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At 2237 hours
Friday 14th May
JOHN
My mind was restless
I was dreaming about the war earlier today. It was all I can think about
Blood was everywhere.
Chatrè corpses lay around me. I had blood on my teeth and claws
Several Howlers had arrived as backup for David
A Howler came at me. I had lunged, my claws stretching out
I struck, claws going deep, as I sank my fangs into his throat. He struggled, but gave up, as I squeezed hard to crush his windpipe
Another Howler attacking my brother. I ran, reaching a speed of about fifty miles per hour when I struck, leaping onto his back and tearing him away
Sam came in to fight, slashing and biting
The Howler threw us off and bared his claws. Sam and I both growled in our throats, before lunging and crashing into him, slashing, biting and rolling around, trying to kill him before he killed us
Pain in my leg. Pain in my flank
Blood running down my body. I snarled and slashed, my claws sinking into flesh. Sam leapt and slashed at the Howler's eyes, blinding him
I attacked his weak points, mortally wounding him
As the Howler died, I looked into his lifeless, busted eyeballs. And I felt pain wash over me…
I shot up in bed and wiped the sweat away. Deciding I wanted a drink, I got out of bed and went downstairs, thinking about today's events
The war, in which we won with use of our cannons
Adam's announcement of his engagement to Ashley
Our approvals, Sam's encouragement and Rachel's joy
And of course, I thought about the future, what it held in store for me. Maybe death on the battle field. Or maybe survival, with terrible war stories for generations to come
I entered the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water
This war, this morphing power, the responsibility to save Earth from powerful creatures like Crayak, it was all too much for me to take!
The door closed. I spun around and put the glass down, before quietly walking to the door
I was sure I had closed it when I came in, didn't I?
I went out and looked around in the hall. Nothing seemed out of place
Something moved on the second floor. I squinted my eyes
I reeled back when I recognised the robin blue eyes
I was horrified when I saw blood on its steel claws. And I knew who it had been after
My parents!
I was too horrified to do anything. But at that time, Leah came out and stopped. I could see the shock on her face
And I saw that her face wasn't hers. It was changing
I decided to do the same, morphing into the cheetah
The Howler leapt over the balcony and began to run, but I stuck out a half-formed leg and tripped him. Leah pounced off the balcony in black panther morph, landing on the Howler's back
(Attack) I cried, broadcasting my thought speak (We're under attack!)
The Howler had thrown Leah off and was advancing on her. I charged and landed on his back, my claws sinking deep. The Howler had thrown his hands over his neck, so I couldn't bite, but he twisted around on his waist and slammed me against the stairs. My claws slackened and with another ram, I fell off
(What is the Howler doing in here?) asked Leah as she growled
I couldn't answer. I didn't want to. I didn't want to know what happened
The Howler leapt over us and headed towards the left wing, as the door opened
FWAAP!
The Howler fell back, minus an arm, as Ax came out. But as the Howler fell, another arm grew from the stump, restoring it to normal before he hit the ground
(Where did you come from, Howler?) asked Ax
The Howler got up and tried to run in the opposite direction
(Stop him) I said (I think he's killed Dad)
"Hiss!"
A cobra reared up and flared its hood, baring its fangs. The Howler made a move for it, but Tori shot out, biting the Howler on the foot
(Nice one Tori) said Ax
The Howler hobbled away, but Leah and I came up and blocked his escape. Tobias and Rachel came out to see what the fuss was, followed by Marco and Melissa. She was trying to soothe a crying Damien
"What is a Howler doing in here?" asked Marco skeptically
Melissa managed to quiet Damien and looked on, as the Howler's breathing became slow and heavy. Ax went over and placed his hand on it
(Let's acquire it) he said (We don't have much time)
Leah, Tori and I demorphed, as Marco, Rachel and Tobias acquired the Howler
"How did it get blood on its claws?" asked Rachel, "did one of you get hit?"
"No"
"Jake and Cassie," said Marco
I pushed past and headed for their room, not wanting to see what laid inside, but having no choice. I opened the door and flicked the light on
The doona was covered in blood. I couldn't see the bodies, but I could see the lumps
"Oh my God," I gasped
I backed away and closed the door, horrified by what I had seen
"John, what's wrong?" asked Leah
I fell back against them and turned to run…
…as my parents were coming up the stairs
That's when I collapsed and fell unconscious
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"John, wake up, now!"
Someone slapped me. My eyes shot open. Leah drew back, ran a hand through her hair, sighed and got up
"He's awake"
I sat up, blinking fast and looked around. Everyone was around me, including my parents. I was on a lounge in the meeting room. I looked up at Dad
"Aren't you dead?"
He patted his chest and stomach, before grinning
"No, I'm still alive"
"Why did you fall?" asked my brother
"I thought the Howler had killed Mom and Dad"
Dad laughed
"No, we were expecting it, so Marco, Ax and I made dummies and filled them with a thick, red liquid. Your mother and I were on the lounge over there"
"But I would have seen you"
"Not if you're wandering around at night while half-asleep"
"What happened to the Howler?"
"It died from Tori's venom," answered Adam
"And where did you get the materials for the dummies?"
"In the basement," said Marco, "it's filled with stuff for anything we need"
I got up shakily to my feet and used Sam and Adam's shoulders as balance
"Are you fine, honey?" asked Mom, "can you walk by yourself?"
"Yeah, I'm okay," I answered, "Just need to lie down"
I headed back to my room, with more thoughts to think over, fell onto my bed, didn't bother about the doona and fell asleep quickly
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