Caligo stood quietly in a dark corner, her black coat enabling her to blend in well with the shadows around her. She could smell the strong tang of alcohol from the bar, just inside the roadhouse. She flicked an ear as she listened to the loud, rowdy, drunken patrons. Her tail flicked behind her and she shifted her weight to her other hip. She glanced around her at the few people outside of the inn. They paid her no mind, and didn't seem to notice her presence, as long as she was careful, they wouldn't be any wiser, at least not until after it was too late to help.
She froze and leaned further into the cover, the night concealed her well, but she didn't have any desire to take unnecessary chances. Not yet. She struggled to refrain herself as a small child past under her nose, so close that she could reach out and lick his face with her tongue if she had wanted to. She didn't and he went on his way, completely oblivious to her. She had her eyes on a much bigger, and more flavorful prize.
She gave a long breath and listened intently to the scene unfolding within the bar. She heard chips being shuffled and could picture a group of guests playing a game of poker or other sort of gambling. Each player sitting, staring intensely at their cards, and putting whatever dispensable object they had at hand on the table. Glasses tinkled and she could imagine a bar lined with drinking occupants: some requesting straight whiskey or bourbon and others preferring more refined drinks. Then there was that odd individual at the end that drank only water and only acted as drunk as the rest. She'd stay away from them.
Laughter and catcalls could be heard as well, from both males and females, and she could only assume what an enjoyable time they were having on the far side of the inn. She licked her lips and casually paid attention to the few people that were walking along the street. She heard footsteps that came to an abrupt stop and she glanced behind her curiously. A young man stood a short distance away from her with his mouth gaping open and his eyes appearing to bulge out of his head. He looked barely old enough to walk the street without an adult, a teenager.
She bent her large head around and looked at him squarely. He had seen her, so she had no qualms about moving freely in front of him now. She mentally reached out to him and could feel the panic and uncertainty bouncing around in his head like a fast moving ball. She breathed a puff of air in his face and emitted a low grumble from her throat. Don't stray too far from your mother's side, boy. She spoke to him. You might get hurt. She opened her jaws and stepped towards him, her ears pinned back and neck arched, ready to strike. He gave a short scream before racing off down the street.
She growled low in her chest and swung her head back around so she was again hidden in the gloom. Stupid kids. She thought to herself. She pinned her ears back and again focused her attention to the inside of the pub. She heard a loud, shuffling set of footsteps as they made their way to the door. A table was bumped and skidded loudly across the floor. She licked her lips in anticipation. The big, sloppy drunk made his way onto the porch after opening the door of the inn. He stood there for a second, almost falling over.
He smelled of stale alcohol and musk and various other things. His shirt and pants were stained and his boots were untied. His hair was unruly and his beard was in need of maintenance. Perfect. She watched him step toward the edge of porch and into to the darkness surrounding her. Once he was out of the light illuminating from the roadhouse, she lunged forward and sank her teeth into the flesh of his neck. He uttered a sharp, choking cry before she subdued him and pulled him by the shoulder out of the road.
She dragged him to the beach, out of sight of any passersby from the street or guests from the inn. There, she shredded his clothing and tore into the soft flesh underneath. She relished the sweet meat, now flavored with the bits of alcohol in the man's bloodstream. Her tongue tingled and she lapped up the blood in delight. It would only take her the better part of the night to finish him, the only remains would be a few scraps of cloth and bone. No, she would not mind staying here for a little while, picking off a drunkard or two every few nights wouldn't cause a lot of harm at all.