Mid-afternoon Ella waits in the shadows of a tree-line end. Across a vast field she observes a transport truck on its' side and a dozen, noticeably armed, men wander around it. Parked at the tail end of the truck a black Escalade, at the front sits a green military Hummer, identifying known highway marauders.

A body placed in the back of the Escalade has her wonder, one of theirs?Must be important to them if they're not leaving the body to rot... maybe to eat?

Once the body is placed in the Escalade five of the men get in and drive off. While keeping an eye on the several men left Ella is curious where the black SUV goes.

Panting in place Ella's head seems to nod knowing where the Escalade is going. Hoss's cannibal clan, last of the greasy fat bastards. Drawn by the smell of blood Ella's wolf happened upon their group of sick bastards. Coming close to getting captured and eaten that day she caught a couple bullets from Hoss fleeing; she easily pictures his fat-potbelly and long stringy grey hair skullet. Far from the largest of people encountered over life, but three hundred plus pounds is big for today's survivors.

Once the black SUV out of sight Ella focuses on the remaining men. What I wouldn't give for a machine gun right now. Mow them down so I can see sooner.

Picking the rig and grounds clean of anything useful the males chatter among themselves. Ella strains to hear but the breezes are not favorable. Lack of field-cover she stays put. Whatever happened must've bummed them out, they're barely talking to each other. if that trailer had livestock in it, I'd be bummed out... Especially if they were healthy.

Considering belly crawling through the field she notices the men all move for the Hummer. Focusing on the vehicle she's drawn to a machine gun swivel on the roof of the vehicle. Oh that's perfect for Sunday drives in the country. With a lil'ol seven, sixty two mini haha. They best go now and hope I never come looking for that. Could haul some serious shit and ass with it. Daydreaming she pictures chasing some assholes down. Vlad driving, her in wolf form with goggles on and wind through her hair blasting away. Have to make an addendum to my message to Vlad if he's not wiling to help with a transfusion. He's helping steal that nice green rig.

Filling the Hummer the men get inside, one even stands up into the roof's machine-gun position.

The vehicle drives around the downed truck back onto the road, traveling in the direction the transport is facing.

As soon as the Hummer is out of sight Ella trots briskly over to investigate.

Reaching the sided rig Ella takes a smell of the livestock trailer, detecting Vlad's scent, what the Hell? What's up here?

Around the back of the trailer there are four bloodied body impressions in the dirt. Each spot of blood is diseased but differs in scent.

She pauses on one spot for a stronger whiff. Smell's like Hoss. Maybe related. Maybe that's who they put in the Escalade. I keep smelling Vlad.

Sniffing about she finds the discarded raincoat along with definite traces of Vlad's blood. Oh no Vlad, you're okay right? She looks left and right. There's four different sets of tire tracks. Recalling the Hummer's path Ella identifies those tracks.

Walking towards the Escalade's parking spot Ella can see what happened in the dirt. The Black SUV pulled in parked and circled out. Another vehicle skidded in, then drove off where the Hummer went.

Sitting on her haunches to think a second Ella scratches an ear. Now did Vlad chase these guys down? What would he be doing way out here? Was that truck after the animals on our farm? And he chased them all the way here crashing that truck?

Looking for signs of animals, only humans are smelt. So Vlad chased them away before they could get anything. Knowing Vlad he wouldn't want them to report back and would chase them down. Think that truck would have a working C.B. in it.

Ambling over to the truck cab Ella tries to look through the dusty and blood splattered windscreen. I think there's one. Looks like a coiled mic cable there. She can smell Vlad was inside the truck. What did you get yourself into today?

Worried about him she looks east and west. If he got caught and is still alive he'll be at Hoss's. And may not have much time. If he went back to the farm he's got home-field advantage. It'd be faster for me to race to Hoss's encampment check things out. Than go to the farm and find out he's not there. Oh Ella hope we make it quickly. She thinks of the machine gun being something Vlad may not be able to contend with. Vlad's got trouble coming if he ain't already in it.

Kicking up dirt Ella races for Hoss's village hideaway.

Unknown to Ella only several miles east Vladimir is safely unwinding. The Land Rover's back in the garage and doors are closed. The home equipped with solar water heating Vladimir and Filomena are able to get comfortably showered up.

The thugs in the Hummer, low on fuel don't follow the transport tracks far enough. Deciding to return to base they u-turn half a mile from the mansion.

Ella wastes away the afternoon skulking around Roy Hoss's valley village. A once neighborly little town of a few hundred, only a couple dozen ignorant males exist here. The frequented locations are abattoir, coffee shop and farmer's supply, housing fuel tanks and pumps. The men reside in the nicest homes.

