Aύok sat against the trunk of a large red oak, legs crossed and back straight. Deep in meditation his eyes shifted quickly from left to right under his closed lids. His muscles tensed and released his jaw clenched; his breath rapid.

“We will succeed! I know it brother!” Aύok said laughing, his hand patting the sweat covered back of his twin brother.

“We have been at it for years, and still nothing but the simple wolf.” Lykos said moving away from his brother’s hand. They stretched their sore muscles, cracks and pops filling the silence.

“But we have centuries to figure it out. Just think, three decades and we have already mastered the wolf form. Most of our people have not even attempted to change form until a century of study and meditation. What we have done has never been done before. Now that the wolf form comes so easily even on a moonless night is a true…”

“Accomplishment? Is it? How can that be said? We become mindless beasts, running through the forest killing, and eating. We lose all our intelligence and we become simple. I don’t want to be simple.” Lykos said standing tall, rotating his shoulders forcing them to pop as they clicked back in place. “This is my… our mission that we set out for. Anyone can become a simple creature. The masters of the druid craft dominate the creature they wish to become and bend its will to their own. They control the wildness…”

“After centuries of dedication Lykos. The High Druid during his teachings often speaks of his first centuries beginning difficult and with minimal control. He preaches the best path is long study and using essence to link two minds as one to truly feel as the creature. To know its every desire, its every need, from the hunger in its stomach to the itch of the fleas on its back.” Aύok itched his back at ghost flea bites and looked to Lykos’ emotionless face.

“We were sitting in the same teachings; I know all of this.”

“Then why are you fighting the way of things?”

“Because they are old and they do as their ancestors have done for generations. Just because one old druid discovered a way to do something doesn’t mean it’s the only way to do it.”

“But, it is the accepted way of the Druid.”

“It is a long tedious path; one I wish not to crawl along. With you by my side Aύok we have made leaps and I know we will cross the threshold.”

“But if we overstep, we could be lost as a wolf. The stories the High Druid…”

“Yes, yes, the fearful stories they tell to keep us from pushing our limits. The fact that we have ignored most of stories proves me right.”

“They were right about dominating the wolf. It was wrong.” Aύok said still remembering when they used their essence to merge with the wolves. Aύok looked to the ground still ashamed. “They denied us their mind, but we pushed through their weak mental resistance.”

“But the knowledge we unlocked by doing so was never taught to us. Without it, we could not have changed form so quickly.” Lykos narrowed his eyes and fell into a deep thought. Aύok looked at his twin brother and shook his head walking away to stretch his legs. His muscles felt weak and odd. They were in the wolf form for the night and it always felt odd coming back to their body.

It’s just wrong. He glanced back to his brother as he walked. Why do I follow your lead, even though my heart says its wrong? Which of us will succeed father? I have no wish to rule over the kingdom, but will Lykos’ strong will to be more become too much for the people of little change? It was an errand thought, but one that always came when his brother showed signs of his quest for power. The next full moon was in a month and they only started to gain slight control of their will while in the wolf state. Lykos wanted more, and although he didn’t tell him, Aύok also wanted more, the blood magic was intoxicating and the desire to perfect the form was undeniable. As much as he tried pushing it to the side, he was similar in mind to Lykos. Both wanted the strength and instances of the wolf, but the intelligence of the elves. He knew he was not evil, but his desires were a dark seed that he nourished every night with Lykos. The blood magic was dangerous, it was all consuming and if the High Druid knew they filled themselves with it every night, they would be exiled. Essence magic was the way of the druid elves, making peaceful bonds with the land and animals around them, keeping order and peace. Blood magic allowed them to accomplish their goal, without it they would have never taken the wolf form in such a short time.

Aύok lost in his meditation of memories tried stilling his mind. His breath came easier and his essence flowed from his body into the roots of the great red oak, trying to ground his mind to peace. Another small flare from the blood magic snapped the flow of his essence and the red oak cut him off from its ancient roots, plunging Aύok back into a fitful meditation.

