Fantasy Unlikely Partners

[Flutterby]

Ilaira fell into step next to Chris, keeping pace with his longer stride. She fell silent then, and watched the trees and the sky around her. Occasionally, she reached out and touched the bark of a tree, and then smiled to herself.
They had been walking for a couple miles, when Chris's radio cackled to life. A voice came over it, and said,
"Hey, uh, Chris, I know you're not on right now, but I've got old man Jenkins in my squad car right now. Susan Hill just called and said that there are lights on over at Mile 7, somebody moving around inside. Kinda odd for Frank to still be working, so uh, could you just swing over and check it out?"
Ilaria stopped at the voice started, adjusting the backpack strapped with a frown.

 

[Tharivle]

Chris stopped as well when he heard his name from the radio. Chris turned his head towards his mic a little and then keyed up, "Clear. I'm in the area, I'll check it out." Chris noticed her less than pleased look and said, "What? With the high possibility of demons running around in their true forms, I'm leaving my radio on. And it is indeed very weird for there to be someone in or around Mile 7 this early in the morning."
Chris whistled shortly but loud. Rex appeared a few seconds later. "Conceal." Chris ordered. They could hear him walking around before, and occasionally see him, but this time as Rex slipped off into the woods he made not a sound and the two of them lost sight of him almost instantly, with his fur blending in with the undergrowth and him disappearing behind trees.
Once Rex was out of sight Chris turned back to Ilaria, "Shall we continue our walk to Mile 7?"

 

[Flutterby]

"I was frowning because small town people know each other way too well." Ilaria said flatly, giving him a questioning look. Not sure what your problem is, she thought silently, as she turned on her heel and lead the way at his request. They walked for about 5 minutes, and then Ilaria veered off the main path onto a much smaller one. It was starting to become over grown, with branches reaching out the grab them. Within another 5 minutes, they broke the treeline and were looking at Mile 7's back door. Sure enough, there was light peeking out the windows.
Ilaria glanced at Chris, not really sure what they were doing there, when there was a loud crash from inside the building. It was loud and sudden enough for her to jump, and she identified it as the sound of a bunch of bottles breaking.

 

[Tharivle]

Chris walked around to the front and Rex just appeared from out of nowhere and followed Chris around the building. They got to the door and it was broken in. The glass door was completely shattered and there were scratch marks along the porch and doorframe. Chris drew his weapon and stepped through the doorway. The place looked as though an elephant had walked through it. There were tables broken and the bar was trashed.
Chris looked puzzled because they had just heard something in here as they were walking around the building.
There was a flash of something from behind the bar. It was big but fast, and was running into the back towards the kitchen.
"Go get him." Rex took a few running strides and then leapt over what remained of the bar, and started chasing whoever or whatever was running from them. Chris followed at a run, not quite as nimble as his four legged friend.

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria glanced at Chris, and then jogged toward the back door. She tried the knob, and found that it had been broken. She pushed the door open slowly, and stepped into the small room at the back of the kitchen, with boot-racks and lockers for employees. She peaked around the edge of the door frame, as the sound of cracking and shattering continued to come from out by the bar.
She caught sight of a pair of shoes, and rushed over. Fred laid on the floor, out cold, with a gash in his forehead. "Fred?" She shook him, and then checked his pulse. He was alive, at least.
The kitchen door swung so hard it hit the wall and bounced back. Ilaria spun around, and came face to face with a snarling, horned head.
The demon was about 6 feet tall, but bulky like a gorilla. It was covered head to toe in dark brown fur, and had goat-like horns coming out of its temples, with teeth reminiscent of a cat's.
It snarled, and swung a clawed hand at her. She ducked and rolled away, feeling the claws catch in the fabric of her backpack and rip through it, tearing it offer her body. As she moved, she changed form into a sleek-furred puma, and turned to face the demon with her fangs bared.

