Spirits of the Earth

Canis Rufus, the Red Wolf, didn't have much time to prepare for his journey. Dylanna was already headed out of town to rescue Sam from the kidnappers that had taken him to Cerenis. This invasion by the Mountain Cats had apparently been more distraction than an actual move against the Soot Wolves, but that didn't mean Rufus wouldn't respond with great ferocity. The Soot Wolves would not sit by and quietly let this hostility pass. The Mountain Cats would be crushed. The timing wasn't great however. There was a bit of unrest brewing in the Den and if not for Sam and Dylanna's involvement, he would have delayed this trip for a few days at least. Since he could not wait, he would send word to those he knew could be trusted to side with him in a conflict. Each of the letters he penned were sealed with his magic red wax. They would burn themselves up a few minutes after being opened, so that the evidence of his words would be destroyed.

He gave the letters to the guild fence Heinin to deliver as he rushed off to meet with the Wolves he'd be taking to Cerenis. Heinin was one of the few Wolves Rufus knew he could blindly trust with his life, and he would deliver the letters without delay. After meeting his seven companions, Rufus was off. Out of Arca, and on his way to Cerenis.

The Dire Wolf's lair was an old building, made of good stone and ancient wood. Once perhaps it had been a fortified guard house, complete with a cool, dark storeroom underground where Charon di his brewery, a main room he'd divided up into several with different purposes in a very metaphysical sort of way, with a pad in the middle surrounded by odds and ends, mostly a bown of water, a single white candle with a brass cap, an incense burner with a small stock of incense, and a bowl of gravel, but when you looked closer, half of the circle (and the room for that matter) was darkened, and half was in light - and this was deliberate.

In the dark half of this main room there was a coat rack and several hulking shapes under a tarpaulin. In the light, a modest bed that appeared to consist of little more than furs on the floor, because that was what it was. There was a bag or two near the bed, but overall, apart from the smell of a male, yeast, and incense... That was it. This wasn't the home of someone who lived the soft life.

Oh, above, there was a trap door leading up into a second story... But the door was locked, and all the windows in the room were blocked off.

It was on his pad in the middle of the room that Heinin found Charon, bare-chested and deep in meditation. The Dire Wolf did not look up, or even open his eyes, but as the fence tenatively made to shut the door, a deep bass voice sounded from Mt. Charon.

"Come, Heinin."

The fence straightened up a bit, and walked uneasily towards the massive, silvery figure. The light part if him that he could see wasn't worrisome - he was a man of the world, but the dark... The dark was piercing, and worried him somewhat. Charon was loyal - you could say that for him... But he, Heinin, ha made no word he was coming, and he was certain he was quiet comin up tothe abandoned guardhouse in the rough part of Arca that Charon had so recently claimed. So how the hell did he do it?

Wordlessly, careful to stay in the light, he proferred the sealed envelope. After a moment, icy blue eyes opened to stare at him blankly (one glowing in the dark, sheesh!) and he took it, nodding gravely.

"Thank you, Heinin." He said, and that was that. He shut his eyes again. It took the Fence's body a moment to realize his brain had run off squealing into the night before with a s much dignity as he could manage, scurried out and shut the door.

Well now. An official seal. From Heinin...? That wasn't his style, as far as Charon understood anyhow. The man was a fence, not a messenger... But Rufus trusted him. That Charon knew... Trusted him with his life, and that was not an honor nearly anyone else to his knowledge posessed. He himself held great respect for the leader of the soot wolves - it was why he'd become one of them... And so the letter, with the Alpha's seal was of particular interest to his Dire Wolf.

The seal was popped carefully with a talon that flicked from the hand in darkness, and gentle hands freed the letter, which he stared at right up until it immolated. He let it burn his hand, singing him... Then stood, like a mountain unfolding.

"Understood."

It had been a simple enough job. Sure, the chest was bound up in chains, guarded by mercenaries, and smack dab in the middle of a rather large trading outpost... but when you're the thief who can slink through the ground itself and bend metal to your will, stupid things like that aren't even a bump in the road. Traveling underground to get into the camp had been simple; sneaking up behind the sell-swords and fusing the plates of their armor together had been child's play, and the chains? Hah. If the chest hadn't been loaded onto a wooden wagon he could've been in and out without ever breaking the surface. Where a common thief would have been forced to rely on guile, subterfuge, and a heavy bribe or a rough fight, Kassom Sercha, the Lone Wolf, found it little more challenging than striding in and taking what he wanted.

As he lifted the lid of the oaken chest, however, the Feral thief was in for something of a surprise. His prize, a flawless cut emerald called 'the Eye of Schala', was not where it was supposed to be...

It was gone. And in its place lay a letter bound by a wax seal. He held it up, recognizing the seal of the Soot Wolves, but gave it a cautious sniff just to be sure. Yeah, it smelled like thievery all right. A faint scowl marred his feline features as he unceremoniously tore it open and read the contents. He'd heard about the business with the Mountain Cats -- his connections to the Wolves were few and far between but the Feral had an ear for news. Lone Wolf or not, he still had ties to them and obligations to meet, after all. He read on. Well well well...

Looks like he was needed. And perhaps when Rufus got back he could explain what happened to the emerald he'd come to collect. 'Too much of a hurry' to track him down, but it was pretty obvious that the top dog in the Wolves had managed to arrange for all this. Sly character... a stunt like this gave him renewed confidence in the group.

And besides, he hadn't met many people in his last visit. This could get interesting...

Tossing the letter aside as it started to burn, he waltzed up behind the two immobilized guards and cheerily patted them on the shoulders as they struggled against their armor. "Well boys, it's been fun but I have to run. Good luck getting out of those suits and all. Ciao!"

And with that, the ground opened up beneath him and Kassom was gone.






The Den was basically as he remembered, thieves coming and going through tunnels and passages with their dues and pilferings. That was one thing Kassom had always had a one-up on with the rest of this merry lot; while they had to memorize tunnels and secret passages to come and go the Lone Wolf could pop in virtually any corner of the Den that he liked. Rufus had been smart to contact him -- maybe Kassom wasn't the greatest fighter or most nimble pickpocket in the lot, but he had ways of doing things that were a certain advantage. Even Ilaelis, who'd been almost uncomfortably quiet during the trip back to the thieves' fortress, had made mention that -- with the task assigned them -- there were few other logical choices.

Few, but not none. The Feral had been quietly wondering whom else Rufus might have sent one of those letters to before departing.

The bar was the place he was most familiar with in the Den, so it was there he went first. Saddling up to a bar stool and placing his dues down where Alko could easily count them, he looked the barkeep in the eye with an upturned eyebrow.

"So... I hear things with those Cats have gotten more... personal while I was away." It was a lame attempt at small talk, but just enough so that Alko would probably be wise that Kassom wasn't just here just to drop off dues or get a drink. His voice dropped almost to a whisper. "I'm looking for the Red Jackal; it's Wolf business, important. Seen her around lately?"

Jonathan Amsel was in his quarters when the Shadow Wolf knocked at the door. The Beta of the Soot Wovles didn't inquire who was knocking, he simply opened the door. He was confident that no one but the Shadow Wolf would be coming at this hour. At least, he was confident that, if they did, he'd have a knife in their back before they could open their mouths to say 'hello.'

But, as it was, he was correct. He usually was.

"Evening, boss," the Shadow Wolf greeted. "Just back from Ketra, of all places. I went down there with the scouting pack... Well, but that's not the point."

"Well, he have to stay knowledgable about our little kid sibling neighbor to the south," the Canis Lupus said casually, pouring the Shadow Wolf a drink. He liked to put people at ease. Amsel listened intently to the story of that new "Shadow Wolf," Torak, and his exploits in the slave market. This was too much. For Amsel's purposes, Torak couldn't have arrived at a better time. And putting him directly under that bitch of a new Red Jackal? Well, Amsel had to hand it to Rufus... It was genius.

For him, that was. Amsel thought, of course, that it was otherwise a farce. But for his purposes, a farce would do just fine.

"But the interesting thing was," the Shadow Wolf continued, "between dropping all those bombs, he also dropped a handful of envelopes. Sealed ones. Official looking. Now, I didn't get a chance to read them, but... Well, we all know he was an assassin. And we Shadow Wolves all know that the Red Jackal told him explicitly that he wasn't to keep being one. Well... what else could they be?"

Amsel raised his eyebrow. "And did you get them? Or are you just going to tease me with guessing?"

"Nah, that Spot got there first. You know the one? Cute thing, long black hair and -" he cut himself off after a look from the Beta. "Well anyway, she mostly does thieving stuff, but she's a Shadow Wolf for Akello, too."

"I know who Spot is," he said to move the Wolf along.

"I guess she was sent to follow Torak. But she got to the letters before I could. I think I would have beat her back to Arca, but she can't be too far behind me.  My guess is she'll go straight to Akello with them. She's got funny loyalties, that one. She ought to come to you, what with Rufus being gone, but..."

Amsel held up a hand. "That's no worry. That's fine. In fact, maybe you can give her something for me, when she gets in? One more letter to deliver to the Red Jackal."

Amsel know Akello's style. She wasn't sympathetic to direct disobedience with her own Bloods, but from Torak, who had killed his way into the Guild. Well, the man's life was in Amsel's hands now, surely. Without intervention, he was fairly sure the perhaps-not-so-former assassin would be dead by morning. So Jonathan walked over to his desk, drawing out paper and a quill. On it he wrote the short order:

Torak too valuable. Discipline him however you wish, but do not kill him. Rufus won't look kindly on discarded tools when he returns.

- Canis Lupus

He folded and sealed the paper and handed it over to the Shadow Wolf to be delivered.

---

After sending off the Shadow Wolf, Amsel made his way into the Den and into the bar. He wasn't an intimidating looking man. Of average height and lithe build, Jonathan Amsel didn't look the part of a criminal. He had boyish good looks and and a trustworthy face, with sandy blond hair and blue eyes. Amsel was friendly, disarmingly so, and rarely proud. He was known to be something of a 'yes man' to Rufus. He was smart and strong and respected for it, but he was seen as something more of a loyal hound dog than a wolf with his eyes on the alpha spot.

He spotted the Lone Wolf, who m he knew by sight and name, but hadn't met yet, and moved to join him at the bar. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, pulling  a stool up next to Kassom. "Not that often that one actually sets sights on the phantom Lone Wolf," he added with a grin. He ordered a strong ale from Alko, then turned back to Kassom. "Not sure you're going to have much luck setting sights on the lovely Zahi Akello, either," he offered. He made a point to always speak flatteringly of people, if a little tongue in cheek. And, given his position, this wasn't exactly out of line. "I think she's rather got her hands full lately."

Kassom eyed up the newcomer who'd interjected himself into the conversation with a mix of curiosity, reserve, and distrust. He didn't look like he belonged here -- too many soft lines on his face, for one thing -- and there was something Kassom just couldn't quite place, too. He might look honest, sure, but deception was something any thief worth their salt ought to be practiced in. Whoever he was, he had good hearing... maybe too good.

His gaze swung back around to Alko, flipping a few coins up onto the bar where they spun and twirled like dancers before settling onto their faces. "Double hit of my usual, light on the ice if you please." Something told him he was going to need the ginger bite of the Arcan brandy before long. He paused a good long moment before, at length, turning his head to address Amsel.

"Sorry, don't think we've met, and I don't tend to know all that many people around here. Who are you exactly?"

Whoever he was, he knew something about Zahi and seemed to have an interest as well. Given the contents of the letter Kassom wasn't sure that was good, and he could hear Ilaelis whispering words of caution into the back of his mind as well. "And why would I have trouble finding her? Seems the Wolves are always able to find their own, after all."

"Well, fair enough," the Grey Wolf laughed as he took his beer from Alko, "I suppose I'm not as easy to pick out of a crowd just by description as you are. But I was away on a job when you were here last. When Rufus made you the Black Wolf, I mean," he added. His tone was amicable, but not excessively so. "I'm Canis Lupus," he stated, offering the Feral the hand that wasn't holding his beer. "But just call me Jack. There's no need for you, after all, to use my 'title.' I don't much care for all the formality, anyway, if I'm honest."

Jonathan Amsel took a long, slow drink of his beer, keeping his eyes on Kassom, as the Black Wolf replied cautiously about Zahi. "Ah well, I just mean it might be a bit of a wait, then," he said, clearly backing off the topic. His pause was just long enough to suggest that might not be all he meant, as if considering whether or not to say more to the Black Wolf, before he concluded, "It's a busy job. She doesn't get the nice breaks between tasks the thieves get."

"But, of course,"  he set down his beer and gave a friendly grin, "with the Red Wolf gone, if there's anything you need, I'm you're man."

So this was the Gray Wolf, then. That fact alone put Kassom on edge. If someone who didn't look like he could make it in the world of criminal thievery could ascend to that rank in an organization like this, then he definitely was more than he appeared to be. He'd expected the Beta to be someone strong and sly, with a reputation a mile long and the signs of a thief's life clear on their face -- this was far from the kind of person he'd imagined for Rufus' right hand man.

Something wasn't right about all this; his gut told him to be wary of trouble and careful of what he said.

The brandy arrived and Kassom took a swig of the first shot before responding. "So you're the one in charge whenever Rufus is gone, hm? I guess you are the man to go to, then." The Feral thief was no stranger to soft words and mild flattery either; he could lay it on pretty thick if need be, and the way 'Jack' talked Kassom guessed he had an ego to match his position. "Well, I do need to find her -- it's urgent, and a private matter." 'Private' being a good stand-in word for 'secret' in this case. "I'd ask for your help, but I'll bet your job is pretty busy right now too."

He was playing at a dangerous game, if his suspicions were right. The letter from Rufus had been quite clear: find Zahi, aid her and keep her safe. The Grey Wolf's moment of hesitation spoke volumes -- he knew more than he was letting on. For the moment, Kassom had to keep him just close enough to use him and at just enough distance to avoid getting used himself. If he was wrong about  Jack then fine, over-caution seldom hurt anyone, but if he was right...

"You wouldn't have heard anything that could get me started though, would you?"

... then things were about to start getting interesting.

Kuisheid Wellust, The White Wolf, walked into the Den bar with her usual sexy stride. Wag saw her coming and stepped aside to let her enter without any trouble. He knew she was trouble, but that didn't mean he didn't appreciate the view as she walked by. Dressed in skin tight black leathers that hugged her hips and ass, and had a very low neck that gave clear view of her cleavage, she always drew the eyes of everyone. She wore her Canis Albus badge, standing out so bright white against her black clothing, as a broach to draw your eyes to her breasts. She used her sex appeal, coupled with her cutthroat methods to gain the power she possessed, but she wanted more.

She walked with purpose to the bar. Sliding her hand up Jack's back and over his shoulder to his chest, she pressed her breasts into his back and propped her chin on his shoulder. "Watcha drinkin'," she asked as she ran the tip of her finger around the rim of his glass, and threw a sultry smile Kassom's way. She dipped a finger in the beer and then placed it in her mouth. The over sexualization of the action would have been too much if it weren't for how perfectly plump her lips were. Kui was the perfect embodiment of the words sensual and sexy. Even the crinkled face she made at the taste of Jack's beer was attractive. How she managed that was anybodies guess. "Alko, something green, ice cold, and very sweet please. Thanks dear."

---

Great, it was that harpy bitch Kui. Everyone thought she was the sweetest honey worth tasting, even as gay as he was, Alko had to admit that those lips looked like they'd be nice to kiss. Asking for something by description instead of by name, she was always difficult, but he was a master of his crafts. There were two things that nobody could do better than him, decipher any language, and create the perfect drink. He pulled out a frosted, tall slender glass and filled it to the brim with ice. He brought out a deep pink liquid and a dark blue one next. Pouring them in simultaneously, they swirled together and became a bright gold colored liquid that began to bubble slightly. Next he sprinkled in what looked like rough cut salt. As the crystals dissolved the drink became a smokey red, and as the smoke slowly cleared the liquid in the glass settled on a soft green color. While everyone's eyes were on the drink, Alko took a moment to scribble a message on a special type of paper. He passed his hand over Kassom's drink and dropped the small piece of paper in the brandy. The paper would dissolve in alcohol leaving Kassom just enough time to read the one word message. It was from an ancient and extinct demon language. Kassom wouldn't understand it, but surely Ilaelis would.

Jack didn't try to keep the look of amused surprise off his face, withdrawing the ignored hand he'd offered to Kassom. The Lone Wolf's business with Zahi was "private." A private life, he was fairly sure, was at least one thing that the Red Jackal didn't have. But he enjoyed the suggestion that the business between them was "private," and inwardly wondered if Kassom had ever actually met the woman.

But then, if the Lone Wolf aligned himself with her and this unrest in the Blood Wolves blew up... Well, that wasn't his problem.

"Ah, I see," he replied with a sort of knowing diplomacy, the look of amusement not gone from his face. "Well, congratulations." The Gray Wolf had seen more than one man get laid out for making an advance on the Red Jackal - well, when she was just a Blood Wolf, he doubted any tried now - and while he thought the Feral was lying, the idea tickled him.

"But drop all this tense formality. We're more or less equals here, seniority aside. If you need help with something, it's my job to help you." He took a drink from his beer. "Especially with the Red Wolf away."

Jack didn't want to let this one go just yet.

But here came trouble, all wrapped up in leather. Jack waited patiently through Kui's sexualized routine - he couldn't really pretend he didn't enjoy it, but he liked to look as though he was unmoved - before properly acknowledging her. Or at least introducing her. "And since your visits are so few and far between," he said to Kassom, "I'm guessing you haven't met our matriarch?" He deliberately used the word that was associated with age to vex Kui.

