Later that night after everyone had gone to bed Alexis was sneaking out of her window. She was determined not to be turned into one of those snobby airheads. Carrying her weapons and a bag with a few changes of training outfits she was sliding down the trellis and jumped the last several feet. Looking around to make sure no one had heard her she stepped into the barn and saddled up Merle.

She looked over at Hundar and smiled a little sadly. She walked over to him and patted his nose too. "Sorry boy. I was hoping that we could get to have more time together. I know you and Merle are buds. Keep your master safe." She kissed the horse on the nose and turned to climb up on Merle.

While turning the reigns over in her hands she hesitated. She was going into the forest to hunt and then she was going to find a place to hide out from her father. That was her plan but what if something happened or what if she was found? She looked back over at Hundar and then rode towards the barn door.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias spent the day fighting invisible enemies and dueling shadows. Instead of focusing on strength training like he normally did, he chose to pursue more acrobatic practices. It was no secret between the two that Elias was far stronger than Alexis, however she could easily outclass him in mobility. His powerful swings were often met with frustration as she fluidly dodged them, flowing past him like water as she sliced back with her nimble sword.

Elias exhaled through his nose, focusing intently as he plotted out his sequence. "Three... Two... One..." Elias took off sprinting, planting his hands into the ground and forcing himself to do a handspring. It had been years since he had attempted this, and it took him a couple tries to get it right. It soon came back to him, and in no time he was able to maintain a constant sequence of handsprings, cartwheels, inverse turns.

Elias' few attempts at flips were met with bruised skin and aching bones, discouraging him from the practice. After many hours, he retired to the barn, climbing quickly into the rafter and practicing his footwork. Elias spryly balanced on the wooden beams, spinning a broom around in his hands like a polearm. To his surprise and pleasure, he didn't fall once during his exercises. By the time he retired from his activities, the sun was on the horizon, and his stomach was grumbling.

Elias pulled some rations from his pack and began munching on them, laying quietly in the loft of the barn. The evening's sounds appeased him, luring him into a sense of security and safety in the warmth of the sun...

---

The sound of the barn door latching shut awoke the Grimm, instantly spurring him into action.

Elias silently stalked over to the edge of the loft, peering down at the barn's floor like a hawk. With his eyes already adjusted to the dark, Elias was quickly able to discern that Merle was absent from her stall, despite the unholy hour. Alexis...

As unhappy as he was about the situation, Elias knew that Alexis running away would only infuriate Marcus and Elinora, in particular, beyond reason.

Without another thought, Elias' clear mind determined he should followed her. Within a minute, his pack was strapped to Hundar and the pair was galloping across the fields, following Alexis trail into the forest.

Alexis tied the bandanna around her eyes and she walked into the woods relying on only her senses and instincts. This was something that she and Maggie had done many times but never alone. Alexis felt like her entire life was spinning out of control. Maggie died. Elias showed up after a while things got easier between them and she fell in love. It would have been so much easier if she had been just a regular girl. If she had fallen for Nathan Broussard. But she wasn't and she didn't. She felt a little reckless and she wanted a fight.

She walked into a small clearing in the forest. She could feel the magic in the air and she could smell the wesen approaching her. He was noisy. She wondered if he was playing with her. "Come on! Come and get me!" She was ready in her stance and weapons at the ready. She felt the air grow heavy and shift slightly northwards. She ducked just in time and stabbed backwards. Hearing the wesen howl in pain she turned and dodged to the left and then quickly to the right. Her instincts kicked in and it was like she could see even though she was still blindfolded. A backflip and a stab later the wesen fell to the forest floor. Her nose caught the scent of another. Spriggan? or something else? And another? Was that Elias? What was he doing here? How long had he been here?

"Elias? Go away. I have creatures to kill before they turn me into a bubble headed broodmare!" She had to focus or she was going to get herself killed. She ripped off the bandanna and looked around at her surroundings. For a second she almost laughed, it was too perfect. There were two more enemies. One was a lowen and the other was a hexenbiest. "Well? What are you waiting for? An invitation?" The lowen attacked and ran at her full speed. She was swift and slid right out of his way and she flipped and dodged and stabbed him repeatedly. Finally she flipped onto his back and stabbed him through the neck and finally through the heart.

