[LN] A Waheela Arrives [Closed to Alex, Azula]

[laceandcarnage]

In a small, frozen town in Canada inundated with ice and snow, Istas was growling.

Normally this would cause people to freeze, or step back, or perhaps even consider running very far away. Because while Istas appeared to be a plump young woman of the First Nations of Canada dressed in elaborate Gothic Lolita style, people could usually sense that for all her unthreatening apparel, she was a predator and they should react accordingly. Usually. Not one human seemed to even be aware of her insistent growl, which demanded that she be immediately returned to New York. Istas did not know how she came to be here, but she did not like it and she would immediately disembowel whoever was responsible for this. As soon as she identified who that person was.

She could only conclude that they must be one of the many humans who were irritatingly ignoring her presence.

"You will return me!" She demanded, her speech growing distorted as her canines enlarged, growing sharp and deadly. The fingernails which gripped her dark green parasol with pretty white ruffles elongated into sharp claws. But she did not transform further. Not yet. To transform she would have to discard her lovely black bustle jacket, and she had not yet found her enemy. She would find the enemy first. Then, she would transform into her beastly form. "You will return me now, or I will tear out your intestines and decorate my handbag with them!"

Curse her enemy, for refusing to appear in front of her so that she might tear them limb from limb...

[[OOC: For reference, Istas's outfit]]

Comments

[pridebeforethefall]

"You're free to come talk to It, if you want. If you don't take up Its offer, you'll be free to go."

That was actually the truth. From the sound of it, her running around on her own, with that hunger, could still be a thorn in the side of the Guardians, especially if they manipulated events from the sidelines.

"Where else do you have to go anyway?"

[makeadragonwannaretire]

There was a sigh as if Azula was feeling somewhat put upon by this turn out.

"You know I've noticed that? In my own world I had enough money to buy every hat in the nation twice. But finding a clerk who wasn't trembling became rather tedious. It got a little easier after I filed down my nails." She glanced to her manicure now and noticed they were getting long and sharp again. She hadn't even filed them, was this another form of her powers?

"The hunger you spoke of is not an unfamiliar sensation to me. While I once considered myself above my savage nature I allowed the hunger to get the better of me, and in the process it tore from me all I held dear. Every trapping and finery I had once relished in held out of reach. And before I could even begin to take back what I deserved I was brought to this drab and dreary existence."

It was not something she took pleasure in, speaking of her misfortune and short comings, but this woman had something their forces need.

"Of course you could always stay here and be left wondering and wandering among the all these humans that you can neither interact with nor eat. I've never had to stare at a feast I could not partake of while starving but I imagine it can't be pleasant."

[laceandcarnage]

"Yes, and they will also not give you useful advice on what colours and styles your hat will go best with. Humans are very unhelpful when they are terrified," Istas said, nodding in solidarity with the woman.

"The Hunger cannot ever be defeated, but it can be controlled. Managed. Resisted. It is...difficult. But the rewards are great. When all I ran bathed in the blood of my prey across the frozen wastelands, all I had was the Hunger. Now, I have so much more." Istas frowned. "Or I did, before I was brought here." She looked intently at the man. Kuk was no here, so he would have to serve as her proxy by which to make her displeasure with this known.

But for all her reservations about Kuk, she reluctantly did have to admit that they had one point - she did have nowhere to go. And how could she return to civilisation, when civilsation could not even notice her? If need be, she could survive without her clothes and her precious fashions. She wouldn't be happy about it, but she could do. But when she could not purchase glorious baked goods, or sumptuous pizzas, or mouth watering hot dogs...

"You are correct. I have nowhere to go. But I will make no promises to this Kuk. He has brought me here, so he owes me his...peace offering. But I do not owe him my assistance."

[pridebeforethefall]

"It's a 'no strings attached' kinda thing," Alex promised. "Just talk to It. I promise I'll make it worth your while."

A glowing brand appeared on the back of Alex's hand and he touched it, causing a tunnel to suddenly appear in the alley where the fearlings had been before they flew off.

"Its fortress is hidden. We're able to call up magical tunnels to go back to base."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

Smirking at Istas as if they were sharing some kind of private joke that Alex wasn't in on she started for the portal.

"It really is refreshing to finally meet with someone who has a healthy amount of suspicion about them. You'd be surprised how many people just walk through portals without even a dash of trepidation. Of course yours is born out of logic rather then fear which is more respectable."

Azula on the other hand had gone through the portal out of desperation to be away from the mass of bodies that could not see her. She found it so unsettling to be passing through the world like a ghost without any understanding as to why. Now that she had a grasp on the situation it was more tolerable.

And with one last approving look, from one predator to the other Azula vanished through the tunnel.

[laceandcarnage]

Istas blinked, as Azula disappeared into the tunnel. Logic rather than fear? But fear was logical. Fear told you when to be wary, when to be on guard. Just as it was only logical for prey to fear Istas, so was is also logical for Istas to fear things which may harm her. It was the way nature worked.

But Azula was human, and humans thought strange things sometimes.

"I will speak to this Kuk," she said to Alex, solemn. "Because if I am to willingly stay in the domain of a predator much larger and more powerful than I, it is only the polite thing to do. But if you have lied to me then it is your tongue that I shall feast upon."

And with that, she descended down into the tunnel. She showed no fear, but Istas knew better than to show such fear to another predator. She went because she must, not because she wanted to.

[pridebeforethefall]

"Duly noted," said Alex. "If I were lying you'd be welcome to make a sandwich out of it, but fortunately for the both of us, Kuk's generosity is very genuine."

No, it wasn't, but Alex wasn't about to share that with a stranger. Or with anyone. He already knew the score.

So he played his part.

For now.