There was a new prowler on the streets, recently just arriving it seemed. A rucksack was carried as she made progress down the streets, a mild attempt to get a grasp on her new surroundings. Not that she really cared where she was going. She'd get there at some point wherever there was.

He was lounging on the edge of the fountain, human this time, clad in nothing more than jeans and a tanktop, lazily laid out on his back, green-gold eyes staring up into the sky. One hand reached out to the side to trail his fingertips in the water next to him as he took a deep breath of the night air.

She heard water but on the night air there was a scent that seemed to yank her straight out of her thoughts and into the moment. Normally not one for water she still migrated in that direction, a brow crawling up when she saw someone laying on the fountain's edge.

He was waiting for one particular scent, one that most wouldn't be able to detect, n matter how sharp their senses. The one that caught his attention wasn't the one that he was hoping for, but it was enough to make him lift his head for a moment, brow furrowed slightly as he looked around.

The bag was adjusted to her shoulder while her other hand slipped into the pocket of the loose fitting jacket she was currently sporting. It did very little to hide the ghost white hair that reflected the moonlight or the gleam in her eyes as she focused in on the lounging man.

It only took a few moments for his eyes to find the source of the scent. To anyone else she might have seemed like any other person in the market square. To his eyes, though, she might as well have been wearing a bright neon sign. Hunters knew their own. With almost casual ease he levered himself into a sitting position, green-gold gaze fixed on the approaching young woman.

"Color me surprised to scent out one of my own. What are you doing here?" She carried no accent but the words were carried with a voice that practically purred sweetness with a hint of cinnamon sharp. For the most part she seemed well at ease in her own skin, hip jutted out as she stopped a few feet away. "Likewise." The gold-green eyes remained on the woman, his voice soft, his gaze and manner slightly wary. The last encounter he'd had with his own people had not ended well. "I am waiting for someone. What are you doing here?"

She didn't know who he was. Yet. A catish smile was given at his question but it was the look he wore that amused her most. "Hunting." And that was all he really needed to know, now wasn't it"

Hunting. For his people that could have a variety of meanings. He chose the most innocuous of the reasons. "There is a forested area south of the city with plenty of game." He motioned in the general direction. "Other than myself, there are no other hunters that frequent the area."

She snorted at him. "I don't need you to tell me where to hunt, boyo, but if you are wanting to be helpful maybe you can help me with the target." She dug around in her pocket and there was a click of metal on metal before a slip of paper was pulled out and she flicked the picture his way.

The picture was snatched easily out of the air with fluid, catlike grace. The green-gold eyes fixed on it a moment, narrowing slightly, before he casually flicked it back at her. "I am certain I could. But I will not."

The picture was stolen from the air by her forefinger and middle finger and danced across her fingers before slid back into the pocket of her jacket. His response got him a raised brow. "Am I mistaken in you being a hunter?"

He arched an eyebrow at her. "You are not mistaken. But I am not a hunter like you. In this land, things are not so simple as you may think. And this one you seek is under my protection."

"Tch. It is simple. She is what we hunt. She's a monster that needs to be put down." Her lips quivered a sneer at him. "How can you protect that..that...thing"!" Her head drew back suddenly. "Wait. What is your name?"

He shifted his position, still seeming relaxed but very visibly no longer lounging, his features icily calm, as well as his voice, as he spoke. "Clayton Sheridan." His lips curled into a felinesque smirk. "I'm guessing you have heard of me."

She practically groaned out in distaste. Figures she would bump into the demon loving Y"mni. "I have and it is so gross that you bed with that abomination. You should go home and have them check you over for any spells or whatever force she has you under." Just talking to him made her want a hot shower just to get the feeling off.

He let out a purring chuckle as he rolled his eyes at her, shaking his head. "They did that already." He made a flicking gesture with his fingers at her. "Deluded into thinking you know everything you need to know, like so many others. Come back when you have learned a few things, little girl."

