Zacherye stepped from the mists, the rune that he'd obtained to bring him here faded to a mere pulse in his chest pocket. If his heart beat, it might be pounding wildly in his chest. As it was, he felt the cold fingers of fear clutching at his mind. What was he doing? Should he be here? He didn't think so but he really was out of options and the talk with Syndel had made him see that perhaps hiding from his past and his siblings might simply be the worst decision of his life. Or unlife as it were.

Unlife. It was a strange term really to describe his existence. Caught between two worlds, afraid of one but unable to return to the other. He lifted his eyes heavenward, the beast inside him quivered. The sun overhead was a strange thing too. If it were not for the talisman he'd borrowed from his sire, he would be a smoking, screaming pile of ash within moments. He swallowed the rush of anxiety that imagery caused and took a step forward.

He knew he was closer to his family than he'd ever really consciously been and now that he was so near, he wanted to cross the distance quickly. Only will kept him from running. He steadied himself with effort and started off in the most logical direction he could fathom. Perhaps by nightfall he would be with his siblings.

When he saw the figure, his steps slowed and then stopped all together. A nervous tic had him swallowing hard and taking an unnecessary breath inward before forcing his feet to move again. He'd already learned powerful lessons dealing with trust and things not appearing to be what they seemed. He continued onward, watching the woman warily. What was her purpose? She didn't speak, she didn't really even move. He could hear her heartbeat, hear the heartbeat of others nearby. If his own still beat, he would have felt a rapid staccato inside his chest. When his steps stilled again, he was about ten feet from the woman. His hands were loose at his sides, his own garments comfortable pants, shoes that might be considered expensive to some, and a simple white shirt that was loose enough for the wind to tease without being overly billowy. His blond hair was captured back at the nape of his neck, blue eyes on the woman.

The heat of the sun warmed his body, the sensation both soothing and frightening. So many distractions around, he willed himself to focus on the woman and did his best to keep his voice from wavering when he spoke. "Hello."

What would happen now, he wondered?

(The Next couple of posts are based on Live RP)

Zacherye?s hand rubbed lightly against his leg, gaze wholly on the woman. "I'm looking for someone." He knew better than to let out too much. Information was valuable and might keep him (or those he loved) from danger.

Mihaela crossed her arms regarding him intensely. "And they are?" She wanted confirmation of who he was looking for. She was dead set against them getting hurt.

His chin lowered slightly, fingers flexing out of nervousness. "What business is it of yours who I speak with?"

She arched a slender brow, "Well, you are trespassing on my territory. Given that this is an isle, you seek people under my protection." Her eyes were intense, was it the light that was making them feline.

"You own the whole island?" His blond brow arched slightly, teeth nipping at his lower lip.

"I have claimed it..." She hardly moved, the stare unwavering, "So I ask you again, who do you seek?"

"You claim the island but do you claim ownership of everyone here?"

Her eyes regard him carefully and she took a chance, "I am Nimir-Ra of the Blood Claw Pard. I do not own as much as I protect."

He blinked twice at those words. He had no idea what a Nimir-Ra was but in his current state he was willing to take it as something with power. He was unwilling to back down, though. He'd come this far. "Protect?" He tried to choose his words carefully. "Protect those willing to be protected, or those you have decided need protection?"

"Willing... I would die first before I let anyone harm them."

"Can you die?"

She nodded, "I can, but I guarantee I'll take people with me."

"I'm not asking for a demonstration."

She was still immobile. "I don't give them." One as only as good as their threat some days. "One more time, who are you seeking?"

"How can I trust you?"

"You can't, but then you are not going any further until I get an answer." She said with finality.

His eyes narrowed. "As you wish. I'll wait until they leave."

There was something stirring, "You are on my territory without permission. You are a threat to those I hold dear." sounds familiar eh?

His hand moved again over his thigh in that nervous gesture, eyes still locked on the woman. The hair on the back of his neck was rising. How could she possibly hold them more dear than he did? He almost said so but that would be too much information for her. He would need to find them when this woman was not around. "You make assumptions."

She smiled darkly then, "Considering that your kind likes to war with my kind?" Her eyes were definitely looking more feline. No trick of light there. "You asked if you can trust me, that's a two way street. You don't want to give up a little information, and I don't want to give up their safety. Not when we've already been assaulted."

His eyes widened a bit, youth betraying his surprise at her words. What did she know? "What are you?" He remained steadfast but his confusion had him distracted.

Sometimes the best course was the simplest. The adamant woman gave way to a compassionate one. "Yes." She looked at him a moment, "It would be best to clean yourself up first."

He slowly nodded his blond head, hand rubbing across his cheeks. He hated the idea of having to leave and clean up but it was appropriate to do so. "I'll ... I'll come back when I have."

