by The Royal Mirage » Sun Apr 08, 2018 5:15 pm
((Just two tonight, somehow I was actually feeling inspired for Mel for once - I've got 2 weeks of exams ahead of me, but after that I'm freeee!))
As muted sounds from the party mingled with the cool night breeze, a snowy figure danced through the pack town's empty cobbled streets. Melanie had purposefully arranged her lips into a grin, teeth flashing as she gently pressed her shoulder against the door of one house that appeared unoccupied, smile widening as it gave way. Of course she didn't care that a low life like herself wasn't invited to some posh party, not one bit. For now the nobles left their homes unattended, just right for the spurned thief. She looked around at the gaudy decor and mused to herself: "if I were a pompous snob that left my ostentatiously decorated home unguarded to go to some frivolous party, where would I hide my coins?" A quick look around the main floor wasn't a total waste of time, as she pocketed a couple bottles of admittedly very nice bourbon, along with a jar of honey pickled peaches that simply begged her to take them too. Once upstairs, Melanie located the master bedroom quickly, the large room adorned with expensive rugs and draperies that looked way too expensive to just be for decor. Oh well, they wouldn't miss a plush pelt or two. And then she hit the jackpot - not coins, but jewelry, and some flashy pieces from the looks of it. She located the pieces with the largest gemstones, carefully prying them from their sockets and placing them in her rucksack to be pawned off later. Now where were those coins?
A noise from below distracted the intruder from her search, heart pounding in her chest. Was she not alone? Lime eyes wide as she perked her ears, she could just barely distinguish the mumbling of a brute in the house. Perhaps the home owners had hired a guard after all, and he'd been sleeping on the job. Mel grimaced, looking about shrewdly for another means of escape - it seemed she was out of luck though. Only the window. Giving a silent sigh, she padded over as quietly as she could and pressed her paws to the clear glass pane. It didn't open with the light pressure she applied so, carefully, she threw more of her weight into the push. Her heart stopped as a terrifyingly loud squeak pierced the silence, swearing under her breath. "Is someone there?" she heard from below, followed by pawsteps. There was no time for stealth, pressing as hard as she could and hearing the window scream open. The pawsteps grew closer, a futile "stop right there!" sounding as she slipped out the opening, claws finding purchase in the stone walls as she climbed lithely down.
Echoing cries of "stop, come back! Wait!" sounded out behind her as she slipped through the streets, winding through back alleys until she was sure she wasn't being pursued. There was something special about almost getting caught that made these kinds of ventures all the more thrilling. With her heart still pounding, Mel gave a reckless, wild grin up at the moon, feeling a swelling of accomplishment in her chest.
Opal's eyes trailed over the room full of finely dressed wolves from over the rim of her glass, sipping gingerly as she attempted to feign poised comfort while her heart only seemed to pound incessantly in her chest. Her careful gaze combed over each individual, many of whom she knew quite well, yet none caught her gaze for more than a moment before wine-dark eyes moved on. 'Where,' she wondered, before catching her thoughts. Where, what? What was she wondering 'where' about? In this confusion her orbs answered her mind, catching finally a pelt that was a kaleidoscope of rich hues of brown, so deep and dark and smooth she could almost taste warm molasses on her tongue, feel the pressure of musk so achingly soft against her nose. If her heart had been pounding before, it was fluttering now, unable to control her expression as she took in Finch's figure. Of course she knew he was a handsome brute, but something about him tonight made her tongue feel thick in her mouth, her legs uncharacteristically weak. He wasn't dressed in a flashy manner, but the way his fur laid over his figure seemed to paint him as an entirely different creature. A flashing memory of their embrace burst, unwelcome, into her mind at that moment, recalling the hot shivering waves that had engulfed her then. Blooms of rosy pink spread across her face, encouraged by the alcohol in her system, her face feeling altogether too warm.
She didn't want to look away, but soon enough her reverie was broken, unaware of just how long she'd been staring with such a look on her face. Carefully rearranging her features, Opal finally glanced around Finch and noticed he was with his sister and Katrina. Should she go over and talk to them? She wanted to, they were her friends, yet somehow she couldn't get her paws to move towards them. Nervousness, something she'd never associated with her friends before, clutched unrestrained at her heart, so strange and unfamiliar. Was she afraid to see him, after what seemed like an eternity of searching without even realizing she was searching for him? Or maybe she was afraid of him seeing her, of gazing at her with those honey-sweet eyes and knowing something was different, something had changed. Even Opal wasn't sure just what had changed, how could she possibly explain it? Well, if he didn't know about it, then maybe, just maybe, she could act normal, like nothing was out of the ordinary. Taking deep, calming breaths, Opal attempted to calm herself. 'They're just my friends, it'll be nice to talk to them. I'll ask Katrina how her mother liked the brooch, and catch up with Anna...' Biting her lip and downing the rest of her champagne, Opal placed the empty glass on a table and, by sheer force of will, made her legs move towards the group.