Free Night of the Werecat by R.L. Stine Page A

see what’s out there.
    Wendy landed lightly on the windowsill. She peered through the glass.
    The oak tree swayed in the wind. Even though the window was shut, Wendy’s senses were aware of scents on the breeze. She could see insects flitting in the bright light of the full moon.
    Wendy ached to be outside. But she knew she wouldn’t be safe.
    Suddenly her body tensed. A movement caught her attention.
    It was a dark shadow, creeping along the large branch just outside her window.
    A moment later the shadow filled the entire window.
    In the center of the shadow were two glittering yellow eyes.

19

    T he yellow eyes vanished.
    And so did all of the human girl in Wendy.
    Furiously she swiped at the closed window. How dare that werecat come here? To my house!
    It knew she was inside. It had been stalking her.
    Now it was waiting. Waiting for her to come out.
    There was a tiny part of Wendy that knew the black werecat was much stronger than she, much more powerful.
    She didn’t care.
    She was in the grip of the full moon, the wildest time for the werecat. Her tail twitched, the tip flicking back and forth.
    I must get out! I have to protect my territory from the black cat!
    Wendy paced along the windowsill. She nudged her nose along the bottom of the window, searching for a crack, a way out.
    Frustrated, she leaped to the floor. A movement across the room caught her eye. A gnat! She bounded across the floor in pursuit of the insect. But her leap was too wild. She crashed into the dresser.
    She landed, shook herself, and gazed around the room, searching for the gnat. She sensed it above her. Wendy jumped up onto the dresser. She glanced around—and saw another cat!
    Wendy’s fur puffed out. Her back arched. The cat had sandy-colored fur like her. And had a white star on its forehead. Wendy hissed and spit at the strange cat.
    The other cat arched and hissed back.
    How did the cat get into her room? Wendy had to fight it. Drive it away. She lunged at it, her claws and fangs ready to rip it apart.
    SKRREEEKKK!
    Her claws scraped against something hard and smooth.
    Wendy stepped back.
    The brown cat retreated.
    Wendy opened her mouth in a challenging cry.
    The other cat’s mouth opened, too.
    Wendy stared at the intruder. Then she sat down and curled her tail around her legs. The other cat did the same. And now she realized that the other cat wasn’t real. It was her reflection, gazing back at her from the mirror.
    She was shocked by how wild she had become.
    The full moon. The challenging black werecat. Even her own reflection. They all made her werecat instincts stronger.
    She wanted to roam, to stalk, to—
    â€œMoooowwwrrr!” A distant cry from outside pricked Wendy’s ears. She recognized the voice of the black werecat. It was calling her. Calling her to battle.
    She had no choice.
    Trembling all over, Wendy leaped onto her bed. She crouched, getting ready. With a piercing yowl, she sprang into the air.
    Straight toward the window.
    The closed window.

20

    C RAASSHHH!
    Wendy’s body flew through the air. The window shattered. Glass flew everywhere, sparkling in the moonlight.
    Wendy easily twisted in the air.
    WHUMP! She landed on her feet on the grass below the tree. She shook herself to get rid of the shards of glass. Then she licked her shiny fur.
    She was fine. Not a scratch on her.
    And she was out!
    But where was the black werecat? It had been calling to her. Calling her to fight.
    Now there was no sign of it.
    Maybe it had been scared away when she crashed through the window.
    Good, Wendy thought with satisfaction. This is my yard. My territory. She flattened her ears against her head and yowled. Mine!
    It was already late. The moon was nearly setting.
    But there was still plenty of time to prowl. Time to hunt. Time to find the black werecat.
    She had to settle things with the other werecat. Had to show it whose territory this was.
    Wendy sniffed the ground, searching for