Enemy of My Enemy (closed for Luna_Wolf72)

[gearhead73]

“ What the fuck” he groaned as the light from the morning sun streaming through the window hit him directly in the face dragging him out of his alcohol induced slumber. Turning over onto his right side facing the opposite wall, he blinked rapidly trying to clear his vision enough to see the alarm clock. Another long groan escaped him as three things became readily apparent.

The first, was that he was hungover. As his senses began to return and his foggy brain started to regain some functionality; he could feel the throbbing sensation in head that would surely accompany him for most of the morning.

The second revelation was that he was late, really late….again. Most people would think that by owning your own business, you could come and go as you please. In some companies and corporations that may be true, but for the owner of B&T Auto Solutions that was nowhere near the case. Ever since his dad Bruce had passed and Tripp had taken over as sole proprietor, manager, mechanic, janitor and secretary there had been little to no time for a day off, let alone a late start. People needed their cars fixed and had little to no patience to wait at the door for it to open; especially since he was supposed to be there an hour ago.

The third and probably most important thing that he realized, was that getting hammered on a weeknight because you are bored and horny and had no one to help with either of those things was probably not the best way to maintain a healthy business model. Also, trying to fill that void with Southern Comfort and a zesty italian delivery pizza was not acceptable, especially because it made your morning mouth taste like you tongue fucked a goat.

With a deep breath and a struggle to stay standing after tumbling to his feet he fumbled toward the shower.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

There were no sounds within the vast confines of the training room. No heartbeats, no huffs of air, nor pained sighs. Instead, there was only the slow and steady thwack of gloved hands laying waste to any who happened to oppose the dervish in the center of the ring. As small as the woman appeared to be, she moved with lightning speed and punched using every ounce of her weight for maximum effectiveness. For too long, she'd hidden her rage behind a stoic expression, not allowing anyone a chance to question her. This was how it had always been, how it would always BE and that was all that she needed to know.

"Nadia, come." The words irritated her, snapped as they were from someone not fit to tie her shoes much less speak to her in such a demanding way. Waving him off with one delicate hand, the cocoa-hued femme continued to fall into the bliss of movement, her hands and arms landing blow after blow in a continuous stream. Jab, Jab, cross, rear cross. Nothing else registered outside of her rolling punch count, not his voice, not the marbled flesh bowing beneath her blows, not the sheen of red in darkened eyes.

"NADIA!"

The shout pulled her back from the edge even as she finished her final combination 1-2, 3-4 and turned from her opponent on small feet to slip from the ring, delicate fingers already working on the wraps that protected her hands. However, she did not deign to head in the direction of that voice. Fuck Ciro Blackwall, insipid leader of this broken coven and supposed suitor for her hand. As if she'd ever let him touch anything having to do with her. Still, she supposed she should figure out what he was whining about this time.

"What, Blackwall? I have things to do and none of them will be done at your side." The words were a husky rasp, given weight by the sheer disregard held within each distinct syllable. "I am needed elsewhere."

Nadia heard the huff of displeasure but ignored it as she strode toward a mat located on the opposite side of the training room. Once there, she resumed her workout, her body moving easily into stretches that would lengthen and strengthen her musculature. She heard him then, making his way across to her side, his booted feet marring the quietude that a trained fighter would have already fallen into. He was useless and not fit to lead anything, least of all her.

"There have been reports," he began, self-righteous fucker that he was. "What do you plan on doing about them?"

Nadia merely rolled her eyes and allowed a low hiss of displeasure to breach the peace between them before finally giving him an answer, not that he deserved one. "Well, you are the leader, yes? Why don't you go and do something?"

He hadn't made it a full step onto her mat before she swept his leg, rolled to her left, and rose above him, an avenging angel. Dark eyes snapped with barely repressed rage as she glared down at the man who would be KING. "Don't worry about what I am going to do. Worry instead about finding the appropriate bride and leave me to do my job." With nothing else to say, the dark-skinned Fury twisted away and headed off.

Night would fall soon enough...and she had to be ready.

