The Otherkin Chronicles ¦ Book 1: Lycan

V: Preparation and Aggravation

After Hooklaw made his decision of what they would build, Pete nodded. "Brilliant," he agreed. "There's a couple of problems you may encounter, though."

"Oh?" Hooklaw asked, his curiosity piqued. "What would those be?"

"Cloth for the tents and, of course, clothing. You can't expect the Lycancullers to take your semblance of humanity seriously when you're naked."

"But we can't wear clothes. After the new moon, they turn..." His eyes drifted to Theaswif's garment. "...to stone." How does it not shatter into stone shards?

"Ahh, Theaswif, you haven't told him how you keep your clothing from petrifying?" Pete groaned, following my gaze.

Theaswif sighed. "You would know, Pete. After all, you're the one who gave it to me. I hardly understand it myself."

Pete chuckled. "Of course, Theaswif. How could I forget about the combined efforts of the dwarves' tailors and silversmiths?"

The clearing went dead silent. "Silver?" Hooklaw asked, shocked. "I thought that was toxic to werewolves?!"

Shaking his head, the dwarf hybrid explained, "Nay, it is not toxic. It is simply a cure of sorts; among other useful properties, it can lessen the hold that the curse has on a werewolf. If my memory serves me correctly, Thranthrope had already been shot twice before that final bullet broke the curse as he passed it on to you, killing him in the process. Ergo, beware the second shot sent to you, Hooklaw, for that is the one that will cure and then kill you."

"How does this relate to Theasvif's tunic, though?" asked Nachthur. "Ve know it has something to do vith ze properties of silver as zey pertain to us, but vhat, how, and vhy?"

"Ack! Digression, one of my faults," Pete grumbled. "Where was I? Ah, yes! Theaswif's tunic is partly woven with Diana* thread, preventing it from petrifying. The silver thread also allows the tunic to adapt to her changing form without tearing. It took us a long time to figure out the ideal proportion of silver thread to cotton and wool fibers that would conserve the most silver while preventing petrification and tearing, and I don't know it myself, so don't ask.** It was a special gift for Theaswif, and I'm not sure my fellow dwarves would be able to make more in time. However, I'll see what I can do to get you clothed in time for the new moon."

"Wait a minute," Hooklaw interjected. "You're telling me that Theaswif has been the only one with clothing this whole time?"

"Hooklaw..." Sworfitch warned, a growl rising in her chest.

Ignoring her, he ranted, "Why didn't anyone else get clothing, especially for the cold winter? Why was Theaswif the only one to have some, with the rest of our pack effectively being a nudist colony for three nights? Why wouldn't your fellow dwarves make more Diana-threaded clothing?! Why would they -" His growling and snarling were swiftly interrupted by a slash to his face and a bite to his neck, not strong enough to draw blood or kill him, but sufficient to get his attention while leaving nasty bruises. Whipping his head around to face his attacker, a growl starting to rise in his chest, he saw Sworfitch standing on two legs as well with her claws and teeth having caught some of his fur.

As she spit out the hairs, she snarled, "Hooklaw! You will treat the ambassador with respect, do you understand me?!"

"You'd better listen to your wife, boy," growled Petraeus, his wolf form becoming more prominent. "I didn't come out here just to get my head bit off by the new alpha of the first werewolf pack since their extinction 30 years ago. Thranthrope and Theaswif seemed to come out of nowhere six years later, and I was sent to investigate and offer assistance. Thranthrope bit me instinctively, and I've been tasked with being the ambassador to this pack since. I will not stand down for an alpha that does not respect his elders!" His body fully shifted into his wolf form, Hooklaw couldn't help but stare at his armor that had contorted itself to fit. Before he could comment on the possibility that his armor was made of a silver alloy, he shifted back to his halfway form and cleared his throat, saying, "Don't make me lose control like that again... Do you not know it's rude to stare?"