Your local Werewolf

"Oh, right!"

Bee turned towards the fellow she'd drained dry, and lifted his arms first, checking for watches. Stealing things off of bodies was nothing new--pawning off things the dead didn't need anymore meant a steady flow of cash, to say nothing of just snagging a wallet. This guy had a pretty nice one that she clipped off and tucked in her jacket pocket. Leather strap, but the face was gold.

"This guy's boring," she admitted, "No rings, plain watch, no necklaces...oop, wait, spoke too soon," she patted down his pocket and took out some rings and a bangle that were too small for his hands or wrists. Bee tilted her head. They were pretty, but they weren't his.

"Hey," she held up a ring to Luke, "Do these fit that girl's finger, or..."

Or is there a fourth who stepped away?

Fuck.

Bee didn't breath as she listened. The nearest pulse was Luke's, of course, but there were animals in the woods to account for. A lot had fled when the screaming started but there were a few crows in the trees waiting to scavenge--maybe Ollie knew them--and the quick patter of some squirrels. The difference between their tempo and a human's was easily distinguished.

So when her eyes landed on the thicket opposite them, where a rabbit-quick but far louder heartbeat was going off, along with the rattle of shallow, terrified breaths.

Odds are the woman had been approaching at the tail end of the chaos, before Bee had finished eating her friend and Luke the other two. Since she hadn't turned and bolted, she must have been cowering and praying that whatever monsters had killed her friends wouldn't notice her.

But she was too far away to hear them speak.

Otherwise she might have run, now.

Not that it would have helped her at all.

"Oh, right!"

Bee turned towards the fellow she'd drained dry, and lifted his arms first, checking for watches. Stealing things off of bodies was nothing new--pawning off things the dead didn't need anymore meant a steady flow of cash, to say nothing of just snagging a wallet. This guy had a pretty nice one that she clipped off and tucked in her jacket pocket. Leather strap, but the face was gold.

"This guy's boring," she admitted, "No rings, plain watch, no necklaces...oop, wait, spoke too soon," she patted down his pocket and took out some rings and a bangle that were too small for his hands or wrists. Bee tilted her head. They were pretty, but they weren't his.

"Hey," she held up a ring to Luke, "Do these fit that girl's finger, or..."

Or is there a fourth who stepped away?

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.

With the building blocks set down, Bee glanced upwards. They were far enough away and the sky dark enough. So she said, "Give me a moment," and, with a jump, pushed herself up into the sky. Her dark hair and clothes blended into the night sky, a shadow where the stars had been a moment ago, as she got a bird's eye view of the beach from here.

There were plenty of bonfires. Some nearer to others, some isolated. Some near the pier. Some away from the beach, only visible from the flicker of distant flames far in the distance.

If he wanted a chase, they'd want prey with more room to run before they risked alerting any other humans. So the beach wasn't ideal. Too many people. The pier was always quieter, but could still be reached from the boardwalk...so...

She dropped from the sky like she was hopping the last steps on a staircase. Easy.

He then watched as she observed the distance to no doubt see people they could hunt. Once she hopped down and informed him of what she had seen, he nodded. "Yeah. Go on and lead the way." He said and did a small playful bow.

She had hopped up into the air again, hovering like she were suspended on thread, but stopped before she could ascend further. Shiny stuff for a friend--

"I learned that sometimes legend shit is nonesense thanks to a werewolf I know."

Oh.

Oliver chuckled again. "I am sure you will see the one I mean around eventually. They are really cool to hang out with!"

Shit.

She doubled over in the air, somersaulting so she was, technically, on eye-level with Luke once more. "You're Oliver's friend?" She asked, just to confirm it. But the odds of that magpie having a different werewolf friend, and this werewolf having a different shiny-hoarding friend, felt pretty slim.

Mostly because of the werewolf thing.

That made it easier to guess.

She knew Oliver as well? How? Since when?

And then the fact hit him that Oliver had, in fact, recently told him about a new friend he had wanted to introduce him to. Suddenly he was very glad that he had not eaten her.

Bee spun all the way back to being right side up, and flew high enough to be out of sight, unless one was looking for a figure above. And who would be?

"Shake a leg!" She called, and soared ahead.

Flying in the city had been different. Weaving between buildings, past windows and glowing signs, over streets of people who would never look up and see them because they were too quick. Out here, there was more space to move, and darkness stretched out around her the higher she got. Bee missed the city, but...this was where she was, now.

It would have to be enough.

Maybe those races with Ollie's bird forms could involve a bonus wolf.

They were such silly thoughts. But finding time for such things had been her only way to get through the last few decades.

She came to a stop in the air, hovering over a thicket that lay on the edge of the firelight. The bonfire only had a few people around it--not much older than she appeared to be, with a boombox playing as a man and woman chatted and a second man played with the fire. Three pulses, quick as if to match the beat of the music.

