Mark laid over Jack as much as he could to keep him warm as the fire died. Even as the cave grew darker, Mark could see with his wolf eyes. Allowing him to keep watch on the entrance, while his keen hearing listened to the sounds hidden among the whistling wind. The storm showed no sign of slowing down and wore on into the night. Which only added to Mark's anxiousness. He'd never stayed out this late and it worried him. People were bound to notice their absence by dawn. Not only that, but he knew that the Pack usually hunted in the early hours of the morning. Preying upon the hunger that woke animals from their slumber and made them too groggy to think clearly. The storm slowly died down, just before the sun had broken over the horizon. Mark placed a hand on Jack's arm, about to wake him, until he heard a distant howl. Lifting his hand off Jack, he carefully moved away from him. Creeping toward the entrance, Mark heard another distant howl and the sounds of something sniffing above the cave. Reaching down, he removed a dagger from his boot and waited. Snow fluttered off the top of the cave entrance, then everything went eerily quiet.

No birds were chippering. No squirrels were rustling in the trees. A large predator was near and by the smell in the morning air, he knew who it was. Peeking out of the cave a bit, he quickly scanned for her, but couldn't see her. From close by though, she told him in a blunt tone. "Come on out, Mark. I can smell you. And so can they." Exhaling heavily, Mark curled his fingers to hide his dagger up his sleeve and stepped out of the cave. He knew they'd just come in and get him if he didn't. Crouched by a tree, she moved into his line of sight and asked sternly. "Are you lost, Mutt? You never travel this far into the woods..." Mark lifted his chin, not bothering to lie when he told her. "I'm not. I was hoping to reach the old lady's cottage. Got stuck in the storm." The woman rose to her feet, asking him darkly. "And why would that old goat want to see you?" Mark shrugged, answering coolly. "I just needed to see her." The woman sauntered closer, her purple eyes looking him over under her long autumn red hair. Letting out a low growl, she asked him in a mistrusting tone. "And if I say no?" Mark lowered his eyes to keep from challenging her as he said calmly. "She's not a threat to you and she was nice to me."

The woman snorted, lifelessly smirking out. "I don't care. I told you the terms. You wanna join MY Pack. You were told to bring me her grandchild. Well? Where is he?" Mark lowered his eyes to the ground, a little surprised that she hadn't smelled him. Although, he doubted that she knew what he smelled like. She moved closer and his eyes shot up to meet hers. She growled close to his face; her teeth stained in fresh blood. Standing his ground, he told her firmly. "I don't have him. I need to speak to her to find him, Arlynn." She leaned closer to sniff him, then snorted out bitterly. "I don't believe you. What are you hiding?" She sniffed the air, then tried to move into the cave, but he stepped into her way. Arlynn growled louder, but Mark avoided her eyes and didn't growl back. He just clenched his jaw and braced himself for a fight. She brought her teeth closer to his throat, asking him with distaste. "Are you bringing your human rebound into my woods now? Perhaps that Hunter has chased you out and you brought a snack?" Mark turned neutral eyes on her, keeping his voice soft and respectful when he answered coolly. "I saved him from the storm. Nothing more."

Arlynn narrowed her eyes on him, saying bitterly. "That's your problem, Mutt. You care about them too much. You should have let him die." Mark kept his voice calm and docile but stated out seriously. "She wouldn't have. The Hunters are only here because of you." She grabbed him by the throat and shoved him up against the cave entrance, snarling out angrily. "Watch your tongue, Mutt. Or I'll eat it! We are taking back the land that is rightfully OURS! If a few humans have to die. So be it. The Pack is stronger under MY reign!" Releasing Mark, she looked him over with her eyes, her expression softening a bit when she told him. "Even for a Mutt, you'd have value replenishing our ranks. You are strong in body... but you lack the spine of a wolf. Move. I'll kill it for you and show you how it's done." Mark moved into her path again and for the first time, he let out a low growl in front of her. Taking a step back, Arlynn chuckled out humorlessly. "You dare growl at me, Mutt? Your better!" Looking at her only out of the corner of his eye, he told her firmly. "He's not worth your time. I'll take him home." Arlynn bared his teeth close to his neck, snarling out. "He entered MY woods. That makes him prey! All humans will die here! Move!"