 

[Tharivle]

Rex attacked as soon as he reached the kitchen. The demon charged at Ilaria with its horns down. Rex bit it in the back leg and pulled, tripping the creature. The demon whorled around with a yell and swiped at Rex, but Rex let go as the demon turned and backed away dodging the swipe. Then Chris came with he weapon drawn and fired once, hitting the demon square in the chest.
The shot didn't phase the demon even a little, it roared and charged at Chris.

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria took the moment that Rex gave her to gather herself, and look for a better opening than she had a moment before. That opening came, coincidentally, a moment after Chris fired his weapon, and apparently missed. With a powerful kick from her hind legs, she leapt onto the demon's back, her front paws wrapping over its shoulder's and hind claws digging into its back through its fur. She started biting at the side of its neck with her teeth, ignoring the burning, stinking taste it left.
The demon roared loudly, and reached over its shoulder to grab her by the scruff. She had to let go, or risk losing half her pelt. The demon, now seriously injured, tossed her back toward Fred. She crashed into a chest freezer. It looked at her, starting to get up, then at Rex, who was about to attack again, and at Chris, still holding his gun. And then it picked something off of the floor, and went crashing past Ilaria, out the back door, and towards the woods behind Mile 7. As it ran, it turned into a crow, and flew off into the sky.

 

[Tharivle]

"You ok boy?" Chris said as he put his gun away. Rex barked once. Chris then moved quickly over to Ilaria, bending over her, "And are you okay?"
Rex went over to Fred and licked his face and nosed him a bit. Fred groaned and was starting to come around, the gash on his head being more of a bruise had stopped bleeding.

 

[Flutterby]

Once the demon had run off, Ilaria switched back to her human form before Fred could see her. The back of her head, her shoulders, and her hips were all throbbing from the impact. She glanced at Chris's face, and took a hold of his hand so that he would help her up.
"I'm going to be bruised, that's all." She said softly, "You should take a look at Fred." Ilaria moved to start picking up her scattered belongings, starting with her book, her extra sneakers, and.. as she lifted the torn backpack from the floor, she realized she was missing something.

 

[Tharivle]

Chris went to check on Fred like Ilaria suggested. And Fred was still out of it, but coming around. Chris glanced back at Ilaria to she if she was indeed okay and noticed her troubled look. "What is wrong Ari?"

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria stood up slowly, looking around at the floor around her feet.
"I think the translation is gone. I think it took it." She said, very softly, so that Fred wouldn't hear her. The Moon Child stepped slightly outside the back door, noticing that the track of the demon stopped suddenly, as if it had flew away. She pressed her lips together, and went back inside.
"You should call him an ambulance. I.. I'm going to fly up and see if there's any sign of it nearby." Ilaria had gone ghostly pale, and her voice was tight as she spoke.

 

[Tharivle]

Chris noticed how worried she looked, "That is a good idea Ari, Just try to calm down and take a breath." Chris watched as she left then transformed and took flight. Then he go on his radio, "Central from K9 Alpha... We have a wild animal attack here at Mile 7, possibly a bear. I need an ambulance priority one, for an unconscious male with deep lacerations."
"Clear on that, help is coming." Answered someone on the other end of the radio.

 

[Flutterby]

"Meet me back at my place when you're done here." She said, as she slipped out the backdoor and became a barn owl again. She flew up over Mile 7, and then began circling over head with her attention on the sounds around her.

Almost 2 hours later, reaching toward noon, a ruffled-looking barn owl landed in Ilaria's backyard. She transformed and walked inside quickly, rubbing her hands to warm them up.

 

[Tharivle]

The ambulance was on a different call at the time so it took about 25 minutes for one to arrive, shutting off its siren and emergency lights as it pulled into the Mile 7 parking lot. There were already several cops on scene and it was a circus to try to figure out what happened. Chris lead the medics inside where Fred was now mostly awake and sitting at one of the last few unbroken tables in the bar. Chris's was able to question Fred a little before others arrived and Fred said that he was hit before he could see anything, so Chris was able to kind of make up a story. Because the official story couldn't be 'A demon attacked Fred then trashed the place.' Chris's report would read, 'Evidence of a crazed bear, property damage only, tracking was unsuccessful.'

