I hunt, therefore I am

[Kegan]

OOC: This takes place shortly after Enemies By Blood

He had been stalking the deer for about a half an hour. He was still in wolf form, having gotten up fifteen minutes prior to hunting. He crept along the forest floor, watching the subtle movements of the deer, who was still unaware of his presence. He moved slowly, just beyond the edge of the glade. And... NOW! The white wolf leaped out of his hiding place, tackling the deer where it stood. His jaws sank into the flesh on it's neck, breaking the bone beneath, killing the creature without much of a struggle. The wolf shifted form, becoming both man and beats, carrying the dead body on his shoulder.

::Back at Camp about an hour later.::

He meat was cooking on the fire, and Kegan was drying out the pelt. He had learned to survive in the wood though experience, and was used to this. It was here he was at peace, where he could be at one with the land. It was far different to the unsettling feeling he got when back at the academy. Though he had made at least one "friend" (something he was still mulling over), he was still a simple man with simple needs. He was happy alone, the solitude comforting.

He checked the meat, and it was cooked to his liking. Though he could eat raw meat, he still liked it heated up. Medium rare would be the restaurant term for it, and being cooked over an open fire seemed to give the meat a flavor it lacked when devoured fresh.

He held the meat before him, and closed his eyes. "I have hunted today, and my prey fell. The creatures death was not in vain. I take the spoils form this hunt with the deepest respect." It was a small prayer he gave when he killed. He never killed an animal for anything other than food, and he held a respect for each creature that fell before him. He never let anything go to waste, and anything he could not finish himself was either burned to ash and spread over the ground, or left to sate the hunger of other forest dwellers.

Well fed and tired, Kegan laid down under the stone walls of his tent, and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

[Tristan Knightrhode]

OOC: heya buddy ^_^

Tristan was on the hunt once again. A nearby town had reported pet dissapearances and disturbances. Some believed it to only be a stray zoo animal or bear. Others however, believed it was something more, something not human, and that is exactly what had Tristan on the hunt.

The large man of six foot three was a hunter of the supernatural: Vampires, demons, werewolves, all sorts of things that went bump in the night fell under his blade, or his bullets. The mans near black eyes locked onto his quary, four hours into the hunt. A white wolf. Normally a plain old wolf wouldn't spark much interest, but being who Tristan was, and the fact that it was such a bold white had caught the black clad hunters attention.

[So it is a werewolf] He thought to himself, seeing the white beast begin to transform into a half man, half beast. It threw its' prey over its shoulder and stalked off. Tristan followed it, slowly and surely. Patience and stealth were two things one needed on the hunt, and those two things Tristan had in excess. He slowly crept around bends, making sure to stay down wind of the animal.

The black haired hunter moved silently despite his armamants, so many years as a hunter gave him that ability. He left his companion at the hotel in the town that hired him: He just made noise and wasn't much help on the hunt, despite being a natural born hunter. The beast settled down and turned into his human form. There was still something about him that would allow Tristan to identify him as a werewolf, a tiny detail of the demenor, a glimmer in the eye, every minor detail about the way someone walks can give away secrets about them.

Tristan came around a final bend and settled on a precipice. [Slowly now] He thought to himself, pulling out his .30-06 hunting rifle. The bullets were silver as well as enchanted so it could even peirce dragon hide within the mouth and on the belly, they still wouldn't go through the near indestructable scales. He slowly set up his gun, quietly unfolding the bipod stand, and adjusting the scope. Tristan then looked through the scope at his quary and saw a dissapointing sight, "Asleep huh...That's no fun."

Despite it not being fun if the target was asleep, Tristan trained his sights on the beasts skull. Just then the winds shifted, "Shit." Tristan said, and none too quietly. He cocked the rifle and quickly squeezed off a round. The wind had shifted in the beasts direction and like all werewolves, and even most vampires, they had a heightened sense of smell. It would be alerted by the scent carried on the wind and by the cocking of the rifle that had been done all ro hastily. There was a damn good chance it would wake up and move before it was shot.

[Kegan]

Click. That was all it took. Kegan awoke with a start and instinct guided him to roll forward, out of the stone tent. The bullet narrowly missed him, instead blasting apart his shelter. The scent of his attacker caught his attention. It wasn't the vampire from before, but someone new. This person was not here to fight, but instead kill. Kegan doubted that whoever had fired the shot was willing to talk this out, as he had just attempted to kill him while he slept.

Kegan was aware enough to know that it was luck that had saved him. That or fate. The shot was accurate. He didn't take the time to examine the damage. He broke out into a run, shifting to wolf form and heading deeper into the woods. He had, for a half second, thought about going back to the academy, but knew that might mean death. There was a clear field between the forest and the academy. If this hunter had a clear shot, and the bullets were silver, Kegan was a good as dead. His best bet was to loose his attacker, and hope to get the better of him.

