CHAPTER 12 #3
The wolf grew even clearer in her mind. No longer did Lenore imagine her hand reaching out to the wolf. That was her. The wolf’s eyes flashed like a sapphire’s glint under the sunlight, overtaking her vision with bright radiance.
A strange, wind-like sensation swirled within and around Lenore. She surrendered to the flow, her body moving with it as the change overtook her—weightless as the breeze itself.
Only a moment later did she notice that her sense of smell had sharpened. An earthy scent, accompanied by clear hints of mint leaves and geraniums, infused the fresh air. It took her another moment to realize the scent was coming from Edmund.
“Open your eyes.” Edmund’s voice shook her out of her head.
Lenore did so, albeit with caution. All that was familiar from the hours spent in this place became new in different, heightened ways.
Everything was clear as day, to the point of catching sight of a mouse squirming its way under a fallen branch.
She let out a yelp in shock, her own sound startling her.
She fell onto her back, paws thrown up into the air.
Her jaw was agape as she stared at the silver fur that covered her legs. Milky brown claws embellished each toe.
“I’m a wolf,” Lenore said breathlessly. She remained there, staring up at her paws as they moved as effortlessly as her human hands.
She pressed them against her cheeks, claws gently grazing the outer layer of fur.
Her ears twitched, and she moved a paw to the edge of her ear.
To her surprise, she felt her earring still there, the small blue jewel clicking softly beneath her claw.
Withdrawing her paws to her chest, she kept her eyes on the sky above, allowing herself to process her new form.
There was no madness overtaking her, no signs of her consciousness threatening to slip away.
Ears flat to her skull, she quietly repeated, “I’m a wolf.”
“Yes, you are,” Edmund said. He had gotten up and walked over to her, gazing down with what Lenore assumed was mild satisfaction in his eyes. “How do you feel?” he asked, his voice quieter.
Lenore rolled over, paws back on solid ground.
“A lot of things,” she replied honestly.
It was hard to explain how strange yet natural it felt.
Her claws scratched at the ground, digging up loose bits of soil.
Fascinated by the simple act, her paws patted the ground lightly afterwards.
Edmund’s tail gave a small wag, unable to stop the action as he watched her.
Fortunately for him, she didn’t notice. Lenore looked up at him, and he immediately composed himself. “For one, I’m at least glad I’m not trying to chomp someone’s head off right now.”
A bark of laughter left Edmund. The tail wag came back. In response, Lenore’s tail swayed back and forth.
Edmund let out a low grunt. “Listen... I know it hasn’t been easy for you. I’m aware of that.” He sat down on his haunches, head held high. “And for a whelp—ahem—a new one like yourself, you accomplished an important skill. So. Good job.”
“It must’ve pained you to say that last bit,” Lenore murmured. Her lips curled into a small smile.
Edmund’s eyes softened. “We’ll see if I say it again when we work on your werewolf form now.”
Lenore stiffened up. In that drop of apprehension, an icy whisper slipped into her mind.
And let the world see the actual monster you are?
Instantly, Lenore’s ears flattened. Her claws dug deep into the ground.
“No.”
Edmund’s head jerked back slightly, surprised by the sharp refusal. “No?”
“I—I’m not ready,” Lenore said quickly. “It’ll be more productive if we just go straight into teaching me how to hunt.”
Edmund stared at her, and she avoided his probing look by looking down. “... Then we’ll work on it another day,” he finally said. “But I doubt hunting will be any more productive than getting you to turn into a werewolf.”
Lenore slowly got up, relieved that he didn’t push back. She let out a little laugh. “I admit I never even touched a dead... thing, let alone kill an animal.”
She still wished it would remain that way. A hint of nausea crawled up her throat.
Edmund shook his head in lighthearted exasperation. “I don’t know how city dwellers survive at all.”
“We just do.” Lenore stood beside him, offering a wolvish little smile. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
The tip of Edmund’s tail twitched. “Thank the Moon’s Sovereign for the impossible patience I’ve garnered,” he replied.
“Moon’s Sovereign?” Lenore asked. She tilted her head, vaguely remembering Brynn using the same title. “That’s… oh! I think I read that title before, but only once or twice ever. It’s one of the One Above’s names, isn’t it?”
“That’s what we call Him here, yes.” Edmund’s eyes flickered to the sky and back. “Seeing as He’s given us the moon as our main blessing.”
Lenore was quiet as she ruminated on the new piece of information. She never thought werewolves would have that kind of reverence for divinity. Everything she knew about them was beginning to crumble. It conflicted with the thoughts she had before.
A monster. The word troubled her further as she stared down at her paws, so different from the hands she’d known all her life.
“Well then, let’s be off before the sun bleeds out on us.” Edmund padded forward. He stopped when he noticed she wasn’t following behind.
“Lenore. Let’s go.” Edmund’s gruff command pulled her sharply out of her thoughts.
“Mm,” Lenore murmured.
Onwards she went, following Edmund into the depths of the forest.