Prowlers (Begins)

[Ultimate Charizard]

Right. Well im back so lets see if we cant get this thing rolling. If you want details on whos signed up and other details or are thinking of joining late then heres the link... http://www.pokemasters.net/forums/in...?topic=43798.0

Everyone post your signup just to remind us who you are and we will get underway.

Plot
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Up this close, the liquid was a deep crimson. Deputy Bobby Sharpe reached out to dip a finger into it. He was here, at the latest murder scene on Gaffeys hill at 1am. The sherriff had told him to forget about it for now and go home but Bobby was young and ambitious. Hoping to find more clues and solve the case alone he had come up here alone right after his shift had ended.

He had found a small patch of what appeared to be blood near the edge of the clearing where the body of a man had been found earlier today. Small pellets, the type found in a Shotgun shell were also found and from the state of the body it had been decided a bear had got him. A common enough occurence in a mountain town like this but there had been so many similar deaths lately, it was unlikely a bear would or even could kill so many without one survivor.

He raised his finger to his nose and inhaled, hoping it would prove to be something else, but the copper scent confirmed it. Blood.
"I wonder, if those stories were true....It cant be true", he muttered to himself
"Theyre more true than you think" growled a voice behind him and he froze. Something shifted in the darkness behind him. Twigs Snapped.
"You shouldnt have come up here again Bobby" the deep voice growled. "Should've just left it alone."
The voice sent a shiver up his spine and everything inside him seemed to let go. The fear came up in him full force, and he was not even breathing as he turned around. Bobby did not dare to raise his flashlight as what he could already see in the moonlight terrified him to the bone.
Rows of razor sharp teeth, and eyes that seemed to glow in the starlight. The things muscles rippled under its fur and it seemed to be almost mocking him.
"You could try running you know" the beast said almost kindly.

As if a switch had been thrown, Bobby came alive. He Spun around, dropping his flashlight and sprinted towards his car. His breathing sounded impossibly loud in his ears. He reached for the weapon at his belt, unsnapped the gun, and drew it from its holster. He felt the things hot breath on his neck, heard it loping after him.
Bobby turned, raised his gun and fired once as he fell.
Before he knew it the Monster was on top of him, cracking his ribs with its weight and in that instant he knew the stories were true....The prowlers were real. "Sorry Kid!" the voice growled before it struck.

The papers had a headline story the next morning. A Promising young deputy had been found up on Gaffeys hill by a local man walking his dog. He had been investigating a crime scene during the night and was found close to the site in a pool of blood. His throat had been torn out and his chest ripped open, a number of internal organs were missing.
Concern was growing over the towns Bear Problem.

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Welcome to Willowvale , a small mountain town in Vermont. Your average quiet town but this one has a problem. For years savage murders had been reported in the area. Most had been put down to animals, common in this area but lately theyve been coming closer. Some right in the middle of town but the local Sherrif still sticks to his Animal claim. He has to, without real facts he knows just as much as the rest of the town and a Sherrif is supposed to be respected, without respect there is no law.
There have always been stories of course. About monstrous creatures that hunted the woods. Prowlers they had been called but they were just stories, told by mothers to scare their kids into behaving...at least thats what Willowvale thinks.

-------------------------------------

Name: Gavin Wynder (HES BACK!)
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Looks: Stands about 6ft 3 with short brown hair and blue eyes. Solid build though he doesnt look particularly muscular while in his casual attire which is usually a pair of blue jeans, white trainers and either a Sports shirt/jersey or black t-shirt.
Background: Born in Willowvale, he lost his parents at an early age and raised by a local family. When he was 13 he moved to live with relatives. Was always told his parents had been killed in a bear attack years ago and felt he needed to come investigate when he heard of these similar attacks.
Personailty: Seems overly serious. Hard for strangers to joke with as he is somewhat paranoid. Takes jokes the wrong way sometimes, as if they are personal digs at him. Once he makes a friend though he is very loyal and does feel very protective over people he feels are vulnerable.
Other: Became pretty well known in High school as a football player, a few people back in town have heard of him and will remember him from his younger days. Took more to the English Rugby but still made a formiddable reputation as a tough tackler in either sport. Is therefore pretty athletic.

