Island Wolf: Oh god I am so sorry it's been a month since I updated this thing. This internship has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, never have I been so exhausted and I used to be a field ecologist. The chapter is shorter than I would have liked, but I didn't want to make you all wait any longer than you had to so here you go!

I have to send out a huge thank you to everyone who reviewed, faved, and followed you guys gave me the inspiration to keep pushing whenever I had the time to write. You're all so amazing and the support is so appreciated!

Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, I own nothing except the plot, blah

The breath caught in her throat as time seemed to grind to a halt and everything drew into clear and terrible focus. She could hear everything; the crackle of his hand radio, the soft thump of his boots in the new fallen snow, the soft chink of metal on metal as he lifted his gun – it was all so clear, so clear. Without warning he looked up and through the frosted glass their eyes met.

Time resumed its flow with a roar and a curse from below as the soldier ran for the door and out of her sight. May dropped to her knees, her nails tearing out threads from the rug as she bit her tongue to keep from screaming. Her mouth tasted like metal and salt. "Duncan, Kella!"

The skitter of claws against wood answered her call as the two canines ran up the stairs. Duncan's ears were flat against his skull and his teeth were bared in a savage snarl. Kella's rage was far quieter, but her coarse blue fur danced with building electricity, pulsing and powerful. May reached out her hand and the two pokémon trotted towards her. Before they could protest she withdrew their pokéballs from the nightstand and withdrew them inside the red and white spheres. She could feel the orbs twitch defiantely in her palms, but she latched them firmly and slid them under the bed where she prayed they would not be found. Her heart couldn't bear the thought of losing them.

"I won't let them take you, not again."

For a moment she considered crawling in beneath the shadows of the bed with them, wanting nothing more than to curl up in the darkness and pretend that the monsters couldn't reach her there, but the sound of the butt of a gun slamming against the front door had her running for the bathroom. She slammed the door shut and bolted it behind her, sliding down on the floor with her head pressed against her knees. Down below the hammering on the door continued, every crack of metal on wood ringing out like a gunshot, every blow striking deep within her chest. She sobbed and pressed her hands to her ears, willing it all to go away. She felt like a rabbit caught in a snare with a predator bearing down. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. "They're going to find me, they're going to find me and they're going to kill me!"

Stop your snivelling

The voice was thick and oily, growling out in an uneven cadence so soft and sinister. Time abruptly froze again and May dropped her hands.

Get up, stop crying like a wounded dog – you disgusting little creature.

Trembling, May leaned forward onto her knees and then carefully drew herself onto her feet, clutching at the lip of the sink for support. The mirror reflected her face, pale and tear-stained with eyes red from crying and fear. The space behind her was smoky and distorted in the looking glass, slowly condensing into a vaguely human shape, roughly her size and stature, though it seemed to flicker and for brief moments in time, change into something more...beastly. She hardly dared to breathe – this wasn't real, it couldn't be –

Better

"What – What are you?"

The shadows you are so intent on hiding from, the voice came again. The shadows condensed again, darker this time where the head area was. Two slits suddenly appeared where the eyes should have been, widening into two black pits that at their heart, burned with a dim blue light. I am you, you are me, as much as you try to hide and whimper. Why are you so quick to lay down and die?

"There's nothing I can -"

Of course there is! Her shadow hissed, the black pits narrowing ever so slightly. There are a finite number of scenarios here. You would have us lay down and let them catch us which would have one of two ends; they will deem you a defective product not worth restoring, slit your throat and be done with it – or they will put you back and chains and let you loose on the world like a rabid wolf on their leash. You, who are so afraid of getting any red on your ledger...you'll be dripping with it by the end.

The mirror suddenly split down the middle, creating a valley of broken glass between her and the shadow. The smoky outline started to solidify even further and beneath the hollow, glowing eyes a mouth started to form. It was far too wide for the face it stretched across and when the nonexistent lips pulled back to reveal a maw of black teeth, twisted and snarled like an ebony thicket. But there is another possibility.

"What is that?"

Fight came the breathy reply, hissed through the gnashing teeth. I will not be muzzled again like a common dog – I have been let off of my chain and have tasted the feral freedom of an awakened mindscape.

