Up, up and-- Oh hi there (Cheyenne)

[sawyer]

The sharp night air attempted to break through his leather jacket. He could feel the fall coming upon this city. It wasn't too cold, he could ditch the jacket and still be perfectly fine, but he felt better with one on. He heard the familiar change in footsteps as he moved from cement to the lush grass. Sawyer was heading towards the iconic tree. He had gone to study the Tree of Enlightenment ever since he was young. The obsession with the legend sprouting within him as his grandmother retold the story countless numbers of times. He didn't want to believe it was truly a myth. He knew his grandmother believed. Sawyer knew every square inch of this place, from the large knot on the south end of the tree, to the curling limb on the west. Every fine detail was sketched into his mind. Not only the tree, but the changes in the area. He could tell, the tree was far too hazy when dawn came around. He heard noises that should not have been in this region at night. The flap of wings during the day, wings bigger than any natural bird of the area. When dusk came, a crawling sensation crept over him.

This time, just like the lasts, he was here to gain more information. Any minute knowledge he could soak up and fit into the puzzle. He had heard many stories from many different people. So-called eye witness accounts were stored in his brain. He had matched them all together, singling out the similarities. Nothing was for sure, every bit of knowledge needed to be checked, then double checked again. He needed cold hard proof. He needing his own sighting. So far, Sawyer has found nothing. He has to visit the tree more than any human, but yet has had no encounter. He released a sigh, finding his way to his normal spot. A crook inside the tree allowed him to settle in and be, mostly, out of sight. It was around 1 AM but he couldn't be bothered with anyone. Sometimes, drunks would wander past him without even a glance. He needed peace and quiet to get the most out of his studying.

Sawyer couldn't understand what he was missing. What else was there to explore? He grunted softly as he got comfortable. His arms crossed across his chest and one knee pulled up, leaving the other leg straight out. As he gazed out into the crisp night, watching a bat flutter into the attic of some poor soul, he sprouted an idea. What if he was looking in the wrong place? He knew all around the tree, every spot. But what about above? How could he be so naive, missing the most important part of a tree, it's limbs. Immediately, he jumped up, hooking his arms around one thick branch. It shook slightly, but hardly noticeable with the draft. He pulled himself up with his upper body strength, and crouched on the limb expertly. That martial arts finally payed off. Then, Sawyer began to climb.

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

Just another night. Cheyenne liked the park the tree was settled in. The area around was lush and green and it was the only place in the city where you could truly hear the crickets chirping at night. Sure, the distant blaring of car horns filtered through the cool night air, and of course the laughs and calls of residents walking around, even at this late hour, could easily be heard, but it was comforting and calm and she felt at peace there. Maybe it was the wild animal in her that truly enjoyed the tree. Maybe it was the guardian in her... Who knew, but as she did a few times a month Cheyenne was hidden in the tree, in lion form.

The air was getting cool and the year was getting late. In a month or so the leaves would be mostly changed and will have fallen off, littering the ground below like confetti. She wouldn't have much of a chance to do what she was doing again until April when the leaves were grown in thick enough for her to get away with hanging out so high in the tree. Her clothes were folded nicely in a pile at the base of the limb she was laying on, her paws tuck softly below her frame. Her large, yellow head was resting on her soft paws and her long tail lay over the limbs edge, swooshing back and forth contently. A large breath of air filled the beasts lungs and slowly came out in a cool cloud from her nose. There was nothing more peaceful than laying in the tree.

That is until there was a disturbance below.

Cheyenne felt the tree move before hearing the human climbing it. She turned her golden eyes down towards the bottom of the tree, searching for any indication as to what was going on. When she saw the boy her heart began to suddenly race and she lifted her head high in horror. What was he doing?! The cat crouched low and her body shifted into that of a woman, the fur receding, the paws turning into hands and feet, the tail completely retracting into her spine. Horrified, she reached for her clothing and got dressed as quickly as she humanly could, not an easy feet when you were so far above the ground and sitting on a limb, even with her impeccable balance.

She stood up and pulled her jeans around her waist and zipped them shut and then reached for her UGG boots. She slid one on and then went for the other which, of course, slipped out of her hands and tumbled down towards the ground. She watched in horror as it bounced off one limb to the next and then right on the boys head! She slid a hand over her mouth to hide the laugh that threatened to escape. "Oh, shit!" She whispered to herself, cracking up as she turned her face towards the tree, resting her forehead against the cool bark as she let out another little laugh.

