Cailean Read online

  Cailean

  Brent Miller

  Chapter 1

  Eleven Years ago

  Aldric

  “I’ll be alright, Aldric,” Linda smiled, cradling her son in her arms. Aldric hadn’t left her side for the past month, but he didn’t have the option to stay. Theoretically, he could change in the basement, but he didn’t want to risk anything. If he broke out, it would be disastrous, but even outside of that, he could make enough noise to attract attention.

  “Are you sure?”

  “He’s a baby. All he does is sleep and cry, and I can handle those,” she joked.

  “He does so much more than that. He also eats and poops.”

  “Careful, you’re going to make me panic.”

  “I wish I could help.”

  “You help every day, Aldric. Now stop dawdling or you’ll run out of time.”

  She was right. The moon was already beginning its ascent, and Aldric could tell that the transformation was coming. A month ago, he had called upon the wolf for a strength he never could have managed on his own. He still wasn’t quite sure how it had happened, but he remembered promising it that he would stop fighting. Aldric considered himself a man of his word, so he didn’t want to break that promise – even if it was to a part of himself. Anyway, he didn’t particularly want to test the boundaries and see if he could infuriate the beast.

  “Okay. I’ll go to the woods; you know the place. I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”

  “I love you,” she replied as she gently kissed his lips before nodding toward the door.

  “I love you too,” he smiled. Taking a few steps backward, Aldric kept his eyes glued to his son. The child was asleep so peacefully in his mother’s arms. Aldric couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen anything so tranquil in his entire life. The scene in front of him almost made the rest of his life seem like a dream. All the violence and death that had led up to that moment couldn’t possibly exist in the same world as that baby.

  Finally, he turned his head, tearing his eyes away as he opened the front door. Hesitating in the doorway, Aldric looked over his shoulder one last time. Linda chuckled and waved, silently telling him to hurry up. Cailean didn’t wake from the noise, so he just rested atop one of her arms. Closing the door with a sigh, Aldric turned and began walking down the street.

  Paranoid, he looked over his shoulder every few feet. Aldric exhaled deeply and relaxed his shoulders in an attempt to appear calmer. It wasn’t likely that anyone would be following him, but if they were, he didn’t want to give them a reason to be suspicious. It felt as though he’d forgotten everything he had taught himself over the past four hundred years. Of all the techniques to avoid being followed by hunters, staying relaxed and sticking to the shadows were the most basic. He had already caught himself breaking both of those.

  Aldric turned, walking down an alley which wasn’t on his path. After a few more intentional wrong turns, he managed to get back onto the path toward the woods. This time, though, he carefully avoided streetlights and any possible observers. He was distracted, but that wasn’t a good reason for him to allow any of the basic defensive principles he’d established to falter. In fact, it was a reason to focus more on them if anything. More people depended on him now.

  After a few more minutes of fast-paced walking, Aldric left city limits and wandered into the woods. The trees grew thicker as he pushed his way deeper into the woods. Aldric followed a walking path at first, cognizant of the signs. He’d walked the path a dozen times with Linda and Cailean over the past month, but he hadn’t actually transformed in the woods yet, so he was cautious.

  Aldric passed a campground to his right. There were a few tents set up not far from the path and a few people were gathered around a campfire. One of them waved at Aldric, who smiled and nodded back at him. As subtly as he could, though, he picked up the pace. He could see the moon climbing in the sky and feel the wolf beginning to assert its dominance – struggling for control.

  When Aldric had gone about a quarter of a mile without seeing anyone, he started to jog. He had left too late, and he wanted to make sure he got as far as possible before changing. In less than two minutes, he’d managed to get a mile from the campground. The path turned, heading back toward town, but Aldric continued to run straight toward the dense foliage.

  Confident there was no one anywhere near him, Aldric finally allowed himself to slow down. Although he’d stopped keeping track of time, he knew had had run for at least five minutes, so he was miles away from any other human. There was no doubt the wolf could travel that far if it desired, but he knew it wouldn’t want to find people. If it was hungry or threatened, it may attack campers. Normally, though, it would prefer to hunt easier targets, such as deer.

  Aldric removed his shirt and folded it nicely, setting it in the dirt near the thick trunk of a nearby tree. Stretching, he cracked his back before realizing exactly what that meant. Since he felt the need to crack his back, that meant the wolf was beginning to become uncomfortable in his skin, so it was trying to begin the process of breaking the bones and shaping them into something it was more used to.

  “Alright, alright,” Aldric thought. “Just let me fold my clothes.”

  Quickly, he removed his shoes and set them next to his shirt. He placed his socks within the respective shoe and pulled his pants off. Somehow, he felt as though he could feel the wolf’s emotions. It seemed to be eager to be free, and it was pushing itself to the surface.

  “I promised I wouldn’t fight you,” Aldric silently told the wolf. Part of him wondered how crazy he was. It didn’t make sense for him to be talking to the wolf, but he still felt as though it was helping. He couldn’t quite determine if he thought the wolf was just another part of him or a separate being which occupied his body. Either way, he felt as though he was talking to himself.

