NationStates Jolt Archive

This is the story of a time long ago. A time of myth and legend, when the world huddled in fear, as evil prowled about. Their worrisome eyes searching the trees, the mountains, the homes for signs of the beasts. People were slaughtered, families torn apart as the unseen forces of evil prowled the Earth, seeking to fulfill their evil desires. Yet, a small number of hunters began to strike back, slowly driving the forces back into the crypt of the bowels of the Earth. Now, these hunters, all of different backgrounds, search to eradicate the last of the beasts from the world.

Footsteps crashed heavily into the leaf packed earth, their owner sprinting as fast as she could away from the horror behind her, chasing her on all fours. A roar of anger emitted from the beast as it lunged forward, heavily smacking the woman into the ground. The woman gasped, as she struggled under the powerful beast, pinned to the ground.

“No!! AHH!! Leave me alone! Damn you!” came the screams from the woman, as she drew her small hunting knife, constructed of silver, and plunged it repeatedly into the beast’s neck and torso.

The beast roared, the foul stench of its breath engulfing the woman, before it clamped its jaws into her shoulder, and bit hard, shaking the woman’s torso. But the grip was weakening. The beast let go, and stumbled aside, feeling the lethal effects of the silver blade, now plunged into its heart. The dark red blood oozed out and ran quickly down the blade, as the beast keeled over, and lay still. Deep, throaty wheezes escaped from its mouth, as it struggled to maintain its precious air supply.

The woman got up, and walked over to the beast, but kept her distance. Her shoulder throbbed painfully.

“Damn you wolf!” she muttered, as a sense of victory flooded her. Her heavy breathing soon was the only sound heard left in the dark woods. Giving the beast another kick in the face, she was about to turn about and head back to the village, when she stopped dead in her tracks.

She knelt down, and moved her head closer, her eyes widening as the beast began to slowly transform. A man’s face appeared out of the thick fur, his eyes closed, blood running down his chin…her blood. Soon, his entire corpse lay naked before her, the knife now clearly imbedded in his chest. The woman turned away and gagged:

“Oh my God!”

Her dress, torn and dirtied, clung to her sweating body, as she crawled away from the corpse. Hot tears streamed down her reddened face. She had killed a man. Her fingers dug into the rich earth, pulling up the dark dirt as she wept in agony.

“Oh my God…what have I done?!”

Slowly, she made her way to her feet, and stood haggardly over the corpse. Her dirtied hand streaked dirt across her face as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She had to get away, away from this death scene. Stumbling, she quickly made her way through the maze of the forest, and finally reached the treeline. Below her, only several thousand yards away, stood the quiet village. Racing down the mountain she ran through the village, not giving any attention to the various people opening their doors and window as they watched her run by. She was a wreck, as if someone had taken her and dragged her through the dirt and grime of the Earth. Her shoulder still bled blood, which mingled into a dark patch of blood on her chest and down her back.

She burst through the door of her home, slammed the door shut and locked it with the iron locks. Her back lay against the door, as she slid down once again to the ground, and wept greatly. Opening her eyes, she looked about the foyer, staring blankly at the remaining war relics of the American Revolution that her father and brothers had fought in only thirteen years ago, when she had only been six years of age. Now, they lay six feet under in the cemetery by the church, under a two-hundred-year-old willow tree. If only there were here now, to comfort her, to assure her that she had done no wrong.

If it had been a regular wolf, she would have had no problem killing it. But it had been a man, a man with demonic abilities. She had committed murder, and now she was forced to keep this secret to herself.

The woman’s younger brother, her only remaining brother burst through the kitchen doorway and moved to her side.

“Jen! What’s the matter? Why are you so dirty? And what in the holy Lord’s name are you doing bleeding yourself to death??!!”

“Sam…I was attacked….a wolf…large wolf. Chased me down the mountain….caught me…I killed it…”

Jen wept some more.

“I…..I need to clean up. Help me upstairs.”

Sam nodded, and held her as she unsteadily stood to her feet. Together, they moved up the stairs, and to the bedroom. Setting her on the edge of the bed, Sam left to obtain a pitcher and bowl to clean her up with. A moment later, two pairs of footsteps could be heard running up the stairs, as Sam was followed by their mother, who gasped at the gruesome sight.

“Sam told me what happened. Don’t worry now, you’re safe. What were you thinking going to the village without another to protect you?”

“Mother…shut up please…don’t start…”

“Don’t talk to me like that young lady, or I’ll give you a good whipping!”

“Damn it mother! I was just attacked by a damn wolf! Have you no concern?!”

The loud crack of the mother’s hand was heard upon the daughter’s face, followed by the daughter’s sobbing.

Sam took the initiative to leave the room, leaving the two women to bicker amongst themselves. Seeing that bloody shoulder made the young teen feel fear inside, yet he did not know why. He walked across the landing to his room, and closed the door behind him. He picked up his carving knife, and a large stick from the pile of wood he used for his carving projects, and began to aimlessly carve into the wood, as his thoughts ran in confusion, trying to figure out what had happened. Yet, there was one thing for sure. He was afraid. He didn’t want to lose the remainder of his family as well.

“Why does God punish us so? Do we not serve him well?” he asked quietly, continuing to whittle the wood, the blade steadily carving an image.

Later that night, Jen tossed in her sleep as strange dreams floated through her mind. It was dark, and she was back in the woods again. Yet she was now calm, and also excited for an unknown reason. Her heartbeat rose, as she saw small game run away swiftly for cover. She blinked. She could see perfectly well in the dark, despite no help from the stars and the moon. The moon…so beautiful…

“Jen! Time to get up!” came the cry from downstairs. It was Sam’s voice calling to her. Sitting up groggily she rubbed her face, as she stared out the window toward the woods. Such a strange dream…

She quickly stripped her nightclothes, and soon stood naked, her skin shining healthy in the light of the day. Her wound, now bandaged, disrupted this flow of beauty over her well-endowed body. Striding over to her dresser, she pulled out another clean outfit, and slipped it over her bare skin, wincing as the fabric pressed down upon her shoulder. It hurt so bad, the wound now throbbing with the dull pain.

She went downstairs, ate her food, and soon had returned back to her room, where she simply slept the day away. During the day she slept peacefully, different from the night before.

The dream came once again. The forest, the small game, the senses all came back, as they teased her mind with what she did not know.

She awoke, with her mind racing with the dream's memories.

Without realizing what she was doing, Jen subconsciously walked over to the window, and looked at the sky. The moon slid out from behind the clouds.

Suddenly, powerful spasms gripped her body, as she collapsed to the floor, her body quickly expanding, contracting and reshaping itself. Her face began to change its appearance, to resemble a wolf. Primal instincts kicked in, hunger for blood raged within her bowels. Her nightclothes stretched and ripped, as thick fur sprouted all over her body. A thick tail sprung from her tail bone as well. Finally, the transformation was complete. She did not appear to be human anymore, but now a beast of the night, an unholy spawn of the moon.

Leaping out of the open window, she landed onto the ground below, her masculine body thumping as it impacted the soft earth. She raced toward the mountain, the same one she had come from the night before. Her shoulder, now healed from the mysterious effects of the transformation, no longer troubled her as she ran. She stopped at the edge of the woods above the village, and turned her head toward the moon. A beastly, guttural howl came from within, as she instinctively enjoyed the freedom of her new existence.

(Two months later)
A large full moon hung high over the land, the clouds sparse.

A fearsome howl penetrated the air. The werewolf chased after the man running away, with several trinkets stolen from a home grasped in his hands. Darting in between the homes of the village, the man ran as fast as he could. But the werewolf kept close, enjoying the chase and the fear from the man.

Finally, she became tired of this, and picked up speed, pouncing on the man. The man’s scream was cut short by her canines ripping into his throat, tearing out muscles and organic matter. As she continued to feed, hidden in the shadows of one of the homes, the man began to convulse and shake until finally, he closed his eyes slowly, his fingers still clutching the trinkets.

The werewolf, after having her fill, howled into the night, her cry resonating among the buildings. Suddenly one of the doors to the house next to her location slammed open, and a silhouette of a large man stood there, a rifle in his hands.

He called back into the house.

“Marcie! Get the children secured, it’s that damn beast again!”

The beast turned toward the daring man, and bared her teeth, her face still bloodied, making her appearance even more deadly.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TAAAAPoXN64eDaXyC97m8TN4xQbtWUnDWM1V8Eggy56jQvyh6a6EQ61mbWdTpVEOaUadzfqF7diOYUca3nbCahqknvglANMCydd C85MbeRgX0WLY3x!hNg/awil2.jpg?dc=4675458798892531455

She growled deeply, as she dodged the shot fired from the rifle, and took off into the night.

As she quickly ran out of the village, she gave a howl of defiance and pride. Hunting made her primal attributes feel so alive, so deadly!

TAG!!! I'll post for real in a bit :D

TAG!!! I'll post for real in a bit :D

OOC: You didn't have to tag this :lol: , Everyone permitted to join is on my list, and you're on it.

Igor walked through the echoing hallways of Schloss von Verfall, his clubbed foot dragging behind, leaving trails in the layer of dust. He turned left, down into stairwell that twisted beneath the castle, into the very bedrock below. The lower he went, the louder the screams of agony became. Igor stumbled down the steps with difficulty and was glad to reach the bottom, and the Doctor's lab.

The screams were at full volume now, set to a background of electrical cracking that arced wildly through the pitches of human hearing. At a podium in front of Igor stood the Doctor himself, facing away from him into the pit at the centre of the room. The Doctor, sensing his presence, spun around and faced Igor. The electical nightmare stopped abruptly, "Why doesn't she die!?" he cried striding across the room to Igor, snatching up a cruelly shaped, insanely sharp implemet from a nearby table, "I fear I may have to operate on this one Igor!"

"It could be difficult mathter, the werewolveth are famouth for their regenerative abilitieth."

The Doctor paused, "Yes, you're right. I shall need my silver equipment. And soon, we can't allow this one to escape and contact the others. Those things are loyal to the pack. What is you wanted?"

"The peasanth in the local village mathter, they have become dethperate. I rethieved word that they are thending out for hunterth. Many hunterth."

"Well, inform my guards and keep me informed of any developments. I'd rather not release any of the creatures but I will if I must. Is that all?"

"Yeth mathter, I shall have your thilver equipment thent down immediately thur."

"Igor!" the Doctor called as Igor made to leave. "Find me another of these creatures if you can. Preferably one with an atom of humanity left in it. We still need to replace Riktor. That is all."

Intro:

Dracula, wasn't alive. And he wasn't dead. In fact, he was neither. He was more than 'Life' and 'Death'. He survived on the blood of others. He uses up blood like fuel. It was fifty years since he was shot in the heart by the masked gunman. It was fifty years since he defied heaven and hell. It was fifty years since he began murdering prostitutes and travelers, for their precious blood. But it seems that he will roam the Earth forever. The nobelman died of illness. He had no relatives, and he certainly had no friends. The clercks and funeral workers who signed his death certificate recieved no money for a buriel, and just had him cremated. So Dracula can never set his heart free since the nobelman's blood no longer remains on Earth, but is locked in hell. The assasin, was hired by the nobelman once again, to kill a new Count, who refused to bribe the nobelman. But his attempt was foiled, and he was hanged. His body was cremated too. Dracula decided to take his revenge out on humanity. Hundreds of innocents fell victim to this demon. He would buy young women on the streets. He'd bring them to an inn, where he would put them through hours of torture before biting their veins, and sucking out their blood. he would feed drugged food to worn out travelers, and feed on their blood. Soon enough, priests and witch hunters began hunting him.
But none of them were succesful. Soon enough, he was unable to prey on victims. Travelers began moving in groups. And wanderers carried cutlasses and pistols. His lack of prey weakened him to a great extent. he had no choice but to flee to a land were he could kill a man in public and not be chased. It was a new nation, which just recovered from a victorious revolution. He took a ship to New York. There he preyed on manyprostitutes and unsuspected travelers. And the locals thought that they died of illness. He soon moved to the countryside. Somewhere in the mountains west of Pennslyvannia. It was a great area to prey on men. Most of the locals, were foolish frontiersmen, who knew nothing about demons. Untill one day, a local priest found out about a demon who roams the frontier...

Dracula, the master of shadow, looked at the dark gloomy mountain paths. Suddenly a torch was seen in front of him.
"Hell demon!" shouted a preist who carried a cross and a wood stake. Beside was a large, portly man, armed with a long barrel musket. He lit th fuse, and fired at the shadow. It had little effect. But, the craving for blood overflowed the shadow. And he fell over, pretending to be wounded. The priest came foward with his stake. "Hell demon, I shall send you back to the pits! The power of the lord compels you!" just as the 70 year old priest was raising the stake, and he grabbed the priest by the neck, and sent the priest to his death. Then, he took the stake, and stuck it into hunter's heart. Then he drained the blood of both victims. And once again, lurked into the shadows...

