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I can assure you that the initial prologue and three chapters will probably seem rather dull for most, and I apologize in advance for that. But once things get rolling, it is designed to be very interactive and action packed. The main character is indeed one of my main fursonas, so these stories are a reflection of things that I would do in this campaign/series. I hope you grow to enjoy it and continue following the series :D\n\nJude Magress was just a simple 21 year old youth living a pleasant life until his world became flipped upside down upon realizing he was a werewolf. Leaving his home to set off on a quest of self discovery and learn to control his wolfish side, Jude will face great perils/challenges and come across new friends in his journey to correct the mess that has plagued his family for years and make his mark as a servant of the realm.\n\nHaving fled his cell into the dead of night, Jude rushes through the streets and alleyway to find his contact and flee from Valenhold before the guards find him. ", "description_bbcode_parsed": "This is an adventure series that follows a young werewolf over the span of a world. I can assure you that the initial prologue and three chapters will probably seem rather dull for most, and I apologize in advance for that. But once things get rolling, it is designed to be very interactive and action packed. The main character is indeed one of my main fursonas, so these stories are a reflection of things that I would do in this campaign/series. I hope you grow to enjoy it and continue following the series :D

Jude Magress was just a simple 21 year old youth living a pleasant life until his world became flipped upside down upon realizing he was a werewolf. Leaving his home to set off on a quest of self discovery and learn to control his wolfish side, Jude will face great perils/challenges and come across new friends in his journey to correct the mess that has plagued his family for years and make his mark as a servant of the realm.

