Riddles on the Rocks ~Nero~

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Black rocks jutted out over the ocean, like the spines on an animal who needed to defend itself. They glittered in the sunlight, an deep ebony, and were slick with salt water, worn smooth in some places from where the waves were endlessly eroding away at. No doubt it ten or fifteen years parts of these rocks would fall into the dark waters, but for now they were strong. Talbot walked carefully along the ridge, barefeet gripping the stone, as she'd left her shoes on the grassy patch just before the rocky beach along with her jacket as the late afternoon sun warmed her back through the dress shirt she wore. Sleeves and jean legs were rolled up, allowing her fair skin to soak up the sun and the cool touch of the breeze mixed with the droplets of water. The mass of dyed curls were pulled back into a braid, a few soft tendrils floating free on the wind. With no mist this late in the day there was only ocean to be seen for miles around.

Second day in the new land, Talbot was quick the day before to find and set up a secure shelter before night had come. With her things safely tucked away she'd set out to find out what she could. So far she'd met no other people, and it was frustrating because she knew there were others to be found, and she had gotten nowhere other than simply searching out the island. Taking a seat on dry rocks she pulled out the small journal and pen from her pocket, taking quick notes of what she saw, scribbling out what she could make out of the scenery as bleak as it was. It was all she could do, just write, explore as much as she could and hope...

What if it was too late? What if this person was gone already? The one link to her past like smoke slipping through her fingers. The thought swirled in her head, a thought that had plagued her too much as of late at night when all she had time to do was think and sleep, and already it was hard enough feel refreshed with the rest she did get with her bad dreams.

She looked up, out at the vast ocean. Something, or someone wanted her here...that was the only way to explain it even with all her time spent in academia, there was no way to explain this state in any other way. Closing her journal she put it away in her back pocket, giving a heavy sigh as she pulled her glasses off.

Once more there was a feeling deep in her gut, something familiar, strong, pulling at her like a voice calling her name. Deja vu, an urge she didn't know how to describe as she continued to stare out. Was there something she was missing that she should know? Talbot could only hope that she'd finally get some answers as to who the real family she came from was after coming so far, and risking so much to know.

[NERO CALZAVARA]

He was running through the forrest in his human form for once. Long legs, clad in a loose pair of worn jeans, carried him over the terrain quickly. The soles of his feet were fairly tough, always had been. Nero hadn't bothered with shoes since they'd become stranded on this island. He'd found them most annoying before coming here, so leaving them off was a blessing. Maybe it was due to the animal in him, or it could simply be due to the way he naturally was.

The large man shook his head. This was not the time to think about those things. The island was getting more and more populated by the day. He'd made it his goal to find those who were useless and dispose of them. Letting the island run out of resources and starve them all was not the right way to take care of his 'family'.

He'd stopped being bothered about being caged in by this island. It allowed him to be as violent as he wished, and that in turn helped ease some of the tension brought on by his mental imbalance. He was getting a release out of the violence, and that was helping him keep it together just a little longer.

Throughout the day he'd disposed of a number of weaklings, then moved on in his search. There was no use in burrying the bodies or anything of that sort. The island was crawling with animals, shifter and non-shifter alike. Dead bodies would supply nourishment, therein preventing them to lay there and rot. There were few things that Nero Calzavara hated more than the smell of rotting raw meat...

His stomach did a flip at the thought and he quickly forced his mind back on track.

The shifter had made his way around the island and had now reached the north beach. His nose led him to where the young woman was hopping from rock to rock, and he stayed hidden in the shadows provided by the trees, watching. Her hair was an interesting colour, but otherwise...

She didn't seem all too special. There was a strange scent to her, but he couldn't quite place her. Was she a human or a supernatural creature? Perhaps letting his presence be known would bring her to show him or even tell him what she was. Worth a try. He had nothing to lose. Even so, his body remained tensed and ready for action out of pure instinct.

Nero stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight, dark red eyes fixed on the young woman.



tag: talbot
words: 470
outfit: loose jeans and a black wifebeater
notes: yay for tension!

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Fiddling with her glasses she just let her gaze wander off to the dark depths beneath the rocks she sat on. One could swim in the water, but it was cold, and the waves were strong, strong enough that the best swimmer couldn't make it too far out without using up all their strength. Death by drowning, or never being found...it was quite the catch here. She'd been trying her best for several hours now to just figure out just what this place was. It seemed like any other piece of land, but what Channler had said to her when she'd first got here the day before...

