Red the Wolf Tracker

by Pauline Creeden

  I walk over and sink into the couch. I slowly open the envelope, take a deep breath and start reading.

  PETER

  I couldn’t resist. At 3:30, I stood across the street from our apartment building just to get a glimpse of Red. When she comes barreling around the corner, I know I caused the look of panic on her face. My heart breaks as my phone rings again, and I ignore her call. I should probably have left my phone at home, but if they get suspicious, I’ll destroy it and see if Viktor can get me a new one.

  As I’m walking, I see Scott headed towards the building. “Scott, I’m already headed to see Viktor,” I holler. When I yell, Scott jumps a bit before turning and seeing me. His face tells me he wasn’t there to meet me — he was looking for the girl I walk to school, Red. My jaw tenses, and my hands fist.

  “Oh, Peter, hi. I, uh, was just on my way to get you. Change of plans. Viktor is too busy to see you now, so I’ll take you to the pack’s home.”

  “Okay. That sounds good.” I try to think of something to talk about to get his mind off of Red. “How does the pack live? What can I expect?”

  Scott leads me away towards The Den. “Well, we all live in one big house, but we don’t have our own rooms. There are plenty though so if you want to be alone, that is possible, too. Our kind need to be able to touch each other frequently, so you’ll be sleeping next to others. Probably this will help with your insomnia. We all pitch in to clean and keep food in the house. Everything is shared. We don’t have anything that is just our own.” Scott laughs deeply, “But that’s okay because most of us want to share anyway.”

  “So … no real privacy?”

  “We keep a few rooms that are for just one person, or a couple, if you want to be alone. But usually we all just sleep in the family room. If you want to be alone, just go to one of those rooms and flip the sign that’s hanging on it to occupied. You’ll be left alone, or at least, they will knock first.”

  “Okay. That will take some getting used to.” I don’t like the sound of this at all, but I can endure it, for Red.

  As we get to the street The Den is on, we go the opposite way, a dead-end road. There is a huge mansion at the end, and I see no other houses close by. “How much land is there?”

  “There are about fifty acres right here, plus we have another home a few towns over that sits on 150 acres. We need plenty of room to run, especially during the full moon. That happens soon—it’ll be your first one. Make sure you stay close to Viktor or myself; so we can help you through that.”

  We get to the front door, and Scott walks in. I follow a bit timidly because of all the racket. I’ve never been a people person, but even less since I was turned. Red and Grandma have been the only ones I’ve ever been able to be around—even my mom made me tense.

  “Everyone!” Scott booms. Sudden dead silence. “Young Peter has decided to join us and live here with us. Welcome him to the pack.”

  Everyone lifts their head and howls. It still surprises me how much like wolves they sound, even while completely human. “Um, thanks, guys. Where do I put my clothes?”

  “Evan, will you show Peter where he can claim a spot?” Scott asks.

  “Sure, man. Follow me.” Evan, an African-American kid, who looks a couple years younger than me, takes off up the stairs quickly, and I have to jog to catch up. He leads me to the attic. “This can be your spot until you are ready to fully join us downstairs.”

  “Thanks, man. I’m just not used to being around so many people, wolves, whatever. I’ve always been a loner for the most part,” I explain.

  “Yeah we take a lot to get used to. Take some time and just chill. When you’re ready, come on down and we can hang out.” Evan turns and starts for the stairs.

  I look around the sparse room, furnished with only a bed, dresser, desk and chair. I decide to sit down on the floor with my bag and dig through it. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but I see my hoodie and pull it out. I inhale deeply, breathing in Red’s scent, glad for it.

  Red’s favorite hoodie. Her scent is all over it! Fear washes over me.. I take calming breaths. If I claim the attic as my space, maybe I can keep this, and no one will know. I look towards the desk and see markers and paper, so I get up and grab them. Peter’s Room is what I write. I dig through the drawers and find some tape to hang it on the door.