Having fled his cell into the dead of night, Jude rushes through the streets and alleyway to find his contact and flee from Valenhold before the guards find him. ", "writing": "Chapter 4: The Beast is Loose\n\n\tJude's feet ached against the hard gravel streets with each passing step as he spread the distance from his prison. Sweat dripped down his brow from the exertion he was emitting, yet his body showed no signs of slowing down from fatigue. If he stopped for even a moment too soon, he knew the outcome already; the guards would kill him on sight as a fugitive. Kicking a basket to the side and pushing against the weaving walls for added momentum, the scared boy kept running. \n\n\tRounding a corner and pacing down a walkway to one of the housing districts, Jude kept a constant eye open for anyone clad in armor or wielding a weapon. Archers were still positioned to guard the walls, but the streets and alleyways were tight enough to obscure their view for now. The shadows were his friend now. They would shield him from the light and cloak him from prying eyes in his escape. The boy grabbed a side post to redirect himself into the next alleyway as continued on, not stopping his pace for a moment until he suddenly felt a hand extend from a dark corner and yank him by the neck into the darkness. Jude tried yell from the spook, but a black gloved hand quickly muffled the cry. \"Ssshhh...\" was all he heard from behind as he stared forward to see another city guard run past their position, oblivious to their presence. Slowly while still restrained, the boy was turned around to be staring face-to-face with a hooded man. The figure was much taller than him, decked in a black vest and robe while his face was covered with a blood red scarf, leaving only a pair of beady eyes to stare back. A black gloved finger was raised in front of his face to signal Jude to remain silent for now, as he was still being hunted. \"Do you know where the city chapel is, Jude?,\" questioned the mysterious man as the grit could be heard in his voice. Cautiously, the boy nodded in reply. \"Good. Stick close to me and you'll be out of the city soon enough.\" Releasing his grip from the boy's mouth, he stepped out into the light street has he motioned with a hand to the western wall and started jogging in that direction, leaving Jude to follow. \n\n\tThe mystery man's pace was easy to stay with, but despite seeing him in boots, Jude was amazed to not here a peep come from them with each step against the hard pavement. They hugged the wall as they brushed past several vendor stalls and trash cans, approaching another big street separating them from the western side district. Checking a few times around the edge as his hood brushed the side wall, the man watched as a patrol met up with two more guards on horseback, most likely reporting any sightings. \"We'll head through the alleyway till we reach the side wall,\" he muttered to Jude over his shoulder as the boy checked back occasionally to see if anyone was following. \"Once you see the wall, run along the side southward till you reach the back of the chapel, but DON'T go inside. Understand?\"\n\n\tJude's nerves had been gripping him since Master Cicero handed him the parcel he carried and told him what to do. Was this really a dream, or was he now a fugitive from his own people? He was still coming to grips with the situation and the jitters in his shoulders kept from thinking straight. What did he do to deserve this? Taking a shaking hand to his head, the youth washed another load of sweat from his face with his dirty ragged hand. \"Jude, do you understand?!?\", barked the hooded man in a still muffled voice. Jude could only look up and shake his head up and down uncontrollably. In an instant, a gloved arm grabbed him along the shoulder and shoved him back first into the wall as the man leveled his head to the boy's face. \"Listen to me, boy. You're scared, I know it. I can sense it in your breath and movements. But that's not the Jude Cicero told me I was going to be helping this night.\" Looking over his shoulder at the street, the hooded man stared back at Jude and continued. \"He spoke highly of you, said you were strong willed and you didn't get phased easily. Yet all I see is a cornered mouse scurrying away from a hungry cat. You better than this. Show me...your better than this.\" As the figure released Jude and he quickly caught his breath, the boy shook his head to refocus. He thought back to his father's teachings, about how to cope with stress and control his emotions. They were the sign of a great warrior and person who could master his senses and know how to keep them in check. Taking a deep breath as the man looked back down the street to see the patrol heading toward the eastern sector, Jude exhaled with closed eyes as he found his centered and calmed himself. Within seconds, he could no longer feel the nerves taking hold; his hearing heightened from the sounds he heard around him, albeit very little noise, and he could sense a strong scent of incense coming from the chapel that was a block away. Opening his eyes, Jude turned to the hooded man with a determined gaze and nodded that he understood. With a friendly gruff escaping his masked mouth, the figure patted the youth on the shoulder. \"That's the spirit. Now then, on my mark, head in that direction to the chapel. And don't stop running, even for me.\" As the braced their legs against the ground, the man peered around the corner one final time before barking \"Go\", and the two were off like phantoms as they flashed across the open street.\n\n\tJude picked up speed quickly with each step as he skidded past manholes and shop doors through the narrow alleyway. His pace was remarkable, now leaving the black figure in the dust as he approached the stone wall ahead, separating him from the outside forest that lied to the west and the vast lake that cut off the castle northward, running a stream through the western and eastern gated entrances to Valenhold. Remember what he was told, the boy splattered his clothed hands against the cold stone to stop his momentum. He then darted along its border southward past a lush garden till he saw a forked walkway path that lead to back of the chapel. Jude didn't bother looking behind himself the whole time, hoping that the hooded man was still following him and praying they hadn't been spotted yet. Almost there, he thought to himself as slid along the chilly pavement to round the final bend till at last, he had arrived at the back entrance to the chapel. Jude had mainly done his praying with his family back at the keep and home, remembering what his father told him every evening. \"Honor the gods in all that you do, Jude. They are always there, watching your every action. Be it they act with you or against you, it is our duty to ask for their blessing every day. Heed their words and signs, and they will not lead you astray from the right path.\" The boy marveled at the man he could call his father, smiling as he pictured his figure before him as he closed his eyes. Jude would feel nothing greater in life than to be the same man his father once was, or still is. Yet he knew in the present, he was nowhere near his father in that regard. But someday, he would hope to be there, standing side by side with him to get that sense of acknowledgement. Shaking out of his trance, the boy stared forward at the image he thought to be his father, but instead shifted to reveal the hooded man once again standing with him. \n\n\t\"How are your feet, Jude?\" questioned the cloaked man with a hint of concern as he pointed down below Jude. As the youth looked down, he nearly gasped at the sight. His feet were nearly torn up from the cold pavement that slit several openings along his soles, the blood meshing with the black debris as it smeared across his pads. Yet surprisingly, Jude barely felt a thing. The pain was minor, but he figured it was from the adrenaline rush he had with running nonstop. The boy took a few rock shards out that punctured the skin before confirming with his follower that he was fine. Suddenly, he was nearly taken off his feet as the hooded man swooped over and pulled him close against the chapel, making sure to be on the side out of view of the door as they heard footsteps approach from the side path. Someone was coming.\n\n\tThe figure slowly began unsheathing his short sword from his left side, but instantly clipped it back in place when he heard a young girl's voice come from the path. \"Is anyone there?,\" the girl spoke as Jude's ears perked up from recognizing it. That sounded like May, the nurse that tended to him in his cell. But why is she over here at this time of night? Jude pondered. She lives on the eastern side and the guards are going to arrest her for curfew if she stays out this late.\n\n\tSensing no real threat, Jude emerged from the shadows to greet her, nearly startling the poor lass. \"Jude?!? W-what are you doing here?,\" May said in a shaken tone as she, taking a few steps back towards the street. \n\n\t\"O I'm just going out for a jog, is all,\" Jude replied as he scratched the back of his head. \"But I can't talk out in the open while the guards are out. Come over here.\" He motioned to her with a hand as she followed cautiously around the chapel corner. No sooner did she see the large hooded man hugging the side wall did she try to shriek, but his gloved hand quickly put that to rest. \"Relax May, he's a friend,\" Jude reassured her as the figure nodded and lowered his glove. \"He won't hurt you; I trust him.\"\n\n\tThe girl shook her clothes in annoyance at the shady business she was now a part of. Meeting someone she just saw locked up 24 hours ago out roaming the streets at night. And here she was chatting with him. Thank the gods no one else wasn't looking, she prayed. Taking a few minutes while Jude's \"friend\" kept watch, the boy quickly gave May the rundown of the events that happened after she left. \n\n\t\"That's god awful,\" May said as she stared in shock at what Jude just learnt. \"So Cicero wants you to leave the city tonight?\"\n\n\t\"That's right. It's why this man is helping get to the western gate, and how you ran into me over here. I think he's an associate of Master Cicero, but he hasn't said anything about it.\" Jude took her hand as he continued. \"The point is I need you to sneak back home May. It's not safe here and something bad can happen to you if you're seen helping me escape. I won't let that happen to you, not after how you nursed me back during those past few days of torture.\"\n\n\t\"Stop it Jude, don't say things like that,\" the girl protested as she slapped his hand loose. May was quite defiant when she wanted to be it seems. \"I thought you were innocent the whole time this mess unfolded, just like Cicero, Lord Stark, and Marcus believed. Father said the accusations were rubbish too. We all believe you, especially since you're a kid like me. They said a beast killed those nobles. You're not a monster, Jude.\" May clasped her hands around him a warm embrace as Jude wept briefly at her heartfelt words. \"Please, Jude, I want to help. What can I do?,\" she remarked as she stepped back to share a smile with her friend and wipe away his tears with her apron. \n\n\t\"Thank you May,\" replied the youth as he re-gathered himself. \"I don't suppose you have any shoes I can use?\"\n\n\tDespite the figure's protest that they needed to get moving again, Jude told he needed just a few more minutes as May mentioned that she could get a pair from the chapel closet. \"It'll only take a moment and Father Gregor won't mind. He's always happy to lend a hand if he can to anyone.\" The young girl told the two to wait here as she rushed to the back door entrance and went off to the closet, leaving the two fugitives to stare at each other. \n\n\t\"We can't wait any longer Jude, I'm sorry,\" the hooded man said as grabbed Jude by the arm and yanked him towards the chapel side. With a sad nod in compliance, the boy glanced back at the red door before following the hooded man toward the street. I know she wants to help, but it's not safe here. At least that'll give me the time to leave without making her worry. She'll understand, I hope.\n\n\tThe streets were hardly lit with torches from the guards and posts that dotted each site now around the castle. Two archers paced along the scaffold that resided above the steel gate, keeping a watchful eye with little light as the peered over the wall and down the street. A few foot soldiers stood at their posts on each side of the gate, short swords at their sides and a torch in one hand as they waited. After surveying the site around a building corner, the hooded man turned to Jude to tell him the plan. \"The guards aren't as packed over here yet, probably because the prison is on other side of the castle. I'll have you go first to draw their attention. I'll only need a minute to get behind and disarm them.