The shadow reached out a skeletal finger, running it down the crack in the mirror and leaving a thick tar-like trail in its wake.

They did not create this power, they merely awakened it and yet they dare presume themselves our masters. I am you and you are me, you cannot deny your nature. I will not lay down and die, nor will I be put back in chains to bay and bark on command. You can either fight with me and I will give you the strength you need – or I will break you and let loose my fury as I please. The choice is yours to make, either way you are going to get blood on your hands. It may as well be the blood of your enemies.

"But I'm not -"

A killer? Of course you are! You who have stared down titans, you are a wolf among the sheep; we do not sit mute and dumb for the executioners blade, we flash our teeth and roar – just like your gallant solider boy or have you forgotten that he's a killer too? I wonder where he is? Has he fought his way through the enemy lines or is he lying dead in the snow with a bullet through his heart and a bloody halo around his head?

May clutched onto the edge of the sink as the contents of her stomach were rapidly emptied into the porcelain basin. The shadow behind her hissed and howled with raucous laughter as cold claws trailed over the back of her neck. Her heart beat slowed, crawling at a sluggish pace until she thought it would stop altogether. Another thunderous boom echoed from downstairs and she felt her gut twist at the sound.

Choose

"...Alright. We fight."

"Ursa One, do you have the rear secured?"

"Yes Sir, Ursa Three has rejoined the team, we have eyes on the back."

"Copy, I'm entering the front door, send Ursa Three in behind me when I give the all clear."

"Roger."

He unhooked the strap that held his M16 over his shoulder and turned it around, slamming the butt of the rifle against the door to test its strength. The solid oak shuddered, but refused to give under the strike. Several more repositions yielded similar results and he shouldered his gun again, instead turning side face so he could set his shoulder and his full weight against the obstacle. Two sharp charges was all it took and the door hinges finally snapped, the crack of broken steel ringing out loudly in the winter air.

The house was largely deserted by the looks of it, but he knew that was not the case. He'd seen those eyes watching him from the upstairs window, sapphire blue like the plumage of some rare bird – one he'd been giving the honour of capturing, dead or alive. Either way it would make a good specimen. He lifted his gun and kept steady aim in front of him as he cleared the corners and made for the stairs. He curled his finger around the trigger as he climbed the first step; this wasn't some delicate bird of paradise after all – this was a predator with savage talons and a fearsome scream despite her pretty colours.

The first bedroom proved empty, but the second had a more promising trail – a discarded house coat and a low humming sound coming from the closed door that led to the bathroom. He widened his stance, setting himself firmly as he tightened his finger around the trigger ever so slightly. Drawing one more deep breath and charged the door, slamming his weight onto the broader part of his shoulder. The bathroom door, unlike the solid oak downstairs, gave way easily beneath his strength.

Cold wind met his face and broken glass crunched beneath his boots. The mirror over the sink and the window looking to the front yard were shattered, covering the tile in an icy coating of clear and silver shards. He hissed a curse under his breath and moved to the window – the bird had broken from the roost it would seem. He craned his neck through the broken window, trying to glimpse any tracks in the freshly fallen snow.

He didn't hear the shower curtain draw back until it was too late.

She didn't scream, didn't spit or snarl, but her face was twisted into a savage if silent roar that conveyed pure and absolute rage as she flew at him, a shard of broken mirror clutched in her hand like a dagger. He had no time to pull the trigger before she dove in beneath his arm with the speed of a striking Seviper, rendering his gun useless in the close quarters. Her face went from a vision of rage to a primal, animalistic expression. Her lips skinned back over her teeth and a crazed light entered her eyes – it was an expression he knew well, the utter desire to kill.

The jagged glass severed his carotid artery like a hot knife through butter as she sliced him open from ear to ear in a fantastic spray of red. There was little he could do but watch his life blood paint the walls and her face crimson as the world around him went black.

And now you've let loose the dogs of war

"Ursa Leader, Ursa Leader come in – is the target secure?"

The radio crackled beneath a spreading film of red. Her fingers were slick with it as she picked up the communicator and pressed down the reply switch. She felt her lips stretch into a thin smile. "No."

"Who -"

"Catch me if you can."

