I venture into the woodlands, wondering what kind of adventure I'll find today. Caster likes the woods too. I think he's as secretive as I am, maybe even more so. He'll be a good trainer. I wonder if Calliel likes the woods. She doesn't seem very secretive but she listens to me. She didn't even call me a freak when I told her about the blood and how I can read it. She asked if we can be friends instead. I don't know what to think about it. Do I want a friend? I guess it would be good to talk to someone but I have Caster. He's not supposed to be a friend though. He's supposed to be my trainer. Maybe I need a friend too but what if I have to keep secrets from her? What if I have to hide what I am, what I'm becoming?

I don't even know what I'm becoming. In some ways it scares me but in other ways, I can't wait to see what's at the end of this road. I move further into the woodlands and then I smell a wolf. That wouldn't be abnormal but the fact that this wolf smells strongly of panic and fear is. What is she so scared of? I follow the scent and pick up another one. This wolf smells like Diveen. So does he know Calliel? I would think he's running with the female but his smell doesn't come off as scared. Instead, it's more like a predator's smell, the urge of the kill in his cologne. Is he after the female? I feel adrenaline suddenly pump through my system. A part of me wants to go after them to help the female but the other part of me, the dark passenger part, wants to see what's going to happen next.

I launch toward them and when I hear the sounds of rustling, I know that I'm close and he must have caught up. I hear the sound of a smaller body crashing to the ground but where's the sound of pain? I slow down and crouch, stalking closer. Peering through the bushes, I see teh female on the ground with the male holding onto her tail. He looks pumped up and ready for action. My instincts fight against each other. An honest wolf would jump in to help her but I know this is a fight I cannot win. I am younger and weaker than the male plus less experienced in battle. If I fight on her side, I'll surely lose. But if I fight with the male...well, the possibilities are endless. True, the female may lose her life but what will I find out about killers and what motivates them? This is for my research. At least, that's what I will tell myself.

I step out of the bushes into sight where he can see me, my yellow green eyes looking from him to the female with curiosity. I walk a wide circle around both, inspecting. When I get behind the female where she's rolled over some to look at her attacker, her lips curled back and ready to strike, I lunge first, my teeth closing on her scruff. She snarls but she can't turn to get me and she can't lunge at him either. Holding her fast, I crouch low and brace, widening my stance to better hold her head down with my weight. I glance up at the male, my way of telling him it's his move next. I'm holding her down, wondering what he plans to do with his hindered victim.