Bee felt her fangs grow, the familiar pull of fresh blood pulling the nightmarish golden glow of her eyes from beneath her human mask.

But she waited.

The hunt was Luke's suggestion. He wanted a chase. She wasn't going to take before he made his move...

"We don't eat until he does."

But he very clearly didn't know much about predators.

You're not supposed to put your back to us.

As he ran, Bee swooped down, lips pulled into a feral grin as she reached, claws out, intentionally keeping herself hardly slower than the man by just a few inches. He looked back just long enough to see her and shriek before he tried to outrun her.

Fear of death was a great motivator.

But Bee was faster.

D'aaw. His tail is wagging.

A shy smile--stained with blood--pulled at her lips as she left the soon-to-be-corpse on the log, and scooted over to where Luke was eating. She gently placed a hand on his back and started to stroke.

"I'll have to hear him sing, sometime..."

Molly would love to know that.

At least her silly ramblings caught Luke's interest as well. She giggled as she stopped scratching him, setting her hand on the log besides her, since it was still slightly bloodied. And now had some fur stuck to it. A fair price to pay for getting to pet a werewolf.

Older was wiser, maybe. But also stronger. Perhaps more territorial. Or...

"You went against his rules."

She didn't need that again.

"Maybe some other time," she shook her head, and focused on Luke's answer to her question. Her smile grew brighter, relief fresh in her heart. More people who weren't going anywhere any time soon. Thank something. "I've never met a hunter who was particularly competent, but New York attracts all sorts. Maybe it's different out here. Not in a rush to find out."

She then leaned over to her own kill, and used a claw to rip the front of his shirt. Then skin, and muscle, until she was pulling the guy's quiet heart from his chest. No blood got on her--she'd already drained him dry. But she was curious.

"One what?"

And they'd succeeded before...?

What if one was--right now--?

She gripped the open, empty air in front of her chest, then at her shirt. Like she had been searching for something that wasn't there.

I couldn't feel it.

Of course I can't. I--

A little.

A decade still felt long in some ways; but she'd only been turned for nearly four. Someday that span of time would feel shorter and shorter.

"I met him there, too. An all-night arcade is kind of a godsend for how boring some nights can get," Bee giggled softly, "Hopefully I see you around sometime, too. Y'know. Beyond telling Oliver that we did not, in fact, eat each other."

"Maybe we can all go hunting together one of these days."

It wouldn't be like being with her clan.

Luke's excitement was infectious, and reminded her a little of someone for a moment. It was a painful memory, but a far less recent one than the ones that weighed on her now. Bright eyed, playful young vampires who were eager to go together into the fray.

That didn't even survive a decade.

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.

With the building blocks set down, Bee glanced upwards. They were far enough away and the sky dark enough. So she said, "Give me a moment," and, with a jump, pushed herself up into the sky. Her dark hair and clothes blended into the night sky, a shadow where the stars had been a moment ago, as she got a bird's eye view of the beach from here.

There were plenty of bonfires. Some nearer to others, some isolated. Some near the pier. Some away from the beach, only visible from the flicker of distant flames far in the distance.

If he wanted a chase, they'd want prey with more room to run before they risked alerting any other humans. So the beach wasn't ideal. Too many people. The pier was always quieter, but could still be reached from the boardwalk...so...

She dropped from the sky like she was hopping the last steps on a staircase. Easy.

He then watched as she observed the distance to no doubt see people they could hunt. Once she hopped down and informed him of what she had seen, he nodded. "Yeah. Go on and lead the way." He said and did a small playful bow.

She had hopped up into the air again, hovering like she were suspended on thread, but stopped before she could ascend further. Shiny stuff for a friend--

"I learned that sometimes legend shit is nonesense thanks to a werewolf I know."

Oh.

Oliver chuckled again. "I am sure you will see the one I mean around eventually. They are really cool to hang out with!"

Shit.

She doubled over in the air, somersaulting so she was, technically, on eye-level with Luke once more. "You're Oliver's friend?" She asked, just to confirm it. But the odds of that magpie having a different werewolf friend, and this werewolf having a different shiny-hoarding friend, felt pretty slim.

Mostly because of the werewolf thing.

That made it easier to guess.

She knew Oliver as well? How? Since when?

And then the fact hit him that Oliver had, in fact, recently told him about a new friend he had wanted to introduce him to. Suddenly he was very glad that he had not eaten her.

Bee spun all the way back to being right side up, and flew high enough to be out of sight, unless one was looking for a figure above. And who would be?

"Shake a leg!" She called, and soared ahead.

Flying in the city had been different. Weaving between buildings, past windows and glowing signs, over streets of people who would never look up and see them because they were too quick. Out here, there was more space to move, and darkness stretched out around her the higher she got. Bee missed the city, but...this was where she was, now.

It would have to be enough.

Maybe those races with Ollie's bird forms could involve a bonus wolf.

