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Darren nodded and chuckled a bit. "Yeah the ladder would probably be easier. I took the tree the first time around."

He went over, grabbed the ladder, and brought it close to the spot where his pack was, then climbed and held his hand out to help her up when she got close to the top of the ladder. Once they were both securely on the roof top, he leaned over to his pack, which was still up there, and pulled out the tools he'd been using before they started eating. "This may look confusing at first. I'll explain everything in a minute."

He touched the button on his watch again, and showed her the light. He then proceeded to follow the exact same steps he'd done when he was trying to solve the mystery earlier. The ring, followed by the clear lenses, and finally the liquid. They all had the same reaction they did previously. He put them away, turned off the light on the watch, again, then turned to her, then took a deep breath. This was going to be a long explaination.

"I left out a key bit of information when I explained to you and Amos what I do. I really am a mercenary of sorts. But the more accurate title would be a hunter. I am often employed to hunt down creatures that most people deem to be supernatural. I generally only take the job if I feel there is an honest threat, but others like me don't care if there's a threat or not. Some are hunters purely for the enjoyment of killing. This gear that I've got is designed to show me different things. The light on the watch tells me something other than a regular animal or human is nearby. The ring amplifies the signal, the lenses react to a certain frequency of the signal, and the liquids flesh out some details from that specific frequency. It would be insanely complex to go into exact detail. Suffice it to say that I know you're not fully human. I also know you're not werewolf. In fact, you're something I've never encountered before. Now you've shown me nothing but kindness and I'd like to return the favor. You and Dozer are reacting at the same time that I'm getting alerts to other supernatural things happening. Something is watching us, or more specifically, watching you. I think it's trying to contact you, and I don't know why. I can probably help, but I need to know what you are, first." Darren took another deep breath and prayed that he hadn't overloaded her with information. With mages, he could tell when they were and weren't aware of their hidden nature. He hoped he hadn't made a drastic mistake and let the cat out of the bag about Nalya not being human before she knew herself...but it was necessary, and it was too late now.
 
Nalya climbed up behind him and graciously took his hand with a kind smile when she reached the top. She immediately shuffled over to the chimney and peeked in.


"Nope, no Santa." She giggled like a school girl which actually wasn't far off being she was due to turn 18 in just a few weeks.

"So Hun, what was so important that you felt the need to drag me up here?"

Nalya watched as Darren fiddled with his watch. He then took a deep breath and proceeded to explain......


"I left out a key bit of information when I explained to you and Amos what I do. I really am a mercenary of sorts. But the more accurate title would be a hunter. I am often employed to hunt down creatures that most people deem to be supernatural. I generally only take the job if I feel there is an honest threat, but others like me don't care if there's a threat or not. Some are hunters purely for the enjoyment of killing. This gear that I've got is designed to show me different things. The light on the watch tells me something other than a regular animal or human is nearby. The ring amplifies the signal, the lenses react to a certain frequency of the signal, and the liquids flesh out some details from that specific frequency. It would be insanely complex to go into exact detail. Suffice it to say that I know you're not fully human. I also know you're not werewolf. In fact, you're something I've never encountered before. Now you've shown me nothing but kindness and I'd like to return the favor. You and Dozer are reacting at the same time that I'm getting alerts to other supernatural things happening. Something is watching us, or more specifically, watching you. I think it's trying to contact you, and I don't know why. I can probably help, but I need to know what you are, first."

Nalya sat carefully on the roof and listened. She didn't say a word, she just blinked and blinked again with the look of total confusion and bewilderment on her face.

Once he said..... Suffice it to say that I know you're not fully human, her jaw dropped and she wasn't sure if that was an insult or what it was exactly.

Nalya didn't say a word until he was finished cus her Momma taught her manners, but once he was done she tried to process it all and figure out if this was a joke. Her eyes just starred at the guy as she was at a lost for words.

"Umm, hmm," she paused. "Heck fellow, I want some of what you been smoking."
All he said was now flipping around in her head and she had begun to feel a bit insulted especially after the kindness she had jus shown this jackass.

"Well, umm, thanks for the info Darren, I'll make sure to remember this the next time a stranger comes to my door."

She rolled her eyes and stood up and headed to the ladder.

"If we're done here I got a guest to tend to. As for you Darren, your welcome to sit here and wait for the UFO to pick your crazy ass back up."

