Must be slipping (Justin/Taisian)

[Lovely]

PIC HERE Name: Justin Cade Alias Species: Wolf Age: Borne to: Turned by: Played by: Tripp Created: 2005 Likeness used: Tom Welling

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Name: Taisian Zavala Alias: Tasa, Tas Species: Wolf Age: 19 Borne to: Evangeline Zavala & Daniel Devhano Played by: Lovely Created: 2005 Likeness used: Eliza Dushku

[Lovely]

April 27, 2007

He came sliding around the corner, running right into her. He knew he smelled something. He stopped short of barreling her over, hoping he hadn't lost what he was after. "Hi... want a dance?" Very tall with very green eyes, he offered her a brief smile, trying not to scare her. Why was she -here-?

"Why would I want to do that?"

He shrugs, obviously distracted by something other than her. "It makes your skirt flow nicely?"

"Hmm," her eyes narrowed. "What if i don't want my skirt to flow?"

A knife shines in his hand..warning. "Could make it so you don't have to worry about it... what are you doing here? Kinda dangerous out here in the dark alone, dont you think?"

The moon light gleams in her eyes, making an eerie sparkle, her smile just barely there. "Ooo tough guy.. just what I've been looking for.. dangerous.. maybe that's why I'm alone in the dark."

He chuckled, his attention turning to what he was looking for. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't think I'm what you're after. Excuse me." He saw the shadow up on the roof and moved around her to move up the fire escape with unusual agility for the punk he seemed.

"What?" She gasp turning in surprise as he went around her. "Why not?" Her eyes narrowed as she watched him go up and scanned the roof, seeing and edge of shadow moving. "I must be slipping.." She whispered, making a signal with her hand, a barely noticable movement.

"You may not want the answer," he tossed back as he heard something other than what he was after. Was that metal and who was it aimed at? He didn't stop long to find out, nearly gliding up the ladder.

She watched his movements and smirked a little. "Maybe I do.." Her eyes darkened as her gaze intensified and she listened to the sounds around her. What was on the roof and was that what he was after?.. or was it what she was after? One way to find out, follow him up, letting him go quickly before her.

He was a fair pace ahead already, clearing a vent, though his boot heel clicked off it slightly, alerting the other... thing... to the chase. The shadowy figure was almost the same size he was, but that much faster and ready to clear the ledge, heading to the next building, easily a forty-foot clearance across or a three story drop.

She swung over the ledge, dropping to the rooftop nearly silently, her heeled boots were quite fashionable but padded for steath. Her eyes caught the shadow figure, she couldn't tell what it was yet, the sound the guy she'd followed up made, caught her attention as well. Her eyes darted in his direction as she crouched lower, to remain unseen by both for the moment. Her hand went to a 'cleverly' hidden blade which she unsheathed before moving cautiously around to other side toward the shadow figure.

Cursing quietly under a hissed breath, there was little time between worry about her knowing and him caring what she might really be after. In a rapid flow of movement, hardly discernable by an untrained eye, he was up and on the figure, pulling it and himself over the ledge and down.

"Sh*t!" She murmured and took off at a quiet run, reaching the ledge after they went over. What the heck was that about? She reached the edge and leaned over to peer down.

Neither of them were damaged in the fall and he still apparently had the upper hand, or at least the upper cut, sending the figure sailing into the wall with a strong blow from where he'd landed in a crouch. In the space of a breath, he was on the thing again, his blade ready again and appearing to hiss a few sweet nothings in warning.

"Great.. lovers quarrel.. fun." She muttered, pulling her gloves tighter and vaulting over the ledge, grabbing the sides of the fire escape rails, she rode it down and dropped to the ground several feet from where they tangled. Her knife had beed held between her teeth and dropped into her hand as she stumbled to gain her footing. Her eyes watched the two -still unsure what either of them were.

Whatever was said between them was short-lived as was the figure. The knife in his hand was nicely sharp on both ends, the carved wooden grip doing the start of the damage at the end of his fist that took it through the creature to the wall behind. Wooden stakes were so overrated, but slowed them down enough, especially this one that hadn't had a chance to finish its dinner and was already slowed. The creature gawked at the hole and seemed to laugh though no sound forced up through the now-airless chamber. It looked up to see the brief glint of the metal again and nothing more as the bladed hand sailed through. He waited even after its head met the pavement, listening for something more.

She sighed softly as the head 'bounced' off the pavement and rolled to stop near her feet. Her eyebrow arched as she watched the guy she'd followed. Well one less demon slime for her to have to kill, but what was his deal? She still held her knife, watching him carefully.

He spoke to her directly, not needing to look up. He could smell her, even over the gore that pooled at his feet. "Told you, you don't want me. You'd better go before more of them show up."

Her eye brow arched and she shrugged. "And I told you.. you might be." Her gaze moved down his profile, her fingers tightening on the blade. "Won't you need a hand if more show up? I mean one on one.. anyone could get lucky." Or anything.. she wasn't planning to get closer yet, and what ever he was was not something she could tell from the distance between them.

"You would've attacked me already. Your hesitation now tells me you won't be any use to me. Have a nice night," he grinned faintly, his eyes focusing on her briefly with a darkly non-human glimmer before he darted away down the alley.

