Unaware of what was happening on the other side of town, Wolf just laid on his couch with the cat resting on his lap as he watched a movie.

“Give me the map! Trust me!"

“Trust you? Like I did in Santa Coloma?"

“Really? Santa Coloma?"

“Si, Santa Coloma!"

“Relationships are complicated, am I right?" Wolf said. The cat just jumped off him and pushed the buttons on the remote until the channel changed. “Hey, I was watching that!"

“This just in!" Tiffany Fluffit reported. “Governor Foxington has been injured after an assassination attempt during a political debate against James Welles."

“What?!" Wolf exclaimed.

“The perpetrator was found dead at the scene after consuming a cyanide pill," Tiffany continued as they showed a picture of the chameleon. “No information on the sniper's identity or any other injured people have been released yet, but three members of the Bad Guys were reported at the scene and are currently being questioned as witnesses. This is a developing story."

Wolf quickly turned off the TV, grabbed his jacket, and ran to the elevator. As he got in his car, he pulled out his phone and speed dialed Snake.

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“Did you really have to buy all of the balloons?" Snake asked his son as the fire department helped him down from a tree.

“The salesperson was very persuasive," Quentin said defensively. “Buy one for $50, get the other nineteen free! Thought I'd surprise the kids!"

“I guess it worked," Andy said as Susie giggled.

“As we were driving to the wedding chapel," Allison whispered to Snake, “my father kept telling me, ‘Sweetie, this is not a normal guy.'"

“Yeah, well, he's our not-normal-guy," Snake said as he pulled out his ringing phone and answered it. “Hello?"

“Snake, Diane's been shot! She's in the ER!"

“Wait, seriously?" Snake asked. “I'll be there as soon as I can."

“What was that about?" Quentin wondered once he was back on the ground.

“Diane's hurt," Snake answered.

“Oh, my goodness!" Allison gasped. “We gotta get to the hospital."

“Mom, can we go to Super Nintendo World now?" Susie asked. “Please, please, please?"

“Dad and I will go, you stay with the kids," Quentin said to his wife. “I don't want to ruin the day for them... anymore than I already have."

“Okay," Allison replied. She gave Quentin a quick kiss goodbye and he slithered off with Snake.

“Where are Dad and Grandpa going?" Andy asked.

“They went on the big snake rides," Allison quickly lied. “Let's go to Nintendo World."

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After about two hours of being questioned, Webs, Shark and Piranha finally arrived at the hospital where Diane was being kept.

“I can't believe someone tried to kill Welles," Shark said, still flabbergasted. “I mean, I know he's a self-centered jerk, but that's a little too far."

“Well, that lizard with the crossbow called him and all humans Oppressors," Webs pointed out. “I have a feeling that even if it wasn't Welles, whatever human would be running against Diane would still have been his target."

“What if Welles was a merman?" Shark asked. “Would he have attacked him then?"

“Well," said Webs, “a merman is still half human, so I'm going to say most likely."

“Only from the waist up," Shark pointed out. “You can't forget the fish half."

“When a merman's tail gets dry, it turns into legs," Webs explained.

“Just throw a glass of water at him."

While Shark and Webs argued, Piranha noticed a shaky Gabi slowly make her way down the hall and ran up to her.

“I came as soon as I heard," she said, looking around nervously.

“Too many memories?" Piranha asked.

Gabi nodded. “The worst day of my life was in this hospital. I... I trusted him."

“I know," Piranha replied, holding her hand. “You're very strong to be here for Diane."

“Thank you, cariño," Gabi replied. “How is she?"

“They won't tell us because we're not family," he answered. “But it's been a while. She should be out of surgery by now."

“You need a full moon to turn into a werewolf!" Webs exclaimed to Shark.

“The werewolves in that movie didn't!"

“That movie was a fever dream!"

“Why are they arguing about mythological creatures?" Gabi asked.

“I have no idea," Piranha admitted as Wolf, Snake, and Quentin rushed in.

“Where's Diane?" Wolf asked with worry. “Is she alright?"

“Mr. Wolf?" a nurse interrupted. “The hospital doesn't usually release information on a patient to a non-family member, but since we couldn't find a next of kin, I could tell you how Governor Foxington's condition... if you can get those two to stop talking."

“Spiders can't turn into werewolves!" Webs claimed. Everyone in the hall was staring at them as they bickered.

“What about wolf spiders?!" Shark asked.

“That's just spiders who don't shave!"

“Snake, you got a paper bag?" Wolf asked. Snake nodded and coughed one up for him.

“Sorry it's wet."

“It'll be fine, just cover your ears," Wolf replied. Then, he blew into the bag like a balloon and slammed his paw into it, causing it to make a loud POP! Webs and Shark immediately shut up.

“Guys, please," Wolf said sternly. “We're in a hospital."

“Sorry," Shark and Webs said simultaneously.

“What's going on?" Quentin asked the nurse.

“She's out of surgery," they explained. “Her condition is stable, but it could take a few weeks until she makes a full recovery."

“Can I see her?" Wolf asked. The nurse nodded and he headed into her room.

“Why didn't you guys tell us about it when it happened?!" Snake asked.

“It wasn't our fault, we were interrogated for, like, two hours!" Shark said defensively.

“As witnesses, fortunately," Piranha added. “I don't need to be charged for conspiracy again."

“What exactly did you guys see?" Quentin asked.

“The attacker was after Welles, but Diane took the hit for him," Webs explained. “The attacker was a chameleon... which was why it kinda hard to see him at first... he called humans the Oppressors, and said some hatchling will take flight on the Blood Moon."

“And then, he poisoned himself," Piranha added.

“Dios mio," Gabi muttered. “What are we gonna do?"

Meanwhile...

“No news has been revealed on the Governor's condition, but the deceased has been identified as Philip Jaegerman. Formerly a student at the University of Florida before disappearing in 2021 under mysterious circumstances."

“Prometheus, I'd kill you if you weren't already dead," a large owl grumbled as a reporter spoke about the attack. “Ismene!"

“Yes, Mother Minerva?" a young red wolf asked.

“Page the rest of the mercenaries and tell them to come home," she replied. “There are only ten days until the Blood Moon, and we can't afford to draw anymore attention to ourselves until then."

Once Ismene had left, Minerva flew to a sewer grate in the floor and stroked it with her wing as she heard a loud, deep groan from within.

“Soon, my son," she said sweetly. “Soon, you will rise and this world will be ours."

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“Should I stop?" Piranha asked the kids, some of whom were trembling. “I don't want give you guys nightmares."

“No, Daddy. Keep going!" Sofia insisted.

Piranha smiled at his little girl. “If you say so."

I hope you guys liked this. Next chapter, the gang puts some of the puzzle pieces together and the real adventure begins.

Until next time. 🌈