Dawn came early, Ophelia felt the warm rays on her face. She got up and looked over at Sasha. Daniella stuck to her like gum in Sasha's hair. Poor thing really had an eye opening experience two days ago. " Sleep well?" asked Sasha.
" With the exception of the rather large rock under my back yah" said Ophelia, " I'm going for a bath."
" Okay, keep your eyes open though" said Sasha.
" Don't worry, I'll keep all three open" said Ophelia.
Ophelia walked over the ridge and down to the small mountain lake. Ophelia sat on an over turned log and slowly stripped her clothes off. Ophelia took a deep breath and leap into the lake. The freezing cold water invigorated every inch of her body. Ophelia burst up and sighed, that was the way to wake up in the morning. Ophelia lazily paddled about, she loved the brisk feeling of the water on her naked flesh. Ophelia swam into the middle of the lake and felt her senses start twitching. Ophelia closed her eyes and let her powers see for her. There is was, she was watching from the forested hill on the other side of the lake, she was angry, so very angry her blood was boiling for her lost mate. Ophelia carefully started channeling her power, these furry monsters hate fire. Ophelia felt it snap and start bounding down the hill. Ophelia pushed herself out of the water and hurled the fireball straight at her.
Everyone in the camp was awoken by a thunderous whoosh and the sight of smoke billowing from over the hill. They rushed over the ridge and saw Ophelia swimming towards them like an Olympic athlete. She leapt out of the water, " I spotted another" said Ophelia, " female, she was watching me so I gave her a little flaming present?"
" Hit her?" asked Derek.
" Unfortunately she figured out what I was doing and ran away" said Ophelia, toweling herself off, " I kept getting feelings of pure rage from her."
" We killed her mate" said Malcolm, " even I can sense that."
" Everybody get ready" said Derek, " they are coming."
" How can you..." said Daniella before she was cut off by three howls, first one that was answered quickly by two more.
" She was the scout" said Sasha, " she just told the others."
" Let's get going" said Malcolm.
The group hurried back to their campsite and quickly gathered their equipment. They were finishing with their packs when Derek stopped and dropped to one knee. He flipped the safety off his rifle and pointed towards the trees. Everybody got into a tight circle, the morning air was still and without a sound.
Then howls split the morning stillness, first one then two, then five, then ten. They were coming from every direction, fierce wicked howls filling everyone with dread. Everyone drew their weapons, the fight was about to begin.
Four werewolves bounded from the left, the first was shot in the face by Derek, the second hit in the chest by Sasha, the third Malcolm shot with his Redhawk in the leg and Jack hit in the head. The fourth turned and suddenly leapt into the trees. It was then that the others hit from the sides. One rammed into Jack, hurling him like a doll across the clearing into a tree. Ophelia jammed one of her daggers into its eye. It snarled and swung its massive paw at her. Ophelia managed to drop to the floor but the swing found Sasha. The claws ripped across Sasha's arm, slicing her skin with the skill of a knife. The werewolf turned it attention to Ophelia who was still on the ground underneath his foaming both. Ophelia channeled an energy ball and blew the werewolf in half. The front half of the werewolf started dragging himself towards her, foam and blood dripping from its mouth. Malcolm fired a shot straight into its' skull before he was hit by another werewolf and flung into the packs. Daniella scrambled for his gun and grabbed it. She spun around and pulled the trigger. The bullet tore the werewolf's ear off making it howl loudly. John was cursing loudly as he wrestled with another werewolf, desperately trying to keep his full nelson hold on the snarling beast. John grabbed the werewolf by the jaws and pulled them open until there was a loud snap before ramming it into a tree.
More howls were surrounding them from two sides, " We can't fight them all off" said Sasha, " we have to split up."
" Agreed" coughed Malcolm, " teams of two, take a direction, we'll meet up at the ranger station six miles to the northwest."
The werewolves began to charge again, they all split up, leaving everything but their weapons and running for their lives.

Jack and Ophelia leap scrambled up a rock strewn hill and ducking into cover between to large rocks. " Okay?" panted Ophelia.
" I've been better" said Jack, rubbing his shoulder, " you?"
" I just keep thinking Mount Hood" said Ophelia, " I have a lot of living left, I don't want to buy it out here."
" Agreed" said Jack, " I would not want Beth to know I died out here, I wouldn't live to hear it down."
Ophelia smirked, " Any ideas woodsman?"
" Yah, keep moving, find some high ground get out bearings and get to that damn ranger station" said Jack.
