Well Crap, there goes our weekend; Sorry Babe.
"Michael? Michael…can you hear me?" I heard Qwen say. "Ms. Saunders' I believe that is not a brilliant idea, especially considering his current state." I heard a female voice say. Son-of-a-biscuit- eater. Please tell me that I wasn't taken to a hospital. Soon the stress on my cranium was reliving itself, the head-ache leaving; only to be replaced by another was as the result. The thoughts of the people surrounding me poured in; Qwen's, the Paramedic, and every one at the table. 'My god, Michael. Please wake up'. That would be Qwen. 'How can he be able to function like this? With the temperature of 100 degrees, and possible brain trauma, I don't know why we shouldn't just haul off to the hospital or even the Coroner'. Gee, thanks for the faith lady. But she was right. I shouldn't be alive. Ever since my change, my body temperature is about five or six degrees higher than a humans' body temperature. Well, time to surprise her. I slowly opened my eyes, the light blinding my eyes beyond belief. "Well, that's new," I said. "Huh? Michael, what are you tal-." Qwen tried to say but I cut her off as I got up, in a happily sort of way. "Man, I feel great," I said. As, I pushed by the nurse and Qwen; she looked at me funny-like. "Before anyone stops me; let me talk," I said. "All, right you have the floor," said the nurse; Rebecca. "I know you may think I'm not fit to do anything, but I've got somewhere to be…sooo Qwen; I'll see you later. Bye!" I said taking off.
I ran all the way to the parking lot without stopping; quickly putting on my riding jacket and my gloves. By the time I had those on Qwen's small body appeared around the corner out of breath. "Damn it Qwen," I said quickly putting on my helmet and tearing out of the parking lot on my bike. God, believe me when I say this; I hated doing that….a lot. I rode about sixty-five or seventy down Allison Blvd. to the turn before the park. Wow, that's a new record; even for me. 11.7 miles within ten minutes. That deserves an award, but not now. I got some business to handle. I pulled down the dirt road that leads to the hiking cabin for Frost Forest where the park managers confirms check-ins and check-outs. Thankfully, the manager here knows about this towns little secret; better to hop in for a quick visit. I stepped through the door and was immediately greeted by a room full of people. "Well, ain't this a surprise. Michael…himself in the flesh," said Ranger Robertson; the park manager. "Hiya Michelle!" I said, giving her a big hug. "What do I owe the honor of this visit kiddo?" she asked retuning my hug and checking over quickly; like a mother. "What? I can't stop to say, "Hello," to an old friend?" I asked her, smiling sheepishly. "Yes, but a friend doesn't normally show up for a week or two with no word; then shows up out of the blue," she said, giving me that old. "I know what you're up to look," that she was famous for. "Ahh..What do I care. You're obviously on some important mission right?" she asked me. "Well…." I said. "What did you do this time Michael?" she asked me. "Nothing too major…besides…." I tried to say, "Besides what?" she asked. "Besides ticking off an extremely dangerous assassin for the order who happens to be a Terra-Fighter," I said slightly under my breath; looking down. "You. Did. WHAT?!?!?" she practically yelled at the top of her lungs. As I explained what happened during lunch today, she gave me a few choice words and some helpful advice. Some I will probably need for the up-coming fight with, "Jack," and some I may not use. Thank god for Mind-mimic's. Oh, in case you're wondering, a mind mimic is someone who can memorize incredible amounts of information. See, Michelle used to work for the Fang, but is now retired. I usually go to her for information on beasts' I haven't faced before. After our hour long "discussion" she let me go to roam before my fight. "Michael," she said as I walked out of the door. "Yes Michelle?" I said turning around. "Be careful….please. If not for you, then for all of us," she said, a sad look on her face. I smiled from ear-to-ear. "No problem Coach," I said saluting her and taking off. "He's a real handful. He means good. Can you be the hero we need Michael? Or will you become your father….." Michelle said.
