Lycanthrope: New Moon Rising

(this story takes place five years after 'Lycanthrope'. However, Marc has somehow returned, as a werewolf, although his friends are all still dead. My friend Katherine is still gone, and I am still living in southwest Alberta)

'The spirit wanders, comes here and there, occupying whatever frame it pleases. From beast to man it passes, and from man to beast, yet it will never perish.'

- Joseph Campbell


One warm fall night, October 31, I was sitting on the deck of my log cabin, overlooking the vast grassy meadow stretching down to the edge of Silver Moon Lake (I bestowed it with such a name due to my discovery of it on the night of a full moon). I wore my black jeans and runners, and my plain dark blue t-shirt.

I felt an ache inside whenever I recalled the incident, five years ago, that had forever broke Katherine and I apart.

Just thinking about it now made tears threaten to come again, but I fought the emotions back. Looking at my silver ring, I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to weep, for this ring had been a symbol of our friendship.

I decided to go for a walk, so I got up, stretched, and grabbed my runners and my canteen, filling it from the glacial creek that ran by my cabin. Clipping the canteen to my belt, I started jogging down the path at the edge of the clearing where my cabin stood, and headed into the forest.

Little did I know that events were in motion that would change my life forever, and I would never again return to my home, yet my life would soon become better than I ever imagined it could be!!

About two miles into my run down the trail, I came upon another, slightly smaller clearing, surrounded on three sides by trees, with a wide path out to a huge rocky outcrop overlooking a vast swamp!!

I decided to rest, so I sat down, took a shot of water from my canteen, and laid back on the hill, watching the stars. I soon saw several shooting stars, then looked across the swamp, and across the meadows beyond, to see a bright orange harvest moon just beginning to rise over the western horizon!!

'It sure is a beautiful night!' I thought to myself.

Suddenly I heard footsteps in the distance, as I sat up fast. They continued, and I silently got up, being sure to hide in the bushes.

Sniffing hard, I was shocked to catch Marc's scent! Oddly, he was alone; no trace could be detected by me of Judas, Moloch, Curtis, or Dallas.

'Weird.' I thought, but I felt relieved that I didn't have to worry about them.

However, I decided to give Marc a 'surprise', so I swiftly undressed, crouched, and closed my eyes, focusing hard. Instantly, the unmistakable wave of pleasure came, building as I felt my body shifting; my senses rapidly sharpening.

Opening my now-fiery-amber eyes, I unleashed a low snarl, seeing Marc stop, and glance around, but not detect me. Grinning, I waited until he'd come just a little closer, before bursting out of the bushes with a roar, grabbing and hurling Marc into a tree trunk nearly ten feet away!!

He crashed to the ground, and rolled over to see me standing over him, snarling viciously as my eyes blazed!!

I grabbed his forearm as he swung his fist, before effortlessly lifting him right off the ground, spinning, and launching him screaming ten feet through the air to slam into the tree, as he crashed to the ground again!

But then, something happened that I never expected. Springing up onto all fours, Marc unleashed a loud growl as his face began pushing out into a broad lupine muzzle, and his clothes ripping off as he began morphing into a huge quadrupedal werewolf similar to the ones from 'Twilight'!!

Grinning at my shocked expression, Marc shook himself, before leaping at me with a roar!! But I instantly grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, spinning and slamming him hard into the ground with all my might, as he roared in pain!!

Quickly recovering, the wolf rolled over, rose, and sprang toward me. I spun, and leapt, vaulting up to the treetops. I waited until he was directly beneath the tree, before I backflipped, leaping off the tree with a vicious snarl, flying nearly thirty feet upside down, straight toward him!! Then, when Marc least expected it, I spun in midair while extending my bone claws, and landed on his back, slamming him into the ground while driving my claws into his shoulders; the entire occurrence being exactly how Logan fought against and dispatched two of Magneto's guards at the mutant camp in 'X-Men: The Last Stand'!!

Marc roared in agony, before spinning fast enough to launch me off him, as I flew, slamming into the tree with a roar of pain, and collapsing with an agonized snarl!!

