Private Tales Wolves At the Door

[Jorg]

He smiled and softly stroked her hair. "Maybe."

Either way, he didn't have any attention of teaching anyone besides Silver. He knew from experience that would only go badly. The Band had tried to make him teach once or twice, and it had never been something that had really agreed with him.

"We'll start after tonight." After they shifted. "Or well...once we've recovered."

A frown touched his face and a question wound it's way to his mind. "Do you only shift for one night?"

The deal that he and the Wolf had made stipulated three days every month. It was a bargain that oddly enough did not require the light of the full moons, and this transformation he was undertaking with Silver was a wholly separate thing from it. Technically speaking he did not have to shift again for another twenty or so days in order to keep the bargain in place.

Though truth be told he wasn't entirely sure the Wolf would even want to hold to it anymore.

Did he?

Jorg frowned in confusion.

 

[Silver Romani]

It was the first time since she'd been afflicted that she'd had to be reminded of the full moon. The days leading up to a shift were usually spent in pain, cold sweats and nausea, and by this time she'd usually have been laying in the middle of a forest writhing in the dirt...Something was different, the wolf seemed calmer.

"Yes.. Well, usually. And apparently when someone is trying to kill you.." she laughed under her breath a little awkwardly. She'd never had a trigger until then, not even to save her own life, and clearly her wolf now felt more protective of his.

 

[Jorg]

Jorg thought for a second, considering her words with a nod. He shifted more.often than she did, far more often.

He wondered if that was simply because he'd been a Werewolf longer or because of what he learned and had tried to teach her. There was no reason it could not be both, but Jorg was not a scholar nor educated enough to actually make a guess. A part of him wished that he were, it might have helped the both of them.

"I may...stay transformed longer than you." He told her softly.

Briefly he tried to remember if he had told her the details of what he had agreed to, but the memory was lost in a sea of their encounters. Lips quirked to a slight smile for a second before he looked back down at her.

"I haven't turned with the moon in quite some time." Jorg explained. "Haven't needed to with the deal."

 

[Silver Romani]

Silver's fingers played over his spine as she looked up at him, her lips twisting in thought.. She'd never spent that night with another wolf before, she'd only ever hunted on her own. The last time they'd shifted together was when he'd pinned her by the throat. Since then the wolf seemed compliant.. like she knew her place.

"It usually lasts the night, but the shift itself usually lasts hours.." she frowned, and her body tensed at the thought of it. She chewed on her lip.. "I don't have a choice.. But, i'm not as afraid this time." she frowned briefly. She knew it would be so painful she'd pass out and throw up, she knew she wouldn't have any control over it, but she knew she wasn't alone.

"Just, don't let me kill anyone.." she huffed a nervous laugh.

 

[Jorg]

Jorg nodded his head. "I'll do my best."

Though he had about as much control as she did when it came to being shifted. He could speak, he could watch and even try to Influence the damned thing, but the likelihood of that actually working had never been all that high in his experience.

It was a pain in the ass, but true.

His largest concern was that when the full moon was done and Silver had transformed back that his own Wolf would refuse to do so. It hadn't so far in the instances he'd shifted with her, fighting the hunters and when the two of them had dueled...but he wasn't entirely sure how the Wolf would act this time around.

Jorg's head shook, and he decided not to worry about it.

"We're far away from pretty much everyone according to this." He tapped the journal. "I'll be surprised if we eat anything more than deer."

A far cry from his wolf's usual prey, but it would have to do.

With a gentle stroke of his hand he reassured her. "Might even be fun."

He said with a smile.

 

[Silver Romani]

"Good.." Silver nodded firmly and pulled in a deep breath, the assurance calming her somewhat. The thought of eating deer caused a groan however, her stomach churning over. She always spent the next morning throwing a bloody mess up as her own stomach didn't agree. The human flesh she'd eaten had been worse.

"Fun?.." she asked with a laugh and a shake of her head that said she very much doubted it. "I wouldn't go that far." she smiled up at him, and rose onto her tiptoes again to leave another kiss at the corner of his mouth..