[sawyer]

He grunted as he heaved onto another branch. Taking a small break to catch his breath. He had been climbing pretty fast. Then he noticed the tree was shaking oddly, and not from him. He looked up and it seemed he saw a tail recede into a branch! He stared up at the empty space for what seemed to be ages. The tree still wildly shaking but his fascination taking over his brain and forcing him into a stand-still. Until a boot smacked him on top of the head. "The fuck?!" He shouted automatically, grabbing his head while the other snatched the falling boot out of the air. Luckily he was leaning against another branch. He tilted his head at the shoe, completely dumbfounded, until the giggles reached his ears. Glancing up, he saw her. A blonde chick missing a shoe. She was laughing into the trunk, obviously, at him.

He pushed the tail to the back of his mind for later and climbed the rest of the way up to her. Leaning casually next to her on the trunk, his hand held out the boot. "Missing something?" His brows were raised quizzically, wondering what in the hell she was doing that made her lose her boot. Come to think of it, she was in the place the tail disappeared to... No, leave that for later. Right now, Cinderella lost her glass slipper. "Think it's so funny that you probably gave me a concussion?" Not really, but he was giving her a hard time. He hoped that was obvious as a smirk pulled at his lips. She was pretty, beautiful even. He deserved a break from his investigation. But why was she even up here? But then... why was he up here? "I'm Sawyer, by the way."

Maybe she knew something about the story... What other reasons could there be for being in this tree at 1AM? She could be meeting some secret lover or some fairytale shit like that. With that he licked his lips and dropped his snarky smirk. He didn't want to come off as flirty. He cleared his throat and crossed his arms as usual. Lucky his balance was solid, so far. "What brought you all the way up here?" His question more serious than the earlier ones. Now he let his brain sink back to the tail. He knew there had to be a connection, he did not imagine that. Sawyer was going to figure out what happened even if it meant a slap across the face. What would cause that, he didn't know, but he thought it was possible.

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

The entire thing was far too comical for her. Part of Cheyenne's problem was she just didn't take things too seriously. She saved that for Claire. "Missing something?" Her head turned from the bark as her clear blue eyes landed on the young man with her but. Her face contorted a little as she tried not to laugh, though the amusement was clearly written across her face. "My hero." She said playfully, taking the boot into her hand and hugging it to her chest. She could put it on, but he was standing close and it felt awkward and funny, so she looked at him with that mild seduction she looked at every man with, mixed with amusement.

When he continued to speak it was hard not to continue laughing. Truth be told she did think it was funny that her boot hit him on the head. He sort of deserved it.. What the heck was he doing climbing the tree in the middle of the night anyway? What business could he possibly have with the tree? She reminded herself it wasn't her tree, but still, the boy didn't look familiar enough for her to recognize him as a fellow guardian, but that didn't mean he wasn't. She didn't know even a tenth of the therianthropes in the city and as far as she knew she hadn't come across any of the others though she was certain they existed. She did, after all. Still, she muffled her laughter best she could.

When he introduced himself she pushed the boot into her other hand and extended the one that had been hugging it close to her body for him to shake. "Cheyenne McLeester." She greeted, giving him a good once over. Not bad. Not bad at all... What was with her and meeting hunky guys at the tree lately? Maybe it was a gift from the tree for her guarding it! Even as she thought it a new wave of laughter hit. What a stupid thought!

"What brought you all the way up here?"

Chey raised a brow at him and then grinned mischievously shaking her head and tsk-ing gently at him as a finger moved up and waved back and forth. "I think the true question here is what brought you up here." She corrected smirking at him. Finally the girl lowered herself onto the branch she was sitting on and slid the fuzzy boot on her foot and over her jeans as it had meant to be. "I've been climbing this tree since I was a girl. I'v spent many nights looking out at the city hidden up here. You know, not many people think to check out the view from up here, but really...it's sort of amazing." Her gaze moved away from him to the city's buildings and traffic out in the distance. The city was remarkably busy for 1am, but that was common in any city. "Never saw you up here, though." She commented with a haughty smirk in his direction again. Her hands gripped the limb she sat upon and her feet kicked back and forth as she patiently waited for the man to give his excuse for invading her tree time.