Then, before I knew what was happening, Marc was on top of me, biting hard into my shoulder!! Roaring in agony, I spun, launching the wolf off me just as I swung my fist; Marc yelping as he flew through the air like a bullet, slamming hard enough into a nearby tree to stun himself; a quarter-sized raw patch of singed fur and burnt skin on the right side of his head, just beneath his ear, from being hit by my silver ring!!

While he was still stunned, I somehow found the strength to drag him through the bushes, and drop him into a peat bog.

I then turned, and hurried back to my cabin after grabbing my clothes. I bathed in the stream, before drying off, putting my clothes away, and climbing into my bed.

While asleep, I slowly transformed back into a man, but my lycanthropy, due to being nullified by Marc's bite, was gone for good now!!

Marc slowly regained consciousness, finding himself up to his shoulders in thick, cold swamp muck!!

Easily climbing up out of the bog, he shook off, before taking off running through the forest.

...

Waking up the next morning, I slipped into the shower, before making myself some steak and scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Afterwards, I cleaned up, then relaxed on my deck in my chair. I easily dismissed any thoughts of Marc, or our fight, from my mind, but couldn't shake the feeling that he'd done something to me.

I enjoyed myself over the next week, fortunately not seeing Marc at all. But by the next full moon, when I relaxed and prepared to let the change take me, nothing happened!!

'What is going on here?!' I wondered, perplexed. I tried letting the change come by itself, even while standing completely immersed in the light of the full moon, but still nothing happened!!

I tried forcing it to come, visualizing the change as clearly as possible, but it wouldn't!!

Then, a sudden and shocking realization came to me: Marc, by biting me while I was in my lycan form, had somehow weakened the curse to the point of reversion, meaning he had cured me!!

I couldn't believe it, although I understood why: Marc, by curing me, had also weakened me, so that the next time a confrontation between us arose, I would die!! I also knew that, although extremely rare, a condition called 'Beta Lycan Enervation', caused a werewolf, if bitten by another, to revert to human form, while the werewolf that had bitten the victim grew stronger by absorbing the lycan victim's powers, effectively turning the victim back into a normal human!!

The condition was so rare that it was almost unheard of. Some werewolves, however, did have the chemical necessary for the reversion, stored in special glands in their brain.

After other werewolves had learned of the condition, they had set out to hunt down and exterminate what they called the 'Poisoned Wolves'.

Marc himself had been the very first werewolf discovered to harbour the gene responsible for the bodily changes in werewolves that brought on the condition, although carriers were unaffected by it.

Other, 'normal' werewolves had banded together to hunt and destroy all werewolves carrying the condition, which could be identified by a carrier's inky black blood, as opposed to the red blood of a normal werewolf.

But now, since all other lycans with the condition had been eradicated, Marc was now the only known carrier of the compound that caused the condition, but he had done a very good job in keeping himself hidden from anyone.

He knew that I now knew of his secret, but didn't count on me being found by someone who would help me without question!

I woke up after sleeping for a few hours, and saw the light of the full moon shining in my bedroom window, but felt no sensations of change at all!

Getting up, I had a hot shower, before slipping on my jeans, t-shirt, and sandals, grabbed a Nature Valley apple crisp granola bar for a quick snack, then headed out to go exploring, being sure to leave all the cabin lights off, but light the hurricane lamp hanging from the rafters over the cabin deck, to find my way back.

I walked quietly along the creekside, listening to the quiet gurgle of water, and the occasional chirping of the crickets.

However, I was about a quarter-mile from home, when I heard a sudden howl in the distance. Stopping, I listened, as the howl sounded again, now closer!

Turning, I ran back toward my home as fast as possible, before suddenly hearing a roar!

Glancing back I saw Marc was gaining on me, so I put on a burst of speed, hoping to outrun and possibly lose him.

I then turned east, running away from my home, through the wilderness. I did so knowing that Marc would know to look for me around my cabin, so I was misleading him, and it worked, for I could hear him a ways behind me, but still distant enough that I was fairly safe.

After travelling over four miles east, I came upon a vast, gigantic swampy landscape, that seemed to be part forest.

