The parallel bars rattled and clanked as Toralei swished around and around them. She was in top form that day. Even the others on the grimnastics team were impressed by how well she was doing.
From one bar, she flipped over the higher bar, where she spun, flipped and twirled around with the form of an olympian. For one last time, Toralei let go of the bar and spun through the air, before landing on her feet and posing for the imagined crowd. Nearby, her teammates all applauded.
"Not bad," the team captain said. "Keep this up and we'll be set to go to mashionals."
"Did you expect any less of me? We werecats aren't exactly known for being uncoordinated, you know. It's the rest of these ghouls that I'd worry about choking," Toralei said.
"Yeah, gloat now, queenie. Once break's over, you're gonna be eating my dust," one of her teammates said.
"Two weeks is a long time. And you can bet I'll be practicing every day. So you–Better–Bring it," Toralei said.
"Yeah! Tell it like it is!"
The grimnastics team looked and saw Hoodude cheering loudly. Unseen by the others, Toralei smiled at him.
"Look who's back," the captain said.
"Doesn't that creep have anything better to do?"
"Creep!? You know what–" Toralei indignantly snapped. She recomposed herself when she saw the way that her team was looking at her. "I'll take care of him."
Hoodude watched as Toralei came traipsing toward him in the bleachers. He watched her hop, then cartwheel, then bounce into the air with an impressive corkscrew flip. She was coming to him. Hoodude held his arms out to catch her in his embrace, before Toralei landed on top of him, pinning him against the bleachers.
"You know you're not supposed to be in here while we're practicing. Why couldn't you wait another five minutes?" Toralei whispered, nuzzling Hoodude's ear and smiling as she felt the same thing on herself.
"Sorry. I just wanted to see you as soon as possible. You know I've been looking forward to this all week," Hoodude answered.
Toralei's sandpapery tongue licked over the bridge of his nose, before she started grooming his hair.
"Where are we going for lunch?" she asked between licks.
"Uh, I was thinking about trying this Turkish place. Clawdeen says the kofta's amazing. Whatever that is."
"Sounds exotic," Toralei answered, rubbing her nose against Hoodude's. "Tell you what: if the place is no good, I pick what movie we go see. Deal?"
"Sure. No problem," Hoodude said.
Toralei inhaled deeply against Hoodude's face, and he thought for just one moment that he could feel what Toralei had told him about whenever she described what being touched felt like. And if the catnip cologne that his brother had mixed up for him was as effective as it seemed to be, he was going to be feeling that a lot more. For just one moment, he was disappointed when Toralei stood up.
"I have to go get changed now. See you in a bit," she said.
"Now? But–But you look so adorable in your grimnastics leotard," Hoodude replied.
"Oh no, what a shame," Toralei said, feigning hurt. "I guess you'll just have to wait to see me in it later."
And with a mighty spring, Toralei was in the air and landed back on the floor. She winked at Hoodude, before she casually walked past her team.
"You let him have it?" one teammate asked.
"Yep. I gave him a real good tongue lash," Toralei said, before disappearing into the locker room.
A massive scaffold cast its shadow across the graveball field.
"Ready down there!?" Robecca called from her high perch at the top of the scaffold.
Down below, Rochelle carefully calculated the alignment of the ramp with the school's clocktower. Behind her, Venus was making the grass grow to wrap around the base of the ramp.
"Be strong, little friends. We don't want Robecca to crash before she gets any air," Venus said, as she jostled the end of the scaffold. "The ramp's steady!"
"And ze alignment is perfect!" Rochelle called next.
One of the advantages of being made of metal was that Robecca didn't need any safety gear. Not that she would have worn any anyway. At that moment, it would only have weighed her down. And what she needed was to be light.
Robecca's eyes focused on the clock tower, the steepled roof calling to her. It was going to take pinpoint precision to pull this one off.
"Ready! Countdown!" she called.
"Three!...Two!...One!...GO!" her friends chorused.
One step, and wheels protruded from the soles of Robecca's shoes. She crouched low and leaned forward. In moments, she was roaring down the ramp.
Robecca could feel none of the wind whipping her hair, the inertia pushing on her face, or even the rattling of the scaffolding. But she could feel the rush of the speed, the grinding of her gears and the exhilaration of the thrill.
The end of the ramp was growing closer. Just as she was about to hit the dip, Robecca lowered her body and steam jetted out of her heels. There was barely any time for her friends to blink when she rocketed into the air.
Robecca couldn't hear her friends cheering her on as she flew through the air. All there was for her was the approaching clock tower. She was rising higher to meet it. Closer now. Closer. She was face to face with the clock.
Then, her heels started to sputter.
"Oh, bum!" Robecca cursed.
She tried to exert more force, but there was no pressure left in her body to make such an effort. Her arms and legs flailed as she changed her course.