When she turned and saw the hexenbiest she realized she caught her eye and the hexenbiest had her in her magical grip for a moment. Alexis grabbed her head as it felt like it was exploding. She screamed but couldn't hear it. She could sense Elias was near. She was fighting the magic by focussing on Elias but she was in so much pain. She dropped to her knees.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias dismounted Hundar and silently observed Alexis battle, raising his eyebrows in surprise when she detected him.

A moment later, he rose from his hiding spot in the foliage and strode into the clearing as Alexis crumpled to the ground. The Hexenbeist schreeched at her new opponent, whirling around and casting out a malformed hand.

The pull of her magic was immediate, filling his ears with a dreadful scream, but he didn't immediately fall prey to her spells.

The Grimm growled and strode forward, his expression determined. The Wesen's features became panicked as she redoubled her efforts, releasing her magical grasp on Alexis to weaken Elias, but it was to no avail. The blood in Elias veins boiled as it fought against her magic. The Grimm blood provided many powerful attributes, but the resistance to magic was perhaps its most valuable trait.

Elias could feel the blood trickling out of his nose, but he only smiled. Reaching out quickly, Elias violently grasped the Hexenbiest as he wiped his face with the palm of his hand. As the creature shrieked violently and attempted to claw at his eyes, Elias slammed his hand into the hideous witch's mouth, forcing her to taste his blood.

Within seconds, the panicked screams turned into wails of agony as her entire body began to boil away, soon leaving behind nothing but a pile of ash and a light mist in the air.

Elias kicked his foot through the pile of soot, dispersing it into the wind. Satisfied that he had permanently killed the creature, the Grimm turned and walked over towards his partner, slowly helping her to her feet.

"Hey, are you alright?" Elias said, steadying her against himself. Once Elias was confident she wasn't going to collapse on the spot, he scowled, his voice taking on a slightly more abrasive tone. "You're lucky I'm a pure blood, or who knows if I could have stopped her magic without any potions."

Alexis' head felt the onslaught backing off as the witch started screaming in agony. What had he done? She and Maggie had always carried potions with them, just in case. Luck would have it that she had left hers in her saddlebags and when it was crushed by one of the stable hands she had forgotten to make another one.

As Elias helped her to her feet she leaned against him for a moment to get her balance back. Alexis stepped away from him. Tears threatened to fall and she looked away from him and wiped them away. "I forgot how badly they can make your head explode in pain." She didn't know how to approach the subject so she just blurted it out.

"Please come with me. I'll be sneaking out to hunt as often as I can so I can blow off steam and I want you to be there. Please Elias."

She stood there waiting for a reply and all she could think about was that her entire life was being stolen from her and it wasn't fair. Alexis took his hand in hers and wiped the remaining blood off of it with her shirt. "Please..."

@December

@Wick

---

Elias sighed deeply and looked over his shoulder as the remains of the Hexenbiest. A long moment passed before he returned his gaze to Alexis, quietly eyeing her silhouette as he mulled over her request.

He was torn. On one hand, going with her would provide him with more of her company and he could pursue whatever kind of relationship he wanted, as well as escape Elinora and Marcus. On the other, if he stayed, he could more actively pursue hunting and continue to shut out all form of human contact.

Neither were all that appealing, but they both had their saving graces.

"We have to hunt. Every night," Elias said as he crossed his arms. "I'm here to stop the Wesen from overrunning the countryside, and I'll be damned if that's not what I do."

He began pacing back and forth, mumbling every few moments to himself. "And we hunt my way. No running off into the woods alone at night, no trying to fight Wesen we aren't prepared for. We prepare, we brew, we craft, and only after we are completely prepared, we fight."

A long moment of silence followed as Elias quietly stood and stared at Alexis. "If you agree, then yes, I'll go."

Alexis was suddenly so happy she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Oh thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me."

The next morning the carriages took them to the train and when they arrived in the city they were met at the station by a woman in a pretty blue day dress with gorgeous red hair and an extraordinary amount of bosom showing. "Aunt Jean?" Alexis said slightly in shock.

"Alexis! Oh my you look so much like your mother, so beautiful!" Alexis was a child the last time she had seen her and she remembered her very differently. She blushed at the compliment.

"Aunt Jean, your dress..."

"Oh I know isn't it lovely! I had several in this style made." She melodiously sang out. A forced smile was splayed across Alexis' lips.

