The Wereing

  The Wereing

  The Werewolf Chronicles, Book Three

  Rodman Philbrick and Lynn Harnett

  For Kurt Johnson

  RULES OF THE WEREING

  1. A werewolf is created by birth or bite.

  2. The wereing is the change from human to beast and lasts for the three nights of the full moon.

  3. The first wereing of a werewolf child occurs in the twelfth year.

  4. If the werewolf child makes a kill in the three nights of the full moon, it shall have all the powers of a full-blooded werewolf and remain a monster forever.

  5. A full-blooded werewolf can change into human form at any time, but must become a werewolf when the moon is full.

  6. A werewolf cannot cross water.

  7. A werewolf cannot tolerate anything silver.

  Chapter 1

  I am a monster.

  For the three nights of the full moon I crouch in the foul swamp outside the peaceful town of Fox Hollow. Seeking the darkness. But there is no escape from the full moon. It turns me into a monster. A hideous, howling beast with thick fur, sharp claws, and dripping fangs.

  Each night as the moon rises I am transformed into a werewolf. I prowl through the swamp on all fours, my nostrils filled with the scent of terrified creatures.

  It is me they fear.

  By day I am a human boy, an ordinary twelve-year-old who goes to school. But for the three nights of the full moon I become a horrible night creature who hungers for blood.

  Werewolves bite and kill, that is their nature. But I keep resisting the evil inside me. I have to fight it because—

  CRASH! A deer bursts out of the thicket, catches a glimpse of me, and flees in panic. Every fiber of my being yearns to chase that terrified deer. My muscles tense—and then I clamp my powerful jaws shut and force the hunger down, swallowing hard.

  Yes, I have to fight the monster in me. If I kill just once, I will be a werewolf forever and the people of Fox Hollow will be overrun by the pack of evil creatures who stalk the shadows of night, eyes gleaming like red fire. Werewolves who crave human flesh, especially the blood of children.

  I will never be one of them! Never!

  The people of Fox Hollow don’t know my secret.

  Oh, they know that I was raised by wolves—real, magnificent wolves, not the foul creatures of the night.

  But if they knew the real truth—that I’d become a werewolf—my new human friends would drive me away, back into the swamp where Wolfmother had found me abandoned as a baby. It was she who raised me with her own cubs, and taught me the ways of the forest. It was she who had tried to protect me from the evil werewolves, and failed.

  I could no longer be a wolf. More than anything I want to be human. But whenever the moon waxes full, the wereing begins, and I am a monster again.

  I throw back my head and howl in loneliness.

  “AAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.”

  My mournful cry echoes through the swamp, terrifying the other creatures of the forest. Squirrels cower in the tree branches. Owls screech in panic.

  Suddenly a bright light catches my eye. Unlike the silvery cool light of the moon, this light is a golden warmth. The light seems to call, beckoning me to come closer.

  I shouldn’t go. It is too dangerous—for myself and for the humans of Fox Hollow. But the light fills me with longing.

  I run toward the light, unable to resist.

  Chapter 2

  The wind ruffled my fur as I ran toward the glowing light. My strong lungs filled with sweet, woodsy air. I cleared mossy bogs in a graceful bound and sailed over fallen trees and half-rotten logs. The night was clear as day to my keen eyes and my body sang with the power of the werewolf.

  At moments like this I forgot I was a monster. I felt beautiful and wild and free.

  Then I reached the edge of the swamp where the trees stopped and the new town of Fox Hollow began. The light glowed softly, drawing me in. But this was as close as I dared to go.

  Flicking my tail, I hid among the trees, looking longingly into the light. It was the light from Paul Parker’s bedroom. The Parkers were my new human family. They had taken me into their home the day the hunters carried me out of the swamp, away from my wolf family.

  These good humans thought I was in my room right now, sleeping. After supper I’d told everybody I didn’t feel well and was going to bed early. Mrs. Parker looked concerned. But she thought it was due to the terrifying adventures we’d all had on our school field trip the first night of the full moon.

