The Beast...(Nexus)

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Her whole body went rigid, her fingers tightening until her knuckles went white against the dark chocolate colored tray she was holding. "It's okay, its not him... calm down, it's not him... you'll be perfectly fine..." Tala chanted to herself over and over again in her head, as she reluctantly opened her eyes to turn around and see who it was at the counter. Her bright green eyes widened momentarily as she noticed him, though it wasn't with any form of fear it was only recognition in her eyes, as she noticed the worn and slightly ragged, colorful box underneath his rough hands. Quivering slightly she did a small sharp half turn to retrieve a cup of coffee to go with the two large golden brown muffins sitting on a perfectly placed pure white china plate. She then quite calmly moved swiftly to the other end of the counter, lifting a small latch on the underside of the bench top, balancing the tray elegantly in one hand as she did so. Sliding out from behind the counter with effortless ease, Tala made her way in three strides to a nearby table to deliver the baked goods and caffeinated beverages, before quickly returning back to the other side of the counter to speak with Daniel.

"Can you give me a minute?... we're kinda busy at the moment. Lunchtime rush and all... I'll---" She didn't get a chance to finish, as several more customers filed in through the noisy bakery door, a strong gust of wind disrupting the sweet scents and delicate aromas of the bakery as they did so. It wasn't until the door clanged shut again and the raised voices of filthy sweat covered, construction workers filled the air that she was able to speak again, this time though it was to the workers as she took order after order seemingly having no trouble filling them with her damaged leg. Though by now the customers were dispersing again, as they finished their well-earned lunches and went back their day jobs. There was still a handful left when Tala's boss came out of the kitchen to speak with her. "You have a backroom full of deliveries... get to it quickly!" she snapped, her grumpy facial expressions easily the most appealing characteristic of this harsh sixty-year old woman. Tala, far from being exasperated or frustrated seemed almost relieved, as another gaggle of customers entered the store.

Lifting her sleek long black apron carefully over her head and putting it up on its peg by the kitchen doorway, she quickly grabbed something from a low shelf by the register and made her way back to the opening in the counter. The ramble of customers speaking drowned out all else and obviously any form of communication, so she grabbed Daniel by the wrist and led him outside through a back door and directly past the kitchen to a delivery bay full of similarly colored boxes. All of them were tied with the exact same ribbon and the ever present image of a black running wolf, the words 'Lupe Fiasco - Bakery & Pet Cafe' printed heavily in bold print now made perfect sense as they neared yet another doorway that led to an open alleyway. A basket already containing two piping hot coffees and a salad filled bagel lie on a large crate with the word 'Lupe' printed on the side. It seemed that even here the rich aromas of freshly baked bread, cinnamon and vanilla reached even the far reaches of this dusty unused room.

"I hope you don't mind... I've just one really important delivery. Then we can talk... or whatever is you came to do..." Tala added now impatiently fidgeting that it was somewhat quiet here, she gave him one final reproachful look filled with pleading and guilt-ridden apologies before shrugging him off completely to turn and shift in one fluid motion, her ankle length white silk dress with an assortment of faded gray flowers printed around the hem, tore in several places and fell behind as she stepped and then galloped over towards the crate. The object she'd grabbed only seconds ago, from the shelf underneath the register, was an old leather collar with a golden nametag. The tag only held one inscription... Lupe. Tala's boss was at the window above the crate in an instant glaring at the collared mutt with dark hate filled brown eyes her name tag glistening on the black apron Tala had worn only moments ago now read 'Fiasco' though none of this would make sense to Daniel, not yet at least. "Where is that idiotic girl now?.... stupid mutt. Get over here and take these things to her immediately... I swear that girl is going to be the death of me..."[/b] Mrs Fiasco sighed, growling about useless animals and secretly killing off employees as she went back to work. She obviously hadn't noticed Daniel standing off to one side, probably due to the fact that she was so busy inside the store but as soon as she'd left, Tala leapt up to fetch the basket off the crate and padded off out into the lane-way. Only pausing momentarily to check that Daniel was still following, when she was certain he wasn't about to let her run off without an excuse as to why his home had been destroyed and then temporarily remodeled, she continued on around the next corner to a run down set of stairs that belonged to a two storey unit that looked like it had been built in the early sixties.

