The Blessing of Wolves
An Arrakechi Legend
The Count's youngest son was born only for to hunt, and there wasn't a beast in the entire isle he couldn't track and bring down with only one shot of his fine silk-stringed bow. But there was worse than wild beasts in the valley, and the jingling of his horse's rich trapping soon drew a knot of bandits.
In a surprising display of guile, the bandits strung a twisted wire just below the chest height of the boy's favourite hunting horse. Thrown from his horse, and surely aware of the raiders that were even now tramping through the forest for his blood and his gold, the boy had no thought in his head but to pick up a stout branch and find a handy tree to ambush his attackers from.
The True Varus, who watches all his house, was much impressed with the boy's strength of mind, and called out to the beasts of he forest to defend the boy.
"Not us," replied the fish of the river, "for how can we leave the water without dying?"
"Not us," replied the snakes of the bracken, "for we have no claws to tear nor feet to kick."
"Not us," replied the bears of the caves, "for we have winter fast upon us, and all that leaves us to do is sleep."
"Not us," replied the birds of the treetops, "for we are the bards of the forest, only meant for song, and for colour, and we may not take the field."
"Then us," replied the wolves of the deep shadows. "We will protect the brave boy."
With no sound save the leader's warning growl the wolf pack found the raiders, close to the tree from which the Count's youngest soon was prepared to spring, and they leapt in his stead, aiming for the throats of the terrified raiders. Only when every member of the party was gurgling upon his own blood, and no wolf so much as scratched, did the boy slide down from his tree.
Wolf and boy alike could hear the words of the True Varus. "You have shown both courage and strength today, and so I will reward you. You will become as true citizens of Arrakech, and my own children shall laud you and give you lands and iron."
The wolves twisted and squirmed upon the ground, and then, to the boy’s amazement, knelt in the bracken wearing the bodies of humans.
Well, the Count's youngest son took them back to Arkhelm, saw that they were clothes and housed in a manner that caused envy in many other citizens. They were fed all that they could wish for on plates of gold and enamel.
For a little space, the wolves were content enough. But the forest called to them at every hour, the pleasures of fur and claw and howl that they could not enjoy as pampered humans. One night, when the moon was at her fattest, the wolf pack assembled in a holy place, and called upon the True Varus.
"We are grateful, my lord," said the leader, "for all the gifts bestowed by yourself and your children. But, my lord, we are wolves, not humans, and these bodies so not fit as so well as they bodies we were born with. We would not deceive your children, the world or even ourselves and our cubs yet to come this way. Will you give us our true shape back, please?"
The True Varus thought a space. "Strength and courage, this we've seen, but wisdom fits you as well. Therefore, I will grant you the choice. You may take of wolf bodies, or of human bodies, as you will. Under this moon, become the wolves you long to be, and the rest of the month take your choice. And if you find another person equal to you in courage, and strength and wisdom, then I also give you the ability to make them as you are."
And so this is why those who can change from beast to man and back again are honoured on Arrakech. For they walk on the isle with the blessing of the True Varus, from that day to this.
All Works are © Original Author
(OC Author - Ni Claydon)