Cutting losses

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

Hiero knew he would bleed so as eth first dog set in he brought his leg forward flinging the dog body wise towards the Marshal. Its teeth tore a gash along his leg. He hadn’t worried about the dogs solely as he was trying to not have to kill them. If they got in the way he would use them as shields and worse. Those thoughts however crystallized as the two slugs hit him in the chest they didn’t break the first shell but they hurt something awful having been hit with shells previously he was actually thankful for Ray insisting on the vest. Sadly, getting closer was the only chance he had. As such he closed even as the scent of preternatural made his nose burn.

The man was trained and special he was still there his eyes watered and he blurred but even as a sight hunter lions had many other senses that helped bring down prey. Snarling in an all too nonhuman manner he loosed a roar that reverberated through him it wasn’t targeted merely a sign that he had prey. It would clear the area of prey animals and alert both Melissa and Ray that he as engaged as well as give them an area to focus on.

A blur him through him off the direct trail but Marshal Lau had not gone far enough his breathing was still heavy. His scent was growing stronger as he used whatever he was using. Gritting through the bruise growing under his armor he closed on the scent of gun oil. The gun was still smoking he didn’t want to be shot again but he knew he would and took evasive action snatching up on of the dogs as if it were a pup instead of an engine of death that it was clearly designed for. They were fast he was faster. Closing he was determined to end this man here and now. He knew Ray and his men would be closing careful for traps. Half a mile brisk walk five minutes careful stalking ten or fifteen minutes.

[Deleted]

Noble was snapped out of her revelry by the arrival of the lion. She had not met him but he carried the stink of lycanthrope power. He was clearly a leader but he was alone and that didn’t seem right. Why was he here she wondered. The hunter blurred into action he was actually quite impressive. His pets however were annoying they were silent save a snarl of attack. She was curious even more now what they might taste like as they were muscled and didn’t fear a lycanthrope in clearly attack mode.



As one flew through where she was standing behind the bullets he’d fired. She was torn on whether to act or simply watch the events unfold the book called to her but this was certainly entertaining. She wondered what would Aeolas do if standing against this one either of them.

[Melissa Haze]

They had conversed after heir left she knew he knew about sabin being close. They set up a kill box on the road so that they had a sniper line to take out the truck. They had alsobparkedca beater in the lane to block ot. Hed have to slow down eough to be shot or ram through which would still slow him.

Place set groups out they waited but then she heard the roar and gun shots. He'd found him and was fighting him. Mel rolled shoulders wanting to get closer but shed chosen her post.

[Deleted]

The way the lion treated his dogs angered him but hed not brake focus. The other two zig zagged in front of the bigger man nipping but gettIng right back out of reach. Their boy had gotten snagged and was a thrashing gnashing foaming mess

Till the lion launched him and he went skidding past the book and unseen dragon. Henry realized something up when he didnt come right back but instead alerted at air low snarling.

He couldn't pay that attention s he had a large angry lion coming for him. The mimic was taxing he dropped it and aimed three more shots. Never not moving as the dogs slowed the advance. Left leg shot head aimed shot head aimed shot. The leg was to get silver in him and slow him in case the head shots missed.

He needed to get to the truck and was trying to move them around the clearing he tried not to move backwards only side step till the house was on his right and truck left and diagnal.

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

Hiero knew the shells would fly Marshal was a shooter. But the only thing Hiero feared was failing his Pride, failing his family, leaving them worse than when they found him. He could not be slowed nor stopped even the scent of dragon would not deter him. Dragon was what it was it was similar to the scent Sabin had that seemed to lessen with time. That may be very well why Sabin was keeping his distance something was changing. He would deal with that later.

The shot through the leg was a wake-up call and pissed him off eve more. The fiery heat of his rage tore through him. The snarling from the dogs ended as he shifted midstride. The through and through of silver would slow him but he was fast enough that Marshal Lau hadn’t a chance normally especially as he could see him clearly. He wasted no time zigging or zagging careful to move Lau further from the truck spinning him so his back was to the preserves. His back being open would aggravate him especially as Hiero was done playing. His mind was made up to end him whereas he’d toyed with the idea of bringing him back to the Pride alive. That was a dead consideration now he was bleeding and as the dogs tried to run interference he kicked one directly at the Marshal with enough force to break what was inside it following up with a dodging charge taking the Marshal off his feet with swipe that would shatter his legs. His hands a blur he disarmed the would be assassin with a furry of slashes taking the use of his arms form him before lancing his hand through his soft innards shredding the vest he wore as if it were gossamer and lace.

He heard Ray’s men and felt Ray approach they deserved a hunt for their efforts and he was tiring the silver was through and through but it hurt like a sonuvabitch. Marshal Lau had enough life to run maybe not much more. It was getting hard to not simply crunch into his skull and end him but he wouldn’t know not yet no not yet by half . Standing him he forced him to look into his eyes and he pointed through the preserves. If he ran he could make it a chase and very well might get away but he wouldn’t be hunting anyone or anything. Leaking as much blood as he was it would be a wonder if he made it a hundred yards but it was a chance. Itw as more than he’d offered the Pride it was more than he deserved and Hiero’s lion knew as much. He knew as much but he was trying to be better. He was trying to be…Humane.

[Melissa Haze]

More shots. Mel thought hard this could go sideways so fast she checed and rechecked her gun but heard nothing more just yet.

The waiting was so hard.

[Deleted]

Henry watched utterly purplexed as the man changed instantly clothes shredding. He dropped the one gun going for the silver edged blade at his back but the shattered shins made him falter gripping it as he fell trying to slash.

