We'll see about that. Mason said as he grabbed the helmet from Rex, then stepped into the sidecar. It was a tight fit considering he was stuck between the wall and Rex. Let's go now! He told Matt as he grabbed onto a handle.

As they got out and the door closed behind them, Matt asked Mason "Gimme the address and I'll bring you there in less than five minutes!"

If I remember right it's 5326 maple street. Mason said in a questionable tone. With a hand on his head trying to remember exactly.

So, other than fly. What else can you do? Miles thought to Tara.

Well, I can make my self completely transparent, Tara thought in reply. that's about it. It's all I needed to tail bunny boy for two years, so I didn't bother trying anything else. Occasionally I tried to help him in some way, but I couldn't do anything consistently.

Well, for some reason I've been blessed with the special effects department. Miles thought to her. Say, let's find some place to sit down and talk. How did you try to help him though?

Rena hit the top of the stairs with a slight growl. "Whiche'er one o' you is Duke, I told ya not ta play Mr. Macho." She said, not bothering to sniff around to find out. "Now, if it don't look like it, back here don't get used much, so we should be able ta talk 'bout most anythin'." She said as she closed the door behind her. "So, let's hole that fox, shall we? Buster?" She prompted before quickly adding, "Oh, no offense, Duke."

((OOC: You put Richmond Acres instead of Applegate. X3 ))

