Redd was beside herself with everything new that was coursing through her. She could hear murmurs in the back of her mind. Her now golden eyes glared into the dark brown wolf that was under her paws, a growl emanating from her chest. The wolf blinked, taken aback by the now wolf pinning him.
It was only momentarily that he was stunned. She may have turned, but he was used to this body.
In a swift movement the pin was reversed and Redd was on the ground, the wolf standing over her.
Do you even know what's happening? The voice was chilling.
The black wolf tackled the brown wolf off of Redd. They rolled and the brown wolf had the black one by the scruff, and threw it. The black wolf hit a large tree, taking the hit mostly on its neck and head. It fell to the ground stunned. The brown wolf looked to Redd and walked over to her, circling her.
Do you, Kaite?
Sam? Redd thought to herself but when the wolf seemed to grin evilly, she knew her thoughts weren't secret.
Redd let out a snarl and crouched down. What do you want?
The wolf's ears pinned back and he let out a low growl. I'm here to give you a little warning to stay out of our way, brat. This isn't your fight. Sam has gone soft about you.
Redd growled and her eyes found the black wolf who was trying to get up.
"REDD!" Redd heard Liam scream and her ears swiveled back behind her. Footsteps, human, were closing in.
The fur on the scruff of her neck stood and she snarled at the brown wolf. She turned to see Hayden's friends skidding to a stop a few yards from her.
Ean and Liam looked the most tense, at least until they noticed that there were three wolves and no humans.
She swore she heard Liam mutter "Shit…"
The black wolf had stood up by now. The brown wolf had looked between the group of people and the black wolf and took a step away from Redd.
Redd looked between the group and the black wolf, her expression wasn't worry, but slight confusion. Her ears swiveled around trying to listen to anything. When Ean and Liam nodded, her ears pinned back. Parker and Malin walked forward passed Redd, to the brown and black wolves.
Liam held his arm out towards the path out of the woods. "Shall we?"
The brown wolf growled and went to attack Liam but was blindsided by sandy and dark tan coloured wolves. Redd looked at the now four wolves and whined in confusion. Parker and Malin were now wolves too? What the hell was going on?
Redd heard another voice in her head, one she knew. Hayden's voice. Go with Ean and Liam… They will explain what they can.
Redd stared at the black wolf who was staring back at her. You… You're the…
GO! Hayden barked a growl at Redd and flinched back, her ears pinning back against her head. She turned and walked with Ean and Liam as the black wolf, presumably Hayden now joined in subduing the dark brown wolf.
Once Redd, Ean and Liam were in a different part of the woods the boys stopped. Liam turned around and looked at Redd. "Ok, Redd. First things, first. We need to change you back."
Ean rolled his eyes and , for the first time since Redd had met him, spoke. "Kaite, you need to relax. This will feel really uncomfortable, if it doesn't hurt. I'm sorry, but there's no point in lying to you."
Redd groaned. Awesome.
Liam chucked. "Yes, it actually is. Why? Because it's not me doing it." Liam laughed and jumped back with his hands up in surrender when Redd growled at him.
Ean scowled. "Focus. Liam, stop distracting her. Go stand watch, or something."
Liam sighed, turned and ran off towards the entrance of the woods. Ean looked at Redd.
"Do you remember how you shifted in the first place?"
Redd shook her head.
"You just did?"
She nodded and Ean sighed.
"The hard way it is," he muttered. He took in a breath before continuing. "It's internal energy that allowed you to shift. The fact that you did this with no help is rather astonishing on its own. However, that makes changing back harder. You need to find where that energy is located within yourself. You need to find it, and, either A) build it up to change back, or B) burn what left that's coursing through you. The ladder is a higher risk, due to exposure."
Redd shrugged. Which is faster?
Ean flinched at Redd's voice in his head. "The ladder."
The ladder it is. Be back soon. Redd walked past Ean, up the path and out to where Liam was supposed to be keeping watch. Instead she found the larger, fox-coloured wolf, with a mischievous look on it's face. Liam….
Liam grinned and lowered himself to the ground, ready to pounce. Energy burn out it is…
There was something about Liam's tone that had Redd both worried and excited at the same time.