[b]“Oh, of course—you know us humans are famous for having wings,”[/b] Lyselle returned Renaissance’s light-hearted smile, those hazel eyes sparkling with a childlike playfulness. Their exchange was so at contrast with the task they had at hand but it was a relief to engage in something lighthearted. The lingering second-hand panic from Ren’s fledgling tickled in her gut, reminding her that the Huntress and the Vampire were walking hand in hand into danger.

It suddenly occurred to Ren that, despite being the hopeful saviours in this situation, their pairing may be somewhat of a surprise to most. A Vampire Slayer and a… Vampire? Together? Not only that, but the fledgling would have to control their thirst around Lyselle. This was an added complication that hadn’t occurred to Ren when her loyal human had said [b]“I'm coming with you.”[/b] Lyselle’s perfumed blood would be intoxicating to a vampire lacking control, her exposed neck rippling with the offering of arteries and veins ripe for the picking. That human heart, alive and beating at an ever so tempting pace, would be the ultimate temptation for a desperate vampire. Fledglings, cornered and in danger, were exactly the breed to succumb to the pressures of thirst when presented with a source. Undoubtedly, Ren wouldn’t let even a droplet of harm come to Lyselle. Not under her watch. But it was an added danger to the fast-growing list of things to be wary of. Naturally calculated, always thinking, Ren continued to mentally prepare for all varying outcomes. She was determined to be a pillar of strength for Lyselle, her protector. The irony of that feeling wasn’t lost on her, either. The very thing that Lyselle had been trained to fear, to fight, to hate - Ren was that very thing. And now, she was her shield. Nothing would come between them, no one would put Lyselle in harms way. The ancient vampire was so certain of that fact, it brought her a comfort she sent down the bond. Feeding the thread with reassurance, promises of safety, Ren watched Lys grab a dagger. 

Eyeing the Huntresses silver shortsword, wolfsbane, silver dust, holy water, and her hallowed throwing knives, the Ancient Vampire’s lips formed a hard line. Those same very weapons had been intended for her, not so long ago. She’d drawn that very short sword, flirted with plunging it into Ren’s flesh. It felt like so long ago they’d been staring across Belle View at one another, torn between curiosity and cruelty. How had so much changed in so little time? How had they gone from natural-born enemies to… This? So quickly? The bond vibrated in response, reminding them that it was due to that otherworldly connection that they were now bound by fate.

[b]“No—I have no problem being carried. Gives me time to place at least a temporary blessing on this dagger of yours. Pairs nicely with my sword.”[/b]
Lyselle was thinking tactically already. Of course she was. A trained assassin of all things supernatural, the human slipped so easily into battle mindset. No doubt she too was mentally working her way through tactics, fighting combinations, weapon itineraries… They were similar in that way. Fighting came so naturally to the two of them, in very different flavours. One, a Hunter. The other, the Hunted. Though Ren sneered slightly at imagining herself as “the hunted”… No one hunted her. They never got the chance.

[i]”Great idea, Lys”[/i] the ancient vampire nodded, rolling her shoulders in preparation for lifting the human into her arms. [i]“If I’d have known one of my idiot offspring would beg for deliverance, I would’ve made time for some Blood Magic. But for the enchantment to have a strong hold, I’d need time-[/i]”  the ancient vampire hissed air through her teeth. [i]“And that, as we know, is not a commodity we possess in this moment. So I’ll have to mostly fight in the good old-fashioned way.” [/i] 

Ren grandly pushed the large arched window of the Loft open and inhaled the fresh air like a claustrophobic beast locked away for too long. The night was fading fast, it would be a couple of hours until sunrise, so they had precious little time left to attack. Supernatural entities thrived in darkness, vampires included, and Ren didn’t fancy taking their chances in sunlight.

In a Romeo & Juliet carry, the vampire scooped Lyselle from her feet with the ease of a child lifting a doll. One arm wrapped under the human’s upper back, she supported her head in the cushion created by her flexed bicep and forearm. The other was cradling Lyselle’s legs, letting them dangle at her right hand side. The bond hummed, thriving at their physical contact. Though this wasn’t the closest they’d been thus far, it was certainly an intimate position. Ren realised the power of holding Lyselle in her arms this way and smiled down at her as her large, black wings snapped free. Letting them spread to their full span, the wings quivered in anticipation of flight. The breeze from the open window kissed the edges of those wings, making them twitch with excitement. Lyselle’s dark hair hung loose over Ren’s left and danced with the wind, cracking like a whip against the vampires body. Looking down at her Huntress softly, her face giving away all the anticipation she they were affronted with, Ren’s rosebud lips pulled into a weary smile.

[i]“Hold on tight please, m’lady”[/i] she said, her voice imitating a pilots through aircraft speakers [i]“This is your Captain speaking. Welcome aboard Vamp Airlines. Our flight time today is estimated to be circa 20 minutes. Our cabin crew will now begin your safety announcements which include keeping your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. Please enjoy the view as we fly at altitude to an ominous forest filled with unknown danger and potential death. Once again, thank you for choosing to fly Vamp Airlines. Wishing you a wonderful flight.”[/i]

And then, Renaissance Le Sang took off, leaping with the grace of an antelope through the open window and out into the dead of night. Lyselle felt light in her arms, unhindering to her flight pattern. The bat wings beat hardily under the additional weight, spreading to full length to balance the distribution. As they cruised above Belle View, taking cover in the grey clouds, the ancient vampire took the opportunity to tune into that distant fledgling frequency still begging for help from the forest. It crackled as Ren tried to mentally grab hold of it, bending and fading in and out of reach. She narrowed her eyes in concentration, gripping Lyselle firmly. The fledgling wasn’t moving. Their mental SOS smoke signal was stationary in that forest, begging for discovery. The winds changed direction, causing Ren to angle her wings alternatively, banking right and riding the air wave like a gull on the shores. 
[i]“Let’s establish some ground rules before we head into battle,”[/i] Ren said loudly above the sound of beating wings and whipping winds. [i]“First and foremost, you mustn’t die. Seriously. I want you to be careful. Put yourself first, always. If you are overpowered at any moment or you come close to lethal harm, you let me handle it. If they harm a single hair on your head, I will eradicate them immediately.”[/i]
Renaissance glanced down at Lyselle, reading her face for a reaction. 
[i]“We are to stay together. Close. Do not go idle, do not leave my sight. I want you within my reach until we establish what we’re up against… Okay?”[/i]

_____________________________

[b]“Over here, sis,” [/b] Victor snarled, pointing his snout to that scent of rotting flowers. 

[i]“That’s her, alright!”[/i] Violet growled back in reply, her thick bristled tail whipping back and forth excitedly. The sibling werewolves were a powerful pairing. Trained together since their first moonlight turn, they moved and thought in synergy. Sniffing the air in unison, the lupine siblings readied their haunches to take off. The muscles in their impressively stocky bodies rippled as they braced for taking off. 

[b]“Probably got ahead,”[/b] Victor grunted, Violet let out a low whine in response. 
[b]“But it won’t be long now…”[/b]
She followed her brothers lead. Everywhere. Every time. He was her compass, her rock, her partner. He had always possessed alpha energy, leading her always. Victor and Violet were so fiercely determined to capture this young vampire, they wouldn’t rest until it was done. It had been a while since they’d crossed one. And they’d be celebrated by the pack for bringing back such a prize. 

[i]“Let’s get her,”[/i] Violet snarled, bearing her bloodied canines foreshadowing the young vampires fate.