Peter’s enormous white paws slammed against the tarmac as he planted himself firmly between Lilah and the gunmen.
The world seemed to fall silent.
His chest rose and fell steadily.
Every instinct screamed at him to run.
Instead…He took one slow step forwards.
The wolves exchanged uncertain glances.
“What…
is that?” one of them whispered.
“I don’t know.” “It was the kid!” “No…” “It can’t be.” Peter’s bright green eyes never left them.
He wasn’t roaring.
He wasn’t charging.
He simply kept walking.
One big, slow step at a time.
The lead gunman tightened his grip on the rifle.
“Shoot it!” The crack of the gun echoed across the car park.
The bullet struck Peter squarely in the left shoulder.
Blood splashed across his pristine white fur.
Lilah gasped.
“Peter!” For the briefest moment, the bear staggered.
Then…He lifted his head.
And carried on walking.
The wolves stared.
Another gunshot.
This one struck his chest.
Peter barely flinched.
His huge paws continued their steady march across the tarmac.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Each footstep seemed to shake the ground beneath them.
The gunmen began backing away.
“Keep firing!” Three more shots rang out in quick succession.
One grazed his side.
Another buried itself in his thick shoulder.
The third disappeared into the dense muscle of his neck.
Still…Peter kept coming.
His breathing remained calm.
His eyes never left theirs.
The enormous polar bear looked unstoppable.
One of the younger wolves lowered his rifle.
“I-I’m not doing this.” “What?” “He isn’t stopping!
“Another shook his head.
“The wolfsbane isn’t working!” Jack’s eyes widened in realisation.
“It won’t…”He whispered.
“He’s not a wolf.” Peter stopped only a few metres away.
Slowly…He rose onto his hind legs.
Towering over them.
Well over nine feet tall.
The afternoon sun caught the blood staining his white fur, making him look even more terrifying.
Then…He roared.
The sound ripped through the entire retail park.
Car alarms began blaring.
Birds scarpered into the sky in every direction.
Children cried.
Even the trees seemed to tremble.
The wolves instinctively stumbled backwards.
One dropped his rifle altogether.
“Not a chance.” “I’m not fighting that thing.” Another turned and ran.
Within seconds the others followed.
Their carefully planned ambush dissolved into complete panic.
Jack stood rooted to the spot, watching the last of his father’s men disappear between the parked cars.
He looked back at Peter.
The giant bear lowered himself onto all fours once more.
For just a heartbeat, Jack saw not a monster…But a young man who had thrown himself in front of someone he cared about without a second thought.
A lump formed in his throat.
“Jace…”he whispered to himself.
“I understand now.” Peter turned away from the fleeing wolves and looked back towards Lilah.
Despite the blood running through his fur…His bright emerald eyes softened.
He gently lowered his enormous head.
As if asking one simple question.
Are you alright?
Lilah felt tears prick her eyes.
She stepped forwards and rested a trembling hand against the side of his great white face.
“I’m okay,” she whispered.
“Because of you.” The great polar bear closed his eyes for just a moment, leaning gently into her touch before turning back towards the road.
It was time to get everyone home.
Peter’s enormous paws pounded across the road as he kept pace with the speeding minibus.
His muscles burned.
Every breath became harder than the last.
The strange power surging through him moments ago was beginning to fade.
People on the street were running scared “I…
can’t…” The great polar bear stumbled.
His front paw slipped on the tarmac before he managed to steady himself.
Inside the minibus, Lilah looked through the shattered rear window.
“Peter!” Tony saw him too.
“Hang on…” The bear slowed again.
A shimmering white light rippled over his thick fur.
“Oh no,” Peter thought.
“Not now…”His body began shrinking.
Powerful legs became human.
His broad shoulders narrowed.
The thick white fur disappeared into bare skin.
Within seconds…Peter collapsed onto one knee at the side of the road.
Human once more.
Tony slammed on the brakes.
“We can’t leave him!” Tony threw open the driver’s door before the minibus had even stopped moving.
“I’ll only be a second.” He sprinted towards Peter.
Peter looked up, breathing heavily.
“I…””I think…””…I’m okay.” Tony reached him.
“You certainly don’t look it.
“Peter looked down at himself.
“…Oh.” Tony followed his gaze.
“…Oh.” Peter immediately covered his manhood with his hands.
He looked around desperately.
