Mischief at Midnight

  I quietly shoved open the thick oak door to my fathers study and peaked around the corner, making sure he wasn’t in a meeting. He was alone, sitting in his chair behind a large antique redwood desk hunched over some papers scattered on the top of the desk, his brow furrowed as he focused on whatever task was at hand, permanent frown lines engraved his aging face. I looked at the person I had grown up idolizing and felt a twinge of pity for him. Of course, as he is the alpha of our pack and the highest ranked alpha among all others, he had countless duties that needed attending to, but I cannot imagine a life where I’m trapped in bland room after bland room, day in and day out with people I barely tolerated. It sounds like a life of imprisonment. While I pitied him slightly, I more so commended him for gladly taking on the responsibility, silently thanking the moon goddess I was born female and would not be stepping into his shoes once he steps down. I closed the door silently and walked over to the large padded chairs in front of the desk and plopped down, slightly startling my father as I saw the slight twitch of surprise at my entrance that would go unnoticed to someone who didn’t know him so well. “Hi-yah poppa,” I quipped cheerfully in greeting. Father looked up from his papers with a blank expression. Realizing it was only me, he smiled warmly and straightened. That was one thing I, as well as many others, admired about him. He always made time for his kids. “Sara, dear, what a lovely surprise!” His naturally authoritative voice boomed familiarly off the vaulted ceilings of his study cheerfully. “What brings you up?” “I was wondering how long you’d be,” I answered. His blank, confused expression worried me that he had forgotten what day it was, but there was a slight gleam in his eye that told me he was just giving me a hard time. “Don’t tell me you forgot!” I exclaimed, pretending I believed him. “Forgot what?” he mused, feigning confusing still and tapping his index finger on his chin for added effect. “Dad…” I warned jokingly. He snapped his fingers and teased, “Oh! I forgot to check in with perimeter watch this morning! Thanks for reminding me!” I folded my arms and fixed him with a look as if to say “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He only smiled and looked back down at his papers, for a moment I thought I caught a glimpse of- what could it have been?  Sadness? What would he have to be sad about? When he continued, all kidding around had left his voice. “No, of course I remember Sara.” He looked back to me again with a gentle, warm smile on his face. “I couldn’t forget my only daughters eighteenth birthday, or any birthday for that matter,” He chuckled and glanced out the window before continuing. “Though certainly not a birthday like this.” I’m almost certain he hadn’t intended on me hearing that last part. I felt a tinge of sorrow at seeing father upset. We all knew this day would come, as it does for all of our kind, but you know what they say about daddies and their little girls. That day, on my eighteenth birthday, would be my first shift, meaning the first time I shift from human-like to my wolf. The first time for all of us is different, but nonetheless can be tricky and very painful, like pulling every muscle in your body at once. Which, ironically enough, is pretty much exactly what’s happening. Our bodies change and take a shape that had not been done prior, so of course it’s going to hurt. It hurts the following few times as well, though not as intensely and the feeling fades quickly the more often you shift. Kind of like weight training for humans; it’s painful at first but the more you do it and the more you body becomes accustomed to it, the easier it gets and you actually find you look forward to doing it. However, we are told that we are strictly prohibited from shifting before our bodies are fully matured. Doing so before we are ready can cause our bodies to be permanently and painfully damaged. Of course rebellious teens get tempted to shift, but we do the shifting ceremony as an incentive to wait. It’s a bit more complicated than that, though. From the time we are five years old up until we turn 18, we all go through training and practice with fighting, self defense, connecting and communicating with our wolf, essentially honing and sharpening the senses and abilities that will be crucial to our survival as adults.  