Water splashed onto her face as the stream from the faucet ran down the drain. Kas' burning, blood-amber eyes stared intently back from the mirror. She stepped back and reached for the paper towel dispenser next to the sink. The plainness of the glossy white tiles in the bathroom strangely comforted her. Kas smirked at her self in the mirror as she flexed her left bicep.

“Rock hard! I still got it.” She said as her voice echoed against the concrete walls. Kas stormed out of the bathroom and down the hall. She was already late but it didn’t matter. Nothing could stop her today. The large double doors leading into the gym clanked as she pushed them open.

A huge smile curled onto her face as she saw Jackson coaching Dako as he sparred with Warren. Izzy waited near the bottom of the pull-out bleacher seats and waved Kas over immediately. Without hesitation she sat down next to her friend.

“What kept ya, Mate?” Izzy asked as she turned to face her.

Kas stared forward, watching Dako and Warren square off. “I had to psych meself up. Been far to long since I got to come at somebody like a yowie.”

“A yowie… c'mon, I know ya can do betta than that. Those fuckin' things don’t even exist.” Izzy teased.

“For fuck sake, Iz. I just got back, give me a break, would ya? Don't you even know what today is?” she grumbled as she scowled at Izzy.

She shook her head and a scoff slipped out, “Who hell do you think I am, Kas? Just relax and try not to worry so much.” Izzy replied as she darted her eyes to the match.

Kas waited patiently as Jackson finished up with Dako and Warren. When Dako claimed victor on their last scuffle, she stood up. Jackson whispered something in both of their ears before sending them off. Kas stopped in front of him. Her hands rested on her cocked hips. She raised an eyebrow, gifting him a moment of silence.

“Are you ready?” he asked

“Born ready.” Kas answered as she shifted her stance and raised her fists to her chest.

“Cute… but no. I have something else planned for you.” He said with a smirk.

“Oh god, Mate. Not more take-it-easy bullshit.” Her voice radiated annoyance.

His usual soft smile and warm eyes met hers. “Kassie, I really think you are gonna want this instead, just trust me.”

She dramatically sighed. “Fine… what do you have planned?”

“Well, you aren't ready as is. Go gear up. I got you a field mission. Let's go.” He ordered.

“Wait wh-what? Ar-re you serious?” Kas asked stumbling over her words.

“Yes Kassie, very serious. I’m sure you'll enjoy what I have planned.

Kas’ face grew bright red as she slowly began to back step. She spun on her heel and walked toward the locker room, going faster with each step.

She burst into the room, and found her locker quickly. Kas pulled off her shirt and tossed it inside of the locker. She snatched a black, hooded, long sweatshirt and pulled it over her head. The ballistic-weave material was light as ever and always more durable. Next she wrapped her belt around her waist. Both short sheaths on each side of the best were already filled with Kas' signature daggers. Lastly she snatched the platinum pistol and placed it into the holster on the back of the belt. She ran her fingers against the beautifully painted Rose’s across the metal.

“Alright Axl. Let’s see if you still know how to sing.” She said, turning around to leave the room. Kas stepped outside and was greeted by Izzy stand near the door.

She squinted her eyes but quickly smiled. “You look happier than normal. What happened?” Izzy asked, placing one hand on her hip.

“Going on a mission… A real mission. Jacko set it all up for me.” She replied as a faint smile appeared on her face.

“Oh yeah, we all did ours last week. It should be simple enough.Good luck, Mate.”

Kas grinned at her friend and walked away toward Jackson. She found him coaching other students as she walked up. A moment later he looked over to her and gave her a grin to match her own.

“All set?” he asked.

“Yeah, I got all my essentials. Let’s do this!” Kas answered.

Alright, give me a moment to finish up with these guys and we'll go.” Jackson said as he turned away from her. She stepped back and waited. Before too long he waved Charlotte over, stepping toward Kas.

“Charlotte, keep an eye on things here. I have some important business to attend too.” He asked.

“Sure thing, Jackson. I got this.” Charlotte answered and turned back to face the class.

Jackson eyed Kas and signaled her as they walked out of the gym. She met him in the hallway and they walked toward the elevator. They both stepped inside and he pushed the button.

As it rose, Kas looked over at Jackson. “What kind of mission are we dealing with?” Focused eyes and a sharp mind pierced him as he looked back.

He smiled at her, “Intense as ever. Eh, Kassie?”

“Gotta stay focused. This is me first time hunting in four years.” She replied.

“Four years, huh?” he smirked as her, jo“Well I got a case that might interest you. There have been reports of a new hybrid species that’s been terrorizing New Orleans.”

Her eyes locked onto his, “What is it?”

Jackson's eyes narrows slightly, “Werewolf and Hellhound hybrid. Something new entirely to anybody I know and I've never seen anything like it.”

“And you want me to…. Do what, exactly?” Kas asked.

“Find it.”

“and then?” she asked.

“I'll leave that up for you to decide.” He answered.

Kas cocked her head to turn side slightly and half-smiled. “O-okay.” Her eyes were locked onto the twin steel doors in front of her.

Kas blanked out as she stared forward. The world around her blurred and shifted. When the elevator doors opened, Jackson stepped out and she followed down a long hall of doors. He quickly found the room he was looking for and unlocked it. As she followed him in, she noticed two beds in an otherwise bland room. She dropped her bag at the foot of the first bed and plopped down.

