Chapter 52

Amy awoke early the next morning. She had barely been able to sleep the night before. Her mind had been buzzing out of control with Loom's final words before leaving her at the door to her room. "Tomorrow I will answer all your questions, so tonight consider what you will ask." She had in deed thought very deeply about all the questions she wanted to ask and there were many. She had decided the most rational thing to do was to ask them in as logical a manner as possible and hope to connect the dots between each answer. Amy stood in front of an antique mirror that was in her room, below it was a small wooden table with a wash basin and pitcher. She poured water from the pitcher into the basin and began to wash her face with the cool water. She then dabbed her face with a soft towel that had been folded neatly by the basin. She looked at her reflection once more. This was her chance to finally grasp a deeper understanding of the world she now lived in. Long had she desired to better know this world, not just because she now lived in it, but because understanding it would mean better understanding Shadow. Even now when they were further apart then they had ever been, she still wished to understand him. Knowing more about him meant that she might be able to find a way to make herself useful in his eyes. There had been a time when she had wanted to let go of her love for him, if only to be objective and find a means of helping him reach his ambitions, but time and her heart proved that this was a useless endeavor, she could never fully release the feelings she held for the dark hedgehog, to long had she been under his spell and far gone was her heart from her reach, it was forever in his possession now.

Amy left her room and made for the western gardens, that was where Loom had told her to meet him. She could scarcely keep her pace at a speedy walk, she wanted to sprint, but knew it would be rude to run about a palace like a child. She continued down the hall that Loom had told her would lead to the designated meeting place. Finally, she turned a corner and felt a slight breeze and upon it a brush of warm air from the two open doors that lead out into the garden. She took the remaining steps that brought her out into the light of the sun. It was a beautiful morning. Amy could not help but taken in a deep breath as she felt the warm rays against her pink fur and the rustle of the gentle breeze in her quills. The air was different then back home. Here the air had a crisp feeling of an untouched wildness, the wind did not seem tame like that of the states, and instead it blew with a strength that had only grown with the passing ages.

Amy was suddenly brought out of her observing nature when she heard the clanking of china. She turned to look over her shoulder and spotted Loom sitting at a white garden table made of twisted iron which was accompanied by two matching chairs. The black fox was finishing off a piece of toast and a cup of tea. Amy approached the table as he took another sip of the warm liquid before sitting the tea cup back on its saucer. "Good morning Artemis." His eyes did not leave his breakfast. Amy sat down in the vacant chair across from him, and once settle he finally looked at her. "Have you considered your questions?"

"Yes." She answered as her hands rested in her lap.

"Ask."

Amy had thought it sensible to ask her questions in the best order she could, fitting she thought it would be to find out about her current situation. "You call me Artemis, but that isn't my name. Why?"

Loom had a rare foxy grin that looked almost whimsical due to his old age. "If you have another name you have yet to convey it to me."

Amy suddenly realized he was correct. She'd not given him her name even once since they'd met. "Oh." She bowed her head slightly. "How embarrassing, and rude of me." She looked up at him. "My name is Amy."

He nodded. "If that is how you wish to be addressed then so it shall be."

Amy realized that she would need to be responsible with her questions and not ask them so blindly, for that was not the way Loom would reply. His last answer had been a test. She asked a question, but had not asked it fully. If she had given him her proper name first then he would have had no need for the alternate answer he had given. She thought about her question and then asked again. "My name isn't Artemis and yet I've been called by that name several times since I've been here. Can you tell me why?"

He nodded. "Very well." He sat calmly in his chair. "But that question has a long answer. It reaches back into the very seeds of Lycan and werewolf history, are you certain it is the first question you wish to ask?"

"As you said before, let's start at the beginning, and where better to start than the very, very beginning?"' She smiled.

