Warning: Somewhat graphical violence ahead...Again... Embrace the warning squeamish folks~
When Dusk Falls
Chapter 7: The Storm
Max and the Huntress make their way down the fire escape, wary of their footing on the damp steel steps as the rain pelted their bodies. One, more cautious than the other...
Max stumbles and the Huntress turns around to catch the girl against her front, Max half grabbing the woman's arms, her head bumping her collar lightly.
'Sorry, um thanks for the save...Again", mumbled Max blushing a little in embarrassment.
The Huntress helped balance Max back on her own feet, calmly.
Max looked over the rail behind the woman, down at the street; watching the wild ones tear up cars, race around jumping on things and snapping at each other.
The Huntress looked back over her shoulder at the chaotic werewolves, she narrowed her eyes coldly on them.
"Are you sure about this ? There is a lot of wild ones down there, and I can't fight worth shit. Not to play the damsel in distress card on you or anything, but, yeah...You're pretty much solo right now...", stated Max feeling uneasy.
The Huntress didn't respond, except by grabbing Max's hand and gently pulling her along with her. Max palely blushed at the abrupt contact. She followed the pull.
"We have a sound dynamic you know ? I talk, you...don't... Some solid communication going on here in this life or death night walk...", stated Max quietly.
They managed to get about half way down the fire escape, when a wild hybrid landed on the rail. Max staggered back and the Huntress got in front of the photographer, glaring at the beast.
Swiftly she knelt and drew a silver short sword from beside her right calf.
The Hybrid snarled and swiped at her, she dexterously evaded and severed it's hand at the wrist; it howled out in agony as it bled out and it's lifeless hand clattered to the steel platform below.
She plunged the sword into it's throat and ripped it. Blood sprayed out over her and a bit on Max, who recoiled back shielding her face.
It's limp body toppled backward over the rail and it plummeted to the ground. The Huntress nudged the severed hand under the rail after it, with her leather boot.
Both the body and hand, landing in front of a few werewolves, who stopped their run and stepped back; looking at the bloody corpse in front of them, it's wounds bubbling with steam rising.
One of the werewolves greedily ducked down and started ripping apart the body, tearing it open and devouring it.
Max covered her mouth and looked away, stepping back, nauseated.
The other two werewolves looked up at the Huntress and Max. Their lips peeled back, baring their drool coated yellowing fangs. They growled.
The Huntress readied her blade, narrowing her eyes on the creatures.
Max looked between the creatures and the Huntress, then the narrow steel platform. She pat the Woman on the back, getting her to glance back at Max.
"Good luck, I'll just be, back here, in the cheering section", replied Max. She took a step back onto the upper stairs behind them and backed up to the platform at the top of the steps. Then casually waved down at the Woman.
The Huntress quirked a brow at Max, slouching very slightly.
She rolled her eyes and straightened her posture and looked back ahead, only to lock eyes with a hybrid, crouching on the rail in front of her; fangs clenched together, but lips peeled back, saliva dripping from it's jaw.
It's buddy snorted beside her in the metal platform; it's breath lightly rippling her cloak, bangs and hood. She tiredly brought up her hand and rubbed at her closed eyes, sighing quietly.
"Go for it ! I believe in you random stranger that I just met"! Called Max.
The Woman casually flipped her off.
The werewolves attacked.
The Huntress quickly evaded and retaliated with her blade, stabbing the werewolf on the rail deep; then kicking it hard in the abdomen to pull her blade back out and force it back over the rail. It plummeted to the ground and lay motionless.
The other swiped and she jumped back to avoid it, landing on the stairs and pushing forward, she cut it's back and it howled out painfully. She grabbed it and smashed it's face against the wall by the stairs to silence it, before giving it a boost over the rail as well.
It hit the landing, and struggled briefly to get up again, when the feasting Were noticed it, the beast dropped the piece of shoulder in it's mouth and lunged over; pinning the wounded werewolf down and sinking it's fangs into the muscle tissue of the struggling beast's throat and ripping.
Once the wounded became lifeless and still, the other began chewing on it.
Max hurried down the stairs to the Huntress's side and quickly turned away from the gory scene, sickly. Her eyes tearing a bit. She somewhat hid her face against the Huntress.
The woman was a bit surprised by this and looked away from Max a bit nervous; she calmly put an arm around Max, comfortingly.
"I think I'm going to be sick... Thats so twisted...What is wrong with these things", muttered Max sickly.
The Huntress stoically and coldly looked down at the wild ones. She saw other werewolves coming over; also starting to duck down and eat their fallen comrades, one chewing on the severed hand.
A few growled and snapped at each other, fighting over a severed liver; while another ate the corpse that hadn't been bitten into yet. Their muzzles dripping with blood.
The Huntress scowled at the display, then looked to Max hiding against her, and lightly rubbed at the photographer's back to get her attention.
Max looked up at her and the woman nodded to the remaining stairs heading down; Max solemnly nodded and released the Woman, then they started descending once more.
Silently they climbed the rest of the way down the fire escape. The Huntress jumped off the hanging ladder first; landing softly and looking over at the group of eating, and scrapping wild ones.
Then she looked up at Max on the ladder, gesturing her to jump down.
Max glanced back over her shoulder at the woman, a bit uneasy; feeling the rain pound her back and head.
She took a quiet steadying breath and let go of the ladder; dropping down.
