Hello again.
Wow this a big chapter, when writing this I was aiming for at least 5,000 originally but I don't know what happened as It just spiraled until eventually I ended up with over thirteen and a half thousand... Oh what fun that was to write.
But anyhoo it's here so to those that like long chapters, voilà - to those that don't... Sorry.
If you make it to the end, I applaud you and a metaphorical cookie to you all. I hope you all enjoy and seeing as it's almost fourteen thousands words long, and peep's aren't to tired to could I get at least five comment's for this.
I do so hate asking but I'm trying to make this my most reviewed story of all and so do need your help, also it helps me make it better in regards to questions, direction of how the story goes and any input you might want to see.
I shall leave it here and once again. Happy reading,
:)
"What the hell took you so long? The sheriff is busting our balls over here!" The second wagon finally made it to the small village as the prisoners all looked on with defeated faces and expressions of complete fear. He pulled the horses to a stop in front of him as the man looked up.
"Well"
"Sorry, a loose tree in the road had me delayed." He rolled his eyes and grumbled before waving his hand to move on to where the first wagon was. He moved the reigns as the horse started walking again and directed them to the other cage ahead. From under his helmet he could see the first group of captives; he could see the ones that had run into the woods to protect the children and his eyes narrowed in anger.
He scanned the group as he slowed to a stop once more. He glanced at the cage before gasping, his brother was in there. His eyes widened as he could see the dirty blonde hair of Zachery as the other man stood dejected with the rest. He was sure he had gotten away with the group that had run off into the forest.
His knuckles gripped the straps but he was there to do a job and so looking away he forced himself to carry on as he jumped from the seat he made his way to the back and busied himself by checking the doors a final time making it so the people inside couldn't get out as he turned away satisfied that a few of the guards had seen him before walking away.
"Come on – leave them lot. They're not getting out; let's get a few drinks whilst we wait." He nodded mutely and followed, making sure to give one last glance to the locked cages before entering the building. Once the guards had gone Regina moved from the middle of her place within the second cage to the front.
She glanced around checking that the area was free of any authority before turning to the group. "Ok, so you know the plan… you know what you have to do?" The rest nodded making her smile. She glanced around before turning and shimmying her way to the door before holding her hand out. With a small flick the lock clicked and the door swung open as she sat up a little straighter and turned back to the group.
"Ok – spread out around the building and wait for the signal. I'll get the rest… just don't get caught." She moved back a little as one by one the wolves jumped from the wagon. She helped the children down to the adults as they took off running across the dirt path and over to the shade as they hid and waited. Regina looked around slyly once more before following suit as she jumped from the cage.
She ran as quickly as she could to the other cage as the ones inside looked on hopeful. They had seen the others break free and rush off as she helped them for their prison before she moved on to them. They had also seen how she had opened the door with a mere flick of her hand and knew that if she had magic and as they had seen – had been helping the others then she would help them to.
Reaching the side she glanced to the door making sure nobody was coming out before looking back to them. She eyed the small group trying to see any of the three as she spoke as low as she could.
"Ruby"
Waiting she called again when no one came. "Ruby!" Finally movement made her smile wider as a scuffling inside followed by a few people moving as the girl in question pushed her way to where Regina stood.
"Regina?"
The raven haired girl smiled and nodded. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged and replied nonchalantly "Was in the area and thought I would see what the fuss was all about" Ruby continued to stare at her stunned. "What? How did you… how did you…"
"Find out?" She nodded dumbly as the other girl smirked. "Well on my way to see you I saw a deer and so on the way back I was going to go find it… I only got halfway before I heard the screaming."
Despite her situation the other girl couldn't help but quirk her lips in a smile. "So you're here because you were thinking of food?" Regina glowered a little before eventually shrugging and muttering that it wasn't the only thing before shaking her head.
"Not all of it – the point is that I was there, I heard and now I'm here to save you." She looked at her on a whole looking to see if she had any injuries before looking back up, her once concerned expression slowly turning into one of steel as she glared at her friend.
"So this was the thing that you tried to keep me from was it?" The brown-haired girl saw the look and sighed, she knew that Regina were annoyed with her; she was annoyed with herself… not to mention scared for her family as she nodded.
"I didn't want to worry you and we were leaving…"
"That's not the point!" She spat harshly cutting her off. "The point was that I could have helped you from the start. If you had just told me then I would have been there with you, none of this would have happened."
Ruby nodded. She did know… she just wanted to keep her safe. They had been hunted for so long if any of them had gotten wind of Regina and heaven forbid actually saw her other side. Then King George would have been told and surely would have gone after her to.
"I didn't want anything to happen to you." Regina scoffed as she looked on slightly disbelieving. "Ruby, need I remind you of what is happening? It's you that's stuck in a cage right now and I'm on the other side."
"Only because they don't know about you and that I sent you away." She had to give her that. If not for her then they would most likely be after her now to… not that her act of kindness mattered now as by the end they would know exactly who she was.
"Well it's not like any of that matters now does it." Ruby stared at her not liking her play of words. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that by the time I'm done. They will see my face as the last thing before I end them."
"Regina" Her warning tone went unanswered as Regina moved round to the door and with another flick the door swung open as they didn't wait for her to help as they piled out. She stood at the side before nodding with her head as they took off in the direction of the others just as Agnes made her way slowly to the door.
"Regina"
She turned her head before moving to help as she took the elderly woman's hand. "Thank you my dear," Regina merely smiled as her grip tightened before helping her to the ground with Anita steadying her from inside the cage. The middle woman didn't need help as she jumped down before standing in front of the girl who had saved the. They didn't speak as their eyes met before very slowly, she nodded.
"Thank you."
That was about as much as her acceptance as she was going to get but for Regina it was all she needed as she simply nodded again. Ruby jumped down joining them.
"What now."
"Tobias is in the inn with the rest of the guards—" Both wolves turned to look at her,
"Tobias?"
She nodded seeing both frowns of confusion on their faces before explaining that she had met him when she had run back to the clearing and saw the guards rounding them up, she had helped him fend off a man who was trying to strangle him before dragging him to cover as she would have needed his help for her plan.
"He's making sure they stay in there until I had gotten you all to at least someplace safe which wasn't a moment too soon apparently as he overheard that the sheriff was coming personally."
Ruby felt a cold shiver go racing up her spine as Regina informed them. She had heard tales of that man and none of them were pleasant. If he was arriving to take them personally then she feared that some of them wouldn't have survived the journey if in his care. She gave her friend a grateful smile and inwardly knew she would forever be in her debt for saving them and was glad that she had come back.
"When they come out to find that you all have somehow escaped. That is when we get them."
"We?" She turned to her friend before tilting her head to the side. "Well, when I say we what I really mean is I will get them…. With a little help from a few of the more able bodied that are waiting for my signal."
The two looked on in silence. It seemed that she had thought it all out and once more were glad she was there to help as she turned away to look at the still closed-door of the tavern.