They were such silly thoughts. But finding time for such things had been her only way to get through the last few decades.

She came to a stop in the air, hovering over a thicket that lay on the edge of the firelight. The bonfire only had a few people around it--not much older than she appeared to be, with a boombox playing as a man and woman chatted and a second man played with the fire. Three pulses, quick as if to match the beat of the music.

Bee felt her fangs grow, the familiar pull of fresh blood pulling the nightmarish golden glow of her eyes from beneath her human mask.

But she waited.

The hunt was Luke's suggestion. He wanted a chase. She wasn't going to take before he made his move...

"We don't eat until he does."

But he very clearly didn't know much about predators.

You're not supposed to put your back to us.

As he ran, Bee swooped down, lips pulled into a feral grin as she reached, claws out, intentionally keeping herself hardly slower than the man by just a few inches. He looked back just long enough to see her and shriek before he tried to outrun her.

Fear of death was a great motivator.

But Bee was faster.

D'aaw. His tail is wagging.

A shy smile--stained with blood--pulled at her lips as she left the soon-to-be-corpse on the log, and scooted over to where Luke was eating. She gently placed a hand on his back and started to stroke.

"I'll have to hear him sing, sometime..."

Molly would love to know that.

At least her silly ramblings caught Luke's interest as well. She giggled as she stopped scratching him, setting her hand on the log besides her, since it was still slightly bloodied. And now had some fur stuck to it. A fair price to pay for getting to pet a werewolf.

Older was wiser, maybe. But also stronger. Perhaps more territorial. Or...

"You went against his rules."

She didn't need that again.

"Maybe some other time," she shook her head, and focused on Luke's answer to her question. Her smile grew brighter, relief fresh in her heart. More people who weren't going anywhere any time soon. Thank something. "I've never met a hunter who was particularly competent, but New York attracts all sorts. Maybe it's different out here. Not in a rush to find out."

She then leaned over to her own kill, and used a claw to rip the front of his shirt. Then skin, and muscle, until she was pulling the guy's quiet heart from his chest. No blood got on her--she'd already drained him dry. But she was curious.

"One what?"

And they'd succeeded before...?

What if one was--right now--?

She gripped the open, empty air in front of her chest, then at her shirt. Like she had been searching for something that wasn't there.

I couldn't feel it.

Of course I can't. I--

A little.

A decade still felt long in some ways; but she'd only been turned for nearly four. Someday that span of time would feel shorter and shorter.

"I met him there, too. An all-night arcade is kind of a godsend for how boring some nights can get," Bee giggled softly, "Hopefully I see you around sometime, too. Y'know. Beyond telling Oliver that we did not, in fact, eat each other."

"Maybe we can all go hunting together one of these days."

It wouldn't be like being with her clan.

Luke's excitement was infectious, and reminded her a little of someone for a moment. It was a painful memory, but a far less recent one than the ones that weighed on her now. Bright eyed, playful young vampires who were eager to go together into the fray.

That didn't even survive a decade.

A friend of mine got a DM from a user called @/floatinghavenstranger out of nowhere. Upon having a conversation with them, one that left my friend a bit spooked and shaken up, I looked into it and found out that my friend is not the only person who got this exact same DM word for word. I will post a screenshot I got from my frien, so you all know what that first message looks like.

I cannot stress this enough, but please remember to not click any weird links someone sent to you. And if a DM you get out of nowhere seems off, then be careful, look into it and also talk to others about it if you are unsure whenever it is a scam or not. Scammers and hackers alike suck and try new tactics every day and we can't let them get away with it.

The screenshot in question:

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.

With the building blocks set down, Bee glanced upwards. They were far enough away and the sky dark enough. So she said, "Give me a moment," and, with a jump, pushed herself up into the sky. Her dark hair and clothes blended into the night sky, a shadow where the stars had been a moment ago, as she got a bird's eye view of the beach from here.

There were plenty of bonfires. Some nearer to others, some isolated. Some near the pier. Some away from the beach, only visible from the flicker of distant flames far in the distance.

If he wanted a chase, they'd want prey with more room to run before they risked alerting any other humans. So the beach wasn't ideal. Too many people. The pier was always quieter, but could still be reached from the boardwalk...so...

She dropped from the sky like she was hopping the last steps on a staircase. Easy.

He then watched as she observed the distance to no doubt see people they could hunt. Once she hopped down and informed him of what she had seen, he nodded. "Yeah. Go on and lead the way." He said and did a small playful bow.

She had hopped up into the air again, hovering like she were suspended on thread, but stopped before she could ascend further. Shiny stuff for a friend--

"I learned that sometimes legend shit is nonesense thanks to a werewolf I know."

Oh.

Oliver chuckled again. "I am sure you will see the one I mean around eventually. They are really cool to hang out with!"

Shit.