“Tonight, is the night! I know it. These runes are perfect.” Lykos stood up looking at the large circle they finished making. Large river rocks with runes carved into them lined the circle, evenly spaced.

“You have said this every time Lykos.” Aύok stood as well and stretched his lower back from the hours of work. When his hands fell to his side his left hand was met with soft hair.

“I hope you are not too bored by this.” Aύok said to a large white wolf at his side. His companion grumbled back in his mind.

“Of course not, I have been asleep.” Aύok laughed and shook his head. Lykos stood across the circle to him where a large black wolf from the mountain caverns stood at his side.

“Yes, it will work.” Lykos said to all of them. “We have kept a strong essence bond over the past few years with our companions, now it is as easy as breathing, even while we sleep.” Aύok looked over to his white wolf and smiled. Their bond was strong, but the blood magic tainted their essence. They linked with their beasts but still they dominated their minds and made them slaves. The wolf’s love for them was false, but their companions were unaware. A sire bond was created between master and wolf, forcing it to do anything it was asked, without question, even if it endangered its own life. Aύok knew it was wrong, but still, he did nothing to stop their path. He looked over to Lykos who was walking around the circle, inspecting every rune to make sure it was perfect.

“I don’t feel like you are my master, I feel like you are kin.” A voice said in his head. The elegance of it turned his attention to his white wolf. And he thought his words back to him.

“But what I did to your mind was wrong, it goes against nature itself.”

“I feel no different, no wrongness or ill feelings toward you. We are kin, we have a bond.”

“Sadly, I created a sire bond through blood magic. I didn’t know how I did it, but I did. It was a warning from the high druid if we dabbled too much. We would bend creatures to our will. What if I become a monster and bend all the white wolves to my will as I did with you?” The white wolf tilted his head slightly considering the question.

“A pack is stronger than a lone wolf. Why not have the pack join us. With you as our alpha we could have a large expanse of land for you to rule over and hunt. For generations our pack will live, no longer fighting other packs for small sections of land.”

“You honestly feel nothing? No remorse at all for how I made your will mine?”

“I do not.” Aύok thought for a moment and then slowly lessened the essence, the link he held to the wolf. He looked at his companion, and readied himself for his judgment. He would stand still and take the sharp fangs to his throat without resistance. He knew what he did was wrong and would accept his fate. He closed his eyes and waited for the pain.

“What are you doing?” The voice said in his head. Aύok opened his eyes and saw his companion sitting, judging him.

“You are released from the bond, you can do as you wish, even if that means my death.”

“You are still kin. Our souls intertwined. I am apart of you as you are of me. We are one.”

“Do you feel the same though? No change?” The white wolf thought about it for a moment. After standing up and walking around in a circle he sat back down.

“I can do as I please without wanting to ask your permission. I feel less then I was before though, my strength is, less, my thoughts muted. I prefer to feel the link. My senses were heightened and I was more in tune with the land under my paws. I would like you to link us again, I do not like this feeling.” Aύok sighed and sent his essence out, the unseen wave washed over the wolf and instantly Aύok felt him, sensing his will and they relinked in a moment. It felt right for them to be linked. Perhaps Lykos was right, the High Druid was not telling the full details about linking with beasts.

“It is time brother! The moon rises. And what a moon it is! Look!” Lykos pointed up and a large full moon appeared but it was red.

“Blood Moon? Lykos, did you plan this?”

“I didn’t know, but it looks like the gods certainly want to help us succeed this night.”

Lykos and Aύok finished their preparations and stood in the large circle their wolves at their sides.

