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The Hunter and the Hunted By Lykanos Wulfheart

The summer sun was just starting to set, the fullness of the moon ready to appear at a moment's notice. Relaxing within her woodland home, Marie Wildes sat back in her recliner, watching the fireplace as the logs burned down. While the heat of the day still clung in the air, the old lady enjoyed the crackle of the burning lumber. The smell of the searing wood reminded her of the old days, back before the nearby town became so busy, so modern. While she had kept up with the times, her two story house fully equipped with power and plumbing, she preferred to cling to her roots. No TV, no computer, just the forest, her hobbies, and her fireplace.

Of those hobbies, witchcraft was the most prevalent. In her youth, she'd helped as a midwife. Taking what she learned and combining it with her passion, she'd spent many years as a holistic healer, her tonics and salves aiding those that didn't want to buy into modern medicine. However, with her living nearly five miles into the wooded expanse of Washington, the townspeople tended to talk. The local children thought her a witch, too afraid to wander into the woods at night. Every so often, one would get dared to touch her front porch, the kid scared out of their mind. Most youth never even made it halfway down the gravel road, the few brave enough to see her house often running in terror after touching one of the worn maroon beams of the open deck.

Marie wasn't the only thing that haunted the dreams of the locals. Scarier still were the reports of dogmen, canine centaurs that were said to walk between the trees and take small children in the dead of night. Most shrugged it off as mistaken sightings of elk, moose, or even wolves. Of those that claimed to have seen them, they all agreed, it was as if a werewolf had been fused at the hip with a massive wolf body, essentially a werewolf-taur.

Standing to toss another log onto the fire, the grey haired woman's gaze darted to the door. She could feel that something was amiss, that a darkness was coming. Unsure as to what, she only knew that it was life changing... and full of death. Shivering despite the warmth, she tightened her blouse and stoked the flames, her movements still spry for an elderly woman. Before she could return to her seat, the floorboards of her porch creaked, unknown visitors tapping softly at her entry. As she walked to the front door, the feeling of foreboding dread grew. It wasn't her own, but something magical, as if a premonition of what was to come, a heavy shadow that bogged her down.

Hesitantly she touched the nob, turning the bronze sphere until it unlatched. The wooden doorway groaned with the agonizing pace, cracked open to see who was lying in wait. Just beyond her barricade stood a family of three, a man, his wife, and their little girl, none of which human. The guests were dogtaurs of the schnauzer clan, the parents muscled and foreboding. The father stood nearly eight foot from paw to floppy ears, the back of his beastly half standing five feet in its own right. His mate, while equally terrifying, was a foot shorter, though just as dangerous. Savage tooth and claw were hidden behind fur, the whole of their bodies covered in fuzz.

The terror that had built washed away as Marie looked down, taking in their daughter. Unlike her father's black fur with white underbelly and her mother's mix of light grey and whites, the seven year old pup was a dirty auburn with a speckling of spots, their creamy coloration expanding into her underbelly. While she, too, had the guise of beastly ferocity about her, it was far more masked by her species' traits. While all three had beards of white with their primary color mixing in, the youth's round muzzle made it look more like fluff than the full schnauzer mustache. The little girl's size was just as adorable as her doglike face, no more than five foot high, giving the old lady an extra three inches on the tiny dogtaur.

Despite the feral appearance of the creatures, the witch opened her home, a wrinkled hand tussling the child's furry head-fluff. "Is this really Autumn? She's getting so big." As the little girl wagged her upright sickle of a tail, Marie stepped back, sweeping her palm in an open invitation. "Please, come in. Watch your head, though. I don't normally get guest of your... magnitude."

While he appeared intimidating, Vince, the proud father, was anything but at this moment. Truth be told, he was nervous, more so than he'd ever been. This man had spent his life eluding hunters and fighting for his woodland home, though nothing had worried him as much as seeing if his little girl had the gift of magic. He was sure she did, but that was not enough. This would be the defining moment and his fatherly fear caused that glimmer of doubt to spread. With a gruff, raspy voice, the canine taur spoke before leading his family in. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Madam Wildes."

Closing the family inside, the woman made her way to a backroom, talking as she went. "Oh, please, I've told you before. Call me Marie. And you're fine, dear. It's my pleasure. Always an exciting time when a promising young witch gets to take the test."

Little Autumn padded over to her mom, the space of the living room eaten up by the massive torsos of the dogtaurs. Tugging at her mother's front hip fur, the child seemed a little confused as to their twilight trek. "Mommy? Why are we visiting Auntie Marie so late at night?"

Allison looked down at her daughter, and then lowered her four legs into a flat-bellied sit. She gently brushed at her child's shoulder fur as she spoke, a calming voice tinted with the gruffness of her animalistic shape. "Sweetie, we're going to be taking your magical aptitude test just a little early, okay?"

Trotting in place, a hint of defiance snuck into Autumn's hesitation. "But mom... I'm not ready yet. I thought I still had a few months." Her mother calmed her nerves, both tender hands sweeping down Autumn's arms as the silvery muzzle tried to smile. "You'll do great, Autumn. I saw what you did with those flowers. You just have to believe in yourself."

"But..." Worry snuck into the mini schnauzer-girl's voice. "But I only made them bloom for a little bit. They still died, mom."

Wrapping her child in a loving embrace, Allison pulled her close, whispering as she worked her fingers through her daughter's fur. "Everything dies eventually, honey. But you made it live just a little bit longer. That was magic, sweetie. You're stronger than you know."

While the girls talked, Vince followed Marie into her backroom, ducking under the doorway and making sure not to bump anything with his long body as he turned back to close them in. With a hush, he spoke to her back while she rifled through the various trinkets on a shelf. "Thanks again, Mada- Marie. I'm sorry for barging in so late in the day."

Moving tiny boxes and jars, Marie was searching for something small, yet she just couldn't seem to find it. "Oh, it's no trouble at all. I've been helping the beings of this forest for as long as you've been alive. Hell, I was the midwife for your birth, not to mention your daughter's, so no more fretting." Turning, she reached up and patted his fluffy cheek, then moved to the next shelf. "That's right. I left it over here after the last one." Triumphantly, she found it in an instant, chuckling at her own forgetfulness. Holding the small, grey orb in her palm, she closed her fist and looked up at her visitor, the darkness from before weighing on her brow. "You don't have to spare me, Vince. I know why you're here. I've heard the rumors. There's a hunter in town and it's got you spooked."

The doglike face told her she was right, Vince's folded ears drooping more than usual. "That's exactly it," stated the man as he sat, his haunches hitting the floor as his front legs held up his humanoid torso. Crossing his arms, he seemed disappointed more in himself than the situation. "You can never tell Autumn this, but the hunter is here for us. A few people saw her playing at the edge of the woods, something we told her time and again NEVER to do." Sighing, he recomposed himself, moving his pawed hands to his hips. "So, if she is a witch and something were to happen to us... I know it's a lot to ask, but could you..." His face contorted, the pain of the idea almost too much to bare.

