Shapeshifting Destinies: To Chase or Change Fate (Palmoun and maidenroseheart)
 

Boston was a bustling city. Horse-drawn carriages clipped down the streets. Ladies in fancy jackets and billowing skirts strolled arm in arm while giggling behind their lace-dripped fans. Gentlemen hurried on business in and out of businesses. Shopkeepers called out merrily to passing customers. A puppy yapped happily at the passing sights from the window of a richer man's automobile.

Boston was a bustling city. In a nice neighborhood of white houses school children were rising to the urgings of their nanny's. Maids were setting out breakfast. The gardener was watering the flowers. The blue sky with fluffy white clouds promised a gorgeous day of gentle breezes and golden sunshine. All was well with the world. Life was as it should be.

Boston was a bustling city. The owner of Tech Corporations strolled from his study to the diningroom. Pulling a chair out from the solid oak table, the butler seated him. Jack McCartney lit a cigar and leaned back, waiting for the arrival of his only child. Breakfast began promptly at 7am every morning. Her tutor would arrive promptly at 8am. She was almost late. He tapped his fingers and narrowed his eyes at the clock ticked past 7am. The butler left the room with an air of sophistication. A maid came running in breatheless and began stammering. Sitting up in alarm, Mr. McCartney tried to get her to calm down state sensibly was what wrong.

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Serenity ran for all she was worth. Crossing the train tracks, she leaped onto a moving train and pulled herself into a car. Getting back and out of sight she took a deep breathe. That smell... grain? It had been used to haul grain? Wheat by the look of the small kernels on the ground. Adjusting her bag from her back and beside her, she settled in and began to watch the time. Her watch was her navigating timepiece. She would stay on the train for exactly 45 minutes. By that point she would be far out in the countryside, and could jump ship so to speak. She might get banged up in the process, but would worry about that later.

She had gotten up early, slipped into a simple dress that her father would have been horrified to know what even in the house, and picked up a bag she had packed and hidden under her bed the night before. She had her knowledge of different plants. Her plan was to set up a herbalist store somewhere out in the country. In a really small town where hopefully her father had no influence or presence. Where news would be scarce. Where any technology was custom made instead of corporation built. For otherwise, her father would find her.

She was tired of living the spoiled life of a dainty wealthy lady. She wanted to learn and live a more peaceful life around less people. Getting away from the gossip and cruel politics involved out-maneuvering her father's henchmen and investigators. However she had a headstart they wouldn't dream of. She had not taken a bus, streetcar, or boat. She hadn't stayed in nicer areas or sought or the help of a church or nunnery. She had gone rogue.

Clanking and rattling came from a house tucked into the hillside close to the rails. It looks old and at any moment it could topple over. It was no wonder why no one ever came out to it and tried to live here. Yet if anyone ever came close to it they could hear the clanking and all the odd noises. It sounded as if it was alive. A head then poked out of the old house and looked towards the rails. A boy ran out and started to shift threw all the junk that piled along hte rails. West had picked this place to start building for this reason. THe trains lost some of there machinery here since it was a rough old track that made it rattle and they also used this place to dump what they needed too.

West shifted threw the junk and not caring if he got durt on anything. Durt, grease and grime had become a old friend to him over his time being here. Looking around for a second he found no one around, like usual, and then his body seemed to crack and move. Soon a dog stood there and he started to sniff threw the junk. THough when he came to some coal he smiled. He alway could use some coal. Shifting back into a human he took out his bag and started to stuff it full of it till he felt the shaking. He kenw what that ment, a train. Standing up quickly he started to look threw the junk one more time before heading back to his house.

Heading inside he stuck the coal with the rest of it and then headed over to his machine. Smiling as he looked at it he couldn't wait for it to be done. But before he could do anything he heard his stomach growl and he knew it ment food was in order. Heading over to his pile of berries he started to eat and relax before he went to work again.

As Serenity stumbled closer, she realized the building was an old house. She felt a sense of relief. Even if it was falling apart, there had to be some old stuff in there she could borrow. And for the afternoon at least, maybe someplace to sit down and rest. She doubted anything would be clean enough to use on her shallow injuries. Clinching her teeth, she reached and climbed the porch stairs. Getting to the top, she wondered if maybe this wasn't a mistake. The boards were rotten and looked like they wouldn't support her weight. Just as she wavered, she heard a sound inside. An unmistakable sound of clinking and clanking. She raised her eyes to the door and stared. Her imagination? She was rather curious and gingerly stepped forward. The boards held. She reached the door and slowly opened it, wincing at the un-oiled hinges. Stepping inside, she peeked cautiously past the door that she stood trembling close against.

