Wolf By Night

Vampiresswolf

Ch. 3

Percy was in pain. There was no way to deny it. What was happening to his body shouldn't be possible, and yet, here it was happening. He couldn't hear his bones crunching and rearranging themselves, nor could he actually feel the fur sprouting along his body, though he scratched at his arms as though they itched. His eyes were wide as he looked over to where Leo was sitting on the ground, though there was one very specific difference in the elfish boy, his eyes were sparkling in excitement. The pain was flickering there, but unlike the terror that Percy knew floated through his own sea green orbs, the still-gray spheres of his friend were holding anything but.

Percy just knew this was a dream. How else could he be sitting here, his body shrinking and yet growing, slipping into the size of one of the Akita Inus that his neighbor harbored. However, unlike the dog, he was growing lean, his fur was growing thick and heavy, a fine undercoat harbored with a topping of somewhat longer guard hairs. His thumbs moved up to above his wrist and shortened significantly, while his big toe simply melted away. His other digits widened and crunched until they were paws. His palms and the soles of his feet hardened and darkened to near-black, becoming the traditional wide-set pads of a wolf. His nails darkened, elongated and became short, thick claws. As he looked at what became his feet, he could see why wolves were such good long-distance hunters, for those splayed paws and sturdy nails surely gave them good traction.

His eyesight blurred for a moment as his nose and mouth sprouted forward and his ears travelled upward, until his eyes were reset into their new position above his snout. Though he couldn't see them, he could feel his ears widen and curve until they sat pointed upward. When he rolled his eyes far into his sockets, he could just see the furry tips.

Though his body's transformation was interesting, nothing could compare to the uncomfortable emergence of his long, spindly tail. The sensation of his spine sprouting like a plant from his rear end was something he could live without, though once it was out, and the fur had travelled down it, his transformation was complete. He kept his eyes closed for a minute as the pain subsided, before peering out to his surroundings.

They were in color, finally. The first thing he saw was Leo. He was slightly smaller than himself, thinner as well, and his legs seemed to be slightly too long for his body. His fur was a bright red color, a bit more russet on his nose, and his tail was black. His friend's underbelly was white, and after he blinked, he had to laugh, though the sound that emitted from his throat was more of a chortling bark.

He tried to speak, but nothing but the bark came out, which made the red wolf in front of him tilt his head.

Remember, you can use telepathy to speak. Percy blinked and turned his head from where he sat to look at the seven wolves in front of him. Two of them he recognized, of course. One was Nico, and the other was the chocolate colored wolf that had changed Leo, whose name he had learned was Hazel. Between them sat a dark gray she-wolf with a black backside. On the right of Hazel, sitting quite close to her, was a typical white, gray, cream and black timber wolf, though he was extremely stocky compared to the rest of them. Beside him sat a pure white wolf with a dark black diamond on her forehead. Beside Nico sat a blonde she-wolf, and beside her was a beautiful tri-colored she-wolf. She had a white underside and a black back. The black on the back had silver markings throughout, and a light golden color connected the black to the white throughout her body.

When he turned back to Leo, he could see his face trained on the final wolf, and he gave a slight chuckle. He shook his head and frowned as he looked back to the wolf who had spoken, the dark gray one. She huffed and stood, flicking her tail, and approached them, Concentrate. Just as though you were speaking, aim your voice towards the person you wish to speak to, but do not open your jaw. If you do it correctly, before you speak you will feel them in your head.

Percy nodded and blinked at Leo. He tested out his mental connection, and tried to speak. It didn't work. He pushed out with his mind and felt a tickle in his brain, so he flicked his ears and stated what he wished to tell his friend, You look like a fox, Leo!

Leo blinked at him, unamused, and then flicked his ears, Yeah. Well, I'm not. At least, I don't think I am? He aimed this last bit at the pack of wolves watching them, and Hazel grinned.

Of course you aren't. Your body just happened to gravitate toward a Red Wolf composition. You are definitely a wolf.

He nodded and then flicked his too-large ears as the lead wolf returned her gaze to them, I will leave Hazel, Nico and Annabeth here to help you out learning what you need to learn. I, however, need to get some work done, Frank, Thalia, Calypso? Go hunting if you will.

The stocky wolf, the tri-colored wolf and the white wolf nodded, standing to follow her out of the cavern-like room, while the three remaining wolves paced toward them.

First thing you'll need to learn is how to walk on four legs. The blonde wolf, Annabeth, stated with what Percy could only describe as a scowl on her muzzle. In order to do anything you need to learn this, as walking is the basis of any other means of locomotion. Now, you may be tempted to walk at a diagonal gait, but it is much smoother and better for you if you take a lateral means of movement. Watch.

Percy didn't exactly understand what she meant, but watched her pace around the room. She did it at a normal gait first, and then slowed down, Be sure to note that both the legs on the same side are moving together. There are a lot of animals, including some dogs, that walk the other way, but with the way we are built, you will find this to be much easier. Try it.

Percy frowned and shifted his legs backward and pushed himself into a standing position. He expected that he would be having trouble balancing, but when he stood steady, he was surprised for only a second before he realized that he was on four legs, so of course it would be easier.

As Annabeth instructed them and showed them how to move, Nico and Hazel came over to him and Leo, respectively, helping to show them how it was done.

It took them longer than Percy was willing to admit to move smoothly. He had first attempted one paw at a time, like he was used to while being human, but quickly found that to be the wrong course of action, even though at quick glance that is what seemed to be going on.

Nico flicked his ears as he caught Percy for the umpteenth time, rolling his eyes and pushing him back into position. When Percy looked over to Leo, he sighed, seeing that the long-limbed wolf had already mastered his gait and was prancing around, tongue lolling out the side of his smile.

