A/N: As always, questions, comments, squee, and concrit are all welcome.

Placement: AU of dark room scene in "Maddy Cool!"

I. Wrong Way Around

Face to face, veins running dark and eyes burning yellow, Rhydian and Maddy squared off in challenge. Alone in the darkroom, both were so focused on the other that they didn't hear the other students traversing the corridor outside, nor the key turning in the lock. The door swung open and Shannon stepped in; the two wolfbloods whipped around to snarl their protest at her.

The key fell to the floor with a clatter. "M-m-maddy? Rhydian?" Shannon backed toward the door, and bumped it closed, trapping her in the room. "What are you?"

The wolf faded out of Maddy's eyes and she took a step toward her friend, a pleading hand out. "I'm your best friend," she answered. "Please, Shannon. I can explain."

Shannon shook her head. "No," she murmured. "No, it can't be." Her hands scrabbled at the door, unable to find purchase, to find escape.

While Maddy continued to beg, Rhydian bowed his head. It was too soon, and now it was too late. The girl who had spent her life searching for her beast had found it. From the fear freezing her expression, Rhydian knew that she would never see him or Maddy as anything else again.