Forget Me Not.

[Skylar]

The weather was unhallowed, unnatural - the clouds an endless string of gray and black. Lightening illuminated all it could reach in quick flashes of vengeance as it tore ‘cross the sky. A howling wind blew without mercy, bending the trees with its breath. One might think on a night such as this that the world could swallow you up.....but spit back out, it did.

From the heavens it fell, a streak of brightness through the clouds unlike any electrical storm, plummeting toward the surface with speed unparalleled. On the moment of impact clumps of sod flew from the object until it finally slowed then came to rest.

A small hole was left, with a crevice behind it, looking only like a tale, like a comet etched into the land. Within the hole however lay something of more interest. This is where her story will start.


Darkness. It was all she could remember, and with a start she sat up abruptly. Upon her first inspection she found herself surrounded by dirt, the smell of earth welcoming. Clawing toward the sky, she pulled herself out, only to realize her nude form. While dirty, her flesh remained flawless and radiant.

Betwixt squinted eyes, caused by a furrowed brow, she glanced over each shoulder. Nothing seemed familiar to her. She could not recall ever being in this place, nor the journey to get here. Suddenly her nakedness made her feel vulnerable. No weapons, save for her own body, no clothing - only a necklace that hung around her neck engraved with an A. An A that meant nothing to her....

Crouching, she took a moment and closed her eyes. There was no sound, no smell of danger, and the growl from within told her she would soon need nourishment. With no real idea on which way to travel, she averted her eyes of the darkest emerald toward the sky.

And with a yawn, the heavens subsided. The clouds parted ways and the moon stretched its reach far and wide. The wind left nothing but a whisper in its wake, and the only thing that littered the sky were the stars that appeared just beyond ones reach.

[Sage]

If they had not been in Kalmarden, the sight of their approach would be a frightening display. In the dark of night, several cloaked figures encircled the site of the incident before most would have even been aware of it. There were four of them, dressed in white lead by a shorter person in red. The way her garb clung to her form gave away her gender, and the complexion they all bore, coupled with the full moon gave away that they were human. Vampires would have been paler, and if they had been werewolves, they would have been much longer, and unable to move in such a calm and casual manner.

Whereas the girl seemed to be defenseless, these people were trained to kill for their livelihood. Their combined swagger was affected by the weight of heavy swords slung from their hips. The woman in front had a shield hung from her shoulders that looked weighted so that she should not be able to bear it's burden, and the men that followed carried bows, and quivers of arrows with strangely glowing points on theirs.

The superior stepped forward, eyes wary and searching as they took in the form of the stranger. It was the full moon, and no risks would be taken. Whether she was human or vampire, threat or not, she wasn't safe in the open, and she wouldn't spend long taking care of business. Carefully, slowly, she unhooked the leather straps which attached the shield to her. She released it, sending it to the ashen ground with a loud 'thunk'. She whipped the red garment off her own back and tossed it to the girl's feet, unwilling to place it on her herself. Her expression remained serious, but stoic. There should be no fear of her, yet. She was only there to discern what had happened, and whether assistance was required.

" My name is Annalise Kingsley, of The Guard. What is your name, and from where do you hail? "

[Skylar]

Their foot falls were heard before their images were seen. It was almost haunting, the way they trailed after one another toward her, and for a moment she simply watched them. Oddly enough, there was no fear instilled within her at their arrival, though the thought of being a prisoner didn’t strike a good chord with her, the thought of running into the unknown didn’t either. Surely they had knowledge of the land she was in, which made them one step ahead of her already.

As she stood and took a deep breath, the smell that wafted into her nostrils caused her mouth to water. And with another deep breath, and a quiet chastise to herself, she was back under control. Cautiously, she took the cloak from the ground, securing it about her body, offering a nod in thanks.

“I..” Her words trailed off at that, leaving a confused look upon her face. Her eyes turned to the woman who spoke to her, it would not be far from reach to say that there was fear there. Not fear of these people, nor this woman, but fear of what she couldn’t remember. As of now, that was almost everything....

“I’m sorry, I do not know.” Her voice was meek as she spoke. Partly from shame, but mostly from the feeling of vulnerability she was feeling. It was apparent to her that she was not human. An impact like the one she had survived would not have been by just anyone...and the hunger that rose in her at their smell......she knew what she was, above that there was nothing.