Mark straightened up, starting to tell her firmly. "I can't let you...! Do you hear that..?" Arlynn straightened up like she was ready to fight, but then stopped growling to listen. At the sound of hooves and men excitedly cheering, she locked eyes with him and told him through clenched teeth. "You are lucky. I must go deal with them. Be warned, Mark. Don't come back without him again or I'll kill you." From within the cave, Jack called out nervously. "Mark? Who are you talking to?" Mark locked eyes with Arlynn, answering Jack curtly. "No one." Arlynn turned to leave but stopped when the sound of a horse stomping through the snow caught her attention. From a few feet away, Geralf sat upon a large black horse dressed in long silver chainmail. Mark stiffened as Geralf lifted a loaded crossbow and said with a wicked grin. "Hello, Arlynn. Been hunting you for a long time." Arlynn growled aggressively, causing Geralf's horse to shift uncomfortably. Geralf was unphased by her, pulling the trigger on his crossbow. Arlynn took off through the woods, the bolt narrowly missing her neck as it whizzed past her throat a second or two too early before she ran into it in her escape.

Howling and gunshots filled the woods in the distance. While Geralf removed a pistol and took aim at a fleeing Arlynn. He had her in his sights, but seconds from firing the shot, Mark threw a snowball at the horse's face. Geralf's horse reared, tossing him to the snow as the gun went off. Jack staggered out, asking perplexed. "Mark?! Why did you-?" Pushing Jack to go, he shouted at him. "RUN!" Jack took off into a run and Mark ran after him. Behind them, Geralf shouted out in frustration. "SON OF A BITCH!" Running as fast as their legs could take him, Jack asked breathlessly over his shoulder. "Why did you do that?" Mark glanced back, then told him in a panic. "I had too!" Jack risked looking back at him, snapping out. "Why? I thought you said-" Mark cut him off by stating shortly. "She's my cousin!" Jack staggered a bit in the snow, but Mark caught his arm and pulled him along. Hearing the sounds of a galloping horse, Mark tried to pull Jack off the road, until something struck his legs. The cord tangled up his legs and he went down into the snow hard. Jack slipped on the road after being pushed by Mark. The horse skidded to a stop and Geralf hopped off. Mark tried to push the tangled bolo off his legs but stopped when Geralf pointed his pistol at his face.

Abandoning all reason, Mark snatched the pistol and flipped Geralf into the snow with him. Geralf couldn't get his footing in the snow and Mark took advantage of that. Punching Geralf in the face, he broke the deer skull mask and wailed on his jaw. Adrenaline flooded Mark and he kept punching fast and hard like his life depended on it. At the sound of a loud 'BANG', Mark froze and looked down at his chest for a bullet hole. When he looked fine, he looked down to see Geralf had aimed his pistol at something else. His heart sank, when he followed his aim to Jack. Jack had just sat up and the bullet shot his hood off his head. Glaring up at him, Geralf spit blood and told him mercilessly. "That was a warning shot. Next one goes-" Without waiting for him to continue, Mark removed his dagger from his sleeve and stabbed Geralf's wrist that held his pistol. Geralf screamed, his grip loosening enough for Mark to swat the gun away. Just as he was about to start stabbing him, Jack yelled out. "MARK! BEHIND!" Mark turned mere seconds before a net was shot at him. The silver net burned Mark's skin, causing him to scream as it wrapped around him.

Jack dropped his basket, rushing across the snow to reach him. Grabbing the net, Jack untangled it to get it off Mark. He almost got it all off, until the other Hunters rushed in to stop him. Throughout the woods, more howls and growling started to be heard, causing Geralf to tell the battered and bloody Hunters reluctantly. "Take them and let's get back before we are overwhelmed!" Jack thrashed as the Hunters moved in to knock out Mark before dragging him to their horse and loaded weapon cart. Geralf spit more blood from his mouth as he got up, telling the Hunter that held Jack. "Give him to me." The Hunter shoved Jack into his arms and Jack smacked him hard enough that the sound echoed in the woods. For a moment the Hunters laughed, before Geralf gripped Jack tighter by his arms and told him sternly. "You should have waited for me. Now you have no one to blame but yourself." Jack spit into his face and Geralf smacked him so hard that Jack blacked out before he hit the snow.