The blood moon reached its apex. Lykos and Aύok began their chant, the wolves at their side joining mentally in unison with their master. As the four chanted the ancient words, the runes filled with the light of the moon. Their eyes went wide. In place of the pale blue runes, a bright blood red pulsed with each word. The rocks filled with essence and the ring pulsed green in time with the red runes. The blood magic and essence flowed into the wolves and through the bond into Lykos and Aύok. Their chants continued as the magic flowed and Aύok began to feel the power building inside him. He dared not let his thoughts wander in fear of disrupting the ritual. His bones began to lengthen, his muscles thickening. He felt taller, much taller than he was. He looked down at his hands as the words poured out. They grew as well, at least twice the size they were before. His nails began to grow and sharpen, his knuckles and hands growing white hair and covering his skin. After his hands were consumed in white, the pain began. He felt his now longer legs begin to buckle and snap. He looked down and his feet doubled in size also covering in white hair. As the pain shot through his legs, they felt similar to that of the form of the hind legs of the wolf, he had become so use to feeling, but stopped before making him lean forward and be on four legs. His hands never became paws, nor his feet. He kept his chant flowing and felt his back and neck muscles pulse with pain as they thickened. Next came the pain which started as dull throbbing along the bridge of nose. His eyes began to burn and tears flowed from them without control. His jaw popped and cracked and the pain he thought he was use to increased as his nose and chin formed the muzzle. He even felt the pain of his teeth growing, which he thought impossible. After long, horrific minutes, his bones stopped growing and cracking, the last feeling he had was his already pointed ears growing and his hearing, which was already beyond most humanoids was assaulted by the sounds of the forest. He opened his eyes at last as the tears faded and his vision was beyond the simple night vision of the wolf. The forest took on a beautiful array of colors as they reflected the blood moon. As his mind raced it hit him.

These were his thoughts. Not that of a wolf. He thought of a child hood memory and it was there in a moment. He searched other thoughts and they came and went quickly. He smiled, and it felt odd as his mouth opened wider instead of the feeling of his cheeks raising up. He looked down at himself and the ground looked much farther away than normal. He took a step forward and it felt odd in this new large body. After a few moments he turned around to see a large black form that mirrored his size and look.

“Lykos? Are you?” The wolf turned around and his blazing yellow eyes burrowed deep into Aύok’s.

“I feel so much strength. We have succeeded brother! We have kept our minds and now we have the strength we have always wanted.” Lykos looked Aύok over and then matched it to himself. “We are the same, but our fur mimics that of our bonded wolf.” With that they looked to their wolves. They laid on the ground, their bodies emaciated and hair thinned. Their breaths came so subtle that they appeared dead, but with their new sight and hearing they heard the last few beats before they stopped completely. Aύok knelt down and rested his furred hand on his companion’s side.

“May your soul rest now free of its mortal cage.” Lykos knelt and repeated the saying. They rose quietly and mourned the loss of their kin. They felt the death as if it was a part of them. Together and without control or reason looked to the moon and released a long mournful howl that echoed throughout the forest. They felt their essence flow with it as it pulsed. Their howl increased in ferocity and they felt the build up from their chest with one last note, it was released and it flowed with the last note into the dark. The forest went silent and the brothers breathed heavy from the release of unexpected magic and long howl. They both felt the forest in a way they never have before, they felt its life and death of the creatures in it.

“Shall we test this new form brother?” Lykos asked Aύok after they caught their breath at last.

“Let’s have some fun.” They laughed and began running on their new legs. Although they moved fast it felt almost awkward beyond a jog. Aύok went to all fours after a long push off from his hind legs and the feeling of being a wolf on all fours took over. His speed was faster than he could imagine, his muscled fingers gripped into the dirt and he pulled himself as if climbing a mountain as his hind legs pushed off. He went soaring through the air as if flying for a few hundred feet and when he hit the ground his hands and legs didn’t miss a step. He was more graceful then ever before as he made quick stops and change of direction. His agility was beyond what was thought possible. When he halted, he stood back up on his two legs and Lykos stopped at his side. Their breath came easy even though they just ran for countless miles in a short amount of time.

“So now we can fly.” Lykos laughed flexing his muscled hand and arms.

“More like a really long jump, but yes, it certainly does feel like flying.”

“It’s incredible, I wonder what other mysteries this new body holds?” As they were about to continue thousands of howls echoed from miles behind them. They looked at each other in confusion. Although it wasn’t a word of language, they knew what was said by the thousands of howls in unison.

