"They were consumed by the reflections of their mind inside the Mist. Keep in mind, it reflects the intents, feelings, and desires of the people, which enter into it. Most of the people who have tried to enter the Mist have done so out of a desire to achieve power. At least that's what they say."
"And so they saw the ugliness of their own wants and that's what drove them to madness?"
"Exactly."
Annabel paused briefly to absorb what Dirk had said. She had always thought that the mystic things outside the village were either entirely evil and frightening or good and benevolent, not potentially both, at the same time, both unpredictable.
"Still," she said, "it sounds like a great place to go see."
"Yes, that's what I've heard."
"Perhaps we should go see it sometime. You know, when you are better."
A sharp feeling of fear welled in Dirk but was suppressed by the strange attraction he felt for Annabel. All his life he had been told to avoid the valleys of the rolling Mist, but being around this girl made his fears dissipate.
"Perhaps we should."
After a half a week, Dirk was strong enough to stand, and a few days later, to walk and run. It was immensely satisfying for him to move around freely and unhindered by injury. But the greatest source of satisfaction he had was the ability to repay Annabel's abundant generosity.
"I think I can finally help you out now. I can return the kindness you have given to me." He announced to Annabel.
"There's no need for that," she replied pleasantly. "Your company has been more than enough."
"No, I'd like to, I want to," he said with enthusiasm, his small bristly tail wagging eagerly.
"I could use some help gathering herbs for the market. I could take you with me to learn which ones I need."
"Great! And after I learn them, it‘d cut down your work time. If I help you, then we could spend more time together afterward."
The suggestion filled Annabel with a kind of warmth she'd never experienced before. It wasn't something purely spiritual or carnal, but both. She felt it in both in her chest and in her loins. After a long night of trying to understand what she felt, it came to her: she had a strong, romantic attraction to Dirk. All her life she had thought that her desires, her physical urges, were entirely different from the proper ceremonial expressions of affection within marriage, as Beatrice had taught her. But all of that was wrong, and Dirk had shown it to her.
The next day, Annabel carefully snuck Dirk out into the field with her. For the next few days, she taught him all of the different herbs and roots to gather. He studied her instructions carefully and learned quickly. In a couple days' time, he would gather Annabel's herbs and roots while she finished her other chores.
A week later Annabel had earned so much from the excess of goods Dirk had delivered that she decided to buy him a new set of clothes. While not princely, the woolen pants and shirt she purchased looked far better than the tunic he had worn. With great excitement, Annabel beckoned Dirk in one day when Beatrice had stepped out. A feeling of affection swarmed within her as she presented Dirk with the new clothes.
"For you for helping me," she announced, happily.
"But I was repaying you for treating me," he said, unable to mask the smile on his face.
"Yes, but I wanted to do this for you. Please put them on, I want to see you wearing them. I‘ll be right back." As Dirk changed, Annabel retrieved the long mirror so he too could observe his new garb.
"Here," she said planting the mirror in front of Dirk. Rather than standing taut and proud, Dirk winced at his reflection.
"Oh, right. I forgot you're weakened by mirrors," she apologized.
"It's not that," he chuckled, "we are just suspicious of man made things which imitate the wild world. That and I wish I could fill out the fine clothes you bought for me."
"No, you look fine, quite fine." her voice became more sultry and quiet.
"I'm no Shank," he said.
"Who?"
"Never mind."
"But I do understand your trepidation, though. I hate looking into that mirror. Beatrice makes me do it all the time for new dresses."
"Come here, then," beckoned Dirk. Annabel did as she was told and stood between Dirk and the mirror.
"I couldn't possibly see why you would hate looking at yourself in this mirror," he said placing his hands on her shoulders. Annabel stared into the reflection and observed the mirrored image of Dirk kissing her neck all while pulling down the straps of her dress to expose her rosy, ample breasts. Annabel moaned softly as he did, leaning into him, enjoying the image she was seeing. Dirk moved his hands up and down Annabel's curvy frame, traversing and exploring its parts with interest. Perhaps this is the time, she thought, and she pressed back into him hard grabbing his side to pull him into her. But unfortunately, he recoiled grabbing his temple and trying to focus himself. It wasn't as painful or long as last time, but he still hadn't mastered how to control it, that feral beast within him.
"I'm sorry," he said kissing her head. "I want to, but I can't."
"It's okay," she replied. "Soon you'll gain control, soon … "
As the weeks wore on, Annabel heard more and more about the conflict with the Lycan's, only this time, there was proof to the stories. Occasionally, bodies and pelts of great wolves would be brought back but also fewer and fewer young men were returning from the hunt. The peace within the village stood on the edge of a knife, it seemed with everyone ready to descend into madness. The emotional aura had been affecting Annabel and Dirk. He was determined to change that. One night, as Annabel and Dirk talked in the barn, Dirk abruptly sat up.
I'm going to leave," he announced to Annabel.
"What? Why?" she shrieked with worry.
"I don't want to. But I can‘t see your people fight with mine. And I can‘t watch you worry about what‘s going to happen next. I need to speak with my pack and with Shank. "
"Who's Shank? You've mentioned him before, what can he do?"
"He can end all of this. He‘s the leader of the Lycan pack and he‘s the one responsible for this continuation of bloodshed. If I can talk to him maybe I can convince him. This can‘t wait." And with that, Dirk stole away into the darkness, resolute to stop the violence if only for Annabel.
It had been four weeks since Dirk had left to the wild Wood. He had dearly missed the sounds of the birds, the noise of crickets and the feeling of dirt under his paws. The familiarity had brought a rush of nostalgia to his mind, such that he had never felt before. Smelling the signs writ in scent, he searched around for his pack. The passion of his conviction accompanied by the sight of the moon had allowed him to shed his clothes and change to his bestial form. He dared not approach Shank otherwise. He had hoped that finally, he would be accepted, with the conflict between the Lycan's and the Homin escalating. Finally, they would allow him some respect, but most of all, he hoped to convince Shank to cease his campaign against the village.
After hours of tracking, Dirk finally caught up to the pack in a deep thicket. As he approached, he noted the sentry's above him, staring down at him carefully. Dirk stopped to smell the thick air. It was heavy and pungent as if foreshadowing the gravity of the situation. As he passed through a line of bushes, he saw circles of other wolves and at the center, the greatest of them all, Shank. Strangely he seemed even bigger than last time Dirk had seen him.
"Welcome back," Shank said in his usual sharp voice. "Did you enjoy your time with the Homin girl?"
"How did you know?" Dirk stepped back, surprised.
"We've been keeping an eye on you since after you were separated. I'm surprised you didn't rip her and the older one apart, as soon as you had the chance. I'm even more surprised you stayed as long as you did."
"I was wounded and-"
"You mean weakened!" Shank snapped. He trotted forward and circled Dirk as he continued to speak. "Did you enjoy your new family? Did you enjoy being their pet?"
"No, it wasn't like that."
"Then what was it like? Why did you stay while your kind were being harassed and attack by the Homin savages? Why come back at all? We all know you can‘t survive without us. No one wolf can endure without the strength of the rest of the pack. So I want to know why come back to be rejected by us?"