Animal

Chapter 9: Wolf's Escape

The wind whistled through the dark trees as we got ready for our long trip.

Emma, Lily, and I were getting ready to leave for New Hampshire. Apparently, Emma had little backpacks that would hang on our necks, even in wolf form, and could hold a lot of things. Her family was also rich (she wouldn't admit it, but it was obvious) and so we had plenty of food, water, and anything else we would need. (and plenty of stuff that we didn't need, ranging from mirrors to textbooks)

As for our parents, we had snuck notes into our houses about why we had abandoned them. Not the truth, of course. Each note was full of excuses.

As I had left mine, making sure not to be seen, I considered another option. I was home- I could just stay here if I wanted to. But... my mom and I had never exactly been close. So I decided that I might as well go. I mean, I would eventually come back, right? When we stopped the scientists?

Now there was only one problem left- me. I had only been in wolf form once, while Lily and Emma had more control and experience. Not to mention, I was terrified of my wolf. I knew becoming it now, even with friends in the woods, I would lose control.

So Emma and Lily tried to teach me how not to.

"Just relax, and don't think of your wolf as an enemy, think of it as a friend." Lily said. I wouldn't even try to be that monster again. "No way. I don't even know what my wolf looks like. Can't I just be human, and help you guys?" I complained.

Emma answered, "You could, but would immediately be recognized as a human on their cameras." she said. "In other words-" she put her hand in front of her neck, signaling instant death.

"Oh, and by the way, your wolf looks awesome!" Lily squealed, proving to be far more of an optimist than Emma. Emma shrugged. "It's not that cool." she said, frowning.

"Emma, you sound kinda jealous..." Lily teased. I smiled, for the first time in quite a while.

"No, it's really not that cool." she answered, and turned away. "Right." Lily said.

"Anyway, don't concentrate on the fact that you're y'know... turning into a wolf. Concentrate on seeing your wolf as just another version of you." Lily advised. "Oh yeah, and whatever you do, don't get too angry- then the wolf takes control, possibly even... permanently." she said, and her eyes and Emma's lingered on the ground solemnly. 

"You lost someone. Someone else- probably one of your friends, got the change permanent." I said, still not entirely sure of it, but mildly confident.

A sad tension hung in the air.

Emma nodded. "Jake. He... he was my boyfriend."

I was surprised- Emma didn't seem like the boy kinda girl to me. And having your boyfriend transform into an animal permanently- that must really hurt.

"Anyway, Deletha, do what I said- try again to shift."

I took a deep breath, and followed Lily's instructions.

Slowly but surely, the wolf inside of me emerged.

I felt the transformation begin- it was painful and slow, but not anywhere near as bad as last time. The paws, the tail, and the teeth appeared- I felt them.

Finally, I looked up, in a moment of tension as Lily and Emma tried to tell if I was in control or not. 

I wanted to warn them, but was unable to.

I lunged.