  I lay down for a bit, with the hoodie in my hand, , and pull it to my heart, my nose buried in it. Maybe I doze. The next thing I know, someone bangs on the door, and the handle starts to turn. I sit up and say, “Come in.”

  Scott enters. “It’s time to go see Viktor. Did you fall asleep?”

  “Yeah. Guess I was more tired than I realized.” I laugh, stand, and leave the hoodie on the bed. “I’m ready to go.”

  I lead the way out of the attic and down the stairs. Scott elbows pass me. As I’m headed down the last bit of the stairs, everyone surges out the front door, towards The Den. I recognize a face. “Hey, Evan. Thanks for earlier.”

  “No problem. I remember how it was for me, too. I was the youngest until you.”

  I blink. He’s older than me? “Oh, I didn’t know that. How do you deal with it all?”

  “It’s pretty easy once you get used to it. It’s like always having someone watch your back. It is actually kind of reassuring.”

  “Did you have to leave anyone behind after you became a werewolf?”

  “Just my dad but that was no great loss, he was a drunk and probably still doesn’t even know I left... four years ago.”

  “Wait, you were the youngest before me. No one has made any werewolves for four years? Wow, why not?”

  “Viktor forbade it. He didn’t want to bring the wrath of the Wolf Tracker down on us. She may bring death to us, but usually if you behave and don’t attack or turn humans, she leaves you alone. So, no one is allowed to make any werewolves without first gaining permission from Viktor. And it better be a good reason too.”

  By this time, we’ve reached the doors of The Den and walk inside, parting ways. I head to the back of the club and knock at Viktor’s office door.

  “Come in.”

  I enter softly and stand there. Scott is already there.

  “Peter, I hear you finally moved in with the pack. How do you like it so far?”

  “It will take some getting used to, sir. But I think I will enjoy it in time.”

  “Good, good. I’ve been thinking. I want you to start training. I’m going to have Scott teach you more fighting techniques. I want you to be my Second, but you need to get better at fighting. Then I want to teach you how to lead. You never know what may happen, and I need you ready for anything. You need to have a head for business, too.” Viktor paces around the office. “Was there anything else I was thinking of, Scott?”

  “Not that you told me, sir.”

  “Very well, Peter come back here tomorrow about noon. I’ll have Evan start teaching you about the business then. You can have the weekend to get used to living with the pack, but come Monday, I want you to be ready to start training.”

  “Yes, sir,” I replied.

  “Ok you are dismissed. Enjoy your weekend.”

  I leave and find a quiet table to sit at alone and observe how the pack does things in The Den. If I’m going to fit in, I need to learn how.

  RED

  I’ve been sitting here for a couple hours crying and holding Peter’s letter, rereading it again and again. I’m not sure if I’m crying because of the loss of a friend, loss of the chance to have something more with him, loss of Peter’s humanity, or the fact that someday I might have to hunt him down. I hear Grandma moan and get up quickly. I can’t believe I just sat here without checking on her! I quickly wipe my face free of tears and fold Peter’s letter and put it into my backpack.

  I hurry into her room, “Grandma, I’m right here. Are you okay?”

  She groans and starts mumbling, “Wolf... love… hate... help... knife…” before trailing off and falling back asleep. I check a
nd see she didn’t take her meds at all. I sigh and walk out of the room to my bedroom. I sit heavily down on the bed and grab my pillow, hugging it.

  I can’t believe Peter didn’t tell me... any of it. He’s werewolf and knew about Grandma being Wolf Tracker. I stand and pace. Anxiety and adrenaline course through me. I need to get out. I decide to change into workout clothes; track pants, sneakers, and tank top. I write a quick note and leave it by Grandma’s bed, I have to work some of this energy off, or I’ll never sleep tonight. I grab my MP3 and headphones, slide my phone in my back pocket with my wallet, and head out the door, locking it as I go.

  I turn and jog down the steps, out the door, and head down the street. After a minute, I’m seized by a weird feeling, like a finger running down my neck, giving me goosebumps. I see nothing. I stop and lean against a building to look behind me, hopefully not giving it away that is what I am doing. It’s that guy from this morning again. Who is he and why is he following me?

