Topic: Cry of the Lunar Child

Penn · Date: 2008-09-23 23:19 EST

?It ran over this way!?
?Which way did it go??
?I think I found the trail!?
?Jessup, d?ya see anything??

A gun fired in the distance, followed by the yelp of a large animal.

?Quick! Over there. Harbinger?s found it.?
?It?s not getting away from us this time. No, no.?
?Did you see what it was carrying??
?It?s wounded for sure. We?ll get him tonight!?

The band of men, all wielding shotguns and pistols stormed in the direction of Harbinger?s shot. The woods were full of strange creatures on the full moon, but the most feared was a werewolf. A while back, some had claimed to have seen it but most of the town didn?t believe them. Werewolves hadn?t been spotted anywhere near town in quite a few decades, but when farmers began reporting the death and disappearances of their flocks and herds, local authorities took more of an interest.

A greyback, and a large one at that, was finally confirmed to be roaming the woods just outside of Fen?Roc, but of course, no one was going to come out and admit they were Lycan. Parents began keeping their children indoors, especially at night and no one ever ventured out of doors during the full moon. Only the bravest of men loaded their guns and joined the deputies in tracking the animal down every month.

Twice they?d spotted it, but the beast had managed to slip through every trap they?d lain. But tonight, it had been careless. It left the woods and was spotted running through a field on the outskirts of town. By the time the hunters showed up, the beast had made it back to the forest but this time they were hot on his heels.

?Which way, Collin?? Riley Jessup, a middle-aged man with a balding head squinted at his fellow hunter, breathing heavily.

Collin Harbinger squinted back; it was difficult to see in the woods, let alone at night. ?It took off that-a way. It was holdin? somethin? in its mouth.?

?What was it??

As the rest of the hunting party came up behind Collin and Riley, they spotted something about a hundred feet away dart behind a bush. A man with a bushy red beard cocked his gun and took aim.

?Don?t shoot,? hissed Collin.

?An? why not? We got ?im!?
?It looked like it was holdin? a kid, Pete!?

Pete Suther was also middle-aged, but could easily play the part of mountain man. He had a great bushy beard and unruly, unkempt hair which he kept stuffed into an old grey cap. His belly was round and his voice gruff. ?Then the kid?ll be better off if I get ?em both.?

Collin paled, but didn?t stop Pete this time when the man raised his firearm, took aim and pulled the trigger. The bullet that pierced the air sounded like splintering wood in Collin?s ear and he winced. They all waited with baited breath and when there was no movement, they approached the bush.

Jessup prodded the beast with the end of his shotgun and when it didn?t move, he pressed the muzzle of the gun to the werewolf?s head and pulled the trigger. ?Didn?t want no surprise attack.? The others agreed.

The party began discussing what to do with the carcass when Collin gave a shout. He was crouched about ten feet away, peering down at what looked like a lifeless body. Everyone gathered ?round, the victorious expressions from earlier now having vanished at the sight of the little girl lying there at their feet.

?Poor little thing,? said Mr. Creevy, an older gentleman who used to run with the hunting parties decades ago. ??E didn?t need to have a go at her, neither. Destroyed one of me cows last night, ?e did.?

?Anyone know who she is?? Collin reached down to brush dead leaves off the girl?s bloodied face. When she took a startled breath, Collin fell backwards in surprise. ?She?s alive!? The party all exclaimed in shock and Jessup lent down, nodding to Collin.

?Best help me, Harbinger. We need ta? get ?er ta? the Doc.?

Penn · Date: 2008-09-24 00:16 EST

Harbinger and Jessup wrapped the little girl?s body as best they could, trying to keep from jostling her too much. She seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness between bouts of moaning and crying. In the woods, though it was dark, Collin suspected the wolf had taken her for sport and had been toying with her for a long while.

Most of the hunting party remained behind to deal with the body of the wolf, but James Leroy accompanied Harbinger and Jessup back into town. The three attempted to figure out who she was, crooning soft questions at her when she came ?round every so often, but the girl seemed to be in too much pain to hear them. As they passed each dimly lit street lamp, Collin had to force himself not to look down at her anymore; his late dinner was threatening to make an appearance at the sight of her mangled face. He had a daughter himself, a few years older than the little girl in his arms. His heart wept for the mother who?d wake to find her baby missing.

