Ignoring his comment on living forever, Alix paced back and forth as Sumnor spoke. "That's just it, I don't want a 'docile chic that's all lovie-dovie' I want soemone who can actually give me a purpose in life, actually keep my mind busy rather than the mundane I live through each and every day." Those words should have made her feel warm and fuzzy inside but in reality it only made her panic. Her hands grew damp and clammy as she paced four steps forward, turned around, paced four steps again, and repeated the process over again. If she just kept moving maybe she wouldn't freak out.

"Look...I don't know why but you're the only female I've met that makes me feel like there's ever possibly going to be anything there between us, and I'd rather let you know and allow you to make the decision than just sit back and let it all go to waste."

The only one? In 24,000 years of life, unlife or whatever it is, he's never felt like this? No girl has ever tempted him like this? It was too much. Alix didn't think she could ever evoke this kind of emotion out of someone, let alone a man as handsome as Sumnor. He was too much for her. She could never compare with all those other girls that probably flocked after him if he dared to go into a club. He might not go into any just because of the attention. Sumnor didn't seem like the type to sit around while girls cooed over his muscles. He might not do that, but he definitely needs his eyes checked if he likes what he sees about me.

"Pegagnyx," she whispered softly as she stopped her pacing, hoping that saying his surname would keep from getting attached. It was the defense she had come up with since the beginning, refusing to get too close, she wouldn't say his first name. Licking her soft, pink lips, Alix shyly looked at Sumnor before looking away. Closing her eyes and wrinkling her nose as she pressed her index fingers to her temples, she ground out between clenched teeth, "I can't...I need time. I can't do this. Not now."

Opening her eyes and flinging her arms wide she motioned around herself, "I mean, what a time to ask me out! We're out here fighting demons to get this dead uncle of yours back. Then we might make it back to the world after an hour of your chanting." Her words were sharp and biting, but it was only to keep from showing how close she was to breaking down. Looking down at her hands she saw them shaking. Fisting them, Alix quickly put them behind her back. Looking at her dirty tennis shoes, she grumbled, "When are we going to get your uncle anyway?"

Hoping that she could steer the topic of conversation away from danger to mildly hot-water, Alix fidgited. She didn't understand her feelings from Sumnor, and she refused to look too close at them. It was too dangerous. It would hurt too much. Just like when she trusted Sasha too much. Her nerves were strung so tight that deep inside herself she felt the beast. It lurked closer, drawn by the danger that surrounded her. Swollowing her emotion Alix took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Sumnor listened intently, keeping his warm, fiery eyes fixed on Alix as she paced up and down, the odd poke into her mind brought to light that she really did feel the feelings, but she thought that he was too good, or that's what her thoughts were showing, "I am too good for no woman, I never have been and I never will do, and the clubs? yeah, girls do until they learn what I am, people don't tend to like vampires."

Sumnor scratched his chin, realising he hadn't shaved in a few days, chuckling softly inside at how easily he got knocked off track, "If you wish to wait and think about it that is fine, and I appreciate this is the worst way to ask you out down here, fighting demons that are trying to eat us, but I just wanted to let you know, in case I don't make it through this."

Sumnor then stood up and walked away, not bothering to answer the question about a timescale, as even he didn't know when they would manage to bring him back, just hoping it was sooner or later, hating this place. He walked over to Dryac, who by now had almost finished his scan of the area, "If you haven't found them by now you won't find them at all, friend."

"I know, I just noticed you were talking to little miss snotty ar.se over there, I'd rather not interfere in whatever is important enough to make you look as serious as you did." "Oh that, it was nothing, just something I needed to get said amd have her understand it... You know how thorough I am."  A strange beast was grazing a few metres ahead of their position, getting Sumnor's attention with little effort.

At closer look, it ws this world's version of a deer, it had eight legs, two heads, two sets of everything external, he only hoped it was the same inside, "Time for Dinner, Dryac..."  Flitting, he was on the beast's back in a second, digging his fingers into the flesh as to avoid being bucked off, before punching it where one spine met one skull, making half of it's body go limp, before doing the same to the other side, knocking the other side out.

