Story 1: Recovery: Part 2

  Orin watched as the sun rose from the east. The sky was turning its beautiful purplish blue color. He began to think about his nightmares that kept plaguing him. Most of them involved Serena in some way. If only he knew where she was. He couldn’t fully remember where the house was that he left her at. It was near a village, which was close to Crater Valley his home. He did feel an urgency to go and find the home. But he was still on the mend, while most of his strength had comeback, he still felt weak.

A hand suddenly rested on his right shoulder and Gabes walked up next to him. “Sharean is impressed with how you handled the kids while we were away.” Gabes said looking at Orin with a powerful gaze. His hazel brown eyes had a look of great wisdom in them, and Orin had to admit that Gabes did have an intimidating stature about him.

“They weren’t that hard to handle.” Orin said back to Gabes with a smile. “They both lookup to you, a lot.”

Gabes smiled a little and looked at the ground while nodding. “Jimson and Feaira are very impressionable. And I fear I’ve romanticized being a werewolf too much. As such Jimson feels like he’s letting me down, and Feaira feels like she needs to impress me.” He explained.

Orin gazed at Gabes and then looked over to the east again. “I don’t mean to be too forward but, did you fear that your children wouldn’t be werewolves because Sharean isn’t one?” He asked looking at Gabes again.

“No,” Gabes answered gently. “My wish wasn’t to breed werewolves. Sharean and I knew we wanted children. I wouldn’t care if Jimson and Feaira hadn’t inherited any of my werewolf treats. However.” Gabes sighed and put both hands on his hips.

“They did.” Orin said nodding slowly to him. “I haven’t told them but I can sense the wolf inside both of them.”

Gabes nodded slowly. “As have I. And I fear that the gift of the werewolf may become a curse for my beloved children.” Gabes sighed and gazed at Orin seriously. “It’s my responsibility as their father to help them learn how to understand there wolf side, especially if they have LTD.”

Orin nodded with understanding and slight concern over what Gabes said about being a father. “I’ve heard stories of half werewolves having LTD. But I hear there are ways to manage it.” He expressed.

“There are.” Gabes answered. “But the family and I will get through that if it comes.” He said looking back at Orin. “That is not why you’re here.” He observed. Gabes folded his arms over his chest and stared closer at Orin. “You haven’t been in your wolf form for a while now.”

Orin looked at Gabes with concern over his eyes. “The last time I was in my wolf form was when I was still under the control of the blood stone. I’m,” Orin stopped and looked down with embarrassment coming over him. “It’s been so long since I was in control of my wolf side, I fear that I might be a little rusty.” He admitted.

Gabes nodded showing understanding. “You fear that changing might bring things up for you. Such as the pain you felt watching yourself hurt others around you.”

Orin nodded his head slowly. “I was a monster. I never want to feel that way again.” He expressed honestly.

“Being raised as a Blue moon werewolf it must be very traumatic for you.” Gabes observed.

“It was,” Orin admitted to him.

“Well then,” Gabes announced a happier tone coming over his voice. “Come with me.” He said before walking down the trail that led away from his home and to the floor of the canyon. Orin followed close behind him not sure where they were going as Gabes and he reached the bottom of the canyon. Gabes turned and gazed up at the trail they had just gone down. Orin looked up to see the Fangson home being lit up by the new day sun. Gabes then looked at Orin and smiled a little. “I’ve always wanted to make a life for myself and my family here.” He explained as he turned and started to walk to the west. Orin followed him noticing the house was becoming obscured by the mountain side it was resting on.

“Why here?” Orin asked Gabes with curiosity.

Gabes chuckled as they kept walking further down the long and wide canyon. “That is a long story, but to put it simply. My family died when I was young. My father drunk himself to death and my mother died due to an illness. I was the only child they had, so once they were both gone I left my family’s home and wandered Terina trying to find myself.” He explained as they continued to walk. “As I grew older I became a bounty hunter. The wars that were ravaging the land was good business for my job, and I was quite good at it to.” Gabes said looking behind him at Orin with a smile. He then turned and stopped, looking Orin straight in the eyes. “But that all changed when I came here.” He said motioning to the canyon they were in. Orin looked around at the rock and stone walls that stood high on both sides of them. A sweet and calming breeze moved through the canyon as Gabes continued to explain. “When I first came here I was tracking down a soldier that had deserted his general. But right when I walked into the canyon I was overcome with a powerful feeling of peace and belonging. Somehow I knew the canyon wanted me to stay and help protect its beauty from the damages of human contact. After that I quit being a bounty hunter and moved here.” He explained simply.