 

[gearhead73]

The day had turned out to be every bit as agonizing as he had thought it would be and maybe just a tad worse. Between customers whining and bitching about his tardiness and various vendors talking his ear off trying to sell him shit he didn’t need, Tripp had been able to do nothing to make the pounding in his head subside. He had finally managed to get some food on his sour stomach just before noon, just in time for Mrs. Swenson and her daughter Trish to arrive for their appointment .

Tara Swenson was a certified sweetheart, but her offspring was the polar opposite. Tripp guessed that part of her attitude was the rumor of her being the town “pump”, but he has never ventured to investigate if the stories were true. As her mother tried to explain the mysterious ‘kahoink’ noise that was emanating from the rear passenger side, Trish kept rolling her eyes, sighing loudly and finally spouting “I’m sure he’ll figure it out. That’s what we’re paying him for. Ain’t that right…grease monkey?”

Tripps jaw clenched and his hand squeezed the rag in his had until the knuckles of his hand turned white from the pressure. Tara Swenson saw the immediate change in Tripp’s demeanor and pushed her bitch daughter out the door stammering “Just call me when you find what it is Tripp, thank you.”

The tiny bell T the top of the door jamb jingles as the door shut behind them and for a split second he wanted to yank it off the little sting it hung by and throw it in the trash. Instead, he took a deep cleansing breath and collapsed into his office chair.

With a glance at the picture of him and his dad, he asks the framed memory from his youth, “How did you do it dad? How the fuck did you do it all those years?

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Nadia dressed for an evening out, her lithe frame covered by close-fitting leathers and black jump boots. Strapped to her right thigh, was a small rig designed to hold five throwing daggers while an acid-etched machete clung to her left hip. Of course, she knew she should probably grab a handgun or two but she hated the noise. They were just so damned loud and due to her senses firing on all cylinders? One good blast could send her screaming into a fit. Best to avoid that when it wasn't needful. It wasn't like she had to worry about running into anything big and furry. Hell, it wasn't like she couldn't take them on if she did.

She had just slipped from her apartment and headed for the main floor of the converted warehouse located in TriBeCa when someone called her name. Pivoting swiftly, the Fury turned toward her right and immediately strode through a nearby door, only to be greeted by Darian Night. A small grin tilted full lips upward even as she grasped his forearm in a warrior's clasp.

"You bellowed," she teased softly before finding a seat in the vast office complex that made up the Hunter's abode.

The tall man, blond-haired, gray-eyed, and surrounded in his own version of battle-ready gear gave a brisk nod and a flash of fang before tossing a manilla folder at her. "There is someone I need you to take a look at."

Slim fingers rifled the few pages before she stopped to study a picture of her intended possible target. "Doesn't look like anyone we have to worry about, not when we have the furry butt problem happening far too often recently."

Darian conceded her point with a shrug, a fluid sort of motion. "Be that as it may, he's come up more than twice. That means we need information. You can get it quickly enough. Don't engage, even if he pisses you off."

She nodded her agreement while dark eyes flicked over the proffered information like supposed age, name, business and home address, known locations, and phone numbers. To her eyes, he looked like any other mortal in NYC and wasn't nearly interesting enough to bother with BUT when the Council spoke, one listened. To do less than that was to invite punishment. She did not have TIME for punishments.

"I'll see what I can come up with. I have to start guard duties now but I'll be around later." At his dismissal, Nadia rose from her seat and continued her journey into the rapidly darkening maw of the great city. After all, if she was running the streets as her job required? She wouldn't have to tolerate the likes of Ciro, the fucker. That was a win-win by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[gearhead73]

Tripp spent a good while just standing in the shower, elbows resting against the shower wall. He reveled in the feeling of the warm water cascading o er his aching shoulders and back washing away not only the sweat and grime, but the frustration and loneliness that accompanied doing everything on your own. He had considered taking in a partner or even hiring another mechanic but the reality was that though his business was successful; it was also just in the black. Tripp couldn’t justify the expense and risk of having another mechanic doing work that he didn’t personally oversee.

