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Beastly Anguish By Lykanos Wulfheart

The hustle and bustle of the city was finally starting to slow as the evening crept into night. Fewer cars choked the streets, which conveniently made crossing the roads easier for the dwindling number of people roaming the sidewalks. The city wasn't large by any means, especially with it being locked in the forests and fields of the north, but it was still busy enough until darkness fell and the inhabitants retreated to their homes.

Darius, on the other hand, was just heading out to meet some coworkers. Business had been good recently and the department wanted to celebrate. The target of this merriment was one of the local bars, just a mile and a half away from his apartment.

The autumn chill had not quite yet set in, so Darius was going to take advantage of the fair weather. He took to the streets in a white button up shirt and respectable blue jeans. With the top button popped, it gave a sort of business casual feel that complimented his muscular frame. Over the back of his collar cascaded a well maintained brown ponytail which only added to his impressive figure. As he passed by the few people still out and about, he looked more like he was off to a job interview than a bar bash.

Still a few blocks from his destination, something caught his eye. The full moon was just peaking over the rooftops and the elegant power it radiated drew an impressed sigh from the man. Just as he was about to look down, another flash of white drew his attention. In the moonlight, it almost looked like a big husky. That seemed crazy, though, as it was on the rooftops, just for a moment, before it vanished on the other side. "No way," Darius said to himself as his curiosity grew. He knew that a large dog couldn't get up there by itself, but at the same time, he was certain that he wasn't mistaken. As he approached the alleyway that the mysterious animal would have headed for, an uneasy wonder set in. Carefully, he creeped forward, treading softly and hugging the walls.

Half a block in and the alley opened to a large square, ports for back loading shops and limited parking was about the major attraction. Still, there was no sign of the rooftop dog. "Maybe I'm seeing things," he told himself as he pushed up his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Sad part is I haven't even hit the bar yet." As he started to turn around, something fell off the rooftops and crashed into the side of a dumpster on the far end of the open lot. Fell wasn't quite the right word to describe it. It was more like something had been thrown off the rooftops... or someone.

With its back against the dumpster, the demon was furious. It's spindly, whip-like tail thrashed with rage as its long, lanky arm grabbed onto the metal rim of the large waste container. As it righted itself into a proper seat, its sticklike fingers felt at the freshly broken horn on the top of its sickly green face. The bulk of the severed appendage rested on the ground for a moment before evaporating in a puff of pale green smoke. "You fucking mangy beast," it hissed with rage, forked tongue flicking violently in the still air. "I'm going to rip out your entrails and laugh as I choke you with them!"

The gaunt green monster had no time to stand as another hulking beast landed not even five feet before it. This was the animal Darius had seen before. Not quite the husky he expected, but more a seven foot tall werewolf, browns and greys in the face and arms blending into the flash of white. As it rose from its graceful impact, he noticed something odd. Odd for a lycanthrope, at least, as the humanoid timber wolf was wearing proper black shorts. Flashing its claws at the cowering mass before it, the werewolf spoke in a weird mix of snarling English. "Who's going to be ripping out who's intestines, demon?"

Darius didn't know what to think. Neither of these creatures could actually exist. They were fiction, fairy tale, myths made up to scare small children. With a gasp, he held his breath. "Maybe they won't even know I'm here," he thought to himself as he backed into the wall.

"Wait," hissed the scared hell-spawn as it flinched in terror with every step the werewolf took. In a rumbling growl, the savage predator replied, "I know your tricks, demon. There will be no waiting. Time for you to go back to hell."

"Wait!" This time it was more of a fearful scream as it brought its long fingers up to shield its face. "You don't want any witnesses, do you?" With that, a single, sickly finger lured the lycanthrope's gaze over to the man shaking against the building. With a bewildered stare, the wolfman was caught off-guard as the demon's tail coiled around his leg, yanking him off balance and putting him flat on his back. The skinny green devil seized the opportunity to better its position, not by engaging the werewolf, though. Instead, it rushed the human.

Darius didn't know what to do as the monsters rushed him. The red eyes of the demon locked him in place as the shock still overwhelmed his ability to reason. Close behind was the golden eyes and razor-sharp teeth of the wolf, ready to tear into whatever got in its path. No longer the proud man he was, Darius let out a shrill scream as the demon grabbed him by the arms and swooped him off his feet. He thought he was dead, but oh was he wrong.

In a hasty pivot, the pale monster slammed its back against the bricks. Darius' sight went from a devilishly sinister smirk to suddenly that of a lunging feral beast. Now he was sure he would die, fangs digging deep into the soft meat of his upper arm. The pain flooded over him as he took the force of the blow. That wasn't the only attack the werewolf had planned. The demon shrieked in pain as claws raked deep down its exposed shoulder. Thick spurts of orange blood covered the red wound as the wolf-like teeth made their way back out. If Darius had been paying attention, he'd have seen the heartbreaking anguish in the werewolf's eyes as he reeled back. Instead, he was focused on the searing pain as his rigid form was shoved once again into the hulking canine.

Clutching its own arm, the devil-spawn cackled as it toppled the werewolf with the wounded meat-shield. Slinking to the far side of the alley, it heckled with glee. "Not going to let your precious human die, are you? Looks pretty deep. Better stop the bleeding." As the demon leapt back to the rooftops and vanished into the night, the lycanthrope snarled in defeat. He was a softy when it came to humans and was not about to lose one, not to his own fangs. With a hearty tug, he tore the blood-soaked sleeve off Darius' previously nice white dress shirt and fashioned a quick bandage over the seeping wound. Before blacking out, Darius remembered getting hefted over a soft, broad shoulder, then darkness.

***

Darius let out a long, drawn out groan. His head was throbbing, but he still didn't want to open his eyes. He was trying his best to remember the weird dreams. Something about monsters, but it was so fuzzy. When the cool damp cloth was placed on his forehead, he knew it was time to see what was going on. Slowly, groggily, he let the world back in. "Who are you," he mumbled to the man beside the bed, "and where am I?"

"Relax, you're safe," came the uninformative reply. The stranger had brown hair as well, mid-length, with a short, full beard. All Darius could see from his resting position was the green 3-wolf moon t-shirt. As he tried to sit up, a large, strong hand pushed him back down. "Hey, hold on there. Your fever may have finally broken, but you're still in no shape to be running around."

With a wince, Darius complied. A growing ache near his right shoulder nagged for attention. As he strained to see, he noticed small pits of scarring on the upper half of the arm. Touching it tenderly, he flinched from the still lingering soreness. "What... what happened to me?"

