It had been a day and a night since he had talked to the warrior woman at the gates of the Sanctuary, and still nothing.

Though he had walked away in the guise of a wolf, once he had gotten downtown he had changed back to his human form. A wolf walking through town in broad daylight would attract attention and most likely be suspect, whereas he was just another face among many.

After all, people don't talk to wolves.

He had, it felt like, visited nearly every tavern in town, not to mention shops, back alleys, rooftops and a few of the underground fighting rings. He had asked - covertly, of course - about what people knew about events centered around the Scathachians. And he had listened to what people said.

There were many conflicting stories, accounts, and whisperings. Some said the Sisters themselves were behind the slayings...others said it was the Nightblades, determined to set the Sisters up...still others said it was the work of a renegade Scathachian. No one would agree on any one theory...but all of them were afraid.

He had also visited the sight of a recent slaughter - an entire family murdered in the dead of the night, fresh kills. He hadn't entered - the Sisters had already gotten there, and he didn't wish to interfere. Instead, he had focused on a scent that led away from the house.

He hasn't ever had a reason to fear, except once, when he had no direction. He hadn't ever felt even the slightest bit of uneasiness. And yet this scent disturbed him. It was the scent of one who lived for the feud...for blood.

He knew this scent, in another form. Once, it had been his own - he had lived for the slaughter, for causing fear and death and pain. He had reveled in it. Granted, he had been a slave at the time, ordered to kill others for another's gain...but that did not change the fact that he had enjoyed doing it.

He had followed the scent as best as he could, though it was intermittent at best. It had led him here.

Now, he sat by the water, looking out over the waves. Looking for what, he did not know...but something was out there.

He could feel it.

The thugs look at each other, then back to him, and he can almost hear the thoughts travelling through each one's head.

This guy just dropped out of nowhere and wiped out two of us in an eyeblink, completely unarmed...but there's four of us and one of him...

Behind him, he can feel the mother's eyes on him, sense her backing away, can feel her sense of bewilderment and fear and gratitude and suspicion all at once. Conciously he shuts out her emotions - confusion will only hinder him. He simply keeps his eyes on the men before him, standing there in silence, awaiting their first move. He knows the mother and her children aren't any concern to them - they may be armed, but even from the rooftop he could tell that they aren't seasoned warriors, just people trying to defend themselves.

He steps forward, walking toward the thugs, who automatically back up as he approaches, then move to encircle him, their targets of opportunity forgotten. He lets them, seeking to keep them distracted long enough for mother and children to get away. He takes another ten paces or so and stops, watching the four of them as they circle around him and close in slowly. No fools, these - they aren't charging in blindly as most would do. As they close, a sudden burst of noise from behind them darws their attention as the mosther and her children scurry to get out of the alleyway. He turns in time to see the backs of them as they run, the mother urging her children ahead of her. One of the men breaks from the circle to head after them, and Lupinius moves then, taking a single long step and grabbing him by his collar. He pulls hard, yanking the man backwards off of his feet. As the man's balance is pulled backward and he tries to adjust, Lupinius crouches and pulls sharply down, flinging the man onto his back with force and slamming him into the ground. The thug is stunned, and he finishes it with a sharp kick to the man's temple.

His attention is occupied just long enough for the remaining three to charge into him, and he feels them closing he turns on his toes, remaining in a crouch, and drives the heel of his hand upwards, catching the closest in the chin as he pushes up with his legs, putting all of the force directly into the the thug's chin. There is a snapping crunch as the man's teeth click together and his teeth splinter from the force of the blow, lifting him off of his feet and sending him into the air. Before he has landed, the other two are on Lupinius, tackling him to the ground.

"We got you now, little man. We'll show you not to butt in where you're not wanted." The man's breath stinks of whiskey and garlic as he growls into Lupinius' ear.

Lupinius doesn't say anything, but growls, a deep, feral sound. The amulet flickers with violet light, then flashes brilliantly, blindingly. There is a startled yelp from both thugs as suddenly they find themselves no longer holding onto a man, but a bristling, huge timber wolf, growling in rage. He twists his head slightly as the man loosens his hold in surprise and closes his strong jaws on the man's forearm. There is a snapping sound as the bones break like twigs, and blood flows into his mouth.

For just a moment, he can feel the animal side of him begging to be let loose, to maim and rend and kill. The demon side rears up at the same time, and for just a moment there is nothing in his mind but wanton blood lust. He lets the man's arm go as the other man is fleeing, wanting nothing to do with a wild, vicious animal, all thoughts of loyalty to his compatriots gone. He clearly hadn't been expecting this. Lupinius back away three steps, the man he had just been holding by the arm now yelling in pain and surpise as he holds his arm, from which blood is flowing freely, crouches, then pounces, bowling the man over onto his back. He stands above the thug and his jaws go for the man's throat.

Just as they close, the human side of him - the soul - jumps back into control. His jaws are ready, he can feel the warm blood just under the skin - but his heart rebels, pushing the animal away and forcing him to back off. He steps away, looking down at the man. There is a flash of amethyst light and again, Lupinius stands there, human (at least in appearance) and looking down at this waste of a human.

He crouches by the man, who is looking up at him with terrorand pain in his eyes. Lupinius places one hand on his amulet and another on the man's arm. The amulet and his hand flicker, violet light spreading out over the man's arm for a moment before he moves away. The thug watches as the wounds close up, the blood stops flowing, and the bones knit themselves back together.

"What...why...?" The man stutters, still fearful but also confused. "Y...you just tried to kill me..."

"You just tried to kill me. And you were doing harm to people who had done nothing to you. Now...I wish to have some information. You are a criminal. You undoubtedly have some knowledge about things that happen in this town that the average person does not. You have perhaps heard of the murders here in WestEnd...and the more recent murder of a family not far from the Scathachian Sanctuary?"

The man nods. "Y-yeah...I didn' have nothin' to do with that, though."

"Oh, that I am certain of. These crimes were commited by someone whose interests go beyond making a little bit of money. I want to know if you know anything about who might have been doing these things."

The man shudders. "I don't know nothin' exactly, man...just what I hear from friends and such...but a buddy of mine says he saw somethin' when those two guys got greased in the warehouse area. Somethin' about a demon, or somethin'. Said it looked like a girl, kinda heavyset but a nice bod. But she chopped off the guy's arm and gutted him like he was nothin'. My buddy ran after he saw that, though...he didn' wanna be next."

"Indeed...I thank you for your time." With a sudden, sharp movement he reaches out and cracks the guy on the temple, bringing unconciousness to him.

He takes a few moments to tie the five unconcious men up together securely, then heads out of the alleyway and into the darkness.

An hour later he is back at the shore, not far from the Sanctuary, looking out over the waves. He is disturbed within, though.

He shouldn't have lost control like that. He had nearly killed that guy, not out of self-defense - which would be condoned, at least - but out of sheer want for the kill. What's happening to him?

Why, after all of this time, should he be having such a hard time keeping himself in control?