100% Hero

by Jayne Lyons

  'Where did you go on the Hunt?' she asked, poking one of the slugs with a stick. 'Gross.'

  'To the Stone Circle. That's where Cripp shot my dad. You can tell because of the Blavendoch.'

  'Blavendoch? What's that?' Priscilla's blue eyes opened wide.

  'It's a plant you only find in the ancient forests of Europe, of course.' Freddy was speaking quite pompously about something he hadn't known about until recently.

  'What's so special about it?' she asked.

  'It only grows where a wolf's blood has been spilt, and it only flowers under a full moon. Its petals are as red as blood, and its juice is supposed to be . . . magical.' Freddy's voice dropped to a whisper.

  'I want to have one.' The beautiful girl pouted. 'You could get it for me tonight.' She tilted her head and looked at Freddy through her eyelashes.

  'But it's on the other side of Milford,' Freddy said uncertainly. 'Dad won't let me tonight . . . Perhaps next month.'

  'That's too late! Do you always do what daddy says? That's so lame,' Priscilla snorted. 'Or perhaps you're just . . . scared?'

  'No way!' Freddy jumped to his feet in outrage.

  He bashed his head against the underside of the bridge.

  'Ow! I'm not a chicken. Watch this.'

  He picked up a slug, balanced it on his nose and then flicked it up, caught it in his mouth and ate it. It tasted so bad that he thought he might be sick.

  'See . . .' he said, going a little green, '. . . not a coward.'

  Priscilla only snorted. 'I want a Blavendoch, not a dead slug.'

  'Wolf, wolf, wolf, wolf, wolf, wolf, wolf!' Freddy repeated under his breath for the thousandth time. 'Please not poodle.'

  He was with his father in the Great Hall. They were standing next to the window, which ran from ceiling to floor and had a thick curtain pulled across it. Mrs Mutton, Chester and Priscilla were all seated in a row. It is always a great honour for a Weren to be present at a Transwolfation.

  Freddy's palms and neck were itching unbearably. He saw his father also shrugging his shoulders uncomfortably. Then Flasheart spoke, in a voice that made Freddy's heart thump with pride. Flasheart was fun, but he was also the Grand Growler, and could instil respect, even fear, in anyone.

  'We howl thanks for the ancient magic of the Moonstone. Now, by the power of the silver moon, let the Transwolfation begin!'

  Freddy drew the curtains and the hot beams of the moon fell onto father and son.

  The boy saw his father arch back under the heat of the magic. Flasheart fell forward onto his hands and roared as his bones grew, distorted and pushed at his skin. As his own black hair spread and his fangs grew, Freddy felt his wonderful, painful, fantastic Transwolfation falling upon him.

  Freddy saw Flasheart jump up to the window and howl, the most powerful Fangen in Britain. Chester and Priscilla were watching him in awe. They had never seen such a huge wolf before.

  As his skin continued shivering, it seemed to Freddy that his father was still growing, but no – it was he who was shrinking.

  'Oh, no!' he yipped. Dripsy-Wimpsy had struck again.

  'Great horned toads!' Chester jumped out of his chair in disgust. 'So the rumours are true!'

  Freddy didn't wait for Priscilla to speak; the look of revulsion on her face was enough. The Second Greatest Werewolf Hero Ever was . . . a poodle.

  Freddy scampered out of the room, down the corridor and out the kitchen door. The full heat of the moon fell onto him, but its warmth could not help him.

  'Freddy!' Batty barked in delight as she ran after him. She had seen all, watching from the shadows. Although she could talk to him as wolf or dog, she was pleased to see him as a poodle once more – just like the silly pup she had first met and grown so fond of.

  'This is wooftastic,' she said as she bounded up to him.

  'Are you kidding? It's a total disastrophe!' he yelped.

  'But it's just like old times. Stinky's back again.' Her wet nose twitched in excitement.

  'But I don't want to be Stinky! I don't want to be a stupid dog,' he cried.

  Batty bared her teeth a little, but Freddy didn't realise how upset she was. He couldn't think of anything but himself.

  'I want pure blood.'

  'Well, you ain't got it, have you?' she growled. 'I ain't ashamed of being a dog. I'm proud.'

