Claude had just returned from The Island Gauntlet held at the University of the Phoenix. It was bizzare. Full of new people and experiences that would alter his world-view forever.
In the beginning, he was excited to go home and embrace normalcy. Then he realized that the normalcy of his home-life was a mask made of porcelain. It cracked under the pressure of his entrance into manhood and the greater world.
Hell, it was shattered minutes ago.
He now sat on his fathers bed with Ms. Oracle, facing a dryad— reborn after sacrificing it's life to save Claude many nights ago.
The creature of the forest sat in silence.
"So— who is this?" Ms. Oracle referred to the dryad.
"I— this dryad saved me right before I entered the University. When I was Reborn I killed a demon snake. But it also almost killed me because I drank it's blood."
"Dark-Blood's Kiss." Ms. Oracle mumbled, "Thats taken down powerhouses in days."
"Yes. I got lucky. I was changed. I have dryad essence in me." Claude said.
"Mraw—meou….." Ren said.
"So does he." Claude said as Ren aimed his green eyes at them.
"And it's…. This one's essence?" Ms. Oracle asked.
Claude nodded. "I guess he's like…. a partial-father to us."
"And now this dryad-daddy... is looking into your family discoveries for you?" Ms. Oracle asked.
"I guess. Let's hear what it knows. Also don't say dryad-daddy ever again."
Claude turned to the dryad.
The dryad stroked its flowery mustache, "You suspect your father is a werewolf. You are wrong."
"He's not a werewolf." Claude translated to Ms. Oracle.
"That much is known."
"But he's not human either… is he?" Claude asked.
The dryad shook his head and turned to the desk across the bedroom.
As Claude shook slightly, the dryad pulled a book from the desk and handed it to Claude.
"For the sake of time, I'll explain a bit of what I read— I understood little, but I understood all the same. As the grass grows all the same."
Claude nodded and flipped through the pages. Inside he found anatomical designs of lupine creatures in many forms and shapes. He found taped down bones and teeth on leather reinforced pages. He found artistic depictions of green oceans scribbled with questions of conversions and Roman Dreams. He understood nothing other than one thing.
Werewolves were simple. A virus that turned man to monster.
The thing he found in the pages of his fathers nameless research novel was a new species. With culture and customs and language and history tied to two.
"Your father was once man. Born in a harsh caste system enviroment in Arthuria designed to create kings and visionaries. You have royal blood— even if your Royal name was stripped before your birth. From there, a new home embraced your father. His seed was planted in new soils— where he was left to germinate and evolve into this…. Lupine. It's what they call themselves. No fear of silver. No inability to congregate with man. They change not with the seasons, but with a purpose beyond ambient nature. Their motives are unknown— but your father prays they don't reach him as they have before. He knows they're coming. So is he."
The dryad lunged forward and took the book, shoving it back in Gil's desk— where Claude only just realized at least a thousand runes glimmered.
"What? He's here? Now?" Claude asked.
The dryad nodded, "I suggest you aren't found in such a state. The shape-changing breeds I've encountered tend to have a temper….. speaking of, I have silver-bloom bush sales to make with a Weresnake down south at the Camaco Border. I will be seeing you, Claude Grey."
The dryad climbed out of the window.
"Wait!" Claude yelled after the dryad. "Do you…. Have a name?"
The dryad turned and gave a bow, "I am Dandeleon."
Then, the dryad face planted into the grass. The blades eveloped the creature and swallowed it into the earth. Allowing Claude to see Gil step into the clearing across the field.
"Oh— shit!" Claude turned back to Ms. Oracle.
"This language barrier is really a mood killer." She drawled.
He ran out of the room, taking her by the arm as he whispered.
"Gil is something called a Lupine— they're a species. They don't have a virus. They have culture and language and history and are coming for my dad. He's researching something about them. I know how he gets. When he sees problems with a species, he obsesses. It's what makes him good at his job. It's also why I know, he's probably not much like the others."
Claude came to a stop in the livingroom.
Gil pushed through the door with a sigh. He looked beaten with his heavy eyebags, torn clothing and messy long hair— but as soon as he saw Claude, he smiled. His side burns bristled, thickening his jaw and highlighting its sharpness.
