Hey there everybody. How you all doing? Anyway, I've got another chapter for you guys. You all seemed pretty open to the idea of more wolf changes, so my original idea is still on track. Anyway, hopefully you'll all enjoy this chapter. Read on!
"I want you to make me a werewolf!" Light coughed, trying not to choke on his food more than he already had. L paused in the files he was reading through, papers about Beyond when he was younger. Matt barely looked up, gingerly fiddling with his handheld. After accidentally breaking one of the chairs with his new strength, the redhead was trying to be more restrained.
"You want me to what?" Light asked, staring at the boy who'd asked. Mello was standing before him, arms crossed and eyes determined. Near stood beside him, silent.
"You claim to be smart so figure it out," Mello commented. Light sat back, expression unreadable. L watched curiously, noting that even Matt looked up from his game. "Actually, we both wanna be changed. Isn't that right Near?" The white haired boy nodded.
"Why should I?" Light asked calmly, matching the blonde's gaze. Mello grit his teeth but Light kept talking. "Wolves like myself have to be careful about who they change. Too many turned wolves could be the end of us."
"But we're not just average people," Mello protested. Light cocked his head, looking nearly bored.
"So?" He replied, "you're...volatile to say the least. You could easily get my entire race exposed. Do you know what happened to the last werewolf who got captured?" Mello shook his head, and L was unsure how to react to the dark look in Light's eyes. "They were tortured and experimented on. Then the wolf killed herself with her own claws to escape it before she could tell them anything. So, tell me why I should turn you. Give me a good reason and I will. Otherwise you're staying human."
"I believe I have my answer," Near said. Light motioned for him to say it, watching him carefully. "Obviously, Beyond has become a problem, and while you could likely keep him at bay at the very least, it turned personal." Near eyed Light for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "This is basically my family, and I refuse to sit by and watch as Beyond plays with us." Light was silent for a moment. Then he looked to Mello.
"What about you?" He asked. Mello crossed his arms and glared.
"Personal reasons," he said stubbornly. Light stood, stretching lightly.
"So Near," he said, "would you ready to be turned right now?" There was a moment of silence and then Near gave a decisive nod. "Alright then," he said, "let's do this then."
"What about me?" Mello asked, annoyance in his voice.
"I'm not turning you," Light said, "come back with an actual reason and I'll consider it. Near, would you like to do this in private or do you not care?"
"It doesn't matter to me," the boy replied.
"Alright," Light said, "We should go towards the forest. Matt, you're coming as well. New wolves need to be integrated into the entire pack, or else your instincts will drive you to attack one another." He looked over at L. "That is, as long as you don't mind."
"They're old enough and smart enough to make their own decisions," the detective said. Light nodded.
"Matt, go shift. Then we can head out." The two wolves trotted off, Light saying that they'd meet Near outside. The white haired boy left as well
"No fair man," Mello huffed, sitting at the table.
'I can see why Light would be hesitant though,' L thought, 'I hope they don't get into trouble.'
"So...you just...scratch?" Near asked, standing in the expanse of trees as the brown wolf circled him. Matt sat off to one side, wolf head cocked cutely. Light gave a bob of the head, nudging at his legs. Near sat, waiting patiently. Light eyed him for a moment and then raised a paw. Quicker than Near could process, claws sank into his arm and pulled, gouging lines of bloody crimson across the pale flesh. He winced, biting his lip as pain flared through his arm. At first it wasn't too bad, just a minor burning sensation at the spot of the scratch. Then his blood lit up, like fire surging through his veins. He cried out, unable to keep the noise restrained, and bent forward. He felt Light nudge him onto his side and noted how the wolf seemed to remain close to him. Matt sat a few feet away, silent and watching.
Bones cracked, muscles warping and skin stretching to accommodate. He'd never thought about when Light had changed. Even with Matt he hadn't thought it that bad. But now, feeling as if he were being burned alive, he realized how bad it really was. 'Maybe I shouldn't have jumped into this so readily,' he thought. But now it was much to late to turn back. So he tried to calm his breathing, tried to stay calm as everything within him shifted and changed. When it finally came to an end he laid there panting. Slowly, his senses came back to him and he could hear voices.
"He's fine," Light said, "although he could use a meal to be honest. Under normal circumstances I would hunt for him while he rests, but that doesn't seem to be a good idea."
