p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"uCh.1: The Arrival/u/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"It was a dismal night, as a vampire Kat walked through the woods. She'd only been here for a few weeks. Since she always made it her business to know the town and everyone in it, she knew there were werewolf hunters, different wolves from what she knew, and of the rules. As per usual though, she never liked playing by any rules. And it hadn't been her doing, but it didn't go unnoticed by her that the hunters had been thinned out recently. She also knew that the species of wolves she was more familiar with had been migrating here. With hunters being killed by she assumed wolves, it sort of made her worry about Chris. He'd recently lost his wife. It was just Allison and Chris now. After becoming friends, she didn't want anything to happen to Chris. And she'd even formed a semi-bond with his daughter. She didn't want anything happening to her, either. She cared about them both. Something she didn't often allow herself to do. After all, for several years, she'd been all about protecting herself. Apart from a few times down the road when she'd both looked out for herself and those she cared about. Like when she'd made sure that Pearl ended up in the tomb, instead of the fiery church. She'd even kept her Salvatores from mortal danger. Despite showing everyone the vampire bitch most of the time, she still had a heart./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She finished feeding on a stranger, just as she heard the sound of a wolf and a bunch of hunters. It sounded like a hunter killing spree. And since she'd become friends recently with Chris, she healed and compelled her nightly snack, before following the noises, hoping that he was alright./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"When she came upon the scene, Chris' hunters, which he'd fought alongside for many years, had been torn apart. She saw a russet, lone wolf attacking her newfound friend, which made her angrily push him off in an instant, making him land not far from a tree. Then she saw its eyes, making her realize that this wasn't random. At least, not the attack on Chris. After all, she knew that Axel wanted revenge on her younger vampire self not being able to control her urges, which had resulted in him witnessing her kill nearly his whole pack when he was a child. What better revenge than to kill everyone she cared about? That's what she and Klaus both would have done, she knew, if someone had gone after or killed any of their family or others they cared about./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Axel?" she inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"He growled with bared teeth, before lunging at her, as she stood between him and Chris, knocking her to the ground. The land made her hit the ground, and he attempted to bite her, but she kept a hand on his chest to keep him from snapping too close to her. Then, with her free hand, she snapped his necklace off, smashing it to pieces easily. Then his anger got worst, making him nearly bite into her shoulder, not liking that she'd broken the one thing that made him less killable, but her favorite Argent hunter shot him a few times, right before she finally ripped out his heart. Then she tossed his body off her and his heart on the ground, before getting up and rushing to Chris' side./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She knelt at his side, a hand on the side of his face, and could see his injuries. He'd been scratched, but also injured from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After debating for a few minutes, she chose not to heal him with her blood, knowing he probably wouldn't be thrilled at it, and because she knew he tended to get into life and death situations./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Stay with me, Argent."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"A few hours later, give or take, of waiting around, she was finally told that he'd live to see another day. That was a relief to her. She knew he was all his daughter had right now, and if something had happened to him, Katherine would be the only thing left for her. She was also relieved, not only because she cared, but also because she knew it was her fault. Staying in one town for longer than she usually did had apparently started to bring in her enemies. Enemies that she didn't want in town. After all, with Axel showing up, she knew she was bound to get her other enemies, too. Like her vampire ones and a hybrid that wasn't Klaus. She could most likely deal with the vampires, but she wasn't so sure about one vampire. Despite their age difference in vampire years, they were equally matched, considering she'd done the same to him nearly that she'd done with Damon. Taught him everything she knew. Then left. Unlike Damon though, she'd also killed someone that he'd cared deeply about. A pattern that she tended to do with people she turned./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After Chris had gotten released and was in recovery, Kat was invited to say with them. Now she was in the garage, readying guns and creating as many stakes as she could. She had to be prepared./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""What are you doing?" she heard from behind her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She didn't look at her yet, as she told her, "Preparing." Then, when she stood by the work bench by her, Kat finally turned and looked at her. "You don't know me all that well yet, but I have enemies everywhere. Some are more dangerous than others. Most of them are vampires. That wolf attack I saved your dad from last night? I recognized him when I saw his two different colored eyes. I was able to kill him without getting bitten, but this means we might have to worry about my other enemies. You've all dealt with wolves. Vampires are much more. They're stronger and are faster than the human eye. Keep them distracted though, and the best weapons against a vampire are stakes, vervain, and werewolf venom."