They moved North up to a remote, sparsely populated, town not far from the Canadian border. Vampires tended to congregate near the large population areas, staying close to their prey species, so the two felt reasonably safe. They had traveled South first, raiding large hospital blood banks on the way. When they had a stash sufficient for three months they abruptly turned in the opposite direction on an easterly angle.
The little town was quiet and they managed to blend in, getting manual labor jobs working on the roads. They came home filthy at night to their little rented cottage, cleaned up, and hit the local bars. Tyler was surprised that such a small area could boast so many bars, but the more experienced Stefan informed him that drinking was usually a popular pastime in these isolated areas. They tried not to get entangled with the local woman, compelling the more forward ones to leave them alone. They didn't plan on staying long, only using it as a stopping point before deciding on their next move.
Tyler, especially, loved the woods and wide open spaces after the close confinement of the city. There were times when after the bars closed down he would race out into the woods, treasuring the feeling of freedom as he dodged trees and stirred up the debris on the forest floor. Stefan would follow him, often in the tree branches, playful pouncing on him, trying to catch him off guard. The two enjoyed the mock skirmishes.
The moon was full this night, the sky cold and clear, stars twinkling overhead. Tyler felt restless and unsatisfied. He wanted to be outside and . . and he didn't quite know what, but he felt the pull of the beautiful shining orb overhead.
Stefan watched his restless pacing from the corner of his eye.
"Let's go out." Tyler's carefully casual request was met with a knowing smile. "Shut up."
"I didn't say anything." Stefan smirked.
They left and sped out into the woods. Tyler, arms outstretched as if to embrace the moon, felt like the light was warming his body, much the way the sun did. It couldn't of course, but it didn't change the way he felt.
He took off running again from sheer joy and Stefan easily followed. Stefan slapped his arm. "You're it."
Tyler laughed and took off after him. Stefan twisted and turned, double backed and danced backwards just out of Tyler's reach. Tyler laughed, enjoying the chase and feeling the speed and strength in his limbs.
Agile as Stefan was, Tyler eventually managed to tag him and then took off at top speed. Stefan rushed after him and they danced through the trees.
Suddenly both froze. Out of the myriad of little sounds in the evening forest they were able to pick out one that was wrong. Tyler lifted his nose and opened his mouth slightly allowing his tongue help him distinguish the scent.
A quick rush and Stefan punched down a werewolf. The wolf hit the ground and flipped immediately rushing in for another attack. Tyler quickly intervened as Stefan's eye veins darkened and his fangs emerged. Tyler's eyes went yellow and he bared his double fangs, snarling a warning. The werewolf froze in position and backed off uncertain. The wolf tried to sidestep, but Tyler turned always facing him; he was always between the wolf and the vampire. He lunged aggressively and the wolf scurried backwards, tail between its legs. It whined uncertainly and then fled.
When he heard the footsteps fade Tyler allowed his face to return to human form and turned to Stefan. There was a rip and blood on the vampire's shirt. Stefan was pulling it back to look at the wound. There were puncture marks, but the telltale purpling and oozing were not present. It wasn't healed, but it appeared like a normal puncture wound for a human. They both examined it and then looked at each other. Tyler pulled at it and Stefan winced. "That hurts."
"Don't be such a baby," was the unsympathetic reply. "It doesn't look like a normal werewolf bite. Do you think you're immune?"
"I don't know. I may be partially immune. It doesn't feel bad like when you first bit me, but it's not healing like a normal cut." Stefan shrugged. "I guess we'll see."
"Let's get back to the cottage. We've never been out this far and we must have crossed over into a pack's territory. I haven't seen any signs in our town."
The two quickly sped back.