Making Preparations

Johanna emerged from her office even later than usual. "Working" late had become something of a habit since that fateful encounter near the end of the summer season, and growing more consistent throughout the autumn. But tonight she was late even for that pattern, shuffling down the stairs well after Gemini had left for her job at the skating rink. Dane and Ares were sitting in the living-room, discussing team strategies for their upcoming streams of a particular game.

Johanna flopped onto the couch with her head in Dane's lap, rubbing an arm across her tired eyes. Her brother gently rubbed her forehead for her. "Making progress?" he asked gently, knowing it wasn't her usual daily work that was holding her over each afternoon.

"Not enough," she sighed, rubbing her eyes and then holding her phone above her head to read some more, "This community is highly reluctant to post more than the most basic, rudimentary information where it's publicly accessible. They like the mentor model. It actually makes sense, given that we're talking about a practice that regularly tells physics to go sit in the corner, but it makes it hard to find a reliably knowledgeable mentor. Word of mouth and referrals count for a lot. And they're not fans of targeted learning, either. They're not going to say anything about how to slay a ghost until you've got a handle on speaking to one."

Ares nodded, crossing his arms over his chest with a sigh. "Sweetcakes, take a break," he suggested as she continued scrolling through a particular forum on her phone, "If anyone can figure it out, it's you, but even you need sleep, and time to process what you've read."

"It's been a season and a half already," the female Dalmatian shook her head, "And that's just since we learned Gemini was pregnant. It's not unreasonable to think she's already near the end of her second season. I have to have something before spring...before Deep White, to have any confidence. It's not much time." Putting her phone down and rubbing her eyes, she added softly, "Maybe I really should go be her apprentice. I'm really not--"

"No," both of the males growled at once. "No wuffing way am I letting you become that witch's slave, especially knowing the kind of 'work' she wants. I don't trust her for a second," Dane shook his head, rubbing Johanna's, "If there's no time to learn, can we just hire someone who already knows?"

Johanna nodded, appreciating his sympathetic gesture. "I'm already looking at that option. That's why it's frustrating not having a clear gauge for any given magician's abilities. I can't afford to hire a charlatan. Especially given I can't honestly afford most of the offers I'm seeing. Outside of Amunet, magic work is expensive, and this apparently isn't a trivial thing. A vetted and vouched-for professional will be costly, and that's before considering paying their travel costs or anything else." Sitting up to lean against Dane's shoulder, she added quietly, "I don't want to take this away from you...but we might have to sell the house. The cost is on that scale."

"Wuff the house," Dane nodded, putting his arm around her shoulders encouragingly, "Small price for my pup's life. I know it was hard for you to find, and that you made the purchase and pay the mortgage. It's not a trifling gift, but--"

"We agree, then," she headed off his self-consciousness, "If it comes to it, we'll do that. There's one other option I'm looking in to, but I'm waiting to hear back about it. Shielar has a different concept of magic than Heartherran wizards or Amunetian sorcerers. There's a written form to their spells, so they can be put on paper and sold or given as gifts, without the magician being directly involved. It's convenient, but the charge is steep for that very reason, and I've been warned it's prone to failure. The writing can be damaged, wears off over time, and might not be used effectively by amateurs in the first place."

Ares shrugged. "Doesn't have to last long, does it? Just long enough to punch her in her glowy little face," the Doberman huffed, "I'm with both of you here. We'll be fine without the house. Anything that can make her..." He paused when Johanna bolted upright, and immediately began frantically typing on her phone. "Got a new idea?" he prompted when she continued to ignore them for a moment.

"Yes," Johanna nodded firmly, "Thank you. I was getting tunnel-vision. I've been looking up ways to kill a ghost, and ways to contain a ghost, and ways to ward a ghost. Most of them are either flaky and warned against as amateur work or elaborate rituals that few know and even fewer could be counted on to pull off. I neglected ways to touch a ghost." She didn't say anything more than that, apparently still considering the options that might open, but was reading with a renewed fervor.

Dane tapped the back of her phone gently. "Hey, on the note of costs...we might have an opportunity to mitigate that," he suggested. "Lua sent me another invite for a game-night. They want to get together this Friday, if we're available. Early as we can arrive. I guess they want to wrap up that dungeon, if we can," he chuckled, "I don't want to take advantage of the moment, since I'm flattered just to be at that table...but it might be a good opportunity to butter up Kita before asking a favor."

