Chapter 6:

The evening fell way too soon for Felipe's liking. This was the night he feared the most since he knew about his heritage. The young servant was running next to Toronado. He didn't feel like riding today. At least with running, he could take his mind off tonight or what was about to happen. The book had been clear this night was going to be painful.

"We are almost there, Felipe," Zorro said looking down from Toronado's back.

Felipe simply nodded. This was it no way back. Not that there was ever a way back for him. They both stopped at the top of a small path down. Zorro jumped off Toronado's back.

"You will have to trust me, old boy. This path looks small and steep." Zorro sighed rubbing the black stallion's nose.

"It wouldn't be the first time." The stallion huffed making Felipe laugh.

The fox looked between his two friends and Felipe repeated in signs what Toronado just said. He shook his head, "I guess you are right, my friend!" He said to the stallion.

Felipe took the first step down, Zorro hot in his heels leading Toronado down carefully. It was important for Toronado to be there because he was the only one for sure to communicate with him, calm him down if needed to be. The fox couldn't ask Toronado what Felipe was thinking but he trusted his stallion to say the right things to the young boy.

They did argue a lot but even Toronado knew when he needed to be serious.

The end of the path was the beginning of a big open space in the desert. The place was surrounded by mountains and it looked like the hidden path was the only way to come here.

"That must be the cave over there," Zorro said pointing at an opening in one of the mountains at the opposite of the open space. A gray werewolf was sitting at the entrance of the cave. This has to be Felipe's uncle, Darion.

Darion shifted into his human form the moment he saw Felipe and Zorro. putting on a shirt he had left there earlier.

"I expected senor De La Vega," Darion said a bit wary.

Felipe looked at Zorro not knowing what to say at this moment.

"I know the De La Vega's and I offered to help Don Diego with this." Zorro said in a serious tone, "I am Zorro."

Darion looked at him and towards Felipe.

"He can be trusted, he is here to help." The young man signed without giving the identity away.

"Why the mask?" Darion asked still not trusting the situation.

"My identity must be kept secret and so must this meeting. It could bring young Felipe in trouble with the authority." Zorro said trying to make Darion trust him. He obviously hadn't heard of the Fox of Los Angeles.

"He is the only one standing between the poor and the tyranny of the Alcalde." Felipe signed.

"Alright, this needs to stay a secret anyway." Darion sighed.

"I need to go and get a woman, someone he sees as a mother figure. It was important for Felipe, that's what the book described." Zorro said.

Darion nodded, "He is in safe hands with me."

"I hope so because if something happens to him you will answer to me." Zorro said without fear before he turned to Felipe, "I will be back as soon as I can."

Felipe nodded and walked with his biological uncle to the cave. If he could he wouldn't have left Felipe's side but Victoria was needed and Felipe couldn't be seen with Zorro.

The trip took to the pueblo took way to long for Zorro's liking. He hated that he had to leave Felipe with someone he didn't know. He was glad Victoria was waiting on the outskirts of town.

"Hello, my love. Ready?" Zorro smiled while he made a place for Victoria to sit in front of him. Victoria was wearing her riding outfit so she took Zorro's hand took place in front of him. Zorro pulled her against him his arm tightly around her waist, holding the reins in his other hand.

"Hold on my love. We need to ride harder than at other times. I don't want to abandon Felipe no longer as necessary. His uncle is with him but I don't know him. Don't forget his uncle doesn't know who I am. So be careful and always call me Zorro when I am wearing this mask." He whispered in her ear.

Victoria nodded, "We do need a plan for me to be able to love Diego without you losing your life."

"We will talk about that when all of this over, I promise." Zorro smiled, "We will figure something out."

"I am ready," Victoria said with confidence.

That was the only thing Zorro needed to hear from her to spur Toronado back to the place where he left Felipe. It was almost night and he wanted to be there when the moon would standing over the cave. He wanted to be there when everything started.

The trip took a back to the special cave that took longer than expected. Zorro couldn't ride full speed with an extra person on the stallion's back.

They arrived at the cave with only minutes to spare. It was going to happen soon now. Darion was waiting in front of the cave for them.

"Senor Zorro, I understand that she will give Triston or Felipe like he is known to you his first meal?" Darion asked in his low voice.

Zorro nodded, "This is Victoria Escalante, she has always been like a mother for Felipe and a good friend of the De La Vega family." Zorro said, "How is Felipe doing?"

"That's why I was waiting for you. What you are about to see may be cruel but you will see why I had to do it the moment he is fully changed." Darion sighed.

"I know what to expect. I had the chance to read the book. Don Diego was so great to borrow it to me. So I am aware he will be in a cage and chained up." Zorro sighed not looking forward to that sight.

Darion nodded before walking into the cave with Zorro, Victoria, and Toronado behind him. The entrance was big enough for Toronado to enter the cave.

Although Zorro was prepared for what he was about to see it still was hard to see Felipe with a chain around his neck sitting in an iron prison. His hands and feet bound with chains to the wall of the cave. A pile of meat waiting next to the prison waiting for his first meal as a full werewolf.

"Poor Felipe." Victoria said sadly, "Zorro is this really necessary?"

"I am afraid it is, senorita Escalante." Zorro sighed taking Victoria by her shoulders and away from the cage because a sudden power forced him down on hand and feet. This was it, his first transformation