Of Men and Beasts

This is a folktale concept that came to me many years back, but it was only recently that I found myself able to shape it into the kind of story that I wanted. It's a bit longer and more detailed than my other short stories, about twice as long actually, which is why I've split it into two parts. Just to provide some context, it is meant to take place in a medieval, Germanic setting, shortly before the Protestant Reformation when religious fervor was at an all-time high. I really hope you all enjoy this as it took quite a lot of work to finally write down. Feedback welcomed and encouraged as always!