She made a fist and the radio shattered in a hiss of static and broken plastic the fell to join the blood and glass around her bare feet. May closed her eyes and breathed in deep, feeling her heartbeat and respiration slow. She could smell the copper and salt that hung so heavily in the air, laced with the sharp tang of sweat and electrical smoke from the broken communicator. Far below she could hear the other two men running for the front door. A footstep came hard and heavy over the threshold and she exhaled, dropping down to all fours.

Catch us if you can

His ears were ringing in that old, familiar way and his nose burned with the smell of gunpowder as he fought to keep control of the terrified mare beneath him. His cheek was bleeding profusely, but there was no time to tend to it as another shot cracked over the hills, the bullet slicing through the air just behind him. For one brief, terrifying moment he found himself back on the sea ice with men falling into the black, gaping holes into the crushing waters below before the sound of a motorized snowmobile snapped him back to reality.

Two of the vehicles were speeding towards them, each bearing a pair of riders – one driving and the other bearing a long-range rifle.. both barrels trained on him. Maxie dug his heels into Maria's flanks and drew in the reins tight, pulling her hard to the right. He hated being so rough on her, but it was life or death right now and a panicking animal would likely pitch him into the snow where a bullet would find him in a matter of seconds. He guided her into the forest where she could dash and weave between the trees – frightened as she was the mare was surefooted and knew the terrain, where not to step and where the drifts grew deep. Their pursuers had no such knowledge and their faith in machines would fail them if they nosed down into a hidden ditch or over the wrong side of a snow covered knoll and rolled the heavy machines in the soft powder. Still, the rumbling growls of the snowmobiles kept up with them even as they galloped at full pace, though in truth he was hardly concerned by his pursuers. If they had found him out here then they'd most definitely gotten to the house already and he felt sick with fear at the thought of what might be waiting for him there.

He glanced back over his shoulder just as another shot rang out and he felt the heat of it as the bullet sliced by. Maxie cursed, they were gaining ground despite his best efforts. Another gunshot cracked through the winter air – but not from behind him. A bullet came hissing from the forest in front of him and he heard a curse from behind. He glanced back over his shoulder in time to see one of the snowmobiles veer wildly off-course, overturning over a bank that sloped down to the brook. More shots rang out in quick succession and the second snowmobile suffered a similar fate as the four Cipher agents were dispatched with quick, precise shots. Maxie pulled Maria to a halt, both of them breathing hard. For a moment that was all he could hear, the laboured breathing of man and beast undercut by the ringing of the bridle. Soon, however, he detected another sound and another snowmobile approaching. Two men rode it and as they approached the man sitting on the back holding a sniper rifle pulled back his hood and goggles to reveal a familiar face.

"Tabitha! Not to sound ungrateful, but what are you doing here?"

"I told you I'd be keeping eyes on this place. Good thing too," the sniper replied with a grim smile. "Come on, there's more of them lurking about – they've probably reached the house already. Where's May?"

"Home," Maxie growled and flicked Maria's reins. "Let's go!"

He spurred the mare back into a gallop, not bothering to see if Tabitha and his companion were following, but the low roar of the snowmobile's engine told him that they weren't far behind. Soon, the house drew into view. Everything was still and quiet – ordinarily it would be a peaceful sight, but the broken down door and empty windows made him feel like he was approaching a tomb. He dismounted as Tabitha and his partner drew into the yard behind him, shutting off their machine. No words passed between the men as Tabitha handed him a pistol – they weren't needed. It was only too easy to fall into the old pace of a military unit, he and Tabitha approaching the front door warily with the third man keeping watch on the yard behind them. Cautiously, Maxie approached with his pistol at the ready and stepped over the threshold with Tabitha close behind him. They'd almost made it to the stairs when the sound of a gun being cocked made them both stiffen and turn sharply to the right. A man in a Cipher uniform stood at the entrance to the living room, his face pale and eyes wide with fear.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way," he hissed, levelling the gun at Maxie. "She needs to be put down, you all need to be put down like the dogs you are!"

He started to curl his finger around the trigger, but before any of them could make another move a pale blur came hurtling down over the steps. It barrelled into the Cipher agent with a savage shriek. A shot rang out as he fell with the figure on top of him, his cry of alarm quickly turning into a choking gurgle. His limbs thrashed twice before it faded into small twitching movements and then he stilled altogether. The gun slid to the floor with a clatter from his nerveless grasp.

