Growl

by Ashley Fontainne

  I was deep in the woods. The rays of the moon bathed the forest floor in shimmering silver, making the path vivid and almost inviting for a moonlight stroll. In the distance, the noise of the search party and their canine companions started to fade as they tromped through the woods in the opposite direction. A twinge of satisfaction at my superior sense of smell over the mongrels almost made me smile, but too much was at stake for me to embrace the pettiness of it. Like a quiet fog covering the forest floor, my body was in stealth mode as I navigated the woods. As the stench of Tami’s remains grew stronger, I made my feet slow down until I was at a quick trot. Something made the hairs on the back of my neck and my arms shoot straight up. I stopped moving and stood frozen in mid-stride, reaching out with all my senses to detect the reason for my internal alarm sounding. I was so deep into the woods, I no longer heard the voices of the search party or the yelps of the dogs. My eyes scanned the area and about forty yards ahead of me and to my right, I saw what was left of poor Tami. But that wasn’t the reason my hackles were on high alert.

  It was the silence. The woods were coated in a death shroud of nothingness. No animal chatter, no bird chirps, no small feet scurrying through the underbrush, not even a rustle of a lone leaf. Which meant only one thing.

  A predator was close.

  I ignored the stink of Tami’s remains, tilted my head up, and took in a deep breath through my nose. My heart thundered in my chest when three distinct, familiar smells hit me. It took every ounce of effort I had to keep my lips closed and the roar of anger at bay because I was bombarded with the aromas of Barb, Dane, and the god-awful stench I’d followed the day before—the one I now understood belonged to my newly acquired enemy—Hattak’katos.

  My body instantly slid down into a crouch, my back plastered against a small fir tree. The only thing that moved on me was my eyes as they searched the terrain for any signs of movement. I strained my ears, hoping to detect the slightest noise. For nearly thirty seconds, the only thing I heard was the sound of my blood pounding in my veins and my short intakes of breath. Then, the faintest sound tickled my ears and I struggled to grasp what it was. When I finally recognized it, my blood ran cold.

  It was the sound of chunks of flesh being ripped from a body.

  On autopilot, my body moved me closer to the disgusting sound. It originated several hundred yards in front of me, well past the corpse of Tami. Without the need to look, my feet carried me with silent footfalls, instincts allowing me to sidestep any debris that would give away my approach. Out of my peripheral vision, I cringed at the mangled, disemboweled body of Tami and continued forward, my breath held to conceal my presence. In less than one minute, my eyes focused on my quarry.

  The sounds were louder now, the grunts from the effort of tearing flesh from bone unmistakable. It hadn’t sensed me yet since I was still downwind. My mouth, which had been dry as the proverbial bone before, overflowed with thick, wet saliva. How the thing didn’t hear my thudding heart was simply a miracle.

  The black cat in front of me was gargantuan. The head was nearly twice the size of Nahu’ala’s, the fur-covered torso at least two feet longer. It had paws the size of basketballs and a mouth big enough to swallow my head in one gulp. A few slivers of the moon’s rays glinted off its back. I saw the muscles under its coat undulating as it clung onto its prey with its two front feet. In horror, I watched it lower its head again and tear an enormous chunk of leg muscle off. It flung its head and tossed the wet mess to the side almost thirty feet away. The mass landed with a heavy thud less than ten feet from my position in the trees. When the pile of flesh connected with the ground, my stomach rolled.

  Because I recognized the odor.

  It was Barb’s.

  In that split second, my mind ablaze with hot fury and bone-crushing sorrow, I changed. At the exact moment, the recognition Hattak’katos killed Barb and was ripping her apart, piece by piece, every fiber in my being began to vibrate. The horrid image in front of me was suddenly replaced by an intense white light. Two blazing orbs of soul-penetrating gold rushed toward me, and then I felt him.

  My totem had come. The spirit, the essence, the force, of Nahu’ala covered me in an invisible shroud. It barreled through my body and mind, encasing me with his strength, knowledge, and wisdom of the ages and molded itself in every part. The instant the connection was made—the bonds forever ingrained inside of me—the electrical, mystical linking was complete. As the power surged through my body, I threw my head back and let the roar of what I was rip out of me. The deafening shriek reverberated through the empty forest. In the blink of an eye, I realized I was on all fours, my visual trajectory several feet higher than before—and much clearer.