This morning the boat she'd come in on was gone, and she was fairly certain that a high tide was not the reason why it seemed to vanish like it had never existed.

"Why did you bring me here? What am I suppose to find?" Talbot asked her shadow reflecting on the water, voice trailing off as she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. It was an uncanny trait of her's, feeling when someone was near, watching. Slowly she rose up, being careful not to slip back on the rocks as she turned towards the line of trees. Seeing the other standing there looking at her, it unnerved her. There was just something creepy about just being watched like that, she felt something cold grow in the pit of her stomach. Muscles grew tense, unsure how to take this new arrival, like an animal figuring out a trespasser in their territory.

"Here I thought I was alone out this way." She spoke softly, making her way further from the cliff's edge, but not directly towards the other. Channler was the only person she'd met so far, and she'd seemed nice, but as amber eyes met the crimson gaze she felt and unease settle in. It felt familiar, but it didn't feel right to her. "Who are you?" The question caught on the soft ocean breeze, her brow furrowing slightly as she studied the man carefully. He looked like he'd been here for a while, perhaps he would know something of the others who lived here?

"I just got here yesterday...I'm looking for someone." She began, relaxing a little more as she stepped in towards him.

[NERO CALZAVARA]

She'd seated herself and was writing something. Was she some kind of reporter? Or was she one of those people who kept a diary? His nose wrinkled a little bit as he watched her. He did not like that she was writing things down. Nero had gotten accustomed to the lack of law and law enforcement around here. And if she somehow made it off this island and back to civilization...

He would not let this woman endanger their way of living.

She said something, most likely speaking to herself, but Nero was not close enough. He only caught a few words. '...supposed...find' His dark brow pulled together. She was looking for something, and writing down information. Nero liked this less and less by the minute.

'Here I thought I was alone out this way.'

He remained as he was, not moving anything except for his eyes as he listened to her speak. Some of the tension in him eased. She was looking for someone, she wasn't a snoopy reporter. Of course she could be lying, but he kept that thought tucked away in the back of his mind. Ignoring her first question he asked, "Who are you looking for?" His voice was deep, a little gravely.

The wolf in him felt as if he were waiting just beneath the surface of his skin, ready to burst out in little more than an instant. Nero kept his eerie gaze on her, watching for any sign that she may attack or run away.



tag: talbot
words: 300
outfit: loose jeans and a black wifebeater
notes: yay for tension!

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Sticking her hands in the pockets of her jeans Talbot just watched the other. No matter what she did or said he didn't seem to react much. He was hard to read, nothing changing in his expression or body language as she stopped just a few inches out of arms reach from him. The distance offered a little comfort as she studied him, his question going unanswered for several moment before her lips parted to reply.

"In all honesty I don't know. Well...I do know but I don't know who they are, all I have are some intials and a letter telling me to come find this place. So here I am." Talbot wasn't quite sure if she should laugh at her own expense or not as she spoke, "Got all the way here, and I barely know where I am suppose to start except for that someone here on this island knows me...and is related to me." She felt in her pocket for the several folded sheets of her letter, pulling out the yellowed and crumpled pages. Talbot was not one to let just anyone see them, and though she had them out she simply did so to make her story more concrete that she indeed had a letter, a set of instructions. It would be a cold day in hell before she handed them over to anyone at all. On a little bent corner the intials C. F. were written in bold black ink, the swirled letters interlocked with one another, the only clue as to who sent her this message.

Looking up to meet the other's gaze she slowly brought her hands back down to her sides. The young woman couldn't get pass this feeling that something wasn't right, a tension bearing down at her that made her fidget, the urge of flight or fight rising up from the pit of her stomach, unfurling like a beast from slumber. Amber eyes narrowed a bit, cautious, curious, "Just what was your name again? You're the only other person I've met here on this island so far."

[NERO CALZAVARA]

Things were becoming a little strange. But he knew he ought not be surprised. This entire island was one stange mass of land, and anything that came into contact with it became just as strange...or simply broke.

So this girl said that she had a letter telling her to find this place? He caught sight of the initials C. F. at on the page, but otherwise couldn't make out any of the words. Nero had liked studying maps when he was younger, still an innocent. And while there weren't many provided in his small hometown in Colombia, he'd sucked in all of the information that he could from the ones that were available in their library.