“I mean no threat, nor can I tell you why I am here, wherever here is...” She forced a smile, elongated canines exposed as her lips peeled back over them. Asking for assistance was something she didn’t wish to do, perhaps this told her she was strong willed, however the circumstances being as they were, she didn’t have much of a choice. “Is there somewhere close by I can wash up, and figure out what has happened?”

The thought then crossed her mind - perhaps they are not as friendly as they appear. Perhaps they would kill her the moment they realized what she was. Were that true, would they not have killed her already? Would they have offered her clothing? She straightened her back slightly, looking for the closest opening in the forest wall. Running may be cowardice, but cowards live to see another day, and she needed to know who she was, and why she was here. That alone was reason enough for her.

[Sage]

When she spoke, it would be clear to Annalise what she was, having lived alongside their kind for years. She raised an eyebrow as she took several careful steps backward into the safe proximity of her soldiers. She was vampire, and did not seem to be affiliated with the VonHagens. This meant that they, as humans, were not under any kind of understood protection. Cautiously, she spoke.

" When is the last time you fed, nightwalker? "

The question was not meant to sound like an accusation or to be offensive. It was purely for their safety. They felt as comfortable as humans could possibly feel--aside from Kraven--around vampires, but that did not mean it was not dangerous. Their lives were constantly at risk being around even familiar vampires, and the danger rose higher the longer they went without feeding. Annalise reached to her belt, and wrapped the fingers of her left hand slowly around a shapeless wooden object, stained orange and frayed at it's tip from multiple sharpenings and uses.

The Guardsmen behind Annalise seemed even more uneasy than her. Her answers were suspicious, and even fully trained, the likelihood of their ability to outfight a fully grown victim of vampirism was questionable without support. They whispered softly in her ear, each expressing a quick summary of their opinion before assuming a defensive stance.

" Kraven will need to know before we bring her to the stronghold... "

" ...she is not one of ours... "

" ...we cannot leave her out here to feed outside the Valley. "

Lieutenant Kingsley considered their opinions, and her eyes seemed to glaze as she differed to someone else, obtaining the opinion of a force not present. Her liquid orbs returned to their green hue, and she shook her head, swinging a black braid into place. When one tapped into someone else's telepathy...it always left a feeling of uneasiness.

" You are in Kalmarden. You are outside the borders of the Valley, and as a supernatural entity not within the House of either of the two governing families of Kalmarden...you are within our jurisdiction. You must understand that if we lead you to The Guard, you cannot be left alone until we can discern more about you. "

Her words would seem cryptic to one who might have lost their memory, but Anna would not risk the time it would take to explain further while so exposed. It was not the night for humans or vampires, either one, to be dawdling near the Highlands territory. Annalise turned her back on the woman, and walked through the defensive line made up of her men, who simply waited. The man standing furthest to the left would nod softly after their superior, conveying that they wished her to travel between the three men and her.

[Skylar]

“Please, I really mean no harm” Her words followed the womans back steps. “I know not when I last fed.” She searched over their faces, surely this was looking less then satisfactory to all of them. “I can’t remember anything before waking up there.” A quick nod toward the crater, her eyes not leaving that of the woman whom seemed to lead this small group.

Their hushed whispers meant little to the ears of the undead. She shook her head almost violently. “Pardon but..I will not intrude on any village to feed, I am no wild animal.” There was obvious insult in her voice. Even now, confused, and obviously lost, her control was still in order.

Curiously she watched as the woman conferred with an unseen presence. Were she in fact a human, she was strong beyond what most women would be considered. Perhaps this moment left more then just information, but respect.

“I understand.” She did not expect to be welcomed with open arms like a bastard child returning back home, nor did she expect to have full run of anywhere. She was a stranger, in their lands, who couldn’t even answer their simplest questions. Mainly; who she was...

She answered the nod of the men with one of her own, and holding the cloak tightly around her body, she followed. From time to time she tossed a glance over her shoulder, letting them know she was aware of their movements. Her mind may be blank to the memories of her being, but her instincts were still intact. And while she was a stranger to them, they were the same to her.