  There was no pain, only an overwhelming sensation of intense heat. No odd contorting of my flesh as I turned from human to beast. I felt the presence of Nahu’ala in my mind, but as a companion, a part of me, rather than an intruding entity. Though the voice of my beloved Papa Joe didn’t speak to me, his guidance was felt with each movement of my limbs. Controlling my new form was no different than when I was on two legs, but it happened without a nudge or thought. The sinewy muscles of my haunches tightened, and I burst from my position in the tree line. Another loud roar shattered the stillness of the night as I landed less than three feet from Hattak’katos.

  He was ready for me. He’d backed away from Barb’s limp corpse and was crouched low, his rope-like tail straight in the air and his ears flat against his bulky skull. The black skin around his muzzle was pulled back, exposing his pink gums and glaring white fangs that dripped with blood. His eyes were emerald green orbs that sparkled with anger and the hunger of hate. I felt the vibrations under the pads of my paws from his deep, guttural rumble. The stench of Barb’s blood and bowels paled in comparison from the horrendous odor that wafted from him. Not only did he reek of death and carnage, but the slightest hint of fear exuded from him.

  Though he was much larger than I was, I felt no fear. My newfound body pulsed and vibrated, waiting to unleash the otherworldly power that flowed through it and tear the bastard into tiny shreds. I licked my lips in anticipation and responded back to his growl with one of my own. We danced in slow motion around each other, our steps silent on the soft grass. When my own snarl left my mouth, flecks of heavy spittle followed, dripping off the ends of my six-inch long fangs. Right when my body tensed to attack, he did the unthinkable—he took his eyes off of mine for a split second. They moved in a quick burst to his right. I was unable to stop my own from following. When I saw what he was looking at, I roared in agony. Because it was Dane’s limp body, resting in a crumpled heap against a tree less than twenty yards away, blood oozing from a large wound on his head.

  Before I realized it, I was in midair. My paws stretched out in front of me. My sheathed claws sprang forth, and I growled with delight as they found their mark. They sunk deep into the flesh of his shoulders, followed by my fangs clamping down at the base of his neck. Thick, bitter blood filled my mouth while my teeth drove deeper. His furry body jerked in response. He was much stronger than I was. Before I had a chance to tighten my grip, I realized we had rolled over several times. His heavy body pinned me to the ground, his weight crushing the air from my lungs.

  Pain tore through my left flank as his mouth latched onto my side. In agony, I shook my head from side to side, unwilling to let go of the mouthful of his flesh. Suddenly, the pressure in my jaws rescinded as his nasty flesh ripped free from his body. Hot blood sprayed from the gaping wound all over my whiskers and jowls, followed by a shrill scream of pain from his lips. He rocked back and, in a flash, was off me. I pulled in a huge breath of the damp night air. I twisted my body and was upright again, ignoring the throbbing injury to my side. I hunched down again, ready to pounce, but before I could, he turned and ran. I was less than a second behind him. We bounded through the forest as I gave chase, nipping at his heels with my fangs and swiping at his rump with my paws. His speed took me by surprise, and though I tr
ied to keep up his pace, he put distance between the two of us and was gone.

  My sense of triumph at vanquishing the monster, at least temporarily, was short lived. I ducked and swung back toward the glen to Dane’s side. Before my battle with Hattak’katos began, I sensed my love’s blood still ran through his veins. He was still alive, and I had to get him to safety before the bloodthirsty creature came back to finish him off.

  With a groan of anguish, I pushed my muscles to their limit and bounded through the woods until I was at Dane’s side again. Though still unconscious, his breathing was strong and steady. A dark trickle of thick, red blood oozed out from the side of his head and had soaked into the cotton of his white T-shirt. I stuck my muzzle down closer and almost recoiled from the scent of not only Barb’s but Tami’s blood intermingled on his body. Dirt, leaves, and debris littered his clothes, his exposed knees and elbows full of cuts and deep scrapes. The bastard had drug Dane on the ground and covered his body with the blood of my friends! My growl of anger made my entire body shudder. I was overwhelmed with intense rage and bone-crushing love at the same time. I understood why Papa Joe had taken Nana to the Tree of Living Waters. The thought of living in a world without my mate, my beautiful Dane, tore my soul to shreds.

