The Lycanwolf

Jane

Jane Anna Esvolt woke with a start in her dorm room, and realized she was late. She was so late that she would be unable to use one of the many kata that she usually practiced in the morning. She rushed into the shower, not bothering for the water to heat as she normally would. She had less than an hour to get to the ceremony being held exclusively for her.

She jumped out after scrubbing herself, and looked herself over on the mirror. Her 5'10" frame was solid packed muscle, from her training as soon as she could walk. Her shoulder length Auburn hair fell from her head as she ran her brush through it, and tied it into a high ponytail.

She grabbed her bag and ran for her Mentors office. Because of who and what she was, she would not be able to complete the semester, even though her work had been completed for several weeks now. She had been granted special commendation to proceed with her graduation ceremony, even though it would be small. Her professors and only friend would be joining her, and watch as she was given this special honor. It had been planned to hold a grand ceremony once her Isolation was completed in Accordance with the Treatise.

For three years she would have to continue her studies from her home in the Dragonian Pack Lands of Eastern Washington. The three years of what was referred to as the torment, where the pain of the Lycan Curse would drive her mad before crashing her back to her senses, if she survived. Few ever succumbed to the pain and torture of the Change, but because of the dangers it presented to the Humans they had to remain isolated.

It was the duty of each Pack to ensure their members did not escape during this time, as Humans would hunt them down and execute them without mercy. It had been this way since the dawn of the Treatise, and it kept the peace between Humans and Wolves.

She rushed into the office, her best friend Ashley smiling as she entered. They had spent the last 3 years as room mates and friends, even though they had very different courses. Ashley was studying to become a military master, and Jane had already completed those courses, as the lone heir of the Alpha title to her pack.

Jane had studied the Ancient History of both Humans and Wolves, and as such was getting her Masters Degree in Linguistics and Anthropology. She knew as much about the Ancient History of Wolves and Humans as most of the great Scholars, and more than a good number of the supposed Experts in her field.

Ashley ran up and hugged her, the usual spark erupting between them that made them both giggle. Jane knew what it was, but had been suppressing it as she held her duties to her pack as more important than her personal desires. She was in no way a lesbian, but she knew what the spark usually meant, and was hoping it was a mistake on her part.

"Glad you could join us Ms. Esvolt." Professor Gerard said as he turned and saw her. "Time is short as it is, as your train departs in a matter of hours."

"Yes Professor, It does. And I hate that I must spend the next three years separate from everyone as I go through the transition." Jane replied as she pulled out her robes and slid them over her head.

Ashley helped her with her cords and regalia that she had earned in her studies, and within minutes they were ready to begin.

At the sound of the clock chime, the ceremony began with Dean Trantilly standing at the small podium they had set up in this conference room.

"Welcome friends and Professors of Ms. Esvolt, to this special commencement ceremony. Normally this is not done, for the school has many traditions where graduation is concerned. However with a special person, comes special Circumstances that must be observed.

"We gather to honor the accomplishments of this amazing young woman, the first to earn a Masters degree in 3 years time. So it is fitting that we celebrate her temporary departure from our lives, and hope for the time she may rejoin us.

"However long it may be, we will always welcome this amazing woman into our midst and hearts. May she always know she has many friends amongst the Humans that she may call on if the need ever arises. We hope that she will continue her studies among the Wolves, and return to us with knowledge we can share.

"Ms. Jane Anna Esvolt, please rise and approach the podium." Dean Trantilly said.

Jane stood and walked the short distance to the podium, standing next to the Dean of Historical Teachings.

"Ms. Esvolt, it is with great honor and pride that I present you this diploma on behalf of Harvard, and the Professors present. You have passed every requirement of your degree with amazing clarity, and proven many of your professors teachings success." he said as he handed her the scroll with his left hand to hers, and shook her right hand as she accepted it. "You may turn your tassel now." he said as her professors and lone friend stood and clapped.

They came one by one and congratulated her, shaking her hand and ensuring she knew she had friends. It was her Anthropology Professor Archibald Gerhardt that was last in line, and held a book for her that was his gift and enticement to get her to rejoin them after her Change.

"Congratulations my dear, it is well earned." he told her as he shook her hand.

"Thank you Professor." she said as he led her to the table with snacks that had been prepared.

"I just wish you didn't have to leave us this way, there is still much we need to discover and learn. We are just now scratching away the mystery of what was before the Treatise was signed and changed our history forever." Gerhardt said as he picked up a few snacks.

Jane had piled her plate high with different things, her appetite growing by the minute as her 19th birthday approached quickly.

"Unfortunately I agree with you professor, I hate that for three years I have to hide away and not be able to accompany you on this dig that you have set up." Jane said as everyone listened.

"Ahh, that reminds me, this book is for you." he said handing it to her as they sat at a table where everyone was. "You may not be able to join us yet, but this book should wet your appetite to join us as soon as you can."

She looked at it briefly before she began eating, enjoying the conversation for the last time in person with most of the people here. She knew that most Wolves didn't return to the Human world after their change, even though there was no law against it.

A Wolf could even turn a Human, so long as the Human was willing. For whatever reason, the gods allowed Wolves to form the Mate Bond with Humans, and they had accepted that it was no crime if the Human was willing.

"So Jane, what can you tell us of your plans?" Ashley asked her curious. She had always wanted to be a Wolf, but dared not even voice desire with her position.

"I will return home and go through the changing ceremony as soon as the Full moon rises on my Birthday." she said between bites.

