By the time Zed and Addison returned to her house it was way past dark.
"Good thing there isn't a curfew anymore." Zed joked.
Addison shook her head, "Yeah, that's the last thing I'd want to worry about knowing how much danger the wolves are in."
"Do you really think we can find their Moonstone?"
"I have to believe we can, we can't just forget about them once they all showed themselves. They're actually pretty nice."
"Yeah, and some of their behavior does make a bit more sense now. I can understand wanting to know Seabrook's history and getting annoyed at how terrible it is, but every time Willa was reading a book she looked like she was about to tear it in half."
"Yeah, and why Wyatt has been hanging out with Eliza and trying to learn about Zombietown."
"I don't think that's his only reason." Zed said with a grin.
"You really think they like each other?"
"Today is the first time I have ever heard Eliza call anyone handsome, that has to mean something. And Wyatt definitely isn't scared of her. Besides me and Bonzo I think he has to hold the record for surviving multiple conversations with Eliza."
"Come on she isn't that bad."
"You know it will be great if Wyatt does become a cheerleader, just to see Eliza's reaction when she sees him dressed up like Bucky and the rest of you."
"I had fun with them today, but honestly they will have to wait until next year to join probably. They were good, but the competition is next week."
"Yeah, that's too bad. But I can't wait to cheer you on. Because you are all going to win that trophy."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Well, number one, You are the absolute best and cutest cheerleader on the face of the planet. Number two, you have Bucky, who is almost as skilled as you but you totally beat him on the cuteness scale."
"Don't let him hear you say that, he'd probably hack your Z-band again." Addison warned him with a chuckle.
"Like Eliza will ever let him near her computer. And anyway, three you also have Bonzo and Bree, four, the Aceys, and five everyone else, including zombies on the team, Seabrook plus Zombietown is a guaranteed winning combination."
"I hope the judges agree with your assessment."
"I know they will. Or I'll storm the stage and convince them myself." Zed smiled.
"OK super zombie. Don't end up in Containment." Addison laughed.
They walked up to Addison's porch.
"I guess this is goodnight."
"Goodnight." Zed said, he gently caressed her cheek and leaned in closer, but the front door opened and Missy was standing there.
"There you two are!"
Zed and Addison instinctively took two steps back from each other, and both tried to look nonchalant, embarrassment glowing on their faces.
"Where have you two been?"
"I told you Mom, we were helping out some friends from school."
"OK, but come inside, we need to talk to you." Missy opened the door further.
"OK sure Missy." Zed shot a nervous glance at Addison as they walked in and sat down in the kitchen, across from Dale who had been reading the paper.
"Good evening Dale." Zed smiled.
"Good evening Zed." Thankfully Dale grinned back as he folded up the newspaper. Maybe they weren't in trouble after all.
"So…if this is about how we came home late, we were helping some friends with a school project and just lost track of time." Addison rushed to explain.
Missy shook her head, "No, this isn't about you two specifically. Have you heard the rumors going around town? People have been talking about three monsters that have joined the school."
"Yes, we have heard about it, but before you panic or anything, just let us explain OK?" Addison said slowly.
"Alright, go on. You have our attention."
Zed and Addison shared a slightly nervous look before Zed started to explain. "The rumors are true, three new kids have joined the school, but they aren't monsters, they're werewolves. They've been living in the Forbidden Forest, great name choice by the way, since before Seabrook was first founded."
Addison joined in, "But they aren't dangerous, they're just different, and that isn't a bad thing. We've gotten to know them the last few days, and we've become friends. "
"Of course not Addison, so what exactly are they? Are they like werewolves in the movies?" Dale asked.
Zed explained some more, "They do have some powers like us zombies, they can see in the dark, have really good hearing and smell, possibly enhanced strength and speed? We don't really know yet. But they aren't like monster movies, if I understand it correctly they don't change on the night of the full moon or anything, and they look just like humans, they haven't done anything wrong."
