Chapter 9: First Meeting, Part 1

My feet flew with lightning speed through the surrounding mountains as the scents of evergreen, honeylocust, and pear trees zoomed by. I was almost to Canada when I caught the scent of big game. My throat burned. Lusting for blood, the animal inside me seethed for the kill. I slowed when I heard heavy footfalls above the ridge. Immediately, I jumped twenty feet into the air, expertly grabbing a branch and silently placing my feet on the same branch, crouched like Spiderman. But I didn't have webs; I had weapons that were much more effective.

My teeth gleamed in the moonlight as a menacing smile curled my lips, poised and ready. Silently, I sprang from limb to limb as graceful as a lemur in the jungles of Africa. I inhaled deeply, tasting the air. The sensual aroma of big game and the sweet, sweet scent of the red, delicious blood filled my lungs. The animal in me snarled in anticipation. The blood of big game was the closest to human and was almost as satisfying. My throat burned and my heart pounded in anticipation, and yes there would be plenty of fight. Just a few minutes more. I recognized the scent.

As lithe as a trapeze artist, I swung from branch to branch, then paused when I heard the footfalls again, listening to the position of my prey. Quietly, I flung myself from the branch twenty feet down, landing silently on the ground behind the animal, for ahead of me a few feet was a beautiful cougar. I closed in when it caught my scent and tried to run. We frighten most animals just by our scent. Powerful paws pounded the lichen intensely as I grabbed its neck, careful of its teeth. But it was no match for me. I quickly rolled the cougar onto its back, its ejected claws blindly raked the air. Yes, it had plenty of fight.

Then one of its massive paws got in a lucky shot. Catching my shoulder, its claws tore into my flesh, ruining my white T-shirt. Three trails of blood ran down my arm and were already healing when the fierce beast caught the scent of my blood. It violently gnashed its teeth into the air, wanting the kill, as well. It was a race for survival as the cougar made one last ditch effort to free itself. It growled fiercely, turning its razor sharp teeth toward the scent of my blood, and clawed with all four paws, attempting to free itself. But in a flash, I pinned its head within my powerful arms, as my muscles flexed, then quickly turned its head sideways until I could hear the pulsing veins buried beneath the folds of its skin and fur, beckoning to me to taste, to feed on the pleasures that only life-giving blood could bring.

A moment later, my razor sharp teeth cut through several layers of thick fur and skin, causing the powerful beast to howl as its blood soothed my throat, quenching the burn. In a moment, the cougar would feel no pain. Its howl cut off abruptly with a gurgle. I closed my eyes, relishing the moment as I drained the life giving substance from its body. But the blood would no longer give life to the beast; it would give life to me instead. The life essence in this animal was strong and would sustain me well. The cougar lazily made a few final swipes of its paws in a futile attempt to live, but I drank my fill until its veins ran dry and it lay limp within my arms. Then I laid its body gingerly upon the ground, and gently closed its eyes with my fingertips.

The insatiable burning within my throat was almost quenched, but not quite. The burning need for blood was not as strong. I could easily catch smaller game on the way. Then, I decided to see some of the sights. Rays of light were beginning to make their appearance on the new day, but I had enough time. I ran, exhilarated, as the wind quickly rushed past my face, and my brown hair and black leather jacket billowed behind. I heard the powerful roar of millions of gallons of water rushing toward its final destination long before I saw it, but soon, a lightning strike in the forest alerted me to its end.

Looking down at my torn, blood-stained T-shirt, I quickly pulled my black leather jacket around myself, buttoning the front, then stepped out of the safety of the forest and onto the cliff's edge. The powerful rush of endless amount of water hastening down the Niagara River was truly an amazing sight. The view was better from the Canadian side, but I didn't feel like going swimming and soaking my clothes for the run home. But the view from the American side was truly spectacular despite the dim light of morning. Deep blue water ran down the Niagara River, bending and turning, becoming white caps lining the top of the falls before spilling over, turning various shades of blue again. I marveled at the gallantry of the humans brave enough to go over the fall's edge in nothing more than a barrel and shook my head. No wonder few lived to tell about it. Of course, I could do a swan dive from the top and wouldn't suffer a scratch. Hum ... maybe later.

Bright rays of light peeked through the clouds, refusing to be ignored. I knew it was time to start home. Rick would be upset if I were late, not that I cared, but it was never right for a lady to keep a gentleman waiting. Even Rick. I grinned broadly, shaking my head, thinking of him.

I quickly turned and ran with lightning speed toward home. In minutes, I was within the cover of the deep forest of evergreens and silver maple, watching forest animals quickly scamper out of my way. Suddenly, I caught the scent of white-tailed deer on the bluffs, as rays of light peered through the canopy above. I knew I didn't have much time. Hiding, I silently stalked the herd, spotting my prey, when they caught my scent and tried to run. Bolting like an arrow from a hunter's bow, I quickly took one down. As I sank my razor sharp teeth into the sinew and muscles of its neck under its fur, the life giving blood rushed down my throat, promising to quench the burn. The deer struggled, but was no match for my powerful grasp, and soon grew limp as its veins ran dry.