resource gathering

"LOOK!!" Melanie shouted as she spotted the large walls of the city. They had finally made it!! After about a week of traveling they had finally found it. She began dancing around Sebastian very excited. The area seemed rather open but they were able to hide in the tall grass where no human eyes could spot them. When Melanie decided to stop dancing she looked at sebastian.

"Now what?" She asked clueless as how to sneak in.

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably under the robes and double checked his wrappings that were on his hands, forearms, feet and lower legs. The trader that they had come across a few days ago had a rather large invintory; when the trader presented the items and placed them on a barrel in plain view... that was the point in which sebastian ripped the arms off of the human and then slowly piece by piece tore the poor human apart right in front of Melanie. He didn't mind humans, but it didn't bother him that he could kill one in such cold blood; he couldn't help but wonder why on earth he hadn't tried to haggle or anything with the human. He sometimed wondered if he habored some hatred for humans in his body. He was pretty sure he didn't seeing how he got along with most humans just fine... when he didn't try to tear them apart or eat one. Giving a shrug he'd flip the hood as low as it would go over his muzzle and then would re-check all his wrappings again. His apendages looked rather normal with the wrappings on them, he hoped that none of the humans that were on guard got too suspicious or tried to remove his robe or wrappings.... That would definately cause some problems; problems he'd rather not deal with in a city such as this. He'd look at melanie as she started to dance around him, after a few moments he'd look up at the great walls that had a coloring a dark grey stone of which surronded Toron. He'd tilt his head to the side as melanie spoke; he had learned to listen to what she had to say over the last week; it gave him reason to speak less and think more since he was now working on keeping them both relitively safe. Then again he never really had to think much living in a forest or living out in the wilds of the world. Melanie had a point, how where they supposed to sneak in? It hadn't occured to him really. He'd rub the back of his hooded head and then look down at melanie again before speaking "Well, I figured we'd walk right on in; however it'd be wise to enter at night so that they don't get suspcious of my apperance. Not many want to show their faces at night from what I've seen." He'd shake his head slowly "we could try now; and if that fails..... they might have a drainage system that we could sneak in through as well. No doubt they may have a local thieve's guild we could ask to get us in as a favour that'd we return as soon as we could..." Sebastian would muse and continue listing off ideas "there's also climbing the walls at night when the guards shift posts... I'd have to carry you for that... we could also quietly kill the guards posted on one area and slip in. But that'd leave an after effect and we'd have to get the hell out of this place as soon as we could. But from what I've seen.. a few witchunters have come in and out, so that'd be a bad idea to mess around with a city under their protection." He'd finnally stop talking and continue his musing in silence; it was obvious he had put a lot of thought into the prospect of getting into cities. His tail would struggle underneath his cloak; he had it wrapped just like his other four appendages. He didn't want someone to see the human skull that he carried as well; humans had this wierd thing about their deads remains. He had wrapped it onto his tail so that it wouldn't make sound either. His hands would clasp together with his robe draping over them so that you couldn't even see his wrapped hands; it gave him a somewhat mysterous look until you looked at his eyes... they glowed with a dull white light under his hood; it made him quite intimidaing to people not used to his strange eyes alreay. The only other bit that seemed to stick out was his bone plate, it pushed his robes out a little bit from where ever it touched them; making it seem like he was wearing some sort of exotic armor. This only added to his rather interesting apperance... unkwown to Sebastian a few golden threads trailed back from his horns and through his hood. They left a small trail with each time he moved and disapeared the moment they got a foot away from where they had appeared. With finality he'd take a small step towards the gate and look back at melanie "If this doesn't work... we'll have to find a trader that'll sell us maps and supplies that is outside of the city limits."

Melanie listened to Sebastian's rambles rather impatiently she walked back and forth imagining his plans in her head. Simply walking in at night seems like the best approach; it would be more difficult for guards to spot the abnormalities in the dark.

"Okay are you done rambling?" Melanie asked with a bit of annoyance in her tone. The whole week they'd been together she never heard him talk like this. It was worse than when he mauled that helpless merchant....she couldn't even watch that ahe had run off to throw up only to come back and see a bloody Sebastian and no body. Of course this led to her throwing up more.

"If so i suggest we get going while its still dark." Melanie looked at the horizon to see the sun was about to rise in the east.

Sebastian eyed the large gate that was nearest to them; there was the standard two guards outside of the gate. He'd muse to himself for a few moments before turning to melanie; his jaded white eyes would make contact with her hazel ones as he started to speak.

"Sorry, I just don' want to miss any detail now that I'm worrying about two people's saftie istead of one. Lets go then; remember keep it quiet cept for the occasion well placed bark or growl or whatever..." he'd say as he started to walk over to the gate.