His caretaker huffed with displeasure. In a calming tone, he tried his best to keep Darius at ease. "You've been in a feverish coma for about two weeks now."

"Two weeks?" Darius pushed himself up to a seated position. "There's no way. Two weeks?"

"Yes, two weeks. And I have a lot more to tell you." Before the bearded man could continue, he was interrupted. "Not until you tell me who you are and what I'm doing here."

With a wry chuckle, the man in the chair responded comically. "Well, I was just about to before I was so rudely interrupted." With a little bow, he formally introduced himself. "Lykanos Wulfheart at your service. And you are... Darius, right?"

"How did you know that?"

"Your wallet." Lykanos motioned to the nightstand with all of Darius' belongings. "Don't worry, it's all there. Just wanted to see who I was taking care of."

Removing the now warm washcloth from his forehead, Darius stroked his chin. Where there used to be a well maintained goatee, there was now an overgrowth of long stubble. "So," he paused, trying to recall on his own, "why am I here?"

"You don't remember, do you?" Though his tone remained kind, the gravity of the situation weighed on Lykanos' face. As Darius shook his head no, he knew that it was going to be a rough conversation. "Alright. Since this usually fails in the movies and, on occasion, in real life, I'll give you the facts first." Gauging his patient's response, he could see the skepticism. However, it didn't change the fact that it needed done.

"That wound on your arm, can you remember how you got it?" Lykanos pointed as he spoke, but the reason for it pulled at his heart. Darius rubbed the tender flesh as he tried to think back. "Well... in my dream, there was a big wolf creature. I think it bit me. But that was just a dream."

"That was no dream. The rate at which it healed should speak for itself. Not to mention,' Lykanos paused, knowing full well the next part would sound ridiculous to a normal person. "I can smell it on you. I know you've been turned into the same thing as me. A werewolf."

Darius' expression changed from skepticism to disbelief. "A werewolf, huh? Right. If I could have my clothes back, I'll just be on my way."

Standing up, Lykanos walked over to get the outfit. "I washed your pants, but the shirt was just too badly damaged. You'll have to make due with one of my old wolf shirts." As soon as Darius saw the dark grey shorts, his memories came flooding back.

Sliding against the wall, covers pulled to conceal his nakedness, he was terrified. Not of the man before him. No, there was no way it could be the same creature. He was scared of the memories. Darius could almost see it again, frame for frame. The pale green face launching toward him. The fiery yellow eyes that tore into his flesh. "What the hell happened to me?" His question was more anguish than it was curiosity, the emotions almost stifling.

"Hey, whoa, calm down. You're safe." Lykanos put the clothes on the chair and backed up. "It's going to be fine. You're going to be fine."

"Fine? There's no way that was real. No way!" Tucked into the corner where the headboard met the wall, Darius was trapped with nothing to shield him from the monsters in his mind, save for the sheets pulled close to his chest. His hand moved to his forehead, the mix of throbbing warmth and evil visions proving to be too much to handle.

Lykanos gave him a minute to settle, though the fear never left Darius' eyes. With a huff, he tried to fill in more of the gaps. "The thing that attacked you, the green one, was an Anguish Demon... or Demon of Anguish, whichever you prefer. They tend to hang around bars and funerals. Basically places with a lot of sorrow, regret, and pain. They feed off it."

"And the dog-thing?"

Lykanos clenched his jaw, the guilt forcing him to ball a fist. Taking in a deep breath, he steeled himself. "That was me. I had been tracking the demon for a while and it finally moved to an unoccupied roost."

"So you bit me." The glare was almost judgmental as the fear turned to agitation. Lykanos took consolation in the fact that his victim was no longer frightened and in denial. However, hated was not a good place to be either. "It was an accident. I honestly thought I could get the demon before he got you. For that, I apologize." With a subtle bow, Lykanos could almost feel his ears lower and tail tuck, though neither wolfish feature was currently present.

"If you are telling me the truth, which I still highly doubt," started the naked man as he leaned in, putting a bit of venom into his taunt, "prove it."

With a devious grin, Lykanos went from sorrow to relief. "I was waiting for you to ask." Taking off his glasses, he went to set them on the nightstand before suddenly realizing, "Oh, hey, you probably want your glasses for this, right? I salvaged what I could," he said as he held them up, left lens horribly shattered and the frame still slightly twisted. "I'd offer you mine, but I could tell by your lenses that you're near sighted. Sadly, mine are fake." After motioning to his own, he gently set the damaged pair on the bed. As Darius tried to get the unusable frames to work, Lykanos continued. "I was far sighted as a kid, but your first change helps correct your vision a bit. Don't worry. You shouldn't need them for much longer."

As Lykanos removed his shirt and loosened his belt a couple notches, Darius set down his glasses and savored the sight. Hairy chest and broad shoulders exposed, Lykanos seemed a little embarrassed, though he really had no reason to be. Despite having a little bit of a gut, it was mostly muscle, leaving him looking more of a powerhouse than he gave himself credit for.

Still enjoying the view, Darius was unconvinced that anything would happen, but curiosity was, yet again, getting the better of him. "If you really are a werewolf, don't you need a full moon to transform or something?"

With a mischievous chuckle, the guy in grey shorts started his transformation as he spoke, finger and toenails flaking off as sharper claws peaked out. "That's just a silly Hollywood thing. However, a lot of new lycanthropes believe it and subconsciously hold themselves to changing at that time. But, no, the moon really has no pull. Well, no significant pull at the very least." As the fur started to sweep over Lykanos' chest, arms and legs, Darius couldn't help but gasp. White fluff quickly swallowed the brown hair on his body and then on his chin as his face started to reshape, pushing out in a sickening crunch. Black pads rapidly overtook the palms as a similar black grew on his nose, finishing its push into a proper canine muzzle. Rusty brown fur, a bit richer than that growing behind his nose, covered his ears as they reshaped into points at the top of his wolf-like face. As the toes and fingers took on a more bestial appearance, Lykanos had to brace on the chair, his feet lengthening as the pressure shifted from the flat of the foot to the thick footpads. Reaching back, there was a tear of Velcro as a lengthening tail grew out, rapidly covering itself in grey and white.

The changes only took a few minutes, but it felt an eternity to the awestruck man on the bed. He managed to stammer out a response to the situation. "I-it's real? Y-you..."

