Salamangka: 12SS 2020

Tick-Born

"Have I told you about — " Miles burped "– my black flame tattoo?"

"Yes," Donnie the Tikbalang bartender behind the counter shook his head as he cleaned a glass.

"Only about a bazillion times," Erica the Aswang rolled her eyes from three bar stools away.

"Well, I'll tell you guys anyway," Miles slurred-hiccupped as he pulled off his green polo shirt, revealing his skinny brown physique.

"Jesus, Miles," Donnie said in his deep baritone voice, nodding his horse head at the three other Area 52 Bar and Grill patrons passed out at separate tables. One was a stocky dwarf, the other a beautiful white-haired Engcanto, and the last a manananggal whose upper half lay on the table while the bottom half stood next to the chair.

"Relax! I'm sure — " Miles accidentally slid off his stool as he turned to look — " they don't mind."

"Ugh!" Erica turned away.

"What?" Miles said, turning to his side and presenting his left shoulder, which had a red spot the size of a poker chip right on his left delt, surrounded by black flames spreading across his shoulder, chest, and upper arm. "Is this cool or what!"

Donnie sighed. "Alright, Miles — for the last time, tell us about your tattoo."

Erica glared at Donnie. He shrugged.

"This red spot right here," Miles pointed to his left deltoid, "is where I got bitten by a tick! But not just any tick — a tick that had previously been living off of a werewolf! But not just any werewolf — an Alpha Wolf!"

"So now you're a tick-born werewolf," Donnie droned, "we've heard this before."

"Right!" Miles nodded, pointing at Donnie. "And after I first transformed, I followed my Alpha sire's scent until I found him and his pack. I asked to join, but they wouldn't let me."

"Wait," Erica raised both hands in a stopping gesture. "You didn't tell us you found your pack. Werewolves kill tick-born on sight out of pure disgust. How are you still alive?"

"They, uh, tried to kill me, but...." Miles said, putting his shirt back on, burping again while his head was still in the shirt. "... I kinda killed them instead."

Erica and Donnie exchanged glances. The passed-out patrons among the tables started waking up.

"You wanna see me transform?" Miles grinned. "It'll be awesome, I promise!"

"Yeah, sure," Erica turned her eyes away from Donnie and over to Miles.

Donnie slid one hand under the counter and out of sight, reaching for his kampilan.

"Sweet." Miles transformed into an 8-foot tall werewolf standing on hind legs. He had blonde fur, though, and white, ivory-like horns sticking out of his temple and curling back like those of a ram. Six-inch long saber fangs stuck out from his upper jaw, jutting down beyond his lower jaw. His eyes were gleaming metallic golden disks.

Miles filled the air with a deafening howl.

When he finished, he saw Donnie had his kampilan drawn. Erica had grown bat wings, giant ears, and claws. The Dwarf, Engcanto, and Manananggal patrons were likewise in a fighting posture, like they were about to attack as well.

"Well?" Miles grinned. "Pretty cool, right?"

"You're not feral," Donnie said, lowering his weapon.

"Feral?" Miles scratched his head.

"He means you're not a wild animal up here," Erica said, pointing to her temple as she shifted back to human form,

"What? 'Course not!"

"Prophecy has it," Erica said, "the Wolf God will be born from the blood of Ten Alphas from the Ten Wolf Tribes. But exactly how that would happen, nobody knows."

"Well, now we know," Donnie said. "That tick must've gotten to the Alphas before getting to Miles."

"What are you guys talking about?"

"All Hail the Wolf God!" Erica stepped off her stool and fell on one knee. Everyone else did as well. Donnie stepped out from behind the bar and did the same.

"ALL HAIL THE WOLF GOD!" they all said in unison.

"Wait, what?" Miles became human again — and promptly vomited all over the floor.