The guards that were on duty seemed like they had just been put on duty; odd since sebastian was sure they probrably had been there for most of the night... Going to have to remember to enter this city at the hours before dawn.... Sebastian thought to himself as he waved one of his wrapped hands and bellowed a friendly greeting.

"Hello there! We wish to gain entrance to your city!" At the voice the guards started and then replied with the normal
"what's your business at our city?" Sebastian replied with what he hoped was a good enough answer to placate these guards
"We're here to get supplies, food, water and a map or two if possible!" the guards on duty shrugged and waved Sebastian and melanie in. Once the gates had closed behind them the streets were basically empty save a patrol or two. Sebastian would turn to melanie and in a low voice
"We'll get to the market before it opens so we can deal with everything quickly" he'd shift uncomfortably as his tail tried to writhe under the wrappings he had placed with very little success.

After entry was granted Melanie turned back to see the guards were chatting as if nothing happened.

"I cant believe that just worked" Melanie whispered to Sebastian as they continued walking to the the market area of town. Still watching the guards she tripped over a loose rock on the path.

"I meant to do that...i was uh...testing the ground." Melanie lied out of embarrassment.

Sebastian followed melanie's gaze and then let out a small shrug as he noted that the guards went back to talking. they must not care as long as we don't cause trouble... he thought to himself. He'd look back at melanie as she spoke giving a small nod along with a whisper "Maybe they get strange folks alot more often than we thought... or they don't care." he'd look up at the sky noting that the light was starting to creep into the city. Everything was becoming slightly more defined; he could start seeing into some of the stores as they passed them now. When sebastian heard Melanie trip he couldn't help but let out a chuckle and would pat her head softly "Well, let me know if we can dig here when you decide to test the ground again." Sebastian would stop by a likely looking store and peer in "Remind me to get us some weapons that work well with claws or biting in the future..." he'd mutter looking at melanie "What do you think we should get first? Map? Supplies? or maybe we can stay here a while and figure out the locals so when we stopby next we can just get right down to what we need...." Sebastian twitched his ears as he spoke; noting the clomping of boots and the soft creeking of boards as several of the shops opened thir doors the moment light touched their house.

Melanie rolled her eyes as Sebastian left his sarcastic comment. He asked her to remind him to pick up weapons then asked her what we should get first.

"Well i think we shou...." she started to answer but got distracted as a family walked by the food in the market area. She knew them. After twelve years they still looked relatively the same. The only difference was that they seemed happier and had two other children. Seeing this Melanie's head lowered and tail fell.

She walked toward the family completely forgetting Sebastian. As she neared the little girls got excited and ran to hug her. She was taken aback by this but quickly embraced it and nuzzled them. They were her sisters afterall. All of a sudden her heart was filled with joy she loved them automatically and wanted to be in their lives so bad. Of course her parents would never allow it. They wouldn't want their new and improved daughters to be tainted by their freak of a child.

With this thought Melanie looked to her parents who were standing there very shocked. Obviously they recognized her too. Slowly and gently she walked out of the girls' embrace and toward her parents. They seemed almost frightened by her presence. Melanie tried to nuzzle them too but they pushed her away and ran to her sisters pulling them away.

"Come on girls we dont know where that mutt came from." Her mother looked at her with obvious disgust as she said the word mutt before dragging her new daughters out of sight.

Melanie sat and whined watching her sisters wave back to her.

Sebastian paused and watched the ensuing scene from a distance; it was odd that melanie had suddenly cut off like that. Sebastian made sure to stand still so that the family would not notice him, he caught one word that the mother had said it was sorta distorted by the slight distance but he understood it non the less. When melanie didn't walk back to him; he decided to go to her. When he got next to her he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and with a hushed voice he asked "What was that about? You know them?" he'd look down at melanie not sure if she wanted to talk about this or not. He wasn't sure if he should offer to help or not either, this was a testy situation that should be handled from a neutral standpoint on his part. No need to take a hostile action towards these folks unless he had a really good reason. His ears would flick backwards to the sound of a few more shops opening. He wasn't going to move though until melanie answered though.

Sebastians hand felt warm on her shoulder they had never come in contact with eachother before so she was shocked by the warmth. Before answering his question a couple tears escaped and she had to paw them away.

"That was my family...well the adults were. Before the kids came into the picture i was forced to leave them...I dont know the girls...but i like them" Melanie explained under her breathe hoping Sebastian could hear and no-one else. She looked up at him then quickly back down he seemed genuinly concerned. She wiped away the last of her tears before standing up. "lets go." She whispered again.

