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“I
think we should name her,” Prysm said, glancing at the werewolf. “She’s
awful young. I wonder where her mom is. Do werewolves have moms and dads?”
“How would I know? Put Bella down. She’ll follow us, won’t you girl?” The
cat let out a meow in response to Poe’s question. “You can help me by
taking a turn carrying this one.” Poe’s voice had an angry edge to it. “I
guess we should name her. What do you think about Howler?”
“That’s a boy werewolf’s name. She’s a girl and she’s sweet. I want to
call her Candi.”
“Whatever. I wonder if she turns into a real girl when the sun rises or if
she’s a permanent werewolf. If she was captured by Witch Lilith anything
is possible.” Poe looked into the golden eyes. Do you like the name Candi?”
The werewolf licked his face. “See. She likes it.” Prysm grinned. Twigs
snapped in the trees behind them. Prysm searched for Bella, hoping it was
her walking about. The noise echoed through the quiet night. Three black
cats came out of the forest, heading for Poe and Prysm. “Uh oh.”
The cats snarled and hissed. Poe felt Candi curl up tight against him.
“Chase them away! They’re only cats.” Prysm did as Poe said. The cats
didn’t move. “Uh oh. Run!” They dashed through the trees, Candi bouncing
up and down as Poe held her with both arms. It was too dark to see where
they were going so neither noticed the deep hole in the ground until they
fell into it, both landing with a plop and thud at the bottom. Poe looked
up to see the black cats staring over the edge. “Prysm, are you okay? How
about you, Candi?”
Prysm leaned her back against the dirt wall. “I’m fine. I’ll have a
hundred bruises in the morning, but no broken bones. How’s Candi?”
Poe laid the werewolf next to him and checked her bones. “Aside from her
broken paw, she’s okay. She landed on top of me. This looks like an
abandoned well. It’s round and about twenty feet deep. How will we get out
of here?”
“At least the witch won’t find us in here. What time is it anyway? It
feels like we’ve been gone all night. I am so hungry.” Prysm cried. “I
want to go home.”
“It’s 2 AM. That’s all? This is the longest night of my life. We’ve got
four hours until dawn begins. Don’t cry anymore, Prysm. You watch Candi
and I’ll try to climb out.” Poe put one foot against the side and then the
other. Bracing himself with his hands, he scooted up the cylindrical hole.
“It’s working. I’m almost there.” Above him the three cats hissed and
spat. Poe lost his balance and fell.
“You were almost to the top, Poe. Try again, please?”
“Those stupid cats; they scared me.” Poe tried again, inching his way
toward the top. He expected to hear the cats this time and ignored them
when they hissed. When he put his hands over the edge, the cats scratched
his fingers; Poe fell. “I’ve got a million scratches and they bit me.”
“Poe, you made it to the top! You can do it this time. I know it will
hurt, but ignore them when they scratch you and pull yourself up onto the
dirt.”
Poe sighed. “That’s easy for you to say. You aren’t the one with bloody
hands.”
Just then, Candi leaned over and licked Poe’s wounds. Immediately they
healed. Prysm gasped. “Poe! Your hand. Candi must be a magic werewolf or
something. At least her tongue is.”
Poe held up his hand. “There are no more scratches. Cool. Thanks, Candi.
What did that witch do to you, girl?” Candi licked Poe’s face.
“I’ll bet Witch Lilith did expiriments on Candi; her broken leg, patches
of fur missing, and look at her claws; they’re all cracked and broken. It
might have something to do with that green slimey stuff in the cauldron.
Maybe the witch doesn’t realize that instead of hurting Candi, it gave her
the power to heal. Maybe we’ll never know.”
“Let’s
not worry about it right now. Here I go.” Up the sides he went. At the top
the cats attacked again, but he pulled himself over, knowing Candi would
heal him later. He picked up a stick and swung at the black cats, chasing
them back into the forest. He could still see their glowing green eyes
watching him, but for now they were no threat. “I’m going to look for
something to pull you both out. I’ll be right back.” Poe wandered off,
keeping his eyes open for an extra long stick or some vines.
Back in the pit Prysm and Candi closed their eyes and tried to sleep.
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