Author's Note: When I looked for photos to use as chapter banners, I usually just google and blend together what I think looks good or whatever. But for this particular chapter, I found a picture that fit perfectly for what I wanted. So after asking for permission, I got it from the picture's creator :)

The picture was found through google but if interested, check out Deviantart (username: MidnightRippah) for more amazing edits. Also, there's a tumblr (username: couthiebeauty). Once again, thanks for letting me use!

This Is War
Ficlet requested by Emily. Thomas. 432

A warning to the prophet,
the liar, the honest.
This. Is War.
To the leader, the pariah,
the victor, the messiah.
This. Is. War.
It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie,
the moment to live and the moment to die,
The moment to fight, the moment to fight,
to fight, to fight, to fight!
- 30 Seconds to Mars

Growing up, Avery knew she was different.

She wasn't like any other little girl she knew- not that she had a chance to be normal given the families she ended up with- but she was still different.

She had never been afraid of the dark, she never depended on anyone for anything, and she always had this gut instinct that she learned to follow when it told her that something was off. Although, there was one particular night when she was walking home from the movies and she chose to ignore the feeling. And ignoring that feeling led her to being dragged into an alleyway where her innocence was ripped from her, and then meeting two men- brothers- who helped her, healed her, and took her into their custody.

With the brothers- Elijah and Nik- Avery learned about a whole new world that had been right under her nose the entire time. They showed her the best of both of worlds- normal and supernatural- and even the worst of it. They taught her, they trained her, and they raised her to be a fearless Guardian.

It was during her time with the French Quarter's Coven as they showed her magic at it's finest that the Coven's leader noticed something familiar within the girl.

And when brought up to Elijah and Nik, the brothers had the Coven look into it. So imagine Avery's surprise when said leader figured out weeks later that she had a spark of magic within her- magic that was unlike what the Coven was used to but not at all hard to figure out and control.

After the spark had been discovered, Avery wanted to learn what she could about magic even though her's was supposedly different. The Reynolds' let the Coven leader take Avery under his wing, letting the teen girl fill her head with even more knowledge and watched as she grew right before their eyes into something they had never expected.

They then learned a little too late that Avery's spark ignited into a flame within her- they figuring out how to let her practice since there was no chanting involved unless it was the really hard stuff. The more she practiced, the more addicting it became and the more addicting it became, the more powerful she became.

The Coven soon started to fear for her as well as those around her- Avery's magic showing much potential to be dangerous and even far more powerful than what the Coven was capable of. And they ended up learning the hard way that her magic was indeed dangerous to not only Avery but others as well when her eyes bled black and she seemed to lose herself to the magic.

Nik and Elijah had to subdue her when Avery couldn't come back to herself- the brothers sedating her from afar when she turned her magic on them, and then having the Coven put a bind on her powers. When she came to, she bawled her eyes out and apologized for the mayhem she had created and promised to not use anymore. And though she didn't use, the knowledge stayed with her as did the power that lay dormant just beneath the surface.

She threw herself back into the supernatural realm by protecting those who needed it and kept intruders out of the Quarter who looked to try and harm either Elijah or Nik.

She wasn't with Elijah or Nik too long, though, the both of them eventually giving her information about her biological family who lived in Beacon Hills. Her biological mother was dead- an illness having taken her life years ago- but she had a father and twin who wanted to meet her. And after learning why she had been given up- it wasn't because she wasn't wanted but rather the family couldn't afford twins- she promised to visit.

Things in the French Quarter had pretty much calmed down so Elijah and Nik helped Avery pack and told her to stay in Beacon Hills for a bit and actually go to High School since she'd been home schooled ever since they took her in. She didn't mind trying to live with her biological family and after clearing it with her bio-Dad, she was set to make the move.

The moment she crossed into the city limits of Beacon Hills, though, she knew it wasn't going to be normal. She could feel the second her magic came to life just beneath the surface, crawling and humming in contentment. She didn't know what was going on and thinking that the bind had suddenly failed, she pulled off to the side and centered herself for a small spell to see if the bind had actually fallen.

Centering herself, she closed her eyes and let the sounds of nature soothe her. She reached out to nature's elements, letting the small breeze wash over her skin and calmly asked for some cloud cover. And when the sun kept heating her skin rather uncomfortably, she peeked an eye open and saw that the sky was void of any clouds. Closing her eyes and pushing once more for the clouds, she felt the familiar sensation of her skin being too tight to hold in everything that made her her, and knew that the Coven's magic had held. So putting the constant buzz of magic beneath her skin to the back of her mind, Avery continued on her way to the Stilinski's home.

John and Stiles had welcomed her with open arms, the night of their meeting having much happiness and tears.

Stiles was quick to show her around town- Avery having to hide just how jittery the town actually made her- and was soon introduced to his friends. Friends in which Avery easily won over.

Though there were many cute faces she saw around town- now was not a good time for a relationship when she was still trying get herself under control. She had a normal summer vacation just like other teenagers her age always bragged about- she feeling somewhat normal for once after she put the supernatural realm to the back of her mind.

Though when school started back up, she learned that Beacon Hills and it's inhabitants were anything but normal.

It was a bit shocking when people started going missing, even more so when Avery was sitting in English one day and their teacher walked in- Avery's gut clenching very uncomfortably and warning her that said teacher was dangerous. What was even more surprising was the fact that a swarm of birds attacked the school but only attacked the windows to which their English class was located. And as soon as it had started, it had stopped and Avery learned that her twin was just as deep in the supernatural realm but not by much.

