Zell Wolf Wolf 21 - Day 2

[VashTheStampede]

I may not be very active for the next day or so. Limiting internet intake a bit to not be so angry all day.

 

[Quagmire]

I may not be very active for the next day or so. Limiting internet intake a bit to not be so angry all day.

Same, really have very little interest in playing, like I'll vote but am not paying much attention to what is going on and voting with the village

 

[Local Hero]

I may not be very active for the next day or so. Limiting internet intake a bit to not be so angry all day.

Wolves kill Vash

 

[Ben]

Yeah, I don't blame anyone for being apathetic or disconnecting at present, when it feels like the 'wolves' won in real life.

 

[Ben]

In the interest of the village, I'm releasing my case files from the past two nights.

NIGHT 1: The night was colder than a whore's heart, and twice as dark. I could barely see my hand in front of my face, but I could see enough: two men creeping through the muddy streets, sticking close to the alley's shadow like rats in a cellar. One was Alu—tall, wiry, and quick. The other, his companion Local, had a bulkier build, a face like a broken wall, and a bit too much interest in whatever Alu had to say. They looked guilty as a pair of cats with canary feathers hanging from their lips, but of what, I couldn't say. In this cursed village, plenty of men had secrets that crawled darker than moonless nights.

I had my suspicions, of course. It's why I was out there in the first place, crouched low and itching from the damp of the stone wall I was leaning against, waiting for them to slip up and give me a clue. But I was still on the fence about what kind of sin these two were wrapped up in. Maybe they were scheming up trouble of a murderous nature—our werewolf problem was well-known to anyone who didn't want to die with their throats clawed open. Or maybe this was just the sort of midnight meeting two men might arrange when they were on the wrong side of village whispers.

I trailed them close as I dared, watching their quick glances and soft whispers. Alu seemed anxious, a little too restless for a casual meet-up. Local, on the other hand, kept his cool, guiding Alu with a reassuring touch here and there. They moved with purpose, ducking around corners, peering over their shoulders, throwing me plenty of chances to disappear into the shadows. Still, I could feel the danger on the wind. The moon was hidden behind clouds, and somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. A reminder of what lurked out there, teeth bared, ready to turn a village meeting into a bloodbath.

They stopped for a moment at a crumbling stone fountain, the kind of place where a single wrong step would echo across half the town. Their voices were low, and the fountain's trickle drowned most of what they said. But I saw them lean close. Saw Alu place a hand on Local's shoulder, and the way Local tilted his head in response, letting his gaze linger just a little too long. It was enough to make me wonder if their secret was less about murder and more about each other. The villagers would gossip about one of their own fraternizing with another man in that way. But I kept my thoughts to myself and kept watching, feeling the weight of my own suspicions.

Then, as if they'd heard my thoughts and decided they'd had enough, they slipped out of sight. One moment, they were by the fountain, sharing an unspoken something that I couldn't read, and the next, they were gone. Vanished into the night like a bad memory. I darted after them, weaving through the twisting alleyways and dodging the rain-slick cobblestones that threatened to send me sprawling. But they'd shaken me, all right—disappeared as cleanly as ghosts.

For a moment, I wondered if maybe that was exactly what they were. Or worse.

I spent the rest of the night wandering those alleys, half-hoping I'd stumble across them and half-hoping I wouldn't. But dawn found me empty-handed, save for the beginnings of a bad headache and a feeling that I'd been played for a fool. I dragged myself back to my quarters, wondering if I was overthinking things. Maybe Alu and Local were just two men meeting under the cloak of night for the kind of business you didn't dare speak of during the day. Or maybe there was more to it—something that would leave the village counting the dead before another day's end.

It wasn't long before I had my answer.

Word came before breakfast, news spreading faster than the sickness that had gripped the village last winter. Two bodies had been found. One of them was Fool's, a local prostitute, beaten and clawed so badly that it took a while to figure out who he was. The other was a John Doe, just some unlucky soul who'd wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time. Their bodies were ripped to shreds, limbs twisted and broken in ways only a werewolf could manage. I clenched my teeth, remembering the way Alu and Local had looked last night, their hurried whispers, their strange closeness.

But try as I might to fit the pieces together, they didn't quite line up. Sure, they were gone the same night two villagers ended up in pieces. But was that because they'd spent the night indulging in something forbidden? Or because they'd been busy transforming under the full moon, letting their baser instincts run wild?

I'd missed something, that much was clear. And if I wasn't careful, it would be my turn next to end up in an unmarked grave.

NIGHT 2: The next night rolled in, dragging a damp fog that clung to the village like a bad memory. I was back in the alleys, one eye on Alu and the other half on my surroundings, trying not to get caught off guard. This time, Alu wasn't sneaking around with Local. His companion was Dimmerwit, a fellow with the brains of a turnip and the subtlety of a sledgehammer. A strange pairing, if you asked me.

I watched them from the shadows as they huddled near the tailor's shop, their voices barely carrying over the hum of the night. Dimmerwit's posture was stiff, and I caught the way his jaw clenched every time Alu leaned in to say something. Whatever was going on between them, it wasn't the same as the whispered glances and touches I'd seen between Alu and Local the night before. This was tension of another kind—something simmering beneath the surface, ready to boil over.