The clock's face grew closer.
Robecca's heels issued one last spurt of steam and her shoulder clipped the corner of the tower, sending her spinning out of control as she went careening to the ground below.
Hoodude and Toralei exited out of the front of the school, walking slowly past the green grass and the blooming flowers beneath the shining sun.
"Do you hear music?" Toralei asked.
Robecca faceplanted into the ground before them, creating a tiny crater when she landed. Toralei yowled and jumped on top of Hoodude's head, her back arched and her fur on end.
"Hiya, Robecca. Still trying to hit that clock tower?" Hoodude asked.
"I was up to ten and two this time!" Robecca victoriously announced.
She tried to stand up, but tripped over the edge of the crater.
Before Hoodude could ask if she needed help, he saw that she didn't even have a dent on her. Normally when she beefed a landing so badly, she was reduced to scrap and needed her brothers to put her back together. Now, she was no worse for wear.
When she stood up, Robecca was suddenly surrounded by a shadowy chain, which disappeared like evaporating water.
"What in Hades was that?" Toralei said.
"One of my brother's spells. It's a shame that it's only good for one go, but those are the breaks. Fortunately, it wasn't me who broke this time," Robecca answered.
"See? I told you she was funny," Hoodude said, glancing up to Toralei.
"Yeah. Precious," Toralei said, climbing down from Hoodude's head.
"And just where is your entourage? Not stealing candy from little babies, are they?" Robecca asked.
"We only deal with monsters our own size, sister scrapheap," Toralei said. "To answer your question, they're busy with a dance class today while Hoodude and I are…doing things together."
"Going on a birthday date?" Robecca provocatively asked.
"No!" Toralei quickly said.
"Hmf. Priceless. Just like our dear brother."
Toralei hissed at Robecca as she pulled on Hoodude's arm to guide him away. Before they ever moved, the front door of the school opened up.
"I know you're just trying to set an example for the team. But, do you have to let the piranhas loose every time?" Lagoona said.
"I want them to be able to do anything that I wouldn't hesitate to do. They'll get there some day, but not if they don't know what they're up against," Gill said.
"Fair enough. It just makes me feel like I'm gonna have a breakdown every time I see those things nipping at your heels."
They noticed the others in front of them.
"What are you guys doing here? The concert's this way," Gill said.
"Concert?" Toralei wondered.
"Yeah. Every year at Spring Break, Oma puts on a show before she flies over to Europe to roadie for the open air concerts," Hoodude said.
"And I never miss seeing Ms. Kindergrubber moshing with an accordion," Lagoona giggled.
"This, I have to see," Toralei said
The five of them followed the music to its source, which was joined by the rumbling of an electric guitar. And then drums, bass, glockenspiel, shawm and wooden flutes. The moment they heard that familiar style of music, Robecca and Hoodude glanced at one another, wondering if it was really true.
They exited the school grounds, and just beyond the walls there was Ms. Kindergrubber jamming out a heavy metal tune on her accordion. But she wasn't alone.
Wolf whaled on his guitar, his double-breasted tunic flapping in the spring breeze as his legs danced a mad jig with his oma. All around him, his shadow had spread out and was playing the other instruments that they all heard. From time to time, he and Ms. Kindergrubber would meet in the middle of their dance, tapping their heels against one another, linking arms to dance in a circle or play one another's instruments with one free hand.
Hoodude, Robecca, Toralei, Lagoona and Gill all found their friends in the crowd and walked over to them. Draculaura was bouncing up and down to try and see over her friends in front of her.
"So, that's what it sounds like when he plays," Gill said to nobody in particular.
"Vhat does it look like, I vonder!" Draculaura sarcastically said.
She was taken by surprise when Clawd grabbed her by under her arms and placed her on his shoulders.
"Oh my! So this is vhat it feels like to be tall," Draculaura said.
"You're just in time. They're playing their last song for the day," Clawd said.
"Shame. Though I'm not a fan of the music, seeing Kindergrubber playing her favorite metal tunes on her accordion is never to be missed," Cleo said. She glanced over at Deuce, who was bobbing his head in tune with the music. "That's more than can be said of some of us less cultured types."
"Say what you want, babe. It's a catchy jam," Deuce answered, his snakes banging their heads to the music.
Next to him, Jackson was covering his ears and sweating profusely.
"Jackson? Honey, are you okay?" Frankie asked.
"I'm fine. But, I don't think me or Holt are very big fans of this," Jackson answered.
"Ehhh!" Ghoulia agreed, holding her ears.
Slo Mo motioned with his head to leave, which Ghoulia readily agreed to. Cleo and Deuce would catch up with them anyway.
