Disclaimer: I don't own anyone here, Sony Pictures Animation does. OCs are mine.

Chapter Nine

Weapons and equipment scattered along the top of a tarnished utility table as Jake emptied his jacket.

"Holy shit you actually did get just about everything," Dennis marveled at the flares and medical kits.

The group were now on the first floor of a hardware store, used by gremlin scrappers as a safe house. The storefront had long since been looted but some nails and hand tools still remained cluttered on the first floor. They managed to find the stash in a refrigerator near the first floor windows, it contained bottled coffee, water, a couple of nut bars, and some canned meat.

Wally had already ate half the meat before Winnie confiscated the rest. She put them in one of the rucksacks they found.

Dennis sipped on his water canteen that he refilled as he looked over the weapons. It tasted like ditch water, but it got the job done and his mouth wasn't dried. "Okay, let's see what we have here and who gets what."

He began to call them out. "We have two M58s with twelve mags of ammo, one Chewer shotgun with six drum mags, two Ankle Biters with eight mags, one Mini Crossbow with twenty silver bolts, and the AGL 45 I used with a number of slug types."

The group of fighters studied over the weapons, Wally was the first to grab at one. "Shotgun's mine." He inspected the weapon like he had experience with it before he weakly slung it over his shoulder.

"Yeah." Jake took the grenade launcher and tied the grenades around his waist.

Both Val and Dennis took the assault rifles and clipped some of the spare mags on their belts.

Winnie didn't care too much for firearms and settled with the mini crossbow. She carefully loaded one silver bolt before putting the rest in her satchel she found in the stash.

In the end, both Val and Jake agreed to take the pistols and placed them in their holsters along with extra mags. Winnie took the aid kits and put them in the rucksack with the food and drinks, and took the flares and spare ammo and stored them in the other rucksack.

Everyone settled down and all went quiet in the room, except for the raging wind outside. A kerosene lamp burned on the utility table and lit up the area near the Guardians, hitting the storage boxes and leaving plenty of shadows.

"So what now?" Winnie asked, she was redressing her brother's wounds on a worn sofa beside the table.

"We wait, until we hear anything from our mystery guy in the city." Dennis relaxed in an old recliner on the opposite end of the table. "Think it would be Val that gets pinged."

Val laid on a tarnished spring mattress aside a wooden shelf playing some type of game on her CaDRU that was something along the lines of ping pong. "If he does, I'll let you know."

"I wonder who this guy is," Jake pondered aloud. He took a swig of his water bottle and sat against the wall on the floor.

"They're some higher up I know that, those and the Guardians were the only ones issued CaDRUs." Dennis did doubt this monster was from another Guardian Squad since they were either killed off or sent somewhere else across the globe.

"Could be one of the Brood for all we know, leading us right into a trap." Wally winced as his sister tapped his cheek.

"Don't move." She was in the middle of replacing the bandages on his face.

"I doubt that even more than it being another Guardian, these things lock off in the presence of Dark Magic."

Wally stared past Winnie at the ceiling with his exposed eye. He didn't trust that fancy technology that the Guardians use seeing as it caused the prison break, but he knew he had no other choice but to go along with them considering the state he was in.

Val watched fiercely as the blue ball bounced across her screen and moved a vertical line which acted as a racket to block it, it went back to the other line. She had to be more smart and unpredictable, the game A.I. adapts to her play style the more rounds she wins against it. She was about to move her racket up to block the ball when a message cut her game short.

Stone Cold

Meet at these coordinates:

47.4979N, 19.0402E

Val jumped up after reading the message. "Guys! They responded!"

"About time," Dennis sat straight up. "What does it say?"

"He wants us to go to these coordinates, I'll screen share." Val took a screenshot and sent it to the other Guardians.

"That's it? Nothing about what's happening?" Dennis asked as he opened the picture and read the coordinates.

"Uhh… that's in Hungary." Jake pointed out. "Budapest to be exact."

That's it? Just coordinates? Dennis frowned and followed the coordinates on his map and sure enough, it pointed to the center of the Budapest ruins. "Hey Val, can you message them and tell them what's going on?"

"Me and my bro would like to know ourselves." Winnie had a sinking pit in her stomach thinking about her family still in the city.

Val replied to the contact with a message that asked who they were and what's happening in the city. It was a short moment before she received another message.

"Alright," Val began. "Dark Brood have Transylvania, fronted by Greem, Wasilei, and Bela. I'll reveal myself at the meeting point."

