Born Wild

Self Discovery

They walked under a tree and Shadow told them to sit. Tala and Koda looked at each other with curiosity as they plopped down, crossing their legs on the hard snowy ground. Shadow sat quietly for several minutes. Tala and Koda uncomfortably rearranged themselves several times and glanced at each other in confusion. Koda couldn't sit there anymore.

 "Shadow.... Why are we just sitting out here in the cold?" Koda muttered.

Shadow looked at Koda with a smug look. "Being cold is part of your training." Koda stared at her in confusion.

"To be a werewolf means to be one with nature. Feel the environment around you. The brisk air. The hard ground. The sound of the birds fluttering in the trees. Smell the fresh piney gust of wind. There is life all around you, and you are connected to it. You are human and connected to the social world, but you are also part wolf and connected to the wild. Parts of you embrace civilization and parts of you yearn to be free. Don't reject the wild side to you."

Koda and Tala closed their eyes and focused on the world around them. They relaxed, letting the white peaceful forest surrounding them bring solace to their minds and hearts. They listened to every branch move, every bird flutter, every gust of wind. They felt peace and a sense of belonging. 

 "Now embrace the wolf part of you. Think about your strong love for nature. Think about your desire to run through the trees. Think about the pride you feel knowing you were made to protect the lives around you."

They thought about all of the times they went hiking and walking together through the trees. They thought about the time they ran to Cambria's scream and saved her from falling off the cliff. Then they pictured themselves as wolves, running through the dark night by each other's sides. They felt the strength building in their muscles. Then they thought about how they were well suited for fighting and for protecting the innocent. They felt a bursting feeling of pride and bravery running through their blood.

"Open your eyes." Shadow commanded. They looked at her, waiting for further instructions and to their surprise, she just smiled with pride.

"What?" Koda prodded. He looked at Tala and she looked at him. Both of their eyes were glowing yellow. They stared at each other for a moment in total shock. They were beginning to transform and it wasn't the full moon yet.

"Amazing....." Shadow said with curiosity. "Most beginners take weeks to learn how to connect with the wolf side of them at will." Koda and Tala smiled at each other.

"So that's how you do it?"

"A little more time and practice and you'll be able to completely transform. We will continue with that another day. The full moon is not far away."

They rose from the ground, their eyes going back to normal and their heightened senses decreasing. They took a moment to adjust back to reality before heading inside. When they were back to normal, they shook off the snow and headed inside to the warmth. Koda threw a few logs into the fireplace and started a fire.

Shadow packed up her bag, leaving a few herbs on the table for them. 

"Wait. Are you leaving?" Tala asked.

 "You two don't need me tonight. You will do great on your own...Tonight I need to be with my pack. We can run together as wolves if you join our pack. Tonight we will run separately. Take your time to think about my offer and let me know." 

They thanked Shadow for the help and said they would talk about joining. She grabbed her bag and started to head out.

"Oh right!" she realized before walking out the door.

She handed them a leather bound, handwritten book from her bag. She said it was written by Oliver's friend from a few hours away. It included research on transformation and the prediction of why it occurs.

They watched her walk swiftly through the forest, leaving a long shadow behind her. They flipped through the book, looking at at least 50 pages of notes and drawings.