She spent the rest of the day exploring the old keep, finding instruments, weapons and clothes, jewellery .. It seemed they'd left in a hurry, or they had too much to place any sort of sentimental value in anything. She bathed to ease her muscles, and dressed lightly as they got ready to leave. The sun was nearing the horizon, casting a golden light across the land that spilled in through every crack and window. It was normally her favourite time of the evening, but not tonight. The pain was growing, and her anxiety and panic grew with it.

It was as though she could feel every inch of the moon's climb, and she knew that as soon as it hit it's peak that the pain would subside. She'd have to endure the torture for a few more hours. For now she penned Raksha into the stables and bolted the door before holding a clammy palm out toward Jorg..

"Ready?.." she asked quietly, and dragged the few strands of fiery locks that stuck to her pale and sweat-dusted face.

 

[Jorg]

"I am." Jorg said with a nod of his head, though unlike Silver...he didn't feel any pain at all save for the aches from the previous nights.

He frowned for a brief moment, looking down at his hand and wondering if he would even be able to keep the promise that he'd made Silver. It wasn't like he had ever actually managed to shift on command when nothing was happening.

It was always when there was danger, when there was a fight.

Now? Now there was nothing, He was just trying to keep a promise.

The moon was beginning to loom on the edge of the horizon now, and Jorg could see it's pale light as the sun began to set. He smiled at her for a brief moment. "Ladies first."

Jorg thought it might be the only way for him to turn. She needed to go first, then he knew the Wolf would want to come out.

 

[Silver Romani]

She wandered to what seemed like a comfortable patch of ground in the woods, her pulse racing so hard in her chest that it hurt. It wasn't difficult to see how terrified she felt, and cold sweat now covered her face and chest and her breaths had become ragged and sore. She undressed and threw down her clothes, and almost instantly her ankle snapped and broke, causing her to fall with a shattering scream in agony.

It snapped back into place, and already she felt dizzy. Tears spilled onto her cheeks and muscles rippled under her skin as she lay down on her back, her fists clutching at the pine needles on the forest floor. Another snap, another cried out scream and the guttural sound of a growl as it snapped back into place again.. She could be at this for hours, the wolf trying to get out, her body resisting, an endless battle of agony.

Silver looked up at him, already exhausted and her shift hadn't even begun, her chest heaving with each trembled breath.. "We might be... some time..." she growled out through gritted teeth.

 

[Jorg]

Jorg watched with a pained expression as Silver slowly began to shift.

There was something brutal about it, something far more than when he transformed. He had remembered his first night shifting, the first time the beast had taken him. The process had taken hours, his flesh peeling away, his bones snapping and reforming.

The nightmare had lasted for near an entire night. "Embrace it."

Jorg said softly as he squatted down besides Silver. His own armor had been stripped away, laid carefully down along with his sword so that he would be able to find it more easily in the morning.

"Don't fight." His own skin began to itch, as if something underneath were trying to get out. "Just let the Wolf come."

Otherwise there would be naught but pain.

 

[Silver Romani]

Silver's spine contorted again with a few, loud snaps, a sound that might have been mistaken for a falling tree if it hadn’t been for the curdling scream that came after it. Her bones continued to twist in and out of shape, muscles erupting here and there before disappearing again.

Her hands searched the ground for a branch, which when found she clenched between her teeth and bit down on it like a stubborn dog. All she could do now was wait, her scarred body writhing naked on a bed of pine needles ready to break and shift.

Silver's usually olive skin was white as a sheet, beaded with a fine layer of sweat that sparkled against the light as her body writhed and convulsed. Tears of pain had reddened the skin around her eyes, and her nails were thick with mud from clawing at the floor every time a bone twisted or snapped. The moon was full and rising, trying it's best to rip the wolf out from under her skin.

She nodded at Jorg's words and closed her eyes, drawing in a deep, shuddered breath through her nose, breathing in his scent, hoping it would help. As she breathed out she tried to relax, and breathed in again. Her spine snapped more violently this time, and she bit down on the branch so hard that it shattered. Her canines had always been just that little bit sharper since she'd been turned, though now they were growing longer and sharper still, and her screams turned to yelps and growls.