Nero had never seen a spot of land like this in the Pacific between Australia and Japan. Though of course he wasn't sure as to where exactly the island was realy located. This was simply an assumption. Either way, no one on the outside should know of this island...and things couldn't get off the island once they were on it.

How did this girl receiver that letter?

The shifter decided he wanted a look at it. And while he could have simply asked to see it, this was simply not in his nature. Why lose pride in asking when he could simply take.

"I never gave you my name."

A quirk to his lips was the only warming he gave before his dark skin burst open to reveal coarse black fur. Within seconds Nero was standing there on four legs, fully shifted into the large black wolf so many on the island feared. The same dark red eyes stared out of a much longer face, and his muzzle pulled back to reveal a sharp set of teeth as he snarled.

He was going to tear her limb from limb, and then take the letter.



tag: talbot
words: 345
outfit: loose jeans and a black wifebeater . . . and fur!
notes: dun dun dun~

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Shoving the letter away into her pocket she looked up at the other, his response to her question about him getting no real answer. His smile sent a shiver down her spine, something electric pulsed in the air. Talbot took in a deep breath, as if smelling the air for danger as she began to back up slowly, carrying herself back towards the rocks. The small voice grew louder in her head, telling her to get out just as she watched the other's flesh split open and begin to transform.

"Oh god..." She barely could get her own words out, it was like someone had just winded her as she began to scramble further back. Her heart pounding violently against her ribcage as she turned and took off along the rocky terrain of the beach.

It was hard to make good gain in ground on the slick surface, the constant spray of water from the waves casting up around her as she slipped, catching herself on some of the jutting rocks. Pain jolted through her arm as the sharper rocks tore into her arm. Blood welled up along the cut as she gripped her arm, pushing herself on to keep running along the cliff. She couldn't stop...Talbot had no doubt that the monster behind her was not going to let her live if it caught her.

Getting closer to the cliff edge she was running out ground to get away, a large crevasse splinting right through the rocks. The young woman halted, skidding to a stop right to the edge. It was a good six foot leap across, and freezing waters below, the only other direction was to just straight into the waters risking the sharp rocks below that lined the beach. Turning she looked over her shoulder, looking for where the black wolf was, her mind buzzing with thoughts, trying to think of some way to get away as her panic began to rise.

[NERO CALZAVARA]

Watching her reaction, the horror forming on her face, sounding in her voice was almost like a drug. Nero got off on others fearing him. It gave him and adrenaline rush and something close to a buzz. The 300 pound body shook itself, the shifter settling his fur as well as getting accustomed to the wolf physiology. Changing shape was becoming easier and faster every time he did it.

His lips stretched into something close to a grin, an expression that just didn't look right on the face of a wolf. Nero shifted his weight from side to side, testing the grip of his large paws on the gravel as he watched her run.

A large heart pounded in his chest, ears pointed forward. He nearly ached with the need to move, to hunt that silly little girl with her wild puple hair. The large wolf shook his head again, the skin of the snout pulled back and he snarled loudly.

Just for the sake of frightening the girl further, he arched his neck back and gave a loud howl before he lurched forward in pursuit.

Red eyes remained fixed on his prey as he ran toward her, gravel flying around him, kicked up by his paws. He caught sight of the break in the rock, then watched as she stopped and looked over her shoulder.

Good. He wanted her to see him coming, wanted to feel the fear pulsing off her like something tangible. Nero slowed to a lope, before finally stopping a mere few steps from her. He didn't want her to fall, that would have made this whole little game pointless. No, he wanted for her to get away from the edge so he could tear into her without worry that she would fall into the crevasse.

A deep growl rose from his throat, sharp teeth standing out in contrast against his black fur. Maybe the sound would get her to move.


tag: talbot
words: 361
outfit: FUR!
notes: i love it when he goes into hunt mode XD

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Rocks cut bare feet, warm blood slipped down her arm, dripping falling into the small puddles collected int he hallow shells of rocks around her. She couldn't jump, it would kill her, but she couldn't wait to let the other have her for dinner. Talbot couldn't believe what she'd just seen, didn't know what she'd done to cause the other to come after her like that, some wild animal out for blood. Turning fully she faced the man...no the animal as he padded closer and stopped.

