"They started moving here..."

Long slender finger pointed down. The map was old. The color that had once been a crisp white, the age of the paper was showing in yellowish golden spots. Ink that had once been pure thick black was also faded. A few new additions were made to keep the map from erasing points of it.

"Mercutio, I want you to block this entrance."

Blind opal eyes turned to the man in question. His face was stern, handsome. Hair curled at the ends long and thick showing the traits of his Spanish heritage. His eyes betrayed the fact he was not fully Spanish. He was Tarakian. Same blind opal colored eyes. A deep breath entered a set of lungs. The leather creaking with the protest of the breath. Long lashes lowering back to the map.

"Romeo."

The man moved forward, brushing the shoulders of his brethren. Romeo and Mercutio were brothers, twins with completely different looks. Only those same eyes. Romeo had blond hair instead of black. His skin was lighter more of a golden tan than the olive of his brother.

"You block this entrance. Everyone surround the area, keep it contained so the creature may not escape."

Lashes lifted to see everyone nodding at the orders given by the crone. They soon departed her tent and into the campgrounds where they lived. Her body sunk into the seat. Hands resting on the map. She was tired. Having had no sleep in almost twenty hours. There were new people within Rome. New allies or new enemies. Ariadne was not sure. She could not see these new people. The seer of her troupe was unable to tell what they will become.

Her hands rose slowly to push her digits through the thick dark strands of her hair. She could get some rest before nightfall. The Eternal Church was up to something once again. It worried Ariadne. Between the Vatican and the Eternal Church she had more things to think about, more trouble and dangers that were going to be coming to her and her people.

Tonight they were hunting a revenant vampire; was not the first they had stopped. The ravenous killing machine. The first time they countered one they lost a member of the troupe. Arms and head were ripped off, the blood had been gulped down and some parts of flesh had been eaten as well. She bowed her head thinking of the first battle. How unprepared they had been. The creature had escaped, nearly killing another of her tribe. They saved Romeo with a blood transfusion. It was only a stroke of the Goddess' blessing that she had gotten to the creature before it attacked any more people.

Rising from her seat she would wonder the length of her caravan. The troupe was setting up for tonight. Ariadne could not rest knowing she will be fighting this thing tonight. Opal eyes watched the people she had under her care. Her task to provide for them, to guide them. A silent prayer to the Lord and Lady was said. Lips mouthing the words; 'Lord and Lady protect your people. Help us, guide us and allow us to be strong and grow so we may purge the world of the taint. Guide me so I may guide your people effectively.'

Combat boots thudded along the steps. There was a sway of her hips as she walked. Ears catching the sound of laughter. The pure innocence of the children of the troupe. The sound of staffs colliding against each other in a sparing match. She turned to those sounds of wood hitting wood. The faint grunt sounds of a boy learning from his master. The fall of his young form. Then the scrape of his feet as he gave his all to attack only to fall on his back with a sweep of the master's staff. Edges of her lips slightly twisting in a half smile watching.

They were so young, the children. Fighting, sparing learning not only what they were taught in school but what the troupe showed them. What their life would be. Ariadne believed in the cause. She was of the line of the Goddess. Yet, a small part of her mourned for the children. Having to learn how to properly clean and use a sword before they even hit puberty. It did not stop there. The training would get even more intense as the children grew. Lessons harder, till they were ready for a hunt.