Dimmerwit wasn't the type to hide his feelings, and it showed. He took a step back from Alu, crossing his arms in a way that looked more like a defense than anything else. Alu, on the other hand, just kept talking, hands gesturing in the dark. He looked agitated, as though he were trying to convince Dimmerwit of something important. The kind of important that could get a man killed if he wasn't careful.

Dimmerwit finally snapped, his voice rising just loud enough for me to catch a few choice words.

"—ain't your puppet, Alu! Think I'm some kind of idiot?"

Alu hissed something back, his voice low and dangerous. The words were lost to the fog, but the tone was clear enough. They weren't partners. They weren't friends. Whatever had brought them together that night was anything but friendly.

Dimmerwit turned on his heel, clearly fed up, and stomped off down the street. But Alu wasn't about to let him go that easy. He grabbed Dimmerwit by the arm, pulling him back with a sharp tug. Dimmerwit snarled, jerking free, and for a second I thought they were going to come to blows right there in the street. But Alu seemed to think better of it, releasing Dimmerwit and stepping back, hands raised in a mockery of surrender. The look in his eyes, though—that was pure venom.

They exchanged a few more harsh words, both of them keeping their voices low now, each one glancing around like they knew they were being watched. I crouched lower behind a barrel, barely breathing. My instincts screamed that this was it, the clue I'd been waiting for, the piece that would snap the whole puzzle into place. But just as I thought I might catch something useful, Dimmerwit shot Alu one last glare and stalked off into the night, disappearing into the fog like a ghost. Alu lingered for a moment, watching him go, before he, too, slipped away into the shadows.

I didn't know where Dimmerwit had gone, and I'd be damned if I could track him through the thick mist that had rolled in. So I stuck with Alu, figuring he was the one more likely to get up to something I'd regret missing. But that slippery devil seemed to have a sixth sense for knowing when he was being tailed. He ducked through the winding alleys, doubling back more than once, glancing over his shoulder every few steps. I kept up for a while, but eventually, he led me through a twisted maze of side streets and darkened corners that I'd never seen before. Then, without so much as a whisper, he was gone.

I cursed under my breath, realizing I'd lost him again. Twice in two nights, that was, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. But unlike the night before, there was no bloodshed this time. No bodies turning up in the dawn's early light, no screams to shatter the silence. The village was quiet come morning, as if whatever had been lurking in the dark had chosen to stay hidden for now.

But that was the thing about wolves. Just because they're quiet doesn't mean they're harmless. And I had a feeling I'd be seeing Alu and Dimmerwit again before this game was over.

 

[Quagmire]

In the interest of the village, I'm releasing my case files from the past two nights.

Im gonna @shortkut this and not read it, can you dumb it down for me?

 

[Ben]

Im gonna @shortkut this and not read it, can you dumb it down for me?

I mean, I did to start with when I just gave everyone the info I had.

Alu and Local are on the same team. Alu and dimmerwit are not.

And whoever the Bully is that hit me with a rock, while I appreciate you trying to get me stoned, not overall helpful for the group.

 

[dimmerwit]

Im gonna @shortkut this and not read it, can you dumb it down for me?

Alu: "tall, wiry and quick"

Local: "a bulkier build, a face like a broken wall, and a bit too much interest in whatever Alu had to say"

Myself: "a fellow with the brains of a turnip and the subtlety of a sledgehammer"

I feel like it could have been worse.

 

[Christina]

Should we just skip now? Nothing seems be changing.

 skip

 

[Ben]

Alu: "tall, wiry and quick"

Local: "a bulkier build, a face like a broken wall, and a bit too much interest in whatever Alu had to say"

Myself: "a fellow with the brains of a turnip and the subtlety of a sledgehammer"

I feel like it could have been worse.

((I was trying to lean on the old detective novel style narrative and didn't rework it much. In all seriousness, I do think you're a smart turnip.

The Alu/Local descriptions were mostly accurate though.))

Should we just skip now? Nothing seems be changing.

 skip

I'm fine with skipping.

 

[dimmerwit]

I'd take the sledgehammer any day.

 

[Local Hero]

Whatever was going on between them, it wasn't the same as the whispered glances and touches I'd seen between Alu and Local the night before. This was tension of another kind

 

[Local Hero]

Skip

 

[A Slightly New Used Server]

Sure, I'll skip

 

[Quagmire]

Loudly skipping

 

[dimmerwit]

I will skip with the:

 

[VashTheStampede]

This is a part of the gimmick that I was somewhat dreading. Was not looking forward to the concept of blathering on just to skip.

 

[Tommy Boy]

skip in honor of benzine

 

[canadaguy]

Skip in dishonor of benzine

 

[Jawneh]

 

[shortkut]

Wolves kill Vash

Why would they? If he appears to be a passenger, Vash Law demands he be deemed suspect

Also, skip

 

[shortkut]

Im gonna @shortkut this and not read it, can you dumb it down for me?

That’s my shtick. I’m voting you again tomorrow

I’m the headhunter guys. Help me win

 

[Local Hero]

That’s my shtick. I’m voting you again tomorrow

I’m the headhunter guys. Help me win

 

[shortkut]

In all seriousness, who are we waiting for to skip?

 

[Zell 17]

I may not be very active for the next day or so. Limiting internet intake a bit to not be so angry all day.

I hear ya. I actually thought about holding off until after the election, but then I knew I’d be out of town this weekend.