Chapter 111 The French Alps

(Jacques POV)

Yuri and I were trekking the French Alps to the village of the reclusive werebears living on one of the mountains. After locating the once thriving human village the old man would trade with, we set out to locate the village of the werebears.

According to the old man, the village was the home of many of us with silver eyes, the bloodline of Velvela. They have lived for many decades in the small isolated village on one of the mountain slopes in the French Alps since the wolves did not take kindly to their kind. For years, they have been persecuted for being werebears and thus, had decided to live within the treacherous confinements of the Alps. The people there did not know that there were others like them, living around the world. No longer did they need to hide and I will be the one to give them back their freedom.

The werebears of the French Alps knew of the wolf with the golden eyes, she was their sister. They had prayed one day she would come and bring peace once again between wolf and bear. When the old man saw Hope, he cried, "The Moon Goddess has blessed us with the return of the one with the golden eyes!" The old man hugged Hope and wouldn't let go of her. He latched unto her arm until he met me. When he saw us together, both wolf and bear as sister and brother, he went down on his knees and started praising the Moon Goddess. Peace was finally at hand.

At the beginning, both silver and golden eyed children lived in peace. The silver-eyed werebears headed all werebears while the golden-eyed wolves headed all wolves. However, after the Ice Age, the territory of the golden-eyed children was separated from the silver eyed werebears. The werebears, who were clearly outnumbered, were declared as outcasts by the wolves and werecoyotes who were no longer bound by the laws of the golden-eyed wolves. One by one, the wolves and the coyotes brought down the werebears by either poisoning them or by raids. The wolves and the coyotes went on a werebear killing spree, attempting to make the werebear species extinct.

While most went to live in the village found in the French Alps, some also chose to live away from the community, in small cabins further higher up in the mountains. Except these cabins were easily accessible to the wolves and coyotes such was the case of my father's parents. So the werebears who took residence in these cabins unfortunately, did not survive.

The wolves also created a small rumor to futher help facilitate the extermination of the werebear species. They believed the ring of the circle of Lupa was in the possession of a werebear. Thus, in every attack, the seemingly gullible wolves and coyotes searched high and low for the ring, but were futile in their efforts to locate it.

I wiped my brow. It was summer and even if we were high up in the mountains, it was still a bit warm and the huge backpacks filled to the brim with supplies for the people were weighing heavy on our backs. There was a small trail that led upward into the mountains. The old man had said to follow the trail. It would take us to a guardhouse before entering the village.

It was a steep climb to the guardhouse as well as a long one. It took us over an hour before we saw a pile of rocks that formed walls of a small hut with a roof made of sturdy wood. We approached the guardhouse with our hands in the air, thinking someone would be inside it. No one was inside. It was a decoy.

"I suggest you and your friend turn around and go back where you came from." A voice of a man echoed around us.

"We are here to bring supplies. I am a werebear as is my friend. We were told by the old man who we saved from the wolves to follow this trail." I yell back.

"What old man are you talking about?"

"His name is Frederic. He has a message for you." I brought out a smartphone. "A video, saying he is fine. With him, our sister, the one with the golden eyes."

"Wait there!" The voice finally said. I look at Yuri who was on military mode. He had taken off his backpack and was now ready to shift.

I took off my backpack too. Anyway, it was better to leave them the supplies if it doesn't work out today. Maybe next time we could bring Frederic with us to convince them to come live with us if not at least allow us to help them with their community.

A man in shorts, a torn shirt and rubber slippers comes out from among the boulders near the mountain. He had a long black beard while his hair was fixed into dreadlocks that swung when he walked. I saw several other men peeking behind the boulders, making sure, whomever I was going to speak to, had back-up.

When the man was close enough, I introduced myself.

"I am Jacques Leroux. This is my friend, Yuri. I am a werebear originally from western France, but had the priviliege to migrate to the United States. While Yuri is a werebear from Russia who also migrated to the United States.

"Bonjour! I am Claude, leader of this community. You said you have proof Frederic is with the one with the golden-eyes?"

"Yes it is a video." I showed him the smartphone and clicked on the video for him to watch it.