Not if I thought there was a chance you were human." She whispered and shook her head. "Pity you were kinda handsome.. " She murmured to herself, turning to head out the other way, not trusting that he wouldn't be waiting with more of his own kind if she followed him. "Why do all the good looking ones have to be gay or demons?" Her blade twirled and disappeared beneath her skirt as she moved on to continue her trolling.

He went only so far before coming back around the building, watching from the shadows. If she did want him, who or what was she? If she didn't, what was she after and why stop now? The direction of her scent changed slightly and he followed a safe distance. "Figures," he muttered to himself. The girl was looking for trouble, one way or another, and somehow he had a feeling she was headed into more of it than she was expecting. "Women.. try and give them advice," he sneered, picking up the pace a little.

Her eyes watched the shadows as she left the alley and instead of heading back into the club she moved further down the block. She knew the usual types of haunts that 'bottom feeders' liked to keep themselves in. A few lower vamps or other demons would be a good start to the night, though that guy was still on her mind. Was that fight simple or was there something more to it? She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. There was a park near the edge of the forest, surely something would be out tonight, and she was certain she looked 'yummy enough to eat'.

Shaking his head, he came up on the edge of the street with little cover. "Is she going out for a picnic? Okay, what are you up to?" He murmured and muttered another curse under his breath, having to stop a moment in the shadows. The boot that had clipped the vent was still dragging a little, concealing the mark that had slowed him down in the first place. It wasn't bleeding as much now, but it was raw and looked about as angry as he was about it. "Great," he muttered to the concrete as he picked up her scent again. He didn't want to loose her in the forest.

Her eyes scanned around her though her head didn't turn much, she listened carefully to what sounds she could distinguish. A shiver for effect as she ran her hands over her arms and glanced at her watch, all things considered, the night was still young. "Here fishy fishy.." She whispered with a soft smile. As she entered the park her eyes narrowed a little and her pace quickened, her head shifting from side to side, playing the lost vunerable young girl and hoping for a bite.

"Oh nuts," he shook his head more. Hadn't he just left this little soiree? "Hope you're ready sister. I'm half tempted to watch the show from here." He stayed several yards away, down wind, keeping an eye on her.

She wasn't waiting long, a not as handsome young man came out of a shadow in front of her, smiling darkly. "Hello gorgeous.. lost?" He asked in a thingyy voice with an equally thingyy swagger. Tasa had to chuckle softly, trying to look nervous as he circled around her, running his cool fingers over her shoulder. She wasted no idle chit chat, shaking her head 'no' her arm cut to the side to stop his movement as the other pulled the knife from her thigh and swung it at his throat.

"What the hell?" He laughed a little out loud. She was baiting them to come to her. This was just the start. The air told him she was far from done clipping them off and if she was only going to do one at a time like this, there was going to be trouble. While she was distracted with her little game, he moved closer, arcing around several yards behind her. He'd lose the majority of the scent, but he could still see enough.

She was hoping that taking this one down would call a few others out, better to take as many out at once as possible. He was dispatched quickly and she was moving forward, watching for the next, seeing movement in shadows and knowing one figure in the distance would be Ariane and her cross bow. Taz wasn't stupid enough to be out here completely alone. Ariane would stay back, and the arrows would fly when needed, they had their ways, taking turns as bait and shadow. Though Taz was more the 'tough girl' all the time. Another vamp came from the side, this one not making small talk, but coming in quickly.

He was about to call out a warning to her but thought better of it seeing as he didn't really want to get back into the fight he'd just left. No sound came out, but his direction changed slightly. He was upwind from most but not all, something else ... someone else catching his attention now. It wasn't a vamp, but what it was exactly he wasn't sure. It smelled a little like the girl, but shades different. A trap? A bigger trap.. he smirked, staying closer to the street now and the alleys if he needed to leave.

Tasa's knife plunged into this one and she hurled it up over her head, spinning and coming down over it. The spray of blood wet her arm and she cursed under her breath, rolling up to her feet again.

"Charming girl," he sneered, watching the gore splatter her and the ground. "One more for the slag heap if it doesn't ash out." He spoke to himself, acting more the street punk he appeared, somewhat atuned to the street and the shadows, maybe appearing a little crazy, though he kept himself well. Though his uttered thoughts took the direction of distanced on-looker accustomed to such scenes, he was curious about the other still, following the scent and beginning to recognize the signature that curled a bit of a smile. He shook his head again. "Women..."

The bait of killing two of their brood was enough to draw out several more, they were coming in force now. Taz grinned and as four jumped at once, she dropped to the ground, watching two of them sail back. One right after the other, carried with the force of a precise arrow slamming into their hearts. Tasa rolled as one of the two left decended on her, her knife pointed up to offer defence against claws and fangs.

Arrows? What the...? He felt himself shrink down as he heard them cut the air from somewhere overhead. Hunters. Just of vamps? He wondered. She hadn't come after him, but that wasn't reassuring right now. He wasn't sure he wanted to get in the line of fire, but there really wasn't a way around that now. The buildings offered only so much cover. He started to walk faster, trying not to draw attention now, either by staying or moving too fast. "I really don't need this right now," he muttered.

Tasa was grappling with two while three more came out, thinking the fight would be over soon. There were two slithering behind 'him' and to the left, coming out of the shadows with a snarl, though their focus was the girl and a good meal.

