Trigger Warning for this chapter as it does contain actual words of Hitler said during the Holocaust. Facts were taken directly from these two sites: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Mosaisk dot com. Facts in italics were direct quotes.
Chapter 8: A Bold Move
*****The Next Day*****
Willow woke up next to Oz, holding his hand still. It was strange how they'd slipped back into the same level of closeness that they'd had before. Neither one of them were thinking of sex, so the touching was innocent. Her heart hurt for the pain that he was in because she knew exactly how he felt. Of course, Willow and Tara never had a child together, so she knew Oz was also feeling the pain little William would feel growing up without his mother.
"Dada," William called out, standing up in the crib next to the bed.
Willow was going to go to get him, but Oz was instantly awake and reaching for his son.
"Hey, kiddo. Daddy's here," Oz said, picking him up and kissing him.
"Good morning," Willow said, stretching and standing up. "I'll go get us some coffee. We're going to need it if Buffy's going to drag us shopping for the house."
"It'll be good to get out and see more of the town," Oz said.
William flashed him a happy smile. "I'll be back," she said.
A short time later, they were all dressed and eating breakfast together. Buffy and Derek had shown up to eat with them before meeting up with Lydia, who was going to take them to the best places.
Buffy got such a kick out of watching Oz feed William. He would take a bite of scrambled eggs and then reach for some on his plate and throw it at his dad, who'd catch it with his other hand.
"That's quite a routine you guys got going," Buffy said, grinning.
"Well, his mother always let him feed himself," Oz said. "He is old enough to start doing it with this kind of food. But I'm always worried he'll have too much fun and not eat enough. This way he has his fun, and I know he's getting some in his mouth, too."
"Wise daddy," Buffy said. It was so strange to see Oz both as a father, but also as someone willing to actually share what he was thinking. The man had grown up a lot as they all had, and Buffy was glad to have him back in their life again.
"Your reflexes are impressive, Oz," Xander said as Oz caught another wild throw.
"Thanks. I don't know if we can stay with the shopping as long as you, so maybe we can start off with bedroom furniture," Oz asked.
"Fine with me," Buffy said, looking at Derek.
"Not a problem," he said with a shrug.
When they were done with breakfast and all their way out, Xander put his hand on Derek's arm to get his attention. "Prepare yourself. Shopping with Buffy isn't for the faint of heart," he said.
"I think I can handle it," Derek said with an easy smile.
"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you!" Xander said.
Lydia and Malia were waiting outside for them. Malia looked disgruntled. "I don't know why you're dragging me on this shopping trip. Not only is it not my house, but I don't like shopping. It's stupid," she said.
"Because it's a perfect opportunity to spend more time with the new pack members and get to know them," Lydia explained as the door to the bed and breakfast opened. Even Oz and his son were coming on the shopping trip.
"They're not pack—not yet," Malia insisted with a stubborn look. However, the adorable redheaded baby drew her attention. She eyed him in fascination, her complaining forgotten.
"Good morning Lydia and Malia," Buffy said. "Scott didn't want to come?"
"It's too early for him," Lydia said. "He said that he'll meet up with us at lunch."
"Oz, this is Lydia and Malia," Buffy introduced. "Oz, Lydia is the banshee and Malia the werecoyote."
"Cool," Oz said. He smiled at Lydia. "Nice to meet another fella redhead."
"It is unusual to have so many redheads in on social group—stastically speaking," Lydia said. "Is this your baby? He's so adorable, and he brings our number to four."
"This is William," Oz said as Willow carried his stroller. "We usually call him Will."
Malia stepped closer, and Will locked eyes with her. He held out his arms for her, grinning. "Oh, I've never seen a baby before—not this close anyway," she said, both excited and nervous.
"I think he likes you," Oz observed. His son was trying to jump out of his arms and get into Malia's—it was surprising.
"Can I hold him?" Malia asked tentatively.
"Sure," Oz said, handing him off.
Lydia pulled Buffy aside to tell her about the stores she wanted them to go to first, and everyone else watched Malia hold a baby for the first time.
"I can remember holding my sister," Malia admitted as she gazed down at Will. "She was a few years younger than me. She died with my adopted mother in the car wreck that my werecoyote mother caused when she tried to kill me. I was eight." She told the story so casually and without any emotional inflection, yet her gaze never left the babies. He grinned up at her and put his little hand on her cheek.