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Why are you telling me this?" the teenager inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Because being prepared is a part of survival. And I want you two to survive them if my enemies show up. I don't usually allow myself to care or be involved, but it's too late now. I've done both. The only thing left is for you to learn how to fight a vampire," she explained to her./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Meanwhile, Kate had just come to town, hearing about the slaughter of some hunters, as well as a possible wolf problem. If there were wolves to hunt, she wanted in on the action. It had been a long time since she'd followed by the code her brother was hellbent on following, so she was going to kill any wolf she came across. And she was prepared. In the meantime, she was going to come see her niece. Her niece had been like 11 when she'd seen her last. It was time./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kat was still in the open garage with Allison, them still talking with each other, when Kate pulled up and then headed into the garage, setting her bag of weapons on the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Anyone want to explain?" Kat inquired after Allison and Kate's greeting to each other./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""This is my Aunt Kate," she informed her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Who's this? Did you make a new friend?" Kate inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You can call me Katherine. I'm a friend of both of them, but I've also been protecting them. But I might also be having something with your brother, too. I assume you're here for the extra werewolf population?" Kat replied and informed her, before Allison could say anything./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""I'm here for any of them, really. They killed hunters. They were family and friends. And maybe if I'm lucky, I'll even get in a few extra ones," she answered her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Let me tell you something. You can go kill the dangerous ones, be my guest, but some of them are off limits. And if you're going to start now, that won't end well. The extra wolves here are in their werewolf forms. Not the kind you're used to. They're the kind that I'm used to, and I normally avoid. No one here needs to be afraid of me, but I'm a vampire. One bite from them and it's a slow death for me unless I get to a certain Original in time to be saved. The only time I'm near them is if they're in their human forms. They're less dangerous that way. So, a little advice. Wait until they're less dangerous, because most of them out there run in packs. You might be able to take on a few of them, but not a whole pack by yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Then come with me," Kate replied. "Because I'm not one to take the safer route."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""As long as you don't plan on killing me, I'll come with you," the vampiress replied, but she was only doing it since Kate was Chris' sister and Allison's aunt. The last of their family. And if she allowed her to go off by herself in dangerous territory, she wasn't sure if they'd like that very much. But she didn't trust her yet, having trust issues, but also knowing that not all hunters were good people. "I want you to stay home and take care of your dad. I'll be back as soon as I can," she told the teenager. Then she packed some of what she'd created and put the bag in the backseat of her vehicle. "We're taking my SUV. And I'm driving," she told her. Then she got in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kate set her own bag in the backseat behind her and got in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""No offense, but if there's any trouble, my SUV is faster than yours. And I don't trust you not to try anything, but I'm doing this because you're their family," she informed her. Then she drove towards the woods, but parked right outside of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""What are you doing?" Kate inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You're used to the kind of wolves Peter and Derek are, but you don't know how the other kind work. The ones that run in packs are intelligent and great at diversions. Some of them even know how to hide well from anyone wishing them harm. And then the loners will stalks you, most likely without you knowing, before they attack. You want to survive this night? Then we have to be quiet. And these kind of wolves require anything. No silver bullets needed," she replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kat got out and locked her door, before they headed for the woods./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After a long while of walking and Kate walking around with her usual rifle, they didn't see any wolves./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You're a vampire. You hear anything? Where are they?