Who's Afraid of the Dark? [Nikko]

[Erzbet Bathry]

Erzbet wandered aimlessly. She was wearing a black pair of skinny jeans and a snug black long-sleeved shirt. It covered up the flesh, but wasn't nearly as nice as fur. She moved gracefully, soundlessly. There was barely a sliver of the moon in the sky. Her eyes glowed with a yellowish light. She felt more at home now than she ever had in the crowded, brightly lit school. Too many people, too much light. It was enough to make her head spin.

With agility that only comes from being a panther, Erzbet jumped and caught hold of a tree branch several feet above her head. She swung herself up and leaned against the trunk. With a soft, almost inaudible voice, she began to recite.

"The hunter knows not
of matrimony or lust
nor of faith or loyalty
nor of joy or trust

The hunter's true delight is this
To bring to the weak death's sweet kiss"

It was an old rhyme she'd heard from the villagers in the jungle that she lived. The same villagers that killed her father. The same villagers her mother hid from. Erzbet didn't want to be just a hunter. But she was hopeless in talking to other people. Every spare moment was spent doing homework or watching people. They fascinated her. How they spoke so simply, so openly with one another. It was like a class in it's self. A never ending class she was failing.

[shade]

Nikko watched, amused at the girl. She was a hunter no doubt by the rhyme she recited and a graceful one. Hanging from the tree like a over large mutated bird, Nikko sat and tried to decide whether he should show himself to her or not. she smelled like a cat and Nikko didn't like cats, well....most cats and he wasn't very social...the last meeting had been a disaster.
He watched her through the boughs on his perch. Leaning forward to get a better glimpse at the girl. Not being a graceful hunter such as the girl, Nikko sent a cascade of dead leaves flying through the air. The sound was simply a quiet rustle however in the large quite forest, it sounded like a gun shot through the still air.
Nikko held his breath as he waited for the girl to climb his solitary tree and confront him about "following" her. Being anti-social, Nikko hated when people came to talk to him about anything he might have done wrong.... especially when he did something wrong. He had always had a fear of his step father beating him again when he did something wrong and this moment only reminded him of those far away days. Nikko's face had begun to turn purple as he had held his breath for to long, so breathing out and back in as quickly as possible he awaited the hunter.

[Erzbet Bathry]

Erzbet jumped up. She was silent. In the darkness it was hard to tell that her nails were growing slightly longer. Her canine teeth were growing too, till they felt awkward in her mouth. Her eyes turned almost completely bright yellow. She was sure her pursuer, whoever they were, could see them. Still, she didn't panic. This wasn't downtown, with it's bright sunshine and bustling crowds. This was her element.

Normally she would never call out to anyone. But she refused to chase after whoever was following her. If they wanted to talk to her so badly, they would come forward and do it. "If you want me to show mercy, show yourself now." Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried through the silent forest. She scanned the trees around her, waiting.

[shade]

Nikko relaxed on his high perch and leaned back against the aged wood, She was afraid, She had jumped and then demanded for him to come out...he could tell by they way she said it that she was nervous. easy pickens...He could eat this girl without a fight just by swooping down on her. This is exactly what Nikko had been waiting for. But something about her...they way she walked.....instead of the delicious meal he told himself he saw, Nikko saw a beautiful girl in a intimidating way....maybe I should just talk to her.....Nikko leaned over again to see the girl and made his decision.

Nikko made his way along the tangled old wood and under low lying moss until he was directly above the girl. Deciding not to scare her to much, Nikko sidled further down the knoted path of oak. He let himself drop with a muffled, barly audable thud. His tall lanky form, dressed in his usual black, crossed it's arms and leaned up agasnt the tree, it's hair hanging low over the glowing eyes.

"And why would I need your mercy? I think I know how to fight well enough...Not that I plan to any way"

[Erzbet Bathry]

Erzbet jumped up silently. Her yellow eyes flashed in surprise and anger. Again, she missed the jungle. Anyone would fight with a teenage girl, but no one fought with a panther. This flimsy human skin was enough to make her scream. If she was the screaming type. "Who are you?" She asked, her voice the same volume. "What are you?" It was an important question in the Academy. You never knew for sure what everyone was. And the powers they had.

Her canine teeth began to ache. In fact, her entire form was a bit unstable. Out in the woods, at night, facing a possible enemy, it was enough to make her forget the human skin she was supposed to be keeping on. The boy, or at least that's what he looked like at the moment, was on the branch next to her. So he wasn't afraid of heights. That meant he could either be a bird, or a jungle cat like herself. Or something new entirely that she had yet to learn about.

[shade]

Guessing there was no more need to hide from conversation now that he had showed himself..Nikko began the conversation with a low growl from the depth of his throat as the small sensitive hairs on the back of his neck stood up under his shoulder length blonde hair...
"You smell like a cat...a big cat..what are you?" Nikko was unsettled by the now overwhelming scent of jungle cat.."You must be some sort of..of..tiger? or panther..yes panther thats what you smell like! Could you take a step back or mask your scent with something? It's really making me hungry.."

"Great....just a great way to introduce myself...this is why I avoid people.."

"um...MY names Nikko..Nikko Figgachelo..I'm a warg..and hungry.."