"Go to the afterlife and graze in peace..."  Standing, he began to drag the unconciouss animal carc*censored* over to where Alix and Dryac now sat, dropping it before summoning a fire from the ashes of an old fire, probably hundreds of years old, "Hope you like venicen..." Punching into the ribs, he began to skin the animal, not enjoying it at all.

Her nerves were going crazy. Alix never had been a rational thinker, so when it became obvious that Sumnor had slipped into her thought she took full advantage. "Stay out of my head!" Her sapphire eyes were full of swirling emotions; fear, anger, doubt. Fear was the most reoccurring, and it was also the one that had Alix in a hissy fit. The scent of fear drew her hidden beast forward. It wanted to investigate where the heady scent was coming from. It started to growl when she realized that the fear-scent was coming from Alix, her hackles rose in an effort to appear larger even though she was merely a blurry sight in Alix's mind. The sensation was weird, and it make the hair on the back of Alix's neck raise too. Goose-bumps traveled up her arms when a brush of silky fur pressed against her skin from the inside. Now you decide to come back, where were you before? Alix wondered.

Her eyes took in more detail as she turned to watch Sumnor scratch at his chin. She watched as his long fingers brushed the slightly dark hair that was beginning to show. All around her the smells overwhelmed her nose. The stench of foul blood, thick emotion, and musky male scent. Since none of them had bathed in the past few days their scents were becoming stronger. Her wolf was instantly curious of the smell of another. Watching Sumnor walk away, strong and proud, Alix found herself entranced by the way he moved, but her wolf had other ideas. Her sharp sapphire gaze continued on to gaze at Dryac. His wolf was muscled but still lethally lean. Powerful sloping angles and a steady gaze, Alix knew that the wolf in her was slightly intimidated. Dryac's form was large, typical for males, but maybe just a bit larger than normal. Her minds eye pictured her creamy, white-blond wolf about a head smaller. The she-wolf was also weak from non-use and she was so lean that most would say too thin, nearly emaciated.

When Dryac made a snide comment about her being a pain in the hinny, Alix barely stopped herself from snarling. The shape-shifter still made her nervous, but he was gaining ground every minute he didn't attack her. Alix knew that, even though she could fight, she wouldn't win a battle against Sumnor or Dryac, and instincts told her that Sumnor would be gentler on her than Dryac. The two of them suddenly gazed of into the distance and Alix could pick out a strange beast. What is that thing? she wondered. Then Sumnor was there. He felled the beast so quickly, Alix paused to think if she blinked or not. It was unnerving that a vampire could move that fast, but it made her curious about her limitations on powers as well.

Seeing for herself that there was no immediate threat, the wolf inside Alix disappeared back into the shadows. So when Sumnor came over with the bloody beast Alix clutched her stomach as it rolled. Bring the back of her hand to her mouth, Alix looked away from the butchered meat. If I don't think about it as anything other than an ob
ject I'll be fine. It was never a creature. It was just something that lived and breathed and now its dead. Bloody and stinky, dead. Closing her eyes Alix couldn't believe how her mind could be such a traitor, but the thought bloody and wet kept coming back to mind. Her eyes watered as she squeezed them closed even tighter, biting her lip as she turned away. Taking a deep breath, Alix felt some control coming back...That was until Sumnor said, "Hope you like venicen." With that comment she barely managed, "I'm going to be sick." Before she fell to the ground as her stomach rebelled.

Her eyes burned with tears of humiliation and Alix prayed to her merciful Lord that her hair wouldn't fall forward. That would be a mess that she wanted no part in. Feeling like a sissy, Alix couldn't believe how pitiful she had become. Hunting had been a past time she enjoyed, normally, but the sight of another skinning the beast with bare hands had been too much. Wishing that her wolf had stayed closer, Alix knew that she wouldn't have minded the sight at all. To her it was a way of life, she battled and ate with tooth and claw; but Alix was still clutching to humanity. If I want to survive I think I need to toughen up some more, and let some morals go. Or this world is going to kill me slowly, and I won't have the mercy of it being softly either.

