(Untitled)

[cheng_hu]

The sun is starting to sink below the horizon, and that means they should probably look for a safe place to stop before it gets completely dark. They're in unfamiliar territory, now.

"This is North Chicago up ahead, according to the map," Daniel says, shading his eyes from the setting sun. "...is that a golf course?"

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[sky_from_sea]

Anna pulls her hood more firmly up around her face, resettling her sunglasses.

Light is not her friend.

"I don't know, but since we didn't bring our clubs or a caddy, does it matter?"

[bass_line_blues]

The wolf by their side is tired and irritable. After all, he's been walking all day.

He lets out an impatient bark, and heads forward without looking back; if it is a place to stop, that is okay by him.

(Human-shaped Preston would probably not complain. But wolves are not known for their impulse control.)

[cheng_hu]

"I was wondering if open ground or a building would be a better camp ground, but Preston seems to have made the choice for us." He clucks his tongue and steers the horse (and thus them) after Preston.

"I bet there are golf clubs somewhere in Chicago, if not in an outbuilding somewhere here."

[sky_from_sea]

"With a building we'd have to check to clear it. And I think Preston's getting cranky."

Anna resettles her bag at her side, checking to make sure all her weapons are in the appropriate places and ready to be used.

Just in case.

"Not that I blame him."

Sunburn sucks. She forgot how bad it can get on the road. (Anna used to travel at night. It was easier.)

[bass_line_blues]

Once they're moving, the Preston-wolf slows down, letting the horse go ahead. Daniel and Anna can pick a campsite.

It's hard to tell who's alpha in this little pseudo-pack for the voyage, but one thing the wolf is sure of is that it's not him!

[cheng_hu]

Daniel's sigh is small, and can easily be passed off as him being tired as well. (He might also argue with Preston about that!)

"Outdoors it is. Let's pick a nice fairway next to a sandtrap. We can make a fire."

[sky_from_sea]

"I heard that," Anna says.

She's smiling a little, though. Careful and close-mouthed.

"You'll get the wood?"

[bass_line_blues]

The Preston-wolf lets out a bark that trails off into a whine.

Let's pick a nice fairway soon?

[cheng_hu]

All right, then. The votes are in. Daniel parks in a pretty wide open area. "I'll fetch the wood, but that leaves you with unhitching the horse."

Crabapple makes a grumpy sound of agreement as Daniel jumps down and pats her on the shoulder.

[sky_from_sea]

"He loves us," Anna says to Crabapple, patting her nose and getting to work with the unhitching.

"He really does."

Then she pauses, looking over at Preston.

"Do you want me to get your clothes out, now?"

[bass_line_blues]

Preston is busily engaged in sniffing out the area . . . but he cocks his ears back, and looks at Anna.

It's a few moments - what he really wants to do is flop down and go to sleep, there and then - before he gives a nod. It's a good idea. Not what he wants to do, but a good idea.

[cheng_hu]

Daniel has his back politely turned, trudging off toward a copse of trees that look dead enough to break some branches from. He wonders idly what the grass looks like, now.

-and apparently his nose is bleeding again. Shit. "Be right back," he calls out, picking up the pace.

[sky_from_sea]

It's too bad the wind is blowing against him.

Anna's head lifts, lip curling back from her teeth instinctively. She bites her own lip instead, tongue flicking out to lick away the tiny trickle of blood.

"Daniel?"

She starts to move away from the horse, then stops.

They've been over this before.

[bass_line_blues]

With the scent of blood in the air, the wolf's gaze goes sharply to Daniel - but Preston takes advantage of the distraction to change back and pull his clothes on before doing anything else.

Now human and decent again, he shifts his glance to Anna, eyebrow slightly raised in silent inquiry.

[sky_from_sea]

"Probably a scrape," she says, going back to unhitching Crabapple.

"You know how he is."

Anna is a very good liar. Well-practiced, even.

[bass_line_blues]

A scrape on the inside of his nose?

"We're all tired enough to be clumsy," Preston says, his voice studiously neutral. "Want me to start on the fire?"

It's Daniel's business. So he's not gonna pry. But he does make a note to pay a little more attention to the way Daniel smells, tomorrow.

(Vampires are not the only ones with heightened senses.)