The Lycanthrope Tails. Chapter 18.
The Lycanthrope Tails
Chapter 18
By Roofles
Far North along the coast line the trio, following the black fur wolf, drifted back into the woods. The tracking had gone better than they thought, too well in fact.
"They are either in a hurry or this is a trap." Frostbite warned the others, being the voice of reason as usual.
"Bring it on!" Dakota only smiled at the challenge. It was always nice to flex his muscle. He hadn't been able to do things these past couple months and needed the exercise.
"We don't have a choice if we are to find Tess." Jared only nodded, thinking it over. "Is it a trap if we knowingly walk into it?" He offered.
"Yes." Frostbite frowned at the stupidity of that very question. Still it was hard to hate that innocent, yet stupid, face of his.
"We should keep moving." Sveil, the black wolf tracker from Sylvan's pack, spoke up. He had to circle back around to meet up with them. These trio were legend amongst Sylvan's pack. There were so many stories and myths about each one of them.
The monster that could devour the moon above. The Tundra hunter that, even injured, had taken down a good half dozen and a pack-runner (one of the leaders in a hunting party) by himself. And then of the human that could tame the raging beast.
And here they were, these legends, that were goofing off. Laughing amongst each other like childhood friends. Dakota was teasing Frostbite about how he rather not fight because fighting took effort and he rather just lay around like a skinned rug. Frostbite was happy to point out that he was so bloodthirsty that it must've filled his empty head and couldn't see reason because of it. And then there was Jared who just took a seat in the grass with a stretch, ignoring the two.
"I think I want to sleep indoors." Jared spoke up catching all three of their attention. "I love the nature," he said catching himself off-guard. He used to hate nature. Only having stayed in that town due to family. "I just miss, you know. Electricity! A hot shower! Bubble baths." He sighed thinking about each one.
"Hot chocolate!" Dakota jumped in, taking a heavy seat next to him. The large wolf shook the ground as he sat down.
"Can you... uh, we even eat chocolate?" Jared chuckled though, a bit flushed in face from the travel.
"Duh." Dakota rolled his eyes. "I can eat a whole box! And then just pour the water into my belly and mix it around inside." He laughed loudly, rubbing his belly.
"My friend had done that." Jared laughed a bit louder than he meant too, holding his gut. "H-he had made ramen! But didn't have a bowl to put it in. So he decided he could just chew up the ramen and then use the hot water," and he shook his head. "He had second degree burns in his mouth and had to eat through a straw for like a month."
Dakota smiled at that. The wolf sensing something more to it though as he reached out to touch Jared's hand.
"And A-Andrea, oh man. She didn't know what to do and I blamed it on the fact he hadn't used the seasoning packet." Jared was teary eyed now. It had been so long since he had thought of his old friends. They were gone now, that life was gone now.
And it was then that Dakota hugged the man, standing up on his back legs and basically falling ontop of Jared. If Jared was human still that would've hurt and could even be dangerous; now it was just a very heavy, uncomfortable weight laying on him.
"It's not like we have money." Frostbite just said rationally. "We could look around, it is spring now. Humans are known to have winter cabins and we could just find an empty one."
"That's stupid!" Sveil spoke up now. He even barked. "We should stay away from the humans! As far away as we can."
The other three didn't even seem to hear him as they argued about the morals standing on breaking and entering and then sleeping in someone else's bed.
"I do not want to sleep in someone else's bed." Dakota growled at the very idea.
"Well, dog's sleep on the floor actually." Frostbite grinned at him. He could so easily piss the other wolf off who wanted to snap his jaws at him. If Jared wasn't sitting between the two he might have.
"I don't want to get caught." Jared said. He would hate to have to explain that to the authorities. He was the only one here that seemed to think about the legal ramification about this.
"We wouldn't stay long. A single night. Give or take." Frostbite nodded. "It would give time for this tracker to do his job," Frostbite finally said, bringing the other wolf into it with a sly grin.
"H-hey! I am doing just fine. If you slow pokes could keep up with me." Sveil growled, jumping down to join them. Once more he was ignored.
"Well. It would be nice to be able to use a kitchen again. Make us all a warm meal!" Jared thoughts brightened as he said that. This could work out. This. Him. Them. Together like this. He could have his cake and eat it too. A life as a human and a life as a wolf. He didn't have to go one way or the other.