Sumnor laughed softly at Alix, "I'm going to be sick." He continued the skinning process before using his psychic abilities to create a small blade of raw psychic energy, before beginning to cut the meat into joints and steaks, the odd useless piece of meat being discarded into the large fire, "You need to learn to eat what's provided, afterall this is your one life, and however long you wish for it to last, there is nothing after, so live now.... a quote I live by, 'Dream as if you're going to live forever, Live as if you're going to die tomorrow.' It's worked for me so far."

Sumnor popped his knuckles, before wiping them off on an already bloody rag, "Okay.... so what would you like?" Sumnor said it more humerously than seriously, taking three steaks and spearing them on long sticks, before suspending them over the fire with telekenisis, spinning them to make sure they cooked evenly, "You will enjoy this life after a while.... no worries."

Dryac had returned to his human form a few moments before, picking his teeth with one of his ever-lycanthropic finger-nails. "You do, you live to be thrilled, sometimes you start wonderring 'What's the point? what have I got left to be thrilled by?' and then you'll find something new and amazing, this life is truly awesome." Dryac stopped himself, a smile playing on his lips, "And Sumnor's not exactly the most boring of vampires..."

Sumnor jabbed his friends arm lightly, still causing a sting, "I like to think I am the most interesting? I'm very complex." "Oh, you are interesting, I still haven't been able to figure you out completely, and you're fun to be around.... it's strange, no vampires are usually like that." "I know, I hate being among my own kind, I just feel like killing them again.... they're just so stuck in their ways."

OoC: =( I'm sickie...I can't think about anything but my sore throat and stuffy nose. Makes me sad. When my medicine makes me feel better I will post.

~Bump

When Sumnor didn't comfort her with soft hands or kind words Alix felt a little twinge of disappointment, but she quickly squashed it. I am confident, and I am capable. I am proud of how independent I am, she told herself. Her facial features returned to her usual pout; stubborn lips and a furrowed brow. If Alix didn't have the blood of both a vampire and a shifter in her she would of worried about wrinkles, but one plus to being tougher than most was you didn't have to think about that sort of stuff. So bring on all the pouting! she sarcastically though to herself. Wiping the back of her hand across her mouth, Alix grimaced. She didn't even bother asking about some water to rid the foul taste from her mouth, Sumnor would probably give her some smart retort about nothing like that in purgatory. Looking around she noted that the place was pretty barren. With a hefty sigh she turned back to the two men.

Dryac had shifted to human form once again and was sitting near Sumnor, who was still butchering the beast. Averting her eyes since her stomach rolled ominously, Alix gingerly sat across the fire from the two men. Sumnor was lecturing her about how she should appreciate what she has now. She was to eat what was given and enjoy life as it came. It pretty much sounded like a plan until he rambled on about how there was nothing for her after this life. What ever you tell yourself to fall asleep at night, buddy, she thought. Alix knew that having a fight about religion with this old vampire would not be wise. Besides, she was exhausted. Rubbing her eyes with fisted hands Alix wondered if she could get some sleep. Having just tossed her cookies, she wasn't in any mood to eat, or drink, anything. Her body was sore and tired since she didn't get the best of sleep the night before and battling crazy demons takes a lot out of a girl.

When Sumnor jokingly asked, "Okay, so what would you like?" Alix barely kept her yapper shut because all she wanted to say was; a nice warm bed, twin size is acceptable, with a good book, nice fleece blanket, hot coco sitting on the nightstand, with whipcream melting on top, and the promise that in the morning I will wake up and all this was just a dream. Alix was hardly one to complain, well she actually did that a lot, but not about things that couldn't be changed. She took stuff in stride, but this was all happening just a bit too fast for her mind. With half-closed eyes she watched him roast the meat, which made her tummy rebel but she told herself to stop caring. But when Sumnor opened his mouth agian, Alix couldn't stop herself. "You will enjoy this life after a while.... no worries."

