Werewolf versus Dragon by David Sinden Page A

vampire owls, and out the other end.
    The Roc was lying on the ground. It looked up at Ulf with big sad eyes.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Ulf said to it. “Tiana’s got a surprise for you.”
    The Roc screeched.
    Tiana came flying from the Dark Forest. “Lookwhat I’ve got,” she called. In her arms, she was carrying a flower with white petals. “It’s an orchid,” she said.
    Tiana laid the flower on the ground in front of the Roc. “It’s time to go home,” she said.
    The Roc leaned forward and sniffed the flower, then started cooing happily.
    â€œIt’s working!” Ulf said. The Roc’s big yellow eyes blinked.
    â€œIt likes it,” Tiana said.
    Ulf stroked the Roc’s head with his hairy hand. The Roc looked up at the sky. It stood up and shook its feathers.
    â€œCan I have a ride?” Ulf asked it.
    The beast lowered its head to the ground. Ulf took hold of the golden feathers on the Roc’s neck and pulled himself up. He sat on its back, gripping its feathers with both hands. “Let’s go,” he said.
    The Roc beat its wings and lunged into the air. It took off, flying upward into the evening sky.
    Ulf looked down.
    â€œWait for me!” Tiana called. She frantically fluttered her wings and, in a burst of sparkles, shot up and tumbled onto the Roc’s back, landing in its feathers.
    The Roc flew high above the biodomes, soaring over Sunset Mountain. Ulf looked out over the land and sea, the wind blowing through his hair. The air tasted clean and cold. The sun was setting, and the clouds glowed red.
    â€œWhich way’s Furnace Woods?” Ulf asked.
    â€œNorth,” Tiana said, whispering into the Roc’s ear.
    The Roc banked in a wide circle.
    â€œFull speed ahead!” Ulf said.
    The Roc swooped down over the Great Grazing Grounds and the Dark Forest, clipping the treetops. The bulltoxic bellowed from the paddock.
    As the Roc soared over Farraway Hall, Ulf looked down on the chimneys and the rooftop. Druce thegargoyle was dancing and waving. “Go, Fur Face,” he called.
    The Roc flew over the perimeter fence, and Ulf looked at the fields in the far distance. He had never seen them before.
    â€œKeep an eye out for the helicopter,” Tiana said.
    Ulf sat up to look over the top of the Roc’s head, and the cold wind hit him full in the face. The light was fading, and there was no sign of the helicopter in the sky ahead. “They’ll be miles away by now,” he said.
    The Roc beat its wings, gathering speed. Ulf wobbled. He leaned forward, flattening himself against the Roc’s neck.
    â€œTry to relax,” Tiana said. “It won’t let you fall.”
    The Roc screeched, and Ulf slowly let his grip loosen on its feathers. They sped over moorland and fields of sheep. Looking westward, Ulf could see the blood-red sun sinking below the horizon. The sky was growing darker. He could feel the hairs tingling on his hands.
    â€œLook, Ulf!” Tiana said, pointing down. “Houses.” Ahead on the ground, tiny yellow lights dotted a valley.
    Ulf looked to the East. The clouds were parting. From behind them the full moon appeared.
    Ulf saw it, and his eyes flashed silver.
    He felt the bones in his chest cracking.
    His transformation had begun.

Chapter 21
    A STRONG, SHARP PAIN BURST IN THE BACK OF Ulf’s neck. He drew his knees up under him, trying not to let go of the Roc’s feathers.
    He could feel his backbone bending and his chest cracking. In the moonlight, his skeleton was realigning. His skin stretched. He could feel his muscles tightening and growing, ripping his T-shirt and tearing his jeans.
    He gripped tightly. The hair on the back of his hands started spreading. His nails lengthened, turning into claws. His tail was emerging and thick dark hair was growing over his whole body.

    Fangs split through his gums, pushing his lips open. He felt his tongue lengthening,