Griff
“Ri! Ri, please answer me!”
The vampire groaned as he rolled onto his back. From far above, was thankful to see him move.
“!?” Uriah shouted up at him.
“I’m up here. I’m safe,” shouted back. “Go! Help him!”
?You’re bloody lucky you’re so damned cute.? Uriah grumbled before jumping to his feet, baring his fangs, and taking off toward the sound of battling wolves.
Clutching the branch he landed on, could hardly see below as the sun had now set. The splashing sounds of water were all that could be heard. Then came the howl of a wolf. And another. And another.
It soon became apparent to that the hum of the rushing waterfalls might block out any other noises coming from below. The sound of something much closer was the witch’s next cause for concern.
“Uriah!?” called out as a hollow cracking noise rang in his ears. Adjusting his glasses, his eyes grew wide as he realized what was happening.
Another wolf—one he’d never seen before—was clawing its way up the tree. He could make out its black fur and silver, beady eyes. Those eyes were trained on him.
Im-fucking-possible , thought to himself. Deep down, however, he knew that wasn’t true. The witch was well-informed of the fact that the scent of his uncloaked magic was like a beeping tracking beacon sitting next to a megaphone for supernatural creatures.
The wolf jumped up higher, wrapping its legs around the base of the tree like a human or bear might do to climb. It managed to do just that, pushing itself up higher to reach the first branch.
looked at his hands, purple sparks emitting from his fingers. “Stay away from me!” he demanded.
“Park ranger here!” shouted an unfamiliar human voice from below. “Stop what you’re doing! I’ll shoot!”
The black wolf below seemed unbothered by the voice, its teeth dripping saliva as it searched for a way to get closer to . A whistling sound traveled up the tree before the wolf could make its next move. In response, the creature whimpered, leaned forward, and went tumbling back down to the ground.
Another dart landed inches from ’s hand. The panic of the moment caused him to lose his grip and balance. Before he knew it, he was falling to the ground, too—the difference being that he knew he couldn’t survive the fall.
“Ah!” screamed as he fell through the darkness, trying to grab for a branch as leaves smashed into his face. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
“Who’s over there?!” The ranger’s voice echoed through the woods.
Am I still alive?
opened his eyes only to discover that he was floating in the air mere feet from the ground. Somehow, in that moment, he had successfully channeled his levitation skills.
“Hello?” The ranger was much closer now, a flashlight’s glow appearing on the grass nearby. could even distinguish the man’s Australian accent.
“Ugh!” grunted as he finally dropped to the ground.
“Can you hear me, mate?”
could indeed hear the park ranger, but he couldn’t respond.
A much different voice filled his ears. “, did you hear me?”
Expecting to open his eyes and be back in the forest, was surprised to wake up in his childhood home. Wallpaper with trains, planes, and automobiles surrounded him as he sat up in his bed. The covers featured cartoon characters he loved as a child.
“Mama’s going to be gone. Just for a little while now.”
“M-mama?” asked, adjusting his glasses. Even though the room—this memory—was frozen in time, he was still physically the college freshman he was before he fell from the tree.
“That’s right,” said the gentle, near-angelic voice of his mother, Ann. “ Why don’t you choose a special toy to keep watch over you tonight while mama’s away?”
Looking around the room, could find no trace of her, it was as though he were reliving a memory that included her. There was no denying that it felt like her presence was with him. “What? What do you mean, away ?” couldn’t hide the confusion on his face. “And toy? What toy? I’m a little old for toys, ma?—”
“Mama knows you love your wolf pack. Now, pick your favorite to sleep with you tonight, and mama will put the rest back on your dresser to keep watch over you.”
Huh? asked himself.
Looking down at his bedspread, he saw an assortment of plush animals he instantly remembered from his childhood. The small, cuddly representations of wolves stared back at him: an arctic wolf with golden eyes, a black wolf with one silver eye and an eyepatch, a two-toned wolf with black and white evenly distributed across its fur, a blonde wolf similar to his surprise picnic guest, and finally one that closely resembled Pruitt in his Silver Wolf form.
“Just one?” recognized this new voice as his own at the age of five or six. It became clear to him now that this must be a dream; a memory he had of his mom leaving him with a babysitter while she went to a work event. It had to be, right?
“However many you want, in. Which one is your favorite?”
