Thread: *Bez Soznaniya Krasa* Mistik Refuge (BurningWillows & Georgie_Leech)

There wasn't usually a traffic rush during noon on a Friday, but with the long weekend ahead everyone seemed to be hell bent to get out of the office and start their vacations. By the time Taryn got to her work it was late into the afternoon. Not that she cared she wasn't even scheduled in. But after finding her one-night-stand in her kitchen she felt the impulse to do anything other than moping in her house. Two rules Taryn. No boyfriends, no alcohol. The second rule was more flexible she had a cocktail with a group of coworkers every month- but she never got too drunk. It was too dangerous, with her powers she never knew when she would slip up and expose herself. She barely remembered last night other than agreeing to go dancing at a nearby club with one of her friends from work. Taryn work was in one of the many skyscrapers in downtown Toronto. She had gotten the job as temp, and after a week was offered a part-time job as a receptionist on the main floor. Part of it was her hard work, but another receptionist, Jessica, said it had to do with looks too. All of the main floor receptionists were fit, pretty, and young. Hey Taryn, one of her other coworkers, Kris waved from behind the Reception Desk. Jessica here? Taryn asked, wanting to keep her visit short before she got warped into working. Nope, she never showed up. Taryn didnt need to ask if Jess had called she knew her friend wouldnt. She probably got as drunk as Ihad and hasnt woken up yet. Waving goodbye, she turned on her heel to leave. Her eyes landed on a newspaper lying half open on a coffee table between two sofas. She paused to read the headline and took a step closer as her eyes scanned the picture underneath. It was a familiar alley way, with yellow police tape cutting it off in the picture. Ninth Death In A String of Six Weeks In the past six weeks there has been an influx of homicides, that latest being the 9th body found. The body has yet to be identified, and the cause of death is unknownyoung female, blonde hair, green eyes Taryn skimmed the rest, seeing nothing else of value and left the newspaper on the table. Something about the picture felt familiar. Pushing through a large throng of people massing near the side doors, she exited her building and turned left down a side street. Halfway down the street was a small alley, leading to a tiny parking lot hidden amongst the tall buildings surrounding the block. One look down the alley confirmed Taryns suspicions. Yellow police tape still cut the alley off, and two police man stood on duty, discouraging any curious passerbys from taking a closer look. Dont panic. It could have been anyone, Taryn consoled herself, rushing back towards her small silver car parked outside her work. They had been clubbing all night, there was no way Jessica had been in that alley. But the description matches. Blonde hairgreen eyes. Reaching her car she swung the door open and jumped in, finding her cell phone lost in a sea of papers in her passenger seat. She clicked the power button and her phone came to life. Immediately she noticed the miss call and voicemail. But when she unlocked her phone it opened to the camera app. Instinctively she clicked the Gallery button, and her gut sank as the first picture popped up. It was her in a silver sequin minidress, hugging the same tall brunette shed seen in her kitchen. The only thing missing in the camera was Jess. A few swipes from her finger and more pictures from the night before popped up, yet not one showed her friend. Shit. She exited the app and checked the miss call. No Taryn breathed, her hands shaking as she stared down at the only number she recognized. With trembling fingers she dialed her voicemail and pressed speaker. One new voice messageplaying first message Taryn? Oh my god, Taryn please pick up, Jess voice was weak and hoarse, like she had been coughing too much. ImIve been stabbed. Its really a few coughs, really bad. Theres so much I wanted toexplain. Taryn? I need yougo to my condo. Everythinglots that you dont know. Nimble8317 She stepped back into the clearing, human and fully clothed. The Change to human always took longer for her, partially because she wasn't naturally human, and partially because a small part of her fought against leaving her wolf form. But in order to speak to Mor she couldn't remain wolf. Tossing her hair into a messy ponytail and straightening out her clothes she begin her slow walk across the clearing. She debated where to meet him. Standing in the middle of the clearing, her hand swiveled left and right, platinum blonde ponytail swinging. She could wait in the Refuge, collect her purse, and hopefully catch him on his way in. But there is people in there, she growled internally, not feeling particularly social with strangers. It wasn't their fault she just hated their prying questions about her name, her accent, her day... She rolled her shoulders and looked to her left, towards the forest. If she met him just before the path heading into the trees she'd have no obligation to talk to strangers, unless his group spoke up. Left it is , she settled, striding forward. The path was set on the same side of the clearing as the small cabin, and as Nina got close she caught a faint trail of Mor's scent. His house, she dubbed, staring at the tiny home. Continuing forward, she stopped near the entrance into the forest, staring towards the river she could now see clearly. Even from afar her ears picked up the babbling brook, and if she ever got the chance she knew she would get lost in this forest, letting it take her away for a few days. She would have enjoyed the sincerity longer if a raised voice didn't startle her and she looked behind her into the empty forest.