Chapter 4 - No Change

It was the night before the full moon, the entire Ludovic family started to make preparations for the transition. The experienced older siblings and the parents, prepped their rooms. Putting out spare clothing to put on in the morning, unrolling a comfortable thick rug onto the floor so when they transform they are not writhing around on the hard wooden floor. Experience has shown oak splinters from the floor when the body is undulating into the wolf shape is an annoying distraction in the morning when human shape again. Especially as they tend to be on the back, and other more personal areas!
All the human members of the household pack a bag and make there way back to the village, no villagers should ever be in the household on the night of the full moon, even though their scent would be strong and as a wolf the Ludovic’s would recognize them as friend not foe or more crucially not a food source, there would be no point in putting any of them in jeopardy, thus destroying eighty years of hard earned trust from Royston and Vicky. It was seen as a huge benefit of working for the Ludovic’s. Not many live in household jobs would have built in so many two days leave in a year as this one did.
Flint was making his own preparations as well, he packed a small bag to take to the transition room, to spend the next two nights in the very room which Royston had first turned into a wolf, he was going to spend two nights under the canopy to see the picture of the deer hunt play above him before hopefully the next night changing. Royston the night before took Flint to one side handed him the key and with a small nod to him said
“Well son the time is ripe, I can see the wolf in you trying to get out everyday a little stronger, this key is for the bedroom, you will spend tomorrow night in there as a human, watch the canopy and enjoy the scent trails as they twirl round the room. Remember some of the scents you will encounter will not just be your immediate family who have all spent a night in this room, you will also sense and see the trails of long dead ancestors, their smells still strong within that room as everything is left untouched and untainted by humans, enjoy the sense that these ancestors are still strong within those wall and will in some way give you peace of mind as you transform. After your transformation and Grails, the room will be sealed up for good. Maybe on special anniversaries we will reuse it so enjoy the room, don’t break anything, make sure the large bay window is opened on the day before the full moon. I would hate to have to pay for a new window if you smash through it as a wolf!”
Flint took the key from his dad with some reverence, placed it carefully within an inside pocket of his suit then went on down to the tannery to help set up the area for the new influx of skins that will soon be piling in there.
That was yesterday, today Flint made his way down to the room after supper as the moon was nearly full he was already feeling the wolf coming closer to him than ever, he pulled the key out from the deep recess of his suit pocket and with slight trembling hands he turned the key in the lock, pushing the door open he entered the room, closing the door and leaning against the shut door he let out a sigh of relief, he had made it he was in. Looking around the room, he saw the large oak blanket box which he knew contained the satchel of his mum made of the skin of her dad, he still felt a little creeped out by that but understood the reason behind it. werewolves who lived for so long it must be a massive wrench when one of them does eventually pass away. Just to have some tangible thing to hold onto that was a part of them must be a comfort.
Flint walked around the room found the door to the small bathroom off the side, opened the door to see a bowl which he knew he had to fill with hot water from the kitchen to have a wash before settling down, also in the corner of the room was a cupboard, his dad had explained inside will be the rug for you to place on the floor to stop the dreaded splinters, as he had rather bluntly said if you forget the rug and get a splinter up your bum no one here will be pulling it out for you!
As a precaution Flint got the rug out straight away placing it carefully in the middle of the room,as he laid out the rug he caught a whiff of the smells on the rug. Closing his eyes he saw Carver, Dawn, Nero and Jobe all writhing around bodies rippling then four magnificent wolves all standing on the rug before facing the window and as one creature they bounded across the floor before leaping out of the large bay window, there scent receding as they bounded off into the woods.
