Something was odd in the air. A sense of uneasiness if you will. Gromit had awoken to this thick scent in the midst of the night. It was at least 1AM in the morning. He shrugged it off as nothing but went to the bathroom anyway. Gromit turned on the water and ran his paws under it then splashed his face a little. It seemed as if the water was cleansing him of this feeling. He shut it off once he felt like he had enough and looked at himself in the mirror. He saw that Wallace's door had creaked open a little bit. Gromit then looked out of the bathroom door instead of the mirror. Wallace's room was open slightly. Gromit became curious and walked toward it. The floor squeaked quietly under his feet as he inched closer. The door opened with a groan as he opened it. Wallace was still in bed as Gromit heard him startle a little bit. The window was wide open, however. Gromit shivered as the breeze had hit him. He figured that Wallace had opened the window because it was too hot for him. He eventually left Wallace realizing he was comfortable. Gromit then returned to his bed and retired once again.
A lamp flickered on as one of the constables was checking the electrical connection. "Faulty this one." he said to himself as its light shone dimly. "I'll have them fix this then." Suddenly, in the distance, claws hitting the brick tiles could be heard as a scampering creature was coming toward him. "Who's there!?" Come on out! You aren't supposed to be out this late!" he shouted at the noise. There was nothing there and it was almost dead silent. The lone constable pulled out his baton as a warning. He was shaking and looking around fearfully for a sign of life. It had been a few seconds and the PC began to calm himself down and lower his weapon. The faulty bulb then shattered, causing him to visibly jump in fear. "I don't know where you are, but you are violating an officer!" he shouted to the darkness. He then ran away, leaving the bulb unfixed.
A giant shadow looked at the direction of the retreating constable. It's golden eyes shining in the dark then motioned more of these smaller shadows. The smaller shadows looked in the direction of the brick wall across them. The larger shadow went toward the wall and assisted the smaller ones. They began to run the empty streets under the streetlights and this small flash of light helped illuminate the group. These shadows were wolves, the same ones that plague the neighborhood. The most eye-catching one was the giant wolf of course. It was a bluish slate grey with a light grey for the underbelly and face. This wolf seemed to be the pack leader, with the size advantage, they were quick to call it such a title. The giant wolf then made a sharp turn into an alleyway with the small pack right behind it. One of the wolves had to skid and try to catch up. A different constable was also patrolling the empty and barren streets. The wolves heard the officer humming a tune and took cover in the shadows. They blended in very well as the officer had passed by them without a second take. The giant wolf trotted silently over to the wooden fence across the street. The officer then quickly turned and saw the figure of the creature. "Oi! You there! It is far too late to be on a venture. Go on home or I'll have to write you a ticket!" he shouted at the shadow. The wolf slowly cocked its head and looked with it's yellow glowing eyes. It then stood on its hind legs making it much taller than the officer. It walked toward him slightly struggling to remain upright. "T-that is close enough!" the officer shouted at the beast once again. It stopped at the lamp right where the light could barely hit it. It looked at the officer as if it were threatened. And then a loud, rumbling howl bellowed from this creature. More howls gradually added on as the officer heard them all around him. The giant wolf then knocked the officer on the ground and leaped over the wooden fence.
Dumbfounded, the officer laying on the ground was then swarmed by the smaller wolves. They didn't surround him, they only went to the direction of the giant wolf. Another constable discovered him not a minute had passed. This constable shook the faint officer. He had awoken and muttered some almost incoherent jargon into his ear. He had picked up the one on the ground with ease and carried him to the rest of the brigade that was watching over the town. "Make sure he gets home. And don't forget to gather the civvies. This is a town emergency. Also be on the lookout for a giant man in a wolf costume, lads."
More and more sightings of this giant wolf had been rising dramatically throughout the night. Fish had gone missing and these wolves were to blame. The pack with the giant wolf had been photographed by anonymous civvies. This would cause the press to quickly write a fresh copy of the fish raid that had ensued.
