Chapter 10
Soaring Spring
Time passed. How did I know? By the time I was allowed out of the cabin, the dusting of snow had long melted and the wind held a subtle warmth heralding spring. I don't know how long I spent out there, eyes closed, listening to the forest around me, finally waking after the chill of winter. The air still bit against my face and ears, but even that was a thousand times better than the closed air of the cabin. Fully healed at last, Alex and Leo had let me wander unwatched. Finally alone, I could think.
I must have been out for quite a while from my injuries. I can't remember most of it, since my wolf took over most days and nights. She rarely let me see what she did. Sometimes I'm glad for her protection. Other times, like now for instance, it can get rather annoying. I must have been healing for at least a month if not longer. O'reilly must have really gotten to me for my wolf to take that long to heal. Or it could have been the constant changing. That taxes any wolf's system, even more so when injured. And winter was not known for the constant protein necessary for constant changing. My hand strayed to my side, feeling the spot where a gash and broken rib had been. They weren't even sore. I did have a nice thin scar under my eye from a misplaced branch that night, but that was the only mark visible with clothing. I was lucky to escape with so little. O'reilly could have easily killed me before Alex could interfere. Lord bless his massive ego on that one.
A slight shift in the rhythm around me drew my eyes open, looking over my left shoulder. Out of a bush, a small chipmunk scrambled, no doubt gathering the first berries of the season, even if they were a bit under-ripe. The bears would be coming out soon. By the scrapes on the trees, the deer had already begun their return from the lower foothills. Sniffing the morning air, I could smell traces of the animals. And of water. The streams, still winter-narrow, would be filling with melt soon. Then spring would truly begin. Now, it still fought winter. Tonight or the next, a frost would probably kill what few daring flowers tried to sprout. A tease lovely spring was. A wry smile came to my lips, unseen by any sentient thing. A tease.
My wolf growled in my mind, a humming sound not unlike laughter. So she was listening, eh? That thought only widened my smile, a chuckle disturbing the peace of the forest morning. I could feel her desire to take control, to be let loose on the wild. Humming deep in my throat, I let her. Though the change was painfully slow after so long a quarantine, finally shaking out of the remnants of my clothes and stretching on four paws felt like coming home. The feeling was entirely different than any other Change. I felt…free.
Against all better judgment I howled. Long and clear, the tones rang through the woods with vibrant life, heralding the homecoming of my wolf. It was an odd sound for so early in the day, but not entirely out of place. I felt at home there in the woods, standing on four clawed feet, able to smell the slightest shift in wind. Everything seemed clearer when the wolf took over. I never noticed before how much more alive everything seemed. I took it all in slowly, relishing each new sensation, each new sound. I could feel the wind blow through my fur, rustling its russet tones gently just as it rustled the underbrush. I could feel my wolf close, almost guiding me through this strange new body. She knew it better than I. Tentatively, I raised a paw, surprised that I was able to do so. A brief moment of panic hit me when I felt my wolf overwhelming my mind slowly, taking control of this four-legged form. But she stopped when she felt my sudden tensing. Gently after that, she slid control from my grasp, but did not push me back as she had before. Here and now I could watch and influence.
Here and now, we were one.