Bewere

[stronglikebear]

Yuri sighs as he trudges down the corridor. He's been feeling grouchy the last few days, his temper shortening and his hunger growing. In other words, he feels just like he does every month. Even though he's just had dinner, he finds himself thinking longingly of breakfast.

He also finds himself thinking of Daine as he checks each of the doors he passes, making sure for the fourth or fifth time that they've been put back together right. He made her promise not to come visit him -- or at least, he told her she had as good as promised and that he'd hold her to it, even if she said no such thing herself. She should never have come to see him the first time, and he won't have her on his conscience because she came again and got hurt or turned. Caught up in his thoughts, he isn't careful enough with the second door, and burns himself on a spoon. Without making a conscious decision to do it, he lashes out, hitting the door so it swings and rebounds off the wall, rattling the silverware. Sheepishly, he sticks his fingertip in his mouth and hurries on -- he has time yet before the transformation, but it's getting harder to keep his head.

He's several steps into the room with the cage before it registers that he's not alone. Freezing in the middle of the room, he lets out a huff that's halfway between annoyance and despair.

"Get out."

Comments

[wildmage_daine]

Daine silently thanks any listening gods that Yuri's inclined to go outside as she flaps her way towards the exit and out into the night. There's a two-legger heading towards the station entrance, and she swoops at him with a screech, driving him back. There aren't many other pedestrians around, but there's a fair amount of traffic on the road they'll have to cross to get to the park. At least it's not moving too quickly, and she's not sure Yuri will have the presence of mind to realize the cars contain people.

As she circles back towards the entrance, she sends her magic out into the park, looking for help. It's a task best suited for birds, and most of them are roosting. There are a few owls about, though, and Quickbeak's flock is nearby and eager to help. Daine's a little concerned at the thought of the crows getting involved, as their night vision isn't very good, but there's a full moon in the sky and the city is never very dark. Daine urges the owls to wait in the park, and calls over the crows. If Yuri has a whole flock to chase, he'll be more likely to ignore any humans, and there's plenty of light for the crows, here.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri tries to run up the last five or ten feet of stairs, stumbling and tripping and finally climbing out into the light of the city. The rush of sights and scents and sounds is overwhelming; as he stands blinking at the world, he completely loses track of his winged tormentor. He lumbers toward the road because he sees light and movement there -- surely he can take on anything and everything, including cars.

[wildmage_daine]

As Daine waits for the crows to arrive, she watches Yuri from above, ready to swoop down if he starts to go for anyone. Within moments, Quickbeak is in the air beside her, the rest of the flock wheeling around them.

What is that doing out here? Quickbeak asks, staring down at the bear in astonishment.

Long story, Daine replies. He's - ill, so he won't listen to reason, and I'm worried he'll hurt folk. Can you help me keep him distracted? If we can get him to the park, there won't be so many two-leggers about.

Sounds fun! Quickbeak says, and a few of the other crows chortle their agreement.

Just be careful, Daine orders. He'll swat you right out of the sky if you give him half a chance.

Quickbeak caws her understanding, then dives for Yuri, who's almost reached the street. She buzzes past his head before climbing back out of reach. From a different direction, one of her flockmates does the same, giving one of his shoulders a peck in passing.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri growls at the cars in the street. One or two have stopped as their drivers spotted him -- but others (possibly piloted by brighter humans) speed away, tires screeching. Huffing in annoyance, he moves like he's thinking of chasing one, when suddenly something flaps by his head. Stopping and rearing back in surprise, he's still unprepared for the second black shape, and gives an incensed bellow when it pecks him. Hackles literally raised, he turns on the spot, trying to see where the birds have gone.

[wildmage_daine]

The crows take turns harrying Yuri, always approaching him from whatever direction he isn't facing and quickly climbing out of reach. Daine, meanwhile, watches for a break in traffic. When she spots one, she folds her wings and drops.

Come on! she says with a screech as she buzzes past the bear and into the street, towards the park. The crows follow from above, ready to resume buzzing Yuri if he gets too close to Daine.

[stronglikebear]

Get away! I'll kill you! Yuri's complaints can probably be heard blocks away. He grows more and more frustrated as the birds continue to harass him, denying his efforts to swipe them out of the air or catch them between his teeth. He whirls and rears, snarling and roaring to tell the birds exactly what he thinks of them.

Then one, a light-colored bird -- the bird from before! -- swoops low and stays low. Yuri huffs in disbelief, expecting another attack from behind -- but since she obliges him by staying near the ground, he lumbers after her, casting glances up toward the sky before he decides they're done hitting him and concentrates on his target instead.

[wildmage_daine]

You'll have to go faster than that! Daine calls back to him. She hopes the taunt will keep him interested; more than that, she hopes he picks up the pace and gets out of the street and away from where most of the two-leggers are concentrated.

Not that the park is necessarily empty. She calls out to her nocturnal friends: Are there two-leggers in the park? Where are they? If she knows where they are, she can steer Yuri away from them.

[stronglikebear]

Not once I tear your feathers out! he retorts, imagining it with only momentary satisfaction. Huffing and puffing, he breaks into a proper run again, trying to close the gap. He's back out of the street before he realizes it, following where she leads.

Unfortunately, Central Park is never entirely empty of people. Fortunately, it's not exactly a nighttime mecca, either.

