The ground shuddered with each heavy footfall, they were after him, they were always after him. Although he never actually existed, he was just a story parents made up in order to scare disobedient children that if they wandered to far into the woods, the beast would rip their flesh from bone.

This is why he was running an idiotic hunter and a few others were helping him to try and capture the beast in order to capture him and claim the big reward. Sliding down a steep hil, the strap rocks and twigs cutting up his torso, he landed heavily his shoulder taking most of the blow. Growling deeply in pain his vision turned blurry for a few moments but his hearing picked up the rustling of leaves and voices and so the beast was unleashed. The sound of growling filled the night air as the men's voices came nearer.

" where did it go, the footprints stop here" said a man crouching down to get a better look. Another man joined him and spoke his voice wavering with concern. " it changed look its probably watching us right now" all the men looked at each other and the stench of fear was high. Leaping from the trees one man was killed instantly by the crushing weight of the wolf, he sank his teeth into the hunter who screamed out in blistering pain. The other man fumbled for his gun shooting random shots unable to compose himself enough to aim, one bullet tore through his shoulder and the wolf snapped his neck in half with a single push.

His human form appeared slowly the popping and crunching of bones as they reset themselves. Panting heavily he searched through the men's equipment taking important things such as bottled water, first aid kits and shoe laces to replaced his old ones.

He took off running again slightly slower this time due to the bullet in his arm, he would have time to take it out when he rested for the night and that wasnt going to be soon. Sniffing quickly he picked up a faint smell of food, he hadn't eaten for a while, sure human and animal flesh was good to live on but actuall cooked food what much more satisfying.

It was a house, a cabin of sorts but it looked a lot like the houses in the village, modern and clean looking. Approaching cautiously getting ready to run at any sound, the house was dark but that didnt mean it wasn't lived in. Opening the window slowly he crept in making his way quickly to the kitchen opening the refrigerator, blinded by the bright light but his eyes adjusted quickly. He grabbed a plateful of chicken as well as some ham and a loaf of bread for good measure. Ripping apart the chicken he ate hungrily, lightly snarling at the pleasure of eating actual food. Next he would try to find some clothes and perhaps somewhere to get clean he had been wearing the same clothes for years and washed then whenever he had the chance but it was limited when you were always in the run.

Mackenzie's eyes opened at the sound of rustling coming from downstairs. She was sleeping peacefully, for once. It was nice, living out here, her home was far enough away that she didn't slip into her neighbors dreams, Dream walking was a real bitch. Problem now was that she lived alone, all by herself. It was kinda scary, tonight didn't make it any better, what with the shuffling coming from downstairs, even for a witch.

She rose from her bed and took a deep breath. She looked around her room, found her Book of Shadows and clutched it to her chest. She slowly crept down the stairs, she peeked around the corner into the living room. There was nothing but she still hear the noise, it was coming from the kitchen, which had the backdoor which someone could easily enter. She had just moved in and didn't put up the protection barrier like she had when she lived with her grandmother.

She clutched the Book to her chest and rounded the corner.

it was something like a horror movie, there, slumped over, was a heap of someone or something, tearing through her food.

She wasn't sure what do to, it didn't look like a dog, or an animal that she could see, it looked decidedly huma, the way it tore through the food, removing wrappers and other inedible things.

She whispered a small protection spell and frowned. "Hey!" She barked, keeping her distance.

He tore through the chicken like it was his last meal, well it probably would be at least a full meal not just scraps. Most of the meat was gone just a few bits of meat left on the bones which was always great to chew on. He gnawed on a chicken leg for a few moment before the bone finally gave way and he chewed it thoroughly for a good few minutes. He sniffed as he ate checking the boundary of where he was, there was an odd smell of herbs around the kitchen so either he had broken into a chef's home or something else.

"Hey!"

