Random short stories.

The world's worst birthday

"Mum, Mum where are we going" I ask. She doesn't answer. Instead it's Dad that turns to face me. "It's a ... surprise camping trip, Luke." He answers haltingly, "We thought it would be fun for your 13th birthday." Somehow I don't believe him. His grin seems a little off somehow. "Where are we really going?" I whisper to my older sister Luna. She smirks knowingly, "I can't tell you."

I don't ask any more questions, knowing it will be useless and soon we pull up in an ominously dark forest. It's in the middle of nowhere and I have no idea what we could be doing. "Get out of the car." Mum tells me, and I step out. The sun is just setting, casting an orange light over everything. As soon as I step out of the car exhilaration floods my body. Something's about to happen. 

We don't walk far, only to a small clearing near the edge of the woods. All of my extended family are there. How did they get here? No time to wonder. They're all talking animatedly about something but stop as soon as we arrive. "Go." Luna tells me. She's talking to me as if I'm three years old. I look at her, confused. "Over there, I the clearing." She states. 

I don't know what else to do so I walk into the clearing. All of my uncles and aunts are looking at me expectantly. What now? All is silent as the moon rises. Suddenly I notice that none of my family are in the clearing. I'm the only person exposed to the moonlight. 

My skin starts to feel odd. Prickly. It's as if a million tiny needles are pushing their way out. I feel as if my body is turning inside out. Like I'm shrinking and growing at the same time. Then as suddenly as it all started, everything stops. I'm on all fours, gasping, but it feels ... right. I don't want to stand up. My mouth feels weird. Did my teeth used to be that sharp? I run my tongue over them and almost cut myself. 

Then I hear it. A low growl. Looking up, I find that I'm surrounded by wolves. Massive wolves with yellowing teeth and human eyes. The biggest of them growls at me again and somehow I understand it. "Welcome to the family Luke."