  I hated lying to my new family, but I had no choice.

  Paul’s window was open to the night air and music from his boom box drifted out to me. I crept closer and watched him squirm and jump around in his chair as he played a computer game. Just like Paul! He was my age and already he was like a brother to me.

  As I watched from the darkness, Paul’s bedroom door opened and his sister Kim entered. Kim was a year younger. She was pretty good at taking care of herself but I felt protective toward her, just like I had toward the wolf cubs.

  There was something about her—I couldn’t help it. Maybe it was because the other werewolves, the awful night creatures, seemed to take a special interest in Kim.

  I watched Kim and Paul laughing together and wished they could be out here with me. I wished we could all romp together in the woods. Then I shuddered. They’d have to be werewolves to be with me now. That was a fate I wouldn’t wish on anybody.

  Still, my body tingled with energy. I felt so strong and beautiful I wanted Kim to see how magnificent I was. Surely Kim would see the beauty in me.

  My heart thumped with anticipation as Kim started moving slowly toward the window, her eyes sparkling with laughter. I remembered how she made jokes while she taught me to read and speak the human tongue. She never taunted me or made me feel stupid like some of the other kids did.

  As she came closer to the window I stepped out of the trees, into a bright patch of moonlight. I could feel how the moon gleamed on my coat and how it made my eyes shine. Any second Kim would see me.

  I took a deep breath to swell my great chest.

  “Aaaargh!”

  What I smelled at that moment brought me to my senses. I leaped back into the shelter of the trees and crouched, sniffing.

  The foul stench burned my sensitive nose. It was a monster I smelled—a hideous, revolting werewolf.

  And it was lurking in the trees, watching Kim and Paul!

  Chapter 3

  Anger boiled up inside me as I crept soundlessly to where the werewolf was hiding. The monster’s revolting odor was growing stronger with every careful step. Why was it spying on my friends?

  Most likely it wanted to infect them with a bite, turning them into foul creatures like itself. Or maybe it hungered for their young blood.

  Not if I got to it first! My claws itched to sink into the monster’s leathery back. Why was it here alone? Were the other werewolves planning something horrible? Maybe this one had been sent to make sure I stayed out of their way.

  Baring my fangs, I was determined to get answers to all my questions. I crept closer. I could see the werewolf hiding behind a tree and staring up at the lighted window, its evil eyes glowing brilliant red. Strings of slobber dripped from its jaws and burned like acid when they hit the ground. The monster was staring so intently at my friends it wasn’t aware of me.

  I knew I would only get one chance. The full-blooded werewolves were bigger and stronger than me. And I suspected they were more powerful in other ways, too—magical ways I knew nothing about. If I didn’t knock the monster down the first time, it would get me for sure.

  I took a deep breath and leaped.

  WHAM!

  I landed on nothing but hard ground and de
ad leaves. The monster had been too quick for me. It was gone.

  Disgusted with myself I started to brush the leaves and dirt off my paws. But some bits of it were stuck. I’d landed on something sticky. I brought my paw up to my face and sniffed.

  Blood! My ears shot up and the hair along my back stood on end. I dropped to the ground and sniffed carefully all around. I found a few more drops, still sticky, as if the werewolf had bitten something not too long ago.

  My blood ran cold. Was I too late? Had the werewolves already taken over Fox Hollow? Had they been busy in town while I was roaming the woods?

  Tomorrow, I’d know the truth. Exhausted, I crept behind a tree and slept.

  Chapter 4

  I woke with the sun streaming into my face. Blinking, I jumped up. I was a boy again! Yes! It was all over—until the next full moon. I grabbed the clothes I had brought out with me last night and pulled them on.

  Happy as I was to be human again, I couldn’t completely forget that it wasn’t really over at all. The other werewolves could change from human to monster any time they wanted. I was the only one who was human all the time except the three nights of the full moon.