Arrows flew from the darkness taking out more as they circled Tas and as suddenly shifting direction. One swiftly passed him, nearly hitting him, but not meant for him as it stuck in it's target just beyond him. The high whistle was a signal between the girls and Tasa started fighting her way out of the tangle in another direction.

Fighting the urge to stop once he felt the air behind him cut by another volley, he listened as the vamps came out around them, their scent nearly choking him. If he, himself, was a target, so be it, but he could pull these into her sights at least. Stepping from the safety of the building, he moved out clearly in her range, dodging and swinging at the ones between him and the girl, though she was clearly holding her own. It probably wouldn't win him any friends even fighting openly, but that he was trying to help her, not attack her, he hoped might be noticed.

The whistle sounded differently this time and this was the signal that more were coming. Ariane was fine with her arrows, but only had so many and Tasa was better suited for hand to hand -she liked the fight. Ari would come down slowly from her perch, taking as many with the arrows that sailed through the air, as she could before joining the fray to help Taz fight her way out.

The two girls could then make a break for it, and hopefully make it to their truck before the vamps got ahold of them. Tasa fell to her back, pulling her knees in and her feet up to block the vamp that came down on her.

Looking over his shoulder for the next one, he saw an open space and glanced down. His knife flashed over the one on top of her, burrowing into the chest like he'd done before to pull him off of her. As he held that one away from hurting her, his foot sailed out behind to send another flying back from the force. One blade wasn't going to be enough when he was better suited to fight on all fours, but he'd wait... save that surprise... if it really was much of surprise to her now. The flash in his eyes and curl of his lip would say more than the bass growl needed to anyway as he ripped open the one he held to retreive his knife.

Tasa looked up to see the guy and her eyes widened. "What the.." The sentence never finished as she flipped up to her feet and let her blade slice through the throat of the one he'd pulled open. Better to make sure they weren't getting back up than to have them surprise you. She heard the growl and it confirmed her suspicion of what he might be, she frowned -such a pity. The look she gave him was curious and she nodded over his shoulder to warn him that another was coming at him.

Ariane's arrows came flying from a lower angle and she dropped to the ground, starting towards the fight with a few more arrows thumping into the demons.

He was fast and apparently accustomed to fighting. Her warning was enough for him to go low and back to grab this one and flip it over his shoulder. It was an easy toss, though the cloud of debris from the landing revealed that the creature was no lightweight. The blade swung, releasing the head from the owner in a billowing hiss of dust. "d**n they stink," he coughed out, holding his arm over his face as he turned for the next.

She watched him for only a brief moment, the way he moved, they way he seemed so natural.. darn he was hott. Nearly laughing at herself for thinking such a thing she turned to send a left flying into the face of a fanged one who thought they could sneak up on her. Tasa's limbs struck out and her knife swiped into the pale fiends, dispatching them as she could and trying not to be fatally injured or err as she took her share of hits from them.

Ariane shot off the last couple of arrows and swung the cross bow onto it's strap across her back as she dove into the fight, sliding her own blade free.

There was a yelp and he folded, reaching for an arrow that had found the side of his leg as he attempted to kick another into next week, but effectively shielding it instead. A wooden stake was still a stake and the arrow was pulled free from his leg to use as a second pierce. He'd lost the balance from the wound, but not the will to fight, swinging twice as hard to sever anything he could reach as he hobbled slowly out of the thickest of the fray. With luck, some of them would be distracted by the wolf blood and come after him to try to finish the job.

The yelp was heard by both girls and Ariane turned, her knife ready, she hissed softly. It was Tasa who grabbed her arm, stopping her from charging at the wolf, her head shaking and their eyes meeting for a brief moment. The sisters came to a silent understanding that for the moment the vamps would be their focus and let the wolf help take some of them out. Tasa tossed a look over her shoulder at the wolf just before she turned her anger towards a vamp, savagely taking it down. She was nearly as wild as the things she fought, at times while Ariane was more calculated and calm about it all.

As hoped a few followed the scent of richly flowing blood, and bonus that is was wolf blood, making them angrier and more stupid, though it slowed him down for the moment. The briefest of shifts was all he needed, sending the arrow back to its owner as a spear lodged in one fanged menace he threw back into the middle of the mix. His paws, heavier and sharper without the need of the knife swung at the next, cleaving the body in two and sending its head sailing down the street. This one exploded in dust as the other had, but he was already on to the next, swinging, slicing and manuevering quickly despite the lame leg.

The splatter of blood and clouds of dust continued along with the sound of blows connecting and blades slashing into flesh. Both girls proved to be formidable and skilled, widdling the hoard of vamps down to a few left. Their energy was begining to wear down now, and with enough of them down they would soon make a break for it. Together they finished one more and turned, two were left to scrap with the wolf, who seemed to be doing a fine job of his own with battling them. Tasa nodded to Ariane to go get the truck, spinning her blade and making a move to go help finish off those the wolf fought.

He was slowing down a great deal now and his leg was sopped and heavy with his own blood. The wound itself had started to seal, but still stung. He swung out at the closest and this time missed as his balance shifted, giving the second one a chance to bowl him down.

As it took him down, Tasa dove at it, catching it by the chest and knocking it tumbling back into the first. She landed haphazardly over top the wolf and gave him a look as if he'd done something wrong by her falling on top of him.

