Moontouched
Author's Note: This is for the square "werewolf AU" on the 501st bingo. :)
~ Amina Gila
"Get back here!"
Ahsoka pauses in her tracks at the hissed whisper from around the corner. She can only pick up on it this far away because of her montrals. It's one of the clones talking. They all sound so similar, but she's fairly certain it might be Echo. It's hard to say, though. But with how scandalized he sounds, it's a good guess.
She hears something pattering down the hall a second later which sounds very non-human. Whatever they're up to, Ahsoka has a bad feeling about it.
She circles around the corner without waiting, in time to see Echo desperately attempting to shoo a... is that a wolf?! back into his barracks.
The wolf is entirely dark brown, almost black, and it's about half her size.
"What is that?" Ahsoka asks, staring.
Echo – that is Echo, and she can tell from the sharp warmth of his presence and his armor – freezes, turning to look at her. She can sense his mild alarm, and Ahsoka crosses her arms, raising an eye-marking. She didn't take him to be the type to hide a pet. Probably, it's Fives' idea.
"It's –" Echo starts, mostly spluttering.
The wolf stares at her, something in its brown eyes a little too intent before it runs up to her, wagging its tail. Ahsoka reaches out to pet it, stroking its soft fur.
The wolf tilts its head back, licking her hand.
Echo looks like he's about to have a heart attack. Maybe literally.
"It's fine," Ahsoka laughs, "But how'd you get him up here?" It's cute, really, and she wants to keep it. Even if they really shouldn't have time or resources to take care of pets when they're fighting a war.
"It... was Fives' idea," Echo protests, like he's scrambling to find something to say. She gets the feeling that he's not saying something huge, though she's not sure what. Now that she thinks about it, this definitely isn't an ordinary wolf, either. It feels too... alive. It's far more intelligent than she's ever seen an animal to be, and it feels familiar in a way Ahsoka can't quite place. Maybe it's just her imagination.
The wolf whips around, barking at him.
"Yes, it is, Fives," Echo retaliates.
"You named the wolf after your brother?" Ahsoka asks, snorting.
"He wanted it," Echo grumbles, "The least he can do is share its name."
The wolf turns towards him, jaw dropping in dismay.
They even act the same. "Does Rex know about this?" Ahsoka asks. She'd ask about her master, but really? He'd never order anyone to take a stray animal off their cruiser, unless it was before going into battle and there was a chance of it being blown up. Rex, on the other hand, is far more responsible in that regard.
"He... does," Echo admits, reluctantly.
She would think that's a total lie if she didn't sense the truth. "He's fine with keeping it here?" She can hardly imagine that. How long has the thing been on board, if Rex has had time to get comfortable with having it around? It's slightly impressive they were even able to hide it so long, but no one except clones usually go near the clones' barracks.
"We... convinced him to agree," Echo supplies, nervously. Ahsoka really gets the feeling there's something he's not saying.
"Well," she shrugs, "I guess we're keeping it." She still thinks there's far more to the story, though.
**w**
Anakin can always tell when something's wrong with Ahsoka, when something's upsetting her, but something about this particular time feels a little... different.
Maybe he's just being jittery, but something about her feels different.
He can't pinpoint exactly when it changed, but he's been sensing something a little off with some of the boys for a while, like their presences somehow are looping together as one, but that doesn't make sense. Ahsoka feels the same way now and has ever since the last mission they went on.
"Are you alright?" Anakin queries finally, eyeing her worriedly. Usually, Ahsoka will talk if she's upset about something, unless it's one of those times she's being quiet and broody, in which case she'll talk with just a bit of prompting. She seems outright nervous right now, though, which is very unlike her.
"Yes," she says, but it sounds like a flat out lie. Maybe she's physically fine, but something is definitely wrong.
She reaches out before he can reply, taking his left hand. They hold each other's hands frequently, so Anakin has no idea why her nervousness only seems to be skyrocketing suddenly.
"You're –" he starts, when Ahsoka suddenly leans forwards, sinking her teeth into his wrist.
Anakin yelps, ripping away from her. Ahsoka will bite him at random sometimes, but never that hard – it's always his mechanical hand, and meant playfully.
Ahsoka's staring at him, expression torn between guilt and nervousness. "I –"
"Did one of the boys dare you to do this?" he has to ask, because he can in fact imagine a select few doing something that ridiculous. Blood is already trickling from the bite marks along his wrist, and it's stinging badly. Not that he's not accustomed to pain much more severe, but seriously, how deep did she bite? And something about the bite feels off, though he can't say what it is. It feels like something's wrong, something's... changing, and he doesn't like it.
