HEXED WOLF: Hunter AUTHOR: IrishTomboy@attbi.com RATING: R PAIRING: Thorn/OC, Daphne/Freddy (of course) DISCLAMIER: I own none of them except Jaguar and CĂș, though I wish I did. FEEDBACK: Welcome WARNING: If love between two women bothers you then get out NOW!

The multicolored countryside awed the five pairs of eyes that looked upon it. Fall had arrived and with it the plethora of shades and beauty that grace the earth before the pale snow falls of winter.

"Like, wow. This place just keeps getting more and more beautiful, man." A lanky hippy grinned.

"Yeah. Shaggy can you get me my camera? I want to take a few pictures of all this."

"Sure thing Daph." Shaggy set down the hamburger he was eating and rummaged through various bags. When he found a deep purple bag with the name 'Daphne Blake' in yellow lettering he pulled it into his lap and began to delve around. Pushing away cosmetics and clothes, and veering away from the underwear and bras Shaggy continued his search for the illustrious camera. "Here ya go." He took out the small item and handed it to her.

"Thanks." The Heiress looked through the view, aimed and captured the splashes of gold, crimson and green. Everyone in the van was overwhelmed with the colors and peace surrounding the Massachusetts back road. And with the sun beginning to dip low the color seemed to intensify with the burning flame the sun created as it set.

The driver, a tall, handsome blonde turned to glance at the small brunette next to him. "Hey Velma. Check the map and see how close we are to Oakhaven."

The small woman pushed her glassed back up the bridge of her nose and looked at the atlas. After a moment of glancing between the world outside and its paper twin she piped up with; "We should almost be there Freddy." She folded back up the map and stuck it back into its clip on the visor. They rode along in silence for a short time, the only sound punctuating the piece was Daphne's camera snapping every so often.

After almost three more hours of driving The Mystery Machine's head lights illuminated a sign that read 'Welcome to Oakhaven'.

"Finally. Like, me and Scoob are ready to taste Jake's homemade Apple Cinnamon pie."

"Ruh huh." Scooby nodded heartily, liking his all ready watering lips.

"Oh you guys. You just ate no more then three hours ago." Daphne chuckled.

"Yeah but, like, there's always room for pie."

"Even after six hamburgers, three shakes and two large orders of fries?" Freddy looked in the rearview mirror.

"Course."

Freddy and the others shook their head but laughed good-naturedly. The blonde pulled the van into the turn off road and soon the lights of Oakhaven greeted the travelers.

"Jenkies. Look at all those people."

Cars choked the small street while people were scattered everywhere else. Freddy eased The Mystery Machine into a free space and everyone piled out. Honking horns and jovial chatter punctured the usually quiet twilight air.

"This place is, like, packed, then it was last time, man."

"Well the Hex Girls are playing." Daphne said. "Ever since Vampire Rock they've gotten really popular."

"I wouldn't say really popular." An all too familiar voice drawled. The group turned around to see none other then the Hex Girls standing behind them. In their mouths were their infamous vampire fangs, which scared the living daylights out of Shaggy and Scooby.

"Yipe!" Shaggy leapt into Scooby's arms.

Thorn, Dusk and Luna laughed. "It's just us guys. There's no reason to be scared." Dusk said the last part in such a way that it made the man and dog shiver harder. Which in turn made the women laugh harder. "I'm sorry, guys. Couldn't resist."

"We're not scared. Right Scoob?" Shaggy said as he climbed out of the Dane's arms. But his shaky voice didn't back what he said up in the lest.

"Hey guys. Good to see you again." Fred smiled. The three women did the same.

"Same here." Luna said.

"So, you comin' to the concert?" Thorn asked.

"Course." Daphne smiled. She looked at her watch. "Hey, why don't we get something to eat?"

"Sure. We can go to my house. I'm sure my dad'll cook somethin' up for ya."

A light sparked in Shaggy and Scooby's eyes. "Let's go."