--------------------
It Begins
--------------------

Gav
-----

"Look.." i said as the irate cab driver pulled over and walked around to my door, opened it and instructed me to get out "..i told you before we left i didnt have much cash. I spent most of it on the Bus ticket to Pine Creek!" He shrugged without making eye contact. "Not my problem kid" he muttered as he unloaded my single bag from the trunk "you aint got far to go, only a mile or so but if you cant pay i cant take you any further"
Willowvale had become a little more secluded than i had remembered. I had found out that the bus services now only ran as far as the neighbouring town. This cab had been waiting at the stand as i left the bus terminal and i checked with him the amount from there to Willowvale. I had just about enough, now it seems he was changing his mind.
"So your just gonna dump me out here in the wilderness?" i asked, trying to sound as 'cityboy' as possible. I had grown up in these areas so i could probably find my own way but the ride would have been preferable.
"Look Kid..." he said with a sigh "like i said it isnt that far, but if you like i can give you some advice on how to get there quicker"
I sighed in response and looked at him, kinda like saying 'go ahead' without opening my mouth. "You want the long or the short" he asked. "May as well take the long version, get my moneys worth". He climbed back into his Cab and rolled down the window, looking up at me. "Start walking now" he said with a laugh turning the car sharply around. "Very funny" i shouted after him. "Hey wait.." i called before he set off "..if thats the long version what the hell is the short version".
He beamed widely at this, stuck one arm out the window and waved. "Bye" he shouted, and the car pulled away. I was beginning to remember why i had left in the first place.

He had at least been telling the truth. Willowvale was only about a mile and a half down the road. The Large wooden sign, welcoming visitors to the sleepy little town had long faded in the sun. The whites had faded into a dirty Teabag yellow, the reds faded to sickly pinks and in some place the wood itself seemed to have been split. I could recognise the 'scars' of gunfire in the Sign. Drunken Hunters probably taking potshots as they drove past.

It wasn much further past the sign that found me wandering down the main street of this quiet little town. It wasnt a big place but it wasnt some creaky little settlement either. The area here, around the courthouse and the bank were quite well developed. An array of bars and stores that you'd see on any Highstreet in any town lined the street alongside the Bank. There was even a Starbucks here. Those places get everywhere. It was still a quiet old fashioned town. But not in the run down stuck in its ways style that the Welcome sign might have indicated.
I made my way across the street and walked along the store fronts, a little window browsing as i made my way to the bank. I withdrew a little from the ATM, "Damn Cab drivers" i muttered again. He hadnt even been willing to let me pay him when i could withdraw some. It seemed more like he just dint want to come to Willowvale.
Stuffing the bills into my pocket i picked up my bag and moved down the street. Stepping into the first bar i passed. First thing was to find a place to stay. I knew i probably still had relatives and old family friends but first i had to find them and this bar seemed to have rooms for hire. One of those would do for now....

----------------------------------------------------

Ok basically its just your intro posts right now. Im not really sure how to describe the town. Not familiar with small US mountain towns since im from a Small UK mining town lol. I guess id describe it as not Built up, but not a stereotypical isolated mountain town. Its not a wierd place its just out of the way.

[Cxjenious]

Name: Kristen Johnson
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Looks: Kristen is tall with dark, sun tanned skin. She is a muscular girl, with long dark brown hair and big dark eyes. Her hair is mostly in a ponytail. She has a pretty face and shapely figure, albeit a slight muscular figure, and she wears mostly white wife-beaters and tight jeans with boots.
Background: Kristen was born and raised in Willowvale. She is the only daughter of a large six child family; her parents owned a farm not to far from town. She went to the local highscool, where she won the girls' state shotput and discuss throwing championsips. She played every sport girls were allowed to play, and even managed to play for the football team in her senior year. When she graduated, she went away to school on a track scholarship. She quit college after a year and came back home to work with her father on the farm. All of her brothers have moved away from Willowvale into surrounding towns.
Personality: Kristen is a very nice and considerate girl, but she is tough and headstrong as well. She isn't prissy or girly at all, and if provoked, she will fight. She's particularly laid-back and easy going, and hardly ever loses her cool too much.
Other: She has a killer right hook, and carries a bowie knife in her left steel-toed boot.