"My van is over there," Oz pointed. "We have to drive mine as I have the car seat."
"I can't believe your van is still running," Xander said, impressed.
"It's been with me for every journey," Oz said with a smile.
"So how many cars are we going to take?" Willow wondered.
"I can fit five others in my van," Oz said.
"I'll drive my car," Derek said.
"Wise choice," Xander told him. "Then when you get ready to crack, you can drive to safety."
"I'll be fine," Derek assured him.
Xander scoffed in disbelief. "You are so innocent and cute," Xander said with a smug grin.
"Take it easy, Xander. He's a wolf. I'm sure he's got stamina," Willow said, winking at Derek.
They laughed at Derek's expression, and Oz opened his van for Malia to put William in the car seat. She gave him a confused look. "How does this work?" she asked.
Oz showed her. "That seems secure enough," she said, testing the seats movement. It held steady.
"Do I need to tell Scott that you'll be wanting one of these one day?" Lydia asked her with a grin.
Malia flushed. "Only if you want me to hurt you," she threatened with a glare.
"I wonder if your kid would be a coyote or a wolf?" Willow wondered.
"Maybe a wolfote?" Xander suggested.
Malia rolled her eyes. "So we're riding in this van, right?" she asked Lydia.
"Derek's driving with Buffy, so yes," Lydia said.
"I'll sit next to the baby," Malia said, jumping in.
Xander got in next and looked out Lydia. "I guess that means you get the backseat with me," he said with a wink.
Lydia laughed, finding him amusing. Sure, he was flirting, but he was doing it in a teasing manner, so she didn't take him seriously. Stiles was her future—that was a definite. It may be a while before they were together, but she knew that was the end result. It had been too many years coming.
"Let's get this show on the road," Willow said excitedly. She turned to Lydia from the front seat and asked, "Where to?"
"Buffy said bedroom furniture first, so that's where will go first," Lydia said.
The shopping marathon was officially a go.
*****Several Hour Later*****
First, Lydia had Oz drive around all of Beacon Hills, so she could point out areas of interest to the newbies. She had Buffy on speaker phone, following in the car behind them. Derek was amused by Buffy's excitement.
"You've been here several days," Derek said. "Haven't you seen the sights by now?"
Buffy stuck out her tongue. "Lydia, Derek is talking smack about your tour," she tattled.
"It's 'cause he's a sour wolf—that's what Scott calls him," Lydia said with a laugh.
"Ah, that's so perfect! I love it!" Buffy gushed. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "My sour wolf."
Derek rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged on his lips. Her description wasn't quite the same as when it came from Stiles.
Eventually, they made it to the furniture store. The clerk looked wide-eyed at the group that moved from one side of the store to the other, debating and exclaiming. Oz pushed William around in the stroller as he and Willow looked at the toddler beds.
"Here's a crib that converts to a toddler bed," Willow said.
Oz smiled. "Cool," he said.
"Now we just have to pick a color and bedding!" Willow said with a grin. Once they made their selections, Malia took Will out of his stroller and walked around with him, much to his delight.
They took time going through the store looking for bedroom furniture for the house. A good time was had by all.
After selecting bedroom furniture and linens, it was time for lunch, where they were meeting up with Scott.
Buffy wasn't even tired but felt energized after they mostly bought out the town's furniture store.
"So the shopping was a success?" Scott asked, looking at the group. Xander and Willow both looked exhausted. William was asleep in his stroller, so Malia was obviously bored. Derek wore his normal neutral expression. Lydia and Buffy, though, seem charged.
"It was awesome!" Buffy said, beaming. "We got all kinds of things for the rooms. Now we have the kitchen and living room still to furnish."
"It was stupid," Malia complained. "Who cares about types of wood? The slayer and Lydia are both insane."
Everyone laughed as she glared. "You didn't have fun?" Scott asked.
"Well, the baby was fun," she admitted.
Scott put his arm around her, looking down at her in surprise. "The baby? You liked the baby?" he asked.
"Yes, Scott, Will loves Malia," Lydia said, grinning.
"He really does," Oz said, looking at the werecoyote. "You're nothing like his mother, but she was fierce. You are fierce."
Malia smiled, glad to be admired.
