Fly

Chapter 7

I slowly blinked open my eyes. The den was fuzzy from sleep. I looked down. In my sleep I changed back to female in my sleep. Oh, the confusion awaits. I have a mental, maniacal laugh. I roll onto my stomach from my side and stand up. I stretch out my back and 4 legs by pushing them away from me, planting my paws on the ground, and leaning away. I shook my shaggy head and looked over at my current den-mate. "Hey, Lyrca, are you awake yet?" I say to her sleeping form. I hear soft breathing in reply. I shrug and start to climb out of the den. I first poke my head and upper body out to see if anyone else is awake yet. I've always been an early riser when I actually do sleep, which rarely happens. It's a good thing the ground was hard enough I could sleep! I have always had issues sleeping on something soft, so I had a custom bed made for me at the school I was "adopted" by. If something is soft, then I get restless and cannot lay still, giving me Insomnia and a bunch of health issues that surround sleep deprivation. I used to take medication to help me relax myself enough to sleep, but it wouldn't work and I just turned into a lethargic zombie, with little emotions, no reflexes, and little actions. They quickly took me off and I became their best sold- I mean student. Yeah, student.

Being in my head full of thoughts, I zoned out as I walked through the pack territory. I didn't notice where I was walking until: "Oomph!" I yell, as I run into a hard object. There is old growling in reply.

"HOW DARE YOU RUN INTO YOUR ALPHA!" I hear the deep, scratchy voice scream at me. I fall into position, falling onto my stomach and pushing forward my ears in respect and fear. He snapped at my ear, almost biting it off if I didn't move my head to the side to protect my ear. The Alpha placed one of his front paws and planted it on the top of your head to keep it still. "If I choose to punish my Pack members below me, I can and will. I punish for disobedience and threats to my power, whether direct or indirect!" He seethed his rant right next to my ear. Having the new, sensitive hearing from having wolfish ears and hearing/senses, this really irked me and hurt my ear drums. I clenched my jaw to stop myself from reacting violently. You do not have enough experience fighting in this form yet! Calm yourself! I mentally berate myself.

"It was an accident; I wasn't looking where I was going, Alpha!" I plead for my safety.

"You will not receive special treatment because you are a Skin Changer! No matter the special treatment you must have been coddled with in your previous pack, you must adapt to this new environment! Part of being accepted in this pack is to accept and obey your Higher Ranks. Now: Shut. Up!" The Alpha digs his paw even deeper into my head and bears his teeth, saliva dripping onto my poor, bruised top of my head. I whimper in fear, and let my instincts take over.

I threw my front legs up and barely scratched the torso of the Alpha. He flinched, drawing away on the paw forcing my head down. I turned my muzzle and bit down, lightly, on his paw restricting my head. He yelped softly in pain and surprise, pulling away his leg before I could injure him again. I rolled away and jumped onto my four legs, splaying them out for a better stance. The Alpha grimaced, raising his hackles. I glared and raised my hackles as well. The Alpha lunged at me, and tries to scrape and my face. I dodge to the left while simultaneously clawing at his unprotected and vulnerable neck. I scratch deep, causing blood to bubble out. It wasn't deep enough to kill him immediately- he will die after a long time if it gets infected or he doesn't grow a scab, so he's slightly safe- but it will definitely hinder him. He hisses in pain, and let's out a war cry. He leaps at me furiously, flying over me. I fall onto my back and curl up my legs to protect my weak underbelly. As he shoots over me, scratching and my legs and scrapes through my legs at my stomach, I scratch from underneath and trail my claws on his underbelly. We both latch onto each other and roll around, scratching and biting and bleeding and pumped full of adrenaline. I flip over and slam his back into the ground and I bite hard on his tail. He repeats the same to me. We howl in pain while continuing to gnaw on each other. I kick back into his neck and chin, forcing his head to fly back-with my tail going with it.

I let out an agonizing wail. "NGGHYAAAOOOWWWW!!!!" Tear pour down my face as I see a mutilated, bloody piece of flesh twitching at my rear. It was once 8 inches; it is now only 2. The Alpha spits the dead end of my tail from his mouth. He walks over to me with a bloodthirsty gleam in his eye. "Please... NO!" I plead for my life. It's short existence flashes before my eyes. The Alpha leaps at me, his claws headed right towards my neck. As he flies through the air, I have an insane thought. Well, that escalated quickly! I have a fit of giggles stream out of my mouth, but it ends up sounding like a hoarse seal. The Alpha gets confused from my dying humor- which I like to call "gallows humor" (which is what its technical literary term for my action) - and I use that to my advantage. Right before he should reach me, I roll over and jump back into him. The Alpha "Oomph!"'s and I laugh again. We fall to the ground, with the Alpha on his back. He struggles to regain his breath because the two hits really knocked the wind out of him. I get up from being on my side and walk over to him, shoving my face over his.

"Don't mess with me." I growl at him under my breath. "I'm stronger and a better fighter then you!" I yell those last two words. The Alpha flinches under me as if I had slapped his muzzle as he tries to regain his breath.

"I am the Alpha!! YOU obey ME!!" He practically screams at me. He then reached up and tries futilely to scrape up my face. I only move my muzzle away, and then closer, swiping my front paw over his and capturing them on his torso.

"Yes, you may be the Alpha, but I don't follow a weaklings orders." I sass at him. He looks up at me, flabbergasted, as if I had just told him I stole his mate and pups. Oh, and yes, that first part was sarcastic, and that second part was total sass, but I doubt a wolf understood such a human thing. I let go of him and walked away, keeping my head slightly turned to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't attack my retreating form. He doesn't move towards me, instead he rolls over and walks into his cave in shame. Now, I need to get my tail piece healed. I ask around if there is a healer wolf. No one will answer me, only look at me in awe and fear. I get frustrated quickly. I hear padding behind me, as if a crowd is following me. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" I bellow at the young wolves who were behind me. They either cower in fear or run away with their tails between their legs.

"N-nothing, Sk-Skin Changer!" One fearfully replies, then runs away with the others who had been paralyzed with fear. I was soon alone, and very confused and dizzy- from pain. Looking at the now empty area in front of me, I sigh angrily and head into the woods to track down my stuff I had left back in the clearing. I wince with each step into the dark forest. I've got to have something to patch up this wound. Probably some band-aids, gauze, rubbing alcohol, and a few pain killers. I achingly begin the shift back to human. The pain covers my body, and the feeling of being burnt alive from the inside feels no worse- or better- then the last change I had preformed yesterday.

A/N: Hey guys, it's Ares. Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I just kind of slacked off and enjoyed Summer. I just got back from my hometown visiting family, and they live over 18 hours and 1,200 miles away!! I make sure to let the short trips last, so I didn't want to write. I also just went through a very angry break-up, but at least I'm away from my Ex now!! Also, my friend Dragongirl2002 just posted a Black Butler fanfic on her account, called Crow Feathers. It's really awesome so far, so if you like BB then go check it out! See you guys later! Enjoy your week!