Storybrooke high had a fourth period gym class every Tuesday and Wednesday, due the consistent rain it was usually held inside, a little light exercise to keep themselves active. However, no amount of dodgeball could ever have prepared the four teenagers for a hike up the steep mountains, surrounding Arendale. With every third or fourth step one of them would slip and almost fall, but determined they kept following Red's lead, further into danger.

"Did your stomach just growl?" Killian

"Kind of regret getting into a fight, before breakfast" Emma

"Same, who knows how to hunt"? Red

"I was once sent to a girl scout camp, they couldn't find me a foster home one summer, so I got my wilderness explorer badge, but I don't see that being much help here" Emma explained.

"I grew up by the sea, I can fish and find crabs" Killian said with a shrug.

"Gran did all the cooking, I never really learned to hunt properly, I was too scared" Red explained.

Frowning as she tried to recall the last time, she'd even hunted live pray, but she found herself longing for it for the first time in years. The three of them looked towards Elsa with hopeful pleading expressions, as she was the only local, maybe she knew where to find food.

"Don't look at me, I grew up in self-isolation, in a castle with a fully staffed kitchen" Elsa explained.

"How is it that the one who's never been to this world, has the most knowledge on how to survive out here" Emma

"It is kind of ironic, but I wouldn't say your our most knowledgeable" Killian

"Why would you say that"? Emma asked pretending to be offended.

"You just walk straight through a thistle bush". Killian said alarmed.

"What, is it poisonous?" Emma

"Somewhat it's not deadly, just try not to scratch" Elsa explained.

Elsa took Emma's hand and stopping her in her tracks, before freezing off the poisonous thorns, now stuck to her boots.

"Out here it's not superstition and old fairytales, it's just the way it is" Elsa explained.

"So, my girl scout bird call, won't be any help" Emma replied.

"Bird call" Killian asked intrigued.

Emma clasped her hands over her mouth holding them tight, before making a low pitch cawing sound with three distinctive notes. Killian laughed before mimicking the behaviour as best he could not quit getting the sound right, so Emma did it again.

"That could be our signal, that way you'll know I'm there"

"Ok"

"Guys quiet, were getting close" Red said turning back to them.

"How do you know"? Elsa asked.

"I can hear them". Red

"Won't be long now". Emma

"I hope so, I swear I'm hallucinating, cause that rock ahead looks like Grans lasagne" Red said her stomach still empty.

"I don't think I could eat anything right now". Emma

"Come on Swan don't threat; they'll have their arms around you soon enough". Killian

The four teenagers creeped up closer to the top of the peek looking down into a valley below, Emma's anxiety causing her hands to shake. However, the brave faced saviour persisted, following her friends to the top seeing a glow of campfire ahead. The small group of knights they thought they were about to face, was much bigger than expected, with hundreds of tents set up in the valley.

"Oh crap"

The knights looked weary, their eyes tired and hopeless as they sat in for the night. Lining up for rations and bandaging their wounds, the four teenagers had to pause questioning themselves before they continued.

"Looks like, they've been fighting for the last sixteen years" Elsa

"Red are you sure this is the same sent, from the people that attacked us" Killian

"I'm sure but it's a little bit further, follow me" Red

They hunched down, in a single line behind Red hearts racing feeling more and more overwhelmed by the moment. This all seemed so simple in their heads, but the reality of approaching nights in the forest and demanding help was more complicated in reality.

"What if they can't help us or have no idea, how we got here" Killian stated

"They have to know something, it's our only lead" Emma said.

Peering through the bushes they could see a camp of knights separated from the rest, their tents three times as big. With many other amenities at hand, then the other soldiers, such as a large tub one of them was soaking in.

"I recognise that one" Elsa said pointing.

"Let's just ask if they saw anything, when we came through the portal, that could help" Emma

"I don't think there up for a chat" Red warned.

Killian looked over at Emma again, her eyes still red as the pain she felt had barely subsided, without considering the consequences, she surged forwards.

"Slow down" Killian
As soon as the saviour stepped into sight at the top of the valley, she was spotted by the knights, rushing to their feet.
"We don't want trouble; we just have a few questions" Emma said, her hands up.
There was recognition on their faces, but that quickly changed to a smirk as Emma stepped closer, the large man in front, folding his arms over his chest, he smiled unbothered. A blue rock pulsed with light as Emma crossed its path.

"We don't care". The leader said smirking.
"Oh no, they set a perimeter spell" Elsa yelled

A blue translucent wall of vapor flew through Emma and up the hill, hitting Elsa, Killian and Red. Within seconds all four teenagers lay unconscious on the ground, now at the mercy of the rouge knights.
-

Emma opened her eyes, but she still couldn't really see, the world was fuzzy, her back ached propped up against a large tree, with her hands and legs bound. The first thing that caught Emma's attention was her feet, cold and sore her toes numb.

