The Hell Pup

“Well, I don’t really know where the recipes come from but I follow them? Does that count for something?” Gabriel set the kid’s drink down on the table, allowing himself a moment to be pleased at the reaction his pastries had gotten. Perhaps it verged on prideful but he didn’t want to think about that in the moment. “I’ll pass the compliment onto the boss, maybe they’ll keep ‘em on the menu year round with such high praise.” 

It was yet another boring day. Well, peaceful would have been the correct word. However, Quinn liked boring more. Leaning against the far corner of the counter, his eyes slowly looked over the store. Clear Crystals had a few people in it today. Most were window shopping, others where repeatedly checking over some list on their phone, double or triple checking if they had everything right and likely in the right amounts. Keeping his hands busy, Quinn had been mixing a few of the overstocked products together in a small beaker. His hands  were both in action. holding an amethyst crystal in one either the other shaved a bit of the off.

morgan’s  eyebrows furrowed  at  the  male’s  words, her  head  slightly tilted  to  the  side.  “  well,  i  don’t  know  if  you  life  far  away  from  here,  but  you  walked a  considerable  distance if  you  eneded in  the  woods  ”  she  assured.  “  the  blood  over  you  makes  it  easier  to  believe  ”  she  assured. “  do  you  need  going  back  ?  ”  she  asked  gently.

Marshall paused instinctively at the sight of what he barely recognized as the warning of a powerful being before him. While he could barely remember the specifics, he knew the basics: Hellhounds were no oddity in Creation Peaks, and one wasn’t to be fucked with. It was a heartbeat of a moment, yet something anyone who’d ever witnessed it recognized. The Light Faye made sure to show his empty palms in silent sign of peace. 

“It’s fine… Can you walk? I can get us to the hospital,” he offered. “Or I can call you an ambulance.” The Light Faye doubted the stranger would need one if what Marshall had witnessed and his assumption were correct. But it was better be safe than sorry.

Quinn was no stranger to the supernatural world, even before the hellhound saved him that night. The son of a witch, and trained in what could in the most loose of terms and likely incorrectly be called 'alchemy', Quinn was always privy to the various supernatural creatures around town. While he knew not why the hellhound had reacted around this man, he knew if he didn't feel aggression, it had to be something it 'liked' rather that meant simply enjoyed or to....eat...well, that was something he didn't know. Hellhounds weren’t exactly something he studied after all.

"Yeah... yeah... its just.... I'm really sore. Don't remember what happened. But I'm fine, usually am after everything."

Although Arynn cocked an eyebrow in curiosity as the male trailed off thinking about his ‘legacy’, he didn’t comment on it or try to pry. Instead, he simply watched the male think for a moment and it wasn’t until Quinn lifted his arm to scratch the back of his head that Arynn spoke again. “Did you sleepwalk through a burning building? You’re like.. covered in soot, man.” He remarked and fidgeted himself a little closer to squint slightly at the ashy smear.

“Uh,” He began with a brief pause as his brain backtracked to the question he was asked. “Oh. I’m usually always wandering around town at random hours of the night. Sometimes I don’t crash until the early morning hours and I get too fidgety at home, so I go for a walk. The night air is kind of calming. I mean, sure, it’s gotten kind of dangerous around here lately, but that’s really been out in the woods and around the mines for the most part.” He explained lightly.

Quinn's mouth dropped open a bit at Arynn's question. His eyes drifting over to his still raised arm and seeing just enough to notice the soot. He quickly lowered it and tried to wipe it against the rather large shirt he had discovered on his way here. "No... no... not recently. Once is one times too many I'll tell ya that much." His mind flashed back to that night. Quick flashing images of the cabin aflame, running through rooms to find his brother, then, as he lay down injured with the flames so close they licked his skin, the fire twisting and forming into the shape of some large beast. Shaking his head made the images disappear like fanning away smoke with his hand.

Of course this also caused him to look back a bit. He had ran quite a distance away from the burnt area he had awoken in. Away from whatever those charred remains used to be. The hellhound had attacked something that night, something he didn't recognize before running off and grabbing from a clothesline he saw along the way. "You're not afraid of something happening to you? Apparently, terrible things have happened fairly recently around here."

Sticks his tongue out when he does any math.

Laughs when nervous, scared, sad, and during awkward moments.

Has never resented his siblings for all being witches while he’s human. However, he does feel inadequate because of it.

Has a hard time forming full sentences around crushes and laughs a ridiculous amount when they’re paying attention to him.