"Would you just shut your pie-hole!" She growled from her sitting position on the rocky ground. "I've had just about enjoy of you telling me what to do, oh wise mentor. I'm about ready to kick the stuffing out of you!" Her venomous words were offset by her p*censored*ive behavior, since Alix was now lying down. She shifted for a few moments, cradling her head on her arm, to get comfortable, all the while grumbling, "I've been doing just fine, if you ask me. Pretty accepting and even if I have my say about your orders, I at least do them." Closing her eyes, Alix clearly stated the conversation was over. Her black shirt with her white-block lettered name was stretched a little tight because of her odd position and her black jeans had flecks of dried blood on them. She had curled her legs up close to her chest so she was in a relaxed fetal position. Her long, blonde braid stretched out behind her, a safe distance from the fire that was warming her cold cheeks and nose.

Letting each muscle relax, Alix listened to Dryac and Sumnor banter like the old friends they were. It was soothing, in an odd way, to hear strong voices. Even if she snapped and growled, Alix wouldn't really bite because, in reality, she enjoyed the company. She had missed the solidness of a pack, and she had quickly become attatched to these men. Alix thought enough about them to think of them as her own little pack. Each had their own oppinion, but they would defend each other to the end. It scared her a bit, but Alix also drew comfort from this fact. She just hoped that they wouldn't betray her like her family had...or worse. What if I somehow betrayed them? She shivered at the thought.

Since sleep was avoiding her again, Alix frowned and, with her eyes still closed, questioned Sumnor, "Old man, aren't you a bit stuck in your own ways too? Don't be too judgmental, it always comes back to bite you in the behind."

"Would you just shut your pie-hole!" That was the first thing to get a hold on Sumnor's temper switch, and cause him to curl his fingers into the ground, "I've had just about enjoy of you telling me what to do, oh wise mentor. I'm about ready to kick the stuffing out of you!" The fists of soil were becoming much mroe compact as he squokze, attempting to bite down on the ever rising anger.

"I've been doing just fine, if you ask me. Pretty accepting and even if I have my say about your orders, I at least do them." His fists left the soil as an energy built up in his body, one he always felt when somebody managed to rile him, it was murderous, evil, not what he wanted as a vampire, "Old man, aren't you a bit stuck in your own ways too? Don't be too judgmental, it always comes back to bite you in the behind."

Sumnor flitted, haster than he ever had before, appearing on the other side of the fire as if he ahd teleported, wrapping a hand around her throat and pinning her against the cavernous rock wall of this world, "Watch your slanderous tongue, girl, else I'll rip it out and feed it to these horrible demons, and make you watch. If anyone in this world is stuck in their ways, it is you, I have lived for 24,000 years, don't attempt to insult somebody that has lived for that long, had to adapt to survive."

He was hoping the talking would calm him down, but it hadn't, he threw her to the ground and flitted away, still moving faster than usual, "Damn.... this isn't going to be good, follow me."  Dryac morphed into his wolf form, before flitting in an attempt to follow Sumnor, "Y'know it's been 7,567 years since he lost it like this? you don't want to know what happened to the last person to cause it."

The second Sumnor's hand clasped around her throat Alix about went ballistic as instincts welled up inside of her. Yet all that she allowed herself to do was growl. The deep throated rumbled escaped from her behind her sneering lips, as her body trembled. The heady, strong scent of fear poured off of her in waces, but anger did as well. She had a temper that didn't often show, but it was there. Alix had only hinted at it so far. She would constantly bait people, making in impossible for anyone to resist the fight that she promised. Heat was gathering inside of her as adrenaline kicked in. She wanted to fight. She wanted to fight so badly, but she made herself--forced herself to stay still. Sumnor was like no opponent she had even faced, but that was what was so tempting. The scents were overwhelming her and the wolf that kept creeping closer to the surface, but she held still.

