The Pack

Firstfang received both Nightstalkers and Jumpers report as the pack rested in a secluded house located not far from the Golden gate park. Its two elderly owners had been unable to put up any resistance and had been good practice for Sprinter and Watcher who had enjoyed the hunt around the house. Concerned about the quick arrival of the Hunters, she decided that Brokentooth could justify his existence for a while longer by contacting an old source.

Escorted by Striker and Slowdeath, Brokentooth made his way to a shop he had not visited in many years. Hidden from non magical beings, it was located down a dark alley and down some stairs. It was exactly what it looked like, a dank, dark hovel where poisons, information and other evil magics could be purchased or sold. The Hawker demon who ran it, was despised even by his own kind and considered the lowest of the low.

Wary and shocked by the sudden arrival of three Wolfen, the Hawker demon initially refused to have anything to do with them as he had retreated into a "panic" room. However jewelry collected from several houses made him change his mind so long as the both Striker and Slowdeath remained on the far side of the shop.

"Zacmar, You have changed little since we met all those years ago" said Brokentooth, "back then you knew me as Throatbitter and I traded jewels for information many times. I would like to do so again."

Carefully watching all three Wolfen and keeping his distance, Zacmar allowed his greed to overcome his fear and he listened as Brokentooth asked his questions.

He had no knowledge of the Hunters however he proved a rich source of information about recent demonic history and a certain house on Prescott Street.

"Things have changed greatly in the last four years" he said. "Four powerful good witches called the Charmed Ones, have risen to challenge the Source of all Evil and they won a major battle almost a year ago. While the Source survived that battle, most of the Council and many of his allies did not and now he fights for his survival. They then hurt him badly again when he kidnapped one of the witches and tried to use her to gain all of their powers. Since then, the Witches have continued to kill any demon who has got in their way and few will now risk an open attack against them. All four live together as their greatest power is when they unite. Even a powerful demon named Belthazor has allied himself with the witches."

Curious as to why the Wolfen had returned, as he knew that both Good and Evil would hunt them down and kill them without mercy, Zacmar had to ask a question of his own. "Why have you returned, last time the Source decimated your pack and only a few survived".

As Striker stirred as he remembered but Brokentooth just laughed and said "That is none of your business demon". He dropped some jewels on the counter and turned to leave. Only when all three Wolfen had departed and the door had closed, did Zacmar venture out to examine the jewels. As he considered his options, he realised that this was a golden opportunity to curry favour with either the Source or the Triad.

Since the Triad appeared to be the most likely to over throw the Source, Zacmar decided to take the news about the return of the Wolfen to them. This information could prove to be the last nail in the Sources' coffin as if he was unable or unwilling to deal with the Wolfen, it would cost him many of his allies.

It took some time to gain an audience with the Triad and as Zacmar told his carefully edited story about the return of the Wolfen, he watched with mounting anticipation as the Triad's faces showed their increasing concern. Assuring them that he had told no one else about their existence, he began to plan his return to his brethren. However as he listened to the Triad's conversation, he rapidly realised he had made a terrible mistake.

The Wolfen had been summoned by the the Triad to help overthrow the Source and had been promised part of the city as a reward. That they were already so active and attracting attention was a cause for concern as the Triad was not yet ready. As Zacmar tried to quietly sneak out of the Triad's presence, they vanquished him with little effort.

Unit three: Wolfen Hunters headquarters.

As the leader of their group, James lead the brief and well practiced remembrance for Sarah. All quietly grieved, especially her younger sister, Tara and Sarah's lover Terry. However none expected to survive long as the pack were killers and hunted them just as fiercely as they hunted the Wolfen. All present had lost family, friends and colleagues in the past and none had any illusions about their chances of a long life.

So it was with sadness that James informed Susie that it was now her responsibility to learn how to make the wolfsbane potion. This was a dangerous but important job as the potion was highly volatile and extremely toxic. And it was their principal weapon against a being that was faster, more vicious and far harder to kill than any of them. This was the only job that needed three people who must know the secret, a reflection of just how important it was and why there must always be one person who would survive to remember.

As Joseph returned from visiting a source who had helped them in the past, he was able to bring good and bad news. He was able to describe the changes in the magical balance over the last four years that had resulted in Evil losing much of its presence in the city. This explained why the Pack had been willing to risk entering the city. The most powerful demons were too busy fighting each other for power to bother dealing with the them.

And the reason for this change was four powerful, apparently good witches who may or may not be willing to help them. Since the Pack was highly resistant to all but the most powerful of magic's, James decided that contacting them was not going to benefit them. They would face the Pack as they had in the past, by themselves, armed with their courage and the weapons that had proved to be highly effective.

The Pack

Brokentooth's news explained much about what the Wolfen could feel in the city. Evil was fighting amongst itself and good was unaware of their presence. Only these four witches stood between them and an easy life. The formation of mighty Pack could begin here and a return to the sort of power they had not had for hundreds of years. So the witches had to die.

Firstfang and Striker spent some time considering various plans, before falling back on the tried and proven.

Seeker, Starbright, Slowdeath and Bloodletter would gain jobs to earn the money even the pack needed to maintain its lifestyle. Both Seeker and Starbright could masquerade as nurses, a strange job for Wolfen. However over the years the pack had found that hospitals were an ideal hunting ground. People came and went at all hours, often upset or drugged. They made for easy hunting and the hospital provided a way to dispose of 'leftovers'.

Slowdeath, working with his younger brother Bloodletter, had refined the art of debt collecting as their natural hunting prowess and enhanced senses allowed them to locate their targets relatively easily. Free lancing for drug dealers or other underworld characters provided plenty of targets with some, if they were not too badly damaged by the drugs they took, suitable as food. The disappearance of these targets, enhanced their reputation for brutality and as a result they did not lack for work.

Nightstalker would use the three youngest children to gain money from humans whose job it was to help. This had worked well in the past and Nightstalker had perfected her act.

Firstfang, Striker, and Jumper would try and get close to the witches and find a way to attack them. Given their apparent power, a massed attack would be the best way to deal with them.

As usual, Brokentooth was stuck with the despised job of baby sitter. He could teach the children the histories and the stories they needed to know. And he could care for the youngest while their mother was elsewhere.

The Hunters would be ignored for now, if their location was found they would be dealt with.

The city and its millions of prey, would hide the Wolfen, so long as they were careful about not feeding too near the lair.