Siobhan flew on silent wings, her eyes glinting dangerously in the moonlight. Not half a day ago, her life had taken a violent and unexpected turn. Not half a day ago, she had been counted among the elite, an arc angel. Not half a day ago, she'd learned of Michael's treachery. To love a human was forbidden to begin with, but he'd sworn secrecy, lest the hordes of hell strike him down. Not half a day ago, she'd learned of his infidelity.

All these years... He'd been using her for personal gain. Selling their secret to gain allies and warn off enemies, all while building himself an estate in the newly liberated colonies. Not half a day ago, he'd presented her to his allies, proof of his "heavenly protection." He lured her to his side with promises of love. All these years, he'd been using her as no more than a guard dog. When she protested, he struck her hard enough to nearly knock her down. Furious and half mad, she'd attacked and killed him with her own hands.

The other angels, ashamed of her frailty and guilt, forever condemned her to a life of death and betrayal. Her white wings burst into flame, charring them forever black. She would be cursed to the life of a demon. As such, she would be loathed by humans and angels alike. Yet her angelic form caused loathing among the demons as well. She had been cursed from returning to heaven, from sharing the love or embrace of another. She was doomed to take life, and not give.

Over the past few hours, she'd resigned herself to her fate. Yet her fury had not subsided. Humans were to blame for her downfall, and she would not be sated until the very oceans ran red with their blood. Shaking in anger, she landed on the roof of a small tavern. Finding a small hole in the ceiling, she crawled inside to wait in the rafters silently. They would all die by her hand. It was only a matter of time. But for the moment, she would wait in soundless observance.

I am on the list, right? I believe I posted in your other thread, but if not, please ignore this.

OOC: Yes, you're on the list Hattia....and for anyone else wondering if they are as well, go to the signup thread and look at one of my posts on page 3. In it is a list of all the people rping as hunters and monsters. Please just take the time to go look. :)

Ayelith sat amongst his hoard, admiring everything he had managed to collect. A few coins here, a statue or such there, a general mess of everything that could be collected and stolen from the inhabitants of the world. He kept them all in a crack separating two large rocks, a canyon which the demon had managed to make quite a bit wider during his stay there. Entrance and exit were covered by a good deal of vegetation, and it was unlikely for any wanderer to find the place, even if they were, for whatever reason, wandering around in this remote part of the forest.

Picking up the sack he had let fall upon his arrival he pulled open the drawstring and poured out the contents. A good haul this one was, a pearl bracelet fell out, followed by a small gold statue of Mary, and several coins and items of lesser value.
With some care he looped the bracelet over an out jutting stone, and carelessly threw the statue in the 'to melt down' pile. Without any of his alterations active, Ayelith looked much like any human would, slightly taller than average with slightly wild black hair and pale skin. Very few would reconise him as the demon who robbed the governor a few hours ago, when he had wings, fangs, and glowing eyes.

It wasn't as though he needed to keep up any image out here though, out in his home, as far away has he could be from civilisation, surrounded by civilisation's gems.

Ayelith leant back against the walls of his chasm and decided to try for a bit of sleep wile there was still daylight. He would get himself a soul tonight, something tender, he decided.

A strange entity arrived in the small town, reptillian in appearance... He was dressed as was typical of the time, in brown breeches and a white button-down shirt. At his side hung a straight-bladed saber, like those used by the pirates of old. The belt also held a pair of flintlock pistols, a powder horn, and a pouch filled with the nessecary equipment to load such weapons. The figure also carried a musket, slung across his back.

The creatures scales where a green color, his throat red. Fin-ears protruded out of the sides of his scaly head. Slit-pupil eyes reguarded the area. He had come for one purpose: to hunt. The mysterious hunter set off for the local inn, but was swiftly turned away due to his strange looks. This had been common during his travel to the area, dsicrimination had made it very difficult to find transportation. He'd had to kill a few villagers in the last town, preserving himself from harm at the hands of an old-time lynch mob.

The racisum didn't bother him, he did these people a service, although they didn't thank him... His young blood simmered at the thought, but his honor kept him hunting, knowing Makaal would reward him well in the afterlife for his humble service...

OOC: This will be in the same town as WA is in. Err, what is the name again?


Jonathan Able walked into the town's tavern, taking care not to be too conspicious. An earnest try, but a failed one.

It was simply too difficult for the townspeople to keep their eyes off of the leather-clothed man. With a pale complexion that clashed with his dark outfit, Jonathan sat down at the bar, waiting for a server.

A heavy-set man appeared. He gave Jonathan the once over, staring at Joanathans heavy-steel cross, crossbow and long sword strapped to his back.

"Errr, what can I get you?"

"Whatever you have, barkeep."

Jonathan looked around the bar as he waited for his drink. He noticed that the other patrons avoided his eye. He did not mind. He was used to it.

No matter where he went, it was the same. Everyone feared him, for he was a... monster hunter. Sure they respected him, but what use is respect when you can't be loved.

Jonathan grimaced. He had been loved... but that was another time...

"Cristina..."

The barkeep returned with a mug of something dark and frothy. He left without saying a word.

Jonathan didn't reply. He took a drink from his mug, and pondered...

Crouching silently in the rafters, Siobhan shifted her wings and scanned the room with cold amber eyes. The hunter's enterance had not gone unnoticed, yet he was not an immediate threat. She would wait patiently for a suitable target to stumble out of the tavern before making her move.

It was as he had expected, the young Argonian set off into the surrounding forests, to live as he had during his Warrior's Trials... only this time he didn't have a spear, but a fine flintlock musket to hunt with.
The saber was a gift from one of his many masters in Hammerfel, a distant land renouned for its blademasters.

The hunter, named Whiptail, settled into a small clearing for the night, starting a small fire to cook upon. With the fire lit, he stalked a small rabbit for an hour or two, finally killing it with a skillful stone-throw. Whiptail cleaned the rabbit with his hunting knife, a novelty he had purchased in a land known as Kay-Ten-Tah-Tee. He spitted the small creature, then set it to cook over the fire.

Whiptail was careful in his use of ammunition, for the musket balls he used as ammunition where cast from pure silver, imported from the new country of America. The name 'Revere' was set in the side of each.

He recalled the first battle of that war, so long ago... his musket being the first to fire, then he slipped away...

He recalled the first battle of that war, so long ago... his musket being the first to fire, then he slipped away...

OOC: NOW we know who fired the shot heard round the world! lmao!! great job! I love it!

She turned over onto her side, and groaned as the sunlight shone in her face. Shielding her eyes, she slowly sat up, as she looked about the room. The sheets slid down, alerting her to her nakedness.

For the first several times, she had torn and shredded her nightclothes, and without any control over her mutations, she had decided to go to sleep nude on the nights she knew the full moon would be out. She hated the mutation, but it had become a part of her, her second identity, her evilness…

Getting up, she got dressed quietly, and walked downstairs. There, her mother was already cooking up breakfast, the smell of bacon wafting through the air. Immediately Jen felt strong hunger pangs rage throughout her body.

“Good morning mother.”

“Good morning Jen. I just heard from John next door that that creature stalking the area lately has struck again last night. This time, it’s gotten some rogue thief, who died with some articles that belonged to the Jones’s down the way.”

A look of shock came over Jen’s face; despite that she knew that she herself had obviously done it. Her conscience still held her humanity and morals, but as her secondary self, this was suppressed to a point of no effect, as well as any human awareness of her beastly actions.

“That’s horrible!!”

Even after all this time, she still was shocked at her own brutality that existed within herself. It almost made her gag at times.

“Yes, it is. Folks are getting fed up with this beast, and now have sent for hunters from all over to come and take care of the beast once and for all. There’s a good reward out there too.”

Fear crept into Jen’s mind at this. If only her mother knew…

Three months ago...

"Brother Hans." One of the warrior knights nodded as Hans passed.

The Inquisitor smiled. "Yes, Bruno?"

"What is the trouble?"

"I am being sent to the English rebel colonies. There has been reports of a demon there."

"Ach. What do we care? Protestant scum, the lot of them."

Now

Lightning flashed as Hans entered the inn. He snorted distastefully. His cape hung soaking wet along his back, and his silver custom-made pistol looked as if it was going to tarnish. He kept his sword hidden. "Greetings, townsfolk. I am a traveller from a distant land, here to search for trade contacts."

His voice had a lilting, musical tone to it, marking him clearly as a Roanian. But these fools had probably never heard of the island of Novar Ohan, so he worried not.

The attendant behind the counter spoke up:

"Welcome! You must be tired. Would you like to stay the night? We offer the finest rooms in town!"

And as a whisper, he spoke:

"Now for those trade contacts you seek, do you have any in mind, for I know the area quite well, and will be able to direct you to the trustworthy traders."

He recalled the first battle of that war, so long ago... his musket being the first to fire, then he slipped away...

OOC: NOW we know who fired the shot heard round the world! lmao!! great job! I love it!

OOC: I congrajulate you on your perceptive skills. It brings me a feeling of satisfaction when someone catches one of my hints.

Perhaps someone else will catch my other hint on American history, concerning Whiptail's knife...

IC:

The hare was by no means filling, there was little enough meat for a pot full, much less a stomach full. With something in his belly, Whiptail was able to drift off to sleep, he would take up the hunt tomorrow...

Hans nodded. "Yes, thank you. That would be most appreciated." He leaned closer, conspiratorily. "I heard, however, that there have been strange murders... I would like to know of them before I decide whether this town is worth my efforts. You know how it is..."

He reached into his pocket, and put a solid gold piece on the bar table.

Jonathan downed the rest of his drink and left a fistfull of coins on the table.

He exited wordlessly, feeling the stares on his back as he left.

Feeling tired, Jonathan entered the inn. There was another man in front of him...

He would wait. After all, patience was a virtue Jonathan followed.

OOC: By the way, my suspect is the Death Angel.

Though, should the Inquisitor meet any of the other monsters he'll try to kill them.

And Whiptail, for that matter.

OOC: If you think a mere human is able to do so, you are welcome to try. :D

Jonathan downed the rest of his drink and left a fistfull of coins on the table.

He exited wordlessly, feeling the stares on his back as he left.

Feeling tired, Jonathan entered the inn. There was another man in front of him...

He would wait. After all, patience was a virtue Jonathan followed.

Hans turned around, slowly. "Ja, and you are? I have business here, important business. I am sorry, you see. But me and the attendant will have a talk for a while... unless... yes, I see. You look to be a well set up man, perhaps you will know of trade contacts here, and be able to dismiss my fears about the murders." He gestured to the open door, his cape framing his movements precisely. "I will make it worth your while."

As the man in front of him turned to address the newcomer, the attendant slipped his hand over the gold coin, a coin with a strange emblem on it. He couldn't place the source of the coin, but nevertheless, it was gold, and lately gold had been scarce in the states. And this piece was quite large. It would be more than enough to pay for a room, and information.

"Sir, let me take care of this gentleman, then you and I shall talk."

The attendant pulled out his registrations book, and opened it up halfway, pulled out a feather and an ink well and placed it next to the book. Toward the second man he spoke:

"I assume you're here for a room tonight. If you will just sign your name here, pay for your room, you'll be that much faster to your rest."

EDIT: IC:
The man looked up at the attendant, and nodded, as he pulled out some currency and slapped it onto the counter. His face didn't hide the tired look he had. After signing the book, the attendant showed him upstairs to his room, and returned back downstairs to the other visitor.

"Now...where were we?"

OOC: Valient, hope you don't mind what I did with your character, but if you had only waited 5 more minutes earlier, you would have been able to do this on your own, cuz Roania had gotten online right after you left... If you don't like this, then I'll owe you one...

She had waited no more than perhaps twenty or thirty minutes longer, when a perfect target presented itself. A man seated at one of the corner tables donned his hat and placed a few coins before his friends before bidding a slurred farewell.

Smiling darkly, Siobhan crawled back out of the hole she'd found earlier and crouched on the eaves to await her quarry. The man stumbled outside, and had an easier time with his balance as the chill in the night air sobered him a bit. He was in his late twenties perhaps, though it made little difference. She allowed him to cross the street and get as far as thirty paces before beginning her hunt. She lept into the air, snapping her wings open to catch the breeze. With a feral growl, she dove on the unsuspecting man and lifted him by the shoulders, hooking her talons into the flesh below his collarbone. His screams of pain and surprise only increased her blood-lust and intensified the sadistic pleasure she would recieve from his death.

Dipping her wings, she circled at the end of the street and started to ascend, when he somehow retrieved a small dagger from his belt and slashed at her arm. With a hiss of pain, she dropped him and wheeled around to land in the alley in front of him. He'd taken a bit of a fall, but tried valiently to stand and finally made it up. With a fury unrivaled, she slashed at him, raking her talons across his face and chest. Now unable to fight back, she made short work of him. She left what was left of him there, and took to flight once more, trembling with an exhilarating rush. Circling over the town once more, she cried out her victory with a shreik that would rival any banshee.

