The Complete and Unbridled Curly Sanchez

[Takkuri]

Yes.
Unbridled was just the word.
"Damn full moon," the boy hissed, pacing, his every muscle tensed. "Oh, damn, oh, damn, someone needs to be here now..."
Sweat poured from his body to the sand. The light gold, already dulling because of the setting sun, was darkened further by the salty moisture. Where his sweat trickled into the water, it was lost in the cold, still lake. There was no difference tonight between saltwater and Curly's sweat. Not on the night of a full moon.
Suddenly as he turned to stalk in the other direction his head snapped back and an unearthly scream echoed across the waters of the lake, faintly reaching the school on the far side. Halfway through the shrill shriek, the voice deepened into an ethereal howl as the pure white circle among the stars smirked down at him. The body shrunk and fur began to sprout everywhere on his body, spreading from the stripe down his back and becoming coarser around his face as a muzzle sprouted. Halfheartedly, he screamed again, but already his body was complete and a crazed, trembling coyote stood on the shore, staring across at the silouhette of the school and scenting with trepidation, trying to find prey, something to hunt to quell the raging need for blood he suddenly felt.
A pile of discarded, half-ripped clothing lay on the beach next to him as if it had been victim of murder. From the torn leg of the pants peeked a gray brush, striped with pink. The coyote sniffed it and howled once more, pitifully.

[L.A.C.R.I.M.O.S.A]

Lupa Silverfang, forced involuntarily into wolf-form due to the full moon, wandered the hilltops, her nose to the ground as she caught hold of a foreign scent. She lifted her magnificent head, large, slanted eyes of a vivid gold color consuming her surroundings. Not too far below sat a being not so different from herself. Human, but not human. Human and beast combined. A Lycan.....her student. The she-wolf lifted her head and let out a long, piercing howl that echoed throughout the vast barrenness of the shipyards on an almost sorrowful note.

In an instant, Lupa was before Curly, sitting peacefully on her large haunches as she stared at the coyote curiously. In Lycan form, she was a large, white wolf of tall, well-built proportion with a thick coat that shimmered in the pale moonlight like newly polished silver. She fixed the boy with a piercing, yellow gaze that held all the potential to freeze Hell over as her long ears, slightly longer than the average wolf's and pointed, went forward slowly.

"You must be Curly Sanchez," she said to him with her mind, her voice low, airy....completely inhuman. "I am Lupa Silverfang, and I will be your teacher at Twilight Moon Academy..."

[Takkuri]

Curly's ears swept back immediately as he fell to the ground, preparing to roll to his back if that wasn't good enough, showing both fear and subordinance towards the much larger wolf. It was when he realized that she had spoken and actually comprehended her words that he straightened up, trembling with the need to run, and shook himself furiously to rid the sand from the side of his body.
"Nice timing," he said sourly, trying to keep his tone bordering on friendly instead of slipping into impoliteness and anger as it threatened to. He kicked at the clothing with a paw, found the Ritchabo, and began to gnaw at it tirelessly as he watched his Master Teacher through one curious golden eye. His own muddied red, brown and grey coat was no comparison to hers, and he seemed to realize it, slinking close to the ground as if to hide more of it. "Is there a reason you and your sadistic school summoned me here on the full moon? I expected to already be safe in a room I could lock by now. But if that would have been an inconvienence, oh, my apologies."
His usually-friendly voice was bitter. He could smell the humans and other creatures stirring and moving in the school from here on the sand. These nights always seemed so much longer.

[L.A.C.R.I.M.O.S.A]

Lupa whined softly as she initiated her upper body into some form of a 'play bow', her tail wagging slightly behind her.

"You need not be so formal." She smiled in a friendly manner. "And I apologize for the wait. We had originally intended for you to have another teacher, but with this current ...'situation', they assigned you to me." She was referring to the boy's Lycan abilities, and although she made it a personal vow not to do so, Lupa became quite fond of the boy.

A soft breeze whispered gently to the she-wolf, caressing her snowy fur with fingertips of feather as it sighed a melancholy moan throughout the many trees of a nearby forest, their many limbs and leaves swaying with the intruding gust. The air was brisk and chilled just as the Lycan woman preferred it, and her every muscle taut was shot with adrenaline in the light of the moon, her very instinct urging her, imploring her to run across the open fields like a single, silver bolt of furred lightning racing over the land in complete bliss. The wolf stifled her overwhelming urges and shuddered. She was a teacher after all, and at the moment, she needed to do her job.

