So I've had this in my drive for a while... I really like the idea, but I wasn't sure what to do with it. Still not entirely sure, but I've decided I'm not going to let that stop me anymore! I've got a lot sitting around to share with you guys that I haven't because I'm not sure where it's going, and I think I'm just going to start posting it now. May as well flood the archives with stuff based on the true AF (even if they are AUs) before that movie comes out and gives everyone twisted views, hm?

Anyway, if you want to see more of this then let me know what you think! Like I said, I think I'm just going to start posting stuff, so it's up to you guys to motivate me to keep going with some of it! :)

Prologue

Artemis was on the prowl.

Well, technically that wasn't true. Before he had been only trying to get home, but now he was prowling, on his guard, because he'd just realized he was being stalked by predators. His only predators… his enemies. Other fallen magical creatures.

The night air ruffled his fur as he slinked forward, nearly silent and low to the ground. He could sense them nearing him, and by the light of the full moon, he could make out a few shadows behind his own when he glanced over his shoulder. Some of them looked human. Others were as small and discreet as himself. But it didn't matter; they were all there because they were following him, and they were all dangerous. Not that he was really afraid - he knew he could take them easily - but they were pesky and persistent enough to do some damage before retreating.

Well, they were on his tail now, and there was no sense in waiting time and energy prancing around and trying to shake them. No, he couldn't do that. Not only would they not budge, but he'd give away that he knew they were following him. That wouldn't be good at all. No, instead he'd play a game, and lead them along into a nice little trap. If he could get them on comfortable ground for him, then he would be able to take them out easier, and he'd have more later spoils.

He crept forward, following a familiar but diverging path from the way home to another place in the forest. He pushed and belly-crawled his way through the greenery and shrubs, finally escaping into a clearing. It was cool and wide spaced, the ground wet from the rain the night before. It was also completely surrounded by trees, and in the distance, his sensitive ears pricked at the sound of rushing water. There was a river nearby.

What was also nearby, a lot closer than it should have been, was a girl. It was a little girl, too, even smaller than toddler sized but obviously alone. How did she get out here by herself? Could she even walk?

Of course she could, he realized, with some concern. She was a magical creature. An elf. He barely caught a glimpse of the pointed ears when she looked up at the sound of his entrance. Her hair was long and red, but mostly tied back, with only a few stray fiery curls escaping her messy bun. She looked at him, wide-eyed, and then behind him and gasped.

It was then he realized that he'd forgotten his pursuers. It had only been a split second, but had been enough; they'd crept up behind him, half surrounding him in a semi circle. He lurched forward, and, surprising himself in the action, snatched up the girl by the collar, tossing her a few feet behind him and turning to face them in her place with a ferocious snarl.

His eyes swept over the group surrounding him. This group was smaller than most, only two wolves and four vampires. It would be an easy kill, but he'd have to be careful. He couldn't drink the blood of the vampires. That would be poison to him. The wolves were his normal feasts, but there was not so many this time. It would be hard fight if he wanted to really keep them alive to drink from them. But then he remembered the girl behind him. Maybe he wouldn't have to keep them alive…

One of the vampires launched at him. He clamped his wolf jaws down around the neck, snapping it in an instant, and then tossed him aside. He spat the blood from his mouth as he ran forward to meet the next one.

In the end, it was an easy fight. He snapped two other vampires' necks and ripped the final one's heart out. One of the wolves he took down with a few scrapes and bites. The other escaped.

Artemis threw back his head and let out a howl. He made sure it was long, drawn out, and utterly releasing. Howling always felt good. It was a safe, easy way to pour out all emotions through the voice without having to actually think of words to articulate in with. It was all in the one simple, solid sound.

He stopped when he finally ran out of breath. Of course, he probably wouldn't have when he did, if it weren't for the shock of feeling something touch him. He jumped, and his howl cut off abruptly as he turned his head to face the source.

It was the girl again. She must have snuck up behind him, and he, lost in the howl, hadn't noticed until she touched the back of his tilted head. Artemis snapped and growled a little, lowly, hoping to intimidate her, but she just stared at him, one hand still raised as if to touch him again.

Artemis stared at her, moving back slowly, and then with a sigh put his head in her hand. She squealed a little and hugged him. "Soft wolfy," he heard her murmur. "Good wolfy."

He let her cradle his head for a few minutes, but then slowly pulled away, aware of the predator's eyes on him. The vampires whose necks were broken weren't dead, just wounded, and neither was the one wolf that was still in the clearing. If they thought he had a weakness for this girl - which even he admitted that it would look like he did to prying eyes - then she'd become a target in the future, no matter where she went or what she did, even if he never saw her again. And even as easy as the fight was, fighting was draining. He wasn't altogether sure how well he could defend her again tonight if that other wolf came back with reinforcements.

He turned to face her and looked up at the girl. She stared back at him, her hazel eyes wide with a mix of different emotions. Although, strangely, he didn't see any hint of fear in her eyes; curiosity, maybe, and fascination, but not fear.

He shook his head a little, and, frowning, knelt his head to take her sleeve between his teeth gingerly. He tugged little and made a soft sound, almost a whine, trying to get her to follow him. He needed to get her out of the clearing and in the cover of the surrounding forest while they still had time.

Slowly, she followed him, allowing him to lead her by the sleeve into the nearby trees. Obviously, she didn't think she was in danger. Technically, she wasn't. He wasn't going to hurt her… Well, he wasn't planning on killing her, anyway.

Pulling her into the forest again, he released her by a tree, which she immediately backed up against. He slinked around the tree and shifted back to human form. Half a second before she turned and saw him, he sprang around and slammed her back into it, his teeth sinking into her neck smoothly.

The girl gasped and threw back her head. He felt her knees give out beneath her and immediately put his own against her stomach, holding her up, pinioned against the tree as he sucked the blood from her body. It was sweet, tangy, but more potent than he was used to. It must have been because of the kind of magical creature she was. Her blood was blended different and contained more magic than werewolves, which was what he was used to. Not that he was truly complaining. It was delectable, and he knew that even after this brief taste, he'd soon feel the urge for more.

But that was to be dealt with at a later date.

He drank until he felt his strength returning, then let her go. He'd had enough, and she was so small, anyways. He'd probably taken too much already. She was unconscious, completely oblivious to the world around her, and as such he would probably have to stay with her until someone came for her, otherwise she would never get back on her own.

He shifted back to wolf form and waited.

It didn't take long for somebody to come for her. Maybe fifteen minutes, at most, before a young man, obviously also elfin, came barreling through the trees, yelling what he presumed was her name. Artemis sat back on his haunches and walked behind a nearby tree, watching silently.

"Holly!" A short, dark haired man ran over to her and knelt down, putting his head on her chest to listen for a heartbeat. Obviously relieved to find it, he sighed and sat up, pushing some of her red curls away from her face. "What an idiot," he muttered, shaking his head. He reached down and slid his arms under her, hoisting her up and started back the direction he came.

Artemis watched him until he disappeared from sight and then walked out from behind the tree, heading for the edit of the patch of trees again. His head was spinning, and he could still taste the mouthwatering flavor of her blood on his tongue. What a night, he thought, then strode back through the now-empty clearing, heading for home. He made back without another incident and collapsed into bed without even changing back to human form, exhausted, but, for the moment, sated.