Forever Luna

Tipple

noun ~ an alcoholic drink

POLLUX

I was walking through the woods, staring down at the patch of three-leaved clovers with distaste. Looking around, my chin turned up at the various flowers that had blossomed. What I once would find beautiful, I resented.

These flowers got to grow in a place where they were embraced, and yet I had been chased out by guns. They fucking shot half my damn ear off to get me out of here. And now Clover was somebody else. Somebody I truly didn't know and didn't have the pleasure of knowing anymore.

My purpose had fizzled, and the once enjoyable walk turned sour. Everything I saw reminded me of a joy that I felt I could never pursue again. The light was dimmed, trapped inside a shade with no way out but forward.

But where was forward when you couldn't see the bigger picture?

Where was I going?

I scowled, kicking at stones in my path and seeing how far they could go without breaking my stride. One tumbled down the side of the path, rolling into a stream twenty feet down. It spiralled out of control, unable to stop unless something caught it. Gravity was its own worse enemy.

I wanted an adventure. I wanted that spiral for myself. To feel free with only nature in my way.

But instead of experiencing the freeing sensation of surviving, I was left with the fear of what may reach me at the end.

A dark pit?

A stream to carry me somewhere else?

Or a place entirely knew?

I suppose the only way to find out was to let nature take its course.

***

Day four of a life without purpose.

My feet led me everywhere I wanted to go. On day two, I shifted and haven't turned back since.

My paws were heavy as they dragged through the dirt, following the path of no end.

I could go anywhere.

Any time. Any place.

I could be anyone.

Do anything.

Yet...

What?

What was the point?

My entire reasoning revolved around the anticipation of seeing Clover again, and I should have expected this outcome. I should've seen that it wouldn't pan out. After all, she was the one who ratted me out to the hunters. To her relatives.

It was the full moon tonight, and for a few hours yesterday, I lost myself to my instinct to get it out of my system. I only came to as the sun rose, but I didn't stop. Full of last night's hunt, I didn't need to. I knew I was moving south, my original plan.

I should really shift back and find somewhere for the night. If not for a sense of normality, I needed a bath. Letting my wolf guide me, it took me the rest of the morning to find a human town. Eyeing my attire, my nose wrinkled at the mud coating my boots.

I'd have to wash them as well.

To look like I fit in, I changed into the summer clothes and shoes, and secured my dirty boots to my bag.

Strolling through the outskirts of town, I pulled my phone out of the bag and turned it on. I turned it off in a temper, not wanting to hear from the outside world. It was selfish; I know. But thankfully, there were no missed calls, only a few texts from Nova.