“Kassie, are you sure you're ready for this?” Jackson asked, dropping his duffel bag on the other bed as he looked back at her.

Kas straightened up and smiled at him. “Of course I am. I've been ready for months, Jacko.” She replied.

He shook his head and scoffed. “I'm sure you have but I still need to follow protocol, you know that.” Jackson sat down on the chair between the beds, which happened to be the only chair in the room.

“Yeah, yeah. Hunters and all their fuckin' rules.” She snapped back as she laid back onto the bed.

“Well, regardless of the rules, we have a job to do.”

She sat up quickly, “Right-o, straight to business, huh.”

“Well based on your grades, you seemed to be the most suitable member of your class to assign a mission like this.” Jackson continued. “I'm giving you point on this. So let’s see how you handle yourself.”

Kas squinted her eyes at him but smirked. “What do we know so far?”

“A werewolf-hellhound hybrid is only our best guess at what it is. It kills and feeds like a werewolf but there are always traces of brimstone at each location. One last thing, it doesn’t leave tracks. We have nothing to follow except a trail of bodies.” He explained.

“Can you take me to each spot?” Kas asked as her mind raced back and forth.

“Yeah, let’s go.” He stood up from his seat and grabbed his duffel. “Grab your bag.”

Kas quickly stood up And picked up her bag. She opened it and pulled out a small backpack, throwing out over her back. She clipped it around her waist and pulled the straps tight. Jackson raised an eyebrow as he slightly nodded and Kas smirked at him.

“What? I don’t need the rest.” She said.

“I know, Kassie. Let's go.” He replied as he held the door open. Without a second thought she slipped passed him and toward the elevator. She pressed the button and waited for the doors.

“Over here.” Jackson said as he walked passed the elevator.

Kas peered over at him and placed her hands on her hips as she cocked her head to the side. “Of course it's not back down stairs. I shoulda guess that.” She quickly followed him as he led her to the room at the end of the hall. He quickly pulled out a key and unlocked the door. As Kas stepped inside, her eyes widened.

The walls painted in scarlet splashes. Her eyes darted around as she lifted her head and began to sniff the air. She squinted her eyes and she took deep wiff.

“Somethin’s not right here, Jacko. Why does it smell like dog in here?” She asked, taking a deep breath, tasting the air with her nose.

“Uh, we are hunting a werewolf-hellhound creature. I’d assume dog would be a normal smell.” He answered, watching as she searched the room.

“No shit sherlock, but this different. I know a wolf scent, and a hellhound scent. Even if I’ve never smelled it before, I’d know what it is but this is not either of those. This one smells more like a house dog.” Kas explained.

Jackson quietly scoffed. “You can read that deeply into scents?” He asked.

“Yeah, its one of the side effects from… the Thorne in me side.” She answered.

“Well either way, I have no idea why it smells like dog. Is there anything else that you can gather from this room?”

Kas scanned around once more, taking in another deep breath. “Probably, but nothing that’s going to help me solve this. On to the next spot?” She asked and he nodded at her, stepping back out through the door. She followed him down the hall listening the light thud of his steps on the carpeted floor. He gaze locked onto the back of his head as she blindly followed him. A bell snapped her from her trance as the elevator doors opened up.

“Where to next?” She asked, stepping into the elevator.

“Basement floor. There was another incident there.” He answered, standing next to her as the doors.

When the doors opened once again, there was a dark room outside. Kas scoffed as she reached onto her pocket and pulled out a small flashlight. She clicked it on and the room was illuminated, at least enough to see around them. A thin chain hung from the ceiling and Kas walked over and tugged on it, flickering an old light back to life. The familiarity of dog scent wafted through the air. She ventured further in and flicked on her flashlight once she left the reach of the ceiling light.

Blood. Mutt… No wait, its another mutt. Not the same as before. Her mind processed as she began to sniff the air and examine the newly discovered bloody crime scene. She glanced over it and sniffed again. She grumbled to herself as she quickly turned on her heel, storming back toward the elevator.

Her vision tunneled through the door and she looked over to Jackson. “Something isn’t right. Take me to the last know spot.”

“What is it, Kassie?” He asked.

“There is another mutt’s scent here. It doesn’t make any sense, mate.” She answered, sighing in frustration.

“Well there is only one more spot to check out. So lets see you solve this one. I know you can do it.” He said and pushed the button for the top floor.

Kas’ head hung low and only lifted it back up once the doors opened up again. Jackson led her out and pointed down the hall.

“The last room at the end of the hall. Let’s see if you can see what the rest could not.” He explained.

Kas took a deep breath and stood up straight. “Alright, let’s solve this bitch.”

She marched down the hall and approached the door. She heard movement behind it and quickly gripped her pistol on her hip as she opened the door. Keeping her weapon undrawn, she braves her way in. She rounded a corner into the living area and jumped as she locked eyes with a large puppy. Its fur was like it was blood soaked but somehow still dry. Its piercing golden eyes looked into her soul. Kas dropped her gun to the floor the moment she saw a huge red bow tied around its neck. She slowly approached it and quickly found a card attached to the ribbon. Her fingertips slid around the card and she opened it, smiling as she instantly recognized the scent. The card inside only had a few words, but those words meant everything to her in that exact moment. Happy Birthday, Kassie. From Jacko.