Scratching on the door lightly three times, Tala then let herself in through a designated doggy door, basket and all. Once inside she put the basket down and transformed again, immediately whirling around to grab a large chocolate brown cloak, before opening the door just wide enough for Daniel to come inside. The cloak fit her perfectly, hiding any unclothed parts of her body from her brutal retransformation process. She barely had time to push a stubborn piece of her wavy brown hair back behind her ear, before a call came from a mountain of blankets piled high on an old metal frame bed. “Lupe?… is that you dear?” a weakly old and ancient voice stammered from the bed, the room was dusty. Far filthier than the unused storeroom, this old lady had been left here in her own mess to die. ”Yes mama… I’m here. I’ve brought a friend too.” Tala answered her voice thick with a great choking sadness, this was clearly not her idea of elderly care. Suddenly a little girl no older than seven or eight appeared from another room, in no better health than the elderly woman. The child ran over to Tala hugging her tightly around the knees, before snatching up the bagel and the two coffees from the basket Tala now held, with both of her angrily trembling hands. ”Mama… let me say something to her… this is no way to treat her family. You know this! Let me show her what its like to live without ---“ Again she was cut off, this time by the elderly woman as she held up a withered wrinkly hand for silence. ”This is no concern of yours… or your quiet friends, if this is what you bring in peace then you have done your job… I can ask nothing else of you. Now go.”[/I] the old woman muttered, clearly unperturbed by Tala’s fury or her statement. This was not the first time she’d argued this point with the one hundred year old, long forgotten matriarch.

Growling and snarling with her anger she turned, dashing quickly to a curtain covered storeroom by the front door. She quickly changed back into her wolf form, leaving the now empty basket on the floor as she did so and the cloak back in its place. She soon returned picking up the now empty basket once more before stalking out the door once more, still growling and snarling her disapproval's. She waited patiently for Daniel to rejoin her before continuing her angry march, this time she followed his footsteps. Falling in behind as though she were his pet and they were merely out for a walk, she also fell silent pausing momentarily in-between each stride as though she were waiting for something… some hidden command or perhaps his own criticisms. She knew he was still angry with her meddling, she knew herself well enough to know she’d be furious with anyone messing with her own things but it had seemed necessary at the time and Tala was not about to back down and apologize, especially not in this foul mood.
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Daniel hadn't said anything from the time Tala turned to her wolf form till the point of her legging behind him. He wasn't in the mood to feel sorry for the girl let alone her so call mother and random kid. Even with the nagging feeling of sympathy in the back of his mind, it was quickly drowned out by the aggressive, angry, impatient emotions that were flooding his brain. He walked very stiffly his footsteps heavy and the few people that had happened to past by them step out of his way as soon as they saw his face. “I should sue you for what you did.” He didn't turn around instead he kept walking at his steady pace. “You had no right, to do what you did. You know how much damage you caused!?” Daniel was having a hard time keeping his voice down, let alone his temper. He wanted to turn around and strangle the mutt but he managed to refrain himself from that for now. “You know how much shit you caused...I was almost found out because of you...!” He was referring to his moonlight condition, as much as he hated his neighborhood and every god damn living soul in it he needed to stay...That house was all he would soon have left of her...Then this Mutt came along and almost destroyed everything! She was putting his normal life at risk and god did he hate her for it.

“You're pathetic you know that?” He glanced over his shoulder angrily, his gray eyes like ice as he stared daggers at the mutt behind him. “Wasting your time on worthless, weak mortals that just take up space on the planet.” He glared down at the pavement, crushing the guilt floating through his chest as he spoke. “...The way I see it, Only the strong survive and the weak die and that woman and child are better off dead.” He stopped walking abruptly turning around he loomed over her small wolf form his shadow over casting her.

“Don't ever let me see your face again.” His voice was quiet, dark and murderous. He was acting like his old forgotten self again, something that not even the strongest Lycan would dare stand against this ancient old werewolf. “Next time I do, I'll be sure to break both legs...and you won't be able to run away.” He gave one last glare, turning on one heel he stuffed his hands in his pockets walking faster up the sidewalk leaving the Mutt to her own devices. He didn't have time for drama nor did he want it, he wanted things to go back to normal before they got too out of control and getting any unwanted attention and he could tell that girl was a magnet for it.

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Every word stung like she'd been nicked with a silver knife, stabbed in the chest, or kicked repeatedly. He seemed to know every secret that she'd ever held onto and every dream that she'd ever told. He wasn't a friend to her though, he wasn't even an acquaintance, he was a stranger and even if his words hurt more than rock salt in a freshly opened wound he was able to say these things because he didn't know her at all. She froze as he continued to speak letting him walk several steps in front of her and keep on going, his words stung badly but she would let him go on around the corner without a word in her defense. He wouldn't listen anyway, too wrapped up in his own world. Tala returned to the bakery as fast as she was able to in the daylight of a human infested city, returning her work would only keep the surge of bitter thoughts away for so long eventually she'd have to sit and work them out.

