The Hunt Gavin's POV
The sun had begun to set, its last rays of light slowly fading away behind the valley. Crickets had joined the night, along with hooting owls and swooping bats. The crowd outside of the little house had began to howl and laugh as the hunt was about to start. I had nodded off a couple times by the bedside where Tobias laid. He had not woken up from the fight with the four Lu Garou that attacked him. I held his hand as the local medicine women healed and wrapped his wounds. I hated how there was nothing for me to do to help. The women also gave him medicine to help him sleep the pain off, but he still winced in his sleep, slightly squeezing my hand as if to reinsure me.
I rested my head on the extra bedding next to his side and closed my eyes. Tobias had cringed away from my hand and moved it to lay on his chest. But I was persistent enough to lay mine on top of his. I had to know if he was ok; feeling his hand twitch under mine would do just as fine.
"Hun? Why don't you go back outside, we can take care of him." One of the women said, her silver hair thinning on her head.
"No, it's ok. I want to see if he's ok." I replied, lifting my head up to her. My body stayed hunched over the side of the bed; neck protesting to lay back down.
"Are you sure? I mean, he'll be out for awhile."
"I know, I just want to be here for when he wakes up…" I felt my face drop as I looked at Tobias. It was true, no one other than Dawn, Pan, Gino, Salem and the two kids visited him since the attack. It made my stomach churn as I thought of how…cruel everyone else could be to him. Not even his mother came in to see if he was doing well. My mind went through all the scenarios that could happen if he woke up alone. I wanted to be there for him when no one else was. I couldn't picture myself walking out on him when he was weak, especially when he didn't walk out on me when I was...
It seemed that I had just closed my eyes when I felt Tobias stir. I lifted my head to see his eyes slowly opening, his nose wrinkling to the smell of iodine and herbal plants. My hands clenched the edge of the bed as he took in a large breath, his chest expanding from the intake. Then he let it out, turning his head to me.
"Tobias?" I whispered, my eyes watching for any sign of pain.
"G-Gavin? What are you doing here?" His voice cracked as he looked around the room.
"Making sure you're ok." I said, pulling the blanket up to his chest.
"Thanks I guess? But what I mean is, why aren't you out there getting ready for the hunt?"
"It can't be that important, can it?" I replied. The silver haired woman dropped a pan and turned to look at me. A couple of the other women paused to do the same. "What?"
Tobias blinked, his eyes looked me up and down. "It IS a big deal. Not only is it your first, but it's tradition."
"You just woke up and you're telling me what to do?"
"That's not the point, Gavin. You're privileged… no, honored to be apart of this, you'll probably get a head start too."
"That doesn't matter to me."
"Then what does matter to you?" His voice went low, almost in a growl.
"I told you, making sure you're-"
"Ok, I get it. You have eternal servitude towards me, that's fine. But Gavin, I would kill to be in the spot you're in. Look at me. Instead of joining the pack for the hunt right now, I'm laying in bed like this, banged up and hooked up." His face took the shape of pain as he tried to get up from the bed.
"Oh no you don't!" A woman said, placing her palm on his chest, pushing him back down. "You'll rip the stitches out."
"Face it Tobias, you can't go, not like this…" Another lady said, waving her hand down his body. Tobias laid his head back down on the pillow and scowled.
"See? I would kill!"
"I don't even know what we're hunting." I said, but felt the room grow quiet again. The women looked back and forth with one another and frowned. Tobias's face contorted in sorrow as he watched me. He turned his head away from me, his eyes locked on a place unknown.
Just then, Rafael came through the door, stopping in front of everyone.
"Glad to see you're up and well, Tobias." He said as he closed the space between him and the bed. "I'm sorry you were put through that ambush. I'll have you know the Lu Garous responsible were punished."
Tobias closed his eyes and sighed. His mouth formed a straight line. Rafael continued.
"Things have changed since my time of rein, things that I agree with, and things that I do not. It is not right for you to be attacked like that while protecting a younger and less experienced wolf. Not that he couldn't have taken Liko, but, you saved him from an even worse injury."
"Gino is experienced. He just… chooses to be younger."
"Whatever the case may be, you protected him when it shouldn't have been your fight to finish. Now you have to pay for it. I am so very sorry that I wasn't there sooner."