::Kris::



With great precision and care a threw the last bag of sheep hair over my shoulder and loaded it onto the pick-up. Today I was driving into town to the UPS store so they could send off the wool. They would send it to some factory to be made into clothes, and it would be shipped all over the country. My father and I made enough from the sheep-sheering business to live quite nicely.

We had the pick-up, a dark green Ford 1/2 ton, and the black Ford F-150. The house I lived in was your standard farm house; two floors, wide open spaces, and a big kitchen. All throughout the house there were headmounts of all types of deers, bears, wolves, and even a cougar. We had a big screen TV, and every other appliance you could think of. To be honest, I can't use half the shit, and neither can my dad, though he's a pro with the microwave. My mother, however, should have her own TV show, the way she zips around that kitchen, flicking switches here and there. It's like watching a ballet.

It's just us here, me, my Dad Tom, and my mother Carol. All five of my brothers, Bucky, Hunter, Kenny, Tom Jr., and Carl have moved away. Half of them own little diners or shops, and the other half are policemen. Tom Jr., however, is a football coach out in Tillerton. He knows never to come here; it was the Tillerton Tigers that ended our state championship run a few years back; I had been playing wide-receiver.

We don't just have sheep here on our farm; we have cattle, a few chickens, a rooster, a couple of pigs, and a family of horses. If you haven't guessed already, I'm a pretty active girl. Life may seem dull here to others, but I love it.

I cranked up the engine to my 1/2 ton, and drove up the gravel drive-way onto Wellington Rd. It lead on into the middle of town, crossing three streets, Parrish Rd., Timothy, and finally, 1st street. I still don't think Willowvale is big enough to have a 1st street.

I let the windows down in the truck and cranked up the radio; one of my favorite songs, Sugar We're Going Down, by Fallout Boy, was playing. I was driving so fast I had to hold on hand on my cowboy hat to keep it on my head. I didn't think of letting the window up.

As I neared town, I had to slow my speed. Jed, a traffic cop, loved to give me speeding tickets. He thought I would think he was responsible and then I'd go out on a date with him. He's dumber than his name sounds. When I drove pass the Timothy and Dorothy intersection, I noticed a man walking into Ernie's Beer and Board. I didn't get a good look at him, but I didn't feel like stopping to figure out who he was; I needed to drop off the wool.

The transaction only took ten minutes, since the UPS store employs three big burly men who can move 50 lbs. bags of wool faster than I can. I decided that since I had nothing to do I'd stop by and see who that was at Ernie's... it wouldn't take too much time...

[IDIOT HAS ARRIVED]

Name: Jina
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Looks: Your typical blond hair, blue eyes girl. She is of medium height, medium weight, and has no other features that are overly memorable. Often seen around town walking jeans and a white top.
Background: As a bar maid for the local bar, she has worked there ever since graduating from high school. Once deemed the most popular and snobby cheerleader in school, she now is a lowlife, living off of tips from sleazy men.
Personality: She is very snobby and unfriendly. Turns up her nose to anyone that tries to talk to her. Overly dry and witty.
Other: none

Jina
------

I pick up another round of beer for the never ending flow of idiots and drunks. Today was busy, which was kinda odd, seeing that it wasn't even five yet.

"Here ya'll go! I hope you enjoy it!" I winked at the group of three which I noticed staring at me with hungry eyes. Maybe they'll leave me a big tip, but then, probably not.

"Hey Jina! Serve these over to table 12, will ya?"

Yep, this is my life. Do I enjoy serving men and the rare women that want to frequent a bar?

Of course not. I save and I try, yet I'm still here, with a dead end town, dead end job, and heck, a dead end life, that's what I have. What happened to the days when I was envied and on a pedestal?

It sure sucks big time when the zenith of your life was when you were in high school. You realize that there's life beyond high school, and it ain't pretty.

I glare at the new barmaid. She's barely legal to work around liquor, yet pretty enough to get all the tips and compliments. Even the boss likes her.

Something tells me I'll get fired soon.