Turning off the water and stepping out into the much cooler climate controlled bathroom of his apartment, he quickly grabbed a towel and decided to head into Midtown for a bite to eat. It had been a while since he had treated himself and the thought of one more night of burgers and fries made him cringe.

The trip to Midtown wasn’t a long one from his Brooklyn apartment and the train being unusually empty this evening gave Tripp time to reflect on the past, when his family had uprooted themselves and moved from a small town in WV to “The Big Apple”. Everything had seemed so foreign back then from the people to the accents to the food and most definitely the smells that permeated the city. Little things like taking a subway or a bus were unheard of in the small town he had grown up in where everyone drove everywhere. At fifteen he had been anxious to get his driver’s license and experience the freedom of the road when his father Bruce had announced that they were moving. It seems an old Army buddy of his dad’s had passed and left home the business in his will. With that, everything changed for Tripp as he left behind friends and girlfriends he had know the bulk of his life.

Shortly after that Tripp had graduated high school and immediately began working at the family business. He had always been handy and had tinkered with various neighbor’s cars alongside his dad in the garage that was attached to his childhood home.

The squealing of brakes as well as the slight push of inertia as the train slowed to a stop interrupted Tripps stroll down memory lane. The doors slid open and he stepped into the warm damp air of the station, then it was up two flights and he was on forty third and seventh. Half a block later he entered Bubba Gump Shrimp right in the heart of Times Square. He new this place was a tourist trap, and that no “real” New Yorkers would eat here, but he didn’t give a shit. The food was good albeit a bit pricey and the female servers were all “actresses” trying to make it big and provided plenty of eye candy to go with the meal. Add to that his ability to crush it at Forrest Gump trivia and it was a perfect night. This was one of the first places he and his did had went out together when they moved to New York. He like to come here and remember when times were good and everything was a new beginning. He missed that…

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Nadia hit Hudson Street at a brisk clip, her booted feet making nary a sound as she slipped into an easy jog. The scent of sweat and old food caused her nostrils to twitch slightly but she simply put her head down and kept moving. After all, there had been an incursion of furry little bastards in Manhattan and a 3.5 mile jog would take no energy and even less time than attempting to drive around looking for the beasts. Plus, there was the idea of catching something worth drinking during her travels. While she could pretend to eat with the best of them, that wasn't where she got her nourishment and anyone blessed with her physiology was the very same.

As she made her way through the Holland Tunnel and then jogged a right onto Watts, Nadia kept her senses keenly attuned to anything out of the ordinary. Of course, she didn't expect to see any fur-ladened carnivores sniffing around but odder things HAD happened. This was New York City after all and she'd be dumber than Ciro looked if she hadn't learned to pay attention, especially when she was moving at a brisk pace. Eventually, she swung onto Varick Street and slowed her pace to a more human-like stroll.

While Manhattan was always busy this time of night, she didn't sense anything in the crowds that surrounded her and gave serious thought to venturing toward a relatively close-by Bolla Market which was only a few miles away in Brooklyn. Her dissonance caused her to pace outside Bubba Gump's for a few minutes before she turned away. After all, she hadn't fed in almost a week. Being in close confines with the rising scents of blood and pheromones would be too much for her to handle, no matter her age and restraint.

With a soft sigh, and while fingering one of her throwing blades, the cocoa-hued woman turned away from the restaurant and resumed her stately stride. She'd head into Brooklyn and see who or what she could find to get into. Maybe someone would cause a ruckus and give her a reason to let off some steam, NOT that mere mortals were any match for her. Still, it was better than feeling this odd little pang in her chest, right?

 

[gearhead73]

Dinner was delicious as he knew it would be and his young Latina server had been polite and attentive and if he was being totally honest a little flirtatious. He had toyed with the idea of getting her number, but decided to err on the side of caution and just pay the check and leave.Stepping out into the warm night air, Tripp looked around still amazed at how the “City That Never Sleeps” never failed to live up to its name.

