Chapter Two: Missing Pup

Ed and Wordy hit the building at a full run, racing along the route Lou and Jules should have taken; they found what they were looking for in short order: a corner out of sight of the patrol Aurors and the room their werewolf hunter had holed up in, with marks and nicks on the wall, two nearby boxes knocked over, their contents spilling out, and a lone, lonely radio lying in plain view. "We got something, Sarge," Wordy called, crouching to get a better look at the radio. His jaw tightened at the sight of two tiny initials scratched into the radio…LY. "Lou's radio, looks like it got ripped off his belt," the husky constable continued grimly.

"Signs of a struggle," Ed agreed, examining the area, his expression tight with anger. "Perfect spot for an ambush; out of sight, just out of radio range…" Ed trailed off and knelt next to the wall, his eyes narrowing. "We've got blood; no way to tell if it's one of the subject's or if it's either Jules or Lou."

"Okay," Sarge acknowledged, "Spike, tell Giles and Roy to get in there, see if Giles can figure out who's hurt. Sam, anything from our former hostages?"

Sam scowled as he stalked away from the unhelpful witnesses. "All of them are saying they don't know who those four were. I don't buy it, but no way to prove otherwise."

"I hear you," the Boss replied, his own frustration showing.

"At least they aren't going anywhere," Sam observed, "Whatever that hunter had must have been good; Giles told the patrol Aurors not to let those six out of their sight unless they wanted to be reassigned to McKean for guard duty."

Spike came on the comm next. "Giles and Roy are on their way, Sarge; Giles suggested asking if the hunter knows anything…I think he might know something we don't about this guy."

Sarge nodded thoughtfully to himself as Sam joined him. It had been a bit odd, the way Onasi had so quickly asserted that there were no records about the hunter and the whole team had noticed the hunter's unusual behavior with his captives; he'd been more sympathetic towards them than hostile, regardless of any of his claims to the contrary. Almost like a man doing his job, despite his personal feelings.

Sergeant and constable moved to where the patrol Aurors had their werewolf hunter detained; the man inclined his head respectfully as they approached. "Auror Sergeant Parker," he greeted, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Possibly," Sarge granted. "What can you tell me about the four individuals you released first? Anything you can remember about them?"

The man frowned to himself, thinking over the question. Silver eyes darkened a shade as he mused and considered. Shaggy white hair fell into his eyes and he tossed his head just a bit to dislodge the errant locks. "I examined them closely," he began at last, "And they did not appear to be wolves, but I respected their wish that I not disrobe them…perhaps a mistake on my part, now that I consider the matter."

"Did they know the other hostages?" Sarge pressed.

The man stilled, his eyes coming up to meet them. "Yes, they did…all of them appeared to know each other by name; they trusted each other as well. That is not something that happens overnight, as you know." Sarge nodded at that. "If they are now denying knowing the others, then I may have made a grave mistake, greater than I think you know."

At the hunter's request, seconded by Onasi, the team made tracks back to SRU Headquarters, instead of Auror Division Headquarters. Greg's suspicion, that the hunter was known to the Auror Division and was far more important than he was portraying himself as, took a jog upwards, but he was more concerned for his missing teammates.

Once in the briefing room, Greg reluctantly turned the floor over to their former subject, who inclined his head to all of them before beginning. "I have, in my years, had the opportunity to make a great many contacts in the werewolf community. They respect me for ensuring that the criminals of their kind are properly dealt with and I respect them for overcoming their natural tendencies to become productive members of society.

"In recent times, I have been given the privilege of being introduced to the heads of the packs here in Toronto. The closest pack to this location is the North York pack and I have the address for their pack leaders. I am willing to give you the address, on the condition that I come along…'tis unlikely that they will even speak to you without an introduction from one they trust, such as myself. If any can help you locate your missing teammates before moonrise, it will be the pack leaders."

"And why should we trust you?" Ed challenged; ignoring the appalled look on Giles' face.

The hunter's expression was grave and his words blunt. "You will trust me because you have no choice, Auror Lane. My information is the only way you can save your friends."

The home was a one-story affair in an area of Toronto that traditionally housed poor families…poor tech families. The hunter, to the irritation of everyone save Sarge and Giles, was permitted to take the lead in approaching the house and knocking on the door. He knocked once, then twice more, then once again. After a few seconds, the door cracked open and a weathered, care-worn woman peeked out, her eyes widening at the sight of the hunter and Team One. She pushed the door open just enough to let them in.

