The never ending kind

19- Shift

I woke up hungry and still in the water. This time, the pain was a controlled ache- at least, for now. I shifted my head slightly, just now smelling the foulness of the green, sludgy water. The horribleness of it made my nose burn and eyes water. I breathed through my mouth, though it didn't help much, Smell... Bad.

Haha, yeah, but it's keeping your pain at bay. And you were asleep so safe from the smell unlike most of us, I was confused about this voice. It took me a moment to figure out who it was and what it was.

A-Al-pha?

You are correct, Pup- I could feel him chuckling on the other end, but I was still in the 'I'm sick so don't care' mentality. I'll be down there soon to check on you.

I looked carefully around, realizing I was in something like a large fish tank with some weird strung together float-thingies. They were keeping me from sinking for the bottom or my head from going under. I thanked them for their constant efforts.

My eyes met clean white walls, glass cabinets filled with bottles and different things coated in plastic. The was a smaller shelf of what may have been textbooks with different items on top, Is that an actual bird skull?

I heard a door open and close. I dared not move, even so, "Mmm, yes, it appears to be."

The Alpha came into my field of vision, "And how are you doing today, Pup?"

I growled slightly, Drey.

He chuckled, "Right, sorry, Drey. So, it seems like you're doing better?"

I huffed, Yes. I'm tired, but the pain is only aching.

"That's a relief," He sat down in front of me, legs indian style. "You feel up to some food?"

Definitely a yes. I'm really hungry, A slight whine slipped out at the thought of food, but I stifled the sound quickly.

"I'm allowed to give you broth, but you'll have to move a bit so you head is over the side of the tank," He stood and opened something behind me. I achingly shifted up on the floating mechanism so my head was resting over the side. The movement made me feel warm and achy. I watched as he pressed some buttons on the microwave, leaning back to wait.

"Well, good job on getting your head over the side! Did it hurt?" 

Not really? I already felt achy, but now my body just feels a little warm?

"Yeah? I'll check on you in just a second," The microwave dinged and he seemed to be testing the heat of it before sitting before me and setting it aside.

"I'm going to touch you slightly, you just let me know if it hurts, okay?"

Okay. I was really nervous. I didn't want to feel the pain again.

His hand dipped into the stinky water, and I soon felt his hand gently brush my shoulder, the touch almost causing sensation overload. It doesn't hurt, but there's so much I'm feeling from it. I don't understand. It just... Feels.

He slipped his hand out, frowning at it before quickly getting up and washing them, "I'm glad it isn't a painful feeling. I think it won't be too long before you're all better."

What is/was wrong with me?

"We think it was your body fully transferring the rest of your cells into the 'upgraded' lycan version of them. Think of it like a virus. The virus reproduces, then they all crash down like a wave when they hit that peak," I didn't quite get it, and he could tell by my face. "Think about bad guys. They hide in a warehouse while gaining in numbers. When they have enough to take over the fortress, they do it all together at once. It's like that."

I frowned, but understood it better, You know, you kind of just insulted your species.

"Our species," He didn't deny the rest, though. "Hey, just eat."

He fed me, and that how it went on for days- Sleep, wake up, people feed me, me whine in boredom, people visit, sleep, wake up, people feed me, and so on.

And, to make it worse, I was only allowed out of the tank for a bit to change out the liquid. I refuse to call it water- it's too gross for that. They gave me a little potty, though I hardly had to use it. But they put me straight back in the water, only then noticing that the pain had begun creeping back up. I didn't know what was in it, but that and the broth they fed me were definitely the only things keeping me sane.

A-alpha! Alpha! I was shaking in the water, scared. I had woken feeling weird. Why was I feeling this way? I thought that I had been getting better! I began whining, the warmth increasing as a weird bubbly sensation crawled up all my legs. I'm scared! What's happening?

I'm coming. I'll be right there!

I started whining, the sound of someone nearing me making me want to raise my voice, What is this? It feels weird! Why is this happening?

The door quickly opened, "It's okay Drey, I'm here. I'll be here with you, okay? Stay calm, this is totally normal, okay?"

Totally normal? What's totally normal?! i've never felt like this before!

My head filled with white noise, only barely able to feel myself being lifted and moved. I felt like my whole body was moving, each piece shifting on its own and sliding; my bones like snakes through water.

Each jointed ached when I was finally able to release a sigh. Finally everything stopped. I couldn't resist the need to move my body, feeling cracks and pops as everything shifted perfectly into place. 

"M'ah," I had raised my arms above my head, the stretch feeling so good. Wait, arms? "Arms?!"

I blinked open my eyes, bringing my arms down to look at my hands. My back was to the bed- I was on a bed! I didn't have a tail or dog ears or fur anymore! 

"I've got regular skin!" I couldn't help but smile, looking up and noticing the Alpha. I rested my arms on my naked chest, shivering from the cold since I was still wet. Wait... Naked? "I'm naked?!"

I looked back up at him, "Look away! Turn away!"

I pulled at the blanket I was laying on, my body rubbery as I tried to unsuccessfully cover myself up, growling at his chuckles. I glared up once more only to get a towel thrown at me, "Put this on and I'll help you to the bathroom. You stink"

"Well, fuck you very much for that sweet comment," I growled back.

He snorted in response, "I'll pretend, since you just got better from being sick, that I didn't hear that."

Better? Now altogether, that's a lot of word I wrote for this, lol. Glad Drey finally was able to shift? Curious what exactly happened? My fingers need a break, so I'll leave that until next time?