Medieval welfare: AGE OF WAR!

FATE OF THY WOLF

The Moon emits soft light in the sky,  bathing the land in a pale orange glow that reflects off of the snow. The snow glitters, reflecting the moonlight in beautiful patterns. On this cold winter’s night, the entire world seems to be shrouded in silver light as it gently falls from the heavens and brushes against the earth, covering every surface in a pristine blanket of white. Then an 8 feet tall wolf with white fur enters the scene with a howl, its paws sinking into the snow like he was standing on water. He is barefoot and his ears are pointed. His eyes are amber and his nose is long. 

He has been traveling for many years now. He has grown stronger than before he left the lands, but his eyes still burn fiercely when the wind blows his way. He has not hunted for centuries. He focused his mind on the moon as he howled. Then suddenly he hears a scream from close by allowing him to sprint in the direction it came from.

His ears prick as he listens carefully for signs of where he may have lost the person calling out for help. He stops at a place where a small stream flows. There is a trail down to the river and some bushes along the edge. He walks over sniffing them, noticing faint traces of something.

He turns his head toward a small house. the entire family laying dead on the floor, a little boy ahead sees a man figure holding on to the kid as he tries biting the child with his glowing eyes. A vampire, the wolf guesses as he lunges towards the vampire and manages to knock him away from the child and onto the ground. He bites at the vampire's neck as it shrieks turning into ashes. The little boy watched the wolf as it runs off leaving the boy behind, after his departure the guards arrived in their armor and swords at the ready. They noticed the lifeless bodies around them before the blood ran cold, realizing what had happened they rushed toward the house, hoping to find survivors.

They were too late though; they only met the little boy who kept staring at the forest. Vvgggggggg

The light illuminated the high cold snow mountain with snow dropping on it constantly. The snow glistened brightly and reflected light from the stars creating a scene that would be beautiful and mesmerizing to anyone that would stand there looking upon it.

 Then a huge wolf with white furs enters the scene growling behind its closed mouth as it slowly transforms into a man. It was an old man in his late forties wearing a fur cape with a long flowing black cape that ended at his feet, his face hidden by a long brown beard. He wore dark grey robes which are filled with holes and had some of the parts ripped or even worn away completely. 

He walked slowly walking up the hill towards the village passing by the villages that ignores his presence, he enters a rock-built building where many people were sitting around eating food they have prepared earlier. They all stop what they were doing and look up at him in shock.

 The elders of the village were busy having their conversation including his father sitting amongst them. “Where are you coming from, Dale?" his father asked him.

     “Oh, you know” he responded shrugging his shoulders “I just wanted to get out of the house and walk around a bit.” The old man nodded. He knows how much Dale loves being outside since he grew up in this environment. It was only after his wife died that Dale became like this, but now he is getting better. He still misses her though. 

“Alright son, if you say so. If you need anything please let us know” he said smiling at his eldest son. He turned around and started talking to the other villagers while Dale went to grab some food.

Dale sat next to one of his best friend’s fathers and started eating. He felt something poking him so he looked at who it was. His friend was giving him a weird look, it wasn't like he didn't know that someone was staring at him.

Dale noticed. “What?” he asked. The other boy chuckled. “You're so cute when you try to play dumb with me,” he said laughing. Dale rolled his eyes and smiled trying not to blush

. “Well, you're just as bad yourself, I mean look at you,” he said smirking. Dale blushed even harder because he knew it was true. He has the softest hair, the biggest smile, and his best friend Nomi a beautiful female. They have both been along well since childhood, but it's different from everyone else. Their mother didn't approve of Nomi being with him but she also respected their bond as friends so she allowed them to do whatever they wanted.

“So I heard about your mate your dad found for you” he mocked Nomi who was folding her arms and looking at him.

She pouted and looked back down at her plate. “Hey, don't worry, we'll make sure he treats you well" he assured her. She sighed and smiled. “Thanks, Dale,” she mumbled. 

Dale smiled back and then looked over at Nomi. Her short red hair was tied into two tight buns that rested just below her ears. Her large blue eyes were bright but her eyebrows were slightly scrunched together, indicating that she doesn't like something. 

He wondered what it was cause he could tell she was feeling sad about something.

“What's the wrong Nomi?” he asked her softly. 

Her expression softened. “I don't know how to tell my dad that I'm not ready for—”  immediately the whole village went attacked by unknown attackers, sending the whole villagers transforming into wolves including Dale who tries hiding Nomi behind a table. The enemy was wearing a strange uniform consisting of armor and masks, they all held swords and spears, and each one had a bow strapped to their back. 

They started shooting arrows at the villagers attacking them, “How did they find we are in the mountains?” she asks

   “I think they followed me,” Dale says with his eyes opened. “I went below to the human territory ”

      “Are you crazy! but the elders strictly forbid us from going out there” Nomi yells at Dale 

“Shh, it's fine” Dale replied “I've done more dangerous things than this before. Plus, I can take care of myself” he reassured her. As much as he loved her and always will, she has no idea how strong he was.

