FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 3

The Funeral

It was a good thing that we had washed my cloths, because Dan's funeral was to be held that evening over at the town chapel. The ceremony lasted for an hour. Starting with Mass in the chapel. A small well kept building with white siding boards, and a high peeked roof of dark grey slate shingles. Protruding from the steeple was a tower that comprised the entrance way of the chapel, also housing the town bell. The bell was tolled on the hour; the number of hours being represented by the number of rings on the bell. From the early hours of the morning to the latter ones of dusk, and then through the evening until the tenth hour.

The usual prayers and blessings were said, over the casket, during the beginning and ending of the mass. everyone was in black or in the darkest colors they owned. The grey shirt I'd used for my wolfen friend had been the closest I had to black, and the blood had washed out with a lot of effort.

Almost everyone in town had gathered to pay their respects to the dearly departed. It may just as well have been the great flood that God used to wipe out the wicked in the world all over again. I remembered that in that Old Testament passage, God had only preserved Noah, his family and two of every creature accept those that swam from annihilation. For a moment I wondered if werewolves had been among them. The flood was not what Father's homily was about, but it seemed to fit the somber tears that pepper peoples faces.

My mother and I sat with the Smith family, in the front row. We'd been close friends for some time, and it was only natural, since no one else had known Dan's family as well, or as long as mothers had. I for one would have preferred to sit someplace less visible, The encounter I'd had with Mr. Smithy earlier that day being one of the reasons.

The consecration followed the homily, and I kept asking in my head. Why God? Why Did You Take Him Away? I was angry with God for letting this happen, it was the reason why I didn't go up for communion, that and I needed to go to Confession. Dan's father didn't go up either. Perhaps he shared my sentiments.

The Mass ended and the whole congregation processed to the cemetery, a large yard concealed behind a hedge of dark evergreen bushes right next to the church. Entering through the gate, just to the right down a short path when you exited the church. Being one of the pal bearers, I was right up at the head of the procession.

Late spring was in full swing, a good deal of greenery, grass, tulips,/daffodils, fox gloves, and pansies included. All were in full bloom. It felt like a mockery of the present mood We made our way through the yard of multi shaped head stones. To where there was one newly made one with the dirt freshly dug up from in front of it. The march stopped, Dan was lowered six feet bellow in the coffin of oak planks. The priest said the blessing and then sprinkling the grave with holy water, inviting every one else to do the same before everyone left and the grave digger shoveled the dirt back into place covering the spot where Dan now rested.

Mother and I said our goodbyes, and invited the Smithies to join us for dinner that night. Mother just insisted that they shouldn't be alone right after their loss. The priest, Fr. Jonathon was invited too, but said he was unable to attend having already been invited to dinner elsewhere. He thanked us for the invitation before taking his leave. It may have been for the better that he already had plans.

Our families parted ways, and we headed home to get ready for dinner.

When we got home Mother went about preparing Aunt Joy's famous herb stuffing for putting in the bird I'd collected. I had the task of washing and pealing potatoes, carrots, and turnips, chopping onions, and fetching whatever herbs mother needed from her garden.

The stuffing called for two kinds of day old bread, Brown and white, which we had. Also an egg, butter, and then sage, thyme, rosemary, and salt, and pepper for seasoning it. This was mixed in a large bowl, then stuffed into the emptied cavity of the gutted, de-feathered/de-footed, and beheaded bird.

When the bird had been stuffed, the outside seasoned, Mother placed it in her large oven dish, with the chopped onions to bake. The bird would need to cook the longest, so in the mean time I had to now cut up the pealed vegetables, which we then boiled. Carrots, and turnips went in one pot, and potatoes went in another. While I worked on this, Mother mixed flower, lard, cold water, and a pinch of salt making a crust for pie.

Since it was spring and fruit was out of season we'd be doing an egg custard pie for desert. This meant that I had to go and fetch some milk from next door. Trading some of the herbs we hadn't used in the stuffing for the milk, I also dropped by the Chicken coop for eggs on my way back with the milk. When I got back to the house Mother already had the crust rolled out and molded properly into the pie dish. Smiling a smile that didn't touch her eyes, she nodded "Oh thank you David, um..." Pausing she looked around at how things were going. Turning back to me she said "Why don't you throw another log in the stove." Nodding back I went back outside and grabbed a log from the stack on the left side of the house and headed back inside.