The beast spoke with a bit of a rough growl, but the posture remained friendly. "I'm real. If you need to feel it to believe it, here." Very carefully and incredibly slowly, Lykanos inched his open palm forward. He kept his eyes low and his posture submissive, kind, and cautious. He knew this was going to be the defining point of Darius' acceptance. Push too hard and the man would fear him and all he stood for. Subtlety was his ally.

Darius was so entranced by the impossibility that he completely forgot about his nudity. Slowly crawling across the bed, the cover slipped away, showing all he was. Though he didn't notice his sudden exposure, the beast before him surely did, further lowering his gaze as the naked man started playing with the enormous fingers. Darius stared at the pads before shifting his focus to the face. As he reached out to play with an ear, Lykanos cleared his throat. "I'll let you look as much as you like, but, if you don't mind, pants first, please."

Suddenly aware of his situation, Darius turned bright red as he fumbled for the blankets. "Oh, right. Pants. Then..." He tilted his head as he took in the crouched wolf-creature. "You've got to tell me everything. I mean, I want to..."

"Clothes, food, and when you calm down a bit more, I'll fill you in as we go. Don't worry. I've got your back. But, for now, dress." Scooping up the clothes, Lykanos plopped them on the bed as stood. Heading out the door, he closed it tight behind as he went downstairs to cook some dinner.

The meal consisted of some stovetop cheeseburgers, a lot of staring, and a few clarified misconceptions about werewolves, including "howling at the moon" and "being mindless killing machines", both of which Lykanos shot down as Hollywood fantasies. With it being so late in the evening, both thought it best if Darius showered and slept as he finished coming to terms with the events of the last two weeks.

***

His dreams turned to nightmares as Darius relived the attack, tossing and turning through the night. He awoke exhausted, worming his way over to the attached bathroom. Though he felt itchy and unkempt, that wasn't what he noticed in the mirror. Instead, he stared into the strange eyes that looked back. The usual green hue had been replaced with a striking orangey yellow and the whites at the edge almost seemed to have receded, leaving them looking far less human and far more canine. As he frantically checked for other changes, he called out in a panic, "Wolf Guy! Um, Ly-Lycanis? Get in here!"

It took a moment before the heavy trotting hit the stairs, but soon after, a fluffy werewolf face peered into the bathroom. "It's Ly-kan-os, and you are naked."

"I don't care about that right now," Darius panicked. "My eyes! What's wrong with them?"

"Woah," said Lykanos as he moved in for a closer look. "I was going to say you could probably go out for the day, but this changes things."

Looking back into the mirror, Darius played with his eyelids for a better look. "What do you mean by that?"

Wearing only a pair of grey workout shorts, Lykanos crossed his furred arms. "For most first timers, the eyes changing signifies their first transformation. However, this is pretty early for a freshly turned... individual."

Now looking at his teeth and nails, neither of which were any different, Darius was puzzled. "Does this usually happen after the coma?"

Lykanos responded with a scoffing snort. "Very few bite-ins fall into comas. Usually only the severely wounded. Which, again, very sorry about that." With a point, he continued, "You should probably hang around here for the next couple days. With you turning so near to the time of your bite, being around humans would not be a good idea."

"Right. Right. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone." Darius slumped against the sink as he noticed Lykanos' glare. "Oh, right, movie misconception. My bad." Lykanos disappeared around the corner as he mocked, "Good boy. You don't have to hurt anyone if you don't want to. Now get some clothes on."

As the lycanthrope made his way to the door, tail sticking through a hole in the fabric, Darius just had to know. "I thought werewolves ran around naked or in tattered- well, not in clothes. Why are you always wearing shorts?" Leaning against the doorframe, still looking out, Lykanos couldn't help but laugh. "You caught me." His ear flicked as he heard Darius pull up his pants, letting him turn back around to face the question. "Though I was born a werewolf, I was raised human into my teens. It left me with a very human sense of modesty." With a cheery, wolfish grin, he clarified, "When I'm alone, I'm more than happy to run in the fur. When there's company," he paused to motion at his guest, "I just feel so... naked."

The thought was mutual, as Darius slipped into his shirt, laughing at the idea of a modest werewolf. "You really are a strange one, aren't you, Lykanos?" As the pile of fluff slipped around the corner, he chuckled back, "I'll take that as a compliment, thank you."

Over the course of the day, Darius kept looking for changes that just didn't come. The only things to even note were that his fingertips were a bit sore and his body was uncomfortably itchy. Beyond that, the eyes were the only real thing of interest as his vision had slightly improved, just like he had been told the day before.

Another night of nightmares took their toll as Darius awoke, tired and sweaty. Before he could even move, he felt a new pain in his fingers and toes. Sliding his hands from under the covers, the blood was the first thing he noticed, pooled at the edges of the nailbed. A bit of swelling left them stiff in the cool morning air. Next were the feet. Swinging them over the side of the bed, he winced from the pressure of the sheets on the sensitive flesh. If it was going to be anything like his housemate's shift, he knew he'd end up losing the nails. Giving a gentle tug, he cringed at the pain. "Nope, still attached."

Lykanos had told him the day before that he was going to be out and about over the next week, so Darius, though terribly sore, took the day to explore his temporary home. The place wasn't anything special, just a two story white house, dirt road leading out of the woods that surrounded the place. Out the back door was an unusually high ten foot fence that spanned about as much land as the building, itself. Inside, the ground floor had a living room, kitchen, basement entry, community bathroom, and guest bedroom. The upper floor left Darius feeling a bit special, as he had the master bedroom with its own bathroom. A little further down the hall was a little office and some storage.

Taking advantage of the amenities, Darius researched what he could on the office computer, though "werewolves" got him more myth and fantasy than it did fact. As the day progressed, the nails continued to get worse and worse until they started to flake off. The horror of losing the nails was overshadowed by what was underneath. Blood-soaked claws very sluggishly and painfully took the place of the frail human ones. By the end of the night, he not only had the claws, but a white fuzz had formed on his chest and shoulders, gently masking the brown body hair that lingered.

Another night, another wave of nightmares, though this time they had changed. Instead of being the one getting attacked, he was in the place of the attacker. As he launched at his human prey, Darius sat up in bed, dripping in sweat. He went to feel his beating chest, but flinched as his rough fingertips met the lines of self-inflicted scratches. "This is getting ridiculous," he told himself as he moved to the bathroom, checking out the damage. Not very deep, some of the gouges were already nearly healed.

He was also noticing other changes, as the white fuzz had spread down his chest to right above his manhood as well as stared to creep over the top of his arms and legs. That wasn't all, though. His palms and foot bottoms felt thicker. Not only that, but they seemed a little longer and stiffer. He was still able to use them normally, but the added thickness left him feeling a little fatigued. By the end of the day, his feet were aching as much as his jaw, which seemed weird. There was no reason his mouth should hurt from the sandwiches he'd snacked on.