[Herald_of_Fate]

No light dare penetrate the austere shadows of his chambers as he sat, not slumbering as many of his vampire brethren would still be doing this early evening but deep in meditation, his aeromancy reading the most minute of data from the surrounding countryside carried on the air currents that flowed through the structure above. He'd already prepared for the journey to Xexoria, the broken country that held what could be the end of his species within its borders. But something in the night air disturbed him. He would feel the displacement of air as something entered this world, falling from the sky like some wayward star. Eijin would think that odd enough, if not, for the scent of something disturbing the earth near where the thing had fallen. Living things did not survive such a fall. He stood, donning his deep blue cloak and followed the winding steps up into the courtyard, noting the sun had already sunken behind the mountains distant. From here, he could smell and faintly hear the thunder of horses' hooves approaching. The Guard, scattered in positions on the battlements, felt it also; he could see the alertness, the sudden tension. The Ambassador stood ready, sensing something foreign with the approaching party. A vampire, yes...but not of Anabel's house. A rogue in Kalmarden...it was nearly unheard of. So close to the Mother, most vampires flocked here to show respect and swear fealty to her. Perhaps this would be but another of that number. Though it was not part of his official duty to greet such ones, Eijin remained where he was, intrigued. Most that came did not come escorted by the Guard. What was so very different about this one?

[Juhuro]

Clomp-clomp, clomp-clomp, clomp-clomp. It was a sound Gabriella Selbstmord had come to loathe. She hated riding on horseback with such fire, such passion, but this wasn’t something she could walk or take a carriage for. Of course, that’s why she made such a curious sight after dark, because in spite of her father’s attempts during her childhood to insure that she would only ride something noble and dependable as a thoroughbred, she rode on the back of one of her familiars. Over the years, she’d slowly developed her skills and had gone from being able to summon only Ira to six other familiars, one for most any situation she could fathom.

Kit. you see, was a very large fox-like creature, with very fox like features. Barring the fact it was at least two and a half times Gabriella’s size and trailing wisps of fire with every breath and step, one who knew what a fox looked like couldn’t distinguish it from a natural fox, at a distance. However, Gabriella was not one of those people; she’d never seen another one, and was comfortable in referring to it as Kit, short for Kitty, which is what it resembled the first time she saw it. This particular familiar was likely her favorite, it’s fur was a good deal like her hair, it was soft and had a rich color like red berries late in the harvest season, it was just as quick as a horse, and due to it’s paws, it made a soft padding noise on the ground, and it was capable of grasping the terrain under it, therefore making her a much harder person to catch when being chased, or attacked, for that matter, by projectiles.

Crimson irises looked skyward as she and her companion slipped across the terrain with all the grace a running animal could have, studying the moon. It was full, and thus, the area was dangerous; she would rather not be here anytime other than during the new moon because lycans made her nervous, but for that matter, so did vampires. But she had a mission, not from the Metsuke, not from Ravenshield, and not technically from her father, and that was to find Gerald. Or Ed. Whatever he was going by, it didn’t change things, he was her twin, and she needed answers. Their two brothers had vanished while looking for him, and she was determined to know what happened, and if there was any stock in their father’s hatred. Gaby had defected from under his thumb as well, but her thoughts had been stained by his influences anyway.

It’d only been a few days since she’d been at the port, where Gerald had been seen last, from what she gathered, where he’d been spotted leaving nearby a certain Kraven. She had to pay off a couple of people for even that small a bit of information, and following restocking her supplies, she set off on Kit, freshly summoned from the blasting flames of a smithy furnace and set off on her dash to and through the valley. A regular person might have skirted the area as much as possible, but she couldn’t miss an opportunity to close the gap between them, it’d taken about a day and a half of travel thus far, only stopping for a few hours so that she could rest while her beast hunted small creatures for sustenance, soon, she’d stop again, but not for fatigue or for something such as stopping because her bladder commanded it; she saw a group of people, people of the Guard, she gathered, escorting a red-cloaked person. Heels dug into the side of the beast subtly, signaling the obvious wish for speed, and with a small flash of flame, her wish was granted. Gabriella’s black cowl and cloak fluttered about as the wind whistled around her, revealing her pale skin and noticeably red everything else under the light of the moon.

