What a Lovely Moon

Something nips at my shoulder, while something else digs into my ribs. I open my eyes to the loveliest moon I have ever seen. The moonlight calls to me, pulling me towards her I somehow climb out of the ditch I'm in. Where am I? I topple over my foot, catching on a root.

When I reach down, the pain in my ribs intensifies I reach back and pull out two wooden daggers. Before I can question how I got here, something runs through the shrubbery, triggering something within.

I close my eyes and inhale my senses overwhelming by the sound of wolves howling, of songbirds and owls hooting. Most importantly, by the beating hearts and pulsing blood, I track the tiny creature and, without hesitation, sink my fangs in. Warm-blood pools in my mouth, I don't stop until the little creature stops fighting.

Something is watching me, but I do not care, the hunger consumes me I need more. Following the sound of sleeping hearts, I stumble upon a farm. Without a second thought, I drain the cattle, the chickens, the pigs. Even the farmer that got in my way. Would it be wrong for me to say I feel no remorse?

With my hunger sated, I head back into the forest; those eyes continue to follow my every move. But I do not care, perhaps I'll have dessert. Footsteps no paw steps near me, and as I turn, something knocks me to the ground. Warm fur graces my fingers tips.

I try to throw the wolf of me, but somehow, he's more powerful. The wolf sinks his canines into my shoulders. Causing me to let out a growl of disapproval. Before my eyes, I watch as the wolf transforms into a man. His golden-brown eyes burn with a question, "Who are you?" and a command "stay down."

"Well, this is interesting," a female voice says, "it seems there was no saving you."

There is a familiarity to her when the male climbs of me, I look up to emerald cat eyes. The male takes the jeans and boots; she hands him.

"I'm Mika," she extends her hand towards me, "what's your name?"

"Lilith," I say, surprised at the change in my voice, "What am I?"

"Vamp," the male growls out, "a reckless one at that."

"Don't mind, Sean," Mika says, "he dislikes everything and everyone."

Standing I dust myself off, Sean's bite seems to have given me a sense of clarity, "Where am I?" I ask the easier of the two questions. Did I really kill that man?

Sean seems to know what I'm thinking, he takes a step towards me, leaning down, he whispers, "yes."

Something about the way he utters that one word has me inching to fight him. How was I supposed to know what I was doing? I raise my hand, but he catches it midway, "carefully little vamp or tonight might be your last night."

Mika steps between us, forcing Sean to let go, he shakes his head as he walks away midnight hair swaying in the moonlight. "Don't mind my brother; he lacks certain sensors."

Brother, I look from Mika to Sean while there is a resemblance. I can't help but say, "but you're a cat."

Sean sneers while Mika giggles, "our mother had a thing for shifters and the such, we also have a brother that's a lion and one that's a crow. Actually, I'm more of a yokai, to be precise a bakeneko."

"I don't know what that means," I say.

Mika smiles as she starts to guide me towards her brother, "I'm not surprised," she says, "our myths, much like yours, are rarely explored."