A Forest Away (dnf)

Four

*George POV*
"Hmm it looks vintage.", I say to myself as I inspected the piece of jewelry. I then hear a thud on my desk along with a meow. I turn to see my cat Luna. She's a gray cat with black stripes that run along her back.

I've had her for about two years now and she's really friendly, she gets along with everyone "Hi Lulu", I say as I pet her. She purrs in return and takes a seat next to my laptop and watches me. I look back at the necklace. Maybe I can search up its origin.

I then open a new tab and look up wolf necklaces and hoped I would find something. Surprisingly it gave me a few articles and I started clicking through them but I came across one that had the same exact necklace in a photo to which I click on it.

I then read aloud "Werewolf?-", I try to say but I'm interrupted by my dad opening my door "Are you doing your homework?", He asked "Yes father", I say as I close out the tab so he wouldn't see "And what did I say about having that filthy thing on the furniture"

I then grab Luna and hold her on my lap "Sorry father" "Just keep it off the furniture or it's sleeping outside, also I'm gonna head out one of my buddies had gotten a flat tire so I want you to stay here", to which I nod in response. He then closes the door without another word. I hate it when he calls Luna rude names like "filthy thing" or a "it" but sometimes I do sneak her into my bed when my dad thinks I'm sleeping.

I will say she can be a really lunatic sometimes when she gets the zoomies but I still love her. She stayed on my lap while I continued on with my work.

—

I closed my laptop and started to get ready for bed. I grab the necklace and placed it gently on the dresser that sat next to my bed so I wouldn't somehow misplace it. I got dressed into my pajamas, brush my teeth, and finally go into bed after shutting off the lights and waited for sleep to take me under.

But then I wake up in the forest "Huh? Where am I?" I stand up and dust off my pants. I look around at my surroundings. All I could see was the tall trees and the pathless forest. There's not a single noise to be heard except the running water of a river. "The river!" I then run towards the sound of the water flowing onto the rocks.

I push through all the bushes that crossed my path and I finally see it. The water that sparkled in the sunlight that shined through the trees. There were smooth rocks that was surrounding the river. I went to the edge of it but also being aware to not fall in the water which was very reflective.

As soon as I step closer to look down on it, I saw myself. *Crack* I freeze. I turn to look around. "Hello? Someone there?" Silence filled the air besides the noise of the river that was behind me. But all of a sudden I started to hear howling. "What?"

The howling continued but it was more rapid and whatever it was it sounded like almost as if it's hurt or in trouble. I continue to look around but I saw nothing then there was another howl but it sounded closer. I turn around and there I see it. A wolf staring at me across the river.

It looked huge with its big strong structure. It's fur was a beautiful golden brown and its eyes were almost like a forest green. Then it lead out a howl.

I jolted awake, I sat up and turn to see the time. It was 4:36 AM, I look down to see Luna curled up into a ball next to me. I was still half asleep so I just laid back down and let sleep take over me.

*Clay's POV*
I jumped over logs, rocks, even rivers. God knows how long I've been out here, my dad is probably worried for me and I just know he will be mad at me when I get back. I can feel the sense of guilt and regret rise in me which upsets me more and it causes me to let out a howl cry.

Gosh Clay what were you thinking. I came to a complete stop so I could take a quick breather. I really should get back. I wonder what time it is. I shifted back and go to reach for my pocket- oh right.

I've completely forgotten about how every time I shift I end up ripping my clothes in the process. I must have dropped my phone when I shifted. So with that I changed back to my other form and started heading home.

—

It wasn't that far of a run but I do eventually make it home. I started to sniff around where I saw my clothes ripped into pieces to see if I was lucky enough to find it and still have it intact. I ended up finding it in a matter of minutes so I shift back to my human form and pick it up.

Luckily only a small crack was made but then I look at the time and saw that it was- 5:05 am!? Surely I wasn't out for that long! I hop over the fence then made my way to the sliding door.

I opened it gently and quietly make it inside the house. I make my way up the steps while making sure to not step on the ones that made noise with the slightest pressure applied to them. I quickly make it to my room and shut the door carefully behind me. I let out a breath of relief then go to switch my light on.

I rummaged through my dresser and pulled out a new pear of underwear along with some grey sweats. Good thing I have my own bathroom. I turn on the faucet and let the water run for a minute so it could warm up.

After I was done I dried my hair then wrapped my towel around my waist. I open the door and- "CLAY!", my dad shouts which makes me jump backwards, making me hit my hand against the doorframe in the process.

TW: mature language
"Where the hell have you been!? Do you see what time it is!", I was like a deer in headlights "I-I..um", I didn't know what to say to him at this point. "Well!?", he asks impatiently.

"Not only did you start running around the house like a headless chicken, you bolted out the fucking house as if a whole group of hunters was chasing you and I didn't know wither or not to following you because I thought that maybe you would come back, I was worried that something might have happened to you", he says as he tried not to stumble upon his words due to the fact how fast he was speaking.

"I'm sorry dad.. it's just- when I went to the bathroom I found out that I've lost my necklace you know the necklace that..mom gave me.. I then started to freak out so I ran out to try and it look for it, I wasn't aware of the time.... I wasn't thinking straight.. I'm really sorry dad I didn't mean to worry you..", I tell him.

His face softens but he lets out a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look Clay I understand how much it means to you but you could of at least handled it better instead of just running out the house like that and I'm honestly too tired for this so I'll deal with you when you get back from school, just go to bed you already lost lots of hours of sleep and so did I", he says softly.

"Goodnight Clay", he say as he walks out the room. "Goodnight dad", I quietly say as I walked over to clothes that I picked out earlier. I quickly put them on then shut off my lights.

I just throw myself onto my bed not even bothering to go under the covers, now is only when I realized how tried I really was. So it didn't take long for me to be greeted with sleep.
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1436 words