Thadian Mikash

Human appearance
Kash has a younger looking face, although he uses facial hair growth in attempts to appear his appropriate age. His really can't mask the puppy dog expressions to his myrtle blue green eyes. He's slender and lanky in build, he has worldly gait, however, it could be just the way he ambles along. Thadian smiles a lot, maybe seemingly too much for it to be a completely honest smile. It may seem like he is a swindler, even though the smiles themselves are genuine. Thad's hair is a dark chestnut brown with redish highlights, not cut by a professional, perhaps by swift sweeps of a knife. He's shaggy and unkempt in style of appearance. He's meant to have an unassuming look, something average, and easily forgettable.

Quirks
An important thing to take note of: Kash's hands are broad with slender long fingers. His hands, and mannerisms with them, are all subtle tools at his disposal for distraction, sleight of hand motions, and misdirection.

Worgen appearance
He looks to be younger around the muzzle and eyes, having shaggy brows that have a puppy lift near the bridge of his muzzle. His fangs and teeth are slightly smaller appearance, not as exposed from the mouth. Lanky, but not overly thin in build, even his stature unassuming in design. A more coyote like shaggy fur appearance in coloration of browns, greys, and whites. His sharp myrtle green gaze, is very cautious, calculating, yet there may be a glint of mischievous fun in their trek.

Garb
Casual garb: typical in what could be considered lower class attire. He wears leather and cloth garb. It may seem loose fitting, or easily replaced, very unassuming in taste.

Armor: Leather armor, it varies depending on the current job.

Arms
His easy going stride seems to favor the right side, it holds a very slight indication of added extra weight. He has many tricks up his sleeves, or perhaps even hidden on his person from head to toe. From visible daggers, to a hidden pistol in his boot, Thadian is obviously armed. He is not above, or beyond poisoning, or using explosives for a hasty escape if needed.

Personality
Thadian is a on the sly playful trickster, and a fun loving attitude. In many aspects even within his personality he has is like a shape shifter aspect in what he allows of his personality to be exposed, it's all dependent on who he is interacting with. He's typically laid back, open minded, and forgives quite easily, having a humble fun loving attitude when it comes to work, and friendship. He likes to entertain, as much as he likes to be entertained.

He follows his own moral compass, which he may not always agree with that of which in the eyes of society deems is the right way to behave, or generally be. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. Thadian acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect, or assume of him.. He does believe in attempting to treat others fairly, when possible. Thad will disregard the law in pursuing his self interest as he has little use for laws and regulations if the situation concerns his own survival. His intentions may at times be motivated further towards the good spectrum, however, who he associates with, and the outcome of his intent doesn't always turn out that way.

There is a lack of long term commitment when it comes to his personality, he has easily walked away when things become too much a risk for himself. He just can't put that expectation on others to always be there, and in all fairness, he goes through his life believing others shouldn't place that expectation on him either. He breezes through, never staying in one place for very long. He skirts around the fringes, doing what he can for himself, by what means he can.

Relationships
Thadian Mikash is a complicated individual when it comes to relationships. Platonic relationships are just as important to him as any other. All types of relationships have a significance to influence him even if they may be fleeting. He doesn't easily attach himself to one person, above another, there is always a unspoken distance even if he seems really close to people it's not necessarily as what one might assume. He may lay his head on a lap of someone he met mere hours ago if seems like permission was given to do so verbally or with body language, physical contact to him isn't taboo even if it may be seen as that by societies standards. Touching another in a chaste manner, to him isn't seeking out more then a greeting. He may cheek rub in a scent marking manner even while he appears to be human, just to say; " Hello, I'm happy to see you, I missed you." Without verbalizing it. He may put his hand on another's shoulder, to non-verbally say. " This person's under my protection. " while telling the person he is touching to the shoulder. " I'm here for you. Don't worry. " for a few examples.

Although he hates labels, the closest generalization to his orientation is; panromantic demisexual : romantically attracted to anyone of any orientation, but not be sexually attracted to them, unless they have a strong bond with them.

Kash can be seen in the company of many different individuals and seem quiet comfortable and affectionate in their company, that doesn't mean they have sexual relationship. =History=

He doesn't announce where he is from, nor does he hide it, he simply doesn't talk about it constantly. He doesn't dwell in matters that cannot be changed. Thadian's focus is mainly the present, and the coming future. He's just happy to be living the life of his own choosing. Most seem to take him at face value, and he is happy with that.

Youth
Echos may fade, but memories made still remain....

Thadian has no memory of his biological parents. He barely recalls the grizzled visage of the farmer that had found him. The old man who had taken the toddler Thadian's cries for that of a lost lamb, until he had been discovered rescued the child and kept him warm until he was picked up by the local authorities. Thadian can recall the orphanage's matron, the large ominous echoing building, and the squalor conditions in which he was raised in with the other unwanted children. He can remember pangs of hunger, he can recall the thickly painted white bars of the cage he had been put in for hours, with the only entertainment was the scraping of his nails to pluck the paint off the crib's bars. He could recall those large spans of time that passed observing that new blanch white around him, judging time by the shadows cast upon the thin mattress by those same bars. There were other children and it wasn't too much time that had passed, within the routine times of feeding and being house broken that he was allowed to be amongst the other children. He was quick to learn behavior patterns of his peers and adults alike. Thadian was as malnourished as the rest of the children, but he was fleet of foot and swift of mind and quickly adapted to the life style an over populated orphanage provided.

Yet, the very young lad had a lucky hand dealt, even though his clothes were tattered, and his person was disheveled instead of being sent to work in a laundry house, chapel, or a stable, he had an opportunity present itself that most of the orphans dreamed, and longed to achieve. After spending five years at the orphanage he was indentured out to an elderly couple that needed a youth to help around their farm. There was a possibility he would even be adopted if he made a good enough of an impression. He was delighted to get away, to have a family at last. He had never been a block away from that ominous gated orphanage, to see the country side was a world changer for the young Thadian. It was vastly different in appearance to him, all that green lush grass dappled with the thick white cloud looking coats of sheep, compared to the cobble stones and tall surrounding buildings the country side seemed like a different world entirely. He was beyond excited, beyond terrified, beyond anything he had ever felt before. It was a feeling that was so powerful and overwhelming all at once, that he couldn't explain it. He was silent the whole trip to the farm.

He was frozen still as the lorry presented him to Gregory and Rae Mikash. Thadian stood there with so many questions that ran through him that he physically shook. All of the other orphans warned, and cautioned him before he departed not to get too comfortable because they would send him back, and that farmers were cruel with the switches and paddles. The other children had filled his mind with many other terrifying descriptions that would befall him. But while he was standing there before the couple all he could see was that opportunity for something he had spent those late nights when the matron had became erratic and malicious, dreaming of... a real family. Sure the couple seemed too thin, their skin looked paper thin that he could see the veins under the surface, and their faces were wrinkled like too worn leather wallets, but there was warmth to their smiles and eyes he had never encountered before. Introductions were made, he was given an new outfit, and even his own place to sleep in the barn. He was fed three meals a day, if he worked hard, and did what he was told. As old as they were they were kind to him, never raised their voices, or took a whipping to him. His life for four years were filled with praise, encouragement, and smiles. Once he gained enough confidence that he wasn't going to be sent away he started to call them mother and father, and they eventually gave him their surname Mikash. He felt loved, needed, wanted, like he contributed to something vastly greater in those years than any time before. He loved his family and was happy to remain like he was with them forever, if he was allowed.