"Close enough!" Matt commented before the roar of the engines "And the way we go!" The bike jumped on the road with roar.
~~~~~~
5 minutes later
Matt stopped the bike at the exact address Mason gave him.
"We're here!" he announced after taking off his helmet "And right on time, I believe!"

Duke found a somewhat out of the way spot in a corner and tried to rest his leg, feeling it a bit more and getting slightly used to the feel, though when Rena came and questioned his macho he tried to stand straight again until he was out of Rena's sights.



Duke looked over smiled and waved a dismissive paw
"Oh none taken"

Thanks Matt and Rex. Mason said as he hopped out of the cart taking his helmet off and tossing it at Rex. I'll see you guys later this afternoon!

"alright," Buster said as he sat down. "If everyone's ready to listen, and if Hubert doesn't want to do the talking, I'll give you a short version of the story and leave you to ask questions." He waited for confirmation that everyone was listening.

Miles nodded.

"Ready," he said.

Gage gave a quick nod "Whenever you're ready"

"See you later, Mason!" Rex replied as he caught the helmet.

"Later pup!" Matt said and started the engines, heading back home

<Speak your mind with honesty and don't hold back, mortal,> Hubert communicated via mindvoice from the skull back at Lagrange house

Duke looked over at Buster, trying to give a comforting nod.

"Alright then. Basically, the Hunter is a separate being in Janus's body that was born when, as a pup, he was beaten to within an inch of his life by a police dog he trusted. He had confessed feelings to the jerk, and he was lured into the woods at sunset and ambushed by three police dogs including the one he was there to see. He should have died, and I'm not completely clear on what kept him alive. In the long time he was recovering in the hospital, his mind replayed every agonizing second of the beating every night at sunset. He believed he had suffered this because he was weak, so his psyche created a version of himself that was stronger. more ruthless. He surfaces at sunset every night and goes hunting. His first hunt took the police dogs that did this to him and had the gall to visit him in the hospital and act like they didn't put him there."

He looked around at the others, another tear running down his cheek. This was the most crying he'd done in years.

"Any questions?"

"Other then what can we do to help? You mean?" Miles said.

"Yeah, Hubert's the one to ask about that." he replied.

Duke reluctantly raised his paw for a second, speaking calmly and sternly none the less.

"But if this "hunter" sought revenge and eliminated his attackers, then why does it still appear? For just for the pure sense of the Hunt"

"Well I can't speak for anyone else but if I had any common sense I wouldn't be here. I'll do whatever you need me to."

Duke heard Huberts voice in his head and listene carefully, he tried to think about any way to defeat the Hunter but no peacful attempts came to mind but also digging up inside of his mind, he felt ashamed and weak to the Hunter, he thought it may have been fear or instinct but he was ashamed he'd been hurt so easily and so badly by something that was evil and sought to hurt others for enjoyment, he knew he couldn't let that happen again. But in the middle of his thinking Hubert brought up Janus's death again and Duke glanced over at Buster then down at the floor. They wouldn't be able to hurt the Hunter to the point of death or risk killing Janus as well. Duke thought back to Hubert.

"Understood Hubert, next time I will be ready. But how can I help? If this happens tonight then i'm gonna be a pretty big stump in the road with a disabled leg"

Duke's brow raised slightly, curious how he could help.
"I am? Mind if I ask how?"

"Here's a question." Rena said, rubbing her eye to try and stay awake. "How the heck, if they're the same dog, can they smell different?" She asked before tilting her head to the left, dropping the ear that sank with the motion. "I mean, unless he's bathed daily, he'd have to roll around in a strong smell or at least be around one for a few hours." She pointed out, thinking on her encounters with the two sides, as they were making it sound.

((OOC: Anyone remember Rena's reaction when she tried to enter Janus' room?))

"Interesting, it'd be nice to get him out of there for a day or so," Miles spoke and thought simutaneously to all involved, "Tire him out during the day so much that the body'd be too tired to do it's usual. But I guess we're past that point right Hubert?"

"Well I think it's safe to say that Hubert is the expert on this whole situation. So fearless leader, how do we unite the halves? I'd at least like to know how things are supposed to work before I get turned into a midnight snack."

Buster's eyes widened when he heard Hubert say this. "WHAT!?" he exclaimed before calming himself down a bit. "I mean, how would that help?"

Miles thought for a moment.

"And, if one of them dies or comes to harm?" Miles dual communed to the party.

ooc:he's thought and speaking to make sure everyone "hears".

Duke listened to the others, several options being eliminated due to the fragile nature of their situation.



Duke thought for a second, knowing he was in this and he needed to do what he could to help
"Eh I could go for gettting chewed on again. Sounds good to me"

When Miles brought up the hard part Duke considered it again, but knew that really anything they do will risk their lives and if they do nothing they may as well put Janus down now.

"Well you're in luck I'm super good at being prey. Where do i sign up?" Gage chuckled nervously at his own joke and turned to face Rena as he waited for her reply.

Mason stood on his porch for a little bit while Rex and Matt drove away. Then went inside ready for the tough workout ahead of him. Upon his first step inside he was met with his owner waiting for him, seated in a chair 5 feet inside. Your late. Troy announced. Sorry, but I lost track of time while at Rex's. Mason answered. Your still late by 1 minute, which means... No please not ironman workout. My left arm still hurts from last time. Too bad you know the rules. Its the ironman workout now. Come on. Troy said as he got up and walked downstairs. Mason followed close behind, faintly whimpering.
*** 1 hour later ***
Alright your only half way done but I have to go open the gym, so your coming with me and continuing your workout there. Troy told Mason as the dog just finished 50 push ups with 50 lbs on his back. ...Al..right...let..s...go Mason said panting heavily. Once they got in Troy's car Mason hatched an idea. Maybe his owner would take it easy on him if Rex and Chris showed up. So on the short drive there he pulled out his phone and send Rex a text saying "Hey Rex its Mason, if you still wanna join me in my workout you can come down to Troy's gym on main street. I'll be there working out for the next hour or so. Please text back if your coming, thanks" Right after hitting send they arrived. Okay pup, lets start up again. Troy ordered his pet. Okay, I can do this. First set, 50 1 arm pull ups, switch, then move on to squats. Troy reported. Shoot. Mason whispered.

"I'll be honest, if I'm goin' ta run my tail in to try an' get through t' some psycho half of my friend, I'm doin' it my way." Rena said, her tired speech slurred a little. "That said, I'mmunna need a lot a' sleep. 'Specially if I'mmuna be playin' safety mutt for Duke. I don't wanna lose any of my dogs, my bunny, or my fox, ya hear?" She asked rhetorically, her old habits from hunting coming back to her.

"This is my town, an' if anythin' happens in it, I'mmunna make sure it's somethin' I approve a', and I do NOT approve a' losin' a friend."

Gage was trying to hide his nerves but it was obvious that he was afraid. "Well it's not like I've never been in a scrap before but....well I've never really won one either. I want to help Janus out so I'm in. But you're gonna have to give me some time to write a note to mom and dad in case...in case this doesn't end well.