The warm body between his legs jolts slightly with every step, the saddle, while comfortable, doing nothing to cushion the motion. However, as experienced rider he is, Dirk O'Lauriel shifts and rocks in perfect time to the motions of the running stallion and to the beast it's almost as if he has no rider at all. The road has been long, and the rider knows that they have almost reached their location, but as the low rumble of thunder rolls overhead he can't help but let out a soft sigh. It will be a danger to his horse should the rain start too soon, the road they are on not five yards from the lip of a high cliff that drops off into the ocean. He could dart into the trees but his pace would be significantly slowed as the low hanging pine branches make travel by horseback hazardous even under the blazing light of the sun.

Not that that's even an option for the traveler, his black travel cloak not quite enough to shield his sun sensitive skin from the deadly solar rays. While this elder vampire can travel under the sun for short distances, doing so for anything less than to save ones life is just foolish. And of all things Dirk is, he is no fool. His clock flaps open, trailing behind him in such a way that makes it almost look like a shadow is flying above the horse's back, the crash of waves below urging Dirk to make a decision. He is an expert rider, and his horse is perfectly broken in, but is it worth it? His mind, hidden beneath a sheet of jet black hair currently tied back by a leather traveling strap, falls back to the meeting not twelve days past where one of the only vampires he knows of that outstrip the elder in age and experience, came to his home to deliver some distributing news.

The night had been warm, perfect for the hunt, but Dirk did not have time to go out that evening, and was eating in from his own personal stores. The middle aged servant was quite oblivious to the feeding and felt no pain, the elder being very adept at not only feeding gently but also doing so without disabling his meal. Dirk never kills unless he has to, and in this particular case would have been more of a hassle as he would need to find someone to replace the man. The ring of his doorbell at that hour had been something unexpected so he went to answer it himself, shooing away the sleepy servant who'd been almost at the door by the time he arrived in the front hall. Answering to find the young courier from the coven had set him on edge, an edge that only grew throughout the evening meeting until at last it passed and he simply fell into a resolve to do as was asked of him.

The reports had been alarming, though if it was just one rogue Dirk is more than a match for any known vampire in the new world. As tight knit as the vampiric community is for the most part, there is no way that another elder made it across the great pond without the coven masters knowing about it, and anyone younger would provide little to no challenge, unless he was beset by overwhelming numbers. But as the reports indicated only a few casualties every once in a while it being many is unlikely. Dirk is unsure what this rogue element is up to, but as the he comes to the top of  a rather steep drop in the road leading down to the stretch of road that will lead through the seaside town he decides that he will keep an open mind.

As the road itself has decided he must slow down Dirk pulls his horse up a little short and leads him into a light trot down the decline just as the heavens decide to open. The two bodies are quickly soaked and in the distance, before the rain drowns most sounds out completely, the vampire hears several shouts from the area around the village and he looks towards them curiously. [i]'Surely, with the deaths recently, they are not wandering about without a care at this late hour?'[/i] Shaking his head he turns his focus back to the road. The deaths have been happening over the past four months, a couple deaths a week, and from the reports the villagers are lose to panic. To hear anyone out of town just past midnight seems quite contradictory.

However as he reaches the bottom of the decline, the ground now quite muddy an slick, he spots the source of the shouts and shakes his head sadly. Pulling his cloak in tighter around his fine clothing, - a deep purple sir coat, matching pants, white shirt and cravat, the later of which is tucked into his red vest with silken ivy patterns on it – the vampire slows his horse even further as to not startle what is obviously a hunting party. Every man in the group still seems ready to go on the hunt, the torches they'd been carrying tossed into a pile off to the side as what apparently is the leader rallys the men's spirits. [i]'Well, this could be inconvenient'[/i] he muses, his head turning slowly to gaze at the treeline now several yards away from the road. [i]'All the deaths happened in or near the woods, and all the bodies were found in there. They must think it is a large animal of some sort. . .'[/i]

With a shrug, his eyes flash for a moment, allowing him to see through the rain to spot the path into the woods. He still has time, it's just past midnight, and unlike the human hunters he will not be too hindered by the rain, even if it will dull his senses significantly. Unfortunately, as he turns off the road, one of the men in the party spots him and calls out. [i]'Oh bother'[/i] he thinks with a sigh, bringing his steed to a stop as he turns to face the man approaching, the rest of them close behind, clutching their weapons as if he himself may be the threat they all fear. A bunch of armed humans is never a happy sight for a vampire, so as to try and avoid accidentally inciting them into taking out their fear on the 'Mysterious Stranger' Dirk dismounts and pulls his hood back so it drops around his shoulders letting them see his face.