His adoptive father was shoveling manure into a wagon when his woolen sweater at the back of the neck got caught on a moving part, that in his struggle to free himself the elderly man had jostled the wagon just enough to disturb the equine. He would have lived if the horse hadn't backed the wagon over him. Thadian had been sweeping in the kitchen for his mother at the time, and had not noticed his father's absence until it was dinner time. His mother went looking for him as his father was never late to dinner. Thadian had washed up as it was routine, he then just sat there as he had been told to do. He had sat there for what seemed like hours at the table, he thought they were talking, or needed privacy. So with as much patience that he could muster he had waited, maybe he had kicked his feet a little as they barely touched the floor even though he wasn't supposed to, and maybe he twiddled his thumbs until he became bored with even that. Dinner had grown cold, and it was almost too dark outside. The fireflies were already flying up to the stars, the ravens had all settled in their roosts for the night. He did the unthinkable, he left the dinner table without being excused, taking a lantern with him he went outside. He called out for them in the deepening twilight, while making his way towards the barn. By the light of the lantern Thadian had discovered them both, laying on the ground... Mother was breathing but his father wasn't going to ever get up. As young as he was, he knew necks shouldn't be turned like that. He ran the mile to the neighbors to get help, he frantically explained how he had found them, and the neighboring farmers called on the doctor. Mother was sick after that, the doctor said she was weak. The neighbors had looked after him as all the old couple's relatives were all dead.

What happened was a whirlwind... one minute he thought mother was going to get up, the next she just stopped breathing. In all that confusion he heard the whispers of the other people coming and going, some said his mother had died of a broken heart, some said she got sick from being in the rain so long, some blamed him. Whispers of bad omens and evil little children that were a blight on the overly generous elderly. He heard the loud voices of the neighbors arguing about what to do with him, and that he couldn't stay at the old homestead. It was the night before the funeral for his mother that he had heard the mention of calling the lorry to take him back to the orphanage, and even worse outcomes than that. It was those types of conversations that had caused Thadian to run. He was panic stricken, he didn't want to leave, but... he knew if he stayed he would be taken by force. He loved the farm, he had named every chicken, kitten, and lamb. He had spent those warmer days, busting off the ends of green beans by the bucket fulls, he ran through the fields, and was read to at bed time stories in the hay loft. The farm was the only stable home he had ever known. He was plagued with the memories and thoughts of all the times that his father had played a fiddle, while he and mother had danced and laughed. Oh the work had been hard, but he had so much fun listening to his father as they fixed fences. Thadian was all ears as his father had told about the old days and how he had built the farm house with his own hands, for himself and his lovely young bride. All these built memories were suddenly wiped cleaned as all those old fears and uncertainties came rushing back, it was his first real taste of death and loss. Devastated the young Thadian in tears that would not stop, ran, as if his life depended on it.

He woke up in an alley, in a very large discarded box... that box became his home for almost a year. He had nothing, but his wits to survive on. He learned what inns threw out their food on what days, he learned how to beg without getting caught by the guards. He had learned how to wash himself, and the food from the spillage runoff from the rain gutters. He learned what homeless to avoid, and who was okay, he learned about caution. The only thing he hadn't mastered was stealing, and that ineptitude was also a game changer for the lad. There was a busy market place, too busy in young Thadian's mind to miss a few conveniently misplaced inventory. The smells were overwhelming to his plaintive stomach, the noises were all so distracting to his ears. One apple, no one would miss an apple, he had told himself while that small grime covered hand reached out to that impossibly red, shiny apple. That hand that had been itching to take the apple, suddenly snagged up it's prize in a triumphant glory! He knew it was bad to steal, but it felt so good to have it in hand, it would be even better in his stomach. His moment of instant gratification was short lived as he was just as suddenly had his wrist grabbed up from behind by a guard that whirled him about and up in the air! The shouts frightened him, as he had never had anyone look so menacingly at him in his entire life, the threats of cutting off his thieving hand was even worse. Thadian was just dangling there wordlessly, staring into those eyes of the fierce and angry guard. He knew there was nothing to he could, no words of explanation that would clear his name, he knew no matter how hungry he had been taking something that didn't belong to him was wrong.

It was the words of another that stopped his next reaction of fighting to get free before it had even happened. They were words of salvation, that rolled over him like a gentle caress. It seemed the guard felt so too, even though the apple had been ripped from him Thadian was set back down upon the ground. He finally could tear his eyes from the guard as he was being pulled into a warm hug from the most noble of woman he had ever seen in his life. He was so confused as he was ushered away by the woman, a safe distance from the guard. Everything she had said was a lie, he didn't know her, he wasn't her nephew, she didn't forget to pay for the apple. All that he knew was that the guard had believed the woman, and he had been let go, that his hand had been saved. Thadian knew he had blatantly tried to steal that apple, and yet the guard either believed her or... he had no idea, but now his hand was safe, and he was with the fairest woman in all the land. Her hair was the crimson of sunsets, of blood, her eyes the green of spring fields, her stature was tall and thin, her complexion was of the palest of sheep wool. Her name was Sadie, and her promise of Thadian being her charge once more was being reassured in different terms.

The House That Sadie Built
That looming city wall never thought we would make it this far...

Thadian never learned if Sadie was her given name, or her surname, nobleman and ruffian alike called her, just Sadie. She had a way of moving that had all eyes on her, a way of speaking softly but with a demand for respect. There was so much power of influence in her every move, he every word, as if she could bespell a room with a single breath. Thadian had certainly never met a woman like her, she wasn't like the walkers of the streets at night, Sadie was a breed apart from anyone he had ever met. Her home was massive, to him it seemed larger then the orphanage, but no where close as ominous looking. It was bright, it was airy done in reds, greens, whites, it was open, it had art work in elaborate frames that he could stare at for hours on end. He had his own room, a bed, carpet, a dresser, not a mat on the floor, curtains, his very own window with a view from the second floor. His room was right next door to Thadian's, if he ever needed anything he could go to her. There was a staff of gardeners, cooks, cleaners, people came and went, yet other then to sleep Sadie almost always had Thadian at her side. She had explained that she had started from nothing and had built her empire from the ground up. It reminded him so much of his father's story, and when he had looked to her expression he had seen that same reflection of love and care. At that moment he had felt like he could never doubt again.

Sadie never failed in her promise of taking him in, protecting him, and teaching him what she knew. Under her care Thadian learned how the world really worked from Sadie's perspective. He learned of dishonesty of the world around him. He learned from her to use all the tools and assets he had to get he wanted from life. He had learned about manipulation, how to recognize when he was being manipulated and how to manipulate others. He had learned how to steal from any class of citizen, from the highest in naivety to cynical. He learned about his own confidence, and how to recognize other's and lack there of and how to use it to get what he wanted from the interactions. He learned about physical appeal, dressing to play the part of a social expectation from the pauper to the social elite. He learned what he felt was the important the arts of distraction, misdirection, persuasion. He learned about making home made bombs, and how to properly cheat at gambling. He learned how to play the piano, how to sing, how to entertain with a sleight of hands, to survive by many means of hustling. Yet, there were times he missed the simplicity of farm life, the life and ways she showed him were so complicated at times that it left him confused because it was so far from what he had learned with the Mikash's. She seemed to just know that he must have that in need in him too, because there were times she sent Thadian to the carriage house to tend to her horses. Her excuse for sending him to care for the horses was to give the stable hands a night off. It was usually those nights when Sadie herself was entertaining others, that he was sent to the stables. He didn't question her motives until much later at the time, he was just happy to tend to the horses and have some peace.

He was considered by societies standard a young adult when he was dealt another hand that twisted his stability, but he was still too dependent on Sadie's guidance and care to really be considered an actual adult. He was pretty much the young master of Sadie's house, although Thadian never saw himself as overseer of anyone. Having no peers his own age, had aged him some regards when it came to his behavior and outlook on life and the world. As much as he appreciated Sadie, he was growing up fast, things were changing for him, thoughts, ideas. He was afraid to voice those thoughts, or to question her, because she had given him so much he never wanted to hurt her. He did as he was told, did as he was taught, and it always pleased her unless she was drinking. Her penchant for drinking consumed her, Sadie's behavior had became more erratic over the years. Thadian knew from his past to give wide berth for those in volatile moods that swung towards violence. He tip toed around her, those blissful years began to seem like distant echos. He looked forward to those times where he wasn't constantly entertained, or in the company of Sadie's hired thugs watching over him. Sadie seemed more like a stranger than that welcoming vision of beauty that had saved him long ago from the chopping block. Even as her employees dwindled, her business seemed to be booming....

