Hey guys, I'm back! I apologize for yet ANOTHER long wait, I've been working on a different story, I've had a bit of writers block on this one, Skool is still keeping me mind-numbingly busy… That kinda stuff. Sorry. Really, I am. I mean it. I do! I SWEAR! Please put the chainsaw away!... Thank you. Alright, so then, the disclaimer, I do not own Invader Zim, all rights, characters, and aspects of the show belong to Jhonen Vasquez. So then, enough chit-chat, let's begin the (sort of) much-anticipated Chapter Five! Please enjoy, here we go!

(flashback) Dib's P.O.V.

It was all over the news. On the front page, even. Small wonder there, really. "Five Teenagers found Mauled to Death in Forest, Wild Animal Suspected" is something you can pretty easily imagine making the front page. I only had to see the headline to confirm my suspicions about Zim's "outing" last night. I knew that this time I really was going to have to talk to him, which definitely wasn't a good idea, in fact, it was probably my biggest mistake so far, but it was all I could think of.

I waited a few days, three, to be exact, before seeing him. There was a new news story each day, with another report of three or four more teenagers murdered. They all were found with similar injuries. I finally couldn't wait any longer.

My third, possibly life-threatening visit to the base, I thought to myself, trudging over yet again. I didn't go unarmed this time, though. I'd got a silver dagger off a shifty-looking redneck in a cloak a few weeks ago. I have absolutely no idea where he got it, but it just so happened to be just the thing I'd need if things got bad. Everyone knows all werewolves are allergic to silver. The only other thing I brought was the article. I was going to show it to him, make him realize that I knew what he'd done, and let him know I was going to stop him.

When I got to the base, nothing had changed. The house was still dark, the gnomes still off. I crossed the lawn again, experiencing some serious deja-vu by this point.

I first tried ringing the doorbell, but when no sound came, I realized that it must have been connected to the computer, which he still hasn't repaired. That said, I went to knock on the door, but I had only just touched it when it suddenly pitched inward, and fell into the house with a crash. I gave a surprised yelp, and jumped back a few feet. When nothing came tearing out of the base to rip me to pieces, I quietly walked over the fallen door and into the base.

I looked around. Everything was dark and deathly quiet. No one was around. Nothing moved. The only light came from the windows and the now empty doorframe, the setting sun turning the exposed spots a warm orange. I was just about to cry out when a huge, forest-green form barreled out of nowhere, knocking me down. Zim. I screamed as a huge weight crashed onto my chest, pinning me to the floor, and his PAK legs extended, holding down my arms and legs. A huge paw pressed my head against the cold tile underneath me. I couldn't have moved an inch if I'd tried.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tear your throat out right now, Worm," said a growly voice just centimeters away from my ear.

"I o-only want to t-talk," I lied, trying not to let the fear show in my voice.

"Talk? Well, maybe I don't want to talk," he replied, in a mocking tone, slowly dragging one claw down my exposed neck, opening a shallow cut.

"Please! I think I can cure your Lupitis! I can't help you if you kill me!" I pleaded, getting desperate.

The claw stopped running down my neck, and the weight on my chest disappeared. I sat bolt upright, and my hands flew to the cut on my neck. It was bleeding a fair amount for such a shallow wound. I looked up, and I finally got a good look at Zim. He was so wolf-like by this point that he barely even looked Irken, instead he looked like you had tried to cram a bipedal wolf into an Invader's uniform. His boots and gloves were gone, and his feet and hands had become large paws. He looked rather creepy hunched over in the dim light.

"Talk," he barked.

"Oh, well, um, okay, you see, I, errrr…" I stammered, blanking on ideas.

"You really don't have a cure, do you?" he sneered, his eyes narrowing to angry slits.

"Uhhh… THINK FAST!" I yelled, pulling the silver dagger out of my coat and hurling it at him.

It lodged firmly in the base of his neck, sinking up to the hilt. He made a gagging noise, then staggered backward. I was about to celebrate my victory when suddenly he stopped staggering, regained his balance, pulled the dagger out of his neckand flicked it aside like it was nothing! Apparently not all werewolves are allergic to silver. I really wished I had known that sooner.

"You really thought that you could take me down with that shiny toothpick?" he snarled, coughing up small amounts of blood.

"I had sincerely hoped that, yes," I replied nervously, backing toward the door.

"And to think I actually came close to trusting you. Well, Dib-Filth, I think I'm going to finish up my earlier project of tearing your throat out."

"I'm not afraid of you," I lied. "Even if you kill me, it won't change anything. I know what you did, and someone is going to make the connection eventually."

"What? What on Irk are you talking about? If you mean the cows, I'm not worried. You humans are all so stupid, so oblivious, no one would think to come looking for me even if I mailed a signed, addressed confession!"

"Cows? What cows? Don't try to play innocent, you know what you did! I have the proof right here," I said, pulling out the article to show it to him.

I held up the newspaper for him to see. Suddenly he bolted forward. I barely even had time to tense, I thought he was going to attack me again. Instead, he stopped short just in front of me, his nose millimeters away from the paper, scrutinizing it like it held the answer to everything.

