With a destination in mind I was all set to return to Innistrad but Jace had other ideas so I followed him to the library that served as the Guildpact's meeting point. When we arrived there we found Liliana already there, a smug smile on her face as she leant back in her chair.

"Okay so we're going back to Innistrad." I announced and Jace shook his head at me. "I thought we agreed that we're going back."

"Not until the rest of the Guildpact gets here. Besides didn't we already agree that rushing around was a terrible idea?" Jace replied, sighing when I crossed my arms at him with my eyes narrowed.

"If Ailis wants to run back to Innistrad you should let her, Jace." Liliana agreed and I actually started to smile until she waved her hand in front of her face. "When she runs into a werewolf or some other beast she'll come running back here with her tail between her legs." She added and I narrowed my eyes growling something offensive about the necromancer under my breath.

Throwing my arms into the arm I stomped past Jace who rubbed the bridge of his nose as I rushed from the library and Jace flinched when I slammed the door. Shaking his head Jace started to follow until Liliana giggled and he looked towards the necromancer.

"Let her go, Jace. Ailis needs to understand she can't get her own way all of the time." Liliana told him as Jace started to pace.

If he's not going with me back to Innistrad I'm going there myself. When I finally find my murderer that'll show that stuck-up necromancer.

Moving through the Blind Eternities was a struggle for me this time without Jace to guide me so I ended up appearing somewhere in Innistrad I had never seen before. At least I hoped that's where I was as I shook myself, pulling my cloak tighter around me once the cold air hit.

"Maybe I should have listened to Jace but he makes me so mad sometimes." I grumbled as I started to shiver from the cold, my eyes travelling the area around me until I spotted what looked like a cottagea few metres away. "Guess I should go there and ask directions."

I had barely take more than a few steps in the direction of the cottage when I heard something, a low growl that made the hairs of my neck stand up. But when I spun around I couldn't see anything but a mist that covered everything nearby.

Shaking my head I sped up determined to reach the cottage before whatever was tracking me could. Though just as I reached the door I heard some else this time and the howl that ripped through the air brought me to a halt, my eyes frantically searching the area to find what had caused the howl.

A branch cracked and I narrowed my eyes trying to fight against turning my back on whoever or whatever was watching me. "Who do you think you are scaring me?" I shouted into the mist as it swirled around me, not seeing a set of glowing eyes until something leapt onto the ground near my feet and I jerked back just in time to miss having my head torn off my shoulders by a pair of paws lined with razor sharp claws.

With a yelp I dodged as a werewolf snarled at me, taking another swipe at my face as I quickly stepped back. One of my hands moved behind me, snatching at the doorknob but as I tried to turn it I found the door was locked.

"Crap." I muttered as the werewolf inched closer fangs dripping with saliva and its paws way too close to my throat. "Oh this really sucks." This close I could smell decay on its breath and pieces of rotten meat between its teeth.

Instead of attacking me it lifted its head and I quickly clamped my hands over my ears when it let out an ear-splitting howl that echoed through the mists. Immediately after I heard several more howls in response and I chewed my lower lip as dark forms darted out of the mists and into view, the werewolf stepping back as several more rushed towards me.

I could face down one on my own, possibly, but a pack? Not a chance.

Sighing to myself I held up my fists like Gideon had trained me, resolving to go down fighting these beasts. As the first one started to lope towards me I barely had time to register that something seemed off about it before a gunshot rang out and the beast screamed, blood flying and as it crumbled I finally saw the hole directly through its forehead. The other werewolves howled as they spun around, another taking a bullet to its chest which knocked it back distracting it.

Which gave the marksman time to blow its head off, splattering my face and cloak with blood and several pieces of debris I couldn't see or wanted to identify.

Furious that two of their pack had been taken out so fast the remaining werewolves stood their ground and to my shock one raised its head, the mist clearing enough for me to notice that it had two heads both merged to create something horrific. As I stared at it it sniffed the air and when its two heads spun towards me I couldn't help letting out a whimper as four glowing eyes focused on me.

Saliva dripping from two sets of jaws that snapped at me it crouched in the dirt and I jumped when it shot towards me, moving so fast it nearly caught me as I dove to one side. Crashing into the cottage behind me it whined, its feet kicking up dirt as it struggled to its feet.

The other werewolves raced back into the mists and as I quickly ran around the cottage looking for a way in I heard multiple gunshots, the beasts yelping as someone fired onto them. Hearing the werewolf with the twin heads growling I searched the back of the cottage as the beast dragged one of its paws across the side of the wood, the noise making me hurry to find an escape route. It wasn't until I could hear its breathing getting closer that I found a window set above me so thinking fast I turned my arm around enough to strike the glass with my elbow.