Johanna blinked at him a couple of times, like she didn't quite understand. More likely, he knew, she was weighing the odds in her head and deciding how best to word their approach. Ares chuckled. "I'm sorry, I know I've asked this before, but you really got an invite to the Masked-Fox Lodge to play a TTRPG...with Kita Peakwood? The country singer?"

Johanna nodded, eyes never leaving her brother. "Yes. The superstar. Number one investor in the Three-Peaks area. Owner of the Masked-Fox Lodge, and most of the mountain behind it. That Kita, exactly. Also Rikko and his wife Lua. No judgment, but try to get the stars out of your eyes before we get there. Dane gushed enough for both of you the first time they invited us to play."

Her boyfriend blinked at that. "Before we get there?"

"Lua said you guys should come too, remember?" Dane smiled, "She meant it. She explicitly included both of you in the invite this afternoon, too, in case there was any question. You and Gemini are definitely going with us this time."

"...Oh, wuff," Ares whispered, "I mean...I didn't think about it too much when we went to thank him. We were there to talk to Rikko, even if it was Kita that ended up greeting us. I was trying to stay focused on showing our gratitude. How the wuff did you get that first invite, anyway? With a connection like her, I can't believe you ever had trouble finding work," the Doberman admitted.

Dane chuckled, nodding in perfect understanding of his shock. "It's that 'six-degrees-of-connection', or whatever it's called. Lua's in my Battle-Hunters guild, and happened to remember that we live in the same area from some chat ages ago. Her husband is Kita's adopted brother. Lua and Rikko wanted to introduce Kita to roleplaying games, but thought it would go better with another player, so she called me up. Heh...and yeah, I almost fainted when I heard who would be at the table," he admitted, still a little embarrassed at the memory.

"We'd never met Kita or Rikko before that day," Johanna added, turning to lean against the armrest of the couch as she continued scrolling, propping her feet up in Dane's lap, "I just went along to keep Dane from melting into a little star-struck puddle, but it was actually a lot of fun. Kita's a lot more feet-on-the-ground than I expected, and Lua and Rikko are very nice. You just have to pay attention with Rikko, and be patient: his sign-language seems to be entirely home-brewed."

That got an arched brow from Ares. "Wait, he's deaf? Could have fooled me. And Kita's blind, right? It's a miracle you got much playing done at all..."

Dane laughed. "Right? I'm pretty sure that's what prompted Lua to call in another player, even though she hates meeting in person."

"And, fun fact: Rikko can actually hear just fine," Johanna noted, "He's just mute. So was his character, and I was surprised at how well that worked out."

"So we're taking them up on that invite, right?" Dane asked for clarity, turning to his sister and back to the serious part of the conversation.

"Yes," she nodded emphatically, "And I'll bring it up with Kita before the visit's over. I can pay her back if she'll agree to help us with funding. And I don't doubt I'll get a better deal from her than any bank, even going up to my ears in debt."

Ares made a low whistle. "Gemini is going to pop her top," he chuckled, and Dane quickly agreed with a laugh...

The door to the elevator chimed to announce their arrival later that week, just after noon. "Hey!" Lua greeted from the vicinity of the dining area as soon as the doors slid open, "Welcome back! Come on in, and thanks for taking time off for us." Although she didn't know exact details, Johanna had obviously taken at least half a day off work for this get-together, and Gemini had actually swapped shifts with one of the other DJs.

"Yeah, thanks for having us," Dane smiled as they came around the corner into the house proper, with Gemini practically bouncing on her heels. "Easy there, sunshine," the Dalmatian chuckled, gesturing for her to try and calm herself, "Not a great exercise for the baby."

"I know!" she groaned with a smile, clenching her fists and forcing her feet to stay flat on the ground with each step, "But I'm so excited!!"

Lua paused in laying out the gaming supplies when those words struck her ears. "Oh my! Is that...?"

