Entry One

Okay, let me start off by saying that what you're about to read is not a hallucination or an imagination of my life, unless it's caused by those with the ability. Another thing to remember, there's more than one world besides Earth and those realms are pretty nice to be in, plus the people there are either super nice or super evil depending on which world we're in…Alright, now back to my world!

My name is Kellin Kane and my life has taken a turn for the weirdly awesome since ninth grade. I live with my parents, along with my brother Em…who's not exactly human. I'll explain later. I live in Midtown, a few miles from Central Park, and I'm now attending East Riverside High School. I've heard it was a great school and it wasn't too far from my previous school. Actually, they were on the same block, connected by a small basketball court. I'm not a basketball fanatic so don't even try to challenge me at some hoops! However, I would take you on for a game of soccer…

My usual mornings for the summer consisted of late wakeups and occasional soccer practices at a large field somewhere in Long Island. Dad usually takes me with Em, who was the first person I met that's not from my world. Again, I'll explain later what I mean by that. To avoid us getting caught by any governmental figure because of Em's true identity, Dad gave Em a chemically-crafted present for his tenth birthday, a weird-looking bracelet, something Mom would love on an anniversary. Sadly, it wasn't for her. Once Em locked it on his arm, he would glow and become a boy, just like me. He would have dark brown hair, instead of grey and he'd be wearing a dove-grey sweater with his white shirt popping through the top. The only things that didn't change were his purple and teal hat and matching sneakers. Even as a human, he could still run fast.

Before Em was allowed to join my soccer team, I was one of the fastest runners on our squad. But since Em's arrival, I bumped down to becoming a third. My friend Chris, when he joined, was so good that his speed rivaled mine. But he moved to the city way later, like around Thanksgiving time. Anyways, now that I've explained how my summer went, off to the events that are occurring now!

It was the beginning of September and my school wouldn't be open until the sixth. While nerves are working up in my stomach about my freshman year will go, my parents were too busy packing up for our Labor Day Reunion with my godfather and his niece Wilma. I've known her since we were kids, but when her mother died in a lab accident, distance seemed to be our obstacle. So this will be our first time in almost two years that we'll meet. It may not seem like a lot, but compared to my mother's side of the family, I'd rather stick to the family that cares more about bonding than feuding.

And so it was the first September weekend of 2016. The sun's bright, the air is nice and night seemed to lose our touch more and more. We packed up our bags for Pennsylvania, which to Em was just a two-minute run with no traffic or landscape around. Plus, he hated toll booths so that would cost him those two minutes. Other than that, we just sat in the back of the car while our parents started their usual conversation about how I'll turn out for this school year. The only thing I knew about my godfather was that he was a chemist in some secret lab. Dad used to work with him back in college, but he's departed now to becoming an accountant at some bank. He doesn't really talk much about it, other than it just being numbers and all and meeting clients of no high status.

Mom, on the other hand, has a slightly more interesting job. She worked as a nurse in North Shore Hospital since we moved to New York. I was about two so I didn't take much into my memory. The stories she has told me about being a nurse were mostly survival stories or coming-to-pass stories. Some of them had great endings while others came to a tragedy. Whenever she spoke about death, she tried to seem like she cared about it, even though it had nothing to do with her. If Dad listened, there'd be a string tugging on his chest. I guess it comes from his close friendship with my godfather, since he lost his sister in that lab accident.

After four grueling hours on the interstate, we were finally able to take an exit that led us into the Great Wolf Lodge. We haven't been there for almost two years, so the atmosphere is like a déjà vu for us. Em and I were dozing off, but my eyes went wide open as I saw the sign. We were here.

As soon as we checked in, Em, wearing the bracelet that made him human, raced me to our room. Mom jokingly called after us not to run, while she and Dad carried the luggage for our Labor Day Weekend. We rested on top of our bed, where we could see the green hills in the far distance and a huge rocky lake protecting it. Our eyes gazed at the remarkable beauty. It was nothing we've seen anywhere else. The sky was the kind of blue that made you wanna smile, the sun was the kind of yellow that made you laugh, and the wind was the chill that made you wanna be free like a bird.

