Chapter Text
I feel the air grow colder. They could be anywhere; every snapped twig and a crumpling leaf kept me on the edge. These beasts are cunning. They will not hold back once they have you in their claws.
This is Stanford Pines again. For the last few nights, I have been tracking the beasts that roam the woods. Hopefully, they stay within the woods. Luckily that’s how it’s been going for us…well me. I’ve become some sort of a lead organizer to track werewolves, being the closest to an expert, next to those young vagabonds. I have been studying the unusual things that have been happening to this usually unusual town (what a mouthful!). The native weirdness of this town is being harassed by the non-native werewolves (invasive weirdness? That feels like a good term to use.) And now they're starting to go after the residents of Gravity Falls, as in the humans, mind you.
The injuries on the unicorns and Manotaurs are piling up. The gnomes are still being used as chew toys, and they're getting more pushed out because of it. F has quite the full house now; he doesn’t seem to mind having the injured stay there.
The werewolves haven’t bitten anyone since those young adult hunters arrived, but what makes them not want to bite some yet do it to others?
Playing the role of an organizer is draining, to say, my social anxiety has been well past its limit! I can’t let this town do something idiotic. That might get someone killed. Thankfully the majority seemed relatively level-headed for the most part about the problem.
Considering what else we live with, they’re desensitized to crazy stuff like this. My words to consider, some of them might be victims of the werewolf curse and might not even mean harm.
These words seem to stick with most of the locals.
I gave two essential rules.
One: Only shoot if they attack.
Two: If someone is discovered to be a werewolf, tend to them and question.
They seem to understand these rules.
But they’re still wary of those cursed betraying them or turning on them; they still don’t completely understand how these werewolves and the curse works. Neither do I, despite the extra knowledge I've attained.
Their fear and anger are still more understandable and sympathetic compared to those outsider hunters. The people of Gravity Falls can be reasoned with; most of them.
Preston is not one of them, and this was predictable, not surprising at all. Man only has his sights on ego and money; he’s treating this whole situation like it’s a game. He sees those werewolves as easy money. He doesn't care who they might be. This man even admitted to me he doesn't care if he shoots someone innocent, “It's their fault they allowed themselves to get infected in the first place.” Like they had a choice!
About those werewolf hunters are…interesting, actually emotionless and annoying is a better way to describe them. I don't really trust them; they don't share a lot about themselves other than they've hunted werewolves for years, and the recent chaos here made them curious. I have many questions for them, like what brought them together to form a group and how they managed to do hunting like this for years. They don't give me helpful answers; they seem to believe they're doing the right thing by preventing outbreaks and attacks. They're not entirely selfish as they are concerned about the town's well-being and see each other as family. But they’re so reckless and inconsiderate I’m not even sure if it’s entirely true or if they’re all talk. They’re so robotic I can’t even tell what their true feelings on the matter are.
I hired them, and now I feel like I'm babysitting them than receiving help!
They’re slowly taking a liking to Northwest. I think they’re just impressed by his shooting skills and coldness!
They wonder why I’m so soft to these creatures, though I would hardly call myself soft. I’m just as furious with them for what they’ve done to my family, but the complexity of the curse leaves me cautious of the decisions I make.
I’ve seen both sides of the werewolf. The ones in the woods are cruel and savage, strong beasts. They attack without a second thought and are determined to horribly injure and kill others, no one has been killed yet, but I fear they might if we’re not careful. They seem to hide within the woods even when returned to human form.
I do believe some aren't malicious, but the curse compels them to. If possible, I would like to help them.
And the other two in my own home…Dipper and Stanley…my great-nephew and my own brother.
Both kind and rather careful around those who know their secret (not entirely true for Stan, but that's him in general). They still behave the same, granted with some limitations due to the curse altering their bodies.
I wonder, does the werewolf curse normally reveal a person's true colors? I don't mean the out-of-control state, but when they're themselves. What I mean to say is; the person is stripped of their identity, unable to speak to other humans, trapped in the form of a dangerous animal that could hurt others if not careful. They still desire the affection of friends and family yet fear the loss of control. The curse leaves them vulnerable emotionally. All they want is for us to be safe as well.
They both act more self-aware, and both mentioned they dislike being isolated.
If granted with the werewolf curse, a curse capable of destruction, does it test one's character to see if they'll act like savage animals or timid wolves in their controlled state?
Either way, I’m confident that those two are gentle werewolves and their true qualities shine better in their cursed forms.
I've seen Dipper talk to his sister, read, even curl up to her as she sleeps. Sometimes I even find him looking at me inside my room, then sitting next to me, curious of my studies. He's very affectionate with his sister and the others. He always shares his thoughts with me through Mabel as well, I can't understand his wolf speech, and he's frustrated with that fact, so sometimes he writes in his own journal or waits until he's human to share some personal thoughts. Mabel made something called a Scrapnel (I'm very concerned with the name she chose.) In which she, Dipper (even in wolf form), and the other two document their experiences with the werewolf curse. It's filled with photos and entries. She likes those two being werewolves to some extent; she always cuddling her wolf twin like a pillow!
Funny enough, due to her strange ability to understand them, she’s become a helpful expert for me on how it’s like to interact with werewolves for the non-cursed and claims she’s become some sort of “Werewolf Therapist” for them.
Stan is extremely protective of us as well, and on some nights, I've seen him cradle his great-niece in his arms like his own child, even brushing back her hair and nuzzling her. He appears more human during this, and at times I find myself forgetting they have become werewolves.
The pig surprisingly shows no fear around the werewolves living in the shack! Neither does the goat, but the pig seems to enjoy being around them. He tends to sleep right next to them, curled up and lying against their fur or biting their ears and trying to play. Stan seems irritated by it, but Dipper does join in on occasions. The pig isn’t clueless. However, he shows fear when the werewolves outside begin to howl. But the pig decides these two werewolves will protect them. He was attacked by Dipper once and yet still shows no fear around him.
I think he understands they mean no harm to him. He might just see them the same as when they’re human. A pig can understand them better than those men!
The longer I chase after these creatures, the more I begin to imagine; what if Dipper or Stanley were being hunted down like this? What will these men do to them? What will the town do? Treat them like monsters? Lock them up or hurt them? Take them somewhere far away? They’re not dangerous; will they be punished by merely being a victim of the curse?
The town might be furious I’m hiding my own secrets while acting in charge, but I’m only protecting them. They are capable of being dangerous, but they don’t want to hurt anyone and have done nothing wrong. Stan and Dipper are just as frightened and confused as everyone else; they still need the care and kindness as they have received when human.
Maybe this town understands that or will someday.
Do the other werewolves have a bigger plan?
What will I do if my brother and nephew are exposed?
I feel stuck in-between worlds, but I’ll manage somehow.
As long as they don’t hurt them, maybe soon I might be able to figure out this mess and free them from the curse.