[3rd September]

When Tamara didn't check in with Aaron the next day and couldn't be reached by anyone, they organized a search. Aaron only knew she wanted to follow a lead on the Beastlord but not where she had gone.

Ben was assigned an area south of the city and now stood on the nearly deserted parking lot of an abandoned warehouse - nearly abandoned, because there was one car sitting alone in front of a side entrance. He recognized it as Tamara's.

He carefully approached the car and crouched down to check the car for damages when he suddenly was hit by something blunt and heavy - a metal pipe.

How had someone managed to sneak upon him like that? He was still dazed when he was hit a second time, bringing him flat down on the ground fighting to stay conscious.

"...in peace with his beast…" - "…larger dose…" he got scraps of a conversation and felt someone lifting his head and forcing lukewarm liquid into him. Not someone. Tamara. That was definitively her smell. He forced his eyes open and saw a shape resembling Tamara pulling back from him. Before he could scramble up a man, looking caught in mid change, reached for him and before Ben could react the person placed its hands on his temples.

His surroundings seemed to change as he found himself lying on soft ground n a meadow. He knew this place… He had been here when Snow had been awakened? He couldn't concentrate. He was so tired. So ineffable tiered. "You need to fucking stay awake!" he heard a growl and was suddenly aware that a lake had appeared under him and he threatened to drown - only the malformed arms of Snow who grabbed him prevented this. For now at least.

The change on Ben's body was nearly instant and the Beastlord smiled "Welcome…" he started but was shoved back and Ben crouched, ready to attack. No, not Ben. Snow. The tattoo fractured and swirling.

Terrified of what just had happened he began to run and that was the moment Lu had Tamara's gun in her hands and fired, hitting Snow in the shoulder – the  bullet went right through – but Snow didn't stop. He lashed out, hit Tamara - her beast - and ran off into the night.

"Will he inform other Shifters?" the Beastlord held Lu back from running after him. She was still looking where Snow had vanished when she answered "He will try but Cian will kill him first." She was sure "A shame. He could have been useful." The Beastlord nodded "We should move locations nevertheless - just in case."

Snow just ran. His attention divided between clinging to Ben and finding someone to help him. Suddenly he found himself in front of Cian's office and remembered the Chief coordinated everything from there. He staggered inside the building and to Cian's office.

"Help…" he just breathed, steadying himself on the doorframe. Cian looked at him in shock and jumped up. "What…" he asked but already drew his gun. He had seen enough of malformed bodies like this that he knew the beast was in control. "Beastlord…" Snow tried to speak but Cian fired, missing him only because he dived out the door again. Not trying for a second time he fled.

Cian stood still behind his desk, stunned and shocked. Tears flowing down his cheek "Oh Ben…" he whispered, swallowing hard before grabbing his phone "Aaron, meet me at my office. Ben is gone - his beast is in control." His voice sounded broken "Inform the others. Finding and neutralizing it before it kills takes priority over Tamara's disappearance." He decided.

A very loud knock made Anya jump. No, it was more a pad with a flat hand. She was cuddled on her couch watching an episode or two of Doctor Who before she would go to bed. She glanced at the clock - 20:51. Who could that be? The pounding on her door occurred two more times before Anya made it to her door. When she opened it, Ben, who was already sagged to his knees, just fell into her apartment.

"Bloody hell Ben…!" Anya exclaimed kneeling down beside him, trying to figure out what was wrong. Ben started to get up again and Anya tried to steady him as best as she could, kicking her door shut in the process. She steered him to her couch where he finally crashed wheezing.

Only then she saw the blood, some of which had transferred onto her shirt, and that he was somehow mid change. Bens limbs where longer than they should be and his fingernails were clearly enlarged and sharp pointed at the end. His face slightly distorted. His tattoo moving around but kind of fractured. His clothes ripped in various places to fit his new form.

She bolted for her Bathroom, rummaging through the cupboard and returning with towels to press on the wound "Ben, talk to me… what do you need… I'll call Cian and…"

Ben grabbed her hand tight "NO… he will… kill me…" he brought out. His eyes grew wide "Promise me!" he insisted, fear and terror on his face. His voice was rougher than usual.

Worry showed in Anya's face and shock. "Ok… Ok…Not calling Cian." She assured in a soothing voice "What happened to you? Why does he want to kill you? Why are you bleeding?" she still pressed that towel on his wound.

