Bishop held his fingers on the wolf's neck, checking for a pulse. "He's perfectly fine, but probably won't wake up until tomorrow morning. You put up quite a fight for him."

"And the girl?" She asked, glancing over at her tear streaked face. She hadn't spoken in the last five minutes, her face drawn in terror.

"We take her home." He stated simply, glancing over at her. Sighing, he looked back up at Violet, and she could tell that he was glaring at her. "Please don't tell me that you scared her."

"She's already freaked out. It was a little hard not to." She said, making Bishop groan again. "How did you know she was related to this thing anyway?"

"Remember when Frank and Sammy didn't want to file all of those old reports last year? Then they made us file all of them instead and you decided to sleep while Em and I did it all?" He asked and she nodded her head.

"I remember the mustache you drew on my face."

"anyway," he stated, drawing her back to the explanation, "there was a file about a werewolf arriving in Alfheim. He was pretty young so we didn't have to keep an eye on him, and when he got older, there weren't any issues, so the file was just kinda tucked away."

"And that's connected to the girl because..."

"Because she had arrived with him and they're siblings, so it was just mentioned." Bishop got to his feet and walked towards the girl, but she winced in fear. Instantly, she curled up tighter, her breath rapid as her eyes widened.

"Hey kid." He greeted gently, acting almost as a parent despite their similar age. it might have just been experience, but out of the three of them, Bishop was the best at fieldwork and interacting with civilians. That's why Violet reluctantly took a step back, figuring she would only scare the girl more if she interacted.

"I get that you're a bit scared, but you're safe now. Okay?" Bishop moved a step closer and she winced, her eyes darting to the dagger against his side. Realizing what happened, he nodded his head and put his hand on the grip. "It's okay, I promise I won't hurt you. See?" Very slowly, Bishop began to pull the dagger from its sheath and place it on the ground, the girl's eyes glued to the silver blade.

"There. Now I can't hurt you." He responded gently, and ever so slowly, he eased himself onto the ground, sitting cross legged about two yards from the girl.

His hands were folded gently in his lap and Violet's heart jumped as she watched his tender, caring side show. Every moment he sat in front of her, talking to her to ease her fear, Violets mind ran rampant with memories. bishop had always been the gentle one, kind and considerate, and she had always torn him down for it. It was him who suggested that they get to know the citizens of Camelot better to had better trade, but of course his idea was shut down. He was the one who had hugged her when she was homesick during her first year, had seen her cry when she had broken her arm, and had stopped her when her wild ideas got too out of hand. Bishop had single handedly carried her through her first two years as a member of the guard, that is, until Em had showed up.

Her heart had melted at the sight of the small, human raised boy, curiosity sparkling as he explained every odd and strange thing about their culture. He had explained how they travelled in huge chunks of metal called cars, or how they would have things called light bulbs and flashlights to brighten their houses and streets. Her mind wound around the ideas as he showed her all of his little gadgets, and somehow managed to smile and laugh through all of the changes forced into his life.

That was when Bishop began to fade away from her life. His kind smiles were nothing compared to Em's jokes, and his comments were only met with their comical insults. There was no room for kindness and compassion in the Guard, and Em and Violet had made sure he knew that.

Violet glanced back up at the two, and the girl had found her way into Bishop's arms, sobbing violently as the terror and horror from before eased away. They were on their feet, Bishop echoing comforting words again and again as he held her close like a parent protecting his child, and Violets heart stand with regret. Somehow, through all of her insults, he had held strong to his values and brought the girl to trust him.

"I know. It was terrifying, but we're going to get you home now, okay?" He mumbled as the girl's tears began to slow. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he supported her sat expressionless walked over to her brother, the girl's footsteps shaky from the fading adrenaline rush. Slowly, she brought her eyes up to meet Violet, the sadness slowly transitioning into one of hate.

"I don't get it." Violet thrust her arms into the air, feeling forgotten and left out. "She like you and now she looks like she wants to kill me!"

"Well, you did almost kill her brother." Bishop answered sarcastically and Violet bit her lip, anger spilling off her in waves of hate. "C'mon. Grab the wolf. We're taking them back to Alfheim."

"Wait, you can't be serious." She spat, but Bishop just kept walking slowly to accommodate the trembling girl. "I know we broke a ton of rules tonight, but we cannot go into the city. Fae will kill us!"

"Our job is to protect the citizens, and right now, they're in danger." He answered, his tone harsh. "It's explainable. She'll understand."