The wind didn’t dishevel her appearance, her hair was carefully bound in a lengthy braid, ending at the bottom of her slim hips, her cloak was a thick material and was hard to wrinkle, and her clothing underneath it wasn’t loose, so it, too, was protected from looking wind ravaged. Though, as the distance closed, she felt a hot pain on her left shoulder blade, which was becoming a more common occurrence lately, causing her to clench her eyes shut and clutch Kit‘s fur tightly in her fists, her knuckles white. She knew that it was her wing getting prepared to break through, and she wished it would just hurry up instead of hitting her with a stabbing pain when it was crucial she look strong and authoritative. When she opened her eyes, she was merely a couple dozen paces from the Guard, and immediately noticing the woman carrying a rather large shield, whom Gabriella actually recognized, “Lieutenant Kingsley?” her voice rang like a bell, not giving away the fact she wasn‘t the young teen she appeared to be, ”I’m looking for a man I was told came this way recently - Edicius Selbstmord. The reports I gathered stated he came this way with a man named Kraven; have you or your men seen either of them?” Normally, the girl would have tried to use a little more finesse, but she had little time to waste. ”I’d really appreciate the information quickly,” she added, ”as you know, the Highlands are dangerous during the full moon.”

((OoC: Screw you Kyle for making me have to post this twice.))

[Jen]

The night was rampant with chaos and more than a little fear. The humans hated the full moon because there was always more than one threat. The Vampires fed every night. The Lycans fed only during the full moon.

So did their small pack of off breed bretheren.

There had been rumors of a Werefox community on Kalmarden. The only one of its kind in this part of the world and it was related, entirely, to Bartholomew Van Buren’s breed of Were. It was a long story, but the small pack kept to themselves and were often less hostile than the main Van Buren pack. There were only ten of them to the hundreds of the main pack, but they were cunning and vicious when cornered.

Cornered was not the case, in this matter, as Thanatos chewed on the remnants of a human arm. He heard some strange sounds down near the valley and took off in that direction, curious. The smell of his cousins was thick on the night air, nearly as thick as his own brethren. If anyone were to try to pick him out in the night, they would be at a loss. He was a dark red shade down his back, with a patch of silver running down his front. His tail ended in a tuft of black, and twitched restlessly as he followed his nose. Thanatos had all of the features of a fox, but in the slim and tightly fit body of a man.

As he neared the scene, Thanatos made an effort to make sound. He was usually quiet, but he didn’t exactly want to be shot or cut down, even if it wouldn’t kill him. Well, unless it was silver. Then he’d have a problem because he was allergic to the stuff. It was an inherent trait that he’d wished he hadn’t gained from his less than Fox-like Van Buren elder.

There were voices, and humans, and what looked like a cloaked Vampire he’d never had the pleasure of laying his eyes on. The Guard were familiar to him, though this pack of them he’d never seen before. The girl was new. His eyes traveled over her form briefly before falling to that of her mount. His jaw opened in shock at the knowledge that she was riding one of his own. Thanatos beat down the human half of his brain, the one that wanted to laugh and make a lewd comment, and made even more noise to show his presence as he stepped out into the clearing with the others.

He cut a rugged appearance, and a tough one at that. Sleek and beautiful though he might be, and boy was he vain sometimes, Thanatos was a good eight feet in height with muscles and fur and a fox for a face. He had his mouth closed, for now, but anyone that might focus on that aspect of his nature might find that he had far too many sharp teeth for their liking.

Unfortunately for Thanatos, his recent meal had stained his pretty white fur down his chest. He looked down, ran a clawed hand through the fur, shrugged and turned to the party. There were no entrails on his person at least! It was in his nature, and it showed that he had already fed and was, at least for now, completely sated.

“I am Thanatos Xylande. I could not help but hear your voices.” His own voice was deep and gruff. When he was a human he lost most of the rougher tones, but his voice was still deep. It spoke of ancient lines and matters, but he was hardly over four hundred years old.

“I suggest keeping your voices down. My cousins aren’t going to be as picky about their fare as I am.” Thanatos swished his tail back and forth, lurking on the edge of the forest with his keen brilliant eyes watching everyone. They were warm eyes, but no one would be able to discern their color in the darkness – full moon or no.

If the denizens of the clearing, and objects of Thanatos’ curiosity were smart – they would be wary of a Werefox. He was just as dangerous as a Werewolf, just smaller and somewhat easier to handle. His kind, however, prided themselves on cunning and intellect. Many times situations they found interesting became a game to them.

And this seemed like the perfect game to Thanatos.

