Once upon a time, there was a Godly valley with mountains that could touch the sky and trees that cast long shadows. The people who live in the small mountain town are hardworking and happy, so long as they never stray into the forest where the wolves lurk in the darkness. Adults brave the trees in groups to hunt the vicious pack as they have for decades, the conflict is deep with no sign of victory for either side. But wolves are not the only threat, nor the village's only secret - and the link connecting them is a simple cloak of Red ...

Every night, from the highest peak of the uninhabited mountains, a single Wolf howls to the good folk of the valley – as a warning, as a message, and as a reminder of what they did:
"Beware, beware, the Path where the Witch once stood. Beware, beware, of the Wolf in the Wood."

An insistent tapping on Leon's crown woke him from a very peaceful and deep sleep. He opened his tired eyes and blinked stupidly as his groggy mind processed where he was. His unfamiliar surroundings weren't as unnerving as they might have been, his soul knew peace before his mind did, and when he recognised what was around him, it did nothing to alarm him. The leather tent was over him, latched onto a tree and fastened to the ground, a unique style that he'd never seen before. He lay on warm furs, each one soft to the touch and seeped in body heat, but most importantly, they smelled of him.

Even before his brain recalled his name, Leon was smiling and happily sighing as he pulled his lover's sleeping body an inch closer. Cloud was here. The blond was slumbering, his head and chest resting heavily on his shoulder and arm, deadweight and totally relaxed. He had rarely seen Cloud still and peaceful, he always seemed to be in motion, spiritually if not physically. Nevertheless, his peaceful sleeping face was something he drank in greedily while sleep pawed insistently at the back of his mind.

Leon rested a hand against the blond spikes with a drowsy, loving expression that felt all too natural for how new it was. His touch was light and still in the golden locks, no motion, and no pressure, he didn't want to wake him, only to cherish him.

He couldn't explain how light he was feeling; he couldn't explain why he was feeling so deeply content. It radiated deep inside him like heat from a hot coal, and brought a peace and a worry that twisted around themselves in Cloud's name like a plea and a promise, but for now, it was merely warmth.

He was tempted to fall asleep again, his eyes were heavy enough for the notion to take root, when disrupting taps resumed, right on the top of his head.

Irritated, he looked up to see what was curious and stupid enough to interfere with his peaceful morning, only for his face to freeze into one of surprise when a man with blue eyes and dark hair was seen glaring down at him with eyes as blue as Cloud's.

Leon blinked a few times, startled fully aware by his presence and his heart beating double time at the angry glint in his eyes.

He hadn't heard him approach, nor was he ready to face such an unexpected encounter, he was shocked that he hadn't leapt out of his own skin already – he had Cloud's deadweight to thank for his stillness.

Those blue eyes narrowed, "Don't wake up Spike, Hunter," the man growled, "You're lucky you left your gun at home, or I would have broken your arms and legs."

Leon's arms curled protectively around Cloud before he realised what he was doing, the man's eyes moved to analyse his subtle movement but gave no response. Leon found the breath to speak, "You're one of Cloud's people …" he whispered pointlessly; who else could he have been?

The wolf-guardian didn't grace his question with a response, he rubbed at his eyes and huffed a heavy sigh. He looked tired, and very frustrated, but mostly tired. Leon relaxed a small degree once those unfriendly eyes were away from him, but that state didn't last long.

"Fuck … you know how lucky you are, Hunter?" Leon tried not to flinch at the venomous tone in the wolf's voice, the dark haired man looked back at him, "You nearly just … you could have ruined everything!" He jabbed a finger into Leon's shoulder. "You could have ruined Cloud's life and the entire pack's if you had gone through with mating last night!"

The man's nail was sharp, Leon's bare shoulder stung slightly in protest, yet Leon's attention was elsewhere. Not mated? But I'm sure that we … he recalled Cloud admitting that there might be something more to this than mutual release, but all the same, Leon was quietly taken back.

He asked; "It didn't work? How can you tell?"

"I just know." The intruder stated unhelpfully. He glanced at Cloud, his eyes softening into worry "But," he inhaled with a twitch of his lips that could have been a frown or a smirk "I think you were very close. Lucky, we can still get away unhindered."

Leon, fearfully, asked, "What do you mean?"

