Rain fell around the looming tower of the office building. Far below it’s a peak, A German Shepherd looked out from under her umbrella to look up at it. Wren felt drops of rain splash across her muzzle as she stared upwards, pulling her coat closer around herself. A sign out front read “Ashlake Breeding Services;” It was a name which might have explained the twisting feeling of anxiety in Wren’s stomach. She could only imagine what happened in the building, as she had never used their “services” before.
	Wren was jokingly considered somewhat of a prude by her friends. She knew she was nothing short of gorgeous, she had been told as much many times. But it never seemed to change how shy she was in day to day life.
	She was shorter than average, with small breasts and a body trained from daily exercise. Straight long flowing hair fell from her head, dyed pure white with light blue tips. Her fur was varied dark brown and black, her feet tan on the bottom. Usually, she kept her white hair neat in a tight pony tail, today, it was restricted to a business like bun. She was clothed in a white blouse and black skirt, her entire posture compressed to try to keep the clothes from the falling rain.
	Wren shook her nose, freeing the moisture that had found a home there free. She pushed away any of her anxiety, ducking her head back under the umbrella.
	“Why did it have to rain today?” She grumbled the words quietly to herself, paws making a wet sloshing as she hurried towards the entrance.
	She was greeted with a large lobby, tiled floors melting into large glistening marble columns to hold up a balcony above. The canine raised an eyebrow, her tail flagging out behind her in unease. It was so much nicer than she had expected, the woman stopping to admire the sight. There was a desk set into the other side of the lobby, and she started to move towards it, a small security station baring her way.
	 Wren had been so distracted she had almost missed the guard manning the station. From a seat behind some sort of machinery, rose the largest wolf she had ever seen. He was easily three feet taller than her, the wolf giving a little bow as she approached. He was dressed in a simple blue shirt and badge, black pants covering his bottom half.
	“Good Morning. Could you step into the detector for me?” The voice came out in a deep growl, tinted in such a way that Wren assumed he was trying to be friendly.
	Wren’s only response was to nod before walking through the metal detector, not even wondering why he didn’t take her umbrella or keys. She was stopped by a small metal gate on the other side. Before she had time to move, the walls of the detector began to quickly rotate around her.
	Wren stumbled out the other side, her head spinning from the arm’s movement. She was steadied by a huge hand gripping her shoulder as an apology rang through her ears.
	“Sorry about that. I should have told you to close your eyes first. I’m new...” The wolf held her steady until Wren waved him off, leaving her to look at a screen on the far side of the detector. “Hmm, German Shepherd, Female. You're more than halfway through your cycle, estrus is in twelve days. Alright, you’re clear to go through.”
	Wren blushed deeply at the wolf’s words, covering part of her body though she was still completely clothed. “You scanned my what!? Why?!” She asked, incredulous.
	“They told me to scan everyone who comes in. I think my boss is the only one who I haven’t scanned today...” He trailed off while Wren sighed and shook her head, heading through the scanner and past where he had raised the gate.
	Wren made for the desk on the other end of the lobby, ignoring the various doors and hallways leading off of her path. Though she did note the elevators to one side and what appeared to be bathrooms across from them.
A plain looking human woman sat at the front desk clad in blue knit dress and black stockings, typing away at her computer. She looked up immediately when Wren approached, standing with a smile.
“Wren Locke, I presume? You’re right on time. Let me just get someone to take you up to the top floor to see Miss Canonach.”
	Wren’s face screwed up slightly as she replied. “Take me up? Is that where my interview is being held?”
	The woman nodded, still smiling and quelling some of Wren’s nerves with her kind demeanor. “Yes, Our CEO will be conducting your interview personally. Apparently it has something to do with the department you will be working in.”
“They failed to tell me what kind of position I was being considered for on the phone. I’m not going to be one of the… uh… Breeders, am I?”
	The Otter chuckled and shook her head, reaching out to give Wren’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Oh, I doubt it very highly. The Sexual Freedom Act says all of breeders, male and female have to be independent contractors. We can’t recruit, they have to come to us. Besides, your interview would be across town at the breeding lounge. We only have offices here.” The woman gave her a good once over, taking in her outfit with a little lip bite. “Just looking at you, my guess would be a Customer Service Rep.”
	Wren snorted to stifle a laugh. “I’m not sure I would be-” 
	She was interrupted by a lithe, black feathered bird jogging up to her, cracking a smile as he met the Shepherd’s eyes. “Miss Locke, mind coming with me? My name is Darius, I’m Miss Canonach’s assistant.”
