To Make a Shape-Shifter Out Of You [Open]

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Kasa felt her stomach twist and knot with worry and panic even after only a day after that orange-eyed shifter's threat. Her eyes were half lidded and a little baggy; proof of a night with not much sleep. But sure, she did need to get her butt into gear and figure out why in the name of the Spirits her powers had left her. She nearly gave herself a headache trying to appeal to her old spirits through quiet chants and songs in the late night.



But now was no time to panic or let her exhaustion lull her to sleep. She had a pelt she needed to find. She had already made a stop to the Crystal Lake and stuck her face in the cool water to help shock her awake before she found herself wandering into Bane Farms. Perfect. Farms meant food. Food meant pests. She was sure to find some sort of creature lurking around.



She still carried her wolf pelt on her back and her tomahawk on her hip. Despite the wolf pelt being...Pretty much useless now. She couldn't help but keep it close to her. The faint smell of her old home, Ansel's books, and the ale that Leyanin had once spilled onto the pelt during a night at the tavern was still faintly clinging to it. It made her smile. Offering some comfort to this whole situation.



She stalked around rows of farmland. Keeping her eyes and ears out for any prey she could catch.

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Aria was curious to explore Bane more since she was first brought here by Roxanne. However this time she came more prepared. She did not think it would be wise for her to walk around in her usual form; so she had spent the morning straightening and dying her hair at her old cottage in the woods. The less she had to alter with her illusions the better. Her hair was dyed a pretty deep blue; when straightened it came past her thighs. Aria took a pretty gold choker necklace she had gained while on a quest with an old dwarf and placed it on her table. It had a blue sapphire pendent in the middle, with three sapphire drops hanging from the first gem. An orange gold glow formed around her hand as she fixed an image in her head of the image she wished to take in her mind. With the illusion spell cast and fixed; she would not need to continue to channel the spell. She simply would just need to wear the necklace. With that she placed the choker around her neck and as the gem touched her skin her form would change.

Aria looked at herself in the looking glass placed near her bed in the loft. She was now a woman of average height and pale skin. Her normal triangular like face was now rounder and heart shaped. Her elf like ears had rounded out to a more human appearance. Her form long and lanky; looking no older than a sixteen year old. She still had womanly curves however; she was not as well-endowed in this form but rather quite average. Her tell-tale scare vanished behind smooth skin; leaving no sign of the horrible remnants of a past injury. With the illusion in place she donned on clothes she had purchased from Kanto. A style foreign enough to the city of Nova that it would pass in the fated city. It was made of two pieces; the shirt had poof short sleeves that fell off her shoulders. Gold cuffs at the hem of the short sleeves matched the gold ribbon that fallowed the neckline of the dark blue shirt. The lower part of the shirt stopped just below her breast; sapphire drops lining the hems. The skirt hung off her hips; the white material full and flowing. Her skirt had a blue and gold fitted portion at her hips; that loosened up to a decorative blue and gold portion. She tied a large dark blue satin headband around her hair; the large flowerlike ribbon falling down the left side of her head. To continue the look she put on matching gold and sapphire earrings, along with gold bangles on her wrists. She donned on gold slippers and spun once around in front of the mirror. Satisfied that the illusion hid her tattoos as well along with taking the green out of her eyes… in fact her eyes were a light sapphire blue like her dear beloved’s one eye…or Cores.

Satisfied a whirl of fire surrounded her as she transported herself to the old inn located in bane. She made sure to appear just outside of the entrance to the baths. She walked in and made her way out into the new fated city; a gentle smile on her lips. She was amazed with how very large it was; and the numbers that it had attracted. She was very intrigued by the fact there seemed to be a farm land located within the dwelling as well. She explored the farm land curious to how the plants did so well underground. Her exploring was halted short when she happened upon a woman dressed in a wolfs pelt. She stopped and tilted her head to the side. ”Hello?” With the illusion cast Aria had also changed her voice. Instead of her normal deeper musical like voice; a higher and slightly timid voice left her lips.

