The Wolf Within

The sky above Elderglen was covered in thick black clouds, hiding the stars and creating lengthy shadows over the sleepy settlement. The autumn had been abnormally frigid, and now the atmosphere was even more ominous. Maya shuddered as she made her way through the dense woodland that ringed the settlement, drawing her coat closely around her. Beneath the normal sounds of the night, there was a slight hum that suggested strain. It felt as though the forest itself was holding its breath, as the hairs on the back of her neck pricked.

It was the night of the Blood Moon. AQ

For as long as she could remember, her grandma had issued warnings about it to her. The Blood Moon was a once-in-a-generation celestial occurrence that was unusual and steeped in history. While some whispered of the unusual abilities it aroused in those connected to the moon, others labeled it a bad omen. Maya had always written off the stories as fantasy told by her grandma to preserve long-standing customs. However, something felt off tonight.

Her heart began to race as she saw the enormous, red moon shining through the sporadic gaps in the clouds. Maya could not get rid of the feeling that someone was observing her as she made her way back to the village down the well-traveled trail. Her nerves tingled at the sound of every leaf rustling and the far-off cry of a nightbird. She attempted to relax herself, but the anxiety gnawed at her, intensifying with every step she went deeper into the forest.

"Maya."

Her heart paused momentarily when she heard her name spoken over the wind. It was there, but it was faint and almost undetectable. With a gasp lodged in her throat, she halted in her tracks and turned to face the forest. In the borders of her vision, shadows flickered and flashed, but nothing, no one, was there.

"Hello?" Her voice sounded smaller than she expected when she cried out.

Quiet. The sound of the rising wind stirring the leaves above her was all that could be heard at this moment. Her mind racing, she broke out in a cold sweat. Her heartbeat was too loud in the unsettling silence, and she could feel it in her ears. Her feet were fixed in place, yet her legs ached to run. Something kept her there even though she knew she should keep going, leave the forest, and return to her grandmother's cottage for safety.

Then it made contact.

Unexpectedly, an intense pain shot through her chest, forcing her to her knees. Pain raced through Maya's body, causing her to gasp and seize her heart with her hand. Her muscles started to tremble wildly, and she had swimming vision with dark spots moving across her eyes. She tried to cry out, but her pain kept her from doing so.

"What exactly is wrong with me?" Between panicked gasps, she choked out.

Her body had the sensation of being ripped apart from the inside out. Beneath her skin, muscles strained and twisted, bones grinding as they stretched and altered in strange directions. She felt as though her blood was boiling as a scorching fire shot through her veins. Her nails, once short and rounded, elongated into razor-sharp claws. Her hands-no, paws-dug into the dirt beneath her, anchoring her as she felt her spine lengthen, her legs contort, her entire form reshaping itself. A low, guttural growl escaped her throat, and panic surged through her as she realized the sound had come from her.

Her body trembled violently, and for a moment, everything was very blurred. Then, just as suddenly as it began, the pain ebbed, leaving behind a strange, unsettling calm. She made an effort to resist it, get up, and flee, but her body had become unrecognizable.

Maya blinked, feeling more acutely than before. She had never felt the world around her couldcome to life like this. The earthy scent of the moist woodland floor was overwhelming, as was the smell of the pine needles beneath her paws. Miles away, she could hear a bird fluttering its wings and the faint sound of a squirrel making its way up a tree.

Looking down, Maya felt her heart pound once more. Huge gray paws lay on the ground where her human hands should have been. Her legs were twisted at odd angles, strong and muscular, and her whole body was coated with thick fur. Watching the cloud develop in the chilly night air, she let out a nervous breath. She let out a weak breath. Her breath came out in shallow gasps, and she felt the panic rising again. She wasn't just transformed-she was a wolf.

Panic surged in her chest, and her wolf instincts kicked in. Before she could think, her legs-her new, powerful wolf legs-launched her forward, deeper into the forest. She ran without thinking, the wind whipping through her fur, the night rushing past her in a blur. Trees became nothing but streaks of shadow as she sprinted, faster than she had ever moved as a human. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying. Her mind struggled to keep up with the overwhelming flood of new instincts, the animal part of her relishing in the freedom, while her human self screamed to understand what had just happened.

She had to stop, to figure out what was going on. But the wolf inside her was relentless, pushing her faster, deeper into the heart of the forest.

Then, as if sensing something dangerous, she came to a sudden halt.

A flicker of movement in the distance caught her eye. Her sharp new senses honed in on it instantly. A figure stood just beyond the tree line, tall and cloaked in darkness. Maya's heart leaped into her throat as she crouched low, trying to remain unseen. But the figure wasn't an animal, nor did it move like one. No, this was something-or someone-else.

A human, watching her from the shadows.

Instinctively, her ears flattened against her head, and a low growl escaped her throat. Whoever it was, they had been following her. Her new instincts told her to run, to flee from this unknown danger, but a part of her human part was frozen in place.

The figure didn't move, didn't make a sound. Then, without warning, they melted back into the trees, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.

The hunter was gone, but the unease lingered.

Maya didn't hold out hope that they would come back. Driven by a primordial need to get away, she ran back toward the village, heart thumping in her chest. Once again, the forest blurred around her, but this time, she maintained her attention on the dim lights emanating from her grandmother's cabin in the distance. The wind blew fiercely through the trees, but it was unable to stop her mind from racing and the horrifying conclusion that something had changed in her life.

She slowed as she eventually made it to the village's outskirts, her legs burning from the exertion of the sprint. Although her body continued to hurt, the terror that had kept her going so strongly started to pass as her grandmother's cottage became familiar. She staggered onto the porch, her paws dragging across the wooden floor. Exhaustion overtook her, and as she slumped against the door, her body began to shift once again.

The transformation back was just as painful as before. Her bones snapped and cracked as they rearranged themselves, fur receding, claws retracting. She clenched her jaw to keep from screaming as her body contorted, shrinking back to its original form.

When it was over, she lay on the porch, shivering in the cold night air, naked and trembling. Her limbs felt weak, her muscles sore and spent. She was human again-or at least, she looked human. But deep inside, she knew something had changed. Something that couldn't be undone.

With the last of her strength, Maya pushed open the door and collapsed inside the cabin.

She was welcomed by the fire's warmth, but the storm inside of her didn't let up much. With her hands still shaking, she took a blanket from the chair next to her and folded it around herself. She became aware that she wasn't by herself as she sat there trying to catch her breath.

The flickering light from the flames lit her grandmother's face as she sat by the fireplace. She didn't appear shocked to see Maya in that condition, nor did she act quickly to save her. Rather, she just sat with her hands clenched in her lap and observed her granddaughter with perceptive eyes.

"It has begun," her grandmother said softly, her voice calm and steady. She rose slowly from her chair and moved toward Maya, offering her a hand to help her stand. "The Blood Moon has awakened your true nature.

"Maya stared at her grandmother, her mind reeling. "True nature?" she echoed, her voice hoarse. "I-I turned into a wolf."

Her grandmother nodded, her expression solemn. "Yes. The time has come, Maya. You are not like the others. Our bloodline is ancient, bound to the moon. The Blood Moon has awakened the wolf within you."

Maya shook her head, disbelief and confusion warring inside her. "How... how is this possible? How could I be a wolf? Why didn't you tell me?"

Her grandmother sighed, the weight of the years heavy in her eyes. "There are things I could not tell you, not until now. You were not ready to hear them. But the Blood Moon does not wait for readiness. It is a call that cannot be ignored.