I dedicate this chapter to ValentineJ7! Thanks for the lovely covers!(soon a new series is going to begin!) And ValentineJ7 is definitely talented and Will work until you are satisfied that it's what you want! Sweet and dedicated - check it out!

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It seemed almost like an amusement park ride to Rune. The white knuckled hold, goofy grin plastered across your face, so exciting you almost can't stand it! Then all too soon it's over. As you take those first unsteady steps, you think to yourself, "that was really not very long. I waited all that time for that, and it was kind of a letdown!" But you think all that at the same time that your stomach is lurching around the large soft drink you ingested prior to the rollercoaster ride.

He had begun to see twinkling lights of a city through the trees some time before stopping. As they finally slowed completely and the wolves began to make ready for their shifting, Rune noticed another person had materialized somewhere along the way.

Standing next to the big Vampire Kahn was a girl that hadn't been with them when they had left.

She and Rune were practically having a stare down. He knew his motivation was pure and simple curiosity and could only assume her interest came from the same kernel of thought.

She wasn't short like Nya, nor tall like Scarlett. She fell about smack dab in between them. Her hair was a light ash brown, or wheat coloured and reached just a smidgen below her shoulders. There was a slight wave to it, and an opal hair clasp held back the front from falling into her eyes. Eyes that could only be described as intense. At first glance they struck Rune as very dark, nearly obsidian, but when the moon moved from behind the clouds he was a little surprised to see that they were actually an unusual bourbon color.Large and round with the lighter brown with specks of yellow, spring green and tiny sparks of that unusual burgundy shade all swirled together to make one of the most unique pair of eyes Rune had ever witnessed. He initially thought it was due to some supernatural species the girl was part of. The rest of her face was cute, but placed aside the eyes she was cute, not drop dead diva gorgeous. But definitely above average, he mused.

"What? You ain't never seen a handicapped person before?" she stuck her chin up defiantly and fixed Rune with a death stare.

Now Rune literally gawked at the girl, mouth probably dropped open in surprise, for he had honestly not noticed her amputated left arm, or the crutch that was leaning against a tree next to her. She wore a prosthetic on the left side, that appeared just a bit lighter in the moonlight from her other leg. She walked towards him and he did notice a considerable limp, as she didn't use the crutch.

"N...no! I d..didn't notice e...even," Rune stammered like an idiot, trying to figure out how to extract himself from the uncomfortable situation. He'd raised his hands in a placating motion, as if it would prove his innocence in the matter. He glanced toward tower dude, hoping for rescue, but Kahn stood still as a statue, watching the tense confrontation with narrowed, interested eyes. And for some reason at this most inopportune moment, Rune felt an incredible urge to flip the Vampire off or be totally juvenile and stick out his tongue at the big oaf! See if he would move or speak then. Would he then continue to pretend to be a tree? Albeit, a large,immensely powerful tree. But fortunately rescue came from the smallest of the group.

Nya and Scarlett exited the tree line, where apparently Scarlett had taken her duffle bag for Nya to change into clothes. It was obvious Scarlett was sad and grief and worry read like an article across her features. But she was holding it together. She was coherent and aware. Nya's face brightened momentarily at the sight of the girl who was now toe to toe with Rune and looking up at him like she was going to kill him!

"Eh, Iris! What's been happening, my girl!" Nya quickly reached Iris, redirecting the hostile girl from Rune and grabbing her in a fast hug before releasing her and then
stepping back to look her over.

" You look good! Gained some muscle since I last saw you! Kahn still training you? But with that darned I hate almost everybody attitude of yours, I wonder if it isn't a mistake! Damn girlie! Not every single being that lays eyes on you thinks something bad! What is it going to take to convince you that you that you're a very pretty girl and not everyone that you meet are thinking about your handicaps! Alot are thinking about your pretty face and hot body! You dang dork! Always thinking the worst about everything and everyone! I know you got fair reason to dislike some people and all, especially after what the Shoemehl's did to you! But you got friends besides Kahn that love you to pieces! And this dude here? His name is Rune. He just moved here and as you have seen in others, has a lot of stuff to learn. And it is going to pretty intense for him, considering he knew absolutely nothing about the "other" side. So try to have a little heart here kiddo! "

"Alright," Iris's stern glare and stance relaxed and Rune felt comfortable enough to finally exhale his tightly held breath. He had the feeling that he would have to get a better grasp on handling confrontation real soon. In his old life it was adequate. This would be very different, he was sure. And especially when it was a girl wanting to smash his face in!

"Umm...hello, I'm Rune" he said awkwardly. "It's nice to meet you." He thought it almost sounded like a question to his own ears, he could only guess how it sounded to the others!

"How'd you beat us here? Are you a werewolf or Vampire?" He couldn't quite remember exactly what Nya had told him.

Iris laughed then. A real laugh, that totally transformed her previously angry countenance. Her face completely changed! She concealed a radiant beauty, heart shaped face with rosy cheeks. Perfect teeth shining from her dazzling smile. The amazing eyes dancing all of those lovely colours.

"Boy, you are funny! I was picked up by Kahn along your trip here! You were much too gleeful on your kiddie ride to notice anything else! I am every bit human, honey! But don't you forget that I can kick your ass any day of the week! Remember that, and we will get along just dandy!"

Rune felt his own face split into a grin. All he could do was follow her and Nya over to where the other guys had changed into jeans, sleeveless t-shirts and beach shoes. They were going to break the tree line cover completely in a moment and enter the fabled City of New Orleans.

The three girls had grouped together and were chattering in the way girls did, where the males felt as if the conversation was in code or something. He grinned as he had a fleeting moment of envisioning the Louisiana Bayou version of Charlie's Angels. Bad ass, each and every one!

That's when Iris turned briefly toward him and stated nonchalantly, "You will be seeing plenty of Vampires all too soon, luv!" And then she laughed, winked at him and turned back around.