Appearance

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Kasa walked through the rows of crops, sort of hunched like a predator. She breathed in the musty scent of the underground farms hoping to smell something. But her mind still raced with worry and determination, distracting her from focusing on her other senses besides sight. She looked up at hearing squeaking sounds. Bats were fluttering around to catch would-be-pest insects that were attracted by the food growing. Kasa's nose scrunched somewhat, wishing she could reach a bat. While she knew they where flying around to catch their food, part of her was wishing the beasts wouldn't taunt her with their presence. So close yet so far, out of reach to use towards her pelt practice. Smaller animals always used less energy compared to larger ones. She was going to have to start small again.

It wouldn't be too impressive to show the other shifter her skills when all she could probably turn into would be a rat or mouse..But at least it would be something to prove her word.

“Hello?”

“GAH!” Kasa leaped in surprise at haring a voice behind her. Quickly whirling around with a hand on her tomahawk and wide silver eyes. She was so lost in thought she hadn't heard the woman, saturated with blue colors, approach her. And this was probably not the best way to make a first impression. Dressed in old tanned-leather clothes and her pelts gave her that tribal look that people from 'civilized' cultures often got bad vibes from. And her hand on her weapon wasn't screaming 'I'm friendly' either.

Quickly realizing the image she was projecting she let go of the weapon that still rested in her sheath. She stood up straight and had her hands raised in an 'I mean no harm' signal.

“Eh....Sagoni has startled this one. She gives apology to her not-so-warm welcome. Yes.” She explained awkwardly. Shifting her moccasin covered feet in the dirt.

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Aria blinked as the girl jumped; her own hands going up by her head, open palmed, to show that she meant no harm. A goofy grin upon her features; as her gaze slid to the hand that gripped a weapon by the woman’s side. ”My apologies; I did not mean to startle.” Her eyes traveled back up to the woman’s face. As the woman let go of her weapon Aria lowered her hands and clasped them behind her back. She took in the woman’s appearance more; her appearance reminded her of Ottosa. Tribal; but practical. Her head tilted to the side as the woman spoke; apologizing for her reaction. ”Please do not worry yourself about it; I’ve received worse.”

It would seem the woman was just defensive not aggressive; this was fine perhaps she would make a new acquaintance. However it would seem her common was still choppy; she wondered how long it was since the woman was fated over to this land….she was assuming this girl was fated. As far as her knowledge went; this was the city in which the fated had begun to populate. ”Out of curiosity what is Sargoni? Is it your name or a reference to me?” Aria plopped down where she was standing and sat cross legged looking up at the woman. It would seem Aria was getting herself comfortable for a nice long string of questions. Her features brimming with curiosity.

Aria was always a curious person; not hesitating to ask a deluge of questions when she encountered something new. Even as she aged this habit of hers did not change; it often got her into trouble but the feeling of wanting to know more always pulled strongly at her. Yes she had her father’s book to learn more; but really that took a lot of the fun out of discovering it for yourself. Aria had come to bane in order to learn more anyways; meeting a local could open more doors. ”My name is Mia by the way; nice to meet you.” She couldn’t go by her name; not here. Usually her alter ego’s name was Alex but that’s was when she was a boy. This would be a new name for a new location and a new look.

