Awakening

[Races The Night]

Inka rushed to the forefront of Dayan's mind, taking a stranglehold on the human. With a feral growl, the male launched himself out of the shadows and onto Rain, tumbling with her in leopard play. They rolled until Inka pinned her to the forest floor again. He nuzzled her neck, coating her in his scent, asserting his dominance. Think nothing of it, my sweet Twilight. Every one of us has a name burried inside of us, something that was always destined for us and us alone. He purred and nipped the supple flesh of her stomach.

She even smelled rainfresh, Dayan thought in the guise of the leopard. It was an intoxicating mix of woman and forest, a heady mixture that made thinking in a straight line incredibly difficult. He found himself purring for no apparent reason. You're quite something, Maira.Dayan whispered hoarsely, the leopards breath clouding in the space between them. He found the tight leash on his control slipping, years of carefully honed indifference crumbling around him.

[Maira]

Maira and Twilight's Rain fought for dominance laying belly up in front of Inka. When he pounced and rolled them in play, Maira nearly gave up control altogether, she hadn't been expecting that at all. Sensing the absence of her human, Rain slipped into the forefront, purring in response to Inka's marking and nipping of her once she was thoroughly pinned.

When Dayan's voice came into their mind Twilight's Rain slipped aside far enough to let Maira respond. She did not receed far however so all her emotions were threaded through Maira's voice as she answered the man.

Not so much in response to his statement, and more in response to his actions of the evening, showing her her new life, Maira said, Thank you Dayan, her voice was ripe with the snowleopard's eagerness, gratitude, and invitation. Still purring, Twilight's Rain reached up as best as she could, still quite pinned, and rubbed her head on Inka's neck, face and shoulders, claiming him as surely as he had claimed her.

[Races The Night]

Inside the psyche of the leopard, Dayan's body positively hummed with the invisible beat of the forest at night. Like all of his kind he was one with his surroundings, effortlessly tuning into the Earth's life force, his heart beating in time with that of Mother Earth, dancing to the same song she played. It was the electric in the air before a storm, the rainfresh scent after the fall, the warmth of the soil underfoot.

Inka purred darkly, sinking his teeth into Rain's shoulder, holding her to him as fast as the tree held its place among the forest floor with its roots. The leopard's need for dominance rode him hard as he rolled with her among the undergrowth, tail lashing the air. Around them, insects had begun to stir, their bodies lit from chemical reactions within. They hummed softly, will-o-the-whisps in the darkness. Underneath the cnopy of trees the rain was lessened and their tiny bodies were safe from the water's devistation. Every now and then a stray bead fell from a branch high above.

The whole place smelled of fresh rainfall, washing away the forest's daily scent of damp and earthy soil. Inka's forepaws hit the ground, sending a hard thud through the ground. He revlled in the powers gifted to him by this form. His large body guided the smaller snow leopard among the leaves.

Lets find some shelter, away from here. The fall isn't due to stop for a while yet. he said, stalking up the forest path to higher ground. They would go to the caves not far away and take shelter among them. They would be safe and warm until the rains past. In this part of the country, their caves were filled with natural hot springs which heated the chambers. Yes, they would rest there.

Inka pawed the soil beneath him, taking his time and sauntering his way to an overhang where his caves were hidden away.

[Races The Night]

Diego's soft footfalls thudded acrosss the leafy forest floor as he covered ground in a desperate rage. It had been weeks since he had lost the sccent of his enemy and now he had it again and it had led him to the outter post of nowhere, through a small, backwards town in the middle of god only knew where. What was his enemy doing? Diego growled, the sound harsh in his throat. Killing innocents no doubt. The pain of his parents' deaths was still raw, even now, years later. His soul purpose for living was to destroy and bring retribution to the one who wronged him - and destroy every other living Virus mongrel that stepped in his way.

Crossbow held in hands, aimed to take out the tiniest glimpse of movement, he fell off the short overhang into the mouth of a cave. The scent was strong here, not even a day old. He could still be in there. Clinging to the walls in his black leather coat, shirt and pants, he melded into the darkness to hunt.

***

Dayan nudged Maira into the safety of the cave and led her down into the hot springs, immediately taking to one of the luxuriously relaxing waters. The intense shock of cold to hot made his form flicker and finally return to that of the human. He sank deeper into the pool, revelling as the tiny, natural bubbles soothed the terrible ache in his muscles.