I ran through the forest in full wolf form; letting the wind blow through my fur, giving me a sense of freedom I haven't felt in a looongg time. It felt good just to let go sometimes. Who knew that such a simple thing as running at full speed could be the best thing sense roller-coasters? The adrenaline rush, the wind, the damp forest floor below me as my paws hit the ground faster and faster; who knew that these feelings could make everything in the world almost fade away. It was a truly invigorating experience. God, wolves have it so easy. Human life seemed almost excruciatingly difficult compared to this. If for some reason I ever left my human life behind, I would take this life up. Protecting the town form this forest, my forest.
I soon came upon the clearing where I battled with Victor. Dude was Sadistic, Psycho crazy….real problems that one. There was a figure clad in an all black outfit. He wore a fedora styled-hat with a red ribbon on that circled the hat's brim. His trench-coat type jacket blew menacingly in the wind revealing a white button up shirt with a simple pin-stripe vest, covering his red tie. His black pants almost sticking to his legs due to the wind blowing quite fiercely now. His short black hair blown to the side to reveal menacingly deep black eyes, with deep bags. "Well, for a minute there I almost thought you were going to bail on me," Jack said. "Oh, but I wouldn't miss this, and I do hate to disappoint," I said. "Good, I wouldn't expect any less from you," he said. He then took off his hat and trench coat. "Heh, I'm going to let you know now, I will not go easy on you whatsoever," he said smirking evilly. "Fine by me. I wouldn't expect you too," I said, smirking back. Suddenly, his body shimmered and a shadow covered his entire body, transforming his body appearance. After about a minute or two, then shadow disappeared to reveal him clad in all-black combat outfit, with swords, knives, blades, ad guns poking out from everywhere practically. Okay, maybe not everywhere, but he did have a lot of weaponry on him. He pulled out a piece of black fabric, folded it, and tied it around his head. On the fabric it had a three-pronged star with a circle in the back and various tribal lines here there on it, the color was that of blood.
"So, it's true, you're a terris-fighter. Let me guess, Elite class assassin?" I asked. "The best killer for the best beast," he said pulling out a sword, grinning, "You should feel privileged," he said. "How's that?" I asked. "Because, you get to die by my blade," he said. "Heh, we'll see," I said, my eyes burning red, as they always do before a transformation. He then lunged at me, blade drawn, going for my jugular. I dodged the blow by jumping up. I came down for an extreme impact, busting the ground, and knocking him backwards. He recovered from the impact fairly easy, landing on one hand, and thrusting himself backwards. "Not bad mongrel," he said, "But dodge this!" He disappeared, like a shadow. No need to get distraught. I closed my eyes, listening for his mind. There, behind me! I rolled forward, rolling into a jump; just seconds before a blade swooped where I previously stood. 'Whew! That was close,' I thought. Now, to even the playing field. I lunged at him, falling to all fours, as heat explodes down my spine to my legs, as I transformed to my full wolf form. As I did so, I quickly sunk my fangs into his arm, ripping flesh, sinew, tendons, and anything else meaty on his arm. He yelled out in pain as I jumped backwards; letting out a deep, blood lustful snarl at him. He then thrust his sword into the dirt, and raised his good arm up. "You're going to pay for the mongrel!!" he shouted. Terris-Fighter. Elementalist who either control two elementals or them all. "Die Beast!" he shouted as an orange-red light constricted around his good arm. Seconds later a bolt of fire surged out of his arm. I tried to duck by jumping, but I only got two feet before the flame struck me in the stomach; singing my fur and burning my skin severely. I landed on the ground and yelped at the horrible burn. I struggled up, as my skin regenerated from the wound, my fur being replaced. A face of shock was upon his face as I rehealed. I then transmitted my thoughts into his brain. 'You made a grave mistake doing that my friend,' I thought to him. "Really now, well let' go," he said. He raised his arm, the weak one, and focused really hard. Suddenly his arm regenerated itself. But not like I can. He uses his elemental reserves to re-heal himself. We then threw each other at on another.
