Full Moon

[EVme15]

First Reply! *holds up peace sign*

Poor Fury and Sal... they keep trying to make up again but just end up salting the wounds sometimes...
I hope everything works out... Remembering the LVH fic you made last time, this story is gonna have even more twists... Or maybe you're changing that and surprising us again! In any case, I'm glad you're able to still write at all. I'm fine with taking the chapters far apart. Just keep them coming at any rate and I'll be happy. ^_^

Happy Holidays!

[Lady Vulpix]

This is what got Sal the most tortured character award some time ago... I still feel sorry for her. Though I wonder how Ms Balloise handles her own life too.
And poor Greg... It must be awful to have parents like those!

Just as Kayla, I don't mind if you take some time between chapters. They're great, so I know I'll love them whenever they come.

[mr_pikachu]

*whistles softly* This is getting tough on Sal...

So Kayla and Craig both know the secrets of Martin and Nayia, but they have no idea. I wonder how long it'll be before it slips out? I'll get the stopwatch.

And Ludicia's cruelern than ever! Nayia gets to copy the entire book, Sal's got to finish everything in fifteen minutes, and let's not forget the ever-endangering secret Lucidia holds! Poor Sal... I hope this doesn't all explode in everyone's faces... either way, this is shaping up to be a classic fic! Keep it up!

P.S. From reading your log, I'm guessing it won't be long before everyone finds out about Martin and Nayia. Or were you applying that to Craig and Kayla? Either way, it's looking great! See ya later!

[mistysakura]

Hard stuff for Sal. Now that Balloise has a hold over her, she's going to have to work really hard to control herself... really hard. It's just not natural. It's also interesting how Kayla and craig know now. It's a rather sweeter aspect of the fic right now, and it's good to have a change from Sal's fiery temper.

I think that this chapter was pretty good. It didn't show at all that you had trouble writing it. Keep it up! And holidays rule!

[PancaKe]

Thanks so much guys! Your support is one of the things that keep me writing this fic.

EVme: Fury and Sal have a love hate relationship happening now. ^^ It's quite fun. And I odnt know if it will have more twists or not, i'm going for a more sinister approach to Lucidia than last time so *shrugs*

Gabbi: Yeah, I remember that award. You brought up an interesting thought - I wonder how Ms Balloise copes with this? Nice insite for next chapter - good work

Pika: Lol, you run that stopwatch! Thanks for your comments. Yeah, its time for Lucidia to take her role as the evil person in this fic. She's not relaly the villan though, and you'll find out why in the end.

MistySakura: Balloise has the edge yeah ^.~ I didn't think Sal's fiery temper would work int hat situation, so thats' why it didn't actually appear. Remember, she's worried that she'll end up in the AWL as a lab rat anyway, and worried bout Fury. Otherwise she would explode and show the fiery side.

~Mist

[PancaKe]

Chapter Eleven

“She made me copy out the entire textbook!” Nayia exclaimed. “My hand hurts so much! And, she stopped me from going to three other periods! I think that’s a bit unfair, don’t you?”

Jackie sighed, and took a sip of the drink on her desk. “Look, as much as I would also like to shove a broom handle up her… left nostril, I am unable to. For now you are just going to have to try and put up with her teaching techniques.”

Nayia stomped her foot down. “But she made me copy the whole text book!” the blonde wailed.

“Believe me, its much worse to have to work alongside her,” Jackie assured her. “If you really can’t handle it you can either work really hard and get moved up classes, or slack off and get moved down classes.”

“But what about Martin?” Nayia questioned. “And Greg, and Sal, and Kayla, and Craig too!” She added quickly.

Jackie sighed. “Its up to you. For now, I suggest you try to keep in her good books. You know, I know, she plays favorites, she plays dirty, and you want to stay out of the mud with her.”

*

“Sally-Anne McGregor,” Lucidia began, smiling as she spoke. Sal stood, as if she were imitating a statue. Her body was still; only her eyes showing life inside the shell. Her flaming dark green iris’s blazed into Lucidia’s own icy blue ones. “You didn’t finish all your work.”

“Why are you seeing me after dinner?” Sal’s question was cold and alone. No other sounds escaped her angry mouth.