Among others, one of the most emphasized area of training was communicating and understanding our wolf which for me, is a funny story.. looking back at it anyways. Werewolf pups usually first make contact with their wolf around the age of nine to eleven, similar to human puberty, and are given introductory courses around the age of 7 to educate us and prepare us fr the moment our inner wolf makes itself known to us. I, however, had the pleasure of first meeting Salice roughly a month before my sixth birthday, a whole year before even learning what to expect when I did connect with my wolf. I convinced myself I developed insanity and would be exiled and lose my family forever… it completely freaked me out, just suddenly hearing a separate voice in my head, as if someone was standing next to me talking except only I could hear them and no one could see them. My parents, goddess bless them, though they were surprised once they realized it was my wolf I was actually referring to and not some imaginary friend, reassured me that what I was experiencing was completely normal just that it was happening earlier than expected. After that, I never had any problems connecting with Salice, she rarely was silent for long periods anyways. That being said, we are still taught exercises and lessons with communication when it comes to our inner wolf, and for very good reason. When a werewolf shifts, the “human" part of the being as a whole must connect with the “wolf", signaling the body to let it know it’s time to change. The first time, you have to have a very strong, solid connection and be in tune with each other each agonizing second. If you’re not, and the connection is lost, then when the shift is complete then the wolf has complete and permanent control of the body, meaning the person inside is essentially lost in concern with the rest of the outside world and the only shape and mentality that will dominate will be the wolf, and in those stages the wolf is not civilized nor of sound mind. Base instincts take over, and thought the wolf is still able to speak as well as before, all logic and rational thought is desolate.  Basically, they go insane. When this happens, the being is then referred to as a Rouge, exiled from the pack, and banned from having contact in any way with anyone else in its former pack.  Knowing all of this, I know the risks going into this evenings events, but I’m not afraid. Okay, maybe a little bit but only of the pain. Salice and I are both confident that everything will go smoothly, and after today our new life will begin. Correction, our freedom will begin. That being said, I understand why father has trepidation in regards to all of it. After all, not only does he have to watch his only daughter go through one of the most potentially painful experiences in a werewolves life, but where as I gain my freedom and a new life begins afterward, he likely feels as if he's losing is little girl. In a way he’s right, but in more ways, he’s wrong. While yes I will be considered an adult and will soon begin searching for a mate and a life of my own, I wish I could communicate to him in a way that he will understand that I will always be his little girl. Just… a grown version of her.  While I didn’t like the fact that he's upset, I was not going to let it get me down too much on the day I’d literally been waiting my whole life for. I smiled in understanding, but still continued the conversation. “Are you almost ready to head to the clearing?” I was practically bouncing in my seat with excitement, and I couldn’t tell if it was coming more from myself or from Salice. Honestly it was probably a little bit of both. Sighing in defeat, Father turned his attention from the window and called for his beta, Felix. Upon entering, the tall, broad man almost the same age as my father, with dark hair that fell in waves down to his shoulders and tense green eyes, bowed slightly, but respectfully to my father. “Yes, Alpha Kane.” His voice was deep but not near as demanding nor intimidating as my fathers, but not surprisingly as Felix obviously wasn’t an alpha. He turned my his eyes to me and smiled politely. “Good evening, Miss Saraphina.” I smiled and returned his greeting, but internally cringed when he addressed me that way. I hated being called “Miss" anything, and being called by my full first name was mildly annoying. I completely preferred being addressed as Sara. Short, sweet, and to the point; just like me. “Find Marissa and let her and our sons know that Sara and I are headed to the clearing and that we will meet them there.” Father’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as he told Felix to relay the message to my mother. I felt a moment of unease at the realization that many people will be there to witness the ceremony, but I quickly shoved it down. Like I said, I wasn’t letting anything ruin today. Fifteen minutes later, my father and I entered the large clearing the size of a football field in the heart of the forest that bordered our packs territory. This was there clearing where most officials ceremonies were held in our pack. Weddings and first-shifts among them. I gulped silently, looking around the edges of the clearing where it countless faces watched me enter at one end of the clearing. Jeez, it looks like half the town showed up…- I thought silently. I could feel Salice getting antsy. -Are you sure you’re ready?