Dollface - 4.3 (Grasshoppers)
Organisational stuff here if you are looking.
Vaughn's response was utter silence. His smile gone.
"If you aren't interested you -"
A commotion at the other end of the bar distracted her attention. There were raised voices and the quick, random movements of a crowd getting out of someone's way. Within a few seconds Cara saw why. A silver grey wolf was padding through the bar, pink tongue lolling out as the animal panted heavily. Rib-cage heaving. Its golden brown eyes spotted her and the wolf yelped as though to gain attention. Attention it already had.
One of the barmen leaned over the counter, "You know the rules" he sniffed. "No messing about here. Go on, out!"
The wolf ignored him, instead directing a short, sharp bark at Cara. She sighed, "We'll have to have another little chat at a later time." She said to Vaughn as she walked towards the wolf. "Tony-boy, you and me will have to have words about this little incident." Cara's voice was teasing, but she could see how tense the wolf's body was. Tony was fairly new, not the most adept, and he was clearly under some stress. He whined softly, then turned for the door. Where the handle defeated him and he was left scratching like a pet to be let out. Cara opened the door and followed him outside.
The door swung shut behind her, and she stood waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. Grasshopper's didn't have large bright windows, so there was no electric glare trying to defeat the night, but enough light seeped out to prevent true darkness. In the open the wolf was nowhere to be seen, but she could hear him rustling nearby. Probably trying to change back to human form. And by the sounds of things not getting very far.
Cara was about to call out to Tony when she heard the bar door swing open, then closed. She didn't have to turn. If his scent hadn't given him away then the aura of power would have.
"Vaughn."
He heard the hint in her voice and stepping closer spoke up in explanation. "Maybe I should see how things operate in Edward's pack before deciding whether or not to join."
"Pack!" Cara snorted the word out. Only one of the Wrights would use that term. But she wasn't about to get into a discussion over labels, not when a slinking wolf was whining in front of her.
"Lead on then Tony. Soon as we get where we are going you can have some peace and quiet and see if you can't compose yourself enough to change."
"How new is he?" Vaughn asked as he jogged longside her, nodding in the direction of the wolf loping along the verge in front of them.
Cara didn't answer. She didn't want him along, but Edward had been quite specific, and playing nice meant no order to back off. Not until she knew what the situation was. Besides, she wasn't even sure if he'd listen to her. Most enforcers would never think of accompanying one from another House. Tradition gave them their own space. More importantly though, it meant that groups of enforcers wouldn't run in to each other, wouldn't have the problem of a face off.
Tradition didn't stop it entirely of course. But it helped to prevent random unnecessary confrontations.
"I mean, if I had to guess, which you seem to be making me, then I'd have to say he's been a wolf for a few years. How is it he can't control himself enough to change. If he's that weak, shouldn't you-"
Cara swung round, standing in his path, forcing him to come to a sudden halt. "If you want to make small talk I'd suggest you pick a different topic. How the leaves all look black at night, might be one. But if you are really sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong then continue. We'll see what happens." Without waiting for an answer she turned and continues after the wolf.
A few moments later and she could hear Vaughn's footsteps as he caught up to her. "So, these leaves, pretty black at night you say."
Cara glanced at him, and he gave a rueful smile.
"Sorry. It's just me and silence, well. We don't go so well together. I get fidgety when I'm forced to be quiet. Makes me jumpy."
"I'd offer you a piece of advice, about how an enforcer needs to shut up on occasion, but, I don't interfere in other House's business."
"So ... you aren't interested in the leaves then?"
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