“Because that’s the beauty of it,” Lucidia grinned, her smile not reaching her eyes. “I have the authority to be able to see you at whatever time I wish. I could see you at three thirty in the morning if I desired. Lucky for you, I like to sleep and have no interest in seeing you or any other student at that hour.”

“So why now?”

Lucidia sat down in her chair. “Sit,” she ordered Sal in a sickly nice tone. Sal refused to take a seat. Lucidia’s expression suddenly changed. “Sit down right now! I don’t care if you don’t want to, you have to because I said so!” she roared at Sal. Sal looked at the chair, then back at Lucidia, not making any movement towards the chair. Lucidia stood up. “You sit down in that chair right now, or you’re going to find yourself in even more trouble.”

Sal blinked, forgetting all about keeping it cool and staying out of trouble. “You couldn’t make me sit in that chair if you wanted to!” Sal yelled back. “Don’t you freaking try to tell me what to do, if I wanted a seat, believe me, I would already be in that chair! You shut your mouth, and don’t tell me what to do and how to do it.”

“I am vice principal of this school and head of the Anti-Werewolf League for the Kilbourne District! You will listen to what I say and follow my instructions!” Lucidia bellowed. “And you will take that seat and put your *** into that cushion and SIT DOWN!”

People walking by halted their paces to that of a snail, trying to catch every word of what was happening inside the office.

“You think I’m going to sit just because you tell me to?” Sal asked, with a laugh. “WRONG! How about you sit in this chair, if it’s so special? If what you have to say is so important then why don’t you just sit down and worry more about yourself? I’m sure those legs can’t hold up a person like you for very long.”

Lucidia fumed, her face slowly becoming flushed. Her right eye gave a sudden twitch. “Right, you can stand if you like,” she said quietly, sitting down herself. “But I do have some questions you will need to answer for me.”

“Why would I want to answer any of your questions?” Sal replied dirtily, spitting every word at Lucidia.

“I know you’re a werewolf, Sally-Anne,” Lucidia grinned quietly. All of a sudden, Lucidia had turned from her maniac mood to a quiet, deadly approach to Sal.

Sal took a step back, her face finally showing some emotion. Pale, Sal stepped back once more, before reacting. “What the HELL are you talking about?” Sal screamed at Lucidia. “You *****! You have no proof that I’m such a creature, why the hell are you accusing me? I am not a freaking disgusting creature like… like that!”

Lucidia simply nodded. “You’re in denial. Sally-Anne, I know you’re a werewolf.”

“I am not a werewolf,” Sal whispered to Lucidia, before turning around and bolting towards the door. She slammed at the door, pushing down the handle repeatedly.

“You’ll find that the door is locked,” Lucidia stated from her desk, holding up a pair of keys. Sal turned around, and glared at her, before continuing to attempt to break out of her office.

“Why are you keeping me in here?” Sal screeched across the room.

“Because I need answers, and I’ll be getting them from you now, or later,” Lucidia answered. “And I’m going to get at least some of them now.”

Sal kept a tight grip on the door handle. “Let me out,” she whispered.

“Answers, Sally-Anne, answers,” Lucidia taunted, jingling the keys in her hand. “Answer me one question, and I will let you out.”

Sal growled, but made no other comment. Her body began to shake with intense rage, the hand clutching the door handle becoming sweaty.

“Where is your pack?” Lucidia asked.

“I don’t have a pack!” Sal cried. “Not a pack of dogs, or wolves, or cards!” She lowered her voice. “I am not a werewolf and do not have a pack!”

Lucidia sighed, and stood up. “Well, I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied. “I’ll keep it in mind when the AWL begins its raids.” Sal glared at her while she unlocked the door. “However, you did answer the question, just not with the right answer. So you had better watch your back.”

*

“You know what,” Nayia said, breaking the silence that had hung over the room for the past five minutes. Nayia looked up from the magazine she was reading and looked around the room. In the chair beside her, sitting sideways, Martin’s eyes followed the words on the pages of the geography textbook he had loaned from the library. He had luckily escaped geography class without finishing the essay, but knew that she would be onto him next lesson. Greg had his fingers flying across the computer keyboard, overworking on another assignment. Sean was lying on the floor, tossing a soft squeeze ball onto the wall and catching it as it bounced off.

Kayla and Craig took up the space on the big lounge, Craig in the corner, and Kayla resting her head in his lap, both staring mindlessly at the television. “What?” Martin muttered, not really listening.

