It's finally here! My contribution for this year's CSSNS! This is my first time participating in this event and I couldn't be more excited to share my story with you! Recently I watched a lot of supernatural/fantasy TV shows on Netflix and so the concept of this fic was born. It has all kinds of creatures, mixed with adventure, drama, mystery, suspense and of course, most importantly CAPTAIN SWAN.

Huge thank you to my beta, Megan (thejollyroger-writer) for clearing up my mistakes and help me get this story to you. She's also the artist for the fic, you can expect her wonderful work soon!

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter 1: Better Safe Than Sorry

The cobbled streets of the city were dripping with rainwater, and the light from the tall lamps hung like balloons in the cool, misty night air. The harsh wind tore at the branches of the balding trees, a vast amount of withered yellow and brown leaves stirred up a path on the uninhabited sidewalk.

The weather had cooled down more than she'd expected. She pulled up the zipper of her red leather jacket and quickened her steps. She knew it would have been wise to get home on time, she was sure David was already working up an ulcer, marching up and down in the living room.

Somewhere nearby, the clock tower struck ten and she shuddered, accelerating her pace as the curfew had just taken effect. Her hand instinctively slid onto her bag where her Glock 19 lay safely.

She dug into the satchel, and the startled hammering of her heart subsided somewhat as her fingers touched the barrel of the gun. She very much hoped she wouldn't have to use it. In this world, bandits and robbers were the least dangerous kind, as it was enough to just simply shoot them…

When she finally emerged from the cover of the trees in the park, she opened the heavy wrought-iron gate and hastily crossed the narrow street to continue on the main road. Her footsteps echoed emptily on the deserted avenue, not a soul in sight.

Her destination wasn't far off, and she fought the urge to run the last few yards. She turned around the corner and into a narrow alley, rushing toward the last, albeit slightly shabby, apartment building.

At the front door, her nearly frozen fingers rummaged awkwardly for her keys in her pocket. But before she could slide the key in, she heard the click of the lock, the massive iron door slamming open with a bang.

As she had suspected, she found herself face to face with a seething David, who, for the moment, was still silent. She risked an angelic and rueful smile and quickly slipped into the house beside him.

All her hopes were dashed when the door crashed back into its frame behind her and David turned to her vigorously. He put both his hands on his hips, a move she found rather comical despite the situation - it reminded her of an agitated lunch lady before scolding a kid in the cafeteria. Still, she couldn't laugh at it. At the sight of his flashing eyes, she squared her shoulders and waited.

Come what might.

"Where the fuck have you been?"

Her only brother never cursed unless he was furious.

"I was just taking a walk in the park," she replied quietly, and by that time, all her humor was gone. David was right. What she had done was really stupid. "I'm sorry. I should've kept better track of time."

"Didn't you even notice it got dark in the meantime?" David grew angrier by the minute, and her face began to burn with shame.

She hated arguing with him, so when the opportunity arose, she tried to heed his advice. Today's case was an exception. "I'm really sorry," she muttered, lowering her gaze to the pave-stone.

After long seconds of no response from him, she looked up cautiously, only to see him disappear behind the door that led to their apartment.

"David!"

She took off her boots and rushed after him, but as soon as she caught up with him, she grimaced. In the living room, on a mahogany-carved coffee table, David's nearly complete arsenal of weapons lay spread out. Pistols, knives, rifles, magazines…

"What happened?" She dropped her bag on the couch and walked over to her brother, who was lounging in front of the window.

"A pack of werewolves in the middle of town in broad daylight! That's what happened!" he hissed between clenched teeth, he was still trembling with fury.

"In the city center?" she repeated, stunned. That was a new one. Plus, it was happening during the day? It was getting weirder and weirder.

David took a deep breath, but it didn't help much. He was still too upset.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Although, it wasn't up to me. If Killian hadn't intervened, I would've certainly kicked the bucket," he shrugged as if it was incidental.

"Jesus…" She reached for David's shoulder, but he pulled away.

"At least fifteen people died. We weren't fast enough."

"Stop it," she admonished him. She grabbed im vigorously by the shoulder, turned him to face her, and urged him to look her in the eye. "And tell me, how many people did you save? A hundred? Two hundred?"

