A Wolf Conversation

He's still around. I thought catching the human's scent as I ran through the woods. I thought I'd have these two additional days and nights in peace to do whatever I wanted as per our agreement for me sparing the human's life.

Don't look to me for an answer, I have no idea why he hasn't returned to the others.

Is he looking for you?

I told him we wouldn't be around for a couple of days.

I snorted, Do all humans have problems listening to each other? Or just this one? Wolf packs would listen to each other.

He's more stubborn then most, but after last night, I thought he'd listen.

On a whim I took up his trial, following his scent though staying out of his sight. My ears flicked. He's a horrible tracker.

Oh?

His trial is leading away from those humans you traveled with.

Figures. He's not a fan of camping.

Camping?

Being out here in the woods.

Well, he wouldn't last long out here. Not with his injured forepaw. Totally easy prey.

It's a feint. Like that bird that acts injured to save her chicks. The arm is fine.  

I caught him last night.

True.

So it's not much of a feint if I could kill him anyway. The mother bird would get away at least.

He's fooled the humans we live with it for most of his life. In his home territory he's survived.

I paused. Really?

Yes, he fooled me too at first. He's good at the act. Plus, we surprised him with that switch.

Which he took rather well, I replied.

He did have all night to think about it.

True. He has potential too.

Potential? For what?

To mind speak with us.

Catchya on the Flip Side!

Danny

Sunrise

The sun couldn't have risen fast enough that night.
 
I approached the hole I'd toss Jake into with a mixture of emotions rushing through me.
This wasn't a situation I'd had to deal with.
So this morning would be interesting.
 
I crouched down above the hole. "Jake?" I called.
I knew he was in there. There was no scent of him leaving the area, and that worried me. Jake could climb out of anything, why hadn't he climbed out last night? Fear? Or had I injured him tossing him in like that?
 
I heard faint movement below, but he didn't respond back.
"Jake, are you alright?" I grimaced. "Okay, wrong question," obviously he wouldn't be, I'd changed into a wolf in front of him, attacked him, and put him down there in the first place.  "but...I'm not going to hurt you."
 
"Tell that to my arm." he muttered from below.
 
I exhaled. I'm sure he didn't think I could hear that, but I was glad to hear his voice. He didn't sound in pain. "Well, arm, I'm sorry for biting you last night." I responded. "If it's any consolation, you tasted awful. Burnt really."
 
I could imagine him rolling his eyes. I swallowed, glancing towards the rising sun. "Look, Jake, I don't have a lot of time. How far down are you? I can pull you up."
 
No response.
"You can't expect to stay down there forever do you? Come on Jake. You're safe enough with me at the moment."
Though if he took too much longer I would have to leave him. The Wolf hadn't been happy at my interference last night, his price for that had to be met soon. But at least I'd been able to catch a kill last night. That had been a fair bit of luck that.   
I heard faint movement below, the sound of dirt falling. Climbing.
"This would have been easier, if you hadn't tried to take my arm off, you know." he said, as his head popped over the edge.
"At least you sound calm enough." I responded back dropping my proffered hand when he ignored it.
 
"Oh, I had my hysterics after you left."
I winced. "I did warn you to leave it alone Jake."
He pulled himself out, his short ragged and torn where he'd pulled off a strip to bind his injured arm. "Well, I didn't expect you to change into a, a..."
"Werewolf." I supplied.
"And try to eat me." he finished, finally looking at me.
"I didn't eat you."
"You nearly took my head off!"
"Nearly, Jake!" I threw my hands up into the air. "I didn't did I?"
"Might as well have, do you know how deep that hole is? I could have broken a leg!"
"There was only so much I could do." I shot back. "I couldn't have you running to camp!"
"So why not kill me?" He asked. "Your secret would have stayed safe then!"
I took a step back. Ouch. "Do you think I would do tha...Jake," I shook my head. "We're friends. I trust you. Trust you more then I've trusted anyone." Besides, I wasn't a murderer.
"And what if your trust is misplaced?" he demanded. "What if I go tell the others what I saw?"
"Then my parents and I would be making a sudden move." I replied evenly enough. "We would disappear liked we'd never moved here, and the town would probably call you crazy." And I would probably have difficulty making close friends after that point too.
 