  I suppressed the rage and leaned my head down and gently began to clean the blood from his face and neck, making sure to control the intensity of my licks as I neared the gaping cut on his head. Being this close to him, seeing him hurt because of me, made me want to cry, but that was impossible. Instead, my own sorrow came out as a purr while I washed the stains away from my love’s injury.

  Dane needed stitches, and I didn’t know for sure whether Hattak’katos would return or not. My new instincts told me he wouldn’t since I had inflicted some heavy damage to his body. What I did know was I had to get Dane to safety, for this wasn’t his battle to fight. It was mine. And I vowed to never let him be put in danger again, no matter how much it would hurt to sever all my ties to him. If that’s what it took to keep him safe, then so be it. I understood Papa Joe’s warning from before to stay away from Dane because the intensity of my love for him was much greater since my transformation into beast. It clouded my judgment, and I needed to focus all of my concentration on catching—and killing—Hattak’katos.

  Dane’s blood tasted like sweet nectar and rancid milk at the same time. It repulsed me and drew me to it with equal intensity. It was a part of him I was unable to experience when not in this form—and one that I wouldn’t want to. Though his scent, his aura, was already imprinted in my soul, his crimson life force was now part of me. The last lick was slow and long as my tongue wandered down his neck and traced the bulge of his biceps. My purring became louder and I feared being heard, so I shoved my head under his arm and tried to scoot his body onto my back. It didn’t work, and he just slumped further down in the dirt.

  I heard it then—the sound of the search party. The baying of the freaking dogs, their barks incessant and loud as they caught either Hattak’katos’s scent, Tami’s, my own, or all three. I had to leave, right then, and get Dane to safety. I couldn’t leave him in the same vicinity as Barb and Tami’s bodies. He was covered in their blood and would be a suspect—that is, until they realized a human being wasn’t capable of the kind of damage done to them. Or even worse—next in line for death. I thought about turning back, but not only wouldn’t that help, but I was unsure as to how to change back into human form. I could probably muster all my strength to lift Dane into the upright position, but there was no way I could carry his heavy weight through the woods before we got caught. And there would simply be no way to explain what we were doing out here near the corpses of two of our friends. Period.

  No choice. The dogs were getting closer. I bent my head down, clamped my jaws as gently as possible around Dane’s torso, lifting him off the ground. It took a few seconds to secure him so my fangs didn’t pierce his skin, but I finally got him situated. I broke into an easy trot, testing myself to make sure I wasn’t hurting him. As I passed by Barb’s carcass, the low rumble in my chest hissed out of me when I saw what Hattak’katos had done to her.

  I had to force myself not to drop him and go find the monster when I noticed he’d carved S I N into her chest with his claws. My once lovely friend was no more than a pile of shredded flesh, her wet blood all over the floor of the forest rather than inside her. The urge, the pull, was so strong, it felt like my brain would explode if I didn’t heed it and barge through the night until I found the black beast. It wasn’t until I heard Dane let out a low groan that my focus shifted back on him. Hearing my mate in pain persuaded my body to remain on its current path.

  He’s gonna pay for that. Oh, yes—with his life.

  On silent paws I carried my love, shrouded under the canopy of darkness. I was thankful clouds had rolled in and hidden the moon’s rays. I veered off the path and waded into the shallow, murky waters of Caney Creek to mask my scent. I made my way back to Dane’s house, my padded feet making no sound as I moved. My heart was heavy with sadness, but my new body was full of power and energy.

  Once I deposited Dane and ensured he was safe, I had planning to do.

  And a monster to kill.

  A grumble so low it wouldn’t have registered in the ears of humans thrummed through me as I thought, Takes one to find one.

  PART THREE - THE SHOWDOWN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Ain’t nothin’ like this ever happened ’fore. Least not that I’ve ever heard tell of.”

  “I overheard Deputy Pryor talkin’ to the state police on his whatchamacallit…”

  “It’s a CB radio, dearie. So, what did you hear?”