The Huntress caught her in her arms bridal style, Max held the woman around the shoulders.
The woman gently set Max on her feet on the ground and took her hand; pulling her with her as she quietly made her way behind the dormitory building, heading to the main campus.
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They came into conflict a few times, despite their stealth; but soon the church was in view.
They neared the parking lot, when a wild Dire Wolf leapt down in front of them, forcing them to stop and back up.
The Huntress held her arm out in front of Max as they backed away; drawing her weapon. She stared down the beast, as it approached growling.
The Huntress twirled the blade a bit between her fingers.
"I'm starting to understand cat people...", Max muttered quietly.
The Dire stalked toward them, then it rushed forward.
The Huntress pushed Max back out of the way and evaded the large gray dire, drawing it's attention.
It chased after her, they both agilely dodged each other's attacks.
After the game of tag went no where; the dire snarled and threw itself forward, ramming the woman, knocking her to the ground.
The landing jarred her grip on her weapon, forcing her to release it. The blade clattered to the ground, out of her reach.
She quickly regained her bearings and reached for the weapon. Her fingertips brushed over the handle, before the dire roughly stepped a fore-paw down on to her abdomen and pinned her down hard.
The Huntress gasped painfully, closing one eye and squinting the other at the beast, grabbing hold of it's leg to try and lift it off of her.
The dire bore down on her with it's drool coated fangs, it snarled lowly.
The Huntress continued to try and struggle free; reaching over her closest hand to the weapon again, straining her arm.
The beast was ignoring the slow burn it was feeling in it's paw from her hidden weapons.
It's front most canines nearly grazed the woman's throat. Then the woman seemed to recall something. She squeezed her hand tightly and a silver blade jutted out from her sleeve on her leather glove.
She swiped the hidden blade at the beast and it recoiled stepping off of her quickly, growling. She sat up partially, trying to sorely catch her breath again.
It moved to attack her again; when a rock cracked it on the back of the head, making the beast flinch snapping shut it's jaws, growling lowly.
It slowly looked back over it's shoulder at Max, who glared at it, in a post throw pose.
She had another hand sized rock on stand by as she straightened up; bouncing the rock casually in her palm.
"Thats right you over-sized Pomeranian, over here" ! Called Max firmly.
She chucked the other rock and it hit the beast square in the snout. It yelped out, stepping off to the Huntress's side and staggering back a step.
Then it snarled and faced Max. The Huntress took the opportunity to cough lightly and roll over to her hands and knees, eyes closed; one hand gripping her stomach sorely; still trying to regain her breath.
Max threw another rock at the dire's head, and it made contact; The giant wolf was thoroughly pissed off now, and broke into a run, rushing her.
The Huntress heard the swift thumping and splashing of the beast charging through puddles.
She looked back and saw the creature advance on Max. The woman recoiled her hidden wrist blade back into her sleeve and grabbed her short sword from the ground. Then sorely tried to stand up, and take chase.
Max quickly looked around for something to save her own ass. She spotted it and ran over to one, of several scattered pieces of debree, and grabbed a metal rod; then faced the beast closing in on her and stood her ground.
When the dire was within range she swung and bashed the gray beast in the side of the face as hard as she could; drawing a little blood as it yelped.
The force knocked it aside, making it hit the ground in a short roll; it staggered to it's paws again, shaking it's head growling quietly.
Max faced it, though the heavy rain made it hard to see.
The beast shook it's head once more and regained it's bearings, then rushed her again.
Max fended it off for a brief time, but it adapted to her amateur fighting style and tore the metal rod from her hands and tossed it aside.
The Huntress managed to get up, just in time to dodge the projectile metal bar; by dropping back to the ground ducking fast.
Then she watched it clang on the cement with a skip, rolling off to the curb and quickly looked over in alarm at Max.
The dire backed Max into the corner of a far shop wall, across the street; the Huntress got up and ran in to aid her; but she had a lot of distance to cross.
Max glared at the beast, not showing her fear and nervousy; even as she felt the cold damp brick wall press into her back; her palms and arms flat against the wall at her sides.
Max could feel her heart trying to break through her ribs violently. A thick lump of worry and fear clustered in her throat, as she gazed into the large dire's furious, bloodthirsty green eyes.
Slowly, it exposed it's fangs. Max practically flattened herself against the wall as it's mouth closed in for her neck.
Max heard a fast splashing sound, then the beast's eyes abruptly ripped from her own as it was rammed into the ground and mauled by another dire wolf. Except this one was golden brown and massive, larger than Max's gray assailant, by far.
Max looked at the dog fight in disbelief. So did the Huntress, pausing in her tracks.
The two dires scrapped hard, and threw each other around the street near the shop, snarling viciously at each other; their fangs snapping and claws swiping.
Then the gray one dropped near Max, after it's jugular was seized and torn out by the rival.
The rival released the flesh from it's jaws, panting. Then slowly shifted it's gaze to Max.
Any trace of fear Max would've had, evaporated, as she caught sight of the soft, sadness in the beast's blue eyes that fixated onto her own.
She noticed the specks of blue and magenta on the tips of the beast's spiky bangs; as well as the three bullets strung around it's neck.
"...Chloe..."? Called Max softly.
The dire looked down and away solemnly, then looked to Max, hanging it's head a bit.
It slowly walked over to her, not meeting her eyes and stopped a few feet in front of Max.
Max stepped toward her, cautiously.
