Chapter 14
Meanwhile:
Hour 2
Past Sunset
A young girl with red hair and green eyes danced while a boy with blonde hair snuck behind her and stole a quick kiss on her cheek. Children from each neighborhood chased eachother, carrying kites and masks and flowers. The large bustle of people moved and hustled everywhere in a circus whirlwind of ale and laughter, covering their faces with masks and throwing flowers at the center statue. Masters and patrons and citizens gave their thanks to the founding fathers, the ancestors before the Mayor of the grand city. Women chasing men and men chasing women in a loud hullaballoo! They hollered and hooted and laughed and shouted their troubles away. It was the same thing year after year after year. Same thing always happens; there was nothing new about it.
Sheriff Williams and his team patrolled the City streets in numbered pairs with his sword latched to his waist and riding atop his horse, was patrolling the City streets with his officers in numbered pairs. He sent 2 strong teams to both West and to the East borders marching in an organized pair, moving through the disorderly crowds. Another team marched through the celebrating people going to the North and South borders. The trustworthy Mr. Henson walked next to the Sheriff's horse with his notebook.
"Are you certain this is safe?"
The Sheriff smiled at his nervous friend," I assure you, you're safe."
"What about the citizens?"
"What do you mean?"
Mr. Henson looked around them, "The whole city is here and there's so many people here doing so many different things. Don't you think the murderer has a better chance of hiding from our sight in the crowd?"
"I suppose you're right, Mr. Henson. But that's exactly what I'm hoping for…"
"I don't understand."
"My men are armed to the teeth in every square and in every street in a 10 mile radius and they have the best knowledge of the city addresses. My best guess is that he's going to choose his victim near midnight. Midnight is the time when everyone dances in the parade in the City Square. No one gets in and no one comes out until the break of dawn, that's when my men will comb through each house and watch everyone. And besides, we have our secret weapon at hand."
"Oh…" Mr. Henson nodded his head. "What is the secret weapon?"
"You, of course!"
"Me?" he paused. "I don't understand."
"You're a clever fellow, Mr. Henson. You will know when I need you."
"What will you do if you catch this man?"
His face became serious, "Arrest him of course and then take him to my office and wait for interrogation. It won't be much of an interrogation in my opinion though. I'm sure that the Mayor or its citizens will offer him a date in court or sentence him to a trial, there would be no point. I want to talk to him before we sentence him to death row," The Sheriff spoke with a determined brow, rubbing his thumb across his chin. "There's always a method to homicides and this particular case has especially caught my attention. There has to be a reason why this man, or whoever it is, murdered a woman and her son in the Upper Class quarters. Why a fisherman? What's his method? What does he want? What message did he want to send? I already informed the Mayor this morning about this killer and he wants us to take immediate action."
"That's comforting. But Sheriff, what do we tell the citizens?"
"Tell them about the homicides…" Williams gripped the hilt of his sword. "Tell them we did all we could. After we catch this man, we shall show there is no room for injustice in this city."
Mr. Henson nodded, "These will be good notes for the Mayor."
"The Mayor wants notes? This is the first I've heard of it."
"It's important to keep record of what happens and soon, if necessary, will be written in our history books. I volunteered…" he smiled.
From the cobblestone streets, a constable approached the Sheriff, saluted, at ease, then spoke of the whereabouts of his suspects. He excused the constable before tightening his vest around his chest, counting 1-2-3-4-5-6 slowly to himself and exhaling. All the while, Mr. Henson looked on curiously.
"Something wrong Sheriff?"
"I've been notified about one of my suspects. Jacques and Mr. Bufkin have been spotted at the Old Copper pub just a few blocks from here. I specifically instructed both of them to stay within the safety of their homes. They broke parole." Sheriff Williams poked his heel into the side of his well-bred horse, trotting, click-clacking down the street over the citizens.
"Do not wait for me. Go to my office. Keep yourself there. I'll come find you when I need you."
"But Sheriff!"
"Do it now!"
He poked his heel and down the street he barreled with his horse into the noisy crowd. The Old Copper pub, there it was. Pulling the reigns, his horse cried, came to a sudden stop, and the Sheriff leapt off before fighting his way through the crowd. A man with a large bush-beard stood at the door and stepped in front of him.
