Daniel called later that week and left a message on my prepaid phone. Listening to the message was impossible until I paid for more time. A day later an angry ginger showed up on my doorstep. His flushed skin an awkward counterpoint to the black suit. My entire world had been in a mood since Kahina staked her claim, and Daniel's nonsense was unwelcome.

He started talking and I cut him off.

"Headed for a walk. If you want to talk, feel free to join." I motioned with my head to the west. I was going to wander to a park a few miles away.

He shoved a forming reply and fell into step. A block later I dared ask.

"Lost elf still?"

"Fuck yes man, I need you on this. I can follow leads, gain information, put pressure on people, but I can't fucking track." The Agent responded.

"Figure out those wolves?"

"No, I got stonewalled by paperwork nightmare just trying to get my request to the Pack Alpha's pile. They got too much shit to worry about for me to go that route. Their whole labor relations situation is getting worse." Daniel's fingers were combing through strands of shortened hair. His face tilted forward and eyes had no focus.

"I'll put the screws to them yet though, if that's what you need."

"I don't think the elf has left those woods." It was hard to tell from this far away. My few attempts at tracking over the last few days all pointed to the same location. There hadn't been any variance in the directional pull.

"Christ." The Agent's hands clenched in frustration. "I don't even need the stupid elf. I need Arnold."

"Arnold is probably dead." I reminded Daniel, again, that it was pointless to look for Arnold.

"No, he can't be dead, not entirely. Either way that elf will know."

"Not entirely?" I stopped my walk and stared at Daniel for a moment. He just kept on marching with my old pace. It took him a moment to realize I was no longer keeping up.

"Look, I can get you in, and distract them. I'll order an airlift or something. If you're willing. " He offered as he walked back to me.

What did he really want? Why would he want to go against a pack? It wasn't happening on my end. Maybe years ago when things were easier for me. When my mind let me maintain that perception of the world. One that let me feel everything around me.

"Not now, not up for it." The safe bet was just washing my hands of the whole thing. Daniel wasn't forthcoming and I didn't want to know.

"Why not? This is the perfect in. A solution to our whole mess." I blinked. Daniel put a lot of weight on this reward being worth all this stress. "And there was a time you enjoyed the challenge. You'd wade into the pile and come out the other end looking like you'd rolled in barbed wire. Then there'd be that stupid grin plastered across your face."

I chuckled a bit, but had no answer. There had been a time where the worse the odds were, the more enjoyable it was. Imagined feelings of crushing small armies had fueled a battle lust. All of it based on my abilities. Ones that barely functioned against two untalented partial vampires.

"Did your time away really leave you so empty? You used to live for this." Daniel tried again, anger turning into disappointment. I didn't answer and walked past the Agent. Moments later I heard his feet traveling away.

My cheek tucked inward. Days had passed in a haze. Kahina's claim. Unknown aspects of my abilities. Familiar faces that couldn't be remembered clearly.

Important things had happened and I couldn't remember what. Had my near death experience really changed so much?

Absently I scratched one arm and tried to figure out the next step.