Well its here at last.

Hope everyone enjoyed the last chapter and would like to thank everyone that reviewed, they do keep me motivated so I thank you for them.

Time for the story to change, going to get a lot more interesting now, more drama to come and a few well known characters to appear soon so hope you all keep reading for that. But for now I hope you enjoy this chapter and happy reading. :)

For the next few weeks Regina made good on her promise of reconnecting with Ruby. She went down to the forest almost every day and met up with her friend. It seemed that she had moved to another location in the woods which confused her slightly as the old place they lived seemed perfect for them but she didn't question it as apparently, according to Granny who she had gotten along well with almost straight away, it's what wolves did.

Wolves – it still amazed her that her friend was a wolf; she was friends with a wolf. Of course said wolf was equally just as awed at being friends with a Dragon but the raven haired girl assured her it wasn't all fun and sometimes it was the little things that annoyed her, like finding a place big enough to bathe in when she weighed over three tonne and was as tall as a second story house.

But it wasn't the only thing that had confused her. As well as the new change in home she had noticed that her friend had been… how could she put it… preoccupied? It hadn't escaped her notice that the other girl seemed to be agitated. She had asked more than once if it was her only to be told no and she would than always divert the conversation. Regina wasn't sure what Ruby was trying to do but if it meant to deter her she was sadly wrong.

She was forever looking over their shoulders, as if waiting for something or someone to appear. Whether this thing was good or bad she didn't know but it was clearly affecting the brunette so much so that she seemed tense – on guard and to the point of jumping when she tapped her on the arm one day. It baffled her as she would never tell her what was wrong and that had her worrying.

Was she in danger? Her inner self was telling her that maybe she was. Maybe she had fallen into trouble with someone and she didn't want her to know either out of shame. Or maybe she was keeping her out of whatever it was for fear that they may go after her, she was trying to spare her problem and save her from getting involved. A part of her were touched that the other girl would do that but she did know Ruby to be loyal to a fault to her friends, lack of them they may be.

But another part of her wanted to help; Ruby wasn't the only one who was thankful at having a best friend. Regina was just as grateful at having her around and so if she was in any trouble – loyalty be dammed, she was going to help.

She walked along the open road that led through the forest. Never having been a fan of this track it was the quickest way she could take without having to off-road and pretty much over every rock in existence as she carried on her way. Along the way she passes a deer, a slight inner twinge makes it way to her stomach as she looks on at the grazing animal, her inner thoughts telling her to go and get it and she stopped in the middle seriously contemplating the thoughts demands.

Of course she did have a big breakfast that morning. As well as Maleficent's who nearly scalped her for stealing the last of her eggs before hightailing it out of the hall. It looked so tempting.

'Go ahead, it's right there. Just go get it'

She nodded. It was right there wasn't it? And she took a step closer before her own inner voice, the one of sensibility interrupted.

'What about your friend?' she stopped her footsteps at remembering Ruby, who no doubt was waiting for her. The secondary voice scoffed in dismissal before speaking.

'So what Ruby would understand, hell if it was her she would most likely do the same. And you know she wouldn't share.'

That also was true. On being out with her friend on the night of a full moon and on seeing her in all her wolfy glory, they had – once the initial growling's of hostility had settled and they saw each other as friends and not potential enemies. They had gone hunting – it was a sight Agnes had to admit on watching them leave much to Anita's protests. A dragon who were crouched low in the underbrush sneaking after a wolf as they belly crawled their way across the ground in search of prey, she would remember that for years to come as they looked on as Ruby neatly jumped a large rock only to double back when Regina tried the same only to get stuck half way over.

The older woman had laughed on seeing the back-end of the large beast scrabble on the stones, her feet and claws scratching the large boulders as Ruby jumped back over and tried to help by pushing her with her paws, narrowly avoiding getting hit by the swinging tail, in the end they eventually got over the obstacle and on their way into the night. They had slinked off catching many an animal that night thanks to their enhanced senses.

They may have been friends that their beasts recognized but if there was one thing that cam between even that. It was the food they caught as they nearly fought over their catches.

