With the latest commercial break over, it was time for the final guest to appear. This was something that Karl looked to with a mixture of fear and fascination. Fear for what he or she might be subjected to, with Walter Moxie still in attendance. Fascination as other than Sally, he’d personally met no other werewolf before. The commercial break had ended and Clarence was ready to speak again once he’d been given the signal from the set director.
“And welcome back to the People’s Talk. For those of you just joining us, we’ve been holding a series of interviews from across the spectrum with regards to the revelation that Werewolves live amongst us. We’ve heard already from Karl Hurtz, one who was witness to the incident that revealed their existence to the World, and, by his own admittance, indirectly responsible for the incident. Nate Anderson, a vocal supporter of werewolves and granting them the same rights as the human population. And Walter Moxie, one who is as opposed to them as Nate is supportive.” Something that struck Karl as quite the euphemism.
“But there is one left to be interviewed to see the complete range. And that is from an actual werewolf herself. So now may I introduce, Sharon Barlow.”
Given the Full Moon night that this was, it didn’t come across as too much of a surprise to see her enter in her werewolf form. Her fur (of which all of it could be seen thanks to a lack of clothing, so the one and only pair of breasts she had were visible, if only just) was mostly an ashen black colour, and much longer where Karl guessed her hair would be as a human, some of it hanging loose in front oh her pointed ears where he noted an earpiece and microphone set, the mic on an extended lens to reach the front of her muzzle. Two things really stood out though, the way she’d clearly groomed herself for this, based on the smoothness of the fur and the whiteness of her teeth, many of which he could tell even at his distance were sharp, well-built for a carnivorous diet. The other were her gold-amber eyes, brimming with intelligence, and fear. Not surprising given the heavy armed guard keeping themselves just outside of the camera view, and able to headshot any of them at the table in an instant. She took the remaining seat at the table, tail wrapped round to the side and readying herself for what might come her way.
“Welcome Miss Barlow. And to begin with, could I ask for a brief history concerning yourself?” Clarence began with a soft question.
“Sharon will, do. And to answer, that, I myself, was not turned, but rather, born.” She replied in a slow, measured pace, though unable to completely eliminate the slight growling in her voice.
“Born?”
“Yes. As such, I have been one, for the full, thirty years, I’ve lived, so far.” Sharon kept her voice even, and as soft as she was able.
“Which would mean that every Full Moon, that’s what you’re like.” Clarence deduced.
“Correct. The Full Moon Night, is the one time, there is no choice, in the matter.”
“I’m sorry, but with that, you’re implying you can be that way outside of the Full Moon. You do understand that.” Clarence cut in.
“It’s far from simple, but with practice, it is possible, to be one, even during, the day.” Sharon answered honestly, but her voice quavered slightly as she did.
“Then I have to ask, why would someone want to do that?”
“It’s, as I said, difficult. But there are, times when, it may be, needed. Extreme danger to self, or need for, the increased, strength and, endurance, being two such, examples.” Sharon supplied what to Karl sounded like practical reasons. “There is a, cost though. In human form, about three to four, thousand calories a day, are needed. Like this, it’s six, to eight thousand, per day.” She pointed to herself when explaining the last part.
“And fuelling that requirement can’t be easy.” Clarence moved that point on, perhaps trying to prise further into whatever he was aiming for, or just for curiosities sake.
“It’s not, as I am, I have a, highly acidic, digestive system. Great for meat, poor for vegetable matter, which would be, like Junk Food.” Sharon explained carefully. “As such, it makes, more sense to, keep a human form.”
“I see.” Clarence nodded in understanding before moving the topic forward, to the primary purpose of the Interviews themselves. “I would assume you’re in favour of assuring that werewolves are protected under the same rights as humans?”
“That would, be correct. Look at it, any way, you want, but the answer, is simply that, we have the, same intelligence, the same capabilities, to excel, as a human. I myself, passed my college classes, in the top, five percent.”
“And how would you convince the population that fears you? Is terrified of you?” Clarence pressed on.
“History. Regardless of what, certain folklore tales, and Hollywood, might have you, believe, we are quite, capable of, reigning in, our instincts. The same way humans, are able to.”
“And what would you say, to those who point to instances of attacks, both historical and recent?”
“That it is, little different, to human instances.” Sharon answered, but not liking this part which Karl and Nate could sympathise with. “Of which there, are countless records, throughout history, and even now. Werewolf Hunts, Burnings, Skinnings, truly, savage.” Sharon practically spat out.
Perhaps suspecting that he’d been pushing too hard, and certainly not wishing to be an architect of things going wrong, Clarence brought a hold to the Interview. “Thank you Sharon. Now we’ll move onto our last scheduled break. Once we return, our guests will be taking turns asking questions of the others and answering them. I will remind the guests that proper respect and manners are to be expected, no hounding anyone and no ganging up against anyone.” Adding the last part as since Walter was the only one in this group particularly opposed to werewolves, and looking quite uncomfortable even with more than enough armed police to take on an entire pack if needed.