Alexis didn't know what to say. She grabbed Elias' arm in hers both reminding him she was there and a little possessively. Her Aunt Jean seemed to be on the prowl and she wasn't sure Elias was safe. She mumbled to Elias as they followed her aunt who was swishing her way through the crowds easily. "I'm not sure I can do this Elias. If I have to publicly embarrass myself ....." Alexis shook her head. "I will."

@December

@Wick

---

Elias raised an eyebrow at the amount of undress Jean was displaying before flicking his eyes up to meet hers, silently smiling in a polite fashion before following her through the city streets. If this is the way they dress, I think I'll like this city.

Elias chuckled to himself. Taric would have probably made a fool of himself by staring if he were there. While Elias was certainly the more easy of the two, Taric was far more easily distracted than his partner.

Elias looked around at the exciting sights and sounds of the city, from religious folk screaming from street corners to vendors insisting they had the finest wares, the entire place was crackling with energy. Jean led the pair through what seemed to be part of the market district before motioning towards a compact carriage, fit to easily maneuver the crowded streets.

Elias helped the two woman into the cab, unable to hide a slight grimace as Jean very obviously felt Elias arm up and down as she slid into the cabin of the vehicle. While Elias was certainly loose, he preferred woman who weren't old enough to be his mother.

Once the three were in the cabin, an awkward silence filled the area as the trio waited for their trip to end. Elias coughed and turned to face out the window, nudging Alexis' foot with his own as a hint for her to distract Jean from slyly staring at him.

Over the next few days Alexis was almost constantly in her underclothes as tailors constantly were measuring and fitting her for new dresses in varying degrees of purposes. There were morning dresses, day dresses, evening dresses, riding attire and ball gowns. Dresses were arriving for her every couple of days for the next two weeks. Her Aunt Jean said that she should not worry about the cost as it was her money too.

She informed Alexis that her parents left her a lot of money when they died. Alexis was basically rich and everyone seemed to know this but her. She escaped from the tailors and put on her hunting pants and snuck out to the barn. She had to tuck her hair under a cap and disguise herself as much as she could. Women weren't allowed to do the things she was used to doing, like wearing pants. She missed Merle a lot.

Alexis had been so busy with tailors that she hadn't seen Elias either. Missing him was a bigger problem. She could see the way he took in all of the ladies' appearances and it was making her jealous.

Peter the stable boy came in and saw her in her pants and blushed furiously. "Miss Alexis? Miss Jean wanted to see you. Some of your dresses have arrived and she needs you to come inside and try them on right away."

Alexis sighed unhappily and closed the door to the stable of the horse she had just taken out and slowly headed back inside to change, again.

While she was being poked and prodded and stuffed into her new dress she looked at herself in the mirror. "I don't even look like me." She murmured. Her Aunt looked at her in the mirror and smiled.

"Yes you do. This is the new you. We have company coming for dinner in a couple of hours. They'll be here in an hour so don't get wrinkled. I'll send Mrs. Baker in to do your hair and help with your makeup. I'll send up a late snack in a few moments. The Turners are coming and Elias will be at dinner as well I believe."

After Aunt Jean left she turned to her maid, "Who are the Turners?" Her maid became very animated and described the widow Turner and her son who was in his mid thirties. "They are nice and wealthy enough but the man is average looking and he is quite attached at his mother's skirts if you know what I mean."

"Thank you Beth. Oh, can you take this note to Mr. Elias for me?" She handed her maid a sealed letter and the young woman nodded and left the room.

The note read,

Elias,
I'll see you at dinner tonight. The Turners are coming. It's a formal occasion. Please meet me tonight so we can train.
Alexis

---

The knocking at the front door stirred up the chaos in the house. The servants were on their very best behavior. The most polite and respectful staff one had ever seen. Aunt Jean was alerted to their presence immediately and she came down the grand staircase is a swish of skirts. The company was shown into the parlor. After a few moments she was supposed to enter the room. That way all eyes would be on her Aunt Jean had said.

Sighing as she took one more look at herself in the mirror she still couldn't believe it was her. There was a beutiful, mature looking woman staring back at her with more cleavage showing than she had ever shown in her life. She wanted to cover up with a shawl and her maid wouldn't let her. Her hair was up in a fashionable style that complimented her. All trussed up for her first social meeting she walked carefully down the hallway as her heels were also higher than she was used to wearing. Down the stairs she went and when she heard her name in conversation she entered the room. Her eyes immediately searched for Elias.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias spent the next few days accommodating himself to the new city. It had been months since he had ingratiated himself to anyone, however he quickly fell into the swing of things. Within a couple of days, he was living the life, charming his way into the hearts of men and woman alike to gain friends and favors. Elias had anticipated that he would have hated this part of the trip without a partner in crime to do it with- no, without Taric to do it with, but he found it quite pleasurable.

