Flint gulped down the bitter and tepid coffee that Kenni had made when Nalah had woken them all up. He missed his morning cream cheese toast but he knew they had to work with what they had and currently what they had was shitty motel coffee. He dropped the empty paper cup in the small trash can and watched Nalah as she pulled several things out of her case.

"We are going to Sleepy Burrow There was a WC asset checking into the fact there had been quite a few humans going missing in the area." Nalah looked at all three of them and Flint grimaced.

"The werewolves took the asset." He crossed his arms over his chest with a rumble. Fucking bastards trying to resurrect the old traditions. He could almost imagine that the asset had stumbled upon something big and the werewolves responsible would have captured if they could.

"They did." Nalah gently tossed him a large ziploc bag of what looked to be clothes and he caught it easily. "The asset had gone to the bar in town and alerted WC to the fact that some werewolves were both ritualistically killing and eating humans." At that his rumble grew a bit deeper. If there was one thing he couldn't abide by was werewolves trying to bring back the old traditions, trying to bring back what needed to stay dead. The werewolves had civil wars over this shit and nearly wiped themselves out. Never again.

"So we stop them?" His grip tightened on the bag but he didn't let it get too tight. He didn't want to damage the plastic, he would need the scent of the clothes to find the asset.

Nalah shook her head firmly. "No. Our job is to get the asset and get it back to WC's hands."

The growl threatened to rattle his throat as he narrowed his eyes, "But if they are-"

"Enough, Flint!" Nalah slashed the air with her hand, her eyes narrowing at him as her dominance shoved at him hard. "I like the thought of resurrecting old gods and traditions as much as you do but the four of us plus the WC agent, cannot stop this by ourselves." She shook her head, pulling out some maps, setting them into piles. "Our job is to get the asset, return back to homebase, and then make a plan of action with the WC to take the fuckers down. Nothing more than that." Flint swallowed his retort down, refusing to push against her like his instincts and his beast demanded he do.

"We getting Cyrus to scry?" Kenni shifted on her feet, her eyes on Nalah.

"I'll be alerting Mick that we will need him to localize the asset's perimeter." The aristocratic female heaved out a sigh as she said it before she tucked several things back in her pack.

"Well I can call him if you want." Lastor interjected slightly and Nalah shook her head.

"No. I will call him when the WC agent and I head to Sleepy Burrow." At the words there was a heavy silence and Flint wanted to grind his teeth together. As much as they joked and had fun picking alters to wear undercover, he knew that none of them actually liked the idea of splitting up. "I cannot stress how important it is that we do not tip anyone off. The asset has been held for several days already and we don't want to give those sick fucks a reason to kill them." She pointed at them before gesturing to the three piles on the bed. "Burner phones, maps, layout of the town and area, basic tourist information. Take it with you. Standard meet up between Flint and I at the town's bar but outside of that we will not interacting until the asset is handed off." The orders came out even and it was a familiar routine. Flint still didn't like it though. No one on the team liked splitting up.

"Can you trust this agent?" It came out low and edged with a growl and Flint didn't do anything to stop it. He could see Lastor shifting on his feet in the corner of his eye, matching his stance. Kenni did as well.

Nalah rolled her eyes as she grabbed her pack. "As far as I can throw him but we can't rightly pat him on the head and send him on his way." She shouldered her pack, giving them all a hard look as she pointed at them. "Stay in character and for the love of all that is in the moon's light, Flint. Do not, and I repeat, do not do something that will get yourself killed." She levelled him with a stare that had him shifting uncomfortably.

"That was last time." He muttered it out and she kept her finger and eyes trained on him as she headed for the door.

"And the time before that." A low rumble escaped her as she moved by him and his instincts scraped against his bones and his beast grew restless. He didn't exactly like having his faults pointed out.

"And the time before that." Kenni muttered it out and Flint threw a dark scowl at her. She returned it with a look that clearly said 'did I lie?' and Flint shook his head.

"I'm dead serious, Flint." There was a heavy warning in Nalah's voice and Flint gave a half-hearted nod. He wasn't going to say anything or really promise anything. The last few minutes had gone sideways and he had done what he had too to ensure that the mission succeeded and he hadn't died. That had to count for something. "Stay safe, stay in character, and I will see you in several hours." With that she left and Flint rolled his head on his shoulders before moving to the bed and grabbing the small pile of things Nalah had set out for him.

"I'm going to get ready." He muttered it out as he grabbed his bag and Lastor patted his shoulder as he walked by. He gave the Salus vampire a small smile and then retreated to the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and rubbed at his face before he started to pull out the various things that were in his kit. He needed to look the part and he knew that Kenni and Lastor would get dressed as well. He shook his head slowly and started to put on his alter.

