South

The southern part of the city has a chic family-oriented sort of charm to it. Here, small locally owned shops run rampant, neighbors often know each other by name, and the monthly socials are an event not to be missed. In the South, children can often be seen safely playing in the park or on sidewalks and in the weekends, families often take to the beach to enjoy the warm waters surrounding the city.

What You'll Find Here

Ascension Center of Equitation
Hyde Park
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
The Outskirts
The University of Sacrosanct

Ascension Center of Equitation

The Ascension Center of Equitation is the epicenter of the Dark Hunter Cavalry Unit. Originally a high-class facility for show-jumping, Ascension now caters entirely to the Cavalry Unit. Here the Dark Hunters learn how to ride and fight upon the backs of horses - many of which are Were's themselves.
Home of: The Cavalry

Hyde Park

Hyde Place takes up a large part of the Southern side of the city and includes a large playground, several fountains, and a small garden. The park is open from five in the morning till midnight though many shady characters may visit this place while it's technically "closed". The park has also been a venue for several concerts and hosts many holiday-related events. Under a full moon, witches are often seen here for the sacred ground beneath the iconic Weeping Beech.

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) is an award-winning combined zoo and aquarium located within the Southern Part of Sacrosanct. Situated on 92 acres in Sacrosanct's Hyde Park, the zoo and aquarium are home to over 9,000 specimens representing 367 animal species. Point Defiance is also widely known for its conversation efforts regarding the breed and release program of Red Wolves.

The Outskirts

Beyond the city limits and over the bridge lies the deep, dark, and almost impenetrable forest. Often seen as a way to guard this magical city against the world that surrounds it, many are entirely ignorant of the evil that may creep between those tree trunks. Many were-creatures use the forest for the transformations of their newest members and some even take to hunting here. It isn't particularly peculiar for people to go missing within this forest but once you get through, the rest of the world awaits.

The University of Sacrosanct

The University of Sacrosanct offers some of the top programs in the nation with its outstanding campus and specialized faculty. The University places a high focus both upon educating future generations but also on research to help revolutionize the world. The University welcomes the talent of students across the world to enroll and unlock their unlimited potential. With applications from across the nation, classes fill up quickly.

PhD in Plant Biology Abigail Hughes

Feral by Nature


Posted on December 28, 2016 by Malia Tate
South


I can tell by his scent that the man in front of me is not just a man. I've learned from hanging out with the panther and the wolf and even the horse thing that a Were smells differently than a human. It's something almost earthy, like an animal musk related to whatever kind of animal they can shift into. That's why the man's scent is odd, because it reminds me so much of the panther and I never saw him shift to know what he looks like as a human but his voice is different and he doesn't seem to recognize me. Of course he never saw me as a human either but something is different about him. Like he may be a panther but he's not the same panther.

And yet he acts like a human. He doesn't act like I'm crazy talking about being naked with no fur and such but he doesn't say anything about his own ability to shift either, almost as if he doesn't know if he can. It almost reminds me of my stubbornness toward the other Weres when they first told me what I was. I was in denial, thinking I couldn't even shift myself if I wanted because I never knew how. I don't remember anything before being a coyote cub in my home pack, the pack I may never see again after tonight if I can't figure out how to shift back.

I see almost a flash of pity in the man's eyes and it makes my lip curl a little. I have my pride and I don't want his sympathy or his pity. I just want somewhere to stay tonight so I can do something about my leg and figure out what I'm going to do. I need to either shift back or find someone who can show me how. The horse thing said he would if I joined his pack so maybe he's worth visiting now but I don't want to try to find him tonight. I'm tired and cold and confused and I feel very off balance and this man has already helped me by letting me out of the van so he can't be all that bad.

Maybe he's just sad that I haven't met a human to teach me that there are good ones out there but technically I wouldn't have gotten the chance before tonight. Not many humans want to reach out to a feral coyote so it's not like I blame them for going for a gun first. I would do the same in their position. In this new body, I guess I have the opportunity to learn about humans, the good and the bad. I'm scared though. I hate new things and this tops them all.

When he goes to leave, I try to limp after him, telling him to wait and to my relief, he stops and turns back to me, telling me he'll help if I stop fighting him. I nod. "Fine." That's my way of saying okay. Still not used to this whole socializing thing and how to go about it. My only experience has been with three Weres.

He moves closer and I stiffen at first, listening as he says that he's going to help me so we can get out of here faster. I my pride fighting me on this since I'm not used to having to lean on anyone to move. I know that I can keep up if I tried but it would probably hurt like hell. I know that I probably need his help so I begrudgingly wrap my arm around his neck to help steady me, inhaling his scent like its second nature. Oh boy, I'll probably smell like him now since he's touching me. Definitely not going back to Ceasar and the pack now. They'll turn on me for sure.