She fisted her hands to her sides to keep from smashing fingers into pressure points that would only piss the vampire off even more, but the lack of defense on her part was making her wolf go crazy. The smell of blood and begin held down was frightening the wolf. She thought that Sumnor was an enemy attacking, and at the moment Alix wasn't sure if she doubted the wolf, but she wasn't about to attack. Holding still was an act of strength in and of itself. By holding still, Alix was showing that she didn't fear him. That she didn't believe he would actually do any harm to her. It could be taken as insulting or highly trusting. At the moment, Alix also didn't know which one she was trying to prove. The wolf slashed her ivory claws across Alix's belly and she winced as real pain coursed through her abdomen. The wolf was frighteningly close to surfacing. If she came now, Alix knew that it would be painful. The she-wolf wanted out to fight tooth and claw against Sumnor, and Alix wondered if she could stop her.

The unyielding earth, sharp and uneven, bit into her back as she forced herself to lay still. Sumnor's eyes were shifting colors of red, orange, and gold so fast it looked like molten lava as she glared into his eyes. Her sapphire eyes were polar opposite. Icy and still, they narrowed defiantly as if they could freeze the burning temper that was inside Sumnor as it built inside of her.

"Watch your slanderous tongue, girl, else I'll rip it out and feed it to these horrible demons, and make you watch. If anyone in this world is stuck in their ways, it is you, I have lived for 24,000 years, don't attempt to insult somebody that has lived for that long, had to adapt to survive."

It wasn't a pretty picture he painted for her, but Alix didn't even bl
ink an eye. She kept her glare steady on him as he spoke, inches from her face. Her lips curled into a snarl as she fought the urge to bite at him. The wolf wanted to have a piece of him just as much as she did. Though, there was still a rational part of mind in Alix that told her not to anger Sumnor further. Then, in a blur of motion, Alix responded on instinct as Sumnor lifted her head off the ground and threw her back as he let go. Rolling with the motion her limbs moved so fast her mind couldn't keep up, first her body spun so that she was facing down, then her hands caught her before she kissed the ground, and finally her legs sprang her forward. Safely on her feet, Alix was stunned that the whole thing happened in less than a second. Her arms held up defensively, she stalked Sumnor with her gaze.

When Dryac spoke, Alix nearly jumped out of her skin. She watched as he swiftly morphed into a wolf and felt her own wolf whine because she wanted out too. Shut-up you hussy, I'm not about to let you out now. Alix thought to her wolf. With a watchful eye on Sumnor, Alix didn't quite turn her back on him as she followed Dryac out away from their make-shirt camp. Her body trembling with unsatisfied adrenaline, Alix quickly went to work exercising different defense and offence sequences. Each movement was fluid and planned, completely in control. Exactly the opposite of what she wanted in that moment. "Y'know it's been 7,567 years since he lost it like this? you don't want to know what happened to the last person to cause it," to Alix it was strange hearing Dryac's deed, masculine voice coming out of a wolf's body, but it didn't bother her. It just seemed strange; she thought it would have been more yippy in this form.

"I don't really care," she grunted as she swiped at an invisible enemy with her leg and swung into a vicious punch. "He probably tortured the poor soul like he threatened me and killed him. End of story. Not my problem." Her braid didn't whip around wildly, but swayed behind her back without distracting her. Her hands and feet were finally becoming more rhythmic, and she wasn't sweating as much because her temperature was cooling down. Though, it was still hard for her to not turn around and take a swing or two at Sumnor. He had a lot of nerve saying that she was stuck in her own ways. She missed what she used to have and she stubbornly believed in what she believed was true. There was nothing wrong with that in her eyes. It's not like she blamed him for his ways or beliefs. Arrogant, old son of a gun, she grumbled to herself as she scowled and punched at the air with more intent than before.

Finally feeling a bit worn out, Alix plopped down onto the ground in her usual casual grace. Looking up at Dryac's wolf, her suddenly wished she could pet him. Her mind off Sumnor for the moment, Alix noted that his wolf's fur looked silky soft besides a few scars and other battle wounds from today, and all the years before. Licking her lips, Alix asked blunlty, "Can I pet you?" Lifting her hand, careful of the teeth, she offered it up slowly.

