A Werewolf's Sacrifice

Episode 3

“According to our elders,” My mother began, the light from the one candle in my room making odd shadows on the wall and across her beautiful, rich auburn hair and tanned face. Her skin always glowed after being in the sunlight while mine could never lose its translucence- a gift from the milkman just like my lighter colored hair as my mother liked to joke.

 “When our people first arrived in this land, they believed they were cursed by the gods. After only one good season on these shores, they were suddenly attacked and ravaged by wolves masquerading as men.” Her throaty voice was perfect for storytelling and I loved hearing about our history from her. Sagas like this had been passed from parent to child for centuries.

“A brave elder named Athel, who was well-known for his deep spiritualism, went into the wilderness for three days and three nights with no protection. The king ordered that no one was to follow him on pain of death. When he returned, he claimed that the gods had spoken to him and told him of a way to solve their problems with the werewolves.”

“How?!” I gasped, pulled into the story.

 My mother patted my hand gently to calm me. “To appease the gods and the wolf-men, our people were to gather all the young maidens who were of marriageable age together in preparation for a sacred ritual. They were to prepare as if for their wedding day, but instead of handsome young grooms waiting for them, one unlucky girl was to be sacrificed to the leader of the pack.”

I cried out, “That’s unfair, Mom! How could they do that?”

“Hush, Odelle, let me finish the story.” She chuckled at my spirited question. “They were to sing a ritual song whose words have now been forgotten except by the very oldest of our elders and a few of our warriors. But the song basically called out to the leader of the werewolves, letting him know his human bride was ready for him to take so long as he and other creatures like him left our people alone for good.”

I swallowed in fear for those poor young girls who I imagined were not far from my own age.

“It is said, that the very first time our people performed this ritual, the king’s own youngest and most precious daughter was chosen by the wolf. According to the legends, he was a massive beast standing as tall as a horse with long claws meant for rending flesh and large teeth that could pierce a warrior’s heart through armor with ease.”

I couldn’t help the tremor that raced over my body. But I wasn’t wholly afraid- hearing about this creature excited and intrigued me, too.

“What happened next?” I asked after she paused.

She shook her head. “No one really knows what happened to the princess after she was taken away by the werewolf. Some of our stories say that she lived happily with the wolves until her death. Others claim that her lover, who was a renowned warrior, was heartbroken over her loss, and so he searched the wilderness for the pack for many long years. And after finding out where they lived and seeing her broken body being fed upon by young wolves, he destroyed every last one of the creatures in a blind rage.” She hesitated briefly. “If you believe the stories, your young friend Varick Wulfjager is descended from that warrior.”

“No way!” I exclaimed, laughing a little. “Have you seen how lanky he is!”

“Just look at his father. Varick will grow up one day.” She stated simply and shrugged. I thought of Varick’s father- one of the leaders of our warriors. He was a giant among men and as broad as a house. To be honest, he intimidated me, especially with his piercing amber eyes that could see right through any fib Varick or I might tell.

“But to finish the story: There are many versions of the ending, but one thing they all have in common is that the next alpha and the next and the next had to be appeased over the years in just the same way, as the sacrifice was nulled with the death of each leader.”

As she finished the story, a sharp breeze through the open window snuffed out the flame of our lone candle and I screeched in fear…

I was pulled from my memory as a wolf howled in the distance and a dark cloud shrouded the moon and snuffed out her brilliant light, much as the breeze had extinguished that flame so long ago. My heart raced and I suddenly felt like I was being watched.

I quickened my step until I was racing back the short distance to my home as if I was a wolf’s bride who had escaped, and a pack of real werewolves were at my heels ready to tear me apart.

As I gasped for air in our doorway, I felt a sudden rush of shame for what I had said to Varick about his goals to become a great warrior, especially with my mother’s story in the forefront of my mind.