"You should've seen her with him, Scott. She was so great with him," Lydia told Scott. "Definite mom material here."
Malia flushed, feeling uncomfortable. "That's crazy talk," she muttered. She gave Lydia a glare.
"I wish I could've seen it," Scott said, kissing her cheek. Then he leaned and whispered in her ear, "You'll make a great mom someday."
Malia felt her stomach drop at his words, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she kissed him.
All the supernaturals at the table, though, heard Scotts words and grinned at the couple.
After they had lunch, Oz took William back home, and Scott took his place. Malia wanted to go with the baby, but Lydia called her a wimp. Disgruntled, she went with the group to look at kitchen appliances.
They went to Sears to buy the kitchen furniture. Derek insisted on paying for the kitchen appliances, thinking that if they moved out, that would stay with the house.
"What about the dining room furniture? We need a large table with extenders," Xander said.
"Dark wood," Derek said. "Pick something dark that isn't black."
Finding a table wasn't as easy as agreeing on chairs. There were too many opinions, so Xander made an executive decision. "As I'm the one who fixes all broken things, I'll pick the chairs," he declared
"Fine," Willow agreed.
It was five o'clock when the shopping was done. By this time, even Lydia was exhausted.
"That was fun!" Buffy exclaimed. "I wish they could deliver it all today, so we can arrange everything."
Everyone looked at her disbelief.
"You're insane," Xander said. "I have energy for pizza and a shower—that's it."
"She doesn't tire, huh?" Scott asked, impressed.
"I guess not," Derek said with a smile of affection. Derek had gotten tired of the excursion about two hours before it ended.
"I bet she's lots of fun with that limitless stamina," Scott said with a smirk.
Derek hit him in the arm.
"So Monday after school, we'll meet at the house to put the furniture together, okay?" Buffy said.
"That works," Scott said. "I'll get Liam and the rest of the pack over to help."
"Great," Willow said. "Thanks."
"Buffy, do you know how you're going to address the things that happened at the school?" Scott wondered.
"Actually, I've been thinking, and I do have a plan," Buffy said. "Since Beacon Hills doesn't really suffer from the Sunnydale syndrome—"
"What's that?" Malia asked.
"That's where everyone pretends that the town is normal, or they block things from their minds that they've seen that is clearly supernatural," Buffy said.
"Yea, I think the town, or many in the town, know that werewolves are real at least," Scott said.
"I agree," Buffy said. "So I'm going to address what's happened directly. Have a school assembly."
"That's bold," Lydia said. "My mother will probably hate it. She likes to pretend."
"I won't let her," Buffy said. "She's the principal, so she can't live in denial."
"Good luck," Scott said. He looked at his girlfriend. "Are you ready to go?"
"Sure," she said. "See you guys later."
Buffy looked up at Scott. "Can you come by Derek's tomorrow? I want to run by my plan with you and Derek," she asked.
"Okay," Scott said. "See you all later." They said goodbye as the pair left.
"Willow, can you help me with the presentation I want to give on Monday?" she asked.
"Of course," Willow said. "What are you thinking?"
"I am thinking that as Monroe operated so openly and without shame, we need to do the same," Buffy said.
"I can't wait to hear your plan," Willow said with a grin.
"Did you order the pizza?" Buffy asked Xander.
"Do you know me at all?" he asked, feigning hurt.
Buffy grinned. "Go take your shower, and we'll try to save you some," she said.
Xander scoffed. "Yea, right. It'll be twenty minutes, so I'll be back in ten. I'd never trust you with uneaten food," he said. He looked at Derek. "Remember that."
Derek smiled. "Will do," he said.
Buffy turned to him, pouting. "Hey! I need fuel. Nothing wrong with that," she insisted.
"No, there's not," he said, leaning closer to kiss her.
Willow smiled at the couple, happy for her friend.
*****Monday*****
Mason walked into the auditorium with Liam. "Do you know what this is about?" he asked. It was the last hour of the school day, and the teacher told everyone during their last class about the sudden assembly. They were instructed to lock their cell phones into their lockers and given time to do so about ten minutes before the period ended. Teachers even manned the halls to make sure they did it. Then, they were at the entrance checking students for devices. It took about fifteen minutes just to get all of them into the school's auditorium.
