1. Snowfall
The towers littered throughout the world keep the storm at bay but they do not offer warmth. They do not stop wars. They do not stop the Kelpie.
She wishes they did. Sometimes, she wishes a tower would break and lightning would strike her down. Being a spirit of water, lightning is her one weakness. Fire does not work anymore.
The winter’s chill began over ten centuries ago, back when humanity was both divided and united. Now, little communities remain as each group fights for territory, food, and peace. The Kelpie belongs with none.
But still…
“Stop treckin’, stranger.” A man at the very top of the watchtower aims his rifle at the creature. The fort she has chosen to approach used to be an old prison but now its been rebuilt into a large shelter. The spotlights all aim at the Kelpie, making her red hair stand out against the blue of her cloak and the white of the snow.
“You look like a woman yet the path you took has hoof prints, not boots.” He makes sure the gun is loaded and won’t jam from the cold, “Why are you here, Satyr?”
“Shelter. I’ve been walking for some time. If you have any injured, I would be glad to offer what I can.” She keeps her voice soft, as smooth and calm at all times if possible.
“Don’t look like your carrying much..” He can’t see underneath her cloak. A scream pierces the eerie quiet of the wilds. The man turns his head before turning back to the woman, “You knowledgeable ‘boutuh… werewolves? One of our own got bit by an infected wolf last night.”
“I’m surprised lycans are still around with the scarce food sources.”
“Just answer my question!”
“What will you do if I cannot help? The first stages of infection are extreme aggression and a decrease in critical thinking.”
“We’ll just kill ‘em.”
“I see.” The woman pauses for just a moment before approaching the iron door, “Let me inside. I will do what I can.”
“Fine. But we’ll put a bullet in your head if you try anything.”
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Inside, the fort looks much bigger. People threaten to take up every inch of available space. There are a few stalls open where vendors trade items for other things of equal value. Beyond the market area are the farms. A few feet of vegetables and grazing animals kept in relatively good condition thanks to the heat lamps and hay.
“Which goddess are you serving to keep your supplies in check?”
“A crone.” The man holds up his right hand, revealing his missing pinky and thumb.
“I’m impressed that you held the rifle as well as you did. Lead me to the lycan.”
“This way.” Passed the market and the farms is another large door leading inside the building. Mechanics try to keep the wires maintained while janitors keep the floors clean. The man glances back at their new guest, “Where you came, stranger?”
“West, from The Iron Spire.”
“That bloodbank? What a dump this place must look compared to that, huh.” He sighs as they head down some stairs, “Damn vampires and their technology.. Whats it look like on the inside of that city?”
“Tall black buildings mirroring the towers that keep the storm above the clouds. The vampires make their homes at the top of these towers while humans and other species live at the bottom floor. Bridges keep it all connected. At the very bottom of the towers is tar. I’m not sure what they use it for, if they use it at all.”
“Huh. At least we have color here.” He gestures to the cells ahead, “This part of the building was used as a prison, I guess. The doors still work so we keep our rowdy folk here. But now, we had to put Fion back here, too.”
“You said he was infected last night?”
“Yeah, he’s one of our hunters. Saw a pack of wolves two days back and hunting them went fine until one got Fion on the leg. Now..” They head down to the last cell. The man is huddled in the corner stripped of all clothing. Hair or fur covers all of him aside from the bottom of his feet.
Hurts! Help, it hurts!
The woman stares at the man behind the bars. He’s curled up in a ball, growling and whining more like a dog then human now. They hear the cracks of his limbs as his bones grow with every second that passes. Soon, his face will start to stretch outward, the gums in his mouth will recede to make his teeth grow larger, sharper. His human ears will move towards the top of his skull and shift into a wolf’s. It is nothing but pain and it will last for fourteen more days.
“Soon, these bars will not be able to stop him.” She looks over at the guide, “You have seven days to think of a better way to hold him, if that is your intention. After those seven days, his strength will grow well beyond a human’s and he will start eating people.”
“Can’t you cure him? You said you could do it!”
“I said I could help any way I could, I did not promise a cure, for there is none.”
I know you can hear me! I see you!
His bloodshot eyes look towards the dark stallion with a red mane. Pale gold eyes and forever soaked.
Help me before I turn completely! I don’t want to hurt anyone!
“I must speak with the crone.”