The air in Zaun was thick with an electric charge, a weight that clung to the night. The faint glow of the full moon pierced through the layers of smog, its light cold and harsh. The group sat together in The Last Drop, their laughter and conversation quieter than usual. Even Mylo, never one to miss a chance for a joke, seemed subdued.
Something was off.
Powder sat at the edge of the table, her leg bouncing nervously as she fiddled with a small gear in her hands. Her gaze flicked toward Derek, who was leaning against the far wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
He looked... wrong. His normally steady posture was tense, his shoulders hunched like he was trying to fold into himself. His skin gleamed with a faint sheen of sweat despite the chill in the air, and his jaw was clenched so tight she thought his teeth might crack.
Vi noticed it too. "Hey, Derek," she called, her tone light but watchful. "You, okay? You've been acting weird all day."
"I'm fine," Derek muttered, his voice low and clipped. He didn't move from his spot, his golden eyes fixed on the floor.
"Fine," Mylo scoffed. "You don't look fine. You look like you're about to—"
"Drop it, Mylo," Derek snapped, sharper than he intended. His hands trembled as he gripped his arms tighter, trying to steady himself. The heat inside him was unbearable now, like a fire roaring through his veins.
Powder's eyes widened slightly, but she stayed quiet, her stomach twisting. She'd seen his eyes the night before, the way they glowed gold in the darkness. She'd meant to tell the others, but every time she opened her mouth, the words caught in her throat. What if she was wrong? What if Derek was fine and she was just making it worse?
"Derek," Vi said again, softer now, standing from her seat. "Talk to us. If something's wrong, we can help."
"No," Derek said quickly, stepping back. His movements were jerky, uncoordinated, like he wasn't entirely in control of his body. "No, you can't."
He felt it building inside him—the raw, untamed energy clawing its way to the surface. His claws, sharper now, scraped against his forearms as he held himself tighter, trying to contain it. He glanced up, catching Powder's worried gaze, and his heart sank.
"I have to go," he said suddenly, his voice shaking.
"Go where?" Claggor asked, frowning. "We're in the middle of—"
Derek didn't wait for him to finish. He turned on his heel and bolted for the door, the air rushing past him as he dashed into the streets.
"Derek!" Vi shouted, running after him.
The group followed, their boots pounding against the floor, but by the time they reached the street, Derek was already gone.
"Where the hell did he go?" Mylo asked, his eyes scanning the darkened alleys.
"He's fast," Vi muttered, her jaw tight. "Faster than I've ever seen him move before."
Powder stepped forward, her hands wringing nervously. "We... we have to find him," she said quickly. "He's not okay. He's—" She hesitated, glancing at Vi. "He's not okay."
"We'll split up," Vi said, her tone firm. "Claggor, you take the west side. Mylo, the docks. Powder, you're with me. We'll check the rooftops. He can't have gone far."
Powder nodded, swallowing hard. She wanted to say more, to tell them what she'd seen, but the words stayed locked in her chest.
With Derek
Derek ran, his heart pounding in his ears as he weaved through the narrow streets. His body burned with the transformation clawing at his insides, each step bringing him closer to the edge.
He didn't know where he was going. He just needed to get away—away from the group, away from anyone who could get hurt. The thought of losing control, of turning into whatever monster was trying to break free inside him, was unbearable.
The moon loomed overhead, its light searing into his skin. He stumbled into an abandoned factory, the sound of his ragged breathing echoing in the empty space.
His hands hit the ground as he collapsed to his knees, his claws scraping against the cold concrete. "Not here," he muttered, his voice breaking. "Not like this."
He squeezed his eyes shut, but the sensations wouldn't stop—the heat, the pain, the growing pull of something primal and wild. His body was no longer his own.
Powder and Vi leapt from rooftop to rooftop, the city sprawling out beneath them. Powder's heart was racing, her hands clutching tightly to the straps of her bag.
"Do you think he's okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Vi didn't answer immediately, her eyes scanning the streets below. "I don't know," she said finally. "But we're going to find him. Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out."
Claggor moved through the west side, his flashlight cutting through the darkness as he called out Derek's name. Mylo was farther south, his usual bravado replaced with genuine worry.
"Derek!" Mylo shouted, his voice echoing through the docks. "Come on, man, where are you?"
But Derek was nowhere to be found.
The abandoned factory was dark and cold, its walls streaked with grime and rust. Derek leaned against a support beam, his breaths shallow and ragged. Every muscle in his body felt like it was tearing apart, and his vision blurred as the world shifted around him.
The moonlight filtering through the broken windows seemed to mock him, its pale glow only fueling the fire raging inside. His hands were no longer his own—the claws were fully extended now, sharp and glinting in the dim light.
"Get a grip," he muttered to himself, gripping the beam until the metal groaned under the pressure. "You're not a monster. You're not—"
A guttural growl escaped his throat, cutting him off. He slammed his fist into the ground, the sound reverberating through the empty space.
"Damn it!" he shouted, the words echoing back at him.
He couldn't stay here. If they found him like this, if he hurt them... No. He wouldn't let that happen.
Derek forced himself to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. He stumbled deeper into the factory, searching for a place to hide—a corner where he could let the transformation take over without risking anyone else.
Powder and Vi stood at the edge of a rooftop, scanning the alleys below. The city stretched out before them, a maze of shadows and flickering lights.
"He's fast," Powder murmured, her voice barely audible. "Too fast."
Vi glanced at her, frowning. "You know something, don't you?"
Powder hesitated, biting her lip. "I... I think he's changing. Last night, his eyes—they were glowing, Vi. Like... gold."
