Prologue:

All I could see was white in front of me, the snow being thick and deep, was holding me back from running as fast as I was able. The cold wind was stinging my face, and it felt as if every whip of the icy air was cutting whelps into my flesh. But all I could do was run. "Seek out the Guardians..." That was what I was told to do now. Heck, it was the only thing I was told after I changed, and it was what I needed-no I had to do this. I had to find the Guardians as crazy as it sounded, because I was also told that they would tell me why I was here and why I was me.

CHAPTER I: The Change

Two days earlier...

"Come on guys, tell me." I whined to the two young men walking in front of me.

My name is Rylie Jakkens, I'm eighteen and stand 5'4" and a half, yes I said "a half". I have short light brown hair and brown eyes that are shielded by a pair of glasses. It was a cold day, in December as I was walking home from the Sand Hill Park Mall where I had been hanging out with my two friends, Wilder Phillips and Aaron Gustler.

Wilder was nineteen and stood 5'09" with dirty blonde hair, a goatee and green eyes, while Aaron, eighteen, and 5'08" had dark brown hair and hazel eyes. The three of us had been best friends since middle school, although I had known Wilder since grade school. Sand Hill was a rural type town with a mall as the main attraction with other well known stores, shops and cafes.

Being that there was a fair amount of snow on the ground I was wearing a red and black striped hoodie, unzipped with a red and black graphic t-shirt, along with my signature cargo denim shorts and a pair of dark brown and black polo boots. The guys thought I was crazy for wearing shorts, for both of them were wrapped up in more thicker clothing.

Wilder was wearing a dark brown leather hoodie, with two undershirts that had forest camou on them, and thick baggy jeans with a pair of black hudsen boots. While Aaron was wearing a navy colored fleece with three light grey and black undershirts, cargo khaki pants, and a pair of brown steel toes.

"Why do you even care what we're talking about?" Aaron questioned.

"Because you guys have been whispering to each other the whole time we have been at the mall, and I hate being left out." I replied.

"Well were not talking about you if that's what you think." Aaron assured.

"Then what are you guys mumbling about?" I wondered.

Wilder and Aaron stopped and looked at me and to each other.

"Should we tell her?" Aaron asked Wilder.

Wilder then looked at me and spoke.

"Rylie, look, Aaron and me were thinking of going hunting this weekend." Wilder confessed, "We weren't telling you because we didn't think you would wanna come."

"Uh, why do you think I wouldn't wanna go?" I asked, "I mean I did just get my hunting license like a month ago."

"Well we didn't think you would seriously go get it, with you being a big animal lover and all." Aaron stated.

"Ok look I may love my pet cat Ally like a daughter." I paused, "But you put a gun in my hand and a deer in my sight, I'm gonna shoot it."

"You think you'll get it with the first shot?" Aaron teased.

"If not the first then the second, or the third, however many I need, but I'll get it." I stated.

"Heh, ok you can come with us." Wilder chuckled.

"Yes! Thank you, Wilder!" I cheered, leaping toward Wilder giving him a hug.

It startled him and then I realized what I was doing and let go, as Wilder smiled at me and ruffled my already messy hair. I blushed a little and smiled, as Wilder and Aaron turned and began walking again. Yeah you caught me I've kinda had a crush on Wilder for about a year now, and whether he has figured it out or not, we've hung out almost every day since I began to like him.

I was happy though, because I had been wanting to go hunting for a while now, and other than my dad taking me, why not go with my two friends, or well best friend and crush, but whatever.

"Hey Rylie?" Wilder's voice called.

I came out of my daze and realized, that Wilder and Aaron had walked a good fifty feet and I was still standing at the last stop.

"You coming?" Aaron called.

I nodded and took off toward them. Although we only live a little ways from each other, Wilder had always made sure I got home okay. Aaron had already walked home. I think this was why I liked him so much, he had always treated me so nice and would talk to me over any other girl. I kind of wanted to assumed that he like me to, but you should never assume anything.

"Alright, tomorrow at 1:00." I replied, back as I walked inside my house and Wilder left to go home.

I closed the door and walked into the kitchen, as I went straight to the fridge to grab a diet Sunburst soda, my favorite. The living room was right across from the kitchen bar, where there was a couch a recliner and arm chair with and ottoman. The flat screen across the room was showing some soap my mom was recording while she was at work. As I walked down the hall, my cat Ally met me on my bed. She was a gray, white-foot tabby, with black stripes and my baby girl.

