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For Arka, SONG OF DEATH, chapter one |
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Kana walked through the forest threading her ways through the tree's, making her way to the road where she knew a human highway was located. She was beginning to get hungry after walking for several miles without rations, and sorely missing a cooked meal. Her nose twitched as the delicious scent of a hare came to her nose on the wind, making her mouth water. It smelled so tantalizing, however, she didn't think that now was the right time to let herself give way to the hunt. She bit her lip drawing a thin trickle of blood and shook it off with a soft sigh, emerging from the brush on the side of the road. She strained her ears for the sound of anyone following her or coming toward her.
There was a lot to look for these days whether it was a hunter of her kind, a mob, another shifter, or a vampire. Unfortunately that wasn't the case lately and it seemed to be something far worse and more powerful. She groaned inwardly at the thought, forging forward along the path until she came to a fork in the road with a sigh. She paused briefly choosing the left fork without hesitation, senses open to the world around her.
When she'd reached the entrance to the village she contemplated staying the night, pacing back and forth. She could hear the people within and sense their resentment toward people like her. She sighed in contempt, folding her legs as she let herself fall to the ground gracefully, sitting on the hard packed earth. Strands of her long silver hair ended up in her face and she pushed them away irritably, golden eyes brooding.
Arka walked out of one of the village inns that he'd stayed in for the weekend while investigating a case. He raised his head and took a deep refreshing breath, the air was brisk and fragrant with the smell of spring. A chill wind picked up momentarily making him shiver slightly as he headed toward the village's exit, hand on his trusty revolver. His one good eye scanning the village for any trouble that may be lurking, and finding none because he never knew where there'd be a shifter. His long white coat moving around his body as he walked only inches above the ground, and mid length white hair swishing ever so slightly across his back. He looked at the exit of the town to see a girl sitting on the ground, cautiously walked over, and knelt beside her. He looked at her closely thinking how young and vulnerable she looked. “Howdy, whats your name?” he asked with a smile despite the sinking feeling in his gut as he inched closer to her.
Kana studied him for a few moments, sizing him up and wondering whether or not she should tell him her real name. She decided that it wouldn't matter either ways so she smiled wearily saying, “Kana.” Eyes never leaving his face, as she decided if he was a threat to her or not, and when she was satisfied with the fact he was what he appeared, human, she asked. “And you are?”
Arka smiled even more, holding out his hand to her. “Lovely name you have there, Kana. Mines Arka. Arka Levautine to be more precise. I'm a hunter, so if you see anything suspicious you seek me out all right?” He winced in pain unexpectedly as something out of his past haunted him, making Kana raise an eyebrow in interest. Why is it acting up now? He thought, and waved it away as he awaited Kana's handshake.
Kana took his hand in hers accepting his handshake, wondering if he realized what she was. She'd run across many men like him in the past and never had they been so oblivious to what she was. Sure at first they couldn't quite place what she was but they knew she wasn't human, instinct told them as much.
“Okay.” she answered not being able to come up with anything better in answer to his offer. She knew she'd never take him up on it but he didn't need to know that, and so she smiled sweetly at him changing the subject. “Are you all right?”
Arka chose to ignore her question as he asked on of his own. “So, Kana. What brings you to this measly village?” He smiled as he proceeded to sit down in front of her. His smile faded slightly as he realized something about her made him feel strange and ill at ease. He then decided that he better be cautious with his movements, as his eyes narrowed studying the small girl in front of him with her pale hair and strange golden eyes. They almost reminded him of a cat, and if it hadn't been for there shape he would have sworn they were.
Kana noticed his reaction as he sat before her and was unsure how to answer his question. She really didn't want him to know what she was because that usually tended to end badly. She was stumped on this one until the hare's scent caught her attention once again, and she lied. “Food, and you?” She tilted her head to the side in an almost cat like way, regarding him with large eyes, and awaiting an answer.
Arka smiled at her and replied, “Well if I hadn't stopped off for the weekend to recuperate, I've been pretty tired lately. It seems the world is running out of shifters.” he shrugged. “I guess thats a good thing though.” he added as he began to gaze into the girls eyes. “I have some food, if you want it that is?”
Kana smiled at him and his comment about shifter thinking, Oh, if you only knew, hunter. If you only knew. She stayed quite about herself though and her knowledge about shifters in general. She began to rise from the hard packed dirt feeling both amused and leery. “No, thank you. I rather pay for my own food.” she smiled again. “Or I hunt it.” she added under her breath, hoping he hadn't heard her.
Arka cocked his head slightly, wondering what she'd said under her breath. He'd seen her lips move silently after she'd denied his food but he couldn't make out was she said. “Are you sure you don't want any food? I got some nice jerky that I bought yesterday. It's peppered!” he said as he tried to persuade her to take his food.
