The ragtag members of the Republican Lesbian Werewolf Club were enjoying some hard-fought pizza.

  “You really only want the toppings?” Macy asked Kim.

  “It’s all I like.”

  “No wonder all those werewolves look so good. No carbs,” Shannon added.

  “It is not worth the sacrifice!” Macy said, snatching away Kim’s crusts and devouring them.

  Kim’s mom appeared in the doorway. “Hey, there’s some kids at the door looking for you guys. They say they found your dog?”

  Kim got up and walked to the door. Macy followed quickly behind her. There on the doorstep stood Lisa and Jane. Behind them, a handful of football players. Sarah stood in the middle, tail wagging slightly.

  Kim growled low in her throat—immediate, instinctive.

  Macy stepped forward. “I’m sorry—are you not getting enough abuse from me at school? Because you could leave your snaps and I will happily make more time for you, loser.”

  Lisa raised her hands. “We came to apologize.” Sarah bounded in behind them and placed her paws on Macy’s shoulders.

  “Are we puppy-sitting?” Macy asked Kim.

  “I was going to get to that.”

  Macy hugged Sarah. “Now get down and go put some clothes on!”

  “Where did you find our dog?” Kim asked.

  One of the football players spoke up. “I think that’s a wolf.”

  “Wow, you do have a brain cell between you!” Macy was ready to lay into them.

  “Wait, Mace,” Kim said. “You said you came to apologize. Well?”

  Lisa swallowed. “These last few months have been… I don’t know. Look, we’re not those kids anymore. And that’s it.”

  Shannon came from the living room with Adam behind her. Her eyes hardened on her former friends.

  Jane started talking next. “Look, we could apologize anywhere. But there’s something you should know.”

  They paused for dramatic effect.

  “Seriously?” Macy prodded. “You’re pausing for dramatic effect? Have you lost your ever-loving mind? Speak women, while we're young!”

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  “Sam was hiding something in another cave,” one of the football players said. “We thought you should know about it.”

  “We wanted to tell you to be careful,” another added. “We saw your… pet on the road. She jumped into my moving car. She was growling. When I offered to take her home, she calmed down.”

  “He had a nice car,” Sarah said, appearing beside Kim. Fully clothed.

  “Thank you,” Kim said. “Come in. Tell us everything.”

  “I’ll put down some newspaper for you all to sit on,” Macy said. Kim gave her a look.

  “What’s a newspaper?” Sarah asked.

  “It’s like an iPad for old people.” Macy put her arm around Shannon as they moved to the living room. “And they can’t have Shannon back!” she barked as she turned the corner.

  When Kim got there, she saw her friends on one side of the couch. The others mostly standing on the opposite side—a few sitting at the dining room table.

  “I think I kind of remember the other cave,” Shannon said. “They’re not lying. Sam got into our heads. And when she couldn’t do that, she would use blackmail.”

  “That wasn’t Sam,” Kim said. “That was the thing that killed Sam. Sam was annoying and a bit of a bitch. That thing wasn’t bad—it was evil. It was called a wendigo.” The air seemed to suck out of the room after Kim spoke. “I didn’t like Sam, but I wouldn’t tear her apart with my fangs.”

  “Fangs?” one of them said.

  Kim looked over at them—dangerously calm. “You were there.” she said in reference to her fight with the monster.

  It was a big football player named Tom who spoke. “There was another cave. I don’t know exactly where. Someone always had to be there to guard it. She—it—protected it. I don’t know what else to say. But there was something more there. Something as evil as her. We’re just afraid this shit isn’t over until someone destroys it. We talked to the cops. But there are like twenty missing people in this town. They’re not much help.”

  “Yeah, and the shape-shifting fang-monster story doesn’t hold a lot of weight with law enforcement,” Macy said.

  Kim looked at Sarah. “If it’s out there, I can find it.” Sarah answered the unspoken question.

  “Getting a second grenade is going to take some doing,” Macy said.

  “Listen here, Rambo Barbie,” Shannon started. “I am not letting you bring any more grenades in my car!”

  “Oh, I think I like Rambo Barbie,” Macy said. “Can we get that on a T-shirt!?”

  “Sarah and I will scout it out,” Kim said.

  “Is it time to get the guns? I want to say it this time.”

  “Let’s see how the scouting goes first.”

  The other teens looked at Kim and her friends. It was Tom who spoke. “We want to help.”

  “Wear less product in your hair,” Macy offered. “I mean, you’re sort of a man at this point—you’ve got to stop letting your older sister dress you.” Some of the teens in the other group started to murmur.

  “Let’s call a truce, Rambo Barbie,” Kim interjected.

  “Is that going to be my nickname? Because I fully approve!” Macy looked over at the other teens and back at Kim. “Alright. Truce!” she acquiesced.

  "Republican, Werewolf, Lesbian, and now... And what football team? This pack is getting crowded, Kim. We're gonna need a bigger pizza."

  “No not exactly.” Kim said..”I appreciate all your help. But it's time for you to leave. We’ll take it from here. If you hear anything text Shannon or Macy.”

  “But why?” Lisa asked.

  “No one here was susceptible to Sam's power. Or if they were, they managed to resist it. Until I'm sure you're able to fight her control, we're not bringing you anywhere near its source.”

  They didn't leave happily. But they left eventually. “What are you thinking?” Macy asked her as she watched their cars drive off .

  “I think we're not quite done with those guns.” She said

  “Oh come on I was supposed to get to say it!” Macy complained.

  “You can still say it. I said a different thing.”

  “Oh you know what I mean!” She bantered back.