Cruising the countryside Filomena's internal concerns are showing in nervous conversation. Slowing the Ferrari to take a turn Vladimir spies it within her eyes. Most of her ideas and queries include Ella, encouraging Vladimir to recants relationship antidotes. Fil regards his telling tales as a diversion from building anxiety over imminent violence. His male viewpoints come off as living with an intelligent canine. Filomena realizes Ella and wolf seem to be wanders to a point Vladimir rarely has experiences with the woman. Assessing thoughts and comments Filomena feels Ella and Vladimir do love each other, like siblings, giving her confidence a relationship is possible.

On a dirt road a couple miles from Hoss' valley village Vlad stops the car. Retrieving the bag of guns he takes Filomena on a hike traversing a lightly wooded area.

Filomena has a hard time being quiet, but fortunately they don't encounter anyone. Vladimir brings her to a decrepit farm, overgrown in weeds. Within a barely standing or together barn Vlad conceals the guns for later.

Returning to the car Filomena tries to be quieter.

Back at the mansion Vladimir and Filomena are in differing mindsets. Roused by woman and nearing dangerous task Vladimir desires intimate action. Woes reflected within Filomena's eyes, Vladimir wraps her in comforting arms kissing her forehead. Requiring distraction from dreadful thoughts Fil kisses his lips implying further affection is welcome.

Cue taken Vladimir whisks Filomena off feet carrying her to the bedroom. Neither requiring spoken word plying only senses of touch and feel tenderly exploring one another. Internally agreeing if to be the last let it be the best. Indulging in their human forms create a favored memorable coupling moment.

***

The only bright spot in Ella's day was the wolf sleeping away the afternoon. Allowing Ella a break from her conscious mind. Forever chasing a two-legged silhouette, was dreamed by the Wolf

Back in human form Ella sits upon the porch to bask in the end of the sunset. Mentally lost she doesn't see the sky before her.

As the sky turns dark blue Ella prepares for the night ahead. Turning on and up her music she sways into the kitchen. Randomly grabbing up a bottle of wine she opens it and forgoes the glass. Sampling the wine Ella studies refrigerator contents craving cheese and crackers. With more condiments than food she selects some turkey and pickles to accompany the wine.

Eventually Ella put on some clothes, dressing in faded black, cargo pants and T-shirt. Restocking the handbag Ella ensures the handgun within is loaded. Wrangling up the remaining bullets around the farmhouse takes longer than expected between the wine and tears from feeling alone.

She does manage to put on and pull up her hiking boots.

Focused on an old truck in the drive Ella snags the keys on the way out.

Finishing the forth bottle of wine Ella tosses it into the drive shed to shatter.

Seated behind the steering wheel of an early eighties Dodge ram pick-up truck, Ella fires up the engine.

The old and seldom used truck puffs smoke that leaves a white trail driving off the property.

On the rural roads Ella presses hard on the accelerator blasting the dust and cobwebs out of the engine system and across the next couple fields.

Nearing 2am Ella reaches the hilltop mansion. Observing the red coupe parked out front she figures Vladimir's likely off already, however to make sure she pulls in and parks next to the car.

The mansion being dark and quiet Ella walks the outer pathway to the back. On the second floor balcony railing she easily spots a giant black bat. Ella surmises that's Filomena as the bat is starring beyond the horizon.

Announcing her presence Ella waves, "hello! Filomena, its' just me Ella."

Startled by the sudden appearance Filomena hops turning to view the voice. "Oh thank goodness." She points a wing towards the valley village, "Vlad's gone already." Holy Ella's beautiful, and what a perfect nose.

Already knowing the way Ella's grateful for the gesture, "ah thanks. Do you know where he stashed my rifle? Or where he is? If you know where please lead me there."

Happy to and appreciating the company Filomena leaps up to take flight.

"Thank you," turning about Ella hustles back to the pick-up.

Running the truck in the dark Ella's enhanced vision is good enough to see Filomena, who can only fly so fast, "Fil! I can drive us to the village first!" She can't hear me.

Rolling along Ella thinks she can jog faster. Repeated calls to the bat aren't heard as she's mainly consumed with concerns.

At the same place Vladimir parked previously Ella does.

Realizing Ella's not following Filomena circles back, "sorry Ella I was flying right for the barn Vlad left the guns at."

Toting the handbag Ella gets out scanning for Filomena able to hear bat chirping, "thanks for this Filomena if you know where Vlad or the guns are take me there. Remember we're close to that town. Anybody up would've heard this truck. They might also see you in the sky so keep yourself low. And if you don't know anything can you shrug your wings or fly in a circle."

Coming off as patronizing Fil understands Ella also has concern, "sure Ella follow me." Fil pivots in flight to show the way to the guns. She's yet seen Vladimir but may have detected his ultrasound.

