Author's Notes:
This is a prequel of sorts to my earlier drabble "To Grandmother's House" as requested by Chibi Hime, whose works inspired me to become a Gwevin shipper. Another drabble is in the works, set between this one and To Grandmother's House.
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Into The Woods
Once upon a time, in a far off kingdom, there lived a young boy named Kevin.
His hair was deep obsidian, as dark as a bottomless abyss in the very depths of the sea. His eyes were the color of freshly tilled earth. Rich and deep and they burned with an intensity that one did not often find with someone barely beyond eleven summers. His skin was pale and his frame was slight, it was a convenient guise that masked the strange power flowing through his veins.
Few dared to cross his paths, not even the adults whom he often times stole food from. They feared him, called him a monster because he was no wizard or warlock. Kevin could not conjure up the winds or command the heavens to part. But he could hurt people when he so desired, which he often did and was quite able at that.
Only one individual ever stood up to him, another boy of the same age. His name was Morningstar.
His hair was like a field of wheat, as radiant as the sun that shone down upon the lands. His eyes were the color of the sky on a cloudless day. Bright and clear but they gleamed with a cold, calculating focus that one would often wonder what it was truly that went on in his mind. His skin was a healthy bronze and his frame was lanky, it was a clever ruse to lower one's guard around him.
Few could resist his charms, even the adults would fall prey to his wily ways and smooth tongue. They believed him gifted, wise beyond his years and a budding bard or minstrel. Morningstar could talk anyone into anything; make them believe whatever it was he wanted them to believe. But he could do little else but flee once his lies are unraveled and his claims proven false.
Only on individual never believed him outright, another boy of the same age. And yes, his name was Kevin.
The two boys shared a rivalry with each other: Ranging from the mundane, such as being the faster runner, to the dangerous, such as being the one who could fend off a wild animal when it attacked.
But the true test of their mettle came when a travelling warlock suddenly appeared in the kingdom. He presented to the royal family a challenge, one that would determine worthy warriors, hunters and knights to serve the throne. There was little else happening within the kingdom, no festivals or balls planned and certainly no war campaigns to be fought. To pass the time and stave off boredom, the king accepted the offer and decreed that all able bodied youths were to participate.
Honor, glory, fame and riches were promised to anyone who succeeded in finishing the challenge. Despite how the kingdom was abuzz with excitement, news did not spread far, if at all. No on thought it odd that only the citizens of the kingdom were aware of the competition considering the triumphant youths would be enlisted as one of the king's soldiers.
It only stood to reason that Kevin and Morningstar had joined as this was another avenue to prove one's superiority over the other.
On the day of the challenge, the two youths sized each other up along with the rest of their competition. A robed man whose skin was painted a ghostly shade of white stood before the crowd. He was the warlock, the very same one who presented the notion to the king and had handled all the necessary preparation.
He revealed that the challenge was a sort of scavenger hunt. He warned them that while it sounded quite simple, there were traps and distractions laid out to whittle the unworthy. The list of objects was strange, roots and petals, insect wings and scales, teeth and fur and a blood-stained stone. Kevin and Morningstar were beginning to suspect there was more to this than the robed man was letting on but the prizes at stake were far too rich to pass up.
The trials indeed proved to be difficult and wrought with danger. The roots and petals were from plants that grew high up in the nearest mountain and the journey took at least two days. Feral beasts roamed the base and the elements were cruel to those who sought to grace the mountain's peak with their presence.
The insect wings and scales belonged to those creatures that lived in the murky swamps on the kingdom's outskirts. Poisonous serpents and flora lurked in the shadows and the air was thick with noxious haze. And every so often, lightning would strike through the thick canopy of the mangroves and send some poor, hapless soul to a charred death.
The teeth and fur perhaps were the easiest to find. Find being the operative word as one was also likely to find themselves victim to the very same items. Because more often than not, the teeth and fur were still attached to a living carnivore. Unless one could convince said carnivore not to devour or even maul them, well, it was easily understandable why the last item needed would be a blood-stained stone.
The blood in itself needn't be special but the stone certainly did. Many contenders had long given up, or were disqualified due to no longer being alive, but a handful still persisted. The rock in question was a gem, the sort that could only be found in a cave that was rumored to be guarded by a dragon, or a manticore, or some other dangerous beast of lore.
Kevin need only slip past the creature that lurked within the cave's interior and retrieve the item to best Morningstar. The blonde boy hadn't yet arrived as even a tongue as gifted as his couldn't convince an animal not to devour him. At least not as quickly as Kevin's abilities proved to be.
The dark-haired boy didn't know it, but he was the first among the contenders to arrive with all the items listed. Though he wouldn't be surprised if he was told, he always did have a high regard for himself. To his amazement, there was no legendary monster living within the cave and Kevin thought it was about time the fates eased up on him.