I ran through the bushes around the swamp, aided by the light of the full moon, before collapsing from exhaustion against a large tree. I laid there silently for several minutes, waiting.

When I thought it was safe, I sat up, stretching my neck to ease the pain, and froze.

There stood Marc in wolf form, glaring at me and grinning devilishly; his fangs making my blood run cold!! He crouched, stalking toward me, then leapt with a roar; his jaws open wide for the kill...

WHAM! Out of nowhere, another large beast, followed by a big black German Shepherd dog, sprang from the bushes; the beast slamming into Marc and sending him flying into the swampy waters, before I felt dizziness sweep over me. The last thing I saw before blacking out was the beast reaching for me, and the dog running towards me.

...

Gradually regaining consciousness, I found myself lying on a couch in the living room of a house, but I didn't recognize anything.

Suddenly a large brown muzzle came into view above me, before I blinked hard, and looked again, seeing a werewolf standing over me, alongside the dog I'd seen earlier!!

Mustering what strength I had, I scanned the mind of the werewolf, feeling short bursts of intense psychic static, exactly how Matt read Sylar's mind to find the truth, after Sylar told him of how he had redeemed himself, as in the Heroes episode 'Brave New World', as my eyes widened!! He slowly crouched, looking into my eyes, and as I stared into his, realization hit me like a sledgehammer.

"G-grady...?? Is that you?!" I asked weakly, as the werewolf nodded!!

I looked over. "Vandal...?" The dog's tail wagged as his tongue lolled out in a grin!!

I started to sit up, but the werewolf reached out to steady me. "Take it easy, Charlie! Marc beat you pretty good!"

Even though his voice was now deep and wolfish, I still recognized it. Suddenly I noticed Grady's hand had brushed against my silver ring as he had reached toward me, but upon noticing my shocked expression, Grady smiled, placing his hand gently atop my ring hand.

"Don't worry, Charlie!" He said reassuringly. "I have long-since built up pretty strong immunity to silver, although judging by the burns I saw earlier on Marc's head, he's definitely vulnerable!"

I grinned, and nodded. Helping me sit up, Grady offered me some water. I then looked at him. Grady's werewolf form was somewhat human-like, similar to what Will Blake's had been, but Grady was somehow more wolfish-looking; his head and snout definitely lupine. Overall, Grady's werewolf form was exactly like that of the 'Van Helsing' werewolves, although he wasn't as big or as muscular, but he still looked pretty strong!! His normally hazel eyes were now bright yellow, but unlike Will, I saw no ferocity, no bloodlust, and no mindlessness in them.

Instead, I saw Grady for the kind, friendly person, or wolf, he was.

He smiled, helping me lie back again. "Marc might be strong, Charlie, but his werewolf form lacks the power of a man with the wolf, together!!"

I grinned, then beckoned him close. I told him everything, from the moment I discovered my friend Katherine was a werewolf, to her changing me, the sad and frightening occurrence that had led her to abandon me, and now this.

Grady listened intently, then put a furry hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry to hear of such pain happening between you and her, Charlie! And I'm sorry to hear how you lost control after changing," but then he smiled.

"but, if you let me, Charlie, as a friend, I can help you, and give you back the power! Marc may have cured you, but I can give it back!"

I smiled. "I would, Grady, and we could take Marc down together!!"

Looking at my silver ring, Grady lifted my hand in his, examining the silver, and the icy blue sodalite stone. "Did your friend give you this ring, Charlie?"

I smiled, and nodded. "Yes. It is the only thing I have to remember her."

Grady nodded; his expression speaking volumes for my sorrow of losing my friend. "Do you know about Fever Swamp, Charlie?" I nodded.

"I heard the fever makes you hot and sweaty, and drives you insane!" He looked up at me.

"And that is the reason for Marc's uncontrollable bloodlust!"

My jaw dropped! "What?!" I exclaimed. "All the way out there?!"

But he nodded. "The fever can spread for many miles, and still stay strong, as long as it remains in the earth! Separate the virus from the earth itself, and it will die!!"

