I awoke with a start, screaming, and my eyes and body jerked like a flash of lightening, sitting up and looking at my surroundings. ‘It was just a dream I told myself,’ as I relaxed back down into my bed, staring into my ceiling. I rolled over and took a deep breath. It was so real, such a vivid dream. I brushed it off, and got up and trudged into the bathroom. It was time to make myself presentable for the day. I arrived downstairs to many happy and cheery faces.
My dad addressed me as I was picking at my pancakes, still distracted by the dream from last night. “You ready to run today? We have plenty of boundaries to check today.”
I nodded my approval before shoving more pancakes into my mouth. My father looked at me strangely at my reluctance to speak.
My dad furrowed his brows. “Is everything alright Cass?”
Everyone in the room looked at me in confusion as they caught my dad’s words. I looked around at everyone, and then looked to my dad.
“Yeah, dad I’m fine.” He nodded his head in resignation. “Alright then.” He then continued his work cleaning up the kitchen. My brother, Chase, came down the stairs, looking forlorn and depressed. I missed my brother looking happy. I frowned and picked up my plate, half finished. I deposited it in the sink after giving the dogs my scraps. I walk over to my dad, “I’ll be outside.” He nodded his head, “Okay, Cass.” He leaned in closer, “But don’t run too far, wait for me to check the borders with you. I know you’re nearly of age, but I don’t want you going alone.” I shrugged, “Okay I won’t. I just need air. I’ll see you out there dad.” I turned and walked outside, heading for the tree line of the forest where a little shack was. It was what we called a ‘prep shack.’ I climbed toward it and stopped at the door. ‘This is still all so new to me,’ I thought. It didn’t matter though; this is who I was now. I sighed, and walked inside. The shack had nothing but shelving, with everyone’s names on a shelf. I noticed now that one finally had a label on it with my name. ‘Guess that’s official now,’ I thought. I walked over to the shelf and pulled off my jacket, setting it on there. I took off my clothes and set them on the shelf. I stood in the shack, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. This was always the hard part. I was still getting used to this. I remember the comments made to me when I had had my fourteenth birthday. My brother said to me that ‘it’s difficult for a while. But don’t let that bring you down. You will get used to it, and become one with whats inside you.’
I then drew into myself, listening inside, and calling to the one inside me. I always thought of him as a demon, but recently I have been thinking of him more as a friend.
‘Let’s go.’ I reached for him, and began my uncomfortable transformation process. I felt bones moving and creaking into place. The shift is instant, but not as painful as I thought it was going to be the first time.
It was much different in my other form, everything was clearer, and smells were stronger. My inner wolf shone through, letting the world come into a different light. I paced a little, getting used to the feeling again. Unlike others in my family, I have trouble with the shift than others during their first times. No one knew why, or what was ‘wrong’ with me, it was just who I was. As I followed the ray of sunlight out into the open forest, I reflected at how far I had come in the past few months. I had come pretty far, finding myself and being part of a pack. It helped me come to grips with who I was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY,” everyone screamed at me. I was in shock. My birthday was in four days. But here was everyone, smiling faces, for me. Even Chase was here, looking disgruntled in the corner.
