying to take one step at a time. "Emily, just don't freak out, alright? Stay calm and make your way to the front door. If she comes after me, just get outta here." The growling subsides as Jeremy retreats, and the long muzzle gapes open, upper lip wrinkled still to show teeth even as she pants. She walks slowly forward, as if claiming the floorspace that Jeremy abandons. Thankfully, she doesn't actually close the distance between them... though she's still close enough that if she lunged... "She's a predator. Run and her instinct is to chase." Emily's voice is calm, the sort you expect to hear in an emergency room. Sure, she's shaking but she's kept her expression calm. Oh yeah and her chin up so that her throat is bared. She eases one foot back down the stairs, not bothering to look. "Just ease off really really slow, Jeremy." "I am going as slow as I can go.. Emily.. really, make your way to the door. I don't think she can see you yet. I also don't think she is going to attack.." Jeremy takes another step back, then another, slowly, one hand gliding along the rail for support, the other loose at his side. He ponders in thought. If he lept over the banister.. he won't break anything.. maybe. Emily pages to the room: Chaney 1, Kin 0. Chaney, in this fashion, makes it out into the hallway and to the top of the stairs, and there she seems content to stay, watching the two humans retreat from her. Her tail remains lifted, her posture stiff and tall, and she continues to pant while showing her fangs. Emily continues easing backwards. Probably slower than Jeremy wants but that's just the way it is. "If you move fast, I am going to fucking kill you. She can see me, she's right there. She's just waiting for you to give her an excuse to chase her." "If you don't stop freaking out, I'm ganna kill you." Jeremy says. Another step. Pause, count to three, another step. He's nearly halfway down by now. "So.. you wanna.. um.. go out for another coffee after this? Maybe change our pants?" Chaney, very casually, folds her haunches and sits down at the top of the stairs, still watching the pair. Gradually, she covers her fangs, though the bottom canines are still visible as she lolls her tongue and pants. "Look, gothboy, I'm not freaking out. You are the one freaking out." Emily's voice is still calm, no matter the terror on her face. One more step down, then another. She's nearly at the bottom of the stairs. "My keys are in my pocket so if we can manage to get all the way down and out the door we'll be good. I am -so- bitching Marcus out about this one. The whole idea was that I was supposed to be safer here." "I'm not freaking out." Jeremy says with a steady voice, tho' there is a hint of shake behind his words. "I'm just.. scared to death, thats all." He takes another pair of steps, taking in a deep breath. "I think the worst of it is over.... um.. we really shouldn't be here. Marcus is a moron if you haven't clued in yet." "What I don't understand is where the hell the others are." Emily has finally managed to hit the bottom of the stairs and has continued backing up. She's aiming for a wall at this point. Any wall. There's gotta be a wall. "Natalie, Marcus, Cat, whoever. Someone who can talk to her should be here. Especially since she can open a frickin' door." "Maybe the door thing is a new trick? I dunno.." Jeremy finally makes it to the bottom, then slowly turns and heads around the staircase, aiming for the front door. "Lets go." He says, his face white now that she can see him. "I'll send Natalie a text message and bitch about it." Emily has hit a wall. Her hand starts to fumble against it and she edges sideways. She thinks she's managed to head in the direction of the door. "Why the hell have you turned around? Are you crazy? You keep your eyes /on/ the lupus who can shred us. When we are outside w--" She stops. "If she can open that door, she can open this one. Fuck. We can't leave." Chaney lies down with her paws hanging over the top step, tongue lolling. "We're leaving, we're getting outta here." Jeremy says as he lets out a breath. "The door can be passcoded so she can't just turn a knob. C'mon Emily." He has by now, slipped the taser off his belt, opening up the door. He glances over at the kin girl and raises a brow, and even brings out a grin. "You ready?" Chaney, queen of the upstairs, makes no further move toward them. "Are you positive she can't open the door if we lock it from outside?" Emily doesn't move her eyes from the queen of the stairs. At least she's right by the open door now. "I'm not screwing around, Jeremy. Are you -sure-?" "I'm pretty fucking sure she can go Crinos and bust out a window otherwise. But when it comes down to it, us staying /here/ is /no good/. I'll call someone an tell 'em to come over." Jermey says. "But we are not going to kick it here. Hell, we'll sit in the car out on the driveway if we gotta, but not in the house." "Good point. Go." Emily's voice snaps out as an order, her eyes still up on the lupus on the stairs. "I'm right behind you." "I'm already outside." Jermey says after passing through, taking in a deep breath and turning around to wait for her. His hand slips up to the small metal plate near the wall and lifts it up, revealing the ten key. "I'll lock it from out here." Emily takes a deep breath in and slips sideways out the door, saying as she does, "Close it, close it, close it." She never raises her voice; it remains even and calm. No, she just speaks rapidly. This is the first she's taken her eyes off Chaney since the lupus appeared. Thunk. The door closes quickly and Jeremy starts to pound in the numbers. Ssssslide, bolt. He even puts his keys in the door and locks the normal latch. ".. Alright.. that was fun." He says, nodding his head, glancing over to Emily and grins. Emily puts her forehead on the wood of the door and finally allows herself to really start shaking. "Jesus. Fucking. Christ." Now her voice sounds anything but calm. "We gotta call the others. Shit. She can't be loose alone, in case she /does/ go Crinos and break through the window."