"So Dad, please don't start worrying about alerting the Z-Patrol or anything, they know what the zombies have been through and their greatest fear is that we'll try to control them too."
"Don't worry, I have had no reports of anything bad happening so far. We won't make any problems when problems aren't there."
"Thank you Dad. Mom, what are you thinking?"
"Hold on, does this mean that story about the monsters that attacked the Seabrook settlers are real, and they've been living in the woods all this time? I thought that was just a legend, or just signs of, sorry Zed, our past zombiephobia."
"The story is sort of true, but the wolves say it happened very differently, for the main thing, humans attacked them and forced them to hide. That's why they haven't been seen since then." Addison said.
"And why are they showing up now?" Missy asked.
"Because we met them in the woods when the bus crashed. And everyone was completely safe the entire time, and we told them things are changing for the zombies, and we even invited them to come to visit the town. And um…" Addison had to stop herself from revealing the Moonstone and keeping her promise to the wolves. "Mom, I don't suppose you'd know where we could find more information about the original Seabrook settlers?"
"I would think the Seabrook Museum would be a good place to start, or..." Missy chuckled to herself, "you could probably ask your aunt and uncle."
"Why?"
"Oh this was years ago, but I remember one time we were over at Catherine and Trevor's and he brought out some old diary that Bartholomew Buchannan kept, he was Seabrook's first mayor and helped found the town, so I'm sure you won't find a better source about Seabrook's history than that."
"Oh really?" she looked over at Zed, "That could be exactly what we need."
"For what, your school project?"
"Yes." Addison said slowly. "Do you think they would let us borrow it?"
"I'm not really sure, Trevor said something about how it's his family's prized possession. But I don't think it would hurt to ask them."
"OK, I'll ask Bucky about it tomorrow."
"So…is that all, cause I better get home soon." Zed chuckled, glancing at the nearby clock.
"Yes, sorry for keeping you Zed, let me give you a ride home."
"Thanks Missy."
Everyone stood up from the table and Zed and Addison shared one more hug. "Goodnight Addie, I'll call you when I get home."
"Goodnight Zed." Addison said before they separated and Zed followed Missy out the door.
At lunch the next day as everyone sat down Addison explained the new discoveries her parents had revealed last night.
"That sounds great, but you didn't tell them about the Moonstone, right?" Willa asked.
"No, I promise we didn't, we had to explain a little of the things we learned about you but the number one thing we told them is that you aren't dangerous. We didn't mention anything about the Moonstone, right Zed?"
"Yeah, absolutely." Zed said, talking around the peanut butter and jelly sandwich in his mouth.
"Gross!" Eliza cringed. "Addison?"
"Zed, don't talk with food in your mouth."
"Yes Addie." Zed said, licking his lips as he swallowed.
"Do you think Bucky will want to help us?" Willa asked, looking towards the popular table that Bucky always held court from with his favorite cheerleaders.
"He's family, I know he'll do it for me. And, if I can have your permission to tell him why we need it, I know we can convince him."
"Alright, you can tell Bucky, but no one else. And swear him to secrecy too."
"Great, I'll ask him after cheer practice today, so if you want, you guys can all go looking until about 5, we'll try to cut it short today, and hopefully we'll all go to Bucky's house to read the diary together."
"Sounds like a plan." Wyatt agreed.
After school Zed, Eliza, and the wolves all met outside the school doors, ready to begin their search.
"Are you all ready to go?" Willa asked.
Yep! Let's find that Moonstone! Zed cheered.
"Not so loud zombie." Willa commanded.
"Sorry. So what's the plan, Alpha?" Eliza asked.
"I think we should split up into two teams, one looks in Zombietown, the other searches Seabrook. Particularly the museum."
"I call Zombietown!" Eliza shouted moments before Zed could.
"Fine I guess I'll take you guys to the museum. So who's going where?" Zed asked.
"Wynter and I will go with you Zed, and Wyatt and Eliza can look through Zombietown together." Willa said with a smirk.