At the edge of the small town, she alighted on a darkened rooftop to collect herself. The knife had grazed the outside of her lower right arm, but had been at too awkward an angle to do much damage. She would wait here until dawn. If another opportunity arose, she would take it. If not, she would find someplace dark to spend the day.

A piercing shriek awoke Whiptail, who swifty drew a pistol...

'Damned owls...'

[i]Whiptail returned to the land of sleep, putting the pistol back into his belt...

OOC: If any of you have seen the movie 'My Cousin Vinnie', you'd understand Whiptail's comment.

Ayelith walked the shadows, perfectly blending into the darkness of the building's walls. Every now and then he would come across a street lamp, but those rarely caused him trouble, they weren't bright enough to illuminate the edges where he moved.
Large houses of the rich rose up around him, it was here he hoped to find his meal, something tender as he had promised himself earlier.
The soft sound of a piano playing drew his attention. Invisibly he drifted upwards, unfurling demonic wings, eyes glowing a sickly green in his excitement.

Silently he landed upon the windowsill, where inside he could see an old, motherly figure sitting at the piano. Sitting on the floor there were two young children, and on an expensive chair sat a young lady of about sixteen. This was looking to be a grand feast.

With great care he began fitting his crossbow with a quarrel and pumped it once into a firing position. With a twitch of his finger it flew out, and the older lady ceased at her music abruptly.

Complete silence filled the room as the body slowly fell over, the flowery dress which she had worn began to turn red, as did the carpet beneath her. Ayelith glanced at the girl, the horrified look on her face caused him to smile. Her shrill scream rang out. He moved in for the feast.

As the man in front of him turned to address the newcomer, the attendant slipped his hand over the gold coin, a coin with a strange emblem on it. He couldn't place the source of the coin, but nevertheless, it was gold, and lately gold had been scarce in the states. And this piece was quite large. It would be more than enough to pay for a room, and information.

"Sir, let me take care of this gentleman, then you and I shall talk."

The attendant pulled out his registrations book, and opened it up halfway, pulled out a feather and an ink well and placed it next to the book. Toward the second man he spoke:

"I assume you're here for a room tonight. If you will just sign your name here, pay for your room, you'll be that much faster to your rest."

EDIT: IC:
The man looked up at the attendant, and nodded, as he pulled out some currency and slapped it onto the counter. His face didn't hide the tired look he had. After signing the book, the attendant showed him upstairs to his room, and returned back downstairs to the other visitor.

"Now...where were we?"

OOC: Valient, hope you don't mind what I did with your character, but if you had only waited 5 more minutes earlier, you would have been able to do this on your own, cuz Roania had gotten online right after you left... If you don't like this, then I'll owe you one...


OOC: It's cool. This will help the story flow further, I think :D Remember, I give at least you semi-free rein with my characters. Just don't get him killed.

IC:

Jonathan nodded at inkeep, and took the pen and signed in. He spoke to Hans as he wrote in tight cursive.

"I will be upstairs in Room 6. I will be more than happy to discuss anything that is on your mind, including these... murders, then. But for now, I must rest.

"Send for me, or come up when you are free. Please hurry though. Time is always of the essence when it comes our line of work, n'est pas?"

Jonathan looked at Hans and nodded, and then went up and sat down on his bed... and thought.

IC:
The man looked up at the attendant, and nodded, as he pulled out some currency and slapped it onto the counter. His face didn't hide the tired look he had. After signing the book, the attendant showed him upstairs to his room, and returned back downstairs to the other visitor.

"Now...where were we?"

Hans smiled, benevolently. "We were about to go outside, and you were about to tell me everything you know... weren't you?" He finished, taking a slightly menacing tone of voice. He clapped a hand to the man's shoulder, taking him towards the door. "There will be rewards for the truth..."

"Ah...I'll tell you what I know, but it will not be cheap. A man's gotta make a living ya know? But before we do that, let me do something first."

The attendant walked back to behind the counter, and reached below, and pulled out a "Will Return Shortly" sign and a pistol, which he hid discreetly from the attention of the man. The man did not notice this. The attendant was getting a bad feeling about him, and he wasn't going to be caught unprotected.

Setting the sign upon the counter, he walked back around and toward the man, and spoke:

"All set now. Let us go."

OOC: To all RPers in this thread, I also sometimes post as Dougalich...Don't be confused... :lol:

The Inquisitor firmly guided the attendant to a stand of trees. "Now, my friend... tell me everything about these murders..." He smiled, in a friendly manner. At the same time, his hand began to creep for his own custom weapon.

The attendant looked into the stranger's eyes, then glanced around for anyone that might be watching them. He also was searching for any signs of the rumored beasts that had been terrorizing the area recently.

"Well, these murders....they're not the typical murders. Witnesses of the bodies have described horrid details of bodies literally torn apart, eaten through. They've started up a few months ago, and seem to keep a random pattern to their kills. Some say its a wolf, some say its a bear, and yet some say its some of those psycho Indians that live west of us. I don't know who or what it is doing this, but I do know that my information is reliable. In fact...it may not have been wise of us to be out here in the open so.....exposed..."

He looked at the stranger, whose face was slightly surprised at the information given. The man looked at the stranger some more, before a question formed in his mind, and was spoken:

"Are you one of the hunters that has responded to the calls for outside help?"

Caught by the icy tendrils of boredom, she took to the air once more and circled restlessly. The superficial cut on her arm had stopped bleeding, and now burned in the chill air. She longed to do something...to engage her predatory drive, anything to occupy her mind. It had been wandering back to her transformation, and brought with it all the too-fresh wounds and their pain. Her talons scrabbled breifly on the roof of an inn as she landed in a feral crouch with all the grace of a feline.

From here she could see the enterance to the tavern, and that portal would yield her next victem.

Hans smiled, evilly, and threw his cape aside. His leather and metal armor glinted in the sun, his rapier and pistol hanging by his side. "I am Inquisitor Hans, of the Holy Roanian Inquisition. Sent here by Cardinal Von Pelier to put an end to them."

He put his hand on the man's shoulder. "And be it wolf, or Satan himself, I will not rest until it is dead." Holy energy seemed to come from him, restoring the confidence of all living things.

And acting as a warning to all undead within 50 miles. The Inquisition has come, creatures of the night.

Caught by the icy tendrils of boredom, she took to the air once more and circled restlessly. The superficial cut on her arm had stopped bleeding, and now burned in the chill air. She longed to do something...to engage her predatory drive, anything to occupy her mind. It had been wandering back to her transformation, and brought with it all the too-fresh wounds and their pain. Her talons scrabbled breifly on the roof of an inn as she landed in a feral crouch with all the grace of a feline.

From here she could see the enterance to the tavern, and that portal would yield her next victem.

Jonathan sighed... no matter how hard he tried, sleep did not claim him. He sat up and rubbed his forehead. A trail of grime was left on his pale skin.

With a grimace, he got up to the wash basin and rinsed his face. Looking at himself in the mirror, he half-grinned.

"Is this the face a girl like Cristina could love? Get over her..." Jonathan told himself.

Suddenly he heard a scratching on the roof above. It was brief, but clear...

Jonathan eased towards his crossbow...

The attendant looked back at the man, a stunned look upon his face. The famed Inquisition...here...in the States...

Something big has brought this man from halfway around the world...

He looked back up at the man, his armor reflecting the light of the lights in the windows of the buildings nearby. Finally words came to his mouth.

"The...the...Inquisition?! Many tales have been told of them, and yet they seem to be myths. Tales of holy wars against vampires and the likes...which can only mean one thing...your superiors believe that an evil force is abundant here.........most interesting. If you need of any equipment, I shall be glad to help you with what I can, though I do not think you will need much, considering what you have already with you..."

It was late in the afternoon, the sun was shining, the village quiet. People scurried about, as they made their way to their destinations. A sense of fear hung in the air, threatening to grasp the very throats of anyone and take their life. Jen walked with a basket hung upon her arm, the sun radiating her beauty. A few of the young men stopped what they were doing and watched as the young woman passed by. They elbowed each other and whispered among themselves. Jen paid no mind; they were foolish if they did not even have the guts to introduce themselves. Walking into the blacksmith shop, she waited until her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Once she adjusted she looked about, searching for the burly man, John.

“Excuse me John? It’s me Jen, I’m here on matters of business.”

“Jen, my dear! It is good to see you again. How are your mother and brother?”

“She is fine, as is Sam. Mother asked for me to give this to you.”

She held out a basket, filled with food within. Her mother’s cooking skills were well known throughout the village, and many came to her seeking culinary skills and advice. Often, as a measure of her gratitude for John's friendship and assistance to their family, Mother sent food and sometimes clothing for John.

“Ah your mother is a kind soul. Please give her my gratitude.” John replied, as he took the basket and set it down. “Now, what can I do for you?”

“I’m here to inform you that our horse has gotten its shoe maligned again. When would be a good time to bring him in?”

“Well, let’s see here…I’ve got a job with the Kramer’s tomorrow morning, but my afternoon will be open. Why don’t you bring him in then?”

“Good. Then it is settled.” Jen replied, a smile upon her face. She leaned closer and quickly kissed John on the cheek, and stepped back, before turning and heading back to the house. Along the way, a dog trotted up to her, and she knelt down, and began to pet it. However, the dog sensed something about her, and growled at her. Surprised, she stood and slowly walked backwards until she was safely away.

She puzzled over the encounter silently,

That is most peculiar…that dog has sensed my secret…

Turning into the house, she heard Sam in the other room, with their mother, as he told her of a small game hunt he had done earlier in the afternoon. Her mother lovingly listened as her son continued animatedly of the details. She replied with the occasional “Uh huh.”, “Really?”, “Is that so?”

“I’m back mother, John will shoe the horse tomorrow afternoon.” Jen spoke, after waiting patiently for Sam to finish his story.

“That’s good dear. Do me a favor and set the table will you? Supper will be ready soon.”

Jen complied and went into the kitchen, and began to pull out the silverware and plates. Suddenly a knife slipped and sliced a wound upon her hand. Placing the remaining things upon the table, Jen cursed loudly as her hand stung from the wound. The blood….so enticing… She reluctantly took her mind off the blood, and wrapped it in an old but clean rag, and continued to finish setting the table.

Later that night, when all had gone to sleep, Jen awoke quickly, as fear flooded her mind. Something….no…someone was coming…Someone…holy… Another thought forced its way into her mind: A hunter of proud lineage hunts…

Troubled with these thoughts, she lay in the bed, worrying about her own safety. The beast inside her raged to be set free, but it would not be allowed to do so until the next full moon…

(And now we jump forward into the current timeline)

Around an hour later, Whiptail awoke and gathered his tools. Fully armed, he flitted into the small town like smoke in a summer's breeze, disappearing into the blackness... He appeared again atop a dwelling, surveying the town.

His slit-pupils widened, gathering light to see by. His keen hearing listened for growls or distant screams, anything that might lead him to his quarry. Whiptail's espcially keen sense of smell gathered all sorts of information for him, namely the location of a local pub, butcher shop, and bakery...

The attendant looked back at the man, a stunned look upon his face. The famed Inquisition...here...in the States...

Something big has brought this man from halfway around the world...

He looked back up at the man, his armor reflecting the light of the lights in the windows of the buildings nearby. Finally words came to his mouth.

"The...the...Inquisition?! Many tales have been told of them, and yet they seem to be myths. Tales of holy wars against vampires and the likes...which can only mean one thing...your superiors believe that an evil force is abundant here.........most interesting. If you need of any equipment, I shall be glad to help you with what I can, though I do not think you will need much, considering what you have already with you..."

Hans moved faster than any eye could see. His pistol rammed into the man's forehead, cape flying behind him. Hans said, bored, "Information. Murders. You tell. Or I shoot you." English twit. His lack of concern made it clear that the attendant could do nothing to stop him if the Inquisitor wanted him dead. "I have already risked much revealing myself. And stop fondling that pistol."

tag

The man's eyes widened as the Inquisitor roughly pressed his gun into his forehead.

"I...I told you all I know...I only catch the bits that I can from the folk around here. People are so damn scared they don't want to talk...And that's the truth, I swear!!"

His hand moved away from the pistol, no longer with the possibility of surprise. Sweat formed on his forehead as he stared fearfully at this rash figure.

Hans smiled beatifically. "Very well. Then tell me the name of someone who has been acting suspiciously."

The attendant blinked several times, before he spoke:

"I do not know of any particular person acting out of line, but I do know that in the next town over, there have been people found dead, brutally murdered by some creature or one very sick individual. And if you don't mind, would you kindly relax your aggression? I am not the enemy here."