Sebastian slipped his hand back into his robe after melanie told him to; it seemed that she was rather distraut over this. He shifted uneasily as people started to walk past them; he knew they were giving the both of them strange looks. He whispered in english "That explains alot... I'm sorry to hear that... now that people are around I would suggest switching into Canine speak; humans don't understand it gennerally. If there's anything that I can do to help let me know." He'd finish in english before glancing about as more people started to filter into the streets. Once we're talking in canine I think it'd be a good idea to go to the first shop... sebastian would think to himself his hands clenched under his robes; the claws were starting to fray the wrappings already since they were meant for another purpose other than disguise.

Melanie cocked her head to one side. canine speak? Dogs have a language?

"er bark bark pant woof" She said with a questioning tone. What did he expect of her? This was nonsense noises could not be intelligent communication.

Sebastian furrowed his brow and then let a loose chuckle eminate from his mouth. He'd make a soft growling sound that in canine meant "that reminds me..." and then lean down and whisper into Melanie's ear in plain english "Do you even know how to speak canine? The first tme I met you I thought you just had bad grammer; but now it seems as though you don't know what you're saying; since I doubt you wan pinnaples to dance with strawberries while wearing hats." Sebastian would say his face hinting a bit of amusement under the hood. it's possible that she could be using a different dialect of canine and I'm just translating it wrong.. but I can't ingore a hunch. sebastian thought to himself his ears flicking back and forth beneath the hood.

Melanie heard his growl as if she understood him. When he mentioned dancing fruits though she suddenly got extremely embarrasses.

"uh, I guess not...to tell the truth i thought it was just noises not an actual language." She whispered back watching the streets begin to get crowded with people. "can you uh..teach me?" She figured there couldn't be much meaning to limited noises so Sebastian would be easily able to tell her the secret.

Sebastian chuckled once more and then let his eyes dance from each of the random folks that were giving him and melanie odd looks. He'd crack his knuckles and then whisper into her ear again "It'll take some time, Canine is like trying to learn any other language. They all have codes in them. Once your used to that code... the language is yours. I don't see why not, while we get to the next city I'll teach you some of the basics of speaking canine... but for now supplies first... we'll start with the map and then get some food later." he'd stop talking after that and look around for a moment before jerking his head towards a shop with a large sign on the front that said some fancy word for map makers. Sebastian took slow but steady steps towards the store(easily able to keep pace with him if one were to follow), people that were walking by gave him a wide berth; not one of them wanted to mess with the cloaked stranger. The guards and some of the witchhunters that passed by gave him wierd looks as well.

Melanie started getting nervous with all the eyes on them but continued following sebastian like his loyal dog. She was excited to learn a new language especially one that would come in handy in later travels. Hopefully it wouldnt take too long to learn so she could communicate with other demon dogs...and normal dogs better.

Thinking back she remembered why no wolves ever tried to claim her territory. She thought they were scared of her being all tough. Turns out they just thought she was insane. When i get home im setting things straight

Little did she know once people go out to adventure they rarely come back home. She may never see that place again. Just like she would never see her old house again.

Thinking of this brought tears to her eyes she wanted to see her sisters and play with them. She wanted to watch them grow up.

Sebastian opened the door to the fancy pants map store; he held it open so that melanie could come in. He would prop it open so that melanie could come in; he didn't want her to be outside all by hereself especially in a town that niether of them knew too well. He'd approach the shop owner who at that moment had chosen to stand behind the counter. After a few moments sebastian started to talk to the fellow; about where they were heading. The owner of the store got a thoughtfull look and then pointed sebastian towards a rack of maps. He then stated a price per map which sebastian cringed at slightly; sebastian looked through the maps compairing qualities and accuracy. When he found one that he liked he would take it over to the salesman and begin to haggle with him. For most of the time the merchat wouldn't budge; it wasn't until the wrapping of the hand he was using to hold the map broke and showed the merchant his razor sharp claws. This knocked the price to 75% and that's where the merchant wanted it to stay; Sebastian had no problem with this. He would pull out a small bag in which he would count out a bit of the currency that the trader had on him. The shop owner took the money and then polietly asked Sebastian and his dog to leave his store. Sebastian turned to melanie and held up the map which had a container around it; it seemed as though venture one had succeded. All they needed was food and maybe a guide if the currency the trader had was enough for this.

Melanie got ready for a fight when she saw Sebastians claws break through the wrappings. When nothing big happened and the two left with the map she looked back at his paw.

"We should find some stronger material for your wrappings" Her advice was more than obvious but she wanted to get it out anyway. Convieniently across the street there was a clothing store. "How much money we got left?"

