Here it is, the new chapter.

Sorry its a bit late but with my other stories - I to have just been procrastinating on all and so finally got around to writing it.

Hope everyone likes and to all that wanted to see a bit of redqueen, hope you are appeased by my offering, enjoy. :D

I don't own OUAT.

Ever since the capture – torture and subsequent removal of the hearts from their chests – both Maleficent and Regina's little spies had been very good in delivering exactly what they wanted. Through them they used the men to listen in on private meetings, talks of plans that the King might undertake and possible allies that he would be trying to make deals with.

All in all for henchmen they seemed to be rather high up in the chain of command which led both witches into thinking that his army were nothing more than hired muscle and whoever he could blackmail into helping fight alongside him.

He had his own soldiers as every kingdom must but according to Jeffery, they weren't well equipped nor trained to the standards any reliable kingdom needed should war arise like it had done now - it seemed George was relying on brute strength to try to win this war rather than actual tactics. Regina had met with her puppets once a week in order to gain more information over the other man.

She had quite a lot to – written notes – sealed documents with letters to fellow royals asking for their participation and what he would give them in return… she smiled at all they had given her and letting them know she was pleased with their efforts, that if they kept it up she would give them their hearts quicker than what they thought.

She was about to leave when one of them – a man named Stephan, stopped her. She looked at him waiting to know why he had held her back when he spoke.

"I overheard… just in passing, that the King is planning to send his son up the mountain in a bid to capture the Dragon." She nodded knowing that they only knew of the blonde as the great one whereas the other - known about now – they didn't actually know was her and so she thanked him for the information knowing that it wasn't in his best interest to lie or try to trick her so knew it to be real.

She took everything they had handed over back to the mountain letting them return to the camp that lay just over the border – not moving any closer until they decided as she appeared back in the hall itself – she had been too tired to walk the way and so just transported all the way home as she moved over to the table and sat in the nearest chair.

She spread the papers out over the surface and sat down to read, leaning back in her seat as she picked up the first page. She let her eyes scan the writing as in it – the King spoke about still gaining Midas help but also a person named Cora, she frowned wondering who this 'Cora' person was when the feeling of someone standing behind her made her speak.

"Hello, Mal."

She smiled when she felt the eye roll as the blonde moved closer to the table. She looked down at the scattered notes as Regina still with her head down, spoke again.

"Our little minions are working wonders, they got all this and it's pretty much his entire plans for the next month or so." The older woman picked up the nearest sheet and began reading. Normally she would let the younger girl do all of this but she had just as much involvement in this as the raven haired girl, they were coming for her to and so she was looking forward to a bit of in-house entertainment when they did.

"Hey do you know who Cora is?" The Faerie lifted her head on hearing her speak. She met her gaze and frowned in thought as she tried to shift through her memories of anyone she might have come across named Cora, nothing was coming to her but then again it was so long since she had left her mountain let alone met another magical being other than the girl in front of her.

It was her choice to be reclusive it was the reason she had little to no interaction with magic users, and why she had no recollection of anyone named Cora as she shook her head.

"Can't say that I have why?" Regina shrugged still staring at the letter. "No reason it's just that in this one he mentions meeting someone named Cora and trying to gain her allegiance."

The blonde didn't say anything before pursing her lips. "Well let's hope she comes to regret that folly should she do so." Regina gave a half smirk as she put the letter down and shifted through to see what else she could take back to Jeffery as the other woman sat herself down regally in her head chair as Regina glanced to her.

"What's up?"

The other woman looked at her before replying a few seconds later. "We have, it seems – been invited back to the North."

That had her stopping her search as she lifted her head to stare at the older woman who gave her a tight smile. "Indeed, my face exactly – after last times horrendous debacle I thought for sure we had been banned for life… but alas, they seemed to have liked you regardless of what happened."

Regina snorted a little as the blonde returned it with a throaty chuckle. "So what do you think?" She tipped her head slightly in thought, a frown of contemplating across her regal face before she replied.

"I think we should go." That surprised the other girl. "Really? You kept complaining about how cold it was, even with your shockingly fat arse keeping you insulated."

She had to yank the pages from the table and wave them in the air to extinguish the flames that had singed the sides before lifting her head to scowl at a darkly glaring Maleficent.

"What do you that for? We need these."

"Next time don't call me fat arse dear, otherwise it won't be just the letters in burn." Regina rolled her eyes and dropped them back on the table

"Yeah you keep saying yet I'm still here."