[Erandi Brazul]

Name: Shawn Milesburn
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Looks: Shawn is a fairly attractive male, standing at 5' 10", with brown hair and soft, blue eyes. There is a scar, however, running from the tip of his chin down past the neckline of his shirt. His skin is rough, being an outdoor person, which only brings out his blue eyes even more than usual. For this RP, he is wearing black combat boots, camoflauge pants, a white t-shirt, and his Boy Scout Uniform on top (shirt, cap, and belt).
Background: He has been a part of Boy Scouts his whole life. Since attaining Eagle Scout at the age of 18, Shawn has increased his potential, gaining all Merit Badges a scout could recieve. He has training in the wild, though he doesn't like raccoons at all: They were the ones that gave him that scar. Whether or not his skills will match up against a talking, murdering group of bears...we shall find out...
Personailty: Sort of loud, likes to laugh a lot. Just like anyone else, can be serious when he needs to be, especially when he's using his skills to save a life. He hasn't been in many sports, however his dealings with the Boy Scouts has caused him to develop a very outgoing nature and friendliness while maintaining a very jock-like body.
Other: He has all the required merit badges! This must mean he has some skills in martial arts, mountain climbing, acting, wilderness survival, aerospace engineering...though how this will help him against a big-bad talking bear...

He also carries with him two "weapons": A Boy-Scout knife, which comes with a basic set of utilities needed, and a hunting knife. The hunting knife is 4 inches long, with serrated edging along the back of the blade. The blade itself is sheathed in leather, and the sheath is tied to his belt. On the sheath is a small holder for a sharpener-block. The handle of the knife is basic, with a compass at the very end of the handle. The compass, and a piece of the handle with it, can be screwed off, and reveals the inside of the handle, which is hiding a group of matches and a very tiny flashlight, as well as some flash paper, for igniting quick flames in the air for signalling.
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"Well Shawn, welcome to Vermont," Shawn Milesburn spoke to himself, and hefted his backpack once again over his shoulders, strapping the waistline together to relieve some pressure. Lucky for him, none of the merit badges attached to his sash were hard or spiky, so it was easy to carry around the heavy bag on his back.

It was Shawn's goal in life to travel the entire United States, either on foot or hitching rides. He carried his wallet with him of course, with his credit card, to make sure he didn't have much problems finacially. Most of what he did was BSA approved, and was therefore paid for by the Boy Scouts of America anyway. He hadn't heard anything about the bear attacks until he was on the bus entering the neighboring town next to Willowvale. He had wondered why no buses would go there, and the fellow passengers thought it wise to enlighten him.

"Of all the places in Vermont to choose, I go to the one with children stories," he chuckled, and walked under the old sign that told Shawn he had made it to the town. Compared to some of the towns he had visited, this wasn't a bad spot. Shawn's phantom-disappointment evaporated when he saw the place. It was like jumping into a western that had no bad guys to shoot the place up. Granted, it still had the air of uneasiness and emptiness, but Shawn reminded himself that he wasn't going to be sleeping around town often anyway. He had brought his usual supplies for tent and camp building, and had decided to sleep in the woods. So what if people are spooked about magical talking bears? Shawn had been in the woods for a good part of his life, and knew full well there were no such things.

Shawn pulled off his brown and red cap and rubbed his head, feeling sweat all around his body. He needed something to drink, and a place to set his pack down, and so the local bar seemed a good place to go. He didn't drink alcohol much, and hoped that they at least had some water for him to down. It was better for his system anyway.

Ernie's Beer and Board. That was the name of the place. Shawn shook his head and chuckled again, still holding his cap in his hand. "Well, I hope I don't look like too much of a geek...or a stranger, for that matter..." With that, he swung open the doors and walked inside, his black boots pounding heavily on the wooden floor.

[Outlaw JT]

