"I say we pull out all the stops. Guards, guns, everything." Sadiq Adnan said, rubbing his tired eyes with his thumb and forefinger.

The town hall was packed full of men who wanted the newfound problem of Nashville to be solved as quickly and efficiently as possible. Panic had set in the town as soon as the news was heard. Everyone knew Matthias, and how he was easily one of the strongest in the town. Speculation said that he had been 'caught off guard' and the like, to soothe the weary listeners. They had family and friends to protect from whatever it was that was out there. Alfred and Matthew stood up front, taking suggestions and answering questions, even trying to quell fights that threatened to break out over the matter.

It was chaos.

"Me too. Ta the extent that we can afford, we at least want the people to feel safe… we could have two patrol guards at a time all night. It's tedious, but what else can we do?" Matthew looked at his brother.

"The mayor said ta use everyone… but I told him ta shut his bazoo. We can't be sendin' kids out ta fight sommat that took down Matthias of all people." Alfred sighed. "Truth o' the matter is, I'm at sea about all this, cuz there's a lot at risk if anythin' goes wrong. We already have ta account fer the travelers that keep comin' through fer minin'. I don't want ta put anyone more than necessary out there. "

"We'll send the toughest we've got then." Tino said with a shrug. "I mean, we've seen some hellish stuff around these parts, might as well use what we can if we don't want to be adding to the bone orchard."

Everyone agreed.

Lukas, the third oldest of the Nordic brothers (or the Nords, as everyone seemed to call them) had instantly been at the front door of Arthur's place as soon as he heard the news. He had literally walked in, yelled at the poor, wounded man, and then sat in a stool at the other side of the room, watching his brother intently.

Peter sat on the floor next to him.

Matthias, well he was indeed an odd stick. He got loud when drunk, and was overly cheerful all of the time. But despite that, he had proven time and time again that he wasn't one to trifle with. During the ice-breather incident, and many other occasions, he had proven to be just as strong and stubborn as the Sherriff and his brother. So the attack on the poor Dane left the town in hysterics. Especially given that it was a wolf, by all proof of the matter.

"So are you close?" Arthur asked, having not communed about family matters with Lukas, who was, he liked to think, a good friend. (He was knowledgeable in the magic arts along with Vladimir and himself)

"Far from it." He said simply. He was glaring daggers at the unconscious man while Arthur stitched (yet another) wound on his chest. The poor man was going to take weeks and possibly months to heal completely. "He's kind of the Pa of the house."

"Really? I would have thought Berwald was more along that role." Arthur admitted. Lukas shook his head, peeking down at Peter, who had fallen asleep against his leg.

"He's too quiet." He shrugged. "Tino is the one who actually disciplines Peter when he does something wrong." Arthur nodded in understanding and snipped the thread, throwing the rest of it to the ground and picking up the spool and needle.

"Looks like I'm done here. The best we can do is get him to a cot, let him rest and keep track of his fever. Allistor will be staying here as well, so they may as well share the downstairs for now. Ah- if you want to stay overnight, you can of course."

Lukas shook his head. "Someone has to keep the household in order. I'll let everyone know that he's alive though." He said, tapping Peter's head gently. The teenager looked up groggily and mumbled a 'what' at him. "Come on, time to get home. Your Pa's going to be worried about you."

Peter snapped up and looked at Arthur, who was scrubbing his hands with hot water and small bits of soap. "Did Uncle Matthias die? Is he-"

"No, no lad. He's alive." Arthur smiled weakly. "He'll be good as new once he breaks his fever."

Arthur looked up as the door opened, seeing Alfred Jones walk in. To his surprise, the man was soaked to the bone. He hadn't realized that it was raining up until then. He had been focused on fixing up Matthias that he hadn't paid any attention to the sounds outside.

"Uncle Alfred!" Peter said, leaping up and hugging his said uncle around his torso. "Uncle Matthias is alive!"

"Of course he is partner! He'll be right as rain when all this is over!" Alfred said with a grin, returning the hug. He looked up, nodding politely at Lukas upon noticing his presence in the room. "Lukas."

"Sherriff." The smaller blonde nodded back. "How did the meeting go?"

"We got patrols ready, they consist mostly of me an' Matt." He sighed. "Berwald, Ludwig, Gilbert and Tino all decided to join… Mayor was bein' a right pain in the kazoo as usual, and Emil said he would, But I told him I'd rather he didn't."

"No, Absolutely not." Lukas said stiffly, looking coldly at the Sherriff. "I won't let him."

"I know, Ace. That's why I told 'im no. It's too dangerous. 'Sides, Heracles and Sadiq said they would too. So the patrols should last the night without anyone losin' too much sleep." Alfred explained. "Matt and I have second watch… Berwald and Tino are first. So I'll be up and around in a few hours'r so."