Liam nodded. "Yea, this is Buffy's doing," he said. "She's got something planned to deal with what happened when Ms. Monroe was in the school. I don't know the details, though."
Lydia's mom took the stage after everyone was seated. "Students, forgive the lack of notice for this assembly," she began. "However, we have a new counselor I wanted to introduce you to. She has a plan to bring this school back on track. There's been some ugliness in this school that sickens me, and we haven't even made it through a month of class. It'd be nice to pretend none of it happened." She stopped and looked at Buffy and Willow, who were off left of the stage, giving her an encouraging smile. Her gaze faced the students as she continued. "But we can't do that. We have to learn from our mistakes and do everything we can to make sure that we continue to be a school united as one student body. Please give your attention to our new counselor, Buffy Summers."
Wearing her hair in a low ponytail and an attractive top with her long black skirt, she hoped she looked professional enough. Her three inch black heels gave her some additional height. There were more than a few whistles of appreciation as she was younger and more attractive than Ms. Monroe.
"Hello," she said, smiling at everyone. "As Mrs. Martin introduced, my name is Buffy Summers. Most people call me Buffy, but I think Ms. Summers is expected."
A few students laughed. Liam and the pack clapped, giving her support.
"I'm going to take us into a history lesson. Please bear with me because I'll eventually explain why," she said.
The screen behind her turned on, and an image of Adolf Hitler came on the screen. It was a YouTube video that showed how he begun his signaling out of the Jew for his hatred. Sound bites translated into English his words.
"The black-haired Jewish youth lies in wait for hours on end, satanically glaring at and spying on the unsuspicious girl whom he plans to seduce, adulterating her blood and removing her from the bosom of her own people. The Jew uses every possible means to undermine the racial foundations of a subjugated people."
"...the personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew."
". . . the discovery of the Jewish virus is one of the greatest revolutions that has taken place in the world. The battle in which we are engaged today is of the same sort as the battle waged, during the last century, by Pasteur and Koch. How many diseases have their origin in the Jewish virus! ... We shall regain our health only be eliminating the Jew."
The voiceover in the video said, "Not only was Hitler convinced in the absolute superiority of the German people, but he was convinced that he was doing God's work, trying to frame the Holocaust as a type of religious jihad." There was another clip of Hitler addressing a large German audience.
"Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: 'by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.'"
It showed him indoctrinating the youth of Germany as clips of the propaganda videos demonstrated how their young minds were warped, filled with prejudice at an early age. The video was ten minutes long.
Buffy muted the audio as images of Auschwitz and the skeletal forms of the Jews showed on the screen. Many of the students groaned or gasped in horror. History teacher often shied away from these types of images due to the upsetting nature. She began to speak.
"Hitler signaled out the Jewish people because they were different. They were both a race and a religion. Their custom and faith was different than the dominant Christian faith," Buffy said. "Although Jesus himself was Jewish, this blind hatred of the Jewish people held no reason—only fear. People are afraid of those that are different. They are jealous of those who succeed where they fail." She paused and tried to look at as many of the students as she could. The images of the survivors of the Holocaust played on the screen. "According to the Holocaust Encyclopedia, eleven million people were massacred in Hitler's so called holy war against the Jew, not including numbers who died in war conflict," she said. "That's basically the population of the state of California. Think about that. Some people say that's not possible. No one could ever kill that many people."
She looked down at her notes as she read off the facts. "What follows are the current best estimates of civilians and disarmed soldiers killed by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. These estimates are calculated from wartime reports generated by those who implemented Nazi population policy, and postwar demographic studies on population loss during World War II," she read. Then she looked up at the audience. "Make no mistake. Holocaust deniers are beyond idiotic because when eleven million people disappear off the face of the Earth, people notice. There's an accounting of those gone," she said. She turned slightly to look at the screen. She paused as the images of the people groups appeared with the numbers scrolling across the screen. "Here's the breakdown of those that died because of fear, hatred, jealousy, racism, and prejudice."
