The Breath of Death {Open}

[Gwen Corvin]

Finally a pay off, a fucking job! It'd been too long, too many idle hours, burning my heels with nothing to do, nothing to hunt. The best ways to spot a job were to watch the news, read the papers, surf the web. Small towns plagued with mysterious illness? Unsolved disappearances in a rural neighborhood? Generally the work of rogue vamps. Throw in a couple maulings, missing pets, and you've got yourself a werewolf. The dogs tend to put up more of a fight. Personally, I think it's because the vamps have the whole immortality complex. Take it from me, immortality doesn't mean you can't be killed, it just takes a lot longer before your number is up. The dogs can die, so can the vamps. Everything dies. Eventually.

I left a message for Alyssa, pointing her to Canticle, where it looked like some lycan action was going down. If she wanted in on the hunt, she was by all means welcome. Aside from Michael, my pops, she was really the only one who knew what it was like to be different from all the rest. To be a hybrid.

I packed light, shoving a couple Desert Eagles in a duffle, blood packs, silver shot ammo, (including silver nitrate bullets and a few ultra violet consentrated bombs). You never know just what will show up during a hunt. Better to be prepared. Discharge throwing stars, for minimal muss and maximal mess. Holsters, silver blades, a .357 Mag, 2 9mms, silencers, a 44 semi-automatic, and ammo, ammo, ammo. Ok, so packing light for me still means I'm armed to the teeth. I shoved in my wallet, a pair of dockers, socks, and a tank top on top of the mini armory. Stoping into a pair of combat boots and securing the laces, I grabbed my keys, hopped in the Hummer and put the petal to the metal.

I hit Canticle just before dark. The first night of the Full Moon and I could feel a tingle in the air. There'd be something going down tonight, I could almost smell it. I parked the Hummer near a cliff outlooking the seascape. It was cold out, a chill wind coming in off the Pacific, but I wasn't bothered in the least. Damn good thing, since I didn't have a jacket. Why bother when the extremes of heat & cold meant jack shit to me? Some things in like are kind. I pulled on my thigh holsters, securing the hip holsters in place over them. Desert Eagles at the hip, 9mms on my thighs, both fully loaded. Extra clips and ammo in the back, specialty holsters thanks to Selene. Throwing stars, sheaths on both arms with silver blades, and more blades shoved into my boots. I stomped back on my right heel and a silver blade shot out of the toe of my boot. A twist and tap retracted the blade. Nice.

I took off at a brisk walk, ignoring the smell of fish as best I could for something more like wet dog. They weren't hanging out too close to port, they liked it better inland, away from the docks & deeper into the woods. Works for me. The trail got stronger the deeper in, more than 5, maybe 7, no less than 6. Good odds, good for a fight. I kept my nose sharp as the treeline thickened, catching traces of molt. They'd shifted already, their den was up ahead. I pulled out an Eagle and opened my senses to the night, eyes bleeding to black. Here we go.

[Alyssa Corvin]

It's different being a hybrid. I used to be a werewolf under Lucian's command, trying to track down my fathers killer. The war was happening, little did I know that Lucian was the reason my father was dead, dust, gone. Gwen, my cousin, ended up saving my life after I was shot, fate it seemed, wanted to join the rest of the family up, so I allowed Gwen to changed me into a full hybrid, and from then, life was never the same again. I yawned, hugging my pillow tightly as I tried sleeping, nerves jumped and frayed and it wasn't hard to tell why. It had been eerily quiet, too quiet, and I wondered what our enemies were up to. As a hybrid you had more enemies but then again, you could fight them better and have a better chance of survival. And right now, I was all about survival.

A bang shuttered through the cottage, and standing up, I was baring my fangs at the door, a snarl ripped through my throat like paper. Then I relaxed as I heard what it was, just a window shutter that wasn't closed properly. Reaching over with lightening fast reflexes, I pulled my phone, studying the message light that blinked. Pressing the 'okay' button, I heard the message, and a grin tore upwards upon my face. It wouldn't take me too long to reach Canticle from here, I'd been traveling around, looking for more of Lucian's dogs to kill. "Alright, hunting." Pulling open my closet, I grabbed leather pants, and a jacket, boots with a sharpened knife hidden in, a tee shirt that would fit snuggly so nothing would catch. Fingerless gloves, a pair of sunglasses, and I was done with my outfit. It was time for the weaponry. Pushing a button, the back of the closet opened up into a small armory. Silver tipped bullets, UV dipped bullets, pistols, knives, swords, machine guns, shot guns. Grabbing two specially modified pistols, I set them upon my thighs, easy reach for quick draw. A sword upon my back, a special clip case for extra ammo and I was all done. Swirling around, feeling everything in place, I was ready to go.

