Oyhayo everyone! CJzilla here with another update! In this chapter Zak, Fisk, Komodo and Zon are left alone. Van Rook pays a visit but his would-be kidnapping of Zak turns into a fight against the Beast of Gévaudan. Enjoy.

As I wreck this city with my radioactive breath, alls CJzilla has to roar is this: R&R... Love... Hate... Review.

Noh-Varr Amadeus Cho: Thanks for reading, reviewing and putting me on one of your favs. It's an honor.

Cold-heart-Angel23: Thanks for reading and reviewing. In this chapter the Beast will show itself. Enjoy.

Amaris Solbes de la Vega: VEGA! Oye como va?! Long time no see. Thanks for reading and reviewing! So the Secret Saturday's on of your favs? Cool. I'll do my best. And as far as my TDI fic... It's on hiatus for a little bit... I hope.

ArtimisHowl: Doyle's now apart of the Saturday's lives. To make a legit Secret Saturday fic, he had to be in it! Thanks for R&Ring.

Shinigami911: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Here's another chapter!

Super Poof: Now you know why I rated this fic "T". Reading up on the beast kinda opens your eyes to what it really was. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

she-bang-fan: Yep. Here's an update! Rock on Doyle... rock on.

Hiezen Uchiha: I've never had such a warm welcome to a new archive before! Wow. Thanks Hiezen. I've read your fic and it's very good. Write on, right on. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

anon: Though you didn't sign a name, thanks for reading and reviewing!


Chapter 3

Man-Eater From 1764

Zak sat by the windows of the super-zeppelin, bored out of his mind. Fisk was twiddling his thumbs as Zon pecked her wings and Komodo lounged in a ray of sunlight beaming through one of the windows. Mom and dad had come back into the airship without as much as a sighting. Zak wished he could have gone with Uncle Doyle; about a quarter mile above the ground, the beast couldn't get to him there. But no. He had to stay HERE where it was "safe". Not even the other cryptids were allowed out of the zeppelin, which in hindsight was probably a good thing.

Zak didn't want Fisk or Zon being chased by an angry mob with pitchforks and torches. The French town about five miles from where they landed looked like somewhere Dracula or Frankenstein would terrorize. Isolate and sorta primitive Lozére looked like running water and working bathrooms were sparse.

Zak sighed. Suddenly the door to the control room opened and in walked his mother. Zak turned in his chair and gave his mother a bored glare. Drew gave him a small smile and presented a huge manila file to him.

"Here. Something to keep you busy." She stated. Zak took it with his eyebrow high in the air.

Zon and Fisk looked over his shoulder at file. Being eleven-years old, the boy would rather ask what it was than open the file to find out.

"What is it mom?" Zak asked. Drew sighed, moved passed Zon's big bill and opened the folder.

"It's all the information of the Beast of Gévaudan. Folklore and fact, eye-witness accounts and testimony. It even includes the supposed death of the creatures!" Drew was enthusiastic about the contents of the folder but Zak made a face.

Zak passed the folder back at Fisk, who took it with a big "Ooooo". Zon narrowed her eyes and then snatched the folder out of the gorilla-cat's hands and took off with it. As Fisk and Zon had a "mature" moment, running around like three-year-olds, the eleven-year-old glared at his mother.

"Mom. There is nothing to do here." Zak folded his arms and sunk deeper into his chair. "I bet the local kids churn butter for fun."

Drew got irritated at that.

"No. The local kids are in hiding because the Beast of Gévaudan preys on children and women, which you would know if you read a little research." She tapped her foot. Zak sighed.

"Well, I'm not desperate enough to do homework. I don't want to spend this mission inside while you, dad and Uncle Doyle hunt for Beast of Gévaudan!" The eleven-year-old returned, moping as Zon and Fisk fought for the folder.

Drew's face softened as she kneeled beside her son's chair.

