Running with Wolves 16
I woke with a jolt, and someone grabbed my shoulders. Déjà vu? I shot up. Then remembering the day before I waited to plunge in the sea. When that didn't happen I opened one eye. Zak's face was worried and panicked.
"Epsilon," I whispered gravely under my breath. Zak nodded and grabbed my wrist. He yanked me off the bed just as Komodo woke up, causing him to fall off. We hurried through the halls until we reached a utility closet. Zak swung it open and shoved me in. Komodo followed.
"Augh! Zak? Is there a better hiding place?" I asked bitterly and fairly cramped. It was a tight fit for two kids and a giant lizard.
"Shh!" he hissed. I listened carefully to the conversation outside.
"Oh, wait so…. Epsilon… Where is he exactly? … Miranda?" Tension in the room was growing and even though I was technically in a closet a couple of doors away, I could still feel tension.
"Is the werewolf here?" A feminine unrecognized voice spoke in an English accent. It was clear by her tone she was evading the question.
"We thought he was sending us as reminder… to um… Where's panda do?" A masculine slightly accented voice asked changing the subject.
"Panda do? Panda do what?" I listened. Then thought and turned to Zak, who I was sure heard me.
"Is that you?" Zak nodded.
"I'll go so they won't be suspicious that you're here."
"Are they the secret scientists out there?"
"Yeah the worst two of them."
"Oh," I sighed. "I want to help!" I told him, eager.
"No! Stay here!" He ordered gently twisting the indoor knob. He slipped out quietly, messed up his hair and ran to his room as if he were just getting out of bed. I never heard him say anything, which was weird. Maybe he found a good hiding spot and changed his mind.
"Ok well thanks for stopping by but she took off a couple days ago," Drew concluded as I tuned back in. Was it really that easy? Would this fool Epsilon? The tension eased and the door closed. Everyone was quiet for a couple of minutes but then I came out and I realized I had held my breath. I let it out in a sigh. I opened the door and Komodo crawled out. From between my ankles. I stepped out myself and went to the Saturdays.
"What happened is he not going to attack?" I asked for clarification.
"You're safe for now."
"Good… Now, where'd Zak take off to?" I asked.
"What? He was with you." I froze.
"No, he left to help you guys…" I trailed. Fear came crawling back. I turned in an abrupt jump and ran to Zak's room, darted through the door and the room, and yelped when the air was knocked out of me when I hit the windowsill. I gaped and looked down. The Saturdays were right behind me. My gaze slowly lifted moving as the blue hovercraft rose into the air.
Inside Epsilon was smiling evilly with Miranda (I assumed her name was) and the other guy by his side with Zak in the middle.
"It was a distraction… so they could get a ransom… " I gasped in realization, as it hit me.
The lady aimed a laser and a purple sphere thing opened in the window and she tossed a rolled up scroll. Then simultaneously another portal opened in Zak's ceiling and the scroll popped through. I was too terrified to make a move toward it but the Saturdays ran to it. They read it and all I did was stare like an idiot as they waited for a reaction.
Then I instantly sprang into action. I transformed in a split second and crashed through the window and wall. The Saturdays startled gazed up to watch. I landed perfectly on the flying object and snarled at them through the window. I glared at them. They all jumped back and fell when my weight collided with their floating machine. I fought to maintain my balance as the plane like thing flounced up and down.
Then a huge robot made his way from somewhere inside the ship to the wing of it. I withdrew in surprise. The bot charged towards me and I dodged throwing him off balance. Miranda used her transportation device to save him from a metallic splattering end and opened it back up above me. Not having much room I had almost nowhere to dodge so I sidestepped. A metallic clinging rang in my ears and he rolled into me. This knocked me off my balance and I fell.
This was only helped by me falling through a purplish pink glowing portal and landing in a mesh wire net. I fell on my back and winced because the neck was tough enough not to break in general, but was excellent at breaking skin. I struggled when I felt the machine slowly lurch forward and then I bit myself free of the net. My teeth were strong against the wire, but my gums? Not so much… they were cut in multiple areas. Then I plummeted to earth.
It was the end of me and maybe that's how Epsilon wanted it, but either way I was dead. But seconds before I was expecting ground I hit metal instead. It still hurt, but it was better then falling on pointy rocks again. Wind still whistled through my fur and I was still airborne.
I opened my tightly shut eyes which had been awaiting a bone shattering splatter, and saw I was on the back of a little orange jet, just big enough for me to lay all spread out on it. Slowly the wind decreased, and the jet landed. Epsilon's blue ship took off faster than whatever. It was almost alien.
Doc exited the jet with Fiskerton and they both picked me up and moved me off the backside of the jet. I was thoroughly upset at what happened and therefore I was almost completely limp. My eyes were open but I whimpered like an abused puppy.
