fandomhigh | Hunting 101 - Class 7 (Wednesday, period 7)

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hunting 101

Hunting 101 - Class 7 (Wednesday, period 7)

When the students come in they saw a number of items laid out at the front of the room. Those who had some experience with such things would recognise a portable electrical crucible, as well as clamps and molds and what looks like some bars of silver. There were also several handouts for them to take laid out beside the sign in sheet.

"Today," John began where everyone was seated, "we're going to be moving away from ghosts and haunted objects into more solid supernatural things. Specifically, today we're going to be looking at shapeshifters.

"Now before I start, I want to emphasise that not all shapeshifters are things you need to be hunting -- around here especially. Changing shape alone isn't bad or dangerous; it's when people start dying that a hunt is needed. So when I'm talking about hunting shapeshifters, it's the ones that are attacking and killing people that I'm referring to. Not the student who turns into a pony or a puppet -- or a child -- for the weekend.

"The most common shapeshifter at least in these parts is probably the werewolf, although it's by no means the only one. The one handout I gave you has a few other examples and the cultures they originated in, but it's by no means comprehensive. For instance, back in October, I had a hunt in Nashville that turned out to be some kind of ratwoman. So this list is a good place to start when looking for information, but it shouldn't be where you stop.

"Now, not all shapeshifters are contagious but enough are that you should always take precautions. Do your utmost to avoid being bitten as that is the most common way the infection spreads." He paused and looked around the room before continuing in a serious voice. "If you do get bitten, you need to treat the wound as soon as possible. Wash it out with an infusion of wolfsbane in holy water. It'll hurt like a sunofabitch and depending on how bad the infection is, it might even smoke, but that's a lot better than turning into what you're hunting. But really, the best way to avoid that is to not get bit in the first place.

"Regardless of what kind of shapeshifter you're dealing with, there's one sure way to kill them: a silver bullet in the heart. If you don't use guns, a silver tipped arrow or crossbow quarrel will work just as well. But silver bullets, like rocksalt cartridges, aren't something you can just buy at any ammo store, so you're probably going to have to make your own." John walked over to the table where the crucible and other items were set up. "The other handout you have there gives a brief description of how to go about it. And I'm about to give you a demonstration."

John demonstrated how to melt silver in the graphite crucible and to carefully pour it into the bullet molds, describing what he was doing as he did so. "It's basically the same procedure to make silver tipped arrows, just with a different shaped mold," he concluded. "If you want, you can all have a try at doing this, but be very careful. Molten metal is not something you want to be careless with." He looked out over the class. "That being said, who wants to try first?"

[ooc: ~~wait for the~~ ocd's are up. :D]

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Be careful -- you'll lose marks if you burn yourself

Isabel didn't bother with convential means of melting silver. A handwave worked just fine, melting the silver directly into the mold.

"Okay. I got to learn how to do that," Mel said looking amazed.

"Hey Mel," Isabel grinned. "Sorry but it's an alien thing."
~~
'm sure"Alien thing? As in 'Take me to your leader'?" Mel said eyes bugging slightly.
~~
"You could say that," she laughed. "Although our leader is my brother and he can be a real pain in the ass, so I don't know why anyone would want to meet him."
~~
Mel tried to sneak a look at the back of Izzy's head to check for antennae. "Well you look pretty normal to me. Or are you using some kind of mind whammy on me so I can't see your green skin."
~~
If Isabel could read minds she would have told Mel to stop by her room so she could show her some of the pictures Isabel had from the time she helped out at the Crashdown and had to wear the bobbing antennae. "No mind whammy. I'm mostly human. Just with a little extra throw into the mix."
~~
"Well that's no crazier that being a girl chosen to fight the vampires and demons blah blah blah," Mel said poking at the bullet. "So how does think work? Can you actually feel the hunk of metal changing form?"
~~
"Yeah, I've heard that story," Isabel nodded. "Xander used to be my roommate when I first got here." She reached for another bullet and set it in the mold, waving her hand over it. "I'm basically manipulating it on a molecular level. Shifting it from one form to another."
~~
"He was your roommate?" Mel asked. "Did he have the eyepatch back then too? Or was that something that happened after he graduated?"
~~
"He was. The best roomie ever," she smiled. "I thought having a guy as a roommate would be weird, but we wound up getting along great. I was miserable when he graduated and had to move out." Isabel frowned and shook her head. "He got that while he was gone. I don't know how."
~~
"Trust me when I say you lucked out having him as a guy. For a roommate," Mel grumbled. "I certainly could have done better. I remember something about him having an eyepatch from my dream when we had the slumber party from hell but not how he got it. I was just curious."
~~
"You're rooming with Zuko right? I haven't really talked to him but he seems like he's not as easy-going as Xander is," Isabel replied diplomatically. "How are you doing after that? It was pretty freaky."
~~