“It’s almost winter,” Nayia stated. “Can you believe how fast these months have gone? I can’t believe it, it feels like it was summer yesterday!”

Martin turned around. “I know,” he nodded. “But can you please not talk anymore.”

Craig scoffed from the lounge. “Look who you’re talking to.”

“I know,” Martin smiled. “But, I really have to finish this essay.”

“Why not ask Greg to do it for you?” Nayia blurted out. “I mean, he loves doing assignments.”

“Nayia, you’re a doofus!” Sean yelled, throwing the squeeze ball at her. It bounced off her head and rolled under the television. “Greg’s busy enough doing his own homework!”

Greg made no comment, but his fingers sped up across the keyboard.

“Greg, stop it!” Nayia yelled at him, getting off the seat and picking up the squeeze ball. She threw it across the room at him, but hit the wall instead.

“I can’t,” he replied.

“Why not! Take a break for once!” Nayia yelled.

Greg spun around. Nayia took a step back, for once, worrying about what she had shouted. Taking a deep breath, Greg spoke. “Maybe if you saw things through my eyes you would understand,” Greg told her. “Maybe if you saw things through my eyes, you could just accept that I have to work hard at what I do!”

There was a moment of silence in the room.

“But I don’t,” Nayia replied slowly. “So why do you have to work hard?”

Martin rolled his eyes. “Nayia, would you please shut up! You’re making matters worse!” he yelled at her.

“Oh, so now everybody’s against me?” Nayia cried, throwing one hand up into the air.

“Nayia,” Greg began, with an extreme amount of patience. “I have to work hard at what I do. My parents put so much pressure on me that it isn’t funny. I worked so hard to win this scholarship; I worked so damn hard to get my *** here in the first place! And I am not giving it up for the world! If I don’t work hard, they’ll send me right back to where I came from, right back into the hands of the slave drivers I’m supposed to call parents! Do you have ANY idea NOW?”

Another silence followed, and was once again, broken by Nayia.

“Sort of,” she replied. “Dude, that must suck so badly to have parents like that. But you’re away from them now, and you could get better marks than us with your eyes closed anyway. Heck, you more than double our marks without even trying.”

Greg sighed. “Nayia, for once, take Martin’s advice and be quiet,” he stated, before turning around and returning to his work.

Nayia stood there, blinking, speechless. “Okay,” she commented, blinking once more.

The door slammed open, and fuming, Sal stormed into the room. Her face was flushed, her hair, as usual, everywhere, and her eyes blazing. “Nayia, please keep your mouth shut on this one,” Martin commented.

“Believe me, that’s one fire I don’t want to poke with a stick,” Nayia replied, sitting down. Martin burst out laughing, Nayia watching on in bewilderment. “What?” she asked.

“You say the stupidest stuff!” Martin hooted.

“Will you kindly SHUT UP?” Sal roared at Martin, turning around and driving her fist through a wall. Martin’s loud laughter stopped instantly, as he stared at the hole in the wall.

“Wow,” he whispered.

“Jackie’s going to have to pay for that,” Craig commented.

“She put her fist through the wall?” Kayla suddenly exclaimed, looking up.

“Bit slow,” Craig teased, smiling at his girlfriend.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! Sorry for being too slow for my boyfriend,” Kayla replied sarcastically.

“Did you have to be sarcastic?” Sal yelled, before storming back out the room.

*

Storming down the hallway, Sal stopped, tired and worn. It hadn’t been an easy day for her, she had to put up with the burden Lucidia pushed down on her, plus now everybody was being sarcastic, just like Fury. How she longed to talk to Fury once more, but the stubborn attitude she had prevented her from overcoming the invisible barrier.

Alone, Sal dragged herself up to the dormitory, head throbbing. Ignoring the sharp pain in her skull, she flung herself down on her bed, trying to think things over in her mind. “I don’t understand,” she whispered, talking to herself. “I wasn’t like this in Quentside Heights, I wasn’t like this with Ashley. And yet, these people seem to be like Ashley.”

She closed her eyes, her thoughts continuing.

‘These people, they’re different to others. They’re natural with each other; they don’t put on acts to make themselves sound tough, they genuinely want to be my friend. I push them away. I push everybody away. Why?’

‘Do I push everybody away? Yes. Why? Is it because I’m not happy with myself? I don’t know.’

