Shadow Behind The Wolf

[Black Philip]

For Dee

It was a warm night in Meadowcrest woods. A light layer of humidity stuck to the flora and fauna like sweat sticks to the human body in direct sunlight. The moon rose above, fat and lazy, overlooking the city and the woods alike. Summer was Flick's favorite season. As he ran through the medium age tress in the form of a brilliantly white wolf, he felt every part of nature inside and outside his body. He felt the disturbance he made in air as he cut through it as supernatural speed. He felt the feeling of brush on the softs of his paws as he moved along his self made path. The scratch of tree bark on his fur was pleasant beyond all words, and the feel of dirt in his claws was like holding pure gold.

He stopped on a narrow edge of cliff that opened downward into a clearing. From this modest vantage point, Flick could see the lazy moon smiling at him and blessing him. He howled as if  to say thank you moon mother, watcher of the vampire. Thank you for guiding me here. Flick had only just arrived from the unsafe countryside that led to the cities borders. These last few nights had been frightening ones, as he felt the presence of werwolves, elder vampires and other such dangers that now existed in the free world. When word reached him that the shifters and fae had abandoned the forests for the forest like districts in bustling Metropolises, Flick had thought them cowards. However, in the last few years he'd felt the pressures of the dangerous open world, and had at long last come to a city to make his home.

He had fed that night on a camper. He was so quick and graceful that when the poor deer awoke, she would not remember a thing. He often called humans he fed on deer, or hares. He did this to remind himself that humans and beasts were the same, except one was better for the diet than the other. He had no friends in this city, but felt - as his dog eyes looked towards his silver guide - that he did not need them. He had nature. Yet, despite this, he was lonely. Having travel companions was great fun, and it had been so long since another had walked his path. He grew sad and bowed his head, slightly mad at the moon for not providing.

He morphed back into his vampire form and dangled his feet over the edge of the cliff. His hair was slightly unkept and his nails were as dirty as the path he tread. His naked body however, was blessedly free of such filth and he remarked to himself how funny that was before returning his gaze to the moon. His eyes shined like those of a cat, reflective and all knowing. He would remain in this solemn pose all night unless he was disturbed.

[Trillian]

Travelling on the wind, with impossible clarity, came some beatnik jazz.  The main instrument was a flute, toying along a range of notes, while the soft sweep of a whisk on drums held the rapid beat.  As soon as the music reached his ears, it whirled around him, making it an impossible direction to judge where it was coming from; it was coming from everywhere.  Impossible, unlikely, inconceivable and highly irregular, but the music was undeniably there.

A blast from a saxophone came, and this sounded more tangible than the rest.  Another honk and a hoot, as the saxophone joined in with the almost tuneless melody.  It was coming from behind Flick, and should he turn to face the saxophone player, the rest of the music faded away as though the wind had claimed it back, and the saxophone melody switched from random beatnik to the last trailing notes of something blue.

Eiael took the mouthpiece away from his lips.  Unlike the other, Eiael was sharp and clean, dressed in a black pinstriped suit, with matching hat, and black and white shoes with spats on his feet.  His head was down and his hat covered his face.  He lifted his head and beneath the brim he gave a knowing smile at the vampire opposite him, though all Flick could yet see was his mouth and nose, but not his eyes.

"Nice night for music," he said conversationally, as though the pair of them were sitting in a jazz club somewhere.  From close by there was the sound of a single great flapping of wings, but no owls or other night-birds could be seen.

[Black Philip]

Flick turned around, startled by the sudden sound of the music and the appearance of the strange man. The music was of a genre that Flick had only limited exposure to. He liked it, although not enough to consider a city life so that he could enjoy it more often. Flick knew instantly that there was something about this man that was not human, but he could not figure out what it was. It was the man's well dressed profile that made Flick aware of his own nudity. Beasts were all naked, and hikers mostly only wore shorts and tang tops. Flick felt he had nothing to be ashamed off. Nature had made his body. If it was good enough for the moon, certainly it was good enough for this man. Flick was nervous about not being able to see into his eyes, but his lips were striking and admittedly sexy.

Flick kept his hands in fists and chuckled lightly at the mans comment about the music. He guessed now that the man was some sort of fae or spirit, and was delighted to have company.

"I guess it is," he said in a friendly tone of voice. "You play that thing really well. What is it?"

Flick looked at the instrument that had made the snazzy sounds and raced through his memory trying to figure it out.

[Trillian]

At being asked what his instrument was, Eiael lifted his head up the rest of the way, so he could look over the beast-vampire before him.  A lovely view, and never mind the background.  Mother nature had nothing that could compete with the wonderful form of this man.  A few muscles, naturally defined, not built to athletic extremes, a tall imposing figure (not that Eiael was intimidated in the slightest) and something he wouldn't mind exploring at great length, with a great deal of time available to him.  Flick would now be able to see Eiael's very dark eyes.  Most assumed they were an incredibly dark brown, but the vampire's supernatural sight would identify them as black.

