Joker.{Can't}.Stay.{Out}*.Of... (Wolfie!!)

[.Rabid Lycan.]

(( no problem ))

“Huh? You expected me to keep track of this journey? Hardly the smartest of ideas—use your head!”[/font] He slowed to an amble, glancing about with owl eyes as if noticing the surrounding woodlands for the first time. “Maybe we should retrace our steps…”[/font] He paused, an ear twitching. “Oh, wait, that was why, wasn’t it? Retracing your oh-so-adventurous travels, no? And it looks like our destination’s upon us—look sharp!”[/font]
True to his observations, the mouth of the forest emptied into a sparsely coated field, which quickly dead-ended at a miraculously tall rock face. The eyes roamed upward, the sandy hues melding into pastel crimson and faded pewter. Ivory smears splattered the canvas, and dissolved into rustic chocolate as the sky kissed the stone, vague cotton formations billowing far overhead. Suddenly miniscule and insurmountably insignificant, Icarus could only stare in awe at the massive tower—itself only a puzzle piece of the entire mountain range.
“…anything familiar?”[/font]

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

She slowly gazed over the landscape, snickering at his small comments about her not using her head. "I say, do you honestly think I use my head very often? Dare I say that it is actually the opposite, my dear fello."[/i] She grinned just the slightest, and then scanned the area for anything that looked familiar. She frowned just the slightest, and looked around, not answering as she tried to figure out which direction she had come from.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

His legs roamed of their own consciousness, curiosity dragging him toward the rock face on some invisible conveyor belt. All the same, his ears—or one ear, at least—remained in a determined vigil, listening for the quick retorts to Icarus’ own verbal repertoire. “Huh? Your head? Well, erm… touché.”[/font]
His feet found the upward slant of stair step boulders, and Icarus aimlessly conquered a few stones before glancing back at his searching companion. “You win this round, you cheeky little thing. Still, anything come to mind? Do any of these rocks shout out to you?”[/font] He sat himself down, flicking a few loose pebbles with an idle paw. “Any déjà vu?”[/font]

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

She didn't answer as she began to wander forward, lowering her muzzle to search for any kind of scent that would tell her who had been this way. Yet, the only scent she picked up was a strange one--not her own scent. With a curious look on her face she slowly looked back to Icarus, and tilted her head to the side. "Your going to think that I'm crazy...but this is not me. Yet, the blood trail says otherwise."[/i] She muttered softly, and then looked back to where she had come from. It was strange, yes...very strange.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

“Hurm? A blood trail?”[/font]
His giddy, pleasant smirk shrank along the edge of his muzzle, a swath of russet fur swallowing his impish grin. His descent achieved in a fluent spring, Icarus landed neatly on the earth and padded quietly to Joker’s side. Sniffing curiously at the crimson splatters, he twitched an ear and made a soft tut-tut sound with his tongue.
“Strange indeed. And crazy? Never—but what do you mean, ‘it’s not you’?”[/font]

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

She shook her head, and answered. "You got a nose on the end of your face, use it. It's not me...technically. Obviously, I've been through here if you look at the blood spatter, and then at my shoulder. Yet...technically, that isn't me."[/i] She shook her head, trying to think of a way to make the words flow together to make it easier for him to understand, but she wasn't sure if there was any way of that happening. After all, she didn't understand it fully herself. It was strange. Really strange, and it didn't seem right to her.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Puzzlement flourished across his maw, pure willpower forcing his brow from rising in confusion. He scented the scarlet smears, whiskers trembling with every forceful inhale. Emerald gaze flashing to his companion, his head tilted to one side. “That… zone you slip into, like when you attacked me that one time—it has something to do with that?”[/font] That weird fog that crept down—damn, that was class A creepy material. Dangerous, too. Privately, he had the urge to ask her more about the incident, but opted to restrain himself further—whatever that mist entailed, it probably wasn’t that pleasant to talk about.
How often does that happen, I wonder?