Sharply turning around he dropped the half eaten chicken leg on the counter, his eyes focusing on a small woman. Snarling loudly he strode towards her quickly, pushing her against the wall. His fingernails elongated into claws as he held her in place, yet as he did so a sharp pain prevented his claws from stretching any further. As well as a pulsing sensation up his arm, snarling again he held his wounded arm blood seeping through his fingers. Stepping closer to the girl he sniffed rapidly trying to gauge a scent, but it was unfamiliar,he hissed deeply, " what are you?" He asked his head tilting to the side his eyes set on hers.

Before Mackenzie knew what happened, she was shoved against the wall. She whimpered with her eyes closed as he sniffed her. She tried wriggling free but she stood not a chance. The Book still clutched in her hands, if she could just get it open, she could read off a spell, she didn't know that many by heart and the ones she didn't had nothing to do with defense, save for maybe the protection spell.

It was then she felt something warm fall on her barefoot, she looked down to see that this...man was bleeding. Of course, she knew plenty of healing spells by heart. She could heal him if he didn't-

"What are you?"

Mackenzie had to blink a few times to snap back to reality. "I-I I'm a Witch, I can help you but you have to...not kill me..." She said all in one breath. "You're bleeding really badly, if I don't heal it now, you may lose that arm." She said, in all honestly.

"I-I I'm a Witch, I can help you but you have to...not kill me...You're bleeding really badly, if I don't heal it now, you may lose that arm."

Snarling again he paced the room, the information she had told him swirled in his mind. A witch? He had never met a witch before, although he might of done he had killed a lot of people in his years they may have been witches or wizards. He looked out of the window he couldn't leave now, the hunters could be anywhere. This witch could be working for them, or she could collect his blood to sell for profit. Werewolf blood was highly valued almost as much as his fur.

Looking at the girl he stepped forward leaning down to look in her eyes. " you must think I'm stupid, you could take my blood and sell it to those murderers out there" he pointed outside and slammed his hand on the wall denting it for good measure. " I never met a witch, you lose track of people you kill" he growled deeply.

He realised that there was no way around it he couldn't get this bullet out unless he used his claws, but if he did that he would lose a lot of blood.

" you will help me, if you make a wrong move I will rip your throat apart" he glared at her and moved away looking out the window again still holding his arm.

"You must think I'm stupid, you could take my blood and sell it to those murderers out there,"

All Mackenzie could utter was "Huh?" and then jumped when he punched the wall.

She hadn't the slightest idea of what he was talking about but she didn't think on it too long.

"I never met a witch, you lose track of people you kill," He added and Mackenzie swallowed. "I bet..." she said nervously, a habit of hers, using jokes and humor to swallow down her fear.

"You will help me, if you make a wrong move, I will rip your throat out."

"Okay, so we're off to a great start...." She sighed. She flicked on the kitchen light, revealing a black and grey kitchen, and just in the middle was an island with a large granite countertop.

She set down her book and flipped through the pages, It was then something he said struck her.

"Sell his blood, what is he a wer-Oh dear lord."

Mackenzie looked up at the man, his arm dripping blood all over her stale grey floors. "Okay, so to start, I need you to lie on the island, from where I'm standing that looks like a bullet hole, I'll have to remove the bullet before I can heal you properly." She said and frowned. "And I'm not going to sell your blood,I don't know who those people are but My Coven doesn't deal in bloodtrades, besides, it's gross." She said with a turned up nose. Her eyes widened when she realised that may have come off as an insult.

"Not your blood in particular, just blood in general,"
She bit her lip, hoping to shut herself up.

"Can you get on the island? It'll be easier although removing the bullet is gonna be a bitch."

His scare tactics had worked it seemed, the witch had offered to help him. Looking around the kitchen he sniffed quickly seeing a rack of herbs that he had smelt earlier, they must have been used in cooking since they were in the kitchen. This was the first time he had seen the young woman apart from in the dark, but event hen it was hard to gauge what someone looked

She spoke then motioning to an island in the kitchen

"Okay, so to start, I need you to lie on the island, from where I'm standing that looks like a bullet hole, I'll have to remove the bullet before I can heal you properly, and I'm not going to sell your blood,I don't know who those people are but My Coven doesn't deal in bloodtrades, besides, it's gross." She said with a turned up nose. Her eyes widened when she realised that may have come off as an insult.