She didn't trust herself enough to guarantee his request, all her thoughts seemed to return to him and his home, whenever she had a spare moment. It wasn't normal in any context. She needed to get away, to think for awhile. To get away from the city where she wouldn't have any temptations, however murderous or unpleasant. After all her deliveries were done it was the same, even in her own apartment she felt strangely alone, she'd never felt alone like this. Not here. This city had been her home for how long now? She didn't like how quickly he'd taken all that away from her, he was older certainly but how long had she been here, her entire life was here... how dare he accuse her of revealing him, especially not since turning up at her work like that had almost done the same to her perfect existence! She was growling at the customers and snapping at her boss in no time, though to be honest she'd always liked snapping at her boss. When eventually it was time for her to turn in for the day, Tala realized what a truly foul mood she'd fallen into.

Sulking around her quaint little apartment as she readied herself for yet another 'night out' with the girls she'd formed an alliance with at the bakery, because for some reason every now and then Mrs Fiasco would try and replace her. These girls were there for probably a week or two before the old hag was back on Tala's doorstep, she never begged or pleaded it was almost written law now that Tala would simply agree to, returning almost immediately to her job the very next day. It had been no different today, a new girl and new week started. Perhaps she would leave for awhile... make things hard on the poor old widow, let her stew in her own juices for a change. No-one else seemed to need her around here, Embry got along fine now with everyone else, though he was as human as Mrs Fiasco he'd been a good friend once. Now though he seemed more and more like a brotherly third wheel than anything remotely friend worthy. She was uncharacteristically bored with her life and all because of one afternoon with that grumpy old werewolf, what had she ever done to him anyway?

Wreck some furniture? Well that she would have fixed by the morning and then she’d leave, she’d leave for the rest of the week and run as far as she could. It’d been a long time since she’d run away, for a moment she had second thoughts but then again… it would be nice to get away and not have to worry about anyone or anything ever again. Her mind made up, Tala saw no use in pretending to be human for one more night, packing some snacks and water along with a change of clothing she stuffed them hastily into a sable colored satchel bag and opened her apartment door to the busy hallway outside, this would probably be the last time she saw her apartment for a few years, maybe in another lifetime? ”Come on Shim, lets get out of this place…” She sniffed, feeling slightly sentimental as her small gray ghost followed her out of the apartment and down to the street. Carrying the leather bag herself for most of the way Tala waited until they were at the city limits before she changed, leaving shreds of designer shoes and a blur of brightly colored clothing behind as she headed out into her favorite playground…. The desert.

----------------Time Skip - 1 night ------------------

He was furious, beyond fuming with his anger for this guy and yet she'd left him a job to do and as ungratefully professional as he was trying to be... it just wasn't working for him. Embry stormed up to the old blackened door of a house that seemed so overgrown and outdated that it looked strange in a neighborhood of old folks and their pathetic cats. Hammering on the door a clipboard in hand he waited angrily for Tala's new 'friend' to open the door, friend had been her word not his, no-one had seen Tala all night and she hadn't shown up for work this morning either. In fact the last person to see her alive was this moron, Tala had only left him a note saying that she needed this guys stuff taken back to him, how she'd managed to get it all looking so perfectly new again so quickly was beyond him but he knew better than to question the mysterious woman. Hammering away yet again he yelled at the door releasing some of his pent up frustrations "Get out here you idiotic bastard, there's a delivery for you."[/i] No sooner had he delivered the message then he started walking away sticking a rather hefty invoice to the door itself before he did. This guy was going to pay one way or the other for making her disappear like she had, I mean who else could have upset her enough to make her run away like this? She hadn't seen anyone else all day.
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Ooc: Omg look! I did it! finally hopefully this little plot twist can make up for my delay lol Sorry Nexus!

Daniel never looked back, he was to angry as he stalked the city sidewalk taking the long route back to his car. Every inch of him cursed that god damn stupid girl as he slammed the front door of his car turning the key and bringing the car to life harshly. He could barely contain his anger as he swerved into the main street, cutting of other cars. Horns blared loudly at him but he didn't care...he never did. Life had long ago become a joke to Danny; to him there was nothing else no excitement, everything ever precious to him had been taken away, It had been slaughter right in front of him any dreams he had any chance of raising a family having a wife? Gone and all that was left was Danny...

