Luger trembled in the dark with the three youngsters huddled around him. They too were shaking like hell was on them, but they had enough sense in them to not whimper. The sounds of the conflict outside had scampered away, but he couldn't bring himself to overcome the fear to leave the den.

The little ones knew nothing except fear and worry, but Luger was old enough to understand the threats by the Blackwatch. He hated the wolf Midnight on first sight. The wolf had trotted into their camp with a smile splattered on his face, but Luger had subconsciously registered a hidden blade underneath the charming mask.

The Alpha's daughter had however, no such suspicions and saw only the charming face, and the sleek, black coat that matched her own. It took barely a week before she disappeared into the shadows, leaving her father distraught at her sudden departure.

Then they targeted his son.

Little Cat had quickly grown distrustful of Midnight when the darkness slowly wooed his sister into leaving. Nobody saw any sign the scuffle, but a quick search found him well into the afterlife, leaving behind only his dark-coated shell.

That was when the Alpha flared outrage. And Blackwatch had now come to silence them.

XXXXX

Physics jolted their equipment as the car rumbled along the road. Keizan looked worriedly at the bundle of stuff with every bump. He had this profound fear that they would arrive to find them damaged beyond casual repair even though he had taken every possible step to protect them.

But even though he spent much quality time prepping the equipment, he still had no idea what they were supposed to do. He wouldn't know if they malfunctioned on that aspect least Piano tells him.

Keizan had taken engineering as a subject, marveling at how much those numbers explained of the world and its events. He was one of the top students in the class, and everybody was surprised when he started working with an animal conservation association. He helped out with the technology in their projects and gradually learned with association.

But he had never, all through those years, ever found a piece that he couldn't understand. He glanced at the Director chatting merrily with the driver. Of course, the Demon refused to tell him anything. For the whole day, he stuck true with the environment he surrounded himself with and now looked totally unconcerned about what the bumps could be doing with his stuff, quite unlike the other researchers he had found himself working with.

Maybe I should take up his example, Keizan thought, and don't worry all that much.

He winced again as the equipment hung in the air for a moment and landed back down. Ouch.

XXXXX

Silverpond laid trembling on her side, the will to fight all but spent. It stirred her to see the Alpha still struggling to get up despite his wounds.

The Blackwatch minion stood panting above both of them, grinning with an odd satisfaction. Silverpond glared at him with upmost hatred, and if looks could kill, the black hound would be dead eons ago.

But in the physical world, Midnight's skills had kept him relatively whole. Silverpond had practically no chance against him. And Midnight had still not revealed his final card – one more lethal than any blow could ever be.

"Mirra!" Midnight gave a massive flourish and welcomed the girl out of the shadows.

"Hello, Dad," Mirra smiled at the Alpha, who recognized her by another name – Soul Streak.

The Alpha's daughter had gone over to Blackwatch.

XXXXX

Luger took a first trembling step out of the concealed den, and then another. He was afraid, but he couldn't stand not knowing what was happening. Worry and uncertainty had caused him to act. It had been all too quiet for the past fifteen minutes.

His pack had stayed here since the pups' mother was pregnant with them, so he had become well acquainted with the area, but tonight every shadow seemed to hide the devil, and every breeze whispered misfortune into his ear. With all the fear pressed against him, he felt strangely claustrophobic even under the big night sky. The stars weren't shining as bright now.

But against his urge to head back to the relative safety of the den, he ventured forth to the edge of the camp. The layer-thick silence was suddenly sliced apart by the padding of feet.

Quite unconsciously, Luger darted behind a ridiculously well-placed tree, placing him out of sight and also out of mind. Frozen there, he couldn't do anything but listen to the cries of anguish that sliced through the camp.

He didn't, and couldn't do anything to help them as they were dragged away.