Menelaus

Prologue

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Werewolf in Shepherd’s Clothing.

WHEN MENELAUS STEPPED OUT on the porch, the sheep were already in their huddled groups grazing on the short grass–the field was low by sundown with their appetites. It wasn't their fault. News of the wolves hounding the neighbors' pigs had reached his doorstep just yesterday. Poor old Epictetus, wringing his hands together with sweat beading down his sun-spotted, wrinkled skin from decades of work, caught him fixing his door. He had lost his prize pig from the wolves and thought it was news better delivered from him than waiting for the farmer's weekly meeting. Since then, the farmers' neighbors started locking their animals up at night, and recommended Menelaus do the same. But Menelaus relented. Locking the animals up under one roof was as good as handing the wolves a platter to enjoy the feast. All those close quarters would cause a brawl, with no escape if the wolves snuck in, and he had too many animals to lock up.

The stairs attached to his rickety wooden porch creaked as he stepped down them into the fields. Night was long when you stayed awake–but with it came work. With just the full moon to light his steps, he always worked on the sheep at this time since they were mellow. There wasn’t a torch or candle to light his way, just the smell of his sheep. Those that smelled like peace he left alone to graze and sleep huddled together. But the occasional fear scent or discomfort he could pinpoint easily with his nose.

Walking the miles between his sheep and the treeline, he halted at the sharp tang of discomfort. Menelaus jogged over to find one of the larger sheep had flipped onto its back, limp and temporarily paralyzed by the sudden fall. It was silent, just stargazing without a bleat. If Menelaus didn’t do these night walks, he was sure this one would’ve died quietly. At the very least, his sheep trusted him enough to know he was coming. Panicking would draw the wolves near. He dropped to his knees and grabbed the sheep by its legs, pulling it back until its hooves met the floor unsteadily. Only when the sheep gave a satisfied bleat and joined his friends did he stand, dusting his hands off and continuing his trek.

Hundreds of sheep scattered in their groups across seemingly endless acres. The air was still with the familiar heavy scent of something musky, gamey, and akin to lanolin. Fireflies buzzed near his ears, floating lazily through the air with glowing pulses. Sweat clung to him, making his clothes stick like a second skin as he tugged his top off. The cold air hitting his warm torso was sweet relief thanks to the constant running warmth his body seemed to have. Through sweltering springs and sticky summers, his body never felt cold.

Menelaus walked the long distance to the edge of his property, then circled around, hugging the edge of his fence back towards his porch. His hand trailed across the wood, looking over at the empty lot beside him. It was just as large and recently purchased by some new farmer. This was the worst time to move in, with the paranoia of neighbors, the increasingly clever wolves, and the farmers' meeting just four days off. Maybe he should pay the new farmer a visit, though he did not know what they were doing at this time of day. Were they sleeping? They had no animals yet, from what he heard.

But he had to be careful. He couldn’t afford to visit them at night.

The sheep paused feeding and raised their head, eyeing Menelaus as he stopped at one fence post. His large hands resting over the edges, feeling the roughness. He felt a familiar pulse, the sudden racing of his heart and the lightheadedness as his pupils dilated. His sheep always knew before him when the transformation started; they simply paused and watched unafraid.

Years of transformation had dulled the pain down, but it still hit like a lightning strike; causing his limbs to jerk subtly. The shift was a jolt of electricity down his spine, and he closed his eyes. The scuff of dirt told him his sheep were coming closer, forming a protective ring around him as his muscles flexed. A surge of strength washed over him, muscles rippling into fur that spread quickly, tearing his clothes apart. His eyes gleamed as he opened them, body quaking as his hands went to his face, which shifted into something lupine. His jaw dislocated, blunt teeth elongating and turning into sharpened fangs. Fingers pressed into the fencepost before twisting and lengthening, growing into sharp claws.

Within minutes, he stood stall, no longer human. The wind grazed his silver fur; the muzzle turning away from the neighbor's empty lot to his sheep. Their hooves followed each step towards the center of his yard. In the center, he lowered himself to the ground. His sheep did the same, heads resting on forelegs. They were safe, and they knew that, with their werewolf shepherd in the center. He’s saved most of them from the jaws of predators over the course of his lifetime. Like a lamb knew its mother, they knew Menelaus would keep them safe overnight.

