A Beast in the Valley -Trade-

The temple was well hidden in the woods, nearly impossible to find except by accident.  Wolfen Down had stumbled upon it quite by chance in an attempt to take a shortcut.  He seemed to have a knack for discovering ancient temples.

Two rather aged wolf statues guarded the temple entrance.  Inside, a third statue firmly clutched a crystal ball; there seemed to be no way to remove the ball from the statue's hands.

Weird.  That ball HAS to be important.  I can sense some sort of energy inside it.

Wolfen cautiously reached out and touched the ball with one finger.  Immediately he pulled his hand away as he felt his canine instincts act up.

What the...?  Okay, whatever this thing is, it's dangerous.  Maybe I can...

Taking a deep breath, Wolfen placed his right hand-- the one he always wore the Infinity Gauntlet on-- palm-first against the ball's surface.  Then he focused.

Energy crackled across his fingertips.  For a moment, his hand was glued in place as energy flowed between it and the ball.  Then, all at once, it all flooded into him.

Oh #&*@$.

As he withdrew his hand, Wolfen could feel the dark energy from the crystal ball spreading throughout himself.  It began to change him.

His fur grew thicker all over his body.  His fingers and toes began to develop sharp claws, while his mouth bore an equally sharp pair of fangs.  He was forced to drop down on all fours as his frame grew heavier.  As his hands and feet became larger and more feral, the Infinity Gauntlet split clean in two from the stress, the halves clattering to the floor.

Wolfen's adrenaline levels were maxing out, his instincts taking over his mind.  He reared back and let out a ferocious, otherworldly howl.

Then he blacked out.

----

"Alert!  Alert!  This is the Valley Defense Force!  An unidentified gray-furred beast is roaming the Valley, and is currently headed for the snake village!  Repeat, the beast is currently headed for the snake village!  All citizens stay indoors and barricade all entrances!  Repeat, stay indoors and barricade all entrances!  That is all."

It was the middle of the night, the full moon directly overhead.  When the alert went out, nobody wasted any time in following its instructions.

Before long, the occupants of the first houses in the snake village got a good look at the beast as it passed them.  It was some sort of blue-eyed Mobian werewolf with dark gray fur and sharp claws.  It ran on all fours, and seemed to be carrying something shiny in its right hand, although nobody could tell what.

VDF officers waited in every nook and cranny, and each one fired on the creature as it came close, but every wound they inflicted healed up immediately without any lasting damage.  It seemed invincible.

From inside one building, Hisspan Down watched and waited.  When Wolfen hadn't come home that evening, Hisspan had gotten lonely and decided to spend the night with her parents, Rex and Marie.  Now she was stuck inside their house, while Kaitlin and Leon huddled at her feet.

As the werewolf approached, Hisspan crouched low.  Something about it seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place what.  Then she noticed the object it was carrying: a certain gauntlet, broken in half.

"Wolfen!" she exclaimed without thinking.  Immediately she ducked out of sight as she realized what she'd done.  The beast approached the window, looked for a moment, and then turned away.

"...Mum, Dad, I'm going outside," the cobra suddenly announced.  "Replace the barricade behind me, and watch Leon and Kaitlin for me."

"But--"

"Trust me!"

Hisspan had already begun shoving aside the furniture she'd put up in front of the door.  As soon as the way was clear enough, she slipped outside and shut the door tightly.

Wolfen... if that's really you... I've got to handle this myself!

Not delaying a second more, Hisspan ran after the beast.  It was fast, but she took a shortcut and got in front of it easily.

"Wolfen, STOP!  It's me, Hisspan, your wife!"

The cobra and werewolf stared into each other's eyes for several meaningful seconds, neither taking a step more.

Then he smacked her aside and continued on his way.

Hisspan sat and caught her breath as she watched the beast run off, ignoring the new scratch on her chest.

He didn't listen?  Whatever's come over him is strong.  I guess I have no choice...

Getting up again, the cobra bolted after the monster once more.  This time, she approached him from behind, jumped, and grappled firmly onto his back.  Startled, the beast tried to shake her off, but couldn't manage.

As Hisspan held on, she realized she was buried in thick bestial fur.  This creature was fluffier than any other she'd encountered in her life.  For a moment, she forgot what she was doing and tightened her grip, shifting up and down to feel it against her scales.  She felt like she could hug the werewolf's furry hide for days.

She didn't get the chance.

"MRS. DOWN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!  GET DOWN FROM THERE BEFORE YOU GET KILLED!"

A yell from a nearby VDF officer brought Hisspan abruptly back to her senses.  Realizing her situation, she leaned up slightly so she could reach the beast's neck, and sank her fangs in.

Wolfen... I'm sorry for this.

Again the creature tried to dislodge the cobra, but she held on tightly.  Slowly his struggles got more and more sluggish, until finally he collapsed to the ground, unconscious but still alive.

Hisspan stood up as a number of VDF officers surrounded her.  "He was on a huge adrenaline high," she explained to them.  "The dose of venom I just delivered would've killed most creatures, but it was just enough to bring him to a stop.  He should be out until morning."

One of the officers turned around to radio back that the beast was subdued.  Hisspan knelt down to eye level with the unconscious beast as it lay on the ground.

Wolfen... I know it's you.  I can't wait to see you once you're back to your senses.

She kissed him right on the muzzle.