Sadly, we aren't birds so tough luck to us humans!

After sprawling around on the bed, Em jumped up and said, "Say let's go on out and see what the Poconos has for us!"

I chirped, "Yeah, let's go!"

Before we left, our parents stalled us. Mom warned, "Now don't get into any trouble! I did not come here to get my boys into any hot water!" And Dad gave us that "you better listen to her" look.

We bowed our heads and said, "Yes Mom!"

As soon as we turned our backs and exited Room 34, we bolted for the lobby and found ourselves in front of the gift shop. Knowing we had no money, I slumped my shoulders and muttered, "Oh man, if we only had some money…"

"Ah-ah-ah!" Em jittered, waving Dad's wallet. This was one of his many talents. He loved to pickpocket people because the feeling of doing bad yet looking innocent was one of his qualities. I don't know who taught it to him, but I'm pretty sure a TV show or two has given him this wondrous technique. Although I tell him that pick-pocketing can get us in trouble, he refuses to listen to the good and rides alongside the bad. And I admire him for that.

We went through the gift shop and read the many slogans and logos the Great Wolf had to offer. Our mouths watered over the sugary snacks by the counter. There were people who were just coming in and caught themselves staring at us. One tourist remarked, "What are they, savages? Where are their parents?"

As much as I can have some junk food, Em needs to watch his diet. Because he's an animal, eating too much sugar means that he could pass out, get sugar crazy or, in the worst case, get a heart attack. Now if you're wondering what kind of animal Em actually is, he's a hedgehog that can run up to the speed of sound. When he first started using this power growing up, I could never really detect him without that purple aura he would leave behind. Dad told me that because Em's DNA is nonhuman and there's a compound known as cobalt nitride, or something like that, any interaction with electricity, fire, or anything that has a spectrum can spiral Em out of control and have him reach new heights but in tragic results. I never really took account of what he said because I didn't understand most of what he was saying.

To me, it was just a bunch of mumbo jumbo about science and all that, like I was supposed to understand. Like I needed to know what was in Em so I can fully understand him. But I do understand him! He's my little brother, who may be different from others, but he's family to me. If anything happens to him or me, then it's the other to take on the defense!

Anyways while we were scouring the store for goodies to snack on, I bumped into someone and I apologized. However, the person didn't respond verbally. Instead, he laughed…kind of like a mad doctor's laugh. Cackling, that is. Not like a witch, but a peculiar doctor who would. My back was turned when I heard the laugh. I turned around and it was him, in the flesh. Pale skin, bushy brown mustache and an expanding bald spot where the fluorescent lights had a dull shine on his scalp. He had those thin-rimmed, thick-glasses that made him look more mad-like. However, he wasn't a mad scientist. From what my Dad had told me, my godfather was one of the brightest yet accident-prone people he has ever met and I can see why.

Last time I saw him he didn't have his lab coat with him, or even a clipboard hidden within. In fact, this is probably the first time he ditched the white clothing and joined the Hawaiian Shirt Club. I smiled and said, "Oh hey Uncle Dumm."

He didn't mind us calling him Uncle Dumm because that was his alias back when he used to work with my dad in his early college days. His last name is Nite and the fact was when he worked in the lab, so did his sister. Everyone called her Dr. Nite and Uncle Dumm's mishaps earned him the very name. I was surprised to see that he was here so soon after us. I looked around to see if my cousin Wilma was here. The man, not younger nor older than my father, smiled, "Why, hello there young man…say uh, is the name Kane becoming of importance to you?"

I chuckled. I hear my relatives say these things to Dad and Mom but I never know what they mean. What does it mean to be a Kane? What does it mean to be the child of Cathy and Elvin Kane? And what does it mean to be the godson of Professor Heinz M. Nite aka Professor Dumm? I know what it means to be Em's brother, the fastest hedgehog in the New York!