"What business do you have here?" he asked.
He revealed his badge, "I am Sheriff Williams let me through. May I come in?" It wasn't a request.
The man nodded his head, stepped back, and opened the door. Inside was worse. Williams walked through the narrow hallway and into the open pub and immediately spotted 20 code violations but they weren't important right now. He unclipped his cloak from his shoulders, hung it upon his arm and walked his way through, acting like a walk through water. The men here dare not catch the attention of the Sheriff, lest they pay the consequence of justice.
There.
Deep within the pubs private corners.
Mr. Bufkin and Jacques sat together at table.
It was obvious the additional men standing around them were guarding them, arms crossed and ready to fight any unwelcomed intruder.
Why would those men need body guards?
Who did they need protection from?
Or rom what?
The Sheriff continued to ask himself these questions when he noticed something shocking. On the table, wrapped in cloth, was a leather booklet with the Mayor's Official Seal stamp. What did they go to the Mayor for? What were they doing? What were they talking about? But the biggest problem was— he hadn't cleared them to see the Mayor. The Sheriff was the only position with that authority, there was something definitely wrong here. Sheriff Williams was ready to walk up and intrude on their little meeting when suddenly… from the shadows…
They weren't sitting alone.
They were the guests and their host had arrived!
The new arrival sat.
They sat there with… with…
Meanwhile:
"Silver is at the ready," Henry gripped his sword.
Father Solomon and his men were on the rooftops overlooking the Festival. He stood with his holy sword in hand while the Captain and the Enforcer stood ready with their whip and crossbow respectively. Their silver helms gleaming in the moonlight.
"Keep a keen eye out. He could be anywhere."
"We're on his hunting ground now…"
Henry stepped forward, "When?"
"Not now…" he whispered his heart racing. "He needs to find us first… But at least we have our bait."
"Bait?" Henry asked confused. "What bait?"
Father Solomon looked at the boy and looked down at the writhing, noisy crowd of people.
Henrys eyes widened in surprise as he quickly understood. "Wait…" he whispered.
The people.
Henry understood this. "Wait…" he whispered.
Solomon unsheathed his dagger.
"Y-Y-You can't do that! You can't do that! You're gambling with thier lives!" Henry looked down upon the people and to Solomon, boiling with disbelief and anger. "Once the Sheriff knows what you've—"
Father Solomon lifted his hand and he took his dagger and slit a line across his palm, spilling blood. He hissed at the sting but continued to squeeze his palm, releasing more crimson blood and smearing it across his armor. The Captain mimicked this and so did the Enforcer. Henry watched them do this, but he became hesitant. Henry remembered the pledge he had made to this group and he had vowed to do whatever it took it bring holy justice to the cursed and the damned, but how far is too far?
"Son…?" Solomon approached the young man, speaking softly with most sincere voice he could muster. "You must do this. It will draw the beast to us, so that we may slay it and protect the innocent."
Henry had his doubts, but took out his dagger, slowly putting the cold silver blade against his palm. Father Solomon nodded his head in approval. He needed to decide. Protect the people from the beast or from the man standing before him. Either way, he needed to make a difficult decision. The last time he refused to choose—his father had died. If he refused to decide again, someone would die tonight. He couldn't let that happen. Henry had his doubts, but took out his dagger and slowly drew the cold silver blade against his palm. Father Solomon nodded in approval.
"By the end of the night, you will be a hero young Henry…"
Henry looked at him, "A hero?"
"You will be rescuing these people from a great evil. An evil that has been forsaken by the church, which has plagued these lands for centuries…" Father Solomon and Henry stood over the people. He whispered," You father would be proud of you, Henry."
"I…" he stuttered.
"I would be proud of you, my son…" the man looked deeply into his eyes, trying to find a shred of agreement or submission to his logic.
Henry just stared back at him, shock warring with joy across his face as he listened.