fashionably late, as always

Name: Charlie Bosun
Age: 27
Gender: male
Looks: 6'2", average build, dark brown eyes, short and messy sandy brown hair, wearing brown hiking boots, black pants, a black t-shirt, and a grey camo hunting vest. He has a very confident but cautious air about the way he carries himself.
Background: Charlie grew up in upstate NY. His father started taking him hunting when he was eleven. He lived a fairly normal and uneventful life up until now. He played sports in high school, was a pretty good running back, but didn't continue with sports in college. He tried studying to be a wildlife expert to join the department of fish and game as he had developed a great love of the outdoors but ultimately he bent to pressure from his parents to pursue something more financially rewarding. He ended up getting a bachelor's degree in environmental law and got a consultant job for a large land development company. He dutifully worked hard all week long but when the weekend came he went hunting with his friends. About three weeks ago they were all supposed to take a trip to Vermont for a hunting trip they'd been planning for months. At the last minute Charlie had to bow out due to an emergence at work. His two friends went without him and they never came back. After they were overdue by two weeks and the police still had no idea where they might be Charlie decided to go up to Vermont to try and find them himself.
Personailty: He's a fairly decent guy but it takes time for him to trust people. He is often sarcastic and critical towards people he doesn't know. He has a charming wit that is not always as witty as he thinks it is. At the moment, he is very suspicious of everyone as the town of Willowvale is near where his friends supposedly went hunting and he doesn't know what or who happened to them. He believes they are either lost and the local sheriff failed to organize a reasonable search or that someone in Willowvale has done something to them. In either case, he feels somewhat hostile towards the locals at the onset. People have to work to earn his trust.
Other: On his person he is carrying a few extra shells in his vest pockets and a bowie hunting knife at his waist. In his truck he has his loaded hunting rifle with a single box of extra shells (12 shell box). Before thinking he's overarmed for survival, remember that the rifle is in his truck and not on his person when he is in town. He'd only take the rifle from his truck if he was in the woods.


Charlie Bosun
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a very long and barren road in to Willowvale. Something about the way the trees swayed alongside the road made him very glad he had made it there in daylight. He'd be facing night in those woods soon enough but he'd do it with rifle in hand. He needed to get a lay of the land first, though.

As his truck pulled into town he could see it wasn't a very big place. He guessed he could drive the entire town in under an hour. Made him wonder why they had chosen to go hunting there in the first place. Of course, he and his friends had picked this place because it was famous for bears and it was one of the few places you were allowed to hunt them.

First order of business was finding a place to stay. He didn't think he'd be using it much, but he was gonna be there long enough that it might look odd if he didn't take a room. There weren't many place to rent a room so he ended up stopping in front of some place called Ernie's. A bar and an 'inn' in one. Couldn't do much better than that. He was sure he'd need a drink at some point, anyway. Now he could have one convenient to his bed.

He left his rifle where it was stowed out of sight in the lockbox in his truckbed. He just threw his small duffel over his shoulder and walked right into Ernie's. Without looking around the place he walked straight up to the bar.

"I need a room for a few nights," he said plainly.

[Ultimate Charizard]

Hope you guys dont mind, im not ignoring your Charachters im progressing the Plot. Besides my guy prefers being a Loner anyway. You guys are free to interract though.

Gav
-----

It seemed i had opened the floodgates so to speak. Shortly after i sat down at the bar a steady flow of new customers entered the Bar. Some seemed to be local though i noticed a few were out of towners. I had a quick word with the Landlord and got myself sorted out with a room. He smiled, as if recognising me though i had shrugged it off. Surely i had been away from this place for so long that id be a virtual stranger by now.
I quickly dropped my bags off in my room and came back downstairs. As i re-entered the Bar i saw someone i indeed recognised. Sheriff Williams strode in confidently. He hadnt seemed to have changed since last i was here. Not really a big built guy he still managed to give off a dominant image of a guy you really dont want to pick a fight with. It had long been a tradition of his to come casually check out any new arrivals, making it instantly clear that he didnt tolerate any kind of trouble.
He gave me a sideways glance as i walked past him and out the door. He rarely interfered, just observed. Whenever he did feel the need to 'impose his presence' more directly he would be everymans best friend. Really friendly fella but his intentions were hard to judge.

