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Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Jun 27, 2014 19:47:11 GMT -5
OOC: This is a joint training thread between Ōkami Shihoin, Third Seat of the Second Division, and Caedir din Sahra, a Beast Clansmen. Training will take place in the wilderness beyond the Rukongai districts, deep within the forests where Hollows and criminals reside. This training will be for the purpose of earning TP.
"Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband...I'm coming..." - Ōkami Shihoin
Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Jun 27, 2014 20:13:11 GMT -5
Breathe in. Breathe out.
His breaths were beginning to come in more slowly now. He wasn't fighting for breath each time he breathed as he had been a few moments before. In. Out. In. Out. His breathing was slowing down, and he felt he could now control it. He was out of shape, and he knew it. He didn't look it, but he was. Never before had he gotten that fatigued while tracking. This was a first for him. It was also a sign that he had been away from training too long. Lately, he hadn't been training as hard as he should have. As a result, he had lost some of his stamina.
While his breaths grew softer and slower, his heartbeat did the same. He could no longer feel it thumping against his ribcage as if trying to escape. He could no longer hear the rhythmic beat pounding in his ear. He could no longer make out the beating of his heart, which meant prey with sensitive hearing couldn't either. That was good. When tracking, one had to be completely silent. No sound could be made. Noise led to being discovered. Being discovered led to the prey escaping or even death. Thus, he had to be silent.
His body was flat against the earth, underneath a tall green bush. He had been laying there for about 5 minutes and he was about to decide on moving when a noise to his right caught his attention. Immediately, his body went into action. His eyes reacted first, scanning the immediate area. It was instinctive the way he meticulously scanned every detail before him. It was out of the corner of his eye that he finally caught it. From there, everything else was instinct as well.
His body lunged from the bush towards the shadow he had seen from the corner of his eye. There was no need for him to take any further glances at it. Just one glance from the corner of his eye was enough. This was the extent of his training. His powerful arms and legs propelled him forward from that prone position and within milliseconds, he was upon his prey. His nimble fingers were already clasped around the hilt of his blade, and with a quick swing, the cold steel of the blade cut across the creature's throat. There was a spray of blood as his body came to a stop to the right of the beast and then he leapt backwards, kicking off of the tree behind him to propel himself up into one of its branches. From there, he looked down upon his prey to marvel at his work. Well, that was a bad choice of words. He preferred not to take any sort of enjoyment from this assignment of his. Had he been able to handle it his own way, he would have shown a little more mercy.
One hollow down. Throat slashed. Massive blood spray. I should have cut the head off completely, but there's not enough time before others come.
Enter Shihoin, Ōkami. Age: 900. Appearance: 35. Height: 6'0. Weight: 190 lbs. Current Status: Head of the Shihoin Family. He was head wasn't he? He didn't feel like he deserved such a title. He was nowhere near the man his father, Shihoin Jiro, had once been. The man had died too soon. It was a shame, and it saddened him to bring up the thought again. He hadn't even been able to bury his own father. He hadn't even been informed of the death until he had returned. Why did you have to go and die before I returned? He clenched his teeth and swung his blade, both cutting into a falling leaf and flicking the creature's blood off. From there, he sheathed the blade and paid his respects to the slain hollow. Turning, he leapt off of that branch and moved to another, deciding to travel in this way to his next objective.
"Get it all back." Those were the words that had inspired him to once again lend his support to the Soul Society. Had it been left up to him, he would have continued mourning. Continued living in despair. Never once seeing the light of the day any longer. Those words, however, had touched him, and thus he had set out to get it all back. A small smile formed on Okami's face as he remembered that day. The man was quite charismatic. He knew how to use his words and he knew exactly what to say to raise Okami's spirits. ”There are some things I’d like to discuss with the Head of your family. Possibly work with him on. If that isn't you, then I'll be on my way..." He had quite the way with words, Okami recognized. He came to the realization that that man would one day make a powerful ally on his journey to reclaiming the Shihoin reputation. That was why he had taken his advice. That was why he had once again enlisted and begrudgingly allowed himself to serve under a Kawada.
His body stopped suddenly and he landed in a high branch, overlooking a good portion of the forest he was in. His eyes once again scanned the area behind the tinted lenses of his goggles. He bent down to crouch on the thick branch, making sure every movement he made was as silent as could be. He had learned the art of stealth and tracking from the best. He doubted there was anyone else better at it than himself except for his Captain. Speaking of the Captain, he wondered why he had sent him on such an assignment instead of someone from the Onmitsukido. Okami was no longer apart of that organization since he had returned. He would eventually find his way back into its ranks, but for now he wanted to remain separate from it. Whether it was to run away from the memories he had of missions with his father while apart of the organization or not were unknown.
Just then, Okami saw something move in the bushes below him. It probably wasn't his target, but he still found it quite suspicious. His gaze moved towards the bushes below the tree to the right and focused on the shadow he saw moving behind it. Whatever was hiding there was consciously keeping its movements quiet. Was it watching him? Or was it just another predator hunting prey? He wondered whether he should stray from his own mission to check it out. If it wasn't his target and just some wild animal moving tracking prey through the forest, he would be wasting time in bothering it. However, if it was his prey and he tried to get a closer look, he could risk the creature getting away from him again. Okami groaned mentally before deciding to stray from his mission to check it out. He knew it probably wasn't the best thing to do, but he needed a break from tracking the second hollow. Afterall, it had been almost a whole day anyway. So with that, he leapt down from his position in the tree towards the bush the shadow hid behind. He made sure to land quietly enough. From there, he crept up on the creature hiding behind the bush. He didn’t realize just what he was about to get himself into...