[Sage]

Annalise rallied her men around the vampire girl, forming a protective circle, as she made her way to the back of the group. She snapped her fullshield before her with mercurial force, and withdrew her sword, gleaming in the moonlight with inlaid silver. Her mannerisms were purely defensive, and would be understood by a resident of Kalmarden. Humans did not make it to even her age without being careful.

Her eyes strained in the dark as she surveyed the person before her. It did not take her long to recognize who it was. The bright red eyes were a dead giveaway. Twice previous Kingsley had run into this individual and her bodyguard. They were in the employ of the Algerothian Monarchy, searching for dusty and useless old artifacts. But something had changed. She seemed a threat on a threat...on fire. And she seemed to be wounded, though not seriously. Still, a wounded human on the full moon riding a blazing mount was an inevitable attention-grabber, if not dangerous by their own right.

" Investigator Maralla. I'm afraid this is hardly the time for one of your treasure hunts. If the boy is alive, you should head toward the coast to find him, it's safest there for our kind. "

She would have seen fit to carefully extract herself from the presence of the girl with their guest then, if it had not been for an even more unsettling appearance. At first glance, she misinterpreted what she was seeing, and her heart leapt into her throat, causing her feet to dig into the earth as she swung low, ready to fight. As the light revealed the true nature of the beast before her, she relaxed a fraction. Werefoxes weren't any less dangerous than your average wolf, but they were marginally less likely to attempt to eat you, especially if you outnumbered them. They retained a lot more of their clever nature while transformed.

" Greetings, Thanatos. I am Annalise Kingsley of The Guard. We are simply here investigating a disturbance, and will gladly leave without incident. " The normally authoritative officer's voice shook slightly as she began to back into a thickly wooded area, readying themselves to flee. This was not an ideal situation by any account.

[Herald_of_Fate]

The scents of the groups gathering in the countryside reached his nostrils, the phermones and aromas weaving a tableau of the happenings outside within Eijin's mind. Truly these gathered people didn't entirely enter the realms of his duties as Ambassador nor his more ambigious role as Anabel's most lethal assassin, but his natural curiousity and the escalated threat posed by the Plague moved him to act rather than merely observe. Thus the Killer of Four Winds rose into the air, bourne on the wind over the gates and into the forest beyond.

He landed silently in a tree just above and behind Annalise, the limb creaking just a little under his weight, the air not allowing the slightest sign that he was there even to the sharp senses of the creatures below. Algerothians? The seekers were not among Eijin's favorite people, but the Ambassador held his personal feelings in check. They dug for secrets best left buried, disturbed what the natural flow of time had chosen to lay unknown. His rich tenor voice pierced the night, his tone of slightly concealed amusement. "Captain Annalise, you certainly are high strung this evening," the warrior mused, falling from his perch and landing softly beside her. "I do not believe there is need for violence this evening. Is there?" His eyes turned to the werefox and the Algerothian, his tone immediately addressing them. There was no threat in it. Indeed there was little need for it. A contigent of the Guard and Anabel's own master assassin would be quite a force for anyone. Not many being would be eager to challenge such a force. In truth, Eijin didn't plan on allowing things to reach that point.
"They seem to be merely passing through. And we are hospitable people. Please, Captain, lower your weapons and relax."

Eijin half turned to eye the newcomer among the Guard, the vampire woman they'd discovered on the plains. A strange sense flowed over him, a feeling unfamiliar and nearly unwelcome. It felt as though a bolt of electricity was surging through his body, lighting every nerve and fiber. He looked down at himself, feeling his cloak rise from his shoulders unbidden. This had only happened once before when he was young and first learning of his Aerokinesis. He knew it for what it was but still he did not understand it. "What is..this?" He whispered to himself. Electric discharge began to arc from his fingers to the ground. "Captain...take your troops back to the estate. I will escort...her..." Eijin said, gasping as he struggled to rein in what was happening. What was it that was causing this? His first meeting with another vamp had awakened his Aeromancy...was this new vampire the cause of it? Was this a new power? He focused in much the same way he did to use his power over air and slowly the electricity subsided. He shook himself, unnerved by the sudden lack of control. His gaze locked with the vampiress. "Who are you?" He said, taking a step closer. "Where do you come form? You are god-touched...". God-touched. His mother told him of ones like her. People on whom the wheels of Fate seemed to turn. They, by their very presence, brought change. Was she such a one? The fact that she'd turned him into a lightning rod was strong evidence.

