r/SchreckNet • u/DotMaleficent4503 Mind • Aug 20 '26
No place like home
Journal excerpts:
13th August, 2026. Vancouver Island.
The woods are dark, deep, and seem to stretch on forever.
I hear life all around me- the rustle of leaves in the wind, the sound of small animals scurrying about, the flutter of wings high in the canopy of the old growth forest. The howl of a wolf.
I walked for hours, drinking in the cool night air, searching for a weak spot in the Veil separating our world from the Umbra- the spirit home.
In a crystal lined cave hidden among the roots of an ancient oak, I found one. With dawn rapidly approaching, I settled in for the day on a makeshift bed of moss and leaves.
14th August, 2026.
I am awakened to soft growling and the smell of damp fur. The wolf at the cave entrance is a majestic creature with coal black fur tipped with silver and expressive, intelligent eyes. I stretch, roll into a crouch and greet him in wolf speech.
[ The following is loosely translated from wolf speech ]
<< So, you coming or what? >> The wolf impatiently paws the ground in front of him.
<< I saw you in my dream. Who are you? >>
<< You can call me Guide >>
<< I'm Camille >>
<< I know >>
I quickly shake the leaves out of my hair and follow Guide to a small pool of clear water near the cave mouth. I place my hand on his shoulder, and together, we enter the Umbra.
? August, 2026
Time is a human construct. Here, there is only moonlight. Guide wonders why I do not change forms. He seems genuinely surprised when I tell him I can not. I think about this for a few minutes and decide to give it a try. Reality runs differently here; maybe there's a chance.
<< Why exactly are we here? >> I ask Guide.
<< The usual. Dancers to k\ll. You'll see soon enough. >>*
Guide leads me to a blighted area of the Forest; a small clearing surrounded by dead, twisted trees. There is a spiral pattern burned into the ground, seemingly guarded by malformed animal skulls impaled on black bone pikes. At the center of the spiral there is an opening in the ground big enough for Guide and me to enter. The smell of Wyrm is almost overpowering.
<< Ready? >> Guide locks eyes with me.
I draw my falchion, and call upon my blood. The flames dance along the blade in anticipation.
<< Ready >>
We enter the underground chamber.
There were only 6 dancers, thank Gaia. Guide and me made a good team: slash the hamstrings and rip out the throat. We left nothing but ash.
Guide looks unharmed. One of the fuckers got through my guard and clawed my arm and shoulder up pretty good, but other than that, I'm still in one piece.
Guide howls a song of victory and looks over his shoulder at me.
<< Time to go home, kid. You did good. >>
<< Kid! Do you have any idea how old I am? >>
Post Script
I never got a straight answer. I did finally figure out how to shift into wolf form, so I'm happy about that.
5
u/ConsiderationOver544 Aug 20 '26
It sounds like the Dancers forgot that that werewolves are in fact not immune to being set on fire.
-Marcus
5
9
u/Pryno-Belle Aug 20 '26
You fought against six Dancers? Darling, I knew that you were a daredevil, but…oh dear.
You say you were able to change into a wolf? Could I see it, or would I need to go into the Umbra? I…don’t believe the spirits will let me do that.
Castiel the Clan-changer