Tossing the log in the compartment in the stove that provided the heat, I stoked the fire for a moment, and then with nothing left to do I went and sat in the living room till I was needed again.

Mother whipped up the pie filling, poured it into the crust, and then set it in the oven next to the bird. Tidying up the kitchen, afterwards she came and joined me in the living room while we waited for things to finish cooking. A half hour passed before we had to check on things. We didn't say anything more than needed saying. Both of us were grieving inside but we did our best to hide it. It's just how our family had learned to grieve. When the time came to check on thing, Mother took the pie out of the oven, while I fork tested the boiling vegetables to see if they were ready. The fork went right into a potato so they were done, but the carrots still needed more time.

Draining the potato's at the sink, I then massed them up, adding some milk, butter, salt, and pepper, so they'd be smooth. Loading them into a dish, I then placed it in the stoves upper compartment, which was for keeping food warm. The Pie was set out to cool, and no sooner had I finished the potatoes, then it was time to do up the turnips and carrots.

"David, Honey, I'm going to go up stairs to get cleaned up, keep an eye on the bird for me Dear." Said mother disappearing up the stairs.

"Yes Mom." I said placing another dish of carrots into the stoves warming compartment.

The blacksmith, his wife, and old Jack, arrived at our house at a quarter to eight. The Smithies having brought two bottles of wine, to go with supper. Rushing down from up stairs Mother had freshened up, and was wearing a more formal dress. It was a darker blue, and looked like it might be from Aunt Joy's older things. I thought it made my Mother look a little silly, but Mrs. Smithy, and everyone else commented at how nice she looked. So I wasn't about to say anything to the contrary. Old Jack and Smithy Thomas were long time friends. From about the time they both were very young, like Dan, and me. They spent time catching up in the living room, while I went about setting the table for dinner. They were both in the mood for hard numbing liquor. Dan having been very dear to us all, I wondered if I'd be allowed to join in. The fact that both their apprentices had been close friends, had endeared all three of our families to one another.

The bird was taken out of the oven by yours truly, and for a moment I had a bit of a dilemma. The hole that the cross bow bolt had made in the bird earlier that day, was still visible. And I did not want the blacksmith putting me and where I was that morning together. Acting fast, I took the fork for lifting the bird out of the pan, and shoved it directly in the hole. Lifting the bird onto the platter, leaving the fork in place I turned to set it on the kitchen table.

Working between the baking dish and the serving platter, I scooped the onions out, and placed them around the bird on the platter. Taking it to the table while Mother quickly whipped up a gravy from the drippings in the pan. Everything ready we sat down at the table, said the blessing and began dishing up.

Discussion during dinner was kept to things not having to do with the dearly departed. Jack asked how I was coming on two of my commissions that he had given over to me to see how I was coming with my craft. I told him that the chair was nearly complete and just needed some sanding, while the wooden spoon sets were still in the works. He smiled knowingly at that turn of phrase. Among carpenters if something was still in the works it meant that it hadn't been started yet. He asked me a few question about the chair and the wood I'd used. Questioning me on how I'd chosen, and prepared the wood before starting. He fired off a few more questions before he was satisfied. One of which being if he might come in my room and have a look after dinner. This really made me sweat, and I nervously tried to get out of it saying things like. "My rooms really not very tidy right now." And. "Could you give me some time to straighten up before you come in?"

Jack laughed at that. "Since when have you been subconscious about how your room is?" I turned a few shades of red, squirming in my chair a bit. Noticing Mother said. "Well perhaps you're starting to mature some more." I nodded vigorously, hoping it would work in diverting attention from me.

"Well alright then, I'll let my 'maturing' apprentice tidy up before I come and see his work." Said Jack. Everyone laughed at this while I sighed in relief having narrowly dodge that disaster.

After that dinner proceeded without a hitch. Everyone ate their fill, and when desert came around, all had a generous sized slice of custard pie. I preferred apple myself but short notice and lack of fruit...

The bottle was quite free that evening. Everyone, myself included, partook in an after dinner cup, or five in the black smiths case. As a result he was passed out cold in the first hour. Not having been much of a drinker to begin with, Jack was not far behind. Much to my relief. The alcohol relaxed my worry a little, but I decided to stop while I was ahead, not wanting to accidentally get loose lipped about a few particular subjects. Mother and Mrs. Smithy retreated up the stairs to mothers sewing room, when both of the men had passed out, leaving things as they were to be cleaned up in the morning.

