A Wolf Among Thorns

The Shift

It wasn’t long before Ava came jogging up the driveway to her house, Pixel firmly held in her arms. She slowed as she saw the four figures waiting for her before the door. Her parents stood there on the porch, looking down at her, while May and her youngest sister Clara squealed and ran towards her. Ava heaved a long-suffering sigh and tucked Pixel closer into her body. “And so it begins,” she grumbled under her breath. Raising her voice, she called out, “I’m back!”

May was the first to reach Ava, keening a high-pitched squeal. “You got a puppy! I want one! Mom, can I have a puppy too? Dad?” She reached out to try to take Pixel.

Ava jerked backwards out of her reach. “Stop,” she said with a sigh of irritation. “You’re going to scare her. Calm down.”

Clara surged up on Ava’s other side. “You couldn’t get a prettier dog?” she asked critically, reaching out a hand to rub Pixel’s head all the same. “She’s so ugly, she looks like she got into a fight with the lawn mower and lost.”

Ava cuffed her lightly around the head. “Like you aren’t dying to hold her,” she retorted. “You know you love her.”

Clara blew a raspberry at Ava. “She’s not mine, and Mom and Dad aren’t going to let me get one of my own. So I don’t like her.” Clara giggled as Pixel wiggled in Ava’s arms and licked at her fingers with her long pink tongue.

Ava’s parents had stepped down from the porch to join their group. “I thought you weren’t going to get a dog today,” her mother said, a faint note of reproval in her voice. “Don’t you have to go on a waitlist or something?”

Ava shifted Pixel to her other arm. “Mrs. Bohannon had a puppy available, so she let me take her now. Normally, yeah, I’d have to wait for a suitable puppy from her next litter.”

Her father drifted closer, reaching out to pat Pixel’s head but pulling back when the little tongue flicked toward him. “Ew, don’t lick me,” he said in a baby voice. “I’d rather you’d bite me. You look like you stink.” He laughed and rubbed her head fur into circles. “What did you name it? Is it a male or a female?”

“She’s a female,” Ava said, rolling her eyes at her father’s crude joke. “Her registered name is Bohannon’s Dazzling Enchantress, but Mrs. Bohannon let me pick her call name. So, her call name is Pixel.”

“She’s very pretty,” her mother said. “But remember what I told you. You’d do best to remember that if she becomes an inconvenience, she’s gone.”

“I want a puppy, too!” May squealed, annoyed at being ignored. She tugged at her father’s sleeve. “Dad, I want a puppy, too! Why does only Ava get a puppy?”

Ava snapped back before their father could reply. “Ava gets a puppy because Ava has done all the research that needed to be done on how best to care for a puppy, and because she has been working her tail off to put together the money needed to buy and care for a puppy. When you can say the same, then you can ask for a puppy, too,” she hissed.

“That’s not fair!” May screeched. “You’re always running off into the woods. I bet you have a secret boyfriend there. I stay home, I should get a puppy too.” She again tried to take Pixel from Ava, but Ava slapped her hand away.

“Quiet!” their father boomed, rubbing his forehead with his hands. “Ava, lose the attitude. We’re letting you buy this puppy, but I want you to share it with your sisters, too. It’s not fair to them that they can’t have a dog, but I won’t have three dogs running around.”

Ava turned to him, horrified, as Clara stared round-eyed at their parents and May puffed up like a peacock. “What?” she gasped. “You can’t be serious, Dad! I worked hard to buy this puppy myself. I know how to train and take care of her. May can’t even take care of a plant, and you know that! Besides, it’s my birthday!” She turned to her mother, frantically. “Mom, tell him! Pixel is my dog.”

“We already told you how it’s going to be,” her mother said firmly. “Share, or none of you will have a dog. I’m not going to have you three fighting over a mutt. Teach your sisters how to take care of her.”

“Don’t push it, Ava,” her father said. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Well, neither am I!” Ava shrieked, angry tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. “Pixel is my dog. I’m not sharing.”

“Well, Mom and Dad said you have to,” May said smugly. “So let me hold her.”