'What the...?' Kassom wondered as he noticed the quick-dissolving message in an unfamiliar language. In mere seconds it was gone... but somehow he felt like he --


Ilaelis' voice echoed in his mind clear as day; sometimes the demon of metal spoke in wordless impressions or ideas but not this time. There was more than just the two words, however -- he could feel his 'partner' directing cold distrust at the sensual woman, at Jack... and, mixed with surprise and curiosity, at Alko as well. It was enough for Kassom to roughly piece together what had just occurred, though it left him even more confused than previously. Clearly the bartender knew a few fancy tricks... including languages that most people didn't, it seemed -- and, what's more, the existence of Kassom's 'live-in' business partner, a fact that the Feral had gone to some lengths to keep to himself. He could feel his thoughts going in more or less the same direction as Ilaelis'; who was this "mere barkeep" really... and what else did he know?

It was a mystery for later, though. The message had been clear -- Jack and the Matriarch weren't to be trusted. Fortunately, distrusting people was something that came naturally for the Feral thief.

"No, don't believe I've made her acquaintance either." He slung back his second shot before offering the over-sexualized woman his hand. She was an easy book to read, he was guessing -- all cover, few pages. Women in this profession, after all, tended either to keep their sexuality under lock and key in the name of professionalism... or else flaunt it as a distraction and, at times, a weapon.

"Thanks for the offer; sorry if I'm a bit standoffish. You know how all that time out in the field makes people self-reliant and all." His mind was spinning, searching for an angle, an opportunity, something he could use to... ah!

"Actually..." He leaned into wards Jack just slightly. "Perhaps you can help. Didn't really want to mention it to anyone because, heck, you know how it gets if people catch wind of a big score in the works, but I guess I can trust the two highest ranking Wolves in the Den not to squeeze in on my action, right. Anyway, here's the thing..."

"Been trailing this sweet gemstone, a flawless emerald called the 'Eye of Schala'. Apparently some nobleman in Whitesands bought it from a merchant in Jadenshine for a pretty price and was having it shipped back to his estate." That much was true, and a bit of checking around would confirm Kassom's story for anyone who wanted to know. What followed, however, was basically fiction. "Looks like the noble took the precaution of having decoy wagons with chained-up chests sent to throw off people like us; thought I had the stone a few days back only to find an empty chest instead. Zahi's the one who gave me the tip about the emerald originally so I was hoping she might know more. My best chance to nab it for the Wolves is before it reaches Whitesands -- darned thing could sail off as tribute or a gift for all I know once it arrives. You know how preoccupied nobles are with buying prestige; the Eye could end up as a ring on the finger of the Queen for crying out loud."

"I really, really need to talk to Zahi on this one. Before my chance is completely gone."

"Zahi's busy," Zeina said, standing directly behind the Lone Wolf. She had entered the bar soon after the matriarch, therefore passing by at least mostly unnoticed. After speaking her two words, she grabbed herself a seat on the other side of Jack so that the White Wolf would have to sit by either her or the Kassom if she wanted to sit. Zeina had reasons for not being a huge fan of Kui, and she couldn't get in trouble for taking a seat. Though she wouldn't be surprised if Kui sat herself on Jack's lap instead.

Zeina dropped a few coins onto the bar, throwing a quick smile at Alko. He knew just to give her whatever he felt like as long as it didn't contain too much alcohol. Then turning towards Kassom and leaning against the bar, she added, "Welcome back." She also threw a small nod to the Grey Wolf, since he was formally in power at the time. She didn't acknowledge the White Wolf at all, but that wouldn't be any sign of her dislike. Anybody who had met her more than once knew not to expect a greeting unless there was a very good reason for one.

Zeina had been trying to get ahold of Zahi for a couple of days without success. After reading the message that Heinin silently handed her, she knew she had to have a good conversation with the Red Jackal. But for one reason or another, Zahi's schedule seemed full. Zeina was even starting to doubt the Head Blood Wolf's loyalty, though she didn't seriously believe that Zahi would make a move... at least not yet.

You are a liar.

This was the first thing that the Grey Wolf thought when he listened to Kassom's story. Well, he might as well let him know he thought so. Jonathan Amsel didn't really care what happened to the Black Wolf, and if he was perceived to be aligned with the "traitor" Zahi Akello... Well,it wasn't Jack's fault if Kassom's read the cards wrong.

He nodded to the Coyote when she joined them. There was one he couldn't read yet. But maybe better to have her here now...  He turned back to Kassom.

"Really?" he asked. His tone was light, but he raised his eyebrows. "That's strange I thought Zahi had given up working as a thief..." He made a face that suggested he was searching far back in his memory. "Well, before I got here, anyway. Odd that she would know anything about it now. But I suppose she picks things up here and there in her line of work."

Whatever Jack said, the message to Kassom was clear: I know you're lying.

"But if you need information, the Gold Jackal could probably help you more. We have, of course, Wolves watching the routes throughout Serendipity."

---

Spot bobbed a silly curtsy and gave Wag a wink as she entered the Den bar. Theatrics aside, she needed a drink. And how. The Shadow Wolf was worried about her delivery of the Dire Wolf to the Red Jackal. She didn't know what it meant, and if there was anything Spot detested, it was only having half the story. Especially in this case. So now there was a gnawing in her stomach, and she needed something to stifle it.

Oh, hello, though. That was quite the little council of Important People. And one of them was the very, very last person Spot wanted to see. She almost turned around and walked straight out of the bar, but she caught a snippet of their conversation. Well, maybe she would stay after all. But she still made a b-line away from them, sitting at the farthest point at the bar where she could still hear them. Glancing quickly over, she took them in again. The Coyote, the White and Grey Wolf, and who she knew to be the Black Wolf, though this was the first time she'd seen him. She was pretty sure they wouldn't know that, in addition to her thieving, she also worked for Zahi. Oh, she knew, obviously, and Spot hate hate hated her for it. But the rest shouldn't. Well, maybe Amsel. After all, that note from him had ended up in her hands...

She grimaced hearing them all talk suspiciously about the Red Jackal's "busy schedule." Spot knew, and at least one of them knew, that Zahi had made no time for the Coyote because she'd received no word that any was requested.

"Hey Alko," Spot called cheerfully to the bartender, swallowing the miserable feeling inside of her, "something strong for your cutest customer?" She flashed him a pretty smile and fluttered her eyelashes at him. Spot was pretty - though she didn't have the raw sex appeal of the White Wolf - but she did these things rather tongue-in-cheek. She liked making people laugh, and this sort of joking was what she tended to fall back on when she didn't want to deal with what was actually on her mind.

Cute indeed. Alko was fond of this one. She was just the right amount of silly. Things sure could get tense and serious around here. That boy Vex could use a girl like Spot to lighten his mood, maybe he could play match maker. They would be adorable as a couple. There weren't many Wolf pairings. Not even the two she wolves at the bar did much pairing, though the White Wolf sure did suggest she did, it was plain to him that she was an ice queen, as chaste as a glacier.

He poured some strong cold coffee over a bit of ice in a delmonico, added two shots of his best scotch, poured in a touch of sweet cream, and topped the drink with a few chocolate shavings. Strong coffee, strong liquor, rich cream and plenty sweet. He was sure Spot would enjoy his use of many strong ingredients. He walked it over to her and placed it on one of his wooden coasters. "Enjoy doll."

---

Kui watched Alko serve that little bitch with barely veiled disgust. Why did Alko like that little wench. She was nobody. Kui was The White Wolf. He always made her great drinks, but he was never sweet to her like he was to Spot. Someday she'd have all the power, and then she'd kill that little bitch, and the Coyote too, with her beautiful hair and eyes. Bitches both of them, how could they try to be attractive when Kui had the patent on sexy.

She slithered around Jack and languidly reclined in his lap rubbing her ass into his crotch. Which barely elicited any response from his loins. Perhaps it was the fact that she'd never let him bed her, and he was becoming immune to her charms. Maybe it was time to change that. Can't have him bored with her, it was time to take control. That thought was for later. After Alko's return to the bar she tapped her already empty glass. "Be a dear and make me another one Alko. It was just too delicious not to have another."

Vex Idrian, Omega Wolf and illusionist, didn't walk into the Den so much as he skipped- though he'd probably have cussed out anyone who said as much. He was currently 'dressed' in a long, bright blue coat with a green vest and trousers. On his head was a blue cap with a green feather in it, and on his waist... now that was the most interesting thing. On his waist hung an incredibly decorated knife, with a golden, jeweled hilt and engravings all along the blade- either it was one of his tricks, or Vex had somehow gotten his hands on something worth more than his life.

The soft thunk that followed as he set the blade down on a table answered that question; Vex could make images, but not sounds. With a broad grin, the Omega turned to everyone present. Taking the knife back in hand, he gave it a twirl and held it up above his head. "Have a look at what I swiped! Overheard a noble ordering it the other day, paid in advance too. Child's play to trick the guy into handing it over to me instead. The maker'll think the noble's lost it when he comes back, and the noble'll blame the maker. No trouble, no mess, profit. That's how it's done!"

As he took a moment away from his gloating and actually noticed the company present... his face fell a little. Darn it, if he was going to celebrate his triumph, he'd rather it be with some of the wolves he actually knew. He'd never spoken with most of these people, though he'd heard of them- he always made it a point to keep an ear to the ground, especially concerning the other Soot Wolves, and especially since he'd got that letter from the boss. Still, he'd practically made himself a rich man today, might as well celebrate a little anyway. "Feeling in the mood for something fancy, Al'."

What an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Vex, and he was in such a happy mood. The barman finished serving Kui her second drink and reached for a frosted lowball glass. With all the business today, it was a good thing Theo - er... Rufus - had arranged for a magic dishwasher and a magic frosting cabinet to be installed for Alko. He placed a perfect sphere of ice in the glass instead of the usual lumps. Over it he poured a butterscotch liqueur, and a sweet cream liqueur. He added just enough tonic water for the bubbles and topped the drink with a whipped vanilla cream. This he garnished with a candied cherry and a dusting of a crushed butterscotch hard candy. Alko didn't take the drink to Vex but instead took it to the table that Spot was sitting at. He beckoned the boy to come sit there instead.

Zeina could see (literally) the disgust in Kui as Alko served Spot. Her aura was covered in mud brown—a perfect color for that sleazy girl. The brown color stayed even as she did as Zeina had expected by burrowing herself in the Jack's lap, meaning she wasn't satisfied with the result. But that brown started to turn a little red, and it was obvious she was planning something. Whatever it was, it didn't involve Zeina.

Alko's aura was a pleasant sky blue, as always. Either nothing really went wrong in his life, or he was very good at maintaining calm, inside and out. Whatever the case may be, Zeina liked him. He was one of the wolves she knew was more genuinely compassionate.

Zeina watched as Vex loudly joined the den. He looked as if he just won the world. What he had obtained, however, probably did feel like the world to him. When Alko set Vex's drink by Spot, Zeina actually laughed (for the first time in a long time). She loved it when Alko tried to get people together. Some of the pairings were odd, but Spot and Vex seemed as if they could go together quite well. Cheerfully looking back to Alko, Zeina said, "I'll buy his drink. Spot's too, if she has any more. I'll buy as many as either one would like, as long as they keep sitting by each other." Then she winked to Alko. "Also, I would love it if you'd make me my drink." She lowered her gaze to her untouched coins, assuming he didn't realize she had put them there.

(OOC: I'd be very curious to find out how Zenia's ability to see emotion-auras would play out with Kassom and Ilaelis, given the whole two-minds-one-body thing means they could easily be feeling totally different things at times. Maybe something we can play out later in the thread? ^_^ )




And so the game was on.

'He knows you're lying.' Ilaelis spoke into Kassom's thoughts. The demon could see, hear, touch, taste, and even smell (if he wanted) everything Kassom experienced, and as seasoned as Kassom was his 'boss' had a few centuries on him in the ways of cunning and guile. Still, Kassom was playing it smooth -- his demeanor was completely unfazed by Jack's back-handed offer.

'Relax, I've got an angle here. I just have to play it out.' Kassom reassured his blood-bound co-inhabitant, "speaking" with his thoughts much the way Ilaelis did. Even if the two shared the same body Ilaelis didn't necessarily know everything Kassom was thinking -- he could easily pick up the surface level, enough to know Kassom did indeed have a plan, but had wrongly assumed it had merely been to bluff the Grey Wolf into helping him find Zahi. But Kassom's confidence remained in spite of the called bluff. He explained. 'I just tried to lie to someone who's supposed to be the second-best thief -- officially, anyways -- in Arca. I didn't expect it to work.'

'But he's given away more than he thinks.' He wasn't outwardly, but inside Kassom was grinning slyly.

He shrugged at Jack's comments about the routes. "Lone Wolf, remember? I'm a bit too used to doing things on my own. But since I'm pressed for time, yeah, I guess I could rely on the pack this once." He gave no hint in his tone that he knew his deception was exposed -- one does not switch tactics halfway through a gambit, after all, without risking the whole thing falling apart. He had to let what was coming come, and be ready for it when it did. He silently whispered his plan to the demon in his mind, who voicelessly expressed his approval.

The bar was busy tonight it seemed, with newcomers flowing in like water. No faces he recognized, though that was no surprise. Part of him was curious who else may have been contacted by Rufus concerning his... interests... during this absence, but he put such thoughts aside. As he'd just reminded the Beta, Kassom was a lone wolf. He knew that. Rufus knew that. And any potential enemies would know it too. Reaching out for allies wouldn't be smart, no matter how trustworthy they were. For now, he was on his own.

He didn't miss the personal attentions Alko gave to the cutesy-looking girl sitting on the far side of the room, nor could he miss the colorfully-dressed thief with the ornate dagger. His grin turned into a smirk and he whispered to Jack "Think he's compensating for something?", nodding at Vex subtly while doing so. Just because he didn't trust the Grey Wolf -- or the devious vixen warming his loins -- didn't mean he couldn't have a laugh with them. For the moment at least, all were comrades.

For the moment.

Alko taking the dagger-bearer's drink over to the silly girl's table didn't skip his notice either -- and he was sure the Grey and White Wolves would notice too. Clearly the Feral wasn't the only one receiving private messages from the barkeep tonight. He already had his suspicions... but those were another card best played close to his chest.

"So," He spoke up, trying to divert attention before Jack noticed what Kassom had about Alko. "How does one arrange an audience with the illustrious Gold Jackal? I'm sure there's some sort of protocol to meet with the shadow amongst shadows -- and I've never really been good with those, protocols I mean. What do I need to know?"

Spot wanted to scream. Or run away. Or break a bar stool over that wretched woman's head. She focused her violet eyes firmly on the nicely glittering bottles behind Alko's bar, forcing herself to ignore the White Wolf's baleful glare, focusing on keeping tears from welling up in her eyes. Hadn't Kui already done enough? She couldn't just let Spot be for a few hours?

But getting the drink perked her up a bit, or at least distracted her. "Oh, thanks, doll," she replied in her best manly-bar-tender voice. "I'm sure I will." And she did. This was exactly what she needed.

Even in her awful mood, though, Spot had to laugh as Vex sauntered into the bar. After her, he made the second young Wolf to enter the bar and balk at the sight of the Four Big Bad Important Wolves. (Well, three... And one coyote?) She wondered how many more would fall into the same trap. It was a bit like watching a kit fly off into the sky then come suddenly plunging down. A pretty funny kite, though. And he made it back up a bit at the end. Plus, look at him in that get up!

She was still chuckling when Alko came and put his drink right next to her. She shot the bartender a you-can't-fool-me look and crinkled her nose at him. Still, Spot liked Vex and it might be easier sitting with someone instead of alone. So when Alko went back behind the bar, Spot jumped to her feet and threw Vex a smart salute.

"Sir, Omega, sir!" she greeted military-style. Loud enough for Vex, but not loud enough to be performing for the whole bar. "Requesting permission to share a drink with you, sir!"

"Hear that? He wants to talk to Gaze," Kui rolled her eyes and let out a little laugh, "Good luck with that. He doesn't talk to anyone," she smiled a knowing grin, "I'm sure his cripple will talk to you though. Vent does all the talking. Don't know why Gaze keeps him around. He's not even good for running errands," she sipped at her new drink some, then looked over at Spot again.

Oh how she wanted to choke the life out of that one. Watch as the last signs of her soul drained from her eyes into death. But Jack felt she was useful. If Spot hadn't been snooping around like a dog, she probably wouldn't have noticed the little bitch. Listening in on a meeting she wasn't supposed to know about. Kui wanted to just slit her throat. Only Jack's silent command had stayed her hand. Even their dark ally was confused with sparing the little Shadow Wolf. Jack explained that her loyalty to Zahi would come in handy. They could get information from Spot, and feed false information back to the Red Jackal. Spot knew that Kui was up to something, and that put Kui in danger, but Spot apparently didn't see it that way. Perhaps she thought she could save her precious Zahi, or perhaps the little dog was just stupid. Jack had remained in the shadows, unseen, and their dark ally wore a different face each time they came to visit, so the plan was not greatly threatened. Kui was expendable. She knew that. She planned on changing that.

Vex wasn't an idiot- at least, not in most ways; he saw what Alko was doing. Or at least he had a pretty good idea. Still, he wasn't exactly going to complain. "I don't know..." he said in a horribly exaggerated voice. "I wouldn't want to lose my talent 'cause it rubbed off on you..." Flashing a grin, he stepped forward and took a seat with a flourishing tip of the hat. "Ah, I've got plenty to spare. Permission granted."

Setting the knife down on the table and taking a sip, his smile faded for a moment. Maybe it was instinct, maybe it was a little bit of extra caution with the boss gone, maybe it was paranoia for all he knew, but something fired off all the warning signs in his brain. Something was up here- and not just friendly mischief. Best to keep his wits about him today...

