Animal Impulses

Chapter 1.

"C'mon Maddie it won't be THAT bad" My 16 year old brother, Simon, tried to reassure me.

"Oh please, this is a big deal okay! This basically decides what you can do for the rest of your life, I mean sure grades are important but remember Mike from your old class whose Scarv turned out to be a snake? Yeah no one would go near him after that! I mean if that happens to me? Or worse, I could get an even worse animal. Or -" by this point I was hyperventilating way too hard to continue.

"Maddie, calm down." My brother interjected, seeing how worked up I was. "You are getting ahead of yourself. Plus that Mike guy wasn't particularly nice anyway. Remember your Scarv is a reflection of you, and there is no way you could possibly be anything other than a cute, fluffy bunny – or something equally as harmless."

"Thanks Sim." I retorted sarcastically. But I mean really, a bunny? Yeah right. But his exaggeration had done the trick and I could feel myself starting to calm down again.

The rest of the walk to the Scarv Initiation Center we spent in almost complete silence as I contemplated what I could possibly be? I mean so I have put a lot of thought into this and although I may not be a bunny as my brother stupidly suggested, there are a few options that I think I have a strong chance of being my Scarv. My strongest option I think would be a wolf due to their loyalty and bravery as I would do anything to protect my friends and family, plus I suppose I've never been one to back down from a fight. My other strong option would be a lioness for the similar reasons as the wolf.

During my contemplative thoughts I hadn't noticed that we had arrived outside the center and all my anxiety came back anew as I took a seat in the waiting room. The room itself wasn't the best for calming anyone's nerves considering the entire room was a clinical white, even the seats. It was almost blinding. In addition to the unsettling colour the walls were completely bare – not one reassuring poster anywhere. Which in itself is really unsettling considering even schools have those posters everywhere with the cheesy slogans of "Don't be afraid to be yourself!" with a picture of some dumb smiling teen underneath who was probably paid more than the directors.

We had been sat there for only about two minutes before my brother couldnt take the silence anymore and piped up with "Hey Madds so do I really need to stay? I mean this is just sooo boring and there is nothing to do!"

"Honestly Simon I have no idea how your scarv could possibly be anything other than a sloth I mean really all you do is hibernate in your room all day. Plus I could tell the 15 minute walk to get here was killing you huh?" I teased.

"Alright, alright no need to tease. I know you need me. Honestly all you had to do was say how you feel. For example: "Oh please Simon please, please don't leave, I can't do this without you. I am far too scared!" I mean c'mon Madds that was easy". Simon shot back with his trademark smirk.

"Dream on, you big oaf. I am 15 thank you very much, I can handle myself. But honestly it is a pain having to spend my birthday here but at least this only takes an hour, then I can go hang out with the girls." I responded slightly more seriously.

"Man all you girls ever care about is meeting up or shopping. I mean really get a life Madds" He retorted, grinning cheekily.

I was about to respond with something equally as rude, probably threatening his manlihood in some description, but then a woman in an equally as horrifyingly white as the rest of the room lab coat, stepped through the door and called "Maddie Louise Winters, Room 7 please".