"You two going to hide or what." Anita glanced to Ruby who nodded as the older woman looked back to the other girl. "We'll make sure that the rest are well hidden." Regina nodded still staring at the door as Anita tugged on Ruby's clock as they moved away. Regina heard them leave before setting off to get in position, she made sure that both doors of the cage were open as she picked up a medium-sized rock.
She stood in front of the window and peered inside making she kept to the side so they didn't see and narrowed her eyes as she searched for Tobias. She found him sitting with his back to the window as he nursed a tankard absently watching as the guards inside reveled in their good job and catch of the day. Once she had spied him she took a few steps away before throwing the rock as hard as she could at the window.
It hit the glass before shattering as the force from the hard stone pierced the glass before it hit the back of the in disguise wolf as he sat waiting. Feeling the harsh pounding on his back he knew that she had managed to break them out and stood as the others had jumped to action on hearing the shattering sound. They saw the broken glass now littering the floor before up to the man it had hit.
"What was that?" One of the men who had been heavy on the drink managed to slur as they looked on. Tobias bent down to pick up the rock and inspects it like planned before looking up and out the window. His face drops as he points to the outside before shouting.
"The prisoners have escaped!"
That had them all moving as hoped. Hearing that their captives had gone had them all scrambling to the door, grabbing their swords as they moved. Outside where Regina had heard the first half of the signal she waved to the others as the fighters of the groups moved from their places in the shadows ready to pounce. The door yanked open as the men rushed out.
"Where the hell did they go?" One shouted on seeing the empty cages. They drew their swords on instinct as they took to looking around the surrounding area. As they did Regina moved slowly from her place at the side of the building, she focused her efforts on the guards and counted nine of them. Before she swung her arm gathering her power enjoying the sounds they made on feeling themselves being pulled back by a force and slammed into building.
They hit the hard surface before falling to the floor. The sounds of groans coming from them as they moved limply on the ground. She waited for them to eventually pull themselves from the floor and gather their swords before moving her head as they found their weapons ripped from their hands. Cries of confusion replaced the pained ones as they watched their swords being flung from their hands and across the clearing.
"What the hell is happening!"
Regina rolled her eyes. Didn't they know an attack when it was taking place before swinging her arm out again and internally chuckled when they went sailing into the building once more. She edged a little closer but a branch that had been lying in her path unnoticed gave her away when she stood on it and had it snapping under her weight. The men closest to her turned to the direction and she cursed.
One of them must have had better eye perception then the rest as he pointed in her hiding spot. "Over there! Someone's there!"
"It must be the wolves… They're hiding." Biting back an insult that was resting on her tongue she decided that it was time to go on the attack and so darted out of her space and ran across the clearing, much to their delight as they all scrambled up and charged after, thinking she would run into a dead-end as she raced down the small path and around the corner where the other wolves had waited.
It seemed that on hearing her position being found. Tobias hadn't waited and so rounded the others who were willing to fight as they moved into place before moving as she darted around the side of a smaller building with the guards tailing her, she ran past them as they moved slightly making a space for her to run through before coming to a stop.
From their places, Ruby was watching terrified for her friend who was standing behind the waiting men. She was desperate to go out and help them. To help Regina who had stopped to her knees in a bid to catch her breath. She knew her friend wasn't the fastest of runners and so tired quicker when she did as she made to move when a hand that shot out in front of her saw the oldest of them looking sternly at her.
"Granny"
"Don't even think about it." The words was hissed angrily forcing her to her sitting posture as she glared back. "She needs my help… I could fight them to!" Agnes shook her head determinedly. It was bad enough that the other girl, the one who she saw as a second granddaughter, was out in the open regardless if it was her own plan and it was her that had saved them she wasn't going to allow Ruby to go out there to, not when she could help it.
"It's bad enough her being out there I will not allow you to go and get caught once more, you hear me" The sudden sound of yelling had them turning back to see the royal guards had finally come round the corner only to crash into the awaiting group, they collided hard as soon the fighting broke out once more with the rest of the hidden group looking on with extreme trepidation.
Regina stood at the back looking over the fighting as she waited silently. It looked like a no brainer, the wolves' of course having the natural advantage. Was steadily pressing them back. But it seemed that out of all the kingdoms that had armies which were all, King Georges weren't as incompetent as they looked. Despite being weapon less they had a good knowledge of hand combat and so weren't so weren't going down as easily as they would have liked.
Amidst the fighting. One it seemed, had managed to sneak his way through the ongoing scuffles and was slowly making his way to the girl at the back he had seen her running and now waiting so knew that she must have been a part of the plan if she was with the others. He also had a very good memory and so didn't recognize her when rounded up with the others on capture.
Her clothes weren't like the others and so he guessed that she had to have been the one to set them free. He crept his way around, taking care not to alert her as she waited he had no idea why she was just standing there but if he could just get the jump on her then it might be worth it. Ever so slowly he eventually made it so he was in a good enough distance he could take action.
She hadn't seemed to have noticed him or heard him which made him smile as he climbed the small ladder that led to the roof of the building they had waited behind. It wasn't that far to the ground and so he was taking the Ariel approach. He crawled his way across and very slowly lifted his head to see her still waiting, he smiled once more before ducking back down and carefully getting to his feet.
He could hear the commotion and yelling still going on and so was thankful it was distracting her as he took in a deep breath and gripped the side as he prepared to launch himself from the top, with another deep breath he silently counted down from five he got to one and jumped.
He screamed as he fell from the top and landed harshly on the ground. In the space where Regina was meant to be as the girl in question had taken a few chosen steps back on hearing his heart beat wildly, if he thought that she hadn't noticed him then he really was stupid. But it didn't matter now as he lay in front of her a mass of broken bones. The ugly sound on impact had her tilting her head somewhat satisfied, she looked to see that the guards were now tiring.
As good a fight as they had put up they didn't have the stamina to compete with natural predators and so found their bodies tiring as they fought more sluggishly. She smirked with glee as now they could finish with this lot. Waving her hand the man in front of her vanished and reappeared near the side of the building, out of the way of the others before she took off running, she ran around the other side of the building and back to the tavern where the cages were waiting.
Anita turned to Ruby on seeing the other girl vanish.
"She's a witch?"
Ruby turned on hearing the questioning tone and felt herself shrinking under the glare her Mother gave her. It was one of the things she had kept from them when they had first learnt of her new friend, she knew what the older woman was like and so if she was suspicious about a simple child back then she dreaded to think what she would have done if she had told her about Regina's magic.
Even with the withering look she still felt it was the best choice she had made.
"Err… Yeah, she has magic."
"You didn't think to tell us this before." Agnes turned to look at the middle woman admonishing the younger girl and went to intervene. "Really Anita what harm could she have done."
Said woman then turned her stare on her own Mother. "What harm… plenty Mother, in case you haven't forgotten she is also a Dragon…. Not the purple one which makes her the second people have talked about. Now she has magic on top of that, powerful to, just imagine the damage she could cause."