Jumping swiftly out the window, I went to my pride and joy. A black and red modified motorcycle, equipped with anything I needed to fight those mongrels I detested. Silver nitrate spinning blades at one press of a button was my favorite and I was itching to test it out. Placing myself onto the bike, I kicked it into gear, hearing it roar to life before settling to an idle purr. I began to drive, slowly, before once outside onto the road, I floored it. And boy was this baby fast! If any cops saw me I'd get a ticket for sure. And yes, if you've gotten this far with realizing one detail, I wasn't wearing a helmet. Being a hybrid meant if I fell and smashed something, I would heal. Hopefully my brain and head wouldn't get too damaged either. Otherwise, bye bye Alyssa.

It was nearing night as I came to a stop in Canticle, the air was different, not what I was used to. Killing the engine and sniffing the air, I let my senses take over, becoming more heightened as I looked ahead. Gwen went that way, I knew it. She was the only hybrid smell apart from Michael and I, and since he was not here, and I hadn't gone that way, meant Gwen was. Taking off at a run, I was much faster than I used to be, soaring through the night as if I wasn't even touching the ground. Slowly, I came to a halt. "Gwen." I whisper, voice soft. I didn't want to startle her, but chances where, she knew I was already there. The woods was where I felt safer, it was strange I know. Up ahead was our prey, I just hoped, no, no hoping. I knew we could win. There was no fear of losing anymore. That was the old me. Not the hybrid me.

[Gwen Corvin]

I caught Alyssa's scent, a thrill running through me. "Alright, Lyss!" I whispered back to her, slapping her a high five. I clicked the safety off the Eagle and pointed toward the den. "Got about 6 dogs, give or take 1 or 2. Their trail seems to head deeper into the woods, then circle around to hit the town from the other side." A howl crested the air, 4 other's joining in the chorus. "Game time!" I grinned to Alyssa and moved forward. There wasn't shit in the cave, the den was empty. I jumped on top of it, and crouched there, listening, watching. Movement a quarter mile away, coming closer. I stood, tucked my thumb and forefinger into my mouth and whistled. "Well, they heard that! Incoming!"

I sighted the gun and got off two shots, nailing one of the dogs that raced this way. He jerked, whined, and collapsed, the silver nitrate eating through his system. I planted my right foot behind me and kicked off, somersaulting back to the forest floor. Two of the remaining wolves had split, running their usual route in search of prey. That's fine, we still had two coming for us. I itched to take off after the others, and knew Alyssa could handle herself, but I wasn't leaving her. I holstered the Eagle and beckoned one of the wolves. I made kissy faces, wiggling my fingers. "Come 'ere. Come get it." He snarled, hunched down with his rear in the air and charged me. I caught him mid-leap and used his own momentum to throw him to the ground. He rolled over and stood, shaking his fur, growling at me.

I tapped the heel of my right boot, the silver knife springing forth at the toe. As the wolf charged me again I ducked low, slid and threw my foot up. The knife caught him in the belly and sliced clear through and down as he sailed over me. He landed limp, entrails spilling out even as they disintegrated. "Killer." I tapped my boot again, the blade retracting. I sailed past Alyssa, following the trail the other's left. It was heavily scented, meaning they took the same route night after night. Dumb, dumb dogs.

Alyssa was right along side me, having dispatched the last dog effortlessly. The wind changed directions, sending our scents straight to the dogs ahead. Another chorus of howls rent the night, and I knew they were on to us. Their paths changed, they spread out, the smell of dog coming at us from all directions. "Fuck." Alyssa'd smelled them too, I could tell from the look on her face. I pulled both Eagles, gesturing with one for her to take the west flank while I took the east. "If I get into trouble, grab your bike and come get me." I grinned, spun on my heels and ran east, angling so that I was also headed slightly north. The dogs had spread out, trying to corner us, thinking this was their territory. Well, I had news for them, in the form of silver nitrate. Wherever I was, it was MY territory.

