Regina paced her foyer with rapid succession, trying her very best to maintain the little patience she had left. She took deep breaths. Counted to ten. Went to her happy place; and once upon a time Storybrooke was her happy place but like everything good in her life, that'd been snatched away from her.
"You've reached Emma Swan. If this is concerning a law enforcing matter, please call the station to be transferred to me directly or the working deputy. If not, leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can."
Regina growled. "Answer your phone, you idiot!"
She pressed Emma's name on her phone once more.
"You've reached Emma Swan-"
Another impatient growl.
"You've reached-"
Regina nearly threw the damn phone across the room. It took quite a lot of patience to simply place the thing back on the mail table by the door.
She could sense strange magic radiating from the forest like a large beacon of light and as the Sheriff Department's Magic Consultant, it was usually her job to check it out but she was only entrusted to do the job with an officer present. Mainly, the Sheriff but if she was unavailable, an approved Deputy could assist.
Regina had called David repeatedly yet no answer. She knew the full moon was a difficult night, now that magic had returned, shifters wreaked havoc whether they meant to or not. All of Storybrooke was strongly advised to stay indoors and lock their homes up. Board them up, even. However, there were still those that ignored warning and were consequently harmed in the process.
Regina could sense a new predator. It had no magic, at least it wasn't a practitioner of magic, but it was more of a powerful and daunting presence. It sent shivers up her spine.
Deciding Emma Swan and her idiotic father would be of no use to her, and therefor Storybrooke, she was going to go out and investigate it on her own.
She grabbed her keys, purse, and some defense potions just in case she needed to protect herself. Magic in this land was difficult to harness and manipulate, therefor she didn't rely on her essence magic. She made potions and relied on spells more often than not nowadays.
##
Regina's car skidded to a stop and she grabbed the flashlight she stored in the trunk of her, along with her running shoes.
She locked the doors just after stepping into the shoes and walking into the forest. The flashlight was large in her hands, providing her with a nice view to continue with tentative steps.
She wasn't near the powerful presence she'd felt before, but she was still aware of the other creatures lurking in Storybrooke's forest on a full moon.
She magicked herself a little further into the forest to avoid a long and dreadful walk. The presence was stronger and she could feel it all around her now.
The light from her flashlight flickered several times before eventually burning out completely. Regina was enveloped by darkness and it scared her. She conjured a fireball but it was nothing in comparison to her flashlight.
She could see shadows dancing menacingly.
"It would suit you well to show yourself." She stated to the presence. "I know you're here."
"You've always been a perceptive one, Your Majesty." A deep voice responded with amusement and ease, not even slightly frightened of the Evil Queen.
Regina could not pinpoint the voice, not that she really expected herself to. She was good with names and faces but rarely relied on voices alone to identify someone. Perhaps that was something she would work on in the future.
The hair on the back of her neck stood as the shadows danced faster.
She scowled. "I suppose you're going to kill me."
"Kill you?" The being, she decided the presence was at least a living thing and not a force, feigned surprise. "Why would I kill you? I need you alive, My Queen."
Regina fumbled for her phone in her pocket but felt nothing. She paled, realizing she'd left it at home.
"What use am I to you?"
The being laughed. "You're a very useful witch."
The former mayor swallowed and her fear showed by the dwindling light in her palm.
"But for now," the being continued. "I need the wolf to get to you first."
"What wolf?"
"The one that works with you. Several moments now, she'll arrive. She's felt your presence ever since you entered the forest."
Regina began taking large steps backwards in the direction she'd came.
"It does you no good to try to escape now. Don't worry. You won't die." He chuckled. "Tonight at least."
##
Emma couldn't keep up with Granny even if she tried. In human form, Granny might be slow but as a wolf? She was faster than Emma Swan could ever hope to be. Despite her wolf's age, it was still a feisty little one.
Emma couldn't decide by their speed if they were running to or from something but she knew there was another presence lurking them in the forest and it wasn't Ruby's wolf.
Granny's wolf skidded to a stop just as they entered a very small clearing. On the ground, there had been a lump of mass just lying there.
Emma waited by a tree while Granny scoped the place out. The wolf tentatively approached the lump on the ground. Deciding the lump was harmless and the coast was clear, Granny beckoned Emma over.
As she got closer, Emma realized the lump on the ground wasn't just a clump of dirt and leaves but a human being, and she paled when she realized who it was.
"Regina…" The name escaped the Sheriff's lips in a whisper as she dropped to her knees and tried to locate the source of the bleeding. "Goddammit, Regina."