"Even if she's not," a soothing, old hand patted at the worried father's arm, "I'll take care of that girl, powers or no. You just worry about taking care of yourself, you hear me?"

Vince fought back the well of emotion, coughing into his hand as he forced the potential tears away. Nodding, his words were sincere. "Thanks, Ma-rie. Thank you for everything."

Though she knew he had reason to worry, the old witch wasn't about to let him leave her backroom on a low note, not with his little girl needing his strength. "I'll train you yet, Vince. You kids and that 'Madam' nonsense. Making a vibrant woman like myself feel old!" Tapping the shoulder of his front leg, she walked past, opening the door while making sure not to hit him in his backside. "Now get yourself up. We have a witch to test."

As soon as the two returned from the back, Allison finished soothing her daughter and stood back up, holding the little girl's hand to keep the tension at bay. Vince moved to his pup's other side, tussling her hair as he took on a proud posture. Looking down, he met her gaze, strengthening her will with a quick, silly face, his tongue sticking out as he wrinkled up his muzzle to push out his mustache. Her giggle was exactly what he needed, Allison's hand giving him a little smack. Her eyes said "behave yourself", though he could tell she was just as tense as he was, both parents hoping for their little girl's success.

"Alright," stated Marie as she stood before the group, the smooth, golf ball sized sphere between her fingers, "this is the test. It seems rather simple if you know what to do, but to those that don't, it can be quite the challenge." Holding out the orb, she talked directly to the youth. "Cup your hands for me."

The little dogtaur did as told, receiving the object with a little spring to her palms. "It's so light," said Autumn, looking to Marie curiously. "And warm."

The old witch straightened the child's hands subtly, giving everyone a good view. "That's a good sign. This object absorbs energy and then gives it off as light. What I need you to do is focus on it. Imagine that little ball glowing. Direct your thoughts at it as you picture it in your mind. Make it glow, Autumn."

"Okay," came the sweet yet scared reply. The seven-year-old did as told, staring at the smooth grey surface. She strained her muscles as she gazed deeply, trying to force something, ANYTHING to happen. Try as she might, nothing changed, her tail sagging in defeat.

"You're trying too hard," stated Marie, a gentle hand resting on the little girl's cheek. Moving that hand to the child's shoulder, she continued, "You don't need to use your body." Rubbing between the girl's ears, the woman smiled. "You just need your mind. Focus. Imagine it glowing and it will."

"Okay," said Autumn once more as she repositioned her feet, her words more determined. As worried as she was of failing, she wanted to make her parents proud. Closing her eyes, she lifted her palms, focusing her thoughts on making the object glow. In her imagination, she pictured the orb turning blue, the radiance like a star in the night sky. She didn't think anything was happening, but the idea of it made her smile, the ball feeling almost weightless to her pads.

Autumn heard a gasp on either side of her followed by the cheery voice of Madam Wildes. "Open your eyes, dear." The girl did as directed, the orb a brilliant sky blue as it hovered an inch above her hands. Her own chuckle was awash with joy as she stared, amazed that the thing was doing what she wanted. Now that she understood what was happening, feeling the flow of the power within, it felt simple, almost easy. Again, her mentor spoke. "You're going to be a very powerful witch, Autumn. Most with magic can get it to glow, but only a few of the very gifted can make it float. Not even I could do that."

Looking to her parents, Autumn's face was as bright as the stone. She could see just how pleased they were as they smiled back, canine faces twisting with human emotion. Before she could speak, her concentration was shattered, the hostile barks of distant hounds forcing her to drop the charm to the rug.

"They've found us!" Vince moved to the door with haste, looking out with a growl. It was just as he feared, the hunters had picked up their trail. With frustrated power edging his voice, he seemed to command, though Marie knew he was simply trying to ask in the heat of the moment. "Protect our daughter. We'll lure them away."

Allison's face was stricken with worry, her focus set on their child. "Autumn, honey, I need you to shift to your human form as fast as you can. Auntie Marie will keep you safe while your father and I get rid of the bad men, okay?"

Clinging to her mother, the little girl cried out, "No, please don't go! You can change back, too. She can hide us all. Please don't go, mommy!"

Stroking through her child's hair, Allison tried to keep a cheerful face, even as her heart sank. "You know mommy and daddy can't. It takes us almost ten minutes to change. You're special, sweetie. That's how daddy and I knew you were magic. You can change so quickly. Please, honey. I need you to do it now."

Listening to the increasing ferocity of the animals outside, Vince knew they had to go if they didn't want to get spotted. "Allison, we have to go now." Running over to his daughter, he gave her a tight hug as he lovingly stated, "We're so proud of you." Turning his focus to the old woman, he desperately pleaded. "Keep her safe." Before she could respond, the quick warrior was at the door, opening it for his wife.

As Allison regrettably trotted away, she rushed back, embracing her daughter once more. "I love you SO much." With another squeeze, she turned away, speaking over her shoulder as she vanished into the night, "Don't let anything happen to her."

Just before Vince sealed their exit, the old lady called back, "I'll keep her safe. You have my word." Turning her attention to the weeping youth, the old witch strained to kneel down. "Autumn, I need you to do what your mom said. Can you go human for me?" It took a moment for the frightened child to nod, the girl sitting as she started the change back. Marie took that time to stand back up and rush to her closet, grabbing something to dress the girl in. On her way back, she frantically grabbed a jar and returned, holding the baggy outfit to the human youth. The once large, auburn creature was now a pale child with brown locks draping to her buttocks, the conversion taking just over a minute.

Dressing herself, Autumn rubbed at her hips and legs, a soreness setting in. "It hurts when I go that fast." As soon as she was clothed, the witch sprinkled a pungently scented power onto her, the fragrance burning at Autumn's enhanced sense of smell. Coughing, the little girl cried out, "It hurts my nose!"

"I know, I know," stated the woman sadly. "It's to help protect you. It'll keep the dogs from knowing what you are." Taking a handful, Marie then dusted the floors and even went out to the deck, erasing the evidence of the dogtuar's visit with the pungent spice. Setting the jar in the kitchen, the old woman turned back, calling out to her charge. "Now we just stay here and wait." Returning to the living room, Autumn was gone with the door still wide open, the kid desperate to find her parents. With a knowing sigh, Marie slipped on her shoes and headed into the darkness.

Allison remained right on Vince's heels, the two schnauzer dogtaurs racing between the trees. The direction they chose led them dangerously close to the hunter's tracking hounds, but it was a risk they had to take. Backtracking gave a fresher trail for their enemy to follow, keeping them as far away from the cabin as possible. However, the dogs were closer than expected. As the pair made it to the ravine, two powerful canines crested the ridge. The massive Rottweiler led the charge, a black lab at his side, both barking with a killer's ferocity. As they rushed their prey, a second Rottweiler joined the chase, their quarry forced to turn back and skirt up the other side. Though they were warriors, the parents knew this was a fight they had to avoid. Even if they managed to take down the dogs, the men with guns would be right behind, the time wasted putting the duo within gunshot.