It took about two hours for the commotion to die down, after he was free to go Chris got in his car after letting Rex in the back seat, and drove to Ilarias house. Once they were there Chris let Rex out and went and nocked on the door.

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria was starting to make a cup of tea when Chris knocked on the door. She turned and reached over, turning the knob and pulling it open for him. She had half-expected him to beat her back here, but it must've taken a while to clear the scene.
"Fred is okay?" She asked as she went back to the stove to pull the kettle off. She filled her mug to the brim and plopped the tea bag into the hot water to steep. It was her third cup since getting home. She still felt chilled to the bone. Ilaria motioned for him to followed her into the living room, where she sat down in the armchair and pulled her feet up under her legs.

 

[Tharivle]

"Yeah, he'll be fine." Chris sat down on the couch. "He was hit before he saw what hit him which is a good thing." Chris chuckled a bit, "He was actually more upset that his bar was destroyed than he was by the fact that he almost died."
Chris looked at her intently now, "Are you okay? Did you find anything?"

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria nodded quietly, running a hand through the hair at the nape of her neck. At least Fred would be okay. And, at least the humans would remain oblivious to the danger around them... for now.
Ilaria took the tea bag out of her tea and placed it on her saucer, and then took a long sip before she answered him.
"I didn't find anything. The demon was long gone before I was even in the sky. I did a search of.. I don't know ten, twenty miles maybe. I didn't see anything." She clenched her jaw, and looked down at the steam coming up from her cup. "By now, it could be anywhere with that translation."

 

[Tharivle]

"Hey..." Chris reached across the table and took ahold of her hand. "It'll be okay." Chris sat back up releasing her hand. "I'm going to take a leave of absences and I'm going to hook up with some people from the grove, and we are going to get this thing before it causes more damage than a few broken tables." Chris tried to sound convincing, but in truth he was just as nervous/scared as Ilaria was. "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to help, and i wouldn't think any less of you if you moved on from Mullbrook.... But if you are willing, I think we work very well together, and I want you with me in whatever fight might be next." Chris knew she was scared, but he was hoping that she would want to stay, if not to help, then to at least be a friend. Also she was the first person that he liked and would live as long as he would, and someone that Rex liked. Because it is very hard to keep a girl around when the intelligent wolf companion is trying to get rid of said girl.

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria gave his hand a squeeze in response, and glanced up when he stopped talking. "I'm not going to run." She took another sip of tea. "In the past, I might've. But now it's got a way to harness the shard, and it's my fault." She cleared her throat, and took the last sip of her tea.
Ilaria stood up and rinsed the mug, setting it upside down in the sink. "I'm not one for taking orders.. but tell me what you need, and I'll do what I can." She moved past him, picking the book up from the table and placing it back in it's place on the shelf. "I don't want to leave Mullbrook. I like this silly little town too much."

 

[Tharivle]

Chris flashed a smile quickly at her response. "We need to get back to the Grove. They need to know what happened, and Felix and Seth are among the very few that have ever actually fought demons in their true form. They will know what to do." Chris was clear and decisive, and stood as he talked. "I'm going to turn in my badge for a leave of absence, then I will be ready to go."
Chris put on his coat and started for the door. "Do you want me to come back and pick you up or do you want to ride into town and leave from there?"

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria wandered back into the kitchen, running a hand through her hair to gather it into a ponytail.
"Pick me up on your way back through. I'll put out a couple feelers with the few people I keep in contact with, and get sorted out here." She tied it off with her elastic, and nodded slightly to herself. "And I guess I'll pack a bag, since it sounds like you plan on being gone for a bit.." She raised an eyebrow, as her statement was more of a question.

