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Abby beamed up at Roland happily, kissing him back softly and holding his head close as he nuzzled her. "Of course I want to be your assistant silly! Alright..." she replied, watching him disappear into the crowd with a smile. Walking outside of the house, she shook off the feeling of being crowded and looked up. The sun was setting behind the trees, causing a beautiful, orange glow in the sky. Everything couldn't be more perfect than it was now. Even with the threat of a hunter nearby, the pack was currently safe and everything seemed to be running smoothly along. Tomorrow she graduated and hopefully would be able to take the position of Roland's assistant at the school.

Abby sighed heavily and rubbed her abdomen, wincing as she felt some pain just below her ribs. Shrugging it off, she blamed it on all the excitement of the day then headed back off to her room. Not before she took some Tylenol though. Bounding up the stairs, she retired to her bed and fell asleep almost immediately. In the morning she would be gone before everyone else, having gotten ready and was rehearsing with the rest of the senior class.

Roland got up and got dressed, wearing attire proper for a teacher to wear to a graduation. He smiled and headed off to the graduation; the rest of the pack had to stay home, of course. He was the only one that could go out for it, for safety reasons. He was a teacher, after all. He went through the crowd and got to his seat, scanning the faces of the sitting graduates, waiting to see the one face that he was looking for. He smiled softly, gazing around for the woman that he loved.

Abby was leaning back in her chair, propping her feet up on the empty chair in front of her. As her eyes met Roland's she grinned happily and shot him a thumbs up before setting her chair back down on four feet when one of the teachers asked her too. As soon as the teacher turned back around, she leaned back on the back two feet and stuck her tongue out at the teacher behind his back. This was her last day, no way was one grumpy teacher going to ruin it for her. As her row stood, she jumped up and followed them to the side of the stage, bouncing from foot to foot in anticipation the closer they got to the stage.

Micah looked down at the picture he was holding in his hand and folded it up, stuffing it into his shirt pocket. Laying down on his belly on the cement roof top, he rested his head against the butt of his sniper rifle. Looking through the scope, he set his sights on his target's head and slowly followed her along as she made her way to her destination.

Abby practically ran out onto the middle of the stage as her name was called, snatching her diploma from the principal with a grin. Shaking their hands, she paused to get her picture taken with the principal.

Micah placed his finger on the trigger and slowly squeezed, taking in the recoil from his gun with ease. The silencer prevented the loud bang that would follow.

Abby almost ran to the other side of the stage but paused at the edge and looked around for Roland. When she saw him, she grinned at him and waved her diploma around so he could see. When she was satisfied he had seen it, she left the stage and went to wit for the rest of the graduates before the ceremony finally came to it's end.

A brown headed waitress fell to the floor of a diner on the edge of town. Blood splattering all over the customers she was just serving. Micah loaded his gun away and disappeared, satisfied that his first job was done. An older man rushed dover to the girls body, picking her up in his arms. "Lily!" he yelled in shock as screams filled the diner. Several others from the Moone pack crowded around the two of them, one of them running off to report to their Alpha.

Roland smiled and waved back at her lightly, then paused. Something felt...wrong. He got to his feet as soon as the ceremony was done and went to find Abby. He took hold of her hand and pulled her aside. "We need to get back. I...something doesn't feel right." She could probably feel it, too, being a werewolf now. Something was off. "We'll celebrate at the house, alright?" He headed to the car with her quickly, letting her drive. That was when he got a call on his phone. He flipped it open, listening intently. "...shit. I want everyone at the house, now. Yeah. I don't think we're going to be able to hide from this one. Yeah. Bye." He hung up, taking in a deep breath. He slowly let it out. "...this had to happen AFTER I got my arm chomped off..." He tilted his head back and stared up at the ceiling. "...one of the Moone pack was killed. In a restaurant. In public. This guy's not pulling his punches. At least he's underestimated the police force. They're gonna be looking everywhere for this guy. But you know what? So are we. we can't hide from this guy, Abby." He paused and looked at her. "We have to kill a hunter."

Abby could feel it too, once she had calmed down anyway. She just nodded and let Roland pull her to the car, driving their way back to the house. When he got off the phone, she glanced at him expectantly, waiting for him to tell her what happened. Biting her bottom lip as a frown creased her features, she looked back at the road as they turned in the long driveway for the house. "If he's killing in public... that means he's had to have some kind of military training. And since he's been getting away with it, i'm going to go out on a limb here and say he's really good at what he does. The police probably won't be any help if they aren't looking in the right places. To them, this is will all be just random killing. I think if we're going to announce that we need to kill a hunter, we need to do it just with the adult members of the pack. If the younger pack members get wind of it, they'll probably jump the gun. They'll get excited and it will create problems for us," she said thoughtfully, just putting in her opinion as they pulled up to the house. Getting out as they arrived, she couldn't help but feel some disappointment that all this was happening the day she graduated. She guessed there wouldn't be any celebrating any time soon.