\" \n\n\t\"So you want me to be the bait?\" Jude grumbled at the plan, but even he had to agree it would be very effective if done right. \"But what if they attack me on sight?\"\n\n\t\"Relax, you won't be going entirely defenseless. My partner is standing by to down the archers above while I handle the gate guards. Here you go.\" Moving a free arm to his undercoat, the figure unsheathed another short sword and extended the hilt to Jude. \"Cicero said your father trained you in swordplay. Use this to defend yourself, if necessary.\" Giving it a quick swing to the side to unwind his sword arm, Jude held the blade to his side. \"Thank you, sir. I'll be careful,\" Jude replied with a determined expression. Nodding back to the youth, they walked forth towards the western gate. \n\n\t\"Halt civilian,\" barked one of the gate guards as he walked forward. \"Identify yourself.\" The light from the torch rose up from the figure's feet until it eventually showed Jude's face with a cheeky smile. \"Hey, that's the prisoner. And he's armed.\" The startled guard raised his short sword towards the boy as the wall archers began to readied their bows. \"Prisoner, drop your weapon now and surrender! This doesn't have to get ugly.\" Jude already knew he'd be executed if captured again, so he defiantly stood his ground with the short sword still at his side. \n\n\t\"Stop! Don't you dare hurt him!,\" yelled a girl from behind Jude as they all turned in the voice's direction to see May running out of the chapel. The boy was stunned to see the young nurse's persistence to help him as she rushed in between him and the guard. \"Jude is innocent. You have the wrong man.\"\n\n\t\"Madam please step aside. This man is a criminal and an escaped prisoner. By order of the Inquisitor and Lord Bryce, he's supposed to be captured on sight. Now move aside!\"\n\n\t\"No! My father is a noble too. He'll have you all discharged when he hears what you're doing to my friend,\" pleaded May as she turned back to her friend. \"Get going Jude, while you still can!\"\n\n\tJude snapped his head back in annoyance at the stubborn girl. \"Damn it May, I told you to-\". Suddenly his line was cut short as he saw the hooded man instantly blink out of the shadows. In a split-second, the figure had already flanked the rear guard, his blade at his throat. \"Drop your weapon now and order your archers to stand down,\" he spoke in a cold-blooded tone, like a snake just moments from clamping its jaws into its prey. \n\n\t\"Arch-GGGUUUHH!\" His voice was cut short as a second blade pierced backside and exited out his leather chest, blood spilling to the city streets as he gurgled his last words. Jude's friends seized the moment as already a second figure emerged from the nearby roof in similar attire. It lunged in one leap to the rafters as one of the archers drew his own sword to defend himself.\n\n\t\"It's ambush! Sound the alarm!,\" barked the lead gate guard. The other archer blew his horn to call for aid as the other held off the mysterious figure. This was it. Jude had to escape now before the other patrols arrived, but the iron gate was still shut. \"Head for the gate Jude!,\" motioned the other figure as he engaged the other guards. \"Pull the lever on the end while we hold them off!\" Steel clashed as swords met between two guards attacking the mystery man as he gave one a good roundhouse kick, sending him tumbling into the side of a building.\n\n\tJude saw the lever, the guards being too busy defending themselves to keep watch of it. However, before he could bolt for it, May grabbed him by the side. \"Jude, take this with you. It's the least I can do.\" Looking like a bag of herbs, the boy quickly tossed it in his bag as he gave her a farewell hug. \n\n\t\"I promise I'll come back soon May. I'll find a way to fix this so I can come back home.\"\n\n\t\"I'll hold you to it, Jude. Please stay safe and may the gods watch over you,\" she replied with a tear along her cheek. The boy nodded with a warm smile as he turned and rushed toward the gate. The iron lever was bolted down in place, making it difficult to move. Taking both hands along the grip, he yanked back as hard as he could, only raising the gate a foot before it fell back into place. He tried again, but it still wouldn't budge; the bolted lock was too strong to break. The boy gave a good swing on the side with his blade, but it simply dinged off it. Suddenly, a shriek could be heard from behind as Jude about-faced. His face went pale at the sight. May struggled under the cold grip of her captor as a knight in ebony armor held her in the air by her neck-cloth. \n\n\t\"MAY!\" the boy screamed as he stared down the foe with a glare of anger. \n\n\t\"Well, isn't this rich,\" the knight jested in an eerie tone. \"Looks like one of the shepherds sheep got lost.\" Turning to face his hostage, he laughed. \"Didn't your father ever tell you not to run around at night? The big bad wolf might come and eat you if you aren't careful, heh heh.\"\n\n\t\"Let her go, you bastard! I'm the one you want. She has nothing to do with this!,\" yelled Jude as he approached the ebony knight.\n\n\t\"Hold it, not a step further boy. I might just snap her pretty, little neck if I drop her.\"\n\n\tJude gritted his teeth. He couldn't risk him injuring her, so he held off his advance. \"That's a good boy. Now toss that blade over, and no funny business.\" With a glance to his side, the blade clashed against the rocky street as it bounced at the knight's feet. \"See, look how easy that was. Now then...\" The knight lowered May to her feet to let her go, but paused as he noticed another gate guard approach Jude with sword in front. \"Hold up!\" the knight barked as the guard stared over. \"I'll handle him personally. After all, you got off easy with that old Inquisitor beating you. And my lord wouldn't bat an eye if I 'accidentally' killed you while trying to bring you in, heh heh.\"\n\n\tThe knight drew his ebony long sword forth as he marched at Jude, flicking his blade in the air with each step. However after a few steps, he stopped as a large rock smacked the back of his helmet, sending a loud ring in his ears. \"Turning around with glaring visor, May pelted him again with more rocks from the street as he cursed at her under his breath. \"Why you...\" he remarked as in an instant he charged the girl and gave her a swift kick to her chest with his metal boot. May's eyes must've went white in her sockets as she bounced along the street a few times before stopping on her side, leaving a stunned onlooker to rush to her aid from the chapel steps. \n\n\t\"MAY!\" screamed Jude at the top of his lungs as he blindly charged the knight.\n\n\t\"Insolent boy,\" the knight muttered as he swung his blade around at the boy. Jude utilized his training and dodge-rolled under the swing, rolling just past the knights legs as he braced the floor with his hands and swept the knight off his feet with a trip. As his foe tried to rise up, Jude took his chance to grab back his sword. The rage had already begun to take over the boy as he swung violently at the knight, but each time had his blade parried with ease. The ebony warrior countered his next slash by slamming his fist forward into Jude's chest, knocking him to his knees and the sword to the ground. \n\n\tStanding over the winded youth in triumph, the knight chuckled under his breath as he asked the boy to make his peace and beg for him. A ferocious growl escaped Jude's mouth in defiance. Raising his blade over head, the burly warrior rained it down in one swift motion as two hands came up to grab the weapon in place. Slowly, the blade was pushed back up as Jude raised his head up to meet his foe, staring into the visor with now fiery amber eyes and sharp rows of teeth in his mouth. In an instant, with blood dripping from his hand grip, a primal rage began to sweep over the boy as he roared in fury at his foe. Muscle began to explode for along his body as he rose in height to the size of the knight before him. Jude hurled the warrior to the side with his new found strength with ease, and shattered the blade in two as his grew in padding and razor claws along his fingers. The changes rapidly accelerated as his body temp rose to intense levels. His chest began to barrel outward as he became a foot taller, ripping whatever rags he had left to shreds as his skin became enveloped in thickening strands of russet-brown fur. The creature reared forward for a moment as his legs lengthened underneath to give him another six inches as he continued to grow and pack on muscle. A tail now swooshed behind his frame as course hair quickly engulfed it. Gritting his teeth, he yowled as his mouth pushed painfully forward into a lupine muzzle and his ears being stretched to the top of his head. Finally, a spark of magic along his wrist-fur could be seen as silver-etchings marked a spiked cuff pattern around each wrist and some additional silver markings became tattooed along his back.\n\n\tShaking off the blow, the ebony knight had risen to his feet, but instead of seeing the enraged boy before was now staring up at a massive 8 foot tall werewolf. \"My god...it really is the beast,\" the knight now muttered to himself with a hint of fear in his words. Calling for the nearby scared guard to toss him his sword, he charged with a hearty yell, swinging a strong vertical slice toward the creature's head as it stared with a hunger in its eyes. Jude's friends, who had already killed or knocked out the remaining guards, could only stare in awe as the foolish knight lunged for the kill. \n\n\tThe fight was over in a flash as the beast raised it's arm to block the blow, the shabby weapon not able to leave a dent through the thick muscle. In a single rotation, the werewolf flung the blade to the side with one arm and followed up with a vice-like hold around the knight's exposed neck, hoisting him with ease off the ground. It gave a deep growl as it flashed it knife-like teeth at the scared man, struggling to break out of the beast's hold. In one clean motion, the wolf slammed its skull like a battering ram into the knight's visor over and over until the head hung back and dropped the helmet. Looking at the life drain from his foe's face, the werewolf lunged its maw forward and clamped hard along the side of his prey's neck and blood spilled forth and into his waiting maw. Growling as it stared down the dying man, the warrior slowly choked out his final sounds as the beast tore off the side of his neck and tossing his lifeless body to the ground. \n\n\tCrimson liquid spilled across the street as the beast let out a deep gut-wrenching howl to the skies. Turning around, it then came face-to-face with a mob of other guards who had arrived just a moment ago to help, but now stood petrified at the horror scene. Was this the beast that slew those nobles? Each of the soldiers shook in their boots as the werewolf gazed across the row while licking the fresh paint from his lips. With each step it took toward them, they took one back, all while the mystery man worked to free the gate lever behind them. By the gods...Jude is a werewolf?!? the hooded figure thought to himself as he worked the lever. Unbelievable...\n\n\tMeanwhile as the seconds past, the standoff continued, though neither human would dare challenge the creature before them. Suddenly, as the werewolf licked his chops again, it actually spoke out to the men, but in deep and barbaric voice that Jude could never replicate as a human. \"So....which one of you are next?,\" challenged the werewolf as it hunched forward and grinded its sharp claws against a building wall. \n\n\tAfter a brief silence, each guard glancing around with shaking heads, a reply came echoing from behind their ranks. \"Aye accept yer challenge, beast.\"\n\n\tThe ranks split to the sides to make way for the man. Striding forward was the warrior, decked in dark emerald plate mail and sporting a longsword on his side belt. He had a large frame compared to the ebony knight and stood just above six feet in height. Yet the most striking part of him was his face. The red-haired warrior trudged forth to a halt as he stroked his scruffy red beard, sizing up the competition before him as he stared a stoic gaze into the amber eyes of the wolf. \"I'll be your opponent this evening\" remarked the Inquisitor. \n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Chapter 4: The Beast is Loose

