"Who did this," I asked, anger simmering below the surface.

"We don't know," one of his deputies answered me. "We didn't recognize the scent. Some of the guys followed it while we brought him back here."

"Where did you find him," I asked, looking at him.

He shrank back and said, "He was on a ledge past our territory, Ma'am. About twenty miles north of here."

"Twenty miles? Are you sure?"

He nodded weakly, "Yes, Ma'am."

I growled and asked, "Why was he even out that way?"

"He told us that he was investigating some missing wildlife."

"You're joking, right?"

"No, Ma'am. That's what he said."

"Goddammit," I growled, making everyone shrink away in fear.

"Ma'am," he asked quietly.

I counted to ten before I turned to him and said, "Radio the ones who followed the scent, now."

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied and pulled out his radio. "Charlie, this is Pete. Do you copy?"

"I copy, Pete. What's up?"

I held my hand out for the radio and he meekly handed it over.

"Charlie, did you find the source of the scent," I asked as calmly as I could.

"Ma'am, we followed it until we came up to the Anderson property line. We didn't move past it, but it continued on to the house," he replied.

"So, you're saying that one of them attacked the Sheriff?"

"Yes, Ma'am, I am. One of 'em did it. Should we bring them in?"

"No, Charlie. Not at this time," I replied. "Just get back to town."

"Yes, Ma'am. Over and out."

I handed the radio back to Pete and said, "Pete, I want Titus restrained to this bed, do I make myself clear."

"Yes, Ma'am, but I don't understand," he said, looking at me in confusion.

"He has disobeyed a direct order from me, Pete," I said, looking at him coldly. "If you wish to stay where you are, I suggest you do no disobey me."

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied and I could smell the fear coming off of him.

I quickly left the room and called up Anya.

"Hey, Lex," she said, "What's shakin'?"

"A possible shit storm," I replied. "Meet me at the office and bring Lincoln with you."

"What happened," she asked worriedly.

"Meet me and I'll tell you both," I said and hung up.

I angrily made my way across town and I burst into my office with more force than I meant to. I let out an aggravated scream and made my way to the painting. I stared at it, focusing on the strokes, the way the colors blended, and it helped. I felt my anger receding just a bit. Just enough that I could think clearly and avoid making any rash decisions.

There was a knock and then the door opened. I turned around as I watched Anya and Lincoln come in and sit by the desk.

They looked at each other in worry and Anya asked, "What's going on?"

I inhaled deeply and let it out slowly as I walked over to them and said, "Titus was attacked tonight. Nearly every bone in his body was broken and his joints pulled apart. The deputies found an unfamiliar scent and followed it to the Anderson place. One of them did it."

They both growled angrily and Lincoln said, "We should bring them in immediately."

I held up my hand to stop them and then ran it through my hair, "We can't."

"Why the hell not," he replied through gritted teeth. "They attacked one of our own. They need to be punished."

I looked at him and then at Anya and said, "I strictly forbade Titus from interfering with them after he confronted Clarke in Eden, which he wasn't even supposed to do that. He has been claiming that there has been a widespread disappearance of wildlife near that border and believes that they are responsible for it. He also claimed that they were a danger to the pack."

Lincoln scoffed, his anger momentarily forgotten, "The animals aren't disappearing. They're getting ready for winter and they've fled because of all the work that's been done there. There's nothing nefarious going on that I've seen. They stay close to their land and only run on unclaimed land. In fact, all five of them did that this morning. They ran south."

"Did you say five," I asked him.

"Yes," he said. "Another one, a woman, showed up yesterday afternoon."

"Are you thinking that perhaps Titus is the one who attacked first," Anya asked.

I sighed and rubbed my face, "I don't know. It's possible. We all know how he is. He believes in the old laws and superstitions. I mean, they've done nothing, nothing, that leads me to believe that they have some ulterior motive. But then again, another person has shown up. How many more of them are coming? And quite frankly, I want to know why they're here."

"Well," Anya said, looking up at me thoughtfully, "What if we just ask them? Nicely."

"You mean ask them why they're here, how many are coming," I asked.

"Well, yeah that and maybe find out from them what happened with Titus."

I sat there and thought about it, turning my attention to the painting once more. I looked back at her and said, "Do it. Tonight. Now. We need to know before this gets out of hand."

"Alright," she said. "We'll make sure it gets done. Better to end it now than to end it when someone's dead."

I nodded and they left quickly, headed to the Anderson place. I sat heavily at my desk and stared worriedly at the painting.