Nightclaw: Blood Moon Apex

Chapter 32: Those Who Go Before Us

Around midday, the heroes were already on the road towards the ritual site, with Valeria as their guide. She, Lily, and Theo took her pickup truck, Esther had agreed to take Dave's keys from Carla and drive the Rosenbloods' rental car, and Brian and Carla took Brian's rental car, for a total of three vehicles.

Esther had loaded the Rosenblood rental car with some pieces of lab equipment, while Lily and Theo took some blood bags with them to curb their thirst, placing them in a separate case near the food that Valeria had cooked for everyone.

Finally, each of the three vehicles also had its own walkie-talkie courtesy of Esther, which allowed everyone inside each vehicle to keep contact with each other.

"Bit of a coincidence you happened to design a ghost catcher at the exact moment we needed one....." Carla lampshaded while giving Brian an aside glance. "You sure you weren't spying on me or something? 'Cause that'd be weird."

"Hmmm? Oh, no, it's not like that at all. It actually had to do with our first adventure."

"Our first adventure?"

"Yeah, I kept worrying that the spirits of Dwayne Vargas and his hunting crew would come back to haunt us and the Order, so I started designing that baby. .....Plus, I've become a Ghostbusters fan lately."

Carla just stared at him as he continued following the procession of vehicles. ".....Riiiiiight....." she snarked. "So, wait.....what happens if that thing gets destroyed?"

"It destabilizes, collapses in on itself, releases everything it's contained, and explodes violently, causing serious injuries or death to everyone in its immediate vicinity."

".....Ahh.....yeah, let's try to avoid that," Carla said with a nervous chuckle before switching the topic to something else. "So, umm.....how are things back in Los Angeles?"

"Yeah, uhh.....it's probably best you don't go back there anymore, anyway....." Brian answered with heavy hesitation.

"What?! What's happening there?!"

"The city's in an uproar. They're wondering where their protector, 'Nightclaw', has disappeared to."

Carla gasped. "What?! Oh, no.....!"

"Hey, relax. Even though you're this ultra-powerful, nigh-unstoppable werewolf superheroine who's also a member of the Paragons, you're still a person first and foremost. Someone with a family and loved ones to spend time with. Someone who has her own life—something she should prioritize above anything else, in my opinion—and someone who is currently going through a lot and needs some time for herself. That's what the other people often forget: famous people are still people."

"I guess. It's hard, you know? I feel like I have everyone's safety on my shoulders."

"Hey, you signed up to be a Paragon, so you're in for it," Brian confessed bluntly. "And look.....we're about to fight a threat to humanity itself.....without the Paragons' help! Usually, we'd be calling in your friends right about now!"

It was at that moment that Carla thought of something. "Brian.....you remember The Viper, don't you?"

"Pffft. Yeah. Who doesn't?" he said. "She, Dr. Duncan Drevis, The Crawler, and Voltara are still protecting Mercury Heights even now, waiting for the day when the Paragons will be called on once again."

"I'm still a fan of her, don't get me wrong.....but, like....."

"I think I know what you're going to say."