"I know, sweetie." She ran her fingers through her boy's wild black and white hair. She cupped his tiny chin and made him look at her. "But you're too precious to this family. None of us: your father, me, Doyle, Fisk, Zon and even Komodo never want to see you put in harm's way."

"But I want to be out there with you! It's the way we've always done missions!" Zak pointed out, leaning forward and resting his head on his arms. The eleven-year-old puffed out a sigh. "I feel left out."

Fisk was in a tug-of-war with Zon but as soon as he heard his best friend's melancholy words, the seven-foot-tall gorilla-cat let the female Ornithocheirous have the folder. Bounding up to Zak, Fisk put a big, soft hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Dwit." The tall, furry cryptid patted the eleven-year-old's back, reassuring him that he wasn't left out. Zak grinned at his friend as his mother smiled.

"You're not left out at all, Zak." Drew voiced, cocking her head with her son's. "We plan on capturing this thing and when we do, you can use your powers on the Beast of Gévaudan. All right?"

The eleven-year-old nodded.

"Just make sure you catch it before I get too bored." He stated. Drew nodded.

"You know it." She kissed her son's cheek and ran her fingers through Fisk's fur. As Fisk blushed, Drew stood. "Your father and I are waiting for Doyle to come back with the results of his aerial sweep. If that doesn't give us any results, we're going to the village and ask a few questions. We should have the cryptid bagged before nightfall."

With that Drew left the room. Zak watched his mom leave and at that same second, his uncle passed the window, his jetpack slowing his fall. The eleven-year-old had a funny feeling that Uncle Doyle found nothing. Getting up from his chair, Zak walked over to the window. Uncle Doyle was talking to dad and shaking his head.

Translation: No sign of the beast. A.K.A.: This is gonna take a lot longer than Zak thought. He turned to Fisk.

"Well, buddy, we might as well get comfortable because it looks like it's gonna be a boring day." The eleven-year-old walked back to his chair and plopped back down into it. Fiskfollowed his best friend and sat next to him on the floor.

Sighing in unison both boy and cryptid festered in the silence, sure that boredom would be the death of them. Just then Doc poked his head into the control room.

"Zak! Doyle, your mother and I are going into the village to ask some questions and log some data!" The man called into the room. Fisk and Zak lipped the rest, knowing what was coming. "You are not to leave the blimp! Lock the doors, keep an eye on the readings and stay away from sugar. If there are any problems hit the emergency siren. Love you and we'll be back."

The door "shnnk"ed shut and Doc was gone. Zak and Fisk sighed in unison again, just looking out the window at the quiet French countryside.

"Death by boredom… it's an ancient medieval torture." The eleven-year-old stated resting his cheek on his fist. Zak was missing his beloved entertainment system that he had to leave behind.

The gorilla-cat nodded and put his hands behind his head.

"Forsuregur." Fisk plopped on his back and closed his eyes. The tall, furry cryptid's mouth fell straight as he began to relax.

He didn't realize that Zon was standing over him and getting ready to annoy him some more.

From the outside of the zeppelin, Drew and Doc jumped on their hover disks as Doyle took to the air on his jetpack. The three adults sped for town to ask about the Gévaudan Beast sightings since the first attack. As they did, a figure in a mask crouched on a large tree bough in the nearby forest. Through his binoculars Van Rook watched archenemies move away from their beloved zeppelin. They had left without the boy.

Moving his gaze and binoculars Van Rook looked through the large bay windows of the zeppelin. He saw the pre-teen trying to quell a disagreement between the Fiskerton Phantom and that exotic Ornithocheirous. He then looked to the komodo dragon with chameleon-like abilities. The huge lizard was feeling the cold in the weather because it was just sunning itself.

Van Rook chuckled to himself as he took the binoculars from his face. They were all alone and unsupervised. Perfect for an attack that they'd never see coming.

As soon as Van Rook was confident the adults were far enough away from the zeppelin, he jumped out of the tree, activated his jetpack and flew low to the ground. He had his crosshairs set on the zeppelin and Zak Saturday. But he first had to hack his way through the security system.