I left the bar and headed down the street. Things seemed to have become a little busier. Im guessing the trucks outside belonged to the newcomers in the bar but the street itself seemed more lively where once it had seemed abandoned. People now walked down the street, in and out of the shops rather than staring sullenly from the windows.
"Gav?" i heard a voice screech out and i winced at the memory. "Gav Wynder, is that you?"
I turned to see the Gangly form of Jimbo Jenkins loping down the sidewalk. JJ to most and for some odd reason he liked being called 'Dave' by his friends. Not really a friend of mine but he had hung around with our group. He had always had a talent for getting places he shouldnt have really been. "Hey Jimbo" i replied trying to sound as enthusiastic as i could. "Hows life in my sleepy home town?".
"Not as quiet as it used to be" he grinned. "Lotsa tourists been coming in, and with whats been reported around here it only brings in more". He looked at me with that same goofy grin. "SOOO....what brings you back here?"
"Just felt like gettin back to my roots..." i lied. As harmless as Jimbo had always been i was going to doing some poking around and a mouth like his has a way of ruining any chances of privacy. "...im just heading over to check out my old place, then i might head up to the old Lodge".
He seemed to go pale when i mentioned our old clubhouse. Not so much a clubhouse it had once served as a small country club. It had fallen into disrepair and our small group of childhood friends had found a new use for it.
"I dont really think you should be goin up there, noone goes up there anymore". I cocked my head and started at him. "Why, whats wrong with it?" i questioned, pushing through his reluctance to answer. "Its been declared unsafe....structural problems" he finished. I could tell he was lying. He blinked alot when he was lying but i decided to play along anyway.
"Fair enough, i can still go check out my house though right?" He nodded in response. "Uh sure, look i have to get going ill cya later ok". He left quickly, not waiting for a response. Now i knew that the Clubhouse would be a good place to start looking around. Something about all these bear attacks didnt fit and JJ's reaction seemed to indicate something wasnt right around here.

[Cxjenious]

::Kris::


I swung the door to the bar open, rolling my eyes at the annoying chime it made. I saw my target speak a few words with Ernie and then head upstairs. When I saw his face, he looked passingly familiar, but I decided not to ask him who he was. In all actuality, I didn't care.

I strolled to the counter, my boots clicking loudly against the floor, sat on a stool, and struck up a conversation with Ernie. Ernie was a vet, just like my father, but neither of them had spent much time over in Nam'. I was glad to; didn't want my pop to be a paranoid crazy coot. Well, crazier than he was.

"What can I do for ya, Krissy?" Ernie asked, whilst cleaning a shot glass.

"Gimme a... just a bottled water."

"That all?"

"Oh yeah, call me Krissy again and I'll break your hip," I said, frowning. He just chuckled and gave me a bottle of Aqaufina.

I swirled around in my stool and rested my elbows back on the counter. I could feel the eyes of the few male occupants of the bar on me. The older men were the only ones bold enough to stare openly; the younger generation knew me, and knew that if I was disrespected, they'd most likely end up in the hospital.

I had swirled around just in time to see the afternoon rush hit Ernie's. A guy with a camo vest came in and demanded a room. He didn't spare anyone in the room a glance, not even me, and I was sitting right next to him! A nice looking man walked in shortly after, just a inch or two shorter than myself, with a boyscout shirt on. I knew little to nothing about the boyscouts, except that they had some of the most uncomfortable looking uniforms on the planet. None of my brothers had been boyscouts for long.

I saw Jina serving drinks, and though we weren't close, I did consider myself to be a hospitable person, so I decided to ask about her well being.

"Hey Jina!" I yelled over the clamor in the room. "How are ya?"

[IDIOT HAS ARRIVED]

Jina
-----
You know, I'd thought I'd woken up to a normal, boring Tuesday, of everything, but I suppose not. A huge crowd of people had came in, seemingly out of towners, and a couple of people I had know from here and there.

My eye caught a man with sunny brown hair, who carried himself with confidence. I licked my lips watching him walk up to Ernie and ask for a room. I'll have to do some work on him later.

"Hey Jina!" I heard a voice call out, and I turned around, finding Kris. Kris was a year lower than me when we were in high school, only reason I'd known who she is was because I once cheered for her football team. I figured she was reasonably nice, perhaps a bit too nice for my own taste, but hey, if she wants to be friendly, it's alright with me, as long as she doesn't screw me over.

"I'm doing pretty alright!" I replied with a phony smile. There was no way I was doing alright, I'm just too good damn proud to go around admitting it to people.

"And you?" I paused for a second, noticing that she was drinking a bottle water, of all things. "And what's wrong with some good old beer anyways?"

[Erandi Brazul]

:hawn Milesburn::

The room itself didn't surprise Shawn as he entered. The bell at the top of the door, however, gave him a bit of a shock, and caused him to turn to find the source of the noise.
"I'll be damned," he murmured to himself, and shifted the weight from his bag again as he turned. There weren't many people in the room, though, he admitted to himself, there were more locals than he expected to see. Just by looking at the face of the barmaid, he could tell that this amount of people didn't usually happen on a daily basis. The barmaid...not a bad looking woman, he conceded.

