Grayson LaCroix
The midday sun was high in the sky as it radiated of the red dirt surrounding them, the only sound around them other than their own breath was the buzzing of flies milling around the decaying corpse of a red cow “I really don’t know what you’re on about, Bob” the officer stood up and took his akubra, swiping at his brow with an off-white square handkerchief “Doesn’t look to be foul play to me” a tsking could be heard from behind him “That’s a load of bullshit and you know it, George. Look at them bloody marks in that hide, ain’t no way you can tell me thems dingo teeth” the well worn man kicked the carcass of the dead cow with the tip of his steel cap boots, making sure he didn’t kick too hard so that his boot would end up in the middle of decomposing innards. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you. Getting a specialist out this way would be costly” the officer sighed placing his hat back on his head to shield his skin from the drying heat “They ain’t dog prints I tell ya. I ain’t neva seen a dog with toes like a Blackman” Bob turned his head, spitting a wad of tobacco into the dirt. Rubbing his hand over his chin, Officer George nodded “I’ll make the call, but no bloody guarantees that they will do anything, you know how these pencil pushers work” opening the drivers side door to his 4WD, the officer smiled “Goin to the pub tonight” nodding, Bob tossed his shotgun into the dusty tray of his ute before opening his door “Bloody oath, mate. Wouldn’t miss Delia’s Tuesday steak” his lip parted to reveal a smile that was missing more teeth than Bob had “I’ll see ya there” George smiled back tipping his hat as he climbed into his car and started the engine before taking off slowly followed by Bob in his old ute.
Sitting silently behind a nearby boulder was the thing that had killed the cow, his skin burned from the sun and covered in red dust as he listened to the cars disappear into the distance he stepped out of his hiding place. Looking down on himself he didn’t know what was happening, his thin teenage body was starting to fill out at an unnatural speed. He went from being thin and pasty one day, to taller, stronger and faster over night and he had nothing to explain for it. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he started to move in the same direction as the cars went, even though the red dirt burned his feet, the sting only lasted a little while before the skin started to change into fur, his body falling to the ground as the bones in his back popped and snapped into place, his top lip curling back to show the sharp fangs. The scent of the two men was strong in his nose, their sweat had laced the area around his kill, catching the scent on the air he started running, his thick red fur blocking the sun from his skin as his feet carried him home. -- Stepping out of the shower, Grayson shook his head, his skin still tinged a slight red colour from the day in the sun. Walking out of the bathroom as he buttoned up his cotton shirt he smiled “Well, look what the cat dragged in” the old man looked up, his signature toothless smile flashing “Flamin’ Hell, when did you get in lad!” holding his hand out to Grayson, Bob greeted the lad like he was one of his own “look who went and got all big like the old stump out the back” he chuffed, ruffling Gray’s freshly cleaned hair with his dusty hands. “Bout a halfa ago, fixed ya blocked pipes and needed to get meself cleaned up, ya know” tsking Bob shook his head. For an old guy he wasn’t your typical live alone hermit, Bob’s place was normally crawling with people wanting the ‘Outback’ experience. It was the easiest way for him to get help without really asking for it, and Grayson’s parents had been one of the families that blew through a few years back. Bob knew there was something up with the parents, and everything changed when they cleared out one night and left the boy with him. Bob had done what he thought was the right thing and took Gray in, gave him a roof over his head and food on the table. “Ya know” Bob called out, as he undressed in his bathroom leaving a circle of dust around him “I didn’t think you’d ever come back once you got that cash from those people” turning the cold water on the old man shivered as he stepped under the water “Of course, old man. Had to come back and make sure you’re still kickin” Gray liked to make a joke about it, but the truth was Bob had been more of a family than his birth parents, and when he received news that his parents had been killed in Sydney, Gray had left to tie up loose ends. The cash Bob had been talking about was an inheritance that was left for Gray, one he didn’t want. -- The radio kickstarted another classic country song, something about the monophonic drone on the singer made Grayson regret not choosing the station when Bob had offered, but it had been Bobs car and not his so he let the old man choose his station. This far out in the red there were only so many choices you could make. You either had the Classic or the News, and neither was suitable in Gray’s mind. Resting his elbow against the car door he watched the scenery go past, the setting sun sent rays of bright oranges and yellows across the dark blue skies highlighting the features of the flat red planes, the odd dead tree, and small scatterings of underbrush, not much but it was home. As the breeze coming through the window brushed against his skin Grayson closed his eyes, taking in the scents that filled the car “Miss it, do ya, Sonny?” Bob smiled, glancing sideways at him as Grayson opened his eyes “I missed the Quiet of it all” his eyes locked on what they were approaching. The town in front of them was one of those ‘blink and you miss it’ towns. Five or six scattered buildings marking a main street, with smaller homesteads pushing their way into the outback, the further out they went the less there way.