To close and when the pain of his arms being mauled hit he held his sword tight hoping to trap it in his grasp. His mind would not lt him dispare. Taken back to the first lion attack but this so mch worse.

His vest shredded and taken he finally gasped as his belly was torn open like fresh bread. When the others arrived he looked at them. Then forced to look at the man beast and escape route.

Boquin blinked and stumbled back but didnt run. He grinned blood fountaining from his mouth." The dogs don't leave them to s..starve."

Looking at his baby boy whining at his feet broken like him."Xiūxí xiànzài xiǎo wángzǐ wǒ gēnzhe nǐ...Zuò"
Translation: rest well my little prince I will soon fallow..stop"

The other two sat whining but no fight in them they knew. He looked at all of them again looking the beast in the eyes."Wǒ shì boquin lau, wǒ xǐhuan wǒ de shòuliè. Nǐ shì yīgè zhídé yěshòu, dàn wǒ bù pǎo. Yǒngyuǎn"
Translation:I am boquin lau and I have enjoyed my hunt. you are a worthy beast but I do not run. ever.

Biting down on something with a crack. Foam filling his mouth then mixing in the blood. He laughed and laughed blood leaving him. They would have a mess to clean.
His last second spent fixing the lions in his gaze as his body hit the ground.

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

He wouldn’t run and Hiero wouldn’t blame him neither would he have in that situation. He watched the light go out in his eyes. Most people believed it was a peace that came when death took you. Hiero knew differently it was why the first thing most did was close the eyes of the dead. There was no peace in them for the living only questions left unanswered.

He was angry he was wounded and he needed to feed but he couldn’t not here not now. He could approximate words but speech was truly out. Huffing he looked to the sounds and feel of Ray and his men angry they’d taken their own sweet time then angry at himself only Ray was lycanthrope amongst the Bravo’s which meant they’d moved at a nearly reckless clip to get here as quickly as they did. Shaking his head he set off away from the scent of dragon which meant unfortunately Sabin was out her with Ray and his men all alone.

He was counting on Ray if they met to not violate his orders but wasn’t sure he would believe he had the element of surprise and tactical advantage. Ray however didn’t know that Sabin for all of his genteel behaviors had spent over a decade fighting a guerilla war against an undead necromancer who’d even gone so far as to possess him beyond the grave. He never gotten the full story but what he witnessed could only come from love or hate which was really the same thing internally.

Damn he thought having to decide as he moved whether to insure Ray was true to his word which would mean risk exposing Ray’s men to his form. No not worth the risk he’d been shot at enough tonight and at least for the next year between this and New York. Ray was trustworthy he would keep Hiero’s word. He would need to be the only one who dealt with Sabin. He was the only one that had been dosing himself to inoculate against him for the last few years.

It was originally done as a way to if needed go peacefully in that good night. He was building an immunity so Sabin wouldn’t be able to heal him again if the need arose. He wouldn’t focus on why he felt that was necessary. Instead he roared moving back away from the house and Ray’s men. He was mounting the ridge circling around so as to get to Rays car. He knew he kept extra clothes that would mostly fit. The through and through was a pain n the ass and would be for awhile but that was the cost of doing business.

[Melissa Haze]

Melissa heard the second roar heiro was hurt but alive. The gun shots had stopped. She breathed. Gun tucked she gave orders to those remaining to move the car and go so that they wouldn't be seen.

Once they hesitantly fallowed orders leaving only the the vehicles that would take the rest of the team away she went up the road alone. Pausing to disarm trip wires as she could fallowing rays scent.

Getting to the house she paused and smelled a smell she had never before but it was weird and dangerous smelling her beast didn't like it. She looked at ray and his men as they had fanned out. Two dogs sat silent and sad one dead near the marshal.

Well clean up was needed and she didn't know if they would understand what needed to happen save ray. She sighed and went toward the truck unlocked but no keys. Getting them from the pants pocket afterva search she closed his eyes.

Trying to get the dogs to come to her." Come..here puppy"

They looked confused. Thinking she remembered most troll dog trainers taught the dogs commands in languages not common to where they hunted so no one else could accidentally call them away. She looked up the translate app and got commands for what she assumed was the marshals choice would be.

This time they perked and stood. She put more force and they came, getting them in the truck she shut it for now. " I'm taking the body in the truck and he will disappear. It will be as if he left and just slipped into hiding else where never heard from again. I will also find a place for the dogs..I'll be back by tomorrow morning"

Getting moving tarp from the back of the truck lau was rolled in up swords and all. She even grabbed the dropped guns. In the back he went. Then in the truck she went driving off. Leaving the nen to do a last sweep and clean so that when the new owner showed next week. They wouldn't know what had happened here this night.

[Raymond Wyndham]

Ray for all of his expertise didnt like this aspect of the kill. So he left the bulk of the work to Mel as he made his way into the home.

He knew that someone of Marshal Laus skill would have hidden something. There was no tume to be as thorough as he would have liked. But he did fimd a few things hidden stashholes designed to stand the test of time. Nothing of real value nothing that couldnt be left for years. Hidden as they were.

He was hoping and was glad the man hadny wired the place for sound or video. It was smart as even the best surveillance could be subverted. The place was clean and he was confident the interior would stand scrutiny.

Movimg out he had the Bravos head back the way they came as he hopped in the truck with Mel.

"I have a stash spot not far if you want to take hide and look through this stuff..."