Lost in the Woods [Fin]

[nightwind]

Having everything she possessed in a ratty black leather backpack and nothing behind her to make her even consider returning home, Nadia Elena Fiorrelli found herself on her own again. This time lost in a bleak looking forest near a city she'd never been to. A crime photographer in the past and now just trying to avoid being found and annoyed by those from her past she was at loose ends with nothing to do, no where to go, and a hunger that would drive a saint mad. The scars on her back from the attack had faded from angry red to a weird waxy pinkish white color. Alone, without family, home, friends or any ties she had no one to rely on but herself, and her weapons. Nadia, or Night Wind as she prefered, looked up and saw an incline that led up a worn path. Glancing around her, she put a last peice of gum in her mouth to stave off her hunger.
With sure steps that only a lycanthrope seemed to have on uneven ground she ran quickly up the slope. Her nikes made little sound on the packed dirt path. Pushing aside some overgrown branches she looked out onto an empty looking bluff. Empty but not unused. Obviously others used it often, but for what? A sharp pain knotted her gut and she bent over with a groan. Not now, she needed shelter and a place she knew she would be safe. She bit her hand and grimaced. The sudden new pain held off the change again but for how long? She knew little more to keep it from happening and even though hunger was driving her nearly insane lately she didnt dare do something to alert anyone here to her being a lycan.

[Ike Vanguard Kitsumayo]

Ike had sensed the presence of a new Lycan around as of late, not something which was common now a days, especially and unguided Lycan. So naturally Ike was a little curious if not more so. He had begun stalking the new Lycan with extreme caution and had placed his distance a few yards behind her, but the closer she got to his home was the closer he had got to her. It got to the point where he was nearly tailing her. What could she be doing around these parts? Of course young Lycans tended to go towards others, drawn. That could have been thee reason, but regardless Ike was wary.
Ike was often careful around new people, but more so vampires. He didn't trust the breed at all. It had been the attack so long ago that had done it. Sure sure, some of them could be nice. But for Ike they where far and few in between.
Ike ghosted about as he followed her trail, his eyes and ears keen for any traps or ambush attacks. Even though this was home he had to keep vigilant. Borders that went into the city meant they had to be watched by his border patrol, and the numbers were thin enough. Ike had to pull double shifts between everything.
wondering why she struggled out so far he began to grow concerned, she didn't seem to have any plan in mind, it didn't look like she was being attacked and driven out here. Nor did it seem like she was just exploring.
Ike could climb up a tree and watch curiously as she hunched over in need of food. He smirked understanding what was wrong. Sighing he shrugged it off before he jumped from the tree and landed in front of her.
"My my you have come a long way on your on." He'd say taking a step forward. "However it seems you are having problems. Now I can offer you help...but really you have to calm, starving yourself will not help the matter." Ike said quite clearly. "Now your in a mess and it could be difficult the way your going." He gave a small grin to lighten his appearance and not seem intimadating.

[nightwind]

Even with the gnawing hunger making her want to cry with frustration Night sensed she wasn't alone anymore. Her ears picked up the sound of the newcomer even before he drew near. Her heart started to pound in her chest. Humans were one thing only food. But this one smelled more like, wolf, like lycan? Another lycanthrope here on the bluff she had hoped to explore and find shelter? Great and it was a male too, wonderful first impression with her doubled over in pain from being selfish and insisting on finding shelter before food. She should have remembered what her former friends had taught her. You take meals wherever and whenever you can "Beggars cant be choosers" she mumbled underbreath. Now what would he think? Well she couldnt just stay there bent over even if it made her stomach not hurt so bad. She nearly jumped out of her skin when he spoke to her. "Starving myself?" she took protection behind a cocky attitude of toughness. "What makes you think Im not eating cause I choose not to? It's not exactly your business anyway is it?" she stood up and looked him in the face with her arms folded across her chest. The long black leather coat flapping in a slight breeze. He didnt look like any lycan she had seen before. Well she'd only seen a couple and the one that attacked her had jumped her from behind, never letting her see his face. Were there different kinds of lycans? Was he maybe someone like a rogue that hunted his own kind? Her tough attitude started to change to one of caution as she watched him. Besides he had said he could offer help. That was definitely one thing she needed this whole city was odd, being a lycan was odder. 'You said you could help....how?"

