Revolution, but Civilization

A few months into his time in Darrow, it would be a lie to say Ruslan is happy about his situation. He has, though, acclimated to his new surroundings. He's figured out enough about Darrow to feel safe during full moons, though this last one he spent as hidden away as he could to avoid any possible fallout from the eclipse. He loves his leader, respects Khan deeply, but he's seen how clumsy and foolish he gets around Sooha, just because he fell in love with her during an eclipse, and he really doesn't want to end up like that, especially here. He needs all his faculties about him if he's going to find his way home.

He's not going to push it. It's the kind of thing that takes time. If there were an easy way out, people would have already uncovered it. Ruslan is patient. Getting home is inevitable; it might just take a while.

In the meanwhile, he's made a place for himself here. There's no one to answer to for him, no one to make him attend school, but he does so anyway, dutifully enrolling in classes anyway. For a long time, he didn't have the opportunity to get an education. He's not about to take it for granted, especially now. When he first started out, he had a lot of catching up to do to get on the same level as his peers. Now he's caught up, he can actually enjoy learning.

What he enjoys more, however, is his part-time job after school. Playing sports without his pack could lead to some complicated questions like Why are you so fast? and How did you jump like that? and Wait, I didn't hear anything, how did you? so he gets his exercise on his own in the woods, and uses time that would have gone toward practice on work at an animal shelter. He doesn't need much in the way of money, but the shelter can't pay him much anyway, so it works out fine for everyone. Nominally he's there to be a receptionist, but they need all the help they can get, so he winds up doing a lot of other odd jobs.

The best are the adoption events. They bring several cats and dogs with them to various parks and businesses, the flea market on Sundays, that kind of thing, so that people can be lured in by their cuteness. Ruslan gets paid to play with animals and make sure they're taken care of. It's the best kind of job he could ask for.

It's a good way to spend his birthday, too. He doesn't have much of anyone to celebrate with, and his age is a little complicated in a way he can't explain without getting into the whole werewolf thing, but he can still enjoy himself without that. Camping out next to a big pet store downtown, he sits cross-legged on the cement, a pudgy chihuahua in his lap and a brush in his hand. The older dog can be a little grumbly, but he sits quietly, his skinny tail wagging, enjoying the attention. "You know, George, you remind me of Camill," Ruslan says conversationally. "That's my brother. He's so grumpy, but you just have to get to know him. He's really very sweet, and so are you. You just need the right people, don't you?"​

[ Come and say hi to Ruslan! Or to George or any of the other adoptable kitties and puppies available! Feel free to adopt a new friend (furry or Ruslan). Open to all until this says otherwise!]