The Mighty Shrimp were riding the bus on their trip back home. Everyone excitedly talking about their amazing week or what they had missed back in Seabrook. There was only one person on Addison's mind. Addison had had lots of fun and wouldn't have given it up for anything but she really wanted to see Zed's handsome smile again as soon as humanly possible.

A few seats away from Bree and Addison, Carter shouted out excitedly. "Yes! I got invited to Prawn!" He turned to hug his girlfriend Zia sitting next to him as everyone clapped and let out a round of awes.

Bree whispered to Addison. "Oh speaking of, I almost forgot to tell you, we've been so busy, Bonzo asked me to Prawn!"

They both turned their heads to the back where Bonzo was sitting, but his head was tilted down, though Addison had a feeling he must be working on something.

"OMZ! When was this? How did he do it? Give me details Bree!" Addison smiled excitedly.

"Well, it was that night you caught us outside, and after you left, I wanted to just go back inside, but before we did, Bonzo asked me and I of course said yes, so we shared another hug before going back inside."

"No invitation to Prawn for me yet. I'm kind of surprised Zed never mentioned anything about it before we left or in any of his letters.

"Don't be ridiculous Addison. You have nothing to worry about."

"You're probably right."

"And I bet Zed will probably ask you the first ten seconds he sees you. That is if he doesn't go down on one knee to make sure you two can never be separated again." Bree joked.

"Come on, he won't be that bad." Addison brushed some hair out her face in embarrassment.

"Addison you were practically that bad this week, and I've already checked in with Eliza, she texted this back."

Thank Z you guys are coming back, Zed's been driving me crazy with how much he misses Addison. He literally can't do anything without talking about her. Plus his stupid mopey face makes me want to sock him so bad to try to snap out of it.

"OK, maybe you're right if a little exaggerated. And just how many nights did you sneak out with Bonzo hmm?"

"We weren't doing anything besides talking. OK maybe a few hugs and kisses, but that was all. And what makes you think we snuck out more than once?" Bree tried to deny it.

"I only caught you once, but I know you had plenty of date nights. I won't judge, I love spending as much time with my zombie as possible too." Addison playfully nudged her best friend.

Little did they know, a tripwire was strung through the middle of the road and as the bus rolled over it a chain reaction occurred., revealing a hand-painted wooden sign along the side of the road.

Bonzo who had been warned earlier that day with a text from Zed, pointed out the window to grab everyone's attention. "Zarugala!"

Addison and Bree turned and looked back at Bonzo, then turned to each other, a bit confused, before they followed Bonzo's pointing finger out the window.

Bree let out a gasp of surprise. "Addison will you?" she slowly read.

"Go to the Prawn?" The whole bus chorused, everyone's attention was now focused outside the windows as they passed the second sign.

By now Bree and Addison were both grinning in excitement. "With!" Bree shouted excitedly, nudging Addison's shoulder.

Addison was smiling, straining her eyes to look ahead, but then her face broke into a shout of fear as she finally found the one person she had been looking for. "Zed!" she screamed in fright.

Zed's back was turned, standing on top of a ladder in the middle of the road under the last sign with a brightly lit arrow pointing directly at him. With the bus driver looking distractedly out the side window, still searching for the next sign, they failed to notice how close they were getting.

Zed finally heard the bus coming, and seeing that it wasn't stopping, only had time to say. "Uh Oh." To himself.

Now everyone on the bus started screaming in fear as they quickly approached the ladder. Addison could see Zed letting out a shout of fright as well on top of the ladder.

The bus slammed into the ladder, knocking Zed off it, and Zed disappeared from view. Addison was really panicking now. Everyone on the bus was screaming, and Addison had no clue where Zed had gone. Had they run him over? Was he laying in the middle of the road somewhere with broken bones? Was his Z-band damaged? Her heart started pumping even faster as she started imagining every possible terrible scenario.

The bus driver also seemed to be panicking, he was swerving back and forth along the road, thankfully no other cars were coming, but everyone was still screaming their heads off as they were tossed from side to side within the bus.

Suddenly Zed reappeared, hanging from the roof right outside Addison's window. "Zed!" She called out. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. She stood up shakily from her seat and placed her hand against the glass.

