Ever since The Fall, strange things have been happening. Magical things. Outbreaks of supernatural diseases - zombies, vampires, werewolves. The Arcana had released mystical beings and species from their Seals. Dragons, unicorns, and even Elves now roamed the Earth.

At first, everything had been chaos.

But, humans, being as resilient as they always are, powered through it. The vampires and zombies went extinct first. Dragons were hunted down, then either tamed or killed. Elves and Dwarves were incorporated into society due to their benevolence and human-like nature.

However, there was one sickness that no government could get a grasp on.

Werewolves.

They were as elusive as they were dangerous, and their curse spread through populated cities like wildfire. They only showed their true form on full moons or under strong emotions, which made them much harder to track than the undead. And even then, if they did find a werewolf in the Change, it was very likely for at least one person to come out with a bite mark. A pack instinct between small groups of them made werewolves often keep to the shadows and to themselves.

A werewolf would always go Change on a full moon, and for the entire duration of its time in the sky. They hunted in large packs, seeking both food and, more disturbingly, mates.

A full moon would be the pinnacle of the outbreak in an area with werewolves. Feral wolves didn't care about doors or houses if they smelled food inside. Almost everyone would be either killed, raped, or bitten.

The government was fast to act on the rising issue, condoning off enclosed areas of forest and parkland for werewolves to Change safely when a full moon rose. It became law that those afflicted with lycanthropy had to go into those areas during full moons. Those that didn't obey would give police justification to incapacitate, and, if necessary, kill.

Most werewolves were just like any other person before the Change. This warranted their status as civilians to not be revoked. They just had to get to a Wolf Park when they felt the Change approaching.

Things quieted down again. The people were still wary, and werewolf population was rising due to unregulated breeding. But, to many, it no longer felt like the world might fall into a pit of lechery, hunger, and violence. There was relative peace. Well, peace for everyone but you.

...

You had wandered somewhere you weren't supposed to be on the worst day of the month. A Wolf Park. The place for werewolves going through the Change to let loose without the fear of hurting someone. The irony was not lost on you in the fact that you were about to be that someone. You had gotten much too drunk the night previous, then awakened in the Wolf Park just thirty minutes before Moonrise. You now only had twenty-two to find the entrance.

The tall, untamed grass rustled around your legs as you trekked in the direction you hoped to be North. Every small sound made you freeze. I'm acting like prey, you thought with despair. You still couldn't see any sign of the military checkpoint nearby You glanced at your watch for what must have been the fifth time.

Nineteen minutes till Moonrise.

Nineteen minutes until the wolves of the hunt are released from their mortal bodies.