Nimesana grew up near the docks, going about her daily chores and errands wrapped in shadows, out of sight of any invaders headed toward the keep in the mountains. Very few travelers headed North up the coast, and it was understood among those who called this cursed island home, that to venture very far in that direction was dangerous business. Just beginning her 20th season, during a particularly busy time at the harbors, she crept just as far north as she dared, away from the noise of the sailors and merchants. Finding a quiet spot on the hilltop, she spread out her cloak and lay back with her hands clasped behind her neck, watching the dark sky above her. As sleep took her unawares the cloak that hid her slid away.
A creature peered from the trees near where the woman slept. He had been laying in wait for the occasional lost traveler to pass through unsuspectingly, and was quite surprised when she appeared; sound asleep, out of nowhere. His mouth salivated at the thought of his next meal. Looking around one last time he slid out of the trees and to her side. She never stirred until his teeth were buried deep in her thigh.
With a scream Nimesana sat straight up, startling the beast for the split second she needed to wrap the shadows around herself once more. Forcing herself to not make a sound, she slowly and painfully made her way back down the hill. She found a priest on watch duty. Her wound was bandaged with muttering and looks of suspicion from the competent, though wary healer. The next fortnight brought incurable fevers, as the bite festered. The constant pain drew screams from Nimesana that twisted and maimed her vocal cords; slowly she was driven to madness, her mind becoming a warped shell.
Light from a full moon came thru the window, and Nimesana pulled the bandages away. Before her eyes the wound healed to a shiny scar. Gone was the deep throbbing ache that had taken her sanity over the past two weeks. Her pain intensified, snapping her back to reality. Light fur began appearing over her body and her fingernails became fine, sharp claws. Her muscles and bones popped and crunched against each other transforming her into a monstrous form. The exertion left a thick layer of foamy saliva around her mouth, her breathing ragged and shallow.
For several moments she was perfectly still a cacophony of sensations assaulted every sense. Her nose twitched and burned as the salted sea air filled her nostrils. Her pupils narrowed and widened wildly as the shadowed night glowed, the light from the moon seeming brighter than any sun. Nervously her ears curled over, her mind racing to identify the multitude of new sounds. At last she could not ignore the demand of survival that gnawed at her, instinct would no longer be tamed or denied. Flipping upright with new ease, she shook herself hard. Silver fur shimmered and stirred, two eyes glowed like emeralds set deep. Something like laughter of glee rose in her throat as she admired her new self; to her surprise, a great and keening howl escaped her
Outside her family's small house, she moved swiftly and silently, dragging farm animals into the shadows with her, devouring them one by one. The feral glint in her eye seen by the light of the moons. Quietly she crept into the barn, once inside she stopped and sniffed deeply. The rich scent of humanity reached her nose. Why did this, more than anything so far, entice her hunger to ravenousness? She cocked her head to the side and catching the slightest movement from the corner of her eye, reached out and grabbed the creature, swung her head around and bit down hard. Into flesh, not hide. A scream pierced the air, the first crow from the roosters and light from the rising sun. Fright and confusion froze her for the briefest moment, her prey escaped.
Nimesana returned to the shadows then... and those first few hours seem but a dream to her now, a matter never thought of, for long. The first taste of man-flesh stays on her tongue still for her there is nothing sweeter