The grey haired woman scowled at the inaccuracy of her words. "Damage my foot! Anita that girl could have chosen to harm us long ago if she wanted, heck she could have even chose to hurt Ruby first time she saw her, but has she?"
She waited for her to answer and arched her brow when the other woman gave her a dark look. "Well has she?"
"No" Though she said it with great reluctance as Agnes nodded feeling justified. "No she hasn't… She was just a child, the same as Ruby I am betting. Feeling lonely and wishing for a friend, she would no sooner harm Ruby then that other I'm now sure she lives with. Hell she even jeopardized her life to safe us… even when we were short with her to begin with."
The middle wolf couldn't deny the risk she had taken in coming back. She had put her own safety in danger when returning to safe them and though she knew it was for Ruby's benefit she did, she couldn't help feel grateful in spite her reservation on learning about her magical abilities. A cheering erupted which had them breaking from the conversation to see the rest of the pack celebrating as the last of the guard had been put down.
Regina could hear the joy from across the other side where she was busy setting up the cages. She smiled as she knew now one half of the danger was out of the way, the other half rested with the Sheriff. She thought about the man who would have gladly handed over her friend and family to that man for gold and her hands clenched on one of the bars denting it slightly.
There was still time. He would come and they would get their revenge. She set about finishing her task. It wasn't just for Ruby she was doing this, it was for Maleficent and herself was well. She was sure that what Tobias had said was true, that once they had been brought to him it would have been a matter of time before turned his attentions to the last Dragon.
Well, two now as she too had heard they had been sighted flying back from the North. She cursed the fact that they had travelled in the day instead of the cover of night, but they really did have to leave. She stood back – she would just have to make sure that no one saw her near the castle and put two and two together as she threw up her hands and both cages along with herself, disappeared in purple.
Whilst she had been gone Tobias had the others round-up the now out cold guards and pile them in a corner. The ones that had been killed, piled in the other. He was busy looting the last of the coin from the man's pocket when cries of shock and confusion had him looking to see the familiar purple materialize from nowhere before very soon Regina appeared once more, cages in tow.
Zachery, who he had saved first moved over to his brother, shock on his own face only to see the neutral look on the older man's "You said that she helped you?"
Tobias turned to see him and nodded. "Zachery eyed the two metal cages that had been his own jail half an hour ago. "You knew she was magic." Again he nodded.
"She saved me from being strangled. She lifted the man right off me like he was nothing to her before dragging me to shade." Blue eyes zoned in on the raven haired girl as they took in her small frame and the question of how she had managed to pull a man twice her size of his brother when she herself was only tiny.
"Thank you for saving me." Tobias looked back to him before shaking his head. "Thank her, without her there it would have been both of us in cages." Blue eyes observed the girl now conjuring thick black canvases from thin air earning amazed looks from the children and apprehensive ones from the adults.
"I don't think she mean's harm." The blonde nodded his head slowly. "Ruby's her best friend."
"Really?"
"Hmm-mm, met when they were younger, been friends ever since hence why she came to save her." Zachery chuckled and looked to the girl wolf that was with her Mother and gran.
"Lucky Rube's"
"We're missing a man"
Everyone's eyes swiveled to Regina who had moved over and counted the weapons that now lay on the ground. Her eyes narrowed as she mentally checked the swords before standing.
"What do you mean… has one of ours—" He was cut off by the shaking her of her head as she nodded to the fallen guard. "One of theirs."
The news caused panicked mutterings as the women pulled the children closer once more. Both men hurried over to where she stood. "How do you know?"
She lifted her head to look at the serious man as she indicated to the pile of steel on the ground. "There are nine swords here."
"So" She turned to Zachery who had shrugged. "There are only eight men, and there isn't any back at the tavern because I was just there I would have seen." She sighed and turned away contemplating for a moment before looking back to them.
"One must have escaped… He must have gone and gotten help." Her dark eyes met the light green of Tobias once more.
"Gone to tell the only man whose in probably fifteen miles of this place."
"The Sheriff." She nodded grimly causing now more panic within the group. Sighing she faced the outer way, to path crossing to the boarder before running a hand through her hair as she tried to think. The two brothers came over to her as the rest of the pack spoke among themselves.
"What are you thinking."
She stared hard at the empty path for a few seconds longer before facing them. "Ok, what do we know about the travelling distance from here and the next village over the line?"
The two looked at her before each other than back at her before shrugging. Her hand itched to slap them but knew it was the frustration talking as she shook her head.
"Alright – fine… does anyone else know about the villages around here?" A few turned to the others as a few shook their heads… 'Some pack' she thought snidely as she looked at them. She was about to turn around when a sandy-haired woman took a few steps forward.
"I know that the next village from here that's over the border is around thirteen miles…" She broke off when they looked at her,
"Nine miles." She looked at Regina. "Give or take."
She smiled at the other woman. "Ok… right, well that's a start." She tried to work out how long that would take for the Sheriff to arrive given the length he had to travel. But with people depending on her she found it a little intimidating which was a first and so shrugged working it out. She looked back at the people in front of her.
She had people willing to help. She had magic, she had time… limited that may be, and she had the element of surprise. Though he might have learnt by now that the wolves had broken free. He didn't know about her, who needed a plan.
"Ok, here's what we're going to do."
A few miles down the road. The man who they were plotting against. The Sheriff, was racing his way as fast as he could to the pickup point where his bounty was waiting for him. Well, should have waited if not for the fact that he had been told upon a guard of the royal army meeting him halfway that his prizes had escaped.
He had deliberated on whether to wait a few hours and relax. But decided that this task had gone on long enough. He had worked for weeks to try to capture the wolves but for weeks they had evaded him and he was getting angry. He wasn't known for his patience and his temper was even worse, he felt they had been mocked by the savage mutts and now the tables had turned in his favor.
When he had been told the news that he had the pack in cages that had been delivered to Ver Atticas, he wasted no time in rounding up his men and horses and soon was on his way.
But now his elation at having caught his bounty soon turned to horror. And the masses of gold he had been promised as reward for his efforts went up in smoke. It couldn't have been possible and without pause took off down the path to the village, his men following as fast as they could.
His persistence paid off as soon he came up on the line but gave it no heed as he raced over it, wasn't like he needed to ask anyway as he carried on never stopping pushing the poor horse to its near limits before finally coming to the village. He yanked on the reigns forcing the animal to a stop as he looked around the deserted area.
It was silent. Far too silent as his eyes raked the expanse of the small village, not even any of the natives were out which didn't really surprise him as anyone who had gotten wind of a pack of wolves being set loose would be cause for anyone to flee as he jumped from his saddle.
But not him, not when he had a lot at stake for this.
He started slowly to walk further into the middle. His gaze never letting up on everything in front of him as he walked the sound of thundering and hooves and shouts told him that his men had arrived as they rode up next to his abandoned horse.