-  Her tone didn’t sound nervous, but confident. She wasn’t worried, she was checking in on me, which wasn’t necessary since she already knows all of my thoughts as I’m thinking them and all my feelings as I’m feeling them, but I appreciated the sentiment. -We've waited years for this Salice. I’m beyond ready.- -We've got this, we've been over the process hundreds of times. Once Kane goes to stand with the rest of your family, you signal me when you’re ready but remember, the first time you have to announce my name to the rest of the pack, for official purposes.' -I know, I know, you just said we've been over this a hundred times, Salice.- I didn’t mean to get short with her, I was growing more anxious the closer we got to the center of the clearing. By the time I had reached the center, the sun had officially set and it was now night in the forest, though I could see everyone clear as day. Hurray for supernatural senses. This was one moment I would have preferred to not have such clear sight at night. Father stood directly in my path, facing me but speaking loudly as though addressing those in attendance. “Saraphina Marigold Midnight, do you attest to be of sound mind, of adequate health, and of proper age to henceforth proceed in The Ceremony of Shift?” “I am.” I answered, sounding more confident and authoritative than I felt, and I sent a silent thank you to Salice for that, not letting me stutter out of anticipation. “Do you attest that you have been properly taught the expectations of what you will likely experience during the ceremony, and have are you prepared to bear the consequences should their be any complications during the ceremony?” -Right, he means should we become a brainless savage and half to be exiled from anyone we know and love.- -Shut UP, Salice.- “I do.” He looked down at me, well more accurately towered over me as he was over a foot taller than I was, and I squared my shoulders and bravely met his gaze, surprised to see a hint of worry in his expression. “Are you sure you’re ready?” He asked quietly so only I heard. I took a deep breath, soothing my nerves that had came about more from excitement than fear. I glanced around us at all of our friends and family, all of whom I’d known since birth, and felt a calm reassurance come over me. I squared my shoulders, looked my father in the eye and nodded. “Yes sir.” He smiled tightly, holding back too much emotion but I could still see the pride he felt. Quickly and unexpectedly, he wrapped me in a crushing hug. He wasn’t much of the “hugging” type, so whenever he did hug me it usually told me it was more for him than for me. Nonetheless, I returned the hug and rested my head on his shoulder as I did when I was a little girl. “We love you, Sara.” He whispered to me, relaying the sentiment from my mother and brothers as well. “You've got this.” I smiled nervously and released him, looking up at him one last time before the moment of truth. “Thanks, Dad, and I love you guys too.” With that, he turned and walked to the edge of the clearing to stand with my mother and 2 older brothers. -This is it… - -We've been through years of training for this, Sara. It will be okay.- -I know.- -Remember, it will hurt, but you mustn’t fight it. Just let me take the wheel. It’ll feel weird, but after a while it will just be second nature.- -I know. - -Stay with me, Sara. Just focus on me, until the pain subsides. I won’t let anything happen to us.- -You’ve never done this before either. - -Call it basic instinct. It will become basic to you in time, but I was created with this instinct.-  She paused momentarily. -Do you trust me, Sara?- -Of course I do.- I felt her psychologically nod. Huh? I can tell when you do that? When did that happen? -Just now.- -Smart ass.- -And you’re stalling.-  She was right. I was stalling. I took another deep, deep breath. -Whenever you’re ready. - I didn’t bother answering her internally. With one finally glance at the people who stood watching me, waiting, I looked directly ahead of me and summoned all the strength I had within me. “SALICE!” _____________________________________________________________________________________ My body felt like I was being torn in half. I tried to scream in horrific pain but I was too stunned to manage more than a weak whimper. -You’re doing great, Sara.