In Search of Youth ( Private )

[Cameron Michaels]

Cameron was in Mexico City for one overall purpose. He was searching for the fountain of youth. It was an ancient myth that very few people actually believed. Those that did believe it would be in Mexico City. Cameron didn’t know if there was truth to this legend, but he was told that the fountain of youth not only made the owner forever young, but had some sort of power to sustain their lives and make them immortal. Cameron assumed that this would be something that would interest him. He was going to need all the help that he could get when it came to finding vampires. It was often related that he should have to worry about the werewolves as well. However, Cameron didn’t really worry about them because they were only dangerous on full moons and when they were provoked. Cameron didn’t exactly expect to provoke them.
In any case, Cameron was in Mexico City. He didn’t need a guide; he just needed to ask some of the locals if they knew anything about the legend. That probably would bring attention to him, but he was hoping for that. It wasn’t like he hadn’t come prepared. After all, he was a Navy Seal; he always had weapons on him. Unfortunately, so did everyone in Mexico City. Cameron was dressed in the attire of the country so he could blend in. His firearms were well concealed. He had learned how to do that when he was trained for decades. Cameron walked into a market square and his eyes scanned the place for anything out of the ordinary. There was nothing. He was going to have to continue on his own. He turned around and started down an alley. He wasn’t sure how to get out of the town. About forty yards down the alley and woman was being harassed by four men. The woman was striking and Cameron watched as the men continued, walking towards them naturally. Everyone else around didn’t seem to really care.

[Namir Black]

The scene was familiar like it was in most of the Latin countries. Women gossiped to each other in spanish while the men eyed a pretty girl on the street. She walked past a group of men towards a stand of jewelery, their black eyes glittering with a suspicious twinkle as they followed her. Namir heard the wolf whistles but paid them no mind, she continued over to the stand. One of the men swaggered up behind her and boldly reached out and gave her butt a light spank. Namir turned to face him, hate smouldering though her eyes into his. "Salgame solo. No me toque hijo de la puta." She spat at him in Spanish. (leave me alone. don't touch me you son of a b*tch) Curbing her anger for the man she stormed off not thinking of where she was going, just following the gaps that people made when they moved.
A few minutes passed and Namir realized she was in an alleyway, but could still sense people, she could smell them. Turning to look behind her once again, she found the group of men upon her. "Pobrecita, ¿todo vestida y sin un novio?" The man mocked her, his cronies chuckled. "Tóqueme yo le me atrevo..." She felt slightly threatened but wouldn't show it.

[Cameron Michaels]

Cameron saw that the men were beginning to become a little bit more hostile. Cameron figured that this was probably an everyday occurrence in Mexico, but none the less he had an obligation to interject and protect the innocence, even if they were not the innocence of his own country. Cameron saw no reason to rush however because they had not become extremely violent and no one had been struck. They were just using harsh tones and words. Cameron couldn’t make out what they were saying. He spoke Spanish, but from the distance he couldn’t be sure exactly of what they were saying. The men seemed to be threatening the woman however. Cameron kept walking normally and he looked around as the others did the same. Cameron supposed that for them, this was normal. The men became a bit more rowdy however and pushed Namir up against the wall, one of the men coming to her, pressing himself against her. Cameron broke into a jog. He was only about ten yards away now.

[Namir Black]

Disgusted as the man pushed himself on her she didn't do anything. Namir was trying to protect them from what she really could be, trying to make sure that never did she take a human life for her sustenance. The other men egged him on in a chant. "Va! Va!"
Her hands tightened into fists, and her cheeks flushed red with anger. "Yo decia, no tóqueme." She spat the words into his face. Now Namir was trembling with anger at the men's insolence, some warned the man now grinding against her and kissing her neck, and some cheered him on. "Escucha a tu amigos, hombre. Ellos conocen que sobre estan hablando." Darkly she smiled.
For once during this whole scene she looked away from the men who held her. A man was watching, and now he was jogging towards her. Namir's eyes opened wide in scrutiny, he didn't look like the type that would be joining. In turn, she was too occupied to search his mind, almost afraid of what she'd find. She would soon find out.

