On the Run

When Prurien changed into his wolf, the color of deep slate gray, and Tener finished his wolf, the color of Autumn straw, they took off into the raging wind and stabbing rain.

The path they took from the back of the large mansion led straight from the kitchen to the woods. Prurien was fast, bounding over newly downed trees from the storm, while Tener followed close on his heels. They didn’t speak, but Tener trusted his older brother to lead the way.

Heavy water droplets carried by the wind followed them like music notes cascading and falling before Prurien finally stopped.

Breathing heavily, Tener’s lean wolf body caught up a second later and stood next to his brother.

“We are close,” Prurien growled slightly, “but he’s not alone.”

Tener stuck his nose in the air to smell the wind blowing around them.

“Not alone? Did someone call the police, perhaps?”

“I’m not sure, but the scent is different. I can smell his blood, but,” he took a few steps away from Tener, “it isn’t as strong as the other.”

Worried about their youngest brother, Prurien took off at such an alarming rate Tener almost couldn’t catch up.

“Slow. Down..”

Prurien couldn’t hear Tener’s barking to slow down, the storm echoed off the trees, and he could only run as fast as he could to get to his little brother.

The challenging run towards Amorous’s scent paid off when they arrived quicker than anticipated.

The youngest brother had indeed crashed at the curve of Barrow Road.

They both slowed, staying at the inside edge of the woods, and once they got close enough, the scent of the accident was strong.

Prurien could see Amorous’s back by a tree as he sat facing the road by his car. The car had hit the center of another vehicle pushing it into the tree, totaling both of them.

“Amorous, you still alive?” Prurien shouted in what sounded like a loud bark.

“Yes, but I need help! Hurry, please. We need to hurry! I don’t know how much longer this human will last!”

His scared voice rang out, making Prurien and Tener call in their wolf and change back.

Now naked, except for the black waist pack around Prurien, they ran out of the woods to where Amorous was sitting on the wet ground under a tree by the road.

Tener whistled at the demolished cars while Prurien asked, “Where’s the driver of the other car?” but he got his answer when he got close and saw a body held close to Amorous.

Tener whispered out loud next to Prurien, “Oh shit.”

“Yea, oh shit, is right. Send Jonathan and Lasci our location, then text Libidi that we will be late. If your phone doesn’t get a signal, try mine.”

Prurien took off the waist pack and tossed it to Tener before going to the crushed cars next to them in search of something to cover the human up with.

“Will the human be okay? There’s soo much blood, and it’s all my fault.”

Amorous started whimpering and cradling the injured human closer, trying to block it from the rain. Water mixed with blood dripped pink onto his light khaki pants.

Prurien finally found a jacket in the back seat of the driver’s car and pulled it out.

“Here,” Prurien covered the injured human up, “I didn’t smell too much blood, but you both still need medical attention. Jonathan can take a look at you both when we get back to the house.”

Amorous nodded, wiping rain mixed with sorrowful tears from his eyes.

Tener walked out from under the heavy brush he’d used to shelter him to use the phone in the storm.

“Damned rain, but all the messages were sent successfully and read, so now it’s just a matter of minutes, and Jonathan should be here. Lasci texted back and said he would meet us at the house.”

Prurien shook his head, “Figured he wouldn’t come, but at least he will be home when we get there.”

“Aw man, he’s gonna kill me for not picking up Libidi!”

“Nah, with the weather the way it is, you have a good excuse, but now you have to find a better excuse for how you ended up crashing dead center into another car on a two-lane road and injuring a human. That, little brother, will be why he may kill you this time.”

Tener’s comment made Amorous whimper again, and Prurien snapped at both.

“Enough! Now is not the time to be joking around. Tener, check the car to see if they have some identification or a cell phone. I will call the tow company when we get back, and I doubt, in this weather, anyone else would dare be driving on this road, so we probably won’t have to deal with police.”

Tener didn’t say anything and started searching the driver’s car.

Prurien narrowed his eyes at Amorous, who was staring at him worried.

“I don’t know how it happened, but I am glad you’re alive. As for the car, though, you will be paying for the repairs or replacing it. Keep that in mind.”

Amorous nodded as a pair of headlights beamed on his face.

“Finally.”

Prurien’s hair dripped rivers as he stood in the rain while Johnathan turned on the hazards and parked the SUV. He didn’t feel the cold but being naked in his human form, in the brutal wind and rain, almost tested him.

Jonathan got out wearing a long raincoat covered in ducks and laughed, “You guys need to start taking clothes with you, at least to cover up your man parts. They look terrifying in the cold rain.”

“We don’t have time for your rudimentary observation. We need to get them in the vehicle quickly and get out of here just in case someone does come.”

Jonathan snickered and walked over to where Prurien started lifting the injured human off Amorous.

“My, my, little wolf, what have you got yourself into.”

“Shut it, busboy. I’m not in the mood.”

Jonathan chuckled at the youngest brother’s response as he helped him stand.

Prurien fought against the whipping rain as he carried the injured human to the vehicle while Jonathan and Amorous followed.

He laid the unconscious body in the back seat, covered with the jacket, while Jonathan cranked up the heat.

“I guess I’ll have to roast in the heat for the sake of a human once again.”

Johnathan’s comment made Prurien chuckle.

“Nothing like a demon that doesn’t like warmth.”

Jonathan grinned, sitting back in the driver’s seat, “Depends on what’s making the warmth, I suppose,” he smiled at Prurien with his slightly pointy teeth.

Prurien rolled his eyes in response.

“I’ll head back with Tener. Drive slow.”

Jonathan nodded and shut the SUV’s door just as Tener came running up with a colorful worn backpack.

“This was all I could find. Hey, can I ride back with them?”

Prurien took the book bag, “There’s no room. You’ll be heading back with me,” he replied, opening the back driver’s side door and tossing the book bag on the floorboard, before shutting it.

“Hey, are you coming or going? I refuse to sit here much longer!”

Jonathan yelled through the cracked window impatiently, trying to get their attention.

“Pru, this weather is about to get worse. I can feel it! Let’s hold the human in our laps and ride back!”

Prurien gave Tener a pointed look and shifted his eyes downward to stare at the coldness of Tener’s lower region.

“Good point,” He responded, covering himself with his hand, “We can change and sit in the cargo area then. Come on, Pru, this freaking weather sucks!”

It was as if Tener summoned the loud clap of thunder that suddenly roared in their ears, causing them both to look at the sky.

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