The tale of Quinton and Thaddius begins like most, born into squalor and filth. Though the von Helms name once stood synonymous for power and influence in the Burrow of St. Marie, it had been tarnished by two generations of mistrust and greed. In some ways this was a blessing for Quinton and Thaddius. In their youth, no expectations were placed on them. No noble parties to attend. No worry of what the townsfolk would think. They could be kids, and kids they were.
"Let’s have a race Thaddius, I'm tired of collecting fire wood," said Quinton to his brother.
"Just a bit more, Quinton. Mother is expecting this for dinner," Thaddius replied.
Not happy with the answer he was given, Quinton let his mischievous side take over. "Hey Thud," Quinton yelled "catch!"
Quinton proceeded to chuck a rock at Thaddius’s head before the boy could turn around, striking him on the crown of his skull, sending the rock bouncing off and Thaddius' f%#!+# of wood tumbling to the ground. Thaddius slowly turned around, anger growing quickly in his face. Quinton always knew exactly how to set his brother off.
"I.. Told You.. To Call Me.. THAD!" Thaddius said, taking great effort to control his rage in between each coupling of words he was able to get out.
"Well you look like a Thud to me..." Quinton said in passing, as he slowly started to position himself to run, knowing he had done enough. Thaddius let out a defiant yell and took off after his brother. The two ran through the center of the Burrow, past the statue of St. Marie, and knocking many a town folk over in their race.
Their father, Stefan von Helms could always be found wallowing in self-pity while looking down a mug of ale, dreaming of the days of yesteryear, how he spoiled the family’s wealth, and what he had become. This left the boys’ mother Marie, named after the original von Helms matriarch whom the Burrow was so named, to earn the living and keep the house when she could. With juggling those tasks alone, disciplining her two sons was not on the top of her priority list.
As the boys grew through adolescents into adulthood, their reputation had grown through the Burrow for their knack as handymen, particularly in finding and cutting very high quality lumber; as well as, their brotherly disruptions that tend to come along from time to time.
One afternoon the twins, now in their mid-20s, ventured to the woods far north of Burrow St. Marie. This area was never visited for it was rumored to be haunted and tainted with wild magic. But the brothers were desperate for money and it was possible to find trees here nearly as strong as ironwood. Though he tried not to show it, Quinton was terrified of this place. In scarce few times they had been here Quinton swore he could feel his bones hum as dark magics tried to consume him. However today was different. Today he felt as if his skeleton would vibrate right out of his body.
"You hear that Thud?" Quinton whispered.
"I ain't heard nuthin." Thaddius replied full voiced, having long since accepted his brothers nick name for him, but a slow fire still burned inside when he heard it.
Quinton was sure he heard a door slam shut, but they had never seen any signs of people living in this part of the woods. Then he saw it, smoke from chimney stack just above the tree line, obscured to anyone giving but a brief glance. Quinton pointed it out to Thaddius, who not being the most intelligent, immediately went to thinking about food and set off to try and exchange firewood for a warm dinner. Quinton followed after his brother to his dismay. Upon arrival they found a small cottage with a straw roof and a brick walkway up to a hanging open door. It seemed untouched by the darkness and gloom, as if just built a few moments ago.
Again, not fully understanding the scene, and irrelevant to Quinton's attempts to stop him, Thaddius walked into the house and encountered an unusual trio: an elderly woman in her nightgown, frying pan in hand held defensively; a young girl with a blood red clock; and what appeared to be a massive wolf standing on its hind legs, mouthwatering.
Quinton’s eyes widened at the bizarre sight, "Oh apologies, wrong house! We'll just let ourselves out!" But as he tried to pull his brother out the door he locked eyes with the elderly woman and was caught in a trance. How does he know this woman? Where has he seen her before? He was paralyzed as his mind raced to recall.
"Help me! This girl is trying to feed me to her wolf!" the old woman screamed. But before anyone could act, the wolf made its move and severed the old woman in two with a single bite. The little girl turned to the brothers and made no attempt to hide her face from them under her hood. Her jet black hair framed her pale face. All her features looked young, except for the eyes. They were old, wild, and vicious. She smirked and shot a wicked glance at the twins and then back to her wolf as it began to pull the innards of the old woman out of her still twitching chest.
"You’re timing in impeccable,” she snarled at the brothers. “We can’t have anyone knowing I was here.” She raised her hands and chanted in a low, gravelly voice.
Suddenly the twins were struck with a jolt of pain and fell to the ground, their vision becoming hazy. Later Quinton would remember the color red passing by him and the smell of iron and wet dog wafting away. Thud simply remembered there was a pie on the windowsill and when he awoke it was gone.
Thaddius and Quinton were jolted to consciousness by the chaotic sound of angry voices outside and banging on the door. Quinton rolled over in the pool of blood that now surrounded them and realized his hands have been replaced by gruesome, hairy claws. And his mouth now a thicket of fangs.
"Wha…wha…..Thad are you ok? We have to get out of here,” Quinton exclaimed over the roar of the crowd, his voice garbled from not yet being used to its new occupants. But as he examined Thaddius for injuries he could see nothing different about his brother.
"What did that girl do to us? And that old woman...she looked just like the statue in town…like St. Marie! ..von Helms!" Thaddius glanced up at Quinton just now catching on that he too was a von Helms... "She didn’t look like a statue."
At that moment the door finally gave way to the mob outside. It was momentarily stopped as the men who entered took in the site of this clawed and fanged beast, covered in blood, with the disemboweled corpse next to them.
The lead of the group shouted out, “The girl was right! This monster has slain a woman!” And with that the throng was upon the brothers.
"No, no! You have it all wrong!" Quinton pleaded but was struck by a knotty club. The site of his brother’s attack sent him into an instant rage. He let out an ear shattering roar as his own hands transformed into something similar to what his brother now had. His seething anger and now yellow, wolf-like eyes broke any courage the villagers once had as they fled the cottage.
A moment later Thaddius returns to his normal self and helped Quinton out of the cabin. They stared at each other briefly. With a simple look that communicates so much between the twins, they instantly knew they could never return to the Burrow. Thaddius and Quinton left the mysterious house without a word and set off through the woods. They now travel the wilderness trying to find the red cloaked girl and a way to return to their normal selves.