Number of Death
Jews: up to 6 million
Soviet civilians: around 7 million (including 1.3 Soviet Jewish civilians, who are included in the 6 million figure for Jews)
Soviet prisoners of war: around 3 million (including about 50,000 Jewish soldiers)
Non-Jewish Polish civilians: around 1.8 million (including between 50,000 and 100,000 members of the Polish elites)
Serb civilians (on the territory of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina): 312,000
People with disabilities living in institutions: up to 250,000
Roma (Gypsies): 196,000–220,000
Jehovah's Witnesses: around 1,900
Repeat criminal offenders and so-called anti-socials: at least 70,000
German political opponents and resistance activists in Axis-occupied territory: undetermined
Homosexuals: hundreds, possibly thousands (possibly also counted in part under the 70,000 repeat criminal offenders and so-called asocials [anti-socials] noted above)
Jewish Loss by Location of Death
Images of each concentration camp appeared with the numbers superimposed.
With regard to the number of Jews who died in the Holocaust, best estimates for the breakdown of Jewish loss according to location of death follow:
Auschwitz complex (including Birkenau, Monowitz, and subcamps): approximately 1 million
Treblinka 2: approximately 925,000
Belzec: 434,508
Sobibor: at least 167,000
Chelmno: 156,000–172,000
Shooting operations at various locations in central and southern German-occupied Poland (the so-called Government General): at least 200,000
Shooting operations in German-annexed western Poland (District Wartheland): at least 20,000
Deaths in other facilities that the Germans designated as concentration camps: at least 150,000
Shooting operations and gas wagons at hundreds of locations in the German-occupied Soviet Union: at least 1.3 million
Shooting operations in the Soviet Union (German, Austrian, Czech Jews deported to the Soviet Union): approximately 55,000
Shooting operations and gas wagons in Serbia: at least 15,088
Shot or tortured to death in Croatia under the Ustaša regime: 23,000–25,000
Deaths in ghettos: at least 800,000
She froze the last image of the ghettos Jews were forced to live in. "This is real history. Some of you say, well, that happened so long ago. That would never happen now," she said. "Just like America's enslavement of the African American that last over two centuries, we like pretend these ugly things are a part of our past." She paused at a picture of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine came on the screen. Then various other X-Men. "We make comic heroes of people like this. Anyone familiar with these guys?"
The sudden shift from serious content to a popular pop icon confused many students as they whispered to one another. Some called out, "That's Wolverine and other X-Men."
Buffy nodded, smiling. "You got it," she said. "Any brave soul want to reveal to the student body their geek credit by sharing the premise of X-Men 2?" The movie poster for it was on the screen.
Mason looked at Liam, who grinned. "Go for it, dude," he said.
Mason stood up. "The government had a cure for the mutant gene because people feared or hated them. The movie starts with the attack on the school by the government after Ice Man was turned in by his own family. Then the X-Men teamed up with the bad mutants to free some others that were taken in the school attack," he said. "They each faced the dilemma of deciding if they wanted to be like everyone else and take the cure. Some fit in because their mutant powers didn't make them stand out on the outside. Others like Hank, who was the Beast, couldn't pretend he wasn't a mutant. Most decided that mutantism wasn't a disease to be cured, but it was an evolution of mankind. However, Rogue, the girl who couldn't touch anyone without killing them and absorbing their powers, decides in the end to take the cure."
Buffy smiled in approval. "That's pretty good," she said. "So the X-Men comics were first written as an allegory for the Holocaust. Bet many of you didn't know that." A few students laughed, mostly relieved to not be talking about a real massacre. "Today, many think of the X-Men as an allegory for other oppressed groups like homosexuals or minority races."
She paused, turning the screen off. "Picture show is over," she said. "But I have more to say. I have a point I'm coming to."
Liam whispered to Mason, "She is very clever. Look at everyone. They're riveted."
Mason looked and saw that almost everyone was hanging onto her every word, trying to find out where she was going with all this. A few looked uncomfortable as they begin to figure it out. Liam looked over at Theo, who smirked. For the first time ever, he didn't see a single cell phone out or anyone looking down at their devices. It was a nice change.
"Hating a group of people because they are different from you is wrong," she said. "There's no if, and, or buts about it. Bigotry has no place in our society, and it definitely has no place in this school. Starting today, any action that signals out anyone due to their race, orientation, religion, or species will result in a three days suspension the first time. Expulsion the second time. There will be no tolerance."