Vi's expression hardened. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't know what to say!" Powder said defensively. "I didn't want to scare anyone, and I thought maybe—maybe it wasn't real."
Vi sighed, running a hand through her hair. "We'll figure it out later. Right now, we need to find him before something happens."
Claggor moved through the industrial district, his flashlight sweeping across rusted machinery and empty crates. The sound of distant footsteps caught his attention, and he froze, his heart pounding.
"Derek?" he called out, his voice echoing.
No response.
Claggor pressed forward, his grip tightening on the pipe he'd picked up as a makeshift weapon. The sound came again—closer this time.
"Come on, man," he muttered, swallowing hard. "Don't mess with me like this."
Mylo, meanwhile, was growing more agitated. He moved through the docks with quick, frantic steps, the murky water lapping against the pilings below.
"This isn't funny, Derek!" he shouted into the darkness. "You're scaring Powder, you know that? You better not be—"
A sudden loud crash in the distance cut him off. Mylo spun around, his eyes darting toward the source of the noise.
"Derek?"
The abandoned factory was eerily silent except for the faint hum of machinery long left to decay. Derek clawed at the ground, his breathing harsh and labored. Sweat poured down his face, his shirt torn and sticking to his skin. The faint golden hue that had been glowing in his eyes for days was now searing bright, like embers burning away his humanity.
The moonlight filtered through jagged holes in the ceiling, illuminating his trembling form. His muscles felt like they were on fire, every fiber straining against a force he couldn't control.
"Not here," he muttered hoarsely, stumbling to his feet. "Not now."
He staggered toward a dark corner, trying to put as much distance between himself and the outside world as possible. But the changes were too far gone. His body convulsed violently, his legs giving out as he crashed to the floor.
A guttural roar tore from his throat, reverberating through the factory. His hands clenched into fists, his nails lengthening into claws that scraped against the concrete. His back arched unnaturally as his spine realigned, his shirt ripping apart to reveal a rapidly expanding chest.
Thick fur sprouted along his arms and shoulders, a mix of silver and black that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. His jaw elongated into a sharp muzzle, fangs glinting as his roars deepened into growls. His golden eyes glowed like twin suns, burning with a mix of rage and sorrow.
Derek slammed his fists into the ground, leaving deep cracks in the concrete. The beast was fully awakened now, towering, and feral, with muscles rippling under his fur. Yet, deep within the golden glow of his eyes, a flicker of humanity remained—a desperate plea to retain control.
"Run..." he growled to no one in particular, his voice guttural and distorted. He bolted toward the factory's exit, his powerful legs propelling him with inhuman speed.
Vi led the charge through the winding streets of Zaun, her fists clenched and her heart pounding. Powder followed closely behind, her wide eyes scanning every shadow. Claggor and Mylo brought up the rear, each armed with improvised weapons, though neither was sure what they were up against.
"He can't have gone far," Vi said, her voice firm but tinged with worry.
"Did you hear that roar?" Mylo asked, his voice shaking. "That didn't sound like Derek. That sounded like... something else."
Powder tugged at Vi's sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if he's hurt? What if he's—"
"He's not," Vi interrupted, though she didn't sound convinced. "We'll find him. Just stay focused."
The group reached the edge of the industrial district, where the air was thick with the stench of chemicals and rust. Claggor pointed toward the faint silhouette of the abandoned factory in the distance.
"There," he said. "That's where the sound came from."
Inside the factory, Derek crouched in the shadows, his massive frame heaving with each labored breath. His claws dug into the steel walls, leaving deep gouges as he struggled to contain the beast within.
Footsteps echoed through the factory, and Derek's ears twitched. His heightened senses picked up every sound—the faint creak of metal, the soft murmurs of his friends.
"Derek?" Vi's voice rang out, steady but cautious. "We know you're in here. Come out."
"No," Derek growled, his voice low and rumbling.
The group froze as the sound reached them, their eyes darting toward the source. Powder took a hesitant step forward, clutching her slingshot tightly.
"Derek, it's us," she said softly. "We just want to help."
A low snarl answered her, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Stay back," Derek warned, his claws scraping against the floor. "I can't... I can't control it."
The group edged closer, their eyes widening as Derek stepped into the light. His towering form loomed over them, the golden glow of his eyes piercing through the darkness. His silver-black fur bristled, and his claws flexed as if preparing for a fight.
"Holy shit," Mylo muttered, taking an involuntary step back. "What... what is that?"
"It's Derek," Powder said firmly, though her voice trembled. "It's still him."
Derek growled again, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the beast's influence. "I told you to leave," he said, his voice a strained mix of human and animal. "I'm not safe."
Vi stepped forward, her fists clenched. "We're not leaving without you. Whatever this is, we'll figure it out. Together."
"No!" Derek roared, his claws slashing through the air. The sheer force of his movements sent a gust of wind rippling through the factory. "You don't understand—I'll hurt you!"
Before anyone could respond, Derek turned and bolted through a shattered window, the sound of glass breaking echoing through the space.
The group stood in stunned silence, the weight of what they'd just witnessed settling over them.
"That wasn't Derek," Mylo said finally, his voice shaky. "That was... that was a monster."
"It was him," Powder insisted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I saw it. He's still in there."
Vi placed a hand on her shoulder, her expression grim. "Powder's right. Whatever's happening to him, he's still Derek. We just have to find a way to help him."
Claggor nodded, though his face was pale. "But how? Did you see him? He's... he's not exactly approachable right now."
"We'll find a way," Vi said firmly. "We have to."
The group exchanged worried glances, then headed out into the night once more, determined to bring their friend back—no matter what it took.