Comes with the Territory

Chapter 3 CWT

“We aren’t human,” he started off, catching me off guard. Oh crap, is he as delusional as the dipstick due over there? Yep, they were crazy. They both had the same far-away look in their eye, looking behind me. I turned to see what made them so happy, but it was only a wall. Great, my twin brother leaves me and my dad alone for 5 years, and he comes back, completely delusional, and I suspect is on some major drugs. I mean look at him! He is built like a tank, I tell you! No one could look like that and not be a body builder or on steroids. Or both.

“Mom was like us, an Inner Animal. Our uncle Ivan used to be the Alpha, or leader, of this pack. But when he and Mom died, since he didn’t have an heir, it fell to me.” I blinked once. I blinked twice. I blinked three more times before busting out into hysterical laughter. All three of them jumped, prepared to hold me down or to save themselves, but I couldn’t move. My sides were hurting I was laughing so hard. They really thought this whole thing was real! Poor, poor delusional morons.

“I am serious, Mic. We really are Inner Animals,” he sighed, putting his arms on my shoulders. I pursed my lips, trying to quell the laughter that died to be free, and looked back at him. I decided to play along, and hopefully understand what the hell they were talking about. I slid my legs under me, crisscross applesauce, and leaned forward, eager to hear more of the delusional crap he was spewing.

“Inner Animals are people who can change form, into the animal inside them. That animal describes their personality and is more powerful than our human forms. Mine, well, is really powerful. It’s because I’m the First.”  I just stared at him, but it didn’t faze him.

“You see, Uncle Ivan was the old First of this pack, or group, of Inner Animals. But when he died with Mom, since he had not children, it fell to me.” Wait a second, we were twins. How come he got to be the big gun, while I sat in the corner? Not that I want to be a lunatic, but it would be nice to be acknowledged and all. Ethan probably noticed my expression, because he was quick to explain.

“If you had been born first, you might have been First,” he said, but I noticed how he said might, and not would.

“Might? How come I might have been First?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at an uncomfortable twin. Ha, shows him!

“Well, you are a female,” she began but I cut him off, somewhat angry.

“Who gives a damn if I’m female? I can kick your ass any day, you insolent punk!” I roared, hopping up and waggling my finger in his face. He backed up, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Well, male Inners are notoriously stronger than females, and since we didn’t know if you would be one, I was the obvious choice.” He said as soothingly as he could, pushing me gently back down. I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest, when a thought struck me.

“What do you mean, ‘we didn’t know you would be one,” I asked, enjoying my brother try to find an answer.

“Well, dad is a human, but mom was an Inner. Because I was eldest, it was safe to say that I would be one too. But since you were the second, you could very well have been human, like Dad. Now, though, we know different.” Wait; was I actually being sucked into this? I shook my head, trying to get the sliver of belief in what they were ranting on about out of my noggin. They are insane, Mica! Do not fall into this like your brother did!

“I still don’t believe you,” I told him bluntly, seeing his face fall and the dipstick duo sigh.

“Do I have to show you, then?” Ethan asked, and I was instantly wary. He had proof? Oh man, was this whole shebang real? Ethan backed up, eyeing me carefully.

“Ok, Mica, don’t freak out, ok?” He asked, and I got a little nervous, which I brushed off. Ethan looked at me one more time, before getting on his hands and knees. I watched as his body bent, and his skin turned to long, shaggy fur. His hands and feet became paws, and his head shifted into a big bear muzzle. I blinked, frozen in shock. The big grizzly bear turned, looking at me with Ethan’s eyes, and ambled over cautiously. I blinked as he nuzzled my hand, his long shaggy fur warm compared to my icy cold hand.