"Great! Then it's decided." Frostbite said, nodding now. He wouldn't mind a bath himself. Dakota still stunk of the sea. "Our tracker shall find us an empty cabin and we can rest for the night there."
"No killing." Jared did speak up on that, forcibly making sure his point was clear.
"I won't even be seen." Sveil bragged, glad they were actually taking his job seriously for a change. Even before he slipped away he mentally kicked himself, Sveil had been so opposed to this very idea! But being brought in like this made him feel like he was doing his job.
"Who was that?" Dakota asked making the other two laugh. Neither were sure if Dakota was making a joke or not.
It wasn't long before Sveil returned and they followed with hopeful thoughts.
"I'll track down a deer for us?" Dakota offered.
"Let's check the fridge first." Frostbite even chuckled. The idea of warmth was a welcome change from the cold, the rain and the muck of nature. Frostbite did not like it when bugs crawled on him.
Jared checked the door and knew it would be locked. The cabin was raised up off the forest floor on a patio deck that stretched out from under the house. There was a nice parking lot with fresh gravel in it. This place was far ritzier than what he and Tess had ever been too. A part of him did feel guilty, looking around for a hide a key. Another felt a bit excited about this. It wasn't like they were hurting anyone anyways. Or damaging property.
Then Dakota busted the front door down. It crashed to the ground and the other three covered their faces with a hand or paw. Each with their ears perked up, listening for any silent alarms or other devices their keen wolf senses might be able to pick up.
Thankfully there wasn't any, this time and they headed inside. Dakota was confused why the others were upset at his direct approach to the problem. "It worked didn't it!"
"Not the point." Frostbite said already heading for the bathroom.
Jared was in the kitchen, looting through the fridge and cabinets. Sveil was nowhere to be seen, not that any of them seemed to mind.
"At least they had this place well stocked!" Jared smiled, even lifting up a metal can full of coco mix. "Make sure all the blinds are closed."
"Already done." Sveil popped up once more, sitting down in the middle of the room.
"Good boy." Dakota mocked, moving to scratch his head. The wolf pulled away and glared at him. "Someone deserves a doggie treat." Dakota just continued to tease.
Sveil was not amused.
"You get used to him." Frostbite said the next second, coming out of the bathroom. Jared wanted to drop the can of coco mix he was still holding at the sight. The wolf had a towel wrapped around the top of his head and around his waist as if he had just gotten out of the shower.
"You know you're only supposed to do that, after the shower." Jared explained.
Frostbite looked at him, then folded his ears back taking off the towel hat he was wearing. "Of course I knew that!" The wolf only growled, stomping back towards the bathroom.
"Sometimes he tries too hard." Jared chuckled. He appreciated that. Frostbite really did try his best to be the most human for Jared's sake, knowing he was more comfortable with it.
Dakota pounded on the door. "Hurry up in there! We need to take one too. So help me if you use all the water."
"Hot water." Jared corrected.
"That too." Dakota nodded, snorting and stomping back over. He clapped his hands together. "What's on the menu tonight, love?" Jared looked up at the pet name.
"Well they do have a pork roast in here." Jared thought that over. This wouldn't last too long. They either forgot about it or bought it recently. It was graying around the edges. Maybe they did forget it, Jared chose to believe. With Dakota and Frostbite around he knew they'd hear a car pulling in a mile away.
Jared was already pulling the seasonings down out of the spice rack and applying the rub to the meat. He stopped himself. Touching the raw meat with his bare hand made a shiver run up it, almost like electricity as if it shocked him. And suddenly he was hungry. Starving.
Jared shook his head several times, cleaning his hand off with cold water and splashing his face several times. "Shit." He cursed, trying to relax. His eyes were glowing with an unnatural amber tint and he was breathing heavier now, able to smell the raw meat sitting nearby.
Dakota watched him carefully, ready to intervene if necessary. He knew he wouldn't have too.
"Just been a while since I last had a real meal, is all." Jared chuckled more to himself as he went back to preparing their dinner. He was breathing heavily, sweating and his eyes were still glowing softly. Until he put the roast into the oven he wasn't able to think clearly. With the bleeding slab of raw meat sitting right there in front of him...
"Shower time." Dakota just said clapping his hands loudly. The wolf didn't wait for Jared to protest as he picked him up and marched him right into the bathroom.