Post by Caedir din Sahra on Jun 28, 2014 0:12:39 GMT -5
The soft crunch of leaves, the slightest rustle of moved twigs; these sounds caused the twitch of feline ears, the shifting of dark brown eyes as Caedir paused in his walk through the forest. The cheetah had been on one of his usual forays away from the place with all the people, their... society, he believed they called it? The feline Beast-Clan member had always been uncomfortable around humans, just as they were uncomfortable around him; humans tended to dislike him for a reason he had not yet been able to fathom, and as a result, Caedir tended to stick to the outskirts of the district he lived in, and often spent many days out in the wilderness beyond the human buildings and roads. It worked out for both sides; humans didn't have to be uncomfortable or wary around him, and the cheetah didn't have to deal with their animosity.
However, on this particular foray, something caught the feline's senses. A rustle, a disturbance in the trees. Caedir wasn't sure what it was, but he automatically froze, bending at the knees to be lower to the ground and better hidden in the foliage. Though he was no expert when it came to stealth, he knew how to keep himself hidden, to make most other predators unaware of his presence. Of course, if they knew he was there, he would have to run, but the cheetah was not concerned if it came to that; speed was where he excelled, and there were few that he could not outpace. Caedir preferred to avoid confrontations if at all possible though, so that he did not need to rely on his ability to run in order to survive.
Lately, however, there had been an increase in the number of mask-creatures—Hollows, humans called them—within the forests that Caedir roamed. He had encountered several in the past few days, usually fleeing rather than choosing to combat them. The few that he had been forced to fight had not been permanently dealt with; for whatever reason, the black-clad humans could cut a mask-creature with their metal tools and it would dissipate, but Caedir's efforts would never do more than knock one out or incapacitate it. The cheetah had decided that since he couldn't kill the creatures that attempted to attack and devour him, he'd simply avoid them to the best of his ability. That had been enough to keep him alive, though it certainly did not make his trips into the wilderness very enjoyable.
Believing that the sounds heralded another mask-creature, Caedir moved carefully, slipping out from behind the bush in which he had been hiding and making his way to a nearby tree, one that had a branch low to the ground. A push with his powerful legs had the cheetah up on the thick branch, and from there he quickly ascended, getting into the upper foliage. It was much harder to see his dull, spotted coat amidst the faded leaves, giving him the camouflage that he desired. Additionally, few of the mask-creatures tended to be up in the trees; the majority of the ones he had encountered lately had either walked on the ground like he did, or flew above the trees in the manner of a bird. It was the closest thing to a safe haven, hiding in the trees, though with the increase in mask-creatures, there would be no catching a comfortable nap in the upper boughs, warmed by the sunlight. It was just too dangerous.
Crouching in the upper branches, surrounded by a sea of dull off-green leaves, Caedir let his eyes scan across the ground below him. He hadn't heard anything since the initial sound that had caught his ears, yet the feline was cautious, having been surprised before. The cheetah had feline patience, thankfully, allowing him to settle into a semi-comfortable position, knees bent beneath him and his weight forward so that he could push himself out of the trees in a heartbeat and be ready to run. The claws on his feet dug into the wood of the branch slightly, improving his grip, and his muscles were only slightly tensed to avoid cramping. He was coiled like a spring, ready to dart away given the right stimulus. Until he was sure the possible threat was gone, all Caedir could do was wait, and watch...
Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Jul 4, 2014 21:06:43 GMT -5
He stopped in his tracks. The Shihoin heard the faint rustling and he stopped. There was movement from his prey, and from what he could tell by sound alone, it was fast. This much was for certain. Had he given himself away? No, he couldn't have. He was too skilled for that. No, there was no way that he could have given himself away no matter how long he had been out of training. During his time in that place of endless night, this was his life. During his time in that place full of sand, his stealth skills were all that had saved him. In that time, they had become his bread and butter.
Whatever this is, its senses are on par or even greater than my own. Could it be some wild animal?
There was no other way to explain it. The Shihoin Head was second to only his teacher when it came to stealth and hunting. The only way he could have been discovered was by a superior prey. A wild animal or something else with senses as great as his own. This was what he figured, given that he had taken precautions to keep himself as stealthy as he could for this mission. The normally loose fitting black robes of the Shinigami were tailored to hug the Shihoin's body tightly. The long sleeves, which were modified onto the kosode, were even tight-fitting on his muscled arms. His garb was similar to that worn by the Onmitsukido themselves. The only difference was the black flak jacket he wore that had a Shihoin family crest stitched within a white circle on the back. This he kept open so that the Shihoin family crest tatooed on his chest would also be visible. There was no way his dull colors would be unable to blend in with these surroundings. So then, he had to have been sensed as he approached. Within, he groaned mentally since this had now gone from a small sidetrack of his mission to possibly an even larger sidetrack. He wouldn't hear the end of it, and yet still he pressed on.
No prey is going to escape me...
A little prideful he was being at the moment, but the Shihoin Head couldn’t afford to care at the moment. He saw this as a way to test himself. He saw it as a way to keep himself on his toes. To keep his skills sharp for when he finally ran into the second hollow he was supposed to be hunting. So, he made his way stealthily behind the bush he had been hiding within before and waited, listening to his prey move. His ears picked up the movements, though he was unable to discern an exact location. He had heard the creature scurry away from him in a direction to his left where a large tree stood next to the bush he had drawn near to. There was no way the creature would risk coming out into the open if it knew he was here and therefore he assumed that it had moved into the tree in order to further camouflage itself and stay hidden. Unfortunately for that creature, Okami was too good at this.
