Post by quinn ji-sung park on Jan 4, 2020 17:15:59 GMT -5
20 october, 2021
A day like any other, though with the distinction of being at the zenith of the lunar cycle. That night, Quinn would transform as he had every month since his turning. He'd been foolish that night, naively optimistic to think that it wouldn't be too dangerous to treat a trapped, injured werewolf on his own. Quinn wasn't sure that he could blame Katya for the full set of scars on his left forearm- hastily flung to protect his throat- for the affliction running through his veins. What was done was done. It was an accident, an unfortunate one, landing him in yet another category of outsider. A gay man from a not understanding family, a muggleborn in amongst those of magic, and now a halfbreed to boot.
Quinn had gone through his shift largely without incident- a rarity in days such as these. He couldn't remember the last shift he'd had where he hadn't tended to a fellow lycanthrope, most of them brought in after being attacked by Death's children. Many didn't make it. Quinn saw the white sheets draped over cold bodies most nights in his sleep- that was, when he wasn't so exhausted that he saw only blackness when his head hit the pillow, startling at the alarm after what felt like only minutes.
An easy day before the transformation nighttime would bring was like a breath of fresh air.
Quinn clocked out on time, something that seemed only to happen on days that coincided with full moons. He would be of little use to the hospital in wolf form- Quinn took his wolfsbane, of course, painstakingly brewed his own. It wasn't that he didn't trust his colleagues who brewed the hospital stores, but he didn't want to be a bother. Any dose he didn't take from work, was a dose that could be given to someone who couldn't make their own. Quinn wouldn't stand to strain the supply when he was capable of brewing it on his own.
After apparating to just outside of Forest Hollow, Quinn took his time on the way home, downing the last dose of this moon cycle from a sleek black flask. He crinkled his nose at the taste, it was truly vile, he wasn't sure he'd ever be used to it, but it was better than the alternative. Quinn wouldn't be able to live with himself if he managed to hurt someone. No, he'd rather stay settled in at home, curled up in bed, a tame wolf, and sleep it off. Quinn exchanged nods and waves with other Children on the way back to his home. Most went to a clearing in the woods to transform, but not being a pack member himself, Quinn didn't feel the pull to communal transformation, and continued to his house.
As he still had time prior to moonrise, Quinn had a simple dinner, and a cup of tea, before settling in front of the hearth, curtains drawn. He had nothing to be ashamed of with his transformations here, but he'd rather not be gawked at- he needed to get through these nights alone. When it was time, Quinn felt the familiar coursing through his veins, the pounding in his heart. His bones ached as they grew and morphed, his screams of pain eventually turning into animalistic growls, snarls, until the process was complete. Quinn huffed, releasing a sigh from his snout as he sat back on his haunches, shaking his head as if it would ease the discomfort.
But something was different this night.
Quinn heard the screams in the distance, heard and smelled non-wolves scurry past his house in direction of the woods. Were they under attack? It could be either perfect or terrible timing, depending on who one asked. Getting to his feet, Quinn pawed to the window, nosing the curtain open to peek outside. Terribly nearsighted as a human, Quinn saw perfectly as a wolf, able to make out another wolf a few meters from his home- only he hadn't completed the transformation, seemed stuck somewhere between man and wolf. Quinn felt his heart catch in his chest and frantically tried to escape from his own house. Damn these paws! Quinn wasn't sure much help he would be anyway, he couldn't use a wand or brew a potion like this, only watch helplessly as the poisoned wolf began convulsing, frothing at the mouth...
Quinn howled in anguish, there was nothing he could do.
Quinn had gone through his shift largely without incident- a rarity in days such as these. He couldn't remember the last shift he'd had where he hadn't tended to a fellow lycanthrope, most of them brought in after being attacked by Death's children. Many didn't make it. Quinn saw the white sheets draped over cold bodies most nights in his sleep- that was, when he wasn't so exhausted that he saw only blackness when his head hit the pillow, startling at the alarm after what felt like only minutes.
An easy day before the transformation nighttime would bring was like a breath of fresh air.
Quinn clocked out on time, something that seemed only to happen on days that coincided with full moons. He would be of little use to the hospital in wolf form- Quinn took his wolfsbane, of course, painstakingly brewed his own. It wasn't that he didn't trust his colleagues who brewed the hospital stores, but he didn't want to be a bother. Any dose he didn't take from work, was a dose that could be given to someone who couldn't make their own. Quinn wouldn't stand to strain the supply when he was capable of brewing it on his own.
After apparating to just outside of Forest Hollow, Quinn took his time on the way home, downing the last dose of this moon cycle from a sleek black flask. He crinkled his nose at the taste, it was truly vile, he wasn't sure he'd ever be used to it, but it was better than the alternative. Quinn wouldn't be able to live with himself if he managed to hurt someone. No, he'd rather stay settled in at home, curled up in bed, a tame wolf, and sleep it off. Quinn exchanged nods and waves with other Children on the way back to his home. Most went to a clearing in the woods to transform, but not being a pack member himself, Quinn didn't feel the pull to communal transformation, and continued to his house.
As he still had time prior to moonrise, Quinn had a simple dinner, and a cup of tea, before settling in front of the hearth, curtains drawn. He had nothing to be ashamed of with his transformations here, but he'd rather not be gawked at- he needed to get through these nights alone. When it was time, Quinn felt the familiar coursing through his veins, the pounding in his heart. His bones ached as they grew and morphed, his screams of pain eventually turning into animalistic growls, snarls, until the process was complete. Quinn huffed, releasing a sigh from his snout as he sat back on his haunches, shaking his head as if it would ease the discomfort.
But something was different this night.
Quinn heard the screams in the distance, heard and smelled non-wolves scurry past his house in direction of the woods. Were they under attack? It could be either perfect or terrible timing, depending on who one asked. Getting to his feet, Quinn pawed to the window, nosing the curtain open to peek outside. Terribly nearsighted as a human, Quinn saw perfectly as a wolf, able to make out another wolf a few meters from his home- only he hadn't completed the transformation, seemed stuck somewhere between man and wolf. Quinn felt his heart catch in his chest and frantically tried to escape from his own house. Damn these paws! Quinn wasn't sure much help he would be anyway, he couldn't use a wand or brew a potion like this, only watch helplessly as the poisoned wolf began convulsing, frothing at the mouth...
Quinn howled in anguish, there was nothing he could do.