In the woods walked a young man, looking anxious, he had been waiting for his brother to come back for days now, he was never late on the agreed time.
He had talked to his brother a few months ago then he was going to investigate a cult, the cult had taken over some town in the name of worshipping catholicism.
He had been worried, he had heard some strange rumor about this cult, it was filled with inhuman fanatics who would do anything to please their lord.
So he had warned his brother against the investigation of the town, and now he was not returning on the appointed time which shows something has happened.
The young man quickly returned to the village he lived in, he ran straight to the village chief's house and started to frantically knock on the door, a thud came from inside and then the door opened.
A man, tall, like 183cm + was standing looking at the young man, then he asked.
"Kid, what is it again?" he asked, looking tired.
The young man said, "I'm not a kid! And I'm here because my brother didn't arrive at the agreed time. He never misses." The young man looked worried.
The older man asked, "Your older brother isn't back yet? That is strange." The older man's brows knitted together as he thought.
"Let's wait a few days and if he's not back by then, we'll send some scouts to look for him." The older man said and without waiting for an answer he closed the door.
The young man looked down, he had to wait a few days before they sent scouts after his brother, what if it's too late by then? What if he's already dead by then?
His brother has been called a prodigy ever since he was able to shapeshift, he was called the most talented in his generation. He was bigger, stronger, faster, and had better healing.
But there was one flaw the village elders and the chief didn't like, he was too heroic, he wanted to help nearly everyone even though they might not deserve it. That's why when he discovered a town taken over by cult fanatics he wanted to help.
Now this seems to have backfired.
The young man sighed and started to walk to his own home. Their parents are dead and they only got each other, if he has to he will search for his brother on his own. He can't let his only relative die… or worse.
Whilst this was happening in this small village, Thorn was now questioning the wolfman who bore the name Serlo.
They sat in a meeting room in the church. It was open and bright, with a window supplying light. They sat each in a seat opposite each other with a table between them, on the table was some water with leaves in it, a rough version of tea.
Ever since Serlo signed the contract he has been allowed over ground, but he is still under observation, since he is the first wolfman or shapeshifter they have contracted to the lord. They didn't want any nasty surprises.
From the information he has been able to extract so far, he comes from a village of these wolf shapeshifters and he has a younger brother, Serlo is disappointing his elders in the village by being too heroic. He always wants to help the ones in need.
Since he likes to be helpful and heroic.
He will now be able to help people who don't know they need the cult yet, the perfect job for a heroic, helpful young man. Thorn smiled to himself at his own little jokes.
Just then Loyd walked in, "Have you cracked the wolfman yet?" Loyd asked with an intrigued expression. Thorn turned his head and raised it slightly with pride and said, "Yes, he was easy to crack, just a few days without food, water, sunlight and the constant rambling of the lord's phrases and mantras and he cracked like dry leaves in the fall."
Loyd smiled then chuckled, "Great, another addition to the lord's ranks."
Thorn then asked, "How is the rabbit plan working?" Loyd smiled and said, "It's moving along great, no more famine for this town."
Thorn then said a snide remark, "It's great to finally see you having a decent idea, I thought I was the only one with a brain around here." Loyd just gave him a displeased side long glance and turned around and left.
Thorn looked surprised, he thought Loyd would lash out, not maturely walking away. Then it clicked, he was showing off, showing in a subtle way he was more mature. Thorn looked angry, not with Loyd… well a little with Loyd, but mostly with himself, he was outsmarted by a person he considers got muscles for brains.
He needed to stop being so arrogant and get down from his high horse. Just then he glanced at Serlo who was sipping his tea and felt pride well up inside at the thought of him bending the mind of a supernatural creature to love the lord when he previously hated the lord. Then he said to himself, "I can get down from my high horse tomorrow."
Then he kept asking questions to Serlo, wanting to know more about these shapeshifters and how they work. And the more he listened the more confused he got, they could transform into wolves cause their ancestors originated from wolves, how does that work? How do they look so human? Is it true humans are the final goal of evolution? Like wherever you start doesn't matter cause you will end up human? Like all roads lead to Rome?
He wondered if their ancestors started human then became wolves or if they started as wolves and became humans. He asked Serlo this question, but he didn't know.
He stopped wondering about such useless subjects and asked more about the total strength of their tribe or village, and he was worried, if what Serlo said was right it would be a narrow fight between us and it might tip to either side anytime.
He needed some other plan if he wanted to conquer this tribe, and he also wondered if he should kill them or insla… make them follow the lord.
The best would be if he could lure them out…?
Days passed and the security around the town has never been stronger, there are Husks and Acolytes everywhere. Thorn soon got news about huge wolf sightings, he knew it was the tribe who was here to find their pack member. So he let them, he sent Serlo out there he was going to let them reunite.