"So how was the ride here?" I asked. He cracked his knuckles and sighed, "The longest five hours of my life, but at least I got my sunshine with me!"

"Sunshine? Wait, is Wilma here? Where is she?" I asked, looking around. As I turned to my right, Em bumped into me and asked, "What's good, bro?"

Uncle Dumm laughed, "Ah, I see! You two are raiding the gift shop now, aren't you? Why, we had those times back in college! Just me, Amelia and good old Elvin! Man, was he a devil! Thank God your mother found him, huh?"

We tilted our heads to the side. Em's eyes widened as he chirped, "Hey, Uncle Dumm! I didn't realize it was you! You're out of that lab coat!" He went in for a hug, which Uncle Dumm was not used to. He was never married and never planned to. I asked him, "So where's Wilma?"

"Up here, short stack!" A voice boomed over me. She was only a head up but it wasn't skyscraper tall. She had changed so much since we last met. Her hair, which used to be an auburn/brown shine with the ends of violet, had now been a darker tint of brown, bringing out the sapphires that were her eyes. She had faint freckles, and that crimson smile. Her eyebrows and eyelashes, however, were still their auburn self. She had seemed to move on in the last two years, but just a reminder was necessary for a challenge.

She had worn red jacket and denim jeans, along with some Chuck Taylor's. She always adored Chuck Taylor's. I remembered her talking about it and that she had a closet full of them. But apart from her attire, I could smell something fruity. I turned to face my older unbiological cousin. I looked up and said, "Hey, what's up? Are you wearing perfume?"

"Not you, and actually put on this lotion that has an extreme fragrance! Now everytime I put this on, my hands smell like a strawberry patch," she chuckled. We always teased around and Aunt Amelia, Uncle Dumm and Dad liked that about us. My Mom, on the other hand, she can get a little overboard. I chuckled and said, "We got here before you did!"

"Oh really? What time, Kane?"

"We got to the gift shop about five minutes ago!"

"Ha, we were here longer than you!"

Uncle Dumm leaned it and whispered, "She's right, you know."

Em laughed and said, "Gotcha! Hey, how about we go up to our room? Mom and Dad must be worried!"

"Yeah, and we should tell him that Uncle Dumm and Wilma are here!" I said. We stated our departure and ran up to our room. There, our parents were on the bed, sheets covered with pictures and a huge map of the resort. Their backs were facing so it pretty much gave Mom a jump scare when she found out we were here. She was always prone to frights, which was one of the things Dad liked about her. Every time she'd let out a yelp or at least a little hop on her heels, Dad would smile and almost break into laughter. From what I see in my life, I'd love to have someone that I can scare and hopefully have them return that favor.

Anyways, the next day we set out to the waterpark area where Em and I met up with Wilma. She was planning on taking a few rides, just so she can feel comfortable. She used to be anxious when she was trying something new. It just wasn't in her comfort zone. Peculiarly, Uncle Dumm was the same thing but Aunt Amelia wasn't. No, I remember my Dad telling me stories of how the fearless Amy was an untamed animal: she would consume the weirdest and indigestible concoctions, run the longest laps, dive into the darkest abyss and back, she was a monster! That is, until her accident at the lab which cost her life...Uncle Dumm found that living in his sister's shadow, there's no real hope in life unless you take the risk.

The sun was hot and the water was cold. So cold that it gave us goosebumps just thinking about it. Because Em's original form requires him to wear his supersonic sneakers, he felt very skeptical about going into the pool so he opted out. Mom was having her week so she was reading a magazine on the folding chair. Dad and Uncle Dumm were off to get some drinks and discuss matters. I never knew what they spoke about but I assumed it was top secret and it had nothing to do with me. I was in my swim shorts, the zebra kind, and I pulled my shirt off and threw it to Em, who was sitting at the folding chair. Without hesitation, I jumped in, sinking my whole body into the thirty-degree water. I remembered when my Dad tried teaching me how to swim. He told me that I should duck my whole head so I don't shiver while I'm swimming, and also to keep breathing and kicking. But most of all, the one thing he said that became of importance was to just relax, don't rush nature.