He expelled an angry breath. His tousled, sandy blond hair almost resembled a crow's nest, and his five o'clock shadow made his handsome face look unkempt. His light blue eyes stared at her with mixed despair. Meanwhile, he involuntarily stroked the small scar on his jaw.

"David, for God's sake, you're a Hunter. I understand it's a shitty feeling, but you can't mourn every single person you can't save."

"I know," he whispered hoarsely, finally raising his head, then he shook it slightly, staring up at the ceiling dotted with tiny cracks. Emma could see his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. I was just afraid something had happened to you. I was about to call Killian and the others to search for you."

"I understand and I'm really sorry. I'll be in my room if we're done here."

"Alright. I'm going to pack up my things then," he signaled with his head towards the pile of weapons adorning the table.

Emma nodded and picked up her bag, marching across the living room, and heading straight for her room. But before she could peel off her coat, someone outside their apartment started frantically knocking on the door.

"I'm coming!" David's voice was calm, but Emma could still see him securing his favorite rifle as he strode toward the entrance.

"David, open up! It's us!"

When she recognized Robin's voice, her lips twisted into a relieved smile and she hurried to the front door as well.

"Hey, mate. Are you happy to see us?" Robin laughed at the troubled expression on David's face and the gun in his hands.

"Very funny." David pursed his lips, then stepped aside to let their friends in.

After Robin, Mary Margaret entered, followed by Ruby and Killian.

"We heard Emma had wandered away, so we thought we should sniff around town and look who we found!" Laughing, Ruby flicked playfully at Mary Margaret's back who grimaced as she walked away from the long-haired brunette.

Ruby wasn't exactly your average type of girl. She wore her waist-long chocolate brown hair in wild curls mixed with pink streaks. She invariably wore her favorite black leather garments: military boots, pants, and her signature black studded leather jacket. She looked like a rock star of the nineties.

"I need to make a call," Mary Margaret said, nodding toward the kitchen, fishing her phone out of her pocket.

"Of course." David nodded, kissed her on the cheek, and quietly closed the door once everyone was inside.

Robin, Ruby, Killian, and David took a seat in the living room while Emma joined Mary Margaret in the kitchen. Her friend walked over to the counter, unlocked her phone, but her fingers were trembling so badly that she was unable to dial.

"What's wrong?" Emma anxiously stepped next to the brunette, who just shook her head violently, but her chalk-white face suggested the opposite.

"Didn't David tell you?" she lifted her troubled hazel eyes to Emma. Her rain-soaked pixie-cut dark hair clung to her forehead, a stark contrast against her alabaster skin.

"What was he supposed to tell me?" she asked carefully.

"Leo was in that run-in with the wolves this afternoon, too. I just found out from Robin that he had to be taken to the hospital right after," her voice trailed off and Emma could see her shaking.

"He's probably fine," she said firmly, trying to give her friend the hope she so often received from her.

"Yeah," Mary Margaret nodded profusely, then feeling ready, she grabbed the phone and made the call.

While Mary Margaret talked to the hospital receptionist, Emma walked over to the refrigerator and returned to the counter with an unopened orange juice in her hand. She snagged two glasses from the kitchen cabinet and filled them both almost to the brim while tactfully not eavesdropping on Mary Margaret's conversation because judging by the few words she could pick up, she was already talking to her cousin.

And it was rude to listen in.

"So, how's our little lion?" Robin entered the kitchen with a grin and plopped casually down on the chair at the dining table.

"Fine," Mary Margaret replied, not even reacting to Robin's mocking tone.

It remained an eternal mystery to Emma why they disliked each other so much, but as long as they behaved in a relatively civil manner when they were in the same room together, she didn't particularly care.

"Anyway, we need to get going soon. Someone saw some of Vampires near the nightclub. So far, they haven't done anything that would violate the Guild's rules, but better safe than sorry. They ordered us to look around."

"And what about the curfew?" Emma raised an eyebrow.

"Humans are stupid. They don't take Mages seriously. A lot of people aren't willing to accept the existence of Werewolves and Vampires, even after what happened…"

Robin fell silent at Emma's expression. He coughed sheepishly, then ran his fingers through his rich brown hair. "I didn't mean to… I apologize," he muttered and walked out of the kitchen with his head down.

"Emma…" she felt Mary Margaret's hand on her shoulder. "Neal wouldn't want to see you like this. You have to let him go…"

"I know… But… he shouldn't have been the one to die…"