Katie muttered from behind a door, “Just a little longer. This can’t be rushed.”
“You’re taking forever!”
“If you’d stop nagging me, it’d be a lot easier to go!” The door
swung open and Katie emerged from the bathroom. “Fine, I’m done! You happy?” Flinging the excess water from her hands, she said, “They ran out of paper towels. Be a good dog and fetch me some napkins.”
Just a moment ago, while waiting inside the car, she had to really go. Genesis and Luna had accompanied her to a restaurant a short drive away. Calling it a restaurant would be too kind, as it was more of a rundown fast-food joint. Everything about it was crummy: the floors were sticky, the paint on the walls was old and peeling, and even some of the front windows were cracked. When Katie had first set foot inside, she thought it was abandoned. But the fact that there was still freshly cooked food—or something that resembled it—made her realize otherwise.
The bathroom in particular looked like it was in need of upkeep because it was stained in all sorts of unpleasant, unbefitting colors. It was a patchwork of disgustingness. Katie had taken extra time to disinfect the bathroom before using it.
Genesis said, “The others might be waiting for us! We’ve wasted nearly half an hour!”
“Just calm yourself,” said Katie coolly. “I have a cell phone. If they want to find out where I am, they just have to give me a call.”
“That’s assuming your technology will work,” Genesis said. “Your technology may not be reliable during this time. You have no way of telling when these things will stop working.”
Katie groaned, rubbing her temples. “I’m getting a headache from this dog. I’m going to need some soda.”
“You’re wasting more time?” exclaimed Genesis. “We have to—”
“Shut up! Please SHUT UP!” Katie covered her ears, writhing. “Why must I be tormented by a talking dog? It never ends! I liked dogs so much better when they just barked stuff I didn’t understand. Now I’m getting lectured…” Katie walked over to the paper cups, grabbed one and filled it with some cola. Then she took some big gulps.
“It’s not healthy,” whimpered Genesis, lowering his head.
Katie scowled. Genesis quickly became quiet and lay on the ground with a sigh.
There was a bang on the glass. Having been outside as a lookout, Luna was now clawing at the front door. Katie opened the door for her.
Luna shouted, “Run to the back! Hide!”
Katie asked, “Why? What—”
“Just go!” said Luna. “Unless you want to die!”
Katie shrugged and hopped over the service counter. Luna and Genesis dove over the counter after her.
Crouching down, Katie calmly took a sip of her cola. “Care to explain what’s going on, fur ball?”
Gesturing with her nose toward the countertop, Luna grumbled, “Take a peek if you want to find out, you long-haired grump.”
Katie popped her head up. Peering over the counter, she watched the entrance skeptically, wondering what had Luna so spooked. She imagined it was something silly, like a balloon. But then came the strange sounds. Growls and howls resounded loud enough to be heard through the glass. Like primitive screams of bloodlust, these sounds invoked fear in her heart. She wasn’t one to be scared easily, but now her body couldn’t stop shivering.
“What was that?” Katie asked.
“Hush,” Luna said lowly, “and keep watching.”
As Katie kept staring out, trumpets blared. Or at least, Katie thought it was the noise of trumpets, until several massive creatures came stomping down the street. Elephants. Trumpeting loudly with their trunks, the elephants were followed by lions, tigers and rhinoceros. And behind those powerful animals a whole army of wolves, foxes and coyotes marched along. Were the animals having a parade? The line of animals continued for a while, not seeming to have an end.
“There’s so many! And why are there elephants and lions?” Katie shrieked.
“I told you to be quiet,” snapped Luna. She slapped Katie in the face with a paw. “What if they hear you?”
“S-sorry,” Katie whispered, huddling near the ground. “What’s happening out there?”
“I’m not sure,” Luna answered truthfully. “I was just scouting around when I saw them coming down the street. But I can tell you that it’s bad news.”
Genesis said, “The zoo animals must have been freed. The HPC was supposed to keep all zoo animals fed and in their cages. Letting the zoo animals free must be the work of the Forest Army.”
“Why would they do something like this?” asked Katie.
“Maybe they’re preparing for something. In any case, we should leave the city. I thought Korgen would be safe with a secure perimeter.” Genesis shook his head ruefully. “But it looks like they really did mobilize an army. It’ll be dangerous to stay here any longer.”
