Free Bloodmoon: Peace Treaty by Mike J. Banes Page B

no one could dispute that. But tonight, something extra seemed to be at play. Her claws protracted and retracted steadily as her hand tightened round the hilt of her sabre. She always did that when she was trying to concentrate.
    He wondered why he would even notice something like that. Of what use was it to him? Keena Roz was just a means of proving to himself something he'd always known from birth.
    Vampires were a better, more refined species, and the werewolves were, in one word, savages.
    This was told to every new born vampire. Drummed into their ears until it was engraved in their very subconscious. Werewolves were beneath them, period, and they needed to be out in their place. So far he'd fought in many wars than he could count, and though he was thankful that there was finally peace, he had grown used to the rush of battle and needed the high he got from their occasional bouts.
    The whole thing had been her idea. "A means to let out steam and decide who's really better." she'd said.
    Her quick movement broke him out of his thoughts.
    Damn she's fast he thought as he moved to the side to avoid the clawed hand she thrust forward. She came back swinging with her sabre and he bent down, letting it pass over his head with an audible swish. Then he dropped, rolled away, and stood to face her.
    "Whoa there. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to kill me" he said and winked again
    "Shut up" she yelled and lunged at him again.
    Something was definitely wrong. Her attacks, while powerful, were haphazard and uncoordinated. He dropped his blade and caught her as she reached him, twisting her arms around her back and wrestling her to her knees.
    "You're making this too easy. What's up with you wolf?" he asked.
    She didn't say anything, but instead, just knelt there, heaving. He eventually let go of her, and she got up and retrieved her sabre.
    "It's none of your business what's going on with me" she now said frowning even more till her eyes were barely open.
    "I never said it was. I was simply curious" he said trying to sound as honest and uncurious as possible.
    "Curiosity killed the cat" she said pointedly.
    "Good thing I'm not a cat" he replied.
    She looked up at him for a bit. She seemed like she was about to say something, then changing her mind, she sheathed her sabre and arranged her belt.
    Somewhere off in the distance, an owl hooted.
    "Hand to hand? You just don't get tired of losing do you fur face." Christoph taunted
    "No. We're done for today." she said and then opened her mouth again, as if to speak. Then she pursed her lips and clenched her fists again. Then with a resolute sigh, she turned and stalked off into the surrounding woods.
    "Yeah sure. Sun will soon be up anyways" he called after her, but she'd already disappeared.
    For a while after she'd gone, he stood there, looking towards the direction she'd just walked in. Then, he turned and left as well.
    In the distance, the owl hooted again.
     
                                                   ***
    "Where were you?" Turk asked for what seemed like the millionth time
    "I went out, to clear my head" she answered, in no mood to explain any further and slowly getting irritated by his constant hounding.
    "To clear your head" he repeated
    "Did I stutter Turk? Get off my back"
    "I'm only looking out for you Keena. We're live in dangerous times. We cannot have the daughter of the alpha chief of the pack roaming about unguarded" He said slowly, as one would when talking to a small child.
    She looked up him sharply, flaring her nostrils as she did. She hated it when these male werewolves tried to 'protect her'. It irritated her. Made her feel weak. And she hated feeling weak. She had spent her entire life training and getting stronger, so she wouldn't have to rely on any one of them for protection.
    "Are you saying I'm incapable of taking care of myself? Why would I need protection?" she squared up now as she