"I'll take a watch as well, with anyone." Lukas said, looking at the Sherriff.

"I dunno if-"

"Let me." Lukas said, as if that were the most final thing he had ever said. Alfred sighed, tugging his soaked, red handkerchief around his neck nervously.

"I'll see what I can do. But I need ta get ta Matthew about that one, he came up with the plan." He explained with a gulp.

"Understood. I'll be taking Peter Home then. Good day to you Arthur, Sherriff." Lukas said abruptly, pushing Peter along in front of him towards the door. "Please keep us updated on Matthias' condition."

"To you as well." Arthur said with a nod. "And I will."

It was long after dark by then, and Berwald was feeling uneasy. Of course, it was no mystery or secret that Matthias and he didn't exactly cooperate at the best of times… but he still was his brother. And he worried for his son Peter as well, because Peter was close with Matthias. They got into trouble all of the time together. In fact, it had been Peter who found his uncle outside the gates because he had wanted to find his uncle in order to pick on Arthur (he would guess) as usual.

The giant of a Swede shifted the gun at his side with a sigh, hearing and seeing nothing. He glanced at his brother, Tino, who was leaning against the front gain, twirling his gun in his hand with expert grace.

"I'm not hearing anything. Are you?" Tino asked, looking at his older brother. Berwald shook his head, still keeping his hand on his gun. A jolt in his gut suddenly urged him into weary actions. Something felt wrong. Very wrong.

"GET DOWN!" Tino suddenly screeched, looking over Berwald's shoulder with a glint in his sharp eyes. Berwald instantly did as told, and felt the air rush over him as something large jumped at him, but he shouted as something tore at his arm, rendering the left hand useless for shooting. Tino took one- two- shots at the figure, hitting the marks perfectly. Berwald rolled to his feet and aimed his own gun, trying to steady his aim. Tino leaped back as the attacker leaped at him as well.

"Tino-!" Berwald started to dash forward, but was blocked by another newcomer.

"Watch yer hat partner!" Matthew shouted, taking an expert shot at the enemy. "You'll get hit if yer much slower!"

"Don't be mean Matt! This guy's got Game, Challengin' us." Alfred said, blowing the smoke from the barrel of his own revolver. "Get ready ta go at it again you two, we're puttin' an end ta this." He grasped Tino's arm and helped him up from where he had tripped over his own feet in the midst of the insane moment. Matthew went over to Berwald to help him.

"Thanks Meester Alfred." Tino said, keeping his gun ready. "This guy's fast. Barely grazed him."

"That's impossible." Matthew muttered, keeping in mind the man's flawless aim and precision. He continued to tie a spare kerchief over Berwald's wound. "How could he dodge that?"

"Aight, put yer hands up and come in nice and quiet like." Alfred said, aiming the black gun at the attacker. "Don't care a continental what you havta say, yer coming with us." He stepped forward and kept his aim up.

The giant man finally stood from where he had been knocked over by Alfred's attack. Matthew's eyes flashed in realization and he stepped forward to stop his brother, but was too late. The Giant man leaped forward, slashing at the Sherriff with what looked like… claws.

"He aint human-!" Matthew cursed, leaping forward towards his brother. He swiped and shot at the thing, frightened that he might hit his brother, but was knocked aside by the giant hands tipped with ivory. He cried out as he crashed into Berwald and Tino, knocking the smaller out by contact of his head to the hard ground. Berwald cursed as the wind was knocked out of him.

Flames burst from out of nowhere, making Berwald shield his younger brother from the onslaught. He looked up as his vision adjusted to the light to see one flaming skeleton with a red handkerchief tied around his neck. He was being held in the air by the beast's hand around his neck, and he was using his own burning hand to try and support his weight and avoid breakage. The beast cried out as his skin caught aflame and he dropped the Sherriff to the ground, where he instantly turned back to normal with the sickening sounds of muscle and skin growing back rapidly. Matthew took aim and fired again, hitting the giant beast right in the forehead. It howled and started to charge forward, but Alfred reached out and gripped its ankles, tripping it.

Another shadow came out of nowhere, and slashed the beast right across its face. It screeched again, even louder and threw its arms out in a wide attack, catching Alfred's savior in its hit.

"Vlad!" Alfred shouted, realizing who it was that was just thrown right into the gate that protected the town. It splintered and cracked around his body as he hit, small amounts of blood leaking from his mouth where his tooth had nicked it.

