Midnights

Chapter Sixteen

Wolf

After all of these years, she was right next to me. She could speak to me, understand me. I could talk to her without the pain, the struggle. And I couldn't think of a single damned word to say.

We had started walking a while ago. She kept looking around her, taking in the sights. I didn't understand her wonderment. It was the same place...basically. There wasn't anything different to the landscape. All the trees she was staring at were the same trees, the rocks she climbed on were the same rocks. I guess I was used to it, going between this world and her's. I had been doing it for years...too many to remember.

She kept glancing at me. I could tell she wanted to ask me something, so I said as much. "Do you have something on your mind?"

She continued to walk. She bit her lip. "You...you said you had been following me."

My ears went back. I cursed them. The thing about animals is that they always make their feelings known, one way or another. I couldn't hide the awkwardness I felt, being asked that. After all of these years watching her, I never really thought I had to confront her about my....stalking. I had intended to approach her one day, to ask for her help, and knew then I may have had to explain myself. Realizing that day was today...

Her piercing blue eyes bore into me. She continued to walk, staring me down. I knew that I had to tell her the truth. 

"I found you when you were young....when you were visiting Evanour's bones." I lied. I couldn't help it. "You sent me a telepathic message. That's when I realized you could see me, that's when I knew you could see us."

She stopped walking, "Oh!" She looked down, her eyes flicking back and forth, like she was flipping through memory in her mind's eye. "When I fell from the tree, the day I popped my ankle out of place...the wolf...it was you?" She looked up at me, amazed. "Then," she continued, "you've been following me ever since." In her voice, I could tell that she was becoming uneasy. I was glad that I lied. I didn't know how she would have taken it if I told her the truth.

I didn't want her to remember me like that...

"Once I knew you could see us...I couldn't lose you. You are my only hope of ever getting out of this body."

She began walking again, falling silent. I wondered what she was thinking. I began staring at her without realizing it. She turned towards me, and I felt a jolt through my body as her neon blue eyes locked on me. I lifted my head and turned away from her. 

I berated myself. What is this? Who am I to turn away from someone? To give up ones gaze is to show weakness. Thinking this triggered something savage inside of me. I resented being cowed, especially by one so tiny, so weak as this human. I, who has lived a century, who has walked every corner of this world and her's. 

I, the God of Wolves.

I, the Great Beast.

I, th-

Stop. Stop it.

The hunger.

The burning.

Stop.