Xavier's wolf blinked at me and returned to his enemy. Knowing he was here, and that he knew I was okay, I rushed off. I felt more alive than I had in weeks as I weaved through the chaos, looking for a certain cell.

"April!" I heard a tiny voice shriek. Kalama.

I dodged sideways as a ball of fighting wolves rolled passed. I finally made it to Kallie's lockup to find her pressed against the bars, reaching for me. I grabbed her tiny hand in mine, reassuring her as I tried to figure out how to get her out.

I spotted the door, but it was locked tight, a padlock hanging from the latch. "Stand back." I told her and she scrambled to the back wall, her dark eyes wide.

Hopping back, I rammed my whole body into the bars, trying to dislodge it. No such luck. I tried and tried again until I physically couldn't anymore. It felt like I was doing more damage to myself than the cell. I growled and paused for a moment, catching my breath.

"April watch out!" Kallie called and I swung my head just in time to leap out of the way as a huge wolf was knocked into the side of the cell. The force he gave was at a crooked angle, bending the bars slightly. It wasn't much, but it was enough for her little body to squeeze through.

I ushered her forward and she took my hand again, climbing between the dented bars. I led her to each cage, skirting the fighting werewolves and pulling her out of the way as clashing wolves tumbled around the room. Every single cell was empty. A couple had been busted open from my pack members while others had been accidentally bent like Kalama's.

Relieved that my friends had escaped, I grabbed Kallie's arm and pulled her through the mayhem and towards the door. Her little hands grasped my arm tightly until we made it to an open window. It was high above my head so I put Kallie on my shoulders and had her stand up, reaching for the windowsill.

She heaved herself up to the snow covered ground on the other side and poked her head back, raising her voice over the screeching and the howls. "Now what? How are you going to get up here?" Her teeth chattered from the cold and I knew I'd have to act fast.

I scanned the wall's height, trying to decide if I could make it by jumping. It was a few feet over my head, and I was incredibly weak. My diet over the last few months had been suffering greatly, turning my muscles into marshmallows. Still, I have it my all.

Bending my legs, I propelled myself upwards, trying to reach for the ledge. Kallie stretches her hand down, as if trying to grab me as I jumped.

"Don't." I told her breathlessly. "I'll just pull you back through."

After several more tries — and fails — I nearly collapsed from exhaustion. A snarl erupted from right behind Kallie and we both jumped, unsure if it was our captors or our saviors.

"Hurry!" Kallie squeaked.

Knowing jumping was no longer an option, I scanned the hallway for something to stand on. I pinpointed a wooden bench far down the hall. "Stay here," I ordered and dashed off.

The bench was heavier than I expected and it took what seemed like hours to get it under the window. I climbed up and grabbed the ledge, pulling with all my might to get myself through the window. Kallie grabbed my arm, trying to do anything that could help, but we both knew it had to be my strength to get me through. The second I was out, I lifted Kallie onto my back and made a break for the trees, hoping I was going in the direction of my pack.

"Shift!" Kallie screeched. I turned my head and saw a rogue pursuing us. I found it odd that we were able to escape the building unnoticed but as soon as we touch the lawn, we became a target.

I pushed my legs to go faster and take longer strides. I called deep inside my mind for Scarlet. I haven't been able to talk to her or even feel her for three months; if she was going to come back, now would be a great time!

An excruciating headache hit my temples as I strained for my fox. It was so bad I nearly dropped Kallie as I entered the heart of the woods. Thankfully, the rogue was still several yards behind us so I risked pausing and helping Kallie into a spruce tree. I hoped the needles would hide her more than the branches of a bare tree, given it was the middle of winter. When she was safely on a branch, I sprinted deeper into the woods, promising to come back for her after he was gone.

When I was far enough away to lead him to me and not Kallie, I leaped at a tree and grasped a low branch between my fingers. I swung up and clumsily hoisted myself into the middle of the oak. When I felt secure, I looked down at the snow covered forest floor to see if he'd seen my getaway, but he was no where to be seen.

Confusion, relief and fear hit me all at once. It was like when you see a spider: it's scary, but it's even more horrifying when it disappears and you can't find where it went. It could be watching, waiting to pounce.

That was how I felt with the rogue. Where did he go? Did he even follow me this far? A terrible thought entered my mind and nearly made me fall from the tree in my panic: did he see where I put Kalama? My heart threatened to pound it's way out of my chest. What if he got her?

"April!" A screech echoes through the woods and I recognized the little voice instantly. Kallie, he must've gotten her!

I panicked, trying to race to her as quick as possible. But in my weakened state, plus the anxiety I was feeling for the little girl, did not make getting out of the tree very easy. I heard another scream and scrambled a little too hard, essentially falling from the tree and crashing to the ground. I barely registered the pain or the chill before I went unconscious.