"Alfred-!" Matthew shouted, letting loose another barrage of bullets. Berwald joined him and protected Tino from the onslaught. Alfred ducked as another wild hit was aimed at him, just barely missing it by half a hair. He jumped up and did an impressive flip over the beast's shoulder and head, shooting right below him and taking aim for the things head.

But it caught on, and reached up. The giant thing plucked Alfred right out of the air and slammed him head-first into the ground. Matthew roared in rage and rushed forward, protecting his brother while a great ball of flame took over his own form, bright blue handkerchief becoming his only form of identification.

"Ghost Riders." The beast said, looking down at the twins in fury. Another burst of flames indicated that Alfred had recovered enough to join the fight once more. Berwald glared on, protecting his brother by standing over him, gun at the ready. A feeling of odd safety came over him as he looked upon the two brothers, their flaming forms standing tall between he, Tino and the beast.

"Backdown." The red Rider said, pointing his flaming barrel at the attacker.

The beast said nothing, but started another onslaught of teeth and claws, attempting to tear the two skeleton men to shreds. The two dodged and ducked out of the way, only taking a blow or two in between.

Vladimir sat up from where he had landed and looked around. He leaped up dizzily and went over to Berwald and Tino, making sure that they were alright.

"You need to get your brother out of here." Vladimir said, once he was sure that he had only suffered a bump to the head. "I'll cover you."

"But-"

"Just go!" Vladimir hissed. Berwald gulped and nodded, taking his younger brother into his arms and shifting him onto his back. He began taking off back towards the gate. He'd had enough experience with the supernatural to know that it was his time to leave. He didn't even glance back as he slipped through the gates, and ran straight for Arthur's place.

Arthur had been watching out his door when the sounds of a fight had echoed through the town. He kept intense watch- especially when he saw the faint glow of fire coming from the other side of the gate.

Alfred and Matthew.

So whatever it was, it wasn't a normal wolf. If Alfred and Matthew had to transform to fight the things, then it wasn't human, whatever it was. Grinding his teeth, Arthur turned back and went inside. He looked over Matthias again, checked to see if his fever went down, and then went to check on Allistor, who had fallen asleep hours before.

"Allistor, wake up." He said slowly, tapping his brother's shoulder. "Allistor you wanker… the town is out of ale."

"What?!" the Scott instantly sat up at that. He looked around wildly, but his face fell into a grimace when he saw his younger brother. "Oh, ye know, that was rude."

"Whatever do you mean. Anyway, a fight has broken out outside the fence."

"Really?" Allistor mumbled. "Guns and all?"

"Even the riders."

"What?!" Allistor jumped up, swayed on the spot for a moment, then dashed to the door. He glanced outside from there, and sure enough, the glow of the riders was seen. "We haven't seen them in ages. Sommat isn' right about that."

"Of course not, why do you think I told you, nitwit." Arthur sighed. He was about to emphasize on his brother's lack of attention towards detail when he spotted a silhouette running towards them. He squinted just enough to see that it was Berwald, carrying Tino on his back!

"Get inside, what happened?" He said, helping lower Tino to the floor, (all cots were currently in use) While Allistor sat down from another dizzy spell.

"Somethin' attacked us. Not sure what. Hit his head." Berwald said, speaking, quite possibly, more than he had in a given month.

"Sit down, He looks like he'll be alright… maybe woozy." Arthur assured, looking at Tino's eyes and checking his pulse. "You're going to need stitching for that." He sighed, seeing the Swede's arm. "No woodwork for a while, you."

Berwald seemed visibly upset by that.

Another bang from outside and everyone was watching out the door, that hadn't been closed properly. The glow of the Riders had dimmed dramatically, and Arthur quickly deduced that one of them had reversed the transformation.

But then all was calm. No sound came from the fray, and the fiery glow had died down completely. Arthur looked at Berwald and Allistor, then looked back out. He heard the distinct creaks of the gate being opened, and then closed again. Other townsfolk who had been watching, quickly ushered their children and wives into their respective homes and the chatter died down.

Another figure was heading towards them, and Arthur quickly dashed forward when he saw that it was Vladimir, limping beneath the weight of Matthew W Jones. He caught the other half of his friend and helped them inside. Matthew was completely out and Vladimir looked as if he had been through a grinder.

"What happened?!" Arthur demanded as they rested Matthew onto the kitchen Table. Vladimir took a moment to catch his strength before looking at the good doctor in the eye.

"Alfred's gone."

DUN DUN DUUUNNNN

So what do you think! Please drop by a review~! If you can guess what they're dealing with, I will officially be shocked.

Sorry that took so long. But if you want a set timing, I would venture that FRIDAYS are the best day for an update for me. So if you're into the whole "I want to know when to expect it" thing, I would tell you that.

THANKS FOR READING IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME~! HUGS!