"We have our next wolf," said Sam, meeting with the pack.
"Is it Jake?" asked Jared.
Sam shook his head. "Embry."
"I can't believe it; he meets Bella once, and he changes, but Jake hangs out with her and doesn't. Are we sure Jake is a wolf?" asked Paul.
"Maybe he's too mellow," said Jared, thinking of Jacob's easygoing persona.
"In the past that might have been the case, but it shouldn't be anymore," Dean said, also confused at how Jake hasn't turned yet.
"In any case, Sam and Jared will be on Embry watch while Paul and I take care of the border. Vamp activity has been picking up since the Cullens left again, only it's weird; I've never seen them acting this aggressively before. Be ready at a moment's notice," ordered Dean.
...
(You smell them?) Paul asked, stopping at a large tree.
(I do, let's go.) Dean said, following the scent. His stomach rumbled with the smell of prey. The summer lull didn't do his newfound hunger any favors, managing it as best he could, pushing through the feeling of unease, and dreading the day it becomes encumbrance-some, should it grow as his strength does.
(Humans! They're hunting; we better hurry.) Dean said, picking up speed.
(Stupid hikers shouldn't be out this far,) Paul growled.
(They're close, I'll take right, you take left,) said Dean.
(They're leaving!) said Paul.
Dean slowed at the kill sight. (They took the bodies. They won't get far; let's catch them.)
(There they are!) said Paul.
Ahead of them, a couple of vampires were casually running with a body each in hand.
They didn't even see them coming as he and Paul ambushed them, tearing them apart.
(That was easy,) said Paul.
(Newborns,) Dean said, sniffing them, (Newborns collecting bodies isn't a good sign.)
(What do we do with the bodies?) asked Paul.
(I'll eat the newborns, as for the bodies... they're in transition, so they need to be put down,) Dean said, thinking about whether he wanted to wait for them to change and eat them, but that seemed unnecessarily cruel, especially when they hadn't harmed anyone yet.
(You're not going to eat them too?) asked Paul.
(Too human; crushing their hearts and heads should be enough to prevent it, though burning their body is the safer bet,) Dean sighed. (And burning them won't be as easy since they're still mostly human. I'm already getting annoyed just thinking about it. Dealing with transitioning bodies is a pain.)
(Go collect firewood while I deal with these two,) ordered Dean.
(Whoa, I think that one just moved,) Paul said, looking at one of the bodies withering in agony.
(I forgot about that. They're not technically dead. The venom must be causing an incredible amount of pain while turning them. We need to put them out of their misery before we burn them. Crush their heads now,) Dean said, lifting a paw over one of them.
Hesitating for a moment before following suit, Paul crushed his along with Dean.
The squishing sound made Paul wince, but what got to him was the slimy feel of it beneath his paw. Lifting it slowly, the horror beneath was revealed in all its bloody grey-matter glory. If wolves could go pale, Paul would be a ghost as the bile in his guts came rumbling up.
Retreating, Paul started hacking away behind a tree after frantically wiping his paw clean against the forest floor.
(Take your time. I understand it can be a bit much for your first time.) said Dean.
Feeling embarrassed, Paul lashed out, (Fuck you! You better not tell anyone.)
(Or what?) Dean asked, rounding on him with bared teeth.
Paul could only lower his head submissively, tucking his tail between his legs.
(Everyone is getting tired of your attitude. You need to get it under control. If you feel yourself about to be an asshole and say something bad, do us all a favor and learn to shut your mouth,) Dean reprimanded.
Paul gritted his teeth. (I'll try.)
(See that you do,) Dean said, then sighed, thinking that was a bit too harsh, and added, (That's all anyone wants, Paul.)
(Why doesn't it bother you? Have you killed before?) Paul asked, changing the subject.
(Grew up hunting young, and I personally feel killing an animal is a greater tragedy than any human,) Dean said. (In time, I learned that there are just some things you have to do whether you want to or not.)
(Having said that, you'll be surprised to learn that my first kill was accidental and hit me hard, something many might find silly. I was much younger, and it wasn't even anything big; it was a crawfish I wanted to be my pet. During its molting process, I thought something was wrong and tried to help it, but ended up killing it instead. When I realized what happened, I became sick to my stomach with guilt.)
(A crawfish?) Paul inwardly smirked.
(Go get that firewood,) ordered Dean.
(Sure thing, crawdad,) snickered Paul.
Dean gave him a weird look.
(Fuck off, that was funny,) Paul said, but folded under the continued stare, (Okay, okay, I heard it; I won't say it again.) and quickly left to gather some dry tinder.
...
Meeting up with Sam and Jared, they tell them what happened and how they came across a few other sites where hikers had already been taken.
"What do you think it means?" asked Sam.
"Someone's building an army out there, and we need to be ready," said Dean.
"An army? For what purpose?" asked Jared.
"To wipe somebody out," answered Dean.
"You think it could be for us?" asked Paul.
"No, not yet anyway. It's likely for a rival coven, but there's a chance if we're not careful we'll draw their attention, so on that note, only go after ones that get too close to our borders. The last thing we need is for an army of bloodthirsty newborns sent at us before our pack is big enough," said Dean.
"Understood?" asked Dean, looking for confirmation.
"Understood," said Jared.
"Yes," said Sam.
"Yeah," said Paul.
"You think it's for the Cullens?" asked Sam.
"Hmm, could be. There were those nomads right before they left. They might have fucked with the wrong people and had to flee," said Dean.
"Great, and now we have to deal with their mess," Paul spat.
"If it is for the Cullens, then they must not know they're gone. What will happen when they do?" asked Jared.
"Nothing good. How's Embry coming?" asked Dean.
"He'll likely turn tomorrow; we'll be ready," said Sam.
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