Session 2. Blood of the Wolf

The Pack returns to the physical world and is immediately hounded by several hospital staff, gathering around the body of Mary Higgins. A detective, named Simmons, enters the room demanding to know why Eric, Marcus, and Nails are there. Marcus informs him that he is an attorney assigned to Ms. Higgins and that they have special clearance. Detective Simmons is at first suspicious, but he eventually grants them leave. On the way out, Simmons gives Marcus his card and tells the group not to skip town for a few days, he might have to bring them in for questioning. The group returns to Marcus’s flat to collect their thoughts and sleep. Fortunately, the television confesses that no new crimes have taken place in Hyde Park last night. It does reveal that the park has been closed indefinitely. At the others request, Nails uses his necklace to call Strikes-with-Courage. Strikes arrives and is annoyed that the pack would waste time informing him of obvious events. He scolds the Uratha, stating that they need to act as wolves and remember the hunt. Even though the hospital is not officially their territory, as a pack, they need to assume responsibility for this locus. Nails is also upset, mostly that he let the others convince him to call upon Strikes in this instance. Later, Marcus calls his mob connection, Joey, hoping his underworld influences may shine more light on the situation. Joey is a bit perturbed, cursing Marcus for calling him so damn early. He does tell Marcus that one of his “boys” noticed a new crime scene in the park, located behind the old police station. It would seem that this murder is not being released to the press. Meanwhile, Nails remembers the phone found earlier at the Shelly’s crime scene and presents it to the group. Eric Sky examines the broken cell phone. Though not the most electronically adept, he agrees to attempt to reconstruct the device in hopes that it will give them a vital clue. The process will take some time so Nails and Marcus decide to investigate elsewhere. Nails manages to infiltrate the park and makes his way to the old police station. Tony was right, the area is roped off and crawling with cops. Since Nails has almost no chance of entering the area from the physical world, he searches the surrounding area to find a locus. Luck favors him, as the stump of an old oak tree 50 yards away yields the spiritual energy of a portal between physical and shadow. A considerable amount of time has passed, Nails decides to hold his efforts and return to the flat. At the same time, Marcus takes the subway to the northwest station, near the park. This rural route is out of the way, Marcus has a hunch that he might be able to find a suspicious character about. As soon as he exits the train, he encounters a bum, resting against one of the pillars. Marcus uses a gift to determine the man’s name, which reveals it to be Charlie. Marcus can sense that the man is not himself, probably possessed by some kind of spirit. Charlie is very drunk; he slurs at Marcus that he has witnessed the murders firsthand and is afraid, for the first time in his life. Before Marcus can ask him more, Charlie bids him farewell and murmurs that the train is coming. As a subway car races by, the bum surprisingly dives unto the track and is killed. Confused, Marcus rushes back to the flat to inform his fellow packmates of the events he has witnessed. Nails and Marcus return to the flat just as Eric is wrapping up his work. With fingers crossed he turns on the phone. The display screen briefly flashes the owner’s name: David Simmons. Moments later, Marcus receives a call from the detective, who also shares the name Simmons. He wants Marcus to come by the station to fill out some standard paperwork. Marcus agrees to meet him, receiving a glare from Nails. He and Nails briefly argue over the notion of following the cop’s orders. Eventually Marcus convinces Nails that there is little danger; perhaps he can get more information from the mysterious detective. Before Marcus can leave the flat, they receive an unexpected visitor. Strikes-with-Courage enters the domain and requests Nails’s presence. Outside the apartment, Strikes tells Nails that he has a possible lead, a pinpointed location in Hyde Park were the next murder might take place. He admits it is a long shot, but insists the pack should stake the territory out tonight. Nails agrees and thanks him for the information. Marcus makes his way to the police station to confront Simmons. Unfortunately Detective Simmons is out of the office, away on some emergency. Marcus is greeted, instead, by an attractive woman named Kay. Kay apologizes for Det. Simmons absence and reveals that she is also a detective, assigned to internal investigations. She speaks very highly of the man, and tells Marcus that since the Chief of Police is away Simmons is currently the acting chief. Marcus fills out a few forms and thanks her for the info; he even manages to casually ask her out. She smiles and says she’s seeing someone already. Marcus returns to his apartment and the pack begins to work out a plan for a stake-out of Hyde Park. Marcus purchases a high tech camera and some hands-free walkie-talkies for easy communication. He will take his gear to the roof of the police station, about a half a mile from the point of attack. From there, he should be able to document the crime and, if necessary, use the evidence against Simmons to put him away. Eric Sky decides to put his knowledge of the Shadow into use; he will remain at the reflection of the area where the alleged crime should occur. Nails will go for natural cover of the ground