This is my submission for the spooky contest
The wolf hurdled through the forest. A Scarlet Moon hung in the sky casting a red light on the forest floor all around him. Speckles of the red light touch the wolf's pelt. He wanted to cringe away from the horrible feeling on his rust colored fur. His breath came in low raged gasps and the wolf's strength drained like giant tick was attached to his hide. A chorus of howls from his pack floating through the air threatening to drown him in a wild yet glorious harmony.
The wolf shook his head and placed his yellow eyes firmly forward. I mustn't give in. He pushed forward determined not to let the moon catch him in its cold grasp.
Suddenly he stumbled over a root his paws flailing wildly. When the wolf finally regained his composure and balance he realize the scarlet light had enveloped him. It washed through him feeling like acid on his pelt. The wolf let out a cry of pain but it was too late. His chest widened in his snout grew thicker the once rusty fur became inky black. His teeth grew and became as sharp as daggers as did his claws. The Beast curled his lip up in a disturbing grin as his yellow eyes turned crimson glowing like the fires of hell. Energy fizzed through his body and a storm cloud covered his heart.
The werewolf rose on his back legs and turned his scarlet gaze to the Moon. A howl emerged from his throat and echoed through the forest louder than the fading howls of the pack.
A thought grew in his mind as the once sweet wolf howled to the blood red moon. The reign of the werewolf has begun...
Nioma's howl began to fade in unison with her packmates as all the Wolves fell silent a piercing how cut through the air; it was deep and raspier than the howl of a normal wolf, and it dripped with malice. Nioma's fur began to prickle along her spine.
Much to her relief it stopped as arubtly as it had begun. "What was that?" Strabilla her young daughter asked tilting her egg white head." I'm not sure, but it was probably at Lone Wolf passing by." Her voice was calming like a Beta's should be. Nioma was third on the pack's hierarchy. Third only to both the male and female Alphas.
Strabilla twitched her ear doubtfully but offered no argument. Murmurs began to ripple through the pack until Albus, the alpha male, let out of commanding bark. The pack fell silent as if controlled by a hidden force. "I'm sure whoever or whatever that was, is long gone now." He said calm but firm indacating there was to be no more gossip about it.
Nioma's ears twitched and she heard loud pants and crashes coming closer before she could say a thing as monsterous beast erupted into the clearing. Nioma stared at it wide eye. It was massive with savage claws and teeth. Muscles rippled under its pitch black fur and its eyes looked like the Scarlet Moon. Time seemed to slow down as it barreled into Albus killing him instantly. The packs Alpha female, Nila, attacked it, followed by almost every other member of the pack. It clawed and bit at the Wolves leaving most of them to bleed to death if they weren't already dead.
Nioma regaining herself the saw the immense danger and let out a howl. "Retreat!" The surviving wolves scattered almost simultaneously. Nioma glanced around frantically for her only living child. She almost let out a relieved sigh when she saw Strabilla.
The Beast let out deep growls and she remembered the danger. Nioma darted under the bushes surrounding the camp heading in the same direction as Strabilla. Nioma assumed the wolf-like creature wasn't interested in the remaining wolves by how silent is had become. She caught up with Strabilla and checked her for any sign of injuries. "Mom." She whined squirming. Nioma ignored her daughter's protest and kept sniffing for any trace of blood. When she was satisfied she licked her daughter on the ear."We should probably figure out where the others are." Nioma murmured half to herself.
"They're most likely at White-Willow Creek." Strabilla woofed. White-Willow Creek! Of course! White-Willow Creek was the second best place in the pack territory beaten only by the pack's current camp.
Nioma took the lead and they got there in a matter of minutes. Strabilla was found correct when out of the nineteen original wolves only seven were there excluding Nioma and Strabilla.
As the two and entered the area of moss covered ground the survivors crowded them. Nioma looked at them crushed with relief when she saw none of them had many injuries. "What do we do?!" Basi a young dark brown wolf asked staring at the Beta with wide amber eyes.
"I'm not exactly sure yet." Nioma admitted.
"Do you at least know what that thing is?!" Ampa asked her silver fur rippling along her spine.
Nioma let out a weary sigh. "I believe it's a werewolf. They are said to only be created on the night of Scarlet Moon."
"How do we get rid of it though?" Talis growled his scarred yellow ears pinned back in terror.
Nioma gazed at her remaining packmates. At that moment she came to a decision. "I'll go kill it."
"What?! No! Th-thats suicide!" Strabilla bursted out. The other wolves nodded agreement.
Nioma let out a annoyed puff. "Fine. Your right. What if I just investigated." They looked at each other before nodding very reluctant.
Satisfied Nioma turned around to go but then looked back and met their gazes sharply."No one is to follow me."
Strabilla opened her snout but then snapped it shut when she saw the look on her mother's face. She nodded sullenly.
Good. Nioma turned her head in the direction of the forest. She trotted through the pines . Soft beds of needles made her move efficiently. Her nose was filled with the scent of decaying pine needles and she loved it.