The dinner had left him satisfied but also feeling a bit nostalgic. Remembering the times he had spent with his dad getting to know their new city, Tripp turned right and walked for blocks to the southeast to a CityBike kiosk. With a swipe of his debt card it was no time until he was meandering through the streets of Manhattan toward Flatbush Avenue and the Manhattan Bridge. About two miles in Tripp began to feel the excursion from pedaling his way home. It had been a long day, and the morning’s hangover had taken its toll physically, but this only pushed Tripp on causing him to double his efforts.

Another mile and he was breathing heavily and pouring sweat. He wasn’t sure he could make it at first but the crushing loneliness coupled with the stresses of running the garage on his own with all of its responsibilities and demands from his customers spurred him. In a way it felt good; almost cathartic even. It was if all of the pain and despair of the last few months were leaving his tired body with every bead of sweat. All of the pain of the past as well as the fear of the future was left in miniature puddles on the passing streets of New York City.

Just past McLaughlin Park gasped a sigh of relief as the Hampton Inns illuminated sign came into view. Just one block more and he would reach Johnson Street and a kiosk to return his bike. He also knew that there was a Bolla Market there that he a welcoming oasis where he could get some cold water and some air conditioning before the short walk home. He cursed under his breath at the ringing of the stupid little bell attached to the top of the door jamb. Not bothering to take notice of any other customers that were inside, Tripp beelined to the coolers in search of something to quench his thirst. His hand had just opened the door to the larger refrigerator when heard a voice in the front yell “NOBODY FUCKIN MOVE!!”

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Bolla Market was a bright spot in the darkness. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes pulled in and out of the convenient location, headlights sweeping across the various bodies that made their way deeper into the night. For Nadia, the light was dizzying especially when it struck her eyes, again and again. Being that sensitive to the varying degrees of light was one of the countless drawbacks her physical being harbored. Of course, being immortal as long as one fed regularly and avoided direct sunlight wasn't bad. Hell, she'd been dealing with it for countless centuries.

However, it wasn't the most fun either.

She had just turned away from the rather large building when she noticed the gentleman she'd seen in the folder earlier. Without giving it too much thought, the small dark-skinned woman followed behind the man and turned left upon entering. Dark eyes glinted dangerously as she assessed the store's layout and noted various mirrors angled to show the whole of the floor plan with a singular glance. She noticed his beeline toward the coolers and allowed a grin to curve her lips upward. Just a human, like she'd thought.

Then, the heavens opened and blessed her with a ruckus!

“NOBODY FUCKIN MOVE!!”

Without thinking about it, Nadia sidestepped behind a rather large end-cap display of gas cans and swept her gaze toward the cashier. Two men were posted there, both holding rather beat-up-looking handguns, their faces covered by ski masks. Her grin widened even as she stepped forward slightly, one of her black matte throwing daggers already in hand. A slight adjustment of her stance: right foot slightly forward knee bent, brought her more fully in line with the sight of the duo. Without further planning, she whipped her hand forward and watched with a pleased grin as the knife clunked one of the men in the side of the head, dropping him like a proverbial bag of bricks.

With a laughingly yelled "Sorry," Nadia skipped forward a few steps. "I was already moving when you said nobody move..."

Only then did she notice a third and fourth figures, canvasing the store, a rather large bag held open as the pair went from person to person demanding watches, rings, wallets, purses, and phones. Dark eyes rolled heavenward as she adjusted her plan and turned away from the idiot at the register. Best to get the other two out of the picture, first.

 

[gearhead73]

From the nanosecond the speaker of the four man robbery team, time seemed to slow down and Tripp was able to take in all of the events that were happening around him. Two of the thugs started to make their way around the outer ring of the store aisles, stopping at each of the other customers to demand wallets, phones, and jewelry.

Simultaneously, at the front of the store Tripp observed a young mocha-skinned girl step from one of the aisles and with a flick of her arm toward one of the gunmen demanding the register be emptied hit the ground like he had just been unplugged from the matrix. Tripp should have been shocked by the speed and violence of her actions, but instead he was mesmerized by the agility and strength she exuded as she moved.