His riding boots shift on the muddy surface of the old road and for a moment he longs for the cobblestone streets of his home across the ocean. He sets that notion aside quickly though, not just because the man comes to a stop a few paces away and seems to be gripping his sickle a little too tight to be normal, but because he really does enjoy the openness and freedom of the new world. With one of his most charming smiles he holds his hands up in a peaceful gesture and waits for the telltale signs that his charm is working before speaking just loud enough for the entire group to hear. “I mean no harm gentleman. Indeed, I have just arrived and find myself a bit alarmed at this reception.”

His voice betrays none of his professed emotions, instead sounding rather calm borderline jovial. The men look to one another and seem to relax ever so slightly. Dirk has always been rather good at handling people en-mass. The one with the sickle, a brutish looking middle aged man with scraggly looking brown hair, slowly lowers his weapon and visibly sighs. “Sorry stranger, don't mean to scare you off. However you may be better off passing through rather than stopping in our little village. Misfortune seems to be hanging around this place, ever since the disappearance of a pair of our young ones.” He points off towards the woods. “And if you planned on going that way, I insist further than you change your plans my friend, nothing but death waits beneath those boughs.”

Dirk follows his gesture but calmly looks back at the men with a nod. “I have heard as such. In fact, I just came from a town several days north of here to see for myself if there be any good game in this area. Maybe check out whatever beast is plaguing you good folk. See, I am a bit of a hunter.” He pulls back his cloak a bit to show off a very shiny looking rapier in it's silver sheath before dropping it back down. With a bit of a half smile he nods again. “Unconventional, but rather good. Would be quite a prize to take down some unknown man killer.” It is not exactly what he wanted to do, much preferring to keep his business unknown, however in this case he does not see that being an option.

The men look to one another with a mixture of expressions ranging from disbelief to avid hope, to simple relief. The front man looks him over with a critical eye before nodding sharply. “Do what you will stranger. We are off to hunt the beast now. We won't let it take any more of our friends and family, but be warned.” He points at Dirk with his weapon. “Don't go spreading your intentions about raising false hopes. You're not the first “hunter” that's been through these ways.” Many of the men look a little ill. “Last one we pulled out of the woods only a day ago.” The men who'd looked hopeful now look quite depressed.

“I will raise no false hopes, I promise you.” The vampire says softly. “Would you mind if I joined you however? I would at least like to get an idea of my hunting grounds before beginning my hunt in earnest.” The bug man motions that he doesn't care and Dirk gives a half bow, looking to the men behind him. “Would one of you gentleman take my horse to town for me? I would rather not leave him on the road out here. I sent a messenger ahead and have a room at the Fairview Inn.” The smallest in the group, a youth who looks not even old enough to shave, is motioned forward and after Dirk drops a few coins into his palm walks sullenly towards the twinkling lights barely visible to the vampire's eyes in the distance. It's clear the young man wanted to be a part of the hunt.

[i]'One so young. . .He should not be wielding a weapon. . . .'[/i] Shrugging off his feelings on the matter however Dirk turns and follows the men as they begin trudging off towards the woods. The forest is thick, making the ground less muddy and easier to walk on, the strong smell of pine permeating the area making ti hard for Dirk to smell anything else. It does not take long however for the vampire to smell something out of place and like a shadow he vanishes from his place at the back of the group. Running low to the ground he is soon a good distance away from the humans, and closer to the source of the smell. Slowing, he moves through the trees slowly, cautiously. The pine trees in this area are mixed with a few tall leafy trees that stretch above the the waving green needles. His feet come to a complete stop at the base of a tall, rather old looking, oak tree. His head rotates this way and that, trying to locate the source of that all too familiar smell. The smell of fresh human blood.