Return to Lynwood, Chapter 19

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19

“Those of you staying in the Haunted Woods, I ask that you return this loot to the towns you stole it from,” Isengrim said, looking around at the piles of ill-gotten goods. “To the best of your recollection, anyhow, and without anyone seeing you. Let Lynwood lie in its memories, and go back to your old territories.”

He folded his arms behind his back. “Those of you who would like to join my pack, step forward now.”

A surprising number of Werelupes, over half of Vakhtang’s forces, moved closer to Isengrim, including the two patrollers, and the pair that had accompanied Vakhtang in the woods the day that Isengrim had first met him. Some wore uncertain looks, but they all seemed to believe that this was the right choice for them.

Isengrim’s eyes widened. While he knew he could be charismatic when he wanted to, he wasn’t expecting to have quite this kind of clout. Instinctively, he glanced down at Terra. She gave him a confident grin and squeezed his paw.

 His heart swelled. Perhaps he really was not just a Werelupe King, but the one and true Werelupe King, the only one capable of ruling his kind with fairness, compassion, and order. Neopets like Vakhtang, who used a claim to kingship as an excuse to simply amass power and control others, could never be rightful rulers.

He looked back to their new recruits and spread his arms wide. “Then I, Lord Isengrim, King of the Werelupe Woods, formally welcome you to my pack. I am happy to have you with me, and I will do everything in my power to bring you happiness and prosperity as well.”

“Begging your pardon, Your Highness,” one of the Werelupes who hadn’t opted to join him said, “but what do we do with these holdouts?” She motioned to a scowling male tied up at her side, one of several still under close guard.

“Release them,” Isengrim said.

The other Werelupes gave him shocked looks. “But they’re just as bad as Vakhtang!” one of them said.

“Only because Vakhtang brought out the worst in them,” Isengrim said. “But I am giving them another chance.” Striding over, he looked each of them in the eye. “I trust that you will at least keep their distance from the towns, and not try to exercise unjust dominion over your brothers and sisters the way Vakhtang did. Can I ask this of you?”

These Werelupes glared at him for a moment, as though they were trying to be angry with him but were mostly just confused. “Fine,” one of them finally spat. “Whatever, just let us leave!”

“As you wish,” Isengrim said. He drew his knife and cut their bonds, then stood back.

The Werelupes rubbed their wrists, looked around at the others, and then turned and scampered off across the lawn, toward the woods.

“At any rate,” Isengrim said to the Werelupes who remained, “I also trust that if they overstep their bounds, you will act to stop them.”

“Definitely,” one of them said.

The Werelupe King smiled. “Well, I think that just about covers everything. My pack and I will be on our way, then. Good hunting, brothers and sisters.”

“Good hunting, Lord Isengrim,” many of them said in reply, and slowly they dispersed, moving to the piles of loot to try to figure out what came from which town.

“Lexora,” Isengrim said as he and his now many followers began to migrate toward the trees, “would it be an inconvenience to ask you to accompany us to Neovia? I would like to take care of Vakhtang before anything else.”

“Not at all,” the Kougra said. Isengrim was happy to see her so chipper, marching alongside Suhel at a clip that allowed her to keep up with the Werelupes’ long strides, the tip of her tail swishing contentedly. “I can even send a Weewoo to Beoffrey asking him to meet me there and take me back to Barrowmere. I’m not sure the townsfolk are quite ready to see any more Werelupes yet.”

“Good point,” Isengrim grunted with a nod.

“Not to mention I could probably find a good souvenir there,” Lexora added. “With all of this mess, I completely forgot about that over these past few days.”

Isengrim glanced over at Suhel, and the two shared a knowing smile, having both had the same idea. “Actually,” Isengrim said, “I do not believe you will have to search any further.” Reaching up to his arm, he untied one of the strings of fangs that hung there and gave it to Suhel, who presented it to Lexora.

“It is a mark of your bravery,” Suhel explained, “and also marks you as a friend of Werelupekind. It is a rare badge of honour for non-Werelupes.”

Lexora’s eyes lit up as she gingerly took the fangs, inspecting them in her paws for a moment before tying them around her neck—with their difference in size, an arm band for Isengrim made a perfect necklace for a slim Kougra woman. “Thank you,” she said. “I shall treasure it always. As I will the memories of this adventure.”

“So will I,” Suhel said. “And you and your family are welcome to visit the Burrows any time. Then, it will be our turn to cook you a feast!”

“Oh, the boys would love that!” Lexora said with a laugh. “But don’t think I’ve forgotten that I’ve invited you over for more breakfasts, too!”

“Of course,” Isengrim said. “It will have to be a required stop every time we are in the Haunted Woods.” Just the thought of Beoffrey’s cooking made the Werelupe’s mouth water.

