Night returned quietly.One by one, they woke from their little sleep.
At first it was just Clyde. His eyes snapping open as a long wavering howl slid through the walls. Then another more howl answered it. Then several more, rising from different directions, overlapping until the sound wrapped around the house.
Mina sat up immediately with daggers already in her hands.
John stirred next, followed by Ren and Yuri. The three of them froze as the howls grew louder, closer than the night before.
James woke Regina, who clutched his arm without a word. Emi rubbed her eyes. Her confusion turned into fear the moment she heard the sound.
The house creaked softly as something moved outside.
Clyde raised a hand, signaling for them to keep quiet. When the howls faded into distant echoes, he sighed slowly.
"We need to eat first to keep our strength up," he said quietly.