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Being a vampire doesn't mean I know where everything is all the time. Or everyone. Alright? Maybe we should look on the opposite side of this territory," she suggested, continuing to walk, not paying attention to the hunter./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, smelling something. It wasn't a wolf, so she didn't know what it was./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Smell that?" Kat inquired, before hearing a noise behind her. That's when she turned to see something flash around. A human wouldn't be able to see it, but as a vampire, as it flashed around, she saw a scaly tail, which made the hunter fall to the ground. "Get up. This is something new." Then Kat felt something leap on her from behind, making herself fall on the ground. Then, as she saw the hunter getting up, she saw it injure her, before standing on her, roaring. That's when Kat saw it. Reptile eyes, scales, and tail, along with paralyzing venom, apparently./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"In a blur, she tossed whatever it was off the hunter, before facing it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You want her for dinner? You'll have to go through me. Or you can go for an easier meal tonight. Up to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"For a few moments, it looked at her. Then it made up its mind, quickly climbing up a tree, roaring at her, and vanishing, clearly sensing that she too was a predator of the night./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kat went over and knelt by her, looking at her injuries. She could see that it had scratched her a couple of times and that its lizard-like tail had cut her leg and thigh, opening up her leg artery. Normally, she'd just leave someone she didn't care about behind, but she didn't want to be an enemy of any hunters for leaving her for dead or for wolf dinner, so she slid an arm under her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Come on. Let's get you home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She helped her to her feet, grabbing Kate's rifle as she did so, and blurred back to her SUV. She then unlocked her SUV, opened up the passenger seat, tossed the rifle in the backseat, and got her into the passenger seat. Normal circumstances, she would've fed her her blood, but she didn't want her possibly ending up turning if she somehow died within 24 hours. Instead, she opened the glove department, getting what she knew she needed. She then put a bunch of gauze on her open artery, tying a roll of gauze around it, trying to keep her from bleeding out from it any further. Then she closed the door and got in, driving as quickly as she could back to the Argent house. She would've taken her to the hospital, but she was sure that the Argents weren't big fans of hospitals. Especially, crazy hunters. She'd known enough hunters like that before in her lifetime, and they hadn't wanted any hospitals, so she was used to Kate's kind of hunters./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She pulled into the driveway quickly and blurred herself to Kate's side. As she did so, she saw Chris come out, apparently having heard her quick return./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Something other than wolves is out there. It paralyzed and injured her," she informed him, as she opened up the car door. She didn't say much of anything else, since she assumed Allison had filled him in on everything else. Then she opened up the front door for him, once he'd gently picked her up, and once she'd closed her door. Then, since this was a family situation, she went upstairs to cleanup, and left the two of them to try and save Kate./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Later that night after she'd allowed them to try and save her, which had failed, Kat spent some time with Chris in his room with the two of them getting on with it./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"The next day, after she'd received a call from one of her eyes and ears people from outside of Beacon Hills, she was seated on the foot of the bed by her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""I know it feels like your world is crashing down on you and being upturned, but things will get better for you. Both of you. I always get my vengeance when people I care about get hurt or killed, and for the longest time, I've wanted revenge for my mother, but you two are somewhat different than me. You're not out for vengeance. There's nothing I can say to make things better, but since I need to take care of something, I have to leave for a while. Who knows when I'll be back, but I'll always be a phone call away. I've already told your dad."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Thanks, but why do you need to leave?" she replied to her trying to do what she could to help her try and feel better, and also wanting to know the reason why she'd need to leave them behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""I've spoken a lot about where I'm from, my life, and Mystic Falls. I need to go there. I faked my death in 1864. Now that the oldest, Damon, has opened up the tomb, people will find out that I'm not dead. I need to clean up this mess he's caused me. I also know that my enemy, Klaus, is on his way to Mystic Falls soon. I don't want him using people I care about in the ritual to become the Original hybrid he was originally supposed to become a thousand years ago, so I need to set some things up. I need to get a vampire and werewolf set up for him. And I need to get my doppelganger ready to be sacrificed. I usually don't like children getting hurt, but we doppelgangers have been used for ages for spells. And I know a certain Original of mine found a way to possibly spare a doppelganger's life, so I think she'll be okay as long as she agrees with Elijah. But you can't tell anyone my plans. I wish you luck with this shapeshifting creature. Just let me know anytime if you need anything, and don't let your dad put himself in unnecessary danger," she informed her, as well as asked of her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Don't worry. Your plan is safe with me. And I'll look out for my dad."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Good."