"Do you want to meet some place neutral? Someplace everyone can be comfortable in?"

"Anywhere they're safe."

"And you don't have to leave to clean up."

"I do, though. I ... my clothes and ... I need to shower I think." He couldn't look up at her any longer, the shame of his waste was clear on his face.

"There is something else you are not telling me." This was said kindly though. Before he could say anything else, "I am sure you are familiar with the shop Teas 'n' Tomes. We can arrange the meeting there. A public location and I can be on hand for protection."

He didn't say much else at her first comment. He simply kept his face turned downward. A nod answered her question about the Teas. "I know of it."

She sighed softly, "(vq) I know that they miss you terribly. Vanessa swears she caught your scent in the shop." She looked at him, "Until it is proven otherwise, you are to be treated as family. Please do not make regret this decision."

Old arguments on why he'd not contacted them before reared suddenly. He shook his head and pushed away, scrambling back to stand up. "I can't. It's not safe. I ... I shouldn't have come here." Longing warred with protection, his depression over not seeing them losing to the fierceness of his desire to keep them safe. "She cou... might." He stumbled backward as he retreated. "Keep them safe. Don't trust anyone. Please ? tell them I love them."

She shook her head listening to his words and things that were not said, "If you need help, you can come to me."

"No. I can't." The tones of a soul dying all over again laced his words. "I don't want to cause any more pain."

"Think about what you are saying. The pain it will cause them to know you still exist.

?If she finds out about them ... she'll kill them ... Or worse."

"If she tries, she will be destroyed."

"That's been tried."

Something stirred within her, "Anyone can be an Alpha in our world. Few have the power to be Nimir-ra ... Leopard Queen." She was deadly serious, "I don't make promises I cannot keep."

?You said yourself that you can die."

"That does not make me weak." She stated plainly.

"I didn't say you were." He continued backward, stepping unsteadily in his retreat. "I am, though." Additional heartbreak dripped from those few words.

?You are young yet." She said softly.

"That's no excuse." He dug into his pocket for the rune he'd used to get here. He looked at it for a long time before he let it drop from his fingers. If it was here, she couldn't find out where they were as easily although he had few doubts that she would torture the information from him anyway. "There ... no trace, right?" He blinked through the new tears that threatened.

She shook her head, "We are protected by things she has no defense against, like magic. Please consider this before you go into hiding."

He wanted to believe it but again, trust was hard to give. "They're too precious to compromise." He longed for them even in spite of his words.

"There is safety in numbers." She was trying every argument she could come up with. She could tell by the way he was talking what this 'she' was. "And what if Chas decides to find you? Wouldn't be better if you were someplace you can be protected as well?"

"I'm not important. Only they are."

She signed softly, "Sorry, I don't think that way. You have family that cherishes you and you are going to hide in the hopes that someone doesn't find them."

"Hide ... yeah, that's the plan. Draw her attention away if she does show up. Try to divert her long enough for them to be left alone."

"So keep running and hope she doesn't catch you?"

She seemingly melted into the treeline, fading from Zach's view. In truth, she remained there watching the young vampire, caution warred with compassion. Yet, caution was winning.

She waited for her mate and her friend to join her as she watched. The debate raged on but in the end she knew she could do no less.

"He's scared, but not alone. He's too young to not have some sort of help, even if it is not his sire." She said to seemingly to no one. But she knew they were close at hand.

Akiko didn't have much compassion for vampires either. However, there was something about this one that bore some reconsideration. She could see it in his face. His sisters eyes, his brothers nose, their similar mouth and chin. "No Damon, there is something familiar about this one that bears consideration. If he is their sibling, ending him will tear the pard apart. We should keep an eye on him and use extreme caution." She replied softly.

She nodded. "Where would you suggest?"

She glanced to Damon, "As tempting as that sounds, we still have a treaty of sorts with Talomar..."

She left that hanging because the treaty really hasn't been much more than lip service, even though there has been no open incidents.

"Chas and Van do need to know what happened to their brother and given his agitation, I'd say there is more trouble on the horizon."

She turned to Akiko, "I think we should set up a meeting area on the isle. I'm not comfortable with this happening near the house. This also means if thinks go south, we can stake him and leave him to greet the sun."

The last was said for Damon's benefit. She was only allowing so much. The kids was just a kid, but he was also Kindred. She was not dismissing what he said, just saving it for the last resort.

Akiko nodded and then rolled her eyes and Damon. "What if the young ones won't allow us to "stake" them? What then?" I think we are playing with a potentially volitile situation as it is. Blood is always thicker between actual family members then the pseudo family environment we have cultivated. Between the three of us we can keep the siblings safe. Caution is warranted Miha between the needs of the many and the needs of the few or... one."

Akiko bowed respectfuly. "As you wish...." She answered softly to the declaration that the siblings be escorted at all times.