An instant later his grin was back, if not quite as strong as before. He could listen and have a good time after all. That was how he'd stayed alive despite his habits before joining the wolves, and that's what made him valuable to them now. He gave the bartender a short nod. "Much appreciated, Al'. So, how's life in the Shadows, Spot?"

Zeina, as always, had a hard time reading the Lone Wolf's aura. It was as if he felt two different things at once. Usually when people were conflicted over something, the two colors mixed together to form a different color. But with Kassom, there were two colors that formed swirls around each other. It was pretty to look at but unsettling to never quite know what he was feeling.

At this time, one of the auras was a deep blue worried color while the other was red. It seemed as if Kassom was planning something. Zeina's attention was diverted back to the conversation going on when he mentioned the Gold Jackal. That was someone she knew well. But the fact that the Lone Wolf wanted to talk to him was not something she was suspecting.

Zeina listened as Kui talked rudely about Vent, looking calm on the outside but scorning her on the inside. True, Kui didn't know about Gaze's... hinderance and weakness wasn't looked well upon in the pack, but it still was unacceptable to talk about Vent like that. Partially to get on Kui's nerves and partially because she was curious, Zeina spoke to Kassom.

"I might be able to arrange a meeting with Vent for you, depending on the situation" Zeina calmly slipped into the conversation once Kui finished her b****ing. While there was a possibility she could arrange for the Lone Wolf to actually meet with Gaze, she wasn't planning on checking. The Lone Wolf wasn't the most trustworthy one out there and Gaze probably wouldn't agree to the meeting, anyway. "What do you need to talk to him for?"

Jack gave Kui an obligatory pat on the thigh. Must she really control everything, even his piece? And when she was such a tease. He wondered how necessary she'd really be in the future. But for now he focused his attention on Kassom.

"Relying on Zahi is the same as relying on the guild," he remarked offhandedly. Lone Wolf indeed. What was he playing at? Jack realized that his tone was getting a little cold and took the display between Alko, Vex and Spot to lighten the mood. He chuckled, genuinely, at poor Vex. "Ah, he's a good kid," he said to Kassom's compensation remark. The he added, to vex Kui, "And that Spot is a pretty little thing. Alko might be on to something."

At one point, Jack had only been a charming and trustworthy member of the Wolves. It was why he was Beta. And for a moment, laughing at the two young wolves, he remembered that. But the arrival of the face changer had changed all of that. Jonathan Amsel could tell which way the wind was blowing, whether he wished it or not. He wouldn't end up on the wrong side.

He let Kui and Zeina answer the inquiries about the Gold Jackal for him. Convenient enough. Jack had just been calling his bluff. Let one of these two beauties deal with him. But for now he wanted to continue to play his angle. There was no reason to keep the Lone Wolf around After, so let him fall with that odd-eyed Jackal. "Apparently he got a tip on a gem from Zahi," he answered Zeina's question. She'd been around longer than him and she should hear the lie in this statement without him needing to emphasize it. "Apparently it's dried up. He was hoping Akello could help him out,but as we all know, she's scarce these days. So I told him he'd get farther with the Gold than the Red."

---

"Oh ho, Vex Idrian," Spot laughed, "now who says you'll be rubbing anything off anywhere, huh?" Spot flopped back down in her chair and raised her eyebrows, smirking at the Omega.

But she couldn't help but frown when he asked about "life in the Shadows." Did he know? Was she that sloppy? Well, he might only know that she was a Shadow Wolf. That'd be okay, maybe. Or maybe he was in Rufus's confidence? Maybe she could actually say something to him. After all, he seemed the most trustworthy of everyone here except Alko, for whatever that was worth. Alko... Hm. Spot put the ideas aside for now. She'd have to wait to act on either of them.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," she answered airily. "I'm just a thief same as you. Not that I wouldn't mind the promotion. Well, not the same as you. You have that pretty badge. All I've got is my looks," she grinned. Then added, more eagerly, "And you have this fancy knife!"  Uninvited, she reached out and picked it up, admiring the jewel encrusted hilt and glittering blade.

"That's pretty good work, you know," she told him admirably, not joking for a change. "'No mess,' that is how it's done. Seems like there's too much mess lately." She paused just long enough to see how Vex would react to that before finishing, "What with this nasty cat business and all. Well, lots not get all grim thinking about that and our lofty company," she threw an exaggerated look to the four at the bar, then picked up her glass. "Here's to you, Vex, and your beautiful, er, knife!"

OOC:  iPad = so many ridiculous typos! D:

"Didn't mean anything by it," Vex said and shrugged. "Just trying to be poetic, is all." Well, he had meant something by it. The young man wasn't exactly sure Spot was in the Shadow Wolves, per say, but he had his suspicions. Suspicions that weren't helped by her reaction. Not that the thief really cared who did what job anyway- he made it a point to keep his nose as clean as a thief could keep it, he didn't have anything to hide from the other wolves. It was just useful to know as much as he could.

When the girl mentioned messes, he rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it. It seems to me some of the Wolves are a bit too good at killing people. Becomes a lazy shortcut that makes life harder on the rest of us when the guard gets doubled or traders paranoid. No finesse." The more... extravagant approach some of his coworkers tended to take had always been a peeve of his. Not only was it clumsy and bad for business, but Vex had never had the heart or stomach for killing. He'd threatened to, been willing to in one or two really tight spots, but never actually had killed anybody in his life.

Raising his glass, he grinned. "And to more jobs like it in the future, I hope. You know, you strike me as pretty reliable. I hear a lot of things here and there, got plenty of ideas for profit. Sometimes a bit easier to pull off with a partner. If you'd ever be interested, of course." Ordinarily the Omega preferred to work on his own- schemes were easier when some of the -ahem- less cautious of the Wolves weren't around to cause a ruckus, but he had regretfully had to pass up golden opportunities before just because one man with a bucketful of tricks wasn't quite enough to get the job done.

Taking a sip and setting the glass back down, he snapped his fingers and his outfit changed colors- now a deep red and orange. To anyone watching, it would appear to just be him showing off, but it was really because he'd had the other illusion active for quite a while, and it was getting harder to maintain... an aspect of his magic he figured there was no profit in revealing at present. "Besides," he added with an overdramatic sigh. "Sometimes it gets lonely being this amazing by myself."

A smile spread across Zeina's face as Jack explained to her why Kassom wanted to speak to the Gold Jackal. Zahi tipped him off about a gem? That was the most foolish lie she had heard in a long time. Clearly Jack understood that too, based on the color of his aura. Either the Lone Wolf didn't know Zahi very well or he was lying in hopes of being caught. Either way, Zeina wanted to play this out and see what happened.

Her smile grew even more enthusiastic when she replied, "Oh! Why didn't you just say so? I'm sure Gaze would be more than happy to help you find the gem. After all, it must be worth a fortune. I'll call for Vent for you as soon as I'm able." Both Vent and Gaze would unquestionably hear the lie in the statement. After all, they were her first kids. Gaze was loyal to Zeina so she knew that whatever he found out through Kassom would be shared with her... which meant that there was no harm in sending the Lone Wolf his way.

There was a chance that the people at the bar would have questioned Zeina's sudden helpfulness, but most probably would write it off on Zeina being... Zeina. Her personality fluctuated with the situation and it was near impossible to know what she was thinking. And even if one of them figured out any part of her motive, she doubted that person would do anything. Kui didn't know her well enough, Jack was already playing along, and Kassom couldn't complain without revealing he was lying. And Alko usually minded his own business... which was good considering some of the conversations that happened at this bar.

Kassom nodded, doing his best to give the impression he was paying close attention to the advice the others were giving him about contacting the Shadow Wolves. In reality, at least part of his attentions were elsewhere...

When Alko was next behind the bar he would find a single coin sitting right center in his mixing area, as if silently demanding his attention. He certainly wouldn't remember it as having been there when he went to take Vex's drink over to the far table, and to anyone who happened to glance that way they wouldn't note anything strange about a single stray coin in the bar. It was the fact it was not only in Alko's work area, not only where it shouldn't be, but that it was engraved with script in a daemonic tongue that Ilaelis could now safely assume he was familiar with that was almost certain to draw the barkeep's attention. The demon of metal had a message for the well-informed barkeeper.

On it's showing face: 'Your master beckoned me'.

And on the reverse: 'We must speak'

While Ilaelis was showing the barkeep that he, too, could send phantom messages, Kassom was being directed that he'd hear back from a couple of Wolves named Vent and Gaze. He still wasn't sure who he could really trust... but he liked the way this was playing out so far. If he'd been forced to either stay at the bar or wander the Den until he got the answers he needed... well, there were too many variables. Too many things that could go wrong. Even if he did have good reason to suspect Jack had an angle to play regarding Zahi, what was he going to do? Announce it to the whole bar and get laughed out? Not helpful. The Scavenger Wolves? Now they could be useful. Come what may, it was best to play along with all this for now; maybe Zeina would call him out on the lie once she had him in a position of advantage, but if so that was just as well. Finding Zahi had to start somewhere...

... and something told Kassom that he'd have to deal with Grey and White shadows behind him as he made his inquiries. Whether they knew the Red Jackal's whereabouts already or not.

"I'd certainly appreciate the help." He reached into one of his many pockets and pulled out a small but fat bag of coins, tossing it Zeina's way. "There's more where that came from if you and your helpers help me pull this off. When and where do you want to meet up?"

Torak had already had a bad day. First he had realised he lost record of those contracts, and ripped apart his quarters looking for the contracts. Then Zahi had turned up, and after scolding him and threatening him, told him he could leave the Soot Wolves. She had made him angry. Normally he got frustrated or irritable, but never truly angry. She had the power to do that.

He was in his armour, having stolen it back from the guild, and had his helmet under arm. No wolf questioned him for fear of reprisal from Zahi. But of course, when the conversation he wanted to have was over, he would be working for a different wolf. One that wouldn't irritate him. But, the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to prove her wrong. Prove that he COULD follow her orders explicitly. She had made him angry enough to.

She made him angry, and made him want to prove her wrong, to have a reason to be smug. He was going to prove her wrong. Instead of a different wolf, he would give Zahi the pain of being his superior. And he would show her up, he would make it look like she kicked him out for nothing.

He burst through into the tavern, not in a violent manner, but clearly unsociable. He scanned the room for the beta. And then he saw Jack. He composed himself, pushing his anger to one side.

"Beta Wolf." Torak bowed respectfully.

"I will not pad it up. Me and Zahi had a falling out. I failed to follow orders. She has told me to leave the Soot Wolves." Blunt and honest was exactly how he was going to take this.

"I do not desire to leave. But I did wrong, I disobeyed orders. Rightfully, I should be dead. But, I do not wish to die. I wish to prove myself. I respectfully request to be placed back under your command, as per your position as beta, and power in Rufus' leave. Rufus had ordered to not have me killed as long as I remain a Soot Wolf." Torak waited for his reply.

Kui wasn't a fan of Zeina's, and so she rolled her eyes and took a drink of her delicious drink as the Coyote talked shop with Kassom This was so boring. She wanted to do something more fun, she wanted a fight. Maybe later she'd go out and find some idiot man to lure into an alley and beat unconscious. She licked her lips in excitement at the thought.

As Alko came back around his bar, he grabbed the coin, flipped it in his hand and disappeared it into his sleeve. Nobody knew that his hands were nearly as fast as Theo's but he wasn't gonna blab that secret. People around here didn't think of Alko as a thief. He had never stood out as anything special. He'd been Theo's accessory since boyhood, more like furniture than anything else. People saw him, but paid little attention. He poured some regular ales for the Bloods in the corner. They didn't seem to be in the best of moods. One seemed to be upset that he didn't get picked to go with Rufus. He was Chuck's blade brother, and had been passed over for Sandra, Tegan's blade sister. He'd be glad he hadn't gone, when Sandra didn't return.

As the new waitress, Melyndaria, took the ales from the bar and headed over to the table of Blood Wolves, Torak entered the room. He was back in his tin can, so either he had finally gotten on Zahi's good side, or things were now much worse. Alko was a bit shocked by his declaration, and his candor. But he was impressed with Zahi's cunning. He had only just heard that the Beta had ordered her not to kill him. So instead she threw him out. Looks it was Jack's turn to play.

Kui loved this. A confrontation. But she held in her excitement. As soon as Torak finished, she let out a little giggle. She licked her lips to make them just moist enough and planted a kiss right on Jack's mouth. Then she stood, with grace of a predator, and stepped up to Torak. She adjusted her White Wolf badge, making sure Torak got a good view of her cleavage. "It takes courage to admit you were insubordinate," she walked around Torak, looking him over. "Evidence shows your brain is functioning if you desire to stay, and thus live." She faced him again, and reached out to knock on the chest of his armor, "but do you have heart?" She returned to the bar, and stood beside Jack's stool, where she downed the rest of her alcohol. "What do you think Jackie? Is he worth the time?"

"Oh, but I don't know if I'd be able to keep up my confidence, Vex, if I were working with such a bright and brilliant star of thievery as you," Spot said with feigned seriousness, looking very earnest. "But maybe if I work a bit on my disguises..." Working with both hands, she pulled her long hair forward and mussed it about, loosely tying two thick strands of it around her chin and draping another under her nose. Tada! the 'perfect' beard and mustache. "How's that?" she asked proudly before hair tickling her nose caused her to sneeze. Laughing, she shook her head so her raven hair fell back, roughly, into place.

"Alright," she agreed brightly. "I'd be happy to, Vex. If you think you can find a use for a poor, poorly-disguised, magic-less thing like me," she added after he snap! changed his get up again. "But I'm game for anything that brings in something as pretty as that knife!"

She had opened her mouth to say something about how she'd liked the blue coat better when, of all people, Torak - and in his big metal getup - came striding into the bar. Spot didn't try to hide her surprise and her eyes widened in a combination of anticipation and amusement. "Oh boy," she said, dropping her voice. She nudged Vex under the table with her foot. "Speaking of 'messy...'" she gestured with her eyes to Torak.

Clearly all the Wolves in the bar were watching this now, Spot included. Inwardly, she wondered what this meant. Even when something might seem good, it worried her now. Now that she knew with certainty that there were two - no, three - sides at work. And now that she didn't know, with any certainty, which one she was really helping. It was hard for Spot, who wore her heart patently on her sleeve, to keep it all on the inside, and for a moment or two a worried look darkened her face.

But it didn't last. Spot pulled a face of disgust when Kui flagrantly kissed Jack on the mouth. "Doubly messy," she concluded with a cringe.

---

Jack let Kassom and Zeina work out their trip to the Gold Jackal themselves. He wasn't sure what Zeina's intentions were, if she would really take him to the Shadow Wolves or not, but for now he was content to let her deal with the Black Wolf. As for himself, Jack would be happy when this whole thing was over. Everything would be easier then.

He had just turned his attention back to the watch the two young Wolves, when the tin-clad Torak stormed into the bar. The Grey Wolf watched the assassin coolly, letting him say his entire piece. Aha. Well, that hadn't been quite what he'd expected out of the Red Jackal. Whatever she might personally think of a situation, she usually followed direct orders. Then again, that's what everyone thought of him, as well. He might need to reconsider his angle there. But, of course, she hadn't actually disobeyed anything. He'd only told her not to kill Torak. And here he was, alive as ever, and his problem now.

He was had just opened his mouth to speak when Kui moved and kissed him. He pushed her off, after a moment, looking annoyed. It was a look that didn't leave as she circled Torak, and certainly not when she called him 'Jackie.' He shot her a look.

Turning his attention back to Torak again, his expression returned to one of cool and relaxed consideration and he let the man wait for several more moments before making any reply. "And your first act after being dismissed was to steal from the Soot Wolves?" he asked, gesturing to Torak's armor, which as far as Jack was concerned became Soot Wolf property the moment Torak had forfeited himself to Rufus and Zahi. "And now you're asking me to directly undermine the decision the Red Jackal? That's not a light matter," he said, though his tone was light indeed. But he made a point of using her title to show what he thought of Torak calling a ranked Wolf by first name. "But you've certainly got balls, Torak, I'll give you that."

Jack took a drink of his beer, finishing it, then asked, "Tell me. Why should I allow you to stay, when you've been told to leave? What do you have to offer the Soot Wolves that the Red Jackal apparently could not see?"

Vex chuckled at Spot's mock disguise; he knew there was a reason he liked her more than most of the other Wolves. He gave an appraising 'hrmmm', and smirked. "Not bad for a rookie, but I think you might be better off relying on your charm and good looks." When she agreed to work with him, the Omega practically beamed... then he realized he looked somewhat like an idiot and uttered a fake cough. "I don't know about anything as good as the knife, but I've got one or two leads that might come pretty close. I'll tell you about them later though, so nobody here decides to try it first." The illusionist grinned and took another sip of his drink- which he almost spit up as Torak barged in wearing his armor. "What's he up to now?" Vex muttered.

Simply listening in with one arm over the back of his chair, the young man was hardly surprised at the situation. Or at least, he wasn't surprised that Zahi had kicked him out. He'd probably have kicked him out three times over by now, if he were in her shoes. What was surprising was that he was offering the Beta his services, instead of running while he could. "What's he playing at?" Vex muttered.

This couldn't be good. Something was already up around here- the Omega didn't know the who, the how, or the what, but he knew things were even less on the up and up than usual. Torak somehow becoming even more of a loose cannon than usual would only confuse the situation further.

"Unique talents. Allow me my armour, and I am almost invisible. I can operate without it now, thanks to the Soot Wolves. But my armour silences my footsteps, allows me to blend with the shadows, change my voice, absorb magic. Some benefits which no kind of talent other than specialties allow." Torak had considered a lot of what he had to offer. He could give up his assassin life for this job. He WOULD give up his assassin life.