"I'm down, Zombietown is way cooler than Seabrook." Wyatt nodded.
"Good answer Fido, not like its any competition. Later Zed, call me if you find the Moonstone."
"You do the same. Good luck."
"Good hunting Willa."
"Good hunting to you too Wyatt." Willa said as her group began following Zed to the museum.
"So Zed, what's this museum like?" Wynter asked.
"I have no idea, it only recently opened to zombies and I haven't had a reason to go yet. I found directions online but I've never seen any part of it. From the pictures they have online it's mostly dedicated to zombie history, well probably wrong history since Eliza hasn't been here yet. You know its probably a good thing you sent her to Zombietown or she would not get anything done, she'd just start another fight with the curator. And of course Seabrook's Cheer winning streak. I think they do have some stuff from when Seabrook is founded though."
"Sounds terrible." Willa scoffed.
"Don't worry things can keep getting better, and I'm sure they will for you all too when we find your stone."
"Zed, have things really gotten better for you because Wyatt's told me all about everything Eliza's still fighting for, why aren't you?"
"Things have gotten a million times better for us, and not just because I can be with Addison in public and stuff. Zombies can be part of all the teams, we can go to Prawn, Zoey and all the other little kids can go to school in Seabrook now, my Dad has a job he totally deserves. No more curfew, so many more freedoms for zombies then we've ever had. Yes we still have a long way to go but I know things can and will keep improving."
"But aren't you tired of waiting for change to happen to you, waiting for the humans to give your the freedoms you deserve? Why not just take them?"
"Well, that is part of the problem. I'm proud to be a zombie, but there are still people in Seabrook who see us as monsters, so we have to do things the nice, slow way. Baby steps are still progress."
"Not if it takes a hundred years for you to take them."
"What about you? Haven't you wolves done the same thing, hiding in the forest for the last hundred years?"
"That was different, we were decimated by the original attack, and every year that passed we grew weaker and weaker. We can't take on Seabrook alone."
"Exactly my point, roughly half of Seabrook got turned into zombies or died during the outbreak, but since then, the human population has grown larger than we ever could. Plus with the Z-bands and barrier and Z-Patrol, they've controlled us ever since our parents got their humanity back."
"Exactly, you got your humanity back, but they still treat you like monsters. When we wolves saw that, we knew even more than ever before that we couldn't negotiate with humans."
"I promise things are changing Willa."
"We'll have to see."
They finally arrived at the museum and thankfully there wasn't an admission fee, so they could just walk right in. Zed was right, most of the museum was divided into two distinct halves, Seabrook and Zombietown. The zombie sighed showed artifacts from the outbreak, pictures of humans building the wall, and the many different variations of the Z-band until they evolved into their present form. And unfortunately, many news clips or articles about the dangers of zombies.
The Seabrook side surprisingly displayed Bucky prominently right at the beginning, it still read that he was the Captain of the Mighty Shrimp, and had portraits of nearly every cheer captain with their trophies and banners from the last 50 years. This side would be fun to go on a date with Addison sometime he thought. They could spend hours making fun of how important Seabrook made their cheerleaders. Even if a cheerleader was the most important person in Zed's life.
One thing that did surprise Zed is that they seemed to be building a new section, and he could of sworn he saw a picture frame filled with news clippings of him after football games. Yeah, he was definitely bringing Addison back here, maybe even Eliza if they were already documenting the newly united Seabrook. And because most of their zombie history definitely left something to be desired.
Finally they found a hallway that wasn't pastel pink or zombie green, rather it was mostly shades of brown from the earliest days of Seabrook. Willa stopped at a wall lined with spears and a few old guns and growled.
"What is it?" Zed asked.
"Those weapons, they're silver. Those things were probably used to fight our ancestors."
"How can you tell?"
"Our instincts, just like you can tell human from zombie heartbeats right?"
"Yeah. Touché. I guess that makes sense, we also have an instinctual fear of fire."
"Do you have any specific weaknesses like we do?" Wynter asked.