Fen?Roc was a little town and didn?t nee more than one doctor, so after yelling for several minutes outside the Doc?s office, the three men were upset to learn that the doc was out. His son Leif, an aspiring doctor, quickly opened the door to let them in. Leif led them through the tiny waiting room and into the back. The office was only big enough for two rooms besides the waiting room. Leif led them further and to a narrow set of stairs that went into the cellar where they put the little girl on a table in the middle of the room.

Leif had the men fetch his father while he tended to the little girl?s wounds. It was a gruesome task, one he wished that his father could have been doing. He worked on her throughout the night, rushing up the stairs for instruments and back down again to be at her side. It was daybreak before Doc? Peterson came crashing into the cellar muttering something about a woman in false labor.

He let out a cry of recognition, leaning over the little girl?s body as he did so. ?This is the littlest Penn girl, Leif. Take the horse and ride out to their plantation. Tell them to hurry. There?s not much time.?

Penn · Date: 2008-09-24 12:01 EST

Leif crouched low clutching the reins tightly in his hands as his horse, Garaoff, sped hastily down the dirt road that led toward the Penn plantation. His legs ached as he pinned his knees to the sides of the steed, having not taken the time to saddle him. He didn't fear falling off, but at these speeds, it took a great amount of physicality to stay seated.

After two miles of vigorous riding, Lief spotted someone in the distance. It was Tucker Penn, the little girl's father. Leif slowed and raised a hand; Tucker drew his horse up along side him. Tucker explained quickly about their daughter having gone missing and Leif was loathe to tell him what had happened. A strangled cry rushed past Tucker's lips, followed by an order to retrieve his wife as he was going to be going on ahead.

Lief twisted around to watch Tucker speed off towards town, suddenly feeling depressed. He wasn't old enough to be married, he was only 18, but he found himself hoping that when he did have children, he'd never have to go through the terror that Tucker Penn was experiencing right now. By the time Leif returned to his father's office with Mrs. Penn, Mr. Penn had already been down to see his daughter. He was there in the waiting room to meet his wife. Leif watched them for a moment until they embraced, then turned away respectfully. He couldn't help but listen as Tucker haltingly informed Sadie what she'd find when they descended the stairs. Leif didn't follow them when the left the room, but stood frozen in place and listened in horror as Sadie's wail wafted upstairs. 'Holland', she had cried.

In the cellar, Sadie was clinging to her husbands frame, unable to find the strength to stand herself. Her grief further deepened when Doc Peterson reluctantly informed them that most children did not survive werewolf attacks and with the extent of the damage Holland had received, he didn't expect her to live through the day.

Penn · Date: 2008-09-24 13:09 EST

But Holland Penn did live throughout the day and through the next as well. Doc Peterson called it what it was: a miracle. Though her body was mangled badly, the wolf had managed to keep her intact. Aside from a few deep gouges in her side, the Doc was beginning to believe that everything would heal without much trace. It would take time, sure, but what was time compared to life? After a week had passed and with the Doctors constant attention, Holland was soon able to sit up and sip the broth her mother fed her. While Tucker and Sadie grew increasingly more at ease, Doc began to wonder what was in store just ahead.

The planet Su?hra had many moons, but only two close enough to affect anything. They were on different zeniths which in turn brought about a full moon every two weeks. Only 50% of bite victims actually receive the Curse, but the Doc had a feeling that little Holland Penn might have to endure pain the rest of her life. He was correct in assuming that the Penn?s didn?t even think of this as their entire world at the moment revolved around getting their daughter healthy again. Doc explained his suspicions and about two days from the next full moon, he and Leif began clearing everything out of the cellar. They?d need to lock Holland away to be sure.

