Wolf Magic

By Silver Sheep

The police car turned into Panorama Drive and continued until Lilianfels Park where it came to a halt in a parking spot along the street. The street was empty because of the late hour. The police weren't to popular lately because of a highly publicized string of disappearances dubbed the “New Ivan Milat” in the press. The police had no clues to the whereabouts of the missing people. Search parties had been sent out and returned empty. Now tourists were canceling their reservations and staying clear of the Blue Mountains as a whole.

Sargent Daniel Brixworth stepped out of his patrol car and headed up the sidewalk to one of the entrances to the Prince Henry Cliffwalk. The entrances to the Katoomba bushwalk had been taped off and was now closed to the public in effort to stop more people going missing. He stepped over the police tape and took a step down. He pulled out his flashlight and climbed down the many stairs going down deeper into the bush.

A shiver ran through him despite the fact he was armed with his sidearm and had seen the darker side of humanity on the job. He could handle criminals and thugs but not this. He had tried to resist his orders or even tell someone of what he had to do but something in his mind had stopped him each time. He was trembling now thinking about not being in control. How could they of known his name?

A sudden rustle to the right of him made him flinch. He shined his torch in the direction of the noise. All he could see was the shadows of the underbrush. Shit! He was losing it. He climbed down the stairs some more until he came to a flat section of the track. Somehow he know he was close to meeting his contact. Sure enough he saw a dark shadow ahead in his path.

Daniel shone his torch up at the shadow revealing a black wolf like creature. The light reflected of the wolf’s eyes. The policeman gulped and lowered his torch. “Hello Sargent Brixworth. How are you this evening?” said the creature. “Listen I don’t know what you things want with me but I want no part of it.” the human said gruffly. “You wanted part of our howls otherwise you wouldn’t have come back. By the way I’m not a thing I have a name do I need to howl it out for you?” the wolf replied with a smirk. “Greenpaw. Please no need for that.” said Daniel.

“OK no howls for you tonight but you have to play along for a bit.” Greenpaw said as he licked his chops. The human looked relieved. He knew how powerful their howls were and didn't want to succumb a second time. Perhaps he could work out a way to get his control back. He had his gun on him if he could work out a way to fight the wolves he could shoot his way out of this situation. As he currently was the wolves had some strange power over him so he couldn’t even reach for his weapon because something stopped him. Like a block in his mind.

Greenpaw offed his paw and said “Take my paw we’re going on a walk.” Daniel reluctantly took a hold of the outstretched hand paw and said “and here I am without my leash.” The powerful paw squeezed his hand painfully tight before relaxing to a more comfortable grip. “Hold on tight and turn of that flashlight. I’ll keep you on a leash tonight to guide you to our village.” Greenpaw said playfully. Daniel clicked off his flashlight and returned it to it’s holster on his belt.

The wolf and the human walked down the track. They came to a set of stairs. “Be careful not to slip I’ll count down the steps.” said Greenpaw. Daniel just rolled his eyes. The wolf gave a gentle tug on his hand. “Ten. Not so fast human plenty of time to go down.” said Greenpaw. Daniel took the step down. He was glad that the wolf could see better in the dark than him. 

“Nine. I noticed that you're afraid of us wolves. There's no need to be just take a nice deep breath and relax.” Greenpaw said in a gentle voice. Daniel took a deep breath in and let it out. He felt better for it. He took another step down the warm hand paw of the wolf felt nice. This wolf didn't want to hurt him. 

“Eight. Now Daniel it's OK to relax doesn't it feel nice to be guided hand in paw. Going deep down the track. My voice can guide you too if you just listen.” said Greenpaw. The wolf was right it was much better to relax. If the wolf wanted to hurt him why would he go to all this trouble. The human took another step down. What was that? It felt like a fog was forming around him. 

“Seven. Now it may feel a little bit hazy now but that's fine just hold onto my paw. You humans need our help. No howling tonight so you have nothing to fear. It's safe to listen to me. My voice can't harm you.” Yeah. No howls it was just fine. What a kind wolf helping me out thought Daniel. He took another step down things got more hazy.

“Six. Things are getting soft. Soft like my fur. Soft like your thoughts. It's normal. In fact thinking is just so much effort. Better just to concentrate on my voice.” said Greenpaw. He was right his head did feel woolly better to follow the wolf’s voice. The human took another step down. He was feeling heavy now. 

“Five. Halfway there. Halfway down. Each step is letting you sink. Step after step. Let go of those soft thoughts one step at a time.” said Greenpaw. The fog was getting thick now the human could hardly see. Thinking was getting in the way of concentrating on Greenpaw’s voice. Better to let his thoughts drift away. 

