First Impressions

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Cyrus grinned, just barely suppressing a laugh as Ryand'r rubbed his cheek against the pads on his hand. It was certainly not what he had in mind (although he could get used to it). Once the boy was done Werefox let his hand rest on the boy's shoulder. Lightly, so as not to restrain him.

"Information I am happy to give," he replied. "First, when most Earthlings offer their hand, they expect you to take it in yours. It's called a handshake. What I did, I did because I am… not human. No, Ryand'r, most of Earth's people are not beasts who can alter their form. They are called humans, and in fact look like you, except that no human has orange skin. There are very few of us lycanthropes, and I may be the only fox. Most Earthlings look like you, and they consider my kind as monsters."

Feeling his fingers start to tighten with anger, he lifted his hand from the boy's shoulder, so as not to hurt him when he extended his claws. He growled softly to himself.

"They view aliens -- extraterrestrials, like you -- in much the same way. Humans, Earth's main people, can be very bigoted. You must be careful around them, even though you are stronger."

[Sae]

"Monsters." Even in another language, the word left a fowl taste on his tongue. His definition of 'monsters' wasn't anything like Werefox, it was Citadelians. Wildfire unconsciously reached up to rub the scarred skin around his neck. It seemed Tamaraneans were doomed to be viewed poorly by other species, no matter where they went. "Why should I be the one who is careful? The weak should fear the strong. They should fear me."


It was a bold statement for someone who had just moments before been writhing in the dirt crying for help, but little mercy would be shown if the humans proved to be a threat. Wildfire had been a small boy when the Psions took him from Okaara, but this time, his freedom would not be something so easily lost.

[Deleted]

It seemed his words had found a mark. The boy didn't like the idea of being a monster -- and who would? Ironic that his response was to invoke how frightening he was -- precisely what a monster would do. His lips parted into a smile of dark amusement. But Werefox could sympathise.

"Are you so certain that you want to be feared, Ryand'r? It is very lonely at times." Now his smile became wry. Yet at the same time he searched Ryand'r's fae, trying to see whether the boy's words were simply defiance, or if bitterness might prompt him to become a threat to Earth himself. "Besides… humans may be weak, but they are many while you are one. And they are not without their defenders."

[Sae]

"Respect-- respect cannot always be gained in kindness," he began slowly. He hated how uncertain his voice sounded as he grappled with the new language. "But respect in fear is what all species understand. I... do not wish to cause fear, but it if keeps my freedom, then I do not have a choice." 

The young Tamaranean tried to gauge Werefox's responses, wondering what he was truly thinking of him. He wondered if the amused slant of his lips entailed agreement or a harsher judgement. Did he think he was stupid for thinking he could make the humans fear him if needed be? A spark of anger burned in Wildfire's stomach at the idea, but he pushed it down. It was difficult to remember that not everyone was looking for a fight and in his current state, Wildfire doubted he could put up a very good one even if he wanted to.

"The collar you took... it was slave's. I will not wear one again," he added. "And if you are a friend, then I will make sure you do not too."

[Deleted]

"Ah." Werefox's smile became warmer. The boy's halting explanation resonated with him. He was no longer worried that Ryand'r would be a bully or vengeful maniac. Like the therian, the alien just wanted respect. And freedom. At the word "friend' his expression melted further, his ears relaxing and the glow of his eyes shifting from piercing to welcoming.

"Thank you, Ryand'r. We are quite similar; I'm sure we'll be great friends." He bent swiftly, once more picking up the collar as well as raking his claws across the drawings, figuring it best not to leave them behind. The force of his claws was enough to cause the hardened crater wall to crack and partially collapse.

"I figured it was a slave collar. I will never wear one either… I've had enough of being bullied in my life." He held the device up. "I am worried that someone will find this though, and be able to use it for more evil. So I'm going to take it and hide it."

He swished his tail forward. Catching it with one hand, he pushed the collar over it with the other. Although the loop was broken, enough was intact that the bushy fur would hold it in place. In fact shoving it against the lay of his winter coat like that was not pleasant, but it was the only way he could carry it easily with what he was planning to do.