"Sir"
he held up his hand before signalling for them to get off their horses as they did what he asked. His second joined him as the dark-haired man scanned the area again.
"Sir, what is it?" he didn't reply instantly, he looked to his right and then to his left before he glanced at him over his shoulder. "They never left."
"What do you mean." The Sheriff smiled his thin lips forming a twisted smirk. "They haven't left the village yet."
The other man looked at him puzzled as he took a look around trying to see what the other man could spot that he hadn't. "I don't…"
"No footprints"
"What"
"If they had left… gone back to their little rat holes. Then there would be footprints leading the other way," He pointed to the road that led back further into the White kingdom.
"Take a look…" The other man peered past him his eyes narrowed as he looked along the road. "Only wagon tracks, not a footprint to be seen."
Finally the man got it as his own smile started to form. "So what do you think."
"I think their trying to trap us." The other man turned back to look at him.
"Turn us into the hunted… the prey becomes the predator once more." He let out a low rich chuckle that echoed around the empty clearing, as he took a few precise steps forwards and faced the front with his head held high.
"They may have outsmarted those idiot men… Didn't really think them to clued if all honesty so that was a given. But if they think for one second that they can fool me, they are going to realize just why the rest of the realm fear me"
The man behind him grinned as soon they moved back to the waiting group never seeing the dark eyes watching them from the shadows. Regina had told the others that had planned to fight again to take to the trees before turning to the others who were needing to hide that in order for her to keep them safe, she had to send them by means of magic.
That didn't sit too well with some as mutters of consternation began to arise only stopping when Tobias insisted it was the only way, when they didn't look all that convinced Ruby chose to step up and vouch for her friend. In the end they agreed and with them all standing tightly together, the dark-haired Sorceress engulfed them in another smoke cloud as they vanished from sight.
"Where did you send them?"
"Just a few hundred feet out of the village… as long as he doesn't see any footprints he's going to think you all still here." Zachery smirked at her plan before moving and hefting himself into the nearest tree per her advice as the rest followed suit as they hid themselves from sight and waited.
The rest who had hidden watched as the Sheriff's group talked among themselves for a moment before once more the man broke from the group, he made his way back to the middle and spoke loud and clear.
"Come out, come out wherever you are."
From his place in the trees Tobias saw Regina shake her head a little telling them not to move just yet. Normally he would have just jumped down and struck seeing as there wasn't really a true leader for the pack. Each bringing a little to their little family, but on his deciding to trust the younger girl he found that she had some smart ideas and so far had proven her worth.
It helped that she had magic on her side and could take down guys twice her size – how he still didn't know but wasn't going to question it as he settled back and waited, if she said hold back he was going to hold back.
"We're not going to hurt you, we just want to talk." Though his face told them all a very different story as he looked around, he turned back to the others as they shrugged not knowing what to do as the Sheriff sighed, he was getting frustrated, he wanted his bounty if they weren't so valuable then he would have condemned the little savages to hell by now.
As it was he couldn't, and he wasn't leaving until he got them back, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to vent his irritations out on them along the way.
"Curse these insolent fucks" He muttered under his breath. Not that it made any difference as they all heard it; he turned back to the awaiting men. He didn't speak but signaled for them to spread out as one by one all of them moved away to different parts of the clearing. The hidden group refrained from moving still, they watched as the men dispersed and got further away from each other.
They were also waiting for her confirmation. Regina shifted the tiniest bit as she stared at the men underneath them. She didn't really have a whole plan other than what she had done with the cages. But she could still improvise… the way they had split up actually helped as each man became more vulnerable on his own and would be easier to take out.
As they disappeared from sight Regina knew it was time. She raised her hand and moved two of her fingers in a downwards motion as Tobias saw the signal and repeated it to Zachery as it spread around, very carefully they descended from the trees taking care to move slowly before moving with carefully timed steps into the clearing.
The two brothers looked around making sure they couldn't spot any of the Sheriffs men which to their fortune they didn't as they all made their way to the middle. The regrouped as Regina looked at them pointedly; as their eyes met she gave them a really small nod of her head before speaking.
"Ok – now that they've gone I think its best we get the others and get out of here." The rest nodded their heads and went to move when deep laughter made the freeze momentarily before they spun around to find the tall stature of the Sheriff standing just across from them with his men all lined up behind him.
He smiled widely as he took in the ragtag group clearly made up to try to fight him before the youngest in the center who happened to be Regina who glared.
"Well, well isn't this a welcoming committee"
He saw their murderous stares and chuckled deeply. They didn't scare him. "What, no hug?" Zachery had to hold back on the guy next to him as he made to move. The sheriff looked at him with cold eyes and smirked.
"You know I have to say as much as I'm glad you stayed to greet me, I'm also a little surprised." They didn't move as he took two steps closer making his already tall frame seem even larger.
"I got to say, I had expected you to have run already. What with your lucky breakout. I would have thought you to have been halfway back to your little rat invested pit you call a home by now."
He reveled in the reaction he got as this time it took both brothers to try to calm the other man down as he looked on. "But then again if you're taking orders from a woman of all things than I guess it's not all a wonder you stuck around."
Alduin was roaring inside. How dare this insignificant man demean their being just because he was unfortunate to have been stuck inside the body of the opposite gender, oh how the purple one back in the castle laughed on learning that he was male stuck in a female's body. It had irked him but that was the price and as much as he would have liked a same gender vessel, the fact she had magic proved a more than worthy addition.
Now he was mad. All he wanted to do now was reveal himself and show him just who the weak one was as the man gloated. But as he couldn't he would just settle for rumbling threateningly and glare so much that maybe he could kill him by stare alone.
"But as I said. I'm also very glad you stuck around, makes it all the easier for me to reclaim what had almost got away." His smile turned vicious as on his word the men behind him pulled out their swords and readied themselves for a fight.
"Time to put you dog's back where you belong."
A few hundred feet away and in a place just out of sight from the road. The rest of the pack that the raven haired girl had sent away was waiting anxiously. They all appeared from the cloud a little dazed and confused as they had never traveled from once place to another so fast, even when in wolf form as a few started to complain.
"What did she do?"
"Where did she send us, where are we."
"She had no right to do that. What if something had gone wrong, she could have killed us."
"I feel funny" The last came from one of the children as his Mother bent down to tend to him just as Ruby moved away. She knew Regina only sent them like that if she had no choice and as much as it still unsettled her own stomach at times – she knew it had ultimately saved them as she faced the crowd.
"Ok look, I know none of you know who she is and that yes, having magic is something most of us have not been around and therefore are not used to. But Regina is my best friend; she would never willingly harm any of us or put use magic on us if she didn't think it was necessary, and at the time it was."
The rest looked at her as they listened… a few feeling a little bad for distrusting the girl who had risked a lot to help them.
