It was noted that I've been using Right instead of Rite when it came to the Right of Passage.
It's deliberate – the Right of Passage isn't just the transition to adulthood, it's a young wolf claiming his right to become an adult. It's been that way since... well, before even werewolves, I imagine. I've never asked a true wolf if they do it too.
Besides, 'Rite' has a slightly different meaning to wolves. There's only one Rite, and no werewolf wants it to happen. Rather interestingly, neither to the vampires usually – not that they haven't tried a few times.
There you have it. Interesting little side note for you.
Kathann's choice to appear to me was meant to be kept completely secret, but then this was a pack – there were no secrets. By morning, the entire pack knew exactly what I'd been up to and who I'd met along the way.
Kieran spoke to Alex. I have no idea what they said, but he apparently decided that he should pay more attention to his pack-leader in future. He did have to apologise to everyone he endangered, a significant loss of status and respect within the pack, but as we hadn't lost anyone in any of the attacks he helped the vampires organize he was let off with only a warning.
Kairi, on the other hand, was not so forgiving. As far as she knew, I'd just vanished with a fair number of the locals for almost an entire day, and come back with a few nicks on my neck. Alex had bitten it slightly during our scuffle, remember.
I guess I can forgive her for being worried about me, but really, I can take care of myself. I am a grown wolf now after all, and no sensible person crosses an adult wolf. Vampires excepted, but then I've never met a sensible one.
She really didn't like it when I couldn't come up with an explanation though. I couldn't tell her any more now than I could before. I hate that restriction, but since this is the only way around it...
Anyway, I had a few days before I got to take part in the ritual. It seemed like only a a few days before that I'd become a werewolf under the light of the full moon, and now the next one was due so soon after.
I was shown to the place where the ritual would take place. It lay on the edge of the grounds of the original wolf pack that had been here when the first Kamaz had persuaded the wolf-god to watch over us. Kieran explained what I'd need to know, what I'd have to do and what to expect – though it's hard to know what to expect when you know you're coming face to face with a god.
Long before, there had been some kind of massive earthquake that caused the cliff to sprout and separate the forest on top from the forest that now lay below. That forest stretches on further than you can see.
That cliff is important though, because along it's entire length there's only one place where it's grey rock sticks out enough to hang over the forest below with an incredible view. Well, if you like looking at the tops of trees, anyway.
Originally, there would have been five werewolves, each of different packs, chosen for the ritual. Four of them would be on other cliffs elsewhere, but the one who sat on this crag was the one who started and finished the entire thing.
Since there was only one pack left though, only one werewolf was needed. The other four that would appear, each on a kind of ghost of a crag, were actually deceased werewolves brought back by Luna's light to take part. You might think of her as just a rock in space hanging above you, but she's just a bit more than that to us. Luna is what allows us to be what we are, among other things.
Normally there's no outsiders allowed even near this spot – it's one of the few remaining places that are important to us left, and are protected like the sacred grounds used to be, preventing entry to anyone who isn't a werewolf – unless they're invited. So normally, no one's ever seen the ritual without also taking part – let alone understand it. This means you're the first outsiders who get to find out.
As the other wolves would need Luna's light to appear, either a clear night, or a big enough break in clouds is always needed. The night I went there to take part, it was clear enough that I didn't need to wait.
The ritual starts with the first howl, in remembrance of every werewolf that has sat there before, and in signal to the other participants. It's the only one of the three where any kind of personalization is allowed, and in my case I've always added the hint of what I gave up when I became one. When it faded, the other wolves on the crags hanging in mid-air, were there waiting.
The second howl between us honours Luna, asking her to continue allowing us to be what we are, and give us the power to do what we do. It's definitely necessary. I once had to miss the ritual. Kathann understood, but Luna isn't so forgiving. I spent most of the time until the next ritual stuck as a wolf, unable to change form, and being very ill. That took a lot of explaining afterwards, and I swear being a wolf for so long has affected my mind a bit, and not in a good way.
It's at this point that the original ritual ended, but we still had one more thing to see to. Kathann and Luna work together at this point, or so I'm told. He is only allowed to appear in very restricted circumstances, so the second howl also summons him. Each of the crags is connected to each other with a string of light until each is connected to all the others. When that's finished, Luna allows him to take on the familiar form of the white wolf with red eyes in the centre of the resulting design.
On an interesting side note, I've discovered the strands of light actually vary in colour depending on my health and mood, and Kathann's mood. I'm not sure if the other wolves have any effect on it as well, but it makes for some strange light displays when the glow plays on the canopy of the forest below. While I don't like being ill, the greenish light that caused it to have once was one of the more unusual ones.
Anyway. I'm getting sidetracked again.
The third and final howl between all six of us is not only in honour of Kathann himself, but every wolf who has lost their life, every pack member who is no more, werewolf and wolf alike. Kathann's own howl isn't just his own, it's the howls of all of those wolves together, the howls of every wolf who chooses to join in... a lot of them. It's like listening to a choir of howls.
When this last howl fades, the ritual is completed until the next full moon, Kathann continues to watch over us, and Luna goes on allowing us to be what we are.
Sometimes though, between the second and third howls, Kathann has something he passes on to those present. This was one of those times. While the entire conversation we had isn't fully translatable, I'll do my best.
"It is good to see you again. I trust you are well?"
"I am in good health."