Which was to shift to all fours. He stepped to one side of Ryand'r, so he would have room. Then, letting his tail plume out behind him, his let his upper body sink back to the ground, muscles rippling across his limbs and torso as they accommodated the new stance. He slid his forequarters out in an elongated stretch, then undulated his body forward, rubbing against Ryand'r as he did so.

"Come. I have something to show you."

[Sae]

Wildfire watched with equal amazement as before as Werefox's form changed again, molding back into the creature he had first seen. Unconsciously, he brushed his fingers across the top of the shifter's skull and followed close beside him. He couldn't imagine an evil greater than the Gordanians' or Psions', but if Werefox believed it possible, Wildfire wanted nothing to do with it.

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He gave a soft, happy "chrr" at the touch on his head. He felt he had been right; Ryand'r was more comfortable with him like this. Wagging his tail slightly, he trotted on ahead, deftly gliding through the forest.

"If you don't mind my asking," he said, glancing over his shoulder at the boy, "I noticed you blushed when I assumed my hybrid form. Why was that?"

He continued trotting, figuring they could talk while they walked. He had to keep his tail flagged up; the annoying collar felt like it was slipping off otherwise.

[Sae]

"I did not... do the 'blush'," Wildfire defended, his tone perhaps a bit sharper than he intended. X'hal forbid he appear weak for even a moment. "I--- was... I was ashamed for treating you as an animal when you were not." His eyes flitted away from Werefox as he spoke, half pretending to preoccupy himself with the new surroundings so as not to make eye contact.

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While he did not keep looking at him, keep his head forward to be sure of his path, Cyrus could hear and smell enough to figure that Ryand'r wasn't really comfortable admitting to what he had experienced.

"Oh." The werefox laughed softly. "There is no reason to be ashamed of that, Ryand'r. My kind -- werebeasts, lycanthropes -- we stand on the border between animal and human; we are both, and neither. And I would rather be taken for a beast than for a human." He padded on silently for a bit, dodging among roots and thorns.

"Humans fear us, I think, because we represent something they have lost. We embrace the beast within, while they shun it. We embrace the freedom of nature, while they lock themselves away for fear of it. It is its own form of slavery, loveless and repressed…" As he spoke, suddenly they broke through the trees. They stood on a steep hillside, and below them reared the outer limits of Jump City, and the tall offices and apartments beyond. "Held prisoner by their own fear, yet, all the time, striving to prove their power over nature, to destroy that which they will not accept."

He sat on his haunches. Curling his tail, he looked up briefly at Ryand'r, then back at the urban panorama.

"I know. I have lived under that repression. Behold: Jump City, where I was born and raised. Where not too long ago I too was only a human. That is the nearest major settlement on this world. You could likely find shelter there, if you are careful to avoid the mobs. You mgiht even find one of your own kind. You said you were from Tamaran? One of the Titans is also Tamaranian."

[Sae]

Rather beast than human… Cyrus had yet to paint the humans in any sort of kind light, but as the werefox continued to talk about them and their world, Wildfire almost felt a sort of pity for them. How could they live in fear of their own home? Were humans truly so fearful of difference and the unknown? He could barely fathom how such simple creatures hadn’t been conquered yet.

The prince settled down next to Cyrus to take in the view of the city and its twinkling lights. If he didn’t feel so apprehensive, he might even think the city beautiful.

The towers reminded him all too well of Tamaran and he imagined that perhaps his planet looked similar now, after all these years. Tamaran's cities would be more advanced, naturally, but it still brought some mild sense of comfort. With a long, contented sigh, he leaned forward to rest his chin on his knees with one arm wrapped around his legs and one running through the cool grass. He hadn't realized how exhausted he had been until he allowed himself to relax.

“There is other Tamaranean? Here?" he asked. "For how long?"

[Deleted]

"Yes. She's been here for several years*, as one of the founding members of the Teen Titans." Werefox swished his tail across the grass, curling it loosely around the back of the boys legs as he sat beside him. "We know her as 'Starifre'."