"Teehee, yep!" Gemini beamed proudly, cupping one hand over and one hand under her now obviously-swelled tummy Taking the last few strides to reach the table, she extended one of those hands to the large Bunny now smiling back at her. "It was 'Lua', right? Things were kind of a whirlwind last time. I'm Gemi, and the quiet one back there is my brother, Ares," she winked at the male Doberman following along at Johanna's side, while Johanna popped open a few dozen tabs on her phone, "Thank you so much for the invite, and I cannot wait!"

Lua blinked at her, looking a little stunned, as the Doberman claimed a seat at the long table. Johanna slid casually into the high-backed chair next to her. "Yeah, they're used to quiet ones. You might take a little getting used to. Hello, Lua," she waved without ever looking away from her phone, then pointed lazily at Gemini and over her shoulder at Ares, "Dane's wife. My boyfriend."

The Bunny tilted her head, blinking some more. "Yeah, I remember you mentioned that last time. Siblings to siblings...I'm not sure if that would make things less or more awkward..."

"Little of both," Ares admitted with a chuckle, extending one strong hand to the Flemish Giant who was every bit as tall as he was, "We call it our 'figure-eight' relationship. Nice to actually meet you this time."

That got a genuine smile from their hostess, as she accepted the hand for a gentle shake. "Same. Thanks again for coming. Rikko should be back any--"

The elevator chimed again, this time opening for the cinnamon-furred Jackrabbit, carrying two large boxes full of snacks in both hands and a cloth sack bulging with soda bottles in his teeth. He beamed a big smile around the bag when he spotted their guests, and gave a friendly wave with one ear. Dane and Ares, already being on the near side of the table, went to help divest his hands of some of their load with grateful grins.

"Ah, I thought I heard visitors," came a warm, airy voice from the nearby hall. Kita entered, carefully sweeping the space ahead of herself with her cane so as not to catch anyone's ankle with any force, until she found the corner of the table. "It's nice to have you back," she smiled as she eased herself into the nearest seat and folded up her cane.

Lua smiled, patting the Fox's shoulder, and took her own seat at the head of the table, behind the little GM station. "I'm sure you remember Dane and Johanna, but they brought their 'special-someone's along this time. Would you mind giving us your names one more time, please, so Kita can put a voice with it?

"...Gosh, why is that suddenly so embarrassing?" Gemini giggled at herself before piping up with her usual enthusiasm, "I'm Gemini, but you can call me 'Gemi'."

"Ares," her brother followed, a little more quietly, as he and Dane and Rikko joined the rest at the table, "And I'd just like to apologize right now for any staring I do. Big fan of your music. I don't even like country, just yours."

Kita just smiled, well used to that sort of reaction. "Well that's high praise indeed...and I promise not to notice," she winked one milky-blue eye, "It's wonderful to meet you both again. You're rather Johanna's opposite, aren't you?" she asked good-naturedly of the large Dog.

"Almost entirely," Johanna answered before Ares could, seemingly without thinking, "I suspect that's a large part of the attraction." Ares blinked at that, feeling oddly praised, and his tail wagging briefly behind him.

Lua giggled at the reaction, which Johanna never noticed, being buried in her phone as usual. "Thank you both for coming today. Now, Johanna, I hate to make you get up, but could you sit next to Kita again? That was such a help last time!"

"No problem," the Dalmatian answered easily, moving around to the other side of the table. Gemini silently moved right along with her, smiling the whole way like she was getting away with a terrific trick and wondering if anyone would call her out on it. Rikko moved around to sit between the men on the other side, balancing out the table as Lua chuckled at the arrangements.

"Alright," the Bunny smiled, handing out materials to the newcomers, "I'll be GMing again, and we'll pick up where the group left off last time..."

After a quick introduction for the new players' characters, the crew pressed on through the dungeon as methodically as Johanna's dungeon-hacker could lead them. Gemini's absurd "muscle-wizard" absolutely devastated an enormous animated statue with the power of "FIST!", Rikko's paladin brought glory to his Order by slaying a demon and a succubus, and Ares' phalanx centurion had the honor of running his spear through the lich's phylactery, dealing the final blow to the big bad. Six and a half hours later, the group of characters emerged from the dungeon victorious.