Zak wiped his brow as he walked back into the control room, Claw in hand. Fiskerton was in the rafters of the ceiling, folded up and looking ruffled from a fight. The eleven-year-old walked into the center of the control room, he looked up towards the ceiling.

"Zon's gone, Fisk! She's in the supply closet with a bucket of fish! You can come down now!" Zak called up to his best friend. Fisk sighed, hung from a rafter by his hand before gracefully flipping to the floor.

"Fisomur!" The Fiskerton Phantom's soft off-white fur was a mess from Zon's unusual fascination with him today. The female Ornithocheirous went out of her way to annoy and nibble on him and Fisk had had enough of it.

"You got a little Ornithocheirous spit on your ears." Zack motioned to Fisk's head.

The gorilla-cat grumbled and passed his hand through his hair, trying to straighten his fur.

"Dude, I don't know what's wrong with Zon today. I know that cold weather makes cold-blooded lizards irritated-" He looked over at Komodo who hadn't moved from the sun-lit window since they landed. "But Zon's gone berserk! Did you take a bath in a vat of fish-essence or something?"

"Rasf!" Fisk shook his head before licking his hand and running over his ears. "Murwiki?"

Zak nodded.

"True, you never do take baths." The boy shrugged then took a seat, the Claw in his hand. "But in hindsight, if your Fiskerton stank is going to make Zon nuts, then I recommend that you bathe."

Fisk frowned and gave his fur a shake.

"No." He grumbled before crouching beside his best friend and folding his arms indignantly. The gorilla-cat was not miserable enough to bathe. "Zon cairmu cissbur."

Zak roared with laughter and he fell out of his chair, much to the embarrassment of Fiskerton. The seven-foot-tall gorilla cat was blushing.

""It's not so bad"?!" The eleven-year-old held his sides as he looked up at his friend. "Zon nearly mauled you! And you're saying "It's not so bad"?! Dude? You LIKE being nearly mauled?"

Fisk turned up his nose.

"Chimur sooma." He glared off. Zak sat up.

"Uh, no; I don't know what you mean." The boy returned. Fisk frowned at him and said nothing in return.

Grunting, the seven-foot-tall gorilla cat stood and was about to walk toward the door. Then his red eyes caught a silent, crouched human figure in the shadows of the doorway. Doc, Drew and Doyle couldn't have been back yet, and WHY would one of them crouch in the doorway? Then Fisk heard a gun cock.

"MISMUR!" The gorilla-cat choked out as something in the attacker's hands exploded. A second later a huge, strong net wrapped around the Fiskerton Phantom.

The force of the net sent Fisk flying into one of the control room's consuls before he fell to the floor, bound motionless. The zeppelin shook with the impact. Zak was instantly on his feet, his eyes on his best friend.

"Fisk!" The gorilla-cat wriggled in the strong net, unable to break it. The preteen ran over to his friend when he heard bulky running footfalls on the metal floor.

With scarcely a moment to look up he heard Komodo give an angry/startled growl. Then someone grabbed Zak by the back of his shirt. With his back to his attacker, the boy only saw a beefy arm extend over his shoulder and shoot something toward Komodo. A tiny capsule bounced to the komodo dragon's feet before it exploded into very sticky goo. Komodo was stuck and could only growl in resentment. By that time Zak knew who his attacker was.

"Uh! Van Rook!" The boy hissed. Zak still had the Claw in his hand and he gripped it.

Van Rook seized the Claw and as it was still in Zak's hands, held it point blank at the boy's throat.

"Let's point your little cereal box toy somewhere else." The merc's heavy accented voice sang through the suddenly silent room. Zak squirmed but dared not use the Claw, since its razor sharp three-fingered claw attached to the tether was on his neck.

The boy gave the man a firm kick to his shin. Grunting in discomfort, Van Rook held the boy tighter against his chest.

"A joy to see you again too, you little boil." The cryptozoologist mercenary growled at Zak. With that he turned and began walking toward the door.

