"Ferris, I..." You don't know how to proceed. You know his aim is a noble one, but you also can't fight the feeling that this is just too much for a little ragtag coven like Ferris's. You don't want him to give up, but you also don't want him to charge forward towards his death. "I think there has to be a better way."

"A better way?" he asks, gesturing wildly with his hands. "Like the vampire's way? Like the life of a blood slave?"

"No, that's not what I mean. I mean, there has to be a better way to take them down, to free the town." You watch as Ferris takes a few breaths, but you can see how his agitation has rippled through the group. You need to speak quickly to defuse this powder keg. "I saw my sister before I came here. Her unhappiness brought on by a life with vampires is what convinced me that this was the right thing to do. She suffers like you have suffered Ferris and I think maybe together we can be enough to defeat the vampires with ease."

"What do you mean?" he asks, looking at you from the tops of his eyes. "What has your sister done?"

"She's..." You take a deep breath, ever conscious that all eyes are on you. "She's joining the werewolves. A pack is currently at the edge of town, by the old mill."

The moment the word "werewolves" escapes your lips, the coven breaks with an explosion of gasps, whispers, and murmurs of unease.

"Werewolves?" he scoffs. "They are as violent as the vampires and more unpredictable. We've been planning this for a year, Micah. We can do this. I know we can. It's too late to add another element to the equation. We are already walking a fine line..."

"That we are, Ferris," chimes in a voice in the back. "We all knew going in that we may not be coming out again, but it sure would be nice to improve our chances."

"The werewolves are strong!" shouts another. "And the vampires will be far more interested in fighting them than us. We'll have a chance."

"That's if they are willing to fight," adds a cynical voice.

"You doubt that they themselves don't have something already planned," offers another. "It can't be a coincidence that a pack made camp on the eve of the ball. They're surely here to attack and why not join forces! We'll both be stronger for it!"

With the rise of the rabble, Ferris cringes and massages his temples.

"Ferris, what do you say?" asks a mage near the front of the group. "What harm can come from joining our powers?"

"Lots," he replies with a stamp of his foot. "They are temperamental and cannot be trusted."

"I don't know," says a voice to our left. "I mean, I'm not sure I can sign my own death certificate knowing we may have had a better shot with their help."

Others agree, while still some are willing to keep to Ferris's original plan. However, it soon becomes clear that if Ferris will not go to the wolves, many will not stay to see their end.

"I can not pull this off without all of your voices," says Ferris through gritted teeth. "If some of you are backing out now, then we can't proceed at all."

"Then let's go to the wolves!" many reply.

"I hope you know what you're doing," he says, his eyes dark and pained as he looks at you from over his shoulder. "I will not stop until I reap my revenge for Kinley."

"They're there waiting, Ferris. We need only meet them."

"Take us then," he says with a heavy sigh.

With his surrender, the coven bursts with renewed energy. Everyone gathers their various armaments and heads for the door back on to the street. Ferris, however, stands to the side, watching them rustle by before turning to face you with a grave expression on his face.

"I had hoped there would be no need for this, but with the addition of the wolves, we may need more than magic to defend ourselves. Here, take this, Micah." He reaches into his robe and retrieves an old pistol, which he holds out before you. "Just because your sister is seeking to join the pack, doesn't mean they'll accept you as family. Keep yourself prepared."

You swallow hard and start to wonder if this was the best idea. However, it's too late to turn back. So, you take the pistol and secure it in the belt you made of the corded rope. You exit with Ferris and find the coven waiting for you to lead them on to the old mill.

With Ferris's guidance you make it through the shadowed alleys without notice. Buildings are further apart on the outskirts of town and you lose your cover. However, as you glance down the street from around the corner of your hiding place, you realize it is foolish to believe anyone would be caught this far from the great hall. All attention was centered around the festivities of the Harvest Ball and your way is clear before you. With a wave of your hand, you call everyone forward as you race to the tree line.

You dash through the trees, darting towards the patch of forest surrounding the old mill that long ago got replaced by a more efficient one down by the river. There in the clearing surrounding the dilapidated building, you see a mass of people. A rumble of cheers and hoots of excitement roll through the fog collecting over the wet grass.

"This is what I was afraid of," grumbles Ferris, who kept close to your side the whole way over.

"What do you mean?" you ask as you slow your pace and halt some distance away from the pack. "Sounds like they are in good spirits."

"Listen harder," he says with a sideways glance. "Both vampires and werewolves relish the sight of blood, just for different reasons."

Uncertain what to expect, you try to get past the excited chatter and listen to the source of their revelry. Beneath it all are low grunts of pain and fierce cries of anger.

"A fight," you mumble as you realize the mass of werewolves is actually a circle around two lone figures.

"Well, it's too late to back away now," says Ferris, who continues the march forward. "They would have caught our scent by now."

You don't doubt Ferris's assertion. Even when wolves aren't transformed their noses are still far superior to human noses. Despite this, you are able to approach the circle unmolested and unnoticed. Instead they keep their attention to what is transpiring in the middle of their ring. You know better than to push your way forward to get a good look, but now that you have gotten closer, the sounds coming from within are more familiar to you than you thought.

"Ferris," you whisper, "that sounds like Gianette." You try to stand on the tips of your toes, but you can't see over the hulking, muscular bodies of the pack.

"Excuse me," says Ferris as he taps on a nearby shoulder. "What is going on here?"

"Do you know where you are, son?" growls the man Ferris decided to bother.

"I know that I'm currently standing before a werewolf and that you can't attack me without permission from your alpha."

"To your great fortune," snarls the man, "our alpha is currently in the ring testing the merit of a human who wishes to join our ranks."

"Gianette," you gasp. You drop to your knees and try to get a better look from between the legs of those around you. For a moment you can't distinguish the feet of the contenders from the feet of those forming the circle. However, after a vicious roar, the lithe body of your sister is tossed to the ground and you catch sight of her bloodied face. She, however, can't see you. Instead, she digs her nails into the ground, grits her teeth, and launches herself straight into the torso of what looks to be a rather sizable man.

"Well," says Ferris, who catches your frantic gaze before continuing, "my business is with your alpha. I will address him when he is finished with this matter. We will keep to ourselves over here."

"You best do that human. His wrath will be less so long as you don't impose further than you already have." With that the werewolf turned back to the fight, his fist pumping the air as the alpha lands another solid blow against your sister.

"Ferris," you cry before hopping off the ground and following your friend's retreating figure. "I can't leave Gianette like that. We have to do something."

"You know I feel for your sister," he says, though he doesn't halt his march to where the others watch on in silence, "but we are already lucky they have not torn our throats out. I will not risk my coven's safety further." He then stops and turns to face you. "However, I will not stop you from pursuing what you think is right. The whole point of this rebellion is to grant the people of this town freedom to make their own decisions. I won't start that rebellion by denying you your right to decide."

With that he continues back to the huddle of frightened mages. You look between the two, uncertain how you can save your sister even if you try. At this point all you can think of is to charge forward, break through the ring and protect your sister by joining her in her fight. However, you haven't been trained in physical combat and you certainly don't have the skill to face a werewolf, even an untransformed one, face to face. What you have been trained in is magic and you notice that one of the mages brought along a jack-o-lantern. One of the first spells Ferris ever taught you was using a hollowed gourd to create a defensive ward. Or you could just adhere to the werewolves wishes and stay out of their business. You have a feeling that's what Gianette would have wanted.

What will you do?

- Let Gianette Fight and Watch from the Sidelines: ch 8

- Create a Ward to Protect Gianette: ch 9

- Charge Forward and Join Gianette in Battle: ch 10