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The full heat of the
moon fell onto him, but its warmth could not help
him.
    'Freddy!' Batty barked in delight as she ran after
him. She had seen all, watching from the shadows. Although she could talk to him as wolf or dog, she
was pleased to see him as a poodle once more –
just like the silly pup she had first met and grown so
fond of.
    'This is wooftastic,' she said as she bounded up
to him.
    'Are you kidding? It's a total disastrophe!' he
yelped.
    'But it's just like old times. Stinky's back again.' Her wet nose twitched in excitement.
    'But I don't want to be Stinky! I don't want to be a
stupid dog,' he cried.
    Batty bared her teeth a little, but Freddy didn't
realise how upset she was. He couldn't think of
anything but himself.
    'I want pure blood.'
    'Well, you ain't got it, have you?' she growled. 'I
ain't ashamed of being a dog. I'm proud.'
    'But I'm supposed to be a wolf , it's not the same.' Freddy stamped his delicate little foot in frustration. 'Why can't anything ever go right?'
    'But you're a hero, remember. Ain't that better than
anything?' She nudged him and smiled. She was never
able to stay angry for long.
    'Well, yes, that's true . . .' he agreed and started
to cheer up a little, but then he remembered the
expression on Priscilla's face. 'But she doesn't think so. She wants a wolf who can bring her the Blavendoch.'
    'What do you want to get flowers for?' Batty scoffed. 'You ain't no sissy.'
    'She thinks I am.'
    'Oh, who cares what snot-nose thinks?' She nudged
him again. 'Come on, Stinky, let's jump in the moat,
hide Mrs M's slippers and steal some sausages.'
    Freddy was standing in the shadows of the castle. His sharp little fangs stuck out from his lower jaw
and he frowned. What would have been a great plan
normally now didn't seem like the kind of thing a hero did. Not the kind of thing that could take the look of
disgust off Priscilla's face.
    Freddy stepped back out into the moonbeams.
    'No, my friend,' he announced, 'I cannot play
tonight, for I have a mighty feat to accomplishate. I do not ask you to come with me – for it is dangerous
work.'
    Batty snorted. 'Stop showing off, Freddy, or I'll bite
your tail off. What are you on about?'
    'I'm going to get the Blavendoch for her!' he said,
and started running around the castle towards the
bridge.
    Batty chased after him.
    'Stinky, wait,' she barked. 'I'm coming too.' There
was no way she was letting the silly pup run halfway
across Milford on his own.
    'Freddy,' Flasheart called, emerging from the castle
to look for his son. 'Freddy, no!' he roared, as he saw a
little black tail disappear through the bars of the gate
that guarded the entrance to the grounds.
    He raced over, and arrived just as Batty was also
trying to squeeze through the gate. She was too big. By now Freddy had disappeared out of sight down the
long, narrow lane that led to Milford.
    'That pup is a moatful of trouble!' Flasheart snarled
to himself. Batty barked.
    The wolf and dog exchanged a significant look. Freddy could speak both the wolfen and canine
languages, thanks to his mixed blood, but his father
and his friend had to rely on intuition to speak to each
other. They both understood now. They had to follow
Freddy and make sure he came home safely.
    Flasheart stood on his hind legs and pushed the
gate controls with his nose. The gate began to swing
open. In seconds, Batty and Flasheart were racing
after the poodle, their eyes glistening in the bright
moonlight.

C HAPTER F IVE
Blavendoch

    Freddy's heart was beating fast as he ran towards
Milford. Okay, yes, he was a wolf and a hero who had
been on the Blood-Red Hunt, but never before had
he been alone in the forest. The trees looked blue and
metallic under the moonlight. Freddy turned off the
lane and scampered through the trees towards the
Stone Circle. Of course, he didn't believe in goblins,
or elves, or ghosts; he wasn't a puppy. But then most
humans didn't believe in