[sawyer]

As he shook her hand he offered his last name as well, "Cayache, Sawyer Cayache." His sarcastic James Bond tone was followed by a half-smile as he too tried to contain amusement. Wow was she somethin'. Laughing her heart away at every humorous thought. He couldn't help but smile. "I think the true question here is what brought you up here." His smile only grew as she sassed and scolded him. He found it hilarious but kept his laughter in. This girl treating him as if he was 4. As he listened to her story he became more and more interested. Weird, how could they not have run into each other? They couldn't be that far apart in age. He should have gotten this idea sooner. He guessed the tree looked a little menacing when he was very young, and then never thought of climbing it as he matured.

He too, turned his vision towards the bustling city, it was quite remarkable. With his arms crossing as usual, he allowed himself to truly take in the full effect of the landscape. The lights and the soft murmur of crowds was actually peaceful. Besides the occasional car horn of course. He had then watched her swing her legs back and forth for a couple seconds before answering, amused at her actions. "I've gone to the tree since I was little too. Never thought of climbing it though... My grandmother told me the legend over and over again and I've been... well, obsessed I guess, ever since. I come here almost every day. Strange, I don't recognize you either. As for being up here now? I decided I needed a new perspective." He idly picked at a chipping piece of bark before meeting her gaze again and shrugging. Her smirk was contagious and he matched it easily. What a wild girl. She held herself so high. Sawyer couldn't hold it in and his low pitched laugh rang out.

His laugh was so strong he almost lost his footing, his arms flailed out for any help. They braced against a couple of branches and the laughter was cut off as his heart hammered in his chest. He was leaning forward, one hand on a higher branch than the other, towards her. As he naturally blushed from his completely embarrassing trip up, he genuinely laughed at himself and shook his head in disbelief. Never had he lost his balance so foolishly before. "Can you believe I'm a black belt?" His hands met on the same branch before he swung forward and landed next to her on the same limb. Only, facing the other way. He dusted his hands off on his dark jeans before lacing them together behind his head. "But anyways, I hope you don't mind sharing because I'm not giving up this spot anytime soon." Which was true, he'd come back to the tree even if she attempted to banish him. He'd fight her for it. He laughed at the thought and grinned crookedly at her.

The vanishing tail was completely pushed to the back of his head.

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

She listened carefully to his reason for being up there and his obsession with the guardians. Since he was so interested she made the connection that he himself was probably not one, which meant he had no idea he was standing in the presence of one. She felt her heart fill with a cruel sort of excitement as she realized how much she could play with him.

When he almost tripped she reached a hand out, but he already caught himself, her brow going up at the black belt comment. "Not very graceful for a black belt." She teased. "...I hope you don't mind sharing because I'm not giving up this spot anytime soon." She cocked a brow at him, almost challenging the statement. "Oh, aren't you?" She asked in a teasing voice as her body slid from the branch she was sitting on to the one below so she was standing again, having no problem walking up there. She was used to it and her cat like reflexes made it easy to keep her balance.

"Doesn't seem to me like you have much business up here." She taunted, that little smirk keeping the corners of her lips curled up as she walked easily down the limb by him. "For one, you're climbing a tree with a silly story associated with it because you believe your grannies tall tales. Even if the stories were true, what on earth do you think you'd find up here?" Her tone was mocking, and that cruel playful glint in her eye was there, like a cat playing with a mouse it planned on eating for supper.

"Second, you're likely to break your neck. Yah know, with your lack of grace and women throwing boots at your head and all." She gave him a wink before a giggle echoed in the back of her throat, sounding almost like a happy growl. "But since you are up here, you have my interest peaked. Tell me what you know of these so called guardians, Sawyer. Did you expect to meet one up here?" She asked, raising a brow again as she hopped back onto the branch she had been sitting on. "Sorry it's only me.."

[sawyer]

"Doesn't seem to me like you have much business up here."

He was expecting this reaction. He watched her mock him and list off the reasons he should leave. He smiled the whole time she was talking, completely amused. She was strutting down the branch like a drill sergeant or some kind of predator, prepping it's kill. He could tell she was having way too much fun. It seemed to him he had more reason that her! He believed in something, was ready to prove it-- by climbing this tree. So far, she only had her childhood to back her up. Unless she was hiding something. For some reason, he didn't think she didn't believe. Why other reason would she have come here since she was a kid? She obviously knew the legend. In fact, now that he studied her body language, she seemed almost defensive. Strange. He could be guessing wrong-- could be that secret lover theory he had before --and he needed to double check his observations before coming to a conclusion... The hindrance of being a private- eye.