He decided that it wouldn't be best to follow the creature directly. Instead of going up that same tree, he could circle around. However, he had to do it in a way that the creature wouldn't see him. He knew that at the moment, his prey had the vantage point. So, he needed to find a way to take it from the rear. To do that, however, required him moving away from where he was now, but he knew that any movement he made now might alert the creature once more. Luckily, he had just the thing to keep from being heard again. He had tried to abstain from using any reiatsu to conceal himself and to do this mission using only pure skill, but he would have to break that promise for now.
I'm not using this for the mission. So technically, I'm not breaking any promises, right…? Actually, on second thought, I’d rather not hear anything from Captain Kawada about having to use techniques for this mission…
The Shihoin head had to make sure to be careful about what he was going to do next, having decided that it was best to test himself rather than take the easy way out and use some of his Shihoin stealth techniques. He was going to have to rely on pure skill now. He reached behind him, snagging up some of the small twigs that lay there behind the bush with him. Where he was positioned now, the creature wouldn’t be able to see him even with his high vantage point. The bushes he had chosen to hide behind were too large and could conceal him well enough in his crouched position. He waited a few more seconds, listening for anymore sounds. He was sure his prey was being just as silent as he was in order to discern the Shinigami’s movements. He threw some of the twigs he had grabbed to his right, far from where he was currently hiding. There was no way the familiar sound of the twigs snapping as they hit the ground wouldn’t catch the creature’s attention. When they did, his prey would most likely look in the direction of the sound, thinking Okami had gone in that direction. This would give Okami a window of opportunity to make his move.
His body moved quickly, silently towards the left as soon as the twigs landed. He was crouched low as he moved quickly through the brush, making his way towards a tree just at the end of it. This one didn’t have any low branches which he could climb up on to make his way into the tree so for now he just had to use it as cover. He would need to find another way to continue moving around the creature because he was sure the same trick wouldn’t work twice. His body slipped quietly behind the tree. He hoped that he hadn’t been seen by the creature. He peered out from behind the tree, making sure he kept most of his body from being seen. From where he was, which was more to the left of the tree (OOC: right from Caedir’s viewpoint), he had a better view of it without having to peer too far out. From here, he would watch and wait. He listened intently for the creature’s own movements to make sure it didn’t slip away after hearing the twigs breaking. When the coast was clear, he would then begin to make his way even further left and eventually circle around to the back of that tree.
"Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband...I'm coming..." - Ōkami Shihoin
Post by Caedir din Sahra on Jul 9, 2014 22:00:16 GMT -5
Caedir let his breathing slow as he settled into a slightly more comfortable position, still not sure that his pursuer was gone. His nose twitched as he tried to sift through the various scents in the air, but being among humans as long as he normally was had made his senses somewhat dull; the cheetah couldn't pick apart the natural smells in the air. The smell of grass, of leaves, of wood and wet soil were all present, but there were a hundred little scents beneath them all, and with his time spent among the humans, Caedir had stopped being able to recognize them as easily as he had back when he had actually lived in the wilderness.
A snap of twigs drew the cheetah's attention, however, and he immediately tilted his head; it wasn't a rash, fast snap of his neck, but a slow roll and a small motion while his eyes turned to find the source of the sound. The predator was still nearby! Caedir froze once again, his whole body tense, his claws now gripping the branch even more tightly as he prepared to push off and spring away, to run through the forest as fast as his legs could take him. He had yet to meet more than a small handful of mask-creatures who could pursue him, and none as of yet that could keep up for long, but that didn't mean that this predator wasn't different. Caedir's survival instincts told him to always be alert, to be cautious, as life was a fleeting thing. And because of that, his instincts were screaming for him to flee.
Decision made, Caedir quickly dropped to the ground, catching himself with unsurprising grace. Though he would not see his observer, Okami would get a much clearer view of his prey... and get a surprise while he was at it. The man may have expected a wild animal, but it was obvious that the Beast-Clan member was far from an ordinary animal when he came into sight. At a glance, he looked very much like a cheetah, with a yellow, spotted pelt, rounded ears, and a flattened-looking muzzle, but immediately it was obvious he was different. Standing on two legs, Caedir was also wearing very human clothing, albeit somewhat tattered since his outfit was made of hand-me-downs and scavenged goods. Still, an obvious gray shirt hung around his shoulders, albeit somewhat loosely, and a pair of ragged jeans with the knees missing and the bottom of each leg torn. Despite being barefoot, though, the feline's feet had no difficulties in the root-strewn terrain, the pads on each sole protecting them from harm.
Dropping down into a crouch in the brush, unknowingly doing so in a manner similar to the way Okami had concealed himself before, Caedir paused and let his head rise slowly above the concealing shrubbery around him. The cheetah's dulled colors, his coat somewhat dirtied by the dust and dirt and his clothing gray in shade, allowed him to do so carefully without most noticing if they didn't know what they were looking for. What Caedir wasn't aware of, however, was that he had an audience who had seen him leap down from the trees and had gotten a good look at where he had landed; if Okami continued watching that spot, he'd see the cheetah's head peering over the brush, looking around for any threat.
