Savannah woke up in a cold sweat. That was the fifth time in two weeks that she'd dreamed of running through the forest as a wolf, of a bloody battle that many didn't walk away from. She glanced at her alarm clock, sighing as the bright red numbers revealed that it wouldn't be too long before she'd have to get up for school. Deciding to take a shower to rid herself of the sweat that seemed to be everywhere, she hauled herself out of bed, desperately trying to ignore the deep muscle aches that had been present for a few weeks now.

She whimpered quietly as she gathered the necessary items for her shower. It hadn't been long after Christmas that she'd begun feeling sore constantly, almost as if she was trapped in a body that was too small. And more recently, she'd begun having the dreams. The dreams that didn't feel like dreams, but memories. She couldn't shake them, and she couldn't get rid of the aching muscles either, no matter what painkillers she took.

She winced as the hot water ran down her sore back, its heat doing nothing to alleviate the pain. She sighed. Something had to be done. Adrianna had already begun to notice the dark bags and constant shifting, she couldn't hide what was going on for much longer, nor did she want to. She decided that if something hadn't changed by the end of the week she was telling someone, most likely Adri.

Mrs. Jeepers watched Savannah throughout the period, green eyes flashing with worry as she observed the girl. She had been noticing odd things about her as of late, things that concerned her. First there was the way she could never seem to sit still, and then there were the pained hisses or winces whenever she moved. Most recently, it was the dark circles under her eyes that worried her. She looked exhausted and sick, and what she was observing now only seemed to reinforce that assumption.

Savannah kept her head down the whole period, not even looking up when the woman squeezed her shoulder tightly. What concerned the redhead more, though, was how warm the girl felt through her shirt. She waited anxiously for the bell to ring so she could check on her, relief flooding through her as its shrill sound finally echoed throughout the room.

As expected, Savannah didn't move, merely tensed her shoulders as her classmates shifted around her. It was only after the last student left that Mrs. Jeepers dashed over to her, kneeling by the desk, and running a hand over her head in concern.

Savannah knew something was seriously wrong when she began to run a fever just before fifth period. At least, she thought it was a fever, considering the sudden spike in her body temperature. But the odd thing was, she didn't feel the usual chills or exhaustion that accompanied a temperature. In fact, the extra heat almost felt normal. It would have been bearable if her head hadn't promptly exploded into what felt like a million pieces soon after.

It was, quite possibly, the absolute worst headache she'd ever had. The explosion of pain nearly sent her to her knees, and colors exploded in front of her eyes. She found herself sitting on the ground, eyes squeezed tightly shut, when the world finally stopped spinning around her. Squinting, she managed to somehow make it to her fifth and sixth periods, by which time she truly thought she was going to pass out. Which was why, by the time she'd managed to stumble her way into Mrs. Jeepers' algebra class, she could do little more than drop her head onto her desk, gently, and focus on not throwing up.

At some point in her personal hell, she felt a cool hand squeeze her shoulder, and knew it was her teacher trying to gain her attention. Ordinarily she would have at least acknowledged her presence, but with the nausea swirling in her stomach and the nearly blinding pain throbbing in time with her heartbeat, (and was it her, or was her heart rate abnormally quick?), she just couldn't summon the will or energy. When the bell rang she felt tears spring to her eyes, the rush of blood in her ears nearly blocking it out. When she could finally form something close to coherent thought again she became aware of Adrianna stroking her hair.

Summoning every ounce of willpower she possessed, she lifted her head a fraction, just enough so that she could turn her head to face where she knew the older woman was sitting and slit her eyes open. Sure enough, worried viridescent orbs gazed at her with concern, and she managed a small smile.

"Hey," she murmured quietly, the sound reverberating around her skull.

"Hey," Adri replied quietly, sensing the immense pain the girl was in.

"Adri," Savannah breathed, "my head is killing me and I hurt. What's wrong with me?"

The older woman cupped her cheek, eyes narrowing at the immense warmth that greeted her.

"I don't know," she whispered quietly. "It seems as though you have the flu. You are burning up."

"Am I? I don't feel warm, I just hurt, everywhere."

She hissed as another wave of pain tore through not only her head, but her body as well. The urge to move, to stand, to stretch herself out, was unbearable, and she staggered unsteadily to her feet. Adrianna was at her side in an instant, hands gripping her shoulders like a vice to prevent her from falling. Savannah leaned into her, resting her head on her shoulder before the urge to move once again consumed her. She shrugged the older woman's hands off, beginning to half stagger and half pace around the room, her head throbbing more severely with each step.

"Savannah, be still. What are you doing?" Adri asked, anxious as she watched the brunette stumble around.

"I...don't...know," she answered, beginning to pant.

There was something happening inside her, something she had no words for but that felt normal, felt right. She thought that maybe it would bring relief from her immense agony. She felt her heart speed up even more than it had already done, and before she knew what was happening she found herself in a heap on the floor. Adrianna darted to her side, her worry transforming into fear as she heard her quickened heartbeat. Savannah suddenly screamed as she felt her insides constrict, making the pain she had been in previously seem like nothing.