"For now." Another eye roll. "So you want to go back."

She nodded. "But after we have secured our home first. We deal with these peasants before we go; nothing says relaxation like spilling a bit of blood and maiming some idiots."

She had to concede at that. "To true."

The blonde left soon after that. For the first time in a long time she had decided to go hunt for her dinner and so left with a wave out the doors leaving Regina to her reading.

It didn't take her all that long until she sorted what she was taking and what was useless and so sent up in flames with a flick of her wrist. She picked up what was left before moving out the door. She would be heading out to the Whites castle early so she could speak to Jeffery before the King could, she had come to like the other man over their shared time together and so knew she could trust him but that didn't mean she could anyone else.

"You coming"

She turned to look at Ruby who was watching her expectantly. She turned to the empty hall that led to the general's chambers before back to her friend. "I will; be with you, just need to speak to Jeffery."

Ruby sighed but nodded. For someone who thought the war pointless and a monumental waste of time she sure had changed her attitude… she felt like she was losing her friend the more they came here. Sure they may have cut down their visits with this being the first in over a week, but still she did miss Regina.

She smiled half sad before nodding. Regina frowned on seeing the gesture and moved over to her, "What's wrong?"

Ruby lifted her head to meet her eyes. "Nothing, it's nothing." But the other girl wouldn't be deterred. "Ruby I know you, I know when you're sad and you're sad… or at least thinking sad thoughts so tell me."

"I feel like I'm losing you as my best friend." Regina blinked in silence and shock at the sudden declaration as Ruby looked back at her wishing she hadn't said anything.

"Whoa – where did that come from? Losing me? Ruby you're my one truest friend how could you possibly lose me" The wolf girl shrugged and ran her hand through her hair, a sure way of showing her stress as she replied.

"It's this whole damn war, it's got everyone on edge and with you going to speak to the general of all things, I just think you prefer his company over mine." It took a few seconds for her to get over the shock still but the other girl eventually spoke.

"Ruby that's stupid. Yes this war is getting everyone down… but you and Snow are trying to cheer everyone up, it's what I love most about you - Well not Snow as that can't be taught but still… no one is worth more to me than you, I just need to speak to him about something I've learned and then I will be wherever it is you end up… I'll find you."

"Promise?" She laughed and nodded. "Promise."

Ruby smiled wide and leapt at her for a hug before pulling back and smiled once more before taking off up the stairs to Snows chambers, dodging the mass of people swarming up and down the stairs. Regina watched her go before looking into her pocket to make sure she had the papers with her before she turned and set off down the hall, to dodging people as she went.

"Here"

She pushed open his door giving no pause to knock as she moved and took the seat at the other side next to his small desk. He jumped to his feet from where he had been lying and doing sit up's and looked at her speechless and wide-eyed as he looked at the open door and then back to her as she leant back in the chair.

"Do you know how to knock?" He looked to her and got a shrug in reply. He dropped his head to his chest and sighed in resignation before moving to shut his door and turned back to his new guest.

"So what was so urgent you saw the need to burst in here?" She lifted her head to meet his gaze. A slight furrow in her brow at his words. "…Need? There was no need,"

He sighed once more before moving to sit on his bed. He really should have known by now what she was like and faced her "Fine… what was so important you felt the need to barge in here"

She smiled toothily which always reminded him of a predator before pulling out the papers from inside her cloak and tossed them to him. He used both hands to catch them to his chest as she rested her back against the table.

"Something I think you'll find beneficial to this insipid fight."

She waited cross armed as he looked down at the small stack she had procured and grinned as his face went through a mix of expressions – confusion to wonder to shocked once more before resting on realization as he hurriedly flipped from one page to the other before back to her.

"Where the hell did you get these."

She stretched out her legs as he waited for her to answer. "Let's just say I have a very good eyes, ears and hands within George's camp."

Jeffery looked at her, tilting his head as he tried to work out just who it was that had just come through his door as he looked down to the now damming and vital information they would have given their right arms for – not to mention it might have cost them a few good men – now he had it sitting right in his lap and delivered to him by a young woman who he realized, just now he had no idea who she was.

Sure he knew her name and that she was friends with the princess. But it was this, the battle tactics she gave them and the help that proved invaluable… he didn't have a clue who really lay under the surface and it had him slightly worried.