Day five of his transformation was the most uncomfortable yet. He woke up with bloody gums and, as he checked with his tongue, disturbingly loose teeth. Pulling back the covers revealed even more starling changes. At first he thought it was just morning wood, as his member seemed to be far perkier than usual, gently angling up. However, he knew this couldn't be the case as it almost seemed to be... receding. He was sure it was the same length, but the skin that was starting to wrap up the sides made it seem like a horrible case of shrinkage.

As he rolled out of bed to stand, the slightly lengthened bones in his feet buckled from his weight, no longer able to comfortably lay flat. With his body twisting on his way down, Darius' jaw hit the chair, sending three of his teeth clinking to the floor. His profanity was more a gasp as he covered his mouth with an awkwardly thickened, long hand. As he pulled himself up, he noticed that it was far more comfortable to balance on the ball of his foot, heel hanging in the air. Taking a few delicate steps to gauge his balance, he proceeded to run to the bathroom, claws clacking as he went.

Looking at his sad reflection, the first thing he noticed was the missing teeth. More a whimper than a word, he let out a disheartened "no". Though he was no longer certain, he was pretty sure Lykanos' teeth just lengthened, but never fell out. Testing the others, he managed to pull free a few more before he decided that they all had to go. Though some were a little stubborn, they all came out with relative ease, clanking one by one to the sink. Small trails of blood leaked down Darius' arm as he finished his gruesome task. He had to fight back the tears from the loss as he stepped into the shower.

Drying himself off, he caught a glimpse of something in the mirror he'd missed before. It was something so obvious that he had to do a double take to make sure. His once-brown hair was completely white. Looking closer, he noticed a couple other changes. His ears were starting to point and jaw, while completely toothless, seemed to be pushed out a bit more than normal.

Dressing for the day was almost as awkward as his new changes. His underwear felt almost uncomfortable, constantly rubbing on his upheld penis. With his larger feet, he had to be extra cautions not to snag his toes on the denim... and the button. It took several tries to button and zip as his large hands were now forming thick pads and losing their once agile dexterity.

Left with soup as his only option, Darius prayed that Lykanos would come back. He was scared. He was aching. Worst of all, he was still changing and he could feel it.

***

Lykanos returned in the afternoon, hands full of grocery bags. Though he looked human, he could still smell the stench of fear wafting through the place. Setting the bags, which mostly held a variety of meats, on the table, he called out to the source of the stench. "Darius? How's it going?" Almost immediately, the partially shifted monstrosity was on the stairs, carefully easing his half-changed feet down. Over the course of the day, his face had stretched another inch and was starting to pull his nose with it.

Darius was almost in tears as he yelled, "What is happening to me?" As soon as he saw the human shape of Lykanos' face, it was just too much. Drops of mournful regret cascaded down his still-flesh cheeks. Lykanos moved in closer to take in the changes. "Did you just start? You're coming along nicely."

"No," wept Darius as he braced against the wall. "I've been changing since you left. It's been hell." The subtle shock in Lykanos' face was no comfort as Darius almost screamed, "And my teeth!"

"May I," asked Lykanos as he pointed to the misshapen mouth. A sad nod gave him clearance to pull open the maw and check the gums. "Your canines are already starting to bud. The rest should follow soon." Wiping the saliva on his jeans, he figured it best to ease the mind of his charge. "For my first change, I lost all my teeth, too. Hasn't really happened since. I do know a few that lose them every time, but most just do it for the first one. Have you really been shifting for, what, four days?" "Five!" The response was frantic, but understandably so. Lykanos could only shake his head as he ran through possibilities. As he turned to put away the groceries, Darius called after. "What's wrong with me?"

Taking a moment more as he moved the bags by the fridge, Lykanos didn't talk until he was putting food in its proper place. "Most werewolves change pretty quickly. First timers usually take no more than two hours to complete the transition." Finishing up, he gripped the door far more tightly than he needed to, trying to fight down the anger before closing it. Sighing as he made his way to a chair, he motioned for Darius to do the same. "I'm not certain, but I think it may have something to do with the demon's blood. I've heard that lust demons can influence victims by spiking a drink with their blood. Maybe the anguish demon blood is having a similar effect, prolonging the pain of the change to feed the demon. It's just a hunch, but it's really all I've got. There's no reason it should be taking this long."

With a slam, Darius brought his freakish fists down on the table. "Oh, great. Not only was I mauled by the two of you, but now I get to suffer through this whole thing? Just fucking great."

"On a positive note," Lykanos paused as the glare burned at him, "I took care of all the important stuff."

"Important stuff?"

"Yes," Lykanos tried to disarm the mood with a soft smile, though he was sure it didn't help. "The local pack is going to let us borrow this house for as long as we need it. They've let me use it before, but as a courtesy, I gave them some heads up. Also, they're going to cover up your disappearance. I know that's not a big comfort to you now, but in the future you'll appreciate it."

Darius shook his head, still trying to take it all in. "Great, so I'm dead or something?" A rough pressure had been building in his gums and it was now at a point where he couldn't help but poke, feeling the tips of the fangs as they slowly crept in. Lykanos fought back his laugh as he spoke. "No, probably just have you as a hit and run hospital patient or something. And what are you doing there?" Pointing to the finger Darius was using to dig at his mouth, he couldn't hold back the laugh. "It's almost like you're teething, isn't it."

"Shut up. It hurts. Well, it's uncomfortable." As Darius went back to playing with his jaw, Lykanos chimed in with, "I can get you a bone or something to chew on." The whimsical nature of the offer made Darius blush as he stopped poking around. With a lowered glance, he came back with, "No, I'll be fine, thanks."

Breaking the silence, Lykanos took on a comforting tone. "Hey, I'll be here for you until this is done. Alright? I'll go get some demon-proofing supplies in the morning, then anything you need, you just ask."

Gently tapping his fist on the table, Darius was finally starting to relax. "Sounds good. Thanks. And, hey, I'm sorry about earlier. I know this wasn't really your fault. It's just been rough." Though he had just been slightly forgiven, Lykanos knew better. The guilt, though not entirely his, was still a burden he had to bare. However, he was also not about to sour the mood. Instead, he stood up and headed for the fridge. "How about some dinner? Something soft. Sausage and cheddar omelets should do the trick. Meat, cheese, and egg. Win, win, win."