"...It is you...Chloe...Are you okay"? Asked Max quietly.
The wolf remained quiet, not meeting her eye. Max softened her gaze.
"Chloe, I know you can talk; you've got that telepathy thing going on... Why are you avoiding me"? Asked Max quietly.
Max reached out her arms, and gently placed her hands on the dire wolf's cheeks; barely a gap between them.
Chloe flattened her ears shamefully, before slowly meeting Max's eyes.
"...Max...I-", started Chloe quietly.
Then her softness was replaced by sharp tension and Chloe yanked away from Max, leaping to the side, avoiding a spray of holy water.
She bared her fangs and growled lowly at the Huntress.
The woman grabbed Max, pulling her to her side protectively, as she faced Chloe; swiftly reaching into her cloak and taking out a small hand held crossbow, with a silver bolt loaded.
The Huntress quickly checked Max for a bite mark or signs of other injury.
"I'm fine, she didn't do anything to me. Please, don't hurt her, she's-", Max tried, but cut herself off, recalling what Chloe had told her about the werewolf code; to not out tame werewolves to humans.
Max briefly closed her eyes, thinking through her words carefully, then looked to the woman.
"She's not like the other werewolves, she, didn't attack me. She protected me just now, didn't you see that"? Asked Max carefully.
The woman shook her head and glared at Chloe. Chloe lowered her head, putting back her ears and growled; standing her ground firmly.
Max tried to think of a way to talk the woman out of it, without outing Chloe. The Huntress took aim with her crossbow. Max noticed and saw her put her finger on the trigger and looked fearful.
"No"! Called Max pushing away the crossbow, throwing off the Huntress' aim as the trigger was pressed.
The bolt launched and impaled the ground off to the side of Chloe, ahead of her.
Chloe quickly stepped away from it, hovering her closest paw briefly, before placing it down glaring at the leather clad woman with a growl.
The woman fought with Max in annoyance, trying to pull her arm out of Max's grip. Max had her eyes closed as she fought to maintain her grip on the Hunter; she squinted at Chloe with one eye.
"GO"! She ordered.
Chloe hesitantly stepped back and started to turn away to leave.
The Huntress saw Chloe starting to leave and in one last attempt to make Max let go, she upped the strength and pulled Max across the front of her body and then shoved her back the other way, to shake up her footing.
Lightning lit up the dark clouds as Max was thrown off the woman's arm, she collided hard with the ground at the break of thunder; gasping out painfully as she partially slid in the puddles covering the ground.
The impact's force broke open the clasp of her necklace and made it clatter to the ground off to the side.
Max gripped her left shoulder tightly and rolled from her side, to her back on the rain soaked ground. A little blood soon stained her hoodie.
The Huntress looked to her regretfully and turned to her. Chloe looked over and saw Max on the wet cement in pain and saw the Woman standing over her.
Something primal snapped behind Chloe's eyes and she burst forth into an aggressive charge snarling deeply and loudly.
The woman moved to grab Max and help her up; when she heard swift heavy footsteps splashing through water.
She looked over in time to see Chloe ram her hard, and throw her back from Max; straight into the ground.
The woman gasped out in pain and slowly sat up with a bit of a struggle, squinting at Chloe; who had her head bowed and ears back, snarling angrily.
Max slowly opened her eyes and saw strands of Chloe's damp undercoat, hanging in front of her face.
Then looked up to see Chloe standing over her, protectively; semi crouched and very tense. Her massive front paws and back ones, firmly planted on either side of Max.
Due to Chloe's size there was a great deal of space between her body and Max's. The only evidence of it raining currently around Max, came from the small droplets of water sliding off Chloe's undercoat, dripping on to Max underneath her.
Max could hear the thunder outside her shelter and saw the pavement light up blue with the lightning above.
Max shifted herself and looked beyond Chloe's massive front paws and saw the Huntress stand up and taking out her throwing stars, loading them into the crossbow expertly.
The woman glared sharply at Chloe.
"Shit ! You need to go, Now ! I've seen Rambo over there, throw those things. You don't want them shot at you"! Stated Max warningly.
But Chloe didn't budge, or even acknowledge Max's words.
"Chloe listen to me ! I know you can understand me", stated Max.
Chloe just growled aggressively. Max was unsettled.
"...Chloe"? Asked Max. She reached over and touched Chloe's nearest foreleg and felt the tension of the wolf's muscle.
"Chloe ? Answer me", tried Max a little nervously.
Chloe was still tense and growling.
Max shifted back a bit, without leaving her storm cover, pulling back her hand worriedly; an uneasy feeling started to coldly course through her.
The Huntress took aim at Chloe and Chloe charged forward in full sprint; evading the stars dexterously as they were launched at her.
One impaled the ground near Max, another was lodged in a telephone pole also near Max.
Max flinched and rolled herself away from them a bit. Then nervously watched Chloe and the Huntress fight. The Hunter was forced into the defensive.
"Shit"! Panicked Max.
She quickly scrambled to her feet, moving to intervene; when she stepped on to her necklace and paused lifting her shoe from the item; briefly looking down at it for a moment. Then she continued to run into the fray.
Chloe mainly focused on shaking up the Hunter's defense; by snapping her jaws at the Woman's legs.
The Woman quickly leapt into a back flip; pressing her palms to the ground and launching herself back from Chloe with the momentum.
She landed on the curb, trying to draw her short sword and Chloe unfazingly continued to advance on her.
