The Animal I Have Become

Chapter 6: Another new friend?

‘P-p-pregnant? Oh my god oh my god oh my god...’ I couldn’t believe it. I suppose I should’ve suspected it, but there was so much going on I never thought about it. I just... I didn’t know how to react.

‘Umm... congrats?’ Apparently neither did Evan. Emma held my hand, ‘It’s gonna be okay.’ I put my other hand on my stomach and looked down at it, taking a deep breath, ‘I guess...’

‘Who’s the father?’ asked Emma.

‘There was guy I met at the club called Tony.’

‘The tall cute one you danced with?’

I nodded, ‘I think he’s the father.’

She smiled, ‘Awesome. How’s he doing?’

I looked down. ‘I dunno. Haven’t seen him for ages.’

‘Oh. Okay.’

I was discharged a few hours later and I decided to go straight home. My mum saw me and hugged me, ‘The doctor called and told me what happened. Are you okay?’

‘Err... yeah,’ I replied, unsure of what the doctor told her.

‘He also said that you had something important to tell us. Care to explain?’

Crap. He’s dropped me right in it. I wasn’t sure I was ready to tell them yet.

I took a deep breath, ‘Mum... I’m pregnant...’

‘WHAT!?’ Dad yelled, obviously having heard me. Mum stood up, ‘Let me handle this.’ Dad looked like he was going to explode, but instead he stormed outside and slammed the door. I’d have stopped him if I knew what was going to happen to him.

‘He’ll be back. So... you’re pregnant...’

I looked at the ground and nodded.

‘Who’s the father?’ She asked kindly.

‘Tony, that boy who brought me home after the night club.’

‘Oh. He seems nice. Was it... planned?’ I shook my head. ‘Ah... okay. Well, I want you to know that we’ll support you every step of the way. While I hate to admit it, you weren’t exactly... planned either.’

‘I wasn’t?’

‘No...’ she held my hand, ‘But you were the best accident I had, and I’m sure you’ll love your child as much as I love you.’

I smiled and blushed a bit, ‘Thanks mum.’

‘Does Tony know yet?’

I shook my head, ‘I haven’t seen him to tell him.’

‘Well, it would be a good idea to tell him. He is the father after all.’

I nodded and got up, ‘I’ll find him now.’

‘Good luck, darling.’ I smiled and left the house, feeling a weight had been lifted off my chest. I decided to go straight to Tony’s house to tell him the news.

I reached his house and rang the doorbell. No answer. I knocked on the door. Still no answer. I could’ve sworn he was in. How odd. I went round to the side and looked in through the window. The place looked like it had been turned upside down. What happened? I decided to go to the woods to think.

The forest was calm and peaceful. I walked slowly through, taking in the sights, sounds and smells. I never used to like the outdoors, but this was heavenly. I sat down and sighed contently. I heard some rustling in a nearby bush, but I couldn’t see or smell a threat, so I ignored it. Nothing happened for a few moments, then, suddenly, a figure leapt out armed with a crossbow. I screamed and rushed to my feet. A voice yelled out, ‘Wait! I’m not gonna hurt you!’ I stopped and turned around to look at the person. He looked like he was from the army or something, covered from head to toe in a range of camouflaged gear, from his helmet, hooded sweatshirt, jeans to his army style boots. He holstered his crossbow and smiled at me, ‘Sorry if I scared you.’

I looked at him. He seemed familiar, but I couldn’t figure out where I knew him from.

‘It’s Rebecca, right?’

I was surprised he knew my name, ‘Yeah. How did you know?’

‘We met in the hospital when you found out you were... you know.’ At that point it hit me. It was Evan, ‘Oh. I didn’t recognise you in that outfit.’ I felt really embarrassed that I didn’t recognise him.

‘Yeah. These are my work clothes. I’m a hunter.’

I started feeling nervous, ‘Hunter? What do you hunt?’

‘Usually small animals like rabbits. Sometimes larger ones like deer.’

I relaxed a bit. He turned and walked other to sit by a tree. As he did so, I noticed a wolf-like tail poking out from above his jeans. I couldn’t help myself, ‘What’s with the tail?’ He stopped and looked back at it, ‘Ah, yeah. I don’t know if I told you in the hospital, but I’m also a werewolf, and while I can transform at will, I can’t seem to get rid of the tail.’

‘Wow. Okay. How do you hide it if you need to?’

‘I usually keep it tucked in, but that can become uncomfortable, so I don’t keep it tucked in for long.’

I sat there wondering what it would be like to have a permanent tail. I didn’t wonder for long, because suddenly a brown furry creature leapt at me, knocking me to the ground...