Violet paused again, the sudden tone rocking back and forth in her mind as she tried to process his anger. Was he finally recoiling against their teasing, or just frustrated over something she didn't know about? Reluctantly, she hoisted the wolf over her shoulder and followed, shocked into silence.

The walk down the path was long and far too quiet for Violet's taste. The only sound was the crunching of leaves underneath their feet and the soft rustle of leaves, the only things to see being endless trees and bushes. At one point, they had to stop because the girl had collapsed, the effects of the adrenaline rush leaving her helpless and exhausted. He carried her on his back from then, but the walk quickly became uneventful again. Violet tried to run through every comment Em would make to pass the time, and eventually, the rhythmic crunch of leaves underneath their feet dragged her mind to a dull throb. The wolf was beginning to ache against her back, and its fur kept falling into her face.

"My friend." The girl mumbled, and violet pulled herself out of the dull throb of their footsteps. Her senses heightened, prepped for an argument, but she held her tongue anyway. She couldn't interrupt Bishop after his tone back in the deep end of the forest.

"Was there someone else with you?" Bishop asked calmly, his feet still pounding softly across the forest floor. The girl nodded, her tired eyes drooping as she talked.

"My...brother."

"And he was running too?" Violet tensed, not sure if it was from the strain the wolf put on her back, or the potential of the conversation. Again, the girl nodded.

"He was ahead of me. I don't know where he is."her voice choked on the last phrase.

"Do you remember what he looked like?" Bishop's gentle tone seemed to ease past all of the pain the girl dealt with while at the same time, still remaining sensitive. Violet watched, mystified at his strange talent.

"Blue eyes...and pale skin." She began, her thoughts trailing as she spoke. "He has freckles too, but not many. And he's got blonde hair."

"Is he luminescent? Again, she nodded her head. Bishop nodded in response and continued down the path. "We've already sent another guard into the forest. We'll let him know to look out for you brother."

"But...he's new. He doesn't know the forest well." Her voice squeaked in fear. "What if he gets hurt?"

"Our job right now is to get you home, okay?" Bishop reassured. "But we'll go back and look for him as soon as we get you home. He might already be back in the city." Finally satisfied with the answer, she nodded her head and rested it on his shoulder. It was almost adorable how exhausted she was after a single fight.

"How much further?" she mumbled sleepily, and Violet readjusted the wolf on her shoulders. It's weight was starting to hurt her back, and she was glad as Bishop announced that it would be less than a few minutes.

Silently, Violet dragged her feet through the rest if the forest as the light began to filter through the trees, warning her off the end. As the fence came into view, she could see the officer perking up at the sound of their footsteps.

"That's Gray." the girl piped up again, lifting her arm to point at the figure.

"You know him?" Bishop asked as they came into view. Violet watched as the figure stood up, his cap and gloves carefully adjusted to block the moon.

"He works at the school sometimes." She mumbled. Carefully she adjusted her her position and stretched. "You can set me down now. He'll help me."

"Okay, but we're still going to take you to the border." He answered as he set her on the ground. Her feet stumbled a second as she regained her balance, so she used Bishop to brace herself. As she held onto his shoulder, the girl stumbled the last few yards to the man named Gray, and was instantly met with a hug.

Violet groaned, trekking the last few feet to meet the group. Pausing she shifted the wolf on her shoulders, unsure if she should set him down or continue to hold him.

"...and I'm just so so sorry!" The girl squealed, her arms wrapped around Gray who had her pulled into a hug. Tears began to streak her face again as she sobbed, Gray speaking gently.

"It's okay...calm down...take a deep breath..." Violet watched as the scene continued to several more minutes as the girl's tears slowed, her sobs echoing gently as she finally pulled away and her head hung in shame.

"Alright."Gray stated calmly, his hands resting gently on her shoulders. "Can you tell me what happened now?" She nodded her head, staring at her feet in shame.

"I...uhh...I..."

"She was running from a werewolf." Violet snapped, her voice firm and strong as she stepped out of the shadows. Sometimes, she just got sick of hiding from the world. Immediately, Gray's head snapped up to meet her gaze, his eyes wide with fear.

"Oh, phoenix." He shouted. Still, she stood her ground a he readjusted his cap and his breath grew rapid. Just like most citizens, it was obvious he rarely saw a member of the Guard, and was clearly unsure how to respond.

