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"I mean that Samuel is not allowed to leave the park; he's been marked." The wolf gave me a curious look before I heard Aster set his things down and felt his hand grasp my shoulder.

"What do you mean he's been "marked?"

"I mean he was bitten by a werecreature." My eyes widened at the statement. Then... that large fox that had kissed me truly was a lycanthrope? Aster snorted in disbelief.

"Werecreatures? You've got to be kidding; there is no such thing."

"Oh they're real, they've existed for a long time and they are everywhere."

"And i suppose you're going to tell me my bro is a werecreature now?" The wolf chuckled and shook his head.

"No he isn't a were yet, but it will happen by the next full moon." I felt Aster's grip on my shoulder tighten as a low growl of annoyance reverberated from his throat. I knew Aster was a major skeptic when it come to mythological creatures such as lycanthropes, but after that fox visited my tent tonight... did he really think they were still fake? Or was he hiding his fear behind anger and rationalization?
        "Listen, whatever joke you're trying to pull, it's not funny and I don't appreciate it. My bro was practically mauled tonight and you are just standing there joking around... that pisses me off." Aster gripped my shoulder tighter and began tugging on it. "Bro we are leaving now."
        "B-But Aster~"
        "No. We are going and that is it." My reluctance to leave didn't even register to Aster as he began nudging me down the stairs. I sighed in frustration as I walked. Aster never listened to anyone when he got like this, but what could I do? Before I even reached the bottom of the steps I felt a very warm hand grasp mind and it held firm, keeping me from walking anymore. Turning I saw the wolf staring at me at Aster... his eyes seemed to have a luminescent glow that wasn't there before..
        "I said Samuel cannot leave. now that he is marked he has to remain here for now." Aster whirled around, white hot anger in his eyes as his hand left me shoulder and curled up into a fist.
        "You let him go right now, or you are going to wind up with a black eye and some broken fingers." Aster lashed out, grasping the wolf's hand and mine and wrenched them apart. Aster pulled me forward, but didn't even make it two steps before he let out a strangled cry and I watched with horror and fascination as he was lifted off the ground by the wolf. His hand squeezing against Aster's throat roughly as he dangled in the air like some sort of toy. A loud growl rippled from the wolf's throat and I saw it, his eyes had changed colors, glowing blood red where previously they'd been green. "Ack.. nn..."
"Do you still think werecreatures are simply mythological?" The wolf, though he wasn't as strongly muscled as Aster, held him like he was nothing, a deep growl emanating from his as he gave a hard push and sent Aster flying back, tumbling onto the stairs and a sharp breath escaped from his mouth. I whirled around running to Aster as i sank to my knees.
"A-Aster! are you okay?" Aster took deep shuddering breaths, his eyes a wide with a mixture of shock and fear. Turning to look at the wolf i noticed he hadn't moved closer, he simply stood there, staring at us, no... he was staring at Aster, like he was daring him to defy him. Aster gave a cough and I returned my gaze to him as he sat up.
"Y-You.. can't keep him here like a prisoner.. I won't let you do that."
"He won't be a prisoner. He needs to stay here until the change is complete and he learns how to control the change so he can blend in." Aster sat quietly.. i could almost hear the gears in his brain working over this new information.
"If he can't leave.. then i won't either. I'll stay until the day we can leave together." I almost felt my jaw hit the floor as i shook my head.
"Aster no, i am not going to put you through this. i can take care of myself." Aster looked me in the eyes, i couldn't read his expression as he opened his mouth to speak.
"that's what you said before... right before you wandered out of the camp and got bitten by a creature." I took a step back and I could feel shock and anger mixing together and I didn't know how to respond. I could see in Aster's eyes that he'd struck a raw nerve because guilt clouded his eyes. "Bro... I.. I'm Sorry, that was a stupid thing for me to say... that wasn't your fault." I closed my eyes, I could feel the tears welling up, but I refused to let them fall.
        "Aster... I really don't want you to get anymore involved... I couldn't stand it if you hurt" I heard Aster give a small cough and the stairs creaked a bit as I heard him shift his weight.
        "Bro I am not going to leave you here alone, I care about you too much." I slowly opened my eyes to look at him. My eyes grew blurry as the tears welled up even more than before and I let them fall.
        "Aster..." I watched Aster stand up and he placed his hand on my shoulder.
        "Bro I'm not going anywhere, staying here with you. That's what friends do." Aster's gaze slowly left mine and looked behind me. Turning I noticed the wolf had moved closer, his eyes having returned to normal.
        "Now that we have that settled, I can formally introduce myself, my name is Walter Sunderland and I'm a Werewolf. I'm also a watcher for this forest, I'm supposed to make sure all weres who haven't learned how to control their lycanthropism stay here until they can." Aster's grip on my shoulder tightened just a bit.
        "Alright, so where do we go to stay until Samuel is ready to leave?"
        "There is a vacant cabin you can stay in at the Hart's Pass campground. It's not much, but it'll do." I took a deep breath, I could feel a tangle of nerves jumbled up in my stomach.
        "So where do we go to get there?"
        "It's already on the map I gave you earlier, it's just a bit further out than Grouse Mountain Springs, but shouldn't take much longer to get there. I can drive you up there myself." Aster shook his head and took a couple steps forward.
        "No I'm sure we can get there ourselves, but it would be better if we drove my truck up there, if you don't mind."
        "Go right ahead, but I warn you. if you take him out of the park we will have to track you down and bring him back and you won't be allowed back here." I clenched my right hand into a small fist. It felt like that tangle of nerves was getting worse by the minute.
        "Alright, Alright I get it. We won't leave the park I promise, but how will we know what cabin it is?"
        "It's cabin number Four, it's on the left side of the trail after you park." Aster breathed a visible sigh of relief and he began moving towards our things he set down. I gently slipped my shoulder from his grasp and took a step back.
        "Hold on Aster let me grab my suitcase." I whirled around and began walking back up the stairs, but I only managed a couple steps before I stumbled. My vision was getting a bit blurry, I tried rubbing my eyes but I didn't help at all.
        "Bro are you okay?" I barely shook my head as I let out a loud yawn and a took another couple steps forward before I sank to my knees.
        "N-no... A-Aster... why am I... so... so tired... nngahh..." Everything started hazy before I felt myself hit the porch. I could just barely hear Aster call out my name before my eyes shut.