The wolf

A Story by leopardblade

A story of rage

Trees. That’s all he saw, sprinting through the woods. The beast was closing up the gap between them. He could hear the beast’s claws ripping the ground behind him. I need to find a hiding spot, or something, he thought. He had seen nothing but the trees whilst running. Their dark shadowy figures, like hands trying reach up and restrain him. Suddenly the thud of its paws stopped. He turned around knowing that even if he could run he would never outrun the beast. He observed the area before him. No matter how hard he looked he could not see the wolf

“What the hell? Where is it?” he inquired aloud.

“Right here,” rasped the voice.

The force of the slam sent him sprawling to the ground. There he lay on his back while the beast walked up to him with its teeth bared. He could see the beast in full detail. Teeth that glistened like the moon. Fur black as night. Limbs longer than oak branches, thicker than the trunks. The savagery he could see in its ice blue eyes was unbearable, like a roaring flame. He could feel that the end was near. The beast was almost upon him. He screamed “WHO ARE YOU!!” he was met with the reply “Your brother,” and with that the beast leaped, he felt the fangs tear into his throat. The claws of death gripped his body in an icy embrace.

“CRAGLON,” Raeger screamed as he shot up out of the wool and cloth mattress he lay on. He instinctively felt his throat. He expected crimson blood to coat his hands. He thanked Zra’kael for clean hands after he pulled them from his neck. This time the dream had been so vivid, so clear. He wiped the dream from his mind as he got up.

It was First Light when he had woken up, but after praying to Zra’kael, now the sky was filled with the warm rays of the sun. Everything was normal in the village, well everything except Raeger. Raeger possessed qualities that were very rare amongst his people. His eyes were the color of flames, yet his hair was as dark as that of a raven. He had sun-kissed skin that had not changed from the time he was born. Most of the men in his village had light brown hair, and were born white as the moon. Their eyes were either the color of the ocean or that of oak. When he was born his people realized he was special. Not because of his physical capabilities but of his voice. He didn’t scream like the other newborns, he howled like a wolf. This should have spelled out his death, but the Shaman of his people proclaimed him the savior not the bearer of death. As a young boy his father and brother were murdered in the war between Ki’thouri and Farken. His mother was taken impaled with a Farken spear in front of him. The man who impaled however did not livelong. His rage took control and everything went black. He awakened after the invasion, they had won. The village elders said they witnessed his savagery in battle, something he could not remember. They said it was best he did not remember what happened to the man. Thinking about this he felt cold even on a day as bright and sunny as this one.

“What could I have possibly done that was so horrific?” he wondered aloud.

“Brakon is something worrying you?” asked Hargoth with puzzled look.

“Nothing brakon, I was just day dreaming,” replied Raeger.

“I suppose we should go hunting for Larou-birds?”

“Yeah, grab your weapons and meet me at the entrance of the village.”

“Ok brakon”

Raeger walked through the village moving toward the entrance. On his way he saw young ones laughing and playing with sticks. They were playing hunter, each one taking turns being hunter and hunted. Inviting aromas rose up from the clay and spur huts. Raeger realized that he had not eaten this morning. No matter, he thought, I can catch some fresh meat while hunting.

“Hurry up brakon!” yelled Hargoth

“One minute. How did you get there so fast?”

“I ran.”

“Figured as much.”

As Hargoth and Raeger left the village, Raeger felt a heavy amount of dread flow through himself. He looked at Hargoth to see if he had noticed. Thankfully he hadn’t. He couldn’t be bothered answering any more questions. They prowled the woods for 3 hours searching for prey, but there was not a sound to be heard from the forest. They did not talk, fearing that they would scare off any would-be prey. Suddenly the call of a Larou-bird sounded. Its red and black feathers looked ruffled, and its blue beak was cracked. Raeger, being the more experienced hunter, motioned for Hargoth to stay down and be quiet. He carefully removed his bow from his back, took an arrow from his quiver and aimed at the bird. Just as he released his arrow a dark blur leapt and snatched the bird off of its perch. He proceeded alone toward the shape. He drew out his obsidian hunting knife. The dark blade gleamed in the mid-day light. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the black shape. It was the beast from his dreams. In a moment of confusion he dropped his knife. The thud it made sinking into the ground attracted the beast’s attention. It turned to face him, rising onto its haunches. He could see it was a wolf man, something only spoken of in legends. He ran to Hargoth and screamed “MOVE!!”