Opening his eyes Flint found himself on all fours, his neck craning as he followed his siblings trails. Sitting up on the edge of the bed waiting for his breathing to return to normal, he decided he should set up the bathroom for his wash, collecting the large bowl he walked out of the bedroom, making his way down the corridor to the kitchen to get his hot water, and maybe a small snack to munch on. Filling the bowl with hot frothy water from the cauldron on the side specifically left there for this purpose, he had a quick hunt through the larder using his keen sense of smell to find the leftover meat from that nights meal wrapped in linen, in the coolest part of the larder. He thought no one would mind if he had a chunk just to chew on. He was even though he had a large supper absolutely ravenous, he unwrapped the hunk of meat cutting a fair portion off he attacked with some gusto. The next morning Vicky did notice the hastily rewrapped meat and soon discovered a large portion of it missing. Having a little laugh to herself she knew exactly who had taken it and why, the first transition was always a big shock to the human part of the system, the person on the verge of their first change were always ravenously hungry. She remembered the meals Royston ate before his first change so she wasn't going to begrudge Flint an extra piece of meat.Could be worse, she recalled Nero’s first change, a man of prestigious appetite at the best of time. That night he polished off an entire cooked chicken and a whole loaf of bread, still came down in the morning to gobble down a huge plate of sausages and eggs. So yes a hunk of venison gone won’t be a problem.
Flint carefully carrying his bowl of hot water back to the room, stopped in the hallway to check the large grandfather clock on the landing, unusually for a clock  it’s face was backlit and depicted the phases of the moon, as the moon became fuller it started glowing brighter from no light at new moon through a ranges of brightening yellows until at full moon phase it was a vibrant white light easily seen from a distance. The actual time part is a secondary thought and quite hard to read. The moon pictured was almost full, the light behind a bright yellow turning to white.Looking closely Flint was able to deduce the time was ten to midnight, definitely time to go on up, fingers crossed for the last time as a full human, tomorrow night should be the big change.
Flint made his way to the room, he was surprised to see Grail outside the door, sat on the floor reading the same book Flint noticed he was reading after the party. 
“Hi Grail, uhmm you ok? Did you need me for anything?”
Looking up with a start and snapping the book shut. Grail stood
“Ohh sorry Flint, no I don’t really need anything I was just seeing if you were ok, I was too young when the other ones changed for the first time and as we are the closest, I was hoping to see you just to wish you the best of luck for tomorrow night”
Laughing and smiling at his younger brother. Flint's disquieting thoughts about his last conversation with him after the party now firmly put into the I was overreacting part of his mind. He slapped Grail, making him jolt forward and nearly losing his glasses
“Sorry Grail, I forgot then my strength, as you can tell everything seems to be working up for the transformation tomorrow night. I’m just looking forward to tonight and seeing the light show, or should I say scent show!”
Laughing again his eyes shining wildly, Flint looked for the key in his pocket, pulling it out and turning it in the lock
Grail pushing his glasses back on his face properly
“As I see you are obviously brimming with wolf blood. I’ve been reading about it, in mum’s book by our great grandfather Hugo. It's fascinating reading, basically your entire blood supply, all eight pints or so of it, is getting charged magnetically by the extra gravity from the larger moon, your blood has now become if you like a magnetic receptor. It will draw energy from the moon until the time it reaches full power then your human body can longer contain anymore of the power so will discharge itself by reforming your body into a wolf so you are able to allow the power of the moon's strength slowly dissipate out of your system. Why a wolf? Just because it has to be a large powerful creature able to run fast, so burn energy off safely. It must be somewhere in all human makeup that they all have a little bit of wolf in them and this, this is the only way to bring out that creature to the forefront”
Pausing his face shining, so excited by the information he was passing on, Grail continued
 “Anyway that’s the main gist of the part I was reading, It goes on to say that the next three nights your blood is at its most potent, the only time really when blood transference from a host i.e. one of us to a human would really have any effect. It goes to show how lucky our dad was, if mum had turned up in that dead end of a village a day later, the chances her blood would have helped dad would have been greatly diminished.” 
All through his speech, Flint’s thoughts were just wandering off to running through the woods, chasing and catching deer. When it looked like Grail had finished, Flint smiled at him.
“That’s all amazing yes, I see what you mean about uhmm well you know blood and magnets and uhmm yes and how lucky dad was. Well done, I wish I had a thirst for knowledge like you. Anyway brother I’m going in now, if you like I’ll tell you exactly what I see and feel tonight in the morning
 before breakfast so you will have the first account.”
