I once was lost, but now I'm found!

[Marki]

Marki ran for his life from the bowl of milk that had been left out for the local cats. He'd been drinking peacefully when a broom had landed with unmerciful force on his head. He just thanked his lucky stars he'd had the presence of mind not to transform before the startled milk owners eyes. He felt sure if he had the woman would have screamed for her husband to get his sword.

Marki ran into a abandon box in a dark alley and shivered. How he hated swords! So sharp, so painful! Why anyone would want to own one or deal that sort of harm to another was quiet beyond him. How he wished there was a place where there were no swords and shifters like himself might be welcomed, and even invited to drink the milk off a doorstep. He was sure he could be a lucky charm if someone just gave him a chance. Just one chance . . .

Marki whimpered, and tears of sadness filled his bright fennic eyes. while in this form he couldn't speak and so mewed piteously, from his wooden hiding spot. Why couldn't he and the lady just be friends?

[Rith Matou]

Rith was exploring the streets of his one-time home, getting acclimated to his surroundings once again after being away for so long. It was strange, whenever he was in a town, he always felt a little closed-in upon. Like there was rope about his neck, but that was never the case here in Avaren. The sights and seldom familiar people never failed to warm his heart. He rounded a corner heading towards the residential areas and continued to wonder what had changed in his beloved town and what had remained the same.

"Get back here you little devil!" Exclaimed a broom-wielding older woman as she rounded a corner and nearly bowled Rith over, sending him backpedaling into an alleyway. She was clearly after something, but he hadn't encountered anything conspicuous himself in his exploration. Perhaps whatever it was lost her?

" Hey now, at least have the decency to excuse yourself! That lady must be half Rhinoceros..." He protested, dusting off his forest green cloak. Honestly, such unwarranted hostility. He sighed and started heading down the alleyway, no sense in getting all worked up over some unchecked aggression. As he cut down the alleyway, the Animist's ears picked up the faint sound of whimpering and crying. Naturally, he couldn't help but investigate, it was a bit of a disadvantage of Rith's. He was helpful and trusting to a fault and it's gotten him into danger and traps more than once because of it. "Hello? Is anyone there?" He called, searching about the alleys. "You can come out, I promise I will not harm you."

[Marki]

Peaking out of a space in the old box Marki saw a old looking personage. Yet the energy was familiar, this one was like him, a shifter. Still Marki's heart was still racing and he didn't feel like coming out.

He mewed still louder, if you want to find me, come find me, he thought to the one approaching. Unfortunately he did not yet possess any mind magic and his thought most likely went unheard.

Marki refused to let his hopes rise as the other drew closer. He'd been disappointed too many times before. No one, it seemed wanted to be friends. Even when they did, they didn't want to help Marki with his dreams or aspirations, even in return for wants or wishes being granted. This place seemed to only be a all take society, and that did not make sense to him. How could people get along if they didn't want not only the best for themselves but the best for each other?

[Rith Matou]

Rith continued to search when he heard whatever it was whimpering out louder. He must have been getting closer, or maybe his voice startled whatever little creature he was searching for. Plodding down the alleyway Rith followed his ears to a discarded wooden box which appeared to be the source of these noises. He thought for a moment and decided against just looking right in the box as the cornered critter may just lash out at him. So, Rith walked to the other end of the alley and knelt down in front of the box, peering into it with a calm smile framed by the three claw-like arcane markings on either side of his face. So this was the little noisemaker? A Fox? Fennec, if he wasn't mistaken. One of the volumes of creatures he had studied on his pursuits of Nature magic.
"Well hello there, little one. Would you like to come out of there?" Rith asked speaking to the creature in a gentle, non-threatening tone while patting the ground before him.

[Marki]

Marki looked at the person wonderingly. This was more like what he was used to in his homeland. He sniffed the air and took a tentative step forward. This one was not from his own land, but he seemed to know the mannerisms of it all too well. Marki stepped forward again. This one didn't have a broom and the lady who had it was far away by now. Marki didn't want to spend the rest of the day and night in this cold box. He'd spent too many nights in similar circumstances already.

Once he reached the edge of the box, he turned and look both ways then dashed to the other shifters side, wagging is fluffy tail in a questioning happy way.
Won't you be my friend," he thought. "Have you got a place with a warm fire I could share with you?"

[Rith Matou]

Rith laughed a bit in surprise at how quickly the little fox changed from nervous and pensive to excited and friendly. The Animist was probably the first friendly face he's seen in a long time. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what a Fennec Fox would be doing all the way up here. It couldn't possibly have just wandered its way all the way from its indigenous Southern lands. Though, he had heard that some people like to keep these little creatures as exotic pets. This one must be a run-away or an abandonment.

"Well, it's nice to meet you too, my little friend. You must be very hungry I think, you poor thing." Rith continued to speak to the small Fox as he flipped open his cloak and lowered his pack, revealing the ornate Druidic Scimitar at his belt. He fished around inside the bag until recovering a supply of jerky, from which he retrieved a hearty piece. Rith then slowly extended his hand to the Fox palm down, offering to let it get his scent and see he wouldn't harm it before presenting the meat to it.

[Marki]

Marki looked at the offered hand quizzically, could it be his fellow shifter had sensed that he also was a chagemaker? Well it was silly to keep up the charade if the man knew.

Marki sat down on his hind legs and put his paw on the other hand to shake. He smiled at the man and lolled his tongue in a clearly friendly and happy expression.

Still he didn't change. His last set of clothes had been ruined a few weeks ago. If the lady would have been scared by a nude young man, surely this person wouldn't take it much better.

Marki yipped softly and whined, Please don't tell anybody about me, ok? he thought.

[Rith Matou]

Rith hadn't noticed the Fox's true self as of yet actually. In fact, he was quite impressed with it's sudden display of intelligence by shaking as if cued to. Perhaps this creature was a runaway pet if it had been trained to know tricks like that.

"Not hungry, hmm? Well, no matter." Rith stated putting the jerky he offered the lonely canine back where he got it. Following that, Rith reached out and gingerly stroked his hand down the Fennec Fox's back a bit and scratching behind its large ears. As he did this, the Animist took the time to think about the situation. If the Fox belonged to someone, they must be worried and looking for him. Though the odds of finding one person with no information to go on in this vast town was low before dark settled in, and he couldn't just leave the little one here. Then Rith nodded, coming to a conclusion in his head before picking the small fox up into his arms.
"No collar or tags. Odd. Well don't you worry, my new friend. You can share my home tonight and tomorrow we can set out to find your true owner. How does that sound?" He explained, continuing to pet the critter with a free hand.

[Marki]

Marky had noticed the yummy looking treat but he'd hesitated, as he wasn't sure what it was made of. Oh well, at least he could be sure that this was a good person now, one who would give his food to a stranger might also give a stranger a place to rest, right?

At that moment, the other shifter put a hand out to pet him. Marki liked being pet in this form, and seeing as the man seemed so nice, Marki stood still and let him stoke his white fur.
Ahhh, that feels nice! I sure hope you'll stay with me a while, thought Marki, you are a changemaker after my own heart, I'll bet. Marki closed his eyes in contentment.

Suddenly he was being picked up!

Whooooooa! thought Marki as he was whooshed though the air into the other shifters arms. The Shifter then looked closely at his neck.

"No collar or tags. Odd. Well don't you worry, my new friend. You can share my home tonight and tomorrow we can set out to find your true owner. How does that sound?"

What? I am not a slave, thought Marki. I wonder why he thinks so? Oh well I will ask him why when we get to his place. I hope he has some fruits and a warm blanket!