“Four. You're getting deep now. Drifting down slowly for me. Letting go of your thoughts. That's right.” said Greenpaw. Daniel slowly stepped down feeling calm from the wolf's soothing voice. He was unable to think his mind was empty. 

“Three. Almost at the bottom such an obedient human. It's so good to be empty ready for orders. A blank slate. Despite slowly stepping down the stairs. The human was lost to the world. His mouth hung open. His head rolled back listlessly. 

“Two. When we get to the bottom I want you to stay in this wonderful trance for me. You're so helpful and obedient It will be quite effortless for you. That's what you want to be helpful that's why you're a police officer after all. The human stepped down the stairs but otherwise didn't respond. Greenpaw knew that he was tamed and his under control. 

“One. Hear that… That's your empty mind. It's going to stay empty until I say otherwise. Just hang on to my voice. Just hang on to my paw. You're safe here with me. Daniel was deeply entranced now he could only hear Greenpaw’s voice all other sounds were muted. 

Slowly Daniel felt his senses return to him. He was lying against a tree with dark brown and knobbly bark on the ground. He opened his eyes and a creature came into focus. It was a wolf man who was all white except that he had a black nose. The human stared in awe at the wolf. He was in the presence of a God. 

He couldn't deny that now all he could do was stare. The white wolf spoke “Hello Daniel welcome to our village. Our hidden village among the Wollemi pines. There's no need to be shy you can speak. ” Daniel tried to speak but his voice caught in his throat. 

“Speaking might be a bit hard right now. It’s OK to stare if that's what you want.” the wolf said. “It can quite overwhelming to be in a sacred magic place after believing that there's nothing but dust.” continued the wolf. “Dust can be blown away and your body shaped by the pack.” said the wolf. 

A silvery light came down in rays from the trees. The forest of Wollemi pines. The wolf's voice was soft and gentle and it contained power. That scared the human like he could be blown away just from listening to the words alone. 

The wolf must have sensed his fear because he said “Daniel the pack didn't bring you here to be reverted to your wolf form. The human didn't understand what did he meant by reverted. “What the pack needs is a Omega helper in the human’s world. Someone with a weak, pliable and submissive mind ready to be made a slave for the pack. A willing servant who will help the pack, give us information about the human world. Someone like you.” the wolf stated. 

“N-no” said Daniel. His eyes widened in fear. He thought to reach for his gun but somehow the wolves had the power to stop his body from reacting. “Daniel from what we know of the human race we know It needs to be tamed and controlled. You can't argue that a child incinerated by an atomic blast with all that's left of them is their shadow burnt into a wall is a product of a sane and rational creature.” said the white wolf. 

Daniel couldn't move the wolves were in control here. There was something in the air. “I am being rude. I haven't introduced myself yet.” said the white wolf. The human turned his gaze back to the creature. “My name is Moonbeam. I am going to help you. You're reluctant to serve the pack and that simply won't do.” Moonbeam said. 

Daniel looked into Moonbeam’s golden eyes. They were so beautiful almost painfully so. He wanted to look away but there was a soul behind them not just an animal. The magic of the wolves. The human was falling that's what it felt like. Even as he was sitting at the base of the tree.

Moonbeam got closer to Daniel. Daniel let out a gasp. “It seems that something has got you detracted my friend.” said Moonbeam. It took a few moments for Daniel to realise that Moonbeam had spoken to him. He didn't understand what he just said. It was so much better just to stare into the liquid gold of his eyes. 

Moonbeam smiled as he saw how lost the human was. “Daniel you came here to learn how to serve the wolf pack.” said Moonbeam. Daniel didn't even hear what was said all he knew was it was absolute truth. That wonderful wolf was making his golden eyes swirl. Eyes can't swirl could they?

No! He was wrong they could swirl and it was his job to stare. It was making sense now he had to obey the wolves. He had to listen to them when they gave him orders after all the wolves know what's best. Yes, order that's why he was a cop to maintain order. To maintain order you have to submit. Submit to the howling. The wolves know how to howl away doubt. 

No more doubt just golden spirals. How blessed to be captured by the wolves. Captured by their howls and now by golden swirling eyes. He had to share this with others. Not just anyone. Those that the humans won't miss. He knew the people that could be helped by the wolves. The lowlifes that just cause trouble he could give them as a offering to the pack that wouldn't raise the alarm in the human world. 

He had to keep this revelation to himself other humans weren't filled with gold like he was. He had to tell the pack of the human's plans. Others wouldn't understand that the wolves were their masters and had to be obeyed. This was wolven perfection. The will of the pack. 

