Tales of Blackwood: The Celestial Light

• Posted by Ben W October 17, 2014 - 1,039 views

  Tales of Blackwood: The Celestial Light

  The moon was full. This was the first of the three day period that it would be so. The training, by the gods, was going to be tough. The Wolf’s student, the Skaal, was a stubborn woman.

  Both the Wolf and Skaal traveled together, walking a considerable distance from the city of Blackwood. The laws of man had dictated that having the beast blood is a curse. Existing as one, whether being born into it or being bitten, is an affront. But, what the guards and Jarl don’t know doesn’t harm them.

  “Ok,” The Wolf finally said. “We’re far enough away from Blackwood where we won’t be disturbed.”

  “It is about bloody time, Wolf!” The Skaal exclaimed. “We’ve been walking for miles.”

  “All the greater chance of us not being seen,” The Wolf said with a grin. The Skaal didn’t reply, silently agreeing with him. The relationship between the Wolf and the Skaal was a complicated one. It was only fairly recently that she was able to trust the Wolf and call him a friend. But, she uses the word loosely.

  “Alright, let’s see…” The Wolf said, examining the area that was present to the duo. “This should be good for your training, my dear.”  The open area was a light with the moons’ glow. The tree tops had the look of crystals as far as the eye could see, the water of the lake seemed to sparkle from the glow. But what was best about the area was the decent size of ground that was bare. The closest covering came from the trees several yards away.

  The Skaal looked slightly agitated. When she lived among the Skaal, being in an open area was the first step into being spotted and not knowing it. The Wolf noticed her, and placed a reassuring hand on her left shoulder. “It’s ok,” he said. The Wolf had a way of being able to know what she was thinking and it irked her at times. “We can train by the trees, just in case we are spotted.” The Skaal gave her fellow were-creature a smirk.

  “Do you have any idea how much I really don’t like you, Wolf?” She asked, the sarcasm heavy in her voice.

  All the Wolf could do was laugh and shoot her a wink. “If you really didn’t like me, you wouldn’t have agreed for me to train you.” The Skaal narrowed her eyes, but a playful smile stretched across her face.

  “Now, shall we get started?” The Wolf asked her after they moved closer into the trees.

  “Yes!” The Skaal exclaimed with excitement. The Wolf couldn’t help but to widen his eyes. Not once had he heard her sound excited. But, he quickly smiled to hide his previous expression.

  “Good. I’m glad,” the Wolf said. The training which was about to commence was a transformation session.

  Being able to control one’s transformations is a skill every were-creature wishes to master. Resisting the urge to morph is difficult enough, but to do it during a full moon, or the rare Blood Moon, is incredibly difficult. It may sound simple to resist, but one never realizes how much of a strain it puts on the body or the mind.

  “Well, first thing’s first, my dear,” the Wolf began. “Meditation.” She arched an eyebrow.

  “Mediating? Are you serious?”

  “It’s more important than you or anyone might think,” he began. “By meditating, you get a far deeper understanding of the animal within and understand the mantra.”

  “Mantra?” She asked. “What in the name of the All-Maker is that?”

  “The mantra is the spiritual connection between the beast within and the man or woman. It also is the way for you to maintain dominion over the beast without it taking you over.” The Skaal seemed to be trying to understand what the Wolf was explaining. She went over his words slowly and deduced their meaning at her pace. He noticed this and waited until she was ready for more information. “The mantra allows you to take into consideration of what the beast is capable of. But, I should warn you too,” he continued. “If you rush the meditation, the animal will take over. It’s not only about being calm to maintain control, it’s also about having a strong will.”

  The Skaal nodded, showing her understanding of his words. “So, when do we begin this meditation?” She seemed to be both excited and a little shaky. He had taken notice of it and gave an inside sigh.

  She’s never done this kind of exercise before, the Wolf thought. I can smell her trepidation. “We begin when you decide where you want to do it. In the moonlight, or in the shade of the trees?”

  “I want to do this in the moonlight,” the Skaal said. There was determination within her voice. She wanted this.

  The Wolf gave a nod. “Alright then. If you are sure.” He seemed to be hinting at something, but his companion couldn’t know for sure.

  They started to walk out from the cover of the trees and into the holy glow of the moon. The Wolf walked into the light and began to wait for the Skaal to follow. Looking in the direction he came from, he saw her standing in the shade of a tree. Even from a distance, the Wolf could see the Skaal shaking. Even more than before. Not once had he seen her act like this.

  “I… I don’t think I can do this,” she stuttered. Her companion smiled to her.

  “Of course you can, my dear. Just take it one step at a time,” the Wolf replied in a calm voice.