"Not your blood in particular, just blood in general. Can you get on the island? It'll be easier although removing the bullet is gonna be a bitch."

He gave a soft chuckle and spoke " Bullets are no as bad as arrows, crossbows and the odd bear trap" he pulled of his bloodstained shirt, tossing it into the sink. Sitting on the island he lay back, wincing slightly but held his nerve.

"Bullets are not as bad as arrows, crossbows and the odd bear trap."

Mackenzie pursed her lips, "Okay then." She said as he tossed his shirt into the sink and climbed onto the island.

She looked down at him and his wound. It was fresh, obviously, and the bullet hadn't gone that deep.

"It's like playing Operation..." she told herself and grabbed a first aid kit. She grabbed alcohol and some gauze. She first pour the alcohol on to the gauze and cleaned around the wound. "This is gonna sting." She told him, before dapping the wound itself with the alcohol dipped gauze.

"Wasn't so bad, yeah?" She said with a smile, hoping to calm both of their nerves. She then found some cooking tongs, they were small so hoping she'd be able to get the bullet out.

"What's your name?" She asked as she cleaned and sterilized the tongs. "I'm Mackenzie, Kenni for short, Mac, for even shorter." She said with a small laugh.

Tristan hissed deeply as the alcohol cleansed his wound, a growl erupted quietly in the back of his throat. The witch introduced herself as Mackenzie. Interesting name he thought he hadn't really made a life of socialising for himself it was always running. Forever running.

"Tristan...just Tristan you can't really shorten it that much" he muttered.

He looked at the cooking tongs and spoke " your probably not going to use those for pulling out your Sunday roast anymore " he chuckled softly. His mind tracked back to food he was still hungry he could just eat a large shoulder of lamb right now, doused in gravy with potatoes. Bliss.

Sighing softly he prepared himself for the upcoming discomfort, he gripped onto the countertop tightly so he would have something to focus on apart form the pain.

"Tristan...just Tristan, you can't really shorten it that much."

Mackenzie smiled. "What a nice name, there's no need to shorten it"

He then looked down at the tongs. " You're probably not going to use those for pulling out your Sunday roast anymore." He said chuckling. "I guess not, It's probably for the best, I'm not that great of a cook, if it's a potion, you probably shouldn't eat it." She said with a giggle. She was an okay cook, truth be told, but she could assist in a meal but creating one herself usually resulted in disaster.

"Alright Tristan, This is really gonna hurt, I'm gonna do it quick and get it over with, Okay." She said and was nervous herself.

She steeled herself and sent out a little prayer.

"Here goes..."

She then quickly dug in the tongs in his arm, and used the recoil to open the wound, she knew it would hurt but she couldn't heal it with the bullet in there "I see it." She told him, concern heavy in her round eyes. She then reached her slender fingers inside and plucked the bullet out.

Without hesitation, she removed the tongs, closed her hand over the wound and closed her eyes.

"Alaeh." She whispered and with a light purple glow of her hand, the wound began to close.

She smiled, Her brow dotted with sweat. "There, all done." She said and felt incredibly weak suddenly, it caused her to lose her balance and stumble a bit, clutching her head, his blood smearing on her face. She couldn't careless, She was still conscious.

That was the thing with magick, there was a give and take. Thankfully the wound wasn't that bad, it didn't take too much out of her. She took a breath and stood herself up slowly. "Here's your bullet." She said, her breath a bit labored.

Tristan cried out slightly as Mackenzie open up his wound, he growled deeply and gripped onto the countertop. His fingernails enlarged into claws and tore at the wooden cabinets beneath him. It was taking all of his strength to not turn into the wolf and rip Meridith apart, he breathed quickly as she pulled out the bullet.

He relaxed as soon as he felt the pain in his arm subsiding, resting his head on the countertop Tristan sighed as sweat glistened on his face and body. He had never been healed by magic before it was always a case of steal what you could and hope nothing to bad happens. It was certainly a strange experience, and he was feeling tired.