Daniel came to feeling the slick wolf tongue lapping his face. He opened his eyes and saw his master Moonbeam. He was filled with gold now. Filled with the pack's love. “Thank you.” Daniel said he voice filled with awe. Moonbeam stopped licking and said “Come and have something to drink and I'll introduce you to Riverstone our pack leader.”

Moonbeam offered his paw to the human. Daniel took the wolf’s paw and pulled himself upright. The wolf pulled the human into a warm embrace. The normally gruff policeman was taken aback by the act of affection. They parted the embrace and began walking up a small hill.

Soon there was a faint blue light in the air. At the top of the hill Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes. There were balls of blue flames hanging in mid air. They illuminated the area in pale blue light. Down in a grove there was a fire pit with a billy hung on a metal frame. He could make out the wolf man he knew as Greenpaw and Ironbark the wolf he had met the first time he had encountered them. A new wolf was seated nearest the fire he had dark gray fur and a thick upper coat that made him look powerful.

Moonbeam and Daniel walked down the over side of hill. Daniel stared wide eyed at the floating balls of flame. He was in a magical place. Soon there arrived at the firepit. “Our infiltrator has been tamed by the looks of it.” said the dark gray furred wolf. “Yes my leader. Ironbark picked a great candidate.” replied Moombeam as he slapped the human on his back. 
“Hello Daniel. Welcome to our home my name is Riverstone and I run the joint. Come take a seat.” Riverstone said. Daniel was delighted to follow the order from the pack leader himself. What a beautiful thing to know what to do with absolute certainty. He sat down next to the powerful wolf. “I have been building my pack up over the last couple of months. As a consequence we have attracted the attention of the human world.” said Riverstone. The wolf picked up a cup from a rock on the ground and passed it to the human.

“See this empty cup that’s the human world. It’s empty, soulless and dead.” said Riverstone. He picked up the billy and carefully poured a strange tea into humans cup. “This tea is our wolf magic it will fill the world with light and love. It may be hard for a slave such as yourself to understand my vision for a new wolven century but even a thrall can understand tea.” said Riverstone. The wolf bust into laughter.

“It’s my honor to help the pack in anyway.” Daniel said brimming with pride. Riverstone knocked off Daniel’s police hat and tousled his hair and said “What a mindless thrall. I hope the humans buy that he still has a will of his own Moonbeam.” Moonbeam’s canine ears twitched at mention of his name. “It’s not as if he can go and tell them that he has been enslaved by a pack of wolf men with hypnotic howls. That had him around for tea.”

“Yeah! The humans don’t believe in magic anymore so they would just lock him up.” said Riverstone. Daniel just picked his police hat up and put it back on his head. He took a sip of tea. The tea was delightful. Fancy tea from a wolf tasting great. “Alright back to your mission Daniel. You are to bring the human named Paul Willson to where you met Greenpaw. Ironbark tells me that this human is of no value in your world and won’t be missed. This will be done tomorrow night is that clear thrall?” Riverstone asked.

“Yes, Master! I will get you this tasty human to feed the pack.” Daniel said. “I think he thinks we want to eat the human Riverstone.” said Greenpaw. “Look. It doesn’t matter what this thrall thinks as long as he does what he’s told.” replied Riverstone. “Tasty human to feed the pack it is then.” piped in Moonbeam excitedly.

The wolves chatted amongst themselves. Daniel took the time to look around at his surroundings he spotted several pairs of glowing eyes watching the fire pit. Different wolves of the pack watching the human. How many were there? He could make out wooden structures in the wondrous light of the magic blue flames. He sipped his tea and relaxed watching the flames flicker in the forest.

Daniel was snapped back to reality when a hand paw was placed on his shoulder. He looked up and saw the tan fur of Ironbark he was the most timid of the wolves. He kept silent while the others were talking. “I am to lead you back to the path so you can return home.” Ironbark said in a soft voice.

Daniel stood up and took Ironbark’s paw. The wolf’s green eyes avoided the humans but he gently guided the human away. Daniel noticed how quiet Ironbark was as he moved quite silently through the bush. He remained silent for the journey. They moved away from the magical area of the hidden wolf village.

The journey through the Australian bush was uneventful. There wasn’t any wolf tricks or howls. Daniel remembered how Ironbark’s howl sounded. It was beautiful how it sounded how it called out to him. Ironbark lead him to the Prince Henry Cliffwalk. He recognised where he was now and how to return home. Ironbark released his hand and said “I have to return to the pack now farewell human.”

