My kids are literally dancing because they found out tomorrow is a snow day. Stay safe and warm wherever you are.
The Pack's adventure continues…
Part 2
I do not own.
Iris found her way out of the strange creatures' home. They were not cruel but they certainly were not the friendliest of people. She didn't know why it would bother her. She had been on her own long enough to know that people were not altruistic by nature. But she missed having a real family. Shaking herself from her thoughts, she went to the shelter to see if she could score some food and maybe a shower. It was there she learned it was Valentine's Day. Someone was passing out candy hearts. She wasn't sure why but she took two.
Night time seemed to come quickly. She had to find a place to stay less the police find her wandering the streets. She didn't want to be sent back to the abusive foster home she ran away from. Luckily, the police had been busy because of a sudden spike in crime. So they mostly ignored her. Tonight it seemed especially busy. She counted no less than ten sirens passing her little area. Iris tried to keep out of everyone's way. When the last police car went by, she came out of her hiding place. She unconsciously headed back to the place she had come from that morning. When she realized where she was, she turned around. Just as she was about to go, she saw the two gang members from the other day. Iris was about to make herself scarce when she heard someone groaning.
"Hey, biker boy, this is our turf." She heard the gang member say.
"We warned you to stay out." Another one said.
Iris's conscience pricked her. Yesterday, she had someone to help her get away from those jerks. No telling what those punks would do to that boy. She knew she couldn't take those thugs by herself. But she knew who could. When she got to the creature's doorway, they were coming out.
Grabbing the claw of the wolf, she pulled on him.
"Quick! Someone needs your help. Those guys from yesterday are back!" She blurted out. The wolf seemed surprised but did not budge.
"Why should I care?" He growled.
"If you don't help, someone could die." She urged.
"What is that to me?" The wolf shook her off.
Iris looked in anger as the two creatures lumbered off.
"Fine! Don't help. But that makes you no better than those punks who pick on other people because you have the power to stop it but you won't!" Iris didn't know why she was so upset but she was. "If you walk away, you're just as evil as them."
Biowulf had stopped walking. When Skalamander realized that Biowulf was no longer following, he turned around.
"We're helping, aren't we?" He grumbled.
Biowulf didn't answer him. Instead he turned to Iris. "Where?" Was all he said.
Iris gave a sigh of relief.
0o0
The thugs kicked the teen in the ribs. The teen was balled up in the fetal position trying to protect his vital organs. They were laughing at him when one of them was lifted up in the air and thrown into a stack of garbage. The other goon turned around with a scowl. He yelped when he saw who it was.
"Get out of here!" Biowulf bellowed.
The thug immediately bolted tripping over himself trying to get away. Iris went over to the boy.
"You okay?" She asked picking him up. The boy coughed and nodded. Then he saw Biowulf.
He gasped.
"It's okay. He's a friend." Iris said.
"No, I'm not." Biowulf corrected. He turned to go. "Stay out of trouble."
"Can we go now? I'm hungry." Skalamander complained.
The boy noticed the lizard for the first time leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"We're leaving now." Biowulf rumbled.
"Wait!" The boy cried breaking his stupor.
The two creatures turned around.
"I know a place where you can get food." He said.
Biowulf and Skalamander looked at each other.
"My name is Lance." He offered.
0o0
Lance and Iris found some discarded clothing in the trash behind a clothing store. They found a large hoodie and sweatpants for Skalamandar and a long black jacket with an unusually large collar for Biowulf. Pulling up the collar and donning a large brimmed hat, Biowulf could almost pass for a person. Lance brought them over to a small shop in a run down part of town.
Biowulf looked at the storefront.
"We have no money." He growled.
"Don't worry. I got it covered." Lance said. A small bell tinkled as the door opened.
"Lance? Is that you? Where have you been? Mom's been asking for you." A girl behind the counter of a small convenience store asked.
Biowulf scanned the small store. It was decorated with hearts and cupids. He noticed the calendar it was February 14, Valentine's Day. Last Valentine he had given his Pack mates gifts. This year, he didn't even know where Breach was. Although he would never admit it, he was worried about her and hoped she was okay. The truth was the only reason he helped Iris in the first place was that she reminded him of Breach.
"I was looking for parts for the bike and ran into trouble. But these guys helped me out." He nodded over to the oddly dressed men and one teen girl. "Can you hook them up?"
