It slurped up the last drop.
The—the wereing? What did it mean?
“The wereing is the change from human to beast,” the creature explained, although I had made no sound. “Our blood runs in your veins. You are one of us. I know you feel our power.”
I wanted to shake my head no, but the creature narrowed its eyes menacingly and revealed long, slavering fangs. “Under my care you will learn to kill,” it growled. “Once you have made your first kill, the wereing will be complete.”
The creature leaned closer. I could smell death on its breath. It purred deep in its throat and said, “Taste blood in the light of the full moon and all the powers of the night shall be yours.”
Inside me the strange gnawing hunger quivered. What was wrong with letting this creature teach me how to hunt? I wanted to learn to hunt for my wolf family, right?
I liked my new power, didn’t I?
Without warning, the thing called Ripper grabbed my hand. Even as the slimy touch turned my stomach, the creature’s power sent a jolt through me that made all my hair stand on end.
In the next instant we left the branch and sailed through the night.
Chapter 16
Our powerful spring from the tree took us over the heads of the creatures below. We landed softly and the rest of the beasts fell in behind us, slobbering and fighting and howling for blood.
“Follow me and you will be safe,” Ripper reassured me.
He began to run like the wind and I kept up with him easily.
Why had I thought him evil? I wondered. He was graceful and swift and obviously very wise. I should be flattered he took an interest in me.
Who was I? Nobody. But someday I might be as powerful a leader as he was, the great and terrible Ripper.
A cold pit of unease stirred inside me. Was the werewolf using my brain to tell me what to think?
I threw off the thought with an impatient shrug. Ripper was going to teach me to hunt! That was what I should be concentrating on, not silly ideas that came out of—well, wherever they came from.
Feel the touch of the wind and the glory of the moon, I told myself. Enjoy this special, magical power and don’t spoil things with foolish worries.
The hunt was the important thing. And why shouldn’t I be excited about my first kill?
My brother Sharpfang had made his years ago. And now he was grown, while I was still a cub dependent on my family for all my food. Perhaps once I’d made my first kill I, too, would be an adult.
Maybe that was all that was meant by “the wereing.” I had nothing to fear, right?
Right?
“ARRROOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!”
The howling werewolves invaded the bog, leaping murky pools, snapping trees in half, slinging mud at each other, driving the swamp’s animals from their safe homes.
And I invaded with them, grinning as a frightened raccoon scampered up a tree and a doe huddled shivering over her fawn. Bats skittered across the moon, screaming in terror. An opossum fell terrified from its perch. The thunder of our passing shook the ground.
My new blood sang in my veins with the thrill of the hunt.
Then, jumping over a muddy pool, I saw my reflection in the rippled surface and I stumbled in horror.
The wavery image burned itself into my brain. I was starting to look just like them! Like the ghastly night creatures!
My pace faltered and Ripper screamed at me to run. But where were they going? What did they really want me to do?
I remembered what the hideous creature had said: “Make your first kill and the wereing shall be complete.”
My new body urged me to forget about thinking and just run and run. The monster part of me hungered to stay with the night creatures and howl at the moon.
But now I knew Ripper had been inside my mind, trying to make me think like he did.
“Nooooooooo!” shrieked Ripper, sensing my doubts. He gnashed his fangs and snapped viciously as his hold on me loosened and fell away.
Deep inside, I was still Gruff. And I knew if I gave in to the hunger I would be like these night creatures forever.
At that moment a heavy cloud slid over the moon. Now was my chance!
In the cover of dark I slipped away, into the shadows.
The werewolves didn’t see me go and I got a good head start, running as fast and as silently as I could. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I had to get away to save myself.
Too soon, the cloud passed. As the moonlight fell over the night creatures, they realized I was gone.
“Little one! Come back! Come back or die!”
Their howling fury froze my blood.
I hadn’t got very far away. Their senses were even keener than mine and any second they would find me.
Even as the thought entered my mind, Ripper scented me and turned the snarling pack in my direction.
They were right behind me, catching up fast!
I couldn’t escape.
Chapter 17
Moaning in fear, I kept running.
Behind me the creatures were crashing through the swamp, gaining on me.
Desperately I looked for a hiding place. But where could I hide where they wouldn’t sniff me out? It was hopeless.
The moon glinted on a pool of water in front of me. Water! Maybe that would work!
Steeling myself against the cold, I slipped into the stagnant water. If wolves couldn’t smell their prey in water, maybe werewolves couldn’t, either.
It was my only hope.
The mud slithered under my feet. My head dipped below the surface, and I came up sputtering. I froze, hoping the night creatures hadn’t heard.
The slithering voices came out of the night.
“Little one, are you there? Little one, come back, come back!”
Peeping up from my watery hiding place, I could see their red eyes gleaming in the dark. They were snuffling at the ground nearby and coming closer.
Silently I swam to the