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

For the first time in a long time; a look of total helplessness passed over her, and she looked over toward him with eyes that looked as if they belonged to a scared, and lost child. Forcing herself to look away; her triangular audits were pulled to her crown as she tried to figure out what exactly went on. She nodded slowly, and said "Yes...I think it just might. These...attacks have been happening more often. I haven't figured out what triggers them, and now they happen at lease twice a week, if not more."[/i] Her lyrics were forced as she focused on a green blade of grass; hiding her gaze from him so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. "It might have to do with where I travel...or with who I've been with..."[/i] Her voice trailed off, trembling at the end as if they were brittle, and weren't meant to last long. Still, one lone crystalline tear slipped down her cheek, and fell to the sod.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

As the solemn confession unfolded, Icarus was dubbed with a sense of helplessness. He studied her, a pair of blank olive stones watching every quiver of her lips, and sighed inwardly. Watching a girl cry—that in itself was something he hated to do. Now watching Joker, this strong, witty wolf—watching this wolf in such a mess? His gaze dropped, and he caught sight of a spiraling splash of a teardrop against the rustic sand. Automatically, he advanced, brushing his flank against hers.
“Hey, it’s alright. We can figure this out, okay? And whatever happens, whenever that happens… it’s not your fault, Joker. We can figure it out.”[/font]

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

She inhaled sharply, and shook her dome as if she were telling herself that her fears were foolish, and silly. She mustn't focus on the negative. Still, it would be all the better if she knew from whence her origins came from. She knew nothing of her past, nor did she know of her family, and who they were. She didn't know if this was a curse that was meant to kill her one of these days, or a curse that would cause every one to fall away from her. And her worse fear?
That that monster will take over her once and for all, and she'll be forced to do it's bidding.
That thought in it's self was scary, but she shook her dome once more, and said "Yes, you're right. Now then...What happened exactly the time I attacked you? Do you remember if you said anything...did anything? Where we were, what happened?"[/i]

[.Rabid Lycan.]

It was almost eerie, like feeling one’s way through a haunted house and tripping blindly along the corridors, knowing that somewhere—nearby—a demonic ghoul would spring from the shadows. Well… almost. It was still her, still Joker. Whatever’s happening, it sure isn’t her fault. Besides, she’s… fun. Can’t blame her—can only try to help her, and try not to get killed in the process.
“Well… I recall playing by a river. Erm, I splashed you, and such… I believe I also offered to catch you a fish or something, and then you started getting angry with me. You started stammering, and…”[/font] He paused, pursing his lips in thought. “There was also a mist that crept up out of nowhere. And then you attacked me, and you regained control of yourself.”[/font]

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

She winced, and looked down for a few moments. They had been playing in a river. Maybe it had to do with how fast her heart was beating. There was only one way to find out... "Hey? I'll race ya!" And without giving him much more warning than that, she took off at a full on sprint, spiraling through the woods at a fast pace. I have to get my heat pumping faster... She was thinking, and that's just what she was going to do. The wind was tugging on her canvas, pulling the tendrils of fine hair. This would do it. It had to work.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

…excusemeh?
For several moments, Icarus remained rooted to the spot, unable to comprehend what was happening. One minute, the world was fragmenting into ruin. The next, tag.
Did I miss some vital connection? Did I zone out for about twelve hours straight? Am I dead?
Finally, his traditional senses obliged the scene, and he gave chase. Not quite sure what he was doing, or why he was doing it, he sprinted after the blur of a wolf ahead of him. No rhyme, no reason… granted, that’s wonderful and good fun, but what are we doing? I mean… what if it sets her off again… The thought startled him out of focus, his legs still moving with a will of their own, but a sort of tension building with every stride.

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

That's exactly what she was hoping would happen.
Her heart was hammering in her chest, but it wasn't nearly enough. No...there had to be some other connection. She suddenly turned around, and pounced on him playfully. Bingo. It was almost as if he got her heart racing just that much. Just that much that turned her into...this. Him or any other guy she met along the way. It was like a electrical shock that started it. The mist slowly started to creep in, and she yelped, and backed away from him. If she caught it just in time, maybe it wouldn't take her. With a look of determination, she looked away from him, and shut her eyes. It slowly started to fade away, and once it was gone, she looked toward him once more.
"I think...i've figured it out..."[/i] She muttered.
Did this mean she was cursed to be alone for ever?

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Sideways, that’s what it was. Everything. The world was topsy turvy, his paws carrying him through a funhouse with no exit. Luckily, it was a rather pleasant funhouse, and his calm demeanor was well suited for any cheap scares. But, then again, some scares were hardly cheap…
He choked on a yelp, tackled by this blur of a form. Sandwiched to the ground, his thoughts stirred a mile a minute. …is she going to kill me…? Then, just as he was about to appeal to her better senses, she dragged herself away from him. Seizing the opportunity, Icarus rose to his paws, and realized that she was still in possession of her gift.
Well, “gift” being the kinder term.
“I’m afraid I blinked about halfway through that scenario—care to fill in the blanks, Miss Joker?”[/font]