"Good timing," he smiled up at her, tumbling her off quickly as another appeared above them. He was still quick to get back to his feet and help her up. "C'mon, get up and get out of here. There will always be more later."

She slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Fine thanks I get for not killing you and coming to help you finish these off. Next time I'll know better." She muttered as she got to her feet and took stance to face the remaining two vamps. "I'll make you a deal.. help me kill these last two and I won't even think of coming after you tonight."

He chuckled a little. "Fine thanks for not letting that one get the bite on you, sister," he said, sending one the last to ashes and dust with a swift paw. He'd let her finish the last one on her own. His arms slimmed down and molded back into human shape as he limped over to take up his own knife and stow it away.

After a moment or two of fighting she had the last down and had given the final blow. She pulled herself to her feet and sighed, turning to glare at him again as he gathered his knife. "I could have just killed you instead of offering you a bit of a break." She snipped, her hands resting on her hips and her eyes steady on him. "You'd be smart to play dead when my sister comes round with the truck..she has more arrows." She clipped smartly as she started to head out of the park. "Personally taking out a full nest of vamps can satisfy me for the night.. I could live with letting you off for now."

He seemed hardly concerned as he stood and brushed the dust off his jacket. "If that's all you live for, must be a dull life... pretty girl like you.. but what do I know? Your sister's a good shot," he admitted. He took the knife back out a moment and slit the leg of his jeans open a little around the hole. "Pretty deep. Glad she wasn't really trying to get me, so... thanks. Good enough?" The gap showed the hole that was now dry and beginning to fade, but still angry looking from where he'd made it more raw by pulling the arrow out.

Her eyes rolled and she shook her head. "I meant in the killing demon department.. I'm satisified with tonights work. As for what pleases me in other areas.. that's entirely none of your business." Her eyes roamed over him, down to the hole in his leg and she smiled. "She hardly ever misses.. You're lucky it was only your leg that got in the way. I meant it about playing dead.. " She cautioned him tilting her head as she tried to listen for the truck's engine.

"Never did learn new tricks well without treats to reinforce them for me," he teased, feeling her gaze roam over him. He wouldn't say he wasn't curious, but he wasn't curious enough to go lame in the other leg or anywhere else at the moment. He looked around at the slag that hadn't dusted but would once the sun came up. He sighed. "Second time I've left this party tonight. Should thank me for clearing off a couple dozen before you two even showed up. That... would have been helpful. And I meant it about there will always be more. Have a nice night.. and um.. stay out of trouble, would ya?" He motioned to the mess they'd made of her as well.

She chuckled a smile showing itself to him as she nodded, pulling her eyes away from him finally. "Sure.. thank you." She murmured softly, hearing the truck coming closer near the edge of the park. Her shoulder brushed his as she moved to step around him. "Aww.. but trouble is so much fun." She pouted and winked, turning her pace more quickly to meet the truck before her sister trained an arrow on him. There would be another time to catch this wolf, he'd at least earned tonight.

He watched her trot off and turned himself toward the forest, deciding it was time for a little rest and a little dinner before finishing what he needed to do tonight.

[Lovely]

May 10, 2007
1 a.m.

Apparently they kept the same haunts as well as the same hours. He hadn't expected to run into her again, but he probably should have considering her skill and her sister's. If they were after him, he had every confidence she'd have finished the job already, or maybe that's what brought her here tonight. Only one way to find out. He smiled down from the fire escape as she passed below, admiring the outfit, what there was of it, from above just as much as he would close-up. "Shiny," he smirked, not sure if she was looking for him or if she was after the party he'd just left... again. He'd left enough standing, not finding what he was after, but maybe she would... unless she really was fishing for a different catch. "The outfit - sideline job when you're not hunting things?" He swung himself down over the rail, landing quietly near her.

She was starting to wonder if the outfit was a bust, if anyone really liked it.. and then there was the guy who called her Tassie and she nearly broke her not harming humans without just cause rule. She thought it was just cause but.. with a sigh she walked down between the buildings, looking for something to take her aggression out on. That was when he 'showed up' and she heard shiny.. "Wondered if anyone liked it.." She murmured turning to face him and her look told him what she thought of his other comments. Her eyes just narrowed. "It attracts the things I hunt.. they happen to like pretty girls.. "

He gave a guilty nod, shrugging a little as his hands dug into the pockets of his coat. "So do I. Does that mean you're hunting me?"

Tasa gave him a slight smirk and folded her arms, her hip shifting slightly. "Should I tell you.. if I am?"

Each movement was noted and his guard up, just in case. "Well, let's just say, if you're not, it's really interesting that we both ended up here again, don't you think?"

She wet her lips, making them glisten softly as the light found them. "Small world?" She still smirked, her eyes sparkling amused and playfully dangerous. "Heart or head?"

"Which one to put a hole in?" He glanced around, looking for the sister with the arrows. "Won't gain much out of either one, so save the ammo. Unless you have a more creative means of leaving your mark?"

"Hmm cutting off your head would certainly leave a mark wouldn't it?" She took a step towards him, bold but cautious.

"Why do something like that? Better yet, why not tell me what stopped you before?" His curiosity was the line, knowing she'd cross and demonstrate now. "Oh, that's right. Third time's a charm."

