Chapter 1: One Rainy Night…
Back then, she was still known as Jamie Breid. She still went to school, still had chores, and still had a boringly normal life. Then her family moved.
The Breids moved from Wyoming to a city off the coast of California. This city is known for its team of heroes, the Teen Titans. Jamie was fifteen-years old and a huge fan of the Titans. She always watched the news broadcasts and made sure she knew which villains were on the loose. Jamie was a typical fan.
One rainy evening several months later, Jamie was hurrying home in an attempt to dodge the oncoming storm. Jamie was thinking about the latest news broadcast she saw. It had discussed a new criminal roaming the streets.
The only thing known about this criminal was that he called himself Howler. Citizens were advised not to approach him if seen, only to call the police.
Man, I'd better get home quick, she thought. Although, it would be cool to see that Howler guy get taken down by the Titans. She smiled. It'd be interesting to see her favorite heroes in person rather than on TV.
A crash of thunder signaled the start of the storm, and as the lightning came, so did the downpour.
"Aw, great! Just great!" she mumbled angrily. Now my shoes are gonna get soaked…I hate soggy shoes.
Jamie was running now, her footsteps unheard over the resounding thunder.
"C'mon, c'mon."
She counted three alleyways before turning into the fourth. Jamie used the fourth alley as a shortcut to her neighborhood.
Panting heavily, she stopped to rest beneath a fire escape where the rain wasn't falling as hard.
"This…storm…is…brutal…" she said between huffs.
After catching her breath, Jamie began walking slowly towards her shortcut. Suddenly, she was knocked to the ground by a large figure in the shadows.
"Hey! What's the big idea, bub?" Jamie cried, picking herself up off the wet concrete.
A growl and snarl were the only response she heard.
"Did you just growl at me?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I did. Do you have a problem with that?" snarled the mysterious stranger. As the figure emerged from the shadows, Jamie gasped. He had fur, a tail, claws, and the head of a wolf.
"You're…you're…" stuttered a shocked Jamie.
The wolfman smiled. "So you know of me then? I am Howler the wolfman. That is why you see me as a wolf." Howler was holding a larger sack in his paws.
Jamie glanced at the sack. "Then I suppose you stole whatever's in that bag. Well don't think you're gonna get away with it. The Teen Titans will stop you!"
His smiled disappeared and he shook his head sadly. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this," He placed the sack down and began advancing towards her menacingly. "But it appears you may cause me trouble after all."
Jamie's heart began racing. Just minutes ago she might have wanted to run into a super villain just for thrills. But this was real, and Jamie wasn't so thrilled.
With every step closer Howler took, she took one back. Her only chance was to find a moment and run for it. Maybe if she made it to the police station…
Her thoughts were cut short when she heard Howler. "Enough games!" he roared, "You're mine!" And with that, he howled and crouched down, positioning himself for an attack.
This is my chance, Jamie realized and turned to flee. Howler was too quick though. She had just turned in time for his claws to slash her back and send her flying into the alley wall.
Jamie only had enough time to sit up before he charged, roaring and snarling, towards her. She was in so much pain. She could barely move, but somehow managed to raise her left arm to shield her face from Howler's bite.
His fangs dug into her arm, leaving huge gashes. Jamie cried out; the pain was too much to bare. She fell onto her stomach, writhing in pain, as the cold rain fell down on her.
Howler was closing in to end it. Good, she thought, At least this horrible pain will be over.
He was positioned with claw raised in the air. She closed her eyes, waiting for his final strike…
It didn't come. Jamie opened her eyes to find Howler standing next to his sack, ears cocked. He was listening to something, something so faint only a canine could hear it. When Howler began sniffing Jamie knew someone, or something, was coming.
"Hey guys! He's over here, I just picked up his scent, and boy, is he stinky!" laughed a voice nearby.
Another voice responded, "Titans! Let's move!" Splashing footsteps were heard from the direction of Jamie's shortcut.
Hearing them, Howler slung the bag over his shoulder and darted into the adjacent alley.
The Teen Titans! I can't believe it, they're so close by. Awesome!
"Robin, he is this way, I saw him run into that alley moments ago." yelled a voice that Jamie recognized as Starfire's.
Their footsteps were coming closer. Jamie attempted a smile. She was going to be saved.
Then, out of the blue, her pain became extreme. Her wounds were bleeding uncontrollably and the bite on her arm felt as though it was on fire. Each drop of rain that landed on her wounds felt like being stabbed with a knife.
A large splash indicated the Teen Titans were at the intersection of the alleyways. They turned suddenly, though, and due to her immense pain, Jamie couldn't cry out for help.
Jamie was completely shocked. They were basically in front of her and they didn't notice her. They were right there and they turned right into the alley across from her.
Jamie began to twitch all over. Each time she twitched she hurt worse. She started growling, too. It was a strange sort of pattern: twitch, whine, twitch, growl, yelp.
It was so dark that she didn't notice a figure on the edge of the shadows in the adjacent alley. The figure was floating in midair. A second floating figure appeared a moment later.
"Raven, what is wrong?" questioned the second figure, "Are you not going to join us in the pursuit of Howler?"
The first figure, Raven, replied, "Yeah, I'll catch up with you guys in a bit. I just…need to check something. Tell them not to worry, Starfire."
"Ok, Raven, I will tell them," Starfire said with a questioning tone to her voice. Starfire's shadowy figure turned and disappeared down the alley.
Raven moved into the dim light and scanned the area. She came back because she, with her supernatural powers, had sensed a presence other than Howler's in the alley.
During all this, Jamie continued to twitch and make dog-like noises. Her pain had not decreased at all, and she was struggling to remain conscious.
Jamie now had a full view of Raven. She looked exactly the same way she did on television.
In attempt to gain Raven's attention, Jamie let out a short whimper. Raven, upon hearing Jamie's whimper, surrounded her hands in the black, shadowy magic she's known for, preparing to defend herself.
sorry it just ends like that, but you'll get why once the next chapter is posted.