Fortunately, at least in Caedir's eyes, he didn't see any predator lurking in the trees in any direction. Mask-creatures tended to be large, a good deal bigger than humans, so they had a hard time concealing themselves even in the forest. The cheetah's ears didn't pick up any sounds out of the ordinary, either, so finally, after a minute of slow deliberation, Caedir finally decided that he was safe. Rising from the bushes with a sigh, the feline didn't even bother to brush the dirt from his worn clothing, instead more concerned with brushing free the leaves and twigs from his fur. It seemed he had evaded pursuit for now... better than falling prey to another predator. His relaxation was spoiled for now though, it seemed; perhaps it would be better to get back to his makeshift den in the area where the humans lived. The cheetah probably had a job request from the post office waiting for him...
Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Jul 10, 2014 0:15:51 GMT -5
So it's...not a hollow?
The Shihoin Head cocked an eyebrow at the creature that had suddenly dropped down before his eyes. He had originally believed himself to be stalking a wild animal or the hollow he had been assigned. He peered from behind the tree, taking in every detail of the creature now standing before his eyes. He peered from behind the tree and marveled at the site of the anthropomorphic cheetah. "It's...even wearing clothing and standing on two legs. He was suddenly reminded of one certain Captain. That creature resembles Captain Souretsu, at least what I've read about him from reports. Okami had yet to meet the lion Captain, but reports were enough for the moment to give him an accurate enough description of the Squad 9 Captain. It was also said that he was a drunk. Okami didn't like rumors or spreading them, so he wasn't too keen on believing that. It was something he would have to see for himself when he and the Captain were formally introduced. For now, he wanted to know just why Caedir and Captain Souretsu were so similar in appearance.
Could they be related to one another? Okami had never seen or heard of any anthropomorphic Shinigami before hearing of Raion. Actually, he had heard of one other animal-like Shinigami. His name started with an 'R' or something like that. Former Squad 8 Captain. Okami had had to read up on alot of things he had missed out on during his unintended vacation. There was still alot he had to learn about the current Gotei 13. The Shihoin continued watching the creature, even as it crouched low in the bush it had dropped down near. He even watched as Caedir's head above the bush to peer over it. He quickly ducked behind the tree to make sure he wasn't seen. When a few seconds passed, he peered out once again. It seemed his prey had thought everything to be safe for the moment. Oh how that would have cost Caedir had Okami actually been hunting the creature. Since he wasn't, he would let it slip. But he also felt it necessary to alert Caedir to his mistake.
"You let your guard down quite quickly." Okami spoke from behind the tree. The Shihoin head's voice would come as a surprise to Caedir, who had begun walking away. Caedir had begun walking away and believed his predator to have been long gone. Okami was going to teach Caedir the error in his thinking. He had no way of concealing the location of his voice, and therefore the anthropomorphic cheetah could easily lock onto his location. It didn't matter, however, for Okami didn't plan to remain hidden forever. There was no more fun in the hunt. He had accomplished his goal and had been able to sneak up on the creature; though, finding out that his prey could possibly be a creature similar to Captain Souretsu changed things a little.
"Don't get me wrong," Okami made his way around the side of the tree, stepping out fully into view. If Caedir had remained rather than run away at the sound of his voice, he would be able to see his predator fully. The man was dressed in all black, like the others Caedir may have seen. What distinguished Okami from the others, however, was the opened black flak jacket he wore over his regular Shinigami attire. If Caedir knew anything about the noble families, he might recognize the Shihoin family crest tatooed on Okami's exposed chest. "You did well in hiding from me. I haven't had anyone test my hunting skills this much. But, I didn't expect that you would quit so quickly..." Okami's voice was at first deep and monotone. Normally, this was the way he spoke to avoid giving away any emotions he was feeling. Yet today, his emotions were betraying him. As he spoke, there was a slight hint of disappointment in this voice.
He stepped forward carefully, slowly enough so that Caedir wouldn't run away. His eyes were glued to Caedir the whole time as he made his way towards the Beast-Clan member. "Don't run." Okami commanded as he pressed towards Caedir. In all honesty, he was quite the intimidating man in that moment. He was taller than the cheetah by a full 2 inches, something which Caedir might not notice until Okami grew closer to him. Not only that, but the look on his face was also quite intimidating. Naturally, Okami always wore a brooding look on his face. It was a facial mask of choice for him, one that hid away his true feelings. He scowled a little and then stopped, about ten or so feet from Caedir. He studied the creature with his eyes hidden behind those goggles for a second, keeping silent. It was an intimidating silence, one in which any small sound was exaggerated. "So quiet you could hear a pin drop" was what they called this kind of silence. After enough time had passed, the Shihoin Head chose to break the silence and address his former prey. "Tell me, what relation do you have to Captain Souretsu? Are there more Shinigami with appearances such as your own?" he asked with an eyebrow raised in curiosity.
Last Edit: Jul 10, 2014 0:16:41 GMT -5 by Ōkami Shihoin
"Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband...I'm coming..." - Ōkami Shihoin
Post by Caedir din Sahra on Jul 13, 2014 23:37:48 GMT -5
The sound of a voice caused Caedir to whirl, ears perking up and immediately pinpointing the location even as he crouched low in a defensive stance, ready to spring back should a threat arise. The motion could easily be mistaken as a posture for combat, with the cheetah's knees bent and his hands held before him, though at a closer look it was obvious by the feline's limp wrists that he was not braced to block an attack with his arms. Instead, Caedir had every intention of using them in his flight, ready to drop to all fours and speed off just as quickly as he could if it became necessary. This was all done even as the feline was turning, ready to face the threat and see what was coming, a surprisingly fluid motion that came only from years of survival rather than any training.
