"............." the male was silent, as he disappeared into the thickness of the forest, staying low to the ground, and keeping to the shadows.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" he cursed to himself, ducking behind some bushes and catching his breath.

"It just HAD to happen right then." he muttered. "I thought I could lay low and let it blow over, but no... looks like people don't forget." he went on, before looking skyward.

His jet black hair contrasted his light green eyes... but the most noticeable features were his pupils... vertical slits that were definitely not human.

"...damn it all." he said again. He sighed and stretched out onto the ground, his torn clothing revealing a relatively slender body, but with a little definition.

"Might as well hide here and try and soak up the slight rays of sun coming through the canopy..." he said further, before suddenly pausing, a forked tongue darting rapidly out of his mouth.

"...blood." he said to himself.

"An alarming amount of it." he said further, before getting to his feet and heading in the direction of the scent.

Meanwhile, not far away, a battle was taking place between a large beast that looked like a manticore... but it had twin scorpion tails, and appeared to be capable of breathing poison mist from its mouth... and what looked to be a female human.

While both combatants appeared to have taken damage, it was clear the beast was faring better... and it was also clear that it didn't want her to escape this situation alive.

"......" the figure was silent as he saw the battle unfold... and he could tell that, if this went on for much longer, the female would fall. And the beast would more than likely make sure the job was finished.

He then sighed, shook his head, and crouched down for a moment... as he started to silently skulk through the surrounding forest, making his way towards the rear of the beast.

The beast itself had its attention focused solely on the woman before it, and it looked ready to lunge right for her, when it suddenly seemed to freeze for a second.

It then roared and started to flail about wildly, like something else was bothering it now. However, to the woman, the main point of this happening was that its attention was no longer focused on her.

If anything, it seemed to temporarily forget she existed, deeming whatever else was happening a more immediate threat.

Just before the creature completely fell through the hole in the ground, the woman saw a figure jump out from the thick fur around the creature's torso. It landed on all fours, though it was clear it was humanoid, with defined hands and feet.

It was silent for a moment, before it started to cough and spit out smaller strands of fur out of its mouth.

"Pfft! Pbllft!" it spat, shaking its head.

"Damn it, I hate when that happens." it said further.

It then turned and looked at the woman, but was uncertain as to where to go from here... after all, the woman could react in any number of ways.

But it was on guard, most assuredly.

".........." he was silent for a moment, before looking over towards her.

"Hello." he responded.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"You looked like you were having some issues with that thing, so I decided to jump in and help." he told her.

"I do hope that that wasn't out of place."

He was silent for a moment, and just sighed.

"Not kill me would be a good start." he replied.

"Seems no matter where I go, people want me dead." he said further, still catching his breath.

"But as long as you don't attack me or anything, we're fine." he assured her.

He then sat back and sighed, the woman swearing she saw rows of sharp teeth in his mouth.

"Never mind." he replied.

"Just... I'm used to people trying to kill me." he said.

"Guess it's because I'm different." he went on.

He then sighed again, and looked at her... the woman seeing his reptilian eyes.

"I assume you can tell what I'm talking about."

He just sighed in relief.

"Thank heavens." he thought.

"I'm tired of being on the run." he said.

"Regardless, glad I could help with that beast." he told her.

"You looked like you needed it, despite doing pretty damn well." he said further.

"...and no. I'm not going to try and kill you." he then added, figuring it went without saying, but some clarification was always good.

"....vampire, huh?" he asked.

"Cool." he said.

"And... your boss is out to see you die?" he then asked.

"That... doesn't sound like much of a way to live." he commented further.

"What do you do?"

The man paused for a moment, thinking about something.

"Ah!" he said, snapping his fingers.

"I've heard that name before." he said.

"....both in positive AND negative ways, actually." he then muttered.

"I generally hear impressive things, though." he continued. "The fact that you work for Candentus Lux is a feather in one's cap, supposedly."

The man just shrugged.

"Somewhere... I... I don't know, actually." he admitted.

"I'm homeless, jobless, and on the run from humans." he said.

"...it's such a shame and a disgrace." he sighed.

"I really don't bring much glory to my Ramaarin heritage." he lamented, letting slip his heritage. The Ramarrins were a race of reptilian humanoids, which humans got along with in the past... but as time went on, prejudice took over, and they became loathed and fears.

They now lived among humans, disguised as them, trying to disappear into the crowds, essentially.