The werewolf lunged forward, transforming in midair, snarling as his claws extended. Lucie's eyes widened in shock as Emil, now fully transformed into an enormous dark grey wolf, crashed into the Knight's chest and knocked him skidding backward across the pavement with a grinding screech. The Knight's sword cleared its sheath, and he swung awkwardly at the beast, the blade biting into Emil's skin before bouncing off. The wolf chomped at the Knight's face and neck, its claws scrabbling at the armor, as the Knight turned his side toward the wolf and adjusted his grip on the sword's hilt.
Beside Lucie, Valkyrie let out a startled gasp and started to cry out to the Knight, only to freeze as another four figures elbowed through the crowd that had gathered in the village square. One locked eyes with Lucie, and she recognized Gregor, just as his mouth and nose merged together and elongated, black fur spreading across his face and down his neck. He grew nearly a meter in height before falling forward, his feet shifting into paws and his claws extending. Lucie's eyes narrowed, and she tensed, looking back and forth between the four newcomers, even as the Knight and Emil began to trade blows near the far side of the town square.
"Please!" Lucie begged, turning toward the rest of the village. "Do not listen to them! Do not let Emil destroy our people!" Three of the onlookers turned to each other with worried expressions on their faces, even as Gregor stalked around Lucie, moving behind her back. Lucie's eyes shifted to follow the movement, just as Gregor lunged forward. Lucie dropped down to all fours and transformed with a howl, bracing for the assault.
But Gregor had not pounced on Werwölfin.
Valkyrie let out a surprised yelp and stumbled backward, holding her hands up in front of her face. Gregor slammed into her front, pushing her back and nearly to the ground, jaws snapping at her arms as she held them defensively in font of herself. Another werewolf charged forward, straight at Valkyrie's back.
With a ferocious howl, Werwölfin bounded at the three, all her attention focused on the wolf behind Valkyrie – Carola. Carola launched herself into the air, and Werwölfin did the same, pouring all her energy into the jump. Just as Carola's jaws opened to snap at Valkyrie's shoulder, Werwölfin headbutted her, straight in the shoulder, knocking Carola to the side, away from Valkyrie. Her jaws closed on Carola's leg, and she bit down hard, eliciting a pained howl from Carola. As Carola landed on her side, Werwölfin landed on top of her, driving her down into the ground and raking her claws across Carola's flank. Wind picked up behind her, and she glanced back in time to watch Valkyrie launch up into the air to hover just out of Gregor's reach. Gregor snarled, jumping after her and swiping ineffectually with his claws; Valkyrie sent a blast of air straight at him, knocking him a half-dozen paces away from her. Another werewolf lunged at Valkyrie from the other side; again, she turned toward him and pushed him away with another wind gust.
Valkyrie looked down at Werwölfin and gave a thin smile, before ascending higher and swinging her arms around, blasting wind in all directions away from her.
Four more howls sounded from the crowd, as more werewolves charged forward into the fray. Werwölfin's eyes narrowed, and she dropped down lower, coiled and ready to spring. Below her, Carola growled, scrabbling to return to her feet; without taking her eyes off the other werewolves, Werwölfin pinned her to the ground. One of the newcomers dropped lower to emulate Werwölfin's posture, eyes narrowed, a low growl just barely audible over the clash of the rapidly-expanding riot.
"I will put your terror to an end!" declared the Knight, raising his sword above his head, igniting the length of it with fire, and twirling it around to stab into the back of Emil's neck. But as the blow fell, Emil jumped backward out of the way and then to one side, before lunging back at the Knight's sword which had become lodged in the ground.
Suddenly, the air was filled with snarling and howling all around Werwölfin. Sharp claws bit into her haunches, and she was violently wrenched away from Carola, who pushed herself unsteadily to her feet. Werwölfin kicked out at whoever was behind her and heard a familiar yelp. The pressure on her back disappeared, and she whirled around to find herself face to face with a smaller werewolf with dark fur and a streak of light grey – Josef. He bared his teeth in a snarl, crouching low and eyeing her carefully. Without hesitating, Werwölfin leaped, barreling Josef over and knocking him to the ground. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see another four werewolves fighting near the front of the crowd – one slashed another across the face, drawing blood, before the second dug his claws into the first's flank. A blast of wind tore between them, pushing the two werewolves apart, and Valkyrie hovered above them, her hands pushing down to direct the wind. Behind her, another wolf crouched, coiling itself to spring at Valkyrie's exposed back. Werwölfin let out a warning howl, drawing Valkyrie's attention in her direction, just before the werewolf sprang into the air, straight at Valkyrie's back.
