There was a man with half a face screaming next to her – and it was so disorientating that in a moment of anger, she shoved him away. Her heart skipped a beat as his screaming was abruptly silenced, but didn't turn to look. The green eyed man was crouched over Thomas, as she hurriedly bound a bullet wound in his shoulder.

Miraculously, the green eyed man wasn't injured, and she herself was healing easily. Thomas had the same look in his eyes that Steve had when he had seen death for the first time. He hadn't spoken since they'd made it to the outcropping of sand beneath the tower, and Adeline didn't think he'd speak until he was either safe… or dead.

Another explosion shook the ground near them, and she lurched forwards as a piece of shrapnel hit her in the back. The green eyed man put a hand on her shoulder, and spun her around. He said nothing as he pulled out the sharp piece of metal without warning. She let out a hiss, and closed her eyes as she felt her own blood wet the ground around them. "Alright, bub?" the man said lowly, husky voice even rougher than before.

She nodded, biting her tongue. "Come on. Tommy, can you move?"

The young man nodded jerkily, eyes darting around anxiously.

"Wait until the next reload." The man said, eyes focussed on the tower. "We've got about a 45 second window."

Adeline nodded, and turned Thomas over, and he positioned himself, ready to run.

She flattened herself, muscles flexing impatiently. The green-eyed man held up five fingers in front of them, and lowered one.

"Five…"

"Four…"

"Three…"

"Two…"

"ONE!"

Adeline surged forwards, focus narrowing until it was only her and the objective. She was almost crouched, she was running so close to the ground, and when the incline steepened she used her hands, fingers taunt and pushing her upwards and forwards. She could see the dip in earth that preceded a trench, and as the first helmet appeared over the edge, she sped up. She twisted her body and slid forwards, so that her feet collided with the German soldier aiming his gun at her.

She landed heavily on his body at the bottom of the trench, and straightened as she heard another rifle being cocked.

Very quickly – Adeline took in the situation.

Eight – no – seven soldiers. Helmeted. Armed. Exposed throats. Small space. Only clear shot from directly behind her and in front.

A small smile spread across her face.

The first bullet hit her above her heart – but she was used to being hit there now, it barely slowed her down. She spun in a tight arc, knife suddenly in her grip, and slit the throat of the man behind her, continuing her momentum and throwing it directly at the man who had shot her.

Before the other men had a chance to react she was upon them.

Adeline could feel the battle coldness taking over, and fought it. She needed to keep a clear head. There were other people to worry about now. She couldn't afford to become… removed.

She yowled as the second last man jammed his bayonet deep into her stomach – and threw her hands out wildly.

There was a flash of sliver, and the soldier reeled back, screaming, blood pouring down his face in rivers. He dropped his hands, leaving the gun dangling from her.

She gripped it, and froze.

The claws…

They had extended in her panic, and now they were red with the man's blood, but still shining silver obscenely.

The last soldier emptied his rifle into her, jerking her body back.

She fell to her knees, still clutching the bayonet.

"I have some ideas on how to improve your physique…"

"I want to see your animal side, pet. I want to see the wolf."

Claws of a wolf…

She felt the familiar sensation of a rifle being pressed into her forehead. "Sterben, schaum." Die, scum.

She could hear the creak of the trigger as it was pressed down –

Then the rifle butt was pushed away from her, and the crack of the gun firing was barely distinguishable from the noise from the beach. She looked up and there was Thomas, eyes wide.

The German soldier swung the rifle around, hitting Thomas in the temple. He fell heavily, eyelids fluttering.

Then the soldier stiffed, and made a gurgling noise, dropping his rifle to clutch at his chest. Adeline followed his sight-line down to where something whitish and sharp was protruding from him. Blood bubbled out of his lips, and his eyes rolled back.

There was a wet sound as he collapsed forwards, and the green-eyed man was revealed.

Adeline forgot about the sharp throbbing pain of the bayonet in her stomach for a second as her eyes focused on the bone-like claws coming from the man's knuckles.

He grimaced as they retracted into him, the holes where they had emerged healing instantly just like-

"Just like me…"

She whispered.

He looked at her, face unreadable.

"You can't tell anyone…" he said roughly, voice so low that she was only just able to make it out over the battle on the beach.

"I was somewhat inspired by two young men I have read about in passing. They possess much of the same gifts that you do, however they both are more… animalistic in nature."

"Howlett?" She whispered.

He blanched. "How the fuck do you know me, lady?"

"You're the reason I'm like this!" She extended her fingers towards him, showing him the silver claws. His eyebrows shot up.

"Jesus. What the hell."

She laughed crazily, "You're telling me!" she shook her head, and motioned to Thomas, and then all around them, hands fluttering. "We need to end this…"

"Otherwise all these, sorry-sons-of-bitches will be dead in the next hour." Howlett growled.

Adeline met his gaze, an idea coming to fruition in her mind. "You and I… we could take out the stronghold. Get most of the heavy fire off the beach. That would give the men enough of a chance to come up and take out the rest."

Howlett started to nod, eyes turning wild. "And then we follow them as they fall back…"

"We take them out."

It was absolute.

Adeline retracted her claws, but Howlett shook his head. "Keep 'em out. You're gonna need 'em soon enough."

Adeline swallowed thickly, Schmidt's laughing face replaying in her mind. Finally, she nodded. Moving quickly, the pair of them armed themselves with whatever they could find in the short trench. Adeline dragged Thomas' form behind a sheet of scrap metal, and shovelled a few handfuls of dirt over him.

She felt a prickling of guilt and worry in her stomach.

She squashed it down, as the cold began to creep through her, and her only focus turned towards the strong tower.