She rolled in the pine and dirt, her limbs, hands and feet growing in length as muscles erupted under her skin, without fading this time. Auburn red fur sprouted from her human skin, and it soon covered her entirely, thick around her neck and back. She yowled again as her skull physically morphed into it's canine shape, a maw filled with rows of dagger like teeth bared and snarling through her plight. The beast, eager to hunt, attempted to stand though she stumbled and sat on her haunches, panting with quiet little whines like an injured puppy as the pain was slow to ease.

It did ease however, and she stood tall, dragging in a few painless breaths of air into her lungs and stretching out her muscles. Her attention turned to Jorg now, her nose twitching as it pulled at the man's scent. The wolf took a step forward and nudged roughly at him with a quiet growl.

 

[Jorg]

Jorg felt the clawing at the inside of his flesh.

That was really the only way that he could describe it. As he watched Silver transform, saw the wolf break it's way free Jorg could feel her companion itching to get out. The sensation was a disturbing one, as though something were crawling underneath his flesh.

Lips thinned as the massive Wolf before him approached, shoving itself muzzle I to his chest expectantly.

Jorg felt a surge of pain lanced up his spine, the shift of muscle and sinew ringing out with a loud and audible crack. His fingers immediately balled I to fists, and he dropped forward as the same pain embraced him that had come so many times before.

Just as he'd told Silver to do Jorg let go.

His flesh burst, his skin was torn away by claws, and within a minute black fur scarred by wounds ripped itself free from the man that had once been. His jaw unhinged, bright beady yellow eyes shone through the night, and as the Wolf that had been within Jorg stood he let out a massive echoing howl that reached to the mountains themselves.

 

[Silver Romani]

Silver backed away, amber eyes watching the wolf tear it's way free from Jorg's skin. It looked painful, but she wished she could shift as quickly as he did, like she'd done back at their abandoned inn, like she'd done when Jorg was outnumbered by hunters. She felt her muscles shudder and her hackles raise and she shook out her fur, following suit with her own howl in unison.

He was her trigger. He was what called the wolf out. He was, quite simply, Alpha.

Her gaze wandered over him, a low, guttural growl rumbling in her chest as she took a careful step closer to him, her head bowed and ears flattened submissively as her nose pulled at the air. She'd press her forehead into the crook of his neck with a huff, ready to take his lead.

 

[Jorg]

Jorg watched from behind the eyes of the Wolf, the reality of the world somehow seeming tinged by everything the wolf took in. Everything was a bit more vivid, a bit more visceral.

He could almost see the different scents in the air, the trails of deer or rabbits, the way it all seemed to wind and connect together. It was different, strange, and in the center of it all was Silver. The Wolf's head cocked for just a second as she pressed herself against him, it's weight shifting slightly as it's nose snuffled for just a brief moment.

Then slowly it set itself down from just two feet.

There was a moment if hesitation, just a brief breath as a low rumble ran through it's chest. Had the beast been a cat Jorg might have called it a purr. Yet by the time it finished The Wolf suddenly burst out Into a striding run.

Within just a couple of steps it was sprinting through the forest, running fast with Silver just on its tail. Wind rushed through the beats fur, through his fur. It was exilherating, liberating. Like nothing he'd ever felt before even though he'd experienced it a hundred time over.

What was different? Her.

 

[Silver Romani]

Silver took off after him, claws tearing at the earth as she propelled forward, throwing herself over sharp rocks and fallen trees, the cool evening air turned gale force against the speed in which they tore through the forest. For the first time, Silver didn't feel fear, despite having no control, despite being bound, she'd never felt so free.

In minutes they covered miles, and before long they'd picked up the scents of a small herd of deer and so their direction changed.

The sound of another, distant howl caused the wolf to skid to a halt, her eyes wide and ears pivoting toward the sound. She listened for a moment before a snarl tore from her chest and her hackles raised as she continued on their path. They weren't alone in the forest, and the wolf wasn't sharing a meal with any other than Jorg.