The spell that his sibling cast that went bad and nearly (read would have) killed him was a fire based spell.

Is or rather was deathly allergic to shellfish.

Will get one song stick in his head randomly and thus hum it. That song is the baby shark theme song.

Was (totally still is) a Swifter.

His idea of ‘comfort food’ is a banana and peanut butter sandwich with a sparkle of cinnamon.

Actually needed glasses before becoming possessed by a Hellhound.

Is an eternal fashion victim.

“I’m pretty sure it’s overrated. I try not to really let it get to me anymore.” Arynn shrugged his shoulders with a half-joking tone. He had mostly grown comfortable with who he was as a person over the years and he at least liked to think his awkwardness compared to other people didn’t bother him as badly or often these days. When Quinn turned down needing any sort of ‘official’ help, Arynn gave a few tiny nods.

“Uh, yeah, actually. Well, I was. My grandfather was on the force for years before he retired and passed away. I kind of spent most of my time around him growing up, so it’s kind of a legacy thing that keeps me an annoyance in the officers’ and sheriff’s lives.” He explained with a gentle chuckling. He knew there was part of the force that actually didn’t mind him - or else, he wouldn’t get away with as much as he often did.

"Legacy thing...." Quinn trailed off in thought. He understood a thing or to about 'legacy'. A human born into a mainly magical family. Then though he couldn't cast a spell or mix or a option or something. Quinn did his best to remember what properties certain plants, and ingredients have. How to mix and match them for the best non magical effects. A surprisingly good amount of them if mixed right worked just well for people like him. However, definitely wasn't comparable to what his siblings could do.

Raising his arm to scratch the back of his head, Quinn hadn't realized the large smear of soot that run across the underside of his upper arm as he did so. "So... what are you doing out this late? You know its dangerous during nights like this. Sleep walkers being the least of anyone concerns."

morgan  furrowed  her  eyebrows  at  his  words, she  could  smell  the  blood  not  to  mention  a  smell  of  smoke  that  seemed  to  come  from  him  even  if  was  just  too  strange  for  her,  she  couldn’t  see  any  fire  close  nor  could  see  any  sign  of  the  other  being  burned  or  anything.  “  what  happened ?  ”

What happened? a question he got a lot of recently. Especially around the time he first got his little hitch hiker. Not everyone agreed with the situation save his mother and his brother although, the latter was probably more out of guilt than anything. At this question, Quinn knew it was better to be honest. "Not sure, think I was.... sleeping walking. Though it's was definitely hot and copper smelling. Sore like you wouldn't believe." This made him wonder if whoever it went after, was it someone deserving, or a wolf that got a little too ‘alpha’ with it. They were the most common creature in the woods at this time after all.

Walking back towards town from the Nemeton hidden in the shadow of the mountain range, the Light Faye heard an odd noise in the distance. Deputy instincts kicked in as he slowly, and as quietly as he could, moved towards the panicked rustling. Reaching to his belt, the Light Faye pulled a flashlight to use once he made sure there were no threats. He would’ve gotten his gun too, but sadly, he was better off with his Faye magic than the human weapon.

“Creation Peaks’ Sherriff’s Department. I’m Deputy Wilson!” the Light Faye announced himself, seeing a single figure in the darkness of the woods, flicking on the flashlight. “You alright? Do you need medical attention?” he asked, hurrying to meet the younger man as the light allowed Marshall to notice the caked blood. “Shit…” he cursed to himself as he almost tripped over a root. “Here, take my coat.” He pulled off his coat, offering it to the poor stranger. 

As the faye approached, Quinn's eyes instinctively and for just a second, flared that bright mix of orange, red and yellow that made them look as though fire and spread throughout his irises. The heat came back to his body but seemed to move to the ground to his side causing some of the dead and small flora to instantly burn into ash. A small display of power from the creature within him. However, it hadn't taken over fully. Was it, reacting to something about this man? Quinn quickly closed his eyes when he felt them react though. "Ahhhh.... don't think so. I mean... I feel like I've been hit by a truck then backed up over a few times. However...." Quickly looking himself over as his breath slowed. "I don't have any injuries." No, no injuries, but he'd be feeling sore for the next day or so and likely, not hungry for a while.

