Claws.

1.

Curling my tail around the jagged tree trunk, I let the warm sun soak through my tawny fur. Below me, I could see the soft, blurred dapples of the light shining through the autumn leaves onto the floor. Suddenly, I heard heavy footsteps emanating from the bracken and twisted my head around to see my elder brother, William lumbering past in his lion form. His handsome fur glistened like gold in the midmorning light- where's Chase?

Tumbling and bumbling, our younger brother Chase came crashing out behind William, chasing his tail in delight. Purring with amusement, I flicked my skinny tail and got to my paws. I gathered my muscles under my body and watched with olive green eyes as my brothers neared my vantage point. Then, when they were directly below me, I leapt into the air and fell atop of them with a playful yowl.

Will grumbled as he collapsed beneath my weight and rolled over, batting me with his massive paws. I nipped Chase's ear and stood on his side lightly, tail lashing out.

Even though I'm older than Chase, I was much smaller than him – in his lion form anyway- as males are typically larger anyway. A year ago or so, he had a grow spurt, so now he's taller than me anyway.

Both my brothers have immensely impressive looking Lions. William- now aged 26- had a full halo of golden mane, which burst out like rays of late afternoon sun. His flank was sprinkled carelessly with tawny specks and his eyes were a dull yellow.

Chase had his adolescence mane which was scruffy and stubby like a Mohican. He, unlike Will and I, had no freckles on his pelt, but was a paler yellow- gold colour in contrast with our rich tawny and bright green eyes.

Pushing us away, William scuffled to his feet with a huff. Swiftly he nipped behind a tree and bush to shift and slip into some shorts, reappearing in his human form- tawny yellow hair and yellow- brown eyes.

"Jamie." He groaned irritably. "I lost the trail."

Chase and I also went and shifted before coming back, both grinning mischievously. "Sorry," I shrugged.

Picking a leaf from his blonde hair, Chase replied. "You'll find it again, Will."

Will snorted- he is a great tracker, there's nothing if he can't find.

"Where are we going anyway?" Chase whined for, like, the millionth time.

Sighing, my elder brother rubbed his eyes wearily. "Nowhere- we just have to get out of the werewolf territories."

I perked up immediately. "Werewolves?" I've never met anyone- any other type of supernatural or Theriantrope that wasn't a werelion or a wereleopard (My old friend's family). But, I've always wanted to meet others, so has Chase, but I think William is just wary of everyone.

"What if we do run into some werewolves?" I asked quietly.

Will frowned. "We won't..." He paused for a moment. "I hope."

For a while, we trekked through heavy forest, following William's lead. I felt dirty and covered in layers of dust and sweat- I'm so desperate for a wash! Because of my dirtied human state, I shifted back into my lioness form, feeling the relief of fur covering my body, although I was still dirty.

"Jamie stop!" Chase sniggered. I was walking behind him, batting his heels with my big paws.

"Quit." William suddenly snapped. He knelt down in a bush, his eyes wide, and listened intently. Chase and I followed suit, hiding in some bracken. I was at an advantage, my tawny pelt mingling with the early autumn undergrowth, whereas my brothers stuck out in their blue and orange shirts.

Angling my ears around, I strained to hear something, anything- but all I could hear was our own breathing. I opened my jaws and drank in the air, searching for a scent.

The smell I found, smelt like fur and the sky before it rained- a musky kinda smell. It was intermingled with other scents of the trees, and dog.

"What is that smell?" I asked, whispering, to Will and Chase.

'It's kinda yucky' Leona, my lioness spirit murmured in the back of my mind.

Chase looked at Will with wide, worried eyes- who set his mouth in a hard, straight line. "Werewolves..." He whispered.