Sawyer re-positioned himself, his back against the tree trunk, as she went on to the second reason. One leg hung off the limb while the other was bent towards his body. Again, his arms crossed over his chest. She spoke about the boot and he immediately thought of Cinderella again. But instead of linking it to her beauty, he connected it to the fairy god mother. What happened at midnight? Cinderella would change back. Change. He thought of the stories and so-called sightings of morphing werewolves. Sawyer remembered the vanishing tail. She had distracted him from his findings so far, but now his mind was twirling with the information. Why was her boot off in the first place? It could have fallen. But wait, she was standing when Sawyer spotted her. He knew something was up. His eyes subconsciously narrowed in suspicion. His expression relaxed when he blinked back to reality. Her words just now registering in his brain when she had finished.

He pushed the information away for later.

"Well, Cinderella, seems you have about as much business up here as I do." While he spoke, his crooked grin found it's way to his lips again. He gestured to her as he explained, "It also seems that you're the only reason I could kill myself. What with the boot and all, that probably gave me a concussion. Plus I think the reason I tripped was because your beauty just stunned me." He nodded and shrugged nonchalantly. "But so far, I'm winning on the legal rights to this tree. I'm trying to prove something. You seem to just like the pretty lights." He taunted her while pointed towards the city. It was pretty, but that was besides the point. "And sorry, but my knowledge is classified. How do I know I can trust you? To tell you the truth, I didn't think a guardian would be dumb enough to get caught. I was surprised to see you, but don't apologize, you're pretty amusing." He wasn't sure where this snarky attitude came from, but he hoped she knew he was only playing. His little smirk only growing wider.

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

"It also seems that you're the only reason I could kill myself. What with the boot and all, that probably gave me a concussion. Plus I think the reason I tripped was because your beauty just stunned me."

A brow raised and a sly smirk danced over her lips as he spoke to her. Her beauty stunned him? Someone was laying it on a little thick, but Cheyenne was used to comments like this and didn't take them seriously. They weren't serious remarks, he had meant them to flatter her, but for what? Same reason every man uses flattery, she thought to herself, but then he went on about how he had as much right to be in the tree, and all she liked was the lights. Her eyes narrowed but the smirk stayed put for now. She would allow him to believe he had control. She, after all, was the predator in this situation. He just didn't know that yet.

"I never thought it was a legal issue." She chimed in pretending to be a ditsy blond, something that came easy to her even if she were exactly the opposite. "But I am ever so glad I amuse you." She practically purred, her nose wrinkling a little as she leaned her body closer towards him. The girls head tilted again to the side and she looked him over slowly, not trying to hide the fact that her eyes were roaming across his chest and down his torso. She could tell he was muscular, his black belt comment
only confirming what wasn't visibly available for her eye to see.

"You know, I don't really believe in the Guardian mumbo jumbo. I don't even know what you think you might find up in this old tree anyway. Like I said, I've been climbing it since I was kid and I've never seen anything suspicious. No cracks or crazy demons or anything." She smirked again, laying down on the limb to bring herself much closer to the boy. "But then again, who even knows what the Guardians look like. It's only a legend, right? I mean, we could all be guardians for all you know, or... maybe we've met them and never knew it!" She offered and then laughed, resting her chin in her open palms, her elbows rooted to the limb she was on. "Not that there is such a thing. I'd ask you again your thoughts but.." She gave a little nonchalant shrug, her eyes moving to the lights outside, "well, you already said the information is classified. Besides, all little 'ol me is interested in is those pretty lights, anyway."

[sawyer]

A sigh escaped his lips, the CO2 condensing in the cooler night air. A soft, crooked grin replaced his smirk. He could never keep up his snarky facade for long. His gentle side always ended up winning, at least when he wasn't working. He had to keep a stone expression for that job. But besides that, he normally was never as cocky as he had been earlier. Actually, he felt kind of bad now. He remembered his grandmother telling him to always respect women and knew she would have smacked him upside the head if she were here. When she spoke, he immediately shook his head in disapproval. Her dumb blonde cover not fooling him. Although she almost had him with the head tilt. Until he noticed her gaze of course. He watched her as she gave him the one-over. He shook his head again, though this time to keep a laugh at bay. Sawyer even focused on her golden hair to keep his own gaze occupied, the way it framed her face and contrasted with her smug smirk. He didn't mind her checking him out, hell he even encouraged it, but tended to keep his own eyes in respectful places- for all girls.

