"Love by the Winter Moon."

One day, in the woods, I was out taking a stroll. 'Twas winter time and it was reaching freezing temperatures. The snow covered the barren land like a large fleece blanket. I could see the twinkling glitter reflect off the white paradise in the moonlight. It made me miss my childhood home. I used to play games in the forest with my siblings. I enjoyed what little time there I had. Walking through the trees was a way for me to relieve the stress. That still holds up today. Even though the Winter weather becomes difficult to bare, the silence of all noise is soothing. As well as walking through the ice covered branches. Just being in this setting caused all of those old memories to come rushing back to me. Familiar, yet...distant. Sometimes I feel I grow even more weary as I surround myself within these fading moments. Now moving forward, I continue my journey through the harshly frozen forest. I stop in my tracks as I begin to notice some rather odd noises in the distance. It was far away, but I could hear them quite well with my exceptionally heightened senses. I can expertly pick up frequencies from hundreds of feet away and pinpoint any particular aroma as if I were a shark hunting its watery prey. Not only that, I move faster than any normal human could. I was special. I was...gifted. You could even go as far as to say that I was cursed.

No one knows who or what I am. They won't get to find out either. They wouldn't understand. All that aside, I look around to survey my surroundings. Only silence befalls this chilly scene. The branches of the great trees went still as no sign of animal movement lingered. Am I just hearing things? Or am I really not alone out here? The hero inside me that I thought I was, burst forth and told me to check it out. I slowly treaded through the thick, hefty, snow. My body shivered to the cool touch of its icy clutches. The cold air nipped at my bright red nose and my numb face. Having warm blooded genes and all, you'd think my body would melt the snow because of how hot it was. Oh boy did I think incorrectly. I am freezing my ass off.

I continue to walk forward in hopes that I would eventually find my way back home. As I trek through this cursed frosty weather, I make out a silhouette in the distance. It appears to be an outline of a girl. But was it really? Is my mind playing dirty tricks on me? I crouch down to ground level and inch a bit closer. It seems that my suspicions were correct. It definitely is a girl. She's slumped down under a tree. From the angle I was at, it looked like she was dead. I gulped my saliva down hard, as a lump formed in my throat. The closer I became, the more uneasy I felt. I was about eight steps away from her. With my tall stature, I knew I could be next to her in no time. I take a deep breath and chose to take the risk. As I now sit about an arms length away, I stretch a hand out to touch the female's shoulder. Right when I make contact, her eyes fly open and fangs come jetting out between her lips. They were highly visible through her opened mouth. It happened in a blink of an eye. I toppled over and fell onto my back. I saw stars behind my eyelids. This girl was beautiful. Even though I looked like a fool underneath her as she has me pinned down to the ground like a starving animal, I grasped her illuminating beauty.

She had snow white hair, layered in perfect locks as it draped passed her shoulders. Her eyes were a fiery red. She was so strong that I could barely lift up my arms. I knew by now that she was most certainly a Vampire; and a formidable one at that. My heart raced at an abnormal speed like I had just completed a marathon. Her voice broke me out of my acute fascination when she spoke. It was sharp, brash, and angry. However, I can hear the gentleness inside it. It was Angelic.

"What are you doing here?!" She growled, her fangs still bared. I didn't know whether to be afraid by them, or mesmerized by her beauty. I struggled with my words. When I finally spoke, I sounded like a teenage mortal boy who just caught a glimpse of a Celebrity. I stutter out a response.

"I...well, y-you see-" I clear my throat.

"Hurry up, Werewolf. I don't have all DAY." The girl snapped. I was shocked. My eyes widen. How could she tell that I was a Werewolf? What gave it away? Oh God. Someone found me out. That was when it hit me. The realization. The only reasonable explanation I could find that gave me away. Was...duh! She's a Vampire. Her kind has extrasensory hearing and a great sense of smell. (Similar to me.) I don't know why that didn't occur to me earlier, before I was sticking my stupid dog nose in where it didn't belong.

"I-I'm sorry. I was just passing through. I swear I'm not like... an assassin or anything." I joke gently and laugh. My eyes nervously dart at hers, and then to anything else I could find. My heart pounded so hard and so fast that it would pop up out of my chest if it were given the chance.

