Days passed by, and there were no more attacks. The rain had also stopped, but the temperature was still cold and there was always the threat of fresh rain. Bonnie hadn't seen Damon in almost a week, when one day after school, he appeared at the gates, leaning casually against the wall. As Bonnie and her four friends walked past him, he took hold of Bonnie's arm and pulled her to one side. The boy she was with made a grab for him, but Damon managed to dodge the attempt easily.
"Get off of her, man!" he snapped.
"Its okay, Matt, I know him!" Bonnie said under her breath, turning to face the blond boy, "just go on, I'll catch up. I'll be fine!" she added when she saw him about to protest. Elena tucked her arm neatly into Matt's and continued in the direction they had been going.
"Long time no see," Bonnie smiled, turning back to Damon. He nodded and flashed her a dazzling grin before signalling for her to follow him in the opposite direction to the way her friend's had just disappeared.
"There's been another incident," he said as quiet as he could as they strolled towards the village.
"I don't hear from you in almost a week and the first time we speak, you bring good news," she grinned sarcastically.
"Bonnie, someone's been killed," he said.
"Oh."
"They're ruling it as a murder. The body was found practically stripped to pieces. Looks like the girl was killed by 'dogs and people' the police are saying," he told her solemnly.
"This creature is getting stronger isn't it..." breathed Bonnie, stopping short and looking up at Damon's concerned eyes.
The barking wouldn't stop, so Meredith rolled out of bed and stormed down the stairs. She slammed open the back door and stalked into the cool night air. Scooping up the tiny yapping dog, she turned to go back into the house when something moved in the bushes just to the left of the door. Her heart turned to ice and the small dog in her arms went crazy. She dropped him to the floor and he snapped at the figure looming up before her. She tried to run, but the man reached out one long arm and clapped a hand across her mouth before the sound could escape.
"Now, Witch, keep your mouth shut or you die," the deep, gruff voice threatened and Meredith struggled against the tight hands which now grasped at her throat as well as around her mouth.
"Come on, let's get her to the Forest," hissed another voice, a much higher pitched voice. Meredith tried to fight against the painful grasp of her capturer, but it was far stronger than her and it wasn't making any effort to not harm her.
"Too much noise! Just do it!" the high voice snarled, and the one holding her let her go. But before she could scream or run, it brought a heavy fist down across her head. With a squeal of pain, she fell to the damp grass and the last thing she remembered were cold, slanted black eyes before the darkness took over her...