The entire group laughed. They turned and began to walk down the street, stopping frequently for kids looking for autographs or pictures.

"It's, like, cool being well-known and all but sometimes it sucks." Luna said after the band signed their tenth autograph.

"Look on the bright side. At least you know you're popular." Velma said.

"Good point." They turned a corner and started back on their conversation from earlier.

"So. You guys record an album yet?" Freddy inquired.

"Yeah. Witch's Moon'll be out next month." Dusk answered with her usual half smile.

"Can't wait to hear it." Daphne grinned. Just then Scooby's ears perked up. He stopped and turned his massive head from side to side.

"What's up Scoob?" Shaggy asked. Scooby tried to catch the sound again but all he heard were the twilight winds blowing through the trees and the din of the people around. After a few more seconds he shook his head and started walking again.

"So you guys solve any, like, supernatural mysteries since Vampire Rock?" Thorn asked.

"Mysteries yes. Supernatural no." Fred explained.

"A friend of mine in San Antonio had asked us to come down to solve a mystery. It turns out the ghosts of Indians where letting the cattle and horses loose and the help was disappearing. But it turned out only to be a mad ranch hand that my friend had let off."

Again Scooby stopped; this time sure he defiantly heard something. It sounded like barking but he didn't smell any dog around.

His thoughts were cut off by a loud scream from Shaggy. Everyone turned to him and saw him trying to get something white off his head.

"What is that?" Freddy yelled.

"Never mind that. Look at what's coming at us!" Dusk yelled, pointing ahead of them.

Barreling towards them was the biggest dog any of them had ever seen. Its muzzle was pulled back in a vicious snarl with spittle flying back and hitting its ebony coat. It seemed to be chasing the small white animal.

"Cerberus! Damn it dog!" A voice boomed. Every eye, including those of the surrounding people, tore away from the dog and to the source of the forceful yet feminine voice. They were met with a woman that was pushing 6 foot, had shoulder length hair that seemed almost silver in the moon's light and a hard but beautiful face.

She finally caught up to her dog, which wasn't hard due to her long legs. She grabbed its collar and began to struggle to get it to pull back but it struggled to get loose from its master's grip. "Cerberus! Heel!" She boomed, making everyone jump and the dog quiet down. She let out a deep breath and brushed some freed hair from her dark eyes. "Sorry 'bout that. Sometimes the idiot over does it." A smile speared over her face, easing the group.

"Um.excuse me." Shaggy's voice trembled slightly. The blonde looked over at him. When she saw his head she let out a small chuckle.

"Ahh. Guess you don't like Nodier as a hat?" Shaggy shook his head. "Too bad. Looks good on you." She joked, picking up the fair-haired creature. As she brought it up to her face everyone saw that it was a White Tiger cub. "You need to stop runnin' off." The cub tried to bat her nose but the tall woman wouldn't budge. "Un uh, little man. That cute act didn't work before and it ain't gonna work now." She set him down on Cerberus's wide back. "Don't even think about running again." She growled as the cub made to jump off. Large brown eyes looked up at her but she only shook her head. "Nope. Now both ya'll get on home. I'll meet up with ya." The black dog nodded its broad head and trotted off. Jaguar watched the dog disappear before turning her dark eyes back to the others. Her smile returned in full. "So you all right?" The woman addressed Shaggy, who nodded. "That's good. Again sorry."

Freddy stuck out his hand. "That's fine, Mrs." He trailed off, never having heard the woman's name.

"Just call me Jaguar." She took the blonde man's proffered hand and shook it wholeheartedly.

"Well Jaguar. I'm Freddy and this is Shaggy, Scooby, Daphne, Velma, Luna, Dusk and Thorn." As the names were said Jaguar shook proffered hands, pumping them gently or wholeheartedly, depending what she got in return. When she reached for Thorn's hand there was a tiny shock that passed between their fingertips but it wasn't unpleasant, just.a surprise.