  Aldric took his boxers off and set them in the pile before taking a few steps back. The moon was high in the sky, but he didn’t feel the pain of the transformation. Every time in the past had been agonizing, even before his body fell apart. Before the wolf began to rend his flesh and bone to shreds, replacing it with its own. In the past, he’d been able to feel the pain as the wolf struggled to escape.

  This time, though, there was nothing but a strange sense of comfort. If the wolf was a separate creature, it clearly knew that Aldric was planning on staying true to his end of the deal. If it was the same as him, whatever subconscious piece had finally stopped fighting Aldric. Either way, it was a welcome change from the transformations of the past.

  Aldric felt the wolf pushing against him a bit, and his joints started to feel tight. With a sigh, Aldric popped his fingers. Eight of them were pushed from their sockets, leaving only the thumbs intact. That hurt, of course, but it still didn’t compare to the past transformations. Aldric stretched his arms over his head, dislocating his shoulders.

  His arms and hands reformed as he dropped to the ground. As new cells replaced the old ones, Aldric could feel the pain receptors begin to form. The typical agony was replaced by a mild discomfort. When that faded, though, a sense of peace seemed to wash over Aldric.

  Aldric’s knees shattered, causing him to grimace. They healed quickly, though, as if there had been no damage. His body quickly changed form, and he was a wolf within a few minutes. He’d never experienced such a quick and painless transition.

  “Well, that was a pleasant surprise,” he thought. He wasn’t sure if he was just trying to have the thought to himself or share it with the wolf, but of course he didn’t get a response.

  The colors of the world faded as Aldric’s eyes changed and he could feel the leaves under his paws. Aldric looked beneath him. Most of the green colors around him had faded to a shade of grey, but still somehow every
thing seemed so vivid.

  “Alright,” he thought. “Just don’t do anything stupid.”

  Aldric closed his eyes. At least, he tried, but the beast’s physical eyes remained open. Still, his vision faded and his feeling dissipated as his control over his limbs was ceded to the wolf. It didn’t feel much different than falling asleep except that his body was still moving.

  For the first full moon in a long time, Aldric rested. The wolf ran through the trees, enjoying its freedom, but Aldric slept.

  Present

  Night of the Full Moon

  Cailean

  “Father,” Cailean called as Aldric opened the front door. His father closed the door with a sigh, clearly gathering from his tone that it wasn’t a quick question. Aldric squatted down in front of Cailean, dropping his bag to his side.

  “What is it, son?” His voice was gentle, but Cailean could sense a bit of exasperation behind it. It wasn’t the first, or likely even the tenth time that he’d stopped his father from leaving during the full moon. Patience was not a trait Cailean would associate with his father, especially near his transformation. Still, Cailean always managed to think of new questions just as he was about to depart.

  Staring at Cailean expectantly, Aldric pasted a fake smile onto his face, failing to cover up the sense of urgency. Searching his mind for the reason he’d stopped him, Cailean came up empty. Maybe it had just been a cry for attention, or maybe he’d just realized that his questions wouldn’t be answered anyway. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d tried, but for some reason his father was always very reserved when it came to lycanthropy.

  Past conversations ran through Cailean’s mind as he tried to find a question which he hadn’t asked before. The one thing he didn’t want to do was admit to his father that he’d distracted him without proper cause. Questions such as ‘Why are we werewolves?’, ‘When will my first transformation be?’, and ‘Why can’t I watch you turn?” had all been met with vague answers.

  As a young child, Cailean had obviously believed anything his father had told him. Recently, though, he’d started questioning everything. His first instinct was to press Aldric for more information. All he wanted was some kind of proof that the story was true because the concept of werewolves seemed completely unreasonable to him. Nonetheless, despite his refusal to explain anything thoroughly or provide evidence, Aldric seemed very set in his convictions, and Linda supported him. It also seemed to be the only way to explain how his cuts would heal instantly or why he’d never been sick like the other kids.

  Realizing that he’d been grasping for a question for a while, and the annoyance was becoming clear in his father’s eyes, Cailean snapped his attention back to the present. Cailean opened his mouth, preparing to speak, but his breath caught in his throat. His mind raced as the amount of time he’d been silent became an increasingly pressing concern.

  “Why can’t you stay here? What if I change tonight?

  “I’ve already told you why I can’t stay,” Aldric sighed heavily.

  “But…”

  “I really have to go, son,” he cut him off. Cailean silently looked down at the ground as Aldric stood and retrieved his bag. He turned and reached for the door but hesitated. With a quiet groan, he dropped the bag and turned back around.

  “Okay. If I’m here, I’ll make a lot of noise. The hunters may find us because of it. Aside from that, though it’s very unlikely, it’s possible that if I changed in the basement, I could climb the stairs and break through the door. Sure, it’s reinforced, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. In order to keep us all safe, it’s best if I change in the woods.”

  “But how will I know when it will happen?”

  “I wish I could tell you, but you won’t see it coming too far in advance – the only signs will be within a few days. It won’t be tonight, though. If I am somehow mistaken, your mother knows exactly how to handle the situation.”

  “Won’t I be loud?”

