What is happiness? What is love? Ice cold rain splattered on a teen's already drenched head; his ripped and torn shirt unable to fight the chill that dripped down on his already freezing body. Staring outside the traveling prison bars the boy watched as people stared at him like a terrifying beast as a wagon displayed him for the public to see.
Am I alive? Am I dead? Why do they stare am I not like them? The teen wondered his mind barely alive as his body slowly shut down from his trembles and cold.
"WHOA! Whoa there boys." the boy's eyes weakly opened. Through the haze of the icy rain the boy's eyes found a large stone archway covered in vines and creepers. Straining weak eyes the boy carefully observed as a tall dark figure stepped out from the intense fog of arctic rain.
"What do you bring?" the robed figure asked the driver turning to the viewable cage. As the figure stared at the nearly lifeless boy's body a new kind of shiver went through him as the visibly cold eyes stared at his motionless body.
"I see. Such a rare and beneficial item. It'll need to be chained before the auctioneering. Head to the left." the robed figure said his voice scratchy barely sounding alive.
Hastily the horse drawn cart lurched forward through the stone archway and drifted to the left. An eerie sensation coasted over the feeble youth as they went through the archway and turned inside warily the boy found an ominous sight a massive domed building. Blue flames decorated the dark towers points, shadows drifted through lifeless doors and windows, death and violence clenched the air as the wagon drew closer. Shaking violently the young man felt eminent fear surge into his heart as they drew nearer to the building; abruptly exhaustion and dizziness slammed upon him making his world go black.
Why am I here? Why does my heart beat so hard? Why does my body ache and my eyes burn? The youth questioned in the darkness as his wits slowly regained themselves as the black was turned into grey.
He lay tucked into the corner of the wall, a rough metal collar chained him to the cold surface. Sounds and cries of inhuman beasts and creatures resonated throughout the darkened place. Opening his eyes to the grey the boy found cages holding a menagerie of horrific beings; things with three toes, things with horns and claws, others with monstrous jaws. Odors of dirt and filth, death and oils, flame and ash filled the air making the already nauseous boy sick in the stomach. Unfeeling the boy sat up his head staring up at the unseen ceiling the scent, chill, and distant call echoed against the outside wall. With fatigued eyes once again shut the youth sat listening to rain and the wails of the creatures as new sound appeared.
More red. More red. I must have more red. I must have more delicious, warm red. The boy's ears pricked to the scraggly female voice opening one of his burning eyes finding a wild unkempt woman held in iron chains yanking at their captors as one would walk past.
A frame like an old woman with greasy black hair and elongated broken fingernails the woman shrieked and howled as she lunged towards passersby reaching as far as she could for them. The boy watched this erratic lady yell sounding like a wounded animal with each failed attempt.
Please more red. Please give me red. Please give me my precious red. The woman wept as more people passed by her restrained form, acid yellow tears streaming down her hidden face.
Why do they reject her? Why do they reject me? Are we not alive? What is this "red" that she desires so? Is it love? Is it death? What is the red? The boy wondered curiously as he continued to study the wild woman.
"Next up are numbers twenty six and twenty seven bring them back stage." Gruffly a men arrived beside the teenager and the woman unlocking their chains from the walls, the men holding the lady kept their distance making a wide spider web of chains around her each watching her carefully for one of her lunges. The boy, meanwhile, wore manacles on his wrists and was led by his metal collar after the struggling woman his body weak with every step.
Stumbling and tripping after the enraged woman the boy watched as the grey became white. Held behind a dark curtain the boy watched as the rough woman was hauled onto the light wood stage, leaning to one side the youth found row upon row of theatre seats filled with dark robed white masked people. Eyes hidden but intensions clear in the aura the boy shrank back his ears caught by the shrieks of the fitful woman as she yelled and howled yanking at the people across the stage.
I want my red! Give me my red! Why would you hide my precious red?! My red! My red! My red! MY… Silence snappishly came into place as the woman became stock still her cries dead quiet. Leaning out from behind the curtain the adolescent gazed at the lady whose eyes were fixated on something in the crowd. Following her direction of sight the youth found a young female standing near the back row a larger figure standing behind the female's smaller figure.
