Howling Heart

Chapter 9 - The Story Continues

The story continues...

Morning rose and Jotunn still stood watch at the edge of the woods, tears still in his eyes, worry in his heart. His brother passed from the shadow of the wood and into the light. His body was bruised but back to normal. Except for his missing limb that the wolf had ripped off. The younger brother rushed towards him and scooped him up in his arms. "Brother." Warm tears stung his eyes.

"I've become a monster. End it please."

He hugged his brother harder. "I got you brother, and I promise we will destroy that monster."

A month passed by before the brothers realized it. They had spent their time adjusting to their new way of life. One missing an arm, the other doting on the other. "Please be safe boys." Their father had said as he clasped them both to his chest. They hugged him back but deep down, both of them knew that they wouldn't come back. Either the beast would be dead or they would, either way, the village was in danger and they knew they had to leave. Night fell and they were well on their way into the beast's lair.

As the moon rose, so did the fever in Tyr. His body shifted again. It was just as painful as the first time, and just as horrid to watch his body break and rebuild itself. His eyes were golden, but this time his animal instinct seemed to be less as if his human brain took over. He watched his little brother, waiting for him to run, part of him wanted to hunt him, for Tyr was hungry.

"No matter what happens, we do it together." Jotunn took in the sight of the one-armed werewolf. It was still his brother. A loud howl ripped through the night and both of their heads turned towards the sound as the trees parted.

The larger-than-life wolf stepped out of the trees. The brothers turned their focus on the beast and attacked. Jotunn with his battle-ax and Tyr with just his teeth. The wolf seemed to recognize them and as they approached the creature Tyr noticed that it was missing an eye now. He was sure that damage had not been there prior. Only then did he realize that he didn't remember what happened last time, and no one seemed to speak about the night of the wolf attack. Someone must have wounded it and that perhaps is what had saved his life.

The blood that ran in the werewolf's veins felt as if it was boiling inside him. He was faster this time. He launched himself at the monster wolf and sunk his teeth into the animal's neck. The beast howled in pain and reared up. Jotunn saw his moment and hurled his ax at its chest. The two-handed weapon struck true and cracked the breast bone. Another howl tore through the night and the monster that had hunted their dreams fell to the ground in a heap of fur.

The brothers didn't know what would happen next. They looked at one another expecting the worst with the source of Tyr's wolf illness gone. Only an odd stillness of the night held onto them. "Brother?" Tyr spoke with his beast mouth. The word was butchered.

"I'm here."

The half-wolf, half-man creature sunk into the grass, the smell of blood fresh in the air. "What now?" For the second time in his life, the elder brother didn't know what to do. His stomach rumbled from hunger.

"Bite me. Turn me into one as well." Jotunn held out his arm. "We can figure it out together."

The brothers locked eyes, they knew they wouldn't return home, but at the moment that offer gave them both a new hope. Tyr sunk his teeth into his brother, the bite mark a forever reminder of one another.

From that day forward the two brother's traveled the country. They learned themselves, how to work with their new powers and they did it together. When they finally returned home, their parents had been gone. The old medicine woman that had healed him years prior was still there and with her help, they built this town.

"Did they die?" A small boy with ebony skin asked.

The storyteller nodded. "They had."

The story came to a close and the small girl who had been sitting on her father's lap clutched at his shirt. "But papa, make sure you tell them what happened after that."

Another adult stepped out into the moonlight. "Come now brother, you missed a part." The voice chuckled as a one-armed man walked over to the small group.

"Uncle!" Ava wiggled from her father's arms and rushed over to hug the newcomer.

He scooped her up and she clung to him. "From that day on, with the help of the old shaman woman, we built this place for all werewolves without a pack to find a place to call home, and to teach them what it is to be a wolf, just as we teach you now."

I ended the tale of legend and refused to take my eyes off the stone I had been staring at through the entire thing. "And that's how they started the pack here."

"I guess I didn't realize your dad was that old," Mae spoke softly as she mulled over the story.

"Yeah, apparently, this was always a place like it, though. No matter who was in charge. But I really don't know much more about it." I shrugged a bit. Because depending on who you spoke to, you might notice the story changed a little bit. Overall, however, it was still the same.

"What happened to the war?"

"From what my dad said, he didn't remember much more. He had returned with my brother back home to heal." I sighed because saying it out loud sounded more like a fairy tale. "But my uncle said that the beasts returned to their plane. Kinda like when we die, our souls move on to the next place, depending on what you believe in, of course."

"Ahh." Mae seemed to wrap her head around it without judgment. "I get it. So, have you picked out your mate yet?"

Mae dropped her hand over mine, I wanted to believe it was an accident, but my heart hammered away. My mouth stumbled over the words. "Honestly, no. Not yet."

She smiled at me, "Well then, I guess it's a good thing your father postponed it." We both laughed, but the sinking feeling of the hunters weighed in on our hearts. "I wonder what the hunters are doing here."

"Yeah, me too," I spoke as we stood up and started our walk back down the ridge. Her bike was just down the path a bit. I slowed my pace, savoring every moment with her.