Sunrays filtered through the foliage, tickling everything it touched with a spark of life. A comforting warmth enveloped all living beings and inanimate objects alike as the birds sang and the breeze whispered.

The melody of the forest echoed with labored breaths and the rhythmic sounds of paws striking the soil, stirring up clouds of dust in their wake.

His limbs pounded against the earth and devoured the ground. The more he pushed, the greater his exuberance swelled. An exceptional upsurge of energy coursed through his muscles, propelling him forward at an astonishing speed. With each thundering beat of his heart, he pressed on, driven by an insatiable thirst for freedom and the addictive euphoria of the wind tousling his dark mane.

The wolf zoomed through the woods, deftly dodging dense thickets and obstacles that littered his path. Scattered logs and rocks threatened to impede his progress, yet he only quickened his pace, bending his hind legs to leap into the crisp air. His jump soared higher than usual, and in a moment of unexpected but welcome exhilaration, he let out a silly, overly excited bark before landing ungracefully.

Dirt clung to his fur as he tumbled on the forest floor, invading his airways with each breath. Shaking his head vigorously, he emitted a few snorts to clear his nose before settling down, tongue lolling out.

His heart, only just returned to a steady beat, quickened again at the sound of potential food. Ears pricked and keen, his gaze swept his surroundings, seeking the noise source that promised his next meal.

There was nothing.

His irises glinted an ethereal silver as he scanned the area again until his focused gaze landed on the unsuspecting prey. A deer meandered carelessly through the forest, blissfully unaware of the predator closing in silently—a distance that would take a normal creature a full day's journey, traversed in mere moments by him.

As soon as he reached his destination, the wolf hid in the undergrowth and watched. His approach was calculated as he slowly moved, a shadow amongst many.  His body tensed, muscles coiled like springs, ready to unleash the full extent of his newfound vitality. Then, in a heartbeat, he bolted, sinking his teeth in the deer's neck.

After the hearty lunch, the black creature strutted through the vast lands he had united in worship for the Moon. In and out he traversed endless territories with sticky scarlet besmearing his matted fur.

He hadn't bothered cleaning himself.

At every encounter with fellow wolves along his journey, they bowed their heads in a display of awe and reverence. Unable to meet the intensity of his grey moonstones, they bared their necks, keeping their eyes trained on the soil beneath their quivering limbs.

These gestures pleased him greatly, and he would offer a woof in response before resuming his journey, completing his round around all the lands he'd conquered. Then, before heading home, he made his way toward an unkempt lake hidden among the woods, his second favorite place after the cliff.

The surface shimmered invitingly, reflecting the dappling, fading sunlight. Rocks of all sizes were scattered everywhere, the jagged ground massaging his paws as he advanced. A towering tree rested to the side, casting a shadow over the lake, shielding half of it. 

From beneath the water, a rough wall extended upwards, disappearing behind the intertwining branches of the tree. A small waterfall cascaded down it, tickling the lush greenery that stubbornly clung to it on its descent. Roots snaked their way across the landscape, delving deep into the lake, intertwining with the path leading to it, and weaving through the trickling stream. 

The wolf wasted no time, immediately plunging into the cool embrace of the sparkly heaven before him. Ripples danced across the surface, carrying away the traces of blood and dirt that stuck to his body. 

He shook himself vigorously as he stepped out, sending droplets flying in all directions before wobbling to the shade of the gigantic tree where he flopped beneath its trunk. Sinking into the soft earth, muscles relaxed and tension melting away, he closed his eyes, succumbing to the allure of a much-needed nap. 

The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of the waterfall lulled him into a peaceful slumber that was interrupted by a warm caress gliding down his back. He leaned into it, seeking more of the deliciousness it sent through his veins.

His eyelids fluttered open to the numinous presence of his otherworldly beauty in front of him. Her aquamarines melted into his moonstones, a sheen of silver glinting in both of their irises. Before the wolf could register what was happening, Accalia had disappeared in a cloud of azure mist with one murmured word carried away by the crisp night air.

"Home."

A sudden surge of energy set his body into motion, and he dashed through the forest, racing his own heartbeats until he emerged clumsily from the treeline, staggering to a stop when the urgency faded away. His limbs refused to carry him the rest of the way to his Moon.

She stood with her back to him, swathed in light and silk. Her white dress danced to the wind, and her skin glowed. Her hair fell to her hips, swaying to the beat of his thump, thump, thumps. Then, she turned toward him with a smile that stilled his lungs, and he could only stare as ethereal rays spilled all over the sky behind her.

It was blue.

It was bright.

It was warmth and life and fucking beautiful.

His head tilted upward as he welcomed the flood of sensations that filled his heart. Clouds shied away from the magnificence of the silver sphere that set the stars alight and cast a dappled holy glow upon the world below, illuminating and chasing the darkness away.

He basked under its rays, the blessing of ichor rushing through his body and dispelling the lurking loneliness that lingered within the depth of his soul.

An abrupt, scorching heat had him keeling over. With a guttural groan, he collapsed to the ground. Wild flames spread throughout his spasming body, setting his heart ablaze as if molten lava coursed through his veins. Sweat drenched his raven coat, his pants emanated, and his trembling intensified with every passing moment. Each breath only seemed to stoke the roaring fire raging within him.

What was happening to him?

He lay in a sprawled mess of sweltering limbs and searing pain. Bones cracked and twisted, reshaping at an agonizing pace. Skin stretched and tore, muscles rippled, shifting and contorting, while sinews strained and rearranged.

Fur slowly receded, and his flesh wept merlot. His back arched, claws digging into the soil in a futile attempt to regain control of his writhing, distorting body.

The Moon bled into the sky and drenched everything with waves of admiral and streaks of teal, lamenting his suffering.

Her warm touch landed atop his head. It eased the abnormally elevated temperature overtaking him and alleviated the overwhelming pain stabbing his entirety. The grunts and growls faltered and faded into whimpers unbefitting of a creature like him. Their eyes locked, hers filled with the reassurance his hazy gaze desperately sought.

"It is alright, my little wolf," Accalia cooed, scratching behind his ears. "It comes with the change."

The wolf pressed into her palm, craving more of her touch. But she was gone, and so was his muzzle. The howl remained trapped in his throat for a couple of heartbeats before erupting into a scratchy scream, the sound foreign to his ears. 

"It is time for you to rise," Accalia whispered. "The King of all wolves, Alarick, the first Lycan."

Shedding fur for skin, his limbs elongated, his form shifted, and the wolf gradually morphed into a man.

Word count: 1301.

Total word count: 4500.

Yes, the 2nd part of this chapter was another parallelism to chapter 1 of The Dark Side Of The Moon (with the same title btw). 

I'm enjoying the resemblance in both stories since they're simply two sides of the same coin. I'll probably create: guess the differences/similarities between TDSOTM and OSRARF quest for myself when I finish this entry, haha.

MEANING OF THE WORDS USED:

ikhōr/ichor, in greek mythology, is the fluid that flows like blood in the veins of the gods.

Alarick: [AEL-ah-Rihk] is a name of Old High German origin and it means powerful ruler, ruler of all, everyone's ruler, and noble ruler. Alarick consists of "ala," meaning "everyone's," and "ric," meaning "ruler." It comes from the Latin "Alaricus" (literally king of all). Alareiks was used by Gothic royals, while Alrekr appeared for Old Norse rulers.