"How"

She opened her eyes and lifted her head from the back of the chair. "What"

"I said how. I mean no offense to you, I don't – but how did you manage to make allies with people fighting against us in a war when we… I can't get men close to the border and over long enough for them not to be seen and killed."

She sucked the inside of her mouth as she listened. She didn't like where this was going. All she wanted was to give him the dam papers and leave what was so bloody hard about that. But of course he had to be nosey, and it wasn't like she was going to tell him about the torture sessions or the heart removals as so far she had managed to have kept her magic from everyone sans Ruby who already knew.

"Look just trust me when I say that I have… I can't say how because than that would mean me giving away more than I'm prepared to, but just go with it." He looked at her in silence before looking down to the pile of evidence in front of him. It really was a lot more than what he was sure any of his Intel could gather in weeks… if he had any of course.

But was it really worth the indiscretion – was it worth not knowing and just turning an ignorant eye to whatever she might be doing in order to win? He pulled in his lips sucking on them in thought. It wasn't the way he would have gone about it but with each day more and more people were getting killed and he hated seeing the sight of families destroyed.

In the end he made his choice but he hoped for the sake of his moral guidance that his trust in her wouldn't be at the cost of others' lives if he could help it and nodded.

"Ok"

She smiled, pleased at the outcome as she settled back down again. "What's going on outside" He looked up from the table to see her questioning face – it had reminded him actually that he didn't have a lot of time left to spare and so stood before moving to the other side of the room. He started gathering up his Armour, throwing his belt over his shoulder as he spoke.

"Todays the day we move out."

"What does that mean?" He looked back at her for a second before reaching for his sword. "It means that this war is about to become more real. We can't just sit back anymore and keep getting reports of the small attacks here and there. If we want to stop him altogether then we need to go and meet him head on."

She stood and moved to where he was busy with his small daggers and making sure they were sheathed, "So what? So you're going straight to him. Don't you think that's foolish what if he already has made friends with Midas? I've heard that he's tried to strike the Dragon in her home already."

"When did you hear that" His voice was sharp as he looked at her, she shrugged. "It's not hard to we live close to the mountain and the creature's roars could be heard. It only does that when its hunting or it has visitors and we didn't see it flying over to find food."

Her words gave him pause for a few minutes as he looked to the floor. What if he had struck the deal with the other King was now trying to deliver on his promise. What if he did and if they did move in the middle they would be boxed in.

He shook his head in the end. They had people watching the line from the Whites to Midas territory; they would have seen if anyone went in or out that looked remotely like an envoy or at the very least a moving army.

"Fine but what about Cora" That had him snapping his head right back up as he stared at her with wide eyes. "Cora?"

She nodded. "Read those first. He talks about going to a woman named Cora and asking her to help him in this war, now I don't have a clue who she is but judging by the look on your face, I'm guessing she isn't nice."

His laughter came out short, barky and bitter as he shook his head. "Nice doesn't come close… Nice isn't a word that is recognized with that woman. But do I know of her, yes."

"Well who is she because for the life of me I have never heard of her until now." He gave her a small look before replying. "Well than consider yourself lucky. The woman is married to the King Henry – the man only became King having recently lost his entire family."

She tipped her head to the side mulling on the last word. "I take it when you say entire… it wasn't by accident."

"Some say it was a tragic turn of events. But others say it was just that a tragic turn of events. A lot have said that she organized their deaths in order to elevate her husband to the top post. He had two other brothers that would have come before him and anyone on meeting her first glance can tell she is power-hungry; she wouldn't stop at nothing to achieve those ends, even if that meant others meeting theirs."

She sat up straighter, thinking about what he had said. She sounded horrible. Someone she most likely would have hated and no doubt would have gladly roasted. "Sounds like a right bitch"

He laughed again and nodded. "She really is something else." She turned to him. "So how did she manage to kill both his brothers, and then king as he still would have to have been living right?"

He nodded. "You didn't hear this - but she staged a coaching accident where they all took a tumble from the halfway bridge between their Kingdom and this one." She blinked, shocked at the boldness of such an action.

"She pushed them off a bridge." Smiling he nodded again. "If one could call it that… "

"But how… surely she couldn't have just rolled the carriage to the edge herself and let it fall" He stopped his movement for a moment and looked back to her. "She has magic."

That had her shocked. The woman had magic, she was another magic user – she had never met another, it was just her and Maleficent who had said not many had the ability or the capacity to learn and perform magic much less are born with it… of course there were some in the North but none that lived here.

