Chapter 1: October run

It was a strange sort of pack that I ran up to, or at least it seemed to me.

The larger animals stared at me with wide feral eyes, but I did not fear them. I knew what they were. Why they were there, though, that was a mystery. Then again, it was a mystery for me also the reason as to why I was there.

I looked away from the animals. Up to where the trees gave way to see the night sky.

Ah yes. There it was. The full moon.

That's why I was there. I was drunk of it.

I looked back to the animals. They were ready to pounce on me at any given second. I did not fear them. Their feral eyes did not spark with danger toward me. No, those eyes were apprehensive as they waited.

There was another creature, one more out of place and fearsome than the rest. It walked out of the edge of the trees, smelling the air, looking at me with small round eyes.

I knew what it was, like I had known when I saw the rest of the pack.

And again, I did not fear.

I had no reason to. Deep down, I somehow knew it would not hurt me. It was the full moon. It made me intoxicated, and left me to believe that I could brave the children of the night that she cared for. A sensible person (anyone really), even me off the influence of the moon, would think me dead. Even more dead while wearing the ridiculous nightgown I had been given at the start of school.

It didn't matter. As much as the dark creature and its pack were children of the night, so was I; more so than them.

My eyes had not left the eyes of the most dangerous creature. I was not afraid, and it didn't want to hurt me. I was sure.

Stupid thought, yes.

I smiled, my face had never before felt so relaxed and it made me raise my hand to the werewolf.

I beckoned it closer.

It bounced at me.