  'But I'm supposed to be a wolf, it's not the same.' Freddy stamped his delicate little foot in frustration. 'Why can't anything ever go right?'

  'But you're a hero, remember. Ain't that better than anything?' She nudged him and smiled. She was never able to stay angry for long.

  'Well, yes, that's true . . .' he agreed and started to cheer up a little, but then he remembered the expression on Priscilla's face. 'But she doesn't think so. She wants a wolf who can bring her the Blavendoch.'

  'What do you want to get flowers for?' Batty scoffed. 'You ain't no sissy.'

  'She thinks I am.'

  'Oh, who cares what snot-nose thinks?' She nudged him again. 'Come on, Stinky, let's jump in the moat, hide Mrs M's slippers and steal some sausages.'

  Freddy was standing in the shadows of the castle. His sharp little fangs stuck out from his lower jaw and he frowned. What would have been a great plan normally now didn't seem like the kind of thing a hero did. Not the kind of thing that could take the look of disgust off Priscilla's face.

  Freddy stepped back out into the moonbeams.

  'No, my friend,' he announced, 'I cannot play tonight, for I have a mighty feat to accomplishate. I do not ask you to come with me – for it is dangerous work.'

  Batty snorted. 'Stop showing off, Freddy, or I'll bite your tail off. What are you on about?'

  'I'm going to get the Blavendoch for her!' he said, and started running around the castle towards the bridge.

  Batty chased after him.

  'Stinky, wait,' she barked. 'I'm coming too.' There was no way she was letting the silly pup run halfway across Milford on his own.

  'Freddy,' Flasheart called, emerging from the castle to look for his son. 'Freddy, no!' he roared, as he saw a little black tail disappear through the bars of the gate that guarded the entrance to the grounds.

  He raced over, and arrived just as Batty was also trying to squeeze through the gate. She was too big. By now Freddy had disappeared out of sight down the long, narrow lane that led to Milford.

  'That pup is a moatful of trouble!' Flasheart snarled to himself. Batty barked.

  The wolf and dog exchanged a significant look. Freddy could speak both the wolfen and canine languages, thanks to his mixed blood, but his father and his friend had to rely on intuition to speak to each other. They both understood now. They had to follow Freddy and make sure he came home safely.

  Flasheart stood on his hind legs and pushed the gate controls with his nose. The gate began to swing open. In seconds, Batty and Flasheart were racing after the poodle, their eyes glistening in the bright moonlight.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Blavendoch

  Freddy's heart was beating fast as he ran towards Milford. Okay, yes, he was a wolf and a hero who had been on the Blood-Red Hunt, but never before had he been alone in the forest. The trees looked blue and metallic under the moonlight. Freddy turned off the lane and scampered through the trees towards the Stone Circle. Of course, he didn't believe in goblins, or elves, or ghosts; he wasn't a puppy. But then most humans didn't believe in werewolves either . . . What if goblins, elves and ghosts did exist after all, and were just good at hiding in really dark, really scary forests? He heard what sounded like padding paws and heavy claws following him, and ran faster in his fright. He would find the Blavendoch and get back to the safety of Farfang as soon as he could. Then Priscilla would see him for the hero he was. His poodley chest swelled with pride.

  Freddy slowly crept forwards towards the clearing in the forest. Under the blue light of the moon stood the ancient stones of the circle. They were far older than Farfang, as old as the Weren themselves, and no-one kne
w what magic they held. Freddy had been there twice in daylight and only once under the moonlight with his father. In the depth of the night, despite the warmth of the moon, he shivered with fear. This was the very spot where his Uncle Hotspur had betrayed his own brother, and led him to the silver bullet of Dr Foxwell Cripp – dreaded werewolf hunter.

  Freddy inched towards the stones and green grass. He paused within the shadow of the trees. With a gasp, he saw what so few have seen – the blossom of the Blavendoch, fed by the blood of the Fangen. By day, it looked like an ordinary stinging nettle, but when warmed by the full moon, its flower was of a beauty not to be equalled. Its petals were said to give life back even beyond the grave. Not even Priscilla Puceley could turn her perfect nose up at such a gift. Freddy ran forward to grasp the stem of the beautiful red flower in his teeth, and then . . . It all happened so quickly.