Stiles and Scott's confession didn't surprise her as much as it had saddened her, the two of them introducing her to Derek fairly quickly and told her about werewolves. Though the werewolves here weren't the same species as those in New Orleans, she even going as far to tell them that and more but not everything.

She didn't tell them about her.

In return, Avery learned about the alpha pack that was terrorizing Derek and his pack- a pack in which Scott was apparently not a part of.

Bodies starting turning up left and right- bodies in which looked as if they had been sacrificed and not torn apart by a werewolf- and the Beacon Hills gang learned that not only did they have an alpha pack to deal with but they had a Darach.

Friendships and loyalties were tested but in the end, the Beacon Hills gang prevailed. Derek, who had been an alpha, was knocked back down to beta status and Scott had been jumped up to alpha status.

And along with all that drama, Avery learned why Beacon Hills had made her so jittery.

There was a nemeton in town- a nemeton which was supposed to be dormant but wasn't as dormant as everyone had thought. With the power of the nemeton pulsing in town, it made Avery's own magic come to life beneath her skin but it wasn't enough to truly break the bind.

They were then only granted a few weeks of normal- weeks in which they greatly appreciated- but the supernatural just wouldn't leave them alone.

A mass murder was unleashed upon the town- a murderer who ended up kidnapping the new girl in school who Avery had found adorably awkward when she tried to speak to Scott. Kira - the new girl- was saved hours later, people were grateful, and then the Halloween rave happened.

A Halloween rave which had the uninvited guests of what appeared to be demonic ninjas that left behind the scar of a backward five behind her ear after it gazed into her eyes longer than they had did with Aiden at her side.

With all the drama going on, Avery had never noticed the unease she had started to feel around her own twin or the fact that it seemed he was disappearing at odd times of the day and night.

They had soon learned the demonic ninjas were, in fact, called Oni. And they were in Beacon Hills looking for someone who wasn't themselves- a host for a dark entity also known as the Nogitsune.

Nearly everyone had gotten checked by the Oni before Derek and Kira pieced together just exactly who the Nogitsune was in- the lot of them learning a little too late that it was in Stiles.

He wreaks havoc where he can and ends up getting numerous of people killed, and the pack struggle with what to do since it's Stiles. There are times when he can be in control of himself and other times that he's not but the pack never know when it's their Stiles and not the nogitsune playing tricks on them.

There were many times when Avery wanted to come clean about what she was truly capable of- she wanting to see if her magic could help with the nogitsune problem- but she just couldn't do it. And it pissed off the nogitsune like no other that he seemed to know she was different but not know why.

The nogitsune had it's control over Stiles and it took Deaton poisoning the fox within her twin to keep it at bay. Though when Stiles was Stiles once more, he immediately locked himself away in a mental institution.

But even Eichen House couldn't keep Stiles safe.

He eventually broke out with the Nogitsune in control- the dark entity wreaking even more havoc and trying to pit them all against each other. He taunted them, he has flies possess the wolves, and it's a fight to save Ethan, Aiden, and Isaac from themselves in the school's locker room.

Scott had eventually got possessed!Stiles under his control- Lydia suggesting they call in help. And when Lydia suggests they call in Peter, Scott tells her it's a bad idea. Avery then mentally prepares herself to tell them about her magic but before she can do so, Scott caves and agrees to call in Peter.

Scott and Lydia get into her twin's mind soon after Peter arrives via Scott's alpha claws, and whatever they do once in his mind is enough to bring her twin back to himself. Though in the midst of chaos at realizing there are not one but two Stiles', nogitsune!Stiles kidnaps Lydia from right under their nose.

It's soon then a race to get Lydia back and figure out a way to take down the nogitsune, Stiles remembering about a female resident of Eichen House who had similar abilities as Lydia.

Her name is Meredith and she's also a banshee though she has a different way to deal with the voices of banshees passed.

Meredith makes Avery feel at ease and safe so it's a surprise when Meredith tells them that Lydia doesn't want to be found.

And with the McCall pack all being stubborn and pig-headed, they get the location one way or another and are soon on Lydia's trail.

Avery had quickly laced up some boots- shoving silver daggers in each one- and threw on a worn leather jacket over her sleeveless holey vest top so she could maneuver with her bow easily.

Hopping into the jeep with her sickly twin, Scott, and Kira- Avery was quick to call Allison and Isaac to tell them where they needed to meet. And when they finally get to the old internment camp where everything had first started with the nogitsune many years ago, Scott and Stiles break off from the group to follow Lydia's scent.

Avery and Allison flank Kira with their bows at the ready, Isaac at Allison's side as they let the kitsune take charge. It turns out that Mrs. Yukimura, Kira's own mother, is already there with the Oni who she controls and plan to kill the nogitsune even if it means killing Stiles. But the McCall pack are having none of that- Kira trying to get her Mom to understand that Stiles doesn't have to die but she doesn't pay attention. And in the middle of their argument, the Oni leave when they sense the nogitsune inside but things quickly turn ugly when Mrs. Yukimura seems to startle and admit that the Oni are no longer under her control.

Nogitsune!Stiles appears behind them, five Oni at his back just waiting for their new master's command. With the nogitsune smiling rather smug, Allison and Avery share a worried glance before all hell breaks loose.

Two of the Oni immediately swing their katanas at Kira- Mrs. Yukimura scrambling out of the way since she hadn't come prepared for a fight. Allison and Avery let arrows fly at two other Oni, and Isaac throws himself at the last one.

Isaac can be heard snarling and growling as he claws at the Oni who keeps evading his claws, the other Oni easily slicing arrows in half right before they can meet their target. Isaac gets shoved to the ground, a katana swinging low for him but before Avery can notch an arrow to distract the Oni, Allison jumps in and uses her bow to block the blow meant for the wolf.

