Well, time for the moment we've all been waiting for ;)

*Chapter Twelve*

~Fangs vs. Puggsy~

Cassandra pulled over by a lake, where to her relief she found her friend, Ryan, sitting by the bank, his jacket somewhat torn and a couple scars on his shoulder and arms. "Ryan! Are you alright?" Cassandra asked. "What happened?"

"I don't remember… All I can recall is some vision that I was this aquatic werewolf, got into a fierce fight, and swam into a lake until I found a sewer-pipe, climbing in and following a tunnel to a different lake to a town we were driving to," Ryan answered.

…Oh, did we forget to mention he's Aquaslasher's human-half?

Cassandra sighed. Great, he transformed back… and he won't be turning back for another ten years, unless he can control his transformations. she thought. Unlike regular werewolves, aqua-wolves could only change shape every ten years during the summer season. And unless their human part could learn how to shapeshift willingly (let alone even remember their identity), they couldn't change whenever they could.

"Now, tell me, Cass… where are we, and have you heard word from Matthew?" Ryan asked.

Thank God Ryan remembered their mission as well as Aquaslasher. "San Antonio. I haven't heard anything from Matthew. We were to meet in Dallas, but got ambushed by that Fondane fellow. You stayed behind to keep him back, and apparently got injured… yet still, miraculously, managed to trace me to a supposed location," Cassandra replied, sounding impressed on that last part.

"Shadowslasher, who are you talking to?" Sammie asked, poking her head out the car window.

"Shadowslasher?" Ryan questioned.

Cassandra sighed. "Yeah, it's my alias. 'Erica' and I decided to go by different names, in case Fondane was tracking us. However…" she walked over to the road. "When he was trying to follow us, I eluded him a bit too easily by hiding under a bridge. He just kept driving, not even slowing down, and came this way… as if he's trying to track down someone else."

"Well, if he's after someone else, why did he bother fighting us?"

"Probably knows we're after him. Those Veni-Con-Yei creeps know how to gather information,"

"Veni-who?" Sammie asked.

"They're a group of werewolf-hunters, lead by a man named Marlow. The Thorn family and their organization has been after them for years, ever since the Shereba Slaughter," Ryan answered.

Sammie gasped. "We've got to warn the gang!"

"I think they already know," Cassandra answered, loading a shotgun. "Considering, according to our sources, Vincent has been after the Bickerson family for a while, his goal set on Hunter. Not only that but Brielle- one of two of the last remaining Sherebas- happens to be an ex-VCY member, having run away after she and Vincent were sent out to kill part of the Thorn family."

"And if they don't know about the VCY, it's about time they did." Ryan answered, climbing into the vehicle. "Lets move out,"

Vincent stayed hidden in a tree that afternoon, keeping as discrete as possible, not making a sound or moving an inch as he spied on the house, waiting for his opportunity to strike. Only thing that was stopping him was that Matthew Thorn was in the house and, despite he had spared his family's life years ago, the hunter didn't want to risk being recognized… no matter how friendly he was towards Brielle. After all, she was the only VCY member who never harmed anyone- unless they got on her bad side.

Another thing that kept him from attacking was that Brielle was teaching Fangs judo- having been taught by an expert instructor while they lived in Japan, the hunter knew that she had methods that could put a man in a hospital within seconds, and if she were teaching them to a boy who could turn into a werewolf…

And then there was that loud-mouth. Good Lord above, did Vincent hate him the most! Oh, sure, he had his sights set on hunting the werewolves in order to protect Brielle from the VCY as part of a deal he was forced into… (long story). But, just when he had the chance to find Brielle and try to persuade her into coming back to him and fleeing the country under false names and starting over, that little JERK just HAD to steal her heart and drag her deeper into danger than she was before!

As he watched the gang for years, he noticed how Puggsy was always being harassed by werewolves, yet still didn't do anything except threaten their human-halves, and on some occasions Fangface would even eat him, and the teen would only snap at him. He had observed them long enough to notice the relationship the little punk had with his friends, (good heavens, someone find this guy a hobby!)

After what he'd see tonight, however, he'd wonder how long he'd have friends.

Vincent notice Fangs walk outside, breathing in some fresh air, feeling superb after defeating Brielle in one round of Judo (which either told the hunter that the lanky teen was stronger than he seemed… or Brielle's moves were getting rusty). How he wanted to shoot him, as a sign to the others that danger was near… but that's one reason why he withheld. He didn't want to blow his cover this soon.

Another reason was that loudmouthed, pint-sized, short-fused jerk was stepping out next, and Vincent planned on using HIS body as the message.

"Hey, Pugs, where've you been?" Fangs asked him.

"The seventh circle of heck, where else?" Puggsy replied, rope-marks imprinted on his arm. "I've spent practically this whole day tied up in the basement, and it took everyone long enough to hear me shouting to be let out."

"Yeah… the only reason we let you out was because your voice was draining out the television- and caused another quake in San Fransisco."

Puggsy gave him a glare. "Sure, crack jokes all you want, as long as you enjoy my suffercation."

"Who's joking? Luca's been calling Toni about it all day. …Besides, we're willing to ease down, once you do."

