The Society of Romulus and Remus
Ludwig is the product of a centuries old curse that transforms him into a dangerous werewolf. His only chance for a cure is with Feliciano, heir to the Society of Romulus and Remus, a group of hunters who hunt on the supernatural.
Look! I updated this story two times in a year! A wonder! ...I still apologize for the lengths it takes me to updates! BUT! With FATKOH soon coming to an end, TSORAR will then be my main focus to finish. So soon, updates on this story will be much quicker. But for now, bear with me! This chapter is also pretty short...which is sad. But enjoy!
Chapter 13
Extensive woods, darkening, and to Feliciano’s slowly frightening mind, moaning, creaking, and laughing at his sure misguidance. He tried to block everything, his gaze set on the further lights that would surely bring him out of this territory and into the streets of people, back to the human world, a chance to be normal. Only…these lights ended up being clearings, still in the depths of the forest. Every time he met them, it made him feel like he was only losing himself closer and closer back to the base. At first, he would run, desperate to leave any sight of it, but now…he wanted it as comfort to know that he was still on the path, still with something familiar. Now…it was getting dark, no glimpses of artificial lighting, only those of the moonlight, reigning on Feliciano like a doom clock that made him shiver.
Rest…sleep…perhaps he could dream this away and by the morning he could continue his venture.
“Here!”
“Qui, cerca da qua!”
The far away voices would shock him out of his drowse.
He couldn’t stay, he had to keep going, even if it wasn’t to the street…he had to get away from them.
Moonlight, darkness, the frenzy, the adrenaline, the protectiveness, have to get him, have to get him… it was the perfect night to become a wolf.
No! He kept shouting to himself, swashing away branches and bushes with that fury. He growled and angered himself trying to stop it. He didn’t care if his speed were not the norms of his human body, bruises darkening, cuts bleeding on, these did nothing to the blaze of energy that kept him running at his top speed across rocky paths and unknown routes into the forest.
Getting lost? This deep damaging of his body? Being met by other hunters in the closeness to transformation? These worries were nothing to him.
Feliciano, Feliciano, Feliciano, was the only goal, the only thing he could focus on other than his deny to the animal.
Yes…Feliciano.
It was usually the growl that meant hunger, owning and death, but yet…this time, it was in such a caress, such lust and…love.
No, not this, not even this he should allow.
Keep the frantic search, try to keep the scent he was trying to hold on to, run…but don’t allow.
The full moon had never sung so loudly to him. He didn’t notice how his nails slowly started to elongate unto the familiar claws.
Where was the road? Where was the road? Where was the road? Feliciano panicked, lost completely out of direction. Everything had begun to look the same, it started to spin, Feliciano desperately taking whatever direction in hopes of finding something. He didn’t even have the calls anymore, and by this point, he was trying to search them too. Would he then be willing to go back to them? These add of questions only began to hurt his thread, adding to the headache that drove him more insane into the forest. He fell unto his knees, tired, wanting to just finally breathe, relax and not have that constant pang across his entire body.
For once, everything around him came into beautiful silence, even his mind could breathe, he could settle, lulling ever deeper unto the ground he found. Yes, he could sleep, he told himself, lay down and be forgetful about everything. He settled himself well on the ground, uncaring of the dirt or small animals that were about. It was so nice to dream, this peaceful darkness that was utter bliss now.
He was a perfect target, defenseless, small, the gold of a Valenti heir. The predators couldn’t have asked for a more opportune moment, their eyes of red and orange seeming to grow larger in this darkness, shinning their presence and marking all that was to be theirs. They circled, coming closer, each time revealing their plentitudes, their growls and laughs louder. Feliciano only stirred once he felt something linger on him, plus a horrible stench that had broken whatever walls of sleep he had hoped for. His eyes flickered open, adjusting to the legs that stood before him. Oh…perhaps it was the guards, perhaps they found him! He didn’t care if he was being brought back to the base, for a moment he just wanted to be in the relief that he was with somebody and that he could be safe. But then his eyes focused and saw that they weren’t legs…but paws. Not regular paws that should belong to the peaceful wolves he knew would not come near here, but the paws of their monstrous relatives, large, strong and with the capacity to squash him in a single step. Feliciano screamed and rolled back just in time so one could miss from taking him with large grips, claws that would have easily ripped him, from hearing and feeling the growls and breaths that would have swallowed him all. He sat, in what protection he could find, behind him the grasp of a boulder, to look up and tremble at the sigh before him.
Werewolves…many, many werewolves. It was a pack, and from what he could remember from his teachings with his family, mid-level ones. Once human, yes, but well obedient to hunger and hunt, succumbed to its call always to the point that their human connection was lost completely. Most full werewolves didn’t look like this…able to stand, still possessing so many of their old human qualities, creating a horror that shouldn’t be. This was clear proof that the monsters had enslaved the human parts, using them for themselves in their hunt.