Holland had begged her parents not to leave her alone. She promised that if she turned, she wouldn?t hurt them and didn?t understand when her father explained that she?d have no control over that. Tucker sobbed as he kissed his daughter goodbye two days later and had to carry his wife up the stairs as she?d refused to leave Holland?s side. Tucker, Sadie, Leif and his father all waited in the office as nighttime began encroaching upon the daylight. They all knew that the transformation would happen soon and would more than likely kill Holland in her weakened state and so they waited. Sadie knelt over the cellar door, tears streaming silently down her face. Tucker stood several feet away facing a wall with one hand over his mouth and the other crossed over his chest. Both Leif and his father sat at a desk and were pouring over books that had anything to do with the Curse.

They heard the first noise as the first moonbeams washed the doctors office in a soft grey light. Low moans could be heard coming from Holland down below and Sadie pressed her cheek against the door on the floor. Both husband and wife cried bitterly as the moaning grew louder and turned into ear piercing screams. Sadie said her daughter?s name over and over, calling to her when the screams turned into cries for her parents to rescue her. 10 minutes passed. Then 15. Sadie continued to weep and Tucker could no longer handle the screams, excusing himself for a few moments outside. After the 20 minute mark, the screams stopped and so did the calls for her parents.

In the cellar lay a battered, small sized werewolf who quietly licked at her wounds. She was far too damaged to do anything destructive, though the overwhelming smell of others somewhere close by drove her senses wild. Her vision, severely clouded by a deep red haze did nothing to help her, and so she lay immobile.

Hours later when the moon crouched below the horizon and after the painful and heartbreaking shrieks had ceased, Sadie threw open the cellar door and rushed to her daughter?s side. Doc Peterson followed closely behind Mrs. Penn and was surprised, but thankful to find that Holland was still alive. The Curse was also a blessing, he?d told the Penn?s, because her wounds would heal faster. The Curse, he went on to explain, was the only thing that had kept Holland alive, but knew that it would be little consolation to them.

When she came round, Holland was asked if she remembered anything. She cried as she recounted the painful process of transforming, but couldn?t remember anything after that.

Holland remained with the Peterson?s for another month, which meant two more transformations before she was completely healed. The only scars she bore were thick lines of scar tissue on her side. Holland had had to wait one more week after fully recovering for her father to dig a second cellar before she could go home.

Penn · Date: 2008-09-24 18:42 EST

In the months that followed her coming home, Mr. and Mrs. Penn learned the reasoning behind Holland?s late night walk in the backyard that led to her demise. Her rabbit, Hops, had been left in her outside cage. Holland had been afraid that the werewolf would get her and so she?d tried to save her. It?s funny; the things that lead us down the paths that eventually become our destiny are often so mundane and trivial.

Soon, 9 year old Holland could begin to feel the pull of the moon herself. She started noticing a change in her body--senses of smell and hearing seemed sharper. Her strength had improved as well, but that was such a small change that she didn?t take much notice, nor bothered to mention this to her parents as she?d done with the others.

Tucker and Sadie were model parents, loving their youngest daughter no differently than they had the night before she?d gone missing. While Holland loved them back, it took her about a year to truly understand that when they shut her in the cellar, they were doing it out of love.

The full moon would happen that night and a now ten year old Holland thought best to defy her parents warnings and smuggled Hops down to the cellar before they could notice. All she wanted was some company, for she?d grown lonely over the year, her friends seeming to think they could catch her Curse by being around her. Holland was pained the next morning to find she?d killed Hops during the night.

That moment changed her. It wasn?t a human she?d killed, but the animal was loved like family to Holland and the knowledge that she?d killed the animal in blind fury frightened her beyond words. Something moved inside her, a fear, more of herself than anything. From that point forward she didn?t fight her parents when they locked her away and in the months that followed grew quiet and drew inwards and away from others. The children at school were no help, and they teased her incessantly. It soon grew to be too much for Holland to handle and when she turned 12, the family moved from Fen?Roc to Bahlder. It was a smaller town about 20 miles away from Fen?Roc.

It was easier to fit in with the children of this town. They hadn?t heard of her folly and it was nice to have friends again. No one asked questions, nor suspected. For the first time in two years, Holland could remember what it was like to be a child again. She and her friends went swimming in the creek, caught bullfrogs in a neighbors pond, played tag and built tree forts in which boys were not allowed to enter. She and her sister and brother, Tess, 14 and Austin, 17 made a pact to always protect each other, swearing by a blood oath in which they?d sliced their thumbs and mingled their blood together on a piece of cardstock Holland kept hidden in one of her favorite books (and remained to this day). Both Tess and Austin promised to flatten anyone who dared say anything about their sister and Holland loved them dearly for it.