West smield as he started to pick threw all the new pieces he had discovered a few days ago. Someone had thrown a box of goods fromt he train and it was a gold mind to him. He just had to figure out what was usefull and what wasn't. Though he did find something he really liked. Clutching it close he ran over to his tarp and headed under it. Shifting into a monkey he started to climb threw the structure, looking for hte right place to put it. Soon he found it and he could of danced, it was hte right size. Climbing out of his little structure he turned back into his human from as he ran out form under hte tarp but hten stopped in his tracks. He felt eyes on him. The hair on his neck stood up and he looked around. Before long he saw hte door open and two eyes were peeking out form under it. Swollowing, he hoped that she hadn't seen anything and smiled a little bit. "uh.. can I help you?" he asked a little hesitantly. He hardly had visitors and liked it like that. Not many people wanted to be close to a person who could change into something that could potentially kill them. He just hoped she hadn't seen him change or else it might send her off screaming.

Serenity looked at him curiously. She found it strange that a person would be here. It was such a rundown structure. She could have sworn he had for a second looked... different. But that was probably just her imagination running away with her. After all the excitement of today and all, that was probably normal. "Hi. Um, nice place. Do you... live here? Not that that matters or anything. I'm sorry, I'm being snoopy. I just wanted to see if there was some useful stuff to help myself to in an abandoned buidling, and it looks like it isn't abandoned so maybe I'll not take anything then. She stammered to a halt. She felt so silly, and her memory of him right when she walked in just didn't sit right. She could have sworn. But that is impossible.

West nodded as he listened to her and calmed down a little bit. She hadn't seen him in his other form whih was good. He then smiled at her, "well as you can see it is slightly abandoned but it is my home. I found it a while ago and I set uo hime a while ago." he said as he walked over to her and smiled. She seemed nice and he couldn't help but wonder what a lady like herself was going Here. He then smelled blood and knew tha it was from her. He wasn't bleeding or anything that he knew of. "if you need a place to relax or something your welcomeo stay here. I have enough food for two and It is warm in here most of the time." he said since he was sure she needed a place to stay. "but if your passing threw I could give you some supplies and directions. I know this place very well." he said as he looked at her and wasn't really sure what else to say. This was the first time that he had ever talked to a actual person in years and he was never good at talking to girls even when he was around others.

With a sigh of relief, Serenity pushed aside her confusion and doubts to extend her hand in greeting, "I'm Serenity. If it isn't too much trouble, could I chill here for a few days? I'm sorta, new, to being on my own and not having the best start. I was thinking about getting together enough herbal stuff from the nearby woods to start selling at my own stall in the street market. If I can build up, then I can open my own shop. However, this is literally day one of living my life. I'm really what you see before you. Nothing else. Just a girl." Just a girl with nothing to her name save a tyrannical wealthy father who will be pulling all the stops to find her and return her to the prison of a wealthy society life.

West smiled at her when she held out her hand and shook it happily, "it is nice to met you serenity, I am West and sorry if I am a little dirty." he said as he smiled at her and then let go of her hand. "and your welcomet to stay here as long as you need to. I have more room then I know what to do with and it would be nice to talk to someone instead of being by myself with only my work to keep me occupied." he said as he smiled at her. She seemed like a nice person and he wouldn't mind her staying. Though he would have to be careful from now on to make sure that she didn't see his other form just inface she didn't like that.

Serenity breathed a sigh of relief. Adjusting her bag, she looked around the room. Um, well, since it is your place, where should I put my bag? Which room should I stay in? Do you have running water? She thought about the cut on her knee and that maybe she should wash it sometime soon. She liked this guy. He seemed really nice and easy to talk to. Much more so than her family or the social circles her family frequented. Wealthy people, with few exceptions, seemed to be so formal and stiff. At least those she knew. She had met a family once that was different, but her father for some reason didn't approve of them. So life was not so pleasant as this simple creaky structure and normal looking fellow.

West smiled at her, "well there are only really four rooms. This room which is kind of like the work room/living room/ kitchen, the bathroom which is right over there." he said as he pointed to a small little door in the corner of the room. "and then the stairs that head up. Up there are two rooms." he said as he smiled at her. "and your in luck, about a month or two ago I managed to fix the pipes so we do have running water." he said and then headed over to the stairs, "oh and be careful. Besides working on my project I am still trying to fix the house up. So if you see something that is broken tell me so I can fix it. Now follow me, I will show you to the bedrooms." he said as he looked at her.

Smiling at West, she followed him. For an old rickety old house, this place was actually pretty solid on the inside. She was impressed. "So what do you do out here West? You have a job? Family?" Connections that I should worry about? She really didn't want to be found so close to her running away. The stairs were pretty good. They had obviously been repaired. She admired that he could do that without calling for a repair service. Of course he probably would work for the repair service with his skills. She took silent joy in the idea of her father's face if he could see her in this place. He would be livid and humiliated. She felt freedom and liked it.

West smiled as he got to the top and looked at her, "you could say that i am a inventor of sorts and a builder. I found this place a while back and since not many people wanted to hire me i just stayed here. I started to build this place and i scavage things that fall at the rails." he said as he looked at her and thrn shook his head. "and no family." he said even though he did. It was just that they left him when he started to change and be a shifter. They infact left him to go off somewhere and changed their names. So ne couldnt track them even if he wanted to. Heading overto a door he opened it and smiled, "this can be your room."

