55

By daybreak the pack was on the move. Mika had asked if there would be any settlements that they'd pass through before the kidnapping and Zeek recalled a rather busy place along the route. If they made good time they could be there by noon and be back in the woods and to the next stopping point.
As they neared the settlement Zeek and Cliff who had taken the two leads had spotted a small herd of deaders along the route.
*Wipe them out.* Mika had ordered from the rear. Ari and Theo took the center positions in the convoy. With Ari being the only one in human form, it looked as though she was in the center of a pack of wolves who lead her along. A strange site if one was lucky enough to see it. But aside from the occasional deaders the group had not come across anyone else. This was a good sign in Mika's eyes, as when they brought back their captive he did not want to attract unneeded attention.
About three hours into their journey however the scent of rain filled their noses. Ari climbed up into one of the taller trees to break over the brush line. She was not met with a nice blue sky and fluffy white clouds, but instead she saw dark grey swirling clouds. Pops of lightening, and the burst of thunder on the horizon.
"Looks like it's coming this way." she swayed as she jumped down.
*Cave nearby?* Mika asked trotting up to the four of them.
"No, I saw smoke trails just over the hill. Several of them. Is that the settlement?" Ari answered.
Zeek just nodded his massive white, grey head in response.
*Alright we need to swift back.* Mika ordered as Ari pulled her sack around and the men dressed again. They raced still with their speed through the woods till they reached the edges were humans maybe more prone to be and slowed their pace. They were indeed making good time as the rains had not yet fell when they entered.
All kinds of scents filled their noses. Witches, humans, wolves, and Mika thought he even caught a whiff of a fairy in the crowd.
This settlement seemed to be much more open than any others that Ari had ever been to. There were open stalls with herbs, and spices specifically for witch’s brews. Hexes and wooden stakes and other items for vampire killing. In one stall Ari saw a male openly change his hand to his claw and the shop keep never blinked an eye.
"What is this place?" she whispered, really unsure what she was seeing with the various super naturals walking around in the open.
"It's a settlement but the humans here are more...aware and accepting." Zeek hushed back.
Ari, Theo and Mika nodded. It was like walking into a big city. No one really cared what the person next to them was doing so long as that person wasn't interfering with their own doing.
Ari spotted a store that had blank books in the display and pulled Mika's attention there.
*We will all meet up at the inn, there* he pointed to a large brick building, with white scrolling letters that read, My Keeper's Inn. *When the rains come down.*
Everyone nodded and went about exploring. Theo, Zeek and Cliff stayed together as Ari and Mika ventured off.
Zeek wanted to get a good drink and knew there would be a decent bar somewhere around.
Zeek found the local bar, and it had been located next door to the Inn before he set off to find some food for the road. Theo and Cliff had secured the rooms and then went to locate some food. Theo took to napping as he said he would take the first shift tonight. Cliff did not disagree and had gone to find some booze. Werewolves had extremely fast metabolisms. They could drink and drink and never get tipsy like a human. Sometimes Cliff wondered what it would feel like to not really care, or to be bubbly and happy as he had seen some humans be when consuming. The bar was like most, a long wooden carved counter sat between the bar keep and the patrons. A wide display of the various liquors coated the back wall. Cliff noted that unlike most human bars this one did not have a huge mirror on the back wall. Just the same, most everyone in there was some kind of flavor of freak, even if it was just a human who was into freaks.
Sitting there on the wooden stool taking long gulps at the amber liquid in his glass Cliff couldn't help but notice a tall slender woman with very short cut black hair eyeing him. Cliff did not look at her directly but out of the corners of his eyes he could tell she was very fit, and well dressed. Her skintight black leather skirt, and matching sleeveless top made her white skin look almost luminescent. He heard a tinkling of music, *No wait, that's not music. She's laughing* he thought as his attention was now drawn to the woman giggling to the older man sitting to her right. Compared to her the man looked years older, but also dirty and ragged. His long grey beard wiggled as he spoke words Cliff couldn't hear. All he could hear and see where those glowing green eyes, and her bright red lips. How perfectly they puckered as she spoke. He could feel the ache building in his groin as he watched those lips part.
He went to stand up and introduce himself when a stern hand clamped on his shoulder. This hand was much smaller than any of his brothers and for a second he thought it was Ari.
"Woo there there wolfie, she will eat you alive." a unfamiliar feminine voice said from his backside. Cliff turned to see a female with long brown hair and blue eyes sitting on the stool next to him.
*When had she gotten there?* he thought. He didn't catch her scent or her noise.
"And how do you know that?" he asked briskly.
She took a long gulp of her amber drink, swished it around in the glass causing bubbles and foam to squirl at the base before setting it down.
"Because **her** kind like to eat after they fuck. And your pretty little dogo head just didn't need to get separated from that body over one fuck." she said dismissively.
Cliff had to stop his mouth from falling open. "**her kind?**" he prompted.
The woman sighed, “Yes her kind. she is a fairy. They are pretty to look at. Nice to fuck and then they bite your head off in the am. You look more like a snack than breakfast." she smirked.
Still blinking away her utter rudeness, but curious the same. "How do you know she is?"
"Duh because she is my friend." she waved her hand in the woman's direction and the black-haired girl bounced and smiled back. Cliff took heavy notice that her breast bounced as she did on the stool. Another groan let out as he tried not to readjust himself next to the snippy female.
"So, you are the friend who is supposed to save her friend from random guys?" he returned to his drink. It looked like the old man would get the girl today. She smiled as she led him off to some back room. The old man with his missing front tooth looked utterly delighted. *Lucky bastard.* Cliff growled.
"More like save the ones who come to get her. Like I said wolfie, she will fucking eat you alive when she was done with you." she never raised her voice, but her tone was sharper at the end.
"Ok then fine. Who do I have to thank for the blue balls tonight?" he quipped back.
She snorted at his expense. "I am Ezera. And that lovely little bloodfucker is Kink." She looked him over boldfaced now, "And who said you would be leaving with blue balls?"
Cliff had to admit, though she was aggressive it was more of a turn on than he had ever expected. She had soft brown hair, her eyes reflected the silver lighting in the room and made them almost appear grey. She was not as fit as Kink, but she had softer curves on her. Her tan shift was buttoned to reveal two nicely rounded breast underneath and her dark brown pants hugged her luscious ass.
She winked once and walked away, pausing at the curtains that lead to the upper rooms only to see if Cliff would follow.
He downed his last remaining half glass and threw a few coins for his and hers on the bar top before following.
*Looks like I'm getting some after all.* he laughed to himself.