He examined the options before him before reaching forward to make his selection. His concentration broke as his bedspread slowly transformed into the cool, ticklish texture of grass.
“Mama!” shouted, sitting up with such a force that his glasses dropped onto the forest floor before him.
The man standing above him was certainly not his mama. He’s kind of a daddy, though, he thought to himself as he admired the stranger’s good looks.
“You all right?” asked the handsome, muscular man nearly popping out of his park ranger shirt. His shirt buttons were undone and he looked somewhat unkempt—almost as though the whole situation had caught him off guard. His shimmering blue eyes were calm and welcoming, his shaggy blonde hair pushed back and under his crooked ranger cap.
“Yes. But my-my—uh, my friends?—”
“You and your friends are lucky you didn’t end up being this guy’s meal,” the ranger motioned to the body of the unconscious black wolf that had been stalking just minutes before. “I was off duty, but fortunately had my tranquilizer dart gun with me. Why don’t you let me get you back to where you belong?”
’s eyes darted across the forest. “Pruitt and Uriah? Have you seen them?”
“Wait,” the young man paused. “You mean Pruitt Mondamin, the football star?”
rolled his eyes. Of course he knows him. “Uh, yeah. W-we rented a cabin out here. It’s not far. I need to make sure they’re okay.”
“Come on,” the man held out his hand. “I’m sure they’re fine. Let me get you up before our furry mate wakes up from his nap.”
Looking once again into the man’s friendly eyes, obliged. As their hands linked, he noticed the dirt stains that covered the ranger’s fingers and went all the way up his wrist.
As steadied on his feet, he pulled his hands away and wiped them on his pants. “A little dirty there, ranger.”
“Huh?” The man examined his hands. “Oh, right. Like I said, I didn’t expect to have to jump into duty. I was about to head home from my shift, actually. I dropped my tranquilizer—nearly lost it in the brush—while I was running over here. I look quite the mess, huh?”
The charming smile the man flashed eased ’s nerves. “I’m sure I do, too,” he replied.
Well, you said it. Not me,” the ranger said as he looked up and down before pulling out and turning on a flashlight. “Name’s Haven, by the way. Haven Hemming. What’s yours?”
“Hi, Haven. I’m . Before we go, could you just—I don’t know—shine the light back over to the river? I just want to double check.”
Haven obliged. “Of course, . I just don’t know how long my dart will keep something that big out, though. Not sure I’ve ever seen one of ‘em like that before. He’s huge. I’m going to have to page animal control.”
That’s because it’s not a normal wolf, thought to himself as he followed Haven and the glow of his flashlight back to the river.
“Pruitt? Uriah!” shouted, grabbing up the dropped picnic basket and whatever else could be salvaged.
?Ri? Pruitt?? called out telepathically. ? A park ranger just found me. He darted one of the werewolves, a new one with black fur. You guys okay??
could recognize Uriah calling for him. ? , that you??
?Are you okay??
?Yes. Pruitt, he’s—I think your new friend got him with a tranquilizer, too. He’s breathing and fine, but passed out.?
?Okay, good. If you can, get him back to safety before anyone else shows up. Go to the cabin.?
?Sure thing, little witch. Stick with the human and have him bring you back to our place. We’ll be fine. Just don’t let him inside.?
“Doesn’t look like anyone’s out here, huh?” Haven asked, flashing his light now on ’s face. “From what I know of your star quarterback friend , there’s a good chance he could outrun even a wolf.”
winced at Haven’s enunciation of the word friend. “You’re right.”
“Strange that you got away, though,” Haven replied before flashing a smile. “You aren’t the ones staying up at that cabin about a half-a-mile back, are you?”
“Yeah,” was nervous to admit. Is he going to get there and find Pruitt still in wolf form and…
“Well, let me get you back there safely, then.”
“Uh,” hesitated, his voice breaking. His pause caused Haven to raise a brow. “Sure.”
The two walked side by side down the path had taken with Pruitt and Uriah earlier, but Haven stopped as his flashlight danced along another side trail that seemed less traveled.
“So, if you don’t mind, my vehicle is actually just past this shortcut through here. It’s where I normally park, and where I was when I heard someone screaming. It’s a shorter walk, and I could just drop you off after, if that’s okay,” said Haven.
studied Haven’s facial expressions. Were the dirty hands suspicious? Was he acting suspicious?