Pulling up quickly outside the local, Grayson had to grab the dashboard to stop himself from slipping off the seat “I see you still ain’t got them brakes fixed” he laughed shaking his head as he climbed out of the rusty old ute “She still runs like new” Bob grinned, hitting the roof of the car as he slammed his door and walked off towards the wooden shack, leaving the windows down and the car unlocked. From the outside, the building looked like it was going to fall down, worn unpainted weatherboard cladding surrounded the building, the rusty tin roof barely hanging on. Shaking his head, Grayson remembered the last time he was here at the old Devil Waters Pub. “He still remembers too” Bob showed his toothless gums again as he pushed the gauze swinging doors open and walked in met by a rally of greetings and back slaps “Bloody Maggies are loosin again, sure you wanna be here, Bob” Delia smiled from behind the bar as she poured Bob a schooner of beer “Bloody oath, Dee” Bob sat at his usual stool “Two steaks as well, Luv, brought a stray wif me tonight” at that moment Grayson pushed the door back and stepped inside, his eyes searching the place like he had been accustomed to in the city. “Well Fuck me! Sonny’s come home to roost” Delia laughed, walking out from behind bar and giving Grayson a hug “Never thought you would blow back through after tryna steal a keg from Bluey” Grayson hugged her back awkwardly “Fair go, Dee. It was for me birthday” moving past Grayson, Delia took her usual spot behind the bar near the taps, pouring Grayson a beer “G’day Sonny” George slapped him on the back before taking his seat next to Bob “Didya hear the news?” he asked as bob shook his head, giving a no worded reply as he watched the small static filled screen on the television behind the bar. “I got that call in, seems there’s an animal expert in our area. I was told he’d be here tonight” Bob glanced at him sideways “Struth, that was bloody quick” as the door opened again, all three men at the bar turning to look at the tall man standing in the doorway.
Stopping in his footsteps, Judas LaCroix was used to being noticed as he walked into places, but not like this. It was normally a ‘here comes that thug again’ look, now it was a ‘who are you’ look. “I’m looking for Sergeant Taylor?” his American accent seemed to drawl a little more than it normally did, stumbling to push his beer aside and stand up, George wiped his sweaty fingers down his shirt before holding his hand out to the stranger “Dr LaCroix, I take it” he smiled nervously “I’m the Sarge around these parts, I mean I’m George Taylor. Wanna beer?” gesturing to the tap, George gave the others a look to tell them to act normally “I’ll take a water if you have one” mopping his brow with his handkerchief “It’s a bit warmer here then I was expecting” bending down, Delia’s chest threatened to bounce from her shirt as she grabbed a bottle of water from the small fridge behind the bar “Here you go, Luv” sitting it on the bar she heard the ding of the bell “Tucka’s up” called Bluey, sticking his head through the little window from the kitchen “Well blimey, you have a hide sitting in my bar, Sonny” rolling his eyes, Grayson smiled “I payed you back for what I broke, shit Bluey, when you gonna give a kid a break” laughing Bluey disappeared from the window, before reappearing through the swinging metal door off to the side of the bar “I like giving ya shit, Sonny” he placed the two plates of steak and fries on the counter in front of Bob and Grayson “Old man” he chuckled, pouring Bob another schooner of beer as the old man sat glued to his AFL match, the old man nodding accordingly.
Listening to the conversation across the room, Judas stopped taking notice of what the Sergeant was saying until a hand was waved infront of his face “Hello? Doctor? I think you may be sufferin from some heat stroke. You zoned out on me like you had seen something” shaking his head Judas smiled before taking a sip of his water “It’s Professor, and no, I just revel in the accents that are surrounding me” he lied through his teeth, but he wasn’t about to tell anyone that the young male sitting at the bar had caught his attention “Ah, bloody hell, pick up ya flamin act” Bob called out sawing into his steak as Gray touched him on the shoulder “Simmer down there, Old man, you’ll blow a gasket. It’s just a game” laughing he slipped a forkful of his own steak into his mouth, turning his head as he felt someone watching him. Grayson’s eyes caught Judas’, something in them screamed understanding, a feeling he had never felt before in this town, not with who he was, or what he was. “I think you need to catch some zee’s there Doc… I mean Professor” George noticed Judas’ attention was waning again “I think you might be right, Sergeant” Standing up, George pulled a set of keys from his pocket, holding them out to the American stranger “Then you will be needing these. The house is next door, it’s the old whore ‘ouse but it’s been cleaned and set up real nice as lodgings for people like yourselves. I‘ll meet you out front at the crack of sparra‘s” taking the keys with some reservation, Judas nodded “Thank you, see you in the morning” twisting the cap back onto his bottle he left the pub.
