Maela Fay's Story

"Oh. Um. Hello," came a voice from the tree the man was leaning against. A woman looked down at him from its thick, sprouting branches, her blonde hair hanging down the sides of her cheeks. She held a bow in her hands, but none of the arrows from her quiver were loaded, and she didn't seem threatening. "I'm hoping you're not another drunk wandering out into the forest at this hour. The sirens have been antsy lately and drunk men are more easily tempted," she called down.

Swathed in a heavy fur jacket, it was hard to discern any other features of the woman besides the multitude of stitches down one side of her face. It looked as though something had swiped a meaty set of claws over her eye.

Hugo looked up at the woman who called down to him, immediately noticing the scars and winced slightly behind his glasses. Did a werewolf do that to her? What would she think if she knew what he was? Questions and worry swim through his mind as he answered nervously "U-uh, no! I'm not a drunk. Just...just someone who's lost their way, that's all." he said, shame evident in his voice. "My name is Hugo Maxwell! What is yours?" he said, adjusting his glasses to hide his eyes. He was dressed in his usual attire, albeit it was rather dirty from a week on the streets. He tried dusting off his coat. "I haven't spoken to anyone in over a week...thanks for the warning about the sirens." he said, trying to add to the conversation

"Maela Fay. I'm a ranger working for the Society. Do you need help?" she called, tilting her head to the side. I know these woods like an alcoholic knows his beer. I can get you out quick, if you like. It's dangerous here. Lots of creatures who'd like to do you harm. Witches and sirens and walking cadavers. You wouldn't want to walk into any of them."

Slowly, she began to descend from the tree, but stopped at a branch above Hugo's head. "For all I know, you're a nasty brute, so I'll be keeping my distance until I'm sure." She gave him a wink. "I'm not alive in Lutetian woods for no reason."

He gulped slightly when he heard that she was part of the Society. "T-The Society, huh?" he said. Looking around, he realized he had wandered around a bit too much and knew it would be hard to get out safely on his own. Turning away from her, he sniffed, hoping his new senses would have a use. He detected the faint scent of the city, laughing nervously, trying to hide that fact "I think I can make it on my own...though having an escort would be ideal, yes!" he said. "So, the Society? I've read stories about them and how they protect us from the supernaturals that would do us harm. Mindless undead for instance." he said, walking forward. He had always admired them in the sense they hunted down the supernatural beings that committed horrible acts of violence. It wasn't like the church, who hated every being that wasn't what they considered normal. Throughout the forest, Hugo heard the sounds of animals running through the forest. He tightened his grip around a tree branch and wiped sweat from his brow. He shook his head "Warm out tonight..." he said quietly.

"Aye, we do all that," smiled Maela. "Though, that's normally the Slayers and Hunters. Rangers like me scout and report, mostly. I try to avoid conflict where I can," she told him.

After surveying the area briefly, she hopped down from the branch and landed on her feet in a deep squat. She bounced back up with springy knees. "Ready? You're not too tired?" Maela inquired. She drew an arrow from the quiver on her back and knocked it, but kept the brow directed to the ground. She began to walk ahead of him, but kept her eyes on him and the forest. "Warm? Really? I didn't notice," she chuckled, pulling up her hood.

He paused for a moment, realizing that he sounds a bit suspicious. He cursed his instinct to hunt, trying hard to keep his mind focused on getting back to the city. "M-My parents were highly religious...didn't care much for your group. Said you were soft on the minions of hell. Never liked that about them, personally. In fact...the supernatural fascinated me." he said as they walked. He looked towards the ground "I don't think I'll be seeing them that much anymore...considering they almost got me killed." he stopped and punched a tree "It wasn't my fault, dammit!" he screamed. He took a deep breath and tried to control his aggression. "I'm sorry...I just got a bit too emotional there." he said, continuing his walk and maintaining an awkward silence.

The ranger narrowed her eyes at the man's sudden outburst. Her fingers danced along her bow, but she didn't make a move to lift it. "You... sound like you have a lot of... personal problems there. You sure you don't want to rest? Maybe you're dehydrated? Hungry? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Maela wasn't sure of the nature of this man. He could have been anything. Anyone. For all she knew, he was an undead raised by a witch trying to trick her.

Wouldn't have been the first time.

Hugo runs his hands through his hair in frustration, sighing deeply as he sits down at the base of a tree. He started to realize that people will realize he's not human eventually. "To be honest I'm starving....and I'm not hurt, unless you count my soul." he slowly removes his glasses, showing that his eyes had a strange glow to them. He laughs nervously, almost as if he just broke down "I-I'm not human...I'm not human." the stress, the betrayal of his family, his affliction, it was all too much for him. He looked up at the moon, palm over his eyes in a futile attempt to hide his tears "T-That feral werewolf took everything from me! I would have been dead if it weren't for another one attacking it. Part of me wishes it was just a little bit too late. I can't live as a werewolf I...I was meant to convince the church that they were wrong about supernaturals! I can't do that as one of them!" Hugo just sat there, sobbing as everything felt like it fell apart.

"The church? The church has a long standing hate against supernaturals since before Lutetia was established. You should know better," Maela grumbled. She didn't seem perturbed knowing the man was a werewolf. Better than anything else, though she did err on the side of caution.

"I'm really not one to council someone who's not doing well emotionally, ah... it's not my shtick. But if you don't pick yourself off and follow me you'll have more worries than living as a werewolf. You'll have a hard time living at all. Come on." She nodded towards the city. "Let's go. You can figure things out once we get there. Okay? There's werewolves everywhere. Supernaturals everywhere. Even I'm not human. So let's go."

Trying to regain his composure, he stands up. He was a little surprised to hear that she wasn't human, though it did make sense in a way. He wipes away his tears and puts his glasses back on, sighing "Forgive me...this isn't the place for me to get lost in my troubles. You're right, let's go." he says, following her closely.

He thought about what she said, about the church hating supernaturals since the beginning. She was right. They weren't just going to change or question their long-standing beliefs. "You may be right about the church. I just hoped there were reasonable people within its ranks that would actually stop and think about their antiquated hatred." he said. Soon the city was within view "Thank you for the escort, Maela." he said, sighing as he looked toward the city "I don't know where to go. I wandered around on my own for a week before I starts stumbling about in the forest. I'm going to need someplace to stay...and as much as I'd hate to admit it, it seems like I'll have to fall in with one of the packs."

Maela rose the corner of her lip in disgust, but while she was turned away from Hugo. When she turned around to look at him briefly, her face had become neutral again. "As you are now, you're better off without them."

Possibly better in the woods than in a church, too, Maela thought, peering deeply into the darkest areas of the woods. Shadows danced at the sides of her vision. Every time she turned around to look directly at it, it was gone. So were the woods, typically at night.

"I'm not a city dweller. My sister is, though. If you're dropping in with a pack... well, make sure it's one of the better ones. As a Society member, even if I'm not a Hunter or Slayer, it's my duty to keep an eye out for anyone who wants to break the law, too."