-1Trouble Rising

The full moon against her flesh felt good as she peeled the shirt off her body that was already soaked with sweat, she could feel the night. The scent of ash and leaves filled her nose as she looked at her two sisters that were doing the same. Jane gave a playful smile and stuck her tongue out a bit. The highlight of the month was always the full moon, blood pumping and the fresh air of Griffith Park. Letting out a deep breath she placed her clothing aside feeling the ripple of muscle just under her flesh. The blood boiled hot and the pleasure of it all nearly overwhelmed her. Throwing her head back her long raven black hair ran down her face and over her bare shoulders. She laughed in the night as howls rose from the others. The bones buckled and crunched causing her to groan loudly. Doubling over she kneeled on the ground, her face contorting and changing into the jowls of the creature of that sang hymns to the moon. It was so sweet the feeling as the pain and pleasure subsided and she was again the wolf. Oh, sweet goddess of the moon this was wonderful. The black fur moved slightly in the breeze as she started to run, as fast as she could. The howl vibrated in her throat as the others started to run. Her sisters ran beside her into the night and all being led by Gabriel and Vivian in the lead. Marissa could hear the pack The Four slacked behind a bit probably to piss on a tree or something and Odessa, Raul, Renata, Tomas, Esme, and the Bucky racing along the side like a sentinel.

The next day she was late for school and rushed out the door without a word to anyone. Marissa got to school as the bell rang. Lucky for her the first period was art. The teacher looked up as she ran to her desk and sat down. Blake looked up and gave him his usual smile. She felt very lucky that the teacher liked her. As class assumed Blake leaned forward and said softly.

"Hey Marissa what was that all about last night I was really worried about you." he whispered very softly. Marissa gave him a sheepish smile.

"I had family stuff that I couldn't get away from." she said in a calm tone of voice used to the questions.

"You seem to have a big family" he said and smirked. Marissa seemed relieved as his two sisters came over from the sink they were washing off their paint brushes.

"You are so late. I hope you weren't too tired" Jane said with a smirk. Marissa tilted her head to the side and chuckled. They sat down across from her and then looked at Blake. Her two sisters didn't seem to mind Blake so much since they knew that they were just friends.

"I heard that Tiffany gave you a hard time again" he said jerking his head toward Tiffany sitting with her friends at the next table. Marissa gave a lethargic expression and nodded her head.

"Yeah I hate her so much" she said in a very soft voice as she pulled out her sketch book. Opening it were sketches that she made. She wasn't that good unlike Blake. When he opened his there were sketches of the woods and something that made her smile. He had no idea about what they were, but she wondered if he knew something. Setting up her easel she sighed and started to begin.

"Did you hear about the concert, but its that heavy metal stuff" he said and rolled his eyes a bit.

"I don't really like it I know people who loves that kind of music" she replied and exchanged a look with her sisters. Picking up her brush she started to dip it into the red paint and swirled it around quietly, black pigments still remained on the edge causing the paint to be the color of blood. Today they were working on their still life and she did her rose. When her water was dark and unusable she got up.

"I'll be right back" she said and turned holding her cup of water. With a smack the paint colored water spilled all over the white shirt of Tiffany. A screech of anger filled the room as Tiffany backed up and looked down at the damage done to her shirt.

"You stupid Bitch" the blonde hair screamed at Marissa. She was almost too stunned to speak as she stared at the other girl.

"I…I" Marissa said at a loss for words a bit. Tiffany glared at her angrily and looked at her friends and then at the one who did this to her.

"I will kill you!" she screeched and went to attack her. Nimbly Marissa moved to the other side of the chair as her sisters rose to defend her. Trying to move over the chair and the teacher yelled for her to stop and Tiffany tripped over the chair and hit the ground. An Explosion of laughter came forth and everyone except the teacher, a horrified Marissa, and Tiffany's friends were laughing.