Wolf handled Becky's bits in this one, and well. Anyway, we're finally up to Zanther's solo piece! *Cheers*

I love how he used.. well I'll tell you about that afterwards. For now, let's check out his encounter with a Demon.. and the aftermath!

After about an hour after partying ways with Becky Joy, Zanther Wolf managed to find some blackberries and lunch for himself.

Zanther came to the front gates of Seaside Town. He proudly strut into the main market square and looks around the shops and tents as they got ready for one the festivals. After looking around for a while he finally found Becky and headed over to her with the berries. As he approached the front of her shop, his ear perked up and he looked around. There was a commotion of people shout, yelling, and screaming.

Becky came to the front to see what was going on, and saw that Zanther had a few blackberries for her. "Zanther what’s going on?" He looked back at her confused as much as she was, but then a swift blur dashed in front of him and in that instant the berries were gone. Then, Zanther looked up as he heard cackling above him and saw a few demonijas holding Becky's berries and other shop items. "Ha ha ha," one of the demons cackled, "now lets head back to master azel!"

"What's that growling?!" the other asked. They both looked up to see the glowing red eyes of a very angry winged wolf starring at them.

"Lose him!" they cried out together!

The demonijas took off in a dash towards Market Square, hoping to lose them. Unfortunately, as they raced past the market's sewers, the stench only made it that much easier for Zanther to find them. They then jumped over the outer wall, and desperately raced off in the direction back towards the Distant Woods. With his instincts, Zanther followed them like a shot, desperate to retrieve the berries that he worked so hard to gather for Becky.

He moved too fast to even hear Becky desperately crying out in confusion after him. It was too late and he couldn't hear her voice as he rushed out the front gates of Seaside Town. After a long chase, he rushed into the woods, chasing the demons.

After a couple of hours, he rushed to the woods and was greeted by a couple of husky guys who called themselves the Deep Fat Frairs. They could see that he was after the demons since they have been running rampant in the area, and explained to the wolf on what they are trying to seal the demons away, but some force was preventing them from sealing the rift.

Zanther nodded and understood what needed to be done and then stepd through the rift and went into the realm of the demons.

As he stepped throught the rift Zanther felt pressure on him like someone put about fifty pound weights on his legs and on his back. He still trudged on still following the scent of the blackberries that were stolen.

Unaware to him, Zanther was being watched as he was following a path in this strange place. Thankfully, Zanther was able to pick up that someone or something was following him and watching him, but was able to mask it while it was difficult to do anything about it really. After what seemed to be like an eternity of tracking Zanther came to the entrance of a large castle.

With little demons mocking him Zanther entered the castle's courtyard and looked around to see that no one was around and that the demons in the towers were gone. He looked around and then the ground shook and started to crack. A large belowing voice range out "Puny mortal, you came this way for nothing!" Then suddenly, the ground gave way and a pillar of fire shot straight up and then two enormous wings sprouted from the pillar and the the flames died down to show the form of a large demon.

"I am Azel, and you will reget this day and will become my new pet," the demon proclaimed as he looked down at the wolf. Zanther, not looking to be anyone's pet started to go in to attack was met with the sting of being hit with a HUGE backhand (like getting hit by a charging kegtank). Azel chuckled as he watched as Zanther was sent through a wall with little trouble.

As the dust settled Zanther rose and enter thru the wolf sized hole and tried again to bring down this foe. He charged again but was punished again this time with the wake of one of Azel's stomps that can made the ground ripple. Once again determined, Zanther got up, but was constantly beaten, battered, and all around punished all the while Azel laughed menically.

Mockinly, Azel then places his foot ontop of Zanther, "Now you bug, either be my pet or get crushed!" At that time Zanther whined, howled, and yelped in sheer pain, but something started to happen. Blue markings start to appear over his body and glow brighter. As these markings shown Zanther felt stronger.....much stronger!

He slowly stood back up and lifted Azel's foot off of him and caused Azel to stumble back. "What's this!" exclaimed Azel. Zanther felt much better, stronger, lighter, and faster and looked around and noticed the markings but then looked back at Azel. Not wanting to waste the perfect moment, zanther took advantage and attacked Azel; this time and added something else to his attack that he couldnt since the pressure was so harsh, he took flight with his wings. As he flew around azel dodge his swats he got behind Azel and noticed a glow also on Azel's back.

