The Guardian Wolf, its eyes blazing with an intense green light, charged towards the house where Progress and Talia were standing frozen in fear. Eli and Malia, still in their shapeshifted forms, sprang into action, positioning themselves between the Guardian Wolf and the house.
"Run!" Eli growled, his voice low and urgent. "Get out of here, now!"
Malia yipped in agreement, her eyes fixed intently on the Guardian Wolf. "Go, Talia, Progress! We'll handle this!"
Talia grabbed Progress's arm, pulling him towards the back door. "Come on, we have to get out of here!"
Progress didn't need any further encouragement. He followed Talia as they sprinted out of the house, the sounds of snarling and growling growing fainter as they put distance between themselves and the confrontation.
Meanwhile, Eli and Malia stood their ground, ready to face the Guardian Wolf. Eli's stood on end, and Malia's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination.
The Guardian Wolf charged, its powerful body barreling towards Eli and Malia. The two shapeshifters leapt into action, their claws flashing in the moonlight as they clashed with the Guardian Wolf.
The battle was intense, the three supernatural creatures exchanging blows and snarls as they fought for dominance. Eli and Malia worked together seamlessly, their movements a testament to their years of friendship and trust.
But despite their valiant efforts, the Guardian Wolf seemed almost...unbeatable. Its power was unlike anything Eli and Malia had ever seen before, and they began to tire under its relentless assault.
As Progress and Talia fled into the darkness, they couldn't help but wonder what the outcome of the battle would be. Would Eli and Malia emerge victorious, or would the Guardian Wolf prove too powerful to defeat?
Malia's voice was laced with concern as she spoke to Eli, her eyes locked on the Guardian Wolf. "Its strength is on par with an Alpha wolf...we might not make it out of this alive."
Eli's gaze never wavered from the Guardian Wolf, but his expression was thoughtful. "Despite having that power, it looks like it's not interested in fighting us. Its eyes seem to be fixed on...Progress and Talia."
Malia followed Eli's gaze, and her eyes widened as she realized the Guardian Wolf's true intentions. "It's not trying to hurt us," she whispered. "It's trying to get to them."
The Guardian Wolf took a step forward, its eyes fixed intently on the direction Progress and Talia had run. Eli and Malia exchanged a tense glance, their minds racing with possibilities.
"What does it want with them?" Eli growled.
Malia's voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't know, but we need to protect them."
Progress and Talia ran as fast as they could, the darkness of the woods swallowing them whole. But Progress's breathing was growing labored, his asthma acting up from the exertion.
Talia noticed Progress's struggles and grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "Wait, Progress, slow down," she said, concern etched on her face.
Progress bent over, gasping for air, as Talia quickly rummaged through his jacket for his inhaler. Just as she pulled out the pump, a rustling in the underbrush caught their attention.
The Wolf emerged from the shadows, its eyes fixed intently on Progress. Talia stood frozen, the inhaler held in her hand, as the Wolf approached them.
Progress, still wheezing, looked up at the Wolf, its gaze piercing and unnerving. The Wolf's eyes seemed to bore into his very soul, and Progress felt a shiver run down his spine.
The Wolf took a step closer, its movements deliberate and calculated. Talia positioned herself between Progress and the Wolf, her eyes flashing with determination.
"Stay back," she warned, her voice firm.
"Run, Talia!" Progress shouted, his voice hoarse from the asthma attack.
But Talia stood her ground, her eyes flashing with determination. With a swift motion, she unbuckled her belt, and it transformed into a gleaming katana.
The Wolf charged, its jaws open wide, but Talia was ready. She swung her katana in a wide arc, aiming for the Wolf's neck. However, the Wolf was too powerful, and with one swing of its paw, it knocked Talia's katana aside and sent her flying.
Talia crashed to the ground, her body thudding against the earth. She struggled to get up, but her body ached from the impact.
The Wolf turned its attention to Progress, its eyes fixed intently on him. Progress stood frozen, his asthma pump still clutched in his hand, as the Wolf approached him.
The Wolf's gaze seemed to bore into Progress's very soul, and he felt a sense of inevitability wash over him. He knew he couldn't outrun the Wolf, not in his current state.
The Wolf took another step closer, its eyes never leaving Progress's face. Progress raised his hands, palms up, in a futile attempt to defend himself.
But instead of attacking, the Wolf simply looked at Progress, its expression unreadable. Progress felt a shiver run down his spine as the Wolf's gaze seemed to pierce right through him.
The Wolf's head rested on Progress's arm, its warm breath enveloping his skin. To Progress's surprise, his anxiety began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calmness. He felt his asthma symptoms subside, and his breathing slowed.
As he looked at the Wolf, he noticed its body beginning to shift and contort. Its fur receded, and its form began to dissolve into a green, emerald-like smoke.
The smoke swirled around Progress, enveloping him in its misty tendrils. As he watched in amazement, the smoke began to seep into his body, filling him with an otherworldly energy.
Progress felt his consciousness begin to fade, and he tried to resist, but it was too late. The smoke's influence was too powerful, and he felt himself being pulled down into darkness.
