Wolf pack

Becoming Human

Melody could barely hold in her excitement. There, within distance of her eyes were the beautiful lights of the city. She knew mostly country life, but this city already held her heart. She missed people so much, she missed it all.
Nate chuckled as he felt her wrap her arms tighter about his neck.
They were close enough now, Nate moved to a crouch and she slid off.
She had been traveling forever and would look like a mess but she didn't care, look at her all they wanted, she was just glad to be back.
Nate took his cue, transforming into the handsome man Melody liked so much.
Besides, Melody thought, they'll have a hard time keeping their eyes on me if Nate is here.
The rest of the pack took their own turns, Lokan standing tall and proud with a vest. Black hair was styled into the same low Mohawk as before. His style was what most made him stand out from Nate, that and the tattoos.
Up both his arms, the back of his neck and one side of his face were black, red and white patterns. They were beautiful, intricate and nearly identical to his Halera patterns.
Nate leaned down to Melody's ear. "Halera's patterns translate over into their human forms. One of the inspirations for tattoos in humans. I don't have any since I default to my werewolf form."
She nodded as she looked over the marks.
Lokan smirked, holding his arm out. "Wanna feel?"
Nate shot him a warning glance and started walking with Melody towards the lights.
Anya and Jynx were soon to follow. Their human forms looked almost exactly like Melody had imagined them.
Anya wore a simple but elegant outfit; mostly grays, flowy form. Her hair was dark, long and curled in silky waves. Her eyes were silver, shimmering in the light. Her face and skin hinted at a Native American background.
Jynx, on the other hand, appeared obsessed with old fashion and steampunk. He wore a showman's coat with tails, elaborate buckles to fasten shut his coat. Necklaces appeared around his neck, hidden under the coat. Atop his head, to finish out the appearance was a dark purple top hat. His eyes were the same hypnotizing teal, a bright white glow sitting behind his pupils marking his identity as an eclipse. His hair was dark brown, stylized and thick. Skin was tan, hinting at Australia.
Nimera, not surprisingly, wore almost entirely white furs. Her hair and skin were so light, she could pass for albino. If it wasn't for her light blue eyes, she would be.
After a few minutes of walking, the pack realized who was missing.
Anu wore dark cargo pants and combat boots, topped with a red, near black leather jacket. He had shaggy brown hair to his shoulders, scruff on his chin and above his lip. The tips were crimson red and eyes bright green. Under his eyes were those distinct scars. It appeared they were deep enough that even transforming could never cause them to disappear.
He reached his hand out towards Cleo, still in wolf form.
She whimpered nervously, looking out towards the others.
Anu didn't bother to turn away to talk to them. "She's never turned human before, I have to teach her how."
Lokan bit his lip. "She won't be wearing clothes then either."
Jynx and Lokan exchanged awkward glances.
Anya took Jynx's arm and pulled him back on the trail. "They'll catch up to us."
Nate nodded and started walking again.
Anu watched until they had all left, then turned back to Cleo.
"You'll need to reach deep inside yourself, use your imagination."
Her expression was just as concerned.
Anu gently scratched her mane, guestering to himself. "You need to imagine what it feels like to be human, use all your willpower. What is happening is the activation of your second genes. Shapeshifters have two sets of DNA, you are manually switching between the two. Intent and focus, that's what it takes."
The halera closed her eyes, focusing hard as she could. She focused all her energy inward, towards herself. She tried to imagine how it would feel to be human, to be smaller, standing on two legs. To be furless and clawless. To have a smaller face.
She kept her eyes closed as she felt the smallest of sparks ignite, feeling that potential arise inside her. Just as he said, it wasn't a massive change or a morphing of shape, it was individual cells switching their code, the old dying a wolf and the new alive as human. Within a few moments every portion of her was renewed, and she lost her balance, falling down.
A strong arm brought up her chin, much smaller than she was used to. Anu smiled down on her. "It is a lot to get used to, here."
Those strong arms wrapped under her own, bringing her to stand in front of him.
He looked over her in awe. Like Lokan; black, red and white patterns decorated her light pinkish skin, one side of her face keeping her pattern. Her hair looked lightly shaved on the side and was longer on top, long enough to cover her face but not enough to reach past her chin. It was a strawberry blonde, darkening at the tips. Her eyes kept the same lovely hazel, her lips a darker shade. She was small, only up to his chest and soft.
Anu couldn't help but smile, he knew now where the punk style gained popularity. She was beautiful.
"Here," he took off his jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders. "We'll pick out a nice outfit for you. You may not be able to walk yet, it takes some adjusting first. Until then." In one sweeping motion, he brought her into his arms and started walking. "Let me be your legs."