She doubled over in the air, somersaulting so she was, technically, on eye-level with Luke once more. "You're Oliver's friend?" She asked, just to confirm it. But the odds of that magpie having a different werewolf friend, and this werewolf having a different shiny-hoarding friend, felt pretty slim.

Mostly because of the werewolf thing.

That made it easier to guess.

She knew Oliver as well? How? Since when?

And then the fact hit him that Oliver had, in fact, recently told him about a new friend he had wanted to introduce him to. Suddenly he was very glad that he had not eaten her.

Bee spun all the way back to being right side up, and flew high enough to be out of sight, unless one was looking for a figure above. And who would be?

"Shake a leg!" She called, and soared ahead.

Flying in the city had been different. Weaving between buildings, past windows and glowing signs, over streets of people who would never look up and see them because they were too quick. Out here, there was more space to move, and darkness stretched out around her the higher she got. Bee missed the city, but...this was where she was, now.

It would have to be enough.

Maybe those races with Ollie's bird forms could involve a bonus wolf.

They were such silly thoughts. But finding time for such things had been her only way to get through the last few decades.

She came to a stop in the air, hovering over a thicket that lay on the edge of the firelight. The bonfire only had a few people around it--not much older than she appeared to be, with a boombox playing as a man and woman chatted and a second man played with the fire. Three pulses, quick as if to match the beat of the music.

Bee felt her fangs grow, the familiar pull of fresh blood pulling the nightmarish golden glow of her eyes from beneath her human mask.

But she waited.

The hunt was Luke's suggestion. He wanted a chase. She wasn't going to take before he made his move...

"We don't eat until he does."

But he very clearly didn't know much about predators.

You're not supposed to put your back to us.

As he ran, Bee swooped down, lips pulled into a feral grin as she reached, claws out, intentionally keeping herself hardly slower than the man by just a few inches. He looked back just long enough to see her and shriek before he tried to outrun her.

Fear of death was a great motivator.

But Bee was faster.

D'aaw. His tail is wagging.

A shy smile--stained with blood--pulled at her lips as she left the soon-to-be-corpse on the log, and scooted over to where Luke was eating. She gently placed a hand on his back and started to stroke.

"I'll have to hear him sing, sometime..."

Molly would love to know that.

At least her silly ramblings caught Luke's interest as well. She giggled as she stopped scratching him, setting her hand on the log besides her, since it was still slightly bloodied. And now had some fur stuck to it. A fair price to pay for getting to pet a werewolf.

Older was wiser, maybe. But also stronger. Perhaps more territorial. Or...

"You went against his rules."

She didn't need that again.

"Maybe some other time," she shook her head, and focused on Luke's answer to her question. Her smile grew brighter, relief fresh in her heart. More people who weren't going anywhere any time soon. Thank something. "I've never met a hunter who was particularly competent, but New York attracts all sorts. Maybe it's different out here. Not in a rush to find out."

She then leaned over to her own kill, and used a claw to rip the front of his shirt. Then skin, and muscle, until she was pulling the guy's quiet heart from his chest. No blood got on her--she'd already drained him dry. But she was curious.

"One what?"

And they'd succeeded before...?

What if one was--right now--?

She gripped the open, empty air in front of her chest, then at her shirt. Like she had been searching for something that wasn't there.

I couldn't feel it.

Of course I can't. I--

A little.

A decade still felt long in some ways; but she'd only been turned for nearly four. Someday that span of time would feel shorter and shorter.

"I met him there, too. An all-night arcade is kind of a godsend for how boring some nights can get," Bee giggled softly, "Hopefully I see you around sometime, too. Y'know. Beyond telling Oliver that we did not, in fact, eat each other."

"Maybe we can all go hunting together one of these days."

It wouldn't be like being with her clan.

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.

With the building blocks set down, Bee glanced upwards. They were far enough away and the sky dark enough. So she said, "Give me a moment," and, with a jump, pushed herself up into the sky. Her dark hair and clothes blended into the night sky, a shadow where the stars had been a moment ago, as she got a bird's eye view of the beach from here.

There were plenty of bonfires. Some nearer to others, some isolated. Some near the pier. Some away from the beach, only visible from the flicker of distant flames far in the distance.

If he wanted a chase, they'd want prey with more room to run before they risked alerting any other humans. So the beach wasn't ideal. Too many people. The pier was always quieter, but could still be reached from the boardwalk...so...

She dropped from the sky like she was hopping the last steps on a staircase. Easy.

He then watched as she observed the distance to no doubt see people they could hunt. Once she hopped down and informed him of what she had seen, he nodded. "Yeah. Go on and lead the way." He said and did a small playful bow.

She had hopped up into the air again, hovering like she were suspended on thread, but stopped before she could ascend further. Shiny stuff for a friend--

"I learned that sometimes legend shit is nonesense thanks to a werewolf I know."

Oh.

Oliver chuckled again. "I am sure you will see the one I mean around eventually. They are really cool to hang out with!"

Shit.

