Eric drives to Sam’s property and is greeted by the police. Weapons drawn they wait till he gets out of his car, and identifies himself. “My Name is Eric Slade, My daughter is Makenna Slade. Please tell me you found her!”
“Come with us,” the officer says and he takes Eric into the shed. The officers will not meet his eyes as they gesture for him to head to the back. The wolf is on its side panting, tongue hanging out and eyes glazed over. He feels sick to his stomach.
“I don’t understand? Why are you bringing me back here?” Eric asks.
“Sir we have reason to believe he kept a human in the cage beside this one,” one officer tells him. “We found beads outside in the snow and inside the cage, also a scarf.” He says holding up the scarf he gave Makenna for Christmas last year.
Eric loses all color in his skin and the voices fade away. Looking at the cage where his daughter was held, he drops to his knees. Clutching her scarf, he asks in a hoarse voice, “Where is my daughter?” The officer helps him to his feet and calms him.
“Sir, is there anywhere you can think of that Sam might go?” Eric listens and thinks.
“I have seen him at the café in town, he likes to eat there.” Immediately officers head out.
“Take me with you!” he says and follows them outside. He leaves his truck and rides with the police.
Sakari answers the officer’s questions and brings Eric a cup of hot coffee, black, just the way he likes it. He takes it from her gratefully. He sits the cup down with shaking hands and she covers his hand with hers. “She will be okay, Eric. She’s a smart girl.”
“Ma’am, can we ask you a few more questions?” Sakari walks with the police to a corner booth and Eric watches them walk away.
“May I join you?” Eric turns and looks up at Sakari’s grandmother, Tikani with surprise.
“Of course,” he says gently.
She slides into the booth and stares hard at Eric. “For months your daughter protected the Guardian. You have met him. We call him Amarok, Eric. He will keep her safe now.”
Tears fill his eyes at her words. “I can’t lose her, Tikani.” He says dropping his head. “Makenna told me about the wolf pup, but I didn’t know she was taking care of him.”
Excitement fills his eyes as he looks at the older woman. “Of course! The woods!” He jumps up and runs to get the officers.
Archer walks in moon light through the woods he calls home. Makenna’s scream causes his blood to run cold.
“That is his plan, to cause me to panic and run in blindly,” Archer thinks. “I am wolf, but I am more than wolf. I am the Guardian.”
Throwing back his head Archer howls and it echoes across the silent night. His howl is a warning for all to hear. Tonight he hunts.
His eyes glow silver, as he searches inside his body. This time when he shifts he becomes something, different. Wolf, but not wolf. He accepts the shift, but holds onto the human qualities as well. He stands stronger, faster, and more powerful, a gift from Mother Moon.
His senses are stronger. He can see in the dark, hear better, smell everything, and even the air has a taste! He runs through the woods towards his girl, Makenna. He catches her scent and finds it has a new smell. The smell of fear, pain, and tears. He growls, as he closes in on them then shifts taking the image the man will expect, a wolf.
Sam has no clue what is coming for him, He is giddy with excitement, “Call him, girl! Call him to you!”
Makenna screams when he brings the stick close to her again. She is on her knees with her hand tied behind her back. Her tears seem to be never ending and she prays he will not come.
“No! I won’t help you kill him! He is special, Sam. If you kill him you destroy an entire species! Please just let me go!”
“No! You will help me one way or another!” He says raising the stick to strike her again. The wolf leaps silently from the trees and hits him in the chest ripping the stick from his hand and tossing it away. Growling and snarling he leaps away and pads over to Makenna. He licks her face, before putting his body in front of hers.
“Archer! Go! You aren’t safe here!” she screams and struggle to free her hands.
Sam stands up and faces the wolf he hopes will gift him. “Finally, we meet! You will give me the gift one way or another!” He draws the pistol from his pocket and points it at them. Archer’s lip curls and he growls deep in his throat.
“Yes, that’s right. I know you can understand me, Amarok! I’m gonna hurt your girlfriend, good. I might make you watch while I kill her. Every tear she cries will be because of you!” Archer’s growl grows louder and he begins to shift and change. He turns into a human in front of Sam’s eyes.
“No! NO!” Sam screams and he swings the pistol towards Makenna. Archer moves so quickly that Sam doesn’t even have a chance to blink. One second he is standing there, the next they are both gone.
Archer snatches Makenna up in his arms and runs.
Sam spins wildly, shooting his pistol in every direction. He empties the six chambers and screams in rage!
Archer places Makenna down behind a tree and gestures for her to be quiet. She nods in understanding and he rips the rope off her hands. He stands and steps back