"Ahhh... th.. thanks." Quinn reached out for the coat, not noticing the upper side of his forearm had a slight smear of soot on it.

it  only  took  morgan  a  couple  of  seconds  to  be  engaged  in  whatever  that  person  was  talking  about.  she  was  out,  patrolling  against  her  will,  as  always.  she  didn’t  even  know  why  she  was  asked  to  do  it,  probably  because  razor  knew  how  much  that  sounded  like  something  stupid  to  her.  but  his  words  …  he  sounded  annoyed,  even  scared.  she  walked  closer  to  the  sound,  she  couldn’t  see  anyone  around,  just  someone  leaning  against  a  tree  branch.

“  are  you  okay  ?  ”  she  asked  softly,  now  walking  closer  to  the  other.  “  are  you  hurt  ?  ”

“Quinn. That’s good. Hi. Nice to meet you, I’m Arynn. And I already said that.” The young man remarked with slightly pursed lips. “Uh, no. Nope. Can’t say that I’ve ever had that happen to me.” He commented, but gave a soft and lighthearted chuckle. “I love a good party, but I’ve never been one of the ‘cool kids’ that always took it too far and blacked out.” He stated. As Quinn moved to get up from the tree, Arynn had thankfully glanced to make sure his shoulder bag hadn’t gotten tired of waiting on him and grown legs to take itself home. By the time he looked back, Quinn was leaning back against the tree once more.

“Okay, lemme just…” He started and let out a small groan as he sat himself on the grass and let out a small breath. “Are you okay? Other than the not feeling well and the not knowing how you got here… like, are you hurt? You have… a little something right here…” He gestured to his own chin. “I’m pretty… alright friends with the Sheriff and one of the officers on the PD. I even got his personal number…?” He raised an eyebrow as he offered.

A part of him couldn’t help but think about what he knew now - the truth (just one of the many he didn’t even know he didn’t know) about the world around them. His thoughts drew his gaze skyward as he checked around for the possibility of a full moon. Werewolves could shift under full moons, couldn’t they? He hadn’t actually asked Betsa if that was possible - but come on, it had to be. Of course, that would only work if this kid was a werwolf. How would he know? It was a line of thinking - well a train wreck to be more accurate - that made sense for a blackout and waking up somewhere else feeling sore all over he supposed.

"ahh cool kids, never was quite one." Which was a true statement. Quinn's sister and older brother were popular back in school. Quinn was treated some degree of the same as they were simply for being their brother. That, and the fact that he was good looking with athletic ability even if he was more quiet, reserved, around people til he was used to them. Then he became ...well... quite a bit like this guy seemed to be. Probably why he got used to being called pup, even now within his twenties it was still his nickname to some.

"Oh ahhh..... no that's not needed." Quinn sent a mental picture of himself kicking what he assumed the thing within him looked liked. Not at all sure if it would receive his little image or not. Quinn was aware of those in the police, aware that not all of them were human. He was a mortal in a family of witches after all, he was introduced to the world of the supernatural since he could remember and he knew the thing within him had some kind of feeling towards wolves.

There was a thought though, wolves. His brown eyes looked the other guy over and for a moment, he wondered if he knew about wolves, and that's how someone so unassumingly normal seeming was so connected to the police. "Guessing you're related to some in the police or something then eh?"

After finishing her shift, Kalista decided to walk home instead of calling a cab; her car was still at the mechanic for a check-up and she didn’t wanted to spent the extra tips that she had just earned for a ride home. She glanced around her for a brief moment while taking the pack of cigarettes out of her jacket, pulling on out and merely used the tip of her finger to generate a tiny flame to lit the cigarette up. Kalista took a long drag before slowly blowing out some smoke when suddenly felt a presence not far from her, hot at first but then it cooled down which could mean another, one of her (other’s) kind. Glancing around her, she walked towards where she fel the source until seeing a figure, leaning against an old tree. “Hey, are you okay?”, she called out in a soft tone when she spotted him, noticing the way he was just dressed for a rather cold night. “You look a bit distraught there.”

Quinn hadn't been the first one of 'them' to react to the presence of this other person. His eyes instantly flared their fiery glow and while small, he could feel a flicker of flame forming around his fingers. However, before it could form actual flames, Quinn shook his hands, sending actual embers flying off of them like a burnt log that had just been poked and pushed to the side. "Stop it... you already ruined the night for me." He spoke in a low whisper. It seemed to work as the feeling like he was falling into somewhere dark faded but he could feel something, something that felt very familiar to him but that one he couldn't quite pin down. "I'm... okay. Just walking up in places I don't remember going to. Ahhh.... sleeping walking I suppose."