[Skylar]

So quickly things had happened she thought perhaps her head might spin from her shoulders. Keeping it all straight in her mind proved to be a challenge as well. The blood of the humans taunted her senses, and yet she remained composed although she felt the hunger rise within her. Humans, and werefox, lycans? They all hit a familiar cord somewhere deep within her, but at this point, she remained silent.

With a fluid motion she brought the hood of the cloak up over her head, from person to creature her eyes darted, feeling the tenseness of the guardsmen that thus far seemed to protect her. What had she landed in the middle of, literally? She tried to soak it all in, remember names and such, but it seemed there was a “short” in her brain, flashbacks scorching through her mind in tiny sporadic moments that added up to little, really.

None of them addressed her, but she knew she also did not go unnoticed. It was obviously her arrival that had caused all these beings to come to this location. Still, she held tightly to the cloak that covered her nude form, keeping watch on the individuals actions, ready to fight or flee, whichever may be.

And then.....

The air may have kept his secret, but some how, some way, throughout her entire being she felt him. From between parted lips, she gasped ever so slightly. She dare not look at him as he made his presence known to the groups around her, that was until he mentioned escorting her. Sharply she looked up at him as he spoke.

“I do hope this is not how you welcome all guests that travel within your domicile.” Her tongue was teetering on sharp, but her eyes held a softness generally not seen within their people. “I have answered these questions, and again I will say, I have no recollection as to anything beyond my waking up here.” As he stepped closer, she pulled her chin up.

“I’ve merely asked for shelter where I may bath, find clothing, and feed before I lose control. I implore you, sir. Is it really necessary to badger me out here, where it seems unsafe, while I am nude and still confused myself? If it is humiliation you are seeking, you are all doing a spectacular job at it.” She was clearly upset with the situation, and while voicing her opinion may not be the best of ideas, it was what felt right to her, and for now, her instinct was all she had to hold onto.

[Juhuro]

Dark red eyebrows furrowed as Lieutenant Kingsley dismissed her with information she already knew. For Naos’s sake, she went into possibly dangerous situations all the bloody time. She and Xavier had nearly been buried in rubble because someone had gone to great lengths to hide a small portion of an Ak’Vahr in a cave that they didn’t maintain; after a while, the beams that held up the walls and low ceilings began to rot into brittle husks of what they should have been. Even though low was relative; Gabriella had no issues walking through the tunnels comfortably, but Xavier, being a half foot taller, had to stoop. Lieutenant Kingsley, while your concern is appreciated, this isn’t a treasure hunt, it’s to find out where my brothers are or what happened to them. And as it happens, my only lead is Edicius S--.”

Her statement was cut short by her mount of choice fidgeting nervously at the approach of something… terrifying. It was one of the beasts she had hoped to avoid, or, well, a cousin of said beast. A were fox, damnit! her mind’s voice stated flatly, clearly displeased with the proximity of something so tall, so powerful, so dangerous. She did not care for his name, or his words; she felt like a hen, and that the fox wouldn’t mind an after dinner snack, especially the one who was both the smallest and riding on a familiar that took form as one of his species. She could feel the label ‘persona non grata’ being placed on her from those devious eyes.

Her hesitance was noticed by her familiar, called so for good reason, who turned slightly away from Thanatos, preparing to dash at a high-speed pace should any funny business come from him. Kit knew Gabriella well, could sense what she was thinking, smell her reactions to situations across the gamut of disinterested and ignored to high fear and unbridled rage. And suddenly, there was a new visitor; a low-pitched growl escaped from Kit’s maw, alerting it’s rider, and possibly the were fox to it’s presence. Gabriella, or Maralla, depending on who you knew her as, was usually the only one who could understand the various tools and companions she employed with magical means, but that was due to the bond she was able to find, summon, and strengthen them through. Her eyes, unlike the woman in red, immediately went to the branch of the tree, following Kit’s gaze, the threat of mere moments ago no longer being watched due to another, newer threat they knew even less about.