Between the inchivalrous frivolities of the party life to the long nights drinking and making new friends, Elias didn't see a glimpse of Alexis. Every day, he would search for her, however he was soon whisked off by one of his new friends to go join some game or event. Elias quickly established himself in the upper class scene, acquainting himself with Lords, Ladies, and all sorts of those from riches. Evening events were postponed for the first few days while designers fitted him, an unusual feeling; he hadn't felt a tailor's touch in quite some time, and the joy of having new, luxurious clothing was quite exhilarating to him.

Elias' constantly reminded himself not to forget his duties as a Grimm, and as such, he stealthily escaped the house to go explore the surrounding city, determining the Wesen population to be quite plentiful. The few hunts Elias went on were successful, despite no blood being drawn. If hunting with Taric had taught him anything, it was that when in a new area, it was best to determine the Wesen relations and population before you went around decapitating every Blutbad or Lowen in sight.

The Grimm heard various talks of an immensely powerful family of Wesen within the city, however no one seemed willing to say their name. An underground hierarchy seemed to exist, however Elias was, simply put, at the bottom of the food chain. He needed to work his way up in order to discover more information. But, that would come in time, and with the company of his partner.

---

A faint knock on the door drew Elias' attention, briefly distracting him from his company. A soft hand touched his cheek and turned his head back to face the woman laying next to him.

"Come now, don't you have more important things to be considering?" The raven hair woman was propped up on her elbow, using her free arm to pull Elias into a kiss.

The Grimm gave a broad smile and gently played with the hair behind her back, embracing her lips with a slow, prolonged interlock. Without bothering to pull away, Elias met her eyes with a mischievous glint in his own. "I suppose one could say that I do have something that is far more demanding, yet most certainly deserving, of my attention."

The woman laughed gently and began gently kissing him again, however a second, sharp knock at the door elicited a groan from Elias.

"What?" Elias snapped, raising an eyebrow in surprise as the servant entered Elias room without any further permission. Elias had noticed that the servants in the city were far less reserved than those he had been accustomed to, and seemed to enter rooms and speak freely once their presence had been acknowledged.

The boy's eyes widen as he saw the two adults in bed, with a sheet barely covering Elias' waist. As quickly as his eyes had widened, they relaxed, moving to meet Elias' eyes directly. "I was given this note to give to you by Lady Alexis' personal servant,
sir."

The boy moved forward when called and handed Elias the slip of paper, bowing quickly and exiting the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Lady Alexis is sending you notes, now, is she?" Jenora, the woman beside him, raised a teasing eyebrow.

Elias snorted gently and opened the note, reading the words quickly as a flash of guilt ran through his chest at the fact that he was currently laying in bed with another woman. Elias knew that he was only with Jenora as a way to push away any emotional attachment he had to Alexis, however he still felt as if he had betrayed her, even though he had clearly stated he wasn't ready to love again.

Elias folded it up and threw it onto the nightstand, rolling over on top of Jenora as he kissed her. "It would appear I have to prepare myself for a formal tonight."

"So soon? Why not stay in bed just a little longer?" Jenora wrapped her arms around Elias' neck in an attempt to sway him, however he simply moved past her, standing up as he left the bed.

Jenora was obviously disappointed, however she made no other comments, climbing out of bed with him and quickly dressing. As she left the room, Elias called after her. "Remember, Jenora, this is-!"

"Our secret, I know, Elias, you don't' have to remind me." With a wink, she left in a swish of skirts and closed the door.

---

Elias walked down the stairwell, smiling as he greeted many of his newfound acquaintances in the entry hall. The party was well underway, and as a result, a crowd filled almost every part of the room. Elias mingled and made his way through the various chambers, searching fruitlessly for Alexis.

The instant Alexis had walked into the room the widow had inhaled sharply and the woman's son stood up and offered her his arm. "Lady Alexis would you care to show me the gardens?" Alexis glanced at her aunt before answering kindly. "Certainly Mr. Turner I would be delighted to." Her eyes searched for Elias who was not in the room at the moment. As she left the room with the son the mother was heard to tell Jean that Alexis was simply breathtaking. After the dinner an hour or so later the party was started and the widow went home after giving Lady Jean her approval on her niece.