Once on a drunken binge she took him shopping with her, the shopping wasn't abnormal, it was her indulgent abundant spending that seemed almost insane. Blankets, clothing that wasn't her size, or her style, yards of fabric, farm equipment.. Things she would never used, food she would never eat, lollies, rock candy, things she had spoiled him with when he was younger and had played a part well, or pick-pocketed a large score. She seemed briefly to find new mascots to replace him too, young mirror like images of himself, both male and female that would always disappear after she had spoiled them. Thadian had no idea if she was just finding randomly abandon children, or kidnapping them. He had no clue at that time what her motive behind it was. He had questioned in his mind was she just doing this to make him jealous, or to see if he would leave, or demonstrate she was still good at taking care of children, he just didn't know, he had speculated at great lengths. He was afraid to question her, afraid when she would lash out, or burden him with guilt, or become weepy, and try to get him to forgive her. It took him a long time before he had gained enough nerve to confront her about it, it was a while after the whatever the phase had been had finally stopped he had questioned her. She had laughed him off as if his concerns were silly, that the children had just been her employee's children, and families, that she had only thought to entertain the children for a short time and give them gifts because times were tough. She told him what employees the children had belonged to and he had recognized a few of the names, not all of them, but it seemed convincing that she was doing charitable good deeds. That perhaps she knew that her behavior had been bad enough that she needed to make it up to her employees.

Thadian felt this drinking spiral Sadie was doing was becoming completely out of control, he tried to talk some sense in her but it always led to something ugly. She seemed more snappy at him, she became more weepy for no apparent reason. It was when she was at that rock bottom that she began almost incoherently telling him that some of the families of her employees were sick, that some were even dying. She kept trying to convince him that she was some how at fault, but wouldn't elaborate beyond pleadings from him to understand that she was trying to keep her family together, how nothing she had done seemed to work that it was falling apart. Nothing he said could comfort, or soothe her moods. He stopped trying... and that seemed to make her drinking worse. She began mistreating him not only verbally but physically too, she would suddenly slap him if he questioned her. She even began abusing her employees by cheating them in their pay so that they would have to come see her more often to demand what was owed to them. Thadian just had this feeling of impending doom while in her company, and his thoughts strayed far away when she wasn't around. As much as he held love for her, as much as he had been grateful for everything she had given him, and had done for him, there was a resentment building in his heart. He started to think upon ways of getting out, maybe if he earned some honest money, or showed her that he could do the jobs that her employees did, that it would make her happy again with him, or at least prove to her that he could manage fine without her.

He was the look out again, looking out for the night watch's patrolling rounds. It was boring work, so he entertained himself with juggling the hand blown glass orbs Sadie had given him as a please forgive me gift. He rolled them around in his fingers and hand, as he leaned against walling. He waited in silence with the exception of the quiet clicking of the glass in his hands outside the warehouse. In fact, it was oddly silent, the kind of silence that was so thick and humid it could be cut with a knife. It was an uneasy feeling, something in the air that caused the hair on the arms to stand on end for no apparent reason, it wasn't too cold, it wasn't windy, it was just still and maybe a little foggy. He had done look outs before, he stood outside for hours waiting for the actual work crew to be done with what they were doing, it never bothered him before. Maybe they were just taking too long.... Maybe, it was that same time of time span that the dinner was too cold. That creeping feeling that just maybe, he should check on the crew to make sure they weren't under a wagon, or captured by the guard. He had just put his juggling orbs away when out of no where a disheveled and gravely looking ill Sadie appeared like a ghost out of the back lit fog, begging him to come with her. He didn't want to leave his post, but at the same time his loyalty to Sadie was too strong to deny for too long. Sadie had seemingly convinced him to ensure she made it home to her bed.

He didn't think it was her death bed, he had only thought she had gone on another crazed drinking binge. Faithful to a fault at that age, he made sure she had everything she needed and even kept watch at her window for her employees return. He was feeling guilty, feeling like he had betrayed the crew, all he could think of was that they had got caught. What he couldn't understand was how Sadie had made it all the way out there as sick as she was. The city outside the estate had been full of strange rumors the whole atmosphere felt unsafe, it reminded him of nights before his parent's funeral whispers and shouts in the dark, as he stared out the window. Sadie had slipped in and out of a fevered sleep, he had given her medication to ease it, it should have worked, but she had seemed to burn through it. She kept speaking as if she was having nightmares, tossing and turning while ramblings of finding a way to keep them all together spilled from her mouth while in a confused delirious state. Thadian had waited out the hours with a cool rags to her head, just tending to her as one does with someone that cared for them over the years regardless of the demons they carried on their shoulders. He wiped her tears, shushed her cries of regrets, even spoke of getting a doctor but she would have none of that.

Thadian had learned more of her past in those fevered moments than he had in the entire time she had raised him. He found out that she had given up a baby when she had been much younger, the pregnancy had come from a scandalous affair with a nobleman that had been married. She had been young, naive, and had been easily taken advantage of with sweet little lies, empty promises. When the noble turned her out, she had held the burden of the shame, the disgrace of name, and position in the community while the man lived out a prosperous life. She had kept speaking of how she had built her empire from nothing, that if life wouldn't give her what she wanted she was going to take it. Thadian came to realize everything she was, everything she did was motivated by these truth filled delirious murmurings. She just wanted to be loved unconditionally, she just wanted the family she had been denied, and she would stop at nothing to achieve that ideal in her mind. She spoke in desperate tones of finding a way of how they could be a family forever. Thadian did his best to try to ease her mind that she never had to worry about that, that she should just rest, and all would be better in the morning.

As much as he felt for her, he also worried about those he had left behind at the warehouse. They should have been back to the estate by now. He begged and pleaded for her to go to sleep, as the hours were edging more towards to the wee hours of day. His thoughts were if he could just get her to nod off for a few hours he could see what was happening with the crew. As much as he was loyal to Sadie, her employees, her people, well they were important to him too. Many of them had spent time with him over the years, come and go, they usually turned to working with Sadie when times were tough, crops were failing, the size of flocks of sheep were small. It was always when times were difficult Thadian seen them more often. Many of the brute force, and thieves he considered an influential part of his life, they were mostly built up from farmers that just needed another quick source of income for a short period of time. They still were important people to him, and even though Sadie had carelessly spirited him away from the warehouse Thadian cared about his own reputation. Thadian cared what they thought of him, they had trusted him to be a good look out. Sadie had trusted him for the job as she was the one that permitted him to go with the crew on this heist. Sadie kept rambling until there was a long silence. That long silence Thadian took that as his cue to leave, that Sadie had finally been subdued by slumber.

He had whispered something about being back, briefly bending over to place a chaste kiss to her forehead, before he had turned his back on her to depart. It was as his hand reached out to the door knob, that time seemed to slow down, and then freeze. In a strange coincidence just as his hand touched to the door knob to turn it, Sadie had seemed to have made a miraculous recovery, as she suddenly launched herself off the bed and snagged up his wrist in a very tight grip. Thadian was suddenly taken to a long ago place where he was very small and a large guard held that same wrist in the very same manner, everything just seemed to stop as he was filled with deep soul clenching dread. Sadie had used just as much strength as that guard had used on him, as she violently whipped him around too look at her. The only difference now being that he was much larger, and taller, and she shouldn't have been able to do that. Before his eyes that goddess of beauty, hope, and opportunity had turned into a monster. That countenance he seen as a guiding light transformed before him into something that he couldn't understand, couldn't fathom, or comprehend. Her voice was just as transformed into something monstrous and ugly, as she snarled out the words that still drip within his nightmares to this very day. " We become nothing, but echos of ourselves. " He didn't have time to question her, he hadn't time to speculate, hadn't had the opportunity to prevent what was to happen to him in those moments where his own screams consumed the very air from the room. In the crimson heat of soul searing pain as she devoured his humanity, until there was nothing but the salvation of utter darkness.