The girl eyed the boy. "You know we can't afford to give handouts to everyone." She said through gritted teeth.
"It's okay. We should go." Biowulf said in his low voice.
"No wait." Lance put a hand up to stop the two from leaving. Pleading with his sister, he said, "Hey, come on, sis. I'll pay for it when I get the money for the bike job." Lance insisted.
The girl sighed. She went over to the deli counter and pulled some meat from the display case. Soon they had three large sandwiches waiting for them on the counter. They sat at the chairs in front of the counter.
"Finally." Skalamander rubbed his hands together before grabbing his sandwich with both hands. As he went to take a bite his hood fell back revealing his face.
The girl gasped. "What happened to your face?"
"Oh, he was in a bad accident." Iris quickly pulled his hood back over his head. In a soft whisper, she said, "He's very sensitive about it."
The girl looked unconvinced as Skalamander scarfed down the sandwich. "Uh-huh, sure." She filled three cups with soda and put it in front of Iris and the men. She leaned back to watch as they ate.
Just as the three of them were finishing the bell on the door tinkled again. Three men walked in. They did not look friendly.
"Uh-oh." Lance muttered under his breath. He got up from his seat. "Can I help you… gentlemen?"
"Knock off the crap, Lance." One of them pushed him back.
"You still haven't paid your insurance yet." Another one added.
"Cough it up." The third demanded.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Lance began. "You know this store doesn't do a lot of business…" He was cut off when one of them picked him up by his collar.
"Well, you better give us something, or else." The man threatened.
"Stop!" His sister yelled jumping over the counter. Another man pinned her. Biowulf had had enough.
"Leave." He ordered.
"And who are you?" The man scoffed.
Biowulf pulled off his hat. "Your worst nightmare." The shocked man dropped Lance. Skalamander got up as well. He slapped the man off Lance's sister. His hood fell from his face.
"Monsters!" They pulled out guns. Biowulf was quicker. He snatched one gun and crushed it in his claws. The other two guns were knocked out of their respective owners' hands by crystal shards.
Biowulf picked up the one who looked like the leader. "Never come back, unless you want to face the wrath of Biowulf."
"And Skalamander." The lizard added.
The three men came flying out of the shop. They scrambled to get away.
"All right!" Iris cheered.
Biowulf turned to Lance's sister. "Forgive us for the intrusion. We will be going now."
She looked surprised. "Where are you going?"
"Back to our home." He said as he put his hat back on.
"But… but guys… You could be the answer to our city's problems!" Lance's sister said.
Biowulf looked at her.
"There's been this crazy crime wave and the cops haven't been able to do anything about it. The people in this community have been hit the hardest. You… you can do something." She said excitedly.
"What can we do?" Biowulf scoffed.
"Are you kidding me?" Iris said getting excited as well. "You guys are like super strong and fast and not tied down by any rules! You would be awesome super heroes!"
"Yeah, you can clean up the streets. Did you see how scared they were of you?"
Heroes? Biowulf had been called many things in his life, but never a hero.
"What's in it for us?" Skalamander asked.
"Uh, the love and adoration of the people?" Lance offered.
Skalamander snorted.
"We will do it." Biowulf said as he stepped toward the door.
"We will?" Skalamander asked in surprise.
"Do you have anything better to do?" He asked.
Skalamander thought for a second before shaking his head.
"And you can come here for sandwiches every night." Lance said.
"They will?" Now it was his sister's turn to be surprised.
"Come on, the least we could do is feed them." Lance said.
"I guess." His sister agreed reluctantly.
"We have new heroes for the city!" Iris declared.
Biowulf and Skalamander stepped out into the night.
"Hey, guys?"
Biowulf and Skalamander turned around. It was Iris. She pulled something from her pocket.
"Um, it's not much but… Happy Valentine's Day." She shyly held out the candy hearts.
Skalamander snatched one and stuffed it in his mouth, wrapper and all.
Biowulf hesitated. But finally he took the heart from the girl.
"Thank you." He said simply. Then he went on his way.
"Wait for me." Skalamander jogged to catch up.
Iris watched their silhouette against the brightening skies of a new day.
Lance is not an OC. If you remember Crash and Burn, he was one of the bikers Holiday helped. Iris is my creation, made for the sole purpose of getting Biowulf and Skalamander to be the heroes they were meant to be.