Dakota skillfully took Jared's sweater off, undoing and sliding his pants down in his form that was a mix between a man and a wolf. His werewolf form was far more capable of these things and he only tolerated being human in public for Jared's sake.
"Dakota..." Jared closed his eyes as he was helped into the tub. He could feel the other man's heartbeat pounding in that furry chest. He wanting to sink his face against it, to listen to only him and push these thoughts away once more.
And so he did. He hugged Dakota tightly as the wolf turned the water on, not caring that it was too hot at first then too cold. He just hugged the wolf tightly with his face buried in his fur. It still smelled of the sea but his strong musk was comforting. It soothed the savage creature inside and reminded it who was in charge here.
Dakota didn't mind one bit as he soaped up the two of them with a random bottle from the side and tossed it away the next second. He worked on his mates hair and side burns, down his hairy arms and over his chest. Under his arms and around his back, down to grope his ass and then lifted him up; holding him with one arm and soaping up his legs with the other.
Jared wrapped his arms around Dakota's strong neck. The other male easily bore his weight as he set him back down and used the spray to hose him down. Petting over the side of his face and nosing him as he did so.
"You ok?" Dakota breathed against his face, letting his mate breathe his breath.
"Yeah." Jared said, trying not to shake. "I just... I let my guard down, I guess?" He chuckled, finally opening his eyes and looking at the red fur wolf standing before him. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Dakota chuckled lightly, bringing his chin up to look in his face. "You never have to apologize to me." The wolf smile softly, licking his cheek then.
"That doesn't sound very... healthy, you know." Jared laughed a bit and nosed Dakota's other cheek. He even let those coarse whiskers rub against his cheek a couple of times before he pulled back.
Dakota only smiled at that. "Only this?"
"Ok, everything. None of this is healthy." Jared laughed, telling the truth though. He was honest with Dakota more than he had ever been with anyone, save maybe his twin sister. It was weird. Having someone you could just be yourself with, no matter what and know they would always be there.
"That's my boy." Dakota grin widely, kissing his nose before letting go. The wolf through his arms open and knocked the curtain clean off the rack. "Now then, clean me baby!"
"I'm not using my tongue." Jared laughed, grabbing another bottle and squirting everything he could onto Dakota's chest.
"Not this time, maybe." Dakota only teased, turning around and wiggling his ass at him. "Every nook and cranny now. I'm a dirty dog."
It took far longer to clean the fully furred out wolf. Dakota's red fur was thicker than it looked with an under layer that hadn't been shed away yet from winter. It took Jared to rub, kneed and wash every inch of the wolf. From his pointed ears, down his long muzzle to his muscular chest and over his arms and down his legs. Even between his toes. Jared was thorough and by the time they were done the water was ice cold.
They turned it off, laughing a bit as they tried to put the curtain back on.
The timer went off in the kitchen and Jared, not even putting anything on, went out to check on it. Things went far smoother from here on out. Frostbite even helped a bit, bringing out a few cans of corn they could use as a side dish.
Sveil didn't get any of it and kept to himself, preferring to hunt his own game outside than eat this human food. Still he watched as Jared dished out the portions for the three and they sat around in the living room on the floor to enjoy their meal.
"There's some left over if you." Jared offered not about to force their new companion to eat something he wasn't comfortable with.
Dakota had found the spare closet and ripped nearly every pillow, blanket and rug out of it. He used everything to create a makeshift bed for them right there in the living room. It seemed foolish to be so open but none of them seemed to care.
Their spirits were lifted with the warm food, hot coco and fresh shower.
Jared even got a semi-hair cut from Frostbite.
"How do you do that?" He had to ask, watching as the silver fur wolf shifted from wolf to werewolf form with such ease. It wasn't this that bugged him, it was the fact Frostbite could elongate one clawed finger nail and use it like a knife to cut his long hair much shorter.
"Practice, pup." Frostbite just growled in his ear. It made him shiver. Those fangs were close enough to rip his head off; yet, he felt no fear of his dear friend. Maybe he was getting too comfortable with this. "A lot of time. A lot of discipline and," Frostbite snipped his bangs down to something more masculine. "Care. Unlike you, pup. I chose wolf over human a long time ago."
Jared paused at that. He knew Frostbite had done just that. Whoever the wolf had been before the change? He had discarded, abandoned and fed to his wolf to become a new person all together. The Frostbite before him now was whole. Complete. Because of that choice; but he could never be the man he had been before all this.
