The man sighed as he walked down the street, looking at the night sky.

The moon was full, and the stars were shining brightly, as they all illuminated his figure, alongside the street lamps that dotted the sidewalk.

He ran a hand through his black and red striped hair, before looking around, almost seeming to be on the lookout for something. Something... specific.

'All right, where is it...?' he asked himself.

'That order said that it was loose somewhere in this neighbourhood...' he thought further, before shaking his head slightly and growling to himself.

"Who the hell keeps a Dagger-mouth as a pet, anyway...?" he then mumbled.

He was on the lookout for a canine of sorts. One that was about the size of a German Shepard, but had sharper ears, and a distinctive striped fur pattern. But its most distinctive features were its tendency to hate being cooped up, its defensive nature, and its teeth... which were as sharp as steel, like miniature swords.

Its real name was the Austrailian Mucro Hunting Hound, but most hunters called them Dagger-mouths... as being bitten by one felt like having a mouthful of daggers clamp down on you.

It seemed some rich mage wanted to keep one as a pet... and somehow managing to get one into the country. They were currently under investigation, but the canine needed to be wrangled... before it caused any harm. And that's why HE was there. He knew they were nocturnal, and it would be active right now.

The man looked over at the woman, and saw the knife come flying towards him. However, he didn't react how she had probably expected him to.

Instead of dodging, or running, or panicking, he simply brought his hand up, and caught the blade between two of his fingers, mere inches from his face.

"I think not." he responded.

"I have a vested interest in that animal over there." he told her, looking at the hound.

Then, before the woman knew it, he dashed over towards the animal and child, grabbing the canine by the scruff of its neck... very roughly, but not in such a way it hurt it.

When he eyes met the creatures', he levelled it an intimidating glare.

If he could get the hound to let go on its own, that would be optimal, but he was ready to fight the thing right here and now... while still keeping an eye on the woman that was clearly not to be trusted right now.

Ash continued to hold the hound by the scruff of the neck, and narrowed his eyes at the woman.

"....fine." he said.

"I'll get off your property." he told her.

"But I'm taking the canine with me." he then said further, finality in his tone. "It shouldn't be here, so I'm getting rid of it." he continued.

"And the girl." he then added.

"It's clear that you were going to let the dog kill her. I'm not going to let that happen." he told her.

"And if you want to stop me... then feel free. Please. Give me a reason." he finished.

The man remained silent, but he memorized what he could of the woman. Her face, her build, her hair, her voice, everything. He wanted to remember her for later, in case she became relevant again.

"...I want to sic this beast on you so badly." he told her.

"But I won't. I'm not like you." he growled.

He then lifted the child in one of his arms, holding her at his side, before looking at the canine.

"Behave." he told the creature.

"Behave, and you'll get a Quillmouse." he then said, knowing that the dog could understand human speech, but wondered if that particular bribe would be enough.

"I know." the man responded.

"I want to let you. So badly." he said.

"But I have other concerns right now. More pressing concerns. And YOU need to be taken back where you belong." he told the canine further.

He then looked right into the woman's eyes.

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot." he told her.

"As long as you remain here, you'll never sleep soundly again. I promise you that." he threatened her, before pocketing the blade she had thrown at him.

With that, before she could respond, the man, dog, and girl were surrounded by a swirl of black flames, causing them to disappear from where they were, leaving the woman and the boy alone.

"...mother...?" the boy said quietly, looking at the woman.

The man sighed.

"Name. AJ." he said.

"Code. 56-Alpha-Inferno." he said further.

"And hurry!" he then exclaimed. "I have an injured person here, and she needs to be treated. NOW." he told them further, looking at the girl.

"She was attacked by the Dagger-mouth." he finished, looking at the dog now.

"5 minutes." he told the canine.

"Behave for 5 more minutes, and you'll have all the Quillmice you can hunt."

"You got it." AJ responded.

"Thanks, Vyn." he then said.

With that, he stepped inside, and quickly made his way through the guild. As he did, he stopped by the holding area for the animals, and dropped off the hound in a closure for it.

"I promised it Quillmice." he told the one in charge.

"Give it some." he finished, before leaving and making his way to the medical wing, more quickly now.

"Hello?" he asked, stepping through the swinging doors.

"Emma?" he asked further, looking around.

AJ was silent for a moment, and then sighed with a smile.

"Of course you do." he said.

"You always seem to know these things before ANYONE else." he commented as he started to follow her to the bed she had prepared for the girl.

"And I'll find out how, one day." he promised her.

"Regardless, I'm sure you already know the details, but protocol states I have to tell you anyway." he then said further, shaking his head a little.

"Dagger-mouth. Clamped down right on her shoulder."

AJ laid the girl down on the bed, and looked at Emma.

"Probably." he said.

"Vyn was manning the door, so odds are Dani knew I was back before I even got down here." he told her.

"But all right, I'll get out of your hair." he went on, looking at the child.

"........" he was silent as he looked at her with sadness in his eyes, before he turned and left the medical wing, making his way through the halls, stopping at the closed door to Dani's office.

"Dani?" he called in, knocking.

"It's me, AJ!" he said further.

He made his way to the desk, and sat down in one of the chairs in front of it.

"Sure." he said.

He then proceeded to tell her the details of his mission. How nothing had happened until he'd heard the scream. The scene he'd come upon, the damage that had been done to the girl, and the woman's actions, as well as her words and attitude.

"To say that the situation is messed up, is an understatement." he then said.

"That woman was ready to let that Dagger-mouth kill that girl, and she was willing to kill ME to keep me from interfering." he went on.

"And the fact that she called both me and her 'freaks' is... concerning." he added.