"Yeah?" she offers, guiltily. She sounds uncertainly freaked out enough about it that Anakin is decently certain she's both telling the truth and leaving out something very important.
"Well," he says, "Then can you ask Kix to look at this?" he wouldn't want to, but it's bad.
"Okay," Ahsoka agrees a little guiltily, before darting out of the room.
The strange feeling that the wound has is only growing, for some reason.
Kix gives Ahsoka his best disappointed look when they come back. It's still bleeding, though not quite as bad, and considering its depth, Anakin is willing to spare a bit of bacta for it. It's certainly far from pleasant, and he has no idea why his padawan bit him.
Ahsoka has the sense of mind to look guilty about it, and she settles up against the wall, crossing her arms while Kix treats it.
This isn't the first time Anakin has sensed something... off, but it's far stronger now. He can sense bonds people have with each other, though it's always very distant flickers of light that he can only pick up on if they're communicating. Whatever Ahsoka and Kix have is... different. It's far more pronounced, more tangible, like they're talking telepathically.
That shouldn't be possible. Kix isn't Force-sensitive. He's not – he's brighter in the Force than most clones, but not that much.
"I think it's time someone explains exactly what's going on here?" Anakin asks finally, trying to keep his voice soft. He's not angry – just freaked out, because this makes no sense.
Ahsoka and Kix look at each other again. They're definitely both in on whatever's going on here.
"Werewerewolves," Ahsoka blurts.
Anakin blinks. "What?"
"We're werewolves," Kix repeats, practically squirming and looking almost ridiculously uncomfortable by it.
... What? He's heard rumors of things like that in legends, but it was hardly something he paid any attention to. "Werewolves?" Anakin echoes. He's fairly certain that is not something the clones are supposed to be genetically, which means – "How did that happen?"
"Rex, Echo, Fives, Jesse, and I went into some sort of... I don't know what it was, but we ran into a wolf. It... bit us, and we... transformed," Kix explains.
Oh. Oh. "Would that be why Ahsoka bit me?" Anakin asks, dryly. It would explain why the bite doesn't feel normal, why it feels like something is spreading through him, slowly starting to change him. He doesn't really know how to feel about that.
"Yes?" Ahsoka offers, sheepishly.
"I told her not to, sir," Kix offers.
"How did Ahsoka get... turned into this, too?" Anakin queries, "She wasn't with you."
"Well," Kix answers awkwardly, "We evidently... heal faster than we used to, and Ahsoka was injured on the last mission we were on. Rex said he turned her."
That would explain a few things. Anakin had sensed Ahsoka injured, but she seemed mostly fine when he had the chance to check on her again.
"I almost caught them before," Ahsoka pipes up, "I saw Fives as a wolf, and I thought he was their secret pet who they insisted Rex knew about."
Anakin can't help laughing at the mere thought of the look on Rex's face if they actually brought an animal onto the ship. Well, aside from an occasional stray tooka that they wisely dropped off at the nearest animal shelter before it could cause havoc – or before someone could get too attached to it. "I assume it was also Fives who dared you to do this?"
Ahsoka nods.
Kix looks like he just wants to facepalm.
"How long does the... transformation take?" Anakin asks. The feeling is spreading now, growing more overwhelming, as though everything inside of him is being re-written, which is pretty much the truth.
... Does this mean he won't even be human anymore? Just half wolf, half Force?
He still doesn't know how to feel about getting his species changed at total random. But it already happened to the boys and Ahsoka, so it can't be that bad.
"You don't mind, do you?" Ahsoka asks, still sheepish.
"I don't know," he shrugs, "Not really. It's just different." And it's a difference that he'll have to get accustomed to quickly, once he's able to turn into a wolf.
**w**
Anakin expected the transformation would be somewhat painful, but he didn't expect it to be quite like this. That feeling that had started spreading from the bite is everywhere now, and he feels it when something in him starts shifting.
He can feel himself changing, as though the shape and size of everything inside of him is abruptly being rewritten, and it certainly hurts like that's what's happening.
Anakin has no idea how long it's taking – he doesn't think it could've been more than a few minutes, though he could be wrong – but it feels like every bone in his body is snapping and refitting into something else, and yes, it hurts.