[Ike Vanguard Kitsumayo]

Ike would burst out laughing and just give a smile. "Ahh not only are you in our territory, but you are in our home. Yet it is not my business?" He would ask in a regal tone, He then looked at her. "Ahh but I am being rude, I am Ike Vanguard Kitsumayo...leader of the moonlight pack." He would pause allowing for this to set in to the female before him. "Yet it is not my affair?" He asked gesturing to the land about him before sighing, "See at one time you may have encountered a guard or two...but numbers thin. So how about I make it my business?" His cool dark eyes would look at her before his lips tugged into a smile. He turned his back to her and placed his hands in his pockets. "Now being as your alone, and happen to be deep within our home.. I have a few options before me. But before I go on...I would like to know how exactly you think I should handle the current situation? I mean it will involve you either way.." His words would be placed with authority's and yet somehow in a soft spoken and elegant way. Ike made a soft sound as he contemplated and awaited her response, he would gently pace before her, his movements smooth and almost ghostly. His dark hair gently blowing in the breeze as he paced about.
Ike found it amusing that a new blood, practically a puppy would accidentally stumble upon the a sacred grounds of his clan. So close to the city, yet she wasn't sensitive to smell the scent of lycan all over. She was odd indeed.

[nightwind]

Taken aback by his sudden change in tone she looked at him closer. The tall man before her had a commanding presence that made her feel like he wouldnt like someone challenging his authority. She watched his dark hair as the wind caught it. Something told her she really shouldnt be so punchy with him and try harder to be more respectful. Now what though? He was asking her opinion about what he should do although she felt it was more of a rhetorical question. He seemed to think she'd done something wrong by coming here unasked. Maybe she had though she wasnt the kind of person well lycan that took to large crowds easily. One it was to easy for an enemy to hunt her and two getting too close to others had proved painful in the past. "Uh Mr. Kitsumayo I didnt mean to invade your territory. All I really wanted was a place I could sleep at night without having to constantly stay on guard. A person can only sleep lightly so many times before your body starts to insist on more rest." she looked up at the tall man before her. She was short enough that she had to look up to almost everyone over 13 years of age. Somehow being close to 5 ft tall just wasnt tall enough, though her long legs made up for it. She pushed her loose hair out of her face, and tucked it back behind her ears. "Right now I guess you have the final say in what happens dont you? Being a pack leader and all makes you my superior. Look if you'd rather I wasnt here, I can leave"

[Ike Vanguard Kitsumayo]

Ike Looked at her, clearly not impressed with her responses, not her actions. He laughed rolling his eyes and then proceeded to shake his head before inhaling greatly then deeply exhaling. "Ahh where do we begin with you? Where where to begin?" He questioned himself tapping his foot and then pacing back and forth silently. His movements always seemed ghost like or so gentle, like he flowed with the air around him. "Lets see...Firstly..Ahh yes I know." He paused to look at her before saying quite clearly with a defined but elegant tone. "No Mr..makes me sound like a grade school teacher. Just Ike works if you'd like." He then thought to himself and tapped his foot. "Oh right food. Yes that it." He would quickly toss her an energy bar from his pocket. "It's not much, but sugar can get you far when your low on food." He muttered then responded to her. "See I don't think you really can get out of here, in your own state that you stuck yourself in. Secondly...don't fill my ego. I really don't need any more I assure you." He would smile and begin pacing again. "Though you do need shelter, I don't suppose you have an apartment given your state and all. So you may use the surrounding area's to your advantage. If you sooo desire." He would say clearly putting an emphasis on the word so, leaving it entirely up to her. "Now if it's a pack your seeking then your welcomed here. Just mind your toes." He'd laugh and turn to face her, his dark eyes seeking her answers as he waited.

[nightwind]

She caught the tone of his voice and knew she'd put on an attitude again. It wasnt really like her but darned if not eating for so long didnt put her off a bit. Catching the energy bar easily with one hand she replied "Ike, shelter would be greatly appreciated since Im new to the area." she paused and thought for a moment about his other comment. A pack? He had to mean others like him she knew he wasnt stupid and though the hunger in her belly made the whole thing seem really silly right now she had the impression in her mind of a pack of cub scouts. No definitely not those little blue clad waifs. Was he really offering her a chance to be part of a group, this...pack? It had been a long time since she'd had anyone at all to rely on or consider even close to a friend. "This, um pack you talk of....its others like you right? wolves like us or I guess Lycans is the right word for them, um us" she fidgeted a moment struggling with her thoughts and not wanting to seem uneducated. She moved closer and looked up at him. "Ive never known a pack of lycans before. hey Ive only met one, maybe two others and the one I never saw face to face just felt its claws in my back." she turned the bar over in her hand and put it in her pocket for now. "I dont know what it takes or how to do it, but yes please let me be part of your pack Ike"

[Ike Vanguard Kitsumayo]