***

Diego caught the strong scent of leopard and his senses inflamed and he all but ran through the narrow cave mouth, deeper into its jaws. He rounded the corner and fired a bolt from his custom made crossbow as a warning shot. It twanged off the rock face.

"Alright, two feet on the ground, scum." He rasped in his gravelly voice. Around him, his coat billowed like a dark avenging shadow.

Dayan startled and, slipping straight into protective mode, leapt out of the water in a curtain of droplets, pushing Maira-Rain's form behind him, disregarding his nudity for the time being. As soona s his opponent blinked an eye he would be in leopard form and at his throat.

[Maira]

Twilight's Rain revelled in the strength of her companion, the forest smells, the rain, every new experience given to her on what was fast becoming the most memorable night of Maira's life. Everything seemed new to one part of her and distantly remembered by the other part and for Maira and Twilight's Rain it was the most intoxicating mix of sensations.

When the big black leopard finally released Maira-Rain, the snowleopard was panting with exertion. She hadn't realized until that moment that she was actually tired. All the running, hunting, climbing, and everything else had caught up to the newly Changed pair. Slowly Rain got to her feet and followed after Inka.

As they made their way through the forest, Rain could sense the change in the atmosphere. The air was warmer and even more humid if that was possible with the rain that was now coming down relatively hard. Until they made it to a cave entrance that she hadn't even seen, the Maira had been confused as to where Dayan-Inka could be leading them. After all, they were in the middle of a forest. At feeling the warmth coming from the cave, Maira-Rain picked up her pace and trotted in ahead of Dayan-Inka.

Once they had reached the back of the cave, Maira watched as the black leopard slipped into one of the bubbling pools. Having only seen someone else shift once, she watched fascinated as Dayan's form emerged from that of the black leopard. Twilight's Rain sighed with dissappointment. Maira too, was just about to slip into the hotspring when something skipped off the ground just inches from her paws. Trying to jump away from it, she nearly wound up in the pool of steaming water but caught her balance just as a man's voice growled out orders.

Dayan was out of the water, quite naked, and shoving her back before either Maira or Twilight's Rain could react. The leopard started to growl at the threat but Maira clamped down on her hard. Now was obviously not the time to let Rain have her way. Quivering with rage on Rain's part, and fear on Maira's, the snowleopard lowered herself to the ground, making herself as small a target as she could. It took all Maira's strength not to let the shift take her right now, the last thing she wanted was to be human and defenseless.

[Races The Night]

Dayan shook with fury, a simmering rage which heated his veins and made the pulse throb in his throat. Nostrils flaring in indignation, he bit out, "Get out of my territory, tiger." The man reaked of Tiger, the scent was all over him. "I have no bad blood with you, but its slowly souring."

Diego sneered. "Oh really, leopard? I'd say you're hiding something or someone and therefore are an accomplise."

"What are you talking about you deranged furball, I hide no one."

There was a soft thunk and whizz of air followed by a distinct thud and Dayan stumbled, stepping back as the impact of the crossbow bolt hit him. The shaft protruded from his left shoulder joint and he gripped it in pain.

"Don't fool with me, another inch or so right and I would have had your heart, beast. Where is he?" Diego demanded, loading another bolt and aiming at the snowy shape behind the naked man. "Woman, if you don't shift right now, there'll be a bolt right through your head." He said in a rough, whisky heated voice. he shrugged his trench coat off and threw it into the middle of them. "Put that on if your so shy."

Dayan bristled and growled, Inka churning away at his safe guards to be let loose and raise all hell. The pain in his shoulder burned through his chest and clouded his senses, but he refused to whimper like a kit.

[Maira]

Maira watched with increasing fear, what in the hell was going on? That man was a tiger? What? Her mind was racing with questions.

She was so caught up in staring at the strange man, and trying to get her thoughts in order that she somehow missed him fire his crossbow. She did however hear it land and watched as Dayan stumbled backwards toward her. Twilight's Rain wanted nothing more than to leap at the man with the weapon and Maira was slow to dissagree but still she held the snowleopard in check.