There conversation was interrupted by someone and both Arka, and Kana looked up to see a man with black cat ears, a tail, and red eyes. He seemed friendly enough but Kana couldn't help but sneer at his presence thinking it a pleasant coincidence. She turned her head slightly to watch Arka's reaction. His had was inching closer to his revolver with a maniacal grin on his face. Kana raised her eyebrow slightly and shrugged. She rose to her feet as quietly as she was able, about to walk away and let fate take it's course. Her conscience decided against her, however, and she sighed walking back toward the two men with a small pout on her round face.
“Your not going to kill him are you?” She bit the inside of her cheek waiting for an answer all the while thinking of her next move. She didn't want to expose herself and kill Arka, but if he left her no other choice she would.
Arka looked from the cat-man to Kana his eye twitching, “Are you a shifter too?” he asked as he started to sweat at the realization that he was out numbered. His breathing shallower by the second and he removed his hand from his gun, backing away slowly from the two in front of him. “Easy now, we don't want any causalities...” Arka began to tremble.
“s**t!” Kana said with feeling and sighed. “Look I really had wanted to avoid someone like you and find...” she paused, “The person I'm looking for but it seems I'm having really bad luck.” She looked over at the Cat-man, eyes narrowing. “And suddenly I had grown a conscience when you decided to act like an idiot and walk into the path of a hunter. No, I couldn't have let you get killed and walk away.” she rolled her eyes and looked back to the hunter, letting him know she was aware of him completely.
Arka stared at her his head starting to throb, “Please, don't kill me.” He fell to his knees at Kana's feet, and couldn't help but think, She was so beautiful! Why did she have to be a shifter? He didn't know what to do to sway her so he bowed at her feet. “Please, spare me.” he pleaded to her looking up into her eyes from his knees.
Kana took a deep breath her lips parting slightly and she moved away from the hunter, her face paling slightly. She didn't know what to do faced with a situation like this, and she felt very uncomfortable with Arka groveling at her feet. She couldn't help but look longingly back at the safety of the forest, but she knew she couldn't run from anything the beast withing her gave a soft rumble of a growl. It didn't like the idea and she was forced to stand there with her head hung in shame. “Just go.” she managed to say, as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Arka stood up looking astonished by Kana's words but thanking her all the same. He was curious to why she didn't kill him though so he asked, “Why didn't you kill me when I told you what I was?” He felt so unwanted as he waited for her to answer.
She turned her back preparing to be on her way now that he wasn't groveling . “I knew what you were from the moment we met. I've been taught to spot someone like you since I was a small child. You aren't exactly a welcome sight to my kind when we're looking to stay alive.” she kicked at the ground, her hair moving with her body.
Arka watched her discomfort unable to comprehend what he was hearing, she was afraid of him! “So....Your afraid of me?” he asked to make sure his assumption was correct. He stared at her as he waited so many thoughts rushing through his head that he had to voice them. “You seem different from what I thought all shifter were like.... I don't understand though, why didn't you kill me when you had the chance?”
Kana had listened to what he had to say turning on her heal with ease, fighters training coming into play, shock and anger clear on her round face. “That's because people like you are too bigoted to give people like me a chance! We're just normal people who turn furry once in a while! We have feelings and some of us aren't all good, but then again neither are humans! I've seen what humans can do, and believe me they are no better than any of us!” she paused reeling in her anger. “I'm not stupid either. If I would have killed you I would have been hunted as a murderess. At least if your alive it will make people wonder and I'll have time to disappear.”
Arka couldn't believe his ears and couldn't deny what she said was true. His eyes welled with unshed tears, “You make a good point, Miss.... I suppose I should do a little more research on shifters.” he sighed. “Can I tag along with you, just for a week or two? I'd really like the opportunity to see if what you say is true.” He held out his hand again as if to say 'Let's try this again'
Kana studied his hand for a moment aware that the Cat-man was still watching but paying him no attention. She didn't take it this time and shrugged her shoulders in response. “If I were to say no I have a feeling it would do no good anyways.” she licked her lips, and looked over her shoulder toward the town. “I'm hungry, so I'm going to eat.”
Arka nodded at her and proceeded to sit down on a nearby log. “Well I suppose I would get in the way if I went with you right now. If I stay put, will you come back for me? I can help you find whoever you are looking for without raising any suspicion. I mean I am human after all.”
Kana looked at him now, really looked at him. He was handsome enough but that didn't mean much to her. He seemed strong of character too, normally a man devout to his work, and steadfast. She shrugged and headed into the village and toward the nearest inn where she could obtain a nice meal for a fairly cheap price. She could feel the eyes of men on her back as she walked but she learned to ignore that.
 Nightmare Zealot · Sat Jul 12, 2008 @ 04:12am · 1 Comments |
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