Ike would listen to the cool nights air, his eyes relaxed and his expression soft. He seemed to be rather peaceful and at ease. The cool howl of the wind seemed to blow by and gently blow Ike's dark hair with a gentle swaying motion. He stood full and erect, Ike's form would look regal, royal even. He would glance at her with charcoal eyes and a slight smile as he waited to hear her feelings on the matter at hand. "Then if a cave or rocky out cropping can suit you...help yourself to our grounds. Not so bad in good conditions, but do try for an apartment soon enough?" He asked and cocked his head to one side. He didn't mind sleeping out here on occasion. However he stayed in a small one bed room apartment, the kind where the kitchen and the living room where nearly the same. Really Ike only needed a place to rest when weather got bad and maybe a place to cook now and then. Ike actully had a bit of a need to keep close to the city as well as supplies, but that was for his own reasons.
He cleared his throat, "Yes we'd rather be called lycan rather then were-wolf...reminds me of some overly hairy actor from a bad movie." Sometimes Ike would just go off talking to himself and no one else spicificly. "Anyways yes...Lycan, wolf...somewhat the same, no?" He chuckled a bit and shook his head, "Ahh now you wish to join the pack eh? Well now..I would say yes." He spoke of his own answer as if he was talking and needed only to ask another, however he did not for he was the lead. "So I guess you need to get yourself on your feet first then we can talk business." He gave her another cool glance before he began to pace. "Hmm mainly we patrol our borders, we have to keep things calm. I don't trust vampires...but they have hearts, even if they don't beat." Momentarily he seemed disgusted and as if he would spit. "No Ike we must have calm...Can't hold grudges.." He sighed rolling his shoulders. "Ahh so your a turned lycan and not willing? Hmm I see." Ike laughed but gave her a look ass if he was sorry. "Hmm that's to bad, things got hard on you huh?" He'd ask kindly in his regal accent.

[nightwind]

Thinking of all her options, which werent many right now, she decided that she would look for a sheltered cave or something for tonight. She wanted him to know that she wasnt just some street bum with no plans or care for her own welfare. While he paced back and forth she listened to his words hoping to learn more of this pack and the other lycanthropes around here. This was her chance to fit in with others and learn more about her new situation. She'd tell him all her plans for now and see what he thought of it all. It couldnt get any worse than where she found herself in life at the moment and hopefully it would instead get better. Maybe this time she wouldnt be forced to leave a new home and friends behind.
Night looked around her at the sheltered bluff and the treeline. Not too far off she could make out some dark areas in the trees that were either rock formations or if she was lucky some of the caves he spoke of. "Ok I'll accept you offer of shelter for the night here in a cave. Tomorrow Im going back into town to look for work with the newspaper as a photographer or maybe something else." She tugged the strap of her worn back pack up onto her shoulder and shifted to her other foot, thinking again. "I know Im young for a lycan but Im skilled. If you have need of it. Once I have a job and place to stay I'll come back and find you Ike. Then lets talk about the pack and whether they will take me in. I believe I could use some guidance in this new life of mine."
She held out a slender hand to him in an offer of friendship if he'd have it and waited to see his reaction. Then when she could leave for the night without seeming rude she would go check out those possible caves and eat the energy bar he had given her. She would definitely want to get more once she had earned some money. She looked up waiting.

[Ike Vanguard Kitsumayo]

Ike would shake her hand and help her up before pointing to a cave. "There. You will find a small food shortage. It's not much, maybe enough for tonight and tomorrow. As I said we tend to take care of ourselves, though my kind has no qualms about subsisting on ones own if need be. Heed my words and take care." He nodded shortly "And Night wind. If it so happens to be that you take us up on our offer. I am always vigilant. I patrol the city streets, you will hear of me again." Ike said taking a mask from within his breast pocket and placing it over his face. "I must tend to patrols over the city. I will part with you for now." And with that he would disappear into the forest with little trace he had even been there to begin with.

[nightwind]

Looking towards the cave he indicated, Night nodded once then watched as he disappeared. Heading towards the trees she found the cave easily. Just as a light snow began to fall she slipped inside the darkness grateful for shelter and set her pack down inside towards the back. Pulling out the energy bar she began to eat it, chewing it slowly to make it last before pulling a old blanket from her pack and wrapping it around her shoulders to add more warmth over her long coat. Set for the evening and finally not so hungry she lay down with her head on her pack and slept. Always listening with one ear for any sounds of danger. Tomorrow would be the start of her new life here, and she promised herself she would be the kind of pack member he could take pride in. She had valuable skills that would help them all. And she wasnt afraid to use them, or her gun.