Raphael looked at the boy with both pity and disgust, seeing the two spirits mingling within the one body. He was being used like a parasitic host and he had to wonder if he even knew it, though with the weak resolve humans had if and when he found out he wouldn’t want to fix it. It would only mean his death and humans feared that more than most things, even the damnation of their souls. “You robbed poor wretch.” He was being robbed his peace, robbed of his chance to see the gates of heaven let alone enter through them.

"wha..." Was all Quinn managed to get out before his finger dug into the bark of the tree. A strength not his own allowing for him to push them into the bark just an inch or so. Within himself he could feel an odd, mixture of emotion. Both like he wanted to bare his teeth like an animal, and like he wanted to flee. The familiar pressure in his head and feeling like he was disappearing into a dark hole slowly crept over him. The stronger they got, the more the former emotion grew. However, as he fought against that even in his dizzy sore haze, the latter feeling became stronger. Did the hound want to fight? or was it afraid for Quinn and his frail humanity. His eyes squeezed shut as he fought to remain himself, letting out a slight groan as the strain of it before his body fell, backside first onto the ground. His eyes opening as he felt exhausted and more importantly, himself. “What..... are.... you?” It was the type of question that he would have simply thought but in his current state, he hadn’t even realized that he spoke it instead.

Patrolling had been quiet that night, Zara feeling restless and irritable. Her aunt out of town meant she was more limited in who she could vent to, and quiet nights were always a bad sign. Especially after Halloween. Because it meant whoever had caused that attack either had what they wanted, or was laying low and planning their next attack, and she was no closer to figuring any of it out.

Hearing a voice somewhere nearby though, Zara immediately ran in it’s direction, stopping and nearly tripping over a boy sitting by a tree. 

“What the hell are you doing out here by yourself?” She huffed, crouching in front of the guy. “Alright, what do you need? How can I help you?”

Looking up at her, Quinn pulled his body closer to itself as he registered she was there. "The world's most powerful Tylenol. and... probably a drink." It was the immediate answer to a question like that. Although in truth, he'd probably just need to rest and keep from moving to quickly for the next day or so. That thing taking him over and ...changing wasn't new, Hell, he had even 'awoken' when it had him covered in fire once or twice. But for some reason, it only seemed to be very very slightly easier on him recently.

“Wow, you are… really wiggin’ out…” Arynn remarked with much more concern in his tone and expression than before as the young man not only shouted with clear surprise and panic at his very presence there, but fidgeted in ways that - in many ways - Arynn was all too familiar with. “Hey, hey, hey…” He repeatedly softly to the man. Arynn’s brow creased for a moment as he could have swore he smelled smoke in the air, but it seemed too faint to be an actual fire nearby so he jumped to a different focus.

“Sleep walking? That sounds rough, especially if it leaves you feeling like that. I’ve never actually sleepwalked before, so I don’t know what that’d be like, but there are times when I just can’t sleep? It can make me feel pretty banged up too. Weird how the human body works, isn’t it?” He rambled in an attempt to calm to man.

“Um… you got a name? Pfft, I mean obviously you have a name, duh, that was stupid. I mean, what is your name? Mine’s Arynn - I’m from around here.” He carefully offered a hand to the stranger and glanced at his chin. Most of the blood had been cleared when the man wiped his mouth with his sleeve, but there were small splotches left behind. He didn’t want to panic the man any more than he already was, however, so he ignored them for now.

Quinn's body naturally tensed as the other man moved closer to him. Not out of fear of him, more, fear for him. Quinn wasn't completely aware of his body had returned to its normal temperature, or if the hound within him would snap back into control. It knew things that he didn't, even when he assumed it would be 'sleeping'; it somehow pulled him into that void where he knew nothing that was going on. What ever triggered it, the situation didn't end with a tea party or a civil exchange of ideological differences.

The man's rabbling caused him to squint his eyes at him a bit. He wasn't used to someone that rabbled so much save for himself anyway. Still, it at least gave him time to calm down his racing heart and breathing. The fog disappearing more as he begun to think more instead of reacting off what his body was feeling and his mental state was leading him to.

"Qu...Quinn. Well, technically it was Quinton but there was no way in hell I was going to live with that all my life so I changed it to just Quinn as soon as I could.” He truly did hate that name and had to hear it for months after on how it was the name of his mom's grandfather. "I take it, you haven't experienced any kind of 'waking up in places you don't know feeling like crap and with no memory of how you got there? Thought that was a common thing for younger guys these days." Pushing himself off of the tree, Quinn noticed a patch of bark fall off, charred black. Seeing it caused him to quickly put his back up against the tree again, unsure if he left it, his charred outline would be left on the tree itself.