"Magic" He nodded.

"It's why so many fear her, it's no secret she uses it to keep them under her thumb and rule. The woman is power mad as I said. Her husband - just like the rest all avoid her in the hopes she doesn't turn her ire on them… is quite sad really because I remember him once on a meeting with King Leopold, a warm man who would no sooner join the men in the tavern then the royals at the dinner table."

Regina was disgusted. How could someone use magic to inspire terror and despair into the hearts of so many when having magic was such a gift? Sure she used it but only in dire cases example the men now in her possession and whom she and the blonde had a little fun with – but it was only ever that – they never used to terrorize innocent people.

She tried to picture what the woman looked like… she hoped she was an old crone whose looks had faded, a bitter lonely woman. But she had heard that most of the royals have all been called at one time or another 'the fairest in their lands' and so knew it was unlikely.

Still – no hope in wishing.

"So do you think she'll join him?" Jeffery shrugged as he thought on that. "If the offers tempting enough like Midas, but I can't see her having need for a Dragon no matter what it may be for so if he wants her on side then it will have to something far greater."

She snorted – what could be greater than being a Dragon. She may have found it a curse when she was younger, but not anymore. Now she counted herself lucky.

"But I'm sure he will offer her something. They all have a price so most likely it would be a share in the spoils when they win."

"Very bold of him to presume such a thing" He hummed his agreement. "With that woman though you'd have to be… she has this mantra that everything, including love is weakness, and so if you request an audience with her – you have to bring something of worth otherwise she may just kill you for even bothering to waste her time."

"And nobody's ever thought of stopping her." He tilted his head a little. "There was one attempt many years back – apparently she wasn't good enough to rule considering where she came from, but like so many he was apprehended and never seen again. After that no one has managed. Besides they have never overstepped their boundaries, she seemed content with what she had so we have never had any problems."

"Until now possibly"

He grimaced unhappily at that. He finished picking up the rest of what he needed and took the papers from his desk. Thanking her once more for bringing such important information. He would be on his way to the King to tell him what he had learnt and the news that they could have Cora to content with as they walked down the hall together and split as she took the stairs leading to Snows chambers.

She had yet to tell Ruby about the impending trip to the North as she was seriously considering going. She liked the frozen wasteland, and if ice bitch had managed to find a new home – well time for round two, as she pushed on the door to the other girls room as she spied them sitting on the large bed. They looked positively sad and she internally cringed wondering if she could back out but no, she had been seen.

"Regina."

She stopped and smiled tightly at the sound of Snows voice as the young royal beckoned her over. She sighed and closed the door doing so as she was pulled down to sit next to them.

"So I take it you heard." She nodded knowing just what had caused her miserable face. "I hate this war." She buried her face in the large stuffed… well she had no idea what it was but it was enough to muffle her voice at least.

Ruby who had sat and looking on helplessly looking to Regina as if pleading for her to help as she rolled her eyes and lifted her hand to run it in soothing circles across her back

"You have nothing to worry about." Snow lifted her head a little but not all the way, "What makes you think that."

"Well, your father has some of the best fighters in the land. He wouldn't take them to battle without knowing how to defend each other or themselves. Plus from what I've heard Georges brainless monkeys don't know one end of a sword from another, so here's hoping the stab themselves before they learn."

She was hoping to at least make her smile. That way she could be pawned back to Ruby and her duty was done but what she didn't expect was for the other girl to throw her teddy thing down and fling herself at her unsuspecting person. Her eyes widen as Snows body collided with hers and sent them both flying back onto bed. Regina grunted with the weight she was forced to hold as Snow's beaming face appeared over hers.

"Thank you, Regina. I always kind of thought you didn't care. About me or my family to be honest"

The raven haired girl looked up at her and offered what she hoped was a placating smile. "No, what made you think a silly thing like that?" Ruby's eye roll was practically felt as Snow shrugged.

"I don't know… Just the way you are around me I guess. But now I know you do care" She smiled wider once more and rested her head on her shoulder her arms keeping the other girl trapped within her grasp firmly as she struggled to break free but found the hold iron clad.

She sighed in defeat and gave up – sacrificing herself to the horrors of being coddled. "Yep, that's me – caring as they come." She had hoped that she would let her go soon. But to her dismay it seemed that Snow found her… 'cuddly' of how the word made her want to vomit, so she was forced to endure her hugs, only further added by her ex-best friend, who saw fit to – not help her, but to pile on more agony by moving to her other side and join the duo.

