Twisting Fate

4. Almost Shifting

I woke up slowly to my mother shaking my shoulder. It took me a minute to notice she was talking to me, and another minute to take in what she was saying. "We're here at the park. Your father and I already scouted ahead, and there are pack smells, but they're faint. Alpha Jones must have already pulled his warriors back, to give us our privacy. Come on out of the car. Your shift will be starting soon sweetie." She held out her hand, and I took it, grunting a little with the effort it took from me. 

"Just remember what your mother and I have taught you. You have already been in communication with your wolf for a few years now. You know and trust her wholeheartedly, that should make the shift easier. Your mother and I are going to shift now, so your wolf doesn't feel threatened with so many humans around." I looked quickly back at Evelynn, not wanting to hurt her as she couldn't shift yet. Noticing my glance, my father added, "Your wolf would rather chew her own tail off than hurt her little sister. She would know her anywhere. We are a different matter, mostly because..." his voice trailed off, and mom picked up where he left off. "Because in human form, we would be noticeably taller. Your sister is pretty short, and don't think she would be a threat to you and your wolf. Also, first time shifters can be aggressive, so we're just taking precautions. Plus, our wolves are literally pacing wanting to meet their daughter." She was smiling at the end of their explanation, and if I had been paying attention to the meaning of their words, I would have spotted the holes in it. As it is, it would be years before I would know the meaning behind them. 

Evelynn and I watched our parents strip and put their clothes in a picnic basket we have often used to go out and play with them. Mom's golden red wolf trotted over to me, rubbing her head on my side as dad's black and gray wolf slid up to the other side doing the same thing. I knew they were scenting me, hoping to help my wolf feel at ease with them once I shifted. Evelynn came up between mom and I, and we all sat down and waiting for my time to come. The night was clear, and we could see the moon and stars easily. Neither Evelynn nor I spoke during this time, rather enjoying the quiet, crickets chirping and wind slightly rustling through the trees. About an hour and a half later, I sat up straight as my back suddenly tensed. Moving quickly, mom nosed Evelynn to the far side of the park, making sure she was a safe distance at the start of my shift. By the time she got back to me, I was bent over forwards and my hands and knees, panting and whimpering in pain. My body felt as if it were on fire, my bones felt like they were made of glass, breaking and reforming at their will. I could hear and see my parents around me, trying to help and guide me through the shift, but they couldn't take the pain away. My arm bent next, at such an odd angle that I thought I would puke. I closed my eyes as I heard more snaps, and my whimpers turned into screams. I bend my arms down, putting my forehead on the ground, hoping to cool it off even a little bit, and suddenly my parents were gone.

I wanted to open my eyes and look for them, see why they had backed away, but my eyes wouldn't open. While battling with them to move at my command, I felt thumping through the ground, as if a small stampede were running through the park. But that couldn't be, we had permission to be here, the Alpha's warriors wouldn't be charging at us for this. My shift, as painful as it had been while actual going on, was abruptly put on hold: I was in an odd position, body still on fire and bones ringing with pain, but nothing else happened. No more bone snapping, no movement. I felt like a statue, but with this predicament came the realization that some kind of fighting was going on around me: I could hear the snarling of wolves, the snapping of teeth, the howls, whimpers and barks of a multitude of wolves around us. I made my body move then, and screamed with the effort, sitting back onto my heels, and continued to fight my eyes. It wasn't until I herd my sister's scream that they flew open, my body springing up and turning towards the sound. 

Two men were dragging her away from the fight going on close by. They were tall, dirty and ragged, with visible scars. They were naked, probably because when they got here they were in their wolf forms. She was trying to pull away from them, and was screaming for our parents to help her, to save her. I turned to look at my parents, who were trying to get to her, but were thwarted by four other rogue wolves that made a line between them. I noticed all of our placements, and realized that my parents had been busy protecting me, and so hadn't been able to go to Evelynn to protect her. I opened my mouth to tell my parents to get to her at all costs, even if it left me open, but nothing but a guttural snarl came out of my mouth. At the sound, all eyes turned to me, half shifted, standing on my legs like some kind half human wolf combination.