Rowan Alastar's Story

Rei winced, but they may not have any other option. She knew by this point Jesse was starving as well, and shifting would only make that worse. But what other choice did they have?

"If you feel like you can.." She started to say. She whirled around, immediately becoming defensive and baring teeth.

A stick cracked behind them and a man walked up in nothing but a pair of jeans. He had a distinct air about him, as if he were gracing Jesse and Rei with his presence. Scars marked his torso in white lines and he had a confident smirk on his face that Rei just wanted to punch off him. "Well well well.. What do we have here..?" He asked. "You two seem a bit lost.. What do you think, fellas?"

Jesse recognized Rowan immediately. He put an arm out in front of Re'Altarm, protectively to shield her.

"Re, get out of here," he told her.

His own eyes locked on Rowan's, and Re'Altarm could almost see the wolf in him bristle. Up until now, Jesse hadn't displayed any hint of the more aggressive side of pack life, but Rowan had him on the defensive, and he was clearly agitated. Perhaps even afraid.

Similarly dressed, another figure stepped out from the trees behind Rowan. Jason took in Jesse's defensive reaction and let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Cool your jets, pup. We both know you've not got the bite to back up your little white knight act." he said, smirking.

"What are you doing in this neck of the woods?" He gave Jesse's mud-coated body the once over, raising an eyebrow. "Naturist camping trip, maybe?"

"Heh, c'mon, guys. Only one real answer for a naked couple to be in the woods," chimed another, showing up behind Jessie and Re'Altarm.

He was a younger, scrawnier lad than the other two men who'd shown up, but he had a rough look about him. One that said he wasn't some pushover. A cigarette hung out the corner of his lip, which he proceeded to light. Though he'd opted for a jacket, the only other thing he wore were a pair of torn jeans.

"Good t'seeya. How's m'brother been?" he remarked, smirking with the cigarette between his teeth. "Pussyin' around with your bunch still?"

Rei was about to turn and drag Jesse with her, but then she was faced with Felix now. They had no where to run. She bared her teeth, a silent growl at the scrawnier man.

Rowan slowly stepped forward. "Nah, I don't think this pup's had 'is balls drop yet to get into that kind of mischief, Felix." He chuckled deeply. "Though I wouldn't blame him for wanting to show the girl a good time.." He appraised her with a slow glance. Rei scowled and turned to glare daggers at Rowan.

Rowan turned his attention back to Jesse. "You're one of Baron's pack of dogs, aren't ya? Jesse is it?" He grinned slightly.

"What do you want with us," Jesse demanded.

His posture was guarded and his eyes shifting from one to the other, ignoring their questions. He could tell well enough that the lot of them where razzing him and Re'Altarm, and not a one actually cared about the answer to their inquiries.

"Why's it gotta be that we want something, Jesse?" Jason chuckled, "We were just passing through when we stumbled across you and your little lady's trail. We're as surprised as you are to find you out here."

He stroked his chin for a moment, "But it's a good question. Whaddyou think we could get outta this happy little accident, guys? I'm sure we can think of something."

"Aw, man. Such a hard decision, Jason." Felix shook his head and sighed in mock confliction. He even rose his arms up in a phony shrug. "What's on your mind, boss?" He lifted his chin with a smirk toward Rowan. "You got a pretty vivid imagination f'dese tings, right?"

Rei glared at Rowan as he slowly approached the two. She swore at him in her native tongue. "I don't think that's necessary." He chuckled. "You're probably gonna be doing that to all the guys back home." He stared at her thoughtfully and then to Jesse. It took him a long while, but his grin widened.

"I think we should take what we find and put it to good use, don't you think? The good 'ole doctor here can't refuse us his services if he owes us his and his doll's life. They look rather haggered, and though feisty as she is.. I don't think they'll last wandering around in circles much longer. Would be a shame to just let them waste away out here."

"Grab 'em. We're taking them home, boys."

Rei growled and took a defensive stance, getting ready to defend Jesse if need be.

"Whatever you say, boss man." Jason said with a smirk, "Someone grab the chick. I've got Doc Tiny here covered."