"Fisk! Call mom, dad and Uncle Doyle!" Zak called out. At the boy's plea to his flea-bitten cryptid, Van Rook chuckled.

"You'll be long gone before your parents find out you're missing." The man stated as the door opened. Zak writhed and grunted in frustration.

The door shut.

"Chumos!" Fisk gasped, squirming in the net. He couldn't move and neither could Komodo; Zon was in the supply closet, so she couldn't help either.

Then the gorilla-cat looked up and saw he was right underneath the consul that had the distress alarm on it. With a Fiskerton Phantom-enhanced push, his long arm poked through the net. Swinging his arm up to the consul, Fisk floundered around for the big red button that would call Drew, Doyle and Doc back to the airship.

Van Rook was casually walking through the halls of his enemies' zeppelin, eleven-year-old Zak Saturday held in his arms. The boy wasn't going to leave without a fuss. Kicking and squirming, regardless at his Claw weapon was pointed at his throat, Zak let Van Rook know he wasn't happy.

"You are the KING of cheap-shots, Van Rook!" The boy snarled. The merc rolled his eyes under his mask.

"Quiet." He commanded. Zak barely listened to his parents; Van Rook was no exception.

"You yellow-bellied worm! You kidnap me while my parents and uncle are gone!" The boy carried on, kicking the man in the leg. The merc was halfway thankful for his leg-armor. "And I bet you're after the beast, aren't you?!"

Van Rook chuckled.

"If you mean the Beast of Gévaudan, yes." He returned, walking down the second to last hallway to the exit. "V.V. Argost promised me a nice chunk of money if I capture it. And you are going to help me."

Zak scoffed.

"To heck if you think I'm going to use my cryptid powers to help YOU!" The feisty eleven-year-old barked back. Van Rook gave a chuckle that iced up Zak's spine.

"I don't need your trivial cryptid powers, you little toad." Van Rook responded. "The Beast of Gévaudan has a taste for children and since you were here and I all ready hate you, I couldn't have picked a better piece of bait."

The eleven-year-old gulped as he saw the walkway in the down-position and the grassy field. He had to get away or be Gévaudan Beast food! Lifting up his leg to as high as he could get it, Zak drove the back of his sneaker to Van Rook's leg. With a stroke of luck, his heel of his shoe hit the man between the joints of his armor, making sweet contact with his knee. The merc growled in pain and his grip loosened on the Claw. Zak took the three-fingered claw from his throat. With a thought, he shot it to the man's face, confident that Van Rook's mask would protect his head. But the merc saw the blow coming and juked his head to the side.

The Claw shot over the man's shoulder, bounced off the ceiling, walls and finally to the floor. The wayward weapon hit Van Rook's ankles and made him tumble to the floor. With Zak still in his arms, the merc fell down the ramp and out onto the grassy field. By that time he had let go of the boy and came to a stop on his back.

Zak shook the stars from his head as he found himself face-down in the grass. Getting to his knees and spitting out a chunk of grass, he saw the Claw rewinding itself. Turning to Van Rook, he saw the angry mercenary sit up and glare at him. He went to get to his knees but the knee that Zak had kick cried out in pain.

"I hate you, little Saturday boy." Van Rook hissed. The eleven-year-old boy snapped the Claw at the man.

"The feeling's mutual, Van Rook!" Zak fired back, dipping the Claw to the side as it rewound totally. Van Rook growled and started to stand, but the mercenary had his back to the forest and didn't see the Beast of Gévaudan zip out from the trees.

"When I get my hands on you, I'll string you up by your feet, slather you in barbecue sauce and let the Beast of Gévaudan chew on you before I capture it!" Van Rook fumed, chocking his wrist net-launcher at the Saturday boy.

Zak just stood there, glaring at him before movement behind the merc caught his attention. It was a HUGE dog looking creature with reddish fur, running full gallop at Van Rook.

