Hello My Friend, We Meet Again {Colin/Open}

[†The Blood Countess†]

"She's losing a lot of blood! Get her to the emergency room stat!" Lights were flashing before her eyes, voices were calling out for her to stay conscious as her life's blood welled out from wounds. On the way to the emergency room she left a crimson trail behind.
"We're losing her! Blood pressure is dropping!"
"Get an I.V in her!"

Pain rushed up her right arm but it was nothing compared to how the rest of her felt. Right now she wouldn't dare look at the wounds on her shoulders nor the grotesque bite mark near her jugular. Agonizing hours passed before she heard the words she wanted to hear:
"She's stable. She'll be fine now. The Grim Reaper lost another fight." And she was dead to the world.
---
But she wasn't alright. With her study abroad program done and now back in New York, Ginny knew right away that she was different. Her hearing was sharper, eye sight keener and sense of smell...was annoying. As of late she had been trying to control the random shape shifting her body did whenever she was surprised or frightened but with little luck. Fortunately, it would be her hand into a paw and it was easy to conceal...so far.

It was going to be at least a few more days before she can arrive at home but she hadn't ordered her ticket yet. Why bother going home? Will her family accept her for what she is now? A monster? Anything that had blood coursing through their veins looked appetizing to her, even a human, and it frightened her!

Her look had changed during her time in Europe. Hair was shorter, eye make up thicker and attire a darker shade. Hands were buried deep into her pockets, her head low and staring towards the ground. She couldn't look anyone in the eye until she had full control over these feral urges.

Rather than going through the crowds, she slipped into the alleyway and leaned against the cold wall, heaving a great sigh. Dammit. This was frustrating beyond belief!

[ms]

Colin had done quite a bit in the time that Ginny had been gone. Interesting run-in with a vampire, claimed his own deserted house, found a mattress, contemplated a new job… lots to think about and do. Mostly, though, he hadn’t done much. Very much like the last eighty years, he hadn’t had much of an interesting happening to report. Well, not to him anyway. Others might find it interesting. Though, not this crowd of humans.

He hated going through crowds like this. This one was dyeing very fast, that one was hiding that he was infernal, the other was pregnant with someone beside her husband… he could smell it on everyone. But… there was another smell that made him stop. Cat and girl. A smell he knew, save for the cat. The girl smelled familiar… like someone he knew. Following it, he came to a back alley where her scent filled the street. He knew that smell, but it was strange, different. It smelled a bit like

“Ginny?”

[†The Blood Countess†]

A tingling sensation followed by popping of her finger joints caused Ginny to growl. Not again! This was the third time today her hand decided to suddenly transform into the likeness of a paw! At least she figured out how to force the claws in and out of their sheaths. Not wanting anyone to see, Ginny pocketed the transformed hand and started walking off.

The darkness of this alley was strangely...comforting...Must be the new instincts programmed into her. Leopards preferred the night, finding it easier to hunt after their prey. Most creatures were diurnal and thus could not see well in the dark. That gave the leopard an advantage. But for one who didn't know the "ways" of the big cat were at a disadvantage.

When a voice called out her name, it took the already distressed female by surprise. A threatening growl issued from her throat, eyes suddenly flashing yellow...then she saw who it was. "Colin? Wow...I..." she allowed her shoulders to drop and the held in breath to exhale out, "...I didn't expect to see you again. How've...you been?"

[ms]

It was Ginny. But, she was supposed to be in Europe? Wasn’t she? Maybe school was out for a vacation or something silly like that, just visiting. But she smelled funny; past the deodorant past the food… there was a new under-scent to her. It was strange. But people changed. He tended to forget that when he stayed the same for so long.

“I’m doing alright, I have a place now. What happened to Europe, are you home for a holiday or something? How’s it been?” He couldn’t pin the smell. Like a cat. But, why would she smell like a cat? Unless there was a cat at the school… which would make sense. Kind of. But that should be an over smell, not an under smell.

“Hey, do you have a cat?”

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny scratched the side of her neck while speaking, "Yeah. It's been about three months-ish and the program is over now. I gained a lot of valuable experience while in Europe. It's interesting how they have different terms from us and the accents are strange. I had to force it out of me while I was on the airplane. But it 'tis still wi-Aw dammit." Accents were hard to get rid of! Especially something you've been around for three months!

"Pardon my 'french'. It's a nasty habit I got into."

So he got himself a place? Great! Looks like things were really looking up for him. But then the sudden joy crashed and burned when Colin asked if she owned a cat. How was she going to explain this?! "Oh. I got attacked by a big cat in Scotland and it was a Wereleopard! Odd way to lose your humanity, isn't it?" By jove, that's brilliant! Not..."No. I don't own a cat. I was around a lot of them for a good while...ehehe..."

The leopardess rubbed her arms, heart pounding in her chest. Rather than gathering her thoughts she just decided to stop beating around the bush. How could she lie to a friend? With a defeated sigh, Ginny hung her head and gave him the answer she dreaded to give.