Father Solomon urged," We are protecting these people, Henry. We protect the sheep from the wolves. I thought you wanted to take your revenge, did you not? If you falter now, before anything had even started, perhaps you are not a man I thought you would be." The older man circled around him, stopped and leaned in close, whispering in his ear. "I suppose you never loved your dead bride. Don't you remember what I told you!? The wolf killed Valerie!" Unbeknownst to Henry, the Captain felt shaken as he heard this. He couldn't believe his ears and glowered darkly at Father Solomon.
Henry growled, "We're protecting the people by pointing crossbows at them from the rooftops…!? We set up traps all over the City without letting anyone know but us! You do things your way with no regard to the real safety of those innocent sheep down there!" Henry's jaw stiffened. "You can't repeat Daggorhorn again, Solomon."
"We're protecting them."
"This isn't protection, this is spreading FEAR…!" he yelled.
Solomon seethed, disappointed with his refusal to submit, "You don't realize how much we need this. You are just a boy; a boy from a small village, no less but no more. If you're going to stay with my crew, you will obey my orders."
Henry stepped forward, "Then your crew will perish. Just like the last time…"
Henry felt the side of his face burn with pain, feeling the cuts that Solomon's rings had caused. The insult was too much. Unsheathing his sword, Father Solomon stepped forward to teach his apprentice," You w-"
"WOLF!"
He stopped. Out from the darkness and into the light of the full moon, it revealed itself! There!
"NOOOOOOOW!" he shouted!
His men scattered, weapons at the ready and running down the street to their ready positions! There it goes! A dog-like monster leapt across the street and into the darkness of the alleys! The great beast rummaged like a bull, bursting through barrels and carriages and trolley carts until nothing was left. The hairy beast trampled like a clumsy giant! Two glowing green orbs shined in the moonlight, set in wire like fur. This was it! Father Solomon turned to his crew that still stood behind him. There was a beast to slay. The punishment of his apprentice could wait.
Meanwhile:
Valerie's glistening nose twitched. She's caught something. Something carried by the wind. It was familiar. She tried to place the scent, turning to follow it. It was the smell of flowers and rainwater.
Then… there it was!
There it was!
She's found the smell of death. Releasing a worried growl, the newborn wolfling pursued! Unbeknownst to her there was a lake next to the city, corralled by man-made walls and fishing dams. Skidding to a stop, she pointed her nose in the air and drew a deep breath. It was close. But where was it coming from? Remembering her training, she needed to look for signs. Where the grass pointed. Where the leaves on a tree fell. The direction of the wind.
She looked into the opposite direction, looking for signs of her father, and then returned her gaze to the direction of the fragrance. Whipping her tail from side to side, she twitched her wet nose, pawed the dirt and licked her nose. Blood, it was blood that caught the attention of her keen nose, begging for attention, and oddly making her hungry.
It's what Papa said, her hunger would escalate and soon she'd be feeding upon chickens, mice, cats, and even sheep. She needed to calculate her next move. She edged closer upon the roof tiles of a clothing shop, standing like a gargoyle on the edge of the rooftop looking for the scent. The smell of blood or… whatever it was… came from… a lighthouse…? It sat upon the rocky shore of the lake. Licking her nose, she became nervous, feeling shivers prickle around her tail. Something about the tall structure seemed… evil.
The lighthouse seemed abandoned and old, riddled with weeds and vines covering the base with thorns. There was no light shining in a rotating circle as it should have been. As the young she-wolf approached this ancient man-made tower, the shivers attacked her tail like goosebumps. Valerie knew she was unable to complete this task on her own, but her curiosity and interest blocked her mind.
The white she- wolf slowed to a trot as she approached the sharp rocks of the shoreline, carefully planning her next step. Indeed her paws felt bothered, but the smell beckoned her forward.
At last, she found the source.
Here.
Here.
Here.
Right here, somewhere in the dirt…
Something happened here, something bad, she could smell it. Instinctively, she rotated in wide circles with her nose against the gravel, sniffing for her target. Valerie hunched and began digging.
Meanwhile:
The Captain watched as two large carriages, large enough to carry 10 horses, wheeled down the street and stopped in a heavy jolt while the hunters unchained the backdoors and swung open the gates.