My room wasn't what you would expect out of a girl. There were videogame posters covering the walls with a few anime ones. The bookshelf where my TV sat had shonen (boys) manga, games and action figures on it. I was kind of a tomboy. Also as Aaron called me an animal lover, well I loved not only to draw, but I drew mostly wolves, my favorite animal of all. Also my room was a bit messy with a few shirts on the bed and a pair of pants on the floor.

For a while I worked on my laptop. I was looking at some mythology, Norse to be exact. My favorite figure was Fenrir as giant wolf monster, that was said to open his jaw and touch the earth and heavens in one.

"Man, Fenrir is crazy." I said, "Glad he's not real."

It was then I realized the time was about five and my dad would be home soon so I need to start dinner. My mom usually came home late so I was to cook sometimes. So I shut down my pc and headed back to the kitchen.

A good while later at the dinner table my parents and I were eating the spaghetti I had, as my mom was talking about her day. Kara was my mom, she was a doctor at the hospital in town and my dad Marvin work as a manager at the shipping factory, where I worked as a call-in. My mom had already put on some hot pink velour sweats and my dad still had on his jeans and works shirt with his name on the patch.

"You wouldn't believe that woman." My mom said, explaining one of her patient's behavior that day.

"Well it's people like that who think it doesn't matter." My dad replied.

I didn't really hear what they were saying, because I was too busy thinking about Saturday. Until my mom called me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I wondered.

"I said how was the mall?" My mom asked.

"Oh it was great, I found that game I had been wanting but I didn't buy it since Christmas is a couple weeks away." I replied.

"Well just put it on your list and we'll see." My mom suggested.

"Oh and dad, I uh, Wilder and Aaron are goin hunting tomorrow and they said I could go." I stated.

"Hmm, I don't know." My dad paused, "I trust Wilder but you're not all that good with a gun, and no it isn't the same as you games."

"I know but I'll be safe I promise." I assured.

"Alright, just be careful." My dad said.

"I will." I replied.

After that we finished dinner and my mom cleaned up while I retired to my room. As I plopped down on my bed, Ally jumped onto my back and laid down as I turned on and watched TV.

Meanwhile at Wilder's he was in his room on his cell phone with Aaron as he was getting his gun cleaned up for the next day and was locating all his ammo. Wilder's room, was close to Rylie's but more in order, and with band posters. He had wildlife decor in his room, and even a deer head over his bed.

"Look I know she talks a lot but she our best friend." Wilder spoke into the phone.

Aaron was also getting his gun and checking his gear while he was on the line with Wilder.

"I know but she'll get antsy after a while and scare off the deer." Aaron replied.

"Yeah but we'll still see something whether or not we actually shoot anything." Wilder said.

"You only let her come because you like her." Aaron said.

"I-I do not!" Wilder paused, "We're just friends."

"Whatever, but you just seem to put her before everything else sometimes." Aaron stated.

"Well I'm just being a good friend." Wilder replied, "I've known her for so long and I hate to tell her no."

"Ok, but if she's late we leave without her." Aaron said.

"Alright." Wilder replied.

He hung up the phone and seeing it at fifty percent battery, plugged it to the charger. Wilder then continued to check up his rifle's condition along with his shotgun. After a few hours of cleaning and counting his ammo, Wilder looked up to see the time was about eleven. So he put everything up and got in the bed.

It had snowed again that night and it wasn't until noon the next day that I had gotten up and was just getting out of the shower, and as I was getting dressed, my phone received a text,:

To: Rylie Jakkens

Hey you better hurry up because at 1:00 we're leaving

with or without you.

Sent: 12:36

From: Aaron Gustler

"Oh my god Aaron." I said to myself.

Just as I was about to reply I got another text. Thinking it was from Aaron, I was about to get ticked off, but it was from Wilder.

To: Rylie Jakkens

Don't listen to Aaron, we'll wait for you but don't take

to long.

Sent: 12:40

From: Wilder Phillips

To: Wilder Phillips

I'm getting dressed be there in 5.

Sent: 12:42

From: Rylie Jakkens

This was the text that showed up on Wilder's phone, as he closed out his messages and turned to Aaron who was loading his gun into Wilder's dark blue truck.