This helped me a lot throughout my adolescence, especially when school started. I was splashing around in the pool with other people when I spun around and saw Wilma, in her one piece, wiggling her toes on the ledge. She shivered when her big toe got the chill. I swam to the ledge, by her side, and gestured, "Come on, Willy, don't be afraid."

"Uh um, yeah I just…you know, don't like going to pools that much," she stammered. I cocked my head and remarked, "So why did you come anyways?"

"You know, I-I should come in! I mean, it's just water!" she chuckled, trying to hide her embarrassment. Then, as if it were a ghost, she stayed frozen solid and kept staring at the other side. Curious and astonished, I looked to where she was watching the wooden walls of the pool area. I turned up to her and she muttered something. "Wait, what?" I asked her.

Her sapphire eyes glared down at me and her rose lips uttered, "I've gotta go!" She grabbed her bag and ran off, while a lifeguard shouted, "No running!"

Em followed her with his eyes and his head whisked back at me, his thick, ravenous hair swaying to his right. I shrugged, ducking back in the chlorine water and letting the dense form of this substance control how my body dances unmonitored. I then grasp ground upon my heels and jumped up, swiftly shaking my head side to side. As it turns out, I was whisking away water and it got on Em's skin. He shuddered in disgust and I laughed at his pain.

The day became night as it came that Em and I were chilling at the room. He was back to his hedgehog self, his super-long dove grey legs sprawled out on the bed. Mom and Dad went for a little date somewhere in the resort, however they didn't call on Uncle Dumm to babysit us. Probably, he was busy too! We turned ourselves in front of the most beautiful collections of constellations that I have ever seen. There were stars everywhere, creating pictures as our eyes scan the navy beauty.

Em rested his head as he stared into the sky. He sighed, "Man, we never get to see this in the city!"

"Yeah, all we need now is something to share it with!"

We both looked at each other like mirrors. Then we cried in unison, "Nah we couldn't make trouble now!"

We then heard a howl and it could only mean one thing. We looked up and Em commented, "You really wanted us to have trouble, don't you?"

I looked down at Em, reminding him of our Mom's promise. He scoffed, rolling off the bed. He looked at me and remarked, "Oh please! They're not here now, so why not make the time out of it?"

"No, Em! We are not breaking Mom's promise!" I wanted to get up but I felt too lazy. It's not that I refused to break Mom's promise, it's just that I didn't have the morale to have fun for this weekend. Besides we are leaving tomorrow, so why waste time?

Em grabbed the doorknob, twirling his band through his finger and clicking his tongue. He murmured, "Come on, you don't know what you're missing!"

I thought about it for a while and before Em could leave, I turned around and sat on the other side of the bed, back facing the window. I grabbed my jacket and said, "What? It's gonna be cold during these nights!"

He smiled and we exited the room, leaving the key passes behind. We rushed out as quick as possible and made it to the forest area as quickly as possible. I got out my flashlight, which I got out of Dad's backpack, and brought it to its appropriate brightness. As we searched for the mysterious howl, we heard it again. The forest was so dark that not even the moon was bright enough to lead us. We heard the soft clicking of crickets and buzzing of mosquitoes. The road before us turned from grey gravel to a hard, dirt path. I looked at Em, who was in his human form, as he met my eyes. We shrugged and ventured throughout the dense, eerie woodland.

Before the thought of being caught even surfaced my mind, all I could think of were the stories my Dad used to tell me about his adventures in the lab with Uncle Dumm and Aunt Amelia. I could feel the excitement and how suppressing the anxiety until the adrenaline started to kick in was the moment of Cloud 9. Nothing seemed to matter. Not the consequences, not the obstacles that stood in front of us, not even the people that would be hurt. Everything felt light, as was my mind and body at the time.

