Life in a beast family was an unpredictable journey, a reality Aaron had come to accept. Beast children were born much like any other humanoid race but grew into wildly different variations of the beast race as they matured. The uncertainty of what form a child would take made every birth a gamble in the eyes of their clans.
There were three main variations of the beast race: the beast-folk, the beast-kin, and the lycanthropes—also known as were-beasts.
The beast-folk were the most common and the most recognized by other races. Born with humanoid appearances, they gradually developed animalistic traits such as ears, tails, or claws, reflecting the dominant beast within them. Known for their immense strength and capabilities, they were powerful warriors. Some possessed magic, though it wasn't universal. Regardless, their natural abilities often placed them at the forefront of the beast communities.
The beast-kin, by contrast, appeared entirely human at birth and through much of their lives, their only distinguishing feature being their ability to undergo beastification. This transformation allowed them to fully assume the form of their innate beast for a limited time, retaining their intelligence and communicative abilities. However, the process demanded most of their magical reserves, leaving them unable to use magic outside of their beast forms. A rare few exceptions managed to wield magic even in their transformed state, though they were anomalies.
Lastly, the lycanthropes were an anomaly even among the beast races. Technically, anyone could become a lycanthrope, as their existence stemmed from a curse that was passed down through generations. While lycanthropes were classified as beast people due to their transformations, their origins set them apart. In their beastly forms, they often lost all sense of reason, which made them the most feared and distrusted within the beast communities. Born from either cursed individuals or lycanthropic parents, their very existence was steeped in stigma and fear.
Aaron wasn't sure where he fit within these categories, though he suspected he might be a beast-kin. He lived in a small village of wolf-folk, where his father served as the chieftain. As the only surviving child, Aaron carried a heavy weight. His older siblings—a brother and a sister—had disappeared years ago, a loss that had devastated his father and left the entire clan shrouded in sorrow.
Despite being the chieftain's son, Aaron was an outcast. The wolf-folk avoided him, treating him with a mixture of fear and suspicion. He suspected the reason—they were uncertain of his nature. If he turned out to be a lycanthrope, he would be forced to leave the clan. The curse of lycanthropy was too great a risk, and no one would willingly let him stay, lest he pass the affliction onto others. If he was a beast-kin, the situation wasn't much better. Beast-kin were often viewed as weaker, and the clan would likely demand he undergo the alpha initiation earlier than expected—a grueling trial meant to determine the worthiness of a new leader. Though all leaders faced it eventually, Aaron felt his trial would be far harsher, born more from mistrust than tradition.
He couldn't understand the prejudice against beast-kin. If they were truly weak, how had the self-proclaimed King of Beasts risen to power? Known as Jargon, the Roar of the North, he was thought to be a beast-kin himself. Stories of his strength were legendary. Even in his human form, Jargon had demonstrated unparalleled might, leading many to believe his beast form must be awe-inspiring. Rumors whispered he was a dragon-kin, though no one had ever witnessed his transformation. Regardless of his true nature, Jargon's strength and abilities had allowed him to unite much of the beast race under one banner.
Jargon's campaign to unify the beast tribes was both inspiring and terrifying. His empire demanded absolute allegiance, and submission was rarely voluntary. Tribes that resisted were forced into compliance, and those who joined willingly were required to abandon the worship of their deities in favor of the dragons. For the wolf tribe, this was unthinkable. Their entire culture revolved around the worship of Fenrir, their ancestral deity. To give up Fenrir would mean severing their identity as wolf-folk.
To avoid confrontation with the Roar of the North, the tribe had resorted to a nomadic existence, moving every few months to evade detection. So far, it had worked, but the chieftain knew their time was running out. Jargon's influence continued to spread, and it was only a matter of time before the wolf tribe would have to face him.
As Aaron observed the strained faces of his clan, he felt the weight of their unspoken fears. He was young, uncertain of his future, but one thing was clear—his path, whatever it may be, would be far from easy.