He had been by the cave many times before, sneaking through
the shadows because he knew he wasn’t allowed, but he just couldn’t help
himself. Curiosity often got the best of him, it would be the end of him, his
mother claimed, but he just couldn’t help himself. Of course he often got
caught, by his friends, or his brothers, or worst of all, his mother; if she
caught him then he would have to endure one of her lectures.
“You are too young to sneak out on your own like that, if
the others find you before me...” blah blah blah.
It didn’t matter anymore though, because today was his
birthday, today was finally the day he would be taught the ways of those he so
admired, his father, the other elders. Today he was finally old enough to know
the secrets of his people.
The first stop was the caves, those glorious caves that he
had snuck off to so often as a child, to watch from the shadows as the elders
entered to perform the secret rituals. Now he would finally know what they did
inside. As he approached, the smell was what he noticed first, it was
intoxicating and drew him closer to the black maw of the cavern. Confidently he
strode past the shadows of his hiding place, following the footsteps of his
father, until finally he was right outside. The darkness of the cave stood in
stark contrast of the full moon light that was cast over the valley, and as he
entered, his breath caught in his throat. It was more beautiful than he ever
imagined, everywhere he looked, they hung, mere shells barely holding the form
of what they once encased, their bright white color fading as they cured in the
damp cave air. As he stood there, taking it all in, he felt a firm hand on his
back, and he looked over. He saw the question in his father’s yellow eyes, and he
nodded, he was ready to see more.
Together they moved beyond the first cavern, into the deeper
recesses of the cave. It was back here
where they were kept, he could hardly wait to see. As his eyes adjusted to the
blackness, it was their skin he noticed first, so pale, so smooth, and with hardly
any fir. The next thing he noticed was the screaming, not the beautiful roar he
had been perfecting his whole life, this was more desperate, and terrified.
Yes, the humans sounded scared. His father approached again and drew his
attention.
“Take a good look son, because this is what separates us
from them, their fear. As a werewolf we know no fear. Sure, we may resemble
them much of the year, but despite our outward appearance, we are always a wolf
at heart. Now come, and sharpen your claws, it is time you learned the delicate
art of removing their paper white wrappers.
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