"--in other news, the disappearance of Jason Carpelle is still being investigated. Authorities have found no new leads other than he left his home Friday morning and hasn't returnd since. His wife begs the community for help. If you have any news or have seen or heard from him, please contact the Boswin Police Department. Jason is six-foot and three inches tall, blonde hair--"

A groan sounded over the television as the woman on the couch sat up. The white-haired woman held her head, listening to the clatter of some bottles and cans moving. Not long after, there was loud knocking at the door. Arsene took a swig out of the bottle she recently bought and looked up. She already knew who it was, especially after the next set of knocks happened.

Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun, dun dun!

Arsene groaned. "It's open."

Jani burst in the door. "Arseeene!"

"It's Arsenne."

"I'm literally the only one who calls you Arseeene, so."

Arsene rolled her eyes. "Fine. What is it?"

"I have a job!"

"Yeah, or you wouldn't be here. What's the job?"

"Weeellllll. Okay, here's the deal! There's a family out on a farm who's having a problem with their livestock getting slaughtered. They think its--wait for it," Jani stopped for dramatic effect, "--their Uncle Dominic!"

"I'm sorry...what?"

"Yup. Uncle Dominic Kosch is a werewolf. But! I have a theory."

"I loathe to ask, but ask I shall. What?"

"So they told me that the cows have been dying for the past four days...they think Dominic has gone into a rage."

"...the last full moon was two weeks ago."

Jani grinned widely. "Exactly. I think...it might be a ski--"

"No. Shut up. I don't deal with those."

"Just this once? Pleeeaaassseee?"

"Why?! Why would I?!"

"Because Dominic is convinced he's doing it in his sleep and if you find proof of that, he told his brother to kill him!"

Arsene sighed heavily as she pieced the pieces together. "And if I can find evidence that suggest he's innocent?"

"His brother won't do it unless Dominic is right."

"Fine...Fine. You're a pain in the ass, you know that?"

Jani smiled. "At least I use lube."

"Shut up..."

"Yes, Arseeene~."

Arsene sighed, tying her medium-cut hair into a short ponytail. She was too hungover for this. The dilemma from the hospital last night left a horrid taste in her mouth. Was she right to play the higher power? Arsene stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Sure, she usually took the situation into her own hands. Especially when it called for it. Yet, it always left her hungover in the morning, like she regretted her decision. Was it really right of her?

She shook her head and finished getting ready. She'd have plenty of time to answer the question later. At least, she hoped she would. These days her questions were more and more and her answers were coming in less and less. Arsene scoffed at herself as she pulled a pair of jeans and a black long sleeve shirt on. Not that where she worked helped any.

When Arsene opened the bathroom door, she saw Jani going through her empty alcohol bottles. The white-haired woman narrowed her eyes, the aurora-color glowing slightly. She despised the fact that Jani was going through her things, even if it was just bottles. Arsene sighed slightly and walked towards her. She flicked the top of her head and earned a yelp from the pink-haired girl and a glare.

"Why'd you do that?!" Jani yelled.

"Because you're going through my things!"

"It's filthy!"

"Leave it be!"

"Fine!"

Arsene groaned, shoving her sunglasses on as they left the apartment. They walked towards Jani's car, a matte blue Dodge Challenger, and the white-haired woman stopped. She raised her eyebrow in confusion. Jani grinned widely. Boy, did she have a story for her.

"A woman sold it to me. Twenty dollars. Before you ask; her husband cheated on her and left with another woman. He lost his card and asked his ex-wife for some money, so she asked if I wanted it for twenty dollars."

"You meet the strangest people..."

After stopping at a food place, Jani drove out of the city of Boswin. She explained that the trip itself would take three hours, and she could nap. Arsene thought about it for a moment. A nap didn't sound too bad, but it would probably make her grumpier. Plus, she was already wide awake. There would be no point to try and nap. The white-haired woman decided to stay up and talk with Jani.

"So explain to me why you think it's a skin?" Arsene said, refusing to call it by its name.

"A skin...walker?"

"You know what I mean."

"Well..." Jani contemplated. "It's the only logical cryptid, right? I mean, what can kill four days' worth of livestock?"