"Savannah!" the redhead shouted, hands traveling over her face, back, and sides to determine the cause of such a sound.

Sapphire eyes locked onto emerald, but the girl didn't answer, too consumed in her pain. Suddenly, she felt a rush of energy, and her world spun and contorted around her, making her dizzy. She closed her eyes, afraid and hurting. Gradually, the world stopped spinning, the explosion of pain fading. She opened her eyes and looked up at a very startled woman.

Adrianna gasped and backed away as Savannah began to change. Her form shifted, becoming larger and more animal like, black fur sprouting to cover her as her clothes tore away. A tail grew, along with a snout and pointed ears. Finally the transformation stopped, and there before her lay a large black wolf. It's eyes opened, fear and confusion radiating from dark blue orbs.

It cocked it's head, looking up at her. She screamed.

Savannah cocked her head as she noticed the older woman's fear. What was wrong? And since when was she so much smaller than the petite woman? The redhead screamed then, shattering the silence that had taken over after her own scream, and she shut her eyes in pain. When it was once again silent, she attempted to stand, only to fall flat on her stomach. What the hell was happening?

She tried again, pushing with all four legs. Wait, four legs?! Savannah looked down at herself in a bout of panic. Black fur, two paws….She attempted to wag a tail, hoping it wouldn't happen, only to feel something respond to her command. She screamed, which came out as a high pitched yip.

She looked back up at the older woman staring down at her in fear, who was all-but on top of her desk, and attempted to ask just what the hell was going on. New smells, sounds, and feelings assaulted her from every angle, and she could feel herself nearly ready to sink into hysteria. It was overwhelming, the way she could hear people talking down the street as if they were standing next to her, not to mention the way she could smell anything in what seemed to be a five mile radius.

"Adri, help me? What's happening?!"

All she heard was a series of growls and barks, foreign but understandable, at least to her. Adri, on the other hand, looked like she was about to faint. Determined to find out why the other woman seemed so afraid of her, Savannah once again pushed up with all four legs, this time managing to stand, albeit shakily. Adri inhaled sharply, her fear renewed tenfold when she noticed that the wolf came to her chest on all fours. Savannah took one shaky step, and when she didn't fall took another, each step becoming more sure and steady.

"Un lup! Fugi!" Adrianna screamed, reverting to her native language in her fear.

Savannah cocked her head, confused at what was being said. She took another step, and this time the older woman did jump up onto the desk.

"Adri, why are you so afraid? It's just me," Savannah attempted to say, her concern for the other woman momentarily making her forget that she could no longer speak.

She came closer, sitting in front of the desk and regarding the woman practically shaking in fear. She gave a yip, not even attempting to speak as she knew how that would end, and it was as if someone had flipped a switch in the older redhead. Adri stopped shaking, the look of fear leaving her eyes, only to be replaced by one of fury. The girl-turned-wolf gulped, instinctively beginning to back away.

"How dare you come here, into my domain?" Adrianna asked as she climbed off the desk, voice dangerously low and eyes glowing. "You and your kind are appalling. To make it worse worse, I trusted you! I thought you cared for me..." She approached the trembling wolf, her voice distorting with fury; and Savannah legitimately thought she was going to die. "You disgust me."

The words cut like a blade. She had honestly thought there had been a mutual attraction between the two of them. Apparently she was wrong. It felt as though her heart was being torn from her chest, and the familiar emptiness she had battled the majority of her life came rushing in. Adrianna, for her part, was too angry to notice the sadness beginning to take root in her heart.

She had trusted the girl, had become friends with her, had found someone she thought she could be herself with, only to have it all ripped away from her. It hurt her that Savannah had lied to her about her true form, that of a Shifter. She also knew that where there was one, there was bound to be more, and thus she was in danger. A lone Vampire against at least three Shifters was certain death. She hissed angrily before she could stop herself.

"I am going to make absolutely certain that you learn never to play with a lady's heart."

Savannah yelped, truly terrified of the woman. An otherworldly energy seemed to glow around her, and she appeared at once incredibly dangerous and beautiful. Before she could get closer she ran, toppling desks over as she made her escape. She didn't know what was going on, how she had just changed her fucking body shape, but she knew she had to at least go home and get out of sight. Maybe her parents knew what was going on, and if she could at least get some answers maybe she could figure out why Adri's attitude toward her had changed so suddenly and drastically.

Adrianna watched the wolf run out of the room, torn between following her and finishing her or curling up where she stood and sobbing. She chose neither, instead rushing to gather her things and get home. At least there she would have the upper hand should Savannah and her pack choose to attack. She had no illusions of being safe any longer. If Savannah's family were all Shifters as it seemed, then she knew they knew what she was, and they would be coming for her.

Sadness consumed her as she hurried home. Would she never find someone that would accept her without somehow hurting her? Would she never be safe? Tears glistened in her eyes as she nearly broke down her front door. Well, she was through playing games.

If a little girl wanted to play with her only to then destroy her, well, two could play that game.