AWOO, everybody! Happy Werewolf Friday. I still can't believe that there are thirty five chapters in this puppy. Heck, its word-count now exceeds my fantasy novel! (Maybe this is a sign that I should get that thing published soon…)

Anyway, enjoy!

Roman and Neo were quick to gather their things and return to the woods. No one questioned their haste that morning. Most of the traveling traders were getting out of Burgundy as quickly as possible.

Surprisingly, there had been little damage done to the town. There were several people who had been killed, of course, and the buildings on the outskirts were in pretty bad shape, but it could have been a lot worse, considering how huge the Grimm horde had apparently been.

There were also strange rumors going around town, rumors concerning the werewolves that had been spotted. While most people in the town insisted that the werewolves had been there to attack them, there were some who claimed that they had seen the beasts fighting and killing Grimm. Of course, these assertions were met with scornful laughs, leading people to decide against saying anything else.

"Oy, Roman!" a burly blacksmith called over. "You and little Neo make it through okay?"

"Hey, Martin," Roman replied. "Yeah. That was one nasty attack, I'll tell you. I'm just going to meet up with my apprentices and salvage what we had to drop."

"They weren't with you?"

"Nah, I told them to go to the safe houses closer to the center of town," Roman lied easily. "I knew my cart would take up too much space, so I stayed closer to the edge."

"Brave man," Martin said, nodding his head in approval. "Well, I won't keep you. Gotta repair some windows. See yah!"

"Bye." Roman waved as he continued on his way. Though he wore a casual smile, his insides felt like they were writhing and twisting. He had never been so worried about anyone who wasn't himself or Neo in his life! Had any of the Huntsmen or werewolves died? Had they all died?! He thought about those determined, plucky kids, hating the thought of their dreams being prematurely crushed by an ill-timed horde of Grimm.

When he returned to the campsite, his heart sank. Only Pyrrha was there waiting for him. "Where are the others?"

"All alive," Pyrrha replied, noticing the worry in Roman's eyes and feeling very touched by it. "Yang, Sage, and Scarlet were badly injured, but they'll make it."

Neo stiffened. "Wh-What happened to Yang?" she whispered.

"One of Adam's betas clawed up her arm." Pyrrha stood up. "That's why I'm here. I think it would be best if we separated for a while."

"Adam?!" Roman's eyes flashed. "That creep who kidnapped Blake? He's here?"

"We're pretty certain that he caused the Grimm attack," Pyrrha said. "He tried to take Blake away during the battle. That's how Yang and Scarlet were injured." She looked regretfully toward Burgundy. "We have to put our plan on hold for now. Until Adam is dead, no settlement we're near is safe, and neither are you."

Roman nodded slowly. "Okay, then. I'll be heading toward Obsidian next, and should be there for about a month. Think you can kill him in that amount of time?"

"I think we can," Pyrrha replied. "It shouldn't be more than a week, if we can actually catch him. He won't stray far while Blake is with us. He's insane." She thought back to the attack. "He's using his alpha stare far too much. To order that many Grimm on his own… He's going to slip up very soon. I know it."

"You should leave Yang, Sage, and Scarlet with us," Neo spoke up. "If they're that badly injured, they'll slow you down. And we can give them proper medical attention in the meantime. Besides, it would be suspicious if all of Roman's apprentices and Huntsmen disappeared at once."

Pyrrha considered this, then nodded. "I'll bring Sage and Scarlet. I'm not sure if Yang will agree, though, and I can't order her to stay." She noticed the nervous spark in Neo's mismatched eyes. "Maybe you can help me convince her."

The two women returned to the clearing while Roman checked to see if he had dropped anything in his hasty flight from the Grimm. When they got to the clearing and shared their plan, Yang was adamantly against it.

"I can still fight! I just need to- Ow!" She winced as she tried moving her right arm, which was tightly wrapped in bandages. She shuddered as waves of deep-set pain went through her.

Neo knelt next to her. "Yang, you already did plenty. Anyone can get injured, but if you're stupid about this, you might never be able to fight again."

Blake nodded in agreement. "He won't have a horde of Grimm backing him up this time," she said. "Let us take him down. I'll give him an extra bite for you, okay?"

Yang was still shaking her head. "You guys need me."

"We always need you, Yang," Ruby said. "That's why you need to focus on recovering right now." When Yang showed signs of resistance, Ruby's eyes narrowed. "I'll use the alpha stare on you if I have to."