((OOC: Sorry for the lag..I've been at Mardi Gras))

Siobhan stiffened instantly, hearing noise in the rooms below her. Moving carefully, she crept along the eaves and peered carefully over the edge. Perhaps her next target was closer than she thought...

"Very well." Hans slid his pistol back into his holster. He drew the cape back around him. "Than I shall go... wait."

He looked around. "something is here. Be on your guard."

Fearfully, the attendant turned about, searching the shadows around them. He finally drew the pistol, and aimed it toward wherever he looked. He stepped away from the Inquisitor, out from under the cover of the trees. He failed to notice the figure upon the rooftop of his inn, as he expected the threat to be ground-level.

"What do you think it is?" he asked of the man, his eyes still darting about.

Originally, she had only been interested in whomever occupied the room below her, however motion in her peripheral vision commanded her attention. Two men stood near the darkened treeline, one of which seemed nervous and held a small pistol before him. The other stood still, with a cape half-drawn about his form. Strangely, she was more intreguied by the cloaked man's stalwart stance then by the other man's blatant fear. Curious, she crept forward, mindful to keep a low profile and stay out of sight as much as possible.

Jonathan held his crossbow close, and peered out the window. Outside he spied the Roanian and the inn-keeper. He saw them looking around and knew that they had spied whoever was on the roof.

Jonathan opened up the window and signelled to the men. He pointed upwards and flashed a hand upwards.

A shadow came over the sill. Without warning, Jonathan blind-fired his crossbow upwards.

Tagged for future reading...

Good work!!!

The arrow tore up past the edge of the roof, precisely where she had crouched only moments prior. Known for boundless patience in her former days of glory, her raw anger at this attack was a marked transformation to her new form. With a furious feral growl, she lept off the roof and wheeled back on the open window. Hoping to take advantage of the time it would take to reload, she dove into the room and attempted to knock the weapon away as she reached for the man's neck.

"It's inside!" Hans turned and faced the window, and clasped his hands in prayer. "In the name of Lord Jehova, and his son... Ye, though I walk in the shadow of the valley of the dead, I shall know no fear..." his words went into latin, and then faded back into english. "Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts!"

He opened his eyes, and pointed a hand at the darkness. Bolt of the Archangel! And something leapt from his outstretched hand, and towards the evil presence.

Jonathan knew that what he did was a mistake...

When did he know? When the demon came crashing through the window. However, it was more than a demon... it was a death angel.

The fierce claws slashed at Jonathan, attempting to seperate man and crossbow, or, man and life. However, Jonathan valued both far too much.

Which one, he did not know...

With his own growl, Jonathan threw the crossbow at the demon. It bounced harmlessly off of her head.

Jonathan looked up and sighed. He then turned and rushed the death-angel, pushing them both out of the second-story window...

She had not expected so quick a response. The man grabbed her shoulders and together they fell from the open window. On her back, she snapped open her wings, but they were of little use from this position. She tried to roll, but her wings gave her no leverage. Mid-fall, she was struck with an energy she knew all too well. However she was not a true demon, neither was she a true angel any longer, so the bolt was little more than slight pain. It was enough to prove a bit more than irritating, and she hit the ground still tingling from its effect.

"How dare you..." she seethed, though it was uncertain which hunter she had addressed.

The inn-keeper watched as the two fell from the window and plummet to the ground. The ground shook upon their impact, yet both were still alive. He ran over to the death-angel, and held his pistol out at the beast.

"Don't move!" he cried as his hand shakily held the gun at the death-angel.

What am I doing??!! I'm just a mere inn-keeper!......(his mind raced to provide an explanation)..........proving to myself that I can do this.......yes, I can defeat this creature!

The inn-keeper hoped to God that his plan worked, or he would simply be another dead tally on her wall...

He watched as the death-angel stopped fighting, and looked up at him with a sneer upon her face. The hunter got up off the beast quickly, and stepped back a few feet.

The inn-keeper turned to see where the other hunter had gone, who was still behind him, but oddly not doing anything.

"Well?? Come on man! Do your job here!" he said to the Inquisitor.

Turning his head was perhaps the biggest mistake he could have ever have done...

She'd been laughing silently to herself at the inn-keep's threat, while a thin trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth. The struggle had been exhilerating, and something about staring over the shaft of his pistol was strangely exciting. However there were too many here...

The moment he looked back, she back-handed the pistol to knock it away. Using the momentum, she swung up to her feet, wincing at the painful protest from her back. She lept on the inn-keep, fangs and talons bared, but with two hunters so near thought better of it and took flight on sore but silent wings.

A scream issued from the innkeeper as he helplessly was taken to flight. He attempted to scratch and punch the beast, but he couldn't do so effectively, for she was behind him, and holding him tightly.

He desperately wished he had kept a tighter grip upon his pistol...

He cried out to the hunters below, who stood there, and watched as he was taken away.

"Help me! Help!!!"

Her talons dug deep into his flesh, gripping him by his collarbones, holding tightly. Blood poured from the wounds, pain shot all across his body. His mind was beginning to become dizzy and unfocused. He cried out meekly:

"Help.........."

Jonathan looked on helplessly as the innkeeper was stolen away. He had no way of taking down the demon: his crossbow laid worthless in his room above.

Jonathan looked at the Inquisitor. "Do something!!! Shoot it down with that vaunted magic of yours."

The Inquisitor whispered something. In the name of the Lord God... FLIGHT OF ANGELS! His cape spread out behind him, becoming two red wings. Hans rose into the sky, sword drawn. "Stand and face me, foul servant of the nameless one!"

His mind closed off to all external distractions, and he began to recite in Hebrew. "Ye-hi razon milfanecha, adonai..." his prayer finished, and a massive holy light shone from around him, and then was sent flying towards the woman.

Then he closed his eyes, and began to recite something that was neither good nor evil, but quintessentially Roanian. "Powers of the dark between the stars, and of the stars. Powers of the midnight and of the noontide. In all things, there must be balance. In all things, order must be protected. In the name of those whom I serve, I call upon you, primeival force of order. Destroy the servant of chaos." His eyes shot open, and his eyes glowed gray. TAROT RUSH!

(OOC: I assumed this was some sort of energy move? Sorry if I misinterpreted your action..)

Taken by a sudden and unexplainable pain, she dropped the inn-keep and grabbed her head. Her body arched and writhed with the unnamed agony, and she found herself falling once more.

"Who the h-hell are you?" she stammered through gritted teeth.

Shards of her former self became evident in her pain-choked voice, and the purity mixed with pain made her more heart-sore than any physical wound ever could. Falling, she crashed through the trees, and the branches somewhat broke her fall before snapping in her wake. Though the impact was lessened, she hit the ground with a bone-jarring force and lay motionless on her side for several moments before rousing the strength to crawl-drag herself towards a welcome cover of brush.

Jonathan looked on in horror as the innkeep fell from the sky, let go from the clutches from the demon.

He ran back to hi s room in the inn, ignoring the Inqusitor in the sky. He knew that he could do nothing to help him. However, he could see if he could find the inkeep, see if he was ok...

Running out of the building, Jonathan reloaded his crossbow and made his way into the forest, where the inkeep fell.

He made his way further and further into the underbrush. The sunlight became less and less noticible. Soon shadows grew from all sorts of trees and outcropping.

Suddenly, Jonathan saw a shadow streak by... he whipped around, but nothing was there.

Jonathan clutched his crossbow closer.

(Valient, it’s nighttime, and it’s also a rainy/cloudy night)

Branches snapped and gave way as the innkeeper plummeted to the ground. He screamed until he hit the ground. His body slammed into the ground, knocking the air out of his lungs. His leg burned in agony as his femur bone jaggedly protruded from his skin and clothing, blood seeping everywhere. His one wrist was also broken, he could feel that, for it hurt to move it. It hurt to move his entire body in fact. Clutching his chest, he struggled to breathe. Suddenly a low growl was heard. The innkeeper froze, still trying to catch his breath. His eyes darted about searching the woods around him fearfully.

A shadow passed behind him, rustling some of the leaves in the bushes. He turned about, fear now building up in his mind. He thought of the death-angel who had dropped him from their height. He mind struggled to think of something to use against this beast, believing that it was she who was now hunting him.

Hunting……..

A shiver ran up his spine. He could swear he could see eyes watching him, waiting. Hungry eyes. Suddenly, before him, hidden partly in the bushes, he saw the eyes. He let out a gasp, and attempted to crawl backwards, but the intense pain from his body halted him. He was helpless, and defenseless…

His eyes widened as the shape began to form from the shadows…
_____________________________
Hunger raged within her, as she intently watched her prey try to scramble away. But it was hurt, the stench of blood saturated the air.

Her nostrils twitched slightly, taking in the intoxicating scent. Her teeth bared as she stepped slowly into the small clearing, saliva dripping slightly from her mouth.

A low growl emanated from her as her breath filtered out hotly, and quickly dissipating in the night air.
She pounced, and quickly dug her fangs into the man’s throat, instantly crushing his esophagus. He couldn’t and didn’t let out a final cry of pain. His arms briefly struggled, but quickly halted as the man passed unconsciously into death.

She continued to feed off him, ripping parts of his face and torso out, and swallowing them. So hungry was she that she failed to see the approach of the hunter from the side…

(OOC: I assumed this was some sort of energy move? Sorry if I misinterpreted your action..)

Taken by a sudden and unexplainable pain, she dropped the inn-keep and grabbed her head. Her body arched and writhed with the unnamed agony, and she found herself falling once more.

"Who the h-hell are you?" she stammered through gritted teeth.

Shards of her former self became evident in her pain-choked voice, and the purity mixed with pain made her more heart-sore than any physical wound ever could. Falling, she crashed through the trees, and the branches somewhat broke her fall before snapping in her wake. Though the impact was lessened, she hit the ground with a bone-jarring force and lay motionless on her side for several moments before rousing the strength to crawl-drag herself towards a welcome cover of brush.

"Who am I?" Hans asked the air. "I, am Inquisitor Hans of the Holy Roanian Inquisition. You, are a demon loose on this planet. It is my holy duty to kill you."

He began to walk forward. "Submit yourself to the Lord's justice, creature."

OOC:
Again with Miss Cleo's football play, Roania? :lol:

IC:

Whiptail watched and waited, his musket barrel tracing the movements of the flying creature during its flight, but not quickly enough to actually get off a shot, one that would hit anyway...

From his perch upon the roof, he observed the tactics of the other hunters...

The Roanian, arrogant in his ability and rank...
The crossbowman, cautious in his movements...

He knew they would hunt him as well, most likely due to his strange looks, similar to some sort of lizard-man from the nightmares of young children...

OOC: Whiptail applied for board at the inn, so the inn keep should have remembered a six-foot tall lizard-man in his establishment. A suggestion to allow me to become more of a vital component in this RP, I feared it had died...

Jonathan heard a low growl, and then... nothingness.

He turned his head. That sound... could it be...

he ran towards a clump of bushes, crossbow drawn in front of him.

And he ame upon him and her. Him being the inn-keeper, or what remained of the inn-keep. And her being... a werewolf.

Jonathan raised his crossbow and aimed for her head.

"Get off of him. NOW!"

Struggling forward, she crawled on her forearms deeper into the brush. She needed to escape and heal before attempting another confrontation.

Suddenly, the Inquisitor lunged again. "Righteous ways of one who is gone, saintly ways of those from before... show me... the truth."

He looked forward, staring deeply into the heart and past of his current adversary. All of a sudden, he gave a howl. "ABOMINATION!" He called out, towards the dark angel. "Traitor to the light, submit to redemption!"

"I was no traitor," she hissed brokenly. "I was betrayed! Betrayed by my own bretheren. My own kin!"

She crawled further from her aggressor, seeking a thicket or some other thick bramble in which to hide.

"You speak of redemption...you know nothing of it."

Hans rolled his eyes. "Step forward, and submit, and you will be released."

He began to press forward, drawing his sword. "The souls of those you have slain cry out for vengeance!"

A challenging voice shattered the silence of the forest around her as she fed upon the man. She froze temporarily before snapping her body around to the other side of the corpse. She uttered a deep growl from the pits of her throat as she viewed crossbow aimed at her. She growled even deeper this time, greatly baring her fangs to the intruder.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TwAAACAZ9Ahn6sME9y7WTs4GfY0Rb88rT5*rsM6vlUa9a!SwzpbQwrI3cXfZZYJ7BQBPc!7gKtJctZpw0w7qXjchiUMnaFklG0n Y785kS6pe1NyNLn3CWw/badmoon1.jpg?dc=4675458798900214674

Suddenly an arrow traced it way through the air and plunged into her left
shoulder, embedding deeply into her shoulder. She howled a beastly roar as pain flooded her mind.