"Definitely not as easygoing," Mel agreed nodding vehemently. "As for the dream thing? Well I didn't get it as bad as you guys dead. I just had some weird pale dude with freaky hair show me some disturbing stuff."
~~
"In the grand scheme of things? I've had worse dreams," she said, thinking of dreamwalking Max when the FBI had him. "And those were actually real. Did you talk to Xander and Dawn about what you dreamed? Because it could be important."
~~
"Yeah I talked to them. You know that scary girl in rags?" Mel asked. "Apparently I have to go and talk to her directly. Not sure how that's going to happen."
~~
"Oh I remember her," Isabel nodded. "Trust me. And just with what I've learned by being here and talking to Xander and other magical type people? I'm willing to bet an extra large mocha with the muffin of your choice that there's a ritual of some sort involved."
~~
"I there is," Mel said. "Xander and Dawn are checking out what kind hokey mojo needs to be done. They've turned into my Watchers since I got here. At the moment they are just watching me go on patrol and walk around but I'm told there's a big tradition involved with that."
~~
"Considering the stories Xander told me about the Watchers his Buffy had to deal with? I think you lucked out," she smiled. "Xander and Dawn are both great people. They won't let you down."
~~
"Or set themselves on fire," Mel replied. "Which is a big plus for me as well."
~~~
"Yeah, I can see that being a plus," Isabel agreed. "You want to keep them around. I want to keep them around."
~~
"Yeah. I just hope I can do the same kind of thing for them," Mel replied. "And I mean the being around and not letting them down thing. The setting myself on fire thing I would only do if I got bored."
~~
"You'll do fine. Just don't date any vampires." She raised an eyebrow at the fire comment. "If you get that bored? Come see me. I'm sure we can find something fun to do. Target practice for one thing."
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"Target practice?" Mel said suddenly looking very interested. "And by that you mean?"
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Isabel grinned. "Well don't you do a lot of throwing of knives and firing of crossbows? Would practicing on a moving target help you?" She raised her hand, sending several off the bullets they'd made floating through the air.
~~
"Damn. You are full of surprises," Mel smirked. "Yeah. I could definitely use some work with moving targets. I still need to get that ninja girl to show me how to shoot a bow though."
~~
"What can I say? I'm more then just another pretty face," she said wryly. "Let me know when and you'll have all the moving targets you need."
~~
"Rocketship!" Mel exclaimed then gave a look that meant she said that louder than she meant to. "I'll let you know. I better make some bullets on my own before Winchester says anything."
~~
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. But let me when you want to practice. I'm usually around."

Parker figures this is a good thing to know, silver bullet or lead-and-steel, remembering the trolls back in December. She is ultra, ultra careful when pouring the molds.

Chris decides to work near Parker.

"Hey, would you be up for another round on the gun range sometime soon?" he asks.

"Sure, is this weekend good for you?" Parker checked on her bullet, then gently tapped the mold. "We've got our first Gun Club meeting on Saturday."

"Should be fine," Chris said. "I don't have any plans as far as I know."

"Cool. I can set aside some time for you during the club meeting, and we can work on something new." She smiled, and examined the molding carefully. "How is everything else going lately? Did you survive Wee Tiny Weekend unbroken?"

"I met Jo's mom," Chris said by way of response.

Parker grinned. "Oh? How old was she at the time?"

"Six," Chris groaned. "But she still threatened to hurt me if I hurt Jo."

"Oh, that must have been hysterical. Tell me someone got pictures of her. And your expression," Parker snickered, folding her arms.

"No pictures of me," Chris said. "I don't know if Jo got pictures of her mom or not. Was radio right about like all the adults in town being little kids?"

"Yes. At least as far as I saw. Jarod, Rose Tyler, Revolutions teacher--" Parker paused and glanced over at Mr. Winchester. "And I heard that other people were effected, though I didn't meet all of them."

Chris followed her gaze. "Oh, man, that would have been priceless."

"Wouldn't it? Heh. I really need to see if Dean got photos to trade out of that...."

"Photos to trade?" Chris asked, raising his eyebrow.

Re: Make a bullet

mparkerceo.livejournal.com - 2007-02-23 01:00 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Make a bullet

neurotic-witch.livejournal.com - 2007-02-23 01:30 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Make a bullet

mparkerceo.livejournal.com - 2007-02-23 01:34 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Make a bullet

neurotic-witch.livejournal.com - 2007-02-23 05:15 (UTC) - Expand

Setsuna goes about making her bullet with the concentration of a tiger on the prowl. Or...something like that.

John gives due diligence about making the bullet, and makes one quickly without a lot of silver wasted.

Tannim figured if he could do welding without any (serious) burns, he could make silver bullets.

Neil looked at the project for the day and then looked down at his carefully taken notes.

He reached for the materials but when his hand touched the casing, he shook his head and pushed it all away. Then he gathered up his notebooks and headed for the door.

Walking out on the class.

Sokka verrrrry carefully made himself a bullet. And somehow managed to do without spilling any silver. Or burning himself.

And then, when he thought John wasn't really paying attention, he pocketed the bullet.

Luna considered her options, then took her wand from behind her ear and transformed the silver in front of her into three pieces.

One very small arrow, one small bullet, and one very small throwing star inspired by some of her brunch guests over the weekend.

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