I
He watched her from a distance and longed for her. The love he felt running through his body was so strong that one night he fervently wished to become a man, but when morning came, he was still a wolf. Miserable and dejected, he approached her in search of comfort, but was attacked by the men who protected her. The following night, wounded and fainting, he asked the moon. ― Why can’t I have what I long for so much? I am miserable and I cannot give up on the idea. I am nothing! I mean nothing, but I love her and that means everything to me. I would give everything to caress her face and comb her hair, I would give everything to take her hands and kiss them. I am nothing, but my love means everything!
The moon, seeing how unhappy her son was, took pity on him. She took him into her bosom and cared for him. One morning he felt a tingling sensation in his fingers. He began to stir, trying to stretch, but the tingling did not go away. He clenched his hand and moved his fingers. ― Fingers? ― He opened his eyes slowly, hoping it was a sweet dream or the worst of nightmares. ― I have fingers, ― he said. ― I have fingers and hands, and feet too. ― He raised his hands to his face. ― They’re not claws anymore. They’re small, fragile nails. ― He caressed his face and hair, which was no longer covered with hair, except in a few places. ― I’m a man. ― It took him a few minutes to process what had happened. ― I’m a man!
His cry was full of emotions and feelings he didn’t understand and that overwhelmed him, but what he did understand completely was the burning heat in his chest. He had known love since he first saw her. ― I’m like... her. ― The mere idea of being able to have her gave him pleasant sensations that he wanted to feel forever. He got up and stood on his feet. It was hard to keep his balance, but when he managed it, he saw that everything was different from this perspective. He moved one foot, struggling not to fall, then moved the other, and it wasn’t so difficult anymore. He remembered how to walk, but doing it on two legs was very different from what he knew.
He felt the textures under his feet, the damp grass, the earth. Now he seemed to be living in a different world. Something broke in his chest and burst out of him with a strange sound. He didn’t understand it, but he thought that at some point he would. This sound was accompanied by that feeling of euphoria he knew so well. He wanted to run, to see the world at the maximum speed of a man. He quickened his pace little by little until he found himself running through the forest. He was surprised to realize that he was still running as fast as the wolf. The strange sound continued to gush out of his chest. He ran, not stopping for a long time, and although he thought he would tire more quickly, this was not the case. He had to stop; he wanted to discover the world around him through the eyes of a man.
He spent his day walking through the forest, touching, observing, smelling, and tasting. He had seen the men eat other things besides animals, such as fruit. By evening he was exhausted and went in search of water. When he approached the river to drink, his reflection stared back at him from the water. His eyes were no longer that bright amber color; now they were a strange, deep, crystalline blue. He touched his face, trying to take in his features. His snout was gone, along with his huge, powerful teeth, and his nose was no longer a small ball of moist, spongy flesh. He touched the surface of the water to make sure it was his reflection, and although the ripples in the water distorted it, it was still him.
He tried to drink, but the water went up his nose and choked him. He thought of a way to drink without using his tongue, raised his hands, examined them carefully, and then brought his fingers together and his two hands to the water and brought them close to his mouth. As he drank, he heard the beautiful voice of a woman coming from everywhere and nowhere. ― My son. ― He was so surprised that he tried to find the source of the voice, but found nothing. ― I am here, above you. Although you can see my reflection in the lake. ― Then he knew. The moon had just risen, majestic and regal, dominating the skies. The moonbeams shone and reflected on the water. ― My lady. To what do I owe this honor? ― He was startled to hear himself speak in such a strange language; he was no longer uttering his usual grunts.
― Do not be afraid, my son. I heard your prayers and felt how strongly you loved the woman and the pain that caused you. I could not bear to see such sadness, so I turned you into a man. I also gave you knowledge, enough knowledge about humans so that you can walk among them and find even more on your own. Night has just fallen, but the elements will not affect you as they do humans. You will endure the cold and other inclement weather, you will have abilities that men do not possess, and you will be much stronger. But remember that you must be very careful with these gifts I have given you and not abuse them. He thanked his mistress for her blessings. ― Tonight you can rest, but tomorrow your journey in this new world will begin. There are things you must discover for yourself, so be very careful what you do.
With those words in mind, the man went to rest, thinking about what awaited him. That night he dreamed of a life with the woman he loved, he dreamed of puppies and a beautiful family that he would protect and fill with love and happiness. The next day, he approached a nearby farm. He needed to look like a man for her to accept him, so he stole some clothes from a clothesline. It took him a while to figure out how to put them on, but in the end, he managed.
With determined steps, he headed toward the farm where his beloved was. On the way, a carriage passed by him. He had seen them before, and they still seemed like useless things to him, a savage crime against nature and trees. When he finally reached the edge of the farm, he saw the old man who looked after his beloved walking around. ― Good afternoon. ― The man looked at him suspiciously, the same look he saw in all the humans he met, but he didn’t see fear, and this was new to him.
