mark of the moon

i shall not hide

this gray

werewolf

inside

-“The Grey Werewolf Inside” by Stu Harley

        They’d gone West, like Ember had suggested after catching the scent. By the time she caught it again, it was well past sunrise, going into the fifth day, “I’m hungry,” the wingless one complained.

        She nodded her head at a gas station below, just before Queen’s scent hit her again, though a bit fainter than the first time, “Down there!” she exclaimed, almost falling off the disgusting being she was unfortunately riding with.

        He dove straight down, after yelling “Hang on!” to his unwanted passenger.

        “No! I’d rather fall off!” she yelled back sarcastically as he pulled up a few feet above ground, lowering her down gently.

        She let go of him as soon as her boots hit the ground, running full speed ahead towards the store, “Where is she? Where did she go?” she half-yelled at the scruffy clerk behind the counter.

        “I.. Uh… Who are you looking for?” he asked timidly, shrinking behind the counter in fear.

        The vampire came in a few minutes later, “Are there any security tapes we can look at from the last week or two? Police business, looking for an escaped convict.” He said sternly, flashing some kind of badge.

        The kid dialed his boss and explained the situation, his voice cracking between the fear and puberty. After about ten minutes, and some purchases from a hungry wolf, he told them “M-M-M-M-My b-b-b-boss will b-b-b-b-be h-h-h-h-ere s-s-s-soon,” he stuttered out.

        Someone else walked in, about thirty minutes later. “I was called because… Police investigation?” a female’s voice asked.

        The wolf’s nose perked up, half eaten sandwich forgotten in her lap, frantically looking between the vampire who brought her here, and the woman in front of her, “It—It’s her! The scent, it’s emanating from her in droves!” she exclaimed.

        The vampire who was forced to partner with her frowned and began laughing obnoxiously, “You? You’re the one who escaped? Who was sent into Exile and hunted for by our Queen? I can’t believe it! I can’t believe a little, tiny, skinny ass bitch like you managed to prove any sort of competition for our Queen!”

        In the blink of an eye, the wolf’s eyes went wide with shock, “You shouldn’t have said that,” she murmured softly in a singsong voice, her now ex-partner lying dead, or rather, in pieces around the store.

        The newcomer’s eyes turned on the wolf girl who, for all her stupid bravery, had gone back to eating her sandwich, “So? What are you going to do to me?” she asked cautiously, in between bites of food, while eyeing the woman who just tore her very dead, yet very unwanted, partner to pieces.

        “I’m not going to do anything to you, little wolf. You’ve done nothing wrong, so long as you paid for that food, that is. Herald, close the store and clean up. When you’re done, go home, but leave a note for night shift; make it sound like a freak accident, and let them know the store won’t be open for a few days. You’ll all get paid your normal hours; make sure to let them know that. I can’t have my employees ditching me, can I?” she said rather quickly, before turning her attention back to the wolf in front of her, “As for you, come with me. There’s much we must discuss about your nosing around.” She stated matter-of-factly, turning to leave with Ember hot on her heels.

        “So… I could pick your scent up outside the building, but not inside? Why?”

        “Simply because I bought it recently, mostly to make sure you’d be somewhere I could get you. Though, the guardian she gave you wasn’t very useful, was he.” She said, more as a statement than a question.

        “Anyway, if you’re willing to cross your current employer, I’d pay you… Shall we say triple whatever she’s paying you, as well as a job that would befit the world’s top Huntress – oop, you’re still going by the Hunter title, aren’t you?”

        Ember was taken aback by this revelation, “How did you…?”

        The Queen laughed and smiled, “Simple. The smell of woman is all over you, dear. It’d just been masked for all these years; that Witch didn’t place too powerful of a Curse on you, I guess. Not sure who that person is, though I have a feeling I might know. That’s a matter for another day; just take my offer and you’ll be seen in all your Huntress glory, never having to bind or mask your voice ever again. What do you say? All I want from you in exchange is everything you know about what she’s up to, and how much she knows about what I’m up to.” She said, snapping her fingers after making a few hand signs in near total concentration.

        Ember swallowed before nodding slowly, weighing her options and holding her hand out, “I accept you as my new employer and… Queen,” she murmured softly, “What is your name though?”

        “Hmm… I suppose it doesn’t hurt me any to tell you. My name is Mai, little wolf. But for now, you have a choice. Either hold on to me and we fly, or use that motorcycle over there,” she points to a sleek black bike, key in the ignition and ready to go, “Just be sure to keep track of my scent should you use that.” She said seriously, her black wings unfurling to their full length.

        Ember thought about what’d happened over the last few days and gagged, “I’ll take the bike,” she said assuredly.

        Mai nodded and Ember went to inspect it, finding it to be a 1977 Harley Davidson FXS Low Rider. She let out an appreciative whistle, as she carefully got on it, not wanting to damage it any more than it really should’ve been.

        It started up like a dream, and she loved the silent rumbling underneath her, “Alright, bloodsucker, lead the way. Just don’t forget to drop your scent every once in a while so I don’t lose you; once we get there, I’ll tell you everything. Fair?”

        Mai had taken off, about one hundred feet off the ground but called back, “Fair!” as she flew higher, leaving scraps of cloth with her scent on it for Ember to trail by as she flew higher and higher, vanishing above the clouds.