Land of the Moon

Chapter 8

I sat up straight when my ears picked up something breathing in the back of the tunnel sounding as if there was something sniffing around back there trying to pick out our sents. I was sitting a ways back from the group taking up the rear now in our party while we rested. I felt the others stare my way as I was listening, trying to work out just how far back the noise was. It had moved our way a little more. I stood as well as the others before I could say anything, the creature let out an ear-splitting howl making us all cover our ears. “RUN NOW!” I used our mind link since we all had covered our ears.

As we took off down the tunnel we all could hear more clearly now the creature behind us. Following Nikolaj down the tunnels making turns here and there we came to a narrowing in the tunnel we were in now. Going single file we hurried through. Louisa had stopped up ahead casting another earth spell to close the already narrow gap behind us. The others were squeezing past as she worked, Ema stopped putting her hand on Louisa's shoulder helping as she had done before. 

The earth moved slowly, working to close the tunnel. Before it could finish the creature slammed into the walls growling in rage. As the rotten stench we had smelled earlier on came blowing through the small whole the beast had slammed into. We turned to look at the creature, our eyes widened as we realized what was now hunting us. “s**t! It's a goddamn werewolf” Nikolaj stated. “Run now if any of us get caught by that thing we are done.” He informed us all. We took off running again, Vladimir grabbed Ema’s hand helping her to keep close and keep up. 

“What do you mean that is a werewolf? Aren't you a werewolf Nikolaj?” Ema asked using the group mind link. As she questioned him.

“Everyone nowadays calls us werewolves. However, what my kind really are, are wolf shifters. Like other shifters. That back there is a real werewolf. The difference between us is that a werewolf is a human that has been cursed. They have no memory of knowing they are one, no control of the beast inside them. No one knows for sure how the curse came to be; it's been around for ages. Though it was believed that they were wiped out.” Nikolaj was feeding her information through the group mind link.

“That's horrible,” Ema replied.

“Yes it is, and if that thing scratches or bites another human they will be cursed with the same fate. Though for us others it's different.” Nikolaj was still leading us down through the tunnels as he spoke through the mind link.

“How so?” Ema was curious about this scary and new information.

“If shifters get bit or scratched it makes them deathly ill to where they go mad. Some have even died. Elves, dwarves, and witches have died shortly afterward. And that is only if you get away with any of those if it catches you it will eat you. Vampires have been the ones to hunt the beast. Since it does not affect us the same way. Though they are unpredictable in a fight so it is quite difficult in a fight especially one on one. We have always fought them in two to three-man teams.” Mira finished off for Nikolaj.

Knowing the wall would not hold it off I stopped to give them a better chance. Of course, Ema noticed instantly when I was no longer running with them. “Cecily what are you doing? You heard what Nikolaj said about that creature. If it hurts you…” 

I cut her off there. “Vladimir, protect Ema.”

“I will, I give you my word.” Was his only reply. As he wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her from turning and coming back to me.

“Cecily do you know what you are doing?” Cairo glanced back at me as he stopped shortly letting the others continue on.

“I will catch up with you all.” Was my only reply to him before I watched him turn and disappear into the dark tunnel after the others.

“Be careful.” Were Mira’s parting words to me. As she followed behind Cairo.

The werewolf had broken through Louisa's rock wall and was now charging my way. I closed my eyes, willing myself to half shift into my dragon form. Dragon scales replaced my skin, as claws grew on my hands. My teeth sharpened and hardened as my insides also changed. I managed to keep my wings in, though no luck with my tail. I needed this change for a fighting chance though hating the heightened small as the rotting stench was growing more with every heartbeat.

My change was almost complete when the beast lunged at me. The tunnel was so narrow it made it easier to be pinned against a wall. It howled in rage as I blocked its path, sinking its rot covered teeth into my shoulder. Letting loose my own roar I raked my claws down the werewolves side and across its filthy stomach slicing away dirty and clumped together hair and skin. It's stench consumed the area, taking away my clean breathing air. I fought to keep my stomach from rolling from its awful smell. I have been around the dead many times but this was different. We both jumped apart snarling at each other. We each had caused damage, though with my shift it let the beast fangs dent and scrape my scales now covering my body without letting it tear through my flesh. Its blood splattered onto the floor from the wounds I gave it, it's blood slowly dripping from my clause to the dirt floor. The beast was foaming at the mouth with how much it was salivating. 

Before it could blink again I lunged forward diving for its lower body. Bringing my claws together on my right hand I speared it into its gut under the ribcage, pushing my spear-like claws to its heart.

It let out a pained howl that echoed throughout the cave before chomping down on my left arm as it clawed at my back and sides. As I forced my hand further in reaching for its heart. Before I could get there it ripped me away from its body, throwing me back away from itself. 

Catching myself by digging my claws into the walls and ground so I would not fall or go further. I readied myself for another attack. We stared at each other, its dead black eyes seeing nothing but the enemy that lay before it. After a short time, it finally collapsed with blood and some guts spilling from its stomach as it hit the ground. 

Straightening up I looked at where the beast had attacked me. Thanks to my dragon form my skin was not broken. Before shifting back I set fire to the now-dead werewolf. When it quickly went up in flames I headed after the others. It wasn't difficult to see without Louisa's witch lights, though she did leave one at the entrance of a tunnel they turned down so that I would know which way they went. 

My left side started hurting and when I pulled my hand away it was wet with blood. Oh hell, the werewolf must have caught me before my shift was complete. I thought to myself as I pressed my hand against the wound so the pressure would help slow the bleeding. Not long after I was using the wall to help me walk straight as I continued on after the others.

“CECILY, CECILY CAN YOU HEAR ME?” Ema was shouting with our mind link. I blocked her out so she wouldn't be able to feel my pain through our bond.

“Cairo, it's dead.” I sent my message so only he could hear me.

“Good, we finally found an end to these blasted tunnels, hurry on out here.” Was his swift reply.

I started laughing, the damn beast chased us right on out. Well most of us. I winced, the pain was increasing as time passed. 

“Did it get you?” Cairo asked since I hadn't replied to him about getting out.

“Yeah, I'm about there I can hear you all. But I'm going to need some help. I can already feel the fever coming on.” I replied as I thought of Ema.

“I'm sending Mira in after you. Once we are down this mountain we can make camp.” Cairo was already planning ahead it seemed.

“Sure thing.” Was my last thought to him.

My body was starting to feel heavier as I was slowly making my way towards our group. The wound in my side was now starting to throb in time with my pulse sending what felt like jolts of electric fire through my veins. Now the tunnel was starting to look dark to me as my eyes were losing focus, I had to keep telling myself to move forward. As my mind was now clouding over. 

A low thump thump thump was vibrating through the cave floor signaling the arrival of someone new. I was now fighting to open my eyes so I could see who was now upon me. The shadowy form of Mira reached out to me, easily lifting my collapsed form from the cave floor. 

“It got you pretty bad. There’s blood trailing down your leg. s**t, we need to get your wound cleaned before it gets…” Mira's voice faded from my world.

“I am sorry mother.” Was that last thing to cross my mind before everything went silent.