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Post by Isolade Kachina on Sept 3, 2010 18:07:19 GMT -5
Isolade moved through the shelter like a dancer. The empress was regal and lithe creature. Like her feline companions she has an air of aloofness however unlike her counterparts she was very down to earth. She moved without sound the only sign of her presence being the bells of the beads she had strung through her hair and hanging from her ears. Isolade's lips tipped up in a smile. She passed by the many shifters living in her presence and the many guests of other nature living under her care. She nodded her head as she passed them and they lowered their heads to her. She had never really thought she would like that aspect of being the Leader but it was more of just a respectful gesture than one of them putter her higher than themselves. She didn't think she could bear something like that. She liked the way it was, she was the leader but she was just one of them. She passed a werewolf who had had come to her seeking an end to war and help. He bowed his head to her and she inclined her own back. "I'm glad to see you on your feet." She said sweetly.
"My lady it is a blessing." He smiled. He had been torn apart when she had first seen him. She moved on. Isolade made it her business to keep an eye on all the nonshifters in her presence. She had no idea who was a spy and who was genuine. It took a lot to get Isolade to trust a person, even of her own Pride. She passed several council members who greeted her and tried to trap her in conversation but she politely pulled herself away from it. She wanted to get out among her people on the Beach. She blinked as she made her way into the garden forest between the shelter and the beach. It was beautiful. She raised her arms to the cool wind and breathed deeply it felt go good to be outside again. If it was up to her she would be outside all day and hold council in the evening instead of the morning. She hummed a small ballad and took her loose hair and gathered it in her hands. She tossed it over her shoulder and moved from dust to sand.
The sun was bright and peaceful as the beach was full of all creatures big and small practicing or teaching or just being themselves. It was such a beautiful sight. She lounged back on a bench and gathered her hair again and started twisting it into a long braid. The waves lapped lazily in the calm bay where the beach resided. She watched her people passing by noticing her and smiling giving her a friendly wave instead of the bow that those inside the shelter used. She was just another person out here she loved it. But the respect didn't stop at the beach entrance. "Empress Isolade the courageous, may an old friend be let to help you?" She lifted her head and smiled warmly. "Thank you," she replied and sat up so that her friend might sit behind her. His name was Mistoffelees and he was a cat. She relaxed as he combed her hair and massaged it as he twisted it into a braid. "My empress you seem stressed." He said with a soft chuckled.
She sighed, "You have no idea. Council meeting one after another with nothing getting done. No one can agree on anything. And while the councilors think and talk about things this foolish war is practically on our doorstep." She tried very hard not to toss her head in frustration. "I've gotten no less than seven propositions from either side about allying myself with them. Mistoffelees what am I to do." She really loved him dearly as a friend. He had been her best friend since they were children and her father had often thought that they might be mated when he chose another mate of a similar gender. She loved him just being himself. "Well, Izy, it seems to me that the only thing to do is relax and keep doing what you've been doing. We'll make it out of this peacefully, i just know it. You're no fool and you've seen the war from both sides." He finished her braid and gently touched her shoulder to get her to face him. "You see I believe in you Isolade the courageous, we all do." He said gesturing around at the people moving around them.
"Thanks," she smiled. She glanced up at an eagle cry. "I need to get some stress relieved. I'll see you later." She stood giving him a quick hug before leaping into her cougar form. Anyone who had ever seen it would be awed. She was larger than the average cougar and significantly stronger. She was gorgeous in this form. Sleek and tan her eyes life a forest frozen in time. She paced through the sand loving the feeling of the sand in her paws and the sun on her back. She could just curl up right where she was and nap. However she felt more like running. She started slow but them took long bounding leaps gaining speed and momentum. She used to train people and still she went around and offered advice to learning shifters. She was a hard task master and many, even though they wouldn't ever say such a thing aloud, were glad that she no longer taught for all her tough lessons. Soon after her race began a horse leapt into her race. She smiled through her jaws and they raced the long-legged creature actually having trouble and dropping back.