"A lot of things. Chupacabra, Rougaru, Crawlers, varieties of Big Foot--"

"Okay, okay, I get it. My point is; even a raging werewolf wouldn't go through that much."

Arsene contemplated this for a moment. "I suppose. Never knew any werewolves that were aware of what they were doing, thoough. I would assume the cryptid is either cursed with neverending hunger...or...just likes killing."

Jani snickered a bit. "Awarewolves."

"...you just got your pun card revoked."

"Hey!"

"Anyway. So, yeah, if it's not a werewolf...well, I'll take a look when we get there."

Down the back road, Jani turned onto gravel and almost swerved instantly, yelling. Something big and black had jumped in front of them as they were closing in on their destination. Arsene immediately jumped out of the car and looked around the gravel road. They were surrounded by forest and dirt. There was nothing to suggest there was a big black shape lurking around anywhere. Jani peaked her head up as Arsene got back in the car. A little more slowly, Jani drove down the road, thankful she didn't spin in to the ditch.

Not long after, they arrived at a big wood manor. It was bigger than any house they had seen thus far. The two women dropped their jaws at the sight of it. The outside was dark wood that had different colored stones leading to a black screen door. The window panes were a mahogany red and the front porch looked so welcoming. Why it didn't look like a farmhouse was beyond them. Or at least, until they saw that from the side, it sort of blended with wooded side yard.

"This place is amazing!" Jani said, getting out of her car.

"It sure is something." Arsene commented, following her.

They were soon callled out to by a male voice. "Hey! Ya'll are trespassing!"

Jani yelled back. "We're here to talk to Shawn Kosch!"

The male looked at them for a moment before nodding his head. He went back out of their view only for them to hear aruging behind the house.After a moment, a different man, who seemed much older than the other one, came towards the house. The man looked sun burned, with dark hair turning to gray and a somewhat chubby frame. He stopped a few feet from the two.

"I'm Shawn. Can I help y'all?"

"I'm Jani. Jani Hether. We talked on the phone."

"Ah, right right. So yer here to help?"

"We're going to try." Arsene said, holding out her hand. "Arsene Garver. I work with Jani. Can you shed some light on what's been going on?"

Shawn shook her hand and nodded. "Well, last four days, I been hearin' the cows dyin'. Only reason I hadn't investigated was them screamin' noises. Sounds like a rabid coyote, but...it sounds off."

"Sounds off...how?" Jani asked.

"Well...it's hard to explain. Ain't no coyote I've ever heard of. Ain't no wolf. And I've heard Dom howlin'--ain't no howl. It's...it's a cross between a howl and a scream. It's like...like a deliberate pitched scream that fades into the night like a howl."

"That...that would definitely count as off." Arsene said, thinking. "Have you removed the cow carcases?"

"Not the ones from last night, not yet. O'er here."

Shawn led the two over to the stables. Inside was the decaying stench that seemed to linger for days. The scene was no less disgusting. Four cow carcasses were in the stalls, ripped to shreds. One could hardly tell it was a cow from first glance. Arsene took in the scene, studying it carefully while she could hear Jani gagging. Something, however, caught her attention in the mess.

The thing that caught her attention was a large black claw dug into some torn cow hide. Arsene blinked and leaned forward to pick it up. The claw was difficult to pull out at first, but she did so after a few wiggles. The white-haired woman investigated the black claw. It was long and curved with a part of the bone in it. Arsene narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Is your brother missing a claw or finger?"

Shawn thought for a moment. "Not that I can recall, ma'am. Looked to have all ten."

"Well, that's one piece of evidence that Dominic is innocent. The main piece, anyway." Arsene continued looking around.

Besides the gory scene, there was really nothing to suggest anything else had happened. The large claw seemed very large in her hand and unnatural. Arsene sighed a bit and scratched her head. Nothing made any sense. Werewolves' claws didn't normally feel so...warm. Even though it was separated, the claw was warm and steely-like. The white-haired woman thought about it, surveyed the scene, and then turned to face Shawn.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Have you heard anything from Dominic?"

"N'aw. Been quiet fer two days."

Arsene nodded. "Can you take us to him?"

"I reckon so. Gotta get in your car though."

