Sheriff's Office
Fuzz sat behind his desk. Wolfgang sat in the chair on the other side of his desk, after having spent the rest of the night in the smaller cell. Baron Wulfenbach, Eugenia Burton, Annechen Lowey, Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, Mother Superior, Forelle Broek, and Willard the Rat were around Fuzz's desk. All but Fuzz, Wolfgang, and Mother Superior were talking at once. Finally, Fuzz held up his hand, all went quiet, except for Willard who was still squeaking. He then stopped, looked around, then stared at Fuzz.
"Where are we going to find a possum willing to do that in this area?" Fuzz asked Willard.
Willard sighed, then hopped off the desk and headed towards his cell. Fuzz opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small pouch.
"Mother Superior," He said, "will you please get me a glass of water?"
Mother Superior nodded, then headed out. Fuzz looked at the company present.
"Forelle, why are you here?"
The lawyer cleared his throat, then answered, "As Miss Burton's attorney, I feel I should be present for all to discuss the damages that was done by young Master Muircastle, here."
Annechen looked at Eugenia, "I will pay you for the chickens that went missing, Genie. It's the least I can do."
"No," Eugenia replied, "I couldn't ask for that. Perhaps, something else could be arranged."
Fuzz raised an eyebrow, "Such as?"
"Oh...." Eugenia said, glancing over at the Baron, "Perhaps, Klaus could discuss it over a little candlelit dinner."
The Baron's reply was a pinching of the bridge of his nose. Fuzz looked at Eugenia and shook his head.
"Very well," Eugenia said, throwing her arms up in the air, "I have wood that needs chopping. I suppose a few days of that will make up for the damages done."
Mother Superior returned with the glass of water and placed it on Fuzz's desk. Fuzz pulled a small packet from the pouch, and looked at Wolfgang.
"How do you feel?" he asked
Wolfgang looked nervously at his mother and the Baron, then looked at Fuzz, "I think I'm going to throw up."
Fuzz nodded as he poured the packets contents into the glass of water. The water started to fizz and bubble slightly.
"Surprised you haven't done that when you started eating the chickens....raw." he said, sliding the glass closer to Wolfgang, "Drink that. It'll help."
After Wolfgang drank the contents of the glass, Fuzz motioned for Mother Superior to take Wolfgang out of the room. After the two left, Fuzz looked at Annechen.
"I owe you an apology." he said, "I've had Veles keep an eye on Wolfgang, and he's been reporting to me on the matter. I asked him not to tell you anything."
"As the legal representative of Annechen Lowey..." Forelle began, before quickly stopping after Fuzz's eyes started to glow red.
Annechen shook her head, "I asked for your help, Sheriff, and you kept things from me. IS he going to become...."
"I don't know." Fuzz replied
Gilgamesh looked at Fuzz with a puzzled look, "The chicken situation wasn't convincing enough?"
Fuzz chuckled, seeing as he was the only one who saw amusement in the situation, he chuckled again, "The problem is.....we don't know if Wolfgang has the lycanthropy disease or not. He was attacked by a creature, yes. BUT, there's the possibility that he may not turn. In his mind, since he was attacked by the rogue lycan, he may turn into one. The sleepwalking, the attacking the chickens....it could be his mind, brilliant as it may be, playing tricks on him. There've been several full moons since his attack, and he never changed. The sleepwalking's been getting worse these past few nights. Tonight is a full moon. This is when we'll find out for certain. If nothing happens, we'll send him to Caledon. There's a doctor there that will help him deal with this particular mental problem."
Annechen sat down in the chair and looked at Fuzz, "And if he does....would he be savage.....could you help him control it?"
"If he changes," Fuzz replied, "we're going to need more help than I can give, and I must break a promise that was made in order to help Wolfgang. In the meantime....he needs to be kept in a safe place. Lock and key. I would offer the cell, but I don't think it's something he'd like......"
"The Consulate has a few observation rooms," The Baron said, "perhaps we could keep him in there. Place a few of the Jaegerkin to guard the door..." he looked down at Annechen, "just in case."
Fuzz nodded, "I think it would be best to keep him in familiar surroundings."
Annechen stood up and glared at the sheriff, "I am still angry at you for keeping this information regarding my son from me."
Forelle walked behind Fuzz's desk and stook beside the Sheriff, "As Sheriff Ortega's legal representative..."
"Forelle." Fuzz interupted.
"Yes, Sheriff?" Forelle asked
"She's right."
"Ok...but, never fear, I WILL represent you, should it go to court."