Alexis couldn't seem to get five minutes to herself no matter what she did. She was the bell of the ball and introduced to at least a dozen suitors who decided that she would be theirs. She felt more like a prize in a game and had she realized how wealthy she was it would have dulled her joy at all of the attention. She did relax enough to enjoy herself. A few glasses of champagne didn't hurt either. It seemed she was constantly being handed a new glass. Every time she accepted another partner to dance with another invitation to another party was given to her by the families of said suitor.

Alexis was so happy and a little bit giggly but she wanted to see her partner who had seemingly disappeared on her right after they arrived in the city. She was in the ladies room and heard a rumor about Elias. One of the ladies was talking about the drinking and partying he was doing. Alexis felt her spine stiffen when the woman said he was quite enjoying the women too. Alexis felt sick at what she heard. She left the ladies room and went back out to the party.

It was just then that she saw him and she had to take a deep breath. He looked so handsome. She noticed the other women staring at him too and she couldn't help being jealous by it. She was careful not to show it in public though. Alexis wondered if he would even recognize her. She tapped him on the shoulder. "Elias? Didn't you get my note?" She asked him quietly.

It was at that moment one of her suitors, a Lord Dresden took her arm in his. "Oh excuse me, Lord Dresden, I need to speak to Mr. Grimm for a moment."

The handsome Lord Dresden was not so thrilled about giving up the beautiful young woman's arm but he nodded and walked a few feet away to get more champagne for her.

@December (EDITED-PLEASE READ)

@Wick

---

Elias turned to face his partner and smiled broadly, bowing gently as he took her hand, placing a gentle peck on her soft skin before straightening.

"Ah, Lady Alexis, there you are!" The Grimm smiled with a twinkle in his eye. "You look most dazzling, I must say."

The Hunter spoke truth. Alexis gracefully presented herself in a gorgeous ballroom gown, with her hair pinned up in a fanciful fashion. Her auburn locks gently framed her smooth face, highlighting the already-distracting tint of her eyes. The dress couldn't be described as modest, as it had a plunging neckline and fully displayed her collarbone and left much of her breasts for the eyes to readily observe. A flash of guilt once more ran through Elias' mind as he took in her ravishing beauty, however, he banished it as quickly as it had come.

"Yes, I received your note. You and I have much to discuss, however, I doubt it is appropriate for..." Elias cleared his throat and motioned towards the nearest suitor with his head, shooting an amused yet belittling look towards the man. "Present company."

With a light chuckle, he offered his arm to Alexis, leading her through the crowd. "It's been a little while since I last saw you. Your aunt keeping you busy with all of the frivolities of being wealthy, I assume?"

Alexis took in his brilliant smile and the twinkle in his eyes. Letting him lead her out to the gardens so they could talk she was thrilled that he seemed to appreciate her appearance.

"I guess, mostly I've been with tailors getting a decent wardrobe made. This is the first time I've been in public since I got here. I hear that you are having a good time." Her smile faltered just a little bit as she looked at him. "I'm glad you are having fun." She looked around just a moment. "Can you get out tonight to train? We need to get back to work."

She heard the nearest door open and she pulled Elias away by the arm so they would be less likely to be seen. "Elias, I can be at the barn as soon as the party is over. Thirty minutes afterwards we can meet and train ok?" Alexis heard her name being called and she frowned. "I have to go." Then she quickly kissed Elias' cheek and ran back to the party.

As soon as she was in eyesight of the door Lord Dresden linked her arm in his and took her inside like a prized trophy. Alexis put on a good smile and kept up with her dance partners but in her mind she was thinking about how handsome Elias had looked and how she needed to train so badly. She was hoping that she wouldn't get into too much trouble with Elias for being off her game. Without physical activity other than standing like a dress dummy she was certain she would be off a bit.

Alexis caught glimpses of Elias but she did not get a chance to speak to him for several hours. It was 3am before the party wound down and she was able to escape to her room for the night. She was feeling quite tipsy and changed into her pants and shirt. She pulled her hair down but the curls remained and made it look soft and flowy. Shimmying down the trellis she was careful to avoid being seen. She went inside the barn. Finding a blanket she found a warm spot and curled up to wait for Elias.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias mingled through the party for the rest of the night, growling in slight frustration as he refused drink after drink. If he was going to train with Alexis, he needed to be sober to avoid letting any information slip about his fling with Jenora... and Alice. If Alexis found out about either of them, it would cause unnecessary drama and tension. Besides, it wasn't like he was doing anything wrong; They were both adults who owed each other nothing. Any previous debts he owed to Alexis had been repaid by him accompanying her to the city. That was more than enough to pay back a stabbing and saving of his life, right?