The angry man crossed his arms, giving him a disbelieving look that might have shed flesh from bone had it been given in wolf from. "Cloud hasn't told you? We're leaving."

Air left Leon's lungs. "What?"

Ignoring his breathless exclamation, the man muttered, "Surely you understand, hunter."

Leon tried not to wince at the title, how could he be one of Cloud's people? He was so cold.

"This forest isn't big enough for hunters and wolves, we need larger hunting grounds. When we were just wolves all we needed was to eat, now we're people we need furs, leathers, fats, rope, herbs- this place is being picked dry by us both and one side has the decency to give this land a chance of recovery. Our pack's migrating, probably far away, we haven't scouted a good location yet. But it's happening." He glared again, "If you had mated with Cloud then he would have been forced to leave you, and he would be miserable. We would all feel miserable for it, so thank your lucky stars that your fooling around didn't tie him to you."

Fooling around? Leon bristled with fury "Against what you think," he spat back under his breath, well aware that this man could hear him "I'm not hurting Cloud."

There was an unimpressed snort above him "But you will. That's why we've decided to send Cloud on the scouting mission so he'll be away from you." His implied it'll be a one-way trip, was more than enough to scare Leon so deeply he forgot to whisper.

"He can't leave!"

Those hard eyes were murderous at Leon's outburst. Leon nearly cowered away, but he couldn't stop his desperate protest "He can't, isn't there someone else, another way-"

"It's hardly your concern!" the man growled.

"I'm his-"

The man loomed closer, growling like a real wolf and eyes narrowing to glint with bloodlust "You're his Nothing." he pulled away slightly "We're his pack. Don't even try to put yourself into some level of importance in the face of that! It's something you humans will never understand. Packs move together. If we leave, he has no choice but to follow."

Leon lowered his head, upset and desperate at the idea of losing the blond in his arms forever. He's right, I'm not on the same level as Cloud's people, not even close but … surely he would have said something if it was that important?

"Can't I go with you?"

The man laughed, scornfully "What? You?" Leon cringed at the tone of voice, he'd heard the unpleasant and cruel intonation from many people before, always talking down to him, insulting him and pushing him away. He'd never heard it in the woods, save for that one and only wolf hunt he had attended, and it seemed to sting twice as much now it came to a place of sanctuary.

"As if we'd let a hunter travel with us, you're no wolf, and you're not a member of our pack." The hand came down to grip his wrist, the one still pressed into the honey locks of spiky hair, the grip pulled him away, and those blue eyes reverted to impassiveness. "This is going to be hard enough for Cloud when we leave, make it easier for him and let him go."

Leon shook his head slightly, pressing his head into the blond hair, he pulled his hand free and felt dread grip his heart at the idea of Cloud ever leaving him, of ever being outside of his arms again. He never knew that loving someone else could cause such a profound, dreadful terror to shake him on the inside. All consuming and desperate. He didn't even realise he was muttering aloud …

"I'll … I'll live nearby then, far from your pack, you won't ever see me-"

"What?" the man's voice was surprised. "You'd live alone in the wilderness, with no one, just to see him?"

Despite having been called out on his private thoughts, Leon did not deny them. "Yes, I'd do it. Gladly. I'd keep hunters away from you, go where you couldn't, anything," he swore, looking up at the wolf-guardian with nothing but honesty in his voice.

Those hard, blue eyes fractured with confusion and unease "Why?"

The brunet looked at the man in his arms, gentle and relaxed face, the hidden blue eyes, the small, sweet freckles on his smooth cheeks that he could only see this close, blond bangs falling over his face and eyes. But more, it wasn't the physical that had Leon so fixated, it was his laugh, his smile, the way he understood him with or without words, his patience and gentleness, and his strength and ferociousness. It was the way that his smiles made Leon's lips turn up, the way his laugh made the brunet's heart skip a beat, the kindness in his eyes that brought him peace. If he were ever to let him go, Leon wasn't sure he'd ever be normal again, he'd forgotten how to live without him, and that's why he'd gladly change everything, undergo any challenge, to remain by his side.

"Because I love him."

The sharp inhalation was almost expected; Leon didn't react to it. "Those are strong words, hunter …"

Leon closed his eyes "It's a strong feeling," he countered. Whatever happens, I want to be with him. No matter what that means for me.

The man was silent.