He fell silent. The glow of his eyes dimmed momentarily, flickered, then lit with an angrier light.

"I used to regard them all as heroes. Even if they were ultimately supporting a repressive society, they were still trying to help people. But now I doubt their sincerity."

((*I'm assuming that's how long the Titans have been around.))

[Sae]

"I understand why you doubt," he said, heartbeat quickening. "You have just told me much. These Titans are not honest, not if the Tamaranean claims to be 'Starfire'." The anger in his friend's voice was not lost on him and he wondered too if Werefox sensed his own feeling of unrest. "Closest translation in my language is 'Koriand'r' and she would not be here. She would be fighting for freedom of our people." 

Wildfire buried his nose in the crook of his elbow and he looked away from the city. Whoever this Tamaranean was, they were a traitor and a coward of the worst breed. How dare they flee from the war then have the nerve to call themselves royalty! No such person deserved that sort of respect, not when their own people were still dying or being held as slaves for the Citadel's own sick enjoyment. The new bit of information boiled under the fourteen year old's skin and he began tearing at the grass beneath his fingertips. 

"My sister cared too much of her subjects to abandon them."

To abandon me. 

A stab of doubt and fear made him inhale sharply. He couldn't think that his family would leave him like that, especially not Koriand'r whom he loved so much. They wouldn't, they just wouldn't. The only reason he had been forced to escape himself was that they were all still battling for their own freedom and their kingdom and the people they wished to keep safe would always come first. Prisoners of war simply weren't a priority, even if one was the King and Queen's son.

"...What have they done to you to make you doubt their sincerity?"

//That sounds about right.

[Deleted]

Cyrus looked at him, ears perked. He had expected some reaction, but nothing so vehement. Understanding came swiftly. Starfire -- someone named Starfire anyway -- was his sister. And… royalty? This is epic was his first thought. Then he began thinking about what this meant. Royalty, people enslaved… it was a lot of information.

"I hope she is not your sister," he offered, sympathy in his voice. "What they did to me…" He looked back to the city, his ears flattening out. "They injured one of my friends. A few months ago, there was a major holiday. Everyone was celebrating. Then Starfire appeared, fighting an alien. A large blue humanoid. Shortly after, there was an explosion. And my friend was lucky. She lived. Twenty-three people died." His tail lashed, sharp brief strokes. A growl entered his voice as he continued.

"Their leader, Robin, claimed it wasn't Starfire. But the evidence says otherwise. That means the Titans are lying. All this time they've preached about upholding the law, but when one of them commits a crime, they're above the law."

[Sae]

Wildfire's expression darkened and he squeezed his eyes shut. "That is not Koriand'r," he murmured. "She was not interested in battle, I remember. She cared more for peace. She would not be capable of killing so many innocents."

He wondered what Cyrus would think if he told him that he was and had, many times, though not on entirely in his own will. Feeling a flood of emotions tighten his chest, Wildfire dug his fingers into the dirt and pulled a handful of grass and earth in his fist. 

"The impostor must wish to make enemies of this planet and Tamaran," he concluded. "No one else would be so reckless." Wildfire let the fistful of dirt fall back into a pile on the ground. "The other... humans... do they believe this 'Robin'? There have been actions made to subdue him?"

[Deleted]

He found himself wanting to cuddle the young Tamaranean, to comfort the emotional turmoil he could smell. He wasn't sure what exactly had caused it, but he hated to see people in distress. He did move a little closer, pressing his flank against the boy's side and wrapping his tail around their feet.

"Well, if she did, I at least do not think she meant to. There has been talk that her opponent was the forerunner of an invasion force. I could forgive her for accidentally hurting, even killing, in rage if that's what it was. But I cannot forgive lying and hypocrisy."

The last word was emphasised with a snarl. Cyrus felt rather bad about it since he was trying to comfort the boy and his anger wasn't all that comforting. He sighed.

"I don't think many people believe him, no. But no serious action has been taken against him. Some don't want to believe our heroes are capable of this; a lot of people are afraid of them… and, maybe, the government is turning a blind eye to it for its own reasons."