He left the bathroom nearly twenty minutes alter, his clothes slightly too big for his frame to make him look smaller than he was, his long hair looking slightly greasy and sweaty looking, his clothes were rumpled with the faint scent of alcohol wafting off of him. It was always better to play the grifter, the banished werewolf trying to cling to life. He looked over at Kenni and Lastor was pinning large curls back from her face as she wore a pretty blue sundress. Flint struggled to not smile at it. He could never ever get over Kenni dressing feminine. It was always looked so wrong. Lastor was pretty much dressed the same as he always did but there wasn't much deviation from pretending to be bonded to Kenni and how he dressed normally.

"You look like shit, Flint." Kenni smirked at him before giving a small golf clap. "Good job."

He winked at her as he shouldered his bag. "Best to look the part. We can get together in the SUV." He made a point of looking at her big black curls. "Nice curls, Barbie." He ducked as she whipped a pen at him. He chuckled as he spotted it stuck into the wall as he left their motel room.

He set his face as he got out into the cool night air. No need for anyone to think he was approachable. He stalked down the motel walkway and then down the creaky stairs. The rough looking SUV they brought was waiting for them in the parking lot. He stared straight ahead as he made his way towards it. He dug one of his herbal cigarettes from the pocket of his beat up leather jacket and tucked it into his mouth. Once at the SUV he opened the back hatch and threw his bag into it before slamming it closed and moving to the front of the vehicle. He leaned against it before he pulled out his lighter and flicked it open. He flicked the striker and lit the cigarette with the flame.

He took a heavy inhale and then slowly exhaled, taking the smoke in through his nose. The herbal blend chased away the scent of spilled oil, wet pavement, and crumbling brick and asphalt. He tucked the cigarette back into his mouth as he shoved his hands into his pockets. He stared up at the night sky, staring at the sharp edged moon that hung there.

"Flint?" At the soft and soothing voice Flint did his best not to stiffen and curse as his brother's claimed mate, Lydia, slowly stepped out of the shadows. He glanced at her, fuck did Clary look like her mama. "Brutus told me you were in town." She said it softly, wringing her hands as she slowly came closer. He focused on the cigarette in his mouth, on the smoke he was inhaling deep into his lungs before dragging it into his nose. It was burning and slightly acrid but it made him feel so much better.

"Pretty female like you shouldn't be out in the dark." He flashed her his teeth, a warning to stay away. Was this really what Brutus would think would bring him back to the clan? Sending his female, hoping her calmness would soothe the agitation in Flint's veins? Tough fucking luck there.

"Don't be like that, Flint. We are family." She clasped the base of her neck, staring at him, her eyes wide. She always did have that innocent look about her that made someone want to stop and bow to what she wanted.

"My name ain't Flint." He blew out a heavy cloud of smoke, staring at her through the carefully crafted lanks of hair that had fallen into his face. "I don't think you want to be gettin' any closer to me." He let out a low rumble as he forced the faint drawl into his voice.

She stood there, staring at him with those large eyes and seemed to bolster herself slightly. "I know you must be upset-"

He let out a bark of laughter that had her jumping. "Upset? I don't know you, female, and if you get any closer I don't think you will enjoy what I will do to get to know you. Back off." He flashed his teeth at her again, true rumbles of agitation escaping him. He glanced to the motel, hoping Lastor and Kenni would come out before he found himself doing more than flashing teeth. He was far too agitated at the moment to truly control his temper.

She reached for him, her mouth pulling into a small and upset frown. "Flint-"

"Are you fucking dense, female? I don't. Know. You." He snapped each word out, staring her down as he took a heavy drag of his cigarette, blowing it out his nose.

"Is this the right place?" Kenni's voice drifted towards him as she giggled. The sounds carried over to him and he felt himself relax slightly. It was better when the two of them were closer to him and keeping him focused.

"I think so, love! He told us to meet him here." Lastor sounded overly indulgent and Flint could only imagine how much Kenni wanted to sack tap him for it. He spotted them crossing the parking lot.

"If it isn't the newly bonded vampires I'm escorting for the weekend!" He lifted his hand and moved around the vehicle, putting space between him and Lydia.

"There he is! I'm so excited, my bonded one!" Kenni's voice pitched upwards with excitement as she waved at him, clinging to Lastor's side. He had his arm wrapped around her back with ease, holding her close and looking all the more like two lovey dovey vampires on their honeymoon. This wasn't their first trip around this block.

Lastor looked at Flint before his eyes snapped to Lydia, who had moved slightly closer. He stopped short, pulling Kenni closer to his side. "Who is she? You said it was just yourself." He puffed his chest up and Flint internally rolled his eyes as he finished up his cigarette and dropped it to the pavement, crushing it under his boot.