"I trust her with my life and with proven point." She held her arms out in a showing of what she meant. "We are here because she's out fighting for us, it was our battle and she chose to involve herself because she cared. Before we started our journey I was horrible to her, I made it so if I was mean she wouldn't want to come back, I was wrong and I'm glad she did otherwise we all know where we would be right now."
Many nodded their heads and lowered them in shame as he berated them. "She can beat him. I know for a fact she can and when it's safe to go back. I'm going to show her just how grateful I am for her saving us."
She moved back over to her Mother and granny leaving the rest to mutter as the two older woman looked at her. "You think she can?"
Ruby turned to look at her Mom before scoffing. "How can you say such a thing when we both know that she could wipe him out with her magic… hell even with a swing of her tail if she chose"
"I never said I didn't dear, far be it from me to doubt her now all I'm saying is that with her being as secretive about her… personal life, she wouldn't want the one man who has pretty much the royals blessing to discover her secret."
She never thought of it like that as she turned away and looked through the trees. Regina would never give away who she really was and that would put her two biggest advantages against them out the window. Could she actually take them on in just her human form?
It took her a few seconds of thought but she nodded. Like she said, Regina was her best friend and she should have been the last person to doubt her, she nodded more determinedly and turned to the others.
"I know she can."
"FUCK!"
Zachery pulled back hissing harshly as the sword sliced along his arm and cut into his skin. The others all turned on hearing his curse to see the sharp steel slice along his bicep and drawing blood as it began to stream down his arm. The man who struck him looked smug and the Sheriff pleased.
Tobias launched forwards and pulled him back before any more damage could occur as he winced on his own inured foot. They had fought for ten minutes now and they found themselves struggling, it seemed the first fight had them drained and they were trying hard to keep up with the second lot who had far more energy as they moved about, dancing around their battles.
The Sheriff waited back as his men pressed forwards. He was delighted they seemed to be winning, but he found the situation slightly suspicious. He didn't get to be the Sheriff of Nottingham for nothing, nor did he get to have the royals favor by simply charging at his enemies. He was far more cunning than that.
Which was why he found this to be far-fetched as he watched another of the wolves get hit. As much as he hated saying it, they were beasts of the night, supernatural beings that held far more extra strength then normal mortals did in their entire body. His men were well-trained in fights – that he saw to but even he knew that they shouldn't have lasted long let alone even had the upper hand.
Something else was going on it couldn't have been this easy, and as he looked on at the warring groups, his eyes fell on the only girl as she stood on the other side. He had a feeling it had something to do with her. Regina glances over to see the piercing stare burning into her courtesy of the black cloaked man.
He did strike and impressive figure. Standing tall with a calm demeanor that seemed to ooze intimidation, it was easy to see why a lesser man would have run from him. But she wasn't a man, and so instead of feeling the ice that should have frozen her by the stare. She merely graced him with a smile.
If he was angered by the gesture he didn't show it which had her grudgingly respecting before a yell had her looking to see a rivulet of blood go spewing across the floor as Thomas, the impulsive man from before reeled as his chest was the next casualty.
"Shit"
He was pulled back but not before staggering as they moved away from the sword wielding men. Tobias turned to Regina with a desperate look in his face.
"What now?"
She faltered for a moment before glancing up to the other men. The Sheriff still hadn't made a move in spite of his obvious impending victory, he saw the slightly worried look on her face and the nibbling of her lower lip, she seemed nervous. It still had him inn two halves but as she looked to them with slight panic, part of him thought that maybe she didn't know what she was doing after all.
Why they followed a female he would never know and it baffled him to think but that was the difference between him and these dogs, he didn't allow a weaker gender to tell him what to do and he were feared by near everyone. They clearly did and now he was them in the corner.
"Regina!"
She broke from her thoughts and looked at them as they waited by her. She nodded in silence thinking before looking over her shoulder and to the tavern behind them. It wasn't the ideal place but at least it would give them a sort of defence as she faced them again.
"Retreat to the inn."
They looked at her sceptically as they heard the order, the stares didn't go unnoticed. "Look it's not the best but if it gives us at least some time we can come up with a plan."
They didn't complain but they also didn't like it much but nonetheless they helped Thomas move as they moved back and to the inn as the others watched them enter the building before shutting the door. The Sheriffs second turned to the motionless man as he spoke.
"Want us to go in and finish them?"
The taller man didn't answer. Something about all of it still seemed not right; it was all way too easy for them to have given up like they had and a part of him, the part that had saved him more than once told him it was a trap. But as he looked he could see that the inn was pretty much land locked by dead-end alleyways, and the back was a stone was cutting it off from the rest.
Unless they had a tunnel that allowed them to escape he didn't see any way they could leave and so he let his guard down and ignored the calculating side of him as he smiled.
"No, let's wait a little first shall we." He moved for the first time since the beginning as he reached into his cloak and pulled out a small silver flask before pulling out the top with his teeth, he glanced to his second and lifted the canister a little.
"By letting the dogs fester in their own made traps, it will make our victory all the sweeter.
In inside the blocked off building they had their wounds healed by the smaller girl who had apologized for the wounds that they had to endure before patting Tomas on his arm cheerfully as she finished the gaping cut on his chest as it disappeared leaving nothing of the bleeding gash it had once been.
"All done" He looked down at his now clean chest before smiling. "Like it wasn't even there"
He stood up and cracked his neck a little before moving away as she faced the rest of them. "So what do we do now?"
"Well, now that they successfully think they have us boxed in like a couple of rats, and take however long to congratulate themselves on a job well done. There is nothing we can do but wait."
Zachery grumbled under his breath earning a smile from Tobias. He was never one for patience as he patted him on his back in a show of sympathy as Thomas to scowled not liking the next part as he spoke.
"Well can't we I don't know – do something… you know to pass the time." The rest looked at him before glancing around, it wasn't like there was a lot they could do as Regina mused on their dilemma. Who knew how long the y would have to wait for them to stop puffing each other's ego up if they looked anything like the self-glorifying fools she thought they were.
Glancing around the empty room she pursed her lips before an idea hit her. Focusing her magic she waved her hand as a table materialized followed by chairs before setting them in the middle. She waved her hand again as tankards were next along with a few barrels she had spied at the back of the tavern before adding the last to what she thought was the perfect pass time.
She moved over to the table and picked up the cards that lay on to before turning to the others who had looked at the new additions in stunned silence before giving them a devilish smirk.
"So, anyone good at these things"
Twenty minutes went by and the men outside were starting to get restless. Sure they had been in standoffs longer than this but with the others there was some action to be had, here all they were doing was standing and waiting. Jason, the Sheriffs second turned to his boss as the man stood and watched before speaking.
"Are we going in anytime soon?"
The dark-haired man turned to look at him. Normally anybody who spoke like that to him would find themselves strung up but the blonde man was good at his job, it was hard to find another committed to his duty and the clean-up would have been too much energy so simply just took to staring as he waited for him to carry on.
