It’d happened.<br/><br/>It’d finally happened.<br/><br/>After months of planning, chasing whispers, and catching the cocky ones off guard, they’d managed to steal something they’d not intended for, but could use just the same. All of the blood shed had been worth it, the countless hours spent organizing these strategic hits to replace equipment being broken while they hastily moved from one location to the next.<br/><br/>But…they’d finally gotten something…The full extent of that something wasn’t known yet, but it was something.<br/><br/>She’d been in a meeting when it happened, the announcement going out to gather everyone in the main room, her own steps, though cautious, purposeful and calculated as her mind ran over what they’d gotten. Pushing through the crowd of hopefuls to take up her usual perch atop one of the tables, one leg gracefully crossed over the other while she leaned back and took stock of those around them. Content looks were on those elders who’d already been privy to the information, and excitement remained on the grunts who’d found what everyone had been so hyped about.<br/><br/>Bellen wouldn’t get excited yet, however. Not until she knew the extent of whatever development they’d achieved.<br/><br/>“We’ve finally done it,” a voice rang out. Grey eyes scanned until the center of the cluster caught her eye, to who the voice belonged. He was an intelligent sort, sired a century before her, and had earned her respect for how he conducted himself, how he handled the crisis that was their current living arrangement. “We’ve found something that could finally get us back to where we need to be. Something that, we hope, will give us that edge over the dogs that put us here.”<br/><br/>A pause as he looked down at the paper in his hand. “The werewolves—” Almost as if on cue, a hiss rang out among those newer to this life, and those only just sired; Following the hatred of those who’d caused their new lives to, often, be cut short. An eye roll was given, though nothing was said as she focused on what was being said. “—Have been working on a way to combat their affliction to silver.”<br/><br/>Her eyes narrowed, appall flickering in their freshly-turned stormy depths, though the rest of her face remained placid. Collectively, a gasp resounded. Dramatic though the sound was, and entirely unnecessary (in her mind), the sentiment was felt. “We’re not sure how, exactly, they’re doing it…but we know they are. And, we’re hoping that, with more tactical raids, we can figure out the how’s. With that…we could, in theory, figure a way to take away our aversion to sunlight, and even the playing field.”<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">That</span>caught her attention, leaning forward on her perch, lips parting a hair in her surprise.<br/><br/>Sun, she’d not seen it directly since shortly after her turning. It’d been a hard lesson to learn, to know that the thing she once favored over most everything else was taken away. Forcibly, she’d adapted.<br/><br/>…And now that adaptation could be reversed.<br/><br/>The meeting was dissolving into excited chatter among the groups, with had her pushing off of the table and forcing her way through the crowd to him, to find out the details in a private conversation. Though he’d been pointing and dictating when she approached, she caught his eye, he nodded in acknowledgement and excused himself to talk to her further.<br/><br/>“Is all that you say true?” the woman asked, accent thick while her tone remained its usual even alto. “We may yet walk in the sun?”<br/><br/>“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Bellen,” Klaus cautioned. “It’ll take time, but it<span style="font-style: italic">is</span>a possibility. We’ll understand more of what they’re doing when we hit their next lab, find a sample of the work they’ve done. Already, we’ve got our scientists ready and willing to work on it, and figure out what they’re isolating, before working on figuring out our own genetic code.”<br/><br/>“What do we need?” she asked next, this small development a huge step in the right direction.<br/><br/>“We’ll need to get their paperwork, uncorrupted, containing their formulas and notes, along with a sample—as many as we can grab.” His answer was short, tone much akin to her own. “You will, of course, be included in any developments and given the chance to help, should you desire it.” A look crossed her features that had him chuckling. “Alright, it goes without saying.”<br/><br/>The glimmer of a smile pulled at her lips, giving a nod of her own before melting back into the crowd. Hope, that she’d clung to every day, waiting for something to change…had been renewed, its light far brighter than it’d been before.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Podemos caminar bajo el sol, aún …</span>she thought, feeling all the more determined to find what it was they needed and bring it to fruition.<span style="font-style: italic"> No me importa cuántos perros tengo que matar. Se va a pasar.</span><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div><div style="text-align: center;">Translations:<br/><span style="font-style: italic">We may walk in the sun, yet…<br/>I don't care how many dogs I have to kill. It will happen.</span></div></div></blockquote>