“How about no?” Ava hissed. “You want a dog so badly, then earn one, you spoiled, entitled little brat!” Turning to her parents, she seethed, "You talk about fair, but you don't give a damn. You say it's not fair for my sisters not to have a dog. Well, how is it fair, to me or to Pixel, to force me to 'share' her with my sisters so they can treat her like she's their newest toy and cast her aside when they're tired of her?" She twisted around, shoving May away from her, and tore off into the forest with Pixel in her arms. Her parents’ shouts, Clara’s gasp and May’s shrill scream rang in her ears, but she ignored them, chafing with vexation as she followed the by now familiar path to the clearing she shared with Astralune. She hugged Pixel tightly as she ran, whispering into her fur. “Don’t worry, Pix,” she said. “I’ll take care of you always. I won’t let May treat you like her plaything. I’ve got you.”

“Astralune!” she cried as she darted out from the shadow of the trees. “Astralune! I’m here!”

A soft nicker greeted her as the unicorn stepped out also from among the trees. His silvery coat glimmered like the moon even in the brightness of the midday sunlight. He was still in his leggy colt stage, but his chest had filled out considerably and he was beginning to look more and more imposing every day. His horn had lost its baby fuzz, and the sunlight gleamed off it as though it were made of white gold. He ambled up to Ava, nudging her with his nose and lipping at her shorts pockets in search of his customary treat; then his eyes landed on Pixel and he softly blew his warm breath over her as she released an eager whimper and sniffed back, her tiny black nose touching his large silvery one.

“Astralune, meet Pixel. Pixel, this is Astralune,” Ava said, clipping the leash to Pixel’s collar once more and setting her down on the ground where she ran to the silver shrub and sniffed at it wonderingly. Ava threw her arms around Astralune’s neck, still holding Pixel’s leash. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring any treats today,” she said. “I didn’t have time to take any. I just… ran.” Her voice quavered slightly as she went on. “Today is my birthday, and Mom and Dad said I could get a puppy. Mrs. Bohannon just so happened to have Pixel, so I bought her right away. And now they’re telling me I have to share her with my sisters! As though she were just an object!” Ava slapped away an angry tear. “Clara I don’t mind so much, I know she wouldn’t hurt her. But May is a spoiled brat and thinks only of herself. I don’t trust her as far as I could throw her, and I definitely don’t want her near Pixel.”

Astralune lifted his head up and nuzzled her ear, tickling her with his soft bristles. Ava reached up to scratch behind his ear. “I guess I’ll just have to find a way to placate my parents,” she exhaled. “I don’t want to, but I suppose I’ll have to offer May something to get her to back off of us and leave us alone. She’s always wanted my fancy drawing pastels… maybe I can give her those.” She grimaced at the idea. Ava didn’t often use her art supplies, but they were precious to her and she always wanted them in pristine condition for when she did want them. Oh, well, she conceded to herself. Pixel is worth it. I can always save to buy some more. Ava gave a bitter laugh. Aloud, she said, “It’s ridiculous that I have to stoop to letting my bratty sister blackmail me. Come, Astralune, let’s get out of the mud. Walk with me?” With one hand on his mane and the other holding Pix’s leash, Ava walked off into the forest with her companions. She allowed the lilting birdsong and the quiet rustle of leaves in the wind to soothe away her worries even as she relished the peaceful solitude.

The sun was already hanging low in the sky by the time Ava took her leave of Astralune and returned to her house with Pixel. She steeled herself as she walked through the door, finding her father sitting in his favorite armchair, facing her. “So, you’ve returned,” he said gruffly. “Are you going to be reasonable now?”

Ava took a deep breath. “I’m not going to let May have Pixel, Father,” she said stiffly. “You know how May is. I don’t trust that she won’t harm her. She can have my pastels that she’s always pestering me about, but Pixel is my dog, not May’s.”

Her father regarded her with a long-suffering expression. “Fine,” he sighed at last. “If May is agreeable, you can give her your pastels instead. But I don’t want to hear another word on the subject, or you’re taking the dog back. Do you understand?”

Ava swallowed her anger and replied, “I understand.”

