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1/13/17. Gerbil taur (Lataste's Gerbil). Ears are pierced several times over, but he typically only puts very small things in them. Black stud on either side of his nose. Mark/tear duct things below his eyes should stay there. Sort of short, but not rodent-sized. Skyler Hershel
Skye used to live in a less than ideal neighborhood. There were several gangs that thought they owned the place and the people who lived there just had to deal with it. Some people, though, didn't acknowledge the thugs at all. This angered them, as they enjoyed their reign of terror. He was one of these uncaring people and they decided to make an example of him. One day when he was out and about, they grabbed him and practically drowned him in potions and spells that increased fear instincts. Skye already had some of these, but they weren't really a huge part of his life. They made it so bad that he could scarcely look at the claws on his own fingers without fearing for his life. So, they paraded/herded him around, making sure everyone saw. Once they'd had their fill of humiliating him, they dumped him in an alley somewhere. Being so terrified he could hardly move, Skye just fell over and curled into a ball. A couple days later, Brooke stumbled across him before dehydration or anything started to set in. She heard him as she was going by because he kept crying inconsolably. Concerned for this strange man shoved in a corner, she tried to help him and ask him what was going on, but she was a snake and - as far as he was concerned for the moment - snakes eat gerbils. She did her best for the three or so minutes that he was conscious, but he promptly passed out. Skyler woke later in a strange room. It was dim and he was by himself, so there wasn't much for him to look at an scare himself over. Some sleep had helped the instincts recede a little, but they were still definitely there. Before he could do anything, Brooke started trying to talk to him through the door, asking if he was awake and/or okay. Since he couldn't see her, this didn't freak him out. So, she explained that she intended to help him and that her family had sort of figured out what was wrong with him, but they didn't have what they needed to fix him yet. Until then, he could just stay in this area and they'd send in the least threatening person available to bring him stuff. Still stunned and needing to recover from his episode, he just sort of accepted this. Later, the family was able to "obtain" something to cancel out the majority of the magic he'd been filled with, but it still sort of affects him occasionally. He was more than happy to stick around with Brooke rather than risk seeing any gang ever again.
The fear doesn't leave him right away. It takes some time for it to wear off and it's not exactly a fun time. Brooke spends a lot of time trying to work with him, calmly waiting for as long as needed. They work through simple tasks, adapting to 'dangerous' members of her family, and going out in public again for what seems like ages. In fact, months go by as he super slowly calms down. During this process, he's started to see Brooke as a safe person to be around and gets pretty attached to her. Things go from there
