Milli ~ werewolf plot - Mission Reports #2

[i_vanquish_evil]

Weeks Four and Five

Based on the information I was given, I travelled back through the Bavarian village. I was told a band of traders had come through the village from the same direction as I had re-entered. I was told the traders had moved on to the south.

Beowulf and I followed the trail of the traders. An arduous journey.

Weeks Six and Seven

The travel during this mission has been difficult and long. I have, on ocassion, acquired the use of a horse, but over much of the terrain, on foot is easier.

I thought I'd lost the trail of the werewolf until Beowulf started getting twitchy at the entrance to another village. His sense of smell is much better than mine.

I figured we would have found the one who was the wolf in the midst of a trading party, but he was alone. And it was a boy. A boy. How can I kill a boy? He can't be more than thirteen.

And how can I be so sure this boy is the werewolf? I can feel it, stronger than usual even, but I can't be sure this isn't a trick…

[end of mission report]

******

The light of the full moon deepened the shadows along the edges of the street. A figure approached him and roared into werewolf form - tall, brown, rugged-looking, like a street kid.

Van Helsing's eye widened… no doubt that this was the werewolf. He readied his weapons to fight the beast, backing away to find cover. Before he could fire the first shot, he felt the sensation in his body that indicated he would soon turn into a werewolf himself. Oh no. Please no. He had just enough time to toss his hat and coat aside before the beast within took over. The sleek, black werewolf roared to life and bayed at the moon.

The boy-wolf wheeled and charged, full-speed, at him. Van Helsing wasn't ready and was knocked back, pinned down. Growling. Snarling. The wolves got to their feet and face-off against one another. Torn flesh, clawed haunches - the battle waged in the streets of the town.

A large cloud rolled over the moon as the clock in the tower chimed out eleven-thirty. Both wolves dissolved into the men they were, beneath the fur, panting from exertion and tending wounds.

The first question to Van Helsing's mind was - 'How?' - then he remembered the earlier fight and the wound he had thought merely a scratch before - but was now sure it was a bite. Dammit.

"Who are you? Can you help me?" the boy asked, touching at a wound on his arm.

"Van Helsing. Maybe. When were you bitten?"

"What?" The boy stared at him, confused.

He grunted in frustration. He didn't have time for this. "Have you changed before?"

The boy nodded.

"Then, no, I can't help youj."

The boy looked horrified.

"I'm sorry," he told the boy, then walked over to Beowulf and his bag. He drew out the box with the antidote and secured one measure of it to Beowulf's collar with the leather wrap Carl had given him. "Beowulf, keep this. Hold the bag, but don't get too close."

The dog barked once and trotted out of the way with the bag.

Van Helsing looked up, toward the sky and watched the cloud roll away from the moon. He felt the change come only moments before the other wolf leapt at him. He rolled away, dodging, darting, attacking. The other wolf got a decent hold on his leg and flung him through the air toward the side wall of a building…