"It's just – the others are getting antsy and to be honest, I think we have wasted enough time. It's clear they are not coming out and if we let them, they could be in there for as long as it takes for us to miss our deadline."
Still not saying anything he went over what he said. It was true that they would miss their deadline if they entertained the mutts any longer by letting them stay inside. But as he glanced back to the inn and the empty window something struck him by once more being suspicious. But for the life of him he couldn't work out what it was.
They couldn't have escaped. That much was clear as they had nowhere to go. But it also looked like they were no longer in the building, a niggling had him telling him something was up but as he looked to the sky, he saw the sun over them and knew they had wasted long enough. He was putting a stop to it and now.
Nodding, he pulled out his own sword and moved so he was standing at the side of him.
"If these little shit's weren't worth their weight in gold then I would have put them down long before this" He snarled and moved forwards, Jason hurrying to catch up.
"But seeing as I can't, let's go put them back in their kennels instead shall we? We've humoured them far too long."
As he marched towards the door, the rest following in his wake Michael, the final member of the little rebel group glanced out to see them coming and smiled. Finally the last part of the plan could begin.
"They're coming"
Regina looked up and smiled as he re-joined and took his seat as Zachery threw his card into the middle. It would not be long before they could finally finish this and go back home as pounding on the door began. They continued playing their game and swigging the ale in the tankards as the thumping increased on the closed-door.
Eventually they managed to break the lock but found resistance in the form of a few other tables as they rammed the door trying to shift the obstacles behind it, finally with all their joint efforts they smashed through and charged through the door.
They stood stock still on the sight that greeted them as the Sheriff pushed his way through only for his eyes to widen uncharacteristically on seeing the fugitives not fighting for their lives like they should have been or even in the corner, weak and wounded. But sitting in the middle drinking and playing cards
For the first time in a very long time the Sheriff was stunned just as Regina lifted her head and grinned on seeing their new guests. "Oh, you made it than."
Hearing her speak he turned his head slightly to see her cheerful grin still in utter disbelief as she continued. "What took you? We actually thought you had gone home so we started without you." She lifted the deck in her hands.
"If you're playing then you'll have to wait until the end unfortunately." He stared at her his mouth agape at her lax stance. Shuffling behind finally had him coming to his senses and on hearing how she had spoken to him his anger increased.
She had the gall to mock him. A woman, she had the cheek to sit there and make a fool of him in front of his own men. He glared at her with loathing and on seeing her pay absolutely no attention to it, served to rile him up even more. She would feel his wrath when they had finished with them here and drew his swords higher.
"Forget the bounty; just kill them where they sit." He snarled he had enough of them. It had been more trouble than it was worth trying to capture them again and he had an appointment to keep with the insolent little woman.
"Keep the bitch alive until last… Before she dies a lesson is sorely needed in manners."
Her joyful smile turned quickly into a look of venom as she returned the glare. None of them moved for a few minutes in a stalemate before finally the Sheriffs men went first, they rushed at them causing the others to move as they pushed their chairs back sending them clattering to the floor as Thomas picked up the table and chucked it at them.
The oncoming object had them diving to the side halting their attack before they proceeded in moving in on them. The others had moved to the very back of the room as the last stand of their whole plan fell into place. The Sheriff smiled as finally he had them cornered before moving closer.
"Finally, you have nowhere to run." He stepped to the front and raised his weapon smirking once more at the girl who was on the other side. He eyed the positions and snorted.
"Even in your last moments you would allow a woman to be at the helm. If I didn't hate you I would pity you for being weak." He heard the snarls that caused and laughed.
It only occurred to him that whilst he got a reaction from the male wolves, the only female one hadn't so much as bared her teeth. In fact she had never taken her eyes off him and he found himself drawn into them oddly.
"What's the matter? Little girly can't take a joke." The sound of laughter rang out again but still she didn't move a muscle. The deep dark eyes bore into him before finally after what seemed like eternity, she smiled, it was slow coming, but soon her mouth curled as a feral grin spread across her lips.
"What's so funny bitch."
She glanced to the man who spoke up before her eyes turned back to the Sheriff as she let her own acerbic chuckle escape.
"For a man who is known for his logical thinking, you sure didn't see the warning signs did you." The rest of his group looked on at her, their smiles dropping slightly at her words as they glanced back and forth from her to their leader.
He hadn't said a word but now that he had witnessed her knowing smirk and cryptic words, his sense of rationality was coming back tenfold as his alarm bells screamed at him. Despite his better judgement he stood his ground and replied.
"I'll admit for a woman who has played a very good game in a man's sport, you should have learnt to quit when you needed to before you got hurt."
Not fazed by his words she replied. "Weren't you already planning to teach me a lesson in manners? Not that it matters much now… not anymore."
Curiosity and the weird feeling to humor her was what kept him from moving anymore. "I'll bite and just why is that"
"You really haven't caught on have you?" The mocking in her voice had him grip his handle but forced himself to be calm much to her amusement as he lifted his head to look back at her.
"Not much has been on my mind other than finishing you mongrels off." The men standing at her side narrowed their eyes at yet another insult but didn't move as she shook her head urging them back.
"Well that my dear Sheriff, was the first mistake you made… and also your last."
"Enough of this! Tell me now or I'll forget the lesson and kill you first!" His patience had finally run out making him snap, he glared at her as she stood up straighter and with another side smirk which he wanted to wipe of her face she leant a little closer and spoke.
"If this is this place is the tavern that you have us caught us in" She looked around the small pub room before back to him. Something in the way they looked now was telling him that what she was going to reveal would give them the upper edge, the slight coldness running down his spine kept his posture stiff as her eyes met his.
"Then, good sirs, just where exactly are the cages used to bring us here in the first place."
Her answer greeted with silence as they looked at her in confusion. All kept their gazes on her expect the man she directed the answer to, he was now glancing around the room. She never took her eyes off him and delighted in the paling of his face as he realized just what she finally meant.
It had dawned on searching that though it looked like a pub, apart from the table and chairs in the middle. Nothing else was actually in the room; there were no other sets of chairs, no carpets, no darts board on the wall… no counter in which the ale was kept behind.
How had he not seen it he would kick himself into his sure grave as he spun around. "IT'S A TRICK!"
It all happened it what seemed like slow motion after that
His men who had looked at her faced him on hearing him shout. As they did he pushed them to the door trying to get them out as it shut before they could making him stop as he looked at the now shut door, he turned to face them and as he did he finally saw the victorious glint in her steely eyes and in front of their stunned one's they vanished as her purple cloud overtook them.
The wolves disappeared from the room leaving the Sheriff and his men as soon the inn itself changed, they looked on in confusion and slight fear as the walls seemed to melt, they changed color and size until eventually the wooden walls of the tavern became the solid metal bars of the cage that had been used to house the wolves on what of would have been their own trip to the other kingdom.