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"That day, she packed and left Beacon Hills behind, heading to Mystic Falls. She never thought she'd ever come back to that town again, but this was important. She had a lot to do in a short amount of time between what would be coming, as well as the business she had to deal with with both of her Salvatores. Not to mention, needing to make sure that her doppelganger was ready when it came to dying or not dying in that ritual. And it would be worth it, whether she lived through Klaus' visit or not. Besides, as she always said, she was a survivor. No matter what came her way, she always survived./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"It was a dismal night, as a vampire Kat walked through the woods. She'd only been here for a few weeks. Since she always made it her business to know the town and everyone in it, she knew there were werewolf hunters, different wolves from what she knew, and of the rules. As per usual though, she never liked playing by any rules. And it hadn't been her doing, but it didn't go unnoticed by her that the hunters had been thinned out recently. She also knew that the species of wolves she was more familiar with had been migrating here. With hunters being killed by she assumed wolves, it sort of made her worry about Chris. He'd recently lost his wife. It was just Allison and Chris now. After becoming friends, she didn't want anything to happen to Chris. And she'd even formed a semi-bond with his daughter. She didn't want anything happening to her, either. She cared about them both. Something she didn't often allow herself to do. After all, for several years, she'd been all about protecting herself. Apart from a few times down the road when she'd both looked out for herself and those she cared about. Like when she'd made sure that Pearl ended up in the tomb, instead of the fiery church. She'd even kept her Salvatores from mortal danger. Despite showing everyone the vampire bitch most of the time, she still had a heart./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She finished feeding on a stranger, just as she heard the sound of a wolf and a bunch of hunters. It sounded like a hunter killing spree. And since she'd become friends recently with Chris, she healed and compelled her nightly snack, before following the noises, hoping that he was alright./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"When she came upon the scene, Chris' hunters, which he'd fought alongside for many years, had been torn apart. She saw a russet, lone wolf attacking her newfound friend, which made her angrily push him off in an instant, making him land not far from a tree. Then she saw its eyes, making her realize that this wasn't random. At least, not the attack on Chris. After all, she knew that Axel wanted revenge on her younger vampire self not being able to control her urges, which had resulted in him witnessing her kill nearly his whole pack when he was a child. What better revenge than to kill everyone she cared about? That's what she and Klaus both would have done, she knew, if someone had gone after or killed any of their family or others they cared about./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Axel?" she inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"He growled with bared teeth, before lunging at her, as she stood between him and Chris, knocking her to the ground. The land made her hit the ground, and he attempted to bite her, but she kept a hand on his chest to keep him from snapping too close to her. Then, with her free hand, she snapped his necklace off, smashing it to pieces easily. Then his anger got worst, making him nearly bite into her shoulder, not liking that she'd broken the one thing that made him less killable, but her favorite Argent hunter shot him a few times, right before she finally ripped out his heart. Then she tossed his body off her and his heart on the ground, before getting up and rushing to Chris' side./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She knelt at his side, a hand on the side of his face, and could see his injuries. He'd been scratched, but also injured from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After debating for a few minutes, she chose not to heal him with her blood, knowing he probably wouldn't be thrilled at it, and because she knew he tended to get into life and death situations./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Stay with me, Argent."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"A few hours later, give or take, of waiting around, she was finally told that he'd live to see another day. That was a relief to her. She knew he was all his daughter had right now, and if something had happened to him, Katherine would be the only thing left for her. She was also relieved, not only because she cared, but also because she knew it was her fault. Staying in one town for longer than she usually did had apparently started to bring in her enemies. Enemies that she didn't want in town. After all, with Axel showing up, she knew she was bound to get her other enemies, too. Like her vampire ones and a hybrid that wasn't Klaus. She could most likely deal with the vampires, but she wasn't so sure about one vampire. Despite their age difference in vampire years, they were equally matched, considering she'd done the same to him nearly that she'd done with Damon. Taught him everything she knew. Then left. Unlike Damon though, she'd also killed someone that he'd cared deeply about. A pattern that she tended to do with people she turned./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After Chris had gotten released and was in recovery, Kat was invited to say with them. Now she was in the garage, readying guns and creating as many stakes as she could. She had to be prepared./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""What are you doing?" she heard from behind her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She didn't look at her yet, as she told her, "Preparing." Then, when she stood by the work bench by her, Kat finally turned and looked at her. "You don't know me all that well yet, but I have enemies everywhere. Some are more dangerous than others. Most of them are vampires. That wolf attack I saved your dad from last night? I recognized him when I saw his two different colored eyes. I was able to kill him without getting bitten, but this means we might have to worry about my other enemies. You've all dealt with wolves. Vampires are much more. They're stronger and are faster than the human eye. Keep them distracted though, and the best weapons against a vampire are stakes, vervain, and werewolf venom."