Haven’s mannerisms told all he needed to know. He very much appeared to be a clueless Good Samaritan—and a very cute one at that. Not that it matters , thought to himself. But it probably makes me less likely to think of him as a bad guy. And the Australian accent definitely helps.
Regardless of Haven’s intentions—realized or otherwise— felt that his first priority was to protect Pruitt, Uriah, and their supernatural identities. After all, this guy has a tranquilizer—what else might he have?
“So, you go to school around here, I take it?” Haven asked, making small talk as the two walked through the darkest stretch of the woods. “With Mondamin, maybe?”
“Uh, yeah, I do.”
Haven appeared amused. “Ah, so a Mystic Hollow Devil, huh?”
“That I am,” feigned enthusiasm. “Um, go sports ball.”
“You don’t strike me as someone out here on a football retreat, no offense,” said Haven.
shrugged. “None taken, and you’re right. Guess you could just call me a fan.” I hope he doesn’t ask me any football questions. “Do you go to MHU? You don’t strike me as a local, no offense,” he teased.
“Oh, yeah? What gives it away, the accent?” Haven chuckled. “I grew up in Sydney, Australia, but live over in Crescent Ridge now. I guess you and I are kind of rivals because—despite this awesome job of protecting the wilderness, and apparently people from it sometimes—I go to Moonhaven University.”
“Oh, interesting ,” made the connection in his head. “Looks like my university just made someone from your university our new president.”
Acknowledging his response, Haven looked at as though he were about to speak. turned to face him, neglecting to watch the path before him and tripping over a downed tree branch in the process.
“Small world,” Haven said as he quickly grabbed ’s hand, pulling him back up before he hit the ground.
The ranger’s quick reflexes caught the witch’s attention. Okay, so did his good looks and piercing eyes.
“Small world, indeed,” said with rosy cheeks. “Sorry. My friends call me a bit of a klutz.”
“That so?” Haven shot him a wink before letting go of his hand. “And that’s who is out here with you, right? Friends like, uh, Pruitt? Someone special? Or…”
swallowed.
“ Actually, yeah,” he said in an intentionally vague manner as the two continued on the trail. “They all scattered—told me they were running back to the cabin and to stay put in the tree I was in until?—”
“Oh, until you fell out?” Haven teased playfully.
shrugged.
“Well, for being a klutz, you did pretty good at not hurting yourself in that fall.” Haven shined his flashlight up and down the length of ’s body. “Were you up on a branch or what? The closest one had to have been around ten feet up. A drop like that could’ve killed you. At the very least, maybe left you with a few broken bones.”
Now it’s me who looks a little suspicious, huh? thought to himself. “Well, actually, ” he began, “I was trying to get up the tree to get away from one of the big bad wolves you darted back there.”
“You saw the other one?” Haven asked. “It took off running even after I darted it twice.”
“ Actually , I saw a completely different one, I think,” corrected him, regretting what he said almost immediately after. Am I giving away too much? I mean, there were three, right? At least three. And I want to figure out which one came after me first.
“ Three , huh?” Haven asked, stopping in his tracks. “I only hit two.”
“Other one must’ve gotten scared and ran off, I guess?” quickly suggested, doing his best to pretend like the wolves in the forest were just normal animals; not creatures created by a supernatural curse that began with his very witch bloodline. Keep it cool, told himself.
“ Hm, I don’t know if I would say scared…” Haven said after a moment, his voice trailing off. “Uh, but anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Thanks. Me, too,” replied . “I appreciate your good timing and even better aim.”
Haven smiled, his cheeks rosy as they made eye contact. “Well, shucks.”
Quick subject change time, thought , nervous to avoid appearing suspicious. “So, are you studying something in the biology field?”
“Animal biology and pre-vet,” Haven nodded. “That, plus this, plus my fraternity, plus football keeps me pretty busy. That’s how I’m familiar with your friend. He’s like the guy to beat at our upcoming game.”
“Ah,” paused. “As we said earlier, small world.” That’s how he knows him, huh? I’m just gonna keep my mouth shut. I don’t want to out Pruitt—as either a werewolf or my boyfriend. And wait, Haven’s a… frat boy?
The park ranger studied ’s face, curious if he had anything else to say on the topic. When remained silent, Haven finally continued. “And I guess I still find some time to hit the target range just in case any Mystic Hollow University kids wander out into our woods at night.”