She gave the grinning wolf a look that promised pain when they left but it went unheeded as Rub wrapped her arms around her body and joined the mass of limbs that had entangled on the bed as soon Regina found hell on earth in the form of a Queen sized bed, and two sleeping people with whom she wanted nothing more to do with once this was over.

Sometime later there was a knock on the door which seemed to rouse the middle girl from slumber. She blinked groggily and slowly opened her eyes, looking around she still found herself in the middle of the hug sandwich at much to her displeasure – she had fallen asleep as the knock on the door sounded again and she looked over.

"Come in"

Snow was still asleep and so she lifted her arm the best she could and poked her in the head. She felt it justified as she had to suffer the indignity of being seen like this as one of the guardsmen had come into the room. The princess mumbled something and clung to her tighter as she rolled her eyes before turning to glare at the man who thought it funny to snigger.

Oh if she wasn't tied down by so many… hands.

"Can I help you?" Her tone was surprisingly calm for someone of her mood and it must have shown as he stiffened his posture and nodded curtly. "The King is about to set out now and so would like to speak to the Princess."

She got his meaning and nodded as he turned to leave. She looked down at the slumbering pile. Leopold was on his way up and as she had a good day, sans this snug fest, she really didn't want to ruin it by being in the same room as they eye wandering royal and so without pause for the other two she moved, sitting upright and turning just enough so Ruby fell from the bed.

She landed with a thud and immediately her eyes sprang open as she hopped back onto her feet. Looking around for danger she realized there wasn't any only a smug looking Regina and a slowly rousing Snow.

"Happy?" Regina tipped her head a little. "I'm getting there" She groaned and arched her back as she stretched.

"What time is it?" The other girl got to her feet with the young royal following suit. "Time we left. The king's on his way up so it's best if we make a head start back now."

Snapping her eyes open Ruby looked at her before nodding. She turned to Snow who was fixing her crumpled clothing the best she could. "You ok now"

The other girl turned from the mirror and smiled. "I am – I wasn't as such before but thanks to you both it's helped."

Her reply wasn't what she had wanted to hear. It always left her with a stomach ache when she inadvertently helped the chipper little princess even happier, it was just too much to be around and she exhaled heavily before smiling only half of what she was feeling.

"Glad we could help."

Ruby shut the door to the room as they both set off down the hall. They had left Snow to fix her hair and make herself look presentable as they made their way to the exit. Idly Regina noted that she hadn't seen Daniel that day and so was a little sad about that as they moved down the steps that led to the lower floor.

"Fancy going hunting later?"

She turned to look at Ruby who shrugged. "Just saying, we haven't in a while and I think I spotted some doe a few hundred feet from the field where we live so what do you think.

Regina nodded. Of course she wanted to go hunting, feeding the bottomless pit that was her gut was no easy feat and so she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity as they rounded the corner and halted on sight of the King.

Looking back Regina would have no clue as to what possessed her- but at seeing the Royal whom she had been steadily ignoring his roving eyes for a while now and knowing he would use this as a chance to try to talk to her she panicked.

Yep that was it panic

She was sticking with that and no one would tell her different. He was only a few feet away and so with a push – she shoved Ruby to the wall and moved closer. The other girl was startled at the action and before she could ask what she was doing, her words was muffled by the way of Regina's mouth over hers.

Eyes widened as her hands flailed stupidly for a moment as the other girl took hold of her head and kissed her. A muted whimper was heard but went ignored as the raven haired girl moved her lips against hers, it took a moment but Ruby soon reciprocated with her hands very hesitantly moving to Regina's shoulders as her lips moved against the other girls.

A hand slipped from the side of her face to her neck as she tilted her head back slightly to kiss her at another angle making Ruby whimper again as she smiled lightly before sucking in her bottom lip.

Ruby slid her hand down to curl around Regina's bicep as she clung to her body and allowed herself to fall into the kiss. It wasn't as if this was her first ever, she had that when Regina had gone to the North, but this… it blew the other out the water so to speak… it made it seem like it was the first all over again but so much better.

A sharp coughing brought them out of their self-made bubble as slowly they parted – Regina looked to see Ruby's eyes closed and smirked, she was winging it but it was nice to see that she had done a good job as slowly she opened her eyes and gasped on seeing the King standing behind them.

