were-rabbit on the loose!

[doesnotplay]

Who: Panne (doesnotplay) and YOU!
Where: All over the grounds of Wonderland
When: August 12th
Rating: PG13
Summary: Having just arrived and highly disoriented, Panne assumes her true form to protect herself while investigating what has happened.

Reminder that Panne has a PERMISSIONS POST regarding her senses and what she's allowed to pick up about your character!

The Story:

As she wakes, the feeling that she is not supposed to be here is immediate. It is not just unease, or a disquieting sense of dread, a but massive, full-blown wrongness that assaults her senses. Her instincts tell her to run, to dig, but she stands her ground. She had just been with the Shepherds, and her loyalty remains true to the Exalt, even in times of great panic. What if those she fights alongside with are in danger as well? No, she has to take action.

Panne takes hold of the Beaststone in her pouch, and transforms.

Now in a more capable body, she assesses her situation. Standing up on her massive back legs and canting the air, she separates the scents around her. Grass. Forest. Ocean. Man-spawn. Many man-spawn, altogether in one place. Other, strange scents she does not recognize.

"Hmm..." she rumbles in her barrel-chest, tilts her ears this way and that, and then runs. In this form, even bigger than a horse, her speed is akin to greased lightning. Occasionally she'll pause to sniff something, or lift her ears to listen to the wind, but only for the slightest moment before sprinting off again.

She gives the Mansion a wide berth, where the man-spawn smells seem to be accumulating. She doesn't dare approach it alone-- for all she knows it could be an enemy fortification. She would not enter without the rest of the Shepherds, whom she trusts to show up eventually. They would not abandon her.

Comments

[soldsword]

Around this time, Gregor was leaving the mansion. He felt he had explored everything within, so it was time to learn about everything outside in this land of wonders. But where he could he even start? Everything was so unfamiliar, and he missed his comrades. Little Ricken, abrasive Lonqu, cuddly Panne... Ah, thinking of them...

It was if he was among them again. Why, he could see Panne's larger form, running around the mansion, and he smiled, lost in good mem-

Wait.

"Panne!" He shouted, jumping off of the front steps to give chase. "Oi oi! Slowing down!"

[doesnotplay]

She hears her name, and digs her claws into the turf to stop, spraying dirt everywhere. The scent is immediately recognizable. The big, bear-like sellsword that joined the ranks of the Shepherds not long after she did. Her frenzy calms-- of course they would not abandon her. Panne lopes over towards him in a much more relaxed manner, although her ears continue to swivel about in case danger lurks nearby.

"Fellow Shepherd," she addresses him, still a little terse from being cast about in such a manner, without explanation, "tell me, what is this place, and how did we come to be here?"

[soldsword]

He managed to slow down, sighing in relief. It really was her! Maybe the other Shepherds were around after all! He'd have to do a much more thorough investigation. But for now, he's got to explain things as best he can.

"Is very strange story, but all true." He started, knowing how it would sound once it all came out. "Great magic has taken us here, into Wonderland. It grabs people from all across realms, and makes them stranded! Gregor has been here many days with no sign of other Shepherds... much gratefulness to see Panne again, in all of fluffy glory."

[doesnotplay]

"Great magic?"

She does not deny the power of magic, although the Taguel are not well-learned in its ways. She sniffs Gregor intently, her whiskers tickling all over him, as if trying to pick out something wrong with him, but senses nothing out of the ordinary. He is not lying either, so she has no reason to doubt him.

"I sense a great many man-spawn here, and other things I do not know what to call-- I believe you. It is... Reassuring, to see you here as well. You are sure you have not seen any other Shepherds here?"

Panne regarded this man-spawn as a bit of a bumbling buffoon, so who knows?

[soldsword]

He allowed the sniffling, though he was tempted to reach out and rub her nose. Maybe another time, when the mood was more fitting. It was time to be serious!

"Much better explanation inside mansion. If Panne would go to human form, please?" He gestured an arm towards the mansion. Inside would be the greater proof of the strange magic, since even he needed a 'show' before he was willing to believe. "And if Gregor had been seeing other Shepherd, would have never let them go! Gregor has been quite lonely without faithful companions."