With sighs and smiles all around, the guests began packing up their dice and devices, while Lua started tucking all the materials back into the box. Making a few last notes on her phone, Johanna turned toward Kita. "By the way, Kita--"

"Oh, Johanna!" the Fox said at almost exactly the same time, interrupting quite by accident, "Before you go, could I talk to you for a moment in private? Sorry to interrupt you," she added gently, "I've been trying not to forget to ask."

Tilting her head curiously, the Dalmatian answered, "That's alright. I was actually going to ask the same of you. Where should we take this?"

"This way," the blind Fox motioned for her guest to follow, then got to her feet and unfolded her cane.

Lua quirked a curious brow at the pair as Kita made her way to the stairs, and then began carefully climbing them one by one. Looking around at their guests, she nodded her head toward the ascending pair. "So...any idea what that's all about? Kita hates those stairs. It must be something important if she wants to talk to Johanna alone."

Dane and Gemini glanced at each other, while Ares kept his expression carefully neutral. "Well, I don't know what Kita wanted with her," the male Dalmatian admitted, "But Johanna wanted to talk to her about some trouble we're having. If it's all the same, I'll let Kita fill you in on the details when they're done," he sighed, "It's not something I'm comfortable talking about, to be honest."

Lua looked even more concerned now...but she bit her tongue on her immediate questions and finished boxing up the game. "Okay," she nodded when it was done, "I understand. Um...would you all like to move to the sitting areas, then? We've got some movies over by the t.v., if you think they're going to be a while." That seemed like a good idea, as none of them knew exactly how long a talk it would end up being...

"So what can I do for Three-Peak's resident star?" Johanna asked casually as they settled themselves on either end of the couch in the little den on the second floor.

"Oh, a great deal more than you realize, probably," the Fox tried to chuckle, though it came out more as a sigh, "I feel I ought to apologize first: I'm about to put quite the damper on the delightful afternoon we've had. And I have so many questions that it's likely to begin feeling like an interrogation...so I'm actually willing to pay good money for answers, if that will make it more bearable."

"That's convenient," Johanna nodded, "Money was actually what I wanted to talk to you about. What sort of questions did you need answered?"

Kita tilted her head curiously, and hesitated a moment before continuing. "That's very convenient indeed. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when you didn't accept my offer to provide for your brother's wedding. I took it as proof that you're the frugal and independent sort, though, so what has put you in need of money since then?"

"Your questions first," the Dalmatian insisted, "Then I will explain my needs fully, and beg your support in clear terms."

Kita blinked at the definitiveness of the statement. "Oh my," she whispered, "It seems we both have serious need of each other now. Alright," she nodded, leaning back on the couch and knitting her hands in her lap, "I want to know about the bear attack. Specifically, can you say for certain that it was a bear, and what became of it when Rikko rescued you?"

"It was not, and we don't know," Johanna answered bluntly.

Again Kita blinked at the unhesitating certainty of the answer. "It wasn't," she echoed more than questioned, "Even though you described it as such when you came to show your gratitude to Rikko. What caused the confusion?"

A shudder ran down the Dalmatian's spine as she recalled that dreadful instant that seemed to stretch out for hours in her memory, despite her apathetic nature. "I didn't get a good look at it," Johanna admitted, "I don't know that any of us did. I don't know that we could have," she shook her head, "I know it sounds dramatic, but it gave the impression of being made of smoke. Standing directly over our fire, with my flashlight shining on it, it was still darker than the night sky. The outline seemed fuzzy, and kept drifting. The markings were clearer: they were pale, and glowed, which made them easier to see. It was the rough shape of a bear, but a big one." She clutched her phone tight in her hand, closing her eyes and taking a moment to force down the sight of that paw, raised and ready to destroy her and her brother together. "I'm sorry, I really only saw it for a second, and a very panicked one at that. It could easily be my mind playing tricks. We all called it a bear at the time for convenience, but the more I think back on it the more dishonest I find that word. It was a monster."

Kita, much to her surprise, nodded. "I believe you," the Fox assured her gently, "You're actually not the only family to report seeing it...though you are the only family to do so without casualties," Kita admitted with a grimace.

"We have Rikko to thank for that," Johanna nodded, "If he hadn't shown up, at the very least I would be dead, and probably Dane, too. I froze, and he tried to shove me out of the way. Rikko jumped it, and then I don't remember anything except a lot of branches until we met the witch."