Vince led their retreat, the path angling toward the cabin. He had a plan, as desperate as it was. Looking back to his wife, both beasts huffing with effort, he nodded. She understood, following his lead as he rushed into a large clearing. The space was almost the size of a city block, barren of trees with a field of grass, a grazing spot for the local herbivores. With their bodies being higher off the ground than the dogs, the plan was to slow the beasts down in the thick growth. They'd then dart north, away from Marie's house and back into the surrounding woodlands.

The plan was working perfectly. As the hounds hit the clearing, their pace was slowed, unlike the larger gait of the taurs. Pulling away, his hearty muscles plowing a path, Vince was sure of their escape. Trying to keep up at her husband's side, Allison's breathing was ragged, but she was confident in his plan. She was sure of their safety until a horrid metal grating broke through the barks. Something grabbed her foot, a searing pressure biting deep into her flesh. In an instant, her momentum was redirected into the dirt, the grass near her back right ankle stained with blood.

Alerted by his lover's yelp of pain, Vince spun in an instant, his wife's crumpled form flat in the undergrowth. Moving to her confinement, he roared with frustration, Allison's leg torn up by some poacher's spring trap. He could tell by the wound that she'd be limping the rest of the way, but he wasn't about to leave her behind, frantically trying to free the frightened woman from her torture. Her wince was natural as he pulled at the trap, the tension latching back down as something dug into his upper arm. Allison's scream was full of anguish as the iron teeth dug back in, though her real pain came from seeing the gigantic Rottweiler latch on to her husband. The animal dug in as it tried to pull him away, the second one tearing into his back knee. Vince managed to kick the smaller dog off, watching in terror as the black lab moved in on his wife. With the savage brute holding his arm, there was only one way the man could protect his family. Grabbing the muscled hound by the throat, the man dug in his claws, cutting off the creature's air. When it refused to release, the other dangerously close to Allison, Vince tore it free, blood pouring through his black fur. The Rottweiler whined as the enraged husband wrapped his uninjured arm around its neck, the wounded limb moving to break the dog's spine. In the heat of the moment, the angry dogtaur launched the lifeless body at its friends, giving him a moment to stand. Putting himself between the attackers and his beloved, he glanced back to Allison. She was trying to twist her lower body so that she might free herself, though the sore taur frame made it hard for her to reach her back foot. Her torment ate at Vince, his word ending with a bang. "Allison." A bullet tore into his left shoulder, the brute sagging. "I love you." As he finished, another round dug into his skull, dropping him beside the woman he loved.

"NO," screamed Allison as she pushed her way past the dogs, tooth and claw of no concern to her anymore. She tugged against her restraint, desperate to scoop up Vince's lifeless form. Holding him close, she protected her face from the hounds, burying her muzzle into his crimson stained fur. Halfheartedly, she swung her arm at her attackers, weeping into his manly chest.

A sharp whistle broke through the commotion, a younger man stepping into the clearing. Though he looked no more than thirty, his brown goatee gave him extra years. He wore a brown trench coat and hunter's hat, completing the generic look of his profession. For someone so young, his voice was deep and grizzled as he spoke. "I almost didn't believe my old man when he said monsters like you existed." Speaking to his dogs as they continued to bark at his captive, the man ordered, "Max, Tiberius, leave it!"

Allison ignored the stranger, all of her attention spent embracing her husband. She knew this was the end. They'd known about monster hunters, the boogeymen of their people. She wasn't about to talk to this soulless killer. Instead, she tried to sooth her fallen lover. "At least we got to know... and that's enough." Burying herself into Vince's neck, she cradled his head. It felt like an eternity as she waited, tears streaming through stained fur. Her wish was eventually fulfilled, the pain of her loss erased by another bang.

Autumn wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She wanted desperately to show some emotion when the rifleman pulled the trigger and murdered her mother, the lifeless body falling onto that of the little girl's father. The overwhelming fear gave way to a cascade of emotion, her eyes leaking with remorse. She'd had the perfect view of their deaths, tucked between two trees splitting out as they grew from nearly the same spot, up on a small hill that overlooked the clearing. Before the child could make a sound, a strong hand pulled at her shoulder, forcing her to turn around.

Marie brought the broken girl close, wrapping her in a loving embrace. "I'm so sorry, little Autumn. I'm so sorry." The youth could barely process what had happened, let alone speak. The old woman could see it in the child's eyes. She'd been defeated. Shattered beyond repair. There was only one way to help fulfil her friend's final request. Holding their daughter out at arm's length, Marie wiped away a couple tears of her own. "Autumn, I need you to be strong for me, ok?" The girl's nod was almost imperceptible as the witch put a thumb to the youth's forehead. "I need you to forget."

***

Twenty four years had passed since Autumn moved in with her Aunt Marie, since the talented young woman had started learning witchcraft. Her guardian had taught her a great many things over the years, but the one that hurt the most was of her parent's death. She'd been told that they had died in a car crash when she was little and so Autumn had vowed never to get a car of her own. She honestly preferred it that way, often taking trips through the woods in her other form. Growing up, she never felt deprived by that. Quite the opposite. Aunt Marie had spoiled her rotten. The nostalgic old woman even bought Autumn a computer back at the turn of the century, though neither used it much. Fortunately, the girl had followed in the wise old woman's footsteps, embracing nature. Unfortunately, Autumn had also never lost her wanderlust, playing dangerously close to the world of man in her dogtaur form. There were times she spooked hikers for fun, but nothing satisfied her as much as scaring away the poachers that hunted her woodland friends. Those friends took a larger role in her life over the last five years, ever since she lost her loving aunt. Marie had been a fighter, roaming the wilds to the ripe old age of eighty nine. Though it was natural, the death weighed hard on Autumn, the last of her family gone. In the wake of this absence, she took it upon herself to take over her caretaker's business as well as the mantle of the forest's guardian, a job she enjoyed above all others.

It was that responsibility which guided her actions that sunny evening. Summer was coming to a close, but that didn't stop their local community center from bringing in guest lectures. Today's lesson: Cryptids, How to Catch and Kill. In most places, this topic would have been laughed away, a hoax and nothing more. For this paranoid city, it was a real concern. The talk of dogmen had been on the rise, sightings having been growing throughout the last trapping season. Beyond that, the fearful townsfolk had claimed there were all sorts of mysterious beings in the woodlands. Though the latter was mostly false, just small city hikers who had watched too much modern Sci-Fi, it did pique Autumn's attention, her forest full of secretive fae and all manner of wild beast. Ultimately, she knew it was her own fault, her romps in the fur endangering the other mythical beings. For that reason alone, it was her duty to investigate.