  But I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and headed for the house. Quietly I unlocked the back door and let myself in. Avoiding the boards that squeaked, I tiptoed to the stairs and up to my room.

  A few minutes later Mrs. Parker tapped on my door. “Gruff? Are you awake? Are you feeling any better?”

  I opened the door, yawning like I’d just woken up. “I’m fine, Mrs. Parker,” I said. “Maybe I just needed some extra sleep.”

  “That’s good,” she said, patting my shoulder and smiling happily. It gave me a warm feeling, like she really cared about me. “Why don’t you tell Paul to hurry up while I get breakfast on the table.”

  I knocked on Paul’s door and he yelled for me to come in. “Hey, man, you look like your old self again,” he said, tugging on a sneaker. “You really looked sick last night.”

  No, not sick, I thought. Just miserable, knowing I was going to turn into a monster. And hating it that I had to lie to my new family. They were so good to me; but if they knew what I was, they’d all run screaming from me in fear and disgust.

  Kim came down late for breakfast, looking sharp in new khaki pants and a bright pink T-shirt. I grinned at her but she just gave me a funny look. Before I could figure out what that was about, Mrs. Parker was talking.

  “Kim, did you notice if Dad was up? He’s going to be late for work if he doesn’t get down here soon,” said Mrs. Parker.

  Kim shrugged. “I think I heard him,” she said. “But I wasn’t really paying attention.”

  We were almost finished with breakfast when Mr. Parker came down.

  “You were awfully late last night, dear,” said Mrs. Parker. “I must have fallen asleep before you came in.”

  Mr. Parker looked tired. There were dark circles under his eyes. “Yes,” he said, sitting down. “We all had to work late. Some new project they’re starting at Wolfe Industries.”

  Was it my imagination or was Mr. Parker avoiding his wife’s questioning gaze? But before I had time to think about it, Paul jumped up. “Come on,” he said. “We’ll be late for school.”

  Then as we headed out the door, Kim grabbed my sleeve and pulled me aside. “What’s up with you, Gruff?” she asked, searching my face with her keen eyes. “I know you weren’t in your room last night.”

  My heart leaped in panic. Did she know?

  “Let’s go, you two,” yelled Paul from the sidewalk. “We’re late!”

  “I’m not letting you go till you tell me,” said Kim. She was smiling but I could see by the set of her jaw that she meant it.

  I swallowed. “Can you keep a secret?”

  Chapter 5

  “A secret!” said Kim. Her eyes were guarded. “What kind of secret?”

  I looked over my shoulder nervously but Kim’s parents were talking quietly together in the kitchen. They couldn’t hear me.

  “I was out hunting werewolves,” I said, feeling my heart beat fast.

  Kim’s eyes opened wide so the whites showed all around. Her jaw dropped. “You didn’t go back into the swamp, did you?” she asked in a hushed whisper.

  “I had to,” I said. “It’s not just the swamp, it’s the town I’m worried about.”

  “The town?” Kim shook her head and her shiny brown hair shimmered in the sunlight. “Oh, no, Gruff, those creatures wouldn’t dare come near the town. The grown-ups would see them for sure. Right now our parents don’t believe in the werewolves. They think we kids panicked that night in the woods. But if they saw those monsters, they’d run them right out of town. As long as we stay out of the swamp we’ll be safe,” she said as if she was trying to convince herself.

  Kim thought the adults were stronger than werewolves. I couldn’t tell her that I suspected some of the adults were werewolves. And I didn’t believe the adults could save us from the threat of the monsters, anyway. But I couldn’t tell Kim that.

  “I think the werewolves are plotting to take over the town,” I said to Kim. “They’re very sneaky. They go after the kids first. You saw that on the field trip. And then, once they’ve turned us into werewolves, they think we’ll bite the grown-ups and infect them, too.”

  The color drained out of Kim’s face. “Gruff, that’s horrible,” she said. “Horrible!” Her frightened eyes locked into mine. “Then you don’t think your wolf family chased the monsters away that night. You think the werewolves will be back to try again, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” I said. “I think they’ll be back. But I don’t know when.”

