RHYDIAN- Age 14
He was surprised that it had worked out at the school. He hadn't expected the adults to be so easily fooled- but he guessed that they just wanted to see the best in everyone; after all the school was there to give boys like him a second chance.
But what had surprised him more was that his social worker had given him a second chance too. He had spent three years with a foster family in Yorkshire, and although they had funny accents and the kids at school still fit the usual stereotypes, it almost felt like a home to him. In the back of his mind he knew there was somewhere he was supposed to be going and a woman who was expecting him to leave this home for somewhere else, but that no longer mattered to him. Going to counselling had made those memories that had haunted his childhood begin to disappear- he knew there were two important people who had been in his life, but he no longer wanted to remember anything about them. He just wanted some stability.
That's why he was so unnerved at how unstable he felt at that moment. Every part of him was shaking and his jaws ached, his head felt like it was being split open- everything was brighter, louder, and more apparent. He had always know that he was different from everyone else- a little faster, a little more sensitive to the world around him- but he had tried to deny. He didn't imagine it would be something like this.
He looked down at his hands as an adrenaline rush flew through him. His veins were black as night and his nails were claws. He glanced in the mirror and saw that his eyes were bright yellow and he had similar veins on his neck and face. But more shockingly, he had teeth like those of a wild dog.
Like a wolf, Rhydian thought.
He had never believed in werewolves or vampires- he hadn't even believed in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy when he was young. He hated fairy stories. But now he wished he had paid closer attention- because now he knew the reason why he was so different.
He was a werewolf; the weirdest thing was he didn't even remember being bitten.
He felt an energy flow through him and he knew what he had to do.
He flung the windows open wide and jumped out onto the grass in front of his house.
Then he ran, the full moon beaming above him.
JANA- Age 14
She stared up at the full moon and this time she could hear it almost calling her, telling her things that before she was too young to understand. She knew tonight she would transform for the first time and she was filled with excitement. She had waited years for this moment, to finally be an adult not a cub, to be able to learn Eolas and Ancian.
Best of all she knew there would celebrations the following day. Her father would insist that they celebrated his heir's first transformation. A part of Jana wished that her Mum and Pedr were there with her. It had been a year or so since the pack had been told they'd died. Jana didn't hate her father like she thought she would, he had spared her mother from death and expected that the other pack would have followed his lead. Jana knew her father was the only family she had now, and that had made them closer over the years- they only had each other to rely on.
At least until Rhydian returned.
And he would return soon, Jana knew it. Ceri had promised that she would try to find him once he was old enough to transform, and her father had given Ceri permission to look for Rhydian. He said, in a brief show of empathy, that he understood what it was like to have his family taken away from him and that he regretted not being able to have them back in his life, he wasn't going to make Ceri go through the same thing.
Jana wondered if Rhydian was transforming too that night. If he had already transformed before or if this was his first time too. She suspected that he had started transforming months ago- he was always so much bigger than her, and six months older too.
She looked around her as the pack relaxed before the night ahead. They would stay up all night- running and playing in the woods, sometimes they would hunt too.
"I wish I was transforming tonight," Bryn complained, "I hate being left behind."
"Well at least you have the other cubs to keep you company," Jana said, pointing towards a small baby that was perched on the knee of one of the pack's healers.
Bryn screwed up his face in disgust.
"Suit yourself then," Jana said smiling, "If I wouldn't complain too much. You know what it's like the day after the full moon- the pack comes back with way too much food, and then sleeps for the rest of the day. You'll be able to get the best food before they even notice."
Bryn smiled, "Good luck."
"Thanks," Jana replied.
Meinir waved over to Jana, who looked at the older girl suspiciously. There was no way Meinir was being friendly.
Meinir waved again but this time more impatiently, "Come over here and join the adults," she yelled.
"Go on," her father said suddenly appearing at her side, "Meinir doesn't bite- well not that often. Anyway I'd always planned for you two to be like sisters."
"Sisters?" Jana asked shocked.
"Yes, I'll look after my little sister," Meinir said putting an arm around Jana's shoulders, which Jana brushed off immediately.
"Meinir, seriously!" Aran yelled, "Why are you trying to hug the cub?"
Meinir shook her head in irritation, "Never mind. You always were one limb short of a whole carcass."
"Since when?" Aran asked.
Jana rolled her eyes, "You're never going understand that saying are you?"
"Sorry didn't quite hear that cub," Aran replied.
"Boys," Meinir and Jana said in unison.
"Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?" Jana asked.
"I wanted to apologize for being so mean to you," Meinir replied, "Don't give me that look, I mean it Jana, I'm sorry. I was just worried that you would put the pack in danger- that you would destroy our way of life when you became alpha. I knew how much you clung to your memories of the human world- I should have realised that was because of Rhydian, and only because of him."
"I don't actually remember much of the human world," Jana admitted, "I was so young at the time. I don't think it was as good as I thought it was at the time. I prefer the wilderness."
"Only an idiot wouldn't," Meinir said.
Both girls looked up at the full moon and knew that things would be different from now on.
RHYDIAN- Age 14
He had never fallen asleep in middle of a road before, and he never wanted to again.
He became aware of a police car only a few metres away from him and a policeman towering over him.
Great.
He had hoped that he would make it back to his foster family's house before they noticed his absence. But now there was no chance of this.
What could he say? He could hardly tell them he'd changed into a werewolf now could he?
He knew what he'd have to say- it's what they would have guessed anyway. He knew he didn't want to be seen as another one of those troublesome teenager foster kids but he didn't have an option now.
"What happened to you?" the police officer asked impatiently.
"I was at a party," Rhydian said with a yawn, "I must have drank too much and fallen asleep on the way home."
The police officer shook his head, "Just get in the car."
BREAK*****************BREAK****************BREAK
He stood outside of his new home.
Stoneybridge, he remembered that name from when he'd run away before. He was surprised they had let him move back here.
"I think we've always taken the wrong approach with you," his social worker said, "We've always been so quick to punish you when you ran away or misbehaved. We always moved you from one place to another without really thinking about it. The Vaughans and I have decided that it would be good for you to come back to the town when you first lived all those years ago. They think this was the first place you ever called home and that's why you kept on running away here."
Rhydian nodded, "I always knew there was something about this place."
"Your sister doesn't live here though," The social worker said.
"I don't-" Rhydian was about to protest, "Where does she live?"
"We don't know," the social worker said apologetically, "She went missing when she was very young. We managed to find you but we never found her. I'm sorry, Rhydian, but it's unlikely you'll ever see her again."
Rhydian nodded in understanding. Even though he knew there was someone who he was supposed to pretend was his sister, he had long forgotten why or even who she was. He had supressed those memories, and counselling had somewhat helped him to do that. Part of him wanted to know who she was, but a larger part of him just wanted to get on with his life. Two years and he'd be free to do whatever he wanted and never have to answer to anyone.
Then he would be finally be able to live the life he wanted.