As was her norm, she left the safety of her home, carefully checking out the window before slinging her backpack over her shoulder and streaking buck naked out into the trees. Moving between the branches, she let the gentle breeze wash over her smooth, muscled skin. Her brown hair was no longer the long locks from childhood, but now an inch long style that gave the built woman a butch appearance. Free from view, she sat down her bag and stretched her feminine frame, preparing herself for the shift. Though it always seemed to ache, she felt more confident after a little warmup, her arms bracing against a think tree trunk as she focused, easing herself into the transformation. At first nothing seemed to happen, her belly flexing as the muscles worked below the skin. Quickly, things became apparent as her lower ribs seemed to move, almost grow. The bone pushed forward, two little bulges forming in her mid-torso as something below the skin seemed to wiggle, pushing to be free. As the flesh bumped out, toes clawing from within, her mouth started to expand, the bone crunching forward as it was held back by her humanity. The teeth grew sharp and fierce, unwilling to be contained for much longer.

With a wince of pain, claws split out of her fingers and toes, the pale skin pushed to the side as the wicked digits came forth, old fingernails still clinging to the dead tissue. Her discomfort only grew as the lumps in her belly tore free, tiny canine toes shredding out with bits of gore still clinging to the half-formed claws. Starting as misshapen paws, the protrusions continued to expand, joints snapping into place as they took on the appearance of shriveled dog legs. With the new limbs came a lengthening of her spine, new vertebrae sneaking into place as she clung to the bark, biting back a scream. As the section between her gut and hips swelled, the new bone forming massive ribs of their own, her skin split down her spine, a layer of blood-stained rusty fur peeking through. While that pain was unpleasant, that of her face was far worse. She could actually hear the bone in her head change, pops and cracks sickeningly loud as her human lips tore open, black dog gums showing through the carnage. A dark nose slid out of the gory seam, an auburn and cream mustache beard combo following as her mouth finished filling with wicked teeth.

Her thickened palms were bursting from her hands, the pieces of flesh flaking off as she tore at her face, the mutilated remains peeling away to reveal the muzzle of a schnauzer. Below, the tare over her spine continued to rip, a disgusting sound as it revealed more of her fur. With the new pair of legs half formed, her midsection became unstable, the crick in her back begging for her to drop to the ground, though the sensitive paws were not yet ready to take on the growing weight. Her human hips had started to work to the sides, pulling under the tissue, stretching it as if covered by weak rubber. The new ribs of her lower torso took on an angular shape as her new organs grew in, her breaths now deeper and far gruffer through the bestial mouth. With thickened legs, her whole body heaved as they reshaped, her rear stance locking into something predatory. As her spine continued its expansion, a tail pushed through the cracks of blood stained hide. The proud sickle grew in quickly, twitching with delight as the changes progressed.

Sluffing off more of the gore, Autumn freed her ears, the points flopping over. As she discarded the remains, the goo hissed and bubbled on the leaves below, the tissue evaporating into the wind. By now, the weight of her expanded torso had grown too much to handle, the connection between her two torsos finally giving out. Her front feet dropped to the floor, canine toes splatting in the ooze below as her spine locked into place, her taur-like stance now firmly rooted as her back feet finished swelling to mimic the front, the only difference being the lack of dew claws. With her alterations ending, her muscular mass still swelling to completion, the dogtaur shook her body, wave after wave of carnage sluffing off to reveal her auburn fur. Running her pawed hands down her hips, she started easing the new anatomy, flexing the muscles as the bits of blood boiled away. In a matter of moments, the horrific sight had melted, her furred form sleek and clean as she picked up her backpack and slung it over fluffy shoulders, her new tail wagging as she took in the scents of the world around her.

The process had taken almost five minutes, a slower transition for an easygoing jog. She knew she could push herself, but the faster she changed, the more it hurt and she still needed to change back in four miles. Well, it would have been four, but she wanted to play and explore, so the distance doubled. Fortunately, she had anticipated her little romp, leaving long before she had to. It gave her a chance to revel in the wilderness, the breeze cascading through her flowing fur as she went. By the time she'd reached her end goal, she was ready to change back, the process equally long and disturbingly brutal as her added mass slunk back in. Again she fought back the urge to scream, legs sucking back in as her spine straightened. Going back to human was easier on her hands and knees, the process ending with her dainty fingers working into the dirt.

Fortunately, she came prepared. Using a bottle of water and a washcloth in a sandwich bag, she cleaned herself up. She then pulled out some larger Ziploc bags containing her cloths, a black tank top and dark camo pants. Slipping on her shoes, she packed up and headed into town. As a human, it felt gruelingly slow, but it was a necessary evil to protect herself. Still, the event center was midtown, so she waited at the nearby bus station and hopped a ride over.

When she finally made it to the classroom, the lecture was already underway, the impromptu professor announcing his name as she slid into an open seat near the back door. "You can call me Terry Lawrence. I'm a seeker of the unknown, a scholar of old and ancient lore, but first and foremost, I'm a cryptid hunter. It's for that reason I'm here today." The man continued to speak to his twenty-something participants, Autumn not paying attention to the others in the room. For some reason that man in front held her attention. Something about him just seemed... familiar. At first she thought it might be his Indiana Jones style of apparel, a tan trench coat over a forest green button up, brown khakis held up with a gun belt. The weapon was holstered below the flap of his jacket, adding to his rugged disposition. Behind him on the side of the desk sat a weathered hunter hat. While it looked well cared for, the frayed fabric was showing its age, much like its owner. Terry seemed to be in his mid-fifties, though his voice carried a bold gruffness that made him seem younger, more energetic. Even his face was a little misleading, clean cut and chiseled jaw seeming a little too vibrant to be paired with his generic graying brown hair.

The history lesson he was spouting was mostly lost on the woman in the back row. His lore-based speculations were close enough to facts she'd learned about her kind and the fae when she was a teen. Still, it was a little unsettling that a human would know such secretive things, even if he didn't have everything spot on. While his words didn't intrigue her, the giant box under a white cloth did. In the front corner, eating up a massive amount of the classroom, was a hidden rectangular container. The size seemed enough to fit a large horse yet still wide enough to slide through a standard doorway.

When the lecturer moved on to hunting and trapping techniques, Autumn grew a little worried. She was basically listening to how this man was planning to kill her and her friends, and while it was good intel, it rattled at her resolve. She had to actively fight back her glare at times, emotions fraying as he went into greater detail. She was somewhat relieved when he moved his attention to the mysterious object, the grizzled voice stating, "And that brings us to this thing. I know you've all been patiently waiting to see what's below the cloth, right?" The energy in his words encouraged the audience, a few claps and a whistle ringing out as his hand worked into the wrinkled white cloth. "Before the big reveal, I must warn you. Very few have had a chance to see this thing. Some of you may find it disturbing, but this is undeniable proof that unexplained things stalk the dark corners of the world. I caught this creature almost twenty five years ago, so be prepared for what comes next. Also, I must insist that you do not take any pictures. While the bones have been tested for authenticity, I don't want any tabloids trying to desensitize the masses to this very real threat." After a brief pause, the hunter gleamed with pride, cheer entering his voice as he prepared to pull. "I give you... the Washington Dogman!"

