This story was written long before I wrote The Other Two Raptors, it was originally written as a stand-alone story, but I have since written it to fit in to my Taking Over series. I enjoyed writing the horror story. I don't own any of the characters except Nethania, Hookclaw, Richardson, Olga and the medium. This is one of a few more reminiscent stories that will be told.
Spooktacular Days
Nethania stood at the door of the hangar and watched the young children of Terra Nova trick or treat. Nethania began to reminisce a time in her life, back in the future; she and her unit had just earned some R and R. She and another unit member returned to her hometown for it, only to find the town almost completely vacant. She remembered the Spooktacular event like it happened yesterday…
…^…^…
Nethania had her duffle bag packed and slung over her shoulder.
"I'm looking forward to this R and R," Richardson said.
It was nighttime when Nethania and Richardson walked into town and something didn't feel right to Nethania.
"Something's wrong," Nethania said.
"Everything's boarded up," Richardson said.
They looked around the town.
"Looks like my father's here," Nethania said when she saw a rover in the street.
"Well, I guess I will see you later Captain," Richardson said and veered off to his place in the old hotel building.
Nethania walked to her home on the other side of the cove. Soon as she got in, she put her things down and went straight to bed.
…^…^…
The next morning, Richardson got up and went up to talk to the Commander.
"Richardson, what are you doing," Nathaniel asked.
"Your daughter and I are on leave for rest and relaxation. Commander, do you know what happened here?" Richardson asked.
"This town is shrouded in strange things and mysterious happenings. It was like this when I got here. The few townsfolk that live here now are all descendants that had gone off for any number of reasons, between school and work and getting away from here. According to the sheriff, when he got here, the whole place was deserted, a ghost town. He called in a haz-mat crew to check the place for health hazards, none were found so he figured something from the forest got the inhabitants. It's happened before. Thing is, the town's logs are gone, so no one knows what happened," Nathaniel said.
"If I know your daughter, she's going to investigate what happened," Richardson said.
"That's what I'm afraid of and I'm afraid that what she finds will kill her too," Nathaniel said.
"You can't stop her Commander," Richardson said.
"No, but I can't certainly try to convince her," Nathaniel said.
…^…^…
A Twenty-two year old Nethania Taylor stepped out of her home and looked around the cove. It was just becoming nighttime, the sun was setting to the right of her. Nethania looked to inner part of the cove and for the first time noticed the small cemetery of tombstones and headstones. The town cemetery wasn't this big the last time she was here.
Some of the grave sites had been dug up by grave robbers; some tombstones had been chipped and had chunks missing. Some weren't special and were made of wood. Some were short stubby markers of black marble others were grand obelisks made of white marble. Some just marked where someone had been buried but didn't say who was buried.
The hill on the other side of the cove also had grave markers. Something terrible had swept through the town she had grown up in. Nethania grabbed her flashlight and headed out through the cemetery of tombstones. She looked into some of the graves that had been dug into. The bones of the occupant were deformed; others had been gnawed on by animals post-mortem.
Nethania began to wonder what happened. A chill wind kicked up and gave her goose bumps on her arms. She headed back to her cabin and got a jacket. She then made her way around the cove towards the city. She ran up the cement steps that had a rusty guard rail on it, decayed by the salty air. She came to another, separated section of the cemetery and found something that really made her scratch her head. Two coffins sitting beside open graves. It looked like the people who were burying them didn't get the chance to put them in the ground. Nethania walked up to the two coffins and looked around them. The corner of one had been chewed on by some animal. Nethania knelt down and looked at the chew marks. Nethania looked up at the tombstone markers, the mayor of the town and his entire family. Beside the two coffins that were out of their graves, were two more that had the coffins in the holes but hadn't been covered up yet.
Nethania stood up and continued on up to the town. She walked through the streets towards a hotel-turned-apartment complex. She took two steps at a time to the second floor where her father's room was. She got to the corner then tried to remember which one was his, whether it was the last door or the second to the last door. She was about to knock on the last door when the adjacent door on the corner opened and a skinny man came into view.
"I can give the answers you seek," he said.
Nethania looked at the door she was about to knock on and then followed the man into the man's room.
"Ah, you're a medium," Nethania said upon seeing the mystical wall hangings.
