Memories that Bind: A Wolf's Despair

I inhaled, drawing in crisp wintry air, feeling the cold collect itself in my lungs, then breathed out. The fog of my breath rolled out of my mouth, containing unspoken words.

I thought of the evil that stalked my Pack's land, awaiting to imprison us. I clenched my fists thinking about everyone incarcerated, slave to those whose hearts were black with malice. I smiled sadly at the snow-laden clouds above. Besides, I thought, only I can stop this because of...what I am...

I'm a canisumana, someone who morphs from human to wolf whenever they wished from a black energy that fused with one's soul. A healer named Oran bound my darkness with a spell so that it would be manageable. Without the seal that marked me, a crescent moon with a single star on my back, I'd transform into a monster, a demonicanis, and wouldn't be unable to control myself. I discovered that when I killed my family and frightened my best friend Rióten.

The enemy, dire wolves, had another canisumana and wanted to wipe out the gray wolves to revive their demonicanis Lord, Saion, whose history was stained in blood. Only a canisumana can kill the other, so my Pack's protector, a shield from Saion.  

My thoughts shattered as a howl pierced through the air from below the ledge I stood on. I looked down, it was one of the Elite Guard. The enemy neared.



I stared boldly into the forest, waiting for the enemy to come from the shadows with my Pack behind me. It was silent; it seemed that the world didn't dare to breathe.

A figure appeared from the thicket of the forest, a gray dire wolf with amber eyes, and he raised his muzzle to the sky, letting out a long howl accompanied by a stream of fog.

Then, a horde of dire wolves stepped out from the shadows and glowered at us, eyes full of hate.

  "Courage, Nixa," our Alpha, Cross, said from behind me. Without looking away from the enemy, I nodded, but at the same time, my heart pounded with fear. What would happen if I didn't defeat the canisumana?

No, I won't lose. Stepping forward, I cried, "Show yourself! Die to Nixa of The Gray Wolves!"

Rumbling chuckles sounded from the dire wolves. They parted, leaving a lone figure in between. It was a boy about my age. He looked down, his long black bangs concealing his face. Though I couldn't see his face, I felt a flash of recognition.

  "Bloodthirsty Nixa," he chuckled. His voice tugged at my memory. My ears pinned against my head. He looked up with ice blue eyes, "You haven't changed."

My eyes widened and my heart felt cold. I whimpered, retreating. "N-no..." It was my best friend...I remembered it so clearly, his face full of fear as I snarled at him. I remembered the anguish in my heart when he fled. I loved him...but...My legs shook, my heartbeat echoed in my ears. "Rióten..."