Stunned or unmoved, Leon didn't care to look and see. But he heard him inhale deeply several times, Leon wondered if he was scenting the air, he blushed slightly as he recalled what had happened last night and what this strange wolf must be piecing together from smell alone. He recalled Cloud frowning at Tifa when she had smelled him, was it an impersonal thing? Or was he just being protective because he couldn't get the upper hand like they could?

Whatever the reason, Leon was still at a disadvantage.

The black haired man hummed thoughtfully, a hint of surprise in his voice "You're … you're not lying."

Leon looked up at him "You can tell?"

The man nodded absently "When people lie there's a physical reaction, it's a bit complicated to explain, but there's the scent of a liar, who's emotions don't match their words, but you don't have it." He put his hands down from their stern fold and tapped one side of his face as he leaned on his crossed knees "You really love Spike …" he rubbed his brow.

"That changes something, I guess. Listen," the wolf began after a deep breath "we really need to move. We're gonna suffer if we stay. Cloud will suffer the lack of food and space; it might even mean his death to be separated from the pack. If you care for him, convince him to leave with us, please."

Leon frowned "Why are you so again me being with him? Tifa wasn't."

Sighing, the wolf moved his head just enough to free one eye from his palm "Tifa, for all that's good about her, doesn't often think ahead for the long term. She approaches life by sturdy days and goals, short term stuff. She's an excellent tracker and fighter for it, putting all her energy and focus into direct blows right in front of her. By her nature, she'll have the most positive opinion of you, though not the most practical."

"You didn't answer my question," Leon prompted hesitantly.

The man huffed "Our Alpha says no outsiders allowed. Any non-wolf has the potential to do us a lot of harm. You might even be hurting us right now without any of us knowing. Our existence is new; we're got a lot to be wary of. That's the reasoning behind it. As for me," he pulled himself up to his knees, ready to leave. "I just want what's best for Cloud. It would be much easier if you just let him go-"

"Oh for the love of the guardians! You're not still going on about that are you, Zack?"

Both men jumped at the new voice.

Cloud looked up and glared at Zack "Piss off, would ya? I'm enjoying a morning pile with my future mate." He gave Leon a kinder look, nosing against his cheek affectionately "Good morning, my Squall."

"H-hey," Leon returned, still reeling and beginning to blush. He gave Cloud a quick squeeze when his mouth refused to say anything meaningful, and Cloud seemed pleased, eyes mischievous and protective.

The man, 'Zack' leaned away with his jaw hanging "You were awake the whole time?"

Eyes rolled before the blond buried his face into Leon's chest, "Of course, you're remarkably unobservant when you're mad." Leon wasn't sure what to say, but Cloud kept talking, his breath tickling his chest, "It's annoying, I could smell your grudge from dreamland, but it was the lying that really woke me up," he growled.

Leon blinked "Lying?"

Cloud reluctantly pulled away to look him in the eye, sending a disapproving look in Zack's direction. "Most of what he's said is true," he allowed, Zack looking more uncomfortable by the second, "But the part that I'll have to follow the pack if it decides to leave; utter bullshit."

Zack growled.

The blond didn't look impressed "What would actually happen if I decided to stay is the exact opposite; the pack wouldn't leave because wolves never leave a fellow wolf behind. So long as I want to be here there's no way the wolves are going anywhere," he smirked.

Leon was indescribably relieved and was not shy about expressing it, sighing with every hint of tension running out of his body and pressing his forehead to Cloud's bring him close. He heard Cloud laugh at him under his breath but was too busy enjoying the absence of overwhelming dread to care that he was Cloud's amusement. "You are so sweet when you're honest, Red."

"So you'd choose him over us, and see us all suffer?" Zack challenged, hands waving to make points "If we stay your hunter's not going to have a hell of a lot to hunt anymore, except us."

Cloud didn't rise to the bait like Leon had expected, he propped his head on his hand and mumbled awkwardly, "Yesterday you didn't care about this stuff, 'nature finds a way' and all that, who put you up to this?"

Zack slumped "Angeal asked me to convince you- whatever, look, Cloud, this is happening."

Cloud snorted "Not while I have any say in it."