"She'll be here it a bit." Wilder stated.

"Ok." Aaron groaned, rolling his eyes.

Back at my house I was walking into the kitchen where my mom was cooking lunch and my dad was lounging in his recliner watching an old movie.

"Aren't you supposed to be over at Wilder's at 1:00?" My mom asked.

"I'm going, I'm going." I snapped.

Just then Ally was rubbing against my leg signaling she wanted a treat.

"Make sure you guys have something orange." My dad added.

"We do." I replied.

I then reached above the fridge and grabbed a white container. I shook the container as three kitty crisps fell into a bowl. I then petted Ally's fur as she ate. Once making sure I had my wallet and cell phone I walked out the door.

"Bye, love yall." I called to my parents as I closed the door.

Wilder's house was just down the street as I pulled my bike out of the carport and headed out. About five minutes later I pulled up as Aaron was walking into Wilder's house.

"Hey!" Wilder's voice called.

I looked to see him sitting in his truck waving at me and walked my bike over to his carport and then got in the front passenger seat. Wilder was wearing a forest camou jacket, with a black undershirt, and tan baggy jeans with brown boots.

"Let's see two 'til one." Wilder said, looking at his cell, "You're early."

"Oh shut up." I said, punching Wilder, "What's Aaron doing?"

"He had to go to the bathroom." Wilder replied, "Oh and I brought the rifle for you to use, I know you hate using a shotgun because it kicks."

"Thanks." I said.

"Alright let's-oh no I call front." Aaron contested, running to the truck.

"Sorry, she beat ya." Wilder said.

I stuck my tongue out at Aaron as he climbed into the back seat. He had on a dark green fleece and black jeans with his steel toes.

"Well look who actually wore jeans today." Aaron said, leaning over my seat.

Yes, aside from my same hoodie from yesterday but a black and mid green undershirt, I had on a pair of baggy blue jeans but I still wore my polo boots.

"Well I've been out in the woods, and I don't want any briars to catch me." I replied.

Wilder shook his head as he cranked the trunk and pulled out of his driveway. The spot where we were going was about ten miles outside the city limits. It was some land that belong to Wilder's Uncle. He gave us permission as long as we were careful and promised to clean whatever we shot. Of course I didn't really care if I shot something, I mean I would love to shoot my first deer, but if it didn't happen today, it would eventually. It was about fifteen minutes until we got to the grounds.

"Alright the stand is this way." Wilder stated. grabbing the guns from the bed of the truck.

As I got out the orange vests from the glove compartment, I handed one to Wilder and Aaron, as Wilder handed me the rifle case, and a box of ammo. And Aaron, he had him a big double shell shotgun, slung on his shoulder. We all made our way through the brush and snow to the deer stand.

In the stand for about three we sat quiet and still. The feeders were full and the spot was said to be good, but so far nothing. I was as quiet as I could stand and I think Aaron was impressed.

"Anything on you?" Aaron asked to Wilder, in a whisper.

"Un-uh." Wilder replied just as quiet.

I just kept staring into the snow-covered setting, also mesmerized by the silence. It was then I saw one, standing high, with the antlers at 6-no 8 points. A buck was in my sight. I raised my gun and Wilder looked at me as I clicked it.

"Aim carefully." He whispered.

I then took the shot.

*BANG*

I missed, the deer flinched, so I shot again-twice.

*BANG-BANG*

The deer staggered over, but got up and tried to run.

"I'm going after it." I said.

"Rylie, be careful." Wilder wished me.

I jumped down out of the stand, with my vest on, as I headed to the sight, but not too fast to scare off any other game. I walked on for a about thirty minutes following the blood trail, but the deer had kept a good lead. It was then I heard movement behind me. I turned quickly to see a white flash zoom passed me.

"What was that?" I asked the air.

I looked around until-

*crack*

I turned again to see the white flash heading off in the direction of the deer. There was no way that the buck could be running this fast. I started running and as I looked down the tracks changed.

"Wolf prints!" I exclaimed.

My most favorite animal, but also dangerous. I felt my pants pocket for my phone. It was there. So while I followed both prints and blood I was gonna get two things: my first deer and a photo of a wolf in person.

