The Hunter closed in around a shanty hut, the dim light of his dying torch shimmering as he paced, eyeing for an entrance. I could feel myself turning under the Watching Moon's gaze, the wolf I suppressed screaming to be released, as the Hunter barged in through the entrance. I see his hands tremble - he's new at this, I thought - as he points his flintlock in my direction; silver bullets assured. The barrel of his once-finely crafted Miquelet approaching my kneeling body with his every step.
I felt the cool steel of the barrel upon my forehead, but couldn't bare to look; whether it was the pain of my attempts to suppress my turning, or the sheer fright of what was to come, I was not sure.
"Beast," he said, his voice younger than I had expected, firm as it was, it lacked confidence. Likely, he was one of the last surviving males.
"Thou ravage my home, my people, and my God. I shall give thee the punishment equal to what is merited to you."
I *reeeally* tried.
But as I opened my eyes and saw my would-be killer, my desire flashed stronger than my will, and I turned. I wasn't a true werewolf, at least, not like any I'd seen before. My mother, a forester - human. My father, a werewolf. I felt my ears extend over past my hair, small patches of gray fur extending from them, and subtle but sharp claws from my fingertips. And a tail grow too. I'd never get used to that damned tail. I coughed a bit - transformation is never easy. I couldn't help but nervously chuckle when I saw his frightened blue eyes peering through his ruffled brown hair. He had stumbled back against the wooden walls of my shack. He really *was* new at this. He'd definitely seen a werewolf before, but a demiwolf? Killing a feral beast is easy, killing something that resembles you even slightly is a much tougher task.
"I understand your task, human, if it must be done, it must be done. Your God wills it."
He slowly raised his pistol to my person, hands now in a full quiver as if taken by a winter's ague.
"But, of course, forgive me for defending my self." I said with sheepish acknowledgment.