Shaking his brother's hand he turns to the door. Grail calls out
“Oh Flint sorry I almost forgot I made you, your favourite hot milk drink I’ll just pop to the kitchen to get it where I’ve been keeping it warm for you”
Flint hesitated, he really wasn’t thirsty but he didn’t want to hurt Grail’s feelings and maybe a hot milk will help calm him down a bit.
“Thanks Grail, that's really kind. Look I know I shouldn’t but I’ll leave the door unlocked tonight just creep in, don’t tell dad; you know how he will want to show you the room himself when you go through the change, so just creep in and pop the drink next to the bed. If I’m awake I’ll thank you then”
Going on into the room, pocketing the key and carrying the bowl of water through with him. He had a quick wash, noticing to his chagrin that the water had lost a lot of its heat after spending so much time outside listening to Grail’s accounts of what was going to happen to his body over the next couple of nights. Flint meant it when he told Grail he was impressed by his want of knowledge. He just wished he wasn’t quite so animated and let's face it quite so long winded when he gets into full flow about stuff that really went over Flint’s head, especially this close to the change when all normal thoughts were reeling around his head, fizzing away with his blood. Making it difficult to concentrate on the simplest of facts. 
After finishing his ablutions, Flint went on in to the bedroom changed into his night clothes and got himself comfortable on the bed, closing his eyes he started to regulate his breathing, taking longer and longer in breaths allowing the scents of the room dance around his head, moving his head in any direction he was able to pick up different scents, different characters would join the dance above his upturned face, each one a distinct person for a second before melding and mingling together as there scent paths crossed over each other making a large amalgamation of shapes, some human shape, some wolf shapes, some of the scents were very faint and he would have to concentrate really hard on following those ones, He didn’t know who they were but deduced it must be his dead uncles, grandfather and maybe the faintest of faintest scent was probably his great grandfather, the writer of mums books and the maker of the canopy above his head. Which reminded him, opening his eyes looking directly up, ignoring the whirling room full of fellow brethren scents he concentrated hard on the blue canopy and then there it was a huge red deer, head down antlers close to the ground as a large impressive wolf was circling him. Flint moved his head slightly and saw the deer readjust itself rearing up now on its back feet forelegs up the wolf just out of reach of its crashing hoofs. Flint realised if he moved his head slightly he would see the whole action of the deer bucking up, the wolf patiently circling and then finally striking the deer down. It was an exciting tableau which kept Flint’s attention gripped till the inevitable end of the death of the magnificent red deer at the hand of the large wolf. Just then the door creaked softly open and a new scent entered the room, Flint looked round to see Grail slowly padding over holding an earthenware mug full to the top with frothy steaming hot milk.
Flint sat up straight, thanking Grail as he put the steaming mug down, Grail looked at him curiously.
“Wow you have a real sweat sheen to you Flint, what ever you have witnessed must of been exciting”
Flint, whose breathing had started to  slow, had been building up speed all through the fight scene of the deer and wolf, until he was practically panting by the crescendo of the fight. 
“Yes brother, I can’t explain what I saw, it was amazing though. You just wait for your turn, thanks so much for the milk. I tell you what, this is going to go down a real treat”
With that Flint picked up the cup, blowing on it making some of the froth on top of the milk fly off landing on Grail’s lap. Giggling a little he took a swig of the drink. Grail watched him intently whilst using a handkerchief blotted the milk froth off his trousers. Flint finished the milk with another large gulp then with a belch handed the mug back to Grail.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, I’ll get going before anyone sees me coming out of the room, let me know how it went in the morning, and I’ll make you another drink tomorrow”
With that turning on his heels Grail padded quietly out of the room. Flint with his eyes shut thought let me see if I can isolate each trail before they mix in one big ball. With his eyes shut breathing deeply, just as the shapes started to resolve themselves into recognisable entities they all suddenly disappeared,where did they go? Trying to desperately catch the scent whispers again, Flint fell into a very deep sleep. An hour later, Flint thought he heard a soft creak. Was that  the door opening? Still too deeply asleep,not sure if it was just part of his dream, settling down further into the bed he started another vivid dream of some large mosquito type creature buzzing around his head until landing on his arm, sucking his blood. Taking so much blood he was feeling more and more faint, his head spinning until finally the blood sucking critter replete took off and with barely enough power flew away, so laden down with his blood it barely moved through the air, Flint moaning softly as the loss of blood left him weak and feeling sick. The next thing Flint knew for sure it was morning, the brightness of the sun as it shouldered its way into the darkened room, leaving no corner for the darkness to hide, triumphant in vanquishing the dark it finished off by shining a piercing light directly into Flint’s eyes. Flint groaned, holding his hand up to block out the gloating sunlight out of his eyes. Sitting up he felt his head swim, thinking he was going to faint he breathed deeply then after a few minutes the feeling passed and he was able to stand up. Oww what the hell was that? Looking at his right arm he saw a red raised welt with a pinprick hole in the middle, nestled in the crux of his elbow. Wow looks like I was bitten by a mosquito after all, it wasn’t just a dream. A thought suddenly struck him, if a mosquito drinks the blood of a werewolf will it in turn become a werefly. Living for years supping on blood and what happens at full moon to one? The thought of a tiny, tiny wolf galloping around snacking on small creatures amused him. Laughing out loud as he entered the hall.
