Saving a King

Shapeshifters

I slide slowly down the tree to the ground, unable to contain my sorrow any longer. I hug my knees to my chest, sobbing into them. I feel a rush of warm air hit my neck, I don’t even have the strength to look. The big black wolf gently nudges me. I lift my head slowly, turning to look into its gold eyes.

I don’t know what I see there but, I know it won’t harm me. The wolf moves and lays down onto the grass next to me. We sit in the darkness, surrounded by death. I suddenly hear that grotesque noise again, bones breaking. I look past the black wolf and see a big, very naked man standing amongst the other wolves. He is covered in dirt and blood. He walks to the tree line, and then comes back out, completely dressed. Where did he get clothes?

He slowly walks over to us, almost as if he is scared of the wolf next to me. “We won’t harm you.” He says this to me. I don’t understand this world, how is this possible? “I’m not afraid of you, not anymore,” is all I can say to him. Of course, I’m lying, I’m absolutely terrified but, what can I do? I can’t run, seems I can’t hide, and I definitely can’t wake up because, unfortunately this is not a dream.

Another wolf, maybe grey, walks over and tilts its head up at the man with an unspoken question. “She won’t harm us either, she is not a threat,” the man says to the grey wolf. They both then look at the black wolf, who still has not moved from my side. I reach out to touch his fur, unsure if I can comfort it somehow. It suddenly lashes out, barring its red stained teeth at me.

I jump up and away from the wolf. The man and grey wolf do the same. The black wolf seems to come out of its trance, and leaps to its feet. He snarls viciously at me, and then at the others. The man quickly transforms back into his wolf, and they all run towards the trees together, leaving me standing there trembling.

I start walking back into my house, unsure of what to do. What do I do with the fallen wolves? I can’t seem to think, as I walk inside. Only then do I realize, my front door is busted, my house looks like a tornado went through it. I’m suddenly so exhausted, I just don’t care. I walk over to the couch and fall onto it, immediately falling into the darkness of sleep.