For some reason, that made him relax.
Honestly? Did he really expect me to kill him just for knowing this? I mean, there was the rest of the country, even the world to move to and no one else would be the wiser.
"Do they know?" Your parents?" He asked.
"Only my Dad." I glanced to the sun again. "Look, I don't have much time, Jake. Can we do the whole Q and A later?"
He narrowed is eyes. "Will there be a later?"
"Will you be telling the camp what happened?"
He gave me a measuring look, before shaking his head. "No."
Well, that was a relief. "Then, yes. There will be a later." I took a step towards him. "Here, let me see your arm."
With only a little hesitation he held it out. "I'm not going to become a werewolf too am I?" he asked.
"Ha." I unwrapped the shirt fragment from his arm revealing a rather deep and bloody bite mark. How had he managed to climb with this? It looked like I'd almost made it to the bone. "I'm not that type of werewolf. You'll stay human."
He sighed in relief. "Good, because you look awful,....what are you doing?"
He was worried about becoming a werewolf? Huh. I hadn't considered that. "I'm going to heal your arm." I replied, letting his comment about how I look slide. At least I wasn't covered in blood. "It's the least I can do for making you spend the night in a hole."
"Terrified you were waiting right outside to eat me."
"I had better things to do."
"Like what?"
"Eat something that tastes much better then you." It was a clean enough wound. It wouldn't take too much effort to fix it.
"And that was?"
"A doe. Hold still." I spat onto the wound, quickly rubbing my saliva into the bite marks. I kept a strong grip on Jake's arm as he tried to pull away.
"Hey!"
"Did you want me to lick you instead?" I said.
He stared at me incredulously. "No, but I don't want your spit infecting me either."
I shrugged. "I wouldn't either, but this saves you a long recovery period." I let him pull from my grip. Unbroken flesh met his eyes, and it was rather gratifying to see them bug out. 
"No. Way."
"A talent I have, even if it seems disgusting." I said with a shrug.  
He shook his head. "Magical healing spit. Who'da thought....Thanks."
My lips twitched. "It's the least I could do...for now." I exhaled. "Jake, I have to go. I'll explain why later, when I have more time, but...you're not going to see me for the next couple of days okay?"
He raised an eyebrow. "The next couple of days? Why?"
"It's...complicated." I couldn't just sit there and explain it. Not with time ticking. "Just, pretend you don't know where I went when the others ask about me alright?"

Catchya on the Flip Side.

Danny 

The Moment

Wait

I paused a breath away from tearing out the prey's throat.

Don't, please.

I growled. We had an agreement. I could do whatever I wanted these three nights. And this, this was prey. And I was hungry.

And you can, anything you want, but please not this. I know this human. He's...part of my human pack. Please.

My tail lashed. I'd seen his pack. This human wasn't part of it.

He's new. Please, don't kill him. 

I snapped my teeth against the pale skin's throat grazing it, but not biting down.
If I don't find other prey tonight, packmate, you will regret it.

I know. But I'll regret this even more.

I laid my ears back. Fine. We'll 'talk' more after I eat.
I suddenly bit down on one of the pale skin's arms. He cried out, fighting, but my bite was strong. He couldn't escape me when I didn't want him to.
I dragged him through the snow to a hole in the ground I'd stumbled upon on my previous nights of hunting. With a jerk of my head, I threw the pale skin into the pitch blackness.
Now, I could hunt.
Throwing my head back into a howl, I dashed into the forest, seeking better tasting prey.

Catchya on the Flip Side.

Danny

I couldn't believe she'd expect me to sit in this cage for two days. My crew were somewhere in those series of tunnels and cages.  Who did she think she was dealing with? I wasn't a fish anymore. I didn't have to deal with living in the moment. I would not be content with being in a cage! I needed to check in with the others. I hadn't spoken to them in months. I had to find out how they were doing for myself.  
I watched the girl walk out of sight. With ears twitching, I set to work. There had to be a way out of this cage, and I was going to find it. Today.
 
~HENRY!~
I jumped, losing my tenacious grip on a piece of colored plastic. I squeaked, annoyed. It had taken me forever to find a way up to the portal I'd found. Let alone get a good grip on it with my new found teeth. I turned to the girl.
~What?~ I demanded, laying my ears back. I internally smirked though. She had called me Henry. Not Fishy Thief.
~You're supposed to be getting used to your new form, not attempting to escape!~
~I'm used to it.~ Honestly, why would I not be? Did she expect me to just sleep the day away or something?
~No, you're not.~
~I think I'm a better judge of my self, then you are.~
~Not when you've been a fish for the past several months! You can't run before you walk.~
I rolled my eyes coming up to the glass. ~I'm fine.~ Though I was beginning to believe that my argument would go better if I actually knew what the girl's name was. I still couldn't read her tag.
~Trust me, Fishy Thief, you can roam the tunnel system to your hearts content in two days. Don't try to leave.~ She said, turning away to help a customer.
 
She caught me trying to leave a few minutes later.
On my fourth attempt she took away the hut I'd been using to reach the portals located halfway up the glass.
~I'm going to put you into a smaller cage if you don't quit, Fishy Thief,~ She threatened. ~One without exits. Think of something else to do.~
I felt like tearing my hair..fur, whatever out. I finally had the ability to be on the same 'ground' so to speak as my crew, and she was expecting me to wait two days before finding them? Come on. ~I'll find a way out of that one too.~
She frowned. ~You're going to make yourself sick.~
~No I'm not.~
~Get one piece of that plastic in you and you will.~
~Come on, just let me out. I'll take it easy after...afterwards.~
She narrowed her eyes, before widening them in understanding. ~After? Oh. You want to find your fellow thieves.~
I shrugged. ~Well, duh. I haven't seen them in months!~ I wish she wasn't that quick to catch on my slip ups.
~You can wait two more days Henry,~ she said gently, folding her arms. ~They're fine.~
~As much as I believe you, I don't believe you.~
~Believe me.~
~How?! I still don't even know your name! How can I believe you if you won't even tell me that?~ I shot back.
 