Zak saw the monstrous dog creature run across the field, its sinister red and yellow eyes fixed on Van Rook. The boy couldn't form a word to warn the man, since the animal was speeding toward him at an alarming rate. The eleven-year-old boy's face fell to horror as a loud gasp escaped his mouth. Van Rook saw the look on the boy's face but before he could process what was going on, a gnarl that froze his heart sounded through his ears.

In that instant, Van Rook's head was in the jaws of a creature that was nothing short of a monster.

The event happened as fast as lightning. The creature jumped forward, maw open and long, formidable teeth poised to kill. The dog monster's jaws clamped down on the man's head. Instantly it took Van Rook to the ground.

Face down in the grass, the merc felt an incredible pressure to his head before teeth sunk into his scalp. Van Rook made no sound, he himself too stunned to form a noise as the creature shook him violently.

Zak was scared stiff as he could only watch the ruthless mercenary become a rag-doll in the monster's jaws.

The dog creature dropped Van Rook before flipping the dazed and injured man over. The man opened his eyes from behind his mask to look into the terrifyingly animalistic red and yellow eyes of the Beast of Gévaudan. Realizing that he was truly being attacked and possibly staring death in the face, the cryptozoologist's mind screamed out for his knife. But with not even a chance to draw the blade in his thigh pocket, the beast's mouth came down over Van Rook's face. He screamed as the monster animal shook him like a rag.

Van Rook's scream finally brought Zak out of his stupor. The boy knew that if he didn't do something to stop this monster from attacking Van Rook, he knew the merc was as good as dead.

"HEY!" The eleven-year-old boy shouted at the creature, drawing his Claw. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

The boy aimed the weapon and fired. The three-fingered claw shot toward the monster and made contact with its eye. The razor-sharp claws squeezed over the dog-like animal's eye. The beast yelped in pain and dropped Van Rook as it reared. Bringing a huge paw to its face, it clawed at the painful weapon over its eye. It danced and reared, trying to dislodge the Claw from its sensitive eye. Zak saw the monster's incredible discomfort and if it chose to run to the forest, it'd take him with it! With a small flick of his wrist, the Claw released the monster's eye and rewound to the tether.

The creature shook its head and blinked the pain out of its eye. The monster then snarled and turned its horrible eyes back to the small boy that dared to defy it!

Zak watched as the hair on the back of the dog-wolf animal's neck stand rigid with seething anger. Its heart-stopping red and yellow eyes fixed on him and the boy saw three cuts on the creature's left eye, courtesy of his Claw. Now its pearly white teeth were fully exposed as its lips curled in a fuming growl. The eleven-year-old took a step back, his eyes wide with fear. The beast matched his backwards step with a forward stalk.

"Y-y-you don't want to hurt me!" Zak spoke, unknowingly activating his cryptid powers. As the boys shone with yellow energy, so did his Claw which focused his powers.

In an instant the Beast of Gévaudan's eyes shone with the same yellow energy and it froze in its steps.

"You don't want to hurt me." Zak repeated seeing that his powers had an effect on the monster. The beast relaxed, its fur falling back onto its natural position as its lips moved back down over its teeth. "I don't want you to hurt anyone else, ever again!"

As those words left his mouth and the creature's eyes relaxed onto his, Zak heard a whisper in the animal's mind.

The guardian of the secret stone and the secret stone of the guardian.

It was faint but recognizable.

"Wait… what?" The boy blinked at the beast. The animal stared at him, speaking again in an incoherriant voice.

In that moment, inside the zeppelin, Fiskerton had found the red alarm button. Pushing it with all his might, the bound gorilla-cat alerted his family of the danger.

Outside in the field, the emergency siren, making Zak jump and his hold on the creature break. As the alarm wailed, the boy watched as the Beast of Gévaudan revert back to being a savage animal. The creature shook its head and began cowering at the sound of the loud sirens. The large wolf-like animal laid its ears flat against its head and growled in fear. Zak stood there, watching the creature. Though the beast snarled and seethed, it continued to retreat toward the trees. With one last glare at Zak, the beast turned and sprinted off toward the woods.

