Chapter 6: Secrets of the Wolves

Tamiel's eyes filled with tears again as he broke down, filled with joy that he had found someone willing to help his pack. "Thank you...thank you!"

He hugged Sonic, who was surprised, but hugged him back. Tamiel let go, and Sonic looked at him. "Should my brother, Shadic and Silvond help too?"

Tamiel nodded. "If they decide they want to, it would be very helpful. If you and I do this alone, then we'll have quite the battle on our hands."

Sonic looked at his brother and new friends. Shadow stepped forward without hesitation. "I'll help." This caused Tamiel to give a small, grateful smile. Sonic nodded, and then turned to Silvond and Shadic to hear their answers.

Silvond and Shadic shared a long look before nodding at the same time. They spoke in unison. "We'll help as well. We wouldn't be able to stand ourselves if we didn't."

Sonic smiled, as did Tamiel. The green wolf spoke softly. "Thank you all."

"What should we do now?" Sonic asked him.

Tamiel hesitated for a moment, and then looked Sonic straight in the eyes. "For starters...if Shadow and any of your other friends are willing...they should be turned by you."

Silvond shook his head. "I'm already a werebear. And Shadic is a shapeshifter. We have no need of a bite." Sonic nodded in acceptance of that.

Shadow stepped forward. "I'll do it. But I have a quick question for Tamiel." He turned to the wolf. "Why does he have to turn us?"

Tamiel sighed. "Sonic should turn you now, because that will make you a part of his pack, and give you the advantage of having a wolf form. If you go to fight Scourge's pack and are bitten by him or any of his wolves, you'll become part of his pack, and be forced to obey him. "Tamiel looked to Silvond and Shadic."You two...you don't have to be turned by Sonic, but you should let him mark you. Marking will allow you to join the pack as Half-Blooded wolves, and should another werewolf bite you, you will not become Full-Blooded. Only Sonic's bite will be able to cause that."

"And how will he mark us?" Shadic questioned.

Tamiel's answer was quick. "He will claw you on your right shoulder. A werewolf's claws don't carry the ability to make one a Full-Blooded wolf, but they will make you a Half-Blooded wolf. Half-Blooded wolves don't transform, but they have heightened senses and endurance. They also have slight wolfish characteristics, such as preferring rare meat over other foods."

Shadic and Silvond took a moment to discuss this option, and then nodded their agreement.

Sonic smiled, and then turned to Tamiel. "So how do I transform into a wolf? Is it forced or can I change at will?"

"You will go through forced changes at the full moons, but other than that you can change at will." Tamiel sighed. "However, you won't be able to change at will until after your first forced change, which is tonight."

"How did you become a werewolf?"

Tamiel hesitated, and then spoke. "Scourge and I became werewolves nearly a century ago. We were attacked by a black werewolf with grey streaks that was insane and half dead. It bit the two of us before we managed to kill it. It gave me the scars over my eye. Scourge and I became members of the wolf's pack, and Scourge quickly rose to the rank of Alpha." Tamiel sighed sadly. "It was about two decades ago that my brother, having been a kind and just Alpha, suddenly changed. He...became the monster I told you of. I think that the wolf that bit us not only turned us...but also passed on its insanity to my brother."

Sonic and the others looked at him in pity. "I'm sorry."

Tamiel looked at them and smiled gratefully. "You have no need to be, it wasn't your fault...but thank you."

Shadow walked up next to Tamiel and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No problem."

The anthro wolf nodded and sat down. "We'll wait for night then. That's when you'll transform for the first time."

"All right," Sonic said. "I'm going to go for a run."

He walked outside and ran off. Shadow stretched, heaving a sigh as he did so. "Speed junkie...Well, I guess I'll go for a slower paced walk around town."

"Care for some company?" Shadic asked as he yawned.

Shadow nodded. "Why not? Tamiel, are you going to join us?"

Tamiel hesitated. "I...guess I will. I'll probably attract attention with all these scars though..."

Silvond laughed as he helped the green wolf up. "You think you have it bad? I have horns and fangs!"

Tamiel laughed aloud as he got to his feet. "Good point!" Still chuckling, he led the others out of the house.