Elias shook his head and forced the pathetic justifications out of his mind and continued to mingle, endearing himself to the various high-end guests, making sure they knew his name and his family's power. It never hurt to have friends in high places, and he had already struck a few deals with a couple of younger men looking for some excitement. The Grimm was positive he could earn some quick, easy favors from the men.

The party continued on into the night, and Elias resisted many of the people's offers to be taken away to other events in the night. The city was a lively place for the night, and there was always a new party to be attending. The double standard of the city struck him quite strongly; While Elias was free to party and sleep around, Alexis was supposed to present herself as this extravagant, perfect mate for the right suitor. The expectation on her end was far higher than anything Elias was held to, and the injustice of the situation did no go unnoticed by him.

After many hours, the guests began departing, and the staff set themselves to cleaning the venue. Elias feigned extreme exhaustion and retired to his room, waving off a bath that was offered to him by one of the servants assigned to him. The Grimm shut himself in his room and bolted the door, quickly moving to change into a pair of less restrictive pants and a tighter black shirt that was far easier to sneak around and fight in. Within minutes, he had gathered his gear from a hidden compartment in one of his dressers and escaped out the window, sneaking through the various shadows until he managed to sneak into the barn.

Alexis lay on the floor, curling up, appearing to be sleeping. A small smile crept across his face as he attempted to sneak up on her, hugging tightly to the walls to avoid her eyesight.

A moment later and he had slyly slid up right beside her, taking a casual seat before looking over at her with a nonchalantly raised eyebrow. "So, do ladies such as yourself sit in barns alone frequently?"

The partying and debauchery of late had brought out a more playful, less grim side of Elias. He wasn't positive if he liked it, however it was certainly enjoyable. Perhaps he was being too juvenile for the task at hand, however he was experiencing a joy he hadn't felt since Taric's death. It was nice to simply live.

Alexis felt his presence the instant he entered the barn. She was just so tired from the activities of the evening. She smiled, eyes still closed. "I was hoping you wouldn't stand me up."

Reaching over she hugged him tightly. "I've missed you so much." She pulled back and grinned at him. "I don't believe ladies step foot in a barn let alone sit on the floor of one. I guess I'm not very ladylike then, am I?"

"Come on we had better get to it. It will be dawn soon." She yawned and giggled a little bit. "You know what? I'd really love to know what you've been doing for fun. I hear the city really comes alive at night and I keep missing all the fun. I just may have to sneak out one of these nights and go find out for myself what it is like."

Shifting a little bit she leaned into Elias' side and put her head on his shoulder and pushed him backwards with her onto the straw behind them. "Elias? I have a distinct feeling that I must be richer than I realize because I've never seen so many men want to dance with one girl so much in my life. My feet hurt from those shoes they made me wear. Can we just stay here for a while? I just want to be with you." She nuzzled herself against him and wrapped her arm around his waist.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias was slightly uncomfortable at her sudden display of affection, however, he didn't let it show.

"Or perhaps they were pursuing you for you extravagant beauty?" Elias chuckled playfully and poked gently at her ribs, attempting to tickle Alexis. "You and I both know that looks are nearly everything in this city. After all, look at me! I've been wildly successful, what are we chalking that up to? I'm not the richest or from the most well known family, so I say it must be my dashing features."

The Grimm smiled broadly and continuing prodding her ribs. His playful tone came naturally, an experience he had almost forgotten. He wasn't having to struggle to maintain a fake image in front of Alexis; rather, he was struggling to keep his emotions in check. Any sign of guilt he had over his experiences with the various woman of the city was forced aside. After all, it wasn't like he was courting Alexis.

After a quiet moment, Elias sat up and gently kicked Alexis boot with his own. "But, alas, handsome looks don't kill Wesen, now do they?"