“Good,” her father said. “Just so we’re clear.” He started to settle back in his chair, then stopped and turned to her again. “Oh, before I forget, go get changed. Your mother’s invited over a couple of people for your birthday, and she was getting frantic that you were going to miss your own party.”

Ava’s heart dropped into her shoes. “A party?” she repeated. “Dad, you know I don’t like parties.”

“Nonsense,” he replied with a frown. “Would it kill you to do this to make your mother happy? All you have to do is eat and laugh with the guests for a little while. They just want to congratulate you. You’re only going to turn eighteen once.”

“I…” Ava sighed. “Fine. I’m going to get changed.” She ran to her room, bolted the door and set Pixel on her bed, hiding her face in the dog’s puppy fluff for a few minutes before she started freshening up.

The party was every bit as awful as Ava had anticipated. Anxiety roiled in her gut as she laughed hollowly, fighting the desire to jump out of her skin or disappear every time a guest wished her a happy birthday or tried to chat with her. She felt self-conscious, like a stranger in her own home, and longed to escape back to her room, where she’d left Pixel locked in and safe from her sister’s grasping hands.

Her mother’s turkey sandwiches, fried cheese and mashed potatoes were excellent, but Ava found it difficult to eat her meal with so many strange eyes present. Her mother had invited over seven of her friends to the party, none of whom Ava was acquainted with; and even after dinner was over, they would not leave, but continued chatting and munching on snacks far into the night. Meanwhile, a headache was growing between Ava’s ears, mild at first, but as the night wore on it began to hammer at her temples. Finally she had had enough. She stood up and announced to her mother, “It’s late, and I have a headache. I’m going to bed; see you in the morning.”

Her mother barely looked up from where she was conversing with another lady. “Of course, my dear. I hope you enjoyed your birthday. Have a good night!”

“Good night, Ava, dear!” the other lady, Mrs. Finnegan, called. “Rest well! And congratulations again!”

“Thank you, Mrs. Finnegan,” Ava said politely. “See you later.” She turned on her heel and left for her room, fingers fumbling with the lock before pulling the door open. Ava couldn’t help grinning through the headache at the sight before her. Pixel had dug herself into Ava’s pillowcase and now only her head peeked out from within. She wriggled out and bounced on her back legs while she showered Ava’s hands with affectionate licks. Ava struggled out of her emerald green dress as best she could – Another reason to hate parties, she thought to herself wryly – and collapsed into bed with a bone-weary sigh. The clock beside her bed read barely 10:30 PM, but Ava was utterly exhausted and fell instantly into a dreamless sleep, with Pixel nestled into the crook of her arm.

Suddenly, what seemed like only five minutes later, Ava’s entire body felt as though it were on fire. Heart racing, she opened her eyes. Everything in her room stood out in stark detail despite the darkness, but she barely had time to register this before a spasm gripped her body. She arched her back, opening her mouth in a soundless scream. Pixel leaped from the bed with a yip of terror, but Ava barely noticed, so consumed was she in her own torment. A loud snap echoed in the room, and Ava felt as though her skull had burst open. She tried to raise her hands to hold her head, but her arms wouldn’t respond. She moaned, in too much pain and terror even to scream. This is it, Ava thought. I’m going to die. I don’t want to die. Please, no!

The bones in Ava’s arms and legs snapped of their own accord. She released a choked cry, convulsing in agony on her bed. Tears leaked from her unseeing eyes. What the hell is this? Am I poisoned? She felt as though she could hardly breathe from the pain.

Then, as abruptly as it had come, the pain subsided. Ava carefully opened her eyes, almost expecting the pain to return at any moment. “What the hell was that?” she tried to say, but the only sound that came out was a deep, guttural moan.

A moan that sounded… almost like a growl.

Ava sprang out of bed. She tried to land on her feet, but they slid out from under her and she crashed painfully to the floor. She tried to swear, but only a snarl left her lips.

Then, Ava caught sight of herself in the mirror which lay against the wall next to the door of her room. She would have screamed if she had been able to, but she was only able to release a low whine.

 Sprawled there in her place was a massive gray wolf with flickering yellow-orange eyes.