Whoosh! Like a rush of ice cold water in the back of my neck, I heard my conscience yelling at me, "Kellin! What are you doing? Your parents must be home by now!"

Bump-bump! Bump-bump! I could feel the mental part of me pounding a gavel upon my head, begging me to turn back.

Oh no, what am I doing? I'm the oldest! I'm supposed to be teaching my little brother how not to get in trouble. Ooh, Mom is so gonna kill me and my Dad will be the witness!

Em turned around and snapped me out of my mental frenzy. He asked, "Hey, are you okay?"

Realizing that I was almost gasping for air, I calmed myself and suggested softly, "Why don't we get back? It's really dark out!"

"Nah, man! We're close to a breakthrough! Let's have a surprise for once in our life! I'm sick of being tied down with a leash…metaphorically."

"Device noted."

After much debate, we decided to turn back. As if fate wanted us to stay, the bushes on Em's side started to shake with a rough force. We took a step back. Em swayed his arm to my side, alerting to stay back. He returned it to his bracelet, ready to use his powers. You see, when you wear the Human Band, your powers are suspended for as long as you wear it. However, there was never a warning label about wearing it for a long time.

A cold wind blew behind us, but it didn't feel like one. It was like a spirit, or something denser than a spirit, rushed behind us, making us feel intimidated. I started to quiver, rubbing my sleeves. I stammered, "Uh Em, we should get out, like right now!"

"Hold it," said Em, sniffing something in the air. I looked to him, as if to say, "What are you smelling now?" His powers may be suspended, but his senses are still as keen as a bloodhound. His two strongest senses are hearing and smell. He can pick a scent from as close as nanometer to as far as ten miles.

He bent down on his all fours, crawling and sniffing the ground. I placed my hands on my hips, scoffing out of embarrassment. I turned back to see Em circling around me. Looking down, I rambled, "What scent are you picking up now at this time?"

"Wait," Em said, stopping his tracks. He looked up, cringing his nose and asked me, "Who was wearing perfume today?"

"Perfume? What are you-?" Then I remembered. When Em and I were running through the gift shop, I bumped into Wilma. She told me about that lotion she put on. I turned to Em and asked, "Does it smell like strawberries?"

Em looked up and glared. We both knew it. We started to look around, calling out Wilma's name. But no one answered. The witnesses to our chants were a bunch of crickets and mosquitoes. Perplexed, I asked myself, "If Wilma's scent is here, then where is she? Is that why she left the pool today? Heh, why would she leave the pool for a walk in the forest?"

Then the wind came back again and Em turned around. In an instant, he screamed for my safety as an incredible force pummeled me down on the ground. I bawled out of pain, my heart pounding my ribs as they touched the gravel floor. Trying to raise my head, I felt a sharp claw on the side of my neck. I heard intense growling as it neared my eardrums. The predator was so close that I think slobber might've touched my ear…actually, I don't think it was saliva. I shouted for Em to run, but I heard him grunting and panting as he ran from the wolf. Trying to trick the wolf with his footwork, he called out to me, "Kellin, I'm not leaving without you!"

I grinned for a bit to try and subdue the pain and the wolf on top of me pounded his claws on top of my head, hearing me yell in pain. The blood-hungry monster started growling, but more of a sinister laugh, like he wanted to hear my pain. Weird yet, the wolf actually spoke. How can wolves talk?

He spoke under his growl, "Ah, hearing you humans cry in pain are a symphony to me!" He pressed his body near my back, his snout dangerously close to my ear. He finished, "Especially the ones who know of our enemy…"

He raised up and called, "Moon Tail, hurry up with that runt! We gotta bring these for the ritual tonight! And also to alert Alpha that the Nite is here!"

