Shift

Stacey woke up drenched in sweat.
She'd moved far away from Chris in her sleep and kicked off the covers. But she was so hot that a whimper left her throat.

"Stacey?" Chris was awake instantly, reaching for her.

The heat rose, unbearable. She was roasting from the inside out.

She couldn't think, couldn't breathe.
She closed her eyes, ready to die.
~

Chris dunked a towel in the freezing bath water, bringing it back out to Stacey.
He shivered in the cold air from the window, but her skin was flushed, sweat coating her whole body.
He laid the towel on her and brushed the hair away from her face.
She was about to shift.

He frowned, remembering how miserable he'd been during his first shift. The heat had actually made him feel like he was dying, and when his bones cracked...

He closed his eyes, hoping it wouldn't hurt her that badly.

The towel was warm already. He brought it back to the icy water and drenched it for the fourth time, shivering.
It was going to be a long day.
~

Stacey's eyes snapped open.
The heat inside of her had reached an all time high, bringing her out of unconsciousness all at once.

She screamed, unable to bear it for one more second-
-and it stopped.

She lay, panting, on the floor. Chris had her head in his hands.

"What-"
"You're going to shift. We've got to get you outside."

It was dark outside. The room was freezing, and she shivered violently, her damp skin not helping anything.
Chris carried her- she was glad, because she doubted she could move.

"Was that part of it?" She asked, voice hoarse.
She wondered if she'd been screaming.
"Yes. This isn't going to feel good, Stace," he warned.
She frowned, tightening her weak arms around his neck.

He kissed her head and set her down.
They were in the woods now, and she marveled at the fact that the cold no longer fazed her.
The shivers continued though, getting more and more rough.

"What is it like?" She asked.

Stacey was shaking. She'd been freaked out when her body felt so hot, she'd lost consciousness, thought she was dying, and now she was about to change into a wolf.
Her head was spinning, her heart pounding.
She was going to change forms.
The butterflies in her stomach were racing each other, fluttering around and making her feel as if she was going to throw up any moment.

"It hurts. Your bones are going to break," he told her, frowning. "Once you're a wolf you'll feel better, but it's not pretty getting there."

She shivered harder, stomach clenching.
"I'm scared," she admitted.

He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I know. I am too."

"Thank you for not saying it'll be okay."

He smiled.

Before he could respond, Stacey stiffened as her legs straightened out with a loud crack. She screamed as the pain bursted through her, bile rising in her throat. She turned to vomit, tears streaming down her face, and her spine started to lengthen.
She cried out, knowing the pain would come, and it would nearly kill her.
The crack was agonizing, and immediately followed by a series of cracks as her form molded into something new.
The pulling, stretching, and breaking was torture. She wanted to die. She didn't want to finish the change. She wanted to end the pain.

She couldn't breathe. She could smell her vomit and taste her tears. She screamed again.

And it was over.

She was sprawled on the ground, body heaving. She heard a whimper, and realized it was coming from her.

She smelled Chris. Her eyes snapped open and she saw him, kneeling in awe.

He hesitantly reached out a hand, and she closed her eyes. His hand was warm on her head.
She opened her eyes and nudged him affectionately, rising to her feet.
She looked down, seeing white paws in the snow. She whined in shock, startled at the animalistic noise.
"You're beautiful," Chris told her. "All white. And your eyes are so green."

She wagged her tail and tried to laugh at the absurdity, but she only managed to make another whining noise.

He grinned. "Want to see me?"

She sat down expectantly, feeling her fur get wet from the snow.

He dropped to all fours and effortlessly became a large black wolf with silver markings on his face.

She leaned forward, ready to touch noses with him, and the sudden urge to play struck her. She turned and bounded off into the forest, loving the feeling of her legs stretching, her muscles working. She stretched her legs further, pushing herself hard, and she was moving at a speed she'd never dreamed of. The wind whipped her ears back, her claws dug into the earth, and everything had a new smell. She lost herself in the run, stopping only when the black wolf landed on top of her.

She rolled onto her back, showing submission. He licked her nose. She was the happiest she had ever been.
~

After a hot bath, Stacey came into the bedroom to find the fire blazing and two mugs of steaming hot tea sitting on the mantle.

"I love you," she murmured.

Chris had taken care of her all day. He'd helped her through her first shift, into a wolf and back. He'd run her a hot bath for her muscles and had tea and a warm fire waiting when she was done. He was so selfless and caring- everything she wanted and needed.

"I love you."

He crossed the room and pulled her to his chest, burying his face in her hair. She wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning into him.

He stroked her hair, her back. She closed her eyes, so content, so in love.

Nothing lasts forever.
But she hoped with her whole heart that this was the exception.