32. Talks

.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

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"You okay, there?" Ethan focused on the shape shifter as he saw the injuries on its body were now healing at a faster rate then before.

The shape shifter grunted and nodded it's head in response to what Ethan had said.

Ethan then looked at the young vampire he had locked in his grip not giving him the chance to run or to fight back.

"What's your name?" He asked the vampire.

The defeated vampire, whose name was revealed to be Dominic, stared at Ethan for a moment, still in shock at how effortlessly he had been overpowered. He had always considered humans to be beneath him, easy prey and to feed off. But Ethan had proven him wrong, and now he found himself in a vulnerable position he never thought possible.

As Ethan waited for Dominic to answer his question, the shape shifter continued to heal at an accelerated rate, its wounds closing up before Ethan's eyes. It seemed that the creature was far more powerful than Ethan had anticipated, and he knew he needed to tread carefully. The rate of healing was far more faster then the ones he had seen in the movies.

Finally, Dominic spoke, his voice filled with defiance and resentment. "My name is Dominic, and I was merely passing through when that shape shifter attacked me," he said, his gaze shifting to the creature still healing itself. "I didn't do anything to provoke it. It's not my fault that it decided to come after me."

Ethan studied Dominic carefully, trying to gauge the truth in his words. There was something in the vampire's eyes that hinted at a deeper story, and he knew there was more to the situation than Dominic was letting on.

"Why would a shape shifter target you specifically?" Ethan asked, his voice steady and unwavering. "There has to be more to this than just a random attack."

Dominic persisted, "I swear, I didn't provoke the shape shifter. I was just passing through the forest when it attacked me out of nowhere."

Ethan narrowed his eyes, studying Dominic intently. Despite the defiance in his voice, there was a hint of fear in his eyes, as if he was holding back something. But before Ethan could press further, a low growl from the injured shape shifter interrupted them.

"You can ask the wolf yourself if need be," Dominic offered, gesturing toward the creature that was still in the process of healing. "You'll see that I'm telling the truth."

Ethan considered the offer, but he knew that it would be futile at the moment. The shape shifter had yet to return to its human form because of the severity of its injuries. It would be some time before they could even attempt to communicate with it.

"How do you know that it had a human form?" Ethan questioned.

"Well, he turned into a wolf in front of me," Dominic answered quickly.

Sighing, Ethan made a decision. "We need to leave this place. The commotion caused by the fight may attract unwanted attention. We'll find a safe place to regroup and figure this out."

He turned to the vampire and issued a warning. "You, stay close to me. No sudden movements." His tone left no room for argument, and the vampire nodded in acquiescence.

With a swift motion, Ethan scooped up the injured shape shifter, mindful of its wounds, and motioned for Dominic and the vampire to follow him. The forest was beginning to awaken with the first hints of dawn, and Ethan knew they had to move quickly. The last thing they needed was to be discovered by unsuspecting travelers or worse, a hunter with an agenda of their own.

As they made their way through the dense foliage, Ethan kept a sharp eye out for any signs of danger. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Dominic's story than he was letting on. The way he had stumbled upon the scene, the vague explanation for his presence in the forest, it all seemed too convenient.

Maybe he was being too skeptical. His days with Eliza had left him with a bitter feeling, causing him to see all vampires in a negative light.

He was taking them to another place, not where Armageddon and his temporary shelter were. He had no idea how these two would react or if they would try to harm it.

The sound of a twig snapping in the distance snapped Ethan out of his thoughts. He immediately signaled for the group to halt, his senses on high alert. It could be a harmless animal, or it could be something more ominous.

"We need to keep moving," Ethan said, his eyes scanning their surroundings as he saw a small rabbit hopping into the bushes.

He was not yet sure whether Dominic was alone or had some companions, so he was on alert all the time.

The group continued their journey through the forest, navigating the tangled undergrowth with practiced ease. The sun had now already disappeared over the horizon, letting the moon glow the surroundings in a bright white light.

After what felt like an eternity although not even five minutes had passed, Ethan finally spotted a secluded clearing. It was nestled deep within the heart of the forest, shielded from prying eyes. It was the perfect place to regroup and tend to the injured shape shifter.

"Here," Ethan declared, carefully setting the shape shifter down on the soft bed of moss.

Dominic looked around the clearing, his expressions full of unease. The events of the night had taken a toll on him as out of nowhere as first a strong wolf had attacked and now he was defeated and held hostage by a human.

Meanwhile, Ethan watched the injuries of the shape shifter. Some of those injuries were quite brutal and heavy, but as he had closely watched the fight, he knew that they were not caused by Dominic.

'It seems like it was already injured by someone before its fight with Dominic,' Ethan thought as he saw that the recent wounds on the shape shifter had already healed.

Now the old ones, which were reopened due to the shape shifter's fight with Dominic, were healing at a far slower rate than before.

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