“Wow,” Orin said looking around the canyon again. “So you protect this whole place, from everyone?” He asked looking at Gabes.

“Once when the war was still in full swing I tried to keep people out.” Gabes explained. “But when the border disputes became more localized to the west of the canyon only the Seers of the east would enter here. I had no need to defend the canyon from them. However for extra measure I did place signs at the entrances of the canyon. They read Dead Man’s Valley, just to put the fright into anyone who would want to vandalize the majesty of this place.”

Orin chuckled a bit and looked around the canyon again. “I can see that name causing some trepidation.” He stated.

“That’s the idea.” Gabes said looking behind Orin while also staring slightly up.

Orin turned and looked where Gabes was staring to see that the house was completely unseen. He turned back around to find Gabes removing his shirt while looking around at the canyon. “What are you doing?” Orin asked him. 

Gabes folded the attires that he had removed and placed them in the shade on the ground. “Sharean made these clothes for me.” He said looking at Orin. “I’m not going to ruin them when I change into a wolf.” He explained. Gabes began to unbutton his pants before he unbuckled his belt.

“Is that what we are doing?” Orin asked as Gabes pulled down his trousers and quickly placed them by his other clothes. The only thing left on him were white undergarments that hugged his thighs and waist. The man was well built and appeared to be in top physical shape.

“I come here to change when I’m not in a hurry.” Gabes told Orin before turning and pulling down his undergarments placing them by his other clothes. He stood there nude for only a few seconds before quickly morphing into his wolf form. He stood around as high as a shepherd’s dog and had beautiful dark gray fur that seemed to glisten in the rising sun. Gabes turned his full attention at Orin and walked up to him his tail wagging a little. As he got closer the wolf’s size began to grow. When he got to Orin he was tall enough to look him directly in the eyes. Gabe’s wolf eyes shined a brilliant hazel brown. “Well,” Gabes said looking at Orin with a playful look in his shining eyes. “I don’t have all day. Let’s see how rusty you really are.”

Orin sighed and nodded looking around him to make sure no one else was watching. He carefully removed his tunic until he was shirtless. Orin placed his clothes next to Gabes before he started to unbuckle his trousers. He removed his shoes while holding his pants up with both his hands. Unlike Gabes, Orin wasn’t wearing any undergarments. He closed his eyes and focused on the wolf part of himself. As he tried to focus, faces of people that he hurt while in his wolf form began to flood his mind. He attempted to ignore them but they were too vivid.  He felt like he couldn’t reach his wolf side when suddenly the faces faded and the image of a woman holding a sleeping baby came to him. It was Sera, Orin smiled at the image and felt himself reach the power of his wolf side. A bolt of energy moved over Orin’s whole form. He opened his eyes as they shined a bright yellow. His body began to feel more energized like he was being flooded with massive amounts of adrenalin. His heart rate quickly increased and his muscles tensed as the feeling grew inside of him. The energy shot through his arms and legs filling Orin with an almost euphoric sensation. He instinctively let go of his trousers as the powerful feeling began to move outside of his body. He felt himself shift quickly as his hands changed into large paws. Orin fluidly changed into a brown furred wolf with powerful shimmering blue eyes. His senses were all sharpened. His smell and hearing were greatly increased along with a powerful feeling of excitement and joy. He instantly became aware of Gabes as he trotted over to him. Orin focused on changing his size and felt himself grow taller and bigger as he moved closer to Gabes.

“How does it feel?” Gabes asked him with interest in his voice.

Orin wagged his tail like a happy dog as he regarded Gabes his joy showing in his eyes. “It feels wonderful to be in control of this again.” He stated with excitement.

Gabes looked over to the long path that weaved its way through the canyon. “There’s only one more thing left to do then.” He said looking back at Orin.

“What’s that?” Orin asked as he felt the earth under his paws. All of his senses were so in tune with his mind that everything felt and seemed brighter and better.

“We run,” He told Orin with a wag of his tail. Suddenly Gabes bolted away from Orin and ran quickly down the path. Orin gave an excited howl before he charged after Gabes his running causing dust to fly up behind him.

The energy flowing through Orin was exhilarating. For the first time in a long time he felt free, he felt like himself. All the fear that had been consuming him was gone, replaced with pure excitement and joy. He felt the powerful beat of his heart, the strong life bounding through his legs, and the immense enjoyment of letting loose and being himself again. Orin narrowed his eyes on where Gabes was running ahead of him. A gleam of determination and competition moved through Orin’s shining blue eyes as he quickened his pace to catch up with Gabes. His speed increased and he felt his powerful muscles grow with energy as he raced faster to where He saw Gabes.