In The Company Of Druids
The soul master's the beast, the beast master's the soul....

He awoke to the sound of water, and resonating voices in a language he couldn't understand. He wasn't alone, there were many of his fellow Gilnean's in this place. But there were also elves, he had never been up close to one in his life, he had heard tales. The ones were telling them to drink in a language he could understand, and he was more then grateful, as he was thirsty beyond his wildest dreams he had never felt such thirst. As instructed Thadian had drank from the wells, of fury, tranquility, and balance. When he was more aware of his surroundings he learned that they aided by the druids in Tal'doren to regain balance between spirit and mind. Thadian had been in a state of shock for some time it seemed, he was numb, and strangely everything was more acute, and sharply aware. It was a dream like state, everything was obscure and vivid all at once, as if he was digging through a fog for what seemed a long time. Coming to terms with who he now was, who he had once been, and who he was to become from this was difficult for him to make peace with. It was like those moments where he was reaching out for the door knob, or the that certain apple, where time stood still, or moved too fast for him to be able to understand. There was such grief as he learned the depths of his own part played in a great betrayal, learned how all the wounds on his soul would never truly be mended, that he had been forever changed. It was for a long time hard for him to see the strange and yet new opportunities that were presenting themselves. As he was consumed by those dancing shadows of the past. It was as if he didn't want to remember, but at the same he couldn't forget.

It was only later when he joined the other refugees aboard a great ship that took them to Darnassus. He had never been on board a ship before, yet he lacked the strength to be excited about it as he normally would have been, he felt worn out. Although through listening conversations he had learned the fate of his home, his people. Although he wanted to join the other Gilnean's on the ship, he just kept to being withdrawn within himself on the journey, brooding. He had never seen a place that looked as Darnassus, he actually could feel it, hear it, taste it, even if it was faint, Thadian there was some powerful influence on the air that crawled along his skin. It was an awe inspiring place on a sensory level. As he was ushered around, given instructions where he would sleep, eat, learn, a elven male was assigned to him to help guide him to finding that balance. His instructor went by the given name of Telran, a kindly night elf that was one of the tallest people he had encountered. At that time Thadian was taller then most of the young men his age, albeit he was still holding that lanky bean sprout appearance, standing at six feet two inches. Telran had to be a foot taller then him, he had an awesome looking beard, that Thadian tried to achieve by growing out his own facial hair, Thadian never achieved that. Telran had one of those faces that looked perpetually stern, and it was a little hard for him to tell his emotions by the moon kissed glowing eyes, but Thadian learned even though it was far different then looking into a human's eyes there were tells to them that displayed emotion one just had to be wise to them. Telran became a close friend to Thadian, his everlasting patience with Thadian won over that shroud that had covered him. Telran's perspective was vastly different about how the way the word worked compared to Sadie's point of view. Telran could find the balance and good in just about every living thing in the world. Telran was the one that came up with a new nickname for him given in fondness, and kinship, Kash. Thadian like the nickname as Telran introduced him with the name, it was like a new identity, a person born anew.

Telran's aid helped guide Thadian on a different path than Thadian had set on out in, in his mind set. Daily activities, facing new situations became easier for Thadian. It was Telran's hands on approach that made the transitioning easier for Thadian. Telran took him places outside the sheltering grove of Darnassus, showed him the world through Telran's point of view, took him to human villages, so Thadian would have contact with his own. Together, they in the wake of the Cataclysm did relief efforts, as Telran was by nature a healer. Thadian did what he could in that time, even if it was just passing over splints and bandages. Unlike Sadie trials and tests of loyality, Telran's tests were beneficial to Thadian, as they taught him self reliance, encouraged self control, and how to behave in stressful situations that could agitate the urges and instincts with what spirit gnawed under Thadian's skin. Not that it was always smooth or easy to handle, but with Telran right there, Thadian learned how to control himself, to keep balance with himself. He learned if he ate regularly, even if he didn't feel like it before helping Telran tend to the wounded that the urges were not as strong. He learned if he didn't panic, if he just stopped to breathe, stopped to control his emotions not to become excited in situations that were frantic, fast paced, distracting, that Thadian eventually was able to maintain. Things in general for Thadian became easier with work, time, and efforts on his part, as well as Telran's influence in those uncertain moments. He slowly gained confidence, he grew a person, and developed his true new self identity. Telran was always at his side, from failures and break downs, to victories and triumphs, a true friend and true teach. Thadian held Telran in the highest regard, and esteem always grateful for his friend.

Not that Telran was finished with healing the wounded, but he had been given time off to further educate Thadian. At times Thadian felt accomplished, and at others like a burden of weight because of his own state of being, he was grateful that Telran hadn't put in for a transfer of duties. Thadian even reassured him that there was no obligation to stay by his side, that if he wanted to go with the others he could. Telran had in turn reassured Thadian, that he was his important focus at the time. That if he could help Thadian heal, it was a great honor, and accomplishment not only for himself, but to mend the past hurts that his own people had been responsible for. That it had to be done on the individual level, with compassion, and understanding, or nothing would be mended at all.

Telran continued the teachings of observing one's environment, the signs of body language, and many more cues that came with sensory perception. They traveled often, always on foot, the long walks helped the energy that ran through Thadian. Telran taught him the value of going shoeless, to feel the earth, to feel the cool blades of grass under feet, or the hot sands. Telran taught him about how the plants could speak to even those that could not hear, to pay attention to the leaves and how they turned with the light, or with the onset of rain, he had taught him how to see the health of a trees and plants by their condition, and other signs. Thadian already had a great understanding of that when it came to human's and how their minds worked, but when it came to animals and plants, he had always thought of as mindless beings driven by instincts and urges, and not really any true thought feeling processes. Telran took Thadian out into the wilderness and taught him of the wild hunt and all it wonders, and depths to be discovered. They had observed the wild true wolves in their natural environment, studied how they behaved with one another, or alone. What practices succeeded, and those that failed that lead ultimately to death. They discussed at length what they had observed from their own point of views, how they believed why things happened a certain way, or how it could have been done better to achieve a better result. Some of these discussion seemed to be on point when it came to his own behavior, his own strengths and weaknesses, it really made Thadian think of the similarities and how it could be applied to his own life and well being. That path to balance took more than self reliance, even though it was a great apart of it when it came to survival. His teacher gave him the guidance that led Thadian to seek out Goldrinn, for a greater understanding of spirit within him. Thadian found a means to keep the peace between the conflicting aspects between spirit and mind, a unspoken agreement was settled upon strengthening a bond.

When the time came he departed from his friend's company, Thadian had felt ready to face the world. He was still in search of who he was and who he was to become, but his stride was surefooted. He was no longer a boy, or a lost soul, he didn't feel cursed, he felt confident he could make it in the world no matter what obstacles were thrown at him.

Adulthood
''Strangers in your own head.... ''

He moved from town to village doing odd jobs. Sometimes it was just fixing fences, sometimes he did a little entertainment for the local pedestrians, sometimes it was pulling weeds, or mending roofs, or shearing sheep. No matter what the job was Kash kept himself busy, he worked hard, whistled, or sang a old tune, it was good honest work. Okay, maybe some of it wasn't so honest but the majority of the work was. It was if he shed away his past and moved on. He smiled, he danced, he talked about local events, made new friends, encountered some of those from his past in passing, heard the good word, and some of the not so good words. He learned of world events through word of mouth, some of it seemed like it was exaggerated slightly, some of the tales' he full heartedly believed. His meandering aim was to gain enough gold to be able to purchase provision and possibly some proper gear so that when he made it to Stormwind he would look like a respectable citizen, and gain a respectable job.