Yang glared at her. "You wouldn't."

"To keep you safe, I would."

The two looked at each other for a moment before Yang let out a long sigh. "Dammit…" It was a statement of defeat. "Fine. Just make sure to take that bastard down and hurry back."

"I'll be taking care of you in the meantime, if that helps," Neo said with a not-so-discreet wink.

Yang raised an eyebrow, her expression changing to a flirtatious smirk. "See, that's the argument you should have started with."

"Don't be lewd, Yang," Weiss said with a sniff.

"Neo started it!"

Ruby giggled. "Lewd…"

"Oh, be quiet." Weiss rolled her eyes. "Dolt." It was impossible to miss the fondness behind that last word.

Sage managed a smile through the bandages on his face. "Scarlet and I should probably stay out of sight. Won't be easy to explain our injuries."

Scarlet snuggled against his side, swallowing painfully. "I think my spine was crushed into my throat," he groaned.

Neo walked over to Scarlet and lightly patted his head. "Don't worry. Roman has good tea and honey. It'll make you feel better."

"Thanks," the omega rasped, nuzzling his mate's shoulder before standing up. "I guess we should head over."

There were a few minutes as Yang, Sage, and Scarlet said goodbye to everyone. Yang shared a long hug with each of the Huntsmen while Neptune and Sun playfully punched Sage and Scarlet's shoulders, encouraging them to get better quickly. Pyrrha agreed to escort them back, as she wanted to go to Burgundy anyway to make sure people were mostly okay.

"Maybe I should go with you," Jaune said. "Just in case you get tempted to use the stare on any thugs."

"I won't," Pyrrha said. "But I wouldn't mind the company."

Leaving Ruby and Velvet in charge, Pyrrha and Jaune joined the group heading back toward Burgundy. After dropping off Sage, Scarlet, and Yang, they continued toward the village.

"You kids be careful!" Roman called. "Tensions are a bit high." He was glad that Pyrrha was a born werewolf and didn't have a telltale bite mark to give her away. As long as she keeps those magic eyes of hers in check, she'll be fine. I hope.

Jaune frowned as he looked at the torn-up streets and buildings that greeted them as they entered the town. "The Grimm really did some damage. Good thing you guys were there."

Pyrrha nodded, though she couldn't help but think back to how it had felt running through the streets, having things thrown at her by the humans she had been trying to protect. "I'd like to check on Wallace. His bakery was hit pretty badly."

They approached the bakery. There were no smells of new bread. Instead, a table had been set up outside with a bunch of day-old bread and pastries. Wallace was sweeping up shattered glass inside the shop. He looked up when Pyrrha tapped on the doorway, his expression brightening. "Well, looky here! You made it through the attack! I was worried." He grinned at Jaune. "Thanks for holding your ground in the forest. Heard things would've been a lot worse without you."

Jaune inclined his head modestly. "I wish we could've done more."

"Nonsense! Who could've predicted an attack like that? No one, that's who!" Wallace put down his broom. "Feel free to take some bread. It's from yesterday, and there's no way I'll be able to sell it. I'm letting anyone who wants some take their fill. Figured the people who are injured or helping rebuild could use some food."

"That's very kind of you," Pyrrha said, smiling warmly. She looked around the bakery again. "How bad was the damage?"

"Just surface stuff. Display cases and windows, and that wall of course," Wallace replied. "The ovens are fine. Would've been in big trouble if those had been busted." He sniffed loudly. "I won't need to worry about my debt anymore. Those thugs you met that one day were some of the casualties."

Quickly, Wallace bowed in the direction of the Church. "Not that I'd wish death on anyone, of course. Still, I wasn't the only one they were threatening. Tried following the blacksmith's daughter home one night. Woulda gotten nasty if Martin hadn't been awake." The baker's beard twitched with distaste.

Jaune snorted. "Well, sounds like they got what was coming to them. I don't mind saying it."

Wallace let out a booming laugh. "I like you, boy! Don't you dare leave without one of my loaves, okay? Come back in a few months, and we'll be good as new." He wiped his hands. "Heard Roman was leaving town."

"Yes. We just wanted to make sure you were okay," Pyrrha replied.

"That's mighty sweet of you, missy," Wallace sighed. "I'll be okay. Minor setback. Could've been worse, like I said." He shook his head slowly. "Not sure whether the Maidens or something else was watching over me last night. Near miracle, it was."

