7. Laurence
The moon cast a mystical aura over the landscape, giving Laurence an instinctive urge. He gazed up and released a primal howl. For a moment the forest fell silent and an untamed force surged from within, seeking dominance over his thoughts. When the moment passed, his eyes caught Avni retreating. He turned towards the half-sized woman, seeing both the nimbat and the shrunken elf cowering behind Avni. Embarrassment washed over him as everything within his mind that was primal, hid itself, leaving the man in the wolf's body. "Sorry."
Cora walked out from behind Mazella with a puzzled expression on her face. "What was that?"
"I don't know," he admitted, grappling with the unfamiliar sensation. "It just felt right."
Werewolves crossed his mind, but he didn't quite fit the bill. Real wolves howled at the moon, not werewolves, and he resembled the former, not the latter. Uncertainty lingered and cast doubt on what exactly he was.
Mazella flapped his little wings, floating just in front of his face. "You scary Wolf Laurence; not do that again!"
"Okay, sorry," he said as the odd feeling persisted, unsettling his thoughts. He shook his head, then refocused on Cora. She sat down on a stone and watched the nimbat land beside her. "Maz, so what way do we go?"
Mazella sprang to attention, pointing beyond Cora. "Oh, this way. We go this way," he declared enthusiastically.
Avni walked up to Laurence, unfazed by the earlier howl to the stars, and climbed up onto the wolf's back. Laurence looked at Cora invitingly, but he could see her gaze as it met the nimbat's. "Can I ride on your back, Maz?"
The little catlike creature blushed, then scratched his head sheepishly. "Mazella say okay, but Maz not rider before." He lowered himself, and looked back over his shoulder allowing Cora to climb on his back, and with her holding on, he awkwardly took flight. Laurence watched him struggle to balance with the tiny elf on his back, as he fought to keep upright, like a deer on ice. With every moment that passed, however, he adapted, and before long was leading the way towards an opening in the trees.
Laurence followed, his paws pounded the earth rhythmically, as each step felt more natural than the previous in his new form. As he followed and with the moon high above, he pondered if the lupine state he was currently stuck in would only last the night, and if he would ever be able to manipulate the essence around himself again. Being in the wolf's body did have its advantages. He plodded forward, feeling an unparallel awareness of his surroundings.
With it came a scent, damp, yet sweet. Cold, yet inviting. It tugged at him, beckoning him forwards, and it was as if he was the only one who had caught the scent on his nose. "Do you smell that?"
Avni leaned into his ear and whispered, "No, just wet dog."
Mazella turned with a laugh. "I hate smell you, when are wet. But what you smell, Wolf Laurence?"
Laurence shrugged, the scent wafted across his nose again, and his eyes searched the dark for the source. "It smells like a bar."
"I think that wolf brain of yours has scrambled your senses," Cora remarked.
Mazella scratched his chin, deep in thought. "Like bar?"
Laurence watched the nimbat hover down near the ground, Cora still on his back holding on as he moved erratically.
"Yes, that's what Laurence said," Cora said. "Can't you fly up and see if you spot anything?"
Mazella's expression turned to shock. "You crazy? Nighttime I be pick by forest bird. Nope, nuh-uh not happen!" He landed and swatted Cora off his back.
"I love how cute he sounds," Avni cooed, as she nuzzled into Laurence's fur.
"Okay, sorry. I didn't realise," Cora said, standing next to the nimbat.
Laurence lifted his snout to the air once more, this time listening to the distant sounds. He closed his eyes and focused then turned his ear towards the noise that drifted through a part in the trees. "Music and singing?"
"Listen, I not know what gotten into Wolf Laurence head, but there no -" Mazella's words were cut short as a net enveloped him. He dived on Cora and the pair tumbled to the ground. Before Laurence could react, a spear pressed against his neck. He tensed up only then realising they were surrounded by Dwarves.
As more and more made their way out of the trees, Mazella screamed like a cat having sex, while Cora scrambled out from under the net towards the safety of Laurence's back. The Dwarves prodded at Laurence with their spears, and as much as Laurence snarled, their intentions were clear.
"Looky wha we ave ere," spoke one of the stout men, barely taller than Avni in her shrunken state and appeared much broader. The odour of beer filled his presence with his words, and a grim yet serious expression struck his features, as the other Dwarves around chuckled.
Cora leaned in close to Laurence and whispered, "That's the dwarf from the bar."
Laurence nodded, keeping silent. They didn't know that Laurence couldn't speak yet, and that might be an advantage. For now he stood bearing his teeth, being intimidating enough that the other dwarves kept their distance.
"Wee lass on thy wolf's back, what be yiy purpose?"
"Laurence, help?" Cora muttered under her breath, as the sound of Mazella struggling attracted some attention. The Dwarves muffled his protests, placing a large pot over the nimbat. Laurence's tail flicked side to side, as he tilted his head towards Cora, looking at her but remaining silent. "We're just travellers. We got lost, and the nimbat was helping us out," Cora explained.
The dwarf peered down at her. "Ah, little lass, seems like you stumbled upon the wrong end of a plant, eh?" He glanced at Avni. "Looks like both of yous found the wrong ends of a plant. Ya been playing together hmm?" He chuckled, then approached. "So what goods are ye bring?"
"None. We lost everything in the ruins."
