The White Werewolf || Season One: Ties That Bind

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Marnadal Stairs, 1241

Jaskier yelped and leapt out of the way as Geralt struck again. Robin was leaning against a nearby rock with her arms folded over her chest, shaking her head.

"Jas, you have to learn to defend yourself, not just duck out of the way. If you don't, the fight will never end," she pointed out.

"Well, if I can avoid the inevitable long enough, hopefully you and Geralt will be back by then to rescue me," he retorted. "He's big and scary. He hits hard."

"I'm pulling my punches, Jaskier," Geralt growled.

"Not bloody enough," Jaskier protested, rubbing his arm. "And besides," he continued, "how is this going to help in other situations? The guards in the last city we were in used attack dogs, for instance."

Geralt stopped and grinned, glancing at Robin. "Well, I can help with that," he decided. "Should I?" he asked her.

"You're going to show him?" she questioned. "You've never even shown me."

"Well, you'll get to see it too," he reminded her.

"See what?" Jaskier wondered.

"Just one thing before I do," Geralt requested, letting his hair loose and starting to strip. "You can't put this in a song, Jaskier."

"You know I can't make that promise, Geralt," the bard replied amiably.

"You'll understand why when you see, Jas," Robin explained.

Geralt finished undressing and Jaskier's eyes went wide as he stood in front of both of them naked.

"Impressive, Geralt," he quipped. "But I think you want to keep that tucked away during a fight."

Geralt smiled as Robin snorted. Then he shivered and transformed.

Jaskier gasped silently as Robin tilted her head and observed.

The change was oddly fast and slow at the same time. She'd been able to see Geralt's nose and chin elongate into a muzzle, his already sharp teeth lengthen into canines, and his hands change into paws.

But after that, nothing. There was simply a beautiful, slightly larger than normal white wolf standing where Geralt had been a moment ago.

"Can... can all witchers do that?" Jaskier sputtered as Robin bent down and looked into the wolf's dark gold eyes.

She reached out to pet him behind the ears and he howled softly. "No," she answered. "Even his fellow witchers don't know Geralt is a werewolf. And you know how people would treat him, Jas. Even worse than they do now."

"I won't tell," he promised.

Robin smiled at him, pleased that he was so willing to keep this a secret, even though it would have made for a very popular song.

Geralt nuzzled her, then turned and playfully nipped at Jaskier's heels.

"Run away! Run away!" Jaskier squeaked, running to a nearby rock and climbing it.

Geralt jumped up onto the rock easily and licked Jaskier's face, letting out a sound that resembled a barking laugh. Jaskier made a face as Geralt went back down to join Robin at the fire.

He changed back and pulled his trousers on before reclining next to her. Jaskier crept over to join them, looking Geralt up and down curiously.

"So, are you going to explain?" Jaskier prompted.

Geralt shrugged. "I'm a werewolf."

"That wasn't a werewolf," Jaskier protested. "Werewolves turn into half-beasts. Um, don't they?" he corrected himself, realizing who he was talking to.