Search By Moonlight
Chapter Two: Child of the Moon
AN: If you guys don't understand what's happening by the end of this chapter, I don't know what to tell you.
Seiya ran through the trees, consumed by panic. His heart beat out two words; Serena…fear…Serena…fear…Serena…fear. What had happened to him? How had he gotten like this? As he ran, a thorn embedded itself in his paw. Yes, he now had paws instead of hands and feet. No part of him was remotely human anymore, except his mind. He was terrified…how had this happened? How could he change back? Oh, God…he hadn't called Serena! She was probably worried sick about him by now. If he ever got home, Kakyuu would throttle him…heck, so would Taiki and Yaten.
Note: I think you've figured it out by now, but ++ mean thought-speak/telepathy.
+Son, calm down,+ a voice told him. The order was not spoken out loud; rather, it resonated in his mind.
Seiya froze at the recognized voice. It couldn't be…his father had been missing for years. Kakyuu had been keeping the family together ever since their mother had died about five years ago. His father had disappeared, and his mother had been killed during a shoot-out on her way home from work. He hadn't expected to see or hear from his dad ever again.
+Dad?+
+Yes, son. You need to calm down. Use your nose…track my scent, and I'll explain everything.+
+How?+
+Sniff…you'll know.+
Seiya pressed his nose to the ground, sniffing. He could smell vegetation…God, how did he know what plants smelled like? He could smell rabbits…yum…his human mind shied away from his wolfish instincts. Finally, he smelled a strong, powerful, calming presence. It was definitely his father. He ran in the direction of the scent. He came upon a clearing, and in the middle of it stood a large wolf with sleek black fur and a majestic air, like the one his father had possessed.
+Well done.+
+Dad…what's happened to me? Why am I like this?+
+Vampires are in town, Seiya.+
+Whaaaat? Those are just in horror movies! They aren't real!+
+If you can turn into a wolf, don't you think that perhaps you should consider that they are?+
+Oh, no…does this mean I'm a…a…a werewolf?"
"Exactly.+
+No! I can't be!+
+You can, and you are. Don't worry, though. You do not change every full moon, contrary to popular belief. Usually, you never undergo the change…unless vampires are in your territory.+
+Huh?+
+This is werewolf territory. It has been since the beginning. Now, it seems that vampires think that we no longer exist.+
+When did this happen?+
+Do you remember when I disappeared? That was when the first one came. Now another has come, forcing you to undergo the change as well.+
+Does this mean that Taiki, Yaten, and Kakyuu are werewolves, too?+
+No. You are the only one who inherited the werewolf gene. The werewolves in our family always have dark hair and blue eyes…that is how we can tell.+
+I'm so lucky!+ Seiya snorted.
+I would have done anything to keep you from having to go through this.+
+Dad?+
+Yes, son?+
+Why did you leave? If you just change when vampires are around, can't you change back and live a normal life when you're not fighting them?+
+Once you undergo the change, you can control when you do so, but you have to keep a firm hold on your emotions. If you become too emotional…angry, scared…what have you, you change, and for a few minutes, you are nothing but an animal, with powerful primal instincts.+
+Oh, so if you and Mom had been arguing, and you'd gotten too angry, you could've gone all wolfy and hurt someone?+ This was getting worse by the minute.
+Yes…I didn't want to risk harming your mother or you, or your siblings.+
+Did Mom know about this?+
+No…it's a closely guarded secret.+
+This just gets better and better…+ Something struck Seiya. +Oh, no…Odango…+
"Who's 'Odango'?+
"Her name is actually Serena, but I call her Odango because of this hairstyle she wears. She's my girlfriend. She's not safe around me, is she?+
+No…you could try, but I would advise against it.+
Seiya's heart went cold as he realized what had happened. He was a werewolf, all because some stupid vampires had come onto werewolf territory…and the love of his life wasn't safe around him. He thought about what his father had told him, and swallowed a lump in his throat. He couldn't bear the thought of harming her…he had to keep her safe. He had to keep her safe from him. But the only way he could do that was by leaving…and that would mean breaking her heart. To save his angel, he would have to hurt her.
+How do I change back?+ he asked quietly.
+You calm your emotions and clear your mind…then focus on becoming human again.+
+Okay.+ Seiya focused, and he regained his human form. He stood, and started to leave.
+Where are you going?+
+I have to do something really important. I'll be back.+
+Remember…control.+
+I'll remember.+
With a great amount of pain in his heart, Seiya left the forest, feeling like he would rather die than do what he was about to do. He knew it needed to be done, but it didn't make it any easier or make him feel less wretched. If only there was another way…if only he could do something about this…if only fate would let him alone. The raven-haired boy brushed away the tears in his eyes. He prayed to every god, goddess, deity, and entity that he'd ever heard of that somehow, someday, things would be all right again. He also prayed that his Odango would eventually find it in her heart to forgive him for the pain he was about to cause her. He would rather carve his heart out than do this, but at least this way, he could protect her. Her safety was the most important thing…he couldn't be selfish.