"Well we can't stand the cold, but also I think back when we were all you know, full Zom, fire was the only thing that could drive us away from humans, its just instincts that we should stay away. That's the one thing that's ingrained for zombies to fear."
"Just like silver for us. That Cheerleader hall of fame back there was bad enough with all those silver trophies." Willa replied.
"Do you get hurt just being near it?"
"No, if we touch it, it will burn our skin like fire, being near it, it's just all of the alarm bells go off, we know instinctively we're in danger. But any other metals, rocks, wood, etc, don't break our skin very easily. But silver cuts through us like paper."
"I understand, zombies aren't invulnerable or anything, it's just that we don't register pain when we're out of control, so nothing except fire really can stop us from attacking."
"How about we change the subject from things that can kill us?" Wynter asked, "We already have one thing to worry about and I think that's enough."
"Fine by me," Zed said, "so besides the silver, do you see anything that can point you to the Moonstone?"
"None so far." Willa replied. "I hope this diary can give us answers."
"Well, given what I know about Bucky and his family, one thing they are proud of besides their cheertastic smiles, was how anti-zombie they were, so realistically I bet old Bartholomew recorded everything he did to heroically defeat the monsters. So while there will probably be plenty of extra tales of valor and heroics, I agree with Addison's thinking that this could be the best clue we have right now."
"Well, this place is just as useless as the library, are they almost done yet?"
Zed checked the time. "Yeah, we can probably head back to the school."
"Wynter!" Willa called out. "It's time to head back."
"OK, this place is horrible anyways." Wynter growled at a nearby sign, proudly declaring NO ZOMBIES. Zed wasn't entirely sure, but he hoped it was there as a relic of the past and not something that hadn't been removed yet.
"Yeah, the zombie stuff is still mostly terrible, and obviously your story isn't even here. As your Student Body President, I promise I will fight for you just as hard as I've been fighting for zombies."
"Thanks, Zed, I may be the Alpha, but I suppose I wouldn't mind calling you president, but only if I have to."
"That's cool, as Eliza says, she's the real power behind the throne."
"Oh, I totally believe that. Have her and Wyatt found anything?"
"Nope, she hasn't sent me any messages. Although they could be distracted." Zed said sarcastically.
"Totally, but I was being a good big sister, sending them off together so they can have some fun."
Wyatt and Eliza were walking through Zombietown, on the lookout for any sign of the Moonstone.
"What's going on over there?" Wyatt asked, pointing at the powerplant that was the busiest it had ever been, and under watch from the Z-Patrol.
"Today's the day they're really going to tear it down. The demolition is scheduled for a few hours. I'm sure the Z-Patrol is here to actually keep the zombies safe for once."
"I'm sorry, you're losing your Mash Pit, I would have loved to see how zombies dance."
"We do it like BAMM!" Eliza said. "Although you three can probably all come to the Prawn."
"Really? Any dance Seabrook throws sounds like it would be kind of lame."
"Don't worry, I'm DJ-ing so I'll bring the party back to life if it's too tame."
"I like the sound of that then, everyone should learn to live on the wild side."
Eliza and Wyatt continued walking past the powerplant. "So what's over here?"
"There's a bunch of old warehouses that maybe could have held the Moonstone and then once it was in Zombietown everyone forgot about it."
"Makes sense."
"Lucky for us, I think most of them are pretty much empty, anything valuable was taken long ago, but the Moonstone could still be around here somewhere."
Wyatt and Eliza spent the next hour or so looking through the different warehouses, but nothing really stood out to them as werewolf. Finally, they came to the very last warehouse at the end of the row." Hey Eliza I think there's some stuff in here! Help me find a light switch."
"OK," In the incredibly dark space, Wyatt could just make out the shapes of spotlights and random lightbulbs all over but he couldn't tell what exactly he was looking at.
"There we go." Eliza finally found a light switch and flicked it on. Before she let out a groan seeing where they were. "Zed! Of course, we had to end up here."