Today was going to be one of those days he could tell, that Mutt seemed to be able to bring about his worst habits. “Fuck...!” He slammed his fist on the steering wheel erasing her from his mind was proving to be harder than he had originally thought. Rubbing his hands though his hair as he sat slumped forward in the drivers side waiting for the light to change. Daniel didn't feel like going home...he didn't want to walk around the disaster that girl had made, she had single handily destroyed almost all of his last lingering memories of her and what made him even more angry is that fact she didn't know the damage she'd done. Daniel grabbed the small paper bag from the seat next to him. Ripping the bag open he popped open the cap off the shiny amber colored bottle sucking down three pure white capsule dry taking more than he needed but he didn't care. Instead of turning like he normally would he went straight driving deep into the heart of town were the average hair color was either green or pink and people like to put on powder faces. He pulled into a parking lot next to a large building, the walls were made with a deep blue glass that you couldn't see through he walked up to the entrance. Little groupies were litter outside the door all huddled in corners buzzed out of there minds with the latest drugs. Daniel ignored them, shoving his hands into his pockets still dressed in his work alter. He enter the building and was immediately hit with flashing lights, heavy noise and the smell of alcohol mixed with sweat. He stood on the upper floor staring down at the dance floor beneath him the small black orbs twisting and turning to the sound of the music some almost seemed to merge into themselves. They were black orbs with no faces lumps of flesh that had no dire meaning in life not that they could find one in here; they chose to waste there lives away...forever melting into each other.

Daniel made his way down to the main floor over to the bar taking a seat on a bar stool quickly ordering a heavy drink. He stood out amongst the crowd as a few people gave him odd looks and snickered as they passed him. He ignored them for the most part, watching the woman up on a near by stage, men cheered and whistled as they twirled around long sliver poles prancing around like pixies. They were clad in less then nothing, sparkling, glittering a fox like smile pressed to there lips. After a while Daniel went back to his drink letting the rush of the crowd overpower his senses but that didn't stop him from noticing a woman now heading towards his direction. Long pale legs strode towards him with pride, the tiniest blue mini skirt swaying in the fake breeze. The woman was cover in blue as she reached him smiling widely she laid a hand causally on him shoulder. ”You sure look lonely...” Daniel frowned turning away but she quickly brought his head back looking into his eyes. Her ice blue eyes and matching lipstick. Whether it was the deep ice pools that caught him or his own current buzz from the drugs and alcohol he had become hers. They stumbled onto the porch laughing and grunting as he has her momentarily pinned to the front door kissing her playfully as he blindly attempted to unlock the door. They half stumbled half fell into his home as Daniel kicked the door shut. They clung to each other kissing as she pulled of his shirt as they twirled around there kitchen never noticing the plate of cookies sitting innocently on the table. By the time they had made it to his bedroom she has unbuckled his jeans Daniel smirked eyes glazed over as he pushed her onto the bed. Those perfectly fake blue lips melted into his as so did his body merge with hers soon after.

