Chapter two

It was a year, maybe less, before I began leading the hunts by myself. Regina was getting too old and I knew the area better than the others, so the job was mine. I didn't mind, however. Running at the head of the pack was nice, you saw everything first. I learned the next year in October that the deer and little ground creatures that scrambled about at night were easier to track and chace. Sometimes I went alone, hunting until morning and not coming back till late in the afternoon. When I did, usually I had managed to gain a good layer of mud and grit. With one look, Mama would point to the stairs. "Vanna. Tīrs."

Bathroom. Clean.

Winter rose over quickly and covered the ground with snow. I was just sixteen, cold, with nothing to kill. The evenings became daunting easily. Even the boy's silly antics, snowball fights, and Zuza's cooking couldn't cheer me up. I hadn't been to school since the end of my first year of high school and it was surprising how much I missed it. There had always been something to do, and I wasn't trapped with only males my age.

"We can go into Lïgatne," Toms offered, playing with a strand of his over grown, cornflower hair. He and Kristaps were splayed over the couch in the main lodge. I was laying on the floor, Nikolajis' head on my stomach, with Ludis and Bendiks laying at my sides. Gabriels leaned on the back of the couch, over Toms and Kristaps. "It's not that far away. We can just shed our skins and run."

"Than we can get home by dark and have Auntie Janis spank you for coming up with the idea in the first place." Nikolajis' entire head seemed to vibrate when he spoke and I laughed at the feeling rather than his words. The older boy sat up. "Alright. Let's go."

"Velna, you're the fastest. Go run for Rihards." Ludis smirked when I glowered at him.

"What?" a lofty voice cut through the air. "You don't want me to come, Velna? Ouch."

Turning around, Rihards was standing in the door with a smug set to his face. Snow clung to his black hoodie, making the The Avenger skull look more like a melted Frosty the Snowman. Walking through the entry way, he kicked his hiking boots out on the wooden paneled floor to get rid of the snow. He was wearing Uncle Mihails' jeans again, a pair that were way too big on him. They rode low on his hip bones and showed off what he called his cut—the shadow between his hip and ads. Seeing me looking, his face became even smugger, which was strangely possible.

"Aizvērties." Shut up, I snapped at him, getting up to grab my boots. Like the others, they were worn from miles of walking. Putting them on was pointless, but I grabbed my torn and ragged knap sack and stuck them in there for when I changed back. Pulling off my socks then slipping from my pants, I added them to the growing bag. "Chances are you just are going to scare the crap out of some poor human."

"They like it." He began to undress himself as well, like me and the others. Each had a bag, something with straps that would easily rest around our necks. Rihards, however, was the only one who watched me.

"Would you stop that for a moment at least?" Bendiks snapped when he noticed. "When you stare at her like that—Meža vīrs, I'm glad I was born a boy."

My face reddened, almost a cherry color. "What? I'm sure you would enjoy having boobs." I snapped back at him, quickly yanking away the last scrap of cloth. The change had already started; my skin loosening and bones extending or buckling depending on the regain. As my spine lengthened, I fell forward onto hands and knees.

"I would," Rihards chuckled before it turned to a howl. He took the least time to morph, enjoying the feeling less than I did. After the first few transitions, shifting forms became almost as pleasant as a massage. But I didn't dwell on the feeling long, to anxious to leave the lodge for once. I hadn't seen humans for months and the town normally was packed with them. Once my change had become complete, I launched myself out the open door, ready to lead the pack. When Rihards caught up I let him run at my side. He didn't pass, he never did. It seemed, almost, like he wasn't allowed to.