Kim was frantically beckoning stragglers into the building. She didn’t see the huge monster coming at her from behind. Ripper, the leader of them all! With a flick of his hairy paw he knocked a burly man head over heels.
“Out of my way,” he snarled, although the humans couldn’t understand him. “The girl is mine!”
I leaped over the heads of a woman and two children running in panic. But Ripper was faster than me. “Kim,” I screamed. “Look out! Run into the building!”
But of course she didn’t understand. All she heard was the bloodcurling shriek of a monster. Startled, she looked my way. And froze in terror at the sight of a horrible red-eyed monster bearing down on her with what looked like murder in its eyes. Rigidly still at the sight of me, she was a perfect target for Ripper.
With a silent howl of triumph, Ripper sprang, straight at Kim. He grinned at me, fangs dripping, eyes blazing with anticipation. I was too far away to save her.
But out of the dark another werewolf leaped on Ripper. It was Mr. Parker! My heart skipped with joy. He would save Kim!
But Ripper batted the Parker werewolf away with one hand, tumbling him head over heels. Instantly three other werewolves appeared, pinned the Parker werewolf’s arms, and dragged him away.
Kim was doomed. Ripper’s teeth were set to sink into her shoulder. She was about to become one of Them! With all my strength I leaped, clearing a whole crowd of panicked humans. But Ripper was too close and I was too far away.
Ripper landed on Kim’s back, knocking her to the ground. People shrieked and scattered, leaving her to him. Kim’s voice was cut off in mid-scream.
RIIIIIP!
My keen ears winced at the sound of her T-shirt tearing as the werewolf sunk his claws into her back.
Chapter 44
Laughing, the werewolf lifted Kim high into the air, his claws curving around her thin arms, his eyes casting a fiery glow on her terrified face. Kim’s small fists beat at his hairy face and her sneakered feet kicked as hard as they could.
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Ripper laughed, toying with her. His fangs dripped, boiling the dirt under his feet. “She’s mine,” he gloated as I rushed at him.
Another werewolf leaped out of the shadows and slammed into me, knocking me to the ground.
“Heeeelp!” screamed Kim, kicking with all her might.
Ripper opened his huge jaws, fixing his eyes on Kim. I slashed at the werewolf who had attacked me. It screamed in pain and rage and I kicked it aside. I was too late to save Kim from being bitten but I had to try and get her away from Ripper.
Another werewolf leaped at me. I rolled on the ground and caught the monster on my feet, letting its forward motion help me to throw it into the air. The werewolf crashed into the fence and I bounced to my feet, running.
Just as I ducked to fend off a third werewolf attack, I glimpsed a small dark shape come hurtling out of the rec building doorway, aimed straight for Ripper’s head. Ripper was just about to sink his fangs into Kim.
The werewolf’s foot connected with my head and for a second I was blind as it wrestled me to the ground and I sunk my teeth deep into its arm. The werewolf screamed and I flung it aside, lunging once again for Ripper.
Ripper’s slobbering mouth was wide. He was bellowing with rage and gnashing his huge teeth. The small figure I’d seen was Paul. He had his legs wrapped around the werewolf’s massive arm and was poking a stick into the monster’s snarling face. Trying to hold a kicking, yelling Kim in his other arm, Ripper couldn’t push Paul away.
But I knew it would only be a second before the much bigger, stronger werewolf had the situation under control, with both my friends in his clutches.
I flung another attacking werewolf out of my way and sprang at Ripper.
“YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIII!” I screamed as I landed perfectly, coming down, clawed feet first, on Ripper’s head. I sunk my fangs into the arm holding Kim. Ripper’s paw spasmed and Kim fell to the ground.
But instead of running she began to pound her little fists against the arm that clutched Paul. “Let go, you horrible monster,” she yelled. “Let go of my brother!”
Ripper snarled and struck like a snake to close his fangs on my neck.
At that moment Paul poked his stick right into one of the werewolf’s glowing eyes.
“UUURRRRGGGH!” Ripper screamed and tossed Paul away as if he were a rag doll.
Kim ran to her dazed brother and I slammed both feet into Ripper’s chest, knocking him backward. It was just enough to let me get away. I scooped up Paul and Kim and pushed them—gently—into the recreation building. Quickly I locked the door.
Inside the rec building people fled shrieking at the sight of me. Paul, his eyes wide with terror and rage, rushed at me to save his sister. I grabbed him easily and pulled him aside, wishing desperately that I could talk to humans. But I couldn’t.
Throwing down the book, I opened it to the “Rules of The Wereing.” Paul stared at me, rigid with fear. Kim pounded on my back, screaming. I snarled and banged my fist on the book. But Paul was afraid to take his eyes off me. I grabbed his head and forced him to look.
With one curved claw, I jabbed at the line I wanted him to read. Paul gasped with understanding. Then he looked at me with questions in his eyes. Did he recognize me? I thought he did.
But there was no time. Already the werewolves were thudding against the rec building door.
CRACK!
The door bulged and began to splinter.
Chapter 45
I gave Paul a gentle shove. He started and tore his eyes away