“Someone had a good night, obviously being a pre wolf is more fun than when I was your age!”
“Ok Jobe that’s enough, did you do ok son? Did you see my brothers?”
“Yes mum I did, such handsome wolves and men”
Vicky beaming, walked around the table gave Flint a hug, whispered in his ear
“Thank you yes they were, love to know they are still in the house in some shape or form”
Sitting down at the table, drooling at the sight of the sausages Flint looked over the table at his dad, raising his eyebrows a little. Royston smiled and nodded.
Flint leant over the table, grabbed three of the biggest plumpest sausages on the plate, consuming them in seconds, all his eldest siblings laughing as they watched him shovel the food in, only Nero had a look of horror. 
“Mum for god sake slow him down, we all need to eat, that was the three best sausages gone already, we all need energy for tonight.”
A frown and a slight growl from Royston soon shut him up.
As the food was being consumed in prestigious quantities very little conversation was happening, Flint was able to sit back and remember the events of last night, he still felt light headed and a bit sick but put it down to pre change nerves. Eventually the clamour for food died down and proper conversation was able to happen, Flint recounted his feelings as he saw the room come alive with all of his immediate family and the ancestors. He told them how his heart was racing when he saw the deer chase on the canopy, but then he said it all died down as he fell asleep. Some weird dreams but he slept soundly until woken up feeling weak and exhausted. Vicky looked a bit concerned at that point.
“How you are feeling now, hope you're not coming down with something, not usually a sign of change. You should be full of energy. Did you say you were bitten by a mosquito?”
“Yes mum look” 
Flint rolled up his sleeve to show his mum the red welt but his skin was blemish free.
“Oh there was a raised red mark with a hole in it there I swear mum, I didn’t dream it I’m sure”
His mum looked relieved.
“Oh I believe you son, the fact that it’s disappeared already is a good sign, means your wolf blood is up to optimum power, any injuries will soon fix at this time.”
Jobe snorted into his cup
“Well well Flint almost brought down by a mozzy - thank god it didn’t happen at any other point of the lunar month, you may have not made it little brother!”
Carver frowned at Jobe
“That’s enough Jobe, I seem to remember a brother who when he spent his first night in the room, got so scared by the bouncing deer above his head ran into the bathroom for an hour before calming down! Maybe cut Flint a little slack, yes?”
