Arcane: the Monster of Zaun

The Last Drop's basement had been hastily cleared of clutter to make space for Derek's "training." A few crates were stacked in a corner, and a worn mat had been spread across the floor. The group had gathered around, their expressions ranging from concern to barely-contained amusement.

Derek sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, his claws twitching slightly as he took deep breaths. His golden eyes glimmered faintly in the dim light. Powder perched on an overturned barrel, watching intently with a notebook and pencil in hand.

Vi with Arms crossed, grinning "Alright, Derek. You've got two full moons under your belt now. Think you're ready to handle the next one without shredding your clothes this time?"

Rubbs the back of his neck, embarrassed "It wasn't like I could... you know, control it."

Mylo Snickering "Oh, come on. You gotta admit, it was kinda funny seeing you almost naked walking through the lanes like a walk of shame."

Vi smirks at Mylo "You're lucky he didn't chase you down and make you his chew toy."

Claggor with a raised hand "I mean, in Derek's defense, we didn't exactly have a plan the first time. Or the second time."

Powder Looking up from her notebook, excitedly says "But we do now!"

The group turned to her as she held up the notebook, revealing a chaotic sketch of Derek in wolf form surrounded by various doodles of traps, gadgets, and something that suspiciously resembled a muzzle.

Derek Squinting at the drawing "Powder, is that supposed to be me?"

 "Yep! See, I've got ideas for keeping you calm. Like... uh, this!" She points to a crude diagram of a device "It's a tranquilizer dart launcher that works automatically when you howl too loud!"

 "Oh, I like that one. Can we test it now?"

 "I'm not a science experiment."

 "Relax, Derek. Powder's just... enthusiastic."

 "I'm trying to help!"

Claggor Steps in "What about meditation? Isn't that supposed to help with, uh... you know, control?"

 "Meditation? You want me to sit still and think peaceful thoughts while I'm turning into a seven-foot wolf? Sure. Sounds easy."

Vi Smirking "Better than tearing up my stuff. Let's give it a shot."

The group rearranged themselves, Powder still scribbling furiously, Mylo stifling laughter, and Claggor doing his best to appear serious.

Derek closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

 "Okay, I'm calm. I'm calm."

Mylo Whispers to Powder "Bet you a cog he growls in the next ten seconds."

 "Five."

Derek's ears twitched, and his eyes snapped open.

Derek Growling "I can hear you, Mylo."

Mylo Throwing up his hands "See? Told you!"

Vi Rolling her eyes "You two are the worst."

Derek stood, shaking his head, his claws flexing slightly. Despite their antics, the tension in his shoulders seemed to ease.

 "Thanks for trying to help, guys. Even if half of it's just an excuse to mess with me."

Claggor Grins "Hey, if it makes you laugh, it's worth it, right?"

Powder hopped off the barrel, holding up a small gadget that looked suspiciously like a treat dispenser.

 "I also made this! If you behave, it shoots out snacks!"

 "I'm not a dog, Powder."

 "You kinda are."

The group burst into laughter, the tension from Derek's transformations melting away for a moment. Derek shook his head but couldn't help the small smile creeping across his face.

Vi Patts him on the shoulder "Alright, wolf-boy. We'll figure this out. One step at a time."

Derek looked around at the group—Powder's endless energy, Claggor's quiet support, Mylo's teasing smirk, and Vi's steady presence. For the first time since his transformation, he felt a flicker of hope that he wasn't in this alone.

 "Next time, I promise not to destroy anything. Probably."

Vi Laughing "You'd better not. Or we wont have any money remaining if we have to buy new clothes every month."

The group chuckled as they began to clean up, the camaraderie lightening the room. Even as the weight of Derek's changes lingered, so did the bond they shared, stronger than ever.

The group had made preparations. Powder had made some gadgets she thought would be useful, Claggor had secured heavy chains, and Vi and Mylo had brought extra supplies in case things got out of hand. Derek, however, wasn't feeling confident.

As the moon rose high, its silvery light spilling through cracks in the structure, Derek's transformation began. His breathing quickened, and his body tensed as the shift took hold. Claws extended, his golden eyes blazed brighter, and his muscles rippled with newfound strength.

The group stood at a safe distance, watching anxiously as Derek snarled and thrashed against his restraints.

Vi Shouts over the noise "You've got this, Derek! Breathe!"

Derek growled, his claws raking against the wall as he struggled to regain control. His movements slowed for a moment, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as his human mind fought against the beast. But then a surge of wild energy overtook him, and he roared, breaking one of the chains and sending debris scattering.

The group scrambled back as Derek lunged toward the reinforced bars, snarling and slamming into them with brute force.

 "That's control?!"

 "Well, he hasn't tried to eat us yet."

 "We'll do better next time. Right?"

Despite the chaos, Derek eventually collapsed, exhaustion overcoming him as the night wore on.

The next full moon

They returned to the same spot, Derek bound by stronger restraints. This time, he had a plan—meditation techniques Powder had read about, combined with the breathing exercises Vi had drilled into him during sparring sessions.

As the transformation began, Derek focused on the sound of Powder's voice.

 "You're okay, Derek. Just keep breathing. In, out. In, out."

Derek's claws flexed, but he didn't thrash. His golden eyes darted to the group, lingering on Vi, who gave him a small nod of encouragement.

For a moment, it seemed to work. Derek remained tense but in control, pacing within his enclosure rather than attacking it.