Twenty more minutes passed and the sun was getting low. I followed the trail until I came to a frozen river. Great. The prints stopped here, and so did the blood. So I lost both, or so I thought. I looked up to see the deer barely standing on the other side just about ten feet away from the river bank. I had to cross. I stepped one, and put a little weight on the ice. No cracks. So I stepped two, and still nothing. It was a good ways to the other side but I could make it.

"God, Wilder would kill me if he saw this." I mumbled as I stepped lightly over the ice.

I looked up and saw the deer was laying down. This was great, other than getting my picture, I was getting the deer.

Back at the stand Wilder and Aaron had shot at some deer but missed. It was when Wilder was reloading, that Aaron spoke.

"Rylie sure has been gone long." He stated.

Wilder closed his ammo hold and looked up into the woods. His face held a concerned expression. She had been gone for an hour almost and Wilder was getting worried.

"Maybe we should go look for her." Wilder suggested.

"Don't think she can handle herself?" Aaron wondered, "Or do you really like her?"

Wilder looked at Aaron with frustration as Aaron shrugged, and went back to watching the trees.

"I'm going looking." Wilder finally said, "I'll phone you if we need help."

"Roger." Aaron replied, with a playful salute.

As Wilder left the stand he sent Rylie a text as he headed off in her direction, with his shotgun fully loaded.

Meanwhile I was about halfway across the river when my phone went off. And I stopped to check it. The ice cracked a little but I didn't hear it.

To: Rylie Jakkens

Where are you? I'm getting worried. The deer isn't that

important ok.

Sent: 5:32

From: Wilder Phillips

"Now he tells me." I huffed.

I looked up again and saw the deer still laying there. Well at least it was dead, but I couldn't claim it unless I kept going. It was then something caught my attention. The wolf. It was standing on the same side of the deer. It was as white as the snow laying beneath its feet. I was a bit scared but it just stared at me.

*crack-crack*

Why didn't I hear the ice breaking? Was I so oblivious? I was because I was too worried about the stupid picture. I took aim with my phone and just as I pressed the screen-

*CRACK-SPLASH*

"AAHHH!" I screamed as I fell through.

The water hit me like I had fallen on a bed of spikes, slashing my legs, my chest, arms and face. It hurt, as I fought for the surface. I reached and grabbed from the ice still attached, but it kept breaking, piece after piece, until I threw the gun up and-

*BANG*

Wilder heard the gunshot and followed it. He was hoping it was Rylie taking another shot at the deer and not someone else shooting-he didn't wanna think about that. So Wilder started into a fast walk in the route of the shot.

I was pulling myself out of the icy water onto the bank of the river. The ice had broken so much that there was a straight path of water showing. I was frozen, and sleepy, and I couldn't fight it. The plunge took all the energy I had. I passed out.

I was dreaming. I could see the deer and the wolf. One on the left one on the right. I wanted the deer but I was suddenly getting closer to the wolf, when it grew bright and vanished. When I woke up I wasn't cold anymore. My head was heavy and I was woozy, but not cold. I tried to stand but I couldn't. It was like I was a baby again, I felt like I was crawling. I then went to rub my head and-whoa... My hand was gone, well not gone, but it was different. I had a paw? I panicked and rushed to look into the ice. My reflection was not mine.

"I'm a wolf?" I questioned.

You heard right I was a wolf, a light brown, brown eyed, white underbelly lobo. What kind of day was I having-wait I was still dreaming. I then took my "claw" and scratched my leg.

"Ow-wait." I paused, "OH MY GOD! I'M A WOLF!"

I didn't know whether to be excited or frightened. No I was scared.

"But I can still talk." I assured myself.

I looked behind me to see if I could find my phone in my drenched clothes...that were on the ground. Wait -I WAS NAKED!? But I have fur now. So it was ok.

"Come on Rylie, just find the phone." I urged myself.

But no luck, the phone must have sunk in the river.

"Just great." I huffed.

I began to trot back and forth. Maybe I could find another way across. I was thinking about it when I heard something or someone.

"Rylie!" A voice called, "Come on back!"

That was Wilder's voice.

"Wilder!" I hollered.

*AROOOOOO*

Wilder heard a howl and ran toward it. He was hoping Rylie had maybe replied to the text but nothing and hearing a howl wasn't helping.

"Wilder!" I called again, "If I can talk I can explain what happened."