[wildmage_daine]

Within moments, the People are getting back to her, letting her know where the humans in the park are. Daine thinks she should be able to keep Yuri away from them, but any that end up in the bear's path might find themselves suddenly harried by birds until they move.

Keeping Yuri off the paths seems like a safe bet, so once they're in the park, she glides into the trees, slowing a little to encourage him to follow her. If you want them, come get them!

[stronglikebear]

Were he to see any of those people, Yuri would doubtless be ready to give up his pursuit of this frustrating owl. He crashes through the undergrowth, his breathing loud in his own ears. This is harder than he expected; he thought somehow that once he got out in the open, it would be nothing but screams and destruction. Get -- get back here! he insist, slowing again.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine could use a bit of a rest, herself. She lands on a branch and turns to face him. I'll just wait for you here, shall I?

She hadn't expected him to tire so quickly, which she supposes is a good thing, but she still can't help worrying about what's going to happen, next. If Edgar finds Kuiv quickly, back-up might be on the way, but she has no way of communicating with them or letting them know where they are (though Yuri's puffing and bellowing are hard to miss). More worrying is the thought that they might be found by someone else: the local authorities, or even Romac. She's not sure if she should be luring him toward one of the open meadows where he'll be easier to spot, or keep him in the underbrush.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri growls, stepping closer. The burning in his paw seems to have only gotten worse, and now that he lets himself slow down, he's limping noticeably. He stops, panting and watching her, trying to decide if he can sprint forward and get her before she takes off again.

Injured paw held lifted whenever he's still, he stumbles closer again in indecision. Hate animals, he informs her. You should be slower.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine notes the injured paw with concern, though she can't help thinking it might also be turned to her advantage in a pinch. It's not as if healing it is an option, for several reasons.

Now that he's marginally calmer, she decides to try and coax more of Yuri out of the bear, if it can even be done. I'm not really an animal, though. Daine, remember? She considers reshaping her head back to human, but if he doesn't know her voice, he likely won't know her face, either. Besides, it would take magic she's unwilling to spare, given how long she might have to be out here. You found me here when I first arrived. We're friends, Yuri.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri's hackles go up, but he doesn't come any closer. You're prey, he informs her with a snarl. Without the thrill of the chase, though, that niggling voice at the back of his mind is back. He does know that name. He does know Daine.

You brought that boy down there! he suddenly exclaims angrily, teeth bared as he surges several paces forward.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine unfolds her wings a little, but doesn't take off. He's starting to remember things, and if he gets swept up in another chase, she'll lose him. No, she replies firmly. I'm sorry he upset you, but I didn't bring him. He just found us on his own. It was an accident.

[stronglikebear]

That just earns a sound of frustration. Nothing in this world makes sense. Impossible, he argues, though he's not sure why he's so sure that's true. Things would be so much easier if he could just grab the owl and eat her. He's wising up, though, to how fast she is.

[wildmage_daine]

If I really wanted him there, why would I have shoved him straight back out? she asks, tilting her head at him. Odd's bobs, Yuri, I was trying not to upset you. That was the point. And it had gone ever so well. Like last month, when I told you stories.

[stronglikebear]

I don't know! Yuri lets out a roar of frustration. How is he supposed to know what she wanted? He feels confused, and a little bit like he's done something wrong. He doesn't want to feel that way; he wants things to be simple and fun.

[wildmage_daine]

The faint twinge of guilt she feels from him is encouraging. I just wanted to help you, Yuri. That's why I'm here, remember?

As long as he's more or less stationary, she sends out another general inquiry into the park. There aren't any two-leggers in the immediate area, and none have emerged from the base. The crows have returned to their roosts, though she doubts they'll actually allow themselves to sleep until this mess is resolved. The owls are ready to help if she needs them, but she tells them to hold off for now.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri groans and swipes at the nearest bush with his injured paw. It doesn't help in the slightest.

This isn't fair! he objects, giving her a dirty look. He turns and sniffs the air, tilting his head to eyeball the moon. I'm going, he decides, finally lucid enough not to be completely obsessed with the thought of catching Daine -- but not so clearheaded as to remember that he really should be lying low right now.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine shuffles along the branch, unsure if she should let him wander, assuming he picks a safe direction, or if she should try encouraging him to chase her again. I'm coming with you, she announces, flapping over to a branch that's high enough above him that he can't leap for her.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri snarls up at her, but keeps walking. As he nears the trunk of the tree that is her current perch, however, he has a sudden flash of insight. He rears up, thumping his paws against it and drawing his claws down the bark in his efforts to shake the tree and dislodge her.

[wildmage_daine]

Hey! She has to bate furiously to keep from toppling off the branch, and once she's upright, she releases her grip and rises into the air with a screech.

[stronglikebear]

For the first time since he started pmsing feeling the hints of the change in the last few days, Yuri laughs. It's mainly recognizable as a mental laugh; the huffing sound he makes doesn't sound all that different from when he was trying to catch his breath. Enjoying himself, he scores deep scars down the tree before thumping back to four feet -- and then three as he's reminded of his hurt paw.

[wildmage_daine]

Hilarious, Daine deadpans, heart pounding. A moment later, though, it occurs to her that they could make a game of this. She lands in another tree a few yards away and glares down at Yuri with a snooty, Don't do that again.