Roland listened to her and nodded. "That's a good idea. They could be good at scoping out places, but they're too volatile, they might attack if they actually find him. We'll have them stay at the house, claim that they're on guard duty and need to protect it." They arrived at the house and he got out, taking in a couple deep breaths before heading inside. He gathered all the adults, and explained what would happen. "We can't just let him pick off werewolves one by one. We're going to find him as soon as possible and kill him. He's experienced. He knows what he's doing. From what Maria gathered about the killing, it was long-distance. He's probably a sniper. Most likely a military vet. He knows his stuff. Somehow, he knew that Lily was a werewolf." He nodded to Maria, who brought out a box. "Congratulations everyone. From this day forward you have new hair colors. The first step to throwing this guy off is disguise. Dress the opposite of how you would dress. Cover up anything that makes you unique, like a tattoo, or a birthmark. It'll make it that much harder for him to find us out. It's not enough to stay in groups. He killed Lily right in public. But never go anywhere alone, always have at least one person with you." He stepped back. "Go ahead, pick a color." He sat down with some of the others and started working on a plan of action while hair colors were being picked. Maria walked up to Roland. "Roland...what about you? You're armless. You can't exactly hide that." Roland took in a deep breath and looked up at Maria. "I don't need to. Because I'm going to be the bait."

Abby stood off to Roland's side as he gave his orders, helping the pack members disguise themselves. Frowning as she heard Roland announce he was bait, agitation and fear pricked at her. He hadn't even talked it over with her! What if something happened to him?! He could really be killed! Slipping through the pack members to Roland's side, she motioned for the door, trying to tell him she wanted to talk to him. Once they excused themselves, Abby led him out the door and to a private corner before she looked at him pointedly. "Roland! Bait?! You didn't even talk it over with me! Something could really happen to you! I want to be bait with you then. Two pairs of ear

Abby stood off to Roland's side as he gave his orders, helping the pack members disguise themselves. Frowning as she heard Roland announce he was bait, agitation and fear pricked at her. He hadn't even talked it over with her! What if something happened to him?! He could really be killed! Slipping through the pack members to Roland's side, she motioned for the door, trying to tell him she wanted to talk to him. Once they excused themselves, Abby led him out the door and to a private corner before she looked at him pointedly. "Roland! Bait?! You didn't even talk it over with me! Something could really happen to you! I want to be bait with you then. Two pairs of ears and eyes is better than one," she whisper/yelled at first then tried to make a deal with him.

Roland got up obediently and went into the other room with her. He let her chew him out, then he sighed softly. "You're not being bait with me. I need you to be with the others so that you can get the guy. Abby, I'm not making this decision rashly. I have one arm. One. Only three legs in wolf form. I can't fight, I can't attack, I can't defend. I can't disguise myself in human form. My role is to draw him in. We're going to set a trap. I'm going to go out, and be out in the town, out and about. He's bound to notice me. The rest of you are going to have a perimeter. He's a long-distance killer, we know that. So you all are going to work a perimeter and we're bound to find him. It takes time to set up a kill like that. I'll go to the same places each day for a few days. Then the next day I'll start my routine like usual, but you guys will be out on your perimeter."

Abby frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, listening to his explanation but still not liking it. "What if we don't? Roland, I don't want to lose you. It's scary thinking that we might not get him and he could kill you," she said, voicing her fears. Shoving her hands deep in her pockets, Abby curled her hands into fists as nerves chewed at her tummy. "At least let me be the one to stay close to you?" she asked hopefully.

Roland took in a soft breath and wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. "Abby...that's the reason I don't want you near." He kissed her head gently. "Don't underestimate me. I can do this, okay? But if he goes after you, you're not as experienced. You won't know. You'll just suddenly be dead." He pulled back to look her in the eyes. "I refuse to lose you. Alright? This is the plan and we're sticking to it. I'm sorry. As much as I love you, nothing you say can change that."

Abby held onto Roland tightly, burying her face in his chest. "I know you can... I just don't feel like i'm doing it right if i'm not right next to you... I'm just worried for you is all. But I know you can do this," she said, sighing heavily as she resigned herself to the fact she couldn't convince him to do anything else. When he pulled back, she looked up at him and gave a resigned sigh. "Alright. Just promise you will be as safe as possible?" she requested, standing on her toes to kiss his lips softly.

Once Roland headed back into the room, Abby was about to follow but she felt her stomach start to churn sickeningly. All her nerves were really getting to her. Bolting upstairs to her bedroom, she spent the next fifteen minutes locked up tight in her bathroom until she had calmed down enough to leave. Curling up in bed, she groaned softly and shook her head. She was never able to handle too much stress very well but this was the worst possible time to be feeling sick. She decided that she would have to apologize to Roland later for having disappeared so suddenly from the meeting.