With a huff she proceeded back down the ladder but didn't go back into the house, instead she headed into the shed and flopped down on a tool box.

Nalya sat there, feelings hurt and a bit angry with what this guy had just accused her of being, or not being for that matter. After a few seconds passed Dozer came trotting in and sat next to her. Being in tune with her feelings as he always was he laid his paw on her lap as if trying to comfort her. She looked over at the gentle giant and wrapped her arms around his neck and let her head lean against his.

"What the hell is wrong with some people?" She talked to Dozer as if he would actually understand her. In that moment her furry friend placed a loving lick upon her cheek.

"No Baby, it's ok, you don't have to chase him off."

Nalya sighed wishing her Pa was here to take care of things such as this like he had done so many times in the past. She thought back on when the school kids would make fun of her for talking to all the critters that would be around the play ground. A tear ran down her cheek..........

"Maybe he's right Dozer, maybe I ain't human after all."
 
Darren sighed as she huffed and ranted and eventually left. He mumbled to himself. "You're just full of mistakes tonight, hunter. Good thing you're not under contract right now."

He watched her as she went out of sight and shook his head. "Whoever was watching us has something to do with this." He took a quick look at his instruments, then put his glasses back on and searched around, but it was useless. Whoever it was had gone completely.

"Well..." He continued to speak quietly to himself as he got up and climbed down with his pack. He walked a short distance away from the house and set a few alarms. If something came near the house, it'd be lit up like a Christmas tree to most hunters, since hunters couldn't really be considered 100% human themselves. "...might as well keep an eye out for her."

Darren wasn't about to leave Nalya and Amos now. Someone or something was after her, for one reason or another, and Amos didn't exactly seem like the type to just leave when things got hairy. Nalya was kind, and she was determined, and whatever the reason she was being watched, Darren wouldn't even consider leaving her to deal with it on her own. Something was telling him that she was going to need his experience sooner rather than later, and he intended to repay her kindness just as he'd said. It wasn't the first time someone thought he was insane, or rude, or some combination of the two, and it most likely wouldn't be the last, either.
 
There was a hissss coming from behind Nalya and then a rattling sound that seem'd to move around the box Nalya was sitting on.

"Don't move Dozer." Nalya knew that sound and she knew that if Dozer moved he could frighten the Timber Rattler. Dozer did as he was told and Nalya leaned over and scooped the snake up in her hands.

"Hey there Sweetums, " she allowed the snake to slither along her arm and rest around her neck, "what are you doing out this time of night? Oh I see, well lets go inside and I'll get you a snack."

"Dozer, you best go home now, I'll be jus fine."

Dozer did as he was told and returned to the house next door where Eli and Ms ALba lived.

"Now Sweetums," she tickled the snakes under belly, " you best behave yourself once inside. I have a guest and he may not take to kindly to ya."

Nalya entered the house through the back door, well, there wasn't really a door there. She made her way back into the room where Amos was still sitting.

"I apologize Amos for taken so long. Uh, your not a afraid of snakes are ya?"
 
Amos had dealt with his fair share of rattler's out in the Bayou. His idea seemed to be a great deal different than hers however. One a live rattle snake could kill you very easily, second they tasted real good in a pot of gumbo. Only people he had ever seen handle the snakes like this were Shadow Man and the White Witches.

"I mean to say cher, I believe you got the touch..." A nervous smile came over Amos then and he could see his momma sittin' there at the hearth. "You start milkin' that thing and Ill swear you the image of my momma."

He finished his meal and a piece of pie that he got himself while the other two were outside.

"Where's Darren?"
 
Darren ended up repositioning himself on the rooftop above the homeless community, again. It was a good vantage point. He could see Nalya's house, and most of the surrounding area. Plus, if something was going to do anything violent, the homeless were often the first targets. They were easy to find, often didn't fight much because they had little to lose, and if they did fight there was a good chance they'd be weak and sick, and they wouldn't be missed by very many people.

Darren set up his gear, and refocused his efforts on detection. Something was definitely out there, and whatever it was, he knew it would be back at some point in time. All he had to do, was be aware when it happened.
 
Nalya laid the snake around her neck so that she could have her hands free to clean up the mess from dinner.

"What happen to Darren?" Amos asked.

