Hudsonville: Tales of the Hunted

Chapter 18: The Hunt

Cici and Drew stood back to back amidst both towering pines and wet ground, blood dribbling down their faces. The swirling mists clung to the gnarled roots and mossy boulders like plastic wrap to a rotisserie chicken—a film that blanketed the night landscape and added to its weighty atmosphere. Nearby, Tanya lie barely moving on the ground, beaten to a pulp. She'd fought long and hard against their pursuers, doing everything in her power to protect her people...but even the prestigious Rangers had their limits.

Circling them like hungry wolves, a small group of knights, their spears at the ready, pointed like jagged teeth. Cici's antennae twitched nervously as she scanned her predicament, compound eye jumping between the glinting armors of the various men who closed in on them.

The moonlight taunted Drew, the man stuck in a limbo between man and beast, his inhibitor still ever-diligent in its quest to mask his abilities. It was much unlike the situation of his superior, Elder Davis, who had now undergone a grisly transformation of his own—quite a professional one too. He hadn't even flinched during his fight with the witchdoctor, as he was being engulfed in fur. Davis was no longer—the Butcher had taken his place.

Talia and Butcher had been locked in a fierce battle since they first laid eyes on each other. Talia moved with a natural grace, her robes billowing around her like dark wings. Her sickle chain whipped through the air, crackling, raindrops springing off its tightened steel. Butcher countered each strike with his massive fists, striking the blades on their broad sides, redirecting their flow.

Butcher lunged forward with startling speed, ripping up the ground with his giant claws. His massive furry form was a blur as he closed the distance to Talia. She barely managed to dodge his claws, the razor-sharp talons slicing through her robes. Talia retaliated by whipping her chain around Butcher's' arm, the sickle blade biting deep into his flesh. The Werewolf roared in pain, though the opportunity presented itself—he pulled the chain to yank Talia off balance, pulling her towards him.

As the two continued their deadly dance, Cici and Drew stayed stuck, surrounded by the knights. Drew's eyes darted between their attackers, looking for any sort of opening, any sort of chance to spring a counter of his own.

"Any bright ideas?" Cici whispered.

"Working on it," Drew muttered back. He flexed his fingers, feeling the inhibitor's effects warring with the pull of the full moon. If only he could push past it...

No matter—a bone-chilling howl suddenly pierced the night air. Everyone froze, their heads swiveling toward the sound. Even Talia and Davis paused their battle, the two in a deadlock, quite literally at each other's throats.

A massive shape suddenly burst through the tree line, the earth seeming to quake under its every step. As the creature emerged fully into the clearing, Cici gasped in recognition—though transformed, there was no mistaking that goofy haircut. It was Andy, but...well...not.

The massive beast bounded into the clearing, eyes wild and teeth bared. The knights scattered in panic, their formation breaking and going on the defensive. Andy paid them no mind—his gaze was locked solely on Butcher. With a guttural roar, Andy charged straight for the Elder, teeth bared.

Butcher barely had time to shove Talia aside before Andy slammed into him with the force of a freight train—the two massive beasts went tumbling across the forest floor in a tangle of fur, claws and gnashing teeth.

Cici cried out for Andy to stop, but her pleas fell on deaf, pinned-back ears. Though she attempted to reach out, Drew very quickly restrained her.

"No, goddamn it, he can't hear you right now!"

The knights had regrouped, forming a loose circle around the warring beasts, spears wavering with uncertainty, the men deciding whether or not they should intervene. Talia pushed herself to her feet, clutching her side. Her eyes darted between Andy and Butcher, then to Drew and Cici as the two were slowly backing away.