Grayson groans....
His limbs were cold,not frostbitten in a bad way...
As he woke,the area he was settled had been blanketed in white snow. Oddly enough Grayson didn't even feel cold...
Stiffly he moves,the frost and snow that collected on him crackles and breaks,as if it had been there a while,he attemps to stand-
Grayson grunts slightly in dull pain,falling into a sitting position again. He lifts his shirt to find a healed over,dark scar.
Then flashes of the last moments of his concious state passed his mind...
"Ah...right...The battle..." Grayson grunts,ignoring the pulsing new scar to come to a stand. He stood tall enough to his his head on a branch-
"Ow- That's a....low... hanging ...branch..." Grayson began,zoning off as he now felt taller than before...
"What the hell..?"
Grayson steps out from under the canopy of the tree. His height wasn't the only thing that changed,everything looked more clear,vivid even,the sounds of the world were richer...
Then a smell crossed his nose,a faint one...
A familiar one...
Grayson moved with speed that surprised even himself. He turned up in a tent village,bustling with robed people,in a variety of heights.
As Grayson walked into the village,they even wore masks,one of wolves...
Some look to the large being,others mind their business. The smell grew stronger...
He follows it,all the way to a tent,guarded by 2 male iron golems. They were about to step in the way,when they realized just who they were staring at.
Grayson passed into the tent.
"Ah,you've finally awoken,hero. You must be wondering how long you've been asleep. Come. Sit." A female voice spoke,a robed individual sitting with her back turned,facing an incense bowl.
"What's that smell...? Its familiar..." Grayson asked.
"All animals know their species' own smell. As such,to call you,I have used the ashes of a wolf,and a touch of Grandma Demios,to make sure it was YOU I would call."
"C-call..? But I'm no wolf...Only human.." Grayson said,a little confused by the ritual that was explained.
"Sweetheart,you need to look in a mirror." The female said,turning to him and offering a mirror...
Grayson looked at himself,sitting atop his head were wolf ears. Grayson pulled a few expressions,raising,lowering,even twitching his ears..
"O..kay...that makes a little more sense...So yeah..How long have I been asleep?" Grayson asked,handing the mirror back to the female.
The female hung her head breifly,"Give or take,almost 8 years."
"Wha- 8 years?! How is that even physically possible?!" Grayson yelped out,groaning in pain and settling a hand where his scar was..
"Easy,now. This village has seen to it to guard you until you woke. Thanks to Witch Medina's magic,you were preserved and kept secret from The Empress and her army."
"Thinking of which,how is Medina?" Grayson asked.
A grim silence filled the air..
"The...Empress killed her...trying to find you,and finish the job. With her war completely dismantled and restarted,she had to earn the public's loyalty,and like Gladya,she had darker means of...wooing the public back into their old ways..." The woman explained.
Grayson nods softly,"Any other news that should be brought to my attention? It's clear Men have come into the world again.."
"Yes,however 75% of them were afflicted with the curse you have now..The curse of Wolves. It was saved as a last resort by Gladya,if she were injured,or worse,killed by you,to prevent Men and Women from ever being the same species."
"It seems like her curse skipped 35% of us.." Grayson noted,leaning forward.
"Those of the males that weren't effected went one of two routes,Royalty,or prime hunting,fetching a very pretty penny in the Dark Market for a Human Male,alive and intact." The female explains.
"So just as dangerous as last time?" Grayson asked.
"It's gotten worse,if anything. Human males aside,The Wolven also fetch a similar price in the markets overall. There are small villages like ourselves,dedicated to protecting you hand the rest of Man and The Wolven from harm."
"Lovely. I go to sleep for 8 years and the world is already worse than when I got here."
"On the upside,whenever you're ready to return home,someone of importance dropped off something." The female said,settling Grayson's backpack down.
"My bag! I thought I lost this during the fight.." Grayson said as he opened it. Everything he needed was there,including a dagger,and a note.
Grayson pulls out the note...
'Dear Grayson
Its me,Alex..If you got this note,you're probably wondering why I stabbed you. Honestly it was to save time..and pain. If the roles were switched im sure you'd understand. Heh..believe it or not if Kupa did walk away we'd both be getting an earful.
Grayson gently laughs at that small sentence..
In other notes..Ive locked down your house,so nothing dangerous gets in there. The Guardians of the Wolf should keep you safe while passing through the Territories...Though they'll only be able to help so much. I won't be able to come to your aid..
Its all truly on you to finally bring an end to tyranny.
-Your Guardian,Alex Minor.
"No pressure..." Grayson gently mutters.
The female rose,"I am Guardian Xala. Your trainer,and soon to be your ally. I will teach you how to summon the Wolf within you,and how to return. It will grant you the abilities you need to continue fighting."
Xala rose from her seat,"Come. Quickly." She said. Grayson nods,getting up and slinging his bag onto his back. As they got out into a clearing,Xala lowers her hood,letting down snow white hair,and her robe opens more....and drops.
It revealed dashing iron armor,enchanted.
"As a Wolven,your strength is not intentional,you must learn to trust your instincts..." Xala said as she holds out a mask like her own,without eye holes. Grayson gently takes the mask,putting it on and getting up,opening his senses..
"Your senses must be acute,sight aside. Tune your hearing..."
Something was slowly being drawn,deliberately slow to minimize noise. Metal on sheath...
It was such an annoying sound...
"Feel the chill of the wind..."
A chill was there. Though not a sharp one...
Like an AC just now turning on...
Something changed about the wind,and Grayson instinctively rolled away as his ears caught the sound of blade cutting air.
"Very good. Now...I want you to smell deeply.."
As instructed he breathed in...
His head turned in an adjacent direction to the camp. "I smell something...ugh...whatever it is,it's not very clean..."
"Track it. I will not be far behind....."
Grayson began walking,allowing his instincts to guide him. A low moo emits,and his stomach emits a very quiet rumble. 'Food.....'
Grayson got lower,taking cover against a bush. The cow's hoofsteps deep and even. He heard the cow eating..He moved around the bush,into a patch of long grass. The large animal stopped eating,and Grayson fell still,he felt the animal's gaze...
'So close....so hungry.'
He had to wait...
The crunching of grass resumed. And with it Grayson's movement,until he was within striking distance. His hand slowly drew a knife...
Swiftly he lunged,though the kill itself was a sensory blur,it was as over as quickly as it started,with Grayson taking the cow down..
"Very good. You trust your instincts wholeheartedly,with little hesitation. You are free to take off the mask." Xala said.
As Grayson took off the mask,the blinding white of snow overwhelmed his eyes,though only briefly. He looks to the cow,then to Xala,"Im going to have to carry this thing,aren't I?" Grayson asked,a slight look of displeasure crossing his face.
"Ya know,you're almost too smart for a man that slept for 8 years."
Grayson heaved the heavy animal up and over a shoulder,"Thanks. Ill take that as a compliment." He said as he walked past. "Now come on,I havent eaten in 8 years,i feel like my stomach is eating itself."