The Captain lifted the wooden latches and readied the ramps.
Two hunters came with ropes and a chain, hooked the beak, and began straining as they pulled something from the carriage. Out rolled a large elephant, the destroyer of lives and the punisher of the damned! The metal groaned and creaked as the hunters continued to pull it from its carrier.
Henry couldn't believe what he was seeing! The last victim who suffered within the belly of that elephant was a young boy, a poor innocent boy from his village.
"Solomon!" Henry shouted," This is madness!"
"LIGHT! I NEED LIGHT!"
"Solomon!" Henry shouted, watching the people retreat in fear.
Men on the roof tiles lifted their crossbows into the air and fired!
Two arrows flew high into the sky, burning like two shooting stars.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched, cheering, thinking it was part of the Festivities along with the parade.
The light showcased the people, the buildings and the beast that stood at the end of the street.
Father Solomon raised his sword, stabbed it forward, and his men ran onward!
Meanwhile:
Their faces.
All of their faces.
The Big Bad Wolf remembered everything from the past.
What he had done.
He remembered their faces, their screams, and their cries for help before mercilessly taking their life and their money. The dark streets were lonely on this side of the city. Everyone was at the center of the City enjoying the parade and festivities. Leaping to the ground, the wolf stalked through the alley ways, his dark shadow stretching across the stone walls, listening for anything that moved. The wolf had every opportunity to pounce, kill, and devour anyone in his path tonight.
Leave no trace.
But he was on a mission and had no time for hunting. Returning to the shadows and leaving the drunken man alone, the wolf stalked throughout the darkened alleyways, always ready to pounce or fight. The sounds of the hectic city festival silenced, closing to a slow hush, and the wind through the buildings was the only thing he could hear. The large wolf was alone, completely alone, not even an alley cat disturbed him. Approaching the city wall, he decided to turn around and reunite with his daughter and indulge themselves to try another night.
Suddenly…
The smell returned; the smell of the murderer and April and Valerie and Vanessa and Madame Alice and Christopher, Charz, Mr. Woodsten, Sheriff Williams, Mr. Henson, Mr. Bufkin, and the fisherman, all had suffered death before their time because of this being.
Eyes dilated, he turned to face his opponent with a low growl.
A figure stood at the far end of the street.
Wearing a hat.
Black cloak.
Red neck collar.
Smartly dressed.
Couldn't see his face.
Meanwhile:
She stood within the crater she had dug, looking down into the blackened dirt tainted with burgandy blood and maggots.
This wasn't just a crater… this was a graveyard.
This couldn't be happening.
This could not be happening!
Valerie stood over April's body, shivering in shock.
Her paws were caked with dirt and blood while her blue eyes seemed to dilate to the scene lay before her.
April had been buried alive.
She was dead and Valerie collapsed next to her body, nuzzling her snout against her wrist, whimpering, feeling she had failed her!
The sadness, grief, and anguish came like a wave washing over her.
Vanessa!
What would she tell Vanessa!?
What was Papa going to do!?
What was she going to do!?
Why would the killer chose April as his victim?
April was dead.
She was dead and that couldn't be fixed! Nothing could be fixed!
No. No. No. No, thought Valerie, grief clumping in her throat, her ears went limp and folded back against her head before pointing her nose up into the air…
Papa! She screamed in her head. Papa!
HOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWLL!
Papa!
She cried as loud as she could, trying to reach her only source of comfort in the distance.
As she regained her composure, she shook herself, trying to shed the feelings of sorrow.
Out in the distance, in the deep black of the night, she saw something erupt from the City square in two sparkling bolts of light.
Two flaming arrows streaked across the sky.
Meanwhile:
You, it's you! The Big Bad Wolf thought, glaring at the figure. I've finally found you…!
The stranger didn't seemingly unafraid of him at all. Lifting his red and black cloak over his arm, he seemed to know what a threat he possessed over the wolf. Valerie and April and Vanessa. This damn stranger had threatened his whole world, his entire life. In his opinion, it would be the greatest and last mistake he would ever make! He stepped forward, growling, baring his teeth at his next victim.