"Inside, quickly, please," she requested, her voice breathy and raspy. Team One flowed in, examining the interior of the home curiously. It was neat and well-kept, with everything in order and as clean as could be expected. The woman, with graying brown hair that hung limply into her eyes, bore a number of scars on her face, shoulders, and arms. Her dark brown eyes were openly wary and darted between the hunter and Team One, tension ratcheting up with every moment.

"Jo-Ann, it is delightful to see you again," the hunter greeted the woman, smiling broadly, "How have you and your pack fared these past few months?"

"We have fared as we always have," Jo-Ann replied, her eyes and voice warming a touch. "We survive, despite all that life throws at us." Nervous tension flowed back into her eyes. "It is good that you come today, old friend. Our daughter, she went missing last night."

"Missing?" Sarge interjected, his expression concerned, his voice gentle.

Jo-Ann went defensive despite the gentle tone. "She is a good girl, a good daughter. She was playing with her friends down the street…" The woman ducked her head, a soft whine coming from her.

The hunter placed his hands on the worried woman's shoulders. "She went missing…is there anything else you know, Jo-Ann?"

"My mate, Josiah, he is checking with her friends, our packmates, but so far, nothing," Jo-Ann explained. "It is as if she vanished into thin air!"

Parker opened up his black binder, flipping to a fresh page and checking his pen ever so briefly. "Ma'am, could you describe your daughter?"

The werewolf blinked, rearing back in confusion an instant, then she registered that Parker, far from dismissing her, was treating her like any other worried parent. After a moment, she stammered out, "Alysie, she is five years old, with blonde hair in two pigtails and gray eyes." A sniffle. "We only just took her in; her family turned her out after Fenris Ulf bit her two moons ago."

"Ulf?" Giles demanded sharply, before Parker could speak, "He's here in Toronto?"

A nervous nod. "After Fenrir Grayback died, Fenris took over his pack; he is as savage as his sire and he loathes wizards for their 'betrayal' of his sire. He views wizards as good only for turning and Muggles as…" the woman trailed off, blanching, then she whispered, "Muggles he sees as little more than food." Tears trickled from her eyes. "Alysie's family, they took her to be treated, but they would not keep her…not with Fenris as her sire." A brief sniffle. "Her nanny, she brought Alysie to me, asking if I knew of a place for an orphan werewolf pup."

"And you took her in?" Parker questioned, keeping his voice and expression as gentle as possible. When Jo-Ann nodded, he continued his questioning. "Has this Fenris Ulf made any attempts to take her from you?"

A fierce look from Jo-Ann met the question. "He tried," she replied harshly. "He claimed that as her sire, he had first right to her, but we rebuffed him; it has been centuries since any wolf could lay such a claim on their victims." Jo-Ann's face and voice turned cold. "Ulf forgets himself; my mate and I have been pack leaders since before his misbegotten sire bit him, during the Second War. He and his have no claim on my daughter."

"I hear you, ma'am, she's your daughter and you want to protect her," Parker soothed as best he could. He leaned forward, meeting her eyes with no hint of fear in his own. "We're going to do all we can to get your daughter back to you safely."

He drew a deep breath to continue, but the hunter overrode him. "Jo-Ann, if neutral ground can be agreed upon, will you and Josiah call the other pack leaders?"

Jo-Ann's eyes turned wary once again. "For you, old friend, but you know as well as I do that we wolves are not safe if we gather in the open. Where would you propose we meet?"

The hunter smiled, though there was an edge to his smile that left Team One just as wary as the lady werewolf. "Why, the Strategic Response Unit Headquarters, of course, Jo-Ann." He beamed at Jo-Ann as, in the background, Team One traded incredulous looks that a subject had just volunteered their headquarters as a neutral meeting ground for the werewolf pack leaders.

Author note: In RL news...I'm still waiting. And praying that I don't get told to get my tail to Texas by Thursday. Lord Willing, I'll get until the 7th, but having things up in the air like this really, really stinks.

Please pray that I get more information and news soon, so I can start making concrete plans, though I also want prayer that my onboarding will not be the 31st.

Thanks a trillion for your reviews, support, and prayers ya'll.