Author's note: Little to say, again. Details from the wonderful "Brotherhood of the Wolf" and music of Majora's Mask playing in the background. Let's go!

1. Skin-Walkers


1487.

Captain Phoebus stood really still as the new Minister of Justice inspected his troops. Five years after the Great Battle of Notre Dame, Paris had returned to its usual self and, after the death of the previous king, the new Charles the 8th had decided to choose a trusty figure to put order in the capital. A young monarch was always welcome, but perhaps this one was too young and had decided a little too quickly, but Phoebus and his men said nothing. Due to the king's poor health, a regent had been designed and Charles 'older sister, Anne, quickly became the best candidate. The new minister was a man around his fifties, named Jehan, who knew the Royal Court like the back of his hand. The benefits of being a regular in the Royal Hunts during the reign of the previous monarch often had those effects.

Judge Jehan's first order had been to put the famous Courtaud skull on a pole in front of Notre Dame. Apparently, he saw no harm in putting "a rotten bone for the people to play with". His dislike for gypsies was obvious from the very start but he did praise Phoebus for being able "to tame one and make it useful". Esmeralda obviously didn't like it one bit, but was happy to hear that the new minister had ordered his guards to be more lenient with her people, as long as they didn't commit crime worth the pyre or the noose. The Captain and his wife had now a child to look after, with probably another on the way, and they tried their best to keep the boy's good relationship with his dear Oncle Clopin, along with the bell-ringer, Quasimodo, who was like a big brother to the child.

A royal visit was in sight, and thus Jehan left nothing in the air. Not even the looks of the main cathedral and his inhabitants.

"So, tell me, captain. Is the bell-ringer a man you can trust? And I really mean trust. Our king needs people willing to give their lives"

"I wouldn't doubt Quasi's honor, not even for three seconds, Your Highness" Phoebus stood before Jehan's desk. "He saved my life and Paris whole"

"So I see. I've also heard he's a hunchback and was adopted by my predecessor"

"Yes, sir"

"Have you got any idea of his parents, Captain? Their whereabouts? Where was this Quasimodo born?"

"No, sir. I don't have that much information" Phoebus had heard from Quasi himself a thing or two, but not much. If his friend was borne gypsy, that really didn't matter.

"I'm not saying that his origins lessen his courage or honor, but we must be sure. Gypsies are now a faction to consider and we must know their numbers"

"He became an orphan shortly after he was borne, Your Honor. He grew up inside the cathedral with the Archdeacon, the gargoyles and the previous minister, Frollo"

"Very well" Jehan nodded and glanced through his window. He could see the cathedral from there. "Do you know why I decided to put that old skull in the plaza, Captain Phoebus?"

"No, Sir"

"I saw it as a sign. People needed to know that their famous beast was just a regular wolf looking for food and nothing else. If they had the chance to see that, then they would focus in their chores. Their unholy monster is now dust and bone. Nothing Faith cannot defeat. Just like the gypsies"

"Do you happen to know who killed the beast?" asked Phoebus.

"According to legends, a holy man. According to the witnesses, a young man with a dagger killed Courtaud. They even say it was a Roma but I very much doubt it"

"…" Phoebus said nothing.

"You're dismissed, captain. Greet your darling wife from me" smiled Jehan and the captain bowed. Once at the square, Phoebus sighed but smiled. Quasimodo was playing with a large group of children and among them was his son, Pierre. They seemed so happy together. Despite not having found love, the bell-ringer had become the favorite companion of all the children in Paris. They loved to hear his stories and they played around him over and over. They seemed to have noticed the skull on the pole and made up a story along with a game around it.

"Papa!" Pierre ran to greet his father.

"Hey! How's my little hero coming along? Are you having fun?" Phoebus lifted his son and playfully held him around.

"Quasi's the best, Papa. Maman is with Oncle, she said that they had to prepare a few things for the arrival of the king"

"Glad to hear. Quasi!" the captain walked to his friend.

"Hey, hi! Just second, guys. How was your interview?" the bell ringer beamed.

"Boring, as expected. How was your morning?" the blonde man put his son on the ground.

"Boring, as expected" the hunchback mimicked him and Phoebus laughed. "Has the minister told you what's with the skull?"