Gilgamesh chuckled, Annechen rolled her eyes, Eugenia blew a kiss at the Baron, and the Baron nosepinched. Without a word, Annechen stood up and left the office. The Baron and Gilgamesh followed. Eugenia looked at the Sheriff.
"Fuzz," she asked, "candlelit dinner?"
"Sorry, Genie," Fuzz said, "Bachelor For Life."
"Oh poo" she replied, then left the room.
Forelle chuckled, then started to leave. He stopped as Angelica walked into the office, carrying a few wrapped packages. Nervously, he tipped his hat to her, then hurried out. Angelica studied him as he left.
"That's my lawyer." Fuzz said
"Familiar looking." Angelica said, turning back towards Fuzz. "Something involving Pinkertons. Mind you, so many cases come in and out....it's hard to keep up. Lawyer?"
Fuzz nodded, "Maybe he represented someone Pinkerton apprehended."
Angelica nodded, half listening. Fuzz grabbed one of the packages.
"This for me?" he asked
Angelica smiled, "Only if you want to be the owner of a doll. These are for Anya."
"Ah, ok.....last doll I had, I used for target practice." Fuzz said
Angelica placed the packages on the desk, then punched Fuzz, "You big flea bag, that was my doll and you stole it from me."
Fuzz rubbed the place where she punched him, "Yea.....well, at least I didn't turn the cat's fur purple."
Angelica thought for a moment, "But it was a pretty purple color."
Fuzz nodded in agreement.
Outside the Europan Observation Room, Later That Evening
Greegar and Maxim sat outside the room, both looking at each other.
"Hy kould be at de dance." Greegar said, "Ve gaff our report to de Kaptain. Vy does he make us schtay here?"
Maxim shrugged, "Dis iz hall nev to de Baron. No verevolfs in Europa. Zum uf de schtaff are nervous."
Greegar nodded
Inside the Room
Wolfgang sat on the edge of the bed, reading the dime novel he had bought. He had reached to the part where Sheriff Ortega steered the airship through the eye of the storm, and began to wonder who writes such impossible stories. Suddenly, his whole body started to quiver. He glanced out the window and saw the full moon appear as the clouds moved. Suddenly, he began shaking violently. He lunged forward and knocked the lantern off the table.
Outside the room
The two Jaeger's heard the noise. Maxim held up his weapon, as Greegar slowly unlock, then open the door. The room was pitch black. Very cautiously, Maxim walked closer to the doorway and peered in.
"Volfgang?" he asked
The answer was a growl, followed by the sound of a window breaking.
Kokopelli Stage
The residents were enjoying the Friday night festivities, along with a few residents of the Steeltopian empire. The Steelhead children were cheering as Hawc DeCosta fired off the fireworks that Tensai had left for the event. Fuzz watched his sister finish the dance with a young man, then walked over to her as the man walked away.
"Wonder what he'd do if he found out that you're fifteen years older than he is?" Fuzz asked
"You're going to get smacked." was her reply, she glanced at the Europan's who were dancing close by. "Annechen Lowey has a lot on her mind."
Fuzz nodded, "Mad at me for not giving her all the information that I was getting. I really wasn't sure what to expect."
"You know what to expect now?"
The reply was a few screams from the edge of the Kokopelli property. Fuzz looked over as a werewolf, slightly smaller than the Fuzzwolf, roughly six feet tall, snarled as it entered the area.
"I was expecting the Consulate building to be difficult to get out of once you're locked in." Fuzz said
Veles and a couple of residents held up weapons at the werewolf as it came closer. It snarled and swung at them. Fuzz ran forward.
"STOP." Fuzz ordered the group, he looked as Greegar and Maxim came running up, weapons raised, "Weapons down. Everyone....stand back. Don't go near...."
He stopped when he saw his daughter walking closer to the werewolf.
"Anya." he whispered
The werewolf looked at the little girl and snarled ferociously at her. Anya didn't budge. She merely looked into the lycan's eyes.
"Fuzz..." Angelica whispered nervously, "do something."
All was quiet, except for the werewolf snarling. It was Anya who broke the silence.
"Wolfgang," she pleaded with the Lycan, "No"
The werewolf stopped snarling, and looked at Anya. He looked around at the frightened crowd. His expression suddenly turned into fear, and he started sobbing. Fuzz walked closer, taking his jacket off, as the werewolf slowly started to change back into that of the 13 year old Europan. Fuzz placed his jacket around the sobbing boy as his mother ran up to him and comforted him. Veles walked up to Greegar and Maxim to start to scold them for letting Wolfgang escape, but was cut stopped by Fuzz.