below, positioning himself about 20 yards away from the point of attack, under the cover of brush. The 3 Uratha stick to their plan and wait. About 2 and half hours later, the Pack sees a teenage couple approaching the area. The teenage girl matches the general description of the past victims. Marcus receives some outside chatter with his communications equipment. The message is from Det. Simmons; he commands that the police evacuate the immediate area, which just so happens to be the location of the teenage couple. Meanwhile, the boy is trying to initiate foreplay, and the girl is resisting. This game of affections continues until the boy’s patience is worn thin. He becomes violent, grabbing the girl fiercely and forcing her to the ground. Before the pack has a chance to act, the two completely disappear. Only Eric Sky can see the pair, leading him to believe the disappearing act as being spiritual in nature. Unexpectedly, a barrage of gunshots pierces into Nails’s flesh. The shooter is none other than Detective Simmons, who screams in the direction of the attack for David to get away. Eric helplessly watches from the spirit world as the boy rapes the girl and literally tears her body in two. Marcus attempts to use a gift to learn the nature of the attacker’s name. The spiritual gift reveals that the boy’s name is indeed David. To be precise it is David Simmons II, the detective’s son. Eric, fearing the need for help, calls to a wind spirit and sends for Rids-the-Pain. Combat ensues. Sky manages to break the invisibility of David Jr. and the girl by tainting the spiritual ground beneath them. The attacker is furious, and David Jr. starts to shift uncontrollably thorughout the various Uratha forms. Detective Simmons, noticing that Eric Sky and Nails are both werewolves, pleads that they spare his son. He pleads that he and his son are both kinfolk and that they are protected under the Oaths of the Moon. David Jr. is the one who has the blood of the wolf, and that blood must have been passed into the victims through sexual transmission. David is undergoing the first change and cannot control himself. Nails, who at this point is quite pissed off from being shot at several times, disarms Detective Simmons and puts him in a chokehold. Marcus gathers up all of his equipment and, hoping he can make it to the scene in time, starts hotwiring a nearby van. Rids-the-Pain descends from the sky and is ready for battle. He imbues his spirit inside of Eric Sky, granting the Uratha increased healing powers and an awesome sense of presence. A natural shield of essence has formed around young David, some other strange spiritual act that cannot be explained. Marcus starts up the van and races to the area. Eric Sky, imbued with the powers of Rids, does manage to shortly intimidate David Jr. This is an impressive feat, considering the bizarre powers and strength infused in the boy. Marcus has the pedal to the metal as he approaches within ramming distance of David Jr. Detective Simmons whispers a short prayer and, in the midst of his grapple, manages to press a detonator. Fate would have it that van Marcus stole was owned by Simmons. The crazed detective had a significant amount of C4 stashed in the back. The explosives ignite, completely destroying the vehicle. Marcus is unconscious and dying fast; he would have been dead if his armor had not held up. The massive explosion kills Detective Simmons and mortally wounds both Nails and Eric. David Jr. doesn’t have a scratch on him as his shield deters all the damage. Rids is pissed, leaving Eric’s body, and manifests into the physical world in his warrior form. He screams for Nails and Sky to save Marcus and themselves. The battle between Rids-the-Pain and David rages. Eventually, David gets the upper hand and lands an attack at Rid’s throat, tearing it out. Rids lies on the ground, his body is beginning to break apart, a side effect to spirits when they are beaten in the physical world. David blames his father’s suicide on the three attackers, his eyes begin to glow black with fury. As he raises his arms to the sky, a wall of fire flows forth and races towards the Healing Scars. Nails and Eric carry Marcus and attempt to flee the scene. The unnatural fire surrounds them and engulfs the group, scorching them alive. As they hang on the very edge of death, Rids miraculously summons forth the last of his strength. He attacks David, tearing his David’s physical shield in half and as well as his body. The fire ceases. Strikes has finally arrived and takes the group back to the Lodge of the Hunt. The Pack awakens weeks later to find themselves bloodied and bandaged, but in mostly good condition. Strikes calls for them when they are well enough. He greets them by thanking the Scars for their sacrifice. Strikes-with-Courage informs the Uratha that the spirit totem performed a sacrifice of his own. The entire pack needed immediate medical attention or they would die. Rids was too weak to heal them himself, and with a heavy heart told Strikes-with-Courage to break his ban, allowing the Pack to being healed through medical science. Rids-the-Pain’s defiance to his ban has come at a high cost; he has been captured by a strange spirit clan known as the Ethros. Strikes says that there is more bad news: the latest intelligence reveals the Pure are planning a massive attack towards all of London. The Healing Scars must to find a way to save their friend; they will need every warrior to fight the battle soon to come. And, to make matters even worse, a young werewolf with amazing powers has been sited in northern England. It would seem David Jr. is very much still alive.