She nodded lightly and was about to carry on over to the oblivious animal when her voice replied. 'Is your stomach really worth more than your friendship?'

Blasted voice it had her and it knew it as the second voice, the one of rule breaking and unethical means scowled miserably. Of course her friendship came first. Nothing would change that…. Not unless it was like a stag or something than they might have issues but no – Ruby came first.

With a sigh she turned and continued on her way. If it was still there later on then there would be no stopping her getting it, but for now Ruby was more important than food. So she stuck to her original route and ignored any more possible distractions until she came to the head of the river and the waterfall that started it off. She stared at the water as it crashed over the rocks at the bottom she had thrown Ruby in the small pool many a time and was one of their very favourite places to go.

It was also the meeting place for the two and so she turned to look down the opposite road where the other girl always came from and waited. She waited for fifteen minutes solid before she began to grow concerned; it wasn't like the other girl to be late. Not this late at least – five minutes sure… maybe even ten but then she always had a good reason for it, but now she was well over those times.

By twenty minutes she was nervous, by half an hour she was panicking. She started pacing to try to calm her worried mind; all sorts had entered her head on the other girl's absence. What if she had fallen into a ditch? What if she was hurt and she couldn't get out? Or what if whoever, whatever this thing that had her so on edge had got her. What if she was hurt due to that and she was here waiting like an idiot when she could be helping.

She stopped her frantic moving. What if that was it? That had to be why she wasn't here. Something had happened and she was just standing here. Her breath hitched at the thought of her friend hurt and on that she turned to the direction where the other girl came from and was about to take off running when somebody hurrying up the path had her stopping. She waited until they got nearer and she saw that it was the girl in question.

Her terror turned into relief as Ruby came hurrying to her as fast as her dress allowed. As she got closer though her expression had the once happy smile dim slightly as Regina observed her, all to soon she was in front of her as she came to a stop, her breath heavy like she had just ran which it looked like she had as she looked at the raven haired girl.

Regina could see the wildness in her eyes, the wide-eyed panic that lay there as she fought to get her breath. "Ruby what's wrong?"

She didn't speak for a few more minutes as her breath returned to her, finally she found the air to speak. "Nothing"

Regina stood in disbelief as she looked at the other girl. "Nothing? Ruby, I was worried out of my mind."

The brunette stood taller and gave her a smile. It didn't reach her eyes as it was clear as day to her before shaking her head. "It's nothing really. I was just a little late and when I realized I ran all the way here."

"If you expect me to believe something like that then you either underestimate my intelligence or see fit to try insulting it," Her face was harsh as she looked back at her friend. Ruby remained silent as she regarded to other girl and bit her lip. It was there – something she wanted to say, something desperately but in the end she didn't and just shook her head.

They stood in the middle as Regina got ever more angrier with Ruby trying her best to placate her with little success. In the end and with a snarl that ripped from her chest, Regina had enough. She waved her hand in dismissal before turning around.

"I've had it." Ruby watched as she started to walk away. "Wait, where you going?"

The other girl turned back around, a picture of slight disgust on her face. "Away from here. Clearly you don't trust me enough to tell me what's bothering you,"

Ruby started shaking her head as she moved quickly back to where she was. "No- no it's not that I do trust you, I really do."

A scoff cut her off as Regina crossed her arms over and looked back at her. "Really? Then why are you insisting of keeping secrets. I get it that it might be family but I thought I was that."

Ruby wanted to cry, hearing that made her bite her lip. Of course Regina was family; she was the sister that she had wanted. Hell even Granny had taken to loving her right off but this was just too much. But if she kept it to herself then Regina would leave.

They carried on with their altercation. With Ruby trying to appease the irate girl who was taking steps away from the clearing but was pulled back by the ever increasingly desperate Ruby. Eventually their tiff had caught attention as another came rushing over to them – followed by another that was doing their best to keep up.

"Ruby!"