There she was....in the local pub. A cornflower blue eyed, corn silk haired beauty, sitting in a corner all alone, with an absolutely dreadful scowl on her face. He didn't make an approach then, because one, he was covered in soot from cleaning out the pub's chimney. So he asked in passing who she was from the inn keep, it seemed that she had purchased a two night stay up front, and the name she had signed in under was Candice Caronal. After a few passing words of encouragement from the inn keeper, and vigorous clean up after work he had peeked into the dining room to still see her in the same corner. Kash took this opportunity to introduce himself, and well make the attempt to cheer the lass up. He whipped out all his best lines, his best charming smile, and all his parlor tricks in his arsenal. He had plenty of practice on marks, but when it came to the nitty gritty, well he never made it that far. Candice, that Kash had found out like to be called Candy, was eating up his routine so eagerly he was certain he had his foot in her room door. Well maybe not that night, but there was promise for another date the following evening. All he knew he was infatuated with getting her to smile. When she had agreed to the second date, he may have yipped a bit when she planted a kiss to his cheek when she said her good nights for the evening. After the rush of what felt like that first fat coin purse he had lifted, Thadian had slowly came the down of the high the concerns slipped in. ''Could he go through it without shifting? Could he keep balance if it went that far?''

The two of them, the next evening, really hit it off after he got off work, drinks, laughter, all those fears and apprehension subsided by the end of the night. She was so easy to get along with, he just felt an instant connection with her. He was in that state of utter triumphant, and feeling quite accomplished, as he dozed in and out of a drunken warm stupor, in the bed besides the very pretty when she smiled, Candy. He was still quite new to keeping the balance, he hadn't been sure if he could maintain especially when emotional states, and biological chemical rushes were in tow. Well the proof was in the pudding, and he had his dessert that night! Hours must have passed, he could hear birds vaguely outside, it wasn't really birds that stirred him out sleep. It was Candy's voice, panicked and in quiet hurried tones that had him tearing away from that veil of darkness and comfort. He had to tell her to slow down as she revealed something quite shocking for his groggy mind to process. The short version was that she was in danger, and so was he, because of this night together. All he could think of at the moment was that she was married, and the husband was about to walk in. He about flew out of the bed to get dressed, just as panicked as her voice sounded. But when she told him to stop and listen to her, he managed to pause because she had said if he went out the door without her he was most likely dead, so to the window of the small room he dashed! He had one leg out the window as she clarified that it wasn't her husband, it was that she had ran into a gang that controlled every aspect of her life, and she was being used as recruitment tool. That he had been watched since he had entered the village, and that they wanted him apart of this what she called a 'pack'. That she really needed his help to escape them, that she didn't want to do anything to him, that she was sorry, and that's when the tears started. He had never made a woman cry like that, with only a sheet for protection from whatever just happened. He came back into the room, and began apologizing, and began agreeing to help her in whatever way he could, but at the same time he had to know what he was up against.

Talk about a night of firsts and earth shattering events.....

In retrospect, Kash would laugh over the ordeal, but at the time it was quite life changing. Kash couldn't get their location, couldn't see them in the tavern below, or in the forested outside. It was nail biting times, it wasn't that he was afraid of a scuffle, it was that unknown, would he survive this time? Well, the best way to face what lurked in the dark was to call it out into the open to shed some light on the mystery, or so he had thought. Taking Candy's hand in his, he practically pulled her outside with him. He didn't want to wind up dead after all, and he certainly didn't want to be used by her as the bait and distraction while she made her own attempt to escape. Where was everyone?! All the bloody town folk had disappeared, besides the fact that it was in the wee hours of the morning, he still would like some witnesses besides the confounded early twittering of annoying birds. He traveled with the squirming and slightly resisting Candy to the outskirts of town and called them out with a shout. A shout he had hoped sounded more fierce then what he had heard come from himself. He was thinking maybe three would just jump out of the forest, like a magic reveal of TA DA, but it turned out not as he would hope it would. Not three, but five, five males decked out in full worgen attire, meaning tattered bits of cloth and gear, and the some of largest blokes he had ever seen. The reveal from their concealing hiding places was slow, Kash had hoped it was hesitation, but upon seeing the sheer size of them, it was more for dramatic effect. It worked...

Although Kash had used all the teachings Telran had given him about body language it failed with the group that appeared. He held his head up high in confidence, spoke of his agenda of taking Candy with him and they were going to leave and that they could find another recruit. He kept his posture and pose, he even challenged with making eye contact. At first there was a roaring of laughter, and then it went all bad. There was a lot of exchanging of words, very colorful words in disagreement with him. When the first impact of a fist that he hadn't dodge hit him in the jaw, he was reevaluating his poor decision making as he swung back, there was no stopping the reaction. The second strike nabbed a few ribs, or so it felt as his air in his lungs locked with a burn that could only be described as swimming in a smelting furnace, it seemed to knock the thought from his mind. He took a sharp inhale as the third hit him under the chin, he may be seeing stars, but he was still fighting back. The forth impact had him cry out on the inside for the mother he never knew, and the fifth hit had him shifting to worgen shape as if was out of the wolf's volition to do so. He hadn't shifted without his own thoughts in the forefront of his mind, ever since he had drank from the well of fury, the well of tranquility, and the well of balance. It seemed as if the change was forced upon him against his own will, which caused his mind and body retch in pain. Kash lashed out at his attackers, all that practice, all that seeking balance unraveled in a rage he could taste. The difference being that it was a focused rage, built out an instinct of protection of someone that to that basic mind of his, was his, that he had a claim to, to protect against all odds. But as much as Kash unleashed himself upon his attackers, he wasn't a match for three, let alone five. That didn't mean he didn't give it a hundred and ten percent effort. If they were going to take him and Candy, he was going to make them work for it, and pay for it in the long run.

In the years following that fateful early morning... The young man had become the adult he was to be. The supposed Alpha of the pack was cruel, was greedy, was power hungry. Those that had recruited him into the pack, had become his tormentors and as well in a strange twist his salvation from a worse fate. He met the actual Alpha only five times, those that were entrusted with his 'care' were gamma's and delta's, by their ranking system. Everything he thought he knew was twisted in this environment. He was given a chance to up his own rank by not only speaking of his deeds that merited a promotion, but by proving himself in combat against another in a rank above his own. He started as an omega, the last, the lowest, the punching bag, the bait. He made it to the rank of Upsilon, each triumphant he was marked with a single cauterizing slice of a branding iron, his duties changed as he gained more trust, and he was rewarded for that one day of festivities as tribute to his achievements with a feast appropriate for his rank, and with the company of a female from the same rank.

