Chapter Three- Mentoring

"You met the one who bit you?" Alexis whispered as they headed to school. "He told you what you needed to know and answered any other questions you had?"

Atticus nodded. "He said it's what one must do if they bite someone. He said it's best if one's senses are developed enough to smell the wolf scent on one who's been bitten as the mark heals quickly.'

"As we already found out and speaking of that, do you know what color fur you have?"

"Yeah, I do. It's the same color as my hair and Remus told me that during the full moon, my eyes are red."

"So, you'll have different color eyes tonight?"

"Uh-huh and I'm excited to find out."

Alexis saw the grin that was so Atticus and found it a little odd that he looked forward to changing again, considering how restless he had been yesterday. Maybe it was because it was the full moon and because he had recently been cursed. I think talking to this Remus probably helped him feel better about being a werewolf.

Alexis kept an eye on Atticus throughout the day, but he was completely normal; even his lunch was normal. I guess all the unusual things yesterday was because of the moon. That thought lasted until dinnertime. She saw Atticus constantly looking out the window as he ate and then abruptly dumped his dinner in the trash and quickly leaving the cafeteria. She finished her dinner and sedately left. She suspected that her brother needed time to change and look at himself before meeting her.

Atticus entered his room and locked the door behind him. He opened his window and checked out it. He never really paid attention before but now he noticed how conveniently nearby the forest was. He pulled his head back in and got undressed. He was trembling as he watched the sunset; he chalked it up to excitement. He was eager to see his full wolf form and work on developing his sharper senses.

The sky turned black with night and Atticus howled as he grew fur all over his body. His hands and feet became paws, sharp hooked claws extending from them. His tail grew out behind him as his heels went up and he dropped to all fours as his spine curved. His body grew bigger as did his muscles. His head took on lupine shape as did his arms and legs. Atticus blinked and shook himself out as the change ended. That didn't hurt like it did last night. Heh, maybe because last night was the first change of many to come.

He padded over to a mirror and looked to see a dark brown wolf with deep gold eyes look back at him. His muzzle parted and he panted while his tail swished. "Wow, I look cool," he said, his teeth clicking together. He turned to one side to see himself better and his wolf's grin grew. He loved this form better than what he remembered of last night's form.

He went to the window and looked around: No one in sight. He leaped out the window and landed on a tree branch, his claws digging into the wood. He jumped down and landed gracefully on the ground. He laughed at the perfect landing before dashing into the forest, skirting the edge to reach the common area. He saw Alexis waiting in the secluded spot from yesterday and whispered, "Lexi," before emerging from the trees.

Alexis stared at the wolf that came out of the woods, her eyes going from the bushy tail, to the muscular body, the clawed paws, the muzzle, and the ears before looking at the eyes. "Atticus, you look amazing."

"I know and I love it!" He howled before saying, "This is better and what I remember about last night."

"What do you remember?"

"I recall being on two legs and having clawed hands which seems to be the only difference aside from the eyes."

"Yeah. Gold goes well with your fur color." She crouched down and ran her hand over his head, across the cheeks, and the chin. Atticus sighed and his tail wagged a little. He inhaled and a flowery scent like daisies flooded his nose amidst other scents. He focused on the daisy smell to determine its source.

"Lexi, I smell your scent," Atticus said, sounding pleased and awed.

"Probably because I'm close to you," she answered. "What scent do I have?"

"It smells like daisies; so fresh and clean." He sniffed again. "I'll find you so easily now with that scent."

"Now, sure. What about when you're human?"

"Still smell you. My senses, speed, and strength will be better while wolf and human." He nuzzled her hand before adding, "I'm going to head into the forest to practice my senses before going to bed."

"Okay, Atti. Good night." Alexis scratched his ears before the werewolf trotted into the forest.

The forest was dark and for a few seconds, Atticus couldn't see a thing. Then, a few blinks later, the area was visible as if he had two flashlights instead of eyes. "Whoa," he said softly. "Better than I imagined." He kept going, leaping over fallen logs and seeing how fast he could go. He paused at various times to focus on the sounds and smells he picked up. His ears heard a multitude of wildlife and he sat to sort through them before moving on. The sound of water reached him and he headed for it to drink. He emerged from the trees to see a clear lake and a familiar gray wolf drinking.

"Remus!" he called as he headed over.

The gray wolf turned and his goldish-green eyes lit up in recognition. "Atticus. I thought I smelled your scent getting closer." Remus sniffed as Atticus came closer and leaned down to lap up some water. "Yes. Ocean breeze with sea salt."

"I do enjoy surfing and water sports," he admitted as he lifted his head, licking his mouth clean of water. He sniffed and added, "I smell pine from you."

"Correct. My mentor told me that when I first changed. In addition to the wolf smell is an individual scent to identify other people and werewolves."

"You spoke of a mentor before. Where is he?"

"He…died twenty years after I was turned. A werewolf hunter shot him with silver bullets. I avenged his death the first non-full moon after his death. I came to the island long before the school was built, living off wildlife and this lake."

"I'm sorry your mentor died."

"Me too. He taught me much about werewolves, the good and the bad." He sighed. "Atticus, I should teach you instead of shying away from it. My mentor would be disappointed in me if I did not guide the one I turned. It would be an insult to his memory and what he taught me."

"I would like to know more, like strength, weaknesses, and enemies."

"Yes, an excellent place to start." Remus sat and so did Atticus. "In addition to strength and speed, we heal quickly unless we're hit in the heart or brain or by something silver. No recovery if something sharp hits the heart or brain. Disease has no hold over us, broken bones will knit in minutes even the spine. As I said, silver is our weakness as is Wolfsbane. The first causes pain if it touches us, kills if it hits our weak spots. Wolfsbane weakens our enhanced senses and abilities until sunrise."

"Have you seen Wolfsbane?"

"Yes, but none on the island. Now, our enemies. Obviously, werewolf hunters who are rare, but are the reason for keeping our condition secret. Another enemy are evil werewolves."

"Evil werewolves?"

"They are not like you and me. They would disdain humanity and would seek humans to curse during the full moon. Those they bite turn evil too. They give all werewolves a bad name."

"Can't they be turned good?"

"Yes; by another bite from a good one. But it is difficult as the evil ones have no qualms of killing anyone or anything."

Atticus swallowed hard. "Wow."

"I know one evil one who wouldn't listen to me and he would wound me enough to escape. I regrettably gave up trying to turn him good. I hope for your sake, that you never have to go through that. If so, hopefully you will succeed where I had failed."