Blood Moon: Chapter 4 – Of Wolf and Man

The gate was shut as it was earlier. I jumped from the saddle and called over the wall.

“Morgan, are you there? Open the gate, quickly!” I barked.

“Huh? What?” He called sleepily.

“Open the dammed gate!” I repeated.

A few short moments passed before the gate rattled open, revealing a groggy Morgan.

“What has happened? Why are you both back here already?” He asked.

In the distance, a wolf howled once more.

“I’ll give you the short version, there isn’t much time. We returned to Systrella, and shortly after arriving at the Fairburn house David and his cohorts might have kidnapped Lydia... yeah...” I answered.

“You have to tell Gareth at once! Inside, inside!” He said hysterically, gesturing for me to enter.

I left Janek with Morgan and retraced my steps to the Blades hall. There wasn’t as much activity as before, but there were still a fair amount of men drinking with their comrades. I bounded up the staircase on the far side and took a left and rapped on Gareth’s door three times and let myself in. Gareth was sat behind his desk with a book in one hand and a glass of what I presumed to be wine in the other.

“What brings you back here so soon Corven?” He was visibly surprised at my arrival.

“There isn’t much to tell, but we have to be quick. Myself and Janek arrived back at Systrella in almost no time at all. He took me to the Fairburn’s before taking leave. Once inside, I talked briefly with Stanley before a window upstairs was broken and Lydia was taken. It should be pretty obvious who the culprit is, and why there is an air of urgency about my arrival.” I told him as quickly as I could.

“You mean to tell me David risked showing himself in public to snatch a simple girl? Maybe we have less to worry about than we though.” He said.

“I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation Gareth.” I snapped.

“No, I understand perfectly. If you want to risk yourself chasing skirts then so be it, but my men will not play a part in this. Not tonight.” He said dryly.

I stood and stared at him, disgusted. He was the one that had sent for me to deal with this. He was the one leaving the town at risk by not acting. The blood of my fellow hunters was on his hands. If I didn’t act Lydia’s blood would also be on his hands.

“Dammit Gareth. Why are you doing this? We can’t just sit here idly while the David does as he pleases. Don’t you see? PEOPLE ARE DYING. INNOCENT PEOPLE. GOOD PEOPLE.” I bellowed.

“Don’t you ever raise your voice here; you are a guest, nothing more. You can’t expect to tell me what to do. I am Gareth Winsteed the Third, Griffon of Virtue, leader of the Gilded Blades! I do what is best for this town, as my father did, and his father! You can’t begin to understand. Get out of here. Go, and don’t come back until you grasp the situation a little better.” He replied, each word stinging like icy daggers.

I turned and strode out of the room, slamming the door behind me in a fit of rage. I stormed down into the hall, jaw clenched, hands curled into fists so tight I almost cut my palm. I felt as if the whole room was staring at me but I paid no mind and made my way out and back up into the house itself. Morgan and Janek were waiting in the kitchen.

“What’s the problem Corven? You look like you have been through hell and back already!” Janek laughed.

“Now isn’t the time for joking Janek. Gareth is a blind fool. He won’t help save Lydia tonight.” I said through clenched teeth.

“You are serious, aren’t you?” He said sadly.

“Very serious my friend.” I replied.

“And you are sure you have to do this tonight?”

“If I don’t, who knows what could happen. How much more blood has to be spilled before we put down this dog?” I spat.

“Hopefully none.” Morgan said. “It won’t help much, but I will try to sort something out with Gareth later. Of course, you might be dead by then, but if you aren’t then I’m sure the Blades will be a welcome sight as you drive a blade through David’s black heart.”

“You can try but I don’t think he will change his mind. Thank you, though. It warms my heart to know that some people haven’t grown complacent.” I said, bowing before him.

“Corven... watch yourself out there. David is stronger than you think, and that isn’t considering his underlings. I... I have a good feeling about you though. Just promise me you will be careful, ok?” Janek said.