The beast was lunging after him on all fours. Hargoth was nowhere in his field of vision. The sun had begun its descent into the earth. It wasn’t a dream, he realized, it was a vision. His legs were beginning to tire; his breath was coming out in rough gasps. Then as like he saw in his vision, the thuds of paws stopped. With caution he turned around. This time the beast was still there standing on its haunches. It let out a howl of victory, as it had succeeded in cornering its prey. It slowly walked up to him, letting out a deep growl. The earth had nearly devoured the sun; only a few rays were still able to illuminate his surrounding. He instinctively reached for his knife. He had forgotten that he had dropped it when he had seen the beast. He was vulnerable. It raked its caws across one of the trees. Four bright yellow gashes were left on the trees oozing with a sticky yellow sap. Raeger braced himself for the attack. He said a final prayer to Zra’kael. He screamed at the beast.

“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!? KILL ME’”

With that the beast leapt. It slammed into his abdomen, knocking the air out of him. Time seemed to slow down. He could see the facial features of the beast. He could see its whiskers, its near perfect gleaming white fangs. The ferocity in its eyes seemed dulled this time. Raeger closed his eyes, expecting the fangs to close around his throat. He hit the ground. He could feel the beats labored rancid breath washing over his face. Then he felt a tearing pain that penetrated through his flesh, straight down to the surface of his bone. Then nothing. The beast had left him there. The pain of the bite overwhelmed him, but he couldn’t scream. It was as if his throat had been closed up by some unnatural force. There he lay for how long he could not tell. Just as he began to slip under he heard a voice calling his name in the distance.

He woke up in the hut of the elders. Sweet pungent aromas assaulted his nostrils. He could hear chanting. His eyes took some time to adjust to the dim candlelight. He reached up to touch his shoulder. There was a tight piece of gauze wrapped around his arm. Suddenly the pain filled his body. He shot up out of the bed screaming in pain.

Over the next few days he started to get his strength back. He got faster, his vision improved, and he could hear the song of the Laruo across the village. He never told anyone what had really attacked him; for fear that they would brand him a monster. He told them that he escaped a bear attack. Hargoth wasn’t able to deny this, seeing as he was only able to see a black blur chasing his friend.

“I better go hunting again. I have duty to fulfill,” he said to himself.

He had been given blade made of hard rock; its shiny grey edge gleamed in the light of day. The elders had bestowed it upon him as his survival showed the signs of a true warrior. However he declined it saying he needed to prove himself in battle before accepting such a gift. It was not easy to create, as it could not be shaped without fire. He had also received an oak bow. This he kept as his bow had snapped in half when he was tackled. He departed the village to hunt; winter was coming and food would be in short supply. He scoured the forest for prey. He approached a cave deep in the woods. He saw a man clothed in nothing more than a mere animal skin cloak. His body bore the scars of a warrior. He looked as though he was still in the prime of his life. The man shared some resemblance to him. He had raven colored hair and sun kissed skin. However his eyes were an icy blue. He was cooking a deer when Raeger approached him.

“Who are you?” asked Raeger.

“ I am your brother,” said the man, with a smirk upon his face.

“What do you mean you are my brother? My brother died 12 years ago. Explain yourself,”

“Come there is much for me to show you brother,”

“You still haven’t answered my question. If you really are my brother what is you name?”

“I am Lycraon.”

That wasn’t his name, well not his real name anyway. The name he spoke was the nickname Raeger had given to his brother. It meant wolf. Raeger gave his brother that nickname because it suited him: a lone, strong hunter. No one knew the nickname outside of his family. The sudden revelation caused Raeger to run to his brother. They both shed tears of joy. After their reunion Raeger wiped his face with the back of his hand, and with a slightly cracked voice asked,

“Explain what happened to you brother. Why do you reside in the forest?”

‘”Sit down brother there is much to tell you. First let me tell you the history of our family. We are descended from a man named Lucien. He was the first of our blood to bear the curse-,”

“What curse?”

“ The curse of the wolf. Every 1st born in every 4^th generation of our family bears a certain mark on our bodies in the shape of a claw and fang. This mark causes us to transform into a wolf when we become enraged. ‘

“You still haven’t said why you live here rather than in the village.”

“I reside in the forest, because I was banished by our village. Many years ago I fought in the battle with the Farkens. You were about 8 years of age. Father and I fought the Farken. During the battle I saw our father run through with a spear. My anger boiled over I saw red. Then I began to feel a pain I had never felt before, my bones broke into pieces, and my muscles stretched and grew. My teeth burned. The pain consumed me, made me a killing machine fueled by rage. I could see myself, tearing into enemy and friend alike. Limbs and guts lay all over the battlefield, the Farken begged for mercy. My blood thirst grew, they spoke the language of men I couldn’t understand them. After the battle they sentenced me to the forests, where I have been living for 12 years.”

