We both fell to a halt outside the house, Master was standing outside with his arms crossed, tapping a foot impatiently. "Good job, mutts. New record time." He smirked.

The door to the house opened abruptly, out walking a nicely dressed man. He stopped beside Master, nearly taller than him. The man pushed the rim of his hat up, tired grey eyes watching Isa and me. The man turned to Master and quirked an eyebrow, "What did you say they were?"

"Werewolves." He replied quickly, "I've also given them the gene of those creatures you admire so much."

The man smiled, "Oh, really, now? Interesting, indeed. Have they shown any traits as of yet?"

Master shook his head, "No, no, Bradley, not yet."

"Unfortunate. If they show signs, be sure not to anger them, or your life could be on the line." He brushed a bit of his hair behind his ear, "Amazing creatures, are they not? 'Treat them with kindness, and they will be loyal to you. But," He turned away from us and looked at Master. "hurt them, beat them, and threaten them... and you will soon pay the price.' Thus says the old tales."

Isa tilted his head, "Master... who is he?"

"This is Bradley, the adviser to my experiments with you two."

The stranger walked over to us, he circled around me then moved on to Isa. He traced a few fingers down the cuts on his neck, my friend flinched as soon as the hand touched his skin. Bradley moved to trace the claw marks all over Isa's chest, shoulders, and back. My friend's teeth clenched and his breathing hitched as pressure came in contact with his wounds. Brad let out a 'hmm' and turned on his heel to face Master. "What has happened to him?"

"He got caught in a fight." Was the quick response.

"Yes, from the look of it, it was with a big cat... He looks like he's in pain, what did you say their names were?"

"Isa and Hayley."

Bradley looked at Is' again, "Isa, are you in pain?"

My friend looked away, "No, Sir, I am fine."

I watched as the scholar placed his hand on the cuts again. Isa took a sharp intake of breath, he gripped the scholar's wrist in an iron grip, digging claws into pale skin.

Bradley looked at the claws and let out a laugh, "Are you positive it does not pain you?"

Is' glanced at Master, my eyes following in the same direction. Master slowly shook his head, and glared at my friend.

My buddy stepped away from the scholar, letting his wrist go. "I am fine, honest."

Brad let out a short laugh, "Of course you are."

Master let a out a low chuckle, and Isa whipped around growling deep in his throat. Man, Isa's health must really be going downhill if he's growling at Master. I expected him to get hit, bu instead, Brad clapped his hand on Master's shoulder, "Look-it that, Vince, showing the Berserker gene already! Easily angered, physical changes." He walked up to Isa and lifted his hand, which was now sporting long, deadly claws. He turned his hand, picking at each finger, examining the claws. "Interesting, very interesting."

I could see Isa folding his ears back, unsure of what the advisor was going to do. He was so used to pain, he looked like he was expecting the man to smack him. Brad let go of his hand, and looked into glowing eyes. The scholar spun again and walked back to Master, muttering under his breath.

Master looked a little puzzled, "What is it?"

He looked up, "I guess the gene changes the physical aspect more so that supposed to, mayhaps because they are werewolves. The claws are normal, as are glowing eyes, but look, there's fur growing along his arms." He let out a short laugh, "Looks like your 'pets' are becoming more and more like you, eh, Vince?"

Isa's breathing got heavy, fists clenched. He glared at Brad, growling out everything that he said, "Don't you compare me to that... that Monster!"

The advisor let out a laugh, "That 'monster' is standing right here." He motioned to a oddly calm Master, "I expect he is going to hit you once I'm gone." Brad took a step closer to Isa, lowering his voice, "He doesn't want me to hear the screams."

Is' blinked, "What... n- no, he doesn't..."

"Oh please! I saw his last test animals, I was there when they died, don't tell me that he doesn't." He smiled cruelly, "I know all ways that your Master hurt them, he probably does the same to his new slaves."

I looked to him, "W- we aren't slaves..."

"You're right, you aren't slaves. You're pitiful, pet experiments."

I looked down at the ground, hearing Master chuckle lightly. He turned his back, "I'll be in the house, watch the dogs will you?"

"Yes, we'll be in the barn."

Master grunted and stalked into the house, slamming the door behind him. I looked up and saw Brad already walking, Isa and I hurried to catch up with him. We walked into the barn to see Katie petting one of the stallions.

Brad turned to Isa, and nodded his head toward the barn door. "Isa, go pick up the firewood and stack it near the door." I watched as Isa nodded and walked toward the firewood and crouched down, picking it all up.

The advisor looked to me, "You two must realize that I do work over your Master, that I am on his side. Not matter how kind I act toward you two."

"But you do not seem like one to work with... him..." I mumbled.

"All simply for research." He replied turning to see Isa standing, all the firewood neatly stacked.

My friend growled, "Why would you do this? You hurt people, for research? That's all?"

Brad nodded, "Yes, of course. It isn't like I do the experiments on my own. I don't harm you, that's all Vincent."

Isa bared his fangs, "It still all goes back to you in the end!"

The advisor snarled and took Isa's chin in a rough grip, digging his fingernails into pale skin, making my friend flinch. "Do not blame me for anything, mutt. I won't hesitate to punish you."

Katie and I just stared at the two of them, I saw Isa's eyes flash gold, "Get your hands off of me."

"Don't you order me around, you pathetic creature."

White fangs glowed in the moonlight, and Isa snarled, "Don't speak like that to me and I won't order you!"

Brad snickered. "Oh, tsk, tsk, getting angry already." He released Isa's jaw and pushed him back and down onto the ground. "The gene seems to really be sinking in to you, Isa. If I were your Master, I'd be terrified. Too bad I'm not."

Isa wiped drops of blood on the back of his hand, "What gene did he give us anyway?"

I looked at Brad, he smiled, "The Berserker gene. Fascinating creatures, Berserkers. Now the slightest thing can set you off. The littlest thing can make you go one a rampage. But," He continued, looking at me, "if you reside on the side of fear... you will not learn to fight back, you will forever be stuck on that side."