"I can fight. I am excellent in combat. I can record information well, spy on meetings. Charon shares an ability of mine. To blend almost perfectly with shadows." Selling himself to Jack would be the key here. Without Jack, he was stuck. He would seriously have to leave.

"Plus, you said it yourself, I stole from the best thieves guild around, what more is there to say about that?" There was nothing else he could think of. He could bind himself to Jack. Make an unbreakable assassins word. A promise beyond most.

"I can bind myself to you. Make an unbreakable promise that was designed for life debts. It will not end until one of us dies. And the terms are servitude. The bonded makes a life pledge to the bonder." Torak offered this man a perfect tool, a good tool. Hopefully Jack would bite.

When Kassom offered her a bag of money, Zeina sighed. First Torak, and then Kassom. Was she really dressed so badly that people thought she, the head Scavenger Wolf who probably had more money than any of the other wolves in the bar, needed charity money? Given, the Lone Wolf was paying her for her services. But Torak had told her and her other card game partners to 'split' his gold. She took the money anyway and was just about to reply when Torak walked into the bar.

She watched what happened afterwards with mild curiosity and silence. It really wasn't a surprise that Zahi kicked him out, considering what he had done. Zeina was more surprised that Zahi accepted him in the first place—not that it was her choice. But for that fool to just go up to the Jack and request a position? He was even stupider than she had thought.

But in the pack, it was go big or go home. And it seemed as if the boy wasn't planning on going home. Kui stood up and was her normal disgraceful, slutty self before returning to the bar. That part wasn't very surprising to Zeina. But it did surprise her that Jack offered the boy a chance to prove his worth. And the boy sure tried to do just that.

Nothing the boy said particularly impressed Zeina, but it was clear he was desperate. And perhaps Zahi making the boy leave taught him some respect—the main thing he had been lacking. If he started following pack rules, even Zeina could see potential in the boy.

With another sigh, she turned to Jack. Out of all people to defend Torak, Zeina would probably be the most unsuspected. But that was exactly what she planned to do. "Let him stay," Zeina started, her voice unwavering. "He could be useful." Plus, Rufus had let the boy join the pack even after he killed civilians. That meant Rufus had seen something special in Torak. "I would offer to take control of him myself, but he isn't my type. And by that I mean I don't like ruthless killers... or adults." She paused and turned to Torak, even though she was still speaking to Jack. "He's a Shadow Wolf, let Gage take full control over him."

Then, as an afterthought, she added in, "Though it is suspicious that he hasn't made eye contact with me since we first met." Nobody in the bar knew about her aura seeing skill, and she planned on keeping it that way. But if she was going to vouch for the fool, she wanted to be able to see his emotions. Nobody would think it was odd that she questioned his lack of eye contact—it was thing of respect, if nothing else.

"Tch. How juvenile."

The comment came from Kassom and was directed at Torak; one look at the Feral's face would make plain that he was both mildly amused and equally unimpressed by the former assassin's overly-formal bluster and forthrightness. He looked at Torak through the shot glass that had held his drink, seeing the grey-eyed killer distorted through it. He then shot a look towards Jack, a telling gaze that was basically another way of saying 'can you believe this joker?'

"Is this what the Wolves do when I'm not here, entertain wanna-be's and upstarts? Feh." He stood, eyes on Torak, taking a measure of him. From anyone else, that kind of insolence wasn't something they could get away with... but he wasn't just anyone. He was, after all, the Lone Wolf -- it was his privilege, and occasionally his duty to act as a dissenting voice to the other higher-ups in the Soot Wolves, a check against the authority and dominance even of the Alpha. Whether Rufus had brought him in to exercise this liberty in a certain way or not, Kassom was nonetheless free to do so.

And here he was, stepping between the Gray Wolf and an arrangement that literally had nothing to do with him. It was a move that took guts, gall, and just a touch of complete irreverence. And at the moment, it was the best move on the table.

"Oh, don't get me wrong -- you're the Beta, you can do with this guy whatever you want. Kill him for breaking the rules, cast him out, make him your right-hand man; doesn't make a tick of difference to me." Kassom shrugged and walked first towards, then in slow circles around, the former assassin, going from addressing Jack to Torak flawlessly.

"You don't know me, wolf, but you're about to. I'm the Black, the Lone Wolf, the head-strong hot-shot solo thief that Rufus inducted when he was looking for someone with the stones to keep him on his toes." Kassom stopped briefly. "I like to think I'm the best there is at what I do -- I know a lot of thieves like to have that opinion of themselves, but not everyone has the skill and audacity to back it up. You probably thought you were damn good too, until the Red Jackal took that fancy suit away from ya and told you to take a hike. I'll bet you don't think so right now though, considering you're practically grovelling at the Gray Wolf's feet."

"So you can fight, and you've got some fancy-pants enchanted gear. I'm not impressed." He leaned in as he spoke, sneering. "Yeah, you've got the look of a killer about you, sure. Maybe you're even good at it. But if you messed up so badly the Red Jackal told you to take a hike I'm guessing there's something fundamental missing with you, something beyond just not following orders. I know your type -- all orders and structure and hierarchies. Heck, you ran right from one leader to another, just stopping long enough to grab your kit."

"But this is a thieves guild, not the freakin' Serenian army. What'd you do before this, wolf? Mercenary? Caravan guard? Were you somebody's knight? Because you know what I see when I look at you?"

By now, Kassom was willing to bet the entire room was watching him berate Torak. His next words would, then, fall with all the resounding force of a hammer. "Not. A. Thief."

Hook, baited. Plan in motion. Now to see how armor-boy and gray would respond. It was time to roll the dice.



(OOC: Please don't take Kassom's insults as a personal attack from me against your character; I have something in mind if you're willing to play along with it. We're all friends here.  :D )

(OOC: I'm game for that Nascent! I will play along))

Torak lost his temper with this man. How adare he insult him? How dare he even try and insult Torak, assassin fatale and Shadow Wolf?!

From his face, Torak had just been told the worst set of insults possible. To him, he had, but to someone who didn't think like Torak, they would see overreaction. Torak was proud, and this man spat on his pride, his achievements.

"Tell me, Black Wolf, how do you measure strength? Do you measure it as physicality, as the ability to hurt, and kill? Or do you measure it like me? I measure strength as the ability to incite fear. True strength comes from respect, and the strongest type of respect, is fear. Not the type of fear that dictates allegiance, but that dictates the cowards. You incite no fear in me. I need to refine, get better. I have no purpose, other than to be better at what I do, be it stealing, killing, or commanding. Give me a task, and I will use it to better myself." Torak stood to full height. He was slight, but height gave him his advantage. The armour was defensive, it bolstered his defensive capabilities.

"Do you know what my armour actually does? Ever looked at the specifications?" Torak put the helmet on, the eyes glowing as the magic course. "It absorbs a limited amount of magical energy, two or three fireballs. It muffles my footsteps..."

Torak mentally willed the most intimidating voice enchantment. "It changes my voice, makes me more intimidating. It weighs nearly nothing to the wearer. It is not something that enhances my teleportation. I could do that with no clothing. My skill with my sword is not augmented. Neither is my skill with a crossbow. Or dagger."

Torak willed himself to teleport, not behind the man, but in front of him. He hand went for the man's throat.

"I was an assassin, a damn good one at that. I attacked 10 shadow wolves at once, and won. I spent 3 days interrogating people to find out how to join this guild. I am trying to earn my place. Prove my use. Not be abused by my superiors. Rufus beat me for killing the Soot Wolf members I did, and it was a poor waste of life." Torak took a breath.

"Anything else you would like to add?"

"Who knows," Spot answered Vex. What was Torak playing at? Spot was beginning to wonder if the man was 'playing at' anything at all, or if he was just rather... unhinged. She watched the scene with wide, unbelieving eyes. Was this really happening? It seemed like a bit much.

Spot scooted her chair closer to Vex, like she might if she were off with a boy at a play or a show. She snorted, audibly, when Torak listed his 'unique talents' in his petition to Jack - and again when he offered to bind himself to the Beta Wolf. "Oh boy," she whispered, leaning in close to Vex, "talk about 'go big or go home.' You think he might be a bit, you know," she made a face and gesture to indicate 'crazy.'

But Torak quickly answered that question himself (as far as Spot was concerned) when he teleported in front of Kassom and went for the man's throat. Spot went tense and without really thinking about it reached out to hold onto the sleeve of Vex's shirt. She did not like the direction that this was taking. As if she weren't rattled enough already! She was rooting for Kassom in this fight, for sure, on principle, but she wasn't so sure about provoking Torak. He might fly completely off the handle. Spot might work for the head of the Blood Wolves, but she had no stomach for violence and avoided fights whenever she could. She thought about asking Vex if he didn't want to get the hell out of here, but she knew she needed to stay. Whatever happened here would certainly be something the Red Jackal would want to hear about.

"Do you think we should, er, do something?"

It might be a dumb question considering how many Wolves, important Wolves, were here, but the whole thing made her rather antsy. Couldn't anything just be easy anymore?

What in Kia's name had Rufus been thinking, letting this maniac into the Wolves in the first place? That was the first thing Jack thought as Torak made his case. Not that it hadn't been an interesting lark, and it had worked out well enough for Jack and Kui. The Blood Wolves hated Torak and were livid that he'd been foisted upon them. Zahi most of all, to be sure, but Torak's presence had unsettled the rest of the Bloods, either to think Zahi was too weak to control him, or that Rufus was unfairly burdening them. At least, that's what Jack heard. Either way, the agitation Torak caused had been very helpful indeed to the Grey Wolf. But Jack couldn't for the life of him imagine how it might have helped the Red.

And now Torak was offering to bind himself to him? No thanks. The last thing Jack needed was to be tied to a maniac for the rest of his life. "I don't think anything that dramatic is necessary," he answered. Then turned to listen to Zeina's thoughts on the matter. That surprised him quite a bit. Normally the Coyote was rather clear-eyed. What did she see in him? Maybe her and Rufus had some clairvoyance that he lacked.

But his aggression towards Kassom was too much. He might not care much about the Lone Wolf, but Torak's behavior was completely out of line and he at least had to look like he was running things for the Guild while Rufus was away. And anyway, even if he didn't really like the Feral, he was beginning to like the assassin much less.

Jack jumped to his feet, hand on the knife at his side. "You're flying dangerously close to the window, Torak," he warned, a hard edge to his voice.

The Blood Wolves in the corner were already on their feet with their weapons drawn, and were already moving over when Jack motioned for them - four in all. The Bloods grabbed Torak roughly away from Kassom, two holding onto each arm. The third aimed a crossbow at Torak's chest, and the fourth roughly pulled off the helmet from the assassin's head and placed his blade to Torak's throat.

"Teleport again, and even if you teleport all the way to Fell, the Soot Wolves will hunt you down and kill you," the Grey Wolf warned. Jack looked to Kassom. He also wanted to know if there was anything else the Lone Wolf wanted to add.

What a laundry list of crap, Vex thought as Torak went through his whole spiel. The idiot just didn't get it, did he? It wasn't his talent that was in question here, it was his ability to listen. Heck, if the man had half as much in the way of brains as he had in the way of tricks he'd probably have been a contender for some titled rank or other. The Omega rolled his eyes- did he really think that an oath would convince anyone? There was such a thing as honor among thieves, but that didn't mean any thief who lived long expected it. "I think," he whispered to Spot, "that you might be giving him too much credit"

And then Torak went and did it. He actually went and blew it worse! Vex slowly grabbed his knife and summoned up his magic- hopefully he'd practiced enough to pull this off under pressure. For an instant his fancy outfit was gone, replaced with his somewhat shabby street clothes, and then the rest of him followed suit, vanishing into thin air. Vex didn't think Torak would try anything, but then again he'd not expected him to go and fly off the handle on his last ditch effort at staying in the Wolves either. If the man did want to die today, the Omega was going to make sure he wasn't one of those Torak took with him.

Standing up and resting his free hand on Spot's shoulder to let her know he was still there, Vex considered covering her in the illusion as well, but he quickly realized he wouldn't have the strength to maintain it. "Stay back for now," he whispered.

Quite out of the blue, the door to Bujari's chambers in far end of the bar had opened, and a young woman, with sandy brown hair and bright, teary blue eyes came out in a hurry, slamming the door shut behind her. She seemed to have been naked, wrapped up in a mess of sheets with a bundle of clothes clenched in her hands. She quickly took notice of the events occurring in the bar, and with a "Oh, Kia!" she quickly trotted away to the halls, barefoot, and hoping that the Commander Coyote didn't see her, especially in tears.

Alko watched her leave, and just shook his head, and went back to wondering if he was going to have to mop up blood off the floor tonight.

Wag had been watching in silence. The Bloods grabbed Torak, and a naked Lapis went running from Bujari's room. Alko watched the girl run with his usual reaction to the seeming endless harem that the Animus had. With a quick nod to Wag the signal was sent. Zahi needed to know things were getting crazy in the Bar, that her Bloods were now involved. Wag sent a hand signal to his hidden Shadow team, and the three dashed off down a corridor to locate Zahi. They would split up at the disguise room. One to head to the Bloods 'crash' room, one to the training rooms, and one to her quarters. Wag himself drew out his padded cudgel and stepped up to stand behind Torak. He was prepared to knock out anyone he needed to.

---

Kui wasn't blind. She saw Wag signal to someone out of sight, and she easily put it together. She quickly sent a similar signal to Spot to interrupt and prevent Zahi from coming. It was best for their plans if the Red Jackal wasn't brought into anything quite yet.

"Vex Idrian, you lousy coward..." Spot hissed as the Omega began to disappear. But then she noticed that he'd taken the knife - well, that was more likely to be him not wanting to lose his prize than him planning anything heroic - and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, she certainly wouldn't be here if she didn't have to be... But when she felt the hand on her shoulder, she leaned into it and thought how handy it would be to be able to turn invisible and how she hadn't really meant it, calling him a coward, anyway.

Before turning back 'to the action,' Spot spotted the hidden Shadow Wolves slipping out of the bar. Wag's. Well, fine by her. But then she caught Kui's eyes on her. The miserable feeling that she'd almost forgotten in the excitement came crashing down on her. Not only did Spot not want to do Kui's bidding in general, much less in particular now, but she'd harbored a hope that she'd be able to get Vex away from the bar after this calmed down. Somehow get him to guess what was going on; at least enough of it to make her tell him the rest. She was at her bursting point. Maybe Kui had noticed that, too.

The silent exchange between the two women was too short, too fast for anyone in the bar to notice. Anyway, except maybe the invisible boy standing behind her. Realizing this, Spot decided she didn't want to entirely lose the chance and let out a small, frustrated sigh that would have been inaudible to anyone else.

"Well, time for me to go," she grumbled, apparently to herself, "this is getting too exciting for me."

Spot waited some moments longer, though, before getting up - it couldn't be obvious to anyone else. When it'd been long enough, she got up from the chair, slipping out from under Vex's hand. On her way out, she risked one, meaningful look back at him. She had no idea if he'd seen it or not, but she hoped he had. She wanted him to catch her. Then, Spot disappeared.

Torak wrestled the Bloods for a minute, then decided to use alternative methods. He elbowed one blood, and the second he did, he threw a seemingly random following punch, and teleported again, knocking another down. He started the movement of a kick, but felt a sharp pain, looking down to see a bolt through the armour.

Damn blood wolves.

He keeled over, trying to push the bolt out. It was stuck in his leg. The blood wolf kept his crossbow trained on Torak, while two other bloods hoisted him up to be scolded.

"Dammit... Argh...."

Vex waited a moment to make sure the situation with Torak was under control- though he wasn't sure exactly what he'd do if it weren't- and then faced a slight dilemma. He'd seen Spot's look, and he knew something was up... so did he stay and listen in or follow her? Either way he could miss something important. Then he realized he was an idiot- Spot almost certainly had something to say, while there was only a slim chance of catching anything here that he wouldn't learn later anyway.

Still invisible, the Omega quickly followed after the girl. He'd not caught all of it, but he could certainly tell there was some tension between Spot and Kui. Over what though? Had the girl uncovered something? Or was it a simple feud? Vex growled and scratched his head. He'd need to start keeping a closer eye on things; there was too great a chance that he'd missed something to draw any real conclusions.

When he did catch up to Spot, he'd draw level with her and say, "Coward, huh? Careful, you might just hurt my feelings." This would be followed by a dropping of his invisibility... which would leave him back in his normal clothes and clearly a little short of breath. He'd not had a lot of practice with that particular trick, and it was still taxing to keep it up for any length of time.

"Sorry, Vex, I'm 'on duty,'" Spot said glumly, turning to where she guessed the voice was coming from. Oh, Kui would skin her alive if she knew how sloppy Spot was being. She shouldn't be saying anything at all to Vex, much less letting him know that she's on a job that pretty clearly had nothing to do with being a thief. But Kui would definitely kill her, and who knew who else, if she let Zahi make it to the Den Bar. Spot remembered the figure she'd seen Kui conspiring with. He'd looked like a Wolf she knew. But he wasn't. That Wolf was dead. Spot's insides went cold at the memory.

"But, hey..." Spot was searching; maybe she couldn't talk to Vex now, but... "Hey," she said again, brightly now with a pretty smile, and took a step towards the now-materialized Omega Wolf, "why don't we go out sometime, Sir-Omega-Sir? I promise I'll be more careful with those delicate feelings of yours," she added, flashing a grin. She actually thought that Vex had a bit of a dubious reputation when it came to women, but she wasn't bothered about that just now.

(OOC: Hope that 'reputation' comment is okay. Just going off of Vex's profile.)