Looking at the table I frowned, There was still a fair amount of food left. It wouldn't keep till morning, and I happened to know from experience that leftovers dried in a dish, took a lot longer to clean out. Besides it was better that I not have to do this in the morning. Dishes being one of my chores, when there were guests. Clearing off the table, I stacked the plates and silver ware in a bucket letting my mind wander as I scrubbed the plates clean at the sink.

What would Dan have done if I'd died? Would he have cried as much as I had? taking the bucket out to the edge of the woods, I dumped the dishwater before taking the dishes in to rinse and dry. Seeing the pheasant carcass now golden brown and still stuffed partially with moms bread stuffing, I took it out to toss it, because it would not keep until morning, unless it was chilled, and we didn't have a way to chill it properly. There was the root cellar but it wasn't a cold enough place to save meat. Then something crossed my mind. My furry friend had not eaten since breakfast! Rushing to my window, I tapped lightly and then waited. There was no response. Puzzled I rapped again, a little harder this time. When there was no response yet again, I noticed the window was unlatched and was slightly lifted. He had gone out already. I felt a touch of jealousy that he had escaped to the freedom of the woods, and I had been stuck in the midst of the sorrow unable to escape my own grief. There had been the wine with dinner... but I didn't believe in getting heavily drunk either. Plus I'd been worried about keeping him a secret.

Returning the bird to the kitchen, before going back out, I opened the window the rest of the way went in grabbed my flute and then headed to my no longer secret grove. I had promised Dan I would practice and I was not about to brake that promise either, it was all I could give him now. The wolf would probably find me there as he returned from whatever he was doing.

The wood sounds were much more alive to me I thought as I followed the trail down to where it forked. One-way going farther down to where the single barge, owned by the black smith of course, was anchored in a boathouse. It sat at the one spot in the river that was always high enough to float it if the want arose. The other part of the path lead through the back woods behind the town, and ended where it looped up with the barge path. Taking the back woods path, I made for where the brambles and thorns grew thickest. It was this screen which had until recently kept my secret grove hidden from prying eyes.

Going around the thorns by my usual path, I entered the grove and headed to the stump. Getting up on it, I stood and put air to the tip of my instrument. Placing my fingers accordingly, I started to blow. "Twee," I winced and readjusted my fingers, starting to play the tune Vagabond.

At least I tried to, but it came out sounding a lot more like noise with bit's of the Vagabond mixed in but... It wasn't all that close to the song. I sucked at this. Tossing the flute to the side, I decided to go for a walk.

I found myself retracing the path of last night. I'd left some trail in my rush to get to the werewolf the other night. I realized that it was probably this, what had led the black smith to my hidden grove. Something didn't make sense to me though, why was he out there with a cross bow shooting anything that moved?

The wolfs reaction had been understandable enough. He'd simply been getting out of sight, so he could preserve the fact that he existed. As well as his refuge spot with me. The fact that he had hidden me with him must have just been habit. Or perhaps a sign of how much he might actually care about me as his friend. I was touched by this new revelation. Did this wolf really count me as a friend to where he feared for my well-being? I mean we'd only met yesterday evening.

On the other hand, perhaps the blacksmith posed a greater threat than I was aware of, but that couldn't be right I'd known the man forever. Or at least the past nine years since he had moved here. I knew very little about my werewolf companion. I didn't know his name, who he was, or even what he looked like when he was human. I'm not much qualified to be his helper, or friend. I thought darkly. Why did he tolerate me?

I don't know how long I walked for but I imagine it was two hours before I finally found myself in the place my feet seemed to have been leading me all along. The cemetery. Of course. To say good-bye to Dan. I hadn't really been able to at the funeral. More likely, I hadn't had the guts to.

It was extremely dark in the grave yard. The stars granted some light but the moon was on the other side of the chapel, creating a shadow that loomed over the graves. Picking my way through them to where I thought Dan's lay I started to hear a sound.

It was very faint, and at first I paid it no mind, then I saw it. Amidst the shadows, there was something hunched over, throwing something up beside it. The shape looked human at first, but then I decided it was too large to be human, and that could only mean one thing.