MY….MY RED! CRACK! Suddenly the house turned into chaos as the unpredictable woman broke free of her chains ragingly launching towards the two near the back door.
As the beast like woman hurled herself at the two individuals a wall of thorns entrapped the two. Astonished the youth pulled further out onto the stage as the enraged woman tore away the thorny brambles revealing the two people the larger male in front of the smaller female, his arms opened wide a man shield. The youth watched as the woman effortlessly swatted the larger male away like an over grown fly smashing him into the backstage wall.
AHHHH!
Horrified the teenager watched as the wild woman held the girl by the throat. Her screams sent chills down the boy's spine while the rest of his body was lit a flame. The boy's eyes went between the girls' scared suffocating face and her large guardian struggling to get up for the second round. Eyes finally resting on the girl her eyes filled with tears and the woman cynically staring down upon her like a cat on a robin, something deep within the youth snapped. Sharply the theatre filled with wind and flame, with torn clothes whipping around a mile per hour and a warm golden glow surrounding him the boy snarled leaping out from behind the corner of the curtain. Abruptly the youth soared his body expanding and contorting into a new form body growing longer, fur sprouting like weeds while his puny teeth and nails grew longer into sharp fangs and mighty claws while his clothes were slowly absorbed into his skin allowing his fur to be more prominent. Swiftly the boy emerged snapping his thick iron collar revealing himself in the form of a massive white wolf with miraculously golden eyes.
Wind swept through the theatre rustling the wolf's pristine white coat flames dancing, crackling around him with his brilliant golden eyes resting on the demon woman and frightened girl. Casually the wolf jumped down from the stage advancing swiftly across the damaged seats with gleaming fangs bared. Arriving at the back of the theatre standing defiantly across from the woman the wolf snarled his ears erect his head high. The woman, however, would not remove her eyes from her prey as small trickles of blood were slowly drawn from around the terrified girl's neck as she continued to cry from both pain and fear.
My precious red. My precious red you have returned to silence the gnawing in my throat and stomach. To relieve me from my pain and suffering. My…..precious…..red…..BLOOD! Lunging forward the woman's gaping mouth reached towards the girl's throat.
Instinctively the wolf threw back his head sending his proud defiant call up to the prominent ceiling freezing the woman in her tracks keeling her over to the floor. Muzzling the call the wolf rushed forward grabbing hold of the girl's black cloak the white wolf swung the girl onto his back her weight no more than a feather to him. Feeling the girl cling to his fur and hide a new strength arose within him, sensing danger the wolf leapt high into the air the wind promptly carrying him back to the stage as the woman viciously swiped at the wolf's broad chest. Facing the almost empty seats the wolf growled as the woman sluggishly gained her footing, snarling the wolf rushed to where the girl's protector struggled to stand gently the wolf deposited the nearly unconscious girl in his waiting arms; the protector nodded to the wolf who immediately nodded back. Whirling around the wolf found the woman hauling herself towards the stage her pointed teeth showing as her rage grew to deadly heights. Snarling the wolf took his place center stage staring defiantly as the woman hastily grew closer, once again the wolf hurdled off the stage fangs bared.
No one could describe the fight that took place in the stands of the theatre. Fangs, claws, nails, and teeth flew as each second turned into a minute, and the minute turned into an hour. Eternity seemed to occur until the wolf and woman broke apart the wolf returning to the stage and the woman landing in the middle seating isles. Bites and scratches were visible on both victims, however, heavier wounds could be seen on the wolf deep lacerations rested on the wolf's chest, back, and neck. Blood streamed heavily from both opponents wounds breath labored as they sucked for air; an abrupt smile revealed itself on the woman's horrific lips.
My precious red is here. Beautiful red blood, oh, how the smell invigorates me, however, a Slay Vega's blood is so much sweeter. Wolf that girl…..will…..be…..mine. Her blood will be devoured until she is nothing but a lifeless husk. The woman thought a menacing smile shaking the wolf to his core.