He’s teasing me, right? feigned a big smile. “Oh, so these woods belong to Moonhaven, huh?”
“Well, we’re just on the edge of city limits out here,” began Haven, flashing his light ahead as they approached an opening in the trees. “I’m no historian, so I might not get this all right, but I know some benefactor gifted a lot of this land to my college a long time ago. There’s some deep connections between Moonhaven and this forest—to nature, wilderness, and even the wildlife, I guess you could say. We call this forest the Howling Timbers.”
“Huh, no joke? Well, guess you learn something new every day,” said , still processing but trying to keep the mood light. “So, does that mean your school mascot is actually, uh, those wolves back there?”
“Well, maybe not those fellas in the woods in particular,” Haven said with a chuckle, coming to a stop now as they entered a clearing with a large dirt lot and a weathered pickup truck. “But funny you should say that.”
The flashlight shined on the back bumper and its only sticker, an image of four cartoon wolves surrounding the words Moonhaven Wolf Pack .
“ Oh, hey!” pointed to acknowledge Haven’s decal. “I was close.”
“Intuitive little ankle biter, ain’t ya?” The blonde ranger smiled, opening the backseat and tossing in his hat. “I can drop you off before looping back home.”
nodded. “I really appreciate it.”
“No worries. You mind if I get out of this quick?” Haven turned to , referencing his ranger shirt.
“Uh, no! Totally. Go for it,” answered , his eyes wide as the automatic interior lights of the truck illuminated Haven’s six-pack abs.
“Cool,” Haven flashed a smile before pulling the shirt off and tossing it into the car.
With a body like that, it looks like he works out with my boyfriends, mused . Actually, no. My boyfriends would be jealous of abs like that.
watched as his new acquaintance leaned into the backseat, seemingly in search of another shirt to wear. A unique tattoo—a crest featuring a large representation of the curved, sickle-shaped crescent moon and a wolf howling up at it—took up the left side of Haven’s rib cage, an interesting accent to his already sculpted physique.
“Whoa, nice tattoo.” covered his mouth as the words left it. Oops.
“Ha,” said Haven, turning back to face with a black athletic tank top now in hand. He spun around and flexed. “Like what you see, huh?”
“Oh, yeah,” replied, quickly realizing he should’ve held his tongue. “I-I mean, the tattoo, that is. I-it goes with the whole theme.”
I am so awkward and have terrible timing. Where’s the ugly park rangers when you need one?
“There’s a deeper meaning to it than just sports ball , if that’s what you’re thinking,” said Haven with a playful grin. He turned back around, bending his torso to pull his tank over his arms and shoulders, and that’s when noticed it.
The Adonis-level perfection of Haven’s body nearly distracted from a small scratch mark on the back of his right shoulder. The bright reds and pinks of the wound suggested it was fairly new. tried to get closer to investigate, but hesitated.
Do I open my mouth about that, too? calculated to himself. No, no, I shouldn’t. He thought back to Pruitt’s concern—guilt even—around spreading the werewolf curse. Although he had never met another werewolf besides his boyfriend, Pruitt was a great indicator of the strength, power, and responsibility that came with the curse. Maybe I would feel guilty, too, if I just did nothing .
“Um, hey, Haven. D-did you get attacked by one of those wolves back there?”
“What’s that?” Haven asked, nonchalantly opening the front passenger door for as he closed the open backseat one.
“Oh, I mean, I just thought I saw…” ’s voice trailed off as he got into the car and buckled up. Maybe this is him shutting down the conversation, or not wanting to draw attention to what happened to him. “I just wasn’t sure if you got attacked or scratched or anything. I guess you would know better than me, but, uh, can’t wild wolves carry some serious infectious diseases?”
“Ah, yes,” said Haven as he joined him in the front seat, turning over the engine. “Well, sorry. No to the part about me being attacked. But yes to the part about wolf diseases. Some even carry parasitic ones.”
gritted his teeth. “Parasitic, huh? Yikes.”
“Guess I didn’t ask, but how about you? Did the big bad wolf pack back there bite or scratch you at all?” Haven put the car into drive, spinning the truck around and onto the nearby highway.
“Nope. Not so much as a scratch, fortunately.”
“Very fortunate,” Haven was quick to reply.
What’s this guy know that I don’t? asked himself as they continued down the road.