Soon the creeping tendrils of light would sink far beyond the horizon to leave this realm beneath a cloak of darkness. Shadows which welcomed the wraith without any hesitation and allowed a sense of freedom, allowed steps to wander without restraint in a land not held beneath the shroud. Rarely did trees alone provide a shield of equal strength, their canopies so often broken wherever it grew thin though with this dying light there was no fear of exposure. Nothing to hinder the way a figure shifted through these woods. Yet he was not here for a hunt, no malintent plagued the mind.

No. There were hopes of discovering one familiar to him, to offer the kitsune a moment of his time without the threat of an extended absence. Without a retreat into the confines of the vampiric city for matters of business nor heeding the requests of another. Such things would not steal him away this night if only such a being could be found. However, what first reached him was far from the tantalizing fragrance of a fox but rather the perfumed presence of humans. Two scented upon the winds and while neither appeared to bleed there lingered a curiosity over them for a vague sense of knowing mixed upon those fleeting aromas.

It was enough to draw him in. Just a quick peek and he would go, a lie he told himself for he knew better than any that mortals were fun to toy with. So many letting their primal fears take hold. Those final phrases bringing ears to flick before sights could even take the pair in fully. A cursory glance at first. Flowers, an old man, a pale girl - the last holding his gaze for it was her were that familiarity leaked. Though she was certainly not the dark haired woman he’d come to know… far from it in fact yet that did little to stop the chime of lyrics as they reached out.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to go out at night?” A tongue forcefully held, kept from addressing her in the same manner as he would another. No calling of healer no matter how her very essence seemed to reflect within the veins of the woman before him. It brought that mismatched gaze to fixate, the man kept at her side ignored for what was he but another body present? He was nothing. Whoever he was didn’t matter. Not to him as attentions refused to stray from the unknown’s countenance, “There are beasts in these woods you know.”

Phrases said with a flash of predatory fangs, the falsity of a ‘disarming’ smile, and yet despite the way glimmering eyes narrowed it was all in jest. The damned held no plans of sinking his teeth into the flesh of either of these wandering creatures. But they didn’t need to know that. He could allow himself a bit of fun, try to scare them at least a little before an act was dropped and usual mannerisms were given hold.

Nervous warning drew his focus as that electric stare would flicker, “Poltergeist? That witch will not care what I do here tonight,” at least not when it came to innocent fun. Now if she had heard of a plan for slaughter, a feast of mortal blood - well, then she would have more than a few objections over the idea. However she would fret not for all the ghoul wished was to toy with what could so easily be seen as prey. Though it appeared such amusement would come only from one as a hand stopped the pale girl from straying any closer. A silent plea for her to remain near that did not escape the vampire’s gaze, it twas an act which only drew that fanged grin wider.

Briefly arms spread in open gesture, jewelry rattling against one another as focus lay glued on the unknown, “If I wanted to kill you I would have done so already. Besides just what would you be able to do to stop me?” Tease rang clear upon such lyrics as they danced within the other’s mind before steps would shift to close the distance between himself and that floral woman. Arms crossing before him once again as little to no regard was paid to the unease of a protector any longer. Near all focus resting upon another, “And yet those of the night are all to willing to tear you apart.” But that was not to say creatures who dwelt in light were any less eager, however, it was the blood induced frenzy of those like him that held more firmly to the mind.

“I knew I smelt that healer’s blood,” an elixir never tasted for himself though he hardly planned to sample even a portion of it here, “Wasn’t strong enough to be her but enough to hold a resemblance.” Unlike the appearances of this nameless maid, the sharpness of his gaze not shy in the way it danced over her in silent observation before holding upon the bundle held tightly in her grasps. At least they held that in common, a draw toward plant life though this one seemed fixed upon the beauty of blooms while another would have sought out something more medicinal. “What relation do you have with that old woman?” Inquiry issued without much thought, he hadn’t sought the wolf out for some time now and yet if answers could be gained here there would be no need.

No matter how an elder may warn or seemingly plea with the girl for retreat, to avoid the very company of the damned who stood before them. It was brushed off time and time again. Pressed aside as if her life was of little importance, that she did not fear all that she should. At least one remained keen of the dangers which surrounded them. It had been no lie over the swiftness that a flame could be snuffed out and no old cretin playing protector would be able to stop fangs if such a notion seized the mind.

However, he was not here for games of slaughter. Not when something far more intriguing tugged at the mind. This little girl’s relation to that witch. The gleam of that mismatched gaze ever watchful of each motion made. How one’s features tensed while another remained more concerned about the way she carried the flowers in her grasps, a figure freeing itself from the man’s hovering company even if only for a moment. Though in these particular moments there was nothing for that geezer to worry over. Attentions briefly flickering to his features before monotone phrase would pull him back to the pale maid.

Mother. Blood ties confirmed though that recluse had never spoken of her supposed kin whenever he’d kept to her company. Given it had never really been a subject that interested him, one he never intended to pry over. Until now at least. Then came her question. One which bid a click of his tongue before it would unconsciously run over the scars which tore across his lip, “Let’s just say we know of each other.” The occasional patch up when blood alone would not heal the damages to an eye nor the marring of silver against features.

“Always offering that tea of hers each visit,” something the wraith loathed. It was never hot leaf water he wished to drink but rather a far stronger beverage. One more alcoholic or at least bloodier than what she provided. Gaze would narrow then as he regarded the youth. “Tell me Avvie,” the very name uttered by her would-be guardian lacing over a false tongue as it pressed to each of their minds, “Have any idea where that mother of yours has gotten off to? I’ve a few words for her.”