It was early in the morning when I finally finished with Rodger. He had been insistent that he could take more but after he collapsed on the ground for a second time, I called it quits. After getting us dressed I had called a taxi for him and locked up the Plaza. He reluctantly got into the taxi and we parted ways.
Now outside I ran back towards my apartment. It was fifteen kilometers to my apartment, up hill, and at this time in the morning there was fewer buses and taxi's were expensive, not that I couldn't afford them I just didn't see the need for me to use them. I darted into a side alley and passed the Watchdogs as they lazily sat in their groups.
Within half an hour I drew close to my apartment, but a strange watchful feeling had fallen upon me. I slowed and adjusted my bag. This was the trouble with carrying a duffel bag on my back. It would slip and slide around.
I stopped by a railing across from a little park and stretched taking my time to observe what was around me. A stray cat shot across the road and into the park, something had obviously spooked it.
I frowned as I acted naturally and listened. In the alleyway I had just come out of, someone was breathing… Actually, six people were breathing heavily and they smelled like wet dog. I gave a little jump then began my run but headed down hill into the park taking the path that was heavy with trees. Before long I could hear the sounds of pursuit as someone followed me.
Startled birds flew into the air around and I could hear someone running on either side as they tried to take the lead.
'Fuck no, you aren't going to corner me!' The challenge was on, and I sprinted faster over the path leaving my pursuers in the dust. I came to a T-junction and grinned running faster then leaping over the river and into the open. With a roll and spring as I landed on the other side of the river and looked back to see a group of four werewolves and two hunters trying to follow me. Someone shouted and the wolves began to charge carrying the two humans with them.
I darted away and slipped through the bushes my fingers brushing the sent blocker I was wearing.
'My sent is covered… so they have to rely on sight.' I darted into the trees again and went off road. With a few twists I slipped to a small grotto I had used to escape hunters before as a kid. I dropped down onto the hard rock making sure I left no tracks then slipped into the little cave above the water. With little effort I climbed into a hidden hollow in the roof. With a quick glance I made sure no one was in their already then tossed my bag in followed by my legs. With a few deep breaths I stilled my heartbeat and stayed quiet.
"Where the fuck did she go?" A male voice boomed.
"She was here… but her sent is too faint." A woman with a familiar voice spoke.
"Fuck that!" man one said. "We need to find that bitch. If she does have connections to the Swift Runners then we need to take her out. You go that way, and you go that way. Sniff around this whole area." Two sets of feet padded away.
"Easier said than done. You said you hit her with silver, and it only seemed to piss her off." A new man spoke.
"That bitch was hanging around with Rodger." The familiar females voice said. "It's very likely that red head is the Banshee too, which means she's a loose cannon and doesn't answer to anyone. She's not only fucking up our latest plans but she got in the way of killing the Alpha's sons too." I recognised the voice now. It was the female hunter. "You check in the pond. That cave looks big enough for someone to hide in." I heard a groan then a splash. The water in the grotto began to ripple as someone waded into the cave. The man looked around and touched the rocks of the cave. They were dry above the water line and inside of the cave was small. He sniffed and sneezed a strong smell of water, pond weed and dead fish filled the air.
"No one's in here!" As he left the cave I watched and smiled.
'No one ever looks up…' I listened as the other two returned.
"We can't smell a thing and I don't see tracks."
"Maybe she really is a Banshee and flew away…" there came the sound of a slap and a yelp.
"Stupid fucking werewolf. What does the Black Claw know about Banshee's? they're a spirit or fairy that foretell the death, not some bird woman." There was a few muttering curses. "Come on, go back to the wooded area. She couldn't have gone far." The group left in a hurry and the sounds of their running feet began to fade.
I remained inside the cave listening to the sounds of the night. Away in the distance I could still hear the hunters and Wolves as they searched the whole park. Seems like I now have a target on my back. But why were Hunters going after the Swift Runners. I new a bit about Hunters and this wasn't how they operated. Hunters were mostly humans who would take on bounties for dangerous rogue or out of control non-humans. The only times they had ever gone after a whole pack was when one got too big and had dangerous ideologies about how humans should be kept as food.
Now that I think about it, the only times hunters ever came to the city was to attend the guild hall or take out dangers to the counsels rule. But since the Watchdogs have been handling matters they had become less common here. Something was definitely up with these hunters and I didn't like not knowing.