Navigating the darkened trees Ella stumbles along. Filomena keeps to the trees flying several yards at a time then waits for Ella to catch up.

At the old barn Filomena lands over-top of where Vlad stashed the bag.

"Thank you Filomena," Ella has to scrounge a bit to find it, "greatly appreciate this. There's a few other spots I thought he might use, but this one is the closest... If you still want to help? Quietly seek out Vlad. If you find him let him know I'm around. If you get spotted fly towards the north where the roads don't go. They'll most likely ignore you, if they don't shoot. But if they want to give chase it'll have to be on foot."

"There we go," Ella locates the duffel bag and opens it enough to get her rifle out. "If you're chased north lead them to the river. It's too wide for them to cross. Once you're across make a wide circle back. I'm not sure if you are lending a firing hand in the morning. But if you're not you may want to fly back to the mansion before that."

Setting the rifle aside Ella re-conceals the bag, "if those guys manage to fire up that mounted machine gun it's going to get dangerous for anybody in their line of fire for about five miles."

That information doesn't aid Filomena in staying calm, "this is sounding really scary dangerous. Are you two going to be able to handle yourselves? I'm sure you're a capable woman Ella but what do you plan on doing with that one gun? Vlad said there could be up to thirty men here. Oh my God you two are on some sort of Asian action suicide pact, aren't yous?"

Sounding like nervous chirping Ella notes the gun-case, "Mama's little helper here will get things started before dawn. Try and stay cool and collected in thought. Vlad and I have taken out scarier guys over the years. We always liked Genghis Khan's approach. Just no horses though."

Opening the soft case Ella loads five rounds into the gun, "what I hope to do is take one guy out and move to the other side of town. If they're not onto me I'll take another out. After two shots this village will be awake. For every shot I take I'll change my location. When morning comes if the village is not fully alerted Vlad will pick up where I leave off. I'm not sure how much I can accomplish as the wolf but I'll be watching over Vlad."

Ella's confidence calms Fil just slightly, "I hope it's that easy. It still leaves Vlad with twenty-seven men. There's no way one person can handle all that. I want to stay to help but I don't think I'm going to do well."

Slinging the rifle over the shoulder Ella stands, "if there's more than twenty men still here we may not be able to get them all. But we should be able to dwindle them down in size for sure. Finish them off later."

"So you say," Fil chirps on, "what do I do if you two don't survive? Oh I don't know what to do? Toughen up and stay, or fly back to the mansion so I don't even know there's gunfire."

Ella looks up at Fil, "if you end up going back to the mansion, you'll know we're in trouble. You'll be able to hear the gunfire from where you were perched at the mansion. When it goes quiet you'll know its over. If after a few hours you don't hear or see us, please try and check on us. But come knowing things may not be good."

"Okay." Fil really didn't like hearing any of that. Seeing Ella strong as wolf and woman trudging into the shadows Fil wishes to be more confident, "this is all madness over some cows. Ella I am so glad you're not a vampire bat. There is no way I'd be able to compete for Vlad's affections. But to show you both I got your backs, I'm going to have your backs."

Tip toeing towards town Ella glances back, "thank-you Filomena."

"You're welcome and thank you Ella," keeping to the trees Fil sets off to find Vlad.

Climbing the eastern hill Ella finds a nice covered place overlooking the town. As comfortable as possible lying on the ground she has a look through the rifle's scope.

Slowly scanning the village Ella sees only one man posted at the village's main southern intersection. Hoss is either undermanned or not worried about others attacking his place. She scans to the opposite hill checking over Hoss' property.

Oh no, there's another. Ella turns the gun aside to evaluate the targets. The guy at Hoss' may not hear my shot. He certainly won't know where it came from.

Spotting the man at the intersection Ella studies his movements. Not moving much or far Ella sights the man up. Cockroaches are more deserving of life.

With the target sighted Ella waits for the shot. The man paces a few yards here and there always coming back to the same point.

Wanting a clean quick head-shot she places the cross-hairs close to where the head should pass. Walking back in to view, the cross-hairs are a little too high. She ever so slightly lowers the aim. Watching, the man's head line up nicely on the cross-hairs Ella grins. Just before the man meets the center of the cross-hairs Ella fires. BANG!

Indeed a clean hit the man drops on the spot, thrilled with the shot Ella grunts. She quickly scans for the man at Hoss' property. He heard the shot and is looking her way. The man can't see her or his now dead partner. He does cautiously head down the hill to check out the intersection.

Sure Vlad is now aware she's there, Ella picks up and moves north, around the village towards Hoss' property.

In another barn Vlad was hanging out, hearing the gunshot he gets onto the roof. Is that you out there Ella? He doesn't sense anything nearby and debates searching for her. Damn it Ella you started too soon.

Also hearing the shot Filomena nearly jumped out of her bat skin. Not hearing any men shouting or running she figures it was Ella.