The morning seemed more, gloomy, instead of cheerful. The sun's desperate attempts of trying to prevail from the clouds had been denied. Gromit went out to get the paper and the mail. He didn't notice the headline on the paper as he was returning inside. Gromit's mind seemed a bit cloudy today as he had not noticed a lot of things around the house. He sat down at the table as he had finally looked at the front title of the newspaper. His eyes had widened as he read the headline. "Quite fishy as town is plagued by a giant wolf. Anti-Pesto gone salty?" it seemed to taunt these words. Gromit set down the newspaper then looked at the wall as a large set of scratches dragged along it. He got up and followed them into the kitchen. The claw marks seemed to scratch the surface of where Gromit had hidden the cheese. There was no way Wallace would've caused these as he didn't have long, sharp claws. It must've been another intruder, or one of the wolves in the paper.
A buzzing sound then spooked Gromit for only half a second. Only to realize that Wallace was prepared for the morning commute. Gromit hurried to the lever and quickly pulled it. He then sat back in his spot as Wallace was coming down. Wallace landed in his seat with a thud. "Morning, Gromit!" he exclaimed in a cheerful tone. The machines completed his outfit as usual. "It seems as if nobody needed us last night? I suppose those wolves decided it was best not to provoke us, hmm?" he asked with a grin. Wallace noticed that Gromit was not paying him any mind. "Is something the matter. lad?" Gromit darted his eyes to the scratches across the photo and wall. "Oh dear! What on earth could've caused that? Did we have a break in lad? I hope he didn't take anything of value!" Wallace stammered. Gromit wondered to himself why Wallace wasn't that observant yesterday when there was a break in. Gromit eventually led him to the damage of the cabinet. "Did you do this so I could spook meself lad?" Gromit's eyes widened to this acclimation as it turned into a hard stare as he shook his head. "Hmm then-" Wallace muttered to himself as he walked out of the room and back into the kitchen. Gromit followed him. Only to find Wallace fiddling with a teacup.
Wallace seemed puzzled and sleep deprived. How could he have been sleepy? He was snug in bed when Gromit checked on him last night. Whatever it was, Wallace still seemed oddly cheerful as if he wasn't aware of his own body. Gromit then offered him the breakfast he had cooked for him. "No thanks, I'm not feeling too well." How could he turn down breakfast? His toast and spread the way fancied for with a side of hash browns. Wallace laid his head down on the table, almost dead asleep. Gromit knew something had to be wrong at this point. He snapped his fingers then Wallace came to stuttering and babbling a little bit. "Oh! I am sorry lad. I don't know what is happening to me. Maybe that confounded machine made me have these horrible habits. Maybe a little coffee would help-" Gromit reached for the coffee pot on the table and poured some in his mug. Gromit added only two lumps of sugar and a splash of milk. Wallace held the mug as a few sips went to drinking the entire thing. "Aah, that did help a little. Thanks, lad."
There was a sudden pounding at the front door. Gromit motioned Wallace to stay in his chair as Gromit headed for the door. He opened it to see an officer at the doorstep. "Ello, have you heard about the disturbance last night, mutt?" Gromit gave a confused look and shook his head. "I thought you lot would be the first ones to hear about it. A giant pest of the like was rummaging ponds and had almost attacked an officer of the law. And several of your traps had been set off but never investigated. Have you two been slacking all night?" "What is this?" Wallace asked as he walked into the conversation. The officer quickly studied him and noticed that he was rather tired. "Oh! I do suppose you have been after them? Judging from your drowsy likeness of course." "Oh! Y-yes, we have been after those pests all night long haven't we lad?" he said as he patted Gromit on the head. Gromit noticed the confusion on Wallace's face. "Go find out what is wrong with the alarm system please-" Wallace whispered to Gromit as he subdued the officer with some friendly banter.
Gromit then walked away and went to the alarm system that was interconnected outside by the kitchen. Gromit opened the door from the kitchen and walked to the left until there was a small power box. Gromit then noticed the same scratches on the box. The creature was also trying to open this box last night. Gromit opened it only to reveal destroyed wire and flashing buttons. The creature was trying to sabotage the machine so that they would be unaware of the intrusions. This creature was obviously very intellegent and was aware of the technology they use. As Gromit was reconnecting the wires, he then heard Wallace shout for him. Gromit finished the set he was working on and put the rest of it up, closed it and walked back inside. "There you are. Now, the constable wants the town to gather in town hall. For this wolf buisness. Very serious I suppose. Come on then, to the car." Wallace said. Gromit took notice and could only display an eyeroll because he hadn't finished fixing the alarm system. They got into the van and headed to town hall.