When Jack woke up, he found himself sitting inside as large metal cage that had a blanket over it. Reaching through the bars, he tugged on it enough to see out one side. Peeking out, he could tell that he was in the barn where the Hunters were taking up lodgings. To his utter distress, right beside him was another large cage that a group of Hunters were gathered around. The Hunters jammed at the person inside with spears that had silver tips, making the man's skin hiss as it burned. Sitting tied up in the cage was Mark. His hands were shackled through the cage top and over his mouth was a leather muzzle. His face was bruised and bleeding, but he looked stronger than he probably felt. Grabbing the bars, Jack yelled out to the Hunters bitterly. "Leave him alone!" One of the Hunters kicked the cage, causing Jack to flinch away as the man retorted heatedly. "Shut up, bitch!" Mark tugged on his restraints, growling behind his muzzle. A few Hunters chuckled, until Geralf stated aloud. "Don't you all have things to be doing? Or shall I quell your boredom with something I'll find amusing?" The Hunters quickly scattered.

Geralf approached the caged, yanking off the blanket from Jack's cage. Shifting in the cage, Jack stated out bluntly. "You can't keep me in here! My dad-!" Geralf kneeled in front of the cage, interrupting flatly. "Your daddy can't help you. When it comes to anything supernatural. I'm the law here. I get final say. I am lawyer, judge, and jury. And as much as it pains me... You are not who your daddy thinks you are. Or this town." Jack blinked, asking perplexed. "What are you talking about?" Geralf smirked, leaning closer to whisper to him. "You ran off with a werewolf. Helped the Pack's biggest bitch run off. And then you tried to save your lover from me putting him out of his misery. That... Well... That makes you a Devil's Whore." Jack leaned back from him, pressing his back to the other side. Geralf tapped his fingers on the bars, glancing around before telling him softly. "Scary, isn't it? To be caged like him. Like an animal. The punishment will be quick for him... but for you... a witch. That punishment is far more... prolonged. For you we have to prove your guilt." Jack looked away from Geralf, but Geralf drew his attention back by saying in a hushed voice. "However... I'd be willing to say I was wrong about you... for a price."

Jack's stomach churned when he blurted out shakily. "Excuse me?" Geralf reached through the bars, stroking Jack's leg when he told him hopefully. "Surely, you'd be willing to do anything to get out of here. And I would very much like to get to know you better." Jack pulled his leg up away from him, telling him firmly. "I'd rather prove my innocence. How can you even ask me something like that? You are supposed to protect us!" Geralf's expression was unreadable now, when he told him coolly. "I am protecting everyone. From the corruption that you and him spread to others. It's an infection. And I plan to purge the world of it. Now... chose your words carefully. Should you want to prove your innocence... you'll die for it." Jack shifted anxiously, while Geralf regaled to him a bit smugly. "A real witch can't be killed by drowning them or being hanged. The only sure way is to burn them. Do you want to go through that?" Jack narrowed his eyes on him, blurting out. "But that doesn't make sense!" Geralf shrugged, telling him honestly. "I don't make the rules. I just follow what has proven to work. So? What do you say?" Mark kicked his cage to draw Jack's attention, before shaking his head.

Biting his lip, Jack looked at Geralf with reluctant eyes, asking with a heavy heart. "If I did. Would you release him?" Geralf inhaled deeply, then exhaled loudly like the question was not an easy one to consider. Mark kicked the cage again and muffled out things behind his muzzle, but Jack couldn't understand him. Geralf looked around and when his eyes returned to him, he told him boldly. "That depends on what you are willing to do to buy his freedom." Mark growled loudly, but Jack could only stare into Geralf's eyes. Reaching in toward him, Geralf purred to him in a voice that made Jack's skin crawl. "Time is short. What will your answer be?" Jack opened his mouth to accept it, but the words refused to leave his throat. As Geralf's fingers touched his jaw, he turned away and told him with a pained voice. "I can't. I won't lower myself like that." Geralf lowered his hand, asking suddenly very curious. "You won't give yourself to another human. But you'll let that vile inhuman creature touch you?" Jack met Geralf's eyes, his words as strong as iron when he told him sternly. "His name is Mark. And from where I'm sitting... He's more human than you are." To Be Continued...