Chloe lunged at her and changed into her hybrid form with the swift momentum; swiping out with a clawed uppercut.
Her claws connected, though just barely; her claws very lightly grazing the Woman's mask, scratching it a bit, but only enough to slightly fray it.
Chloe then swung out a backhand and knocked the woman aside into the ground. She hit the ground hard in a slide, hitting her head, knocking her unconscious.
Chloe changed back to her dire form and stalked over to the fallen Woman growling lowly, slowly increasing her speed until she was charging.
She towered over the Woman as the rain pelted their bodies, and lightning lit the sky behind Chloe. She lowered her head and bared her fangs again, and moved to finish it.
"Chloe ! Stop"! Called Max intercepting and getting between them, holding out her arms defensively, her back to the Woman.
Chloe jerked back her head, raising it again, slowing her charge to a brief sliding stop and growled lowly.
She started pacing aggressively, her sharp eyes still fixated on the woman behind Max.
The rain misted along the pavement. Chloe was huffing from the adrenaline use; her heated white breath, visible on the air, along with Max's own breath.
Max's eyes widened a bit. "That look in her eyes...", thought Max in alert as she stared into the sharp gaze of a wild animal, pacing in front of her.
Max stepped closer to the massive wolf, that still paced for a good angle to get around Max to kill the Woman on the ground.
"Chloe...", tried Max gently. She got a little closer.
Chloe's eyes then fell on Max, noticing her movement, seeing her get closer.
She stopped pacing and stood tall, ears back, fangs bared as she growled a warning to the photographer to keep her distance. Her tail twitching with anger.
"Does she even recognize me"? Thought Max worriedly.
She shook her head, dismissing any fear she felt. She stepped right into Chloe's space and hugged her tightly, pressing her head to the towering wolf's lower damp chest. She closed her eyes.
"...Stop...", pleaded Max sadly, and quietly.
She felt Chloe tense up, but she no longer heard her growls. She heard and felt the dire wolf sniffing lightly at her hair. Max braced herself.
Then, she felt Chloe relax.
Chloe looked to her, her eyes no longer wild, but were alert as she snapped from her frenzied state; her gaze softening on the girl holding her.
She felt Max trembling lightly and watched a single stray tear, get lost in the rain that had cascaded the girl's face.
Chloe looked behind Max at the Huntress's unconscious form.
"Max..."? Asked Chloe.
Max froze and looked up at Chloe, seeing the calmer look in her eyes. Max felt relief wash over her.
"...Chloe ? Are you...Okay now"? Asked Max worriedly.
Chloe looked away shamefully.
"Y-yeah, I... I'm sorry I scared you Max. I-...Don't know what came over me...", Chloe replied calmly.
Max released her.
"Glad you're back to normal. Don't scare me like that", replied Max calmly.
She turned to the huntress and quickly knelt down, tending to her now that the threat had passed.
"...Did I..."? Asked Chloe stepping up beside Max, looking at the fallen Woman.
"She's, got a few scrapes and a bump on her head. But she's just unconscious, not dead", stated Max calmly.
"I'm, glad", replied Chloe. She looked away regretfully.
"...Chloe, do you not know what happened"? Asked Max looking back at her.
"...I don't really remember the exchange, I can assume I fought her though. But...As for the loss of control part...I...Theres something you should-...", tried Chloe a bit nervous. She looked back to Max.
They heard the woman groan and start to stir.
"We'll, have to finish this another time, you'd...Better go, before she wakes up", replied Max. She sat down beside the Huntress.
"...Right...Before that though...Why were you out here Max" ? Asked Chloe stepping back and turning away a bit.
"I...Got locked out of the dorm...", replied Max. She pulled the unconscious woman partially into her lap, laying her head gently in it.
Chloe looked toward the sounds of Wild Ones howling.
"As soon as she wakes up, get into the church, I'll deal with the approaching Weres and keep them away from you two...", stated Chloe. She looked solemn as she turned her back to Max.
"Wait Chloe, you still haven't told me why you've been avoid-", tried Max looking to her.
"I'm sorry", replied Chloe closing her eyes as she took off full sprint toward the direction of the wild ones.
Max moved to follow before remembering the Huntress in her lap. She looked down at the Woman then back up at Chloe's disappearing form, vanishing into the mist of the storm.
Lightning illuminated the area briefly once more, the thunder echoed again.
Max's expression fell solemn again; she briefly closed her eyes, exhaling a soft sigh, before looking down at the Huntress again.
The vigilante's eyes shifted a bit before slowly opening to see Max looking down at her, somewhat sadly.
The woman groaned quietly, closing her eyes and rubbed the back of her head with a light hiss of pain. She sorely sat up and checked her hand for blood.
Then her eyes snapped to full alert and she swiftly scanned the area for Chloe; then another dose of realization had her quickly check her mask to confirm it was still on.
She looked back at Max, who was averting her eyes. "I didn't look under your mask if thats what you're thinking. And the Giant dire wolf left...I guess I scared it off...", Max muttered sadly.
The woman closed her eyes and turned away, slowly getting up. She reached her hand back down to Max.
Max glanced to the offered hand and took it, and was pulled up to her feet.
The Woman looked around for her discarded weaponry and started gathering them up. Max herself silently went to retrieve Kate's necklace and re-equip it securely.
She tucked it into her shirt and the Huntress placed the throwing stars and silver bolt, and crossbow back under her cloak.
