2nd Tail - Original Recipe Kitsune

[whatthefoxsay]

Kira could be thankful that when she ended up in the forest, she had her katana with her. Maybe she would have been able to defend herself without it, but she didn't want to think about having to try.

On the first day, she spends most of her time keeping her distance from others, confused by how some of them seem inclined to steer clear of her in turn. By the second day she's to encounter Allison, and with a better understanding of what's going on, she spends the rest of her time trying to search for other benevolent souls and protect them. When she encounters people she believes are good or in need of protection, Kira teaches them a kanji that they can use to indicate they have been in contact with her.

When necessary she tries to pretend she's the nogitsune. She doesn't want to hurt - she hates the idea of having to kill - but she's prepared to defend herself if she has to. When she can, she runs unless forced to fight. She just wants to make it through however long it'll take to get safely back to the barge.

Comments

[surfaceshine]

This isn't Dean's favorite environment, not by a long shot, but it's not one he's completely helpless in. Once he'd have been even kind of in his element, stalking along any trails he finds with a hunting rifle, his pack over one shoulder, alert for any sign of his quarry. He'd always been a hunter. The prey didn't change that so much.

He doesn't have a rifle, now, just his ivory-handled Colt for appearances sake. It makes for a good distraction if anyone tries to attack him, gives him the moment he needs to get the upper hand if he didn't have it already. So many people will focus on such a weapon and ignore that he doesn't even need it at all, anymore.

He seems harmless enough. Certainly more approachable than the version she may have seen around her own Barge here and there. He's also not exactly hiding, but neither does he seem to be actively searching for anything.

[whatthefoxsay]

As with all the others, there's no real way to tell if Dean is on the side of the angels. The fact that he appears to be actively hunting doesn't sit well with her, and for the moment she assumes it's best to appear as the nogitsune. Or whatever she thinks the nogitsune must be like.

She keeps her distance, staying within the brush line as she watches him proceed. She knows she won't be able to keep up being hidden from him - he has all the earmarks of a good hunter.

[surfaceshine]

Dean is most definitely not on the side of the angels. He was quite literally supposed to be, once, but he's still not altogether sure that would have worked out any better for him in the long run. At least this way he had a choice that left him able to gain power, to be something other than a burnt out, useless husk after his purpose was served.

God, he hates supernaturals.

Indeed, she doesn't escape his notice for long. He is hunting, because that was what he once did, that was his career, that was his breath and his life, and it serves him well here. Dean pauses, his back straightens to his full height, and his eyes narrow as he searches visually for the giveaway, for what will tell him who - or what - he feels watching him. (He can hear her pulse.)

"Come on out."

[whatthefoxsay]

"Why should I? You've got a gun."

(Nevermind that Kira can probably deflect bullets.)

"I'm not interested in being one of your trophies. You can just move along, thank you very much."

She adds what she hopes is a hint of scorn to her voice. Just in case he's assuming she's the nogitsune.

[surfaceshine]

If it had just been the first question, Dean would have taken much longer to get to his conclusion, might have given her more to work with, because after all a talking bush isn't much for him to recognize.

But he doesn't need much, and she gives him more than he needs. Both eyebrows raise, and he keeps the Colt low at his side in one hand, but not completely out of his ability to bring to bear if necessary.

"Kira?" That's not quite right, though, unless she's laying some kind of trap.

But that trap wouldn't be for him. Not that kind, anyway. He doesn't smile, but artfully paints some wary hope into his voice. "Sweetheart, tell me that's you."