Lupa stretched her quivering limbs briefly as she stated, "Well, the academy is just across this lake, and if it is quite okay with you, I'd like to make a recommendation of transportation. I've quite an urge to run on this fine, moonlit night, and if it's alright with you, I might suggest that we run instead of taking a boat."
She smiled pleasantly, awaiting her student's answer eagerly.

[Takkuri]

Curly smiled suddenly, trying to appear not so toothy as his legs twitched at the thought. Slowly, luxuriously, he stretched. Perhaps with a friend there were benefits to be found in a strong body and a free spirit.
"I'd love to run," he said softly, looking up at the academy. "But you understand that."
Glancing back to the heap of clothes, he trotted over, suddenly businesslike, and picked La Curliness up in his teeth, giving his favorite comb an affectionate nibble as he went through the procedure he usually used when he had to move his things as a coyote. With a heave of his head the bo was balanced in the ridge between his wedgelike head and bony shoulders. Frowning, he then tried to pick up the Curly Claw, but with the comb already in his teeth and the bo making it difficult to move, he sighed, a breathy, low sound, and gave up.
"Is there a way to transport my important stuff over to the school?" he asked, defeated, as he turned about quickly. "I can't carry all of it like this, and I'd like to run unhindered in the first place." His own claws scratched tiny, invisible grooves in the sand as the layer of black blanket that was night fell properly and coated the world, finding itself caught on the spires and towers of the school in the distance, so that there were small spaces of air where light still shone and called across the lake to the beach.

[L.A.C.R.I.M.O.S.A]

The she-wolf chuckled softly as she examined her student's struggle with his belongings. "One moment," she said.

Almost instantly, all of Curly's possessions had taken on a golden hue, and in a flash, they disappeared in a spout of gold and silver sparks. "Don't worry, they've been transported to the school. You can collect your valuables there."

The moon reached ever-higher in the sky, an unheard voice beckoning to the wolf's blood in words unspoken, calling her name, taunting her......Her ears twitched excitedly, and she shook her fur to rid herself of a shudder as she said restlessly," Well, I believe we should get going now before the sun rises. Come this way."

She lead the boy to the edge of a lake, and with a swish of her tail and a light flick of her right ear, a solid trail of ice and rock began to form, meandering off into the distance towards the academy. With one last glance over her shoulder at Curly, she started off at a swift canter down the icy path, slowing up enough so that her student may catch up with her.

[Takkuri]

Curley followed, his claws clicking repeatedly on the ice. He made an effort to run only on the rock, which was easier and safer footing. Running at full speed towards his teacher to catch up, he felt exhiliarated, satisfied at least with his current form. As he grew older, it was becoming easier to control himself like this. Of course, when he was younger, he'd had no chances. He could neither run nor practice control while shackled for a few extra pennies' performance.
As he caught up he slowed a bit, loping in long strides, he threw his head back and focused his gaze on the lights of the academy. His senses almost overcame him in their race to focus on one particular window, then seem to enlarge it until he could see a single ladybug crawling on the edges of the windowsill. He smiled toothily, a smile that remained even as he slipped on the ice and skidded for a moment before regaining control and focusing his senses now on running well on the ice instead. Less impressive, sure, but safer.

[L.A.C.R.I.M.O.S.A]

The wind entangled itself in Lupa's fur pleasantly, and she whined softly with excitement as she continued her trek. She had not been able to run the way she was now for ages, and her aching, longing limbs were quivering with her every step. Nose to the sky, she took in the familiar scent of the academy and its numerous inhabitants, every scent clear and distinct to her as if they all bore their very own name.

The moon continued to smile upon the two Lycans softly, the light reflecting off their fur as the two streaked across the icy path like bullets. The academy was looming ever closer, and the fires from the torches glowed like beacons in the darkness- a point upon which the Lycan woman could fix her gaze as she pushed onward.

After a long, awkward moment of silence, Lupa contacted Curly wither her mind, "So, young master Sanchez, tell me... Where do you come from? How did you come to be here?"

