2. FULL MOON

Micah followed Absolom out into the woods when the sun was ready to set. This was the last chance he was willing to give the strange man in convincing him that he was a werewolf.

"Stay here." Absolom told Micah. Then he continued to walk in the eastern direction. When he was about 50 feet away he asked, "Can you see me alright?"

Micah could see him just fine as if he were standing right in front of him due to his improved vision. "Yep, you look great." Micah answered sarcastically. They stood there for a moment and then Micah grew impatient. "So what are you going to show me?"

"Just wait," was Absolom's only reply. Another moment went by and the sun began to set. The full moon became visible over Absolom and he looked up at it.

Just then things happened very quickly. In a fraction of a second, Micah saw Absolom's body writhe in agony as it began to transform. The clothes and mask fell to the ground and a hairy beast was revealed underneath. Because Absolom stood further east, the sun set on him before it set on Micah. So after that fraction of a second, Micah blacked out again.

The next morning Micah woke up with Absolom standing before him, fully clothed and with his mask back in place. A pile of clothes lay next to Micah and he dressed himself.

"Did you see it, boy?" Absolom asked.

Micah nodded even though he didn't want to believe it.

"So now you know the truth. You must come with me and meet the others. We have a great work to do. We will have to leave the country, but I strongly suggest to you that you say goodbye to your family because it may be the last time you see them."

Micah did not like this new path that was laid out in front of him. He didn't want this. All he ever wanted was to be able to become rich by working in the city and then perhaps find a girl to marry and start a family. It seemed as though none of his hopes or dreams had any chance of surviving in his new life, the life that he did not choose.

Micah got into Absolom's carriage and they headed for Rayleigh in Essex, Micah's hometown. It had been several years since he had been home. He wondered how big his little sister, Anna, had gotten. The journey took a few days so by the time they arrived the full moon phase was over and he'd be safe from hurting anyone for the next month. They pulled up in front of his parent's cottage and he jumped out.

"I'm going to stay at the local inn, come and find me when you are ready to leave." With that, Absolom took off and left Micah alone. Micah ran up to his house and knocked on the door. A young woman with dark blond hair and brown eyes answered the door and at first he didn't recognize her.

"Anna?" He gasped. She was not the annoying little sister he remembered. She looked like a woman. She was probably about 17 now.

"Micah!" She threw her arms around her big brothers neck and squeezed him tightly. "Mother! Father! Micah's returned!"

His parents came rushing out next and embraced him as well. "Come in my boy, have a seat!" His father welcomed.

He entered the small cottage and was surprised to find another person in his home that he did not recognize. Another young woman sat at their kitchen table peeling potatoes. She looked to be about the same age as Anna but she was stunningly beautiful. She had long brown hair and perfect little features. Her lips were full and her brown eyes large with surprise at seeing the new guest.

"Micah, you remember Ashley." Anna said.

Then it clicked. Ashley was Anna's best friend. The two girls always played together as children. Micah remembered her as being annoying and always over at their house. She used to be a scrawny and awkward little girl but now she had blossomed into a beautiful woman.

"Of course," Micah lied, "How could I forget?" Ashley blushed.

"She lives with us now." Anna told him excitedly. "Her parents passed away so we took the orphan in." Anna smiled at Ashley, she liked calling her 'the orphan' and Ashley didn't mind.

"How long are you here for son?" His father asked.

"I'm not sure, a week, maybe more? Is that alright?"

"Of course it's alright," his mother answered. "We are always glad to have you."

The family went back to preparing their evening meal and Micah participated. He couldn't help but to keep stealing glances towards Ashley. She really was so beautiful. Once dinner was over Anna begged for Micah to go outside with her and Ashley and go for a walk. He obliged his sister's request. Anna linked arms with her brother and Ashley was linked on the other side of her. They began to walk down a beaten path behind their house.

"I'm so happy you've come back!" Anna enthused. "I've missed not having you around."

Micah smiled and patted his sister's hand. Looking at her he realized that he should have recognized her much sooner because she looked so much like him. They both had dark blond hair and brown eyes, well, until Micah's eyes had changed.

The trail led them to a small waterfall, flowing into a deep pool of water. Micah had played here many times before with his sister on hot summer days. The water looked cool and inviting.

"Last one in is a rotten egg!" Anna squealed as she tore off her dress that covered her under slip. She raced towards the water and jumped in while Micah and Ashley stripped down to their under garments. They ran to the edge of the pool and jumped in at the same time with a big splash. Laughter filled the area and they all had fun splashing around.

The sun was beginning to set and the sky burned a bright pink color. Anna stepped out of the pool and for the moment, Micah and Ashley were alone. Ashley laid back into the water and floated peacefully with her eyes closed. Micah watched her without fear of being caught. She was so delicate and sweet. Micah couldn't believe that he had overlooked her all the years that he had known her.

A smile spread across her perfect face and her lips parted to speak, "I know you're watching me, Micah."

Micah looked away, embarrassed. "I'm sorry," he said, "it's just that you look so very different than how I remembered you. You're quite lovely."

Ashley blushed and stood on her feet in the water instead of floating. She looked at Micah, curious for more.

"It's just that you were such an awkward child before. I never would have imagined you'd grow up to be so beautiful." Micah admitted.

"Well if I was awkward it was your fault!" she accused.

"How so?"

"I had the biggest crush on you when I was little." Ashley laughed. "I probably seemed like an idiot to you because I was always so nervous when you were around."

This made Micah grin. "And now? Are you nervous now?"

Ashley looked down at the water between them and didn't know how to answer. Micah slid closer to her and traced his wet fingers down the side of her face, finding her chin and then pulling it up towards him so her eyes met his. They stared at each other for a moment and just as he was about to lean in for a kiss she interrupted him.

"Hey, what happened to your eyes? They're blue now but they used to be brown."

"Oh, uh, well, I got really sick while I was in London a couple months back. For some reason my eyes changed color and the doctor couldn't figure it out. Pretty bizarre, huh?"

Before she could respond there was a huge splash that soaked them. Anna had climbed to the top of the waterfall and jumped down making the splash. The trio started laughing and splashing each other with the water. They continued to talk and have a good time and under the surface of the water Micah and Ashley held hands.