Wolfbane glared down at his reflection in the water. Ugly. the swift, powerful river distorted his scarred face. He growled at his stupid, ugly wolf face, wincing as he caught sight of his yellow fangs. He hated himself. Deeply. He so deeply resented that stupid, hideous face and those ugly scars. Why? He silenced the voice. Because he was a monster. Because he was wrong, a freak. Good only to be chained up and shown to make money.

  Once he was a free pup, but that didn’t last long. One day he had been playing outside, in wolf form. So strangely happy, free. Chasing a leaf. His mother was in their home, a cave. He was old enough to be allowed out on his own for short periods of time. He was thrilled. Then he heard a rustling. He jumped and turned, growling. A human with a metal stick walked out into his sight.
“Hi!”
The man screamed.
“What?”
“What is that?”
“What’s what?”
“Ah! It talks!”
“Huh?” and then a glint had come into his eyes and he reached down and grabbed his scruff.
“Hey! Put me down!”
“I can make good money for a talking wolf.”
“I’m not a wolf! I'm a werewolf!” he didn't reply.

  After that day he was known as Wolfbane. He wanted to feel free again. He stared down at the rushing current. So free… he wanted to join it. Dispose of the monster in the process. He growled, human, at the face staring up at him. The scars lining his old-looking face. He stared up at the night sky, hate in his gaze. A cloud hid the moon, keeping him human.
“I will never be anything more than a hideous scarred freak. I don’t know what my mom ever saw in me,” he says.

   Wolfbane thinks back to his puppy days. “Mom, why do we have to hide?” Volk questioned. “Because Volk, there are others that don’t see us as we do but just know no matter what anyone says or thinks about us, you are special and don’t let anyone tell you differently.” Volk’s mom reassured. As she tucks him closer to her Volk whispers before falling asleep, “Thanks.”

  “Huh,” He said as he cuffed the ground in front of him, “If I’m so special then why do I…” The circus master had interrupted him, “Wolfbane! You're on next!” Once again he thought back to when he was young. A pup. Happy, enough. For a freak of a werewolf, anyway. It was wrong. For him to be happy. He didn't deserve it. Subconsciously, he rubbed his neck. The hole in it, where they had put a chain through his flesh. He remembered, vividly. He had dragged his feet away from the river and back to the circus where he had lived for years.

  He brought himself back to the jeering crowds mocking him, the monster, freak of nature, put on display for the world to see. He was led into his cage where he would be put on a show. The circus master stepped out onto the stage and he finally spoke as soon as Wolfbane was put in his cage. “Now for the moment you all have been waiting for, the freak of nature, from the wild woods to your own circus, Wolfbane!” he announces. He said as the moon came out he became a wolf. Just then, the covering on top of his cage was removed. Gasps from the audience erupts as they gaze at this unknown creature before them. He saw the crowd of astonished faces, felt the gravel sting his eyes as they threw it at him. Tasted the blood of a kid who got close and tried to poke and prod him when he had had enough. He bit. And then they lead him off, holding a gun. He was beyond caring then too. He bit them and ran, but he wasn't free, not yet.

  “Now is the time, I will get rid of this hideous freak and finally be set free.” He exclaims. “No more chains, no more shows, and no more people to hate me, I will finally be free!”
The moon came out and he became a wolf again. He looked back at his reflection. Ugly. he stared at his eyes. Red. Evil, like him. His fur was black. Maybe beautiful, if it shined. If it was wild and free and streaming in the wind. Not dull, limp. Black was evil too. He looked back at the current. He knew what it looked like. Freedom.

  Wolfbane became Volk once more as he put in his paw, slowly. He stared at it. The fur flowed in the water, gleaming in the moon. Beautiful. Wild. Free. He didn't hesitate with his other paw. Slowly, he walked into the churning current, walked into himself, walked into freedom. Every step felt good until the current was strong and he was deep in, just half of his body above the water. Then he plunged in his face and let go. The current took Volk, carrying him, denying him breath, pulling him deeper into it. He freely exhaled, giving his life gladly, as himself. As the wolf, the man, as Volk, once captured now free.