[Tristan Knightrhode]

Tristan cursed to himself on missing and took off as the wolf did. He shot along side it at full blast, taking shots at it all the while. The hunting rifle was a shit weapon to use while running how ever, and most of the shots missed blatantly. He would have used his more acurate handguns, for running at least, only he didn't have silver bullet clips for them.

The hunter took to the trees, leaping into the branches with ease. He shot along, faster than the wolf. Eventually they came to a small clearing and Tristan jumped out a few meters infront of the beast. "No where to hide now." He said, aiming his .30-06. Waiting for some sort of reaction before he fired, whether it be a dead stop or other wise, he trained the sights right for the wolfs head.

[Kegan]

He slid to a halt, staring down the barely of the rifle. Not good. He's fast. Kegan shifted back to his human form, as he was unable to speak as a full wolf, and didn't want to dive right into battle. He was hoping for a chance to avoid unnecessary fighting, doing the best he could to keep from lunging at the man who had intent to kill him.

"Before you fire another shot at me, can I at least know why I am being hunted. When last I checked, hunting a deer wasn't a crime." Kegan stood slowly. Being unarmed, the man might not view him as a threat in his human form. However, Kegan still had his bending, and he would use it if he had to and attempt to get away. He had no desire to fight, as he could only assume the man would not miss at this range. Silver bullet or no, the explosive power of the shot wouldn't be pleasant. If they were silver bullets, Kegan would not survive.

[Grey]

((OOC: This is before Grey joins "Followers of Dreams"))

Grey was sitting on the solid branch of an oak tree, hunched as he waited for his quarry to come closer. His body was utterly silent, his heart not beating and his lungs haven frawn their last breath long ago. His quarry was a dear, a beautiful one, and grey could wait to sink his teeth into the tender flesh. He had not had a chance to feed sine his encounter with the werewolf, and he had been stalking the woods looking for suitable prey since then. Suddenly his ears twitched and hsi head snapped to the side. Gunshots?

Abandoning his prey to whatever fate awaited it, Grey began running through the upper forest, leaping from branch to branch with immortal grace, the wolf within him snarling. Humans, always wanting to assert themselves above the laws the had abandoned, thinknig themselves superior to the laws of nature. Grey hated hunters, espescially those that only hunted for sport. More gunshots, and Grey quickened his pace. He noticed that he was heading back towards an area close to where he had fought the lupine, and grinned at the thought of the hunter suddenly becoming the hunter.

But when he saw what was going on his smile shrinked, becoming one of thought rather than one of excitement. This could prove to be interesting, as whoever won this fight was sure to be wounded and thereby an easier target for Grey's fangs. But the geezer with the gun seemed to have the advantage, and Grey was going to strip him of that first. Grey set off and sailed towards the hunters back, intending to lock unto him by wrapping his legs around the hunter's gut, putting his arms around the hunter's inner arms and placing his hands on the back of the hunter's neck, holding him in a solid and practically inescapeable body lock. If this went well, Grey would dig his teeth into the hunter's neck and begin to feed, but he was almost sure it wouldn't be that easy, and that made him smile

[Tristan Knightrhode]

Tristan followed the beasts head up slightly as it turned into its human form. "Thats not what the nearest town said. They told me something has been killing their pets and live stock and trashing what little cars they have." He said, still holding up the hunting rifle.

"They said any remains had claw marks. About the size of your average werewolf." The hunter finished, then would let the beast explain. If he was innocent, and had some decent proof of it, then the pillar of a man wouldn't have to shoot him. "One man said he shot it in the back...Turn around." Tristan said, recalling details of the story. He heard a rustle behind him before the beast could answer.

He lept straight up, sailing a good twenty feet in the air. "KAMATAICHI!!" He said, swinging his hands down to the ground where a man had just tried to attack him. Three blades of solid wind flew toward the moron who tried to sneak up on a hunter. They would hack him to bits with relative ease. However, if they missed, Tristan would command them to follow.

Once they caught up he would shout "IGNITE!" and small orange sparks would appear in the three air masses, causing each one to explode with brilliant force enough to take out an oak that was fifty years old.

[Kegan]

Kegan turned around, knowing that if he made any sudden movements it would be his end. He couldn't avoid a shot at this range, and if the bullets were silver, it would be more than the explosive blast he would need to worry about. He lifted his shirt to expose his scarred back, no evidence of a bullet wound, fresh or otherwise. However, it was unknown if the hunter ever got a good look, as a new arrival caused a good deal of commotion.

"YOU!" Kegan recognized the boy who fought him earlier. However, the vampires presence was less than wanted, as he just eliminated the chance of a peaceful end to the meeting of wolf and man. Kegan was now torn. Run, and risk having the hunter chase him down, hoping for the chance to escape? Or fight, and risk getting killed here?

He steadied himself and faced the vampire. Peace is an illusion.

