The tree branches bend to the wind that play music through even leaf. My breathing is slow as I listen for the breaking of branches. Cedar next to me as we sneak around the trunks next to the river. His fur ruffles at the sound of a lowly cry in the distance. Willow opted to head for the nearest village to keep unwanted out of the people’s peace. I glance at the wolf next to me with a nod he bounds towards the sound as I pounce up the tree to follow. Every step we make we use the strength with in to insure the silence of the night. Another cry rips the night air as the howls of another emerge. Speeding up we match the steps until we reach a small meadow. The moon shown over the ten werewolves in their hybrid form. As planned Cedar enters the flowered grounds with his head held high. Showing an alpha stance bringing in the rogues to his scent. They stare at him in wonder as his fur dances towards me.
“It is an alpha,” a young voice announces.
“We are saved,” said a female as she started towards Cedar.
“Please alpha help us!” a third quickly runs to him.
“We need your guidance to take down a huntress,” one in the back calls.
“A vampire!” another yells out.
“Strong female,” the man’s voice screams in pain. Cedar walks calmly to greet them in a circle before sitting looking at them standing tall.
“You dare ask for help, yet none of you have the courage to lower your pride? What are werewolves with out their alpha? With out their Lycanthrope?” Cedar demands. The females fall on the ground turning their necks to him. The males kneel with their heads bowed to the side. I take this chance to drop on the ground cushioning the sound on the grass. Slowly I near the pack as some of their noses flare and others ears search for me. It is clear they feel my presence. “I am not one to take on a pack. However, my alpha is very kind,” Cedar’s voice comes as a sneer. He stands on alert as the pack lifts their eye in unison. “My alpha is here.” All heads snap in my direction as I let out a sigh.
“You need an alpha?” I toy.
“YOU!” all the voices yell. Some start to charge while other try to escape.
“I will be any one’s alpha who needs help.” Some of the wolves stop moving to look at me and other continue on their path. As the biggest werewolf runs to meet me he lets out a yell “Never!” before the other decide to join his fatal pursuit.
Cedar charges at the weak that try to flea. The biggest one goes down first as I pull my silver stake through his neck. The ones that are near me try and join as I fend off the teeth that snap for my flesh. Taking down two of the werewolves in one motion chopping off the heads. Taking of one of my guns I shoot two that tried to make it past Cedar. One tries to charge me as I has my attention on Cedar’s wolf ripping the werewolf he killed to shreds. Shooting behind me I hear the bullet pierce the flesh and a groan rang out. I turned to see three standing in the middle looking to the far side contemplating their route.
“Cedar NOW!” I yell. The ground itself began to shake as the roots shoot up wrapping around the legs of the caged animals. Cedar’s eyes glinted with a hunger known to beast. I trudged towards the pathetic set. “I think I will allow my pet to eat you.” His tongue came across his lips with a hyena’s grin.
“Please do not let him kill us,” they pleaded.
“Hold on Cedar. Tell me, how many lives have you taken?” I asked pointing to the dark gray Werewolf.
“What?”
“How many innocent lives?”
“Seriously? Why does that matter?”
“My name is Sortie. I hunt down those who take innocent lives and make them pay. Now answer, remember;” I tap my nose as I continued; “I can tell if you lie. Lie to me and your death will be painful.”
“Many,” he said sagging his head.
“How long for you chose to be a werewolf?”
“Many decades.”
“Alright and you?” I pointed to the light gray shaking behind him. “Answer both of the questions.”
“Few for both questions.”
“Wrong. Cedar enjoy, slowly.” Cedar jumps at her arm ripping it off as she screamed.
“A lot I killed hundreds. Been alive for decades,” she begged. Ignoring her plea I continued to the last, almost blonde mutt.
“How many and how long?” I pointed a finger at it while Cedar ripped another arm off accompanied by a shriek.
“Um… this is my first full moon,” she shuddered shaking like the leafs.
“How many?” I pointed my eyes as she shrunk down like a child.
“Two.”
“I am sorry dear but your palate has already been groomed.” I took the gun in my right hand and pulled the trigger. The bullet ripped through her skull causing instant death. Looking at the now one legged mutt gurgling near death and the coward next to her. “I am truly sorry for your lot in life. However, you choose this path and that I can not forgive.” The female stopped breathing as Cedar finished her first leg. “Cedar kill him quickly.” Given the direct order he left the bone and pounced on the mutt. Dropping under the heavy weight her tried to push the big dog off only to have his throat ripped completely out of the neck.
Sitting off to the side I watched Cedar enjoy the meal he caught. The blood covered his fur with the force of ripping each piece apart. He chomped happily on his meal with a vigor that I could appreciate. The body of the large wolf laying gnawing on the bones were impressive. I stood and started walking close to him. Hearing my approach he started to growl as he hovered the bodies near his now standing feet.
“I do not want mutts, enjoy. I was just wondering how you were holding up.”
“Mine,” he growled.
“I will take it if you do not knock it off.”
“I am sorry,” he whimpered with his tail under him and his ears drooped.
“How is C. J. holding up?”
“We are good.”
“We as in the wolf? The nymph? The boy? Or the whole?”
“Man not boy!”
“Fine, how are the three of you?” He tilted his head in thought for a moment.
“We are monsters, we do as the monsters.”
“That sound like he finally accepts himself.”
“We kill those who hide in night to protect the day dwellers.”
“That is right.”
“Alpha hungry?”
“No, I do not eat mutts.”
“Good! More for me,” he howled before finishing the rest of the bodies. Moon light started to head home when he finally rolled onto his belly next to me. I watched him for a while before I heard the hiss of darkness behind me.
“My angel?” the sound whispered. Cedar jumped to his paws facing the woods behind us. I turned my head to see a dark figure.
“Show yourself if you have the nerve to call me that,” I spat out in a grumble.
“In due time young one, who keeps a mutt as a pet.” Cedar’s growl followed him as he darted to the form.
“Be more concerned that when I find you what will happen.”
“Oh? Do you want to know how your family is doing?” The image flickered as Cedar flopped through it.
“No, I know how my family is;” I stated as I started to stretch.
“Ho ho ho, think you know? Cute. I will keep my left side warm for you my beloved.”
“Do as you please. I will be coming for you before long,” the words fell on the early sunrise as Cedar watched me with a tilted head. Deciding to head off before questions could follow the mirage that dissipated. Making my way through the branches on my path back to the river. Bubbling sound of the consent life drew me to squat before the blue. Washing the blood off my face I waited for the form to show himself.
“Want to talk about it?” C. J.’s voice asked softly.
“Nothing to talk about,” muttering these words as I played with the white foam by the edge. “How you holding up today?”
“Good, you were right. We are a necessary evil.”
“Glad you came around.”
“Why did you ask them how many lives they took?”
“So you could be clean of guilt.”
“Then the young one?”
“She was guilty too.”
“But you took her life instead?”
“Young and almost innocent. I do not need you conflicted.”
“Thank you Shorty.”
“Any time pet.”
“Stop it you know I am not your pet!”
“Keep telling your self that.”