  “Well, he said them girls was all tore up. Poor ol’ Tami didn’t have no face left! They only knew it was her because of her little one’s name tattooed on her left shoulder, and she was in her cheerin’ uniform. Well, what was left of it. And sweet lil’ Barbie—not only did somethin’ eat parta her, it left claw marks in her chest. Accordin’ to Deputy Pryor, looked like the word sin.”

  The other two old nags at the corner booth gasped in shock at the words of Tana Skaggs, wife of the Prosecuting Attorney Jerome Skaggs. She had somehow crammed her huge ass between the edges of the tabletop and the seat, blabbing away with the sheriff’s wife, Heather, and Naomi, wife of the criminal attorney, Chris Williams. Their usual gabfest foursome had been whittled down to a trio, since Nanette, Mayor Ransford’s wife, was holed up at home. Barb’s parents hadn’t left their house in days except to attend their daughter’s funeral. Nanette and the mayor were destroyed, mourning the loss of their only child. When my family and I stopped by yesterday to drop off some food and pay our respects, Mayor Ransford wouldn’t even let us in the door. I heard Ms. Nanette sobbing from inside, her wails of pain stabbed my heart like a hot dagger. Mayor Ransford looked like he’d lost twenty pounds and gained ten years.

  I’d known the Ransford family ever since Barb and I were old enough to talk. Countless hours had been spent at her house over the years, and though I didn’t care much for Mrs. Ransford’s gossipy ways, my heart broke for both of them. We left in a hurry after mumbling our condolences. I was afraid of what might happen next. My new capabilities were not fully under my control just yet. It seemed extreme emotions were the major cause of my shifting abilities. Had we stayed any longer, I feared I would change. Right in front of Mayor Ransford’s bulging eyes. Then my head would be mounted on the wall as a trophy after he blew a hole through me with his ever-present shotgun.

  My mind and heart were still numb after attending three funerals in the same amount of days. Tami’s was difficult and tugged at the heartstrings of all in attendance. Lil’ Drexel cried and cried for his momma, but his whimpers went unanswered. Barb’s was horrific. Had Dane and my family not been by my side, I would never have been able to keep my emotions in check. My heart physically ached, knowing her death was on my shoulders. The last one, Papa Joe’s, broke my spirit and left my senses dulled an
d my soul a worthless pile of mush.

  I tried to ignore the Gossip Queens like I usually did, but it was an impossible task. Between the topic of their conversation, along with my newly acquired hearing, I couldn’t. I refused to look their direction, afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold my tongue, or my form. Out of my peripheral vision, I watched the looks of feigned shock and concern coat their faces, unable to hide their sheer delight in spreading their nasty gossip. Even though I wasn’t watching them directly, my eyes took in every nuance, every movement of the old skanks. All of my concentration was on wiping the water spots off the drinking glasses and setting them in their trays. I wasn’t doing a very good job at that either. I’d already busted three. A wicked smirk crossed my face at the mental image of me smashing the glasses into their flapping lips.

  “Don’t that beat all! Surely Raymond’s mistaken? I mean, it was what, sometime after midnight when they found them? Maybe it was just his imagination after traipsin’ ’round those scary woods for so long,” Heather offered as she wiped away a dribble of coffee from her thin lips.

  “Heather, y’all forget that I was out there, too, helpin’ the men search…”

  “Girl, don’t even start. Y’all was servin’ up water and coffee to them boys and nothin’ else. Y’all wouldn’t set a pinky toe on anythin’ that ain’t covered in carpet, tile, or hardwood.”

  “Heather! This ain’t no time to be so rude—especially to a friend! Our town’s lost so much in such a short time. We all are grievin’, and petrified of what hairy beast is roamin’ in our backyards, waitin’ and watchin’ us from the shadows. And I don’t recall seein’ you out there at all that night. At least I was tryin’ to do somethin’ to help. But now is the time that we band together and stand strong, not try to hurt each other,” Tana whined, sounding genuinely hurt by her friend’s remark. If I wasn’t in such a foul mood, I would have laughed at the pathetic look on her face. “Let me finish my story! So I was out there that night…”