Shadow of the Day (Wolf Moon Sequel)

Chapter 24: Not a Friend

I couldn't sleep. I kept smelling that demon's scent in my nose, and it made me restless. I couldn't just lie in bed, pretending to be asleep, when something might very well be preying on my sister. I had to do something.

Despite my promise to Wyatt, I couldn't not go check the forest. If there was a trail I wanted to find it, follow it and end this small complication before it blew up in my face. Nearly losing Wyatt had been hard, but he could protect himself. My sister couldn't. She didn't even know a thing. And I didn't want the thing who killed her best friend to kill her too.

So I crawled out of bed, got dressed and headed out the window. I jogged to the forest and it was still dark out; it was only five in the morning. Once I was there, I went to my usual spot, Changed and then headed out. I had smelled him outside the forest so I headed back that way, my skin prickling as I lumbered through silently. Soon I picked up a trail, turned, checked for any sounds and then took off after it.

It was quickly leading me deep into the forest, and every bit of me was screaming at me to turn around, go back home and forget about this until Wyatt was with me.

But I'd come this far, and that thing had gone near my sister. No way was I letting it get away with that.

So I kept running, eventually making my way back to that same lake as last time. I couldn't cross it this time; all the ice had melted and there were only a few bits of ice here and there. Even then, the patches were thinner than paper and it'd be impossible to get across.

I could go around...it'd take a long time though.

Making my decision, I dove back into the cover of the trees and looped around the wide lake. Or at least, I tried too. Halfway around I was abruptly knocked off my feet, going flying right into the trunk of a tree at high speed.

A loud yelp left my muzzle as I crumpled to the ground, breath knocked out of me and my side burning in agony. Just as I started to sit up something grabbed me by the fur of my back and threw me. I slammed into another tree, so hard this time that my vision faded to black for a moment.

"Wake up girl. It'll be no fun if you die," some said condescendingly. I bristled and lurched to my feet, legs shaking slightly.

I took deep breaths, trying to steady myself before I opened my eyes.

"Someone needs more practice," he wagged a finger at me, a playful smile on his lips. All I smelt was that too sweet stench mixed with cigarettes. My eyes narrowed as I took him in. Relatively short, about my height, with short, cropped black hair. He looked about twenty years old, but his eyes had an ancient look to them.

And they were black.

"What have you been doing all this time? Prancing around in your supernatural bliss?" he asked, arms folded, the picture of relaxation.

I snarled, tail flicking. The scent was his, no doubt about that.

"Oh stop your growling. Don't be so petty," he waved a hand. "I'm not causing trouble...too much of it anyways," he flashed me a toothy grin.

Annoyed, I lunged forward, knocking him flat on his back. I opened my jaws, lowering them over his face, one paw pressed down on his chest, claws out.

"Don't ruin my shirt," he said, completely unperturbed. "And your breath stinks."

I growled, letting the saliva drip from my open jaws.

"Really, is this any way to treat Natasha's friend?" he sighed.

I paused a moment. Natasha's friend? She didn't say anything about a friend. I closed my mouth and stared him down, but his face was open and easy.