I try to hold his jacket against me with my free arm while we hobble toward his apartment. Thankfully it's not that far. I'm so cold. I shiver, trying not to chatter my teeth but it's hard. AS he peeks his head in the door, I can't help but smirk. "Is sneaking in something you do often?" I'm going to try to find a way to distract myself any way I can. Between my leg and my new body, I'm in definite need of some distraction and talking is the only thing I know to do now.

He opens a door and we move inside where he moves me toward a couch and lowers me down. I sit on the couch reluctantly, my fingers trailing along the fabric in curiosity. I've never been on one of these before. He tells me to stay and I frown at him, feeling too much like a dog being commanded but I remember what he said about not helping me if I fight him so I bite my tongue just this once, though it's taking everything I have. As he walks down the hallway, I lean forward, trying to watch where he's going. When he disappears into a room, I start looking around, draping the jacket over my body like a blanket now.

He's gone for just a minute or two but it feels like hours to an impatient teenager like me. I shift on the couch, uncomfortable on the scratchy fabric. Finally he returns and I lean up, eager to distract myself. I eye the t-shirt in his hand, knowing what it is since I see humans wearing them all the time. I just don't know how to put them on. I feel helpless and I hate it. He comes toward me and I stiffen again, an instinct I can't seem to escape for now. When he tells me to raise my arms, I raise a brow at him in puzzlement but do as I'm told, slowly raising my arms above my head.

He puts the t-shirt down over my arms and I feel euphoria hit me. This is how you do it! So I guess they don't ever get dressed alone? I scowl, so full of questions. I pull the t-shirt more down around my body, liking the way it covers me more than the jacket so I don't feel as cold anyway. The fabric is still foreign to me though and I keep picking at it, not sure how to get comfortable. I miss my fur.

I look up when he moves to reach for something else, a heavy pair of bolt cutters. I don't know what they do but I know a weapon when I see one. My body stiffens and I pull my knees up on the couch against my chest, my fingers curling as if I have claws. As he comes toward me, my eyes widen like a feral creature and I push back against the back of the couch, wishing I didn't feel like a cornered animal. He tries to speak to me and I listen, my brows furrowing as I try to decide if I want to trust him or not. He's done nothing but help so far but it's just so hard to trust a human. Well, kinda a human, anyway.

Finally I clench my teeth and nod, letting him know I won't kick him. I watch curiously as he pours some strong smelling stuff on the bolt cutters. I sniff in distaste and wrinkle my nose. "That stinks." When he moves toward my leg with the other stuff, I stiffen, pulling the leg toward me at first before finally I loosen up and stretch it out for him. I bite my lip, watching him pour it but then I growl. "Ow, it burns!" It takes everything to hold my leg out and let it fizzle instead of jerking it back but I bite into my lip until I taste blood instead.

He grabs the bolt cutters next and I watch him suspiciously. Cutting the ends of the arrow doesn't hurt but I know he's not done yet. I can't leave the arrow in there after all. When he stands up to leave the room, I watch him, wondering if he's done but then he comes back with a wooden spoon and I sniff the air. "I don't smell anything so are you going to get food before you cut my leg off?" My eyes twinkle with humor, even giving him a small grin, pleased with myself.

Of course that only lasts until he tells me to bite on the spoon and hold still. My face falters, going serious and worried. I eye the bolt cutters again before sighing and nodding, taking the spoon from him and inserting it into my mouth. I bite down on it gently at first, trying out the texture. Definitely wooden. As he grabs the arrow, I close my eyes and look away, biting down on the spoon. The minute he pulls it out, I snap the spoon in half, screaming through clenched teeth. He holds a rag to the wound and I glare down at him, my eyes glittering for a minute before I force myself to calm down.

I eye the peroxide as he grabs it, knowing what's coming so I tense up, hissing air through my teeth this time as it starts to burn. He starts to wrap my leg and I listen as he speaks, giving him another look. "I don't know what a doctor is and unless he has magical powers of looking at something to heal it, I think it'll be fine. Not trying to fight you. I just....I don't want to." I say in a softer almost pleading voice, like a child begging not to go to school.

When he walks out of the room again, I sigh and slowly pull my legs back up to my chest. My stomach starts rumbling and I look up, sniffing again when he comes back with something on a plate. My nose wrinkles as I look at it. It smells appetizing but what is it? "What is that?" I tilt my head some. I can smell the water but the tablet thing looks sketchy. I take them and eye them quizzically. I hold the sandwich up, sniffing at it again. It doesn't smell like meat. I lick the bread timidly, still not sure. He tells me to eat and drink and take the pill things. I scowl. "I'm no stranger to pain. Are you trying to drug me?" I eye him.


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