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Kasa looked over the young girl that stood in front of her. She sort of reminded her of a rabbit. She had soft and innocent features, a cute face, and first impressions, one would think she couldn't harm a fly. Kasa gave a grin when the girl forgave her for her brash reaction. Interestingly enough the young woman took a seat in the dirt, causing Kasa to perk a brow that the woman would let an expensive looking dress get muddied up in farmlands, and she asked her some questions. ”Out of curiosity, what is Sargoni? Is it your name or a reference to me?” she asked, looking up to Kasa. Kasa squated down so she wouldn't have to stare up at her and grinned, seeming happy to the questions she had for her. “It is reference to blue-lady. No Sargoni. Sagoni. Sargoni mean blue. Because...Well...” She stopped and simply gestured to her appearance. The reason being obvious before resting her arms on her knees. Kasa nodded somewhat as she learned her true name. Testing the sound on her tongue to make sure she could pronounce it correctly; Thankfully this was an easy one. “Mia. Mia is pretty name. Good to meet. This one is Kasa. Good to meet Mia.” She introduced and held her hand out to her to shake. Kasa's hands having an odd mix of being soft, yet a roughness to them, hinting at someone who is a hardworker.
Kasa took a moment to examine the woman a moment, her brows furrowing with curiosity. “Why woman sitting in dirt?” She asked, then quickly giving a reason for the question. “Because...Dress look expensive and difficult to come by. One would think lady would take better care of her items.” Kasa did not mean this to sound rude in anyway, but, it vexed her. This is why she wore her simpler clothes. It didn't hurt to get them dirty since she could just make them again through a quick hunt...Hunt...That reminded her. Kasa stood up from her squat. Still listening to the woman speaking but her stare darted around. She needed to find some sort of pest she could skin.

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As the woman explained Sargoni was the name for blue she smiled ”I like that name you can call me Sargoni then if you like. It’s nice to make your acquaintance Kasa.” She smiled at the woman pleased to have met her. Aria aka Mia or Sargoni at this point reached her hand out to shake Kasa’s. Arias hand also were slightly rougher than a nobles; mainly due to her long child hood on the streets. She was no stranger to hard labor. Soon the question of why she was sitting in the dirt came up; causing Aria to blink. She supposed this was an odd place to just plop down. It would seem Kasa became concerned with how her dress would fair against dirt. ”A little dirt isn’t going to hurt it; this dirt’s dusty. Plus I can always wash it out” Aria held out a hand and a small ball of water began to gather above her palm. With a flick of her wrist the water turned to a small stream which poured into the nearby plants.

Seeing how her sitting in the dirt seemed to bother the woman; Aria stood up brushing off the thin coat of dust that clung to her skirts. ”As for why I was sitting; I have a habit of wanting to study something new I found for a good length of time. I was just getting ….” She noticed Kasa’s attention wander as if she was looking for something. ”Can I ask what your searching for? Perhaps I could help?” She didn’t know bane very well, but two eyes were better than one. She clasped her hands behind her back as she continued to observe the woman; really having nothing better to do at the current moment. ”So Kasa were you fated here as well? Or are you local?” She had a lot of questions for this woman but she wouldn’t put them all on her at once. But a few wouldn’t hurt ”How long have you been in this city? I only got to bane a little while go.”

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Kasa grinned as the woman she now knew was named Mia, allowed her to call her Sagoni. Letting her mispronunciation of the name slip by again. She of all people knew it was difficult to adjust to a strange language. She watched as the woman blinked up at her at her for her question on why she was sitting in the dirt...Was that just normal behavior here? Kasa inwardly shrugged. Who was she to judge. Her belongings, she can treat them as she wishes and her eyes returned to scanning the surroundings. But her attention was grabbed again when the blue woman asked her another question.

“Can I ask what your searching for? Perhaps I could help?” Kasa thought on it a moment then rubbed her scarred neck, her lips skewed to the side with thought before shrugging and grinned to her. “Sure. Sagoni may help. This one is looking for animal. Any animal. Rat, rabbit, squirrel, snake. Something she can take pelt from to practice with.” She explained as she she made her way down the hilly, underground farm land. Silver eyes holding a hawk-like focus for prey as she studied the rows. Altering her stare from the rows to the left....Then to the rows on the right...Then back to the rows on the left. She listened carefully to the woman as she questioned her. “This one is 'Fated', yes. She is not native to these strange lands.” She answers simply, listening to her next question. This one was a bit more difficult for her to answer. “Eh...It is hard to tell since city is underground. But, she is certain it is for at least a season. She can feel the change in the cold air. It is getting warmer.” She paused in her explanation to sniff the air for anything that smelled of an animal. Nothing distinct, just general farm smells and stagnate cave air. She needed to move out from Bane. It was too musty for her liking and she realized she hadn't seen much of the great blue sky for a long time. Once she got some money she would invest in a move. She peered back towards Mia as Kasa took her turn in asking a question. “What of you? Fate or native?”

