Anya winced. "Wow, I really don't know if i could handle that to be completely honest. I can hardly stand an actual gunshot, let alone something that hurts ten times worse." She shivered. She looked at her shoulder. She tried to imagine it hurting ten times worse form earlier when she got shot. She shivered again. "I don't know how you can deal." She said looking back at him. "Thats horrible.."
"Hah," Painter let out a panting laugh, kind of like a dehydrated man going into hysterics. "It takes training. Lots and lots of training. I've got Logan to thank for that. The government loves catching shape shifters. They have this serum which makes the person shift without any consent from the actual person. Great torture devices, those serums. Injure the shifter then make them shift. Good way to get information." His eyes had glazed, as if just listing facts, but they snapped back into focus and a shiver could almost be seen running down his pelt.
__________________
"If he dies, then it will be God's will."
"If that was meant to be comforting, it was not."
"Everyone dies eventually. Once you are born, you begin to die."
"That was not comforting either!"
"It is the way of the Creed. Usually our deaths are violent but quick."
Anya shook her head. "Like I said, and you just confirmed it, I couldn't handle that. No way, no how." She shook her head. She remembered all the horror fantasy novels she read. Of werewolves, and other creatures that twisted their shapes to look like something else. Some described it as painful, others didn't. Most of them, didn't. She always thought it would be utterly amazing to be able to change your form. Now, she's glad she was never meant to follow that path.
"Shifting itself isn't bad. Just shifting with an injury. You know how on a rollercoaster, it feels like you left your stomach behind? That's what it feels like when your organs rearrange themselves. I guess it's a good thing." He smiled, a rather fiendish look for a panther, "Those agents can never find exactly where my heart is. It kind of moves between where it is on a human and where it is on a panther." The sentence sounded absurd, and he found himself wanting to laugh.
__________________
"If he dies, then it will be God's will."
"If that was meant to be comforting, it was not."
"Everyone dies eventually. Once you are born, you begin to die."
"That was not comforting either!"
"It is the way of the Creed. Usually our deaths are violent but quick."
Serenity was walking slowly, but following nonetheless. She approached Painter and Anya outside their 'common room.' "You guys," she said quietly and seriously, though her eyes glimmered with slight laughter. "You're sort of ...leaving a trail of blood." She gestured behind her where, sure enough, there was a small trail of fresh blood...but it added to the other un-washable blood stains on the ground.
Anya covered her mouth and giggled like a little girl. "Thats um, interesting Painter." She hoped he wouldn't take offense to her laughing. It was just funny. "So it only hurts when you're injured....hmmm, does it feel weird? How can you get used to being human and an animal at the same time? I mean, swithching from two legs to four legs?" She shook her head. "Sorry, I'm far too interested." She turned as Serenity entered the room, "Treat him first, I think he's tired of feline form."
-- Edited by Goldheart on Saturday 15th of August 2009 01:22:09 AM
Painter looked over at the hall and noticed the new blood on the ground. He sighed, "Ah well, more blood to make this place eerie." Then he turned back to Anya. "It's like getting used to a new sport. It's not that hard after some time." Then he turned once more back to Serenity. "Got any painkillers? I'd like to be human again before too long."
__________________
"If he dies, then it will be God's will."
"If that was meant to be comforting, it was not."
"Everyone dies eventually. Once you are born, you begin to die."
"That was not comforting either!"
"It is the way of the Creed. Usually our deaths are violent but quick."
"Mmhmm," Serenity grunted, digging in her med kit. "There's pills, but these work fastest-" She pulled out a 2-inch long needle and a bottle of what looked like eyedrops. "Would you like these-" she held up the liquid in the small bottle "-or this?" She held out the needle. "Pick the needle, it works immediately and it lasts for three days!" she hissed quickly, as if advertising.
"Oh dear, three days?" Painter shook his head but still picked up a paw and pointed at the needle. "I don't need a full dose though. Seriously." He eyed her, making sure she understood not to give him the whole three-day dose. "I just need enough pain-killing to change back. Besides, I'm not sure if you've studied your panther anatomy, it'll be easier to heal me if I'm in my human form, neh?" He waited, tensing lightly, for the shot to pierce into his bloodstream.
__________________
"If he dies, then it will be God's will."
"If that was meant to be comforting, it was not."
"Everyone dies eventually. Once you are born, you begin to die."
"That was not comforting either!"
"It is the way of the Creed. Usually our deaths are violent but quick."
Serenity shrugged wordlessly, and casually stuck the needle through his fur. She gave him the smallest dose, just enough to last about ten minutes. Removing the needle, she took off the end and put it in an airtight compartment, for hazardous waste.