"You are what you are.. that's not my fault." She shrugged, another step closer to him, her breath puffing out in a soft cloud in the cool air. The chill had crept over her bare skin in the few moments they'd been out here, but she didn't shiver.

"Then let me be. I haven't attacked you and don't plan to, hell, I even thought I could help you, not that you needed it. We agree to part ways, I live, you live, we both live happy. Sound good?"

"Why would I let you be?" She asked with a soft chuckle. "Help me? right.. help me with my throat problem.. or that all my limbs are still attached. You know I saw the bodies.. or what was left of them.. d**n viscious and I'm supposed to just let one of those things walk?"

"Which bodies might those be? I might be vicious, but I think you have me mistaken for the wrong beast," he grinned a little coldly, the animal grinning out behind his stare as he watched her. "Cuz I don't let those just 'walk' either. But, I don't expect you to understand that."

"Right.. I'm sure you're just offing your buddies or brothers or however you animals think of each other." Her eyes flashed a deep rage behind the mostly cool exterior, obviously 'this' ran deeper than the surface. "Pretty boy like you.. bet you're the bait. Flash those eyes and that smile.. melt the lovely girls so the others can come in and drag them off."

His smile dimmed a little toward concerned. She didn't think he was... "What girls?" He looked around the street and empty shadows. "If that's what I do, I must suck cuz there's only one pretty girl here, now. I don't work like that and I'm sure as hell not bait."

"What girls?" She nearly spat at him, angry enough to poke at his shoulder with her fingers. "That's what brought us here!.. the girls that they keep finding mangled and in pieces.. those girls.." Her voice came out at a low hiss, her eyes darting to the side, judging how close she was to where her knife had been stashed. In the outfit she'd worn, there was no place to hide.. anything.

He saw the glance and grabbed at the hand that poked, trying to hold her from darting away. "I'll tell you again. Mistaken identity," he insisted softly, feeling his own blood boil that someone was framing him for this. "Those girls were the ones I couldn't help in time."

"Mistaken.. hmmm." She tried to pull her hand away as he caught it and her eyes lifted to his. "Then why is the trail leading to you? Why are you out here with me? Why do I keep running into you on this..? Tell me you're not what you appear to be.. not the same species as what we know killed those girls.. and killed is putting it lightly. Tell me why you would help them.. or is it help them to become the main fun for your buddies.. why don't you just give the signal and get them out here so we can really go at it? Or am I too much for you, baby?"

"I am what I appear to be, but not -who- you think. I'm not helping them. I'm hunting them, same as you," he said quietly for her and her only to hear, taking his words closer to her face and bringing her scent closer to himself to learn it, memorize it. "No signals, no buddies, and no, you're not."

He surprised her by coming closer the way he did, it almost seemed.. she took a step back finding the wall closer than she realized. d**n his eyes were something.. why did he have to be..? She swallowed, faltering in her tough front for a glimmering moment. "Where is your pack then?" She asked him quietly, tugging again at the hand he'd captured in his.

He let her hand go. It wasn't her he was wanting to fight, but would in defense if she persisted. He leaned on the wall behind her shoulder, opening himself up but offering trust if she'd accept it in return as he searched her eyes for some understanding of his honesty. "Scattered. Some dead, most missing, hunting like I am to clear their name and live quietly like they like."

The wall scraped her bare back as she shifted, looking directly to his eyes as he spoke, her tongue moving across her lips. She'd hunted and killed quite a few demons in her time, though her time had not yet been long. Not one of them made her feel the way this one did, there had been those who'd tried to charm her or her sister to fool them, but none of them felt the way he did. She cleared her throat softly. "So.. say I buy your story.. If I told you to get the hell out of town, would you? They aren't living quietly here and that means you're going to be in all the wrong places."

"Probably not," he chuckled. "Miss all the fun of killing what's putting my family's name to shame? Hell no. If you mean running across you again and again is putting me in all the wrong places... maybe I don't mind."

"Somehow I knew you wouldn't." She whispered, pushing her back off the scratchy wall, which brought her closer to him. "We're here to hunt and fight.. and kill.. if you want a quiet life.. you're in the wrong town. And maybe I'll mind if one of my sister's arrows catches you."

"Thanks for the concern," he nodded, a little surprised by the admission, or was it just to get his guard down? "That I'll mind, and that I'll worry about. As for right now, what happens when I step back? Do I get a knife in it or do we have an understanding that we're really on the same side?"

She sighed, giving him a slight smile as she held up her empty hands. "If you're worried about stepping back.." There was a hint in her voice that maybe she was inviting him to remain close, or was she simply showing him the empty hands to mean she wouldn't go after him. "As for the same side.. that remains in question."

"Maybe you should ask why I didn't just...," his words tapered off to a soft breath over her neck as he leaned closer a moment before pushing off the wall. "This town isn't what you think it is, either," he said, taking a step away. "You'll believe me when they come after us both.

Her shiver at the breath over her neck would be noticable as close as he was and her teeth caught her lip. He stepped back and her eyes smouldered at him. "Just because the bad guys are chasing you.. doesn't make you good." Tasa wrapped her arms around her hardly covered form and gave him a look. "So.. why didn't you just..?" She asked softly, more curious now that he'd said something.