Wallace headed up the short steps and hesitated to open the door. He finally then swallowed his fears and opened it to reveal a cacophony of angry citizens. They complained about how the beast had devoured all of the oversized fish they were breeding. They all fell silent as the door opened. All of their heads seemed to turn in unison as they looked at the duo with a burning hatred. Oh they've finally made it. How could they have buggered this up? They heard these phrases muttered amongst the crowd as they tried to find a seat. Wallace then spotted Campanula as she waved to them in a polite manner. Wallace seemed to almost sprint to her and sit beside her as Gromit took his time. As Gromit sat down, he had noticed that he was sitting next to Fluffles and her new owner, Wendolene. Fluffles had a confused expression on her face as she had no clue what was happening. Gromit played along and shrugged as he was also clueless. "What a dreadful situation you must be in Mr. Wallace." Campanula said. "Oh, I'm just as confused as you are Tottington." Wallace also noticed that Wendolene was sitting not too far away from him too. "Hello Mr. Wallace." she said in a kind tone. "Ello." Wallace chuckled nervously. "It has been awhile since we had talked. Fluffles has been doing well, she enjoys staying with me. Since I had lost Preston and all." "Oh. It's no problem Wendolene. I figured you needed a lady friend." She then noticed Campanula and lost her cheerful smile. "Is she one of your clients, Wallace?" she said as her eyes narrowed on him. He then turned to Tottington then quickly jerked back. "Yes, she is. But mind you we are not in a bind, no." he said, sweating.
"Okay, I just wanted to see you sweat dear." she chuckled as Fluffles and Gromit joined in for a laugh. Wallace felt embarrassed as he tried to hide his face in a napkin. A sudden trill of a whistle caught everyone's attention unanimously. The head constable holding the whistle then dropped it as it dangled on the thread around his neck. "May I have your attention now. Last night, I'm sure you ALL heard about the disturbance that caused the disappearance of several fish. But, we might have to rule out that this was no giant wolf. It would be a man." The citizens gasped at this acclamation. "Aye! A man. One of you must be responsible for this crime. Perhaps jealousy of the competition." He then eyeballed Mr. McAckrel. "However, one of me men was an eyewitness to this. Constable Limridge! Front and center!" A young man of the brigade stood up from behind him. "Read out the events you had witnessed." Limridge walked up and took a deep breath as the head constable took his seat.
"Last night, I witnessed something so big, an absolute atrocity. It would make you WISH you had stayed in bed all night long. Unlike Constable Strigging, I do not believe that this creature was a man of sheer size. I ask you this constable." he then turned to him. "Does a man have furious, hungry. glowing eyes? Teeth like razors that could tear through your mother's knitting? Or even claws that could take your very existence?" Strigging rolled his eyes and shook his head. Limridge then turned back towards the citizens. "This creature stood like a man and walked towards me as if it were one. It had massive paws that could clutch your head and walk away with you in its grasp. It's size alone would make you tremble in your pants. This is not one of the wolves that has been rummaging your yards. This... This is far worse than you could ever conceive. A werewolf is the cause of this disaster. And one of YOU is the creature."
A citizen then stood up from her seat. It was Mrs. Juding. "What was the color of this wolf if I were to ask? I have also seen a wolf that inhaled me prized trout." "Well ma'am, the wolf I had seen had a blue grey color with a light grey underbelly. A nasty bugger it is." Gromit was taking notes of this event as Fluffles watched him write them down. "Well sir, the wolf I had seen was as pitch as the night sky itself! And I had captured a photo of the creature." She then held up the blurry photo and waved it in the air. A nearby officer snatched it from her and walked to Limridge. He studied the photo then looked back at her. "This photo had ought to be a fake ma'am. This is not the wolf I had seen." He pushed the photo aside as Gromit had gotten up to him. "Yes dog?" Limridge asked. Gromit pointed to the photo. "Here, you can have it. Study it if you like, it is of no use if it is a fake." Gromit went back to his seat with the photo. Wallace also loomed over to look at the picture.