"Wait!" The boy ran after it. "Wait! Come back!"

He tried to use his powers to summon and calm the beast but it all ready disappeared into the woods. Zak stood there in a daze, not sure what to make of a blood-thirsty beast that formed coherent words that he could understand! Just then he heard Van Rook groan. Turning, the boy saw the half-chewed merc sit up, his metal mask bent from the power of the beast's jaws.

"Van Rook!" Zak zipped over to the man, knowing he HAD to be hurt. "Are you all right?!"

The man was in too much pain to respond to that stupid question.

Meanwhile, inside the small town, Drew, Doyle and Doc were questioning a man named Antoine Saverelle, a farmer who claimed to see the Gévaudan Beast first. His story was wild, crazy in fact; Antoine stated that while he was cutting grass in his pasture, a stone was wedged between his blades and from that red stone, came the Beast of Gévaudan. It was farfetched and nothing short of fantasy but it was the only lead they had all day.

"Doyle, ask Mr. Saverelle if he got into any liquor before his encounter with the Wolf of Chazes." Doc rolled his eyes, not believing this man one bit. Drew cut in before Doyle could recite Doc's comment in French.

"Hang on, Doyle!" The woman held up her hand and turned to her husband. "Doc! You're being very unprofessional! I believe Mr. Saverelle!"

The older man with a streak of white hair sighed.

"Who ever heard of a cryptid, much less the Beast of Gévaudan popping out of a stone? It's ridiculous!" Doc threw his hands in the air. Drew gave her husband a "look".

"Well, it's the only lead we've had. Let's pay this man SOME respect since he is already being ridiculed as the "bringer of the beast" throughout his village." Drew tapped her foot and folded her arms across her curvy chest.

Doyle agreed with his sister.

"Yeah, Solomon." The troublemaking red head jeered to his brother-in-law. "Mr. Saverelle is the only one who will TALK about the Beast of Gévaudan. Let's give him a cha-"

And just then, the alarm sirens from the zeppelin reached their ears. Gasping both Doc and Drew spun to the airship.

"It's the airship!" Doc spat out before he sprinted to his hover disk.

"My boys!" Drew hopped on her disk and both parents roared off toward their son and cryptids. Doyle rocketed off after his sister and brother-in-law, leaving behind one very bewildered Mr. Antoine Saverelle.

Doyle passed Drew and Doc and screamed as fast as he could toward the zeppelin, something in the back of his mind telling him something was very wrong with his nephew.

Zak saw that Van Rook's head was bleeding and that he was still stupid from getting tossed around like a rag-doll. The eleven-year-old felt his peanut-butter and jelly sandwich threaten to come up as he saw the fabric of the merc's mask turn red with his puncture wounds.

"You're bleeding." Was the only thing to pop out of Zak's mind. "Pretty bad."

Van Rook growled and brought a shaky hand to his head. Bringing his glove back to his face, he saw the vital juices smeared over the leather. By that time he finally recognized that the alarms were sounding. Van Rook knew he had to stand or else get busted by this boy's parents.

The mercenary rolled to his knees and paced himself to stand. Blinking past the vertigo and pain, Van Rook stood. Then he felt a hand on his arm.

"You're too messed up to stand!" He looked down and saw the wide eyes of the Saturday boy. Either the boy had a HUGE heart even for his enemies, or Van Rook was more injured than he thought. "Just-…! Just wait here! My parents are on their way and we've got a med-kit inside the blimp!"

Van Rook yanked his arm out of the boy's hands.

"I don't need your help!" He barked. Zak scoffed and smirked.

"You did when you were almost beastie food!" The eleven-year-old threw his arms in the air. He grabbed Van Rook's arm again. "Now shut up and get into the blimp before that monster comes back to finish what it started!"

With that Zak started to drag the man toward the zeppelin, intent on treating his injuries. Van Rook's feet were cemented where he stood, but that didn't mean he wasn't halfway touched at the compassion this little brat had.