"Hey Jina! How are ya?" another woman called out from the bar. Shawn's attention diverted to her, and was happy to see that she was drinking water and not alcohol. I won't be the only non-drinker in the house I guess, he thought happily, and strode forward to where another gentleman was speaking with the bartender.

"I need a room for a few nights," the man was saying to the bartender. Shawn cut Ernie off to reply.
"A room?" he said, leaning against the bar next to the gentleman, "You seem more like the outdoorsy kind of person. I suppose I'll be the only stranger in this town sleeping out in the woods then?" Shawn smiled brightly, and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I'm interrupting," he apologized, "Do what you will."

[Cxjenious]

::Kris::


"I'm doing pretty alright! And you? And what's wrong with some good old beer anyways?" Jina replied, smiling.

I smiled back at her. "I'm doing pretty good, and I don't particularly like Ernie's beer... nor anyother beer, for that matter, unless there is an occasion for it." I lowered my voice some, as Jina's movement serving tables brought her closer to where I was sitting. Though I wasn't very prissy or girly at all, I still appreciate the male figure, and I decided to ask Jina's opinion of the brown-haired man.

I nodded my head in his direction. "Whadd'ya think?"

He was a nice looking guy, even if he was to short for my tastes, and for some odd reason, I enjoyed conversing with women about girl stuff... I just didn't indulge in this secret pleasure often.

[IDIOT HAS ARRIVED]

Jina
------
I raise my eyebrows. Was this the Kris I knew of? Checking out guys. I guess there was something to learn about everyday.

I eyeball the guy, only noting his blue eyes.

"He's got really pretty eyes," I giggle. Hey, I'm allowed to giggle even if my life is crap. I stop for a second, to look at the clock. It could be time for a break, and it would be nice to talk to someone decent for once on a break.

"Hey Ernie! Mind if I take my lunch break?" I walked over the bar, next to Kris.

Ernie nods his head my way, and says, "Take as long as you want, but only if you're staying here. There's been a couple of people, but I'm sure Lanley can handle it."

Urgh, nothing to ruin my day more than princess Lanley.

"Hey Kris, I hope you don't mind if I sit down with you!" I grab a beer and smile at her, really hoping for some company.

[Outlaw JT]

Charlie Bosun
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charlie took a sideways glance at the man who had started talking to him as Ernie walked off to fetch a key. The guy had to be in his early twenties but was wearing half of a boy scouts uniform. He guessed at the fact that the guy was definately not a local. Seeing as Willowvale was decidedly not a friendly place to go camping it seemed Charlie was a little puzzled by the strangers presence there.

"You pegged it. I am more the outdoors type. Gonna be here for a while, though and I figured I'd want a place to rest up and shower when I'm in town for supplies," Charlie replied evenly. "Bit old for the scouts, aren't you? Or is that a fashion statement?"

About then Ernie returned and tossed a key at him. Charlie snatched it before it could fall and rehoisted the weight of his duffel. He gave a quick look around the bar. There were a couple of nice lookin gals and it was a bit busy for the afternoon. He then gave a look back at the door and then at the man he'd been talking to.

"Nice talkin to you stranger. I better get situated, though. Maybe I'll see you out there," Charlie nodded in the direction of the woods outside town.

With that he headed for the stairs at the back while reading his room key. Room #207 would be his new home for the next week or so. Not that he figured he'd actually stay more than a night or two in the room. He'd be spending most of his time searching the woods. His friends were out there somewhere and he aimed to find them. And he had just the map co-ordinates to start. He knew exactly where they were supposed to camp and he hoped he could make it out there before nightfall.

[Erandi Brazul]

Shawn Milesburn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You pegged it. I am more the outdoors type," the man replied, to which Shawn nodded. "Gonna be here for a while, though and I figured I'd want a place to rest up and shower when I'm in town for supplies. Bit old for the scouts, aren't you? Or is that a fashion statement?"

The way the man said it didn't sound to critical. Shawn chuckled. "You aren't the first to say that to me, you know," replied. "And the answer is the same every time: No. If you're good at it, why stop? Besides, it's almost like pre-paid vacation all year round in my line of work."