“So it was you that hunted me down all those weeks ago?”

“Yes I was able to contain the beast long enough to not kill you. However my bite did infect you with my curse,”

“What do you mean?’

“You are now a wolf like me. Stay I can teach you how to live, how to control it,”

“No…no I have to go I I can’t stay,”

“Fine come back when you have accepted the truth. Until then you will be subject to its power, and everyone you hold dear shall become your victim.”

Raeger raced through the forest. He could feel heart racing inside of his chest, filling his ears with a loud roar. So many thoughts were buzzing through his head. Was the reason he blacked out when avenging his mother because of the savage wolf he was related to? Did it flow into his blood? Why didn’t they banish me like they did my brother? He stopped for a moment to gaze at the sunlight. Then rage filled him. Why was it his family that was cursed?

The rage consumed him and he felt the pain Lycraon described. The pain was completely consuming, his bones cracked and reshaped. He could feel his skull cracking and remolding. His face extended, his cheeks retracted into his face. His muscles burned as they extended and grew to cover his now rapidly growing skeletal structure. He screamed in pain, but it came out as howl. It sounded more animal than human. Then the final change occurred. His body erupted in coarse jet black fur. The only thing remaining of his human self were his eyes. A deep rage burned inside of the depths of his golden eyes. The pain had burned away everything, leaving only a primal rage. The rage only allowed him one thought: KILL. He could smell a deer close by. He sprinted on all fours ripping out the earth with his claws. The cold air felt good whipping through his coarse black fur. He heard the deer before he saw it. He stopped several yards away from it. Excitement filled him, he could smell his prey. Its sweet tantalizing scent caused his mouth to water. He was downwind from the deer, which meant that he would not be smelled. He stalked his prey, slowly closing the distance between them. When he was in reach of his prey. He felt his muscles coiled in anticipation. The deer walked right in front of him. NOW, the thought resonated like a thousand symphonies. He pounced on the deer; it let out a yelp and then remained silent through out the whole ordeal. He steadily devoured the deer, its blood slowly dribbled onto the ground. He had never tasted anything more delicious than that deer. With his stomach full he climbed into a nearby outcropping. The rocky overhang providing shade for his body. He fell into a deep undisturbed slumber.

When he awoke it was almost daybreak. His body was covered in the blood from the deer. He could remember everything he felt when he was a wolf. Dread creeped into his mind when he remembered his brothers words “Fine come back when you have accepted the truth. Until then you will be subjected to its power.” I need to go back he thought. I need to learn how to control this thing, other wise my friends and the whole village are at risk. He found a stream close to the overhang; he waded in and washed off the dried blood. The cold water felt good on his skin. He wandered back to where he had turned. With each step his muscled screamed in agony. After some time he made it back to the place where he lost his humanity. His bow was still intact, but his quiver strap was completely destroyed. His clothes were torn apart but were still usable. He ran back to where he killed the dear. His muscles didn’t scream, but they did yelp. When he reached the dear he used his knife to cut the remaining skin of the deer, and used his remaining cloth scraps, to fashion clothing for himself. He made his way back to the village. The first person to see him was Hargoth.

“Where have you been? And why do you smell like guts?” he asked.

“I was hunting and I wandered a bit too far. So I spent the night in the woods.”

“You are really crazy, you know that right?” Hargoth said with a big grin on his face. “You had me worried brakon.”

“Well as you can see I’m fine. I’m just really sore and tired. I need to sleep.”

“Okay, see you later my friend.”

Raeger walked to his house his body was extremely tired, he entered his hut, the wool bed looked inviting. He fell into his bed and immediately fell asleep. He woke up the next day determined to see his brother, to master the wolf.

Over time he left the village and ended up in the woods with his brother. He was taught the ways of the wolf. His brother taught him ways of suppressing his anger, ways to tame the wolf. However the training was long and arduous at some points his rage almost took over, allowing the wolf to surface. Lycraon was able to subdue the wolf before he could fully turn. Raeger was spending more time away from the village. Sometimes he left for days on end, but returned with much meat. He never told anyone where he was going. Nor did they ask him where he went. He appeared angrier, less friendly. He had withdrawn from the village. He still cared for his people, but he was scared of the wolf. Raeger had still not mastered the wolf; it could burst out at any moment if he wasn’t careful. Hargoth once followed him out to the woods to where his brother lived. Hargoth sat there in the shadows, under the branches of an oak tree, observing Raeger and Lycraon. Suddenly Lycraon said

“We have someone in our presence,”

“Who is it?”