Our fight continued for what seemed like forever. As we were staring down one another, breathing heavily, him sweating, me panting. I decided this had gone on for far too long. No, scratch that, extremely too long. I shifted to my hybrid form. Shock covered his face. "W-what are you?" he said, gasping for breath as he recovered one of his ribs that I had broken with my paw. I ran at him in a fury of wild kicks and punches. First a leg-drop to his right shoulder misses, then a rear-leg sweep to his side hits with a sickening crack. He tumbled backwards, gripping at his side. He looked at me with a terrified look mixed with anger. I grinned at him, very smug-like. "Heh, this is real fun," he said. "Glad you're having the time of your life!" I said "Well, I hate end it," he said, smirking; pulling out a pistol and pulled back the hammer. "Goodnight," he said. Then out of nowhere an object came flying at him, cutting his hand, making him drop the gun. "Ahhhg, what the" he tried to muster out, but when he saw what I saw, I pretty much had the same expression. "Who the heck are you?!" he yelled at the newcomer to the battle. "Matthew?" I said, seeing him standing there smugly with a long-bow in his hand. "A bow? Really? HA!" Jack laughed in the mockery of Matthew's weaponry. I was kinda' clueless too as to why he brought such a weapon to a supernatural fight. "Make fun of it now, but when you have an arrow sticking through your chest, you want be laughing then, will you?" Matthew said smugly. "Ha, as if you even could!" Jack laughed in mockery again. Well Jack. I really wouldn't mock him, because Matthew was already marking out the trajectory of the arrow of all possible situations Jack would take, then he thought something to me. 'Michael, I know you're hearing my thoughts, and you probably know that half of these situations won't work, but I'll distract him and you take him out? Deal? Just nod.' Matthew thought. I nodded, and as I did he pulled back an arrow and unleashed it.
The arrow soared through the arrow at almost slow-motion; in fact everything seemed to be in slow-motion to me. The arrow flying through the air, Jack dodging, me rushing forward picking up the gun, Jack turning to face his own barrel -then all there was- was the crack of the gun; the silence. Jack's dead body slumped to the ground, blood pooling from the fresh hole in his head. "Is, is he dead?" Matthew asked, walking over. "Dead as a you can get," I said. I then reverted to my human state. "I know it's horrifying to witness this, but its part of my job. If you don't want to be around me I understand," I told him, wiping some blood of my brow from the battle. "I'm quite fine with it really. After all, he hurt Qwen, plus he almost put you in comatose state."
I turned to leave this place. Matthew quickly following me. "So, whatcha' goin' to do with the body?" he asked. "Nothing, leave it to the wolves," I said; laughing at my own joke. He laughed quietly along. "By the way Matt.." I said. "Yeah?" he asked, pushing up his glasses. "What's with get up dude?" I asked him, looking over his garments. Why the Japanese samurai kimono? "Oh, you didn't know I was Japanese?" he asked me. "No, no I didn't. Guess that explains the tone of your skin and hair and eyes…." I said. Great, now I was frustrated. He laughed quietly to himself. "What you going to do now?" he asked. "Go home, get some sleep," I yawned. "Guess you need it. Since you've been running late night patrols?" Matt questioned. "Yeah," I said. We walked in silent to through the woods. After a few minutes I could see he was getting worried. "Uh, Michael?" he peeped. "What now?" I grumbled. "Are you sure it's safe here, I mean after all we're in the middle of the forest….that's stalked by all kinds of animals?" he said. "Are you forgetting what I am?" I asked. "Is that a rhetorical question?" he said, apparently not amused like I was. "No, I am the most dangerous thing out here, or one of the most dangerous, but fairly certain I am the most dangerous." I said. "One of?" Matt asked. "Fine, ever rode a horse?" I asked him. "Once." "Good, now we are getting somewhere," I said, and with that I shifted to my wolf form. "Uh-uhn, no way!" he said, clearly getting my message pretty quick. 'Get on you pansy!' I thought to him. "No." 'Fine, have it your way,' I thought to myself. I then quickly ran up behind him, knocking him into the air and running underneath him; catching him and tearing off as fast as possible.
