"Raven...my name is Raven."



It was never common for someone to pronounce her name wrong, let alone, not understand the reference behind it. Yet each time she told someone her name, the common response was, 'like the bird' and she had grown tired from such a thing. So, to save her from the trouble of going through that process again, she was willing to beat him to the punch. However, it would seem she was caught in a trap. As the well-toned boy in the baggy pants began to mutter under his breath, over and over again the word 'Bird,' she realized that she was losing any chance she had left that he would call her by her name correctly. A harsh sigh escaped her pink lips as she crossed her arms in front of her, not too pleased with this predicament. Heading for the exit after him, as he commanded, her arms would uncross as she slipped through the sliding, turning her head around.



"Fine...you can call me Bird. Well, come on Tobi, let's get you some food."



Dropping down to all fours, that familiar twinge of pain could be felt as her bones began to shift and crack, as that familiar feeling of her entire anatomy began to change. Comforted by the cold embrace of that familiar predatory mind, she started to move getting the natural feeling back in her paws. As she began to run she felt the presence of the male leopard get awfully to close to her. As his pace would increase, it was only natural that she would match his. It was common, when the pack would run that the weakest would be the one behind, and she didn't want to be that in this case, even though they were not pack members. Yet when his golden eye would roll back, she noticed his black ears would lie flat causing her to hold her pace back, to give him the lead. It was difficult for her to be in this position, fighting the natural need to be in front, and each time she would match his pace she would growl and throw her head back forcing herself to slow her pace down. Silent grey paws would barely touch the docks, as he matched his pace with her. She would move her head, attempting to show she was trying to accept this new found position, as she allowed his head to be in front. Her grey trimmed ear heard his growl, and her ebony head would move as she pointed her muzzle to the left guiding him the direction they needed to be.



"To get you food...lots of food...safe."



She knew exactly where she was trying to take him. This dock was filled with different objects that one could be within the black market. Want the fur of an illegal animal? Come to the docks. Are you looking for some sort of jewel that had blood spilt upon it whether in the mines or in fights? Come to the docks. Looking for some magical cure that holds illegal crushed up items, and this very elixir is the only thing that could save your life? Come to the docks. In one her nightly strolls she had accidentally stumbled in this one place, and how could she deny herself this chance to embrace a side of her she was always meant to hold? The familiar feel of the wooden docs changed to cobblestones as she tilted her muzzle to the right, slowing down as they made the turn, still allowing him to be in the lead. Her black tail would sway side to side balancing herself out as they continued to head towards the building that housed the trapped prey. Tilting her head to the side, her pace would falter slightly as she looked at him confused.



"Why are you...looking...at my tail?"



Her tail would straighten out at the very mention of that particular limb. Her pace would slow down as she neared a rather large building that had dimmed lighting. The scent of man was stale, no one had been around in this abandoned area of the docks for awhile. As she slowed herself to a stop her head would move side to side as those sharp blue-grey eyes looked for the old entrance way she used before, but also sneaking a peek at his own tail. It was spotted, of course, but his tail was rather long a bit too long to her liking. She was very sure he would be capable of tripping over such a thing. She would move over to an abandoned box and jump up, and then turning around tilting her head to the side.



"Your tail...is really...long but pretty."



Turning back around she would jump towards the fire escape that was attached to the building. Moving swiftly up the steps, the metal staircase far too narrow to allow the two to walk together. For the time being she would have to lead, but her tail would lower giving the sign that she was not the Alpha right now. But as soon as they reached the top of the roof she would step quickly to the side allowing him to get back in front. Slinking quietly towards the opened window, she would stick her head inside seeing the catwalk was in perfect spot for them to land safely. Jumping down she would lift her head taking in the scents of the variety of animals that man had stored here. They would be coming back the following week, with more, and right now was the perfect time for them to sneak in and get away. Carefully she walked down the catwalk, heading for the ground below, ignoring the sights of the various dangerous animals in their tanks. The lighting was low and the only light in this part of the warehouse was from the eerie blue glow coming from the numerous snake, alligator, and turtle tanks. Her pace would slow down as they approached a brighter golden light. Her ebony form would stay low on the ground as she crept up closer. There underneath the golden like was a herd of impalas grazing in the pitiful makeshift pasture man tried to make. Keeping herself low within the shadows, the thrill of a possible hunt had caused whatever snippets of humanity she had gone. She was embraced by her animal instincts, something she preferred only because it made the pain of her past go away.



"See lots of food for Tobi...safe..."

Instead of tearing through the small man-made pasture to attack an impala at random she would force her lithe scarred frame to lie low on the ground. Her ears pointed forward as she stayed still. Her head would tilt to the side, blue-grey eyes meeting his golden ones that reflected in the dimmed light up ahead. It had been such a long time since she was offered to partake in the joys of hunting with another. Always she was denied and perhaps tonight she would finally have her moment. She was good. This she knew she was good. Yet he was the one in charge. She led him to food, and whether he wanted her help or not she would do as he wanted. Looking back to the impalas, that continued to graze not noticing that they were being watched by two hungry predators, the broken wolf would look up to the equally broken leopard whispering softly, asking permission.

"Can we hunt together...you can get food- all the food. I just...I just want to be...wanted."

I'd Rather Feel Pain Then Nothing At All

Raven