“Someone from the village he has seen us. He must be silenced,”

‘Shall I become a wolf?”

“Yes,”

With that Raeger’s body twisted and contorted. Yet the pain was less than the first time. Hargoth witnessed the transformation, but was too scared to move a muscle. The wolf picked up his scent on the wind. Hargoth regained control of his body and broke into a wild sprint. The wolf followed in pursuit. Its muscles rippling under the coarse black hair, like water on a windy day. Hargoth ran through the forest sprinting over rubble and fallen trees. He ran until he heard nothing. He looked behind to see nothing but trees behind him. Raeger had leapt into the trees, the hard oak branches supporting his weight. He moved stealthily through the treetops, not making a sound. He gently dropped behind Hargoth. The wolf knew this was to be easy from the start. Hargoth heard the heavy panting of the wolf behind him. As he turned around the wolf swatted him with one of its massive paws. He flew through the air as if he weighed no more than a piece of cloth. He struck a tree behind him his body screaming in agony. He couldn’t move his legs. He reached behind his back and felt the handle of his knife and warm blood coating his lower back. He realized that the knife he was carrying had come loose and pierced his spine. He could do nothing other than stare in fear at the beast that used to be his best friend.

“Raeger don’t do this, it’s me Hargoth,” Hargoth said desperately pleading with the wolf.

The wolf wouldn’t listen to him; it lumbered up to him. It took its own time. As it moved it let out a roar of triumph. He had succeeded in outsmarting and catching his prey. Hargoth stared on in fear. Soon the wolf reached him. It bared its long gleaming fangs and pounced.

“RAEGER PLE-“

The fangs of the wolf’s closing around his throat cut off his plea. Raeger turned back into a man. Standing, he looked upon the fallen body of his prey. Realizing that it was his friend, Hargoth, lying on the forest floor. A wave of grief washed over him, he fell to his knees sobbing. He started cursing the very air around him. Suddenly Lycraon appeared behind him.

“It seems you are ready,’

“Ready for what?”

“To aid me in destroying the village, the one that banished me,”

“WHAT! I will never harm those who cared for me,”

“You mean those who shunned out your own brother? Those who would kill you if they found out what you had become?”

“They cared for me when I was young. When you were banished, and our parents lay dead,”

“Traitorous fool... it is time I silenced you once and for all.”

The two brothers were overcome by rage. One turning for the betrayal of his brother, the other to defend his village. Their bodies started to twist and turn, their bones cracked and broke. Their muscles burned and tore. Reshaping themselves into wolves. When their transformations completed they began to circle each other, growling and snarling. Raeger dashed at his brother, clipping his left rib cage. Lycraon sank his fangs into Raeger’s arm. Raeger retaliated by repeatedly bashing his brother’s head until he loosened his grip. Now free from each other. They began circling again. This time it was Lycraon who charged. Raeger dodged his brother’s attack, causing Lycraon too go flying into the tree behind Raeger. His claws were impaled into the tree; he tore out his hand from the tree. 2 of his claws still remained embedded in the trunk. They didn’t circle each other this time, they charged immediately. There was a flash of claws and fangs, blood flying from gashes and bites. Finally Raeger put an end to the stalemate by pinning his brother to the ground. His brother began howling and kicking, trying to break free from Raeger’s hold, but to no avail. Accepting his defeat Lycraon roared at Raeger in a language only he could understand.

“KILL ME YOU INSCOLENT CUB! DO IT!!!! DO IT NOW!!!”

The primal rage surfaced once again and took over Raeger. His fangs sunk deep into his brother’s neck. There was a slight yelp, then complete silence. Lycraon reverted back to his human form, still barely alive. Raeger reverted back as well. Raeger ran to his brother and clutched his dying body.

“Why…why Raeger we could have lived as kings… as brothers,” Lycraon rasped

“Don’t you see brother your rage consumed you. You had no power over it.” Raeger said behind tears.

“Raeger… good bye..”

Raeger lay there cradling his brother’s dead body. Blood covered his body. Grief had taken hold of Raeger’s soul. So many of his loved ones lives had been claimed by Rage. His Father killed at war. His mother murdered during an invasion. Finally his brother’s and his Best friend’s deaths by his own hands. Death seemed to be his curse now. He could not save anyone. The elder had been wrong. He was the destroyer, the annihilator. He was no savior, he was a slave to the wolf. He carried his brother’s and friend’s bodies to the cave. He dug out 2 graves and buried them. he looked down at his body. 6 months ago his body was clean, unscarred and soft. Now it had hardened, as had his mind. He was no longer a man. He had become a wolf.