Prolog
My bones crunched and my legs squeezed with tension. I doubled over as my abdomen clenched and twisted. My limbs elongated and my muscles bubbled thickening with strength. My ears became long and tufts of hair sprouted from the tips. My nails grew hard and sharp and my fingers stretched towards the moon. Blood swelled in my mouth pushing out my teeth and creating a dark muzzle. My knees buckled and heat flooded through me like hot desire. A searing pain erupted through my body like an endless flood and then just as I thought it would go on forever my body snapped back into place releasing me from the agony.
That beautiful relief felt like bliss. I howled into the night and let the moon shower me with its glow. Its luminating power shifted through my body rustling my fur. The beauty of the night, its dark glow, its beckoning call. It was pure magic. I stretched out my limbs and twisted my torso with pleasure.
"Sweet, sweet moon", I groaned as I made my final shift and began the run. I weaved my way through the tall trees barely skimming the earth with my toes. I lightly walked over each rock and fallen branch in my way. The animals shied from my presence and bowed with honor as I passed. Now I was the predator and they were my prey. Grinning I picked up my speed lifting my arms like wings.
"You always were a light foot Courtney", a chirper voice came swinging from a tree branch above and a shaggy chestnut wolf creature leapt out of the trees above stopping me. Broken twigs snapped and littered the forest floor. Her toothy grin broadened and her teeth were biting down hard on a furry tail. Like mine, her eyes were a deep black color lightened with purple streaks. "What are you doing, running around all alone?" she asked slinky her way over to me.
"I was hungry and felt in the mood for some rabbit…What are you doing here Kristina? Forest not big enough for you?" I smiled back at her and crouched low as if I were looking for a pair of long white ears. I turned my back on her and began scanning the ground, now that I thought about it I was a little hungry. A little piece of meat would probably do me some good.
"Really? Is that so?" she cocked her eye brows and tilted her head to the side "I don't believe you…you hate eating raw".
"No I don't! I'm fine with it, now leave me alone I'm hunting", I pushed passed her and dropped to the ground listening to the vibrations of the earth hoping that the little pitter patter of feet would save me from this unwelcome conversation. I could already feel an old argument rear its ugly head again.
"No I won't, we need to talk about this now!" she roared with passion and sprang in front of me blocking my path "why won't you listen to me? We need to find a new place and fast before they come back for us".
I growled back in defiance, "Miriam and Pete were kind to us, helped us in our time of need and how do we repay them? By sending them to the hospital! I am not putting anyone else in danger!" I advance on her and pointed my clawed hand at her chest. The painful tears that couple shed for us were nearly unbearable. They loved us even for our flaws and kept us out of harm's way for as long as possible. I should've told them that the peace wouldn't last…it never lasts. I shoved past her with all my strength not caring if she got offended. It was her stupid idea in the first place.
"And you think I do? You don't think I regret putting them in danger? You think I wanted to hurt some of the only people who actually cared for us after the accident?" Kristina stormed after me slamming me into a nearby tree. Her claws ripped into my fur.
"No of course not", I winced. Why did she have to always bring up the accident?
"Look I understand what you're saying. I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of us either…but we need to leave…now. We can't keep holding out here", she loosened her grip around my neck and let my feet touch the ground again. I said nothing. We had been over this a million times already; there was no point in saying anything else.
"That's why" she cautiously took a step back and stood in a defensive poise "I think we should find another pack".
"What!" I barred my teeth and gripped unto the tree behind me. My claws were ripping away at the bark sinking deeper and deeper into the wood. My voice rose into a higher octave and my eyes were looking for murder.
"Courtney please! Hear me out, for just a second", she stood her ground knowing a fight was inevitable.
My head was reeling "How could she suggest such a thing?" I looked back at her pleading face. I jumped at her ready to tear off her pelt.
"Courtney, you know I will never replace Demitri or Angela- I never could-but we need help and we can't keep living like this", she struggled to say as she shifted positions so she could pin me. I wouldn't hear it I fought back with all my heart. The memories of my family clouded my eyes with tears. "I won't let them go!" I shouted more for myself than her.
