the Hunger-Anastasiya (open)

[jourdainka]

Anya walked in that carelessly graceful way of hers along the path of dirt and leaves. She had chosen this night, not specially, but just out of habit.
Sunday nights were her favourite.

She took in the scent of the trees mingling with the woodland creatures, shying away at her presence. She smiled, revealing very straight, very even white teeth to no one. Her dress, though she had taken plenty of shortcuts through the brush and thick trees, was still clean and white, hanging just below her narrow thighs. Sighing melodically to herself, Anya wondered if she might be joined by any others on this balmy summer evening.

[sablehorn]

Summer was such a strange concept to Rafael, he had been in London too long now that he had forgotten of the heat that his native Spain had given him as a child. He didn't long for the sun's rays anymore just that heat, that stifling heat you got at the height of summer. The dense vegetation surrounded him as he wondered the park looking for any stray animals that may be around. he hated hunting for animals, so degrading for someone like him, but he had vowed he would rarely take another human life after the carnage he had seen at his turning.

Stopping he he heard the soft footsteps coming towards him. he craned his neck and listened to each step, too soft to be human or werewolf, but you could never be too sure. Another vampire, in this part of London, he had not seen a vampire for months now, the last had been a blood crazed fool who had got himself killed, Rafa had avoided him, but this one did not storm through the park on a crazed killing spree.

"Come now Rafa!" he whispered to himself. He wasn't nervous, simply curious, but then other Vampires often turned out to be mindless fools, not aware of the privileged their power gave them. "Maybe this one is different" He whispered to himself again, his Spanish accent still thick after two hundred years. Breathing deeply he stepped onto the path and walked towards the footsteps... who would it be... what would they be like.... the excitement started to excite Rafa, something he had not felt for years.

[jourdainka]

Anastasiya snapped to attention; there was another vampire very nearby.
Alert, she walked cautiously closer through the thick trees, careful not to snap a single twig.

"Ah, a male," she thought. She might enjoy this. She didn't know if the other had sensed her, but she guessed that he had. Humming a little tune to herself, she ventured nearer to the stranger.

The last males she had run into were careless, hasty, rash. They were bloodthirsty newborns, and she had wanted nothing to do with them. So she had stayed alone for awhile, the way she liked. But, she thought wistfully, a little conversation was nice once in awhile.

So, casting aside her stealth, she walked with a definite swing in her narrow hips until she was standing less than 10 feet away. With one graceful movement she had curtsied, and now awaited his move.

[sablehorn]

Rafa saw the female standing infront of him and as she acknowledged him he smiled. A lady of breeding, of the old ways... she was not some young upstart. He bowed deeply and broke the silence.

"Rafael Sebastian Calvo de Luis" His thick Spanish accent breaking the night air. As he stood up he watched the Vampiress' movements. Too many times had things started so well and ended with some feral fight as the other vampire became feral and aggressive. but something about her was different. She was serene, calm, almost aloof from the world around her.

"So, what brings a night stalker like you to these woods? Hunting?" Rafa spoke again, rubbing his stubble covered chin as he spoke. "Are you a Londoner born and bred or, like myself, from further afield?" He had no idea how old this vampire was or indeed how powerful she was, but something about her intrigued him. Like himself she was a loner... not a coven vampire by the looks of her and that intrigued him. To be alone and to come and meet him she must be so self assured.

[jourdainka]

Anya smiled at the questions.
"Anastasiya Alkayev. Pleased to meet you. I'm afraid I'm not from London." she sighed, as if this truly bothered her.
"I was born--realy born, not turned--in St. Petersburg, Russia." She wondered if her own accent was no longer detectable.

She twirled a strand of her pale hair around her long, twig-like index finger. Anya looked up at Rafael, taking in his handsome features, and trying to gauge what kind of vampire he was.
"I'm not here to hunt. . .just to enjoy the fresh air, to get back to nature," she said, with a hint of laughter in her voice. The thought amused her, not because she didn't mean it, but because she did. What kind of sorry vampire emojys nature? She giggled.

The moonlight was seeping through the branches, sneaking through any holes between the thick foliage of the trees. She watched Rafael. He was calm, collected; there was nothing newborn about him. She hoped he wouldn't run away at her next question.
"So do you belong to a coven? Or do you, like myself, prefer to travel alone?"

[sablehorn]

"Russian! Such a beautiful country, I traveled there when i was mortal" Rafa was actually nervous, it had been so long since he had talked to another vampire.

"I walk alone, very alone" He said watching her as she twirled her hair girlishly. "When I was turned I was forced into a coven by a vampiress called Isis..." he trailed off, scared to talk of his past, almost 300 hundred years ago.

"Nature eh?" He quickly steered the conversation away from himself. He smiled, knowing how stupid she must have felt saying she was out enjoying nature. Vampires lost those feelings when they turned, or did they?

"Where are you planning on going then Anastasiya? Just out to enjoy the night? Tis rare we get to walk out freely." Rafa knew he was rambling, all thought of getting blood had gone from his mind. He was still wary, uncase she attacked... the innocent smile, the light dress may all just be an act. "By your self Rafa, talk to her enjoy the conversation, hunt with her, what ever..." he thought to himself, hoping she would not see his insecurity.