Dennis sat back and allowed the new info to sink in. He had a feeling Bela and Wasilei were behind the attack but Greem fronting it? The most loyal man to Dracula and the guy who helped us win the war?

"Hey," Wally caught the attention of everyone as he struggled to move his head over. "Last night… Greem and the alpha came to the prison, they wanted to see Bela for some reason. Now I know what for."

"You didn't think to tell anyone? Warn a higher official?" Dennis was quick to jump on him, the attack might've been thwarted if he spoke up.

"Only Wilbur, didn't want to lose my job you know or bring unwanted attention to myself."

Dennis inwardly cursed the werewolf guard, he could have saved a lot of lives if he'd spoke up to the right people.

"What about our families?" Winnie reminded, referencing her and Jake.

Val messaged the contact again regarding their families. She got a new message immediately.

"Your families are still in the auditorium, they aren't hurt in any way. Can't talk anymore, time is up." Val read off.

"That's comforting," Jake noted with a hint of sarcasm.

"Val?" Dennis began to inquire. "Reason for the attack? Drac or Vlad?"

"Stone Cold's locked his contact info, guest we really do have to wait until we meet them."

Dennis stood up, walked forward, and placed both hands on the metal table. He lowered his head in deep thought. He didn't like any of this and a part of him felt helpless, like they weren't enough to deal with this. Truth is they weren't, but he didn't have faith in this Stone Cold guy or whoever they were.

Most of the other monsters in the room sat up and got around the table to wait for his answer. Winnie was the first to speak up. "So. . Budapest then?"

"No other choice," Dennis stated. "Thing is, I don't think we can make it there on foot from here, at least not dragging him around." He finished while looking over at Wally.

The werewolf was silent. As much as he wanted to protest, Dennis was right. His wounds probably won't fully heal until the next decade or so and he felt a headache creeping in from thinking about the distance he'd have to walk.

"I don't see another option," Val summed up. "Unless you want us to take our chances and see if one of us can steal another ANAC."

"No chance Val." Dennis immediately cut that idea, way too risky even with her shape shifting.

"I have something," Winnie spoke up while scrolling the map on her pad. "The Hoia Forest Conclave is just a three hour walk southwest from here, I say we stop there and see what they can do to help."

Dennis looked up at her with an annoyed scowl. "More like if they help us, or decide to kill us on sight. Those magic–wielding hermits don't care for us Allegiance types if you didn't know."

"It's perfect though." Winnie sent a screenshot the area of the forest to everyone's CaDRU. Dennis looked over the greened area in confusion, not seeing what she's getting at. "We obviously can't trust any other allegiance member and the conclaves trade with the scrappers on occasion."

"Okay, but what makes you think they'll let us in?" Jake was also skeptical of her idea.

"Him," she pointed at her zing.

The hybrid gawked at her. "Look Win, I know I have this dhampir charm and everything but the Conclaves? Doubt they even know who I am."

"Dennis seriously?" Winnie deadpanned. "You are known by like everyone, the Conclaves even had some of their people at the address!"

"Okay Win," Dennis muttered as his head went down. He began to serf through his brain all he knew about the Conclaves and the risks that came with approaching one unannounced. From the stories he heard, they protected their work in healing the planet very seriously and rejected any kind of technology that would otherwise harm it. This, along with their introverted nature made any interaction beyond scheduled trades imminent trouble.

Mostly they would teleport trespassers to a random location before they even made it to their encampment while a few were reported to be killed on sight and their entrails hung up as a warning. He didn't know anything about this particular conclave and wasn't sure how they'd react, but he knew there was a good chance they wouldn't survive if they set off straight for Budapest. Dennis let out a defeated sigh and gave his answer, "we head for the Hoia Conclave at 0600."

"Alright," Jake commented, bumping his fists. "Now we're getting somewhere."

The rest were energized and ready, now that they finally had an official plan of action.

"One thing," Dennis sharply cut in, he looked over to Winnie. "I want you to do the talking."

She looked at him like he was insane, she was about to protest before he continued.

"You look the less menacing one out of us and you're better at negotiating, Besides, this was your idea."

Winnie closed her mouth, this was one of the few times she hated him being right. "Al. . alright."

"If they recognize me then I'll start the talking," Dennis reassured. Winnie still seemed skeptical.

Dennis checked his CaDRU screen. "It's 2:46 now, we have a little over three hours till we move out so have your shit ready and see if you guys could find some rest," Dennis confirmed.

