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"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?"
Vince's booming voice drew everyone's attention immediately. That moment of joy that was given to Daine was abruptly snatched from her, as she stared towards the new king in fear. But Leonard would not have it. Slowly, he rose to his feet, and he simply says, "We're dancing." "YOU are not ALLOWED to dance, OMEGA!" Vince screeches as Leonard approaches him. "...Fine, you're right. I'm not allowed to dance." Now face to face with Vince, Leonard gestures behind him. "But she is! She's an alpha lycan, and she's earned her right to dance at this festival." Vince was ready to snap, but he still had the upper hand in the confrontation. For he knew Leonard's dark secret. Quietly, he leans up towards his ear. "I would watch your mouth," and then, with the quietest whisper, he simply said "Bloody Demon." Those two words stun Leonard into silence. "That's right. I know exactly who you are. But those good people behind me," Vince murmurs, nodding to the crowd that had started to form, "They don't, and I don't think you want them to know." The Bloody Demon, the monster believed to have killed the former lycan king, and the man the Crescent Moon Pack believed to be dead. According to Daine, the lycans weren't supposed to know that the Bloody Demon still lived. And yet, somehow, Vince knew. The last person Leonard would have ever wanted knew his dark secret. "So know your place, HUNTER SCUM." Vince continues. "This has nothing to do with you, so don't stick your nose in it." Leonard is terrified. If the lycans were to find out who he was, his life may very well be over. But he can't let this be. He is the Bloody Demon, it's true, but he's not the one who took Orion's life. It was a revelation he had only had this morning. Orion was killed by a silver bullet. Killed by someone who knew his true identity as a lycan. Leonard had neither the knowledge, nor the means, to have taken his life. "I didn't do it." His feeble words were quick to grab Vince's attention. "I didn't kill him." "...wait... you know...?" Those three little words snap Leonard back to reality. He looks at Vince, completely stunned. Why wasn't he surprised? Why was he so quick to believe him? What was going on? Suddenly, Vince looks a lot less intimidating. Partially panicked, he continues whispering to Leonard. "...what do you know exactly...?" He can't believe what he's hearing. After a moment of silence, the realization of everything starts to hit him. "...You knew... you already knew it wasn't me..." he slowly responds. "...You know who really killed him." All Vince could do was look away, nervously. He could feel the eyes of everyone at the festival digging into him, unaware of what was being whispered between the two men. As Leonard watches, a rage starts to rise within him. He was starting to understand the implications of everything. He remembered his conversation with Daine earlier that day. Immediately upon realizing the truth, he told her that he couldn't have been the one who killed Orion. When speculating who the real killer could be, it was Daine who suggested it was another lycan. Whoever killed Orion knew his secret. He was shot with a silver bullet for a reason. But at the same time, Orion's killer kept everything a secret. If it was a human, or a hunter, surely they would have been quick to take credit for the death of a famous lycan. But instead, an effort had been made to frame Leonard, and both Orion and his killer's secret were buried away. Why would a lycan kill their king? Maybe they had something to gain. Maybe it was so they could take his place. "...it was you, wasn't it?" "EH?" Leonard's words catch Vince completely off guard. He looks towards him once more. "You're the one who killed him." Leonard whispers. "Wait, what?" Vince stutters in confusion. Leonard could no longer hold back his rage. The death of Orion had ruined so many lives, and for so long he believed he was the one responsible. But now he knew the truth, and here he was, face to face with the one who also knew. There was no doubt in his mind. Vince had to be the killer.
"......yyyyooooouuuuu MONSTERRRRRRR!" Leonard screeches through grinding teeth. He was the one in control of the confrontation now. As he approaches Vince, the new king steps back in a panic.
"You're a coward, VINCE!" Leonard yells. "You can't do ANYTHING in your own right, so you get your way with intimidation and violence!" He pushes Vince back, and he is visibly afraid.
Leonard's rant suddenly comes to a halt. He notices something out of the corner of his eye. Vince's right arm is twitching in an unnatural way. Veins are visibly starting to bulge from it, as fur inches its way out from beneath the glove he wears.
"What do YOU know?" Vince retorts, his voice raspy and strained. Leonard just stares, morbidly fascinated by what he's seeing. "You think you know me? You think you know ANYTHING!?" Vince starts to scream.
He holds his arm up, and in a quick downwards motion it suddenly and dramatically grows. A monstrous arm, too large for his body, violently bursts through his sleeve. It’s become covered in the fur of a wolf, with massive claws at the end of his hand. A hand bigger than Leonard's own head. The entire transformation of Vince's arm happened so quickly, Leonard almost didn't register his rage filled words.
"YOU" He screams, using his new hand to grab around the trunk of a nearby tree. "KNOW" He crushes into the tree's trunk with his hand, his claws leaving their mark. "NOTHING!" With one final yell, he uses all his force to snap the tree in two. With just one hand, he sends the tree crashing to the ground.