"It's ok… when Liko sets his mind to something-"
"Tobias." Rafael's voice growled. "Stop trying to cover for everyone. Worry about yourself for once. Liko should have known to stop when you phased back. Not just Liko, all of them. One of the Lu Garou was in line to be an alpha, but I sought to it that he never will be."
"Great…"
"The fact of the matter is, they found your pressure points, phased you back, and continued to attack. That is unacceptable. I had half the mind to cancel the hunt tonight…"
"No you can't do that! It's tradition."
"I am Rafael Dogon, I can do whatever I please to do. Whether it is to punish the youth, or stop a tradition, I have full say."
I blinked as I watched Tobias and Rafael bickered back and forth. The women fluttered around, probably trying to avoid confrontation. I jumped when Rafael called my name, bringing me back into focus.
"Gavin, we must leave now and get ready for the hunt. It won't be long now." He said, his back turning to us and heading toward the door.
"I don't know…"
"What do you mean, 'You don't know?'" Rafael whirled around.
"I don't know if I want to do this. I'm… a little nervous."
"You must do this. It is your first hunt, along with being inducted, you must attend this event." He said, his voice rising a little. "Everyone is a little… nervous, I guess. Nervous, anxious, excited…"
"Don't remind me." Tobias said dully as the lady with the silver hair checked his stitches. "So I'll be by myself while everyone has fun?"
"No, I will be here. As head medicine woman of the Dogon pack, it is my duty to watch over the sick." The woman said, not taking her eyes off his wounds.
"I'm not sick."
"You keep talking back, I'll use a plant on you that WILL make you sick." The woman said, her mouth twisted up into a smirk. She moved his arm around, making him wince.
Rafael continued. "But all of that fades away when we smell our prey's blood and follow them until their time runs out."
"You suck blood too?" I asked. I could feel my eyes widen in shock. They couldn't be like Chester, could they?
"Drink blood! You think we suck blood like a parasite? The nerve!" Rafael said, like he was offended. I saw the old woman cringe at the offensive word describing a vampire. Since we had arrived, I had heard all the different variations of words against vampires. I couldn't tell you all of them; I must have lost count.
"No… I, um. I really don't know." I said, dropping my head in embarrassment.
"He doesn't know better, Rafael. He was locked in a coven's basement his whole life. You can't blame him for asking…or not knowing." Tobias jumped to my defense, which I was really grateful for.
"I should say so. Well, Gavin, we must go now. The more we spend talking, the less of a chance we will have to get a good spot to start off at."
"Yes sir." I said, standing up from where I sat by Tobias's bed side. I looked at him for reinsurance. Tobias nodded at me and cleared his throat.
"Tell me about it tomorrow, I want to hear every detail." He smiled weakly, twitching when the lady examined his stomach.
I nodded to him and followed Rafael out of the clinic. We were walking for sometime before he spoke up.
"I am sorry I snapped back there at you, Gavin. It took me by surprise. It's not exactly a question that pops up every once and awhile."
"How do we smell their blood then?" I asked, looking at the side of his face. He walked a couple more feet before he spoke. I didn't even know WHO we were smelling.
"We cut them."
"Oh." I looked at the ground again. When we approached the gathering crowd, most of them were nearly naked, even the women. Some had loose fitted clothes that barely hung to their bodies; men wearing nothing but pants.
"Gavin, go up on ahead and join your pack, this is where we will depart for now."
"Ok." I said. Rafael leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear. I looked back at him in confusion while he smiled gently to me. His hand rested on my shoulder and gently shook it as I watched him branch off to the right. He turned to leave and met up with another Lu Garou - probably an Alpha - and walked with him toward Delos and the other Alphas. I looked around, not sure how I was supposed to break through the crowd. I glanced to my left as I saw Salem rubbing his arm. The wind blew harder, making a whole bunch of people shiver and shake. I walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey Salem." I said, seeing Dawn and Gino turn my way.
"Oh h-hey, Gavin." Salem said, his teeth chattering. "How is T-Tobias?"
"He's fine. He's disappointed that he couldn't be here tonight." I said, noticing that he was rubbing his bare arms faster. Like the other males, he only had pants on that looked like they would fall at any second. "Do you want my shirt? I'm not cold." I took it off and held it out to him.
