Something Unforseen

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 1856

Synizn stared at the glowing flask of blue liquid and then turned to look at Willian, resting on a cot in the corner of the cabin. Synizn's eyes were filled with compassion. He was surprised out how he had grown to care for this band of adventurers. He had always thought of humans as children who needed protection and guidance. And he had pledged himself to Malachi's cause not out of concern for humanity, but rather disgust at the vile wickedness of dragons like Minestus. But now he saw humanity as more than just a chess piece in the schemes of proud dragons. They could be a noble race, with dreams and aspirations worth fighting for. Malachi had seen this and had pledge her life to save and protect one of the few tribes of Man that had survived the short but devastating war Minestus had brought to the world. Synizn vowed in his heart that he would do no less. But there were limits to what even a dragon could do.

Back on deck, Synizn felt the wind ruffle his fur and he sighed. Fred and Astra made their way to him, their faces filled with concern. "How is he?" Astra asked. Synizn smiled, "Resting comfortably." "But he hasn't changed," Fred said with a troubled voice and glanced at Astra. Neither Willian nor Astra had shown any sign of transforming into manimals since they had been bitten. That was a week ago.

"And he never will," Synizn answered. Astra's face turned white. "But...he was bitten. And only the magical force that sustains a were-creature's life can save him from death," Astra said, fighting down her panic.

"But he wasn't bitten by a were-creature," Synizn said and gazed into Astra's questioning eyes. Fred too was shocked by his simple words. He did not understand what the manbear meant. "But I bit him," was all Fred could say. "But you're a manfox, not a werefox," Synizn said and pulled a crystal out of his pouch. He held it up to the light as if by seeing it the others would finally understand. "I have spent many hours studying what we have become since I joined your ranks," Synizn began. "And in the last week, as I kept close watch on Willian and Astra, I bent all my will and cunning into uncovering what Minestus had created. I still don't understand it completely. I mean, I haven't found a way to reverse the effects of the magic. But I do know this, after three hundred years of exploring the secrets of lycanthropy, Minestus discovered a way to create something new. Perhaps that is what he wanted all along, to create life, living beings that had never existed before. We are manimals and manimals are not just some new twist on an old curse. We are a brand new race."

"But we started out as lycanthropes," Fred pressed on, "so whomever we bite becomes infected with the magic that created us and becomes one of us."

"No. Minestus finally perfected his spell. You, Fred, were the final result. Before you, we were similar to were-creatures in many respects, including the transformative property of our bite. But no more. Our matrix is set now. It cannot change, nor can we change others. The bite of a manimal is as efficacious in creating another manimal as the bite of a dog is in creating another dog. It simply isn't part of our nature anymore. The only way to become a manimal now is to either be born that way or have Minestus' spell cast on them."

"Then my husband will die," Astra whispered, her voice somber and grieving.

  1. As they finished their conversation, Ananka walked up to them. She held a metal box in her hand.

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WolfRun

6/1/1999 7:43:47 PM

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