No Mercy

Chapter 4

This is so boring! Najee complains. I struggle to focus on the paperwork in front of me with her incessant whining streaming in the background. Nothing fun has happened for weeks! You didn't even go to that stupid Luna ceremony that happened two weeks! Nothing but looking over paperwork and discussing treaties and budgets and "pack business". Can we have some fun for just one night?

I stretch out my arms behind my head and stare at the closed door to my office. I could use a run.

Yeah let's go for a run! Najee practically explodes with happiness. I can feel the excitement tensing our muscles at the idea of sprinting through the forest, completely uninhibited.

Just for a little bit. I placate, standing up from behind the desk and walking slowly to the door. A couple laps around the perimeter and then we need to get back to work. I open it up and walk into the dark hallway.

Ooo we can check on the patrols! Najee bounces with excitement as we stroll down the long, winding hallway to the front door. There are at least 4 units out right now so that will take at least an hour; depending on where they are located on their route. Maybe it will be longer!

I shake my head as I push the front door open and walk out onto the front porch. I slowly walk down the front steps and sit down on the last one, slipping my shoes and peeling off my warm socks. I shiver as the cold air hits my toes. I bury my feet in the grass and push myself up to a standing position.

I turn around and stare quietly at the dark set of buildings in front of me. Our pack house, referred to as "The Village", stands tall in the dim moonlight.

I take a slow walk around the perimeter of the 6 connected buildings that make up our pack house. I look up at all of the windows, most of them darkened this late at night, or should I say this early in the morning; though a few of the common rooms and the kitchen shine brightly. I hear faint echoes of laughter through the walls. I smile as I continue my stroll around The Village.

Najee grows more restless with each passing step. It's my turn, come on! Please just let me take over!

I nod as I stop by the wooden front steps leading to the elaborate front doors.

I slowly strip off all of my clothes as my eyes continue to scan all of the black windows, looking for more signs of life. I fold my shirt, then my shorts, and finally my underwear, walking over to set them on one of the benches before I turn toward the forest. I interlock my fingers and stretch my arms high above my head. My shoulders pop slightly as I reach the limits of my flexibility.

Enough already just shift! Najee gripes.

I smile slightly as I finally relinquish control to Najee. She stretches to fill all of the newly emptied space in my mind. I curl into myself as I allow her to command all of my limbs. She starts to shift immediately, my bones snapping as we contort into her natural form. I wince slightly as each bone breaks and contorts to its new position. My eyes water as my thigh bones snap. Gets me every time.

We land lightly on all fours. She jumps in the air a few times before she starts to stretch, pushing our front paws into the grass as she bends her hind legs. She does the same with our back legs, stretching forward as our bones finish shifting into place.

I thought you wanted to go for a run, not do yoga. I laugh as she shakes out our fur.

I feel the grin take over our face as she barks out a laugh. Najee leans back for a second before she takes off in a sprint. She dashes toward the most southern edge of our border in a full sprint. I relax as she continues to let loose, pushing us faster and faster as we get closer to the border. She doesn't stop when we reach the edge of our territory instead turning slightly east so she now dances along the edge of the edge of the forest and the stretch of bare land. She continues to speed along it, passing one patrol and then two more as we take lap around the property. She slows to a stop as we reach our western border, almost completing the circle. The dead grass crackles underneath our paws as we leave the shelter of the forest and walk slightly into the clearing that separates our land from Torrance territory. She lifts our nose and inhales the fresh air deeply, but my eyes are locked on the other side of the clearing.