Free Wyvern and Company by Connie Suttle Page A

uneven.
    I was still dressed, which came as a surprise.
    What was I?
    What was Mack?
    For that matter, what were Mom and Dad?
    "This is not the time to ponder those questions,"
the blue man continued. I figured that he was at least eight or nine feet tall.
"You must come with me before the authorities arrive and attempt to arrest
you."
    One minute, I stood on the grass of the football field,
surrounded by family and my best friend, who'd just become strangers. The next,
I knelt beside the indoor pool at the new house.
    Without blinking, the blue man held up a hand and Mack was
dressed again, the same as he was before the attack. "I suggest watching
the local news. I shielded your participation in the event," he said. "However,
I did not disrupt the broadcast of the turnings or of those that came from the
seats to assault attendees. It is time these humans knew what was attacking
them."
    He disappeared, leaving me staring after him in shock.
    * * *
    Joey, Karzac, Uncle Lion and Uncle Dragon were all there when
we had our meeting. Joey brought boxes of pizza. Somehow, he knew Mack and I
would be starving. The last person to arrive, oddly enough, was Mack's dad.
    "I'm proud of you, Son," Martin Walters ruffled Mack's
dark hair. "Most werewolves don't acquit themselves so brilliantly on
their first two turns."
    "What?" Mack stared at his dad. I'll admit, I was
staring, too.
    A werewolf? Mack was a werewolf? How did that happen? Was he
bitten?
    "Werewolves are born, not bitten," Joey patted my
arm. "Mr. Walters is the Fresno Packmaster. They don't tell the young ones
until it's time—it's easier to fit in with humans that way."
    "But Beth," I floundered. Beth was Mack's sister.
She had a boyfriend. How did that work?
    "Beth is also a werewolf, and as female werewolves are
rather rare, she is promised to the Sacramento Second. At least they like each
other," Mr. Walters sighed.
    "Dude?" I turned to Mack. "Is this how you got
away?" It was dawning on me, then, just what it all meant and how he'd
survived. It also accounted for his memories of running on all fours to get
away. He'd done exactly that.
    "It is," Mr. Walters confirmed. "I believe he
may have killed one or two of those monsters at Shaver Lake, but the wolf knows
when he's outnumbered. He ran; that saved his life. I've been waiting for signs
of the turning since then. It happened tonight. I'm glad he was with you and
your parents. Of all the people who'd understand," Mr. Walters said.
    "But," I began.
    "We weren't sure about you, Son," Dad said. "You
don't realize what you are, either, because you couldn't see yourself. You
impressed Pheligar—he spoke to you directly."
    "But," I repeated.
    "Justin, we had no idea what you'd be, or whether we
could be certain that you'd turn. You're a Wyvern, honey. A red-gold Wyvern. I
wish you'd seen yourself. You were amazing against those spawn." Mom gave
me a tired smile.
    "Can you tell us now what those—spawn things—are?" I
croaked. Somebody had kept those things secret. "Why were you fighting
them? Have you seen them before?"
    Dad smiled at Mom and patted her hand.
    "It's what we are and what we do—we fight spawn and the
ones that make spawn," he said. "Living in Fresno and running a
business is just a cover."
    "Joey, am I dreaming after a really bad sci-fi movie?"
I turned in his direction.
    "Nope." He grinned at me. "I'm their healer."
He pointed toward Mom and Dad. "I don't have much to do, usually, because
they're good at what they do and don't get injured much. That leaves me time to
do all the computer work for your Dad and design video games on the side."
    "What about Uncle Lion and Uncle Dragon?" I asked.
    "Tomorrow, after we recover from tonight, we'll take you
to the beach house we talk about sometimes, and show you how your uncles fit
into the equation," Dad said. "Let's watch the news as Pheligar
requested. I'm sure we'll see something unexpected."
    We did.
    Vice Principal Jameson was attacked by the monster that