“Of course I will. You have nothing to worry about; after all, I am a Master Hunter for a reason! Goodbye friends, drinks are on me once I fix this mess.”

As I turned to leave, I could swear I saw a single tear roll down Janek’s face. I opened the door and waved a final goodbye as I stepped into the corridor. The door closed behind me with a dull thud, and was followed by silence. I stood there for a little while, head pressed against the wall in silence, wondering how I was going to beat the impossible odds laid against me.

I only moved when I noticed something stir outside. Through the grimy window I peered, searching for the movement I saw. When I saw it, I gasped. Standing on the edge of the trees was a huge wolf, its fur a brilliant white, eyes fixed on me. It loosed a long, mournful howl before returning its gaze towards me – I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t your average Mountain Wolf.

I made my way out to the courtyard and let myself out through the gate – I was sure that someone would lock it behind me. Snow had begun to fall once again, the cutting wind forcing me to buckle my coat tighter.

“Alright wolf. Show yourself. What business do you have with me?” I called.
From the shadows, the wolf padded forth with conviction.
“You called, I have come.” It growled, startling me.

“Y-you talk?” I gasped.

“Naturally.” It replied.

“There isn’t anything natural about a talking wolf!” I exclaimed.

“That’s because I’m not strictly a wolf. I’m more than an animal, and more than a man. I... I am a werewolf.” It said, sitting on its rear legs. “Allow me demonstrate.”

Slowly at first, the wolf changed. Its features receding to resemble something more akin to a man – the snout, the fur, the tail, all of it transforming in a magnificent display. In moments the wolf before me had morphed into a man, slightly taller than me, sat cross-legged in front of me.

“My name is Sir Adam Jessop. We will have plenty of time for questions while we make our way towards LeShay’s lair, for now trust that I am an ally.” He said.

“I apologise, but it isn’t every day that I see... a werewolf. In fact, you are the first.” I said slowly.

“Of course. We don’t show ourselves to people if we can help it. It leads to... terrible things.” He said. “But please, we must hurry if you want to save your friend.”

We moved through the rapidly building snowstorm with surprising ease – it didn’t seem to affect Adam in the slightest, and my coat shielded me from the brunt of it. Soon enough we could see the Baron’s Manor on the horizon. The lights blazed eerily from the windows.

“Ah, there. Our foe awaits!” Adam declared.

“You seem very eager. Not entirely what I expected from a werewolf.” I replied.

“There are plenty of things you could learn from me human. Perhaps in good time.” He said.

“Ah, the irony. Everyone could learn something from someone else. Even you.”

“That they can. You could teach people how to calm down for example. You were almost ready to explode back at the Winsteed Residence, but now... now you are as cold as the snow that falls around us.”

“What? How did you know..?” I asked.

“Ah, I can read emotions. Isn’t that much obvious? It’s also how I know how much this girl means to you. Even though you haven’t met, you feel bound to help her, to free her. I like that. You are a good person. An honourable person. It is part of the reason I chose to show myself to you and not Gareth.” He said.

I could feel my face light up bright red, and my cheeks were hot to the touch.

“Relax Corven! There is no need to be embarrassed, your secret is safe with me... for now.” He said with a sideways glance and a smirk.

“Embarrassed? Not at all!” I said, doing a poor job of hiding it.

“Wait.” He snapped. “Ready your weapons, we aren’t alone out here.”

I unsheathed my blade and watched as he morphed back into his wolf form. This transformation was far more incredible than the first – he leapt into the air and expanded, his fur growing as if time were speeding by. He landed on his four paws and shook himself.

“Ah, I love feeling like this, it is so liberating!” He roared. “Come and face us cowards!”

We slipped through the gate and searched for our observers.

“So it is you...” Came a cold voice from behind us.

“You have no idea how long we have waited for this... brother.” Came another voice, this one from the now open door.

I knew the voices. My stomach turned. Somewhere deep down, I knew this would come to be, but I had refused to believe it. Now, however, I knew it to be certain. Before us stood the last of the missing hunters... Storm, and Ashley.

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