 

[Jorg]

Jorg stopped for just a brief second as the other howl echoed through the forest, his head turning slightly and ears twitching. Claws raked through fur for just a brief second, lips raising in a slight growl before he quickly darted off back into the wood.

The scent of the deer was strong in his nose, and behind the wolf's eyes Jorg watched as they raced to follow the trail. It was fast, quick, but then...then there was something else.

He wasn't sure if the wolf caught it, wasn't sure if it spotted it. There was a light. Within the distant woods the flickers of a flame was obvious in the darkness. An animal might have mistaken it for a star, something similar, but Jorg knew what it was; Fire.

Within the wolf's mind he called out, trying to draw the Wolf's attention to the flame.

For a few second the beast continued on it's path, and then suddenly it stopped. Claws skittered in the dirt, and the black wolf slowly turned it's head towards the flame in the distance.

 

[Silver Romani]

As Jorg stopped, so did Silver. She followed his gaze toward the flickering light, and her mind cast back to the Anirians she'd run into on the road..

No..No no no.

Not again. Anger and dread flooded her mind. They were supposed to be far away from people, she couldn't deal with this happening again. Why people insisted on travelling on the night of the full moon she simply couldn't understand. Even her own people had sought safe shelter on those nights.

The wolf's lips pulled back over her teeth as she let out a snarl, her hackles raised as she dug her paws into the dirt and took off toward the light of the fire. No matter how hard Silver tried to pull back, there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop.

 

[Jorg]

It happened suddenly, quickly.

Fast enough that Jorg didn't even really have time to register what occurred.

One moment he was standing, and the next Jorg's Wolf had suddenly tackled Silver and pinned her to the ground. His claws gently raked over her side, his teeth were locked around her neck, and his beady yellow eyes stared down at her.

He did not draw blood, did not hurt her, but simply pinned her down within the reaches of the underbrush. The flame was flickering up ahead, lighting a clearing large enough to fit several hundred. The Wolf did not look into it, but Silver would be able to see dozens upon dozens of soldiers milling about in armor.

Pikes, bows, and swords lay everywhere, an army large enough to conquer a small town arrayed in the clearing before them.

Jorg's wolf held onto Silver, even as the Howls suddenly burst out all around them.

 

[Silver Romani]

The wolf was brought down with a snarled yelp, it's initial reaction to fight back but as she was pinned, her pupils dilated and she quickly submitted with a low whine, her ears pinning back against her skull..

Thank you.. She thought in relief as the wolf settled and eased under his iron grip. It should have been terrifying to someone who had been attacked in the way that she had, but she knew he wouldn't hurt her so long as she didn't fight back, and fighting back felt impossible and against her nature, like the wolf wouldn't even consider it. She knew her place.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she remained perfectly still for a long moment before tearing her eyes from the wolf that pinned her, to the small army of men, and Silver quickly realised that she would have most definitely have been killed had he not stopped her in her tracks.

Ears lifted as the howls sounded around her and a low growl rattled in her chest as she made an attempt to get up, her nose pulling at the air, searching for scents..

Shit..

 

[Jorg]

Five.

Ten.

More.

He could smell them. They were all around, like a tide washing over the shore. How had he not noticed them before? How had they suddenly slipped out of nothingness. Confusion raced through the Wolf, and gently his jaw unhinged from around Silver's throat.

A low growl escaped him, a warning, or perhaps a small word between the two of them that she should not move from where she was. His ears flicked wildly, uncontrollably. Beady yellow eyes peered through the underbrush as he hunched low.

That was when he saw the first of them.

Crashing from the forest they came, rushing through the first palisade and running directly into the swaths of soldiers. Panicking screams rang out into the night as blood splattered from the Soldier whom the new Wolf pounced on.

Two more followed behind him, rushing into the camp and attacking wildly.

Jorg let out a low whine, casting a glance towards Silver in confusion.

 

[Silver Romani]

The wolf's ears lifted and pivoted toward the sounds of howling and screams as Jorg's jaws let go of her throat. Silver may not have had control over herself, but Jorg did. The wolf obeyed, and she remained down even after being released, her gaze pinned on him.

