Chapter 1

The pack ripped through the forest, pounds upon pounds of muscle rippling, moving too fast for the eye to see, running, leaping over logs, fallen branches and plants. At the head of the pack, a white creature ran. She was feral, a vision of terror, with snarling jaws and strides swift as the wind. She ran sure footedly, ears erect, pursuing a stray deer that had wandered from its pack. She howled with joy, increasing her speed.

Her coat shimmered and glowed with a light of its own, the pack running in a v formation behind her. She barked an order. Two broke away, running ahead, cutting off the deer from the front, while two more flanked both sides. The deer was beautiful, different shades of brown with speckled white spots prettily covering her back. Her belly was pure white, and locked deliciously soft, perfect for teeth to sink into. She skittered about nervously, facing this way and that, but she had no choice. She reluctantly turned to face the leader, with the rigid certainty of somebody who knows her fate. The white dog's eyes glinted with intelligence, and she lunged forward, trapping the deer to the ground, her unsheathed paws holding her down from her neck. She locked eyes with the deer, who was trembling with fear and exhaustion.

There was nothing ordinary about it. Now, the dog herself seemed submissive, as if asking for the life of the deer, and it, in turn, was seemingly responding the silence by saying "I am valuable. I am worthy. My meat will sustain you. Take me."

The massive dog growled and made the killing slash. A clean cut, a final gasp, and the deer was gone. Almost immediately, she threw back her head, and howled. Bending her head, she tasted her prize, savoring the rich smell of blood and the tender meat in her mouth. She stepped back, the rest of the pack surged forward taking this as their cue to feast, and afterwards, the young ones ate the remnants. Slowly, unseen, the white dog slipped into the shadows, running the forest trails until she reached its edge, the last trees overlooking a large stretch of land, with rolling meadows, and a mansion visible in the middle.

A minute later, anybody closely watching would be able to see the white dog fluidly change shape, into a maturing girl of 17. She had blonde hair, or so it would seem. She kept tugging at it, as if she could not stand its color. She had fiercely bright eyes of pale blue, and a tall figure. She swiftly set off towards the building.

…

I sighed in contentment, relishing the time I had in the forest with the rest of the wolves. It had taken some time for them to trust me when I had first approached them, and even longer for me to gain friendship and dominance. Of course, they had had no idea I was a dog. In fact, due to my size, nobody could really differentiate from the two much. My white fur, damn it, had made blending into the background a problem.

I had been overjoyed when my secret practices had finally paid off, officially making me the first unregistered animagi of Britain. I had constantly sneaked off to enjoy being in my animagi form again and again, finding solace in the close companionship the other wolves regarded me with. My complicated life had faded into the background, my mind concentrating on the thrill of the chase, the feel of taking another life when sinking my jaws into another's neck. Creepy, I know.

Most registered animagi had become one for social standing, just to increase rank. They never experienced life in their animagi form, choosing to only shift shape when necessary. What was wrong in living life from another perspective, I wanted to know? It had taught me so many things, so many beautiful things. The Spirit Ritual, for instance. Humans never expressed a code of conduct between themselves of that level of intimacy, choosing to remain blind to the true intelligence of animals.

The clan leader had trained me in that, made sure I knew it by heart. "The Spirit Ritual is necessary to be performed for every kill you make," He had growled in that feral way of his. "The Wolf Spirit, Lupa, ensures the safe passage of animal spirits through the spirit trail of stars. Deny an animal that privilege, and I shall hunt you for life." I had whined agreement, then, ears laying flat, tail hanging limply as a sign of submission.

"Good."

He had howled, afterwards. Howled a song that contained the wolf legend, that sang of the whispers of the breeze, of guiding lost spirits to their way home." I had been captivated, listening intently and growling my agreement.

"You must learn, wolf cub, and you must learn well. Once you lock eyes with the prey, you are no longer the predator. You have done your duty, to hunt down food for the pack. Remember, a life, no matter how insignificant, is never yours for the taking. You must submit to the trapped animal, never look upon it with pride. The animal has to give you permission to take its life, and you must acknowledge that it is a worthy life that you ask for. Only then, wolf cub, will you truly understand what it is to be a predator, a part of a pack."

I chuckled fondly; my mind awash with memories of the age old pack leader. The first few times I had ventured into the forest, I had been prey to many attacks, testing my strength and place among the resident animals. He had taught me the how to run, how to hunt, how to communicate to the superiors, the males, and the younger cubs. To pick up the trail of an animal, recognize scents, how to blend into the shadows, and be quiet as a lost whisper. I had been happy, although returning home with scratches and bruises every night. My family had freaked out when they finally noticed.

My family... Of course. Faye Keynman, oldest daughter of James Keynman and Cordelia Giselle Keynman was home for the holidays, having just finished her sixth year at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her sister had been born a few years after her, and had instantly become the most adored in the mansion. Cora Lynn Keynman, named after her mother, was nothing like any of the family members. Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

Good mood suddenly gone, I bitterly kicked at a nearby stone, all pleasant memories forgotten. Everyone refused to see what she was. To them, she was the perfect little sister, in grades, manner, friends and behavior. Surrounded by her flock of adoring friends, she had always been the first to call out my mistakes, embarrass and bully me at school. When others caught on, she had never stood up for me in any way, in fact, she had encouraged the rumors, the taunts thrown at me. I never knew why. Perhaps it made her feel more important. It was then that I had seen her for what she truly was. The devil incarnate could be better.

If you don't already know, let me tell you. Joy is an illusion; it never lasts.

That's what I've learnt from my time with my family. With them always fawning over Cora, I never had the chance to be loved like an only child. Anything, I had ever wanted, she had always taken it, even if she didn't like it, just to spite me. Although she was pretty, she was smart as well. No chance of those dumb blondes you usually get.

Ah, well. I took on last longing glance at the rolling fields around me, and the dark mysteriousness of the forest behind. I would be leaving all of this behind, starting in a new place, a new school. Hopefully I will be better treated there. "First steps," The Wolf Clan would say. Perhaps that's what life is. A series of first steps. I still can't stop myself from hoping and wishing.

I hope this change will be for the better...but who knows?