The Wolf Inside Me

Chapter 6

He was right. When we entered the trees I could breathe easier. Deeper. I don't know what it was but I felt safer here.

Clay went deep enough into the woods that we had privacy, but staying close enough to the to the house that we could yell for help.

It was just beginning to get dark outside, but in the cover of the trees it looked like dusk.

As he was laying me down on the soft, pine needle covered ground the pains came again. I grabbed his arm tightly, leaving nail marks.

I waited and waited for this pain to leave but it stayed. And it grew worse.

My breathing grew heavier as I tried to cope with the pain.

"It's not-" I was cut off when a spasm ran through my spine.

Clay scooted back giving me some space.

My back arched, and I screamed.

"Clay!!!"

"I'm so sorry Kate-" I heard Clay choke out.

My skin began to itch like crazy, and I was scratching it to the point of pain.

Clay said something about relaxing my muscles, and I tried, I really did, but I couldn't. The pain was too much.

I felt bones begin to snap, and shift. I felt muscles twist and bend. I felt my body begin to reshape itself. My head felt like it would explode. But it didn't hurt like it should. Like that chalky reforming of bones should. My clothes ripped, and just when I though I would pass out from the pain, it stopped.

I lay on my side, panting for breath, and I noticed it. I had paws.

I had changed.

I still saw in color, though the colors were a little muted, not quite as bright.

Everything was so much more detailed though. I could see things I wouldn't have noticed before.

A small beetle crawling on a leaf across the clearing. Or a spider weaving a web on a tree a few feet away.

I could hear better too. Cricket chirping was louder than when I was human, and leaves crinkled in the faint breeze.

The smell was the best though. All the smells! The sweet smell of syrup, oozing from a tree somewhere. The clear, crisp smell of fresh air. It was all so....amazing.

I lay still for sometime. I whimpered when I didn't see Clay, and the sound surprised me.

I slowly got to my feet, or well paws, testing out the feeling of four legs.

It was easy. Instinctive. It felt so natural to be on this body. I wagged my tail, and let out a joyous bark.

Then I smelled it.

Pines, and mint, masked by something more....wolfish.

I turned to see another wolf. It was Clay. He had told me his wolf was jet black, and here he was.

Clays wolf was beautiful. I wouldn't say jet black, so much as midnight black. His eyes were still Clay's, a warm brown, and friendly.

The wolf cocked it's head at me and I heard a voice.

-Kate?-

I looked around wildly, searching for the owner of the voice.

Then I remembered what Clay had said about communicating.

Now it was my turn to tilt my head, trying to understand how to talk to him.

I guess he understood what I wanted, because I heard the voice again.