by John O'Brien
Faces seem to melt, becoming blurred as the facial features are rearranged. Snouts appear, growing outward with astonishing rapidity, the ears extending as if pushed. All across the bodies, fur grows so quickly that I swear I can hear it, like the soft sound of silk being caressed. I lie glued to the scope, stunned by what I’m watching.
With the rapid changes, I now understand the drink the folks took. The pain associated with the changing bone structures must be immense. And, with them drugged on the ground and vulnerable, we are provided with a great opportunity to strike. We’ve verified what we’re dealing with and now it’s time to move.
“Lynn, verification achieved. Get Raven airborne and you’re cleared to drop,” I radio.
Where the ground outside of the cave entrance held naked humans just moments ago, there are now wolves lying on their sides. One immensely large one lies where Cletus once was, the Alpha. Almost as soon as I finish my call, the Lycans suddenly emerge from their stupor, rolling quickly to all fours. None of them have the long bushy tails of regular wolves and the shoulders and pelvic areas look slightly different, but their overall shape is distinctly wolf-like.
“Copy, Raven is airborne, ETA three minutes and we’re inbound,” Lynn responds.
“You had better hurry, they’re up and stirring,” I return.
We just have to stay small for three minutes. Even if we don’t get them all, we’ll have what we came for. We can finish this whole business once and for all in about two weeks’ time when the Lycans return to their human form. About to leave the scope and get ready for our exfil, as one, I see the Lycan heads all swivel in our direction.
That isn’t good.
With howls that reverberate throughout the valley, half of the pack leaps forward, vanishing into the woods on a path aimed directly at us. The other half vaults back through the cave opening, also disappearing from sight. For a brief moment, the Alpha stops at the entrance and stares straight toward us, then suddenly turns and vanishes.
“They’re on to us,” I radio, telling the other team members as well.
“Bomb away,” Lynn calls.
I look up at the sheer rock wall behind us. There won’t be any escape in that direction. My mind works quickly over our remaining options. The Lycans coming through the woods, and I assume the caves as well, will be on us before Raven arrives. We can maybe hold out in our present location and fight them off until our exfil comes. That will make for a tricky extraction at best and I don’t see it ending well, even if Lynn lays a ring of fire around us. The Lycans have proven too effective at closing past our lines of protection.
We can head out into the woods, fleeing and fighting for three long minutes in the close quarters of the trees. If it were people we were evading, then that would be the best choice as I’ve done that a fair number of times before with success. However, it’s a different story with werewolves, who are hard to take down and don’t fear our firepower. Lynn could lay down the napalm around us, but the density of the trees will hinder the effectiveness.
The third option is to retreat into the caves and backtrack to the other entrance. That’s risky as fuck; it will take us hours to reach the endpoint, and we’ll have to fight along the way. But the enclosed nature will provide a funnel point where we won’t have to engage the Lycans on all sides. With the flamethrowers, we could theoretically keep them at bay as we work our way back. However, when we reach the enormous cavern deep underground, the open area may allow the Lycans to flank and surround us. The other problem is that we may be facing a similar situation at the other entrance, but Raven will be waiting and we can be extracted immediately.
With the bomb somewhere in the night sky, falling toward its target, the choice of clearing away a section of the valley and holding there until exfil is removed. None of the choices seem anywhere close to being optimal, but one has to be made, and made quickly before the options are taken away from us.
“Into the cave, back to the other entrance,” I tell the team.
“Jack, that sounds like a bad idea. Raven is only two and a half out. Can’t you hold there or make a run for it?” Lynn inquires.
“We won’t last that long. Raven flight, standby at the other entrance. We’ll see all of you on the other side.”
We dash into the fissure to the sound of howls rising from within the trees. Quickly working past the snaking turns, we mostly slide down the steep descent, spilling out into the main tunnel. The clacking sound of nails on stone echoes off the walls, coming from the direction of the exit cavern, along with the steady thrumming of footfalls. We beat those coming from inside by scant seconds. The fight will soon be on us.