Sal screamed out in frustration, clutching her hair with both hands.

“Sal, are you okay?” Kayla asked softly, coming into the room. She stopped after a few steps, waiting for the explosion. Sal remained silent, staring at the ceiling. Kayla dared to enter further. “Sal, is everything alright?” Sal blinked, not saying a word. “Do you want to talk about anything?” Kayla questioned.

“No! I do not want to talk about anything!” Sal screeched. Kayla stared, speechless, and took a step back. Sal sat up, and gripped the bedspread tightly with both hands, grinding her teeth. “AUGH! WHY AM I LIKE THIS?!” She yelled at Kayla. “Why?”

“Sal,” Kayla began slowly, approaching Sal cautiously. “Sal, listen to me. Please, stop your yelling and listen to me.” Kayla sat down on the end of Sal’s bed, and took Sal’s hands in her own. “Sal, I don’t know what you’re going through, but from what I can see, every day to you is a struggle. Sal, don’t push people away, because without people, without interaction, you can’t defeat each struggle. If you keep everything inside, you’ll flip.”

“I’ll flip will I?” Sal demanded, her breathing fast paced. “You don’t know what I go through!”

“But I’m willing to listen,” Kayla replied, trying as best as she could to keep up her patience. “Sal, don’t push people away. Don’t push me away.”

“I don’t know!” Sal cried, beginning to sob. She snatched her hands out of Kayla’s and covered her face with them, wishing Kayla was not watching her, experiencing her break. “People are out there to hurt you, to make you feel worthless, and only are nice to you when they want something from you. And… and”

“And you’re wrong,” Kayla stated.

“HOW DO YOU KNOW?” Sal exclaimed.

“Because everybody is different, and although you may have come across people like that in your past, hardening yourself is only going to hurt one person in the end, and that’s you,” Kayla explained. “Sal, it’s okay to let people know what you’re feeling, it’s okay to talk to people. Even if you treat them nicely, they won’t use it against you. Sure, you can’t trust everybody, but you can trust us. And I think you know that.”

Sal looked at Kayla, but turned away quickly. “Why are you so nice to me?” she asked, not making eye contact.

“You’re my friend,” Kayla responded simply, reaching out for Sal’s arm. She touched her arm, and Sal withdrew quickly. “Sal, learn to trust me.”

“No…” It was barely louder than a whisper.

“Sal, don’t push people away,” Kayla reminded gently. Sal turned to Kayla, her eyes red and full of tears, her face pale, dark circles around her eyes, giving her a raccoon effect. “Sal, you’re my friend, and it’s okay to trust me.”

“I don’t know that for sure,” Sal replied.

“You can’t know for sure. Do you want to share what’s been bothering you lately or would you just like to talk?” Kayla asked, smiling.

Sal looked down at the bed, and looked up, a small smile upon her face.

*

“I’ve accomplished one thing, now I can accomplish the other,” Sal muttered to herself, determination upon her face. She marched through the school grounds, trying desperately to convince herself that she indeed, was capable of befriending Fury. She marched straight into the Shady Thicket, and began to look around for the wolfish character.

“Oh goody, its Santa Clause,” Fury muttered, walking up to Sal.

Sal sighed, trying not to lose her temper. “Fury, can you just hear me out for once without using sarcasm?”

“What do you want to say, big mouth?” Fury rolled her eyes.

“I…” Sal stumbled over her words, not knowing how to make it come out. She turned around and drove her fist into the tree before facing Fury once more, knuckles bleeding. “I’m sorry we had that fight and I know that you think I’m a big headed jerk and you know what, I don’t care! The only reason you think that of me is because I don’t listen to other people, which is right! Yeah, Fury, you’re right again! And-”

“Sal, be quiet!” Fury yelled. Sal stopped mid-sentence, and stared at Fury, who grinned back in the shadows. “I knew this would happen someday.”

“What would happen?” Sal asked, confused.

“You’d finally come out of this… this shell you put yourself in when you arrived,” Fury smiled. “Ever since you got here, you’ve been so withdrawn. And I knew that you’d snap one day. Glad it happened before the werewolf trap did.”

Sal sat down on the grass, her ripped jeans absorbing the damp on the grass. “If you know everything then why don’t you just open your big mouth and tell me then!” she exclaimed.