Deciding that she had had enough to eat, she quickly turned and leapt into the bushes, running on all fours away from the bloody clearing. Faint traces of blood dripped along her path, as she ran. Soon however, the trail ended, but not that far from the nearest village. She ran quickly, enduring the pain until she entered a clearing. With her teeth she finally reached downward to rip the shot off, and ripped it out, dropping the bloodied arrow to the ground. She fell upon the ground, and quickly passed out. The moon became covered in heavy clouds, and so, her were body transformed back into that of a young woman.

OOC: I feel obligated to inform all of you about my restarted 'The Great Hunt' thread, similiar in concept to this one, but predating it by several months. Instead of hunting creatures of mythology, it concerns the formation of a hunters' guild, and the begin of a vampiric genocide of sorts. It failed horribly last time because of flat vampire characters and inexpeirenced RP'ers. All of you are invited to join.

IC:

As darkness fell, Whiptail left his rooftop perch, taking to the bushes in search of dinner...

Jonathan followed the trail of blood. Not too hard, considering the amount of underbrush bent and broken by the headlong rush of the were.

He raised his newly reloaded crossbow as he neared a clearing. He could smell the fresh blood... it must have been near.

He stepped in, and stopped. It was no longer a were... it was...

It was... a she?

Jonathan put down his crossbow and went over to the prostrate woman, no longer a werewolf. He noticed that she had ripped out his arrow, but had torn her shoulder in the process.

He turned her over, and brushed away the dirt from her face. Thats when he noticed that she was naked. He blushed and took off his coat, placing it over her. She looked quite young.

"Excuse me?"

Jonathan looked up and saw a man standing in front of him.

"Please come with me. Bring the girl."

The man walked off towards what looked to be a nearby village. Picking up the girl, Jonathan followed.

He noticed that she was around Cristina's age... He looked down and sighed. He kept walking.

Jen stirred as she awoke slowly as the early morning sunlight warmed upon her face. Her eyes opened slightly. Suddenly she shot up, panic in her face. She winced as her wounded shoulder burned in pain upon her. She felt a cool breeze caress her skin and she looked down and noticed that she was nude again. There was something else as well...this was not her bed, her bedroom... She last remembered running through the forest and coming upon a clearing where she had ripped out the arrow before collapsing and falling unconscious.

Her wounded shoulder raged at her, as if it had been waiting for her to realize what had happened.

Instinctively, she pulled the sheets up around her, covering her bare breasts, as she got out of the bed quietly. She pushed aside the curtain on the window and looked out, trying to identify where she was. She immediately recognized the street below her. She was in the housing above a blacksmith shop...one she knew very well.

"Oh no..." she whispered, as panic began to come into her voice, "I've got to get out of here!"

She tried to budge the window but it would not open any more than it was. That was the only way out of the bedroom, besides the door. And she did not want to go downstairs. John was down there, most likely in his shop. She tried to listen to hear the metalworking being done, but couldn't hear it. Which meant one of two things: John was either being quiet while working, or he was not working...and somewhere in the home...

As Jen frantically tried to think of something, her mind caught hold of another memory. She froze, as a deep chill went through her, causing her to quiver greatly for a few moments.

"The hunter..." she barely whispered.

Where was he? Had he found her? Or did John find her? The grip on the sheets loosened up slightly, and the sheets shifted to reveal her bare backside and butt. She did not notice, for her mind now clenched her in fear.

She thought:

<<I hope it was John that found me, or I'm dead. The people will kill me...>>

Jonathan's head lolled to one side... closer, and closer... until it banged against the wall beside him.

He sat straight up, and put a hand to his head. He looked arounds and realized where he was: the village. He had.. found the were, but she wasn't a were anymore. She was just a... girl.

"I see you're up. Good."

Jonathan stood up and turned to where the voice was coming from. By the door stood a man.

"My name is John," the man said. "Don't worry, you are safe."

"My name... is Jonathan. Where is the girl that I brought with me... I need to see her again."

(OOC: This is 5CN. I'm bored and I think I join this RP (finally), if ya'll don't mind...)

OOC:
5CN, you told me that you were originally going to pull out, so, I gave your position to Raveyln Shentavo. I need to ask her if she plans on actually posting... Let me talk to her, as well as TG some of the others who signed up but aren't rping, and see what's going on. I might just end up cutting those people out of the thread, so, for all you that are reading this and have signed up, get your posts on here! You have been warned!

OOC:
5CN, you told me that you were originally going to pull out, so, I gave your position to Raveyln Shentavo. I need to ask her if she plans on actually posting... Let me talk to her, as well as TG some of the others who signed up but aren't rping, and see what's going on. I might just end up cutting those people out of the thread, so, for all you that are reading this and have signed up, get your posts on here! You have been warned!

:roll: :lol: ...

John eyed the stranger suspiciously for a moment.

"I will take you to her, but first, I must ask that you relieve your crossbow to me right now, as well as any other weapons you hold upon yourself. This girl I care greatly about, and I will not have you harm her."

Jonathan looked up at the burly man, whose body filled the doorway. John looked down at the hunter, holding his large hand out, expecting to be obeyed.

Jonathan complied, and began to reveal his weapons, starting with the crossbow. A few minutes later, John led the man down the hallway until he stopped in front of a door. Beckoning that the man should be quiet, John opened the door and called out quietly.

"Jen, are you awake?"
____________________________________________

John's rough voice was heard softly, causing Jen to wheel about staring at the doorway, fear in her eyes. With a shaky voice, she replied,

"Yes, I am...but John...before you come in, would you mind telling me where some clothing may be? I am not dressed."

"On top of the dresser, I put some there for you."

Jen spied the women's clothing and made her way over to the dresser. Dropping the sheets, she stood there, the sunlight glistening off her healthy skin, except for where her wound was. She quickly pulled the clothes over her body, and tied the various parts as necessary..

"Ok, you may enter now."

John opened the door the rest of the way. At first, Jen did not see him. Jonathan stepped out from behind John's large frame. Jen's eyes widened in fear when she saw him. Thoughts raced through her mind:

Nooooo.....he's going to kill me! I've got to get away!

Suddenly with a shriek, she leapt forward, her hands outstretched, reaching for the hunter's throat. Gripping him she shook violently as her grip tightened.

"I'll kill you before you kill me, you a**hole!"

Suddenly, John's strong hands came out of nowhere and pried her fingers from the hunter's neck, and swept her off her feet away from him. Jen shrieked again, as she lunged forward, trying to slash at the hunter with her hands. One of her hands raked across Jonathan's face, causing streaks of his blood to stream from the wounds. Jen was yanked farther back, and the hunter stepped back, holding his throat and staring wildly at Jen.

"JEN! Calm yourself! He's not going to hurt you! He is unarmed!" John commanded, retaining his powerful grip upon her body as she thrashed about.

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Jen had stopped flailing around, and instead slumped to the floor, hiding her face with her tunic. Jonathan stood stock still, not because of her violent outburst, but at how much she... resembled Cristina.

He shook his head, and looked at her again. She turned her head and avoided his gaze. Jonathan sighed, and then turned to John.

"I'll be downstairs," said John, "If either of you need anything, just call..."

When the door closed, Jonathan kneeled on the floor, bringing himself down to her level. He reached out with a hand, but slowly withdrew it.

"I... my... I'm sorry I had to shoot you... it... I..."

The hunter stopped talking. He didn't know what to really say...

Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice told him once again about how much she looked like Cristina...

Poor Cristina.

Jen immediately got up when the hunter had crouched down. She crossed her arms, and her green eyes; well pronounced against her red hair, as she defiantly remained silent. Both fear and hatred for the hunter was present in her mind.

"Who are you?" she asked, still refusing to look at him.

Finally, as the hunter struggled to find words, she turned a glare within her eyes. She strode up to the man, got into his face and whispered in a deathly quiet tone.

"Speak you bumbling idiot! You deserve me that for shooting me!"

She slapped him, her hand cracking hard across his cheek, exerting a lot of kinetic energy into it. She would be damned if she presented herself as being weak to this...this hunter. Stepping back she crossed her arms again, waiting impatiently for him to speak.

The Inquisitor stepped forward. "Where are you, bitch? I can sense other evil here. I must deal with you, and move on."

Growling fiercely, she lept forward at the hunter in an effort to bring talons to flesh. Rather than sustaining an attack, she continued past him and rallied her remaining strength to tear through the woods, no doubt with the hunter close behind preparing some righteous incantation. Damned if she'd die on her first night of freedom.

Running wearily on all fours, with her wings somewhat raised for balance, she nearly tripped over a body badly mauled. The inn-keep, though this was not her work. Tracks led off in one direction. She'd have to investigate if she survived this. With a strained beat of her shattered wings, she propelled herself up into the trees to wait. Soon she would know if she was followed, though there was never any real doubt. Hopefully, he would be mislead by these new tracks.

(OOC: Sorry this took so long. A few unexpected things came up that I had to deal with.)

"Who are you?" she asked, still refusing to look at him."Speak you bumbling idiot! You deserve me that for shooting me!"

"My name is... Jonathan... Able. I am a monster hunter for hire, and was called out to find and kill demons, monsters and the sort.

"However, i never thought I would meet... you."

Jonathan went over and stood in front of Jen.

"I... never meant to shoot you. But I had to... you attacked the innkeeper. I know you could not control yourself and yet... I had no choice."

"I... how do you live like this? How did... it... happen?"

Jen thought for a moment:

So the rumors of the cry for help were true....

Looking back up at Jonathan, she spoke quietly, carefully,

"I was turned several months ago. I was walking back from the village we were near when we first met. Suddenly I heard growling behind me, so I took off running as fast as I could home. I was caught and bitten, but in the echange of the struggle, I killed him...the werewolf...the man who was the werewolf... When the next full moon rose, I changed for the first time. That night, I killed for the first time. The next day, I felt horrible, and believe me, I still do. But let me tell you something. When you're a werewolf, you discard all humanity you have for the next few hours. You still retain your mentality and thinking of a human, but you are not in control of yourself. Your primal behavior takes over and rules you for the night. I live with this because I have to. I do not know of any cure..."

A tear streaked downward her face, as she relived the murders she had committed. Quite a number had died from her own claws and teeth... Looking back up at Jonathan, she suddenly scowled, and stepped away from him.

"I can't trust you. I'm sorry, but you are a hunter, and thus, you are a sworn enemy against my kind..."

Jonathan stepped forward and grabbed Jen's arm. It was strong, but gentle feeling.

He felt a kinship with the woman, that much he could not deny. While it was true that they were enemies, that was in name only. She... and he were really two lost souls, adrift in a world that threw them to the cruel world with nary a thought.

She... a werewolf. Definately not by choice.

He... a hunter of her kind. Again, not by choice.

"In another time," thought Jonathan, "We may have been friends."

"Perhaps lovers..."

Now why did I think of that?

"Please... don't be like that. I want to help you. I've dealt with your kind before."

"Is there somewhere we can talk more... freely?"

Growling fiercely, she lept forward at the hunter in an effort to bring talons to flesh. Rather than sustaining an attack, she continued past him and rallied her remaining strength to tear through the woods, no doubt with the hunter close behind preparing some righteous incantation. Damned if she'd die on her first night of freedom.

Running wearily on all fours, with her wings somewhat raised for balance, she nearly tripped over a body badly mauled. The inn-keep, though this was not her work. Tracks led off in one direction. She'd have to investigate if she survived this. With a strained beat of her shattered wings, she propelled herself up into the trees to wait. Soon she would know if she was followed, though there was never any real doubt. Hopefully, he would be mislead by these new tracks.

(OOC: Sorry this took so long. A few unexpected things came up that I had to deal with.)

OOC: Quite all right.

Will you be kindly agree to die? :wink:

IC:

Hans muttered imprecations to himself as he followed closely. His eyes glistened with holy energy as he searched for her.

He stopped on seeing the new tracks. "Hmmm... a bit late in the season for wolves, isn't it. After I deal with this creature, I'm going to have to investigate."

OOC: Roania...Gaeltech, consider it early morning now, like...sunrise just coming up........Also, do a cat and mouse thing with each other for a while...Valient and I have a set idea with what to do for Jonathan and the werewolf/Jen.... thanks!

IC:
Jen turned sharply, shocked at his comment about being lovers. A loud crack was heard as her open palm slapped him hard across the face. Luckily for him, she hadn't thought to gouge his skin with her nails this time.

"Don't you ever let me hear you say that again!..........You can't help me, I'm a werewolf for God's sake! But yes, I need to get out of here, this place is making me feel constrained."

She shoved past him, leading out the doorway and down the steps. Calling out to John she said:

"John! We're taking a walk, we'll be back soon."

John's feet could be heard as he rushed into the room, a guarded look his eyes.

"John, calm down, besides, I can take care of myself..."

She led Jonathan back outside, back into the cool crsip air of the day

Whiptail dozed in his small campsite, planning to sleep through the day and hunt at night. The small fire crackled nearby, a thin tendril of smoke rising up from the tops of the forest trees...