"What do you mean?" Jaune asked.

Pyrrha stiffened. She hadn't mentioned saving Wallace to anyone else.

Wallace, on the other hand, grinned, eager to tell the story. "Well, a huge Beowolf came in through that window there. I grabbed a poker from the oven and tried fending it off. Hit it pretty good in its devil's mask." He mimed wielding a poker like a sword, then shrugged helplessly. "But, I'm no Huntsman. Beast had me cornered. Then, what comes bursting in but a bloody werewolf!"

Jaune barely kept from looking at Pyrrha. "I heard that there had been werewolves in town. What did it do?"

"Killed the Beowolf right in front of me!" Wallace said. "Here's the thing, though: It didn't attack me. And it's not because it didn't see me. No, it looked right at me. I'll never forget the sight. Glowing eyes greener than anything I'd ever seen before, moonlight hitting fur as red as blood. I'll tell you, it was-" He stopped suddenly, staring at Pyrrha. He blinked, then squinted, looking intently at her eyes.

Pyrrha's heart sank. She tried to school her expression into one of polite interest, but knew she was failing. Her eyes were just a little too wide, her mouth a little too thin of a line.

Jaune also felt himself grow tense, glancing between Wallace and Pyrrha, wondering if they needed to make a run for it.

Wallace shook himself, though his voice had a definite shaky undertone to it. "Anyway, that's what happened to me. Where are you folk off to?"

Jaune decided against naming Obsidian. "To the west, see if we can get some good pelts and maybe trade for some preserved fruit."

Wallace nodded. "Good, good. Well, I won't keep you." He hesitated, then walked up to Pyrrha. He gave her a long look, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "You take care of yourself, missy. Nasty world out there. Very nasty." He nodded once, then waved them off. "Get some bread for your friends, and thanks again!"

Pyrrha felt numb as she took some loafs of raisin bread to take back. Once they were a good distance away from the bakery, she looked up at Jaune. "He knows."

"Yeah," Jaune muttered. He glanced over his shoulder, frowning thoughtfully. "He definitely seemed to."

"He wouldn't have touched my shoulder like that if he was scared, right?" Pyrrha pushed.

"I…don't think so," Jaune said, brows still furrowed. He looked back at Pyrrha. "Maybe…Maybe, this will end up being a good thing."

…

Yang stared at the trees as Neo carefully rubbed a cool numbing cream onto her mangled arm. In her head, she replayed the battle over and over, wondering what she could have done differently. She could have not pulled away from Adam's crony, but that would've put her at risk of being bitten. And she had been determined to get to Blake. After all, what if Ren and Nora hadn't arrived on time?

"You'll be able to move it," Neo commented as she looked at the arm. The burned, welded lacerations made her want to cringe, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Might not be as good as before, but I think you'll be okay." She was no expert in medicine, but it seemed to be the right thing to say. She just wanted to see the fiery Huntress smile again.

Ever since meeting Yang, Neo felt happier and more energetic than she could ever remember feeling. Before, it had always been just her and Roman, and she had been okay with that. Traveling with the Huntsmen and werewolves, however, was so much fun! And the way Yang liked to move close to her, purring those cheesy flirtatious lines like they were the most suave statements in the world, made Neo's heart flutter. She very much wanted to get closer to this woman, to develop something beyond the casual interest they had both shown up to now.

"Thanks for the help." Yang hated how dull and defeated her voice sounded, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't stand being helpless in any way, and the fact that she was being kept from fighting against Adam burned her inside. He wanted to hurt her best friend! She should be on the front line against him, not hiding in a trader's cart.

"Don't worry about it," Neo said, gently touching Yang's shoulder. "Sage, Scarlet, are you two doing okay?" she called to the other side of the cart, where the two male werewolves were cuddled under a blanket.

"Fine, thank you," Scarlet replied. He was sipping some tea and honey while holding his sleeping mate's head on his lap. "I hear you straight-up punched the beta that scratched you, Yang. I've never seen a human punch a werewolf before. You got guts. I'd peg you as an alpha if you ever decided to get bitten."

This managed to draw a smile to Yang's face. "I'm good as a human, but thanks."

Movement outside signaled Jaune and Pyrrha's return. Yang peeked out just as Pyrrha was explaining her plan to Roman.