If this was a few weeks ago, he would've cringed at the sight of his fathers forced smiles and self deprecating comedy he used to cloak his pain. Now, Claude wonderered what else he used it to hide. Now, Claude wondered about Dandeleon's reference to their royal blood and stripped name. His father didn't look like much of a prince— or king. And neither did he.
"Oracle?" Gil looked back to Claude, "Dude, you doxxed us. Also nice dog. He from the kennel?"
Ren spat on the floor.
"Oh… he's a snob." Gil commented.
"Can you ever be serious?" Ms. Oracle asked with a knowing smile. How she was so calm, Claude didn't understand.
"No, that's gross." Gil replied.
An awkward silence spread. Gil played the fool and shrugged, walking past them to dig through the kitchen. He froze with his head in the fridge before jumping out with jerky in his mouth and behind his ear, "Claude….."
"What?!" Claude jumped.
Ms. Oracle laughed.
"I….. hmmmmm, I gave you the chance to tell me yourself. You know that, right?"
Claude felt his mouth go dry. "He's a…. A Lupine, of course he can smell that I was in his room. He probably heard me and Ms. Oracle run out. Dammit!"
"Stop hiding it." Gil said
"I…. I….. dad—"
"—Why are you acting….. like yourself— anyway, hello? You're back from the University. How the hell was it, man?!" Gil walked out of the kitchen and sat at the table.
Claude would've fallen over if Ren didn't plant himself beside him.
Ms. Oracle sat on Gil's lap and took a piece of jerky out of his mouth and ate it. All the while she eyed Claude— seemingly enjoying the chaos of the day.
"It was….. not what I expected." Claude said.
"Sounds about right." Gil replied. "What House were you selected for?"
"House of the Broken Kings."
"...Ominous name. Who owns that one again?"
Ms. Oracle slapped Gil on the forehead.
"I'm kidding. The short guy. I see the relation, to be honest." Gil said as he looked Claude up and down.
No one laughed.
Gil looked between them. Oracle watched Claude. Claude watched his hands.
"Man…. tough crowd tonight, huh?" Gil said.
Ms. Oracle looked down at him, "You're a terrible actor."
"Probably why I'm not in any plays."
"It's also why I can tell the smell of dryad in your room is driving you insane." Ms. Oracle said casually.
Gil stammered once, "Haha!— you off some experimental herbs or what? Because I have no idea wha—"
"Lupine."
You would've thought Claude just cast a silence spell on the world.
Ray flew in through the open window and perched on the table.
Frosty and the island dogs hopped up to rest their front paws on the sill to watch.
Gil was serious for the first time.
Ms. Oracle wrapped her arm around Gil and whispered into his ear, "Easy. He's not a child anymore, you can tell him."
"That's what you are, right dad?" Claude repeated, looking up at him for the first time.
Gil shook, his skin paled. His nostrils flared repeatedly.
Frosty and the dogs whined and ran off.
Under the table, Claude could hear scratching and wood breaking.
Ms. Oracle tried to calm him as tears welled up in his yellow eyes.
"Follow me." Gil got up and ran out of the cabin at speeds Claude could barely follow with his eyes.
Even so, he was on the move, whistling as he exited the cabin so Frosty and the others could follow.
He activated his, (Beast Trait), skill as he ran. In those moments, he was no different from his father.
Fur bloomed across their skin like dark grass. Claws tipped their fingers. Gil's were black like oil. Claude's were white like clouds. Fangs and incisors extended their jaws. Their noses lengthened into Proto-snouts.
His fathers scent was familiar— but rapidly changing, growing stronger with new elements. Fur and ice and something so sweet and musky it made Claude's eyes water. He almost choked before it vanished immediately.
"DAD?!" Claude stumbled into a clearing.
Ms. Oracle stumbled to a stop behind him with the wolves, dogs and birds of their home.
They all eyed the Tangent warily.
"This is where his scent ends." Claude said.
"I know. He went inside." Ms. Oracle grabbed Claude's hand, "Let's go."
They wasted no time.
VWOOMP!