She was young for sure, maybe mid-twenties and on the shorter side from what he could see. She was dressed all in black, and the clothing clung to her for like a second skin. The soles of her boots clunked against the floor as she moved forward with an athletic speed he wasn’t sure how such a compact but perfect body could achieve such power. With a laugh he heard her say something about “already moving” or something or other. He wasn’t nearly as focused on what she said as he was the sound of the voice that said it. It was high and feminine and he could practically hear the laughter in it as she seemed to be enjoying the circumstances they were all sharing.

‘Fucking money and wallet now motherfucker!’ the gruff young voice boomed a few feet from Tripp capturing his attention from the beautiful young woman in the front and redirecting to the small framed young man pointing the gun in his face.

Startled Tripp dropped the water in his hands and thrust them forward as a sign of compliance. “Alright!” He shouted a little louder than he had intended. As he reached around for his wallet his eyes were drawn to the revolver mere inches from his face. It was an older model and showed signs of wear and poor maintenance as it bobbled with the thief’s shaky hand. As he examined the weapon further he noticed that the cylinders he could see were empty!

‘This stupid fucker has an empty gun!’ he thought, relieved at this discovery. Shifting his weight to the balls of his feet, Tripp brought his hand back around his side, twisting his hips and with one swift motion jabbed the assailant in the throat with all the power he could muster.

Immediately, the hound man dropped the gun with a loud clatter and his hands went to his neck as he stumbled backward into his accomplice and both boys fell to the floor in a heap.

“Shit, that really worked!” whispered to himself he he turned to see what the girl in the front was up to.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

There was a low buzz in the air as pheromones flooded the store. The rising scent of worry and fear caused heightened emotions which then induced a prodigious outpouring of scents. Nadia paused in her motion as her fangs seemingly descended without a by your leave. Still, there was no point in stressing about THAT. There were others here who did not deserve this particular hardship and though she did not worry about morality in quite the same way as a human, the Fury had never understood why people stole from one another. It was messy and really accomplished nothing outside of causing issues later on.

The babble of voices seemed to strike her inner ear with something akin to deafening force but Nadia shook it off and ducked behind another shelf. Her gaze flicked up toward the mirror that provided an overview of the coolers and a small huff of sound escaped her as she saw her quarry take out one of the idiots with a perfectly placed throat punch.

'Nice!'

The second gentleman swiveled as he heard his compatriot gag and fall to the floor, the clatter of the ill-used firearm loud in the foreboding silence. 'This won't end well!' The thought drew a snicker from between full lips as she called out to the gentleman by the cooler, her prey...probably. "Nice shot! Watch your six though. The other idiot is coming fa--" A bullet just missed her as she was offering her congratulations. "Ouch, you dumb FUCK. Who taught you to aim?" The second query was shouted at the asshole by the register who had SHOT at her.

It was then that she heard a low growl and paused, only to be tossed through a nearby shelf as of she were no more than flotsam. A shriek of sound announced that a furry bastard had come out to play. Screams vibrated the air around her much as the scent of blood engaged her hunger. 'Not good, not good, not good!!' The thought scurried through her mind like a hamster on a big-ass wheel as she got up and dusted off her butt.

Only then did she notice that the gunman by the register had had his throat ripped out and was now very much dead.

"FUCK!!"

Moving quickly, Nadia tugged her machete from its sheathe and twirled to her left, just in time to see a clawed hand shooting toward her face. She ducked and then swept the blade UP, taking the hand with a giggle. "Mama told me I should not play with doggies!" Whirling a step to her right, she swung the machete again, catching the big old mutt just above his waist and burying the sharpened steel in his side. "no treats for you, Fido!!"

For a moment, she lost sight of her prey though she assumed he'd heard her warning. The sound of rapid footsteps was the only warning she had before yet another Cujo joined the fun, this one headed back toward the other gunman and the guy who had chosen JUST the wrong time to find himself thirsty and in need of water.

 

[gearhead73]

Tripp had done what all inexperienced fighters did when they believed they had won the fight; he celebrated too early. Instead of staying vigilant and making sure the threat was neutralized, he diverted his attention toward the front of the store hoping to catch another glimpse or ten at the caramel colored ninja kicking ass at the counter. He caught just a glimpse as she ducked out of sight behind another shelf.

