today started like any other I woke up cleaned up and headed out to the stable to begin the care of the animals I was hoping I could get done early today so I could go into town and have some fun and celebrate my day of life 50 I am finally an adult and soon will be expected to find a bride and make more slaves I mean a child who will serve the royal family but that is for a later day as I make my way down the hall I see one of the guards “ hey Fred how’s it hanging” he laughs and replies “not bad not bad it’s still hanging in there” Fred is an Arachne they’re immortal half spider half humans they patrol the castle but use the ceiling so they are never in the way but cool guys and awesome powers yeah I am a little power jealous of most people I laugh at myself as I enter the stable. I collected my tools and began my day after many years and much trial and error I had perfected a system- first was feeding, then yard work, then gathering hay, cleaning the stalls, and applying new hay. I used to clean the stalls first and ended up having to clean them again after feeding. So now, a good day takes about 6 hours nonstop today I wanted to be done in 4. As I was finishing my last task the prince came strutting into the stables with a few of his friends “Welcome sir going out for a stroll?” I ask hopefully. The prince is a little physically older than me but closer to my father’s age “No boy, I want to go for a ride prepare horses for me and my friends on the double” At hearing this my heart sank I knew this was going to ruin my day because I can't leave until he returns so I can cool down the horses and clean up the equipment and putting them away “ of course prince” he stands there with a sick smile on his face he knew today way my birthday and has to be doing this to be cruel. I go to ready the prince and his friends their mounts; as they ride off laughing, I know they won't be back anytime soon, so I settle in and try to keep myself busy. As the hours passed, I thought back on the fond memories my grandfather would share with me about his youth how he loved this castle and all the mysteries it held, and how his father would walk with him in the courtyard and they would talk. I remember Grandpa would walk with me and always point out the spot where our crest was carved in the two stones near the edge of the far wall next to the cliff that overlooked the field and he would always tell me if I was ever lost or needed answers I would find them there if I just believe. I missed him I sat there looking over the vast landscape as the sun began to set. Well, there goes my party, I’m sure by now my few friends were past missing me and heavy into their cups. I began to get up and as I did the last light of the day caught something on the wall with a flash. there was something there something I had never noticed before, but what could it be and how could everyone have missed it? I walked over and moved a few broken boards, barrels, and a few tall weeds to get a better look. As I looked at the spot where our crest used to be there was what seemed to be a stone that glowed and almost pulsed with energy that I had never noticed before. It was drawing me, I raised my hand to touch the stone without even realizing it but just before my hand touch the stone “ oh stable hand where are you I have returned from my ride” as the prince turns to his friends “ see I told you they are lazy good for nothing dogs” I ran up and came in the stable from the back making it seem I had been there working the whole time “ I am here sir here” the spoiled prince sat there looking down at me “good about time” he dismounted and returned to the castle laughing with his friends about how much fun it is to mess with the lower class as I worked down the horses and cleaned them up all I could think about was that feeling I was getting while looking at that stone I had to clean the equipment and put it away after that I was definitely going back to see what that stone is it was like a magnet pulling at something deep within me something almost primal that I was missing a part of me and there it was after finishing everything I left to check the stone again but it wasn't glowing or giving off anything at first I thought i had the wrong spot I spent hours looking but I felt nothing like that power emanating from the wall. as the days turned to weeks I visited everyday as often as I could but nothing happened. as the weeks turns to months I slowly forgot chalking it up to me being tired or a trick of the light wait a trick of the light I have walked by that wall all my life but that was the first time that happened but that had also been the only time I had ever been out that late could it be triggered by a time of day but if that was the case why has no one every say it before there has to be something more what am I missing maybe my father would know something as the day passed I found myself looking at the old crest after I finish my last task I took a short cut through the garden which I had only ever been in a few time when my grandfather was the care taker which is now my father’s job I found him near the tree at the center of the garden trimming the branches with the utmost of care almost lovingly which I found odd my father was always a hard man being the first generation after we lost our position and blaming my grandfather for it. he seemed to always be mad at the world I remember once asking my mother why he was always so cold and seemed to always be far away she told me that he had a hard time because of what his father did at that time I didn't understand but I would soon come to find out what she meant all the other races looked down on us and they were told about what had happened the higher class loved that they could put us down and the lower classes that had all looked up to us where now all threatened by like us so they resented us for their misfortune now so seeing him like this I almost didn't want to bother him or break the spell I hadn’t seen my father much over the last few years since I had been old enough to work so I slowly walked over but of course, before I was even close he noticed me he turned “Seth what are you doing here… wait is everything ok?!” I responded “Yes I just had a question” he told me I could ask him anything, but he didn't know if he could be much help, I knew what I was about to ask was a touchy subject and this could all backfire and just make him mad, but I had to try. So I told him the story and how it felt and the pull of the light as he sat there straight faced as I finished I braced myself for him to unleash his fury but he didn't he simply asked if I would show him the spot and walk him through what had happened I agreed of course as I showed him and explain he simply nodded along and after I was done he asked me what I remember of his father which was very little I had to admit all the stories I had heard were mostly second hand and I had a few memories of me as a child with him but that was it. “I guess it's time you know the story of our family the truth of it at least Seth” I didn't know what to say I simply followed him to the edge of the cliff as he began to tell me the history of house of Lycaon the story is believed to start before known history Lycaon's origins are shrouded in mystery, though according to some of the elders he was a nomad but many have their believes he was among the Antediluvian people who survived the Great Deluge. Another is that he descended from the legendary continent of Hyperborea, a son of Pelasgus, the first kingdom of man established on Earth before the Great Flood. He would then rule over Pelasgia, later known as Arcadia. Some say he was cast out and raised by wolves some say he was cursed by the Greek god Zeus but what if I told you none of those are completely true but only parts of it our story starts in the time of the titans when the world was new and Gaea had her child what if I was to tell you the sky the mountain and the sea where not her only children what after she took the sky as her husband and they started to have their children and he seeded the earth many beast sprang to life seeing this Gaea had one more child after Cronus, Thirio, was born of the chaos like Gaea herself and was the master of the beasts thirio he could control and keep all the creatures born of Gaea he could walk among his brothers as a titan or he could rule the beast in the form of a great wolf and he played his role well when Cronus was overthrown Zeus try to cast him down to the depths like all the other titans but nothing could hold him no chain he was born of primal source so Zeus tried to trick him but he was too clever but he told Zeus he has no desire for power or to rule he was happy with his freedom he would give up his titan form and remain in his great beast form with that they came to terms and Zeus forgot about him like most did as well he keep the balance soon after the gods created man those men would hunt and kill the beast of the land for sacrifice to the gods and for sport which sent him in to a rage but he was trapped in the form of a beast and could not interfere with the gods soon the gods started having children and some of children were with the humans and Zeus would task them to hunt the great beast of the land the guardian of forest or mountains so Thirio had a wicked plan he found one of Zeus favorite mortals and he took his blood and put it in that mortal and infused him with his very soul it drained Thirio to the point of death. but his new son took Thirio to his mother, Gaea, who is said to still protect him to this day the first of our blood was born Lycaon the first immortal The king of all lycanthropes. He is said to have the strength of mountains, the speed of moving stars, and a will that is like unto fire. Some say he was cruel and barbaric while others say that he was a noble and benevolent lord. Some even likened him to a god. What I do believe is that without him, we would not exist. And honestly, I am not sure whether to be thankful or spiteful. he traveled the world and punish the mortals and show the gods they couldn't do anything they wanted after many years he had a strong and healthy pack the gods tried countless time to kill or punish him but he was too powerful but the ones he loved they were not so lucky so he