Why had he stopped? The question ringing in her head, though not for long as she saw her opening. Talbot did not think twice about any trap or ploy beyond him just playing with his dinner, but an opening was an opening and she ran for it. Ignoring the pain running through her body she kept moving as rocks gave way to sparse grass. She was getting closer to the forest that edged along the beach, if she could just get to tree line she was sure she could pull herself up high out of reach of the deadly jaws behind her.

The hope that she had did not last for long, the wet grass ever slicker than the rocks. The whole earth seemed to shift out of line as she felt her feet slip out from underneath her. Panic rushed through her as the ground came rushing to meet her. Pain exploded across her body as she cried out.

God, she didn't want to die today, not like this. She'd come so far, seeking out her past, and now this was going to be how it ended?

'No...' a voice unfurled through the tears and pain as she pushed herself up, trying to gather herself together. Talbot felt numb now as she pushed herself over to face the oncoming threat. The blood was pounding in her ears, heart nearly breaking through bones as Amber eyes flashed something darker behind them.

[NERO CALZAVARA]

He sniffed the air quite audibly, catching scent of her blood. His eyes caught sight of the small pools of red forming around feet and this only made him that much more excited. The large wolf was nearly shaking with the need to jump at her and tear out her throat.

No. That would end things too quickly. He would tear a chunk out of her thigh, damaging the artery there. Then after watching her bleed and suffer, he would bite at her arms and at her other thigh. A growl of excitement rose from his throat. Then he would tear into her stomach...

Something close to a whine followed the growl. Nero could taste her the hot blood already. He could taste it on his tongue, feel it soak into his fur.

Just when he felt he couldn't stand it anymore, the woman ran again. He forced himself to stay rooted on the spot for a few moments before giving pursuit. The girl moved quick. Though fear could make people do amazing things. This was another reason he liked to bring fear into others. It made them move faster, made them stronger, which made them more of a challange for Nero.

The human girl fell down, rolled onto her back and he didn't hold back this time.

Nero leapt into the air, his large body threatening to land right on her. The shifter was ready to start killing Talbot, and kill her slowly. If he had his way, it would be a while before she breathed her last breath.

tag: talbot
words: 300
outfit: same
notes: bood and sugar go well together XD

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Seeing the wolf leap at her Talbot felt everything in her body stop, like a hiccup in the system as she held her breath, eyes wide as they watched the arching decent towards her. She couldn't move, couldn't even scream as her body seemed to go into shock...and then a blackness began to seep into the young woman's mind, her last thought being that she came so far to find no answers...only death.

Eyes closed as the body of the young woman began to go limp, just barely catching herself as if suddenly awoken by the sensation. Every muscle tense as the body moved in one rippling motion back upon onto her feet. A grin pulled at rosy lips, white teeth showing a jagged edge as yellow and green eyes opened, neon bright in the sunlight. As they met those of the wolf's. The pink and chocolate brown of her hair faded to the color of shadows as she shook her head, one slender hand pulling back as she side stepped out of the wolf's aim, the hand digging into flesh and fur.

"Bad Doggy...." A purr issued softly before muscles coiled and she threw the other away from her towards the cliff.

"You think I'm going to let you harm this body when I've come to love it so much?" She asked, voice like poisoned honey as flesh rippled, dark fur stretching up along her form as bones began to shift. Slowly, like a graceful dance as her features shifted and grew to be more feline like, a darkness grew behind her gaze as she watched him, licking her lips, "Such a bully...I may have to just kill you as it seems that the hunting here is rather scarce. You'd taste awful, but meat is meat..." Talbot gave a sigh, the sound almost disapointing as she gave a small teasing pout before what was left of the human form finally gave into the form of the large black leopard, alert and ready for the kill.

[NERO CALZAVARA]

Of all the things he'd expected from this situation, what happened next had not been one of them. He'd been so close to the last phase of his little game, then in one impossible move the girl was back up on her feet. His paws hit the grass. Not only has she stood up, but she'd stepped to the side also.

Before his shocked brain could adjust to the situation, a hand sank into his fur and tossed him off the grass and onto the rocky area, with something close to ease. Impossible!

His large body hit the rocks, then rolled before landing on it's feet, paws skidding over the rocky terrain. One particularly sharp stone had burried itself into his shoulder, the thick fur slowly soaking up the blood.