He looked at the bullet and smiled " thank you, you can keep it...it might bring you luck" he mumbled stifling a yawn. He sat up and his head spun, groaning lightly he stood up stumbling over to a nearby seat. Resting his head on the wall he breathed slowly his eyes becoming heavy.

"Thank you, you can keep it...it might bring you luck,"

Mackenzie laughed a bit. "Didn't seem to do much for you." She said weakly. She watched him stumble over to a chair. "Careful,you're still very weak, you've lost alot of blood." She told him.

She walked over to him, exhausted herself and grabbed a hold of his good arm. "Come, You can rest on the couch, we both could to with a good night sleep, especially considering, you broke mine to perform emergency surgery." She sad jokingly. "Come on then." she said and tugged a bit to lead him toward the living room.

Tristan shook of her hand supporting him, it wasn't that he didn't want the help he just didn't want to seem that weak. Even if he had lost a lot of blood. He walked with Mackenzie until they came to the living room, he walked to a couch and sat down on it. Groaning in relief " sure beats sleeping on leaves" he commented yawning soon after.

Kicking off his shoes he tipped his body to the side his head resting on a nearby pillow, his entire body relaxed into the couch. The couch seemed small but that was only due to Tristan's large frame. He breathed slowly and fell into a sleep that was well needed, he let out a soft growl and snorted slightly as the wolf settled down too. For now.

"Sure beats sleeping on leaves." He said after he sat on the couch. Mackenzie nodded.

"What am I doing, he was three seconds from ripping out my throat, yet here I am, removing a bullet, using my lifeforce to heal him, and letting him crash on my couch...."

She sighed heavily, and remembered. "There's a spare...room." Her voice trailed off as Tristan was fast asleep.

He looked peaceful, sleeping there, maybe he wasn't so bad, Werewolves were a rare commodity around here, and clearly he's being hunted, maybe the violence was simple due to circumstance. He trusted her own to fall asleep, he couldn't be that bad.

She covered him with a blanket, and just to be safe, she decided she'd sleep down here,She was a skinny little thing so she curled up on the love seat in front of him, rested her head on the arm of it and closed her eyes drifting softly to sleep.


Mackenzie found herself standing in a black vastness. Nothing above, below or beside her.


"Great...Dream walking." She sighed. She hated this ability of hers, falling into people's dreams. She didn't want to know what his dreams were but she was about to find out, whether she liked it or not.

Tristan held the blanket to his body tightly as an all to familiar dream.



The sun had not long set and the evening meal was just finishing. Tristan's father Grayson entered, a tall and well built man, had not long returned from fetching wood for the wood burner. The family home did have electricity, but it tended to give their position away to the hunter. At the moment the family home was the only place of true protection from a world of indifference.

Grayson moved to the sitting area of the home were the rest of his family sat, his wife Evalyn, his oldest son Alistair, who was 18 soon to be turning 19, his oldest daughter Daniella, who was 15 and at the age where nothing was fair and his youngest son Tristan who was 7. Kissing Evalyn tenderly on the forehead " All is silent my dear, it seems the woods have held off the hunters for this night." Sitting down next to his wife he put his arm around her holding her close, causing Evalyn to fumble her knitting, but she smiled softly and fell into his warm embrace.

The couples adoration for each other was clear but it was short lived as Alistair came storming down the stairs panic in his voice. "Dad! Hunters are coming I see the torches coming" He went to the window and pointed out to the beams of light merging in the tree line. A burst of glass smashing caught the family by surprise with a bullet tearing through Alistair's shoulder causing him to fall the ground, Grayson acted immediately dragging his eldest son to him checking the wound. Thankfully the bullet had gone through the body entirely and missed the bone by inches. Alistiar pulled himself up looking to his father for any kind of advice, Grayson opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the scream of Daniella who was upstairs. He bolted upstairs to find his daughter fighting with a man wielding a silver knife, Grayson growled deeply and the hunter turned his head to look and that was all he had to do. Daniella took his head twisting it sharply so his neck broke killing him instantly.