While watching the parade of wild animals, Katie gasped, “The wolves are going in the buildings…and a few are coming this way!”
“Quick!” Genesis said, “To the kitchen!”
Katie crawled into the back of the building. The floor was really nasty. Too filthy for even mice, she thought. She grimaced as she navigated over the mucky brown tiles, pushing her way through the crates and boxes.
Genesis searched the kitchen and found a coat closet near the back. “This would be a good place to hide…but they’ll be sure to find you. Wolves have a good nose.”
Luna suggested, “Why not spray some perfume around? That’ll throw them off.”
Katie said, “I don’t wear any of that stuff. And wouldn’t that make them suspicious in a kitchen? This isn’t a department store.”
Genesis said, “Then the disinfectant…should be fine, right?”
Katie replied, “Why would I carry it around? It’s still in the bathroom! I can’t go get—” Katie froze when she heard the front door crack open, a bell tinkling gently.
“Hide in the closet,” whispered Genesis, “we’re out of time.” Katie did as she was told.
Three wolves entered the kitchen area. One looked especially vicious with its fangs bared in a malicious grin. Strutting forward, they looked around and studied Luna and Genesis with their keen eyes.
The head wolf growled, “Well, well, well…what do we have here? Now why would a dog and cat be inside a kitchen?”
Genesis answered, “We were hungry.”
“Ah, yes,” said the wolf, snickering loudly, “you domesticated scum enjoy eating table scraps. It’s probably all cooked, cold or rotten. Ugh. Let me tell you something—there’s nothing better than the juicy taste of fresh blood, my fellow canine.” He drooled at the thought of it.
“I won’t disagree,” said Luna politely, “but surely you’ve never tried some of the cooking. It can be pretty good too.”
The wolf barked at her, “When did I ask for your opinion?” He turned to Genesis. “We’re in charge of this place now. We’re rounding up all of you and your little friends. Now come with us. No funny business or we’ll happily eat the two of you. You may despise us now, but when the humans are gone, you’ll be thanking us.”
Genesis and Luna walked side by side as they headed out the kitchen.
Luna whispered, “Why don’t we just get rid of them?”
Genesis said, “It’s better to just lead them away. Our priority is her safety. It’d be best if they didn’t find out about her. The others will come to save her—”
“Shut up, runts,” shouted the wolf. “Don’t say another word.”
A muffled ring tone could be heard in the kitchen. It continued for a short while before it was quickly silenced.
The wolves exchanged glances. “What is that noise?”
Nervous, Genesis said quickly, “It’s probably just a timer.”
“A timer?”
“You know,” said Genesis, “those things that the humans use to remind them of something to do at a certain time. An alarm clock for instance.”
The head wolf scanned the kitchen area, prowling. “Why would a timer be hidden? Why would it ring for such a short time?”
Genesis said, “Maybe the guy who set it wanted—” “Shut up,” said a wolf. “He wasn’t asking you.”
The head wolf began sniffing the floor. “Human scent…fresh…” Licking his lips, he followed the trail to the closet door. “In here.” The wolf jumped up to the doorknob, grabbed it clumsily with his teeth and tried to turn it with great difficulty. The two other wolves, instead of watching the pets, waited eagerly for the wolf to open the door.
While they were distracted, Genesis charged at one wolf, slamming it into the metal door of a refrigerator, and knocked it out.
Luna pounced on the other, slashing at its eyes with her sharp claws. Luna was tossed aside, but she landed on her feet. She glared at the wolf, which was now blinking to see her with injured vision. The wolf charged blindly at her. Luna leapt high and swatted it in the face. The wolf veered into a heap of crates. It tumbled into the crates, stacks of canned food falling on top of him.
The head wolf swung around to find his fellow companions out cold. Though alone and outnumbered, he didn’t lose confidence. He swaggered a bit and came face to face with Genesis. The dog and the wolf walked in a circle, attempting to stare each other down.
“You crafty mutt. A sneak attack may have gotten you this far,” the wolf said, “but do you really think you stand a chance against me?”
“I don’t think so,” replied Genesis. “I know so.” Genesis lunged forward with incredible tenacity. The wolf stumbled back. Genesis managed to clamp down on the wolf’s throat, bringing him down to the ground without hurting him.