It was the werewolf, but what was he throwing up beside him. It took me a minute to connect things, but when I did one word came to mind. "Dirt!"

Forgetting myself I rushed forward and Shouted. "What are you doing!" Having not heard my approach, he turned to look towards the sound of my voice, snarling dangerously he dropped into a pouncing position. Throwing up my hands and trying to say "Wait It's..."

?

He sprung up, sailing towards me claws and teeth bared. He slammed into me, knocking me to the ground, stealing the breath from me. Crouching over me he pinned my hands and leaned in for the kill. I felt his teeth on my throat, but suddenly he stopped. Moving his head back he looked at me wide eyed. A whine turned whimper came from his throat, as he got off of me and scooped me up off the ground. Still whining he started to lick my face in apology for nearly killing me. Nuzzling my throat and face with his; I felt extremely shaken. Absently grabbing hold of him, as realization of how close I'd been to death dawned on me.

"I... W-what are y-you d-doing?" I asked shaking still. He shook his head and set me down next to the grave on the side where he hadn't been piling the dirt. Pointing at the grave marker he shook his head again, and then looked at me expectantly. "I don't g-get it. Why are you?" he held a finger up to his lips signaling for me to be quiet.

"But I..."A growl from his throat silenced me. He gave me a look, that suggested that it wasn't a suggestion. I sat there dumbly, and watched as he finished digging up the grave. When the coffin was fully revealed he. Got down in the hole and lifted it up by himself setting it in front of me. He leapt out of the hole and then reached for the latches on the sides.

"Wait," I protested placing myself over the coffin. "W-why are you doing this?" Growling he looked at me irritation apparent in his expression. "Tell me or I'm not moving." I said my voice growing firmer.

Losing patients he pushed me off the coffin and into the hole behind him. "Hey." I cried landing with an unf. He undid the latches before I could get up. Having undone all of them, he tossed off the lid to the casket, and then reached for me. Taking my shirt-front he pulled me up resituating me so he held me with his hands under my armpits, with me facing away from him. He lifted me out of the hole, holding me aloft so I could see inside the coffin.

I looked away at first but curiosity got the better of me. Turning to look at my old friend, what I saw instead confused me. In the coffin lay a body that looked like Dan at first, but it looked wrong. Not pale and pasty like a dead person should be.

The longer I looked the less it looked like a person or Dan for that matter. The features became transparent, until finally it stopped looking like him and took on the shape of a log stuffed into a suit. "What the?"

I reached down to touch it, but the werewolf caught my hand and pulled it away. Setting me down beside himself he made sure to keep a hold on me while he took a small rock and tossed it in the coffin, nothing happened, at which point he nodded at me releasing his hold and gesturing at the log. Moving forward I reached into the coffin and touched the piece of wood to see that I wasn't hallucinating. Sure enough it was a block of wood cut to dimensions that would fit in the box and that were the proper length to be about the size of Dan.

"How did you know?" I asked turning to look at the wolf. He just shook his head again. "You didn't know?" He nodded.

"But then where is..." I started but then stopped when the werewolf turned his head to look towards an approaching figure. The werewolf Instantly went into his pouncing crouch, but before he could spring, a female voice. Cut through the air, stopping him in his tracks.

"That's quite enough Terrance, and for the love of God, turn into a dog for heaven's sake"

The werewolf 'Terrance?' Whined in response standing up from his crouch. "What do you mean you're stuck." She exclaimed still moving closer. This woman understood him? The woman became visible to my eyes gradually, and as she did, so did I to her. "Oh and you got yourself seen too, damn it Terrance now I'll have to clear his memory too."

From what I could see she was an older woman, much older. She wore a dark green dress that was of a different time under her arm was a basket and hanging about her shoulders was a grey cloak. Her long white hair was up in a bun with length enough for it to still hang down past her shoulders. For a moment I could of sworn it was my poor dead Aunt. "Aunt Joy?" I said unbelieving.

"Afraid not dear, sorry you had to get mixed up in this mess. But don't worry, it'll be all back to normal when you wake up tomorrow morning." She said rummaging in her basket for something. A growl from the werewolf Terrance made her pause. "Don't do it, and why not?" said the woman. The werewolf gave a series of whines paired with gestures at me his chest her, and even the grave and Dan-less coffin, he ended it on a punctuated satisfied sounding growl.

