A/N: Teddy comes face to face with his monster. This one's a bit rushed but it's a lot to fit in 500 words (with a 100 word leeway).
Submission for:
War of Angels Competition: Round Three - Teddy Lupin. Secondary character - Fenrir Greyback. Relationship - antagonistic
The Treasure Hunt: Write a story set near a lake/pond/river/ocean.
The forest was still except for the soft gurgling of the river next to him. The young man crouched low, running his fingers through the soft soil at the water's edge next to the footprint there. A few feet ahead, there was another print, and another. Could this be what he was searching for?
After graduation, the young man had packed up his bags and bid his friends and family farewell, claiming a case of wanderlust. However, his true intention was not to see the world, but to find someone - the elusive Greyback.
He moved from town to town, listening to the whispers of the walls and the gossip of the women, for anything that could lead him to the man. He searched many forests and caves but so far had no luck. But as he crouched near the river, he felt a stirring in his gut. Was tonight the night?
He followed the tracks by the light of the waxing moon. Eventually, he reached a large cave just a few feet from the river. He stepped inside, trying not to retch at the smell of blood and excrement hanging in the air. The darkness around him muffled the echo of the rushing water of the river and with a flick of his wrist, he lit his wand.
The floor of the cave was littered in shredded fabric and discarded bones, the flesh long ago ripped and consumed. The walls were smeared with dark long marks, some in the distorted shape of hands and others in pawprints.
Then he heard it, a low growl from the shadows. He spun to see two hazy yellow eyes staring back.
"Wizard blood," someone rasped. "Haven't had one of them in a while."
There was shuffling before the person lunged, Teddy moving out of the way in the nick of time. He shone his light on the kneeling man. So this was Greyback. He was completely naked yet covered in a thick layer of matted hair, that did little to hide the large gashes across his body, his right leg looked as if it had broken and healed at an awkward angle and his eyes were glassy as he smelled the air around him, listening for any movement.
"You smell familiar," he said again. "Have we met before?"
"You bit my father!" Teddy shouted.
Greyback grinned as he turned towards his voice. "I bite many people, kid. You have to be more specific," he said before he lunged again.
However, Teddy had the advantage of sight and youth, easily evading the man once more before as he flew out of the cave and into the shallow water. Teddy made a slashing motion with his wand, causing the man to scream as large gashes appeared over his arms and legs. The man flailed, trying to get up but Teddy pushed a foot back into his chest.
There was a pause, the rushing water the only sound around them.
"What are you waiting for, kid?" the man rasped, coughing from the pressure on his chest. Then he grinned. "Can't do it, can you? Even after all I've done, you can't-"
His words were quieted as his throat split open. Teddy stood there, watching the river take the blood away before he fell to his knees with his head in his hands.
He had finally done it. He had avenged his father and all the people Greyback had hurt, but he still felt empty. Now he had become the Big Bad Wolf and he doubted his father be proud of what he did.