Both turned to see Anita rush up to the younger girl and give her a stern look. "What is taking you? I thought you would have been back by now." She looked to Regina with not a look of distrust or contempt that they had traded for weeks, but weariness and a tiredness that had seemingly kept her awake if the dark rings under her eyes were any indication.

"I was I was just trying to explain to Regina." She offered as the other looked at them both. She caught their silent looks as it was obvious they were saying something. It annoyed her, it was one of the things she hated and was about to just turn and leave completely when labored breathing had her looking to see Granny arrive. Despite her irked mood she couldn't help the smile she found creeping over her face.

"Granny"

The older woman stood having leant over a little to get her breath and shook her head. "Don't you Granny me... not yet at least anyway."

She found her smile slipping for the second time that day as she looked at the grey haired woman. She wore an expression of sternness mixed with worry and determination which alone had the Dragon girl worrying, but also as to what she could have possibly done to offend her, as far as she knew she was a delight – the other woman loved her so why she had snapped so harshly was a mystery.

Agnes looked to the others mindful of Regina's shocked look and spoke. "I thought you were coming right back." Her tone was hard as Ruby flinched slightly but replied.

"I was like I said; I was making sure Regina didn't think anything wrong."

"Bit too late for that" She snapped unable to keep the bite from her tone as they looked at her, she saw the glare from Anita and the frowned one from Granny but she could care less, they had been cryptic for far too long and now she was pissed

"What the hell is going on around here? Don't think I haven't seen the way Ruby has acted these last few weeks. The constant looks over the shoulders the places she limits herself to going at certain parts of the day and the repeated insistence that everything is fine when it clearly bloody well isn't."

"Watch the language Missy"

Even angry she couldn't help conceding to the older woman who had her finger pointed at her as she apologized. Agnes readjusted the cardigan on her shoulders before looking worriedly at Anita. The two conversed silently once more further irritating her but she held her tongue as eventually the older woman turned to her.

"Regina dear, it really is nothing to concern yourself with." She held up her hand when the younger girl went to protest. "It's nothing we haven't been able to deal with before and it won't be this time"

Though she didn't have to, she respected the slight ordering in her voice that came with being the matriarch of a pack. Agnes seeing her lack of argument nodded, pleased that one part of the problem was solved. She really didn't need an angry Dragon on top of everything else. Anita, who had been weary of being out in the open looked pointedly at her Mother before speaking.

"I really think we should be leaving now."

The tone was clear as was the intent. Agnes nodded and looked back to Regina was who glaring at the older woman. "I think that might be for the best, Regina."

The younger girl looked at her, "We really do have to go now but I promise you that once we have sorted out our problem we will be back in no time." She spoke kindly as she offered her a gentle smile. Regina didn't like it and still felt something was far from right but she wasn't going to argue anymore if they could handle it like they said then she would let them.

"Very well."

Ruby and Agnes smiled slightly relieved that she hadn't gone further in her questioning like she normally did as Anita still looked antsy as Ruby leant forward and gave her a hug.

"I'm sorry," She muttered into her shoulder as Regina held on "If I could tell you more I would."

They parted as she smiled sadly at her before being tugged on by the middle woman. "Come on –we need to hurry, we have already lost time."

Regina watched as Anita pulled Ruby away as they hurried from the clearing. Agnes patted her on the shoulder as she offered a small smile. The raven haired girl returned the gesture weakly before to watching the older woman hurry off after them as they moved from her and out of the open. She waited until they had gone before turning and making her way home.

She had no idea what all that was about but she found she couldn't be as mad as she was before. Something was wrong sure – but she also knew that if they didn't have to burden others with their issues then they wouldn't, having kept themselves to themselves for so long they had come to rely solely on each other for support.

She kicked a rock away from her as she made her way up the stream and watched as it landed in the water with a splash. She had just, maybe vainly, thought that it included her; Ruby sometimes looked to her for support when her family had annoyed her and vice versa. But clearly not for anything bigger.

She sighed and decided to stop for a while. Maybe that deer was still about and was about to do a spot of hunting when noises had her turning and looking back the way she came as they got louder. She looked on downstream to the source of the noise and focused her hearing to try to find what it was.

