Where Angels Fear to Tread

“One last stop, then I’ll be home,” Julia thought with a smile, pulling her 1980 Jeep Wrangler into a parking spot at a tiny mom and pop store. The brick building looked smooth with age, much like everything else in the three street town. It wasn’t even on the map she’d bought two days ago or the Mapquest printout of directions.

A homemade sign wood and spray paint named it Carson, with a population of 126. Julia assumed most people lived further out than the actual city but were still counted in the census.

The door announced her presence with a high tinkle from the bell overhead. She looked around but saw no one in sight. “Hello?” she called out, pulling her sunglasses off to rest atop her head. A flash of movement and an elderly woman stood from behind an aisle. Shifting a bit, Julia could see a small table with four chairs and a TV on mute.

“Hello there. What brings you to ole’ Carson?” the woman asked, her voice gravelly from years of smoking.

“I’m just stopping to pick up some stuff.” Julia smiled as the woman moved behind the cash register. Quickly she gathered some snacks and drinks, which she placed on the counter.

“What brings you out this way?” she asked, ringing up prices from memory.

“I just bought a house actually. It was a great deal. It’s in Dogpoint. DO you know it?”

The woman’s eyes widened and she nearly dropped a 2 liter of Pepsi. “Dog…Dogpoint?” At Julia’s nod she continued, “Oh, you can’t go there! It isn’t safe there. You’ll turn right back around and go back where you came from if you’re smart!”

Julia stared at her in surprise. “Of course it’s safe there. The real estate agent provided crime facts and everything.”

It ain’t crime you have to worry about…” she looked around, and then lowered her voice conspiratorially. “The forest around that town is miles thick. On maps it’s called Sierra Point National Forest, but us locals, we know better. We call it a place where angels fear to tread, and where the hounds of Hell run. That town is cursed,”

“Every single person, animal, tree, and rock has been touched by the Devil himself. The howls echo over the mountain from that valley. Some write it off as wolves, but it’s been over 20 years since a wolf came down the slopes. Oh but it is wolves. Werewolves. Every single one of those lost souls.

A shiver ran down Julia’s spine but she just grabbed her three bags. “Umm, yeah, thanks.” She backed away from the counter, as though the old woman had grown a snout and fur herself. Outside in the warm sunlight, the woman just seemed that much crazier.

As she put the bags in her Jeep, Julia looked around at the mountain slopes and the trees covering the valley floor. How could a place so beautiful be considered cursed? It was just a story; maybe it was thought up years ago because the towns had some feud. Who knew?

Shrugging, she pulled her sunglasses back over her eyes to continue on down the mountain. It was much easier on her car to go down than up, despite her care of it. Considering it was as old as her it still ran quite well, though if humans aged like Jeeps she was pretty sure we’d be hiking at the age of 120.

It took close to two hours to get down the slope and across the forest to Dogpoint. Her new home was near the actual town, where a few stores and a post office ran along a single street. Despite its small size a fairly large Wolf Rescue and Rehab Shelter was located here. This was the reason Julia had moved to this remote town in order to learn from some of the best canine rehabilitators.

The house was two stories, with two bedrooms and baths. The low price had caused her to question everything from crime rate to termite problems. The proper documentation showing that everything about the house was, in fact, as good as it seemed had sealed the deal.

“Hopefully the movers get everything inside okay,” Julia said to herself as she pulled into the driveway. It ran about twenty-five yards then went around a bend before the house was revealed. The pictures of the home were completely accurate and no books were left on the porch, a very good sign.

In excitement she hopped out and ran into the house with her groceries. The boxes had been sorted into their respective rooms, with the help of a diagram Julia had drawn out. The air was musty, but it’s nothing a good airing won’t help. A glance at the setting sun made her pause. “Guess that’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Looks like I’m sleeping by lantern too. Hmm, a regular indoor camp-out.” She laughed at the oxymoron.

After clearing a space in the master bedroom, she laid out her sleeping bag. Dinner was a bag of chips and a glass of Pepsi. The long drive combined with the quiet country night seemed to act as sedatives, putting her to sleep in spite of the hardwood floor below her.

Later that night she couldn’t say what exactly made her eyes slide open, her mouth dry and heart racing. Sitting up and wrapping the blanket around her to make a cocoon, she thought back to the old woman’s story. Suddenly she realized what was different. A chorus of howls was growing in volume, echoing off the surrounding mountains. Immediately her mind went back to the woman saying that there were no wolves in the valley. “Yeah, but there’s werewolves. Right. It’s probably just from the center.” That didn’t explain how the howls were moving from one side of the valley to another, but maybe it was just something to do with the air carrying it, like a puppeteer who can throw his voice.

The howls seemed to be right outside and she stood, moving to a window and peering out into the night. It was pitch black, with no moon shining down and the huge trees towering over the house. The clearing it sat in put about ten or fifteen feet of open space between it and the tree line. A movement caught her eye but when she looked closer there was nothing.

