Travels of Half-Man

In the village of Daratu', a half-man, half-wolf, strolled along the cobble streets, and that made him stand out the most to the villagers, was his appearance. They gave him a wide berth as he walked straight, yet light on his feet.

Long elfin ears, and a blinding wave of silvery-white hair that trailed to the middle of his back; tied off with timber-bark found in the Picetta Region, forbidden to enter by those who live in Daratu'. Another thing about him was the tail. No one has ever seen any man with a tail. It hung straight down and was a good two feet long and a good four inches around. The tip was shrouded in the same color hair as his head.

He was a good-sized figure of both man and wolf. Well over seven foot, and looked to be close to three-hundred pounds. His body would tell you he had fought in many wars. Both his face and chest gave birth to the scars of his dead enemies.

As he continued to stroll around, his eyes would dart left and right, always aware of his surroundings, and when he sniffed about, he would catch scents of both foods prepared, and the fear and curiosity of who he is, from the villagers, wondering why he is here, and who has he come for.

The most shocking or surprising thing to this creature-man? His eyes.

His left, the color of bronze, the right, the color of gold. They would hold you in place as if hypnotized.

I, being a boy barely eleven, was filled with curiosity. I followed him, ducking between buildings or alleyways. I didn't want him knowing I was following.

But half-man, half-wolf? How could such a thing be? Stories were told that a wolf never shows himself in the light, just like we were told the vampires shun the light like a plague.

He was approaching the other end of the village, when he stopped, turned, and his head leaned slowly left, then right, and he again sniffed the air. Then, he crossed his huge arms around his chest.

"Boy! I say this but once; step from the shadows and come to me."

I was shocked, and nervous, but not scared. I did as he asked.

"Why are you following me, little one?"

I swallowed dry air, and it took me a moment before the words spewed from between my lips.

"I have never seen one such as you before."

"That is a poor reason, boy. However, I will tell you one thing, then you must go back the way you came. If you do not, I will be forced to kill you. Are we agreed?"

Again, my throat became dry and my yes, came out garbled, but he understood my response.

"As for me, I am the only one of my kind. I am Wolfendor. Half wolf, and the rest is my name, thus, half human. Two months before my birth, my mother was attacked by a rogue Lycan. Because of this, his spittle, mixed with my mother's blood, filled the stream of life to my mind, lungs and heart. Within my mother's womb, I changed.

As time elapsed, I learned to increase my strength, speed, reflexes, agility, dexterity, coordination, balance, durability, stamina, and my regenerative healing factor where wounds heal themselves faster than any human, or Lycan.

"Ever since I became old enough to venture out on my own, I swore death against Maltrya, who lives atop a high-mountain to the far west."

"Do you mean in the Syndora Province?"

"Yes. It is there I will find Maltrya, and remove him from this world, and will feast on his cold dead flesh, but not before I tear out his heart, and rip his head from his body. For it was him that caused my changes, and it was he, who caused my mother to die, bringing me to this world."

"But you have no weapon."

"I do not need a weapon. I have skills. I have speed. I have a human heart and brain that can out think and outwit Maltrya. My body, when transformed, will be three times my size and weight. I have found from over a thousand onslaughts I have faced; no one is faster, or more cunning than I.

"Now that you know, go back to your home, your family. I leave to end a life, and avenge a kind spirit."

He turned and walked away, each step spanning the distance of at least three feet, and he wore no shoes.

I stood there a few seconds, then turned around to return home; but thought one last look at a strange, yet interesting half-human, half-wolf, would be a memory forever imbedded in my mind.

My eyes strained, they squinted, yet I could see him nowhere. He disappeared.