DTVS 1:4 Lone Wolves Part 6: the Scent of Fear

[subplotkudzu]

Outside the office Doris locates Roger, who drags her up to the top of the attic stairs where the might talk privately. Conscious of his distress she agrees, and he explains that the beast is Amarok, the spirit wolf that hunts those foolish enough to hunt alone at night. It should not be here, and if it is it is angry, the taboos have been broken and who knows what it might do! Roger tells Doris he knows that she and Dr. Winterbourne had hunted it, but that it was too dangerous. She manages to calm him some, and convince him that with his help Dr. Winterbourne would be able to resolve things.

She returns to the office with tea, with Roger a few moments behind, and the youths find the table covered with a map of the city, with pushpins marking the sites of the killings and circles indicating the beast's likely hunting area and therefore its probable lairs. Edwin offers encouragement as the old campaigner arises in Dr. Watkins, providing the man with the sketch, his own handwritten notes and his blessing to get the police involved in the hunt. Watkins makes Frost promise to lock up and exits with all polite haste. Once he's gone, Frost repeats what he told Doris about the creature's spiritual origins and states that Dr. Watkins must never know. Edwin nods, "Yes, I'd gathered that. I'm glad he exited on his own however, so I didn't have to push him into it. We intend to hunt the beast properly tonight, Mr. Frost. Can you join us?" Obviously still terrified to the core the boy nods, knowing that no one else can propitiate the spirits.

"By the way," Helena asks, "how long have you been under that enchantment?" Frost blanches then turns red with fury. "I am not. I am not enchanted!" "Yes, you are." The artist stresses, and Doris sees Helena is on the knife edge of receiving a broken jaw from the Inuit. She breaks up the conversation with the need to prepare, and Roger agrees to meet them at the Winterbourne house at seven.

At the Frost household Roger sharpens his spear, recites the ritual chants and, much to Carstair's dismay when he learns of it the next morning, takes the best lard with which to coat and purify himself. Once this is finished he & Leet take to the rooftops to reach Winterbourne, being very cautious in making sure that he is not spotted. 

To be continued.

Comments

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

How does Leet travel over the rooftops exactly? I don't usually visualize dogs as being much for brachiation or even conventional climbing.

[brianrogers.livejournal.com]

Their top floor window is an easy leap to the next rooftop, which gives them a good start. After that Roger will carry her when needed.

And what makes you think I just made that up right this second?

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

Aside from my own experience as a GM who occasionally needs to save the appearances?