"'The witch'?" Kita asked, tilting her head in confusion, "What--?"

"Hold that thought for a moment," Johanna insisted, "I'll be coming back to it, I promise. But for the rest of your question: we didn't see where it went or what shape it was in after Rikko hit it. We ran for our lives the moment he had it distracted, so we weren't even actually sure it was him until he came to find us, after he'd driven it away. We asked him if he killed it, and he seemed to indicate 'no'. I don't have to tell you it's hard getting details out of him, and we were frankly too grateful to be alive to care about much else. I'm sorry. That said, if we're not the only ones who have seen it, then there's a good chance I can find out more about what it is online. I'll only need a little time."

Kita nodded slowly. "I would dearly appreciate that, Johanna," she answered softly, "In just a season there have been six more reports, and eight deaths to go with them. I've had my rangers combing the mountain, but they can't find the creature. Only its victims. One of them might have happened onto the thing, but he fell into the other category when he did, so can't tell us anything." She took a deep breath of her own, trying to ignore the stab of guilt that came with that admission, though there was nothing to be done and such risks were literally in the rangers' job descriptions. "Now, 'the witch': what do you mean when you say that, and what does it have to do with the attack?"

"I don't know," the Dalmatian admitted, "I don't know if she had anything to do with what happened, or if it was just unlucky coincidence. But I somehow wouldn't put it passed her, even knowing so little. She's the reason I need money now." Giving the Fox an appraising look she couldn't see, Johanna warned gently, "Kita, I'm about to say things very out of character for me. I don't like them. But I mean them. Whether you can forgive that or not, after I tell you what happened, I hope you'll be willing to help me." With that she described, in as clear details as she could recall, everything that had happened inside the circle of stones. She described the clearing, and the hut, and the ghost. She repeated as much of the conversation as she could remember, and gave the gist where the exact words had grown fuzzy. She very clearly remembered the promise the witch had made for Gemini's pup, though. And she clearly stated her adamant intent to kill the witch first.

"But I don't have time to learn," the Dalmatian admitted in closing, "So I started looking for magic I can buy. The talismans I need are exotic and costly." Swallowing her nerves, Johanna finally stabbed at the heart of what she'd come to discuss today. "I'm not the type to ask favors lightly, even from friends. I especially don't like taking advantage of kind hearts. But I need help this time. I swear I will repay you, if it takes me to the day I retire, or--"

"Oh, hush," Kita hissed sharply, tears already forming in her sightless eyes, "I don't make loans to friends, Johanna. I give that money away. Forgotten gods, " she huffed, sounding genuinely insulted even as she pulled her phone from her pocket and pressed one of the speed-dials, "Who do you take me for? To think I'd ask you to repay the price of a child's life..."

Johanna blinked, and stared at her for a long moment. "I'm sorry," she whispered at last, "I didn't want to be presumptuous. We barely know each other. I only dared to ask because I am desperate."

"I am blind, and even I can see that," Kita nodded. The phone rang a few times, echoed by a light-hearted chime downstairs. Clearing the lump from her throat when it was answered, Kita spoke quickly, "Lua, dear, I think we're done. Would you please bring my checkbook up here for me? Thank you." The Fox took a deep breath after hanging up. "I'll be honest: I don't like the thought of killing anyone. Destroying a soul, if that's really what a ghost is, might be even worse. But if the alternative is that," she reached out for Johanna's hand, giving it a firm squeeze when the Dalmatian placed it in her own, "Don't you dare lose, Johanna."

Confronting the Witch

The early winter afternoon was cool, but not yet biting. Johanna trudged through the woods in only a light jacket, trying hard to find a path she'd only followed once before, in the middle of the night, in a blind panic. She hadn't had any clear idea of where to go since leaving the campsite Ares had rented that summer night. Even from that spot, she'd basically just faced away from where she thought the truck had been parked and started walking. It was a chaotic night. Direction was a luxury they'd been forced to abandon with their tents.

She wasn't sprinting this time, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it would take longer to find the witch's ring, but after nearly two hours the Dalmatian had to resign herself to making her way back to the camp and trying again, as she'd clearly taken a wrong turn. Not ten steps back the way she'd come, however, a familiar voice giggled, "Got a little lost, did you?"