Stepping outside, Judas looked around the steaming hot from when he walked in was cooling fast “There’s a storm comin’” Grayson stepped out behind him, slipping a cigarette between his lips as he lit it. Nodding at the young man, Judas stepped off the porch and turned left “Oi, Professor” Grayson smiled “If ya go that way, you’ll only find desert. But if ya go this way” pointing to the right “You’ll find ya bed for the night” pulling the cigarette from his lips he blew smoke into the air, watching the stranger carefully as he changed directions “Thank you… “ pausing he waited for the young man to introduce himself, but he didn’t so Judas walked off, off to find his bed for the night in the retired whore house. “C’mon Sonny, best get home before the weather turns shit and we gotta sleep in the tray” laughing Gray stepped off the porch “I don’t think the tray would be long enough for me now” dropping the butt of his cigarette, Bob shook his head at him “Those damn things will kill you, you need to give them up” cringing at the squeak of the door Grayson nodded “Okay, Old Man”. The trip back to the homestead was much the same as the one to the pub, but the scenery was different. The plains around them were pitch black now. Nothing to see for miles, not even the outline of the dead trees “Bloody roos” Bob grumbled, swerving the car to the side to miss the kangaroo that hopped out of the darkness onto the road. -- As the morning suns rays ripped through the window like a laser through metal, Judas rubbed his eyes, sitting up slowly he groaned, his whole body aching from his travels, but he knew he was here for a reason, he was here to find the creature that had been described to him on the phone. Something about this creature screamed otherworldy, but that was a subject that Judas would keep to himself. Going through the bad he had with him he was grateful that he had the brains to pack a long sleeve shirt. After the heat of the night before he wasn’t really prepared for the heat of the day. A firm knock on the door broke him from his fussing over clothing. Walking through the house the creaks and noises followed him as the old floor boards strained under his feet. “Goood, Mornin’ Professor” Sarge George beamed up at him spinning his service hat in his hands “Y’all ready for the day?” rubbing his neck, Judas looked at him “I think I am going to need a coffee before we do anything” opening the door wider to welcome the policeman inside, Judas finished buttoning his shirt “I got that sorted. Delia’s whipping us up some special cappuccino’s and a couple bacon and egg rolls. Figured you’d be wantin ta hit the road before the midday heat sets in” George stood just inside the door, not tempted to move in further as Judas pulled on his boots and grabbed the leather satchel from the kitchen table “Then I guess I am ready” clipping on a fake ID, Judas was happy to play along with them thinking he was a professor, if it got him what he wanted.
Outside, the sun seemed brighter than it had coming through the windows, as Judas covered his eyes he heard the shrill of Delia’s voice approaching them “’Ere ya go lovies, two frothy caps and a couple of sanga rolls” handing the paper bag over to George she smiled sitting the coffee tray on the front of the car “And an Akubra for our yank friend” holding out the brimmed hat to Judas, he smiled and nodded “Thank you, Ma’am” laughing Delia walked off mumbling about how the stranger thought of her as a ma’am. “Righto, best we be off” George took his cup of coffee before handing the other to Judas, tossing the tray into the back of the police car with the others he had collected over time. The ride to the homestead was filled with George babbling about how he would love to go to America, things he regretted by becoming an outback copper. Judas on the other hand sat sipping his coffee, even though he normally took it black he hadn’t had the heart to tell George that his efforts this morning to make him feel welcome were futile. “Is that meant to be a river?” Judas asked as they passed a dry gouging in the landscape, nodding, George turned his head and looked “Devil’s creek, only bloody flows once a year, rest of the time she’s bone dry” pointing to an outcropping of boulders George began to explain the land “There’s a story from the natives, about it. Something about this land being cursed after a murder and because of the curse the river runs red once a year. They also say that monsters live in the rocks. No one dares go in them, even if it is another water source for us, no one is willing to go there” pulling up next to one of the smaller boulders, George got out of the car, followed by Judas “Mornin’ Bob” he called out to the man bent over the body of a cow “Bastards hit me again last night, George” poking the bloated stomach of the freshly dead cow, Bob stood up, his old bones cracking.
Moving closer to the body, Judas knelt down next to it, making sure to avoid the shredded flesh was left next to it “Something is bleeding them, there should be more blood than this” pulling a small metal spike from his bag, Judas poked at the flaps of flesh that had been ripped open on the cow’s neck, trying to put the wounds together to see if they matched or were ripped “Well, Professor, what’s killin’ my stock” Bob asked, shooing the flies from his face as the sound of footsteps on dry dirt approached “Looks like they headed up into the rocks” Grayson appeared in a dusty white singlet top, his arms tanned from the sunshine as he rest the shotgun in his hand against his hip as he adjusted the old magpies cap on his head. Looking up, as Grayson’s shadow crossed the dead cow, Judas looked up at him “Will you show me where they went?” standing up and adjusting his satchel, Judas waited for an answer “Go on, Sonny, you got the shotty if anything jumps ya” leaning against the front of his old Ute, Bob looked like he had been punched in the stomach, at the rate things were going if this creature kept killing his stock he would be out of work and the homestead would crumble. “Better be good at climbin’, Professor” Gray smirked, as he walked past Judas and started heading toward the rocks.