"Some people say I am, though I have my doubts. You have been seeking answers as to what happened to the town," the 'rumored' medium said.
"Yes I am. If you sensed that, then I would say you have some mystical powers," Nethania said.
"No, I saw the light from your flashlight down in the cemetery across the cove. It wasn't moving through the cemetery like the grave robbers that have come through there. Yours was moving the way an investigator's would," the medium said.
"I came up here to ask my father about the people who lived here and to see if he had some insight as to what might have happened. He grew up here as a kid," Nethania said.
"I have never really been one to tap into my rumored powers, but I sense that a great evil came through the city," the medium said.
"An evil like an animal or a group of animals," Nethania asked.
"I just detect what the departed souls tell me, it takes a lot of energy for them to say what it was exactly that caused so much death," the medium said.
"Well you've at least given me some insight into it. Thank you," Nethania said.
"I will say this; the spirit of the mayor keeps mentioning a certain Olga Pentworth that lived down by the water, in a cottage across the way from your own. I haven't had the guts to go down there looking myself, but a commander of your reputation would be perfect," the medium said.
"I will look into it," Nethania said.
"Thank you," the medium said.
She walked to the door.
"Could you tell me which room my dad is in? He would never forgive if I came up here and didn't stop in to visit. Plus I could get some more information on the city," Nethania said.
"He and I are the only people who live on this floor. His door is the second one over," the medium said.
"Thank you," Nethania said. She walked out and to the second door.
She knocked on the door and waited. It opened and almost instantly her father rolled his eyes.
"Nethania, you don't have to knock on my door, you can just come in," he said. She walked in.
"Yeah I haven't been up here for so long, I forgot which one was yours," Nethania said embarrassed.
"I'm the second door to the end," Nathaniel said.
"Yeah that's what the medium told me," Nethania said.
"Why were you visiting the medium," Nathaniel asked. They sat down on the couch.
"Originally I was coming up here to talk to you, but he saw me down in the cemetery on my side of the cove and invited me in," Nethania said.
"Why were you looking around the cemetery?" Nathaniel asked.
"Trying to find out what happened. Have you been down there?" Nethania asked.
"No, I am not one to visit the cemeteries of ghost towns, especially of this town's," Nathaniel said.
"But you grew up here," Nethania said.
"Yeah, but that doesn't stop me from being superstitious, in fact living here justifies my reasons to steer clear. I've seen strange things happen here and so have you," Nathaniel said.
Nethania thought about that for a moment, then shook her head.
"I know what you're thinking, forget it. A lot of spook stories went through this town about strange happenings, and I lived a few of them," Nathaniel said.
"When I was down in the cemetery, I noticed that a lot of the people, a good majority of the inhabitants, died within days of each other, many on the same day," Nethania said.
"Fascinating," Nathaniel said sarcastically.
"I went looking in some of the graves that had been dug up by grave robbers. The bones of some of the inhabitants are deformed, others had bite marks that appeared to be post-mortem," Nethania said.
"Nethania, don't go snooping around the cemetery," Nathaniel said.
"And the mayor and his family, the coffins of him and his wife weren't even in the ground, his kids were, but they hadn't been buried yet," Nethania said.
"It's disrespectful to go snooping around other peoples graves," Nathaniel said.
"I don't mean to be," Nethania said.
"I know you're only looking for answers. But did you ever think that whatever did kill them, the townsfolk doesn't want that answer found," Nathaniel said.
"That's not what the medium told me," Nethania said.
"Just be careful Nethania," Nathaniel said.
"He also mentioned one Olga Pentworth," Nethania said.
Nathaniel looked at her when she said that name.
"He told me to go down to her cottage," Nethania said, in a questioning tone.
"Olga Pentworth was just a creepy lady who made a habit of scaring the poor kids of the town. She's the old witch, remember. I don't know why the medium told you to go down there," Nathaniel said.
"If I did go down there, do you have any suggestions?" Nethania asked.
"Take a gun, no wait; take at least two guns," Nathaniel said.
"Why," Nethania asked.
"Guns were the only Olga ever responded to. If that old bat is still alive down there, then you have something to protect yourself from her evil antics," Nathaniel said.
…^…^…
Nethania headed down the street.