Without looking up she shrugged her shoulders carefully as to no to disturb the snake.

"I dunno. He made some crazy comment about how he thought I wasn't human so I left him up there on the roof."

Try as she might she could not keep the hurt feelings from showing on her face. She gathered up the paper dishes and plastic cups and tossed them in a pail. Then she took a role of plastic wrap and covered Ms Alba's peach pie. Lifting it she handed over to Amos.

"Her ya go my Dear, this will be better off with you. I am sure Ms Alba won't mind my giving it to you."

Laying the pie down on the crate near Amos she then went over to a hole in the wall and gently lay the snake out of it.

"You go now Sweetumns, I can hear the rats rummaging around out back."

"So Amos, you and Dog are more than welcome to spend the night. Theres a cot over there in the other room with fresh linens on it. As for me I am beat and I'm gonna go lay in my hammock thats hanging in the parlor."
 
"I think well head on back to our place..." He said standing and taking the plate to the pale that he saw Nalya place the others into. "You be well now, and Ill stop in and check on ya every now and then. The meal was much appreciated."

He smiled warmly to her. He couldnt remember the last time he was able to genuinely smile at someone. All this that had happened to her and she was still in the spirits that she was. "Dog, load up" were the only other words spoken and the brindle mutt was out the door and heading to the truck.

"You ever need anything, you just let me know!" with that he turned to head out.
 
Darren watched Amos begin the process of leaving. He hadn't placed any listening equipment at the house. He wasn't all that concerned with what went on there...at least not with anything he wouldn't be able to see, anyway. His concern was what lay elsewhere.

With that in mind, he started making minor adjustments to his equipment to try and find whatever it was. Every once in a while he would get an alert of a supernatural creature nearby, but every time it was only detecting Nalya. He had to make constant adjustments because of it, which was quite tricky. It was impossible to get the gear to ignore Nalya but still detect other creatures. He eventually just watched her blip for signs of change, in case something else happened to her. Otherwise, he extended the scan range gradually, looking as carefully as he could for anything, both energy and creature. "Alright you sly devil. Where are you?"
 
The suns rays poked through the cracks of the wooden shack and caressed her face instantly waking her up which she welcomed. She had much to do this day now that the girl was discovered. Sitting up she tossed aside the sleeping bag and rose to her feet. There sitting in the window edge was her faithful companion Shadow, a long haired, pitch black cat.

Meow......Shadow greeted her every morning with her tail raised high and a meow.

"Morning my love." Stepping over to the window the woman lovingly stroked the cats back.
"Yes I know, your hungry, I will fetch your breakfast as soon as we have our little talk."

Shadow leaped from her perch and onto the woman's shoulders letting her tail lay across the woman's face.

"Now now my Love, you remember what we talked about last night don't you?" The cat seemed to nod in reply to the woman's question. "Alright my sweet one," the woman walked over to a small wooden table where a box of cat food sat, "here ya go. And don't forget, once your finished you must be on your way. That girl will surely welcome you in."

Shadow ate the last bit of crumb in her dish then immediately scampered out the door and headed through the woods toward Nalya's home.
 
Darren sat and waited patiently. Patience was mandatory in this line of work. That is, unless you enjoyed dying. Or worse, getting turned into something else.

Waiting through the night wasn't all that unusual. Losing insane amounts of sleep wasn't unusual, either. Still, he would rather have been able to rest. But, he would have a chance to sleep at one point or another. For now, he continued to watch his instruments, and the surrounding landscape. He saw the little cat, and thought very little of it. Still, there wasn't exactly a lot to do at the moment, so he watched the feline.

He watched as it moved, quite deliberately. "Odd." He thought. "Cats don't usually move like that." On a typical basis, he still probably wouldn't have thought anything of it. After all, his instruments weren't reading anything unusual, and he'd come to trust them. But being on such high alert, the movements of the animal caught his attention. It covered a large amount of distance in a small amount of time. Not that moving quickly was out of the norm for a feline, but moving from the direction he simply knew he saw something earlier, and heading straight for Nalya's house...well in his mind, coincidences didn't exist.