Once they had mastered this, Annabeth led the four of them outside. Percy looked up at the night sky in awe. He could see more lights and hear more sounds and smell more than he ever thought possible. As she led them to a wide clearing, one with a small lake in the center, he frowned.

Where are we? I don't recognize this place.

You are in Were country, Percy. Humans don't come over here often. Hazel stated, looking over at him from where she sat beside Annabeth.

I used to explore all the time, though.

Nico looked at him and rolled his eyes as he went to join the other two, Yes, but no human could make it here so quickly. We are far in the wilderness.

Anyway, there is time to sightsee later. It is time for you to learn to run. Annabeth stated.

Will we get to hunt? Leo asked, bouncing on his paws.

Not until you can control yourselves. You must learn to stalk and hunt either way. We can't afford to lose our game because of ill-prepared hunters.

Leo's face fell, but perked up shortly after as Annabeth began her lesson on running. Apparently, there were a few different ways they could use to run, and by the time they were through, the sun had begun to peek over the mountains.

That will do. Let's get you back before you phase again. That's not something we want to happen out in the open.

Percy nodded, yawning wide, and followed after them with his tail dragging. He was exhausted, but for some reason it only really felt mental. His body seemed to be still raring.

So. Why am I a red wolf when you are a gray? Leo asked, licking his chomps tiredly as they paced back into the cavernous den.

Annabeth looked back at them, We don't know the reason behind it, exactly, but we think it has something to do with a Were's own human genetics. For example, if two timber wolf Weres were to have a child, their child would be a timber, because they technically don't have any purely human genes to drive off of. But because you were humans and then changed, something in your genes dictated a preference for a specific species, as the Were genes work to change you by converting and adding certain genes and not completely taking them over, or else you would end up as clones rather than staying yourselves. You see the human genes taking control more with the Were Bears, because there are more species present. Their sleuth is made up of Weres that are grizzlies, black bears, polar bears, sun bears, Kodiaks, sloth bears, spectacled bears, you name it. The Were Tiger streak is also made up of the different types of tigers, but because most tigers look the same, you cant really tell the bengals from the sumtran from the maylayans, etcetera. Same as our pack. We have multiple types of wolves here, but you really can't tell the difference because of the similarities between the breeds.

Leo nodded, though Percy could tell that he wasn't entirely certain about the whole thing, So. We gonna eat?

Hazel chuckled and nodded, Yes. But I warn you, eating is done through the wolf hierarchy, and as you two are new, you will be getting your food last.

Percy frowned, We don't eat at a table?

We do. You will be waiting your turn to get your food, and then to cook it, and until Bianca eats, you won't begin.

They nodded as they followed her into the room they had begun their Change.

Once the painful experience was over, and they were dressed, they followed Annabeth back out. Seeing the wolves as human was new. Annabeth had long, curly blonde hair and storm-grey eyes, while Hazel had chocolate skin and dark eyes and hair. Percy had seen Nico already.

"So… how many are there in the pack?" Leo asked curiously as they entered a large dining room with a table that had twenty chairs around it.

"There are only eleven, now that you are here." Hazel's voice sounded surprisingly the same in human form as it did in wolf form.

"Only?" Percy asked, "I thought wolf packs were only small family groups?"

Nico chuckled darkly, "We are Were. Not wolves. We stick together."

Percy rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment as he sat at the designated seat, near the middle of the table.

An average size girl who looked remarkably like Nico came in and sat at the head of the table, Nico was on her left and Hazel on her right. Annabeth sat beside Nico, and a large Asian teen came in and sat next to Hazel. Following him was a tall girl with cinnamon hair and dark almond eyes and a short girl with a black pixie cut and electric blue eyes. Both of them sat beside Annabeth, the cinnamon haired girl nearest to Percy, who frowned at the two empty spaces beside Leo, who sat across from him.

"I thought you said there were eleven?" Leo whispered across the space, "Where are the other two?"

Bianca frowned at him but then rolled her eyes, "They are out at a council meeting at the moment. As it is, let me introduce you to your new Packmates as they are in human form." Bianca seemed pretty nice as she introduced them. The large guy was Frank, who was the stocky wolf, Thalia was the pixie-cut girl, and Calypso was the one that Leo couldn't stop looking at. Percy shot him a look as they sat there.

"So, why aren't we sitting there?" Leo asked, gesturing to the two empty seats that caused him to be isolated.

"Because Grover and Juniper would be greatly upset to learn that their seats had been taken from them. Now, let us begin our dinner, shall we?" Bianca stood, and paced over to the table of dead animals and plants that sat in an adjacent room. Percy was surprised to see that Nico was the next one up, and looked over at Annabeth, surprised.

"He is the Beta." As if that would explain it all, as she joined them behind Hazel. Thalia was behind her, then Frank and Calypso.

"For now, you can both go at the same time, until you decide who is to be of higher rank."

"How do we decide that?" Leo asked.

"You prove yourself."

A/N: So yeah. I'm sorry about the wait on this. Sadly, the wait will be continuing. I love to write this, but I have so much other stuff to deal with that I shouldn't have written this. Also, I thought it was dying in quality there at the end, which is why I stopped. Also, I am doing my best to lengthen the size of my chapters, and since this one is twice what my usual chapters are, I feel relatively confident in the ability to do so. So now I get to go back to trying to find a reasonable mechanic to fix my car so that I can get to work. And back to my math homework which I havent started and is due soon, and to reading XTheSonofHadesX's stuff, because to be totally honest, that's the main reason there haven't been any updates. Because I'm obsessed. So, see you when I see ya! Please let me know what is going on in those noggins of yours. =]