"Hey Captain," said Richardson, walking up alongside her.
"Hello lieutenant," Nethania said.
"Where are you headed?" Richardson asked.
"Down to that old cottage on the water," Nethania said.
They got down to the cottage and began looking around. Nethania pulled her flashlight out.
"The doors unlocked," Richardson said.
"Let's go in," Nethania said.
The hinges squeaked as the door opened, sending shivers up their spine. They walked into the place.
"What is that horrible stench?" Richardson asked, plugging his nose.
"Smells like a decaying body," Nethania said.
They continued in further.
"Why are we down here?" Richardson asked.
"The medium in town told me to come down here and look around," Nethania said.
"This place is giving me the creeps, and I'm a soldier," Richardson asked.
"You didn't happen to bring your gun did you?" Nethania asked.
"No why," Richardson asked.
"My father told me to bring one or two with me when I came here," Nethania said.
"Oh great," Richardson said sarcastically.
Suddenly Nethania's flashlight died.
"My flashlight just died," Nethania said.
"Can we leave now," Richardson said.
"Yeah, let's get out of here, we'll come back during the daytime," Nethania said.
Something in one of the rooms fell down and they ran out screaming. They took the stairs up to Nethania's father's two at a time. Richardson got to the door and knocked, Nethania just opened the door.
"Hey dad," Nethania said.
"Hey, back already," Nathaniel asked.
"Yeah," Richardson said, he was still shaking from their trip to Olga's.
"We, uh, went down to Olga's," Nethania said.
"At night," Nathaniel said as though he were saying 'are you CRAZY'.
"I was heading home, then Richardson came out and we headed down there," Nethania said.
"Why did you drag me along?" Richardson asked.
"Because I watched reruns of Ghost Hunters, number one rule, never go into a supposedly haunted building alone," Nethania said.
Nethania looked at her flashlight.
"I just put new batteries in before leaving home and the light bulb looks fine," Nethania said.
"Why then did your flashlight die?" Richardson asked.
"According to the folks on Ghost Hunters, when a spirit tries to appear, it draws energy from whatever electronic items are nearby. That's why I agreed to get out when the flashlight did go out. If that, whatever it was, hadn't fallen over, then I might have been slower about leaving," Nethania said.
"Glad to know I am in the company of an expert," Richardson said.
"We're going back down there in the morning, after I go back home and get my gun," Nethania said.
"Same here, though I don't know why," Richardson said.
"Just be careful you two," Nathaniel said.
Richardson got up and left.
"Are you going to head home?" Nathaniel asked Nethania.
"No, I still have the willies after being down at Olga's, and my flashlight is dead," Nethania said.
"Alright, you can have the bed then," Nathaniel said.
"No dad, I can sleep on the couch. I'm here uninvited," Nethania said.
"Are you sure?" Nathaniel asked.
"Yes dad, I'm sure," Nethania said.
…^…^…
Nethania and Richardson got up the next morning. They walked back down the trail to Olga's house. Both pulled out rebreathers and put them on before entering. They started off where they finished. They looked through the house. Nethania entered the living room and stopped.
"Richardson," Nethania called.
He walked up beside her.
"I think we found Olga," Nethania said, pointing at the decaying body.
"Looks like she's only been here for a few days," Richardson said.
"That's because of the heavy salt in the air and the herbs she used to eat, serves as a preservative. Richardson, head back up to town and get the sheriff," Nethania said.
"Okay," Richardson said.
"Make it snappy," Nethania said.
…^…^…
Richardson ran back up to the town. Nathaniel was standing on the platform outside his room talking with the medium when he saw Richardson running up the single street. Richardson ran into the sheriff's office.
Nathaniel and the medium exchanged glances, a few minutes later, Richardson and the Sheriff came out and headed back down to Olga's. Nathaniel and the medium followed.
…^…^…
"According to the town logs that I did find, Olga was the only one who refused to leave town. There was no record as to what it was that was killing the town," the sheriff said.
Nethania wasn't in the room when they got there.
"Nethania," Richardson called.
"Yeah Richard I'm in the kitchen," Nethania called.
Nathaniel and the medium walked in, the medium almost lost his breakfast at the sight and smell of the body and left quickly. Nethania reappeared.
