Among The Wolves

Werewolf

When I woke up again, I immediately realized that I was not in the familiar soft bed with warm cotton sheets. The coziness of being out cold was zapped when in a hard darkness I found myself. It felt chilled, and beneath me was a coarse rock floor instead of a spring and fluff stuffed mattress. Memories came rushing to me. Not just the memories of my new predicament, but all of them. Everything from home, Commander Tevit, Bratir, Hem'Lar, the hospital, Mes'Mu, Bal'Tiq, Joinervett and yes, the memories of Por'Lyn eating me up also came back to me. But the most important thing I remembered was my family; grandma and Toulinska. I remembered me. My name is Kejyta.

I sat up quickly. I was in that one room with the smears and scratches all over the walls. The only light was through the cage-like door.

What happened to me? How long had I been out? What's going on? Question after question ran through my head. It was making me dizzy.

I stood up and took a step forward only to fall back down. Scraping my knees on the rough floor. The sting made me hiss.
I groaned, realizing that my ankles really hurt. I looked and sure enough, thick ugly chains were clamped down on my lower leg. Uncomfortable scratches layered my abused skin.

Crusted blood covered everything.
Unless someone took these off, I was going nowhere. I contemplated calling for help but instead I leaned against the nearest wall pondering my new-found memories.

Wrapping my arms around my legs and resting my chin on my knees I recalled the attack in the woods. When Mes'Mu and Por'Lyn caught me. Then came Por'Lyn's lack of self control. She bit me. I could almost feel the pain of the past.

You are my strength,
You are my song,
Open to me the gates, so I can go forth
in thanksgiving.

As the song played in the back of my mind I could see myself running through scattered trees. An angry, reactionary, yellow wolf gaining traction toward the frantic human. I could imagine her taking a leap as she lunged at my body. Her canines reached to enclose around my fleeing legs.

I closed my eyes. Not wanting to entirely think about the details following that moment. One thing I did want to think about was my dear friend... Obsidian. He saved me and yet I don't even know who he is or what his real name is.

A long sigh left my lips as I brought myself back to the present. If Por'Lyn bit me and I am still alive...

What Hem'Lar told me a while ago played loud and clear in my head: "The wolf-blood has to be in wolf form, and you'd have to be bitten long enough to receive that venom, and it has to be a full moon... Besides, from what I know, the poison would most likely kill you."

It seemed like Por'Lyn definitely bit me long enough, she was definitely a wolf, and it was the evening of the full moon... does that count?

I looked at my bare, dirty toes and wiggled them. They were definitely human toes. Well, I am not dead so that means one of two things. Either Por'Lyn did not bite me enough to poison me or I was poisoned but survived... Hem'Lar said so himself. It is impossible for humans to survive the poisoning. Then that must mean the full moon wasn't quite in effect.

To rationalize my recent blackout episode I concluded it was probably a withdrawal from some medicine that I'd been given.

I then remembered the tattoos on my wrists. Holding my arm out I looked at them. I immediately recognized the first one as the Wos'Theon symbol. The canine teeth pointing up transitioning to claw marks going down and then the circle W between the teeth. The other tattoo was a wolf holding onto a rod of some sort. Near the top of the rod was a crescent moon.

When studying the tattoos I noticed something else on my arm. Closer to the elbow. I turned my arm to get better lighting and could see the mess of scars on my arm. Scars that Por'Lyn inflicted. They almost looked like burn wounds, how my skin seemed twisted this way and that. I put my arm down and studied my leg, the scars there looked much worse.

More flashbacks invaded my mind. I could almost feel the hard, boney teeth in my leg again. I closed my eyes as my nerves hummed. Obviously, the mental trauma was still there. I covered my face with my hands and sighed, I really wanted to think about something else. Unfortunately for me, everything I was feeling or could see seemed to link back to that horrible event.

The humming worsened and my heart began to beat almost painfully. Moving my hands to my chest I took another deep breath, even though my memories were back, I could not seem to collect what my classes said about relieving a panic attack. It was weird to me though... that I was having one. Even though I disliked the thought of Por'Lyn, I would have thought that I could handle my emotions better than this.

Could it be that I was just still recovering from whatever blood loss or medication they might have given me?
The deep breath definitely helped, the buzz subsided although ringing in my ears began.

I covered my ears although I knew that would do nothing for the tinnitus. And I was right. No matter how much I covered my ears the shrill noice in my head did not stop.

I took more deep breaths, calming myself further. Directing my thoughts to my family. I didn't know what this new chapter meant for grandma or for Toulinska. I couldn't even fathom why I was kept alive. I was human and so for them to keep me intact meant they believed I had something invaluable. but what? Although I did not know that only indicated that I must be more careful now more than ever. Keeping my worth for the opportune time.
My internal contimplation was interrupted when I saw Ty'Mee's form appear beyond the jail-like door.

"Vae'Lee! You're awake!" She scrambled with a set of keys to unlock the heavy, metal door.

I was glad to see her. Extremely glad. With my memories back I knew now who she was. It was comforting. In addition, the tinnitus silenced just like that.

When the Theta (Lead Pack Doctor) got the door open she rushed over to me. "I cannot believe this. This is the soonest after a shift you've ever shown any signs of consciousness, let alone be awake!"

She immediately reached into her pocket and pulled out her set of keys. As she bent down over the chain on my leg I leaned forward. Not wanting to wait a moment longer, I asked one of the million questions I had. "What happened to me?"

"That is a very long story." Ty'Mee gently took the chain off my foot. "Can you walk?"

I nodded.

She smiled, "Alright then, let's get you to the bed so that I can dress that ankle."

"Why was I chained up?" I asked my next question as I stood up. I hoped for a better answer this time.

"Because when you shift you are a tad hostile."

Shift? Hostile? I swallowed hard, part of me knew what this meant but I shoved the idea as far away as I could muster.

I paused at the threshold of the door, despite my own denial I knew... "You said shift..." I hesitated, before whispering. "What did you mean?"

I knew I did not want to know the answer to that question, still I had to know. Well, I technically knew the answer but did not want to accept it. Every fiber of my being wanted to deny it. In any case, it would be evidently harder to deny if someone else said it. Thus, why I asked, to force myself to hear it and deal with it.

Ty'Mee looked me straight in the eyes. Her purple irises reflected sadness. Apparently she did not want to be the bearer of the news either. With a slight sag of her shoulders she broke the silence between us. "You've become a werewolf."

~~~~~~
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