Nanook sighed as he read over his Literature book. Human studies were so boring, but as a wolf in human society, there were certain expectations for him. Luckily, he had Clay Danvers to help. Without Clay, who knows what his current grades would look like…? Definitely not as good as they did right now. As a 17 year old high school student, he was stressed. All he wanted to do the past year was run as the wolf. His first change had come right on his 16th birthday and ever since he was always anxious. Wanting to feel his bones crack and fur grow. The breeze on his muzzle as he ran full speed through the trees around stone haven. Sighing again he dropped his highlighter and leaned back in his chair running his fingers through his hair. He was the first in his generation to change. Jason, Rachel's son, would be next, and then Willa. After Willa had been born, Jeremy had a son a year later, his name was Maverick. Jason was 15 right now, and so he had a few months until his first change. Then Nanook would have a running buddy his age, instead of having to always run with his father and the other old wolves. Stopping to think about Willa, Nanook realized that she only had 4 years to live if she didn't make it through her first change. A saddening thought. He was very close with her. He had vowed to protect her as a child, and still felt very strongly that he wanted too. Not because he was attracted, but he couldn't explain it either. "Hey," Nick said from the doorway, "Let's take a run." Nanook looked at his father and smiled, "Yes, please." Closing his book he shot up from his seat striding out the door. Going to the field, all of the household was there. Clayton, Elena, and Willa. Willa was tall, she would probably be like her father because she had a stocky build and medium length blonde hair. Her blonde was a good mix between her parent's hair colors. Jeremy was already in wolf form with Maverick on his back. Rachel and Jason were standing with them, but would hike instead of run since neither could become a wolf. Logan, Jason's father, had unfortunately passed on years ago, before his son was born. Nick and Nanook began their transformation, and so did Clay and Elena. Nanook could feel the change. The burning in every joint and muscle as they broke and reconnected in different ways. He groaned in agonizing pleasure as his legs and back forced him to all fours and his fingers and toes shortened. The change was over before he knew it and he shook himself off. His long Black fur flowed smoothly with the wind. Looking around, he saw Willa getting on the back of her father who would carry her. This was a family run, even the young wolves who could not transform yet went on them. Jeremy howled and took off running as the other got into formation and followed. Clay and Elene flanking him with Nick and Nanook right behind them. Elena had made Rachel and Jason get on her back so that they would not be left behind, hiking. The air was fresh and cold on Nanooks nose. His fur parted in some areas giving him chills. It was dusk, so there was still a little bit of light peeking through the branches of the tall trees. This is what he lived for. Nothing could compare to this. The adrenaline ran through him causing his muscles to tighten and beg him to run faster. He had made that mistake once and nearly lost a chunk of fur when he started to pass Jeremy. He had to resist this temptation. Even though they were family and were all very close, they had rules that were not meant to be broke. Rules such as rank. Nobody passed Jeremy. He would never really hurt them though, everything he had ever done were just warnings. Willa howled in her own human way. Nanook snorted, a wolfy way of laughing. In her 12 years she had totally embraced what she was and what she would become. She wished for the change so that she could run with the pack. She had already honed into her wolf senses. She could hear farther than a human, smell more, and even see in the dark. The only thing she couldn't do yet was transform. No one had told her that women don't survive the first change in hopes that if she didn't know, then she would have a better chance. A mind over matter kind of thing. There was a howl on the border to the west. Someone had trespassed on their turf. Jeremy turned the formation to head to the strange wolf. They all picked up there speed as they rushed to see who dared infiltrate their grounds. As they got closer, the wolves who were carrying those in their human forms stopped to have them dismount. Nanook watched as Willa, Rachel, Jason and Maverick ran into the little shed that they had stopped at. They would hide there until someone came back for them. Once they reached the west side, they realized there was no one there. Even though the wolf was gone, there was no mistaking the scent. There had been someone there… but where were they now? Had they picked up the scent and realized they had ventured in to the packs territory. Most wolves wouldn't mess with the pack, knowing they were outnumbered. Especially since Clay was Jeremy's body guard. Nanook bent his nose to the ground. Something wasn't right. He felt uneasy. Sniffing, he realized the scent went deeper into their land. The wolf had come towards them but went around them. He shot a glance at Jeremy, telling him with his eyes that the wolf was still here. Jeremy sniffed and then glanced back towards where they had left their family in the shed. All the wolves realized what he was thinking about and they all ran back towards the shed. Nanook ran faster than all of them, he didn't care about formation. *Willa,* He thought as he noticed Clay passing him up. Clay was fast, but he was really pushing himself right now. Nanook could hear him huffing out breath. He picked up his speed too. Nanook saw Clay skid to a stop and stand as still as stone. When he looked at what Clay had seen he sat on his haunches and lowered his head. Rachel's body lay on the ground. Her throat had been torn out and she had bled to death. Clay stumbled forward and sniffed the ground. The rest of the pack arrived and stopped dead in their tracks just like Clay had. Clay changed back in to his human form and yelled out, "Willa!" He looked back at the pack and breathing heavy, he said, "The kids are not here, they've been taken!" Elena transformed back in to a human as well, and followed by the rest of the pack, they began calling names. "Willa, Maverick, Jason!" There was nothing. Just silence. Then, a faint, far away sound. Something past their borders. A human howl. Willa's howl.