Wag figured it was best not to let things get too out of control. The letter Rufus had sent him through Heinin said the first priority was to watch Zahi's back, and second was to not let the havoc he intended Torak for, to get out beyond management. He needed things stirred up to flush out all the traitors and Torak would unwittingly do that, but Rufus had intended to be present when it happened. This business in Cerenis was poor timing. If the fool Shadow Wolf was dead, he wouldn't be a very useful tool to The Red Wolf. It was with this in mind, when he decided to knock Torak unconscious. As the Bloods held him Wag pulled off his helmet and struck him at the base of the skull with his padded cudgel.

"Perhaps putting him in the magic containment cell the Bloods have until you decide what to do with him would be a good idea." Now that the chaos was controlled, Wag returned to his stool near the bar's south entrance.

Zeina didn't move a muscle as the whole situation unfolded before her. She had spoken what she wanted to, and was content with watching. The fool that she had defended made an even bigger fool out of himself and she started to regret wasting her words on him. There was no way he would get away with his actions, which was proved seconds later.

Even with all the action going on before her, Zeina didn't miss Lapis coming in barely clothed. Nor did she miss the fact that Lapis had come out of Bujari's room. With an inward sigh, she realized she would have to talk to that man again. It wouldn't be pleasant to be alone in the same room with him... but it would be necessary.

Zeina observed Vex's disappearance with his knife and the sudden leave of Spot, but didn't think too much into it. There was no reason to.

Her eyes returned to the fight, unamused. It didn't last long and, of course, ended with the fool's defeat. She was hoping he would be smarter than he was. It was dumb enough to do what he did the the Grey Wolf, but it was even more ridiculous for him to have put up a fight against all the Blood Wolves. The only outcomes of that were his death or his banishment from the pack. Or so she thought.

But Wag had decided to keep him in the magic containment cell. It was a good punishment, but not one she was expecting. Perhaps Wag saw that there was more to Torak than his stupidity as well.

Jack winced watching the short outburst of violence between the madman Torak and the Blood Wolves. He had never been much for fighting; the Beta was more of a diplomat. Plus, you don't keep a boyishly charming face by fighting all the time.

But he didn't miss Kui sending off Spot. Probably for the best. This use of Spot to run interference would only be good for so long. Zahi was something of an unforeseen complication. The previous Red Jackal had already made a deal with the Beta, but the idiot had to go and get himself killed. Well, he thought to himself, they'd just have to make sure it was only a matter of time before the position was open again.

Stepping forward, Jack pulled a face at the unconscious mess of Torak, his distaste obvious. "Well, lucky you under Rufus's protection," he muttered to the unconscious man. He shook his head before looking up at the Blood Wolves. "Well, Wag's the master of dealing with bar fights. Go ahead and move him to the magic containment cell. Keep a guard on him. Armed." To the Blood that Torak had clocked he added, "Go see Chora about that black eye you're getting. Then take her down to do something about that bolt," he nodded to Torak's leg.

The Grey Wolf watched the Bloods follow through with his orders before returning to the bar. "Well, I for one will be glad when the boss is back," he said aloud to no one in particular while drawing coin to pay his tab at the bar. "Let him deal with all the mad assassins. I'll go back to my cushy job cutting deals with guards and merchants."

"Enough excitement for me for one night." He nodded to Kui and Zeina, then added to Kassom, "Good luck with your gem. I hope you can get some useful information during your stay here." And with that he left the bar, back to his quarters, where he could think over the situation without the interruption of teleporting madmen.

"Sure. Why not? I guess I'll leave you to your 'duty' now. Meet me later then?" Vex grinned and started back off without waiting for much of a response- she'd know how to find him. Besides, things were getting out of hand, and he had some snooping to do in the meantime. Before he turned the corner though, he stopped and turned back.

"You know Spot, if you ever get into any hot water, I'm here to help." The Omega's tone was more serious than it had been before- the only real indication that he suspected something was up. Only for a moment though, as his showy grin was back as soon as the words had left his mouth. "Seeing as I like you, I might even give you a discount!"

Now, who could he talk to and get a few answers? Charon maybe, or perhaps Zahi. Before he went looking for either of them though, he figured he might as well do a bit more snooping on his own, talk to a few Wolves who owed him a favor or two.

((OOC: Think Vex'll probably be out of this thread for a little bit after this, so nobody wait on me. I'll keep an eye on things, come back if circumstances would demand it))

Kui loved a good blood sport, but this didn't last long, and didn't seem much of a challenge. You'd think an experienced assassin that took out so many Shadows would have been a bit beeter in a fight. Perhaps he had not really been trying. If he wanted to kill these Bloods, she suspected he could have. Kossom was another story entirely. She heard he could move through walls, that would have been interesting to see. Too bad.

Well sending spot to slow Zahi had probably been a waste of time. This was over fast, and Zahi would hear about it from her Bloods in no time. Jack surprisingly agreed with Wags decision to toss Torak in a cell and then made a show of looking forward to Rufus returning. She threw a sour look at Zeina as Jack left and she soon followed, without a word to anyone. She was ahead in the ledgers, there was no need to pay today. It was time to enter The Beta's room for more than just chatter. Perhaps she could entice him to find her worth keeping around by finally giving him her body. She was an expert in performing the carnal acts. She wouldn't give him her best tricks, she needed to give in slowly, always top herself. At least until she had cemented her place in his bed and perhaps at his side. Living through this would be worth the effort.

---

Alko watched as the Torak was taken and then both Jack and Kui left. Hopefully things would not get too out of control before Rufus returned. He had a feeling however that they wouldn't be that lucky. As the saying went, when it rains, it pours. And it was time he poured a few more drinks. He needed Wolves with pliable lips to let slip information about the unrest.

Zeina watched as Jack and Kui left the bar, returning Jack's nod and remaining indifferent to Kui's look. She wasn't going to let that slutty color aura girl get the enjoyment of seeing her annoyed. After they left, Zeina moved to sit directly next to Kassom.

"So," Zeina started, looking at the lone wolf. "Now that the distraction is gone, shall we continue our conversation?"

Then, in a slightly louder voice, she added, "A drink, Alko?" She couldn't blame him for not getting one with the fight that was going on, but she had been waiting for quite a while and was getting quite thirsty.

Torak's mind drifted through the dark space of unawareness, knowing he was either dead, or on a waiting list to be dead. He was going in some magic proof cell again. Dammit.

He thought briefly, then made a note to get the armour enchanted to come back to him if taken. He could always use the armour in certain situations, so the ability to instantly recall it would be good. He could simply steal it again and get it enchanted. It was his and his alone.

((OOC: I know it is a short post but an unconscious man can't do much, lol))

(OOC: Sorry about the long delay -- I'm back in the mix now.)


Things were indeed getting... interesting.

When Torak grabbed his throat menacingly it was all Kassom could do to let out a chuckle past the grip around his vocal cords. Assassin -- he'd expected as much. And like most people who killed for a living Torak wasn't afraid to give a demonstration... and an impromptu lecture on strength and fear. The guy had guys, Kassom had to give him that... but, as expected, he lacked subtlety.

He never even noticed that while he had the Feral thief in a death grip, Kassom had slipped a lone coin out of his sleeve and pretended to drop it. It hit the ground with an uncharacteristic soundlessness, transforming into a copper-hued puddle that then slithered snake-like under Torak's shoe. Assassins: good for fighting, killing and proving their bravado... not so great at the less obvious stuff. When Jack had the other Wolves forcefully separate the two Kassom couldn't resist a smirk; everyone else would think he just enjoyed messing with Torak, but the sly grin had another source entirely.

Torak had no idea he'd just been spared from a great deal of potential trouble.

THrough it certainly wouldn't seem like it when -- after an odd interrupt involving a woman wearing only a bed sheet -- Torak continued to push his luck and duke it out with the Wolves who'd been restraining him. If this guy ended up dead he was no good to anyone, and that alone was enough to change Kassom's disposition. When he was dragged off to a holding cell, though, Kassom's expression lightened some. Even if the cell they were putting him in stopped him from using those fancy armor enchantments it would only work against magic... and the Lone wolf had powers of an entirely different sort. Maybe this would pan out after all.

Rubbing his neck -- partly because it hurt, and partly for dramatic effect -- he waved and gave a hoarse "Yeah, thanks." to Jack as he left. To everyone in the bar he'd seem like a loudmouth who'd banked too much on authority and almost gotten killed for it, a weakling who'd been unable to defend himself against the rogue assassin. Misinformation was a handy thing indeed.

"Yeah, why not?" Kassom replied to Zeina, then put a few coins on the table. "Same here Alko. I could use a good drink after that."

One of the coins towards the edge of the pile rolled as the Feral put it down. That in-and-of-itself wasn't all that interesting, especially considering the haphazard manner with which he put the money on the bar. Nor, really, was the fact that the coin happened to roll right over to Zeina, practically right into her lap. What was distinct, however, was what the Coyote would find written on the coin when it got to her.


Kassom watched her expression but said nothing -- his own gaze careful. Depending on whether she saw the message and how she reacted he'd know, or at least have some idea, whether she was friend or foe in this whole convoluted mess. It wasn't the first time he'd gambled on someone that day... nor would it be the last.





When Torak woke up in his cage, some things were almost a given. For one, someone would've taken the crossbow bolt out and quickly patched him up -- imprisoning him for the Grey Wolf's later judgement was a meaningless effort if he bled out all over the floor. The armor would be gone, taken from him again and stowed who-knows-where. And if the phrase 'magic containment cell' was any indication then Torak was now in the one place no one expected any kind of trouble. And why should they? The Soot Wolves weren't novices; any cage they used wouldn't be something a thief could just lock pick his way out of, and one designed to hold mages was guaranteed to have some potent anti-spellcasting enchantment on it. It probably wasn't even heavily guarded -- it'd be a waste to have thieves watching an inescapable cage. In some senses it was the most secure place in the entire Den.

In others, not so much.

On the cage floor next to him, Torak would find a small copper coin -- the very one Kassom had secreted onto his person during their altercation. When the assassin took the time to examine the unlikely object he'd find some very fine writing on both sides of it: a message for him.

Zahi may be in danger. Rufus wants her safe.

Be patient. Nice choke hold. ~Kassom

(OOC: s'all good!)


Zeina inwardly smiled as she saw the coin roll towards her out of the corner of her eye. Kassom had always had a thing for coin messages, or so she had heard, and she wouldn't be surprised if he had managed to sneak coins to other people in the bar already. She wondered if maybe she should have been paying more attention to that beforehand... but even then, there were no promises that she would have seen it. She knew he was sneaky. Even his aura was always filled with orange cautiousness. That was part of the reason he had never been told about her special ability. If he knew about her aura seeing skill, she was willing to bet that he would fold his emotions up and lock them in a box whenever she was nearby.

Zeina yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. Her hand had the coin in it, which she had subtly picked up with her palm. Glancing down, she read the coin. Then, putting her hand back down, the coin was gone. If anybody had good enough eyes to follow her smooth movements, they would have seen the flick of her fingers and the coin fly into her hair, where it stayed. Zeina wasn't the Coyote for nothing—she could make things seem to disappear at will.

With a smile directed towards Kassom, Zeina wondered if he was even telling the truth. She was surprised that Rufus would call the Black Wolf to the pack. But why else would he be here? If he had come to try to take over Rufus's position, surely he would use a better tactic. And Rufus calling him was suspicious enough as it was that it would be a horrible lie. Plus, his aura was staying constant. So perhaps he was telling the truth after all. By why would Rufus call him?

"So," Zeina started, still smiling. "You would like to talk to Gaze and Vent. But how do I know I can trust you? I don't want any backstabbing going on." Those last two sentences were aimed towards the message he gave her, and she assumed he would pick up on that. She would figure out his motive later.

He had to admit, he was impressed by that disappearing act she'd pulled with the coin. He hadn't met many people, even in this crafty organization, who could outwit a Feral's keen eyes with simple slight of hand. He could guess it was somewhere -- unless she had some magic talents for that, of course -- but with his gaze on her expression he hadn't been watching closely enough to tell where the coin ended up. Even as he silently wondered he felt an amused tingle in the back of his mind; Ilaelis knew, but wasn't telling. Sometimes the demon liked to test his protege, keep him on his toes.

"How indeed?" He gave a half-laugh. "How do any of us know we can trust each other? That's why I typically stay out of the mix here -- I'm sure you're all fine people and better thieves..." He rubbed his neck a bit. "...But I like to keep it simple, when I can."

The underlying message was clear: things weren't simple at the moment.

But her question still stood: how could he convince her to trust him. Kassom pondered it for a long moment, going from rubbing his neck to his chin...

"Leverage." The word was practically a whisper. His expression showed he didn't much like the idea that came to mind, but that he didn't have anything else to work with. He turned to Zeina.

"We could talk for hours about why you should or shouldn't trust me... or I could offer you leverage over me, something to hold onto until our dealings together are done. All I need is a scrap of paper and something to write with. Don't suppose you have some?"

Zeina sighed as she saw his reaction to her trick. There he was again, messing up her mind with his two different aura colors. But at least one of them seemed to have respect for her... that was more than she was expecting.

Zeina listen some as he talked, but was paying more attention to his aura. He was finally showing more than that cautious orange color. That being said, the colors were murky. One color seemed fairly calm, but the other one was being calculative and yet worried.

Looking him straight in the eyes, Zeina replied, "I don't, but I'm sure Alko does." She smiled before adding, "What are you thinking in terms of leverage? Perhaps that secret you've been trying so hard to hide?" Now she was the one taking a gamble. First off, she didn't even know if he had a secret. Perhaps that two colored aura thing was just a birth defect of some sort. A weird birth defect, but the option wasn't impossible. Secondly, if he did have some sort of secret that caused his aura to be like that, he might wonder how she knew it. Well, she was a pro liar. She could come up with a reason. Lastly, Zeina doubted he would tell her anyway. And then she'd have given him reason to be suspicious of her for no reason.

But she still thought it was worth a try. He had something special, and she wanted to know what it was and if it mattered at all. Either to her, or to Rufus.

He couldn't help but chuckle at her question, though it was with a very faint hint of nervousness. She knew something about him, or at least thought she knew something. He could feel Ilaelis becoming wary and defensive, like a serpent coiling in the back of his mind. For his part, Kassom was still mostly cool and level-headed. He knew how he was playing this; for the moment everything else came secondary.

"Secret? Which one?" He gave her a half-hearted laugh, voice becoming more confident as he added. "I've got several... but yes, this is one of them."

Kassom pantomimed writing as Alko returned with their drinks and was soon in possession of a small slip of paper and a thin stick of charcoal. Not as good as ink, sure, but ink was expensive after all. Glancing to both sides just to make sure no one was looking over his shoulder or in his general direction, the Feral thief quickly scratched out a mere handful of words, blew gently across the paper to clear it of dust that could cause smear, folded it in half... and, with a look of great reluctance, held it out to Zeina.

"If you really need a reason to trust me, read it. But if you're willing to take me at my word... well, you'll make your own choices anyway, so there's no point in saying it. Just... for pity's sake, don't lose it. And when our business is over I'll be wanting it back. Are we agreed?"

Zeina smiled at his reaction to her question. She was right. This was shown by his outside reaction and proved by his inside reaction. One of the colors immediately became red, the color of danger and suspicion. The other color was staying a calm blue. So how did he have two different emotions? It wasn't as if one was his hidden feelings and the other were his true feelings. Otherwise she would have seen this sort of thing in other people. The only guesses Zeina could come up with was that he was either possessed, or he was two different people (she met siblings in Cerenis once that basically shared a body).

But he wasn't going to tell her what his secret was. She knew that without even looking at the paper. However, it was obvious that he was giving her another important secret of his. Zeina grabbed the folded piece of paper and then took a sip of the tea Alko had given her.

After glancing down at the paper, she looked at Kassom and said, "I won't read this unless you give me a reason to be suspicious of you. I can tell that whatever is written in here is not a farce, so I suppose I'll give you more motivation to not break any rules. After all, I believe we both know that secrets in the pack are better kept as just that: secrets. But if you do something that causes harm to Rufus or me, or anybody either of us care about, I will look at what's written and I will use it to my advantage. Understand?" Zeina was telling the complete truth. She wasn't going to go back to her room and read it anyway, that wasn't like her. While having knowledge of what was written on the paper might be useful, she believed that Kassom would be a better asset to her if he was working to hide this secret.

And while this piece of information in her hand seemed to be important, it seemed to not be as important as the secret to his two-colored aura. So she knew she couldn't force his hand with it. This was one of the few times that Zeina would not be taking advantage of gaining information. After all, she believed she would be just as well—if not better—without it.

Torak woke up, his eyes tinged red with rage, his emotions running rampant. He cracked his knuckles and looked for a man with a neck to snap. Anyone to kill. He was angry and only blood would soothe his bloodlust. There was no repentance.

But it didn't take long for his mind to settle, and him to examine the area around him. Anti-magic field. Strong steel cell, with unpickable locks, as is standard for the Wolves. Nothing vulnerable in floors or walls. They were all at sewer level, so he didn't have any drains, and any sideways digging would lead to endless dirt. And he had no idea how long he had been out.

He sat on the floor, wondering what would happen. Execution. Expulsion. Torture, humiliation. Anything.

He scanned the floor for a loose stone. But he spotted the coin, and picked it up. From Kassom...

"She won't die. Not if I can help it..."

This was supposed to be Bruin's night off and she got called in to deal with this guy. At least he was unconscious and she could spend the night thinking of all the things maybe she could do when she finally did get a day off. Oh hell, she'd probably just spend it in Hair of the Dog.

Bruin's attention piqued when she heard the slow movements of Torak coming around inside the cell. Figures he'd have to wake up. She hadn't really met him before, but from what she heard, he sure could fly off the handle. She really, really didn't want to deal with anything like that tonight. It was supposed to be her night off.