The woman laying beside him was beautiful in the moonlight, her splayed hair illuminated quite well by the soft lunar rays. Elias took a long moment to stare down at her, a small smile creeping onto his lips as he quietly observed her features. From the gentle curve of her nose to the well-defined jawline, Elias couldn't find a single flaw. It was quite blissful to just sit there with her, however he knew he still had much to accomplish by dawn. The moon's slanting rays hinted that it would soon expire, a fact that Elias begrudgingly acknowledged, however that didn't stop him from staring for a moment longer.

Alexis listened to his words and fully understood the meaning behind them. "I'm certain your dashing features have much to do with your successes with the ladies."

She wondered what he was thinking about. Her heart seemed to want to pound itself right out of her chest. His eyes seemed to be darker in the moonlight. Alexis wanted to drown in his eyes. She wanted to kiss him so badly. Of it's own accord her hand went up and cupped his face, she lifted her chin to kiss him and her eyes met his and the desire was there but her thoughts shifted and she pulled away sadly. How could he sleep with them as the rumors said when he knew she loved him?

Her voice shook slightly as she looked into his beautiful irises. "At the rate things are going I expect they shall have me married off by the end of the season. That might make things even easier for you. You might want to be more careful with your trysts with the ladies. Rumors have a way of travelling quite quickly."

Alexis got to her feet quietly and she was shaking with anger. "How could you? I realize I'm not the most beautiful or the most ladylike or a whore or whatever it is that you wanted but I told you how I felt!"

Alexis grabbed the stall door nearest her and she grabbed onto the mane of a horse and swung up. "Wesen beware!" She swore under her breath and reared her horse and it kicked the barn door open easily and charged through it.

Alexis felt betrayed and reckless and she figured that Elias wouldn't follow her after that outburst. She was very emotional and she was not in the best frame of mind to be fighting a wesen by herself after weeks of inactivity and a night of drinking and dancing. She wiped the tears from her face. She was glad that they had not fallen before she had gotten out of there.

Once in the woods she slowed down so as not to fall into a hole and break her mounts leg. This was unfamiliar to her and she could hear another horse coming fast. She figured it was Elias. Her nose caught the scent of something and she slid off of the horse and whipped out her sword.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias barely had the chance to get a word in edge wise before Alexis had stormed out of the barn. A low growl emanated from his chest. The servants in the city were far less reverent than he was accustomed to. In the West, a Lord's word was law; any form of rebellion was punished harshly. It appeared that in the city, things were not as such. Perhaps he would show them why respect was due to a Grimm.

Alexis' outbursts were becoming quite predictable, and frankly, quite tiring. Cry, flee, suffer, and then leave it to Elias to pick up the pieces. Did he sleep with those women? Admittedly, yes. But he owed Alexis nothing. He had more than accounted for his past debts, and he wasn't here of his own desires. He agreed to accompany her, not devote his body to the woman like a temple. Perhaps it was different in the rural areas of the East, but Elias didn't care. The West and the city appeared to treat these actions in the same manner: trivially. The immorality of the entire situation failed to strike Elias. He had been raised this way, and never thought to question it.

A string of curse words left his mouth as he flung open a stall, greeting Hundar with a gentle nuzzle. His anger was never directed towards the steed, and he stood by the creature.

Hundar had been transported to the city via courtesy of Marcus and Elinora. They had originally protested, however Elias was adamant. A Grimm never left his steed, even if it meant grave danger. "At this point, I owe more of my loyalty to you than that-."

Elias cut himself off and mounted Hundar, galloping out into the woods. Tracking Alexis was child's play; her steed wasn't as trained as Merle, and as a result, left an obvious trail to follow.

As the Grimm approached the end of the trial, Hundar slowed to a trot, coming into a moonlit clearing. Before he spoke, another voice echoed across the clearing, attempting to establish contact with Alexis.

"Well, I find that quite a rude way to greet a fellow traveler!" The mounted form in front of Elias lifted his arms in a gesture of trust, holding them out to both sides, clearly indicating he wasn't armed. "May I dismount?"

Elias pulled gently on Hundar's reigns, drawing the horse to a halt. "Slowly, if you don't mind."

The figure glanced over his shoulder at Elias, his face hidden by the shadows. "Thank you for the courtesy!"

In a single, fluid motion, the stranger swung off of his steed and stepped away, positioning himself so he could keep an eye on both of the humans. His cloak his most of his figure, concealing his neck and leaving only his chin up exposed. Despite the darkness, his eyes glinted vibrantly, reflecting the silver moonlight with dazzling brilliance.