 

[Tharivle]

"Yes, if you are coming, plan on being gone for a few weeks." Chris said with a chuckle. "I'll be back in a few hours." Chris turned to leave and Rex followed him out to the car.
Chris drove back to town and parked in front of the tow hall. Chris walked in and there was a few panicked people huddled around talking in whispers in small groups. The mayor was trying to consul a group of people as Chris walked up, "I'll be ok everyone. It was a bear attack..... Yes they live in the woods..... No its not going to come into town and eat your baby." The mayor was a smaller man and was getting swarmed by questions and accusations, and through the crowd that was gathering he saw Chris approaching slowly.
"Everyone be quiet!" Chris didn't yell angrily, but it was loud enouph for people to be shocked into silence. "Now a bear is like a giant raccoon. Just keep lids on the garbage cans and keep your doors closed and locked, and it shouldn't be a problem. Mile 7 in out of town and against the woods. It is very unlikely that there will even be a sighting here in town, let alone an attack." As he talked his words became more soft and comforting, and the people seemed to relax.
"Now, I was informed that ammo will be sold at reduced rates until we can find the bear, but guns themselves will not be handed out or sold under the table. But come on, who here doesn't already have a gun." His last remark got a few chuckles from the crowd. Everyone started dispersing now that they seemed comfortable with the answers they got.
Once everybody was gone or at least out of the way Chris walked up to the mayor. "Thank you for saving me back there." The mayor said. "Not a problem." Chris said in reply.
"Look, I know this is kind of a bad time, but I have some things to take care of and I need to be gone for a few weeks." The mayor looked surprised, but seemed unbothered. "You don't report to me or this small town department. If the county is good with you taking off then so am I." Chris looked at him a little suspiciously, because he was expecting more of a panicked pushback. "Yes I cleared it with the county. Just wanted to drop off my Mullbrook badge." Chris pulled out his wallet and slipped the Mullbrook badge out, leaving the County badge where it was and handed it to the mayor. The small man took it and said, "I'll get this to the chief. You tack care of yourself and come back soon." Chris smiled and said, "Will do." They shock hands and Chris left the building.
Chris stopped by the house and quickly packed a bag, packing clothes for a week and taking all of his stores of ammo knowing that he already had his assorted guns in the car. Once he was ready he went back outside and with Rex in the back seat they drove back to Ilarias house.

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria watched him leave, and then sighed softly. She started with cleaning out the kitchen, tossing anything that would go bad in the next 2 weeks. Considering her eating habits, by the time she was done, all that was left was condiments and canned goods. Satisfied, she wiped the counters down and then went to pack.
She didn't own a whole lot, at least not in the way of personal affects outside of her books. So all of her casually-wearable clothes fit in the large duffel she kept under her bed. Most of the space was taken up by leggings and fitted t-shirts, and she added a pair of sneakers for good measure. In a separate bag, she placed her more menacing belongings: several large knives that looked to be a hundred years old, as well as a handgun and all of the ammo she currently had.
Once she had grabbed her favorite coat and laced up her hiking boots, she was ready to go. She locked all the doors, and even remembered to pull shut and lock the few windows she liked open. Ilaria went down to the beach, and enjoyed the feeling of the tide coming in while she waited for Chris.

She heard his car pull down the road and into her driveway even from on the beach. Ilaria jogged back up the boardwalk steps, and grabbed her bags from the porch to throw into his vehicle.

 

[Tharivle]

As Chris pulled up Ilaria was waiting. So instead of parking and shutting the car down, he parked and popped the trunk. As she approached he got out and meet her at the back of the car. He moved a few things to accommodate her bag. Once she had placed it he closed the trunk and said, "You all ready to go? The house all locked up?" He didn't really wait for an answer kind of assuming that she was ready considering she was waiting for him. He got in the car as he talked. Once they were buckled up he started down the road heading out of town back twords the Grove.

 

[Flutterby]

Ilaria gave him half a smile, and plopped her bag into the trunk in the spot clear. She gave a nod, and answered, "House is ready to be empty for 2 weeks at least," She murmured, glancing back up at her front door. She had just gotten settled, too. She climbed into the passenger seat, and fastened her seat belt.
Reaching back to give Rex a little affection, she spoke again. "What are the chances the Golden Flame have already tracked that demon down? Or do they not know what happened yet?"