3: Running Feral

I gallop with my mind on the cave he disappeared into. Hardly noticing the small human clinging to my back. I leap over a fallen tree and she yelps. I'm scaring her. Good.

I didn't want Kaylie to come along for the ride and I never dreamed she would although this sprite like human does have an interesting personality. Perhaps I'll learn to like this one.

We reach the Jasper sign and I'm giddy. I howl out and hear one back. He hears me! My excitement is uncontainable I beat the ground with my paws and dig my claws into the soft earth, propelling myself forward faster.

"Slow down! Are you fucking nuts?!" Kaylie is frantically adjusting her grip as beat she can and nearly flying off of my back with each stride.

Embrace it Kaylie. You wanted to tag along.

We reach the secluded circular meadow framed with tall trees. The meadow we discovered the Lord of the beasts. Kaylie jumps off of my back with haste. Eager to stand on her own two feet. She stumbles and hurls all over the ground before she falls to her knees panting.

"Holy fuck! You're trying to kill me!"

Her accusation makes me laugh. The sound that comes out is more of a low growl. She backs with her hands up. Jumpy little thing. So paranoid. I'm starting to feel protective over her. Maybe I should have left her with her Innocence.

It's too late now. My Wolfy adrenaline is pumping fast and I don't want to waste time or energy. Plus I'm getting hungry. I take a few steps towards the mountain with the cave. His cave.

"Wait!"

Kaylie scrambles to her feet and struggles to clamber onto by back once more. I glance at her over my shoulder and huff. Nosey little human. Her curiosity peeks my interest though, reminds me of when I was young and insatiable. Hungry for knowledge and curious by nature.

We fly up the mountain. I run fast. I can't contain myself I e never felt so free. I howl again and his response is immediate. I pant hard and his solemn voice makes my heart throb. I need to go to him. He's calling me.

Dodging trees, roots and rocks, I reach a rock peak about a hundred meters from the deep cave that decorates the side of this massive mountain. Kaylie squeaks every few steps but I can tell she's trying not to protest. I slow my gate until I'm walking and I flick my pristine white tail at her.

Get. Off.

She leaps off of me and stumbles slightly. We walk side by side and peer into the dark cave. He heard me. Where is he?

A shadowed great figure emerges from the dark and his cold blue eyes glow at us in the dark. He growls and quickens his pace when he spots Kaylie. I side step in front of her. I will be your shield, human. He stalks closer and locks eyes with me.

She's with me, it's ok. I try to flood his mind but his walls are up thick. Were-people wolf or not, don't need to speak. Not aloud. He glares at me and walks slowly around. He sniffs Kaylie's hair and she cringes. I growl at him.

He bares his teeth and she lets out a quick sharp scream before slapping her own hand over her mouth. I then realize she's shaking. Her eyes are squeezed shut.

Poor thing never knew what she was getting herself into. Perhaps I should let him teach her a lesson.

He grabs the book bag with his teeth and flings Kaylie with it into a near by tree.

Rage stirs in me and a bark at him. He snaps his gaze back to me then sniffs at her. Then looks at me again. He raises a brow.

I don't believe what my highly enhanced vision is picking up. A tidy tuft of hair flicks from behind her. It's black and shiny like onyx. She's changing. And he sensed it all along. A reaction change.

I remember reading about reaction changes in my fathers study. If a crawler? unchanged, is put under enough stress they change without taking any of the regular training steps. How unfair.

Kaylie looks horrified at her new found appendage. She grabs it and throws it an it flicks back and whips her in the snout now protruding from her small face.

"Ow!" She whines and her voice goes animal. Her annoying human voice morphs into a sad puppy whine. She cowards into the bushes with her tail between her legs. The Lord wolf lowers his head to get on her level. He walks calmly to her and nuzzles her fresh mane. She relaxes a little and closes her eyes. He repeats the action and she falls asleep. I'm not surprised. Sleeping is typical after a first change but I am surprised she changed to begin with. I knew her as a human. She didn't even know she was a crawler.

Suddenly a shot of envy pains me. Their instant connection angers me. He's mine.