It was people who much she knew as she could hear them talking. She strained to hear what it was about as it was slightly fuzzy, but as it got clearer the sounds she heard had her worry grow exponentially and her panic rise once more. Screams and shouts could be heard followed by the gruff sounds of men talking, horse whinnying accompanied by more screams.

She took off running back to the clearing. She didn't care what happened, all she knew was that whatever that was it had something to do with Ruby and her family. She ran past the point they had parted and onwards as the shouting got louder, she could see a lot of movement up ahead so ran as fast as she could, never stopping until she came out through the trees.

She burst through and looked around. The path had taken her back to the open road as she saw men on horseback as they surrounded a few people standing in the middle of them. They were cowering as a few were holding on to children keeping them tight to their chests as the horses kept them blocked in.

She looked to find more on foot as they had swords in their hands and were fighting against more people who had been backed up to a dead-end. She spied an open cage loaded onto a wagon as her eyes narrowed, she took another look at them and saw they were wearing clothes far to fitting to be anything like the people of the forest; they wore chain mail and had helmets.

The biggest clue was the insignia branded onto their clothing. They were guards, a royal guard to be exact which she didn't know but all she did was that they were here to cause harm.

Immediately she tried to find Ruby, her friend had to have been in this crowd and so searched through the chaos searching for long brown hair. Coming up with nothing wasn't doing much to calm her fear and so she ran further into the fight. She dodged who she could until eventually she found herself in the middle of a fight as the two men crashed into her.

They went tumbling to the ground as the two men landed heavily. She groaned a little at the hit before slowly turning over, she looked up to see the guard, having dropped his sword in the crash now sitting on the other man's chest and was strangling him the man was holding him back best he could but weight was really against him as he struggled to get him off.

She staggered to her feet. She didn't know the man but maybe he could help her as she moved over to the pair kicking the weapon into the brush before reaching them. Without thinking she grabbed hold of the man's collar and lifted him off much to his surprise as he felt himself being easily torn from his target.

The man on the floor coughed and rubbed his neck as he looked up to see the guard struggling in her grip, his eyes went wide slightly on seeing the small slip of a girl hefting a man twice her weight before throwing him directly into the nearest tree. The man went flying, he yelled out before hitting the solid bark with force and fell to the floor limp and unmoving.

Without waiting she moved to the man still on the ground and held out her hand. He looked at the motionless guard to her and her hand before slowly taking it, he found himself yanked harshly from the ground as she regarded him.

"Thank you."

She waved her hand dismissing his gratitude. "Ruby"

He blinked at the sudden blunt way she spoke. "Your name is Ruby?" She shook her head impatiently.

"No, where's Ruby." Suddenly it came back to him as his thoughts came back to him a little more clearer. He recalled seeing the younger girl with her Mother and Granny as they joined the group from halfway on their journey. Where they had been he didn't know as they hurried along the path just before they were ambushed.

"I don't know" He told her shaking his head much to her dismay. "I… I saw them right before the attack but with everyone trying to protect the children, we all got split up"

Screams and cries had them turning to see the fight ended. Regina grabbed his shirt and dragged him to the bush as they ducked down and hid; from their spot they watched the few who fought being rounded up into the cages that stood waiting. The man trembled with fury as he watched his brothers and family being pushed and shoved into the prisons as soon they were moving, out of the open space as the shouts and crying got lower until they were on their own.

Regina breathed in deeply. So this was what Ruby was trying to keep her from. Did she know this was going to happen? Was that why they had to leave. She was in her own little thoughts that she didn't see the man launch from the shade and running until he was halfway across the field. She snapped out of her musings and cursed as he ran.

Even in human form she couldn't compete with a wolf. She was a flyer not a ground person and as such had never won a race against the brown haired girl unless she cheated. Cursing she disappeared and reappeared right in front of him cutting off his run.