He retrieved the stone and reopening one of his wounds, dripped blood onto its glittering surface. Suddenly a figure loomed behind him and Kevin spun around, fingers crackling to defend himself for the nth time since this challenge began.
It was the robed warlock. He studied Kevin and when he noticed the small satchel at the boy's hip he grinned eerily. "Do you have everything, boy?"
Kevin narrowed his eyes, not liking the look on the older man's face. "Yes, I do. Why?"
"Because," the warlock tapped his painted jaw with a yellowed nail, "If you don't, then this is going to hurt quite a bit more than it would." And he proceeded to chant in a tongue no one in the kingdom was likely to know.
Kevin did not want to wait to find out what it was the man was doing. Electricity shot out from his finger tips, aimed directly for the warlocks' head. But the man's staff easily absorbed it and suddenly a ring of light surrounded Kevin.
The boy felt pain like nothing he had ever experienced before. It came from his very marrows and it snapped and twisted and spread like wildfire throughout his body. His limbs began to shift, joints collapsing onto itself only to be reshaped into something else entirely. Parts of him elongated while others shrank and just where his spine ended, he felt the agonizing sensation of bones growing and breaking through skin.
When the entire ordeal was over, Kevin lay limp, exhausted and panting heavily. His body was raw and sensitive, completely aware of the cold dampness and rocky surface of the cave floor. He could smell his sweat and blood mingling with wet fur and was that fear?
He tried to rise and found himself unable to stand upright. Something about his joints made staying on all fours more comfortable. His ears twitched, picking up several strings of expletives, many of them he understood and had used more than once.
"Another failure!" The warlock yelled hotly, "Why is there no one strong enough to be the host?"
Kevin wanted to demand what was going on, but rather than words out emerged snarls. Rather than a mouth, it was a muzzle that hung agape.
"Cursed animals, that's all I ever seem to get!" The robed figure ranted. "I suppose a cursed wolf is the best I've come up with, it's certainly far better than a cursed magpie."
Kevin detected a new scent in the air. It was familiar and he was certain he did not like it anymore than he did the robed figure that now seemed so much larger than it had before. He took another deep breath and he grinned as much as a wolf's snout would allow him.
Morningstar.
It may have been petty of him, but Kevin wanted someone else to suffer the same fate that had befallen him. What better person to wish this upon than his detested rival? While Kevin's powers had been able to deter wild creatures from devouring him, Morningstar's innate gift of gab managed to dissuade the warlock from dooming him to the same fate as the wolf.
"I could help you in your search," Morningstar offered, "Surely someone capable of breaking this curse you've placed is strong enough to be the host?"
The warlock mulled over this suggestion, "You could be onto something. And you'd be far easier to manage than my wretched ingrate of a niece. Fine, you'll do. Now, what to do with you." He set his gaze onto Kevin's limping form.
Another grin and with a wave of his staff, a gust of wind swept into the cave and lifted Kevin into its feathery embrace. He yelped out, snarling and barking as he was carried over great distances beyond the kingdom he had lived in. He was finally dropped into far-reaching woodland, crashing painfully through trees whose branches served to break more than his fall.
Kevin lay on the grassy ground, angry, confused and hurt. The desire for revenge was a tempting reason to pull himself together, to heal and regain his strength. But he was trapped in a wolf's body (a pup's at that!) and he hadn't the faintest clue how to undo the curse or if there was a way to break it at all. He no longer had his powers, for all he knew he was dying.
And this made him very angry.
He heard footsteps and froze. What if it was that warlock or Morningstar? But the figure that came into view was a young girl who was one year younger than Kevin. Her eyes, green and vibrant, studied his wounded form as she tucked a strand of sun-kissed hair behind her ear.
"Easy boy, easy now." She cooed, slender arms wrapping around his torso while a heavy-laden basket hung from the crook of her elbow.
Kevin's eyes widened as he bared his fangs, Leave me alone!
He wanted to yell and curse and scream profanities that would make the girl drop him and run away. But he could only articulate angry growls and hostile snarls. He struggled despite the pain moving involved as his claws dug into her soft flesh and marred her skin with streaks of bright red. He felt her tense and wince but she refused to release him as she carried him all the way to a small cottage in the heart of the woods.
"Grandma Verdona!" The young girl called out and the door opened.
An elderly woman appeared in the doorway and she practically lit up at the sight of the red-haired girl holding a growling wolf-pup. "Why Gwen, I know I told you I wanted something fresher this time but I didn't think you'd go and get me a wolf! A rabbit or a blue jay would have been just fine."