"Well that explains an awful lot. Why didn't you say so in the first place?" Said the old woman her entire mood brightening visibly. Turning to me she smiled and took my hand and shook it. "Sorry about that, I didn't know this town had a safe house for werewolves. And thank you so much for taking care of this big oaf it'd be just like him to run amuck on a simple errand like this." I just shook her hand dumbly, to stunned to speak. She had some grip to her, and I couldn't think of a thing to say. "Well then We'll go there and talk things over then. Terrance, you can bury that thing, and join us at the safe house when you've finished." She said releasing my hand and turning to head past us towards the woods. "Now which way is it?"

I finally found my voice. "Uh...I'm afraid you've misunderstood. I don't run anything, I just... helped him out..." I managed to get out, it was enough though. Stopping she turned to my furry companion.

"Terrance, explain please." said the woman a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. The werewolf shuffled his foot paws and started another monologue of dog speak that I couldn't make heads or tails of. When it was over she walked up to him and swatted him on the brow. "Must I fix all of your messes?" She practically shouted. Sighing she turned to me. "So if what this puppy is saying is correct, you're just a boy who found a big stupid dog that got itself hurt, and you brought it home as new pet, is that about right?"

"Well not exactly. This isn't the first time I helped a werewolf you see." I said. The woman nodded, a waited for me to go on. "I was ten when I first met one. He was a man who got tossed in prison, because the blacksmith said he was a monster. His name was Rolf, and he..."

"Rolf did you say?" She said cutting me off. "Ok so you're that boy, Hmmm good to see he left a lasting impression." She continued the irritation leaving her voice. "This does leave some things that you'll need to learn about though. Now I assume he left something of his with you, a bracelet or necklace of some sort?" I reached into my shirt and pulled out the necklace of bear claws. "Good, so you still have it, this will make things easy then." Reaching into her basket, she pulled out a foot long wooden rod. It looked like a knitting needle at first, but when she held it aloft it looked too knarly for that. A wand?

"You can't understand Terrance when he's like this can you?" She said indicating Terrence in his full on werewolf form.

I shook my head and said "No, not like you can."

She nodded, "I thought not, most humans can't, but you say you can understand him a little. A few words, Gestures, and body language I take it." She asked. I nodded. "You must have a strain of magic users somewhere in your line of ancestry to be able to read that much. Well hand that necklace here a minute."

I complied lifting the necklace up over my head and handing it to her. Taking it in her left hand she held the string of bear claws aloft and taking the piece of wood in her other hand, she gave it a swish and a flick of the wrist, tapping the end of the wand to the necklace saying "Lupis-Otic-Comprendious." A white glow passed from the tip of the wand and spread through the entire necklace before fading.

"Well that should do it." Said the old woman handing back the necklace, before stowing her wand. I took the claws gingerly not sure what to do now. "Well, put it on let's see if it works or not."

"Um, ok." I said lifting the necklace and replacing them about my neck. When they were back in place I felt a sudden shiver run through me. Turning to look at the werewolf I asked. "Terrance?"

He nodded "Yeah little friend, your new ears working?"

I blinked once going a shade of pink, "I'm not that little."

"Ha-ha, I guess they do work after all." He said grinning his most wolfish grin. Turning back to the older woman he said. "Well Madam grey, what now?"

The woman pointed at the gaping hole in the ground and the box with the log in it. "Mr. Float Sam needs to be returned to his resting place before prying eyes see him thus exposed, and then we'll need to see about fixing your changing problem."

"Couldn't you just fix it with that magic stick of yours." said Terrence whining a little.

Madam Grey, as the woman had been called, shook her head. "No, I don't use magic unless it's necessary, and between figuring out what's the matter with you and making his translator I'll be doing good to be able to walk come morning."

"Alright." Said Terrance walking to the coffin and beginning to refasten the lid hiding the log, that wasn't Dan, from view.

There was still something I didn't understand, if a log was in the grave then where was Dan. And why would his parents hold a funeral for him, if he wasn't dead. Turning to the old woman I asked "Where's Dan at?"

She shook her head before saying "Don't fret, he's safely away from here and those who would do him harm." Said Madam Grey obvious bitterness tinting her voice.