What are they doing to us? The Nite, as in Wilma Nite? What does Wilma have to do with these talking wolves and how the hell can they talk? I wish I could beat them off with Em, but ah gee…my back! The wolf grabbed hold of my shirt and threw me on top of his back. He wobbled for a bit, smirking, "Hmm, good weight. The clan will love this."

As he started to walk, Moon Tail was still chasing Em. I saw that he was about to remove his bracelet but I gestured not to. I could smell a conspiracy in the making and I wanted to find out what it was and why would it threaten Wilma. With all the pain ensuing in my pain, I tried to get some sleep while Em did the same, even though he had no pain.

A few minutes later as they held us on top of their backs, we made it to a huge cave. It was a huge cave, just a few miles from the lake. Inside was dark and had no visibility. My kidnapper turned to his accomplice and Moon Tail howled. It was the same howl we heard before. The howl caused an echo within the premises of the cave. A moment later, we heard some tapping and it was time to go in. Em and I looked at each other and in a panic, we pretended that we were passed out.

We were finally in the cold, damp cave and I could smell smoke. I opened my eye for a little bit and saw a huge herd of wolves, just waiting around a huge fire. They were all the same color, same lushness of fur, but stood differently. I turned my head for a bit and I saw a huge stone. On top must've been the leader of the pack. He was black, had red eyes and sharp claws. He looked like he fought hard for his title and that no one should mess with him. But he never met us…

The kidnapper and Moon Tail dropped us like trash on the side of the road. We took our positions of playing dead and thought they might buy it. However, we heard a huge, monster laugh as the supposed leader guffawed, "You can't fool us! We've taught ourselves that trick to steer away from those grizzlies! Get up, you wretched humans!"

Struggling to get up, the pain in my back was starting to ease up. The kidnapper walked up and remarked, "Here, let me help you!" He took his huge jaws and thrusted my shirt back, hearing a huge crack in my spine. I screamed out of pain. I could hear the laughter of the wolf and Moon Tail as they heard my cries of agony. I could also feel the presence of Em's fears sinking in. He will save the day…he must…

"Now that our precious sacrifices are here…why don't we start with their rites? Ha, if they deserve it…" the black wolf snickered. He walked behind his disciples and went to Moon Tail and my kidnapper and they had a dialogue of growls.

We couldn't make out what they were saying, so we had to trust ourselves to get out of this one. Em whispered to me, "I'm scared…what if we don't get back?"

All I wanted to do was scream for my life, cause some havoc and get out of here with a bunch of wolves running after me…but then I remembered something. I have Em with me. He's the fastest thing I know in New York. Nobody can beat his top speed. I looked to him, his tearful eyes, a sad soul not knowing what's good to come, and smiled, "We'll get out of this one. I promise…"

I looked behind to the wolves and turned back to Em. I whispered, "I think I have an idea…come close." I muttered what came to my mind and he looked at me. He grinned, "I'm glad to have a brother like you."

"And I'm glad to have a brother like you…now do it quick!"

"Quick? You forget who you're talking to!" Looking around, the wolves were facing the fire and behind us, they were still speaking. I turned to Em and alerted, "Now!"

The black wolf turned to us and uttered, "Huh?"

Em deactivated his bracelet, grabbed my hand and we bolted out of here. The black wolf shouted to my kidnapper and Moon Tail, "After them! I'll take the blindspot!"

The wolves were pretty quick but we had the spirit. An injection of fuel was jolted into my body, causing me to bolt without thinking about the pain in my back. Before, it was the most excruciating feeling ever…but now that was the least of my thoughts. All I had to think of was getting back without being caught by my parents.

Em, racing before me, was bolting at a moderate speed as he was keeping watch of me. As he ran, there was a tunnel-shape light emanating from his body. It was a bright, neon purple and if you looked closely, you could see the streaks on his shoes glowing as well. That must've been his power source, I suppose.