Allison ends up knocking the Oni down and Isaac scrambles back up to his feet, and Avery lets arrow after arrow fly as she evades the blades of swords all around her. Growing frustrated, she runs from the Oni that has his sights on her and lets an arrow fly into the back of one the Oni fighting Kira. And just when she thinks she's got him, the arrow flies right through him.

Allison and Isaac see this, Allison frowning before notching another arrow to keep trying.

"How do we stop them," Isaac yells as he fends off an Oni.

Looking back at Mrs. Yukimura, said woman looks terrified. "You can't!"

Isaac then gets sliced across the chest, the shock of the blade slicing through his skin sending him to his knees. Avery practically whimpers, reaching back for another arrow only to find that she doesn't have any more. Isaac gets sliced two more times, the wolf looking as if he's given up when two Oni attack him at the same time, and Avery throws her bow down before reaching in for one of her special made daggers.

Gripping it in hand, she trades blows with another Oni, swinging the blade and startling when said blade slices through the now shocked Oni's arm. Having been injured, the Oni shoves Avery to the side before looking elsewhere for a fight and before Avery can tell Allison of her discovery, she turns just in time to see the last of Allison's arrow embed itself into the chest of an Oni.

The fight pauses as the Oni's katana clanks on the ground- everyone staring in shock as the Oni grips at his chest where the arrow is protruding from. Yellow light starts to glow from it's wound and then in the next second, the Oni explodes in a cloud of smoke and a deafening explosion.

Allison and Avery both grin, Avery seeing the incoming Oni a second too late and watches in horror as he impales Allison with his own katana.

Scott shows up just as the Oni extracts his weapon- all of the Oni disappearing as Allison falls to the ground just when Scott reaches her.

Kira runs to her mother, Isaac watches on numbly, and Avery can't move.

Scott's face is the look of pure shock, eyes immediately watering as he cradles an injured Allison in his arms. "Did you find her? Is she okay? Is Lydia safe," she struggles to catch her breath.

"She's okay, yeah," Scott hurries to reply, his hand seeking out hers that's laying atop her wound. He grabs her hand as if to take her pain away but he looks panicked. "I can't- I can't take your pain."

Avery then watches as the most peaceful expression comes over Allison's features, her heart breaking even more at the sight.

"It's because it doesn't hurt."

Avery's sob tears through her throat, her knees wobbling as she tries to hold herself standing up. She can practically hear her blood rushing in her ears and her heart is working double time as Scott denies the inevitable. When Allison's mid-speech about her dying being okay because she's in the arms of her first love, the man she'll always love, and the man she still loves, Avery loses it and crumples to the ground in tears- her dagger clattering beside her.

It happens when Allison's telling Scott that he needs to her Dad- to tell him something and she stutters over her final breath that it happens. Scott's sobbing as he holds Allison closer to him and Avery feels it.

Her skin feels like it's wrapped too tight and everything is tingling, the sensation trickling into her fingertips. Grief runs hot through her veins and it's like a rubber band snaps and she's suddenly void of any emotion except grief and anger.

She can hear pounding footsteps behind her before they come to a stop, she then climbing to her feet as she stares at her fallen friend. "Scott," she calls out numbly. "Move."

Scott's head snaps up, tears streaming down his face. "What?"

"Move."

A not-so-gentle breeze starts to fill the enclosed space they're all standing in, Scott sitting up a little straighter as he glances around. Deep down, she knows he must sense something because his eyes flicker between their normal deep brown and alpha red.

And when Scott finally realizes just where the source of the sudden power is coming from, he climbs shakily to his feet. Avery's gaze is still on Allison, Scott growling lowly in warning but she's not worried about him.

Slowly raising her left hand with her palm out, Avery's gaze snaps to Scott's and he's a little more than shocked to be sent flying back. "I can help," she deadpans when Scott hurriedly climbs to his feet and growls louder. There's even a gun cocking somewhere behind her but she pays that no mind either. "I can help but you need to trust me."

"Trust you," he scoffs in disbelief and tenses as Avery walks closer to Allison's body, kneeling down. "You just sent me flying! What are you?"

Frowning, Avery wipes away the dribble of blood at the corner of Allison's lips. "Her last hope."

Clenching her jaw and setting the rawest of her emotions aside, Avery straightens up with a blank look on her face. She holds her hand out once more but this time, her palm is facing towards the sky, and bending her fingers as if making mock-claws. She snaps her wrist upward and a ring of fire circles herself and Allison to keep everyone out. There's even a shimmer in the air around her and she ignores everyone panicking on the outside of the ring. A gunshot rings out but the bullet merely disintegrates before even reaching it's target.

Now scowling, her gaze lands on Chris Argent. "Don't do that again."

"What are you doing with my daughter's body," he grounds out.

"Something that's looked down upon in the magical community," she simply answers as she shrugs out of her jacket and drags out her second dagger from her other boot. "But the nemeton doesn't care."

Scott's eyes widen at Avery's words, his own heart practically stopping for a second time that night as Avery uses her dagger to carve the inside of her left forearm with symbols he's never seen before, and then her right palm with something that resembled a celtic knot.

"Stop," Scott pleads, getting as close to the fire as he can. "What are you doing?!"

"What needs to be done."

Her carved palm presses down against Allison's wound, her left forearm held over the body as she bows her head. Chris, Isaac, Kira, and Mrs. Yukimura soon join Scott outside the circle of fire- all watching as Avery starts gently rocking back and forth. The carved symbols slowly appear to be glowing but none of them can really be sure with the fire giving off the light it's giving off.