He listened and watched her lay down upon the branch. Her head cradled in her hands. That made his smile return. She went on again how her disbelief's were obvious and factual. He still didn't get any reason why she came up here since she was a little girl, but he didn't press it. Instead he played along with their little game, his smirk never returning though. He simply smiled genuinely down at her. "I guess I can take a chance and tell you. As long as you don't use it for evil." He allowed a laugh to pass before continuing, "There are four guardians, each having a different time zone to guard the tree. Right now the Shifters have their patrol. I only really know about two... but I'm guessing there are four types. I only have theories. Nothing is really fact... but it's closer than anything else you'll find around here." He thought about what he said and erupted in laughter. He sounded insane. "I could be on LSD or acid for all you know."

He untangled his arms and they moved up and behind his head. His fingers entwining together behind his skull as he rested it backwards against the trunk. The bark was rough and uneven against his hands, but he didn't care. He watched the stars through the mass of branches. A shooting star crossed the sky then and he lifted a hand to point. His eyebrows raising excitedly. The comet's streak reminding him of the tail. "You know, I thought I saw something on my way up here." He began to randomly confess, not taking his gaze from the vast universe, "It looked like a tail... a cat's tail. But not any house cat." He shrugged and allowed his hand to return behind his head. Tilting his skull sideways, he cast a glance at her and half-smiled. A shrug soon followed it. "You're probably right. These stories are just that, stories. My brain is just playing tricks on me, huh? Stupid to think I could help these fictional creatures." He was mostly talking to himself then. His new-found reality setting in and beginning to root in his head.

[CHEYENNE MCLEESTER]

"There are four guardians, each having a different time zone to guard the tree..." Cheyenne watched him contently as he spoke, giving him her full attention, curious about his theories on the whole guardian thing. She had met many people over the years who had shown interest in the whole guardian stuff, but many thought the stories were simply that; stories. There was no truth behind them, they were made up. Cheyenne herself was actually a little skeptical about the whole thing. Sure, she was aware there were shifter's seeing as she was one herself, but perhaps the whole guardian thing was a facade to explain why there were people with odd abilities. It was an interesting theory, one she didn't really talk about, not even with Claire. "I could be on LSD or acid for all you know." She let out a little laugh then, her grin playful and maybe a little seductive at his words. He wasn't on LSD, Cheyenne knew that much.

"Oh, I don't think on your drugs." She said in a teasing voice followed by yet another mild chuckle, just loud enough to be audible. She sighed and watched him as he continued. His next words making her heart speed up a little in her chest.

"You know, I thought I saw something on my way up here. It looked like a tail... a cat's tail. But not any house cat." From looking at her there was no way to tell the fear she felt gripping her heart. Had she been that careless? Normally no one saw her up there. Who the hell climbed this tree aside from her, anyway?! She was sure other guardians did, but it wasn't often that she was up there, and she was usually high enough that she had enough time to get dressed before anyone noticed her, but this time... well this time she had obviously been caught. "A cat's tail?" She asked rhetorically in an amused tone as if the very idea had been absurd, though deep down she knew it was anything but. He had seen something, and his eyes had not played tricks on him. Fortunately, he didn't know that, even if Cheyenne did. "My brain is just playing tricks on me, huh? Stupid to think I could help these fictional creatures."

"Did it occur to you that maybe they don't need or want help?" She asked, cocking a brow. "Theoretically, anyway. Let's just say for the sake of argument that the stories are true and there are these guardians. You said four, right? Okay, so... four guardians, been around since, what, the 1800's or something? I don't know, whenever this city was founded. So guardians have been around for a while. Why would they even want your help? What do you have to offer? No offense, but you just seem like a normal guy." Cheyenne licked her lips and a thoughtful look creased her face as she reached out and cupped the strangers chin. "You're sexy, you know that?" She said changing the subject and hoping to throw him off a little more. One of her many mind games. "Strange, obsessed with strange things, and a shitty climber, but very sexy."