“Backtrack as fast as possible, never stop. Two to the rear. Ammo and flamethrowers are to be used as sparingly as possible, one flamethrower at a time. When the two flamethrowers are empty, we rotate positions. Our job here is not to kill them but to make them keep their distance,” I state. “We have a long ways to go, and let’s not forget the large cavern. That will be tricky as fuck to get through. Keep moving at a steady pace.”
I don’t have to tell anyone not to use grenades—we’re all aware that a grenade within the confines of a cave tunnel is just a bad idea. With only nods for replies, Gonzalez lights the wick of my flamethrower and we turn to trot steadily back the way we came.
My heart is thudding, nearly in rhythm to the thud of the Lycans racing behind, our footfalls and the sound of our breaths mixing in. Glancing behind, I see the leading edge of the wolves come into view, packing the width of the tunnel. The glow of their eyes flash silver and gold, becoming streaks of light as they blur with each leap. Gonzalez and I turn to meet them, the wand of my flamethrower rising to meet the oncoming mass, the end lit with the steady flame of the primer.
A concussive blast roars through the confines of the cave. My ears pop and it feels like every bone in my body is suddenly made of chalk. A wave rolls along the floor of the tunnel, rising and falling like an ocean swell, cracks appearing along the surface. Both Lycan and human are thrown from our feet, slamming into walls and the stony surface of the cave. I’m tossed into the air only to hit face down on the hard rock. An entire part of one wall between us and the wolves separates like a calving glacier, partially filling the tunnel. Rocks the size of a fist rain down from the ceiling, the sound of their hitting lost in the ringing of my ears.
One large stone slams into my shoulder blade, adding to the bruised feeling across my entire body. Other rocks continue impacting the surface with hollow tocks to bounce across the shaking floor. Debris scrapes across my cheek and forehead. It’s over as suddenly as it began with only a stray stone still falling here and there to strike the floor.
Lying on the stony surface, my brain is addled, feeling like it’s going through a reboot process. I know where I’m at, know that the others are nearby, understand the danger we’re in, but can’t put that knowledge into action, the things separate ideas that can’t quite bridge the gap. Then, the connection is made with a suddenness that is startling.
I push myself off the floor, rising to my knees. Glancing to the side, I see Gonzalez with her back to the wall and legs stretched out in front. She’s looking at me without really seeing me, her mind going through the same reboot process. Turning my gaze back down the tunnel, I see the lead Lycans are also scattered across the floor, stirring as they too come to their senses. Focusing on the flamethrower wand lying on the stony surface pocked with debris, I see that the pilot flame has been snuffed out.
Panic momentarily floods my system, the need to take action dominating my thoughts. Stuffing the rising panic back down, I scramble over to Gonzalez. I grab the front of her vest and shake it, thrusting my face close to hers.
“Gonzalez, snap out of it,” I yell.
She stares into my eyes, but I can tell she’s having problems making connective thoughts.
“You need to snap out of it and that has to happen now. Focus on me and my words,” I say, staring into her eyes.
>
She blinks, life returning. Shaking her head, she coughs.
“I’m here, sir,” she says, rolling to her feet as I release her. She paws her body, searching for her carbine hanging from its lanyard. Finding it, she brings it to a ready position.
The Lycans are also in the process of recovering, rising in the rubble dotting the tunnel. They shake themselves as all canines do, dust clouding around them and small rocks flying from their fur.
I grab the wand, thrusting it near her. “We need this relit now.”
Gonzalez holds the end of the wand in the process of lighting the pilot, as the Lycans all now stand and stare in our direction. The width of the tunnel has been narrowed from the rock fall, creating more of a choke point. They spring forward, rapidly launching toward and through the gap. They’ll be on us in seconds.
Bringing the wand around, I press the trigger. A roar of flame jets outward, filling the narrow gap just as the Lycans leap into it. The wolves are lost from sight behind an orange stream of fire, dark smoke rising to hang densely at the ceiling. Cries and howls mix with the roaring flame, the air carrying the smell of fuel, scorched fur, and burning flesh.
