Night Creature Page 5

  Shaking, I felt sick. I hung on the wall weakly, not caring in that moment who saw me or what happened to me next.

  But slowly the sound from the lighted window drifted down like sparkles in the air, soothing me. It wasn’t like anything I’d heard before, but it called to me, filled me with longing. It was sweet and zingy and raw and thumping. Another long-forgotten word came into my head: music.

  I breathed in and my nose filled with the distant smells of my swamp along with the exciting new scents I wanted to explore.

  I shook myself, feeling my smooth pelt ripple. That monster couldn’t be me! I wasn’t evil! It must have been some trick of the material these Legwalkers used that made my reflection look so horrible.

  I began to climb again, inch by inch. The lighted window was almost in reach. I pulled myself up very slowly and carefully and peeked in.

  And almost lost my grip again! The Leg-walker inside was the same young one that shot the arrow at me.

  Cautiously I raised my head and looked again. Like a rush of tumbling water, my heart beat with strange feelings.

  The Legwalker was sitting on a long soft-looking thing, his feet dangling over the edge. One foot bounced in rhythm with the sounds that had drawn me to him. The sounds were coming from a small brown box that sat on a flat structure with wooden legs.

  The room was filled with warm light.

  The magical sounds of the thing called music came to an end and a tinny-sounding voice—the same one that called to me at the edge of the swamp—began to speak.

  “That was a blast from the past, folks—Aerosmith! And now for something a little more contemporary.”

  Again the musical sounds began and the Legwalker nodded his head to the beat and tapped his feet, too.

  He was eating something sweet-smelling that instantly made my fangs drip with saliva. And he was turning the pages of a flimsy-looking thing filled with colorful pictures of monsters! Although the creatures in the pictures weren’t as hideous as the night creatures, they were pretty scary. But the boy seemed to enjoy looking at them.

  The den-room itself was breathtaking. There were shiny things everywhere. My fingers itched to touch them. Everything was so colorful and new and clean.

  I wanted to be part of this wonderful place.

  The Legwalker could be my friend. Maybe his light and his special magic noise box had drawn me here for a reason.

  It looked so warm and safe in there. Maybe the Legwalker would be like my wolfbrother Sharpfang, who shared with me and was almost always ready to play.

  What was the name the other Legwalker in the woods had called him? Paul, that was it!

  Eagerly, I reached up a claw to scratch on the square and get Paul’s attention.

  Chapter 27

  But just as my claws touched the glass, a section of the Legwalker’s den-room opened.

  Another young Legwalker came in—a young female. She seemed to be almost the same age as the one called Paul, only she had long brown hair swinging down to her shoulders.

  She said something to Paul and he reached out and touched the sound box. “Okay, Kim, I’ll turn it down,” he said. Instantly the lovely sounds got quieter.

  I didn’t like that. But when she smiled, she had such a friendly look about her.

  Kim spoke to Paul again and he laughed. They looked so happy together it made my heart ache with warmth.

  The female Legwalker wrinkled her nose and made a face when she saw the monster pictures Paul was looking at.

  She turned away and started moving around the room, touching things while she talked to Paul. He tensed a little and his eyes kept watching her hands as if he didn’t like her handling his things.

  Kim had a little smile on her face as she picked the shiny objects up and put them down. It was like she knew what Paul was feeling and was doing it on purpose.

  That reminded me of times I played with Sharpfang’s tail, even though I knew he hated it. I would keep it up while he flicked faster and faster and finally whipped around and snapped at me. It was the funniest thing.

  Grinning now, I pulled myself up a little farther so I could see better.

  She tossed the hair back from her face. Before I could duck she was staring right at me.

  Her eyes widened.

  I smiled to show how friendly I was.

  Her hands flew up.

  She stumbled backward and screamed in terror.

  Chapter 28

  Startled, I lost my hold. My claws scraped at the wall but couldn’t grip. I scrabbled at air all the way down.

