24} so i stayed in the darkness with you...

[theresalwayshope]

[When the feed clicks on, Allison is visibly upset. She's also not in her cabin, as evidenced by her surroundings. Her eyes and nose are red: she's been crying, and recently, but she's deadly calm as she speaks.

She has to be, or else she's going to hurt someone. The feed isn't totally steady, because her hand is shaking, and in a rare occurrence, Duchess is nowhere to be seen.]

Isaac's in a coma.

[And this is the part of her new condition she wasn't prepared for, this wild fury and soul-deep grief all mixed up and so intense her free hand is just out of sight, balled into a fist, claws digging into her own palm so the pain will keep her from shifting. She's been like this since she found him over an hour ago, since she picked him up off the floor of his room and put him into bed...

Since the tears and pleading for him to wake up turned to animal snarls she couldn't control, and she glimpsed her transformed face in the mirror for the first time.

She's human now as her eyes well up again, but there's something clearly animal in the way she bares her teeth as she speaks.]

Anyone that comes near his cabin without my permission is getting their throat torn out.

[She can feel the beast rising, she doesn't dare risk more...abruptly, the feed goes dead to all but those on her private filters.]

[Extended Pack Filter]

That goes for you guys, too...just knock first, okay? I'm in Isaac's cabin, and I just...

[She trails off, her eyes flashing gold. Her jaw tenses, and fangs are visible just past her lips, her features shifting as she fights the rising change.]

I need some time to...calm down.

Comments

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

You won't.

[He trusts Allison. He'll never be afraid of her.]

You didn't kill me before. You're not going to hurt me now. Come on.

I'm going to help.

[private]

[theresalwayshope]

You're going to die!

[The animal snarl in her voice is audible, something that isn't human as she speaks...and then she's snarling outright, baring her fangs in a threatening display before she finally digs her claws into her palm again because pain keeps you human, pain keeps you human...

The feed shifts as she sags, dropping a little as she sinks to the floor beside Isaac's bed, leaning back against it as she catches her breath and shakes her head.]

I won't let you in. If you come, I won't let you in.

[Her voice is trembling, however...human and trembling, because suddenly it's the only other thing she can feel besides the beast clawing at her guts, roaring to be let free.

She needs to be held. She needs her pack...she needs someone or something that can calm the girl and patch the gaping hole that's opened up in the wolf locked inside her head.]

[private]

[hearrrtofgold]

[Duke narrows his eyes in determination, not showing the slightest bit of fear. She may be teetering on the edge, but right now he's a rock to hold onto.]

Allison, look at me. Breathe. You can get through this. You are strong enough to tame a wolf.

Fine. If you won't let me in, I'm sitting outside the door. I can help and talk you down from this, just trust me. I'll be your supernatural-freakout spirit guide.

[private]

[theresalwayshope]

[She's brought up short by the descriptor, one so...totally ridiculous that the gold light fades a little in her eyes as her fangs recede.]

My supernatural freak--what?!