Scanning an empty bathroom the red capped man eases past it. Nearing the last bedroom keeps his firearm pointed that way. Glancing back he motions the second male to move forward.

Nodding in reply the second man creeps to the bathroom door.

Slowly the red, capped man advances inspecting what can be seen of the last bedroom.

Nothing seen he takes a deep steadying breath before lunging in to view the whole room.

Anticipating a grizzly sight and wolf sighting the man hops forward. The gun barrel follows his sight scanning the room for trouble. Confused he comes to a complete stand still observing a corner sight.

"Hello," out of breath Ella tries to play it coolly waving to the man, "something wrong?" The sheer flowered curtain is wrapped tightly around her torso. She hopes the man doesn't think much of the piles of hair all over the bed.

"Ah, hello." Slowly, the capped man grins slyly, giving her a greasy look over, "We're hunting a wolf." Carelessly he uses the gun barrel as a pointer, "We saw a paw print leading here." The greasy grin fades when he notices her hairy legs, arms and fuzzy shoulders.

Overhearing them the second male notes a softer voice, "who is it?" Already walking towards them he wasn't waiting for a reply, "Louie? Was that them making all those noises, just a moment ago?"

"I think so Bret," Louie replies before asking her, "was that you?" Despite the hair he's thinking about taking advantage of her cornered and alone.

"I'm sorry?" She evaluates the situation at hand. "Me? What?" Unable to read minds she can see ill intentions in his eyes. His diseased face, scraggly potbellied appearance and the mere idea disgust her.

Getting closer and allowing Bret into the room Louie steps in front of the window, "was that you making all that racket? Sounded like an animal tearing something up in here." He winks to his partner entering the doorway, "while everyone's out searching we found us a little cutie here."

"What?" Resting the long-gun on the shoulder Bret checks her out, "a lil' cutie for sure." He finds her maturing face pretty, noticing the body hair he quips, "but hairier than you Louie. Sorry lady."

Annoyed and hurt Ella plays nice but is ready to put them down, "hey fresh razors are rare, so why bother. Hello, Bret is it?" Observing their stances she contemplates possible actions to take.

Smiling from Bret's comment Louie keeps pointing with the rifle, "yeah but maybe she's willing to take care of a couple working stiffies?" He deeply chuckles glancing back to gauge Bret's thoughts.

A moment hoped for and taken advantage of, Ella springs forward. As Louie points the gun barrel at the bed Ella seizes control of the barrel. Swiftly she swings the barrel under Louie's jaw. With her other hand grasps and holds his trigger hand in place. Forcing Louie's finger on the trigger.

As Louie's eyes go wide in awe Bret throws up a hand, "whoa!" Seeing Ella watching both of them Bret glimpses Louie's pant leg darken from the crotch down, "easy lady. Don't shoot him over being a crude bastard."

Trembling and peeing in place Louie pleads. "please lady, I was only joking around. I wouldn't really." Trying to give up the gun he's under her grip.

She keeps close to him speaking sternly, "this seasoned girl can easily spot lying assholes like you." She forces him to turn, "Bret be a sweetie and put your gun down. I'm sure Louie wouldn't want his abusive narrow mind all over the ceiling."

Like a plea Louie's whining gets Bret to reluctantly comply, "Alright lady don't shoot him." Leaning the gun against the wall behind he pleas, "please don't shoot me either. I, we both have women and children to look out for."

"Well you want to see them again, get on the other side of that bed." With Louie's back to the bed Ella keeps an eye on Bret, "go on." She grumbles to them both, "you two better be teaching your children better."

"I try," defends Bret while crossing the hairy bed mattress. "My family is all that matters, the only thing that matters." Mentally he's cursing Louie for getting him into this predicament.

As Bret hops down into the corner Ella jerks the rifle from Louie, "you too loser! Back the Hell up!" She brandishes the gun at Louie, "Got yourself one who loves you in this shitty world and you can't be happy with that? Assholes like you never get it. End up hurting two women for your thirty seconds of pleasure. What would make me feel better than fucking is putting you down like the true animal you are. I'm sure you've gone too far before. Ending you I'd sleep good tonight just like you would've." Needing to keep things calm Ella can't shoot either.

While backing up the chastising gets Louie's nerves up enough to fight. With the gun pointed his way can only watch her step back. Fears of either of them being shot makes Bret noticeably nervous.

Kneeling down to retrieve the other gun she sees Louie pondering, "un-un, don't even try it. Best take these for my own safety." Seeing Louie look away makes her smile, "not toys for you boys."

Finally observing all the hair on the bed they see it's the same color as Ella's hair. Both thought it was a really old torn open hair stuffed mattress.

Bewildered and wanting to best the small woman Louie rudely points out, "what the hell? You've got some serious issues going on."

Standing with both guns loosely pointed at them she chuckles, "you don't even know the half of it."

Backing out the doorway she warns them, "you see me again. You leave me be. I'll leave you two to be. Okay?"

Bret agreeably nods, "okay."

