The base of the six-storey tower on the north corner of the chateau, three stories below the drawbridge, was surrounded by jagged boulders left over from the building's construction a hundred years previous. A broken body sprawled across the rocks, in contrast to the songs of the birds, frogs, and insects serenading the sudden arrival of spring. Little light filtered down to that spot, yet just a few feet away there was a shimmer and glow in the greenery. Tendrils of light emanated from the glow and curled round the body, picking it up, slowly and tentatively moving it about, and then suddenly enveloping it completely for a good two minutes, as though the light was working on a complex task. Finally, the beams heavily released the body to the ground just away from the boulders. But in the place of the grievously injured man was a large wolf.
The tendrils retreated back in to the glow, which gathered and shaped itself into a colorfully robed and very weary Enchantress. "Get up, Gaston," she commanded.
The wolf rubbed his head with his paw and uncertainly pulled himself up to a sitting position. He blinked and stared at his forepaws, and started to breathe fast. "What in the HELL has happened to my fingers?... Where are my... Why ... No... NOOOO!" He shocked himself with a howl and his cry diminished to a whimper.
"You must listen to me, Gaston." Gaston the wolf turned and yelped at the sight of the Enchantress. "Today you returned vengeance for mercy."
"I couldn't very well leave Belle in the clutches of that monster!" Gaston stammered. He realized the noises coming out of his throat were nothing resembling French or any other human tongue.
"Belle knew her mind. Were you fearful for Belle or angry for your loss?"
"She would have been better off without... or really, with... Did you SEE him?"
"Indeed, I am responsible for the enchantment that turned a selfish young man into a beast, that he might one day learn to be truly human. I only wish I could do the same for you."
"WHAT?" Gaston snarled. " You mean you helped that THING and you can't help me? Why not?"
"Your need of magic assistance was greater, it is true. Adam's crime was of neglect; yours of active destruction. I would have liked to properly enchant you , since enchantments can be broken, but you were too badly injured and too close to death. To save your life I needed to act quickly, to fully transform you. This will be your form for the rest of your life."
"This!" snorted Gaston with contempt. "I'm some kind of dog or..."
"Wolf," corrected the Enchantress.
"Only a slight improvement over dog!" Gaston snapped. The Enchantress sighed as he began to pace angrily. "You'd have done better to let me die!"
"And would you have done better to take the burden of your actions to your Maker?" Gaston stopped in his tracks and stared at her. "Even an enchantress has limits, Gaston. I have only been able to buy you time. What you do with the rest of the life you have is up to you. I will watch over you the best I can, but from here on you must save yourself. Think about what has gone before and what is to come." The air around the Enchantress began to shimmer. "It will be hard, but you have what you need to succeed." The Enchantress was rapidly fading from view. "Heaven bless you, Gaston, and use your blessings well."
And Gaston was alone in the woods by the chateau, still seething, growling, "This is what you call a blessing, witch?" He worked very hard to quiet the part of his mind that started to consider that she may be right.