\tJude's feet ached against the hard gravel streets with each passing step as he spread the distance from his prison. Sweat dripped down his brow from the exertion he was emitting, yet his body showed no signs of slowing down from fatigue. If he stopped for even a moment too soon, he knew the outcome already; the guards would kill him on sight as a fugitive. Kicking a basket to the side and pushing against the weaving walls for added momentum, the scared boy kept running.

\tRounding a corner and pacing down a walkway to one of the housing districts, Jude kept a constant eye open for anyone clad in armor or wielding a weapon. Archers were still positioned to guard the walls, but the streets and alleyways were tight enough to obscure their view for now. The shadows were his friend now. They would shield him from the light and cloak him from prying eyes in his escape. The boy grabbed a side post to redirect himself into the next alleyway as continued on, not stopping his pace for a moment until he suddenly felt a hand extend from a dark corner and yank him by the neck into the darkness. Jude tried yell from the spook, but a black gloved hand quickly muffled the cry. "Ssshhh..." was all he heard from behind as he stared forward to see another city guard run past their position, oblivious to their presence. Slowly while still restrained, the boy was turned around to be staring face-to-face with a hooded man. The figure was much taller than him, decked in a black vest and robe while his face was covered with a blood red scarf, leaving only a pair of beady eyes to stare back. A black gloved finger was raised in front of his face to signal Jude to remain silent for now, as he was still being hunted. "Do you know where the city chapel is, Jude?," questioned the mysterious man as the grit could be heard in his voice. Cautiously, the boy nodded in reply. "Good. Stick close to me and you'll be out of the city soon enough." Releasing his grip from the boy's mouth, he stepped out into the light street has he motioned with a hand to the western wall and started jogging in that direction, leaving Jude to follow.

