The dark secrets of new blood

"Where are my freaking hands!?"

I ran.
I didn't stop.
Just kept running.
Branches and twigs snagged at my hair and skin, leaving fresh lines of scarlet blood down my naked body.
Cold air bit at my nose and ears, my wet hair whipping around my face.
The howls sounded like amplified whispers, bouncing off the trees and ringing in my ears.
My bare feet pounded against mushy snow and fallen leaves, footprints marking my journey.
I was getting closer, but the howls were almost gone.
I was gasping for air, my throat dry and sore, but I couldn't stop running.
I was so close.
"Just a little further." I whispered to myself. "Just a little bit fur-"
But I never made it to the end of that sentence.
My toes caught on an old tree root, causing my knee bending in a very unnatural way and my body crashing to the floor.
A cry of pure agonising pain escaped my lips as I lay, crumpled and still.
I perked my ears just to hear the last of the wild calls disappearing into the dark.
Though the dark was disappearing too.
The sun was beginning to rise, casting the trees shadows along the crispy earth.
I lay still, my cheek pressed against the thawing ice, frosty breath lifting up to the sky as it left my mouth.
I was on the edge of defeat, my body too sore and cold to move.
I couldn't do it.
I couldn't go back and I couldn't go forward.
I would die here. Naked, alone and down right terrified.
But as I lay there, thinking about my fate, something changed.
The world.
The world was changing and I mean literally.
The trees began to grow, the air got hotter, my skin warming up.
My eyesight was become clearer and the forest became louder.
And more pungent.
I could smell a juniper bush to my left and a raccoon to my right. Both at least 4 miles away.
Except, all these things weren't changing.
I was.
I could feel my bones grinding beneath my skin as it twisted and turned, my jaw ached as if every single one of my teeth had been ripped from my gums, and the pounding headache in my skull became louder and louder and louder.
I couldn't take it.
With a deep breath I screamed, calling out as my body broke.
But I didn't scream.
I howled.
That's right.
Escaping me were the familiar sounds of the wild.
But they were filled with pain, and each one louder than the last.
Suddenly with a flash of white light, there was a hand on my cheek and I was gazing up at a figure as the agony left my body.
I seemed to calm and relax as I stared at her.
"Luna?" I whispered.
I small chuckle escaped the young woman.
"Not this time Koda."
She was right.
On closer inspection I could see she was almost the complete opposite of the daughter of the moon.
Draped in sunflower yellow silk, golden strands of hair falling just before her shoulders and a white symbol of a sun printed onto her forehead.
"Sole..." I whispered.
She smiled down at me, pulling her hand away.
"Correct. I assume you've met my sister then?" She crouched down to be eye level with me.
I nodded silently.
I couldn't seem to focus on anything apart from her sea blue eyes.
"How do you feel?" She asked.
Her voice was like syrup, Rich and sweet and silky.
I looked around.
"I feel...okay." I simply replied
Her smile got wider.
"Then you don't know. do you?" She pondered, laughing to herself.
I felt my heart rate quicken.
"Know w-what?" I stuttered.
She stood up and started walking away.
"W-wait! Know what!?" I called after her.
"Koda," she laughed one last time. "Your a wolf."
And with that she was gone.
•
What.
I'm a what!?
"Okay. Okay. Deep breaths Koda." I told myself as I sat there looking at a pair of paws.
My paws.
"Where are my freaking hands!?" I screamed for the fifth time.
And where was my skin!?
I had fur!
And a tail!
I had tried standing, but it always resulted in toppling back down again.
That Sole girl was worst than Luna, leaving me like this.
"Deep breaths. Than carefully stand."
I jumped at the sound of Soles voice.
Oh no.
She was in my head.
Wait. Does that mean she heard me saying Luna was better than her?
Does that mean she can hear me now!?
"Shut up Koda and listen to my instructions." I heard her voice say.
I shut my mouth and perked my ears.
"Take a deep breath..."
I did as she said.
"Good. Now, one paw then another."
I started with my front paws and going onto my back.
I was just lifting my back left leg when BAM!
I fell to the floor for the billionth.
"I can't do it!" I cried out, almost in tears.
"Koda. Be quiet. There are others nearby."
She sounded anxious and that scared me.
I quickly looked around, but I seemed to be alone.
"Where?" I whispered.
"Just 10 miles away. I know it seems like they're far, but they can hear and sense you easily."
I didn't understand.
"Who's they?"
"Other wolves you idiot. That's why we have to get you up and somewhere safe."
I knew she was right.
So I tried.
Again.
And again.
And again and again and again.
And until after what felt like years but was probably just 1 hour, I finally placed that one last foot beneath me.
Pushing up on that leg I stood, straight and steady.
I could hear Sole cheering, saying "good girl!" And "I knew you could do it!"
But it all went serious when the howls began again.