The Night Patrol-- [Hero;]

[HAWTHORNE GRACE HARPER]

HARPER, HAWTHORNE GRACE

There was something about Blackwood Hollow at night that bothered her.

It might be the utter lack of people or the tree branches that rattle as freezing air passes through their empty arms. There was the possibility that it was the chilling silence that made each of her footsteps echo. Either way the young Guard member constantly glanced over her shoulder. Numb, red fingers tugged at the collar of her jumpsuit and the brim of her hat. In the darkness, the bright maroon hat glowed like a beacon. Hawthorne instantly regretted offering to take this part of the Plaza.

The rest of her team, hoping to escape the cold winter night had suggested going separate ways. They would cover Blackwood Plaza faster and head home. ‘I should’ve at least taken Alexander.’ She thought bitterly, maneuvering a flashlight in her shivering hand. The long beam of light moved through the trees, nothing moved about on this night. The girl hoped to catch a glance of one of her squad but so far, the girl seemed to be alone.

Underfoot a twig snapped from the pressure of her boot. Her reaction was strong enough that the flashlight tumbled from her useless fingers and switched off as it rolled away. “Worthless piece of crap—“ She cursed the instrument under her breath, crouching down so her uncovered fingers skimmed the ground, searching for the sleek black surface. In the darkness, Hawthorne was reminded of the times her brother found joy of locking her down in the black basement. Except this time she wasn’t going to have light unless she found that damned flashlight. Unless she was jumped from behind before that. Hawthorne wasn’t exactly comfortable about the rumors going around about the Shade.

One Guard member, his name slipped her mind, an older fellow was killed just over two weeks ago. A strange death, drowned in the shadows of Bunkhouse H. According to the Captain, the man hadn’t had enough time to react. His pistol had remained hidden in his jumpsuit. That is why as time ticked by and Hawthorne had not located her flashlight, she slowly drew the pistol out of her jumpsuit. If she was attacked, she would be ready.

Finally her foot hit something hard and metal. The clinking sound alerted the girl to the presence of her flashlight. Her hand fluttered toward the ground, eager fingers wrapping around the cold surface. Flicking on the light, Hawthorne swept the trees with the new light. It seemed that nothing stirred. She would be spared another night. Still, the Guard couldn’t shake off the feeling that she wasn’t out of the woods quite yet.

[HERO LYNN SULLY]

Night was Heros favorite part of the day. She had always been something of a night owl, staying up until dawn and then sleeping in until noon. That night she was on the prowl, moving along the skirts of Blackwood Hollow, spying and keeping an eye on the Guard that kept them from leaving.

Ever since Hero could remember she loathed the Guard for what they did to her parents and for keeping her kind trapped in the Hollow. It wasn't right. Men, women, and children, most of them very good people, were being shunned and persecuted and not a day went by without blood of the innocent spilling.

Hero was not innocent herself. She'd killed guards before. She still remembered her first murder, a young Guard who was clumsy and didn't even try to keep his footfalls quiet in the shadows of the trees. Hero didn't feel guilty for the kill or any of the ones following. An eye for an eye. And she wouldn't stop until her kind were free to leave the Hollow.

In the underbrush, Hero had been following the female Guard for the better part of an hour, crouched down, dressed in black, her eyes narrowed while she watched the girl fumble with her flashlight. It would be easy to shoot her, possibly, but perhaps the girl shouldn't be underestimated. Besides she didn't know if other Guards were out there and if they'd be drawn by the sound of gunfire.

Staying calm and silent, Hero merely continued to watch and follow. A cool breeze flitted through the air and rustled the leaves of the trees.

[HAWTHORNE GRACE HARPER]

Hawthorne fumbled further with her flashlight as the Guard member attempted to pull a pair of gloves out of her pockets. The red and raw fingertips could no longer take the cold. In reality, she hated gloves. It hindered finger movement and if she fell into danger, she would need the mobility of her hands. Though with the temperature dropping, she didn’t seem to have a choice.

