BAD MOON RISING

Dylan doesn’t mean to, but she laughs. A soft, low sounding thing (not unlike a snort) before her face scrunched up in disbelief. “You almost killed your brother-in-law?” A moment later her shoulders lift as well, matching the others shrug with one of her own. “Do people go out of town a lot here?” she questions next. But it sounds a hell of a lot like is it safe to leave? In her dreams the hunters who had chased her to Hollow Grove were waiting for her just on the outskirts. Offering a wincing smile in an attempt to comfort those who flashed them concerned looks, Dylan knelt down as well. “Maybe the faster you dig it up the less likely people will stare.”

“I almost killed my brother-in-law.” Daralis repeated as confirmation with a slight chuckle. “Back in the day, though. I’m a changed woman. And luckily for me, he doesn’t hold grudges so it’s not awkward at family dinners.” She mused. As the Original shifted more dirt over, she shook her head. “Not as much as they used to.” She answered somberly. Given the recent events in the last year, the human world was more relentless making it that much more unsafe out there. “I leave with my team often enough. Some supernaturals leave given their restlessness for staying in one place too long but it’s a gamble with everything going on.” Lips tugged into a half smile at the girl’s suggestion, “Perhaps. But then again, I still stand by the fact they live in a town where crazier things have happened.” Eyeing the blonde slightly as she took a moment away from digging, “You must be new.” She commented, “So, how long have you been in town?” 

“That or I’m psychotic, take your pick.” Avery joked darkly. She didn’t want to admit she had a skewed moral compass, that she’d been raised to believe it was more noble to kill a man up close that it was to shoot him from far away, that if you were going to take a life or inflict pain you needed to face what you had done. Avery watched curiously as the Original picked up the can, and couldn’t help but smirk that came as she placed it on her head. “If you get shot in the face, that’s on you.” The witch said as she picked up the gun, hating how comfortable it felt in her hand. Facing the Original she raised the gun, her hands perfectly steady despite the alcohol; taking a deep breath, no smirk remaining as she squeezed the trigger. In less time than she could comprehend, the sound of the bullet going off was followed by the sound of it hitting the aluminium can off the other woman’s head. 

A chuckle escaped her lips before shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, “What is sanity, really? I mean, having your shit together, pretending everything’s fine and doing normal things 24/7? Overrated.” The Original deadpanned. If it was anything Daralis valued, it was skill. Warrior blood ran through the course of her ancient veins and for that reason, she is drawn to people who had an affinity for deadly things. Anyone could talk a talk but the real deals could perform without hesitation. And for that reason as she stood with a can on her head to put her faith into a stranger, “Fair enough.” She agreed. Watching the brunette take her stance, Dara’s gaze is unwavering and by the time she pulls the trigger, the sound of the gun going off caused her to blink but Daralis did not move from place. Only until the can was off her head, she turned to look back at it before looking forward. “Now you’ve got me curious on how you are sober. And at least you know you’re still good.” She mused, “I’m Daralis Greyson, by the way. And you are?” 

“I don’t think it’s ever interesting, regardless of whether I deserved it.” She replied. It was different for her she supposed, she was essentially human, she healed like a human. “There is something sickly satisfying about resetting bones though.” The witch conceded. “It works, at least in my experience, and you’re not wrong, there are plenty of more fun things.” Glancing at the gun, she shrugged; she had kept it on her recently, but it had been years since she’d fired it. “I’m out of practice, but I was good.” Avery replied. “Knives were always my preference though.” 

Her responses are fair -- flesh wounds were always a pain in the ass before she was able to heal. But then again, breaking two hundred and six adult bones to fit inside that of a wolf for a thousand years put discomfort into perspective. “There’s intimacy in knife work. You must be bold.” Choice of weapons always said something -- the woman had to be confident and willing enough to getting close enough to an assailant or have one Hell of an aim. Glancing over to see an empty soda can laying on the ground, Daralis put a good distance between them before balancing it on her head. Eyes flickering to the gun, “Prove it.” As the saying went, curiosity killed the cat but luckily for the Original, she wasn’t one. There was something about the other woman that piked her interest even if it meant potentially getting shot. 