She stepped inside and looked around. It definitely wasn't what she was used to. There were no king beds with lace and ruffles. There were no dressing screens and three sided mirrors. It was cozy though in the sense that it was hers to use without being controlled or dictated to. She glanced at a table in a corner with a shelf unit beside it. Perfect! Her face lit up with joy. She had a work space for creating her herbal remedies, teas, and medicines. Under the table was an old, but useable basket. She could use that to carry whatever she found in the woods. Pity they were in the middle of a field and meadow... all the harder to not be seen. She hadn't seen any big roads. So passenger trains would be her biggest concern and thankfully those could be heard coming. She turned and smiled at West, This is perfect! Thank you so much. She beamed at him. I think I will get cleaned up and hike out to the woods nearby to beginning looking for herbs, roots, and flowers. Then I can tend to them over the next few days. I think by evening it might be busy outside more than usual. I will just stay inside. I didn't leave... my life... on the most agreeable terms with others. She grimaced at the thought, and then laughed it off.

West smiled when he heard her and nodded, "if you want I can take you around everywhere. I know hte surrounding area very well and I also need to gather some more food anyways." he said as he smiled at her. He then nodded, "ah, well we all do thing or have things happen to us that aren't agreeable. But we learn to live with them and make a happy life out of things." he said as he smiled at her and thought that she had a amazing laugh. It was sweet and nice to listen. He then smiled at her, "just tell me if you need anything, I can take you to the nearest town." he said as he looked at her happily.

She felt herself become a bit shaken at the thought of going into town. What if... no. Don't think that way. "Town would be great. I'm game for that. There are some supplies I could get there for starting my own shop. If you feel like playing tour guide, we can go there and also the nearby woods." She thought of all the things she could get done more easily with him showing her around. That was a relief. Also, if news of her reached this backwater area, they wouldn't be looking for a girl with another person.

West smiled at her and nodded, "well then it sounds that we have a plan. But before we go do you want to eat anything? I have some berries and meat if you like." he said as he smiled at her. He even had some bread but not enough to make a decent sandwitch. So he would have to get some supplies while they were out at town.

She knodded gratefully. She had left early and had had quite the run. That sounds amazing. I will wash up and meet you downstairs? She was so glad she had made a friend. Most of those in her father's circle would have had upturned noses. Those who didn't weren't in her father's circle. He surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who were wealthy. Those who would have been better friends weren't invited.

West smiled and nodded, "okay, I will get everything ready." he said as he smiled at her and headed down stairs, leaving her to get washed up. ONce he was down stairs he headed over to the kitchen and started pulling out the basket of berrys he had and then some bread and what ever else he felt like. It was only after that he realised he was running low on a lot of food and knew he had to get some things while they were out.

She put her bag on the bed and opened it. Pulling out a washcloth, she went to the little bathroom that was at the end of her room and washed the scrapes from her jump from the train. After getting herself cleaned up with the blood and dirt washed away, she turned to her hair. It was also a bit ascrew from her flying lesson, so she used her fingers to quickly straighten it out.

Then she went back to the bedroom and her bed. Emptying her bag and carefully placing the content in the small drawers beside her bed, she picked the bag up put it back on her shoulder. It would be handy for carrying the things she bought. Then she took one last glimpse around and headed downstairs.

West smield when he heard foot steps coming down the stairs and looked over at her. He had to admit that it was nice to know that he was with someone. It didn't feel as lonely as before. Smiling at her he pointed to the table with the foot, "eat what you like but I dont have much since I haven't been to town in a while." he said as he looked at her and hoped that this was okay.

She knodded her thanks and slipped over to the table. Putting a slice of meet in some bread and getting some berries, she leaned against the wall and began to munch. It was a far cry from what she was used to but she firmly reminded herself that this was the life she had chosen of her own free will. The moon crash from the sky if she didn't enjoy her newfound freedom. Finishing lunch, she asked, How far away is town?

west thought for a moment and wondered what to say. He normaly took his Hawk form or wolf form to get to town since then it took a few minutes. So what would he say? He then smiled at her, "oh it should take about a hour or so. So I would have to say a little around a mile or two." he said as he smiled at her and hoped she didn't say it was to far. To some rich people they thought that was far but for him it was just a regular every day walk sometimes.

She thought it over. If they kept up a good walk, it would take 20 minutes to go a mile. So an hour at a slower pace would be more like 2 miles. That was a lot longer than she was used to. Remembering her mad dash for the train and the adventure she started of her own choosing she grinned Alright! Let's do this! She made a fist in confirmation of the idea and grinned. This was going to be one good day. A great way to start a new life.

West smiled when he saw her enthusiasim and nodded, "then let's go, I would like to get himebefore it gets dark." he said as he picked up a bag he had. He then headed out of therr and motioned for her to follow. Heading down a warn path he looked over at her, "so tell me a little bit about yourself." he sajd since he did t really want to have a stranger in his house. He would rather know her before then. "like where do you come from and why travel, but if you don't want to talk I will understand." he understood better then anyone thst you sometimes didn't want to spill your lives story at someone.