― Can I help you? ― He didn’t know what to say. How could he tell the man that he had come for the young woman he always looked after? ― I don’t know. ― The man tensed visibly, and although his instincts told him to prepare for a fight, his human mind told him to stay calm. ― I don’t mean any harm. ― The man relaxed a little. ― A few days ago, a wolf attacked my daughter. Danger lurks everywhere, and it doesn’t always come dressed as a beast. ― A beast—that’s what he was to the old man. ― I’m checking the surroundings to make sure there’s no danger. ― No more. Now he was a man and just wanted to be happy with the woman he loved. His daughter. I’ve been watching her from a distance for some time now. She’s beautiful, and I couldn’t help but be captivated by her beauty.
The old man was surprised. ― I don’t know him, I can’t say what kind of man he is, but the fact that he watched her from afar says a lot. ― He couldn’t understand the man’s body language; it was so strange, although the tone in which he spoke seemed easy to understand, as with other wolves. He seemed angry and defensive. ― Anyway, you’re too late. She left early this morning to become a lady, a good woman has taken her away to educate her.
He felt pain, but it wasn’t one he could identify. He wasn’t hurt, but he knew what was causing it. He had waited so long, and now she was gone, even more unattainable than before. ― She left? But I was going to... ― The old man interrupted him. ― Beast! ― The man’s cry was heart-rending, and the fear on his face was overwhelming. ― Creature of the devil! ― Get away from me and leave my soul in peace. ― He didn’t understand what the old man was saying, but it didn’t matter. The pain became physical and was almost unbearable. He could feel his bones shifting and growing, his skin stretching, and although he didn’t recognize where it was coming from, he could hear a heart-wrenching growl that rivaled the pain he was feeling. ― What kind of demon are you? ― The old man fled in fear, and his hunting instincts kicked in, driving him forward.
He had to catch him and make him tell him where his beloved had gone. When the pain stopped, he ran after him. It wouldn’t be difficult to catch up with him, but then a hay cart appeared, and when he saw it, the man holding the reins took a strange three-pronged device and ran to help the old man. The man brandished the device and threatened to attack him while shouting at him. He was so confused that he could only turn around and run. He took refuge in the forest and headed for the river. He felt different again, but he didn’t know in what way. When he approached and saw his reflection, he realized that he was no longer a man, but neither was he a wolf. He didn’t know what he was, as he was covered in fur and had a long snout, pointed ears, and hair everywhere, but he didn’t walk on all fours. Would she love him if she saw him like this? Maybe, but it seemed he would never know.
He wandered for hours along the riverbank, howling and hoping to return to human form, but it didn’t happen. Eventually, grief and suffering exhausted him, and he fell asleep. After what seemed like an eternity, he began to wake up due to a discomfort in his side. He opened his eyes, and his senses also awoke. Next to him was an old man poking him with a branch. ― You’re awake. I thought you were dead. ― He looked at the man, and although he seemed as old as his beloved’s father, he looked more composed and energetic. ― I hope I’m not mistaken, but I don’t think I’ll find another naked man in the middle of the forest.
He couldn’t understand the human; his way of communicating seemed so confusing. ― Are you the werewolf I heard about last night at the inn? ― The old man handed him a container with a strange-colored liquid. ― Werewolf? ― He took the container and drank, but had to spit it out immediately. It tasted bitter and was not pleasant. ― Yes, the man who turned into a half-wolf beast. ― He nodded uncertainly. He couldn’t understand humans, but it didn’t matter anymore. After all, his beloved was gone, the woman he had admired from afar for many moons was no longer there.
He would never see her washing clothes in the river again, he would never see her shearing sheep, but worst of all, he could no longer have her and love her. ― Do you have anywhere to go? A home? ― The old man pulled him out of his tormented thoughts. He could only shake his head as a lump in his throat prevented him from speaking. ― Would you like to come with me? I will provide you with everything you need, and in return, you will teach me the secrets of your nature. ― What else could he do? He was now a man and had no other choice. He could let himself die, but his nature would not allow it. He followed the old man, who led him to the carriage he had seen on the road before finding his beloved’s father. The old man got in, but he stayed behind. ― What are you waiting for? I’m not getting any younger. ― He decided to follow the old man into the carriage. Once inside, they sat facing each other, and the carriage began to move.
He heard the neighing of horses and was alarmed. The poor creatures were tied to the carriage. ― Hungry? ― At that moment, he realized that his stomach was growling. He had ignored it since everything had happened, but now the old man was offering him fruit, the only thing he ate in winter when prey was scarce. He took what he was offered and gobbled it down as he usually did while the old man watched him curiously. ― What’s your name, boy? ― ― Name? I haven’t needed one until now. What could his name be? ― ― What’s the matter, boy? ― He didn’t know how to answer, but he thought it would be best to be honest. ― I don’t have one. ― The old man thought for a moment. ― How about Wolfgang? Would you like me to call you Wolfgang? ― Wolfgang meant ― wolf ― in the language they spoke. He nodded. ― All right, Wolfgang. My name is Joseph Kaufmann. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
