We Were the Moon

I always felt like I didn't fit in with everyone else. I was stronger, faster, and had a heightened sense of smell. I never knew why I was different, but I couldn't ignore the fact that I stood out. Growing up in a small town of just 3,000 people, it was hard to keep my differences hidden. My foster parents, Joel and Lily, who were college best friends with my birth parents who passed away when I was only four, raised me. They always referred to me as their daughter, but my dad always wanted a son and often pushed me towards sports, especially tennis, where I really stood out. Playing tennis has always been a staple in my life, thanks to my foster dad, Joel,'s encouragement. I quickly became known for my exceptional skills on the court, showcasing my dominance in every match. But everything changed the day before my 16th birthday. I woke up feeling extremely tired, likely from all the extra effort I was putting in during practice for an upcoming tournament that week. Despite my exhaustion, the aroma of Lily's cooking wafted up to me, filling my senses with the delicious scent of Maple Bacon and freshly squeezed orange juice. This invigorated me enough to get out of bed and face the day ahead. I descended the stairs to the kitchen, where I took my seat at the table. The view from the dining area was breathtaking, with the woods on one side and Lily plating breakfast on the other. "Morning Jen! How’d you sleep?" Lily greeted me as she approached with two plates in hand. "I slept like a rock," I answered, my mouth already watering at the sight of the bacon in front of me. Lily chuckled. "Well, that's an improvement, at least." Lily sat down next to me as she always did, filling our glasses with orange juice. While she poured, she glanced at her phone, likely to see if Joel had arrived safely at work. Joel worked tirelessly as a construction worker, with long hours and demanding physical labor. Despite the grueling demands of his job, he never failed to come home with a smile, eager to see both Lily and I. However, Lily's heart was filled with worry for him, constantly checking in to ensure he was taking care of himself and not overdoing it with his work. “Your birthday tomorrow, how exciting? You’re finally getting old enough to drive on your own,” Lilly said while finishing off the last of her breakfast. “I guess, it feels like just an ordinary day to me” I replied back, with a mouth still full of bacon. I was never big on birthdays and despite Lily and Joel always going out of their way to make me feel especially special every year, I found myself getting less enthused the older I got. This year I just want to stay inside, order some takeout, and sleep until I forget what day it is. No doubt they’ll have something planned for me regardless, and in an effort to not disappoint them, I’ll go along with it as always. “Breakfast was amazing as always, Lily, thank you.” I said as I walked my plate over to the sink. Just as I was about to rinse out my dishes, a sudden wave of pain overwhelmed my body and dropped me to my knees. It was as if I could feel every muscle in my body tightening. My ears began to ring as I could hear the sounds of our next-door neighbors talking as if I was in the room with them. My eyes started to get blurry and before I knew it, I passed out on the kitchen floor. I could hear Lily screaming as she fumbled with her phone to call for help and desperately tried to wake me up. It felt like I was unconscious for hours. I began to have visions of myself surrounded by others, although they were faces that weren’t familiar to me, including my own. In my vision I was different, larger and fiercer. I couldn’t make out what was being said, so I could tell that the group was sternly focused on me. When I regained consciousness, I was back in bed. The first person I saw was Joel, who rushed home after Lily had called him hysterical. He managed to rush home and get me into bed before watching over me as I dreamt of that strange meeting. “What happened?” I said while trying to sit myself up. “Lay back down, Jen”, Joel said, while lying my head back on the pillow. “ Lily called me, she said that you passed out, are you okay?” Joel said while grabbing my hand. “I think so, I’m not really sure, I feel okay though” I replied. He had a look of concern on his face that I’m used to seeing but this look was different. It felt different, my ears were still ringing but I could hear his heart beating rapidly. I could smell the salt from the tears he clearly wiped away from before I woke up, and I could sense he was worried about something else as well. I squeezed his hand back and reassured him that I was alright, just exhausted. I spent the rest of the day cuddled in bed, ironically, just as I’d wanted, and rested until that evening. Lily came to check on me periodically and always brought snacks, which I happily welcomed. It began to get later in the night