Dryac's version of flitting stayed steady as he tracked Sumnor, staying at a safe distance, not wanting to get into anything with the vicious vampire, "He probably tortured the poor soul like he threatened me and killed him. End of story. Not my problem." "No, he actually butcherred the poor soul's family in front of his eyes, ripiing them to shreds slowly, his parents, his wife... finally he felt he had put his point across and left the idiot to live the rest of his life out, leaving him with the images he ahd given him... he does not show his vampiric side very often, but you may have just pushed him that far."

Sumnor stopped at the next gate, morphing into his vampiric state, his skin tinged with a tint of red, his fingernail extended by around 5 inches and as hard as steel, his eyes no longer just red of iris, but two red globes in his head. His hair seemed darker, possibly because of a hue of dark red, blood red, he just seemed to look ever more intimidating.

He ripped through demons like a scissor through paper, torso's and limbs being thrown everywhere, he knew they mated but he did not know they did it whilst lying in ambush, the numbers of demons he had caught in the act was surprising even for a vampire of his years, but he did not differentiate between them, only butcherring any that lay in his wake.

Once he had killed them all, he looked from side to side, red smoke billowing from the sides of his eyes, "Come on! is that all you've got?!" He saw a young child sitting against the wall, with his knees held up to his chest, nasty lookinc cuts up and down his legs, the boy was human.... the demons must have dragged the child through the other side of the inter-world link.

The mere sight caused Sumnor to return to his more human state, staling on long legs over to the boy, before crouching by him, "I'm sorry you had to see that.... although I'm sure what I did was a relief after what must have been happening to you..." He spat on his fingers and rubbed it into the cuts, wincing against the boy's pain but relieved the cuts healed. "You'll have to come with us.... I can train you up, when you're old enough you can be like me, and you can get revenge on everyone and everything who has ever wronged you in your lifetime."

Dryac looked at Alix suspiciously, whilst watching the sight unfold before his eyes, ignoring Alix's strange question before morphing to human, walking over to his friend and the boy he had found, "Well you got us to the next gate in surprising time..." Sumnor smiled in embarr*censored*ment, hand on the bo's shoulder, comforting him in every way he could.

Sulking a little since Dryac brushed aside her question, Alix sighed. She was slightly uncomfortable with her surroundings when she finally realized that they had traveled farther than she noticed. Before them a group of demons were guarding another gate; some with more interest than others. The hair on the back of her neck rose when Sumnor's strong aurora of power pressed against her. Turning to glance over her shoulder, Alix gasped. Sumnor’s skin had taken on a red tint and his nail looked like claws, or daggers. His ebony hair rippled in the waves of his power and streaks of a deep crimson bolted through it. This was the man that Alix could fear. Before, when he had attacked her, Sumnor had merely forced compliance on her part. Now he was letting all control slip from his conscious mind and letting the monstrous instincts out. This was the man to fear because he was not truly a man anymore but a monster. She began to tremble as he tore through the layers of demons. The front demons fought back and tired to defend themselves, but they were no match for Sumnor. The second la
yer was beginning to panic so they tried to flee, but escape was not within their fate. Then the inner most la
yer was exposed. Closing her eyes and looking away, Alix couldn’t watch as more were butchered; these ones were in acts of intimacy to her surprise. Why does there have to be death? she wondered sadly. To her, every being living, undead, or otherwise deserved a chance to live a life of their pleasure as long as it didn’t involve interfering with another’s chance at life.

“Come on! Is that all you've got?!” he bellowed.

Flinching at the harsh words, Alix grabbed her elbows and huddled in on herself. Glad that she didn’t have to take part in this fight, she wondered how many more gates there would be. Blinking her teary eyes, which were a deep dark blue like a tempest ocean, she forced herself to think more like Sumnor. These demons would have killed you before even batting an eyelash. Its better that he killed them than them kill you. Still her naïve mind tried to tell her that there could have been another way. Her conscious nagged at her about the nightmare to come. Feeling worn to the bone, Alix wanted to throw her hands in the air and scream with frustration. Why is this uncle so important? she silently whined when something that Sumnor was bending over caught her attention. “What have we here,” she mumbled to herself as she trotted away from Dryac.

