chapter 4:

The next night was hell. He heard every single sound. It started with a rattlesnake making noise with its tail, it made Felipe jump up and stepped to his window to see what was going on. Not thinking he wouldn't see anything being pitch black outside. His view blurred and suddenly he saw the predator ready to eat a little mouse. His view was as clear as he would see in the daytime. The young servant shook his head and his view went from clear werewolf to human again. Felipe sighed and stepped back into his bed trying not to think too much about the night that would follow. It would be the full moon then. A small breeze made him shiver, the sound of leaves being moved by that same breeze stopped him from getting asleep.

Felipe pulled his pillow over his ears but nothing helped. He fell in a restless sleep until some birds who woke up way to early were making him jump out of bed. They sounded like sparrows but sparrows never woke him up before. He sighed thinking about his super sharp hearing. This was no use, Toronado should be sleeping by now so maybe he would get some rest in the cave. Diego had told him that he could go to the cave if things went to much. He dressed and walked out of his room. The whole hacienda was still asleep. He first thought to wake up Diego but decided against it, God knows how late it was when he came back from patrolling the countryside.

Felipe laid on the cot that Diego kept there in case of emergencies. Sighed at the sweet sound of silence, never taking it for granted ever again, never hating it as he used to when he had lost his hearing. He was almost fell asleep when he heard the sound of a certain stallion munching some hay. It felt like he was munching right beside him instead of at the other side of the cave.

'Oh no, not again, can I have some peace somewhere.' Felipe thought but jumped up when he heard a strange voice inside of his head.

'Hey excuse me but I am hungry, I have ridden long and hard all night!'

'Toronado?' Felipe thought, 'it's official I am going crazy' was his next thought. He was holding his head in his hands.

'Who else!' came a response in a heavy voice.

'What are you doing inside my head?' Felipe thought back.

'What do you think? It's your wolf side that's able to communicate with me. I can communicate with all sorts of animals, comes with being king of horses.' Toronado thought back.

'Well with all due respect but could you munch a bit quieter?' Felipe thought a bit irritated.

'Well someone has stepped out at the wrong side of the bed.' The horse thought back.

Felipe growled inside his head for the very first time now.

'Hey no need to get all growly at me.' Toronado breezed while drinking some water.

'Sorry, Toronado but I had a rough night!' Felipe responded.

'You know what, we will try and both get some needed sleep.' The stallion thought before closing his eyes.

Felipe sighed silently and fell asleep again, this time it was only worrying that kept him from good night sleep. The next thing he knew he jumped up when he felt eyes on him. He looked around and found Diego watching him carefully, playing with one of Zorro's smaller knives. The young don looked worried.

"Did you have a rough night?" Diego asked.

'You can't imagine.' Felipe thought but just nodded sleepily.

I know but soon you will be running by my side.

'By his side, what about me?' Toronado thought.

Felipe turned his head towards the stallion, 'of course also by your side. What do you think? That I am going to carry him?' Felipe thought back, 'I don't even know how tall I will be.'

"What's wrong?" Diego asked confused.

'Toronado thought I was going to replace him.' Felipe signed to Diego.

"How do you know?" Diego asked.

'He told me.' Felipe signed like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Wait a minute what do you mean, he told you?" Diego asked confused.

"I didn't read anything about telepathic communications," Diego said still confused.

'Because it's he who can communicate with all animals and half animals.' Felipe signed

Diego smiled, "try to sleep some more. Father is away and he returns in 6 days so time enough to train."

Felipe shook his head, 'I need to start getting used to this.' he signed

"I know Felipe but it's going to be a long night. So take my advice and rest." Diego said softly

'Listen to him, I will be as quiet as possible. I need to sleep some more too.' Toronado thought to Felipe.

Felipe nodded, 'You are right' he thought.

Felipe and Toronado slept all morning under the watchful eye of Don Diego, who was reading in the book about werewolves he received together with the letters. It was an old book with pages that looked yellowish. It was held together with a brown leather cover. decorated with the head of a howling wolf. There was one thing that would be a problem though. The first meat is best given by a mother figure to the werewolf who will undergo his first transformation.

Felipe was an orphan when he found him so he doesn't know his mother and Diego's mother died. Diego sighed he didn't know what to do. Felipe sensed Diego's distress.

'What's wrong?' Felipe signed.

"I was reading in the book and the best way for you to control your wolf side is that a mother figure would give you your first meat. You will attack anyone who comes near you except for someone you see as a mother. It doesn't have to be your real mother." Diego sighed.

'There is someone.' Felipe signed mysteriously and sighed, 'Victoria.'

"This means that Victoria will need to know the identity of Zorro." Diego sighed, "But the fact that something is easier for you that way is more important than keeping my secret for her." Diego said.

'What don't you go as Diego?' Felipe signed confused.

"I want to bring Toronado with me. You trust him and he can calm you down because he can talk to you plus if you will help me as the wolf she will know immediately who Zorro is. She would be very furious if she found out on her own. I hope anyway" Diego sighed.

'Everything will be fine.' Felipe signed who was more worried about what was waiting for him tonight.

TBC