Kristine

Kristine stared warily through the thick brushes of the forest at the light emanating form the tavern across the cobblestone road. Normally she would not be so close to a place of human congregation but tonight it seemed there were special merits … she was waiting for someone. Who it was, none with even the sharpest eye and best mental powers could have told; it was so deep within her unconscious brain that not even she herself knew the real truth to the person’s identity. A soft rumbling filled the air and a slight shifting of her feet was the only hint that Kristine was embarrassed of her hunger noises. Wonderful, thick smells emanated from the tavern, taunting her to come inside for a bite to eat, perhaps a nice warm drink to keep her company until whatever, or whomever, she was waiting for arrived.

Several minutes passed before her will power bent enough for her to step forward, nearly out in the open where a wandering eye could catch a glimpse of her. Glancing up at the moon Kristine shuddered slightly, so close, so close and still she was taking this risk. What was it that was drawing her here? Why now? Taking a deep breath, Kristine closed her eyes and began the transformation. The audible sound of bones crunching could be heard through the night air, joints popping out of place to move back in a different angle. Slowly the black matted fur began to recede and new, pale flesh came forth. It seemed to go by so slowly, yet at the same time one second there had been a black leopard staring through the brushes and the next there stood a lean, pale female with long, glorious black hair to her waist. The eyes, the eyes were unchanging, a luminous amethyst purple that seemed to pierce through the night and see the life of everything.

One slender, pale foot stepped forth onto the uneven cobblestones; her flesh was bare to the elements of nature. A flick of her hand wound shadows and the deep moss of the underside of trees around her wrist and it slowly twines around her body. Before the eyes of the creatures of nature a dress is formed of a deep emerald green, a cinching corset of black defining her small waist and curvaceous figure. Arching her back she stepped forth into the road, warmth rising from the stones, reminding her of the sun’s warm rays from earlier in the day. Loud and raucous noise emanated from within and she shrank back, not physically as any would notice, but in her mind, she withdrew. A breath of wind blew across her flesh, rising goose bumps that she rubbed at to get rid of. There was no denying it, no going back on her decisions. It seemed to her that someone was watching her intently, waiting for her to move, to see if she would actually enter the corrupted place in which humans wallowed in self-indulgence of lust and the drink.

A sneer crossed the slightly triangular face, turning it for moments into a slightly hideous mask. She had never been sentimental to humans, and it wasn’t likely that she’d change her point of view this late in her lifetime. Her nose twitched, and she shook her head, sending her wild mane of hair flying in a halo of dark light around her face, a startling contrast of colors. Taking a deep breath of the night air she steadied herself, it was always overfilling when she walked amongst humans, having to hide what she truly was, as most humans still didn’t believe in creatures such as her. Gracefully flowing like liquid moon and shadows her feet padded on the warm, thrumming ground, eyes darting at those lounging around outside of the tavern. Another deep breath drawn in through her lungs, exhaled slowly as her slender hand reached out to grab the knob of the tavern door. Here goes nothing. The thought crossed her mind, and a shiver of anticipation raced down her spine. It had been quite awhile since she had sat amongst others, nearly a decade. Black flashed across her face at that thought of so long ago, the people she had known … as well as the betrayal.

A breath of warm air rose up to greet her as the door swung out, admitting her entrance; eyes flashed to look around her, at the other patrons and the layout of the room. A familiar scent tickled her nose, giving a slight itch at the back of her throat. Someone … or something that she had met before, or had met one of the same kind, was here. With a slow sashaying of hips she made her was slowly to the bar and tall barstools, on the way there she could think of a graceful way to set upon one with her five foot nothing frame. Halfway there she paused, eyes flashing towards a table half hidden by shadows and surrounded on three sides by walls. What a peculiar setting for a table was the thought that came to her head. The next was that it was perfect … none could sneak up on her. She had superhuman reflexes and hearing but no use taking the risk.

Her destination changed she turned on the ball of her foot and in two steps found herself sliding into a fairly comfortable chair. Ah, now she remembered one of the more pleasant things about being a human, or at least of being in human form. Kicking up her feet she placed them in t he chair adjacent to her so she could scoot down in the chair and be more comfortable. With the flick of her wrist she held up her forefinger in a signal to the bar maid who hastily scurried over after filling the tankard of a lone man sitting at the bar. A smile curved on her lips as she ordered a glass of warm milk and the specialty meal for the night. She contemplated getting a room in town as the maid scurried away to fill her order. Trailing her long fingernails across the intricate carvings of the table she eyed the patrons of the room once more deep in thought.

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(A/N): Thoughts? Comments?