"What is that thing on Olga's leg?" the sheriff asked.
"It appears to be the thing that killed everyone in town," Nethania said.
"Olga always carried knives on her, no one ever knew why," Nathaniel said.
"Looks like it might have paid off," the sheriff said. The deputy walked in.
"I saw your note," the deputy walked in. He grimaced at the sight of the decaying bodies.
"Unfortunately we don't have a coroner in town, I sent for a new one, but none have come in yet," the sheriff said. Nethania looked around the room.
"Nethania, can you conduct an autopsy," the sheriff asked.
"I can do one the old fashioned way," Nethania said.
"I'll expect a report in a week's time," the sheriff said.
Nethania nodded. The sheriff and deputy left.
"I'll head home and get my tools and then I'll get started, on the beast that killed her first, then her," Nethania said.
…^…^…
"You're doing the town a great service," Nathaniel said and walked out with her.
"The bite marks on Olga's leg are consistent with the bite marks on the others in the cemetery. The beast that killed her carried venom that has the same properties in it as rattlesnake venom, only twice as potent. The venom is what deformed the bone tissue on the others in the cemetery. The paw matches the paw prints in the dirt around the mayor's coffin," Nethania said.
"What are the animals that did this?" the sheriff asked.
"They aren't in any known database. They might be bioengineered. They appear to be the cross between a monitor lizard and a weasel. They have the body of a lizard but the fur is like that of a weasel. The mouth has in the back, lizard like teeth, up front are the canines and central incisors of the weasel. The venom matches that of the Komodo Dragon," Nethania said.
"I thought you said the venom was like that of a rattlesnake," Nathaniel said.
"Lizard venom and rattlesnake venom have the exact same properties with minor differences in property quantity," Nethania explained. Nathaniel nodded in understanding, even though he really didn't.
"Is there any chance that these creatures are extinct?" the deputy asked.
"Don't assume anything with animals. Where is the nearest town that the townsfolk here would flee too," Nethania asked.
"The people that lived here were very primitive in living. They preferred to live like they did in the old west, during the time of cowboys. The local towns caught on and adopted their way of living. The nearest town is reachable by the back trail, out behind the cemetery. It will be about a mile down the trail. That's where I believe the townsfolk would have fled too," the sheriff said.
"Well, if I am to get to the bottom of what happened, I'll need to take a journey to that town," Nethania said.
…^…^…
"Are you mad?" Richardson asked.
"The sheriff is counting on me," Nethania said.
"I'm going with you," Richardson said.
"As am I. I'm not about to let my baby girl go on this kind of a journey alone," Nathaniel said walking in.
"Papa," Nethania said, rolling her eyes.
…^…^…
They headed off down the trail.
"What's with the rifle?" Richardson asked.
"In case whatever killed the townsfolk now dwells in the forest around here," Nethania said.
"By the way Commander, where are your son and wife?" Richardson asked.
"They went to visit with Ayani's mother. Ayani has heard one too many horror stories of this place. She's more superstitious than I am," Nathaniel said.
"Nethania's not afraid of this place," Richardson said.
"Nethania grew up here just like her dad," Nethania said, purposefully speak in the third person.
Nathaniel began to tell some of his childhood stories of living in the town as they walked. Nethania kept alert for unwanted monsters. She was about ten steps ahead of the two chitchats. Suddenly she stopped and shot something.
"What?" Nathaniel asked, having jumped at the break of silence.
Nethania ran up to the thing she shot.
"Answer, those things may still be alive," Nethania said.
"Alright, we're going back," Richardson said.
"What soldier backs down from a challenge," Nethania asked.
"These soldiers," Nathaniel said.
"Come on Captain," Richardson said, he and the Commander began to head back.
"What happens when these animals decide to migrate back to our town?" Nethania said.
"I'll take my chances," Nathaniel said.
Nethania looked back at them and then shook her head.
"Dad," Nethania called.
"Nethania," Nathaniel said, turning back to her.
Nethania tossed a com-unit to him.
"We'll keep in touch," Nethania said.
"Nethania," Nathaniel said.
"I'm a soldier dad, this is what we're trained for," Nethania argued.
"Yeah when you have a unit behind your back, but you don't," Nathaniel argued.