‘Nice shot! Watch your six though. The other idiot is coming fa--‘that was all he managed to hear before the brilliant light of a muzzle flash and the earsplitting report from behind the counter of a gun caused his vision to blur and his legs to buckle. His hands covered his ears and his knees drew to his chest as he rolled on the floor. He tried blinking rapidly, his burred vision clearing enough to see the partner of the man he had punch rolling around like he was in a similar position. You see gun battles indoors all the time, but they never account for how loud even a small caliber weapon can be. The light and sound in an enclosed space would be similar to a flash bang that police use to neutralize suspects in room before entering.

Though his ears were ringing and they were covered by his hands Tripp hear as well as feel the vibrations of a commotion at the front of the store. Continuing to blink his eyes, Tripp pushed his hands to the floor and lifted himself so he could get his legs underneath him and start to stand. His concern for the girl up front began to grown as he heard what he believed to be a growl emanating from two aisles over.

Once to his feet, Tripp scanned what he could see of the store, searching for the young woman that he could swear tried to warn him about the other would-be robber. He was pretty sure that she could take care of herself by what he had witnessed before, but something in him made him want to be sure she was ok.

What he witnessed nearly stopped his heart and made his blood run cold. The woman he was looking for was locked in battle with some kind of creature. It was on two feet, covered in hair and though Tripp had never seen anything like it that he compare it to, he knew it was dangerous.

It was growling and snarling and it swatted a clawed hand-like appendage at her beautiful brown face. Tripps eyes went wide as she parried the blow and with a wide swath of her arm she cut the hand off at the wrist with a machete she must have been carrying. With a move akin to Uma Thurman in Kill Bill the warrior stepped sideways and with a graceful turn swept the blade laterally and buried it in the creature’s torso.

“Holy fuck! Who are you?” Tripp said aloud without meaning to.

There was no time to answer and another smattering of footsteps could be heard only this time they were headed toward Tripp. He had no idea what these things were, but they were big and dangerous and one was headed his way.

He searched around frantically, scanning the shelves and coolers around him for something; anything he could use as a weapon. As a convenience store Bolla Market had a smattering of items for sale from food and snacks to oils and fluids for the cars of travelers. Tripp spied a couple of cheap Phillips screwdrivers hanging about midway down his aisle. Tripp dashed toward them hoping that they could provide some bit of protection against the oncoming threat.

Grabbing both and turning he set his feet and gripped the tools handles tight. “Come on you bastard.” Tripp said with a growl of his own.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Fighting a dog took real skill. One couldn't just swing a blade all willy-nilly nor could one go toe to toe with the furry bastards. Those things were well over 7 feet tall and weighed at least twice what a human male of average size would. Beyond the height/weight, there was also the speed, resilience, and fucking teeth. One could not, should NOT, forget the teeth. So, to say that she was SKILLED was an understatement. Nadia was beyond skillful, she was a goddess of war.

And yet...

The furry fuckers moved through the close confines of the store like liquid, a foursome of ferocity and low growls. True, she'd taken one out of the fight but that left three more, and of those three? Only one was headed her way. The other two? They were probably looking for much bloodier pastures. Something soft and succulent to gnaw on. What better than the blood bags still littering the aisles? 'Nope! don't think about the rich red noisome fluid flowing through bodies meant to...' Too late, she was already thinking, and FUCK, here came a big wall of lupine, growling and slobbering like some sort of ANIMAL.

“Holy fuck! Who are you?”


The raspy baritone drew her gaze back toward one of those high-mounted mirrors but she had no time to answer before the sound of someone screaming broke the semi-silence. A woman. There was a growl, a low, hungry thing that seemed to vibrate the walls that surrounded this utterly mad space and caused ringing in her ears and drool from between full lips. This was so bad and it was just going to get worse. Not because she cared overmuch about the bodies that the dogs were ripping into. She didn't. No, this was BAD because she could lose control, and fuck, there were cameras HERE!

'Enough! Move your ass!' The thought brought her hands up, the left one still holding her machete as the right groped for a throwing knife.