[Alyssa Corvin]

"Alright, lets do it!" I grinned, already my mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth, the howl didn't scare me, it egged me on. Gwen whistled, and all I did was smirk, knowing they would come, and they would die. The second one ran towards me, sailing over a fallen log, claws outstretched. Pulling my sword effortlessly from my back, and swinging upwards, I sliced off a leg, hearing his agonizing howl shatter the air. I could smell the blood, smell his death coming to claim, but just to make sure, I stabbed into his neck, slicing his neck from his body, head rolled and tongue poked out. Having no pity for these creatures, I wiped the blood on the grass and re-holstered my sword. "You got it!" I called back to Gwen, taking off at a run, heading west. Gwen was going east, and I knew she could take care of herself. She had been doing this longer than I.

Muscles burned as feet hit the ground, heart beat rapidly yet this did nothing to slow me down. Pulling the two pistols from my hips, I angled them, staring down the sight before one came into full view. He snarled, I grinned, before pulling the trigger five times in quick succession. The dog went down, and I saw the glint of a violin in the moonlight. "Oh shit." We had trouble, someone was near and if those dogs got her, I wouldn't feel to happy. Taking a deep breathe, and making sure no dogs were around, I moved closer, sniffing the air. "Another shifter, but what?" I soon found what I was looking for, a female with pink hair, and wearing old victorian outfit, hand clasped around the bow for her violin. "Who are you?" A male's voice snapped, jumping down from the treetops to shield the girl, who I recognized as Emilie Autumn. "Alyssa Corvin, you?" I snapped back, feeling ready to shoot at a moments hesitation. "Your a dog." I spit, yet he didn't flinch at my words. "Yes. I'm Mick Loup Garou." He glanced down at Emilie who had been hurt. "She wandered into the forest, I heard she was meeting her mate here." He glanced back up at me and I lowered my weapons, feeling slightly foolish for doing so, but had no choice.

"You stalking her?" I growl, anger flowed through my body, but abated when he shook his head. "I came to see her play, I was going to get tickets for me and my mate Arwen. But when I heard the fight, and gunshots, I followed the scents." My head reeled, and I didn't know what to make of all this. So with all the force I could muster, I cried out to Gwen, telling her I had news and she better get her hybrid ass over here. I didn't know what to do or what to expect. Seeing Mick pull something from his pocket, what looked like cream, he smeared some on Emilie's wounds. "What-" I never got the chance to finish as another dog flew at me, pinning me to the ground. My guns flew from my grip, but Mick was on in a flash, grabbing the dog with both hands and snapping its neck with a clean break. "You kill your own kind?" I was snippy because he saved me when I didn't want it. "There is a difference between good werewolves, and bad. That pack was the one that ambushed Emilie, I just hope her mate is fine." I saw the worry and scoffed, standing back up to wait for Gwen, while picking up my weapons. No other dogs were going to get me like that again!

[Gwen Corvin]

I started pumping shots into the dogs that I saw, pelting them with silver nitrate bullets that shattered in impact, the nitrate bleeding into their systems. I was all gun-ho, tracking these beasts, until I heard Alyssa. "God damn it!" I shoved the guns into their holsters and ran back toward Alyssa. She'd gone west, so I poured on the speed, in case she'd gotten herself into a mess. I spied her with two others, one of whom was a dog. "Why the fuck does it smell like cheetah too?" I asked as I came up beside Alyssa. "HOLY SHIT! You're Emilie Autumn!" I pointed to the girl on the ground. The man leaned up, and in seconds I had a Desert Eagle pointed at his brow. "Get the fuck away from her dog!"

Apparently he was a good guy, but he was still a lycan. I holstered the weapon, none too happy about it. "What the hell is going on? You responsible for all the news?" I nodded at the wolf. Ok, so we had two packs, or rather one pack terrorizing the town, and Mick was just a straggler, come to see Emilie and get tickets. "Uh huh." I wasn't buying it. I'd met too many damn dogs, and not one of them was even remotely civilized.

I knelt by Emilie, checking her wound. It seemed whatever Mick had slathered on there was working, she was already healing. "So you're like, a werecheetah? Wicked." I made a mental note that it wouldn't just be dogs and rogue vamps I was hunting. There may be other weres out there that needed to be put down. "Emilie said her mate was near, and sure as shit, a fucking panther came bounding through the trees. It stalked right over to Emilie and began licking her. "Jesus, cheetahs, panthers, a 'good' werewolf. This is totally fucked." I mumbled to Alyssa. I really didn't care if the others heard me.