Kash was never happy with the arrangement, as organized as it was, it was sick and twisted what this supposed ' pack ' did. It didn't mean Thad didn't fight to be heard every opportunity he had, it didn't mean he didn't find his own loop holes in the system. The longer he stayed with them the more he felt he was losing his humanity, if he was seen out of his human form at inappropriate times he was forced to shift by the higher ranks. Adair, was Thadian's gamma from the start, Adair took a favoring to him because Kash would put up a fight even if he lost every time. Kash couldn't evade Adair always, so he used that favoring against Adair. Kash had toyed with the gamma in manipulating tactics that served his own purposes, such as when it came to food and other privileges beyond his rank's allotment. The pack was so large it couldn't sustain itself, it had to steal from others, fight other packs for territory, or just for more power as it absorbed others into the festering lot. To Kash it went against everything that natural wolves lived by, it's rule and order didn't benefit the entirety, it only benefited the few. Telran told him, and he had viewed on his own how wild natural born wolves interacted. A pack was only as strong as it's weakest, natural wolves didn't beat down the weakest, certainly there were reminders of place, but even the weakest had to contribute towards the good of the whole. If one suffered, the entire pack suffered with them, or they would aid one another with comforts and encouragement, a pack was a family, not a ranking system. This ' pack' arrangement was some twisted human version of what the human brain decided what was ideal for wolves to behave. The more Kash saw, the more he began to loath his own humanity and the reaches of ills it could attain, by viewing how these others behaved, and living amongst them. Of course there were a few escapes from the pack, accidental deaths, and disappearances, and of course Kash could have slipped away in the night.... He just couldn't leave all these people, these fellow beings that deserved better a better life. Thadian had attempted many failed plans, most of them went unnoticed, but those that had been noticed he paid so dearly for it, it took him a long time to recover before he tried again. Adair was a brute, but he was keen on the Coywolf's tricks and antics as time carried on. Thad did what he could to survive, and did the same for the others trapped in the same situation as himself, by whatever means he could.

They All Fall Down
It's only been a moment, it's only been a life time...

That was until the pack finally reached that pinnacle of a breaking point, something, just something had to give. The pack decided to recruit the wrong individuals into the fold... and once again The Coywolf's life exploded. The alpha lay dead, a new, outsider, Alpha now stood in his place. Many of the remaining pack was ushered to the Moonglade to gain the proper aid. Candy, wanted nothing to do with him, whatever she had saw in him when they had first met had been slaughtered. Kash just couldn't live up to those expectations she had long ago believed was in him to accomplish. Much had changed since parlor tricks and drinks, regard, respect. They were both two very different people from those that had began on down the same road together. He decided not to go to the Moonglade, even if Telran was there, as much as a part of him wanted to see his old friend, the other major influencing part felt ashamed of who he had become.

The Coywolf decided to follow Adair and his lackeys instead, seemingly passing up that opportunity to escape as the ' pack ' shattered to all corners of the world, as far as Thadian was aware. All the Beta's had been killed, along with the Alpha's so what remained of the gamma's and lesser ranks gathered to plan. There was a nearby pack, that had always been on uncertain terms with the one Kash was in, they weren't exactly rivals but on the brink of that, there had been some clashes in the past. It usually was made up for with exchanges of members, and goods when those type of conflicts arose. Adair had been in a skirmish with the pack a few times, and had this plan... Adair's plans were always, straight forward and not very well thought out, and it usually entailed The Coywolf being the bait. This time however, Kash didn't point out all the flaws to Adair's plan, he just went with it. Adair had decided to send the coywolf in and scope it out, pretend to be a straggler from their dissolved pack needing a replacement pack. The coywolf's task was to get to know their weaknesses, their numbers, and report back to Adair and the others. Adair was going to take on their Alpha apparently, and rule a pack that had always been stronger then their old one. Kash simply agreed, with some motivational abuse from the others. A few wounds, cuts, that makes it all that more believable. Kash really thought it was because the group needed to feel a bit stronger after their own ego's had been badly bruised.

The scene was set, Kash had played the perfect part, got to know the members, and even got to see the Alpha. He did so tactfully, with a talent that seemed uncanny for those of his remaining hidden pack members to witness. The warriors took the coywolf right in to see the alpha and the council of elders. Instead of explaining to the judging and considering elders, Kash had a different story entirely to tell them. He did so with respect, confidence, and certainty that he would be heard out regardless of how it turned out for him. He told the Alpha before him of this other pack, what Adair had planned, how many were waiting and watching for the advantage to attack, what weapons they had. He knew the group of straggling males would meet a bloody end regardless of how hard they had fought, because they were bent on taking on a whole pack that seemed a lot more healthier than their own had. They may have been less in numbers, but they had a strength that small group of idiots didn't have. Of course the coywolf had a plan to lure his pack members out, so he had explained what it was, for entertainment purposes.

Kash was being dragged out of the council chambers by the Alpha himself in full view out in the open. The alpha did as planned, beating and kicking Kash violently. Now this was the risk factor when it came to Kash's prowess in deceit. He relied on others to be able to keep to their behavior patterns, if they believed the pretty little lies he painted for them to see. He had been honest with this Alpha, he had lied to Adair. Now the Alpha could have turned on him and killed him right then and there and still have the advantage, Kash was giving him full opportunity to do so. A part of him really wanted to die at the moment, so even if the Alpha went over board with the display. The Alpha wasn't taking it easy on him, he certainly wasn't killing him either. Adair as predicted recklessly exposed his and the other's position as he rushed out to save the coywolf. It only took a hunter to bring Adair down with a volley of arrows, the others were killed just as quickly. As the last one of their group had been eliminated, the Alpha helped Thad to his feet. Kash had grasped to the other's arm at the elbow to seal the deal before he was escorted out of the forest. He was banished but allowed to depart, leaving the forest acutely aware of how beaten down and exposed he was, and numb at the same time. At any time he could have been killed, either by the pack's warriors, or some other unknown waiting for him around the corner.

On His Own Terms
There's lines between the spaces, hiding what we are....

Regrets have a funny way of sneaking up on a person. At first Kash felt relief, like some life time of burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He laughed for a long while too, he ran through the tall grasses and beach front of Westfall, he felt free and alive for the first time in what felt like a life time. Yet as the stars came out at night, as he sat on a small reed covered hill, his eyes filled with tears. If he had been asked he would have said it was because it was the first time he had seen the stars so clearly in a long time. It really was the remorse of such a loss of those final tattered fragments of his innocence, he could feel the change in him, the weariness from the journey, how his heart and soul had been stretched in that time with the pack, so thin. It wasn't from the regret of betraying Adair and the others, it had to be done other wise their deaths would have been slow and drawn out, or others would suffer. The pack wasn't feral, but they were savage. It was the expression on Adair's face as he was impaled by arrow heads, Kash knew in that last breath taken by Adair, that Adair knew it had been him that betrayed them. Part of him had been overjoyed with that realization on the other males expression, another part mourned the loss as Adair wasn't all bad, there had been some good in him over the years.

It was that epiphany moment on that reed covered hill for the newly made man. People were neither good, nor bad, there was just a lot of grey haze. It wasn't an accumulation of good acts that made a person good, or remembered as good, it was merely the - result - that was remembered. The old farmer that had saved him from the elements, had he really saved him? The orphanage seemed like a personal hell at times, the attendants and matron were not kind, but he was fed, clothed, had shelter from the elements that would have taken his life. The Mikash's had taken in a child with an unknown background, taught him what family and hard work meant to achieve what one wanted from life, but also had taught him how fragile that kind of life could be. The streets taught him how important a passing smile, or a cast way sandwich could be to make it to the next morning, and how could and alone in the world the night could make life seem. Sadie taught him, regrets, betrayal, blindness and vengeance could be found at the bottom of a bottle. She had taught him that humans made things overly complicated and self serving under the pretense of kindness and compassion. That even when one had the best things in life, from clothes, food, a home, that one could fill their lives up with things and people but still feel empty. Telran taught him how to keep a open mind, how everything was connected, had purpose and reason, had tested his limitations. That having nothing but the wilderness around them as wild and untamed as it was there was clarity and balance found in the most simplest that life could offer. Candy taught him that ugly scowls could turn into valued lovely smiles, that unreasonable expectations could turn a world upside down and ruin a possible relationship, that a close bonding to anyone could be wrought with danger. Adair had taught him how to endure being stuck in a situation one couldn't control, how to harness rage and pain into power to achieve one's goals. It was not the intentions, not the devotion to a cause that were recalled, it was the always the end result. All these people that he had known in his life were neither good, or evil, they influenced him either in positive, or negative, but it had been his choice and perspective that had been the end result of the influence.