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Aria or Sagoni at this point tilted her head when the woman said she was looking for animal pelt to practice with. Aria only hunted when she or another was in the need for food; however she did use the pelts to line her bed during the winter. Not that she would really need to anymore considering the location of her new home. Perhaps this woman was a seamstress for needing the pelt; or was it something else. ”Well…I may know a better place for you to hunt…But why do you need the pelts specifically? Are you a leather worker of sorts?” She was curious; but she didn’t think Kasa was going to have much luck. The area in bane seemed cleaned out of most animals even of the small sorts…. Most of the area was protected and or hunted out due to the large population that seemed to be hiding within the cavern. ”If you’re looking for animals, then they’d be located outside of bane. If you want I can show you the way.”

It was at least confirmed that the girl was fated and that she had indeed been here for a while. Arias currently blue eyebrows rose in surprise when Kasa indicated she had been in bane for an entire season. ”You’ve been here the whole frost veil season?” That was their longest season….being here for a few months and never leaving the cavern….It certainly was time for the woman to find her way out into the world. ”The snow has melted and the flowers have blossom; it’s now the second moon of the season of due flora.” Aria began to walk; assuming Kasa would fallow. She would at least show her the way to the forever forest. She nodded in confirmation when the girl asked her if she was fated as well. ”Yes I believe the majority of everyone here in bane is fated. I arrived a little more than a year ago. Originally fated were brought in by the Moon Temple in the city of Nova. But we then began to be hunted so we were moved to this location. It’s not that bad in the city anymore. No one’s calling for executions anymore….so that’s a plus. A few fated have even moved back into the city…Though it’s probably safer here, for now…”

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Kasa grinned at hearing she knew a better place, the farms were starting to put a damper on her mood upon not finding any sort of pest for her to catch. What kind of form doesn't have pests!? “This one would much appreciate new place to search. She is surprised that there are no mice or rats running around..” She paused to look up at the bats that ate the insects that were flying about close to the ceiling, ”And the bats are too high for this one to reach.” She said with a chuckle. “Ah, and for why she need pelt, she is an Anti'ihnii...Uh...But in Common Language, it mean Skin-Walker. She use pelt of animal to take its form. But...For some reason the pelts she has with her does not work here..” She said crestfallen, giving the wolf pelt on her back a pet, feeling the rough fur that's been through her through thick and thin. "So. She is trying to see what she can do to re-learn skill."

Her expression brightened though at hearing the girl would show her the way out of Bane. Kasa hadn't really put much effort into looking for the exit because...Well...It was too darn cold. She hates the cold. She figured she'd look later when it's warmer. And thankfully, now is that time. The girl asked with a bit of surprise that she's been here a whole season. To her surprise, Kasa nodded. “Well...She is not sure when in the season she show up, but, she has been in these lands within that 'frost veil' season.” She explained sheepishly.

Kasa gladly followed the blue woman. Eagerness in her steps to get started on the hunting, She made note on how she would need to quickly make a spear or something since that would do better than her tomahawk...She momentarily got distracted from her hunting thoughts when Aria explained how she was fated as well. Seems like a majority of the people here were fated. She gave a small smile and nodded in agreement to the young woman. “That is good thing. It can be frightening being refugee, yes. Always on toes.” She said, hinting to a past experience in something perhaps similar to the persecution of those fated. As they walked, she looked around, making note of where they were going. “So..Does Sagoni enjoy being here in these lands? Different from her original home?” She asked with a bit of curiosity.