The castle was extremely quiet to Aiya as she returned. Even the maids were not gossiping as usual. She decided to stop by the king's throne to thank him for her new given freedom. He was not there. Only his advisor in his flagrant pink color's remained in the room. He paced along the royal carpet clearly distressed about something. Aiya carefully approached the angry pink man and asked quietly "Excuse Me…." He jumped almost out of his coat as he heard her voice. His shaky irritated presence made her feel slightly awkward for disturbing him. "I don't know…He has not been here all day, locked himself up in his room since morning time! I can't stand him like this! Ever since you came he was been a wreck!! If I had the power I would have you sent away in a heart beat." Aiya stared at him stunned. The long feather on top of his silly hat flustered as if it was talking to her as well. Why was he being so hostile to her? This whole kingdom seemed to be very touchy and emotional recently. With out another word she left the grumbling man and set off to her room. Her bed looked absolutely irresistible after a long stressful day. Practically attacking the covers she wrapped herself inside a small cocoon of comfort. The room's silence made her feel safe, a feeling she has not had in a while. Of course she felt safe with Eden, but something feels like it was missing when she was with him. He reminded her of someone, someone very important to her. She was having a hard time remembering. Lately she was forgetting a lot of details about her own past. The last thing that lingered in her memory was she was found in the forest alone and cold. There was a tree, it meant something to her. It had something to do with her past. At least she thought it did. Her troubled mind finally rested after these bothersome thoughts slowly died down.
Edan sat at his doorstep listening to the cold night air. It was silent. Nothing could be heard for miles, and this was beginning to bother him. The livestock were even quiet, some not even grazing in their fields. The animals seemed tense and restless as they bunched together in large groups. All of the birds have seemed to have flown away hours ago, not even finishing their night song. Few people had their lights on. He wondered if they were having trouble sleeping as well. He stood and stretched his long arms high in the air. His body was telling him to sleep, but his nerves were clearly being insubordinate. He checked on his mother, making sure she was getting some sleep after working so hard today. Her room seemed dry and cold at the same time on his skin. Her fire in the small pit was down to mere smolders. He threw on a few more logs and rekindled the only source of heat in the room. The fire even seemed to be anxious to him. Something was happening and it was making him nervous, he needed to see Aiya.
In the forest, a pack of large beast raced through the tall pines, reckless and absolutely blood thirsty. The largest took the lead toward the castle running almost effortlessly through the pine maze. His sorrel hide gleamed through the moonlight like a glowing copper. Unlike the rest of the pack, his face remained focused and held no expression. His side, was the grey wolf matching his pace with out too much of a struggle. The grey growled at the rest of the pack as they got to the castle, signaling them to stop. Grouping together, they looked extremely dangerous in numbers. The grey stood at the front of the group and nodded toward a lead wolf. He nodded and took a small party toward the village. The largest wolf could not help but stare at them as they left. He wanted to enjoy their task as well but knew he must do his specific part for this mission. The moon slowly became covered by a large black cloud causing the grey slowly changed back into its human form of Anastilus. The largest changed into the young Soren that he used to be. His change was slightly more painful than he expected and gripped a near by tree to eat it out. His knees buckled, and his arms were sore and tight. The only thing that kept him from falling was remembering what he wanted to do there. Anastilus grasped his shoulder and said "It hurts the first few times, but once you become fully one of us it will be like nothing." Soren looked up at him in question "I thought you said I was already one of you?" he said. Anastilus shook his head and said "You are only part Lupe now. It takes a full moon to change one completely. You must be careful, because if you let go of your focus, you will loose your chance forever. The next moon will be in a few weeks so we have to make sure you don't get distracted." Soren nodded and got a hold of him self. He wanted this more than anything, what could possibly distract him. There was something he wanted more, he could feel it, but he didn't know what it was. Something was holding him back, that was probably why his body was rejecting the change. You had to be absolutely willing to change, and something always made him hold back. What was it? This pain in his heart that would not go away needed to be numbed by this drug of change. "Maceo, Quabil, you guys know what to do. Soren, you know what to do…" Anastilus said in a firm voice. Without another word, Soren charged to night, his form changing into a monster that even he couldn't recognize as the moon reappeared. "Who am I?" was the last thing he let run through his mind before plunging into his stealth mode as he ran through darkness to find a way to numb his pained heart.