The words came from none other than a human male that emerged from behind one of the trees, moving as quietly as any animal could. Caedir did not let his guard down, though; he had met more unfriendly humans than friendly ones by a large margin. However, one thing intrigued him about this new figure, and that was the man's black clothes. Though they were not the same as many of the other humans wearing black, the man's outfit suggested that he was one of the humans that lived in the place surrounded by stone walls. Caedir had not met many of those people, nor learned what they were called—people in his home territory had a long name for them that was five sounds, which was three, maybe two more than Caedir could handle at once—but they were apparently very important to other humans. Perhaps higher-ups in the human pack ranks? Certainly they weren't alphas with so many of them, but perhaps betas?
Still, the human before him was to be considered. Caedir was somewhat impressed that the man had remained so quiet, as most humans tended to be bad at any form of stealth. They were noisy, crashed through branches, and smelled distinctly different from anything in the forest. This man, however, had a masked scent, one that the cheetah couldn't identify. His clothes were drab and dull; though he wore black, it was a subtle shade of it that didn't catch the eye among the greens, grays, and browns of the forest. The only thing that stood out in Caedir's eyes was the large patch of white that had some symbol in it; though the cheetah wasn't literate beyond a few words and numbers that he had learned, the fact that it was so bright and contrasted against the man's clothing made it seem as poor a choice as possible for stealth. Still, Caedir hadn't noticed him, so...
The question that was directed at the cheetah was odd, though, and the feline tilted his head in confusion. The man had asked him about something called a... “Sew-ret-sue?” Three sounds, a bit much for Caedir to easily remember unless he repeated it a few times, and since he didn't recognize it he hadn't heard it before or it hadn't registered as important. As such, the question was pretty much met with a blank gaze of non-comprehension. What was worse was that the man asked another question, and it had a word with even more sounds! Shi-ny... thing... too many sounds. Caedir was starting to get a headache trying to comprehend the large words thrown at him, and to make that frustration evident, his muzzle curled into a frown. Finally, coming up with nothing after about thirty seconds of contemplation, the cheetah moved onto the next topic of discussion.
“...Who you?”
Despite what it seemed on the surface, the words that were delivered in a soft tone almost like a rumbling growl had a far deeper meaning to them. True, Caedir did want to know the individual's name, but the question went beyond that. What was he, who was he? Did he have a purpose for being in the forest, and why was he sneaking aroud? What did the man want to communicate with him? Unfortunately, Caedir lacked the intellect to truly articulate his thoughts beyond anything besides a few simple sentences, and as a result others were required to read between the lines. Unfortunately, without knowing Caedir and the fact that the feline's thoughts were deeper than his words suggested, it would be next to impossible to glean this. So instead, all he had was a simple query. If the man gave only a name and left it at that though, Caedir would ask the question again, and would do so until he was satisfied with the answer given.
Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Jul 26, 2014 23:32:29 GMT -5
So you can understand me. Good.
The Shihoin's gaze noted the feline creature's every movement. From the crouched position which suggested a preparation to flee to the creature's frown during parts of Okami's questioning. Okami was reading the feline, trying to understand what little about it that he could. At first, he had wondered whether or not Caedir had understood him. Caedir remaining told him that he had. He figured that any other wild animal would have understood the potential danger someone like Okami posed, someone who could track so stealthily, and would have bolted before Okami could have finished asking his question. Caedir on the other hand, chose to stay, which suggested an ability to reason and understand beyond that of other wild animals. The fact that he was also standing on two legs in the same way humans would suggested that he was indeed quite similar to Captain Raion.
Okami made no further movements after taking those few steps from behind the tree and walking to Caedir. He didn't want to scare the creature any further. Despite how sidetracked from his mission he was now, he wanted to know more about Caedir. Anthropomorphic creatures like Raion and Caedir had only made more of an appearance during his absence. He only knew of one other, but that one had died long ago, also during his absence; however, he had had glimpses of the former Squad 7 Captain who was said to have had a wolf-like form before the absence. Never having an opportunity to interact with that former Captain, Okami hadn't had the chance to understand where exactly souls like him had come from. Where exactly did Caedir come from, the Shihoin Head wondered.
The Shihoin's ears perked up when Caedir spoke. He suspected that the feline could, as Captain Raion definitely could. Now that Caedir had spoken, maybe conversation between the two could be a little easier. The feline started off by questioning Okami on his identity in a voice that was almost like a rumbling growl. Did he want to know Okami's name or the whole spiel regarding his rank as well? Was the creature even very familiar with how the Gotei 13 worked. Okami paused for a few seconds before he responded to the question. In the moment of silence after Caedir's question, Okami was thinking. He didn't want to reveal too much about himself, given that he had yet to confirm whether or not Caedir was working with the hollow he was currently hunting. It could have simply been a coincidence that Caedir was here within the forest, in the same location as his target. Okami decided to start off with his name first, and his rank and see where things went from there.
"My name is Ōkami Shihoin. I am a member of the Shihoin Noble Family and the Third Seat of Squad 2, the Special Operations Squad." Okami spoke each word slowly, so that Caedir would understand all that he had said. Judging by the way Caedir had asked him his identity, he surmised that the feline may not understand speech completely. It was possible that the creature didn't understand some of the words he was using. This he had been able to guess based on Caedir's frown when he first spoke. That or Caedir was frowning because Okami had snuck up on him. Either way, he would find out soon enough. "Who...are...you?" Okami asked slowly.
"Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband...I'm coming..." - Ōkami Shihoin
Post by Caedir din Sahra on Jul 27, 2014 19:31:24 GMT -5
The two seemed to stare at each other for what felt like minutes, even though it was scarce moments, evaluating one another. Caedir was reading the human's body language; the man had frozen upon revealing himself, but his stance wasn't tense. It was though he was patiently waiting, acting cautiously. Why, the cheetah could only guess, but he felt it had something to do with him. Many humans were hostile, afraid of an unusual animal among them. Caedir knew he was unusual, too; he had seen “normal” animals, ones that always walked on four legs, that could not speak as he could, or understand him. It was as though he were halfway between a human and an animal, a bit of both but belonging to neither one, but of the two humans were far more unfriendly. Many of them did not speak to him, others acted aggressively... well, nonetheless, it seemed as though his presence had some effect on the human across from him.
Fortunately, some tension was broken as the man gave his name. Caedir ignored the ramble after it, since there were a lot of unfamiliar words in it, but he did think over the name, repeating it a few times in his head to make sure it stuck. A three-sound word was still difficult, and though it was manageable, it took some effort to commit to memory. “O-kah-mi.” Sounding out the syllables, the cheetah repeated it three or four more times out loud before he was certain he had it, though he would likely have to run it through once or twice more by the end of the night to be sure. For now, he knew how to identify the human that was speaking to him: Okami. The last name would be difficult to pick up after learning one bigger word, but then again, Caedir had always taken names at face value, with the first part being enough to identify that person in his mind.
Pointing at Okami, Caedir made his understanding clear. “You, Okami.” His paw then swiveled towards his own chest. “Me, Caedir.” Wait, that wasn't right; the alpha over at the postal service had scolded him several times about his language and how he should introduce himself, and had told Caedir time and again how it was supposed to be said. “Mm... I... Caedir?” “I” was the right word to say, but something about it sounded off. Momentarily thoughtful, the feline seemed to space out for a moment, having no longer deemed Okami a current threat; he would not have given his name and would have attacked by now had he meant any harm. What was that phrase that the post office alpha had tried to get him to learn, again?
Either way, it would be more than evident that Caedir's intelligence was quite limited; he could speak a little bit, understand the human tongue, and certainly was capable of some intelligent thought, but for the most part he was quiet and slow-witted, relying more on instinct than intellect. Certainly it would be an interesting impression of the Beast-Clan on Okami, one of the few Shinigami that had been exposed to their kind so far. There weren't many interactions between the two races, but it seemed that, at this rate, there would be many more in the near future.
Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Aug 3, 2014 18:36:54 GMT -5
Ōkami stood and listened as the cheetah-like creature repeated his name slowly. He noticed that the creature only found it important to learn the first name, given that it didn't bother to repeat his last as many times as it had the first. It could also have been that the creature found the last name too difficult. Ōkami surmised this based on how the creature had sounded out his name. It was child-like in a way. It reminded him of children who were just beginning to learn words for the first time. Every word which they learned were sounded out in this manner.
The Shihoin Head guessed that Caedir didn't speak his language very well, let alone any language at all. So then, how was it that Captain Souretsu could speak so well? Or even that former Captain of Squad 7 who was rumored to have been some kind of anthropomorphic dog. Ōkami had yet to meet both Shinigami and therefore he could only go on what reports had told him. Rumors, he chose to ignore, given that he himself disliked them knowing the trouble they could cause. He made a mental note to meet Captain Souretsu sometime in the future, even if it was brief. So that he could dispel rumors about the Shinigami and also get to know him on some kind of level.
The creature's grammar was even wrong, further suggesting that it was just recently learning to speak and identify itself. Though, it made an attempt to correct this quickly. So Caedir, as the creature called himself, was learning. Ōkami stood watching, wondering what his next move would be. The creature was no longer fearful of him, it seemed and thus he was no longer a threat to Caedir. However, he wasn't going to be able to speak with Caedir in the way he had hoped to learn more about him. It would take more time than he had for the moment. He remembered that he was still on a mission afterall. But, he still wanted to know more about Caedir.
"Caedir, huh? Where are you from? What are you?" the Shihoin Head asked. He genuinely wanted to know. From Caedir's response, he would determine whether he could continue the conversation after his mission was over. But first he needed to gain Caedir's trust enough that the creature would be fine with meeting him again. He would see how things went.
"Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband...I'm coming..." - Ōkami Shihoin
Post by Caedir din Sahra on Aug 19, 2014 1:09:24 GMT -5
More questions from Okami, though these were simple, spoken slowly and with as few sounds as possible. Caedir appreciated the patience that his companion had for him; many got upset by his unintelligent nature, either giving up upon finding difficulty in speaking with the feline or yelling at him for his inabilities. Both of those made the cheetah uncomfortable around people, and shy about his speech impediments; unable to form words in the way that others wanted him to and fearing a negative reaction should he not meet their standards, it was easy to make Caedir clam up should he feel that he was provoking an unhappy response from others. Okami was different though, listening and asking questions with a tone of curiosity that did not suggest displeasure.
