What is she?

Chapter 6 It wasn’t a Dream

Waking late in the afternoon, I stumbled into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. I was still exhausted but needed to hit the gym in the recreation center so I could be ahead of my teammates. Yes, I am very competitive even against my own teammates. Pouring my cup of coffee, I inhaled the wonderful aroma.

“That smells amazing!” Pandi said, yawning in my mind, while I nearly dropped my cup in shock. I had almost forgotten last night wasn’t a dream.

Pandi giggled and said

“It wasn’t a dream. Do we really have to go to the gym? We could just go for another run in the forest!” Rolling my eyes I said

“We can’t just run in the forest all the time, especially during the day. Plus I need to work on my strength training.” Pandi huffed and retreated to the back of my mind.

After finishing my coffee, I went and gathered my things for a shower. In the bathroom, I went to the sink to brush my teeth. Looking in the mirror, my reflection caught my attention. Both my hair and skin seemed brighter and flawless. While my eyes now held a significant amount of gold hidden in the depths of green. I could clearly see Pandi’s wolf eyes hidden in my green ones. We really were two parts of the same being. I stared at my reflection replaying the events from last night. I am a werewolf. What does this change about my future? Pandi says we aren’t the only werewolves, I just don’t know that because I was raised outside of a pack. Should we find a pack? From what I remember about wolves on the discovery channel is they tend to struggle to survive on their own. Will we struggle without a pack or is it possible to learn about being a werewolf from google? Pandi stirred from her nap to say

“We will be fine. I can tell I am a very strong wolf and we will learn everything we need to at the right time. Stop overthinking it.” Her words did little to calm my anxious mind but she was right I needed to stop overthinking it for now. Pushing those thoughts out of my mind I stepped into the shower.

After my shower, I got dressed in gym clothes and made my way to the recreation center to lift weights. Stepping outside the dorm building, I was nearly blinded by the sun. Everything I looked at seemed enhanced. Like someone had turned up the settings on a TV. Then I noticed I was hearing what sounded like ocean waves. That’s impossible.

“It’s not impossible anymore. My senses are now yours. We can see, smell, and hear much better than humans can. Perks of being a werewolf!” Pandi said, proud of herself. So, not only can I shift into a wolf but I also have enhanced senses. I started to wonder what other things had changed since I met Pandi. Before I could think much about it my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling out my phone I read the caller ID. Oh no, it’s mom.

Stunned, I just stared at the cellphone in my hand as it continued to ring flashing mom across its screen.

“Oh for heaven's sake just answer it.” Pandi said annoyed. Taking a breath, I slid my finger across the screen accepting the call.

“Hel” was all I got out before my mom started screaming into my ear.

“Elizabeth Katherine Montgomery, what have you been doing? Why haven’t you been answering my calls? Why haven’t you called me back? Here I am worried sick about you being alone on campus and you can’t even be bothered to send a text to let me know you are okay. I didn’t raise you to be so thoughtless of your parents.” I held the phone at arm's length.

“We don’t even need a phone to hear her.” Pandi said with a huff and moved to the back of my mind. My heightened sense of hearing and mom’s screaming had my ears ringing. I decided the best thing I could do was apologize.

“Mom, I am really sorry. I didn’t mean to miss your calls. I had a horrible headache yesterday, so after I worked on my room I took some medicine and went to bed early.” I tried to explain. I could hear my mom trying to calm herself and then the next thing she said held worry.

“Oh Eliza, why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well. Dad and I could have come up to take care of you.”

“It’s okay mom, it was just a really bad headache. I think it was from all the excitement of meeting the coach.” I lied. Pandi was the reason for the headache.

“I feel great today mom! I’m actually on my way to the recreation center right now to get in a workout.” I said, trying to calm down mom’s worry and end the call.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mom asked.

“Yes, I am.” I replied. Mom took a deep breath and said

“Okay, so long as you’re feeling better. I’ll let you go workout, but call me when you get back to your dorm please.”

“I am mom. I’ll call you this evening. Love you. Bye.” I said quickly and ended the call.

Stuffing my phone back into my pocket, I made my way to the recreation center. Pandi had settled in the back of my mind and seemed to be sleeping soundly. The recreation center was empty since very few people were on campus yet. I popped in my headphones and played my favorite workout music. Now that my hearing was enhanced and the center was empty I didn’t need to turn up the volume all the way anymore to focus. Spotting the closest weight training machine I decided to start with it and then make my way around the center to as many pieces of equipment as I could stand.

Several hours later, I had been on every machine in the center, some twice, I had also spent time using every piece of equipment the center had to offer and had barely broken a sweat. Clearly my senses weren’t the only new enhancement since Pandi had broken the barrier. My stamina and strength had sky rocketed to the point I could nearly max out the weight training machines with little difficulty. I wondered what else had also changed that I had yet to notice and how all these changes would affect my sport’s career. Lost in my own thoughts of what my future might look like, I didn’t notice Pandi stirring in my mind until she said

“We aren’t alone anymore.”