Just within the wooded area that was on the academy grounds, darkness seemed to gather more in certain areas than others. Where the darkness currently dwelled, the area it brushed over gave off an eerie appearance. The temperature seemingly dropped several, noticeable degrees and the quiet...the quiet was what sent chills down one's spine. No bird nor insect dared to make a noise within this darkened part of the woods. The threat of danger filled the air, as if challenging any living being to try and disturb it. However, within the darkened place a darkly hooded figure silently sat on a flat rock, snow lightly falling on his cloak and around him. His head was tilted down slightly, one would have possibly mistaken him as dead if not for the slight show of his breath rising out from the hood.

He sat cross-legged, his gloved hands resting against his knees. The soft wind that flitted through the trees seemed to grow stronger, turning into a haunted howl that echoed off the trees; or had it not been the wind that had done that? Just a couple of yards behind the man, the darkness seemed to gather a bit more until a monstrous hound stepped out. Drool dripped from its jaws as its tail lashed like a whip. A low, blood-chilling growl rose up from its throat, the creature stalking towards the seated man as he seemed to not pay any attention to said creature. However, as it came closer, the man lifted his head slowly and turned it to the side slightly, his face concealed due to the shadows of his hood, and reached a hand out towards the nearly five-foot creature, running it over the hideous beast's snout and up its head. Scars riddled along its dark, muscled body, giving hints of past fights that it had been through.

Though the man took his hand away and lifted it in the air a little more, beckoning the near suffocating darkness to come to him. A soft grunt escaped the man as the unusual darkness entered him, the area becoming a bit lighter now. However, his attention was on something else. Something that had caught his attention a bit of a ways from him. He rose from his spot and casually brushed some snow off of himself before he uttered a single, quiet command.

"Capture."

With only that, the monstrous hound released an eerie howl before racing off into the forest. The hunt was on, and it would not stop until it had fulfilled its master's command of capturing whatever had caught his attention. But, in some way, it knew. It knew just what, or rather who, to look for. It could sense when another being not of this plane was around, and that was what it was after. Any creature that happened to be nearby let out cries of alarm and fled; and those who were not so lucky were trampled by the beast. The beast was quick, powerful even, and it would not rest until it came out on top. It knew, after all, the consequences of failing its master.

Meanwhile, its master slowly and silently followed behind, easily enough since his beast had left obvious signs of where it had gone. Now...to see just who had caught his attention. As well as to question them on why they were in the wooded area alone. Oh, he knew for he had sent a moth he conjured up to scan the area. That really was the only way he could have known, and even if he had not sent his monstrous creature ahead he would have been able to figure out where this person had been. The sounds alone would have been enough, but his moths would have been able to help along the way. However, he remained trailing behind a bit of a distance from his creature as it followed through the order he had given it.

The man continued to move along at the pace he was going as his beast continued its chase. He could hear the crashing of the beast rushing straight through whatever was able to be trampled or easily broken, knowing full well it would dodge whatever it couldn't. The man knew it would only be a matter of time until his creature caught up to its prey, and he was confident in its abilities as well. After all, he only kept the best for himself...

His pace quickened a little, just a mere brisk walk now, as his beast's snarls filled the air - no doubt attempting to herd its prey in the man's direction. He honestly wouldn't be surprised if his beast had managed to nip or bite either prey once or twice during the herding. After a few minutes, the man came to a stop, just within the shadows, and crossed his arms under his cloak as he awaited his beast to lead the prey towards him. He, himself, was athletic enough to give chase on his own, but he just didn't really feel like it all that much currently. So here he stood in the shadows, waiting patiently for his beast to complete the command. Afterwards he'd be able to question whomever this being was once they were brought to him, though in the meantime he'd take to waiting.

The man remained where he was as his beast continued its work, soon enough witnessing the form of a young person running in his general direction. He shifted a little to somewhat step out of the shadows, which apparently caught the person's attention for a cry for help fled from the person. He was silent as he just stood there, waiting for the being to come closer and until he could see his own beast come into sight. Once he could see his beast, as well as another canine, he uncrossed his arms and slipped one out from beneath his cloak. He lifted his gloved hand up into the air, snapping his fingers once.

That simple gesture was enough to cause his beast to quit its assault and bound over to his side, circling behind him to stand at his side while growling lowly and drooling quite a bit. After a moment the man lowered his and and peered down at the young person, a girl perhaps, with his face concealed from the shadows of his hood.

"Who are you?" He questioned quietly, his voice smooth and soft yet held a hint of danger as well. He remained where he was as he kept his eyes on the girl and the creature, his own monstrous beast just ready to lunge again. "I suggest you try not to run or...do much of anything else. It would be ill-fated for you." He added after a brief pause, his hand moving to rest on his beast's head lightly.