Origin of the Amaroqs

"Meaning I don't have humongous, special or well-trained spa?"

"Most likely," Supido replied without a hint of sympathy. "But also, amaroqs can cloak their spa and allow themselves to be detected by only who they want to detect them. They release spa like a warm wind, which is followed by either seemingly slowed time or lost aim or both."

"So, the amaroq intentionally let Heat and ya detect him?"

"I didn't say that. It is understandable if he will have interest in Heat but not me."

"Aren't you a wolf amen, Supido?" Heat asked.

"Yes, but nothing like an amaroq. Amaroqs, werewolves and wolf amen are three entirely different races." Supido paused and took a deep breath and then he continued, "Allow me to enlighten you three since you'll need it eventually. The amaroq origin story goes like this: there was a village of Nephilim, children of fallen messengers, or as Heat knows them, angels. They were shunned by many other races, including humans. There was also a certain group of wolf amen, called the Awš'um. They were some of the strongest wolf amen at that time. But they had a problem, a sickness called Blood Eyes. Amen with this ailment are characterized by red eyes and impulsive attacks—they have unquenchable rage. Because of that, these seven were also shunned by their communities. One thing led to another, and they found themselves living in the village of the Nephilim, somewhere around what is now known as the Arctic Circle. These amen and Nephilim came together and-"

"Wait," Ursus cut in. He began to laugh. "Came together? Ya can just say had sex."

"Or as the King James Bible likes to put it, 'knew each other'," Heat said.

Supido kept a straight face.

"They're right though." Aquila grinned. "You could've at least gone for the Bible one."

"Fine, they had sex." Supido succumbed.

"Pre-marital?"

"Did they even have weddings back then?"

"Was it one big orgy or do you mean they started families."

"Ha, ha, very funny. Are you guys interested or not?"

"Sorry, sorry, whew." Ursus finally got himself under control. "Please continue."

"They started families. Their children became amaroqs, Nephilim with the abilities and sickness of their parents. Amaroqs don't breed with other species so their lineage has been kept pure; any amaroq you meet is one hundred percent an amaroq."

"Do they also go crazy like werewolves at the full moon?"

"Amaroqs inherited their Awš'um parents' illness but, it only manifests at night. They don't need the full moon to go crazy—they can go crazy at any time. Because of that, they train when they are young to control the illness at night."

"So, every night amaroqs have blood red eyes?"

"Yes. The only similarity werewolves and amaroqs share, or rather shared, was that they transform into wolf-like creatures."

"What do you mean by 'shared'?" Heat asked.

"Werewolves were wiped out long ago."

"By who?"

"That's a story for another day. Back to the amaroqs; when the full moon is at its peak, so is their illness."

"I thought you said they weren't similar to werewolves."

"Heat, can I at least finish one sentence?"

"You did."

"Fine, four?"

"Sure thing."

"Ok, as I was saying, an amaroq's illness is at its peak when the full moon is too. They lose themselves and start attacking everyone. Some millennia ago, many amaroqs were killed in an attack by the vampire clan. The leader of the attack was an amen known as the Blood Prince. This person would somewhere along the line seal his power in the moon some centuries later. At the full moon, amaroqs struggle to keep their illness in check because the feel the power that almost drove them to extinction every full moon. So every full moon amaroqs prefer to stay indoors. If they don't, they would either search for the Blood Prince or try to climb every object to reach the moon until they get the illness under control."

"What's the connection between wolf amen and amaroqs?" Heat asked.

"Aside the fact that amaroqs are descended from wolf amen, there's no connection whatsoever. Also, they fight for Sennin."

"I have another question: if an amaroq bites an amen, what happens?"

"The amen gets a wound."

"What of a werewolf?"

"Heat!" Aquila snapped. "Enough questions."

"Ya could at least answer the last one." Ursus backed Heat.

"Ursus," Supido gently called. "You don't know the answer, do you?"

"Uh…Nah."

"The story that werewolves could transform whoever they bite is a myth."

"Good to know. So, what's the plan?" Ursus asked.

"The plan is that Heat goes to Ur-tir'ak to find out more about his stalker," Supido answered.

"Hold on! And ditch class? Awesome!" Heat wore a smile on his face.

"He would need someone to go with him though."

"As much as ditching class sounds great, I got stuff to do," Ursus said.

"I'm gonna be doing some stuff with the girls in my class, so sorry," Aquila said.

Heat chuckled, making him the center of attention in the room.

"I'm sorry Aquila, but that has to be the lamest excuse you could think of."

"I'm not done with my learning ahead project and I got stuff to do at Ur-tir'ak but it seems none of you is willing, so I guess I'm just gonna have to go with him."

When they came out of the underground room, Aquila and Ursus walked back into the school.

"Let's go then," Supido said.

****

"Supido, Heat, has anyone seen any of those two today?" Mr. Wallace, a teacher asked.

"I saw Supido earlier in the class studying and I saw Heat in the hallway before classes started," Taylor, a blonde girl replied.

"Well Supido's case is probably a good reason, but Heat, I really doubt." The teacher took his seat. "Okay, open your books to page forty."