“I don’t believe that old woman, but you can be sure I’m not going downstairs in some parody of those horror movies, where the heroine ignores every common sense rule of survival there is,” she said softly, nodding to herself.

After watching a bit longer she finally went back to bed. For three days she unpacked her things, settling into a new routine. The time came for her to finally begin working at the wolf center that fourth day.

The concrete building was out of place among the ancient oak and dogwoods but the howls of the wolves within were not. Inside the lobby full of business cards and pamphlets she waited to meet the pair of full time workers/owners.

When they first stepped into the room, Julia was struck by their charisma and confidence. It seemed to be a tangible aura around them. They were both deeply tanned and held the appearance of Native Americans. “Hello. You’re Ms. Hayden, I presume,” the woman greeted, holding her hand out.

“Yes, but please call me Julia.” She shook the offered side.

“I’m Kiyana and this is my ma-husband, Nero. How about I show you around? Nero is attending to a wolf who was hit by a car.” The man, Nero, shook Julia’s hand then disappeared through a door. Kiyana guided Julia by the elbow to a different door, which led outside.

“These are a few entrances to our pens, and that is our feed shed. We have a freezer, refrigerator, and feeding instructions in there.” The tour continued for another thirty minutes then Julia was shown how to feed to wolves correctly.

This went on for a month, Julia learning more and more about the canines, while thinking less and less about the old woman’s story until she nearly forgot it. However, she made sure to get inside before dark and to stay on the second story, at least until the next full moon.

The next full moon was more hectic than any other day, with two wolves brought in from out of state, a pregnant wolf getting bitten by a snake, and with the two owners calling in sick. Julia left three hours later than normal, after finishing chores for the other wolves.

Since the weather was mild she still hadn’t bothered to put the top on her jeep and was too tired to bother with it now. About ten minutes from her home a figure darted out in front of her car and was hit with a resounding smack.

“Oh my God!” Julia yelped, slamming on the brakes. Without bothering to turn off the headlights, she ran around to the front of the car to see a large wolf lying on its side. She knelt down and cautiously placed her hand on its fur, feeling the movement of the ribs. The wolf did not stir and she looked around, wondering if it was a loner from the mountains.

A harsh cough from the wolf morphed into a minute long wheezing and hacking fit. Her decision was made. She carefully gathered the wolf into her arms, stumbled to the Jeep, and dropped it on the backseat quickly.

She sat behind the steering wheel for a moment. The most logical thing to do would be to drive twenty minutes back to the shelter, but something told her that wasn’t a good idea. “It looks almost intelligent, as though it’s just waiting for something,” she thought, her own blue eyes unable to move from the mustard yellow of the wolf.

Slowly she looked downward, remembering the first and foremost rule with wolves; never to stare into their eyes lest you provoke them with what they would see as a challenge. Turning back around, she waited for any sign of movement. When none came she started the car and began the drive home.

Her entire body was tense with adrenaline as she got out and moved to the back. The wolf lay placidly watching her. “Okay, you look like you can walk, I really hope you can. Come on, at least try.” The canine huffed but dropped to the ground and waited. “I can’t keep you in the house, maybe the shed…,” she paused as he wolf growled and made its way to the porch, facing the door before sitting back on its haunches. “Bossy aren’t you?” Julia mumbled, unlocking the door and holding the screen door open.

With the air of a king, it walked in and curled up on a rug. “So what’s your name? How about Rust?” she suggested, having seen that its fur was tipped in red under the overhead light. The newly dubbed Rust wrinkled his nose as though he’d smelled something rotten.

“Too bad. My house, my name.” Julia dropped her purse on the couch and went upstairs to change. When she came back down, Rust had pawed open her purse and was studying her license. “Jeez, you are the nosiest thing. Not like you can read it anyway.”

A yawn broke through her mouth as she placed a bowl of water out. Rust sat in the kitchen doorway, watching her closely. “Alright, it’s late and I’m going to sleep. You’re going to stay here and be very good,” she said sternly. With that she went upstairs to her room and settled into bed.

About 3 AM the sound of breaking glass woke her. Struggling with her blanket, she cursed the red wolf. “Couldn’t wait ‘til morning. Probably jumped out some window.” As she made her way downstairs she could hear growling and furniture being broken. “What in the world?” she wondered.

The last step revealed a battlefield. Rust was fighting two other wolves, while a third lay near the broken window. The two wolves weren’t stronger than Rust, but they were quicker. Julia quickly grabbed an umbrella and jumped into the fray swinging at anything gray.

The metal umbrella connected with the side of one wolf’s head. It turned with a growl and tackled Julia, who fended off its teeth with her forearms. A yelp came from her right but it was impossible to tell who had made it. Her arms were bloody with scratches and her chest was being compressed by the wolf’s weight.

Then it was gone. Gasping for breath she rolled onto her side and scrambled into a crouch, her back against the wall. Her eyes searched the darkness, illuminated only where flashes of moonlight broke through the ripped curtains. With trembling hands she brushed strands of black hair from her field of vision. The brush of fur made her jump to the side as quickly as a rabbit evading hunting dogs, her eyes closing involuntarily.

