That reminded me of times I played with Sharpfang’s tail, even though I knew he hated it. I would keep it up while he flicked faster and faster and finally whipped around and snapped at me. It was the funniest thing.
Grinning now, I pulled myself up a little farther so I could see better.
She tossed the hair back from her face. Before I could duck she was staring right at me.
Her eyes widened.
I smiled to show how friendly I was.
Her hands flew up.
She stumbled backward and screamed in terror.
Chapter 28
Startled, I lost my hold. My claws scraped at the wall but couldn’t grip. I scrabbled at air all the way down.
With that bloodcurling scream echoing in my ears, I hardly felt it when I hit the ground, twisting my leg under me.
The yapping and barking started in a frenzy. It seemed every animal for miles around was howling for my blood.
I lurched to my feet. Limping, I fled into the woods.
The pain in my leg hardly slowed me down at all. I ran like the wind. I ran faster than any of those puny Legwalkers’ animals could go. But it didn’t make me feel any better.
I ran until I couldn’t hear the barking and yowling anymore. But I would always hear that scream. It echoed over and over in my brain. That terrified face was burned into my eyes forever.
What had I been thinking? As if a pretty Leg-walker like that would ever be friends with me! I was a monster. The face I’d seen reflected in the dark window was real … and it was my face.
No wonder she had screamed in horror.
I would, too, if I could scream. But all I could do was howl. “Arooooooooh!” I threw back my head and felt the moonlight seek me out. I let out a long, mournful howl that froze the hearts of creatures for miles around.
I was back in the dark swamp where I belonged. My nostrils filled with the smell of mud and scummy water and rotting things. I would never get to be inside that warm, light-filled room.
Head hanging, I wandered through the swamp. I didn’t want to run anymore. Running only reminded me of what I was.
But how had I become a monster? Why?
It must be the reason I was left here in the swamp so long ago. But why had I never changed before? What had I done to make this happen now?
I pushed on deeper into the swamp. What would happen to me? I wished I could sit down and cry, but the monster had no tears.
Walking slowly, not paying attention, I forgot all about the night creatures.
That was a big mistake.
I felt a hot breath on my shoulder.
It stank of evil.
Instantly, every nerve came alive. I leaped into the air just as a razor-sharp claw raked my shoulder.
My shoulder burned. In midair I twisted, kicking out with my long, clawed feet.
“Ooomph!” I heard as I bolted out of there.
Behind me the creature spat and cursed. “I almost had him!” it fumed. “I was this close.”
I ran to a small muddy pool and plunged in. It smelled of snakes and slime. The scratch on my shoulder hissed and bubbled with steam. Shivering, I crouched until the icy water was up to my neck.
The werewolf called Ripper wasn’t far behind.
“Oh, little one,” he crooned in a false-friendly howl. “Come out wherever you are, little Grrufff! You can’t hide what you are, not from us you can’t.”
It came nearer and I sank deeper, until only my nose poked out of the murky water.
The werewolf eyes glowed red in the darkness. It bent down and spoke close to the surface of the water, right beside my ear.
“We won’t let you go this time, little one. You are one of us now!”
Chapter 29
The night creature called Ripper circled the pool, stalking me. It whispered and chuckled but in the end stamped its foot in frustration. It couldn’t find me.
Other werewolves joined him. They flitted down from the trees like bats or appeared out of the shadows like nightmares.
But this was no dream.
“Have you got him?” they hissed among themselves. “Is he here?”
“No, I didn’t get him,” growled Ripper, grinding and gnashing his fangs. “He must have slipped into one of these scummy puddles. I can’t smell him anywhere, can you?”
I heard a night creature shudder. “Why would he want to do that? It’s so cold and—and—wet!”
“I say we forget about him,” snapped another creature. “We’ve got plenty of time to take care of that little fool. Right now my hunger is gnawing strong. We need to hunt!”
There was a lot of growling and hissing of approval. But still the werewolves didn’t move away.
“Let’s go to the new town,” one of them snarled, smacking its lips, which were already crusted with rabbit blood. “Lots of humans to choose from there.”
“This time let’s take a child!” another suggested. Its eyes glowed like burning blood. “They’ll never know who did it. Wouldn’t believe it if they saw us.” The creature cackled wildly. “And we know who will get the blame, don’t we?”
Laughing and howling and slobbering, they started to move away, toward the place of lights. One paused and looked back over its shoulder, right into my eyes.
“Come along, Gruff!” it shrieked, showing sharp dripping fangs. “You can have the first bite!”
Chapter 30
As their cackling and snickering faded, I leaped from the small pool and followed. I couldn’t let them harm the Legwalkers, especially the ones called Paul and Kim.
I ran, shuddering at the sound of their voices rummaging around inside my head. It was as if I were connected to them by an unbreakable thread. I could feel their evil thirst for blood.
There were so many of them and only one of me. If they got me, they’d make me a monster forever—but I had to follow.
