A howl echoed across the land, so loud it seemed to shake the trees and the stars around the full moon. But this howl was not full of rage like most people have heard; it was a call full of longing and welcome. Those werewolves created by the Great Alpha heard this call and headed towards it, and even some of those not created by the Great Alpha were stirred to investigate the source. I, Matrius, was also moved by this howl, and decided to see what was happening. This is my account.
In a clearing not far from the town of Elmerton, standing before a bonfire, stoic and waiting, was Palgar, brother of Renwar of House Lav’Endros. I managed to find a well-hidden spot in order to see what was happening. I may have great ties to the moon, to be sure, but trying to explain that to a group of confused and hungry werewolves; well, I was not going to take that chance. Little by little, werewolves from across Irvanshire entered the clearing. Some came in pairs and others in small groups. Still others came alone. I recognized that most of the pack that had aligned themselves with the White Wolf were present, but there were a great many werewolves from other packs as well. As the clearing filled up and the trickle of werewolves entering the clearing slowed, tensions, and hackles, began to rise as the territorial creatures vied for space in the crowd. All notice of Palgar seemed to be lost in the throes of chaos until he raised his arms as if to spread a calm over the clearing. The ruckus calmed and eventually the clearing became utterly silent while everyone turned his or her focus to Palgar.
“My family,” he began, his voice ringing throughout the clearing. “Thank you for answering my call. To those of you whose creation was not by my hand, I bid you welcome. I am Palgar. I am known as the White Wolf, and I am the embodiment of the Great Alpha.” Some murmurs rippled through the clearing, but were quickly silenced. “However, I am not the Great Alpha that many of you have been recently aware of. The rage that has blinded me for decades has been purged from me, and with that, I have found a new clarity. I have discovered a longing to help our kind become more than mindless animals that kill without regard for hunger or for sport, but a true cross between human and wolf. The werewolf needs a place in this world, free of fear from not only those that would hunt us, but from the fear, rage, and bloodlust that runs through our veins. For, though we come from different packs, we all share this curse, this disease, but it is my hope that this shared ailment will come to create a strong bond between us. It is my goal to help those of us who wish to control the monster within and embrace the wolf to do so – and to find a family in the meantime.”
Some among the gathering of werewolves and men howled or cheered hopefully, while some scoffed and scorned his message, calling him blinded by hope and optimism. Still others lay silent, curious as to what else Palgar had to say.
“I have seen a path of death for us if we do not change. There are many out there who have and will take the sword to us, simply because we are werewolves, with no regard to our human personage or our lives. And I say this has to stop now. We shall form a new pack, here and now. Those of you that wish to stay, I welcome you as my family. Those of you that wish to go, I hope you live long lives, but I wish that you will come to see that this is the best way for us to survive, to grow, and to become stronger than any werewolf has ever been alone. However, it is not my intent to use this power to ravage and kill, but to defend our family and protect the land that has given us this gift. Those that leave will not be hunted by us, but do not think that you will be allowed to prey upon us; you will quickly find that to be your last mistake in this world.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when a huge monster of a werewolf started charging towards Palgar, snarling, a vicious howl half-formed on his lips. He attacked with blinding speed, but was met halfway by Palgar and thrown violently to the ground. As the wolf lay pinned and struggling beneath the hand of Palgar, the latter sighed and bowed his head and muttered something under his breath. Within seconds, the werewolf had turned back into a large man. Palgar bared his teeth in a solemn snarl and said reprovingly, “Leave. Now. I will not kill you, unless you try to attack me or my family again. Then I will remove you like a healer removes a canker.”
As the large man stomped out of the clearing, followed by several snarling, snapping werewolves, Palgar turned to the others. “There has been far too much killing and death. Let our new path change those ways, and possibly change those that think of us only as cursed creatures. Now is the time to choose. What path shall you walk from this time forth?” The air seemed to clear suddenly and many of the werewolves slunk away from the clearing, howling as they made their way back to their own territories. However, there were a few who stayed close to Palgar and the fire.
I must admit, I was stunned to see how many remained – werewolves are generally not creatures that can be reasoned with. However, it was at that point that I started to notice something different about Palgar- a slight golden glow that seemed to be coming from him. I was so puzzled by this, I almost missed what Palgar said next.
“My family, we have much to do. But I shall watch over and guide you. I shall always be here to help and protect you. As a pack, we need to be strong together. My time is nearing its end here. With my passing, I shall share with you what was given to me. I hope that it helps you all as it has helped me.”
It seemed that everyone gathered could now see the golden glow around Palgar. It became stronger and took shape in the outline of a wolf. With another howl full of warmth and longing, Palgar turned and walked into the darkness of the night, his golden wolf form lingering behind him, gazing at all those gathered there. The golden, wolfish outline grew and circled the gathering before lying down and engulfing the entire pack, myself included, in its glowing form. As the glow slowly faded, I was filled with the knowledge the pack would need in order to begin its quest for control. And though Palgar’s form seemed to have disappeared into the night, we knew that when they have need of him, the Great Alpha will be there.