She paused as students murmured. "Species? Did anyone catch that?" she asked. Some nodded. "We're all humans here, right?" She paused. "Yes, we all are humans, but some among us are special. They contain a genetic anomaly that makes them different. Other towns and even scientist would laugh at us for this claim, but you all know what I'm talking about. Werewolves. They are real. The ability to be both human and animal is real." Now students began to talk to one another. A few protested. Some laughed. Many, though, looked sober and still, unable to believe a person in authority was so openly proclaiming what they knew to be true.
"This isn't a laughing matter," Buffy said solemnly. "I'm deadly serious. My predecessor convinced many of you to be afraid of werewolves like Scott McCall, who has been protecting this town for the past three years." She gestured to Scott, who was off stage to come forward. Scott and Derek argued for hours yesterday about her decision to outright confront and admit what everyone in the school already knew.
Scott stepped up to the mike. "I told Buffy this was crazy. Some of you might not know what's been going on, and you're really scared or freaked out by what you're hearing," he began. "I'm sorry." He paused, looking across the audience. "I was a sophomore when my best friend Stiles and I were listening to his dad's police scanner about a body found in the woods and decided we had to be where the excitement was. His dad, the sheriff, of course, caught him." He smiled and paused as a few students laughed. "I managed to sneak off while Stiles took the heat, and then I literally tripped over one half of a dead body." A student gasped. "Yeah, it was pretty horrific. Then something attacked me, and I was bitten. That's how I became a werewolf." Many students didn't look surprised. The lacrosse team and its coach definitely weren't. The teachers, though, were the most shocked. Too many of them lived in a bubble.
"As you can imagine, I was terrified and horrified to become like the monsters that attacked so many in the town. But I soon learned how to control my new power and not hurt anyone. My friends—others like me—some are werewolves, and some are other things similar—have spent the past three years protecting this town from the supernatural monsters that are drawn here," he said. "Ms. Monroe convinced many of you that I was the enemy. That werewolves were all monsters. My friend Lydia, Ms. Martin's daughter who isn't a werewolf, was shot as several members of this student body were armed with guns and shot up my house, nearly killing all of us, and doing extensive and costly damage to my home."
Some students looked upset, some guilty, and some incredulous.
"It was hard to suddenly be hated and feared by the very people I tried so hard to protect," he said, a note of sadness in his voice.
Buffy stepped forward as he stepped back. "Thank you, Scott," she said. Scott stayed on the stage, but he moved away from the podium. "Now I want to introduce my boyfriend, Derek Hale. He is reluctantly here, so clap and give him some encouragement."
A clearly unhappy Derek stepped on the stage next to Scott. "I wanted him to tell you this, but he flat out refused," she said. A few students snickered. "But he gave me permission to tell you what happened to him when he was your age. See Derek isn't like Scott. He wasn't bitten by a werewolf. He was born into a family of natural werewolves." The murmuring grew as the audience reacted to the very personal information she was sharing.
Derek whispered in a low voice that only Scott could hear. "My mother would kill us if she knew we were doing this," he said.
"It's a new day," Scott said back. Buffy's move was risky and brazen, but Scott had a feeling that it was needed to repair the extensive damage Monroe had done to the school and the town. When Stilinski's own deputies were turning on him, things were beyond bad. Something drastic had to be done.
"Derek's history is tragic. Once he had a really big family with several siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Parents," she said. "They lived in a big house mostly together. One day when all but Derek and his older sister Laura were away, a pack of werewolf hunters trapped his entire family in the house and set it on fire, killing his entire family. Children as young as six were burned alive. One younger sister and one uncle survived. The ironic thing is not everyone in the house were even werewolves. It's a gene that doesn't always manifest." She had decided to keep things simple as Willow suggested. Put it in words they can follow; that's familiar to them.
Once again, many students looked horrified. Buffy continued. "The dead body that Scott tripped over in the woods was his sister Laura, eventually killed, too. Why? Because there are people out there that just attack others for being different. No one in his family had ever harmed a single person in this town before the hunters killed them. They didn't let other werewolves come around and cause any problems either, and how were they repaid? Slaughtered like animals—worse really. We actually treat our animals more humane."
She paused again. "Is that the kind of person you want to be?" she asked. "Do you want to hate a group of people you haven't even bothered to know or understand? Do you want to be party to murder? Because that's what it is. Derek and Scott are Americans just like you. They have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Who are any of you to take it from them?"
"They're dangerous!" someone called out.
