The Lunar Beasts

Once upon a time, there was a village deep within the woods. Only, it wasn’t a village, it was a school. And it wasn’t in the woods, it was quite urban. In fact, it wasn’t even upon a time, it was yesterday.

But (and this part is true) there was a full-moon. And that was all that was needed to bring out the beast in the villagers.

The first villager affected by the lunar cycle, vehemently disdained the chance to play a speech game. Upon seeing his neighbor playing said game, the beast was born. It roared. It showed it’s claws. It heaved the game upon the ground. Multiple times. It swore. It cursed. It was removed from the village by two village leaders.

But the beast still lay in wait in the villagers’ eyes. During the fireside daily ritual, he began to make eerie noises. These noises were strangely addicting, and other villagers began the noise-making as well. Soon, the entire village was filled with haunting, screeching cries.

The beasts were temporarily contained when they left for their mid-day meal.

But there were more villagers to be affected by the moon. Many more.

The next one inflicted by the curse, climbed upon the tables. He yelled words of hate such as, “This is dumb,” and even worse, “I hate this.” The traditional village consequences were ineffective. The villager was forced to spend an eternity (or until he finished his work) in the room he so despised.

The day was almost over. The remainder of the residents were safe. Or so we thought…

One more had yet to be transformed. The change was sudden and complete. He breathed fire from his boisterous mouth. He attacked the innocent walls. He proclaimed that village life was “the stupidest thing ever”.

And then the day was done.

The full moon rose high in the sky.

The village leaders rejoiced, for the lunar cycle was to begin anew.

Tomorrow would be a better day. It had to be.