"Not all who wander are lost." - Unknown
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A small boy held onto the pale hand of his young mother, a woman with beautifully harsh features. He stared up at her, his wide blue eyes glistening with tears.
"Why are you leaving, mama?" He asked, pain clear in his voice.
The woman pulled back her lips and bared her sharp teeth in a smile. "You will find your way, my beautiful boy."
The boy had tears streaming down his round, dirty, face as he buried his face in the woman's old dress. He felt the soft silk tickle at his skin and couldn't help but be slightly calmed by the scent it emitted.
He pulled on her hand and she bent down. He kissed her cheek and whispered softly, "I love you, mommy. Come back for me."
The woman smiled that odd smile and waved goodbye, and somehow the boy knew she would not come back for him. She turned and walked towards the forest, slowly disappearing into the pine trees.
The boy let out a cry of sadness and ran to the small house in the middle of a wheat field next to the forest.
He entered the house and yelled, "Mama is gone! Papa Elle, Mama is gone!"
His grandfather slowly walked into the living room, clutching his cane tightly. He sat down on a leather armchair next to the window looking out into the forest and stared down at the boy.
"Your mother is dead, foolish boy." He put his head back and let it fall onto the armchair's headrest
The boy's face twisted in confusion before he ran out of the house. He would not stay in there with that man. His mother was gone and he was feeling the despair clawing at his throat.
He lay in the field of wheat, waiting as patiently as he could for his beloved mother. But soon, he despair and fear made its way to cloud his judgement.
He ran into the woods. He had to find his mother. He let out little puffs of air each time his aching legs would touch the earth. More than once, branches and leaves hit him in the face and left small scratches as he ran further into the forest.
He had run for an hour or so when he finally stopped in a clearing. He was lost, he did not know what to do now.
He looked up at the sky through the trees and stared at the clouds covering the blue sky. A drop of rain fell on his small nose and he sniffed. Another drop hit him on his forehead.
Soon it was pouring rain. He fell to the forest floor and hugged his knees tightly. The wet earth clung to his bottom, and the rain hit his skin hard, but all he felt was his mother. It was all his fault.
The small boy wept, and sobs racked his thin body. He couldn't breath right, a sob interrupting his inhales and cutting through his exhales. He pulled at his torn, wet, clothes and curled into himself. He was interrupted from his grief when he heard a terrible noise.
A growl sounded throughout the clearing. A feral notice that came from in front of him. The little boy shook violently in fear but did not raise his head from his knees.
He heard another growl and looked up. A big brown wolf was walking slowly around him. The boy felt a fiery ball of tears eating up his throat and his eyes itched with the need to cry but he stared the wolf in the eye and tried not to show fear.
His mother had always told him that wolves were important and powerful creatures that should be respected. She always said that you must show no feelings towards a wolf or it will kill you for your weakness.
The wolf growled lowly at the small boy and howled. A few more wolves appeared and circled him. They growled and snarled but the boy stayed still, showing no emotion.
Finally, the wolves stopped prowling and sat on their hind legs. They stared at the small boy before lunging at him.
They scratched and bit at him.
A particularly big wolf ran at him and dragged his sharp claw down the small boy's face. It left ugly gaping wounds across his face.
The wolves bit at him and clawed but all he did was look up at the blue gray clouds covering the sky. One wolf bit down hard on his shoulder and another bit at his right arm.
He was bleeding everywhere, he was tired. But he did not dare cry out. His mother had taught him better. Though his throat burned with the need to let out the pent up pain, he stayed still. His eyes burned and he felt a pain behind his eyeballs, but he did not make a sound. He grit his teeth, bit his tongue and lips, but did not make a sound. He heard his mother's voice deep within his mind, do not show fear, do not show pain, keep it inside until you die.
The wolf biting at his shoulder chunked out a piece of meat off the boy when he pulled away. The little boy was half dead when the wolves stopped, stepping back to stare at his wounded body, yet for some odd reason they did not fully kill him. Just let him alone to suffer.
He was bleeding vigorously when suddenly a blinding light surrounded his body. He began healing, his wounds closing and leaving scars, his shoulder growing back the meat.
His body hurt. His limbs were aching, and his head felt as if exploding, his organs were moving around and collapsing in on themselves. His bones shifted and curled, poking at his skin and organs. He finally cried out. In one agonized cry, he let out his pain and emotions.
He felt his skin burn and peel away, before growing back as fur ran over it. He slightly raised himself on his hands and knees as he felt the pain overtake his small body. He was left panting and aching after what felt like hours.
The little boy cried as he looked up to see one of the wolves from before. He stared up at a huge wolf standing before him. It was feral and nasty with its black fur and silver eyes. The wolf licked his face and bared his sharp teeth, only this time it seemed to be a smile.
The boy frowned in his mind. He looked around to see every wolf that had been attacking him, now seemed now bowing to him.
He looked up and saw the silver moon, shining brightly. He saw the blue gray clouds swirling around it. He looked down and saw paws beneath him. He felt at peace in his new body.
Welcome, the boy's mother whispered in his mind. A powerful, calm voice that sent shivers down the small boy's spine.
Welcome to the pack.