"I was...well...you see...I...Um..." Okay, think Ginny. Think! You've got to let him know what's going on! "Have you ever heard of that large, black cat that roamed around the Scottish moors, devouring livestock?" She asked. Maybe it will be a hint?

[ms]

She was antsy about something. Again. So she was only away for three months. Had that much really happened in such a short time-span? Maybe it was only short to him, via his long life thus-far. And it would only get longer if he was careful. But she sounded healthy enough, and like she had a good time. Until she started answering about the cat.

It was just a question. She seemed to be afraid of it though, he could hear her heart from here, and could smell the unsure-ness of her attitude. What did she have to hide? She preferred cats over dogs? That was fine by him, he might be a dog but it didn’t mean he’d like her any less. Oh, she was talking about a different kind of cat. Okay, that was alright then. Hmm, a large cat, in Scotland, and eating livestock?

“Nope. Why?”

[†The Blood Countess†]

Poor Ginny. She had no idea on how to explain this without keeping herself from bursting into tears! The whole experience was traumatizing and it's a miracle she even escaped alive! That leopard had torn into her shoulders and bit down into her neck, nearly killing her right there and then. "Colin..." the leopardess walked from the wall and approached the male but stopped at about ten feet. "That feline stench is a part of me, Colin. I mention that cat for a reason."

"I was in Scotland going for a walk in the dark. That was my first fatal mistake. Out of the fog a large, black cat pounced on me in hopes of eating me. I was clawed and finally, bit. I nearly died that night and have some lovely scars from that incident." She tenderly stroked the somewhat rough skin on her neck, "After I woke up in the hospital, I was released after receiving stitches and a blood transfusion. It was then I realized I was different."

Ginny took in a deep breath and exhaled. Time to reveal what she has been hiding for the past fifteen minutes, "I have become a Were-Leopard, Colin. The full moon will be here in a few days and I have to get away to the forest or I'll hurt someone. I don't want anyone to become what I have."

There, she said it, and was able to hold things in.

[ms]

Colin paused as she spoke, realization of what he was hearing hitting him hard. She was what? What had happened to her? She had almost what?! He stood for a long moment, letting what she said sink in, plant itself into his brain and take shape. Then in an instant he rushed to her, taking her shoulders gently and pulling her into a hug. No one should have to go through that. He had, he knew what it was like. It was not a fun process, and the beast inside was a terrible thing to let loose. Or too keep in. He had been controlled by it, lost in the utter madness of a caged animal. For years he had been stuck in the mind of a beast. He hoped Ginny would never have that problem.

“Oh, my dear my dear. Such a dreadful thing. And don’t worry, I won’t let anything like that happen. You’ll come with me, won’t you? I’ll help you through your full moon. You and I can live it out. I’m so sorry Ginny. But it’s not all bad. There are some thing that come of it that can be on your side.” He didn’t know much about wereleopards, only that they were only recently coming into New York. But he wasn’t going to let her get hurt. He never wanted her to be so involved in this world. Looks like there was no choice now.

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny wasn't expecting a hug but it was very welcoming. The female embraced him in return and heaved another great sigh. One problem the leopardess had was holding in her current emotion. Relief and at the same time, frustration was pounding in on her. Hot tears welled from her eyes and streamed down her face. "Thank you, Colin. I don't know what I'd do. Ugh hang on." Ginny pulled back slightly and wiped her eyes. Of all things she hated was crying in front of people. She'll need to find a place alone and let it out then but for now, she must hold it in.

And with that decision she felt that tingling sensation in her hands followed by snapping of bones, "Not again..." Ginny raised her furry paws and glanced down towards the pink skin that were once palms, "I've been having trouble controlling myself. If there's too much of one emotion then my hands will transform. Last time I grew a tail and it wasn't pleasant." A feline growl issued forth from her throat.

"Let's get away from the crowd. I can't stand the stench coming from many of them. I can smell them from over here." Be it from sweat or left over alcohol and tobacco, it is making her eyes water and nose twitch.

[ms]

She was crying now. He felt horrid, thinking he was the reason she was doing so. But he agreed with her, they did have to move away from the humans. He could hear the popping of bones and joints, meaning that there was a were-change going on. She was the only other were around, meaning that she was doing so. And her next words confirmed it. She was new, he remember how long it took him to control it. But it would only be a matter of time. Taking her hand-turned-paw, he gave a slight smile and tugged.

“Alright, alright. We’ll move on. We’ll head to my place, no one goes there. We’ll take back streets, if you would rather let the cat go than fight it you can. It might be easier.” He headed off down the alley, away from the mob of people and into quieter, darker areas. He almost laughed at the smell thought though. He put up with it so long he tended to forget how it was when it was new. He had lived in New York so long that he had grown used to it. He didn’t like it, but was used to it.