"What is this place?" Wyatt was dazzled by all the golden glowing lights that now surrounded them.
"It's Zeddison's stupid light garden. Let's just go before they show up and start making out."
"Do they do that a lot?"
"More than you think, actually you know them so probably just as much as you'd think they would. Which is why I never want to be trapped in a safe room with them, all they do is sing and go on about how much they love each other when they're in there, and that's if you're lucky." Eliza shuddered.
"Are you really annoyed with them that much?"
"Zed's my best friend for life, so he automatically annoys me. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them, but I don't want to watch them be all cuddly 24/7 like they probably would be if we didn't have school and sports and parents to force them to spend time apart."
"Fine, we don't have to talk about them. Do you have any more ideas where the stone might be hidden, I bet no one knows Zombietown better than you."
"You got that right, honestly no. This old warehouse area is the only spot that isn't houses or businesses. They're planning on renovating or tearing down and rebuilding most of this area. I don't know how but Zed was smart enough to choose the only one that wasn't scheduled to be ground to rubble."
"So the zombie does have brains."
"Only sometimes when it comes to that zombie. Trust me, the rest of us have plenty to spare."
"I can see that."
Wyatt and Eliza were walking back past the powerplant on their way to return to the school. "I just hate so much that by this time tomorrow, the powerplant will be gone." Eliza's frown deepened as they walked past it again.
"What if Wynter, Willa, and I help you attack it, or at least get in the way of the workers so they can't blow it up?"
"I'm passionate, and driven but I'm not suicidal, nor do I ever want to go to Zombie Containment again, and I would much less want any of you to go through that."
"I'm sorry again Eliza. We… I know how it feels to have your home destroyed."
"I know, enough sappy talk, please tell me you aren't turning into a prissy pink cheerleader?" Eliza asked with a smirking grin.
"I don't know, it was kind of fun, but I don't think I'd look good in pink."
"No, you wouldn't. And I need at least some rational friends who don't eat, sleep, and breathe glitter and pom-poms. Zed just barely counts, if he wasn't Mr. Football Star I guarantee he would have joined the cheer team, and not just because Addison's in it.
"Then you got it, no cheering for me. Assuming you know, I can still come to school in a few weeks."
"If we can't figure out where the Moonstone is, then I don't know I'll make you your own Z-band to keep you alive or something. You don't deserve to die for something humans did a hundred years ago. No one does."
"If there's even a chance you can figure out a cure, you can use me as a test subject as much as you want."
"Ohh, you're volunteering to be my lab rat?"
"Lab wolf."
"How about Labrador retriever?"
"Very funny, go chase some brains."
"As long as you go chase your tail, and only if you can catch it."
The cheer squad had just finished practice for the day, everyone was stretching out before going home. Addison took the chance to go sit by Bucky. "Hey Bucky."
"Sup Cuz? I know we are going to crush the competition next week." Bucky said as he finished stretching out his hamstrings.
"I know that too." Addison agreed. "Hey, Cuz, I could really use your help with something."
"Sure what is it? You've been on fire all week, you're almost as perfect as me."
"Thanks Bucky, but it's not about cheer. So…" Addison lowered her voice. "You know how the wolves came to practice yesterday, and Wynter got sick?"
"That was the girl one right?"
"Yes, she was, well the werewolves all need your help."
"My help, what can I do? I'm a cheerleader, I've got jazz hands, I'm not a doctor."
"They don't need a doctor, but your parents have your great, great grandfather Buchannan's diary right?"
"Yeah, that dusty old book? How would that help the wolves if they're sick?"
"Look, what I'm about to tell you is top secret, you can't tell anyone. I got permission from the wolves to only tell you. No one else can know, not your parents, not even the Aceys."
Bucky looked deep into Addison's eyes, he could see whatever she was talking about, she was absolutely serious. He raised his hand. "Alright, cheerleader's honor, I swear I won't tell anyone what you're about to tell me."
"Thanks Bucky, so way back when your grandpa helped found the town, the werewolves were already living here, and your grandpa helped force them out."