"I also considered it very strange that Anti-Pesto didn't come after this giant wolf. Yeah! Where have you two been all night? Were you lot even chasing it?" the crowd turned on Wallace. Wallace sat there trembling and sweating "W-we've been keeping track and chasing it all night long. I'm sure we will be able to catch it-" Wallace stammered. More shouting ensued as they accused Wallace of numerous damages of traps made by the beast. Strigging blew his whistle again. Then all of the shouting disappeared as if it had never happened. "I had stopped at Mr. Wallace's residence this morning. We had discussed that he was trying to catch the beast all night long. By me detective work, he is obviously very tired and exhausted. So it is not that he was in bed all night." Strigging stated. "However, it is quite odd that me brigade didn't see your vehicle drive after this giant creature. But that must be because you were trying to sneak up on the bugger." "That is right! Gromit and I were trying to sneak up on it with our latest invention." Wallace was obviously pulling a fib and Gromit went along with it. "I do say, Mr. Wallace has been working very hard catching these wolves. I might suggest the fish ball at Tottington Hall. The day after tomorrow?" Campanula said. "I'll be sure to be rid of those pesky wolves for you, your ladyship." Wallace said. "And to be rid of the giant wolf while I'm at it!"
The crowd cheered in hopes that Wallace and Gromit could catch the giant wolves. Gromit and Fluffles still studied the photo given by Mrs. Juding. The officer described a blue grey beast with a light grey under belly and Mrs. Juding described a solid black beast. This led Gromit to believe that there were two of these giant wolves running around. His mission was to figure out out the wolves and the people they were. But he had a feeling that one of them was right under his nose. Everyone was leaving as the meeting was adjourned and Mr. McAckrel was the first one to leave the building. Suddenly Gromit noticed Mrs. McAckrel talking to Wallace. "I really can't thank you enough for the service you did for us yesterday Mr. Wallace. Me husband wanted you to have this as a further token of our gratitude." She then handed him a very large mackrel as it landed in his lap. "He wanted you to have it for the little darlings. This one won't cut it for the silly little competition that he obsesses for. So he sent me to give it to you for charity if course." "Ma'am, this is far yoo generous. You didn't have to give this to us-" "Oh, you're such a modest gentleman! Keep it because he surely isn't going to take it back." she said in a warm tone. She then walked away after her long gone husband. Wallace sat there with the heavy fish in his lap then looked at Gromit darting looks at him and the mackerel. "Here lad." Wallace then set the fish on Gromit. "Hold that for a second." The fish was easily two times Gromit's size. He struggled a little bit to get the fish on his lap. Fluffles giggled a little bit as she had left following Wendolene.
Once the building had cleared, Wallace snatched the fish from Gromit and began to the exit. "C'mon lad let's get this fish on ice." Gromit now smelled of mackerel and he was trying to wipe off the scent. Gromit eventually gave up and gotten into the van "Hoo, lad! We need to get you a bath! You smell like a fish!" Gromit gave him a hard stare and crossed his arms. Wallace started up the van and sped home. Gromit then assisted Wallace with the fish and put it in the upstairs ice box. "Right, thanks lad. Now go and get yourself a bath." Wallace said. Gromit went into the laundry room to grab a fresh towel then walked upstairs.
Wallace sat at the table and tapped his fingers on it. He then heard the bath start up and lifted his head a little to the sound. Wallace felt nauseated and dizzy as his head fell onto the table. He was fast asleep as his coffee had finally worn off. Gromit came out of the bath 15 minutes later. He now had a clean and crisp scent instead of the poignant mackrel. He walked down the stairs and into the dining room. Wallace was snug laying facedown on the table as he snored loudly. Gromit rolled his eyes and shook him awake. "Oh- ah, lad. I was having a lovely dream-" Wallace muttered. "I suppose me coffee had worn off." he then chuckled. Gromit assisted Wallace up the stairs to his room and laid him to bed. Wallace was asleep as Gromit tucked him in. Gromit then left him to go back outside and finish fixing the power box to the alarm systems.