The first blow cracked the glass and a second smashed but the gap wasn't wide enough so I used my sleeve to clear more of the glass away, giving me enough room to push myself inside. I dived inside just as a paw reached out and I cried out as one of its claws snagged on my cloak, my arms flailing as I tried to dislodge it.

I heard a yelp as my elbow struck something solid but my triumph was short-lived when the beast slashed at my retreating back and I felt a sudden and sharp spike of pain coming from my back, blood splattering the floor of the cottage as I slipped inside.

Sliding to the floor I groaned from the pain pulling the cloak tighter around me in a vague effort to stem the flow of blood that I could feel dripping onto the rug from somewhere below my shoulders. "Stupid, stupid monster." I hissed as I heard it howling outside the window I'd broken. It scratched at the wood but due to its size it couldn't squeeze into the gap so it kept snapping at the wall seeking a way in. The noise combined with my wounds left me weak and angry but when I tried to stand I found my legs couldn't support me and I crumbled to the floor, gasping.

Knowing I couldn't escape both with my injury and the beast blocking my only escape route I crawled over to an armchair a few feet from the wall, dragging myself to my feet before I collapsed into it. Shivering from the icy wind that flowed through the broken window I started to rub my arms to keep warm not knowing how I was going to get back to Ravnica.

I barely remember passing out but my eyes shot open when I heard someone knocking on the door. Light-headed I tried to rise but that brought on a wave of pain and I sat heavily as the knocking increased. "W...who is it?" I coughed at the sound of the door being struck with something heavy, causing the door to crumble under the blow and I cried out as a man in his mid-thirties stuck his head through the gap he'd made.

"What are you doing in my house?" He asked as he stepped inside the room, moving towards me until I raised my head and he stopped with both eyebrows raised. "Wait a second I've been talking to a zombie?" He muttered and I opened my mouth a growl emerging which became a whimper and that's right when he saw the blood splattered across his floor and he blinked at me. "What a mess."

"Werewolves...after me." I managed to gasp and he shook his head, lifting up the weapon I'd caught a brief glimpse of when he wandered inside. "Stay...back." I snapped, raising myself up by my elbows when he took a single step closer to me.

"Relax, miss. I'm not going to hurt me as long as you don't attack." He told me, lifting up one open palm in front of him. Seeing my eyes moving to the rifle in his hand he sighed. "Those beasts are gone now. Here, let me see your wounds." He offered but I drew the cloak around myself to hide the gash in my back. Watching me with a slight smile he carefully set down the rifle beside his legs before he straightened, moving towards me with both palms raised. "Just calm down and listen. Those weren't normal werewolves." He told me and I snorted, gasping as he moved forward.

Up close I noticed he was wearing white and grey armor with a oddly-shaped hat hiding a pair of bright blue eyes very close in color to Jace's cloak. Even though he was easy on the eyes I couldn't help being a little wary after my encounter with the werewolf.

"Of course not." I snapped, pain making me fustrated and he sighed as he stood over me. "Who...are you?" I managed as he set a hand on my shoulder, gently pushing me back into the armchair.

"I'm Traisrel Guns, a Cathar." He offered, kneeling beside me before he reached for my cloak with one gloved hand. Seeing me flinch and my eyes widen Traisrel gave me a reassuring smile. "I can help you but only if you'll trust me."

"You might look handsome but that doesn't mean anything. An attractive man murdered me so forgive me for not being so trusting." I muttered and Traisrel raised an eyebrow, giving the cloak a tug. When I winced, hunching over he gave me another smaller smile.

"You're in no danger now. It's my job to help anyone who needs it and I finished off those beasts with the other Cathars. They're scouting the area just in case. Now will you let me see your wound?" Traisrel whispered and after a few more seconds I reluctantly slipped the cloak off.

"It really hurts." I groaned as I carefully turned around so my back was facing him and he paled at seeing the wound fully. "Is it bad?"

"It's not pleasant to look at." Traisrel offered and I groaned when he pressed his hand into the wound making me jerk in my seat. "Relax I'm just trying to find the source of all that blood." He explained when I turned my head enough to glare at him. "Aren't you going to introduce yourself to me?"

"You have no idea how badly it hurts. Ailis...that's my name." I complained as he touched the skin surrounding the gash caused by the werewolf's claws. "Stop trying to make me hold still because I'm in so much pain right now and you're prodding my gash making it even harder to stay still." I added, shuddering when he brushed the blood still dripping down my back.