Kevin yelped and began his struggling anew; he had no intentions of being eaten.
"Very funny, grandma." Gwen stated flatly.
"Who said I was teasing?" Verdona canted her head, grinning a most predatory grin. "Come on in child, and let's have a look at that scraggly little mutt."
Inside the cottage, the two bathed and dressed Kevin's wounds. The Verdona woman seemed flippant about the whole matter, choosing to bark out orders to the young girl. Gwen didn't seem to mind as she fussed over Kevin, and he in turn found he didn't quite so begrudge the attention or affection.
It was all quite strange to him, being fawned over and treated so nicely. They weren't really just fattening him, were they? His ears pressed flat on his head, I'm not going to let you eat me so easily!
Verdona quirked a brow and gave the wolf an enigmatic smile, as if she knew something no one else did.
"There, all patched up." Gwen smiled, tenderly stroking the top of Kevin's head, "Grandma, could he stay here until he's better? I'll come by more often if you say yes."
"I don't know Gwen, he's a wild animal and wouldn't that make him dangerous to me?" the elderly woman smirked.
Gwen stared at her grandmother; there was no sign of amusement in those green eyes. "Grandma."
Verdona laughed, "Oh alright sweetie, you know how I can't say no to my favorite granddaughter."
"I'm your only granddaughter." She rolled her eyes.
"In that case you best be getting along home, sweetie. It'll be dark soon and I wouldn't want your parents to worry."
Gwen seemed reluctant as she glanced back down at Kevin. She gave him a reassuring smile and another pat on the head, "Grandma's really nice if you don't make her mad. I'll come by tomorrow and see if you're well enough and then we can look for your pack."
Kevin whined; he didn't like the idea of being left all alone with the elderly woman who keeps looking at him strangely. But his tail thumped weakly and his tongue lolled out in contentment as Gwen scratched him behind his ears.
When the young girl had left, Verdona approached Kevin. The wolf bared his fangs and tried to make himself appear menacing.
"You really should listen to my granddaughter's advice about not making me mad, mutt." She leered and snapped her fingers for emphasis.
Kevin was suddenly held aloft by an unseen force and his paws flailed about.
"I know what you really are, boy. And if you ever want to return to your real form, I suggest you drop the attitude."
Wolfen eyes widened in surprise and he barked, How did you know?
"Please, I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you. You have no idea how lucky you are that my granddaughter found you. She's marked you as her charge and the creatures in the forest will recognize that so you needn't worry about surviving any attacks from the other wolves. Bears however, they may still take a swing at you but only if you're stupid enough to warrant it.
"Are you a stupid boy? Well you must be; falling under a curse doesn't take much smarts." She laughed.
Shut up, you don't know anything about me or how I got this way! Kevin glowered.
"My, my, stupid and rude? Not a very good combination, it's a wonder you haven't been turned into a slug. But I suppose you'll make a fine guardian for Gwen, you'd better keep her safe if you ever want to break the curse." Verdona wagged a knowing finger.
At the mention of breaking the curse, Kevin blinked. There's a way to break the curse?
"Of course! There's always a way to break a curse, I thought every simpleton knew that. Oh wait, you must have grown up in a pitiful land without a proper wizard or sorceress. No wonder you're so ignorant." She shook her head in pity.
How do I break the curse?! Kevin snapped angrily, if he had been in his normal form he wouldn't have to take such insults. Especially not from some gray-haired, aging woman.
"Aww, does the widdle puppy snookums wants to be his big bad self again?" Verdona teased, roughly patting the top of Kevin's head, "Curse breaking isn't as easy as it sounds kiddo. If it was, even the most slipshod of apprentices could be considered grand sorcerers. Your curse is especially complicated.
"Not very well crafted, but complicated. And I believe I recognize the slapdash execution, Hex most likely. A curse within a curse, he really should have gone with a third degree. Oh, but what's the point in explaining this to someone who was stupid enough to fall for that fifth-rate hack?"
Kevin thrashed about, trying to break himself free to show Verdona that he was not someone to insult. But the elderly woman only found it amusing, "At least you have spunk, boy. Yes, you will make for an excellent familiar to my granddaughter. Goodness knows the other children in that nauseatingly dull town are substandard companions for a budding sorceress. What do you say, boy? You watch over my niece while she's in the woods and I'll break one of the curses."
Just one? Kevin demanded.
"I'd break them both but for all my powers I can't break the other curse. And I'm not telling you why because secrecy is a necessary criterion for the other curse to be broken."
I don't see why, but fine. He grumbled.
"Good, now you're sleeping outside tonight. Who knows what filthy vermin is living in that mess you call a coat of fur." And with that, Kevin was half-dropped, half-tossed outside.