The pain wouldn't stop but Fenrin didn't care. It kept him awake and as long as he was awake, she wasn't sifting through his head. In his more lucid moments he knew something wasn't right, that his memories no longer made sense, but mostly he knew he wanted out. Out of his cage and out of the damned cold chain that wrapped around his red raw neck.

Another black glob of magic splashed into the cage, it's lightless droplets sizzling and burning his skin. He howled in pain and the people below laughed. Many were growing tired of the game, but a few were regular players. He knew their faces, marked them in his mind, and occasionally managed enough lucidity to picture their horrible deaths.

A small pleasure but one of the only ones he had.

The cage shook and started to lower. Fenrin twitched in anticipation. What now? Another hellhound? Niv had been quite impressed when he had managed to kill the one that had formed from black fire.

He shouldn't have survived. It had mauled his front, gutting him even as he choked the life out of it. But a touch of Niv's inky blue finger and he was again on the knife's edge between death and life. It was there he was stuck, covered in more wounds than untouched skin. Some had healed, quickly but poorly into gnarled scars. Again most likely due to Niv's interference.

The cage hit the floor and his shoulder crashed into the bars painfully. They were spiked and the barbs dug into his skin. He stared into the dark looking for a way out but there was only the distant crowd of hooded figures, Niv, and Bastard #1— the pale man who most enjoyed tormenting Fenrin when he was caged.

Niv gave her thin smile when she saw the calculating look in his eyes as he sized up the distance between him and the man. "Oh, Bordt, you've done so well to foster such delicious rage."

Bastard #1 gave a proud sweeping bow and Niv clapped her hands. "Let's try a new game."

Fenrin stumbled as his vision blurred. Niv's eyes seemed to glow splitting into four stars of light in his vision. He fell to one knee, his cursed forehead burning.

As the Wolf regained focus, the door was open and Bastard #1 had his back turned. At that point instinct took over. He charged the man, taking him from behind. He tore at him, crushing his chest beneath one knee and pummeling his face.

The man screamed and the Wolf grinned. He worked quickly, uncertain when someone might step in. After the face was a bloody mess, he reached behind the man's head and twisted. He was just anticipating the crack and the limp body, when he was yanked back. He cracked his own skull against the stone and felt hot blood dribble down the back of his neck as he sat up much too quickly in an attempt to finish off his prey.

Bastard #1 was being dragged away. "No! I'm not finished!" he roared and tried to move forward.

His legs gave out and he only managed to stumble and fall on his face. The chains pulled him back towards the cage and he scrambled to stop himself. Niv had a hand raised and the pull didn't stop until he was on the tips of his knees in the center of the cage, just short of being hung, the space not allowing him room to get his feet under him. The door closed and he was dropped down.

Fenrin’s head swam and to his horror he felt himself slip into unconsciousness.

He was in the crowd. What a bunch of pathetic zealots. He and his father had killed enough Brimstones to know that individually they were all pathetic wastes of space. But the being that they worshiped...he looked at her and felt fear. He had to get out, if she found him it would be over. He turned and saw a man glancing at him. The man was not looking at Niv in worship, instead he was fingering an amulet and giving Fenrin a nervous look.

This man didn't belong either. The crowd's energy changed as Niv scanned the crowd. She knew. Fenrin had to slip out now. The other man moved towards him.

"Follow me," he whispered. The two crept back, making it to one of the narrow halls. Fenrin turned to the man who for a moment gave a distantly familiar thin smile. He seemed to flicker and then there was a flash of light.

"He's here!" said the man's voice and, blinded, Fenrin stumbled. Black cloaked hands grabbed him and as his vision cleared, Fenrin saw the other man run away through the gap in the crowd caused by Fenrin's capture. He'd been played. He roared as the zealots pinned him down with numbers. He'd remember that face. He'd kill him.

A splash of water, which Fenrin's body eagerly licked up without his consent, woke him. Niv's fingers curled on his jaw, he was unable to move.

"Sleep well, pet? I have a special treat for you today."

Fenrin trembled, trying to command his limbs to do anything to get him away from Niv’s touch. Her fingers traced down to his chest and Fenrin felt energy rush through him like adrenaline. His hunger disappeared and his exhaustion waned.

"Bordt has betrayed us. He and his companion are trying to make their way out of this valley but you won't let them leave alive, will you? Not when he has so much to answer for."

Fenrin tried to recall the name. Ah yes, Bastard #1. But didn't he...his mind grew fuzzy. Niv's nails curled, piercing his skin like needles. Small driblets of blood bubbling beneath them.

"How disappointing. You can't reach there yourself yet. Well no worries, pet, I'll help you."

He howled as pain split his head. Released he curled into a ball as agony rushed through him, one face pulsing through the pain. He had to kill him. Had to see him beg for mercy. His hatred and rage pulled him out of his fetal position. The Wolf reached out, feeling not hard metal but soft earth. His eyes focused and he was in the forest.

He only glanced around for a moment before a thought came to him. He's out here. I'll find him. The Wolf was out for the hunt.