\tThe mystery man's pace was easy to stay with, but despite seeing him in boots, Jude was amazed to not here a peep come from them with each step against the hard pavement. They hugged the wall as they brushed past several vendor stalls and trash cans, approaching another big street separating them from the western side district. Checking a few times around the edge as his hood brushed the side wall, the man watched as a patrol met up with two more guards on horseback, most likely reporting any sightings. "We'll head through the alleyway till we reach the side wall," he muttered to Jude over his shoulder as the boy checked back occasionally to see if anyone was following. "Once you see the wall, run along the side southward till you reach the back of the chapel, but DON'T go inside. Understand?"

\tJude's nerves had been gripping him since Master Cicero handed him the parcel he carried and told him what to do. Was this really a dream, or was he now a fugitive from his own people? He was still coming to grips with the situation and the jitters in his shoulders kept from thinking straight. What did he do to deserve this? Taking a shaking hand to his head, the youth washed another load of sweat from his face with his dirty ragged hand. "Jude, do you understand?!?", barked the hooded man in a still muffled voice. Jude could only look up and shake his head up and down uncontrollably. In an instant, a gloved arm grabbed him along the shoulder and shoved him back first into the wall as the man leveled his head to the boy's face. "Listen to me, boy. You're scared, I know it. I can sense it in your breath and movements. But that's not the Jude Cicero told me I was going to be helping this night." Looking over his shoulder at the street, the hooded man stared back at Jude and continued. "He spoke highly of you, said you were strong willed and you didn't get phased easily. Yet all I see is a cornered mouse scurrying away from a hungry cat. You better than this. Show me...your better than this." As the figure released Jude and he quickly caught his breath, the boy shook his head to refocus. He thought back to his father's teachings, about how to cope with stress and control his emotions. They were the sign of a great warrior and person who could master his senses and know how to keep them in check. Taking a deep breath as the man looked back down the street to see the patrol heading toward the eastern sector, Jude exhaled with closed eyes as he found his centered and calmed himself. Within seconds, he could no longer feel the nerves taking hold; his hearing heightened from the sounds he heard around him, albeit very little noise, and he could sense a strong scent of incense coming from the chapel that was a block away. Opening his eyes, Jude turned to the hooded man with a determined gaze and nodded that he understood. With a friendly gruff escaping his masked mouth, the figure patted the youth on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. Now then, on my mark, head in that direction to the chapel. And don't stop running, even for me." As the braced their legs against the ground, the man peered around the corner one final time before barking "Go", and the two were off like phantoms as they flashed across the open street.

