Sorry for the late update guys... I've been pretty busy, and lacked inspiration. I do think it'll flow more easy now, as Damon and Kirya soon will be reunited :-D

Kirya awoke early. She couldn't hold back a moan when she shifted her weight on the couch. Her whole body felt like it had been run over by a train. The remains from yesterdays dinner was still on the table. Mia, Matt's wife, had conjured quite a feast, using all the perishables in the fridge, since the power was gone. Everyone had been tired and went straight to bed, leaving the clean-up for later.
She was still amazed at how friendly and welcoming her newfound friends were.

Slowly she got to her feet, trying to go as easy on her bruised body as possible. Kyle was still asleep on the other couch, snoring lightly. Quietly Kirya took off in search of a bathroom.
When she had taken care of the necessities, she started to clear the table. While working, her mind swept back to the problem at hand. What should she do? She had absolutely no idea how to find Damon. Hell, she didn't even know if he was still in town. Maybe he had left like Stefan... or maybe he was dead, caught in one of the explosions... She shook her head, trying to push the thought out of her head, but somehow she couldn't let it go. If he was alive wouldn't he have come find her? At least just to check if she was okay? Or called her as a minimum?

She sighed as she cleaned the last dish. Don't be stupid, Kirya. She scolded herself. He is way more important to you, than you are to him. It's time you get it into your stupid brain. He's probably forgotten everything about you already.

And so what? she retorted to her own brain. He's my friend, and the least I can do is to make sure he's alright, after that he can do whatever he needs to do, and I can go check up on auntie and uncle.
Which of course led her back to how she was supposed to find him. I'll give it two days, she decided. I'll do whatever I can to find him, deliver Stefan's message, and then I'll be on my way.

The first thing she needed to do, she realized, was to find out exactly what was happening. There had to be some kind of law enforcement somewhere.

The others were still asleep, and she quickly scribbled a small note to them,

Matt, Mia, Lucas and Kyle,
Thank you for your kindness and hospitality. I need to find out more about what's going on, and to find my friend. If I find out anything, I'll make sure you are informed.
Alice.

As an afterthought she added her phone number on the bottom of the note.

She grabbed her jacket and left the house. The sky was an indifferent gray, and the air held a cold chill. Kirya pulled her jacket closer around her.

Her first stop would be the nearby hospital, maybe someone would have some answers there.

The destruction was not as complete here as it had been downtown. occasionally she had to climb over a wrecked car or some rubble, but most of the houses were untouched.

A few blocks from the hospital she heard a ruckus from one of the alleys. It sounded like someone fighting. The streets were empty, people obviously staying indoors.

Someone yelled out in pain, and Kirya stopped dead in her tracks, peeking down the alley. The shadows concealed whatever was going on. She bit her lip. It would be wisest just to keep walking, ignoring what was obviously not her fight. But she found herself walking silently down the alley, hugging the shadows.

The noise was getting louder, and finally the source came into her view. She stopped and hid behind a corner.

A young man lay on the ground, with two men looming over him. One of them held a long pointed object, and Kirya immediately recognized it. A stake. Without thinking she burst out from her cover.

The hunters were so absorbed in their victim on the ground that they didn't notice her before she crash-tackled the one who held the stake. He let out a surprised yelp, as he went sprawling, the stake flying from his hand.

The speed had caused Kirya to go down as well, but she was on her feet quickly, trying to regain focus. She had used up her element of surprise, and the other hunter was already rushing at her. He was a giant of a man. At least 6 feet tall if not more, and as massive as an oak.

She shot a quick glance at the vampire on the pavement. Blood was seeping from several wounds, and he seemed completely out of it. She would receive no help from that angle. She braced herself for the attack.

As the giant launched himself on her, she quickly ducked to the side. She wasn't fast enough. The fist that had been aimed for her face hit her shoulder instead, making her loose balance. She tumbled to the ground, her wind completely knocked out of her. The giant's smiled as she lay on the pavement gasping for air.

"Now what do we have here? Huh?" Kirya tried to pull away from him, and his smile broadened.
The guy she had tackled, came over, blood on his face from where it had impacted with the concrete. He looked furious.

"Let me get that little bitch!"
Kirya could feel rage build in her, as she held eye contact with him.