When Zed's eyes met hers, they lost their edge of panic for a moment and he revealed his handsome smile. "Hi." She could just barely hear him through the glass and all the screams on the bus. He placed one hand over hers on the other side of the glass. And Addison felt a momentary sense of calm that they were together again.

But then two seconds later he lost his grip on the roof and fell to the ground. Addison tried to follow him with her eyes, but all she could see before she lost sight of him was his body lying face down on the ground. "No Zed!" She shouted again. He has to be alright, he's strong and has zombie healing. He'll be perfectly fine. Addison tried to reassure herself before she was thrown back down into her seat.

But then the bus took a turn for the worse, having lost most of their control, the bus driver overcorrected on a turn, instead making a hard right off the road and bursting into the forest. Crushing everything in its path, the whole bus was shaking on the uneven ground, everyone was thrown forward from rapidly traveling downhill. Bree and Addison both instinctively ducked their heads down, but still all Addison could think about was Zed. She hit her head on the seat in front of her and felt tears building, but they weren't for her, they were for Zed.

Finally, the bus came to stop. Everyone slowly and shakily looked around, lightly feeling themselves and each other in the reassurance that they were all alive.

"Is everybody OK?" someone asked, Addison couldn't tell who in all the confusion.

Then Bucky burst out of his seat, screaming his head off. "AHH! Nothing can happen to me! I am way too important." Bucky ran down the aisle to the back of the bus and leaped out of the emergency exit.

"Everyone stay calm!" Addison stood up and shouted out. She knew in a moment of crisis like this she had to project confidence.

"Great leadership Addie." Bree whispered to her. "Very cheer captain of you." Addison looked around for a few moments, and it seemed like everyone was OK, just shaken up, before she remembered the one who would always be the most important to her. "Zed!" she shouted, eyes widening in realization and worry. "Bree can you handle everything here?"

"Don't worry Addison, I got this. You go find him."

Addison ran off the bus, the same way Bucky did, but landed on her feet in a perfect cheer dismount. She could see Bucky still lying facedown in the dirt. "You OK Bucky?" She asked him bending down for a moment.

"Yeah, I'm Fine. I'm…cheer…cheertastic as ever Cuz." Bucky shakily stood up.

"OK, I need to go find Zed." Addison ran deeper into the forest on the same path the bus tore through it, not noticing Bucky immediately falling flat on his face again.

Addison found a deserted clearing, but right as she entered it, a tree branch tore her jacket and scratched her arm. "Ah!" she groaned in pain. She looked down at her arm, and the pain quickly faded. But when she looked up she started to hear something around her.

It sounded like hurried footsteps surrounding her, and quick whispers between the trees. "Who's there? Zed!" She called out. "Who's there?" She looked all around herself in every direction. The footsteps were getting closer, and she could swear she could see movement between the trees.

"Hello? Does anybody hear me?" She called out again. "Zed?"

Through the leaves, she caught a glimpse of something running by her. Then another dark shadow within a forest of shadows in the rapidly growing dusk.

Then on a pile of rocks behind her, she saw two figures jump out. In the gloom, she still couldn't get a clear look at them. Addison's breath caught in her throat, she was absolutely terrified.

Then a new figure stepped into a pillar of moonlight shining through the trees. A tall, dark-skinned, and dark maned girl with flashing yellow eyes let out a loud "Awwoooo!" that was answered in an echoing chorus behind her.

Then something placed a hand on her shoulder. "AHHH!" Addison screamed and turning to reflexively defend herself, she released a powerful right hook right in her attacker's face.

"Uggh!" Her opponent yelled out, flinching away from her and grabbing his nose.

But by then Addison's brain caught up with what her eyes were seeing in front of her and she let out the happiest smile she had days. "Zed!" She screamed in delight, and let out a short giggle of laughter. Before reaching up to wrap her arms over his shoulders in a hug.

Zed leaned down to return the hug. "I missed you too." Addison could practically hear the relieved smile on his face.

Both were resting their heads on the other's shoulders, and both were immediately calmed down. This is where I belong, right here in your arms. Addison thought to herself, as she breathed in his familiar scent, and heard his slow, but powerful heartbeat beneath his cool skin. She never wanted to let go, and Zed was holding her just as tightly. She couldn't stop the smile on her face as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the peacefulness she always felt whenever they were together.