It didn't take them long to get to Dominic's. Down three dirt roads and a twenty minute drive, they arrived to a smaller version of the Kosch Manor home. It was like a small hunter's cabin; and there was someone home. Shawn walked up after parking, holding up his hand to signal them to stay. Arsene tensed up a bit. She didn't like staying behind.

From the car, Arsene surveyed the scene. Shawn knocked on the door and waited, backing up slightly when another man--presumably Dominic--came out holding up a shotgun. The two began to talk, even though it looked very strained. Arsene tilted her head in confusion as they began to argue before Shawn started speaking in a low voice. Whatever he said seemed to calm Dominic down; the red in his face disappeared. Dominic looked at the women in the Challenger, then back to Shawn. He put the shotgun inside the door and nodded his head. Shawn signaled them to come out. The two slowly got out of the car and walked towards the brothers.

"Dominic Kosch?" Jani asked, saw him nod, then continued. "My name is Jani Hether. We spoke on the phone. This is Arsene Garver, my associate."

"Pleased to meet you. May I see your fingers?" Arsene asked quickly.

"My fingers, ma'am?"

"Yes. I need to check something."

Dominic shrugged, but obliged, holding his hands for her. Arsene inspected them carefully. All ten fingers were indeed there. Or eight fingers and two thumbs, both ways work. The white-haired woman took note of the calluses on his hands. They looked old and fresh, much like the scars on his knuckles and arms. She also noted that some of the scars looked to be bites from other animals. She raised her eyebrows before removing her sunglasses to look at his scars.

"Where did you get those scars?"

"Them? Mostly coyotes, ma'am."

"And the bigger ones?"

"I...I'm not sure, ma'am. Another werewolf?"

"I don't think so...These bite marks. Let me make it clear--werewolves have forty-two teeth, much like dogs or wolves.Their human counterparts would have the same amount. This bite mark? I count twenty-eight. Four less than the average human."

Jani thought about it. "So...not a werewolf. Or a ski--"

"I swear to God, Jani, I will kill you."

"...walker. Not a walker."

"Nope."

Dominic frowned. "So what d'ya think it is?"

Arsene shrugged. "We won't know until we find it."

"So we find it. Trap it?" Shawn asked.

"Honestly? Leave it to us." Arsene said. "We're the professionals. One way or another, it's getting caught."

Arsene dug in the back of the Challenger after their meeting. She brought two suitcases; one had her armored uniform and the other had weapons of different varieties. Not that she'd need them, she thought, but it was better to be prepared. Dominic was kind enough to lend them his hunting cabin, and Arsene was going to take the chance to change. Shawn and Dominic were already heading out to the Kosch Manor. This would give Arsene and Jani time to contact their HQ, set up, and map out the area the cryptid could be in.

"You think it's like a werewolf?"

"I think it's probably similar to a werewolf. Whether or not it actually is is an entirely different story. That's not going to stop me from setting up wolfsbane, though."

"And if it doesn't weaken it?" Jani asked, concerned.

"Then write it down, Chronicler. Have you seen my crossbow?" Arsene asked, searching.

"Probably under the spare tire slot."

"Okay, not going to ask why you have my crossbow. Got comms set up?"

"Almost. Two more wires."

"Well, try to hurry. Don't want to be stuck out here."

"I know...didn't hear a please?"

"Pretty please then." Arsene said, rolling her eyes.

Jani smiled. "Maybe your favorite guy will answer."

"Fuck Jason Carpelle. He's "missing", remember?"

It wasn't too long before static could be heard over the comms Jani had set up. Arsene looked over, letting her aurora-colored eyes take in the scene. Jani was messing with the knobs to get a good connection, but out in the forest? The white-haired woman doubted it would be good at all. Once she heard a voice starting to come through, Arsene tapped Jani's shoulder.

"Hello. Crux Verdict line." A deep altered voice could be heard.

"Garver, CB348. Ledaune, Kosch Manor. We wanted to report on the suspicious activity. Reporting, not a werewolf." Arsene replied firmly and loudly for them to hear.

"Chances of other specimens?"

"Possible Rougaru, not Walker. Investigating and possible elimination, depending on threat level. Will pull red flare if danger above ten."

