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[ The paw to the top of his head quells a lot of the inner turmoil, settles the instinct. It doesn't last long as the shift starts, like a tremor under fur as bones shift and limbs elongate. The pained whine turns more into a choked off scream as the wolf recedes and all that's left is a scrawny teenager.

Everything aches, limbs refusing to cooperate as he tries to get up. He thinks dying might be easier, at this point. Once he gets his breathing under control, he glances quickly to where he thought for sure he wasn't alone. The hole in his face is more pronounced, the wound's origin potentially telling. Alphas packed a powerful punch, and the message was more than received. ]

[That went better than it might have. There's no way of making the change easy at this point. With practice and experience, greater control, it can get better. Natasha is efficient as she lets herself shift back and sidle away from the kid.

Chances are he's not going to go lashing out now.]

Hey... [After a long moment of quiet.] You with me?

[ For the moment, he's past lashing out and all he wants to do is crawl in a hole somewhere and sleep off the weak feeling. Her voice is muffled at first, it's hard to focus right after. His head snaps up to look at her warily.

He doesn't know where he is or who she is, but he's not going to go down without a fight if it comes to it. He doesn't recognize her, but that doesn't mean much. Can't trust her just yet. ]

I'm not going back.

That's fine. I'm not sure where back is for you.

[That's not entirely true. Natasha has a general idea. She knows the direction he came from. Hows the alpha who bit him.

She doesn't have any intention of sending him back that way, though, or know the particulars of his situation. She hasn't had time to find out who his family is, or how he ended up here.

That's a question for later though.

Rolling her shoulders, she leans back just a little to eye him.]

Where do you want to go?

[ Home is the first thing that comes to mind, but it's not as if he can. He doesn't want his family to be endangered if he does go back. That psycho werewolf would be out for blood. Wanted him to join his group.

Pack.. wolves are a pack. The situation is so fucked up, it makes his head spin. Carl shakes his head, looking at her with a lost expression. ]

Away. I don't know.. [ Doesn't really know where to go. Or where he is.. ]

If you're not sure, how about you give me a shot. Stay with me and my people for a couple of days.

[Her gaze is steady, sympathetic as she takes in his injuries but not the least soft.]

While you get used to things.

Why?

[ Why does she care? Others sure haven't, and it makes him feel a little on edge. There's another unfamiliar part of him that wants to go with her, to see what it's like. The part that screams for pack that he's yet to understand the meaning of. ]

I don't like messes. Especially not when they wander into my backyard. This is the way I'd prefer to clean it up.

[She makes it sound very reasonable. Rational. Sort of tip toeing around the fact she doesn't want to kill him. Barnes would probably laugh at her, playing tough. Around the fact she might have sympathy for the kid because she knows more about where he's at than she lets one.]

[ His head whips up, and his single eye narrows. It's some sort of werewolf pissing contest, isn't it? Get him to join some pack that he never asked to be a part of, but now a part of him yearns for without being able to pinpoint the feeling. How big could her territory be? He could find his way out of it while still keeping his distance from that asshole's. ]

Just.. point me in the right direction and I'll leave. You won't see me again.

You're in that much of a hurry to leave?

[Her demeanor is steady. There's no aggression in it. But there is a sternness.]

If you're determined to go, I can have someone give you a ride. I don't think it's the best call, though. You're new. if it's not me, it'll be another pack.

If not them, hunters.

Edited 2018-03-04 01:37 (UTC)

I never asked for any of this! I just want to stay out of it.

[ The anger flares and he stands, that single eye flashing amber for just a moment. His hands are balled into fists at his sides as he tries to reign in the anger. It's harder just after he turns back and he shakes his head almost violently to rid himself of the feeling.

The mention of hunters definitely gets his attention, though. She makes it seem like they're not just ordinary game hunters- there's a gravity to her words. ]

What are hunters going to do?

Not many of us ask for this, kid. I know I didn't. We have to figure how we'll deal with it anyway.

[She's still calm. And she's in no hurry to move or force him to.]

Around here, the hunters and me have an understanding. They don't touch wolves who haven't hurt people, and they give me the chance to police my own first.

If you decide to go somewhere else, I can't say what they'll do.

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