The Hunters Moon

I can feel myself losing control; a bloodlust that must be quenched years of taking the shape of the beats has now taken its toll on me. I feel myself slipping into madness. Thoughts I was once able to suppress come leaking out onto the surface. Thoughts of killing, tearing, and shredding. 

Dr.Vanheimer wiped the sweat from his brow and faced himself in the mirror. His features were no longer the youthful masculine man they had been; now, they seemed stretched, as though the mask he was wearing was beginning to lose its hold. 

He thought tonight would be my final hunt, lifting his head to look at his reflection. It was smiling insidiously back at him. 

“ Vanheimer come now…It doesn't have to be your last hunt. You could succumb to the monster you indeed are." 

"No, no, no, I'm a good man. I won't…I can't give in…" he struggled to speak.

"Come now, dear friend. The more you resist, the stronger I become," his shadow self said. 

"SHUT UP!" Dr.Vanheimer threw an old, weathered tome at the mirror. It shattered and broke into pieces. He saw the broken reflection of himself and different thoughts and Ideas battling for control of his mind and body.

There was a knock at his office door.

"We're not accepting any patients for the time being." Dr.Vanehimer recently closed his clinical practice in the south district, where he currently resides, due to his nature changing at an accelerated rate.

"It's Corvo, father."

"Oh uhh come in."

Corvo opened the door slowly. He was garbed in his hunter's attire: a dark black trench coat, silver blade, and pistol at his side. He was the spitting image of Vanheimer when he was younger. His boots were mud-covered; he'd been digging as his father had requested.

Vanheimer felt sadness. Is he ready for what is to come tonight?

Corvo, being the dutiful son he was, helped his father sweep the glass.

"It's happening, isn't it, father? "… Their eyes met, and his son's face showed a look of worry and concern.

"Yes…I fear after tonight, this will be the last time I can don the pelt of the beast…"

"Is there no other way to defeat the blood mage's father?" Corvo swept the glass in a small pan and disposed of it.

"If there was my boy, I wouldn't be turning into a wolf every full moon. Their powers are perverse and sinful. Only by taking the shape of a monster can one hope to defeat them. They can't control or bend a beast to their will."

"I know, I know, father, it's just-" Corvo was cut off

"STOP AND LISTEN! There is no other way; every day, more and more people suffer, the authorities are either bribed or too afraid to pursue the mages, and the north district can care less about us. We have to tear them apart."

Corvo picked up his father's choice of words.

"Corvo, you are my shepherd…you." Thoughts of ripping his son apart flashed before him.

"No, I can't.."

"Can't what." Corvo placed a hand on his father's shoulder

Vanehimer swatted it away with a loud thump.

Corvo held Father tightly and forced him to look at him. His father was shaken, not wholly present in the moment.

"Corvo…when this is all said and done, promise one thing…. Bury me… next to your mother." Vanehimer shook, and tears began to roll down his face. Corvo embraced his father and kissed him on the head.

"This world doesn't deserve you, Father."

"I'm… I'm sorry I couldn't give you a better life, Corvo." He sobbed

"You gave me more than enough.." He held his father tighter.

"Let's kill these blood mages once and for all."

Corvo enjoyed his final moments with his father before the sun had set. 

A few hours later

Vanehimer sat alone on a rooftop as he looked around at the densely crowded streets of the south district. Its dwarves, humans, and elves quickly closed the shop and pushed each other to find a safe place for the night. The moon would be at its fullest tonight, and there was no hiding from the beast. 

He turned his gaze upon the north district, a city in and of itself. Where once was barren land. Now stood a colossal gothic wall of dwarven ingenuity and architecture. There was once a time when both islands worked together. Now, the north district has let the south fall to evil, depravity, crime, and rot, leaving room for others to take matters into their own hands.

He could hear the sound of patrols of officers warning residents to get inside their homes.

Locked doors won't save people from my hunger. Vaneheimer thought 

HOOOOOOOOOONNNN, HOOOOOOOOOON Vanehimer watched as a whale hunting vessel brought in its latest catch. The Charm Isles used whales for everything, Food, clothing, and their oil to light the city streets. It was 120 feet wide, and it was crying in pain from the hooks that held it in place as it was brought to the newly built slaughterhouse.

Vanehimer sat and enjoyed his last few moments of silence, accepting that his death was this night. He'd worn the pelt for years, providing him with power but at a significant cost. He'd lose a piece of his humanity each time he wore the pelt, a price he was willing to pay. Vanheimer believed you must become a monster to defeat one.

The order of knights has long been disbanded, and many of the pelts have gone missing; Vaneheimerr made it his duty to uphold the knights' values. Corvo is his shepherd, and a shepherd's soul duty is to kill the bearer of the pelt before he succumbs to it, and then they take up the mantle.