  I stand there, acting like I’m catching my breath, but I’m trying to catch a scent. I’ve never been able to smell werewolves, again because I don’t come into any of that until Grandma passes. I catch a faint whiff of wet dog smell, but I don’t know if that means anything. The guy’s big too, I wonder if he knows who I am and is following because of that, or if this is just a coincidence.

  I decide to continue my run but head into town instead, where it is busier, so he can’t do anything. As I go into town, he stops and turns and leaves. I let out a big sigh of relief. Maybe it was just a coincidence. I plug in my MP3 player and start my run.

  Peter

  I sit at a table in The Den talking to a few of the other werewolves, who aren’t too bad, almost normal, when I hear Scott’s voice coming through the wall. “So, if we get rid of the teenage girl, we might kill off the whole Wolf Tracker line!”

  NO! What do I do? What can I do? I’m going to have to warn Red, but how to do it without anyone noticing I’ve gone missing?

  “Hey man, you all right?” a voice to my left asks.

  “Uh, yeah. I just need to go do something.” I start to get up when Scott suddenly steps beside me, throwing his arm around me.

  “How are the guys treating you, Peter?”

  “Fine. I gotta go though.”

  “Go? Go where? We have everything you need. You said you broke ties with everyone, so you could stay here with us.”

  “Uh, I just meant, uh, that I was tired. Yeah, see my thought process isn’t working right.” I let out a chuckle. “I was gunna just go to sleep early.”

  “Well, okay then. I’ll go with you back to the house. I have work I need to do anyway.” Scott steers me towards the door. “Are you sure that is the only reason you want to leave?”

  “What else would I mean? It has been a long day with a lot of excitement.” I keep my face impassive.

  “Oh, nothing. Just making sure no one upset you or anything,” Scott answers, picking some lint off his shirt sleeve.

  We walk silently back to the house, and I head up the stairs. “Night Scott. I will see you in the morning.” I hurry up, not waiting on an answer. Once I get to my room, I bang around, probably too much, before sitting quietly on my bed. What do I do? He will hear me if I try to sneak out. I really need to get to Red. My phone vibrates on the nightstand. I grab it and see it is my mom, trying to get a hold of me for once. I press the Ignore, which is what I would usually do anyway.

  Duh! I’ll text Red! I quickly find Red’s name in my messages list and press it. Seeing all the texts I ignored breaks my heart, but I quickly type out a short message. Be careful! Wolves know who you are. Attack may be coming!

  It’s all I can do for now. Tomorrow, I will try to go see her, if I can get away from the others. I lie down on my bed and hold my hoodie and breathe in. My eyes go wide. I’m the reason they found her! Scott must have smelled the hoodie when he came to get me earlier. This is all my fault. I roll over and cry into my pillow, holding the hoodie tight.

  RED

  As I jog back home, I keep an eye out for that creepy stalker guy. I think it was the same guy who followed Peter and me earlier, but I’m not positive. If so, we are in big trouble. Suddenly my phone chirps. I pull out my phone and see it’s a text from Peter. I ignore it, set my jaw, and shove my phone in my back pocket.

  I reach the apartment building and enter the door, to head up the stairs, when I catch a whiff of wet dog again. I stop to focus and realize it smells the same as that guy earlier. I rush up the stairs and grab my keys to open the door. That’s when I realize the door is already unlocked. I hold my keys between my fingers, so I have weapon of some sort, and open the door slowly. I creep in and slowly close the door. I don’t see anyone, but the wet dog smell is stronger now. Someone has been here! I need to check on Grandma.

  I get to her door and see that nothing has been disturbed, but the smell is much stronger, almost like someone has been sitting here for a while. I walk to the window but see it is closed. I turn and walk to the bed.

  “Grandma?” I shake her lightly to wake her, but she continues sleeping They had wanted to keep her at the hospital to make her more comfortable, but Grandma had refused. Each day brings her closer to death, and all I can do is wait with her until the end.

