From here on human!Remus Lupin will be called Remus and wolf!Remus Lupin will be called Lupin, to avoid too many uses of 'he'.
...
It was on the evening of Remus' 8th day of traveling, hitchhiking and often simply walking, cause who wants to pick up a shabby looking, unkempt young adult with a plastic bag of clothes which practically screams 'homeless', that he reached the edge of the Black Forest. And just in time. It's the eleventh of November, a full moon he was not looking forward to.
During his walking Remus has had plenty of time to reflect and to mourn. But his wolf, always closer to the raw emotions, would not handle losing his pack well when he would gain control once the full moon light shines upon him. Though he was not walking with a spring in his step, his mood improved instantly, when he stepped between the trees. He had been subdued by his still fresh loses but with his wolf so close to the surface, closer than in the wake of previous full moons, he felt the urge to run, chase and hunt. His wolf longed be free of its confines and roam this majestic forest. Trees so regal and old the existed before he was born. Strong standing, having weathered all that dared to stand against them. And undergrowth, thick enough to allow shelter and home to lots of small animals and the deeper one would get into the forest even to red wild. All the heartbeats pounding frantically, like ripe berries ready to be plucked. Remus senses his wolf rearing, sniffing the air in anticipation of the hunt.
Only two hours till sunset, no sense in searching further, when his wolf would have an easier time finding signs of other werewolves. Remus looked around at the edge of the forest, finding a small clearing suitable for his transformation. He undresses and hides his bag, clothes and wand, packed in the plastic bag to protect them from the weather and nature, under a big root, memorising the spot to find them again in the morning. Then he sat and waited, like so many nights before, for his wolf to emerge and rip control over his body from him.
The air is fresh, moist and crystal clear, clearer than in the last forest Lupin was allowed to roam in. Sniffing he picked up the scents of some rabbits, hiding quivering in the ground to his right. His ears twitch, taking in the sounds of a forest alight with life. He starts running, prancing about, always poking about with his snout close to the ground to pick up the scent of fellow wolves.
The musky scent of wolf, only slightly intermingled with the more flowery smell of a human, clings to a nearby tree. Faint, probably a few days old, but still strong enough to make the werewolf want to submit, to bare his stomach to the other.
A few days old? Human Remus listens up from the corner of their shared mind he had been forced to retreat to. That's odd..
...scene break...
Lupin had been around other werewolves while transformed before, but man! did he look puny next to the German wolves. Healthier looking than he was, well fed, and muscles rippling under the silky-smooth furred skin. And their eyes shone with an uncanny intelligence very unlike the animalistic minds that ought to rule on the full moon nights. Remus' wolf could not compete with that. So when they found him first and circled around him, stalking and observing his every move, he immediately flopped down, belly bared, much to the chagrin of human Remus. Remus who had to watch it all, unable to interfere.
They sniffed at him, approaching slowly, as if waiting for permission. Permission that needn't come from Lupin. It showed a discipline he was not used to from the British packs. There, it was infighting, competing for the position of alpha and for a spot in the hierarchy. Here, they showed a unity, calm and curious, but never frightful or apprehensive. They were assured in their might, not thinking he could compete with even the smallest of them. There were even some pups, tails wagging excitedly. Children in their wolf form as they would be in their human ones.
Lupin observed from his view, still on his back on the ground, as the mass of wolves parted, and the brown furred, imposing figure of the Alpha stepped into the clearing. The deep baritone rumbled in his throat as he growled at Lupin, who whimpered in return. The Alpha stalked closer. Sniffing Lupin up and down he placed his front paw on Lupins exposed throat. Growling again threatening he lowered his snout near Lupins head, his warm breath panting in Lupins face. The Alpha nibbles his ear, biting carefully. Pain filled Lupins senses but he remained still, any move now would result in him being forever barred by this pack. Possibly even his death, he didn't doubt the Alphas might.
Thank god he passed the test, Remus thought, trembling relieved hidden in his wolf's mind. He knows that he is no member yet, but he would be allowed to run with them this night, and share in the hunt, even the scraps he would get as an outsider promised to fill him and the hunger he felt the last few days abided.
They escorted him through the thick of the forest roaming the night away, energetically stretching their long legs. The younger pups playfully bounding about, chasing each other, and falling back in line with a bellow by the older females. The smallest ones being carried by the scruff. The elders in the front setting the pace and the Alpha at the back making sure no one strayed from the pack.
The morning approaches, Remus thought gratefully, as the first rays of sun fell through the dense canopy into the penumbra that reigned in the forest. They stopped their wandering at a big clearing, vast enough to fit all of the about 50 wolves that formed the pack. Soon the first began their transformation, smooth reshaping of bones and jaws, shortening of fur to dense body hair, and lengthening in the case of most of the adult men, into thick but neatly trimmed beards, very dissimilar to the long-flowing mess Dumbledore wore. And they were naked. Yes, so was he, but while he cowered behind some bush, the other now-humans showed no sigh of such modesty. Instead the older ones started stretching, raking there arms up and loosening their legs.
Remus' blush intensified when the first females transformed back. He'd never seen so much nudity, not since the time Sirius and James smuggled one of their two-way mirrors into the girls quidditch locker room.