"Bastards, taken my hook"
"Killian" Emma called out

"I'm here"

Killian called out from the other side of the tree, the four where tied around the enormous trunk, all facing away from each other.

"We all here, where here is exactly, is a mystery". Elsa

"Did they take your shoes too"? Red

"They've taken our supplies and clothes". Elsa

"They've taken everything" Emma said noticing her jacket and necklace also missing.

"We did they leave us here, tied to a tree". Killian voice strained as he struggled under his restraints.

"Quiet…. Something's coming". Red

They couldn't stay quiet all breathing heavy as there listened out, while many footsteps approached from every direction, before they heard a growl.

"Red" Emma asked.

"I don't know". Red replied.

"The werewolves, there using us as bait"! Killian yelled as he realised.

The ropes tied around their arms and torsos suddenly became ice cold before freezing solid, with only a slight push against them, they snapped off, freeing the four of them. The stood for a moment preparing to fight but the spell had long lasting effects, making them lightheaded. A pack of wolves, all larger than Red stepped out of the shadows, towards them approaching slowly, stalking there pray.

"Run, we need to run" Red yelled.

"Let's go" Elsa agreed

Just as Emma had stepped forward the wolves moved in closer, each wolf's stride three times the length of one of their steps. As they closed in on them, knights jumped down from the trees above, with chains imbued with magic, they were able to hold the wolves down.

Red growled ferociously as she transformed before them, while Emma grabbed Killian and Elsa's hands, pulling them in close but there was still nowhere to run, surrounded by knights and wolves.

"Kill those kids already" A knight yelled.

The wolves paused there attack they couldn't speak any words aloud, but you could see it in their eyes, some even howled as if they were calling out for someone. Like a new fire had inspired them, one by one the trapped wolves freed themselves from the knights' chains. A large black wolf with golden hazel eyes, whipped around biting the head off on of the knights viciously.

"Duck" Killian yelled grabbing Emma almost tackling her to the ground, as another wolf jump over them.

Red jump in front of them barring her teeth and growling ferociously, at the approaching pack while her friends stood behind.

"She can't fight them all" Elsa

"I know" Emma

Emma lunged forward, arms forwards she was able to raise her shield deflecting and a spear that soared towards them. In her weakened state she couldn't hold it, and it dissipated. Just as another smaller knight, ran past slicing Emma's right arm. Tearing through her skin, she screamed out in pain as blood started dripping down her arm.

Meanwhile Elsa was fending off two wolves freezing their feet and stopping them in their tracks. However, these wolves were the size of a bear, there long legs were strong, quickly breaking free of the ice, they stepped closer.

"We can't hold them back for long, we need something big" Killian

"A snowstorm" Emma

Killian dived down grabbing an arrow that had fallen to the ground, his only weapon without his hook or sword he was left with simply dodging out of the way.

"The temperature change won't bother the wolves" Elsa

"But it might at least scare these knights away" Killian

"Right of course" Elsa said

Elsa moved closer to Killian raising her hands up, creating a storm cloud above them slowly it grew in size. As the cloud expanded, a thick mist gave them cover while the air dropped below freezing. The wind began howling as ice and snow flew around in a whirlpool, the four teenagers closed rank up against the tree in the eye of the storm.

"I'm sorry" Emma croaked out.

"For what"? Killian

"This was my idea, I set of the protection spell, I've led us to our deaths" Emma

"Will be fine" Killian

Emma grunted gripping her arm in a desperate attempt to slow the bleeding as her left side was now coated in red. Closing her eyes trying to feel instead of think, Killian took her hand in his and her shield appeared surrounding them, once more. Emma opened her eyes to see a wolf growling back at her, unphased by the snowstorm. The only thing stopping the wolves attack now, was one clear line of magic glowing bright. Emma breathed heavy her whole-body shook, with her heart already breaking, her strength wavered, but her shield remained for now.

"The knights there gone, it's just the wolves" Elsa said beginning to calm the storm.

Red eyes went wide and she sunk down morphing back into her human form, to which Elsa quickly used her magic to which create a dress that would cover her up.
"It's ok Emma, they won't hurt us" Red stated standing up.

"What, of course they will" Killian said.

"Look at them" Emma gestured, as one starred her down menacingly.

"It's because they think you're going to hurt them, just stand down" Red

They nodded putting their hands up in defeat, the wolves did not move until more footsteps approach from the bushes, a tall woman with long dark hair and a black dress stepped forwards.

"Who are you"?

Red asked the question as recognition swept across her face, before the woman even answered she gasped knowing the answer.

"I'm your mother".