The performance went on, and others joined in. Heath threw up a fireball that hovered over the musicians' heads and showered bright sparks on them which fizzled out when they contacted anything. Abbey threw a blast of cold at the fireball, which turned into a swirling wintery storm that surrounded the performers.
The music grew more lively, and Wolf smiled as viciously as his namesake as he belted out a heavy melody. Ms. Kindergrubber danced more deftly than a woman her age and size should have been able to, making the snow around herself turn to a shower of glittery dew that splashed the flowers she and Wolf danced among. Wolf's shadowy bandmates began to circle around him and Ms. Kindergrubber, though their legs never moved. They spun faster and faster, until they all seemed to bleed into one shape, which roared at the sky before it disappeared in a shower of darkness as the song ended.
Wolf raised a shadowy fist and the crowd applauded.
"Danke! Danke schoen!" Ms. Kindergrubber said. "A hand for Wolfgang. It's his debut performance after all."
"Oma, come on. You don't–" Wolf said, before he was cut off by loud applause from his friends. At the front of it all, Clawdeen was wolf whistling loudly. She stopped and looked him over. How handsome he looked in his open tunic and his shirt that bared most of his muscular chest.
"He's a rock star," she quietly said to Lagoona. She smiled widely all of a sudden. "An' I'm his groupie!"
"Ready for the beach trip?" Lagoona asked.
"Almost. Me an' Wolf gotta take care o' one more thing before we get ready to go tomorrow," Clawdeen said.
"Right. See you then. I gotta go scrounge up some more cash before we go," Lagoona said, before taking her leave with Gill.
Clawdeen allowed her to go and walked over to Wolf, who was joined by Robecca and Hoodude as they listened to Ms. Kindergrubber.
"Now, I expect you all to keep the boarding house in livable conditions while I'm away," Ms. Kindergrubber said. "This means keeping the plumbing and electricity in working order, keeping the pantry and refrigerator stocked, yet not allowing anything to go bad; keeping the house clean and free of all pests, trimming the plants in the garden. And especially having no unsolicited guests over! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Oma," Hoodude, Wolf and Robecca chorused.
"Good. Woe betide you if I learn that there has been somebody staying without my consent!" Ms. Kindergrubber said, brandishing her rolling pin at them all.
"Psh. Do they actually listen to this dictator?" Toralei asked Clawdeen.
Clawdeen shrugged.
"Dunno. I wouldn't try Kindergrubber, though. She might turn us into gingerbread if we cross her," she said.
"Now, I know that I can trust you three to do what is good," Ms. Kindergrubber said.
"Yes, Oma," her foster children chorused again.
"I am glad we are at an understanding," Ms. Kindergrubber sweetly said. "And Wolfgang, do take care with your friends during your trip."
"Yes, Oma," Wolf said, grinning sheepishly as he glanced over to Clawdeen.
Ms. Kindergrubber took a key fob out of her pocket and pressed a button on it, making it beep twice. In a moment, her broom flew in from seemingly nowhere, hovering in front of her. With a wave of her hand, her clothes changed from her usual quilted dress and kerchief to a black leather jacket, black denim skirt, combat boots and a spiked headband.
"Auf wiedersehen, mein kinder. If I don't set up those stages, they'll have someone else do it!" she said, before zooming away on her broom.
"Auf wiedersehen, Oma!" her foster children chorused.
The moment she was out of sight, the rule breaking began.
"Alright. So, it's theater night at the boarding house tonight. I can get the stadium seats set up before showtime, and I already texted everyone their assigned seats. You guys remember what you have to do, right?" Wolf said.
"I got the shopping list for the concessions right here," Hoodude said, taking a list that was as long as his arm out of his pocket.
"And I have the movie playlist right here. I just need to find a projector to play them all," Robecca said, holding up a thumbdrive.
"Make sure that it's a USB projector. Not a reel-to-reel," Wolf said.
"US-what?" Robecca asked.
"Ask your friends. I have to take care of something right now," Wolf said. "Clawdeen. Let's go."
Clawdeen caught up with Wolf, and they waved goodbye to their friends as they walked away. Behind them, Robecca started texting her friends to let them know where she was, and to ask them what a USB projector was. Hoodude went his own way with Toralei to begin their date. And all the others went their separate ways to begin preparing for their big trip.
Wolf and Clawdeen walked a familiar path that had since been burned into their souls. They looked to their side, and they saw the river flowing peacefully, its water sparkling against its green banks.
"Things are lookin' good around here," Clawdeen said.
"Yeah," Wolf said, looking out over the river. "I never thought I'd say this, but the water never looked better."
"Sounds like you're gettin' over this grudge against water."
"It's not what we witches have against water. It's what water has against us."
"Well, baby, one of you's gonna have to start playin' nice. 'Cause I'm gonna teach you how to swim when we get to the beach," Clawdeen said.