Two of them launched, Feliciano coming down just in time so they could crash between themselves, the fret creating distraction, thus a space for Feliciano to take and run. They quickly went after him, even the ones who had knocked themselves. They were quick, Feliciano using the deepest parts of his energy to be able to evade them. He was probably using magic by now. In the state he was in, there was no possible way he could run this fast.
He took a downhill direction, helping his speed, doing well to avoid rocks, branches. He only stumbled once reaching a brook. He rolled over it, getting wet, but he had run fast enough to not see them any longer, reaching down to hide under a large rock. He heard the growls, the stomps, vicious and hungry. They moved away from him, far enough so he could sigh, smile, confident in this spot for now. But then there was a new growl, too close, far too close. He tried to turn himself smaller by wrapping his arms around his knees, bringing everything together, hoping it could ease the shake, to stop himself from shouting or showcasing how heavy his breath was. Closer, closer, and he just wanted to be smaller, smaller. It was right above him…searching…surely trying to catch his scent. Feliciano moved back how he could, under his sight, wishing he knew some spell that could hide his scent. Ugh! He knew it was the kind of thing they showed in the society. If he would have passed this test, then maybe he would have been eligible to be taught it. But no, he had to deal from what he knew as a beginner.
Think, what did he know?
He suddenly remembered those many matches he took with Lovino, back in their home, mere teenagers using this to deal with hormonal changes and angers. His brother had taught him so much…he remembered complaining that none of this would be of use to him, yet here he was, reaching for a lengthy and hard stick that to his blessing was near. Slow, but every grasp he took was shaking, easing his breath to be able to hold on, take the stick to him and imagine it a sword worthy of use. Perhaps this monster would pass, perhaps like his nightmares, it would just go away, he would awake, safe and ready in his bed, his only worry how he should be heading to Ludwig’s teachings in time. But the stanch breath only came stronger, such a near that Feliciano swore it right behind him, awakening and decreeing that this was reality…and Feliciano had no choice but to do what little he could. He stood and whipped the sudden weapon forward, meeting fur and skin, a resounding shake as if he went against a wall.
Yes, he had been successful in hitting, forcing him away, giving him a chance to run ahead, but the monster was not defeated, it turned back to him with bigger fury, calling a howl that brought the others in the same direction of hunt. Feliciano by this point whimpered as he ran, exhausted, tears in his eyes at the pain he forced himself into to try and keep some hope of survival.
Oh, what else, what else, he told himself, loosing a breath, but managing a swing at another monster who had come from ahead, the trip almost nearing him to the ground. Luckily, another downward path was in his steps, taking it easy to be able to continue in what he could of a straight standing. He kept the stick faithful in his hands, sometimes swinging when nothing was there, but as warning, as trying to defend any area he couldn’t keep, the dwindling of his power and vision making every glance weaker, every step tumbling more into the ground.
The bronze stare…the bronze stare…he suddenly remembered…knowing well a spell to it that could help to this advantage, oh but it already hurt to think about. But it would be nothing compared to the pain he will surely get if he let any of these monsters get him. He was then determined on its use, closing his eyes, and letting his legs take their own wish of direction, focusing on the power resting in the center of his inner being. He flowed it up until it swarmed well in his brain, to his eyes, opening once more for a heightened light in the golden iris of his eyes.
In his mind, he could see the entire expanse of this forest, the large number of werewolves after him, several, in different locations, lost but savagely looking for him. The closest one he could see, he could focus enough to direct his magic in a single damaging pierce. He could hear the howls even from the slight distance it was in. It didn’t die, he knew, just hurt him enough to lay and not bother him for his escape.
He continued his attacks, taking the ones that were closest in his range, several defeated. But with each one, the pain in his own head increased. He began to get blinded, to groan out, his legs failing him more to the ground with each step.
Despite how the spell continued, he couldn’t really take notice of the few left, of how they inched closer, while he kneeled and tried to breathe back some sense.
They were coming…they were coming…he had to do something…he had to…he had to…No matter the strength he gave, he couldn’t find it to stand, turn and see as these surviving ones managed passing through the thickets, their monstrous mouths salivating at the taste they were surely to get.
Come on…come on…come on…he told himself, managing to turn and face, raising the stick he held, even if exhausted, ready to defend to the last moment. He kept the bronze stare, now practically useless…he didn’t even notice the approach of another being. One launched, Feliciano still had enough force to hit it away, but at that turn, one toppled and had him, another shredding the only weapon he had. He was well caged, vicious teeth taking all his senses.
This was it…this was how he was gone…crying, shaking, and screaming out as a last resort. Before that bite to end it all came, there was a glow…shinning through even the fabric he covered it in…but before he could notice or even question it…another roar, a growl, and the one above him was gone with the crash of another. This new one…was black furred, agile, stealth, in his call ready to attack all. It tore, it bit and thrashed this monster in furious vengeance, easily achieving his victory by settling it bloodied on the ground. Once that one was defeated, it turned to the rest, growling a message of preparation for battle. They turned and chanted in their own language while Feliciano cowered back and tried to understand what was happening.