They heard the werewolves fighting in the distance. Max walked a little closer to the sounds and stopped in her tracks.
She stood alone in the center of the road, lightly gripping her injured shoulder and looking off into the distance worriedly as she heard multiple yowls of pain.
The rain beating down on her, her clothes clung to her and darkened from the dampness.
Droplets slipped down passed her eyes; her cheeks and nose, her hair damply matted to her head and neck. The rain misting around her knees.
The Vigilante watched her quietly, slowly looking away, eyes half lidded as she lightly rubbed the back of her hooded head, regretfully.
She looked up and saw a bolt of lightning crack across the sky, shortly after the heavy drum of the thunder followed.
The Woman closed her eyes briefly then approached Max and placed her hand on Max's other shoulder.
Max flinched lightly at the contact and glanced solemnly back at the woman.
The woman gestured her head toward the church and started making her way there, pausing to look back at Max.
Max sighed and looked back toward the werewolf sounds; she closed her eyes briefly as she turned away from it and followed the Woman to the church.
They crossed the parking lot, hurrying to the un-barricaded entrance doors to the church. They pushed open the doors.
Once inside the dark sanctuary, they released the doors, letting them shut behind them. They did a quick check to verify they were alone as lightning lit the parking lot beyond the closing doors.
They pushed them the rest of the way closed and for good measure, they pulled a short bench and a table in front of them.
They made their way down the aisle between two sides of benches in the eerie quiet.
All they heard were their footsteps on the masonry floor, and the thunder outside and the rain pelting the windows.
The Huntress pulled Max to the high stage and behind the choir bleachers.
She pulled Max under them into a sitting position. The large hanging crucifixion on the wall behind the stage over-looking them.
Max brought her knees up to cradle to her chest. She looked down sadly as the Woman wrang out her cloak.
Max glanced up at the woman and saw all the ammo belts strapped around her torso.
Equipped with holy water, silver crosses, daggers, a small switch blade, a razor bladed chakram, throwing stars and the small handheld crossbow with it's bolt ammo pack.
Max noticed there were hidden wrist blades on the woman, and glanced down at the sheathed short sword on her calf.
The Woman had finger-less leather gloves with silver knuckles and the Woman also had a silver cross necklace.
"...Who are you"? Max muttered, not really expecting an answer at this point. The Woman stayed silent but turned away evasively, continuing to wring out her clothes.
"Okay then... I won't ask anymore questions... I'm sorta getting used to people not talking to me at this point...", Max sighed. She laid back on the floor staring up at the bottom of the higher bleachers.
"My best friend seems to be starting to cut me out of her life again...Not that I can blame her... When I moved away five years ago, I left her in a bad place; her dad just died... And I had been with her on the day it happened... Only to move away three days later...", stated Max.
The Woman slowly stopped wringing out her clothes and looked back at Max.
"She needed time to grieve, I wanted to call her... say I'd be there for her, but, how the fuck could I be ? I was in fucking Seattle. It felt stupid and hollow...There was nothing I could do except give her space...", sighed Max.
The Woman turned to face her, listening intently.
"Then like an idiot and coward, I waited too long... Then it got to the point... I was afraid contacting her out of the blue would just be a painful reminder of the last day her father was alive... I wanted to so badly though... I just wasn't mature enough to deal with it like I should've, I was just... Thirteen and stupid...", stated Max sadly and regretfully.
"Chloe didn't deserve that...She didn't deserve to suffer alone and have her best friend flake out when she needed her the most...Needed me... I return five years later, recently eighteen and full of regret about being a shitty friend...", stated Max.
"I finally sucked it up and messaged her...Only to run into her by chance nearly right off the bat... She's pissed and I don't blame her for it even a little... We sort've talk, I find out the town has gone to hell in a hand basket... I crash at her place when I got stuck outside after dusk. We talk some more, even joke around, she takes me to school...", stated Max.
"And for just a moment, it feels its all become normal again, the way it used to be, I felt like I bridged the gap I created... She tells me I can text her later, she's smiling...Then reality laughs in my face and she won't answer my calls or texts...And its like it hasn't changed again...", stated Max sadly.
She feels tears trying to swell up in her eyes and quickly turns away rolling to her right side, facing her back to the Huntress.
"Never mind, its not like it means anything to you... I don't mean that in a bitchy way...We're strangers right ? Why would it matter to you ? It shouldn't", Muttered Max calmly.
The Huntress glanced away a moment.
Max sighed and rolled to her back then subconsciously to her other side, then yelped and shot up with a hiss of pain, gripping her left shoulder painfully. She closed her eyes tightly.
The Huntress quickly snapped her attention to Max. Max was sitting up, semi bent forward, cringing in pain. Her gray hoodie starts to turn a dark red under her shoulder grip. She subtly trembles from the pain.
The Huntress quickly kneels down in front of her, gently gripping Max's hand and moving it aside. Max looked at her briefly surprised.
The Woman unzips Max's hoodie somewhat. Max blushes at the sudden embarrassing attention.
"W-wait what're you- I'm fine really, don't worry about-", She tries shyly. Attempting to pull away, but the Woman prevents her from moving.
The Huntress pulls the left side of Max's hoodie collar and shirt collar out of the way to try and examine the injury; still holding Max's other hand away from it. Max blushes more.