Everyone stares at Vince in stunned silence. Leonard is speechless, and he is afraid. Vince stares up at him, breathing heavily. Then suddenly, as if only just realizing what he'd done, he releases the tree in a jolt and lifts his monstrous arm up to his face.
"SHIT!" he yells, holding his massive arm with his human one. He closes his eyes and calms his breath. In through his nose, out through his mouth. He repeats these breaths one after another, and slowly his arm starts shrinking back to its original size.
His glove has been destroyed, and his sleeve ripped to shreds. But though his arm had shrunk back down, his hand remained as it just was. It wasn't as large as it was before, but it was still a monster's hand, covered in fur and tipped with terrifying claws. Vince opens his eyes, and gasps at the sight of it. Swearing under his breath, he starts shaking it, as if trying to shake off the beastly traits.
Leonard just stares, unsure what to make of what he's just seen. But in a moment of clarity, he realizes he knows exactly what this means. "...It's you..." he quietly says. His hushed words catch Vince's attention, and he looks into Leonard's terrified eyes. "...You're the berserk lycan..." "The what?" Vince responds, confused. These words mean nothing to him. Leonard stares at the tree he just witnessed destroyed. He knows this tree. He's seen one just like it before. It was at the Unit IV office many weeks ago. Michelle had shown him a photo of a tree just like this one. It was snapped in two, those same massive claw marks left on its crushed trunk. She had told him this tree had been destroyed by a monster known as the berserk lycan. A monster unlike its lycan peers that could transform any part of its body at will. A beast much larger, and much more dangerous, than any lycan before.
"Of course it's you." He says. "It could only be you."
His words just confuse Vince further, adding to his anger. "What the hell are you talking about!?" It was only then that Leonard notices Vince doesn’t understand. He didn't know the meaning of what he just said. "Oh... you don't know...?" Leonard stares into Vince's eyes. He's still visibly terrified, but now a sense of unease had filled Vince’s eyes as well. "The perfect mixture of man and wolf," Leonard continues. "A beast that can transform any body part at will. The berserk lycan." The fear in his eyes slowly starts turning into anger. The implications of what this means for everything he has learned so far starts to dawn on him. "No wonder you're the king. It all makes sense now. Anyone would lose to a BEAST in a king's tournament!" These words get right under Vince's skin, and he winces slightly. But he remains quiet, as Leonard continues ranting.
"The hunters found one of the trees you destroyed in your tantrums," he says. "They know you exist, and they're after you. And not just you," he gestures towards the crowd that had formed behind Vince. "The hunters are going after all the lycans, and it's YOUR fault! Do you realize what you've done, VINCE SHADY!?"
"...shut up..." Vince whispers, averting his gaze. "You've put a target on the back of everyone here! "...shut up..." "If anyone here dies, it's YOUR fault!" It's with these words that Leonard starts to notice Vince twitching the same as before. It's not just his arm this time. His entire body is shaking. And then suddenly, all at once, he transforms.
"SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUGGHHHHFF!" he screams with a growl, no longer able to form the words. He towers over Leonard, holding out the same massive arms as before, now with a body to match. Standing on two legs, he's become a giant lycanthropous beast. With the head of a wolf and the body of a man, he bares his fangs over Leonard, his muzzle upturned in a terrifying scowl.
He brings his arms down to his sides and stands up straight, puffing out his chest with intimidation. The new size difference between the two of them has now become terrifyingly apparent. Though Leonard was taller than him previously, Vince has gained at least a foot over him, if not more. He glares down at Leonard, his eyes flooded with a beastly rage he’s never seen before. He was scared. He was really scared. "Oh..." he quietly mumbles, watching as Vince raises his arm into the air once more. In that split second, he knew he had to run.
With a loud crash, the beast slams his open hand into the ground with an incredible force. The earth where Leonard had stood just moments before shatters beneath Vince’s palm. But Leonard had fled. He knew he’d messed up. He provoked the beast into a vicious rage, and this monster would not rest until he crushed him with his own hands.
Leonard ran away as fast as his legs would take him. He didn’t look back at the crowd that gathered for the spectacle. He didn’t look for the girl he had left behind. There was only one thought in his head as he fled. He had to get away, no matter what. But it was a futile attempt. Vince wasted no time making his pursuit. Sprinting now on all fours, he was quick to close the gap. He caught up to Leonard, and in one fell swoop he swipes at him and sends him flying. With a loud thud, Leonard collides into a tree with a crash. He falls to the ground in pain, the impact fracturing a rib. Clutching his chest, he has no opportunity to react when Vince pushes him to the ground. With one hand holding him down, he raises the other into the air.
“DDHHHIIEEH!!! DHIIIEEEHH!!” Vince growls, ready to crush Leonard beneath his palm.
