Hauru ran through the market crowd at Radiant Garden, tears streaming from her eyes. She didn't know where to go, who to talk to, or even what to say. The tragedy she witnessed not long ago impacted her so that it was nothing short of a miracle she was able to get to Radiant Garden. Eventually she ran into the familiar robed figure of Alexandrus Aeon. He was his usual happy self. "Oh hello, young one. Did you come here for a sandwich, too?" Hauru had no words for the man. She was visibly shaken, and the tears kept flowing. The poor thing was a weeping mess. Aeon dabbed at her cheeks with the sleeve of his robe. "Hey, hey... Deep breaths, Hauru". Hauru took some deep breaths, hoping to calm herself and her racing heart. "That's better. Now, what's gotten you all bent out of shape?"
"We... should find somewhere to sit down". Hauru was still sniffling as Aeon lead her over to a vacant bench. A perfect place for the pair to rest. Hauru, as she often did, clutched at her necklace. She did this as if it's second owner was giving her strength. Wherever he was, however distant the connection, she couldn't deny who had once held it.
"Whenever you're ready, Hauru". Aeon laid a hand on Hauru's shoulder and smiled. Hauru let out a long sigh.
"Not far from here, a few days ago, I ran into them again. My friends from the Land of Departure. Ven, Aqua, Terra..."
"They were never going to give up on you".
"Well... They begged me to go back to Master Eraqus. And Ventus... He actually forgave me. Told me it wasn't my fault. I... just came from there. The Land of Departure. And what I saw..." Hauru had to fight back tears, but it was not enough. Not even remotely. And tears flowed freely down her face again. But she fought hard to say the words. "Master Eraqus... He was struck down".
"Now that is solemn news indeed. What happened?"
"Ven demanded to know if he was some kind of weapon. Then, Eraqus summoned his keyblade and said, 'so now you know the truth. I'm afraid I can't allow you to live, either'. But Terra stepped in, and he gave in to the darkness in him to fight Eraqus. But... He was just trying to protect Ven, but instead... He struck Master Eraqus down. Then Xehanort showed up. The REAL Xehanort. Not the one who saved me. I fled before he could see me. And now I'm here". Hauru began to cry again, burying her face in her hands.
"Your friends will need you now more than ever," Aeon said. Hauru simply shook her head.
"I'd just get in their way. I couldn't save Eraqus..."
"No negative self-talk, young lady. You're stronger than you think".
"You need to tell someone. About Eraqus... and Terra".
"You can be sure that I will. Eraqus was one of us. I will reach out to my order. And, doubtless, Master Yen Sid will need to made aware of this". Hauru smiled a bit, but then just looked out into the distance.
"If Ven hadn't seen me change... If I hadn't left... Maybe Eraqus would still be alive," she said.
"Maybe he would have tripped and fallen down a flight of stairs. Perhaps he'd have gotten sick. You can't torture yourself with 'what ifs' and 'maybes', child". Hauru looked Aeon dead in the eye, her expression now harsh and serious.
"Being a lycan is nothing but 'what ifs' and 'maybes'. I'll keep using it as I need to. But the keyblade made a mistake, choosing me".
As the sky over Beast's Castle turned a deep crimson red, Hauru suddenly began to get concerned. Maybe he wouldn't show up. Hauru walked through the castle courtyard, past the gardens where she used to pilfer monkshood. He would come. She knew he would. She didn't put herself through the hell that is her transformation seven nights in a row for him not to come. Hauru looked again at her hand. As the sun began to drop lower and lower, she saw the shadow of a cloaked figure approach, and smelled the familiar scent of her homeworld. She smiled and ran to him, embracing him tightly. "Riku," she said. "You're here". Riku nodded, and placed his hand on her cheek. Hauru felt her nerves burn as the ring he wore touched her face and she instantly recoiled.
"Hauru, what's wrong?" Riku asked. Hauru turned back to face him, the spot where the ring touched her still red, like a burn or a rash.
"I'm fine. I'll be fine," She said, seeming to dismiss his concerns. "You're ring... It's silver, isn't it?" Riku nodded. "I'm just... extremely allergic".
