Date:         Thu, 15 Oct 1998 17:32:37 MDT 
From: "Robyn M. Herrington" <rmherrin@UCALGARY.CA> 
Subject:      [WRITERS] SUB:Resub: Halloween Big Bad Wolf 

Okay, with all of the mail and processing systems out there, it
seems that things are not as compatible as I'd hoped.  I figured
asking for ascii or plain text would solve the problem, but shows
what I know, eh?  Anyhoo, the author of Big Bad Wolf has sent
another version, 'cleaned up'.

Thanks --

Robyn


>The Big Bad Wolf
>
> The moon was full and gazed down brightly across the common through a
>cloudless night sky. The wolf ignored its call. He sniffed the air once,
>twice. Now was the time for hunting, not howling. He opened his mouth
>slightly, glistening pink tongue rolling to one side; moonlight glinting off
>fierce, razor sharp teeth. He closed his mouth with a snap, sniffed the air
>again, lowered his head and padded silently into the bushes.
>
> Jo Anderson pounded along the pavement at a pace between jogging and
>running. Her long blonde ponytail swished back and forth behind her. She
>wiped the sweat from her brow with her left wristband as she turned towards
>the common. Her breath came in quick deep gasps, and she muttered a mantra
>to herself. "Right leg, left leg, right leg, left leg!" The run had gone
>longer than usual and she didn't think she'd be home for another half-hour
>or more. Jo took a deep breath, wiped away more sweat and pounded onto the
>common, grimacing at the pain that was easing its way across the side of her
>ribs.
>
> The wolf stalked across the common, padding slowly through clumps of
>bushes, darting silently across open spaces, snouting the air. He stopped,
>frozen in place, barely quivering as he strained his senses towards
>something in the distance. Slowly he relaxed and sniffed long and deep, nose
>high in the air. Sweat. Human. Female. Alone. Mine. The wolf lowered his
>nose and opened his mouth in a carnivore's grin. The prey was heading
>towards him, and that made things so much simpler. He quickly found a
>suitable spot, turned around a few times and settled down, nose pointed into
>the wind, towards the oncoming woman. He remained motionless in the shadows
>as his prey approached.
>
> Jo's pace slowed as she crossed the common but she was still making good
>time. "Left, right, left, right!" The mantra was no longer soothing, and the
>pain in her side was threatening to develop into a cramp. She shook her head
>to clear all thoughts of fatigue and kept going. The mantra changed again.
>"Right leg, no pain, left leg, no pain." She continued down the path,
>pounding out a steady rhythm.
>
> The wolf watched his prey approach, the moonlight gently highlighting her
>soft features; long, strong legs; heaving chest, breasts small and firm;
>soft downy hair on her arms; high cheek bones with sweet sweat running over
>them; soulful, sad eyes. He breathed in deeply. She was close enough for him
>to taste her sweat, her most personal, delicious perfume. Saliva dripped
>from his jaws as he savoured the sensation, eyes half closed in anticipatory
>pleasure. She was here. He sprang.
>
> Jo screamed as the huge, dark shape appeared out of the bushes and landed
>in front of her. Her mind raced nearly as fast as her heart as images
>flashed through it. The headlines for murders, rapes and mutilations, which
>the tabloids featured so eagerly, repeated themselves behind her eyes. She
>backed up, turned to run and tripped over a small rock she was sure hadn't
>been there before. She kept her eyes on the shape as it approached her. She
>held up her hand as if to push it away and opened her mouth to shout, but
>the words fled, leaving her alone and defenceless.
>
> The wolf gazed at his prey cowering on the ground before him, beaten before
>the battle was begun. He stepped closer, grinned briefly to himself, then
>leaped. He twisted in midair, throwing himself onto his back where he pawed
>at the air and whined plaintively.
>
> Jo's breathing was heavy with relief. It wasn't a rapist or murderer after
>all, just a dog! A bloody big one to be sure, but he looked friendly. She
>pulled herself to her feet and studied the animal warily, until his
>frantically wagging tail reassured her of safety, and his big brown eyes
>pulled her closer.
> "You 'orrible 'ound, I nearly died!" Jo stated firmly as she leaned over
>the wolf to rub his tummy.
> The wolf whimpered apologetically then rolled over and tried to lick Jo's
>face.
> "No, get off!" Jo laughed as she struggled to push the amorous beast away.
>She was eventually able to stand up and use her wrist bands, this time to
>wipe away saliva, not sweat.
> "Yuck!" She looked the wolf in the eye. "Don't ever do that again!"
