"Why don't you go on ahead Seris? And take Apep with you."

Hex's eyes were fixed on the white wolf in front of him as he spoke.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure," The bat answered his goat friend's inquiry.

The satyr hesitantly waited for Apep to join him, unsure if he should really follow Hex's instructions, but after the cobra-tailed man caught up, they both headed down the marketplace road. Hex watched them leave briefly, but his eyes remained focused on the white wolf. They were steeled and did not trust the man before him. He didn't care that there were a few onlookers who were spooked by Hex's sudden outburst from a few moments ago. He knew they'd keep their distance.

"Is this about what happened earlier? I'm sorry about that; I just couldn't help myself."

The white wolf started with a smile, and his tail waved back and forth low to the ground, remembering the events that had just transpired.

After he caught the sight of Hex snarling at the merchant moments ago, what he couldn't help but smirk at the bat, like he had won a bet with himself and was proud of it, and Hex took notice of this because he had made it very obvious. In fact, he wanted to make it very visible, as a little bit of payback for how Hex had been acting towards him during this entire course.

And it worked.

The vampire bat did take notice and this angered him. He went from merely disliking the wolf to despising him in a matter of seconds, but it wasn't because of the smart look he gave. It was something else, something that had been eating at him, something that had been slowly raising his stress, and he suddenly found himself displacing this stress onto the merchant, who really meant no harm.

"I was waiting to see when you'd act like this. You seemed like the kind of guy that would just want to smack someone if you had enough and I was-"

"Thanatos huh?"

Hex interrupted the white wolf. He wouldn't delay any longer with the wolf's tom-fuckery.

"That name ring any bells?"

Osiris only held a slightly confused expression at those words.

"I don't really think that's-"

"Do any of these people really know you're a murderer?"

Hex motioned to the market onlookers after he spoke, who's gazes now were fixed on the white wolf.

Osiris' dropped his smile for a moment and his eyes darted toward a few of the merchants. He then returned to his jovial attitude.

"HA! This guy. This guy knows how to make a joke," He grinned, and a few of the merchants that knew Osiris well joined in with his laughter, causing the rest of the onlookers to be put at ease from an accusation that was so imprudent.

"Why don't. You and I. Take a walk?"

The white wolf half snarled-suggested while the crowd was distracted. He broke his sentences with every step closer to Hex, trying very hard to keep his temper under control while the bat met him eye-to-eye.

"I'd love to."

----------------------------------------------------------

"Mr. Osiris White-Wolf."

Hex decided this was far enough away from anyone else, the alley seemed comfortable enough, and the wolf turned to face him at his name.

"Or is it Mr. Osiris Murderer? Or Mantus? Huh, they both start with M."

"How did you learn about this? No one in this city knows that," Osiris dodged the bat's confident teases. He wasn't in the mood to play his usual games.

"Your name was familiar to me." Hex answered him, his hands in his pockets.

"I couldn't place it, but I was curious enough to do some research. Having access to a database of known criminals comes in handy, and boy, was I surprised when I found your name pop up."

Hex motioned to his phone he was currently holding as he spoke. It was common in his field of work to do background checks, and the database was a convenient way to understand more about a criminal's past, as pasts have been known to reveal patterns, and patterns leave a trail to follow. These patterns could point to a future heist or target, as no one is entirely perfect, and that was Hex's job; To pursue wanted criminals, pirates, as a mercenary for Emberguard. He was the one sent in to gather intel, or keep an eye on anyone showing signs of defecting from Emberguard or finding out if they are a traitor, as well as bringing in those who have stolen from his faction, whether it be materials or information, it wouldn't go unpunished.

"You conveniently decided to leave out the 'By the way, I'm a murderer' bit when you introduced yourself to us."

"That wouldn't be good for business, obviously," Osiris retorted.

Was this bat that stupid?

Certainly not.

"You don't have proof anyways. You shouldn't believe everything you hear, unless you're incredibly naive."