Nestling the flashlight under her arm, her pistol hung loose at her side, with a single hand she managed to produce a pair of black gloves. They were thin, a pair that she had received as a gift from a friend. It would have to do for now. Pulling them on, switching her weapon from hand to hand, Hawthorne never put down her pistol or let her guard down. The Guard continued to walk as she adjusted her sleeves around the bumpy mass of the cuff, cold green eyes following the beam of light emitted from her flashlight.

A freezing wind whipped through the silence and howled past Hawthorne’s ears. In a desperate attempt at covering them, briefly took the beam of light off the path to fix her hat. Originally the cold had been an annoyance, now it was becoming downright miserable as she thought of the hour still ahead of her. After the patrol of Blackwood Plaza, there was still her section of bunkhouses to search. Thankfully she had been given the better part of Blackwood Hollow to patrol. The farther the patrol section from the Guard headquarters, the more likely there was going to be trouble. Instead Hawthorne had managed to snag the position to search bunkhouses A, B, and C, three of the safest areas.

Now only if she could find a quicker escape from the plaza. She could finish her rounds at the bunkhouses and then retire for a quick nap before her shift in the morning.

A sound alerted the Guard member, the flashlight swinging around through the trees. There was nothing there but a fresh wave of paranoia crashed over Hawthorne. “There’s nothing out there.” Hawthorne scolded herself quietly, scratching her ear as she swept the area one last time with hard eyes. Nothing moved, at least that Hawthorne could see.

[HERO LYNN SULLY]

The Guard seemed nervous enough, and Hero hung back a little ways , watching her walk before following at a distance. She paused as the Guard did and watched her pause as the sound of a night owl took to the skies above.

Hero hovered, her foot in the air, watched the Guard while the beam of light floated near her. She held her breath and the night air started to feel chillier. Her dark eyes peered over the womans face and moved to her lips.

‘There’s nothing out there.’

Heros own lips curved into a smile. That’s what she thinks. She thought. Taking another light step forward, Hero wasn’t expecting her foot to fall down on a brittle stick and it snapped. Even though she couldn’t hear the sound, she knew it had happened and again Hero froze and held her breath, waiting to see what the woman would do.

[HAWTHORNE GRACE HARPER]

Almost done. Hawthorne had to keep telling herself that as she pressed further down the path. Her flashlight’s beam traced the trees one last time, her patrol was almost over.

“What the hell was that?” Her words were louder than she intended. The snap of a twig made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end and her fingers tighten around the trigger of her pistol. There was someone out there, just through the trees. Wild green eyes searched for the figure that made the noise. Silently, Hawthorne hoped that it was another Guard member or some troublesome teenager out for a smoke. That would be simple. In truth, it was anything that but.

Hawthorne caught the movement out of the corner of her eye, swinging her flashlight in the general direction. Just inside the brush was a figure, judging by the shadows, female and small. ‘Better for me.’ The girl hoped, knowing that even with her pistol, she wouldn’t be able to tackle a man with the power of fire or earth. Those were always the worst.

“Come out.” Her words were shaky at first, holding her pistol in line with the figure. “I won’t hurt you.” She called, raising her voice loud and clear. It would be better if one of her squad were to appear right about now. Even though this citizen may not be dangerous, there was a reason the Guard weren’t supposed to travel alone. “Come out without resistance and I will let you off with a warning.”

Hawthorne wasn’t really supposed to. An Elemental out after curfew was supposed to be dragged back to headquarters for questioning. Instead Hawthorne decided she was too cold and tired to deal with it. The rest of her patrol would probably do the same.