She doubled over in the air, somersaulting so she was, technically, on eye-level with Luke once more. "You're Oliver's friend?" She asked, just to confirm it. But the odds of that magpie having a different werewolf friend, and this werewolf having a different shiny-hoarding friend, felt pretty slim.

Mostly because of the werewolf thing.

That made it easier to guess.

She knew Oliver as well? How? Since when?

And then the fact hit him that Oliver had, in fact, recently told him about a new friend he had wanted to introduce him to. Suddenly he was very glad that he had not eaten her.

Bee spun all the way back to being right side up, and flew high enough to be out of sight, unless one was looking for a figure above. And who would be?

"Shake a leg!" She called, and soared ahead.

Flying in the city had been different. Weaving between buildings, past windows and glowing signs, over streets of people who would never look up and see them because they were too quick. Out here, there was more space to move, and darkness stretched out around her the higher she got. Bee missed the city, but...this was where she was, now.

It would have to be enough.

Maybe those races with Ollie's bird forms could involve a bonus wolf.

They were such silly thoughts. But finding time for such things had been her only way to get through the last few decades.

She came to a stop in the air, hovering over a thicket that lay on the edge of the firelight. The bonfire only had a few people around it--not much older than she appeared to be, with a boombox playing as a man and woman chatted and a second man played with the fire. Three pulses, quick as if to match the beat of the music.

Bee felt her fangs grow, the familiar pull of fresh blood pulling the nightmarish golden glow of her eyes from beneath her human mask.

But she waited.

The hunt was Luke's suggestion. He wanted a chase. She wasn't going to take before he made his move...

"We don't eat until he does."

But he very clearly didn't know much about predators.

You're not supposed to put your back to us.

As he ran, Bee swooped down, lips pulled into a feral grin as she reached, claws out, intentionally keeping herself hardly slower than the man by just a few inches. He looked back just long enough to see her and shriek before he tried to outrun her.

Fear of death was a great motivator.

But Bee was faster.

D'aaw. His tail is wagging.

A shy smile--stained with blood--pulled at her lips as she left the soon-to-be-corpse on the log, and scooted over to where Luke was eating. She gently placed a hand on his back and started to stroke.

"I'll have to hear him sing, sometime..."

Molly would love to know that.

At least her silly ramblings caught Luke's interest as well. She giggled as she stopped scratching him, setting her hand on the log besides her, since it was still slightly bloodied. And now had some fur stuck to it. A fair price to pay for getting to pet a werewolf.

Older was wiser, maybe. But also stronger. Perhaps more territorial. Or...

"You went against his rules."

She didn't need that again.

"Maybe some other time," she shook her head, and focused on Luke's answer to her question. Her smile grew brighter, relief fresh in her heart. More people who weren't going anywhere any time soon. Thank something. "I've never met a hunter who was particularly competent, but New York attracts all sorts. Maybe it's different out here. Not in a rush to find out."

She then leaned over to her own kill, and used a claw to rip the front of his shirt. Then skin, and muscle, until she was pulling the guy's quiet heart from his chest. No blood got on her--she'd already drained him dry. But she was curious.

"One what?"

And they'd succeeded before...?

What if one was--right now--?

She gripped the open, empty air in front of her chest, then at her shirt. Like she had been searching for something that wasn't there.

I couldn't feel it.

Of course I can't. I--

A little.

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.

With the building blocks set down, Bee glanced upwards. They were far enough away and the sky dark enough. So she said, "Give me a moment," and, with a jump, pushed herself up into the sky. Her dark hair and clothes blended into the night sky, a shadow where the stars had been a moment ago, as she got a bird's eye view of the beach from here.

There were plenty of bonfires. Some nearer to others, some isolated. Some near the pier. Some away from the beach, only visible from the flicker of distant flames far in the distance.

If he wanted a chase, they'd want prey with more room to run before they risked alerting any other humans. So the beach wasn't ideal. Too many people. The pier was always quieter, but could still be reached from the boardwalk...so...

She dropped from the sky like she was hopping the last steps on a staircase. Easy.

He then watched as she observed the distance to no doubt see people they could hunt. Once she hopped down and informed him of what she had seen, he nodded. "Yeah. Go on and lead the way." He said and did a small playful bow.

She had hopped up into the air again, hovering like she were suspended on thread, but stopped before she could ascend further. Shiny stuff for a friend--

"I learned that sometimes legend shit is nonesense thanks to a werewolf I know."

Oh.

Oliver chuckled again. "I am sure you will see the one I mean around eventually. They are really cool to hang out with!"

Shit.

She doubled over in the air, somersaulting so she was, technically, on eye-level with Luke once more. "You're Oliver's friend?" She asked, just to confirm it. But the odds of that magpie having a different werewolf friend, and this werewolf having a different shiny-hoarding friend, felt pretty slim.

Mostly because of the werewolf thing.

That made it easier to guess.

She knew Oliver as well? How? Since when?