After a long moment, she smirked. ~I didn't know it bothered you that much. Alright Fishy Thief, How about we make a deal. You promise to not try to leave the cage for two days, and I'll tell you my name.~
I laid my ears back. ~I don't need to know your name that badly. Let me out at closing time and it's a deal.~ I could wait until then.
~I'll let you out, Tomorrow after my lunch break.~ She replied. ~No sooner.~
I huffed. ~You could let me out sooner. I'm not going to just sleep the day away in this cage.~
She rolled her eyes. ~You had to be a wound up hamster didn't you? I'll give you a wheel to run on okay? But it's still tomorrow after lunch.~
And there, she'd unwittingly given me a piece of information. I was a hamster. That was good to know. I could also tell, however, that I wouldn't be able to convince her to let me out earlier. ~Fine.~ I placed a paw on the glass. ~I promise to wait until tomorrow afternoon.~ My crew could be without me for one more day.
 
She grinned, and put a finger up to my paw. ~My name is Lisa, nice to meet you Fishy Thief,~
 
#Henry

Back to Normal?

Steel doesn't have powers anymore. It feels so unreal. I mean, he seems as normal as ever, but he's not.
He has no powers.
That little bracelet around his wrist is like a neutralizer or something because he can't do anything. No flying. No super strength. Yet. He's alive. And as cheerful as ever. He doesn't act like he's not super. He's still super super, just without the powers. He's managed to keep everyone from panicking. And truly, that makes him great! He's still the leader. Even without powers, no one doubts his authority to lead.
He just can't, you know, go out and save the icing city from Surge.

You'd think that Surge would totally be taking advantage of knocking the last piece of the 'tower puzzle' out of the park with Steel now nearly as useless as the baby council upstairs.
Yet nobody's heard word of him. At. All. He's gone quiet. Super quiet. Creepily quiet. It's weird. I mean, I know Surge. There's usually some funny business going around, yet there isn't.

The city, is normal. Almost like my little town. Except, there are still 'bad guys' roaming around causing trouble and other heroes are going out to defeat them. Surge however is AWOL. Seriously, I would think he got stuck in his tower of terror, except I cut holes right through that place.

Maybe he's taking a victory lap around, well somewhere. Celebrating his defeat of Steel before he comes in to finish whatever his crazy plan is.
Because, honestly. If we haven't succeeded in taking my collar from around my neck, how do we expect Steel's bracelet to come off?

Speaking of my collar.
I'm not even sure I should be in The Tower.
I mean, Surge knew where I was.
Steel said he had a remote, but Surge had been able to hurt me just by touching my collar.
Could I even trust my own actions?
What if he'd been controlling me this whole time? How would I know? What if I was unwittingly moving along in line with Surge's plan?

Was I the next piece of Surge's puzzle?

Layters!

--> Issac

Disguised

"Maybe...I could just stay here....til close." I whispered. There was no way I could walk out of here in this condition. Only Hatch's arms kept me from slipping back to the floor. And at this point, I really wish he would let me do just that.
"And what happens when the next person comes in here wanting birds?" Hatch asked back.
I groaned.
"Exactly. You need to get out of here."
"How?" I mumbled into his chest.
"Let me see if this....works." His voice changed back to mine on the last word, and I felt a warm heat, almost like the feel of hot chocolate going down your throat, wash over me. "Ha!" my voice exclaimed in satisfaction. "It worked. I didn't think it would. Let's hope I can hold it until we're outside."
"Hold what?" I asked.
"The disguise."
I frowned looking down at myself. I still looked like me. "What disguise?"
"Huh, I guess you can't see it."
Obviously "What is it then?"
"You're an old lady."
Oh goodie. But if he was confident in it...I allowed him to pull me out of the bird cage, reluctantly.
"I can't carry you, but leaning on me, you should make it out to your car." He said flashing my smile back at me. That was just odd. I hadn't really smiled since....well my mom... I clutched to his arm, leaning heavily on him as my knees actually buckled.
"I don't have my-"
"Keys, I got them,"
"How!" Those were locked up.
"Trust me, I got them."
"You're a lock picker too?" I muttered, shuffling along as he guided me towards the doors. The light outside was bright enough I had to squint.
"No. It's no trouble at all Ma'am. I'm here to help." He said cheerfully. Just like I would if I were helping an old person out of the store. How did he know me so well! He even lifted his free hand and waved to Annemarie at the register as we passed by, just like I would when I left for the day. And she, ignored me like usual. I couldn't believe it. He was actually pulling this off!

Karen<3