The pair climbed out of their resting place and continued to pick their way up to the top of the hill. Jack leveled his rifle and used his scope to scan the area. " I think they've given up the chase" said Jack, " I hate to be rude but is it your time of the month?"
" No" said Ophelia.
" Good, it has a way of drawing them like flies" said Jack, " I don't want to give them an unfair advantage."
Jack looked around, " I think the ranger station is that way" said Jack.
" Think?" asked Ophelia.
" Give or take, don't worry we'll find a road and that will led us straight to it" said Jack.
" Just give me a second" said Ophelia, " I need to catch my breath."
The pair sat on top of the hill and rested for a moment.

Malcolm and John were racing through the trees at a full sprint, they were on a direct bee line to the ranger station and wanted to get there before the werewolves figured out what they were doing. Malcolm stumbled and hit the ground hard, " You okay?' asked John.
" Never been better" said Malcolm, " god those bastards hit hard."
" Tell me about it" said John, " I thought it would tear my arms out of my sockets. How many you think we actually killed?"
" Three" said Malcolm, " the others were just hurt."
" And they'll be as good as new by the end of the day" said John, " god I hate these furry fuckers."
" No shit" said Malcolm.
The pair started walking north, both were too exhausted to even joke about running at the moment. " Think Ophelia is okay?" asked John.
" She is with Jack" said Malcolm, " if anybody is going to get out of this mess it will be with Jack, the guy actually likes camping."
" How bout us?" asked John.
" I know Mount Hood, its been going through my mind since we killed the first one" said Malcolm, " shit werewolves are a bigger problem that vamps, I know we'll make it, got that feeling again."
" Ankh tingling again" said John.
" Yah, its either that or I'm having a heart attack" said Malcolm.

Derek carried Daniella on his back, she had twisted her ankle on an uprooted tree a mile back and their progress had slowed dramatically. Sasha was walking backward, scanning everything trying to figure out where they would hit them. Sasha had never seen tactics used by the werewolves like the ones she had seen in the clearing, they sent four of their own to draw the fire, to sacrifice themselves so the others could attack. That was very strange behavior for werewolves. Sasha looked behind her and saw they were coming out of the woods into a open field, this is where they would hit them. " Derek" Sasha whispered, " can you run?"
" Not across the entire field" said Derek.
" Then put me down" said Daniella, " I'm just slowing you up."
" Not across the entire field, we just have to get the center" said Sasha, " they're probably waiting for us on all three sides, we get to the middle and try to fight them off."
" Not great odds" said Derek, " but not like we have many other options."
" I'll make it on my own" said Daniella.
Sasha looked at Daniella's swollen ankle, " You won't be able to run two feet" said Sasha, " no we'll both carry you."
" Thank god I started the low carb diet last week" said Daniella.
Daniella put one arm around each, and they dashed out into the clearing. They ran for all they were worth into the middle of the clearing. They reached a spot in the middle and they all hit the ground. They pressed their backs together, their rifles at the ready. They waited, their breath coming in ragged breaths, sweat soaking their bodies. " Where are they?" asked Daniella.
" I don't know" said Sasha, " they wouldn't just stop a hunt like this, not after we killed some of their pack."
" What are these sneaky fuckers up to?" asked Derek.
" Let's start moving to the far end" said Sasha, " let's see if we can make them move."
The group slowly took one step in unison and started for the eastern end of the clearing. They stopped and scanned the forest around them, nothing was moving. They took another step, and then stopped, at this pace they slowly crept across the field. They slowly neared the forest and suddenly something burst from the forest. Both Sasha and Derek spun and fired. The bullets tore into flesh and the creature dropped dead on the ground. All three looked down and saw a dead deer which made all three laugh, snapping the pall of fear that had gripped them. " I think we just killed the last deer in California" said Derek.
" Too bad, we could have made a great meal out of him" said Sasha.
" None for me, I swore off meat" said Daniella.
They helped Daniella into the forest and started for the ranger station once again.

Jack and Ophelia crested the second hill and saw smoke rising from a heavily wooded area. " Is that the ranger station?" asked Ophelia.
" I guess" said Jack, " it is in the right spot."
" Thank god, my feet are so sore" said Ophelia.
They slowly picked their way down the hill and hurried into the forest. They were making their way through the forest when they heard the roar of diesel engines. They saw two pick up trucks speeding down a rutted dirt road. They slowly made their way to the road and slowly followed it deeper into the forest.