Alpha

Large wolf forms nearly equal in size to Aύok and Lykos began to appear from the forest. They stopped and formed two groups. All the gray hair lycan stood and then knelt in front of Aύok while the brown hair Lycan mirrored in front of Lykos. Thousands came from the darkness and knelt. Lykos and Aύok felt the lycan flowing in and they knew when the last one knelt before them. They searched the thousands before them, their essence flowing easily from them and their link attached effortless to the kneeling creatures. As one, Lykos sent his link to a gray lycan and Auok to a brown, but their link was shut off followed by a growl from the target.

“Fascinating… But why can’t we link with them?” Lykos looked to Aύok’s bright white fur and then down to his sharp black.

“We linked with alphas of the two separate wolf packs. You always favored the red oak packs, and I the cave dwellers. They are essentially enemies when they meet and fight for their territory. I wonder…”

“But our companions never fought, they never even showed any ill will towards each other. Why now?” Lykos looked back in the direction of where he knew his companion still laid dead.

“We became their kin. Perhaps our souls became one.” Lykos looked back to his brother then down at his black hair cover hands. “We have taken on their traits and now they are no more.”

“What does that mean for us though?” Aύok moved his gaze back to the thousands before him, his essence flowing freely over the gray Lycans. Each link he felt the same bond as his companion. They felt as one, using a single thought he made one rise and then kneel.

“The sire bonds.” Aύok said to himself, but Lykos’ sharp hearing caught it.

“Is that what you think we have done? Who are all these Lycan? Were they wolves of the land changed?” Lykos looked over to his brother. Aύok tried something else, through his essence link he dove deeper into one of his linked followers. In a moment, memories flooded his mind, but they were not his.

“Our people.” Aύok said lowering his head. “We have enslaved our own people to us.”

“But why are they separated?” Lykos sent the question mentally to one of his followers and the answer came quickly in his mind in the follower’s voice.

I believed you to be the next kingdoms ruler after your father died. Lykos looked from his followers to Aύok.

“Our people were split by who they thought should succeed father so it would seem.” Aύok nodded and looked back to his brother.

“I did not wish the throne.”

“Nor did I brother. I wished for the freedom of the forest, not the walls of a city.” Lykos sighed and the weight of what they did settled onto their shoulders.

“We have both accomplished becoming a king when we did not want it Aύok. Let us hope we are good rulers of our people.”

“We can only hope Lykos, we can only hope.”

Aύok’s breath calmed again as his memories flooded his mind. He knew this was necessary to fight the wolf inside him. It was a constant mental battle he had to keep his control over his mind. He relived his past constantly, sometimes of his free will and sometimes not. Today he attempted to calm his mind to gain control, but his memories flashed by, dragging him back into his past as the wolf tried to seek a foothold in his mind.

“This is the third time our people have shed blood. This can not continue.” Aύok said to his brother.

“They battle for us even though it is not ordered. They claim only one alpha is possible, not two.”

“I fear we must separate brother if this continues.”

“The issue rises while in the Lycan form. When the moon calls for the wolf, they listen and forsake their elven ways.” Lykos said looking to the setting sun. Aύok followed his gaze and felt the night and the rise of the moon.

“Let us try to keep them all in their elven form this night. Every moon that passes causes them to become more beast. I fear if we continue on our current path our great success will be no more.” Lykos nodded in agreement. He looked back to Aύok who kept his height and physique after the initial transformation. His long hair was now more silver than white while Lykos’ adopted a darker black. They still looked like twin brothers, their only difference being their hair color.

“Agreed.”

