1. Back Alley

~Lupin~

It was late into the evening, and a dark, cloaked figure could be seen walking in the midst of twilight. 

It was unlikely he would be walking back.

Underneath the moonlight and between the stalls of the black market, a creature emerges. He seems to be born of darkness as he approaches out into dim lights, despite being cloaked in silver fur. His pace is slow but steady and he lets out a growl that sounds threatening; yet it’s layered with both the tone of beast and man when he speaks.

“Markos.” The wolf grunts in a low, sharp voice. His eyes, reflected like pools of moonlight, stare directly at the crowd surrounding him; for this was a group of guilty dealers.

In the alley where all the stalls are cramped tightly, a man steps out from the shadows. “I’m sorry.” He croaks, clearly in pain. He clutches his side and drops to his knees.

“Lupin,” he says again, and the wolf twitches dangerously. The glint in his eyes is less than merciful. “Don’t call me that,” The creature snapped, “-and you knew this was your last chance.”

Lupin paced slowly around the mage. “You, my friend, are a loose thread.” He says, and nods to the men behind him.

“No, no!” He shrieks, and then starts to sob. “I can do better. I will do better.”

Lupin sighed and gave him a small, sad smile. “Unfortunately, all loose threads have to be cut.”

And then the mage’s sobs were abruptly cut off and everyone fell into a dead silence.

The wolf began to pad away. “All of you!” He yells, over his shoulder. “Get me the information I need, and you will be rewarded. Find the map, and you will get prizes beyond your wildest dreams.”

Murmurs echoes softly in the alley. 

Whence alone, he concentrated. His fur rippled, bones cracked and claws disappeared as his human form was revealed.

Bright blue eyes glowed underneath Lupin's hood. 

He was only a boy.