The Wolf Within Me

Chapter 4

I finally have come to the conclusion, that I'm just dreaming and suffering from heat exhaustion. That's the only thing that makes any sense right now. Maybe if I just let this dream run is course I will wake up and then my life can get back to normal. Checking my surroundings again, I note that I am, well my body is, jogging through the woods. This is so weird. I will never complain about my boring life again, if I ever wake up.

"Breanna, you need to pay attention!" Ash says, startling me out of my inner thoughts. "Your thinking so loud it's distracting me. Try and pay attention to what's going on. I am using up a great deal of energy and I am getting weaker."

"So?" I say sarcastically. "Let's face it, if your getting weaker then maybe I can get my body back and go back to be boring Breanna."

"You don't get it, do you!" Ash says exasperated. "If I get weak, you get weak, then we can't get to shelter and we die." She pauses briefly. "We are one person, one soul! We are bound, your fate and mine are now woven together tighter..."

"Than my grandmother's flour sack quilt?" I say interrupting her.

"Yes, that's as good an analogy as any" Ash says, "but the fact is, this is real not a dream and you aren't sleeping under that tree and you don't have heat exhaustion."

How did she know I was thinking that?

Ash puffs out a breath, "Because I can hear your thoughts and you can hear mine," she pauses for a second "well when I want you to hear them, you can hear my thoughts."

Wish I could block her right now, I think bitterly.

"With time you will be able to do the same thing, but right now your broadcasting so loudly that is hard to concentrate. I am sorry but you aren't ever going back to being, as you say, boring Breanna."

I let this sink in for a moment and my stomach drops. "I am not dreaming, and this is real?!" I can feel the tears threatening to erupt.

"We don't have time for tears Breanna, snap out of it and get a grip, we are running out of time. You can fall apart after we get to a safe place." Ash says quickly.

"But..." I say my voice wavering.

"No buts, we have to run faster and the only way we can do that is if you shift. I can do it, but I need you to trust me" she pauses and when I don't says anything she continues "Let go Breanna and let me have 100% control. If you can't, then I can try and use what little magic I have stored, to knock you out."

"Oh hell no, your not knocking me out!" I say quickly.

"Ok then just let me take complete control," She stops jogging abruptly and my head turns to look around quickly. "Hurry Breanna, do it now we are being perused, they are almost here. We don't have much time." She says urgently "BREANNA, DO IT NOW!" Ash's voice it's panicked and I can feel her fear right to my core.

My head explodes with white light and my vision goes blurry. "OK FINE!" I scream and I just let myself let go.

"SHIFTING!" Ash screams.

Shifting is like falling in slow motion with dazzling white and green lights pulsing around you. There is no pain or snapping of bones, there is no sound. Only falling in slow, fluid motion. One second I am standing in a densely wooded area and the next second the trees are going by so fast I can't see them clearly. I am running but my perspective is lower, I chance a quick glance at my feet, only they aren't feet but white paws.

I have paws and I am running like the wind. I can't help it I laugh out loud. Which comes out like a cough growl. I'm a freaking animal! I wonder what kind of animal?

"We are a wolf, Breanna." Ash says.

"Holy crap, I am a wolf!" I can't keep the smile out of my voice.