And then the fact hit him that Oliver had, in fact, recently told him about a new friend he had wanted to introduce him to. Suddenly he was very glad that he had not eaten her.

Bee spun all the way back to being right side up, and flew high enough to be out of sight, unless one was looking for a figure above. And who would be?

"Shake a leg!" She called, and soared ahead.

Flying in the city had been different. Weaving between buildings, past windows and glowing signs, over streets of people who would never look up and see them because they were too quick. Out here, there was more space to move, and darkness stretched out around her the higher she got. Bee missed the city, but...this was where she was, now.

It would have to be enough.

Maybe those races with Ollie's bird forms could involve a bonus wolf.

They were such silly thoughts. But finding time for such things had been her only way to get through the last few decades.

She came to a stop in the air, hovering over a thicket that lay on the edge of the firelight. The bonfire only had a few people around it--not much older than she appeared to be, with a boombox playing as a man and woman chatted and a second man played with the fire. Three pulses, quick as if to match the beat of the music.

Bee felt her fangs grow, the familiar pull of fresh blood pulling the nightmarish golden glow of her eyes from beneath her human mask.

But she waited.

The hunt was Luke's suggestion. He wanted a chase. She wasn't going to take before he made his move...

"We don't eat until he does."

But he very clearly didn't know much about predators.

You're not supposed to put your back to us.

As he ran, Bee swooped down, lips pulled into a feral grin as she reached, claws out, intentionally keeping herself hardly slower than the man by just a few inches. He looked back just long enough to see her and shriek before he tried to outrun her.

Fear of death was a great motivator.

But Bee was faster.

D'aaw. His tail is wagging.

A shy smile--stained with blood--pulled at her lips as she left the soon-to-be-corpse on the log, and scooted over to where Luke was eating. She gently placed a hand on his back and started to stroke.

"I'll have to hear him sing, sometime..."

Molly would love to know that.

At least her silly ramblings caught Luke's interest as well. She giggled as she stopped scratching him, setting her hand on the log besides her, since it was still slightly bloodied. And now had some fur stuck to it. A fair price to pay for getting to pet a werewolf.

Older was wiser, maybe. But also stronger. Perhaps more territorial. Or...

"You went against his rules."

She didn't need that again.

"Maybe some other time," she shook her head, and focused on Luke's answer to her question. Her smile grew brighter, relief fresh in her heart. More people who weren't going anywhere any time soon. Thank something. "I've never met a hunter who was particularly competent, but New York attracts all sorts. Maybe it's different out here. Not in a rush to find out."

She then leaned over to her own kill, and used a claw to rip the front of his shirt. Then skin, and muscle, until she was pulling the guy's quiet heart from his chest. No blood got on her--she'd already drained him dry. But she was curious.

"One what?"

And they'd succeeded before...?

What if one was--right now--?

She gripped the open, empty air in front of her chest, then at her shirt. Like she had been searching for something that wasn't there.

I couldn't feel it.

Of course I can't. I--

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.

With the building blocks set down, Bee glanced upwards. They were far enough away and the sky dark enough. So she said, "Give me a moment," and, with a jump, pushed herself up into the sky. Her dark hair and clothes blended into the night sky, a shadow where the stars had been a moment ago, as she got a bird's eye view of the beach from here.

There were plenty of bonfires. Some nearer to others, some isolated. Some near the pier. Some away from the beach, only visible from the flicker of distant flames far in the distance.

If he wanted a chase, they'd want prey with more room to run before they risked alerting any other humans. So the beach wasn't ideal. Too many people. The pier was always quieter, but could still be reached from the boardwalk...so...

She dropped from the sky like she was hopping the last steps on a staircase. Easy.

He then watched as she observed the distance to no doubt see people they could hunt. Once she hopped down and informed him of what she had seen, he nodded. "Yeah. Go on and lead the way." He said and did a small playful bow.

She had hopped up into the air again, hovering like she were suspended on thread, but stopped before she could ascend further. Shiny stuff for a friend--

"I learned that sometimes legend shit is nonesense thanks to a werewolf I know."

Oh.

Oliver chuckled again. "I am sure you will see the one I mean around eventually. They are really cool to hang out with!"

Shit.

She doubled over in the air, somersaulting so she was, technically, on eye-level with Luke once more. "You're Oliver's friend?" She asked, just to confirm it. But the odds of that magpie having a different werewolf friend, and this werewolf having a different shiny-hoarding friend, felt pretty slim.

Mostly because of the werewolf thing.

That made it easier to guess.

She knew Oliver as well? How? Since when?

And then the fact hit him that Oliver had, in fact, recently told him about a new friend he had wanted to introduce him to. Suddenly he was very glad that he had not eaten her.

Bee spun all the way back to being right side up, and flew high enough to be out of sight, unless one was looking for a figure above. And who would be?

"Shake a leg!" She called, and soared ahead.

