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"Stay alert Max"  Danny Sampson whispered to the large German Shepherd at his side.

As if resenting the question of his alertness the dog pushed his head into the back of his master's knee.

"Alright, alright, I didn't mean anything by it."  Danny answered.

They had been called out for a home invasion but thanks to a raised bridge and some rather uncooperative traffic signals the man had fled by the time they arrive. Even with the blue and twos raging.

"Unit Bravo-Three-Sierra we have arrived at the location, no trace of the suspect but we'll have a sniff around for a while see if he isn't just hiding somewhere. Can you send a car to the other end of the estate and watch the exit onto Hollow Grove. There's a small bike path that seems to be the preferred escape route currently." Danny spoke into the radio attached to his safety vest.

The pair walked side by side, one had his nose low to the ground; trying to pick up a scent, the other with his head held high,  lighting up the hedges and alleyways that lined the street with his flashlight.

There was a crash from one of the alleyways up ahead. A trashcan falling over followed by the sound of footsteps slapping against the wet ground.

"Freeze police" Danny yelled as he caught sight of their suspect not far ahead of where they stood.

The man stopped and turned, caught beneath the halogen glow of the street lamps Danny saw the knife in his hand. Max did too, giving a short yelp just in case his partner hadn't noticed.

'I see it" Danny whispered under his breath.

The stand-off didn't last long, the man turned and fled.

"He's all yours Max." Danny commanded. Max didn't need a second invitation and burst into a run, his powerful body beating the ground as he closed down the gap between him and his target more and more with each leaping step he took. Danny followed behind but could not match the speed of his partner.

The man ran as hard as he could, he felt as if he would fall at any moment, his paces too large to be controlled, but the animal was chasing him and it was a beast. He looked over his should and could see it closing down on him; its  teeth were bared and he could hear it growling like a jet engine.

His lungs burned and his legs felt like jelly, but the man knew if he could make the end of the street then he could try to lose them in dense copse of trees that lined the local park. Hell he could even jump into the water and find a place to hide between the water-bikes that were moored together waiting for the start of summer.

Max knew he could catch the man, it had never really been a matter of if but when. He leaped, resisting the urge to sink his teeth into the man's flesh; he could smell the blood surging through his veins. Instead to brought his front paws down in the center of the man's back and sent him tumbling to the floor. The smell of blood became stronger as the man's face hit the road. By the time Danny had caught up with them Max had his jaws around the man's throat holding him in place. Squeezing hard enough but stopping short of breaking the skin.

'Good going Max" Danny panted, he was sweating slightly and breathing hard. "I'll take it from here." He said, as Max released his hold and stepped backwards. Barking once for good measure.

"You're getting quicker buddy" Danny spoke once he had the man handcuffed and into a sitting position.

"Yeah, it's almost the full moon so I'm much stronger than the rest of the month." Max answered. Danny turned around and gave a laugh. Max was standing on his hing legs which were still covered by the thick pelt of the wolf he was, while his upper half had returned to his human form.

The had been partner for 6 years already and Danny trusted Max more than anybody, but he still felt slightly strange watching his partner actually go through the change. It was the sound of snapping bones and popping joints� it just turned his stomach.