Once again, Darkly Dreaming has become my muse!
Penny pulled into her spot in the garage just as Leonard and Sheldon pulled in from work. She didn't know them very well, having just moved in six months earlier. They seemed nice enough, if a bit weird.
"Look!" Leonard said when he pulled the crate from the car. "Cute pups. Would you like one?"
Sheldon smiled grimly. "They're homeless. We couldn't leave them to die on the street. According to Leonard."
Penny looked at them with dislike. "If you are smart, you'll euthanize them now. Before they rip out your throats."
Leonard gasped and pulled the crate tighter to him. "How can you be so cruel?!"
She shrugged. "Those are Weres. Anyone with brains knows to put them down."
Leonard looked as confused as Sheldon. "They're what?"
She locked up her car and looked at the two balls of black fur in the crate. She reached in and picked one up by the scruff. It snapped it's jaws at her as she looked it over carefully. "Yep. Were pups. In a week, the moon will be full and they'll turn deadly. They will crave human flesh and blood and you two will be the only thing in sight."
She dropped the pup back in the crate and moved toward the door. "Good luck with that. I guess I better buy some more silver bullets," she muttered. "I fucking hate Were pups."
"She can't be serious!" Leonard exclaimed. "There's no such thing as a were-pup."
Sheldon snorted. "She believes in astrology, Leonard. She may be aesthetically pleasing to look at, but she's not very bright."
Howard and Raj watched the pups chase the laser pointer light around the floor. "Penny really thought that werewolves exist?" Howard laughed. "Okay, let's say they do."
"They don't," Sheldon asserted.
Howard looked annoyed. "We know that. But let's just say they do. Werewolves are people who turn into wolves. What are these? Dog that turn into people?"
"Carriers." All eyes turned to Penny in the open doorway. She looked at the pups with hatred. One started to run toward her and she hissed loudly. It froze and scrambled onto Leonard's lap. "They are carriers of lycanthropy. Look, as long as you got those beasts, I won't be over. So don't order pizza for me. See ya later. If you live."
She turned to leave and Sheldon stepped forward. "Penny, surely you do not really believe this fiddle-faddle."
She paused and looked over her shoulder at him. "Look, I'm trying to help. I really am. Get rid of those bastards. If they bite you next week…" Penny looked away for a second. She squared her shoulders and turned to face them all. "I won't hesitate to put down anyone they turn."
Howard looked at the pups and then her. "If you are so sure they are some kind of mythological beast, why not kill them now?"
She shook her head. "You'd never believe me. You need to see it to believe it. Just be careful, okay? Don't let them bite you."
She walked across the hall and shut her door. That was the last they saw of her until the full moon.
Leonard cringed and wrapped his arms tight around Raj's waist. They could see Sheldon peering down from the top of the fridge, his eyes wide and horror-filled. They looked through the gaping hole in the closet door as the two …creatures snapped and snarled as they tore chunks from Howard's stomach.
The creatures were about 2 foot tall, on their hind legs. Their fur was matted with blood and gore, but before they began to eat, it had been shaggy and bristling. It was Halo night, and the guys had been just setting up the game when Jack, the bigger of the two pups, had begun to growl and convulse.
Leonard had rushed over to check on him when Asimov, the other pup, had begun to growl and convulse as well. Sheldon had grabbed for the phone to call the vet, and Howard had rushed over to help Leonard. Raj had grabbed Leonard, who was closest and backed up, dragging Leonard with him. He had screamed for Howard to follow. Just then, Jack had lunched forward and grabbed Howard's arm in his jaw.
They had watched in absolute shock as Jack's paws elongated into clawed hands and he had ripped open Howard's stomach. Sheldon moved like the Flash and jumped onto the kitchen counter, before scrambling up onto the fridge, knocking over cereal boxes.
Raj and Leonard jumped into the closet and slammed the door just before Asimov slammed into it. Snarls and snaps echoed in the apartment and within seconds a small hole appeared in the door's panel about waist high. Foaming jaws and razor claws worked at the hole, enlarging it bit by bit.
They huddled on the floor, shouting. Even over their own voices, they could hear Howard's agonized screaming. Warm liquid soaked through their pants, as both their bladders let loose. A gurgling sound drew Asimov away and the feast began.
All three men were jolted from their paralyzing fear when the door burst open and Penny stepped inside. The two monsters looked up from Howard's corpse and snarled loudly. Penny grimaced at the mess and raised her hand. The sound of the two shots echoed throughout the building.
Slowly Sheldon, Raj and Leonard moved out of their hiding places. Penny nudged the two animals with the toe of her high heels. She looked at Howard and sighed. She pointed the gun at him and the guys gasped. She looked at them dispassionately. "He's not dead. He could turn."
Raj burst into fresh tears. "He's my best friend!"
Penny pulled the trigger before anyone could make another objection. "It's kinder," she said softly.
She turned to leave and Sheldon placed a hand on her wrists. "How…" he felt shell-shocked, but he forced himself to speak. "How could you possible have known?"
Penny looked at them all for a moment. She grinned widely. They all felt faint as her eye teeth elongated. "Instinct," she said calmly. "Weres and Vamps have been enemies since the dawn of time. Night, boys."