  'Freddy, no! Don't touch the flower!' Flasheart roared, jumping into the clearing.

  Freddy didn't bite. As he paused, the grass clearing was suddenly flooded with searchlights. It was as if he were on a stage. Freddy jumped back in fright. Flasheart snarled with fury. It was a trap! Again.

  'Run, Freddy, quickly,' Flasheart roared, blinded by the lights on all sides.

  'Dad, what's happening?' the puppy yipped, his heart beating faster than ever.

  'Get out of here. Now!' The huge wolf glared defiantly at the lights.

  'Stinky, quick! This way.'

  Freddy saw Batty through the bright glare and raced towards her. A man ran out and blocked his path, but Batty threw herself at him with a furious growl. The man yelped and fell backwards and the two dogs sprinted into the trees.

  'It's okay, Dad, this way,' Freddy barked and turned back in time to see his father leaping for freedom as the men advanced on him. He heard the shot fire and saw the beautiful black wolf slump onto the ground, next to the blossom of the Blavendoch.

  'Dad!' Freddy cried in horror, and started to run back.

  'No, Stinky.' Batty tackled him from behind and clamped her paw on his head. 'You can't help him if you get caught too.'

  Freddy struggled to stand. He was desperate to see if his father was okay. His chest was painful with fright.

  'Just let me see then,' he whispered.

  Batty nodded, her own heart beating too fast. Hidden in the shadows, the two friends crept on their stomachs towards the circle of light.

  Freddy could see his father's body lying on the ground. With relief, he saw that the wolf's chest was rising and falling – he was only asleep. A very pretty lady stepped into the spotlight. She had dark skin and black curly hair. Freddy was surprised to hear her speak in an American accent.

  'Are you sure he's okay?' she said, stroking Flasheart's rich black coat.

  A man approached her, holding a rifle by his side.e'll sleep until we get back to the zoo.'

  'I would hate for him to be hurt . . .'

  'Sugar, please!' A man with a goatee beard ran up to her. 'We're on a schedule! The camera is rolling!'

  Freddy looked to where the man had come from and saw a large TV camera set up on one side of the clearing. That explained all the lights.

  The lady frowned again and stood up. She stepped across Flasheart's body, stood in front of the TV camera and spoke into her microphone.

  'And so, viewers, the report from our secret informer about a "Great Beast" in Milford is true. But don't fear, he is safe and well. As you can see, it is a wolf, but twice the size of any wolf I've ever seen. We'll catch up with him in the morning and see what our Super Vet has to say about the "Beast of Milford". And so for now, I'm Sugar Smith, America's top reporter, signing off. And remember, on World's Most Wanted Wildlife the cameras never stop rolling.'

  'Oh no!' Freddy groaned. What a total disaster. In five hours' time the sun would rise and his father would transform back into a man in full view of the whole world. Never had the secret existence of Wolfenkind been in so much danger of being exposed – and it was all his fault.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Disaster

  Freddy and Batty watched as Flasheart was lifted on a stretcher and loaded onto the back of a utility truck. It took four men to lift him and even then they were puffing and sweating.

  'We have to rescue him before dawn,' Freddy said. 'If he transforms back in front of those cameras . . .' He couldn't invent a word bad enough for such a disaster.

  The searchlights had now gone out. Sugar Smith had climbed into a van, along with her crew. The man with the rifle climbed into the front seat of the truck that held the wolf.

  Batty's ears perked high as she heard the engines start, and the headlights beamed on.

  'Come on then, Stinky. Now's your time to be the hero again. Operation Free Wolf is go. On the truck, quick.'

  'Of course!' he murmured.

  The truck began to drive and the dogs made a dash towards it. The back of the truck was too high for them to reach.

  'Up here, this way,' Freddy yipped. Two of the standing stones had fallen down many hundreds of years ago and one now lay across the other, with one end buried in the grass. Freddy sprinted as fast as he could and tore up the stone slab. At the top, he launched himself towards the flat bed of the truck. He sailed through the air.

  'Ouch,' he yelped, as he crashed painfully onto some hard metal equipment in the back of the vehicle.

  'Woow!' Batty landed with a graceful flop onto a soft tarpaulin. 'Great plan, Stinky.'