A low whine and another brush of fur caused her to look to her right slowly. “Oh Rust,” she whispered, collapsing down to the floor, knees bent as she threw her arms around him. Her body was shaking and the pain in her arms intensified as the adrenaline wore off. Resting her head against his fur she looked at her destroyed living room. “What was that about?” she said to herself. Rust nudged her then looked to the bathroom, raising a paw over her raw arms.

She looked down and her eyes widened, having forgotten the wounds. “Okay. Stay here.” Julia stood and went into the bathroom, gathered medical supplies, and began doctoring the scratches. When finished her arms were completely wrapped in gauze, yet she walked out to check Rust for any injuries. “Rust? Hey Rust,” she called, looking around nervously. Surely there were no other wolves inside.

“Hey buddy! Come on you need to be checked out…” she trailed off as a thin, sinewy man started down the stairs. Julia dropped the medical items and backpedaled, groping blindly for a weapon. Her foot hit something and she swept her trusty umbrella up. “Stay back! I’m an expert!” She shook the umbrella at him threateningly.

A soft chuckle emanated from the man. “You’d save me just to kill me. With an umbrella at that.” He moved closer, his bare feet making no sound. She jabbed him with the metal tip and stepped back until she hit the front door.

“Who are you? And why are you wearing my towel?” Her eyes watched him for any sign of movement. However, despite her diligence he had her pressed against the door, arms on either side of her neck to hold her in place. The now useless umbrella was trapped between their bodies.

Up close she could see he had amber colored eyes and auburn hair. He was athletic but it was more of a hidden strength rather than overly bulked up muscles. “I was…short on clothes, to thanks for the towel. Unless you’d rather have it back?” he raised a brow and looked down at her, having around 4 inches of height over her own.

“No! Keep it on. How did you get in here?”

“That was insulting, but you should sit down for this.” He guided her to the couch, where one cushion was left undamaged. He gently pushed her down then slid to the floor smoothly, folding his legs underneath him. “Alright. I talk, you listen. If you talked to any of the locals outside town then you’ve probably heard the stories they tell. And they are completely true. They don’t call the forest itself cursed, but a clearing with a circle of stones around the edge. Well over a hundred wolves gather there to hunt and find a mate.”

“Wait a second, are you joking?” Julia looked down at him and raised a brow.

“You heard them. Maybe even seen one out of the corner of your eye.” Julia thought back to the first night in her new home. “Do you know where Rust went?” he asked.

“What? No. He must have left. I hope he’s okay.”

“I am.” Julia stared at him then began laughing.

“Funny. Real funny. I’m calling the cops.” Before she could stand a feeling like static electricity tickled over her skin. Fur erupted from the man’s skin, his face elongated into a snout, and right before her eyes his body rearranged itself into that of a familiar red wolf. She jerked her legs up and stood on the couch like someone in old movies that had seen a mouse.

“You…wolf..human…werewolf!” She finally managed to say. The wolf began to reform into a man, whose quick fingers re-wrapped the towel around his waist.

“Yes, I am. And my name is Devin. Rust isn’t exactly the most attractive title. By the way, would you happen to have any clothes around I could wear?”

Julia thought. “I have some basketball shorts and t-shirts. They’re in my room in the dresser.”

Devin nodded and disappeared upstairs. While he changed, Julia went into the kitchen and began fixing some coffee. Somehow coffee seemed to make everything better, perhaps by being so mundane. Pour the water in, scoop the beans into a filter, press start, and in fifteen minutes you have a hot beverage to your taste. How simple and un-supernatural.

As she sat at the table waiting for the coffee pot to fill, she thought back to earlier. If Ru-Devin was a werewolf, then couldn’t those two lying in her living room be too? “Great, I might have two dead people in my house. This just gets better and better.” Julia sighed and rested her head in her hands, a pounding headache settling into the base of her neck.

“Are you okay?” Devin asked from the doorway. She looked up and saw that he had borrowed a large gray t-shirt and a pair of black shorts.

“Dandy. So, who are those two?” She moved her head toward the living room.

Devin took a seat across from her. “The alpha male and female of the local pack. I’m not from here and they tried to run me out. I tried to get outside then you came down.” He reached out a hand and placed it over a bandaged forearm. “The virus that causes you to be a werewolf is highly contagious and carried in a wolf’s blood, on their claws, and…in their saliva.”

Julia looked at her arms, which had kept the wolf’s teeth from her throat. “So I might be infected?”

“Yes. In addition, we killed the alphas. Officially I’m the new alpha. Whether you are or not depends on if you change during the next full moon.”

For the next month Devin stayed with Julia teaching her about the pack society in case she did become infected. Exactly 28 days later the two gathered at the stone circle. Devin as the alpha and Julia as a potential. That night a blood moon cast its light over the mix of people who waited for the moment the moon became truly full.

In a nearby town, a lonely old woman who had smoked for years was locking her windows and doors tightly. The next morning she was found on her couch, a congealed crimson trail running from her nose.