Forced to Start Again

Run, Hide, or Fight

Three Months Later

Xander's bones cracked against each other, fire pulsing beneath his skin as his breaths came in more quick and sharp. He fell down to his hands and knees, fingers curling into the grass buried under the snow. The distant, warbled voice of Freya carried in his mind and he tried to shut it out - he was so close and he wasn't going to let her worrying ruin it. He thickly swallowed, arching his back as a wave of pain rippled through him. He knew he was changing in size, whether it be bigger or smaller, he wasn't sure, and his vision was shifting in color. Gritting his teeth together, he squeezed his eyes shut as one last jolt of pain shocked him and then there was only peacefulness and silence.

He was breathing heavily, wait, no, he was panting. A light pink tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth, and his color spectrum seemed to shrink. The whole world was various shades of yellows, blues, and grays. Sniffing the air, he looked over to Freya who had bounded over to him and was staring at him quizzically, almost as if she was inspecting him. Attempting to say a greeting, he took a step back when all that came out was a soft ruff. Freya looked amused at this as he crinkled his nose up. This was strange, he decided. Padding through the thin layer of snow, he heard Freya follow him.

You look exactly like me. she mused, using their mental link to speak to him.

Hey, I'm still trying to figure this out, don't start insulting me so soon! he replied, his jowls curling into a smirk as she snapped at his hunches. He yelped out and turned around, squinting his eyes at letting out a defensive growl. She didn't say anything more at this, only walking on past him in response.

Do you want me to teach you how to hunt? she inquired and he paused in thought. It certainly would be a nice skill to learn. Plus, if he was going to try and be exactly like a wolf, he would have to know. After all, what wolf doesn't know how to hunt?

Why not. he replied before taking off after her. At first, it started like what Xander guessed what a wolf's hunting trip would be, but it turned into him tripping over his own paws or scaring the prey away. He clearly was still a bit foreign to the whole idea of him being a wolf. Freya soon gave up on teaching him. It wasn't long after that when the two were sitting in the shade of a tree, panting and enjoying each other's company over all. Xander noted that his connection with Freya was a lot stronger and bolder when in this form, as it was to be expected. As they were technically the same species now.

Head resting on his paws, he hadn't bothered to shift back as he started to doze off, but when a familiar sound met his ears he immediately stood up, barking Freya to a more alert stance.

What are you doing? she questioned and he shook his head, running off to get to higher ground. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, heart pounding against his rib cage and lungs screaming for air, but that didn't stop him. He peered over the tops of the trees to see the helicopter which he was brought in climbing up the horizon. A cocktail of emotions swelled inside of him; panic, hate, fear, the need for revenge. He hadn't noticed until Freya said something that a low growl was rumbling in the back of his throat. Xander, what is it? He didn't answer.

Eyes flickering about his surroundings, he wondered what was the best way to react to this? He could run, but surely they would be able to catch up to him. He could hide, but it would only be time before they found him. The last option was fight, or at least scare them off, but how could he do that when they have an entire army on their side? He had to try, and if whatever he did was going to end with his death, he wanted to go down fighting for his life, not cowering in a cave or running in the other direction with his tail between his legs, figuratively and literally.

Xander, you can shift back now. Freya said out of the blue, catching the others attention.

I think it would be best if I didn't. Plus, he hadn't really thought of how he was going to do that. Freya, you need to go. It wasn't as if he didn't think she could care for herself in the situaiton, it was just that he didn't want to chance her getting hurt, or killed. He didn't want to have to go through the whole Kierra situation as he didn't perceive emotions well, and he felt as if he lost Freya that he wouldn't know what to go. He's lost everything, and she, even though she was, well, a wolf, she made him feel like he finally found a home. Please, leave. I'll come find you tomorrow, okay? He turned to look at her and she wasn't giving much of a reaction. She didn't look angry, upset, confused, or anything inbetween, but instead she gave a solemn nod and padded off. Xander would guess that at that moment he looked more confused than she did, but now wasn't the time to think about that. Now was the time to fight, so with all the strength he could muster, he arched his back and let out a howl.