  The awful smell permeates everything. I open the window wide to let in fresh air and peer out at the night below. Everything is as dark as it gets in the city. Honking horns and the rumble of the freeway drench the night with their sounds. I wonder what they hear in the country at night. Crickets? I hardly know what that would sound like.

  A cool breeze comes in and I shiver, worrying that Grandma will catch a chill. I push the window closed, step over toward her, and set a hand on her forehead. At least she doesn’t feel feverish. After getting a glass of cool water, I return and shake her shoulder again. “Grandma. You need to take your medicine.”

  She barely wakes enough to comply before falling right back to sleep. I sigh, and with it, I get the faintest whiff of that dog odor again. I frown. And then I step over to the nightstand and get Woodcutter. The pistol is well-kept and smells of gun oil.

  Grandma had taken me to the gun range several times, since I was ten, to make me into a marksman like her. I turn and head to the living room and collapse on the couch, keeping Woodcutter on the table within my reach. I tilt to grab my phone out of my back pocket and use the plug on the table. I eye the front door. If some creeper comes again tonight, I’ll be ready for them. I settle in to watch for the night.

  I awake with a start, and a cramp in my neck, trying to figure out where I am. Seriously? I couldn’t even stay awake? I get up and peek in on Grandma. Quietly, I put Woodcutter back in the nightstand drawer. I set a hand lightly on her forehead, and I’m glad she feels pretty normal. Since she’s still asleep, I decide to jump in the shower. My mind won’t shut off, and I keep thinking about last night and the guy following me. I should say, the werewolf following me. If they have found out where we are, Grandma would move us to a new place. But is she in any condition to move?

  I get out of the shower and throw on some shorts and a tank top, normal house wear for me. I’m glad it’s Saturday so school won’t distract from me planning. I debate on getting some breakfast for Grandma. Even though I know she won’t eat, I decide to try. I make some toast and jelly and bring her some juice with it. She’s awake when I come in.

  “You sure can make a racket in the morning,” she says with a faint smile and attempts to sit.

  I rush over and set the plate on her nightstand, so I can help her. “The better to feed you with, Grandma.”

  She glances at the toast and frowns. “I really don’t feel like eating.”

  I sit on the bed next to her and lean in to hug her around the waist.

  “I didn’t eat dinner last night because you didn’t. If you skip breakfast, maybe I will, too. Do you really want to set that kind of example?” I lean back and blink up at her innocently.

  With a sigh
, she picked up a piece of toast and nibbles, washing it down with juice.

  I smile at her and eat one of the other pieces of toast I had piled on the plate. While we eat, I tell her about school and the assignments I’m doing. The need to keep things positive overwhelms me. No way I bring up the scent from last night, the Oz sisters, or Peter’s leaving, even though those things weigh heavy on my heart. It’s not long before her eyes begin to droop. “Go ahead and nap a bit, Grandma. I’ll go wash up the dishes.”

  She smiles sweetly and rolls onto her side. I grab the plate and glasses and head to the kitchen. After I wash up, I pull out my laptop and start the search for new housing. If we need to move because the wolves have found us, we need to do it quickly. I need to stay semi-close to the school, so I can walk there daily. And close to the hospital, too, for Grandma’s sake. At least there are a lot of homes here in Crystal City, along with the best doctors.

  As I’m browsing, I grab my phone, so I can call or text if I find one. I check for messages and see the one from Peter is still there. I want to ignore it, but it is from Peter, and no matter what, he is my friend first and werewolf second. I wish he would have realized that. I click the message and read it. Be careful! Wolves know who you are. Attack may be coming!

  Well, that confirmed my suspicions at least. I debate on texting back or not, but finally just send a K. I start looking at housing again and find one that seems perfect, so I start dialing the number when there is a knock at the door. I jump and let out a little yelp before getting up. I consider getting Woodcutter but shake my head and stand in front of the door with a hand on the handle. I take a deep breath. No wolf stench. No need for Woodcutter, right? I pull open the door with the chain on it anyway, just in case.