Wolfblood

Chapter One

Maddy runs downstairs, already dressed in her school uniform and fixes up her hoodie as she strolls through the lounge. She playfully jumps off the step into the living room and opens a door, leading down to the basement. She casually walks down each step and takes a key off a hook on the wall once she reaches the bottom. She moves to the large metal door, unlocking it with the key and sliding it open as she walks into the cellar. 

The cellar is quite large with sofas, lamps, bookshelves and dog bowls. The large support beams had claw marks up and down them. Maddy stumbles across to her mum and dad, both waking up from the ground.

Her dad yawns, "I think that chicken was off." Her dad complains as he lays his hand on his stomach.

"I can't believe you two - breaking out and raiding the bins!" Maddy told them as her mum stands up. Maddy looks down, only to see her school shoe with holes in it. "Awh, mam!" She groans, picking it up and looking over to her mum.

"You're always saying how we have to stay hidden from humans and never give into our wolf self," Maddy rants as they all leave the cellar, "And the moment you get a chance - you're out the cellar and away!"

Maddy sits down on the sofa arm as she plays around with her shoe, "You don't understand how powerful the pull of the moon is." Her dad explains as he walks into the kitchen.

"When you're old enough to take wolf form-" Her mum begins.

"I won't be a hypocrite who says 'stay hidden' and then breaks out at the first whiff of food!" Maddy interrupts as her mum takes the broken shoe to the kitchen bin. "And that chicken... Blech!"

Her mum turns to her with the bin lid up, "Actually, your dads not the only one who's been eating things he shouldn't, is he?!" She nags as she throws the broken shoe on-top of the popcorn rubbish.

"Yes, and you were still dressed when you came outside, young lady." Her dad adds.

"Yeah, didn't we agree in bed at ten on school nights?!" Her mother folds her arms as they both look at Maddy.

Maddy quickly puts her school bag onto her shoulder, "I'm gonna miss the bus. I'm gonna have to go."

"Oh and don't go hitting me on the nose again!" Maddy hears her mum call as she strides to the front door, reminding her that she isn't wearing any shoes. She looks down at her bare feet, then looks at the green wellies by the front door, wincing at the thought of having to turn up to school in them.

Her dads' green wellies strut across the school playground as Maddy trudges to school. A few girls laugh as she walks past. She get lots of looks from people, "What are those?! You look like a right idiot!" Jimi laughs to his mates, Liam and Sam.

"Yeah, I do..." Maddy agrees, looking up at them "But, I can take these off. You're stuck with that face." She carries on walking past Jimi and his mates.

"What are those on your feet?!" Her friend, Tom, questions.

"Me shoes got eaten by werewolves," Maddy replies, sighing "Did you not see the full moon last night?"

Tom stares at her, "Don't you start. I've already had all this from - oh, Shannon!" He calls out as their friend, Shannon, stumbles across the playground to them.

"Maddy!" Shannon calls, getting Maddy's attention, "Did you hear last night on the Moors?!" She asks as she moves closer to them. Maddy shrugs and looks at Tom.

"Howling!" She grins, "Here, here look what I found on Dramons Lane this morning." She pulls out her phone from her bag, showing a picture of a paw print to them. Maddy takes the phone, staring at the paw print. "I'm going to compare it to paw print photos of different dogs." Shannon continues.

"What - every type of dog?!" Tom asks, taking a look at the photo for himself.

Shannon takes the phone back, showing it up in Tom's face, "This is proof Tom. Proof that there is something... weird... up there on the Moors!" Maddy and Tom look at each other - is she for real?!

"Hey Shannon, I saw something weird on the Moors." Kara says as her and her friends, Katrina and Kay, walk over to Shannon.

Shannon looks over at her excitedly, waiting for her to carry on.

"You!" Kara finishes as her and her friends laugh.

Shannon shifts her gaze down, upset from the hurtful comment.

"Haven't you three got hair curlers to play with or something?" Maddy remarks.

"Step aside - uglies!" Katrina orders as she pushes between Maddy and Shannon.

Kay and Kara follows, "If you can in those wellies!" Kara adds.

"Yeah - you don't get to talk to us!" Kay also adds, following behind Kara.

"Get over yourself Kay!" Tom speaks up.

"This is Northumbria, not gossip girl!" Maddy informs them sarcastically.

"Whatever!!" Kara replies as she and her friends walk away into school.

Maddy and Tom turn to Shannon as she sighs deeply, "I'll show everyone..." She whispers as she walks into school, Maddy and Tom following into school too.

Maddy shoves the green wellies into her locker - not being bothered to deal with the hate from people.

"Yes! New Photography Club members!" She hears Shannon exclaim from behind her. She quickly closes her locker and walks over to Shannon.

"Finally!" Tom blurts out as a smile grows on his face as he joins Shannon and Maddy.

"You're gonna need a bigger dark room." Mr. Jeffries, their form teacher, tells them.

"What?" Tom looks at him.

"Well apparently the incredible hulk is taking up photography, along with superman," he explains as they all take a closer look at the Photography Club sign-up sheet, "and there is some awful handwriting in this school!"

Maddy snatches the sheet from the Clubs board, looking at the fake names she turns to Mr. Jeffries, "We're gonna get new members... And even if we don't - the Photography Club is still a vital part of school life!"

Mr. Jeffries cuts in, "We can only fund clubs that involve a cross-section of pupils. You have three members, and these two only joined to keep you happy." He points to Tom and Shannon.

"That is not true!" Shannon tries to convince him.

"Look, I'm glad that you all have passions. But it does not entitle you to a room on school premises to use as your own private den! You have until tomorrow morning to find three new members or I'm closing you down." Mr. Jeffries tells them, walking off.

Shannon takes the sign-up sheet from Maddy, "When I find out who did this-!"

Maddy tilts her head down a little, moving her hair behind her ears as she tries to listen in on a conversation far down the corridor. "Nice one boys. Serves her right - stupid club!" She hears Jimi and his friends.

"Jimi." Maddy says aloud.

"How'd you work that one out?" Shannon questions as she looks up at Maddy.

Maddy looks at Shannon then to Tom, not realising she'd said it out loud. She scoffs, "Who else has got such bad handwriting, c'mon." She explains as she begins walking off in Jimi's direction.

She suddenly turns on her heel, noticing something strange. She sniffs and finds a strange scent, she runs off down the corridor - following the scent. She pushes past people, and pushes through the double-doors as she sniffs, trying to pick up the scent again. Finding the scent again, she turns to her right. Jumping down a few stairs. She stops as people going to class crowd the scent.