Jobe went beetroot red looked down at his empty plate then looking up with a shrug
“You’re right Carver please accept my apologies Flint, it’s common knowledge that I’m more of a lover than a killer”
Standing up Jobe announced 
“Let’s all toast our newest soon to be wolf, a wolf who has already defeated a particularly nasty mozzy! To Flint”
Raising his glass in the air Jobe drained his glass of juice, the rest of the family raised theirs shouting Flint then downing a glass of orange juice
Much more backslapping.Vicky and Dawn talking animatedly about new designs for bags, Dawn wanting to try something new, something a bit more modern. Vicky says for eighty years their bags have sold because of their quality and changeless charm. Everyone knew this argument would rage on then Vicky would agree for Dawn to try a new design then they would both agree it wasn’t as good as the original bag and so that would be that for another year. Flint watching them smiling he loved the way life in this household continued in a straight line, the same arguments, the same little digs at each other but ultimately the same love for the family circle, the pack always came together to protect and nurture each other. Looking again around the table his eyes caught that of Grail’s, Grail seemed to flinch a little under Flint’s gaze before regaining his composure and smiled at him, tipping his half empty glass to him. Flint remembered he was going to thank him for the milk and chat about his change. After breakfast I will catch up with him. But of course with the change coming on that night, all thoughts of Grail soon left his head. He made the excuse to himself afterwards that with the change all your cognitive thoughts one by one turn to wisps of smoke and disappear out of your head, the overwhelming sense becomes smell. Even as a human the sense of smell becomes stronger and stronger. He knew exactly where the rest of his family were, he could smell the pungent acrid smells coming from the tannery even from the other end of the house. It was well known by the other family members to keep as far away from the tannery at this time as the smell becomes so overpowering it could cause an adverse reaction, leading to a less satisfactory hunt as a wolf as there scent trailing is affected.Flint could even smell urine trails of mice and rats that proliferated in the lower reaches of the house, like the basement and wine cellar.
 At this point in the evening all of the older siblings and parents take to their rooms, to get the rooms ready. Opening large windows, making sure rugs are ready, putting fresh clothing out. Preparation for that night and next morning. Flint also prepared the transformation bedroom, opening the bay window wide. Looking at the window sill and noticing the numerous scratches made by claws as the wolf in the room landed on the sill before leaping out to join the rest of the pack. Flint knew when he changed he would leap up, wait to hear his dad’s howl then leap down to join them. Looking out of the window he could see the flower bed below with a space just under the window. That space had a generous layer of mulch so landing wouldn’t hurt the legs of the jumping wolf. Flint knew outside all of their bedrooms there was the same soft landing area set up. The last thing you want is jumping into a rose bush or anything else equally painful. 
The time had arrived. The lunar grandfather clock on the landing had a full moon and was shining brightly, its iridescence lighting up the landing.
Flint settled down, first on the bed then thought better of it and curled up on the rug instead. Just then a tentative knock on the door
“Who is it? Is that you Grail?”
“Yes Flint, I’ve brought your drink for tonight, can I pop it in with you?”
 Flint stretched out, stood up and went to the door.
“You know you are supposed to stay in your room with the door locked, don’t you Grail? If dad catches you out of your room, you will be in deep trouble”.
“I know Flint, I just want to wish you all the best for tonight, here’s your drink”
Flint rather clumsily took the steaming mug out of Grail’s hand and gulped it down in two large mouthfuls, ignoring the burning sensation as it went down, smacking his lips, he handed the mug back.
“Lovely thank you Grail you had better go now, lock your door and I’ll see you in the morning”
Grail nodded and took the cup. Retreating out of the room to go back up to his room.
Flint settled back down on the rug, curling up head tucked between his two hands, sleep came quickly again to Flint, once again he dreamt of a mosquito supping on his blood. At one point through half opened blurry eyes he swore a shadowy figure was climbing out of the large opened windows
Just then the clouds outside parted, the silvery light of the moon glowed its magical light into the bedrooms on the bottom floor. In each bedroom, human shapes were contorting, muzzles lengthening, fur sprouting. All of their limbs were shortening, hands melding together. Claws were growing as were teeth and ears, all through the changes each member writhed and twisted on the rugs. 
Flint felt the exhilaration, all human thoughts were closing down. He held his hands up and saw them melding into paws, he too started to writhe around his body stretching, he could actually feel his backbone changing shape. Then it all stopped, Flint fell back into a deep black sleep, his body slowly reformed back into a human form. He didn’t even hear the howls from his dad or the corresponding howls from the rest of the pack. He never saw or heard his mum jumping up onto the window sill from outside and sniffing him, nuzzling him. He slept on in a dreamless dark void. Vicky after licking his face, smelling him turned back to the window and jumped out.