Low muttering finally reaches the outside group's ears, mutterings of Latin as the rocking gets more harsher. And as the rocking gets more harsher, the louder Avery chants. The rocking soon comes to a sudden halt, Avery's head snaps up, and Kira gasps at the pitch blackness of Avery's eyes.

She stares at nothing, the pack all fidgeting at this new development. And just like that, the chanting starts up again. None of them are that fluent in the language, all except for Mr. Argent though he's just as shocked as everyone else and keeps deathly silent.

The chanting soon starts to sound as if Avery's yelling, tears streaming down her face but she doesn't relent. Seconds turn into minutes and minutes seem like an eternity.

A startled gasp rattles from Allison's lips and a sob tears from Chris as his daughter's eyes flutter open. The chanting ceases and Avery pulls her arms back to herself, the once dead Huntress greedily sucking in air as she claws at her own wound. And when Allison tries to sit up, Avery pushes her back down with a gentle shake of her head.

"What's.. your eyes," Allison rasps.

Avery offers her a tired grin, her gaze then sliding up to that of the anxiously awaiting pack. With a lazy sweep of her arm, the flames die down and she nods at Chris.

Chris rushes in immediately to kneel by his daughter and pull her up so she's sitting cradled in his arms. "Her wound isn't entirely closed," Avery mumbles through heavy panting. "You'll need to take her home or to the hospital to patch it up."

"Thank you," he murmurs as silent tears stream down his face.

Avery gulps and nods, pushing herself back from the family and standing on shaky legs. She stumbles a bit but Scott's immediately there to catch her. As she peers up at him, it's a struggle to keep her eyes open.

"Your eyes are still black," he frowns. "Why are they-"

"So much power," she tiredly blurts before falling unconscious in Scott's arms.

When Avery finally wakes, she keeps her eyes closed because she can immediately sense that she's not alone.

Her whole body feels like she was hit by a truck or hell, even a train and she doesn't feel like moving much. She shifts a little in bed and she can hear almost a hopeful gasp but when she falls still, there's a defeated sigh.

"I know you're awake," Scott grumbles. "Open your eyes."

Rolling her eyes beneath closed eyelids, Avery does as she's told with a pout. Everyone's in her room- Scott, Stiles, Melissa, John, Chris, Allison, Lydia, Kira, and Isaac- all of whom look wary and nervous.

"Nik and Elijah are on their way," Stiles finally speaks with his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "They said you broke the bind- something that should have been impossible- and that they're on their way. Care to explain what bind they're talking about?"

"It's complicated," she frowns and attempts to sit up. "And a very long story." Grimacing, Avery rubs at her chest when she feels a small pang and her frown deepens when she sees the bandage on her hand and arm. "What-"

"Mom had to stitch you up," Scott deadpans. "You cut yourself pretty deep."

Avery flinches at his words as she remembers what she did, peeking at her Dad and Stiles who look severely unimpressed with her at the moment. "Why didn't you tell us what you were," John asks.

Continuing to rub at her chest to soothe the small ache, Avery sits up against the many pillows. "Because how do you tell someone that the power you wield is stronger than a whole Coven of witches combined," she sighs tiredly. "How do you tell someone the power is such a rush that it makes you go dark and create all sorts of mayhem? Or that you've already created said mayhem and a Coven put a bind on you so you wouldn't go down that route again."

The pack all fall silent, each and every one of them in various stages of shock and disbelief. "There were numerous of times I wanted to come clean- times when I wanted to call up the Coven to release the bind so I could help out more but I didn't need to in the end. And then the nogitsune- the nogitsune," she suddenly leans forward with wide eyes, Scott already waving her off.

"We took care of him while you were out. He's gone for good."

"How long was I out for?"

"A little over thirteen hours," Isaac mumbles. "Your heartbeat was really slow."

Avery frowns yet again at that admission, her hand still unconsciously rubbing at her chest- something to which Scott catches on to. "You okay?"

"Yeah.. yeah," she nods but then shakes her head. "No," she groans. "Is someone nervous? Anxious and or panicked," she frowns as she looks up at everyone.

"No, not really," is pretty much the consensus of the entire room. "More like curious," Stiles then adds in before realizing what his sister just said. "Wait, what?! You can feel all that?"

"Yeah, twin, I can practically taste everyone's curiosity," she mumbles. "But seriously, you guys don't feel this," she asks with a scowl as she stares at Scott and Isaac since they were the two werewolves. "It's like- it's like I can feel everyone but someone is really not having a good day."

"Can you figure out who," Scott scoots closer to her, eager to learn who. "I mean, we're all here except for Peter and Derek so it has to be one of them, right?"

Avery grimaces some more before shrugging and closing her eyes in concentration, "I've never felt this before." Her brows pull together, her nose scrunches up, and everyone is not-so-patiently waiting to hear what she has to say. "It's like- I feel like I'm connected to everyone. Like there's a thread or something connected to each and every one of you."

Her eyes open and everyone gasps- all of them taking a step back except for Scott who had seen the black eyes the previous night. "Uh, Avs, your eyes," Scott mumbles.

She blinks owlishly up at him, the look eerie since her eyes are completely black. "I'm sorry," she says. "It's this town- the nemeton. It amplifies everything."

Everyone can only nod in understanding and watch as Avery tilts her head to the side as if admiring something- she seeing what they can't as her hand comes up and looks as if she's caressing something. "I've never seen this before," she murmurs as she continues to stroke nothing but air. "It looks mist-like. Different colored mist-like tubes that's connected to everyone here and then elsewhere."

