Haruka came to awareness. How did he get here? He was on the battlefield again. He couldn't remember leaving the tent he was in just prior. Was it possible he was drunk? Oh, that would help things along surely.<br/><br/>Reacting to something approaching behind him, he caught a vampire's head between the two masses of his hands. Staring right into the face of the beautiful immortal, he crushed the skull like an overinflated balloon. He had not yet phased, but then again, he didn't need to. At least not now. He reached out his senses: smell, sight, hearing. He could tell they were losing. Perhaps only five of his men remained at the time. And still more forces were coming to meet them. One of his more trusted, Daruk came towards him.<br/><br/>"Haruka...this cannot continue!" He pleaded, rasping breaths escaping his lips in whimper. The man had just changed forms, allowing his inner wolf to recede in order to hold conversation. Haruka turned around silently and punched the man staunchly in the shoulder.<br/><br/>"Never, release in battle. Always be on your guard or you're going to get killed before I can do it myself." The poor man eyed Haruka with fear. He was their leader, and he was leading them to destruction. Haruka sympathized little with the man of twenty and three. From his eyes, he was toughening up his men, impressing what must be said to lead them to higher heights.<br/><br/>"If you'd like to leave the battle, then do so! Walk away like the coward you are." He spat, narrowing his eyes on the man before him. Daruk half phased, dropping to all fours and returning his request with a low bow. He launched back into battle with a returned vengeance--taking out two vampires on his way to meet the oncoming hoard. That was how he liked it.<br/><br/>In a sense, he couldn't blame Daruk. Indeed not even he knew the purpose for such a battle. Although it was a mystery to him, there was no reason not to participate. Like he cared how many died or who left him. As far as he was concerned, the world had turned its back to him long ago. So be it. He was going to return the favour and take whatever he wanted, when he wanted.<br/><br/>Four vampires drew up near him, another of his 'comrades' was at his back, seemingly ready to assist. Still not transformed, Haruka drew in a steady breath and straightened his body to its fullest height. He came to a height equal to the wolf standing on two paws just behind him. Must be Rienin he thought. He was the shortest and youngest among his pack. And he was quaking...No one in his brigade quacked. They were never to show fear. The vampires by this point had easily assembled a formation to surround them. Two were jeering in their own right, obviously confidant they could take on an un-phased wolf, and a terrified one. Haruka looked down at the ground, anger building in his forearms and lateral muscles. In a gesture quicker than an average eye could follow, he swung his left arm around at a blinding speed, severing the head of Rienin behind him. A moment passed in which shock and betrayal crossed the young pups face. The head hit the ground with a solemn head, allowing the body to slump lifelessly to cold earth.<br/><br/>The vampires reassembled, taken aback at the events that just transpired. In this moment of confusion, Haruka lifted his bloody arm calling forth his powers. He crouched forward on his human haunches and shot forward to the closest vampire assailant. His feet not yet back on the ground, he retained his jumping posture and touched the vampire at the middle of her forehead. His cold disease spread rapidly--the ice exploded from his his finger tips and began to infect every facet of her form. His feet touched the ground as he stood close before her. Haruka's black hair was buffeted by the wind, tendrils of his hair touching the beautiful woman's face. He sneered further as the ice had completely engulfed her body. He took a step back, the whole process having lasted mere seconds, and watched as the now frail frame tipped precariously backwards. The next vampire man caught the body carefully in his arms, perfectly matching the downward force of gravity with his own. Now even a spiderweb crack.<br/><br/>Frowning slightly, he spoke to them. "You cannot hope to save her like that. Count yourself fortunate she did not break in your arms." And with that, he snapped his fingers, making the ice break and slough off in cold splinters. The pieces became more numerous, slipping through the cracks in the vampires fingers. His horrified expression told Haruka that this was the girls mate. He silently sneered further.