You bastard, where's April? He growled, licking his teeth, snapping his jaw.
Ears tucked behind his head, he approached while the stranger lifted his hat, bowing. Taunted, the Big Bad Wolf growled and before he could launch into a full speed attack at his target—
HOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWLL!
Two arrows flew into the sky, sparkling brightly! The fire arrows flew across the sky, blocking the full moon, then curved and began its downward descent back to earth, its color fading. Only one animal could make that uproar and that was Valerie. She was in distress, not from trouble or pain, but from anguish. She must've discovered something. But first, he wanted to kill. He looked back towards the stranger only to find that he had disappeared
No! I'm not losing you! Where are you!? He snarled, advancing down the street, sniffing for a scent.
Whistle!
A whistle was heard and he looked down into the center of the street. It came from beneath the cobblestone street. An open sewer cap lay on the road revealing a small opening into the sewer system! The smell was horrid, but he was determined to find April and murder her captor! Diving in, he landed in the stinking waters of the sewer. The tunnel traveled two ways, so he stood still and listened! Footsteps splashed in the water! But where?! He chose a tunnel and ran from there!
Meanwhile:
The men in the Old Copper pub gathered to look out the window, witnessing the two arrows descend into a fiery splat upon the street! They lifted their drinks and shouted, thinking it was part of the show while the Sheriff keenly watched the baker and the husband of a deceased suspect sit with none other than Mr. Woodsten, the underground Kingpin of the City. That bastard always had a grip on somebody, either a politician, a whore, citizen, or office-bearer. If they were affiliating themselves with that man then it only meant one thing—something terrible was going to happen.
It was his duty to stop it before it happened.
"You're under arrest…" he stated to the two gentlemen.
"Good evening Sheriff…" spoke Mr. Woodsten, drinking his tower of ale, eyes glinting. "What a pleasure, isn't it gents? Our law enforcing citizen has graced us with his presence."
Jacques and Mr. Bufkin didn't reply as the arriving constables shackled them with iron cuffs while the Sheriff glowered to the Kingpin, squeezing the hilt of his sword. Their rivalry wasn't over, yet.
Walking out from the pub—people started screamed!
The people of all ages scrambled this way and that, looking behind them, waving their arms, and diving into any open door as the large beast came barreling down the street with amazing strength into a wagon, crushing the hay trolley to splinters before disappearing around the street corner. The beast had light brown fur, almost golden tan, similar to that of caramel. The Sheriff gawked at this horrendous creature before calling his constables to ready their weapons. Jacques squeezed from the constable and ran for his life; Mr. Bufkin saw his friend escape and did the same. Sherriff Williams saw this and many other things. His constables were panicking, people shoved each other like cattle, and his arrested suspects fleeing from the scene!
"Hold your ground!" he shouted, unsheathing his sword.
He looked to his panicked followers, "Have courage, men!"
Each constable looked at him, regained their trust in their leader, and unsheathed their swords and shrugged off their crossbows.
"Hold your ground!" he shouted as his horse reared, pawed the air, and neighed. "Hold your ground!"
The constables gathered themselves, assembled, aligned together, knelt in military position, and readied for the beast.
"Ready!"
The beast, from his place in the darkness, watched the Sheriff prepare to attack, sensed this danger, and focused his attention on the crouching men! He growled, heavily stomping towards them, shuffling his paws like a bull, aiming for his target and bouncing his head.
"Steady!"
Simultaneously each man readied their crossbows aimed at their target.
"Steady!" Williams hollered, watching the beast bounce his head like a bull to a challenger.
Coiled, the beast charged!
It was coming closer.
Closer.
Just a bit more…
The beast came like a tumbling boulder, barreling like an earthquake, moving more quickly than its bulk would suggest.
The size of beast was larger than it appeared!
"FIRE!"
A thick hail of arrows fired upon the beast's head and body like a thousand bee stings! The beast halted, reared, stood on its two legs, roaring, tossing its head from side to side scratching its large paw against its forehead.
Blood flew!
"Fire!"
