John Wolfspark
Written and as told by Ryu Darragh
They found the man in the park under the Blood Moon that night. He was sitting on the grass in the wolves enclosure of the parks zoo, staring at his hands and making confused sounds.When they asked him what he was doing in there, all he would do was growl at them and make loud sounds. They called in the psychologists and tested a few theories. They suspected he was a therianthrope.
When he tested positive, they relegated him to the psych ward of the cities hospital. He was clearly suffering from "change psychosis" in their minds. They could retrain him and bring him back to his senses. Months later, when they had completed their training, they released "John Wolfspark". They were very pleased. John had responded quickly and fully to their efforts and was a model of self control. He had not changed at all during any of the several months full moons while under their care. The local Therian Nation representative was also quite pleased and said they would support John while he reintegrated.
The Therian Nation folks were pleased to have a model of their kind with such self control. It made good public relations. They were also as good as their word and helped John find an apartment, get a job and more. Over the next few years John moved from job to job before finding one he was well suited for and enjoyed. Training young therians to handle themselves and to learn self discipline. If anyone were a finer teacher, no one knew of him or her.
It was while working at the local Therian Youth Assembly hall that John met Tracy. She was a Near, which meant that one of her ancestors had been a Therian and thus she was immune to the virus. John and Tracy hit it off well. They found many of the same things funny, sad or entertaining. They liked the same movies. Even their differences were a source of wonder to them. In other words, they fell in love. John explained to Tracy he had no real memories before the Blood Moon several years ago. A complete lunar eclipse. Tracy did not mind. It had to have been very traumatic, but there were no reports of Werewolf attacks that night.
The more time they spent together, the more they realized how perfect for each other they were and, in due course, decided to get married. The marriage was a simple affair and as neither of them had any family it was easy to set a date. That wasn't to say there was no one at the wedding. As the two of them were known and loved by the cities Therian population, there was over 300 Therians, Nears and Mundanes in attendance. Needless to say, the reception was a major success.
During the next few years they had children, as many married couples did. Two sets of twins. Not unheard of even for Mundanes, but it made Tracy quip that it was Johns wolf making her have regular litters of pups. There had been some concern at the births when the babies all showed a wolfish cast to their faces and appeared to have a fine down of fur. But, since this cleared up in a few days, they were not too concerned. The doctors assured them that it was known to happen to exceptional therians even though it was rare. It was far better then the Feral syndrome where the babies were born permanently in their animal form. Or were born with Mowgli Syndrome.
All was well in their family until the 18th year after John had arrived in the world. On the night of another Blood Moon much would be revealed. Tracy found John sweating in the kitchen making grimaces of discomfort. She asked him what was wrong. Tracy knew what was wrong. John was having an uncontrolled change. Even the best had relapses and her paragon of self discipline was no exception. She made sure to lock the bedroom doors. Not because John would deliberately attack his children, but accidents could happen.She held his hands and comforted John. Telling him to let go, to relax and let the change happen. It would not be as traumatic as a Werewolf as it was for the Weredragons. They had a much harder time of changing and changed when the winds blew and were much larger.
John finally changed and fell to the floor fully wolf. Tracy comforted John and marveled when he simply licked her face and wagged his tail. He was a remarkably calm and intelligent wolf for so soon after changing. The children were excited by this development. That their father was a wolf they knew, but had seen only one other time. John and Tracy could change if they used an assist in the form of a talisman provided by the family doctor. Like the doctors at the hospital, he was a trained wizard as well.
The only anomaly was John tended to be able to change easiest on the new moon. The problem didn't become apparent until 3 days later when John failed to change back into human shape. This was unusual, but so was Johns retention of his human intellect. The doctor, looking at the woman and the wolf in his waiting room was a very puzzled man. After running many tests, the doctor/wizard found the answer. It was one they were quite unprepared for. John was not, after all, a Werewolf.
He was, in effect, a wolf who had become a Werehuman. His change happened on the Blood Moon. He would not be able to regain his 18 year period of being human for another 18 years. He would, however, enjoy the benefits of a human lifespan.
"Oh, great." John growled in his rumbly wolfs voice. "18 years with you in human form and me in wolf form. There goes our sex lives." he grumped. "Who said our sex life was over, fuzz nuts ?" Tracy said. She smiled at him."I can change with the talisman on the full moons and you can on the new moons. And there are other,.. possibilities." she said with a saucy wink at the now startled and wide eyed wolf.
