The fog continued to thicken, to the point that it was impossible to see your hand directly in front of your face. As the cloud reached its thickest point the thick murky cloud and the clear mist separated. The mist lifted and the thick cloud was still laying on the ground. Klavier and the wrights were held back by some white wolves, if it wasn't that Ema was still in the clutches of the alpha female One and Two Tips would have got her free as well.

A loud howl, an echo of the howl Apollo had made, sliced the silence. There were large, earthy spikes risen up from the roof that the alpha had made. The howl echoed and bounced over the spikes. Suddenly, something red, with a glow leapt out straight onto one of the spikes.

"Impossible…" The alpha growled. Ema's eyes shot to where the glow was emitted from. A red wolf was there, but it looked like it had a mane, long thick bunches of fur that was combed back to the shoulder blades and had thick, similar looking tufts of fur above each claw. There was more muscle mass on that dog than Apollo and it looked much stronger.

Another wolf leapt out from the fog, leaping up on to the rocks a considerable distance from the first. Again it had more muscle mass and looked a little older than the first. More of them leapt out, some staying on the floor, others staying on the rocks. They were all red, all with the manes and large muscle mask and the ominous glow. A final wolf emerged, glowing brighter than the others, there was a locket around its neck and it looked young, a little older than Apollo.

Simon, in his serpent form landed in front of the Wrights and Klavier. He was intrigued. The cloud lifted but there was no body with a spear in it.

"Apollo!" Ema cried, the body was gone.

"We are the most powerful of the red Dracowolves!" All the glowing figures howled in unison.
"From the very first of our breed." A male wolf stepped forward, a pattern of ancient Greek letters across his fur.

"To the youngest and the most powerful." The young male who glowed the brightest.

"We will make you pay for what you've done!" The all howled.

"But!" The young male stepped forward. "I will deal with you myself my dear." His eyes had a sheen to them, like Apollo's, Ema noted. "You uh…do remember who I am?"
"You!?" She growled, her second head tightening its grip on Ema's shoulder.

"W-who are you?" Ema cried.

"Damien…" The female's roars seemed to be fuelled by more rage than she had towards Apollo.

"W-who!?"
"I'll dare you kill my son!" The wolf stepped forward. "Well, at least you think you did."

Another figure had climbed atop the small cliffs. Ema almost fainted, the spear was still impaled in his chest but it was Apollo. He didn't seem to care about the spear as he leapt off and the ground shuddered beneath their feet.

"Impossible! Impossible!" The lieutenant howled. He forgot about Molly and she managed to inject a syringe of her red serum into his neck.

"Impossible!" the alpha loosened her grip on Ema, who managed to break free. The wolf slashed her leg with her huge claw when she ran.

"Possible." He winced as Ema moved her arms to reveal the claw which stretched over her lower leg.

"How!?"
"The drink began to take effect before you stabbed me." He growled, pulling the bloody spear from his chest and licking his claws. As he rubbed his paw over his wounds they healed. "So…how about round two?" A beam of ice shot his way, Ema watched as his eyes glazed red and fire melted it. "I don't need the lighter to produce fire now."

He was faster, Ema could give him that. He avoided or evaded all the alpha's attacks with ease. Although she was more confused because of the other red wolves. The spirits. Apollo felt pain in his head and collapsed to his knees. It felt as if his muscle was strengthening and expanding in his legs. A sheet of ice suddenly appeared below him and he slid. He tried to stand while still in that state. He suddenly regained his strength and stood.

He kept dodging until the pain came again, this time in his arms. That was the growth of his muscles as he was undergoing his change to be a proper red wolf. He skated across the eyes, dodging her attacks with greater ease. Sure, like usual he sustained more injuries, but he seemed more focused.

"Kid, focus." It was Damien's – the last red wolf's – Apollo's father's voice. "Get that girl out the way."
"Yes father." Apollo responded. He'd always wanted to say that even as a child.

He slid across the ice. Trying his best to get to Ema. As he got closer the ice shattered. The alpha was using her rage to create a powerful earthquake. The roof had cracked slightly as well. Apollo then saw his opportunity. The alpha was stood on top of one of the cracks she had made. Ema was safe behind her. He leapt up and released fire into the cracks.

Walls of fire sprouted up everywhere and Apollo lunged through the flame and ripped his thick claws into her thick skin. He tore savagely and drove the red serum into her neck while he was still on her back. As she tumbled, Apollo fell under her. As the fire ceased Two Tips and Simon rushed to pull him free.

"We've done our job." The red wolves, of which there were ten with the ominous glow, gathered around Apollo and the unconscious female.
"A joy to see a child can uphold traditions." The one with the Greek letters smiled. "Damien, we will be leaving."
"Of course master." Damien bowed and the wolves ran and vanished as they leapt into thin air. "Simon, you've done a good job of watching my boy."
"But of course." Apollo undid the necklace while Simon and Damien spoke and tipped into her mouth. Apollo knew something bad was going to happen and ran and leapt to cover Ema.

The bodies all broke away.

"Papa!" Molly ran to the unconscious form of the alpha male.
"The leaders of the ice, earth, water and forest colonies!"

"The what?" One Tip turned to his sister.

"Ema…" She'd fainted but she came to when Apollo held her.
"You're not dead…" She looked around.
"It's over." He assured her. "All of it. Over."
"It is?" She crawled onto his lap.
"She made a mess of your leg. I'll clean that up for you later. That is…" He changed to his human form. "If I'm still allowed at your house."

-x-x-

After the ordeal they had been through, it was no surprise that in the evening Apollo and Ema wanted nothing more than to sleep in each other's arms. Everyone was safe and were being treated for shock at local hospitals. Apollo had received personal assurance from the alpha male that he would never be bothered again.

For now he didn't care. He moved a strand of her hair as she clung to his chest. There were only faint scars from the spear in his chest. Part of him wanted to destroy that weapon, just to forget everything.

"Go to sleep 'pollo" Ema mumbled sleepily.
"Of course baby." He kissed her forehead softly.

Well, he didn't need to destroy it after all. He just had to forget. Ema could help him do that.