The Beastlord lay on the floor, looking in disbelieve from one beast smashing a chair and the snarling beast which had tackled him. Had it failed again? There was no intelligence in the eyes of this beast. Not like Lu or this shifter yesterday. This was more like Helen or the others. The human soul had been drowned. But why? They had been stable a second ago. Tamara was thrown beside him, scrambling up.

That was the moment when the Beastlord overcame his surprise and drew his gun to take out the rampaging beasts. Tamara yanked his arm and his shot went wide.

"We need to stop them, Lu!" the Beastlord was insistent, watching the beasts run out the door. Lu shook her head firmly. "You can't kill our brothers and sisters!"

"Lu, they will just kill… mindlessly kill… they are uncontrollable." he went for the door but Lu tackled him and knocked him out. He hadn't expected an attack from her. "Sorry, BL…" she stated and ran after the beasts - she needed to make sure Cian and the others didn't kill them. She knew they were out patrolling the city - that's what Cian always did when he thought his precious humans where in danger.

Anya and Ben were woken up in the evening after some hours of sleep by Bens mobile ringing and vibrating itself nearly off the bedside table. Anya raised herself from his chest, where her head had laid, to let Ben reach for his phone "Cian?" he mumbled answering it, still half asleep.

"Sorry to wake you." Their boss stated "But the patrols ran across two rampaging beasts. We drive them to the abandoned warehouse. That's the nearest location to avoid collateral damage." Cian explained

"On my way" Ben had already gotten up and started to reach for his jeans when Cian mentioned 'rampaging beasts'. He let them fall to the floor again, planning to shift immediately. Anya sat up, watching him putting his phone on her nightstand after he hung up and leaning over to her, one knee on the bed "I'll be back." He winked grinning and kissed her "Take care, ok?" Anya detangled herself from the bed while Ben lost his boxers and changed and let him out the front door.

Anya, after she had closed the door again, slid down to sit on the floor, her back against the door trying to reign in her fear. Maybe she needed to step up her self-defense training so she didn't need to wait on the sidelines in the future.

With his leopard speed Ben had been at the warehouse in record time. He was puzzled to only find Cian and Hanson engaging a single beast, no sight of the second.

While Hanson's bear tried to wrestle with the beast. Cian, when noticing Ben, changed to human. "Second beast didn't play along. The others bring it down without human causalities. We try to keep this one here busy until they come or we manage to bring it down on our own." The Chief informed him before changing back to fox and engaging the beast again, which had thrown Hanson off.

Ben charged too but as soon as he was onto the beast something tackled him, slamming him into the ground. When he finally was able to focus on his attacker, he recognized Tamara… or her beast to be precise.

Hanson still struggled to get up and the beast overpowered Cian threatening to tear out his throat. Another blur crashed into it and a fight ensued between the new arrival and the rampaging beast.

Ben was still struggling with Tamara but Hanson managed to get onto his feet and ripped her off Ben, snapping her neck in the process.

At the same time Cian and the other fighter, who Ben recognized as the Beastlord, had taken out the other rampaging beast.

Silence ensued. The fox had raised hackles, hissing. The bear and snow leopard standing by Cian's right and left side, growling - everyone was on the edge waiting for their enemy to attack first.

It felt like hours but only lasted a second or two, then the Beastlord saw Lu's unmoving body, neck clearly broken. He just collapsed on his knees, having lost her. "You killed her…" he whispered "… she was stable and you killed her regardless." Tears ran down his face I only wanted a family… Not be alone anymore." he whispered

Cian changed back followed by Ben - Both naked and towering the Beastlord. Hanson stayed in his bear form. "She attacked us. Wanted to prevent us from taking out the raging beast… prevented us from doing the same thing you did." He explained, intrigued by this development.

The Beastlord's eyes widened in shock when he recognized Ben "You…" he started but regaining his composure again "The human soul is back in control I see - subduing the beast…" he scoffed

"If not for Snow holding onto me and my mate stabilizing me, I'd be rampaging too…" Ben growled.

A laugh escaped the Beastlord "Now I understand…" he whispered, shaking his head finally looking into Cian's eyes "You won. Nothing will ever change. Only one true balance… the beast has no say, never… It will be as it always has." he stated "Go on, just end me already."

For a second Cian wanted to do just that but then he looked at Ben and realized something. "If it wasn't for Anya I would have killed Ben." It hurt to admit "I was convinced he was gone and the beast…" he stopped himself "…Snow would go on a rampage. But it didn't happen and I would have lost my best friend to 'It has always been that way'" He took a deep breath suddenly conflicted to kill the beast in front of him. He was stable. Well, rational. "I can't let you run around change the balance of beasts - even willing ones." He argued with himself but it was the answer the Beastlord gave which tipped the scales: "I realized this too, today…" the Beastlord admitted and started to explain when Cian looked at him puzzled "I thought it would be enough to make the human soul go to sleep to flip the balance but the beast must ensure the soul does not drown." He sighed "If there is too much hate, they let the human drown…" he looked at the dead beasts "… a beast in harmony with the human wouldn't let the soul sleep." He looked at Ben "Nothing to be influenced from outside… it doesn't matter anymore." he shook his head, looking at Cian waiting for him to shoot or the huge bear to crush him."

Another silence ensued "Cian?" Ben looked at his Chief, waiting for an order. Cian squatted down "I call truce." He had decided and looked at a confused beast.

"You want a family and not hide anymore. You can have this… be part of the Tribe." He offered "You would have to play by our rules though." Cian added, and the Beastlord smiled "And you can keep an eye on me…" he added, drawing a smile from Cian "Yes this too." He admitted "You can help us, too. The last year made me realize how helpless we are when one of us struggles with being a shifter." His gaze went to Tamara/Lu's lifeless body "We could be more observant, talk more about this, counseling… and if one truly wants to flip the balance - with both being consent, and know the dangers - then you can help them. With us all there, preventing a possible rampage." Cian held out his hand "Truce?" he asked and the Beastlord took the hand "Truce!"

Cian had the Beastlord, who called himself Puck now - he always liked Shakespeare - hooked up with Alanis Parker.

The Doctor was the right person to introduce him to a more social life within the Tribe - and to keep an eye on him. Alanis could benefit from Puck's knowledge of the Balance as he experienced it all from the other perspective.

Both started to analyze various reports or own experiences with the balance - including the latest development with Ben and Snow.

They came to the conclusion that flipping the balance should be last resort because it was dangerous. The human soul must be totally in agreement to go to sleep and the beast needed to not only let this happen but also to keep the soul from drowning.

In the end they started to work with the herbs puck brought back from his jungle excursion. They wanted to find a way to bring the beast and human soul together like at the awakening. So they could resolve any tensions together in a talk if needed.

In addition to that Alanis started a 'counseling hour'. Any shifter dealing with issues could just drop by - as anonym as possible because Alanis was bound by professional secrecy.

A couple of days after all was resolved some of the tribe gathered on a mild September afternoon for a picnic. Anya - even though human - became a part of it not only being Ben's mate but because she played a part in resolving the situation, too. In addition, it was her first anniversary working for Cian and with Ben. Still, the most confusing thing for many attendees was the fact Ben had a girlfriend - a mate.

"By the way… you realize you are a part of my tribe now?" Cian winked "I officially may order you around now." He added teasing.

Ben chuckled and looked at Anya "Having second thoughts now about being my mate, love?" he wanted to know causing Anya to shrug snuggling even more into his arms "Yeah but they are the same as the first thought… and the third, fourth and fifth: I love you Benji."

END