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Laughter floated through the Inn as the party settled in the living room for the night, the hearth was roaring with crackling flame, keeping the bitter chill of the night at bay with a heat that felt like a soft blanket. Quiet but jovial music drifted through the air, a chipper happy tune futher adding to the lightness of the atmosphere.
The group was joking and laughing about their day, Kremy and Gideon sat on a large couch, the Inn owner Twig perched in Gideons lap, chatting away to the pair of them, her high pitched giggles almost matching the musics melody. Torbek and frost sat in the adjacent couch talking and joking with Gricko who sat comfortably in the windowsill of a large window.
All was well at least until Frost noticed Gricko stiffen out of the corner of his eye.
"Are you alright Gricko?" He asked, turning to face the goblin
The question cut through the easygoing atmosphere almost immediately like a hot knife through butter.
The others looked toward Gricko, who looked pale "Yeah y'alright lil man?" Gideon tilted his head
"Guys..." Gricko said finally, staring at his hands "I never told you this but...." He glanced up at them, blue eyes wide with fear
"I'm a werewolf!" He cried, jumping off the windowsill and backing into the centre of the room.
Kremy threw his head back and laughed.
They all did, Gricko looked around, exasperated as the laughs rose around him, why didn't they believe him?! They were all in danger!
Frost shook his head "No Gricko you're not, this is just another fey curse, like last time remember?"
"No no I am!" The goblin protested, arms wrapping around himself tightly.
"It's not even a full moon" Torbek pointed to the covered window "Torbeks right" frost stood, striding over to the window. A bead of sweat rolled down Grickos temple. "It's not, look-" the tabaxi pulled back the curtain to reveal the moon, entirely full and glowing brightly
"Oh- uh- well.." his ears pressed to his head as Gricko yelped in pain, falling to his knees in the moonlight "Uh... guys?" Torbek pointed to their friend who was now on his hands and knees
"What's wrong with him Gideon?!" Twig squeaked Gideon chuckled "Ah he's fine Twigsy, it's just-"
Everyone froze as a cracking noise was heard.
All eyes turned to the small humanoid
His body lurched as another crunch was heard
"Guys..." Kremy stood immediately, backing into the wall
Silence... nothing but the heavy breaths coming from Gricko and then-
He screamed as he reared up, clutching his face, his muscles tensing and growing.
Mottled blond fur beginning to cover the green of his skin as longer claws tore at his clothes
There was yelling and clamouring all around him, everyone was in a panic
His body grew larger, face longer, teeth sharper, it was getting harder to think straight.
"Fuck what do we do Kremy?!" Gideon yelled "Fuck if I know Gid!" The lizardfolk yelled back
"What's happening to Gricko?!" Torbek cried, backing so far into the couch he was climbing over it
Frost pressed two fingers to his temple "Gricko! Talk to me! What's happening-" but he quickly pulled away with a sharp wince "There's nothing but noise in his head" he shouted
"Fuck what do we do?!" Kremy readied his cane as Gricko- no, The werewolf slowly stood, swaying slightly. Still small but significantly larger than before. Yellow eyes blazing through long matted hair it howled before turning to Kremy with a snarl "Aw hell no, you back right off" the warlock growled
"Are we gonna fight him?!" Twig asked from her new perch on Gideons shoulders "Looks like we're gonna have to" Gideon grinned, cracking his knuckles "Don't kill him!" Frost warned "remember it's still Gricko, he's just... heavily affected by fey magics-" He was cut off by Gricko immediately charging at Kremy, maw open to bite-
Kremy quickly dodged out of the way, causing Gricko to charge headfirst into the wall with a loud THUD, he yelped but caught his balance quickly shaking his head "Come on frost! Get inside his head!" Kremy barked as he circled away from the werewolf
The tabaxis ears flattened again "I can't! Somethings blocking me-" he was cut off again as Gricko took him off his feet. He landed heavily, wind knocked out of him, turning just in time to stop the werewolf jaws from closing around his neck
He hissed slightly as he pushed his palms against the chest of the creature, keeping its snapping teeth barely a breath away from his fur "I cant-.. hold him-.." He strained
"I've got it!!" A drawn out voice yelled as two long arms circled around Grickos arms and torso. His eyes widened in suprise for just a moment before starting to squirm and roar again Torbek held him as if he was a hornets nest, trying to avoid his arms and wrists getting bitten by the furious creature
A chance kick to the knee caused Torbeks grip to slip as he went down
"Torbek!" Twig cried, zipping down to him in a flurry of wings, uncaring of the danger behind her, that was about to strike down-
The werewolf roared as it was once again grappled, held tight by a pair of strong red arms "Alright, time out for you" Gideon growled, getting one arm under Grickos jaw and pushing his chin down on the top of his head, effectively muzzling him. "Try knock him out! Maybe that will clear the magic from his system" Frost suggested, calmer now that Gricko had been caught "Yeah gid ya' already have him in a headlock" Kremy agreed
Gideon shrugged and squeezed, the arm pinning Grickos jaw beginning to tighten
The werewolfs eyes went wide, its limbs flailing. Gideon gritted his teeth against the pain of claws digging into his arms but after a moment they went limp "Oh- oh no! Is he dead?!" Torbek cried from the floor
"Naw he's just sleepin" Gideon grinned as he put down Gricko
The group crowded around the werewolf and watched tentatively And all breathed a sigh of relief as the fur began to recede and he began to shrink back down to his regular goblin size.
"WAUGH WHAT HAPPENED-" Gricko immediately sat up, eyes wide
"So uh... you know that fey curse? Where you think you're a werewolf but your not?" Kremy explained
"Yeah?"
"You actually became a werewolf" Gricko blinked, he looked down at his ragged clothes
"Uh... right.. well- WAIT IS HOOTSIE OKAY?" He immediately began looking around for his beloved daughter
"She's still upstairs, asleep and clueless" Frost pat the goblins back comfortingly
"Oh thank god" gricko sighed
"So!" Twig chimed in "Next time someone says they're getting all wolfy-like, let's believe them yeah?"
The group agreed with a laugh as frost helped gricko off the floor. He passed a banana to Gideon with a sheepish, apologetic grin.
The music continued on as if nothing had happened.
The feywild sure was one strange place.