It was morning, the sun once again vanquished the darkness of the bedroom shining on everything including a human shaped man in the bed under a thick duvet. Flint awoke groaning, 
Oh god what happened to me? I changed. I know I did but then I don’t remember anything. Pulling on clothing he unlocked the room and wandered out to the hall to see if anyone else was up. In the hall reading a book was his mum.
“Flint? Oh thank god you're awake”
“Yes mum I’m awake, I don’t know what happened, I changed I felt all the changes. I had the body of a wolf but then, then blackness I don’t know why, oh mum what’s wrong with me?”
Vicky stood and gave Flint a hug
“You must be starving please let’s go and eat we will see if we can get to the bottom of this”
Flint realising he was indeed starving followed his mum down to the kitchen”
“Are the others still in bed? Why isn’t breakfast set up mum?”
“Sit Flint, the thing is son, you have had a terrible fever and have slept solidly in between bouts of high feverish hallucinations, you have been in that room for two weeks all through the waning of the moon, only beginning to resurface since the moon started to wax to give you extra boost, I was able to get some food and drink in you, it was touch and go at one point we all thought you may not make it…” 
Turning her head away so Flint wouldn’t see the  tears fall down her face, brusquely brushing them away she turned back smiling.
“Here you are safe and sound so that’s good”
Flint looked dumbfounded at her mum.
“You mean I went through the change and it nearly killed me? Will this happen every time? Will I never become a pack member?”
Flint's eyes filled with tears, he was so excited what he thought was yesterday but turned out to be over a week ago now. He was going to be a wolf and he was a wolf for a few glorious minutes, closing his eyes he could feel the sensation again, he was a wolf ready to bound out after his family but now seems cruelly to be taken away from him. Instead he will endure the pain of the transformative change but have none of the pay back, none of the enjoyment of the wolf life. 
His mother again gave him a hug
“We don’t know that Flint, it may well be a glitch, a small problem that will rectify itself next time. Next full moon. I will stay with you in your room, and we will see what happens together ok? I know as a wolf I won’t be able to help but I will be there for you”
Giving her mum a wan smile, Flint finished his meal, he started to feel a bit better, but still very weak.
“Thank you mum I’m going back up to my room, if that’s ok. Just wiped out”
“Of course son, wait…”
Vicky stood and walked to a set of drawers on the side of the hall, opening one of the top draws she took out a large brass bell.
“Take this with you if you feel worse or if you think anything is wrong, give it a good swing ok? I’ll have one of the maids stay close, if they hear the bell I’ll   come at once”.
With another hug she passed over the bell. Flint walked down the corridor towards his bedroom holding the bell by its clacker to stop it clanging.
Once in his room he laid on his bed looking up at his ceiling feeling hollow inside, he still couldn’t comprehend what went wrong. From pure elation to total despair, It really took the shine off everything. Next full moon when he should be excited he can just see a bleak black hole opening up, swallowing him up. Never to run with his family, what would be the point. Just then a small tentative knock on the door made him look round.
“Yes, who is it? I’m ok mum if that’s you”
The door opened and on the threshold was Grail, hopping from one foot to the other.
“It’s me Flint, I was just checking to see if you were ok. I heard you get up and go down to the hall. I was really worried.”
Sighing Flint beckoned Grail in
“Come in. I’m getting better just really tired”
Grail came in wringing his hands, he sat down next to Flint's bed. He mumbled something that Flint didn’t catch, looking away for a second then seeming to get his composure back, turning his face back to Flint with a semblance of a smile albeit a bleak one. 
“I think you will be alright now brother, I sincerely mean that. I was so scared we were going to lose you but….”
Grail paused looking down at his brother's face and saw that his eyes had shut.
“I’m sorry brother I really am”
Grail whispered, standing looking back one final time he could see Flint was now in a deep sleep.
“It will be for the best for all of us”
With that Grail stealthily crept out of the bedroom, closing the door leant against it, putting his head in his hand. If anyone saw him at that moment they may have noticed strange movement under his shirt, as if his lithe body was subtly being pumped up, becoming heavier set, taking his head out of hands. He tore his glasses off putting them in his pocket with the worried frown on his forehead disappearing, his mouth turned into a sneer and with a stretch of his neck he started to walk with an altogether more jaunty style than his usual shuffle.
Flint slept on