There were plenty of forgotten unsung hero's out there that got up every day to do the right thing, just for it to go terribly wrong. Some of those once great hero's wound up in the end becoming the villain, even though they had the best intentions starting out. There were plenty of people out there that just tried to deal with the hand that they were dealt no matter how terrible it was, placing all the chips on the table for a dead mans hand. No matter how much one proclaimed they were evil, or good, or in the right, they were all wrong about being the opposing force in which was neither good, or bad. It was all chaos, there wasn't anything anyone could do to change, or direct destiny, or fate. It was random chances, random encounters that make up a life time and dictated how others perceived the personal story. It didn't matter what he thought of the elderly couple that he thought of so fondly, he had no idea what they were like in their youths, he had no clue about what other struggles they had, all he knew was the impact they had on him when he was with them. The same could be said about any of the others he had encountered in life, Telran could have been only kind to him because of some other wrong he had done in life that he had felt a need to make up for, just as Sadie had taken him under her wing because of the child she had given away. Adair could have been cruel to him only because, someone in his past had done the same, he had no idea what Adair had endured before he met him. People became echos, their influences faded over time becoming more distant until they were no longer heard. The only thing that mattered was how they viewed themselves. In those final chapters it was just a matter of personal perception, whether one wound up being the villain or the hero of their own story.

He wondered what Adair thought of himself with that last breath, did he believe he had been the victim of a crime, or a hero going out in a blaze of glory for the right cause in his mind? Thadian's thoughts had traveled of what one day he would feel like when he took his own last breath. Would he be the hero, or the villain in his own life story? At the moment, he didn't know. The coywolf figured he would find out when it happened, if death ever actually caught up with him.

The coywolf got up from the hill and started back on the path towards a different village with the same agenda, to get enough coin to buy himself a few decent articles of clothing and honest paying job. He had spent months working towards his goal, he had saved up enough to purchase all he had wanted and a little more beyond he had expected. He had armed himself, as well as purchasing provisions for the journey.

Nose To The Wind
Standing with back to the sun...

With a gunny sack tied to a stick and flung over his shoulder he said goodbye to the owner of the boarding house he had been living at. He made his way barefooted along the cobble stone road that lead to the great capital city of Stormwind. He had a agenda, he had word that the man, that went by the name of Rand Morley had been the one that had taken out the Alpha from the sick pack. He had known this Rand from his past, not extremely well, but well enough that he had to investigate. The Morley brothers had been some of Sadie's employees farmers from what he could remember. They had seemed like giants to him back then, their hands as big as dinner plates, but really good at parlor tricks, were good for body guards when Sadie went out on the streets. Goons, thugs, thieves if need be... but in Sadie's house they had been family. The two had watched over him a few times when Sadie had gone out without him on important business. The brother's had taught him a few tricks, and how to win against Sadie at cards. The brother's also had been on that run with a few others to the warehouse they were robbing, that night he had left his post to tend to Sadie. He was going to Stormwind to look for work, he thought to look around and see if he would hear more words on Rand's where abouts in the process. He wanted to thank the man for ending the tyrannical rule of Alpha, if he could.

Being in the city was more overwhelming then he had thought it would be, the hustle and bustle, wasn't what he was accustom to anymore. His wolf prowled as a group of children ran past him laughing were moving like prey, a woman pressing against him as she passed him in a tight knit crowd, it was the scent. He wasn't even in his worgen form, but it was itching to get out. He was unfamiliar with the quarters, and the streets, what lead where, it was the confusion, the close proximity, the scents and sounds that was causing the rise in chemicals making it difficult for him to maintain. He turned down an empty alley, practicing the breathing exercises that Telran taught him. He had grabbed to his knees, breathing, calming back what seemed to easily rise in him. He just knew it was because he had spent so much time as a Worgen he was losing touch with his control, and he just needed to regain it by calming down. He had closed his eyes for a moment, when he had opened them there was right in front of him the grandest swords he had ever seen, garnished in gold, wicked looking skulls. A rough worgen voice asked if he was okay, as he was standing back upright. He had responded with " Nice swords.... " As if he had been just inspecting them in that hunched posture. He used the excuse to distract from his brief anxiety moment. The fellow gave his name, it just happened that the Worgen that had been inquiring about his state of being was just the man he had been looking for.

Thadian made his own introduction, watching how the Worgen reacted, watching how the pedestrians walking by reacted to him, he was so focused to see if there was any recognition in the one silver eye. This Rand in appearance was far different than the one he had known. His face had been human with both eyes intact, he had been tall, but not as tall and massive as he was now in his wolven form. At first there was nothing apparent that seemed to appear in recognition, so Kash continued onward in the conversation that it was his first time in the city, he was unfamiliar with the lay out, and that he was just looking for honest work. Rand had asked a few questions about his skills, and what sort of work he was looking for. Rand seemed like he was excited about it, to the point Thadian was offered a job on the spot. Thadian explained he had never worked on a ship, but he did have skills working with wood, hammer and nails, that he actually was going to apply for a job as a dock worker so what Rand was offering was just down the right course he was looking for. Lady luck seemed to be favoring him this day! Rand even offered to show him around to get the layout of the city, as well as drinks afterward. Thadian was grateful for the aid, but at the same time he felt he should come clean about the other part of his reason of being in the city. He just needed the opportune moment show up.

Rand showed him around, showed him the parks, showed him where the vendors of goods were, showed him what to avoid, and what was his favored places for drinking and relaxing. Thadian learned a few things about Rand in the process from the way he walked, talked, carried himself, of course Kash kept it to himself as they moved around from place to place. He was observing, not only Rand, but the area's environment, how people interacted with one another, how they spoke, carried themselves. It was when Rand showed him the pond, with name of Oliva's pond, that Thadian finally could breathe. There was many other open areas in the city to roam, but this place struck a corner of his heart that he just couldn't explain. The small pumpkin farm, the small herd of cows, the barn, the trees, he just had to let go for a little while. He asked for a moment and shifted to his worgen self, for him the transition wasn't difficult it was merely like slipping on a cloak. There wasn't any resistance when he was in control, it was smooth and seamless seeming as his bones rotated, his features stretched, muscle structure and tendons gained girth. He wore loose fitting clothes just for moments like this, dropping his gunny sack by the base of a large tree Kash broke into a four legged lope.

The city's smell was still all around him, the protecting walls still loomed, but in that small area he let his wolf run, roll, romp, to just be free for a moment. As long as he gave a little to the wolf, he could maintain the instincts better. Yes the wolf was fierce, but there was so much more that many didn't even understand about themselves. It wasn't the wolf that was the curse it was being the man, humanity, the burden of a thought filled mind, whatever one wanted to call it that had twisted something natural into being something it was not, and that was where the conflict resided, which made a powerful gift into a curse. Nothing wild liked to be contained, restricted, leashed, or caged, those instincts, urges needed their freedom from time to time or it would lash out in frustration and eventually rage. Thadian's mind was the one in control of the spirit since the time they had been melded into one. It was Kash that had to dictate when that freedom was appropriate and when it was not. A moment in an empty field at night, was a very appropriate moment to let loose in to sate to say ' thank you' to the wolf for being so patient with him. He spent quite some time, exploring with the sensory perception that the wolf had to offer, nothing was safe from an exploratory nose, large ears, and sharp gaze, scent marking, or running paw pads as the coywolf moved exuberantly about the environment that he was getting familiar with.