"W-what colors are you seeing," Stiles stammers after getting over the shock of the eerie black eyes.

Pitch black eyes snap to Stiles, a small grin forming. "You're purple," she tells him. "As is Dad," her eyes then travel the mist that envelops the both of them. Looking at Scott and then Melissa, her grin gets wider. "The McCalls are red."

"What about us," Allison squeaks as she stands closer to her Dad.

"Blue," Avery tells her. "Though it's more of a bright sky blue."

Allison smiles at that, Chris seeming to be less tense as the seconds tick by.

"Isaac, you're a golden yellow, Lydia is lavender, and Kira is orange."

The pack falls silent at that admission once more, Lydia the only one looking confused. "What are the colors leading elsewhere?"

Avery's gaze snaps to Lydia, her lips turned down in a frown before her eerie gaze slides to the open door where two mist-like tubes exit. "A charcoal gray and green."

As she concentrates on the two that lead out of her room, the green thread seems to flicker. "Whoever is green," she says without really thinking, her mouth moving on it's own accord. "-is the one in trouble. I can feel the panic from that one."

"Can you tell who it is," Scott hurriedly asks as he starts digging in his pockets for his phone.

Again, her brows pull together in concentration as she studies the green mist. It feels more vibrant than the other, more warm and familiar. She reaches out to touch the green mist that only she can see, warm tingles spreading up through her arm as the person in question comes to her. "Derek." Scott freezes and Avery's lips press into a thin line. "It's Derek," she says again before launching herself out of the bed.

John and Stiles are yelling at her to get back into bed but she pays them no mind and stuffs her feet into her discarded boots by her closet, not caring she's still in her clothes from the other night. Lydia and Isaac are starting to join in on the yelling, too, but Avery merely turns a glare on them. "A pack mate is in trouble. I don't care about my well fare but I will do anything and everything to make sure he's safe. If you're not going to help then get the hell out of my way!"

The glare is even more effective given the state of her eyes so no-one makes a move to stop her. Though when she picks up her bike helmet from inside her closet and key from her dresser, Scott and the rest of the pack- except for the parents- are at her heels as they run down the stairs.

Outside, four bikes are parked there- Avery's, Stiles', Scott's, and Isaac's- and Lydia jumps on behind Stiles without a word. Allison are Kira are busy getting their weapons from Lydia's car, both females staring at one another before staring at the boys and not knowing who to sit behind. Given Allison's confession during what everyone thought was her final confession, she shook up things by claiming to love Scott even though she was with Isaac and Kira had a thing going on with Scott.

Not wanting to make it anymore weirder than it already was, Kira jumps on behind Avery before Allison has a chance to. The Huntress grumbles and before she has to make her choice, Lydia curses softly before hopping off of Stiles' bike and climbing on behind Scott, letting Allison sit behind Stiles.

Scott and Isaac say nothing about that- Scott then turning to Avery. "Is the mist linking to Derek still there?" And at her nod of an answer, Scott's bike roars to life. "Good. Follow that to Derek and we'll be right behind you."

Not needing to be told twice, Avery starts her own bike followed by everyone else and then it's a race to save Derek Hale from whatever trouble he's managed to get himself into this time.

..

..

Once outside of Derek's building, the pack waste no time in marching inside and climbing into the elevator.

Avery stands at the forefront, eyes back to normal and glaring at the doors of the elevator with Scott at her side listening in to the sounds from above. Lydia and Stiles stand huddled side-by-side, Scott and Isaac have their claws out, Allison has her mini-crossbow ready to fire, and Kira has her katana out of it's sheath and gripped tight in hand at her side.

"There's numerous heartbeats," Scott suddenly murmurs, taking in a deep sniff of the air. "They have wolfsbane on them."

Rolling her shoulders, Avery nods. "Good. Alli and I can take care of this then."

"Uh, no," Stiles objects. "Allison just came back to life yesterday and you were unconscious for hours. Why don't you let the wolves handle this?"

"One is because of the obvious- wolfsbane," she deadpans before turning to look over her shoulder. "And two is because she's my pack sister. Do you really think I'd let anything else happen to her while I'm around?" Her eyes slowly bleed black once more and her lips curve into a smirk.

Fighting off a shiver, Stiles shakes his head. "Well, when you look like that, no. Go ahead. Fight them off. But if you get injured I'm totally telling Dad it was all your idea."

The elevator soon comes to a stop and Scott agrees to let Avery and Allison take the lead on this one. And as they all quietly step off the elevator and stand in formation in front of Derek's loft door, Avery and Allison share a quick nod of understanding.

"Where is the she-wolf?!" an unfamiliar voice hollers from inside the loft. And without waiting for an answer, Avery grips the door's handle tightly in hand and throws it open.

She and Allison are the first two to step through, Avery letting her lips curve into a smirk when five armed Mexican hunters whirl around with their weapons trained on her.

"Now, now," Avery coos as she slowly steps down the stairs. "That's no way to greet a guest of Mr. Hale's."

Allison matches Avery step for step, the growling of the two wolves sounding behind them as well as the sound of Kira's blade dragging along the floor. Stiles and Lydia bring up the rear, the both of them looking around warily at everyone standing around.

"Qué es esto," a middle-aged aged Mexican asks, the one standing nearest Derek with his knock off imitation of Tony Stark's goatee. "Quién es usted?"

"The name is Avery," she answers him after coming to a stop, the Mexican hunters standing between her and Derek. "And we're here for our pack mate."

The one who questioned who she was seems to be the man in charge, he snorting sarcastically. "I don't think so, sweetheart. He has answers that we need."