He grinned gently, the animal behind his eyes still surging to rip and rend, but not at her. "Because maybe I mind if something happens to you. Go put some clothes on. The ones you want will smell you before they see you anyway."

Tasa chuckled, shaking her head a little. "Oh.. so now you don't like my outfit... men." Her smile teased as she shifted to step around him, leaning to reach behind the dumpster and pull out the knife that was wrapped in a cloth. The fabric fell away and she caught it to toss it into the dumpster. "Wait.." She turned to look at him. "Did that mean I smell bad.. or good?"

"One man's bad...," he shrugged a little, the grin widening more as he made no secret of taking in another whiff himself. "You smell like trouble... the kind I don't mind finding... again. Don't let that out of your hand again." He motioned to the blade and started to move off again, slowly at first.

She tried not to feel as warm as it made her when he took in her scent and teased her, d**n it he could probably smell.. that nearly made her blush. "Thanks." She murmured as he moved off, looking at the knife in her hand. "Only one place to hide it in this outfit and I sure as heck wasn't trying to fit this there."

"No, I can think of much better things, Trouble," he agreed, calling her the only fitting name he had for her. He was thinking of much better things having nothing to do with knifes but bit about the rest of that image. He had to leave, at least get out of the open the way she was clouding his thoughts.

She stiffled the chuckle as he called her trouble.. interesting name he'd chosen. She stepped up the sidewalk a few feet and glanced to him. "Can I drop you somewhere?" She nodded toward the bike she was heading to, offering him a ride out of this neighborhood at least. She wasn't sure if that was a wise idea, but she did have to go change and.. she kinda liked his company. Her fingers fiddled with the handle of the knife, gently tapping the blade on her thigh. This wasn't good.. she couldn't like him.

"I'm fine. Thanks. Got work to do," he said motioning away and down the alley with a smile. "Maybe next time." He moved fast and quiet on his feet, even in street clothes and boots, taking a few more long strides before turning and jogging away to the shadows.

She watched him go and then let out a sigh, looking skyward with dark troubled eyes. "Yeah.. better this way anyway." She shook her head gently, sliding the knife away as she straddled onto the bike. Taking a quick look around as she started it up, she scolded herself for finding him good looking then took off smoothly down the dark street.

[Lovely]

July 29, 2007
2pm

Those she fought during 'work hours' might find the sight of her in her 'off time' a bit shocking. It was unlikely any of them would have this picture of her - she wore a kind of 'romantic' but simple skirt with peasant top. She'd spent the late morning walking through the market, her hair loose and flowing. Now and then she stopped to smell some flowers but did not buy them, as she had to save that money for other supplies.

As the hours passed and the morning shifted to noon Taisian headed off to the park, laying on a blanket with some books in front of her and a few pieces of fruit she picked up while at the market. The afternoon was beautiful, a day most were eager to get out and enjoy, Tasa found herself shielded from the warm sun, under the branches of a large tree in dapled shade -reading up on wolves no less.

"Interesting book, but the author's a quack. Better off reading the Inquirer." The voice would be as familiar as the form and the sudden entrance was likely no surprise either. He'd smelled her and her apples, but he wasn't here to fight. In this light he seemed every bit normal in his track jersey and running shoes, the darkened "V" lining the center of the shirt and clinging to the muscular frame underneath. The football was perhaps more startling than the rest, being held under his arm a moment before he hurled it to a young teen who waited with his friends nearby to resume the game.

She didn't look up right away, though a slight and not unpleasant shiver ran through her at the sound of the familiar voice. Her small dagger pierced one of the chunks of apple she'd cut up while reading. Tasa hadn't gotten far in the book and her eyes left the page to close for a moment. He's just a wolf, she told herself. "They didn't have the Inquirer where I stopped." She replied smartly, flipping the cover closed on the book and finally looking up to take the sight of him in. Her eyes flickered past his shoulder at the boys who played ball, she sized them up quickly and wondered if they were wolves as well. Her gaze came back to him and she licked her lips gently, damn why did he have to look so good all sporty and sweaty and stop thinking like that! "So.. what about this one?" She held up one of the other volumes she'd aquired, 'sneaking off' somewhat and not telling her sister what she was researching this time.

"Hmm, better, but I wonder why you're reading fairy tales and other nonsense, hm? Wolves? Vampires? C'mon," he teased, but not for her benefit. He waved off the boy who figdeted with the ball a minute, waiting for him, letting him go back to his friends alone for a while. He squatted down and held a hand out for the book. "May I?"

She watched the kid go off and then nodded, handing him the book. "Not vampires.. I know nearly everything one can know without being one. Been hunting them for longer than someone my age should have been doing anything.. wolves are a different story. I don't know as much about them."

"No, I'm sure you don't," he grinned. In this light and without a common enemy, there was no indication he was anything other than a regular college co-ed playing with the neighborhood kids in the park. "Sudden interest? Want to find out the best way to kill me even though I told you I'm not the one you want?"

"What makes you think I don't want you?" She countered, pausing as she realized how she said it and her cheeks heated with a blush. "I mean.. " She shook her head and chuckled softly. "I want to know more than the best way to kill one, though that information will be very useful."

He shrugged, choosing not to embarrass her worse, though his grin showed he took the compliment anyway and maybe returned it a little. "You could try to interview one... if you knew where to find one willing to talk. You know.. maybe ask?"