     Booze. Right. Because burying booze made sense. Granted the ground had been so hard in Alaska that burying anything was nearly impossible, but still. “Right,” Dylan said slowly, as if she were working through what that really meant. “What’s the present for? Just cause’, or?” Idly conversation wasn’t her strong suit, especially not in a new town with new people after spending a year on the run. It probably looked and sounded painful, something Dylan was increasingly aware of because people seemed to be throwing them odd looks. “Do you do this a lot? ‘Cause it doesn’t look like many of these people have seen someone digging up Town Square before.”

Daralis was well aware what she was doing was eyebrow raising but the opinion of other people bothered her none. What she was thankful for was the stranger offering to be her lookout plus she never minded company. “My sister’s getting married soon. So it’s an ah -- congratulations, you two lovebirds made it and that I’m super glad I didn’t kill my to be brother in law back in the day present.” She commented before raising her head to see a few people still staring. Shrugging casually, “Like every few years or so when I know something’s getting ripe. I couldn’t wait till night because I’ve got business out of town.” She explained before raising her voice in hopes the bystanders would get her point although the smile indicated she was just kidding. “Well, they didn’t get the memo that it cost zero dollars to mind their own business.” 

Luna should’ve turned back the moment she saw the original roaming the grounds with a metal detector in hand. But it was one of those sights that you just couldn’t look away from, either. It would’ve been like catching Sophia with her ear against a safe, or watching Nate jazzercise, or seeing Elena do…well, anything. Sometimes you just saw something and had to know why. So she moved closer, eyes scanning the area to see who might be around Town Square in broad daylight. Which could be literally anyone, including the police. Which, in turn, also made Luna wonder why Dara hadn’t done this at night. “Is this something I want to be an accomplice to?”

Over two years ago when she returned home from overseas, Daralis remembered having the itch to uncover what was rightfully hers. One of the many underground hidden treasures she planted decades ago. Albeit, it probably looked strange as Hell but today was the day she waited for. So as her blue eyes fell on her younger pack mate, her lips tugged. “You have my word it’s not like dead body.” She promised. “Come on, think of it as an adventure, Shaw.” As she put her foot on the step of the long shovel, she pressed into the earth before shifting it over. “Or in the very least, take comfort in the fact that I am very smooth talker. And that if need be -- I’m excellent at breaking out of jail.” Dara quipped although the probability of it going that far was more than unlikely but anything to persuade the other werewolf.  “When we find it, I’ll share it with you.” 

At first it had terrified him, the truth that he would live far longer than most people. Most humans. His friends from college. His family. And, maybe, there’s a small part of him that still fears that moment — outliving his loved ones. But Ryan knows he cannot be afraid of something he knows will inevitably happen. “I know, I know. Dunno what I’m lookin’ to do first, but. The list is growing. If you’ve got any suggestions, though, I’d be more than up for listin’.”

Ryan beams next, a lopsided smile that takes up the entirety of his face, curving across his lips and leaking into his eyes. “I like that channel. Lotsa neat little things to pick up for when you get a house and a yard and stuff.” Ryan reached for the shovel and then glanced briefly to the tree. “The Yoshino,” he repeated, committing the tree and its characteristics to memory.

“Yeah,” Ryan sighs, kneeling to help uncover the earth. “Yeah I dunno what I would’ve done if she…” the sentence dies in his throat and he shakes his head to clear the sudden fear. “Yeah it was… wild. Though I dunno. Feel like my normal life was over the moment I got bit. So now nothin’ is gonna be normal again.” Though, really, he wonders what life really has in store for him. He hasn’t lived for nearly as long as Dara, hasn’t seen the things she’s seen — it must be heavy. And Ryan’s not sure he could shoulder it like her. Like any of them. “It’ll be hard,” he starts slowly after a moment, eyes fixated on the dirt he was digging up with his hands. “I think if you keep tryin’, though. Never give up? I think it’ll work itself out.” He shrugs, sits back on his heels and offers a small smile. “Takes time and all that. And we’ve got a lot of it.”