“It’s called timing,” Fury replied. “And knowing the right timing only comes with being around for a long time. Therefore I have a very-”

“Bad sense of timing,” Sal interrupted.

“I’ll agree with you only because you’re saying I’m young.” Fury grinned comically, and was sent rolling along the ground by Sal. Not bothering to get up, Fury asked her next question sprawled out across the grass. “What’s been happening with you and Lucidia lately?”

“She’s horrible,” Sal replied. “Punishes people for nothing.”

“Did you fight with her again?” Fury sighed.

“Yes.”

“And did she inflict one of her punishments on you again?”

“Yes.”

“Well, this punishment that Lucidia has you under, what is it like?” she questioned.

“I swear, she is the most vile, inhumane creature ever!” Sal outburst. “She had me locked in that room, drilling me for answers to whether I’m a werewolf or not!”

Fury sat up, her eyes wide. “Sal, shut up!” she hissed, eyes darting around, searching the surroundings for unwanted listeners. “If she’s been asking you whether you’re a werewolf or not then she must have some idea! Something must have given it away, and you can’t just go yelling it out now! Before wasn’t safe, but if she’s got the faintest idea, then believe me, she and the AWL will stop at nothing!”

“She knows,” Sal informed Fury. “She knows what I am.”

“How! How does she know?” Fury cried.

“I don’t know!” Sal yelled back. “But do you think that I would walk up to her and go ‘Hi, I’m Sal, I’m a werewolf. Nice to meet you’.”

“No, I don’t.” Fury stayed silent, thinking for a moment. “I don’t know where she could’ve got this from,” she told Sal. “But you’re going to have to be very careful from now on. Very careful.”

[mistysakura]

Pretty good. Kayla must have a lot of patience... she's a real friend. I think that the character development there was cool! (And I'm addicted to that stuff. ) Sal actively trying to make peace with Fury was good, too, because it shows that she's not just 100% hot tempered.

Balloise is so evil. Where are her sources of information? I'm pretty sure this fic doesn't follow LVH, because Balloise would have to be on duty on full moons... She's powerful. Sal going psycho about sitting on a chair was a bit weird, though -- I think that it might have been a bit too extreme even for Sal.

Anyway, good job.

[EVme15]

Wow... that was just so... wow.

Yeah, I'm running low on comments. I had to beta my friend's fanfic last night and it's way too early for me right now. (Damn end of vacations...)
So, I'll just say the obvious overstated stuff: great chapter, keep writing... Um... *brain freezes*

Will most likely edit once my brain thaws...

[Lady Vulpix]

Good chapter, and nice going for Kayla. Though I wonder how the conversation finished.
As for the chair scene, I really wasn't expecting Balloise to back off, but I guess even she has her limits.

[Doomykins]

...woah...*is still trying to get over the fact that Sal said she was sorry to fury*

[PancaKe]

Thanks ^^;;; THat chapter was so hard to write, I had to try and totally revolutionise Sal's character, try to make her more like the LVH Sal. Because I was rereading lvh as im reposting it (in completed fiction placE) and its amazing how differeent the Sal's are. I mean, it was easier to write Sal in LVH because it was in first person but I guess I like the challenge.

~Mist

[mr_pikachu]

Nice emotion. Not much description, but a lot of emotion. It all worked out fine. Sal's finally broken out... or has she? Only time will tell. Will she be able to share everything, or will she find herself trapped within her own emotions? Hmm...

The relationship between Martin and Nayia is interesting, while Craig and Kayla seem deeply infatuated with each other. Sean's still working his tail off, though. Will that ever end, or is he doomed to eternal slavery?

Great chapter. I can't wait for the next one!

[mistysakura]

Yay! I was waiting for this I'll comment properly later, but it's awesome that you've found the inspiration to write again. And it's great that newer readers will get to read this legendary work.

[PancaKe]

Haha thanks Ada. Yeah, I'm happy that I like to and kind of can write again. I guess I'm a lot more humble this time around.

by the way - does anyone know any television shows, or movies with characters that are just angry for no reason? Don't say anger management Just because, I feel that the part of me that was Sal has long disappeared since leaving all that made me angry and upset behind. So umm... its a real struggle to write her character now.

[Gavin Luper]

Yayyyyyyy Tara, I was hoping this was what you were referring to the other day!