- I didn’t answer her. I couldn’t. My vision had gone black, I couldn’t hear anything aside from a ringing in my ears and Salice's voice repeatedly reassuring me. I couldn’t clear my head enough to move. Not to see, not to think, I could barely even breathe. It seemed to go on forever. I didn’t know how much longer I could take it, I could feel the mental rope that toggled me to Salice straining.  -Salice…- I finally managed a clear thought. It was only one word but that one word felt like I had ran a marathon. -Stay with me, stop fighting. Its almost over.- 《Salice's POV》 Sara had collapsed to the ground once the shift had started. When I could clear my mind enough to form a thought, I cracked my eyelids open only slightly. I was curled in a ball in the center of the clearing, worried and anxious faces peering at me… us, but me. I could feel Sara in my subconscious and though she hadn’t said anything I knew she was okay. My body hurt. It ached like I’d just ran hundreds of miles. I wanted, no, I needed to get up and stretch.  Painfully, I rolled onto my belly and forced my sore muscles to push me to stand on all hours, which was harder than I expected. I felt like a baby horse trying to walk for the first time. Then again, this was my first time existing as more than a subconscious entity. I had no idea what my appearance would be or what it would be like once we did shift. Appearance. I wanted to see what I looked like. I glanced down to see sturdy legs branching from thick, round paws. My fur was solid black, such a deep, dark black it almost had a blueish silvery sheen to it in the moonlight. From what I could see of myself by craning my neck to the left and right, I wasn’t extremely tall but I also wasn’t tiny, right around what would be considered “average” if not three or four inches taller, but I was expected to be slightly over average with Sara coming from Alpha bloodlines. I was, however, happy to see my build was solid and muscular. No one wants to me a thin, scrawny sapling. I could feel Sara’s approval in my mind, the first thought if felt come from her since the shift, and I sighed in relief.  -Ahh, I was wondering when you were going to wake up,- I teased. -You can tease all you want, Salice, but you can’t fool me. You were worried.- I could mentally see the “I caught you.” grin on her face. -This is gonna take some getting used to.- -Are you okay?- I could feel her stretching her aching muscles in my subconscious. It amazed me how it didn’t feel as if she was shoved in an empty space in my mind, but it also didn’t feel like I was being over crowded. It just felt… natural. -I’m still a little sore, but its going away quickly. What about you?- I asked, scanning around the clearing, taking in all the new sights, the smells, the sounds. One by one, the adults in attendance shifted to their wolf forms, the last one being Alpha Azrael, Sara’s fathers’ wolf. He was tall, and I mean tall. He was always much taller than Sara, but even in wolf form he was taller than me by a good seven inches. His fur was black, but surprisingly not quite as deep of a shade as mine, but it suited him well. I bowed my head deeply and respectfully once he stood in front of me. He nodded once, and proceeded to place circles around me. “Salice.” He addressed me. His voice threw me off. It sounded still almost like Alpha Kanes, but it had someone taken on an even deeper and authoritative tone. I could feel him trying to mind link with me, hence saying my name aloud. I had to respond with his name in order for him to be able to link his mind to mine as he did with the rest of the pack. It was how we communicate, it allows is to receive orders without enemies knowing what those orders are, should the need arise. “Alpha Azrael.” Feeling the mind link was unsettling at first, but feeling faded. -Do you feel okay?- He asked silently. -Yes, Alpha.- I answered as he continued to circle me. -Sara, are you okay?- He addressed her. -Yes, Alpha.- I was surprised. I knew this was a ceremony but I think part of me still expected her to call him Father, or Dad, or something. Alpha Azrael stood in front of me, staring for what seemed to be a long time. I kept my head bowed, knowing to stay still until given the all clear. After what seemed like eternity, he allowed me to lift my gave and he seemed to look relieved. He turned, addressing the pack, this time speaking outloud. “Friends, family, my loyal pack members! I present to you, Salice!" With that, he tilted his head back, closed his eyes shut and let loose a long, powerful howl with the rest of the pack following suit. After taking a fraction of the second to take in the sound of the pack members all howling at once, lifted my head to the sky, and joined my pack.