Anyways, as we kept running, Moon Tail and his partner were catching up with us. I couldn't figure out whether the leader was with them. Em, slowing down to meet me, said, "You keep running. I'll take care of these rabid puppies!"

I blinked in confirmation and tried to look for a place to keep safe. I slid behind a huge boulder to catch my breath and processed what just happened. Alright, so Em and I decided to go out when we weren't supposed to…okay, so that's good! But now we're being hunted by a pack of wolves that can talk? Okay, where's the science person to talk logic to us when we need him?

The night was still dark and the moon just stood there as a witness. In fact, it was like the moon was wagging its finger at me, clicking its tongue as if to say, "You're in big trouble, young man. I don't know what your Mom and Dad will do when they find out that their two sons are out by themselves."

I smacked my head and muttered, "Damn you, Kellin! It's my fault that we're in this mess." I looked behind the boulder where Em was battling off with the two wolves. I discovered Moon Tail's partner's name was Midnight Runner. I sighed in relief and said to myself, "Well, at least Em is here to protect me. Now I gotta get out of here."

"Is that so?" growled a grinding voice. It sounded like nail against a grater and chills down your spine could only freeze you for the time being. I turned around and found the leader staring straight at me. His crimson eyes were glowing with a rage of animosity and his teeth bared a freaky ivory, drenched with blood-thirsty saliva. Those were the two things I remembered that night. What happened next was the sign that my life was about to change.

Breathing one gulp after another, I tried to remain calm and I lowered my hand to the hungry wolf. Gasping and trying to contain my frightened self, I slowly whispered, "Hey, hey! We can do this without a fight. Just let me and my brother go and we'll never come back!"

He laughed at me and gave me a grizzly roar. He took a few steps towards me, the few steps of terror. I felt my heart thump like a hammer pounding over my head. I couldn't take it but I had to stay brave. I had to, for my brother at least. But that night…that was the night where I thought it would be our last. Looking away, I raised my hand so I wouldn't see the grin on his face. I cringed when I heard a slight click. Oh no, he brought out the claws! I thought to myself.

I screamed, "Em!"

All of a sudden, I heard a screech. My eyes whisked open and found that Em was still fighting Moon Tail and Midnight Runner. I then heard him exclaim, "Wilma! What are you doing here?"

I looked to the side where I saw my cousin standing in front of the darkened bush. I couldn't believe it. The strawberry scent. It was her! Her hair was tied-up. She turned to me and asked us, "Are you two okay?"

Moon Tail gasped, "It's her and she got the leader!" Em thrusted his fist into Moon Tail's throat and dragged him into Midnight Runner, rendering them both out of the game of life or death. Em turned around, cracking his knuckles and walked up to the boulder. He kneeled down and rubbed my arm. He asked softly with a quiver, "Are you okay?"

I smiled, holding onto his arm and replied, "I'll be fine. But we need to get out of here before our parents find out that we're missing!"

Wilma chuckled nervously, turning her head to us. She grinned awkwardly and when her eyes met mine, I knew the worst had to come sooner or later. The black wolf growled, jumping up and maintaining his balance. He lowered himself, baring those ivory teeth of his. His red eyes glared with a vicious glow. He snickered, "Well Wilma…will you show your guests your true identity? Or will it be too late?"

Clutching onto me, Em whimpered, "What is he talking about, Wilma?"

She clenched her fist and said to us, "Guys, there's something I want you to know…" All of a sudden, the cold wind blew by and straight before us, she let out a glow from her body. It illuminated so bright that we had the chance to close our eyes, but we didn't want to. It wasn't like it was everyday although her opponents did. The glow was brighter than the moon and with enough concentration, you could see her bottom turning into claw-like legs followed by a long fluffy tail. Her hands became talons of our canine enemies and her hair became the mane down her back. She grew a long snout and fell forth on her all fours. When our eyes were able to see the dark again, Em and I stood as witnesses to our first encounter of a human hybrid (someone who is part human and part nonhuman).