The beast felt the piercing sting of more knives stab its shoulders and back in a flash of red and white. Stomping, the beast opened its mouth, roaring, then barreled to the Sheriff, his horse reared and screamed as the beast tore into its neck, knocking him off his feet before watching his horse being devoured, ripped to shreds, more blood flew, the Sheriff scrambled back and watched the beast leave the fresh corpse and advance towards the men! Williams stood in front of the beast, stabbing his sword into the beast with the strength and skill he learned in training, piercing the beast's paws and arms and face although the blade barely ripped through its thick fur, then the mighty beast stood on his legs and once more roaring! Its two green eyes burned with boiling hot anger, thrashing its body and slashing with its open paws, the beast roared once more!
"CHARGE!"
Meanwhile:
Father Solomon watched the beast run for the river! Its red/brown fur bounced with every stride, luckily retreating from the attention of the people. The Captain opened the second wagon and pulled the lever to unlatch the second surprise Solomon had in store for the beast. Next to the iron elephant rolled a two piece machine that Father Solomon had received from a faraway land. Two hunters latched the ropes to their horses and quickly pulled to pursue the beast along the river side.
"Here!" Solomon shouted, "Bring it here!"
"It's still on the river! Shall we follow?"
"No, need! We have our new machine."
"Quickly!"
"Bring it here! Bring it here!"
Henry watched this new machine, wheeled by two horses and stop upon the wall overlooking the canal. He watched as the over-sized animal escape along the river.
"Father Solomon," he shouted. "What are you doing!? What is this contraption?"
"An invention brought from Singapore," he replied, unlatching the hooks. Opening the cap, he smiled. "I've always wanted to try this…"
Suddenly the machine unfolded, sprouting a long beak, a zip line snapped and tightened, two wings opened and the priest readied the contraption with a large silver arrow, twice the size of any other regular arrow.
"They call this the new weapon of the century, it's made to kill whales, and stronger than the toughest iron!" Solomon stretched the iron string back as far as it could go, clicked a stop switch and aimed.
He watched the beast run within the sight at the end of the weapon, directly perfectly, following the beast's every movement.
"Solomon!
"I have him."
"Solomon!"
Click
Pfft!
WHOOOOOSH!
Meanwhile:
Valerie galloped as fast as she could, returning back to the building quarters of the city, galloping upon the cobblestone streets. Listening for any sign of her father proved to be useless and disappointing. What was worse? The people were panicking! They screamed of a beast attacking the Square! No! No! They couldn't be talking about her Papa, could they!? Afraid, she raced down the street and towards the flower beds showcased in front of an actor's stage. It was completely abandoned. Masks, flowers, cups, rags, and other garbage and filth blew in the wind along with the scent of an unfamiliar stench.
It didn't smell like wolf.
It reeked of blood and dirt.
Was it a wolf?
Another werewolf in the city!?
Was it the scent of the murderer?
It killed April, Madame Alice, Christopher, and the fisherman.
And it will kill again!
Papa! She shouted within her mind, growling, listening for his reply. Papa! Where are you!?
Nothing.
The beast is still here! Papa! The people here are not safe!
The white she-wolf growled, chuffing into the air, smelling the fowl creature's blood in the streets.
CRAAASH!
In the middle of the City Square, something crashed against a food trolley, spilling melons and cantaloupes, rolling toward her paws, earning a fierce growl from her. She raised her head to see it stepping forward like a tiger from a cage, growling and snarling through its large sharp teeth. The intruder was an animal, a large animal, its red/brown fur bouncing with every stride, bleeding from a large silver arrow bouncing like a stem from its back. Was this beast another breed of wolf? She asked herself over and over, the fur on her shoulders and neck bristling, snarling and baring her teeth, her blue eyes becoming wild and fierce.
With its thick arms, it pounded its large flat paws upon the cobblestone, trying to intimidate his opponent across from him. With her teeth barred and a snarl in her throat, she tried to intimidate the beast in front of her as well, but seemed to be failing. Suddenly standing on his two feet, he towered over her like a giant lacking only a club to beat her with. He roared! With all her force, she jolted forward, tearing into his chest fur, slashing and kicking her feet into his belly while a paw came pushing onto her back with so much force, she was smacked to the ground. Snout first, he came for her throat—a miss as she leapt upon his arm piercing her canines into his fat and muscle—he roared shaking his arm! Struggling to hold on and seeing colors, Valerie tightened her jaws onto its fur, she watched as the large silver arrow fell, clanking on the street and rolling away. The beast did not appreciate that!