[jourdainka]

Anastasiya smiled at the vampire's charming voice and demeanor. She was probably a little nervous, not having spoken with another vampire in almost a year.

Wrapping one long arm around the trunk of a silver birch tree and resting her cheek against its smooth, cool bark, Anya spoke.
"I haven't eaten yet today and, though I can do it alone I. . .I would love some company. Would you mind joining me?"

She blinked up at Rafael, her violet eyes like gems framed by golden lashes. This may be one of her last chances to make a bond with another of her kind. She would be foolish to ignore it.
She had spent many decades alone, and was used to the feeling of being entirely self-sufficient, but. . .perhaps she wanted help? Perhaps she wanted someone to look out for her?

Shaking off those weak thoughts, Anastasiya smiled, because she for once felt totally at ease with a stranger.

[sablehorn]

Rafa watched as she leant against the tree, her eyes almost hypnotic in their gaze. Sure Isis had ripped out his very soul, made him into nothing more then a crazed hunter, but that hundreds of years ago, years of solitude, avoiding others had made him 'human again' and now he was ready to talk and engage with others of his kind.
He ran his hand through his thick black hair and paused in his thoughts.
"We can certainly hunt together... it has been months since I have hunted a human, but we can hunt what ever you like, if you don't mind the company?" He spoke. He knew two vampires hunting would be formidable against any prey. Anastasiya looked like a lean and powerful huntress, she would be an amazing ally in this vast city against the deranged covens and werewolves he had encountered over the centuries.
"There doesn't seem to be much here? we could carry on looking, walk for a bit?" Rafa suggested, the thirst starting to rise in his mind at the thought of feeding.

[jourdainka]

"Yes, I'd like that very much. We should search the western woods. Bigger prey, fewer humans."

Anastasiya was very thirsty, now that she thought of it, and the company of this gentlemanly vampire was quite enjoyable. A slight wind rustled through the trees creating a sound that would frighten any mortals in their path away. Good, she thought. Temptation might get the better of her, were there the right kind of humans around.

Though she knew the western woods were crawling with werewolves, Anya didn't fear them. She had defeated three on her own at one point, and with another vampire, a male, she knew they were more than prepared to deal with any dogs that might try to stand in their path.

"So how do you feel about stag?" she asked Rafael, and without waiting for a reply, grinned and lightly grabbed his hand. Then, she took off running in the direction of the western woods.

[sablehorn]

Holding on tightly to her ivory hand Rafa almost laughed as he was pulled along behind the swift vampire. She was fast, almost floating through the undergrowth as she passed unhindered through bushes and shrubs.

Rafa almost felt like a child again racing, the wind pouring across his face, his senses alert for any kind of prey he could smell or hear. Stag, the lady had fine choice, a hearty meal for any vampire. But the Western woods, the area prowled by werewolves and degenerates? She certainly had no fears.

Catching up with her he looked at her delicate features, the hunger was apparent in her eyes and she was focused, focused on death and the blood that would follow.

Before he even had time to think the Western area of woods approached, thick foliage obscured his view, but the musty smell of wild animals was thick in the air. Slowly down the two paused and looked at each other.

"Ready?" He asked. Not waiting for a reply he brushed aside a thick branch and let Anastasiya enter the the dark woods, shadows playing along her elegant dress as she glided into the darkness. He breathed in deeply, he could smell deer and badger, but another musty smell eluded him... the smell of congealed blood and musky fur, dog? werewolf? who knew, with his new comrade Rafa felt invincible.

[jourdainka]

Running hand in hand with Rafael, the stately vampire she had only just met, Anastasiya had never felt so. . .alive. She giggled at the ridiculous thought: her, alive. But she felt like she had the ghost of a pulse for the first time in centuries.
She looked at Rafael, who was focused on the hunt, but also seemed to be enjoying himself, and she smiled broadly.

Just then the sharp stench of wolf crossed her delicate nose. Easy, easy, her mind told her. There was no need to be afraid or angry. They hadn't done anything to her. Yet. She was determined to not make the first move. Somehow, even though the werewolves were her natural enemies, she pitied them. Sure they probably enjoyed their powers and abilities, but she was positive that some of them, maybe a tiny number, longed for humanity as she sometimes did. Perhaps they could come to an agreement someday. She loathed fighting.

Suddenly, sensing her prey in the form of a white stag, Anya let Rafael's hand drop gently and she crouched low to the warm earth on her hands and knees. Like a preditor, a feline, she slowly and noiselessly crawled towards the unsuspecting stag.
There was a flash of white, blonde, and red.
Anastasiya smiled to herself, feeling full and rather cozy.

"I hope my way of hunting isn't too strange to you." she said walking back over to where he stood, like a ghost between the thin silhouettes of the trees. She brushed the dirt off of her bony white knees."I just let my instincts take over when I feed. It is something my old Master taught me. . .I would take your hand again but I'm afraid it's rather dirty now." she added, her voice filled with happy laughter. Happy. Now there was a word she'd never have thought to describe herself with. . .