and I still felt uneasy about what happened earlier. I didn’t want to worry them both, but there was something about that episode and the way that my body reacted that was confusing. Lily and Joel came to tuck me in and check on me one last time before they both made their way to bed. I tried watching some TV, and scrolling through my phone, but nothing seemed to take my mind off of that dream. As the house got quieter I could hear Lily and Joel talking. The house didn’t need to be quiet, I could hear them clearly despite their attempts to whisper. “I’m worried about Jen,” Lily said with a worried expression. “I know so am I” Joel replied. “What should we do? She’s turning 16 tomorrow, don’t you think it’s about time we talked to her?” Lily continued. “Talk to her about what?” Joel said. “About Mark and Ally, her parents!” Lily exclaimed. This was the first time I’d ever heard that talking about my birth parents. They were always so secretive about them. I sat up in bed and continued to listen. My senses were heightened and I could feel both angst and excitement to hear what was such a secret they had to keep it from me for all these years. I always just assumed it was a delicate subject, but I’m older now and I can certainly handle it. “What do you want to tell her, Lil, that her dad died protecting her mom from a pack of wolves , and oh, by the way, he could also turn into one himself,” Joel angrily replied. Suddenly I fell to the ground, stunned, my head was spinning. What was Joel talking about? My mom was killed by wolves? My dad being a wolf? Is he crazy? My mind was racing, trying to process the information. But then, all of a sudden, intense pain consumed me. I screamed in agony as my cries echoed throughout the house. I felt my fingers elongating, my spine arching and stretching, my clothes tearing apart. My bones felt like they were breaking over and over again. The pain was unbearable. Suddenly, hair began to sprout all over my body and my eyesight sharpened, becoming clearer than ever before. Joel and Lily burst through the door. Lily was horrified, screaming and unable to grasp what was happening. Meanwhile, Joel was trying to comfort both of us. He spoke softly, trying to calm Lily and assure her that everything was going to be okay, while also trying to ease her pain from the intense shift. Despite the fear in the room, Joel stood firm, offering support to Lily and myself. I remember feeling scared and overwhelmed upon my first transition. Everything was new and strange for me, and I felt like I was losing control of my own body. My senses were heightened and my instincts took over, making me feel disoriented and uncertain. The physical changes I experienced were also painful, causing me to scream out in fear. The suddenness of the shift and the unfamiliarity of my new form left me feeling vulnerable and powerless. I was filled with fear and uncertainty about what the future held for me as a werewolf. As I stood on all fours in my room, taking in the reality of my new form, I couldn't deny that I was no longer the same person. The change I had undergone was permanent and had affected me both physically and mentally. I was now a werewolf, with a newfound strength and abilities that both exhilarated and frightened me. Instinctively, I jumped out the window and started running through the streets of my neighborhood. I felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I wasn't sure where I was going, but I felt faster than I had ever been before. The wind whipped past my face as my feet pounded the pavement, propelling me forward at an almost effortless speed. My heart was racing, and I could feel my senses heightened, every sound and scent clear and vivid. Despite the fear of the unknown, I couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration as I let my instincts guide me through the night. I found myself heading into the woods nearly a mile away from home, and instantly I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The trees and the sounds of the forest were familiar to me, yet I saw them in a whole different way now ,and I could sense everything around me in a way I never had before. The woods felt like a second home, a place where I could be at peace and let my guard down. After what felt like hours of running, I reached the edge of a mountain. I stopped and took in the sights, my breath taken away by the beauty before me. The stars shone bright against the black sky, and the moon cast an ethereal glow over the landscape. I stood there for what felt like an eternity, marveling at the beauty of the world and feeling a sense of wonder and gratitude. The power of nature was all around me, and I was in awe of the simple yet magnificent beauty of it all. As I continued my run through the woods, I suddenly sensed danger. I stopped in my tracks, my body tensing as I put my guard up. I sniffed the air, trying to identify the source of