A small boy, probably no older than eight, was huddled on the ground. A mop of dark, curly brown hair covered most of his face, which was hidden behind hands as well at the moment. He looked so scared, and what child wouldn’t be after all the demons that had surrounded him. See! She shot back at her conscious; the demons deserved what they got! In a practiced motion, Sumnor spit on his hands and rubbed it over the lacerations on the boy’s arms and legs. The minor wounds healed as she watched in fascination. Sadly Alix knew that her fascination also had to do with the fact that this was the first human she had seen since becoming a vampire. The scent of the boy’s fear mixed with his blood was tempting to her monstrous side, but she kept a tight leash on those thoughts and merely observed without getting too close. When Sumnor spoke about keeping him, Alix's eyes about bugged from her head. "Where keeping him?" she squeaked. "He doesn't look like he'll make it through much. Why don't we just drop him off at some house when we get back to the real world." Or I might wake up with a midnight snake dangling from my mouth which will most definitly push me off the loony side. "Besides, it's not like your going to play daddy and do baseball games and stuff, he deserves those things." Her sapphire eyes locked onto the boy again as she ment the words. He didn't need to learn to fight and kill, or take revenge on those who hurt him. He should go back to his home and have tender loving care...if that's what he'll go back to.

Shaking her head, Alix reached around to fiddle with her braid because she was afraid that if her hands weren't busy they might grab something else; like that boy smelling so good with his fear-scent surrounding him. Then with a groan, Alix smacked her forehead, "How rude am I." Pointing to her shirt, she said, "If you can read, I'm Alix. That's Sumnor right there with you, and Dryac's over there," she pointed off to the side, "what's your name?"

Sumnor was bouncing the boy up and down in his arms, laughing and playing with him, poking his chin and cooing slightly, "Yes We're keeping him, insolent one." Sumnor sat the boy on his shoulders, giving him his iPod, deciding he needed it mroe than Sumnor right now, "Make it through much? Do you not understand what he's made it through already? Hordes of demons and he made it out with a few scratches."

Sumnor stretched slightly, the transformation leaving him with a few knots, "And as for me being a daddy, I'd obviously make a better father than I would a partner... and besides, he seems happier in my presence... first child that has seemed to like me." "Sumnor nice man."  The boy clamped his hands over his mouth, not meaning to pipe up already

Sumnor smiled slightly, poking the boy's legs playfully, "My name's Ryan, I'm seven years and eight months old."  Ryanhad a smug ex
pression on his face, proud he was able to recite it so easily, "When's your birthday Ryan?" "November 13th." "Nice date, mine's four days later." Bobbing Ryan up and down once again, Sumnor started to walk, an odd feeling of pride washing over him.

Dryac walked beside Alix, "You really need to watch your tongue, my temper may be quicker than Sumnor's, but when he loses it, you regret it."  He had his hands in the pockets of his trechcoat, having reverted to human form. "And besides, he'd make a brilliant father.... and what's all this about 'partners'?"

Snapping her teeth at Sumnor's tease, Alix wanted to trottle him. Having never felt comfortable around children, Alix felt even more out of whack than before. With a little boy tagging along with them she would have to keep herself in control, mostly this cursed mouth of hers. Since her tongue kept getting her in trouble and these horrid fangs kept biting into her lower lip. With an impatient sigh, Alix watched with guarded eyes as Sumnor easily chatted with the little runt, and it was true that the little boy had lightened up in the few minutes spent with him. The little boy's eyes were bright and delighted as Sumnor bounced him on a knee, then placed him on his broad shoulders. He took in their typical bantering conversation and chirped, "Sumnor nice man."

Instinctively Alix corrected, "Sumnor is a nice man." A look of fright crossed over her face as she lifted her brows, eyes a bit wide, and clamped a hand over her mouth. Noting that she was acting out of sorts, and not wanting to draw attention to herself, Alix dropped her hand and wiggled around uncomfortably. She had never said Sumnor's name aloud before and it felt wickedly good coming off her tongue. All it took was that little runt too, she thought. I wonder what else he'll get me to say. With a brooding pout up at the boy, Alix decided to stay quiet from now on...or until she couldn't last any longer since she was a bit talkative by nature. Well, more than just a little.