  “What are you two doing?” yelled Paul, scowling from the sidewalk. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”

  Kim shot me one last look full of doubts and worries and questions. Then she ran to catch up with Paul. I followed, a little slower. My feelings were all mixed up. I was glad I had shared my fears with Kim. Now she would be on the lookout for danger—and I believed the monsters wanted her especially, though I didn’t know why.

  But I felt guilty that I didn’t tell her about myself. But how could I tell her? Kim had seen the werewolves. If she knew I was one of those horrible things, she’d run screaming from me. And I might be the only one who could save her. My insides felt queasy just thinking about such a big responsibility.

  And here we were walking straight into the biggest danger of all—school. I knew the school was infested with werewolves looking for their chance to turn all the kids into monsters like them. But I didn’t know which adults were werewolves and which ones were just ordinary teachers.

  But one thing I did know—the werewolves would have their eyes on me. I was like them except that I wouldn’t cooperate in their evil plans. And the werewolves didn’t let anything stand in their way.

  They would be waiting for me. Right inside the school.

  Chapter 6

  Most of the sixth-grade kids were already in class by the time Paul and I got there.

  All the kids seemed nervous, squirming around in their seats and turning pale suddenly for no reason at all.

  But it wasn’t surprising. This was our first day back in school since the disastrous field trip three days ago on the first night of the wereing.

  Our principal, Mr. Clawson, and our gym teacher, Mr. Grunter, had disappeared that night when they took us into the swamp on a field trip. The kids thought the two grown-ups had been caught and eaten by the monsters who attacked our bus. I was the only one who knew that our principal was the leader of the werewolves and Mr. Grunter was a werewolf, too.

  “Settle down now, class,” said Miss Possum, our sixth-grade teacher. She looked at us sympathetically and smoothed her skirt as she stood up. “I know you’re all very upset about Mr. Clawson and Mr. Grunter. But that’s no reason to be making up horrible stories. You’ve frightened the little kids. A lot of parents have called to say the younger children are having nightmares. So, I’d like
the rumors to stop right now, do you understand?”

  Kids exchanged glances and quickly looked away again.

  “Sure, Miss Possum,” somebody murmured.

  “Okay, Miss Possum,” said another.

  Miss Possum nodded briskly. “Good,” she said. “Now, everyone line up. We’re having a special assembly for fifth and sixth graders only. We’re going to get this sad business done with, once and for all.”

  Her lips tightened and her eyes narrowed. My heart lurched. Miss Possum couldn’t be one of them, could she?

  Paul’s eyes met mine in a look of alarm. “What’s this all about?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know,” I said. My feet felt like they were made of lead as I slowly stood up and got in line. I could see everyone else felt the same way. Some kids were biting their lips so hard they left marks. One girl was tugging on her braid. It must have hurt but she didn’t seem to feel it. Her eyes were wide and scared.

  What were they going to do to us?

  We were the only ones who knew about the monsters. Once they had us all together in one big room they could lock us in. They could force us onto buses and take us on another field trip—deeper into the swamp this time. They’d turn all the kids into werewolves and send them home to infect their parents.

  We were doomed, and we couldn’t do anything about it!

  I opened my mouth to shout a warning. But just then something hit me hard between the shoulder blades, knocking the breath right out of me.

  Chapter 7

  “Come on, Gruff, move!” urged Paul in a sharp whisper, nudging me again. “Miss Possum’s staring at us.”

  I looked up and met the teacher’s eyes. Was she still a human or had she turned into a night creature? I couldn’t tell.

  I shivered and began moving with the class.

  I was glad Paul had brought me to my senses. If I had yelled, it would have accomplished nothing except to scare the other kids and get me barred from assembly. We silently filed down the hall and into the gymnasium. The fifth-grade class was already seated in the bleachers. I waved at Kim but she didn’t see me. It was weirdly quiet.