Ella's last stop is Hoss's house on the hill over looking town. There she finds a very distraught Roy Hoss holding a dead son angrily crying, "my boy, my boy! Sig why are you still standing here? Go find who ever did this and kill 'em."

"Yes Roy. They're trailing him now. I'll get back at it too," Sig replies walking for the driver's side of the Escalade, "I knew to get your son back home no matter what."

"Yeah thanks for that." Roy looks up at Sig, "Hey! If you can, bring him back in alive for a proper tenderizing."

"You bet Roy," Sig waves two fingers before getting in.

Thankful Vlad is okay Ella sighs, knowing it's a long hike back to the farm. Wonder how many miles I can cover before the change... Oh wait a minute is tonight a full moon?

She looks up but there are too many clouds to see if a blue moon is present. Please be a full moon tonight.

Before running off Ella studies Roy with none of his thugs are around she could easily take him out, but would risk contracting the disease. Another time Ella he's no one to be concerned with. How much longer can he live anyway? I give him ten years more at the max.

A pistol strapped to the fat man's waist finals her decision to return to the farm.

Sneaking back out of the valley village Ella can't help but notice the Hummer returning to be refueled. Oh damn these paws. Gotta find a way to mount guns on me somehow. Be nice to have a ride back to the farm too.

The men around town occupied Ella easily eases out of town unnoticed.

***

Back at the mansion after they used up all the hot water, necking in the shower, Vladimir fell asleep waiting for Filomena to dry up.

When Filomena saw him sleeping in the bed she spooned in behind him. Nestled in and warmed up her many thoughts sleep succumbs her.

***

Following a tree line for cover Ella returns to the site of the transport crash, from behind the rumble of the Hummer is heard.

Keeping to the shadows of the trees Ella watches as the Hummer stops by the crashed truck. Two men get out checking the ground. As one points from the ground to the east Ella figures they're studying tire prints.

Advancing quietly unnoticed Ella waits for them to leave. Which only takes a moment longer, as the doors shut the Hummer continues on following the road easterly.

Making sure she's got the tire tracks memorized Ella sprints to the crash site.

Mostly noting one set of tire prints are narrower and less meaty than the Hummer she runs the road following them both.

Getting darker Ella slows up thinking the change might be coming on.

As pink hues start coloring the bottom of clouds Ella's certain a full moon is on the rise tonight; She'll be a wolf until tomorrow evening.

***

Unfortunately for both Filomena and Vlad they only get a few hours sleep,  rudely awoken by the change coming onto them. Twitching about in the bed they awkwardly watch each other transform.

Stretching out wings Vlad apologizes, "oh I'm sorry you had to see that."

About to do the same she's relieved he said it, "I was always curious how it looked. Looks as painful as it feels." She stretches out the wings too.

"I felt bad you had to go through it. Like I just gave it to you." Feeling silly Vlad suggests, "well we'll get our fill Fil. And then see about escorting you home?"

"Sounds like a reasonable plan to me." She thinks about the lunar cycles, "is it a full moon tonight?"

Unsure Vlad's disappointed as they've yet to make love as humans, "I think you're right. And its August we'll be like this for a long while."

"Well if I have to endure it. You're more than welcome to suffer along side of me," she nudges into the side of him.

He presses back, "alright if you insist."

Really craving the beef blood Filomena's thoughts drift that way, "you think those cows will be asleep soon?"

"Soon," Vladimir smiles on the inside warming to her companionship. "Give them a bit. Be a shame if the next time here they're gone."

Thinking the cows should be hidden elsewhere in case Filomena sighs, "that it would. To bad you crashed that truck, could've hauled them out of here."

"Yup," Vlad sighs too, "they might be able to track that truck. If we could find another maybe take a young bull and a couple females some place else."

"Too bad this place got the front door and windows taken out today. Was actually thinking about moving here. But my place has sheltered access and a few open acres that could hide a few cows. I'd say stay here defend the mansion anyway but as you saw this morning I'm not much use."

Wrapping a wing around her Vlad was glad she was there, "You at least got young Roy to stop shooting at me. And yes I noticed you managed to shoot him. That poor cow you hid behind took three shots for ya. Glad it didn't kick you when it took off."

She forgot about the cow, "oh that poor thing. I forgot about her. I wondered where she ran too? Do you think she'll be okay?"

Shaking his fuzzy head slightly, "I think poor Daisy Mae probably ran to the woods out back to die. If she lives that'll be something. I think it took a shot to the neck."

"Oh that poor cow. Was she really named Daisy Mae?"

"No," Vladimir replies, "but I guess now we can call her that."

"I just might." Filomena wants to go find out if the cow is out there hurt.

Vlad's wing and words provide warmth, "when we go out in a bit we can see if Daisy Mae is out there."

"Thank you Vlad." She snuggles into him.