She kicked the door to Torak's cell and peered through the door's barred window. "Keep it down in there, will ya? Don't give me a reason to put another cross bolt through you. I'm a better shot than that Cain who got your leg," she warned.

"I am not here to cause trouble with you. So here's the deal. Let me out." Torak wasn't playing with this man. He would get let out.

"I have to save a Jackal if you don't mind. So how 'bout you just let me out?" To be honest, Torak wanted shooting. He could take pain. He would try some of his older tactics to get out.

Bruin rolled her eyes. Apparently this guy was crazy after all, like they all said. Save a Jackal indeed.

"Whatchya on about?" she asked. Bruin wouldn't normally be chatty with a prisoner, but this was meant to be her night off! And she was scheduled to be here all night long now. Plus, on the off chance that he actually knew something, she ought to hear what he had to say. "I let you out, and it'll be me and you who need saving from a Jackal. You tell me what on earth you're blatherin' about, and we'll go from there."

The woman raised an eyebrow, looking at Torak with a mix of curiosity, skepticism, and contempt through the barred window.

"Zahi. Danger. She can't die. If anyone kills her it will be me, and I have to prove a point to her before I let her die. So let me out." Torak stated it calmly, as if it meant nothing to him. If Zahi died, they would have Torak to contend with. And that would be and angry, vengeful, pissed off Torak.

"You don't like me. That's clear."

"Perfectly. That was the idea, after all." He took a long sip of the drink Alko brought him, almost polishing off half of it in one go. It was clear that handing one of his secrets over to someone, anyone, didn't sit too well with him. "Anyways, let's get this over with, hm? How soon can I talk to Gaze and Vent? And I assume you'll be there and it won't be somewhere where we could get listened in on? This is valuable information, after all." He gave her a slight nod, a 'play along' gesture that any thief would recognize but would only be obvious up close. "That gem's not gonna steal itself, am I right?"

He hoped he could trust her, at least this once. He wasn't going to be able to fulfill the mission Rufus had given him on his own -- it'd be too suspicious, him poking around some more looking for Zahi. He needed others, people who could move without drawing as much attention.

And conversely, he needed Torak. The guy's sense of subtlety and tact may have been as blunt as a cudgel... but if everything worked out he'd still be important, in his own way. Kassom made a mental note to go see the assassin as soon as he'd brought Zeina and her crew in on the trouble that was brewing.

Zeina watched as Kassom drank. Even without her aura seeing skill, it was obvious he wasn't feeling very comfortable with her knowing the information. Truthfully, she didn't blame him. Nobody ever knew whose side she was on—and that's how she liked it. The only person she acted loyal to was Rufus, and she knew that many people just believed it was an act for power. After all, she could act however she wanted to people as long as she had the leader's trust.

"Never know, I've heard of gems that can do some pretty weird things!" Zeina responded with a half hearted laugh. The conversation mood had gotten a little intense and she was worried that people might start paying attention.

"And I suppose that depends on how busy they are. But I might be able to arrange it as soon as tomorrow." She had to find Gaze (and Vent) first. He never stayed in the same place twice, so it could be a bit difficult to meet up with him. But seeing as she helped raise him, at least he would trust her enough to agree to the meeting with the Lone Wolf.

Bruin frowned. There was, of course, some rumblings in Bloods. Mostly that grandstanding Vahn, whispering to people about changes in power and how much more the Bloods could have if only and blah blah blah. So in that sense, she supposed, Zahi might be in trouble. Everyone with rank in the Soot Wolves was 'in trouble' that way. But why should Torak know - or care - about any of that?

"Tch, you take things too personal," Bruin retorted off-handedly, though it was clear in her eyes that Torak's words had caused her some worry. "I don't know a thing about you, much less whether or not I like you. I ain't budgin' because I ain't been told to budge." Of course, she didn't like him. Or she didn't think she did. She certainly didn't like the embarrassing position he'd forced her boss, and really al of them, into. Tolerating his antics and all. Up until now, it seemed.

Still, if any of the Bloods attacked the Lone Wolf they wouldn't be sitting in any cell, that was for sure.

"You had plenty of chances to help the Red Jackal before you ended up in here," Bruin quipped, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "And you don't make a great case for yourself, buddy. Attackin' the Black Wolf, then saying in the same breath as 'you want to help her' that you want to kill the Red Jackal yourself." Something about this didn't sit well with her. Even if he were actually insane, why would he suddenly care about Zahi's welfare after the way he'd behaved? That made no sense, not if it was just some normal thing.

"Look," she said, her voice backing down a little. "Tell you what. You tell me just what it is that you mean - you're being awful cryptic, you know, 'Zahi. Danger. Let me out.' - and I'll see what I can do with that. You sound like you're not too much of a loon, then maybe we can get orders from Akello or from the Grey Wolf to, ah, reconsider your current situation. How 'bout that?"

Seriously. This was supposed to be her night off!

Torak smiled at his guard. Torak had recently acquired a knack for judging emotion, and right now he was amused at this person.

"I have grown tired of Zahi's way of telling me I am not able to follow orders. I have to prove a point to her that I can follow instruction. If she dies before that happens, and it is because I am stuck in this damned cell, I'll track down all the guards who kept watch and kill you all. If anyone has the kill on Zahi, it will be me, when I see that she has grown weak and powerless. That is not today. That may never come." Torak laid everything out plainly, showing no more expression when talking about killing Bruin than when talking about killing Zahi.

"I don't know what sort of danger. Kassom left me this." Torak waved the coin in the air for bruin to see. "So let me out, and we can see?"

Bruin actually laughed at this. Tired of being told he couldn't follow instructions? "You had plenty of chances to show you could follow instructions. And trust me, you ain't going to impress Zahi none by asking for another chance now."

The Blood Wolf watched Torak, unimpressed, as he rambled through his threats. "You sure do bluster. But you're not threatening a pregnant shop keeper now, and you're not the only one here who kills for a living." But the coin caught her attention, and Bruin's eyes narrowed on it. "Just what do you think you would do if I did let you out, then?"

"Warn her. I have to stop her getting killed so I can have my chance. Why?" Torak crossed his arms, hiding the coin from bruin.

"You have the noblest intentions," Bruin drawled, rolling her eyes again. 'I have to stop her getting killed so I can have my chance.' It was hard for her to believe that Torak had ever even wanted to join the Wolves at all, much less was allowed to. When he demonstrated such admirable loyalty to the guild.

At least this would give her something to talk about over a few beers when she finally got some time off.

"On the up side," she noted, "if all you plan to do is warn her, there's not much need to let you out then. Now you've told me, I can pass your warning on to the Red Jackal with no need for you to leave." Her brown eyes flashed as he pocketed the coin again. She'd pass that on, too. Bruin had never met Kassom, though she recognized the Lone Wolf's name. She wondered whether or not he was trustworthy. And whether that coin meant that Kassom had warned Torak about Zahi's safety on that coin, or if he'd threatened it.

Maybe this was more serious than just the rantings of a mad man. And maybe it wasn't. Maybe Torak wasn't so mad. Suddenly, Bruin thought she might have been being a bit lax on this. A night off wasn't the biggest loss, after all. So her tone was a bit sharper when she asked, "Unless there's any more information the Red Jackal needs to know?"

"That I am at her disposal and offer my deepest apologies. If that means anything. So yes, you let me free, I go back to my superior, you go back to your night off." Torak had worked it out now. This kind of annoyance was only shown by someone who was enjoying themselves and was suddenly called to work. It was clear enough.

"Tomorrow -- yeah, that'll do just fine." He hoped, anyway. He still had yet to get a good gauge of the situation -- for that he'd been to know where Zahi was and her condition. Something told him the Red Jackal was laying low for the time being, which would explain her being so hard to find. If anyone would be aware of any potential power plays and treachery within the Wolves it would be the Blood Wolves... and if Zahi had caught wind that trouble had her name on it she'd be all manner of cautious. If Rufus was worried enough to arrange for that letter then there had to be some threatening undercurrents, and in his absence the smart move for Zahi would be to make herself scarce and work from the shadows. It would make an enemy approaching her hard...

... and a non-enemy, potentially harder. If those who wanted to help her found her first, Kassom realized, they'd create a trail that could be followed. The alternative, of course, was letting whoever was out to get her -- Kassom's money was on the Beta -- get to her first. That he couldn't let happen; he was in this waaaaaaay too deep now to back out.

"Tomorrow it is then. Guess we'll meet up here and take it from there." He stepped away from the bar, but not before tossing Alko a few more coins. "Her next round's on me. I've gotta go have a few words with our trouble-making assassin friend."






Kassom hadn't been to the Den's holding cells before, and he doubted he ever would just on a fancy. There were few things thieves innately disliked more than the thought of being in a cage, and even with all the ways he knew to escape one in three steps or less the thought of being at someone else's mercy inside a box of iron bars sat with him about as well as the idea of swallowing his own tongue. Plus, either the place had an unusual odor or Ilaelis' perceptions were bleeding into his senses a bit; the demon sometimes reacted when in the presence of strong magic, and just by looking at certain of the cages one could tell that the enchantments here were high end and high octane.

Torak and his keeper, the unlucky Wolf who got to play guard that night, were towards the back. Hand rubbing his neck involuntarily, Kassom walked over and looked from one to the other.

"Mind if I have a few minutes alone with him, out of the cage? This guy and I have some unfinished business from when he tried to throttle me in the bar." He gave Bruin a smile and a wink. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna break him... just rough him up a bit. He has it coming."

Zeina watched as Kassom left. Now that he was back in the Den, she was planning on keeping an eye on him. The Lone Wolf was a wild card... and wild cards were best to figure out. But due to his aura mishap, she could hardly even tell which side he was on. Well, at least she knew he wasn't planning on betraying her. That much was obvious.

Turning back towards the bar, Zeina took another sip from her drink. Then she sighed. Why was she getting caught up in all this drama? Oh right, to help Rufus. Leave it to him to go off without even talking to the guild as a whole. At least he was smart enough to expect turmoil and, apparently, make precautions.

She picked up the coins that Kassom had put down for a drink and stashed them in her skirt. Now that everyone important was gone and she was tired, she wasn't planning on drinking anymore. But no point letting the money go to waste. Zeina set down her now empty glass and said, "Thanks Alko." Then she left to go off and find Vent and Gaze. She could look for Zahi later.

Exiting the room, Zeina threw one last glance behind her. Something seemed off about the bar... some of the people in the bar... but she couldn't put her finger on it. Then it came to her. It seemed like she couldn't see the aura of most of the people in the bar. While it wasn't like Zeina went around looking into the eyes of everyone in the pack, she could see the auras of pack. Well, maybe there were just a lot of newcomers. Or people who had skipped the scavenger part of joining the pack and had never made eye contact with her otherwise. So Zeina just kept walking, deciding that she could deal with it later. Having to many hidden auras made her feel uncomfortable.

"I let you out of there, and it'll be off with my head, not back to my night off," Bruin clucked. If he knew anything more, it didn't seem like he was going to say it now. And Bruin was getting a bit sick of his blunt requests. Didn't he understand what was going on? He hadn't given anyone reason to trust him. And she certainly wasn't going to be the first one to make that mistake.

Shifting the weight of her crossbow to the other arm, Bruin left the small cell window and returned to her post. She was done talking to Torak for now. She'd pass on what he'd said when she was relieved. "You can go ahead and make yourself comfortable," she called back. "You're not - "

But the arrival of the Black Wolf stopped her tongue. Standing more to attention, the Blood Wolf frowned at his a-little-too-casual request. Bruin wasn't sure what Kassom's involvement in this was, or what that coin meant. Whether he was friend or foe. Bruin liked having a boss who hadn't eagerly clawed her way to power, who had actually been one of them. And she wasn't eager for the Red Jackal position to be vacated again so some sadist like Vahn could grab it. The Black Wolf was, of course, far her superior. But as long as he was asking, she'd stand her ground.

"Sorry, sir," she said, shaking her head. Her tone was much more business with Kassom than it had been with Torak. "He's a teleporter. It'd be too easy for him to escape outside of the cell." A muscle in her face twitched; she was trying to figure out Kassom. Bruin might wish she had a few beers in her by now, but she wasn't so sloppy. She didn't think the Feral was here just to 'rough Torak up.' After a moment, she offered, "You can deal with him inside the cell, if you like, but I can't let him out."

"You can kneecap me if I try. If Kassom wants to play rough, let him." Torak grinned, in challenge. It would look like he was challenging Kassom. But he had cooled off now, and Kassom had warned him about the Zahi issue. So Torak would talk before any beating occurred.

"I owe him, after all, I tried to strangle him."

Alko was not in a pleasant mood over all the things he was overhearing in the bar lately. With what Heinin and Wag had been picking up on, and the fevered words of some of the Wolves Chora cared for, things were seeming to be quite grim. The behavior of a couple of his regulars was a bit off and Bujari was in an odd mood lately as well. What was Theo thinking? Running off because of that Dylanna Swinden. He always hoped Theo would marry the woman, and retire Rufus out of this life. Now that she had a son though, Alko wasn't sure if it would be possible for Ryk Handelaar, wealthy merchant, to wed her.

He picked up the glasses after Zeina got up to leave. She seemed a bit troubled too. Perhaps it was time to ask Heinin to make contact with her. Rufus seemed to trust her enough. If choosing sides was gonna happen soon, it was best to start recruiting where they could. Having as many of the ranked Wolves on their side, would surely prove useful. Maybe he should reach out to Gaze as well. Best to have both Jackals and the Coyote at the least, as most of their factions would follow them. Things to consider.

All Jack wanted when he returned to his quarters was a drink, but this time alone, with no suspicious Black Wolves or crazed assassins or scuffling Blood Wolves. Given any choice at all, the Grey Wolf would gladly go back to how things used to be. He really rather liked the Beta position. He'd had standing over everyone other than Rufus, he really only had to do as much thieving work as he felt like, and he could spend most of his time over drinks, charming the guards and bosses of other operations into staying out of the Wolves' way. High payoff, great benefits, little responsibility. But that was gone now. Now everything was changed and, when he opened the door and entered his quarters, he was reminded of why.

Sitting with 'her' back to the door, calmly helping herself to a glass of scotch, was what appeared to be Melina Porter. Melina was a middle-aged woman who ran one of the store fronts that led into the Den. She'd been working with the Soot Wolves for decades, longer than Jack had been around anyway. She was no-nonsense and businesslike, but she was kind and Jack had liked her. 'Had' because, if this 'woman' was here unannounced and uninvited in his quarters, it was certainly not Melina Porter. Melina Porter, certainly, was dead.

"The others are too suspicious," the woman said without turning around to face Jack. It was, he supposed, Melina's voice in a way. But not in any of the ways that defined a person. "The Feral doesn't trust you any more than if you had great 'warning' signs painted on you. Nor do either of the women - our Kui aside, of course. Better intuition, perhaps." Though he couldn't see her face, Jack could tell this was said with a smile. He made no replies to the woman-who-was-not-a-woman, who was certainly not Melina. At least, he knew better than to make any excuses for himself. Nor did he ask how she had received news so fast. He'd learned already not to question the strange powers his new 'allies' possessed. "And the giant Yoreiqi," her tone was dangerous now, "has even started looking outside of this guild of yours. We must take more... concrete measures to shift that suspicion. We must divert their attention."

Jack said nothing, but moved from where he had stood to pour himself a scotch as well and sat opposite of Melina-not-Melina. And as he listened as she laid out the plan to be followed, he felt cold. This was no plan he would enjoy executing. But he was smart enough not to disagree. When she was done, he simply nodded.

"Yes," he agreed, "I can make that happen."

"Good," the woman purred. "I'd hate to think I'd chosen the wrong one from among you to aid me in this endeavor. But," the woman held up a finger, "in case there are any complications, in case your 'Alpha,'" she spit the word, "returns and more are loyal to him than we hope, I want some insurance. I want to know more about this man 'Canis Rufus.'"

Jack thought, then thought of the most obvious confidence Rufus kept. "Yes," he agreed again, going over the plan his associate just laid out, and sipped his scotch, "I can do that, as well."

The bar was finally clearing out. Alko would be able to get some sleep. Five or six stragglers were still hanging about, but even on the edge of sleep, Wag wouldn't have trouble shooing them out. Alko locked up his cabinets and drawers, and waved Wag over. He slipped the bouncer a note to give Heinin regarding recruiting Zeina to their cause. "Could you get these stragglers outta here Wag? Don't need any drunk Wolves laying on the floor when I get back in a few hours." As Wag went around to shoo the lurkers away, Alko slipped away to his rooms, securing the seven locks and two crossbars, before bedding down for the night. He'd sleep eight hours, and wake at eleven. Nobody usually ordered drinks until noon.

---

Wag got the last of the drunken Wolves to head off toward the barracks to sleep it off, and then went straight to Heinin's rooms. The first room was open, as usual, but the second door was always kept locked, whether Heinin was there or not. Wag pushed open the slot next to the door, and slid the message from Alko through. The Fence would get the paper in the morning, Wag was sure of that. And if he was still as good as he claimed, Zeina would join up with them in no time. Wag took himself to his own bed then. He planned on sleeping until noon.

Kassom eyed the anti-magic cage as if he didn't quite trust it... then shrugged his shoulders. "I guess that'll have to do, then. I'll just need a few minutes." He tossed Bruin a shiny silver coin -- "For your trouble." -- then headed for the cage doors.

"Back wall of the cage, Torak. No funny business." Kassom instructed in a 'don't mess with me' tone of voice, pulling out and idly twirling one of his many throwing daggers in a vaguely threatening manner. When Bruin opened the door he stepped inside, the enchanted prison clanged shut behind him. "That was some gall you showed at the bar, trying to choke me out like that. You think I became the Lone Wolf because I play well with others and need Blood Wolves to watch my back? Guess again."