Zanther then took charge and landed on Azel's back and landed he dug his claws in deep onto his adversary's skin. With only the way to attack and a bit of pure luck Zanther then took a large bite into the area where he saw glowing on Azel's back. As he bit down something happend to Azel. Once he sees that when he bit into the markings it had some sort effect on Azel, Zanther continued to bite into it and with each bite places around the bites would turn to ice.

Zanther then forced one more massive bite into Azel's skin, and Azel then lets out a cry that seemed to rattle the foundation of the castle then falls. After Azel fell Zanther then came down from the corpse of Azel and looks around. Without warning the demon that took the blackberries from him and Becky came out and then just as quickly runs away afraid.

Tired, Zanther then starts to hurry and make it back to the portal from where he fisrt came to this hell-hole. Along the way as Zanther rushed to make it home he thought he heard something running right beside him and looks around with his eyes but sees nothing but the dark trees whizzing by him.

Suddenly, Zanther slid to a halt as a small black figure then turned to him and then 4 more figures pop out of the trees. "We are the Demonijas of Paaa......" before they could finish Zanther dispatched them by steping on them, smaking then with his wings, and one getting the shovel treatment with Zanther's head. Smirking Zanther then kicked alittle bit of dust at them and continues on his way towards the portal that will take him back home.

Once he saw the portal Zanther got excited. He couldn't wait to return to Seaside Town, but he had to make a sudden stop again. Not for the cheap demonijas but for a figure that looks like him but.... more menacingly.

The black figure growled and then dug his claws into the dirt alittle. "So, you think you are were going to get away that easy huh?" The black wolf then rushed at Zanther and puts a deep scratch into Zanther then looks back and shook his head. "He....weak...thats all you are!"

Wolf fled in fear. The shadow creature didn't bother to follow.

After entering the normal realm, Zanther saw that the friar was ready to seal the rift when he returned. Without looking back Zanther started his trip back to town with a limp, since the wound bothered him alittle.

Once Zanther returned and entered town, he could see that the town was cleaned up from the disturbance from earlier that day. Then Zanther's perked up alittle as he finally heard a familiar voice.

"Zanther!.....I was so...." It was Becky and when he saw her she stopped and looked at him. She the sets down the box that she was carring, then slowly apporached Zanther. "Wha... What happend...to..you?" She had this look of worry on her face and in her eyes.

When Zanther saw that she was scared, he felt shamed and then started to take off to hide. He remembered that the sewers were large and that he ran past them when he chased the demons earlier. But, Becky wasn't too far behind calling for him to come back.

She had that box with her again.

Zanther came to the open grate of the sewers and entered, but it was a snug fit since his wings brushed against the walls of the opening of the sewers. Still having the glow of the marks lighing the area, Zanther came up on a person.

This person was wrapped in a green cloak and had what looked to be a tracker's garb on, but her outfit was light, with strudy leather for protection. "Hello there, My name is Shelly." She knelt down and extended her hand for Zanther to smell.

Zanther then slowly approached then turned and looked back to see Becky coming after him. Scared, Zanther looked up at Shelly since he wasn't the white wolf that he was when he left.

"Zaaanther!!!" Becky called! "Its ok, come back!" then she caught up with them and looked at Shelly. "Mam...thats Zanther...he is my friend and please don't hurt him." Shelly smiled and rubbed Zanther's head as she heard Becky's plea.

"Its ok child I wont hurt him," she looked at Zanther " I heard there was a winged wolf here in town." She continued to rub his head and comfort him as she looked at Becky. "Would you like me to help him and make him feel better?"

Becky nodded and had a sniffle. "Yes, please."

Shelly looked at Zanther. "Ok, now lets get going. But you'll have to stay behind." Shelly looks at him then to Becky. "What's his name?"

With the look that would melt the heart of a yeti, Becky looked at both Shelly and Zanther, "Zanther is his name...*sniff*"

Shelly nodded and then pat Zanther on his head and turned towards the deeper parts of the sewers. "Ok, then Zanther we have a small trip on our hands and lets get going, and Becky I promise to take care of him and make him stronger for you." Then Zanther looked back and smiled warming and with a sense of comfort to Becky and nodded, indicating that he would return to Becky soon.

And that fight with the demon was exceptionally good. More so considering the writer's relative lack of experience. Here's to hoping to see a lot more of Wolf both in solo stories and co writes with Shelly in the future.