Flying in the city had been different. Weaving between buildings, past windows and glowing signs, over streets of people who would never look up and see them because they were too quick. Out here, there was more space to move, and darkness stretched out around her the higher she got. Bee missed the city, but...this was where she was, now.

It would have to be enough.

Maybe those races with Ollie's bird forms could involve a bonus wolf.

They were such silly thoughts. But finding time for such things had been her only way to get through the last few decades.

She came to a stop in the air, hovering over a thicket that lay on the edge of the firelight. The bonfire only had a few people around it--not much older than she appeared to be, with a boombox playing as a man and woman chatted and a second man played with the fire. Three pulses, quick as if to match the beat of the music.

Bee felt her fangs grow, the familiar pull of fresh blood pulling the nightmarish golden glow of her eyes from beneath her human mask.

But she waited.

The hunt was Luke's suggestion. He wanted a chase. She wasn't going to take before he made his move...

"We don't eat until he does."

But he very clearly didn't know much about predators.

You're not supposed to put your back to us.

As he ran, Bee swooped down, lips pulled into a feral grin as she reached, claws out, intentionally keeping herself hardly slower than the man by just a few inches. He looked back just long enough to see her and shriek before he tried to outrun her.

Fear of death was a great motivator.

But Bee was faster.

D'aaw. His tail is wagging.

A shy smile--stained with blood--pulled at her lips as she left the soon-to-be-corpse on the log, and scooted over to where Luke was eating. She gently placed a hand on his back and started to stroke.

"I'll have to hear him sing, sometime..."

Molly would love to know that.

At least her silly ramblings caught Luke's interest as well. She giggled as she stopped scratching him, setting her hand on the log besides her, since it was still slightly bloodied. And now had some fur stuck to it. A fair price to pay for getting to pet a werewolf.

Older was wiser, maybe. But also stronger. Perhaps more territorial. Or...

"You went against his rules."

She didn't need that again.

"Maybe some other time," she shook her head, and focused on Luke's answer to her question. Her smile grew brighter, relief fresh in her heart. More people who weren't going anywhere any time soon. Thank something. "I've never met a hunter who was particularly competent, but New York attracts all sorts. Maybe it's different out here. Not in a rush to find out."

She then leaned over to her own kill, and used a claw to rip the front of his shirt. Then skin, and muscle, until she was pulling the guy's quiet heart from his chest. No blood got on her--she'd already drained him dry. But she was curious.

"One what?"

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.

With the building blocks set down, Bee glanced upwards. They were far enough away and the sky dark enough. So she said, "Give me a moment," and, with a jump, pushed herself up into the sky. Her dark hair and clothes blended into the night sky, a shadow where the stars had been a moment ago, as she got a bird's eye view of the beach from here.

There were plenty of bonfires. Some nearer to others, some isolated. Some near the pier. Some away from the beach, only visible from the flicker of distant flames far in the distance.

If he wanted a chase, they'd want prey with more room to run before they risked alerting any other humans. So the beach wasn't ideal. Too many people. The pier was always quieter, but could still be reached from the boardwalk...so...

She dropped from the sky like she was hopping the last steps on a staircase. Easy.

He then watched as she observed the distance to no doubt see people they could hunt. Once she hopped down and informed him of what she had seen, he nodded. "Yeah. Go on and lead the way." He said and did a small playful bow.

She had hopped up into the air again, hovering like she were suspended on thread, but stopped before she could ascend further. Shiny stuff for a friend--

"I learned that sometimes legend shit is nonesense thanks to a werewolf I know."

Oh.

Oliver chuckled again. "I am sure you will see the one I mean around eventually. They are really cool to hang out with!"

Shit.

She doubled over in the air, somersaulting so she was, technically, on eye-level with Luke once more. "You're Oliver's friend?" She asked, just to confirm it. But the odds of that magpie having a different werewolf friend, and this werewolf having a different shiny-hoarding friend, felt pretty slim.

Mostly because of the werewolf thing.

That made it easier to guess.

She knew Oliver as well? How? Since when?

And then the fact hit him that Oliver had, in fact, recently told him about a new friend he had wanted to introduce him to. Suddenly he was very glad that he had not eaten her.

Bee spun all the way back to being right side up, and flew high enough to be out of sight, unless one was looking for a figure above. And who would be?

"Shake a leg!" She called, and soared ahead.

Flying in the city had been different. Weaving between buildings, past windows and glowing signs, over streets of people who would never look up and see them because they were too quick. Out here, there was more space to move, and darkness stretched out around her the higher she got. Bee missed the city, but...this was where she was, now.

It would have to be enough.

Maybe those races with Ollie's bird forms could involve a bonus wolf.

They were such silly thoughts. But finding time for such things had been her only way to get through the last few decades.