<br/><br/>Another heartbeat and they were on him, all three lunging towards him--their anger fueled by their fallen friend. Bending low to the earth, the one on his right who had lunged flew over him into his friend. He shifted his body backwards, placed his bare back to the sodden earth and thrust his feet upwards at the other remaining girl. She was coming at him head on, and due to his timed kick, shot upward, the force of his blow knocking more than wind out her. By this point both males had recovered, one was rushing towards him now. With his hand extended, he caught the vampire by the throat and held him up in the air, his feet barely brushing the ground.<br/><br/>The other vampire, mate of the first fallen girl saw the opportunity and lunged. The enraged cold one shot forward at blinding speed, ready to impale his heart with his razor hand. At the last possible moment, Haruka swiveled the vampire in his grip to meet the attack just as the vampire jumped. Unable to abort his movement, the hand pierced through the stomach of the vampire in Haruka's hand, leaving the deadly appendage partially piercing his own skin. However it was barely a scratch. If it wasn't for the hard skin of the one in his control, he might have died if the blow was unavoidable.<br/><br/>With both vampire's caught in his trap, he phased his left hand into his wolf paw. His talons came out with a hiss, and in one fell swoop he cut through the midsections of both vampires in front of him. Blood splattered his chest and face as both fallen members sank to the earth. It was at this moment the second vampire touched back to the earth. There was a loud crack, and Haruka wondered briefly if it was possible for an undead one's back to break.<br/><br/>Walking up to her slowly, he could clearly discern the battered breaths escaping the creature among all the added chaos. It looked like his men's returned fear of him drove them further in reducing the enemy's numbers. It was about time.<br/><br/>"I'm only going to ask you once woman, what are you doing here?" She coughed and sputtered. Blood and spittle congealing on the inside of her mouth made it hard to talk.<br/><br/>"The same as you--fighting here like the rest. Why must you ask?" She tried, coughing up bodily fluids as she did so.<br/><br/>"To find out the purpose for all of this." He responded serenely. "I want to know why I'm wasting my time with the likes of you. Not that I hate all vampires, quite the opposite. But the moment you scum started attacking me, it became personal. I just want to know what you're doing here, who sent you?" He asked, leaning in with his foot now on the center of her chest. He had a sixth sense that this girl<span style="font-style: italic">did</span>know something. It was only a matter of what.<br/><br/>The woman's eyes narrowed to slits and her voice came out in a raspy hiss. "As if I would reveal truths about my master." She leaned up slightly and spit a mass of phlegm, blood and spit in his face. Haruka's eyes darkened for a second before he stood up fully and walked away from her. The rest of the battle scene was nearly over. This patch of the woods was clear, but there would be more, he could tell. Daruk! Nivi! Oken! Jakum! Get over here!<br/><br/>None of them needed to be told to instantly follow suit. All four lined up in front of him, awaiting instruction.<br/><br/>"Men, you have done well. The hill side front is officially in the clear. Yet do not delude yourself; this peace is but a temporary one. We stand on very tepid ground, one soaked in blood." The four unconsciously glanced over towards Rienin, decapitated on the ground just thirty paces from them. "You ally met his fate. There was no room for him on the battle field. Better a merciful quick strike than the poisonous spittle of a vampire." The men looked down, not sure if they agreed with the assent. "I do however have a reward for you. Tonight, we'll move into the city, but not to plunder. We need to rest and regather our strength. If we can avoid it, there will be no more fighting without reason." And he meant it.<br/><br/>The men looked highly uplifted by this comment. They didn't mind fighting, in fact both Nivi and Jakum relished it. Gaining a reprieve, however short, was sure to be a God sent. And with that the five men moved off. They would stop by a river, wash up a little and head into town. The first bar they found would be getting some great business tonight.<br/><br/>"Oh..." He began, "and get rid of<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>." He gestured to the fallen vampire with a wicked smirk. He turned his back on her as he heard the delighted sounds of pre-dinner from his men. "Good eats." He muttered under his breath. Haruka secured the nearest article of clothing he could find and dawned it. Sighing contentedly, he thought this was beginning to look like a fine night.