As night fell their commands were given. They could have linked them all to make sure the command was fulfilled, but they wished to test their people’s minds to see how weak they have become. The moon rose and Aύok felt the pull of the moon pushing the need to turn away. It was easier than expected and he had more control over the blood magic than he originally thought. As the clouds parted the full moon shone and its light bathed him with power. His muscled rippled expecting the transformation but Aύok stood still looking at the moon with a smile. He bathed in the moon’s light like he would as if it was the sun’s rays. It felt warm on his skin and filled his body with joy. He was in complete control and only hoped his brother and his elven kin could say the same. The moon came and went throughout the night and each time the impulsive desire to turn lessened to a small itch that he could ignore. When the sun rose at last and the moon disappeared and with it the excess power and strength the moon provided. He still felt his own power beyond anything in the land besides his brother could match, but the moon made that power feel like a waterfall of power compared to small cascade of power that flowed now. He sent his essence out and it quickly sought out all of his followers. In a blink it reached over the miles and connected to all of them. A quick assessment he felt two weakened pieces to what made him whole. With another mental thought his essence linked to Lykos.

How fare your people brother? At first there was no response to the mental message. He felt his brothers will like a deep flowing ocean; never once did he attempt to touch the raging swirl of hurricane like waves he could feel. They both knew they were a match of wills and have attempted mental battles and by doing so strengthened their defense to the point where neither could outmatch the other. After only a few seconds his response came.

I have two weakened links, what of yours?

The same.

Their mental link stayed connected out of habit and they followed the weak pulses until they found the four lycans bleeding and close to death. Sensing the anger of the two he closed off his link to the rest of his followers hoping it would not flow to them. As they assessed the situation together their hordes arrived on either side of the injured lycan bleeding out. They kept their elven form through the night, all but four. Shouts started, threatening what use to be brothers and sisters. The noise became a roar as the two hordes stepped closer, fists raised, anger surging at the sight of their bloody kin. Lykos and Aύok stood watching the turmoil before them.

“What do we do Lykos if our own people wish to kill each other?”

“We have grown greatly in essence. We could hold the links like we did on our companions those years ago. It would be like breathing again with practice.”

“And of the hundreds of humans that our people feasted on during the full moons turning them into pure beasts? What of those mindless creatures?”

“They listen to us more willing than our own people.”

“But their mind is nothing but hunger, death and rage. They even keep the lycan form in the daylight.”

“You speak of things I already know Aύok, we have taken each step together, each obstacle we have conquered with each other to lean on. This is just another obstacle we must overcome is all.” Aύok looked over to his elven kin still shouting and cursing. The mindless lycan began appearing, each taking the side of their horde, their growls rumbling with the curses. The valley was filled with thousands of elves and mindless Lycan on the verge of battle as Lykos and Aύok watched, debating their next step. With a quick mental thought Aύok searched his follower’s minds to the ones who made the mindless creatures. It was a slow process, searching each mind, when he connected to them, he felt the lines flowing from them to the mindless creatures. He imagined seeing the roots of a tree that worked itself up to him. He didn’t have to control them all, just the ones that controlled them with another thought the command went to the elven druid and the thought passed to the mindless lycan which immediately stopped their growling and ease back. What seemed like a long, slow mental process in Aύok’s mind happened in only mere seconds. After realizing what he did he sent his mental image and thoughts to Lykos. Never having to explain a single detail, Aύok’s exact process filled Lykos and his knowledge of everything Aύok did became Lykos’ in a blink of an eye.

“Simple genius brother.” Lykos said as the mindless lycan on his side backed down.

“We can just do that for all our kin.”

“Yes, but the mental control will be taxing.” As the links to their people lowered the mindless creatures stayed back, still heeding the command. The elven kin were getting closer to each other and their threats more deadly. As the first fist was thrown, the two hordes collided into a hand-to-hand fist fight with kicks and more threats. Aύok watched, his anger soaring. His people were peaceful, one with nature, they did not fight each other, they were above the human way of life fighting over little indiscretions such as four wounded. He could feel Lykos trying to calm his people mentally, but it seemed to have a little effect on the blood thirsty druids. Aύok felt the buildup in him as his anger continued to rise. Aύok stepped forward and shouted, but it came out as a powerful howl. By the end of the shout all eyes turned to him and his followers dropped to one knee in response, even the mindless lycan dropped low, lying flat on the ground, their ears back in submission. Aύok’s eyes darted from his followers to his enemy, his rival pack that wants his land, to kill his kin.