Taking a deep breath and sighing out as much tension as she could, Johanna answered the witch, "Yeah. The path isn't exactly clear, and I wasn't paying attention to landmarks last time." Tilting her head at the small, translucent Fennec, she noted, "I thought you couldn't leave your ring."

"Recent development," Organa smiled, strolling casually through the trees -- literally through them -- until she stood just in front of Johanna. "It wasn't very long ago I couldn't reach as far as your home with my influence, either. It's refreshing getting to stretch my legs again," she grinned, stretching her whole body as she floated up to be eye-level with the taller Dog, "You were looking for my ring, right? Did you learn how to destroy me, or just come to swallow your pride?" The confident smile on her face stated pretty clearly what she thought the situation was.

Johanna's expression never changed, but her shoulders slumped a little. "You'll leave her alone, right? Even if it takes longer, you won't hurt the pup?"

"I swear on my soul...which is pretty well all I have left these days," the little Fennec grinned, "Your friend can sleep easy, and look forward to a bright and bouncing baby in her lap by the time the weather turns." With a reluctant nod, Johanna extended one gloved hand to the ghost. Organa chuckled in amusement at the gesture, but reached forward to accept it as well as a ghost was able.

She was surprised to feel the glove close around her spectral hand. And twice as surprised when Johanna's other hand closed around her throat, catching her in a firm grip. The Fennec felt her soul distorting under the leather-coated fingers, sending little tingles of pain through her whole spectral form. It had been a long time since she felt anything like that. She might even have enjoyed it, if she'd been less shocked. "What--how?!" she gasped, pulling in vain at the fingers clutching her ghostly throat.

"Talismans from Shielar," Johanna explained dispassionately, "A magic I figured you might not know about. They're supposed to seal a spirit inside a container...but I figured if it can hold a ghost, it must be able to touch one, too." She'd bought a small collection of the paper spells, and carefully stitched several of them into the lining of the gloves she was wearing. Johanna backhanded the little witch firmly across the cheek, her blank expression never changing. "That's for frightening Gemi."

To her surprise--and no small amount of worry--Organa chuckled, albeit with a bit of strain her voice. "Clever. I knew I was right about you," the Fennec smiled, still struggling to pull free, though not as desperately as Johanna would have liked, "But you're not the only one taking precautions. While you were shopping for magic in foreign lands, I found a champion..."

Her smug grin was lost on Johanna, as the Dalmatian noticed something moving behind the ghost's translucent body. In her confusion, she was too slow to dodge, and probably wouldn't have been able to in the best of cases. Her attacker was swift, decisive, and brutal. The kick sent her tumbling backwards, losing her grip on Organa as her hands clung to her own ribs. Whatever air she might have used to cry out was already driven from her body.

"Fuck off," the Rabbit grunted shortly, leveling a baseball bat at her nose. He was short, compared to her, with snowy-white fur under a night-black hoodie and a scowl that could wither houseplants.

Johanna still couldn't draw a breath deep enough to answer him. Fortunately, she didn't have to: "Funny," Dane growled as he stepped out from behind a tree, carefully settling into a wide back-stance, "I was about to tell you the same thing." It had been years since he'd taken martial-arts lessons, and he hadn't practiced since his soccer career seemed to be taking off...but the Dalmatian was willing to bet his athletic legs could still deliver a decisive kick, too, and his fists were wrapped in tape with more of the talismans attached. He was definitely looking forward to giving that ghost a good, hard punch in the nose, just as soon as they dealt with her lackey.

The Rabbit didn't look much impressed. His confidence visibly waned, though, when Ares stepped out on his other side. The Doberman's musculature looked naturally intimidating, and while he had no formal training, he had plenty of practice swinging the old bat in his hands from their school days. The last of their roll of talisman-tape was wound tight around the wood. The idea had been to hit the witch with a surprise attack, if it looked like she might escape or turn the tables on Johanna. In the best scenario, the female Dalmatian could step back after confirming that the talismans were effective, and let the men finish the grim work. Now they were both glad they'd all come here together. "If you thought we'd let her do this alone," the big Doberman thumped the bat in his hands, "You're the idiot."