	Wren tilted her head at the newcomer, but walked after him. She followed as he led her towards the elevator, turning to wave to secretary at the desk before focusing back on the bird.
	He actually struck quite a good looking figure, lithe and muscled beneath a professional white collared button up, blue tie, black slacks. Wren once more, got distracted in oogling Darius and nearly ran into him as he stopped in front of a pair of clean, silver, sliding doors.
	The Bird had already called the elevator, glancing down to her as they waited. “Sorry about this. You have to have a key to get up the elevators.” He showed her a plastic card hanging from his hip. “We take employee security very seriously here.”
There was chime and the doors opened to an empty elevator, Wren once more following The Bird as he stepped inside and pressed the top floor. They settled next to each other, Wren trying to keep a hundred questions from spilling out of her lips at once. She hesitated and finally settled on what seemed to her like a harmless one.
	“So… what job am I interviewing for? I don’t really have any experience at a place like this. I was… surprised when I got the email.” Wren tactfully left out the fact that she had been applying to places like mad and was to the point where she was considering just selling her body. Hence, why she was here.
	“I shouldn’t say, after all, Miss Canonach is much more eloquent than I am.”
Wren was led out of the elevator and down a long branching hallway. There seemed to be various offices and meeting rooms for other higher ups down each limb, but Darius led her directly forward, towards a large oak door labeled, “Aisling Canonach, President/CEO.” Just outside the office, the hallway opened into a small waiting area, soft black leather couches lining the wall. Darius took his spot at an ornate desk to the side, gesturing towards the door. “Go right in, she’s waiting for you.”
	Wren did as she was told, taking a steadying breath before finally pushing open the door. She padded in quietly, letting it shut behind her, too preoccupied with the office in front of her to take notice. It was gigantic; a simple wooden desk sitting right in the center. Off to the side was a small table with chairs set around it, and to the other side was an area closed off by various bookcases, all filled shelf to shelf. The door was lifted slightly, stairs descending towards the desk in the center, which allowed Wren see another door to the side of the book cases, this one closed to her. Wren took this all in slowly before finally letting her eyes fall onto the person actually seated behind the desk, looking patiently, if not encouragingly up at her.
	Aisling Canonach was some sort of canine; Wren guessed in her head as to some sort of dingo or jackal, not knowing the second was correct. Her fur was a deep shade of blonde, tipped and laced with various shades of brown. Even in the dim light of the office, the coat shined dully as Wren approached.. The CEO was tall and lithe, the black business suit she wore hugging her body tightly. Wren pulled back in shock as she met the woman’s eyes. While one of Aisling’s eyes was a beautiful hazel, the other was white and unmoving, obviously having been seriously damaged at some point in her life.
	Aisling’s face cracked into a small smile at the reaction, standing and holding out a hand to Wren. “Wren Locke, good to finally meet you. Have a seat, won’t you?”
“Of course, Miss Cano-” Wren was cut off mid sentence for the second time  that day.
	“Please, call me Ash. I prefer it immensely. Now, I’ll cut to the chase, I’m sure you have better things to do than exchange pleasantries with me. We want you as our newest hunter. Your job would be to hunt down paranormal entities and capture them for our use here. Do you accept?”
	Wren tilted her head at the jackal,  mouth falling open as the German Shepherd processed the words. “You want me… for my ghost investigations? And you’re willing to pay me for it?!” Wren was almost floored by what Ash had said. Ghost Hunting had been her passion since she was a teenager but she had never thought anyone took notice. Let alone wanted to hire her for it.
	“Not just ghosts, anything we think you can handle. We’ve pulled reports of some of your little adventures. You know how to handle yourself, the fact that you’re still alive is proof enough of that. We think you can be a very valuable asset.”
	“But this company… You run breeding houses. Why are you after…” Wren tried to think of what Ash had just called them. “Supernatural entities.”
Ash’s smile returned once more as Wren spoke. “It is true, Originally, we were founded as a Breeding company. And, to this day, we are still the most successful in the world. Our top breeder has a waiting list of months and it costs thousands for a single, infertile session with him. But at some point, we started getting more and more exotic requests. Not ones to back down from a challenge, both I and our benefactor did our best to fulfill these requests. And through our efforts, we caught the attention of the government. They had been been dealing with the problem with these creatures for years now, and surprisingly enough, they were happy for us to help.”
	She paused to turn her computer screen towards Wren, The Shepherd leaning forward to see. “Now we have beasties like this in the basement.” The screen showed a of mass of tentacles, writhing forth from a black pool, under which Wren assumed was the rest of of it’s body.
	“People want to fuck that?!” Wren bluntly asked, settling back into her chair and starting to apologize. Luckily for her, Ash just grinned wider.