"Look who's talking. Does that hurt?" she said viciously.

The giant laughed, holding his friend back with his hand. "You're quite the fighter. Sadly you obviously have the wrong allegiances." He slowly started pulling out a nasty looking knife.

Kirya saw something out of the corner of her eye. An old liquor bottle lay only a few feet from her. If she could only reach it. Feigning fear she crawled backwards.

"Not so tough now, huh? Did you think we were only after bloodsuckers? That we would spare you because you're human?"
He took a step closer. Kirya fumbled desperately behind her, trying to cover her actions with her body.

"Maybe?" She said, wanting him to keep talking. "Or maybe I've got back-up coming."

"Oh really?" He looked around. "They're cutting it a bit close, don't you think?" He said sarcastically.

Behind her Kirya's fingers touched the bottle neck.

"Maybe they know I can handle myself?"

"Hah! Is that what you call this?"
She shrugged.

"Enough of this," the other one grumbled. "Just finish her off, before the bloodsucker gets about."

They both shot nervous glances at the unconscious vampire.

In that moment Kirya acted, she jumped to her feet, and with all her force she hit the giant in the head with the bottle. Glass splintered, and he fell to the ground like a bag of potatoes. He was out cold. Now using the jagged remains as a weapon, Kirya faced the other hunter.
Behind him, the vampire groaned and moved slightly.
Never letting her attention slip from her opponent, she mumbled under her breath so only the vampires sharp hearing would pick it up: "I could use some help here."

"What are you mumbling, bitch?" the hunter sneered.

"Nothing," she answered with a bright smile, just as she leapt forward lashing out with the bottle. She almost got him, almost.

In the last second he managed to dodge her attack, and just as quickly he retaliated. He was obviously a pro. With a quick punch to her elbow, the bottle fell from her grip as her hand went completely numb. She stumbled backwards.

For the first time, Kirya could feel the fear starting to fill her. She had run out of ideas, and her arm now hang limply against her side. There was nowhere to run. He grabbed her by the throat squeezing. She struggled for all she was worth, but his grip was like iron and didn't bulge.

Black dots started flowing in front of her eyes, as the air was cut from her lungs, and the energy seemed to wash out of her body. The only thing that held her upright now, was her killers hands around her neck.

Somewhere far away she heard a scream, and she felt something warm spray across her face.
Suddenly she was free, and she fell to the ground gasping for air.

Holy shit, that was close.
She looked up and saw the vampire standing with the limp body of the hunter. When he saw her looking he let go of the body and walked over. His face was smeared in blood. He kneeled in front of her, studying her curiously. She looked straight back at him.

When he finally broke the silence, his words surprised her.
"I know you. You're that hot lawyer who works for the Salvatores. Alice...something."

She shrugged.

"I'm Franklin. Thank you for the assistance. Those fuckers jumped me." He smiled, fangs still showing.

She shot him a wry smile. "Anytime. Mind helping me up?" She croaked, her sore throat protesting.

"Oh, yeah... Of course." He reached out a hand, and she grabbed it with her good hand. Her right arm still hung useless from the blow, she just hoped it wasn't broken.

"We should probably hit the road. Those hunters might have backup somewhere close."

He nodded. "You're probably right. I need to get back to the others anyway."

Kirya's head flashed up. "Others?"

"Yeah, a bunch of us are staying down by the pier."

"You haven't by any chance seen Damon Salvatore there?"

Franklin shook his head. "No, sorry, haven't seen him." When he saw her disappointed face he added. "But maybe some of the others know something. People drop in all the time. You can come along if you want?"

Kirya didn't even wait to think it over before she answered.
"I would like that."
As a second thought she added coldly. "Maybe you should bring that one along," she nodded in the direction of the hunter she had knocked unconscious earlier. "If there are hunters out and about you guys will need all the intel you can get. And when you're done with him, I'm sure he'll work out just fine as a snack."

Franklin shot her an appraising look. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

She flashed a grin and winked at him. "You're smarter than you look, Franklin."

"And you're scarier than you look."

She chuckled. "Well, now that's settled, let's move."

Franklin grabbed the unconscious hunter and slung him carelessly across his shoulder, and Kirya followed after him.

Please let him be there...