The other Guardians nodded in affirmation and began to ready up before returning to their rest spots, Wally had already dozed off on the sofa. Even as the kerosene lamp clicked off, the hybrid knew this was going to be a sleepless night for him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The shadows from earlier had now consumed most of the room and the only light came from out of the window. The storm had passed over, leaving only the wind and revealed the shimmering moon.

Dennis' troubled mind wouldn't stop, a repeat of the same memories and worries kept playing over and over again like a broken record. The full weight of the situation had settled since they weren't fleeing anymore, it kept him wide awake.

He looked over to the window, at the church tower that was used as a beacon for the outpost. It's haunting silhouette spanned the entire height of the window. From it, he was reminded how much buildings like that made him uncomfortable. He didn't know if it was his small percentage of demon blood acting up or the fact that it's tower painted a similar image to the old hotel, where that fateful day still plagued his dreams. Not even the bloody war could compare.

His mother left him, his father died, and he saw a different side of monsters that day. He couldn't help but think back to the day after, why Papa Drac wouldn't let him see his father's body along with his other grandparents. The image of that body in the tunnels suddenly came to him, it's drained out husked face replaced by his father's…

He immediately killed it, and decided to think about something else that was troubling. If the castle was captured, that means that Drac and Vlad were either captured or killed, neither of those ideas were pleasing considering the nature of the Dark Brood. They were most likely being tortured out of pure hatred, and he didn't even want to think what was happening to his other family, Frank, Wanda, and the rest.

He closed his eyes, Greem kept popping up in the darkness. His hard face and cutting blue eyes seem to radiate with a type of evil, a cold one, of treachery and some other unseen motive. Why did he do this? To just betray everyone, to what end? He opened his eyes back up to rid his vision of the blonde snake.

Dennis looked back out the window, the sound of the wind coming through the cracks made an eerie tune. He didn't like to think, but he could somehow feel his mother out there, somewhere in one of the many wastelands. On the days in the past where he wasn't having those corrupt dreams, she would come to him, dressed in black. She'd just stand there with that motherly smile, surrounded by white light. He would instantly recognize her even though he hadn't seen her in years. It was almost as if she spoke without moving her lips, reminding him that he's strong, and perfect in her eyes.

He'd wake right up the next day and it would be so frustrating, he would lose all memory of what she said. Those dreams became more frequent as of late. He couldn't tell if they actually meant something or if it was just his mind messing with him. Even though a part of him thought his grandpa was wasting his time, he hoped deep down he would find her.

Dennis tried his best to wash the sorrow away and moved his hand to his wrist device, he squinted at it's blinding light. 4:58, the time read.

Some movement brought his eyes to the sofa, Winnie was stirring. He watched as she sat up on the rear of the couch, lazily rubbing her eyes. Her muzzle was slouched in a pitiful frown and her eyes were barely open. She started crawling over her end of the sofa and dug around in the rucksack, eventually pulling out one of the waters and wasted no time in gulping it down. She erupted in a coughing fit, not knowing the quality of the water.

Dennis slowly focused his vampire vision and could easily see her looking around, probably to see if she woke anyone. Her eyes then locked on his she stared for a moment. A smile crept onto her muzzle after seeing he was awake.

"Hey." He didn't have to speak up, knowing her hearing.

She gave a peace sign with two of her claws. He nodded in a 'come here' motion, to which she groggily made her way over to him. Neither of them said a word as Dennis scooted over, allowing her a spot on the leather recliner. It was a tight fit though she snuggled up against him and laid her head on his chest, giving the hybrid some room. She let out a tired exhale after she settled.

"Can't sleep either?" Dennis asked.

"I did for an hour or so, with the dreams though… I just can't." Her voice dripped with exhaustion.

"I get you," Dennis gentle stroked her hair, which was a tangled mess. "That's why I haven't slept at all, not with the knowledge of the folks back home. Nightmares are bound to come."

Winnie didn't say anything. Dennis knew she had it worse with Sunny being there. He moved his right arm around her midsection in a loose embrace.

"I'm surprised they're able to find any sleep," Dennis spoke referring to the others, namely Wally and Jake. Both the golem's parents were there as far as he knew.

"Wally's been through worse," Winnie said with a bit of remorse. "As for Jake, I'm sure he's handling it fine since he shoves things like that aside."

"Yeah, I just hope that doesn't become a problem in the mission to come."

Dennis decided to change the subject. "You ready for tomorrow?" He felt as if he laid that responsibility on her too fast.

"Yeah, it was a logical choice."

"No really, Winnie?"

She sighed. "Yes Dennis, I can do the talking if the need comes."

"Okay, hopefully they'll recognize me so we can go to option A."