He continued to bluster threateningly until Bruin had left them alone, or at least gave the appearance of leaving them alone. To assume naive trust from a fellow thief, even one playing guard, was just silly. Still, he could work the situation so that any prying eyes or eavesdropping ears would have a much harder time of it -- if Bruin managed to pick up the real conversation amidst the Feral's planned cacophony, then she had earned the right to listen in. For a few moments Kassom just glared coldly at the de-armored assassin... although Torak would likely notice that a change was coming over him. Kassom's red-hued fur was gradually draining of color, becoming a gritty shade of grey that seemed altogether unnatural. The change stopped about halfway, leaving Kassom looking like a bloodied monochromatic photograph of himself.

With a speed that even outpaced his own regular agility Kassom charged at Torak... and for a moment it looked as though he was just about intent on killing him. When the Feral's fist, somehow suddenly coated in steel, slammed noisily into the bars of the cage half a foot from Torak instead of the assassin himself, it became clear that a bit of a show was going on here. "Play along... and make it believable." The words were a half-grunted whisper -- it was obvious in Kassom's voice that he was exerting himself with this non-magic power and had no patience for any shenanigans at the moment.

A change, barely perceptible but fearsome, came over Kassom's eyes as they glared at Torak -- a fiercer demeanor and a very slight glow of cold blue. An entirely different voice whispered from Kassom's mouth,


"Not so tough without your fancy armor, eh killer? I always knew most of you assassins were just overdressed thugs --" He pounded the metal bars again. "--all bluster and no skill."


Another bang against the bars, then another. Likely to Torak's surprise tendrils of living metal suddenly began to lash out from beneath Kassom's ragged clothes, creating yet further clamor and tumult to cover their conversation. The Feral leaned closer until he was practically whispering in Torak's ear.


The demon within Kassom paused in its diatribe to pull a trio of throwing blades from a hidden pocket. In its hand Torak would see the metal twist and morph, taking on the shape and design of a dagger (http://preview.turbosquid.com/Preview/Content_2010_09_17__15_57_51/stillettoFulljpg.jpgc1125098-54ae-4f5f-bc5e-98e493cdb8e1Larger.jpg) that was almost the length of a short sword. It was surreptitiously held out to Torak.

The White Mask lurched out in Torak's mind and whispered a word back.

"They recognise Torak, not me. Play along with this, and it might work you say. We are in agreement, Kassom."

Torak was given control back, and he took the dagger cautiously, and hid it down his shirt, falling over in a faked choking fit, and letting his head and hands hit the floor simultaneously, creating damage that would look like blunt force trauma.

"You think... I am... Just some stupid... Petty... Assassin? N-no..." Torak tried to rise, and forced a rather realistic sway.

"You got your... Revenge... What more do you want?" Torak coughed, and the dagger moving in his shirt scratched him, causing small, insignificant bleeds.

"If you want a proper fight, show me what you got you stupid little boy." Torak hoped Kassom would actually hit him, just to make the faked wounds look more realistic. And the moment the White Mask got to work on making an appearance, it would all become simpler.

Bruin was straining to listen to what was happening inside the cell. She hadn't actually expected the Feral to enter and her suspicion of the Black Wolf was piqued. He'd been far too grinning and casual about the whole ordeal. She didn't get the chance listen to too much, though, before Yannick appeared.

"Got called in to replace you," the older Blood Wolf informed Bruin gruffly. She looked at him, nonplussed. She'd been told she was on duty all night. But Yannick outranked her and why should he be here if not to relieve her? Certainly no one was too keen to watch Torak, who'd been a thorn in the side of the Bloods since his arrival. "And you got tomorrow off, you lucky thing."

Bruin nodded slowly, then tilted her head towards the commotion in the cell. Strange that Yannick hadn't asked about it. "Black Wolf. Here to exact his revenge, he says. Asked to take the bloody idiot out of the cage. Told 'im that wasn't an option, so in he went."

Yannick gave a snort of appreciation at the sounds of Torak's beating. "Well, I can just hope he gives me a reason to join in."

Bruin gave Yannick a long look. Something seemed off about him. Something about this whole situation had left her deeply unsettled. Maybe it was just being called in on her night off, she told herself. Maybe not. Either way, she'd be reporting every detail of this, right down to Yannick's arrival.

"Well, g'luck with that," she said as a final farewell, and nodded curtly to the other Blood.


Yannick watched Bruin leave. He had, in fact, been sent to relieve her. But perhaps not by who Bruin would expect. His master was quite interested in finding out what the Feral and the assassin were up to.

((OOC: I know this is ridiculously short, but it needs to be done!))

Veskos took control of Torak's mind briefly, and assessed what was going on. The new guard would be easy to kill, and was definitely not a friendly. Instead the demon decided to reach out to Kassom with a small bit of demonic telepathy.

"Hey, Kassom. Look at the new guy. Odd. Not friendly by any means. Working for our lovely friend who wants to take out my superior perhaps? By my reckoning, this goes all the way back to Jack, haha! Weaken Rufus' support, uproot his allies and burn them, then swing at the big tree and every apple should fall to the ground, where they can be consumed. He wants power. And I would know, I fight Torak for it often enough..." The telepathy would be in Kassom's head only, as the anti-magic field wouldn't let it go outside.

(OOC: Brisinger, if you're going to add a demonic persona to your character out of the blue it might behoove you to fully update Torak's profile to reflect that. There's nothing in there about telepathy of any kind; it doesn't give people the best impression of you as an RPer if you invent new character traits / powers off the cuff whenever they're convenient.)


For just a few moments, Kassom's expression went utterly blank as he heard a second voice come from Torak. No... the odds of that were... he could barely fathom. In some back corner of his mind he supposed he had always considered himself unique, his "bond" with Ilaelis something that set himself apart in a world of warriors and magic users; to suddenly have that notion interrupted was... jarring, in a way he thought he'd outgrown years ago. Emotions whirled through the Feral's mind -- disappointment, anger, distrust -- before he felt Ilaelis' quiet insistence that he remain calm and professional. With it came the feeling that they would take care of this new development when the time was right.

Kassom did have to credit Torak's acting skills somewhat, at least -- he was making this believable, though the self-inflicted bruises and all wouldn't really sell it well enough. He'd have to actually get aggressive with the assassin. "What do I want, he asks? How about a little freaking respect? You want me to beat it into you? Fine! We can do it that way."

Just as he was pulling back for another fake punch, though, the demonic telepathy hit... and the strangest thing happened.






"Well well well..."

Instead of merely speaking into Kassom's mind, the brief telepathic link created a bridge between the two demonic entities; seizing upon the thread of unholy power that the White Mask had sent tendril-like into his host's mind, Ilaelis had pulled the connection tight... and brought the two demons face to face, in a manner of speaking. The mental "realm" they now shared was as strange and ethereal as it was impossible -- hazy gray fog drifted on the ground and far overhead, punctuated by black voids that appeared at random to suck down the mist like miniature black holes, only to vanish seconds after emerging. Between the two fog banks could be seen a backdrop of endless shadow, pitch-black far into the distance. This place, which was somewhere between "real" and imagined, seemed to exist in the mind of both Torak and Kassom simultaneously... endlessly dark, murky, and ominous, yet none of this hindered perceptions whatsoever.

The voice was at first disembodied... slowly, twirling together and being given form through sheer will, the endless fog banks gave Ilaelis a body. Hooded robes of liquid steel clothed the demon's polished obsidian skin, both of which gleamed despite this "place" having no source of light. It's eyes glowed with mystical blue fire and its whole body wreathed and burned within an unnatural black inferno. The demon of metal stepped forward, every shift of its weight and flex of its fingers echoing with the sound of steel ringing and clashing, scraping and grinding -- a sound cacophonous one moment and melodious the next.

"How long has it been since I tasted the fell energies of my kind? A pleasant gift, those words you whispered to my host. Come, meet me here demon. I would speak with you, away from our vessels."




The punch, which had originally been merely a feint, connected squarely with Torak's jaw -- this fist was mere flesh and blood and anger, the steel skin and graying fur of moments before quickly retreating back out of sight. The tendrils of metal also ceased their clamor against the enchanted cage and slithered back under ragged clothes, becoming simple daggers once more. The demon Ilaelis was otherwise occupied -- Kassom would have to finish this up on his own.

The assassin would soon find himself hoisted up, and brought face to face with the Feral. The look in his eyes was not happy. "Sounds like your 'friend', at least, is savvy." He whispered, eyes glaring. "Might be worth listening to."

Letting Torak go (roughly), the Black Wolf walked back to the entrance of the cage and called out. "I'm done here, thanks. I doubt he'll be much trouble for you now."

It was early the next morning after the suspicions of the Black Wolf, the ridiculous incident with Torak, and the surprise visit of Melina-not-Melina. It was time for Jack to get more proactive if he was going to keep his bosses happy. The Grey Wolf headed down the empty early-morning passageways of the Den, wondering vaguely if he couldn't just take what he had and make a new life somewhere warm and tropical, full of beautiful women...

His wandering thoughts were brought back to the present when he reached the door to Zeina's quarters. The Coyote, he was sure, would be his best shot. After all, she was probably the only Wolf outside of the Bloods who knew anything about Akello, and she had such a useful ability. It would certainly be useful to Jack, he was sure of that. It was early enough in the morning (and late enough at night) that he could be fairly confident that Zeina would be back from any overnight jobs, but not yet out for the day. Straightening himself on the outside of her door, Jack made a short, smart knock.

Zeina glared up at the door when it was knocked.

Really, another person? It was probably just some poor Scavenger who wanted attention. She didn't have time for that. At first she was just going to ignore it. But she knew she couldn't—it might be important.

Plus, maybe it wasn't all that bad.

She glanced over at Heinin, who had been in her room for about twenty minutes. He was sitting across the table and had constantly been talking business. And she was getting tired of it. Even if she had a relationship with Heinin unlike any other she had ever had within the pack, stuff like this made her weary and tired.

So she said, "I suppose our conversation will be slightly delayed." Then Zeina plastered a fake smile on her face, walked to the door, and opened it up.

Jack.

Great.

So much for just another Scavenger wolf. If Jack was visiting her, it was important. The smile faded from her face. She didn't need to pretend to be all bubbly if it wasn't on of her kids. Acting normal would suffice quite well. Nonetheless, she moved aside to let him inside her room.

Jack couldn't help but give a short laugh at Zeina's fallen face when she opened the door to see him. "Good morning to you, too," he replied with an amused smile. Though he wouldn't expect it to have any effect on the Coyote, there was no denying that there was something disarming about the Grey Wolf, with his boyish looks and trustworthy demeanor. His smile was short-lived, though; he'd come here on business and serious business at that. He followed the opened door into Zeina's quarters and did not succeed in hiding mild surprise at seeing Heinin there. It wasn't unusual for the fence to be talking shop with the Coyote, Jack had hoped to find Zeina alone. Especially at this early hour in the morning. He gave Heinin a calm, polite nod. If he was ruffled by the fence's presence here, he didn't show it.

"Sorry to bother you at such an odd hour," Jack said, turning back to Zeina, "but I was hoping to get your, ah... insight on something," he finished after choosing his words.

Glancing back to Heinin, he added, "You can stay, Heinin, if you don't have business elsewhere. You might know the Red Wolf's mind on this matter better than either of us, so perhaps it's better if you do." Jack watched as Heinin, who had began to rise, sat back down and leaned back into his chair, then turned his attention back to Zeina. "If you have some time, I'd like to hear your opinion on some, ah, troubling information I've received from Gaze."

Jack, well that was not pleasant. It seemed the note he had received to recruit Zeina to the cause had come just in time. Nobody was sure what his game was, but Heinin had been at this game long enough to know that something wasn't right with the boy. Heinin was one of the few old timers in the guild. You didn't survive to his ripe age without learning to trust that itch you got between your shoulders that said a person was likely to place a blade there. That had never been an issue with Jack until more recently.

And Jack had mentioned Rufus. That meant that the meetings for drinks had not gone unnoticed as more than just friendly banter. Heinin warned Rufus it was too regular, but he insisted he needed reports every day. Well that surely meant that Jack knew Wag and Alko were connected in as well. Perhaps the pretty little healer had escaped notice though. Rufus always kept her detached from the group, but he had been favoring her on a professional front lately.

Heinin nodded at Jacks words and mumbled ascent under his breath. While his face was clear of any surprise or emotional response, he hoped that Zeina would catch the trepidation in his aura as a warning that Jack was not safe. She usually trusted him. Lets hope this time wouldn't be an exception.

"I haven't heard from Rufus since he rushed out of Arca. Not sure what insight I can give."

Something was wrong.

Zeina knew that even before she looked over at Heinin, whose aura clearly showed his distrust. Jack's words didn't make sense. Gaze told him troubling information? And not her? No, that wasn't right. Her and Gaze were close... in fact, last time she checked, Gaze was closer to her than almost anybody else in the pack. And he knew her better than to use Jack as a messenger. With her suspicious nature, she liked to hear things first hand. Unless Gaze was trying to tell her something through Jack's aura. But that wouldn't make sense, since Jack knew about her ability and would be able to mask his inner emotions pretty well.

So either Jack was lying, or Gaze had changed. Well, she had to speak to him soon anyway for Kassom. She could figure out the details then. But for now, she planned on seeing what Jack had to say.

"None of us have, Heinin, if you haven't. But we all know that Rufus is more open to you than he is to most others," Zeina responded to her previous boss. She moved over and sat back down in her seat, and motioned for Jack to sit to the one beside it.

"Nonetheless, I am intrigued by your words, Jack. Please elaborate." Zeina was starting to wonder if it had anything to do with what Heinin was talking about beforehand. And if it did... well, it was no doubt important.

OOC: WOOOO this is my thousandth postie! <3 <3 <3 I love y'all! XD

The Grey Wolf followed Zeina's lead and took the remaining seat at the table. He left the chair pushed back from the table a bit and leaned back. Jack watched the faces of both Wolves. He might not be able to read auras, but he hadn't become as successful as he was at cutting deals and buttering up guards by not being able to read emotions. "I realize I'm not the usual conduit for informational matters," he said while taking his seat, his tone unguarded, "because normally I'm not the one to receive it in the first place. But as long as Rufus is gone-without-a-trace, matters that would normally go to the Red Wolf go to me." He said this in a way that made it plain that he would rather have nothing to do with it all. That he was somewhere near the top of People Who Wished Rufus Was Back. And that wasn't entirely unbelievable. Jack had a cushy job normally and wasn't known for taking on any extra responsibilities. Especially when it came to internal matters.

"I asked Gaze and Vent to also come this morning, but," he added and gave a wave of his hand, "you know how they are."

Jack fidgeted in his seat. His demeanor was mostly under control, but underneath it was somewhere between anxious or worried and that of a teenager forced to do a chore they hated. The latter, in fact, was not too far from the truth.

"Well," he finally said, getting to the point, speaking now primarily to Zeina, "I don't know if you're aware of he unrest in the Blood Wolves?" Heinin, he figured, was aware. But there was no real reason for Zeina to be, so he continued, "It's not so new, really. A faction – a growing faction – of the Bloods want more clout in the Guild. I think they're thinking is something like, 'We're the muscle, we should be calling the shots.'" He shrugged; he wasn't one for violence and generally avoided dealing with the Blood Wolves. He fidgeted again and it was clear that he wasn't entirely comfortable saying what he was about to say. "Until recently, it had been mostly grumbling. Or, at least, that's the general understanding. But more recently it's been... escalating." He paused again here. "Well, I won't beat around the bush about it. Gaze thinks or, I suppose, has reason to believe that Akello is involved and that they have, ah, rather bigger ambitions than previously thought."

Jack watched Zeina. He would wait before he relayed the rest of the information from Gaze. He wouldn't be at all surprised if the Coyote verified what he was telling them with the Gold Jackal, and she would hear the same from Gaze that she was hearing now.

"Well, I was surprised, I'll be honest. I don't really know Akello, she keeps so much to the Bloods and – truth be told – she intimidates me a bit, but I know Rufus trusts her." Here he gave a meaningful look to Heinin. "Far be it from me to say that Gaze might have gotten his lines crossed; after all, this is his line of work and not mine. But I'd rather have a second opinion before making anything out of it. Well, I'd rather not be involved in it at all, but there you go."

"I don't really want to ask any of the Bloods about it – including, for the moment, Bujari – as I don't want to make them feel that their loyalty is on trial. But you two joined around the same time, didn't you? When you were fairly young? I was wondering if you thought it was possible or not. Well, anything's possible, let's say 'likely' or not? Or... have you noticed anything different?"

He knew, of course, that Zeina had been trying to meet with Zahi and also that pretty little Spot had been keeping Zahi from getting any word of it. But he looked at her with an expression that said that if he had to call the shots, he didn't really want to do it alone.

"With Rufus gone, I don't want to tip the boat unnecessarily, but I also, so to speak, don't want to be the one to let it sink."

Zeina leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. Her expression was completely unreadable, but that wasn't uncommon. She mulled all of Jack's words over in her head, trying to decipher them. Even just the carefulness in which they were obviously chosen told her something: he knew he was treading on a dangerous surface.

Of course, accusing the head Blood Wolf of planning to betray the pack was extremely dangerous surface.

It was true that Jack should be the one to hear information like that, though. With Rufus gone, he would be the person to go to. But that led to another strange thought. Zeina had always imagined Jack to be the kind that would wave things like this off to someone else. Either to herself or the Gold Jackal. So for him to take it upon himself... and to talk to her, the Coyote? The person known to collect information and use it to her own advantage? That was risky and suspicious.