[HERO LYNN SULLY]

She’d been caught, but now what? The Guard turned in her direction and spoke and as Hero read her lips in the dim lighting she found herself presented with a problem. Was this Guard truthful? She doubted it. It had been her experience that most were evil and would sooner blow an Elemental away than look at them… but then again she hadn’t really gotten close to a Guard before. Also, usually when the Guards were shooting at them her own kind had shot at them first…

Carefully, Hero crept forward onto the bath, standing up and raising her hands beside her. Her gun was tucked away behind her, but under her jacket she carried one of her hunting knifes. She inwardly hoped the Guard wouldn’t search her or anything.

Continuing to look at the woman, her eyes narrowed. She felt nothing but hatred for the blond woman.

[HAWTHORNE GRACE HARPER]

Hawthorne couldn’t help it, she sighed in relief. The Elemental in question was a woman, small and not all too threatening. The Guard did have the instinct not to judge appearances but for once, she allowed herself to let her guard down just a smidge. Especially since this Elemental came out without an argument, there was no reason to drag her all the way across Blackwood Hollow to headquarters. That would be an act of stupidity. Instead Hawthorne played with the idea of maybe walking the Elemental back to the bunkhouses. It would be better than her getting caught by another of the patrol.

“Can I see some identification?” It was mandatory to ask this question. Hawthorne highly doubted that this Elemental was any danger, most weren’t, but there was always the chance a ‘HIGH THREAT’ could appear on that ID. If that was the case, the captain would have her ass if she didn’t haul this woman back to headquarters. If a ‘MODERATE’ or simply ‘LOW’, which was what Hawthorne was hoping for, appeared then it would be safe for the Guard to accompany the Elemental back to the bunkhouses.

Another cold wind whipped Hawthorne, almost snatching her hat away. More than ever before Hawthorne wanted scurry inside and curl up in a blanket. Nothing sounded better at the moment. Yet she had to deal with this. Why did she even take this job in the first place? Oh right, her father was the reason.

“Look, it’s below zero, I’m freezing, let’s hurry this up.” Hawthorne grumbled, severely tempted to put away her gun as an excuse to warm her hands in her pockets. “I’ll walk you back to the bunkhouses and I can head back to headquarters. After that, we can both curl up in our warm beds. Sound like a plan?” The blonde suggested, wanting nothing more than to get out of the cold or at least start moving again.

[HERO LYNN SULLY]

Heros hands stayed where they were. She continued to glare at the woman even after she demanded her identification. Hero never carried it on her and hadn't for some time now. Since her father was a wanted Elemental she'd been a High Threat ever since she was born. However it didn't appear on her ID until she was eighteen and officially became a member of the Shade.

Standing as still as she could, Hero felt the wind pick up and whip her hair around her shoulders. Maybe it would have been better for her to run after all. There was something about the Guard though that made Hero think she was possibly more the more intimidated of the two.

[HAWTHORNE GRACE HARPER]

Hawthorne’s jaw gave a single twitch in irritation. Usually this Guard was on the upper end of the spectrum when it came to patience. By this time, other members would be furious, shouting and possibly assaulting the Elemental. Hawthorne wasn’t going to doubt it, the Guard wasn’t what it once was. She often questioned her own motives. She was tempted to give into them now, to shout and blow up at this Elemental as she refused to cooperate. Hawthorne was tempted to give up, the cold didn’t make this shit worth it. Yet the idea of being fired wasn’t on Hawthorne’s list of pleasant ways of ending the night.

In an attempt to calm down Hawthorne pinched the skin between her eyes, rubbing the spot where her glasses usually sat. “You are making this much more difficult than it needs to be.” The Guard muttered, releasing a heavy sigh as she removed her hand from her face. Digging into her pockets, Hawthorne felt around for the cold metal loops of handcuffs. She pulled them out in one swift movement and held them in the light so the Elemental could see them. “I hate using these damn things but I’m required to if you don’t cooperate.” Hawthorne prompted, jingling the chains. ‘Come on, please choose the easier way.’ The Guard thought as she attempted to put a small smile on her face.

‘Why tonight?’ She thought miserably as another gust of wind beat against her jumpsuit.

OoC:
Augh, short and terrible post is short and terrible. :C