Chapter 15: The Cave Of Werewolves

"So, what have you been doing lately, Shadow?" Jet asked.

"Living with my family," Shadow said.

Jet smiled. "That's great. How old is your son?"

"Eighteen."

"That's a good age to be at."

"It is."

"How did you have him if you're both male?" Jet asked.

Shadow sighed. "Long story."

"I won't pry, then."

"Good."

Jet smiled and looked around. "I've never been on a dragon before. How did you befriend them?"

Shadow shrugged. "Just kinda did."

"This is awesome."

"It is."

The two dragons soon landed on a peak of the mountain. The anthros climbed off and looked around.

"You said they're here in the mountains?" Shadow asked Jet, who nodded. "Any ideas where?"

"I refused to join them, so I'm not sure where they actually are."

"Okay. Let's look around."

"How many caves are in this mountain range?" Sonic asked.

"About five," Jet told him.

"Just five?"

"Yes. But they're spread out."

"I thought it would have more... Whatever. Just makes our job easier."

"Have you explored these mountains before?" Shadow asked Jet.

Jet nodded. "A few times. Years ago."

"Know where any of the caves are?"

"More or less."

"You mind showing us where?" Sonic asked.

"Sure. With any luck, my memory's not too fuzzy."

"Lead on."

Jet led them through the mountains, stopping in front of a cave and sighing in relief. "Here we are," he said, panting a little.

"Okay, guys," Sonic said, "Should we stick together or split up?"

"I'd say we stick together," Jet told him.

The others nodded in agreement and they went into the cave.

"Do you like to explore, Jet?" Sonic asked.

"Sort of. Haven't done it in years, though."

"How did you and Shadow meet?"

"That was a long time ago," Jet laughed. "As I recall, we met when I tried to steal from him. Asshole woke up before I got out of his house."

Sonic looked at his husband. "He tried to steal from you? What did you do?"

"I threatened him and let him go after getting my stuff back. Ran into him again later and decided to help him out."

"How did you two meet?" Jet asked Sonic.

"While I was wandering. I needed some help, and he looked like just what I needed," Sonic said.

"Help with what?" Shadic asked.

"Just in general."

Shadic nodded. A few minutes later they came to a cave and walked inside. Despite there being nothing out of the norm for a cave, they walked as cautiously as possible. Alert, listening for any signs of werewolves - or anything else - as they made their way through the stone tunnels. A few minutes later, they heard something.

"What was that?" Shadic asked, looking around. "I heard something."

A low growl could be heard in the distance.

"Could be a werewolf," Jet said. "Or a bear. I might prefer a pack of wolves, myself."

"Should we investigate?"

"Probably." They walked towards the direction of the noise and saw something. It was a large bear. "Any way we can avoid it?"

"Speed past it?" Sonic suggested.

"Sure."

They all ran past the bear before it could see them.

"How fast can you run, Jet?" Sonic asked.

Jet smiled. "Pretty fast."

"Wanna have a race?"

"I don't think now's the time for that."

"Alright. Later, then," Sonic said.

They didn't see anything else for a few minutes. Still, it wasn't a werewolf. Just a few spiders.

"I don't think this is the right cave," Shadow said.

"Let's try another," Sonic suggested.

The others agreed and they left the cave. They reached another cave minutes later. This one looked more promising when they went inside.

Shadow sniffed. "I'm picking up a scent."

"What is it?" Jet asked.

"Werewolf."

"So we're in the right cave."

Shadow nodded and turned into his wolf form, as did Jet.

"Go check it out," Sonic said. "Shadic and I will check out stuff in that direction." The two wolves ran off. Sonic looked at Shadic and motioned down one of the other paths. "Let's take a look down there."

Shadic smiled and followed his father. "How did dad become a werewolf, anyway?" He asked.

"Never asked. He was a werewolf when we met."

"He was? Interesting...Should I ask him about it?"

"If you really want to, I won't stop you."

Shadic smiled. They continued in relative silence. "So," Shadic finally said. "Is Manic here, or just the werewolves?"

Sonic shrugged; he didn't know. "Hopefully they'll have him here."

"How long has it been since he was kidnapped?"

"A day."

Shadic nodded, and they continued on. Meanwhile, Shadow and Jet were exploring the cave, keeping an eye out for werewolves.

"I can smell them, but we've yet to come across a single one," Shadow growled.

Jet looked at the other wolf. "This is suspicious."

"You think it's a trap of some kind?"

"Definitely."

"Great."

"What should we do?" Jet asked.

"Keep going. We know it's a trap, so stay on your guard and they won't catch us by surprise."

"Sounds good."

The two moved ahead cautiously. A few minutes later they heard howls and saw werewolves up ahead.

"They were waiting for us?"

"Apparently," Jet said. "Should we fight them?"

"Might not have a choice."

The two wolves growled and lunged at the werewolves. The battle was ferocious; wolves howled as they attacked in a flurry of claws and fangs. Shadow and Jet growled, wounding some and getting wounded. A few minutes later they had managed to win.

"These werewolves were tough," Shadow told Jet.

Jet whined and looked over his injuries.

Shadow ran over to the other wolf. "You okay?"

Jet shook his head. "They got me pretty badly." Jet grimaced as he tried to move. "Anyone know any restoration spells?"

"I do. Hold on."

Shadow changed back to normal and put his hands over the wound. Jet kept perfectly still as Shadow mended the worse of the injuries. Jet sighed. "Do you have any water I can use to clean these?"

"Not on me. I could heal those ones for you as well."

"Go ahead." Shadow focused on healing the rest of the injuries, which took much less time than the others had. "Thanks," Jet said.

"No problem."

"Should we press on?"

"If you're up for it," Shadow said.

"I am," Jet said.

"Then let's go."

Jet smiled, and they walked on.