[doesnotplay]

She does not doubt that; his reputation as a cuddler proceeded him. She has been on the receiving end of his hugs more than once. Panne snorts.

"Are you absolutely sure that it is safe?"

There was something she didn't like about the huge man-dwelling, although she could not place it.

[soldsword]

"Gregor gives his word." he then slammed an open hand onto his chest. "And Gregor would gladly take any attack meant for Panne." In fact, he was a little insulted that she didn't automatically expect that of him. He'd have to improve her image of him, and today would be the day to do so!

"Please trust Gregor." He stated, a little gentler this time. "True, Gregor not fully understand land of wonders... But is something two can tackle together."

[chaoscontroller]

At some point of the day, Shadow finally made it to the grounds, lured by the fresh air and the smell of nature. He hurried through the bushes and between the hedges, too fast in open ground for (almost) anyone to catch up with him.

It wasn't until he made it to the outskirts of what seemed to be a forest that he stopped. He had just seen something ahead, a creature like no other he had ever seen in his life before...

He truly didn't have anything to lose at this point, so he decided to follow it to the best of his abilities.

[doesnotplay]

If there's one thing a creature of prey can sense, it's when they're being chased. Without even looking behind her, Panne knows that something is on her tail. For a moment, she is impressed that something, or someone, can keep up with her speed. But this is a dangerous situation. She cannot simply abide being tailed like this, when she does not know their intentions.

Panne jumps against a tree large enough to take her weight, and uses it to make a hairpin turn, so she is now facing her bold interloper. She bares her teeth in a snarl, and releases her claws so they can see their wicked sharpness.

"Stand down," she growls, in her strange, flanging voice, like two speaking at once echoing in her throat, "or be killed! I have warned you!"

[chaoscontroller]

Shadow comes to a rather harsh halt when faced like that. But he truly doesn't look too frightened, if anything, his ears perk in interest when the creature speaks. How interesting.

"I mean you no harm. What are you?"

Right to the point, there is no need to beat around the bush.

[doesnotplay]

Panne stands on her hind legs, ears swiveling, sniffing the air. What... What kind of creature is this? It seems much more man-spawn than animal, standing on two legs, and yet smells very strongly of hedgehog despite looking nothing like one. She tilts her head in confusion.

"I am Taguel, little one. What manner of beast are you?"

[chaoscontroller]

Little... one? That earns the Taguel a bit of an eyebrow raising. Ah, well, compared to the creature, he couldn't deny the size differences, however, size wasn't everything...

"I'm a hedgehog, my name is Shadow." He dares to approach a tad more, merely observing, but make no mistake, his demeanor does show some reserve. After all, he's not sure what's he facing yet. Curiouser and curiouser!

[doesnotplay]

"Alright then, hedgehog," she gets back down on all fours, carefully watching his every advance, "what business do you have chasing me down, without a word? You speed is impressive, but we rabbit-kind do not take well to predators on our flanks."

[jivitadana]

Minato had been outside since it was better than staying inside the Mansion, especially after the event. He spent his time mostly outside during it anyway, but he was getting used to being himself again.

He had been sitting at the fountain, or at least now he was sitting since he had been lying on its edge and listening to his music. Something had had run past him, and even with his music on, he could hear the rush.

His headphones were now off and so was his music. Curious, he got up from where he was to follow where he thought he saw that creature go, hoping that he could catch a glimpse of it.

[doesnotplay]

By the time he gets up, Panne is long gone. She had seen him lying there, and was unsure of how to approach, so she sped up to loop around the mansion and try and catch him from behind.

She creeps around the corner, and peers out as quietly as possible-- yes, there he is. He obviously caught her wind, but didn't know where she went. He seemed to be unarmed, and his scent was bland and uninteresting. Why was he here, in this place she did not recognize, brought against her will?