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny smiled, "Alright." Let the cat take control? But what if she completely transforms? And if she does what if only the feral part of her mind takes control and tries to kill someone? Well, she'll have to give it a try. Ginny's body relaxed, her eyes closed.

Instantly the feline inside her sprang forth to take advantage of this situation. Eyes turned yellow, paws got larger, black fur sprouted all over her body, bones snapped and were rearranged. Uh oh. Better remove the clothing before it tears. The slightly panicked female leapt towards a dark corner and removed them right before they could tear.

The pack she carried had her clothing inside it and was over her shoulders. Now fully transformed into her black leopard form, she shot out from the corner, back pack on her back, and ran towards Colin. Rough tongue hung loose from her jaws while she pranced and frolicked around the male. The sight of a such a large feline acting like a...dog...would have been an amusing sight!

Hey, this wasn't so bad, she had full control! Low purring issued forth from her newly formed vocals as the leopardess leapt from trash can to trash can, toppling over the contents. Did she care? No. That trash was always neglected.

[ms]

Colin chuckled as she knocked over a trashcan, glad that she was able to have fun in her were-form. She sounded like she had power over it, able to command what she did. Or he would already be attacked, so there had to be some mind to her in this shape. That was good. She could let it take over and still be at peace with it. Colin took shape only, very rarely would he let the dog’s mind out. It had spent so long in a cage, no human at all for many years. His wolf was mad, crazed to the point of killing. No, the dog never had full control. He wasn’t going to let that happen to Ginny.

The cat needed to get out and move, let itself do as it wanted. Colin was going to keep tabs on her, make sure she didn’t kill anyone. But he wasn’t going to suppress her either. Changing as he grew, shrugging out of his clothes as fur grew, a gold wolf stood not too far from the cat. Mostly wolf, there were ways to tell him from a real one. Size was a big one, paws with thumbs and fingers was another, basic body shape for crouching rather than always on all fours was a rather obvious difference. But all-in-all, it worked. Large black-tipped ears twitched as he took hold of his clothes in his mouth.

Jerking his head to the direction he wanted to take her, he started off with all four paws, thick tail hanging low and head to the ground. He had to be careful where he went, she was new, so new smells could be a distraction. No eyes made following her a bit difficult; and she was a cat, she could go where he could not.

[†The Blood Countess†]

[font=Osaka

Ginny had stopped her frolicking around when the scent of a wolf overpowered Colin's humanoid form. Was he transforming? The leopardess glanced in his direction with her one yellow and one green eye. There he was in his werewolf form holding onto his clothing in his massive maw. He wanted her to follow? Alright then. Ginny turned towards Colin and rushed after him. Large head hung low, shoulders hunched, tail twitched.

The tail alone on a leopard can reach up to three feet in length. Reason behind this is for balancing in the trees where they normally seek refuge. Eyes flashed in the darkness as they approached a few lights but then they turned away from them. Perhaps they were heading over this his place right now? Maybe.

Her head and ears suddenly perked up when something reached her nose. Blood? Wait...nostrils flared a few more times. Just animal blood. Someone must have run over a possum or something.

That little moment of shock out of the way, Ginny caught up to Colin.

[/font]

[ms]

She was curious, that was for sure. Nose everywhere, she went and did as she pleased pretty much. Which was fine, that was the joy of the animal form. It had a mind of its own, one that could hurt or save you. She enjoyed herself, and that was important. If she wasn’t enjoying herself, Colin would have to have a talk with her. But she was having fun, no talk needed. For now. He caught the scent of blood as well, ears turning to the source to see if there was anything to fear. Nothing that he could catch, but it made him walk faster anyway. Better safe than sorry.

Like he had done so many nights ago, only last time with her in his arms, Colin paused at the crossing of a street. Ears twitched every which way, nose looking for any threat to them. nothing, no movements. Quick as a big dog could he races across the street, catching the scent of another wolf. A little stale, but not old yet. They were in another’s territory. He had to watch for that. Tail tucked to keep his own scent away as much as possible; he pushed his way under a gate and waited for Ginny.

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny had stopped her frolicking briefly and continued to follow Colin, ears aiming towards the front. Every so often one would stray to the sides to make sure no one was following them. The possibility of that was high, especially since they were in another werewolf's territory. Her mismatched eyes widened to take in her surroundings better before bounding across the street. To anyone passing by, she'd only be a black shadow. And thus another advantage of being a black leopard surfaces.

Then she approached the gate.

Great. In her current form she couldn't get under there as easily. Let's see if she can leap over it. Shouldn't take too much effort. The leopardess backed away a good thirty feet and took off. Muscles tensed and she leapt, missing the top of the gate by half an inch and landed gracefully not too far from Colin. Phew! Jaws parted, tongue hung out. It's clear that in this form she was smiling.

But then it was sucked back into her mouth upon hearing a howl off in the distance. Uh oh. Did that werewolf around here find out someone was here?