Elias dismounted in turn, raising a hand to Alexis as a signal for her to stay her blade. Elias slowly walked forward, his footing careful and precise, ready for action at any moment. The stranger cocked his head to the side, his movement quick and sporadic. Only his neck moved, however he was clearly analyzing Elias. The moment the moonlight touched Elias' face, illuminating his features fully, the stranger let out an odd cry, edging backwards.

"Stay!" Elias barked, his hand unsheathing his gleaming scythe. The blade glinting devilishly in the moonlight, greatly unsettling the newcomer. As the stranger glanced back and forth between the two hunters, his hands moved at a lightning speed, pulling two wickedly curved knives from his cloak.
A flash of red near the crown of the stranger's head betrayed the Woge, covering his face and hair in maroon feathers. Elias and the Wesen both began shouting, however they drowned each other our.

"Uhranuti! He's an Uhranuti!" (Falcon Wesen) Elias growled. The man held up his hands in defense, holding the knives by his thumbs only.

"Listen! I don't want to fight you!" His words took Elias back, causing a frown. Before the Grimm could speak, the man continued. "Uhranuti and Grimms have always gotten along! We aren't enemies! I just heard that a new hunter was in town! I wanted to establish friendly relations before I woke up with my head no longer on my shoulders!"

Elias paused, his scythe lowering slightly. The silence stretched out for a few moments longer before Elias spoke. "Alexis, is that true? Uhranuti don't usually come to the West."

Alexis eyed the odd looking Wesen and nodded slowly. "Maggie said that they were not to be killed unless they attacked us. I've never seen one up close though." She said walking closer to the man/beast. She inspected the bird man and pointed her sword down but not away fully. "Not a word as to what I am." Alexis said to the man. She offered him her hand and she shook his firmly. Alexis looked at Elias and her eyes glistened in the darkness as she took in his scent. Something caught her ear and she swung around sword at the ready and flung one of her daggers.

A ferocious roar was heard and another wesen dove at her out of the bushes. "Get back!" She yelled to the bird man. Her dagger was sticking out of his shoulder just above his heart making him extraordinarily angry. She stepped back right into a hole in the ground big enough to turn her ankle. She got to her feet and winced slightly. Alexis stood at the ready and looked around her. She no longer saw the birdman anywhere. Her instincts were not as on target as usual and she realized that this win was going to Elias. She hobbled over to Hundar and held his reins to keep on her feet.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias stepped forward as Alexis retreated, fluidly sliding past his partner and letting loose an aggressive cleave to buy Alexis time. The move smoothly transitioned into a switch of the fighters, seamlessly swapping out the two in a highly practiced maneuver.

The beast-like Wesen roared violently and fell to the earth on all fours, fully transforming into its bestial form. Deep orange and maroon fur sprouted down the creature's arms, legs, and back, tearing through the fanciful clothing that covered its body as muscle and flesh swelled beneath the fabric, pushing it past its limits. Glistening yellow fangs poked through the gnarled lips of the creature as whiskers quickly amassed around its oral area. After a long moment, the creature stood strong on its hind legs, towering a full twelve feet tall over Elias' much smaller form. A spiked tail flicked wickedly from behind the beast, lashing out over its shoulder and firing a row of three spines at the pair of Hunters.

Elias shouted in surprise as he lifted his arms up to shield his face, turning his back to the oncoming attack. The first spine narrowly missed, grazing the top of Elias forearm. The second projectile was far more accurate, burying itself deep into Elias shoulder and poking out on the other side of his arm. The third spine went wide, sinking into the turf by Hundar's hoof.

The accurate spine pierced flesh only, however it severely impaired Elias ability to use his left arm. With a growl of pain and anger, Elias swung back around, releasing his grasp on the handle of his scythe in favor of seizing the chain. The weapon clove wide, leaving a long, wide gash across the beast's chest and upper arm.

Elias quickly began swinging his scythe in a circular motion repeatedly, forming a spinning circle of metal and death around himself and Alexis to propel away the larger creature's attacks.

Holding his arm up high, the Grimm edged towards Alexis and Hundar, making sure to keep the scythe swinging high enough to not damage his partner. At the shouted command of Elias, Hundar knelt, bowing his head to the ground so that he would be under the sweeping reach of the scythe's chain.

Elias pulled close to Alexis and shouted out of her, checking to see if she was capable of combat. "Can you fight? We need to run, but we can't bring them back into town! People will die! And where's the damn bird?"