As they reached the trees, Isengrim glanced over at Connor to see the boy eying the loop of fangs still tied around Isengrim’s other arm. “… Do I get one of those?” the young Werelupe finally asked once they were in the undergrowth.

Isengrim smiled down at him. “I think you have shown your bravery admirably lately. But for you and our new brothers and sisters, I would like to hold a proper induction ceremony once we return to the Burrows. Don’t worry,” he added to the others, “it involves plenty of meat.”

Murmurs of agreement rose up immediately. Isengrim particularly liked that part himself, but then he looked over at the owner who rode on the Ganuthor at his side. “Or peas, if that is your preference,” he said.

Terra shot him a grin. “I’m pretty sure they all like meat, though,” she said.

“I wanted to leave the option open,” he said, “just in case.”

“An induction ceremony?” Connor asked. “I’m… not quite sure I want to be part of your pack, yet…”

“I understand,” Isengrim said.

“But… I would like to stay with you for a bit,” Connor said. “You’ve got me curious about the Burrows now… and I have to admit, I really like the idea of havin’ me own laboratory.” A frown passed over his face, undoubtedly at the memory of his destroyed garden shed. “Who knows… maybe I could be the one to discover the Werelupe cure.” His fists clenched. “Maybe a cursebreaker can’t help me… but that doesn’t mean I’m givin’ up.”

Isengrim nodded. “I will be frank—the rest of my pack rather enjoys being Werelupes,” he said. “But I am sure that is not the case for every Werelupe in Neopia. My old court conjurer probably would have changed back, given the chance.” He sighed, still having difficulty coming to terms with Skoll’s betrayal. It had hurt everyone in the pack, and Isengrim would never understand why some Neopets were so maliciously self-centered and vengeful.

“I will support you in your research,” he said. “It sounds as if you are working hard to further advancements in your field, and doing what you love, and that is just what every scientist should do, I think.”

“Thank you, sir,” Connor said. “I’m excited to see what the Burrows is like. Are there really crystal caverns there?”

“Aye, that there are,” Suhel said. “They’re right gorgeous! I’m sure you could figure out a way to use some of the crystals, too.”

“You never know what sort of properties they might have,” Connor said.

A sound like a thousand claws tapping softly on wood told Isengrim it had started raining. The noise came from raindrops plunking onto leaves in the canopy, and after a few moments the water made its way down to the forest floor, dripping onto everyone’s heads.

Isengrim took one last look over his shoulder at Lynwood. They had rid the place of both a physical threat and an old curse, and now the stark grey building simply stood silent in the rising mist, waiting to be slowly reclaimed by the earth. But the friendships forged due to Lynwood’s influence would last forever.

As he turned back to look at the forest ahead, the expression on Terra’s face caught his eye. She rode behind Pharazon, deep in thought, her eyes trained on the trees.

Isengrim leaned closer to the Ganuthor. “Is something bothering you?” he asked his owner.

She glanced over at him. “Well…” She bit her bottom lip. “This is going to sound kind of stupid, but…” Pharazon turned to her, and she said, “I’m glad I’m a cursebreaker and all, but it sort of makes me a little sad. I almost feel like I’m just special because I’m a cursebreaker, not because of who I am as a person. I feel… quantified, if that makes any sense.”

Isengrim put an arm around her shoulders. “That’s not true at all,” he said. “You are wonderful because you are Terra, cursebreaker or no.”

“I wouldn’t think about it too much,” Pharazon said. “’Cursebreaker’ is just a name given to a phenomenon, and you know how scholars like to label and categorise things. I’ve sort of got a hunch that it’s not really a magic power so much as it is an inherent part of yourself, Terra. You’re a cursebreaker because of who you are—not the other way around. It can’t be quantified and I don’t think it was ever meant to be.”

Terra smiled. “Thanks.” After a moment where they just rode in silence, she reached up and gave Isengrim’s paw a squeeze. “You know… I think I might know what it is.”

“Oh?” Pharazon asked.

“It’s love,” Terra said. “Like you said before… I love things into getting better, and I think I inspire others to do the same.” She looked back at Suhel and Lexora, who were chatting and laughing, off in their own little world of sisterhood. Still holding on to Isengrim’s paw, Terra gave her Draik a one-armed hug. “Love is the great healer.”

Pharazon laughed. “Then no wonder the scholars can’t explain it.”

“That makes sense to me,” Isengrim said. As they walked through the autumn rain, he felt very fortunate indeed to be surrounded by loving family and friends, and to serve them as their king. All was right, and with all of them working together and looking out for each other, he felt no curse could ever touch them again.

The End