"N-No. I'm fine-e. You won't need it a-anyway." Salem gave me a small smile. He nose was red from the cold. "It's good to hear that he's doing well…"
"You should probably move to the front with the others, Gavin. The ceremony is about to start." Dawn's calm voice said, her voice not wavering like Salem's. I nodded to her, gripping my shirt in my hands. I moved through the people, saying "excuse me" and "sorry" every couple people I bumped into.
Somewhere in the crowd, I smelled a scent that I didn't know, but felt so familiar. I followed my weak human nose toward the scent, which got bigger and stronger. When I got closer to the smell, I realized it was "my" pack that left the scent. I recognized Liko who was jumping around, trying to keep warm. His lean muscles rippled as he moved up and down. The boy next to him - who I recognized as Zolfo - stretched himself out, smiling to Liko. I moved my way toward them and placed my hand on Zolfo's bare back.
"Uh!" He said, turning around to catch my hand. I blinked at him and smiled. "Gavin! Your hands are freezing!"
"Sorry, I didn't think they were." I said sheepishly. I looked at my hands and held them to my cheeks. They were a bit cold.
"Where were you?" Liko smirked.
I didn't know what to say. Liko was one of the reasons why Tobias was so badly hurt. I decided to tell him the partial truth. "I was talking to Rafael about the hunt. He says it's normal to be nervous."
"You're nervous?" Zolfo asked. I saw some hint of concern in his eyes.
"Sort of." I admitted. Some part of me didn't want to looked weak in Liko's eyes.
"Well, it'll pass, once we get going."
As if on cue, Delos called for us to be quiet. Fires were lit around the area, giving the place a mystical look. Two bigger men held onto a man who thrashed and kicked to break free of the two. He looked at the crowd, his eyes making contact with everyone who was in front.
"Tonight we will hunt, like our ancestors did before us. Every year, when we meet up before winter, we have a renewed hunt the night of the full moon, where we feel our Goddess, Selene, run through our veins, making us faster, stronger, and fiercer as we shift from man to animal.
"We will hunt this creature, who along with our enemies, the vampire, have hunted us as well. Man made the weapons that kill us today, a merciless death that can be so quick, there isn't time for revival. They then sell these weapons to the vampires, which come after us stronger. Without these weapons, we would have the advantage over the vampires."
"I didn't sell anything to vampires! You people are crazy! Vampires don't exist!" The man interrupted as he searched for any sign of mercy from Delos.
Delos kept going like he was never interrupted. "After we are done with him, it will not look like man took his life with human hands," Delos held out his hands to the crowd, "but as animals, as wolves. They can scream all they want, but no one hears, and no one makes it back… alive." A couple people snickered then fall quiet again. "Now, let us hunt! Do not hold back when taking his life!" Delos said as he took off his jacket, exposing his big muscled body.
The man struggled against the chain linked arms that held him in place. A tall man came up to the poor human. He unwrapped a cloth, exposing a knife. The man kicked the ground before him, trying to get away. The tall man placed the blade to the human's cheeks and sliced a long cut from eyebrow to jaw line on both sides. In that second, I was no longer cold, no longer nervous. I had no idea what I was feeling, but it seemed like my body did. My muscles began to twitch under my skin, my pulse no longer in my chest, but in my ears. I looked around at Zolfo and Liko; their eyes were locked on the bleeding man. I followed their now silver eyes toward the spot where all of the screaming took place. I found that I couldn't look away from the pitiful sight of the human trying to break free. I twitched, worried that the strong men would lose grip of him and he would get away. My body hurt from my insides churning as I watched the man. I realized that despite my unsure feelings that I had before they cut the man open, his blood trickling down his face and onto the ground, that I wanted him. My body wanted, no, I wanted, to be a wolf and smell him with my full senses. I wanted to run forever if it meant towards that smell.