Her shoulder had a large early formed bruise on it, with multiple lengthy semi-deep scratches bleeding from her slide on the rough pavement earlier.
Then Max snaps out of her embarrassed state and quickly recoiled from the Woman's grip, cornering herself nervously against the lower underside of the bleachers.
The Woman looked at her quizzically.
"Uh, s-sorry, I just... I have a phobia of letting strangers, take care of me... I don't even like hospitals or walk in clinics most days; and by that I mean like, ninety eight percent of the time", Stated Max uneasily.
"So if I'm not bleeding profusely, I don't like people I don't know helping me, medical degree or not...", Max continued uncomfortably. She re-zipped her hoodie and adjusted her shirt to hide the injury once more.
She relaxed a bit as she saw the Woman pull back and close her eyes, sighing quietly.
"I-its nothing personal, I appreciate the protection tonight, but I just-", tried Max nervously.
The Huntress gripped the top of her mask and her hood; then slowly, and hesitantly pulled them down.
Max gawked a little in disbelief. "W-wait you were-", tried Max in surprise.
"There, now will you let me treat your injury"? The Huntress Asked calmly brushing her long ponytail out of the collar of her cloak.
"D-Dana ?! Are you cereal"?! Max Asked in surprise.
Dana opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.
"YOU'RE A FUCKING CHEER LEADER "?! Exclaimed Max in shock and confusion.
Dana sighed closing her eyes in slight amusement.
"Yep, now a days you tend to pick up a few tricks. What with bloodthirsty mongrels over-running the town every night", Dana replied calmly.
She looked to Max and saw she was still somewhat slack jawed.
"You think my night life is surprising. You should see Kate wielding her custom laminated bible numb-chucks. Now thats scary stuff right there", smirked Dana in amusement.
"...Numb...Chucks...? Wait Kate kills werewolves too" ? Asked Max nervously.
"In self-defense mostly, she doesn't hunt them down like I do...But uh...She does, contribute in her own way... Its actually the most nerve-wracking part of all of this...", replied Dana calmly. She mumbled the last bit somewhat uneasy.
"...Holy shit...", stated Max quietly looking down in thought. "Yep", agreed Dana.
They were quiet.
"...Bible numb-chucks"? Asked Max in a slight quizzical tone quirking her brow; looking at Dana, who crossed her arms looking down and closing her eyes.
"And Tai Jitsu", Dana added casually.
"Tai Jitsu"?! Asked Max in alert. "A master at it, if I'm not mistaken", replied Dana calmly.
"You've gotta be kidding me... What about Juliet"? Asked Max.
"She, mostly just hits things with nearby projectiles...Heavy...Large...Projectiles... Things you'd think couldn't be picked up and thrown any distance; she can make skip across a lake...", stated Dana casually with a shrug.
Max's jaw slacked more as she imagined a Werewolf running for dear life as Juliet picks up a refrigerator over her head, looking pissed as hell.
Then she imagined Kate looking calm and serious, and fighting off multiple werewolves like Rafiki fought the hyenas in the lion king; while wielding her bible numb-chucks.
Max gulped quietly and uneasily. "Remind me not to piss you three off...", She stated in discomfort.
Dana smirked. "Don't piss us off", she replied a little playfully.
After a moment of watching Max's unease; Dana started laughing, getting Max's attention.
"Okay whats the joke I missed"? Asked Max curiously.
"Okay so the part about Juliet, I'm just screwing with you. But she does have a mean throwing arm, that much is true", Stated Dana through her quiet laughter.
"She used to pitch in Baseball and softball, and there is nothing soft about her throws. Even a Were isn't going to brush one of her fast balls off, especially if it's a head shot", replied Dana calmly.
"Okay so you're just screwing with me, guess that stuff you said about Kate was a joke too, huh"? Asked Max a bit irritated that she had been so gullible.
"Honestly...I kinda wish that it was...Kate...Yeah... She, scares me...And thats only the surface ...", replied Dana uneasily.
"You're...Serious" ? Asked Max cautiously. "...Yep... She's... Uh...Yep...Eccentric, is an understatement...For that matter, quirky doesn't cover it either... I'm kinda concerned in truth...", replied Dana uneasily.
"...Me, too...", replied Max nervously.
"So...How's that shoulder"? Asked Dana returning her gaze to Max's left shoulder.
"Its fine, just a little sore...", replied Max reaching up and gently gripping it.
Dana shifted closer; once again kneeling in front of Max.
"Will you let me take a look this time ? Since we aren't strangers anymore"? Asked Dana calmly.
Max watched her a moment debating it nervously. Then solemnly relaxed her tension, glancing to the side and unzipping her soaked hoodie, then got it to slip off with a slight struggle and soft strained groan.
It dropped back to the floor in a heap. Her eyes half open.
Dana focused on the blood she was seeing leaking through the fabric of Max's shirt.
She reached forward cautiously, watching Max's reaction, to make sure the photographer remained comfortable with it.
Then she gently pulled aside Max's loose collar, making the left sleeve slide down Max's upper bicep a bit; baring her shoulder.
Max faintly blushed in embarrassment at the attention and the recall that she was in her bra-less pajamas when this had started tonight.
Dana examined the injury, looking over the large bruise and many bleeding scratches, including a somewhat hidden from view, bloody gash on the side; that she hadn't noticed earlier. Not that it was lacking in size.
"Shit Max, how the hell have you been able to move this arm"? Asked Dana worriedly.
