Interlude: Goodbye

The following short story is in honor of Mystic Wolf, a wonderful woman who had to leave the game for health reasons. You can see, it's written from Rendel's perspective and was posted on his profile rather than Kholtosh.


1) The forest is dark and silent as I move through the massive trees and thick underbrush. The low-hanging branches make flight virtually impossible and visibility from the air is practically nil. Thorns snag in my clothes and I let out a short burst of language that would earn me a good mouth-washing from my mother. But I push on because Dawn is only an hour away and and I have to complete my task and get back to the city. I'm on a Mission from God!

2) Well, okay, not "God" exactly, but pretty close. The Elders may look like the creepy kids from Children of the Damned but they are Waaaaay more scary. ~So why do we not transform to move easier through this terrain?~ I look over at my travel companion and grin. ~Because Khol, my boy... Weres can sense us if we're not in our natural form and they get more than a little aggressive around shifters that aren't part of their pack.~

3) Khol goes silent again and I turn my attention to the task at hand. The Matriarch of pack of werewolves is sick and fading fast. From what I hear, this entire pack is under the control of the Elders - probably the source of that blood that we got after the Zombiepocalypse. So yours truly and my little psycho friend have been tasked with ending her suffering and bringing back her blood to the Council.

4) I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and I can feel a tension in the air. Khol picks it up too and starts looking around warily. There! A dark, furry shape moving low to the ground and fast. Then another! I can feel the hostility growing in the air, but I know better than to let it get to me: you go for the bait, you get caught on the hook. So I wait until our stalkers get closer. Then, massive wolf moves into view and lets out a low growl.

5) I give him my most winning, fangy smile and say, "Hi there! Nice night we're having!" I can almost feel Khol's eyes rolling in his head but I just continue in a more formal tone. "We were sent by the Council to aid your pack." I project a feeling of calm to the wolf and can feel it relax slightly. The others surrounding us all growl, but hang back. Then the lead wolf, gives soft yip and tosses its head. It stalks back through the trees and we follow.

6) We enter a clearing, bathed in moonlight. A brook flows through the area and lying near a curve in the stream is an enormous silver-furred wolf. Her flanks rise and fall in an uneven rhythm. On all sides around the clearing I see large luminous eyes and sense a mix of respect and wariness. I know the next few minutes are going to be very dangerous. Khol just sits down and lowers his head in respect. This is my task afterall, he's just along for the ride.

7) The old mother wolf raises her head as I approach, and gives a low growl. Bowing to her I move closer and say formally, "I'm here to end your suffering and accept your final gift to our people." I kneel down next to her and she gives a small heave and lays her head in my lap. I feel her thick soft fur under my fingers and hold her gently. Her mind opens up to me and I am flooded by images of a rich, wonderful life full of love and generosity.

8) Scarlet tears begin to spill down my cheeks, hot and thick as the blood drips onto her fur. She gives a small whuff and I feel a sense of contentment and acceptance. Her golden eyes meet mine and she gives a quick nod. I motion to Khol and he brings the large ceramic collection urn The wolves ringing us close in, but I sense only a peaceful reverence. I stroke the matriarch's fur one last time and say, "Goodbye Mama Wolf. You will be missed."