[IC] the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel blinked. She hesitated for a time. She looked at Andrew. She took a deep breath. Then, she looked at the woman again.

"....yes."

She nodded once.

[amberly]

Andrew had looked back at Angel as she answered and smiled.

The woman rejoiced and filled their bowls again, hoping to keep them eating until her husband arrived to hear the glad news himself.

Andrew protested more food, he was eager to get back to his home and sleep for hours upon hours. "Thank you Ma'am, but I must decline. There are others to tell." He nodded at the hostess and then at Angel.

He had no idea what Angel's plans were now. She would need to be paid of course. She would be celebrated. She would be pestered with questions about her heroic acts by the villagers. Or she could simply leave.

He was going to leave, and stood up, showing himself out. Saying another "thank you," from the doorway.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel blinked. She almost blushed at his smile. What was wrong with her?!

However, she would be distracted by the woman. She managed to decline the food quickly enough.

"We both must be on our way. But...we will be passing through the town quickly enough so...."

She shrugged. She made for the doorway. Angel waved farewell as she did so. She just barely managed not to sigh or anything as she left that place.

[amberly]

Andrew glanced back over his shoulder to see Angel coming behind him and grinned. He looked ahead at the road but that grin wouldn't stop. She was following him again, he wondered just how much more of her life she would spend following him given the chance. He walked straight through the village.

People recognized Angel and smiled called out to her asking if she has managed to kill the monster yet.

Some looked at Andrew and recognized him as the man who looked much like his father had looked as a young man. And they knew he had been a monster. Those asked Angel angrier questions. "What is he doing here? Why didn't you kill him?"

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel stopped in her tracks. She narrowed her eyes. She looked at the villagers who had spoken. She did not look happy, not at all. She pulled something out of her pocket and tossed it at them. It was a piece of the creatures' fur that had been stuck to her right after it was disposed of.

"Does that remind you of anything?!"

She sighed.
"This man did not have fur, but the creature i found did! It would appear there was a case of mistaken identity! This man was simply under a curse while the real monster roamed about, letting him take the blame! Now quiet yourselves before you cause yourselves more stress! please."

She turned away and kept walking.

[amberly]

A knife glinted in the sunlight as one of the villagers pulled it from his pocket. It was safer to be sure, to be rid of Andrew too. On hunting trips he had seen Andrew drain an animal of life. Andrew could not be allowed to live, though he may have convinced Angel otherwise. The villager aimed his knife at Andrews back.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel saw that. She pulled out one of her weapons and aimed it towards the man.

"Drop the weapon unless you want to be in a fight that you can not win. I have hunted more vicious creatures in a single month than you have in your entire life."

She was serious in her warning.

[amberly]

The villager was beyond trusting Angel. He stared her down and did not drop his weapon.

Andrew came and stood by Angel's side. "He has no reason to trust me. I was a monster. I couldn't stop myself from killing everything I touched. Until she saved me. She killed the forest creature. She risked her own life to save me, and saved me in more ways than one. I'm human, the curse is broken. And I lived, because of her."

Andrew reached out a hand to Angel's, to show the village he was harmless. He also pushed gently to hint that he thought she should lower her sword. "You don't have to protect me forever you know." He whispered loud enough for her ears only.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel sighed.

"It is not a lesson about trust. He needs to learn that not everything is a danger in general. Paranoia can cause ones destruction as much as anything else. Besides...."

She looked at Andrew.

"He needs to learn self-preservation as well. This behavior can cause trouble for himself."

She almost lowered her weapon.

[amberly]

"I don't want them to be paranoid or afraid of me, I want them to trust..." Andrew's reply was cut short.

That one particular villager had decided to take advantage of the situation and take the risk. He rushed forward raising his arm to stab his knife into Andrew.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel nodded at first. But, she saw the villager move out of the corner of her eye. She gasped and jumped in front of him. She found herself not wanting Andrew to get hurt.

[amberly]

Andrew was surprised by the sudden movent and could only watch in horror as the knife moved forward Angel.

The knife, though missing its original target, was still swift. The villager tried to move his hand to one side, but not enough to entirely miss Angel due to his own movements.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel ended up being hurt a bit. She winced. But, she did not move. She would soon approach the man. Her eyes were narrowed.

[amberly]

The man stammered something, loosing his resolve at Angel's approach. Someone behind him grabbed his shoulder and pulled his arm so he stepped back. The tension of a fight releasing as he dropped his knife on the ground in front of Angel. He didn't like this situation at all, was afraid of both of them now, but there was little he could do since she had a mind to stop him.

"I'm going home." Andrew said turning to leave again and walking the road up to his castle. He didn't need to stay here and cause more problems for Angel to protect him from. He listened for anyone coming with him. He had to admit, listening for Angel's footsteps.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
"How...would....you all feel if....you had been...in his position? Think for once will you?!"
Angel managed to speak while wincing.

"How could you all be selfish? If I was cold and kept to myself, part of it was so no one else could be hurt. My own parents were killed by the beast for Pete's sake! Andrew was not said beast. He was nice to me despite how i treated him. If you have any hearts, or even any brains for that matter, you will change your attitudes this instant!"

She turned and left, holding her arm. She found herself following after Andrew.

[amberly]

The townspeople murmured, some agreeing and nodding their heads, others not as sure and watching with relief as Angel left town.

When the familiar footfalls sounded behind him, Andrew stoped to wait. He half turned and smiled at Angel. His smile faded at the sight of blood on her arm and he was walking back to her the next moment. He tore another strip of cloth from his shirt that had been used to bind several of their injuries in the past days.

"Here, let's get that taken care of before you get lightheaded. You alright?" He asked ready to catch her if the woman went pale. He moved to tie the cloth securely around her arm and walk beside her back to the castle.

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel was not in a good mood as she walked, and not just because of her arm. She blinked when she saw Andrew suddenly stop and then turn toward her and such. She frowned when she saw what he did to his shirt, and with the cloth.

"You did not have to do that."

[amberly]

Andrew smiled and shook his head at her. He wouldn't be put off by her manner or surprise. "And you did not have to defend me to those people, or get yourself hurt. But I'm glad you helped me," Andrew countered. "Thank you."

[Vampiretwilight]

@amberly
Angel looked like she was starting to blush. She looked away. She was silent for a time.
"....Whatever you say."
She started to walk on ahead.

[amberly]

Andrew caught up to walk with her. This woman who has done so much for him.

"Will you go find another monster to hunt now that this is taken care of?" He found that was easier than asking if she would be leaving soon. He didn't want her to have to leave.