The Lycan

Stomach, Lungs, Run

I had been walking for days, repeating the same chant over and over, the only thing leading me, that kept going.

Empty your stomach, fill your lungs, and run.

Anything I tried to keep down was forced out of my body. There was no time to hunt, to stop, I just needed to keep going. Preferably leave the country. But no. I had to stop them. I needed to save him.

I hadn't willingly shifted in years though, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to. The human side has been pushed back for so long. But what crimes have been done.

Even if I did shift, would it reverse the effects of the lycan? Would I be me and the wolf be wolf again?

Suddenly, unexpectedly, like I had even been paying attention, I broke through the tree line. I stopped, legs shaking, big mistake.

My legs gave out, not even able to pull me back to the safety of the forest. At least I hadn't stopped on the road not ten feet from me, there was an incline as well, keeping me mostly hidden from any, if at all, traffic that would pass by.

I could smell the scents and smog of a city not far. I relented, closing my eyes and hoping I would be able to wake before sun up to roam some streets for scraps. It was better than hunting with my worn body.

===

The sound of leaves crunching immediately alerted Jasper to another presence. Quickly opening his eyes, he realized he failed as the sun was blinding and high in the sky.

He perked up, willing his legs to move under him and released a warning growl to the stranger. It was a small woman, with a long stick. His wolf eyes glared at the noose at the end. As she took more tentative steps forward he released another growl, stepping back.

Memories flashed behind his eyes, of being locked up, being conditioned, scarred. Not again.

He turned, legs finally willing to bound away. Darts rained down around him, he felt one take purchase in his shoulder before dislodging due to his aggressive sprint. He vaulted himself over fallen trees further into the forest towards the town. His stomach was protesting, on the edges of hunger and a deep seated nausea.

A darkness settled in on the corners of his vision. It didn't help as he and his wolf felt deeply unsettled. He couldn't pass out, luckily he didn't think the tranquilizer had been fully injected. He could not be found, not by those humans who clearly mistook him for an actual wolf or maybe it was them.

Fueled by that last thought he was closer to the town now, just on the outskirts. His mind was confused by the delicious smell of nearby restaurants and the heavy scent of humans and their pollutants. He wanted to enter, find food, but he knew they'd be less accepting of a large wolf roaming their streets. It would have to wait.

And so he did. Much to the anxiety of him and his wolf, they didn't like waiting. It was useless to try and hunt on these drugs, he didn't want to. He hadn't killed anything since he left. He didn't know if he could stand the taste of blood in his mouth, even if it was prey.

Finally the sun had gone down, it was still light enough out but the street lights would soon come on, and he wanted to infiltrate the town and find some food before he could be spotted. His heavy paws felt off on the pavement. He passed neighborhoods of barking dogs, he pinned his ears back, willing the too-close-for-comfort memories not to surface.

His body shivered at the approaching scent of food. He didn't pay enough attention to what kind of food or restaurant it was, all he did was slip between alleys trying to find the best dumpster. His wolf grumbled happily at the taste of warm food. He didn't pay mind to taste or texture but the heat that warmed his belly and in turn his body. Delight.

He wasn't entirely satiated but sadly the trash cans were out of their glory when he heard the sound of growling behind him. He huffed in a mix of anxiety and confidence. It quickly turned more to dread as he faced the large dogs in front of him. He was a strong wolf and trained to be deadly, even against multiple enemies, but these dogs would not be disquieted by a warning growl. His belly sank at the familiar feeling of apprehension. It was all too familiar. His mind filled with memories of similar wolf-like shapes tearing into him, and him, in turn, ripping them apart. The wolf in him growled and the human part of him worked against its instincts, frozen. The dogs continued to approach and he stood there, in his mind his wolf snapped its jaws and yet he could do nothing. Parts of him screamed in unusual dissonance. Normally they were forced to work together, the human compassion pushed back for savage instincts, and usually, he listened. Where was that now? All he could do was stare off into the spaces of his mind, reliving his horrible acts, what were they forced to do? Become savage, murderous.

His body relinquished the teeth and claws that made indents in his body. This must be how they felt. But they put up more of a fight. No, this was giving up, so he let his body rest, he let himself give up. His teeth refused to meet their flesh, but his claws did scratch to the ground in protest. He couldn't smell anything but familiar blood.

He thought it was over, but the dogs still stood guard around him. Message: this is their territory, this is their prey. Do not mess.

But a strange fifth presence made itself known at the entrance of the alley closest to the main street. A large wolf, honey blazing eyes. An even deeper growl, more forceful than his own. Distracted, the dogs stepped closer to the new threat. Giving him an out. He took it.

He left the wolf. Maybe he should have stayed, helped, but how could he? The fight inside him was gone.

He exited the back of the alley onto a less frequented street. No one was out there at least. He didn't know how long he wandered and trailed his blood. He seemed to be going somewhere, at least his wolf seemed to know where he was going, leading them somewhere subconsciously. He turned, walking street after street.

His wolf seemed satisfied when it reached a particular store stoop. His head reluctantly looked up. The sign read 'Paws and Claws'. He huffed in annoyance with a hint of humor. This vet will be in for a fucking field day. He rested his large body on the slant of the stoop, it took up most of the space but he wasn't bothered to move.

===

Bleary eyes of his looked to the metal world surrounding him. As Jasper's vision cleared he realized where he was, a fucking cage. Like a fucking dog.

I'll kill them-

-No you won't. You will be good. You wanted help, you got it.

Not help that would get me fucking discovered!

Currently, he was laid out in a much too small prison. He immediately stood, ears back and the fur atop his head and shoulders brushing the top of the cage. He paced anxiously, barely being able to turn a full circleas the bad memories flooded forward, being reminded of a similar place. He needed to run.

He growled louder, daring the people who placed him in there to let him out.

The whimpers and cries of the other animals quickly died down as he continued. It took everything in him to not gnash his teeth on the bars as he desperately wanted to chew something to relieve his anxiety.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened and the room was flooded with light.

The scent reached him, effectively swallowing his growls of rage.

Mate.