"Aww, puppy, did you miss your friend?"

The joshing tone completely went against the way she moved. While Nadia sounded teasing, her hands lashed out, the machete glancing off a thrown blow and delving deep into the musculature of the beast's arm. Blood spurted out but the stench was wholly unappetizing. Hissing in response, Nadia swiveled to her left but was caught by a clawed lupine hand that shredded her clothes along the flat expanse of her stomach. Staggering slightly, she whirled back around and launched a backhand blow that BURIED her knife in his chest.

Without waiting, the furious vampire swung her machete down as the wolf stumbled to one knee, catching him across the nape of his overly muscular neck before she turned and sprinted toward the back of the store. After all, she had NOT come in here for this!! Skidding across a puddle of something far too red to be water, slim fingers plucked yet another knife from her set and tossed it at the head of a third beast who seemingly had forgotten about the danger while he ripped into a tiny blonde. It was THEN that she heard the man, his voice pitched low and hard, no fear evident at all.

“Come on you bastard.”

Without pausing in her headlong rush, Nadia called out, "Do NOT let it bite you..." before she continued toward the wolf who had finally realized danger was close at hand.

 

[gearhead73]

"Do NOT let it bite you..." The young woman shouted as she engaged with yet another…thing. Tripp’s gaze switched from the mocha skinned heroine in the now tattered shirt to where the sound of loud footfalls seemed to originate. His resolve to stand his ground against this unknown but clearly dangerous beast-type-thing was beginning to waiver as he witnessed the speed, agility, and obvious combat training the young woman possessed and had still narrowly escaped injury.

Still, she had dispatched two and from he could gather between quick glances between the young woman’s antics and the ever nearing thumps and clicking that were growing louder and louder she would most likely be ending a third soon. He figured the least he could do would keep it occupied long enough for her to kill the fourth as well.

‘Do not let it bite me?’ Tripp thought as he lowered himself to a crouch so as to lower hi center of gravity. ‘Is she serious….’ His thoughts were interrupted as a huge fur-covered muscular form cleared the end of an aisle several feet away but in a straight line to Tripp.

“What in the cornbread fuck is that?!” Tripp exclaimed out loud not caring who would hear. The pure shock of what he was beholding almost caused his hands to drop the weapons he had gathered and prepare to run. The beast, which is the only way he could fathom describing it, was at least seven foot tall and covered in a thick gray fur. There were large canine like fangs protruding from its mouth and the fur along it lips and cheeks was slicked with some kind of thick fluid. He noticed the same liquid dripping from its long claws that adorned each hand or paw, he wasn’t sure which.

“That is fucking blood…what the fuck are you?!” Trip croaked as much to himself

As the thing now striding toward him. The strides became a jog and the jig became an all out sprint as the creature bared its freakishly long fangs and let out a growl that cased Tripps blood to run cold. The nervous tension in Tripps body caused him to start bouncing in anticipation of the fight he knew he could not win, let alone survive. Still, something in him would not let him do what should have been the obvious thing…run.

But he did run…toward his enemy! In A flash of inspiration, Tripp planned to force the beast to commit to a confrontation. With all of the power and resolve he could muster he ran toward the monster pumping his weapon laden hands as hard as he could. Just before the tow collided, Tripp dropped to a baseball slide between the animal’s legs striking out at it’s churning appendages as the two passed each other. The creature howled in pain as Tripp managed to stab the beast three times

In its lower dog like legs. The still viscous blood that coated the floor acted as a disgusting lubricant that allowed Tripp to slide well past his attacker before he turned his body and used a shelving unit to pull himself to his feet.

‘K, now what???’ He thought as he hoped the angel of death at the front of the store could help save his ass.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

While her "companion" was having a conniption and cursing loudly enough to beat the band, Nadia was busily attempting to hack apart a formidable opponent who did not seem to understand English. Some of the things her erstwhile "prey" said (interjected?) drew delighted laughter between sharp white teeth, roiling from her belly like bubbles in champagne. Of course, she couldn't respond. Cujo, the furry fuck, was trying to take her head off, and speaking at that point would have been utterly stupid.