In the light of day she did not appear the tough, hunter chick she became at night. With the warm sun making her skin glow and the highlights of her hair shine, she was just a girl.. feminine and soft. "What wolf would tell a hunter how to kill them?"

It seemed simple enough to him. "Same as any human teaches another to hunt anything it's after... cops after killers, soldiers after an enemy... man against man... hunter against hunter? Why not a wolf against another wolf?"

"I don't know.. I suppose I hadn't thought of it that way. Usually don't 'they' get something out of it.. they have something to gain by going against their own? The killer gets life instead of the chair.. you know.. what do I have to bargain with?"

"I don't know... innocent girls getting to fulfill their life instead of getting early graves? Kids like those over there being able to walk to each others' houses after sunset without fear? Some sense in the normal world that the fairytales aren't really real?"

"If only I got to believe in them again too.." She whispered softly, looking off to a mother pushing her child on the swings a ways off. "I know why I do this. But what do I have to bargain with to get what I need? What do I offer in exchange for the valuable information?" Her bare toes curled in the earth as they hung just over the edge of the blanket, her shoes set to the side.

"A beating heart with your soul and conscience intact... which makes us not so unlike each other as you're trying to force yourself to think. If I was some irrational, senseless murdering machine, why would I have hesitated, not once, but each and every time, knowing what you know about me.. what you could do to me? You may succeed at it someday, maybe even soon, but I think you know I'm not a threat to you. What you have to bargain with isn't something you can hand over like a bag of gold... it's more subtle but so much more valuable." He shook his head and watched the mother she watched. "You have hope when everyone else in this town has terror."

She shook her head and reached to unclasp the choker, she and Ariane both always wore one, they varied to match with what each girl wore and Ariane's were wider than Tasa's. She paused and then closed her eyes, sweeping her hair back over her shoulder as the absence of the choker revealed a scar upon her neck. "I know terror." She whispered softly, opened her eyes to look at the mother and child again. "I stopped believing in fairy tales before I was that old." Her eyes were fixed on the child, remembering and longing for that innocence. "Is it hope.. or just being too stubborn for my own good?"

"Maybe both? Maybe you simply forgot? You have plenty to bargain for when you consider things as simple as that that can be lost," he said, now watching her. "Maybe the question you have to ask is who you're fighting for to start with to find your answer? Yourself? Your sister? If it's just on principal, then you're no better than they are."

She pulled the choker back over the scar and clasped it into place, brushing her hair back down and looking to the ground. She was quiet for a long moment. "I do it.. so that child will have his mother with him for one more day. I'd give almost anything.. for one more day. I don't even remember what she looked like.. though sometimes I think I hear her voice."

"You probably have. Was it here? Tell me, how long have you been here? I wasn't kidding you... what I told you. This is no ordinary town and there will always be more. At least as long as I've been here, there have."

"It was here.. I guess it was kind of famous for awhile.. since it wasn't just one or two.. it wasn't someone missing.. those things have kind of become normal here. This was.. my parents, my grandmother, my aunt, five brothers and sisters, three cousins.. and the dogs.. I don't get why they killed the dogs? It never really made sense to me.. but yeah it was here.. My sister and I were the only ones who survived.. barely. I don't know if that was an accident or what.. anyway.. we we're sent away to live with another uncle of ours."

He chuckled, though it was the sound of sad disbelief and frustration. "The dogs... are not really different from people when you're like this, somewhere in between. They have eyes and ears, they can smell, they can remember, no different than any other family member. Why any of them? That's what I'm after. I don't know if you believe me and it doesn't matter. Another day... sounds great."

"Because they were demons.. because it was sick and twisted and they enjoyed torturing us." She spoke coldly, lifting her gaze to the mother and child again. "Because before they came.. we we're like that.. I'll never get one more day.. and I'll never have what that woman has. You can't ever go back to not knowing.. once you know."

"I meant why you, your family. I understand what they're about, but that's just it. Them... they... not me, not my own family. I don't expect you to get that, and you won't, not reading this crap," he said finally tossing the book down and sitting down to stretch out his legs. "I can't ever go back either, but unlike you, I was given a choice."

"You think they needed more reason then.. we we're there?" She asked soft and cool, but not quite as cold. Her arms wrapped around her for a moment and then she picked up the book he'd tossed aside, tucking that one with the other in her bag. "It was a start.. why is it crap?" She glanced at his face and then away, curling her knees up and resting her arms over them. "Were you given a chioce of whether you wanted to know the truth or go on in blissful ignorance? Or was it just the choice to be what you are?" She looked back to him, suddenly more curious and having more questions waiting on the tip of her tongue. "Why did you choose this? How long ago.. how old are you?"

"It was a bargain.. them or me. My family is scattered and hidden for a reason because I made them go. I chose this to save them and blissful ignorance would have been short-lived just like the one that did this to me. I started a war that day... longer ago than it looks."

"Your family... are they.. like you?" Her voice softened more with each word, until it was no longer cold and cutting. "Come on now.. don't be shy.. how old are you?"

"Only a brother, but I haven't seen him out here in about five years. Hope I don't to tell you the truth. I wouldn't want him to cross you in a dark alley," he grinned. "I don't even know if he is still alive, but I believe he is. I want to believe they all are, but I don't have a way to know. I just know what I need to do to keep them safe."