The veil gave way to a Plexiglas prison, the bones of a massive beast revealed. The top looked like a dog skull on a human torso that then linked up to something huge and wolf-like. The room instantly burst into gasps of disbelief, people bickering as to whether it was a perversion of taxidermy, corpses merged for effect, or if it could be genuine.

"It's just a man and a horse mixed together," spouted someone in the front row.

Beside him, a trapper pointed out, "The skull and lower frame are definitely canine. That head looks like a dog and the body is almost too big to be a wolf."

"The stories are true," gasped a middle aged woman in amazement. "Dogmen do exist!"

Scoffing, another added, "Just a goddamned hoax."

While Terry took control of the room once more with his commanding demeanor and tales of intrigue, Autumn was distraught, appalled. She knew exactly what she was looking at. It was one of her kind, one of her people. She couldn't take her eyes off the horror, her vision focused on the bullet hole in the skull. It had been left in on purpose, a statement of accomplishment, and it sickened Autumn to no end. That feeling turned physical as the woman grasped her forehead, a searing pain ripping through her mind as sweat started pouring, her complexion ghost white. In an instant, she was on her feet. It was so fast that she almost knocked over the desk as she fled, desperately working her way to the ladies room as visions of the past tore into her. A half-muted gasp of agony left her as she wobbled to the doorway, pushing through as if half dead. She barely managed to brace against the older style sink when the full force of her memories hit. It was as if she relived that moment in an instant, looking out from her hilltop perch, two trees angled in beside her as she watched. First was her father, the proud beastman dropping in an instant. Then came her mother, slumping over the first corpse as she wept for her love. Suddenly, she knew why Mr. Lawrence was so familiar. In her nightmare, she saw him, younger and with a goatee, but there was no mistaking it. It was him.

Autumn's scream tore through the little room and into the hallway, her torture released in a savage roar of anger. Her muscles tensed with rage, the frail fingers snapping through the square porcelain as if it were nothing, sending the front half of the sink shattering to the floor. The crash was silent compared to the eerie emptiness in her mind, the wind breaking as she watched on in horror. Hopelessness welled up inside her as she desperately waited for some release of emotion, her body spun around to meet her Aunt Marie. Tears burst forth as her guardian's voice rang throughout her mind. "Autumn, I need you to be strong for me, ok? I need to you to forget..."

Another cry escaped, half hatred and half heartbreak. The surge of feelings left Autumn weak in the knees as she collapsed against the wall and let herself sag into a sulking slump. Weeping bitterly, she whimpered to herself, "Why, Marie? Why did you lie?" She loved her aunt, her teacher, her mother for the last two decades, but the betrayal hurt almost as much as the revelation. "Why?"

Several minutes passed before Autumn could will her body to move. Wiping away the sadness, she managed to prop herself up and shuffle toward the hallway, her eyes still leaking as she sniffled. As soon as she made it out of the bathroom, the woman almost broke down again at the sound of Terry's voice, his gruff words filtering out of the classroom and filling her sensitive ears. She managed to stumble over to an unused doorway and slid back down, her palms covering her face as raw feelings resurfaced. "I'm going to kill him," she muttered, clenching her jaw as she fought back her need to change, to take on a form of power to crush her foe where he stood. The anger overtook the sadness as she brooded, listening in as the man rallied his audience.

The hunter caught Autumn's attention as he wrapped up his lecture. "Now for the real reason I've come here today. This evening I'll be hunting another of these creatures. I've heard that one's been spotted in the woods just east of town, so if there are any brave souls here looking for proof or even just to keep the children of this town safe, I urge you to join me. I'll be meeting any volunteers on the east side of Lakeside Park in the parking lot next to the woods. Be there by five. If you have a gun or any trapping supplies, feel free to bring them along. I'll take all the help I can get and anyone there will be credited when we finally take down this hell-beast."

The cheer of the audience made Autumn's heart sink. Not only was her parents' killer coming after her, but he was planning on forming a posse to hunt her in her own home. "Fucking asshole." She'd heard enough. Steeling her resolve, the dogtaur had a plan. She was going to avenge her family and end this treat once and for all.

***

Autumn rushed home as fast as she could. She knew there wasn't much time to prepare, though there was something she absolutely had to do before anything else. Moving up the stairs, she darted past her bedroom and into the study. It was there that she'd set up her alter, a place of power to practice her witchcraft. Upon the tiny, black table rested candles, trinkets, and photos of her ancestors. On one side sat an old fashioned top hat, a film of dust settled upon the dark material. On both sides of the table rested massive bear skulls, a smaller third one tucked below. The bleached bones bared their fangs at her, watching with eyeless sockets as she performed her ritual.

Cross legged and chanting, Autumn held her hands up at her sides as if meditating. With a quick puff, she blew out the main candle, a strand of smoke whipping back and forth as she closed her eyes. At first there was only darkness. As her words disappeared into the void, she looked around, her form just a projection into an empty realm of black nothingness. While her physical form held the spell, her mental self waited impatiently. Her words seemed to echo in the vastness of the black. "Please. Mom... Dad... I need you." Her plea was met with a wave of color, the void giving way to the astral plane. She'd been moved to a grassy clearing, surrounded by trees. The light filtering through was an eerie monotone blue, everything except for her conforming to the color.

Though this was where she usually met the spirits of her parents, this was the first time she truly recognized the place for what it was. She was at the very spot they had died. Horror streaked across her face as she took it in, two schnauzer dogtaurs stepping out of the trees and into sight as she fretted. When she noticed their advance, her worry grew into irritation, her words snapping at them. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did Aunt Marie lie to me all these years? I should have known! I had a right to know."

While both spirits seemed startled by the questions, the smaller of the entities answered, her voice sweet and motherly. "We only wanted to protect you. To let you have a peaceful life. Marie loved you so much. She didn't want you to carry that pain, that fear."

The shade of Vince stepped forward, his tone that of a caring father. "Sweetie, we didn't mean to hurt you. Madam Wilde... Marie, she did it out of love. We all did it out of love. We wanted your childhood to be happy."

"Happy?" Autumn's voice was quivering as tears welled up, the remorse trickling down as she talked. "How was I supposed to be happy without you guys?"

The specters moved in close, trying to comfort their daughter without actually touching her. They knew that if they made contact, all she'd feel was an empty coldness and they didn't want to cause any more pain to their distraught child. Allison leaned in close, her ghostly hand hovering near Autumn's back. "We're here now, honey. We've been here whenever you needed us. We'll never abandon you, Autumn."