I looked up at him. "Then we need to lure Marc out here, so he is exposed to the virus again. With any luck, overexposure will kill him!!"

Grady nodded, grinning as his fangs gleamed. "Or, we could just take him on and rip him apart, Charlie!!" he replied, as I grinned slyly.

...

The next morning, I got up, and had a shower. Grady later introduced me to his parents and sister Emily, and we warmed up to each other fast, coming to like each other very much.

I wasn't surprised when Mr. Tucker told me how his denial of werewolves existing was forever erased after seeing Grady turn.

By now, Mr. and Mrs. Tucker had grown too used to their son's lycanthropy to bother about it.

I went out with Grady's dog to explore the swamp; Vandal having come to really like me and enjoy being around me.

I stayed out all day with him, and unlike Grady, didn't get lost at all, even though I had never been around Fever Swamp before!

I later found some large wolf tracks leading from the trail that had first brought me here, around the swamp, and toward the centre!

Oddly, they didn't lead off of it, and there were a set of human footprints leading away, around back toward the edge of the swamp. In early evening, Grady and I went exploring with Vandal. 'Did you happen to see a set of tracks along the trail and around the swamp, Grady?' I asked after a while.

"Yeah, Charlie, I did!" he replied. "I think Marc came back!!"

Grady had no sooner said those words, when I was suddenly grabbed from behind by a big, furry paw!!

I screamed as the wolf's jaws bit hard into my right arm!! But I didn't have to look to know that Marc was attacking me!

I blindly swung my fist again; this time connecting with Marc's jaw, as he reeled, roaring as the silver burned him even more, rendering the whole left side of his face burnt, raw, and stripped of fur!!!

Suddenly he roared as Vandal leapt onto his back, savagely biting and tearing at his skin!!

I suddenly heard another loud roar, as Grady, now in his werewolf form, sprang onto Marc, easily tearing his flesh with his razor-sharp fangs!! But the pain was so bad that I passed out almost instantly, blood trickling down over my arm!! Suddenly, I heard distant yells, and running footsteps, followed by a loud shotgun blast!!

...

Regaining consciousness slowly, I saw Grady, his mom and dad, and his sister Emily, all kneeling around me.

It was odd to see Grady in his werewolf form, and his parents and sister normal, but the gravity of the current situation didn't let me dwell on that.

"The wounds are too deep for treatment!" Mr. Tucker was saying.

Looking up at his son, he nodded. "You must do it, Grady!" he said solemnly. "Bite him!"

"What?!" Grady asked, worried. "What if I hurt Charlie, or worse, kill him?? I don’t know if I could handle that!"

But his dad put a reassuring hand on Grady’s shoulder, looking him in the eye. "You won’t, Grady! I promise!" he replied. "Passing the curse is the only way to save his life. You won’t hurt him. But he’ll die if you don’t turn him!! I know that Will only gave you the curse out of sheer malicious intent, but all you need to remember is that YOU can give Charlie the curse out of compassion!!"

Grady thought about this, before looking up at his dad. "You’re right, dad!" he replied. "Thank you!" Grady’s father smiled, and nodded.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Grady turned to see his sister Emily. "Please, Grady! Charlie is as much a friend to me as he is to you, and I can’t bear the thought of his death!" She smiled. "I promise you, you won’t regret it!!"

Grady smiled. "I know that now, Emily." He replied.

Reaching down, he carefully turned my head sideways, before slowly leaning down while baring his fangs, and sinking them into my neck.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Marc, in human form, grabbed Grady, throwing him aside as he roared in shock, before Marc lifted me right off the ground by the throat, glaring at me with sheer hatred!!

Now, Marc's face was disfigured by a nasty red burn scar, making him look almost like Mel Gibson's character in 'The Man Without A Face'!!

"Grady...!" his dad shouted. Mr. Tucker than ran at Marc. "Let Charlie go, Marc! LET HIM GO!!"

Marc simply grinned evilly, and scoffed. "Let my most hated enemy go? I don't think so!!"

Then they all noticed my eyes were slowly starting to darken to black, almost like Michael Corvin's eyes in his hybrid form, but this was different!!