[Takkuri]

The coyote's head ducked as Curly watched the ice before him, letting his paws fall into a comforting rhythm. Rock forward, step, step, back legs. Rock forward. He considered Lupa's question as he let the cold breeze fill his nose, burning him from the inside out in a way that was both enjoyable and relaxing. Where had he come from? How had he come to be here?
Even if he knew, how could he explain?
How could he explain a freak show, smelling beer and crisp money and blood all around him, encased in jeering humans who laughed and screamed and spat?
How could he explain the streets- a bare, lonely apartment, an all-win fighting record and a losing streak of his humanity, a cigarette in the mouth of a snarling grey and red coyote?
He couldn't.
"I'm from places I don't want to go back to," he said after a while. "But here, this is where I'm from now. This is where I'm staying."

[L.A.C.R.I.M.O.S.A]

"I understand," Lupa said softly, wind filling her ears with a sound that resembled thunder, "my own history was not so pleasant either. But I assure you, you've chosen a fine place for a home. The academy was really the only place that accepted me for who I was instead of spitting curses at me or shrieking away with fear. Yes...those things I was all too familiar with."

The academy was nearly upon them now, the large, daunting silhouette sitting placidly upon the moonlit horizon in a spectacle that would be deemed worthy of the front side of a postcard.

"Before I forget, I must assign you a schedule...

For the first 6 periods of the day, everyone will have the same schedule:
1: Magic
2: Weaponry
3: Alchemy
4: Beastry
5: Master
6: BREAK

Then comes the optional classes....

For period 7 classes, students choose ONE of the three:
Music, History, Potionry

For period 8 classes, students choose ONE of the three:
Holy, Flare, Summoning

For period 9 classes, students choose ONE of the three:
Dragoon, Samurai, Theivery

For period 10 classes, students choose ONE of the two:
Puppetmaster, Survival.

So, what do you say?"

[Takkuri]

Curly considered, skidding as he came to solid earth and looking up at the school that now towered over them. His tail swished in the cold air. Suddenly he was restless, and he pawed at the ground, snarling softly. "All right... for my optional classes, ma'am, I think I'd like Potionry, Summoning, Thievery and Survival."
He reflected on his choices as he gnawed at his front leg, scratching an itch that wouldn't fade.

[L.A.C.R.I.M.O.S.A]

"Very well, then," Lupa nodded, "here is your schedule."

***Curly has received "Schedule"***
1: Magic
2: Weaponry
3: Alchemy
4: Beastry
5: Master
6: BREAK
7: Potionry
8: Summoning
9: Thievery
10: Survival

"Keep it safe," said Lupa firmly, "If you lose it, you'll be in quite a bit of trouble."

As she skidded to a halt with her claws digging into the white, sandy shore of the academy, the Lycan woman stared up at the familiar structure and gave a large, wolfish grin, giving herself a good shake and a nice stretch afterwards. "That was quite a pleasant run, and I thank you for joining me, Curly. However, this is where we must depart for now. Your possessions will appear in your dorm room as soon as you get one, and at the moment, students are nearing the end of their eighth period. If you hurry, you might be able to catch the last few minutes of it before heading off to the ninth." Lupa trailed off for a more as she seemed to be thinking something over.

"Oh, yes. I almost forgot to give you this." A small pop was heard from somewhere in the air, and a small, translucent, orb of a reddish-brown color hovered in midair in front of Lupa's muzzle, spinning slowly on its axis. "I had it specially designed for you."

***Curly has received the "Moonlight of Transformation"***
The "Moonlight of Transformation" is extremely rare. This particular orb has the special ability to summon a full moon, regardless if it's midday out! Use it to unleash the full potential of your Lycan abilities, as this divine moonlight will increase your strength and agility by ten. NOTE: At first, summoning will be tiring!!! Practice before battles to prevent damage to yourself, leading to the loss of the battle!

"Well, I must be going now, for the light of the moon dwindles with each passing moment. I bid you a fond farewell, Curly, and I look forward to seeing you again in the near future. Until next we meet......"

With that said, she lifted her head skywards and let out a long, piercing howl, and gradually, her form began to disappear until all at once, she vanished like a dream into the cold, brisk night.

[Takkuri]

Curly stared at the glowing transcendence of the orb sitting on the ground, then picked it up in his jaws, trotted off to the side, and found the shade of a towering wall. He lay down slowly. His mouth opened to let the orb roll to the dirt again. Curly's big brown eyes stared longingly at it as he rested his head on his paws, waiting for the moonlight to finally leak from the sky and the sun to rise, when he could enter the school and begin a new life.