"I will thank you to keep your personal business from my halls… you have homes for that kind of thing, so keep it there."

His tone was hard as she peeked around the other girl and meekly gave him an apologetic look. He reared his head back a little on seeing it was Snows friend.

"We're sorry your highness."

He went to speak but then he looked to see Regina turn around. She had to fight the smirk that wanted to show at seeing him completely un-kingly like way he showed his shock. His eyes bugged as he took in both girls, his mouth fell open as he tried to speak but no words came out. She kept her head high just in case he took a darker turn, all she wanted was to cease his lecherous looks but knowing that Kings always felt entitled she had to make sure nothing happened to Ruby seeing as she did bring her involuntarily into her plan.

"Apologies, your highness – we seemed to get a little carried away… We meant no disrespect." He still was looking at them both with his best impression of a guppy fish as she smiled lightly.

"Our course your advice is greatly heeded, in fact we was on our way home now and so if you will excuse us." She smiled as she reached back and pulled on the other girl who was just standing against the wall as she pulled on her arm and with a little dip of her head. They moved down the hall leaving the speechless King in the hall, it would be a long time before he realized the slightly less than respectful way they took their leave of his presence but he was not thinking of any of that.

On leaving the castle quickly they made their way to the woods in silence until finally Ruby – who had replayed the whole thing in her mind, had to speak.

"Ok – what was that?"

She sighed and slowed her walk to a lazy pace. She did owe her an explanation after all and so turned to her, "I'm sorry, it's just… I didn't want to speak to him or see him."

"Why not" She sighed again and replied. "Because the man keeps watching me, at first I thought it was because I was helping him with a few of the tactics they had come up with and was a little peeved for changing them. But then it started getting more… touchy it creeped me out and the final straw came when Jeffery had to bloody help otherwise I would have been stuck drinking with him in his private study."

Ruby gaped at the new information. She had no idea all this had happened. She had always thought the King to be nice – a little weird sometimes but in his own… unique way, why hadn't Regina told her this before.

As if reading her expression she added. "I didn't want to you to act any different around him in case he caught on and said something. You always love coming to see Snow and if anything were to stop that then I would feel like it my fault and so I did the only thing I could, I kept quiet and kissed you when he was in the opportune moment to see."

Ruby turned her head to see the satisfied smile and merely nodded. It wasn't like she could say anything to that as her mind was still firmly back in the hall as they picked up the pace once more.

They reached the woods just as Regina pulled her closer and allowed the smoke to rise up and encircle them just as they vanished from sight before appearing once more back in the familiar woods near both their homes. She let go of the other girl and looked to the darkening night sky. She smiled and turned to her.

"You ready"

The other girl looked up to see her staring. "What" Rolling her eyes she nudged her head to the sky as they saw the large moon overhead.

"Hunting, you said you wanted to remember." Ruby lifted her head to stare absently at the moon before nodding. "Oh yeah, right"

"Come on then… let's see how many we can catch and the loser has to cook them…. All." She watched as beside her Regina vanished in a smog of black… something that had confused her seeing as she had purple smoke for getting from place to place – but a different color when it came to her transforming, she didn't have time to dwell as soon the light was blocked by the massive form of the Dragon next to her.

Unfurling her wings, Regina looked around before spotting a still human Ruby. She rolled her purple eyes before bending down and blowing a jet of warm air at her, the result messed her hair as she scowled up at the smug looking beast.

"… Oh real hilarious" A deep rumbling was her reply as she snorted a took off her red cloak and throwing it quickly to the side before she to changed shape and without waiting took off in the direction she saw the doe. She was aiming to beat the Dragon as payback for her mussed hair as Regina looked on at her retreating form for a moment before taking off after her.

If anyone was walking by that time and happened to pass them without running off in sheer terror, or passing out from fright, what they would have seen could only be described as comical – the wolf pelting through the trees, occasionally yipping and barking out what sounded like laughter at the beast behind her who was giving chase the best she could.

But in her large form it was near impossible to have the same kind of stealth and so found it difficult on trying to not crash into any trees or cheat, as she was prone to doing when being on the losing end of a race.

To anyone it seemed that the wolf didn't have a care in the world – and they were right for the creature didn't it's only concern was winning and getting's its food, but on the inside was a different matter – on the inside Ruby was still conscious and as much as Regina told her to, she couldn't forget the kiss that had happened.

She didn't know whether this would affect or change their relationship and if it did, would it be for the better or worse.