Werehuman

Shattered Doors

I didn't care that the backpack was biting into my shoulders; it was good to be heading home. Casey loped beside me as we passed the creek and into my former territory. It was noon when we stopped at the highway. I was unsure that crossing as wolves would be wise and so whined to Casey who paused. Unable to tell her what I wanted, I shook my fur from my head to my tail, hoping she understood. She nodded and took a couple steps backward into the forest before changing.

"We're not far, are we?" she asked before helping me with the backpack.

I barked, and then changed into my human form. I didn't normally bounce between human and wolf so much; my joints felt achy and overused.

"A couple of minutes," I offered, dressing into appropriate human clothes. "Their driveway starts on the other side of the highway."

Casey pulled out her own clothes from the backpack and dressed. I zipped the bag up and slung it over my shoulder. The highway was quiet and we crossed with ease. Casey sniffed once, her eyes going yellow like mine did.

"This place smells like wolf," she said. "And not you. Let's be careful."

"Perhaps it's Katie?" I offered, almost afraid to smell for myself.

"Not unless Katie is an alpha male, Conor."

I could feel the blood drain from my face and I broke out into a run, not caring if it was safe or not. I would rip them all to pieces if something happened to Ralph and Mel. I could hear Casey calling after me, telling me to slow down and be careful, but I didn't care.

The farm looked unmolested. The truck was parked next to the house and our repairs to the chicken coop were holding. It was too quiet, I thought. Even the guineas seemed subdued.

"Conor!" Casey hissed, running up behind me. She slugged me in the arm. "Next time I ask you to slow down, I'm not actually asking, got it? I am responsible for both you and me, and I don't feel like dying today."

"I'm sorry," I managed. "I'm scared."

"I know. Being frantic never saved anyone. What's done is done. Let's find out together what happened here."

I nodded and followed Casey around the house. Splinters littered the yard. The back door was torn off its hinges and while I wanted to race inside, Casey kept a tight grip on my arm. We walked cautiously up to the doorway and I peered inside.

The barrel of a shotgun caught me in my chest, and I froze, putting my hands in the air. Casey took one step behind me, letting go of my arm.

"Ralph?" I managed.

"Conor!"

Mel lowered the shotgun and wrapped me in a hug. Ralph joined us, clapping me on the back.

"Katie told us what happened," he said. "How'd you get away?"

"He didn't," Casey remarked, making both of them jump. "I came along. I am Casey."

"This is Ralph and Mel," I said. "Did Katie stay?"

Mel turned on the kitchen light and I could tell that the fight had not been limited to the back porch. The couches both had long gashes in the cushions. The coffee table had been broken in half. Ralph had several scratches on his arms and face and Mel had bruising on her neck. We sat down at the kitchen table, gouges marring the tabletop. Casey took in the damage, looking around at what we could see of the house.

"They took her," Mel said, her voice catching. "That...pack came back for Katie and they took her. They took Katie and Susie Lynn."

"What?" I growled, rising from my chair.