The two laid there in silence for a few minutes. Dennis thought back to the fear he keeps seeing in her eyes, ever since he found her at the embassy. He had a small hunch as to what it was. "Hey Winnie?"

"…huh?"

"Back at the embassy… what happened?"

She turned her head up to face him, her expression one with question. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know, it…" he broke eye contact with her. "It seems like something happened to you, I notice it in your eyes every time I look at you."

He got nervous, a answer didn't come from her immediately. He felt her head shift down. "It's not about what happened, it's about what almost happened." Her voice was shaky at the last part. "I'd rather you leave it."

"Oh…" Dennis took her advice and didn't press. After a while, he looked down to see her looking at him again.

"How are you holding up?"

He let the question sink in and prepared his response, "I guess I'm okay, still a little queasy with the rads in me."

Winnie could sense the stress in him. "You're thinking about something aren't you?"

"Yeah I am in fact." There was no use being dishonest to a werewolf. "I'm worried about Drac and Vlad, but I can't help to think back to mom and dad in times like these. I just wish things could go back to the way they were."

"You know thoughts like those are pointless, right?" Winnie didn't hold back. "And you have us you know?"

"I know Winnie, it's just my mother. I realize there's probably a good chance she's dead but I keep having these strange dreams where I find her, it's so realistic."

Winnie watched him and listened closely as he talked. She once heard from her mother that vampires have this type of connection with their love ones, unlike that of humans and werewolves.

"When grandpa told me he was going to look for her…" Dennis continued. "I had no choice but to think otherwise, I wondered if he had the same… visions."

"And you didn't think to tell him this?"

"I couldn't," Dennis shook his head. "I hoped he would just drop the subject."

"Why?" Her mouth was agape in disbelief.

"By slight chance if she's alive, what if she doesn't want to be found? The last memory I have of her is her screaming away in anguish and anger, you think she would've showed up by now if she missed."

"…"

"I doubt she wants to see me if I'll remind her of him," Dennis referred to Johnny. "Hell I think that's why Drac made me lose my locks, just because I looked like the human he failed to save."

Winnie took his hand in her paw, and rubbed her digits through his. "I'm sorry, zing." She didn't realize it was this bad, granted he didn't really talk about the subject of his parents with her. She thought she had it worse with losing over a couple hundred of her siblings in the war but she couldn't imagine losing one of her parents, or Sunny. "I wish I could make your pain go away, just like those witches with their healing spells."

"I know you do Winnie, and thanks." He shifted and got into a more comfortable position.

"You know what I think we should do when this is over?" Winnie asked after a minutes of silence.

"What?"

"Me, you, and maybe the other two if they're up for it, go with Drac to look for Mavis." Winnie paused. "Even if it means losing my job."

Dennis took in every last word. He was especially taken back by the fact she'd give up her current position she worked hard for just to make him and Drac happy. That's what I call a keeper Dennisovich, he snickered. Vlad would say something along this line if he heard this.

"I'm serious Dennis."

"I know, I know, I wasn't laughing at that." Dennis needed that laugh as he lightened up significantly. "Seriously thanks Winnie, I say let's go for it."

Dennis gazed down to see that affectionate smile he was used to from this woman. Looking into her eyes, he saw that fear had dissipated some and she seemed to have temporarily forgotten what troubled her. He cupped her rough face with one hand and she immediately leaned up, pulling each other into a kiss like they've done so many times now.

As their lips parted, Dennis' nostrils inhaled a sickening aroma that was a mixture of wet dog, burnt fur, and body odor. He scrunched his nose and did his best to make it as obvious to her as he could.

"What?" Winnie blurted.

Dennis struggled to keep from laughing. "You… you stink Winnie." He lost it and fell over on his back in a giggling fit. The way he said it, in that childlike manner, was sure to get a good reaction.

"Why you…" she lightly punched him in the arm. "You certainly don't smell like clean puppies and lavender yourself bat boy!"

Dennis covered his mouth, her bugged voice had him wheezing in hilarity.

Winnie broke and started to laugh as well. "Oh shit!" She covered her mouth at the realization of her outburst and looked to see if the others were still asleep.

"Don't sweat it Win," Dennis brought himself together and looked at his CaDRU. He saw quite some time had past since he last checked it. "It's about time to wake them up anyway and get this show on the road."

Winnie took some breaths in after her last few giggles. She laid back down next to Dennis, hoping the moment would last a little longer. She thought about the road ahead and what awaited them as the went to retake their city, it was the first time since she was a pup that she prayed to Odin to get them through.