“Goodbye Ironbark.” said Daniel. He watched the wolf as he retreated into the bush. It was still dark so the human took out his flashlight to light his way on the track. It took some time to make progress back towards his car. He came to a curve in the track and rounded the bend.

There was a figure seated on a bench. It was another wolf man he was different from the other wolves he had russet fur and he was wearing clothes unlike the wolves that were nude. The creature spoke “Not a wolfie yet I see. I wonder what they want with you.” Daniel noticed something else this creature was holding a small dog in his lap. It wasn’t a dog at all it was a fox. Now that he was closer he could see that the wolf wasn’t a wolfman at all but a fox man wearing clothes.

He had on a pinstriped button up shirt and black slacks. He had gold feline eyes and a pointed muzzle with wiry whiskers. His triangular ears pointed forward the tips had black fur. Resting along the bench was a large fluffy russet furred tail with a white tip. The fox man was holding a red fox in his lap that he was gently stroking with his black had paws tipped with ivory colored claws.

“I am a wolfie if you mean that I serve the pack.” Daniel said. The fox scoffed “They did a number on your mind.” Daniel frowned as he said “I have been filled with gold. It’s an honour to serve my wolf masters.” The fox licked his lips with his flexible canine tongue. “Your mind has been filled with wool darling. Like a sheep and It’s time to be shaved.” said the fox.

The fox's eyes glowed green filled with a magic. Before Daniel could react there was a buzzing in his skull. Something felt like a wall had been torn down inside his mind. The wolves had brainwashed him to be their slave to betray the human race! They weren't his friends but his enemies who were using him like a puppet to do their will.

Daniel was back in control. He took his gun from it’s holster and aimed it at the fox. “Hands up!” he yelled. The fox’s eyes stopped glowing. The real fox jumped down from the fox man’s lap onto the ground. The fox slowly raised his hand paw above his head. “Is this how you treat your liberator who broke your shackles?” the fox said in mock outrage. “Shut up! You're coming with me.” replied Daniel.

“You can take me in but the other humans will only see a human.” said the fox. In a blink of an eye where the fox man was sitting a human had appeared. He looked like a middle aged Caucasian man with dark brown hair. He was wearing the same clothes as the fox was. He turned to Daniel and said “See. Us foxes know how to trick you humans. How will the police station look arresting a man for being a fox. They have enough bad PR right now.”

Daniel lowered his gun. “Look. I am having a bad night I just found out that I got mind fucked by wolves and now there are shapeshifting foxes.” Just as fast as before the human was a fox man again. The little fox jumped up into his lap again. “It’s alright Renard this human is just scared.” he said to his pet. “Human. I have helped you. I am taking a risk revealing my true form but I need your help.” the fox said.

“Riverstone has lost his mind. He is converting humans to wolves with wolf magic. It will wake humans of their delusion of being the top creatures on this planet and drive them into war with us hidden creatures.” said the fox. “What the fuck can I do! I can’t fight their power. I was their slave and didn’t even know it.” said Daniel. “That’s it they don’t know that you're free. They still think you’re a mindless thrall. They won’t hypnotize you now that they think that you're a drone.” said the fox.

“I have to stop them from hurting more people. I can’t just feed them people alive.” Daniel said he voice filling with desperation. “They don’t eat them. Are you listening? He shifts the humans into a wolf and changes their personality. In one way it’s death because if I were to undo his control like I did with you they would still be wolves.” said the fox.

“Listen human. Us fox’s can trick you into seeing us as humans and live in your world. We don’t change as in we are still foxes we just change your perceptions of us. The wolves can change the physical form of humans with their wolf magic so that they become wolves.” the fox said. “There’s more of you? What? Just walking down the street. Making coffee at the cafe!” said Daniel. “Put simply yes. We have been living in peace but now Riverstone has gone off his rocker and is threatening to bring it all down.” said the fox.

“My name is Hubert and this one here is Renard.” said Hubert gesturing to his pet fox. “Unlike the wolves I am asking. Asking for you to play the role of their slave in order for the foxes to have eyes and ears inside the pack. It’s not without risks if they find out you’re not under their control they will convent you to a wolf. Non action is just as risky if you don’t follow their orders they will just enslave another human maybe one of your work colleagues. Those are the stakes at play.” said Hubert. 

Daniel’s mind mulled over the decision that he should make. The wolves were strong he couldn’t fight them by himself. Could the foxes be trusted? Sure Hubert had lifted the pack’s control from his mind but that was just one individual. Should he get involved in a hidden battle between two magical creatures? What he knew for sure was that he was involved now whether he liked it or not. He had to make a decision.