***

The dream had changed once again. This time he was running, running on all fours. Darius could feel a thrill, though he didn't know why. As his form broke through the trees, he lunged. The helpless victim before him turned, showing his old human face.

He was instantly awake, sore and sweaty. Before looking over today's changes, he could already feel something new. There was a sensitive soreness at the base of his spine. As he tried to look back, he saw his hands. It was almost like his thumb was moving backwards. Thickening pads darkened the curling digits, yet he still had a little flexibility. Not much, but just enough to move the covers.

When his foot hit the floor, his blood ran cold. His big toe no longer rested on the ground. Instead, it had moved up the side of what he now considered his leg, just far enough that the claw could graze the wood if he flexed it just right. The longer he sat, the more the pain in his back grew, the twinge forcing him to stand.

As he made his way to the bathroom, he already had an idea what to expect. It was bizarre, but he could see the end of his nose as it stuck out in front. Instead of getting freaked out, he figured it best to pee first, since he really had to go. Moving past the reflection without so much as a glance, he popped up the toilet seat with a bit more focus than usual as his claws had to take charge, not his fingers. Taking his normal stance, he let flow the pent up stream. Relief turned to confusion and then embarrassed horror as the stream arced up and flowed onto the back of the tank cover. "Shit shit shit," was the phrase of choice as he looked down and quickly tried to fix the situation. His penis was almost completely encased in a white, fuzzy sheath, gluing the member to his fur covered body and keeping it pointed up. Fumbling with his graceless fingers, he pushed down on the fleshy casing, finding more maneuverability as he squatted. By the time he got his shaft free and facing down, he was at a finishing trickle, urine pooled on the toilet and splattered on the wall.

As he let the reddish pink flesh slip back into its protection, he glanced at the mirror. Shouting out the door as he took in his new appearance, he sounded almost ashamed. "Lykanos? Can I get some paper towels up here? A lot of paper towels?" As he waited, he inventories the rest of his differences. His muzzle, as that's now what it was, was poking out a couple inches. Just over half formed, his nose at the end of it was just starting to blacken and his teeth had finally come in, not quite full length, but eager to finish as soon as they had room. His ears were sporting white fuzz as they took on a half-finished appearance, still working their way up the sides of his head. Full-fledged fur coated his shoulders and the backs of his arms and legs, flesh still fully visible on the opposing side. The same white fur ran from his chest to his sheath, thinning out as it approached his nipples, all eight of them. The lower six were still only half-formed splotches, but he knew what he was looking at. With a gentle touch, the sore sensation shot through his body, forcing a full on flinch. Checking on his other sore spot, he looked for a tail, but the only thing he saw was achy flesh that blended into the fur of his butt cheeks.

Lykanos opened the door and immediately had to cover his nose, the scent overwhelming. "What were you doing up here, marking your territory?" As he looked in the bathroom, he knew exactly what happened. "Forgot you had a sheath, didn't you?" Darius's embarrassment turned to spite as he shot back with, "Is that what this is? I didn't even have one the other day. What the hell?" Setting the paper towels on the counter, Lykanos turned as he teased. "You'll get used to it. Helps to squat a little. And if nothing else, there's always the fenced in section in the back." Too self-conscious to retort, Darius started to clean, red-faced and droopy-eared. Lykanos, on the other hand, laughed as his furred frame headed back downstairs.

Finally finished cleaning up his mess, hands still tender from the lack of mobility, it was time to get dressed. This proved just as much a challenge. The underwear snagged on his forming dewclaw, but even after that, he could only get them half way. The thickening muscles in his legs proved too robust for the elastic. The pants were equally not going to work. Even if he could get them over his legs, his chest had widened beyond their puny capacity. He had to wear something. It just felt wrong to leave his room naked. Last was the shirt. He tried his best, but the old fabric had no stretch left to give, getting caught on the thick muscles in his neck. Even though his shoulders were starting to hunch forward, he was certain he could still do a shirt, just at a larger size. "Shorts!" The thought slipped out as he remembered that his host always roamed in a pair, himself.

Flushing with humiliation, he called down once again. "Lykanos? Could I... Could I get some clothes? They're not fitting anymore." When the cargo-shorts wearing werewolf walked back in, Darius was using the shirt to hide his shame. "N-nothing fits anymore. Could I maybe borrow a pair of shorts and a larger shirt?"

"Sure, wait there. I'll bring you something." Disappearing for a minute, Lykanos poked back in to drop the clothes on the bed. Heading back out, he gave a bit of info. "Sorry, no underwear. Wouldn't fit right, anyways. Clothes go on easier before a shift, but that can't be helped here. The workout shorts stretch. Just watch the claws. And you're lucky." He paused as he got ready to shut the door. "I rarely wear shirts as a werewolf, but I do keep one or two on hand just in case. It's my only one here, so treat it nice. And the neck should be comfortably pre-stretched."

Though the apparel didn't really sit right on him, it went on easy enough, leaving him feeling far more covered and ready to take on the day. Lykanos left shortly after, returning in the evening with crucifixes and chalk. He explained that they were for warding off demons and blessing the doorways as he worked, hanging a cross in each room and drawing letters above each door with the blessed white chalk. Moving outside, he used his claws to carve holy symbols into the fence, the windowsills, and the door frames. Satisfied with his day's work, he wagged gleefully as he entered for the night. That's when he noticed Darius' newest change. "Hey, did you know that your tail's growing?"

Darius whipped around trying to see for himself, first left, then right, chasing his tail as it were. When he caught a glimpse of the strange bulge in the back of his shorts, he had to lower them enough for a better look. "That's sick," he cringed as disgust wrinkled across his nose. "It's all naked and pink."

"Give it time," came the comforting reply. "Just be careful not to slam it in a door or pinch it when you sit. Hurts like hell."

***

Darius was relieved to have his first dreamless sleep, though the morning brought little comfort. He woke up on his side, tail now at about half its full length and partially furred. As he tried to move the blankets, he quickly realized that what little flexibility he had in his digits the day before was gone. Thumbs and big toes now rested near their permanent homes, stunted and segregated from the rest. Rolling to the floor, he had to brace against the bed, back throbbing as he tried in vain to straighten up. His hunch was grueling, sapping most of his energy as he made his way across the bedroom.

The reflection was alien to him, muzzle almost finished pushing forward with his beard and cheeks covered in fur. The rest of his face remained naked for now, but his nose, now black and damp, was almost exactly like his ally's, just not quite yet as wide. His hair was becoming more of a mane as it rolled down his back, tapering off just a few inches before the tail. The pain in his spine seared as he held himself high enough to check the nipples that were now fully formed and half surrounded in fur. The only skin left, aside from his face, was on his ribs, hips, hands and feet. Even the fronts of his extremities were starting to show soft white fuzz.