Maxie swallowed thickly and took a cautious step forward as he half lowered his gun. The sound of his footstep made the figure stiffen and a low growl echoed through the room. "May. May, it's me – it's Maxie."

She turned and he nearly dropped his gun.

May was still wearing her pyjamas, but the front of the white tank top had been soaked almost completely through with blood. Her shoulder was a mess; the shot that had gone off had torn through it with brutal force, but the wound didn't appear to bother her and he doubted she even realized that she was injured. Her face was covered with it too, the smears and spatters of red standing out starkly against her pale skin. Looking past her he quickly figured out why – the man on the floor was laying in a pool of his own blood, still oozing out of the ragged wound in his neck. It was clear that his throat had been torn open and that May had done it; not with a knife or any weapon...but with her own teeth.

Even now she watched him through wary and wild eyes, eyes he scarcely recognized for the primal rage that burned in their cold blue depths. Behind him he could hear Tabitha raise his gun – so did May apparently because she dropped into a predatory crouch and bared her bloody teeth with a long, low snarl. Maxie looked over his shoulder at him and firmly shook his head. Tabitha nodded and stepped back a pace, lowering his rifle. He turned back to May who was still on all fours, her features still lined with blood and fury. Slowly, Maxie lowered himself down onto one knee and carefully set his pistol down onto the floor beside him. "May, it's me. You're safe now, everything is alright."

The snarl started to fade slightly as she watched him like a wary animal, seemingly not quite sure what to make of him. Inwardly he cursed Ardos' name over and over. He knew that no matter how hard he tried there was always going to be some part of that Shadow still within her, but now he was afraid he'd lost her to it yet again. What if he couldn't pull her back?...That didn't bear thinking about.

"May," he said softly, opening his arms to her. "Please come back to me love. Please."

There – it was brief, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes, something human, something May. She started edging towards him, head cocked to one side as she studied him. She raised her head and scented the air and the light came rushing back into her face, quickly followed by the horror when she realized it wasn't her blood she tasted on her tongue. She fell forward into his arms, shaking uncontrollably. He held her close, stroking her hair and hushing her softly as she cried. He felt sick with rage, that Ardos had put her in this position yet again, but at the same time he was relieved she'd managed to defend herself. He'd been afraid, so afraid that he was going to come home to her cold corpse and he honestly didn't know how he would be able to live with himself if he'd lost her. "It's okay May, I'm here. You're alright."

"Maxie I – I killed them -"

"Only because you had to," he murmured, "You did what you had to May. There's nothing wrong with you."

"I – I'm so cold," she muttered, her voice turning thick and slurred. He pulled back to inspect the bullet hole in her shoulder while she leaned against him, her eyes fluttering as she fought to stay awake. They were lucky – the bullet hadn't torn through or nicked any major arteries, but it was still a painful injury and she'd still lost a fair amount of blood, certainly enough to require medical care. He hefted her up into his arms and rose, carefully making sure her head was against his shoulder as she started to drift into unconsciousness. Tabitha watched him with a sad expression.

"Christ, that's fucked up," he sighed, shaking his head as he slung his gun over his shoulder. "She alright?"

"In time perhaps," Maxie replied softly. "Tabitha why are you here and not in Ever Grande?"

"I was going to call, but I didn't think there was time – I'm glad I didn't," Tabitha said grimly as they headed for the door. "There was an attack. The Governor and the cabinet of ministers...they're dead."

"What!?"

"It was supposed to be top secret, a secure convoy to move them to undisclosed locations but Cipher – they got the information somehow and took them out. They tried to attack the League too, but we managed to get them out in time, David and Eldes too. Once we got them all safe and into hiding we headed here to get the two of you."

"Damn that man," Maxie growled. "I'm assuming you put our contingency plan into action?"