The hunter grabbed his gear and dismounted from the roof quickly, making sure to avoid being seen by the homeless people in the building, though they were mostly still asleep at this point. He moved alightly closer, and climbed the fire escape of another nearby building. It gave him a greater vantage point of Nalya's house, though at the sacrifice of a large portion of the surrounding area. Nevertheless, it was Nalya he was concerned with right now, so he chose to stick with that plan...and pray.
 
"What the?"

Nalya's eyes fluttered open and there sitting on her chest she was greeted by a adorable black feline.

"Well hello there." Nalya was pleasantly suprized to find that she had been awoken by a new friend.

The cat laid down along Nalya and reached it's front feet foward until they touched her face.

"It's nice to meet you as well fuzzy one, what brought you here to me this day?"

Meow was all that the cat said but to Nalya it was much more.

"Sure I can get you something to eat."

Grasping the cat around the waist Nalya placed it then on her shoulders which the cat comfortably laid it's self over her shoulders and together they headed into what was once the kitchen. Nalya placed the cat on the counter and then proceeded to search for a can of tuna which she happily opened and presented to the cat.
 
At least 17 people were reportedly wounded during a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans on Sunday. Among the victims was reportedly a 10-year-old girl who was grazed by one of the bullets.
 
Darren sighed as he overheard the news report. He grumbled something under his breath about 'what if this' and 'if only that.' He normally would have taken up the hunt for the suspects. There were several times where a hunter was used to find fugitives and wanted criminals. They'd find the person, then call the cops to come and take the credit for locating them, and get a nice hefty bounty from doing very little work. But right now, Darren's concentration was on Nalya. He had no idea what was after her, but something was, and he planned on being around when it tried again...that was, if it hadn't already tried with this cat...
 
Nalya was happy to of made a new friend but it was getting late and she had to get ready for work. Her hand stroked the cat's back as she spoke.....

"There ya go my Love, you just make yourself at home while I am off at my job. I will try and sneak some fresh meat scraps home for you tonight. Oh and if Dozer comes over for a visit, try not to get him to wound up."

Leaving the cat on the counter she made way to the bedroom and prepared herself in her work clothes and tied a red bandana around her head to keep her hair from falling into her face. Mr. DuBois was pretty strict when it came to your hair hanging over the food. Once she was dressed and ready to leave she took one last look to see where her new friend was and seeing it was content with it's bowl of tuna she set out on foot to the French Quarters. It was no more than a couple of miles into town but the walk didn't faze her..

Once out side she felt a shiver run up her spine. She stopped and looked around feeling as if she was being watched but she saw no one in the area that she hadn't recognized or that appeared to be watching her. Shruggin it off she continued on her way,

"Morning Ms Alba!"

She waved to her neighbor as she did every morning. Ms Alba was always sitting on her front stoop every morning snapping peas or fussin with some other vegetable that she had grown in her garden. If any one had a green thumb is was Ms Alba.

"See ya tonight Ms Alba, oh an by the way, I have a new furry house guest so make sure Dozer doesn't doesn't go running in and frighten her tay."
 
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The woman was soon to follow the cat, her plan worked. With a almost wicked grin upon her face she set forth to set the rest of her plan into action.


"Her Shadow! Oh my dear sweet kitty where can you be?" The woman acted as if she was searching for her dear pet, acting almost frantic that she couldn't find her. She rushed down the road peeking under cars and bushes as if trying to locate her.


"Shadow!" She'd call out to the cat knowing damn well where she was and that Nalya took this road when she headed for her job, she knew she'd be running into her any moment.

"Oh kitty......where are you?"

There she was, Nalya had just come out from her front yard and started down the road toward the woman and could now hear her calls to the feline.
 
Darren slid down from the roof and continued on as expertly as any special ops agent trying to remain hidden with their movements. He saw Nalya talk to Alba for a minute. She was a sweet old lady, but not to his concern. He also caught the sound of the other woman easily.

"How convenient." Even his thoughts to himself were dripping with sarcasm. "The little 'lost' kitty who went directly to Nalya now has someone looking for it...who just so happens to be headed directly for Nalya's path."

Darren pulled out one of his handguns that Amos had been so impressed with before, and he moved to a spot that was about halfway between Nalya and the mystery woman, but he remained hidden. He tapped his watch to turn it back on so if anything unnatural came up, he'd know, then careful aim at her, and waited.
 