His arm moves only slightly, when suddenly it comes to a halt. Everything is still. Leonard opens an eye, looking up at Vince. It was like he was frozen in place. Something was very wrong. Vince’s eyes still looked at Leonard, but Leonard didn’t feel his gaze. The fury in his eyes was gone, and it had been replaced by something else. It was fear. “Hey now,” a voice is heard behind Vince. “That’s enough, don’t you think?” With great effort, Leonard tilts his neck trying to locate the owner of the voice. There’s a man standing behind Vince, his hand placed partway up his back. Leonard recognizes him. He’d only met him once before, but he’d know that man anywhere. It was Vince’s father.
Flint looked up at his son, a small smile crawling across his lips. “You’ve made your point, son. You’ve shown this man his place. What say you let him go? You wouldn’t want to cause a scene in front of all these good people.”
The crowd was still watching. Though most did not dare get close, there was an unquestionable, uncomfortable aura hovering over them. To his surprise, Vince slowly releases Leonard from his grasp. He stands back on his feet, leaving Leonard battered on the ground. Vince looks like a giant next to his father, but he wasn’t the one in control. Flint continues to smirk up at his son, while Vince simply stares blankly ahead. “Now, how about switching back,” Flint says. “Can you do that for me, son?” Very briefly, Vince gasps. He slows his breathing like before. In through his nose, out through his mouth, but it was different this time. As he starts shrinking back down to his former size, his eyes stare blankly ahead, unblinking. He returns to his human form, his clothes torn apart, and his father’s hand now resting on his shoulder. Something about the sight of this man controlling his beast of a son with such ease deeply unsettled Leonard.
Vince continues staring blankly ahead as Flint looks towards Leonard, still on the ground. “You’ve caused some trouble, eh?” he says to him. “Get up, hunter.”
Hesitantly, Leonard slowly rises. His cracked rib was causing him pain, and he held onto his chest with one hand. Back on his feet with a cold sweat, he meets Flint’s gaze. He continues to smile at Leonard, but Leonard could see right through his insincerity. “So, now you’ve seen my son’s true form,” Flint speaks. “That’s a problem, don’t you think? Can’t trust someone like you with something so important. Gonna run home and tell your hunter buddies, are ya?” Leonard was too distracted by pain to even dignify that with a response. Instead, he looks past Flint, towards Daine in the distance. She is still sitting on the ground, her expression one of absolute horror. “Daine!” Leonard yells towards her. “Tell me not to talk about tonight!” “Huh?” Hearing Leonard speak to her like that was startling. She didn’t like the attention that was now drawn to her. The crowd is looking towards her. Flint, too, looks over his shoulder, disgust in his eyes. The only one who wasn’t looking at her was Vince, who hadn’t stopped staring blankly ahead. Daine nervously darts her eyes, biting her lip. After a moment, she looks back at Leonard and calls out to him. “Don’t tell anyone about Vince’s true form!” With that, Leonard looks back at Flint. “There. His secret’s safe.” Flint glares at him, unamused. “I suggest you leave,” he says. “You’re not welcome here.” Leonard scowls. He's unsure what to do, but he doesn't want this attention. He didn’t like this man, but he knew he was right. Staying now would just cause more trouble for him. Even worse, it would cause trouble for Daine. Looking towards the ground, he walks past Flint and Vince. All eyes are on him as he makes his way. When he reaches Daine, he stops. He looks at her with concern, and mumbles quietly. "Sorry.”
And with that, he continues to walk away. Soon he was gone. An awkward silence filled the air. No one seemed sure of what to do after a scene like that. A loud clap breaks the silence, and now all eyes are back on Flint.
“Now, now,” he smiles. “Let’s not have this put a damper on our festival, eh? There’s no cause for concern. That man said some frightening things, but no one is in any danger! We’re safe from the hunters. So let’s return to the festivities, huh? The night’s still young, and there’s much to celebrate!” His words seem to put the crowd at ease. With the spectacle now over, the other lycans start returning back to the main festival grounds. The music starts picking up, and a small chatter can once again be heard. At the bottom of the hill, next to the stream, three lycans still remain. Flint looks back at Vince. “Forget about this. It’s your big night, son. Let’s go back, shall we?” He pats Vince on the back, causing him to flinch. Laughing, Flint makes his way back to the others. “Long live the king!” he shouts. Vince quietly stands there for a moment, but then he too starts returning to the festivities. He slowly walks back up the hill, but partway up he stops. After a brief moment, he quietly looks over his shoulder. He looks back at Daine, who is still on the ground next to the stream. The two of them stare at each other. Here on this hill, here at this stream, they have the same expression on their faces. It was one of terror. He turns back around and starts walking away once more. He leaves Daine there, alone at the bottom of the slope. He turns away from their past. He leaves her behind on this ill-fated hill. The same hill they first met. A boy stands up the hill. He’s hiding behind a tree, looking towards the young girl playing in the stream. She’s noticed him. The two children lock eyes, unaware of the destiny that awaits them.     
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