The woodlands was a small cluster of forest with hiking trails and picnic areas for those in the city looking for a nature spot for the weekend. Trees of various seed and age were carefully spaced and neatly indicated with little weather worn signs in front of their trunks. Small insect houses tucked between foliage and tree houses hanging from branches dotted the natural landscape with signs of man right up to the link fence that sectioned off the woodland from the greater forest.
Beyond the fence was untamed growth and wild creatures who made their home at the mountainâs base. Many a beast shared this forest, albeit reluctantly at times and a certain harmony was present in its land. At least until hoards of beasts that had lived in the city among man suddenly tried to join their ranks.
The woodlands was closed when Panda reached the gate. On the wrought iron hung a sign reading âTemporally closed by managementâ along with a cartoon of a sad squirrel. The cartoon wasnât the only creature in distress as Panda had heard the chaotic warbling and chittering coming from the back of the park.
Crawling over the fence she headed for the noisy din, wondering if her follower would jump the fence or wait outside. She understood Banditâs worry and want to protect her but he had to know she didnât live as a tiny beast for so long without knowing when she was being stalked by a larger creature. Probably best he stayed out for now, things sounded hectic and a wolfâs presence wouldnât help matters.
Reaching the apex of the noise she found two large groups arguing through a chain link fence. In the woodlands were pigeons, crows, rats, cats, dogs and every other city critter that scavenged and scurried around the feet of man. Beyond the woodlands were foxes, badgers, owls, rabbits and forest dwellers who shunned manâs interference with nature. And my oh my were they upset at each other.
âTHERES NO PLACE HERE FOR YOU!â
âWEâLL ALL BE KILLED BY THE WOLVES!â
Panda could hardly make out more than two sentences as everyone spoke, or shouted, at once.
Her voice was lost to the noise.
âExcuse me? Everyone?â
ââŚâŚ..awOOOOOOOOOOOO!â
The noise stopped and many beady eyes focused on the small bear making a plausible wolf howl. The howl came to an end and she cleared her throat (in the distance she thought she heard her follower begin to howl but stop himself) waving her paws in greeting.
âHello everyone. I understand something has you all riled up and fleeing the city. If you could tell me what the problem is I can try and help.â
The silence that followed stretched on until an owl hooted.
âYouâre the bear that speaks with man.â
âGood. You tell these traitors to return to man in a way they understand!â
âWe canât return!â A scruffy stray dog that frequented the bakery by the bank barked out. âNot with the man-wolves there!â
âMan-wolves have been there many cycles-â A hare with half a winter coat snuffled. âYou lie of danger to steal of food for the cold!â
More voices squeaked and growled up in agreement and protest and Panda called out.
âEveryone please! Calm down. Take a moment⌠What man-wolves do you meanâ
âThe hot one!â A pigeon cooed from above. âHottest man-wolf Iâve ever seen!â
âNo it was the cool one!â A second pigeon from an opposite branch cooed. âNever has a cooler man-wolf been in the man lands! Just flying overhead gave me chills!â
The two birds argued back and forth and Panda frowned.
âUh⌠you mean temperature right? Like warm and cold?â
All eyes turned to her again.
âHow else would they mean?â A vole squeaked out perplexed. Panda decided she had spent maybe too long around humans and cleared her throat again.
âAlright, so thereâs a hotâŚman wolf and a cold one and they attacked you?â
âNo!â Hissed a tabby Panda had seen often lounging on rooftops. âThey donât attack. They donât even see you existing! They walk like theyâre above everyone and thing.â
âMy mate was crushed by the hot oneâs heel.â A rat squeaked mournfully. âHe never even stopped walking.â
Several other animals woefully mewled similar tales of loved ones being in the wrong path at the wrong time. One in particular caught the bearâs attention.
âIâm sorry did you say, frozen?â
âYes.â Sniffed the racoon. âMy friend and I were seeking dinner and the cold man-wolf froze a man in ice before us. My friend couldnât move away in time. They didnât listen to my pleas to save him. They didnât even pretend to see me!â
Panda felt her fur stand on end. This was worse than she thought.
âSo the hot one then can make-â
âFlames.â The owl from earlier finished. âWe saw them come down from the mountain way toward the man land.â
âYou could have warned us!â Cawed a crow.
âYou made your choice traitors!â Chirped back a woodpecker.
Before another argument could start Panda spoke up again.
âAlright! Iâll go back and tell my friends about the new man-wolves and we should get the city safe again soon! Please just hold on till then. This place has been closed off from people for now so just, try to stay safe and donât fight with one another.â
âHa! Easy for you to say! You have the big man-wolf to protect you.â A honey badger hissed.
âNo she doesnât.â An opossum corrected. âThe new man-wolves and the old one are of the same breed.â
Panda tilted her head with a frown. âWhat do you mean by that?â
âThe night you ran through this forest in the form of man-â The owl hooted. âThe man-wolf had the same scent as these new curs.â
âRan throughâŚâ Panda thought back to the last time she was human and couldnât recall being near the woods with Bandit. She hadnât really been near the woods in her human form since-
ââŚOhâŚOh gods..â Ears high and alert she swallowed and tried not to let her fear seep out. The last time she was in the forest with Bandit he had lost his mind to the red moon and was trying to hunt her down. If these new wolves were the same as Bandit back thenâŚ
âIâŚIâll let him know. Weâll figure something out. Please try and stay calm.â
âBold of you to think you can command us little bearâ A fox sneered.
âYou listened to me this muchâŚâ
âOnly because we thought the man-wolf was near. His scent is all over your fur.â
Panda blinked and raised a paw to her head. Right, she did hug Banditâs face before coming here. She hadnât noticed over the whiskey smell of his office but she did smell a lot like him right now.
âWell⌠trust in him then. Iâll let him know and he wonât want to treat you all like nothing. Please just hold on..â
Panda turned and dashed back toward the main gate.
Oh this was SO much worse than they thought!