Read Online Full Moon Rising - 02 by Heath Stallcup - Free Book Online Page A

him?”
    Foster paced back and forth a moment, contemplating his next move.  He knew Thorn quite well indeed.  It was a name he hadn’t heard in centuries.  In fact, it was a name that had caused him to flee more than one previous country.  He was, in fact, much older than Paul Foster himself.  Not a vampire to be trifled with, even if he was feeding from goats.  Still, he held no desire to go to war.  He was looking to offer an alliance against the other Humanus clans in order to stave off Armageddon.  Surely Rufus would let by-gones be by-gones after all these centuries?
    “Perhaps.  I believe I might know this Thorn fellow.” Foster let on.  “Go on.  Finish your tale.”
    “The wolf claims that Thorn moved one of his family homes to an island off the coast, into the Gulf.  He believes he is still there.” Damien smiled smugly. 
    “Excellent.”  Foster turned to Damien.  “Gather the troops, my boy.  We head to Shit-kickerville at first dark.”
    “Master, shouldn’t we send an emissary, first?  Ensure that he’s still there?  If we show up en masse he’s liable to…”
    “Liable to what?” Paul asked.  “Sic the dogs on us?”  Foster laughed.
    “But we aren’t even sure where this island actually is, master.  Even the wolf said he didn’t know exactly where it was.” Damien explained.
    “Where do they make landfall?  Surely that is the closest mainland point to this island, yes?”  Paul explained as he escor ted Damien to the door.  “We will find a place to hole up if we have to, or, if absolutely necessary, we can stay in the trucks another night or two until this island, or somebody who knows where it is located can be found.”
    “Yes, master.”  Damien was all but pushed out of Paul’s i nner sanctum. 
    Foster turned to the guards and softly told them something as Damien turned to start barking orders to the enforcers.  The guards nodded and spoke into their radios.  Immediately, all members of Foster’s group began bugging out and packing up to move out.
     
    *****
     
    Nadia and her mother jogged along the roadway following the pavement toward the buildings further north.  Natashia’s sharp ears picked up the sound of sirens in the distance and they made their way to a stand of storage tanks east of their position as quickly as they could.  They huddled behind a storage tank and watched as two marked military police cars drove by rapi dly, headed in the direction they had just come from. 
    After the two cars left, Nadia started to step out but her mother held her back.  “One more.” She said.  An SUV without the lights or siren going drove by quickly.  This one was marked ‘K-9 Unit’ on the side and rear of the vehicle.  They looked at each other, knowing that the dogs would scent them out and fo llow them wherever they went.  Natashia began stripping out her clothes and pulled a light sundress from her bag.  She stood between the tanks to hide from any passersby and stuffed her pants and blouse into the backpack.  Handing Nadia her bag and sundress, she quickly shifted into her Halfling form.  She barely fit between the standing storage tanks, but her intent was not to stay, only to mask them from the pursuing canines.  She lifted her leg and sprinkled urine along the side of one tank.  She clawed another tank with her long claws and rubbed her rear against another.  She wanted to leave as much of her Halfling’s scent behind as she could to dissuade the dogs.  She also hoped the change in scent would throw them off as well. 
    Once Nadia realized what her mother was doing, she stripped as well, changing rapidly and pulled out a light dress to quickly slip on once she was done.  She shoved her jeans and hiking boots into her pack and put the bags off to the side and tossed the two dresses as far from where they were ‘marking’ as she dare toss them.  When Nadia shifted, she again assumed the form of a very large, gray wolf with