"Many times I've gone into insurgent heavy towns by myself," Nethania said. Nathaniel and Richardson exchanged glances.
"You have any extra rifles?" Richardson asked.
"You know I do," Nethania said. She pulled her pack off and pulled out two more rifles for them.
…^…^…
"Whoa," Richardson said as they walked into the town.
"Looks like this place got ravaged too," Nethania said.
"It also looks like they held up a good fight," Nathaniel said.
"Hello, anybody still around," Nethania called.
One person appeared with an old fashioned rifle.
"Whoa easy there," Nathaniel said.
"Who are you," the woman asked.
"We are from Cove Town, just down the trail. We're investigating what happened to it," Nathaniel said.
"Have no fear, we're soldiers. I am Captain Taylor of the Marines, this is Lieutenant Richardson also Marines, and my father Commander Taylor, US Army," Nethania said.
"Not many of us here are left. We fought against those monsters that followed the remnants of Cove Town. We managed to lock ourselves in, but every now and then they come back and keep trying to kill everyone," the woman said.
"How many have you seen?" Nethania asked.
"About 18 different animals, all uniquely marked and all different sizes, most of them are about Russian Beaver size…my father was a biologist, before one of them vermin killed him," the woman said.
"Nethania, we don't have the resources to handle that many, and there may be more," Nathaniel said.
"Where's your army pride dad?" Nethania said.
"How many of you are still alive?" Richardson asked.
"My two kids, my husband, the mayor, the sheriff and their families," the woman said.
"When do the monsters normally come around?" Nethania asked.
"There's no routine to their attacks," the woman asked.
"Nethania, let's just get these survivors out and get out ourselves," Nathaniel said.
"What happens when these monsters migrate back to Cove Town?" Nethania asked.
"We'll deal with these beasts when that happens," Nathaniel said.
Nethania wasn't pleased with the idea of running, but she nodded.
"Get the remaining survivors out here, we'll escort you all back to Cove Town," Nethania said…
…^…^…
"Trick or treat," a small child said, snapping Nethania out of her memories.
"We weren't aware of trick or treating happening at our door," Hookclaw said.
"I have some caramel apples, individually wrapped in the herbivore feed fridge," Nethania said to the raptor. Hookclaw ran off to get them.
"You alright Nethania?" Nathaniel asked. He was taking this group of young children around.
"I was just thinking about that incident that happened in our hometown, with the weazards," Nethania said.
"Well, we are looking to tell a spooky story later. If you can remember the simple details, perhaps later tonight you can tell the story," Nathaniel said.
"I can do that," Nethania said.
Hookclaw returned and dropped a single Caramel Apple into each bag.
"See you later," Nathaniel said and ushered the kids away.
Nethania became lost in her memories as she watched him walk away…
…^…^…
Nethania got back home. She slumped down on her couch. Her father refused to take action against the monsters. A lot of strange things happen in this town, some of them are unexplainable. Nethania knew he was right, she had seen the strange happenings herself when she lived here for a time with her grandparents. Nethania picked up her plex and contacted Admiral Roland.
"Captain Nethania Taylor," Roland said, a bit shocked that she was contacting him when she was taking scheduled Rest and Relaxation.
"Admiral, do we know of any scientists who are capable of creating creatures that have nasty, venomous bites that are resilient in their attacks?" Nethania asked.
"Your rival scientist Dr. Siroarian is quite capable. His are a bit more dastardly; we rarely ever employed him to do anything. The last creature he created was a monstrosity that was a bit like a weasel crossed with a lizard. It was big, gruesome, and deliver a powerful venom bite to its victim," Admiral Roland said.
"What happened with that project?" Nethania asked.
"He completed the monsters, we rejected them and quickly employed you to make the Super Wolves," Roland said.
"That was nearly four years ago, about the same time the same creatures you described showed up here in Cove Town," Nethania said.
"What," Roland said.
"They are still here, though they've moved on to the neighboring town. Admiral can you dispatch my unit out here to me, fully armed and ready to take on these animals and my Super Wolves," Nethania asked.
"I can do that," Roland said.
"How many of those monsters did Siroarian create?" Nethania asked.
"He had created 20 of them, one of them was about the size of a Great Dane," Roland said.
"Were they capable of breeding?" Nethania asked.