Several shotguns get cocked in warning, Avery's smirk widening into a full blown smile as she turns her head to the side to face Allison. "I love it when they get cocky, don't you?" And with a lazy flick of her wrist, all the hunters' weapons get dropped forcefully to the ground. There are shouts of outrage and Avery watches as Allison's grim expression turns into amusement. "I also love being underestimated."

More weapons get drawn, though this time, they're all smaller. When shouting turns into threats once more, Avery rolls her eyes and sweeps her right arm out, all the hunters flying into the nearest wall and being pinned there- weapons once more being forced to the ground.

"My sister's a badass," Stiles murmurs in the background.

Avery chuckles, turning to face him. "You and Lydia want to kick the weapons to the opposite side of the room?" Both people in question nod, hurrying over to the dropped weapons and turning on all the safety switches before picking them up and walking them to the other side of the room.

Stepping further into the room, the pack all follow Avery as she walks up to Derek- Derek who tenses as she nears and gestures to his own set of eyes. "That's new."

She only winks in response, Derek turning to Scott for an answer who only shrugs. "We still haven't got the full story but she's on our side."

"Damn right I'm on your side."

The pack only have seconds to marvel in their victory when a smoke bomb with a built-in flash bomb is tossed into the room.

The werewolves and kitsune are quick to shield their eyes and crouch low to the ground- Avery scowling at the newest intruder when Stiles quickly runs forward to kick the smoke bomb back towards the door. But the smoke bomb has already done it's damage, the room already smoke-filled and hazy that everyone is having trouble seeing through the haze.

A low throaty feminine chuckle echos around the room, the Mexican hunters who are still pinned to the walls hollering about la loba.

A dark shadow figure comes into view through the haze of smoke, it moving far faster than a human would. Isaac growls at it, tracking it's movement before lunging at it only to grunt in pain and be tossed at Scott's feet. Derek and Avery share a wary glance, Avery pursing her lips in contemplation. Scott growls now, his eyes gleaming alpha red but right before he can lunge, a shotgun cocks deep in the haze and fires.

Avery's hand shoots out lightning fast, the back of her palm pressed against Derek's chest and when said wolf peers down, the buckshot of the shotgun shell having been slowed down to a snail's pace. With a huff, Avery lets her hand fall and the buckshot clatters to the floor.

"Really? That's all you've got," Avery calls out.

Scott, Kira, and Derek's attention all snap to Avery- not quite believing her boldness and Stiles mentally facepalms. "Avery, we don't tempt the enemy," he harshly mutters.

"Yes, Avery, don't tempt me."

The McCall pack all seem to freeze at the sound of the voice, all except for Kira who's peering at Scott in confusion and Avery who's starting to vibrate with anger and power waiting to be unleashed at the new threat.

"Who is it," Avery finally asks since she and Kira seem to be in the dark. A female figure saunters forward in leather pants, black boots, leather jacket over a white tank top, and blonde hair framing one of the most flawless faces Avery's ever seen with a shotgun in hand.

"You're not real," Derek mutters, taking a step back when the new female smirks.

"Again," Avery bristles. "Who is-"

"Aunt Kate?" And yeah, that has Avery's gaze snapping to Allison who stumbles forward, crossbow in hand as her voice wobbles.

The woman's gaze also snaps to Allison, her smirk widening. "Little Al, you're supposed to be dead."

Any trace of emotion is immediately wiped from Allison's face, her arms aiming the crossbow at her supposed aunt. "Funny. I could say the same about you."

Kate merely shrugs, her eyes then dancing over to the still hollering hunters. She huffs a laugh at them, her gaze then sliding over to Avery as she sizes her up. "That's a neat little trick. I've never met a witch with eyes quite like yours."

"And you never will ever again," Avery tells her.

A moment of silence passes and Kate quickly cocks her shotgun again but Avery's even quicker to thrust her arm out in front of her with her palm directed at Kate. An invisible force knocks into the blonde- it sending her flying back a good five feet before slamming Kate harshly on her back on the floor. And with a flick of her wrist, Avery sends the shotgun sliding towards Lydia who is quick to pick it up and lay it down with the other weapons.

"Her," the one Mexican with the receding hairline and imitation of Tony Stark's goatee suddenly yells. "We are here for her. La loba!"

"La what," Stiles asks as Kate suddenly struggles against her invisible binds.

"They're calling her the wolf," Avery mumbles as her gaze slides from the one Mexican hunter in charge to the struggling Kate. "Or she-wolf."

"She turned," Allison frowns. "When? And why didn't she show up sooner?"

"We took her body from the morgue," the Mexican confesses. "She was showing signs of turning and Araya said she had to do what all hunters do right before they turn."

Allison grimaces as does everyone else who knew that the hunters had to take their own life if ever turned. And seeing as Kate is Allison's aunt, Avery turns to her. "What do you wanna do, Alli? She's your family."

Kate's gaze turns a bit hopeful but Allison just shrugs indifferently. "She stopped being family when she burned innocents to death."

The woman in question snarls in outrage, she shifting in the process and when Avery catches sight of her, her eyebrow quirks at what she's seeing. "A were-jaugar. Interesting."

Everyone gets close enough to get a glimpse, Avery then turning towards the visiting hunters. "And what do you plan on doing with her?"

"Doing what we are meant to do. She's killed innocents before and after her turning. La loba needs to be put down."

Again, Avery looks to Allison who nods in understanding. And looking back towards the hunters, Avery stares at them and with a blink of her eyes, they're unglued from their positions. None of them make a move, all of them standing behind their supposed leader when he's the only one to take a few cautious steps forward.