  She gave him a nod, but still was too tentative to step out of the darkness. The Skaal was afraid of the possible outcomes, all of which raced through her mind, causing her to breath in a quick pace. As though coming to, she didn’t notice the Wolf standing next to her. His face and eyes had the look of patience and understanding.

  He gave a single, soft chuckle. “I was like you before. Scared to step into the light.” He gave a look to the celestial object and looked back to his friend. “It is not something to be feared, but respected. Our power comes from the moon and ourselves.” The Skaal’s mismatched eyes of gold and green shined on his own; he could still see that she was afraid. “I’ll walk out into the glow with you. One little step at a time,” he assured her.

  She continued to look at him before nodding in understanding. Together, they stepped forward into the, both damning and heavenly, light of the moon. The first few steps were good, no struggling between herself, the Wolf or the animal within. The next became easier as he could feel her confidence rise. Good job, my dear, the Wolf thought. She was able to hold back the primal urged that, no doubt, surged within herself. He could smell her heart picking up in speed, as if scared. Her breathing was becoming more sporadic. “It’s ok. I’m right here,” the Wolf whispered into the Skaal’s ear. Almost instantly, her heart and breathing leveled out to one of a calm nature. “There you go.”

  After walking a couple yards from the trees, the two Nords were in the full light of the moon. The Wolf was completely fine, having mastered his lycanthropy years ago. The Skaal was not like him. Having been bitten at a young age, she was forced to learn on her own. He could only imagine how different she was from the people of Daggerfall for being a Skaal, but to be both a Skaal and a were-creature? He believed her stronger than she let herself believe. But, she, too, remained calm.

  “How’s this distance?” The Wolf asked his friend. The Skaal looked at how far they walked from the trees and seemed amazed. “Surprised?”

  “A little, yeah…,” she replied. Looking around her, she seemed enthralled. Never before had things looked beautiful in the light of the moon. But, also dangerous.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  “I, actually, feel pretty good,” she stated, if a little spent.

  “Perfect, my dear. Ready to meditate?”

  She gave her companion a nod and confidently replied, “Yes.”

  The training began immediately. First the Wolf had the Skaal meditate on the mantra. This had lasted for several minutes, allowing her to gain a different outlook on the beast within. By surging her prowess just a little, she was able to feel more of the Boar than any other time she transformed. Upon finishing this, the Wolf instructed that she to do some simple exercises.

  She was at first reluctant of this, wondering how that would help her. He went on to explain that by doing this, she’d be able to learn how to maintain dominion, even while tired or exhausted. So she obeyed, doing whatever exercise that fit her fancy. Moments later, the Skaal was panting. Heavily.

  “Now,” the Wolf instructed, “focus on the mantra once more.”

  Closing her eyes, she began to focus. The Wolf watched her as she did so, the only difference was that she was standing up. He could hear her breathing, becoming less heavy and frequent. She was getting better at this, and it showed. The Wolf could sense that the Skaal’s confidence was rising even more. And he couldn’t be more proud and worried. Too much confidence can cause a person slip and fall. He prayed this wouldn’t happen.

  A couple of hours had passed and the training was running smoothly. The Skaal was controlling the Boar far better than when she started out, being able to bring aspects of the animal out. Now the hard part of her training was upon the duo.

  “Ok, this will be the last thing I’ll teach you tonight,” the Wolf reported. He was a little hesitant about it. She was able to maintain control being in the light of the full moon, but looking directly at it? He hoped she was ready for it. “Now before we begin, my dear. Remove the armor.” The Skaal was taken back. Very much so.

  “What are you, insane?!” Her mismatched gold and green eyes shined with shock.

  “Well, it’s either that or risk transforming and ripping the armor to shreds. What do you think people will say when, or if, they see you in completely ruined armor?” The Wolf spoke truth, and the Skaal knew it. If that incident he spoke of DID happen, rumors may spark almost immediately.

  She sighed, beaten by her and his logical thinking.

  “If you wish, you can remove your armor and place it behind one of the trees. I won’t disturb you,” the Wolf said. The Skaal scoffed.

  “Look at you, all high and mighty,” she mumbled as she ducked behind a tree.

  “I heard that,” he called to her. He heard her grunt.

  “Good for you!” she called back. He stifled a laugh. 

  Finishing removing her armor, the Skaal moved away from the tree in her undergarments. Her body tattoos, normally covered by her armor, gave a soft glow in the moonlight. The Wolf couldn’t help but to look at the markings, each one as unique as the last. Calmly, she walked up and slugged the Wolf in the shoulder. “Stop staring, wolf breath,” she said.