Moving to the toilet, he glared. "You again," came a mocking spite. Leaning against the back of the tank, he had to put one foot on the edge of the tub, barely managing to get his free hand down to aim the stream. Although he really didn't want to admit it, this was probably the last time he'd be able to pee while standing.

Still bent like an old man, he went for the clothes. It took almost half an hour, but he managed to wiggle his way into the shirt, neck hole stretched to the limit. The shorts were the hardest part, only having the use of his fingertips. He almost gave up the second time he lost balance, but third time was the charm, the fabric looking twisted on his beastly body.

Leaning against the wall, Darius walked downstairs in a sideways shuffle. Making it to the table, he nearly collapsed, panting and exhausted. Lykanos turned from the stovetop, full pound burgers barely browned, and clicked off the heat. As he plopped them onto plates, he addressed the tired mass leaning on the table. "Alright, our goal for today is teaching you to walk on all fours."

Trying to recover from his ordeal of getting downstairs, Darius gasped as he talked. "I can do this. I don't need to crawl around... like... like a" Lykanos cut him short, "Like a dog?" Setting the mostly raw piles of burger down, he took a seat. "It's already quite obvious that you are either going to be a monstrous wolf or full wolf feral. Either way, you're going down on all fours, so I'd might as well teach you. Already looks like your back is telling you it's time."

The sad sight of Darius trying to sit prompted Lykanos to ask, "Did you want me to set it on the floor?" The reply was almost an immediate, "No! I've got this." As he wiggled into place, he managed to pinch his tail between the wood and his leg. The "ouch" was more a "yipe" as he freed himself, barely able to maintain his posture.

"I'd offer you fork, but I can see that you're no longer able to use one. It'll be good practice for using your new teeth and tongue."

"It's still raw," whined the bent beast as he tried to poke it with his useless hand. Lykanos had already started eating, but paused for a reply. "Your body needs all the fat in the meat and your stomach will handle the raw better than you'd expect. From now on, it's all going to be this way. The searing was mostly to take out the cold and give it a livelier feel."

"Gross," was the best Darius had, but hunger soon outweighed the alternative. After the messy meal, Lykanos went right into training. "Alright, now to help with your back problem. For this, I'm going to go full wolf, as it'll be easier to show. Though, I have to warn you, my English will be... limited. A full wolf tongue makes it hard to annunciate properly." As he loosened his shorts, he quickly added, "Oh, and I apologize in advance." Stripping them off, he tossed the pile of fabric on his chair and began his own transformation. The shift from hulking wolfman to slightly oversized wolf took less than a minute and it made Darius noticeably jealous, his almost fully formed ears flicking with agitation. In Lykanos' defense, it was mostly just a change in mass and posture, not a full body change like his first one.

Trotting back into view, Lykanos waved a paw, motioning the monster to join him. As Darius begrudging complied, he felt a huge sense of relief as his hands hit the floor. With a downward stretch, his back made a few noisy pops, which, although felt absolutely amazing, ultimately locked the poor man into that stance. The surprise of the sudden spasm left him on his belly, chin flat against the linoleum. Lykanos made his way over, offering assistance with his muzzle under Darius', helping to guide him back to his wobbly feet. After the wolf was sure his friend could stand, he lined up to the right, foot for foot. Lifting his left front, he waited for Darius to follow. Darius' hesitation was understandable, but not helping. In more of a whine than a statement, Lykanos tried his best to talk. "Rollow ree." Tapping his left back down, he moved it forward, waiting for Darius to match. When he did, Lykanos moved his back right forward as he leaned on his right front, again waiting. Darius picked it up quickly, following as the quadruped beside him moved its front right followed quickly by the back left. Cycling through, Darius was circling the table in no time, picking up speed as he grew in confidence. As he was enjoying his new freedom of movement, Lykanos took the opportunity to change back into his hybrid form, still very naked.

Darius wasn't sure why he hadn't noticed it before, but now it was staring him in the face. The werewolf's sheath held his gaze until covered again by the dark grey cloth. Shaking the perverse idea from his mind, he went back to padding around, perking up as Lykanos complimented his progress. "You're doing great. A natural. Want to try running in the back? By now you should be able to feel how it'll be." With his tongue half lulled out, Darius was eager to give a try. "Yes, please! Let's do this!" As soon as Lykanos had the door held, the primal power of Darius' new form took hold, pushing him out the door and to the far side of the fence. His turn may not have been graceful, him losing his footing and rolling hard, but he was having a blast. Righting himself in a flash, he was off again, burning the pent up energy from the stiff, achy days before. He was free and moving!

That night, Lykanos suggested Darius take the lower room. The bed was lower to the ground, perfect for Darius' new posture, and, as much as he hated to hear it, it had convenient access to the back yard. With his new shape, the toilet and the stairs would be challenges, but thanks to a werewolf-friendly door handle, more a lever than a knob, the backyard was far easier. Reluctantly, Darius agreed, especially since he needed Lykanos' help to undress. However, he was stubbornly going to try the toilet one more time. Before bed, he went into the downstairs facilities, which was about the same as the other, and gave it a try. The only way he could imagine it working was sitting like a normal person, and bracing against the ground with his front paws. It worked, to an extent. The position was uncomfortable on his altering hips and he felt so dirty after his shaft pressed against the front of the porcelain. To make things worse, he had to reposition to poop, the force on his tail making him rethink the whole thing. The final thing he forgot to account for was his inability to clean himself with the toilet paper. Instead, he had to compensate with a long shower to clean the filthy feeling away.

***

Going into day eight, there was another nightmare, or at least what he considered a nightmare. In the dream, he could see himself sniffing out a trail. As he followed it, he grew more and more needy. Making his way through the brush, eagerness overtook him. No longer walking, he ran to his goal. There, at the cave entrance stood Lykanos' wolf, proud and stoic. Approaching the heroic animal, his nose was drawn to the underside. As he moved in close, greedily licking toward the nethers, his eyes opened from the dream and he was suddenly aware of his very erect canine member, red flesh fully exposed since the covers had been tossed. With his hips and shoulders further rounded to better match his more pronounced chest, he had no way of hiding it.

