[Mnemosyne]

If I put it here I'll feel better about revising the actual one tomorrow.


"I can't believe it was so obvious," said Rikae. "You've been behind everything, haven't you? Always trying to take charge of the situation. Eönwë didn't let that first triple-kill happen on purpose. You did."

"And gunning after poor Shasta like that!" said Lalaith. "I'd say your plans have gone wrong, only I don't think that's the case, is it, Nog? I'd say they're right on schedule."

The two women looked at each other.

"We don't have to just kill you, you know," said Lalaith. "If you could admit to it first..."

"What is there to admit?" said Nogrod. "I may be a fool, but I'm not evil! It's one of you!"

"Please," said Rikae. "If you let us know it'll make us feel a lot better about doing this."

"One of you," said Nog, "one of you is dooming yourself with this."

"On the contrary," said Rikae, "I think we're saving ourselves."

"Tell us," said Lalaith. She put one of his eyes out.

"What are you doing?" said Rikae. Lalaith shook her head, closing her eyes to let the tears out. There was blood on her hand. "He isn't putting up a fight. He won't. He thinks he'll be able to strike at our conscience that way, by not fighting. But if he's hurt, he'll get angry, transform--we can fight him, and he'll already be weakened that way." She looked down at Nogrod, who was clutching at his eye. She put the other one out.

"Why isn't he fighting back yet?" said Rikae.

"I don't know. Help me."

"How?"

"The hand."

Rikae picked up a nearby knife and cut it off. "He's still not doing anything! Why isn't he doing anything?" She cut off his other hand.

"Not... me..." Nogrod gasped.

"Liar!" said Lalaith. She cut off a foot.

"I'm telling you," said Nogrod.

"Liar!" She cut off the other foot.

"...What if he isn't?" said Rikae.

"He has to be. He's the last wolf!" Lalaith paused. "And if he isn't, then we've--I've--just done a foolish thing. We may as well put him out of his misery." She handed the knife hilt to Rikae. Their bloodstained hands met, and together they plunged the hilt into Nogrod's neck and severed his head. Panting, they backed away from the scene of terror.

"He hasn't transformed," said Lalaith.

"Maybe he didn't have time? Have you checked the door?"

They ran down and tried to open it; it was still locked.

"I can't believe it," said Rikae. "He was just a fool--an innocent fool. Which means the last werewolf..."

"...is one of us..."

Lalaith and Rikae stared at one another, each too nervous to take her eyes off the other's face.