“There appears to be…”He cleared his throat.”…a slight issue.” Tony couldn’t help smiling despite the situation.
“I’d noticed.” Peter let out a dramatic sigh.
“So this is how my first transformation ends.” “I save everyone’s lives….and then get arrested for public indecency.” Despite the pain shooting through his shoulder, Jace managed a weak laugh from inside the minibus.” “Bro, i know the moon festival is coming up but i didn’t bank on seeing a full moon so soon”, Jace said gently laughing pointing at peter’s bare naked butt.
Everyone smirked even in this awful situation we couldn’t help but act like a teasing family.
Nelly smiled “I have to admit, that was a good one”.
Peter looked genuinely offended.
“Would’ve been nice if someone had mentioned clothes don’t magically come back.” Lilah quickly covered her eyes with both hands.
Even though she kinda wanted to look, she couldn’t deny he had a nice body.
“I’m not looking!” Nelly turned away too, laughing so hard tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I was wondering when someone was finally going to mention the elephant in the room, or should i say polar bear”.
Peter looked towards Tony hopefully.
“You wouldn’t happen to keep emergency trousers in the minibus?
“Tony raised an eyebrow.” “Oddly enough…no.” Peter sighed.
“It was worth asking.
“Without another word, Tony pulled off his old navy jumper.
“Here.” Peter caught it.
“You are an absolute legend.” He quickly tied the jumper around his waist before letting out an exaggerated sigh of relief.
“There, My dignity has improved by at least sixty percent.” Tony then removed his faded baseball cap.
“And take this.” Peter looked at it.
“…It’s a hat.” “I’m aware.” “What exactly is this protecting?” Tony shrugged.
“Your confidence.” Peter laughed despite the situation he found himself in.
“I suppose every little helps.” He pulled the cap onto his head, and got into the vehicle .Jace looked up from where Lilah was still pressing firmly against his bleeding shoulder.
For a second…He simply stared.
Then he burst out laughing.
Immediately regretting it as pain shot through his chest.
“Oww…..Worth it.” Peter folded his arms.
“What?” Jace shook his head.
“You’ve just transformed into a giant polar bear…and somehow…you still look ridiculous.” Peter smiled.
“I’ll take ridiculous over naked.” “Fair point, it could of been worse….your polar bear form could of been ginger”.
“I’m not even dignifying that with a response”.
Lilah slowly lowered one hand from her eyes.
“Is it…..safe?” Peter looked down at Tony’s jumper tied securely around his waist.
“I believe civilisation has been restored.” She cautiously peeked through her fingers.
Seeing Peter standing there wearing an oversized jumper around his waist and Tony’s cap sitting wonkily on his head…She couldn’t stop herself laughing.
“I’m sorry…” She giggled.
“You just…” Peter smiled.
“I know, I look like I’ve lost a fight with a washing line.” Even Tony laughed.
“I’ve got to admit…..it’s certainly a look.” Peter adjusted the cap proudly.
“I call it…Emergency Fashion.” Nelly wiped tears from her eyes.
“I’m never letting you forget this.” Peter pointed at her dramatically.
“I turned into a polar bear…A POLAR BEAR….And this…”He gestured his situation.”…is what everyone chooses to remember?” “Absolutely,” Jace replied.
Without hesitation.
Peter sighed dramatically.
“I knew it.” Tony smiled.
“Come on, you guys are distracting my driving”, he said with a tint of laughter.
Jasper chirped softly.
“I know Jasper, thanks for worrying about me you are a true friend”, Said Peter glaring around at everyone.
The robin gently rubbed the side of his tiny head against Peter’s cheek.
Lilah smiled.
“What did he say?” Peter stroked Jasper’s feathers with one finger.
“He said…”Peter paused, emotion flickering across his face.”…he thought i was going to die.” Peter looked at the little robin.
“Thank you for warning us.” Jasper chirped once before fluffing his feathers and settling comfortably on Peter’s shoulder.
They were all looking at Jace.
His breathing had become slower.
More laboured.
The smile disappeared from Tony’s face.
“This is going to be close.” He pulled away at speed.
The robin tilted his head, looking from Jace…to Lilah’s arm.
He gave one quiet, worried chirp.
Peter frowned.
“What is it?” Jasper chirped again.
Peter followed the robin’s gaze towards Lilah’s sleeve.
His smile faded.
“Lilah…”He pointed.
“Your arm…”