The man was so focused on getting to his family that he didn't see the cloud of purples suddenly formalizing in front of him until he nearly crashed into it, he skidded to a stop and gaped as the smog slowly dissipated revealing the girl who had saved him. He gaped at her, opening and closing his mouth stupidly for a few minutes as she waited before he spoke.

"You… you have… you're a witch!?"

She rolled her eyes before nodding. "Yes, though for the record I prefer sorceress. Witch is just insulting." He didn't respond still to in shock making it easier for her to grab him and once more smoke engulfed them both as he yelled out just before vanishing. They appeared in the middle of a few trees as he yanked himself free.

"What did you do? Where are we?" She rolled her eyes again before pointing to her right as he followed her direction and saw that it was the crossroad that would take them to the borders of the different kingdoms.

"I assume this is the meeting point seeing as they are king's guards." He looked at the signs leading in other directions and nodded slowly. Good, well at least that was helpful in one way as she looked to the road that would soon be bringing them their target.

"Right well if we wait here then very soon they'll have to pass us as they meet up with the other cage. There were two cages, right?"

He nodded again.

"Well when they stop we'll easily be able to save your family. We just have to be patient and not charge out like a rampaging bull." She looked pointedly at him as he smiled sheepishly. She didn't look all too much younger than him but he could sense the power from her, something about her made him weary and so he wasn't going to do anything that might ruin her plan.

Staying at her side when she had magic was a lot safer than trying a rescue on her own, he nodded making her smile a little before they turned and waited for their prey.

"Whilst we wait." He turned to look at her, "You can tell me what Ruby tried to cover," She glanced at him

"Just why are guards… royal ones at that, chasing after you."

He lifted himself a little. He didn't want to betray Ruby, if she didn't tell this girl then maybe she a good reason. But the dark, almost black looking orbs boring into him made him shiver. The steely glint in her gaze also told him that she wasn't taking anything other than the truth. There was also the small fact of she might just turn him into a squirrel or something equally furry that would make for a snack and so nodded.

"They are King George's royal guard."

She cocked her head to the side slightly at hearing that a little surprised but more ultimately curious as to why a king from an altogether different kingdom would be wanting a pack of wolves from the neighboring border. She stared at him a few seconds longer before speaking.

"What did you do to piss him off?"

"We have done nothing to cause offense to that man. Nor have we ever committed any crimes, certainly not in his lands anyway" She held up a hand at the defensive tone in his voice. Clearly he was justified in his and his packs innocence and she believed him. But it still baffled her as to why they were here.

"Don't they know that it's an act of war to cross the line without permission?" He grumbled and acknowledged the question. "But he doesn't care about that, besides, it's not an act of war if they claim to be working for somebody else."

"What do you mean?"

They ducked when they thought they heard them coming as he looked out before carrying on. "I don't think he cares as long as he gets what he wants but not at the cost if it meant going to war, not yet anyway."

She heard the implication and filed that for the end as she listened on. "In order to avoid any act of treason he has his men work for the only one in the entire realm who has any jurisdiction to be anywhere within any kingdom without needing express permission from the royals, only if he performs killings but he isn't allowed.

She had to think for a moment before it came to her. "The Sheriff."

He nodded, his sharp teeth bearing a little at the thought of the man. "It's him that's actually ordering our capture."

"But why?"

He turned on her puzzled tone and crouched lower. "Why what?"

"Why is he getting that man to round you up? Why does he even want a bunch of wolves at all, if you haven't caused him any personal grievances then why bother with you at all, you are of no significance to him… No offence"

He waved her away. "Don't you think we don't know that? But there have been rumours."

"Rumours?" He nods once more as she pulls back a little. "What sort of rumours"

"Apparently it is said that the king is amassing an army." He smiled grimly at her shocked expression.

"An army? For what purpose?"

"It has been talked about him waging a war on the white's. King Leopold and his family." She sat back a little staggered at what she was hearing. "Is there any reason to this or is it just for the fun of it."

The man shrugged. He didn't know why the king wanted to go to war; all he knew was that he was gathering everything he could that would give him an advantage over the other king and that meant his own family being taken. Regina meanwhile was processing all she had been told, it amazed her that she hadn't heard anything of the sort in the past few weeks.