With an enraged yell, Marc threw me backward, as I slammed into a big tree branch hard enough to completely smash it, before flipping and landing facedown in the swamp water!!

I slowly began to move again, just as they all came running up to the edge; Mr. Tucker kicking Marc in the gut as he gasped, tumbling backward and falling close to the swamp edge.

I slowly turned my head, lifting it slightly out of the water, before both Grady and Emily gasped upon seeing my black eyes slowly turn bright cobalt blue, as I gasped in pain, then jerked over onto my back in the water; my mouth open wide in a soundless scream!!

Then Grady gasped as he saw my molars slowly become sharp fangs!!

I pried my eyes open, lifting my right hand and watching the skin swiftly darken to black, as my nails all pushed out into long ivory claws, and my knuckles swell, popping and cracking painfully!!

I gasped in pain, squeezing my eyes shut, before jerking my head sideways away from them; the skin rapidly turning black, alongside my hair, which thickened and narrowed into a mane down my neck and spine!!

There were horrible cracking, snapping sounds as my face rapidly pushed out into a broad muzzle; my fangs gleaming as my ears lengthened!!

My chest broadened and expanded, my legs shifted, then finally, all my wounds fully healed in a matter of seconds, completing my full transformation into an 'Underworld' lycan; the entire process being similar to Michael Corvin's transformation into a hybrid!!

Suddenly they all heard Marc's running footsteps, and quickly hid; Grady turning himself into a werewolf again.

Stopping by the swamp, Marc sniffed, picking up my scent. I had been here, somewhere...

Then, upon hearing a low snarl, Marc spun, coming face-to-face with an 'Underworld' second-generation Lycan!!!

I looked slowly up at him, snarling viciously as my icy cobalt blue eyes blazed!!

He growled, glaring at me, before I grabbed his neck, lifted him, and threw him nearly six feet through the air, as he landed in the water!!

Rolling over, he saw me standing over him; my eyes blazing like fire, and my fangs glistening!! Grady, Emily and their parents were looking on in sheer astonishment, since between throwing Marc and coming to stand over him, I had moved with a swiftness and stealth never before seen in any werewolf, but then again, Lycans aren't your ordinary, average werewolf!!

Marc snarled, and tried reaching up to grab me, but I caught his wrist, lifting him clear out of the water, as they all gasped, and Grady stared in disbelief!!

Suddenly I swung my other hand, slashing his face with my claws while releasing him, sending him flying across the swamp!!

Relentless, I leapt, landing and slashing his back just as he tried getting up, then grabbed his arm, but he was faster, twisting mine behind my back as I roared!

Vandal charged forward while barking, trying to bite Marc, but he spun, punching the dog and sending him flying back with a yelp!

"Vandal...!" Emily cried, rushing forward. She knelt by his limp form, watching Marc and I fight.

This time, however, I easily dodged all of Marc's attacks, before grabbing both his forearms, and kicking him as hard as I could in the chest, sending him flying into a tree!

Relentless now, I leapt forward, ramming both my feet into his chest, cutting deep gouges, before rolling over and spinning upward, grabbing Marc by the throat, and slamming him down into the water!

Glancing back at Grady, we exchanged nods, before he leapt up onto the tree trunk, then sprang off with a roar, front-flipping as he flew down and slamming into Marc with all fours, making him howl in agony as Grady's claws dug into Marc's flesh!!

Grady then threw Marc backward, as I spun around Marc's body just before he hit the ground, and turned to face him, swinging my right hand and slashing Marc's gut, while he simultaneously gouged me, as my muzzle twisted in agonized rage!! Marc tried to roar in pain, but instead, only an agonized gurgling snarl emerged; the entire occurrence being exactly how Logan fought against and killed Shingen, in 'The Wolverine'!!

Finally, I pried my eyes open, as Marc and I looked at one another; Grady, Emily, and their mom and dad all watching in stunned silence as Marc shifted slowly back into a man, as he looked up at me in sheer terror!!

"W-what kind of monster a-are you?!" he gasped in fright!!

