The Merlinian Legacy (working title)

Chapter 1: Wild Rumors

The residents of the coastal town of New Avalon have grown accustomed to the strangeness of the local wildlife. For instance, the wolves in the surrounding forest exhibit almost human-like tendencies. They appear to patrol the forest's edge, stalking anyone who enters and ensuring that no one ventures too deep or cuts down too many trees. Additionally, townspeople sometimes spot animals with unusual greenish hues, such as a robin with green feathers instead of the typical red.

There have always been those in New Avalon who pointed out the strangeness in the local animals as evidence of something more sinister. Whispers of a witch—or even a coven—living near the town have persisted for generations. Some residents believe that the animals' bizarre behavior and unusual appearances are not just random anomalies but signs of dark magic at work. They recall stories passed down through the years, tales of mysterious figures seen in the woods at night, and strange symbols found carved into the trees. To these townsfolk, the peculiarities of the wildlife are not merely odd but are a clear indication of an otherworldly presence watching over the town.

They eagerly tell anyone who will listen—sometimes even those who won't—how "wolves have always guarded witches' colonies, ever since Camelot vanished! The Druids made the pact!" These fervent believers weave tales of ancient agreements between wolves and witches, passed down through generations as fact rather than folklore. According to them, the wolves' protective behavior is no accident but a centuries-old duty rooted in the time of the Druids, when magical pacts were forged in secrecy. To these storytellers, the wolves aren't just animals; they are sentinels, bound by a timeless bond to protect the mysteries hidden within the forest.

These same fervent townsfolk are quick to link the sightings of green-tinted animals to Druidic magic or even shapeshifters. They claim with certainty that such creatures are not simply anomalies, but manifestations of ancient powers still lingering in the land. "The Druids could bend nature to their will," they insist, "and those green animals? They're either touched by Druidic magic or they're shapeshifters, blending in with the forest to keep their secrets hidden." To them, these strange occurrences are further proof that the old magic is far from gone, and that the forest surrounding New Avalon remains a place where the line between the natural and the supernatural blurs.

It always amused Alderwyn how close those storytellers came to the truth, yet never quite reached it. She was returning from one of her trips to town, where she had listened to the latest tales. Now, Alderwyn was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun on her fur.

"They talk about ancient Druidic pacts... as if we are some kind of ambassadors of nature," Alderwyn muttered as she crossed the town's borders, believing herself to be alone. She chuckled softly to herself—or as much as she could in her fox form.

"If not us, then who?" chirped the green-chested robin, Rowan, landing lightly on Alderwyn's back. "And don't forget, they don't know the cursed history of those poor werewolves."

"You and your 'poor werewolves,' Rowan," Alderwyn retorted. "They were Fae-hunters! What was the Fae Queen supposed to do? Her liege lord dead, his heirs vanished along with Camelot and the Merlin coven... She was right to curse them—it was self-defense!"

They continued to banter like that all the way back to the forest, one debate leading to another. By the time they arrived, the topic had shifted to the differences in the medicinal uses of various dragon body parts—completely unrelated to their original conversation, and neither of them could recall how they got there.