Maira's fear was dissappating now, her anger was rising and not giving in to Rain's desires for blood was becoming increasingly harder. When the man tossed his trenchcoat in between the two of them Maira sniffed derisively at it and let her body shift. Twilight's Rain did not want to be shoved away but she went anyway. Slower than Dayan had, Maira was again human.

Once she had hands and vocal cords again, Maira grabbed the man's coat, stood up and, coming around to Dayan's left side, tossed it at him growling out, "Keep your filthy jacket." She knew she was naked and she wasn't comfortable showing it off but the last thing she wanted was any charity from a man who obviously intended her and Dayan harm. As soon as her hands were free of the jacket Maira turned her attention on Dayan's shoulder.

The small bit of medical training she'd had was with animals but even so, Maira could tell that Dayan's shoulder was going to be a fairly simple fix, if a painful recovery. Though explaining a crossbow bolt to the hospital doctors was going to be tricky. If Dayan had still been in leopard form, Maira might have felt confident enough to take care of it herself but he wasn't.

Watching the Hunter out of the corner of her eye, Maira asked Dayan softly, "Are you alright?" One of her hands was on his left arm and the other was on his back, her body comfortingly close to him but not touching.

[Races The Night]

Dayan bit back a viscious growl. "Son fo a-" he stepped forward defiantly, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on his enemy and not the lusciously naked woman at his side. Inka roared for vengeance, unused to being the prey of another hunter.

"Where is he? his scent is all over this cavern." The tiger snapped.

Dayan inhaled slowly and sure enough there was another Were's scent hanging heavy in the air. He suffered a moments hesitation at the fact that he had failed to pick even the merest hint of it up, upon their arrival here. The scent was less than a day old but the cave-in at the back of chamber meant the owner of the scent could not have gone further and must have vacated the caves some time ago.

"You have been outpaced, tiger, whoever was ehre is long gone and of no concern to me." Dayan bit, now be gone before I deign to take vengeance on your attack."

There was a moments hesitation in the tiger's eye before he whirled around in confusion, his senses flaring out to test the area.

Heaving a breath that stung, Dayan placed his hand over Maira's. "I am fine, cara mia, please stay back, I do not like the way he looks at you." To be fair, he didn't think he would like the way any man looked at her, regardless of their intent. Gritting his teeth and gathering his resolve he took a firm hold on the shaft of the arror and pushed it through his shoulder and out the other end. Dayan winced, but dutifully snnapped the arrow head off and guided the shaft out of the wound. It drizzled fresh blood. Dayan stumbled under the mantle of pain, falling to a knee.

[Maira]

As the two men argued and postured, Maira too scented the cavern and instantly Rain was bristling even more. Whatever creature the tiger was chasing, it was female. Another female in Dayan's territory, no matter what her kind, was not a welcome visitor at all.

When Dayan finally started speaking to her Maira's attention snapped back from her contemplations of tracking down and chasing out the wandering female. Not wanting to move away from him at all, but wanting to do as he said, Maira stepped back behind him rather than beside him. As soon as she had moved, she watched, rather in horror, as he shoved the arrow the rest of the way through his shoulder and proceed to break off the head, and then pull it out.

When he stumbled and fell, Maira was beside him in an instant, her body pressed close and her arm wrapped around him for support. "You idiot!" she growled softly as she tilted his head up so she could see his eyes, "I could have done that a little more gently if you'd just told me what to do!" Why did men have to be so damn stubborn and self sufficient, typcally at their own expense?

She knew her now raging temper would do Dayan no good so she turned it on the intruder. "Look, I don't care why you're here but who ever you were chasing is gone. She left at least a day ago so if you scamper on your way you might catch her. In the mean time, you're trespassing on my mate's territory so get out!" As she had spoke, her voice had gotten harsher and obviously more influenced by the leopard that was clawing to get out. Maira didn't even really realize just how she had referred to Dayan, that was all Rain's doing.

[Races The Night]

Diego paused at the female's tone. Females were always prissy, but this one was more than most. He flashed her a cruel half sided smile, which didn't quite reach his eyes. He bowed courteously from the waist. "My apologies, my lady, it seems they have beaten me to it once again. Adue fiery one." His voice purred seduction and mocking.

Diego levelled his hard gaze on Dayan and his voice became serious. "If I find you are housing a criminal, Leopard, I will gut you and hang you out to dry. Take my card, should you find any sign of him, or even catch them, do not hesitate to call. Hesitation will only end in your death. Understood?"

