Clear and cold

[rebirth]

No snow was falling today, and a thick layer of snow was layered over the the previous icy layer. Ran'Cris was running, a typical day on patrol, and in good conditions. The sky was a clear ocean blue, not a cloud in site and the moon hung in the early morning sky still. It was a beautiful day.

Ran flew through the frozen air, his breath coming out in steamy trails that twisted behind him as he kicked up fresh powdery snow. His objectives today were as they were every day, patrol the borders and confront any trespassers. He hadn't smelled anything all morning, hadn't come across a single trail other small game such as snow shoe rabbits and ice squirrels.

So perhaps to day would just be a relaxing day. He truly did enjoy running when the snow was like this. He felt as though he were a cloud sailing through clouds. He had always been fascinated with flight. He knew he never would, but he could still dream.

He bounded over a crevice, the wind whistling along his muzzle across his powerful shoulders and sleek back, felt how he imagined flight would. That would be the closest he ever got.

He was coming upon the edge of his territory now, and in the distance, the fur trees of the northern Zyabeth forest could be seen rising like dark stoic sentinels on the horizon. It was here that he enjoyed the most, the mix of the pine and the scent of snow was intoxicating, one of his favorites. A wolfy grin spread across his lupine face as he inhaled, something was off. There was some thing not right here. The grin slipped from his features like a pup on a frozen lake. He couldn't place the smell. A near snarl replaced the smile as he began tracking the scent.

[Aurora]

The assassin meandered her way, taking her time as she stalked her quarry across the frozen lands, occasionally taking to the sky. For now, she was making her way on foot across the frozen lands, her breath coming out in white clouds in front of her. She was dressed for the climate in clothing that was functional as well as practical.

Stopping once, she frowned, picking up another presence. Golden light shimmered from her back and her wings sprouted again as she stretched them before taking to the air once more, waiting and watching. She tapped into one of the abilities she had picked up, gathering the winds about her, she whipped up a miniature snow storm, sending the flurries every direction.

Her target would have to hunker down, make it easier for her to track in the end, but she wanted this new presence off her trail. It would foil the assassination and she had no intention of letting anyone in her way. She frowned a bit, her blue eyes glowing as the wind picked up and began dropping the temperature in the frozen lands rapidly, forcing anyone who was unaccustomed to this area to seek shelter and stop moving.

Blue eyes scanned her horizons, looking and waiting for signs of whoever was tracking her. "Come out, come out wherever you are," she breathed.

[rebirth]

The smell was growing decidedly stronger. He could feel he was growing closer to whatever had crossed the boundary. Occasionally he would find the trail would lighten and pick up a little ways ahead again. As though whatever he were following were leaping through the snow.

The manner of tracks appeared to be human, or some humanoid variant. He began to suspect a vampire to be the culprit. But they seldom traveled so far north through werewolf territory. This scent didn't smell indeed to him, it smelled warm, flesh and blood.

As he ran on, his Canine legs carrying him quickly through the snow a strange thing happened. From nothing there came a snow storm, it had been quiet. The wind non-existent then he ran into a wall of it. What was going on?

The wind raged, it was mild at best and didn't slow him in the least, but the temperature began dropping around him as well though. The wind and temperature combined was enough to slow him slightly, as he continued forward following the elusive scent the trail came to an abrupt end. He smelled it, it was close. Looking around he spotted a golden gleam in the air above him, he couldn't make out what it was but he tensed. He meant it no harm, whatever it was, but it wouldn't know that.

He let out a long drawn out howl that he knew would be heard for miles, conveying what he had discovered entering the territory.

[Aurora]

Aurora scowled, looking down at the werewolf with narrowed eyes. She resisted the urge to hiss, instead whipping up the winds so they were stronger and the snow became a wall and nothing could see anymore than a few scant inches in front of them. If she had to, she was prepared to kill the werewolf if he jeopardized her mission.

Turning back, she saw her target move to try and escape from the angelic and she dove, a flash of gold and black before grinning, the fangs that showed when an angelic prepared to bite. It was merely a matter of seconds before she bit him, her teeth sinking into his neck much like those of a vampire.