It was then that Wilder appeared from the brush and stopped quick when he saw the broken ice. He looked up to see it carry all the way across. But then he saw it. Rylie's hoodie, her jeans and...blood. He then saw a brown wolf standing over the clothes.

"Rylie...no." He gasped.

"Wilder I'm ok!" I called, "The deer is over there and -"

"Grrrr, graa-gro, gro-groo-grr." The wolf was snarling at Wilder.

He was struck with horror. How could this have happened. Wilder then thought the one thing that could solve part of this nightmare. As the wolf was still growling and barking, Wilder lifted his gun and was taking aim.

"W-wait, Wilder what are you doing?" I yelled, "It's me, Rylie, I-"

I cut off when he pointed the barrel straight at me. Why couldn't he hear m-oh no. I looked down at the blood from the deer and the clothes.

"He thinks that-no don't!" I hollered.

*BANG*

A gunshot rang out, as I cringed, and closed my eyes, but then I opened them to looked and see that I had ducked just below the bullet. I looked behind me to see a tree with its bark scratched, then I heard a click and turned to see Wilder getting the shotgun ready again. He took aim. But as he was about to pull the trigger again, I fled.

"He couldn't hear me...*sniff*..." I sobbed, "Why couldn't he hear me?"

Back at the river Wilder lowered his gun and just, stood there. He didn't know what to do. Rylie, was gone. She was just gone. He turned to walk away but stopped short and looked back to the bank. Wilder had just lost his best friend, and he wasn't there to help her. He crumbled as a tear ran down his face, and headed back to the stand, to tell Aaron that the girl he cared most about was, dead.

Meanwhile I was still running and just as I glanced back I tripped over a large root and fell heavily forward and rolling across the snow cover ground until I skidded to a slow stop.

"Why...*sniff-sniff*...why did this happen?" I wept, struggling to my now four feet.

I shook the snow from my fur, and sat hunched over. It had gotten dark and the moon was out in full light, as its light gleamed across the snow. It was like there was glitter on the ground as the blanket of winter sparkled. It was peaceful. But it didn't change the fact that my own friend tried to kill me.

"Why did this happen to me?" I whimpered, "I mean this is like something out of a screwed up fairytale."

I glance around and back at the direction I had just ran for my life from. I then looked up at the moon, and gazed at its elegance and then heaved a sigh.

"Ya'know." I began speaking to the moon, "A sign of some kind would be great, I mean just something to tell me why this happened, anything at all."

I sat there my gaze still locked on the shining rock that seem to hover just out of my reach, watching intently as if it was going to say something back.

"Heh, right like you could help me." I sighed.

All of a sudden I felt this essence come over me and my body froze in place. My ears perked and my eyes warmed, and I slowly looked back at the moon as it seemed to glow.

"Seek out the Guardians...

they will tell you why you are here...

and why you are you..."

Then just as the feeling came, it was gone. My head fell and I breathed heavily as if I had just finished running a marathon.

"What...*huff-huff*...was that?" I asked myself as I stared back at the moon, "Did you...did you just speak to me?"

I was suddenly shaken by this warm feeling.

"The Guardians, huh?" I questioned.

The only Guardians I could think of were the ones I had heard of from my parents, the ones to believe in as a child. But I hadn't believed in them for a while, or at least not like I had as a child.

"Do you mean like, like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy?" I asked.

There was silence.

"Aw come on." I pleaded, "You gonna say something as crazy as that and then shut down? Some help you are."

As I stood and turned to walk away, it was then that another powerful feeling came onto my body and a flash in my mind appeared. I could see them, clear as day. The Guardians. I breathed again. This was really happening. I mean yeah it had already been proven that I had changed into a wolf, but the Guardians of Childhood? I gazed back at the moon once again.

"I hope you, or whatever you are is right." I said.

It was then I saw a light appeared, like a falling star as it streaked across the sky in a straight path. I was to follow this light and it would lead me to the Guardians. And so my journey began.

As I ran all I could see was white in front of me, the snow being thick and deep, was holding me back from running as fast as I was able. The cold wind was stinging my face, and it felt as if every whip of the icy air was cutting whelps into my flesh. But all I could do was run. "Seek out the Guardians..." That was what I was told to do now, and it was what I needed-no I had to do this. I had to find the them, as crazy as it sounded, because they would tell me why I was here and why I was me.