[Cameron Michaels]

Cameron was now nearer to the argument and he could hear what the men were saying. Ah, so there intentions were clear. Whereas all the other people in the market square didn’t seem to care about this sort of thing at all, Cameron was quite enraged by these four men. The men didn’t even notice Cameron coming next to them. Apparently people usually just walked on by when they saw them, but not Cameron. One of the men moved to strike Namir but Cameron caught his arm. “Ahora, eso no muy agradable,” Cameron said, shaking his finger. The man snarled and looked at Cameron moving his other hand to strike Cameron. Cameron let the blow fall and stood there, looking at the man with a smile, “Eso es una idea realmente mala” Cameron said and moved his hand, striking the man with his own hand. Cameron then proceeded to defend himself from the other men. He was highly trained and disarmed them with several quick moves. After the men simply laid on the ground in front of him he turned to Namir, “Como estas senorita?” He asked, wondering if she had been hurt at all.

[Namir Black]

(teehee.. i love threads in spanish)
"Mejor ahora, gracias." Namir no longer was pinned, and she smiled as Cameron threw down the disturbance. "How is it that no one in Mexico cares if a woman is about to get raped?" Her gaze fell over the men sprawled out on the ground, she was impressed. "Nice job, by the way."
As she talked to Cameron she realized she was still pressed up against the wall. Slowly she peeled herself from it, and stood before Cameron. It pained her always to be the damsel in distress, it made her feel like she shamed the women of the pack by doing so. Why couldn't the guys be in trouble for once? It didn't matter, they would continue to look down on her as a weakling because she wanted to keep the peace. She hated it. Namir snapped out of her reverie, "Should we tell the cops? I know jail in Mexico is a little harsh, they do tend to lose people."

[Cameron Michaels]

Cameron shook his head when she mentioned going and getting the police. That would pretty much amount to nothing in Mexico. No one cared if someone was about to get raped or mugged. It didn’t matter and they would be out in several days anyway. So, Cameron shook his head when she suggested the idea, “No, that would be rather pointless. They probably learned a lesson I would imagine.” He said and one of the men looked up at Cameron and Cameron looked down and made a threatening gesture and the man looked back into the ground. This made Cameron smile. He turned to Namir, “I’m Cameron,” He said outstretching his hand to her. He was studying her face her figure and really just her in general. She didn’t seem like the type that was usually in Mexico, of course, neither did he.

[Namir Black]

Namir took his outstretched hand and shook it, "Nice to meet you, Cameron. I'm Namir." So this is who they talked about, Pete had told her about him and his deal with Arai. What a coincidence that she would meet him here. Cooly she stood in his presence, and pulled an elastic out of the pocket from her cargos to loosely tug bag her heavy curls. In the humidity of Mexico her hair became torturous, a few beads of sweat trickled down the backside of her neck.
"Thank you, once again Cameron. It was valiant of you to help me out, even if you didn't know me." It was true, it took a good samaritan to do what he just did, he was right, the Mexican cops wouldn't do anything about a mugging they were too lazy. "What brings you to Mexico City, Cameron?" Namir asked conversationally, as she played with the straps of leather that made up a bracelet on her wrist.

[Cameron Michaels]

Cameron had heard her name before somewhere. However, he wasn’t able to place it. He wanted to say he had heard Arai talking about someone named Namir but he couldn’t be for sure. Either way, he shook his head and then plunged them back into his pockets as a cool wind blew through the alley. “Perhaps we should get you out of the alley and away from these hooligans?” Cameron asked and beckoned for Namir to follow him as he started walking into the crowded marketplace. He turned around to make sure that Namir was still with him. “I am just here on some errands.” Cameron said, not wanting to really give too much away. “Where are you staying, I would like it if I could walk you home, make sure those men didn’t follow you.” He said calmly to her.