Dayan flashed the intruder his deadliest scowl. "Up yours, asshole, I've heard of your sort. Going around killing True-blood and Virus alike, innocents, the lot of them. You Hunters all deserve to burn in Hell." He spat at Diego's feet.

The tiger raised an elegant brow. "Maybe I already do." As fast as he appeared, he disappeared, leaving Dayan clutching his seeping shoulder and Maira hovering over him and the retreating echo of his boots off the stone floor.

When he was sure the new comer had left, Dayan flopped on his front in relief, the strain of holding back his anger, coating his skin in a fine sheen of sweat. "Well, that went well." He mumbled. "Are you alright?" He asked, lifting himself up long enough to run his hands over her and assure himself she had come to no harm.

[Maira]

A low rumble was growing in her throat as the man mocked her, as he reached his hand out with a card for Dayan, she couldn't help but hiss at him. He'd wounded Dayan, mocked her, and then he dared get so close as that? He had to be stupid!

The final exchange between the two men was short and then the tiger was gone. Not soon enough for Maira's liking though. As soon as the footsteps faded, Dayan collapsed and Maira gave a worried cry ans she hunched down to make sure he was okay.

When he asked if she was okay she tried to assure him that yes she was without him needing to move but he lifted himself up and ran his hands over her anyway. She smiled warmly at him when he had completed his search of her body for injuries, "See, I'm fine." Then her look darkening just a bit she added, "You're not though. What do you need me to do?"

As she kneeled next to him, waiting for his answer, Maira tried to ignore the fact that she was completely naked in front of a man who was essentially a stranger. His injury was what she needed to focus on, not the fact that he had run his hands all along her body in its current state of undress. Twilight's Rain, if leopards could laugh, would have been laughing at her human counterpart's frustration and confusion. Instead she just purred with amusement.

[Races The Night]

"What you can do?" Dayan asked. "Well, we need to return to my house. It's no longer safe out here with a Hunter and his Prey in the vicinity, I won't risk either one harming you. Have you got enough energy to take the leopard form and race back?" He waited for her answer. "If not, I'll carry you, I can traverse this ground faster than any member of the Pard."

Hand over his shoulder, he sat up and leaned against the wall of the cave, removing his palm long enough to examine the wound and amount of blood. He'd had worse, so the bolt wound didn't worry him. However, the slip of card he picked up from the floor, worried him much. He had to get in contact with the Alpha and inform him of this latest danger to the Pard. For the time being, home would be the ebst place for him. He kept medical supplies in his bathroom cupboard for cases just like these. Living in the forest, you could never be too careful.

[Maira]

Maira grimaced at the thought of Dayan trudging through the forest to get back to his house. When he asked if she had the energy to again let the leopard come, Maira began to worry. She wasn't used to this yet and no matter how much she loved running as Twilight's Rain, all she wanted to do right then was curl up and go to sleep. The heat from the hotsprings had lulled her.

Then when he offered to carry her she nearly laughed out loud. She was naked, he was hurt, and he was offering to carry her? Was he utterly insane? She decided not to answer that question right then. Instead she just backed away from him a short distance and let Rain have her freedom once more.

The heat from the hotsprings had an even greater effect on Twilight's Rain than it did on Maira. Being completely covered in fur she was already warm, the heat in the cave just made her more so and even more drowsy. If we're gonna go, we need to go now the heat is making me sleepy, she sent gently into Dayan's mind.

Rain was just as worried about Dayan, and in turn Inka, as Maira was. Now that she could, the snowleopard got a closer look at the man, rubbing her big head against the shoulder opposite his wound, purring at him encouragingly.

[Races The Night]

Dayan flashed the leopard a mischevious grin before doubling over and welcoming the Change. The black fur sprouted across his back and his jaw lengthened and stubbed itself into a muzzle. Hands crept back into pads, covered by short, bristly fur. Inka purred and brushed Rain greatfully.

OK, can't have you falling asleep here, let's go. It won't take long, we can get back to my house and I can drive you home if you want. He offered, secretly hoping she would be too tired even for that. Dayan found hismelf reluctant to let her leave so soon after being introduced to both sides of her. inka felt the same way.