"We're going to track down Adam. We'll meet up with you in Obsidian. If we get there first, we'll wait in the woods and keep the betas on alert. It would be best if you showed up with us, after all." She noticed Yang watching. "Get better soon, Yang. Tell Scarlet and Sage the same for me."

Yang grinned. "Don't worry about me. Just make that asshole pay, got it?"

Jaune nodded. "Will do. Protect Roman and the others in the meantime."

"Take care, Leader!" Scarlet called from inside the wagon.

Pyrrha smiled. "I will." She went into the woods toward the clearing, where her pack and Jaune's Huntsmen waited.

As she walked, she wondered if they'd be successful. Would they be able to hunt down Adam, even considering how crazy he likely was? Would they be able to kill him? Would there be any worse casualties?

Her thoughts stopped as a familiar, warm, calloused hand gently grabbed hers. She looked up to see Jaune smiling down at her. "I'm fine," she said quickly, though she gladly gripped his hand.

Jaune shook his head. "Doesn't take an omega to know you're lying. Don't worry. We're all with you, and Adam has only two betas with him. He's gotta be crazy if he thought that would be enough."

"Well, his plan to sneak Blake out failed," Pyrrha said. "He was trying to rely on stealth and speed. Now, we have the numbers to beat him."

"Do you think he'll try sending Grimm at us again?"

"Even if he does, it won't be that effective. It took time for him to bring that horde together. He might be able to send a handful every now and then, but that's it. He bet everything on one move, and it was a clumsy one."

"That's how you know he's crazy?" Jaune asked.

"That's how I know he's going to make a mistake," Pyrrha replied. Jaune's hand was warm and comforting, helping her focus on the most important of her troubled thoughts. "And we need to be ready when he does."

…..

Why hadn't it worked? What went wrong? Everything had been perfect!

Send the Grimm to attack the puny human village, whisk Blake away from the danger, and bring her home where she would become the obedient mate she was destined to be. It had been so simple!

Adam paced back and forth, snarling quietly. Meanwhile, his two betas looked on in silence. They were both fox Faunus, one with a bushy beige tail, the other bearing a large second set of ears.

"Master, perhaps we should go home," suggested the one with the large ears. "The pack is surely missing you."

"Yes," the one with the bushy tail agreed. "We can find you another mate. A worthier mate."

Adam spun around, his red eyes bloodshot as he looked at them. "I am the one giving orders here! We do not leave without my mate! This is for the good of the pack!" Blake would have his pups, after all. His pups, who would grow to lead the pack. No one else was worthy.

Both betas flinched and bowed their heads submissively. "Yes, Master." They waited, trembling, for their leader to punish them, to bite or scratch them for their insolence, but nothing came. When they looked up, Adam was pacing again, talking quietly to himself.

The betas let out quiet sighs of relief. If they were lucky, the wolves pursuing them would grant them quick, painless deaths. They knew, of course, that this plan was doomed to fail, but it didn't matter. They were betas, and their job was to protect their leader. That was all there was to it.

So, they bowed their heads again and listened to their leader's quiet ramblings, praying that the Moon would take their spirits when the time came.

It's fun finding ways to sneak in characters who will probably turn out to be throwaways in canon. Seriously, I love how Fennec and Corsac were in the freaking theme song, but we only saw them once. Then again, Scarlet and Sage were in the Volume 2 theme, and they didn't even get any lines… I can't help but wonder if RT has deleted scenes that they weren't able to put into the volumes, scenes that show more character interaction and dialogue than we ended up getting.

Ah well. Tomorrow is the season finale, and I can't stress how much I DON'T want to see Ren and/or Nora die. I have work in the afternoon, and what happens in that episode tomorrow will directly affect my mood for the rest of the day. The potential for disaster is huge, people! Huge! I will honestly tolerate anything else, as long as my Team Sloth babies are okay! That is the deal with the devil I'm making right now.

On another note, I've been thinking of starting a blog. I've noticed that there are a ton of book and poetry writing blogs, but none focused on fanfiction. Posts would include an introduction for beginners, tips on making descriptions, author notes, a guide to fanfiction lingo, prompts, etc. Would you guys be interested in checking it out if I started one?

If you like what you see and want to show extra support in exchange for rewards, my P/atreon is Solora Goldsun.

Praise Monty, pray for Ren and Nora, and peace out!