	“Oh no, not that one. That one would digest you in a two minutes flat. But we do have some more… Manageable, tentacle beasts. Why? Are you interested? Employees get a discount.”
Wren shook her head quickly, not wanting her potentially new boss to think about her that way. “No, I’m… quite vanilla myself, thank you.”
	“Shame. Anyway, we’re offering one hundred and twenty to start. We’d like to get you started on a trial run within the next week. If we decide to keep you, we’ll put your through some tests to see what your limits are. Once we have your talents completely sketched out, we’ll have some jobs to offer you. Small things to start. But do keep in mind, The larger beasties you’re able to capture and kill, the more we’ll be willing to pay.”
	“A hundred and twenty, per investigation? Per ‘beasty’?” Wren’s face fell at the thought; that was even less than she had been getting before she quit.
	“Per year, dear. One hundred thousand is the entry rate for your position and the extra twenty thousand… Let’s call it incentive and maybe, an apology.”
Wren’s mouth fell open again, that figure cycling through her head as she flopped backwards into her chair. “You have got to be joking… Where do I sign?” She sat up once more, looking about excitedly. Even if she only did it for a few months, she would make more money in that time than she did all last year.
	“You’ll take the job? Perfect.” Ash pulled out a small stapled stack of papers. “Sign the bottom of every page, right on the line. This is just the employment contract. We’ll have a few more things for you to sign later. But before then we need to go meet someone.”
	Wren had  finished signing through the packet just to look up at Ash questioningly. “Who are we going to meet?”
Ash’s face morphed into a huge, sly grin as she stood, already heading for the door. “You got the extra twenty thousand. Let’s go meet your partner.”
	Wren looked up at her with wide eyes. She had the sneaking suspicions, she had just been tricked.

Aisling lead the way out of her office, nodding to her bird assistant as she passed. Wren followed as quickly she could but was having trouble keeping up with Ash’s stride. The newly hired Hunter had discovered when her boss stood, she was easily a couple heads taller than Wren.
Ash created quite the lead on her so that when Wren had finally caught up, the elevator was sliding smoothly open. “So… My partner? What’s he like?”
 	Wren looked up into Ash’s gaze, finding that same soft smile she had lead through most of her interview. “Her name is Belle and she is difficult to describe. She’s a pitbull of some sort, and she is the first one I’ve met who really fits into their stereotype.” Ash stepped forward into the elevator, gesturing for Wren to hurry up and follow.
	Wren obeyed, stepping into the small room and waiting for the doors to close behind them. “The stereotype, Miss Canonach?”
	“Ash. Wren… Call me, Ash. And yes, Violent, abrasive, and unpredictable. But don’t worry, if she is where I think she is, we should be fine to make introductions.”
	The elevator moved silently, Wren’s eye shifting away from Ash’s face to check which floor she had pressed. B1 was lit, making Wren’s ears perk in curiousity. “What’s on basement one?”
	“Or Breeding One as our employees call it. It’s the place we bring people to play with our beasties. They’re loaded into lifts and brought up from the lower levels. The rooms are made with the same tech we use in our breeding houses. Have you ever been to one?”
Wren simply shook her head in response noting how long this elevator ride seemed to be taking. How far down was Breeding One.
	“I don’t know the exact science but they project holograms. Once you’re inside, you can put yourself in whatever setting you want. It’s useful for keeping the monsters in check too. One starts to get out of line, we can hurt it or pull the client out. And the beast is none the wiser. You can ask B at the security desk more about the security features though.
“The wolf who scanned me to see if I was in heat?”
	“Did he tell you? He isn’t supposed to let anyone know what we’re scanning for. There’s more to it than just your estrus cycle but that’s the part he’s shown. It allows us to pick out customers more easily as well as helps us ensure the safety of the facility. Some of our inmates are extremely observant. And to say they are easily excited would be an understatement. We’ve only ever had one breakout and, thankfully, your boss was in that day. Would have been a disaster otherwise.”
	Wren raised an eyebrow, meeting her companion's gaze evenly. “But aren’t you my bo...” She was cut off as the doors opened, Wren turned and took a step before finding her way blocked by two figures. On her right was a bovine of some sort, chubby and slightly shorter than her, brown and white fur covered her body for the most part. But here and there, she was splashed with a bright pink.
	On the right was a tall, broad shouldered Canine, Wren thinking he was coyote at first, but then catching the similarities between Ash and his ears. Ash was definitely not a coyote, so he probably wasn’t either. Wren made a note to ask her species sometime as Ash spoke.
