...

Running around the city was his stress relief. Even if it was now in his human form rather than his wolf form like before Shouta had caught him. It was always at night and away from watchful eyes. Shouta was out on patrol so he took advantage of the quiet house. That Shouta no longer required Hizashi to babysit. He needed this time to run.

Cold air burned his lungs as he ran. The night gave him the light of the full moon. The moonlight revitalized him. Energy filled him and he ran faster.

On his heels were memories. Memories of his mother and of Bakugo. Shouta tried to get him to talk see sign about it. He had no intentions on talking about it.

Run, run, run. Seek the scents of old. Seek the scent of the lunar flower. Izuku paused for a moment. Where did that last thought come from?

The scents of the city were heavy and familiar just as they had always been. There was nothing about the extinct flower that should have caught his attention. And yet... Izuku searched around trying to find something to explain it. There was nothing.

A small part of him wanted to believe it was just a slip of his mind. That there was nothing to worry about. The wolf side of his mind snarled at him there was more to this than he understood. At least that was the impression he received through images and scents he was sent. What had once been simple instincts was now something more and he didn't understand it.

Nothing. He was alone in the city. It was too late for anyone up to any good to be out and about. In fact he was probably lucky that he didn't have the police called on him. Maybe he should head home.

Even with that thought he hesitated. Something within him calling him to stay and wait. The scents of the city swirled around him. In his chest they were pulling him to the west side of town. Staying still was causing the pulling to become stronger.

A sudden ringing from his pocket caught his attention. Izuku pulled out his phone noting it was Shouta calling. Odd.

When he answered Shouta said sounding out of breath, "Izuku I know you are out of the apartment. Listen to me carefully. I need you to head to the Musutafu Police Department. Detective Tsukauchi will be waiting for you there. Do not stop for anyone. Hurry."

Now more than ever Izuku wished he could speak. He wasn't able to do more than give a low growl in the back of his throat in acknowledgement.

"I'll be there soon. Be careful!"

With that the line clicked. Izuku stared at his phone for a moment longer. That was odd and the tugging sensation only seemed to become more insistent. He was able to resist it for a little while longer. Shouta said he should head to the police department. Thankfully that was in the other direction. Even if he looked behind him several times.

...

Cher Degre did not know what she expected when she suddenly got a frantic call from the lab. For more than ten years she had been the Head Researcher for the secret project. And in those ten years no one had ever called her on one of the few days she took to herself. Nothing ever happened in their lab and not for lack of their trying.

The Hero Commission were the ones who controlled the lab and its funding. If what Cher heard was true then they were controlled by the rich elite. She wouldn't doubt it. Only those with money and powerful quirks controlled their world. The rest of them just lived day by day in it. What they were working on though that was what made her life interesting. Despite the lack of progress she was utterly fascinated and the fear of missing something kept her from leaving the lab. Which was why she rushed back.

As the people had done 200 years before they were searching for the path to Paradise. Most people thought it was a simple fairy tale. Even Cher thought it was little more than that. She knew it had some truth to it thanks to the labs but any hope of finding the full truth had died with the last wolf 200 years ago.

When she arrived at the lab she immediately scrubbed down. The smell of antiseptic hit her. No matter who they were everyone had to do this when coming in. She didn't understand it as they never did anything with a physical body but it was part of her job so she obliged.

In the bowels of the building she found a tank. In it was a pale skinned woman with light purple hair. She hung suspended in a clear liquid with her eyes closed. In all appearances nothing had changed about Cheza the Lunar Flower Maiden. She was as she had always been since Cher arrived. Asleep.

Cher snapped, "What is it? Why did you call me?"

The man behind the desk who looked like he had seen a ghost replied, "Mrs. Degre I'm sorry to have interrupted your night but it was important. Cheza she opened her eyes earlier tonight. She only closed them a few moments ago."

"What?" Bit out Cher immensely angry with herself for not being there.

Another one interjected to save the man from her wrath, "It's true. She opened her eyes and as soon as we saw this we called you. It only lasted a few moments but she was definitely reacting to something."

With that said the entire lab held its breath waiting to see what she would say. Cher stared at Cheza unblinking. What they said should have been impossible. All their research pointed to her only reacting to a wolf or wolf's blood. Wolves were extinct unless you listened to some of the old men in the bars. Those that spoke of the world ending and the only way to save themselves was to ally with a wolf hiding within human skin.

As much as her mind warred against the idea she knew the stories. The forgotten book that only the richest had ever seen. But a few lines were passed down from grandparent to grandchild. I tell you now the words of Red Moon. From the great spirit was born the wolf, and man became its messenger. In other words, the human race was created from wolves. So says the author of The Book of the Moon.

As much as she hated to she could not discount the possibility. So she ordered, "Contact the quirk registry. I want the name and address of everyone with a wolf or dog quirk."

"Ma'am!"