Werewolves

Turning to Belial, Clare asked him the question they wanted to know, "What is our goal, why have you brought us here?" 

"The wolves have a necklace I wish to acquire. I do not know if one will be wearing it or if it will be in their lair, only while they are transformed can we find it. Let's go." Belial tells them as he turns to walk into the dark woods.

Without another word, the girls follow Belial into the eerie forest. The trees loom overhead, casting ominous shadows that seem to shift and twist as they move further into the heart of the woods. Despite their bravado, they can't help but feel unease creeping into their bones. Each step takes them deeper into unknown territory, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs sending a fresh shiver down their spines. But they press onward nonetheless – determined, resolute, and more than a little scared. They have each other, and they have their weapons. That has to be enough, right? At least until they stumble upon whatever danger awaits them in these enchanted woods...

The group continues to travel for some time until they hear howling off in the distance. "It looks like we will have to deal with regular wolves first." Belial announces to them as the howling gets closer.

As the howling grows steadily louder, the girls exchange nervous glances. None of them have ever faced a pack of wild wolves like this before – are these wolves supernatural or demonic, or just regular wolves? They steel themselves nonetheless, gripping their weapons tightly and preparing for battle. Even Ellie looks more feral than usual as she bares her teeth and readies herself for the fight. Clare looks over to Ellie and speaks her spell "Transformus." As the wolves burst through the underbrush, their eyes glowing in the moonlight, the girls tense up. The pack is large – at least ten strong – and they circle warily, snarling and growling threateningly. But Rachel steps forward, raising her sword defiantly. "Alright, ladies. Let's show them who's boss!"

With a quick flick Belial tosses a ball of light into the air. It makes it easy for the girls to see the wolves taking away the wolves advantage of night vision.

The bright orb of light sails through the air, illuminating the wolves in its harsh glow. Their fur looks sleek and menacing under the sudden spotlight, but it doesn't stop the girls from charging forward. Rachel takes the lead, taking aim at the closest wolf. Her fingers tremble slightly, but she manages to hold her nerve. Clare moves up beside her, ready to attack with her staff should the need arise. "Come on, Ellie," she shouts over her shoulder. "Let's show them why they shouldn't mess with us!" With a roar, Ellie leaps into action, claws extended and teeth bared. She's faster than any of them could've imagined, closing the gap between her and the wolves in mere seconds. And suddenly, chaos erupts. Swords clash against furry bodies; magic and brute force collide in a fiery display of power.

Belial watched Ellie close to see just what she is becoming and where her strength lies. The girls had prepared well, Clare using her magic to transform Ellie into a wolf like human with greater speed and strength. 

As Ellie tears into the wolves, her transformation becomes more apparent. Her skin darkens, taking on a reptilian hue, and her muscles ripple with otherworldly strength. But despite this terrifying display of power, there's something undeniably mesmerizing about it – like watching a train wreck unfold before your eyes. Even you find yourself drawn to her savagery, unable to look away. Her movements are almost fluid as she dances through the pack, claiming victim after victim. And while her companions fight valiantly by her side, they can't help but feel awed by her raw power. As the last wolf falls beneath their combined might, the girls exchange weary glances. They may have survived this skirmish unscathed, but they know that there are bigger battles yet to come.

Looking at them, Belial smiles. "well, well, my little ones have certainly grown stronger."

"We had no idea we were capable of all this," Clare admits breathlessly, wiping sweat from her brow. "I mean, those wolves looked like they would tear us apart!" Hannah nods in agreement, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, if it weren't for our fearless leader, we might not have made it out alive," she says, nudging Ellie playfully. Ellie rolls her eyes but can't help but blush slightly. Clare, ever the pragmatist, clears her throat. "Look, we get it. We're stronger than we thought," she says, gesturing to the carnage around them. "Now can we please focus on finding that necklace and getting out of here?"

We head off into the dark listening for sounds to lead us to our goal.

The darkness seems to swallow the girls whole as they venture deeper into forest and toward ancient ruins. Despite their recent victory over the wolves, they can't shake off the feeling of being watched – trailed by a sinister presence they can't quite place. Rachel leads the way, trusting her instincts even when they paint a bleak picture. Ellie follows close behind, her heightened senses picking up even the slightest anomaly in their surroundings. Clare brings up the rear, muttering spells under her breath and shooting uneasy glances over her shoulder. Hannah huffs impatiently, eager to reach their destination and be done with this whole ordeal. But even she knows better than to complain – not when they're dealing with forces beyond their understanding. As they round a corner, they freeze mid-step: There, lying abandoned amidst the rubble, is the golden necklace they've been searching for all along. How can it just be sitting there, they pause knowing it must be some sort of trap. Slowly, carefully, they approach it – hearts pounding in anticipation of what comes next.

Belial speaks up, "If the necklace is here, so are the werewolves. prepare yourselves." Belial walks over to get the necklace.

Suddenly, the silence is shattered by an ominous growl. Shadows seem to shift and move around them, revealing pairs of glowing red eyes peering back at them from the depths of darkness. Hannah gasps, "You...you knew this wasn't safe!" But before she can finish her accusation, the wolves pounce – fast, agile, and utterly relentless. Teeth sink into flesh; claws rake across skin; magic crackles in the air as each girl fights desperately for their lives. Rachel channels her courage into battle rage, striking out with unparalleled ferocity. Clare uses every bit of magic at her disposal, weaving protective shields around her allies while launching destructive spells at their enemies. Meanwhile, Ellie, still in her transformed form, jumps forward attacking a werewolf, her sword drives forward with deadly precision – sinking squarely in the heart of a nearby werewolf.

While they fight Belial stands and inspects the necklace to confirm it is the one he was looking to acquire.

Despite the chaos unfolding around them, Belial manages to examine the necklace. Delicate, intricate engravings adorn its surface – runes and symbols that seem to pulse with an unnatural energy. Without a moment's hesitation, he slips it over his head, feeling its power coursing through his veins. Suddenly, time seems to slow down.

The battle around them takes on a surreal quality, each movement deliberate and methodical. Their thoughts become crystal clear; their reflexes, lightning-fast. They feel invincible – unstoppable. With a roar that echoes throughout the ruins, Ellie in her transformed body cutting through the enemy lines with ease. Adversaries fall before her might, their howls swallowed up by the violent symphony playing out around them. Finally, it's over. The last werewolf lies defeated at your feet, its life force draining away into nothingness. Ellie, growling turns toward the others, Hannah steps back as Ellie moves closer in a threatening manner. Belial uses his magic to bind her and then Clare uses her magic to remove the spell.

Belial, looking at Clare and Ellie smiles, "Using the spell shows your strength and determination but understand strong magic comes with a price. Transforming for long periods of time can lead to the person loosing themselves into the creature they have become."

"Sorry." Ellie says with her head down.

"It's okay, its not your fault." Clare whispers as she stares wide-eyed, her voice trembling slightly. Hannah looks like she can barely hold back tears as she gazes upon her. Meanwhile, Rachel seems more amused than anything else, unable to keep the smile off her face. After what feels like an eternity, she speaks up for all of them. "That...was amazing. But maybe we need to be careful."

Giving a small smile, Ellie nods her head in agreement. "I think you may be right."

Unsure why Belial wanted the necklace, since it wasn't one of the powers he had said they would be searching for they turned toward him with questions. 

Before they could ask, he began to walk away and spoke softly as he waved his hand, "I will be back when I am ready."

With that they were transported back to the attic in Clare's house where this had all began.