Hunting From The Rear (with kitten)

[gutterpupper]

He had run in the direction he had heard the creature race off in, but unfortunately lost sight of it quickly. It was still pretty quick, even if he had injured it. He had tried to keep his eye on it but one a flash it was gone, as if it just vanished from sight. He had stopped his running and stood hunched slightly as he tried to catch his breath.

"Bastard..." he muttered. It would be his last word. Matthew had paid attention to what Alastair had to say and now, he stood still. He scanned the area around him, just looking, listening, not moving. He needed to be still cause the tables had turned. He was now the pray again. He gripped the knife in his hand firmly; the hunter would be pissed but there was no turning back now.

Nothing. Not a sound. Not a single sound.

‘Where are you shitbag…’

[Kitten]

Alastair heard what he thought was someone speaking, and headed that way. He was almost within reaching distance of Matthew when he heard it. The unmistakable sound of something huge and pissed running towards him at top speed. The grey eyed man turned and fired without enough time to aim and the beast snarled as he caught it in the shoulder, but it wasn't stopping. The Hunter leaped out of the way, years of dodging things had served him well.

The rougarou had turned it's sights on his young companion however and Alastair was forced to find his feet enough to get off a few good shots. CRACK CRACK CRACK! The sound was deafening, leaving behind an all too familiar ringing in the man's ears. He breathed slowly and with one final CRACK! The creature slumped away from Matthew in a heap. The man breathed for just a second, damn his ribs were throbbing, and hurried over to see what the damage was.

"Matthew?" He called in the silence of the clearing, his voice loud even to his own ears. He couldn't see the other past the hulking form of the once human thing and his heart leaped up into his throat. Had it hurt him seriously? Was the young man injured or dead? "Mattie? Matthew?!"

[gutterpupper]

All of a sudden without warning, the sound of a loud pop like gunshots could be heard in the air around him. It made Matthew jump right out of his skin, raising the knife to his chest in protection as he quickly spun round. There he could see the hulking beast was howling a blood curling cry before it slumped forward. As it did he moved backwards to avoid it, tripping over his own feet and crashing back onto the forest floor with a heavy thud, just a another gunshot could be heard.

He lay there for a moment, breathing slowly, the sound of his heartbeat thumping in his ears as it slowly reduced from its fast pulse as he calmed, staring at the stars. For a moment he wondered if he was still alive as everything had felt so surreal. He placed a single hand on his heart, then onto his shoulder, face and final ran his fingers through his brown hair. A long sigh escaped his body as he let his thoughts catch up with him.

"Mattie? Matthew?!"

The voice belonged to Alistair. He was calling for him, looking for him. Probably worried sick after he had run out of the cabin. He sounded concerned. At least he wasn't pissed.

"Ugh... here teach..." he called out as he waved his right hand up, using the other to push himself off the ground. He groaned at the sting that ran over his back from where he fell heavy to the ground, a dull pain running down from his neck. He’d probably feel it for a few days to come but he'd deal with it. Spotting the knife on the ground, the young male grabbed it. He should probably hand it back to its owner and offer some sort of apology.

“Hey…” Matthew said as he stiffly walked around the slumped creature to where Alastair stood. He looked over the still being, taking in the sight of it. He hadn’t been able to look at it for this long in one place, taking note of its physiology, build and anatomy. It was only at that point, that he had a good look at it, that he realized what it was. Or who it was. A jolt of shock ran through his body as he stumbled on his feet again as he tried to process what he had just learned.

“Oh shit… it’s him…”

[Kitten]

Alastair breathed a sigh of relief, wincing as his lungs reminded him why that was a bad idea. He was walking up to the other just as Matthew realized that the monster was the man he'd been looking for. He was pissed, beyond pissed, but right now he felt for the man. It often happened that someone found a loved one or friend while they were out on their first hunt. He slung an arm around the young man, pulling him in close as the Hunter started to walk them away from the grisly sight.

"Come on kid. Need to be out of here before the cops come." The Hunter never stayed once the monster was dead except to cover his own tracks. Out here in the woods it was more likely that the creature would be considered an unusual bear or over sized wolf. He pulled out a cigarette and, after a moment of thought, offered one to the young man as well. The rush of adrenaline and subsequent crash of realizing his friend was dead had to be messing with the kid.

"That's the guy huh?" Alastair said quietly as he lit up and took a long drag of his cigarette, keeping an arm around the other in case Matthew started to freak out and got the idea to run. At least this time he didn't have to explain that there were things that go bump in the night.

[gutterpupper]

Matthew rejected the offer of a cigarette. He stayed silent for a couple of seconds, letting his mind filter out a response before he spoke. "Yeah. He was a regular hunter. Showed up the inn quite recently in the last month. Always had good stories. Seem some shit in his lifetime." Memories of nights he and Melissa had sat talking to Shane around a single table cluttered with beer bottles and glasses, listening intently drew back to him. "But he never said anything about this. With how he looked when I last saw him, I figured something was up, but he must have..." his words trailed off.

His thoughts were of the hunter. It must have been a heavy burden to carry around. And he had hidden it well. There were no signs or clues that Matthew thought he could pick up on. Or maybe he wasn't skilled enough to see the clues, like an amateur running in the dark with a flash light, no idea what he was looking for and just inviting trouble.

