"Quinn! That was the general on the phone. He just said that three vampires have been moving through this area. Apparently people have been mysteriously killed, wherever these vampires have gone. They'll be heading to the Dandenongs. Let's go!" Jackson barked from his room. Quinn couldn't help but smile. This is my first real field mission! Quinn thought as he slipped on his leather hunting jacket. His father had given it to Quinn before he and Jackson left for Berwick. It was one of the only things that reminded Quinn of his father; that and the belt. Running to the door, Jackson was busy sorting out the weapon scabbards. The scabbards were enchanted, so that no one except vampire hunters, or those who knew of them would see them. Jackson left the front room and disappeared into the living room for a few minutes. When he came back, Quinn recognised the swords in his brother's hands as the decorative swords that normally lived above the mantel.
"I thought they were just for decoration." Quinn remarked. Jackson rolled his eyes, and held out one to Quinn, hilt first.
"In most cases, they would be. But when we first moved here, I recognised the inscription on the blades. They're Holy Blades. Old ones, but they still work." Jackson reassured. Quinn took the sword with his left hand. Unlike most vampire hunters, who trained with their right hands, Quinn was one of the few hunters who use their left, even to write. Sheathing the old blade, Quinn felt a surge of energy rush from his fingertips, just before he let go of the sword's hilt.
"How do you know?" Quinn questioned. Jackson pulled out a vial of dark red liquid. Blood. With his free hand, Jackson gently tapped the side of the vial.
"Vampire blood. Difficult to find, even harder to obtain. It begins to bubble if a working Holy Blade is near it. Now, if you actually paid attention in Demon-chemistry like you were supposed to, you would know that too." He said stiffly. Looking at the clock on the wall, Jackson frowned.
"Come on. If we don't leave now they'll get away." Jackson ordered as he left the house. Quinn nodded and followed his older brother.

~

Marisa never felt more alive than when she was a wolf. It was a beautiful day, so Marisa's mother had taken her to the Dandenongs to run around, as wolves. Thanks mum! This is the best! Marisa said mentally to her mother, who was also in wolf form, as they ran through the forest on all fours. It truly was the perfect day to go out and spend some quality time together, wasn't it, dear? Mum asked rhetorically. Marisa growled in delight, and nodded. As the two wolves pounded through the national park, unseen, unheard, the smaller, darker furred one stopped. Something's not right. Marisa said to herself. I smell blood. Human blood. The larger one, with a coat that was more auburn in colour, sniffed the air as well. It's far away. Mum said. Someone on a walk might've just tripped and hurt themselves. Marisa wasn't so sure. There was something off about the blood. Like it was tainted, or it's carrier was tainted. Trying to dismiss the thought from her mind, Marisa poised herself to run and begin hunting. Just as she was starting to sprint off, she heard an ear-splitting scream. It wasn't feminine; it sounded more like it came from a teenage boy. Marisa's wolf eyes grew wide with sudden realisation, and incomprehensible fear. Don't ask her how she knew who it was, her instincts told her. Quinn! Marisa realised. Shooting off in hurried leaps, she began to run to the source of the noise. Marisa, don't! Her mother's voice sounded in a warning tone. If you go, you could risk exposure! It could be a trap. The mortals will kill you! Marisa shook her head in defiance, and ran off like a rocket. Growling, the larger wolf started to run after her, but she wasn't fast enough to keep up with her daughter.

