Writer's Notes: My first fanfic so don't hate. Please review and send ideas or suggestions. Starting t but may get m. Will notify when such happens. Also, may be a little hard at updating since college and work together don't allow much time.
A strange man stood in the mountains, far from the town below in the valley. Fall was beginning to set, the color of the trees turning from their normal earthly green to their heavenly shades of yellow, orange and gorgeous scarlet. The wind whistled through the land, causing the sea of trees to swing in the afternoon sun. It also caused others to run to the nearest shelter for that meant a cold night was to meet them that night. The man, however did not care. He had grown used to the cold since he was young. He was a young man, barely past the age of manhood, going on his 21st birth year. He was a fairly handsome man, with short black hair in the front but then it flowed to reach the middle of his neck behind him. His face stood quite fair, slightly reminding one of an elf but it still contained the rugged features of man. He was very clean shaven, except a slight stubble on his chin. His body was more lean and thin compared to the thicker and burlier men who lived in the village but he had quite some strength on his side. He was still able to best almost any man in a feat of strength. His torso was fairly tall and his shoulders stood broad, combining that with the long legs he had made him usually a head taller than most men. What seemed unhuman about him was the eyes that he had. They were a crimson red, the shade of blood freshly spilt on often a man's blade. He was often seen by the town but it had not always been that way.
One winter night, it was said to be one of the worst snowstorms the village had seen in years. No one dared venture too far away that night in fear of getting lost and not being found until the sun came over the Spine, the mountains that surround the small village. One would consider it foolhardy to travel through such weather but not for one who walked through the snow as easily if it was not there at all. He would appear as any normal traveler, wrapped in his heavy cloak and wearing wool pants and thick boots. Underneath the cloak were a dark brown tunic and undershirt made of cloth. He also had a slight cape draping behind him except it looked the same as a dig's fur, the grey of wolves patterned all along it. But this was not the most surprising or confusing detail about this man: he walked with two large wolves at his side. They both stood roughly shoulder height to the man's waist, making them slightly larger than young children. They followed him as if he was one of the pack, almost to some as the leader.
The wolves walked at his side as he saw the torches of his destination, the small village that his vision had told him to travel west to. He mumbled something unintelligible and his two companions gathered onto him, nearly brushing his thighs. The man removed his arms from under his cloak and pet the two companions while he looked off to the side, seeing his other companions traveling through the forests with ease as well. The outlines of more wolves and even large bears were seen going through the woods. The man looked into the woods on the other side of the road and saw a similar effect. He even saw some cougars and other animals of the night walked through the dark. He then began towards the torches, his two wolves following him.
As he neared the edge of the town, the townsfolk notice him and several scurry away. Cautious mothers hurry their children home, hoping to protect them from the man who stood among them. Several of the men simply glare at the man and, as they would often say, "his vermin". A group of men who stood near the door of the butcher shop noticed him and several walked to the front porch, the butcher included. He noticed the odd man walking through the square, humped and spit at his feet. It landed on the man's boot which caused his animal friends to growl and snarl but the man simply continued, unfazed and only focusing on walking towards the local tavern where he hoped to find some information about what he was here for. The wolves continued to snarl but then trotted forward to stay with the man. Several of the men began to follow him but the butcher simply left him alone and returned to his shop.
The man found his destination maybe a few minutes later of wandering through the town, evident by the laughter and yelling that emitted from the door. As he neared, one of the men who stood to the side of the door held his arm in front of the stranger and said, his accent thick and rough: "lad, no pets allowed inside." The stranger held his hands up in defeat and said: "If the tavern keeper demands it, it shall be." He simply turns to his two companions and gestures for them to wait in the snow near one of the windows to the tavern.
He then enters into the bright light of the torches and the hearth that roared with life which also heated the inside to a degree that one could barely feel the chill of the night. He walked past several men who gave him weird looks before finding a stool at the bar. The tavern owner came to him and spoke: "What will you have, stranger?" The stranger finally spoke, his voice sound slightly gruff: "a simple ale, no room." "What, will you sleep on the floor of the bar? Not in my tavern." "Do not worry, for I shall stay with my companions in the snow." That last sentence caused almost everyone to stop and look at the man with a sense of confusion. The stranger spoke again, louder so the rest can hear him: "Aye, you heard me right. I will live with my companions in the woods. Now, give me my ale, man or I will get straight to the business that I have here."
One man shouts: "Who are you, stranger?" the man huffs before standing and removing his hood from his cloak, while saying: "I go by several names." He turns to the majority of the crowd so they can see his face and most of all, his blood red eyes. Most step back in fear that he is a shade, at which the man continues: "I have been known as 'the nature traveler' or 'the mountain man'. A more common name is 'the Beastmaster' or 'the lord of beasts'." At the mention of these names, the tavern erupts into a crowd of whispers. The stranger calms them by speaking again: "some know my real name but most know the name I have adopted since I began living with my friends: 'Urzeal'."
With that, several men shout and one even pulls a knife from his belt and holds it to strike. That same man says: "And what business do you have hear, Lord of Beasts or shall I say, King of Mongrels?" With that, several men in the tavern burst into laughter. Urzeal, remaining as neutral as when he entered, spoke in return: "I am looking for an Eragon, son of Garrow. I know that he lives nearby." A younger voice then yells out: "What do you want with me?"
Everyone turns and some of the folk part to allow clear view of the young lad, barely reaching his fourteenth year of age, sitting at the edge of the bar with his cousin, Roran and his uncle, Garrow. Urzeal closed his eyes for a moment before refocusing on the young man. He then walks forward but is stopped by Garrow who stood between him and Eragon. Garrow leans forwards and whispers: "We should talk about this at a later time in a safer place." Urzeal replies: "Understood. Look for the golden eagle and follow it."
With that, he turns to leave but is blocked by several of the mean who followed him from the butcher shop. One stands above the rest, saying: "don't that you are leaving this tavern without some bumps and bruises. You are some stranger who walks into town, and expects us to allow you to do as you wish. No, lad, you need to be taught a lesson." Urzeal replies: "do you know what I am called the Beastmaster? It should be obvious, as evident by those two wolves sitting obediently in front of that window." He gestures to a large window where a silhouettes of his companions sitting still in the cold wind. One of the men out front runs in, saying "Everyone, see what is going on outside." Everyone at first is stricken with confusion but then they file out to see what is going on.
They get outside to see a large pack of animals waiting around the tavern. Many more wolves, nearly four dozen of them, two score of bears and several cougars wait and watch in the snow. They never make a growl or snarl but many yawn in waiting for their alpha. Urzeal walks past all the men and women who were in that tavern and walks towards his pack.
His two companions bound towards him and stand at his side once more. Urzeal turns to face everyone and says: "If you need any more proof, here it is." His body then began to shifts rather oddly. His nose, teeth and ears lengthen to match the shape of a snout, a dog's teeth and wolf ears. His clothes seem to melt into his belt while his cape forms the fur that began to crawl all over his skin. His hand and feet match that of the paws found on the several other, yet smaller wolves nearby. He moves to all fours and a large tail sprouts from his backside making him totally complete.
He, still able to speak as normal as a human, says out loud to the town: "Never harm my pack and I shall never harm you. That is all I request." He then rears his head and lets out a bone chilling wolf howl which the rest of the pack joins in, bears roaring and cougars growling. Urzeal then turns and bounds away his pack following him into the night.