"What...how...uhh, what can I do for you?" His choppy words found a rhythm as he finally found his breath, his eyes lingering on the masks that clung to their faces. taking a step forward, she saw how he had protectively moved his arm in from of the girl, as if a single gesture could keep the Guard at bay.

"There's nothing you need to do, sir." Bishop cut in, a hint of distaste that Violet was sure was directed at her for speaking up."We were doing some basic, routine checks in the forest and this girl was in danger. We simply wanted to bring her home." Gray nodded his head, although his arm still lingered in front of the girl.

"Umm, thanks, but..." he began.

"It's it's our job sir. No need for thanks." Violet cut in, feeling a strange warmth inside of her at the praise. "However, the werewolf chasing after her appears to be one of your citizens. We recommend perhaps better security or improved monitoring so these incidents stop happening." Violet shifted the wolf across her back again as its weight began to grow heavy. Slowly, Gray's eyes widened with fear as he laid eyes on the wolf.

"We don't have many wolves in the city." He spoke quickly and clearly, scared that a slip of the tongue could cost him. "There are two across town, but they are carefully monitored and there hasn't been an incident in years."

"Yes, but this one must have slipped beneath the radar." Bishop spoke up again, gesturing to the wolf balanced on her shoulders. "This one is only a teenager. He is actually the girl's brother."

Gray spun around to face the girl, his eyes wide as if he couldn't decide whether to scream or hug her. "Kat's a...werewolf?" He breathed and the girl's eyes grew wet with tears.

"It's genetic. We were so terrified." Her voice was faint like the wind, gradually fading away as another sob rose in her throat.

"Why on earth didn't you tell anyone? Do you even know how dangerous it is to hide something like that? How many people could have been hurt..."

"Sir, if you will, we have many other issues to attend to, so if we could sort this out quickly, that would be great." Bishop spoke up and Gray fell silent, his head ducked as he tried to sort out everything he was hearing.

"Uhh, yeah, but whenever the Guard shows up, we have to fill out a lot of paperwork. If you wouldn't mind, I need you to come down to the station."

"We will gladly assist." Bishop' firm, yet comforting voice surfaced again, and Violet watched as he beckoned for them to follow, a hand carefully guarding the girl as they walked.

The walk down the dark streets was short, yet quiet, and again, Violet found herself imagining Em's comments to pass the time. It was a welcome distraction from the weight on her shoulders, and kept her less focused on the comments Gray continuously thrust at the girl, demanding an explanation to her lies. He didn't seem mad as much as he did scared, but Violet didn't want to focus on how the tears streamed down her face. She had always known that she was better at fighting than emotions, so whenever a problem involving communications with civilians arose, she was careful to let others handle it. Tears made her stomach stir and screams brought a strange dryness to her mouth as if every moment they spent expressing their pain drew her away.

When they had finally reached the station, the next hour was full of paperwork, explanations, phone calls, and strange looks from the rest of the employees. Violet worked as fast as he could, using the explanations she had been taught-short, simple, and derived of information-for every question they could imagine. All of it seemed to blue by until the girl spoke up again, her small voice carrying over the crowded offices.

"What about my brother?" The girl, who she now realized was named Robin, asked. She had been sitting in the corner for almost the past hour, her face tear streaked as people came to comfort her, find out what happened, and make sure she was safe.

"We rarely have werewolves slip underneath our radar, but he's going to be okay." Gray explained. He had gotten down on his knees so he was more eye level with her, his voice taking on a sweet and comforting tone. "It's going to take a while, but everything's going to return to normal. Just give it time."

"But what about Maddox?" She cried quietly, her voice tight with sadness. "He's still out there."

"Wait, did you say Maddox?" Violet jumped in, the sudden dull of the previous conversations and paperwork fading away. Finally, they were a moment closer to solving the case. Robin nodded, her shoulders hunched as she seemed to shy away from the conversation.

"You said you would look for him." She whispered, and Violet's mind began to run rampant. She had described him with freckles and blonde hair, blue eyes: everything that made Em look like himself. The name sent a shiver down her spine remembering how Em had sheared away from the name plastered on the screen, a past he clearly didn't want to dig up. She hadn't had the courage to ask what the name meant to him but it was obvious that it held some kind of pain an she doubted he would want to see someone pretending to be the person he felt behind.

