Bound by the Moon

The closer I stepped to the border, the louder my heartbeat roared in my ears. Goodness, Elena. What are you doing? The silver gates glinted wickedly in the moonlight and the sharp spikes that lined its top did nothing to help the matter. I gulped loudly, a shiver running down my spine as the chilly breeze whipped past me. The knots in my stomach clenched tighter with every step I took. I have to do this. This is what it means to be a freedom fighter— being the one to extend an olive branch even when everyone else considers it a lost cause. I took a deep breath before I pushed forward, thoughts of retreat abandoned in the wet soil behind me. The night was cold and dark, making the border gates look more daunting than I had imagined. While it wasn’t my first time visiting the vicious symbol, I didn’t make it a habit to be around some of the totem poles that represented everything I despised about our society— fear and segregation. Those were the emotions the silver gates were erected to incite. Originally, the small town of Vale hadn’t been so oppressive. Cut off from the outside world by its independent system of governance, the small town surrounded by evergreens simply represented the private territory of nature lovers – the foresters and their town dwellers. The two protected the endangered creatures of nature and ensured money-minded business people from the outside world didn’t step foot onto the only land untouched by human greed. They hadn’t even known the Lycanthrope coexisted with them, since they had blended in so easily with the rest of us. However, one night 30 years ago, everything changed. It had started simple enough— with the curiosity of two scientists who trespassed into the woods without permission to study wildlife and climate change. They never returned and when the human government did a private investigation, they chanced upon the millennium-old secret that changed our society from inside out. Peace turned to unrest, and humanity pointed their fingers at the very people they had once believed to be no different from themselves. The protests of the Lycans fell on deaf ears and suddenly, there was only one truth. Lycanthropes were predatory beasts and humanity had let their guard down by believing they were human just like them. Like wolves in sheep’s clothing, we had been deceived into thinking they were one of us. And so, the segregation and discrimination began, resulting into the current situation. For nearly a decade, the government combed through every district and town, searching for the savage Lycans living among innocent civilians. They infused the waters with wolfsbane, flushing out the Lycans as they slowly grew weaker and eventually transformed into their wolfish states. Once a Lycan was discovered to be among humans, they were executed on the spot. As the hunting spun on, the Lycans slowly retreated to their original territory, the wild, avoiding encounters with humanity as much as possible. Empowered by their victory, the human government erected the silver gates that now marked the boundary between the wolves and humans. Crossing the border became a crime punishable by death upon sight. It was cruel. The menacing silver stood proudly with authority, a hundred-foot-tall warning to any Lycans who dared to cross it. Humanity has never been more inhumane. I thought as I approached the gate at an inconspicuous region and ducked under the metal wire to the other side. But…if I can just get one Lycan to be my representative, I can make some real changes around here. The peaceful Lycan protest I had been planning for months was missing one crucial element— an actual Lycan. I had yet to find a werewolf crazy enough to publicly stand against the cruel treatment by the government, much more a protest run by a twenty-five-year-old woman. Luckily, one of my co-workers hinted at me to visit the border. With the onset of curfew, I would certainly find a Lycan hanging around here somewhere. Or so, I hoped. My heart dipped to the pit of my stomach as I glanced around the field—not one Lycan in sight. Was my trip here just a complete waste? Another bout of breeze blew around me, bringing with it an eeriness that chilled me to my core. No. I can’t give up now. Both the protest and the future of Lycan rights are banking on me finding a representative to be the face of the organization. Besides, no one will take a Lycan protest seriously without any actual Lycans present. I ran my hand through my curls, anger and frustration bubbling underneath my skin. I'll just scan the area one more time, then I’ll go home. My boot-cladded feet dug into the dirt as I moved closer to the clove of trees at the east side of the gate. The trees were gigantic, their structure and branches indicating how ancient they were. They must have been planted here ages ago. I deliberated before I reached out and felt the rough texture of the old bark. The wood left behind a reddish brown stain on my palm and I huffed as I tried to wipe it away. It came off easily, the sticky liquid staining my other hand in return. I brought my fingers to my nose, sniffing them slightly. I stilled the minute the metallic copper scent hit my nose. Is that… blood? A twig snapped behind me and I whirled around, my heart lurching at the sudden motion. “Hello?” I called out weakly, shuddering as a shiver went up my spine. “Is anyone there?” The silence hung in the air like a thick cloak of smoke, suffocating me with tension. Okay Elena. Maybe it's time to go back to your car… My thoughts trailed off as I spotted a large figure in the shadows. I froze dead on my feet, my eyes widening as the large man came into view. His eyes were the color of burning amber, bright and sharp like a molten gemstone. His face looked… wolfish, his lips curled into a snarl as he approached me. The man stumbled, falling flat on his front as his face twisted into a grimace. He groaned, his hand twisting behind his back and cracking with a painful snap. Is he… is he transforming? My eyes snapped to the sky, and for the first time that evening, I spotted the full moon. What the f**k Elena? I ran my hands through my hair roughly. How the hell did I forget to check the luna cycle? The man groaned again, his voice muffled in the forest floor as he popped his arm back into place. “H—Hello? Are you okay?” I inched closer, sympathy filling my heart as I watched as he stumbled to his feet. “Do you need help? Is there someone I can call?” The man didn’t respond, his eyes focusing on mine as he began walking towards me once more. The moonlight hit his bare chest, my eyes wandered to his arms. His forearms were extremely hairy, and in place of fingers, there were thick claws. I screamed the second I spotted them, my noises muffled by the man’s paw clasping over my mouth while the other hand was carefully wrapped around the back of my neck. “There are hunters scanning the area. Do not scream.” His voice was gruff and deep, his lips parted roughly to display his sharp fangs. Golden eyes scanned our surroundings, and his ears twitched at every sound emitted in the woods. “Now tell me…” His nostrils flared as he regarded me. “What is a frail human like you doing around these parts?”