Dark eyes darted toward the blonde woman lying on the floor, her throat torn out, body ravaged in multiple ways. Of course, the animal had tried to rut while feasting, just in case the poor victim survived the attack. Was there anything more disgusting? As Wolfie McWolferston swung his heavy head toward her, the darker-hued huntress began speaking again, the slow yet heavy drops of blood from her machete echoing each syllable in counterpoint.

"Now, now, puppy. It looks like you broke your toy. Bad doggie!"

Well, THAT pissed Fluffy off, and what followed after that was a tangle of arms, paws, legs, claws, and knives. In fact, it was a maelstrom of motion that didn't end nearly quickly enough due to the fact that by the time she'd gotten number three down, number one had somehow returned. Another furious bunch of strikes, kicks, and cuts were dealt before Nadia dusted her blood-soaked hands. She swiveled left to find a mirror, ONLY to see her mouthy compadre scoot between number four's spraddled legs. Her gaze caught two blood-drenched screwdrivers that had somehow rolled loose as he hoisted himself upward using a nearby shelf.

"Nice wor--" but she didn't get to finish her congratulations because Fido had turned with a bellow and went lumbering toward the quip master. "Watch OUT!" Her warning was delivered far too late. By the time she'd gotten the words out, the wolf was ON him. Without giving herself much time to think, Nadia blurred into a run, moving fast enough to become no more than a mere afterimage to any gazing eye. She didn't hesitate, kicking the furry fucker in his ribs. The moment he released his hold, she cut off his head.

Silence.


"Are you bitten??" She didn't look at the man, avoiding his gaze with every bit of stubbornness she could bring to bear. She couldn't very well look at him IF she was going to have to kill him later, right?

 

[gearhead73]

There was no time to celebrate his narrow escape from the animal for within what must have been nanoseconds, the beast leaped forward clearing the distance and tackling Tripp. He felt like he had been hit by a furry snarling truck as the animal’s body slammed into his, and then landed on top of him on the slick tile floor of the store. There was no plan, no kind of training or experience in his past that prepared Tripp to defend himself, he was in pure survival mode as he did his best to defend himself and stave off the attempts at this monster’s teeth to find a spot to penetrate his skin. The jaws would snap and click together as the beast tried to nip at Tripp’s forearms and biceps hoping to loosen his grip around its neck.

As quickly as the attack began, it ended. Though it had seemed like hours, mere seconds into the one sided fight the creature lifted its back and shoulders to let out a bone chilling howl before falling silent. Half a second later Tripp watched in a mixture of horror and fascination as the creature’s head slid from its neck and smacked the floor with a sickening ‘thwack!’. Tripp rolled to his left bringing his knees underneath him to clear the now red floor so the animal’s body could fall forward. As it did, he marveled at the transformation taking place. What was once a seven foot tall fur covered monster, was now morphing into an average height naked man; the body sinking to its knees and then falling to join its separated head on the crimson floor. For an eternity there was silence, except for the muted buzzing and whirring of the coolers and fluorescent lighting.

"Are you bitten??" the young woman asked. Trip hadn’t even noticed that she was now standing right beside him. It was the first time that he had gotten a good look at her and even covered in blood and in tattered clothing she was absolutely radiant. Her flawless caramel skin shown through the ripped fabric and leather giving her a more fierce presence. She didn’t appear frightened or shaken, and even after all the exertion her breathing was normal in stark contrast to his. She was young and pretty and fit and Tripp couldn’t help himself from looking her over head to toe. He was glad that when he looked back to her face her eyes were not on him. It was as if she were purposely avoiding his gaze.

Finally remembering her query, “I…I don’t think so.” Tripp stammered as he began patting himself down in search of injuries. At first he was relieved that he had miraculously endured the events of the entire evening unscathed. Unfortunately, his relief dissipated and morphed to panic as hand traced over the waist of his jeans just above his right ass cheek.

“Oh my god, am I bleeding?!?” Tripp asked, his voice dripping with fear as he turned his behind toward the beautiful stranger, and pulled the tattered fabric of his jeans down to his thighs.