"The Lycan!!" I snarled, before slamming my left hand flat against his ribcage, and extending my claws while ripping his chest open, squeezing and breaking his sternum, making Marc gasp; blood suddenly oozing from his mouth, before I released him, letting his body fall to the ground; the steep slope making his corpse tumble right into the swamp, and slowly sink!!

With that, I slowly turned to look at them, as they stared in disbelief, watching my horrible chest wound rapidly heal itself, in just under five seconds!! I then allowed myself to shift slowly back into a man, although my eyes did not change back to dark brown, instead staying a deep cobalt blue colour!!

After washing my hands in the swamp water, I ran over and knelt beside Vandal, reaching down to place one hand against his side, and closed my eyes, focusing.

Their eyes all widened in amazement as they watched his wounds begin to rapidly heal, and soon, Vandal began to move again!! He slowly got up, and happily licked my face, as I laughed, and both Grady and Emily smiled.

We all went back home again, and I went to lie down on the couch for a much-needed rest. About two hours later, I awoke again, feeling refreshed.

Grady and I then headed out with Vandal, before I transformed myself back into the Lycan again.

Reaching down, I gently rubbed my thumb over the ring, shivering in pleasure as the cool silver sent a tremor through me! I now realized that I was fortunate to have full immunity to all forms of the metal, just like Lucian himself!!

Grinning, I raced down the path to the creek edge on all fours, as Grady followed, then I crouched, and threw back my head to unleash a long, loud howl at the full moon, as Grady joined in! Back home, Emily turned slightly upon hearing our howls in the distance, and smiled, chuckling to herself!

I playfully romped about, enjoying my new form. Not even having considered it, I suddenly stopped, and looked around, noticing everything was now in various shades of grey!! This, I realized, must mean that I had the extremely rare condition of 'cone monochromacy', a form of total colour blindness!! However, unlike other forms of monochromacy, my type did not in any way include light sensitivities, which was good!

After a while, I turned back, as did Grady, and we headed home. On the way, I inquired to Grady about the werewolf.

"So, am I like you now, Grady?"

He nodded slightly. "In some ways you are, Charlie." I looked confused for a moment.

"What do you mean, 'in some ways'?" He looked at me again.

"Well, Charlie, for one, you and I are different in that if you were to ever be shot with normal silver bullets, you can fully extract them by consciously forcing your muscles to push them out, then your regeneration would heal the wounds instantly! I, on the other hand, would find that impossible! Another, is that you can telekinetically control silver, thus preventing it from harming you in any way!! But these differences are due to the fact that you are a Lycan, and I'm just a normal werewolf!"

"Are you serious?!" I asked, amazed.

Grady smiled, and nodded. "The only form you ARE vulnerable to, Charlie, is the chemical silver nitrate. Small amounts can burn your skin, slow down your regeneration, and also cause form reversion, but larger amounts of that chemical can be lethal to you through blood poisoning!" I nodded.

"But I've never heard of anyone coming up with the idea to use silver nitrate as a weapon, Grady, aside from the vampires in the movie 'Underworld'!"

He smiled. "Which is why you shouldn't worry, Charlie! Marc and his friends never did think of that, but now that Marc is dead, you never have to worry about getting hurt by anyone, and neither do I!" I nodded, and smiled.

"I'm gonna go exploring for a while." I said with a grin, as he smiled. After warning me to be careful, Grady went back to help his mom and dad prepare supper, and Vandal went with him. I found it exhilarating to explore in my lycan form, as my senses were vastly superior to any human, and almost every animal, as were my strength, speed, and reflexes!

I laughed as I raced on all fours through the forest, feeling the cool breezes whip over me, soon growing slightly chilly, but I found it invigorating!! Racing through the forest, I howled exuberantly, relishing in the sheer freedom of 'the wolf gift'.

Grady grinned as he heard my excited howls in the distance, and was happy to realize that I could now enjoy such an incredible gift! Later, I returned home, finding he had just gone to bed.