"It belonged to a large wolf named Courtaud. I heard the story back in the war. Around twenty years ago, a harsh winter arrived in Paris. Famine and cold attracted a pack of wolves that terrorized the area for months until a few brave citizens were able to corner them and kill the beasts. Their leader was this big dog and was the last one to come down. Forty people died that night"

"Woof" Quasimodo was amazed along with the children.

"And who beat him?" asked one of the kids.

"Nobody knows. Apparently, the skull is here to celebrate that the beast is gone and so here it is" Phoebus shrugged.

"Well, it's quite big, I give him that" admitted the bell ringer. A familiar music caught the attention of the children. Clopin's puppet show was about to start and they didn't want to miss it. As they ran towards the cart, Quasimodo heard a flute playing in a corner. A man was leaning against the pole and he was playing a beautiful reed instrument. He seemed to be unaware of the activity around the square. The hunchback kept on walking until he heard the man singing.

"Close your eyes,

Let the wolf come near.

"Round the Moon,

She brings you cheer"

Howls the Wolf,

Howls the Wolf…"

"Hu?" Quasimodo turned run just in time to see that the man was missing an eye. Then, he was gone. Where did he go? The bell-ringer reached the street where Clopin was in his jester-attire entertaining the children. The Gypsy King knew his secret was now known by many, but as long as he could keep it from people like Jehan, it was enough. The puppet show was still his number one choice and having Pierre and Quasi among the crowd was a plus. Esmeralda was worried sick about the royal visit, but Clopin knew better. As long as he kept his nose hidden, all was fine. Once the show was over, Pierre went to say hi to his favorite relative.

"Oncle!" the little rascal jumped into the gypsy's arms.

"Mon chèr!" Clopin let him hung from his neck. "Ouch, ouch! Be careful, mon enfant. I'm not that young anymore" the puppeteer giggled.

"That story was great! It had romance, a bad guy and a good guy!"·

"So happy to oblige, mon fantassin. And here's my favorite hunchback. How's Paris 'best bell ringer'?"

"Good, good. We had a great morning, I played all my… All my chores and I went down the plaza. Phoebus told us then of this big wolf, right, Pierre?"

"Uh-hu" the boy nodded. "Do you know that story, Oncle?"

"There are many wolves round Paris, you should know that. Paris was once named Lutetia or Lutece, similar to Lupe or lupo. That's Latin for Wolf, mon petites"

"Really?" Quasi blinked.

"This city was once a swamp, a hunting ground for wolves. It is no secret that they still live in the forests nearby. The Gauls named this place in their honor, along with the Romans" explained Clopin. "But I think you are talking about Courtaud, n'est pas?"

"Yes, that one!" nodded Pierre.

"As big as a pony, as terrible as a blizzard, black as the night and cunning like a man. Oui, I remember. Twenty seven years now"

"Did you see it, Oncle?" asked the boy.

"Aye. That was a terrible night, I tell you. Esme was still a petit ange and I was still a young lad. Cold as hell it was that winter. The aristocrats had emptied the lands, making all the deer and animals flee. Wolves were hungry and came to town. It was a cauchemar"

"But they defeated Courtaud, right? They did" Quasimodo spoke. "His head's in the square"

"I wish we hadn't, mes amies" whispered Clopin. "But enough dwelling in the past!All this talk of hunting, makes me hungry! J'ai faim!" they started walking back to the square. Pierre ran back to his father.

"Yeah, me too. Especially after seeing that guy with the flute and singing songs about the moon and wolves" giggled the hunchback.

"Wait, comment?" Clopin stopped the young man in his tracks. "What man?"

"He was at the square, playing the flute. He was missing an eye. I didn't pay too much attention. Do you know him?"

"Je ne suis pas sûr. Ugh! Never mind! Let's go find Esme. I can't think with an empty stomach" the gypsy smiled and they kept on going. It was a lovely morning but a cloud had just appeared in Clopin's thoughts and that couldn't be good. "Fronsac"


The song is from director Tomm Moore.

Presenting new characters, new problems and old ones too. I checked the historical moment of 1897 to make sure of certain things, as well as the origins of Paris. Easter egg for all of those who have read the book.

I changed the name of Phoebus's son because Zephyr was too much for me.

More to come!