"Hmph." She scoffed. Her eyes were staring at me, going right through my soul. I didn't take too kindly to this feeling. My emotions are flipping between being scared shitless, and having total admiration for the female Vampire that was right in front of me. "Your pulse says otherwise. But, I guess your heart didn't skip a beat," She furrowed her eyebrows, then climbed off of me. I sighed from relief. "If you had been lying to me, Wereboy- I would have sliced your head off." She said spitefully as she dusts herself off.

"O-oh!" I manage to squeak out in a nervous tone. "I, um- g-guess that makes me feel a little better." I cough gently to clear away any discrepancies in my voice. The girl stood upright and brushed her bangs out of her face. Unfortunately, I couldn't help but watch. She really was a creature of immortality and infinite beauty. Ugh. Shut up.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have more important things to do than wrestle around with a mangy mut." She scowled. I narrow my eyes at her.

"Hey! I may be a mangy mutt, but at least I'm not a blood sucker." I blurt out before I could control myself. Crap! Why did I say that? I'm an idiot!

That was unintentional. It just came out. It wasn't something I should have even uttered. Because the moment I did, she ran at me as soon as I got to my feet. I felt my body slam against the very tree that she had just been sitting underneath a few moments ago. "I-I'm sorry! Please don't kill me." I yelped. My hands flew up in front of my face to protect me. I don't know why I thought it would help me. It felt like my life was flashing before my eyes. Her hands were gripping my upper arms roughly. Her fingernails dug into my skin. I slowly look at her. As soon as I saw her face, I was terrified. Her dark glare had been fixated on me. Her fangs were protruding once more out of her mouth.

"You better watch your mouth, Wolf boy. I will kill you!" She growled in a low trill.

"Well, that's twice you've said that now. So- Why haven't you done so yet?" I stammered. My golden eyes gleam and gaze into her crimson red ones. I can sense the heightened level of frustration in her actions as well as her facial expressions. By this point I knew I had won this argument. No way she was going to kill me. Ha. She doesn't have the guts. And yet...why was my heart racing so much? Why am I still unsettled and feeling nauseous? One quick, swift movement upon my neck and I would be dead. I wonder what was stopping her.

"Ugh! I really hate your kind," She scoffed. She yanked her hands away from me so fast and so roughly, that I fell back to the ground with a thud. "You think you are so high and mighty. You disgust me. It's not even worth the trouble of killing you, Wolf boy!" She brushed the hair off her shoulders and rolled her eyes. "Your kind are just as bloodthirsty as Vampires." With her hands on her hips, her red eyes stay fixated on me.

"Hmm." I hum. "I suppose you are right,

but-" I slowly push myself up to stand on my feet again, dusting the dirt and leaves off of my pants. I was about to say something else, but she started to walk away. I quickly followed after her. For some strange reason, I was drawn to her. Her magnificent beauty hypnotized me and astonished me even more. I wanted to know more about her. I finally caught up to her.

"Hey, where are you going anyway? Everything is dead out here. It's freezing cold." I laugh softly. I tried to get her to loosen up a bit. Although, I knew she wasn't amused by the fact that I was following her around.

"I'm going home. What does it look like?! What are you tailing me for anyway, wolf boy?!" She stopped abruptly and turned around to face me and snarled. She was most certainly not happy. I saw the way her muscles and veins popped out. The deep creases forming under her eyes wained as they changed to a bright red. The color seemed to stay like a tattoo.

I was taken aback. I swallowed hard and gathered my composure. "W-well, you see-" I draw a quick breath. "It's a long way back to town, and um...I wouldn't want a girl to be, uh- walking around by herself." I smile at her. I had high hopes that she would take that as a compliment. My heart continuously pounded inside of my chest like a drum. I was nervous, but like before, I don't know why.

"Oh look. Wolf boy has a heart. He thinks he's Prince Charming!" She said sharply. She keeps walking away from me. I go after her. "Well, at least my kind HAS a heart." I blurt out something equally as deficient as before. Not again! Will I ever learn? I really am asking for it, aren't I?

