Out for a drink. [Fin]

[Hideki Minami]

The pureblood had expressed little or no interest in the musician at this point; she was rather docile for her race, which was unexpected but respected all the same. She was not the immediate villain here: it was the hybrid. Whatever trace of lycan present within his DNA must have been diluted to such a degree that he was left without one of the most important qualities attributed to that race: courage. He let the halfbreed say what he wanted to let out; there was clearly no strength within him to back up his words, or else he would have called him out directly. Modesty was obviously not the reason for his inability to act; that was confirmed with his choice of speech. "Mutt," he aimed to pierce like a stinger to the halfbreed's ears as he noticed the wink; which had been so very smooth on his part.

"Hide," he replied to the human in the black suit, impatience suggested in his tone of voice. Sweat was beginning to run down his forehead; his body temperature was rising rapidly under the various layers of clothing wrapped about him. "Shit... this isn't good." His thoughts were laced with doubt and disbelief: he was beginning to doubt his ability to remain in 'Control' over his body, and he couldn't believe that the change was progressing even after the threat was gone. So, it was one of those nights that he just couldn't help it. He had not seen many of those since he moved into the city; most likely due to the fact that living, or surviving in the city meant keeping your profile under precise lockdown from the public: nothing suspicious was to be shown in his case, such as the display of extraordinary strength and speed. One had to be cautious in this day and age, but that was all going to go down the drain. "Calendre--aah!? -- leave as fa--ausght?! -- as you can...!" he tried to warn her. His voice would fluxuate in volume and intensity; their was some sort of gargle to it that warped and contorted his audio. His joints began to swell and burn, but what hurt him the most was that he couldn't understand the process (a rare enough instance): when he was entirely in control of his body, there was very little to be felt when the transformation occured.


And then it hit him.


This spontaneous 'change' was not and had never been brought on by the moon alone: there had always been a point closely within the time frame of these unexpected evolutions (or perhaps they should be considered 'de-evolutions') when he had been deprived of nourishment; or rather, flesh. It was just such an occaision. As life moved on and the human race expanded, in terms of both their territory and their technology, it became more and more difficult to 'hunt' at a successful, solid rate. -- ( His blue eyes would appear to be even brighter here; nearly a lifeless or pale grey ) -- The craving for flesh, be it human or otherwise, was something that a lycan had an eternity to contest with. When his hunger was not satiated he became no less than what the hybrid had suggested of him: a beast -- ( His gaze was cast on Wolf, now burning with such an intense crimson hue that you would have thought he was trying to burn a hole through his body with nothing but a glance ) -- a rapacious animal.

There, under the watch of the lucent sky, Minami shed his mortal skin; it fell from his body, only to disintegrate into nothing but ash upon touching the pavement beneath it. His clothes stretched until they were ripped to shreds, to be nothing but useless fabric and leather ever after; and before any soul that was head-strong enough to stay and witness the shapechange, there stood a nine and a half-foot tall white wolf: his body massive and long, and the tips of his fur straight on end. There was nothing to be heard coming from him but a very low, very deep rumble, rising within the confines of his chest and then up into his throat. His eyes were set clearly on the human man; he stared at him with such a peculiar glare that he just may have been stating "This, my friend, is a real white wolf." In one swift motion he sprang from the earth, paws to his front in order to knock the mortal onto his back; nothing that would have killed him, for certain, though it may have knocked the wind out of him if he didn't react quickly or well enough. This was only a step to his leap into the air, where he would subsequently cross over the building and into the nearest direction of the Lupine Forest, not a care in the world for whether or not Calendrea - or any other human, for that matter - had seen him... He would meet this man in black again one day. But somewhere in the forest, a doe was ready and waiting with his name on it.

[calendreahedgerow]

Calendrea looked over her shoulder for the threat never imagining for an instant that it would come from Hide. And why would she? His behavior this night had been for her welfare, hadn’t it? She shook her head in a spasm of disbelief unable to remove her eyes from the threat as it revealed itself. Frozen by the surreal transformation, with inexplicable division occurring in her mind between reality and fiction she felt herself fall into a world of myth and legend.

Her sister had told her of realms that existed beyond their own, of worlds within worlds. They were wonderful tales invented by an older sibling trying to entertain and cajole while the world of her youth would periodically fall apart. Her uncles were not the only ones who were alcoholics. Her father would go months without drawing sober breath and her mother chose those times to pick and harp. It was a boring and tiresome dance the two had played and as a result she and her brothers and sisters had forged their own lives keeping the family running until sanity should choose to reign once more.

Some of the fantasies she wove would see them bundled up in big winter coats, scarves tied tightly about their faces with toboggans pulled tightly on each head and gloves covering their delicate fingers, to go hunting in the middle of a moonless winter night for UFOs. Other times she would lead Wiccan rituals in the forests calling to the spirit of the trees and offering prayers of thanksgiving to the divas of the forests. A rich and lively fantasy world had evolved between the sisters, one of theatre and music, dances in the night and signs seen in the bottom of teacups. Certainly the tale of Werewolves had been one of her favorites. However, the simple truth that confronted her now was that childhood was long since gone.