Just then he heard the roar of a jetpack and Doyle's flying figure zipped around the blimp. Even from behind that mask, Van Rook knew the young man was shocked. Yanking Zak back into his arms Van Rook and Doyle had a stalemate.

"What are you doing?!" Zak squirmed, talking to Van Rook. "You don't have to do this!"

Van Rook ignored the boy and focused on his treacherous ex-apprentice. Doyle yanked off his mask and dropped it as he hovered nine feet off of the ground.

"Drop him Van Rook or you'll regret it!" The red head seethed, boiling anger coming to his face as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of explosive pellets. Van Rook's savior once again came from an unlikely source.

"Uncle D!" Zak called up to Doyle. "Don't! Van Rook's hurt!"

Shock came to the red head's face.

"What?!" Doyle spat back. The wounded merc pulled Zak closer.

"You saved my life, boy. I'm not stupid enough to forget that." Van Rook whispered into Zak's ear. The merc then grabbed his shirt and seat of his pants and tossed Zak toward Doyle.

Both nephew and uncle hit with a hard thud as Doyle dropped out of the air. Activating his jetpack, Van Rook sped into the air just as Drew and Doc raced up to the zeppelin.

Doc and Drew nearly fell off their hover disks as they raced up to Doyle and Zak. Doc watched Van Rook fly into the air, back toward the down and he felt a scowl ripple onto his face.

"Zak! Zak!" Drew rushed up to Doyle and Zak, who lie in a heap on the ground. Taking her son off of her brother, the woman stood the eleven-year-old up.

"No that's all right!" Doyle groaned. "I'm all right. I was just hit by an eleven-year-old boy projectile."

Doc helped his brother-in-law to his feet.

"Zak! I thought I told you to stay in the airship!" Doc barked at his son. But then he saw the horror on Drew's face. "What? What's wrong?!"

Drew held up her hand, showing that it was covered in blood. Both Doyle and Doc zipped up to Zak.

"You hurt?!" Both rushed. Zak shook his head and pointed to the back of his shirt, where his back was near Van Rook's head.

"I told you that Van Rook was hurt!" The eleven-year-old pointed at his uncle. The family craned their eyes upwards only to catch Van Rook's speeding form in the far, far distance.

"What did you do, Zak?" Drew was horrified. Did her son do that to the mercenary?!

"Nothing! Van Rook busted into the blimp, incapacitated Fisk and Komodo and took me! When we got out here…" Zak's face paled. "The Beast of Gévaudan attacked. It went for Van Rook since his back was to it. I managed to get it off of him with my cryptid powers but not before Van Rook was messed up pretty good."

Doc looked to the woods and his instincts told him to rush his family inside.

"Get inside! Before that thing comes back!" The man told his wife, son and brother-in-law. The family ran inside the blimp, hastily returned the ramp and shut the door.

From inside the forest, just beyond the sight of the child's parents, the Beast of Gévaudan's eyes were on the boy as he and his family disappeared inside their airship. After hundreds of years and decades more, the beast finally found the human that could understand its secret. The Gévaudan Beast would wait until the dust settled before contacting the child once more.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley Van Rook had made it back to V.V. Argost's camp before collapsing from his injuries. Attracted by the sudden "thunk" on the ground, Argost and Munya emerged from their tent. Seeing the unconscious and badly bleeding mercenary at his feet, Argost snorted.

"Munya, please tend to Mr. Van Rook's injuries." The pasty-faced villain gestured to his manservant. Then he sighed. "A shame that I did not see la bête du Gévaudan's infamous attack-style myself. And I'm sure Mr. Van Rook will want compensation for his injuries."

Waving his hand disinterestedly, Argost disappeared back into his tent leaving Munya to scoop up Van Rook. Walking back to the mercenary's tent, the still and silent Munya knew that Van Rook would need stitches… Lots and lots of stitches.


R&R! LONG LIVE ROCK!