OOC: You can kill her eventually, but she's one of my favorite chars, so it's a little early for that.

To the east, rose-tinted fingers of dawn stretched upward from the horizon to chase away the lingering night. The hunter wandered in the clearing below. Siobhan dared not breathe, let alone move in the slightest. Nearby, a thin wisp of smoke rose from the trees in an inviting tendril. Below her, the hunter turned his back on her hiding place, scanning the area with a meticulous eye. Hoping for a change of luck, she cautiosly shifted her position, and urged her throbbing wings to carry her towards that smoke.

Jonathan followed Jen outside, avoiding the gaze of John.

He could tell that the man did not truly trust him with Jen. To be honest to himself, Jonathan was not sure he could trust himself...

He ran to catch up to Jen, who was walking towards the edge of town.

"Jen, my lady. I did not mean any offense by my comments. I... I cannot explain what I say.

"I... feel a kinship with you, more than a hunter feels with it's prey. Surely you must know what I am saying... Tell me you do not feel it too."

Jonathan closed his mouth for a moment. What was he saying? Cristina... she was still waiting for him to return. BUt it had been so long since he had seen her face, smelled her hair, felt the curves of her body...

How he had missed the touch of a lady...

He shook his head. He could not betray his love for Cristina... but he could not deny what he was feeling. Jen looked so much like her...

"I do not understand though... If you killed the man... the werewolf who turned you, how is it that you are still... unless he was not the original..."

Jen headed toward the edge of the town, and occasionally waving friendly-like toward the various townfolk that looked up from their activities. Ever since her transformation, she had been forced to keep a positive role in her community, hiding the terrible truth that lay just beneath the surface. She spoke toward Jonathan in a hushed tone,

"You are mistaken, I hold no bond with you. You are a hunter, I am a hunter. We are each other's prey. The bond you say exists between a hunter and its prey is false, it is merely an illusion."

She slowed her walk, as Jonathan asked about the past werewolf.

"He was not the original. I don't know how I know this, I just do. Don't ask me to clarify, because I cannot. And what do you mean, "How is it that I am still what?"

Whiptail dreamed a dream he would be able to recall for the first time in months, his grip tightening on the hilt of his saber...

It was a great battle, the screams of his opponents, filled the air... He fought not with his saber, but with a pair of katanas against a large Dark Argonian, who stood over the bodies of his brothers, all slain in attempts to kill him. Whiptail's eyes burned with fury, and he attacked, his blades carving off chunk after chunk of the Warchief's flesh...

Whiptail rolled over, leaving the saber behind him...

The Inquisitor looked around, angrily. He could smell smoke, and he could sense several un-human energy signatures. Walking towards the nearest one, and also towards the smoke, he began to prime his pistol.

"He was not the original. I don't know how I know this, I just do. Don't ask me to clarify, because I cannot. And what do you mean, "How is it that I am still what?"

"Still a.. you know, werewolf... According to myths, if you kill the original werewolf, the one who sired all of the ones after him, then all of those he changed will revert back to their human form. I have not seen this done personally, but."

"But nothing. That doesn't help me... you can't help me. Don't you know that?"

Jonathan did not reply. He did not know what to say to that, so he said nothing.

Jen and he continued their wordless stroll through the town. He noticed that most of the townsfolk seemed genial towards the pair, but some gave them a wide birth.

"Could they know?" thought Jon.

They soon found their way back into the forest where they first had met. They made their way up a steep incline and found themselves at the top of a hill looking out onto the village.

The sight was strangely moving. The people down below... just pawns in some game left to fate and chance... who says what one becomes... or what one feels...

"Jen, tell me, what is it that you want out of life?"

"I do not know what I want out of life anymore. Once upon a time, I desired to have a family, to live the wife of a wonderful, supportive husband. But now...I cannot...I am afraid that I may kill those that I love because of this curse..."

She stopped talking, remaining still with her eyes watching the village. A single tear ran down her cheek, but no sound was heard from her.

"I just do not know..." she whispered ever so quietly.

"I just do not know..."

Jonathan moved closer. Jen flinched and turned away, but the hunter reached out a hand and turned her chin back to him. With the otherm he reached out and wiped away the tear.

"It is not so much a curse, but a blessing in disguise. After all, how else would we have met..."

Jonathan leaned in ever so careful, mindful of how Jen would react.

She closed her eyes. He closed his, and they kissed, on that precipace overlooking the village below. Overhead the clouds had gathered. A slight rain began to fall.

As he kissed Jen, only one thought ran through Jonathan's mind.

"Cristina... I'm sorry..."

The peace found within the kiss was intoxicating to Jen. It was as if all the worries, the fears, the guilt that lay within herself had ceased their pestering for only a brief few seconds.

Jen leaned into Jonathan, dismissing all thoughts to the contrary, savoring the close embrace. She had to admit, Jonathan had skill. Her hand lay softly on his muscled chest.

The two slowly drew back from each other, opening their eyes only after they had completely parted. Jen looked away, an embarrassed look upon her face.

"I...I'm sorry. I'm sure you a good man Jonathan, but I am afraid, afraid to grow close to you. I could very easily kill you when I'm...not human...I don't want to do that to myself, to us."

The rain continued to fall, slowly but surely soaking the clothes on Jen's body, causing them to plaster around her curves. Her hair had become wet and hung closely to her neck and back.

"Jen..." Jonathan whispered, his hand upon her arm.

"Look, to tell you the truth, I like you Jonathan, I do, but we need to discuss this in more detail another time...for now, we need to get back to the village. John will be worrying. Mother and Sam will worry too.....Mother, Sam.....Jonathan, I don't know if they even know of my curse yet, what if they haven't? It will break my mother's heart to know that her daughter is the one killing all these people..."

The two started walking back down the hill. Jen looked to the skies, studying the clouds, observing the patterns.

"The rain will end soon." she commented to no one in particular.

Jonathan nodded, and turned his face up into the rain. It was mildly cold, but felt refreshing, and comforting.

He needed comfort.

The hunter reached out a hand to Jen's own, but then withdrew it.

"Even her family does not know... what chance do I have with her?

However, the rain did not stop. It continued to pour down onto the forest, making navigating the paths hard. Soon, Jen and Jon were hopelessly lost.

And evening was falling...

"I need to get back, Jon... before it is too late."

"Before what will be too late?"

Jen turned away. "It... it will be a full moon tonight..."

All of a sudden, the pair could hear voices coming from the woods.

"James... please... you're hurting me."

Jen looked at Jon and nodded. Together, they ran towards the sounds of the voices. They came into a clearing, where a large man stood overtop a young woman, who had bruises on her face.

"Hey, you! let her go." said Jon.

"Get out of here, stranger. You didn't see nothing."

Then, the clouds parted. The moon shone...

Jonathan nodded, and turned his face up into the rain. It was mildly cold, but felt refreshing, and comforting.

He needed comfort.

The hunter reached out a hand to Jen's own, but then withdrew it.

"Even her family does not know... what chance do I have with her?

However, the rain did not stop. It continued to pour down onto the forest, making navigating the paths hard. Soon, Jen and Jon were hopelessly lost.

And evening was falling...

"I need to get back, Jon... before it is too late."

"Before what will be too late?"

Jen turned away. "It... it will be a full moon tonight..."

All of a sudden, the pair could hear voices coming from the woods.

"James... please... you're hurting me."

Jen looked at Jon and nodded. Together, they ran towards the sounds of the voices. They came into a clearing, where a large man stood overtop a young woman, who had bruises on her face.

"Hey, you! let her go." said Jon.

"Get out of here, stranger. You didn't see nothing."

Then, the clouds parted. The moon shone...

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Jen instantly felt the transformations begin, and crumpled to the ground, moaning in pain.

"Jon...get into the trees...please...." she gasped as her body rapidly began changing, expanding, morphing...

Jonathan quickly swung himself up into the branches and moved higher, out of reach.

"Hey...what the hell is going on?" demanded the man whom they had confronted. He stared in shock as Jen began transforming. "What the--!"

Her dress stretched and tore itself as her body grew in size, eventually falling to the ground.

Her eyes darkened, become black orbs that peered out from the scruffy canine face that had replaced her human one.

In only moments the transformation had taken place, and Jen, as the werewolf stood there. She turned her head sharply at the man's scream of horror. She growled, baring her fangs as she advanced upon him slowly, step by step. She passed the woman clutching the tree behind her in fear, stepping closer to the man.

"Get back! Get back!" he screamed at her, picking up a branch that lay next to him and began swinging it at her. Growling furiously she caught the branch with her jaws. She clenched down, snapping the branch.

The man turned and ran. She bolted and leapt. He fell under her weight and rolled over as she pulled her face closer, her canines menacingly threatening to gouge out the man's throat.

"Don't....don't kill me...please...." the man whimpered. She growled deeply into his face again. The stench of urine filtered the air. Jen's nose cringed as she grunted disgustedly. With a howl she suddenly bit down, tearing at the flesh from the man's throat. Blood spilled everywhere, onto her snout, and onto the ground around them.

The taste of blood...so enticingly wonderful! She lifted her head, glancing about as she enjoyed the taste of fresh raw meat.

The woman screamed behind her. The werewolf ignored her, continuing to eat.

"Jen!"

Her head snapped up and turned daringly at the voice. Jonathan stood there, a look of bravado in his eyes, in his stance.

"Stop it! Leave the man alone!"

Jen snarled in return, before taking off into the bushes, moving quickly toward the top of the mountain. She could hear Jonathan running after her, his panting heard clearly by her sensitive hearing.

"Jen. Stop... please stop... I want to help you."

Jen kept on running, no longer aware of her surroundings and the man behind her.

That man behind her kept on following her. Together they ran for what seemed like hours, one trying to escape, one trying to get her back.

A Hunt... of sorts.

Jonathan cursed himself. He had no arrows to help take Jen down again. Of course, could he really bring himself to shoot her?

Probably not.

"Jen stop... I LOVE YOU!"

Suddenlt the crashing in front of Jon stopped. He slowed down, and stepped though the underbrush into yet another clearing. There Jen sat... shivering from the cold, naked. She still had trace amounts of blood on her face.

"I... Jon... I..."

Jonathan nodded and handed her his coat. He sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. A single tear rolled down her cheek. One of his joined after.

Overhead, the clouds thickly covered the moon light.

Below, sat the two...hunter and huntress, embracing each other as the shock of the recent murder slowly began to wear off.

Jen shook uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face, clenching the coat around her body, well aware of her nudity in front of this man.

"I..I'm sorry...I couldn't help it..." she sobbed. She leaned her head against Jon's shoulder. Jon's hands moved to gently wipe the blood away from her face.

"I need to be contained Jon...or I'll kill someone else tonight."

She looked up at him, watery eyes distorting his vew.

"And I don't want that one to be you... there's a cabin not too far from here. It is empty. We can go there for tonight, but we must move quickly, or the moon will come out again and---"

A gentle finger lay against her trembling lips.

"Jen..shhh, I know..."

The two got up, his arms wrapped around her as she led the way at a quick pace.

The cabin was seen through the trees, a dark and forboding structure that seemed out of place in these woods.

"There's a decent sized cage inside, one that they normally use when capturing the bears around here. You'll have to lock me inside, and keep your distance..."

Jon opened the door and the two listened to it protest loudly as it swung on its hinges. They stared inside the dark interior...

Jon took jen by the hand and led her into the darkness of the cabin.

"Is there.. a light?"

Jon could not see, but felt jen shake her head.

"No... I... like the darkness.'

Jon nodded to himself, and then felt his way to the cage. There was a key in the lock, which Jon used to unlock it with.

jen slowly clambered inside, still wearing Jon's jacket. Jon locked the door and reached a hand into the cage. jen reached for his. Jon gave it a quick squeeze, and then turned and left.

A lone tear rolled down Jen's cheek. Jon did not see it.

***************

Jon stumbled back into Jon's house.

"Jon... Jon... Jen... needs you to go to her."

"..."

"J..on?"

Jon slowly crept into the kitchen and saw Jon seated at the table. Standing beside him were 8 large men, all brandishing powerful looking swords.

"Jon... whats happening?"

John made no motion to move. "Jon, I think you better tell them where she is?"

"What? who?"

A shrill voice cut into the room.

"That werewolf bitch. Where is she?"

Out walked the slender woman who Jen had "saved". She was shivering but her eyes flashed deep anger.

"It killed James. And now we have to kill it. Now tell us where it is."

Jon lowered his head, as if to acquisce, but then quickly turned around and ran out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Behind him he could hear the shouts.

"Stop him. He knows where she is!"

Jen sat within the cage alone. Jon had removed the key from the lock, and had placed it upon a table next to the door, hidden under a faded Bible.