Nalya hurried down the street and as she came closer to the mysterious woman she smiled and said good day like she would any other time she would past someone along her way. The worried look on the woman's face grabbed Nalya's attention and she was just about to speak when the woman beat her to it.

"Excuse me," she reached for Nalya's arm. With a frantic tone and the look of worry upon her face she asked, "I'm sorry to bother you my Dear but by any chance have to seen a adorable pure black fluffy kitty? Her name is Shadow and she seems to of snuck out some time during the night. She's only a few months old and I fear not very street wise,....by any chance have you seen her?"


All the while she spoke she kept her hold on Nalya's arm which Nalya thought was a bit odd.

"I have actually met a cat with that description," Nalya attempted to take a step back in hopes the woman would release her hold of her arm....which she finally did, "I had awoken to find her sitting on my chest this morning."

"Oh wonderful!" the woman said as a smile spread across her lips. "Can you take me to her?"

Nalya explained to the woman that she would of been more than happy to but she was on her way to work and if she was late she would be fired.

"My employer owns the place called 'SPIRITS" on Bourbon St, if you wish you can meet me there at 6 tonight, thats when I get out and I will be more than happy to bring you to my home. I am sure your kitty will still be there. I gave her a wonderful breakfast so I am sure she will sleep the day away now."

Seeing that Nalya was not going to acomadate her the woman's tone changed drastically as well as her facial expression. With a harsh tone and the look of extreme displeasure the woman almost blew her cover but caught herself jus in time.

"Oh my, I am so sorry," she apologized, "I am sure you can understand my concern and worry for my dear little friend." Again she took hold of Nalya's arm, "You look like a very sweet girl and I am sure your right about my baby. I will definitely meet up with you at 6 so you can let me walk to your home and pick up my Shadow."

With that said Nalya took another step back to get the woman to release her hold on her once again. She bid the woman good day and hurried her paces on down the road.
 
Darren watched and listened very carefully. He knew from the onset of the encounter that the stranger was lying. The little details of their meeting made it all the more apparent. Nalya was obviously uncomfortable with the woman grabbing her arm for such a long period of time...twice. The hunter made special note of the fact that the woman hadn't asked anyone else at all about the whereabouts of her cat. Only Nalya. Nobody who was genuinely willing to approach perfect strangers about something they're looking for would pass up so many other people. What really caught his attention, though, was the extreme change that occurred when Nalya didn't immediately follow what was, apparently, the stranger's plan.

Darren watched their meeting end, then waited for Nalya to be out of sight. He was sure the delay caused by this surprise meeting would make her hurry, and he knew the other woman wasn't truly in a hurry, or at all concerned about her 'lost' cat. Once Nalya was gone, he came out from hiding and caught up to the stranger quickly. He followed behind her for only a few yards until they came to an alley, at which point he shoved her into it and drew his weapon on her. His watch was sending periodic shocks into his wrist, so he had to be careful. He wasn't in the least bit concerned with the other people around. They would pretty much all believe he was going to physically assault her. It was a sad fact of humanity, that most of the people who had seen him didn't care at all. The few who did, would simply cross to the other side of the street. Darren had been watching people a long time with his line of work. He was one of the only humans he knew of who would actually try and intervene in this type of scenario. True many would claim they would do something, but when it actually happened, none of them ever stand up.

Darren glared at the woman while he pointed one of his pistols directly between her eyes. With the other hand, he drew a diamond edged silver dagger, and put the tip close to her stomach. He spoke in what he considered to be his hunter's voice. Flat, serious, and filled with genuine promise of bodily harm. "Since you and I both know you don't need her to guide you to her home, you have one chance to tell me what you want with that young woman. If you lie to me, you'll just be one more creature on my list of take downs."
 
Out of no where she was jumped and pushed into a alley. Before her eyes was a pistol and at her throat a dagger. "Since you and I both know you don't need her to guide you to her home, you have one chance to tell me what you want with that young woman. If you lie to me, you'll just be one more creature on my list of take downs."

"What the HELL! Creature!?! Who the fuck are you and what do you want!?! Listen Bud, I don't know what your problem is or what you think I am, but I can assure you I am 100% human.

Though she could at any minute be killed she did not and would not show fear. She stood there calmly and glared back into the eyes of the man.

"So whats your problem, need cash for more drugs? You mine as well go ahead and pull the trigger bitch cus I ain't given you shit....."
 
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