As the man casually leapt from his perch to beside her acquaintance, the shield bearer, Kit instinctively rose back onto her haunches, the alarm from her rider’s mind meshing well as a staff, normally strapped to her back was brandished. She might have been a stranger in a strange land, but she wasn’t entirely naïve enough to leave herself open when something moved so quickly; Kit’s own defense mechanism showed when he began using his now much apparent aeromancy, by leaping back further, the scruff of her neck raised and her teeth bared, accompanied by another small flash of scarlet flames by her paws and a wisp of flame flicking off of her tail. Gabriella had clearly never seen Kit become so agitated, and her surprise was apparent in her face as she again grasped a patch of fur, gaining purchase on the mount so that she wasn’t flung off. While Kit’s instinct was apparently showing itself as fight, Gabriella’s was, for the moment, flight, even if she needed information.

[Jen]

Thanatos snorted as he sat back on his haunches and watched the proceedings. He didn’t have much of a vested interest in all of these people running willy nilly around in their own little world. To him they were snacks on legs. Unfortunately, they were typically fast legs and Thanatos was satisfied – for now.

“I’ll not harm a hair, or patch of fur as it were –“ Thanatos nodded at the fox familiar, eyeing the creature curiously. It almost looked as if he desired to strike up a conversation with it. “I merely came down to see what the racket was about. You vampires are a loud lot. You humans are even louder.” He snorted again and his tail flicked about in an agitated manor.

“Vampire, I’d greatly appreciate you not sparking like a lightning bolt around me. It’s very aggravating and disturbs my fur.” Now, Thanatos was serious. His eyes were on Eijin and he was watching him closely. His eyes narrowed as he took in the cloaked Vampire that wasn’t from around here. God touched indeed.

Thanatos frowned for a moment, resting his forearms on his knees as he sat a distance from the group. He didn’t want the hens clucking any louder and drawing any more attention than was needed. That was not to be the case, however.

“Great. Now look what you’ve done you bunch of ninnies.” Thanatos covered his eyes with one clawed hand and sighed. In the distance there was a soft sound, almost a whisper of a growl.


“What’s going on here?” A shape, indistinct and bulky, descended from the treetops behind the group and off to the left of where Eijin would be standing. As it stepped forward the bulk began to collapse in on itself, the voice becoming more recognizable. The shadowed shape stepped into a patch of moonlight and moments later other bodies would begin dropping from the trees, crouching low before falling in behind the figure.

Anabel lifted her chin as her guard assembled themselves around her in a semi circle. She looked vicious in a black dress, her form still shaping back into something resembling human as she walked toward Eijin. His electric vibes were not to go unnoticed as she neared him. She frowned, her hair blacker than a moonless night. Her eyes were a dark velvety green and she smiled, her long slender fangs just noticeable in the light.

“I see we have had a bit of a hiccup in transporting what I requested.” The what happened to be the Vampire in the semi-circle of humans. Ana motioned with one hand to a few of the guard behind her. They positioned themselves at varying points around the human guard surrounding the lone Vampire in question.

“Good Evening Thanatos. I trust that the hunting goes well?” Ana spoke without looking at Thanatos. She heard him snort and make some sound that resembled a reply. He wasn’t going to touch the people that were affiliated with her, and he wouldn’t touch her children. It was a testament to the longevity of his clan brothers that they followed the law and treaty to the very letter.

“Can we get this child to my manor immediately?” Ana’s back was to the girl on the fox, but she didn’t go unnoticed. Ana turned toward the girl, giving her a good look at what a hungry Vampire could look like. “And you are?”

Ana paced herself, carefully taking in the scents of the creatures around her in order to school herself. It was a testament to who she was that she and her guard didn’t go berserk in the presence of human blood. Especially, given the current state of her appearance, considering that it was time to feed. Her attention faltered for a moment as she glanced back at the new Vampire. She was peculiar.

“I won’t ask you again what your name is, child. It would seem that you’ve sustained some injuries that make it difficult for you to remember. Don’t worry, you’ve fallen into my protection – however unwittingly that might have been. Eijin, apologize to the girl. See to it that she is clothed and bring her one of the stored humans. I doubt she would like to hunt tonight.” Ana’s eyes never left the girl as she waited for everyone to register that she had arrived.

“Well? Let’s move.”

[Sage]

Annalise stood unflinching, there were few things that would make her put away her weapon at this point, and even fewer things to make her lower her shield. She stood firmly in front of the vampire girl, even with Eijin's formidable display. His appearance would help to relieve her of some of her burden, and she would likely be able to ensure that Maralla survived Thanatos' presence should he feel inclined to get involved with escorting the group.