She couldn't hear any noises outside the cabin. Her hands moved to clench the coat closer to her naked body, trying to conserve the heat.

The hairs on the back of her necked prickled, and instantly she knew why.

The clouds were moving again...

"...Why?......Jon...I wish you were here..." she whispered quietly to herself.

The cage shook furiously, but remained chained to the floor. Inside the beast paced the small confines of the bars, her snout pressing through the bars, saliva drooling onto the worn wooden floors. The moon shone through the small windows of the cabin, casting its infernal glow upon her cage.

An unearthly and angry howl shook the windows of the cabin.

The werewolf slammed its body into the sides of the cage, rocking the cage violently, the groans of the metal heard clearly in the darkness of the night.

She howled again in frustration. She wanted to feed...she needed to feed. Such was the insatiable appetite of such a vile creature.

Suddenly she froze and grew silent. The panting of a human running toward the cabin could be heard. And behind the human, she could hear the many footsteps of other humans giving chase.

A low growl uttered from her throat as she eyed the doorway...

"STOP HIM. HE KNOWS WHERE SHE IS."

Jon did not look back. He knew he had to get to Jen before they did. Perhaps get her out of town. Away... but to where?"

Jon quickly ran into the dark cabin and felt his way to the cage. As he ran his hand over it, a raspy tongue ran over his fingers.

"No... not now. Not this way..."

Suddenly, a number of figures stood at the doorway of the cabin.

"You better step away from whatever it is you're doing and come with us boy. Now where is she?"

Jon sighed and slid the key in the lock and turned it.

"She's... right here..."

A deadly silence filled the room as the men walked closer to the cage, their eyes struggling to see in the darkness.

The werewolf remained silent...waiting...

One man foolishly reached toward the cage to beat upon it, more to confirm that she was there for sure.

It would prove to be costly to him.

A vicious roar exploded from the confines of the cage. A snapping sound was heard, followed quickly by the horrible sounds of the tearing of flesh and bone.

The werewolf swallowed the hand moments after crunching on the bones, pulverizing them.

She exploded out of the cage with a sudden speed, and turned her deadly stare upon the remaining men. The wounded man screamed in horror and agony as he clutched his bloody stump.

The werewolf advanced slowly on the men, passing Jon. Her body was much larger than that of a regular wolf, it was almost like that of a large bear complete with powerful muscles rippling tightly with each step...

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

"SHIT. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? It got Theodore"

"WE"RE NOT PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS!!!"

Suddenly a girls voice called from outside.

"I'm paying you more than enough gentlemen. Now do your job, or else."

The men, swallowed audibly, but then rushed enmasse at Jen with their knives and swords.

One man drew out a crossbow and fitted to it a silver arrow... He aimed it at Jen, and fired...

Jen saw the crossbow being loaded and growled loudly before snapping into action quickly. The werewolf's massive body lunged at the man, jaws gaping horrifically. The man barely let out a cry of surprise before his face was gouged heavily with a powerful paw adorned with sharp claws. Excessive amounts of blood and flesh splattered against the windows. The woman outside nearly gagged from the sight when she saw the eyeball rolling on the windowsill and coming to a dead stop, staring outward at her through the panes.

The crossbow fell to the floor disengaging the arrow lodged in it.

One of the other men stopped suddenly and collapsed to the ground, the arrow having been deeply embedded in his left eye and partially protruding out the back of his head.

Two down...six more to go...

Four men lunged at her at once, their weapons swinging toward her.

Jen howled angrily again and swiftly knocked one man backwards...hard. He flew back; dropping his weapon along the way; and plowed into a table near the fireplace. He and the table continued the backwards movement until it stopped abruptly when they collided with the wall. The man looked down, horrified as he clutched the iron fire poker that gaped out of his torso. He screamed in pain for the next several moments before his body began convulsing sporadically.

Meanwhile one of the men leapt onto Jen's back, clutching himself around the beast's thick neck, holding on as she bucked and shook herself furiously, attempting to get him off. men of the four danced about, avoiding her ferocious swipes and kicks, occasionally trying to put in a jab. But they were unsucessful. The last two men moved in as well.

Things were not looking good for the werewolf...

Another howl shook the foundations of the cabin. The woman outside stepped back in fear.

Jen roared yet again as she felt the blades plunge into her muscular canine form repeatedly. Blood spewed to the floor from her wounds, and became smeared about as they all slid about, fighting for the upper hand.

One of the men's feet kicked sharply into the back of her legs. She crumpled partially to the ground, but continued snapping and struggling. Another man slipped and fell, landing heavily on the ground. His life ended with Jen ripping into his chest with her fangs. So strong was her attack that the man's ribcage glistened bloodily out at the others from amongst the grotesque carnage.

Four left...and she was losing blood...

Her horrible eyes found Jon's face, staring at the scene in shock. He was unable to move. She looked at him mournfully, and let out a whimper, which quickly went into a yelp as another blade was jammed into her side.

One of the men fell off purposely and pulled a different weapon out of his coat. A long dagger, made of silver...

"Hold the bitch down!" he yelled as he flipped the dagger in his hand so he could strike downward at her.

OOC: I see you online right now Val....here's a bump for ya :wink: :lol:

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

Jon saw the silver flash even in the darkened room.

With a lunge, Jon swept up a sword off of the ground and hacked away at Jen's attackers. The three holding down Jen fell to the ground with wounds oozing blood. Like true men, they did not scream.

Of course, they did not have time...

"Dumb bitch. I'll cut you anyways."

Jon turned around and saw the man flip the dagger again, this time to a throwing motion.

It left the man's hand, and he leapt without a second thought.

"Jen. Down..."

With a shoulder, Jon knocked the huge werewolf down... and shortly after, the dagger found purchase in the small of his back.

"...I'll save you..."

The werewolf moved quickly again, despite the painful wounds. One of the daggers was still embedded in her side, buried in her thick muscles.

She leapt for the last man, the one who had thrown the dagger. The man saw her coming and dodged out of the way, but not before taking a gaping slash across his backside.

Turning quickly, the werewolf sprung again, this time slamming into the man, as the two amazingly crashed through the heavy door and out into the open forest. Blood dripped from her deadly fangs as she growled in the man's face. Without further wait, she flashed downward and ripped the man's throat completely out, his espohagus hanging grotesquely from her mouth.

A scream filled the air as the woman unwillingly watch the brutal murder. She turned to run, but soon heard heavy footsteps closing in fast. She turned back to look at her pursuer only to recieve a neck snapping slash across her face. Her body fell to the ground, dead.

Jen let out an enormous victorious howl. Birds from miles around scattered and flew away, terrified at the horrible sound. The howl echoed down the mountain and could be heard by some of the villagers far below.

A hand touched the backside of the werewolf, causing her to instantly turn and dig her snout into the owner's shoulder. Suddenly she stopped, and let go of the man.

She let out a slight yelp of surprise as she realized who it was.

Jon.

At that moment, the thick rolling clouds covered the moon once more...
________________________________



[i]An incessant knock sounded on the door. A few minutes later it swung open.

"John! What are you doing up at this hour? Don't you know its dangerous to be out alone at this time?"

John nodded. A distant howl filtered into the village. John looked about momentarily before speaking in a hushed tone,

"May I come in? I need to speak to you about Jen."

Jen changed back to her human form, and her wounds had healed over for the most part.

Jon was happy to see that... he was so happy.

"I... am glad... you..re... okay."

Jen placed a hand onto his back where the dagger was still lodged.

"Why?"

"I told you... I love you..."

Inside his mind, Jon saw another image: Cristina.

"I love you..."

********

"Please come in. What do you need to talk about me so urgently?"

Jen changed back to her human form, and her wounds had healed over for the most part.

Jon was happy to see that... he was so happy.

"I... am glad... you..re... okay."

Jen placed a hand onto his back where the dagger was still lodged.

"Why?"

"I told you... I love you..."

Inside his mind, Jon saw another image: Cristina.

"I love you..."

********

"Please come in. What do you need to talk about me so urgently?"

Jen looked at him with a worried look as she eyed the wound after ripping the remaining tatters of his shirt away. It looked bad. Gripping the dagger she commanded to him:

"Hold still, this is going to hurt."

She pulled carefully but firmly. It slid out and the wound bled openly for a few moments until she took the remains of his shirt and stuffed it into the wound. It may have been unsanitary, but something was better than nothing...

Jon had a look of pain upon his face when she turned her attention back to him. Her eyes fell upon the bite wound and she let out a gasp. Her hands tilted his head aside and she moved closer to inspect it.

Her eyes widened as she realized the size of the bite upon his shoulder.

"Dear God..." she whispered.

A chill went up her spine, causing her to shake visibly.

"I...I bit you...you...you...have the curse..."

"Which means we both have the curse." Jon replied softly. "How long was it before...you know...before you transformed?"

"The next full moon...but I was bitten on the last full moon of that month, and there's two more nights left for this one, at least to my calculations..."

One thought troubled Jon's mind.

"Does it hurt?"

Jen nodded with a look of guilt.

"Yes, the first night will be your most painful...I'm sorry...I didn't mean for this to happen..."

Tears fell from her eyes onto her breasts. Only then did she realize her nudity again.

"You're a lucky son of a bitch Jon, you know that? Getting to see me naked now for what is it? The third time?...I guess I better get used to it..."
_______________________________

John sat within the living room, Jen's mother in the nearest chair.

"Speak John, what is it about Jen? Have you seen her lately?" she asked with a worried look upon her face.

"You need to be prepared for this. What I'm about to tell you will shock your mind. It may even scare you. But rest assured, you have nothing to fear in regards to yourself and your son."

"I'm listening..." she replied slowly as the worst thoughts went through her mind.

"I know you've been hearing the news of the beast in these parts. That beast is actually a werewolf. That werewolf....is Jen. Right now, she is with one of the hunters somewhere in the mountains, but do not worry, he won't harm her. I saw it in his eyes."

Jon gave a weak smile in response, but said nothing. A slight blush went across his face. It was obvious his entire mind was still trying to realize and understand what had only happened in five minutes time...

Jen pushed him aside slightly to check the wound again. When she pulled the bloodied cloth out, she gasped.

"Jon...I think some parts of the curse is already active..."

"What do you mean?" Jon asked, suddenly realizing something was out of place with his wound.

"Your wound is healing rapidly." she replied and watched as the last of the wound sealed itself over, pulling the flesh back into perfect form once again.

Jon looked at her with a shocked look.

"Already??"

"Yes...I think...that it is best if we remain here, in the cabin." she said softly, while looking somewhat disappointedly at the destruction of the building.

"Come on."

Jen stood and lifted Jon to his feet again, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder and put her arm around his waist to support him. Her strength surprised Jon, and it had gotten stronger in her human form since her first lycantrophism. It was a somewhat odd, yet satisfying side effect of the curse...

The two entered the cabin. She helped him to the bed, where he took hold of her. This time, she was the first to move, and planted a gracious kiss upon Jon's own. She smiled playfully.

A prickling sensation went up her spine.

"Stay here, I've got to get rid of the bodies tonight, and the moon's coming out again, I feel it..."

She backed away, and stood in the middle of the room, keeping her eyes upon Jon as he watched. Moments later, the moon shone through the windows once again, casting its milky white luminiscence onto the bloodied wooden floor.

The instant the moon cast its glow upon the cabin, she let out a cry as she collapsed to her knees and hands. Her head shook oddly, and soon enough, the fur of the deadly beast began sprouting once again all over her body. Her size swelled up to the almost bear-like size it had always been. Sharp black nails could be seen slightly protruding from her massive paws. Jen turned slightly and Jon could then see the tail begin to emerge.

Jon's eyes were in shock at the speed of the lycantrophism. And yet, what scared him the most was that all while watching this, his own body was reacting strangely to the presence of the accursed moon.

A loud growl shook the cabin as Jen completed her transformation. Her icy stare looked at Jon, recognizing him. She sniffed and paused.

Jon was beginning to smell like one...

She stopped smelling the air and turned her attention to the dead bodies that lay strewn about. One by one, she worked quickly dragging each body out in her massive locked jaws. She pulled them to a nearby cliff, which dropped down hundreds of feet to a deep abysmal pit within the earth. No one would find them there. These bodies would join some of the others that she had been forced to shove over the great cliff, watching as the bodies smashed and tumbled about the rocky mountain.

Finally, she was on the woman, whom she simply grabbed by her throat and pulled, ignoring the open eyed look of horror frozen upon the woman's face. Her body was soon shoved over the edge to join the others.

With a feeling of victory surging within herself, the werewolf tilted her head back at the bright moon and let out a long mournful howl unto the wind.
_____________________________________

"There is no way!! Not my Jen! Don't you lie to me John, don't you fucking lie to me!"

The sad look upon John's face simply confirmed what she didn't want to know, didn't want to believe.

Her own daughter...a mass murderer...

