Blood Bath - First place winner: Sableandred

A Good Old Fashioned Prank Challenge - Day 5 from Werewolf Week 2022

Santiago, Angela and Gabby have a plan to frighten their likely-alpha-to be for Halloween. But is it fool proof?

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It wasn't just blood falling into the bucket at this point. Bits of tissue torn by the wolf's teeth

splashed, sending flecks to congeal against the icy steal. Gabby pinched her nose closed. Even

with her less developed senses the tang of iron-y air was making her nauseated. A silver-eyed

wolf, teeth lined with gore stuck his tongue out in a human expression of amusement.

No, Santiago, she did not need a closer look at the duck-blood pitcher or a look at the sack of

heads or the basket of feet.

The second wolf there gave him a sharp jab with her nose. He turned back to the gruesome work.

Since Gabby was still required a bodyguard and Santi insisted on helping Angela whenever he

had the chance, she had no choice but to tag along for a slaughter or two. Two more featherless

ducks and she was no longer the lone human, or so it would appear to a bystander.

Santi wiped his mouth of the back of his hand and pulled a feather from his teeth. "See how

much faster it goes with me helping, Angie?"

"It goes messier. Gabby is more of a help than you." She pulled on a long overcoat giving the

young male a pointed stare until he turned away to let her dress. Despite the autumn chill

Santiago decided to remain dis-robed while they wondered back the lodge. "The second bucket is

unusable." Angela complained, holding the small tub aloft. "It's tainted. You need to scald the

ducks before bleeding them or you get duck... filth in the blood."

"We can skim it. It will boil off. No one would even notice."

Angela and Gabby gave him a simultaneous look. Chris was on duty this morning. He'd notice.

"Ok fine." Santiago relented. His face split into a grin. "But if we are creative it doesn't have to

be a waste."

"What do you mean?"

"It's nearly Halloween. I think maybe a prank is in order on our lead Alpha candidate."

Gabby glanced to see if Angela would be upset at the implication she was out of the running but

she only seemed confused. Maybe she had gotten over the last competition.

"I think that's only fair. What do you have in mind?"

Santiago tapped the bucket. "I'll clean it up. So-"

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"Do I really have to be the bait?" Gabby groused.

"Yes. You're the only one he won't think twice about coming to help. Plus he won't stay mad at

you."

"That's not true."

Angela laughed. Gabby's face flushed.

"Shhhh! Both of you!" Santi growled, crouching above them from the steel coated duct above the

vent. "Go get him!"

Gabby sighed and put on her best damsel in distress face siting in the center of the training

rooms. She heard footsteps pounding down the cement stairs and the door swung open. Chris

gave her a bewildered look. "Angela said you saw something strange?"

"I-in the vent. I... I think its some kind of creature."

"Cre-ature?" he tested the word, eyebrows disappearing under his dark curls. If he was

suspicious of her phrasing he still took on her cautious posture and edged forward. "I don't see-"

The lights went out and Gabby screamed. She could hear him bang his head with a sharp snarl.

Then a crash, a grunt and finally a yelp and a splash. Now Gabby screamed for real as she felt a

cold syrup-y spray against her neck and face. The lights came back on. Santi was on his back on

the floor drenched in blood, the bucket now held firmly in Chris' clawed hands.

"Nice try. Did you really think I forgot what blood smells... smells. Like." Chris' smile faltered as

he looked down at the macabre pool winding towards the drain. Gabby covered her mouth in a

half giggle half squeak as she watched Chris drop the bucket, eyes rolling back. He was saved

falling by the wall which he collapsed against in a dead faint.

"Shit." Santi spit blood and laughed. "I thought he'd gotten over that."

"I didn't." Angela looked over the scene, hand on her hip. She was the only clean one.

"Wait-" Santiago blinked. "You set me up!"

Gabby wiped the blood from her eyes. "I think she set all of us up."

Angela only raised her eyebrows at Santi. "I think you mentioned something about being the one

to clean up?" and she clicked off the lights.