Once a month, Doc Peterson and his son would pay a visit to the Penn?s, wishing to keep up on Holland?s progress, more intrigued by her condition than anything. Tess very much enjoyed when Leif paid his visits and giggled each night following the visit about how lovely his smile was.

Penn · Date: 2008-09-26 11:33 EST

During the summer of Leif's 21st year (and much to the girls' dismay), he bid goodbye to the Penn family and headed off to Medical school to follow in the footsteps of his father. He wrote to Tess and Holland regularly, having come to see the Penn family as his own family. Being an only child and not having a mother could be hard on anyone and Leif greatly treasured any amount of time he was able to spend with the Penn's.

One year passed and HOlland grew into a teenager, but her parents were grateful to find that she wouldn't be as difficult as Tess or Austin had been. The Curse had, in many ways, changed Holland. She strived to be good, to be loved and well liked. Anything to counter the disdain she had for herself. Another year passed and then another; Holland was growing fast into a woman and there was nothing her parents could do about it.

Both of their daughters, now 15 and 17, had gotten a taste of being courted one evening when a knock came on the door one late night in October. Two of the men from town had come calling, asking permission to take the girls to the annual October Festival. Tess had continued to see John after that night, but Holland explained to her mother that she just couldn't see herself even interested in boys because of what she was.

What her parents didn't know was that Leif had grown particularly fond of Holland in his letter writing. Their friendly correspondence changed to affectionate words and wishful thinking. Holland had grown rather fond of Leif, too, but neither of them actually came out and wrote their feelings down. It was too difficult for Holland to hope that the letters which grew increasingly more personal could be anything more than a deepening of friendship--for who could ever love her knowing what she hid?

On Christmas Eve the next year, Leif surprised them all with a visit bearing gifts and holiday greetings. After he explained that his father was away, the Penn's gladly welcomed him into their home for the celebrations.

"Tessy," whispered Holland later that night as she crawled into bed with her sister.

"Yes?"

"Does John kiss you?"

Tess blushed and turned over on her side to face Holland, a warm smile on her face. "Yes, he has. A few times. Why?" Tess could guess why her sister wanted to know and reached for her hand beneath the blankets. She wished terribly that Holland would confide in her again like when they were younger.

It was Holland's turn to blush. "Because...because Leif kissed me tonight." The grin split her face nearly in two and Holland buried her face in the pillow to muffle the excited laughter that bubbled out of her.

Tess grinned, too. "I just knew there was a reason he came tonight. Those letters you've been writing. That's why you don't share them with me anymore?"

Regaining her composure, Holland nodded. "They weren't anything bad, Tessy, but they were so personal. And I didn't even really know how he felt until tonight. I mean, he's never said anything about it in his letters! And here I was, just so shocked. He just up and kissed me under the mistletoe Mama and Daddy have hanging in the kitchen." Her eyes grew wide as she shared the next part. "And he did it in front of Mama and Daddy, too!"

Tess gasped. "What happened?"

"Well, I couldn't really see them, but I knew they were watching us. I'm pretty sure Daddy wanted to say something because I heard Mama tell him to shush." Holland giggled.

Tess reached over to hug her sister and as she pulled back asked if she could share her own secret. Holland nodded and Tess took a deep breath. "John proposed."

Holland sat up straight out of bed at that. "What?"

"Shh, be quiet. Don't wake anyone." Tess smiled and tugged her sister back to her pillow so they could toss the covers over their head. "He proposed just before Leif got here. He took me on a sleigh ride across his property. Oh Holland, I.. I don't mean to take away from your moment, but I'm so happy! I couldn't contain it anymore."

"Oh, Tessy! I only got kissed. But you! Oh, how romantic. Engaged! When will you have the wedding?"

"He wants to have it straight away, but I'd like to be married in February. What do you think?"