Like Ada, I don't have time to give a full commentary right now (final exam in two hours!!!) but I'm stoked you're carrying on with this and will give you more feedback later.

Back in 2002/3 we were 14 and 15 and stuff, it was a lot easier to be angry at the world I reckon. There's nothing wrong with feeling happier, except you end up missing that part of you that was rebellious and angsty. Maybe it's still there and you just need to access it?

As for the TV shows... I really can't think. Dr. Cox from Scrubs but I don't think that's what you're going for. Drawing a blank other than that sorry.

Anyway, stoked Full Moon is back and I'll give a proper read and reply after my exam's over!

Cheers!

[Lady Vulpix]

Yay, it's back! I like the new ending for chapter 2. I hope you can complete the fic this time around.

Just a little note, you've missed quite a few apostrophes. Especially the ones it "mother's".

It's good to see this fic up again.

[PancaKe]

Gavin Wow, I feel so old school and professional, starting replies with an underlined name. ANYWAY, I've had my nostalgic moment now. Good luck with your final exam, let me know how you went!! Yeah, I'm feeling much happier at life now which is great, but hard to write Sal. Dr Cox isn't exactly who I was going for, but I can draw like, responses and ways he is angry at the world through him, so that is actually somewhat helpful! The reason I worry so much this time around is because ... and I don't remember who... but one person replied to LVH and basically said "Good story but the dialogue is B grade" and I've been scarred ever since. lol. So I guess in that sense, that's why I'm stressing so much over Sal's personality and dialogue, so here I am off to watch scrubs now!

Gabi I'm glad you liked the new ending. I guess, aware that everyone now is pressured for time, I wanted to try and write/publish shorter chapters. That way people can sit and read them. That and, the first chapter last time turned out to be 9 pages long. NINE PAGES! Yeah lol that's longer than any assignment I've ever done for university! I wasn't sure where to cut it, seeing as there were three main scenes present in the first chapter of the last copy, so I cut it right in the middle. I'm glad you thought it worked It's a relief! And ah, yes I will go back and fix those sneaky apostrophies up! xo xo


I'll put up the next chapter tomorrow

[PancaKe]

II

Sal made no response to this outburst of her mothers temper, and allowed her mother to carry her back, as much as she didn’t want to go. Her mother sat her down, and with a last sharp look at her, turned back to the conversation.

More and more people came to be seated, many whom Sal did not know, but her parents knew very well. Emily and Kyle spent the rest of the evening greeting people such as Pauline Notting and her boyfriend Todd Hanson, career focused Olivia Bell and others. The waiter reappeared and orders were taken from everyone.

“And for Sally-Anne I’ll order –“ Emily began.

Familiar rage rose up in Sal. She was still furious about what her mother had said to her in the bathroom and decided that nobody was going to stand over her anymore, even if it meant she was going to be rude. “A hotdog and chips,” Sal finished.

Emily glared at Sal while others around her laughed. “I can bring a hot dog for your daughter if that is what you want,” the waiter offered.

“Thank you very much but she will be having the kids size beef and vegetables please,” Emily forced herself to grin and gave the order to the waiter who shrugged and walked off.

Sal frowned and sulked quietly, not daring to open her mouth again. Silence swept the table as Sandra Hellensberg stood up. Emily and Kyle looked over in awe also. “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you the Head of the Kilbourne Division, Lucidia Balloise,” Sandra spoke.

Lucidia smiled, dark red lips moving upwards at the corners. Little Sal looked up and instantly, a wave of bad feelings washed over her. She didn’t know what it was that triggered it, whether it was the flaming orange hair or the icy blue, soulless eyes. Perhaps it was her dominating stance, the facial expression the bore, or the navy pinstripe business suit she wore. Whatever it was, Sal was frightened of her and disliked her immediately.

“Sorry for being so late,” Lucidia began, flashing a white smile at the guests. “There was important business at Kilbourne that had to be attended to. I may have to leave early because of it, but we’ll see how things go.” She flagged down the waiter to pass on her order, before turning back to the table. “Shall we discuss business now?”

“The werewolf is on it’s way,” Sandra informed her. “I won’t be visiting for a while yet though. I’ve decided it would be best to stay here for a while to observe citizens and werewolf activity.”