"Yes Sir. We'll stop at Lilycove to help Miss May and then we're going underground...at least until we can regroup from this debacle," Tabitha said as they stepped outside and he directed his compatriot to go fetch their vehicle. A few moments later a large black truck rolled up the snow covered drive. Maxie opened the back door and gingerly laid May inside, removing his coat to wrap around her. He sighed heavily as he brushed her blood soaked hair away from her face. A hand descended on his shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "I've got a first aid kit under the seat, you go grab your gear and I'll patch her up...it'll be easier if you don't have to see her like this."

Maxie nodded and moved to let Tabitha take his place, grateful for his offer. He tended to come across as careless, but Tabitha was a very perceptive individual – those eyes could pick out much more than targets. He headed back inside the house, grimacing at the smell of copper that hung so heavily in there air. The Cipher agent's body was still sprawled out in the living room, his mangled throat a testament to the deadly force May had unleashed upon them. The thought made him shudder. That poor girl had been exposed to enough death and destruction, just when he thought they were finally in the clear Ardos had dragged her straight back down to the deepest circle of hell. I will see him hang for this!

Tearing his gaze away from the corpse cooling in his living room he headed upstairs to the bedroom only to find another blood trail leading to the bathroom. He peered inside and swore violently. Two more bodies lay inside, one had his throat slashed open from ear to ear, his blood painting the walls from where it had spurted out of his torn carotid – the other was slumped next to him, his head at a grotesque angle from where his neck had been snapped. Maxie gripped the door frame for support as the bile rose in his throat and he felt his eyes start to burn with hot, shameful tears. He'd brought May here to keep her away from the fighting, to keep her hands clean and protect the ragged remains of her innocence. He closed his eyes and cursed himself.

He'd failed her, oh how badly he'd failed her – it was written all over the walls in red.

"Fuck, she did all of this?"

The sound of Tabitha's voice made him flinch and he turned to face the younger man. The sniper's face was a strange blend of shock and sadness. "You've been up here for a while...I understand why. Christ, I can't believe it. How can a man be so evil, to make that poor girl capable of something like this?"

"They don't have a name for Ardos' brand of cruelty," Maxie replied bitterly. "I had hoped to spare her from all of this."

"This is war Boss, and you said it yourself she's as much a solider now as your or I."

"The first time was bad enough, how will she cope with the blood of three men on her hands?"

"She defended herself in the only way she could, there's no dishonour in that. If anything it's strangely fortunate she was able to use that part of herself, she'd likely be dead or worse otherwise," Tabitha said. "With all due respect Sir, I think May's tougher than you give her credit for. She'll be alright so long as you're there for her."

"I can only hope so."

"Come on, I'll help you pack. May's patched up, she's still out of it but she's not in any immediate danger. I'll send someone to clear out this place and get rid of the bodies. The crew will meet us in Lilycove and we'll take it from there."

"What about the hospital?"

"Dr. Villiard was part of our contingency plan. He'll be waiting for us so we can leave right away. The sooner we get into hiding the better."

"Tabitha I really can't thank you enough for this," Maxie said with a small, weary smile. "You've saved both of our skins again."

"You're my commanding officer Sir, my loyalty wasn't discarded with my uniform. Team Magma or otherwise."

"Into fire, into hell..."

"Keep shoulder, to shoulder."

The drive to Lilycove was uneventful, but it was the most nerve-wracking journey of Maxie's life. The man Tabitha had brought, an old army friend by the name of Gregory Smithwick, was driving with his rifle close at hand in the passenger seat. Tabitha had decided to ride in the back with Maxie so that May could be between them lest she wake and still be in a violent mood. Her head was on Maxie's lap and her legs lay across Tabitha's making sure her feet were elevated to combat any shock. She still hadn't come fully to yet, drifting in and out of partial consciousness with dazed whimpers and hoarse calls of Maxie's name. Maxie hushed her gently, carefully running his fingers through her hair, so matted and tangled with dried blood and sweat.

"I'm surprised you managed to use our little back up plan – I didn't think the caverns would be ready in time."

"They barely were, we've been trying to sneak in the rest of the supplies and equipment over the last week, but it's been difficult," Tabitha replied quietly as he pressed two fingers against May's wrist to check her pulse. "But luck seems to be on our side at least – I don't think it's crossed Ardos' mind that we would use the deep sea trench as a hiding place."

"Well it's certainly not my first choice of a refuge," Maxie huffed quietly. "Though that seems to be working in our favour. Who else have you managed to bring aside from the League?"