The pain doesn't linger though, which he's grateful for. It ends as suddenly as it started.
Anakin is standing on all fours on the floor and his paws – it's beyond jarring to see paws when he looks down, but the distinctly wolf part of his brain thinks that's perfectly normal – are the same color as his hair was.
... He really wonders what Ahsoka would look like as a wolf.
Most of all, he can feel a... connection between him, Ahsoka, and the rest of the boys who are wolves. It's not quite like a Force bond, but it's still a strong connection that lets him feel the others constantly. He can sense the others' minds distinctly – communicating telepathically would be easy this way.
His pack, the wolf part of his mind whispers.
That's always what it felt like anyway, though obviously when he was human Anakin would never have put it in those words. They already were his family, and this new connection only makes those instincts feel stronger.
He senses Ahsoka's approach the same way he always does, but Anakin can... hear her, too? It's weird, but it's almost as though his senses are heightened somehow.
The door opens, and Ahsoka appears in the doorway, stilling when she sees him. "I... didn't expect you to be so... cute."
Anakin laughs. Well, he would have if he was human. It sounds more like a bark.
She takes a few steps closer to him, reaching down to pat his head. He nuzzles closer to her hand, wagging his tail purely on instinct.
He also has the unbearable urge to lick her. Because apparently, his brain thinks that's supposed to be affectionate.
"I know the first transformation can be... hard," Ahsoka says, still stroking his head.
"It's fine," he assures her. It's not like she needs to be worrying about him. The sound comes out like a bark, though. She seems to understand it, anyway.
"Good," she chirps, cheerfully, "The boys really want to see you."
He can imagine.
And the more she pets him, the more he can hardly resist the unbearable urge to lick her hand. But honestly, what's the point in resisting it? They're all wolves now.
Anakin tilts his head back, slobbering Ahsoka's hand. She lets out a startled yelp, and then laughs. "That's disgusting, Skyguy."
"If you were a wolf, and I was not, I have no doubt you'd be licking me, too," he says.
Anakin has no idea if Ahsoka understands him or not, but she laughs again, anyway. "C'mon, Master. Let's go to the barracks." Exactly how many of them are in on this by now? Not that it really matters.
He trots after Ahsoka, following her through the halls to the boys' barracks.
Fives and Echo are waiting in the doorway when they step inside. A grin splits Fives' face the moment he sees Anakin. "Hey, General," he says, amusement obvious.
"We didn't mean for things to go this far, sir," Echo supplies.
"Speak for yourself," Fives tells him, cheerfully.
Echo gives him a scandalized look.
Ahsoka smothers a giggle.
"It's fine," Anakin assures them, but it comes out sounding like a bark.
The other three seem to understand it, though.
"You said you heal faster, right?" Anakin asks, sitting down, "I think we could use some of that."
"Fives doesn't," Echo tells him.
Anakin believes that. Somewhat.
Fives steps closer, crouching in front of Anakin, reaching out to run a hand across the top of his head. As a dog, he thinks it feels... nice, despite Echo's grimace in the background.
Anakin also has the ridiculous urge to lick Fives' now. Considering the close friendship he has with both him and Echo, it's hardly a surprise his wolf instincts think it's a good idea. He stops fighting the desire after a few moments of nuzzling closer to Fives' hand. He tilts his head back to lick Fives' hand, who just seems to find it funnymore than anything else.
Fives continues petting him, and Anakin licks his face.
Ahsoka giggles behind him. "Maybe all of us should transform," she suggests. "I'll be right back." She darts out of the room.
Fives and Echo finally opt for transforming too while she's gone. They're both entirely dark brown, close to black, but Fives has an obvious "5" tattoo on the side of his head. Though, Anakin would still be able to tell them apart by smell – apparently, he can do that as a wolf? – and simply by how they look.
Fives has a mischievous gleam in his eyes that's somehow even more prominent in his wolf form.
They're also both slightly smaller than he is, probably because of their height differences as humans.
Fives promptly bounds over to him, rubbing against his side. Anakin returns the gesture, wagging his tail. Echo trots closer, then pauses to sniff the air. "The Commander's coming back."
Anakin can sense as much as hear the faint pattering outside the door, moments before it opens, to reveal a very tiny wolf.
Well, tiny compared to them, at least.
She's entirely orange, except for white stripes that run across her face, and her ears are blue. It's almost unreasonably adorable. She also has two white and blue striped tails.