When Thadian returned to Rand, little by little he had explained his intent more clearly. He wanted to be clear, before he actually accepted the job offer. He had known Rand from his past, that he knew of him and his brother that had part of her crew. That when he had heard that he was the one that had killed the ' pack's' Alpha, and hadn't remained to lead, or to control those that were in the pack instead had sent them to the Moonglade, he wanted to thank him personally, he just hadn't expected to run him to him as he had, or be offered a job. He clarified that he wasn't looking for a leader, that he wasn't one of those that were like a groupie, that he knew that the pack had to be abolished. He even went as far as explaining how he had been recruited, and his role while he was in the pack, that his main purpose was to dupe unsuspecting travelers into thinking he was injured, while the others from his group would ambush and rob them, and recruit others. That he wasn't exactly a good person, and probably would never be exactly what another may expect from him. He had explained from what he could remember what happened to Sadie and her employees, that some had made it, that he was glad that Rand and his brother had made it out alive as well. He learned about a few things with Rand in turn, who he associated with, who was important to him, who he looked out for, and who worked with him on the vessel. Learned what happened to him in bits and pieces over time.

Thadian knew appearances could be deceiving, and that there was much more to the story that neither of them spoke of but it was there. But it didn't really matter, because Rand's influence seemed to ignite his spirit of adventure, and fun, there was no down points as far as he could see at the moment to associate with the good fellow. It was easy to be around Rand, and the more time he spent with him the more he felt as if he was just comfortable and at home with Rand's company. They were fast friends, finding all kinds of similarities and differences with one another, causing all kinds of mischief together. He couldn't wait until they worked together...

Feathered by Moonlight
Silhouettes burning out the twilight...

He had expected Rand to show up at the pumpkin to help him out on a task, but instead a night elf had shown up. He had just been letting loose in the field running wild, digging, and sniffing when he had spotted a raven, not just a typical raven. A druid much like the form Telran could take but the scent was different raven and lavender was what his nose had told him. He wasn't shy, he took a sniff out of curiosity and drew in close before the raven transformed before his eyes into a elf. It was the hair that had him at a great pause, it was the same violet shade that Telran had. But the one before him obviously was not Telran, she was the one Rand had been speaking on a physical level of feminine attributes. He was soon to find out that hair color was where the similarities to Telran abruptly stopped. Rand hadn't exaggerated about her legs going on for miles as much Thad had thought Rand had done. She was tall, almost taller then him when he was as his wolven self. She looked as some elven princess from stories he had heard of from Telran. She sparkled, with how she was dressed, and the earrings in her ears, with how her voice's tone was. She just seemed on the physical aesthetic level what his mind's eye said was elven royalty. He had dined with nobles and courtesans, but of the human variety before, he had never felt like he had a place in their company even if he could pretend he did. So he had attempted that approach with her, after she made her introduction, and had informed him that Rand had sent her to help him. Even her name seemed to be something royalty would name their children, Nacelia.

To work they went... Well being formal wasn't working so much as time and again he was put in situations where they were fighting off some greasy troggs after their spoils, so pretending to be something he wasn't wasn't working for him as vulgarity slipped in. He was getting frustrated as he was trying to get to know her, but she kept going on and on about information as if she was some book, that and the untimely interruptions. Thadian never got along with books, he could hardly read a lick, it was one of the few things Sadie and well others, had never bothered with teaching him how to do. He barely could read, just enough to get by if he needed to, such as finding the right shop keeper, but usually their signs had big pictures indicating what they were, and if he any questions he would just ask someone random where something was. He didn't need to know the text book version as to how he had become a worgen... He had lived his version of it, that should be enough to know. He couldn't understand why she was spending so much time informing him as if he had no idea what it was like to be as he was, he thought maybe it was her way of boasting how smart she was? He couldn't figure it out, which oddly at the same time intrigued him, as much as it was frustrating him. Any time he tried to strike up a conversation her replies were just as dry, like as if she had no personal thoughts or opinions of her own, all she knew how to do was recite what she had been taught to say like some sort of machine. It was like she had never just had fun, or just said, or did anything reckless or stupid for the sheer joy of it. Like tempered glass, the tempering puts the outer surfaces into compression and the interior into tension, it might make her tougher, it might shield her from a lot of things but she was missing out just being herself. He actually felt sorry for her, Telran, as stern as he was looking knew how to laugh, had his own opinions, his own thoughts and ideals. He had no idea what her life was like before he had met her, but he had seen some humans pent up like she seemed to be. He had found them quite boring, even though at the time he wasn't allowed to say it because he had to pretend he was interested in them as he, or others were stealing from them. He had to keep them distracted, had to keep them interested, and had found they liked to talk about themselves so he just would ask questions about them to fill the hours.

He attempted to do as Sadie had taught him to keep the marks talking, asked Nacelia personal questions, and she would deflect his personal inquiries by speaking of more text book information. He wasn't getting anywhere with her playing the games he had been taught. She just didn't seem curious about him, her only interest was what she knew and the facts she liked to inform him about, he just had to find the key to revert some sort of interest in his direction. He didn't like to be invisible or danced around in talk as he wasn't a living breathing individual. He had that happen a lot in the company of the social elite, they liked to talk about themselves, about what they achieved in great titles, in what they owned, and how smart they were, they probably would have done so to an empty room given a chance. So he tried something else, his second tactic was flattery, he laid it on thick, each text book quote he praised her knowledge, praised her intelligence, and wisdom to the point it was even making him sick to do so. She didn't seem to notice what he was doing, as she continued to speak of where and what books she got the information from, or who educated her in to gaining that knowledge, she was quite like those arrogant social elite that could talk about nothing more then themselves, even the praise went unnoticed. So he took the conversation in a totally different direction, making everything she said into a sexual innuendoes, more to give himself something to be entertained about. It took her while to catch on to it, but eventually she caught on that he wasn't speaking innocently. It was the blush that appeared on her face, that dark purple that even seemed to blot out the coloration of the tattooed leaves on her face. That reaction caused to him stop just briefly because it was an indication she was real, not something build of parts and pieces in some false facsimile that pretended to be a living being. It was the most genuine reaction he had seen from her the entire time, so he took a moment to appreciate it, and enjoy it. Okay, if he was capable of causing that, she was capable of learning beyond that tempered glass exterior she displayed. That blush was something he could work with....

He had been in the company of druids before, so he wasn't as amazed or shocked at the deep connection to nature, and the wild hunt they had, as one who had never met one. He has spent a lot of time with Telran that had slowly introduced him to the teachings, and the totems they followed, it was done so in a oral manner of tradition, as well as hands on experience, and through displays. It wasn't a few life times worth all at once dumped into his ears. Nacelia didn't seem to notice that about him anyway, nor was he going to inform her, his only goal was to teach Nacelia how to have a good time with any situation. She had taken to a feline form a night huntress to fight off troggs and other vermin that got in their way of the task at hand. Maybe that's why he had difficulties dealing with her lack of personality, it wasn't that there was a lack it was that they had vastly different mind sets. Felines with their irritating tails, and sounds, and movements, and the threat of claws and fangs, it just rubbed against every instinct and urge that he had.

Some interesting character related facts
Thadian Mikash was a concept developed under the embodiment of the ever shape shifting aspect of the Coyote. He can be looked at from many point of views, opinions, and never been seen in the same individual perspective of light. His motives can be obscured by society's standards of what is ideal, his intent may never be truly clear by modern mind sets. He defies all odds stacked against him. He's a survivor, with a wicked grin against adversity finding new, and creative ways to continue to survive. The coyote even seems to strive under pressure. A hero, a coward, a villain, a scoundrel, a friend, a cautious observer, a playful trickster, whatever the point of view of him, there is no wrong one.

Timelines: I wanted to create a timeless seeming character within the boundaries and limitations of WoW. That is why I don't mention such things as year as he was born, or when the events that transpired had happened. One can estimate on their own, if need be. Personally I feel it takes a bit away from individual perspective of the story if it's too chronological. The coywolf was meant to be an obscure being after all.

Art work was done by the writer of the profile.