Roland held her close and smiled. "It's alright, Abby. I know. It'll...it'll be fine. Just stay safe, alright, and do your best?" He would return her kiss with a smile. "I promise. I will do my best to get back to you in one piece." He nuzzled against her, then went back to the room. He noticed her absence, but could still feel her presence in the house, so he didn't worry. He knew this was very hard for her. She was going through a lot right now. He went through the plan with the others. None of them liked it, but they knew that it had to be done.

Abby finally came out of her room right about midnight, sneaking downstairs to rummage around for something to eat. Using her sense of smell to lead her around the kitchen, she paused at the fridge. Taking out two packages of lunch meat, a package of Colby jack cheese, and mayo, she then moved to the pantry. Grabbing the bread, she put together three rather large sandwiches and stood at the kitchen counter, scarfing them down. Hearing a rustling sound outside made her freeze in her tracks. Putting her last sandwich in between her teeth, she moved towards the front door and opened it. Peering outside, she tried to hear anything out of the normal. But everything was strangely silent.

Stepping outside, she could feel the tension in the air but nothing showed itself. Everything remained in that 'cone of silence' as she called it. Moving back into the house, she locked the door and checked all the windows before once again heading back up to her bedroom. Flopping down into her bed, she finished her last sandwich and slid under her covers before falling back asleep.

In the morning, Abby wouldn't leave her room though.

(Sorry things have been crazy, I'll post later tonight!)

Roland knocked on her door the next morning, opening it slowly and stepping inside. "Abby? I'm going to head out for the day." No classes, since the school year was over! He approached her bed and sat down. He had to start his new routine to lure the bad guy in, after all. "Abs, come on, you've been in bed all morning." He shook her gently by the shoulder and smiled softly. Everyone else was busy getting ready to set up the perimeter and take their shifts at the house. Windows were shut and barred up, just so that he couldn't shoot through a window and kill someone.

Abby curled up tighter as she heard Roland step inside her room. Giving a soft groan of protest as he gently rubbed her shoulder, she stretched underneath her covers and slowly sat up. The blankets fell off of her and pooled in her lap, her hair a tangled mess from tossing and turning all night. Dark circles under her eyes made her look almost like a raccoon and her skin was really pale. She opened her mouth to say something but had to close it again, shaking her head for a moment as she shook her head, mentally telling her body no. But of course it did what it always did and didn't listen to her, in a second Abby was in the bathroom slamming the door shut behind her.

She spent five minutes in the bathroom just so her body could reject all the food she ate last night. Then she simply curled up on the cold tiled floor and wrapped her arms around her tummy. "I'll be ready in a minute.." she said through the door, trying to keep Roland from worrying. Today was important towards their plan, she couldn't afford to be sick. She would just have to battle through it. But the weakening waves that pulsed through her body, obviously had other plans.

Roland was not happy when she suddenly dashed for the bathroom. He waited patiently by the door, then sighed. "No, you need to stay here. Maria will stay with you, alright? Just focus on feeling better..." He frowned slightly. What could be wrong? Was it a cold again? Maybe she ate something bad? Or...no, he didn't want to think of that last one. He shook his head and went to go tell Maria that Abby was sick. Maria was soon in the room, waiting patiently with medicine, a thermometer, and a bowl of soup and crackers.

It took Abby a good fifteen minutes to be able to move from the bathroom floor. She took a quick bath and pulled her hair up into a tight pony tail, scolding herself the whole time for getting sick. Now Roland was out there without her... She would only blame herself if something happened to him. She was supposed to be there for him, always no matter what. Getting dressed in her favorite pair of pj pants, the panda ones, and a black hoodie, she walked out into her bedroom. Smiling a little regretfully at Maria as she climbed onto her bed. "Thank you Maria. This sucks... I should be out there with him right now... But im stuck here," she complained, crossing her arms over her chest with a frown. But she took the medicine gratefully. "It's probably nothing. Just a stomach bug," she said, taking her temperature reluctantly. It was a little above normal but not enough for her to go see a doctor. Taking the soup and crackers, she relaxed against the wall and stared at the soup for a minute, praying Roland was safe. "I can't believe my body chose now to get sick," she muttered.

Maria considered her words and sat beside her, brushing her hair gently from her face. "It's alright, honey. Don't worry. He'll be fine. It's just day one, the hunter doesn't know his pattern yet. Unless he takes a risk, I doubt he'll attack Roland on day one." She rubbed her shoulder gently. "Just relax for now. It'll be alright. Don't worry. You'll be back in no time, I promise. And I'll be right here to take care of you, okay?" She watched her for a moment, then stood up. "I'll leave the door open. Give a holler if you need me, okay?"