Blotches of red seeped through the canopy of the tall narrow trees dotting the land around her. She thought she heard a noise from behind her and jerked her head toward it but didn’t smell anything. She went on more cautiously. Her heart rate doubled as she nosed gently through the bushes and entered the pack's camp clearing. The air was thick with the metallic smell of blood mixed with the eye watering stench of death that was enough to make a wolf sick. Nioma curled her lip in disgust as she gazed at the dead wolves strewn across the camp.
Glancing around she saw a carcass only a few wolf-lengths away from her. Her eyes darted across the clearing for any sign of the werewolf. The air was still and no movement caught her eye. Taking her chances she padded lightly toward her packmates body. Clumps of white fur were missing she saw as she got closer. Igti. She thought with a pang of heart wrenching grief.
Igti was staring at the sky his one eye glazed and sightless. Blood still trickled from his lip and a permanent snarl was etched in his face. But what made Nioma want to retch was the hole torn in his chest. The only thing the werewolf did was rip out his heart. That could have been me. She thought not able to surpress a shruddered. "Mom! Watch out!" Stabilla?! Suddenly a thunder of steps echoed toward her and a large creature slammed into her knocking the air out of her Lungs. Nioma's muzzle was shoved into the earth but the werewolf's scent still touched her nose. It reeked of death.
"No! Mom!" Strabilla's cry fadded as the werewolf reached down and tore out Nioma's throat. It is me; was her last thought before black swamped over her.
Strabilla stared at her mother’s back as she diappeared into the pine thicket wondering what would happen to her. She wanted to race after her and insist on coming. This time not wavering when she gave her a look.
When she looked back to the others she was confused by their expectant eyes. “What?” “Aren’t you going after her?” Strabilla stared at Ampa in surprise.
“You aren’t going to stop me?”
Ampa shook her head. “Whe want her to be safe too.” Strabilla nodded slowly looking into each of their eyes. Wow they really do want me to go as much as I want me to go. Without another word she raced after Nioma. Strabilla followed the scent quickly and silently.She caught a glimpse of her mother’s gray fur through the trees. She was so surprised by being so close to Nioma she crushed a dry leaf. It rustled loudly and she ducked behind a nearby tree as fast as a jackrabbit. Strabilla heard her mother pause but thankfully she started to move again.
Strabilla stayed behind the tree until Nioma was well away then followed once more. She came to the outside permiter of camp and pushed her head slowly through the bushes. Strabilla watched as Nioma inspected a dead wolf. A shadow caught her eye. Her breath came short as the werewolf stalked toward her mother.
“Mom! Watch out!” At her warning the werewolf exploded forward. It slammed into her mom; crushing her.
"No! Mom!" Strabilla's scream sliced the air as the werewolf tore out Nioma's throat. Nioma spasmed before she lay limb. Crimson gushed from her neck. The moon only seemed to illuminate the blood as it covered Nioma and her killer. "N-n-no." Strabilla stuttered.
The werewolf's head jerked around to her it's red eyes flashing. She suddenly realized she was in danger of suffering the same fate as her mother. Whirling around she scrambled under the bushes and ran into the pines beyond. The werewolf exploded after her.
She jumped over the log barely losing momentum as she landed. Her heart was in her throat. Fear propelled Strabilla forward as her paws thrummed on the needles under her.
The beast's hot breath touched her flanks and she's trained to run faster. Strabilla's breath began to get shallow and her head swam as her energy began to drain. Like melting ice under the sun it dripped away in the moon's light. She realized she would have to fight before all her energy fail and she fell victim to the carnivoras fangs like her mom. Rage swelled in her chest at the thought of her mother and Strabilla wirled around to face her attacker. The werewolf lumbered towards her as she faced it. Strabilla sprang at it her lips peeled back in a snarl and her unkept white fur bristling.
The only thing giving away the wolf's fear as she tackled the werewolf was her white-rimmed yellow eyes.
They rolled, locked in a deadly fight. Their fur blended together a blur of black and white. She finally managed to hold the brute down. Her flanks heaved and before she could block it the werewolf sank it's teeth in her shoulder. Strabilla bit back a wail and gritted her teeth. She pinned the monster to the soft forest floor. Strabilla stared at the beast for a heartbeat and her eyes locked with its. They seemed to smile at her in a malevolent grin. She shook uncontrollably as she bit on the creatures throat. The metallic taste of the werewolf's blood filled her mouth as she backed away.
The scarlet eyes smiled at her even as the body jerked before going still. She continued shaking as she stumbled back to White-Willow Creek. Her body ached and stung like nettles. Red light touched limited areas on her pelt and the bite on her shoulder throbbed. When she got back she was greeted with gasps of horror. "What happened?" Ampa asked.
Strabilla blinked at her packmates. "The werewolf happened..." When she had recounted the whole tale the Wolves exchanged horrorfield glances. They decided to mourn the deceased back at camp.
Strabilla nosed her way through the bushes and padded to her mother's body. The other wolves scattered looking for specific bodies. As Strabilla look down at her mother's body the moon coated her in a scarlet light. She let out a howl of agony and she crumbled next to her mother. Her eyes turned scarlet swallowing up the yellow as the change began.
Thanks so much for reading!
-Brightslate