This answer seemed to suit the man fine. He caught his keys, and then made his goodbyes. "Nice talkin' to you stranger," he said. "I better get situated, though. Maybe I'll see you out there," he finished, and nodded towards the woods. Shawn nodded back with another big grin.
"You bet. I'm Shawn, by the way. I'm sure we'll see each other again." Without even a handshake, the man turned and left to find his room. Something was bothering him, that was certain, but Shawn couldn't put his finger on it.

"Hey," Ernie caught Shawn's attention, "You look lost there, Boy Scout. Lose your compass?" Ernie was smiling, and Shawn laughed with Ernie on his lame joke.
"I just need a water right now," Shawn said, and Ernie obliged. "I've been hiking for quite a long time, and it looks like I'll need to hike just a bit longer."
"Not staying here?" Ernie asked.
"Oh I'm stayin' here, just not in town," he replied, and jabbed his thumb over his shoulder, towards the woods. "I'll be sleeping outside, in the woods."

Ernie fumbled and dropped the bottle of water he had pulled out of a small fridge. The look on his face was a mix of confusion, disbelief, and terror. Shawn looked around the room, and noticed that a few others were giving him the same looks. One was even whispering to a friend, "I told you that's what he said to that other man..."

"What? What happened?" Shawn's grinning face turned to utter confusion as he looked around him.

[Cxjenious]

::Kris::


"Hey Kris, I hope you don't mind if I sit down with you!" a smiling Jina said, grabbing a beer.

"No honey, I don't mind at all!" I replied, taking another swig from my water bottle. Willowvale was a particularly slow town, so there wouldn't be much to talk about, and what there was to talk about, no one liked to mention. I fished around in my head for a few seconds trying to think of any recent gossip I had hear when the blue-eyed boyscout announced that he'd be sleeping in the woods. I turned to him, flabbergasted.

"Are you friggin nuts?!" Then, I turned to Jina, my eyebrows arched high on my forehead. "He might be pretty, but he's plenty stupid too," I said, my voice significantly lower.

[Ultimate Charizard]

Gav
----

I let out a low whistle as i came up the trail and the building came into view. When JJ had mentioned structural damage he hadnt been joking, though it did look dangerous, though not from falling down as i had assumed. There were huge holes in some of the walls and as i approaced some of the endges looked Jagged and rough. Not so much Cut in the wooden building, more gouged and Torn.
Looking through the holes the place looked trashed. The floor and walls were speckled with various stains. They looked black, or a deep brown but as i got closer they had a very deep red tint. "Bloodstains" i sighed with recognition.
"Good Eye" a voice from behind me made me spin on the spot. The man was stood outside, looking through one of the gaping holes. He was dressed in a police uniform though i didint recognise him. "Im gonna have to ask you to leave" he spoke 'matter-of-factly'. "This building was the scene of a Bear attack and as such has been declared unsafe for the public".
I looked at him, not actually making an effort to leave. "Bears did all this?"
His eyes narrowed "Thats the thing about Bears. Noone seems to realise just how strong they are". He stepped aside as i passed through the hole he had been talking from. "You from around here?" he asked. Suddenly becoming friendly. "I had family here once..." i told him, playing dumb. If i didnt recognise him maybe he didnt know me. ".. though never visited myself"
His smile widened as i said my goodbyes and headed back down the trail towards town. "Hope you have a good stay" he called after me. After a few minuits i heard something snap behind me. Someone was following me. Wether it was the deputy or not i couldnt tell but there was something there.
I decided to head back towards town rather than push my luck in the woods. If whoever it was wanted to follow me once i reached the town they would have to go over open ground, revealing themselves.

[IDIOT HAS ARRIVED]

Jina
-----
Shameful to say, I too, was surprised that delicious blue-eyes was going to just camp outside like this was some boy scout camp.

"You'd better give him a quick review over our recent events, or else he's gonna get ripped up to pieces!" I told Kris.

"Or, of course, we could just sit back and watch another stupid guy send himself to death, neh?" I grinned, somewhat evilly.

Despite all of that, those bear attacks did have their effects on me. I remember when the boys in high school used to boast about their hunting trips and how they got bucks, ducks, and even bears.

Yet now, the bears are swating us dead left and right. What's next? An all out invasion by bears in Willowvale? Maybe I ought to start saving up to get the heck out of here.