Loom nodded. "You are correct." He liked her response, it was the kind of thinking he hoped to find from her. She was leading the questions with her mind and with clear thought, not simply asking questions she was emotionally curious about. "Long since have our scribes recorded the history of our kind, and the story you desire to hear is one which predates all Lycan history. It is a story that has lost its way to the minds and hearts of many, many Lycans. Its knowledge now only known to our clan and a handful of outsiders." He rested one hand on the table. It seemed to sadden him that so few Lycans and werewolves knew of their true history. "The chronicles depict the story of some of the first Lycans, as well as the secrets they uncovered together. There are many things your werewolves and Lycans think they know, and even more of which they know nothing. What you are about to hear will challenge what you've been told, it is up to you to decide what you will believe, as well as to bare the responsibilities and consequences of learning this knowledge." The edges of his cloak swayed in the breeze as he thought about the story. "Many eons ago, when mother moon was still young, is where it all began. It was a time in history when humans were just beginning to take their place in the world, the legions of Rome were rising and the first Caesar sat on his throne. Lycans however had not yet advanced so far." His bushy tail swept across the stone terrace floor as he looked up at her. "Lycans have not always been aware of their ability to take a human form, though the gift has always been with us." Amy's eyes opened with surprise. She'd never thought such a thing could be possible. "It's true." He could see the disbelief in her eyes and wanted to end it. "Once Lycans believed themselves to simply be wolves of great intelligence. We had formed civil structures of our own within our pack and though we did not share mankind's industrial pursuits, we were on par with them in emotion and intelligence. Unlike our wolf counterparts, who were wild animals, our kind functioned under laws and penalties."

"If Lycans were not taking their human forms, how did they communicate?" She asked with curiosity. "I've seen Shadow and the others communicate when they are in their wolf forms, but to me it seemed a little crude as if they could only converse in short terms."

"Very observant." Loom nodded. "And true. Lycans of this age have become so dependent upon their human form that the ancient art of Lycan communication has long since been lost to many of us." He saw a little surprise in Amy's eyes when she realized she was correct about their communication skills. "Never doubt yourself simply because you are a human." His own eyes had a serious glaze upon them. "A person's value is not dependent upon their species, you are able to see with your own eyes and use your own judgement, do not doubt an obvious truth simply because you believe another's eyes are superior to your own." Amy nodded showing she understood, she could see he wanted her to hold her self-worth tightly. Loom returned to her original question. "As for conversing with one another, the Lycans of old used an ability that has been scarce amongst most of their decedents." He tapped his temple. "They could speak to each other through their minds."

"Telepathy?" The pink hedgehog suddenly realized. "I've experienced that once." She said as her mind cut back to the past.

"Truly?" Loom asked with slight surprise.

"Yes, it was from an ancient she wolf who had lost her mind to grief and despair. She was trapped in wolf form and spoke to me and others with a mental voice. There's also a Lycan leader called Guntiver that can do it as well."

"I am happy to know the art is not entirely dead. It's so poorly known I fear the day on which it dies entirely is not so far away." He took a sip of his tea. "Like most creatures, Lycans have yet to tap their true power, and through the years that power has slipped further and further from our grasp. Changing our shape was but a fraction of our potential. What was once at the claw tips of our ancestors seems a mere fantasy for us now." Loom could see that Amy was staggered by the idea. "Do not assume that a breed can only grow stronger with the passage of time. Sometimes the effects are rather the opposite." He looked at his empty tea cup. "I'm certain to you the race of Lycans and werewolves seems powerful indeed, but we have fallen greatly from the power and strength that once was ours."

"Your power may not be the same, but I'm sure the hearts of your kind have withstood the wrath of time." It was obvious that Amy had been more in tune with the emotions of her wolf friends, finding their hearts and souls to be a great deal more important than their abilities or power.

"You stand correct." Loom agreed. "And this from one who has only seen the cruelty of our kind." He was impressed she could grasp the concept so quickly, despite her experiences.

"You know about the Lycans from where I'm from?" Amy blinked.

"Yes," was his simple reply.

Amy sighed with a slight smile in the corner of her mouth, she was becoming use to his manner of answering questions. "In that case, it may interest you to know that I have also seen a great deal of kindness and love within the Lycans from my home."

"Rare cases indeed." His voice seemed to resonate with hope for his overseas brethren.

"Keep going with the story." Amy prompted gently.

Loom gave a slight nod as he returned his mind to the tale. "During those years the Lycans were led by a wolf named Tiberius. Human and Lycan relationships weren't much different from that of today. During that age, humans and Lycans were aware of each other, but most humans treated Lycans as if they were simple wolves, and thus a well-defined line of territory and distance was made between the two species, neither trusting the other."

"What changed?" Amy asked as she leaned in a little closer.