"Wait, your birthday is the day of the Full moon this year?" Professor Gerhardt asked.

"Yes, it was the same the day of my birth." she told them.

"That makes sense with the Metonic cycle being what it is. I wonder..." Dean Trantilly said as he trailed off thinking.

"Anyway, it is not common for the moon to be Full on the day is it?" Ashley asked.

"3 occurrences we know of." Dean Trantilly answered. "William de Corvanaty was one of them, as well as Emma and Dartanion." he said revealing just how much he knew of Wolf lore.

"You are speaking of the first three known Werewolves aren't you?" Jane asked not having learned the other names besides Williams.

"Indeed I am, William the first War Chief, and his two best friends." Steven Trantilly said as he sipped his wine.

They sat there talking for several hours, right up to the point that Jane had to rush back to her dorms for her bags and rush to the train. The only thing she kept from her bags was the book that Professor Gerhardt had given her.

She was on a train that her Pack had chartered to bring her directly to the pack, so she had the entire car to herself as it left Boston for Chicago. She didn't know about the stop, and she had crammed herself away in her compartment and slept for the first leg of the journey.

The lurch as the train pulled out of the station in Chicago woke her, and she figured it was just a stop for fuel.

She walked over to the desk, and took a look at the cover. The writing triggered a vision that she had never expected.

Suddenly she was running across the plains as she knew a battle raged on. She could feel the power as she ran on two legs, and knew she was in wolf form. As she approached a rise she could hear the battle rage, and Dartanion approached her.

"Sir, all battalions have engaged the Titans, and a few of them have been forced into the Maw of Tartarus. Atlas has finally arrived along with Kronus, and the Humans are flanking from the right and rear." Dartanion reported through the mind link as he could not speak as a Wolf.

Tantalus looked at him. "Alert Zeus and the others. The time for the final battle is upon us after all these years." he ordered as they began to run to where the Armies were engaged.

He got to the top of the hill, and saw the thousands of Humans casting powerful spells at the Titans, forcing more and more of them towards the pit of Tartarus. He watched as two were hit by powerful fireballs and fell into the Maw, never to rise again. Because the defenses hadn't been activated yet, they fell clear to the bottom of Tartarus.

He looked up as a crack of lightning presaged the arrival of Zeus, carrying the Scepter of Leadership that he had stolen from his father all those years ago. He also carried his Olympian Bolt, the sword that magnified his electrical power to untold heights. Most Olympians would be incinerated by a full powered blast, and even the Titans were not immune to the immense power he could wield with it.

"Zeus, we finally meet on the field of battle." Atlas boomed with his powerful voice just before he attacked.

Zeus was able to deflect the blow, and countered with his bolt, striking Atlas in the side and launching him several yards in a spin. "You shall find you are not as powerful as you believe Uncle. Let us-" he said as Atlas was abled to launch himself into Zeus' side sending him flying.

Tantalus finally made it to where Atlas was battling Zeus, and intercepted the attack that would have decapitated Zeus.

"You are mine alone Atlas, Zeus, go deal with our father." Tantalus said knowing Zeus was no match for Atlas alone.

"Ahh, the bastard has arrived. Just the one I wanted to battle." Atlas said as he launched an attack.

The both of them were evenly matched as their swords crashed into each other, neither of them able to get a distinct advantage over the other as sparks flew from each strike.

Jane came too in her study, the book still sitting there, the only difference now was she could actually read the ancient text. She flipped through several of the pages, and saw that it was a depiction of the battle she had just witnessed.

This disturbed her as she had never heard of this happening to anyone. She knew it was an omen to something, she just wasn't sure what it was.

She walked from her compartment and into the dining area, and was surprised to see that two others had joined her. She watched and realized that they were identical twins, and she could tell that they were werewolves close to the age of the change. She could also tell that this would not be the moon that they changed with.

"Evening, I wasn't aware that others had joined this journey." Jane said as she crossed to the bar and got a water to help ease herself.

"Greetings, we are pleased to meet you." they said in unison giving her the chills.

Twins were rare with werewolves, and identical twins as these two were almost unheard of.

"Ok, I have to let you know that is absolutely creepy." she said between gulps of water. "I wouldn't recommend doing that often, some Wolves will not be appreciative of it."

"Apologies, we are not used to what is happening." the one on the left said.

"It's okay, I understand Wolf twins as you two are are extremely rare. My name is Jane, what are yours?" she asked as she came around and took a seat.

"I am Jason Knight, and this is my brother Quinn." the one on the left said.

"And we are not completely Identical twins, there are a few differences." Quinn said. "We have different color eyes to begin with, and we'll, the other differences are even more subtle."

"For Wolf twins, you are close enough for identical. Can you already hear each other?" she asked knowing that identical twins usually could from birth.

They looked at each other before looking at her and nodding. "Since we were little. Sometimes it is hard to tell what our individual thoughts are." Jason said.

"It is also why we speak either together or alternating words." Quinn said. "It is difficult for us to not speak together, and takes considerable effort."

Jane nodded knowing, and she had lots of questions for the two of them. "I apologize if it seems I am intruding, however my Pack has never had identical twins before. All we know is secondhand from other Packs and sources." she told them.

"We are sure we will be able to answer any questions you may have." Quinn said.

"You will face lots of questions, but I will not be the one to ask most of them. What questions do you two have for someone that comes from the pack?" she asked them both.

"You mean you are part of the pack?" they asked in unison again.

"I grew up there yes, however I will only become a member with my changing and acceptance ceremony." she answered.