I sighed, and introduced myself. "Look, folks, this is a bit...ok, it's just flat out fucking weird. I'm not shocked, just...ok, I am shocked. I'm a Death Dealer, meaning it's my job to kill off rogue vamps and unruly weres." I shot Mick a look. "Don't get your fur in a ruff. If I wanted you dead, you'd be there already. You get a pass. Just keep clear when Alyssa and I are around. Wouldn't want to shoot you by mistake." I smirked. In truth, I had no problem killing them all right now. Well, except for Emilie. She played good music! The panther shifted, and another pale girl rested with Emilie, stroking her pink hair and gazing at her with love in her eyes. Too bizarre. "They're still out there, we haven't got them all." I looked off into the distance. "I came here on a job, and I'm not leaving until it's done." I glanced at the three, cheetah, panther, and wolf. "Get outta here, lay low if you can. We'll talk later. Come on Alyssa." She looked like she might protest, so I stood there, hand on my hip, waiting to see what insight she had that I missed out on. All I knew for sure was that I was sure as hell going after the remaining dogs.

[Alyssa Corvin]

I sniffed the air once, satisfied that Gwen was on her way, when I heard her speak. "Because theres another shifter." Pointing at Emilie, then looking at Mick, hoping he could see the concern in my eyes. As long as he didn't try anything, he wouldn't be shot. Emilie managed to sit up, rubbing the wound where the cream was and a soft smile was upon her lips when I think she realized she wasn't hurt any longer. "Yes, I am." I couldn't help but grin slightly as she spoke that to Gwen, apparently her wounds hadn't caused her much considering she was still herself, I'd seen her before and she was rather cool. Mick had stood up, but when Gwen pointed the gun at him he raised his hands and backed off slightly to show he wasn't a threat. A could see a thought biting at his tongue, and placing a hand on Gwen's shoulder, I spoke, mainly looking at Mick. "Let him speak Gwen. Hes not a lycan, but the other name, werewolf, fits him better." I was surprised I knew this, but didn't question it.

"Me? I'm not responsible. I do not hunt humans unless they cause harm to me, my mate, or my family. It's not the Loup Garou's that have killed, but a rogue pack. Rules, it seems, do not apply to them, or so they think." My eyes widened as I heard him, wondering if he truthful. There was no smell on him to suggest he was part of Lucian's pack, but this Loup Garou seemed new. I half glanced at Gwen to see if that name registered. Half chuckling at her words, I had to speak myself. "He is speaking the truth. There are good shifters out there. But I'm guessing there are more bad ones too?" I shot a glance at Mick who nodded grimly. "One word of advice. Hear anyone by the name of Zane, get away and fast." I didn't know this, but Cole had spoken to Mick, making sure he knew to stay away. Of course I had no idea because I wasn't there. "Zane. Well, Gwen and I-" He cut me off, my eyes narrowed. "No! You cannot beat him. You try, you die. I'm supposed to warn those who I met, but if you have a death wish, go for it."

Well, that killed off my spark. Emilie sat up more, before the panther shifted and Emilie seemed content to just sit in her arms and cuddle into her mate. Two females, taking each other for a mate, it was sweet. I sure wasn't going to judge, fuck that, I liked girls too. I wished them all the best for their future. But then, an idea hit me as Mick began speaking again. Dammit, he always interrupted me! "I understand. But let me help. I'm not about to let others kill humans for their own pleasure." Well damn, we were on the same wave lengths! I looked at Emilie who didn't seem too happy about killing, until she remembered that they hurt her. "I want to help. They managed to attack me, and I want to show them pain. Dita?" Dita, I assumed, was her mates name. "Listen Gwen. We could use their help!" I pulled her closer to me. "I'm serious here. A cheetah is faster than both of us. Panther will help cheetah, because I'm guessing that panther won't let her mate's hurt go off lightly. They can take down some, while we take down others. The wolf, hes not dog. He speaks the truth." I sighed softly, knowing Gwen hadn't been a full lycan first like I had. "Listen, I've been a lycan myself. You know that. And I'm not all evil like you first assume. Mick, hes the same. I was pinned down, he killed that dog." I pointed to the dead lycan, before I looked up, over Gwen's shoulder. "Listen dog, after this, I want to know more about the Loup Garou, or as much as you can tell us." Looking back at Gwen, I wondered if we potentially had allies in the Loup Garou. "If they are who they say they are, we have allies. And thats a good thing!" Holding up my hand, I hushed Gwen before she could speak. "We are hybrids, but sooner or later, we could get seriously hurt, or another war could break out-" My voice trailed off as another howl hit the air, and Mick tensed, snarling. "That is a warning signal. They know you have kill their pack mates. That howl is from the Alpha's second in command. Let me take him down. Duke against Duke." I saw he didn't move, waiting for a command from either Gwen or I. "Trust me. If they try and kill us later, then you may kill me too for being wrong."