"Never," stated Vince as he moved next to his wife. "How can we help, sweetie?"

Wiping her eyes, Autumn couldn't stay mad at them. She knew they were right. They'd always been there for her, even Aunt Marie. All she ever had to do was ask. Letting out a ragged, overwhelmed breath, she let their love calm her nerves. "The hunter that killed you two... he's back. He plans on hunting me tonight."

Her mother perked to attention, the phantom's voice full of concern. "You have to get out of there. You must get somewhere safe. That man knows how to track. How to kill. You need to go, now."

"I plan on killing him," stated the young witch, her words cold and bitter. "I'm going to avenge you two."

Vince, while supportive of her decision, feared for his daughter's life. "Listen to your mother. He's a trained killer. I know you're a fighter... a strong one at that, but I don't want you ending up like us. You still have so much to live for. So much to do. Just... play it safe. Escape while you can."

Their concern only fueled her resolve, her need to avenge them. "I will not run away from this. I'm your daughter. One of the few remaining schnauzer dogtaurs, a proud race of warriors! I will not be scared off. I'm going to go get you your peace. As much as I'd hate to see you go, I will not let my parents be bound to that spot by that... that butcher!"

Having grown too riled by her own passion, Autumn could no longer focus, her spirit pulled back to her body. As she vanished, her mother tried to reach out, tried to plead with her child. "Please, you have to get out of here! Autumn? No..." Allison was overpowered by sadness yet no tears could come forth as a spectral entity. Quickly, her husband was at her side to comfort her.

"She's a fighter. Always has been." Vince hugged his wife, running his fingers through her fur. "We always knew this might happen. We have to believe in her. She is our daughter, after all."

Autumn's tears had carried over, her hands wiping them away as she stood up and headed downstairs. There was only an hour to prepare for her guests and she was not about to hold back. She already had clothing stashes throughout the woodlands. What she needed now was weapons. Grabbing her backpack, she dumped it on the countertop. In place of the clothes and cleaning supplies, she filled her bag with kitchen knives, rope, and a few of the spring traps she'd found while patrolling for poachers. Undressing, she tossed her clothes to the side and ran out into the woods. As she moved, she grabbed up a long, sturdy branch. It was the perfect shape for making a spear, so before she changed, she took one of her blades and cut a wedge into the top. Using a piece of the rope, she bound the knife into the end.

With her spear in hand, she used it to brace for her transformation, a moderately paced shift as not to wear herself out. When her front legs tore free and her spine snapped into place, both torsos forming, she bit back the pain. There was no telling where her potential attackers would be and she was not about to give away her position with screams of agony. Still, the speed of the shift ached, her body stiff when the fur finished covering her dogtaur frame. When finally complete, the gore hissing away as she shook it off, the mighty warrior went on the prowl.

Backtracking, Autumn knew her usual path and where it diverged. She used this to her advantage, forging tracks and placing traps where they'd be most convenient. She knew she couldn't take them as a group, but as individuals, she was confident she could win. Planting knives strategically in hollowed trees, she stashed her sack and moved to intercept. She knew where they'd start and how to use the wind to her advantage. It was an easy matter to find them, the creature keeping her distance as she inventoried her opposition.

From her vantage point in the distant bushes, she could see the enemy clearly. Terry led the charge with a single German shepherd, the animal huge for its species. Behind him walked four men and a woman, all carrying either rifles or shotguns. To her surprise, Autumn knew them all to varying degrees. Three of the men were poachers, ones she's scared off before. They were obviously out for revenge, much like her. Bringing up the rear was an older couple, the owners of a small mom and pop grocery store. The Petersons were good people and seemed out of place with the rest of the soulless killers.

The dogtaur kept her distance, watching as they found her trail and followed it to the fork. She could just barely make out their chatter as they decided to split up, the professionals preferring to work alone while the family advised that the group stay together. They were the smart ones, though were ultimately left behind as the hotheaded hunters paired off and moved out. Giving the groups time to separate, Autumn was cautious, stalking the old couple as they moved deeper into the woodlands. This was the only group she didn't want to kill, the only ones innocent enough to show mercy. Autumn may have been craving blood, but she was no monster. As the light started to fade, she decided to press her advantage.

Mrs. Peterson was having her doubts as the couple slunk through the brush, rifles at the ready as they moved forward. They were following what looked like a typical deer trail, a worn path in the grass. Her pleas to turn back and leave were met with a huff. Mr. Peterson kept his eyes on the distant foliage, flinching his gun up with the first rapid swish, the sound like something running past in the shadows. Despite his hesitation, his words were confident. "I thought you wanted to hunt this thing? We both agreed, this would be the best way to put the public's mind at ease. All those people talking about the dogman. If we can prove that it can be killed, our patrons will feel safer."

Another rush through the branches turned Mrs. Peterson around, her weapon ready to fire. "I know, but this doesn't feel right. What if someone gets hurt out here? Besides, even if that thing he showed us does exist, who's to say it deserves to die?"

"What about the stories, Margret?" Her husband spun back around, another flash of shadows playing with them. Firing off a round into the darkness, he pulled back the bolt and reloaded. "They say it eats children. That kind of monster deserves to die."

Everything grew quiet, the movement gone as the couple cautiously crept forward. Ed had pulled away from his wife, her pace slow and careful as he glanced from side to side. As soon as he turned and said, "I think it's gone," Autumn rushed into the man, grappling his gun and shoving him into a nearby tree.

As her husband crashed to the ground, Margret screamed out, "No!" Before she could steady her rifle, their attacker had Ed's weapon pointed at her face, the massive creature pinning her lover with a wickedly clawed foot.

Forcing her voice to be disturbingly gruff, Autumn spoke with sinister purpose. "Drop it... or I slaughter you both."

Mrs. Peterson did as told, tossing her gun into the bushes as she cried out, "Please, just don't hurt him!" When she noticed the trickle of blood coming from his forehead, she broke down, falling to her knees. "Oh, Ed."

Autumn looked down at her victim, her snarl forcing the man to cringe in terror. Keeping up her intimidating tone, she stated, "You have one chance. Leave and never look back. I am the guardian of this forest and I will protect it from outsiders." To reiterate, she grabbed the barrel and bent it, rendering the weapon useless. "I am not the monster you think I am. I can be fair, yet fierce. Leave now and you will not be harmed. Stay, and I can no longer make that promise." Releasing the human below her, she took a few steps back, tossing the ruined rifle away.

The fear in Ed's eyes said it all, the man scooting back in terror. As soon as he made it to his wife, she embraced him and pulled him to his feet, both humans quaking in fear. As they backed away, Mrs. Peterson whispered, her voice cracking as she said, "Thank you," and then helped her husband limp away to safety.