"No, I know this story, the monsters attacked the people."
"Bucky, just listen. The wolves were already living here, and they told the humans that there wasn't room for them and they had to leave. The humans didn't listen and attacked them, forcing them to hide away in the Forbidden Forest, and the humans also stole something from the wolves, something vital to their very survival."
"What?"
"A Moonstone, it's what makes them werewolves, what gives them their powers, and if they don't find it soon their entire family will die."
"That does sound terrible." Bucky was biting his lip in indecision. "OK again how does this involve me?"
"Your grandpa was the leader of the human settlers, and the first mayor, he might have written down where they hid the Moonstone. The wolves have already looked everywhere all over Seabrook and Zombietown, but they haven't found any sign. We need your help Bucky, will you help us out. Please, for me?" Addison even bent and raised her arms in a pleading gesture.
"Alright, Cuz. I'll help you. Beside's it's not like it's really some secret. My parents love how connected they are to Seabrook's past. I bet my mom and dad could tell you every word in that book if you asked them."
"Thank you Bucky, but we're trying to keep this on the DL until after we save the wolves. Can you get it without telling your parents about the wolves?"
"Sure, we can go get it right now. Want me to drive you to my house?"
"Will it be weird if I show up with you?"
"I know you haven't been over since, well since last summer probably but it will be cool. I have the Aceys over all the time."
"OK, can Bree and Bonzo and everyone else come with?"
"I suppose so."
"OK, everyone should be meeting back here already. Bucky thank you for doing this. You have no idea how much this means to me." Addison gave him a hug.
"It's nothing, or so if the wolves have a different version of history, I wonder what Grandpa Bartholomew was really like?"
"Well according to the wolves, he was a major jerk, he didn't trust the werewolves at all once they revealed they weren't human."
"Huh, so just like me?" Bucky asked, his face falling slightly.
"No Bucky, well maybe a little bit, but you learned that everything you knew was wrong, just like I did."
"Do the wolves really see it that way?"
"They don't trust humans as a rule, but they know it's stupid to blame everyone for some humans being monsters a hundred years ago. They won't blame you, and if this works, they'll thank you. You'll be a hero."
"OK, I do like being the hero," Bucky nodded along, "are the rest going to be here soon?"
"Gra Zeer!" Bonzo pointed to Willa, Wynter, and Zed walking up from one direction and Wyatt and Eliza coming from the other.
"Did you guys find anything?" Bree asked.
"Nope, the museum is just as useless as your history books." Willa answered.
"Anything buried in Zombietown?" Zed asked.
"No, nothing except the powerplant in about an hour." Eliza complained.
"Oh yeah, that is today." Zed said with a sigh.
"So, hello, if we haven't officially met, I'm Bucky, cheerleader, assistant captain, soon to be Prawn King, and apparently your saving grace."
"I'm Willa, werewolf, Alpha, should I go on?"
"No, and just so you know I am happy to help you guys out, and, I'm sorry for what my great, great grandfather did. I know I'm the first person who should apologize for treating differences like dangers, and I'm sorry. I'm glad to be fixing the sins of the past."
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise at Bucky's heartfelt confession. Except for Willa, who really hadn't met him before, who gave him a nod of respect.
"Thank you for helping us out, if this works, you will help save my family."
"And if it doesn't?" Bucky asked, a bit nervously.
"You won't have to worry about us, we'll all be gone before the end of the school year."
"OK," Bucky said a bit awkwardly. "Well, to my van!"
Everyone walked over to Bucky's bright pink Seabrook decorated van.
"Do I have to ride in that?" Eliza asked with a groan.
"We'll get to my house faster. Hop in, but don't scuff the seats." Bucky jumped in the driver's seat. "And try not to track in dirt, I just got it cleaned."
"I'm never going to live this down."
"Eliza it's fine, it's not like cheer is contagious." Wyatt smiled.
"Have you seen this town? Cheer is as contagious as pink eye around here."