Chapter Two, 'Blood Fur'

"Shaman, come quickly."
"The sun is not yet fully ascended in the sky Raola, I assume this is about the beast."
"Yes, but I can not explain it. You must see this through your own eyes."

Aurou grabbed his staff as he exited the hut. It was a large town, but few buildings had been finished. They had not been here long, the Alpha had only pronounced their exile about a year ago now.

He looked into the cage. The girl had returned it seemed, but the beast had gone.
"We have watched the cage without sleep since you commanded us."
"Then you can explain the beast's absence?"
"We swear upon our father's souls that we have touched neither herb nor ale this night."
"Where is the beast."
"In the cage shaman. There is either no girl or no beast, for as the sun rose its fur and fangs receded and in its place only the girl remained."
"Sneffu, did you also witness this?"
"Yes shaman, although my brother neglected to mention that the light of the sun revealed to us that the beast and the child have fur of the same color, and it's appearance was like that of a great wolf. What manner of omen is this shaman?"

"A powerful one. If the others inquire as to what has happened tell them that you took it upon yourselves to find the child and banish the beast. I will set an illusion upon the cage that the others will see only the girl by the sun or moon."
Aurou turned and began walking back to his hut.
"Shaman, what do you plan to do about this?"
"I shall observe the child and present my findings to the oracles. They shall decide the child's fate. In the mean time keep the child warm and fed, she is in our care now and we would do best not to anger the feral spirit residing within her."
"Yes shaman."