But then she did only just come back so who knew how long he had come up with this plan. She looked to the road; it couldn't have simply been hearsay, not if the fact that these people had been captured, so there had to have been truth to the rumors. She heard him speak again and looked to him as he went on to talk about the next topic that had her blood running cold.

"It's not just the wolves he's after."

"What do you mean?"

"After this it's been said his next target is the beast of the forbidden mountain, the last Dragon." Her heart stopped on hearing that. She looked at him with horror in her eyes and fear tight in her chest. He was going after Maleficent.

"Are you sure of this?" He shrugged again he had only heard of the possible next target. But he found it suicidal if he was honest. But what did he care his family had been taken so he hoped they went after the beast, and that they got torn to pieces in the process.

The blood had rushed to her ears making his next speech blurry at best. They planned to attack the other woman, they wanted to capture her and use her for a war. The rock in her stomach lay heavy as she tried to figure out what to do.

"Do they have a plan or when they said they would attack?" He shook his head.

"I do not know if that is actually true, all I know is that he is going after everything that will give him an edge over the enemy that includes having a ferocious beast such as the last Dragon in the kingdoms to use. With it no one would stand in his way."

'Not if I have anything to say about it'

He took in her suddenly pale pallor and his brow arched. Just why was she so torn up about the Dragon. Actually now that he thought more about it, just who was this person? She had magic and as far as he knew there weren't any magic users around.

"Who are you?" She heard his question and pulled herself from possible plans to look at him. "What?"

"I asked who are you. You said you knew Ruby. But I have never seen you before. You're not a member of the pack as we all would have seen you and I definitely know none of us are magic users, so where did you come from?"

She deliberated on telling him. After Ruby this was the only other wolf she had spent more than twenty minutes with. In the end she chose to just tell him the basics.

"I live on the other side of the forest. I met Ruby whilst walking one day and we became friends." He eyed her sceptically, after all that the pack had to face. The shuns and the condemnations they faced just for being who they were he, like the rest were weary of new people who they came across as they didn't take to intruders to nicely, even if they were friendly.

He looked at her as she looked back with seriousness and finally nodded. He had seen the way Ruby was, how happy she been and always wondered why it was as at one time she had done nothing but cry and was forever miserable. Could this girl in front of him be the reason or part of it, she could see as well as feel his caution and refrained from rolling her eyes.

"I wouldn't hurt Ruby, not ever, she is my best friend. Besides, she knows thing's I would rather have kept secret myself and so whatever about the pack I know. It will always stay safe."

"Like your magic." She nodded slowly.

"Like my magic."

He accepted her answer a lot more readily. He was sure about the creatures that had been rounded up already and if that was anything to go by then that also meant he was going after anything supernatural, including magic holders, so she had just as much to lose as they did.

"And as such. I always look out for my friends." With that she turned back to the road and kept watch. He studied her a few more seconds before giving a faint smile. He didn't know who she was apart from the fact she was a witch - correction, sorceress. But he had the feeling that if she was as loyal as he felt she was, then they had picked the wrong friend to try to kidnap.

Soon after their talk rumblings signalled the arrival of the wagon as it rolled down the road. They stood ready to move as the rolling prison got nearer. He closed his eyes at the shouts and crying of the children as they banged against the side of the cage. Regina saw him and placed her hand on his.

"We'll get them out." He opened them to look at her and nodded. He didn't trust easily but he knew she would keep her promise. The wagon got so close now they could hear the clipping of the hooves along the floor as they got ready to attack.

"Do you trust me?"

He looked at her, startled at such a crucial time. "What"

"Do you trust me" She glanced at him "If only for the moment." He didn't respond simply nodded. His silent permission made her smile as the next part of her plan could work now as she rose from her spot just a little. He watched what she was doing as his eyes widened on seeing the fireball that erupted from noting and burned bright in her palm.