"Some of Dr. Villiard's personal staff, some of the Magma staff from the Lilycove outpost and I've been calling in a few favours from the old regiment. All total about three-score able bodies, forty of them good to hold a gun."

"A far cry from Ardos' forces, but better than nothing. We'll have to do things the old way."

"Guerrilla tactics. I'm not fond of the idea, but we don't have much by way of choice."

"Well, I'm glad you managed to get Dr. Villard to safety. I don't know if I would trust another physician with her."

"I don't think she'd let another physician treat her."

"Fair enough," he muttered and watched Lilycove slowly draw into view as they crested the rise of a high hill. "What is our plan here?"

"We're going to drive just past the city limits up to the north, there's a hidden cove there where the boats are waiting. We'll load up and disembark from there and approach the trench from the north where the land entrance is."

Maxie nodded his agreement and relaxed ever so slightly. For a moment he'd been worried that they would have to use that godforsaken submarine to get to the underwater caverns, but they'd bee fortunate enough since the Groudon incident to find a land-based entrance to them. It had been a pure stroke of luck while doing some geological surveys of the area in the north sea around a chain of basalt islands that thrust out of the ocean like a thorny crown marking the spot where the ocean started its steep slant down into the deep sea trench. The rock, formed by an ancient volcano, or perhaps Groudon himself, had yielded a peculiar structure rather like a lava tube that ran deep beneath the ocean. Further investigation had found that it opened up into the underwater caverns, not far from the magma chamber where Groudon had once slept before he'd been awoken by that fateful encounter so long ago. Since finding the structure they'd secretly widened it out into a proper entry shaft – Groudon's cave was a rich geological site and it wouldn't do to just pass it up; part of Team Magma's modern incarnation had involved investing quite heavily into geothermal energy after all.

True to Tabitha's word they drove just past the city, along the narrow country road that led along the high cliffs that ran north of Lilycove. Without warning Smithwick slowed the truck down and put it in park before reaching for a small hand radio. "Guests are inbound, copy Bryce?"

"Roger that Greg, we're ready for 'em."

"Alright, we'll head on down – you go back to the rest of the gear and catch the last boat at 18 00 hours. Meet you down below," Tabitha said as Smithwick put down the radio.

"Yes Sir."

Maxie hefted May up into his arms as Tabitha jumped out of the truck and circled around to open the door for them. Once they'd stepped out of the vehicle the truck was put back into drive and trundled away again down the country road, leaving the three of them standing atop the cliff, knee deep in the long grass and brightly coloured flowers that swayed gently on the ocean wind. Tabitha led them closer to the edge where the sheer rock face was broken by a steep, narrow trail that sloped down to a tiny cove far below. It was a brilliant hiding spot really – the trail was practically invisible unless one moved right to the cliff's edge and by sea it was hidden by a narrow straight between two rocky islands jut off shore. Two speed boats were tied on to a makeshift jetty, wearing the same dark, militaristic garb that Tabitha was wearing, though minus the Kevlar vest the sniper bore.

Few words were passed between the men as they were led aboard one of the boats and the outboard motor surged to life, churning up a swift white wake as they sped out of the cove and on to open ocean. The winds were low today, but the cold waves, small though they were, still buffeted them roughly as they turned the bow to the north-east. Maxie gritted his teeth as freezing spray blew over them and they sped past menacingly large chunks of ice that had drifted down from the much larger icepack even farther to the north. Cold, cloying fear gnawed deep in his gut and he tried to keep himself composed, but it was difficult when the sound of the wind started to sound dangerously close to the distant shriek of dying men. Finally, the span of rugged black stone islands loomed on the northern horizon, rising up through the ice and foam like broken teeth against the pale winter sky. He let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

The outboard motor quietened as they approached, bobbing on the swells as they nosed closer to one of the larger islands where another makeshift jetty had been set up around small inlet that sheltered them from the wind. The driver expertly tossed out a mooring line over a raised pillar of drift wood and quickly hopped out onto the wharf to pull the boat in close so that they could disembark. Tabitha took up the lead while the driver of their boat stayed behind to better secure the craft. The entrance to the tunnel was barred off by a heavyset wooden door that sealed it off from the elements. The door itself was quite cleverly camouflaged by a simple trick – a large, heavy tarp dyed the same black colour has the rock and dusted with dirt, dust and small chunks of rock stuck on with resin.