" That's my girl c'mon we have to go" Grayson said taking his daughters hand and rushing downstairs to find Evalyn tying Alistiar's arm up to hold it until it healed. Tristan was huddled in the corner holding his kness tightly, trembling with nervousness, he had never come across hunters this determined before. Alistair pushed a table up to the smashed window, turning around he ran over to Tristan picking him up and returning to the family. Tristan huddled up to his mother who held him tightly in her arms.

" Come out you beasts and fight! Why cower away like the dogs you are?" One of the hunters shouted as they banged against the door. " It is not a fair fight and only beast I can see here are you!" Alistiar roared loudly back putting himself in front of Daniella. The door began to give way to a barrage of axes and boots, Grayson looked to Evalyn and nodded. Crouching down to Tristan she spoke tears brimming her eyes " Tristan you need to hide okay? You can hide under the house until the hunters go away Allright?" Tristan nodded " But what about everyone else? You can fit too" he spoke pulling on his mothers sleeves. Evalyn smiled softly " no we can't sweetheart, they would know we hid there and then you'd be hurt too" Evalyn said opening a small hatch underneath where the family was standing and popped Tristan inside, she smiled softly kissing him on the head and added " Remember what we told you about the wolf and when he comes? Even though your changing on the outside, you are still you on the inside, never forget who you are. Understand Sweetheart?" She pushed Tristan down locking the hatch.

The family stood as one as the door broke down, they all changed into their wolf forms and fought as well as they could even with axes and bullets tearing flesh apart from bone. As body by body dropped to the last growl, blood seeped through the floorboards dripping onto Tristan coating him with the blood of his family. The hunters left after a while, he had no idea how long they had stayed celebrating the kills of the century, taking fur, blood, teeth and anything that resembled werewolf culture.

However Tristan stayed under the house for days sobbing uncomtrolably to scared to move incase the hunters came back. He couldn't help but listen to the voice at the back of his head, telling him to get revenge on his families killers and revenge of the world for hating his kind. Tristan's viewpoint changed that night, they all had to pay in blood. He finally crawled out, covered in blood and dirt. He may have lost a family but he had gained a new mentor to aspire to, the comforting voice in the back of his head.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tristan growled softly as the dream his hands shaking as events long forgotten played in his head. He wished he would have helped his family against the hunters, he would have rather died fighting than cowering under the floorboards hearing his family scream.

Mackenzie watched as the world around her slowly shifted from a vast darkness to a lovely cottage in the woods. Like a fly on the wall, unnoticed by the young boy she was attached to, he must have been the dreamer, he must have been Tristan.

She watched as the Mother and Father admired one another, just before chaos unfolded. Unable to do anything to help, she watched as the family of wolves were viciously attacked by a group of hunter, they fought, bu to no avail.

Mackenzie was dragged along with the young Tristan under the house were the poor child was drenched in his family's blood.

All she could do was sob as he did until the dream ended...


Mackenzie awoke with a start, her brow slick with sweat,her heart racing, tears streaming down her face. She could never control nightmares, only good dreams, even certain memories, The mind was strongest during a nightmare.

She looked over at Tristan as he growled in his sleep, shaking. "Tri-Tristan." She called, softly. "You're having a nightmare..." She said, her voice cracking from sobbing. "You must wake up." She said, crawling over to him and gripping his hand, tenderly to stop the shaking.

Tristan growled lightly as he felt someone holding his hand, his eyes burst open his mind pulled from the nightmare. Although all he felt was anger, he acted quickly his eyes glowed a bright yellow as he dived on top on Mackenzie completely blind to her kindness. He roared loudly his teeth elongating into fangs " Don't feel sorry for him witch...he made his choice long ago. We are better off for it" Pulling away Tristan moved back to his former self, the wolf tended to show himself through emotion even without Tristan knowing it was all about control.