[Gwen Corvin]

Oh, for fuck's sake! Now I was stuck with a wolf, a cheetah, and a panther. "Bullshit she's faster. Sorry Emilie." I pointed at her, before apologizing. "A hybrid can outrun a cheetah, fast or not. And she's injured! If you think they're not coming back to finish her off, you've lost it Lyss." Dita stood, her hand still clinging to Emilie. "I'm not letting them get away with it. She's my mate, and I will avenge her. Together, Em and I can take them." She seemed awfully sure of herself. Granted, they were all shifters, but none of them were hybrids, and I didn't feel like babysitting.

I sulked. "Whatever, fine." Zane...Loup Garou...I'd remember these names and get what I could later. I grabbed Alyssa's shoulder and spun her to me. "I may not be a mangy ass dog, but I've got their blood too! Don't forget what they did to you Lyss. You'd be dead if I hadn't changed you!" Yeah, I was getting bitchy, but I had not counted on these others. It seemed like they'd do more to weigh us down than to help. I didn't need anyone's help. Not even Alyssa's. She was only around because she was family. I hated fighting with her. "Duke, Mick...whatever your name is. If you get in my way," I paused to look over at Dita and Emilie as well. "You'll get hurt. Come if you want, fight who you want, but get in my fucking way, any of you, and I will not hesitate to shoot." I meant it. I was used to having a clear playing field, anything that came into range of my weapons, succumbed to them.

My eyes bled back to black, my hands flexed as claws sprouted from my fingertips. I shivered as my body bulked, my chest expanding, a blue tint coloring my flesh. I growled at the group. "If you're hunting, then hunt. If you get hurt, don't expect Life Flight." I ran my tongue over my fangs, turned and ran toward the howl. "And never forget, Lyss. We are always at war!" It was true, no matter what anyone else said. This was a fued gone too far, too deep, for too many years, to just be over.

As I grew closer, the stink of dog told me there were a hell of a lot more than 6 or 7 in all. This was a true pack. Nothing like Lucian's had been, but still, I'd guess 24 in all. I scaled the first large tree I came to, dancing across the branches as I leapt from limb to limb. I was directly over their little pow-wow. I slipped a silver flash bomb from it's case on my hip, then slid it back. I didn't know how silver would affect Mick or the girls, and I didn't want to hear Alyssa bitch if I killed them too soon. Instead I opted for my throwing stars, two in each hand. I spun and flipped off the branch, launching them at the largest wolf in the pack. The second largest wolf moved to take the shot, but was too late. I knew who was the 'Duke' as Mick had called it, and who was the Alpha. The Alpha was the largest in the pack, and it was his voice that called up to me.

I squatted low on the tree limb, eyeing the Alpha. He cringed and began to change, wrenching the stars from his flesh as it smoked and smoldered. "How dare you come to my land and kill my people! Who are you?!?" He demanded in that authorative tone. I never was one much for authority. "I'm your death, doggie. Open wide." I pulled both Eagles from their holsters and jumped down. I landed in a crouch and began firing. Two, then three dogs dropped dead, the silver eating through them. Other's lunged, some cirlced. I was in the middle of their gathering, taking out who I could. When one got too close, I chucked a silver blade into his skull. Another ate the tip of my boot, I slammed it's silver blade under the soft skin of his jaw, then shot him in the head. Kicking off his carcass I stalked the Alpha, the other dogs moving behind him and behind me, creating a ring around us. I wanted this fucker dead, all of them. But first, he and I would spar.