“Aύok, it is not true. I want no such thing.” Aύok turned from the thousands and his bright yellow eyes took in Lykos. He could see the lines of power flowing from Lykos to his clan. If he killed him, his horde will be leaderless, his pack in shambles. They could overrun them, kill them and take their land.

“Aύok, don’t listen to it, it’s not your thoughts.” Aύok’s lips curled and he let out a growl that his thousands echoed. He felt his pack getting ready for battle. With a simple thought command that was not his own his druid kin began to transform. All in their Lycan form Lykos Stepped back his hands up pleading to Aύok, his words fell on his ears incoherently. Lykos and his horde all stepped back in unison as Aύok’s stepped forward.

Aύok! I’m sorry. The voice which sounded so familiar, but he couldn’t place rattled around in his head before a sharp pain surged through his mind. Aύok fell to his knees and so did the rest of his horde. Aύok’s mind took hold and he raised his mental barrier to prevent whatever was attacking him.

I’m sorry brother, but I had to. The blood magic took root, you were lost to the wolf. Lykos’ mental voice sounded against his barrier.

You were right to, thank you.

How did you transform while the sun was out? Lykos’ next thought came after a minute of Aύok collecting his mind.

“I do not know exactly; I’ll show you though. Raise your mental barrier, perhaps with that, you will not lose control. That may have been the mistake that could have ended us all.” Lykos frowned then looked up to Aύok and nodded. The memory rushed through Lykos from the start of the feelings. Within a moment Lykos used the new knowledge and transformed himself. After a moment his eyes narrowed at Aύok. He saw hate and ager surge through Lykos’ canine features. With a deep breath, Aύok continued to fortify his mental barrier to prevent the wolf from overtaking him. He sent the thought of his new mental fortress to Lykos and almost instantly he calmed.

“Even preparing myself for it was difficult.” They looked out to their hordes who were still ready to spill blood. Releasing his anger and everything that connected his link of his wolf side, Aύok’s bones snapped and his hair receded until he was back in his larger elven form. Lykos followed his lead and their minds were under their control again.

“I fear Aύok, we have met an obstacle that even we will not conquer without much time. Time, I do not think we will have to keep our people alive.” Lykos said looking sadly over his Lycan which were going back to their elven bodies.

“Perhaps in time we will come together as one people again. Until then brother, we should keep our hordes from gathering.” With tears in their eyes, they clasped hands and embraced for the last time they knew for years to come. Lykos looked off to the west to the deep caves.

“I’ll head to lands of my passion, let us hope our link can stay connected over the hundreds of miles. If it breaks on my journey, let us try every full moon. I will miss you dearly brother if we cannot speak.” Aύok smiled weakly at Lykos when they separated.

“Our links will grow and we will connect if we can’t already. Stay safe brother, we will see each other again.” Lykos stepped back and with one last thought, his horde turned to the west and walked out of sight into the thick forest.

His mind finally calm, his memories flowed away, that last memory still after all these centuries reliving them brought a tear to his eye. His mental barrier continued to grow as the power of the wolf inside him grew. He feared one day he would lose and the wolf would take over. Each calming breath laid another mental brick to his wall. His mind split in two, as he thickened his barrier he thought of his people and their new life in the human city. He would be careful and take only those who he knew were in control. It was only roughly three hundred of his original clan, but it would be enough. He sent a mental message to his brother of his plan. He felt the link, but the distance weakened the mental message and their conversations were often incomplete and missing key wording. Hearing his brother’s voice in his mind was comforting even if it was difficult decoding the incomplete sentences. He repeated his sentence often hoping the simple phrase would make it and over time Lykos would understand what it meant.

I’m going to live in the human city, join me. He sent the thought for the third time today. It traversed the hundreds of miles and sometimes a response never came. As he sat in his calm meditated state walling the wolf away a voice interrupted him.

“The bulls have massed. They set up camp in front of the neutral territory and have spread out as if preparing for a full attack. Scouts race along the forts and mountain wall. It will be difficult to sneak a force through the way you have gone.” Aύok looked up to one of his commanders and nodded.

“We will succeed. We have to.”