\tJude picked up speed quickly with each step as he skidded past manholes and shop doors through the narrow alleyway. His pace was remarkable, now leaving the black figure in the dust as he approached the stone wall ahead, separating him from the outside forest that lied to the west and the vast lake that cut off the castle northward, running a stream through the western and eastern gated entrances to Valenhold. Remember what he was told, the boy splattered his clothed hands against the cold stone to stop his momentum. He then darted along its border southward past a lush garden till he saw a forked walkway path that lead to back of the chapel. Jude didn't bother looking behind himself the whole time, hoping that the hooded man was still following him and praying they hadn't been spotted yet. Almost there, he thought to himself as slid along the chilly pavement to round the final bend till at last, he had arrived at the back entrance to the chapel. Jude had mainly done his praying with his family back at the keep and home, remembering what his father told him every evening. "Honor the gods in all that you do, Jude. They are always there, watching your every action. Be it they act with you or against you, it is our duty to ask for their blessing every day. Heed their words and signs, and they will not lead you astray from the right path." The boy marveled at the man he could call his father, smiling as he pictured his figure before him as he closed his eyes. Jude would feel nothing greater in life than to be the same man his father once was, or still is. Yet he knew in the present, he was nowhere near his father in that regard. But someday, he would hope to be there, standing side by side with him to get that sense of acknowledgement. Shaking out of his trance, the boy stared forward at the image he thought to be his father, but instead shifted to reveal the hooded man once again standing with him.

\t"How are your feet, Jude?" questioned the cloaked man with a hint of concern as he pointed down below Jude. As the youth looked down, he nearly gasped at the sight. His feet were nearly torn up from the cold pavement that slit several openings along his soles, the blood meshing with the black debris as it smeared across his pads. Yet surprisingly, Jude barely felt a thing. The pain was minor, but he figured it was from the adrenaline rush he had with running nonstop. The boy took a few rock shards out that punctured the skin before confirming with his follower that he was fine. Suddenly, he was nearly taken off his feet as the hooded man swooped over and pulled him close against the chapel, making sure to be on the side out of view of the door as they heard footsteps approach from the side path. Someone was coming.

\tThe figure slowly began unsheathing his short sword from his left side, but instantly clipped it back in place when he heard a young girl's voice come from the path. "Is anyone there?," the girl spoke as Jude's ears perked up from recognizing it. That sounded like May, the nurse that tended to him in his cell. But why is she over here at this time of night? Jude pondered. She lives on the eastern side and the guards are going to arrest her for curfew if she stays out this late.

\tSensing no real threat, Jude emerged from the shadows to greet her, nearly startling the poor lass. "Jude?!? W-what are you doing here?," May said in a shaken tone as she, taking a few steps back towards the street.

\t"O I'm just going out for a jog, is all," Jude replied as he scratched the back of his head. "But I can't talk out in the open while the guards are out. Come over here." He motioned to her with a hand as she followed cautiously around the chapel corner. No sooner did she see the large hooded man hugging the side wall did she try to shriek, but his gloved hand quickly put that to rest. "Relax May, he's a friend," Jude reassured her as the figure nodded and lowered his glove. "He won't hurt you; I trust him."

\tThe girl shook her clothes in annoyance at the shady business she was now a part of. Meeting someone she just saw locked up 24 hours ago out roaming the streets at night. And here she was chatting with him. Thank the gods no one else wasn't looking, she prayed. Taking a few minutes while Jude's "friend" kept watch, the boy quickly gave May the rundown of the events that happened after she left.

\t"That's god awful," May said as she stared in shock at what Jude just learnt. "So Cicero wants you to leave the city tonight?"

\t"That's right. It's why this man is helping get to the western gate, and how you ran into me over here. I think he's an associate of Master Cicero, but he hasn't said anything about it." Jude took her hand as he continued. "The point is I need you to sneak back home May. It's not safe here and something bad can happen to you if you're seen helping me escape. I won't let that happen to you, not after how you nursed me back during those past few days of torture."

\t"Stop it Jude, don't say things like that," the girl protested as she slapped his hand loose. May was quite defiant when she wanted to be it seems. "I thought you were innocent the whole time this mess unfolded, just like Cicero, Lord Stark, and Marcus believed. Father said the accusations were rubbish too. We all believe you, especially since you're a kid like me. They said a beast killed those nobles. You're not a monster, Jude." May clasped her hands around him a warm embrace as Jude wept briefly at her heartfelt words. "Please, Jude, I want to help. What can I do?," she remarked as she stepped back to share a smile with her friend and wipe away his tears with her apron.

\t"Thank you May," replied the youth as he re-gathered himself. "I don't suppose you have any shoes I can use?"

\tDespite the figure's protest that they needed to get moving again, Jude told he needed just a few more minutes as May mentioned that she could get a pair from the chapel closet. "It'll only take a moment and Father Gregor won't mind. He's always happy to lend a hand if he can to anyone." The young girl told the two to wait here as she rushed to the back door entrance and went off to the closet, leaving the two fugitives to stare at each other.

\t"We can't wait any longer Jude, I'm sorry," the hooded man said as grabbed Jude by the arm and yanked him towards the chapel side. With a sad nod in compliance, the boy glanced back at the red door before following the hooded man toward the street. I know she wants to help, but it's not safe here. At least that'll give me the time to leave without making her worry. She'll understand, I hope.