"Yeah, we will." She rushed through her words as she put two and two together. "But first, do you think you could tell me some stuff about him?" Hesitantly, she glanced at Bishop in the corner, wrapped in a fierce conversation with a very short and angry girl. Her hair was pulled back in a sloppy ponytail and her feet were covered in dragon slippers, clearly having just woken up. Angrily, she moved to smash her fist into Bishop's stomach, but he hardly flinched, simply grabbing her fist and uttering more words.

Violet turned back to Robin whose eyes were trained on the girl, hardly having heard her question. "Uhh, I guess I could, but I don't know why you would need to know." She mumbled.Gray had moved a protective arm around her shoulder, making Violet wonder if they were somehow related or if he was just a naturally protective person.

"I can't explain it to you for security reasons, but trust me. Helping me learn who Maddox is will keep him safe." She tried to keep her voice even and calm, even though the bite of nerves rose in her tone. She hated how the name Maddox felt in her mouth, or how much it hurt to even have to talk about his imposter.

"That's what you said about Sharise." She mumbled, her voice growing bitter. "No one has a clue where she is now."

Feeling her heart tumult back and forth as she tore the screams through her mind, she opened her mouth in protest, only to be stopped by Bishop tapping her on the shoulder. "What on earth do you want?" She snapped, her patience reaching its end.

"I wanted you to meet someone." Bishop gestured to the small girl, her arms crossed as tears streaked her face. "This is Anna, Sharise's legal guardian and coincidentally, has also recently taken in a new teen named Maddox." His voice kept a hidden excitement at the break in the case, yet Violet stared critically at the girl.

"Legal Guardian?" She laughed as the small girl stomped her foot in protest. "She hardly looks old enough to graduate Dobra Skola."

"I am 24 you half-hearted adrenaline junkie!" She snapped, leaning forward on her toes to make herself taller. "Now where is my daughter?!"

"I have already assured her that Sharise is perfectly safe, although she doesn't seem to understand." Bishop bit gently, unsure what to do with her.

"But she's only fourteen!" Anna's voice carried through the offices, turning heads as she screamed. "What in Camelot could she have done to warrant this? She's a gentle girl a really good girl, and you took her away as if she were some kind of common criminal!" Violet ached in shock as Anna plunged her fist into Bishop's side again,, wincing at the pain that laced up her arm. Still she drove her fist forward again, desperate for her daughter.

"You have to understand that what she did put thousands of people at risk, especially children." Bishop's voice sounded like a broken recording, the words too repetitive for even violet to stand. "We don't take that lightly, but she is safe. If she continues to cooperate like she has been, she will probably be home within the month.

"The month? But I want her home now!" She shrieked, pounding her fists rapidly, although Bishop seemed more annoyed than angry. "She hardly speaks English, what if she gets confused? And she's a picky eater; you have to make sure she's eating! Is she eating? Sleeping? How do I know that..."

Bishop stepped away and Anna faltered, stumbling forward before moving to throw another punch. Quickly, Bishop met her fist with a hand, holding her away, then glancing at her desperately for help. Violet hesitated, not sure if she wanted to step in yet, but grabbed Anna's shoulder and pulled her back anyway.

"Get off of me you...you Villian! You monster!" She screamed and slapped her arms, but Violet's held tight.

"I'm going to need you to calm down, mam." She spoke gently and firmly like the soldier she was taught to be, each word as rehearsed as a new movie. "Your daughter is safe, as well as your two other children who were found in the forest. You need to calm down."

"I will not!" She shrieked, hitting her squarely in the arm. Little Tingling needles ribboned up her arms, and Violet tried to withhold screams of frustration. What would normally cause bruises on one person only tickled her skin, making her feel even more powerful. Still, it was annoying and frustrating to deal with Anna, who seemed prepared to rip out their eyes if necessary.

"Please calm down." She bit, her voice becoming a borderline threat. Feeling her fingernails dig into the girl's arms, she tried to restrain herself from shattering every bone in her body.

"You had no right to take my daughter! You had no right to frighten my children! It's not sharise's fault!"

"I'm not blaming Sharise." Violet felt her voice evening out in a constant breath of answer, the ideas forming squarely in her mind. "You're right that she's a very gentle girl, but she was heading down a dark path for a long time. It wasn't her fault that she was exposed to these things."

"What are you trying to say?" Anna's voice was so tight, Violet was almost worried she would explode, but she was too far along her path to turn back now. Biting her lip, Violet let the words fall.

