Beauty felt as if she was going crazy. It had almost been two weeks since Obsidian had told her to wait for him and hadn't returned. She was worried something had happened to him and the others, but what could she do? She had promised him she would wait, though that was driving her crazy. Every time she passed the markers going to and from school, her heart ached.

She had been trying to refocus her energy by reading every book she could get her hands on about magic, even if it was fictional. She also applied for jobs to have something to do when the semester was done. Eventually she was hired at the local animal shelter and boarding kennel part time, which helped to distract her and earn extra cash.

She heard all kinds of talk while there about tourists whom the workers thought were pretending to have money versus the ones who actually did. She didn't really think it was appropriate to gossip, but most of the other girls loved it. She learned to only half listen while doing her job until one day she overheard one of them say a guest had dropped off an unusual dog and left very specific instructions to give it raw, bloody hamburger that had left them unnerved.

She agreed to take the meat in since the dog "gave them the creeps" and went inside the private kennel their mysterious client had paid for. The dog in question looked more like a wolf, so massive he could have torn apart any human in seconds. He was in a cage and was covered in scars that disrupted his fur and he had ice blue eyes that seemed to glow even in the light.

"What are you?"

He bared his teeth as she set the food down into the slot that pushed it into his cage.

"Sorry, that was kinda personal. Must be awful in there, whatever you are." She turned to go.

"You can see my real form, can't you?"

A shiver ran up her spine at the sound of an unearthly voice so different from Obsidian's that it was unnerving and she risked a glance back at the beast to see his blue eyes blazing. "Does that put me in danger?"

"Someone warned you about seeing Otherkin and vice versa. Good. Don't go out after dark tonight."

"Why should I trust you?"

"You have no reason to, but if you wish to remain outside a cage and alive, you may wish to consider acting in faith. When I am not bound in a prison, I must obey the one who holds my leash and if he finds out you are not fooled by illusions like everyone else, you will never see your family or friends again. Now go, he will be back soon and he must not know we have spoken."

She left quickly, completely unsettled by the encounter and she wished she had Obsidian or Naga to talk to. Outside of the night the gorgon had come into the city, she hadn't heard Naga's voice and her father was far too busy to talk much now with all his new contracts to make furniture.

"You done for the day, Beauty?" Her boss Gaston asked.

"Yeah. Catch you all tomorrow." She replied casually and headed home. She made herself dinner and stayed inside as the strange beast had advised, looking through all her books for a clue as to what he could be.

Not surprisingly, it was Seiko Wendell's Magic: Reality Or Myth? which contained a description of what she had seen:

Hellhounds:

Also referred to as Anubis's Jackals, Pups of Hades's Cerberus, Messengers of Hectate, Hounds of Hel (daughter of Loki), Children of Luna and many other names.

These beasts are increasingly rare in this day and age, but they can still enter the world of the living if summoned or crossing over during the time of the summer or winter solstice. If captured during one of these, they must answer to the one that has bound them but still have more free will than if they were called from their world into ours.

They don't speak very often to anyone besides their master, though if they do you must take heed for they feel a kinship with you and wish to protect you from harm. Usually you can tell those who fight for life because they have eyes as blue as the sky that glow even in broad daylight. Be wary of the ones with red eyes, for they more than likely delight in death and destruction.

See Hunters- Magical for more details on those who can call upon or have a magician summon such creatures.

She felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered what Naga had said about those who sought to find them and wondered if that was why she hadn't seen or heard from her or Obsidian. She didn't know if she should read the recommended section, yet she wanted to know what her friends could be up against and flipped to it.

Hunters- Magical:

Often called warlocks or necromancers as well, these beings are very dangerous. Even if they didn't summon a beast themselves, they paid someone else a hefty sum to have the creature magically bonded to them.

They pursue beings of magical origin for profit most of the time, though there are a small number who only go after those who are causing problems in our world. Either way, it is best not to get involved with them because they have been known to even take regular people captive who they think have been involved with Otherkin or can see through enchantments.

Over the centuries, these beings have started wars against anything and anyone they deemed different or dangerous, though many have been thwarted by their hounds who warn the innocents and lead their masters on wild goose chases or to those actually endangering the world.

See Hellhounds for more on these creatures.

If you want information on abilities like seeing passed illusions, please refer to Between Worlds.