Eyes wild, the beast looked down upon the small wolf. His large powerful paw slapped her across her face and she saw red and white stars flash in her mind, earning an anguished howl from her, as she released her hold on its arm, tossing her head from side to side, trying to shake off the pain. Seeing this vulnerability, the creature moved and head-butted into her ribs knocking her down, head-butted again, rolling her body and snapping his jaws! She moved—he bounded after her—she ripped into his back— clumps of fur flew through the air—she pawed into his backside—he rolled over, crushing her body before snapping his teeth at her—the red/brown beast charged! The white she-wolf ran in retreat, came snarling, and determined not to lose. She bit and tore, snarled and growled, trying to figure out how to defeat the much larger beast. Clouds of dust rolled into the air while blood spilled onto the streets in streamers. Her wild blue eyes looked to see him lean on his legs-standing—holding her up—then smacked her on her ribs—the pain flew through her entire body! Snout first, he grabbed a hold of her nape like a mother cat to a babe—swung in circles—and threw her across the street, her body rolled and rolled, came to an agonizing stop and whimpered. Shaking her head, she watched this great beast stalk towards her, his mouth drooling and his two orbs are blazing yellow. Ears casted down, she howled, help, help, he's coming closer. She leaned onto her left limb trying to crawl away before it punished her, she was too weak and she was foolish enough to challenge this beast all alone.
The beast charged straight to her!
Valerie looked around, confused. The ground was quivering.
She was going to die!
It's immense round body galloping like it was going to run over her-
Like a needle poking her brain, her senses buzzed like lightning striking a rod—
Just above her, something let out a roar so deep and loud she felt it in her chest. She wriggled and looked up just in time to see The Big Bad Wolf leap over her and land directly in the beast's path; his black fur bristled like a brush, enlarging his powerful outline.
Papa…
The beast looked at his new opponent, sizing him up. With its back hunched like a mountain, he snarled, snapping his teeth. Cesaire revealed his canines in return and unlike Valerie, truly intimidated his enemy.
The two huge bodies collided like a thunderclap, then rolled and grappled, slamming into buildings, shattering light posts, throwing leaves and dirt, pounding and gouging the ground.
The wolf and beast rolled into another building, crashing inside, crushing furniture and fixtures inside as well as the building walls, falling like chips. Citizens fled from the doorways as the two creatures ripped and tore further into the apartment, impacting into small kitchens and bedrooms! The large wolf jumped at his enemy, pushing him into the wall, smacking his head against the stone before feeling the painful brush of his teeth against its chest. Clumps of fur flew! Her father's fangs sliced into the beast's neck and he clawed its back, gouging through flesh and shoving the silver arrow further into its back as well as leaving dripping tears across its short muzzle. The beast snarled in pain and fury, slamming its' back against the building trying to dislodge the furious wolf. As if suddenly realizing there would be no victory in this battle, the bleeding beast attempted to dwarf itself before the Big Bad Wolf, lowering its head to the ground, keeping his snout low.
Valerie limped as she followed her father, wobbling through the hollow houses, blood seeped through her fur. The apartments looked like life-size doll houses opened from the outside. Cesaire felt the beast bite into his mane full force, squeezing its jaws, and using its open paws to try and dislodge his head from his body. With a free leg, he pushed away! The beast bounced back, snapping its jaws at him ferociously, shattering through furniture! Its large body bumped into a lantern, oil splashed everywhere, setting fire ablaze. Orange embers flew into the air touching the curtains and quickly creating flames, touching the walls and the floors. Cesaire watched the fire grow faster and faster! Another way to kill a wolf besides silver? It was fire. Through the burning flames, the beast charged forward, propelling its body headfirst!