[Grey]

"Heh" Grey muttered, the same undying smile on his lips. The guy had dodged Grey's initial attack, making Grey land on all four. Not for grey's position, but it meant that this fight could turn out to interesting. Feeling something approach from above, Grey launched himself away from the place where he was, fast enough to avoid the blades of air, but a few steps away from teh spots something behind him exploded, flinging him face first into the solid oak in front him. Any lesser being would have had his nose broken, but Grey was blessed with all but indestructible bones.

Grey pushed against the tree, falling unot the ground and standing up, ensuring that none of the two others got the time they needed to strike his back. Finally reacting to the werewolf's outburst, he turned his face, although his attention remained equally divided, to the werewolf. "Me indeed, petty mortal" Although Grey's nose remained whole, tissue had still been crushed, and a steady stream of Grey's dark blood was flowing. Grey licked it off his lips, savoring the sensation of the 'Agony' that his blood had become.

Grey was prepared to attack either of the two, he seemed to have made a crucial mistake by making enemies of the two, but he was not going down without a fight. Grey would die within months regardles, torn apart by the souls in his inner. He eyed both of his foes and smiled, letting his madness surface. He was going to give this fight his all

[Tristan Knightrhode]

"Who the hell are you?" Tristan said to the one who had just been caught by the Kamitaichi explosion. He had yet to fall back to earth and was saying this about ten feet in the air. Another few moments and he was back on the surface, .30-06 pointing right at the intruders head.

He glanced over at the beast and saw no blood on his back, "Looks like you were telling the truth wolf. If it comes down to it, we're allies...for now at least." Tristan called to him, his gaze returning to their locked position on the intruder behind his dark orange sunglasses.

[Kegan]

Kegan looked to the hunter. Mistaken identity. Typical. Oh well. he was a hired gun. Not an enemy. The vampire however is. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Grey, the contempt he felt before coming back to him. "Agreed hunter. For now, we're allies. Don't take him lightly. I fought him a few hours ago. This will not be easy."

His gaze never left Grey as he prepared himself to attack. The heat came to his hands. He would burn the vampire to the ground. "BURN!" Two punches, two streams of fire aimed right at Grey's chest. Not hard to dodge, but would force him to move. The fight was on.

[Grey]

Grey saw two opportunities when the flames closed, and he immediatly picked his coice. He whirled sideways, into th ecover of the trees. Typical, people were always afraid of engaging him close combat. His chest was hurting, and he didn't know why. It was not the explosion nor the collision with the tree, he knew that nuch, but what was it then?

"Come on then" He shouted, mainly at the lycanthrobe. "Why are you people always so eager to kill, but so scared of making it personal? Let's settle this like men, just pure 'n honest hand to hand." Grey knew it was unlikely that they would agree, but he had to try. He was a superior martial artist and he knew he wouldn't be able to stand being burnt and shot, and especially not at the same time. He was going to fight until the end no matter what, he wouldn't give up, he had overcome foes of both kinds in the past and he would do it again... He hoped

[Tristan Knightrhode]

Tristan watched the fire blast and the intruder run. "A vampire...This will be easier than you think wolf." He said, noticing the way the intruder moved and the gleam of his eyes. Even without the fangs being visible those were tell-tale signs of a vampire. He even had a somewhat pale complection.

Tristan fired off four rounds with his hunting rifle, chunks of the tree the vampire was hiding behind went flying off, and Tristan put away the rifle. He rushed in at top speed and clapped his hands together. The titanium gauntlets glowed with the blue lightning of transmutation as the fourteen inch blades extended out of the backs. He came around the left side of tree quickly and made a slash with his right fist. A hard right stomp kick would follow. A simple enough combo to start things off.

[Kegan]

"I just wanted you to move. You want personal, you got it!" He shifted to his hybrid form, an ear-piercing howl emanating from his jaw. The hunter addressed him before firing and leaping in after the Vampire. Kegan watched and listened for the movement in the trees. THERE! He leaped straight at Grey, front claws extended. Unless you can fly, your caught!

The air rushed past him as he went in for the strike. If it hit home, the vampire would fall. If not, Kegan would hit the tree, and change direction, adjusting for a new opportunity to attack.

[Grey]

Grey was in the shit, and he knew it. A pissed off werewolf on one side and some stupid hunter on the other. Granted he could only see one, but it didn't to much brain to figure his move out. Grey had no choice but to use one of his more powerful cards, one that would grant him a slight, temporary edge.

Chi flooding from his tarnished soul into his unholy flesh, the world seemed to slow down around Grey, his forgotten strengh surfacing. The hunter's bladed gauntlet came at him and Grey stepped aside, grabbing hold of it. Standing next to the hunter with his forarm solidly in his grip, Grey punched into the elbow, intending to cause minor disrupting pain. Spinning behind the hunter, still holding his arm, Grey then planted the sole of his shoe in the hunter's back, kicking him towards the approaching lupine. This one liquid movement had been performed in less than a second, but Grey knew he could't keep this up. He had to find another way to fight, and fast

Spell used: Forgotten strength
Costs 1 chi
9 chi remaining