Over a ridge nestled in a valley was a great city of old trailer homes was laid out before them. It was twice the size of the Iliescu trailer park and the trailers were in much poorer shape. The pair quickly hide behind a fallen tree, " That isn't a ranger station" hissed Ophelia.
" What the fuck you want from me, I'm not a human compass" whispered Jack, " what the hell is a trailer park doing in the middle of a national forest?"
" I don't know" whispered Ophelia, " we have to find out who they are, what if they are the werewolves?"
" No way, this is way too big" whispered Jack, " but they might have some information for us."
They slowly snuck into the trailer park, slowly sneaking past rusting old beat-up trailers, and broken down old cars. They were slipped underneath a trailer as four armed men came walking by. " The freaks are really pitching a fit now" said one.
" Those Chosen bastards are tougher than they expected huh" said another.
" I still think taking those hairy balls in was a shitty idea" said the third.
" No shit, we don't need them causing anymore trouble" said the first, " boss wants a sit down with us."
They slipped out from underneath the trailer and started shadowing the four armed men. Thanks to Ophelia's magic skill she was able to hide them from all but the most direct sight. The four men walked through the almost deserted camp, a few people where around but there were only a few people for the large number of trailers. They slowly made there way to a large double trailer where several brand new SUVs were parked. One of the four men knocked on the door and it opened. Jack and Ophelia rushed around back and found a window in which to look through. Jack's eyebrows arched when he saw who was inside the trailer. " How was the trip?" asked Sergi Markosa, sitting on a broken couch drinking a beer.
" Hauling rotting corpses around is a lot of fun" said the second.
" I know, I know" said Sergi, " but we have to keep our alliance with the lupines and that means we have to adjust, bosses orders."
" Why are we being lap dogs for them?" asked the second, " first we leave Vegas, which was the most fun I've had to move out into the middle of fucking nowhere into a forest and now we get to haul dead werewolf corpses around and sit on our hands rather than do what we do best, busting heads."
" You're getting paid right?" asked Sergi.
" Yah, but where are the hookers and the bars?" asked the second, " we're in a forest, close to LA but we can't go there. The boys are restless."
" Give it some time" said Sergi, " it won't be much longer."
The four left and before the door closed a man entered. He was extremely tall, at least 6'7", a massive collection of large bulging muscles. His black hair was long, tied into a tight pony tail around his neck were a large collection necklaces made of odd bits and pieces on thick string. The most surprising feature was that he was missing half of his left ear, the edges were angry red like it just happened but there was no blood. " Sergi" the man growled, " we have to talk."
" Fowler" said Sergi, " what is the problem?"
Sergi motions over to a broken toilet full of melting ice and beer, " Drink?" he asked.
" No" said Fowler, " we need to talk about the Chosen."
" Still haven't killed them yet" said Sergi.
" No, my pack is talking about leaving this cursed forest and returning to the desert where we belong" said Fowler, " I've lost four of my pack already to them, they are skilled and lucky. You promised us easy feeding, we haven't been able to hunt our prey yet, all we do is get killed by the Chosen. We demand that we get the chance to hunt tonight, if not you will have to find another pack to play your chess game with."
" All right, all right" said Sergi, " tonight you can go hunt anybody you want, but after that you will destroy the Chosen, they can't discover what we are doing here. The boss will have all our hides if they do."
" Don't worry, a good hunt will improve the skills of my pack" said Fowler, " we know the Chosen will probably try to make it to the ranger station about ten miles from here, we already have planned for that. It will be easy once they get there."
Ophelia glared at Jack and mouthed out, " Ten Miles?"
Jack shrugged and suddenly a dog behind them began to bark.
Both Sergi and Fowler turned their attention to the window, they both walked over and saw one of the dogs barking. " Shut up" said Sergi, tossing an empty beer bottle at the dog.
Ophelia and Jack were hiding underneath Sergi's trailer, " Who is this guy?" asked Ophelia, " and why is he working with the werewolves?"
" He is Sergi Markosa, a rather unpleasant gypsy chieftain" said Jack, " he use to run out in Nevada, causing all sorts of trouble. Apparently they are doing someone else's bidding now."
" Now what?" asked Ophelia, " we have to get to that ranger station and warn the others."
" Its almost dark" said Jack, " any good at wandering through the mountains in the middle of the night?"
" No, but we will have to try" said Ophelia.
" Agreed" said Jack, " but first we have to get out of here."