Zev, a pale raven haired boy with electric green eyes, was in class daydreaming again about werewolves and how evil they surely had to be.

"You, Zev, detention!" yelled his music teacher Mr. Bechtal. "Xylophones, Zev, you're supposed to be playing them not drooling on the mallets," he shouted, fury in every syllable.

Winda, Zev's best friend, was sniggering in the corner, her dark brown hair falling over big sapphire eyes. Victor the school bully had just thrown a pencil at the teacher and hit him on the side of the face. Unfortunately, Mr. Bechtal, who favored Victor, blamed Zev for the action.

"That's the last straw, Zev, out in the hall now! Sam, Winda get out there with him!" boomed Mr. Bechtal who just wanted an excuse to get rid of his least favorite students.

Rage started to bubble up inside Zev as he joined Winda and Sam in the hall. Quite suddenly Zev had an Idea. "Perhaps I'm over reacting, but I say we get out of here."

"Out?" asked Sam. "No, we'd get in huge trouble. Mom would never let me dye my hair again."

Like most kids at school Sam dyed his hair, but he dyed it a neon green color that contrasted deeply with his weird amber eyes.

"Kind of strange; you have the chance to finally get out of here and you won't take it!" Winda practically shouted.

"Just stay here if you don't want to come," teased Zev, knowing that would never happen.

"I'll come." bellowed Sam.

Haphazardly, they made their way out of the school and across the ground. Great fun and laughter filled the rest of their day. Four o'clock , the end of the school day, came and went but they kept on walking around. Finally they stopped and decided to walk home.

Eventually Zev was the only one who had to walk home, his friends had alredy reached their houses. Darkness surrounded him for it was well past sunset. Creatures were moving in on him, bumping trashcans and then trotting to catch up. Bravery wouldn't help him now, not even the bravest person could have endured this for too long. Along the way he passed a bush that was rustling. Zev, whether acting out of bravery or stupidity, decided to stick his hand in and see what this thing could be.

You could probably hear the screams all the way on the moon! Xylophone notes were ringing in his ears. Whatever bit his hand was gone, and he slowly staggered the rest of the way home, applying pressure to the wound.

Very rarely did Zev go home and straight to bed, but tonight he thought he'd make an exception. Unusual noises could be heard all night long, but he tried to ignore them and sleep.

The next morning Zev emerged from bed with his arm aching. Something strange was going on; his arm was purple! Right after, he let out a yelp causing his mother and father to bolt up the stairs. Quite suddenly the door opened and a loud thud shook the room. Penny, Zev's mom had fainted at the sight of his grotesque arm.

Zev wasn't going to be in school for a while. No one could explain why, but Zev was really itchy and one of his eyes turned the color of rust.

Midnight came and Zev found himself spellbound by the moon. Like most kids in his school, Zev had always thought the moon beautiful, but now he realized he was terrified of it. Keeping both eyes on the moon, he began to wail. Jolts of excruciating pain were coursing up and down his back. I'm a monster, he thought savagely, catching a glimpse of himself in his vanity mirror.

He jumped out his window and ran, ran until he reached a lake surrounded by woods. Gusts of wind blew the duckweed aside and allowed him to get a better look at himself. Frightening was the only word to describe him. Every inch of his body was covered in thick gray hair. Disbelief surged through his head. Certainly this can't be me, he thought.

Boy, wouldn't it be nice if that thought were true? A gray wolf was standing right where he should be; he was a werewolf.

Zev heard the pattering of feet and all went black.

                                                     ~WFM~

"You, come and get something to eat. Xavier Bade's the name," growled a man.

"Very interesting place you have here," Zev said sarcastically as he looked around the cave he was sitting in.

"Usually I kill werewolves," retorted the man, "but you were just so darn cute."

This was quite a strange point to bring up, considering the fact that this guy was a werewolf too. Silver hair ram down to about his shoulders and he had the same scar and two toned eyes except one of his was blue. "Right," said Xavier his voice brisk and cheery, "So I guess you were experiencing your first full moon. Quite horrible, really."

