Chapter 7

"I thought there was a familiar scent." A large man stood there with his back turned towards me, hunched over and his body covered in fur. "I thought it was just a rat." He retorted as quickly snapped his head towards me. His amber eyes glowed against the moonlight.

"Coyote." I yelped, slowly sidestepping backwards away from him.

He let out a malicious chuckle, "I never understood why you and your family called us Coyotes. Coyotes are scrawny little cowards, scavengers mostly. They try to hunt, but humans got them whipped. Just like you." He said, beginning to circle.

"We call you Coyotes, because you have no self control." I said quietly, trying to back away without slipping on any rocks.

"I prefer Logan." He stated. "I remember your name, little Red."

Logan took a few steps closer, "Now tell me, little cub, you scared of the big bad wolf?" He howled with laughter before shouting, "Sick her, boys!"

More howls of laughter came from the bushes, as they started charging closer in their wolf forms.

"You should be running."

I immediately took off as fast as my paws could take me. I stumbled down the rocks and hills I once so gracefully glided across. But I was less scared of fall and breaking bones than I was of them. These animals had no mercy.

I couldn't go home. There had to be at least five of them, and without notice, I don't know if my father and brother could take them on. Not to mention our neighbors might see. I had to go somewhere with more people. Even if they are Coyotes, they have to know that they can't take on a rally of angry humans. Anyone knows, it's better to take on one slayer, than a mob of angry people.

But maybe three slayers.

My heartbeat raced like the upbeat cadence of a drum solo. The Boardwalk probably won't even be open. The boys might be at home. But if anything, I could at least lose them.

I continued to sprint through shrubs, as they scratched and snagged on my fur and flesh. But it couldn't be that much further. The smell of popcorn still lingered around that place. I had to be close. My paws bent and twisted in awkward angles against the rocks, but the pain would be temporary. The pain would be temporary. I kept reminding myself, the pain would be temporary, death is permanent, and painful death is worse. They may not even kill me, but make it a never ending hell. It's what they did to the puppies and bunnies of the neighborhood. They put deer heads on fence posts for fun. I didn't understand their personal vendetta against my family, but all I know is, I didn't need to to figure out they may do so much worse to me.

Finally I felt the cold concrete against my pads. I continued to sprint as fast as I could. But my chance of losing them were slim, with the bloody paw prints. They had my scent.

"Please be there, please!" I begged.

"There's nowhere to run, pup!"

"Should we eat her as a wolf, or as a little girl?"

"I hear wolf is gamey, but girl should taste like a tender chicken!"

I made the final turn to get to the path that lead to the comic shop.

There were no lights on.

"God damn it!" I cried out.

Maybe they have silver, or something I could use against them. I don't care if it burns me, I need to do something.

I skidded, and realized the gate was completely shut. I banged on it with my paws, whimpering and howling.

Before I gave up the last grain of hope though, they were opened a tiny bit, enough for two bodies to roll out. They were armed with knives, which I could only assume were silver. It was Edgar and Alan.

"Back! Get back!" Alan shouted. He held one knife right side up, and the other upside down.

The Coyotes snarled at them, growling with their disgusting slobber dripping from their faces.

The amber eyed wolf stepped forward, the only one who was calm and collected. His body shifted and morphed though, as he changed to a wolfman.

"Silly little boys and their toys." Logan remarked with a horrible smirk.

Sam rolled out from the door as well, holding his own little silver knife.

"Three little wannabe slayers." He chuckled, "This is precious." He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye, "This isn't your fight. This is unfinished business."

"Well your business ain't going to move to Santa Carla." Edgar growled.

Logan laughed more, "You're not stopping me. You may have your silver, but you're outnumbered like you can't imagine. My boys don't mind pain, they enjoy it. You'd only be able to kill a few of us, and then what? There's more of us, watching and waiting. We're a growing pack, and you may not be prepared. What if you're sleeping? What if your mother is sleeping? What if you're in the shower? Or staying late, past your bedtime wanting to go hunting for the things that go bump in the night? You'll never be prepared." Logan teased, "And that'll be the worst pain of all. Not knowing." He finished, "Let's go boys. We'll finish this feast another night." He said, turning back into his werewolf form, and running off into the hills.

"I don't like the sound of that, guys." Sam whimpered.

Edgar and Alan turned back to me, there knives were still gripped tightly in their hands.

"Think this one is a werewolf?" Edgar asked Alan for his opinion.

"I don't know." He admitted, "Could just be their prey. Looks small enough."

"We got to test it." Edgar said, putting his blade so once he pressed it down, it would just be flat against my skin. I whimpered and back up.

"Guys, what are you doing?" Sam snapped, "It's probably just a normal dog or a fox or something. It's already been scared enough for one night, can you two give it a break?"

The two of them turned to glance at Sam, and that was my chance. I got back to my feet, and ran, heading back towards home before the Coyotes came back. And now because of me, the three slayers are on their hitlist.

"Hey, get back!" Edgar shouted, about to give chase, before giving up. I was so screwed.