1 – Unfamiliar scents
Jeffrey:
It was a typical late night, relaxing in the lounge resting my eyes for a few minutes, simply listening the fire crackle.
It was at least somewhat peaceful, but nothing will ever top a long run. My eyes slowly open and adjust to the dimly lit room. Getting to my feet I look around, taking a glance out the window to find the darkness creeping through the sky, which just so happened to be moderately clear tonight.
I prepare myself for the change, removing my clothes and enduring the pain of the wolf within coming forth. I wandered out and down the steps, looking around at my barely visible surroundings, thankfully my eyes adjusted rather quickly and I was soon able to jog out into the trees.
The thick forestation around the house allowed for me to leap and jump over branches and dodge around bushes. It was great for simply darting in and out, to feel the exhilaration of running free.
My heart sank as I realised I was running alone, there was just something that made running with the pack so much fun and to be here alone running these same trees. It just...doesn't feel the same.
I slowly to a gentle jog, examining the trees and plotting where exactly I would be running next when I caught a scent.
Strong and pungent, defiantly a fresh trail but I didn't recognise it.
This was different, young and almost artificial like some kind of cologne. It began to burn my nose as I sniffed the air, trying to follow the scent.
After a few minutes of dizziness from the chemicals I noticed a dark brown wolf, cream markings running along his underside. He seemed distracted, looking off into the distance at something. I took the advantage and crept up on the trespasser. His ears twitching like a deer.
He has some experience then, he's worried he's going to get attacked, but he's no match for an alpha.
Moving slowly and cautiously I weave myself around fallen branches and leaves, remaining silent. Once close enough I leapt towards the wolf, forelegs stretched as far as they would go, claws lunging towards the somewhat curly brown fur. They latched on, digging into the skin that was buried under the tick layer of fur.
I knew it had made contact when the wolf howled in shock and pain, tumbling down onto the ground and wriggling underneath to try and break free.
This wolf seemed too frightened and scared to really be a threat, then again if you'd been suddenly attacked when you least expected it, you'd probably react the same.
In my hesitation I hadn't noticed the accomplice sneaking up on me. It was in the last moment I heard a crack, and then something blunt struck my skull...
Everything went black.
My eyes slowly blinked open, and I found myself back in human form, very cold from the wind striking me. I couldn't stop myself shivering as I got to my feet, looking around for signs of life, but all I saw were two sets of footprints leading off into the forest, away from my property.
One was evidently the wolf I'd tussled with, but the other set puzzled me, and I wasn't sure what to make of it.
The other set leading away just so happened...to be human...