Some of the Lu Garou around me yipped and growled, the wolf inside of them wanted to be let out too. Some had already began to undress, leaving their clothes on the ground, already forgotten. My eyes strained as they walked the man to the edge of the forest, whispering something into his ear. They then let him go, pushing him into the brush. My body jerked, as did Zolfo and Liko's, as the man ran through the forest screaming. In the corner of my eyes, people began to move forward, their nose leading the way. Like a string was attached from the man to me, my body moved forward as I walked with the crowd. I walked through the spot where the man's blood hit the ground. I wanted to stop and sniff it more, but somewhere in the forest, I could smell a stronger scent. Stronger then the few droplets on the ground. Just then, I was running with the pack, jumping over rocks and fallen trees, toward the man's rich blood. Screams echoed through the trees, giving his location to the pack around me. I moved with ease through the forest, not worrying how my feet would feel in the morning, nor how crazed I must have looked. I heard a shrill of laughter behind me as Lilliana came up from behind and ran along side of me. Her eyes were glazed silver as she sprinted through the brush. Her golden brown hair whipping behind her as her white teeth flashed in the dark.
A howl broke loose ahead of us, making my whole body shiver in excitement. Just then, people around me jumped into the air, their bodies stretched out like they were about to dive into a lake. Don't ask me how I knew that, I just knew from the people around me. Thoughts rushed through my head as the Lu Garou close to me were sharing their thoughts. Excitement. Anxiety. Strength. Hunger. I felt every emotion they did, I was one with the pack around me. As the flying people began to descend back to earth, their bodies shifted in midair. When they landed, they landed on paws. When their back legs met the ground, their muscles tensed, then propelled them forward, moving with swiftness and skill. Their howls encouraged me to do the same, a thought racing through my mind. You will understand when it happens. You'll be there and you'll just know. A Lu Garou never loses the memory to shift, it's just waiting for the right moment, the right time to let go, and do what it was always meant to do. Run and be free…
Rafael's voiced rang in my head, clearly not wanting to be forgotten. When he whispered it in my ear, I didn't understand at first. But now, I completely understood. I didn't have to think about it, I just did. I jumped into the air like those around me, feeling my muscles loosen as the feel of my skin slipped away. I landed on all fours as well, moving forward into the night. I felt free as a I moved through the trees, zigzagging around the thicket and fallen logs. I loved the wind through my fur, the way it blew behind me like grass on a windy day. I loved the hard dirt on my soft paws as my claws dug into it to move my agile body faster. I loved the way my tongue lolled out the side of my mouth as I howled and barked for joy.
By now, most of the Lu Garou were wolves running along side each other to find the human that didn't belong in the woods. I was surprised at how far he had gotten, but the thought quickly escaped my mind. I picked out Liko and Zolfo as they bounced off each other with excitement. I also picked out a skinny black wolf that ran alongside a smaller wolf who's legs looked like they were working over time to stay the same pace. The black wolf's green eyes shifted to look at me, his head bobbing down a little as the smaller wolf nipped at his fur. It was Salem and Gino, I was sure of it. But what I didn't understand was that they were among everyone now, competing with the likes of Delos to catch this guy. Why hadn't they before? Why was now so different? But I didn't delay on it too long because as we crossed a small creek, the hint of blood was close. Something deep inside me burst out in a growl as I saw others around me starting the chase. With the smell of iron in my nose, I took off after them as I raced to beat the other wolves around me. It was weird, this feeling inside me to control the other wolves around me to let me pass before them. Liko ran up next to me, the same determination to beat everyone like mine. I growled, warning him to back off. He growled back, his eyes that always had a sort of fire in them were now taken over by complete animal wildness and hunger. As we ran neck and neck, passing other wolves, his growls intensified. Like before, something came over me that was never there before. I snapped. I snapped at Liko, making him fumble with his feet and fall back. What's wrong with me? Did I just really snap at Liko? My thoughts made me fall back some, Liko finally passing me. And deep down inside, I hated him for it.
What was this emotion taken over me? Emotion? How did I even know what that meant? Was that a human thing, because it sure didn't seem like something I would feel right now. Wait! As I ran, I thought of when I was last human, when I could actually feel what I felt. I couldn't remember, the smell of blood was the only thing that filled my mind. I felt my brow tighten, this wolf so unsure about who he was. Screams sounded up ahead as a the man running came into focus.
"Help me! Someone please!" He cried as he pushed branches and bushes aside. I watched as a wolf leapt up and latched onto the man's arm, bringing him fumbling to the ground. NO! My inner thoughts that didn't belong to this body cried as more and more wolves piled onto the struggling man, his cries piercing my ears. We were hunting him, this whole time, we planned to kill HIM. No. No. No. No! I can't! This isn't me! I have to stop! So why was I still running ahead, why wasn't my legs slowing? I couldn't control this body, not when it was set on one thing in particular. Not now, not ever. And THAT scared me. It made my muscles ache in protest, but it was quickly forgotten.