"You're the only one that does!" Zack looked frustrated "He's not even your mate, let alone your pack. I thought that meant something to you …"

Cloud's face hardened, Leon sensed that what Zack had said was a low blow and one that made Cloud just shy of angry. "And I thought that my family would support me and not hinder my happiness. Instead, I'm fighting them for it. I thought my wellbeing meant something to you- Don't!" he snapped when Zack looked ready to argue "Don't you dare say that being away from Squall is going to make me happy! Why are you all lying to yourselves?"

The last question was rhetorical and vulnerable. It didn't show on Cloud's face but in the slump in his shoulders and the anxious flex of his fingers. Leon sat up as best he could and looped an arm around Cloud, palm against his back to bring him close to offer what comfort he could, pleased when he accepted without resistance. Cloud rested his head on Leon's shoulder and murmured inaudibly into his skin.

While he tried his best to help him, Leon was quietly in turmoil. While he felt unquestionably hopeless at the very thought of Cloud walking out of his life, he hated the idea of Cloud's family infighting. Family had been the only steadfast companions in Leon's life, no friends to speak of or lovers, and Cloud was being denied that comforting circle of love and acceptance because of him.

He didn't want them to fight and finally said so. "I don't want your family- sorry, your pack to fight you because of me. You need them, they care for you."

Cloud gave him a sad but touched smile "So do you." He looked slightly panicked "Please don't start listening to Zack and tell me to go away, that won't-"

Leon shushed him with a quick kiss "No, I wasn't going to. I want to prove I can be trusted, I want them to accept me, that'll make you happiest, right?"

Cloud nodded, a touch of longing in his eyes.

"What do I need to do?"

Zack drawled suddenly, "Please, don't forget I'm here." Cloud looked irritated at him.

"I've been trying to tell them all summer," he began, half an eye on Zack at all times "There's doubt beginning to spread, some of my friends are listening to me, but the majority is still too wary to change their minds. Too scared."

"You know …" Zack was looking thoughtful "There might be a way …"

The blond looked confused "You're not making sense Zack. First, you're supportive of me, then you try and bully Leon away, now you're trying to help again? What's with you?"

Zack shrugged "Nothing's with me, Cloud. All I wanted was for you to be happy. I just keep realising there're other ways to achieve that, though, seriously, why the hunter?" Cloud rolled his eyes and Leon reluctantly smiled at the break in seriousness. Before, the question might have been spiteful, but now, with the light in his eyes and the grin on his face the malice of before was merely a façade; a mask adopted to achieve his goal.

Zack tapped his chin absently "Firstly, I would never be cruel enough to wish you an unrequited love, that fucking sucks. Secondly, Angeal told me that he wanted to move the pack to new hunting grounds and that he wanted you to come with us and not hold us back. When I heard the reasons why he wanted to move I knew it was something that was inevitable and … frankly, it's going to hurt us all if we stay, even you, hunter, will go hungry eventually."

That made Leon think. Not enough prey for the two villages … that would cause an all-out war – the people in his community were complacent, using the wolves as scapegoats, or himself, but so long as there was food in their bellies and gold in their pockets they were content to just complain. A severe lack of resources would make tensions rise, then a village-wide hunt would be the only outcome.

"Therefore," Zack continued, "I thought the best way to keep everyone happy would be to split you up, no one dies of starvation, and you might have had a lifetime to find a new mate."

Both Cloud and Leon tightened their holds on each other in response to that conclusion. Each silently saying 'no way in hell' and making Zack chuckle.

"Finally, I … didn't expect your hunter to be so dedicated to you, Cloud." He examined Leon with his eyes again before looking to his pack member, "Him wanting to make peace with us, trying to protect you from me, almost as stupid as a wolf-loving a hunter. But, hey, when has that fact stopped you."

Cloud looked interested "So?"

Zack smirked "Most think you're stupid, that it's some flirt with danger or a fling of youth, but most of our pack members are sticking their heads in the sand and hoping that this will just blow over once you've had your fun. Angeal's one of them now." His eyes lit up with mischief, "If you happen to make this guy your mate officially, then that's it. Mated for life, and those who are just going about their daily lives wishing this away like a bad dream are going to have the wake-up call of a lifetime. Angeal can't ignore your hunter any longer, he can't pry him away from you and neither can he try something extreme, like attacking him."

Leon sat up "He'd let me join you?"

Zack raised his hands, looking a little nervous "I never said that! He'd be more likely to rip out your throat for suggesting it … but he'd have to face you. If Cloud has explained mates correctly to you, if Angeal wants to look out for Cloud from then on, that includes dealing with you. As Alpha, he's obliged to look out for him."

