"So life in the Wilds must have been very lonely."

Morrigan sat by the pond, twirling her fingers on the water, picturing little stars on it. She made circular motions and sparks emanated from the tips of her fingers. She giggled, looked around but found no one. She sighed.

Sometimes I wish I had someone to play with.

She looked up at the little hut across from her. Mother had not yet emerged, nor did the nameless man she brought along with her an hour ago, and she feared entering the hut whenever someone else was there. Mother did not like it either whenever her daughter barged in and found her sprawled on top of men who weren't her father — if she ever had a father. Mother's fury scared her sometimes. She knew she needed to realize her mistake, but it was terrifying nonetheless.

Morrigan sighed and started humming to herself. She lied back on the grass, watched the gloomy afternoon sky, and listened to the caws of crows some yards away. She wondered what else she could do today.

Sometimes I wish I had friends.

The chores were already done. Today was a day off from Mother's lessons. Game has been hunted for tonight's supper. There was nothing else to do. Mother did not allow Morrigan in the hut until she was finished, and the only way for her to know if she was finished was for her to come out of the hut and signal her daughter to enter. She can't just knock on the door and ask.

Morrigan sat up and looked around the trees. She heard a howl overhead. She quickly scrambled up to her feet. And then she saw it.

A wolf pack passing through the trees.

Morrigan glanced back to the hut, a sense of urgency calling to her all of a sudden. Mother was not coming out. Even if she did, there won't be much to do. It won't take her daughter long to return. She just wanted to see where the wolves were headed.

I want to run with the wolves.

Morrigan made up her mind. She had to do it. Just for half an hour, or another at most. Then she will be back.

Run and be free.

Morrigan closed her eyes, centering her focus. She inhaled, exhaled, and inhaled again. She could feel the magic coursing through her veins. She pictured a wolf, recalled Mother's words — "Study its mannerisms, its movements. What sets it apart from other animals?"

And then she muttered the spell.

The transformation was slow; rather painful. Morrigan found herself lying on the grass, her head spinning. Her vision was blurred and hazy for some seconds before it began to clear.

Everything felt . . . different. Everything still looked the same although it immediately felt foreign to her. She was a little shorter, but she also felt stronger. Her senses and her mind were much more alert. She turned to face the pond and examined her reflection. She yelped.

Gray fur, a long snout, tall pointy ears, and yellow eyes — she was as exactly she had pictured before the transformation. She examined her little paws and grunted in pride. She may not be able to smile in this state, but she could most certainly feel it.

Mother taught me well. I know that now.

There was another howl. Morrigan's head shot up to where she could hear the noise. She began to wound her way through the tall grass, running towards the woods. Birds squawked at the sight of her from the branches. Some of them flew away, some of them remained still where they sat. She could sense the insects crawling on the earth around her, and could hear flies buzzing overhead. She can also smell the dampness all over the woods. She sniffed and traced paw prints wherever visible and soon came into a clearing. Birds chirped in the distance. A short breeze flew into her fur. She looked up ahead.

The pack had stopped right in the middle of the clearing. They gathered in a circle, trapping in a seemingly old wolf, and all were lost in their silent vigil. He turned when Morrigan neared. The rest of the pack turned too.

Morrigan realized just how small she was. The members of the pack were half the height of men, and they were wide, their big yellow eyes studying the newcomer. Morrigan immediately stopped, locking eyes with the elderly leader. She sat where she stood, watching nervously.

They know.

Do they?

The pack all got up as one, and without throwing her another look, they ran away and entered another cluster of trees up ahead.

Morrigan almost cried "Wait!" until she realized she could only let out a small howl. She frantically got up on her four feet and went after the pack.

The wind whistled past her ears. She could sense the adrenaline as she sprinted ahead, crushing twig after twig, hitting branch after branch until she reached the pack and they all entered a swamp. They had stopped, and all of them were facing a small group of humans whose bows were at the ready. The rest of the wolves stood before the leader, teeth bared. A low growl reverberated among the pack.

"There's a lot of them, Kit," one of the men said. "We should just leave them."

"Sweet Maker, are you daft? Imagine the price we'll get for the pelt!"

"Loony's right, Kit," another said. "Leave 'em be."

"We could have the small one over there," Kit pointed to Morrigan. "We could train it."

A collective rumbling from the pack hushed them. The leader of the pack stepped in front of Morrigan and growled, causing her to stare.

"We could just hunt game somewhere else, Kit," Loony snarled, and the rest of the group seconded his motion. "There's too many of 'em. The Wilds have plenty more meat to offer."

Kit swore under his breath.

"I want that little one," he hissed. "For all we know it might not be useful to them." He took a step forward; the wolves barked and growled and lunged at him, causing him to back away. Kit spat.

"Fucking wolves," he grunted. He glared at them and retreated.

"Move it!" he hissed at his companions. "You lot are a bloody bunch of cowards."

The pack was still on their guard as Kit and his group walked away and turned a corner, vanishing from sight.

The elderly wolf leader relaxed after some minutes. His brethren approached and watched Morrigan who quivered before the leader.

How does a wolf show gratitude? Morrigan did not know. She looked up at the pack leader who looked down at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

Go home, child.

It's for your safety.

The other wolves sniffed at her, then howled. Morrigan, still frozen in fear, only nodded, hoping it would suffice. The pack leader bowed at her and moved away. The others followed him and for one last time ran away from her, crossing the swamp.