[center] [u][h1]CURIOSITY SHOT THE WOLF[/h1][/U] [img]http://i.imgur.com/ZnOpQuF.png[/img] Location: NYC, Slum area within Hudson Valley, NY Time: Night Time (Between 12 am- 3 am) [/center] [hr] [center]~| Outside the House|~[/center] It was late night when a police car rolled up around the slum, condemned building the trio were staying within. The bright yellow head lights illuminated everything for a brief moment then quickly faded back to darkness. When the engine died, the driver exited the vehicle then stepped into the cold air despite the month of June. Her name was Janie Lopez, a rookie cop and officer new to the NYPD. The uniform was prime and wrinkle free, apparently new head to toe, drawing a slight proud aura from her. An athletic, dark complex latina woman, she tied her raven dark hair back into a professional bun and covered it with commonly seen police cap to keep what she hoped looked intimidating to anyone seeing her. Nothing screamed scary than a woman holding a gun and looking like a boss, Jani smirked at the thought. Her brown eyes skimmed the surroundings suspiciously while she rested her hand upon her holster, inwardly debating on her next move. She whipped her head about to see her partner, an older caucasian officer named Leonard Cruz, edged himself out of his passenger side seat. He smacked the car door behind him then turned about, his arms placed upon the hood. “Jani, I see you resting your hand thar. Staph it, it’s a basic routine check. No reason to get edgy over it.” Jani stopped herself from rolling her eyes at his warning, the heavier set man pulled his flashlight out then proceeded forward. [center]~| Inside |~[/center] Meanwhile, Benjamin was deep in a dream. His head twitched and paws flexed then released, his eyes shifted under closed eyelids while he whimpered slightly in confusion. The two police officers’ scent whiffed into his muzzle causing the wolf’s attention to jerk him awake with a start. His mind was foggy from the strange dream as his eyes peered through the hazy vision. He snarled in irritation then yawned, unhappy to been woken up. His nose caught the scent gain and pushed his desire to return to sleep back, his nose inhaled deeply. Several scents rose into his nose causing him to shift through them. Mold… stone, mortar, cedar, sawdust, mouse droppings, bat shit, and several other aromas filled his registry in his mind. Each checked out as normal until a mixture of leather, a male and female smell not belonging to his memory caused a soft growl to emit from his throat. Carefully, he detangled himself from Skyler’s side then padded into the darkness. It didn’t take him long to scratch out of the hole he originally entered in at. His thick body made the gap wider as he slipped out, his tail wagged at the scent of the two cops filling his nose. The two officers were tailing back to their car after the patrol, failing to find evidence of squatters, then continued to finish out their night. Their stroll became leisure one with their flashlights fluttering through the darkness. “Well, looks like the squatters aren’t around here.” Leonard stated, his heavy steps crushed across the gravelled path. His eyes panned the scene, his sight missed Ben as the wolf slinked to the alley side and took cover near a local dumpster. “Yeah… let’s get back into the car and finish this damn night out.” Jani commented, her disappointment clearly heard by the older officer. His eyebrow arched in question then let a sigh escape his lips. “Not every night needs to include gunfights and suspect chases. Personally I like a peaceful night without an incident and so will you in time, after getting shot at enough.” She scoffed at his words, her eyes on the verge of rolling. Leonard could tell she was the type in it for glory and recognition, a fact she wasn’t going to get since the fiasco a few months ago and masked ‘heroes’ cropping up all over the States. They both helped and hindered arrests, a double edged sword at times, when police got down to doing their job creating mixed feelings in the man. Reputation was everything on the street and most cappers risked that even in low degrees. The bad part, their interference risked the real law enforcement’s task with [i]proving[/i] the suspects were at fault. Several cases had been compromised due to evidence tampering by the vigilantes looking to make names for themselves much like his partner. Times like that, when he saw moral compromised villains get off due to technical evidence and the victims suffer for it, Leonard found himself voting for Mayor Sampson’s platform. It would’ve been easier. “Look, Jani. I’m sorry this isn’t what you expected, and you can blame the capes for it, but honestly you’ll get use to it or you’ll move on. Now will you wipe that pout off your face or am I gonna to have to bribe ya?” His figure paused at the door and sat his arms upon the roof, his eyes studied for her reaction. Jani let out a soft huff then let a small smile creep upon her lips. Her hand reached out and pulled open the door, her figure pausing long enough to reply. “I might take you up on that bribe if it's your treat.” “Haha, I thought a free meal might make you stop pouting.” Leonard chuckled. He then ducked down into the passenger’s seat and started to buckle up, his arm reached for the belt. Naturally his partner tucked in and followed suit. Ben’s curiosity grew bigger and bigger until he edged from the nearby dumpster’s cover. His paws rushed forward and jumped upon the trunk, trailing across to stand on the roof. His large head lowered as he inhaled deeply, absorbing the scent to memory. His nails scraped across the surface with a ear splitting screech causing both cops to jump, their heads tilted upright to see the metal dents increase, the wolf’s paws digging into the steel. “What the hell?!?” Leonard cursed. The older officer flinched when the roof groaned, bending under Ben’s weight more, as his eyes shifted to Jani. Of course the woman already had her gun out and was edging out. “Jani, fuck, don’t!” He pleaded then reached to seize her sleeve and jerk her back in, missing by inches. “Damn it!” Jani screamed in surprise then several explosions of gunfire echoed off the alleyway. The darkness was illuminated and flooded by the bursts while something animal-like yelped before it took off into the darkness. Panicked for his partner, Leonard jerked himself out. His salt and pepper head turned to her direction to see her slumped down, unconscious on the other side. Wasting little time, he was by her side in a moment checking her over. Nothing was damaged. She had merely been stunned and bruised from her encounter from whatever that was. From his crouched down position, his face looked in the direction Ben took off in with a shocked expression. Without any further words, he wrapped his partner’s arm about his neck then hoisted her upright on her feet when she stirred. It was time to leave before something else happened.