"I have no clue who she is. She just showed up and started bothering me. Maybe a lot lizard." He ignored Lydia's insulted gasp as he held out his hand to Lastor. "Welcome to the beginning of your weekend excursion! We're going to be making our way to the mountains, I have localized a town that have had rumours about a vampire female roaming their mountain caves."

Lastor took his hand with a grin, shaking it enthusiastically. "We are glad to be here! And it's so great you did the prep work for this trip. Some of the other companies we were looking at weren't that in-depth." He let his hand go and Flint had to keep from grinning as he carefully wiped his hand off on his pants, definitely paying his part. He could almost guess he was going with the slightly germophobic vampire husband.

"They wanted to take us to already searched areas! Can you believe it? Just wanting to scam us out of our money. But you sounded so much more exciting and honest!" Kenni said it bubbly, giggles woven through the words. She bounced on her toes, her sundress swaying around her legs as she grinned up at Lastor before giving Flint a happy and bubbly grin that Flint could see was causing her jaw to twitch with agitation.

"Shame on them! Trying to take your hard earned money and ruin your honeymoon, dovey. No worries, I've pulled out all the stops for you lovely couple." He gestured to the SUV with a flourish. "Your carriage is here. I have UV blocked windows on here, perfectly safe if it takes some time for us to arrive but I have timed the drive and we should arrive before sunup." He kept his voice even and open, friendly even, his focus still on Lydia who was lingering. He didn't understand why she couldn't just walk away.

"He thought of everything, honey-poo!" Kenni pinched Lastor's nose and Flint fought back the bark of laughter that lodged itself into his throat at the sight of Lastor's expression spelling murder on the edges despie its benign expression as he bent down and kissed Kenni's nose with an exaggerated 'Mwah!'.

"He did, pumpkin doodle puss! Let's get settled into the vehicle and plan out what we are going to do with the reward money for finding Dracula's daughter!" He let her go and waved her away. Kenni had a look in her eye that spoke of how badly she wanted to junk punch him and Flint honestly loved it when they had to act lovey dovey.

He opened the back door to the SUV with a low bow, "My luminescent lady." He gestured inside and Kenni giggled, covering her mouth as she practically pranced over and got inside all prim and proper. Flint closed the door and bowed his head at Lastor and held out his hand. "My good sir, I can take your bags." Lastor nodded and moved over, handing him the two suitcases before he got into the SUV.

Flint ignored Lydia as he moved to the back of the SUV and opened it up, putting the suitcases inside. "I'm so excited!" Kenni's high pitched squeal was almost enough to have him want to cover his ears but he ignored it as he closed the back hatch. He moved back to the driver's side door.

"I suggest you leave, female." He spat on the ground, giving her a narrowed eyed look that dared her to push further.

"Don't speak to her like that." There was a heavy rumble as Brutus came out from the shadows. Flint wanted to curse heavily at that but shook his head, turning his back to them both. "Flint." It was a deep bark from his brother and he flipped him off as he yanked open the driver's side door. "Don't do this, Flint!" Brutus moved towards the vehicle but Flint got into the driver's seat and slammed the door quickly. There was no way he was risking the mission due to his brother's refusal to understand when a subject was closed.

He locked the door and pulled on his seatbelt. "Everyone ready?" He turned on the vehicle and didn't wait for a response as he peeled out of the parking lot.

"Okay who the fuck was that?" It came out of Kenni's mouth sharp and with an edge.

"My brother's female. I guess he figured she would soften me up." He glanced in the rear view but could no longer see the motel parking lot. "Hopefully we don't need to return to this shit hole when we're done." He muttered it out and Kenni shifted, leaning between the two front seats.

"Is it normal for werewolves to get all stalkerish with people they have banished?" She tilted her head, looking at him and Flint shook his head.

"Once you are banished, that's it. You don't talk about the banished wolf, you don't seek them out, you leave things severed because that's what you're supposed to do." He really wished there was no insistence with his brother, he wished they would have left well enough alone. He was happy where he was. He really was. He had made something of his life, had become someone. He didn't understand why his brother would try to convince him to come back home after fifteen years, why he would even bother to try.

Kenni reached up and poked his jaw. "You gunna run off on us?" She said it jokingly but try as she might, Flint could hear the insecurity in her voice.

"No worries, pumpkin doodle puss. I'm still your problem." He glanced at her and winked.

She made a sound of disgust, flipping him off, shoving her hand into his face as she did so. "Fuck you." She retreated into the back seat and Flint chuckled, glad to have gotten the reaction he wanted from her.

It was better that she was distracted by the ridiculous nickname Lastor had given her rather than her stressing about his former clan treading where they didn't belong.