[Namir Black]

"I'm just here for a little while actually. I'm staying further south for now." Like Cameron, Namir also didn't think it wise to give too much away. If she need to know, she could find out herself, it didn't matter if Cameron was willing to tell her he wouldn't even know that she had penetrated his greatest solace, his mind.
Namir followed behind Cameron back into the bustle of the market. "Thank you for offering Cameron, its very gentlemanly of you. I think they might be a little more reluctant next time to do anything like that after your reprimanding." She tried to assure him with her tone. Namir wasn't actually sure if they might try to follow her home or not, but part of her wanted them to, she wanted that proof that she could take care of herself. In the back of her mind it gave her a guilty pang to lie to Cameron, but she followed on. "I'll be fine."
A group of Mexican children chattered and giggled happily skipping in front of them. One of the bigger boys to the back had a plastic sword and was waving it around enthusiastically pretending to be Zorro. "¡Yo soy Zorro!" The boy thrust his sword up into the air and then he swung it down at a smaller boy walking in front of him that looked to be about two and dirty from playing. The younger boy fell on his face a few feet in front of Namir and started wailing, big fat crocodile tears sliding down his cheeks. Namir ran over to him, her maternal instincts kicking in, "Pobrecito.. recuerda a tener cuidado niñito." She pulled the small little black haired boy up to stand as she squatted down to his eye level. "¿Estas bien?" The little boy smiled a toothy little grin and sucked his thumb, sweetly he nodded and hugged Namir without removing his thumb from his mouth. His brothers and sisters had stopped to wait on him, and ran to join back up with them as they watched wide eyed. One of his older sisters ran out of the front of the crowd and tugged his hand along, then fussed in spanish at her other brother who tripped him. Namir smiled and stood back up returning to Cameron.

[Cameron Michaels]

Cameron nodded his head when she noted that she was not going to need him to escort her back to her home or wherever it was that she was going. Cameron didn’t feel right not helping her but he didn’t want to intrude; besides he had to do some things of his own that involved him not being interrupted. Cameron watched as the children began to play, pretending that they were Zorro. Technically they seemed a bit out of place because Zorro was in California and fought against the Mexicans. Oh well, these kids could have fun if they wanted to. Cameron watched as Namir bent down to speak to them. She definitely had a maternal essence about her in that fashion. He smiled when she looked back at him. “Well I still don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone, but if you insist.” Cameron said calmly. He bowed his head to her, “Stay safe then ma’am.” He said kindly and took her hand and gently placed as kiss on it before he turned and began to walk off into the crowd. It didn’t take long for him to disappear.

[Namir Black]

(they can still play zorro, the show also aired in mexico, and kids that young don't know the difference. )
'Thank you Cameron, but I'll really be okay." She smiled. He saw through it didn't he.. "I'll try to stay out of trouble. Be safe." The people swarmed around Cameron as he disappeared into the crowd. Namir glanced over the people from where she was left and watched out for anyone who might seem malcontent. She glided over to a fruit stand and innocently pittered around the grapes, slipping a few into her mouth "testing" the bunch.

[Mathias]

I am a product of the system. I received the same blows and cruelties the rest of the world encounters everyday, but I responded differently. Most people tend to crawl up in a corner and wither away in nothingness, becoming just another mindless soul, lost to the world with no purpose. Me, I turned myself in something and the moment I did, they tried to crush me. People sometime ask me about what it was like in prison. I shrug my shoulders and say, it’s the same as anywhere else. If it isn’t a physical fence holding someone back, it is a mental one, either way, they both form the same barriers for people. You stay fourteen years in a black cell and you try to fit in to society, people tell you that it doesn’t work. They are probably right. Over half of the inmates that leave prison go right back to their old ways, one half of them end up dead and the other half live mindless existences. Those are the ones that fit in. Like the pointless robots that you see on the street.