I release the trigger after a short burst, wanting to conserve the fuel as we have only begun the long journey out of here. The air clears. Beyond the rock slide, pillars of flame dance in the tunnel as Lycans on fire spin in circles, their pained howls filling the confined space. The others untouched by the flame stand away, separate from the agonizing dance of those on fire.
“See to the others and get them moving,” I yell to Gonzalez.
Beyond the slide, the fires begin to subside, several of the canines lying on the floor with flames licking their bodies. I don’t know if they’ll recover from their injuries, but we’ve bought a little time as the others anxiously prowl back and forth, hesitant to advance. Red Team has fully recovered and we begin our retreat once again, carefully making our way around the debris littering the tunnel floor.
Seeing us move, several of the Lycans brave the smoldering flames, launching past their fallen. Observing the success of their braver brothers and sisters, the rest soon follow, quickly closing the distance. I send another gout of flame into the rapidly approaching figures. When it clears, Gonzalez adds quick bursts of gunfire into the flaming bodies, the tink of spent rounds hitting the floor added to the mix of howls.
This time, the bravery of the werewolves is quicker, those behind the burning Lycans leaping through the flames. We establish a rhythm of sending quick bursts of fire and bullets and then whirling to run, only to turn again and repeat the process. The time between each instance shortens until we’re only able to take a few steps before having to turn again.
Slowly, we make our way toward the large cavern, each step taking us nearer. My original hope that we’d vanquish some of the Lycans is dashed as I begin to see scorched wolves join the leaping masses, their bodies exhibiting varying degrees of healing. We won’t be able to extricate ourselves by reducing their number. The game now becomes one of just keeping them at bay. Slowly, the gap between us and them narrows. And there’s the simple but horrible fact that I’ve nearly burned through my fuel. At this rate, we won’t have enough to make it all of the way to the entrance.
Like that night on the plateau, I have yet to see any sign of the Alpha, and that concerns me. I wonder exactly where he is and when he’ll make his appearance. Last time, he came in the form of a flanking ambush, and I worry that may come true again. Although I didn’t see any cave leading away from the central tunnel, that doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist out of the entrance cavern where the Lycans waited for the full moon. Or, he could be leading another pack over the ridge, passing us to come from the other side. I can only hope that the MOAB sealed off the cave and they were unable to exit. If they come at us from both sides, we’re fucked. It’s only a matter of time before we run out of fuel and bullets and are unable to hold them off.
“We’re at the cavern,” Greg radios.
We’ve arrived at the difficult part of our retreat. The openness of the area will make it easier for the Lycans to surround us and come from any angle. The distance is great and will take us time to cross. Not only that, but there’s the climb at the end, which will slow us even more.
“You guys keep going. Gonzalez, you’re with me. We’ll try to slow them for a while longer so we can get a head start,” I order.
The others take off while Gonzalez and I stand at the fissure. I don’t have much fuel left. Kindling Gonzalez’s pilot light, I douse mine and spray the walls inside the entrance and deeper with raw fuel. The jellied gas clings to the walls, dripping slowly down the rough surface.
“Light it up,” I tell Gonzalez.
She sends a small burst of flame into the tunnel, igniting the fuel sticking to the walls. The passageway becomes an inferno, heat and flame pouring out of the opening. Several wolves leap through the conflagration, their burning bodies landing on the cavern floor. I send bursts of gunfire into them and their bodies jerk under the impacts. Removing my nearly spent flamethrower, I toss it into the flames, the subsequent explosion adding to the blaze.
“Go,” I tell Gonzalez. “I’ll catch up.”
Without questioning, she turns and bolts after the others. Standing next to the entrance wall, shielding myself, I unhook two phosphorous grenades. Pulling the pins, I chuck the canisters as far down the tunnel as I can. As I sprint after the others, I hear the dual explosions amid the roar of flames.
Catching up with the others, I join the race across the cavern in a circular perimeter at an all-out sprint, angling as best we know for the side entrance and the tracker signal. The footing is tricky on the uneven floor, each step landing at a different angle. The last thing we need is for one of us to twist an ankle. We’re running surrounded by a pool of midnight, our vision only encompassing the immediate vicinity, everything beyond lost in darkness. Behind is the fading glow of flames coming from the fissure.