"I'll only cause a distraction." Before he had time to realize what she was saying she had lowered the burning inferno and set the bush in front of them alight. He had to jump out of the way as it caught and with a small blowing of air from her lips to help it along, it rose like a pyre as she sent it onto the road in front of them.

The sudden danger in front of them sent the horses ceasing in their tracks as they reared, frightened by the flames that continued to burn. The men around the cage shouted in confusion at what happened as they saw the flames and some realizing it was a trap, got their weapons ready before moving to surround the cage with the prisoners, the rest tried to calm the panicked horses.

The two watched from the shadows as he rose a little. She looked at him. "Ready."

She turned back to occupied guards before nodding. "Hang on."

He waited as she crept down a bit to look at the cage. And the men guarding it, there were two on the right holding swords which she could easily take from them. But she didn't know about the other side she could only assume that the same amount were on the other side. Glancing back to the waiting man she pursed her lips.

"This is for the pack."

Before he could question she flicked her hand slightly as once more the purple engulfed him and before he knew he found himself on the other side of the road. He panicked slightly at the new and sudden change before jolting to realization that she had sent him somewhere new. His eyes narrowed at her check but soon found himself looking at the opposite end of the wagon.

He frowned at why she had sent him just a few feet away before it clicked, he counted the numbers before shuffling to the spot where the trees opened up as he saw her waiting and held up his hand, she counted two and smiled, even all round and so with the fire burning for as long as she wanted it to, she nodded her head and gave the signal to strike.

The people inside the cage jumped and cried out in confusion as the guards standing stock at the right of them suddenly found their swords vanishing from their grips as they lifted the now empty hand's before looking at each other in confusion. It didn't last long as soon they found themselves lifted from the ground, terrified yells and cries out silenced as they went flying into the wagon behind them.

It wasn't a lot of moving but the force was enough to knock them out as the collided with the metal and fell to the floor. The wolf man took his cue as he jumped out from his hiding place. He moved to the first guard who raised his weapon and dodged the blow before landing his own to his stomach. The man doubled over before finding himself being picked up and slammed into the ground as his world went black.

The second guard ran at him only to be stopped when he ran full pelt at him and body slammed him like the others, straight into the carriage. The force had him winded but not knocked out as he tried to fight the weight pressed against him as a hand on his head lessened his flailing. Regina moved around the side of the wagon to see the wolf pinning his victim to the metal bars.

She smirked as he struggled much to the cheering of the people in the wagon. She eyed his fear and smelt his terror before looking to the wolf man.

"Took care of the others and the ones at the front." He nodded before his attention back to the guard. "Where are you taking them?"

He stammered in his fright and found the pressure on him tighten as he struggled to speak. "I think it would be best to speak now."

He looked to the girl who was smiling devilishly at him before looking at him again. "I'll ask again. Where are you taking them?"

"A small village near the boarders of both kingdoms. It's used as a trading route for those who want things taken out or bringing in but doesn't want the royals finding out."

"The name"

"Ver Atticas"

Regina turned to the other man. "Can't say I've ever heard of it"

The man frowned. "I think I may have heard of it in passing. Horrible place, full of scum and thugs, basically people who are anyone don't associate with it… of course it would be the perfect place for smuggling."

He brought the man closer "Who are you meeting."

He whimpered a little but spoke. "The… the sheriff, he's taking them across and to the king." The news caused Regina to hiss as he recoiled as much as he could at the sound.

"Bastard, of course it would be him." He looked back to the petrified guard, "Thank you." Before slamming his head into the cage behind him and watched as he crumpled to the floor. Regina lifted her hand as she closed her fist and the fire died out though the horses had stopped whinnying long before. She used her other to break the lock as the door swung open allowing the prisoners to escape.

They jumped from their confinements and cheered their saviours. Thanking them from what surely would have been a few months' worth of misery, she smiled but really all she wanted to do was find her friend and family as she turned back to the man who was being thanked.

"What's your name?"

He looked at her, "Tobias"

"Well Tobias. Now that we have saved this lot. How about we get ourselves a sheriff." He grinned, a smirk to rival her own spread across his face.