Confusion clouded their minds as they spun around wondering what had just happened as it all came so suddenly. Noise had them turning in their prison to find the four wolves and the woman who had played them – now very clearly not a wolf if what they had just bore witness to was any indication.
The small ragtag rebels stood on the other side gloating at the now trapped Sheriff and his men. Enjoying their win over the imposing man. The man in question had nothing to say, what could he say. He was man who liked to win, who did whatever it took to defeat his enemies and would go as low as the floor itself in order to get one over on his victims.
But now on seeing her stare at him with self-satisfaction over her sharp face. He knew that he had been outplayed and so merely smiled at a battle well won. Some of the others didn't share his sentiments.
"Filthy witch!"
She turned to stare at the man pressing himself up against the bars and staring at her with hate. She took in the wildness of his eyes as he glared at her with enough venom that it almost stung, if she cared.
She used two first fingers to push him away from the bars as he was moved and struggled against his will before she pulled them back in and savored the clang as he smacked into the metal and fell to floor knocked out from where he had hit his head.
"Anyone else… something to say?" Everyone stared at him and wisely kept their mouths shut.
"Good, now – Sheriff."
He met her eyes as they sparkled with glee before she spoke again. "As it seems you're in a bit of a tight spot. I think you have time to listen to what I have to say." He didn't say anything but a slight dip of his head told her that he was all ears.
"I know my magic was an unfair advantage in this little fight of ours, but in all fairness, you started it and so asked for it." He didn't say anything but his expression told her he acknowledged her words allowing her to carry on.
"Now – as much as I would love to keep you alive until last… you know for educational purposes," He graced her with a small smirk.
"I'm afraid it's not my lesson to give. For what you tried to do today, and for the past few weeks, you have to answer to these." The men behind her all stood up looking eager as they glowered at him – all waiting for their chance at the man who hunted them.
"The rest whoever, if they will allow – I want to take care of." She glanced over her shoulder to the nods of consent. It wasn't them they were bothered about; as long as they got the Sheriff they didn't care what happened to the others.
"All right then… I hope you learnt something today." She stepped a little closer to the cage. All traces of her glee gone as she looked on at them.
"If you wanted monsters, then you really shouldn't have stopped at the wolves."
The clearing filled with cheers as the rest of the pack returned from their hiding. It had taken a while but eventually Thomas had sniffed them out to tell them of their success much to the relief of Ruby and Granny, even Anita as they made their way back to the village to see Tobias, Zachery, Michael and Regina all stood in the middle unharmed and safe with the cage that housed the man who had made their lives hell.
They jeered their new captives as Ruby ran and engulfed Regina in a bone crushing on seeing her. The other girl braced herself to catch the weight before they broke apart and she looked to the men inside the cage.
"It's all a bit of a poetical justice don't you think?"
Ruby turned her head to see Regina smirk at the defeated prisoners. "What is?"
"Well look at them. Trapped in the very cages they had brought specifically for the sole purpose of taking you to the king in." She had to laugh a little as the brown-haired girl looked back at them and a few seconds of musing she nodded and joined in the laughter.
"Who here thinks we should start teaching the good Sheriff his lessons now!" Cheers went up around the tiny clearing as the two looked back at them as Tobias turned to Regina.
"If you'd do the honours, please." She smiled in compliance as without looking back at them she brought the man from his cage and into the middle as no sooner as his feet touched the ground, he was pounced on by the angry brothers who held him tight.
"Enjoy your teaching's" They turned to look at her as she detangled herself from Ruby, "I have a feeling it's going to be a very intense practical." Ruby snickered a little as Regina smiled at her before moving back a little.
"As much as I would love to stay, I really have to be getting back, have a few guests that my friend would love to meet and I would be pained to let her miss such a visit."
Her last few words were directed at the caged men as they shifted a little at her evil grin. With a few final words to Ruby who insisted that they could make their own way back and thanking her once more for saving them. She went, but not before getting pulled into one last hug from Granny who was a lot stronger than she looked before she allowed her to go.
With a smile she held on to the cage and vanished from sight. Taking her spoils with her as they were transport from the clearing, because it was such a long way from the mountain and it wasn't flying she had to make a small detour as she landed back in the familiar forest of where she and Ruby frequented before making the final trip home.
Except she didn't go home, instead of appearing outside the castle gates she landed in a small desolate spot on the other side of the woods. It was situated in a small dip in the mountain and was hidden nicely from view unless you knew where it already was as the men who weren't used to such means of travelling, struggled to get their bearings before looking around their sudden and new surroundings.
"Where are we?"
She turned back to the dirty blonde who had spoken as she smiled and shrugged. "Somewhere we won't be bothered"
They all turned to look at her at hearing her words as she moved to sit on a rock in front of them. "What does that mean?"
"It doesn't matter." They shuffled a little more at her vague answering before taking to looking around the place they were once more only realizing the lake behind them.
"Beautiful isn't it?" She leant over a little and took in the stillness of the water as it looked so calm and tranquil, such a shame to disturb it as she stood and idly wandered over coming to a stop at the side of them. She happened to catch their gazes and even though they were in a cage, a few of them were looknig around at the scenery.
More fool them.
"I come here when I need to think about things that I can't talk to others about… I come here when I want alone time from those who piss me off and I feel like ripping their heads from their bodies." She chuckled at their looks before leaning up on the bars.
"I come here to hunt sometimes… got some good deer in this place… once I caught a stag and— well, that doesn't matter either," She laughed once more before wandering back to her rock and sitting down.
"But sometimes… if I do have the company, I come here to talk. And that is exactly what we are going to do."
The men trapped gave each other little glances before looking at her, they didn't know what to expect but chatting wasn't one of them… not after she had given the Sheriff up to the wolves baying for blood, but if it may be spared them than talking they would do.
"What about?"
She lazily shrugged. "Oh, a bit of everything really. The weather, the people we meet… how our days have been" Now thoroughly confused, the men shared more glances with each other and wondered if she had gone mad. They had been bracing themselves for pain as she seemed like the type to inflict a lot of it but here she was sitting and wanting to talk about the weather.
"Oh! Here's a topic… How about we discuss just what our good neighbour king George is getting up to."
They snapped their heads back to her at her words. She smirked at the colourless faces before carrying on." I want to know if the rumours are true."
Now more hesitant to speak she watched them fidget more before eventually one did reply. "What rumours."
"The one about him building an army, the fact he is planning a war on the White's" She looked at one to the other as they stayed silent.
"Well it's more of a confirmation really because I have it on a good source he is, I just want to know why"
They still didn't say anything. It was getting annoying as she waited, either they didn't know and she was wasting her time or they were very loyal to their king, something which she doubted and was about to start threatening them when the firs spoke again.
"It's true that he is waging war, and that is collecting as many supernatural beasts as possible so that it will be easier for him to win… but what reason we don't know."