“How shameful,” the wolf coughed, choking from Genesis’s grip, “for me to lose to a dog!”
Luna sat on the nearby countertop, grooming the fur on her back. “You wouldn’t think it was shameful if you knew who we were.” She said to the closet, “You can come out now, little Miss Rude.”
Katie cracked open the door, glancing at the big mess.
The wolf didn’t care about the girl. He looked fearfully at Genesis and said, “You…a scar on the left eye…you’re Genesis! Then the black cat is Lunesia! You’re Relic Knights!”
Luna hopped off the counter, walked over to the wolf’s trembling face, and said, “Ah, so you’ve finally figured it out with that pea brain of yours. Well, it won’t do you much good now. You’ll have to answer some of our questions…or else…”
The wolf yelped. “Or else what?” As Luna whispered into the wolf’s ear, the wolf’s eyes widened all the way. Whimpering, the wolf shrieked, “No! Anything but that! I’ll tell you everything!”
Luna nodded with a smirk. “That’s a good boy. First I want to know why you came here. Why is there an army of forest animals marching down the street?”
“Lord Kain told us to come.”
“Lord Kain?” Her eyes narrowing, Luna said, “So the rumors are true? Kain still lives?”
“Yes. A man came to us. He called himself Lord Kain, ruler of the hawks and the sky. Out of his mouth came peals of thunder and sparks of lightning. He said he would help us regain our land from the humans. He told us of the humans’ problem and gathered creatures from far and wide to his side.”
Luna said, “Wait. A man? Kain is human?”
“He only looks human. It is said that Kain takes the shape of a man to hide his existence from the humans. No one has ever seen his face. He covers himself with cloth.”
Luna pressed him for more answers. “What have you done with the other members of the HPC? They were supposed to be guarding the humans.”
“They are all being taken to the largest hotel in the city where they’ll be held prisoner.”
Fearing the worst, Luna took a deep breath before asking her last question. “And have you touched the humans? Have you attacked or eaten them?”
The wolf shook his head. “No. Lord Kain says not to defile our mouths with the impure blood of the humans. He says that the same fate may befall us if we eat them while they sleep.”
Luna looked at Genesis. “Is that all we need to know?”
Genesis mumbled indistinctly since it was quite hard to talk with his jaws still clenched on the wolf’s throat. Luna nodded as though she understood.
Luna said to Katie, “If you would do the honors.”
Katie stretched out some cloth towels she found by the oven. “Sure.” She tied up the wolf at the feet, and Genesis let go of the wolf’s neck.
“This is much worse than I feared,” said Genesis, turning to Luna. “I don’t think we can look forward to more reinforcements from the HPC.”
Luna said, “At least they aren’t messing with the humans. We still have time to save them.”
“True, but now things are difficult. We can’t go in the streets…and the others could be in danger.” Genesis said to Katie, “Can you give them a call?”
Katie took out her cell phone. “Of course.”
“Yes, indeed,” said a ghoulish voice. “Call them.”
Startled, Katie dropped the phone. She spun around, turning to the back door of the kitchen. A person was standing there, the face and body covered in loose blue cloth. A draft from the door slightly lifted the veil from the man’s face. It was then, for a split second, that Katie was able to catch a glimpse of the man’s visage. All she saw were pale eyes, black lips in a mischievous grin, and shimmering green cheeks covered with scales. Katie shivered in fright.
Genesis confronted the man. “You! Are you Kain?”
The man paid the dog no mind. “What are you waiting for?” he asked Katie. “Tell them where you are. Tell them to come!”
Katie was silent and unmoving. She stared at him, thinking about what she should do. The man drew near to her.
Genesis dashed to intercept the man. “Don’t come any closer!”
“Foolish pup…” The man opened his mouth and a blue light came bursting out. Laying eyes on the terror before him, Genesis came to an abrupt stop. Luna caterwauled. Then a streak of lightning flew out from the man’s breath and grabbed Genesis like an outstretched hand. Genesis flinched as numerous volts of electricity surged through every fiber of his body. Fur singed, the yellow Lab staggered, then gasped for air and collapsed.
Her eyes watering, Luna ran to his side and prodded him on the shoulder. “Don’t die on me now…you old fool…”