"The change was actually brought about by four cubs." He picked up the teapot to refill his cup. "Three of the four were caught in a trap. The human who'd caught them intended to sell them as pets to local children, however the cubs were purchased by the village's priestess. She knew well that the cubs were no ordinary wolves, but Lycan offspring, and that their parent's wrath could spell destruction for the village."

"She returned them?"

"Though those were her intentions, heavy rain and night fall kept her from the journey, so she cared for the cubs within her shrine. Before the night was out, things were just as the priestess had foretold. The Lycan clan had attacked the village in search of their children. Tiberius had been at the forefront of the invasion and it was his paw that rested on the throat of the priestess."

"He killed her?" Amy gasped.

"He would have, had it not been for the cubs who cried out for the only human who had ever shown them kindness, and who had saved them from the trapper. Their pleas rescued the priestess from the hands of death that night." He stirred some sugar into his tea. "With the cubs in hand, the Lycans left the human village in tacked and return to their home. Things should have ended there, but they did not. The priestess could not remove the cubs from her mind. She worried over them until she could no longer stand it. She went to the Lycan territory to sneak a view of the cubs and to insure their safety. Of course she was caught, and by Tiberius no less. The two were both headstrong and neither would give in to the other. At last an agreement was made that she may visit the clan."

"The Lycans didn't fight her or run her out of their territory?" Amy knew first hand how territorial werewolves could be, and just how coarse they could be to a human. She couldn't imagine a clan of Lycans being much different back then.

Loom reached for the cream. "It's vague in the chronicles, but it would seem that the priestess possessed some kind of powers that allowed her to fend off attacks with much more ease than it would be for normal humans. In any case she could not be made to simply leave as the Lycans would have probably preferred. Needless to say, the priestess and Tiberius saw more and more of one another and eventually fell in love." He poured the cream gently into his tea. "Things were fine for a time or so it seemed. The village had responded to the Lycan invasion by sending for a triad, a unique warrior that specializes in nonhuman advisories. The triad came to blows with Tiberius and he lost to the Lycan. The priestess had been unable to cope with the cost of the triads life, for during all that had gone on until this battle, there had been no death." He sipped his tea once more. "The loss of the priestess took its toll, and during his moment of weakness, Tiberius was overthrown and exiled from the clan. He visited the priestess one last time, and as he said his goodbyes and was just about to parish from heartbreak the priestess granted him forgiveness and, in that instance, he transforms into a human."

"Human…" Amy repeated the word as if she could hardly believe the tale, even thought she'd seen Lycans and werewolves change shape many times.

"It is a surprise to them both, and raises many questions to which neither have the answers. The priestess tells of her mistress, the leader of the shrine maiden order. From her mistress, they learn that the priestess is a reincarnate of a forest goddess in the before time of their world. The goddess had placed an enchantment on a human hunter who had killed a wolf in her woods. The curse turned him into a wolf as punishment for his crimes against the goddess and her forest. The hunters curse could only be lifted by receiving the goddess's blessing of forgiveness which he never did. Overtime the hunter's descendants had become the Lycan race, and when the priestess forgave Tiberius the goddess's promise was fulfilled."

"But if that's true then why didn't Tiberius simply become fully human after he was granted forgiveness?" Amy questioned.

"How quickly you forget." Loom smiled slightly at her inquisitiveness. "Remember the forest goddess never forgave the hunter so he remained a wolf, and yet he had descendants, what do you think that means?"

It didn't take long for Amy to figure it out. "He took a wolf for a mate."

"That's right. He found that he could share words with the wolves, though they were broken and small, being so lonely he joined their pack. As the generations passed his bloodline became intermingled with that of true wolves. The blood of his descendants became more and more intermingled between human and wolf, the balance thrown to the wayside. But that small amount of human blood, and the enchantment of the goddess remained deep inside all of those that followed the hunter's bloodline. Though through the centuries the magic's potency may have waned, it never died. That is why we may choose our form, the enchantment was meat for the hunter who was a true human trapped in wolf form, but that was not who Tiberius was. He was neither fully wolf nor fully human, but a union, a Lycan." He lifted from the table and motioned for Amy to follow him. "The mistress also reveals that the priestess had named for the forest goddess, and thus tells the name of every reincarnate there after." He looked at Amy as if waiting for her to realize what he was saying.