"Not well, but I had to", replied Max calmly.
"You've got some serious pain tolerance going for you", commented Dana calmly.
"I call it willpower, but thanks", replied Max a little playfully.
"Whatever it's called it's strong. Here take the sleeve off of it for a moment", replied Dana she backed off a bit so Max could do so.
Max reached over her right hand and somewhat shyly, pulled her arm from the sleeve.
Dana shifted looking to her cloak and reached into it, around the hidden side belts on her torso and pulled out a small plastic jar, the contents looking like some kind of salve, but more liquid-like.
She twisted off the cap opening it up and dipped in a couple of her finger tips in the somewhat thick liquid.
She looked back to Max's injury.
"This is going to probably hurt, but it'll help. Expect a stinging or burning feeling", warned Dana calmly.
Then she spread the cool, clear-ish white liquid, gently over Max's entire injury.
Max gave a light hiss at the cold sting, and shortly the cool burn. She closed her left eye and winced at the pain.
"This will clean it up and improve it's healing rate", stated Dana calmly.
"Ah, is there a child friendly ouch less version ? I'd rather have that even if it was significantly more useless", stated Max.
Dana Chuckled. "Cute Max, but I'm afraid I only have the adult dose. Now take it like a big girl", teased Dana.
"Worth a shot", replied Max sorely.
When Dana finished spreading the liquid around, she put it away and took out a roll of gauze and gently wrapped up Max's shoulder. She then ripped the gauze and tied it off; putting what remained away.
Then she gently pulled Max's sleeve back up on her arm and up on her shoulder once more. She sat down beside Max.
Max absently held her injured shoulder gently. They could still hear the thunder and rain outside their shelter.
She gazed at the injury, before turning her attention to Dana and watching the Huntress release her somewhat damp ponytail; running her hands through her long brown hair to smooth it out before starting to re-tie it.
Max returned to hugging herself and cradling her knees.
"Are you okay Dana"? Asked Max calmly.
"Other than a migraine and a few scrapes, I'm good to go", replied Dana casually.
"I'm glad to hear that, you had me worried there when you lost consciousness", stated Max.
"Sorry about that Max. It doesn't happen usually, in fact it was a first for me. I'm glad you were there to watch my back, otherwise I'd be dog food by now", stated Dana calmly.
"Y-yeah", replied Max looking down solemnly. She narrowed her eyes a bit in thought.
"Why did Chloe snap like that ? She said she didn't attack humans...But, she only attacked Dana...She didn't attack me, even when I got between them...She lost it right after Dana...Wait... Was she protecting me, from Dana"? Thought Max calmly.
She glanced to Dana briefly then back to her cradled knees.
"When Dana hurt me, by knocking me to the ground, it was immediately afterward that Chloe attacked her... Then why couldn't Chloe hear me when I was calling to her; she seemed aware of me... ? Yet didn't respond to my voice, until I hugged her...", Thought Max curiously.
"Then she said she didn't remember fighting Dana but could assume she did... She must've blacked out and her body was reacting instinctively, but it still doesn't make sense...That she didn't turn on me too... She was also trying to say something before we heard Dana starting to wake up... What was it"? She thought curiously and confused.
Then she looked over at Dana once more. Dana was relaxing, leaning back against the bleachers, head tilted back; her eyes closed.
"Dana"? Asked Max.
Dana hummed a yes in acknowledgment.
"Earlier, I got the impression, you hate all werewolves. Not just wild ones", stated Max.
"Was I hiding it"? Dana asked calmly.
"I'll take that as confirmation. But, aren't Tame Ones supposed to be, the good werewolves"? Asked Max curiously.
Dana laughed. "Max, there are no, good, Weres, by day's end they're all the same bloodthirsty, self serving killers we know and hate...", stated Dana.
"But, what about the big one from earlier ? It saved me from another Were that tried to eat me. Then it left us alone, maybe, it was tame", tried Max cautiously.
Dana shook her head tiredly. "Max it was just fighting a rival so it could eat you itself. Remember how it attacked me"? Asked Dana.
"Remember how you attacked it first ? Then injured me accidentally ? It was acting in self defense and possibly... because I stopped you from shooting it, it was defending me", tried Max cautiously.
"Max, whether or not that thing was, tame, doesn't change what it is. They are all monsters and they will always, turn on you", stated Dana coldly.
"But Dana what if-", tried Max.
"Max drop it ! I've seen both sides of those freaks and have seen it first hand neither can be trusted ! The Wild ones are at least honest about what they are and don't hide it. But a supposed, tame, tried to force me into his pack against my will", Stated Dana sharply.
Max flinched a bit at the sharp tone.
"Tames, tried to turn me into one of them. But I fought back and escaped before they could succeed and I've been fighting since then", Stated Dana firmly.
"Now get those romantic ideals out of your head Max. Tames are just as bad as the Wild ones. The fact they can masquerade as humans and talk like them, makes them even worse; cause they can manipulate you and lure you in close, make you trust them, think they're your friend. Then, they turn on you", Stated Dana coldly.
She clenched a fist angrily.
"...I...I'm so sorry Dana... I didn't know...", replied Max looking away and down.
She furrowed her brow.
"Chloe...Wouldn't turn on me...Would she"? Thought Max solemnly.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
They had sat in silence for a bit. Just listening to the storm raging outside. Max couldn't stand the silence much longer. She sighed.