Sebastian stashed the map into one of the inner pockets of the robe; it was awefully conveinient that they had inner pockets. He'd have to remember to do that with the next cloakish robe that he got after this one got torn to shreds or something. Pausing to look at the shredded wrappings he couldn't help but cringe as his other hand tore out of what had secreted it. He'd pull out another currency pouch and hold up the both of them to melanie "We got about half of the one from spending it on the map, I think we have enough to get some clothing; seeing how these wrappings don't quite work... and then get some food too... maybe a weapon... Do you want anything? Like a scarf or a hat?" he'd ask not sure if she wanted anything anyway since she really didn't seem the type to wear clothing seeing as she was a wolf.

Now that he mentioned it she realized she would need some clothes for when she became human again but she had no idea what size she was.

"Um....i'll take a big robe. Like for aomeone about a foor shorter than you." Melanie responded deciding she could get something simple for nor untill she knew.

Sebastian secreted the two pouches into his robe and then nodded before walking over to the store front. He'd peer in and note the large collection of robes, shirts, pants, and alot of belts; he did not see any wrappings. He'd turn his head back to melanie and sigh softly "Maybe I could get some metal guantlets and some metal boots... I dunno. what color robe do you want?" he wasn't sure what she wanted this for but he was fairly certain she wouldn't be able to disguise herself like he was able to. When he turned back to look into the clothing shop he saw the shop keeper start to put out gloves; she had some odd ones that was sure. Some didn't look like gloves at all and others looked like large cooking gloves. With a shake of his head he'd pull the door open and then prop it; the owner was just about to say something when sebastian gestured at melanie. The shopkeeper did a lil "eeeeeeee" and then ran over giving melanie a scratch on the ear with a hug before returning to her counter. Sebastian had blinked twice while the shopkeep had moved; he muttered something in canine then began to shop about the store looking for gloves and a robe that fit the description that melanie had given him. He would keep a ear perked in her direction so that he could hear her when she was close to him when she whispered; being a werewolf had it's perks.

They went into the clothing shop where they had many items there for the choosing. but before she knew it the shopkeeper squeeled and ran to hug Melanie. She stepped back startled and just as quickly as she got there she was back at her counter.

Moving over to the robes she picked a long blood red one with a hood that looked like it would fit the average adult woman. She grapped it between her teeth and dragged it to Sebastian.

Sebastian picked out a pair of belts with straps on them that would enable pouches to be well secured to them. They were decently made and well priced; he and melanie could wear them without a problem. He'd look at the gloves; but none of them would be strong enough for resisting his claws over time since they were all made out of silk. He'd take the red robe with the hood from melanie; with a shrug he'd add it to the pile of stuff that he was going to buy; he checked the prices and cross referenced how much money they had left. They had a full pouch left if they just stuck with what they were purchasing currently; sebastian would check over the quality of what he had grabbe one last time before leaning down and whispering into melanie's ear "all right, anything else? we got one full pouch left that we need at least half for food."

Melanie looked around for something else they may need but she couldnt see anything she really needed.

"We should save the money in case we need it in our travels at all for emergencies" She intelligently noted. While Sebastian finished buying materials she wandered outside she hated waiting and felt like walking around. It wouldnt be hard for either of them to spot each other again so she just headed toward the food market without him.

Sebastian put the belt on under his robe and then attatched the pouch to the belt. He'd wear the other belt above the other one so and would offer to give it to melanie once the two of them managed to snag an room at an inn or something. He'd tilt his head to the side and then would itch at his snout that was still hidden under his hood. "all right I'll save the rest..." he'd mumble softly before turning back to the shopkeeper who gave sebastian a strange look at the mumbleing. He payed for the red robe and then thanked the shopkeeper for allowing him to shop here. Upon turning about he'd frown; melanie was not present which bothered him. Upon exiting the shop he'd stash the red hood in the largest of the inner pockets and glance about to see if he could spot melanie. He shook his head and started to head towards where he assumed the food market was located. He hoped that mel didn't get into any trouble.

There were alot of strange people here and alot of them had looks of determination as if they were going to rid the city of the other stange people. This must be the witches and witchhunters.

Melanie looked back to see if Sebastian had finished in the shop when some guy with a rope got behind her and tied her up using the rope as a leash of sorts. In order to get Sebastians attention she howled and whined to signal her location. She knew she made no sense now but thats exactly how Sebastian could find her.

"Hold still you stupid mut!" The guy ordered of her but why would she hold still they would probably try to put her down. Instead she bit the mans leg and out of agony he let go of the rope and Melanie ran back to Sebastian tripping over the rope the whole way.