  “I’m not staring at what you think. I’m looking at your markings,” he pleaded. All the Skaal did was narrow her eyes.

  “Uh hu, right.”

  The Wolf help up his hand defensively, “I swear, my dear.” That didn’t help his case as she punched him again. This time in the chest. “Uhg…” he said. “Ok, I deserved that.”

  “Damn right, you did,” she proclaimed happily.

  Wishing to move ahead and not dwell on it, the Wolf continued with the training session. “Alright. You have meditated on the mantra and able to maintain it while tired and exhausted.” The Skaal gave a proud nod, her resolve evident and auburn hair sway lightly. “But now, now you stare directly at the moon and resist the change.” And just like that, she went from being proud to being worried.

  “Wh-what?” she stuttered. The Wolf simply gave his friend a nod.

  “I’ll be right here. As I have been the entire time, my friend,” he stated. “Your training has helped you a lot tonight. I know you have a far better understanding of control now than you did when we started several hours ago.” The Skaal still wasn’t convinced. “Would you like me to demonstrate it first?” She didn’t answer, but her face and eyes seemed to say, “Yes.”

  “Alright, I’ll show you,” the Wolf began. He removed his gauntlets, boots, and the upper part of his armor. Now it was her turn to see what he looked like under the armor. His armor hid a somewhat thin figure, but she could see the pounds of muscle beneath the skin.

  Looking up at the moon, the Wolf let the moonlight flow over him. He was completely calm, but the Skaal could hear, and sense, something resonating from him. The animal inside of him was growling, roaring to be let out. The noise started in the pit of his stomach and worked its way up into his throat, where he let out the guttural, bestial growl. It sounded strained, like the beast wanted to break free. The Wolf, however, let the animal appear briefly. It started in his feet, the bones snapping and popping into new homes. The transformation only shimmered on the surface of his skin, the color changing from his light tan color to one of a gray variety. This continued to crawl up his body, the bones making the skin stretch outward like lumps in porridge. It was his head that looked to change the most.

  The Skaal watched in amazement as the jaw of her friend popped out of place and grated upwards. She could hear the tearing of his gums as the teeth of the Werewolf replaced the human ones. His mouth and nose began to slope, becoming the pointed snout dogs and wolves are famous for. Fur of the Werewolf also poked through the skin, the steel gray fur a difference in color compared to his normal color. Lastly, she noticed his eyes. Normally a bright green than put emeralds to shame. Now they were a bright yellow, pupils resembling the moons themselves. Big, round and a certain shine to them.

  Finishing the demonstration, the Wolf relaxed his body and mind and looked at his friend. “Now, I know I made it look easy, but it took me years to master this kind of control.” The Skaal could only think of one other thing to say.

  “But you were born with your blood. I was bitten…” she uttered.

  “That does not make a difference, my dear,” the Wolf advised. “No matter how you got the blood, all were-creatures are bound by the moon.” The Skaal gave him a smile of understanding. “Now, are you ready for this?”

  Instead of her eyes having a look of fear, they had one of determination. “Yes. Yes I am.” Confident and proud, she looked up into the moon.

  The Wolf watched his friend as she did this. Nothing happened. Just like that, it changed. First, her stomach tightened up, resisting the Boar. But then she started to shake, softly at first, but it progressively got worse. It brought her to her hands and knees, slowly taking over her, but still her eyes were locked on the moon. The Wolf had worry written all over him. His friend was slowly being taken over by the animal within, and, if he was correct, was taking her over entirely.

  He rushed over to the Skaal, kneeling beside her shaking body. Bones were beginning to break and find new homes, limbs becoming longer and stronger. “Think on something calming!” he shouted to her. “Anything! Don’t let it take you!!” All she was able to do was look to the ground, groan and mumble something incoherent, and stare at him. Horror was his new look. Her eyes were white and glazed, starting straight through him. He gasped at the ghastly sight.

  Something clicked within the Wolf, something small, but strong. I can still help her, he thought. The Werewolf within began to take shape. His chest rippled with muscles and popped as the ribcage expanded. His jaw broke away and grated to the Wolf home as the muzzle came to a point. Yellow eyes replaced those of the bright green of his. Staring at a nearly transformed Wereboar, the Wolf let loose a mighty roar.

  “YOU will NOT have her!!! She CONTROLS you, not the other way!!!” The Werewolf roared. “I know you can hear me, my dear! Fight this! I know you can! I believe in YOU!!!”