Frederic had been missing for almost 8 years. It was a wonder he lasted that long. Hope wanted to keep him with her so he could at least get back some of the 8 years that was taken from him. Experience freedom, luxury and have anything and everything he wanted. In the video, you can here the joy in his voice while he showed off his new dentures and eyeglasses in the video. He said he could not thank Hope enough for allowing him another chance to experience life. The leader looked up from watching the video and that's when I took off my sunglasses so I could show him my eyes. He smiled at me and laughed, "Brother. You have come a long way." He patted me on the back and motioned for his men to come forward.

"I have brought your community some supplies. I apologize if it is little. I can bring more tomorrow."

"Brother, let us have something to drink while we talk. Don't you want to see how our community looks like?"

"Actually, I do, but not today. I will have a drink with you when Frederic is with us." Frederic told me to politely say no to the invitation. It was the leader's way of incapacitating his guests. "The phone is yours to keep. There is a solar panel with a small battery and if you follow the instructions, you will be able to charge the phone." I point at the solar panels I had tied on the backpack.

"I'm sorry. I think you misunderstood me, Jacques. I can not let you leave. You may be a wolf spy. You have..." he sniffs the air, "some of their stink on you." Yuri growls at him. I raise my hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"How about we settle this like true werebears? If I lose, you can do whatever you want with us, kill us, if you must.  But if I win, you will bow to me."

Claude laughs and so do some of the others. "You look more like a boy rather than a man. I accept your challenge, Jacques Leroux. I will warn you now, I am a great fighter. I predict you will be on your bear knees in a couple of minutes. If I were you, concede defeat now while you still breathe." He growled. His eyes had already turned black and his long fangs had already begun to sprout from his mouth.

"We shall see, Claude. If I win, all of you will bow to me!" My voice boomed so loudly that my voice echoed all around us. The other men looked at each other and started to step back. They didn't want to get in the middle of a death match.

"So be it, Jacques Leroux. I pity your friend. His head will be a great addition to my collection." He shifted into a huge brown bear. He was even bigger than Yuri. He snarled at us, his saliva splashing as he swatted his huge claws towards us.

"Get back, Yuri. Fang will handle this." He nodded and started moving back and I shifted to Fang, towering above all of them, as I stood on two legs.

"Le Roi! The King! It is the Werebear King!" The men around us gasped. One by one, they knelt down and bowed their heads in reverence to Fang. Fang growls which echoes through the mountain.

Claude whimpered and in his bear form, knelt on one leg and bowed his head. Apparently, there will be no duel today.

Some of the people from the community had heard the growl and came out from a tiny opening between the mountain to see what was happening. The women, men and children all pointed at Fang, who was standing proudly in front of all of them.

Claude had shifted back and knelt down on both of his knees, "My king, I beg for your forgiveness. I did not know. Take pity on a bear like me. Please, I beg you."

Fang shifted back to me and they were all startled that I had clothes on. I smiled. I will ask Hope to help all of them once I get the chance.

"My brothers and sisters, I come to you not as a king, but as your kin. I am here to help you regain the freedoms you once had. Claude, stand up, brother." I help him up and Yuri gives him a pair of short from his backpack.  "Together we will fight oppression and again live in peace and harmony which we once did before. Not all wolves are bad. Most want what we want, to live in peace."

"Our sister, the one with golden eyes, is on our side. She is here to help us in our cause." All of them cheered, clapping, singing praises to the Moon Goddess.

"My King, there are only a few of us left." Claude points at all the people who have gathered around. I estimated around 50. "We are clearly outnumbered."

"There are many of us around the world, Claude. You will be surprised how many werebears exist." I smile at him. "They will come to our aid as well as the wolves who we have an alliance with."

I told Claude that I had acquired property suitable enough for the size of their community. There were already homes there and if the number of houses weren't enough, they could build more. If they were willing to leave the mountains, the property will be theirs to live. He nodded his head and said he would discuss this with the members of their community. I told him money will not be a problem. A rich benefactor was already willing to donate money for all of them to have a fresh start. There, I would provide them with education and livelihood so they can start integrating with society like the rest of us.

"I will be back tomorrow for your answer. The buses will be ready to transport all of you if you agree." I tell Claude. I knew he wanted a better life for his community, he was just afraid of the wolves.

"But our smell, my king. The wolves will know we are bears." Claude was very skeptical they could actually be free from the onslaught of the wolves.

"There are ways to mask our scent, brother. My mother will be very accommodating. She is the key."