"Uh.my bad." Jaguar quickly retrieved her hand and stuffed it into the pockets of her leather pants. "So. What're you guys doing here?"

"We're here to see the Autumn Fest." Daphne said.

"And we're playing in it." Dusk added.

"Can't wait to hear you three play. I," Jaguar was cut off as by someone calling out to her. She turned to see a woman running towards her. "What're you doing out of bed?" She demanded of the smaller woman when she was close enough.

"I'm fine. Unh," She grabbed her side and collapsed. Before she could even hit the ground Jaguar caught her and held her close.

"Yeah. You're just great Ro." Ro looked up into the blonde's piercing gaze and gulped, but tried to put on a smile any way. Didn't work. "You and your brother need to learn that smile don't work."

"Can't blame us for tryin'." Ro stood up, the grimace an obvious sign to the pain that she was in.

"I can when you've probably pulled stitches." Jaguar shook her head. "Ro what are you doing out here?"

"I, ugh," Ro grabbed her side, not letting go even as the white blouse became red with blood.

"My god. Are you all right?" Freddy asked.

Ro gave a cocky grin while nodding. "No prob."

"Why are you out here Ro?" Jaguar's voice was slightly impatient.

"Oh right. The Mayor wanted to talk to you. He's at his house waiting for you."

"Okay. Now go to the Doctor's and let him patch ya up."

"No." The smaller woman's eyes flashed dangerously. "I won't do it."

"Ro you gotta." Jaguar replied.

"No."

"Don't fight me on this Ro."

"Then don't fight me." Ro crossed her arms defiantly. Jaguar sighed and shook her head. Nonchalantly she stuck her hands into the pockets of her leather pants. When her fingertips connected with cool metal she grasped on to it.

"I'm sorry Ro. I wish I didn't have to do this."

"Do wh," But Ro was cut off as the blonde whipped her hand out of her pocket and flung something at her. Ro hissed, as there was a sharp pain on her good side. She looked down to see a small dart. Knocking it away she glared at Jaguar, her eyes all ready glazing over. "You.bitch." She collapsed to the ground. Jaguar picked up the dart, stuffed it into another pocket then picked up the small woman. She shook her head sadly.

"I'm really sorry Ro, but ya left me no choice." She turned to look at the others. They had stunned expressions on their faces.

"What did you do to her?" Freddy asked.

"I tranqed her." "She's not some kind of animal." Velma said.

"Yeah well.I wasn't going to let her bleed to death. Maybe I'll see ya guys later." With that Jaguar spun on her heels and walked off, the long trench coat she was wearing billowing out behind her. People stopped and watched her go for a moment before turning back to their own task, though they did still whispered what they heard.

"Come on guys." Dusk said slowly. "Let's, like, go get something to eat." She turned and began to walk to the house, the others soon following. All of them couldn't help but glance back over their shoulders, wondering who this mysterious woman named Jaguar was. And why did the Mayor need to see her so urgently that a hurt woman would come look for her.

And why did me and her, like, have that weird connection? Thorn thought. She seemed to glance back more then the others but luckily she caught herself before anyone else did. Freddy and Daphne were a head of her, talking about a few cases and what not, while the others were talking about the Hex Girl's latest C.D. But the singer just couldn't shake the image of the woman from her mind's eye. What was it that attracted her to Jaguar? The deep eyes that seemed almost golden? The handsome smile? Or the air of power and mystery? Thorn hoped she would have a chance to find out.

In the shadows of the trees a figure was crouched low as not to bring attention to itself. Blood was smeared across its muzzle and chest like a morbid kind of war paint. A wicked smile broke its jowls as dark eyes regarded the scene.

"We shall meet again Hunter." Came a sleek, oily voice. The creature pulled back farther into the shadows, the trees barely rustling as it disappeared.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ So? What'd ya think? Feedback more then welcome. And I'm sorry it took so long for me to finish this.My brain was so fried from Finals that it wasn't working. Also sorry if this chapter sucks.