When he gestured at her like that she shifted heels but remained rooted. "I am getting paid to bring her back dead or alive and I am not so much as a stickler for traditions. So you can take your protection and shove it." She rolled her eyes. "If anyone is deluded it is you! How can you betray your own people" The sex can't be that good!"

He sighed, almost tiredly, as he looked at her. "And yet, here you are. Hunting someone that has done nothing to you, or me, or any of us." Her second statement got a hint of a growl from him, his eyes glimmering as they narrowed at her. "Watch your tongue girl. When you have trod upon the paths I have, you may feel free to judge and question." His gaze turned from her, towards those around the marketplace. "Your judgment means as little to me as theirs does."

"Has nothing to do with you yet she is under your protection?" She tsked him as she called him out. His own words made him sound as if he were lying. Her own eyes narrowed back and her lips peeled slightly as she hissed at him. "Don't speak to me as if you even know me, cub." She started scraping her tongue against her teeth. Talking to him felt dirty! Like he was shedding something she couldn't get off.

"I said she has done nothing to any of us. Not that she has nothing to do with me. In fact, she has everything to do with me. Or more precisely, my beloved." His gaze turned back to her, coolly amused, that smugly felinesque smirk back on his features. "Oh, but I was a hunter for our people once, too, miss. I know the life well enough, the thoughts that are most likely going through your head. You think I'm dirty. Contaminated. You might even feel like something might rub off if you get too close, or stay too long. I can practically see your skin crawling." A purring chuckle escaped him. "Hard to believe I thought that way once."

She nodded, agreeing with his assessment it seemed. "That is all true which is a shame because you are hawt." She swatted the air with a hand like he was an annoying fly. "Don't really give a crap of her involvement. Just that I get paid. Hell, if they pay me the right price I'll go after your baby brother, your beloved, your children," her head rolled a little as she looked his way, "Even you."

It was his turn to sneer, though that feline smugness on his features still, though the purr in his voice became a rumble. "You might want to consider bringing an army along, in that case."

Late as it was Katt was still trudging down the street, more tired than she had been in a long time but she wore it well. To check up on a few things before heading home was the goal....She wasn't expecting to see Clayton at the fountain. Wasn't expecting but at the same time was hardly surprised. She made her way to him but slowed when she felt the tension in the air. "Clayton?"

She smirked at him. "What's the matter" Afraid I'll beat you all by my lonesome?" Her glossy lips parted to say more but slowly turned into a look of disgust as she watched the female approach Clayton. If he could see her skin crawl before, she was practically having heebeejeebees now.

He scented her well before he saw her, his green-gold gaze turning from the woman in front of him to his beloved. Only a glance went to the white-haired woman. "No. In fact, I believe I would be the very least of your worries." And then he was starting towards Katt, a smile on his lips that was hers and hers alone. "Hello, Kathryn."

Sharp greens eyed the woman who was in Clayton's company. She wasn't a jealous type but she didn't exactly appreciate the way she spoke with the cat in manflesh. Tilting her head to Clayton she kept her eyes on the woman. It took her a moment or two to look to him though she tried to hide the question that lingered in her gaze. "Hello. Is..everything okay?"

Her hand clenched on the strap of her dufflebag. It took a lot of effort not to take the gun out of her pocket and shoot the demon spawn right between the eyes. She turned her nose to Katt, like a feline in complete disinterest. "See you around, Sheridan." It was a spoken promise as she continued to slink her way down the street.

The briefest of glances was given to the woman walking away, the growl in his voice evident once again. "You should hope such is not the case, huntress." His attention went back to Katt as he sighed, working hard to conceal the tension in his frame. She probably wouldn't be fooled. "I suppose "okay" is an objective term. I am well enough."

Journal Entry #225 Date: 3.1.17

I haven't done a lot of writing over the past few months. There just hasn't been much to write about. Maybe I should get back into it if only to pass the time in this wretched city.