Anakin trots over to her, nuzzling his snout against the top of her head. Her tails swish, as she snuggles closer to him.
He has the most ridiculous urge to run through the halls like this, just to see which of them can outrun the others, but that's probably not the best thing to do right now, if they're hoping to keep the fact that they're all wolves now under tight wrap. He doesn't really know how people would react, if the word did get out – assuming anyone believes it.
Anakin sits down instead, and Ahsoka circles around him, before clambering onto his back.
He flicks his tail back far enough to sort-of pat her on the back – since he can't even reach her anymore – before he rests his head on his paws, content to just sit here, at least for now. Not that he can do much else, when it's hard enough to breathe with Ahsoka's weight on top of him, but he's not about to tell her to get off.
Echo and Fives come to take up positions on either side of him, and he's contemplating having a group nap, until Ahsoka's beeping comm has to promptly ruin the moment.
The Togruta-wolf makes a grumpy noise, making no effort at trying to move – she has the comm strapped around her paw, and Anakin won't question how she managed that.
"Rex can probably handle whoever is calling," Anakin says, or at least he hopes so. He doesn't sense any danger, so it can't be a warning they're about to be attacked.
"Are you sure we shouldn't answer, sir?" Echo objects.
He would say yes, but one of them trying to transform back right now would be a hassle. "... If they call back."
The comm promptly beeps again, a few moments later.
"Maybe we can answer like this to scare away whoever it is," Ahsoka suggests, gleefully.
"If it was the Admiral, that may not be the best... solution," Anakin points out. It couldn't be the Council so he shouldn't need to worry about that, but –
She deflates dramatically, nearly knocking his breath out in the process. "But... he wouldn't know who we were!"
Anakin has no idea why he's considering this, none whatsoever. He has no way of turning the comm on properly, so the most Anakin can do is reach out with the Force, pushing the button.
Obi-Wan would never approve, but it's not as if he'll ever know –
The hologram that flickers to life practically above the four of them is, in fact, Obi-Wan. And he looks rather annoyed. "I've been trying to comm Anakin for last hour –" he starts, then cuts himself off sharply, blinking in absolute confusion at the sight in front of him.
Anakin doesn't even try suppressing his laugh. Neither does Ahsoka.
Obi-Wan continues to gape at them, and okay –
"We should probably hang up," Anakin tells the others, reaching out with the Force again to disconnect the call. He doesn't need to make his former master panic any more than he probably already is. And it might be something important, so he should probably get up to deal with it. Except, he really doesn't want to.
"He's going to know," Echo warns, a hint of worry in his tone.
"Do you really think he'd guess that we're werewolves because he saw four wolves in the hologram?" objects Ahsoka.
"You do stick out," Anakin replies, dryly. If not for how Ahsoka looked, he'd say there's no reason Obi-Wan would guess, but –
"He'll probably think we have pets and painted one after the Commander," Fives points out.
Which... is probably true, and also very believable, because Anakin can entirely imagine his boys and Ahsoka doing that. Though, he'd feel a little bad for the poor wolf that got its fur dyed without consent in the first place. "Perhaps," Anakin agrees, "I should probably call him back."
Ahsoka whines, making no effort to move.
"Or it can wait, just a few more minutes," Anakin finally concedes, because he doesn't want to move either.
He hears as much as senses Rex approaching suddenly, though, and moments later, the door opens. Rex looks a little more amused than he does surprised. "General," he greets.
Anakin stands, careful not to knock Ahsoka off his back – though she slides off anyway, dropping lightly to the ground next to him.
He trots up to Rex, wagging his tail. "Yes?"
"I thought you should know that General Kenobi is on his way here, and he's looking for you."
Oh. Of course, he is.
"We're out of time?" Echo asks, a touch warily.
"Almost," Rex agrees.
"I'll head back to my quarters then, and –" Anakin starts, though even as he's speaking, he already can sense Obi-Wan.
"I think it's probably too late for that," Rex interjects.
He's probably right. So much for keeping this secret from getting out any further.
"And he was asking why we have wolves on board, so I believe he will have a lot of questions."
"Then let's go out to greet him," Ahsoka suggests, cheerfully.
... Considering how far they've come in practically pranking him, they might as well go all out with it.
Though Obi-Wan's not too likely to tell anyone about it anyway – hopefully – considering how confused and mind-blown he's going to be when he sees them.
"Yes," Anakin agrees, amused, "Let's go."
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