"Artemis." Amy said aloud as she understood why she had been given the title. "The goddess name was Artemis."

Loom nodded. "Next her mistress entrusted the priestess with three truths. One, every Lycan has an inner moon, it is what represents the delicate balance that allows a Lycan to be a wolf, and still reason as a human. Like a real moon, it goes through cycles, and when it is full, the magic is at its highest and a Lycan can choose to allow one of the two sided powers to overtake them. Second, with the passage of time the magic that held the spell upon the Lycans had become deeply rooted within them, Lycans may very well have abilities that stem from the power that was once only meant to hold them in a singular form, it's the unconscious harnessing of the goddess's power that allows them to speak telepathically." The two were walking down a spiral stair case that would lead them down into the front courtyard. "And the third truth, with the enchantment broken a Lycan can choose to become entirely human or wolf during the winter equinox every one thousand years." Loom continued his walk through the town square with Amy close behind. "After their visit with the shrine mistress the two were closer than ever, but the priestess's love had renewed Tiberius heart and not just for her, but for his clan. She knew that she would never be able to replace the love he had for them, and nor did she wish to for she loved them too. With her support, Tiberius found the will to rally those still loyal to him within his clan and he returned to the seat of power. Though he returned, his absence from the clan had cost Lycans much, without him they were led into all-out war with the neighboring human village, the toll had been great. Tiberius knew that the clan could no longer stay there. He gathered his Lycans and with the help of his priestess removed them from the world of humans."

Amy seem to be in a haze for a moment as if she were putting puzzle pieces together in her head. When she finally looked up she had a good idea about the clans. "Tiberius brought them here, to Ireland."

"Yes," Loom confirmed her theory, he was pleased at the sharpness of her reasoning skills. "He brought them here because much of Ireland was uninhabited at that time, and the terrain here made it difficult for humans to travel across the island without being detected."

"But there are humans and werewolves here." Amy pointed out.

"Not all were content to live out their lives here, there are those that desired to return to the outside world. Some left and never returned, others came back, and still others came back with mates, not all of them Lycans. You'll see many kinds here. Lycans that have taken humans as mates, werewolves that have chosen to remain werewolves instead of becoming human again, and those that have chosen to turn to their wolf form forever." He turned down an alley that was off the main path through the town.

"It's amazing." Amy could hardly believe such a place existed, and even more so to know that the powers of Lycans and werewolves were more so than she could have ever imagined.

"I think now I should fulfill my promise, and help you to understand the hope that is still there for your friend." Amy realized he was speaking of Espio now. "So much of our abilities lie deep within the hidden reaches of our mind." He explained. "Have you ever witnessed a werewolf during a full moon?"

Amy nodded. "I first came to the clan during a full moon and I remember that the werewolves seem to turn mad." She felt grateful in her heart that she had actually not been with the clan during another full moon since joining this hidden world they all lived in.

"Do you know why this occurs? Why the moon allows the ravenous side of a werewolf's instincts to enthrall them?" Amy shook her head as she continued to follow Loom. "As a werewolf, it takes great mental stability to keep oneself from falling prey to instinct during a full moon." He was leading Amy through the cobble stone streets of the town. "The goddess's own powers were affected by the cycles of the moon. This particular trait of her blood is more prominent in werewolves. It is not completely clear why, but we believe its because most werewolves were once fully human and therefore when they were turned by a Lycans bite they took on the magic of the goddess in a way never meant to pass. They have no linage to the hunters blood or the goddess's powers, and thus they fall prey to the moon, for when it is full, it effects the magic within in way far different from Lycans, we feel nothing during the full moon, but werewolves increase their powers tremendously."

"But why should it increase the power in werewolves and not Lycans?"

"Because the blood of the original hunter flows in our veins. The magic was meant to be a curse, but for werewolves they have done no wrong in the eyes of Artemis and thus her magic is less restrained and more volatile in the body of an innocent. It's because of this that werewolves are more susceptible to the influence of magic." He turned a corner. "For instance, if a werewolf were told that he could never love again, and truly believed it. Artemis's magic could make it so."

Amy's eyes widened. "So if he knew it wasn't true, that it was just all in his mind?"

"He would be free to fill joy again." He looked over his shoulder at her, "Or even love."