She panted slowing to a stop near the entrance to their territory. It seemed like suck a peaceful world here in the safety. She sighed and turned back to her home and sat just looking at her people. This was the peace that she cherished.
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Post by Lin Wu on Sept 4, 2010 2:09:59 GMT -5
The beach was as beautiful as ever. The water glistened like a hundred diamonds and the waves lapped gently against the shore. The sand was warm and the sun was shining brightly. This would have been a perfect day, except the meetings with the empress and the other advisors ended with no conclusion. Again. Lin sat on the beach staring out on the water with her chin on her knees. Her nerves were fried from all of the various discussions about what to do. War was no longer turning a blind eye on the shifter pride and Empress Isolade was being made offers.
Shrugging, Lin stood up, it was time to take a break. The meeting had lasted for a few hours straight. Walking by she encountered a child who was hiccupping and switching forms each time. A small smile crept onto her face. "You should try hold your breath and drink some water for ten seconds, that should make the hiccups stop." The young child smiled in gratitude before running off. Lin remembered the time when she almost stepped on her mother after suddenly shifting when she was a child. Her mother was all right, but she was definitely startled. Other times she'd accidentally change when she was practicing martial arts with her father.
Continuing along the way, Lin made her way through the shelter to a piano. Lin made sure it was finely tuned on a regular basis so others could play. Opening up the lid, she let her fingers caress the keys before sitting down on the bench. The song she played was sweet and had a lull to it. People watched and listened to the notes that floated from the piano. Some children stood close by and watched her fingers dance over the keys. Playing the piano relaxed Lin much and let her put emotions into the song. Once the final chord faded away a small applause sounded and Lin stood and took a small bow. She let the children climb on top of the bench and fiddle around with the keys.
Walking back towards the entrance of the shelter, Lin saw Empress Isolade running by in her other form. Wanting to have a few words with her Lin shifted into her horse form and galloped after her. In her horse form, she could run much better than she would in her human form and feeling the wind against her body gave her tingles. It had been a while since she had given herself a long gallop with all of the meetings going on so it was no surprise when she began to fall behind. I must be out of shape. She saw Empress Isolade stop at the edge of their territory. Amazing that they had gotten that far. Slowing down into a canter and then a trot, Lin approached her before shifting back into her human form.
"It's been a while since I was able to run like that. With all the meetings going on I haven't had the time." She said standing next to Isolade taking a deep breath she continued, "I don't think it would be wise to take sides in the war. Although we would play a crucial part in who would win, we would suffer casualties. Also some of the refuges would not take the news well either. They came here to escape the war, not become part of it again. Strategically this would be the best option since both opposing forces would be weakened once the war is over and done with. As two dogs fight over a bone, a third will run away with it. In the end, as long as we stay neutral, the shifter pride will end up the strongest."
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Post by Isolade Kachina on Sept 4, 2010 15:25:26 GMT -5
Isolade watched as the horse approached. It had been such a long day she really didn't want to talk about anything but the weather. She turned her eyes away from the approaching figure and admired the sapphire water for a few moments. It had been an obnoxiously long morning and it was already early afternoon. She turned her eyes back to the horse as it shifted back to its human form. Lin. She resisted the urge to groan. Lin was a good kid but Isolade had yet to determine who someone nearly ten years younger than her was one of her advisers. The girl hadn't given Isolade any reason not to trust her judgment and her wisdom but she had not really given Isolade any reason to respect her. Isolade took a deep breath and sat like a she was a statue built out of the sand she sat in. She locked her icy gaze onto Lin as the girl paced over to her. It wasn't that she disliked Lin it was more the annoyance of getting advice from someone younger, which in the long run when she got older would be a good thing but not when she was still young herself.
