Like Toy Soldiers

Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win. But the battle wages on for toy soldiers. –Eminem

Diego:

"Diggy, DIGGY! You need to come in here. You're phones ringing." Ray yells, something in her voice sounds unsure. "Responder (answer it)!" I yell from

Malinah's room as I tuck her in. Tio Tia and Ash all went to a bonfire down on the beach. They asked us to go, but we celined. I wasn't gunna be around

that soiled bitch from yesterday, and besides Linah's scared of how big all the men are anyways. "Dios mío (Oh my God). Diggy it's from Chuy's phone!"

She yells frantically. This isn't possible. I run out to the living room and answer. "Orale?" I say unsure what to think. "We took out one of you and now

we want the rest. You shouldn't have fucked with Arañas pendejo. We heard all about you punking out like a bitch and running away to Washington

mother fucker. Don't think the distance stopped us we're waiting for you in Seattle. Be here, 8 o'clock, at the docks, on the south side. Or are you a

pussy like your friend?" One of the Arañas says quickly hanging up. I'm not going down without a fight you can believe that. I got to do this for Chuy, for

Diablos Morosos. I quickly dial Martin's number. "Arañas are in Washington. They called from Chuy's phone. They plan on picking us off one by one, but

I'm taking them out tonight. Pensé que usted de besaber (I just thought you should know)." I say grinding my teeth. "¿Solo? ¿No tienes ninguna copia

de seguridad? (Alone? You don't have any backup?)" He says in an even tone. "Sí que tengo que hacer esto (yes I have to do this.) I'm not dragging

you guys into this. I can handle it." I say trying to match his tone, remembering I need to regain my composure. If I let anger cloud my senses, I won't be

as alert tonight. Esteban said never show your enemy emotion because they will play it against you. "Chico de buena suerte.Esto vale mucho

respeto.Diego es un buen soldado para losDiablos Morosos. Eres tío estaría orgulloso (Good luck boy. This earns you much respect. Diego you are a

good soldier for the Diablos Morosos. You're uncle would be proud.)." He says hanging up.

I'm putting the clothes I'll wear to the fight in a bag when Reina comes in. "Diggy no! Don't!" Reina says with a scared look in her eye. She eye's my gun,

which has never seen any real action besides warning shots, and a switchblade, which has, and walks towards me. "Don't start Ray. Ustedes saben

cómo funciona,toman uno mío,tomo uno deellos (You know how it works, they take one of mine, I take one of theirs). They killed Chuy. ¿No merece

a justicia? (Doesn't he deserve justice?) I was supposed to be beside him. I was supposed to protect him to stick up for him. I'm gunna be there this

time. Inició esta guerra y estoy terminando (They started this war and I'm ending it.)." I say gritting my teeth knowing this is what I have to do. "Esto

no termine nunca Diego.Siempre es el mismo! (This won't ever end Diego. It's always the same.) People dying shootings, families torn apart all for

what? Honor? Justice? You promised when we got here you'd quit! Vas obtener usted matóa Diego! (You're going out to get yourself killed Diego)"

Reina yells pleadingly beginning to cry. I have to do this for Chuy. I'm defending my family. Why doesn't she see it? If I don't go they'll just track me down

here, and they'll kill her and Linah. "Then at least it will be with honor. Defensa de mi familia! (Defending my family)." I yell back starting to shake, but

keep the Chupacabra in his cage. Reina swings her arm back and slaps me hard across my face. "I am your family!" She yells and grabs my arm.

"Estamos a tu familia! (We are your family.)" She says motioning to her and Malinah's room. I can't handle anymore. I tear myself out of her grip, grab

my stuff, and walk out the door. "DIEGO! Regresa! (Come back) COME BACK. REGRESA!" She yells from the porch, but I just keep walking into the

woods.

Rowen:

"So how ya adjusting to living with your cousins?" Liv asks Ash as we all huddle around the fire. Our parents are sitting at the picnic tables talking and

cleaning up as the party starts dying down. I love our bonfires, spending time with my family and the friends I've had forever, it's just an amazing time. I

hate that they always go so fast, even though we've been here for like 4 hours. "I don't know. Malinah the little one, is scared of us because we're so

tall so she only talks to Diego, Reina, and sometimes mom. Reina's nice, but quiet. Diego's pretty cool. I hate that they have secret conversations in

Spanish though. I think they are keeping a secret or something. There's something they aren't telling us, I can feel it." He sighs drawing a line in the

sand with his foot. "When we went to the mall yesterday Reina was such a sweetheart. I talked to her about joining the squad. It's too bad she got

stuck with a thug of a brother. The whole reason they're here is their friend got killed in a drive by. And did you see all his tattoos? His whole back is

covered and the one on his hand is definitely gang related." I say with a shrug. "I know right, he was all "um just initials". You could so tell he didn't

wanna say it was a gang sign or whatever." Kalin says as Keaton puts his arm around her. "Just stay away from him babe, you don't wanna get mixed

up in that. I saw Boys in the Hood. It's nasty stuff." He says pushing her hair off her face. "My mom comes home and talks about cases like his all the

time. Getting shot over drug money, or territory or whatever, its crazy" Jaren says. His mom, Jula, is a psychologist for inner city kids in Port Angeles. "He

seemed like a real cool guy when we met him." Ryker says throwing a leaf into the fire. "Ya he was funny. Aren't you guys being kinda judgy?" Regan

agrees. That's twins for you, always backing each other up. They definitely got the whole nonjudgmental vibe from mom. Before anyone can answer we

see Jett, Gage, and Kerrick running out of the woods towards the picnic tables. We all stand up and walk over to see what's going on. "Dad we caught

the scent of another wolf. It has to be Diego. He must have transformed before because he wasn't freaking out like he would if this was his first time. He

didn't follow the Alpha order either." Gage says slightly freaking out. I think he's just uneasy because Diego didn't crumple under the Alpha order. "Well

he'll have to go back to the house. We should wait for him there." Sam says. Everyone quickly picks everything up and heads over to the Uley house.

We walk in the house to find Reina sobbing on the couch. "Ray honey. What's wrong? Tell us what happened." Emily rushes over to her, but she just

sobs harder. Sam comes over with a glass of water. "Reina sweetheart it's all right. This is completely normal, well it is around here. It was only a matter

of time before he turned into a wolf." Sam says coming to sit beside the crying girl. "Its, it's not that. He turned into a Chupacabra a year ag-ago. He's a

Chupacabra not a wolf." She manages to get out between tears. "Then why are you so upset?" Gage asks "Di-Diggy. It's for real this time. He- he won't

come back. They came up here, Arañas and and he met them there. It's all of them against him. He's not gunna make it out. He's gunna die. Defensa de

mi familia! (Defending my family) He said, but I'm his family! He left. He turned into a Chupacabra and left. He's gunna end up like Chuy." She sobs

"Wait, what are you talking about? What do you mean he's gunna die?" Daddy says confused. Everyone starts talking at once. Reina's phone buzzes on

the table making the room completely silent. She quickly picks it up "DIGGY?" She asks worriedly.

A/N: Damn! Shit just got real