Once satisfied that she is safe, Panne gently lopes out from hiding, making enough noise with her back legs pounding the earth to catch his attention from afar. Man-spawn can do the silliest things when startled, and even the most placid-looking child can become dangerous when given the excuse.

[jivitadana]

Minato brought a hand up to his ear, knowing he didn't have his headphones there, but it was a way to verify that he really was hearing something behind him. And that something was fast approaching.

He might as well give it enough space to go where it was going. He stayed still where he was, and he turned around to see what exactly was heading his way. It was a lot bigger than he had expected despite how loud it was, and from what he could see, it looked sort of like a Persona of sorts.

If it was going to attack him, then he was ready. But he thought that if it was going to do that, then it already would have. The advantage, or all the advantages, were in its court.

[doesnotplay]

There, he turned around. And he was not panicking, or trying to run. Good. Perhaps this one could finally provide her with some answers. Panne continues to approach him until she reaches a respectful, speaking distance, and then sits back on her hinds legs in a non-aggressive stance.

"Man-spawn," she addresses him in her flanging voice, "I have just arrived here, and you are one of the first to stand your ground at the sight of me. I wish to ask you how I arrived here, and why."

[jivitadana]

Her manner of speaking was interesting, different from what Minato usually heard in however Wonderland translated one language to another for him. It made him wonder some more where she had come from. Wonderland itself didn't discriminate at all.

Minato nodded once, half that and half a bow. "I can't answer how you arrived here specifically, but we're here because this place consumes our memories."

[doesnotplay]

Her ears perk up tall. Consumes memories? What a ridiculous notion. And yet, either this man-spawn was an excellent liar, or that was the unusual truth.

"I've never heard of such a thing before. How does a place eat memories? How do I stop it?"

[supportinkindness]

Marco's own arrival had been a bit of a whirlwind but he had a little bit of time to calm himself. It had helped to know people here at least, not being alone was a big perk even if it was still strange for him to even be here. Regardless he wanted to explore some even with a bit of wariness to his exploration.

Out on the grounds he took in the sights and smells. This place was so beautiful it looks like something only royalty would live in. Far above where he was from back home. It was no wonder he thought he was in the afterlife at first. As he wandered he noticed small rabbits and animals that he just looked at as he relaxed.

That was until he saw something large, very large, out of the corner of his eye. Marco whipped his head around to see the giant creature right as it stopped. Face pale he held back a scream as he just stared at the creature.

"...!"

[doesnotplay]

Panne sighs at his reaction. She had been so slow and careful in her approach, coming to him because he seemed gentle, and unarmed, but it looks like she was too quiet. He did not notice her until she was too close.

"Peace, man-spawn," she says to him in her two-voices, like an echo. She tucks in her limbs and sits down to appear somewhat smaller than she actually is, "I mean you no harm. I only wish to speak with you."

[supportinkindness]

It spoke...the rabbit...thing, spoke to him? Oh, crap. Well at least this wasn't a titan, so it was okay right? Hell, he wasn't sure but she did seem to be making an effort to seem friendly? He just needed to approach this with some caution then.

"A-Ah...Sorry?" Man-spawn? This was no where near something from his home. "I just have never seen...someone like you?" He avoided the use of the word 'thing'. "I can try to answer?"

[doesnotplay]

"I would be surprised if you had seen one of my kind," she says, with a touch of bitterness, and shakes her massive head, "but no mind. I am Taguel, and my name is Panne. Tell me: where is this, and why am I here?"

[supportinkindness]

"Are you rare?" Marco bit his tongue, than was probably rude to ask. He should have thought his words out better. "Sorry. A Tanguel? It's nice to meet you...I'm Marco Bodt." A pause. "This is a place called Wonderland, I'm not sure why we are here myself but we can't seem to leave this place."

[doesnotplay]

"Rare indeed. I am the last of my blood... but that is another tale for another day."

She listens carefully to his heartbeat as he speaks. He is obviously nervous, but he does not seem to be lying. Even that ridiculous name-- Wonderland? Panne hmmms deeply.

"You have been taken here against your will as well?"