> The wolf rolled his eyes and twitched his eyebrows, left, then right, as
>though trying hard to understand. Jo had to laugh again, and gave him a big
>hug around his wide muscular neck. Jo breathed in the wolf's musk finding it
>strong but far from unpleasant. She buried her face in the manelike fur
>around his neck, breathing in deep. He smelled like old boyfriends and
>fondly remembered evenings. He smelled like a chilly winter's night, curled
>up before an open fire with a very close companion. Eventually, she managed
>to pull herself away.
> "I needed that," she said, wiping at a wet spot that had appeared in the
>corner of her eye. The wolf tried to lick her face again, but she dodged
>him. "No, the hug! Not the lick!"
> Jo stood up, and looked round the common. There was nobody in sight. She
>listened carefully, trying to hear past the panting of the animal beside
>her. Nothing.
> "That's strange," she said to the wolf, sparking off an energetic burst of
>tail wagging. "I wouldn't have thought a beauty like you would be allowed
>out on his own. Well, you've obviously come from somewhere, you're too well
>looked after to be a stray. Let's see..."
> She felt around his, pushing her fingers under the long dark fur.
> "No collar, very strange."
> She stood back and regarded the wolf, as he looked back with his huge,
>pleading eyes; tail wagging ever so hopefully. Jo couldn't make out exactly
>what breed he was. Something large mixed with German Shepherd maybe? His
>long coat gleamed under the full moon, almost as though the moonlight was
>sinking into it and reflecting from deep within. He was definitely no stray.
>Maybe someone had abandoned him when he grew to be too much of a handful?
>She'd heard lots of stories involving this crime. People would buy a small
>bundle of fun and joy, all ears and feet. Feed it, give it all the love and
>attention it could need, and then, when it reached the size where furniture
>was being endangered, they'd throw it out like a pair of old shoes.
> Jo considered for a moment. The soppy brown-eyed ball of fur before looked
>like he'd been very well treated. She found it hard to believe that someone
>had decided to get rid of him. Maybe he'd slipped out while nobody was
>looking? Whatever the case, there was no way she could take him home. Jo
>stopped her line of thought with a look of surprise on her face. She'd been
>thinking about taking him home without even realising it! Take him home? Jo
>loved dogs, especially big ones, but had never gotten around to owning one
>of her own since leaving her parents' home, years ago.
> "Don't even think it," she said to herself. "And you had better go home,"
>she added to the wolf, sternly. "Go on, someone will be wondering where you
>are."
> She gave him a push in the direction from which he'd appeared then turned
>away and walked slowly down the path towards her own home.
>
> The wolf watched as the woman took a few steps and then stopped, turning
>slightly and looking over her shoulder at him. He sat down, raised his right
>paw and scraped at the air with a well-practised look of sheer abjection on
>his face.
> He watched her stern expression mellow and heard "Look, I'd love to take
>you home but you must already have somewhere to go. So go!"
> He sniffed deeply, pulling her scent to him even though the look in her
>eyes and the quaver in her voice told him all he needed to know. She was
>his, she may not know it but she belonged to him. He grinned, got to his
>feet and padded quietly after the woman.
>
> "I don't know your name but I can't call you 'Hey you' so how does 'Hairy'
>sound?" Jo opened her garden gate and stepped through, holding the gate open
>so that the wolf could follow. He bounced up and down on his front paws a
>couple of times, tail whipping back and forth. Jo took this to indicate that
>he approved of the name. She rubbed his head, a quick back and forth motion
>that he seemed to appreciate. She stood up straight and headed up the short
>path to her house, the wolf following at her side. "You can only stay for a
>couple of minutes, OK Hairy?" She unlocked her door as she spoke and stepped
>inside, beckoning to the wolf to follow her.
>
> The wolf followed Jo and found himself in a kitchen. He looked around the
>room and inhaled deeply, almost recoiling with pleasure as many aromas
>assailed him. Bread, bacon, marmalade, lime juice, cornflakes, female sweat,
>sausages, strawberries, milk, beef, frozen yoghurt with almonds, onions,
>female sweat, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, female sweat... The wolf dragged his
>mind out of his stomach and back to more important matters, such as the
>woman who was rummaging through the fridge.
> "Here you go Hairy, diced steak to your taste?" The woman moved back from
>the fridge and placed a fascinatingly scented plate at the wolf's feet. He
>sniffed at it, his nose proclaimed it good and his stomach proclaimed itself
>interested. He gulped the meat down in a matter of seconds then sat down and
>looked at the woman with his wide brown eyes tuned for maximum effect, long
>bushy tail wagging awkwardly across the tiled kitchen floor.