	“Jake and Kaulynn, What a lovely surprise.” She said it in a mostly monotone voice, but Wren felt there was something genuine behind the words. This was confirmed when Ash gave the pink cow a quick hug. “Wren, this is Jake and his… friend, Kaulynn. Jake is one of our hunters, like you.”
	“Just another one? Let’s be honest, I’m the best one.” Jake’s face broke into a wide grin like he had just told a joke, before he moved to the side to let them out of the elevator. Ash took the chance to step past the two, Wren sitting stunned for a moment before following diligently.
	The two pairs stood across from each other, the jackal glancing over to the elevator as the doors began to close. He calmly stuck his foot out, stopping them in place and stepping into the lift. He gave a little wave, his cow girl companion following in tow.
	Kaulynn offered a wave and a smile to Wren as she passed. “Nice to meet you, Hun.” The woman’s voice pleasant and kind on Wren’s ears, making them twitch and a smile rise on her lips. The Shepherd somehow just felt more at ease after meeting the bovine’s eyes, following them into the Elevator.
	“Well I hate to cut this short, but I have to get Kau home. Curfew and all that. Is there another assignment for me, Ash?” The woman’s reply was a small smile and a curt nod.
	Jake grinned and gave a final nod towards Wren. “Tell Belle I said Hi, Wren. It was nice to meet you.”
	The doors closed, cutting off Wren’s response halfway through. “Nice to meet yo...” The Shepherd feeling a flush and frown come to her face. Ash caught the expression before she could speak.
	“He’s cocky and he can be an outright ass when he doesn’t respect you. But he wasn’t lying, he’s probably the best Hunter at this company.” Her face was still the mask of indifference that Wren was beginning to expect from the woman. But her eyes stayed on the elevator, the moment drawing out as Wren wondered what was on her mind.
	Ash turned back to the hall as if nothing had happened, leaving Wren scrambling to keep up.
	Wren was once more left following Ash, this time for a much shorter distance. The elevator let out into a small lobby with three halls leading off. It seemed this was simply a waiting room for clients to use, furnished richly with comfortable chairs and various flatscreens, all currently off. Wren noted as they passed, that one of the hallways wasn’t a hallway at all. It lead to a small bar, currently dark and eerily empty.
	Ash took her down one hallway, the passage lined with numbered rooms and stopped at the one labelled nine. She pulled a keycard from the inside of jacket and bumped it on the lock; The door clicked open.
	Wren entered into a control booth, the far wall lined with a touch screen console and a window set above it. The window was currently looking out into a city alley, the darkness of the night casting it in shadow. But clear as day, lit by a single yellow light, was two people humping like rabbits. The woman, who Wren saw was a pit-bull, had her hands pressed against a worn door. She was shoving back roughly towards another canine who was thrusting so hard, the pitbull’s head kept bouncing against the wall as her arms gave out.
	Wren gasped in surprise as Ash quickly stepped in, closing the door behind them and locking it. “Meet your partner, Wren.”
	“Sh.. should we be watching like this?”
	“She probably won’t care. Once she’s finished, we’ll go say Hi. Or… You know what, Might be better to greet her now.”
	Wren pivoted on her heel to ask what Ash meant but didn’t have time. Her boss had been typing on the console’s touch screen and with a rush of air a door opened behind Wren.
Wren’s felt as she was pulled off her feet, a feeling like floating hitting her stomach before the ground seemed to appear beneath her like magic. Wren opened her eyes, not aware she had closed them.
	Two things became abundantly clear almost immediately. Belle had heard her appear. And Wren had picked the worst time to interrupt. As she landed next to the gyrating pair, Two eyes blazed, moans and gasps of pleasure beneath the gaze of rage that Wren was met with from her partner. There was a pitched gasp and a loud cry out as the male thrust forward hard, shoving the pit bull flat against the wall. His voice rang against the stones of the threshold, his voice pitching upwards in a high mating howl, Wren able to see as his red knot popped into Belle and tied them together. Wren was spared that withering gaze, the anger that scorched against her fur as her face morphing to one of pure happiness and pleasure. Belle gave out a quiet whimper as she shoved backwards and held, her whole body starting to quiver. It started in her chest, her breathing hitching before it spread out to her limbs, her arms writhing against the door, her thighs shivering beneath her before her entire body straightened.
	Wren wasn’t sure how long she stood there watching, unable to get her feet to move, somehow entranced by the sight. It was almost a shock when that blissful face snapped back to life, Eyes opening and meeting Wren’s once more.
	“Cancel!” Belle barked out, a thick New York accent flavoring the words. The pit bull stood, facing Wren for a moment as their surroundings dissolved into plain white walls.