Then her brain caught up to her again and she pulled away from Zed to turn back around and met the mysterious girl's eyes standing only a few feet away. Her eyes weren't glowing any longer, but she still looked fierce, and she looked like nothing Addison had ever seen before.

She was dressed in a vest made of dark purple leather, with tan pants, white buttons that looked like bones, or teeth. She had a glowing blue necklace, and something about her seemed more than human. She had strange symbols tattooed on her skin and bracelets on her arms.

As Addison continued to study her, she noticed that her nails were sharpened in claw-like points, and her canines seemed longer than normal, she had a streak of white hair in her dark brown locks. Whoever she was she definitely wasn't from Seabrook or Zombietown for that matter.

"Who are you?" Addison asked nervously. She could feel Zed tense beside her and protectively put his arm in front of her as he noticed the stranger.

"Who are you human? Don't you know this is the Forbidden Forest? You don't know what creatures lurk in the night." The girl warned.

"I'm Addison, and this is Zed, sorry about the bus, we um had some traffic issues."

"Obviously." A deeper voice behind her chuckled, both she and Zed quickly turned around to see a guy and a girl stalking up behind them, wearing similar fur and leather clothing, their eyes weren't glowing at the moment, but they both looked just as fierce. And the girl sounded like she was growling.

"We don't mean you any harm, we were on our way back to Seabrook from cheer camp, and our bus crashed." Addison quickly explained.

"You're from Seabrook? I see you're obviously one of those brain-eaters, I thought they didn't even let you out of your cage." The first girl attempted to joke.

"Actually things have changed a lot in the last twenty years, and the last few months specifically. Thanks to yours truly." Zed tried to bring back his friendly smile but moved his arm to protectively hold Addison as the others still surrounded them.

"You called me human, are you not humans?" Addison asked.

"Of course not, humans are the worst." The first girl rolled her eyes.

"We're proud, fierce werewolves."

"That's right Wynter."

"We're scared of nothing."

"Except silver." The guy corrected.

"And ticks, rabies, fleas…"

"Wynter." The first girl growled.

"Right, sorry too much."

"Werewolves are real? No one's going to believe this." Zed muttered under his breath.

"Yes, we're just as real as you are zombie." Her keen hearing on display. "I'm Willa, and this is my brother, Wyatt, and our friend Wynter."

"So what are you doing here?" Addison asked.

"We live here, we've always lived here. This is our territory. Our home. Or what's left of it." Wyatt growled.

"So are there more of you out here?" Zed asked.

"That's a wolf secret, if we told you, we'd have to kill you."

Zed and Addison both took a fearful step back, while Wynter was still baring her teeth before she noticed both Willa and Wyatt shaking their heads at her.

"Oh bad wolf, bad wolf. I mean, not kill you, but we can't tell you. Super top secret. Welcome." Wynter began smiling before she noticed the look Willa was giving her before she growled again. "But not too welcome."

"Sorry for my friend, we haven't seen very many humans in our forest before, much fewer zombies." Wyatt apologized. "Do you need help with your bus?"

"Unless you can drive a bus out of here I don't think so. we should probably get back to the bus so all of us cheerleaders can get out of your hair. Maybe we'll see you again sometime?" Addison said, still sounding a bit nervous.

"Doubtful, you can leave now, but-"

"Willa," Wyatt cautioned. "I think we will see each other again soon. Hopefully." He smiled, showing his fangs.

"Do you want to come visit Seabrook?" Addison asked.

Willa scoffed, "It's a terrible town."

"I'll admit Seabrook has its flaws, but we're working on them. Maybe you should come see." Zed replied.

"We'll think about it." Wyatt promised.

"Um alright. See you later then." Addison said.

"Goodbye then. Nice meeting you." Zed added.

"Awooo!" The three wolves howled in unison before they ran off into the woods, quickly disappearing in the growing dusk.

"OMZ what was that?" Zed asked.

"I have no idea."

"Do you think we should tell anyone?"

"Do you think anyone would believe us?"

"Well this is Seabrook, we already have zombies."

"Do you think they're dangerous?"

"I feel like probably, but I'm sure they're just like us zombies. Different, but that isn't a bad thing."

"I think we should just tell our friends first, we don't want to cause a panic."