And that was why it worried Jared so.
"I don't want to forget her." Jared spoke softly. Dakota was still setting up their bed for the night. The wolf insisted the two needed a 'den' to sleep in and was more fussy about this than anything Jared had seen before. "I can't just... accept this."
"I never said too." Frostbite replied simply. The wolf did want to tell him just how easier his life would be. How much better he would feel about himself, all of this. If he just accepted it, gave in as he had. "It's your choice above all else. Won't mean shit if someone else forces it on you." Frostbite, if only for a second, sounded spiritual on the matter.
After all, Frostbite respected Jared's choice. It was his, the human inside that cage with him all those months ago. The man that had pulled him back from the brink of self-destruction. If Jared did give in, become someone he wasn't now? Frostbite had to wonder, if he would still follow him.
"There." Frostbite took a seat, reverting back to wolf in a second. The pounds just shed away with clumps of fur, hands becoming paws once more and the large wolf was there before him. Frostbite made it look easy, he hid the pain it caused to shift forms so well Jared thought he didn't even feel it anymore. "Maybe now you'll blend in a bit better."
"Thanks." Jared hugged him, and Frostbite looked away disgruntled by the touchy humans affection. Jared wasn't just thinking him for the haircut, but for everything. If he had been stuck with just Dakota, he was sure the human he had been would be far gone by now leaving only something twisted, animal - a shadow of who had had once been behind. "You're furs so soft."
Frostbite ears splayed out at that and he tried not to flush as the wolf, in human form, scratched along his neck.
"It's ready!" Dakota boasted loudly from the other room.
Frostbite frowned as he pulled back. The wolf took a second. Hesitated then moved forward to bump his nose with his own much larger one, licking the side of his face and pulling back.
No one else saw, Frostbite would never had done something if anyone else was here. He glad he did as Jared just gave his head a loving pat and headed into the other room.
Frostbite watched him go, he'd follow soon. The wolf wanted to be left alone with his thoughts. Would Jared still be his friend if he knew of all the horrible things he had done in his past? His betrayal. Selling out his own to delay the torture he had to endure. He knew, that part, Jared already had. It was what Frostbite had done before that, that worried the silver fur wolf as he got up to follow.
Jared had thrown a pillow at Dakota's face and the red fur wolf was glad to take on the challenge, grabbing two himself and tackling the other man. Watching him here, like this. So happy and carefree, unaware of what was too come. What that monster he was playing with had done in his past.
If Jared knew who they truly were, would he still be able to give that smile to them?
They were marching towards a Hunters stronghold, he was sure. Yet, it was this question that he was afraid of.
The three of them gathered in one of the corners of the living room, bundled up together amongst the sheets, blankets and pillow Dakota had set up for them. The red fur wolf slept behind Jared, snoring loudly as he entwined his canine body with that of his lover in human form. Frostbite slept in front of Jared, a little out of reach but nosed at the hand Jared rested on top of the silver fur wolf's muzzle.
Sveil curled up in the opposite corner, watching them. Watching the whole living room from his vantage point and kept his ears sharp for the sound of anything other than the crickets outside, and a single crow landing on a branch outside.
It was peaceful here, Jared stretched. He hugged the large paw wrapped around him, resting on his chest from Dakota from behind.
Jared reached out in the dark room, trying to find that soft silver fur of his friend. His hand came up empty and he sat up at that.
The human formed wolf rubbed one eye and looked around. His night vision wasn't as good as those in wolf form but he could see far better than any normal human could. Still, he found no sign or trace of the silver wolf.
Sveil was in the corner, snoozing at this point. The younger wolf working too hard to act tough; all bark and no bite as it were.
Jared quietly got up, having to peel Dakota's arm off his chest. He wasn't sure how the wolf had tangled their legs together. The other wolf had even tied a knot in one of the blanket, placing it over him like a sleeping bag. That made him laugh.
No sound came out.
Jared held his throat, wide eyed as he got up slowly. He tried to speak again. Nothing came out. His lips opened, tongue moved, throat contracted as his vocal cords worked and yet nothing. Not a peep. No squeak, or wheeze or growl.
He was breathing still. Nothing hurt as he looked around himself and around the room quickly, his sensing waking up to 'listen' to the world around him.
It scared him. He heard nothing. He felt nothing. It was cold here, that's all he knew.
