Skin by Kate Krake Page B

Guessing, I had heard stories of the creatures but
I had only actually seen a werewolf once before. It was late, well
after midnight and I was out running. I hadn ’t long
been living in the city but had a vague idea of where not to be. I
hadn’t really been paying attention to where my feet were leading
me and I found myself down on the south bank near the Guessing
wharves.
    The
thing was trailing a girl in a coat too heavy for the weather. I
had considered going to help her, or at least warn her the thing
was close, but when I saw the coat flick, revealing a long cat like
tail, I ’d turned and kept running in the opposite
direction.
    This
thing on the stage looked like that first dog. It was a roughly
human body covered in black, wiry fur, a grossly elongated snout
stretched to show off its slathering fangs. It was crouched and
ready to kill but the way it blinked in the light, looking around
over the crowd to the roof, the mass of spectators, it was nervous,
scared. I wasn ’t sure what was coming but with all the
revulsion that thing inspired in me, I still felt sorry for the
animal.
    The Guardians
held their lances aloft and called out a unified wordless cry.
Darius and the raccoon man moved toward the wolf with deadly
caution. The beast growled and bristled, trying to back away but in
the centre of the cross, it had nowhere to go.
    The raccoon
moved first. A leap so high it made me wonder if it might have been
part Mech with some kind of spring loaded legs. It landed on the
mesh and flipped, somersaulting backward and clipping the werewolf
on the top of its head with long, clawed fingers. The wolf swatted
at it like it was a pesky fly buzzing about. Darius moved forward
while the thing was distracted with the raccoon, leaping back and
forth between the sides of the caged stage. He swung a treelike arm
and it connected with the beast, knocking it flat out and skidding
across the floor. It was disgusting.
    “ What is
this all about?” I said to Sveta who was surveying the tournament
with a disinterested detachment.
    “ They
work together to bring down a common enemy,” she explained. “It’s
always the first act.”
    “ And
then what?”
    “ And
then they attempt to conquer one another. Don’t worry, darling,
it’s not a fight to the death. It’s theatrical, symbolic. I
would’ve thought you would appreciate that sort of
thing.”
    “ And the
werewolf?”
    “ It
dies. Obviously. Rev, I am the first one to stand up for the love
of all animals, you know that about me surely. But there’s no
injustice here, the wolves are a scourge on this town. It’s just
doing Guessing a favour. Besides, Darius' death blows are always
merciful.”
    I watched
grimly and saw the pattern emerge in the ghoulish dance that was
driving the crowd wild. Raccoon slipped this way and that,
confusing the creature, and stinging with his fast, sharp swipes
while the brute Darius bludgeoned the thing. Around and around they
went until the werewolf was barely able to stand. It staggered and
swayed, panting hard.
    “ This
thing never had a chance,” I said.
    “ It’s a
werewolf, Rev, not a helpless puppy.” Sveta whispered. There was a
peevish edge on her tone and I didn’t care.
    At that
same time the crowd cheered and I saw the wolf, its head held
between Darius ’ monster hands. With a slight flick, he
snapped the dog’s neck and it fell, limp and lifeless at his feet.
Darius held his arms aloft, grinning and drinking in the adoration
of the people. Raccoon skittered past him and they shared a high
five, I thought made the entire distasteful spectacle even more
tacky than it already was.
    Spotlights
flashed like lasers, cutting the air and the crowd was in a frenzy
of excitement. Below our platform, Imogen clapped her hands above
her head, jumping up and down and squealing, literally squealing,
in happiness. I could only shake my head.
    The Guardians
lifted their lances and cried out again. The sweeping lights went
still and