She neglected to answer him, now too busy processing the safest way, as well as perturbed by the fact that he referred to her as the rank of Captain, which held some shame as of late, thanks to Rakhaev. Maralla's words invoked a separate fear in her, however. That's right, she did normally have protection. Where was Xavier?

" As you can see, we don't have time to chat. If you want to follow us, and discuss it further...I'm afraid you'll be needing to dispel your mount and turn yourself over to our custody. No human has the privileges you enjoy in your homeland, working for the Monarchy or not. "

Annalise jerked her chin to a spot on the ground, where she would expect Maralla to surrender her weapons. She had no responsibility to Maralla, and she wouldn't risk the safety of her men by protecting a human who was just as likely to destroy them as any supernatural being when she discovered the tragic fate of her siblings, which Annalise had heard from her Master.

" Kraven knows... -- "

Another disturbance, another appearance, but this one could not have been better news. It was the full moon, and on the full moon, the supernatural community could be sure of two things. Werecreatures changed into something horrendous...and Anabel VonHagen was never out of Kraven's sight.

--

It was an intricate display of force on The Guard's part. Anabel was surrounded by her own orbit of personal guard, as the new vampire was, and they would all become surrounded by no less than a dozen of Kraven's most elite. Their identities were irrelevant, and yet Anabel would certainly recognize the swollen mass of muscle beneath one of the twelve red cloaks.

" Fall in, Lieutenant. "

The words came muffled from behind a spectacularly crafted helm, matching his black armor. Seamlessly, Annalise would flow into the circle of officers which flowed around Anabel's and the girl's protective circles. Always moving, constantly watching every direction. Kraven was always just outside the outer circle, closest to wherever Anabel chose to stand.

Mentally, he reached out to the girl, casting into her mind a voice that was stern and authoritative. A voice that no one dared question, not on nights such as this.

Stand near the Lieutenant, inside the circle, and stay with her until you see torchlight. Do not bother with leaving your possessions behind as she suggested. Make a thought of a hostile act in the presence of the Mistress, and you will be neutralized before the message is understood by your body.

Before the soldiers could make one full rotation around the party, they would be on the move, into the woods...the path lit supernaturally by their Master.

[Herald_of_Fate]

The Ambassador heard and sensed the approaching party, the familiar displacement of the air through which they moved as well as their scents making each distinct presence unmistakable. Kraven and Anabel...it seemed nothing occurred here without them having some knowledge of it. He raised a brow at the Werefox's comment. "It's not something I'm used to either, Fox. However, seeing as to how you still wear the remains of your last meal in it, I wasn't aware that you held your fur is such high regard." Eijin intoned. There was a note of flippancy to his tone, perhaps mocking, perhaps not. Not that he cared very much either way. The vampire merely held his ground as the new Guard reinforcements surrounded them, Master Kraven and Lady Anabel disfusing the situation as only they could do. At Anabel's orders, he would nod slightly, turning to the newcomer and extending a welcoming hand. "My apologies for all the question, madam. We've been a bit on edge as of late,' he explained with a smile that masked his distaste for being so rebuffed by Anabel. "If you'll come with me, I assure you will be offered every comfort." He thought perhaps to walk with the others, but he'd always found air travel to be so much faster and less of a hassle. And he sought to avoid any other debacles this night.

In his mind, he silently replayed the events of the last few minutes. Had he given her reason to doubt his ability? Had he approached the situation with the proper caution? In an exceedingly rare display, he allowed his thoughts to skimmed by Anabel, letting down his normally impeccable guard. It bothered him that she had felt it necessary to venture out to retrieve this newcomer when he himself had gone to accomplish the same. He whispered his concerns, contorting the air that carried them so that Anabel alone could hear. "Mistress, the situation was well in hand. You needn't have bothered yourself with this," the Ambassador whispered respectfully. "Do you so doubt my ability that you seek to hinder my effectiveness by coming? I've have served as the instrument of your wrath for 3 centuries, my Lady. There is little you could ask of me within my capabilites that I cannot accomplish." Rather than await her response, Eijin stepped toward the newcomer, taking her by the hands and vaulting into the air, carrying them both on the wind back to the Estate proper.