\tThe streets were hardly lit with torches from the guards and posts that dotted each site now around the castle. Two archers paced along the scaffold that resided above the steel gate, keeping a watchful eye with little light as the peered over the wall and down the street. A few foot soldiers stood at their posts on each side of the gate, short swords at their sides and a torch in one hand as they waited. After surveying the site around a building corner, the hooded man turned to Jude to tell him the plan. "The guards aren't as packed over here yet, probably because the prison is on other side of the castle. I'll have you go first to draw their attention. I'll only need a minute to get behind and disarm them."

\t"So you want me to be the bait?" Jude grumbled at the plan, but even he had to agree it would be very effective if done right. "But what if they attack me on sight?"

\t"Relax, you won't be going entirely defenseless. My partner is standing by to down the archers above while I handle the gate guards. Here you go." Moving a free arm to his undercoat, the figure unsheathed another short sword and extended the hilt to Jude. "Cicero said your father trained you in swordplay. Use this to defend yourself, if necessary." Giving it a quick swing to the side to unwind his sword arm, Jude held the blade to his side. "Thank you, sir. I'll be careful," Jude replied with a determined expression. Nodding back to the youth, they walked forth towards the western gate.

\t"Halt civilian," barked one of the gate guards as he walked forward. "Identify yourself." The light from the torch rose up from the figure's feet until it eventually showed Jude's face with a cheeky smile. "Hey, that's the prisoner. And he's armed." The startled guard raised his short sword towards the boy as the wall archers began to readied their bows. "Prisoner, drop your weapon now and surrender! This doesn't have to get ugly." Jude already knew he'd be executed if captured again, so he defiantly stood his ground with the short sword still at his side.

\t"Stop! Don't you dare hurt him!," yelled a girl from behind Jude as they all turned in the voice's direction to see May running out of the chapel. The boy was stunned to see the young nurse's persistence to help him as she rushed in between him and the guard. "Jude is innocent. You have the wrong man."

\t"Madam please step aside. This man is a criminal and an escaped prisoner. By order of the Inquisitor and Lord Bryce, he's supposed to be captured on sight. Now move aside!"

\t"No! My father is a noble too. He'll have you all discharged when he hears what you're doing to my friend," pleaded May as she turned back to her friend. "Get going Jude, while you still can!"

\tJude snapped his head back in annoyance at the stubborn girl. "Damn it May, I told you to-". Suddenly his line was cut short as he saw the hooded man instantly blink out of the shadows. In a split-second, the figure had already flanked the rear guard, his blade at his throat. "Drop your weapon now and order your archers to stand down," he spoke in a cold-blooded tone, like a snake just moments from clamping its jaws into its prey.

\t"Arch-GGGUUUHH!" His voice was cut short as a second blade pierced backside and exited out his leather chest, blood spilling to the city streets as he gurgled his last words. Jude's friends seized the moment as already a second figure emerged from the nearby roof in similar attire. It lunged in one leap to the rafters as one of the archers drew his own sword to defend himself.

\t"It's ambush! Sound the alarm!," barked the lead gate guard. The other archer blew his horn to call for aid as the other held off the mysterious figure. This was it. Jude had to escape now before the other patrols arrived, but the iron gate was still shut. "Head for the gate Jude!," motioned the other figure as he engaged the other guards. "Pull the lever on the end while we hold them off!" Steel clashed as swords met between two guards attacking the mystery man as he gave one a good roundhouse kick, sending him tumbling into the side of a building.

\tJude saw the lever, the guards being too busy defending themselves to keep watch of it. However, before he could bolt for it, May grabbed him by the side. "Jude, take this with you. It's the least I can do." Looking like a bag of herbs, the boy quickly tossed it in his bag as he gave her a farewell hug.

\t"I promise I'll come back soon May. I'll find a way to fix this so I can come back home."

\t"I'll hold you to it, Jude. Please stay safe and may the gods watch over you," she replied with a tear along her cheek. The boy nodded with a warm smile as he turned and rushed toward the gate. The iron lever was bolted down in place, making it difficult to move. Taking both hands along the grip, he yanked back as hard as he could, only raising the gate a foot before it fell back into place. He tried again, but it still wouldn't budge; the bolted lock was too strong to break. The boy gave a good swing on the side with his blade, but it simply dinged off it. Suddenly, a shriek could be heard from behind as Jude about-faced. His face went pale at the sight. May struggled under the cold grip of her captor as a knight in ebony armor held her in the air by her neck-cloth.

\t"MAY!" the boy screamed as he stared down the foe with a glare of anger.

\t"Well, isn't this rich," the knight jested in an eerie tone. "Looks like one of the shepherds sheep got lost." Turning to face his hostage, he laughed. "Didn't your father ever tell you not to run around at night? The big bad wolf might come and eat you if you aren't careful, heh heh."

\t"Let her go, you bastard! I'm the one you want. She has nothing to do with this!," yelled Jude as he approached the ebony knight.

\t"Hold it, not a step further boy. I might just snap her pretty, little neck if I drop her."

\tJude gritted his teeth. He couldn't risk him injuring her, so he held off his advance. "That's a good boy. Now toss that blade over, and no funny business." With a glance to his side, the blade clashed against the rocky street as it bounced at the knight's feet. "See, look how easy that was. Now then..." The knight lowered May to her feet to let her go, but paused as he noticed another gate guard approach Jude with sword in front. "Hold up!" the knight barked as the guard stared over. "I'll handle him personally. After all, you got off easy with that old Inquisitor beating you. And my lord wouldn't bat an eye if I 'accidentally' killed you while trying to bring you in, heh heh."

