It had been a good hunt for Wolf and me. We found plenty of prey in the swamp and we made sure to share our food. Our current prey, a fat wild boar put up a fight, but we managed to bring it down. You're probably wondering, who is this creature? My name is Grady Tucker, and I'm a werewolf. That's right. A werewolf.
It had been a month since that incident. My family and I moved to Fever Swamp, Florida as part of my dad's experiment with South American marsh deer, but things didn't go as planned. A string of attacks on animals happened, one of them being one of the marsh deer, and my dog, Wolf, was framed for it. I knew my dog could never have killed all those animals, but I didn't really have proof.
A friend of mine, Cassie O'Rourke, suggested that the hermit who lives in the swamp was the one who did it, and that he was a werewolf. Well, she was close. There WAS a werewolf in Fever Swamp, but it wasn't the swamp hermit. It was my other friend, Will Blake. I don't know how he became a werewolf, or how long he had been attacking animals in the swamp. Maybe all his life. All I know is that he bit me on the shoulder (I still got the scars to prove it), and I was rescued by Wolf and the swamp hermit. Ironic, isn't it?
And wouldn't you know it, I became cursed and became the new Werewolf of Fever Swamp. Well, I wouldn't call it a curse. I'm actually happy to be a werewolf. I'm stronger, faster, I can smell things no ordinary human can (the good, the bad, and the really, really horrible), and I can hear things no human can as well. Is it any wonder that wolves are considered apex predators? The taste of raw meat took a while to get used to, but I quickly took a liking to it. Don't worry, I don't go after humans and their pets like Will did, just the local wildlife deep in the swamp. Boars were always my favorite.
I could see the sun starting to come up. Time to go home. Wolf whined in protest. I know, I know, Wolf, I don't like it either, but we have to get back before my family wakes up. I haven't told my parents and sister about it, but can you blame me? How can I explain to two scientists and my older sister that I'm a werewolf? I promised myself to tell them, I just have to figure out what to say.
The two of us reached the house just as my fur and fangs begin to recede and my snout shrink. Wolf plopped down on the ground and I patted his head. I climbed through my bedroom window, careful not to wake up my parents and sister. After ridding myself and my clothes of the incriminating mud, I fell face first across my bed. I fell into a dreamless sleep almost immediately.
"Grady," I heard my mom call.
"Grady, wake up!" I grunted as I awoke to the sound of my older sister calling my name. "Jeez, I almost thought you were dead," Emily said. "You've been sleeping for hours."
"What time is it," I muttered.
"It's twelve in the afternoon. You missed breakfast."
I slowly crawled out of bed and felt the wood floor on my bare feet. "I'm not that hungry anyway."
"That's a first," said Emily. "Anyway, would you mind coming down? Dad says he has some good news."
"Tell him I'm coming," I mumbled. After Emily left, I went to the bathroom to do my business. When I was done, I checked myself in the mirror for anything wolfish. I opened my mouth and saw no sharp fangs. Good. I went downstairs and found Mom, Dad, and Emily at the table.
"Well, look who's finally awake," said Dad.
"Are you okay," Mom asked, putting a hand on my forehead. "You've been asleep for hours."
"He's fine, Mom," said Emily. "Stop worrying."
"Your breakfast is here," said Dad.
On the table was a plate of ham and eggs with buttered toast. I inspected it and said, "It's cold."
"It was warm earlier," said Mom. "Don't worry, I'll heat it up." She took the plate and placed it in the microwave. While it warmed up, I said, "So, Dad, you wanted to tell us some good news?"
"Ah, yes," he said. "Well, despite the setback the month before..." That month being a werewolf attacking and killing one of our South American marsh deer, but Mom and Dad think it was some kind of wild animal. "...we are now ready for phase two of our experiment. The deer will be tagged and set free into Fever Swamp. We'll be keeping track of them with our equipment."
"We just got the approval of the local wildlife authorities and we'll be releasing them today," said Mom.
"Maybe we should inform the swamp hermit about the deer so they don't get shot by mistake," said Emily. "Hey Grady, maybe you should tell him since you're friends with him. You are always hanging out in the swamp a lot these days with that Cassie girl," she teased.
"He's not my friend," I said. "Although, you do make a good point."
"I don't like that you're always going out in the swamp," said Mom as she took my breakfast out of the microwave and place it in front of me. "Aren't you scared that that animal that bit you might come back?"
"No," I said as I ate my eggs. "It's been over a month and I haven't seen it. I don't think it's coming back." Poor Will. I wish there was a way to save him.
"Hey Mom, Dad, since I have my learner's permit," said Emily. "Can I go to the town's post office, send my letter to Martin?"
"Sure, and take Grady with you," said Mom. "And while you're at it, go to the general store to pick some groceries."
"What?!" Emily and I exclaimed.
"Now, Grady, I'm sure it would be a nice change of pace instead of hanging out in the swamp all day with Wolf and Cassie. Besides, you haven't been in town yet. Maybe you can use this opportunity to write to your friends back in Burlington?"
"Oh, yeah, Ben and Adam," said Emily. "You three were inseparable. Better hope they hadn't moved on."
"Don't joke about that," I said. "I received a letter from them two days ago. Although, I haven't written back yet recently." I decided maybe it would be best to go with Emily after all.
After breakfast, I went upstairs to go to the bathroom Emily and I shared, did my business in the toilet, brushed my teeth, took a shower and dried off. I put on my Raiders t-shirt (I said it before, I'm not a Raiders fan, I just like the colors), blue denim shorts, and Converse sneakers. I walked downstairs and saw Emily waiting by the car. Her blonde hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was wearing her white t-shirt, red denim shorts, and Nike sneakers. "Did you write your letter to your friends," she asked as we got in.
"I'll write on the way," I said. "You got the stamps, right?"
"Yep. I didn't forget." Emily started the ignition and we headed into town. I thought to myself, Mom and Dad's experiment is entering phase two, I have a good dog, a good friend who likes exploring Fever Swamp with me, and a I'm a werewolf. What could go wrong now?
I really got to stop saying that.