The sound of his whine forced her ears back again as she felt his own anxieties as though they were her own. Her hackles were raised, fur thick around her neck defensively as she whined back at him. She wouldn't move unless he did.

Leave.. Jorg please.

Silver hoped that somehow, Jorg might read her mind, he might feel what she felt and lead them both away from this. It wasn't going to end well if they stayed much longer.

 

[Jorg]

Kress. The word fell from his...well they rang in his mind at least. He watched as a dozen werewolves raked claw and tooth through soldiers after soldier. Some of them were the size of Silver, a few others larger.

All of them were deadly as could be.

Jorg's wolf flicked it's ears, watching, growling quietly, stepping within the dirt with an odd hesitation to the way it was moving. There was a part of it that wanted to surge forward, that wanted to kill, slaughter, join in the carnage.

A beady yellow eye glanced towards Silver.

It lingered for a moment, and then quietly Jorg let out a huff. His head turned, jerking to the side. Then slowly he began to walk backwards, stepping away from the edge of the clearing.

 

[Silver Romani]

Amber eyes stared wildly between the onslaught and the black wolf, the scent of blood filling her senses and causing a low, guttural growl to rattle from her chest. Silver may have wanted to leave, but the wolf did not. The wolf whined desperately to join the fray, to tear down the soldiers along side others of their kind, but she was bound to Jorg’s side and wouldn’t attempt to leave it again.

The wolf rolled to her feet and bowed her head, ears flat and eyes raised to watch him back away. Along side her own relief, Silver could feel the wolf’s frustration and the invisible pull toward Jorg, the apparent impossibility of disobeying.

She huffed as she followed him slowly before freezing on the spot, her nose pulling at the air and the unfamiliar scent that drifted on the breeze as it’s direction changed. Her eyes widened, and her head whipped around just in time to see another wolf, scarred and bloodied, jaws wide and claws splayed as it leapt from the brush straight at Jorg.

 

[Jorg]

There was a crash of flesh and fur as the other Werewolf suddenly jumped and tore at Jorg.

The reaction was so instant and fast that anyone watching would have questioned if Jorg hadn't seen their assailant coming. His head whipped around, two massive claws came up, and with a singular swipe blood was already drawn.

It was not enough to knock the other wolf off of its path, but enough that Jorg scored the first strike.

Before he could do anything else though Jorg found himself completely knocked off his feet. The momentum of the new for carried him against a nearby tree, the sound of cracking branches and splintering wood echoing out across the small bit of clearing they were in.

A yelp escaped Jorg's throat, but his hand reached for and clawed at his for, jaw unhinging to bite at what he could.

 

[Silver Romani]

Silver's entire body lowered to the ground as a flash of fur flew past her and took Jorg with it. The sound of his yelp was like a grip on her very being, a pull that caused the wolf to roar out in fury and throw itself toward the wolf who'd dared lay a claw on him.

She lunged at the rogue wolf's back and raked her claws into his shoulders, her jaws snapping at his ears, head, neck, anything. The wolf yelped and snarled in retaliation, but even though he was now outnumbered he wasn't backing down from the fight.

An arrow flew past, and Silver could hear men fight back, trying to pick off the wolves and regain their stance as the hunters and not hunted. She could hear yelps of wolves being slain, cries of men being slaughtered and the smell of blood on the air was overwhelming.

Fires spread across the meadow, a ghastly orange grin tearing through the verdant woodland. Unfettered flames, devouring hungrily, licking and lapping at the coppice, twisting and swaying in a dance without rhythm.

We have to go...

 

[Jorg]

Jorg had never quite been sure if the Wolf could think, reason. He didn't know if it was a monster or something more. Yet as it turned it's head, as the other Wolf tried desperately slash his face and he saw the flame Jorg knew then that the beast could think.

A roar escaped his lungs.

That was the only way to describe the sound. Jorg's wolf lashed out hard, fast. Blood splattered over the ground and into the sand as he threw him across the clearing. There was a loud cry of pain was wood splintered and cracked.

Bone protruded from the other wolf's back, but Jorg didn't care. His head whirled around towards Silver, a low growl escaping his throat.

Then he began to run.