I suddenly raised my head, sniffing gently, before slowly turning to look, finding I was just ahead of the trail leading to Fever Swamp. Loping over, I saw Grady's large paw prints from earlier that evening, still quite fresh in the sand. Crouching by them, I examined his prints, comparing my own, finding mine to be slightly larger!!

Grinning, I slowly reached down to feel the depressed sand in them, then suddenly twitched, squeezing my eyes shut with a sudden low growl, as I felt an intense burst of psychic static; my psychometry showing me the very first time Grady had changed!!

This revelation, surprisingly, was exactly like how Sylar recounted his fragmented memory of being found by the police, when being interrogated by Captain Lubbock, as in the Heroes episode 'Hysterical Blindness', only this was my own!!

The psychic static abruptly faded as my eyes snapped open, then I looked up at the trees, before turning slowly to see the full moon; its brilliant light fully illuminating the forest before me!!

Feeling hungry all of a sudden, I searched, finding the supper he'd left for me, of several juicy well-done bacon-wrapped sirloin steaks, BIG ones!! Grady had had rice and vegetables with his when he ate with his parents, but knew that I had a deep craving for meat whenever in my lycan form!!

They'd left it since they knew I would be late in returning.

Growling hungrily, I eagerly gorged myself on hot, succulent steak and bacon strips, savouring every juicy mouthful, made even better by my heightened senses, especially my smell and taste! I have to admit, being a wolf has its advantages!!

By the time I finished, I was suddenly feeling very sleepy, so I slowly lumbered on all fours toward the lake, and slowly climbed in; the cool water washing over me, making me growl softly in pleasure! I dived under savouring the coolness, then burst up again; water spraying everywhere on the shore rocks. I closed my eyes, savouring the cold water running over my skin, then slowly laid back on the edge, placing my arms on the stone, and looked up at the sky, grinning as I watched the stars glisten, and the full moon slowly begin to rise over the trees!

And, despite only being able to see grey, black, and white due to my colour blindness, everything still looked very beautiful in the moonlight!

Grinning, I closed my eyes, and howled softly; Grady grinning to himself as he heard me! I soon became so relaxed that I fell asleep, growling softly as I began to snore.

Soon, about twenty minutes later, I woke again, feeling refreshed, and decided to explore some more.

After about 20 more minutes, I slowly willed myself to turn back as I headed home.

Stopping on the porch, I turned to see the full moon in the distance over the swamp.

'Grady has given me his greatest gift, and I know it will let me live a life more joyful and free than I could ever imagine!'

I smiled at this realization, knowing that God Himself had revealed the truth to me, and also let me understand just how wonderful a gift He, through my friend, had given.

With this realization, I felt a new sense of hope, happiness, and purpose. It was at that moment that I really understood that my friend had done me a monumental favour in changing me, thereby not only saving my life, but also opening up to me a whole new world that I had never even believed existed!!

I knew that nothing would ever be the same for me again! But I would forever relish all the excitement that being a lycan had to offer, which would undoubtedly make my life better than I had ever imagined it could be!!

My friend Grady has changed my life, just as Will had changed his. I know that I will never forget him, or what he did for me.

Epilogue...

That fateful night was about eighteen months ago, and to be honest, I'm still coming to terms with being a Lycan.

I can truly call Fever Swamp my home now, and I honestly believe I couldn't have picked a better place to live. I absolutely love the wide open countryside, and especially the warm summer nights. It is simply amazing to live in this place!! The wide open country also provides the perfect place for me to explore as a wolf, on my own, with Vandal, or all three of us together: Vandal, Grady, and I.

Sometimes, while roaming the forests and wide open fields at night, I can see the moon. Even when it isn't full, I still can control my power, becoming a wolf at will. I do know that Grady has never been seen to shift like that, but I guess I'm just lucky.


Now, I sense fall is on its way, and soon it will be Halloween, but who needs a costume when you have lycanthropy? There have been occasional reports by a few of the townsfolk of two large beasts roaming the countryside on nights of the full moon, but others adamantly believe they are only mistaking a dog for the beast, although I've never owned one, and both Grady and I know that Vandal isn't THAT big.

Besides, werewolves don't really exist, do they?

             The End!