"Two down," muttered Autumn as she reclaimed her spear from its hiding spot. "The rest won't be so lucky." Holding the pole with conviction, she trotted away, searching for the first band of thugs.

The second pair had covered a good deal of ground, both poachers splitting off, yet remaining within shouting distance. Slowly, they moved through the patches of grass, hunting her as much as she was them. Still, one was disturbingly close to a foot trap she'd laid earlier. He just needed the right push. Picking up a rock, she tossed it against a tree, luring the man in that general direction. Slowly, the hunter stalked the sound, moving right where she wanted him.

The silence was shattered with the grating of metal and a scream of pain as the man put his foot into the jaws of the spring trap. Autumn knew she had to work fast, his friend likely on the way. As soon as he sat down the shotgun, she charged in, spear in hand. When he noticed the brute racing toward him, the wounded man released the trap, the pressure forcing out another whine of anguish. He fumbled for his firearm, though it was already too late. The taur had launched her makeshift lance, her aim true as her first victim took the blade through the chest. Triumphantly, she moved in, twisting the knife in deep as she finished him off.

Bracing her front paw on the corpse, she yanked the polearm free, a surge of adrenaline kicking in as she savored her little victory. That feeling was short lived, a burning pain ripping into her back right leg, the bullet tearing clean through. She managed to stagger to the tree as she turned to look at her attacker.

The man looked like a cross between a redneck and a trucker, bushy beard with his hair tucked under a ball cap. His words were cocky as he closed the gap, rifle at the ready. He wanted to toy with his prey before finishing her off and she knew it. "So you're the thing that's been stealing our traps and cutting our profits. Such an ugly thing, aren't ya?" As Autumn tried to move her body around to the back of the tree, her injured leg gave out, sliding her down the trunk. Her plight only made the man laugh. "Oh, such a frightened animal. That's good. You'll make a nice trophy."

Autumn knew she'd screwed up, but she wasn't ready to die. Not yet. Resting her head against the rough bark, she started to whisper, her words a magical chant. Her executioner gloated as she mumbled. Tucking his rifle into his shoulder, he readied the shot. "Last words, huh? I didn't think monsters could speak." His arrogance was silenced as the branches moved like fingers, tightening around his throat. Struggle as he might, the hunter was lifted off his feet, the thin digits weaving as they constricted. No longer able to gasp, he fired a round into the branches hoping desperately to free himself. He was rewarded with renewed force, the tree choking the life out of him as he dangled. After a few moments of flailing, the fiend was vanquished, his limp body left tied up in the woody noose.

Autumn's wound hurt, but it wasn't fatal, not if she took care of it. Her best option was to shift back to her human form, the change offering a bit of healing as it happened. She knew it would be painful, but it was her best option, the dogtaur already undergoing her transformation. As much as she tried to fight it, her screams were audible as her back feet flattened, the muscles reforming as her front legs sucked back into her ribs. The torment of her transition forced her to roll through the blood of her enemy as her fur sluffed off and turned to goo. While the gore of her transformation hissed away, the crimson that pooled from her victim clung to her pale, white skin. The coppery scent of the liquid filled her nostrils, a sickening feeling washing through her as she came to terms with what she'd become. Murderer. The idea haunted her as she stood, human once again. While the idea of vengeance comforted her, she was growing a bit worried of the cost. Up until now, she'd never taken human life, even if they deserved it. Tucking her knees into her chest, she doubted herself.

A radio crackled, hanging from the belt of the man in the tree. The voice that came across was that of her nemesis, the cryptid hunter. "We've found a house. There are a lot of tracks nearby, so it may be the monster's lair. We'll let you know what we find."

The thought of that man entering her home made Autumn's blood boil. Not only had he destroyed her life, he was now defiling her very residence. Renewed in her resolve, the lady stood as if eerily calm. Walking through the puddle of blood, she pulled the device off her latest victim. With a hiss of venom edging her voice, she pushed the button. "Four down. Two to go." Before the man could reply, she crushed the walkie as if it were a juice box, letting the broken bits fall to the earthen floor. Despite some lingering soreness where she'd been injured, Autumn ran off to one of her clothing caches, dressing despite the red staining her skin.

It took a while for Autumn to make it back to her house and even longer to scope it out, two deadly assassins lurking within. With her recent shift still mending the wound, going dogtaur was out of the question. Not that it would help. All she'd do is give them a bigger target. It was hard to make out, but both seemed to be in the front, one on first floor, the other on second. That left the back of the house wide open, including the cellar doors. That was her way in. Slinking through the shadows, she darted to the cellar entrance. Carefully, she winced with every creak. It was slow, but she managed to open and close one of the doors without detection, her path to the basement clear.

Carefully working up the stairs, Autumn peered into her entryway, noticing the dog and dipping back down. She knew that the hound would be her biggest hurdle, the beast sniffing around as it searched the kitchen. With a hushed yet devious chuckle, she had a plan. While she may have looked human, the witch was a dogtaur first and foremost. Using that to her advantage, she let out a soft, high pitch whimper, like a wounded canine. It worked, the German shepherd perking up and letting out a sympathetic whine. It shyly went to investigate, leaving the strange human to fend for himself. As soon as he'd turned the corner to look into the stairwell, the animal was face to face with his quarry. Her eyes were as bestial as his own, yet holding a wicked savageness that shook the pet to his core. He wanted to flee, to whimper away, his ears and tail already lowering in fear as he cowered. Though he'd been trained for the hunt, being this close to something so imposing, even if it didn't look that way at the moment, put him in his place. The sheer terror was so overwhelming that the dog couldn't help but piddle on the floor, his nerves frayed. Autumn's ragged huff released him from his spell, the canine scurrying away and curling up under the dining room table.

Aunt Marie's storeroom was directly to her right, the woman sneaking in as she overheard the man chide the poor dog from the kitchen. "Stupid pet. Scared of his own shadow. Can't believe that self-proclaimed hunter relies on such a worthless thing like you." As Autumn looked around for things to use, she could hear the interloper bite into one of her apples, the crisp crunch irritating her as she pocketed her aunt's magical aptitude ball. She figured that at the very least it could give off a blinding flash. Rummaging through the various trinkets, she couldn't find anything heavy enough to fight with. The best thing she could find was an old ceremonial dagger. As she turned, she noticed something in the closet. Her aunt had left an old fire extinguisher in there.

"Perfect," whispered the woman as she pulled out the pin and watched the hallway. When nothing happened, she created a distraction, tossing the pin at the door. While she may have been strong, the tiny object did not go where she intended. Instead, the thin bit of metal landed on the rug, much to her dismay. Creeping out, she peered into the bathroom across from the basement, then up the stairwell to her right. When she made it to the end, hoping to look around the corner, her target walked out, still eating the fruit. Both parties were equally shocked as the man dropped the crimson apple and grabbed for his gun. Autumn was a bit more prepared, firing off a blast of blinding white powder, the thug coughing in the cloud. Wiping at his eyes, he raised his weapon just in time to take the tank to the side of the head, a reverberating thunk knocking him to the floor. In the heat of the moment, Autumn let out a defiant roar, bringing the cylinder down upon the man's skull. Again and again she struck him until the twitching ended, his bloodied frame lifeless below her.