Tristan stumbled over to the door opening it and stepping out into the cool dawn air, taking a deep breath he sat down on the steps his head leaning againsts a wooden beam.

Mackenzie didn't know what to do when suddenly, Tristan pounced on her. Her eyes were wide as she stared into his large yellow orbs. "Don't feel sorry for him, Witch...He made his choice long ago. We are better off for it."


He said and just as quickly, The wolf was gone and Tristan was back. Mackenzie pulled herself up, wrapping her arms around herself and silently sobbed. Red thin marks lined her arms, blood dotting her bronze skin. She looked down and then out to where Tristan had wandered.

She stood herself up and followed. "I'm sorry." She said from the door way. "For what happened to you and for seeing it. I don't mean to, I am forced into dreams. Especially nightmares..." She said, her voice trailing off. "For what it's worth, the wolf is wrong, no matter what you've done, you're not better off having that happen, no one is." She said and turned back inside and made her way into the powder room and clean the claw marks from her arms, wincing at the alcohol dabs.

Tristan didn't turn around when he heard Mackenzie's light footsteps approaching him. He listened to what she had to say and sighed softly, she was right although a life of blood and violence had turned Tristan dark from a young age. He didn't want to be like this he wanted a normal life instead of being a monster, instead of being hated and feared.

Standing up he walked back into the house, surveying the muddy and bloodied kitchen. He grabbed a nearby cloth running the hot top he cleaned as best as he could. Using his sense of smell to locate the traces of blood, he swilled the cloth before throwing it away in a bin.

Yawning Tristan walked over to the couch and lay down on it falling into a thankful dreamless sleep.

Mackenzie had finished cleaning her wounds and made her way back to the kitchen to clean up, only to find that it had already been done. She frowned a little out of curiosity but then smiled.

She peeked into the living room to find Tristan fast asleep, she smiled.

He was a good guy, somewhere in there, somewhere way down deep, he was a nice person.

She decided she'd stay awake for the night. It wouldn't be the first time, she'd gone days without sleep.

She decided she'd go into her room and do some drawing until the next morning.

Tristan's woke sharply although he wasn't entirely sure what had woke him up, rubbing his eyes tiredly he stood up from the sofa sctretching his arms and legs. Breathing out slowly he walked outside to the warm sunlight, smiling softly he stretched his arms again and dropped slowly to the wooden floor to begin his morning workout, it have him a chance to wake up fully and it also gave a chance for the wolf to let out some energy that was violence related.

" 98,99,100" he breathed out stopping briefly to lie on his back to do a double ammount of sit ups, his mind thought to why he was still at Mackenzie's house. Usually he would have run out by now or even after she had removed the bullet. Why had he chose to stay? it made no sense, no sense at all.

Standing up again he walked into the house, sweat glistening off his body, perhaps he could borrow some clothes from Mackenzie. No, that was stupid she was a girl and she probably wouldn't have anything that would fit Tristan due to his large frame. He ran his hands under the tap splashing his face and hair with water. Shaking his body rapidly very much like a dog, he thought about what would happen if he did leave? Would Mackenzie be in danger because she came into contact with him? Would hunters be watching her house incase Tristan did come back?

His thought track was put to a halt as his stomach growled, that was right he hadn't eaten in a few days not a decent meal anyway.

Mackenzie waited until the morning sun rose before going on her daily jog. Town wasn't too far away but it was a nice jog if you were willing to trek it.

She'd also decided she'd pick up some clothes for him. All she had was big t-shirt she got from college fairs and such and even then he was a large man. He'd look like the Hulk in one of those.


She jogged all the way to town and found herself going through a small boutique for some inexpensive clothing. She'd been here thousands of times before. "Kenni! Hey there." called an elderly woman coming from the back room. "Hi Mrs. Daily, Good morning." Mackenzie smiled. "Whatcha after so early?" She asked good naturedly. "Oh just some clothes for a friend." She said looking through the extra large men's clothes. "Ooh, Is he cute?" Mrs. Daily asked. Mackenzie let off a loud laugh. "Mrs. Daily, you behave." She said and the two had a good laugh.