"AHHHHH! MICHAEL! PUT MEEE DOOWWNN!" he yelled as I ran extremely fast. 'No way, you're going for this ride!' I thought to him. After about five minutes of dodging, turning sharp, and his loud yells in my super-sensitive ears, I finally arrived at our destination. I lurched forward throwing Matthew off of me. As he stood up, his short black hair poked in various directions from the wind. His usually rich skin tone, was a pale color from speed shock. I looked around, as he recovered; taking in the familiar beauty and peace this place offered. The moon hanging over, cast a beautiful peace to this place. I loved the feeling it offered whenever I came. A slow snow-fall began in the meadow; the first of the year. I looked around at the meadow where we were, the nature, mixed with the snow screamed peace. I reverted to my human form and walked the short distance to the cliff over-look, Matthew following behind. "Where are we?" he asked walking up behind me as I stopped. "My usual place of 'alone time'," I said. "It's pretty peaceful," he said quietly. "I know, this is where I come when I need to get away and think," I said. The wind picked up a bit and blew the snow all over us. I looked up and stared at the moon. I felt a bit excited in a way, as if something unbelievably amazing was going to happen; I needed it to.
678 miles away from the town of Wolf Creek, North Carolina…..
"Give me the full report," said a man walking into a huge antechamber with people hunched over computers. "Hostile was killed at 22:45 hours, almost twenty-five minutes ago this time. Our agent saw the Protector shoot him in the head," said a female with flowing red-hair behind, sitting behind a computer near the front of the room. "Good, so he know what he has to do no matter the morals it may interfere with," he said, turning to walk to another cable. "Sir?" the girl spoke up. "Yes, Miss Delilah?" he said turning to face her. "Sir, can we really ask him to do this, to go against whatever morals he may have?" she asked. "We aren't asking him to do anything Miss Delilah. We're telling him to do it, even if they go against his principles. Now, I advise you to watch that tongue of yours, or next time you decide to question my judgments, I'll throw you to the dungeons. Understood?" he said. "Of course, Master," Delilah replied. "Good girl, now back to work with you," he said. "Yes sir," she said; pouting slightly and timidly retuning to work.
Back in Wolf Creek, North Carolina: Two weeks later.
I ran faster and faster still on the road in my wolf form, Matthew on my bike trying to keep up. All while I silently directed him mentally. He surprisingly is getting a hang of this. The whole bike riding thing I mean, but the being the friend of a werewolf, not quite. 'Now that you can do this, can you keep up?' I thought to him. 'You know what!' he told me. "Here we go then,' I thought. As I ran, my speed became oblivious to me, I ran harder and harder. All the while Matthew pushed my bike faster, he managed to keep up with me for awhile, but nevertheless; machines have their limitations. We pulled around the corners on the road tight, almost knocking into each other. 'Wow, watch it Michael!' Matthew yelled in his head. 'I got this, don't worry' I told him. But, boy was I wrong, because the second I turned the next corner; Matthew got nervous. Something I told him not to do, to let the feel and speed come to you, don't second guess anything ever. But, I heard the thought, in his consciousness', it crept from nowhere to the front of his mind, like a neon sign. This is crazy, you're going to die. That's what it was, bigger than the rest of his thoughts. It consumed his judgments, now he would pay, but not on my watch. Matthew hit a bump and it threw his awry, the bike went tumbling front wheel first; and Matthew along with him. I had to act fast or he would die. So using my momentum and velocity, I trasmutated to my hybrid form and caught Matt in mid-air, securing my arms around his body to ensure no harm would happen; no matter how we fell. I was flying through the air. Next thing I knew there was a sudden stinging, burning sensation as I landed on my back. The asphalt quickly tore away the layer of fur, and possible three or four layers of skin on my back. I skidded a few more feet before stopping, the bike came hurtling out of nowhere, nearly decapitating my head as it flew by me. A second or two passed before Matt squirmed out of my arms. The second he did the sting came again, in waves up my spine. I let out such a horrible cry of pain that was so loud it caused Matt to cover his ears. "Agh! Aagghhhh!!!" I let out, squirming on the ground. The pain was horrifying. I stood up and saw the expression across Matt's face: horror. The blood, my blood covered the ground for about thirty feet in a straight line."M-Michael, are you okay?" he said. My eyes burning crimson. My snarl, deep and menacing, tore itself from behind my teeth. "Matthew….run!" I yelled, holding it all back. I pulled out my cell-phone and speed-dialed Qwen's number. Her voice was sort of soothing. "Qwen, I can't talk, but well crap there goes our weekend. Sorry Babe." With that I hung up and put my cell away.
XXIX
