Elphaba flew into action. The werewolf spell instinctively surged over her body as she struck Paul broadside. He rolled over before turning violently on the green wolf. Luckily Elphaba was quite comfortable in her lupine body. She easily met the male's attacks, sending both canines rolling into the forest. Bella was absolutely stunned. Galinda was shaking.
"Are you ok?" Boq demanded, reaching her before anyone else.
"Yeah," she squeaked breathlessly. "I'm fine." Then the blonde fainted into his arms. With a great deal of effort Boq lifted Galinda and carried her inside. Everyone followed, concern evident in their expressions, as he laid her on the couch.
"Will she be ok?" Sam wondered.
"Yeah," Fiyero replied before Boq could. "She just does that sometimes. It usually doesn't last for long." The munchkin glared, begrudging him this piece of information.
"I guess we should move the pack meeting outside then," the alpha decided.
"I'll go grab another of Fae's dresses from upstairs," Fiyero chuckled.
"Do you think Paul has any clothes left?" Jacob asked Embry, laughing. Bella smiled weakly.
/
"Fae?" Fiyero called, tentatively moving towards the shredded brush where Paul and Elphaba had rolled out of sight.
"Over here Yero." The green girl's head was protruding sheepishly from a thick bush.
"Where's Paul?"
"Licking his wounds," Elphaba chuckled. "Can you chuck my clothes to me?"
"I don't know," the Winkie teased. "Maybe you should come over here." She scowled.
"Seriously Yero, this bush is prickly."
"I'm being serious," he snickered. "Come on out." Elphaba's head disappeared beneath the foliage, glaring mischievously. "What are you…" Suddenly a huge, green wolf came flying at Fiyero. It landed on his chest, knocking him to the ground.
Two intelligent, brown eyes laughed at him. Elphaba ran her massive, slobbery tongue over the Winkie's shocked face before gingerly taking her clothes from his hands. Then she disappeared into the forest. "Cheater!" Fiyero called when his heart stopped pounding.
/
"Galinda?" Boq called, gently brushing a golden strand of hair from the blonde's face. "Galinda can you hear me?" Her eyelids flickered reluctantly.
"Boq?" she murmured, still not totally conscious.
"I'm right here," he assured her.
"Is Elphie ok?"
"Yeah. She kicked Paul's sorry butt." A smile twitched across Galinda's sleepy lips and Boq's heart melted.
"How did I get in here?" Her hands clutched at the couch's fabric.
"I carried you."
"My hero," Galinda hummed. Then she fell asleep.
"Fainting takes a lot out of her," Elphaba informed as she passed Boq on her way outside. The munchkin jerked away from Galinda guiltily. "Don't give me that look," the green girl chuckled. "I think you'd make a great couple."
"Really?" Boq sounded incredulous in a self deprecating way.
"You adore her," Elphaba explained, as if it was plainly obvious, "and Galinda needs someone who adores her. Plus, she likes you."
"How in Oz's name would you know that?"
"It's a best friend thing."
/
"Victoria's here for Bella?" Elphaba couldn't keep the horror out of her voice.
"Yes," Jacob replied solemnly. "Which is why we'll have a better chance of catching her if we keep an eye on the Swan residence."
"Only at night," Sam was quick to explain. "Bella can stay at the reservation during the day so we can keep that redhead from killing hikers."
"Sounds fun," Jared exclaimed.
"Fun and tiring," Elphaba huffed unenthusiastically.
"We'll take shifts of course," Embry interjected. He turned to Sam. "Right?"
"Of course," the alpha replied. "But until we catch Victoria things will be hard. I expect everyone to get lots of rest and eat plenty of food."
"Well that goes without saying," Paul chuckled.
/
Things were, as Elphaba had predicted, tiring. Any time not spent hunting Victoria was involved a lot of sleeping. The green girl was downright lethargic whenever she was home. "Elphie are you ok?" Galinda asked one day.
"I'm fine Glin," the witch insisted. "The Pack is just stretched thin right now."
"Would it help if you cast that werewolf spell on Fiyero and I?"
"Haha. Very funny."
"I was serious."
"There's no way I'm putting you two in that kind of danger."
"You shouldn't be in that kind of danger either."
"I've got my magic," Elphaba exclaimed in frustration. "You would be sitting ducks."
"Fine," Galinda sulked. "I wish you were around more. It'd boring here."
"Hang out with Bella then."
"She does nothing but worry about Jake," the blonde complained. "Which makes me worry about you."
"Hang out with Boq then." There was just enough suggestion in Elphaba's voice to make her friend flush violently.
"Maybe I will," Galinda muttered.
/
"If you keep working yourself to death like this I might have to kidnap you," Fiyero threatened as he and Elphaba sat on Emily's back porch. It was nighttime and the stars were brilliant.
"That sounds very tempting," the green girl chuckled, shifting closer to him.
"It does, doesn't it?" he agreed. Elphaba nodded, yawning loudly. "Are you tired?" Fiyero asked.
"Nope," the witch fibbed as she stifled another yawn.
"You're an awful liar," her boyfriend laughed softly. They were silent for several short eternities. When Fiyero turned to make an observation about the stars he saw that Elphaba was sound asleep on his shoulder. It was absolutely adorable. He gently gathered the limp witch into his arms and carried her to bed.
/
Galinda watched from her bed as Fiyero softly kissed Elphaba's forehead. It was the first time a romantic gesture between the two of them didn't spark pain or jealousy in her heart.