"Sure, they are," Buffy agreed. "To people who would harm you or this town. Any of you have a dog as a pet?" Some nodded or raised their hand. "Can your dog be dangerous to intruders? Are some strains of dogs more dangerous than others? Bred to defend? The rottweiler or pit bull have fierce reputations, but anyone here have one of those breeds?" Several students raised their hands. "How would you feel if someone just shot your dog for no reason? Simply because it was a rottweiler or pit bull? Or worse. What if they shot you and your entire family for harboring such a creature. Would that be okay?" She paused to let her words sink in.
"Scott's pack protects this town. There are creatures that harm humans. Not all werewolves are like Scott and his pack. Just like not all regular humans treat others well. Our prisons are full of regular humans that kill, rape, and steal. It doesn't mean all humans are bad, though, does it?" she asked. She glanced at her watch. Time was up.
"I know I'm going on a long time, and the school day is almost over, but I just want you guys to get this. Beacon Hills is a town that draws supernatural creatures to it. There are a lot worse things out there than werewolves," she said grimly. "But even if there weren't, no one has the right to kill indiscriminately. That makes you no better than Hitler."
One teacher on the first row stood up. "Okay, the message is understood, but not only do I think this is insane, but you are out of line for this entire assembly. This is an ambush!" she declared. A few others agreed.
"Was it an ambush when a student was attacked in this school recently by a mob of students while the teacher stood there and did nothing to protect him? She didn't even try to stop them from hurting the student," Buffy said coldly. She locked eyes with the teacher, who sat back down. "But for those that doubt, we can prove this. Scott was a bitten werewolf, but he's an alpha, which is a leader—he's the rare true alpha. Most alphas become an alpha by killing another leader and taking their power. True alphas do not. They become an alpha because of the strength of their character. You know an alpha by their red eyes," she said. Scott stepped forward and shifted, nails, hair and eyes for all to see. He felt exposed and free at the same time. His mother, Chris, and the Sheriff were at the back watching him. His mother gave him a smile of encouragement.
Students screamed. "Please, don't be afraid. Sit back down. You wanted proof. Here it is," Buffy said, giving the doubting teacher a pointed look. Derek began taking off his shoes and jacket. "Beta wolves eyes glow yellow. Sometimes a wolf can have blue eyes." She didn't explain what that meant. "Derek can do what only a very rare wolf can do—only those born naturally can ever achieve this level of transformation." When Derek took off his t-shirt, some girls cheered and whistled. Buffy grinned and pushed the podium back, so Derek could show them. The rest of his clothes tore as he became a black wolf with blue eyes. The audience now was stunned, many on their feet. Quickly, the entire student body stood with the others, wanting to get a clear look.
Buffy reached down and petted him, a bit awed herself. "You are so beautiful," she said quietly to him. He licked her hand and turned to walk off the stage. Scott picked up his clothes and followed after him.
"I encourage you not to post on social media about this as people will think you're crazy, and I won't confirm to your parents anything that you repeat," she said with a smile. "But we as a student body must change. Like Derek, you must evolve. Know that the world is a wonderous place full of more things than you could possibly imagine. Some are wonderful, and some aren't. Starting tomorrow, any of you who want to see me and discuss your fear or anything regarding what I've shared, can start making appointments before school. Since they'll be a lot of you, only by appointment can you see me. Get here early and speak to my secretary, who will be sitting outside my office with a sign-up sheet. Thank you. Everyone is dismissed. Go home. Think about what I said and think about the kind of person you want to be."
Chris Argent didn't know how to take what just happened. "This woman is bold," he said.
"She is taking a huge risk," Noah said.
"I like her gustiness," Melissa said. "It's refreshing."
"I'll tell you one thing," Chris began, "these kids will never be the same."
"Monroe poisoned this entire student body," Noah said. "Let's hope Buffy's gamble pays off. These kids will go home and talk to their parents. Maybe we can get a handle on things."
"Maybe," Chris said. Did she help them? Or did she just confirm rumors and spread more fear?
Time will tell.
*****Chapter End*****
Monroe was so blatant, and the entire last half of Teen Wolf showed most of the town turning against the wolves and knowing about it, so I decided to have Buffy take the direct approach. I hope you approve. Review and tell me your thoughts. Thanks!