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Why are you telling me this?" the teenager inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Because being prepared is a part of survival. And I want you two to survive them if my enemies show up. I don't usually allow myself to care or be involved, but it's too late now. I've done both. The only thing left is for you to learn how to fight a vampire," she explained to her./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Meanwhile, Kate had just come to town, hearing about the slaughter of some hunters, as well as a possible wolf problem. If there were wolves to hunt, she wanted in on the action. It had been a long time since she'd followed by the code her brother was hellbent on following, so she was going to kill any wolf she came across. And she was prepared. In the meantime, she was going to come see her niece. Her niece had been like 11 when she'd seen her last. It was time./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kat was still in the open garage with Allison, them still talking with each other, when Kate pulled up and then headed into the garage, setting her bag of weapons on the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Anyone want to explain?" Kat inquired after Allison and Kate's greeting to each other./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""This is my Aunt Kate," she informed her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Who's this? Did you make a new friend?" Kate inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You can call me Katherine. I'm a friend of both of them, but I've also been protecting them. But I might also be having something with your brother, too. I assume you're here for the extra werewolf population?" Kat replied and informed her, before Allison could say anything./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""I'm here for any of them, really. They killed hunters. They were family and friends. And maybe if I'm lucky, I'll even get in a few extra ones," she answered her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Let me tell you something. You can go kill the dangerous ones, be my guest, but some of them are off limits. And if you're going to start now, that won't end well. The extra wolves here are in their werewolf forms. Not the kind you're used to. They're the kind that I'm used to, and I normally avoid. No one here needs to be afraid of me, but I'm a vampire. One bite from them and it's a slow death for me unless I get to a certain Original in time to be saved. The only time I'm near them is if they're in their human forms. They're less dangerous that way. So, a little advice. Wait until they're less dangerous, because most of them out there run in packs. You might be able to take on a few of them, but not a whole pack by yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Then come with me," Kate replied. "Because I'm not one to take the safer route."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""As long as you don't plan on killing me, I'll come with you," the vampiress replied, but she was only doing it since Kate was Chris' sister and Allison's aunt. The last of their family. And if she allowed her to go off by herself in dangerous territory, she wasn't sure if they'd like that very much. But she didn't trust her yet, having trust issues, but also knowing that not all hunters were good people. "I want you to stay home and take care of your dad. I'll be back as soon as I can," she told the teenager. Then she packed some of what she'd created and put the bag in the backseat of her vehicle. "We're taking my SUV. And I'm driving," she told her. Then she got in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kate set her own bag in the backseat behind her and got in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""No offense, but if there's any trouble, my SUV is faster than yours. And I don't trust you not to try anything, but I'm doing this because you're their family," she informed her. Then she drove towards the woods, but parked right outside of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""What are you doing?" Kate inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You're used to the kind of wolves Peter and Derek are, but you don't know how the other kind work. The ones that run in packs are intelligent and great at diversions. Some of them even know how to hide well from anyone wishing them harm. And then the loners will stalks you, most likely without you knowing, before they attack. You want to survive this night? Then we have to be quiet. And these kind of wolves require anything. No silver bullets needed," she replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kat got out and locked her door, before they headed for the woods./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After a long while of walking and Kate walking around with her usual rifle, they didn't see any wolves./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You're a vampire. You hear anything? Where are they?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Being a vampire doesn't mean I know where everything is all the time. Or everyone. Alright? Maybe we should look on the opposite side of this territory," she suggested, continuing to walk, not paying attention to the hunter./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, smelling something. It wasn't a wolf, so she didn't know what it was./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Smell that?" Kat inquired, before hearing a noise behind her. That's when she turned to see something flash around. A human wouldn't be able to see it, but as a vampire, as it flashed around, she saw a scaly tail, which made the hunter fall to the ground. "Get up. This is something new." Then Kat felt something leap on her from behind, making herself fall on the ground. Then, as she saw the hunter getting up, she saw it injure her, before standing on her, roaring. That's when Kat saw