Claggor Whispers "He's doing it."

But the beast was never far. A distant howl from the undercity's feral dogs broke his focus, and Derek let out a guttural snarl. His restraint snapped, and the wild energy surged again. He slammed into the walls, his claws raking against the reinforced metal as Vi and the others backed away.

 "Damn it! He was so close!"

Derek roared, his golden eyes wild and unfocused. The night ended with more damage, but this time, Derek retained fragments of memory, a small step toward control.

The next full moon was the most chaotic yet. Derek started strong, repeating the techniques that had helped before. But the beast within him seemed angrier, more determined to break free.

The reinforced enclosure barely held as Derek's full strength came to bear. He tore through one wall, forcing the group to scramble and trap him using Powder's improvised net launcher.

 "Remind me why we don't just lock him underground?"

 "Because he's not a monster!" vi shouts at Mylo.

Derek thrashed against the net, growling and snapping his fangs. The group held their ground, shouting his name in desperate attempts to break through the beast's rage.

Eventually, Derek wore himself out, collapsing into a heap as the moon sank below the horizon.

By the sixth full moon, Derek had made progress. He endured the transformation with gritted teeth, focusing on the group's voices as they encouraged him from outside.

 "You've got this, Derek. Stay with us!"

 "Think about something good! Like—like food! Or, uh, not biting us!"

Vi and Powder encourage him.

"that's NOT helping!!" Derek shouts at them.

Derek let out a low growl but didn't lunge. His claws scraped against the ground as he paced, his glowing eyes scanning the group.

For most of the night, he maintained control, though the strain was evident. By the time dawn approached, Derek's human side had held sway longer than ever before.

The group gathered in The Last Drop after each transformation, sharing stories of Derek's progress and mishaps.

 "I still think we should've gotten that tranquilizer launcher."

Powder Defensively "Hey, we agreed that was a last resort!"

 "Pretty sure Derek would've clawed your face off if you'd tried."

Derek Laughing "I'm standing right here, you know."

Claggor Pats Derek on the back "Hey, we're just saying—next time, try not to wreck everything."

Through the chaos of each full moon, the group found ways to laugh and bond, their shared struggle strengthening their friendship. Derek still had a long way to go, but with his friends by his side, he felt the first glimmers of hope that he could truly master the beast within.

One particular tough Day

Derek's fists trembled as they slammed into the wall again. The cracks in the wood deepened with each hit, but they couldn't contain the storm inside him. His chest heaved with each breath, sharp and uneven, as the pressure of the wolf clawed at his insides, demanding to be freed. His golden eyes flickered, wild with the struggle.

"Dammit," he muttered, his voice rough and strained, but the words barely made sense. The beast inside him was growing restless, its presence swelling like a tide ready to break.

"Keep it together," Derek whispered to himself, but his words felt hollow. The wolf wasn't just a curse; it was a hunger. A beast that devoured every bit of control he thought he had. He could feel its claws digging into his mind, pulling him apart.

"Are you losing it again?" Powder's voice sliced through the chaos in his mind like a knife. She was standing in the doorway, the faintest flicker of worry behind her steady gaze.

Derek couldn't focus. His hands clenched, claws extending, scraping across the wooden frame. He felt the pull, the primal urge to give in, but her presence was a tether, like a lifeline thrown into the storm.

"Powder," he rasped, his teeth grinding, the word barely leaving his lips. "I—I can't hold it back this time."

Powder didn't step back. Instead, she walked closer, unafraid, her eyes unwavering. "Yes, you can. You've done it before," she said, her voice calm, steady, like the anchor he desperately needed.

But it wasn't enough. The growls inside him were deafening now, the beast demanding freedom with every second that passed. His muscles ached, his skin burning as the transformation pressed against him, a force he couldn't control. His claws scratched the wall until the wood splintered, but Powder—she was still there, her hand on his arm, firm yet gentle.

"You're stronger than this, Derek," Powder's voice was almost a whisper, but it cut through the noise, settling in the chaos of his mind. She wasn't going anywhere. Not this time.

Derek's breath hitched as her touch grounded him in a way nothing else could. It wasn't just the calm in her presence—it was something more. Something deeper. And for the first time, he allowed himself to feel it.

"I—I don't deserve you," he murmured, his golden eyes flickering with a supernatural glow.

Powder's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she squeezed his arm, her fingers pressing lightly against his sleeve. "You don't have to be perfect, Derek," she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "Just... be you."

His breath slowed, and in that moment, the wolf's roar faded into the background, its hold loosening. His claws retracted. He wasn't sure how long they stood like that, but the pressure inside him had lessened. And for the first time tonight, Derek didn't feel like he was completely losing himself.

"You're more than I deserve," Derek said, his voice low, sincere. "I won't forget this. Not ever."

Powder didn't know how to respond. Her cheeks flushed, her pulse quickening, but she met his gaze. For a fleeting second, she wondered if he felt the same way she did. But before she could make sense of it, the moment was gone, and the tension between them hung in the air, unresolved but undeniable.

She cleared her throat. "You're not so bad yourself, Derek," she said, trying to deflect the emotions swirling inside her.

Derek's smile was small, but there was something tender in his eyes as he looked at her. "You keep me grounded."

Powder's heart fluttered, but she didn't have the words. So, she just nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. For the first time in a long time, she wasn't sure what came next.