"I don't understand." I said. I needed more than just a he's safe. I needed to know why and where he was at.

"When Terrance has finished we'll go to my room in the tavern and talk things over but for now I need you to be patient." I would have protested but Madam Grey forestalled me with a look that said the matter was closed. I doubted I'd get any answers out of her until she was ready so I gave it a rest and watched my wolfen companion Terrance as he lowered the coffin back into the hole.

Box in place he started shoving massive amounts of dirt into the hole with his hands. It didn't take more than a minute, and when he was done, the dirt packed back in place like it had been after the funeral, he turned to us with a smile and trotted over.

"Well now that that's settled lets be off." Said Madam Grey turning about and heading toward the grave yard gate.

"Um how am I going to get into the tavern without being seen." Terrance asked, sounding a touch worried. I'd been wondering the same thing myself.

"Hmmm, oh right I guess that is going to be a problem." Said the old woman rummaging in her basket for her wand again. "Well get over here we don't have all night you know." Terrance walked up to us and waited while the old woman found her wand. Looking closely at Terrance's chest she reached over to touch where the wound had been. Now all but invisible save for the stitches. "Hmmm, rather impressive work child. I'm surprised there isn't a scar." She continued studying the wound sight a while longer.

"Alright, now this was a silver related injury I take it?" Asked Madam Grey. Terrence nodded. "Well this should be easy to fix then," She said pointing her wand at the spot. Giving a flourish of her wrist she tapped the spot and instantly the tip of her wand began to glow, the stitching unwound and slipped out of the werewolf's chest and then fell to the ground.

For a minute nothing else happened while the wand continued to glow. "Is it working?" I asked. I was answered by Terrance suddenly doubling over with a bark, and then arching his back. Madam Grey didn't even flinch. The glow from her wand intensified, Terrance whining piteously as it continued. Suddenly a mass of metallic looking liquid began to seep out of Terrance chest where the wand glowed droplets of the liquid floated into the air around the glow of the wand colliding and forming into a single mass. When no more came, the light faded out, and a lump of silver dropped to the ground. Stooping over Madam grey retrieved it and held it up to scrutinizing it for a second.

"Well that should be all of it." she said dropping the silver into her basket and adding her wand to it as well. "Now then let's see if you can change at all."

Terrance stood on all fours panting after the silver had been removed from his chest. "I don't know if this is gonna work or not, so stand back, both of you." I looked at the Old woman who had gotten several graves away by now before stopping.

"Come on then, boy, you never stand next to a Lycanthrope who's going to change." She said impatiently indicating that I get to where she was standing.

"Oh, sorry I didn't know." I said walking over hastily.

"Yes well 'Sorry' and 'I didn't know' will get you killed if you're not careful. So word from the experienced, commit to memory everything that you learn, and have learned about werewolves, because it could save your life." Said Madam Grey Pointing at Terrance indicating that I should watch this.

Terrance Eyes glowed bright yellow in the dark suddenly. Then like he were shrinking he began to grow smaller. His hind legs shortened and the knees realigned for the shape of a dogs legs. His shoulders pulled in and his paws became increasingly more like paws and less like hands and feet. A few more variations accrued as his hind quarters took on the compacter shape of a dog, as well as his chest.

I could only stare as it happened. The sounds of creaking bones as they realigned making my stomach turn. When it was over, Terrance appeared much smaller, looking very much like an ordinary wolf. He was a little bit larger than a regular wolf, but not so much that it was noticeable. In truth he looked like a big dog more than anything else. "Terrance?" I asked looking on in amazement.

Looking up at me He smiled in that way that only dogs can, mouth open tongue hanging out to the side, tail wagging. "That's my name David, don't wear it out. So what do you think?"

"Incredible." I said walking forward and crouching to get on his level. He licked my face wagging happily.

"Yes, yes, that's all very well. I'm sure you two will have a lot to talk about in the next day or two, but right now we need to get to the tavern so I can explain some things." Said Madam Grey. Turning on her heal she began walking towards the Cemitary gate and the town tavern that could be found a few buildings down.

I followed suit, Terrance walking by my side. What the hell had I gotten myself into. More importantly hadn't this been what I wanted all along?

...Sorry for the delay... More to come soon. Like maybe in the next month if we're lucky.