The dark leopard stalked out of the cave, pausing at the entrance to inhale the Hunter's scent deeply, so that he would never forget the intruder. Assuring himself that there was no one around, he led his charge out into the wanning night and hurried them home. The porch light was welcoming as they exited the thicket near his house and skirted around the edge to the back door. Rising onto his haunches he pulled the handle and pushed the door inwards. there was no light inside and Inka was shifting as soon as he stalked into the kitchen.

Dayan flicked the light switch as he left to find clothes upstairs, his wide shoulders and trim waist disappearing as fast as they had appeared. Come, your clothes are here, you must be cold, I shall light a fire when I return. He said smoothly.

[Maira]

Rain followed Inka out of the cave, trying to keep up with him despite her exhaustion that was quickly laying claim to her. The trip through the forest wasn't as magical for Maira and Rain this time, they were both too focussed on just putting one paw in front of the other and not loosing sight of the black shadow that was slipping through the underbrush ahead of them.

By the time they reached Dayan's home again and Inka let them inside, Maira was nearly asleep and Rain was only slightly more alert because she was the one walking. When Dayan's voice sounded in her mind Maira came alert, or mostly so. Remembering that her clothes were indeed in the bathroom she urged Rain to go in there.

Twilight's Rain, as exhausted of Maira, was glad for the rest and let Maira take control of their body willingly. Before she was even finished dressing, Maira could feel the snowy beast curled up and sleeping soundly inside of her.

By the time she made her way slowly out of the bathroom, Dayan was already back downstairs and was lighting a fire as he had promised he would. With a sigh of relief, Maira picked up her pace as much as she could and went and flopped down, in the chair she had occupied earlier, next to the fire.

Tilting her head to one side sleepily, Maira asked Dayan, "I know this is going to sound incredibly silly coming from a grown woman but do you have any hot cocoa? I'll make it if you do." She knew it was a bit forward, asking a man she barely knew, for something to drink in his own house but she was tired and cold. Hot cocoa might help perk her up a bit for the drive home and it would warm her.

[Races The Night]

Dayan flashed her a warm, tired smile. "Stay here, I'll bring somet o you, you look exhausted." He left her there to forage for food in the kitchen. He flicked the kettle on to boil while he hunted through the cupboards, snacking on various things, mostly bread related, to fill his stomach adequately. Inka growled grumpily at having to digest bread instead of meat, but Dayan reasoned with him that it was better to have a full stomach than not at all.

He returned shortly after with a steaming mug of cocoa in one hand and a coffee for himself in the other. He handed the cocoa to Maira and slumped onto the couch with his own drink, pondering over the events of the night.Itw orried him much that there was a Hunter in the Pards midsts.

Hunters were nothing like the moon phase of the same name. These Hunters were out to kill any Virus-were they could find, often killing true blood in their quest to rid the world of the parasites that were the virus infected. hunters were a class of their own, solitary beings who wandered continually in search of something they believed was wrong and had to be eradicated. In Dayan's mind True Blood and Virus lived happily side by side, as long as one didn't impose on the other, the bond was fragile but peaceful, there was no need to start a war. But the Hunters thought otherwise. Each side had their own bands of Hunters, each hunting the opposites. It was hard to tell most times, who was who, except for minor height differences and builds.

Dayan stared into the flickering flames of the fire, contemplating his next course of action.

[Maira]

Maira smiled her gratitude at Dayan as he offered to make the hot cocoa for her. The fact he had any said a lot about him that he probably wasn't aware of. A soft smile took up residence on Maira's lips as she watched him wander off into the kitchen. The urge to cuddle up with him was only sort of toyed with as she turned her gaze to the growing fire.

While Maira liked Dayan well enough, and he was kind enough to make her hot cocoa after the night's misadventures, she highly doubted that he wanted her to stay. Let alone in the same bed.

She had just about dozed off when she heard him making his way back over to her and Maira looked up and smiled again at him. "Thanks Dayan," she said softly before putting the mug to her lips and taking a slow savoring sip. There was nothing like hot cocoa to ease away stress and worries.