"Ssssaxsssophone," Eiael hissed gently, and threw it up in the air.  It didn't come back down.  He'd summoned a brief tear in the sky for his instrument to pop through and land on his bed.  Not that Flick would know that.  If the beast-vampire's gaze followed it, he would see the thing disappear as though it went behind an invisible curtain.  If he didn't, then he wouldn't have a clue where it went.  Eiael began to undress, taking off his jacket, and letting it fall to the ground, uncaring of how dirty it would get, then started on the crisp white shirt beneath.

[Black Philip]

Flick thought of magic as the instrument disappeared. He'd had some interactions with it before, but seeing it like this was different. As the man showed his dark eyes, Flick was both frightened and interested. He stayed put, afraid to move. He was pulled towards the man but the sudden undressing unsettled the vampire. Flick wanted to know what he was, but thought it was rude to ask such a personal question. The background seemed to fade from view as the man removed more and more clothes.

"Oh, ugh nice jacket," Flick said pathetically. Small talk was never his strong suit. "You have beautiful eyes."

He was telling the truth. Flick found them captivating.
 

[Trillian]

Eiael hadn't taken his eyes off Flick, even as his clothes were removed.  There were thick black runic tattoos etched down his shoulders and upper arms, and all over his back where Flick couldn't see.  He got his wrist caught on a shirt cuff and forced it through, hearing the little button pop.  There went the crisp white shirt, joining the jacket on the ground.  His black belt was next, with the silver buckle.  Unclip, pull through, and it snaked a path on top of the shirt.

"Thank you," Eiael said, and toed off his shoes (without socks).  He wondered if the conversation would deepen, remain as light as it was, or go away altogether.  His pants were next, puddling on the ground at his feet, and his underwear had gone with them.  He stood where he was, as naked as the vampire before him, and grinned, interested in what Flick would do.

[Black Philip]

The other man was naked. Flick felt blood rush to his penis and began to slowly walk towards the strange man. He was scared though, unsure of his actions. As he approached, growing more and more aroused, he finally could not contain himself.

"What are you," he asked with a child's innocence. He was close to him now, but unsure what move to make next. 

[Trillian]

"I'm a naked man standing before you," Eiael answered promptly, stepping out of the puddle of clothes at his feet, and meeting Flick halfway.  The vampire-beast was taller than he was, and better looking, he thought - but Eiael had always envied the golden, not that he would admit such things.  "I warn you, as impossible as it might seem right now, you're going to be seeing a lot more of me," he said, and laughed at his own little joke, intended for nobody but himself to see the humour in it.

It was only sportsmanlike to issue a warning, after all.  Did it really matter if his meaning wasn't clear?

[Black Philip]

Flick wanted to kiss him. The urge was so overwhelming that he brought his lips dangerously close as the man replied to the question he'd almost forgotten he'd asked. Flick viewed this man as a gift from nature. He could see no other explanation for such a strange and wonderful encounter.

"I can deal with that," Flick replied, his lips only inches away from Eiael's. He went in to kiss his mysterious prince charming. If the kiss was accepted it would be gentle and shy, and would need a little aggression from his partner to go more into it. Despite thinking the man a gift, Flick was still nervous about kissing a total stranger.

[Trillian]

Eiael grinned when Flick moved in closer.  Innocent or not, this was always one of the three reactions he received whenever he showed himself to others.  His appearances were often designed to illicit reaction, and considering he'd chosen a naked moment to show himself to the one he'd been stalking a little while now... he figured he would've been attacked one way or the other.  He was pleased it was the other.

The kiss didn't come for a moment, and Eiael's dark eyes slowly lowered to Flick's mouth, where his lips were slightly open and luscious to behold.  The vampire-beast hadn't mated with anyone yet, as far as he knew, and he had been stalking him a long time, but he'd also left him alone for long moments as well and if this was how quickly a sexual encounter could come about - well, the assumption Eiael had made about him might have to be revisited.

They kissed, and the dark angel was just as gentle and soft as Flick.  He'd expected aggression and passion, but it certainly wasn't a disappointment.  Flick tasted wild and sweet, his body hard and cool, as Eiael's warm hands travelled up his chest and onto his shoulders, and also where their torsos, groins and legs touched was light and maddening.  When their lips were separated, Eiael thought he'd be wise to keep this one wanting.  It would be a punishment to himself as well, but it would be worse to satisfy him and have him move on.  There was something isolated about this one, which attracted him greatly.

"You make me want to..." he stopped, his jaw misaligning to the left as he considered his own thoughts, looking Flick over.  "...take you where I sleep."

Take, in every sense of the word.

"Run, and I'll chase you.  And if I catch you, I can have you," he bartered, hoping Flick would accept his terms.  It would be difficult to outrun on foot a creature that could fly, even if he could turn into a wolf.  Especially when Eiael had no problem cheating.

[Black Philip]

The kiss was lovely and Flick found a certain mystical quality to his new friends lips. He wanted more of him, wanted to touch more. He was slightly thankful when the kiss ended. He was not one to move quick in matters of the heart - or in this case the flesh. The man attracted him in a way that others did not. It was the mystique of him, the uncertainty of what he was and what he wanted mixed with his devilishly good looks that made the vampire weak in the knees.