Lucidia nodded darkly. “I’m sure we can handle the werewolf,” she replied. “It would be interesting to observe actually, would there be any issues if I came and observed also?”

“Certainly,” Sandra nodded. She smiled at the waiter as her meal arrived.

Sal poked her tongue out at the food in front of her, refusing to eat. Conversation carried on around her, even though she took no notice of what the adults were saying. Sal understood bits and pieces of the conversation. Share prices and talk of that sort went straight over her head. She understood that her dad and mum would be the only two to be hunting, and that the scary lady might be coming back.

She didn’t really care. She was too young to understand, or so thought her mother. Sal believed werewolves to be ordinary people with a disease. She sometimes felt sad for them, because they couldn’t get better.

“Ah,” Lucidia gasped, glancing at her watch. She looked up at the table, where the others had stopped at her cry. Emily’s fork was halfway to her mouth. “I’m dreadfully sorry, but I do have to run. Sandra, I’ll send you any info we have. Nice to meet you all, hopefully to see you again. Thank you for dinner.” She pulled a hundred dollar bill from her purse and left it on the table, bid farewell and exited.

*

The weapon that captured the first werewolf lay on the desk, waiting to be picked up and used once more. Or so Kyle hoped anyway. He headed out the kitchen and into the study, picking up the weapon and shoving it into his backpack. Emily handed him a hot thermos flask with coffee, before kissing him on the cheek. He snatched his mobile phone from the desk, and kissed his Emily goodbye.

“You’ll be all right won’t you?” Emily asked.

“You should worry more about Sal,” Kyle smiled back. “Are you going to bring her at shift change?” Emily nodded. “Well rug her up then, it looks as if it’s going to be a chilly night.”

Sal wandered into the room, fully aware that Daddy was going hunting tonight. “Bye Daddy,” she said to Kyle, hugging his leg.

“Bye Sal,” Kyle grinned, ruffling her hair. She beamed up at him; her father was always her favourite, especially seeing that he called her Sal instead of her given name.

Emily glared at him. “Her name is Sally-Anne,” she growled through clenched teeth, trying to suppress her anger. Sal had learnt about her mothers temper as quickly as Kyle had, and had learnt that it was no use crying in front of her, crying in her mothers eyes was a sign of a sissy.

“Bye Sally-Anne,” Kyle corrected himself, kneeling down to hug her. “Sal,” he whispered playfully in her ear. She giggled.

*

Sal waited eagerly for shift change. It was no secret that she was Daddy’s little girl. She sat quietly on the lounge, swinging her little legs as far as she could, trying to avoid making her mother angry.

“Can we go now?” Sal asked excitedly. She grinned up at her mother.

“Not yet,” Emily replied.

“Now?” Sal asked again.

“No.”

“Now?” Sal asked again.

Sal picked herself up off the floor, and rubbed her stinging cheek. Scowling fiercely, she refused to cry. Instead she glared at her mother darkly.

“What don’t you understand about not yet,” Emily demanded.

Sal grit her teeth and glowered in response.

Emily looked up at the clock. “Five minutes,” she informed Sal.

Sal gave a small smile, but removed it the moment Emily looked.

*

Without a word, Emily buttoned Sal’s pink jacket, and squeezed a beanie onto her head, hiding the rusty orange hair underneath patterned wool. She grasped Sal’s small hand, and walked outside and down the street, glancing around nervously.

Emily wished she’d driven. There was no point in driving when discretion was what you aimed for.

She gripped Sal’s hand tightly.

Sal took in her surroundings. She liked the way the moonlight bounced off buildings, and the long shadows that were created. She liked the illumination of the clouds, and the depth and layers to them. They looked so fluffy and safe. She desperately wished she could spend all afternoon rolling around in them, feeling their soft feathery texture. There were no stars tonight. Sal looked hard for her favourite constellations, but the clouds covered most of the sky. Flickering street lights and dark alleyways lined the street they were on. Stray cats howled and knocked over garbage bins before dashing down storm water drains. A lone rat scurried its way from one shadow to the next.

Sal felt herself being suddenly yanked back, and snapping back to reality, realised her mother had stopped walking. She looked up to her mother, confused. Emily’s face was pale in the moonlight, her lower lip trembling with fear, her eyes wide and horrified. She looked as though she had been stunned. Confused, Sal turned to look at what was before her.