Willing to let her go for now Louie nods with a sigh, "yeah okay."

Hesitating at the door to watch their eyes Ella nods back, "okay."

When Louie leans on the wall Ella turns walking briskly to the stairs.

Louie straightens up rolling his eyes to Bret. Knowing Louie wants to follow Bret's not keen on being shot.

In the kitchen Ella pauses to listen for any movement upstairs or outside.

Not even a creaking floorboard heard from the second floor she lays their long guns on the kitchen counter.

Out the open back door she stealthily slips out of the yard, heading back to the previous house to retrieve her purse and clothes.

***

Gliding with the evening breezes Vladimir closes in on the dead tree. Bet I'm early and will end up waiting forever. Nothing but leaves seems to be moving tonight not even a cloud in the sky.

Electric light pollution disappearing the starry night sky is bright and colorful. Appreciating how dark the earth is becoming Vlad wishes the bat vision could see the outer universe better. The almost full moon seems as bright as an eclipsed sun.

Circling wide around the dead tree Vladimir surveys the surroundings. Doesn't seem like a trap anyway. Nothing warm blooded out here. Wonder what this Filomena is up too? Actual companionship?

Completing the perimeter check he spirals inwards to the tree glimpsing the city. I wonder what Ella's up too?

Picking a high sturdy branch with good vantage point Vladimir gently lands. I do think Ella would enjoy having another female around.

Lost in memories of a decade in Africa where Ella befriended a local woman, Vladimir detects a dim ultrasound wave drawing him back.

Emitting an ultrasound Vladimir senses a bat flying towards him. Okay don't get too involved and find out what you can.

A more noticeable sound wave confirms the arrival of Filomena. Anticipating their evening he requires a couple calming breaths. Try not to say anything too stupid. Keep it about us, and simple.

Making out Vladimir's silhouette in the tree Filomena becomes jittery. Well Fil he returned. Don't say stupid shit and keep it simple.

On the flight over she thought about rushing in for a close landing. Changing that idea tries to calm herself circling the tree scanning for trouble.

"Hello Vlad." Filomena lands gracefully on an adjacent branch, "Thank you kindly for meeting me."

"Well I wasn't doing anything else,," attempting to play it cool Vlad wonders why she landed across from him. "So Filomena what have you in mind for tonight's meeting?"

The unexpected reply makes her feel as if a mere muse or suspect, "um well, I guess for right now find out more about each other."

"Okay." Unsure what to say he inquires, "more than bats?" First stupid thing out of the way Vladimir curses himself feeling like a nervous teenager.

Again she hears a typical male within the bat, "yes more than bat trivia would be nice. Have you told Ella yet?" Not wanting to go there so soon Filomena curses herself.

Having guessed that would be asked Vladimir glances towards the city. "No. I left a note for her. But tonight she's exploring the city."

Finding it sweet they still leave notes she queries about it, only to be irked with envy, "do you two still write in books? ... Exploring you say? What's she doing? Are you okay with her alone?"

"Oh Ella can take care of herself." Wondering about Ella he rambles a bit, "gave up the books when she figured out how to use computers. She's always trying something new. Now it's a blood transfusion." He cringes not wanting to go there yet as it sounds crazy.

Knowing what Ella's thinking and even why Fil has considered it, "oh a transfusion, really? Is that something you're ready to do?"

"I don't know about it all." He speaks honestly, "it's her project." He is curious of another's opinion, "what do you think?"

A significant topic with one who understands delights her, "oh I can tell you at times I would've sold my soul to be normal again. I would miss being able to fly. The healing and slow aging is great. I worry if cleansed would we rapidly age? Now a days clean blood is harder to find. If it worked? Ah, maybe, perhaps."

Hearing similarly eases Vlad, "yeah be hard to give up the longevity. Quick healing is certainly nice. Flying too." He sighs, "falling not so much." For Ella's sake he inquires. "would you help her try it? If possible?"

Hearing and being asked that, eases her nerves, "if she asked, yes of course." She's becoming curious of the woman, "can she do it? What about blood?"

Despite reminding himself to keep things simple he says too much, "She found some un-diseased people. She was an ER nurse from the nineteen sixties on. Her only requirement then was able to work midnights."

"Really? Wow, where?" Fil is starting to see Ella admirably.

"California. Ella wanted to be part of all the happenings." They were happy in South America however curious exploration drove them north. "Thought in the eighties we should return south."

"Glad you didn't." One of two continents she's never traveled. "I'm not sure if I'd make it down there now. Especially if food sources are scarcer there." Feeling the thought stupid she rethinks, "scarce tonight."

"Not sure about South America but I sure didn't notice anything out here tonight either." Food mentioned their minds think blood, "perhaps we should go hunting. Before we start lapping each other's blood."

An approved suggestion she quips, "too soon to get kinky. But a suggestion I can live with." She takes flight, "since we saw nothing coming here best try going westerly."

"Yeah sure get drained before the main event in the weirdest way." He drops to follow, "west is good. I know this little out of the way place with fine dinning."