"Let me take a look". Riku approached Hauru and took a closer look at her cheek. It wasn's a rash, not as far as he could tell. "Jeez, Hauru. This isn't normal. It burned you". Hauru sighed and took a step back from Riku.
"No... you're right. It's not normal. There's a reason I asked you to meet me here tonight. There's... something I've been meaning to tell you about me". Hauru walked toward the center of the courtyard and Riku followed. Hauru let out a long sigh and looked up. It was getting darker. It would be time soon. Time for the ultimate test of their relationship so far. Two months together, and this would make or break it. "It took me a long time to get to this point. This... secret of mine. It'll change us forever".
"Hauru," said Riku, stepping closer and laying a hand on Hauru's shoulder. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. Does it... have anything to do with why you ran off as soon as the sun set four weeks ago?" Hauru nodded.
"The thing is... I could tell you, but you wouldn't believe me. You wouldn't understand". Hauru stared into Riku's eyes, then closed hers and turned away. She couldn't let him see her cry. Leaving home, leaving her fellow apprentices. These didn't weigh as heavily as the task before her now. "This is one of those things... that you have to see to believe. So, I'm going to tell you, and then..." Hauru looked to the sky again. She could already feel it. Something pulling at her blood. "You'll have... maybe five to seven minutes to come to terms with it. Before the full moon rises and you'll see for yourself". Hauru clenched her right fist tightly, already shaking. Whether from nerves or the impending change, she couldn't say. But it was now or never. "The thing is... I ran off because... It was going to be a full moon that night. And I didn't want you to see what it did to me. Not until I could control myself... Because... I'm a lycan". Riku was stunned, not sure quite how to react. "You might not know what that is... and I'll explain everything tomorrow I promise. If you meet me at Sunset Hill tomorrow afternoon. Now... I need you to understand. No matter what you see, it's still me. You'll be totally safe. But... I need you to promise me you won't run".
To Hauru's surprise, Riku ran up and hugged her close. "I promise," he whispered into her ear.
"I mean it," Hauru said, still shaking nervously. "No matter what you see, no matter how scared you get, no matter how much you think you're... Grrrrr! In a nightmare..." Hauru snarled at Riku, eyes closed and head tilted down. Riku noticed that her canines and incisors had already grown longer and sharper. Hauru looked up at him and opened her eyes to reveal her massive pale blue irises with blue sclera to highligt them even more. "You... You can't run..."
"H...Hauru" Riku said, his face dominated by a fearful expression. "Your eyes..."
"Not... my biggest problem... right now!" she yelled. Her voice was changing to. Riku helped her down as she doubled over in pain. Already, her skin was starting to darken in patches, turning a dark grey. she could feel her bones and joints shifting and adjusting. Her boots disappeared right in time for the expected changes in her feet to take place. She dragged her claws across the stone floor below her. "This is... Grrrrr... rhar! This is normal... for... me". Riku stroked Hauru's hair hoping do something to ease her pain. Her ears began to change shape and position, and she starts to develop her black pelt. Her skin had completely changed to the dark gray most common in shifted lycans and she could already feel her face starting to push out. Riku was terrified. He had to be, but he was still holding on to Hauru, still stroking her head and, once the ring had been removed, stroking the side of her face as she whined and whimpered through one of the worst parts of the change.
"It's okay... It's okay. I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere. Not until I know you'll be safe". All she could do at that point was cry. Tears of joy that Riku, despite witnessing the horror of the change, was willing to remain by her side. The sickening pops and crunches finally ceased. She shoved Riku away and stood up on her own two legs. She was taller than Riku now, maybe by a half of a foot. "Hauru? Is... is that still you?" Hauru nodded, looking back at him with eyes of such a brilliant blue. "Alright. Tomorrow. Sunset Hill. I'll be there". Hauru gestured for Riku to leave and she stood in awe. Of herself, finally in control of her wolf form without resorting to that monkshood calming draught and free at last to use the fullest of the strength that her wolf form would allow. Of Riku, for staying with her even through such a terrifying time. As Riku cleared her line of sight, Hauru turned her gaze to the forest around the castle. The scents and sounds, once a little muted by the monkshood weakning her senses were now so much more vivid and clear. She let loose a joyous howl and leapt clearover the castle walls. It was time to see just what her wolf form could really do.