the danger. That's when I saw him, a dark brown werewolf, larger than myself, approaching me. He was clearly guarding his territory and he let out an aggressive roar that sent shivers down my spine. I knew immediately that this was not a friendly encounter. The werewolf's eyes were filled with a mix of anger and warning, and I felt a deep sense of fear. I knew that I needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. Suddenly, I was being chased and I was running as fast as I could. My newfound speed was barely enough to keep me one step ahead as I weaved between trees and dodged obstacles in my way. Despite the werewolf's relentless pursuit, I managed to find my way out of the woods and escape its grasp. I could finally breathe a sigh of relief as I put some distance between me and the danger, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the werewolf was still watching, waiting for its next chance to strike. I ran back home, my heart pounding in my chest. As I ran, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me as I finally made it back to the safety of my home. I was still shaken from the encounter, but I knew that I needed to be more cautious in the future. The world was full of dangers, and I needed to be prepared for anything that might come my way. As I made my way to the backyard, I could sense that Joel and Lily were worried about me. They were both waiting outside, and I could tell that they were more concerned about my safety than my new appearance. When I finally arrived, Joel approached me and lightly brushed my fur. The touch was gentle, and I immediately felt relaxed. I could feel my body beginning to shift once again, reshaping back to my original frame. Being in their presence made me feel safe and comfortable. The shift back to my original form was effortless, and I could feel the tension in my body melting away. I was grateful for their concern and care, and I knew that I could always count on them to be there for me. They made me feel like I was part of a family, and their support meant everything to me. I was filled with a sense of peace, and I knew that everything was going to be alright. "Jennifer, are you okay?" Lily asked, her voice filled with concern. "I'm fine," I replied, smiling weakly. "I just need a little time to adjust to all of this." Joel and Lily were clearly relieved to see that I was okay, and they wrapped me in a warm embrace. Their support meant everything to me, and I was grateful to have them as family. "We were so worried about you," Lily said, her eyes filling with tears. "I know," I replied, hugging them both back. "But I'm here now, and I'm going to be okay." Joel took a deep breath, looking at me with a mixture of sadness and compassion. "Jennifer, there's something I need to tell you about your parents," he said softly. My eyes grew wide with concern. "What is it?" "I knew your dad for a long time, and he was always different," Joel continued. "But he never let on about his true identity, not even to me." Jennifer listened intently, her eyes fixed on Joel's face. "It wasn't until six months before the accident that I saw your dad shift with my own eyes," Joel continued. "We were in a dangerous situation, and he shifted into a werewolf to save us both. I was shocked, but at the same time, I was grateful to him for protecting us." Jennifer was silent for a moment, absorbing everything that Joel had just told her. She couldn't believe that her dad had kept his true identity a secret for so long, even from his best friend. As Joel finished speaking, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Finally, I was learning about my father and the truth about my past. But even as I absorbed the information, I found myself with more questions than answers. Just as I was about to ask Joel for more information, he stopped me, holding up a hand. "Jennifer, I have something for you," he said, a warm smile on his face. "I want you to have this, it was your dad's. I hope the answers you're probably looking for are in here." With that, Joel turned and went into the garage, returning a moment later with a notebook locked away in his personal safe. "Here you go," he said, handing me the notebook. I took it from him, my hands shaking with excitement and nerves. I had so many questions, and I hoped that this notebook would provide me with the answers I was looking for. "Thank you, Joel," I said, my voice filled with gratitude. "I really appreciate this." "Of course, my dear," he replied, giving me a hug. "Anything for you." I was beyond exhausted as Lily helped me to my bed, bringing in a steaming cup of tea. I took a sip and sighed with gratitude, thanking Lily for her kindness. "I love you both so much," I told them, feeling guilty for making them worry. I could feel myself starting to nod off as I made my way to my room. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep, feeling as heavy as a ton of bricks.