"Look around girl. Two of your kids were just found running for their lives in the forest. One of them is a werewolf and didn't even have the guts to tell you. Your other one was just arrested for endangering the school, and who even knows where your son Maddox is?" Anna had stopped struggling, her arms falling limp beneath Violet's nails and her eyes trained on the far wall. "This isn't the kids' fault Anna, and you know it."

"That's enough." Bishop's voice pulled Violet from the insults, her tongue heavy with the weight of the words. Through his mask, she could still see his glare boring deep into her mind. She had gone too far, and he knew every word she had uttered. "Let her go. We promised the girl we'd find her brother, and the nights not getting any younger."

Violet winced, forcing herself to let go of the girl, who immediately stumbled forward in a daze. A wave of something washed over her, regret, anger, or maybe a mix of the two. Her heart pounded fiercely as she glared at Bishop, somehow finding a way to blame him for her own actions. After all, he had been pushing her all night, asking so much; so what if her anger was taken out by telling some poor girl the truth?

"Let me come with you." Anna spoke up, her voice as small as her and hardly audible with the bustle around her. "I need to know he's okay."

"No." Bishop beat Violet to the response, although part of her eased out on her glare at their agreement. She may have been small, but with such a big attitude, Violet knew that this wouldn't be the last time they butt heads. "We need you to stay here with the rest of your children. They've been through a lot tonight."

"But Maddox is still out there."

"He won't be for long." Bishop tried his best to be comforting. "We will find him and we will bring him home. Right now, you will be most helpful taking care of your kids." Hesitantly, she nodded, her eyes trained on the ground.

"We should go." Violet's voice felt small in her throat, less powerful as the weight of her words tore her heart apart. Already, she could see how Anna was staring at her feet, brave tears hidden behind a loving facade. Every moment without her children was a weight on her heart, and without any experience, Violet knew it was more weight than someone her age should be able to carry. Still, Violet turned her head towards the door, pretending not to see as a tear slid down her cheek.

~~~

"So, you didn't see the kid at all?" Bishop clarified, staring at a flustered Em. Violet had decided it was best to keep her mouth shut as the two argued, observing the two as they tried to figure out what had happened to the fake Maddox. They had met up with Em in the woods afterwards, the light of the moon the only thing keeping them from melding in with the shadows.

"He just slipped away, okay!?" Em shot back, swinging the red hoodie in front of Bishop's face. "This was all I got before he ran off!"

"Yeah, well, catching the actual imposter would have been better. A jacket's not really going to get us anywhere." Bishop's voice hung heavy with gravel, his arms crossed in protest. "Now we're going to have to go back and search the entire forest for this criminal."

"No need." He snapped, and Violet's heart pounded with the argument, not sure who she wanted to win or if she just wanted them to stop fighting. "Annalihana took him. By the time I caught up with him, she had already wrapped him up in vines and leaves."

"The forest spirit took him?" Bishop scoffed in unbelief, but Violet ducked her head, a strange tingling winding its way us her arm. Instinctively, she reached for her wrist, undoing the clasp of the glove to see her arm. "Annalihana hates moonshadowers. Why on earth would she take in some small kid?"

Violet's arm was a mess of golden lines, each one glowing and pulsing in time with her heart. Quickly she let her eyes follow the ribbons that laced up her arm, the pulse of color growing quicker as she read. Violet's mouth went dry, her fingers growing stiff with fear as the tattoos changed beneath her fingertips.

"...was burning! I wasn't going to fight a forest spirit on something like that!"

"Guys..." Violet's voice cut into the argument, too small to be heard over their squabble. Instantly, her heart jumped in fear, the tingle the tattoo left on her skin feeling like a thousand pounds.

You should have at least tried!" Bishop shot back, his hands waved in the air. "Do you even know how hard it will be now that..."

"Guys!" Her voice jumped and the tingling persisted, her hand protectively gripping the message as if it could fly away with every chance of fixing the problem.

"Great plan you idiot! Next time you Want me to jump at the mercy of a forest spirit, why don't you try it first? I've heard they're plenty kind!"

"Stop it!" Violet stomped her foot, the two boys suddenly falling silent at her outburst. Silently, their eyes turned to her, unsure whether to be concerned or angry, but Violet didn't care. Her mind was too busy with thoughts of terror running through it. Holding up her wrist, she took a deep breath and gently tapped the swirling lines.

"It's Camelot." She breathed the words as terror spilled from her voice and the boys' looks slowly shifted from anger to fear. "Centralia found it...and they're burning it to the ground."