“Yeah, yeah,” she replies rolling her eyes and taking his hand. “Let's go fight these monsters”

He looks at her. “Nomi I don't think—” she cuts him off with another roll of her eyes and starts running towards the attackers. He sighs and follows her. “We should probably hide somewhere. I can cover our tracks and we can attack those guys from the shadows.”

“Good idea” Nomi agrees as they jump between buildings hiding from sight of any enemies.

Dale and Nomi continued running through the village as they watched the battle unfold from the roof. One of the attackers got hit and fell to the ground but another attacker quickly jumped on top of him and stabbed him in the neck. He grabbed his sword and stabbed the attacker in the shoulder. Dale and Nomi looked at each other in shock. Both of them knew who those attackers were. 

They had never seen these soldiers before but they were known by the name, of the Horde. Dale looks at the full moon above, and his skin starts to open up with white fur emerging as he transforms into a werewolf. He snarls and takes action charging toward the remaining soldier. His opponent was fast but he managed to block one of his attacks.

The werewolf charges forward, knocking the soldier onto the ground and slamming his head against the snow covering the ground. The soldier groaned in pain and tried to get up. He tried to get back on his feet but the werewolf slams his body against the ground again causing the soldier to fall unconscious once again.

Dale turns to see the attackers retreat seeing the pack of wolves successfully evading their assault. The werewolves howl at the moon to celebrate their victory and run back to the village, the elders emerged looking at the entire crowd, “I fear the humans will soon return, we have to move again. ” an elder says

    “But how did they know we were in the mountains” Dale's dad questioned, then out of the crowd someone emerged in his silver about built to maintain his transformation between a werewolf and human. It was none other than Kane, an adversary to Dale, no one knows why he hates him that much.

   “Dale brought the humans to our territory because he went into the human zone” Kane ended eager to ruin Dale's. The whole crowd gasped in shock, they looked at Dale and shook their heads disapprovingly. Dale stood there confused and hurt at the fact that his family doesn't trust him.

“is that true?” one of the elders asks. “who cares what he thinks, we know he's capable of doing that” Kane shouts leaving Dale's father looking at his son with disappointment. “And we know the punishment for breaking the rules and risking the lives of your fellow pack in great danger”

   “It's true I went out into the human zone." Dale lets out with his eyes scanning the crowd, “The humans aren't like what we were told, we could learn to leave with them. Humans and werewolves could live in harmony together”

   “Liar!” Kane retorts, “We see what the humans did a few minutes ago, they destroyed and set our houses on fire and you speak of living in harmony?”

    “Kane, we all know you don't like Dale. That shouldn't mean you should accuse him” Nomi says 

   “How sure are we that you aren't his ally?” Kane growled,  “you might be the one lying to protect him”

Dale felt his heart racing as Kane glared at him. He clenched his fists tightly and looked away from his gaze. “I am not lying,” he said firmly. His father gave him a stern look telling him that he should keep quiet and stop acting like a child. Dale was not satisfied with the way Kane was accusing him and refused to back down. He wanted to stand up for himself which is why he decided to stay silent. Nomi placed her hand on his arm and whispered ‘let's go to him. She slowly pulled him away from the crowd but he refuses to leave he decides to watch Kane “There won't be any just because his weak dad is in the council and won't be able to judge his son”

   “Kane! how dare you insult my Father!” Dale growled transforming back to a werewolf and standing beside Nomi.

Kane looked surprised at the sudden change. He stared at him wide-eyed with his jaw hanging open. “You think you are strong, you want a fight then you shall get it ” Kane exclaimed.

Dale let out a deep growling noise. Kane's eyes gleamed yellow as his body size increased with hair emerging all over his body and claws emerging from his hands and feet. He let out a sharp howl and lunged at Dale. Dale jumped backward avoiding his attack. When Dale saw his opportunity he charged forward again but was tackled to the ground. Kane growled loudly as his claws sunk into his skin.

“Stop it!” Nomi cried. “You can't kill him, he's a member of my clan” 

Kane stops his clawing and gets off of Dale. He growls at Nomi turning his head back to Dale who delivers a mighty bite on his neck causing him to howl in pain. Dale stands up and glares at Kane as blood oozed out of his wounds.

“Dale!” his father shouted as he ran toward him “What are you doing?!” He looked at Kane, “You two stop”

Dale creates a space from Kane as he transformed back to his human form with snapping bones, “Father—”

  “I have enough, Dale!" he yelled leading out a sigh and turning to the crowd. “Kane is right, there shouldn't be no injustice. here is the punishment Dale, is to be cast out of the clan, leave, and never return” 

    “Father! you can't—” Dale tries to plead  his case but his father cut him off “if I hear that your presence will lead to harm again, then I'll have no choice but to send you away permanently”

Dale stares at him for a long while trying to convince his father, but when he sees his tears streaming out of his eyes, he knows that the best thing to do now is to listen to him. He nods curtly and walked towards the exit of the village. After that, the elders led the people inside to rest until tomorrow morning.

Dale starts to walk off into the forest and the darkness.