Aiya woke during the middle of the night to hear absolutely nothing. Usually when you are disturbed during sleep, a loud noise is made. There was nothing, just the sound of the wind brushing against her cheek sending a shiver down her spine. Rubbing her shoulders, she forced herself to get out of her warm sanctuary and close the windows. With a click of the windows, the entire room even seemed quieter. All this silence made her want to go back to sleep but something wouldn't let her. She decided to go for a walk to tire her so she could sleep again. The moment she left her room, the hallways seemed to make her uneasy. Making her way down the castle she heard a small stir coming from the front corridor. The door was rattling slightly, as if someone was trying to force it open. Scratching could be heard at the bottom making her step back slightly. Her heart pounded as she heard whining coming from the outside. It sounded like a dog trying to break down the door. Aiya was about to turn and run to find the royal guard but ran strait into the chest of the king. He didn't even flitch. His eyes remained fixed on the door. In his hand was a large sword fixed at the ready. "They have set up an attack tonight, its well organized. I heard them working at the door for at least ten minutes, this is why they have pulled back for a few nights." Aiya gulped and looked at the door in fear "Do you want me to get the guard?" she asked nervously. He shook his head and said "It's too late for that, they have the castle surrounded." She bit her lip slightly and jumped at the sound of a bellowing wolf at the door. "Come, I'll hide you in the servant's passageway along with the maids. I have already alerted the entire staff, I was about to get you but you seemed to have left your room already." She nodded and followed him back into the dark maze of a hallway. His expressionless face stared into the darkness making her feel almost like she was not even there. "Where will you go?" She asked in concern for him. She never thought she would ever be concerned for this man, especially after her first impression on him. Something about him made her feel sorry for him. "I will fight them off as long as I can, I can handle them. I have some of the guard posted to protect me as much as they can. Just stay hidden; I can't have you getting in the way and getting hurt." He said firmly. With out another word, he hurried her into a secret doorway that opened to a large group of frightened maids. Aiya stepped inside and turned to face him. He closed the door quickly and only looked back one last time before walking to his small guard of soldiers. She could see the entire hallway and part of the common room. Two guards paced through the hallways clearly on the edge. The maids held onto each other, some even crying quietly. She even noticed the advisors were tucked away in the tight corner grumbling as usual. This was going to be a very long night.
Edan finished tucking
in his mother and walked back to his room to try and attempt some
kind of sleep. Before he could even sit down, a large cry was heard
from the house next to them. He jumped and listened again to hear
glass break, people scream, and growling. He quickly ran out side
grabbing his sword on the way out. Two Lupe were already inside the
house terrorizing a small family. He bolted through their back window
and crept through the small room. All was silent. He could hear the
rest of the town awaken and start to stir. The house remained silent.
Making his way to the main room, he heard breathing. It was choppy
and heavy, making his heart fly. In the corner, he spotted the woman
who owned the house. She was collapsed on the floor breathing
slightly, but clearly wounded. He heard a whimper in the other room
moving his focus. He quietly approached the door with caution and
opened the door. The Lupe were cornering two small children, deciding
which to feast on. They badgered at each other not paying attention
to the door open. The children shivered in fear and stared up at Edan
for help. He lifted one finger to silence them. The older sister
covered her brother's eyes and tucked her head in him preparing for
the gory. Edan thrust his blade into the back of the closest one
sending him howling. He drew it deeper mortally wounding him while
the other, surprised, growled and tried to attack him. The stabbed
Lupe was wailing around so much he blocked his partner from helping
him. Crimson liquid slapped across the room as Edan withdrew his
sword from the dying beast. The wounded animal collapsed in a weak
manner, sending his friend racing to his side. He slowly began to
change back into a human showing a large blade mark through his back.
Slightly taken aback, Edan stepped back from the two as he clenched
his sword for the next attack. The two children quietly seized the
moment and crept behind Edan to escape while the living wolf howled
in morning. Edan walked behind him and held the hilt of his sword
firmly to finish the job. Feeling slightly remorseful for the animal
he hesitated, which lead to his next mistake. The wolf turned on him
throwing him against the wall. The wall shattered under the forced
weight sending cracks all along the wall. The Lupe growled and
grasped his left arm with his teeth shaking it wildly. Edan silently
screamed in pain. He tried to pry open his mouth with his free hand
but couldn't even get him to hold still. He reached for his sword
and fingertiped the edge closer to him. Pulling it in full grasp he
sent it strait into the wolfs neck making him release him instantly.
It shrieked in pain and crawled away from him and collapsed next to
his partner. Edan stood over him grasping his bleeding arm while he
watched him change back into his human form. He was absolutely
normal, almost perfectly human. This made him kneel by him and feel
very remorseful that he killed another man like him. The rest of the
villagers were very much awake some were already tending to the woman
in the front room. One of the men found him and was shocked at the
scene before him.
"Edan! Are you alright? We heard the fight
happen and the doors were locked so we couldn't get inside in
time."
Edan nodded and tried to bandage his arm with a small cloth that layed on the floor. He looked up at him and at the other room where the other woman was.
"She is fine, a bit shook up, but she will be alright, it looks like there were only two of them, which is very strange because they never attack in small numbers."
He nodded and continued to tend to his wound.
"We heard something going on at the castle too; the gate seemed to open forcefully a few minutes ago."
His eyes widened in fear. Aiya. Jumping to his feet quickly despite his pain in his arm, he ran out of the house to his stable behind his house. His mother was running out the door asking what happened but Edan quickly brushed passed her to get to his horse. Mounting quickly he gave her a reassuring look and kicked his horse into a full gallop to the castle.