Chapter 1. 7 Days to the Wolves

"Seven days to the poison and a place in heaven. Time drawing near as they come to take us".
-Nightwish, 7 Days to the wolves

"What do we have here?" Jim Gordon looked at the scene before him where three bodies lay covered in blood stained red sheets.
"Three males all had alcohol in their system. All have large wounds that they bled out of. So far no names have been found".
"What are the wounds from?"

An investigator pulled the sheets away from the bodies, revealing them in their bloody glory. All three had large bite wounds to the neck, but one had an additional wound on his hand, another bite wound. It looked like it might've been from a large dog, rabid perhaps. But then if there was a rabid dog around, and it had just had its rabid fit, where was the body?

"Was there another body? Like one of possibly a canine?" Gordon asked.
"No sir. No traces, but we do think it might've been some kind of dog. We're trying to see if we can find hair or fur samples around the bodies, but so far no luck. This" the officer took out a large evidence bag that carried a bloodied shot gun, "was found near this one" he pointed out the one with the bite on his hand, "If it was a dog, it was probably fighting in self defense".
"Possibly, but it had to have been somewhat intelligent. Not many dogs know what a gun is nor fully understand what it can do unless of course it was a hunter's dog and not many hunters reside here in Gotham".
"If it is a dog, it's gotta be some kind of large breed. A husky or malamute maybe".
"Or a mixed breed…maybe some wolf in it".
"Wolves are rare in these parts, sir".
"I know…which makes me even more suspicious. Any witnesses?"
"Oddly enough, no. Normally there's quite a night life, but last night, the street was empty. The last people to see them were those last customers at a bar down the street".

A line of red caught the commissioner's eye. It went some ways away and then just stopped altogether. Strange…blood doesn't just stop flowing.

"What's that?" he asked.
"I'm having another forensics team come in and see what exactly it is. We originally thought it was from one of the victims but after a while we concluded it couldn't be".
"And why is that?"
"We also found blood on this wall here" the officer pointed out, "We have a suspicion it might be the same".
"Alright. I want samples. From all of them, the bodies included. I want the blood tested for rabies, mange, anything dog related you can find".
"Yes sir".

Whatever this was, human or dog, they needed to be found…

Canis took refuge underground. The wolf didn't like the light, at least not during the course of the day. Her wound had healed overnight and now she felt stronger than ever. The moon would be gone again tonight, so she figured it'd be in her best interest to keep a low profile. The wolf wouldn't need to feed for another few days, as she ate enough rats to sate her for a short time. She kept out of the rows of light coming out of the sewer barred sewers above.

Fresh water was in low supply, so the after her kill the night before, she'd snagged some water bottles out of a closed restaurant. How she managed to do it without tripping an alarm, she didn't know. But she took three bottles and now drank them gratefully. Hopefully night would fall soon and she'd be free again. Until then though, she decided to explore, trying to find escape routes in case things got bad.

Canis put all her senses to work. The area was unfamiliar and she was suspicious of nearly everything. Inside, the she wolf paced anxiously, suddenly feeling uncomfortable and rightfully so. A new scent touched her senses, one that didn't seem right to her. Canis couldn't bring herself to describe it. It overpowered the smell of sewage, intoxicating. It was sickly sweet, but not the familiar sickly sweet of rabies that she knew. She paused and looked around, and the wolf's ears twitched, rotating and searching for any sound that would take her to the source of the smell.

Something rushed at her from the darkness but she leaped away from it before she could be hit. It was a shadowy figure, hulking and somewhat intimidating. But Canis didn't back down. She snarled toward the shadow. The scent became stronger.

"Come out and fight, coward!" she growled.
"Ah…fearless I see" a voice, low toned and somewhat mechanical, sounded.
"Fear is my friend. I inspire fear".
"You and I alike".
"I'm not afraid to fight in the open".
"Neither am I. But answer me this: What are you doing here?"
"That's none of your concern".
"You're in my world, little one. All answer to me here".
"Not I. I answer to no one and nothing will change that".

Canis leaped into the darkness, the wolf infuriated by this human who dared to assert control over her. She yelped in surprise as two strong arms locked around her and squeezed hard. Canis refused to panic. She needed to keep calm or her blood pressure would be the one to kill her. She learned that watching anaconda snakes hunt. She calmed her mind and slowed her racing heart. Focusing on her escape, Canis started to squirm and move out of the hold. It was in vain, the arms holding her only got tighter. She had to bite...

Her fangs grew instinctively, but she sucked in air to dry them of venom. That taken care of, she bit down on the left arm hard and promptly released. But she didn't stop there. Snarling viciously, she jumped up again and knocked her large opponent off his feet. She aimed for his throat, but his arms blocked her. Canis was sent flying as he kicked her off of him. Thankfully she landed on her feet with minimal injury.

"At least give me your name, young one".
She didn't hesitate this time. She snarled it out. "Canis. Canis Lupa. Remember it!".
"Canis Lupa. A feminine version of the scientific name for the gray wolf. Interesting...You took quite a bite out of me" the shadow stood and she saw just how much bigger he was than her.

Her fangs sunk back to their normal human teeth but she didn't let her guard down for a moment. She stood defensively; ready to bolt if she needed to. She said nothing, even as he talked, and kept her eyes locked on the shadow.

"I guess it's a name that fits. You fight almost as well as a wolf"
"It's my nature".
"Answer me: What are you doing here?"
There wasn't a point in keeping up the fight. She had a feeling she'd lose. Canis answered: "The light…it's too bright up there".
"Up on the streets? You don't like the light?"
"Well, I don't mind it, but my eyes kept hurting. So I figured I'd go somewhere a little dark. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"I am Bane, and I'm in hiding for the time being".
"Bane…how fitting".
"Everyone seems to say that when I first them".
"I have my own reasons".
"Ah, I see, you're alluding the plant wolfs bane"
"Yes…a plant I rather despise"
"It's also called Aconitum".
"I know…".
"So what brings a girl like you to this city?"
"Wait, if you're expecting a full blown conversation, I need to see you".
"Why?"
"Because I don't trust strangers".

With that the shadow came to light. Canis gasped, realizing she was at a huge disadvantage in the form she was currently in if another fight were to start. He wore a black sleeveless shirt with dark blue jeans and large boots. But it was the mask that caught her attention. It covered half of his face, leaving only his eyes visible. And even those seemed to hold her in place, those brown-green orbs that seemed to look right through her. His arm was bleeding still from the bite and she felt something unusual, like she felt sorry for doing that.

"Now you know me".
"The sewers really are your world…I should go. A wolf doesn't tread on another wolf's territory unless invited and I'm no pack member".
"Well, I'm a wolf without a pack, again, for the time being".
"I don't plan on being a pack member to be honest. I don't like to be controlled".
"That makes two of us".
"I'll only be here until nightfall. Then I shall leave you. He's not here…"
"Who isn't here?"
"Someone I don't really know…but yet I'd know his voice and scent anywhere".
"Scent? Advanced senses?"
"Among other things".
"I see. Well, if you wish to leave at nightfall, I won't stop you, young one. Stay as long as you need. I'm not one to turn away those who are brave enough to stand up to me".
"I don't back down from a challenge".
"I see that, and I respect you for it".
"Thank you…I won't trouble you more"

Bane watched the girl turn on her heel and walk away. There was a sort of animalistic grace to her movements, something attractive, but deadly. Bane knew greatness when he saw it and judging by this girl's bravery, her attitude, and yet quiet self knowledge, he knew she was great. There was something about her, something beyond human, that drew him to her. Something he didn't know, something he couldn't put his finger on. Canis Lupa…A living mystery…

A mystery he planned to solve…