The moon has fully risen. Vanehimer felt his dark urges begin to increase and wrapped the pelt around his body. It started to slowly seeth its way around his nakedness, coiling itself like a wyvern on its prey. CRACK, POP The transformation was agonizing. Claws sprouted from his fingers, and his bones twisted and snapped like gnarled roots as he fought the beast to maintain his sanity. His control began to weaken; with every bone snapped and agonizing scream, the beast took hold of his mind.

"Aggghgghghghg noo- I- Must lo-"  

Down below, some patrol officer heard his pain

"Aye, what's going on up there?"

Vanheimer ignored him. The pain was too great until, finally, he turned into his true self.

"AHHHHHHHHHWOOOOOOOOOOOOO." His conscious thoughts changed as he was not himself. The shadow had fully taken over. This caught Vanehimer by surprise as now he was a mere spectator behind the beast's eyes. Unable to influence any actions or thoughts.

"Aye, I said, what's going on up there!"  

The patrol officer held an oil-lit lantern to see what was going on. What he saw sent a chill down his spine; he slowly began to back away and bolted down the street as he saw the silhouettes of a Wolf outlined by the full moon, red ominous eyes, and a jaw wide with hunger. Vanheimer cocked his head to the right as he looked at the man. 

"Run..." his voice was deep and ominous, not of this world, but it had a hint of playfulness.

The patrol officer began running, calling, and screaming for help, blowing his whistle to notify the guards and citizens.

"HHHH's HERE SOMEONE ANYONE HELP!" 

Vanheimer leaped from the roof. He watched in disbelief as his shadow took on the hunt.

Everything is falling apart; the mages will escape this night, and this beast intends to kill. I've become the very monster I've tried to fight for so many years. Forgive me, Corvo. 

The sound of paws and claws scraping against the cobblestone streets sent the man into a wild frenzy. The patrol officer aimed his pistol loaded with silver at the beast but missed his shot. Dropping his gun in a panic, he ran and turned right….into an alley. 

"No, no, please, please, don't please."

Van Heimer slowly approached on all fours, moving casually to his prey. He instilled as much fear as possible because hearts full of fear always tasted better. 

"Meeeer…Mercyy..Pl-"

Before the man could finish speaking, Vanheimer sliced his throat. Blood sprayed on him, and the patrol officer fell back. The kill was not over with delicate precision. The beast took one claw and sliced open the man's chest with surgical precision. The beast found its quivering heart gasping for life and brought it into its monstrous jaw.

"AHHHHHHHWOOOOOO."

The hunt began, and tonight, the south district would swim with blood like never before. Vanehimer knew what the beats were doing. It was trying to lure out its shepherd and kill its only means of control. 

DONG DONG DONG!

Somewhere near an abandoned whale slaughterhouse.

The south district bell that strikes thrice signals someone has been killed and that the killer is on the loose. Corvo pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time; his father should have been here over thirty minutes ago. They'd found the site where the blood mages used to perform their rituals. Blasted, I'd go in there and kill the vile mages…But they'll simply take control of the blood in my body and force me to kill myself.

He had a feeling this would happen and that his father might be unable to take on his final hunt. There was a contingency for this. However, he didn't expect this to happen so soon into the night. He couldn't tell his father his plans for the chance the shadow within him would use those against him should he lose control. DONG DONG DONG Again, another killing. Corvo saddled atop his black stallion and went to the closest scream about a mile east of the slaughterhouse district. He sent his horse into a gallop, the smog of the air thick with the smell of rotted fish, sewage, and….blood….human blood. 

He came upon a gruesome sight: bodies barely recognizable, resident's limbs strewn about like toys after a toddler finished playing. His horse grew wary and neighed, pacing around nervously. He looked at a workhouse building. A place where those who were too poor or couldn't find jobs lived. Its entrance pooled with blood streaming out like that of light rainfall. For a moment, the candles in the window flickered. Corvo squinted to look closer at the window of the second story. He could've sworn the candles flickered for a moment, but wait, the candle's lights were following his movements. Shit, I played into his trap. 

Realizing his mistake and poor positioning, he turned his stallion and sent it into a gallop—CRASH THUD SCRATTTCH.

"COME BACK HERE, BOY, AND FACE YOUR FATHER LIKE A MAN," the wolf roared as it burst through the second-story window and began to chase him.

Corvo knew this wasn't his father, but it pained him; he thought back to a better time when he and his father were playing tag, and now his father was chasing him again, not for play but to kill him.

I need to bring him to the graveyard, away from people. Corvo made a sharp turn left and zigzagged between colossal stone pillars, making it more difficult for his father to grab him. He could see a tiny bridge that, if he leaped over, would take him to the graveyard.  

"NEEIIEIEIEHGHG!" His horse screamed as his father slashed it. 

God, he's fast. I mustn't look back. If I do, he'll surely end me. He was nearing the bridge, dashing through houses and empty taverns.