"You're what!?" Wolf yelped, nearly dropping his guitar and duffel. "Are you trying to kill me!?"
"Awww. You aren't gonna let me swim alone, are ya? Not after I packed up all my favorite swimsuits."
"Ah…Well…"
"Besides, I'll keep ya safe. I'll make sure ya stay in the shallows. So even when your magic's sapped, you can hold onto me an' I'll keep ya from sinkin'," Clawdeen said.
"You'd do that?" Wolf asked.
"Sure, baby. I ain't gonna let anything happen to my guy."
Clawdeen was surprised when she saw Wolf actually drop his duffel and wrap his free arm around her.
"Thanks, Clawdeen," Wolf said.
"For what?" Clawdeen asked, her arms embracing his waist.
"For putting up with an angry outcast with way too many issues like me."
"That's my line, baby," Clawdeen said.
"Let's keep going. We need to see how things are here," Wolf said.
His chain picked up his dropped bag and the two of them continued on. As they walked, Wolf looked at his luggage, and realized that he no longer had to pretend to be something he wasn't. His chain extended both of its ends to touch his guitar and duffel, and the two of them became shadows, which slithered up his arms and into the sleeves of his tunic, melding with the other shadows up there. Clawdeen smiled at the trick. No matter how many times she saw it, it still amazed her.
They passed through the grove by the river, where the greenery had returned in full. Wolf smiled at the plants that had returned. They didn't need him to keep them strong anymore, but if they ever needed his music again, he would rock their world. Finally, they reached the bank of the river.
Since that time in the winter, the students of Monster High had petitioned for the river's vicinity to be declared a wildlife sanctuary. In fact, it was Venus who pointed out that along the river was one of the few areas in the city where the endangered rot moss still grew. After that, protection from the city was almost guaranteed. Along with a hefty fine for anyone who tried littering here. Of course, this meant that the area had to be gated off. But enough space was left for people to use the bench to overlook the river. And that day, there was a very familiar face sitting on that bench.
"Mr. K!" Wolf called.
Mr. Kappayashi jolted as he was snapped from his thoughts, his water sloshing violently in his head. Just in case, he squirted some water from the sport bottle next to him in his head.
"Wolf! Clawdeen! It's been a while since you stopped by to visit," he said.
"Sorry. We been busy with some other stuff lately," Clawdeen apologized.
"Say no more. You can spare the details of young love for me. I've been there and done that. Now old love is more to my tastes," Mr. Kappayashi said.
"Spare us the details of that," Wolf joked.
They all shared a light laugh, which quickly settled down as they looked over the river, which continued its peaceful course.
"Have…Have they come back yet?" Wolf asked.
"I'm afraid not," Mr. Kappayashi sighed.
Clawdeen was about to say something, but she noticed something else that was set on the bench beside Mr. Kappayashi. A picture in a frame was there of him as a much younger man. Beside him was a sea serpent. His wife, whose favorite spot in the world was on that river bank, up until her dying day.
"After all that," Wolf said. "After everything we did–"
"Don't worry, Wolf," Mr. Kappayashi said. "The ducks will be back one day. As surely as this river will flow into the sea, even if it takes a long time to get there, they'll be back to live their lives. And their children. And their children's children. It's just the way of things." The old kappa leaned back and sighed happily. "Wolf, I'd say you've done your service as a witch. So you and Clawdeen can skedaddle and do whatever it is young folks do on their breaks from school these days."
"You'll be okay without us?" Clawdeen asked.
"Sure. All I need now is this river and a memory. You two go on and make some for yourselves," Mr. Kappayashi said, closing his eyes as he pulled the picture closer to his heart.
Wolf smiled and put his arm around Clawdeen, before walking off with her.
For the days, months and years after that, Wolf and Clawdeen made memory after memory. In their time together, through the ups and downs, through the mundane monotony and exciting adventures, they remained true to one another. And always as what they knew they were in their hearts.
Wolfgang Hexe
Age: 16
Monster Parent: Witches
Killer Style: I like to take the styles of my ancestors and give them a metal twist
Freaky Flaw: Humans think I'm a monster and monsters think I'm a human. I don't need them to make up their minds, though. I'm a witch, and I'm not apologizing for it!
Pet: I'm a witch without a familiar. I'd love a dog, though
Favorite Activity: Nothing beats jamming on my favorite guitar
Biggest Pet Peeve: I'm sick and tired of people saying I'm angry and violent. They can all eat my chain!
Favorite School Subject: Gonna have to get back to you on that
Least Favorite School Subject: What've you got?
Favorite Color: Red and silver are the best there is. And I won't let anyone tell me otherwise
Favorite Food: I wish I could taste anything well enough to know
BMFF: Anyone who's told me a good story is okay in my book