Drew ran out to us.
"Doc, we have to catch up with them!"
"We can't they said… well you know what they said…" Doc protested. For Pete's sake go save the boy!
"WHY NOT! GET IN THE AIR AND SAVE HIM!" I shouted.
"We can't or… they'll kill him," Doc told me. I was now paralyzed.
"Doc! They're bluffing. They wouldn't do that! Even when he was kur they didn't want to do that, they just wanted to freeze him! I know Epsilon and he wouldn't even stoop that low!"
"Drew, we can't go in there unprepared anyway, we have to wait until… Clare recovers from her shock. She will have to get as far away as possible. Then we will go in there with a plan. Right now, of course they won't kill him, but they might hurt him!"
Drew settled down, but I remained in shock. Zak had been my only real friend (my age) since this whole thing and even before I was a werewolf I was a loner. I felt a low rumble in my throat and the paralysis melted away. I sprung up and was ready to charge, but Fiskerton tried to stop me by wrapping his long arms around me neck.
"Clare! Wait!" If Doc hadn't stepped in front of me when he did I would've bucked Fisk into next week and mauled anything in my path, but not with someone who had so graciously helped me standing there.
"There is a way to do this where neither of you will get killed!" Doc shouted. I paused and my ears flattened to the flattest they had ever been out of annoyance I couldn't help my friend right then. I calmed and breathed a huge breath snorting it out.
"You're going to have to do this in order to live. Now… Epsilon crossed a border that he shouldn't have in order to obtain you, and apparently unless we fill his orders he will try and stick to his plan. Please don't go yet, Zak would probably be just as sad if you died to save him."
Ok I know what you're thinking right now… Do I like Zak? No, at least no tin that way. Does he like me? I'll probably never know… Anyway the reason I have to save him is because of some loyalty that comes with being a relative to mans best friend. Ok, getting back on track.
I nodded and he frowned when I didn't change my appearance.
"Clare?" I shook my big wolf head. He sighed and patted my neck and then gave me a gentle push towards the door. I stuffed myself through with little damage to the door and made my way up the tight stairs. It would have been easier human but I wanted to stay wolf. It helped hide my feelings.
Drew, Doc and Fiskerton followed up the stairs. Zon flew to her nest and Komodo had remained inside.
"Clare, I don't mind you being a wolf, but I will let you know, if you're planning to remain wolf this whole time, then you might have to wait awhile, so we can come up with a plan." I nodded at him and settled between the sofa and table in the living room. Fisk sat on the couch with his legs criss crossed, and Komodo curled up next to me, probably because of my warm fur and I set my head on my paws.
The minutes stretched into what seemed to be hours, even though I knew we were only there for 20 min. before I got up to shift my position and stretch. Both of Zak's parents looked up when I moved to make sure I wouldn't ditch but I shook my head in two slight waves of movement and I turned around and walked to my room.
As soon as I was in the clear I turned human. Fisk had fallen asleep, and so had Komodo, if I slipped past Doc and Drew in my human form then it would be less obvious. The only thing that might give me away would be Zon. I doubt she would, though she still might… well anyway, I needed a source of transportation, and Zon could give that to me. Then it dawned on me that this would be my way of payment, save Zak. The Saturdays had done too much for me for that to be my only payment, but at least I knew I could do that.
I crept out very quite not making a sign. Both of the adults in the family were facing in the opposite direction. I easily made the door and quietly slipped through. I ran down flights of stairs and went outside. I instantly caught the eye of Zon who cawed a bird like noise at me. SHOOT! My cover was blown so easily.
"No! Zon! Be quiet! I need you to fly me to Epsilon's! I'll direct you with my sense of smell!"
Knowing it was about Zak, she willingly flew down to pick me up. I climbed up into a sitting posture on her back just above her wings and she started to take off.
"Clare!" Doc's harsh and commanding voice came. I winced and didn't crane my neck around to see any angry stares.
"Yeah?" I asked meekly.
"What do you think you're doing?" I stood up for myself this time.
"I owe you guys… big time," Doc searched for an excuse.
"No, you paid that off when you helped us with Abbey, Piecemeal, and Gokul."
"What? Are you kidding? I owe you people my life! You've saved it more than once."
"Clare, you don't owe us!"
"Yes I do, but if that's what you want to say, say it but I still owe Zak!" Doc and Drew couldn't come up with a good argument for that.
"Clare, please stay here."
"Not, while Zak is with that Creep and Creepy Jr." I urged Zon forward and she took off.
"Clare! Stop! You have to stay here! They will kill you!" Drew spoke up again trying to follow Zon. I admit I felt bad leaving them like that, begging me not to go commit suicide trying to save their son. I looked at them with an awkward apologetic smile saying that I was sorry I didn't listen to them. I just couldn't stand knowing about the danger that Zak is in.