Lin was a very sweet child and in fact Isolade liked her very much. She did have good ideas but she was still, in Isolade's eyes, very ignorant of the world around her. However after Lin had made a move to Elya Isolade had taken to listen to her more carefully. One never know what they could gain from another's experiences in the way of the world. The mark on her forehead arched over her eyes and glowed a little in the glare of the sun on her fur. Her ears twisted to catch her words but otherwise she stayed still staring out at the sea. Only the twitch in her ears let on that she was listening. She bared her teeth a little at the words spoken and a growl escaped her muzzle. This was not what she wanted to talk about right now. This little girl didn't know when it was time to stop thinking and just act spontaneously. The girl also apparently didn't realize that she was out here running and in her cougar form because she was trying to avoid the issue and think about it on her own.
With a feline screeching roar that was more meow than growl Isolade swept out of her cougar form and into her human form. "Do not patronize me child!" She raged. At her full height she towered over Lin and she looked down at her her eyes not hiding her annoyance. "We will remain neutral as my ancestors died, as my father died, as I shall die, as my daughters shall die." She tossed her long hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms. Isolade looked down at Lin and sighed, "Come take a walk with me." She turned toward the forest backing the beach where their safety territory ended. Once they were safely under the the branches she heard the call of a sentry. She let out a cougar roar through her human lips letting the sentry know who it was. She heard the flap of wings and a call out to the other birds. She continued undisturbed through the underbrush. "Lin, you are correct that we will come out the strongest but that is not why we are neutral and you must understand that."
She hesitated and turned to face the girl. "Lin, you are young but you are wise. Let it be known that no matter what should come to face us the shifters will not engage in a war." she held up a hand, "Unless our people are at risk then we shall fight as only shifters can to keep their peace." She looked off into the branches, "As was my ancestor's fate he defended this sanctuary from the war on both sides. Making it known that the shifters are not a race to be stepped on." She gave Lin a hard look, "That is what I intend to do." She leaned against a tree and locked her eyes on the girl. "Tell me Lin, why is it that we are neutral? Tell me about the war." This was the clear implication of a test.
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Post by Lin Wu on Sept 6, 2010 4:16:21 GMT -5
Isolade just seemed to radiate annoyance. Perhaps this was not a good time to speak privately of politics. The fact that she was the youngest advisor was not an encouraging factor either. Lin had to work twice as hard to prove her worth. Yes, perhaps this time she stepped out of line a little by pursuing the empress. After all, they both were sick of the council meetings the empress more so than her. All of the other council members were older than Lin and Isolade. It made it difficult to convey new ideas. Even during the job Lin was still learning new things. Although she was an advisor to Isolade, Isolade was a mentor to her. It was a learning experience on both sides. A small twitch of Isolade's ears told Lin she was listening. Though how the message got through to her Lin could not tell. Then teeth were bared and an irritated growl could be heard. This would not be good at all. Indeed it would have been better to bring this up a day or two later after the meeting. Yes, that would have been a wiser choice. Bringing it up now would just provoke the empress.
Not even a second passed after the words left Lin's mouth, before Isolade shifted into her human form, which was significantly taller than Lin. "Do not patronize me child!" Lin flinched slightly. She never took yelling well, in fact, she didn't like conflict that much. Although Lin wanted to look away from her towering leader, she calmly looked back. It would have been childish to look away. Lin observed some of the annoyance turn softer, but the sternness was there to replace it. Obediently, she followed Isolade into the forest that led towards the border of the shifter territory. "I apologize for upsetting you." She said softly. Isolade signaled the current sentry about who was present before continuing on. Lin silently wondered if her father was close by. With her back still turned on her Isolade said, "Lin, you are correct that we will come out the strongest but that is not why we are neutral and you must understand that." Lin nodded silently, if she knew anything, it was that. The shifter pride was not a violent race and would not fight unless provoked. "Lin, you are young but you are wise. Let it be known that no matter what should come to face us the shifters will not engage in a war." Isolade continued facing her and held up a hand as a warning not to interrupt, though Lin wouldn't dream of it right now, "Unless our people are at risk then we shall fight as only shifters can to keep their peace." Lin smiled slightly at the earlier praise, but didn't say anything.