It lay in the middle of the pathway in a shallow pool of blood. Bite marks were all over it, but not human ones. Human bite marks didn’t rip chunks of skin out of the arms and legs and chest. A surprise attack, evident by still, wide eyes.

It was as though somebody had reached in and ripped out Sal’s heart to hold it before her as she died. She stared at her daddy, unable to look away from his corpse. Sal wanted to howl, wanted to scream, wanted to run and cuddle her daddy and wake him up. She wanted to quickly kiss his wounds better and wrap them up in bandages and her favourite dinosaur bandaids. Surely they made things better, didn’t they?

She didn’t notice the werewolf at first.

It emerged out of the shadows, blood stained, it’s teeth bared and growling. Emily took a step back, dropping the flask of coffee. Sal tried to scream, but couldn’t. Emily pulled her daughter behind her. Sal had no objections in following her mother’s orders this time.

“What have you done?” Emily shrieked at the beast, sobbing and yelling at the same time. “You filth! You dirty, feral, mutant filth! This… This is why we do what we do!” Emily screeched at the creature. Her voice quivered as she spoke.

The werewolf growled and walked slowly towards Emily and Sal. Emily began stepping backwards. “I can see your knees shaking,” it said, in a deep, husky feminine voice. “This is the same thing you’ve done to us.”

“We’re just defending ourselves from this monstrosity!” Emily argued with the creature. “This is the reason we need to hunt you down!”

“Don’t give me that bullshit,” the werewolf snapped. “Your people kill each other all the time without so much of a thought. You kill us, without so much of a thought.”

“It’s for the good of the country!” Emily yelled.

“Well this,” the werewolf advanced on Emily and Sal, “is for the good of my kind!”

“Get away from me,” Emily demanded, stammering the order. She stepped back, before turning and bolting, picking Sal up. The werewolf tackled her and Sal to the ground. Emily put Sal on her feet, trying to scramble to her own. “Run, Sally-Anne! Run and get help!”

Sal turned and ran as fast as her little legs would carry her. They ached. She strained to breathe. She dashed down the street, out of the alleyway. She stopped at the edge of the sidewalk.

She wasn’t allowed across the road unless she was holding a grown up’s hand.

She glanced behind her. The werewolf was bounding, catching up quickly. Sal tried to continue running down the path, but with one solid leap, the werewolf blocked her way.

Sal stared, eyes wide, lip quivering. The werewolf stared back, towering over the three year old.

Sal burst into tears. She couldn’t run anymore. She fell to her bottom, and sat in the middle of the footpath, wailing. Daddy was dead. Mummy was dead. Sal wanted to tear her own heart out to stop the agony she was in. She looked up, crying, into the eyes of the werewolf, and knew she was going to die.

“I’m sorry, Sal,” the werewolf sighed sadly. “I can’t think of any other way.”

[Houndoom_Lover]

I always prefered short chapters. It's easier on the reader, but when I come here, it looks just so short. And seeing Dark Sage's massive chapters, it just breaks my artistic heart *hugs you* I'm sooooo glad you started out with that :3 'cause it just put me in a good mood before reading.

That family scene in Chapter one reminds me strongely of the scene in Fullmetal Alchimist where he tells his daughter he has work to do and then TwT so I was all scared and tense as I read, worried for the Dad. Werewolfs are dangerous, and he has a little girl! I was so relieved that nothing bad happened ^_^

Who brings a three year old to a dinner party? : o Parents! Geez. There was this woman who brought her kid to a fancy restraunt I was dining at, and she was on her phone the ENTIRE time. I mean, goodness. And then she yelled at the kid for talking loudly. Maybe if she got off the phone and paid attention. It made my soup almost unenjoyable...*goes back to reading*

Awww, Sal. -insert sad face here-

I'm glad I can catch this story a second time around :3 Yay. Werewolfs and childrens!

[PancaKe]

Yeah. now that you mention it, the chapter DOES look really short. Originally those two chapters were one long mama of a chapter - totalling 9 pages on my word document. Hurt my head. I guess seeing as everyone is busy these days, too busy to read, I wanted to make it as easy as possible for people, but if I should keep them longer, then let me know for sure!

Thanks heaps for reading! Without a babysitter, what other option do the McGregors have but to take their daughter to a dinner party? But I guess more about the McGregors is learnt in chapter two, and in further chapters to come =)