The Hunter and The Hunted

Author's Note: Yay update I this is a bit shorter than my usual updates, but bear with me please (unless you like short chapters *all you have to do is let me know ;)* )

CandyCaner: I have to admit, ikkichi's story is one of the reasons I started this one. It simply screamed at me and demanded it be written. As for why she doesn't join the pack, you'll have to read to find out... ;) As for the cats, I think they were the only ones who didn't start hissing at her (Tiri does like to scratch her though) glad you enjoyed it.

ikkichi: thanks for the review hun. hope this part is just as much a blast to read as the others XD.

Other readers: Thanks for coming back and reading, hope to get reviews from you guys(and gals) as well...

enjoy XD

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I parked outside her house and smiled at the spacious lawn, the inner animal lover kicking in. I heard a low howl coming from the inner sanctum of her equally large house and I began to wonder if it was not just her and her five dogs living there. I frowned a little before reminding myself that I was coming to see how Misa was doing… though the little voice in my head was calling my bluff. ‘Curse you conscience.’ I got out of my car and tilted my head to the waning sunlight briefly before turning to the house. The howls turned to frantic barks and scratches as I figured the dogs had sensed my presence and I now hoped I wasn’t inconveniencing her by coming at this time. I started to focus my hearing and was rewarded by her soft voice reprimanding the dogs, and hr footfalls drawing closer to the door. I paused at the gate, not sure whether or not to proceed as she opened the door. I caught her brief surprise before she motioned for me to come in. “I hope you’re not afraid of these guys trying to eat you.” she called out, and I noticed her foot trying to keep them inside. One of them, a male, slipped past her guard and came barreling toward me only to stop short as I willed calmness to engulf him. He cocked his head to the side and I began petting him, smiling to myself and at her apparent surprise. I took him gently by the collar after a moment and tugged him a bit to follow me inside.

“I hope you don’t mind me coming at this hour. I wanted to see how Misa was doing, seeing as I came off work early today.” ‘Early for this shift anyway’ I thought privately.

“No I don’t mind. I didn’t expect you too come this soon though, it’s always kinda hectic around now…” she let her voice trail off as the dogs began barking excitedly around me. I noted that Misa was not among the wild beasts trying to jump on top of me. “That’s strange.” she muttered in a voice too low for a normal person to hear.

“So where is Misa?” I asked, chancing a look in her eyes to almost get lost in the color again.

“Come with me.” she said motioning for me to follow her. I followed her through the house to what could only be called the dog room. Misa was lying calmly on one of the beds there, raising her head only briefly to take note of all the new additions to the room. One of the males, Drake I presumed, bounded to her and nudged her head back down gently. I smiled and moved over to them pulling Drake back slowly before running my hand on Misa’s back. Marina muttered something else, but I was too focused on Misa at that point to bother figuring it out. After a quick analysis I asked “Did you ever get her to eat?”

“Umm… after a few experiments yeah. She suddenly became a picky eater…” She shook her head “I hope it doesn’t continue.”

“It doesn’t usually.” I said now rubbing behind her ears. Her head lolled to the side and I got her to roll on her back. I rubbed her belly lightly and felt the tiny movements going on in her and smiled. “I think she’ll do more fine. Just try to make sure she eats.” Marina laughed and we left her in peace. She took me to the kitchen, insisting that I take something to drink or eat before I go. Honestly, I just wanted an excuse to spend more time with her.

As the sun set, I felt the instinct to run creeping up on me again and it seemed as though Marina was getting restless too, but I couldn’t be too sure. Soon, I left (after getting her number) telling her I’d call before I came to check on Misa again… Silently I had a hope that she’d let me take care of the puppies too, ‘Maybe I should have gotten dogs too…’ I thought feeling the call of the pack life again.

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I walked into my apartment again, feeling slightly agitated. Actually I think restless would be a better word, it always is a better word, restless. I wanted to move, I couldn’t stay still. Every fiber of my being was geared towards me being outside and running. I took a deep breath and slumped onto the floor in my living room, closing my eyes and calming my thoughts. This was how I was going to spend the few days before, of and after the full moon… In a meditative trance that allowed me a reprieve from the base instincts of the animal within me… of the alpha within me…

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I opened my eyes as the sun rose, with a heavy weight on my lap. Looking down I saw my two cat curled in one interlocking ball comfortably waiting for me to rose from my so called slumber. I rolled my eyes and stroked their fur, not sure where one ended and the other began. The simultaneous purring that I was getting told me that they were enjoying the sensations, causing me to chuckle. Mikka rose her furry head from the mass on my lap and I marveled at the white circle around her right eye. Tiri’s own was black and around her left eye. I sometimes wondered why I just didn’t call them Yin and Yang. “Alright Tiri. Time to get up.” I said nudging her gently as her sister disentangled herself somehow. She let out a weird mew and stretched only to settle herself into a different position on my lap. I sighed, almost defeated, before picking her up in my arms and carrying her to the kitchen. Tonight was the first night of the full moon, when I felt it the strongest. I decided to call in a casual day and spend it in the park running my life away. I put Tiri on the counter and got breakfast ready before calling the office. I smiled as Tiri came up to my plate and began nibbling at my bacon while I was talking to the receptionist. When that was done I shooed her from my plate “You have your own food Tiri. Why must you go for mine.” She gave me a look that plainly stated ‘Yours tastes better.’ I put her on the floor checking their bowls and refilling their water before I sat down to eat.

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I got another knock at my door today and my ear twitched. ‘Is that girl stalking me?’ I wondered briefly before getting up and opening the door once again to the bubbly alpha.

“Quick question. Do you know a girl named Marina?” I did a double take at the bluntness of her approach this time and nodded mutely. “Thanks.” she said before bounding off. I poked my head through the door and watched as she practically skipped through the landing and made her way down the stairs. I blinked a few times and another scent invaded my senses from behind me so I turned. “Hi.”

“Umm, hi.” I replied the confusion from Terra’s sudden movements had me momentarily dazed so I didn’t immediately recognize the figure before me.

“It’s been a while hasn’t it.”