She nodded slowly, the explanation sounded genuine. Why would mere lackeys of the Sheriff know why the King's reasoning for war other than a need to piss on his territory and then some, leaning back she eyed them silently, if they had been tasked in gathering the wolves then they must have gone around getting others.
"What else has he had his eye on?"
Knowing it was pointless to try deny they spoke. They told her all they knew about the plans that they had learnt or been told as part of their job, it surprised her he was trying for the Ogres and snorted at his stupidity when his envoy came back with half missing and ones's that did without limbs, but that wasn't what she wanted to know though it did help, what she really wanted to know was what she would ask next.
"What about the Dragons"
Their heads lifted a little on the mentioning of the creatures. She smiled inwardly as one swallowed uncomfortably, they faced each other as she once more waited, finally and with the verbal threat of breaking hands did Jason – the blonde haired man answer.
"They were his next move." She smiled; finally they were getting somewhere and turned her attentions to him as her gaze pierced his.
"Did he give you the job of trying to capture the beast like you tried to with the wolves?" They bristled a little on the word 'tried' clearly these were proud men but he shook his head.
"No, he was going to send more experienced people to try to subdue it only to realize that it was no longer in its home." His words chilled her a little and she focused her entire attentions on him making him move in discomfort not that she noticed or bothered with as she went over his words.
"What do you mean by that?" He stood a little alarmed by the whispering of her words, how her voice had gone strangely quiet but still with the threat of broken body parts, they didn't comment.
"He had a scout come and see if the beast was in its castle. But he was told that it had left and hadn't been for five years."
"What does that mean…? He was told, who told him" He flinched as she stood from her seat and over to him. He pressed back as she neared. "Tell me and I might just not break you whole arm now!"
"I don't know, he just said that on asking around, somebody said that the Dragon had left about five years ago… where no one knew."
She looked to the floor, thoughts racing around her head. By someone did he mean from the castle or could have that just meant someone from the lower village? She glared at the ground as she tried to work out what that meant or could mean. But as she did he was brave enough to speak up again.
"But now he's learnt it's back once more." His words were cut off with a squeak as her hand shot through the bars and grabbed his collar, he winced as his chest hit the cage and her face lowered next to his. He flinched once more at the deadly gleam in the abyss that was her orbs as sweat broke out over his head.
"The next words that come from your mouth better be everything on what he knows about the Dragon." He stammered a little but cringed as her grip increased and he shook his head wordlessly.
He divulged to her all that he knew about what information the King had received on Maleficent. She listened as he told her that apart from the usual he knew where she lived, which everyone did, he also knew about the helpers she had which made her think back to her first possible theory but that went out the window when he spoke his next sentence.
"He also knows about the other."
He couldn't help but close his eyes at her intense stare before a yank on his shirt had him opening them and on her silent promise of pain he began to talk.
"Ever since the Dragon came back a few weeks ago, people from all over have claimed to have seen a second one flying with it." She internally cursed herself as he spoke.
"He heard it from people in his court that there is now another living with it and though it may be smaller he still thinks its powerful if it lives with the last great beast of the realm. Which is why he has them both down on his list."
"What's he planning to do." Her sharp retort had them both silently wondering just what her obsession with the Dragons was, but as it was and them at her mercy they didn't verbally say it and got back to answering her questions.
"Nothing as of yet. He plans to send more scouts though; once he had the wolves he was gathering enough people to make the journey as you know… Getting a Dragon isn't easy"
'If only they knew'
After getting every last drop of information from him. She released her grip on his shirt and moved away, they watched her as she moved from one side of the space in front of them to the other in deep thought. She would have to tell Maleficent this; once she got back she would let her know everything and her theory about the help when he spoke up.
It seemed he wasn't as afraid to speak much… just not in close proximity to her as she faced him. "Why the questions"
She eyed him slowly, making him silently regret asking as she arched a brow and shrugged. "You could say it's a personal interest."
He frowned at the 'personal' word wondering what she could have meant. "So wait, do you know the Dragon."
It sounded stupid as how could anyone know a large beast on a friendly level but it made her smile nonetheless as she stared at him. He looked at her and it was something in the way she was smirking that had him thinking, after all she had magic, so maybe actually being chummy with a dangerous creature was something she knew very well.
"Well I don't normally share on a first date – after all a girl has to have some secrets, but since we've spent so long in each other's loving company, I think I can let you in on just why I asked"
He had a feeling as she moved back so she was a bit away from the cage, a deep pit that gnawed in his stomach that what she was going to do next would be far worse than what she had done so far.
"You said people have claimed to have seen the Dragons from afar?" He nodded slowly making her smile.
"Well aren't you in luck, you're about to get the up close and very personal showing, of just why I'm so interested."
The next few minutes of his life were the worst he had ever experienced. He had heard that people saw their lives presented to them before they died and he scoffed the notion. But now as he stared at the fifteen foot Dragon that had replaced the girl seconds ago, it wasn't his life that he was but his very real death, and how it had bent its head so low he could see the shimmering purple of its eyes.
The men were terrified and three at least had pissed themselves. But none cared as Regina rolled her eyes and blew a billowing cloud of smoke in their faces as it washed over them making them whimper. She stood right again before changing back as soon she stood once more their size.
"So you see, that is why I'm bothered about his plans – it bothers me very much, my friend also and it really would just be rude if we had uninvited people coming and trying to poach us."
They didn't speak, all still in too much shock as looked over head, the sun had gone well beyond the noon line and she was getting hungry, being a hero was ravenous work and she fancied seeing what the blonde had cooked up.
"I know your all good boys; you wouldn't tell anyone my little secret would you?" Through their stunned silence a few managed to shake their heads, it was good to see them so completely petrified, it felt like she was done a productive day and so sighed content.
"You don't know how much it pleases me to hear that." She slowly made her way so she was standing in front of them once more. Her face this time having grown a little somber and serious.
"But coming from the people who were willing to give my best friend over to a tyrant for money, forgive me if I don't take your word for it"
Moving two fingers and watching as the cage lifted from the ground slowly. She pushed her hand out as they floated over and above the water, moving out until they got halfway over the lake. Once more they woke from their stupor to see just where they were now and had started shouting.
She watched as they tried to break free and pulled on the bars of their prison which was also soon to be their coffins as she looked at the one who hadn't even made an attempt to break free.
"I like to think myself a person who would take a secret to the grave." She waited through their panicked screams and yells before bringing the cage to a complete stop just as their eyes met once more.
"I thank you for taking my one to yours"
Before she pulled her hand away and watched as the cage plummeted into the water. She heard their cries of mercy and screams before the splash as they hit the icy lake. It slowed on impact before it floated for a millisecond and then began to sink, soon their cries were drowned out as the last thing Jason ever saw besides his executor, was not his life, like most others, but his regrets.
One of them was signing his name of the Sheriff's list all those years ago as it cost him a family.
The other was what the first led him to, and the girl that they had the final misfortune of crossing.
Hope everyone liked.