Cloud's eyes were wide, and a fascinating look of hope crossed his face "That would work!"

"Forcing his hand?" Leon checked, a little worried that this feeling of rebellion would overpower Cloud and any other feelings that might have guided them before, especially the gentle, little ones that he had not words and only actions for.

Cloud nodded eagerly, missing the seriousness in Leon's tone, "Yes. That might be our only chance to convince him about you." His voice implied that he was thinking of other things, Leon wondered what.

Zack, however, was sharper in detecting Leon's unease "Problem with the idea, hunter? Not like there's anything else we can do in the time we have, you can barely wait another season let alone another summer to pry open Angeal's closed mind. Ideally, we'd be elsewhere by the spring."

Leon ducked his head so Cloud wouldn't see his expression, he wasn't sure what was on his face "I don't want to rush into this, it was serious before and now …" now it's just a tool, a means to an end. Would mating even matter to Cloud anymore?

Cloud's hand was on his cheek, turning his face from the floor back to him. Leon glanced into those blue eyes for only a second, but it was a second too long, and Cloud understood what was troubling him. He pressed his forehead to Leon and murmured, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to talk like that was all that mattered, that I was the only one who had any say in what we did. I'll wait. When you're ready, we can move forwards … Angeal isn't as important as this."

Leon sent him a relieved look. Not that he was objected to making a move to keep himself in Cloud's life, he was all for it so long as it was done for the right reasons. Cloud just confirmed this for him verbally, but his concerns were hushed and silenced when Cloud reached out to brush a strand of hair from his eyes, looking at him like he was the only one in the world.

How could he have ever doubted his intentions?

"Not to break your happy bubble, again," Zack cut in "But you two don't have a lot of time to find the bloody mood lighting." The blond looked sharply at him, eyes constricting into wolfish eyes, angry ones, and Zack flinched a bit though he wasn't looking at Cloud. He kept his on Leon "Don't you dare make me regret sharing this with you, Hunter. Hurt Cloud, in any way, and I'll feast on your bones."

Cloud growled beside him, Leon rested a hand on his arm as he addressed Zack "I would never."

Zack shrugged, stood up, Leon noticing that his clothes were too small for him like Cloud's were often big. His shoulders were almost busting the seams on his sleeves, his trousers left an inch of skin exposed on his ankle … their village must be lacking some basic essentials to leave so many people wrongly clothed. He turned and walked into the bushes soundlessly, a hand already tugging at the base of his shirt. Leon suspected he had turned wolf and run off, mission failed.

Cloud lay back down beside him, hands hooked onto Leon's hips with a frustrated sigh "Stubborn ass."

Lips twitching, Leon asked, "Is he on our side?"

His lover snorted "Hardly. He's on my side, but that doesn't mean he always does the things that I want and agree with. Honestly, if he could just pause and think before he spoke or acted he might be a good Alpha one day. He's got the tolerance to put up with a lot of shit and just enough bite and wits to lead everyone in one direction like an Alpha should … he's so childish, though."

"You'd follow him if he was Alpha?"

Cloud nodded "Yes, and even if he wasn't. He's a good friend, one of my oldest." He opened his eyes again and offered a small smile "Probably why he was so easily convinced that you were not healthy for me. I'm not five anymore."

Tilting his head as best he could while laying down, Leon asked: "What happened when you were five?"

Blushing slightly, Cloud admitted to climbing a rocky slide and getting stuck until Zack helped him and bandaged his knee and his forehead from the bumpy, sliding climb back down. They'd been as close as brothers afterwards as Zack insisted on giving him his medicines and showed him how to climb properly, a relationship their parents encouraged. "Zack says I got the 'idiot' knocked into my head that day, and he needs to watch out for me because of it."

Chuckling, Leon admitted that it was cute, and was promptly bitten for it.

"I'm not cute," Cloud complained, growling lowly.

Leon smirked "Says you, Ow!" he yelped when Cloud bit his chest again. That one would mark, he was sure of it. "Damn you, that hurt," he rubbed at it with a pout he'd deny he ever pulled.

Looking smug, Cloud said, "Serves you right for calling me cute."

"Those were words!" Leon protested.