  With that bloodcurling scream echoing in my ears, I hardly felt it when I hit the ground, twisting my leg under me.

  The yapping and barking started in a frenzy. It seemed every animal for miles around was howling for my blood.

  I lurched to my feet. Limping, I fled into the woods.

  The pain in my leg hardly slowed me down at all. I ran like the wind. I ran faster than any of those puny Legwalkers’ animals could go. But it didn’t make me feel any better.

  I ran until I couldn’t hear the barking and yowling anymore. But I would always hear that scream. It echoed over and over in my brain. That terrified face was burned into my eyes forever.

  What had I been thinking? As if a pretty Leg-walker like that would ever be friends with me! I was a monster. The face I’d seen reflected in the dark window was real … and it was my face.

  No wonder she had screamed in horror.

  I would, too, if I could scream. But all I could do was howl. “Arooooooooh!” I threw back my head and felt the moonlight seek me out. I let out a long, mournful howl that froze the hearts of creatures for miles around.

  I was back in the dark swamp where I belonged. My nostrils filled with the smell of mud and scummy water and rotting things. I would never get to be inside that warm, light-filled room.

  Head hanging, I wandered through the swamp. I didn’t want to run anymore. Running only reminded me of what I was.

  But how had I become a monster? Why?

  It must be the reason I was left here in the swamp so long ago. But why had I never changed before? What had I done to make this happen now?

  I pushed on deeper into the swamp. What would happen to me? I wished I could sit down and cry, but the monster had no tears.

  Walking slowly, not paying attention, I forgot all about the night creatures.

  That was a big mistake.

  I felt a hot breath on my shoulder.

  It stank of evil.

  Instantly, every nerve came alive. I leaped into the air just as a razor-sharp claw raked my shoulder.

  My shoulder burned. In midair I twisted, kicking out with my long, clawed feet.

  “Ooomph!” I heard as I bolted out of there.

  Behind me the creature spat and cursed. “I almost had him!” it fumed. “I was this close.”

  I ran to a small muddy pool and plunged in. It smelled of snakes and slime. The scratch on my shoulder hissed and bubbled with steam. Shivering, I crouched until the icy water was up to my neck.

  The werewolf called Ripper wasn’t far behind.

  “Oh, little one,” he crooned in a false-friendly howl. “Come out wherever you are, little Grrufff! You can’t hide what you are, not from us you can’t.”

  It came nearer and I sank deeper, until only my nose poked out of the murky water.

  The werewolf eyes glowed red in the darkness. It bent down and spoke close to the surface of the water, right beside my ear.

  “We won’t let you go this time, little one. You are one of us now!”

  Chapter 29

  The night creature called Ripper circled the pool, stalking me. It whispered and chuckled but in the end stamped its foot in frustration. It couldn’t find me.

  Other werewolves joined him. They flitted down from the trees like bats or appeared out of the shadows like nightmares.

  But this was no dream.

  “Have you got him?” they hissed among themselves. “Is
he here?”

  “No, I didn’t get him,” growled Ripper, grinding and gnashing his fangs. “He must have slipped into one of these scummy puddles. I can’t smell him anywhere, can you?”

  I heard a night creature shudder. “Why would he want to do that? It’s so cold and—and—wet!”

  “I say we forget about him,” snapped another creature. “We’ve got plenty of time to take care of that little fool. Right now my hunger is gnawing strong. We need to hunt!”

  There was a lot of growling and hissing of approval. But still the werewolves didn’t move away.

  “Let’s go to the new town,” one of them snarled, smacking its lips, which were already crusted with rabbit blood. “Lots of humans to choose from there.”

  “This time let’s take a child!” another suggested. Its eyes glowed like burning blood. “They’ll never know who did it. Wouldn’t believe it if they saw us.” The creature cackled wildly. “And we know who will get the blame, don’t we?”

  Laughing and howling and slobbering, they started to move away, toward the place of lights. One paused and looked back over its shoulder, right into my eyes.