They began to launch, and this new addition dealt well in his attacks, vanquishing all in an ease that even awed Feliciano. As he raised his hand in defense for if one came too close to him, he realized he could pay attention to the glow in his hand. He took out the fabric and witnessed as his wolf mark glowed beautifully in this darkness.
The Venetian Wolf Mark was rare in the way that instead of glowing at any werewolf presence, like most Valenti Wolf Marks, this one exclusively glowed at the presence of high leveled werewolves. Werewolves who could still turn human, two entities living in one with enough control to not persuade their lifestyle by much. Feliciano knew these were the most powerful of werewolves, a force that he had been taught could deal with such a pack of wolves…even if they were bigger and much more monstrous than this one was.
This one…was more like a wolf, with four paws on the ground when it wasn’t using them to slaughter, moving and working with the true elegance of the animal. But it was indeed larger, its claws, teeth and eyes vicious and the product of nightmares.
Nightmares…this wolf looked eerily similar to…no…no it couldn’t be. In those dreams, it was always meaning to attack him, eat and destroy him completely…not save him and constantly stand by him as if…guarding and protecting.
The numbers dwindled, until the ones left had seen clear the menace of this black one, not wanting to risk themselves forward for a simple bite. They hollered away, clear in the distance meant to not come back, leaving the clearing in nothing but the werewolves’ heavy breaths. Feliciano still lay in his space, joining the monster in his own heavy breathing and trying to understand. He startled and tried to cover himself more as it then turned to him, now fearsome, his eyes a piercing red, his muzzle dripping in blood and saliva, his blackened fur seeming to grow more and more ready to engulf him.
Of course…he shouldn’t have hoped that it was meaning to save him, at the end, like the rest, he wanted him for himself, to make a hunt and cease his appetite. Feliciano whimpered, raising his marked hand in the hopes it could do some kind of convincing…but silence came, the steps didn’t come any closer and suddenly an air of serenity came before them both. Feliciano dared open his eyes to see that the werewolf now came down, the viciousness dwindling until it showed itself true and kind. His eyes turned to a serene blue…a familiar beautiful blue that Feliciano couldn’t help being drawn to. He slowly, gently, began to come close…his hand still in the air, showing the still alighting mark to the wolf, who began to move closer to it…until Feliciano could feel his breath easy on his palm.
Those eyes…even the way it sat in such order and class. He knew them…he knew who this was. Of course…it could turn human and with the protection and defense it took…it was someone close to him…caring and…Beilschmidt, Beilschmidt…Beilschmidt, he could hear that voice in his head calling. He stared on…he connected…until he realized, “Ludwig?”
The animal didn’t respond easily to the name…it only came closer with the usual shyness of any animal when approaching a human. And then his nuzzle was touching his palm, and Feliciano was surprised to see that it was soft and…nice. Once the werewolf saw the familiarity, it began to cuddle into the hand, eyes closed and enjoying from the feel of this skin.
“Oh, Ludwig…Ludwig it is you!” And Feliciano was washed with relief, smiling and coming nearer, letting himself embrace the large creature, cuddling well into the fur that was now comfort, the scent, stains and blood nothing to him when there was warmth, there was loving intent and graciousness of finally meeting with someone after the hell it had been. The werewolf nuzzled back and growled in delight, keeping him in the embrace, in a secureness that Feliciano knew nothing will ever happen in. But as it all settled, as he truly thought and realized…he suddenly sat, looking back into the gentility of those eyes.
“How…how…” there were so many questions, he didn’t know which to pinpoint first, wondering which would be the appropriate to ask, but in the end, he bumbled many in his disarray. “How did this happen? Why are you like this? Did you always know? What’s it-” He realized then that Ludwig had no way of speaking in this form. He only stared… a message in his eyes and stance that said, ‘wait.’
Of course…he would turn and then perhaps…he could admit and explain what this all was…perhaps then he’d have an answer to all those nightmares and maybe even…he gazed down to his mark, still alighted, bright and hopeful in the center of this darkness, giving an adoring blue to Ludwig’s coat.
Maybe…he’d find more of his power and what his place in the society was truly meant to be.
He looked about, noticing then in the distance…the road…his exit…there again finally…it was not so far…he could still…
His gaze returned to the black wolf, expecting and many answers awaiting.
Feliciano sighed, settling then to this new part of faith. He decided to be patient, looking up back to Ludwig to let him know with a smile that yes, he would wait and stay. Ludwig hummed and brought his muzzle to caress at the side of Feliciano’s face, a way to show his own smile, his own creed to protect and let him now truly that he was safe with him, even if presented in such a form. Feliciano didn’t bother, he easily let himself lay on him completely and the wolf found itself in the same settling. They rested in this protected circle, with one another, all through the night in a much-deserved peaceful sleep.
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