>
> Jo studied the beautiful canine sitting before her. His expression somehow
>seemed to convey a sort of melancholy hopefulness, as though he had suffered
>previously but thought that maybe everything would turn out OK if only he
>could wag his tail hard enough. Jo could almost him pleading with her,
>'Please give me a home. Look after me. I need you!' She shook her head and
>stood up, wobbling slightly as a brief dizziness crept over her.
> "Whoa, I must be tireder than I thought." She looked at the wolf looking at
>her with his brow furrowed with concentration.
> "Sorry Hairy. It's time for you to go." Her words lay heavy on the air and
>she felt tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she opened the kitchen
>door and gestured to the outside with an unwilling hand.
> "Go Hairy, go home!"
>The wolf walked slowly to the door and paused, one foot raised. He looked
>up, deep brown eyes at their widest and most pleading.
> "No you can't stay. Go home, go!" Jo felt her resolve wavering but gritted
>her teeth as the wolf trotted outside, tail and head held low. He went down
>the short path and nosed open the garden gate. He stopped for one final,
>glance in Jo's direction, then vanished into the shadows.
> Jo slowly pushed the kitchen door shut, and sank into a plain chair next to
>her small dining table. She slouched onto the table and hugged herself
>tightly as hot, bright tears drew slow, warm lines down her cheeks.
> A sudden scratching sound jumped Jo out of a light doze. She looked around
>the kitchen blinkingly, realising that she must have fallen asleep. The
>scratching came again, from the kitchen door.
> She pulled herself to her feet and opened the door a fraction, "Hello?"
> She was answered by a large wet black nose, which appeared in the gap,
>sniffing loudly.
> "Hairy! What are you doing here?"
> Jo pulled the door open and Hairy bounced in, jumping around her in
>circles, trying to lick her hands, face and feet all at once. Jo gave Hairy
>a big hug while attempting to avoid his slobbery kisses and spotted the
>clock on her electric stove. It was 1.30am, she'd been asleep for over two
>hours!
> "Strange, I've never done that before." Jo rubbed her face and eyes, she
>still felt sleepy, almost drugged. She glanced at Hairy who had calmed down
>and was lying at her feet, ears pricked alertly. "Ok Hairy, you can stay.
>But tomorrow we'll find out where you live." Jo found an old rug and spread
>it out in a corner of the kitchen. Hairy turned round on it a few times,
>then curled up with his bushy tail covering the tip of his nose.
>Jo warned him about not wanting to find any mess in the morning, before
>closing the kitchen door and dragging herself upstairs. She considered just
>falling into bed but she was still covered in dry sweat from her run, to
>which Hairy had added fur and saliva, so she forced herself into the small
>bathroom for a shower.
> The shower was very relaxing and Jo felt much better as she stepped out of
>it and began to towel herself dry. She eyed herself in the mirror, wiping it
>with the towel to clear the steam and was surprised to see the wolf standing
>in the doorway, watching her closely. She started to turn towards him but
>something in his eyes caught her attention. There was an almost human
>hunger. His eyes looked up and down her body in a way that sent shivers
>through her shoulders, down to her toes. She turned suddenly but the look
>was gone, he was playful again, bright eyes seeking only fun. Jo shook her
>head, a small dismissive motion.
> "What are you doing here? I'm sure I shut the kitchen door." The wolf's
>answer was to whine quietly and roll onto his back, feet waving in the air.
> "Get down them stairs...or else..." Jo left the threat unvoiced but the
>wolf seemed to understand. He sprang to his feet and bounded down the
>stairs, Jo followed to close the door behind him.
> Finally Jo slipped into her bed, wrapping the covers close around her body,
>and quickly fell asleep.
>
> Downstairs, the wolf listened intently to the sounds of the woman
>breathing. The breathing pattern slowly changed, softening into deep sleep
>and he moved silently to the kitchen door. He jumped at the door, grasping
>the handle in his jaws. The handle turned and he dropped to all fours and
>nosed the door open.
> Still listening to the sweet breathing, the wolf padded slowly up the
>stairs. The woman's door was open, just enough for him to squeeze through
>into the bedroom. He watched her still form on the bed for a few moments.
>The moon shone through half closed curtains, revealing a face transformed by
>sleep into that of an innocent child. The wolf padded soundlessly to the bed
>and continued to watch, enjoying the way her form slowly rose and sank. He
>closed his eyes and concentrated.
>
> Shapes began to form in the dark of Jo's dreams. Shapes slowly gathering
>form and solidity. They moved in close. She could feel but not see them.