"Yeah, you may be right."

"I'm so glad you're here with me. I missed you so much at cheer camp. Addison stepped closer to Zed and gave him a smile.

"I missed you too." Zed pulled her close in a hug once again, and they relaxed until their hearts were beating in sync as the adrenaline faded.

"I loved reading all your letters."

"I know, reading yours and writing mine were the only things that kept me going. In all honesty, I vote we never be apart this long ever again."

"I couldn't agree more. I had so much fun, but I was missing you from the very first night."

"There they are!" They finally separated when Addison heard the cheerleaders walking towards them. Then she looked down and was surprised to find Zoey standing right beside her brother.

"Zoey? What are you doing here?"

"I was helping Zed out. Surprise!" Zoey shouted, tossing up a small cloud of confetti. "Did you like it?"

"It was great. But we're not alone." Addison said, still looking around nervously. "We're surrounded by…werewolves." Addison whispered to her.

"Cool!" Zoey shouted in excitement. She started gazing all around searching through the trees for the wolves.

"But Zoey, don't tell anyone yet. OK?"

"Alright Zed, I'll keep a secret. But why?"

"I have a feeling they don't want everyone in Seabrook to know about them yet, so it's probably for the best that we keep this quiet."

"OK, I promise." Zoey mimed zipping her mouth and throwing away the key.

Bree and Bonzo walked up to them. "Addison, everyone is fine, well except Bucky needed an icepack for his head from when he jumped out of the bus, but that's it, and he has the Aceys with him so he should be fine. And I already called Principal Lee and she's sending another bus, we just have to get back to the road."

"Great job taking charge Bree. By the way you two, I don't want to cause a panic, but be on the lookout for anything weird. OK?"

"Grat ez itz?"

"We'll explain later when we're all back home, or alone at least. Zed told him.

"OK, whatever you say Addison. Alright everyone let's keep going!" Bree announced as she led the cheerleaders back to the road, Zed, Zoey, and Addison bringing up the rear, on the lookout for any strays that might be following.

When they got to the road, Bree and Addison were both busy keeping everyone calm so Zed, Zoey, and Bonzo slipped away to pack everything up from Zed's Prawnposal.

"Imprezzi Zedski."

"Thanks, Bonzo, Eliza helped me make everything work, I think it went perfectly except for my timing obviously. Did Addison see all of it?"

"Gra. She grr id. Grat ez in rrgh groot?"

"You're not going to believe this, but Addison and I just met a bunch of werewolves."

"Screwzywolves?"

"Yeah. I can't believe it either."

"Grat theyrr guzta?"

"They acted a bit aggressive at first, but I can't really blame them since a bus just broke into their forest. But I'm sure they're just like us. Cut off from most of the world, no one really knows them. Who knows maybe they'll join Seabrook someday."

"If they do can I have a werefriend?" Zoey asked?

"What? Why?"

"Because I'm the only zombie in my class."

"But you love your class, and you still see Kinzley at recess, and you have tons of fun at cheer practice."

"Yeah, but It would be fun to have another friend who's different. Can I? I promise to feed them, and walk them."

Zed laughed. "Werewolves ain't class pets Zoey, and I'm sure Pops would tell you that you already have Puppy."

"I know, it would still be fun though." Zoey said as she handed him the rest of the tripwire from the road.

Eventually, a bus did arrive and everyone was on their way back to the school. Bree was sitting with Bonzo in the very back. Sharing an intense whispered Zombietongue conversation. While Zed, Zoey, and Addison were sharing a seat. Zed had his arm wrapped protectively around both of his girls.

When they got on the road, Addison asked him. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah of course I am. I promise no werewolves bit me. Is that how they turn you? Or is that just vampires? Of course, that's a myth with zombies by the way."

"No, I'm talking about being hit by the bus. With everything, I almost forgot about it."

"Yeah don't worry. Zombie strong. With Zombie healing, I'm already good as new. No road rash or anything. See?" Zed showed her his arms, which had some slight bruising but looked relatively fine.

"What even happened?"

"Well thanks to Zoey and Eliza I had the perfect plan, but I guess I didn't have the best timing. So I turned around and the bus was coming so I screamed really loud-"

"You screamed like a little girl." Zoey interrupted.