"LEAP FENRIR." His horse did as commanded and lept high into the air over the right-hand side of the bridge. His father leaped behind, and two hunters were caught near the moon.   

Once Corvo reached the graveyard, he pulled out small tin pellets, crushed them in his hands, and threw them behind him. Small pieces of silver shrapnel went flying temporally, slowing his father. With his delayed chase, he quickly leaped from his horse and sent it into a gallop in the opposite direction. He faced his father with his sword sheathed and silver pistol in hand.

A midnight mist enveloped the graveyard, making it challenging to see. All he could discern in the fog were the wolf's eyes. They both moved in circles around one another.

"Father, I kn-" Corvo was cut off.

"YOUR FATHERS DEAD, BOY, AND SOON YOU WILL BE AS WELL." The wolf replied with a deep, cold voice.

Corvo soon lost track of the beast's eyes but could still hear it, its paws crushing the leaves on the soft, hallowed ground. The trigger on Corvo's gun felt heavy. This is not your father; your father's gone. This monster means to kill you. He told himself it eased him, but only a little.

Silence fell. Corvo honed in on his senses, as his father had taught him. Smelling the air, he caught the subtle hint of wet blood and fur. It smelled like metal. The beast was behind him.

He quickly turned, aiming his gun, but before he could pull the trigger, his father bit down hard on his arm. CA THUMP. He threw Corvo against a tree, his hand a mangled mess of flesh and blood. He quickly painstakingly rolled to his feet. He couldn't feel the pain in the moment. He pulled out his silver blade with one hand and positioned himself in a riposte position like his father had taught him. The tree behind him was slanted to the left, and a gravestone was. If he timed his dodge just right, he could get his father stuck temporarily. His father slowly approached him.

"TIME TO DIE BOY!"  

He leaped towards Corvo, and Corvo threw himself back between the gap of the gravestone and the tree. SCVTACTH THARSH

"AHHHHWOOOOO!"

His father was stuck, but only temporarily. He had to be quick and end him; otherwise, he'd die. Corvo quickly got to his feet and raised his silver blade high. It shined in the moonlight, but its weight was heavier than anything he'd carried. His father broke through in this moment of hesitation and lurched towards him. His claws extended, and his mouth opened wide.  

"AAAHHWHII." A slight whine of a dog was heard

Corvo looked up and saw the wolf motionless, grasping at the blade in its heart. Its red eyes no longer glowed but went dark. As the beast slumped on Corvo, it began to change shape, turning slowly into a man, the pelt sliding off his father's back.

"Nooooo NOOOOOOOO damn you damn you! Why did you make me do this?"

Corvo sat up, removed the blade from his father's heart, and held his cold body in his arms. His father didn't respond; his soul had long left his body when the beast took complete control. He held his father close and said nothing for a long while. He thought of the good memories he had with his father. He did his best to raise and only did what he thought best for his family.

He carried his father's body through the graveyard; Corvo had prepared his father's grave site at his request earlier. It wasn't as difficult to dig the grave as placing his father within it had been. He laid his father to rest and began to cover his body; every pile of dirt was heavier than the last. Once it was done, he sat in front of the graves of both his parents and made a silent prayer. The pelt his father wore next to him whispered insidious thoughts. Thoughts about him digging his father's grave and eating his heart. Already, it tries to consume my mind.  

He couldn't destroy the pelt or get rid of it; it must be taken by the one who slayed its original master. The sun was rising, and his horse Fenrir approached his side.

"Come, boy, let's go home." He folded the pelt and placed it in one of the bags on his horse. 

The ride home was quiet, residents dwarves, elves, and humans making their way out of their homes. Some were getting ready to make shop for the day, and others were whispering about what had happened the night before, 

He came to his home. He looked at the sign swinging-in-the-wind Dr.Vanheimers practical care. Potions, surgery, and ailments. He knew little of the healing arts like his father and was unsure what to do; his father had saved a small sum of money. Corvo could finish pursuing his practice in medicine in the north district. But that would mean there would be no one protecting the south district.

You must become a monster to defeat monsters. Corvo knew what he had to do…However, unlike his father, who held back his shadow, Corvo would fully embrace it. Maybe some symbiosis could be achieved with the pelt. Everyone who wore this pelt fought the temptations, but what if one were to embrace them and reach an agreement. There was only one way to test his theory: when the night sky was bright, and the hunter's moon rose again.

But for now, Corvo traveled across the great bridge between the islands to find a doctor to sew up his hands. He looked back to the south district and the pelt in his hands. His theory seemed too risky. What if succumbing to his thoughts meant he'd just give the beast what it wanted? Who would stop him then?  

Then, Corvo decided to take a different path than his father's. He found a rope and thick stone and tied the pelt to it. He then threw it over the great bridge and watched as it sank beneath the waves of the Great Divide. He hoped he had made the right choice, but as night began to fall and Corvo lay in his bed, he could hear the pelt calling to him deep beneath the waves.