Daniel was woken quickly by a harsh banging on his front door, he growled stuffing his head into his pillow. When the noises never stop Daniel snarled standing up he slammed his door open stomping his way to the front door. He forced it open harshly noticing a man walking away. “Yeah, what do you want?” His voice was deep as growled at the man. Daniel slumped against the door the bright summer morning causing his to squint. He was shirtless and his jeans hung loose on his hips. His arms were folded and were clad in long black rubber gloves that hugged up to a little past his forearms. He was certain that the man would give him an odd look but Daniel didn't care. The man held out a clipboard for Daniel to sign, Daniel snatch the clipboard from the smaller male looking it over quickly before signing his name at the bottom. He tossed the clipboard over to Embry. “Drop the stuff off tomorrow...” He turned to enter his home again but the man quickly began to complain. Daniel growled turning quickly grabbing the Embry collar of his shirt, lifting up him up off the porch. “ I said tomorrow...now piss the fuck off.” Daniel shoved him down letting him stumble down the porch stairs and leap up to his vehicle and drive away. His eyes had somehow darkened as he quickly looked around before shutting his door walking back into his kitchen, Chomper whined sadly at his feet but Daniel ignored him grabbing a knife from the sink as he made his way into the living room the new furniture had been covered in plastic wrap as well as the walls, bookshelf, TV and floor. Everything had been cleared from the center of the room and pushed off to the sides the windows had been covered by heavy drapery little only light could get in. The sun peeled across her frighten eyes, her make up smeared down her face mixing in with her tears; she tried to scream but any sound that was made was lost beneath the sliver tape sealed to her mouth. She struggled in the chair that she was tied too as Daniel lifted up the knife drawing his finger along the edge testing it's sharpness, he leer down at her the sun catching a menacing look in his eye. “Sorry for the wait...” He walked over to her stepping behind her, rubbing her shoulders gently. Her frantic cries were becoming louder as she begged for her life. Daniel smirked pressing the knife to her face drawing the blade along her cheek he chuckled darkly as he spun the chair around quickly shoving the knife into her left leg. The woman let out a wail as Daniel continued to stab in random places as quickly as he started he stopped pulling away knife dangling in his hand. The girl was panting harshly still very much alive, her eyes were wide and bulging. Daniel took a step back letting his gaze wander over every cut as the woman's life continued to spill onto the plastic wrap floor. He walked over to his stereo, turning it a song on pull the volume up on blast till the music vibrated the walls. Next door Daniel neighbor Ms. Clover who had been tending her lilies sighed and simply shook her head at the music the heavy metal that poured out from the home was little to anyone's taste in this neighborhood. Daniel grabbed a chainsaw that had been laying on the coffee table. He turned back so that he was facing her, she began to shriek louder as it roared to life. Daniel couldn't help but laugh at the site of the woman the grin on his face seemed to only get wider as he shoved the chainsaw into the woman's torso pushing it right through the chair itself as organs and blood splattered onto Danny and the plastic covered room. Her head quickly slumped back as she was now clearly dead her blue eyes now dull and a light gray. Daniel grunted turning the chainsaw off pulling out looking almost disappointed, tossing it to the side. He stepped backwards never taking his eyes of his blue eyed tinkerbell. Daniel slumped against the wall sliding till he was sitting down pulling a beer from the table next to him he uncapped it and took a causal sip.

In the dead of night Daniel stepped out of his home the woman's body slumped onto his shoulder she was wrapped in several black garbage bags and duck tape. He shoved her lifeless body in the trunk slamming it shut. Daniel had himself dressed in a large black hoodie with making black jeans and black gloves and boots, he had the hood pulled up over his head. He quickly got into his car turning the key letting his car come to life. He pulled his car out of the driveway before driving off towards the desert. His mind was completely blank he couldn't think other than the fact that he had done it again...he pulled two more pills out of his pocket swallowing them whole. It took a while but he finally made it to the desert there was really one road and it was barely drivable but Daniel managed. He stopped at a large deep lake, quickly getting out of his car he opened the trunk dropping the body onto the ground as he tied a large brick connected to a rope around the body. Picking both up with ease he tossed them into the lake which was a instance drop the black waters would never reveal the secrets that Daniel had decaying down there. Daniel waited till the body had completely disappeared underneath the pitch darkness before getting back into his car. Turing his car back on he began to drive back to the city that was until he notice a certain mutt walking in the general direction of the lake. His eyes widen as fear and panic rose up in his chest. Thinking fast he swerved over towards her putting his car in park as he did so. Practically jumping out of the car he knew he was dressed oddly but he had to get her to come back to the city with him or to at least not go towards that lake. He stared down at her still as grumpy as ever though this time a little fake concern was in order. “There you are...listen...” Daniel looked away rubbing his neck though most of this was a act some truth was held to it. “I'm sorry about yesterday...I, I mean I was well...look I'm just sorry okay.” It looked as if it was taking Daniel every muscle in both his mind and body to come up with a proper apology. Right now though he do anything, anything to get this mutt to come back with him and not head toward the large black lake that held his dark secret.

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Ooc: OMG! it totally made up for it... You caught me off guard, I didn't think widdle Danny had it in him... lol. Guess I was wrong.