  “Come along, Gruff!” it shrieked, showing sharp dripping fangs. “You can have the first bite!”

  Chapter 30

  As their cackling and snickering faded, I leaped from the small pool and followed. I couldn’t let them harm the Legwalkers, especially the ones called Paul and Kim.

  I ran, shuddering at the sound of their voices rummaging around inside my head. It was as if I were connected to them by an unbreakable thread. I could feel their evil thirst for blood.

  There were so many of them and only one of me. If they got me, they’d make me a monster forever—but I had to follow. I had to stop them.

  They drew closer to the town. I could sense them becoming more excited. They were biting each other and snarling as they fought over who would choose a victim.

  Soon I was back in the place of twinkling lights, among the rows of Legwalker dens.

  Ahead of me were the monsters.

  Werewolves, their fangs dripping with anticipation, looked in through an open window at a small, sleeping Legwalker cub.

  “That’s the one,” they hissed. “Get it!”

  Suddenly one of them reached in with a long, hairy arm and snatched up the tiny Legwalker.

  Crouching by the side of the house, the werewolf opened its great gaping jaws. Its yellow teeth glistened in the moonlight.

  My stomach lurched and vomit rose into my throat. The little cub was doomed.

  “Nooooooooo!” I screamed.

  Chapter 31

  I let out a great, furious howl and in one tremendous leap, cleared the whole pack of night creatures and thundered after the one with the cub.

  My howl was fierce. It filled the night sky and put fear in the hearts of Legwalkers all over town. As I’d hoped, their sniffing animals set up a desperate clamor and soon the streets were filled with Legwalkers and barking, frenzied animals.

  At the first bang of a Legwalker den opening, the werewolves behind me vanished. Somehow they just melted away into the darkness.

  All except the one clutching the screaming cub. I was hot on its heels. But the blackness of the swamp was close. I knew that once the night creature reached the trees, I would never catch it. It was too skilled.

  Putting on a burst of speed, I gained on the monster. My breath heaved hot in my lungs. I couldn’t keep it up much longer. My throat burned and my legs ached with exhaustion.

  The clamor of frenzied animals behind me grew louder. For the first time I felt a pang of fear as I pictured what would happen to me if they caught me.

  A nasty thought popped into my mind. Hunger. I hadn’t had anything to eat. Fresh meat, just a little, would make me stronger. Strong enough to escape the Legwalkers’ animals.

  I spat the thought from my mind. It was an alien, creeping, filthy thing put there by the desperate night creature I was chasing.

  As I ran harder, I heard it snarl in fury. The trees loomed closer.

  The werewolf lunged into the swamp. In my head I heard its silent howl of triumph.

  I’d never find it now.

  The Legwalker cub’s cries weakened.

  Chapter 32

  The cub’s cries! I felt a new surge of energy as I followed that faint trail of sound.

  Breath rasping in my throat, I caught a glimpse of the werewolf as a beam of moonlight glinted on its scraggly fur. Taking a deep breath, I leaped into the air, aiming to come down on its back.

  I missed. But not by much. Desperately I swiped at it and my claws raked the length of its back. The night creature screamed in fury and turned to face me, its long teeth bared in a snarl.

  As it lunged at me, I sank my teeth into the arm that was holding the cub. With a hideous howl, the night creature dropped the cub. The werewolf’s eyes burned with mindless vengeance as it turned to face me.

  I felt its thoughts. First it would tear out my throat, then it would feast alone on the cub.

  As it faced me it seemed to swell. I hadn’t realized how much bigger than me it was. And I had been running so long. I was so tired.

  “Now you die!” it screamed.

  The creature reached for me with claws extended. As its claws sank into my shoulder I lowered my head and butted it as hard as I could in the stomach. Flesh tore from my shoulder as it fell.

  Instantly it sprang to its feet, eyes blazing. A snarl started deep in its throat as it crouched to spring.

  Then, without warning, it turned and disappeared into the swamp.

