Cry Wolf

Why does a wolf bay at the moon?

It is a question that has puzzled humanity since it could ask the question. Mystic philosophers assumed a connection based in magic, especially from the moon’s influence on a werewolf’s ability to balance their human and animal personas. The association spread throughout folklore, literature, and cinema.

It wasn’t until modern times that biologists discovered that a wolf’s howl is intended for the purposes of communication. To gather a pack separated after a hunt, to mark territory, or to reach out to another wolf.

The same is true of related magic and mythic creatures. The main difference is whether they can be heard by a human being. Most are indistinguishable to the average person and elicit the same reaction. But some kaijin and magic creatures emit a cry at such a frequency that a normal person could not hear it – only those who could naturally hear it, or those with mystic means to do so.

That is why Hideo’s scream could be heard by only a select few in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area. Every dog, every werewolf, every wolf-based kaijin, they could hear the cry of a father who has lost their pup.

----

In a tiny office across town, Hanzo flinched.

He’d been at his desk all day, hoping that he’d been wrong. Hoping against hope that he’d asked a favor of his comrade-in-arms for nothing. The two monitors on his desk were a mess of reports and documents, all pointing to an attack he prayed would never come.

But that howl was unmistakable. Hideo had been there. And he had paid a price far higher than Hanzo could’ve dreamed.

He looked at his desk, which had a small shelf decorated with toys from the Wolf Knight television show. Action figures of Wolf Knight, Raven Scout, standing over a prone figure of the series’ ultimate villain: the Perfected Emperor.

Hanzo picked up his desk’s phone and dialed a number. After a few beats, he spoke.

“I need the authorization forms for two licensed persons, one MG-class and one T-class. Someone forgot to file their renewal.”

---

At the Kaijin Support Group, three of those in attendance froze.

The boy whom Sayuri had introduced at the start, Ryoma, covered his ears in shock. “W-What was that?!”

Sayuri herself didn’t move. She only turned to look at the only other person who’d heard that cry.

Miho was shaking, eyes locked onto the far wall and breathing erratically. She didn’t need to be a wolf to hear the cries of the love of her life. One of the few bits of magic she’d kept up all these years. Miho could hear Sayuri say something, see her wave a hand in front of her face. But Miho didn’t reply.

“I’m sorry to cut today short,” Sayuri apologized. “But I’ve just been informed of a personal emergency. The Tsukiodorites will be here at the top of the hour for Ryoma. As always, please keep talking in the group chat.”

It wasn’t until she was outside that Miho finally got any of her wits back. “Sayuri.”

“I heard,” she told Miho. The two stopped at a small black sedan, where Sayuri held open the passenger’s door for Miho before climbing in herself. “I’m sorry.”

A million questions rushed through Miho’s head as Sayuri’s sedan peeled out from its parking spot and started waving around every other car on the road. Why now? How could this happen?

“Don’t start,” growled Sayuri. “I know what you’re thinking when you’ve got that look.”

“Wha?”

Sayuri swerved into oncoming traffic to make a left. “That you should’ve done more.”

Miho chuckled. “N-No I’m not.”

“That’s what you always think.” The car thread the needle between a large truck and a taxi, blasting through a red light. “It’s the guilt. You wonder if what you did was enough. All that power, but all the responsibility. You always put others before yourself.”

“No,” said Miho. “I can attend to my own needs.”

“I never said it was a bad thing. But name one time you put yourself first.”

Miho slammed her hand on the car seat. “Marrying Hideo and having Kumiko.”

Sayuri had to admit Miho had her there. “You give people hope, Miho. Bear or not. It’s why so many people love you.” She gripped the steering wheel so tight. “You’re never willing to give up on someone. Even when they gave you every reason to.”

----

Despite breaking every traffic law in the country, Sayuri got the car to the Yasuda residence without a scratch on the car. It came to a stop in their garage, where the Wolf Blazer was resting.

“Sayuri!” The bike rumbled. “Been ages. You got a lot better at driving since I saw you last.”

Sayuri groaned. “Where’s Hideo?”

“Inside with Grumpy Pants. I think he's still here.”

Miho and Sayuri couldn’t believe it. There was only one person in the world Hideo’s bike would call ‘Grumpy Pants’. The two raced inside, climbing the stairs to the top floor. Standing in the kitchen and talking on the phone was Fuku.

“…Yes, he was a last-minute addition. I’m sorry I didn’t go through the proper channels. But Ogawa-san’s child is safe because of it.” He looked over, seeing Miho launching herself at him. “Got to g- erk!”

He barely had time to hang up before the phone went flying across the room, his arms pinned as Miho held him tight in a hug. “Fuku! My god, Fuku! I thought you dropped off the face of the earth!”

Fuku blushed, averting his eyes. “…Miho. It’s good to see you again.” His hand gently pat her back.

“Where’s my husband? Where’s Hideo?” She looked around, trying to find him. “Is he ok?” When Fuku pointed to the master bedroom, she finally let go. “I have a million questions, but they have to wait. You must have so many stories to tell!”

Miho immediately went to the master bedroom, leaving Fuku alone with a less-than-thrilled Sayuri.

Fuku wasn’t sure what to say. He hadn’t seen either of them in years.

“Just because she lets it go like that,” growled Sayuri, “doesn’t mean I will. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

----

Miho closed the door behind her and entered a mess.

Sheets, the mattress, pillows, they had all been thrown across the room and torn open. Some of the wall had been clawed through, floor chewed up. Dresser drawers had all been yanked free from their dresses, drawer and their contents alive strewn in every corner of space.

She could hear the shower going in the bathroom. The door was ajar; slowly Miho pushed it open to see the stall door open. Hideo was standing in the shower, shaking in his now-drenched clothes and staring at the wall.

Miho quickly strode across the room to him, putting her arms around him and nuzzling her cheek against his shoulder. “I’m here.”

Hideo slowly turned. His face was almost completely red, eyes bloodshot and his breath quivering. He almost collapsed into his wife’s arms and lost all control. The tears were coming down his face once more, his crying almost a constant and pained scream. She pulled him in close, letting Hideo muffle himself in her chest.

Her grip tightened as Hideo kept bawling. The strongest man she’d ever known and the love of her life, reduced to a babbling mess.

She was going to kill everyone who’d done this to him.