And so Dusk has Fallen

Life had been good for Gabriel, and for a time it appeared as if it would continue like such, his secret meetings with Isabelle was hardly a secret to anyone anymore but his mother. His training was going steady, and the studies was far behind him. Already able to attend to his fathers meetings, though he found it awfully boring.

One day however, early in the evening, the dark had just begun to set, and the sky was black with clouds, it was about to rain, and the trees outside the Nightingale Estates windows where lightly bending in their old crowns.
There had been rumors of people vanishing and dark howls coming from beyond the walls, and through the hills. True, some of the Nightingale Guardsmen had gone missing, but some had returned with only a small cold and a rash after a "dog bite". Suddenly a scream was heard, down the estates corridors, and the sound of the maids tea-stray falling onto the ground.

Gabriel sighted and went outside his room, on the floor above. The red carpet would silence his steps just slightly, before he stepped to the hand-rail, looking down about the ask the maid what she had destroyed now, but his voice halted, as he looked down. Reflecting in his dark green eyes, there would be man laying on the floor in his own blood. The maid had run off, and it wasn't long before a shadow reflected in the door way.
Hulking and hunched over, the furred shadow would walk into the estate, wearing ripped clothing compared to the off duty uniform of the Nightingale Guardsmen. It's fangs long and sharp, as they sat, snarling on the Wolf like head, it's hands massive, with claws as long as daggers, and just as sharp. It was standing on two legs. Legs fitting an animal, with two paws as feet, a beast only told in stories to amuse Gabriel before he went to sleep, a worgen.

The Worgen lean over the corpse of the man a moment, as checking if he was dead. Gabriels senses sharp as ever kneeling down to cover a bit behind the hand-rail, as he could hear the beast take a deep breath. the Worgen raised its head and leaning back as it let out an ear tearing howl. For several seconds Gabriel had to hold his ears, until the howl was stopped by a gunshot. Lord Thanro Nightingale, stood on the staircase, holding the rifle that shot that Worgen. He ordered the rest of the guards to fortify the estate, and get everyone down to the main hall, and it wasn't long before it had been done. All now stood in the main hall. Armored and prepared, The screams from the nearby houses were heard, and sound of more Worgens howling in the evening, clawing at the walls got more and more menacing.
The Nightingale family charged through their front gates of their estate to meet the Worgen, rallying every guard in defense as they  fought their way through the woods and over the hills and roads. The rain fell heavy on their armor and clothes, their cloaks soaked in a matter of minutes, the little light there were, came from the now rising moon, shining its silver light through the dark pine trees, encroaching the roads, and reflecting in the pale rain drops falling from the sky.
Gabriel had cut down more Worgens than he could count, yet they seemed to never stop coming. Suddenly he heard a scream from his mother, and a roar from his father. A worgen had penetrated the ranks and locked itself onto Lord Thanro Nightingale, arm. It was tearing as it tossed him around. Finally it let go of Thanro, with a swipe of its claw across his chest, it slowly turned towards one of the guards, but stopped before it could raise its claw once more. The worgen fell dead to the ground, with father sword in the back. Lady Marilyn, had stabbed the Worgen through the back, its blood running down her hands arms, she was trembling.
The other guards swiftly made sure the Worgen were dead, while cutting down the others coming for them. One after one the guards had fallen, and only a few more were left. They helped up Lord Thanro, as he groaned in pain, he had clearly broken a good amount of his old bones. His old grey hair, had turned red with his own blood.

The fight continued until they finally reached the small city of Duskhaven. How they had ended there they didn't think much about, only that they were in safety for a time. Lord Thanro didn't stand to make it. The curse had gotten hold of him, and the wounds were vicious. In his final hour, he had called in Gabriel Nightingale. Restrained by chains, while the curse was taking over, the healers did what they could to keep him alive. It was then Lord Thanro Nightingale, asked his son to end his suffering, and take over the household Leadership. No longer as Sir Gabriel Nightingale, but Lord Gabriel Nightingale.
The healers, finding Thanros wish despicable, to what they might have been able to do, chose to stop their healing and step back. Gabriel hesitant for what he was about to do, understood why his father would rather die while fighting back the curse, than to live with it. He took his fathers dagger, and held it close for a moment, praying to the light, to show his father mercy, before he placed the dagger to his fathers heart, and pushed it into him. Lord Thanro Nightingale, thanked his son a last time, before his eyes grew cold and gray, his breath fell silent, and the curse stopped its transformation.
Silently Gabriel left the dagger by his fathers corpse, and walked away. Outside stood the rest of his family and the remaining Nightingale guards waiting. Gabriel took a deep breath, as looked to his family sorrowful. He told them only that the curse and the wounds were to great for the late Lord Thanro Nightingale to survive through, he never told them that he was the one ending his fathers life, and suffering. Neither him, nor any of the healers where saying it, as agreed upon, it was kept a secret.
The family was heartbroken by the loss, Gabriel was still young, and felt unprepared. the rain had settled and it was now revealed to them that some had gotten their "humanity" back even though still standing as worgen between the people. Distrustful, the family turned to find a place for the nights to come.
Without much time to mourn, the next Morning, several burial pyres was set ablaze, upon them were placed the many sacrifices, Noblemen and women, Soldiers, and commoners, even the unfortunate children. The pyres red flames burned the entire day, Gabriel standing for hours, as the many prayers to the light went through his mind. One for each body placed on the pyre. Some of the people he knew, common and noble. Some of them he didn't, but it didn't matter much, he prayed for them all, from dawn to dusk.