But her bite was worse, far worse. When she pulled away, she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, spitting out the blood into the snow. No angelic liked the taste of blood, so the natural instinct was to get rid of it in any way possible. It took a minute, but her target was soon dead and she removed what she needed for proof of the kill.

The winds did not bother her, they did not touch her at all, she thought as she took to the air again, this time circling high above the ground as she let them stop as suddenly as she had made them start. There was a bright red spot that was spreading out from her target, but she paid that no mind. The werewolf was what interested and worried her, seeing as he could still possibly jeopardize her mission.

[rebirth]

The smell of freshly spilled blood assaulted his senses, something had died. And not far from his position. As the snow picked up he could no longer see, he stood deathly still all remaining senses strained to hear, or smell what he could not see. The scent was still there, then as abruptly as the snow storm had begun, it ended giving him sight once more.

It wouldn't be long until other sentinels arrived. Looking above him he could see the figure flying more clearly now. Ran'Cris pulled a chord that was attatched to a satchel on his leg spilling out a pair of pants. Shivering he changed form, never taking his eyes from the creature flying above him he slipped on his pants. A naked werewolf never suited well for talking and made things quite awkward to say the least.

Looking to the sky he called out to her, "Greetings, I am sentinel Ran'Cris of the Frost-Fur Pack. You are trespassing on our territory, what is your business here? I mean you no harm if you mean no foul intent to myself or any of my brothers. And there is no use in lying a can smell it."

The smell of blood still echoed loudly inside his head, he didn't forget it, just put it aside. The other sentinels would find the source of the scent before closing in so it made little difference.

[Aurora]

Aurora arched an eyebrow, hovering a safe distance away. From her vantage point, she could indeed see that he was telling the truth, but the Assassin's Guild never really bothered with territories and the like, but for once she was grateful for her status.

"I am here on behalf of the Assassin's Guild. I am Aurora, Master Assassin of the Guild," she said, declaring her intent and her purpose as well as rank. It never hurt to state who she was and besides, she really just wanted to leave and go home. This chase had taken longer and gone across more borders than she'd cared for.

Of course, he would think she was lying, but since Angelics were vastly different from humans and she had no plans on touching back down or getting within leaping distance of the werewolf, she stayed where she was in the sky.

"If you wish to know anymore, then it is above your station and only your superiors can ask me, Sentinel Ran'Cris," she said.

[rebirth]

"I have no Desire to detain you master Assassin, simply give my our word that you will be on your way and I will be more than happy to escort you to the border. I know you to be telling the the truth, Our pack is fairly reclusive, even to werewolf standards. I know you are not hunting one of our number, and by the smell of it you have already acquired your target. I ran across the trails while patrolling the border. It came from outside our territory and all pack-mates are accounted for as of this morning. I understand you have a job to be doing, as do I. Now please allow me to finish mine."

He looked up at her anxious of her response, he knew her out of range for a leap. Though he was by far one of the most agile in his pack she still soared high above his reach. He waited patiently for her response.

[Aurora]

Aurora arched an eyebrow, eying him with more and more distaste. She really just wanted to be left alone and everyone knew that the Assassin's Guild only went after their targets and no one else. Even the foolish wolf should know better than to interfere with her on a mission.

Blue eyes narrowed and she kicked up a few winds again. "I would leave now, wolf. Even with as reclusive as you say you are, you should know better than to mix yourself in the affairs of the Guild and with a Master," she said, her voice dropping dangerously low in warning.

Her true personality was coming out for once, the level headed, seemingly dead persona that was her. Aurora was rarely phased by things, but the wolf was pulling on her last nerves.

[rebirth]

"I know of the guild assassin, and I warn you not to test me. Be gone and be about your business."

The chill air seemed to drop a couple degrees as tension built. The angelic was testing his patients. Master Assassin or no, he had brought down Chimeras and was not afraid of an Angelic. He stood his ground.

"The nearest exit of our territory lies toward the tree line, and if you must travel through to get to your destination then I beg you do hurry, our patients are not endless when it comes to arrogant assassins, be gone."