After a little chatting and Mackenzie finding a large pair of boot cut jeans and the biggest shirt she could find, she started for the door. "Hey now, Kenni you be careful up'ere, It's hunting season, ya know." Mrs. Daily warned. Mackenzie tensed a little but nodded. "I will, Thanks, bye." She said and exited the boutique.

Mackenzie walked with a frown. Hunters...they must have been hunting Tristan. He was worried about his blood being sold and werewolf blood was like liquid diamond and one of them got him...

Her stomach growled, shocking her back to reality. So she found the nearest fast food joint and ordered up a small meal for her and pretty much everything for him. The cashier looked as if he were trying to figure out where Mackenzie would put it all. She just smiled and went on her merry way.

After a while, Mackenzie made the long trek home, which was up a small hill, tucked into the woods. Thankfully, she knew the place like the back of her hand so it was just a nice walk until...

"Excuse me, Miss." Mackenzie turned around to find a man covered in tactical gear emerging from the trees. "Yes, may I help you?" Mackenzie asked politely.

"Sorry to bother you, but You see, a very large dog is running rampent in this here woods, I was wondering if you'd heard anything?"


Mackenzie thought quickly. "Well, I heard gun shots last night, scared me quite a bit."She said innocently. The man smiled. "You'll have to forgive me, We almost caught up to it, unfortunately it got away."

Mackenzie looked scared. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Is it that dangerous?" She asked and the man stepped toward her. Mackenzie tensed, She was a pretty girl, she wasn't blind to it and neither was he, apparently the damsel in distress bit seemed to attract him to her. "Don't you worry now, I'll keep you safe." He said with a smile his hand brushing against her arm. She smiled wanting to gag. "Well, that's good. I've gotta go, Food's getting cold." She said and the man frowned and scrutinized her. "That's quite a bit of food,"

Mackenzie just knew she was caught. "Yeah, I'm a useless cook, I figure if I buy a bunch now, I'll nuke it later." She said laughing. The man nodded. "Mind if I give you a hand," He said, searching her face. She knew, he knew she was hiding something. She also knew if she declined, he'd insist. "Well, That would be quite helpful thanks." She beamed and the tension in the man seem to ease as she handed him the bag of food.

They walked to the house, Her in front, him behind, and she could feel his eyes on her and backside.

She approached the door and opened it slowly. Praying Tristan wasn't in the living room and he wasn't, thank god.

"Here, I'll take these to the kitchen, Did you want anything, some water?" She asked taking the bags before he could decline. "Uh, sure, thanks." he said and took a seat on the sofa where Tristan had been sleeping.

"Make yourself at home, asshole." she thought and entered the kitchen. She rose a finger to her lips when she spotted Tristan and mouthed the word. 'Hunter' and nodded to the living room. "Ya know, I have some iced tea if you want that instead." She called and walked over to a long pantry door. She opened it an the reached inside revealing yet another door and a doorway. She mouthed. "In Here" and nodded inside.

It was probably a bad idea to have him in her secret pantry, where all of her magic potions, herbs and things were but she felt the overwhelming need to help him.

"Sure, sounds good." The hunter said and Mackenzie practically begged Tristan to go inside.

She knew she was risking alot helping him, she couldn't even begin to understand why.

Tristan turned his head as he heard Mackenzie come back into the house, he had no idea that she had left the house. The smell that she had of herbs and the forest had wafted back into his nostrils, he caught another scent to an all to familiar one, his head tilted to the side as she put her finger to her lips and whispered the one thing he did not want to hear.

Hunters. Of course it had to be hunters. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

He peered in to secret stash of herbs and potions, nodding he stepped inside his head ducking under the small doorway. Thankfully the room opened up a little more, easing his worries about the confined space. He nodded to Mackenzie and mouthed " Be careful"
He looked at all the labels on the bottles and jars, wondering what each one was for.

He was hoping that Mackenzie would keep her cool especially if the hunter asked her any odd questions.