"We won't...but you know I'm right" she pressed her weight on my body and her fur suffocated me. For the next few minutes she pressed hard against me until finally she felt my submission. The night was nearly silent. No owls cooing or animals skittering along, just my soft sobs. Slowly Kristina pulled herself off of me and sat up against a tree looking worn. I crawled over to the tree opposite hers and sighed. She was right we had to leave. It was only a matter of time before they found us again.
"Even if we could find another pack, what makes you think they would accept us?" I tilted my head towards the stars and let the moon's light empower me.
"We have to try. When we were still living with Miriam and Pete I came across a scent just outside the next state. It led north. It was old but I think we should still try it"
"Fine"
"Tomorrow it is then", she rolled onto her belly and curled up into a tight ball. Her tail curled around guarding her stomach. I followed her cue curled up next to her. I hadn't completely forgiven her but I also wasn't going to sleep exposed just for the sake of spiting her. So with my back against hers I tightened up into my own ball and drifted to sleep, tears still streaming down my face.
"Courtney you must get out with Kristina", Demitri held onto his bleeding side panting. He had morphed back into his skin and was leaning against a tree. Behind him another explosion went off throwing another pile of wood to the forest. Smoke rose from my wooden home cloaking the sky. Muffled screams of dying children and injured men surrounded me.
"No I won't leave you…you know I can fight, I can help", I pleaded with him. He knew I could fight better than half of our guards.
"Please, for me C-ne", his hair slipped into his eyes and his breathing deepened. He bent over in pain. I pressed down my pride and nodded my agreement. Using my pup nickname was a low blow that always worked on me. Plus he was too wounded to even fight with me. Which definitely meant he was in bad shape.
"Fine we will go but only to the next state…you must promise to meet us there", I grabbed his hand and pulled him in for a hug. I took in his smell for memory so I could sense him coming a mile away…just in case. He had to make it, he just had to.
"Run, run and don't turn back…no matter what", he ignored my promise and headed back into the smoke. Blood was trailing behind him. He looked back at us with sad eyes.
"Dimitri!" I yelled after his retreating body. He wasn't going to meet us and he knew it. This couldn't be happening.
"Courtney we have to move, now", Kristina grabbed my hand and pulled me into the cover of the trees. Another explosion went off and with it another brother fell to the ground dangerously burned.
I ran and ran into the night naked in my skin. Beside me my sister ran, face filled with horror. Her eyes were blood shot and her mangled hair was clumped together with blood. Pain shot through my legs making them stiff. I felt like a robot. I was running without thinking my legs were machines following Demitri's orders. "Run" ,he said "run and don't turn back…no matter what". The words echoed in my head like a pray for safety.
"Courtney I can't run anymore. Not in my skin", Kristina fell to the ground exhausted. Her light skin shone under the depressing moonlight. Great moon why was this happening to us? The vision of pearl razor teeth came back to me.
I fell on my knees beside her and looked up into the black sky. Sparks of fire crackled across the sky. The screams of pain and cries for help had faded into the background as we ran.
"Nina…", I looked over at her huddled form my voice shaky. Tears streaked my face washing soot from my cheeks.
"I know…I know" she crawled to where I was and hugged me tightly. My body was still shaking with fear. Over head red sparks flew like blood. My will was draining from me and the ebbing darkness in my mind was beginning to take over. Just this morning it seemed as if my world was perfect. Everything was beautiful. I had food, shelter, and a pack that loved me. And then all in one night my world went spiraling into oblivion.
I cried into her bare arms filled with misery. Angela was gone, Sammy, the twins, and now Dimitri. Dead, they were all dead.
I woke up with a yelp spinning onto my back in a growl. I was ready to fight whoever came my way, even the fiercest of competitors. Next to me Kristina turned in her sleep. The night air was cool against my face. All was silent.
Grunting I went back to the river to bath myself awake. There was no point in trying to go back to sleep now. I would just be finishing my dream where it left off. I shuddered at the thought. Even in my dreams I couldn't escape my past.
i had been thinking about this for a while now, just a thought i've been tossing around in my head. i got the idea from a book called, "blood and chocolate"-luv that book. plus there are so many fanfics about vampires i figured it was about time to do one on were-wolves. :D soooooooo... do you like it so far? hate it? please review!