He stepped forwards, roughly shoving Rei aside to grab at Jesse. "Don't make this hard on yourself. Play along, and I won't have to get mean."

Felix moved in as well, cracking his knuckles before he reached over for Rei's arm. "C'mon, pretty girl. We ain't gonna hurtcha," he grinned. "Promise."

Shoved away from Jesse by Jason, and she had to catch her balance before Rei dipped from Felix. She leaned back to bring a kick around, her heel aiming for Felix's chest. She hoped Jesse could hold his own.

Rowan stood back, observing the two with a slight smirk. Rei couldn't keep up a fight for long, not in this state. Even if she had hit Felix, it would most likely only make him stumble slightly.

Jesse was no fighter, but as Re'Altarm made a go for Felix, he was pushed into action himself. He threw the punch for Jason's jaw, twisting his whole body into it.

The punch caught Jason square in the face, and stopped him in his tracks - if only for a moment - but he didn't release his grip on Jesse's shoulder. He slowly moved his head back, rolling his jaw. "Not a bad punch," he sneered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "For a pansy like yourself, that was a good effort. Now here's how someone with balls does it."

He balled up a fist and took a breath in, the veins in his arm pulsing with light, before he delivered a swift jab to Jesse's stomach, practically lifting the smaller man off the ground with the force.

Jesse doubled over and fell to his knees, hands grasping at the dirt as he tried to suck in air with a gasping wheeze. His vision swam as his starved body flooded with adrenaline that it didn't have the resources to fuel. If not for the empty stomach, he might have retched right then and there.


Felix reeled back from the kick, stumbling back. He grit his teeth and drew his hand back, moving forward to land a hard and swift blow to Re'Altarm's face.

Rei heard Jesse's gasping and swiveled to see if he was alright. "Jesse!" She cried, letting her guard down. Felix' blow came down hard, knocking the girl to the ground.

Meanwhile, Jason reached down and grabbed Jesse's hair, pulling him upwards violently and turning to face Re'Altarm. He tightened his fist beside Jesse's face, veins pulsing again. "Cool your jets, girl, or the next one'll break his pretty little face."

Gritting her teeth and wiping the blood from her busted lip, she glared up to Jason with hatred. "Fuck you." She growled. However, she did not move to attack again. Her world was spinning and she felt as though she was about to faint.

Deep throaty chuckles sounded from Rowan. "Right. Let's move out. Need to sneak them back into the city. Best time to do it since Baron's dogs are searchin' for that girl of their's."

Jason flashed Rei a toothy grin in response to her cursing, before nodding to Rowan. He tightened his grip on Jesse's hair and forcibly pulled him up to his feet. "On your feet, doc. And start walking." he said, jabbing him in the back to shove him forwards.

Jesse managed only two steps before he was doubled over against a tree, one hand to his stomach. He managed a few rasping breaths before he was up and moving again with Jason's less than gentle encouragement.

The sound of music and chatter seemed to vibrate the floor from above. The Rollin' Bones Casino had always been a popular spot for those down on their luck to throw away their money in the mild hope their luck would change. Rowan never believed in luck, but he profited in it.

The group, however, was down a floor near the vaults of the casino. The man stood in front of Jesse and Rei, who were now in separate cages from across each other. A table sat in between the pair, just out of arms reach from either, laden with chicken breasts and wings, a variety of fruit and veggies, and a bottle of fine wine. The smell of the hot food made Rei's stomach growl loudly and she had to swallow hard to keep from drooling. Rowan had given each clothes to put on, and though her clothes were baggy, Rei wore hers to keep that man from staring at her anymore.

Rowan was fully dressed now in his normal attire- A full dress suit, complete with a small white rose in his pocket. "Well, now that we're all more comfortable.." He stated softly, sitting down at the table. "Perhaps we can now talk, hm?"

Jesse sat clothed in the corner of his cage, clearly in a great deal of pain and physical distress. Bruises had blossomed along his abdomen where Jason had struck him, and being forced to make the trek here while injured had only exasperated the situation.