"You are aware of the meaning of your name?"
"'The Last'," I repeated, then added, "Is it of significance that the name of my companion Kairi has a meaning related to it?"
"It is of significance. You are the last of the werewolves to be turned rather than born, the last newcomer into the last pack. There is more, but I may not reveal what Time has in store."
"Then am I to understand that there will be no new pack of werewolves formed?"
"There are no longer enough werewolves to sustain a second pack, and I am not willing to let the unchanged men suffer as they do while the threat to your kind still remains."
"So what will happen to the werewolves?"
"I may not reveal that. Know however that you must steel yourself for what is to come, lest your foe bring you low by means of your own weakness."
"Who is it that I must slay to end this conflict?"
"The first vampire, the unholy knight so cursed by Mother. He lives on to this day, the oldest of his kind driving the rest of his kind into unending conflict until you live no more."
"Where is he? Where is my prey?"
"That I may not tell you, and you are not yet ready to face him. You are as nothing to him now, but in time you will gain what you require."
There was a part here which I can't translate properly. We discussed a few customs he asked me to observe, then gave me a task to attend to after the ceremony. I'll get to that in a bit. Then before he disappeared again, he left me with one final warning.
"Beware of fire, Kulim – you must ensure the safety of your companions if it becomes a threat. Fear not for your pack, but for them."
This warning contradicted pack instincts, but he must have felt there was a good reason to overrule it.
My first stop on the way back to town was our grounds, and Kieran's den. He wasn't expecting me, but Kathann had given me a single, seemingly simple task.
"I need to know something, revered pack-leader," I greeted him.
"What is it that you need to know?"
"I have been told you know of a plant called Aconitum, and need to know it's effects."
"Wolfsbane? On who?"
"Them and us."
"It is a deadly poison to both our kinds. More so than any unchanged human. It is the only way to permanently kill one of them outside of our own means." He regarded me for a few moments then continued, "This is not something that should be known lightly. Why is it you ask for it?"
"I've been told I cannot disclose that."
"Kathann told you this." I just nodded my assent. "Whatever it is you must do, be very careful. If you endanger the lives of this pack..."
"I will not."
"That is not enough, Kulim. I require a clear confirmation."
There's something else little known about us. If we give our word, no matter who it's to, we cannot break it. You might be able to break it, but we're completely incapable of it.
What's kept even quieter is that if a werewolf swears an oath, not only is it also unbreakable, whatever it achieves must be done.
So to give him his confirmation, I swore an oath that whatever I did with the Wolfsbane would never put the pack at risk. After that, even if I wanted to, I couldn't.
Kieran satisfied, I returned to town. There was something else I wanted to see to while the pack was at the grounds. Custom said I should have been there, but this was important to me.
I left the grounds and headed back to the town, then to the hotel. I had three visits to make.
I visited Goofy first, getting his scent. I'd need it if Kathann's warning ever became true.
Second was Donald. Unlike Goofy, he wasn't sleeping. I knew that, because as soon as I slipped through the flap into his room, he hit me over the head with something.
Human words are difficult in the mouth of a wolf, but I gave it a try. I didn't want to scare him off with the hybrid form, and until Luna set I couldn't become human again. Besides, I wanted to warn him about something.
"One wishes you would not do that," I told him. "I bear you no harm."
"Huh? You can talk?" Well obviously, Donald. Did you think you were imagining it?
"I would ask you to avoid the things that you do which use fire. There is great risk to all if you choose to ignore me."
"What could appear here to make me use it? Another attack by those vampires?"
"Pay attention to my warning," I told him, having caught his scent during the short conversation. I turned to leave, but he rather stupidly tried to catch hold and stop me. I snapped at him once, making him leave me alone, then finally left to pay a call on Kairi.
Her room was empty, probably because she was in my room next door apparently looking for me.
She looked up when I came in. Those flaps are hard to keep quiet.
Interestingly, she wasn't afraid of me. Most people would be when faced with a fully grown wolf, but not her.
"What are you doing here? Was it you I heard a moment ago?"
I didn't really want to reply, not just yet. She sat on the bed to watch me, so I jumped up beside her.
"You've got eyes just like Sora's... and a kingdom crown? That looks just like his. You didn't do something to him, did you?"
Rather reluctantly, I answered, "I have not met him on this night."
"You can talk?" Oh, come on. Once was bad enough. Is it really that surprising that people have to ask me to confirm it?
"It places one's tongue at risk of being bitten, but I can."
"Where did you get this then?" she asked, holding the kingdom crown up for me to see.
"I have always had it."
"You... you're not Sora, are you?"
I wasn't allowed to say anything that was the truth here. I wished I could, but I couldn't. What I could do was not quite lie, but not quite tell the truth.
"I am known as Kulim among my pack."
"So there's others too... can they talk too?"
I shrugged, which isn't easy for a wolf.
"I guess not."
She shivered in a brief breeze. This place was full of draughts. Being careful not to hurt her, I nudge d her into lying on my bed, then curled up with her. Having a lot of fur left me very warm, making me perfect to keep her warm.
She gave me a warm smile, got comfortable and settled in.
"Stay with me until Sora gets here?" she asked. I licked at her face in response, making her giggle, then we both settled down.
I didn't even think about what would happen if she was awake when I changed back – or what she'd think waking up to me there instead of the wolf that was with her.