Mexico is no different; rather it is just the same, except with some music and stupid piñatas. I hate piñatas. I don’t see the point, let’s bash some poor pony until its head pops open and candy comes out. Candy doesn’t come out of people’s heads, I know from experience. What are they teaching children these days? I hate political correctness and I can’t tell anyone they are wrong. No one stopped to give me that consideration when I blew up my parent’s home at age eleven. Why am I in Mexico City? I don’t really know. It’s not the U.S. so I can’t be legally detained again. There is some lady that obviously doesn’t belong here walking alone. There are two men following her and from the looks of it, they look like a piñata that didn’t break but just took a really big beating. I probably should be descent and help her; it’s not like I don’t know what they are up to. I recognize that side of men, I long since cut it off from me. You have very little interest in sex when you are in prison.

Why do I follow the woman? I don’t know. Maybe it is because I am bored, maybe because I want to be courteous or maybe I just want to fight. It is probably the latter of the three. It most definitely is not the second, no one is courteous anymore, and I see no reason to be. A cold hearted killer is what I am labeled as, why not act likes it. I don’t see the point in starting new, starting fresh. You are what you are, get over it. If someone tramples on your self esteem simply give them the finger and move on. Life is too short to give a d**n. I wonder if this woman will notice the two men, and if she does, most certainly me as well. I don’t fit in, I never do. It’s probably because I don’t wear shirts and don’t comb my hair, or it might be the machete in my left hand.

[Namir Black]

Namir sensed the men following her. The dark side of her personality reveled in the fact of being given her chance. To check to make sure the these were the right men she flipped through their minds to find the scene from earlier. She was right, they were the same. A dark smile spread across her lips, and she began to walk a little more alluringly, making her step swish a little more even though she was in awkward combat boots she pulled it off. It was her turn to teach them a lesson, her turn to seek acknowledgment from her pack that she wasn't the weakest. Its time to toughen up, she told her self.
Trying to look like she knew nothing of her followers, she continued towards the outskirts of town, away from people. Usually it wasn't a good thing to have too many witnesses despite the seeming indifference of these people. Surely they would notice when she transformed, it wasn't easy to ignore a giant wolf.
The scene became more desert like off a highway, and surely the men were still behind her, she could feel their presence, smell their sweat and the blood that encrusted on their wounds. Namir got far enough out off the roadside that she turned and was able to see three men in her midst. Three? She was under the impression it was only two. The third had a knife, but wasn't bloodied and beaten. "Hello, gentlemen." Her voice purred. The cracking sound erupted from her bones as they compressed into her wolfen form. Namir now stood before them a large snarling black wolf, hairs prickling on her back. When needed she could change back and attack physically, she had her knives and weapons with her. Prepare to meet your demise...

[Mathias]

I can’t help but think to myself that this woman is either extremely stupid or something that she doesn’t appear to be. If I don’t remember correctly, and I usually remember things promptly, there was a man that had kissed her hand earlier. Why had she sent him off when there were others following her? However, I say nothing and keep my distance from her as I walk. I am but twenty yards behind the first two and I walk as if I am lost and not following the woman. The men that were intent on harming her cared not for concealing their intentions. Very well then. I stopped as the woman stopped and turned to face the men. I was still twenty yards away from them. I had one of those gifts for being in the wrong places at the wrong time. I won’t use that as an excuse for why I was imprisoned; my imprisonment was fully my fault it was by my own accord I was there. The same way it was my own accord that I escape and was here.

She just turned into a wolf. I find that odd, creepy and yet somehow I couldn’t turn away. The men before her trembled and I can only imagine what will happen to them. It would be amusing if they were ripped apart, limb from limb. Such a sight would bring me back to my glory days. Others wouldn’t call those days glory, maybe gory. Ha, that rhymed I think to myself, pleased with my own wittiness. In any case I keep my ground as the men before the wolf woman run in opposite directions. I swear I can smell piss. One of them probably pissed themselves with fear. Again, I find myself in one of those odd situations again. I am on an abandoned road with a wolf about to attack, a wolf that was moments ago a woman. I scratch my head and look down at my two foot long machete. Well this will have to do I guess