The length of her immortality had been daunting to her. But Dara swore, she had lived and had seen what life had to offer. The world, no matter how dark it could be, was one of a kind. And for that reason with consideration, she answered him. “I have a vineyard in the Chianti region of Tuscany. The sunsets there are gorgeous. I think you’d like it there.” The blonde said before adding, “Other places worth visiting, Angkor Wat, a temple in Cambodia. In my home country Tromø, Norway’s Northern Lights can take your breath away. I’ve always enjoyed catching waves in Australia.” She missed surfing but recalling how much Spencer loved art, “But I think you’d really enjoy the Louvre. Going to Paris, you’ll definitely understand why it’s called the City of Light.” 

“It’s good to be domesticated. And to plan for the future. You planning on buying a house soon?” She asked as they shifted dirt before pausing to check the depth. Realizing they were deep enough, Dara nodded to him to say it was the right time to place the Yoshino in as she moved to grab the fertilizer. Nevertheless as blue eyes flickered over to watch him speak, her lips tugged. “She’s your world.” She hummed. Anyone with eyes could see that Ryan loved his girl with every fiber of his being. “I know sometimes things in life don’t make sense. But for you two to find each other here -- that’s something wonderful.” The Original pointed out, “Just because you can’t have that life doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of this one, Ry.” When it came to her brother, after a deep sigh, she nodded. “I hope so. I hope he stays and I hope he comes to the wedding. We made a mistake but he’s apart of our family.” 

It had been years since Noah had been in Hollow Grove, and even longer since he had been there with any intention that he’d be there for more than a couple of weeks. The thought of settling down in once place had never really appealed to him, and it still didn’t if he was being honest. Wandering through the town square, he couldn’t help but noticed all that had changed since the last time he’d been there, when he spotted a familiar head of blonde hair. He’d only arrived the night before, hadn’t even seen his siblings, yet it seemed oddly fitting that he would run into a Greyson before them. “I didn’t know we could get in trouble for defacing our own town.” He said, purposely not taking either option. “What are you looking for exactly?” He asked, unable to stop himself. 

As true immortals, Daralis had always found them to be insatiable creatures. Always hungry and never the ones to be happily confined to a section of the world when they had seen it all. But given Hollow Grove’s affairs, one by one each of the Original nine began to return. Glancing upward to see the last of the Blackwells and final Original, the slight unexpectedness caused her to stop digging to study the man before shrugging, “Tscha! Sometimes I like to be held to the same standards of the law as our fellow citizens. Keeps a girl humble.” She commented. If it was anything her fake brother plot taught her it was that even Originals had to be held accountable. Nevertheless, digging a whole in Town Square was definitely in a different ball park than being apart of the Clave and obliterating a town. Clicking the roof of her mouth, “That and imagine the look on some rookie cop’s face when they realize I am not the woman you want to stand in the way of her booze.” With a slight dip of her head as a formal greeting, “It’s been awhile, Noah.” 

“What can I say, Greyson,” he began, raising an eyebrow. “You originals sure know how to attract the fun things. I mean, it’s not an event unless someone gets blown up, right?” the man replied with a chuckle. “Besides, who says you’re the most interesting thing today? I can think of several more interesting things waiting for me by far then you digging a hole.”

Her cerulean hues flashed yellow for a second before raising her head to glare at the vampire coldly, “You know, I’d like to think you wouldn’t be as pretty with your tongue cut out, Adler. And I assume you don’t want to prove me right and I’m in no mood to get blood on this shirt. So by all means, you shouldn’t keep them waiting.” 