Before Cesaire could escape the beast sunk its teeth into the mane of the wolf once again, but he returned with bite to the belly, sinking and shaking his head from side to side. The beast sunk backwards, moaning from pain as he kicked his feet against the mighty wolf until his belly was freed from his powerful jaws. Blood seeped through its fur, watering the floorboards in crimson pools. The fire licked the floor panels from above them, creaking and cracking, the fire climbing upwards towards the second floor. The Big Bad Wolf snarled, baring its teeth, his eyes blazing as fiercely as the fire, coiled and jumped upon its back, pawing its shoulders while the beast circled round and round and round trying to bite a limb. The beast roared, grabbing the wolf's tail—the Big Bad Wolf howled—the beast tossed his body to the floor brushing against the flames, earning a piercing scream from him! Cesaire moved quickly, avoiding the painful heat! Fire singed his fur, sizzling against his shoulder.
The beast was immediately punished with a bloody gash sent across its face, the wolf slapping its open paw across its snout and eyes, blood spraying into the air.
A grizzly roar shrieked through the air!
Colors of red and white flashed through its vision, stinging in terrible pain. The beast saw his new opponent far more deadly than the white she-wolf, beginning to rethink his decision to fight again. But the wolf is far too enraged to let him escape now.
Once more the two beasts circled the other, sizing each other up, looking for weakness and open wounds. In their dangerous predatory dance, Cesaire chose to lay his life on the line for his daughter. The beast watched as the mature wolf fold his ears against his head, growling with his canines bared to his enemy. Valerie watched this, amazed by her father's ferocity.
The entire apartment building burned as heaps of black clouds rose into the air. Citizens ran from the cloudy doorway covering their mouths and escaping certain death, their faces covered in black smog. Behind her she saw the constables arriving, watching in awe and horror as the two colossal monsters circled the other surrounded by fire. Valerie whimpered with worry as the apartment building seemed to falter, creak and crack, its large body moaning. The flames began to eat the wooden panels faster and faster.
She saw her father coil back on his hind legs- his fur bristling- and suddenly dash forward!
The beast stood on its two feet!
In a flash- upon impact, her father ripped his fangs into the neck, clawed its back inflicting deep pain into the silver arrow's mark, scraped and grazed his face and snout, blood leaked while clumps of fur fell, pushing the beast into a tight corner. The beast suddenly realizing his enemy's true strength and ability began attempting to dwarf itself before The Big Bad Wolf. Whimpering, the beast folded its ears against its head, whining. Animal to animal, the beast was asking permission to pardon, bleeding profusely from the snout and other limbs—but if anyone knew what the Big Bad Wolf did—it was to show no mercy. He was still seething, hair bristling, his nostrils steaming, his canines glinting with blood in the moonlight. Valerie, folded like a blanket, ventured to take one look. The large black wolf that was her father stood tall like a magnificent black shrouded king, his head lowering to take a better look at his enemy, never looking away, and never showing compassion, strong and formidable.
Her father snapped his deadly canines into the neck of the beast, sinking so deeply she heard the fat and flesh beneath its fur squelch and the bones in its neck crack, it made her flinch. She couldn't see the beast's eyes, only its tongue protruding from its mouth and glistening in the dim light, a row of white teeth—its head grotesquely twisted and dangling, nearly severed. Its body became completely limp, unmoving.
But somehow— it was still alive. She almost felt sorry for it. The large black wolf loosened his jaw, took a moment to savor the hot blood leaking into his throat, and before he could puncture his teeth into its neck for the second time to deliver a death sentence when—
Whiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzz
PFT!
A large silver arrow struck onto inches away from the bloody parent, startling him.
He dropped the beast and looked—
No!
No! It couldn't be!
Father Solomon stood from a high balcony with a machine at his hands; he latched the iron string to a tight 'V' formation upon the large mount and loaded another arrow. From the right, he saw the constables and Sheriff Williams—from the far left he saw the Captain and the hunters of holy justice, and straight in front of him he saw the stranger again, dressed in black, and wearing a wolf mask, unafraid. Looking back, the beast had disappeared, leaving only a trail of blood.
The Big Bad Wolf looked to his daughter with desperation in his eyes- Run.