Floating behind the shield that was her minion's body, Organa cooed to him assuringly, "Don't worry. The writing is apparently a 'talisman' that lets them touch me. It doesn't mean a thing to you."

"How the fuck can they see you?" he hissed over his shoulder, "And what are they 'doing'?"

Ares didn't give her time to answer, hoping to take advantage of the Rabbit's distraction. Dane moved in from the other side, cutting off any thoughts of an easy escape. Whichever of them took the Rabbit, the other could go for the witch.

At least, that was the impromptu plan. Ares brought his bat down in a crushing blow that would easily overwhelm his much smaller opponent. Even if the Rabbit held on to his bat, it would just get folded down on top of him in the hit. Ares deliberately aimed a little to one side of his head, to avoid the risk of outright killing him, since he honestly didn't know this kid or what the witch had done or promised to convince him to help her. For all they knew, he was just as much a victim of her wiles as they were.

Priorities changed for everyone after that first hit. The Rabbit took it on his own bat, accompanied by a surprising flash and a loud clap, followed by the smell of ozone...and the Rabbit still stood. His bat was marred by a scorch mark, but Ares' had gained a noticeable crack. Dane came in at the Rabbit's back, and Ares tried again to knock him aside, or at least keep him trapped between the Dogs, but the little fiend was quick and deceptively strong.

Dane ignored the ghost for the moment, maneuvering close enough for a strike at the Rabbit as the pair worked to keep him hemmed between them. "Why are you protecting that wi--!" His question was cut short as the wind was knocked out of him. Just like his sister, the Rabbit's kick knocked him several feet to sprawl on the ground beside her. He'd closed the gap too fast for Dane to even follow, much less counter.

"I'm her champion," the Rabbit growled, spinning to face Ares again, "It's in the job description." The Rabbit's next swing went for the wrists instead of the bat. Not a bad tactic, but Ares had just about had enough of this, and was more than willing to sacrifice his grip on his weapon for a grip on the Rabbit's.

It stung more than he'd like to admit, but he got the hold. He sneered as he started to lift the Rabbit right off his feet with his own weapon. "I hope the 'champion' brought a backup--wuff!" he hissed, immediately letting go of the bat and gritting his teeth instead. The red, raw skin of his palms felt like they'd been burned. Perhaps even more alarming, his opponent's weapon carried two scarlet, hand-shaped stains where he'd just been holding it, like it had ripped the flesh from him.

The Rabbit smirked, leveling the weapon at the injured Doberman. "That's not a bad idea, but I think the one is enough for you. Last chance. Fuck off, all of you, before I get serious."

Frowning at the unusual weapon, Ares dared a quick glance at his friends. Johanna was on her feet at last, and Dane was just getting to his again, too. Organa floated close to the Rabbit's back, careful to keep out of their reach, with the Rabbit between them. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Ares forced his hands back into fists, growling at the wretch, "Like Hell. I'll die before I let that monster kill my niece."

The bat came in low, sweeping for his knees. Ares side-stepped it, but was too slow to do the same for the foot that followed, kicking both legs out from under him and dropping him on his back. The tip of the bat dropped in hard warning onto his chest...and Ares could swear he felt it pulling at his shirt, like something on it was trying to rip through to the living flesh underneath. Then the Rabbit surprised him by pausing long enough to ask, "You want to spell that out for me?"

Ares blinked, stunned more by that question than the fall he'd taken. Dane and Johanna likewise tilted heads. "You don't know what you're defending?" the Doberman barked in disbelief.

"A dead girl," the Rabbit shrugged carelessly, "Who pays me. Probably a witch. I'm no historian. The fuck do you care?"

It was Johanna who found the wherewithal to answer first. "That thing was the witch for which Witch-Mountain is named," she informed him with surprising calm, "And she intends to kill my nephew before he's even out of his mother's womb."

The ghost at his back chuckled smugly. "You don't even know which it is yet," she remarked, noticing the different relations each of them had instinctively used.

Dane bared his teeth. "Like it matters!?" he barked, "That's my son, or daughter, you're talking about! He's not a hamburger!"

Standing still and calm through all of this, the Rabbit just looked over his shoulder at the ghost on his back. "'S that true?" he asked simply.