The vision before her now was anything but some child's fantasy to keep the demons away. This vision invited the demons to come in and ravage every corner of her waking being. Watching as the skin fell away from this beautiful man, and his features contorted into the most impossible proportions she knew that her world was forever changed. She would forever be hearing his tortured voice telling her to flee, forever seeing his eyes turn that impossible piercing shade of blue/gray, and forever remember his towering bulk bounding away into the night. He had become the epitome of ravenousness and ferial power, raw and savage.

Only when he had gone could she seem to move her limbs. Rushing to the man's side, and dropping down by his shoulder she reached for his shoulder and called his name. “Wolf…” was all she was able to voice before she choked on her disbelief.

[Leon Wolf Villidren]

Wolf could feel tension still building, despite his cool, calm, confident attitude. He did not wish a fight, Calendrea was a by standard in whatever affair he had found himself in, and an innocent one to boot.
It would have been interesting for Wolf to know Hideki's thoughts as they may have echoed his own quite well.Despite all his talk the perfect male seemed to run with his tale between his legs.Wolf laughed to himself, who knows what might have happened if not for the stranger. It seemed to have a very positive effect on the group. Wolf would look back to Hide only to see the change begin to occur. He would quickly push back Calendrea from him, more like a light shove before Hide had begun to transform, this would be the third to forth time Wolf would see something like this, he backed up when he looked at the beast before him. The words he spoke felt like an insult upon his name, something Leon did not take lightly.

It was as if Hide had challenged him in a way and had told Wolf that his name was insulting in its essence, as if Leon had defiled the name of 'White Wolf.' This almost caused a sneer upon his face. as he dove to get out of the way of the hulking beast, diving into the street quickly. With fast action he had pulled his gun from his breast pocket, aiming to where the wolf had been, but by now he was gone. Wolf moved only to have Calandrea next to him. Stiffly he began to move,
"I am going to escort you home.."
He muttered quietly as he got up slowly, then helped her up. He kept his cool attitude about him, putting his forty five caliber nighthawk custom back in his breast pocket. Then dusting himself off quickly.

[calendreahedgerow]

No sooner than she had seen him pull a gun on Hide than something inside her snapped. She had to fight hard to resist walking up to him and busting his nose for him with her fist! She shook and looked to the ground trying to keep her anger in check. Did everyone in this city walk around with a gun? And people thought hillbillies were gun totin fools! breathing evenly she managed to regain some measure of control and nodded her assent. She coldn't tell what would come out of the night and he did have a gun...perhaps there was a need after all.

"I have my car just over there..." If ever she made it home this night she would need to take a long vacation. Maybe head up into the lake country she had heard about. The pavement and street lights, metal buildings, and an abundance of people were starting to get on her nerves. Looking off into the night where Hide had gone she couldn't help but wonder despite the terror of it all...why?

[Leon Wolf Villidren]

"Look I'm sorry for pulling a gun on your friend. I'm sure he is a great guy, er dog, her...Wolf thing..Look I'm sorry, I'm grateful he showed up."

He muttered walking to the car quickly before anyone else had time to stop them. Wolf paused looking at her with a slight sigh before trying to straiten his suit.

"I am Leon Wolf Villidren My dad is ex-special units. I am a hit man, mercenary. Whatever pays. But I am human through and through. Your friend most likely saved you and me. But that aside. Do you want me to drive?"
He tried to seem sincere as he looked at her though he doubted she would believe him. before he decided to share another part of recent events.
"Look a few years back I saw...a beast in a military base, looking for something...there was me and the hound, it was not like Hide, it walked on two legs and was looking for something. Well..a man showed up and they battled while I hid. After all was said there was broken metal everywhere. And a few days ago in the subway there..was a women who...."
He paused disturbed greatly and then shaking his head quickly.
"The women smelled of Earth and dogs..She...was changing before my eyes. And a man appeared behind her, threw her into a wall. Then he shifted into a Wolf to! I ran..."
Looking down Wolf bit his lip and thought on how blind the humans were to not see this coming. He then looked at his hands, his cool calm demeanor shaken.

[calendreahedgerow]

She eased her shoulders from a defensive posture to more of a relaxed one. "Had you spoke those words to me earlier Wolf..." She shook her head thinking how the night had started. Calendrea was about to say you drive, but taking one look at his hands trembling she thought better of it. "I will drive."

A calmness came over her as she had listened to his words. Just having him admit the reality of this night did much to give her a sense of her former equalibrium. She was not crazy, this was real and happening on a grander scale than just here this night. What didn't make sense to her was how had Hide saved them both? Where had the danger been that they needed saving from? Perhaps the man with the winning smile and the shrill whistle from the bar? He had seemed antagonistic toward Hide and Wolf as well, somewhat...Had he been a lycan too only maybe like the kind Wolf had met?

She was begining to wish they would hurry off this street. She glanced around wondering where the man had gotten off to..."Let's get going Wolf...I don't like it here."

[Leon Wolf Villidren]

Wolf rolled his eyes a bit but respected her wishes to let her drive, so he walked to the passengers seat.
"Even I don't believe it was real and you expect me to just tell everyone?"