When you need help, who do you turn to' Family' Brother-in-Arms" Friends" In Rhydin, I have no family, few friends, and even fewer that I would think are able to understand my 'job'. Maybe that is why when I needed help I turned to the one person who was in the same field as work and I thought was a friend. Boy was that an eye opener.

Approaching Jochin had been a mistake right off the bat. I had never felt so easily dismissed by someone. No concern in the man what so ever as he brushed me to the side in order to flirt with another pretty face in the inn. Did it surprise me" I guess not. It was his nature and I knew that from the moment that we had met at the inn. I'm nothing to the guy and I wouldn't even say friends. At least as as someone who shared in the same field, he would of understood. Oh well, whatcha going to do"

I couldn't go to Senka - she has more on her plate than she knows what to do with. I didn't want to freak her out and add to it. She is a little ray of sunshine and damn if that girl can't make me laugh. I wanted to keep it that way. I couldn't go to what?s his face either. That would of been bad for him and the company he kept.

So what did that leave me with' Me, myself, and I. Nothing new there. I've never really had someone to fall back on in a time of need. I tried a few things to get the device out of my back but with where they placed it, it made it impossible for me to get to so all I ended up doing was really messing up my back. Good thing Y?mni heal quick, right' Wrong! I managed not only to fuck up my back but break whatever vial was with the tracking device. I felt it, too. The snap under skin and the unmistakable feeling of Bane began to work into my bloodstream. Without a doubt that had to be the most douche move they could of done.

With the Bane in my system, my body's regeneration and even my ability to shift, was shot. It made for some long, painful nights and even longer days. I stayed out of the places that were heavily with public traffic and resided myself to some place called the Teas n Tomes for sanctuary. There are these private little nooks upstairs, I guess for reading or book reading groups. I had another use for it. Sad, sure, but where else could I go'

I did leave a few times if only to hunt for food. Only so many sweets this girl can take. I need meat, damn it!

I bumped into Danny. Nice guy and good with animals which might be why I like him. Him and Senka really know how to make me laugh. Just like before he was friendly smiles and greeted me like very few in Rhydin have. Like I exist. Like someone actually gave a shit I do exist. He even seemed to of noticed that I hadn't been around the inn and was quick to point it out.

I don't know why I told him what was going on. I think I am just going to blame blood loss clouding my judgement and move on. I ended up telling him what was up and the next thing I knew he was freaking out. He all but demanded I allow him to help out. I got to admit, it surprised the crap out of me.

I do still kind of regret telling him and putting him in that position though. Really it looked as if everything was right over his head.

Regardless of that he came with me back to the Teas and proceeded in removing the device from my back. I don't remember much after one point but I do remember he was thorough as if he had a practiced hand at something like this. I am going to take a guess that it was due to his time working with large animals. Plus he said something about having to remove shrapnel from his person at one time. At least I think that is what I had heard. Blood loss makes for crappy conversations and even crappier memory of said conversations.

I don't even remember falling asleep. Just waking up some time close to night fall and my stomach growling. Thanks to the anti-agent I had Danny inject after the device had been removed my healing properties were back in full swing. Faster healing meant more energy was used. More energy used meant my body needed substance. I had just managed off of the sofa in the nook and down the stairs when Danny showed up, apparently checking up on me and damn if he didn't bring food. Not enough to sate my hunger but enough to tide me until I could go hunt. It was nice of him.

I gotta think of some way to pay this guy back for his troubles but seriously I think he is all up in heaven with his gal so it may be hard to do much of anything.

What I do know is I need to finish this god damn job. In the next couple of days I plan on getting shit together to take the target down before the end of this month. While my stay in Rhydin has, maybe, changed my views on demons I still need to get this job done. My brother's life is on the line and they have made that abundantly clear.

When the job is done and over I find that there will be very little I will miss of this city. And If they kill him then what do I have left' Not a god damn thing.

A