Flick loved the idea of being chased. It gave him satisfaction that he would get to play with this strange man like he played with so many of his forest friends. The other wolves often chased him. He loved to run just fast enough to stay in front of them, but slow enough to keep them chasing. In reference to going to where the man slept, Flick felt odd about that. It begged the question, of where did he sleep? Flick thought him a fairy of some sort, a fae he'd never encountered before. Sculley, his home was in these woods. Flick so no harm in visiting this creatures sleeping place if he was caught. He smiled and stepped back slightly. He accepted the challenge with a nod.

"You won't catch me," he teased lightly. "But I want you to chase me anyway. It will be so much fun."

With that he turned around and transformed into the brilliantly white wolf, glowing in the otherwise dark woods. The moon's radiance in was in his fur, and a connection to nature was in his eyes. He began to run, but not so fast that the man could not playfully follow. If the man proved faster than expected, Flick would speed up to compensate.

[Trillian]

When Flick accepted, Eiael grinned mischieviously.  He watched greedily as the other transformed into a wolf and began to move away.  In response, Eiael dropped his glamour, revealing his true nature.  With a dark shrouding halo that pulsed around his body and large feathery blood red wings, each his height, his wing span was something to be revered.  Flapping them hard for take-off, Eiael lifted himself straight up into the sky, and because they were already elevated at the top of a cliff, found he didn't have to go so high before the wind caught him and helped him up.  With booming laughter, he then roared a command at the Gangrel.

"RUN!" he demanded, and there was something to be feared in his voice, for he was a dark angel, and as the counterparts from his old plane projected beauty and love, he now projected beauty and death.  It had something to do with his new world, he thought, a world that he was intending on taking Flick back to - to see what it might do to him.  "Run as fast as you can!"

[Black Philip]

Flick was off like lightning. His advantages on the ground was obvious but with his pressure in the sky he knew it changed the game. What he was didn't matter to Flick in this moment. He had wonderful wings that Flick longed to touch. As much as he wanted to win the game, a part of him wanted to be caught. He slid between trees like oil and water slips through cracks. He ran towards the densest trees hoping they would provide coverage. His paws and body made no noise as he moved amongst the forest. He dared not to turn his head back for he knew he would be frozen solid with lust and fear. He ran at a speed that was faster than any mortal animal, and yet he could feel the angel right behind him. Was this magic? Was this man a very part of the forest itself? There was no answer for how he moved as quickly as nature's favorite wolf.

His mind was focused on his opponent. He felt as if some power drove him to stop and be taken. Yet, he ran harder and faster, fighting the urge to be taken and ravaged. The trick, whether of his own mind or Eiael's influence, eventually beat him. As he was shaking a thought of the two performing sexual acts, a high root appeared out of nowhere. The wolf yelped as his right paw struck the root and he tripped and rolled. He knew he would be overtaken, and suddenly wanted it more than ever. He led the angel on a merry chase of over a few miles before the time was done, and he was in a deep and unfamiliar part of the woods, far from campers and even wildlife.   

[Trillian]

Eiael boomed laughter again and flew after the wolf, keeping an eye on the white streak.  The Gangrel was much faster than Eiael, even without trees to dodge - or perhaps because of them - for as the wolf twisted and turned and changed his path, so too did the Dark Angel, and with every shift in direction, he lost a little more ground.  Once it got to the point that he couldn't see Flick, Eiael summoned himself to his own plane and popped back in directly above the fleeing wolf.  He tried to swoop but branches and needles attacked his face and he was forced to lift again.  When the trees cleared he tried again, but Flick changed direction at the last moment and Eiael was forced to summon himself away again for fear of bashing headlong into a tree.  Once stumbling into his quarters, he yelled his rage and flew back into the material plane once more - this time ahead of the wolf.  He arrived in time to see Flick stumble and roll, and took his time lowering himself to the woodland floor.

With a great flapping of wings, he stood over the injured wolf, his feet slightly apart, half a metre back from where Flick lay.

"Change," he ordered softly, demanding to see the man and not the beast - even though they were one and the same.  He was vaguely aware of eyes watching; woodland creatures stunned into silence at the supernatural display.  It was unnaturally quiet, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

[Black Philip]

Flick changed instantly into vampire form. He almost felt as though the choice were not his own. He lay back, looking at the magnificent form of the angel before him. The red wings and dark power emanating from him seemed to almost repulse the nature surrounding him, as if the environment was afraid to touch him. Flick's face was full of mixed emotions. He was afraid of the man more than ever, but at the same time wanted him more than words could speak. He felt paralyzed with emotion. He wanted to leap up into Eiael's arms and bite him. He also wanted to kiss him. The range of emotions he was feeling bordered on borderline.

The vampire kept examining the form of this strange fae and asked again, "What are you?" He was not sure if he would get an answer, but as long as Eiael kissed him he would not be upset by a lack of response. His body stay on the ground, his eyes stared at Eiael.