Mackenzie nodded and gently closed the pantry doors. He was safe, so now all she had to do was get rid of Elmer Fudd in her living room. She poured him a glass of tea and walked into the living room, to find him removing his tactical vest. She frowned but stayed calm. "Here ya go," She said handing him the glass. He took it and took a swig. "Thanks, it's delicious." He said. "Well, It's just the Lipton powder and some cold water." She said humbly and he laughed, standing up. "It's delicious nonetheless." He said, he looked around the place some more and back at her. "So you live alone?" He asked and she nodded. "Yep." She said somewhat nervously. "So those gunshots must have really scared you, huh?" He said coming closer. "I suppose it wouldn't matter if I were alone or not." she said, backing away some but finding her back against the wall. "I suppose not," he laughed. "Surely it would have help to have someone to run to." He said, breaking into her personal space. " Especially with a large feral dog running around, you'll need someone to protect you."
He said and Mackenzie swallowed, seeing where this was headed. "Well, perhaps it just wants to be left alone. I'm probably better off by myself, less people to frighten it." She said. The hunter shook his head. "Not this animal, he likes to kill, I think he enjoys it, the less people the easier the target." He said, his hand against the wall, blocking her from a left exit. "O-oh?" She stuttered,scared for a whole different reason.

"Yes, He likes to come up close, " He said, his voice smooth as silk, raising his hand to the skin of her neck, and brushed a finger across her throat. "He'll go right for the jugular, slice it clean up so that you'll bleed out." He said and lowered his head near her neck. Mackenzie turned her head, whimpering. "He'll then tear the flesh from your neck with his teeth." He said and brushed his lips across her neck. "Please stop." Mackenize whimpered. "He won't. He'll tear the flesh off bit by bit and with his claws..." His hand then rose to her stomach and travelled upward. "I mean it, stop." Mackenzie then tried to push him away but he caught her wrist with his free hand, and his hand slipped under her shirt with the other. "He'll hold you down while his claws draggs across your ribcage, and-"

His hand rose much to high and Mackenzie shierked. "I said stop, Let me go!" With a swift kick to his knee, the hunter left off a howl, stumbling as he tried to remain stable. Mackenzie darted to the side only to be caught by her hair and yanked against the wall, crashing her head against the drywall. She crumbled to the ground, dazed while the hunter was no longer using theatrics to get her where he wanted, he held her down, by her throat. "Tristan!" Mackenzie screamed and the hunter smirked. "I knew he was here...Little bitch." He slammed his hand across her cheek, causing her to see stars. Mackenzie fought as best she could. Unfortunately, she didn't have her Book of Shadows with her, so she had to rely on her own strength which wasn't much. "Get off me! Tristan run!" Mackenzie cried out and dragged her nails across the hunter's eyes. He howled out in pain. "Stupid little bitch!" He said through clenched teeth, he slammed his hand across her face several times before tearing at her clothes. Mackenzie was dizzy and could hardly see straight but she still fought, she just didn't know how long she'll hold out.

Tristan held his cool as best as he could as he heard the hunter try to probe information from Mackenzie, he could hear her heart beat increase in her ears. Suppressing a growl in the back of his throat her clenched his fists tightly, he was willing himself to not give away his position but he wanted to help Mackenzie. To take her away from danger.

When he heard a thud against the wall and her calling out his name Tristan burst through the door breaking it off its hinges. Even though she told him to run he couldn't. E had to help her. Running towards the hunter he grabbed the hunter pulling him of Mackenzie and slamming him down hard on the floor. Roaring loudly he punched the hunter square in the face dazing him, the hunter pulled out knife slashing open Tristan's arm as he held him down. Growling loudly he hit the hunter again breaking his nose turning to Mackenzie " have you got anything to take his sight or a memories? He knows where you live now " he asked putting his weight on the hunter who struggled to reach his pockets to find anything else to fight Tristan with.

He could kill the hunter but people may look for him although it wouldn't matter they would eventually assume he was killed.