She collapsed into the chair again, sobbing greatly, and fumbling the words of a prayer to God.

Jen sat down and let the darkness wash over her... She felt alive, more alive now than anytime before.

Thanks to Jonathan...

Suddenly she felt rapid footsteps beside her. She did not need to turn and look: his smell was recognizable.

"Jen... we need to leave, but I have friends... back in Valient."

"Tell me, have you ever heard of the Hyraphore?"

***************

John got up and kealt down beside the weeping mother.

"The truth hurts... I know. There is only one REAL way to help her now..."

Jen kept her eyes forward, looking down at the ground. Her naked body shivered in the chills of the night. Jon removed his coat and draped it around her shoulders, which she took gratefully and pulled it tighter around herself.

"The Hyraphore? No, I have never heard of them. What is it? Some sort of cult?"

"Not quite. It's a well established vampire covenant, one in which I have friends in high places. They can help us."

Jen shifted herself to finally look at Jon, but this time with a set look in her eyes.

"Then we shall go, Jon. I'm trusting your faith in these vampires. If they turn on us, I'm not going to be a happy camper."

Jonathan nodded in understanding.

"We'll have to wait for first light. I think it'll be safe if we stay here until then. When the sun rises, I'll go into town, find John and tell him to bring clothes."

Suddenly a loud clap of thunder was heard. Jen jumped and shrieked slightly before bringing herself under control.

"Damn storms..." she muttered.

The two got up from the steps of the cabin as they peered into the sky, watching as the heavy rolling clouds pregnant with rain slide even more thickly over the moon's glow through the clouds. It looked like the rain would last all night, and perhaps well into the next day.

"Ok John... but what do you mean by help..."

"I will explain later... please, let us return to my home. We can discuss it further there."

"All right..."

******************

Morning came and the rain left with the rising of the sun.

Jonathan awoke first and noticed that Jen was back to her normal form. And she was nude.

So was Jen. He blushed, and prodded her awake...

"Jen... c'mon. I have to go into town."

Jen yawned and stretched. Nothing (AND I MEAN NOTHING) was left to Jon's imagination.

"Yes, go. Then we can go to your... Hyraphore..."

Jen grabbed Jon's hand and squezed it. Jon then hurried away down the path.

****************

As he strolled into town, Jon noticed that the town was strangely deserted. The doors were boarded up, windows darkened...

Jon did not care. It mad ehis task easier.

Jon his way to the house. He tried the door and found it to be unlocked.

"Hello... John..."

Inside the doorway of the cabin, Jen watched as Jon traveled down the mountain trail, headed back to the village. Suddenly she remembered her nudity. She looked about the area, hoping no one had seen her, before closing the remnants of the doorway. She looked about the cabin, in fully daylight finally, and marveled at how destructive she could be in her mutated form...
___________________________________

John heard the front door of his house open, and immediately got up from the kitchen table where he and Jen's mother were eating breakfast. Turning the corner he stopped dead in his tracks as he saw who it was.

"Jonathan. Where is she?"

Jen's mother appeared by John, a strange look upon her face. She strode quickly over to Jonathan and hissed at him in an angry tone,

"If you so much as hurt a hair on my daughter, you can bank that you'll regret the day you were ever born!!"

She was about to pounce on him, her rage now fully fledged. However, John's strong arms pulled her back safely before she could cause any physical harm.

Jonathan could see that she had just found out about Jen's terrible secret...

"Ma'am, your daughter is fine. She's still up on the mountain, in a cabin. However...she needs clothes, as her last...uh...mutation tore her dress up..."

The mother's eye twitched at this. Jen...naked before this...stranger??!!

John kept his grip upon the mother.

"Very well then, we shall get her clothes and be on our way."

Inside the doorway of the cabin, Jen watched as Jon traveled down the mountain trail, headed back to the village. Suddenly she remembered her nudity. She looked about the area, hoping no one had seen her, before closing the remnants of the doorway. She looked about the cabin, in fully daylight finally, and marveled at how destructive she could be in her mutated form...
___________________________________

John heard the front door of his house open, and immediately got up from the kitchen table where he and Jen's mother were eating breakfast. Turning the corner he stopped dead in his tracks as he saw who it was.

"Jonathan. Where is she?"

Jen's mother appeared by John, a strange look upon her face. She strode quickly over to Jonathan and hissed at him in an angry tone,

"If you so much as hurt a hair on my daughter, you can bank that you'll regret the day you were ever born!!"

She was about to pounce on him, her rage now fully fledged. However, John's strong arms pulled her back safely before she could cause any physical harm.

Jonathan could see that she had just found out about Jen's terrible secret...

"Ma'am, your daughter is fine. She's still up on the mountain, in a cabin. However...she needs clothes, as her last...uh...mutation tore her dress up..."

The mother's eye twitched at this. Jen...naked before this...stranger??!!

John kept his grip upon the mother.

"Very well then, we shall get her clothes and be on our way."

Whiptail awoke to the rise of the (Sun or Moon?). He was well-rested, but disoriented by his long sleep...

John, Jon and Jen's mother trudged the final few steps up to the cabin. John had strapped on a sword to his back, and carried a large bundle of clothing. Jon carried what few supplies were available in the house along with them, and the mother came up behind.

No words were exchanged between them as they walked. Just as well, Jon supposed.

"Jonathan," said John. "You can go in first."

Jon went in, and found Jen huddling on the floor. He went to her and lifted her off the floor, and hugged her.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER!"

Jen's mother stepped into the cabin, holding John's sword.

The mother moved to swing her sword at Jonathan, rage in her eyes. Jen quickly shoved Jonathan behind her and hissed to her mother at the same time. Her hand reached out to grasp the sword by the blade as it swung, her grip surprisingly stopping the blade, even though it dug into her flesh, drawing blood.

"Mother! Put that sword down NOW! You do not understand how much Jonathan has helped me last night, for without him, I would be dead! I would not be standing before you now as I am!"

Jen pulled her hand away from the sword as the mother lowered the sword. Both women's eyes fell to Jen's hand, which now had a nasty slice cutting down her palm, exposing the bones within. The mother's eyes widened in shock as Jen held the hand out to her.

"Look. I am no longer a mortal woman mother. I am a beast of the night, a lycanthrope. This is what I have been doing every month during the times of the full moon. And as you can see," Jen held her hand closer, revealing the cut to be healing rapidly,"I am immortal, in a sense. It takes more to kill me mother, much more than a simple sword."

The mother began weep tears of sorrow, of shock as she listened to her daughter like she had never heard before.

"Oh Jen...I'm so sorry. If I had only known, I would have not called for the hunters..."

Jen's hand snapped out and slapped her mother's face. The woman reeled from the blow, before turning back to her daughter, a look of shock upon her face.

"Do not give me your excuses. You did what you had to in any normal situation. You cannot blame yourself. If you had known before calling those hunters, you would have had others take me away and confine me!!"

"No! No! I would never have done that!"

"Mother! DON'T LIE TO ME!"

John stepped between the two women, holding his hands out.

"That is ENOUGH! We need to focus on what's important now! Jen, your clothes are here, in this sack. Get dressed, and try to clean some of that blood off you. As for you," John turned his attention to the mother,"Why don't you just sit over here on the bed until Jen is ready? Then we'll all talk on what we shall do from there."

The mother nodded, and looked sorrowfully at her daughter. Her daughter, a young adult in the world, yet had already much wisdom and intelligence...

Jen took the sack from John and pulled out her clothing, getting dressed quickly. Once finished she walked over to Jonathan and stood close to him. John was the first to speak.

"Now, we have one problem to deal with. The other hunters. They're still out there, looking for Jen, or more appropriately, the werewolf. We need--"

Jen interrupted,"That's not all John...Jonathan was accidently bitten by me last night, when I was killing some hunters who had followed Jonathan here intent on killing me. It was an accident..."

Jonathan's mother let out a cry of shock before fainting, collapsing sideways onto the bed.

"Mother!" Jen cried out.

Jon rushed over to the mother.

"John, help me out here. Lets lay her down onto the bed carefully."

Together, the two Jons laid the frail lady down onto the bed.

"She'll be fine for now. Just as well, it allows us to talk about... things."

Jon looked at John.

"How many more hunters are out there? When I went back into town, the whole thing was empty. Why?"

John looked down at Jonathan a strange look in his eyes. He lingered his gaze momentarily before responding slowly.

"The village has deserted itself. Everyone's run to the city where they think they'll be safer, and probably will be. As for the hunters, they've taken up refuge in the village houses, all thinking that the werewolf is going to coming into town eventually, seeking blood and flesh. However, there are still some hunters out roaming about, and those are the ones that Jen's mother called in from overseas."

Jen then jumped into the conversation, a look of concern upon her face.

"John, you know that Jonathan and I cannot stay here. It is too dangerous, as you can see,"Jen gestured to the damaged cabin about them,"Where should we run to in order to keep ourselves safe?"

John nodded his understanding,"I figured you'd ask that, therefore, I've got a wagon back home that you two can use to get away in. It's set up to look like you wish to head out together toward the city. Once you're out of sight of the city, you can take the right turn at the junction and eventually head west. At some time, you will no longer be able to take the wagon with you, as the trail will become impossible to navigate. And that is where you'll have to leave it behind, and trek by foot. One last thing, you better keep your eye out for the natives, they can get pretty nasty 'round these parts."

Jen's mother began making stirring noises, coming back to consciousness. She asked, somewhat slurred in her speech,

"I do believe I heard Jonathan here as having been bitten by you Jen..."

"That is correct mother. While you were unconscious, we have discussed what we are going to do. Jonathan and I are going to head west, into the wilderness. Once we get there, we'll be safe enough from the hunters..."

Jen's mother let out a soft cry.

"Are...are you sure?"

Jen nodded solemnly while reaching out to take Jonathan's hand.

(Later that evening, just before nightfall)

Jen held her mother tightly, as her mother cried quietly.

"Goodbye Jen...I'll miss you..."

Jen felt her own emotions welling up inside herself as well. A few tears slipped free and fell down her cheek.

"I'll miss you too mother...take care of my brother. Tell him about me when he's ready. He's going to ask eventually, so just be ready ok?"

Jen's mother nodded slightly. She pulled back, placing both hands upon Jen's face.

"This is extremely difficult for me...to do this...but I have to, you're no longer an incompetent young girl anymore......I'm going to miss you terribly dear. Send a letter in time, and tell me how you are. Maybe I'll even come visit...though I don't see that happening much, for I'm afraid of those hunters following me to you. And oh dear, I should just stop my babbling before I never let you go!"

Both women laughed softly as they hugged once more, holding each other tightly. Finally they released each other. The mother went over to Jonathan and surprised him with a hug.

"You take good care of my daughter now you hear? Otherwise, you'll have me hunting you down, and you can bet that I'll find your sorry ass..."

Jonathan shook his head, "I will, thank you ma'am."

Jen turned to John, tears in her eyes, "Thank you John, for everything...keep your blessed guard over my family like you always have. I love you John, you're like a father to me..."

John held his strong arms out to her, which she immediately went into and felt the arms close around her, hugging her tightly, protectively.

"I love you too Jen. You take care of yourself out there, and watch for those natives. Don't underestimate them..."John looked over at Jonathan,"Yes, take care of her, or I'll let Jen's mother chase you down. Hell, I'll hunt alongside her..."

Jonathan gulped noticeably, "Yes sir..."

Jen released from John's embrace and walked back over to Jonathan, taking his hand once more as the two left John's house out the back door. They got into the wagon waiting for them, a number of various things in the back. It would appear that the two were heading toward the city to seek refuge, should anyone care to watch them pass by. The wagon rocked and shook lightly as it rumbled over the stones and dirt of the Earth below, the horse's hooves plopping with a slight click upon the ground as they rode slowly out of town. Jen looked back to see her mother standing next to John, in front of the house. She waved back to her mother, wondering when she would ever see them again, if she would ever see them again...

"Well, Jonathan, hunter of the hunted and of the hunted yourself; it's time to start our new life together."

Jen leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, smiling somewhat.

"I almost don't regret biting you anymore..."

Jon smiled, and grabbed Jen's hand.

"Perhaps everything happens for a reason, my love. Come, let us go to Valient, and the Hyraphore.

*************

(Six months later)

AWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Driretlen took off his dark vest and sat down by the fire. He dreaded this day for months now, but alas, a promise was a promise.

He heard footsteps run up behind him.

"Sir, there are Werewolves outside the gates. Two of them."

Driretlen shooked his head, and sighed.

"Open the gates and let them in."

"Sir?"

"DO it... I am in no mood for arguments."

The footsteps took off in the other direction, leaving the vampire to think.

To deny entrance would be to break his word of honour.

But to let them in... would be to restart the war...

Decisions...

The fire burned...

OOC: Ok, great thread, but its now over...I'll try to get it archived! :D