Our boots pound on stone, our panting breaths and footsteps both echoing and subdued as if being absorbed by the surrounding darkness. Off to the side and originating from within the inky void, there comes a sudden thrumming, the sound of paws landing heavily. There must have been another path out of the other cavern that the Lycans took intending to flank and entrap us.
An odd thought comes to mind, quickly there and gone. I think about how this feels like the scene from the Lord of the Rings where the heroes are running through the dungeons of Moria, the sound of the goblins in pursuit.
“Light your flamethrowers and continue making for the exit in a moving perimeter,” I call out.
Checking my watch for the tracker, I alter our angle slightly. Flames leap into existence and we’re off again, our pace slowed only a little as we strive to maintain a coordinated perimeter. Before we reach the other entrance, with howls and the thrum of footfalls echoing throughout the vast cavern, thermal outlines appear and wolves leap into our range of vision.
Roars of flame are added to the mix of noise, the area bathed in orange as the tongues of fire lash out. Some of the Lycans are able to dodge the spears of fire, dancing to the side as the fire fills the recently vacated space. Only those in mid-leap are unable to move away, becoming trails of flame like arcing meteors. We quickly learn to only aim at the ones in the air, our scant fuel being wasted on those with paws on the ground.
As we continue pushing for the cavern exit, we leave behind spots of fire, the Lycans circling madly or running off into the distance. In places, they lie on the ground, flames marking where they fell. However, more wolves leap into our range of vision, materializing and pushing in from all sides. The long spouts of fire and roars of combustion become nearly constant. Our movement toward the exit has slowed to a crawl and it won’t be much longer before we’re trapped, first our tanks running dry and then our ammo.
“We need to move and move quickly. Henderson, Denton, keep the front clear and push hard for the tracker. Greg, you have th
e left; McCafferty, the right. Gonzalez, keep our backsides clear. I’ll assist where needed. Let’s move it folks,” I radio.
Our momentum picks up, the two marksmen jogging forward and spraying any Lycans that appear out of the darkness. The pressure is mostly coming from ahead and to our right, although the ones that were chasing us through the cave are also putting pressure to the rear. I move McCafferty over with Greg and help Gonzalez, all the while keeping an eye on our left.
Howls and the roar of fire mix in the giant cavern, seeming to both echo and be absorbed by the surrounding wall of midnight. Wolves leap into view, the first hint a dim thermal outline followed by a gray shape becoming clearer as it vaults toward us. My carbine is shouldered as we jog toward the ledge and the relative safety of the cave. Due to the tight fit, the narrow quarters of the initial entrance will give us a reprieve from the constant onslaught, but we’ll have to shuck our flamethrowers and heave them through before we can go ourselves.
Gonzalez is triggering bursts of flame at any Lycan coming for us from behind. It’s not easy facing the rear and keeping up at the same time. The wall of darkness beyond is lit with spots of flame, giving the appearance of an old-time military encampment.
One great wolf comes into view; my crosshair swings toward the leaping figure. Leading the vaulting Lycan, I fire a quick burst, the area lighting up with strobing flashes. The fur puffs from the hits on its shoulder and along its side, red spots appearing. With a yelp of pain, the wolf is thrown from its trajectory toward Gonzalez, landing almost at her feet and skidding along the rocky floor. Gonzalez swings the wand to the nearby threat and the Lycan is instantly coated in flame. With a howl of pain, the blazing wolf limps to join the others in the darkness. I reload, the empty mag clicking metallically on the stone floor.
Another leaps out of the darkness, and I notice its entire side is devoid of fur. The ones who have managed to extinguish themselves are returning to the fray. Hitting the vaulting Lycan dead square in the front of the chest, I slide to the ground to avoid its trajectory. My hip takes the brunt of landing on the stone, the heavy punch sending a wave of pain upward. The leaping form of the wolf sails above, my carbine barking as I stitch its underside with silver-plated rounds. Still sliding across the surface from my dash, I push myself upward and quickly gain my feet. The canine hits the ground, its legs crumpling. Passing the still-moving wolf, I place several rounds into the back of its head and keep going.