"Why not?" Matt asked, "you can go do what you need to do and I'll watch over him."
"No," Light said, "your instincts are still young and you, being made by a wolf other than myself, will feel threatened."
"Of Near?" Matt said, " I doubt that."
"Are you saying you feel nothing negative towards him right now?" Light said. There was silence for a moment and then a form settled behind his back. A low growl pierced the air. "See?" Light said. Something smoothed over his head and after a moment Near realized that it wasn't a hand.
"I'll go hunt," Matt offered, "is that alright?"
"That'd be great. Thanks Matt." Light steps faded, and Near fought to crack open an eye. The world was muted, and he wondered what about this experience Matt had found so great. "Are you alright Near?"
"I think so," the smaller male managed. He went to stand, but his new, unfamiliar limbs hindered him.
"Take it slow," Light advised, "you're young per than Matt and myself, so the slight awkwardness of your paws will be hard to get used to." Near paused, figuring out how to gather himself before finally standing on all fours. He blinked, twisting to try and look at himself. He was certainly smaller than Light or Matt, though that wasn't very shocking considering, with a long, snowy white coat. His tail was wagging without his consent, but he figured that was the least of his problems.
"So," Near said, sitting carefully, "I know this will be a process, especially since you and Matt took so long to get back. What exactly will we be doing?"
"Well it depends on your stamina," Light said, shaking himself lightly, "we'll do a run for sure and then maybe practice hunting or fighting depending on how you're fairing."
"Run?" Near asked, wanting to frown at the suggestion. 'I've never been a fan of running.' Light bobbed his head in response.
"It's a bonding thing," Light explained, "to bind a pack together." Near blinked, cocking his head.
"I thought a pack had to be created by all members," Near commented, "and have more than the three of us."
"It's a bit complicated in the werewolf world," Light commented, "a pack is any group of werewolves where the alpha wolf feels protective over the others. This alpha is always a born wolf, and should their be more than one in the pack then they'll fight for the position. Hell, sometimes the pack isn't entirely wolves. Occasionally a few humans might be included in that mix. In my case, L and Mello are included in the pack despite not being wolves." Near eyed the teen for a moment. In that instance, staring at the almost wolffish smile and gentle yet prideful eyes, he wondered where the belief that Light had been Kira had stemmed from.
'We always knew he was hiding something,' Near thought, 'but to think it would have been something like this. Is this his true nature?' He wasn't sure, but he figured he'd just keep an eye on the teen. L's suspicion of Light may have become almost nonexistent, but he still didn't quite trust the other.
A scent assaulted his senses soon enough, making him instinctually turn towards it. Light rested his tail on the snowy wolf's hackles, and Near calmed as Matt slid from the trees. A rabbit hung in his jaws, and he dropped it before the youngest. "Dinner," he said simply. Near eyed it warily. Part of him wanted to turn away, disgust at the idea of consuming such a thing. He'd seen Light's ravenous hunger before, in brief moments when likely the teen thought he'd been alone. Yet then his newfound wolf hit, and without even thinking he tore into the little animal. When he'd finished he sat back, licking his jaws.
"At least there's no hesitation," Light commented, sounding amused, "Let's get moving. Best to run while the sun is still high." Matt pressed his side against Near's as the snowy wolf stood, only moving away when Light shook himself. As if a silent message had passed between them, Light and Matt both tore off into the trees. Near gave a small bark of shock, scrambling after them. Matt was easy to spot, red pelt like a beacon in the trees. Light was a bit harder, brown fur melting against the trees. The pair streaked down a hill, and Near put on a burst of speed to catch up. He gave a yelp as he stumbled, nearly collapsing face first into a river. Yet he managed to keep himself on his paws, giving a small grin as he tore after the two larger wolves. Matt looked back at him, giving a whoop of excitement and then falling back to be in line with him.
"I see why you enjoyed this," Near managed to say. Matt gave a nod in response. The pair dragged themselves up the next hill, panting and out of breath. Near looked up, spotting Light standing a little ways away from him. The male was tense, body rigid. Matt opened his mouth as if to speak before a shape barreled out from the trees.
"Watch out!"
And...cliffhanger. Hate me yet? Haha anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I know I had a lot of fun writing this. Showing Near's more excitable side and what the wolves do. That and cliffhangers because what better way to end a chapter than like this. Anyway, I'm off until the next one. Bye-bye everyone!