The new form of Wilma had a dark brown fur, black claws and had the same ivory teeth as her opponent. However, she still had her blue eyes. She growled, "Alright, Alpha! Let's finish this off once and for all!"

"Oh now? Isn't this an unfair fight? You could say that if I win, your loved ones will become my clan's delicious sacrifice. However, if you win, then I should leave you two alone…until the next time we meet again!"

"Precisely, Alpha!" The two walked in circles, but slowly like they were testing their patience, seeing which one was gonna give in to the pressure. Wilma told us, "Kellin, Em, run home and tell Uncle Dumm I may be out for a while!"

Before I could answer and make a run for it, Em stepped up and said, "No way! I'm not leaving you behind!" He turned to Alpha in a menacing pose, provoking, "Come on, doggie, show me your new tricks!"

"Em, what are you doing?" I whispered to him. He raised his hand back, as if to say that he can handle this. After all the damage he's taken from Moon Tail and Midnight Runner, I'm surprised he can stand up to one of his greatest predators yet. Alpha growled, "Ah this is just gonna take all night!"

After a few comebacks and some snarky remarks at each other, the fight actually began. Wilma brought out the first punch, getting Alpha at his shoulder. However, Alpha got her by the throat with his huge jaw. In the background, a bright violet, comet-like object came hurtling toward the back of Alpha, causing his jaw to let go of Wilma's throat. Just witnessing this made me want to hurl. I asked Wilma if she was okay and she responded, "Nah, I'm just getting started!"

I turned to the side to see Em doing a touchdown. It must've been his homing attack that crashed in Alpha. The raven-black wolf turned to face my brother and he charged at him. Em bounced up and dropped a kick on Alpha's snout. I know I'm against Alpha but ooh! That's gonna hurt in the morning! Wait, is it morning yet? Oh no, I'm gonna witness one of the greatest fights in my life and I'm gonna die afterwards at the hands of my parents, mostly by my mom!

Well, at least Em will be there with me!

Ah, my back started to ease up and I was able to sit up properly. Em kept homing at Alpha until the ebony canine grabbed hold of one of Em's legs. Em screamed in pain, struggling to get his leg out. Alpha laughed, "You pesky hedgehog! Once I consume you, I'll possess the power of your supersonic speed."

"What the!" I exclaimed, throwing my hand out. "Em, no!"

Wilma jumped in front of me and said to Alpha, "Hey, Alpha! We may be wolves, but I got the one thing you don't possess!"

"And what is that, you fraudulent wolf?" As Alpha changed his position, his grip on Em was so strong that Em flailed around like a stick figure. My stomach started to make weird sounds as I squirmed in disgust and fear for my brother.

Wilma stood on her hind legs, took a deep breath in and when she let it out, my ears have never heard such a powerful voice before. She opened her mouth, letting out the loudest roar I've ever heard, as she resumed on her all fours. Alpha, Moon Tail and Midnight Runner tried their hardest sticking their claws into the ground, but failed. As they were thrown out of the picture, Alpha shouted, "I'll get you, Nite Wolf!"

However, the roar didn't stop there. The trees bent all the way to the other end and ground nearly shattered before us. I cupped my ears from the impeccable roar and my eyes squinting through the vibrating picture to find Em. I hope he didn't get blown away as well. After a minute or so, Wilma's voice started to relax. When she was finally done, she collapsed, returning to her human self.

I rushed to her, rubbing her back. She had to be exhausted from what happened tonight. I looked around and found Em, standing behind the whole time. I asked him how come he didn't get blown away. He explained that because he's used to running so fast, his vision prepares him to escape at the last minute.

He put on his bracelet, transforming into a human, and looked at Wilma, and back at me. He grabbed Wilma's hand and suggested that we should get home and receive our verdict. I got up, carrying Wilma in my arms. As we tracked our way back to the resort, that very night descended after us, but it also became the moment that I knew my life would change forever.