~

Quinn and Jackson stood in the middle of a thick undergrowth. Jackson studied their surroundings lightly. Then, he turned to his brother.
"We'll split up. That way, we can cover more ground quicker." Jackson explained bossily. Quinn -- knowing not to argue with his brother -- nodded silently, and took off in the opposite direction. On the way to the nature reserve, Jackson had explained the basic rules of vampire hunting in such a public place. Number one; stay out of sight. Always be sure that your not being followed, or stared at. Number two; keep your eyes and ears open. You should be alert at all times. And Number three; expect the unexpected. Vampires are all different. You shouldn't base what to do because of a couple of Hunts. Trudging through the ferns silently, Quinn unsheathed the old sword and tried to become familiar with it's grip. Out of the corner of his eye, Quinn saw a blur of movement. Spinning around, Quinn started to get nervous. Surely all three of them can't all be here? They don't normally travel in groups, do they? Quinn thought worriedly. Two more blurs sped past him. Spinning around, Quinn watched--horrified-- as three adults with gleaming red eyes slowly stalked towards him. Quinn's mouth was as dry as sandpaper, as the vampires smiled vulgar smirks. Their needle sharp canines gleamed in the rays of sunlight.
"I-I thought vampires couldn't be out in the day..." Quinn stuttered, not even sure of why he was talking. The female vampire held up a snow white hand. The males behind her stopped immediately.
"In most cases, we can't." She said in a silky voice. "However, we're a different kind of vampire. We don't burn in the sunlight; it's more of an allergy to sunlight. The reaction? Our hunger is increased, as a result of a nasty red burn. We don't like the sun, but it does make the blood taste so mush sweeter..." Quinn took a subtle step backwards. Gripping his sword tightly in his left hand, Quinn drew the blade from its sheath. The vampires shrunk back immediately.
"A Holy Blade..?! But only the people who carry those weapons are... No. You're a bit young to be a hunter, aren't you?" The female vampire asked curiously. "Unfortunately for you, Holy Blades can only wound us. Our cousins across the world are the only species of vampires that Holy Blades can fatally harm. Not a very smart little boy, are you?" She purred slyly. Quinn's eyes went wide. He did know that southern pacific vampires couldn't die from the touch of a Holy Blade, but he wasn't prepared to fight them. Southern Pacific vampires were worse than traditional vampires, because they didn't burn and turn to dust in the sun, which made them even more deadly. Instead, the sunlight gave the southern vampires a nasty rash, which could only be healed with drinking more blood. Quivering slightly, Quinn noticed as the female vampire suddenly seemed to disappear. Quinn then saw a blur rush past after a split second, knocking the sword out of his left hand. The female vampire reappeared in front of the male vampires, and tossed the sword away. They stalked towards Quinn like hungry panthers.
"Looks like we'll be drinking well today boys; this one's young, healthy, and there's something else too, but I can't put my finger on what it is. Oh Never mind. His blood will be sweet indeed." The female said slowly. Despite everything Quinn had ever learnt during his training as a Vampire Hunter, he did the one thing Hunters were never meant to do; he screamed.

~

Running as fast as her four paws could manage, Marisa wove around trees and jumped over bushes like the wind. Using her vampire agility as well as her werewolf speed, Marisa sped through the forest, making almost no sound as her padded paws pounded against the undergrowth. Smelling the three vampires, Marisa leaped over the last bush, and landed right in between the vampires and Quinn. Growling ferociously, Marisa tried to reach out mentally to the vampires. Why are you here? Vampires have no place in this region! Leave now. She commanded psychically. A female voice snarled inside Marisa's head. You cannot tell us what to do, you filthy mutt. Hang on. If you were a werewolf, then how are you conversing with me? Only vampires can communicate with each other this way. The voice stated, sounding obviously puzzled. That doesn't matter. Now leave this place before I rip your hearts out. Marisa growled. The female vampire shook her head.
"I'm afraid we cannot leave here. For if we did, then our lunch would get away." She said aloud. Sensing Quinn shake behind her, Marisa bared her sharp, canine like teeth. Then you leave me no choice. Marisa lunged at the vampires, and tore them apart, one by one. With the foul taste of vampire blood lingering in her mouth, Marisa's fur stood up on end as she watched the vampires disintegrate into dust. Spitting out the remainder of the vampire blood, Marisa turned to an astonished Quinn. Her triangular ears pricked up as she effortlessly translated what he was saying.
"Thank you... What..? No..." Quinn said, leaning close to Marisa, who heard someone coming. Giving a quick wink at Quinn, Marisa dashed off before she was spotted.