"So...Um... Where'd you get all of the, cool and...scary weapons"? Asked Max casually.
Dana was a bit nervous now.
"Uh, w-well you see...Its like this...", She replied nervously. A bit awkwardly. Max quirked a brow at her.
Dana sighed defeatedly, closing her eyes, looking down. She lightly scratched at her cheek awkwardly.
"...Kate...", She stated awkwardly and uneasily.
"What ?! She's an arms dealer too"? Asked Max. Though somehow not sounding as surprised as she probably should be, at this point...
"Well mine anyway. She's surprisingly good at metal-working...Oh who am I kidding, there really isn't much surprise about her, at this point. Anyway, I don't know if she's supplied anyone else", replied Dana calmly.
"But...How ? Where could she-", tried Max in confusion.
"She's apparently got a secret workshop somewhere in town; I don't even know where... But yeah...And no...I'm not screwing with you...", stated Dana casually.
"Honestly Max, you shouldn't really bother questioning about her, I've learned theres rarely any answers. She could pull a bazooka out of her hair bun and I wouldn't be the slightest bit fazed and wouldn't think it was abnormal at this point", stated Dana calmly with a shrug.
"Okay then... I, won't ask anymore questions...Ever...", replied Max nervously.
"I know its a lot to take in Max. But I need you to keep all of this quiet, alright ? If word gets around at school, what Kate or I are doing, mainly Kate; The halls will run red with blood... Okay", replied Dana calmly.
"Right I'll keep it to myself, swear to dog...Not that...Anyone would believe me...", replied Max uneasily.
"Pretty much, but thank you anyway", replied Dana with a smile.
Max hummed a nervous yes.
They were quiet again for a few minutes.
Max hugged herself, gently rubbing her opposite arms as she felt a damp chill on her skin.
Dana looked to her.
"...Cold"? Asked Dana calmly.
"A little bit", replied Max quietly.
"Here", replied Dana. She took off her cloak by unhooking the silver chain that held it on and wrapped it around Max's shoulders warmly, bundling her up.
Then Dana gently wrapped her arm around Max's shoulders and pulled her in against her side.
Max palely blushed at the surprise interaction. She looked to her quizzically, again catching the scent of incense on her.
Dana kept leaning back into the bleachers casually, eyes closed; completely unfazed by the contact between them.
"Uh, th-thanks Dana", stated Max a little shyly. "No problem", replied Dana calmly.
Max looked down and smiled, lightly leaning into the warm embrace. Dana briefly glanced to Max, then smiled and returned to relaxing against the bleachers, closing her eyes.
"So, you wear incense"? Asked Max curiously.
"Yep, it dulls the werewolves' senses and keeps them from tracking me", replied Dana calmly.
"I see. Makes sense", replied Max.
She noticed her shoulder wasn't hurting anymore and glanced to it. She also noticed it wasn't bleeding through the wrap.
"Huh, my shoulder isn't hurting anymore and I think it's stopped bleeding. What was that stuff you put on it ? It really works"? Asked Max calmly.
"Werewolf saliva", replied Dana bluntly.
Max narrowed her eyes a bit, unenthusiastically.
"Of course it's werewolf spit...Its been that kind of night for me...", Max muttered sarcastically.
Dana laughed.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe was panting in her hybrid form. She was covered in blood, both hers and not.
She reverted to her human form staggering a bit and roughly slamming her back to a telephone pole tiredly.
She gripped a particularly deep wound on her right side. Her blood seeped between her fingers a bit. She cringed, grunting a bit. Then continued panting as the rain poured heavily onto her body.
It streamed into her wounds and out, diluting the red colour in them and washing it down her body, making the colour lighter and lighter.
She looked over all of the carnage in the street in front of her and saw several other wild ones run off with their tails between their legs.
She looked up at the dark sky, with her half open eyes, letting the rain sting them and her skin.
Soon the traces of red in her wounds disappeared and the water ran clear.
Her skin slowly started to recover and close together the sides of the lacerations, until they were completely sealed. As her side wound sealed up and scarred, Chloe moved her hand away from it.
She waited there a bit, tiredly.
She noticed a cut on the back of her left hand hadn't sealed up yet. Sighing irritably, she lifted it up and gave it a quick, light lick. The cut sealed up. She lowered her hand back to her side.
Then Chloe sighed lightly, pushing herself away from the pole and pocketing her hands. She walked on to the direction of the church.
It didn't take her too long to reach it and she easily approached it and changed back into her Dire Wolf form.
She jumped up and landed quietly on the roof and laid down at a good vantage point. Though tired, she scanned the area vigilantly and guardedly.
Looking for any signs of threats to the two hiding humans inside the building under her.
She laid her head down on her paws and huffed out a casual tired canine sigh.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
~~ A Note from Pure Set~~
Does anyone really read this note section ? Aw well. This section and my profile frequently get updated with updates on the next chapters.
Anyway this one is at last done. I apologize for the delay as mentioned in Chapter 6's Note section, I was debating whether or not to keep the Huntress's identity a secret for awhile yet.
Ultimately I decided it would be best to reveal her now. There were no opportunities in future chapters to do so without over-shadowing the reveal with a much more gripping scene.
Thank you for your patience. Hope you enjoyed this long-ass chapter.
Please leave a review if you so choose. They keep me going~
Oh and all answers for strange things *coughs* the ending *coughs* will be answered in time.