He only scoffed. "In order for me have to ease down, I'd have to be dead."

I could easily grant that wish, Vincent thought, his hand on his gun.

"Why do you have to be like that?" Fangs questioned. "I try to say something nice, and you just blow it off. I bet you don't even know how to be nice to me!"

"And I bet you don't even know how to work your brain… if you have one."

Fangs fumed. "ALRIGHT! THAT'S IT! NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY!"

Vincent nearly fell out of the tree at the sudden outburst. He figured Fangs would just roll with the punches and forget about Puggsy's insult, after watching them long enough (okay, forget the hobby—this man needs a girlfriend!). From the new reaction, the hunter figured things were about to get interesting.

Fangs poked Puggsy in the chest. "I am SICK and TIRED of you always putting me down! Well, if you're not going to act like a friend, neither am I! You're going DOWN!"

"I'd like to see you try to take me!" Puggsy retorted, balling his fists.

"I can and I will- considering your girlfriend taught me her moves!"

"I doubt you needed help… you already knew how to fight like a girl!"

Fangs prodded Puggsy again. "We'll see once I'm finished with you!"

"Stop poking me in the chest!"

"Make me!"

"Oh, someone just hit someone already!" Vincent griped to himself.

*BAM!*

Puggsy had punched Fangs, and the hunter sighed. "Finally!"

Fangs stumbled back, rubbing his face. "(grr) Let me take him this round, Fangs! You just started learning how to fight like a man… by a girl… but still!" Fangface said to him mentally.

No, I want to handle this on my own. Fangs thought in reply, glaring at Puggsy, who still had his fists raised. Brielle taught me enough. Plus, I've known Pugs for years… as long as I keep my mind clear, I can spot his every move.

"Ooh, ooh, you're right Fangs. (grr) If there's one thing you and me are good at, it's keeping a clear head!"

Fangs stood up, approaching Puggsy, his fists raised as well. First, a right hook- block with left elbow. Expect back-up punch from other arm, twist arm to block while swinging a right punch to the eye. Opponent will lunge in a rage, throwing a left hook to the gut- block, retaliate with an uppercut. In a spark of sheer fury, expect a tackle- lunge to the left and catch by the elbow, hooking right hand under the armpit in order to flip.

"…Wow! It's like something you'd see in a movie! You think it'll work, Fangs? (grr) Huh, do ya?"

Fangface, you're breaking my concentration!

"Sorry."

Indeed, it all played out the way Fangs figured- Puggsy through a right hook, but Fangs raised his elbow, blocking it, then twisting his arm to block a left-hook…

*Bam!*

He swung a right punch to Puggsy's eye. He stumbled back, a bit stunned, but shook it off. "Now you're in for it!" he snarled, and lunged, throwing a left hook to the stomach.

Fangs punched his arm downward at an angle- a block he moved in his karate lesson with Brielle- and then sent an uppercut to Puggsy's jaw.

*Wham!*

Vincent watched, a bit surprised and impressed. Fangs wasn't letting Puggsy make a single move.

Puggsy cried out in fury, and charged at Fangs to tackle him head on. Fangs took a stance and then shot forward, veering a little to the left and catching Puggsy by the arm…

*SLAM!*

…flipping him hard onto the ground. Holy crud, it actually worked! Fangs thought, surprised.

"…you mean you didn't think it would?!" Fangface demanded.

Puggsy stood up, rubbing his head. He turned to Fangs, his glare full of death. "No more playing. This time, I'm going to murdify ya!" he snarled, grabbing the lanky teen by the shirt-collar before he had time to even think. "What kind of fancy move do you have to get out of THIS one, pinhead?!"

Fangs smirked. "Easy. I'm just going to look up…"

"Look up…?" Puggsy followed his gaze, and paled. "Oh no…"

The moon was out.

Vincent leaned back, watching as Fangface swung Puggsy around in the air before stuffing him inside an old rain-barrel sitting beside the house. Apparently, Sherman has gotten stronger, he thought. He's not the same weakling as he had been years ago… and it appears that while he's gained strength, Puggsy has lost some of his own. I wonder what else will happen? (seriously, women- he's in his 40's, has black hair, knows several fighting techniques, and is way too single to be left alone! Someone give this man a life!)

Puggsy pulled himself out of the barrel, walking inside, storming up to Fangface. "…Well?" the werewolf asked, boastingly.

"You're right. You're not going to act friendly as long as I don't," Puggsy sighed.

Fangface grinned. He must have finally gotten through to him!

He shook his head. "I guess we're not friends anymore," with that, he walked off.

…leaving a crushed werewolf behind.

Vincent was the only one who grinned at the news.

(in place of WG is Brielle)

Brielle: Hi, readers. Standing in for WG, since, after typing that last part, she had a sudden heart-attack from her own suspense. …On the bright side, we finally got to see Fangs beat up Puggsy for once (ripping off that Sherlock Holmes movie all the while)… on the bad side, Vincent may use this as his advantage- if only it could drive him to find a hobby and/or a girlfriend.

Kassy: Hope you enjoyed Track, and prayers still with your husband!