"Oh, Tess, I think it's absolutely wonderful."

Penn · Date: 2008-09-26 12:32 EST

Before Leif had had to return to school, he asked Tucker and Sadie's permission to write to Holland, which they gave almost immediately. Neither parent could refuse him after they'd seen the look of love and adoration on their daughters face, showing plainly exactly how she felt for Leif. It was a tearful goodbye, but Holland cherished the second kiss Leif gave her before he hopped onto the stagecoach. The letters came and went more frequently now, filled with phrases of love and promises of the future.

Leif's schooling was finished one month before Holland's 17th birthday and in June, surprised her with an early birthday present.

"You couldn't wait two more days?" Holland laughed as she leaned against him as he drove the buckboard out of town.

"No, I couldn't." Leif grinned.

His surprise for her was a large, two-story house with a white picket fence and light blue shutters around the windows. His gift to her was that he'd moved to Bahlder and bought a house they could share as man and wife. He wasn't proposing for a while, because he wanted to court her longer, but the fact remained that he planned to. Holland couldn't have been more thrilled.

As the months progressed, Leif settled into his new home and opened his small office which specialized in Medieval medicine and also treated magical maladies. It took her a while to get over the embarassment of opening the cellar door after each transformation to find Leif, but he seemed to not care how disheveled she looked and, what's more, that he could overlook the fact she was a werewolf in it's entirety. As fall turned to winter, they celebrated Leif's 26th birthday and also the announcement that Tess was with child. Holland was thrilled for her sister, but didn't miss the look of disappointment on Leif's face. When she questioned him later that night, he brushed her off and said it was nothing.

Being naive and not knowing how to react over the next few months when Leif slowly stopped touching or kissing her, it all came to a head for Holland one warm morning in April. During a long, long walk in the woods behind his house, Leif explained to Holland that he couldn't court her any longer. Holland said nothing and let him get everything out that he so obviously needed to say. Leif couldn't handle the pressure anymore. He told her how he wanted a wife who could give him children. It was beginning to get difficult for him to lie about where Holland was on the full moon (though no one ever put the fact that she was missing together with the fact it was the full moon), and didn't want to lie for the rest of his life. To his surprise, Holland remained at peace and only asked him one question.

"Did you ever love me?"

Many a woman would call him a liar, that if you truly loved someone, their faults wouldn't matter. But Holland was far too understanding for her own good. So when Leif promised that he'd loved her with all his heart, she believed him. Despair gripped her in that moment, but the relieved look on Leif's face when she wasn't angry with him helped her get through the ride home without bursting into tears. Though unable to look at him, Holland let Leif kiss her cheek, apologize softly and squeeze her hand before he left.

Of course she'd cried, but Holland remained understanding for the most part. Tucker had promised to rip Leif limb from limb, but upon Holland's insistence that it wasn't really his fault kept her father from doing anything. SHe rationalized the situation by telling herself that she obviously couldn't be what he needed. Leif had wanted children and a wife he didn't have to lie about. Who was she to make him feel guilty for wanting a normal life? She, too, wanted one. In august, when her neice Laura Beth was born, Holland found her thoughts drifting to Leif. That happened less often these days, but her feelings towards him had not diminished. The look of pure joy on John's face had been compared to the look of disappointment she'd remembered seeing on Leif's when it occurred to him that she couldn't have children of her own.

Years passed, people changed, and so did Holland's heart. A person will always care for their first love, but Leif was nothing more than a memory. They were now able to pass in the street as indifferent aquaintences. Her brother, Austin, had found a lovely woman named Emily to settle down with and Tess made an announcement that she was pregnant again. A few months after she turned 20, Leif entered into an engagement. It was a difficult blow to endure, but Holland was able to attend the wedding with a smile on her face. She wished them well, but two years later when they announced the birth of their first son, Holland's depression became unbearable. She'd long gotten over Leif, but knowing she couldn't have children was something that cut her deep.

It was time for Holland to go out on her own. There were many sad goodbye's, including the ones shared with Tess's two daughters and Austin's son. Holland smiled grimly as the stagecoach carried her out of Bahlder and onto bigger and better things.