"Get rid of the hunters?" She sort of smiled and leaned a little to perch her chin on her arms. "I doubt you'll believe I'm sincere.. but I'll hope they are too."

"I'm a little more selective than that, seeing as you and I are hunters as well... and thank you." He stood up slowly. "They're waiting on me for the game. I should go and let you read, if you think you can believe what a book will tell you better than experience itself."

"If only all of them were as nice as you are.. but reality is.. and I'd rather not get stuck alone with one and not know how to defend myself to the fullest." She admitted softly, she was lucky she came across him and not another.

"You already do. We're just tough, not indestructible. Arrows... those work pretty well, but if you really need to know... just remember your dogs."

Her eyes grew wide as the image that came to mind was very gruesome and held the pain and terror of that night with it. Her lips parted in a gasp as she snapped her gaze away from him, swallowing hard and quickly getting to her feet. "I.. thanks.." She hurried off across the grass, pulling her bag on her shoulder, but leaving her shoes and blanket behind.

"Hey! You forg-.... hey guys, I'll be back. Put Danny in for me, you'll be fine!" He called after her, pulling her up the pieces she left behind and calling to the boys that were waiting. He didn't know if she heard him and he jogged to catch up. "What was that? Hey?!"

She heard him but didn't really as she hurried away, it was when he came up closer, moving beside her that she realized he was there. She turned her face quickly away, to try to hide her damp cheeks from him. "Hey.."

"Um... your shoes... and this. I'm sorry. Memories... I didn't think... I'm sorry. Here, before you hurt yourself," he said reaching her shoes out to her.

"No.." She shook her head, reaching to press her fingers lightly over his lips to stop his apologies. "It's not your fault.." Tasa looked at the shoes he held out and then down to her bare feet. "I feel a little stupid.. I just spent so long not talking about it, or thinking about it.. or being able deal with it. Can you imagine if I'd ever told anyone what I remember about that night.. it would be a padded room and a straight jacket.. I guess never talking about it.. I didn't realize.. I'm sorry."

"Seems like you need to talk as much as you need to ask questions. Have I looked at you yet like I think you're crazy? No. And I won't. Look, if you want, if you will, give me the benefit of the doubt, okay, but tell me what you know, ask me what you want and I'll tell you what I know to help you."

"No.. but considering what you are.. I think you'd believe me about what happened. Unless all this is really some psychosis and I am locked in that padded room." She looked to his face and gave him that half smile again. "That would make you.. just a dream too.."

"If I were just a dream, I wouldn't be what I really am and these wouldn't be real," he said, dropping her shoes for her to slip on and brushing the dampness off her cheek. "And you'd already know my name, but you don't, do you?"

Her face turned into his hand as she gently shook her head, her eyes closed for a moment as she rested her cheek against his palm. "No, I don't." Only her slender feet shifted to slide into her shoes again, the rest of her remained as she stood.

"Then if you want to know, you'll ask me that and anything else that's going to help you. Come find me tonight. Give me something to write on and I'll tell you where. If you're there, then maybe we can trust each other enough to talk, okay?"

Her eyes opened to stare at him with a different sort of spark to them, than that of the angry hunter. With a slight nod she fished into her bag to pull out a scrap of paper and a pen, these she handed over to him. Biting her lip with a nearly shy expression, she finally asked. "What is your name?"

He gave her a playful look and grin and looked back to the address he scribbled, a place not far from the old warehouses and rooves where they first met. "Answers later. You'll need to be able to hear them and stay on your toes... not be distracted. If you have to bring your sister, fine, but I'd rather it was just you."

"You tell me to ask you.. and then you put me off? Makes me wonder what you're up to." She curled the paper in her hand and tucked the pen into her bag. "I guess I'll see you tonight."

He chuckled. "I'll answer, but not now. They call me JC, if that's good enough, but that leads to more questions and so on and so on... just meet me tonight, okay?"

Her lips twitched and curved into a soft smile. "I'll think about it." With a soft sigh she took a step back. "I won't be wearing a dress, though." She nodded to the guys playing ball and motioned to him. "You should get back to your game. I've probably distracted you long enough."

"You sound like that'll stop if you leave," he said softly, sincerely with a little grin. The admission sparked a small amount of shyness that swirled up with the animal beneath, tinting his eyes in an even more charming fashion. "Wear whatever you want. It's not the clothes I care about. See you tonight, then. Anytime after dark."

"It won't?" She asked shyly, watching his eyes with wonder and brushing her hair behind her ear. "I.. um.. I should go.." She found herself reluctant to leave his company, she was curious and anxious to know more and he was leaving her in suspense. The wait to meet him later would be a gentle agony.

He shook his head... no, it wouldn't. "Just don't believe everything you read, deal?" He started to back away toward the game.

"Eh.. I heard it was crap anyway.. I'll just return it and find a better source." She gave him another soft smile and a little wave of her fingers as she started to slowly turn away.

He jogged back into the middle of the game, holding his hands out for the ball, though he turned a moment to watch her go.

She walked through the dappled shade of a large tree, the light casting her in a warm glow, she was just beautiful girl crossing the park. A light breeze lifted strands of her hair and carried them back to trail softly behind her.