She came to a stop in the air, hovering over a thicket that lay on the edge of the firelight. The bonfire only had a few people around it--not much older than she appeared to be, with a boombox playing as a man and woman chatted and a second man played with the fire. Three pulses, quick as if to match the beat of the music.

Bee felt her fangs grow, the familiar pull of fresh blood pulling the nightmarish golden glow of her eyes from beneath her human mask.

But she waited.

The hunt was Luke's suggestion. He wanted a chase. She wasn't going to take before he made his move...

"We don't eat until he does."

But he very clearly didn't know much about predators.

You're not supposed to put your back to us.

As he ran, Bee swooped down, lips pulled into a feral grin as she reached, claws out, intentionally keeping herself hardly slower than the man by just a few inches. He looked back just long enough to see her and shriek before he tried to outrun her.

Fear of death was a great motivator.

But Bee was faster.

D'aaw. His tail is wagging.

A shy smile--stained with blood--pulled at her lips as she left the soon-to-be-corpse on the log, and scooted over to where Luke was eating. She gently placed a hand on his back and started to stroke.

"I'll have to hear him sing, sometime..."

Molly would love to know that.

At least her silly ramblings caught Luke's interest as well. She giggled as she stopped scratching him, setting her hand on the log besides her, since it was still slightly bloodied. And now had some fur stuck to it. A fair price to pay for getting to pet a werewolf.

Older was wiser, maybe. But also stronger. Perhaps more territorial. Or...

"You went against his rules."

She didn't need that again.

"Maybe some other time," she shook her head, and focused on Luke's answer to her question. Her smile grew brighter, relief fresh in her heart. More people who weren't going anywhere any time soon. Thank something. "I've never met a hunter who was particularly competent, but New York attracts all sorts. Maybe it's different out here. Not in a rush to find out."

She then leaned over to her own kill, and used a claw to rip the front of his shirt. Then skin, and muscle, until she was pulling the guy's quiet heart from his chest. No blood got on her--she'd already drained him dry. But she was curious.

Bee leaned against one of the boardwalk's lampposts, cigarette held loosely in her hand by her lips. She was scanning the crowd for any easy pickings. People already separate from the rest, that wouldn't be missed, who might grab a stranger's smile like rope and follow her somewhere else.

The problem with that was smiling. Bee was never the charismatic, "why don't we go somewhere alone?" type. That was Molly's method.

If she hadn't already gone off and found a meal tonight, the two of them could pick off a group. Together. Like they were supposed to.

But alas.

Crap.

He was actually coming over.

I guess the choice is made for me, huh?

Bee glanced away, hiding her mouth with an inhale on her cigarette and hoped that her brief surprise would be read as a moment of embarrassment. "Hi. Sorry, I shouldn't have been starin', that's rude."

He was around her height, so she didn't have to lift her gaze to find his again, offering a small smile on rum raisin painted lips.

"Though...guess you didn't mind too much?"

"I'm Bee. Like the," she lifted a finger and moved it around with a small buzzing sound, her smile appearing a little less shy, "I just got into the city a little bit ago. Don't really know much of anyone yet. But the boardwalk is so lively..."

Bee lowered her gaze, and murmured, "A little too lively for me, to be completely honest." She tapped her cigarette on the pole behind her, letting the ashes fall. "I feel a bit overwhelmed."

"That'd be great, Luke...thank you."

The walk itself was not long, but once they were at the place, it was like Luke had said. There were no loud noises and it was also currently empty of other people. which Luke thought was perfect right now.

It really was like he'd--

huh?

Bee stopped short, and Luke got a few steps further away before he turned his head towards her.

Her demure expression had slipped to one of confusion. Brows furrowed and lips scrunching up.

The fuck is that smell?

Is that his blood?

No it's just him. He smells weird. He smells like a--

"Dog."

Bee spoke, completely deadpan, the act immediately dropped.

And then he concentrated and sensed it. Bee was... not human. Now that they were alone and he was concentrated, it was a bit clear what she was. His own act dropped as well.

Out of all the people in this whole city, on that boardwalk, the one that had caught her eye was a werewolf.

Bee just...stared through Luke for a moment.

Then brought her hands up and covered her face, making a long, slightly whiny groan into her palms. Then she leaned forward, a muffled snort dissolving into manic sounding giggling.

"Are you kidding meeee?? I was just trying to find dinner and the first dude I catch is--"

Bee dragged in a breath and forced herself upright, and lowered her hands. A smile that balanced between sheepish and genuine amusement settled on her lips, her brows knitting almost apologetically.

Bee snickered at his totally normal assurance. His offer gave her pause, though, and she tilted her head to the side. Hunting with a werewolf, huh? It wasn't like there were rules for these things, but it was still a little strange to think about. She'd never tried it before. Though that list was getting longer the more supernatural folks she was meeting.

Luke wasn't the first werewolf she'd met, but back then she'd been...

Restricted.

If he could see this right now he'd be furious.

But he's gone.

So it didn't matter anymore. That settled it for her.