"No!" Suddenly, a shimmering white shield comprised of light appeared in midair between Valkyrie and the werewolf. The werewolf clanged off the shield and dropped to the ground, shaking its head in confusion. Valkyrie glanced back in surprise, and her eyes widened. Dropping to land in front of the fallen werewolf, the Knight placed his foot on the werewolf's back. He raised his sword to strike, but the werewolf rolled, throwing him off balance. The Knight stumbled slightly, and a werewolf leaped on top of him from behind. Without giving more than a look, Valkyrie sent a gust of wind at the werewolf, throwing it off of the Knight just before it could strike him.
Werwölfin's eyes focused back onto Josef and Gregor, who started to circle around her in opposite directions, a low growl emanating from their throats. Glancing back and forth between them, Werwölfin sidled to one side, careful to keep both of them in front of her as long as she could. Her eyes darted around the town square, looking for something – anything that might protect her back. But most of the crowd that had gathered on their arrival had dispersed. Suddenly, Gregor lunged forward, only to spring away at the last moment. At the same time, Josef dove at Werwölfin, knocking her to the ground and slashing at her face. Catching herself, Werwölfin tried to keep her balance as he hit her but failed, stumbling down to her knees under his weight. Josef landed on top of her, scratching and clawing at her stomach, and she dug her own claws into his face, nearly catching him in the eye. Another werewolf charged in from the side and headbutted Josef, knocking him off of Werwölfin. With a shake of her head, Werwölfin stood up, a shiver running down her back. Werwölfin dipped her head to her rescuer – Lulu – and jumped on top of Josef again, catching him and pinning him to the ground. With a whine, Josef scrabbled against her until her weight shifted the slightest bit. Pulling away from her, he turned and raced through the village to disappear into the woods. Werwölfin growled after him, tensing to spring. Before she could pursue him, however, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she started to turn, just as Gregor charged, snapping at her hind legs and snarling.
A blast of wind caught Gregor from the side, and he yelped in surprise. Valkyrie, hands together in front of her, drifted down a little lower, keeping up a steady stream of wind directed straight at Gregor. "Leave my friend alone!"
Werwölfin let out a relieved breath. Sudden movement caught her eye from behind Valkyrie. A lithe, brown wolf crouched low and suddenly bounded forward, straight at Valkyrie's back. With a howl, Werwölfin charged, catching the wolf in midair and pushing him back, away from Valkyrie. Driving him into the ground, she snapped at his throat, grabbing his scruff and pushing him down, pressing her paw into his muzzle to keep his jaws away from her.
A pained yelp echoed from the other side of the square; looking up, Werwölfin spotted the Knight, facing Emil and surrounded on three sides by other werewolves. His helmet turned the slightest bit, and Emil lunged forward, just as another wolf came at the Knight from his right. With a sudden roar, the sword burst into flame, just as Emil launched himself off the ground. The Knight shifted his sword just so and dropped to one knee, catching Emil on the sword and pivoting slightly toward the other charging wolf. The sword punctured straight through Emil and out his back, and a gout of flame leapt at the second wolf, singeing her fur. The wolf's eyes went wide, and she skidded to a stop, shying away from the fire, and turned to bound away. As Emil's body reverted back to human form, the Knight threw it off his sword and spun around, twirling his sword over his head, to face the remaining two wolves. But they had already broken and fled.
Scanning the town square, Werwölfin spotted Lulu and two other werewolves, standing over four of Emil's followers and growling at them. Valkyrie eyed them warily, still hovering four meters off the ground. Letting out a breath, Werwölfin threw her head back and howled, joined by the other three, before transforming back. Valkyrie's eyes widened, but she dropped down to land beside Lucie.
"It's over?" asked Valkyrie.
Lucie nodded, her shoulders sagging in relief, and half-collapsed against Valkyrie's side. "It's over."