"You can have her," Avery nods towards Kate's struggling form, she easily ignoring all the swear words that the ex-huntress is dropping. "But the second you step foot back in Beacon Hills again is the day I won't give you any warning. You leave the McCall pack alone-"

"But our code," the hunter tries to cut Avery off only to receive an eerie glare in return.

"Has changed," she sneers at him. "Nous protégeons ceux qui ne peuvent pas se protéger eux-mêmes. You'd do well to remember that as well as the woman in charge. The moment you decide to come after anyone in Scott's pack is the moment you're marked as a dead man."

The hunter has only enough time to cave and nod in understanding, two faint whooshes sounding in the room that suddenly has Kate hollering even louder. Everyone looks towards the commotion, all the Mexicans swearing in spanish and crossing themselves with the sign of the cross as they stare at the newcomers.

Elijah and Nik.

Avery rolls her eyes at their entrance, both Originals eyeing her warily.

"I'm good," she sighs. "I appear to be grounded here."

Nik slowly smirks, easily taking her word for it and Elijah merely stands there poised in all his elegant glory. "You look good, kitten. The dark eyes suit you," Nik drawls.

"Mhm. What are you doing here, Nik?"

"The Coven felt their bind break," he shrugs nonchalantly. "They panicked and we were curious as to how you broke it and whether or not you were on a murderous rampage."

"That was one time," she quickly defends herself before pouting and crossing her arms childishly over her chest as if they didn't have the Mexican hunters or Kate watching. "And I didn't murder anyone. I just caused a lot of.. chaos."

"And what great chaos that was, love."

Elijah sighs at their little back and forth, he clearing his throat as politely as he can. "Well since you're in control and rather well-behaved than the last time," his lips twitch in the briefest of grins. "I don't see reason for us to be here."

"Yes, well, I have a favor to ask now that you're here and our new friends seem to be terrified of you," Avery slowly smirks as her gaze darts over to the Mexican hunters. "Our friends seem to be heading back to Mexico with their prize in tow," she then gestures towards Kate. "And I need to make sure they get there and a very special lady gets the message about the McCall pack being off limits. Care to join them?"

The hunters start to protest but Elijah nods in agreement. "For you, anything."

Avery beams happily and the hunters end their protest. With a wave of her arm, she frees Kate from her position and the she-jaguar quickly scrambles to her feet. She barely makes it a few inches before Nik catches her wrist, Kate turning and snarling in his face. And without missing a beat, Nik's features shift to his hybrid visage and he snarls back, Kate shrinking under his gaze.

"That's right, aunt Kate," Allison suddenly chirps. "I've made new friends. What you're feeling right now is over a thousand years of wisdom and power. If I were you, I'd leave willingly."

Kate falls silent, eyes wide as Nik shoves her into Elijah's grip. "Do piss off my brother, young one," he chuckles. "It amuses me when he's upset and starts ripping out hearts."

Kate gulps and Elijah sighs as if he can't deal with his brother right now. Gripping Kate's upper arm roughly, Elijah looks towards the hunters. "After you," he says as he sweeps his free arm out towards the door.

And after a few moments of hesitation, Avery assures them that their weapons will be turned into Chris and Chris will deliver them back across the border. Knowing it's an argument they won't win, the hunters all file out of Derek's loft with Elijah on their heel and Kate in tow.

The tension seems to drain from the room after Scott assures them they're all heading down in the elevator, Avery rolling her shoulders and slumping on the steel table at her back. When she closes her eyes, she takes in a few calming breaths and when her eyes open, they're back to their normal brown.

"That's new," Nik comments as he strides further into the room. "Last time your eyes looked like that, you couldn't control it."

Shrugging, Avery pats the open space next to her when Allison eyes it. "Like I mentioned earlier, I'm grounded here." Nik merely raises a curious eyebrow and Avery rolls her eyes. "I don't really know how to explain it," she says. "But I feel at peace here. The power has seemed to latch on to the pack and my emotions seem to fuel the power, directing it where it needs to be instead of getting out of control."

"So we're your anchor then," Isaac suddenly realizes. Every gaze turns to the beta wolf, eyes widening in realization only seconds later.

"Huh," Avery then grins. "I guess you are."

"Touching, really," Nik drawls. "But I'm still curious as to how you broke the bind in the first place."

"My emotions got the best of me," Avery answers, mumbling. "I just.. snapped."

"I've known you to be temperamental," Nik grins. "Just what exactly happened the other night?"

Avery's gaze darts to Scott, eyes narrowing. "You didn't tell him?"

"Tell me what?"

Shrugging sheepishly, Scott scuffs the toe of his boot along the floor. "I told him enough."

Avery scowls at Scott, her lips turning upward into a grin when Scott pouts at her. Then giving Nik her attention, she's back to being serious. "Allison died yesterday." Nik's eyes slightly widen, quickly darting to Allison who's leaning her hip on the table that Avery's sitting on. "One second, I'm grieving for my fallen friend and the next- it was just blank. I could feel the rush of power before everything burst- it mainly leading me to do what I needed to do."

Nik's expression hardens and Avery avoids his gaze. "Blood magic, love. Really?"

"I did what I had to do."

Nik narrows his eyes and Avery fidgets under his stare. The wolves can all feel Nik's anger simmering just under the surface and Avery's nerves starting to act up. The longer the silence reigns, the longer Stiles and the others have to somewhat piece together what's going on.

"So I take it blood magic isn't a good thing," Stiles suddenly blurts.

Avery lowers her head with a frown and Nik sarcastically huffs. "You can say that again."