"No, when we contracted you and Siroarian that was the underlining thing; that these animals be unable to breed. Siroarian followed that principle," Roland said.
"I need my unit here ASAP to hunt down these monsters and make safe the towns," Nethania said.
…^…^…
Nethania walked to the road to wait for her unit.
Four rhinos drove in.
"Captain Taylor, we're ready to hunt down these critters," said Adams, the first one out.
"Roland contacted Philbrick and Philbrick deployed us as well. We're under your command on this mission," Washington said.
"That's good, because some soldiers are too scared to go after them," Nethania said gesturing to her father's home.
"So this is where the great Commander Taylor grew up," Boylan said, he meant Nethania.
"What's left of it," Nethania said.
…^…^…
"Hey Commander, come and look at this," Richardson said.
Commander Taylor came out of his home and looked down at the newcomers.
"Both of our units are here," Richardson said.
"That's the trail to the neighboring town where the animals are reported to be living now," Nethania said.
"What's the plan?" Washington asked.
"Go in, find the beasts and kill them," Nethania said.
"How do we track them?" Adams asked.
The sound of wolves barking answered their question.
"With my own creation," Nethania said taking the leashes of the wolves.
Nethania led them over to her cabin.
"This is my home," Nethania said.
"Nice place," Washington said.
"Its home to me," Nethania said.
"Nice box," Boylan said.
"It contains the remains of my great great grandfather," Nethania said. The box had a platinum dragon statue on the lid; the box itself looked to be made of mahogany with decorative gold corners and hinges.
"Wow, must be worth a fortune," Washington said.
"It is. A few years ago, back when I was just five years old, another man owned it, didn't know what it was, he had bought my great grandfather's place after my great grandmother died. The guy came to us with the box; he had kept it as decoration. Then he was threatened with bankruptcy and he needed money. He went and tracked down the Taylor family, my grandfather was on tour of duty, but my father and I were in the city at the time. My father took pity on the man and bought the box for what it was worth. The man saved his home and continued to live there. The last time I was here I was only 16 years old; I found the box and brought it down here for safe keeping. I have been entrusted with it ever since," Nethania said.
"Five years old, that would have been the time that Nathaniel was raising you by himself, before your Uncle Max took up the task," Washington said.
"Yeah," Nethania said.
"So how many of these monsters will we be hunting?" Boylan asked.
"Two have already been killed, so we just need to track down 18 others," Nethania said.
"So you were raised here too," Adams, one of my Nathaniel's soldiers asked.
"Yeah, after my father had me he brought me out here to raise me in the town he grew up in. He raised me for about eight years before returning to active duty and left me with my Uncle," Nethania said.
…^…^…
Commander Taylor, Richardson and the Medium watched Nethania and the units march off to battle with the animals.
"That kid, even when she was just a tyke, she was trigger happy. Always wanting to shoot something," Commander Taylor said.
"There is more to her wanting to fight these animals than what meets the eye," the medium said.
"They violated her home, her friends, her family," Richardson said.
"Friends? Nethania was the only kid here. She didn't have any friends. Family, grandfather was gone on duty until she was 9 years old, great grandparents died when she was five, Uncle Max lived in what he called a normal city," Nathaniel said.
"How come you two don't live together?" Richardson asked.
"We can't stand each other. Nethania's a pretty independent person," Nathaniel said.
They stood together in silence.
"Can't help but feel I am letting her down by hanging back," Richardson said.
"You should, you are her lieutenant. I should too, because I am her father. I should be over there helping them, but I've seen enough strange things growing up here, this is just one of those things," Nathaniel said.
They heard gunfire erupting in the distance.
"Sounds like they've found the monsters," Richardson said.
…^…^…
"How many was that?" Nethania asked.
"Five," Washington replied.
"Be careful, don't let them bite you," Nethania said.
A few more shots went off.
"Two more dead," called one of Nethania's troops.
"That brings us to seven dead," Nethania said.
Nethania and Washington moved together to find more. A few minutes later all but one beast had been killed. They looked everywhere, but couldn't find it.
"One missing, the big one," Nethania said.
"Let's take a break," Washington said.
"Take a break," Nethania called.