The Boulders were meant to be a place of great danger, but Grayson knew them well, his friends and he used to come here to swim growing up. Most of the adults around believed in the stories they were told about monsters living in the rocks, but Grayson knew that in the rocks was nothing more than a waterhole, fed by an underground stream. The only monster in the area was himself “How far in is it?” Judas asked, slipping slightly on a rock but catching himself before his face hit the stone “Just over the next boulder” Grayson breathed in as he squeezed himself between two rocks, turning around he put the butt of the shotgun against his shoulder and held it at eye level to Judas as he came through the narrow gap between the stone “What the hell!” Judas exclaimed, wondering what the hell was going on “You tell me ‘Professor’” Grayson motioned the gun to the side, pointing to a spot where he wanted Judas “On your flamin’ knees” Gray growled, poking Judas in the back with the gun “You don’t want to do this, Sonny” Judas spoke calmly, turning to face him so he didn’t anger Grayson more “Ya think” he smiled, the sparkle of something new in his eye, something new that caught Judas’ attention. “It’s you” he whispered “You’re the monster” Grayson was shocked by his words, so much that he spun the shotgun around and hit Judas in the face with the butt of it.
Groaning, Judas felt his jaw click as he rolled over and balled his fists into the red dirt “God damn” a bottle of water was shoved under his face “Sorry ‘bout that” Grayson sighed, taking a seat on a small rock nearby as he shoved Judas’ belongings back into the leather bag he carried “Did you learn what you needed to know when you tried to make me swallow my teeth?” Judas asked, taking a sip from the bottle “’Nuff to know you’re no professor. You’re a yank, but not a professor” nodding Judas looked over at him with his steel blue eyes “I’m a teacher of some kind” he smiled “I teach people like you to control what they are so they can change on demand” Grayson fingered the trigger on the gun like he was going to hold it up and shoot Judas there and then “What makes you think I need ya flamin help?” arching a brow, Judas pointed in the direction they had come “The slaughtered cattle. Pretty sure you’re not looking to destroy Bob” shaking his head Grayson looked over in the direction they came “No. He gave me family when the others ditched. It’s why I took off to the city when I started to change” nodding Judas listened to everything the boy was giving him, before finally offering him something “Come back with me to America, I can teach you how to control the urges, teach you how to control the hunger” shrugging Grayson looked at him “Can’t afford nuffin like that, Bob is barely keeping this place floatin on the money I filter into his accounts without him realisin” rubbing his aching red jaw, Judas stood up “If you come with me, I’ll give you the money to keep Bob going. But only if you join me. I can’t tell you everything now, but one day you will stand by my side as a commander of an army that will be more powerful than any human army” Grayson’s mouth fell open, he didn’t know what to say or how to compile everything in his mind for it to make sense, but he nodded. The single thought that his leaving would help Bob, was all that mattered to him. “Guess I better tell the Old man I’m disappearin’ on him again” Grayson laughed squeezing the trigger of the shotgun till a bullet exploded from the end and hit the boulder across from him, causing Judas to jump “What the fuck was that for!?” he narrowed his eyes at the young man “So the old bastard would let me go and think his cow killer is dead” laughing Gray squeezed back through the boulders and made his way to Bob and George, a smile on his face like he made his first major kill. -- “And that’s how we met” Judas laughed, looking down the dinner table at the young man, the tan on his skin had faded slightly since making his move to America and his hair had grown a little longer, but he was still the Grayson who walked off that cattle station five years earlier, though now he was Grayson LaCroix, he was commander of The Cross and he had full control of his changes. Though it was still unknown how he could become a dingo/wolf hybrid, there were still creatures in this world that were unknown. Though to Judas, Grayson was his son. “And what happened to Bob?” Lily asked softly from her place next to Gray “We lost Bob, two years after I left he had a hart attack” shaking his head, Gray’s smile turned into a frown “Bloody bastard never did learn how to ask for help in his whole life. When I left, Jude and I made sure he had someone there all year. He just refused to ask. But that’s the outback way. One day I will go back, maybe when we win this war” Grayson smiled at Lily, they both left lives that weren't working out for them and joined Judas, now they would die for him, for their Human. Gif Credits to the amazing http://jaifkncourtney.tumblr.com Thank you a million time for helping me bring Gray alive.
