Author's Note: Follows the correct storyline all the way through till after S4. Any changes will be explained in detail in later chapters. Will become AU and an original story - no slash.
The full moon filled the sky above, illuminating the beast's jet black fur as it rippled in the wintery breeze. Powerful shoulders and powerful legs glided silently through the forest, silken grass fronds dappled with the prowling shadows of the night and crusted with the beginnings of snow fall.
It was here, with his brethren, the being felt most alive. It had been too long since their last gathering, but the current moon cycle drew them together like moths to a light. Or in this case, wolves to a full moon. A throaty huff escaped his snout at his private joke, the warm air swirling like smoke in front of him.
It wasn't much further now, he could sense his brothers' presence close by; their varied scents billowed in the air around him, lingering on his tongue. A final burst of energy took him through the undergrowth and broke his sleek form through the tree-line at a large clearing.
He was the last to arrive, seeing that he resided much further away - Camelot. He touched noses with a couple of his closest brothers and huffed loudly, signalling that he was all set to go.
Somewhere far away, a clock struck midnight. The moon's light burst through the canopy, turning the falling snow flakes into glistening diamonds.
The trees parted above them and allowed the pale glow to fill the air around them. Ancient magic of the land, imbued in the very soil beneath them, sung in ecstasy as the wolves threw back their powerful heads and joined together in a hallowing chorus; the tradition of ages.
The wolf drew breath and added his own melody to the song. He drew breath and howled.
Tendrils of ice darted down Arthur's spine, colder than the snow around him. He snapped his head up and saw reflected in the faces of the men around him that they too had felt the brush of a supernatural presence.
The howling ceased abruptly with the passing of a cloud through the night sky, and the young prince was suddenly all too aware of the penetrating silence. The only noise to burden his heightened senses were the laboured breaths of the knights around him and his own heartbeat. The fire they sat around had died out long before, smothered by an unnatural gust of wind.
No birdsong, no chittering animals. No rustling of leaves and no cracking of twigs.
None of the gathering made a sound, loath to break the silence with words. What could be said between them? After all, what power did words have over the sudden chill that had nothing to do with the cold?
The cloy feeling that lingered in the air; if Arthur Pendragon didn't know to think better, he could almost swear it to be magic.
Gwaine mumbled something about pheasants. The other knights grunted something that sounded like approval.
But their flimsy self-assurances didn't quell the roll of fear in the prince's stomach.
A/N: First chapter done! It's a preview of things to come - don't expect a quick update, because I have no idea what's going to happen in the story, only that I have a shapeshifter concept and one or two main events. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated :)
When more is written I will change the first chapter so it includes this prologue, and the first proper chapter (hopefully around 3,000 words or so.) I also need ideas for a better title and summary.
Please R&R - feedback helps, even if it's only encouragement. This type of story is hard to write so I want to know what you guys think of it. Until next time,
-Moonlite Streak-