"Beastlord..." He grunted out "Destroyed … balance." He added and took a breath "Scared… coming here…" closing his eyes leaning back "Ben trusts you." And that was the moment Anya realized this wasn't Ben in control. "Snow?" she asked breathless and when he looked into her eyes she had her answer. Anya let out a breath and sat beside the couch. She gently caressing his arm like he had done when she was fever crying "We can do this…" she said more to herself "Snow… you have to tell me what you need, what I can do." She made him look at her. "Just… rest…" he breathed out and Anya nodded and continued to caress his arm "I'm here if you need something else."

Snow fell asleep almost instantly - like he just had waited for somewhere to feel save and Anya swore to herself she would not betray his trust. While she watched him sleep, she saw how his wound slowly closing and healing.

Unfortunately Snows sleep was not a peaceful one. He started to move around as if he had nightmares. Anya, who had fallen asleep beside her couch, woke up from his stirring and gently caressed his shoulder in hopes to sooth him but it had the opposite effect. Snows eyes snapped open, wild with fear, lashing out and hurting Anya, leaving four gashes on her upper arm. The Tattoo fractured over his face "Gnaaaa…" Anya jerked back in pain, covering her arm with her hand. "Snow, it's me… Anya…" she called out as the shifter crouched on her couch, growling. "Wake the fuck up!" Anya snarled back and suddenly understanding flared up in Snows eyes, the tattoo setting back together, still fractured but better than before "Anya…" Snow raised his hands, looking at his claws, seeing the drops of Anya's blood on one side and realizing what he had done.

"I…" he stuttered "Sorry… shouldn't have come…" he ran for the window and jumped out from her first-floor apartment "Bloody hell Ben… Snow…" Anya yelled in frustration but there was nothing she could do right now. Cursing under her breath she assessed her gashes and went to the bathroom to put a bandage over them.

Just when she was done and it was nearing midnight her door was pounded at again. She still wore the bloodstained shirt and had ripped of the shredded sleeve to better bandage her wound. Who could it be? Ben/Snow wouldn't come back. He had looked so shocked that he had hurt her… "I'm coming…" she grumbled and ripped the door open "WHAT?" she snarled and looked into the face of her boss who in return looked shocked at her arm and the blood on her shirt – mostly Bens blood.

"What happened?" Cian gently shoved Anya into her apartment and a male shifter Anya didn't know followed inside looking around, checking the rooms while Cian checked out Anya's arm "Hey… what the hell… that's my fucking bedroom!" she called after the man. "It is not here…" the shifter ignored Anya completely and spoke to Cian.

"Fortunately, those gashes are not that deep." Cian said to Anya "You should have called me…" he had a light patronizing tone but decided to skip the lecture "It is very, very dangerous… where did it go…"

"You really want to kill Ben… he was right…" Anya breathed in shock.

"Anya! Focus!" Where is it?" Cian's voice rose and became commanding.

"I don't know. And if I knew I wouldn't tell YOU so you can just kill him!" she answered equally loud.

"Listen… Ben is gone… I'm sorry" Cian's tone softened when he gently grabbed her shoulders to make her look at him, sadness clouded his eyes and tears glistening again. Ben was one of his best friends even though they fought a lot. "The Beastlord destroyed the Balance between him and his beast. By now only the beast remains and it will go on a rampage - you are lucky to still be alive." his tone was insistent.

"If he…" Anya insisted to use this pronoun, not accepting to have lost Ben just yet "…really wanted to kill me you would look at my dead body right now." She swallowed, broke free of his grip and grabbed for her jacket, phone and keys "Where are you going Anya?" Cian demanded "Looking for my friend. And when I've found him, I find a way to get that sodding balance back." She reached out for the handle of her apartment door.

"There is no balance to bring back. It will just rip you into pieces." Cian grabbed her arm, making Anya yelp in pain because he unintentionally grabbed on her gashes. Immediately Cian let go, shocked to have hurt her but caught himself quickly "You stay here and call me should it return." He commanded which didn't bode well with the pissed off developer.

Anya gave him a huff "You mistake me for one of your Tribe to order around, Cian." She glared at him "I am still your Boss!" Cian glared back, trying to stare her down "I'm fucking off clock…" she answered, Cian growled instead of saying something which pissed off Anya even more "… you know what? I quit. And now get the bloody hell out of my place, dipshit." Without turning again, she marched for the stairs and out of the building, shaking with rage and fear.

The next hours they all searched the town separately and with their own agendas. Anya wanted to find her friends Ben and Snow - fortunately inhabiting the same body - Aaron - the shifter Anya hadn't known - and Cian looking for a rampaging monster. None of them got lucky.