\tThe knight drew his ebony long sword forth as he marched at Jude, flicking his blade in the air with each step. However after a few steps, he stopped as a large rock smacked the back of his helmet, sending a loud ring in his ears. "Turning around with glaring visor, May pelted him again with more rocks from the street as he cursed at her under his breath. "Why you..." he remarked as in an instant he charged the girl and gave her a swift kick to her chest with his metal boot. May's eyes must've went white in her sockets as she bounced along the street a few times before stopping on her side, leaving a stunned onlooker to rush to her aid from the chapel steps.

\t"MAY!" screamed Jude at the top of his lungs as he blindly charged the knight.

\t"Insolent boy," the knight muttered as he swung his blade around at the boy. Jude utilized his training and dodge-rolled under the swing, rolling just past the knights legs as he braced the floor with his hands and swept the knight off his feet with a trip. As his foe tried to rise up, Jude took his chance to grab back his sword. The rage had already begun to take over the boy as he swung violently at the knight, but each time had his blade parried with ease. The ebony warrior countered his next slash by slamming his fist forward into Jude's chest, knocking him to his knees and the sword to the ground.

\tStanding over the winded youth in triumph, the knight chuckled under his breath as he asked the boy to make his peace and beg for him. A ferocious growl escaped Jude's mouth in defiance. Raising his blade over head, the burly warrior rained it down in one swift motion as two hands came up to grab the weapon in place. Slowly, the blade was pushed back up as Jude raised his head up to meet his foe, staring into the visor with now fiery amber eyes and sharp rows of teeth in his mouth. In an instant, with blood dripping from his hand grip, a primal rage began to sweep over the boy as he roared in fury at his foe. Muscle began to explode for along his body as he rose in height to the size of the knight before him. Jude hurled the warrior to the side with his new found strength with ease, and shattered the blade in two as his grew in padding and razor claws along his fingers. The changes rapidly accelerated as his body temp rose to intense levels. His chest began to barrel outward as he became a foot taller, ripping whatever rags he had left to shreds as his skin became enveloped in thickening strands of russet-brown fur. The creature reared forward for a moment as his legs lengthened underneath to give him another six inches as he continued to grow and pack on muscle. A tail now swooshed behind his frame as course hair quickly engulfed it. Gritting his teeth, he yowled as his mouth pushed painfully forward into a lupine muzzle and his ears being stretched to the top of his head. Finally, a spark of magic along his wrist-fur could be seen as silver-etchings marked a spiked cuff pattern around each wrist and some additional silver markings became tattooed along his back.

\tShaking off the blow, the ebony knight had risen to his feet, but instead of seeing the enraged boy before was now staring up at a massive 8 foot tall werewolf. "My god...it really is the beast," the knight now muttered to himself with a hint of fear in his words. Calling for the nearby scared guard to toss him his sword, he charged with a hearty yell, swinging a strong vertical slice toward the creature's head as it stared with a hunger in its eyes. Jude's friends, who had already killed or knocked out the remaining guards, could only stare in awe as the foolish knight lunged for the kill.

\tThe fight was over in a flash as the beast raised it's arm to block the blow, the shabby weapon not able to leave a dent through the thick muscle. In a single rotation, the werewolf flung the blade to the side with one arm and followed up with a vice-like hold around the knight's exposed neck, hoisting him with ease off the ground. It gave a deep growl as it flashed it knife-like teeth at the scared man, struggling to break out of the beast's hold. In one clean motion, the wolf slammed its skull like a battering ram into the knight's visor over and over until the head hung back and dropped the helmet. Looking at the life drain from his foe's face, the werewolf lunged its maw forward and clamped hard along the side of his prey's neck and blood spilled forth and into his waiting maw. Growling as it stared down the dying man, the warrior slowly choked out his final sounds as the beast tore off the side of his neck and tossing his lifeless body to the ground.

\tCrimson liquid spilled across the street as the beast let out a deep gut-wrenching howl to the skies. Turning around, it then came face-to-face with a mob of other guards who had arrived just a moment ago to help, but now stood petrified at the horror scene. Was this the beast that slew those nobles? Each of the soldiers shook in their boots as the werewolf gazed across the row while licking the fresh paint from his lips. With each step it took toward them, they took one back, all while the mystery man worked to free the gate lever behind them. By the gods...Jude is a werewolf?!? the hooded figure thought to himself as he worked the lever. Unbelievable...

\tMeanwhile as the seconds past, the standoff continued, though neither human would dare challenge the creature before them. Suddenly, as the werewolf licked his chops again, it actually spoke out to the men, but in deep and barbaric voice that Jude could never replicate as a human. "So....which one of you are next?," challenged the werewolf as it hunched forward and grinded its sharp claws against a building wall.

\tAfter a brief silence, each guard glancing around with shaking heads, a reply came echoing from behind their ranks. "Aye accept yer challenge, beast."

\tThe ranks split to the sides to make way for the man. Striding forward was the warrior, decked in dark emerald plate mail and sporting a longsword on his side belt. He had a large frame compared to the ebony knight and stood just above six feet in height. Yet the most striking part of him was his face. The red-haired warrior trudged forth to a halt as he stroked his scruffy red beard, sizing up the competition before him as he stared a stoic gaze into the amber eyes of the wolf. "I'll be your opponent this evening" remarked the Inquisitor.

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