The first question was a difficult one to answer despite its simplicity, and Caedir had trouble vocalizing his thoughts once more. Still, he could give some idea of what was on his mind. “Caedir from other land. Beast land. Caedir run wild, live, die. But not right. Caedir wake in forest, Caedir look in water. Face wrong. Feel wrong. Human look right.” Short, disjointed sentences made up the majority of his speech, simple concepts that were very child-like in their nature as the cheetah tried to convey a little of his history. “Land before, Beast land. Not remember. Not know where. Caedir from forest now, but Caedir from stone den of people also. Work hard. Hunt food.”
The second question was even more difficult to explain; though he had already tried to shape an explanation of what he was and how he felt strange to be what he was, Caedir couldn't even form proper thoughts on the matter, let alone explain it. “Caedir not know what is. Black-robe human call Caedir Beast-Clan. Say Caedir unusual, rare. Not human, not animal. Not human, human not like not-human. Not like no.” In short, he was an uncommon species, referred to by other Shinigami as a “Beast-Clan.” Research data, if Okami had found it prior to his mission, would show that this species had begun popping up a long time prior, but had been mostly restricted to the forested areas past the outer Rukongai districts. Only recently had any come close, though no specific examples had been given.
Now it was Caedir's turn for a question. “What Okami? Black-robe human, what is? Is like human beta? Okami much like quiet animal. Very much.”
Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Sept 20, 2014 22:18:55 GMT -5
Beast Land...? Admittedly, the Shihoin head was highly perplexed at the moment. There had been no mention of anything called the "Beast Land." Maybe he had missed it while perusing through the files and playing catchup when he returned. But that was impossible. Okami was a stickler for details. There was nothing that escaped his observations. Therefore, there could be no way he would have missed something like that. So then, was this Beast Land just some made up place? No, it couldn't be. He was sure Caedir wouldn't just make up something like that. Maybe he was using a different name. Was he talking about the Land of the Living? Caedir's description, however, made no mention of any humans. But, there was no other way he could have come from anywhere else.
Within his mind, he associated Beast Land with the Land of the Living for any future conversations he would have with Caedir about it. He surmised that it was possible Caedir lived in an area within that world where there were no nearby humans. That was the only possibility. He found it odd too that Caedir died, but ended up here, in the Soul Society. It wasn't the fact that animals couldn't be sent to the Soul Society. No, that was within the realm of possibilities. What made it odd was that Caedir came with sentience. He developed human-like characteristics when he went through the ritual. How? It seemed even Caedir didn't know.
You are indeed rare. An unusual oddity amongst the spirits here in the Soul Society. Okami was getting used to Caedir's speaking ability, little by little. He could understand what Caedir was saying by piecing things together. From what he gathered, most referred to Caedir as a Beast-Clansmen. He had never heard of this either. It was most likely something newly developed to describe the oddity standing before him. The name was generic, in his opinion. Then again, his opinion didn't really matter in the naming. It was up to those braniacs in Squad 12. Anyway, Caedir had asked him a question.
"What am I?" he reflected Caedir's question back, in order to ponder how to begin answering it. Caedir referred to him as a "human beta." Was he referring to his ranking? When he thought about it, despite being a Third Seat--a rank which was considered high amongst the rankings of a squad--he still wasn't a leader, an alpha. He used to be, but that time was long gone. "I am the Third Seat of Squad 2." he repeated. He had already said this one before, but realizing that Caedir may not understand what it meant, he quickly added, "I am indeed what would be considered a human beta." He would have smiled at that last comment, what would seem to be a compliment from the anthropomorphic cheetah. For a creature like Caedir to equate Okami to an animal meant alot to him. Indeed, Okami had infact learned these skills from an animal, his zanpakutou spirit. The ferocious spirit was even grinning widely from ear to ear after hearing Caedir's comment. "I learned by watching animals." Okami admitted. A small smile formed on his face, but disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. He didn't like breaking character on missions, but he felt that Caedir's comment deserved a response.
Okami suddenly remembered that Caedir had also asked a second question, in regards to what black-robed humans were. He would try and explain it as best he could. "I am a Shini-a protector. I am one of the protectors of this forest, and of this whole society. I keep the masked creatures from attacking people. I keep people safe." Okami explained. He tried to be as simple as he could with his explanations, given that he could tell from their brief conversation that there were things Caedir didn't understand. He would have to introduce things slowly to the cheetah-like creature.
"Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husband...I'm coming..." - Ōkami Shihoin
Post by Caedir din Sahra on Oct 13, 2014 14:53:59 GMT -5
Caedir listened patiently as Okami explained that he was indeed a human beta, allowing the feline to better understand his companion's role. A beta wasn't the leader of a pack, but at the same time, they held authority and many responsibilities. This allowed him to take on a feeling of respect for this human he had come to like; quiet, patient, and now with proven authority, Caedir felt very drawn to his companion. It wasn't a feral thought, but more of a desire for companionship and guidance. In short, the cheetah felt like Okami was the kind of person he would follow, had the man been part of a pack. Even if he wasn't the “leader”, per se, Caedir would have no difficulty respecting a leader that Okami respected either. Without even intending to, the black-robed human had won the Beast-Clansman's trust and interest simply by the way in which he treated Caedir.
Once Okami finished explaining, Caedir took a moment to comprehend it all, sitting on the ground with his legs crossed, unbothered by dirt and twigs beneath him. After a few moments of thought, he tried to explain what he though the black-robed man had said to him; putting it into slow sentences to make sure he was understanding properly. “Okami human beta. Okami protect forest and large stone human den.” The second statement was supplemented by a semi-vague motion towards where Seireitei was; he wasn't sure what it was exactly, as concepts like cities were still beyond him, so he likened it to a home of sorts; humans seemed to live there, after all.
