He gave her a dull look -- but eventually he withdrew his hands from his jacket pockets, leaned down, and grudgingly pulled her into his arms. Objectively he knew she was heavy, that maybe a rude and inappropriate comment was in order, but an advantage of being a little less than human was a little more strength and balance. Blood was already seeping into his shirt, they still had a few blocks to go and the look on her face wasn't exactly in good humor -- so, perhaps for the first time in his life, he kept his mouth shut.

But not for very long. "You know I've been lookin' for you for two days. Which isn't exactly what the plan was supposed to be. Obviously the others are looking for you too, and I'm shocked you haven't been dragged down by your hair by now." He thought a moment, about whose daughter this really was, and about that demon that now roiled in his belly. "Well, no, I'm not really. You were born for the hunt. I know you felt it."

He stared up at the stars while he walked, only looking forward to ensure he didn't trip on a curb or make a wrong turn. He was determined to make out the stars through the murk and fluorescent town. He'd forgotten what stars looked like. "You have no idea what I'm talking about." A sly grin twitched uncomfortably on his face. "Your parents never told you."

Down the road he could see the hospital rising up over a lawyer's office and a cafe, and he cut across the parking lot and round another wing to the emergency room door.