Maxie breathed a sigh of relief once they stepped inside and the smell of salt and spray was replaced by deeper, earthier smells. Small lights affixed to the ceiling further down the tunnel guided their way down the steep, sloping path. It was uncomfortably narrow at points, but he still preferred stooping in the gloom, surrounded by tons of rock on all sides than face the waves of the open sea again. Downwards they walked and Maxie started to lose track of time until, at last, the tunnel floor started to become level and the walls widened. The became warm and he could hear voices echoing from further down. They came to another heavyset door, one made of metal this time and Tabitha turned to face him with a wry smile. "Welcome to to the Resistance."

The door opened and Maxie blinked against the sudden light.

The caverns were as he remembered them. Massive stone chambers with rough, knobbled walls of long hardened lava rock though now they were adorned with lights that cast everything in a bright, fluorescent glow and the natural archways were outfitted with doors. Men in women in the same dark uniform as Tabitha were milling about the main chamber, coming and going through the smaller side tunnels, some carrying clipboards and armloads of documents, others toting automatic rifles and standing stiff to attention as the others passed by.

"Mr. Asher, over here!"

Maxie turned and spotted Marcus Villiard jogging towards them followed by a man and a women, whom he could only assume were part of his nursing staff, carrying a backboard between them. The doctor had forgone his usual shirt and tie and pristine white lab coat, donning instead a dark uniform himself. A strange sense of deja vu swept over him and he was reminded of the field hospital back during the war. He shook his head and forced memory aside as the nurses delicately took May out of his arms and onto the stretcher, leaving him free to shake the doctor's hand. "Dr. Villiard, it's a relief to see you."

"Likewise, I was quite concerned when I heard the calls over the radio that someone had been hurt," Villiard replied as he started following his staff and beckoned Maxie to follow. "The description was vague, tell me everything."

"Close-range gunshot wound to her shoulder is about all there is physically."

"Physically...I'm guessing to acquired that injury during a struggle...and I'm guessing that quite a lot of that blood is not hers."

"How astute of you doctor," Maxie said with a sad smile as they came to a halt in front of a large door. A swift swipe of a card key granted the two nurses entrance while Villiard stayed to talk. "It would seem that there are some lingering affects from her...procedures."

"I thought as much. Did she come back to herself before she lost consciousness?"

"I believe so, she was visibly distraught."

"As well she should be. Let's try to look at that as a positive, she relapsed to a more instinctive state to defend herself, but when the danger passed she returned to her normal self. She's alive, that's what matters right now," Villiard said, placing a reassuring hand on Maxie's shoulder. "As long as you're there waiting for her when she wakes up I think she'll be just fine."

Maxie smiled gratefully at the doctor before he turned away and followed his staff through the doors, leaving Maxie standing alone. His arms felt strangely empty and there was a dull ache in his chest that he knew would not leave until May was at his side again.

"She'll be alright, don't worry about that."

Steven Stone looked like he'd aged ten years since last they'd met; his shoulders were tight and there were deep shadows under his eyes that spoke of long, sleepless nights. Still, Hoenn's Champion extended his hand with a weary smile. "Glad you could make it."

"Likewise," Maxie replied as he shook the younger man's hand. "May will be glad to know you're safe."

"Only thanks to you and your contingency plan."

"Tabitha is the one to thank for that. He put it into motion."

"He's the only reason most of us are standing here that's for sure," Steven nodded. "Come on, we'll get you settled away and then you can go wait for her."

"Thank you."

Island Wolf: And there we go, finally back on track with the plot. I actually quite liked writing this chapter and I'm looking forward to getting some more action in. This, unfortunately means fluff is going on the back burner (there will be some it just won't be as ridiculously prominent as the last few chapters haha) but I hope you all like the direction I'll be taking with it Now in regards to May's little conversation with her self and subsequent rampage I see it as almost being a type of dissociative personality disorder, something born out of her trauma that she falls back on so to speak. Anywho, cheers!