Organa shrugged noncommittally, seeming a little hesitant to confess plainly. She was clearly keeping her guard in the dark about some details. "I feed on life-force to survive," she reminded all of them, "The unborn are a rich source, without the will t--!!"

What happened next shocked the Dogs almost as much as it did the witch: the Rabbit turned on her. Savagely. Whatever enchantment he had on that bat, Ares could not have beat her more brutally himself. Taking advantage of the distraction, the Doberman rolled to his feet and took up position on Johanna's other side from Dane...where all three watched the tirade with jaws slack. For a moment, it seemed the task they'd set out to do today had been done for them. The witch's ghostly form was growing as faint as her voice was weak under the Rabbit's assault, while he ranted something about being a foster child, abandoned and forgotten by his own family...and for some reason, that made him admire theirs.

"Won't...touch...it," the now invisible ghost promised ever so faintly, "I...swear..."

"Fucking right you won't," the Rabbit spat as his bat finally stopped rising. His breath was ragged now, his mouth hanging open with the effort of breathing, and yet somehow found enough wind to add, "And you'd better pray...to every forgotten god whose name you still know...that kid's born kicking like a fucking Olympic soccer champ." He turned to the trio of Dogs then, took a few more deep breaths, and pulled himself back upright with his bat on his shoulder. "I...am Oro Ironheart," he growled, "If it's not a picture of health at birth...you come find me, and we'll finish this."

Not a one of them misunderstood him. That tone made it clear who he was threatening. In spite of that, though, he was quick to follow it with another scowl and a warning: "That said...we're done here. Now: Fuck. Off. Before I have to do my job again."

It took a second for any of them to move. Ares tapped Johanna's shoulder with the back of his stinging hand, and took a slow, measured step back, keeping a wary eye on the unpredictable Rabbit. Johanna nodded, likewise pulling Dane gently away, and the three of them backed off cautiously and reluctantly, until the Rabbit was out of sight and it was clear he didn't mean to follow them.

"...Wuff," Dane sighed when it seemed safe to speak again, "What the hell was that?"

"I don't know," Johanna remarked softly, pulling her jacket tight around her aching side, "I don't know...but...I'm sorry," she whispered, and her brother was alarmed to see tears running down her muzzle now. "We lost. Dane...we lost...," Johanna hissed in a rare display of open grief. Hunching her shoulders, she hugged herself as tight as she dared, and began to cry.

Stunned, her brother stopped her and pulled her into a reassuring hug--which he immediately let go when she yelped at the pain it sent through her cracked rib. "Shh," he urged, holding her shoulders instead as Ares stepped up behind her, resting his hands comfortingly on her back, "Shh. It's not your fault. No way any of us could have prepared for that thing."

"I don't think the witch was prepared for him," Ares muttered, casting a quick glance over his shoulder, "He surprised us. That won't happen a second time. We'll come ba--"

But Johanna shook her head. "We won't get so close next time," she murmured, "She'll be on her guard. We probably won't see her again until...it's over. Forgotten gods," she hissed, fighting the pain as well as the sobs, "Whatever gods might still be listening...please let that Rabbit be honest. If he can keep his word...that's all the hope I have left," she prayed through grit teeth, "I'm sorry, Dane. I want to meet your baby..." Despite the pain, she put her arms around him then, clinging to his jacket and sobbing into his shoulder.

Her brother held her as comfortingly as he could. Ares wrapped them both in his broad arms. When the worst of it had passed, they carefully trudged back to their truck, and from there made their way quietly to the hospital, to have Johanna's rib and Ares' hands treated.

It was well after dark when they finally arrived home to a very relieved Gemini. Heavy as she was this late in her term, she hadn't been able to go with them on this venture, and had spent most of the day worrying about them, especially as the evening grew late. "Johanna," the usually bubbly Doberman pulled her friend into an awkward hug around her swollen belly, when Dane finished explaining how the mission had gone, "You did everything you could. Now hush. Whatever happens from here, it's not your fault, and I love you," Gemini promised, kissing Johanna on the cheek. The female Dalmatian still looked raw with guilt. This emotional openness was new with her, and a little alarming to her family. Gemini took her to bed early, where the pair lay sharing comforting whispers until they finally dozed off, sheltered between their loving brothers in a somber, quiet night.