He tried to wake Dakota up but despite his efforts, even clawing at his arm, the wolf didn't stir. In fact he wasn't moving. Or breathing and Jared began to hyperventilate. It didn't make a sound.
Jared moved down the hall, calling for Frostbite. The silver fur wolf would know what was going on. He always seemed to know. He trusted him. Over their months together, Frostbite had become his best friend.
Jared made his way into the bathroom, turning the lights on and stared at himself in the mirror. He yelped, startled that there was no human looking back at him but that of a wolf. A brown fur wolf with beady amber eyes that burned as they stared at him.
"Fear." It spoke. The voice boomed in the empty silence that had set. "Are you afraid, boy?" It asked, staring at him.
Jared only glared back at the reflection of his wolf self. He flipped it off. And it laughed at that.
"Humans have such arrogance. Believing they are the ones on top of the food chain." It bared it's fangs, rising up high. "Weak. Pathetic. Cattle." It snarled each word, beginning to growl. It shook the very mirror.
Then it lashed out, a clawed paw striking the mirror. The glass broke.
"Let me out! Let me out and I'll show you fear!" It cackled striking the mirror again, breaking it once more. Again and again as Jared ran out of the bathroom.
His ankles met a cold mist on the floor, it covered the hallway. It was cold, freezing and his toes were going numb as he looked down. And he saw someone, something at the end of the hallway lurch over and staring at him. In the inky blackness of night, he couldn't make out more than it's humanoid silhouette.
"Frostbite!" Jared finally found his voice, shouting in the silence. It seemed to shake this very world. He was relieved, relieved to see his dear friend. Worried something had happened to him. And when he took a step forward, that voice from the bathroom snarled a warning.
"Let me out!" The wolf shouted, still cackling madly.
Jared froze. Every hair on the back of his neck stood up as that humanoid before him lifted its crooked head.
And it spoke. A voice that made the very blood in Jared's veins grow cold.
"Once. There was a crooked man." It smirked, taking a step forward with a leg too long for such a body. It's torso twisted with the motion, one arm reaching out in a zig zag pattern to hold the wall. "Who walked a crooked mile." And it took another, far too long, step with it's other leg.
Jared back away, breathing heavily. He couldn't feel it.
"He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile." And it seemed to bend over to pick something off the floor; it's very body twisting like a screw, one leg reaching up and over its torso to take another step as the contortionist drew ever closer. It's head nearly touched the floor as it pulled itself right back up.
Jared couldn't feel it. The senses around him. The smell of the wild, the sound of the ocean far to the West of them. He couldn't smell the other canines. In this place, right now, he was human once again and with it all the limitations that brought with him.
"Let me out!" The brown fur wolf howled now as this thing fell to all fours, and like a spider, rushed at him.
Jared had enough time to retreat back to the living room before one elongated black clothed hand snatched his neck like a fly out of the air, lifting him off the ground. Jared couldn't breathe as it begun to crushed his wind pipe.
"He bought a crooked cat," this thing before him spoke. It didn't have a face. Instead its head was a mask. A blank white straw mask that looked like something you'd put on a scarecrow. The fabric began to unstring itself, not rip, as a mouth formed. "Which caught a crooked mouse." It's breath was foul like bile mixed with rotting meat. "And they all. Lived. Together. In a little. Crooked. House." And its mouth opened wider and wider as it brought Jared ever closer.
A howl ripped through the whole house. The mist grew around them, swirling ever faster. This crooked man black suit began to freeze. The corners of it turning to ice as that howl continued, rising ever higher as the mist swirled around them in a vortex. Shards of ice began to form, like hail, battering the two.
A massive chunk smacked right into the side of the scarecrows head and ripped a hole in the fabric; it's neck snapping backwards with a sickening sound. Yet, it still moved. Another shard of ice, more like an icicles, skewered it's arm and the force made it drop Jared to the ground.
"No!" Another voice howled like a banshee as the torrent of icy mist continued to assault the scarecrow. "You won't have him! It's too late!" And with a hand Jared was pushed right into the ground.
The floor boards vanished and he fell. Fell into an inky well of black as that other voice laughed.
"Jared!" Frostbite called out for him.
Yet, he didn't hear the silver fur wolf. Only that of the other wolf.
"Let me out." It growled in this darkness. "And I'll save us."