"It's ok," Fuzz said as he picked up Anya, "And you.....Now I know how Miss Katt feels when I go off on some wild adventure."
"I'm sorry, Papa" the six year old replied
Fuzz hugged his daughter, then glanced down the streets of Steelhead. Putting her down, he walked to the end of the Kokopelli property and knelt down on one knee. Anya stood beside him, her hand on her shoulder. Everyone watched as a white wolf came out of the shadows and walked up to Fuzz. Wolfgang looked over to see the wolf staring at him. The wolf then looked at Fuzz.
*Yes* the wolf told Fuzz in wolfspeak, then turned and disappeared into the shadows.
"Yes what?" Anya asked her father.
Angelica gave Anya a surprised look, "She understood Wolfspeak?!!?"
Fuzz stood up, looked down at his daughter, then looked at Angelica, "I'm going to be shocked later, I promise."
He walked over to Annechen and Wolfgang, the Baron and his son walked closer to listen.
"From now on," Fuzz said, "I shall be open and honest with both of you. Wolfgang will need to control this. So, we're going on a trip."
"Where to?" Annechen asked
"Past the large oak tree."
The Baron looked at Fuzz, "Pardon?"
"There's a tribe, The Tribe of the White Fang, their village is a two day trip past that oak tree. That entire area is their land. They wished to be left alone, and not be bothered."
"You could not trust us?" The Baron asked, "Herr Sheriff, if you were to tell us the reason why...."
"I swore on the love of the Mother Wolf, never to reveal anything about them." Fuzz said, "Only in the most extreme cirumstances am I allowed to break that pact."
Anya looked up at her aunt with a puzzled look. Angelica shook her head.
"Lycan superstition," Angelica whispered to her, "they think that the Mother Wolf will come out of the sky and eat them if they broke their word."
"When do we leave?" Annechen asked
"Day break. Hope you enjoy camping out, because there are no luxurious hotels between here and there." Fuzz replied, he then turned to his sister, "She WILL come down and eat me if I ever broke my word."
"Pfft"
Town Hall Foyer
Fuzz walked out of his office and smiled as Tensai walked up to him.
"How was your vacation?" he asked
"Peaceful," she replied "....well, until I set off those explosives. But it was fun."
Lunar came in, carrying several suitcases, stacked on top of each other. He was barely able to see over the top.
"Oh, Lunar" Tensai said, "go ahead and take that to our house. I'll go through them, there."
Lunar sighed, then turned to head out. Tensai thought for a second then turned back to him.
"Oh second thought, you might want to go ahead and take them up to your office. There are some things I should just take out up there."
Lunar sighed, then headed towards the elevator.
"OH." Fuzz said, snapping his fingers, "Your elevator thing....stopped working for some reason."
"Oh dear." Tensai said, "Lunar, you'll have to take the stairs."
"There are no stairs leading to our office, dearest" Lunar said, exhausted
"Well find the ladder."
Fuzz watched Lunar walk out of the foyer, then looked at Tensai.
"Looks like he needs a vacation from his vacation." Fuzz noted
Tensai nodded, "He's always so tense. So, where are you off to?"
"Taking Wolfgang camping."
"Taking Anya, too?"
Fuzz shook his head, "Wolfgang's a werewolf. Need to teach him to control it. Angelica's going to take care of Anya. Oh, and....not to really put any stress on Lunar.....there's some werewolf hunter in the area."
"Jobias?"
"No"
Tensai shrugged, "No reason to worry, then. You can handle it. Good luck camping with the Baron."
Fuzz gave Tensai a puzzled look, then headed outside. There, he found Wolfgang and Annechen, both on horseback. Veles, Greegar, and Maxim were on a wagon, as The Baron and Gilgamesh were double checking some of the supplies.
"What's going on?" Fuzz asked
"Checking supplies." the Baron replied
Fuzz pointed at the Baron, "You're coming with us?"
The Baron nodded, "Ja. I think this would be an excellant opportunity. To learn more. That is why I have come to this dimension. Now, please, Herr Sheriff. Lead on, we have much ground to cover."
Fuzz threw up his arms, giving up on arguing, then mounted his horse. Soon, the party was heading out of Steelhead City, making their way to Steelhead Forest.
Deep Inside The Forest
He was a large man, with a bushy beard. He studied the ground, searching for the trail. He then found the lycan footprints. McGee smiled to himself, then headed deeper into the forest.
To Be Continued
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