Nethania went to the sheriff's office in the town. She had seen on his desk the Cove City Records. She opened the large book to the journal entries and began to read about when the monsters first appeared.
"Interesting," Nethania said.
"What?" Washington asked.
"It says here, that General Taylor, my grandfather, led the largest of the monsters deep into the woods. He was never seen again. Those woods are filled with stories of people going missing, for years, even around his time. No Cove Town citizen dared to go up there, except for those of the Taylor family," Nethania said, she closed her eyes.
"Spooky woods are the best place to build a soldier's mental strength so that he's not afraid of anything," Washington said.
Nethania's eyes flew open.
"What," Wash asked.
Nethania closed the book, packed it away into her pack.
"Wolves," Nethania said. Her wolves came to her and they ran back for Cove Town.
"Nethania," Washington called, but Nethania didn't stop.
…^…^…
Nethania ran down to Cove Town. Nathaniel saw her and stood up. Nethania ran to a hidden trail and began hacking her way back. Nathaniel went back into his room and got his rifle. Washington had come and gone towards Nethania's position by then.
…^…^…
Nethania came to a structure in the woods where she used to play as a kid. She went up to the structure. The harsh growls and scratching sounds confirmed her suspicions.
Nethania went to the door and opened it. Instantly she was knocked back by the beast. She put her gun up to block the beast's massive jaws from biting into her face.
The monstrosity snarled at her, scratching up her lower body. The wolf pack leader lunged at the creature, biting it. The Weazard snapped and growled and ripped the wolves up. Nethania went to shoot the animal, but she was out of ammo. She went over to the animal and hit it with the butt of her rifle. The Weazard staggered then lunged onto her again.
Washington came into view and took aim. She pulled the trigger but like Nethania, she was out of ammo too.
"Captain," Washington yelled. She pulled her knife but before she could tackle the beast, gunfire from behind her rang out. The animal howled as the shot hit it. It turned to Washington and charged at her. Another shot rang out and the beast came to a sliding stop. Washington turned to find Nathaniel running up the trail.
"Nethania," Nathaniel called.
"I'm fine," Nethania said.
He got to her side and knelt down.
"I'm not bitten," Nethania said. She was breathing heavily from the adrenalin.
He pulled her to her feet.
"Just shaken," Nethania said.
"What is this place?" Washington asked.
"It's an old play fort my grandfather built for me. He designed it so that nothing could chew or shoot its way in. When I read that he ran into the woods, I figured he had led the beast up here, where he could detain it," Nethania said.
"Where is General Taylor?" Washington asked.
Nethania walked towards the fort and went inside. She looked around.
"Enjoying your days off," Washington asked Nathaniel.
"What days off? With Nethania around, there are no days off," Nathaniel said.
"Dad," Nethania called.
Nathaniel and Washington ran in and found her.
"What?" Nathaniel asked.
Nethania pointed to the general chewed body. Nathaniel put his arm around Nethania. She looked at him, tears in her eyes. They embraced each other.
"He protected the town from that animal. He died doing his duty," Nathaniel said.
…^…^…
"Another box of ashes," Nethania said.
"I wonder what happened to the last one. I know we bought it," Nathaniel said as he placed the box that was similar to Nethania's on his coffee table.
"I have it down at my place. Grandpa gave it to me for safe keeping," Nethania said.
"Good," Nathaniel said.
He sat down next to her on the couch. She relaxed against him.
…^…^…
Nethania sat down next to her father on his porch after telling the spooky story of the night the Weazards attacked.
"You sure tell a good story Nethania," Nathaniel said. He put his arm around her.
"Well I had to spruce it up a little. I don't want the little ones to get nightmares tonight, so I had to make it sound scary, but at the same time make it seem like it wasn't real," Nethania said.
"You did a good job," Nathaniel said.
"I still wonder if we got all of them," Nethania said.
"You did, there was only 20 of them created. 20 Weazard bodies were counted after the shooting was done," Nathaniel said.
"I know, but that Dr. Siroarian could have designed them to breed," Nethania said.
"That's certainly possible, but don't worry about it. No one's lived in Cove Town since the year 2130. The government condemned both Cove Town and its neighboring western style towns," Nathaniel said.
"Hmm," Nethania said in a tired voice. She dozed off on his shoulder.