Tala zig-zagged across the road avoiding the crazed man completely as he scrambled to apologize for what he'd done, eventually she stopped to listen, if only for a moment. It was rare that anyone apologized to her for anything, usually she was the one doing all the reparations but she hoped he wasn't just out here in the middle of the desert just for her. Because she really wasn't in the mood to chat, not when he stank of death and fresh meat, he was probably some psychotic loony. She had to admit, having already had several hours in the desert to think about why she had run away in the first place, that she didn't really know who this guy was. For all she knew he was a psychotic loser that probably intended to end her life one way or another and she should steer well clear of him. For whatever reason she knew he wasn't going to be good for her, despite the fact that she couldn't get him out of her head, besides... it was kinda fun watching him struggle. She hung around long enough to hear his apology, then began scampering off again in the direction of the black lagoon, all the animals here said it was poisonous, that it had become a grisly place of death over the long years Tala had spent of her life adventuring. She could only ever recall a place of utter beauty in that particular spot that surely held no resemblance to the fantasy she held in her head. So she had decided to check it out for herself one way or another but the annoying guy of her dreams just wouldn't let her past, he either kept blocking her with own body or he used those blinding headlights of his to distract her, speeding wasn't the only way to get her attention but if that's what he wanted... two could play at that game. There was no use trying to hide things from her, she had a keen sense of smell and knew how to outrun even the fastest cars.

She wanted to scream with rage as he continued to track her down, what was he doing out here anyway? Surely, she wasn't that important to him that he had to come all the way out here to tell her, did he think she couldn't look after herself? Picking up speed she quickly left him behind in a cloud of sand and dust, not liking the fact that he wouldn't leave her alone, she suddenly swerved to one side and came to a grinding halt. What was this guy after? an apology or something?! She'd already done everything humanly possible to at least return his life to normal, what else did he want from her? She was getting paranoid now, her ears lay flat back against her head, her heart hammering away as she tried frantically to come up with some solution before he caught up with her, she felt like she was going crazy with all the random thoughts that kept popping into her head, the little voice in her head told her to keep running, that he was going to catch up to her like the many hunters that stalked the city and that he would kill her if she stayed here. At first she didn't believe it, too wrapped up in her own panicked thoughts of whether the black lagoon might just be real or not, how she'd left behind the only home she'd ever known for this creep and how he could ever know that she was out here. Then again he stank of death and fresh meat, maybe he hunted out here too? she had crossed his trail a few times, the same dirty tyre tracks ran up and down the road for miles. Maybe the lagoon was where he hunted? she desperately wanted to see the place of her childhood fantasies, she'd spent months out here when she was young, just catching fish and lying in the shade, it was hard to imagine a toxic black lake with none of that remaining but all of a sudden she was running for a different reason.

A warning howl from Shimmer, abruptly cut off in the wind had caught her full attention almost immediately. Taking off again just as the blinding blaze of headlights appeared down the road, Tala bolted. Running flat out until the sand beneath her feet began to sting as it sprayed up against her furry forelegs and in her long slender face. For the moment she had been redirected, now heading away from the black lagoon at a tremendously fast pace, there was little of her left behind to follow and now that she was headed off road and back towards their hiding place, she was acutely aware of the fact that Danny was still somewhere behind her as she traveled faster and faster through the desert sand. As she neared Shimmer's location she could smell them, the sand in their fur, the vegetation crushed into their running paws and the fresh metallic scent of canine blood all made Tala furious.. By the time she reached the desert jackals circling her beloved gray pet it was all too much, Tala launched herself at all three of them tearing them limb from furry limb even as the youngest ran off she chased it, hunting the whimpering pup until there was nothing left of it except a bloody fur ridden puddle. Panting heavily, with exhaustion and fury, She then returned to Shim's side. The dog wasn't hurt too badly she could at least walk over to Tala, with the exception of a rather nasty limp but it would heal with a bit of love and some nice clean bandages, none of which Tala had here. That wasn't her biggest problem though, Tala couldn't transport her back to the city, not without hurting Shim more than she was already, she didn't have a car and her stuff was still safely stashed away in their secret tunnels. She didn't want Daniel involved anymore than he was already either, the guy quite frankly gave her the creeps, she wasn't sure if it was because he followed her all the way out here to bring her back or whether it was because he held such little value for anyone else's feelings that bothered her so much, normally she would have been pleased to have such attention doted upon her but not today, today she wanted him gone as quickly as possible. Snarling, hackles and fur raised as high as it would go, Tala barked at the madman's headlights wildly careening down the nearest sand dune, "Go away!... Leave me alone already!" she snapped her maw still dripping with the blood of the jackals as she took a few steps forwards snapping her jaws together and barking yet again to get her point across. Shimmer cowered near her right flank, unsure of the dangerous man and his vehicle and even more wary of her master, the gray dog stood off to one side her injured rear leg still bleeding badly. Tala didn't want or need Danny's help she was sure of it, she knew his car could be useful but at the sake of his sympathy she'd rather go to hell first, she was dependent on no-one, not since the death of her parents had she known another like her and she didn't trust this one at all.