With a roll of her eyes, Alix couldn't help but smile as Sumnor chatted with the boy who supplied answers without pause. "My name's Ryan, I'm seven years and eight months old." To her surprise she had been close to guessing his age. Alix was never around children so it was a lucky guess. Having been shooed out of the clan before coming of an age to look after pups and babies, she lacked any maternal qualities. When Sasha had introduced her to his niece, a eight month old baby, Alix had turned white as a ghost when holding the infant. Sasha had also quickly taken the baby away when it had started crying because, as he later told Alix, she had looked about ready to faint or start crying herself. Yup, she thought with mild sadness, I won't be having any children of my own unless the daddy wants to be stay at home "mommy" while I go to work. Yet she knew that with the life she led, having a family wasn't really an option. Too dangerous and Alix didn't think she could adjust either. Too much time in the woods had led her to enjoy moving frequently, and this was not something for a stable relationship.

Sumnor's deep, mysteriously accented voice brought her from her thoughts, "When's your birthday Ryan?"

"November 13th," Ryan proudly stated.

"Nice date, mine's four days later." Sumnor replied as if talking with little children was a former job of his. He made it look so easy as he started walking again with the boy holding fists of his hair to keep balanced while he excitedly looked around them. Sumnor even looked different. Though, if you asked Alix how, she could quite say. It was also surprising how easily Sumnor supplied personal things to the little boy as well. Sumnor's birthday is the 17th? Alix thought with wonder. She almost felt compelled to add her own birthday, but thought better of it. Yet...after all these years Sumnor still holds his birthday close to him. A small, small smile graced her lips beofre she caught it and pouted again.

Keeping a slower pace, Alix walked next to Dryac a bit behind Sumnor. Sumnor and she were not on the best of terms, she guessed after his comments before. Alix knew she deserved this, but it still pricked her. I can't help it that I'm a bit emotional and stubborn, she pouted defensively to herself. "You really need to watch your tongue, my temper may be quicker than Sumnor's, but when he loses it, you regret it." Dryac softly spoke, interrupting her crazy thoughts. Thankfully, she inwardly sighed. "And besides, he'd make a brilliant father.... and what's all this about 'partners'." Instantly the hair on her arms and neck rose as her heart rate increased.

"Don't get your undies in a bunch over my business," she snapped quickly, and just as quickly groaned. "Wait, I take it back. I..." Frustrated and extremely emotional for no reason, Alix reached for her braid and began to untie it; wanting to keep her hands busy she combed through the loose strands. After a pause, she whispered, "I'm not very good at this." Giving Dryac a glare that didn't quite have enough menace in it, Alix poked him in the chest before grumbling, "I don't apologize much, but you're right. I've been hard on you and Pegagnyx, and I'm sorry about that." Counting the days in her head, Alix went on, "I've been a vampire for four days now, and this has been a bit overwhelming. I can't say I'm normally nicer than this, cause I'm not, but I can usually keep my coments to myself. It's just that the stress has been a bit much. I haven't even really come to terms with what I am, let alone this relationship talk-"

Shutting her mouth, Alix glanced at Dryac then up to Sumnor. Nibbling her lip, which hurt since the fangs didn't want to go away with the nice smelling boy right in front of her, she hoped that Dryac wouldn't question her further. I mean, would he? They are friends, but I don't really know him much and this is all so complicated. Wanting nothing more than to wake up from this confusion, Aix closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. Not paying attention to where she was going, though, she tripped over a rock and wheeled forward. With a girly squeak, Alix grabbed for anything in front of her, which was Sumnor's shirt, and rushed forward hoping that the momentum would keep her standing. It sort of did. Her face smushed into Sumnor's broad, unyeilding, muscular back as her arms wrapped around him to keep from falling backwards. Her eyes still closed, Alix clung to Sumnor like a baby monkey. Not really knowing what to do now, she stood still, just clinging to him, and prayed that he wouldn't start laughing at her. Yeah right, Alix! You're as clumsy as a dancer with two left feet, who wouldn't laugh at this!