it. Reptile eyes, scales, and tail, along with paralyzing venom, apparently./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"In a blur, she tossed whatever it was off the hunter, before facing it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""You want her for dinner? You'll have to go through me. Or you can go for an easier meal tonight. Up to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"For a few moments, it looked at her. Then it made up its mind, quickly climbing up a tree, roaring at her, and vanishing, clearly sensing that she too was a predator of the night./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Kat went over and knelt by her, looking at her injuries. She could see that it had scratched her a couple of times and that its lizard-like tail had cut her leg and thigh, opening up her leg artery. Normally, she'd just leave someone she didn't care about behind, but she didn't want to be an enemy of any hunters for leaving her for dead or for wolf dinner, so she slid an arm under her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Come on. Let's get you home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She helped her to her feet, grabbing Kate's rifle as she did so, and blurred back to her SUV. She then unlocked her SUV, opened up the passenger seat, tossed the rifle in the backseat, and got her into the passenger seat. Normal circumstances, she would've fed her her blood, but she didn't want her possibly ending up turning if she somehow died within 24 hours. Instead, she opened the glove department, getting what she knew she needed. She then put a bunch of gauze on her open artery, tying a roll of gauze around it, trying to keep her from bleeding out from it any further. Then she closed the door and got in, driving as quickly as she could back to the Argent house. She would've taken her to the hospital, but she was sure that the Argents weren't big fans of hospitals. Especially, crazy hunters. She'd known enough hunters like that before in her lifetime, and they hadn't wanted any hospitals, so she was used to Kate's kind of hunters./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"She pulled into the driveway quickly and blurred herself to Kate's side. As she did so, she saw Chris come out, apparently having heard her quick return./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Something other than wolves is out there. It paralyzed and injured her," she informed him, as she opened up the car door. She didn't say much of anything else, since she assumed Allison had filled him in on everything else. Then she opened up the front door for him, once he'd gently picked her up, and once she'd closed her door. Then, since this was a family situation, she went upstairs to cleanup, and left the two of them to try and save Kate./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Later that night after she'd allowed them to try and save her, which had failed, Kat spent some time with Chris in his room with the two of them getting on with it./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"The next day, after she'd received a call from one of her eyes and ears people from outside of Beacon Hills, she was seated on the foot of the bed by her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""I know it feels like your world is crashing down on you and being upturned, but things will get better for you. Both of you. I always get my vengeance when people I care about get hurt or killed, and for the longest time, I've wanted revenge for my mother, but you two are somewhat different than me. You're not out for vengeance. There's nothing I can say to make things better, but since I need to take care of something, I have to leave for a while. Who knows when I'll be back, but I'll always be a phone call away. I've already told your dad."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Thanks, but why do you need to leave?" she replied to her trying to do what she could to help her try and feel better, and also wanting to know the reason why she'd need to leave them behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""I've spoken a lot about where I'm from, my life, and Mystic Falls. I need to go there. I faked my death in 1864. Now that the oldest, Damon, has opened up the tomb, people will find out that I'm not dead. I need to clean up this mess he's caused me. I also know that my enemy, Klaus, is on his way to Mystic Falls soon. I don't want him using people I care about in the ritual to become the Original hybrid he was originally supposed to become a thousand years ago, so I need to set some things up. I need to get a vampire and werewolf set up for him. And I need to get my doppelganger ready to be sacrificed. I usually don't like children getting hurt, but we doppelgangers have been used for ages for spells. And I know a certain Original of mine found a way to possibly spare a doppelganger's life, so I think she'll be okay as long as she agrees with Elijah. But you can't tell anyone my plans. I wish you luck with this shapeshifting creature. Just let me know anytime if you need anything, and don't let your dad put himself in unnecessary danger," she informed her, as well as asked of her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Don't worry. Your plan is safe with me. And I'll look out for my dad."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Good."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"That day, she packed and left Beacon Hills behind, heading to Mystic Falls. She never thought she'd ever come back to that town again, but this was important. She had a lot to do in a short amount of time between what would be coming, as well as the business she had to deal with with both of her Salvatores. Not to mention, needing to make sure that her doppelganger was ready when it came to dying or not dying in that ritual. And it would be worth it, whether she lived through Klaus' visit or not. Besides, as she always said, she was a survivor. No matter what came her way, she always survived./p