  He nodded, and then moaned as he tried to climb down from the metal legs and camera tripods.

  'Shush.' Batty pointed her ears at the driver.

  'I am shushing.' Freddy tripped over as the vehicle lurched. He landed with a crash, his nose next to his father's. Flasheart snored in his face, completely oblivious to the danger they were in.

  'Freddy, hide under here,' Batty growled, her hairy black-and-white muzzle sticking out from under the tarpaulin.

  Freddy dived in with her and the two friends lay in the dark, wondering where on earth they were going.

  'What's that smell?' Half an hour later, Freddy jumped up and stuck his nose out from under the tarpaulin. His ultra-sensitive dog nose could pick up scents that a human could never have smelt.

  'Animals,' Batty said with a frown, her pretty nose twitching. 'Lots of different animals.'

  Freddy snuck out and put his paws up to look through the front of the truck. The driver was oblivious to the poodle straining to see behind him.

  The vehicle jolted around a bend and Freddy saw a sight he recognised. Ahead of them was a huge wall, ten metres high and topped with barbed wire. A large arch spread over the gateway. The words 'Milford Zoo' were picked out in coloured lights.

  'Oh, great howls,' Freddy groaned and crawled back to his hiding place.

  A zoo was designed with one purpose . . . to keep animals inside. How was his father going to escape from here?

  The two vehicles drove in and the gate closed behind them.

  Flasheart was locked in a cage in the zoo's hospital. The vet had checked him and was happy that he was in perfectly good health. The great black animal lay on his stomach, breathing steadily. A numbered metal tag had been pierced through his ear like an earring.

  'This is possibly a new breed, or even species.' The vet was talking into Sugar's microphone as they both stood and looked at the sleeping animal. 'He's nearly double the size of our wolves here in the zoo, and his fangs are exceptionally big.'

  'Well, there you have it, viewers. Another great discovery from your team on World's Most Wanted Wildlife – a new species of mutant wolf. And you wouldn't want to meet this fella when he's angry. We'll come back tomorrow and see how he's doing. This is Sugar Smith saying a very late goodnight.'

  The cameraman switched off the main camera, but he had erected a smaller one in the corner of the room – it would record everything that happened.

  Sugar bent down and put her hand through the bars of the cage to stroke the wolf's fur.

  With a sud
den growl and a quick pounce, Flasheart took her hand in his jaws – not biting, just holding. Sugar gave a small scream of fright. The wolf's green eyes sparkled with amusement once he realised that the hand that had awoken him was no threat. He released it with a sharp-toothed grin.

  Sugar jumped back. She could almost believe that she heard the wolf laughing.

  'Did you get that on film?' she stammered.

  'Oh, yes. We'll get everything,' the cameraman assured her.

  'Dad, Dad!' Freddy banged on the window with his nose. 'Over here.'

  He was hanging on to the window ledge outside with his front paws. His feet were struggling to stay balanced on Batty's head and shoulders. Freddy could just see inside the zoo's hospital. His father was inspecting his cage, searching for a way out.

  'Ow, Stinky, get your foot out of my ear!' Batty complained.

  'Whoops, sorry. Dad, Dad!' He banged again.

  'Ergh!' Batty growled. 'Have you farted?'

  'Erm . . . no, it wasn't me.'

  'Yeah, right! Stinky by name, stinky by nature. Hurry up, will you – I can't breathe now,' the mongrel complained.

  'I'm trying, aren't I? Dad, over here,' he called louder, before looking over his shoulder, concerned that he and Batty might also be caught.

  Flasheart's ears jumped and he turned to see his son's little poodley head bobbing up and down at the window. He laughed.

  'Well done, Pinky,' he called, and stuck his muzzle through the bars of his cage.

  'Dad, I'm really sorry. I was just trying to get the Blavendoch for Priscilla. I didn't mean for you to get caught.'

  'Well, maybe next time you'll listen to your father.' Flasheart frowned. 'But we'll talk about that later. Where am I?'

  'In the zoo's hospital,' Freddy yipped. 'The front gate's locked, but the Plan Master sneaked in.'

  'That's not good.' Flasheart tried forcing the cage door with all his strength. 'I can't open it and the rather charming lady who is my captor took the key with her.'