Clove & Moose 12: The Wicked Wolves

Clove and Moose is a serial fiction story. While there is an overarching plot, each episode can be enjoyed on its own without reading what came before. However, if you want to get caught up, click one of the buttons below.

Previously, on Clove & Moose: After the mysterious Cataclysm dried up the earth and its magic, Clove and her cat Moose travelled to find and repair pools of corrupted magic left behind in the Cataclysm’s wake. In a nearby city, she befriended Marissa and the two began travelling together. After a run-in with bandits, they were rescued by Jasper and his trusty horse Delilah, who offered them a ride to the nearest town.

“We should be just about to town,” Jasper said. “Not much farther to go, Miss Delilah, and we’ll get you settled for the night.”

It turned out he was on his way to Bone Gorge too, and he’d offered to let them ride with him the rest of the way. Clove sat on the driver’s seat next to Jasper as they drove by fields of corn, with Moose squeezed into the space between them. 

Jasper wasn’t much of a talker but that suited Clove fine. She was inclined to trust him, given the nature of their first meeting, and Marissa talked enough for all three of them. The younger woman was currently dozing in the back, and Clove was happy to sit in silence but for the soft sounds of Moose purring, crickets chirping, and the wagon rattling its way down the road. A wolf howled somewhere in the distance.

Another answered its call. This one was nearby; far too close for comfort. Moose shot up, his ears at attention and his whole body tense. Delilah nickered anxiously.

“Hush, girl,” Jasper quieted her. “Just a little farther.”

He twitched the reins and Delilah picked up the pace, trotting on a little faster. Clove stared into the darkness, looking for any hint of movement or the gleam of an eye. 

“Was that a wolf?” Marissa asked groggily. 

“Yes,” Clove whispered back. “Keep an eye out.”

It was only a moment before they could see the stalks of corn around them shifting and parting as something moved through them. A minute later, wolves started emerging from the fields. There were three on the road behind them and more still coming through the grass.

“What do we do?” Clove whispered. This was definitely outside of her expertise. 

“Keep going,” Jasper said. “Delilah can’t go much faster with the wagon in tow, but it’s still our best bet. I don’t fancy taking on an entire pack of wolves. I can see the lights of the town now. If we can get close, they should leave us be.”

There were six wolves on the road now. Clove eyed them warily. “Is it just me, or is there something funny about those wolves?”

“Oh good, I’m not imagining it,” Marissa said with obvious relief.

“They’re definitely wearing clothes, right?”

“Yeah, that one’s got a little vest, and the one over there has a jaunty cap.”

“Well, shit.” Clove sighed. “Keep your eyes peeled for magic.”

She kept her arms wrapped protectively around Moose and her eyes focused on the wolves the whole way to town. The wolves loped along behind them, keeping close, but never coming near enough to make an attack. Maybe they were frightened enough by the wagon to keep their distance, but Delilah wouldn’t be able to keep going forever.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived in town. Although there were lights on, the place seemed abandoned. It was no surprise that the streets were empty at this time of night, but the buildings were in a state of disrepair: peeling paint, missing shingles, windows full of cobwebs. Weeds grew abundantly through cracks in the streets and sidewalks.

“This place is creepy as hell,” Marissa said.

Not how Clove would have put it, but the sentiment was the same.

“We need to find a place to hide,” Jasper said. “It’s already been a long day and Delilah needs to rest.”

“Better yet, how about we put a stop to this?” Clove pointed down a street to their left at the familiar orange glow of corrupt magic. “Take us there.”

“You got it.” Although they’d explained the corrupt magic to Jasper, he’d never encountered it himself. However, he took the appearance of the swirling magic in stride, simply guiding Delilah to their new destination. “Can you hop down while the wagon’s moving? We’ll keep going to draw them off.”

“I’ve jumped out of a moving train before,” Clove assured him. “This should be child’s play.”

“I’ll give you a signal.”

“Keep Moose safe for me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” 

The magic circle appeared to be centred in the town square. Clove tried not to think about the last time she’d dealt with one in a town square–the first time she’d ever encountered the corrupt magic–and focused on the task at hand. When Jasper gave the word, she hopped down from the wagon and rushed to the edge of the circle. 

Delilah trotted on and the wagon rattled down a side street, the wolves not far behind. Clove retrieved her crystal from her pouch and set to work.

She was halfway through her spell when a low growl rumbled behind her. She glanced quickly over her shoulder, trying not to let her focus lapse. One wolf had peeled off from the pack and stayed with her. It was slowly inching its way toward her.

As soon as the spell was finished, Clove turned to keep an eye on the wolf. It was the one with the jaunty hat. Up close, it was not the hat that stood out so much as the sharp fangs and powerful jaws. “Good doggy,” she said, speaking mindlessly in her fear. “Stay there. Good boy.”

She only had to keep the wolf from attacking her for a minute. Her spell was already taking effect, the crystal was warming in her hand, and any moment now that wolf was going to turn back into a human.

Except it didn’t. Her spell completed its work, the pool of corruption disappeared, and still the wolf was standing before her. 

She’d made a mistake. This was just like the first time, before she’d perfected the spell, when she’d gotten rid of the corruption but hadn’t undone its effects. She must have spoken the wrong words–in her panic she had said that original spell–and she’d messed it up. Just like she’d done to Arthur.

She heard the clop of hooves–Delilah coming back around, at a walk now–followed closely by voices. Lots of voices. She glanced up for a moment and saw the wagon coming back around, surrounded by people. 

“Hey!” It was Marissa. “Get away from her!”

Her voice was followed closely by the howl of a cat, and Clove’s fear intensified. “Keep Moose away!” 

The wolf had seen the wagon too. It wavered for a moment, then took off at a run.

The group reached her then, and the wagon rolled to a stop. Marissa and Moose both hopped down and ran to Clove, while Jasper tended to Delilah. 

Once Clove was on her feet and holding Moose in her arms, one of the women detached from the group and extended a hand. “I hear we have you to thank for saving us.”

“I guess so. I’m not sure what happened though, it should have worked on everyone.”

“It did! We’re all here and accounted for.”

“But that wolf…”

“Oh, that was George. He’s not human, just a regular wolf who joined our pack.”

“But… his jaunty little cap?”

The woman shrugged. “He didn’t want to be left out.”

“Huh.” Clove looked to Marissa, who didn’t seem to have a response to that either.

With an offer to find them beds for the night, the woman went back to her townsfolk, who were trying to remember who lived where and whether they had their keys on them, and if they had any food they’d be able to eat.

“Well, that was weird,” Marissa said.

Moose meowed his agreement, or perhaps his hunger, or maybe his indignation at being held for so long. Clove held him tighter and kissed the top of his tiny head.

“We’ll find you some dinner, little man. And perhaps some comfy beds for us humans.”

“Wouldn’t that be a nice change,” Marissa sighed.

“I met a fellow who has a barn where we can stable Miss Delilah,” Jasper said, coming over to them. “Says he has guest rooms to spare too.”

“Lead the way,” Clove said, and they all walked through town together, the voices of the villagers fading behind them, and the howl of a lone wolf echoing in the distance.

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Katie Conrad is a speculative fiction writer living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. You can find her on bluesky, instagram, and tumblr.