With a final glance at the Wolf's dissolving form, Progress's eyes closed, and he slumped forward, unconscious. The emerald smoke continued to swirl around him, infusing his body with its mysterious power. His eyes fluttered open, and he found himself standing in a vast, open space. As he looked around, he saw a wolf sleeping in the distance. The wolf's fur was a deep green, and its eyes seemed to gleam with an inner light.
As Progress approached, the wolf stirred, its eyes snapping open. It locked gazes with Progress, and he felt a jolt of recognition.
"Where are we?" Progress asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The wolf's voice was low and rumbling. "We are in your mind."
Progress's eyes widened as the wolf continued to speak. "I have been trapped for centuries in the Nemeton, failing in my duties as the guardian of the supernatural. I have grown weak, and it is time for a new guardian to take my place."
The wolf's gaze seemed to bore into Progress's soul. "I have been watching you, Progress. I saw the way you love nature, despite your sickness. You have a connection to the earth that few people possess."
The wolf's words sent a shiver down Progress's spine. "I chose you because you are different from the others. You see the world with wonder and awe, and you respect the natural balance."
The wolf's eyes seemed to gleam with a deep understanding. " I was waiting for the right person to succeed me, and I believe that person is you, Progress."
Progress tried to ask the wolf more questions, but before he could utter a word, everything around him began to blur and fade away. He felt himself being pulled back into his body, and his consciousness began to fade.
When Progress opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a bed in Malia's house. Malia, Eli, and Talia were gathered around him, their faces etched with concern and surprise.
As Progress's gaze met theirs, their expressions transformed into ones of relief and happiness. Talia's eyes sparkled with tears, and Eli's face broke into a warm smile. Malia's face lit up with a mixture of surprise and joy.
"Progress!" Talia exclaimed, her voice filled with emotion. "You're awake!"
Eli placed a hand on Progress's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "We were worried about you, man. You've been out for a while."
Malia stepped forward, her eyes shining with concern. "What happened? Talia says the wolf turned into smoke."
Progress's mind was still reeling from his encounter with the Guardian Wolf. He tried to process everything that had happened, but his thoughts were jumbled and unclear.
As he looked at the other, he realized that he had more questions than answers. What had happened to him? What did the Guardian Wolf want from him? And what did it mean by choosing him as its successor?
Malia's sharp nose twitched as she sniffed the air, detecting a subtle change in Progress's scent. She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing as she took another sniff.
"Progress, you smell...different," Malia said, her voice laced with curiosity.
"What do you mean?" Talia asked, her voice low and cautious.
Malia's nose wrinkled as she sniffed Progress again. "You smell like a werewolf," she said, her eyes locked on Progress's face. "Did the Wolf bite you?"
Eli nodded slightly. "That would explain the scent, but...we didn't notice any blood when we got to the scene."
Malia's gaze remained fixed on Progress, her eyes searching for any signs of injury. "I don't see any wounds either," she said, her voice measured.
Talia's face was etched with concern. "What does it mean? Is Progress...changing?"
The room fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of tension as the group waited for Progress to respond.
A car pulled up to the front of the house, and after a few minutes, Dr. Alan Deaton, a veterinarian and ally to the supernatural creatures in Beacon Hills, made his way to the room where the others were gathered around Progress.
Dr. Deaton entered the room with a warm smile, his eyes scanning the faces before landing on Progress. "Good to see you're awake, Progress," he said, his voice friendly and professional. "I'm Dr. Alan Deaton. I've been working with the supernatural community in Beacon Hills, and I must say, your situation is quite... intriguing."
Dr. Deaton's gaze flicked to Eli and Malia, who were watching him with interest. "I've heard a bit about what's been going on. Perhaps we can discuss the details further?" he suggested, his eyes returning to Progress.
His eyes lit up with interest as he turns to Malia "That picture you sent me? I did some research about it i couldnt find much except that it's the symbol of the Guardian Wolves," he said, his voice filled with curiosity.
Malia nodded, her eyes fixed on Dr. Deaton. "Guardian wolf? What does it mean?"
Dr. Deaton's expression turned solemn. "The crescent moon with a spear is an ancient symbol of protection, representing the Guardian Wolves' role as defenders of the supernatural and the natural world."
Eli's eyes narrowed. "But what's the significance of the symbol?"
Dr. Deaton's gaze drifted off, as if lost in thought. "The symbol has been dormant for years, ever since the Guardian Wolves...disappeared. We thought the line had been extinguished, but it seems..." He looked at Progress, his eyes filled with wonder. "It seems the legacy lives on, perhaps in a new form."
Deaton's eyes sparkled with excitement as he continued to explain. "Unlike most werewolves, Guardian Wolves don't pass on their power through bites. Instead, they transfer their abilities to a chosen successor."
Malia's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean, Progress didn't get bitten?"
Deaton shook his head. "No, it seems the Guardian Wolf passed on its power to Progress. This means...Progress, you've become a werewolf, but not just any werewolf – a Guardian Wolf."
Eli's expression turned thoughtful. "What does this mean for Progress? What kind of powers will he have?"
Deaton's smile faded. "Honestly, i dont know. We'll need to help him learn to control and harness his powers to find out."
The room fell silent, the weight of Progress's new reality sinking in. Progress's mind reeled as he tried to process his new identity as a Guardian Wolf.