Daddy wolf is about to go crush some skulls

Terry Bogard had a rather lax personality.

He was the type to throw his responsibilities into the wind and seek after whatever his heart desired. Nowadays, it seemed his heart was quite happy lounging on his sofa, watching TV and eating whatever Rock cooked for him… even if the boy had shifted his culinary style entirely into the realm of veganism.

Humph… rabbit food.

Still, despite Terry's sudden dietary change, (from beautifully roasted lamb chops, to tofu amalgamations), he remained cheerful and gracious - only occasionally feeling the need to sneak out to the local burger stand and satisfy his craving for flesh.

Rock had been cooking vegan for the past two months, and Mary - who dearly hoped it was just a phase - was losing hope Rock would ever cook her favorite Beef in bone-broth again. It was terribly difficult to find in restaurants, and whenever she did - they charged her through the nose for it. Rock Howard did it for free.

… Rocky, you little idiot… where did you go…

Mary sighed and raised her eyes from her stale tasting meatloaf to meet Terry's. It was early afternoon in their diner of choice, and the two of them were discussing the situation with Rock Howard and his involvement with the current chaos in the city. Mary had taken upon herself the responsibility of both assisting in the operation to bring down HCon, and also to provide Terry the appropriate information such that he could protect his son.

Technically, Mary was not supposed to be withholding this important information from her superior, Sheriff Blackwell - but Rock's future was on the line. She couldn't actively help Rock (who for all intents and purposes had allied himself with a terrorist organization), but she could do her best to help Terry.

She rattled off this morning's findings.

"Kain attacked one of Geese's warehouses last night. I'm sure Rock was there - but as of now nobody in the police department knows him yet. It's only a matter of time before they find out though… and when news gets out to the general police department, somebody calls Geese Howard's office. We need to move fast."

Terry responded tersely. His normally jovial tone was now deadly serious, and his expression was shadowed.

"...What have we got so far? A location?"

Mary shook her head.

"We've been tracking license plate numbers across the city and are narrowing in on a location. I've asked to be put in charge of that department so as soon as we have anything, I'll let you know."

Terry chewed his lips and nodded. He hadn't touched his lunch and spent the time playing with the table knife. There was a flint in his eyes. The lax cheerfulness had been entirely replaced, with not a wild passion… but rather, a cold, precise hunger. The Wolf has awoken. He was on the hunt.

"Mary… Did you get anything out of Yagami? If he's funding Kain's operations surely he's been in contact. That bastard knows something for sure… tell me where he is, I'll beat some answers out of him."

Terry had threatened Iori in the past, but never quite so seriously. Mary found herself hesitate before divulging her findings. After all, Iori Yagami wasn't somebody who wanted, needed, or deserved any sort of protection.

"I couldn't find him."

Terry frowned. Mary continued.

"I called him five or six times. Then I called the Police department near his house - he wasn't there. I called the hospital. Nothing. So...I swung by his house." Mary could tell Terry wasn't particularly interested in Iori's whereabouts so she kept it brief.

"His front door's lock was smashed in. The coffee on the table was still hot… but there were no signs of struggle and no Iori. Place did smell really strange though… If it were anyone else, I'd say they got kidnapped… but… " Mary shrugged.

"When he turns up, I'll let you know."

"We need him to talk."

"I know, Terry."

"Good… Mary, I'm heading out. Keep me posted."

"Will do."

And just like that - with eyes blazing with seething hunger, Terry stood from his untouched lunch and prowled out the door. His posture wasn't much different than usual, but anyone could feel the intensity radiating off of him. As she watched him leave, Mary was reminded of times past. Times before the (relative) peacefulness of raising Rock and watching him learn and grow. Times where Terry Bogard chased Geese Howard with that almost insane, dogging perseverance. The Hungry Wolf was just a single man… yet he went head to head, toe-to-toe with the machine of Howard Connection.

And he alone could make Geese Howard tremble.

Rock Howard had been a blessing in disguise to Howard Connection. The boy had occupied The Wolf. Terry had allowed himself to become occupied with his adopted son, and as a result no longer had the time to pursue his campaign against Geese Howard. Of course, Geese made it easy for Terry to overlook him. Kain - the psychopathic underboss of HCon - was exiled, and Howard Connection went quiet and legal, hidden behind layers and layers of shell companies. Contracts. Documents. Etc…

They had taken the fight off the streets, and into the courtrooms. Soundly out of Terry's reach.

But now... the Wolf had lost his pup.

And Terry was going to go and fetch him back.

gg yag.