Snarling the wolf raised himself onto his hind legs slamming his blood stained paws to the floor. Instantly wind, flame, water, and earth appeared in massive pillars beside the wolf taking on his form in a brief instant, each seemed like a mold holding the inner elemental power that raged within them. The woman stared perplexed as the single bloody wolf turned into a pack of snarling elemental wolves. Simultaneously the pack jumped off the stage entrapping the woman in a barricade of massive canines fangs bared as they moved forward till only inches were between them. Finally in one swift silent moment the elements held the woman in their jaws and the white wolf stood over her, her throat caught within his mighty jaws. Primitive yellow eyes staring at the eyeless woman, then in one rapid moment her life seeped away.
My…..red. My…..precious…..re….. Calmly the wolf stepped away along with the elements who after a fleeting look at the white leader smothered, evaporated, fizzled, and disintegrated till all that was left was the wolf, the guardian, and the injured girl.
Staring down at the woman the wolf sighed turning around he found the massive horned guardian and girl staring down upon him from a top the stage. Slowly with painful steps the wolf made his way up the stage stairs till he stood across from the two. Gradually a small breeze swirled around the wolf camouflaging him till the wolf no longer existed and the boy in the torn dirty clothing appeared the wounds from the wolf the only notion that the two were the same. Turning his blue eyes to the two figures the boy gave a slight nod before exhaustion and weakness overtook his wounded frame, collapsing in a heap of blood and limbs.
Where am I? Who am I? What am I? Are I human or am I a beast? Am I like the woman wanting something that will harm another or am I like the protector willing to do anything for another? Will I live to even find out? The boy unconsciously wondered in the dark as he floated upwards away from shadows and unknown depths to the light and warmth that hovered above him.
Tweet. Tweet. Chirp
Fatigued eyes opened finding warm sunlight pouring from wide open windows. Gazing up at a white ceiling the boy lay still trying to understand his surroundings. Groaning the boy sat up finding a soft cushion bed resting underneath him, with a comfortably sized room encircled around him. A small wood desk sat beside his foot board a wooden chair facing him with a white pitcher and bowl rested on top. With stiff movements the boy rotated to the edge of the bed discovering tight white bandages around his arms, chest, back, and neck taking note of his injuries the boy wondered what else had happened after the fight.
Creak.
The boy's blue eyes flashed as the dark wooden door opened revealing a girl around his age with warm red hair and enticing green eyes beside her a large black dog standing as tall as her hips with an elongated tail and protective red eyes. Silently the boy watched as the girl stepped over to the desk setting down a pile of clothes before coming to the boy's side. Carefully the stranger reached for the boy's hand tensing as her skin touched his. The black dog came closer his head hovering above the two hands.
"It's alright we won't harm you. I've brought you fresh clothes, I'll wait downstairs with my teacher you may come down when you're ready." The girl said speaking quietly stood up and left the black dog trailing her every step.
Minutes passed before the boy stood his mind still trying to assess his surroundings. Gingerly he hobbled over to the folded clothes his bandaged wounds aching as the boy lifted the section of clothes displaying each one individually. A light weight hooded jean and denim jacket, a pair of dark blue jeans, a dark grey long sleeve shirt, and a new pair of dark brown hiking boots; painfully the boy set to work removing his night shirt and shorts replacing them with his new clothes. Half an hour passed before the boy gradually walked down the small wooden staircase adjusting his hooded collar. Reaching the last step the boy found soft whispers echoing from a warmly lit den, cautiously the boy stepped over to the door finding the horned guardian sitting in a large back chair and the girl resting comfortably on a large sofa; another lady stood in the room wearing a large ruffled dress and baunet serving food and drink. Taking notice of the doorway the guardian stood thoughtfully stepping over and offering a gloved hand to the boy who shrank back in worry.
"It's alright my son; there's no reason to be afraid. Please come in and join us." The guardian's voice was deep and warm glancing towards the girl he asked the girl an important question as his sky blue eyes connected with her bottle green eyes; silently she smiled and gave an approving nod.
Accepting the smile the boy gladly took the hand and was carefully led to the sofa where he gently sat down beside the girl while the black dog took his place on the floor laying over both the girl and boy's feet. Slowly the guardian retook his seat crossing one leg comfortably over the other with hands rested gently on his lap; the girl stood nonchalantly handing her guardian and the boy a mug of warm tea. Staring into the cup of warm brown liquid the boy sniffed at the rich aroma as it wafted into his face; looking around the boy noted his acquaintances taking tentative sips of the hot liquid. Copying his hosts the boy took small tentative sips allowing the warmth to trickle down his throat calming his nerves and relaxing his muscles. Taking in the guardian's appearance in the boy remained surprisingly calm. Wearing a three piece suit with a long wide sleeved black robe, nothing was abnormal about him except for his canine skull head with twisted horns the splayed to either side. His eyes were like black holes holding no life except for his red pupils.