The wind blowing over his fur was very welcoming, the light from the sun warming his back gave Orin a happy and elated feeling. He charged after Gabes with one powerful stride after another. The ground beneath his paws felt perfect for running, he felt like he could run like this forever. Orin noticed that he was gaining on Gabes a mischievous feeling coming over his mind. Orin smiled inside and bounded faster to Gabes his tail blowing with the breeze as he bolted through the canyon. Gabes turned a sharp corner and Orin was right behind him. He quickly altered his running direction feeling the control he had over his body as he turned the corner with great ease. Orin bent around the curve of the canyon ready to catch up with Gabes when the unthinkable happened. Orin’s eyes focused on a man standing in his way. Immediately Orin recognized the man and a feeling of pure dread fell over his form. It was the wizard, the necromancer that had enslaved him for so many years. He had a dark grin over his face as Orin yelped in fear and skidded to a halt his heart no longer pounding with excitement, but with deep fear.

“You,” Orin said gazing at the dark wizard. “You’re dead.”

“Foolish werewolf,” The evil wizard sneered back at him. “I’m a necromancer, I am death. And you are one of my reapers.” He told him darkly. “Now, go and destroy the Fangsons. Make them suffer!” He ordered with a wickedly gleeful look over his eyes.

Orin’s eyes turned a deep red and he started to bow to the will of the wizard when suddenly powerful images flashed over his mind. They were of death, sadness and destruction. All of which he had a part in causing. Orin whimpered and shook his wolf head while putting his tail under his legs in fear and confusion. “No,” Orin said deep pain in his voice. “You’re dead, you no longer control me.” He said trying to convince himself that he was right. Orin backed away from the wizard as he laughed. He watched in horror as the wizard held up his right hand revealing a blood red stone shining in his hands.

“You serve me.” The wizard said with a deep and vile smile.

“No!” Orin begged backing away further from the wizard his eyes still turning a deep red color. “No, I will not!” He shouted out at the dark wizard. More painful images flashed through his mind while his eyes still shined red. Orin stumbled back and shook his head trying to keep focused, but he couldn’t, he was losing himself.

Suddenly Gabes came charging right through the dark wizard causing the hallucination to fade and vanish completely. Gabes trotted over to where Orin cowered and gazed at him with concern. “Orin, what’s the matter, are you okay?” He asked him. Orin suddenly growled darkly and looked up at Gabes with deep red eyes. With a powerful roar he jumped at Gabes tackling the wolf to the ground. Orin snarled at Gabes as he pinned him on his back. Gabes yelped and tried to break free but Orin was to strong. “Orin,” Gabes said yelping again over the pain of being pinned down. “What’s the matter?” He asked again.

Orin snarled again his eyes changing to yellow as his focus seemed to come back to him. He groaned and loosened his grip on Gabes backing away from him as Gabes rolled himself over and stood up. “Gabes,” Orin said deep sadness in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” He admitted.

“I do,” Gabes said shaking his whole body before walking closer to Orin. “I’ve seen my fair share of werewolves under the influence of bloodstones. And what I haven’t seen I’ve read about. You’re suffering from traumatic stress.” Gabes explained. “Your mind and body are in conflict and they wish to rectify that conflict. I had a feeling this could happen, that’s why I brought us out here.”

“So I wouldn’t hurt anyone else.” Orin said looking at Gabes with shock and sadness.

“Can you blame me?” Gabes asked walking closer to Orin.

“No,” Orin admitted shaking his head. “I would have done the same thing.”

Gabes chuckled and walked to Orin’s side before stopping and looking at him deep in the eyes. “You’re really strong, not many werewolves can pin me down that quickly.” Gabes admitted to him with an amused sound to his voice.

“Sorry about that.” Orin apologized while bowing his head. “I saw the wizard, and then I couldn’t control myself.”

“Trauma,” Gabes told Orin gently. “It will affect you for a long time, but I can help alleviate some of the issues.” He explained.

“How?” Orin asked looking at Gabes with concern but also interest.

“Surely you know how to meditate?” Gabes asked him.

“Yes,” Orin nodded. “All werewolves are taught that at a young age.”

Gabes nodded. “Well, you’re going to relearn it.” Gabes said to him a smile like appearance showing in his eyes. He started to briskly walk back the other way. Orin followed behind him not sure what he was talking about.