As your eyes begin to cloud with rage, the faux-Williams seems to take on a life of its own, demanding your attention and taunting you. No. I will not be pulled into this. I. Am. Not. An. Animal. It takes every shred of self-discipline you can muster, but you manage to stay the ravenous beast inside you, breathing heavily as you remain standing in place, sweat pouring in rivulets from your forehead at the strain of maintaining your humanity.
A hand on your shoulder. You whip about, a bundle of raw nerves as the room seems to breathe in pulsing shudders around you.
"A sturdy tree of resolve has planted itself within you, Klel. Your restraint speaks of wisdom, humility, and forgiveness." It's Ahote.
You shake your head. Of course it is, who else would it be? Williams? You look back at the training dummy. It returns your stare, but now you recognize it for what it is: a test.
Ahote leads you out of the chamber. "The instincts of your waking mind run true to those of the beast within. Your inner wolf and the skin of humanity you wear overtop it are in sync. You are well prepared for the great works that are to come. The room has a way of teasing out our bestial nature, allowing us a glimpse of who we might become if we were to lose ourselves. You should know that no inner wolf is set in stone—our nature can be changed over time before we become stuck in our ways. Wolves still blessed by the freedom of youth will, of course, find such changes easier to accomplish than we of more advanced years.
"The wolf that I've seen in you is one of great strength, of determination. I know now that I have made the right choice. But do you share my belief? No one can be forced into greatness—ultimately they must choose to elevate themselves."
Ahote looks to you solemnly. "Will you be the wolf your pack needs to help lead us into the future?"