"Well, who wouldn't? The bus knocked the ladder out from under me, but I was able to grip the roof then I slid all over the place, then I saw you at the window, That was great, seeing you for the first time in two weeks. Then I lost my grip and tumbled on the road, but I promise you I am perfectly fine."

"Good, as long as you're sure, I'm sure we can go to the hospital if you need it."

"Don't worry Addie, I promise I'm fine." Zed sent her a reassuring smile.

Zed rubbed his hand up and down her arm in comfort before he stopped with a look of worry and fear on his face. "Wait a minute, did one of the wolves attack you, are you hurt?" Zed shouted, once again sounding panicked as he lightly touched the rip in Addison's cheer jacket.

"No don't worry, it wasn't a wolf, it was just a tree. I'm perfectly fine."

"OK good." Zed relaxed again. "So anyway will you-"

Just then Addison's phone started ringing. "It's my mom, she's probably just heard the news. Hi Mom." she answered. "Don't worry everything's fine. Nobody's hurt."

Zed just watched her speak on the phone for a while. Missy had a million questions for Addison, but thankfully after the first ten minutes, she moved on to asking about cheer camp, rather than the bus crash.

Soon they returned to the school and a crowd of worried parents was waiting, including Addison's parents who hugged her tightly.

"You sure you're alright?" Dale asked, wrapping her in a hug.

"Yes Dad, don't worry I was a little scared but I promise I'm perfectly fine."

"Good. Do you two need a ride home?" Dale asked Zed and Zoey finally noticing them. "Wait a minute, I'm pretty sure you're not cheerleaders. Sorry, high school cheerleaders." Dale amended seeing Zoey's indignant face.

"Oh…I…just couldn't wait to see Addison, and she called me right after the crash so I ran out to meet her and rode the bus back. And Zoey wanted to come too. Right Zoey?"

"Yep."

"OK well, I'm sure Zevon's worried about you two, so we can give you a ride back to Zombietown." Missy offered.

"Thanks Missy. Thanks Dale."

After checking one last time with Bree and Principal Lee that everything was good Addison went home with her parents after dropping off Zed and Zoey. She ate dinner and took a long shower to destress after her exciting day. She was glad to be back in her own bed, even if she wished she had someone else to share it with. The werewolves had scared her at first, but now she was wondering if there was something more going on if the legendary monsters were just as real as zombies. She wondered what they must really be like.

She was also happy to resume her nightly ritual when her phone rang. "Hello." she answered.

"Hey there Gorgeous are you getting ready for bed?"

"Yep it's been a long day, and I really missed Snowball, I just know I'll sleep good tonight with him in bed with me."

"You know what, you are somehow making me jealous of a teddy bear."

"You know I would rather have you here."

"Don't tempt me, because I can be there in under half an hour, and no more curfew to keep you safe from the zombie at night."

"I know, if you did show up my parents would put the curfew back up." Addison laughed.

"Oh I told Bonzo and Zoey about the wolves, and I assume he's told Bree."

"Yeah, she texted me a while ago asking me for more details. How did they handle it?"

"Bonzo sounded surprised, but he doesn't know what to think since he's never seen them, and Zoey already wants a werewolf for a pet, or a werefriend as she says."

"Yeah, I don't think they would like that." Addison giggled. "But I do want to know more about them. Do you think we'll see them again?"

"I think so, I don't know how they can be this close to Seabrook and no one has ever heard anything. They obviously know about zombies so maybe they'll join the town eventually, especially now that we're more accepted I'm sure no one will have any problems with werewolves. What's a few more monsters in our crazy town.

"You really think so?"

"If they do show up, we'll have to be careful so your dad doesn't make a wolf patrol or anything."

"Yeah, I got the vibe that they were aggressive, but also like they were hiding something."

"I kinda did too, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens, or maybe we could go camping sometime. But if we do I insist we sleep in the same tent to keep each other safe."

I'm sure that's the only reason, but I can't argue with that logic." Addison laughed. "I love you. Goodnight Zed."

"I love you too Addie, Goodnight." Addison could hear his happy sigh through her phone. "I've been waiting these past two weeks to hear you say that again."

"I know, me too. Gar Gar Gaza."

"Gar Gar Gaza."