"Excuse me? Do you WANT to die, Were-boy? Must you insist on following me all the way back home as you insult me?" She growled.

"N-no! No no! That is not my intention. I apologize." I say to her.

She groaned in annoyance. "Oh! Looky here. At least the dog has manners." She mocked me as she hopped over a few large tree roots while walking deeper into the forest.

"Well, yeah. I was taught to be nice and to respect people. To answer your earlier question, no. I don't want to follow you back to your house. My name is Alabaster, bt the way. Alabaster Mooncaster."

"What do you want? A gold metal?" She barked. She was agitated and I could sense it by her body language. I have good ears. I know when someone is upset by the sounds of their heart rate. The sudden change in body movements. That's all thanks to my werewolf instincts. That sounds creepy.

"No. I don't quite think I need one, but thank you for the offer. I was wondering, if you would tell me your name since I told you mine?" I grin widely.

"Why? Do you think learning my name makes us friends or something?" She laughed. It wasn't a laugh of amusement, only animosity. She was not letting up. Only strived to dig the knife even deeper. She was a very tense and proud girl who had skin like steel. Well, actually that's me. Werewolves are difficult to kill. Regular bullets won't pierce through my skin. Ah, dang it. I'm getting off topic here. Still...I felt like a fool. The cold must be getting to me. I should head home before it gets too late.

She stopped walking for a moment and turned her head to look at me. "Wolf boy, you are getting on my last nerve. Off with you! I don't need you stinking up my parents' property so they don't grow suspicious and try to hunt you down." Her fiery red eyes were gone. They were no longer filled with malice. They now shone an invitingly gorgeous sea-blue color. They were entrancing. It was like looking into two blue pools of satin. They had a diamond sparkle to them.

"Oh, look at big 'ol tough Vampire here. Do you actually care what happens to me?" I smile slyly at her.

"Of course I don't care. I just don't want them to kill you first before I get a chance to smack you around a bit." She narrowed her eyes as the corners of her lips turned up into a sickening grin. Her eyes had turned back to red. It was as fierce as a dragon's flame. Brighter than fairy dust. I almost lost myself to them. I knew it was a taunt of intimidation. But I wouldn't let it get to me.

"Surely you're smarter than that. I'm a Werewolf. My kind is a danger to yours," I chuckle. "One bite from me and it is straight back to the coffin for you." I fold my arms in front of me. There was not a snowball's chance in hell that I wasn't winning this debate. However, Miss fangs over here was not the the slightest bit amused. She was starting down the road once more, journeying farther into the woods. Completely ignorning speech. As I peer closer through the trees, I can just barely make out a two-story house on the horizon. That must be where she lived.

Looks like I upset her. "Hey, wait!" I call out to her while I waved my hands. Aren't you gonna tell me your name? Will I ever see you again?!" A few moments go by. No response. I couldn't see her now. She disappeared into the expanse of the winter wonderland. However, seconds later she materialized in front of me in a flash. I jumped back as that caught me off guard.

"Not like it's going to make any difference, but...my name is Reia." She said gently. I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't get a chance to respond before she disappeared once more in a blink of an eye. Only the rustling sounds of the leaves hung gently in the air. The branches of the icicle trees waned and creaked. It lingered for some time. I could not help but smile.

"Reia." I repeated to myself. "Such a beautiful name. I wonder if I will ever see her again."

I stood still for a minute to listen to the wind blow. It was cold out. Its sharp, frosty, presence nipped at my red nose again. But it didn't bother me. Not really. I was naturally warm blooded. Winter was one of my favorite seasons as a child. I remember running outside during the heavy storms while it snowed and iced around me. I loved to build igloos. Make snowmen. The nostalgia tugged lightly at my heart. I smiled at the memory. "Nature is a wondrous thing." I turned to head the opposite way Reia had traveled down. I need to get back to the spot that I had started at. It wasn't an easy task considering the snow covered up all the paths and dampened my sense of smell. With the area blanketed in a sparkling white spread, it made the forest look the same. "Oh well," I shrug my shoulders. "I like a challenge." I push one foot down into the snow, lower my body down to a crouch and swiftly take off through the forest to go back home.