“Ack,” Martin coughing and sputtering as Sheriff Cooper pressed smelling salts to the drunk wer-mer’s nose; “fuck that shit is rank.”
“Nap time is over Martin,” Sheriff Cooper comments; “black coffee and cold showers are your medicine to sobriety!”
“Why drag me back here,” Martin struggling to get up. Even in his stage two form; the town’s mayor was struggling to stand as a stream of cold water pours over him, making the tiled floor slick and slippery.
“The council needed to ask you a few questions,” Sheriff Cooper helping the man up and getting sprayed with vomit in return.
“Sorry,” Martin feeling queasy; “you might want to help me to the toilet and fast.”
“And all over my fur as well,” Sheriff Cooper wrinkling his nose, while guiding martin face first into the porcelain throne.
“You could always take a shower,” Martin heaving; “while I… urk… while I’m indisposed.”
“I intend to,” sheriff cooper taking a towel and using it to wipe off as much vomit of his fur as possible; “but getting you to some semblance of normality is priority.” Sheriff Cooper flushing the toilet and then pushing Martin’s head into the bowl as the vomit is flushed away.
Martin struggling as the were-grizzy holds him down and then pulls him up. Coughing as he catches his breath; “are you trying to sober me up or drown me?”
“Don’t be so melodramatic,” Sheriff Copper pushing Martins head back into the bowl; “it’s not as if you can’t breathe, you have gills after all.”
“Then let me drink some coffee then,” Martin gagging on toilet water; “and where is the god dammed Aspirin?”
“No Aspirin,” the sheriff lying; “but there is a few pots of black coffee waiting for you.”
******
After another thirty minutes of Martin heaving and being dunked head first in a toilet as it is being flushed; Martin was in Tachibana’s council office wearing a white terry cloth robe, shivering and feeling like a stool sample.
“I take it,” Tachibana looking at the ragged wer-mer; “that you took the news of your daughter’s action rather hard.”
“That and something else,” Martin miserably answering.
“You mean this,” Tachibana putting the crumbled letter written by Julie on the table; “Sheriff Cooper handed it over when he found you passed out on your kitchen floor.”
“So you read it,” Martin shaking; “you know its contents.”
“So does the entire council,” Tachibana staring at Martin; “I showed Brett the letter before reading it out loud. I think you know what happened afterward.”
“So my daughter is guilty then,” Martin closing his eyes while breathing; “you all rendered your verdict.”
“As soon as Julie is recaptured and brought back,” Tachibana stating; “we will reconvene for sentencing.”
“I need to be with Melissa,” Martin struggling to get up; “can someone take me to France Twist’s office?”
“You don’t know then,” Tachibana helping the mayor up; “Melissa is in the hospital.”
“WHAT,” Martin feeling dizzy with being vertical; “how, oh god the baby! Did something happen to Melissa? Did she have a miscarriage?”
“She is fine,” Tachibana answering; “we just got word that she has regained consciousness. Frances is with her. Apparently she is mad that you never responded to her calls.”
“In my defense,” Martin half walking, half stumbling; “I was passed out and I think my phone is still at home.”
*******
Despite the fact that Moon Lake is a mere two hour drive from Seattle via the main highway; the vans transporting both Julie Stovall and Alyssa Cooper were driving over the country roads and various logging roads. While not as direct, these roads, despite being rarely used, ensured the two prisoners would not get back to Moon Lake until well after dark, and that they would be miles from civilization. Perfect for what the Beta’s had in mind.
“Did the Alpha approve of this,” Beta two informing Beta one.”
“I’m calling him now,” Beta one asks; “until then patience brother, we will have some fun this evening.”
As the phone rings and a smooth talking man answers. The Beta begins to speak; “Julie Stovall has been captured, along with her accomplice. We are enroute to Moon Lake via the scenic way.”
“What is your ETA then,” the Alpha answering; “the council will want them soon. Julie most of all; she was just declared guilty on statue 1A violations.”
“That is why I called,” Beta one speaking; “permission to engage in a pack hunt with the prisoners as prey.”
“Our instructions were clear,” the Alpha growling; “Julie is to be brought back alive and unharmed.”
“The brethren know that,” the Beta answering; “but giving them a little sport now and then does help strength our bond as a pack.”
“I’m not denying that,” the Alpha answering; “but some of you do get a bit carried away with the hunt now and then. My concern is the prisoner’s wellbeing. I’m worried you or the other pack members will take things too far and injure or outright kill your charges.”
“So no to a hunt then,” the Beta looking forlorn.
“If Julie somehow manages to escape your custody,” the Alpha raising a hypothetical scenario; “then you and the rest would be duty bound to track her down and recapture her. Understand?”
The Betas smile as they hear what there Alpha just said. Acknowledging the instructions; both growl in joy as they just got unofficial permission to hunt a were.
“So who has the keys to those fuzzy handcuffs both are wearing,” Beta one asks.
“Not sure,” the other Beta answers; “but wouldn’t it be more plausible to say they managed to pick the locks instead of us just setting them free?”
“Smart thinking,” Beta one answers; “one of you go and scout the surrounding woodland and report back. I want to make sure there are no normals about that could see us.”
“The rest,” Beta two speaking; “gather around and prepare to shift. We may only number in a dozen or so, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hunt effectively as a pack numbering in the hundreds.”
There is a noticeable loud gathering of howls as the werewolves gleefully shift into their more natural lupine forms. Julie and Alyssa both in separate vans, not knowing what is about to happen, can only listen on in abject terror.