Avery quickly grumbles, holding her chin up high and locking gazes with each and everyone in the room. "Let's take this conversation over by the couch, huh? Might as well be comfortable as I tell you what you want to know."

They all look to Derek since it's his loft, the werewolf nodding and leading the way.

Since Nik is the guest, they all leave the couch open for him to take a seat, Avery quickly plopping down next to him and hooking her arm with his. Laying her head on his shoulder, she entwines their fingers and uses her free hand to tap a rhythm along his arm until he lets some of his tension drain.

Derek doesn't take the spot next to Avery 'cause he still wants to know all about her but he does take a seat on the arm rest.

Allison and Lydia have no problem sitting atop the coffee table, and Scott and Isaac drag over chairs for themselves, Stiles, and Kira.

Once all settled, Lydia raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at her friend. "Spill everything," she tells Avery. "Starting with what exactly you are."

Avery sighs and closes her eyes, giving herself a moment before she picks up her head to stare at her pack. "I honestly don't know what I am," she admits. Lydia opens her mouth to retort but Avery shakes her head at her friend. "It all started after Nik and Elijah took me in, during my lessons of everything supernatural. I had just started the witchy portion of my studying when the Coven Leader confessed there was something about me that felt familiar to him. And when he looked further into it, he discovered a small spark within me- a little flicker of magic that could be expanded."

"A spark," Stiles suddenly sits up straighter before. "Deaton once said I had a spark so does that mean I'm like you?"

Briefly grinning, Avery turns her attention to him. "Yes and no." And at everyone's awaiting stare, she continues to explain. "You and I," she then looks her twin in the eye. "We're different than the average witch. But since there was no-one who was like me in the French Quarter or anywhere near us, the Quarter's coven leader taught me what he knew.

Even though our magic was different, I still picked up what he taught me. Only no-one knew that what I was being taught warped my spark. I picked it up fairly fast and was taught both light and dark magic. Blood magic is dark hence the reason for Nik being pissed."

"If it was dark then why'd you do it," Allison then frowns.

"Because you died," Avery's voice cracks and her eyes water. She takes a moment to compose herself, sniffling a little and wiping at her eyes. "I couldn't just stand there and do nothing."

"Since it was dark, will there be any consequences," Scott asks.

Shaking her head, Avery meets his gaze. "Had it been anywhere else, maybe," she shrugs. "But since it's here and my power was being fueled by the nemeton, there is no consequence. The nemeton helps- good or bad- as long as you don't abuse it."

"Okay, okay, let's get back on track," Stiles mumbles. "What happened after you learned both types of magic?"

"My power grew and grew. It started off as a gently pressure sitting on my chest," she admits with a frown as she recalls the memory. "It never hurt but it- it made me feel like I had so much energy to waste. And I did. I used and used until the magic eventually swallowed me whole and made me go dark.

When the Coven realized I was far more powerful than them, Nik and Elijah found a way to get close to me, and sedate me while the Coven put a bind on me to keep me from using my magic."

"And you were okay with them binding you," Derek frowns. "Your magic is part of you and you willingly let them do that?"

"Well, yeah," she nods and Nik suddenly grins.

"If you had the kitten creating mayhem in your city and causing riots between the species, you'd have bound her, too."

Avery sheepishly grins when everyone raises a curious yet amused eyebrow in her direction, she then quickly punching Nik in the ribs which only causes him to chuckle.

"So the eyes," Scott then pipes up. "Do they change like ours with the shift?"

"Honestly, I'm not really sure about that either. At first, we thought it was because I was using dark magic but I noticed- since I've been able to use again- that they bleed black immediately when I use. Dark magic's not necessary."

"Yeah, well, it's freaky," Stiles blurts though he doesn't look like he meant to offend her and Avery slowly smirks at him.

"Unsettling is more like it," Lydia amends but then smiles fondly. "But your magic saved one of us the other night so you'll hear no complaints from me."

Avery nods in understanding and relief, her gaze then traveling to Allison who grins- dimples and all- at her. "I never did say thank you, did I?"

"S'fine," Avery shrugs her off. "It's what pack is for, right?"

The pack seem to all finally be at ease, Derek finally sinking down onto the cushion of the couch next to Avery. They only have a few more minutes to chat and ask Avery about just what exactly she's capable of- and whether or not Stiles can learn the basics- when the loft door slides open.

Peter's standing there, two bags of groceries in his arms when he freezes there, eyes narrowing suspiciously at the lot of them before traveling upward to where the haze of lingering smoke still resides.

Sighing and then rolling his eyes, he looks to his nephew. "Alright, what did I miss?"

Everyone's lips twitch in some form amusement, most of them turning to Avery who grins rather feral at Peter and lets her eyes bleed black once more.

"Peter, Peter, Peter," she tuts and her grin turns into a full blown smile when she sees him visibly stiffen at the new change. "Come, sit, and let me tell you a tale of a little girl who started with nothing but still come out on top with a family, a pack, and an insane amount of power."

End.

I'm terrible sorry for cutting this series off here. I had two ideas left but I CANNOT for the life of me think up any story to pin with each idea. So I apologize if I didn't get to your idea.

Big shout out to those who sent in ideas- I had fun writing what I could and am glad you all enjoyed it.

As for now, I'm going to take a small writing break because I've been getting sick lately and it sucks. But don't worry, the break will be small- real small. And then after that, I have plans to post a TWO-SHOT that has been sitting on my laptop for going on two months now, haha. It's an Avenger/Potter (fem!Harry) crossover so I'll get that out soon.

Until next time..