However, the words he spoke weren't completely illogical. Yes, she was aware of unrest in the Blood Wolves. It had always been there. There were bound to be a wolf or two—in every section—that believed their section should get more power. The Blood Wolves were a prime example of that. But he was right, it was never a huge deal. And if they rebelled... that would be bad.

If Jack had spoken to her even a day earlier, Zeina would have been less suspicious of him. Even she had doubted Zahi's loyalty once or twice—and recently she had been doubting it again. Their lack of communication did not help. But even when she didn't trust Zahi as much, Zeina never expected her to try to make the bloods overthrow Rufus. If nothing else, she wouldn't be surprised if Zahi tried to become the next Rufus. But that would be an individual thing. Not the entirety of the Blood Wolves.

And with what Heinin had been talking about... no, something had to be wrong. She didn't trust Jack. In the situation that he was in, it made sense what he was doing. He didn't believe those rumors, but wanted to check with a childhood friend and still companion to get another opinion. Just in case he was wrong. It was all logical. But she didn't trust it. Perhaps she was analyzing it too much, but that was practically part of her job. Heinin's distrust, Jack's wording, and Zahi's recent lack of communication... it wasn't right. In fact, maybe Zahi's lack of communication was just all part of this strange plan. This strange plan to see which side Zeina was on.

Well, even if she was overanalyzing, there was no harm in continuing the conversation to see how things played out.

Finally speaking after a long silence, Zeina replied, "She always liked power. From when we were young. And yes, we joined at around the same time." They practically grew up together and were best friends, but he didn't have to know that. "So I suppose I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to take a grab at the Rufus position..." Zeina paused, as if contemplating whether or not to say the next part. She said it. "I would keep her under watch. Just for a little while. In fact, she's even been avoiding me recently. Maybe she sensed my growing distrust in her... but, Jack, I would be careful who you talk about this to. There are people in the pack that aren't as... level headed as I am, per say."

Zeina turned towards Heinin and added, "Unless you have anything to add, it might be best for you to leave. But I agree with what you were saying, so don't worry about finishing our conversation." She had to have Heinin know that she was on his side. There was no way that she was betraying Rufus or Zahi... unless further evidence showed up. She just had to play her cards right to get on Jack's good side, too.

Heinin stood from his chair, and he did something out of character for him. He hugged the girl. Best he show Zeina that this was more than just business to him. He had a soft spot for her. He had no children of his own, and he'd known her since she was a pup. If anything happened to his sly girl, he'd gut the culprit himself.

"I hope you'll have a drink with me this evening." He said to her as he released the embrace. He turned and headed toward the door, nodding farewell to Jack as he left. "Good fortune find you, Master Amsel."

After exiting the chamber, Heinin released a long slow breath to steady himself. He had a great deal to take care of. It wouldn't do to stand about here. He hurried along to find Wag. He needed to let the others know that Jack was moving, and he had done his best to recruit Zeina before the Beta had arrived to see her. It was early, but already he felt like he needed a stiff drink. Good thing Wag's room was near the bar.

((OOC: Since there are more Wolves - or Wolf writers! - around and about now, I'd like to sort of wrap things up so you're not all stuck in the middle of a plot-that's-going-nowhere. Hopefully this way my characters can be removed or step away from import for awhile, but people can still play on the tension in the Guild. ...Part Two will come when I have time to write it!))

---

Part One

Spot was nervous. The Shadow Wolf had just received word from one of the handful of higher-level Blood Wolves, Clarion, who knew about her "side job" working for Zahi. He'd been harried and looked like he'd been in a fight. Urgent news for the Red Jackal, could Spot deliver it? Of course she could. That was her job. She knew Clarion. She trusted him. Zahi trusted him. But Spot couldn't shake the memory of the stranger she'd seen with Kui. The one with a dead Wolf's face.

Spot tapped on the Red Jackal's door, then proceeded to let herself in. (She learned in small steps, it seemed, after the incident with the Animus. But she wasn't quite willing to abandon the familiarity she'd injected into her relationship with Zahi. At least this way she gave some warning). But when she came in, Zahi was alone. Thank goodness.

"I just saw Clarion," she said, skipping any greeting or her normal joking. She felt very pale. "He says they caught someone. Someone working for the Beta, but not a Wolf, by the sounds of it."

Zahi looked up. She had been busy writing something when Spot came in. Spot could tell that the news was both interesting and alarming to the older woman. "Where are they?"

"They have him in an abandoned smithy by the river. Clarion said you'd know which one." Recognition shown on Zahi's face, and she gave a small nod. Spot could tell her mind was already working on something else. Nervously, she added, "It looked... Well, by the look of Clarion, it didn't look like they caught someone very nice."

"I'm sure they didn't," Zahi gave short, mirthless laugh.

"Do you want me, er, do you want me to come with you?" Spot didn't really want her to go at all. For once, this information hadn't come from Kui. For all she knew, Kui had heard nothing about it. Clarion had been a Wolf for almost longer than Spot had been alive and she knew Zahi trusted him. But she nonetheless had a bad feeling about this.

"What? No." This question seemed to snap Zahi back into the present, and she looked at Spot anew. "But there is something you can do for me." She folded the piece of parchment she'd been writing on, and sealed it and handed it over to Spot. "If something happens, Spot, I want you to give that to the Coyote. Okay? But for now, let's play this hand close to our chest."

"'If something happens?'" Spot repeated dumbly. She knew what the Red Jackal meant. And the look Zahi gave her just confirmed it. "Alright," she agreed. "I'll be glad when this is all over. I like thieving, and I don't mind snooping around, but all this tension is killing me."

"No kidding," Zahi agreed and gave Spot something that, on someone else, might have been a reassuring smile. Spot wasn't entirely sure what it was on Zahi, but it seemed like a role reversal happened between them. But the Red Jackal must have picked up on her Shadow Wolf's mood because, after she had belted two long daggers at her side and slung a light crossbow over her shoulder, she looked at Spot and added, "Let's touch base on this tomorrow, okay, Spot? Keep your ear to the ground."

Then she left, leaving Spot alone in the Red Jackal's quarters. This had been real information. It had come from Clarion. Spot hadn't even seen Kui today. It couldn't have come from her. It didn't. It had to be real. And Zahi was going to go interrogate the man they'd caught and and somehow put an end to it all and then Rufus would come back and then everything would be fine. But the words repeated in Spot's head: "If something happens..."

---

Zahi did know the location in Clarion's message. It was somewhere they used from time to time when they wanted to detain someone in the city without bringing them to the Den. She met Clarion on the way, and hurried to the smithy with the older Blood Wolf. She knew almost immediately when they got there that something was wrong. But too late. The door to the smithy closed behind her, and Clarion blocked it. Inside were at least fifteen men. Some Blood Wolves, but most were not. She didn't have time to wonder who they were. Zahi was a good fighter, but she wasn't equal to fifteen armed men. She managed to take out three, or maybe four, five? before she was caught off guard, defending against one while another caught her in the leg, cutting deep into her thigh. Zahi wasn't aware of the pain so much as the warm, wet feeling spreading down her leg. Then things started slowing down. She knew she was losing too much blood. Her vision started to fade. And a blow to the back of the head finished it.

In the dim last moments of consciousness, she heard disparate voices.

"...the badge?"

"No. It should look like she fled..."

Then her body, heavy, being moved.

A growing warmth. The crackle of flames.

Then nothing else.

---

A day's journey outside of Arca, the Ora river flowed through the green fields and forests of the Serendipity countryside. It was a perfect picture of pastoral beauty, except for the body. Floating face-down in the river's lazy waters was the bloated corpse of a man. It was the corpse of Clarion, the former Blood Wolf.

((OOC: Just some closure on the Torak thing btw!))

Torak worked his way out of the cell, leaving as quickly and abruptly as he had arrived, taking his possessions, and deserting the Soot Wolves.

He travelled, meeting his sister, and forming an assassins guild, before dying a quick death in his sleep.

Murky watched from the shadows. He listened from the shadows. No Soot Wolf knew of his existence beyond the Red Wolf. Murky himself was not truly a Wolf, though all his actions were for the benefit of the guild. His loyalty was to Rufus, and to Rufus alone. A powerful geas had been put on him at a young age, and Rufus had purchased the contract the spell was attached to. His duty while the Red Wolf was away was simple in name, but much more complicated in execution. Shadow the Red Jackal at all times, never lose sight of her, and keep her alive without exposing himself. Magic rings kept him hidden, kept him from needing sleep or sustenance. All he did was watch her, and listen. As Zahi left that night, Murky followed. He saw the trap spring and in his rising panic, nearly revealed himself to aid her. Instead, he quickly found the only open window, crept inside with all haste, and aided her from the darkness. Too many assailants for him to have helped in a much more forward manner anyhow. Poison needles in the darkness thinned the pack and Zahi performed marvelously, but he couldn't do anymore. He would follow. He would watch and listen. If they dumped her or turned away from her long enough, that he could slip in unnoticed, he would force a potion into her. He would save her life. For now, all he could do was dart her with something to slow the bleeding, slow her heart, give the illusion of death. And he would be patient. If Zahi died, he died. He surely did not want that.

Part Two

"Well, what an insightful letter. Too bad Zeina won't get a chance to read it. Akello realized more than I would have given her credit for."

Jack gave a very small shrug as if to say 'what a pity,' before lightly tossing the letter Spot had been charged with into the flames of his fireplace. Spot watched, the bile rising in her stomach and a tightness clamping down on her throat, but didn't dare to move. The woman who was not Melina Porter stood behind the young Shadow Wolf was made to sit; Spot's long, sleek hair was wrapped around the woman's fist and she gave it a jerk just to make sure Spot didn't get any ideas. Spot was furious with herself. She hadn't seen the trap laid for her; she hadn't seen what was now clearly the trap laid for Zahi. She hadn't gotten more than twenty meters outside of the Red Jackal's quarters before she'd been caught, gagged from behind. No one ever snuck up on Spot.

"You've played your part very well, Spot."

"I didn't do anything for you tonight," Spot spat back, though she knew it wasn't true. "Whatever you think happened tonight, your'e wrong. Kui didn't find me. I didn't say anything that wasn't fron -"

Melina-not-melina's cold laughter interrupted Spot. "The White Bitch-in-heat isn't our only messenger. You must realize that, smart girl that you are." Spot only seethed in silence in response. Pulling Spot by her hair to face her, the 'woman' asked, "Did anyone else see you go to the Red Jackal other than 'Clarion?' Did you give the message to anyone else?"

Spot huffed, glared, but set her jaw and refused to answer. Jack opened his mouth to try a more congenial tract, but Melina hit Spot hard on the side of her head, spots exploding in front of her eyes, before pulling her sharply back up by the hair. Jack winced at the sudden outburst of violence. The Beta Wolf did not have the stomach for this business.

"Did you tell anyone else?" Melina repeated, her voice calm and cold.

"No," Spot finally answered, head still reeling from the blow, hating herself and this woman and Jack.

"Good. Good girl." Melina patted Spot's cheek, then turned to Jack. "You'll have to assign someone to step in for the missing Red Jackal. Someone she trusted. And best to quiet things down for now. And you keep a lower profile until the darling Red Wolf returns. Make it look like Akello had a part in the trouble. In the mean time, with no one knowing who to trust, dischord will grow on its own. Those who were loyal to Zahi won't know what to think." She paused, as though a thought just struck her then turned back to Spot. She had her feelers, her informants inside the Blood Wolves, but the mind of the Red Jackal wasn't something she knew. "What do you think, little Spot? Was that letter all your darling Jackal guessed at? It included some interesting information about those problematic Blood Wolves she had killed, but I think it didn't say it all. What else did she tell her little pet?"

This time Melina didn't tolerate Spot's silence for nearly as long. She gave the Shadow Wolf only a few seconds before she hit Spot across the face. (Again, Jack winced.) When Spot remained silent, Melina dragged her up by the hair over to the fireplace. "Are you going to make me ask again?" Melina asked lightly, as - still holding roughly on to Spot's hair - she lifted the cast iron poker from its place beside the fire, and stuck it into the coals.

Spot's eyes widened and she felt the words leaving her mouth before she even realized she was talking. "She suspected the Beta might be setting her up, but she wasn't sure," she answered, her violet eyes fixed on the poker which was slowly heating. Another jerk at her hair let her know that wasn't answer enough and loosened her tongue. Spot was talking quickly now, almost automatically, hating herself more with every word, but driven on by fear. "She wasn't sure if it was him, or, or if Rufus was setting a trap for her. Or, if he was testing her. Especially having the Dire Wolf shadow her in his absence. And because she didn't feel that he, that he gave her very much information. She didn't like being kept in the dark."

"And the Blood Wolves most loyal to her?" The woman asked, toying with the poker in the fire that was now beginning to glow gently orange. "What about them?"

"It... it depends," Spot answered, her eyes transfixed on the glowing poker, the pain from the earlier blows to her head starting to throb. "I mean, I'm not a Blood Wolf, I - " Another yank to her hair told Spot that she couldn't back out of the question. "There are some who are loyal to her who don't like the way Rufus handles things with the Bloods, with Torak and thinking... thinking maybe he was punishing her unfairly. But I don't, I don't know what they would think if... if..." Spot couldn't bring herself to say 'if Zahi were killed.' Suddenly it occurred to Spot, through her fear, that she wasn't sure if any of the rank-and-file Blood Wolves suspected the Beta. If they thought Zahi had been killed, would they think it was his orders? Or the Red Wolf's? Carried out, maybe, by the menacing Dire Wolf... She felt her stomach fall a little.

But the woman finally released her. For half a second, Spot relaxed, only by the most miniscule amount. But it was just enough to be taken off guard when the woman - for no reason clear to her - brought the iron poker lashing down across her middle, winding her in a sudden burst of heat and pain.

"I dont' know if that's really necessary..." Jack protested, though a little half-heartedly, cringing at the open display of violence. But all the same, he didn't move to help Spot. After all, the Gray Wolf had his own neck to watch out for. Instead, with blanched pallor and a naive grasp of the obvious outcomes, he asked, "Is it wise to say so much to her? She's worked well with us, but -"

Jack was cut off by a cold, but genuinely amused, laugh. "Very astute, Mister Amsel!" With a thin smile, the woman took a knife that had been lying idle on a nearby table. Spot's usefulness had ended. It was time to take care of her, before the tool became a liability. Coolly confident, Melina picked Spot up roughly by the hair and was prepared to slit the Shadow Wolf's throat, but as the knife made contact with the skin on Spot's neck, and unseen to Melina, Spot twisted, swinging the fire poker hard at Melina. The woman, taken off her guard, was sent sprawling. Spot was wild, only half-thinking; she was not a trained fighter. Though it was shallow, warm blood was flowing quickly from the cut across her throat. Scrambling, Spot grabbed the knife that had clattered to the ground and flung herself at Jack, stabbing with all the strength she could muster at the Beta Wolf.

But Spot did not stay to check her handiwork. She wasn't a killer, wasn't a fighter, and the instinct to flee boiled up inside of her. Jumping off the Beta, Spot flew to one of the 'secret' exits from the Beta's quarters. She needed to get out. Quick. Out of the room. Out of the Den. Probably, out of Arca. So she flew like a wild animal from a hunter, employing all her knowledge of the secret passages of the Den to make her escape, finally disappearing in a trail of blood. Hers and the Beta's.

Melina-not-melina recovered quickly. Too quickly. Jack groaned, lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Spot had stabbed him just below the collar bone. It wouldn't be fatal, but Jack was not one for blood and pain. And he was surprised to hear laughter, once again, from the woman.

"Well," she declared glibly, "that couldn't have gone much better. Now not only has Akello fled, but one of her minions has made an attempt on the life of the Beta Wolf. Very good, very good indeed."

---

Hours later, in the inky dark of the Arca night, Spot stared in disbelief. The fire blazed uncontrolled in front of her, consuming the old building. Sick with fright and self-loathing, the Shadow Wolf (or, she was sure, former Shadow Wolf; undoubtedly Jack had already demanded her death from any Soot Wolf who came across her) had immediately set about finding the smithy that Clarion had taken the Red Jackal to. She hadn't known its location for sure, but it hadn't taken Spot long to find it. But when she had...

The fire set by Zahi's retreating attackers, fed on the debris of the old and decrepit building, had grown into something wild. Spot stood amongst the few others who dwelt in this district; those working late, and drifters who took shelter in the abandoned and derelict buildings. No one of import. No one with the authority to investigate the fire.

"Shame," an old man to Spot's left said aloud, and Spot suddenly realized he was speaking to her. "Bet it was them kids. Saw them in there yesterday lightin' the fires in the old ovens. Up to no good. Still, don't think anyone were livin' in there."

Spot turned to look at him, old and bent and poor, but no words came to her. She just looked at him wide-eyed, disbelieving.

"Whoa there, you okay girl?" the old man asked, now seeing the dark cut across Spot's neck, the bruises on her face that had been covered by the darkness. "You look like you been in trouble. You okay? You come with me, I'll - "

"No." Spot said suddenly, decisively. She needed to leave. Stay on the move. Surely this would be the first place they looked for her. If they weren't on the way already. "No, I'm fine. Thank you. I need to go."

The man opened his toothless mouth to speak again, but Spot was gone. Melted into the shadows.

---

Inside, everything was covered in ash and coal. Pinned under a fallen beam was the crushed form of Murky. His spell dispelled, his life spent.

No word would get back to the Den of what, before the fire, had happened here.






((OOC: Sorry this is so rough and long! That's all for now. Hopefully this gives any Wolves still around some tension to work with, without having to rely on any of these characters. For now Spot and Zahi can both b considered either fled or dead. Jack's around, laying low.))