Forced to wait out his stiffy, he headed outside to relieve himself. He was done with the mirror, knowing exactly what he'd see: an animal. In his defense, he was still missing fur on his ribs and the bridge of his nose. The ribs, themselves, had reshaped, leading to his pointed chest which made breathing a lot easier. His hands and feet were starting to form a thin layer of fur that complimented their bulky wolf-like appearance. The tail and muzzle were both now fully shaped, just a little light on the fur. His lips had blackened and white fur sprouted around them in sharp contrast. The forehead, which had remained quite human, was slanting and prickling with budding fluff. His ears had finally locked into their new home toward the top of his head, just like his teeth had done in his spacious maw.

The scents of the backyard were overwhelming. He could smell the different types of trees, the small animals that darted within the branches, even the subtleties between grass and weed. The breeze battered his untrained nose with terrors and delights, a deluge of the senses. He couldn't stay out there long as the flood of odors proved too much. Sneaking back in, he was comforted with the fragrances that he'd grown accustomed to without even realizing. However, there were a couple he'd not noticed before. The first was the smell of fresh meat, ready and waiting to be devoured. He recognized that, but the other was more of a strong musk, full of power. It had a dominating lure, one that enticed yet made him want to cower. Sheepishly, he locked onto it, following the trail into the dining area.

He saw the hunk of pork, plated on the floor for him. That wasn't his focus, though. Looking up to the furry face munching on his own meal, Darius knew. Without meaning to, he tucked his tail and whined, bowing low to the ground. It felt right. The scent was to be respected and that honor belonged to Lykanos. He didn't rise until Lykanos let him. "Hey, come on. There's no need for that." With a hearty chuckle, Lykanos knew what was going on. "Ahh, I get it. Your nose is finally catching up and your instincts tell you that I'm your superior. No need for such formalities here. Come on, up."

Fighting to regain himself, Darius couldn't help but refocus on a similar smell. It was the same one he followed in his dream. Mindlessly, he closed in, bumping his nose into the other's leg. Looking down, Lykanos was a little curious what his four-legged friend was up to. "Can I help you?" Still entranced, Darius slipped his muzzle up, fishing for the alluring fragrance, nuzzling between Lykanos' legs. Pushing his admirer's face away, Lykanos couldn't help but feel a little honored. "I'm flattered, but I'm also straight."

The curious nose snuck in again and was promptly pushed back, a bit more forcefully the second time. "I get that you're a bit overwhelmed right now, but this is not acceptable. Behave yourself." With a needy whine, Darius tried for a third go, to which he was aggressively pushed back. Fangs bared and ears flat, Lykanos snarled, "No! Contain your instincts lest they control you, pup!" The sudden dominance sent the lusty lycanthrope to the floor, tail tucked and eyes as low as they could go. The idea of sex was completely erased by the need to submit to the fury of his superior.

Another command rang out, "Eat," and it was obeyed. After minutes of silence, Darius's head started to clear, and he felt the shame of his actions, his nudity, and his circumstance. He started to apologize, but was stopped by a paw in the air. With a calm huff, Lykanos spoke kindly. "No need to apologize. I get it. The instincts can be overwhelming. Listen to them, but don't let them own you. You are still you. Just let them enhance that."

With an understanding nod, Darius sat on his haunches, something he couldn't do the day before. "I'm sorry. I'll try to keep it in check." The little bit of exposed face grew crimson as he continued. "And I am so sorry for the advance! I didn't expect that. Please, I didn't-I'm-"

"Hey, it's okay. I'm flattered. Still not gay, but flattered." With a smile, Lykanos continued. "Tell you what. Let's get those instincts in check. We'll spend today and tomorrow in the woods, running, hunting, and exploring. Train your nose, body, and mind."

Eager to comply, Darius gladly accepted, learning the tricks of the trade. By the end of the day, he was exhausted, but in a good way. He'd learned a lot following Lykanos' lead. Even saw how to stash clothes for future woodland transformations. By the end of the day, he was feeling less a freak and more comfortable in his own skin, comfortable enough to look at his reflection before bed. To his surprise, he was almost done. Just a little more fur was all he needed if he was going to remain a bestial wolf creature. Little did he know that Lykanos was standing in the hallway. "Hey, Darius? At this rate, I'd think you'd be done by tomorrow morning. Evening at the very latest. Get some sleep. Big day of roaming." Though he didn't mean to, Darius' tail wagged happily. He knew what Lykanos said was true, and he was finally ready to finish his journey.

Another night of dreams brought another strange event. This time he was going about his normal daily life, but in every reflective surface, he saw his werewolf self looking back. It was the same expressions, same actions, just wolfier.

When he awoke, he could feel it. His changes were slowing to the end. He could see some patchiness on his sides, but his nose looked furry and his shape seemed to have stabilized. Padding to the mirror one last time, everything looked good. Muzzle was very wolf-like, just a bit blockier to match his robust frame. His body shape was like a thicker version of a wolf, just more muscle. Pleased with himself, he was ready to take on the day.

Lykanos had managed to snag a small deer the evening before and had a cleaned hunk of it ready for breakfast. Despite still feeling weird eating raw meat, Darius was eager to tear into the delicious flesh. After the feast, Lykanos had some news to share with the fully fledged werewolf. "Change of plans. Today will be combat training." Confusion spread across Darius' face. In his gruff, growly voice, he asked, "Why the change?" A devious smile showed Lykanos' fangs. "I've found him."

Tilting his head, Darius was lost. "Who?" Lykanos' voice came as a gleeful snarl. "The demon. The one who started this. He's here in our woods."

Confusion was replaced by shock. "W-what? How? How do you know?" Lykanos responded with a wag. "I caught his scent in the woods yesterday. Spent the night tracking him. I'd assume that he could sense his own blood and your torment was a meal he couldn't help but savor." After a thoughtful pause, his demeanor became a bit more cautions. "We'll need to be careful. By now he'll be fully healed and gorged on your suffering. I hate to attack with him so strong, but after you finish your transformation, he'll have little reason to stay in the woods. We train today, relax in the evening, and attack tonight. Not quite a full moon, but it's close. Should be easy for us to spot him."

"Him?" It was more a statement than a question. "I thought you called it an 'it' before. Why is it a 'he' now?" Clearing his throat, Lykanos replied, "When I was gone last week, I learned a bit more about the demon. It prefers a male disguise, so if you see a human in the woods, don't trust your eyes. Trust your nose. It'll be obvious. They have a... sulfury stench."