  When he was finished shouting, what laid before him was a nearly transformed Wereboar. What clothing that was on his friend was now shredded, laying uselessly on the ground. Brown fur covered the body of the animal, hooves replaced his friend’s feet. Tusks jutted outward from her jaw, slightly curved and pointed. Very dangerous. The sounds that came from the Boar were a mix of animal and human grunts.

  Without warning, the Skaal charged at the Wolf, catching him in the chest with her hard head. The Wolf was taken completely by surprise, unable to defend himself. Caught on the Skaal’s broad head, he had to act fast before she rammed him into a tree. Placing his clawed hands on her forehead, the Wolf plunged his dark, clawed feet into the forest floor, trying desperately to slow down. Finally finding the formation, the Wolf put his back into the task at hand. The Wereboar was at last slowing down, coming to a halt several inches from a tree. Now it was a battle of strength and endurance.

  Locking hands with the raging Boar, each struggled for dominance. Though the Wolf wasn’t fully transformed, looking like a wolf-man, he was able to hold back a fully transformed were-creature. The fingers of the Boar were callused over, making them incredibly durable, but also clawed. The Wolf growled and grunted, holding the beast back with all his might.

  I have to think of something, he thought, or I’ll be killed!! Glancing back, the Wolf saw the tree several inches away. That’s it!

  Turning his head back to the Boar, he waited for the right moment to strike. “Come on!! Is this the best you can do?!” he taunted. The beast before him let loose a roar of its own, sounding very guttural and malicious. Putting more of its strength into its legs, it began to walk the Wolf forward. Now!!  Jumping out of the locked hands, the Boar rushed forward. It was unable to slow down in time and its forehead met the tree. It flopped down in an inglorious heap and stopped moving.

  The Wolf, wincing and clutching his chest, walked over to the Skaal. He knelt down and put his ear over where her heart. Good, she’s still alive. Before his eyes, the Boar began to recede and left the Skaal in its place. He rotated his friend so she laid on her back. Her forehead was only bleeding, no indentions from what he could see and feel. “Come on, my dear,” he muttered, his eyes full of worry. “I can’t leave you like this.”

  *************

  The light began to flutter before the Skaal’s eyes as she came to. Slowly, she raised herself up from the ground and looked at her surroundings. The walls were made of dirt, as was the ground she laid upon. The setting moonlight filled the outside world while the area in the cave remained alight with a simple fire. She looked down, only to find herself covered with a dark, heavy cloak. What… what happened? she thought. Doing her damndest to remember, the memories of the night starting to replay. She froze when the memory of running into the tree played. Bringing her hand to the injury, the Skaal found it was bound in cloth. What she remembered next, she cupped her mouth and gasped. The memory was so vivid.

  The Skaal watched herself charge at the Wolf, ramming full force into his chest. She thought she heard a crack come from him. The poor woman looked frantically around the cave. After moments of searching, she found the Wolf several feet from her, sleeping. She couldn’t help herself. The Skaal rushed toward her sleeping friend and practically tackled him into a hug.

  The Wolf gasped by the sudden change in momentum. His eyes shot open in an instant and looked to his chest. The Skaal was holding onto him in an embrace. He noticed she was softly crying and was wondering why. She never seemed like the type of woman to let this emotion boil to the surface.

  “Hey,” he said calmly, placing his hands on her back, “what’s wrong?” All he got for a response was a stifled sob.

  “I’m… so sorry.” She hugged a little tighter, causing him to wince and grunt in pain. She relinquished her grip and looked at him. His chest was wrapped in the same material as her forehead.

  “It wasn’t your fault, my dear. These kind of things happen,” he said. She wasn’t so convinced.

  “I should have fought the change harder… I could’ve prevented… this.” Unable to continue looking at him, the Skaal turned away in shame.

  “Hey, come on. It’s alright. I have had worse happen to me,” the Wolf stated, bringing her face back to his with a hand. “Don’t be ashamed either. You did better than my first time in the full moon.” Her eyes, though wet, gave off a glow of happiness. He sighed and smiled, “There’s your old self, my dear.” Wiping the tears that remained away, she gave her friend a soft punch in the shoulder.

  “You are still going to teach me, aren’t you? There’s no way you can stop now.” Her question was a shock to him. After what had happened, she was still wanting more training. Stubborn as ever.

  The Wolf gave a sigh. “You are going to be the death of me, you know that?” The Skaal simply laughed and smiled.

  “I know.” 

  He smiled right back at her. “I promise to keep training you, my dear. As long as you wish.”

  Her face and eyes simply lite up as he spoke. Leaning back in to hug him, she replied, “Thank you. For everything… my friend.”

  He hugged her back. “You are welcome, my dear. You are welcome.”