"Considering this is an Emberguard database," Hex retaliated, "I think it's fairly accurate. And with a record like this, it's no wonder you were swiftly exiled."

Osiris sat against the alley wall, resting his elbows on his knees. It seemed Hex wouldn't give up so quickly, and he continued.

"Oh, what fun it must have been to maul your friend to death."

"I don't remember doing that," The white wolf spat.

"Or killing younger astral apprentices."

"People say I did these things, and I don't even remember doing them. How do they know it was even me?" Osiris glared at him.

"Record accounts. Witnesses. Two of the Hangu and a slew of Astrals were present when you turned on your rider at the games. I think that's evidence enough."

Osiris said nothing. He knew Hex was right, but was hoping he'd move past it. There'd be no way it could have been anyone else, not when he couldn't remember. And if he couldn't remember, he couldn't defend himself. He knew something did happen though, because one moment he was completely fine in his wolf form, participating in an annual sport between the three factions with Astrals and their Riders, and the next he just wasn't himself. The records had said he flipped his Rider and mauled him, going straight for the throat, and there was no one on the field strong enough to tear the wolf away from the unfortunate rider in time. It was only the Great Owl Thanatos that would pry the wolf away, rushing from his overlook in the Colosseum stands to the Egyptian dog below, but it wasn't quick enough, and the rider would pass away from his wounds only minutes after.

This was all the records told, and he couldn't remember himself even if he tried.

"I wonder how the others would feel knowing what you're capable of."

Osiris' softened expression immediately hardened at those words, and he smiled at the bat.

"You're one to talk."

Hex was taken aback, unsure what he meant.

"If anyone's dangerous, it's you," The white wolf continued. "I lost my wolf form when I was exiled, but you? You're the most dangerous one here, and you know it."

The bat couldn't be sure what he was insinuating and defensively held his tongue. Osiris tilted his head up slightly, confident he now had an advantage.

"Oh yeah, I got real curious why you and Seris would come by the shop every week, for the same meds, every time. So I inquired about it, and Apep told me. I couldn't believe it, I had never heard of a bat quite like you."

He watched the bat, but he made no move, and so he went on, playing with the gold bangles on his wrist.

"Now I bet your group doesn't know, because I sure as hell wouldn't want to be around someone like you when you don't have those meds."

The white wolf pointed to the vials secured on Hex's armguard, who instinctively turned his shoulder slightly to shield them from the wolf's view.

"That little outburst from earlier? Looks to me like it's been seven days and you haven't taken your weekly dose. I'm honestly surprised you haven't hurt any of them yet."

The bat glared at him.

"How does Seris even live with someone like you, and not be in constant fear?"

"Don't talk about Seris like you understand him. You don't," Hex interjected. He had been pacing slowly as the white wolf watched him. He hated that vulnerable information like this was now out in the open, but he didn't blame Apep. He had never told the great cobra to keep it a secret, but never would have expected someone like Osiris would get a hold of it.

The white wolf stood from his spot on the ground, folding his arms.

"Yeah, I'd imagine you'd want to tell them about me, but the costs of them knowing about you would be far worse."

"I have never been in a situation where they would be at risk. Don't think your threats intimidate me," Hex continued his pace in front of the wolf, but his tail was lashing from side to side. Osiris held his ground though. He knew this bat was all bark and no bite, at least for now. He only turned away from him after he was certain they had nothing further to discuss. It seemed they had a mutual understanding; Neither wanted their secret to be spilled.

When he was at the end of the alleyway, back the way they came, Hex had finally stopped his pacing.

"It's getting late, the others are probably wondering where we went off to. Would hate to make them worry," Osiris directed towards the bat after doing his usual clap. His bangles jingled as he did so, and he smiled snarkily at Hex behind him.

"And hey. I would find a good time to take that dose if I were you. We'll be having dinner soon, and I wouldn't want you eating someone who's not on the menu."