The bulk of the day was spent honing Darius' power. Lykanos played nice by all accounts, but his poor trainee emerged battered and bruised. Werewolf sparring was violent business and, though Lykanos never used his claws, he made sure Darius used every advantage possible. It still wasn't enough for taking on a trained fighter. The best Darius could do was a few minor bites and a good claw-rake across Lykanos' chest.

As promised, the evening was left for napping, something Darius was more than willing to accomplish. As he relaxed, a calmness came over him. Something he hadn't felt in the last week and a half. It felt... normal. He felt normal. In that instant, he knew he was done, the changes finished, and he slept the best he had in a long time.

The darkness was disturbed by a nudge. As he opened his yellowed eyes, he could see Lykanos, fully healed and eager to go. Proudly, he barked out, "I can feel it. I'm done changing. When do I learn how to change back?"

The reply was a hushed whisper. "In time. For now, we hunt." Sneaking out the back door and through the gate on the far side of the fence, the pack of two made their way into the woods.

Darius' nose was working overtime as he tried desperately to find the path on his own. He wanted to make his mentor proud, though Lykanos wasn't about to leave anything to chance. Leading the way, Lykanos lured Darius to the trail. Taking in the scent, Darius' emotions got the better of him. All his pain, all his torment, all the anguish that demon put on him, it built into blind rage. Darius was done with it. "I'm going to show that monster what true suffering is," came the furious growl as the four-legged fiend bolted after his quarry.

He completely missed it as Lykanos yelled "Wait", bloodlust completely overcoming him. In his current form, he rapidly outpaced his ally. Lykanos, while able to run like an animal, was in a shape better suited for two legs. Darius didn't have that problem, permanently locked to the ground like a beast. It was a mere matter of minutes before Darius was there, looking at the rocky cavern. He should have been cautious. He was entering enemy territory after all, but his emotions clouded his judgement as he charged in with a furious roar.

It was like a nightmare as he ground to a halt. The open earthen den was the perfect campsite, almost as big as the upstairs bedroom. In the middle stood a man, dressed for an outdoor adventure, and cowering in absolute terror. "A bear!" screamed the pathetic sight, as he fell on his butt and scooted to the wall. "Please, no. I'm not ready to die!" As the tears streamed, Darius was stricken with guilt. He was in such a blind rage that he'd almost mauled a poor, helpless human. Lowering his body as he turned, a pathetic whine was his apology as he left.

Taken completely by surprise, the knife slid between Darius' unguarded ribs. Flailing as he fell, the man was on top of him, twisting the blade deep. The yelp of pain rang out, telling Lykanos to hurry. Just getting into view of the cave himself, he responded to the agony. "Trust your nose, not your eyes!"

It hurt to breath, knife dangerously close to his lungs, but he obeyed. Surveying the room with a quick sniff, the sulfur was stifling. The wrinkles in his muzzle was almost as telling as his wide eyes, both of which pleased the man, sick smile overtaking the terror that should have been there. The words came as a hiss as the red-eyed man gloated. "You were such a savory meal. The pain really suits you." Tearing the blade out, he prepared for another stab. "Oh, I enjoyed this. The strength you gave me. Now it's time for some desert."

Before he could stick his victim again, Darius swept with his back claws, a technique he'd learned just that morning. The force of the desperate blow sent the would-be camper into the rocks, knocking the foul breath out of the crumpled mess. Scrambling to his feet, Darius went for a makeshift lunge, but the wound slowed him down, just enough that the demon was able to parry, punching the bloody gouge as he tossed his attacker to the other side of the cave.

In a cocky swagger, the man boasted, "You can't touch me, boy. I've been at this game longer than you've been alive." The beast behind him disagreed, claws raking across his back, orange spurts staining the white fur and grey shorts. Lurching forward, the creature dropped his disguise, human features sliding into lanky pale green flesh. "Damn you, you son of a bitch!"

Fangs bared, Lykanos took glee in his comeback. "Hey, my mom may be a bitch, but she's a nice lady." His pleasure was cut short as the backhand made contact with his jaw. "Oof... you're faster than last time, but you're still gonna die."

"Is that so," the hiss sinister as usual. "Let's see who dies first, you or your pathetic dog!" Green claws reached for the wounded werewolf, ready to deliver the final blow when suddenly they stopped. Lykanos, in a desperate move, had lunged at the back leg, biting deep. While successful in saving his friend, it left him vulnerable. Wicked fingers tore at his shoulder, splashing the greys with red. Lykanos wanted to yell out in pain, but he only had two options. He could break off and get shredded or bite down and get shredded. "Might as well go down swinging," he told himself as he recommitted, crushing into the devil's bone. The blood tasted almost as horrid as the scream that burst from his prey.

Done playing around, the enraged hell-spawn used his free foot to stomp Lykanos' muzzle. The constant barrage left his face battered and bloody. As his teeth slipped, the demon was on him, spinning around to pin the lycanthrope on his chest. Vileness was in the voice as it rejoiced. "You should have killed me when you had the chance. Was it worth it? Dying for this worthless waste of flesh? He did far more for me than he'll ever do for you."

Crimson flowing from his nostrils, Lykanos smiled with a wince as he looked forward. "You left yourself open."

The hiss was cut short as Darius rocketed into the fiend, teeth digging deep into the demon's throat. Both creatures rolled into a pile, but Darius held firm, clenching his jaw harder and harder, letting his torment fill his muscles. The wickedness in the red eyes turned to desperation as the demon clawed for freedom, no longer reveling in the anguish it wrought. The whip-like tail lashed against Darius' injury, weakening his resolve. Once, twice, but not a third time.

Lykanos, smeared in red and orange, had the tail coiled around his arm as he pulled it free from the monster, the scream silenced by Darius' renewed vigor. Before the pale fingers had a chance to fight back, Lykanos was pinning the skinny demon, giving his ally free reign to end the foul life.

A bit of wriggling was all the fight it had left, eyes losing their color until they went cold. The look of mortified terror lingered as the body disintegrated into smoke, eventually freeing the locked jaw that had been previously immovable.

With his unwounded arm, Lykanos tussled the fur between Darius' ears. "You did good." Minutes of silence followed as the two leaned against the cold chamber, letting their gashes mend enough to move. It was Darius who broke the stillness. "What happens to me now?"

Petting the fluff of his worried companion, Lykanos was at a bit of a loss. "I can set you up with the local pack. They'll help you as best they can. If you can shift back, they'll help you reclaim your life. If you can't... then they'll help you find a new life. Either way, I'm so sorry that this happened to you."

Darius laid his head on Lykanos' leg and whimpered. He didn't know what the future held, but he was alive, and that was enough for now.