"You need stitches and bandages right now. That and painkillers." Traisrel told me and I mumbled a curse under my breath that made him chuckle. "Yeah I'd stay the same word if I was in your position. Stay put and I'll be right back." He added giving my knee a pat before he rose, moving away from me before I could protest. The slightest movement made my back hurt so I stayed still until Traisrel returned holding a small pack that he set beside my chair, kneeling and as he rummaged through it I watched on curious despite feeling woozy.

It wasn't until Traisrel took a small syringe out of the pack beside his feet that I whined, the noise reminding him of the werewolves as he looked at me. "I know it'll sting but it will help numb the pain. Unless you want to feel each and every stitch." Traisrel and I swallowed as I slowly shook my head. "Just relax and try not to fidget too much."

I felt the needle slip into my skin and I briefly let out a scream that lapsed into a whimper before everything faded. When I heard someone speaking to me I coughed, eyes slowly opening to see Traisrel staring at me. Once he noticed both my eyes were open he relaxed his grip on my shoulder and I groaned, seeing a tiny smile form on his face.

"Finally. You passed out on me and I wasn't sure how to wake you up. Being undead and all." Traisrel explained, grasping my shoulder when I tried to lean back. "That's not a good idea, Ailis."

"Ugh...I nearly forgot." I mumbled, resting my head against the cushion someone had left me. "How does my back look?"

"I did a good job." Traisrel answered and after a pause we both heard a snort. Too weak to raise my head I rested there until a young woman appeared in my line of sight. "Thalia, I know I did a good job." He sighed and the woman gave him a nod. "I wanted to bring you into the spare room but Thalia thought it was better to leave you here in my living room."

"I'm Thalia and you should thank Traisrel for saving your...life." She offered and I gave them both a weak smile. content to close my eyes as I silently hoped she wouldn't question me further. Until she cleared her throat just as my eyes drifted closed and with a groan I opened them to find her standing at my side.

"If you're going to ask it, ask it." I muttered my eyes narrowing slightly at Thalia. She responded by raising an eyebrow and I rolled my own eyes. "How I'm talking even though I shouldn't be able to."

"Yes, that. I didn't believe Traisrel when he told me that he'd saved a sentient zombie. But now that I'm talking to you..." Thalia trailed off when I coughed. Seeing the glare and the crossed arms that Traisrel was giving her she cleared her throat again. "I should let you rest so I will be outside if you need me." She told me and I waved my hand weakly as she moved towards the front of the house leaving me alone with Traisrel.

"She seems alright." I muttered as Traisrel pulled up another chair so he could sit beside me. "Though she seems a little uneasy around me."

"Why do you say that, Ailis?" Traisrel asked as I shifted on the chair. "Maybe you should be resting." He suggested when I lifted my palm, stiffling a yawn.

"I know Thalia's creeped out because she avoided eye contact with me and she did leave the room pretty quickly. To answer your other comment I am pretty tired." I admitted and he nodded, watching with a faint smile as I closed my eyes. "Something wrong?"

"It's not everyday you get to meet a zombie that talks." Traisrel told me and that brought a faint smile to my face before I felt myself passing out.

Loud voices outside the front room brought me back to consciousness and as I struggled to sit I recognized two of them.

"Thalia, for the last time Ailis isn't going to change into a werewolf!" The first voice I knew was Traisrel and that brought a weak smile to my face. Which just left Thalia and after a few moments of silence I heard footsteps.

"Cathar Traisrel, you just met this woman. How do you know she isn't dangerous?" Thalia countered as she walked directly through the open doorway and I narrowed my eyes at her when she stopped directly across from my bed.

"I didn't have much of a hope going against one werewolf as my newest wound proves, Thalia. Traisrel saved my unnatural life so I know I can trust him. He took down the werewolf that tried to tear me to pieces." I responded and Traisrel gave me a grateful nod and a smile. "I'm pretty sure that no one's ever heard of a zombie werewolf."

"Since that thing appeared nothing has been the same. Forgive me for not trusting a talking zombie." Thalia countered and I rolled my eyes, my fingers brushing the blanket someone had pulled over me between my fingers. "Right now I need to be out there protecting the people instead of arguing with you and...Ailis." She added as she walked back outside and I groaned, rubbing at the bridge of my nose as Traisrel sat at my side.

"What thing is she talking about?" I said to Traisrel, blinking when the cathar's eyebrows shot up towards the brim of his hat.

"You don't know about Emrakul?" Traisrel asked and I just slowly shook my head. Leaning back against his own chair for a moment he let out a breath. "Well it's a long story." He began.