“Okami hunting mask-creature.” That was new information, and Caedir had pretty much just picked it up from a few loose trains of thought. The Beast-clan knew of the creatures, and had thought he had sensed one in the area. Since Okami fought mask-creatures, and there was at least one nearby, the black-robed human was clearly hunting this one. It was a stretch of logic, and one of Caedir's better ones, but even he could add up two and two, given time. “Caedir fight mask-creatures. Mask-creatures strong, but Caedir stronger. I win.” There was a note of pride in the cheetah's voice at being able to prove he was a top predator in the area, even over these strange creatures.
Caedir looked thoughtful then, remembering something. “Caedir smell mask-creature before Okami. Hear it. Mask-creature get away and hide. Caedir hunt. Okami hunt, too?” A mix of a request and a question; the feline was going to hunt the mask-creature regardless, but he was offering Okami a chance to come along. Partially, it was because he wanted to see the black-robed man fight; Caedir was curious about his new companion.
Post by Ōkami Shihoin on Nov 15, 2014 0:20:36 GMT -5
The Shihoin Head noticed from Caedir's body language that he was no longer afraid and cautious. He could tell from the way that Caedir talked and acted, that he no longer thought of Okami as a threat. Caedir was more comfortable around the Shihoin Head. The anthropomorphic cheetah went so far as to sit in a display of his comfortability in that moment. Had Okami wanted to attack Caedir, he could easily carry out an attack that would leave Caedir mortally wounded before the cheetah could put up a fight. Yet, Caedir wasn't worried. This was comfortability.
Okami nodded as Caedir talked through the information he had just been given. Okami watched the creature, taking in the information and learning. it was all quite magnificent in actuality and yet very intriguing. For a creature like Caedir to have sentience was new to Okami. He had never met the fox-like Captain of many generations ago and thus had never truly believed that someone like Caedir had existed. Seeing Caedir now solidified the rumors of that former Squad 7 Captain, however. There was no way the Shihoin Head could denounce what he was seeing before his very own eyes.
He kept watching and listening to Caedir when suddenly, Caedir mentioned something he wasn't expecting. “Okami hunting mask-creature.” At first, Okami tensed, unsure of how the cheetah knew this information. Caedir was much more intelligent than he had been given credit for. To be able to put together all of the information Okami had given him and come to such a conclusion was remarkable for something that Okami believed wasn't as intelligent as a human was. The Shihoin Head didn't show any of this shock or surprise upon his visage, however. Instead, he remained calm and waited to hear what else Caedir had to say.
Is that how he figured it out? Okami was surprised, even though he shouldn't have been. Caedir probably spent most of his time in this forest. So why wouldn't he run into a few hollow here or there? Okami was interested to learn that Caedir was strong enough to take down hollows on his own. How powerful was he then? The question came to Okami's mind and he began delving into this thought when he realized that Caedir had asked him a question. He had not responded yet, he realized because he had been distracted by his thoughts. He would give the creature a response now.
"Yes. Originally, I had believed you were the mask-creature, but I see now that this is not the case." he responded. He lifted an arm, pointing to somewhere behind Caedir. "I tracked it going that way." He started walking, as if to leave the creature there and continue on his mission. He noticed, however, that Caedir was beginning to follow and realized that the creatures question to him was a way of asking if he wanted to tag along. Okami made the realization that Caedir had probably also been hunting the hollow. If he was also hunting the creature, it would prove a liability to his mission. But, there was a plus to bringing Caedir along to find the hollow. Caedir's senses were probably better than Okami's own senses if he had been able to smell it. It was going against his orders, but he would allow Caedir to tag along. In that short conversation with the cheetah, he had developed an interest in Caedir. He wanted to know more about the cheetah; thus, bringing him along would allow him to both learn more about the Beast Clan member and his capabilities and build more trust between the two.
Okami nodded towards Caedir as a signal for him to follow. Then from there, Okami moved forward and leapt up into a low branch hanging before him. He was about to leap again when he noticed something black appear in the bottom corner of his eyesight. In a split second, three claws were rushing up towards him, moving to carve into his face. The Shihoin's body fell backwards and caught onto the branch, letting himself swing from it to another branch near that one. When he landed, his gaze returned to where he had been standing a moment before to see the creature standing there. It's body was a dark green color with multiple red blobs sticking out from the skin. It's mask was horrifying, and in the shape of some kind of insect with big red eyes and sharp fangs. More terrifying than that were the three sharp claws it wielded on each hand, which it had tried to slash up Okami's face with. "You've saved yourself a great deal of stress by coming to us. Now I don't have to hunt you like a dog." the Shihoin Head murmured as he gazed upon the repulsive creature.
The hollow made clicking noises and then shriveled up into the shadow it had risen from on the tree branch. The shadow it sank into moved quickly, using the shadows from the thick, tall trees to aid its movement. Okami's right hand went to his zanpakutou sheared on his left side in preparation for the hollow's onslaught. However, it never came. Instead of attacking Okami, the hollow attacked Caedir instead, believing him to be the weakest. The creature shot out of the shadow before even nearing Caedir and appeared to lengthen it's body in some odd fashion. It twisted towards the cheetah Beast Clan member, its claws ready to carve three large gashes into his body.