  “I’m bigger than you, buddy. I would make a significantly larger commotion. The hunters won’t find you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” Aldric assured, turning back toward the door. “It’s going to be okay, Cailean. I have everything under control. As long as you follow my instructions, the hunters won’t be a problem.”

  Aldric opened the door and stepped outside before turning around and adding, “I promise.” Cailean wasn’t entirely convinced, but he felt a bit better after the conversation. Still, something told him that was going to be the night. In preparation, Cailean sought out his mother.

  “Mom,” he called, searching the lower floor for her. After a moment, he found her sitting on the couch in the living room reading. As he walked in, she closed the book and set it on the end table near her. Stretching, she stood and yawned.

  “Is everything alright?” She asked calmly, walking toward him and squatting down to meet his eyes.

  “I think I’m going to be a werewolf.”

  “Oh yeah?” She asked.

  “Yes, I’m certain.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I don’t know,” Cailean admitted.

  “Well, if you don’t know, it probably isn’t tonight,” his mom consoled.

  “What if I want it to be?” Cailean questioned, annoyed.

  “Unfortunately, that doesn’t affect it much. Trust me, hun, there’s no rush.”

  “I want to be like .”

  “Oh, you are,” she laughed, “far more than you know.”

  “Can you at least tell me the plan?” Cailean pleaded.

  “Of course,” his mother agreed, standing tall again. She nodded toward the hallway and started walking, so Cailean matched her pace. She led him toward the living room as she spoke.

  “If you started transforming,” she started slowly and seriously, “then there is a very detailed plan in place to keep us all safe.”

  “Yeah?” Cailean asked, not bothering to mask his enthusiasm.

  “Of course,” she affirmed as they approached the basement door.

  “What is it?”

  “Well, I would pick up your little wolf pup body and throw you down the stairs like dynamite,” she informed him, her tone shifting drastically. As she finished the sentence, she picked him up and pretended to throw him down the stairs. Instead of releasing him, though, she just spun in a circle and brought him to the ground, tickling him.

  Against his will, Cailean laughed as he struggled to break free. Despite his enhanced strength, his mother was able to hold him down with relative ease. Apparently it took more than the power of a werewolf to give an eleven year old the ability to break free from his mother’s tickling. Finally, he was able to wriggle himself free and roll over his back shoulder, jumping to his feet.

  “Your shoulder rolls are getting much better,” his mom commented with a smile as she leaned back, placing her palms on the ground behind her.

  “I’ve been practicing,” Cailean admitted.

  “Cailean, don’t worry about tomorrow today,” Linda added, the laughter draining from her voice.

  “That’s not how you plan,” Cailean argued.

  “No. But it is how you live. It’s how you smile.” She leaned forward and reached up, rubbing her hand on his cheek. “Be a child, son. Before you have to be a wolf.”

  Silently, he nodded and sat down in front of her. Cailean wasn’t sure why both of his parents were so opposed to the idea of being a wolf. He thought it was an interesting idea, and it made him different from everyone else – even if he couldn’t tell them. Nonetheless, he’d given up on arguing with them.

  After a few minutes of quiet, Cailean’s mom sighed and stood up, rustling his hair. He leaned his head against her leg in a half-hearted attempt at a hug.

  “Do you want some food?” She asked.

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “That’s how I know it’s not the night,” she joked. Cailean didn’t understand what she meant, but he could tell that it was
intended to be humorous from her tone. Instead of asking for an explanation, though, he just let the meaning go over his head.

  “Come on, let’s go watch a movie,” she offered.

  “Maybe later. I just want to think a little.”

  “Okay,” she accepted sadly. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

  Cailean sat still for a few minutes after she walked away, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. He brought his hand in front of his face, staring at the back of it. Being a werewolf made him different, but he didn’t feel different. He just felt like a normal person.

  Angrily, Cailean jumped to his feet and looked toward the basement door. Closing the door behind him, he stepped onto the first stair leading down. To be cautious, he locked himself in before descending to the lower level of his house.

  “Why?” Cailean muttered under his breath. “I don’t get it.”

  Asking all the questions he could imagine to the wall, Cailean offered himself a moment of catharsis. All he wanted was to be like his father, but apparently that was too much to ask for.

  Growling, Cailean punched the brick wall in front of him. His knuckles shattered, and he yelped in pain as he pulled his fist back, shaking it violently as if that would dull the pain. Staring at the back of his hand, Cailean watched the bones move under the skin, repairing themselves. As the anger was drowned out by pain and curiosity, he watched the healing process as he sat and leaned against the wall.

  Cailean knew he was going to change that night. It didn’t matter if either of his parents believed him, he could feel it. Something was changing within him, and he had to make sure he kept his mother safe. Tomorrow, he would be able to prove that he was right. Leaning against the wall, though, Cailean felt himself growing tired and drifted off.

  ❖ ❖ ❖

  “There you are,” Cailean greeted happily. In front of him rested a small wolf, probably still a baby. The cub looked in his direction, but its eyes were still closed. He’d seen the animal in his dreams for the past few nights, and he knew it had to mean something.