"They're pretty slow, but don't get behind them," whispered David in an almost sub-vocal voice. "They have a kick like you wouldn't believe."

He was teaching Alek how to hunt his dinner. It was the second night since Alek had woken as a vampire, and the new-born undead needed to feed.

"And back away quick when you let it go. Most of them just run off, but I've had one try and attack me. They're kind of crazy things, but they're easier to catch than deer. Deer are fast, for something fully alive."

Alek nodded, and crept silently closer. He was downwind of the dozing cow, and he was moving relatively quietly, though his city-bred instincts meant he didn't always manage to avoid sticks, leaves, and other things that could make noise under his feet as he walked. Still, he got close enough to make the last lunge, and got ahold of the big animal before it even knew he was there. It was easily five times his weight, and so he gave it a good thump on the head. Not enough to really hurt it, but enough to stun it for a moment, which was just long enough for him to bite into it. It went still as Alek drank, and David wondered for a moment if animals felt the same sort of dreamy feeling as humans did. Jeff had confirmed that Mack's feeding had the same effect, so it seemed to be fairly universal. He shrugged mentally. No way to know, really. You can't ask a cow how it's feeling.

When Alek was done, he released the animal and jumped back. This one just ran off into the darkness without a fight.

Alek trotted back over to where David stood. "Well, that wasn't too bad. Kinda hairy, but it tasted great. Better than protein goo, that's for sure. I'm not going to miss that stuff."

"I don't think anybody possibly could," said David.

"How come you don't hunt something smaller? That thing just about got away from me for a moment there."

"Because the only smaller game around here is small enough that to take what we need, we'd have to kill them. And I don't like killing things when it's not necessary."

"That sounds pretty funny coming from you," said Alek with a quick grin.

David chuckled. "Killing vampires is very necessary."

"Do other vampires usually take blood without killing, when they're taking from animals?"

David shrugged. "I have no idea. I don't actually know that much about vampires, other than what I need to know to hunt them."

Alek shook his head. "I think maybe we should try to learn then. You never know what could give you an advantage. You're pretty good, but I'm going to need every trick I can get. And if the trend to larger packs keeps up, you might too."

"It's a thought. But one for later. How's it coming with the balance?" he added. "You're looking pretty good."

"It's coming just fine. I've always been quick. This isn't all that different, really."

"Terrific. Maybe tonight we can start working on the sword then."

Alek nodded. He'd agreed to learn how to use the extra sword Aidan had left behind.

"Let's go!"

David jogged off towards the cabin, and Alek caught up with him easily. "Beat you there," he said, and took off like a shot. David blinked, then ran after. But although he put on his full speed, Alek still reached the cabin clearing ahead of him.

"That was freaking fast!"

Alek laughed. "I told you I'd always been quick. Though I really didn't think I'd beat you. You weren't letting me win?"

David shook his head. "No way. I was running flat out, I couldn't go any faster."

"Nice! For once I'm better than you at something!"

"Yeah, well, go get the swords so I can kick your butt."

Alek laughed. "Right."

He vanished into the cabin, and came out carrying the two blades. There wasn't much difference between them, but David made sure to take his own. He was used to it, after all this time. "Right. This is 'live steel' which means, of course, that we're using real swords and we could kill each other. So we're going to go slow at first. If we slip up, well... we heal fast, no problem. But do not aim anywhere above chest level. It's probably not possible, but I don't want anything to happen. You'll learn the killing stroke later."

Alek nodded. He took the blade, and David showed him a few basics, which for now he merely mimicked. After a half hour or so of basic practice, they tried an actual spar. David disarmed Alek almost instantly. Alek scowled. "Let's do that again."

David did it again, and again, and again. Finally Alek stopped, muttering under his breath in frustration.

"You can't expect to match me right away," said David.

"It's not that," said Alek. It's just... it's not quite right. I learned knife, is part of the problem, I think. I'm used to a short blade, which is different. But the other thing is, I'm plenty quick, but it's like..." he considered. "I have time to do two strokes, really, but I can't get the blade around fast enough. I could see what you were doing, and where I could have blocked it, but I was still turning it around for the back swing. Maybe I should go back to the knife. At least there I know what I'm doing."

"But you can't behead a vampire with a knife," said David. Then he grinned. "At least not if you're in a hurry."

Alek chuckled. "No, I guess not." He shook his head. "Eh, never mind. I'll get the hang of it."