A strong waft of metal hit my nose, making my eyes reel. I couldn't think, couldn't function, my brain, this animal's brain focused on one thing and one thing only. Blood. I skidded to a stop and circled the dog pile. The man's heart was still beating but barely. My ears perked at his moans and my lips curled back. Perfect. I lunged forward, toward the opening where teeth and fur lashed out at each other. I clamped down on the man's tore up arm, not letting go for the world. I tugged him my way but he didn't budge, for the others were pulling him their way. This had been going on for a while until I felt the his chest rise, then slowly go back down, not coming back up again. The wolf who had taken the man's life lifted his head and howled to the rest of the pack. It was over. He was gone. Dead.
There was not much left after we all were through with him, some of us barely got a chance to taste him. I couldn't shake the feeling of power out of my muscles, I wanted more, I wanted to hunt. Gavin! Wake up! This isn't you, what's wrong with you! Someone screamed in my head, a boy with black hair and strange colored eyes. His pale skin glowing in the light of the day. But it was night, and that boy is now a distant dream. I moved through the wolves, pushing past them and looking for someone specific. I lingered on the outskirts of the pack when my nose caught a small scent of animal. I saw the flick of tails behind a bush, yips filling the empty space. I moved quietly over to see a couple of pups playing with a small rabbit. I moved through the clearing, my ears back and teeth bared. The pups looked at me and backed away. What are you doing, stay away! The boy screamed again but was shoved back to the back of my head. A strange sense of class waved over me as instinct took over and snatched the rabbit from them. I tore off into the night, my kill hanging limply in my mouth.
When I got farther away, I tore into the rabbit, its white fur laying in pieces around the corpse. Blood covered my mouth and paws as I got up to stand. My tail flicked to the side as howling filled the night air. I lifted my head to join them, the urgency to look up at the moon and sing to it. When it was over, I headed to a unknown destination. The more I walked, the more the boy got to me, his rambling in my head overtaking me. Soon the animal mind was gone and was replaced with a yammering boy. I stopped short and looked down at a heap of pants. Clothes were scattered everywhere. Where was person who wore them? Was he or she still out there, running as a mindless animal? Mindless. I sniffed them. They were the boy's scent. They were mine. I squinted my eyes, trying to remember how they worked but I couldn't process it. I looked at my back legs. No, they wouldn't fit. I sudden wave of nausea fit me like a train, a sudden realization hit me that didn't occur to me at the time. I lurched forward, my tongue hanging out. Oh God. What have I done?
I picked up the remains of my clothing and ran home, or wherever home was. When it all came down to it, it was the hunt that did this, made me an animal and made me kill…him. Me. I helped to kill that poor innocent man. I let the blood get to me, I let it take over. But wasn't it worth it? It was the wolf this time, it made my whole body tingle. Isn't it everything you could ever want?
No. It wasn't what I wanted… or was it? The wolf smiled in my head, then the lingering scent of blood filled my nose again. No. I didn't want to do this again, not now, not ever. So why did the faint smell of blood send me on edge. Why did it make my insides turn and twist, ecstatic to go running and find new prey. To let this instinct take over and run wild. That's not what I wanted, right?
I raced out of the woods and into the clearing, where human scents were everywhere. I heard women talking and ran to them. Voice. Human voices. Human… I dropped the pants that were in my mouth and ran toward them.
"Gavin?" A voice said, the only male voice among the female ones. Tobias. I ran over to him and stopped before him. His eyes searched mine, a smile creeping on his face. "So?" My body began to tremble as I felt my fur resign for the night, thankful that this animal was going away for awhile, but he would be back, he'd always be back. I knelt on my hands and knees, my head hung low.
"Tobias, I did something horrible…" I muttered, my mouth going dry, my body shaking uncontrollably, but not in the good way. Blood cover my hands and bare chest, and I'm sure my face. It was disgusting, I felt disgusting.
"What can be so bad, Gav-" He began to say, his hand on my clammy back. But was interrupted by the gag in my throat. Then I lurched forward and threw up what was left in my stomach that was never meant to be in a human's…ever.