"No…" he whispered, barely audible, after staring at it for a few moments.

"No… How can this be?" he continued, snatching the paper away, and holding it crumpled in his right paw, rubbing his chin thoughtfully with the left.

"This is the first I've heard of this…" suddenly he turned back to me, looking angrier than before.

"Run."

"H-huh?"

"Run. Now. Thank your lucky stars I don't skin you alive right here, but as much as I'd like to, I have more pressing matters to attend to. That said, I'd advise you to get out before I lose my patience," he hissed.

I didn't need more warning than that. I ran out of the base, grateful I had even survived. He put on a convincing little act, but I know what he did, and he can't hide it, I thought as I ran. I'm going to catch him, tonight, and I know just how to do it…

That night, I left my house, and began to head toward the forest. My plan was to go to the site where most of the attacks took place, and wait for Zim to come to me. All I was bringing with me was a flashlight and a camera to videotape it. I wasn't thinking at all. I didn't bring any way of calling for help, and nothing to defend myself. That thoughtlessness was my final mistake.

There is only a bit to tell after that. I arrived in the forest. It was dark, and quiet. I waited. After a long time, I was just about to give up and go home, when I heard a low growl behind me. I turned around and he was standing there. Zim. I dropped the camera and the flashlight, and ran, and he chased me. Thankfully the moon was bright enough for me to see without the flashlight. The rest is obvious. Just running and more running. And then I found the cave, and cheated death once again.

Dib's P.O.V.

Well, what's done is done. I can't undo the mistakes I made, but I can try not to make more in the future. That should be long enough, the beast has probably moved on by now. I can leave this cave.

I walk out of the cave, limping due to my ankle, I walk out of the small stream, and I've gone a few feet on dry land, when suddenly I hear a low growl from behind me…

OH NO.

I wheel around, and there, sitting on the rim of the ledge is the wolf, missing a few patches of fur and looking like something straight out of hell. I barely have time to react. He leaps down the ledge, landing right next to me, and lashes out with his paw. For a fraction of a second, I think he missed. For a fraction of a second, I can't feel anything.

And then I feel my side ripping open.

Pain.

It hurts like nothing I've ever known.

I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out except for a strangled gasp. Then the second blow comes, sending me crashing into the wall of rock just a few feet away. Searing bolts of lightning shoot up my spine, and I feel the bones in my arm grinding against each other.

I land flat on my back, just barely breathing. The world seems to be spinning. My entire body feels like it is on fire. I can't even move. I just watch as the wolf walks over and places a paw on my chest, huge claws tearing through my shirt, digging into me. It hurts, but I am past caring. I can only stare as he raises the other paw, aiming for my head. The blow will be strong enough to break my neck, I can already tell. I'll be just another newspaper article soon. I close my eyes, and wait for the end to come…

It doesn't.

I open my eyes just a little, and I see that the wolf has lowered its paw, and is staring at something on the ledge with what can only be described as a confused expression. I follow his gaze, and there, hunched on top of the drop off, is a second wolf, the same size as the first. But what does it matter? I'm going to die, anyway. What's one wolf more or less? But wait… This one is different. I look a little closer, and there is definitely something different about this wolf. The fact that the moon is directly over the wolf shows that the wolf is not black, but instead it's fur is a deep pine green, with blood-red eyes, the bright moonlight glinting off an almost-hidden metal device on it's back. But wait, that can only be… Zim? But if that's Zim, then who is-

My train of thought is cut off as Zim lets loose with a huge growl, and lunges toward me. I close my eyes again, thinking Zim is going to kill me, when I hear a second growl, but this one came from the wolf on top of me, and the claws are ripped out of my chest, bringing a fresh bout of pain as the wounds are widened. I gasp again, and open my eyes.

The nightmarish sounds of the two wolves fighting fades into white noise as I roll over and shakily try to stand, putting my weight on the arm I forgot was broken. I yelp and fall on my side. I look up again, slowly, and focus on the fight. I start watching just in time to see Zim grab the second wolf by the shoulders, and jam its head under a raised tree root. I freak out and frantically try to get up as he turns and runs towards me.

But strangely, instead of attacking me like I thought he would, he grabs the back of my coat in his mouth, and swings his head around, depositing me on his back, just behind his PAK, and takes off.

I don't know where he's taking me, but I doubt it's good. I start to struggle weakly, trying to get away, but he quickly notices, and the PAK legs wrap around me lightly, removing any possibility of escape.

"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine."

I must be out of my mind for believing that, but something about the way he says it makes me want to trust him. I stop fighting and relax. There's no way I could get away, anyway. My numerous injuries finally start to get to me, and everything becomes a haze. I'm losing consciousness. I decide to let my overwhelming exhaustion take over as I close my eyes, and fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Soooo, that's it for Chapter Five! Hope you liked it! So Zim WASN'T the werewolf chasing Dib! Go figure, right? Was anyone surprised about that? Anyone? Please R&R! See you next time! Invader ShadowWolf, OUT!