"Well now, I'm sure my son that you have many questions so once you feel more comfortable feel free to ask." the guardian stated resting his mug on the edge of his knee; after another timid sip the boy with eyes focused on his hosts eyes asked his questions.
"What am I? Where are we? What happened after the battle to the woman and myself?" the boy asked his sky blue eyes relaxing with each question that went past his lips.
"Hmmm….where to begin? Well first off we are in the west of London, a city in the corner of England. After you exhausted yourself and collapsed on the stage Chise my student and I bought you as one part of thanking you for saving us from the Baobhan sith. The woman as you call her, her body was sold to a separate buyer. Later after your purchase we brought you here to our home and treated your wounds, fever, and your hypothermia over the last four to five days. We were worried that we had arrived too late. As to the question of what you are well I need to ask a question first do you know who you are?" the guardian asked his eyes firmly holding the boys within the beast like skull of his; with eyes sadly dropped to his resting cup he shook his head.
"I have no memory of my past. All I've ever known, at least I think, was the man that sold me, the cage where I lived, and the land where people looked at me with stone like gazes. Who I am, what I am, and where I come from is a thick fog that I can't seem to pass through no matter how hard I try." The boy replied quietly untrusting of his hands that shook madly the boy set his cup on the coffee table. "Earlier at the cold place what I did felt familiar as if I've done it my whole life but it still seemed new somehow."
"Your kind are known as therianthropes more specifically a lycanthrope but not ones you've seen from those movies that are meant to frighten people." The guardian said setting his own tea on the coffee table. "You were born with this gift and as such can control it at will, however, I have never heard of a lycanthrope that could control elemental copies of itself."
A lycanthrope. The boy thought to himself hoping the word would bring a memory from the fog but nothing seemed to happen.
"Anyhow this is your home now you may live here to your hearts content Child of the Moon, oh, it would be a shame not to call you by a proper name. Do you have any idea what it was or could be?" the boy shook his head to the guardian's question; his name was lost along with everything else and within this lose a new worry penetrated deep within. "Well I guess we will have to come up with something then won't we. Hmmm let me think for a moment…..hmmm from your facial features and body tone I would say you come from an old strand of Celtic stock so your name will be…..CONALL…..yes Conall. What do you think does it fit you?"
"Conall. Kun-al, hmmm sounds and feels good to me." Conall said happily sounding out his new name to himself a bright happy smile on his face. The girl beside him smiled at the new relief on the boy's face.
"Well Conall I guess we had better properly introduce ourselves I'm Chise Hatori an apprentice magus and this is my, oh, whoops I mean our teacher and father Elias Ainsworth." Chise replied gently offering her hand which was given a firm hand shake.
Morning came and went with Conall being showed around the house and garden of his new home. As the day progressed Conall was introduced to the Silver Maiden or Silky the household neighbor maid and Ruth a Church Grim and Chise's familiar. A little while later Conall excused himself for some private sightseeing while Elias taught Chise her lessons from the past days that were put on hold due to his arrival. With slow uneasy steps Conall walked through the pristine garden the comfortable rolling hills behind giving a calm and serene breeze that easily ruffled his shoulder length dirty grey hair. Cradling his face Conall closed his eyes allowing the sun to warm his tan skin with its delicate rays.
Remember spring off your hands when going from a hand stand to your feet otherwise you'll end up on your head or rear.
Conall's eyes flew open at the sound of the female voice. Looking around frantically Conall searched for the owner only to find himself alone in Elias' garden. Gazing at his hands Conall wondered if he could do it; taking a deep breath Conall focused on a farther off flower bed noting the voice in his head Conall leapt into the air landing skillfully on his hands resting carefully on the cobblestone path. Abruptly Conall felt his arms giveaway under his handstand wobbling only for a moment before heavily thudding to the ground. Laying on the path Conall felt his arms burn with rage as he tried to sit up.