There was a pause of static before the voice answered again. "Granted. Proceed."

Jani flipped the switch to turn the comms off and shivered, making a disgusted face. "Hate that so much."

"Hate what?"

"The fact that, no matter who is talking, it sounds like they're sending chills down your spine. Like they want to murder you."

"Jani...I have so many questions..."

"I don't like voice changers, okay?"

"Ooookay, whatever you say."

Later that night, there was the noise that Shawn had talked about. It was faint at first. What had sounded like a high pitched screech turned into something much worse. A loud scream. A cross between screaming and snarling--the sound was loud in the women's ears. It was unfathomably loud for several seconds before fading away into nothing. Jani turned to Arsene, her tan face pale as a sheet.

"What the fuck!"

Arsene shook her head slowly and held her finger up against her lips. She strapped a crossbow around her shoulder and slowly headed for the window. Her eyes scanned the one place she could see. The outside was dark, save for the light from the porch. There was rustling leaves from the wind. Before she turned away, there was a shadow dashing towards the other side of the treeline. The white-haired woman slowly made her way for the door and stepped outside. She took a deep breath to still herself. She maybe powerful, but she was still human.

The white-haired woman headed towards the treeline. She slowly pulled out the crossbow and looked around. Arsene had no idea if crossbow bolts would even work, but it was better (and safer) to try. At least, that was her thought. Her theory was about to be tested. The creature jumped at her, snarling. Arsene backed away just in time to get a look at it.

The creature stood at least seven feet tall. Its arms were long and all of the joints were covered in fur. The skin looked hardened and grey, its spine was covered in black fur and its face looked squished. The creature had bat-like ears and an enlarged snout. It snarled at Arsene, revealing sharp teeth and rasied one of its clawed hands, revealing a missing finger.

Arsene pressed a button on her headpiece. "Jani. Stay inside. I found it."

Before Jani could reply, the creature lept at Arsene. She barely had the time to back away. The creature started slashing at her, trying to get its claws sunk into the skin. The white-haired woman kept backing awaya, using psychic barriers to push back with her hand. She deflected some of the attacks before yelling out--one of the claws got her forearm. Arsene backed away again, aiming her crossbow. She quickly put in a bolt and fired it at the creature.

The bolt deflected off the skin, only causing the creature to yelp. Arsene's eyes grew wide as it started to leap at her again. In a moment of panic, the white-haired woman dashed to the back of the house and after finding a lit lantern, threw it at the creature. The creature caught fire and yowled in pain, thrashing about to put itself out. As it did, Arsene noticed the skin flakes flying off. Her eyes grew as she realized what was happening. She dropped her crossbow and began moving her hands in a circular motion, breathing steadily, controlling the fire on the creature's skin and willing it to grow and engulf it. The creature continued howling in pain. Skin started to fall off and revealing soft muscle. Arsene grabbed her crossbow and sent a bolt flying at its heart.

It didn't take long before the creature thrashed about and fell to the ground, dead. Arsene slowly started towards it as it burned. She made a disgusted groan, scrunching up her face. The stench smelled of a tire being burned. Arsene found a hose and began spraying it down, trying to put out the fire. Once out, she coughed and pressed her head piece button.

"Jani, target is dead. Contact C.V. for body extraction. Our scientists are going to need this. Don't come outside."

"What, why?"

"The stench is horrid." She ended the comm and went inside to grab a camera.

At the Kosch Manor...

"So..." Dominic started. "It was this thing?"

"Yes. We're not sure what it is, but our team is going to figure it out." Arsene replied as they made their way outside.

Dominic slowly let out a breath. "It wasn't me...I was so certain it was."

"Well, be happy it wasn't. You're able to live your life now."

Dominic chuckled. "Hard to live a werewolf life...but thank you."

Arsene nodded and shook his hand before getting in the Challenger. Jani stared at her, smiling. She knew Arsene wasn't always a hardass, but not everyone got to see that side. Ignoring the glare those aurora-colored eyes were giving, Jani backed out of the driveway and started home. Three hours away, it'd be a long drive of silence. Jani grinned as she heard Arsene snoring almost immediately.

"I'll wake her up when we get food."