Wren almost felt like prey being hunted, those fierce eyes piercing through hers for a few quickened breaths before Belle rushed her.
Wren could barely keep track of the girl, the usually quick woman giving an oof of breath as she was caught in the stomach by Belle’s tackle. Wren felt arms wrap around her waist, one hand flying out to try to stop Belle from getting a grip, the other bringing it’s elbow down on the back of her head. Belle didn’t even need to shrug off the blow, she outright ignored it. Wren reeled her arm back, feeling as if she had just hit a car door. The Pit Bull finished binding around her waist, lifting upwards and Wren felt her feet leave the ground.
	Wren was flying through the air. Stark white walls whipping around her, a few glimpses of Belle adding to the nauseating whirl as the ground rushed up to meet her.
	Wren hit something soft, opening her eyes to find she was uninjured on the white ground. She slowly stood but found Belle appearing a few inches in front of her. Her fist was pitched back, pushing forward through the air and aiming for Wren’s nose. She closed her eyes, awaiting the impact but nothing came.
Wren opened her eyes to find Belle wrapped in chains, sitting on the ground.
	“Quite the greeting for your new partner, Belle. But I think we’ll all be happier if you leave her in one, undamaged piece.”
	Ash spoke from behind Belle, her hands in her pockets as she approached the newly acquainted partners.
	“My apologies Wren but your partner has been refusing to show us exactly why Jake recruited her. At least, not in the sim rooms. And that data is very important for us to decide what to task you with.”
	“Get fucked, Jackal lady. I told ya, I’m not working with anyone. Even Jake.” That rage of Belle’s had left Wren, the nude pit bull wiggling around to face Ash as she spoke. “Especially not with Prissy back there. She’s weak. I could barely feel that elbow.”
	The last word was spat like a bitter bit of food the woman had eaten, Wren surprised Belle had not actually spat to emphasize it.
	“You will have a partner or you will not be employed and if you’re not employed by us, we have no reason not to go to the police about your crimes, Belle. If you can learn to work with the shepherd behind you, I might be able secure your freedom. How does that sound?”
	The words seemed to click with Belle, her head tilted back so she could look at Wren again. The gaze was softer, much more curious and calculating than before.
	“Fine Jackal Lady, I’ll work with Priss. Now get these offa me.”
Ash nodded and waved her hand, the chains snaking away from Belle and disappearing into the white floor. Belle stood and rolled her shoulders, turning back to face Wren.
	Wren wasn’t sure what had happened exactly but Belle now wore a little grin on her face, addressing her as if nothing had happened. As if it were normal to be naked through this whole exchange. “What’s your name, Priss?”
	“Uh, yeah, don’t call me that. And Wren. You’re not gonna try and kill me again?”
	“Not right now.” Belle gave a little nod, turning away and starting to head towards where Wren could see the door to the control room was set into the wall. “Can I go now? You told me to wait here, But I’m getting bored. It needs more guys. And bigger.”
	Ash rubbed her face, shaking her head back and forth. “I can’t believe you went through them all… I’ll see if I can’t get some new settings. Just show up on time tomorrow.”
Belle didn’t reply, just nodding as she left Ash and Wren, her butt wiggling as if to wave goodbye before disappearing into the booth.
“Thank you for that, Wren. She might not have shown it to you, but she was tight lipped and completely impossible to work with this morning. She needs some sort of direction, and I think you can give that to her on missions. Assuming she’ll listen to you.”
Ash had closed the distance between them as she explained, holding out a hand to help the woman up. “You’re blackmailing her, right? Why not just start with that? She seemed to respond pretty well to it.”
Wren was hefted to her feet before Ash replied, the jackal leading Wren back out of the sim room. “We had to make sure we had a willing partner first. I can’t have her going out on her own. You’ll see more of it tomorrow, but she threw you fifty feet. Blackmail isn’t enough to keep her in check.”
	Wren looked aghast raising both of her eyebrows as she stepped back into the control booth. “And you think I can?!”
	“Yes. I actually think Belle was impressed with you. She’s never asked any of our employees their names.”
Ash paused for a moment, seeming to be deep in thought. “I have more for you to do as far as your orientation, but… would mind showing up tomorrow for it? Belle will be here, I want to see how she responds to your presence.”
	“I suppose but why do you talk about her like that? Like she’s a wild animal.”
	Ash stepped from the control room and smiled, gesturing to the wall across from them. “Because in some ways… she is.”
	The door across from theirs was smashed inwards, bent and broken from the sheer force of whatever hit it. Right in the center, was a petite handprint.