“Not all heroes wear capes.” Amelia spoke, merely shrugging at the Original’s question as she watched the other dig a hole. She was sure that many people had already spotted her doing so, yet, who was stupid and reckless enough to go and tell about that to the police? No matter what the other did, arresting someone who established this town would simply be unheard of. “I am.“ She didn’t want to remind her that she was technically employed by the city and the council. It would have been absolutely senseless to do so. Instead, Amelia listened to Daralis as she explained the story, a small smile appearing on her face. “Is that what you’re hoping for now? Find another bottle of Sangiovese?”

Kitty gave a little giggle. “Physical strength, in this case,” she said. She didn’t really condone violence, but she guessed that the woman had needed to defend herself more often than not. She laughed as the woman spoke. “I think this,” she said. “Since people haven’t stopped staring since you started digging.”

Her head rose to view the few people who were in fact staring at them as Daralis sighed. “They act like we don’t live in a supernatural town where anything can happen. Hell, Elvis himself came to our Monster Bash! Us digging a hole kind of pales in comparison.” 

      Even Rose, though centuries younger than the Original, was old enough to share a similar view of the world. She did what she could to shift the everyday into something intriguing when boredom struck, though this time she didn’t need to search to find something exciting. It had been offered up on a silver platter. “A pleasure,” she nodded, and plunger her shovel into the dirt to fully commit to her decision. “Rosaline, but Rose works just fine.” She flung the shovel full of dirt to the side, before adding, “Do you happen to know how deep it’s buried, whatever it is we’re after?”

As the woman offered her name, Daralis dipped her head in acknowledgement, “Likewise, Rose.” The help being much appreciated as the questioned was asked, the blonde wracked her brain. “I want to say a few more feet? Albeit, it depends on whether or not I was drunk at the time.” Recalling it was probably ten years ago, coming home to Hollow Grove in happier times meant a celebration so perhaps they didn’t have too far to go. “I’m hoping it’s my booze.” Dara said before figuring to elaborate, “Long story short -- the underground remains fifty-five degrees in winter and summer for the most part. And red wine is ideally kept in that degree. At home, we have a wine cellar but after it got trashed one night and costed us twenty thousand dollars in wine, I said I’ll keep my good stuff where no one could find it. So, the ground it was.” 

“I never understood the point of a time capsule,” Caleb shrugged, leaning back against the bench and crossing his legs at the ankles as he watched her dig up the ground. “So you’re really going to do that with your bare hands?”

“I’d like to think there’s some appeal in waiting for something. Especially if you have nothing but time.” Dara returned, “I’m not the type of person to care if I get my hands dirty.” Figuring it was her time to ask him a question, “So stranger, what’s your name?” 

Still exploring the town, Amala kept walking until she discovered places she hadn’t seen the day prior. She was there now for a week and a half and still she found places new to the eye. For today however, she wanted to take another look at the shops around town square.  There wasn’t much going on except for a woman walking up and down the area, a metal detector in her hand. Her curiosity got the best of her, taking slow strides towards the woman who suddenly began addressing her. “It’s kind of clever what you’re doing.” She stated instead of giving a response to the options given to her. “People drop a lot of things here. Surely it’s not illegal though? Isn’t it a public place?” Why were people allowed to do it on beaches and not on a town square? She studied a lot of things, even law back in the day but rules and laws changed, she wouldn’t even know what the rules was about what the woman was doing. “I’ll be your lookout though. If that’s okay.” 

“You don’t want to play operation on yourself? What’s wrong with you?” She asked sarcastically, a small smirk on her lips. “‘No point being able to throw a knife if you can’t do it disorientated; and getting drunk is more fun then getting hit in the head.’” Avery replied, quoting the man who had taught her how to throw knives. Despite all the training she had had when she was with the Clave, she had always enjoyed knives the best, whether it be actual ones, or the ones she created with her magic.