Damn her! His fur had supposed to been soaked with the blood of the girl, not his own. The fur on the back of his neck stood up as he growled at her. She hadn't smelled anything like a shifter before, but now the air was filled with the stench of her and her animal form.

Nero remained on the rocks and watched as the bitch transformed into what appeared to be a black leopard. Could have been a panther for all he knew. Nero had never been all too educated on other animals. He forced himself to cool it a little. This was not a problem. If anything, the woman had made the game that much more fun. Nero wouldn't die from the rock burried in his shoulder, and he could move perfectly fine with it there.

His pain resistance had always been fairly high. It'd had to be.

No need to worry. There were no more surprises up her sleeves. He would tear her apart just as he'd planned to when she was in her human form.

He grinned, then snarled loudly before launching himself forward.

tag: talbot
words: 360
outfit: same
notes: bood and sugar go well together XD

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

There it was, the scent of blood. The large cat gave a low, pleased purr as it paced slowly along the edge of the rocks. The wolf's blood would taste good even though she'd made it a point to insult his worth to her. The beast was starving and she was more than happy to take a few bites out of him as she watched the dark fur matt with blood. She liked playing with her food though, and for now she was more than pleased to let the other try and fight. The more he bled the better this would make this little romp.

She stopped pacing, bright yellow-green eyes flashed dangerously. Talbot knew she was injured as well, gashes along her paw and foreleg dripping slowly as she brought them up to lick at gently. Taking her time the black leopard seemed to almost mock the other, as if to dare him to challenge her. This was fun, and she didn't want it to end.

Muscles coiled tightly as she saw him move, coming at her fast. Even as she saw him she made no movement to get out of his way. Instead she rose up onto all fours now, bracing herself against the rocks, grass and dirt before throwing herself forwards towards him. This was a fight she was more than happy to have with him as moved to crash into him. She was not about to let him destory this body, her body, her toy.

It would be so nice to tear him apart and taste that sweet blood. It was thrilling, just the thought of making him fear the sweet young thing he tried to kill on the rocks before, making those his final thoughts as sharp claws rose up to swipe at the body speeding towards her.

[NERO CALZAVARA]

The wolf's muscles were nearly visible beneath the pitch black fur as they flexed in time with his movements. Nero's body like this was rather large, and unlike those with smaller bodies, he somtimes had a hard time navigating it.

Therefore when he finally reached the black leopard, there was a kind of colision. Nero didn't care. It didn't really hurt him --if one didn't count the claws digging into his flesh-- and he would bring more damage to the other shifter this way.

They both slammed into the grass together, Nero wishing off-handedly that they'd been on the rocks so that the black leopard could receive some more damage from the wall.

Not wasting any time, he dug sharp teeth into the black leopards right, front leg. The wolf bit down hard, trying to pulverise the bone and flesh between his jaws. A deep, meanacing growl came from his chest, and he tried to hold on as much as possible, causing as muc damange as he could with the time given.

tag: talbot
words: 205
outfit: same
notes: shorty post!

[Talbot Emlen Garret]

Crashing across the grass the black leopard held on as tightly as she could, digging in her claws into the dark fur and flesh. She was not about to let go as they tumbled around, kicking up the dirt and grass, sunlight glinting off of the masses of midnight colored fur, blood already falling onto the grass to stain the green blades below. The sounds of the beasts filled the air, warning all others that this was not a place to be if one valued their life.

Claws dug in deeper as sharp teeth dug into her foreleg, a yowling growl rising up into the air as blood spilled over, her claws releasing the flesh of the wolf as she still just a little more, knowing even in her most beast like state the damage that could happen if she tried to struggle out of the grasp.

Bright eyes narrowed as she looked down at the wolf, wishing she’d just snapped his neck the first time she’d grabbed him. The beast was not about to let this thing kill her, or the human body she loved using so much. No, she wouldn’t let him end this here and now…not while she was still breathing. She’s make him regret picking her for a target.

Her body tensed, body curling up under her as her hind legs came up between them…a natural preparation for a cat’s defense to any creature pressing down on her like he was. Kicking out sharp lower claws aimed for the wolf’s abdomen, cutting as deep as she could as claws caught on flesh, trying to force him to let go of her. Lips pulled back from sharp teeth in almost a distorted grin as yellow-green eyes seemed to almost glow with pleasure now at the idea of cutting deeply into his flesh. Even if she didn’t kill him, she wanted him to bleed.