"CONALL!" Conall turned to Elias and Chise's voices as they rushed out the door to his side. "What happened are you alright?"
Still slightly bewildered Conall quietly nodded as he was helped to his feet. With assistance brushing off Conall was aided into the house where he was rested on the den's floor. Slowly Conall took of his jacket and shirt finding his once starch white bandages red with blood. Chise gasped as the bandages were unwound revealing wounds reopened and oozing. Over the next hour, Chise and Elias set to work stitching the wounds closed, reapplying ointment and salve to the lacerations, and covering with fresh bandages.
"I'm sorry." Conall said as the job was finished, and the area was being cleaned. Elias looked to Chise questioningly who shrugged her shoulders to the words.
"Sorry for what accidently falling and reopening your wounds. Accidents happen you'll just have to be slightly more careful as you move around all right." Elias replied a slight chuckle in his voice as he helped Conall to his shaky feet before playfully ruffling the boys dirty grey hair.
Conall half smiled as Elias walked towards the kitchen while Chise finished rolling up the spare bandages. Quietly Conall took a seat on the edge of the couch staring at his hands as he slowly opened and fisted them, in silent consultation Conall wondered whose voice had come to him.
It was warm and gentle and familiar. I knew that voice. Why can't I remember whose it was though? Growl. Conall growled as the frustration grew. Why were his memories gone? What had forced so much of his life to disappear?
Suddenly a new warmth rested on his shoulders and lap. Opening his clenched eyes Conall found Elias sitting beside him his left arm draped over Conall's shoulders, while Chise knelt on the floor her arms and chin resting on his lap. Concern rested on Chise's face and Elias' eyes, slowly both drew closer till there was a tight family hug around Conall. As the warmth and companionship grew salty tears leisurely streamed down his cheeks; pain and frustration flowing from a nearly darkened heart.
"That's it Conall let out all your pain and suffering let it go and allow your heart to fill with light and hope. We will help you and you will help us. We are a family now and we care deeply for you and wish you only happiness." Elias' warm deep voice whispered as Conall's tears dried and his pain lifted.
But how? How will I help him? Conall asked himself.
As evening drew to a close and after a hearty dinner of stew, salad, and bread Conall helped Elias and Chise make a bed for him on the couch in the den. Conall had found out by accident that Chise had given up her bed so that he could rest more comfortably when he had arrived and recovered. Later after hearing this and with a small brief argument Conall finally convinced his new adoptive sister that he would be fine on the couch. With numeral thick quilts and blankets making up a soft bed on top of the already comfortable coach Conall smiled. Dusk soon shadowed the windows with quick goodnights and sweet dreams Conall watched as lights were turned off and the creaking floorboards were silenced. Sighing Conall willingly called the wolf forward feeling the strength, power wrap around him Conall settled down in the both the strange yet familiar form. After listening to the quiet creaks of the old house as the breeze outside grew harsh Conall jumped onto his makeshift bed, curling up comfortably with his head on his paws and tail lazily draped over his hind feet Conall fell into a deep reassuring sleep.
CRACK. BANG. KROOM. RUMBLE, RUMBLE.
Conall's head shot up from his restful dreams at the sound of thunder, lightning, and heavily pounding rain. Shaking away cobwebs Conall checked his surroundings it was still well into the midnight hour a warm fire still crackled in the fireplace as the storm pounded against the house. Yawning heavily Conall stood up on the couch stretched his stiff legs then after a brief circle on the couch settled down again his head hanging slightly over the edge of his bed.
SCRAP. SCRATCH. SCRAP. SCREECH.
Conall's ears perked to the noise as his eyes reopened. Laying perfectly still the wolf listened as the sound of rough nails or claws scraped against the cobblestone pathway. With perked ears Conall listened as the scraping walked around the edge of the building a distant pungent odor drifting to his sensitive black nose. As ill intent drifted over Conall stood on the couch quietly stepping down and heading for the front door. Conall looked at the handle then glanced back into the house, stifling a growl Conall shook his fur raised himself on his hind legs and released the latch then with every effort to be quiet slipped outside into the storm closing the protective door behind him.