"As was my ancestor's fate he defended this sanctuary from the war on both sides. Making it known that the shifters are not a race to be stepped on." Isolade stated before giving her a stern stare. "That is what I intend to do." Isolade's gaze stayed locked on Lin's as she leaned back. Lin returned the gaze without any strong hint of emotion, however the empress may already know her emotions. She tried hard not to fiddle with her hair or one of her earrings. "Tell me Lin, why is it that we are neutral? Tell me about the war." Lin took a second to gather her thoughts: the observations from Elya and the shelter along with the common knowledge of the pride. "From my understanding, each race has their own version of why the war started. There is no clear evidence of which is the truth or if any are the truth. Our pride is not one to choose violence unless it feels threatened. We owed nothing to any of the races, which is why they did not ask for our help at the start. However as the war has progressed, the opposing sides have eyed the pride. It seems that if we join one of the warring parties we will help determine the victor. Our pride does not want our brethren to die over a war that has nothing to do with us. When I stated that we'd be stronger after the war, I did not mean that we should fight. I meant that the races would not target us as much in their weakened state." Lin chose her words carefully. It would not be good if an advisor didn't even know about the war's state along with the pride's. "The city is becoming more hostile as the war progresses. Other races have talked to shifters. The bloodlust is there, but it is not making much of an effect on the pride. We have you to thank for that. This is about all I know, but I have a feeling there is still much to be learned."
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Post by Isolade Kachina on Sept 6, 2010 17:12:58 GMT -5
She shook her head tossing Lin's apology aside. Isolade bit her lip, that wasn't fair of her to blow up on her but she needed to rant at someone or something, poor Lin didn't realize that she had volunteered just now. She paced through the forest stubbornly stating her stance on the war. She was so annoyed by the vampires at their border she was ready to storm off to the vampire King any day now. She glanced back at Lin every once in a while to look at her. She was not happy at all with how the war was going. It was turning and if Isolade wasn't careful the shifters were going to get caught in the middle and more shifters would die than if she actually declared war. She wished Lin would show some signs of being wiser and start thinking outside of the box. At least she would have an ally in council. She wanted to test Lin and make sure she was up for this job. The councilors would step right onto of her if they thought they could. They had tried that with Isolade and she had had to prove that she had her own mind and wouldn't be a puppet. Isolade was the Empress and she would not be told what to do.
She listened to Lin's explanation nodding a little bit as she did so. Lin wasn't ignorant and she wanted Lin to show her that. Lin had potential but she didn't know how to reach it. Lin was timid and in order to be heard in a council like theirs it took being loud being forceful and using your status as a way to get what you want. She used her status often to get the councilors to listen. She nodded a little when Lin spoke about the war and how it started and how everything went from there. It was when she heard about the city that Isolade's eyes turned troubled. "So things have escalated and they are trying to use my people to turn me one way or the other." She said it more to herself than to Lin. She knew things had escalated because she was getting more and more offers everyday. And all had to be discussed and rejected. Some of the council even started to want to agree with some of the propositions. It made her sick to even thing about her people dying in a war that was not even hers.
"You are correct, there is much still to learn." Isolade agreed. "Lin let me tell you something. You have very good ideas and you are knowledgeable but you do not know anything about the war." She moved on again beckoning Lin to follow. Her voice was softer now and more of informative rather than a lecture. "Lin the war started in two different ways. Some say the vampire attacked first others say the vampire was provoked either way both are dead now and we will never know. However what is clear is that neither is going to back down. It is a war of pride now and something that we will not join. Not only because our brothers and sisters but because there is no cause. In the past the Shifters have joined just wars to keep peace that is how we know our skill in battle." She sighed, "Lin I need to know that you can stand your ground against the council. Against me." She gave Lin a reassuring smile, "You see even I am wrong sometimes and I need to trust you to make sure that I don't make a stubborn mistake that's your job." She sighed and looked off into the distance. "So Lin if I were to tell you: We will join this war if the sky turns red at sunset. What would you say?" She gestured toward Lin and smiled, "Convince me otherwise."
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