  For a moment I just stood there, panting and bewildered. I hadn’t butted it that hard. It could have torn me apart in a second. Then why didn’t it?

  Suddenly I jumped to my feet. The Legwalkers’ animals! They were almost upon me. That was why the werewolf had run off.

  Quickly I leaped into a tree. But then I became aware of the Legwalker cub crying nearby. It was half covered with dead leaves. I glanced toward the pack of crazed animals. They were already in among the trees.

  Fixed as they were on hunting me, they might not see the Legwalker cub.

  Gritting my teeth in fear, I dropped back to the ground. One of the animals caught my scent and started barking with excitement. I snatched up the Legwalker cub as the dog leaped for me.

  Its jaws snapped on air as I sprang back into the tree. The other Legwalker dogs gathered in a snarling pack below, throwing themselves uselessly into the air.

  What could I do? I couldn’t take the cub with me and I couldn’t stay where I was. Legwalker voices grew louder every second I waited, agonizing. Finally I laid the cub down in a forked branch and swung into another tree.

  “There’s the baby!” a Legwalker cried. “It’s alive!”

  While the Legwalkers were busy rescuing their cub, I swung into another tree and then, dropping to the ground, easily outdistanced them.

  I ran until I could no longer hear the Leg-walkers or their frenzied animals. When I reached my old pool I slipped in, and for once the cold water felt good. The water hissed into steam as it touched the heat of my body.

  Sinking slowly, I felt like I was lowering myself right into the swamp. I was a part of the swamp and it felt good. Creeping among the cypress roots, I let the cold water ease the tension from my muscles.

  Soon it would be dawn and I would be myself again.

  But one thought kept repeating in my mind. Sneering, one of the night creatures had said, just before they set off for the town, “You know who will get the blame.”

  Who did they mean? Me?

  I told myself it didn’t matter what they meant. In the morning I wouldn’t be a monster anymore. The Legwalkers would never find me.

  At last I fell asleep.

  Chapter 33

  I woke to the sweetest sound—Wolfmother howling for me, her lost cub.

  The moon had set. It was just before dawn. I ached, and the nightmare of being a monster forever stuck to
me like a bitter taste in the mouth.

  The water was too dark to see through and my skin was too numb to feel. Was I still a monster?

  My heart in my throat, I hauled myself out of the frigid water. And collapsed in relief. I had made it through the three nights of the wereing and I was Gruff again.

  After a few minutes I was shivering so hard, I thought my bones would break. But I didn’t care. It was all over now.

  “Aroo-oo-ooh!”

  I howled for joy and to let Wolfmother know I’d be along soon and then started scrounging for something to eat.

  I was starved. But I barely had time to dig up a few roots and settle down with a twig next to a busy ant hole when I heard Wolfmother bounding toward me, giving soft calls.

  I called back and stuffed a couple more fingerfuls of crunchy ants into my mouth before I set off to meet her.

  Wolfmother found me in a clearing and licked my face in joy. I could tell she’d been frantic, worried that I’d never return.

  “I’m okay!” I growled, nuzzling her warm fur. “I’m little Gruff again. Let’s go home!”

  With Wolfmother leading, the trip back to the den was quick. Wolfmother went on ahead, her tail wagging in anticipation of having all her family together again.

  I had just started after her, when a sharp CRACK! stopped me in my tracks.

  The noise exploded in my brain.

  I had never heard such a thing before, but I knew instantly it was dangerous. Nothing ordinary could make such a shattering noise.

  CRACK!

  Deafened for an instant, I stood paralyzed with fear.

  I knew in my bones that the noise meant death was coming—for someone.

  Chapter 34

  I was running for the safety of the wolf den when suddenly—CRACK!—leaves exploded off a tree above me. My head swam.

  CRACK!

  Animals fled in panic from the noise. As it died away the swamp was deathly quiet.

  But into the silence came the excited shouts of Legwalkers.

  Legwalkers!

  I wanted to flee into the quiet of the deep swamp. But I couldn’t run.