"I know I caused you trouble tonight," he said, hanging his head low, a little disheartened by the situation. There was no changing what had happened. Shane was dead now. If he had stayed at the inn, he may have never found out why. Maybe that would have been better? He didn't have the skills to be a hunter. Instead he put Alastair's and his own life in danger. He didn’t finish his sentence. He kept his head hanging in shame, his green eyes following the path his feet took, letting Alastair guide him in the direction he wanted to go.

[Kitten]

The blonde shook his head, laughing at the others crestfallen face. It was cute and he couldn't help but be attracted to the other. After a moment he cleared his throat, Matthew was still in hot water as far as he was concerned, but there were a few things that the man needed to get off his chest first. He continued to lead the way towards the parking lot and his truck.

"You did cause me some trouble." The man agreed easy, tossing his blonde head as he considered how best to phrase what he had to say. "But you were brave. You came out here to save your friend. You didn't run away from the creature even when it was running right for you." He continued to talk as they walked, no reason to be stealthy now, and it was a much faster trip.

"You've got some good instincts Mattie. If you wanted to you could be good at this, a regular Hunter if you had some training. But," Alastair tightened his hold as they finally reached asphalt. "I gave you clear instructions," he voice went from praising to stern in just a few seconds. "I told you to stay out of its way and you absolutely should not have gone chasing after that creature. Silver bullets are expensive and damn hard to put together. I never go hunting without a full clip and now, instead of heading to my next hunt tonight I have to go home and make some more."

The blonde let go finally, turning to level the other with a stern gaze as he crossed his arms and kept lecturing. "Now I'll have to pick up a cold trail instead of chasing this hot one I have on my hands. Most importantly, you could have been torn to shreds, killed by that thing. Then I would have had to bury you." He pushed a hand through his hair and sighed.

"So you did cause me some trouble tonight, but if you signed on with a good Hunter to teach you then you'd be great at it. I know it."

[gutterpupper]

The praise didn’t last long. The words feel heavy on Matthew, like someone throwing a couple of small stones on his chest. Instructions. Expensive. Killed. Bury. Just some of the words that stood out and laid heavy on him. But it didn’t end up all that bad with the blond man rolling a compliment off at the end.

“What if you teach me?” Matthew asked, eyes glancing at Alastair before awkwardly turning away, almost embarrassed at asking the question, a faint wary smile pulling at his lips before disappearing quickly. It was worth the attempt. If the older hunter thought he had potential, why didn’t he take him under his wing? “I mean, I know I fucked up back there, but this hunt had a personal aspect to it. I promise that it won’t happen again. I won’t screw up like I did back there.” It was a long shot. Wither the man was willing to take a freshling like him he didn’t know. He got the impression Alastair worked alone and he perhaps even preferred it that way.

Fumbling for his keys, he pulled them out of his pocket and unlocked the truck. He didn’t open the door, instead choosing to turn back and look back at Alastair. “I could pay you back for the bullets. Somehow. I don’t know how but I will.” He added as he pulled open the truck door. Still he didn’t get inside. He waited for an answer to his question, his potential new teacher if the other hunter accepted.

[Kitten]

Alastair stood still for a moment, the ash hanging from the end of his cigarette. He honestly hadn't expected the other to just come out and ask to be his apprentice. It tugged at the man a little, he'd been alone for a long time and life on the road had gradually worn away any friends or family who might have kept him company when he had time or need of it.

The man tossed his butt away as he thought, partially because he didn't want to just blurt out a yes and partly because he was uncertain. He'd meant every compliment and harsh thing he said, Alastair was not the kind of man to say things idly, or do things he didn't mean.

After a long moment grey eyes took in the appearance of the man standing by the truck. It certainly helped, and hurt a little, that he was handsome and seemed so eager to learn. It would spell trouble for the Hunter later to have a cute companion, one who's eyes he could easily fall in love with if he didn't hold himself accountable.

"How about this, you buy me dinner and we'll talk. If you hear me out and really want what I've got to offer then you can come along. If not then I'll consider dinner my payment for the bullets and be on my way." Either way was a plus for the blonde Hunter. If Matthew said yes then he'd gain a companion and apprentice, if he said no then at least he'd have a nice conversation to tide himself over until he got back out on the road.

[gutterpupper]

Alastair seemed stunned by his request. That was a good thing, right? That means he didn’t expect him to ask and was surprised he did, right? Matthew asked himself these questions in the short silence that ensued after he made his request. He watched Alastair seemingly inspect him, the piercing grey eyes scanning over him properly for the first time since he met before the man laid out his conditions. All which seemed fair. He would probably get the better straw in this deal; there was no way bullets would cost less than dinner.

“Fair game” Matthew respond as he got into the truck, waving Alastair to get on the passenger side. “I assume you’re okay with going to the inn or is there somewhere else nearby know of you’d rather go?” he asked.

[Kitten]

Alastair swung his long legs up into the truck, easily settling into the vehicle and waving the other off. "No that sounds good to me." Perhaps Mattie would appreciate being in the inn, having the home field advantage as it were. The conversation should be pleasant, but there were... well things that the Hunter expected that a young fledgling might not appreciate. He wouldn't budge however.

There was also the young supple body that he'd have to look out under the lights while they ate. The blonde felt a curl of desire in his stomach and forced himself to think of something to say.

"So, worked at the inn long? Are you from around here?" He asked, and it sounded lame to his ears so he took out another cigarette. "Mind if I smoke in here?" The man held out the pack, ready to put the cancer stick away if the other seemed picky about the smell.