"Please be quiet," Zev growled apparently not in the mood for a joke.

"Oh, I see," Xavier said slyly following Zev's gaze to the door. "No one will stop you, go! May you come to your senses before it's too late," he laughed sinisterly.

Like Bade had predicted, Zev ran. Kids playing in yards stopped and stared as he raced by, wanting nothing more than to be home with his parents. Just as he got to the door Winda opened it looking extremely worried. "I, I mean we are so glad you're not hurt. Gee are you okay?" she asked quizzically seeing the sick weary look on her friend's face.

"Fine, just fine," Zev lied.

Everyone rushed to the door anxious to see Zev. Dave, his dad, looked like he had actually been crying. "Couldn't you have at least told us you were running away?" asked his dad.

Boy that would have made total sense, thought Zev.

"Ahem, could Zev sleep over at my house tonight?" Winda asked politely.

"Zev go pack," his dad said cheerfully.

                                                       ~WFM~

"You're a werewolf aren't you?" Winda accused as they set out his sleeping bag in her living room. "Xavier Bade Calivare, their leader, bit you didn't he?"

"Wha- oh, no I'm not a werewolf I..." his voice trailed off.

"Very good liar, you are. Unfortunately for you, I've read books," she informed. "The scar on your wrist is the mark of Bade. Surely you knew that you get the same scar as the werewolf that bites you," Winda shrieked pointing at the purple circular mark on his left wrist.

"Right, so what do you want me to do if I am a werewolf? Quit living just like that?" Zev asked shrilly.

"Precisely," his best friend confirmed.

"Oh," shock wavered in his voice.

No one talked for the rest of the night. Maybe the neighbors got him awake or maybe it was bad luck but either way Zev found himself unable to sleep. Lightning hot jolts traveled up and down his spine. Kindhearted Zev had once again transformed, but this time there was prey. Just as swift as a real wolf he jumped onto Winda's sleeping bag. In one swift movement he lowered his snout and opened his mouth intent on ripping this tasty looking morsel apart. He couldn't do this a rational part of him was screaming. Grunting, and fighting his desire to kill, he got off of her and ran.

Finally after what seemed like forever, Zev was back at the cave. Evil looking Bade was all ready waiting. "Don't tell me, you tried to bite someone close to you?" he guessed while languidly stretching.

Could Xavier tell he was right or did he grin for some unknown joke?

"Boy, you'll have to leave with me, now." growled the werewolf.

"All right," Zev agreed gloomily, knowing this was the way it had to be.

"Zev, I am the prince of werewolves and you happen to be the only one ever bitten by me. You shouldn't get those hopes of ruling too high just yet. Xavier the Great is only 180 years old!" he said triumphantly.

"Why does it have to be this way?" Zev asked.

"Very funny the way destiny works, is it not?" mused Xavier. "Unfortunately, saying goodbye is never easy, but something werewolves do quite often."

"This is the end of my human life isn't it," Zev asked mournfully.

"Sure could look at it that way." agreed Xavier.

"Right, then I think it's fair to let you know I hate you for what you did to me," the young man spat.

"Quite reasonable to understand," the werewolf replied.

Putting out the fire that had been lit, Xavier and Zev left the cave.

On the way out of town someone a little smaller than Zev jumped out in front of them. Never had Zev suspected that Winda would follow him.

"Monster! Look what you've done to Zev, Xavier Bade Calavare."

"Kid seems to know you," growled Bade who, like Zev was a werewolf at the moment.

"Just to let you know, I'm going to grow and get stronger and I won't rest until I find you both and kill you!" she snarled her voice full of venom. "I'll tell everyone what you are!" she shrieked.

Hours seemed to pass before anyone spoke.

"Good the moon is going down!" Xavier barked gleefully. Finally they transformed back into humans, which was just as painful as transforming into the wolf.

"Everyone will not believe your story. Do not tell anyone for your own sake," Bade spoke surprisingly gentle. "Come on," he said motioning for Zev to follow.

After a final look at the place where Zev was raised, the two mysterious creatures of the dark moved on through the day.