Unlike Dayan, Maira's mind was not on the Hunter at all. All she could think about was Dayan, either in his human form like now, or running the forests as Inka. Maira figured that last was Rain dreaming, if she could dream that is. When she was done with her mug of cocoa, Maira got out of the chair and made to walk the mug into the kitchen. As soon as she was standing though, Maira got dizzy and had to sit back down in a hurry or fall down. Looking sheepishly at Dayan, Maira said softly, "I'm not sure I should drive right now." She didn't want to force herself on the man but he looked about as dead tired as she felt. Not knowing what else to do or say she just said, "And you look dead tired too, what do you want to do? I can call a cab..."

[Races The Night]

He should make her go home, drive her if neccessary. The thoughts swimming through his head were none to honorable. Chivalry didn't raise its head among the tide of dark images flooding him. He should do the right thing, be a man and see her safely home where nothing could harm her, least of all a wild animal sat not ten feet away from her in the living room.

After a long moment of contemplation Dayan sighed and shook his head. "Nah, if you trust me enough to guard you during the night, there's spare blankets upstairs, I'll sleep on the couch, you can use the bedroom upstairs." The guest bedroom bore no resemblance to such a thing, cluttered with computers and parts thereof. Aezrel was the only person to stay over and that was rarely, since the fallout with their mother. His younger brother lived in New Orleans with their mother.

"You look too worn out to drive home and I'm in no better state. Besides, I don't trust the cabbies 'round this way and to be truthfull, they don't like me all that much, they stay clear of the forest dweller." He moved, disappearing upstairs briefly, returning from the airing cupboard with an armful of blankets and an extra pillow. He placed them down on the sofa and resumed his place and coffee mug, gladly drinking the warm, strong liquid, feeling refreshed at the bitter awakening taste.

On an impulse he'd left one of his old shirts out on the bed, should she wish to sleep out of her daytime clothes. He tried to convince himself the thought was completely innocent and pure, but Inka scoffed at the notion and told him the mere thought of her in his clothes roused every possessive, leopard male instinct in him. What was a guy to do, when faced with such temptations!

Wisely, he kept quiet and contented himself with glimpses of her caught from the corner of his eye when she looked away for the briefest of moments.

[Maira]

Since apparently the cabbies were evil and they were both too tired to drive, Maira would be staying the night with Dayan. Rain purred in her sleep and Maira had to wonder if the cat were just pretending to sleep.

Maira had time to mumble out a surprised, "Thanks," before Dayan went to get some blankets. When he came back with them and a pillow, Maira felt a twinge in her gut. Making the guy sleep on his own couch just wasn't right.

Her thoughts racing, Maira turned her gaze on the fire and tried in vain to find her answers in the flames. Instead of the fire helping, Twilight's Rain roused long enough to make her feelings known. The cat was convincing, Maira had to give her that.

After a moment Maira turned her gaze back to Dayan and thought she caught him watching her. She didn't call him on it though, just treasured it. Before she could loose her nerve, or the energy to speak, Maira said softly, "Its your home Dayan and you've been nice enough to indulge me with hot chocolate, you shouldn't have to sleep on the couch too. If anybody should sleep on the couch it should be me as your guest." Taking a calming breath she continued, "Of course, if you don't object, I'd really feel better having you nearby..."

Here Maira's voice faltered and trailed off. She wanted to ask if she could share his bed but she couldn't think of any way to make it come off as the mostly innocent need she had for close contact with another of her kind. It just so happened that the person she would be sharing a bed with, if he figured out what she'd been trying to ask, was exactly the kind of man she was attracted to physically. Maira knew that Rain wasn't asleep anymore when she felt the mirth bubbling up from the snowy cat.

[Races The Night]

Dayan could feel Rain close to the surface, her prescence permeated the thick atmosphere. He swallowed heavily for several minutes, his hands clenching then unclenching. Inka growled low in his throat and for a moment, the man was scared incase the wild sound could be heard.

"If that's what you want." He purred. "I could sleep outside of the door if you're concerned about intruders..." There, honorable words for the day That was the last honorable thought she'd likely get out of him.

If Inka had been physically present, he would be lashing his tail in satisfaction As it was, the cat contented himself by taunting Dayan something rotten.

"I would never force you to sleep on the couch when there is a perfectly comfortable bed just upstairs. If you're concerned about getting cold, I'm sure Inka wouldn't mind sitting watch beside you..." The heat rose a few degrees in the room - and it wasn't because of the fire.