"Both leave marks," countered his lover, leaning in to place apologetic kisses all over the reddening skin, "I think you've learned your lesson," he tilted his head up to kiss him "Sorry our morning was interrupted. Thanks for agreeing to this."

Leon asked between gentle kisses "For what? For staying the night or a for a good night?"

"Both," Cloud laughed. He stopped the chain of kisses for a moment to sigh "I'm not looking forwards to going back, to be honest. Zack helpfully reminded me that things get worse every time I try to avoid them." Leon rubbed his back soothingly as Cloud finished "I'd better start asking questions, though. About mating."

Leon nodded "I know. No way I'll be able to raise those questions without getting lynched."

Checking a moment to make sure he was joking, Cloud snorted "Oh I shudder at the thought. Poor little catholic getting ravished by another man, your God must be speechless with shock! Oh and he's a wolf too, looks like someone's been very naughty."

Leon shook his head, wrinkling his nose at the dramatic teases "Shut up."

Snickering, Cloud did as he was told and they went back to enjoying the quiet morning.

"Who will you ask?"

"What?" Cloud raised his head from Leon's chest.

Leon's eyes were drawn to Cloud's scar, the one left by his wolf spirit, and he reached out a fingertip to trace the outline of the heart and the wolf paw print overlapping the lower right corner. "Your pack's had two men in relationships before, you said," his soft touch was making Cloud's heart beat faster, fascinating. "Who will you ask?"

Cloud looked thoughtful "Marluxia maybe? I know he's travelled and slept with many people, man-whore," he snorted. "I bet he'll make it as embarrassing as possible for me … I might ask Aqua, though, she's a healer and probably knows a few things too … she and her mate were the first to find out about the mating bond, you know," he said off-topically.

Leon made a noise of interest.

"Yeah, she and Terra were good friends before, and companions afterwards, they were close because they were training to be the next spiritual leaders before the sickness. After the ten years as wolves, soon as they had sex again, being 'companions' turned into 'you're my one and only', it was very intense to watch."

"But they're happy?" Leon checked.

"Yes, very." He smirked "I think they were both holding back their true feelings, when we became wolves it was harder to hide, and they got together pretty fast. But they went from young love to utterly devoted mates almost overnight!" he made a bemused face "It was intense for them, and for those of us watching- I think Angeal was tempted to tell them to take a hike for a month or so to get each other out of their systems." He snorted "We could barely stick 'em! They were so moony-eyed for each other, every time they went near each other, we'd all feel their affections through the wolf bond."

Leon wondered aloud "Did it change them?"

Sensing concern, Cloud shook his head "No. Not them as people, just them together. I wish you could feel it too. It's more than love, it's … like they're connected on another level. They're the ones everyone goes to for advice with mating now, they were the first."

"Are there others?"

Cloud snickered "Oh you bet! Marluxia, the guy I'm likely going to end up asking, hooked up for a one night stand with Zexion just to scratch that itch and- guess what?"

Catching onto the joke, Leon laughed too "Now they're each other's one and only?"

The blond nodded "Yup! They've learned to live happily, though it's taught us all to be cautious with relationships now. In a way, I think they're good for each other …" he looked thoughtful. "There are a few more too. One couple was married before the wolf-years, their mating wasn't too much of a big deal for them, another's expecting in a few months, I wonder what the pups will be like?"

Relaxing against him to the idle talk of village life made Leon wonder if he could ever be a part of it, could he walk with Cloud through his people's den and gossip about newly mated couples, newborns and the like?

His hands tightened on Cloud's waist in a squeeze, "Your friend's failure to split us up might make your leader angry with us. If he keeps you there … when can I see you again?"

Cloud smiled, pecked his lips and said "I'll let you know. I'll sing to you."

"Is that what you call it?" Leon wondered.

The blond ducked his head "Yes … our songs don't have words but … they're full of what we feel. When I reach out to you at night, I hope that you hear me, that you recognise me and look forwards to seeing me."

"You should teach me how to sing like that."

Cloud laughed joyfully "Oh? Your previous efforts were awful I think it's required."

Leon kissed him to stop his teasing laughter and mocking words, he didn't mind, in truth, and looked forwards to next hearing Cloud singing to him. It would be a welcomed sign.

Story is also available on Ao3 for those who prefer it there.

There's going to be a small change in chapters for a while: We're going 100% Strifehart!