He asked sarcastily as he sighed and waited for her to enter the car first. He just shook his head and muttered to himself quietly. He understood the wolves all right, granted there may be more to the truth. But what about the perfect ones? What had they been, they bore no resemblance to Hide, in fact in a way they had been the oppisite.
"Mutt.."
He muttered to himself analyzing the situation they had been in just a moment before. He knew the two perfect ones had not been wolves unless classifications varied a great deal.

[calendreahedgerow]

She used the electronic key to unlock the door to the Montel Carlo and pulled the driver's side open wide. Pausing before ducking inside to take her seat, she looks back toward the bar and the street. Things had a way of evolving around you without knowing how or why they occured. Life was funny that way and she sighed as she shook her head. Wolf's words had stung her a bit and she was loath to explain much of anything in the street, not with the need to leave here full upon her. However, she had not expected him to explain anything to her. She meerly meant that if he had said those words to her before seeing for herself she would not have believed a word, would have in fact thought him to be off his nut and exited his presence post haste.

As it was she had seen with her own eyes and now would leave this place in his company thrown together by circumstances beyond her ken. Taking her seat she shuts the door and starts the engine. The radio is loud and on blues station but she hastily shuts it off being in no mood for song tonight. She waits for him to take his seat and keeps her eyes on the rearview mirror. She wondered what they would do with the information the world had given them this day. What was wolf's connection to all of this? Was the military involved or was he meerly trying to find answers of his own?

[Leon Wolf Villidren]

Wolf gets in the passagers seat and slides in, he'd close the door and buckle in with a slight sigh and mumble to himself.
"Lord why me..."

First it had been the military base and then it had been the subway, now at a local everyday bar, slowly reality was twisting into something diffrent and in a sicking way it seemed natral that it be this way. As if now Wolf would finally discover who he was and what he was meant for. It was indeed the begining of a new chapter in his life, it would prove interesting. This road would throw him into a grand curve that would take him out of the perception that humanity deemed normal. This world of Wolves and humans would side Wolf into it and change him. But for now Wolf pushed it aside and relaxed by slouching back with a calmness around him.

[calendreahedgerow]

Calendrea let loose a small one syllable chuckle at his complaint to the universe and thought ‘why any of us?’ Throwing her arm over the maroon fabric of the split front seat, she hooked her head and right shoulder round to look out the rear window while she backed out into the street. The car dipped slightly when it left the parking lot and entered the road with all four tires. Slipping back around she shifted the transmission into drive and pulled the steering wheel round to speed off into the night. She had to exert some measure of control not to floor it and let her desire to flee from this night’s events get her into trouble with the law. Miss Hedgerow clenched her fists on the leather of the steering wheel spasmodically as she navigated the downtown area at night thinking how she should have been a wreck screaming her head off, dissolving into tears, or at the very least drowning herself in a bottle of liquor. There was that temptation to indulge but she never allowed herself the luxury. Years of watching her parents’ inability to cope seemed to have hardened her a bit, given her distaste for the dramatic. At least that’s what she told herself. It was the glue that kept her eyes focused on the road, moving smoothly through traffic, and obeying the laws of the road.

Her compatriot in this night’s insanity occupied much of her thoughts and helped to keep the focus off the ‘me’ in tonight’s equation. She reviewed his words trying to glean as much from them as possible. She found it just as incredible that there were mercenaries still in this world as there were werewolves. ‘Hit man,’ he called himself, and she allowed herself a small glance at him in the passenger seat where he has sunk back into the cushion. What was his purpose in all of this? Had he been at the bar watching a ‘mark’? Had that been the danger Hide had saved them both from? As she turned her eyes back to the road she furrowed her brow into a slight frown while she continued to rehash this night’s events. Putting on the breaks she stopped at the red light, its glow bathing them both, washing them in its eerie glow reminiscent of the blood bath that could have occurred were it not for Hide’s intervention.

When the light changed she turned left going down Sycamore street. It would run from the downtown area all the way to the city limits where she had her garage. Wolf still occupied her thoughts and the events he had spoken of caused her to fear this new reality she had been shown. Other than Hide’s change, the remembrance of the sight she witnessed causing her to shudder visibly, her encounter with a werewolf had been benevolent. The pictures Wolf’s words conjured for her in the tale of the beast on two legs and the violence between the she wolf and the man were more along the lines of what she envisioned werewolves to be. She swallowed digesting the information that not only were these mythical creatures real, but that there seemed to be plenty around. Hide was not just some anomaly then. With that knowledge the world had suddenly seemed to become a dangerous place. Not that it hadn’t already been, the shooting at ‘The Long Way In' attested to the fact that man preyed upon man daily. But that was just it, wasn’t it. Man upon man. Adding the supernatural to man’s propensity to destroy himself made it a wonder their species could survive. And maybe, just maybe they wouldn’t.

The thought was chilling to say the least. Turning her eyes upon Wolf as she pulled in front of her garage she said, “It should be safe here…at least it always had been.” It sounded lame and unreliable to her ears but it was the best she had to offer.