Menelaus sat back against his paws, gaze surveying his sheep before staring out into the treeline miles away. His ears twitched, taking in every new sound such as the buzz of a firefly, or the sleeping sheep shifting their position. A howl from the woods told him they were waiting, the wolves wanting more than just some prized pig. They wanted his sheep, his prize winning sheep who were fat with good eating. The meat would be tender, juicy, not gamey with fear, as his sheep were never afraid.

He wouldn't let them have a single bite.

He rolled his shoulders loosely, a warm up and stretch, and howled to the moon. The wolves howling stopped abruptly, deterred by a response.

Then he saw them.

One paw stepped out from the densely packed trees, then a second. Up front, the largest black wolf with mottled bloodstains on his fur snarled. Behind him, wolves stepped out, emboldened by their alpha's decision. His fur was dark as night, difficult to see, but Menelaus could smell him. A sharp, distinct scent of hunger mixed with desperation. They were starving. The prize pig wasn’t enough to feed a pack of eleven.

Menelaus leaned forward, baring his fangs in a loud growl. His sheep slept on peacefully in the face of impending danger. Even from miles away, the alpha heard his growl and responded with a frustrated huff.

Then those dark eyes settled past Menelaus, to the neighbor's yard. Menelaus watched as the wolves moved like one, away from his fence and towards the neighbor's yard. With no fence line, they stepped on with no problem. But there were no animals. Each of the wolves in the pack had ribs sticking out starkly; he could count each one while they sniffed around. The alpha opened its jaw, tasting the air. But the only strong scent came from his healthy sleeping sheep—which it couldn't get to. Instead of giving up, the alpha instead turned its head straight to the cabin where the neighbor slept.

Menelaus felt his snarl grow louder. They weren’t here for the animals this time. They were here for the new neighbor.

A howl came from the Alpha, its muscles rippling over its dense scarred muscular frame as it sprinted towards the cabin. The pack broke into a sprint behind it as well, just as Menelaus rose to his hind-legs, moving between his sleeping sheep. He cleared the fence with a leap, dropping to his forelegs as he bounded straight towards the pack of eleven. Dust kicked up as he gained on them. The pack stayed together, yet hunger left the weakest straggling behind. Menelaus rammed against the slowest, a high-pitched whine escaping the wolf as it slid and skidded on its side. Then he grabbed the tails of the two wolves upfront, throwing them behind before their maws could meet his arms.

He ran past them, skidding to a halt, blocking their way into the house as he snarled. He bit at the air, claws digging into the ground, leaving grooves in them. The alpha halted, haunches raised, but its movements jerky. As if stuck between the decision of getting past Menelaus or risking injury trying. Then hunger blurred its decision, and it lunged straight for him.

Menelaus tumbled back as the alpha pinned him on his chest, snapping at his fur, tearing it off. Menelaus kicked him off, not giving him time to recover as he exploded forward, a silver blur against the dark. A cacophony of snarls and sickening sound of teeth finding purchase filled the air as Menelaus landed. His momentum slammed the large wolf against the ground, a pained yelp escaping as Menelaus dug his claws into the fur. Just a warning, before kicking the alpha backwards.

The alpha stumbled back, a cut on its paw bleeding profusely among the other marks on his fur. It snarled, ears pinned back, but turned away, moping back into the treeline. Menelaus stood, barking after them as a final warning before feeling the sting of a cut on his cheek. With the fight over, the cut made itself known. He raised his paw to his cheek, brushing away blood smeared into his fur—

Click.

Menelaus turns around. Fuck. He had not noticed a candle being lit inside. Not even the door opening and his new neighbor standing there. 700 years, he’s kept this secret, and all it took was a brawl with some scavengers for the secret to be out. He stood, frozen, unsure of what to do with those eyes on him. Should he lie? Say this was a dream? But it looked like his neighbor had witnessed the entire fight.