Chapter 3

A/N: Two short chapters should make up for them being kinda short right? Let me know what you think.

They say that eyes are the windows off the soul.

Then I guess smiles are the curtains concealing our true feelings,

the pain and suffering we've endured, the loneliness and despair we feel

All so easily covered up with a smile

It's a pity really that the anguish so clearly swirling through our eyes

is so easily disguised by our smiles

~S.M.~

Okay so she hadn't exactly thought this thing through. She had no money, no friends, no family and nowhere to stay.

The adrenaline had drained out of her by the time she reached the edge of the reserve and the freezing cold has long since seeped into her clothing. Which is strange considering the sunny disposition of the day. But then again she's always run a little cold. Pulling her oversized jacket closer to herself she walks on, straight into town. Hopefully she doesn't look too ragged as to attract attention to herself.

She's walking through town on auto-pilot, not consciously choosing to go anywhere but moving nonetheless. There's lots of people walking around her, smiling, laughing, joking, just going about their day completely unaware of the dire fate that awaits them just a few years down the line.

She's just watching them as if they're foreign beings, when something barrels into her, knocking her over and onto the pavement. Senses alert she looks to her would-be-attacker ready to defend herself.

She finds him on the ground in front of her, having been knocked back by the force of the collision. First thing she notices is how small he is, a child and thus unlikely to have meant her harm. The second thing she notices are the man and woman hurriedly weaving their way through the sea of people, the woman making a beeline for the kid, checking him for injuries no doubt. The man however doesn't, instead he moves towards her and offers his hand to help her up.

''I'm so sorry. My son tends to get a little over-excited and forgets to look where he's going,'' the deputy says as he pulls her up. ''I'm Noah Stilinski, this is my beautiful wife Claudia and our exuberant son Stiles.'' He says while he shakes her hand.

Claudia and Stiles move to stand next to Noah. She barely notices that she has walked into town square, standing next to the fountain because the family in front of her takes all her attention. She stares at them with bated breath, unsure of what to say, unsure if her mouth could even produce words at this point. Which clearly doesn't do it for little Stiles, as he literally snaps her back to the living world by snapping his fingers right in front of her face before his parents could stop him.

''Mieczyslaw Mischief Stilinski!'' Claudia reprimands in her stern mom voice, ''why on earth would you do such a rude thing, apologize right now!''

''But mom she was staring! That's rude too.'' Little Stiles defends. Backpedaling immediately when he sees the look on his mom's face. ''Fine, I'm sor… Mom! She's doing it again!''

Noah intervenes in a stern low voice, ''Stiles.''

''No. No he's right, I was staring and that is rude. You have nothing to apologize for. No harm, no foul right?'' Malia says trying her best to smile well, by the looks on their faces it probably looks more akin to a grimace. But a for afford right?

''Noah It's 3 pm we're going to be late if we don't hurry'' Claudia, Stiles' mom says smiling apologetically at Malia. ''Again, sorry about this.''

''You're right'' Noah responds to his wife. Pulling out his business card he hands it to her, ''here's my card, if you need anything just call the number on the back miss….?

''Malia and thanks I will'' She responds accepting the card knowing full well he could never help her.

...

''Why'd you give that lady your card daddy?'' Stiles asks looking up at his father as he swings in between his parents.

''Well, I'm a deputy. And what do deputy's do again, mischief?'' Noah responds.

Smiling Stiles answers, ''help people.''

''Yes, they help people and she looked like she could use some help.'' Noah explains.

Having his curiosity satisfied, Stiles went looking for something new and interesting by skipping a little ahead of his parents. Leaving them to talk about the mysterious women they just met.

Seeing the look on her husband's face she asks ''What are you thinking about?''

''That woman,'' he answers absentmindedly, still deep in thought.

Claudia raises her eyebrow, ''should I be concerned?'' She asks smiling slightly.

''What? Oh sorry honey, you're right I should've told you earlier. I'm leaving you for her'' He answers with a straight face. His reward? Getting punched in the shoulder.

In return he kisses Claudia on the side of her head, wrapping one arm around her as they continue walking.

''I was thinking that she might be a vet.'' He says watching Stiles chase after a butterfly.

''Why? I mean she had some scars but that doesn't necessarily mean she's a war-vet.'' She responds.

''Not just that Claud, It's the way she moved. I don't know, I just got a feeling you know?'' Noah asks pulling his wife closer against him. ''Maybe I'm just seeing things that aren't there.''

''No, I get it. I trust your judgment.'' She says smiling, ''always looking out for others. How did I end up with such a great man like you?''

''You trapped me with Stiles remember?'' Noah answers jokingly, receiving a weak shoulder slap in response. ''Ow Claud, you wouldn't want to be arrested for assaulting a police officer would you now?''

Smiling teasingly she asks, ''I don't know. Are all of them as handsome as you?''

…...

Malia stuffed the card in her jacket pocket and shuffles along, she's so tired but she doesn't know where to go. Her homes are occupied, her den is in wolf invested woods and she can't seem to find any abandoned buildings anywhere, even the tunnels are occupied or what the boards said 'under construction'.

She's been walking for a long time, it's dark out now and she's too tired to go on. Grabbing a stray plastic bag, she enters a dark alley. There she strips, carefully putting it all in the plastic bag. And just for a few seconds... there stands a stark naked, severely malnourished young woman covered in various scars. And just like that the woman is gone and a skinny coyote with matted fur takes her place.

She lies there exhausted on the cold concrete, and as if her life couldn't get any harder it starts raining. She pulls herself of the ground and kicks over an empty trashcan, grabbing her bag she walks into it and plops down. It's not pretty but at least she's protected from the cold wind and rain. Food and a plan of attack come tomorrow now she just sleeps knowing that everyone she loves is alive and well for the first time in years.

A/N: Review, follow, favorite.