"Baron's going to have your hide for this," he warned.

The smell of the food was stomach churning. and he couldn't shake the nausea deep in the pit of his stomach. With their enhanced metabolism, the days in the woods without food had the pair near into a state of starvation, but he could barely stand the smell of the food in the room with them.

"I'm pretty sure Baron's not having anyone's hide for a while. Not while he's behind bars.." Rowan chuckled. "And that little girl.. What's her name.. Sophia? I think that's it. She's been missing for a while now. My boys are bettin' she's dead by now, but eh.. Your pack's about to tear themselves apart with the chaos that's been going on. I doubt they have even realized you two have gone missing."

Rowan delicately took a chicken wing from the plate and tossed it over to Jesse's cage. "Throw a dog a bone, hm?" He chuckled. "I'll have plenty of time to cover my scent by the time they've gotten around to realizing you've not been around."

"You're a valuable asset to have around, Doc. I think you and I can strike up a bargain, hm?"

Baron in jail? Sophia missing? What exactly had he missed while he and Re'Altarm where lost out in the woods? The information was news to him, and not even his best efforts could keep the growing unease from his face.

His eyes followed the chicken wing, but the wet spatter of it hitting the floor and the release of greasy aromas from it only left him wanting to retch.

"You're a low-life criminal who exploits and feeds on the misfortune of everyone around you. What bargain could possibly be of any interest to me?" Jesse asked.

"You make it sound like a bad thing." Rowan said, a smirk across his face. "I'm a simple man. One that helps those get what they desire. All I ask is a little something in return. Is that so bad?"

He slowly stood up and walked over to Rei's cage, his sea blue hues gazing down at the girl. She growled and curled away from him. "Hmhm.." He chuckled, "It just so happens that most requests are forms of release and of questionable morals." He walked back over to Jesse's cage slowly.

"I will need a personal staff doctor to work here in the area.. I'll make sure you have a nice home, are well cared for, paid handsomely.. All yours if you should accept the offer. Pretty sure you're still recovering from the misfortune of being bitten.." He grinned a friendly grin. He almost looked as though he truly could be a good guy. "I'll start you off at a 6 figure paycheck a year. You can start your own practice here in Audrieu, and I'll build it for you. All expenses covered. Sounds nice, eh?"

"I have no interest in your money," Jesse answered, his words a low growl. "Or in working for you."

He was glaring daggers at the man through the bars of his cage. He didn't much like that Rowan's attention had shifted to Re'Altarm.

"She's not with the pack. She has no part in this, or your beef with Baron."

Or really, Baron's father.... and so on back through the generations. The Scions of Aodhan and the Bloodstone pack had been at each others throats for almost as long as the city of Lutetia had existed.

"Ah-ha." Rowan's eyes gained a light of interest, learning Rei was not in Baron's pack. "But you seem invested in her.. Packless then, I assume?" His smile fell in mock sadness. "A shame then.. Such a lovely girl.. Guess she won't be missed then.."

A woman came from the shadows, her boots clicking against the tiled floor and a wicked grin upon her face as she walked up to Rei's cage. Her brown locks were tied back in a pony tail and she wore what looked to be a surgeon's gown. Jesse could make out some of the tools in her belt, even recognize a few of the surgical tools. The others looked like they'd make no sense, except for torture. "'ow long ya think she'll last, eh?" The woman asked, the smile smeared across her face marred by the jagged scar that stretched from her left temple, over the bridge of her nose, across her lips and down her jaw bone on the right side.

"Depends." Rowan said, grabbing an apple off the table. "She's a fighter, but I don't think she'll last long.. She's starving too, so that'll play a factor.." He turned back to Jesse. "A true shame. Unfortunately I cannot afford to keep her around and feed her. I already have too many pets. Though if you had agreed to the offer, I probably could have spared the cash to keep her around.. Want an apple?" He grinned and offered the fruit to Jesse.

Rei growled at the woman as she went around for the door to Rei's cage, fiddling with the lock. Rei didn't look like she's go without a fight though.