Huffing with effort, Autumn was snapped to attention by a knock. Behind her stood Terry, rifle at her back as he tapped on the wall. "Evening ma'am," he stated as he held her at gunpoint. "You don't look it, but I take it you're the dogman. Sorry, dogwoman, as it were." Frustrated with her own carelessness, Autumn let the extinguisher roll to the side as she tucked her hand into her pocket. "Ah ah, I don't think so," the reply sharp and commanding. "Turn around. Hands where I can see 'em."

Complying, Autumn kept her fists at shoulder height, twisting slowly to face her captor. Irritation filled her words as she tried to bluff her way out. "You invaded my house. I was merely defending my-"

"Bullshit." The hunter looked her over, appraising the situation as he called her out. "There are too many tracks leading here for it to be a coincidence. Besides," sniffing, he stated as if fact, "I can smell it. It reeks of monster in here. And it looks like you spooked my dog. Any normal person couldn't do that." Whistling sharply, he called to the pathetic sight under the table. "Brutus, get over here." The dog refused to move, his body still shivering in terror. "You really did a number on him, didn't ya?"

"Like you did to my parents?" Her words were a hate-filled hiss as she took a step forward, stopped by a flick of the gun.

"Parents?" Chuckling, Terry knew exactly what was going on. "Oh, I get it. Twenty four years ago just north of here, right? Two dogmen in that open field. You're their kid. Oh, it all makes sense now." Grinning, he let out a snort of air. "My dad and I came out thinking we were going to catch a baby cryptid. We'd heard a little dogman was roaming the wood's edge, so we came looking. All we found were the big ones. You must have been that little one, huh?"

His account tugged at her soul, the implications weighing on her in ways she'd never dreamed. Suddenly, it all made sense, the reason everyone had been protecting her. Her whisper was uttered in fear as she asked her question, "You mean... I got them killed?"

Scoffing, Terry was amused that such a creature could feel. "Well, more or less. You brought us out here. Honestly, it was mostly luck. Had the female not gotten snared in that trap, we'd likely have lost them."

The memories swirled with guilt as Autumn let it all sink in. Until today, she'd blamed herself for her parent's death. She told herself that had they not been coming to visit her, they'd never have been hit. She never dreamed that it would be directly her fault. If only she'd listened. She should never have played by the forest's edge. She was the reason they were dead.

His words snapped her back to reality. "There are a few ways this can go down. I'm not sure if it's true, but I hear you fur back up after you die. Now, either you can come with me and let me cage you, I can let you take on your native form and give you a running start, or, if you do something stupid, I can shoot you here and now and we can see if that rumor is true. What's it going to be?"

With her focus restored, Autumn glared furiously. "I'm going to kill you."

"Wrong answer," stated the man as she opened her palm, a blinding flash of blue bursting free. Recoiling, Terry pulled the trigger, the bullet grazing past Autumn's shoulder, a fine trickle of blood forming as she rushed the murderer. Releasing all of her savagery, the woman made contact, her fist planting square into the hunter's face. The force of the blow knocked the man out, his nose broken as he crumpled to the floor.

Standing over the target of her vengeance, Autumn had a choice to make. She could kill him now, the thought tempting as the trickle of crimson left his nose, his scent begging her to end him. On the other hand, fair was fair.

***

Terry awoke with a start, his face aching and wrists burning with the pressure of the rope. Try as he might, he couldn't pull free. As his vision cleared, he saw the woman before him, her posture stoic and imposing. While she still looked human, he knew she was much more. He opted not to speak as he groaned to sit, now her prisoner. Autumn pulled out a knife, reveling in the man's bitter expression. She spoke with a confidence that put Terry on edge. "You recognize this place, don't you?"

Spitting, he replied, "Yeah. It's were I killed your parents."

Autumn huffed at his statement, maintaining her composure. "You took their lives like a coward. I'm going to at least give you the chance to defend yourself." Tossing the blade into the dirt, she waited for him to free himself.

Kneeling, Terry leaned down and took the weapon, cutting the bonds. "Foolish bitch." Smirking, he took up a defensive posture, ready to strike. "I'll reunite you with them."

Waiting for him to act, the witch gave him every advantage. Still, she was not only stronger, but faster than the trained killer. His lunge was caught with ease, a twist of his wrist releasing the blade. Grabbing his arm, she rolled him over her back, a brief wince as his weight moved over her newest wound. Slamming the man to the dirt, she spun, pinning him before he could recover.

Winded, Terry knew he'd lost, her grip like iron as he struggled. His look of defeat wasn't enough for the woman. She wanted him to know fear. As he tried to break free, Autumn started to change, the clothes hiding her belly as the flesh moved. When her face began to stretch, he saw it. While he remained unbroken, his terror was on the rise, his eyes wide as her teeth sharpened. Autumn released his arms just long enough to tear open her shirt, claws already breaking through the skin of her fingers. Struggling, Terry fought for freedom only to be pinned once more, two disgusting bulges wiggling within her chest. When her front legs broke free of her flesh, wolf-like daggers digging into the man's torso, the hunter couldn't hold back his scream. Horror and pain merged into a shriek of torment. While her feet continued to form, she dug the gore deep into his skin, the bubbling goo searing at the insides of his wounds. Another scream left the man as she inflicted agony upon her nemesis. When his eyes opened again, they were stricken with sheer terror. She almost smiled as her human mouth split, the canine gums filled with razor sharp teeth.

Terry thought he was a goner, the maw moving within inches of his throat. His yelps of fear only fueled Autumn's fun as she spoke, the words hoarse and ragged. "That would be too easy." With her front legs half formed, the weight of her torsos crushing down upon her hostage, she dug the toes in deeper, reveling in his screams. Peeling the dead flesh from her furred arms, she lifted his head, one pawed hand on either side. "This is for my parents." Slowly, deliberately, she tightened her grasp. The excruciating anguish Terry endured was matched by his shrieks, his skull barely holding under the intense pressure. Harder and harder, Autumn squeezed the life out of her victim, the satisfying crunch of smashed bone telling her that it was done. His head had collapsed, the insides squishing onto her fingers as she let the change continue. With her victory, she felt relief. Not from the murders she'd have to bear, nor from the hollow emptiness that remained over her parents' demise. The thing that eased her burdened mind was the passing of her family's souls. She could feel it. In that place of their death, they were no longer bound, no longer tormented. She'd freed them. As her body eased into completion, Autumn sang to them, a long, dog-like howl to let them know that she was truly happy.