Serlo was confused, why was he going to talk to these blind dogs who can't see the greatness of the lord. He couldn't understand how he could associate with them before, he felt embarrassed at being from the same tribe as them.
He even felt a slight resentment towards them, but he also saw hope, if they could recognize the lord they could all be a big happy tribe together again, but if they could't…
He headed out in the direction of the last sighting of his tribe members and soon caught a scent, as he caught the scent and was determining the direction he thought `The Lord's mercy will open their eyes… the stew will be the chalice.`
He kept following the scent until he heard a noise, it was the sound of breaking air, a huge paw was making its way towards his head.
Upon seeing this he narrowly dodged and said, "Stop, it's me, Serlo."
The wolf stopped and took a good look at the person he was attacking, then he shifted back and asked, "Why do you smell so different? Like those cultists?"
Serlo upon hearing that didn't bat an eye and said, "I've infiltrated their ranks, I'm now supposed to go on a mission but I will not complete it." This was of course all just a lie, if the lord sent him on a mission he would see it through no matter what.
His previous tribe mate upon hearing that nodded and said, "What have you found out?"
"Not much, I'm not high enough in their ranks to get good information." Serlo said.
"How long will your mission last? Your brother misses you and is worried, you should take this time to go back and talk to him, maybe calm him down and reassure him." the tribe mate said.
Serlo nodded and said, "That was exactly my thoughts."
The tribe mate nodded and turned around and then they started making their way to the scout team's hideout.
Upon arrival they quickly gathered together their stuff and left, they ran the entire afternoon, only stopping to rest when night fell.
They all sat gathered around a campfire and were talking and laughing, having a great time. Then Serlo said, "I will go check the food, see if it's ready to eat,"
They had been preparing food, it was some type of stew, easy to make as it was just to warm it over a fire.
When he left the other tribe members leaned into the one who first met Serlo and asked, "What's up with his smell, and the way he's been acting is kind of off." The others around leaned in and nodded, seemingly agreeing to what the tribe member was expressing.
"He has been and still is undercover in that cult, that is probably why he's acting this way, he's maybe too much into his role." The first tribe member said, with slight hesitation, he wasn't sure himself.
Then Serlo came back and the tribe members quickly started to talk about other topics and acted like nothing had happened, then they asked, "Serlo, was the food ready?" Serlo shook his head, "It needs a few minutes." They nodded in understanding.
The time continued to pass by and soon they started eating, everyone was eating with relish, they were starving after the trip, having to make their way through the forest in a hurry was exhausting.
The food tasted average, quite tasteless, but it was not supposed to taste good, just fill you up, and that it did.
They then went on to keep talking about random topics.
But then one of them stood up and started to nervously mumble then he collapsed.
The others hurried over and checked on him, they realized pretty fast he had been poisoned. They were horrified, who could have poisoned him? Then they all as if by instinct turned their heads towards Serlo, "Did you do this?" Serlo didn't answer, he just stared.
The first tribe member stood up and made his way to Serlo, or tried anyway, he collapsed on the way, and soon the others collapsed as well. Serlo started to talk, "Don't worry you wont die, I will help you open your eyes to the lord."
The tribe members all looked confused, what was he talking about.
As if sensing their confusion Serlo said, "Don't worry, you will understand when you wake up." He then watched as they lost the last of their strength to resist the poison.
The first tribe member looked in horror at Serlo's face as his vision started to slowly darken and then go black. He was knocked out.
Serlo looked at the scene with eerie calmness and thought, `The poison Thorn gave me was truly effective, and the antidote I took, I don't feel anything from the stew.`
Back in town Thorn was feeling the connection with Serlo flash, he smiled as he understood Serlo had betrayed his kin, his own tribe members he grew up with. He couldn't help but chuckle as he said, "That's great Serlo, you are now truly a subject of the lord."
Back in the woods Serlo started to round his tribe members up as he started a bigger fire and soon a dozen Husks appeared and grabbed the 5 scout team tribe members. They had been called by the smoke signal, as it was all planned from the start.
Then the Husks and Serlo made their way back to the town, the tribe members in tow.
What they didn't know was that only a dozen or so minutes later a young man appeared at the now dead campfire.
He looked around and thought, `This doesn't smell quite like my brother, but it does smell like the scout team members.´ He thought the situation was weird, what was this smell that was oddly similar to his brothers but… not quite, it was mixed with something else. And there were a dozen other smells that smelled nothing like humans.
He didn't feel like contemplating that now, but followed the scent. He knew he couldn't lose his brother, he needed to find him, rescue him if need be. He couldn't lose his brother, no matter what.
CHAPTER END.