>They moved sinuously up and down her body, caressing her, feeling her,
>sliding round and round with soft, velvety grace. Jo's breath quickened as
>she felt warmth starting to grow within her. The shapes glided over her
>body. They circled around her breasts, teasing her nipples into firm
>attention. They glided down her stomach, nestling tenderly between her legs,
>probing carefully. She moaned quietly as the probing sent shivers in all
>directions. She moved her hands smoothly over her body, tracing fingertips
>across areas that called for the attention. Her breathing deepened and
>quickened again. She moved her hands from her body, stretching out her arms
>as she clenched fingernails into her palms, enjoying the small pricks of
>pain nearly as much as the hard pulsing deep inside her. The pulsing reached
>a crescendo. Jo breathed in deep to gather the air for a scream, but the
>sensations stopped. She was alone in the dark, breathing hard, feeling
>abandoned, rejected. Feeling need.
> Jo woke up suddenly, panting and covered in sweat. The dream was fading
>fast, leaving only intense arousal. She moved one hand under the covers,
>between her legs in a practised motion but it wasn't enough. She needed
>more. Suddenly Jo sat up, certain that she was no longer alone. She looked
>around the room, seeing nothing but shadows. She lay back on the bed closing
>her eyes, the dream inspired lust filling her with its energy. She bit her
>lip almost hard enough to draw blood. It didn't help.
>
> The wolf watched from the darkness as the woman writhed and moaned on the
>bed. His grin seemed to fill his face as he prepared to spring. The prey was
>helpless. She was his.
>
> Jo felt a gentle caress stroke down the inside of her right arm where it
>lay on top of the duvet. The caress sent an electric tingle coursing through
>her veins. She half opened her eyes and saw a dark, human form leaning
>across the bed towards her.
> Jo wasn't scared, in fact she was pleased. This was just what her body was
>calling for. She embraced him and he lowered himself slowly, gently into her
>grasp, sliding under the covers to place his naked body next to hers. They
>kissed, slow and hard. He had an exciting scent, which she breathed in
>deeply when the kiss broke. He moved one strong warm hand down her back,
>tracing hot patterns with sharp fingernails, as she gazed deep into his
>dark, somehow familiar eyes.
> What a dream, Jo thought as she shifted onto her back, spreading her legs
>and guiding the stranger into her. The lovemaking was soft and gentle, not
>what she'd expected from this powerful man. His breathing deepened, her
>quiet moans met by his low panting as he brought her to climax, joining her
>soon after.
> Jo lay by the dark stranger, gazing at the ceiling and listening to his
>quiet breathing.
> "Who are you?" she asked.
> The stranger brushed her lips with one finger, sending warm quiverings down
>her spine. She saw he was watching her mouth and she smiled, feeling him
>tense his body. She didn't need to know who he was, she just needed him to
>be there.
> They made love again, and again. Jo lost track of how many times, how many
>different ways. The stranger was gentle, fierce, rough, soft. He found ways
>to excite her, enrage her senses, fill her with electricity and drench her
>with fire.
> Finally Jo fell into a deep sleep, a soft smile on her face and a warm glow
>throughout.
>
> The stranger lay next to the woman for a while, spent but still wide awake,
>enjoying the thrill of her skin next to his. Finally he climbed from the
>bed, without waking her, and moved to the window. The full moon was low in
>the sky. Its glow failed to pick out any detail in the darkened street. He
>closed his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, steadily, his form began to melt.
>He slumped downwards, arms, legs, torso, and head all forming into one then
>stretching out into something new. Five minutes after the change began, the
>stranger was gone and the wolf was in his place. He continued to
>concentrate, slowing his metabolism, stilling his pheromone production.
>Finally he relaxed and studied the woman. When she awoke, the entire night
>would seem to be no more than an extremely vivid, erotic dream. His hot
>scent, which carried his pheromones, would be gone. The wolf left the
>bedroom without glancing back and glided carefully down the stairs. He
>opened the kitchen door with his snout and padded quietly out into the
>remains of the dark. There were still the next two nights of full moon
>remaining, two more delicate morsels to hunt, two more conquests to be made,
>before the mundanity of his ordinary life reclaimed him for another month.
>
> Back in her bedroom Jo Anderson shifted in her sleep. She reached out for
>something that wasn't there and her soft smile slipped away to wherever
>dreams go to roost when you wake. A gentle tear ran down one cheek, and she
>muttered a single word as she slept. "Hairy..."
>
>The End
>
>


--
---------------------------------*=*=*=*=*=*--------------------------------
Robyn Herrington,Editor                         rmherrin@acs.ucalgary.ca
InfoServe                                       www.ucalgary.ca/~rmherrin
New Currents in Teaching and Technology         Com/Media
University of Calgary                           Ph: 220-2561
                      == Inter tormentia latitia ==
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