Fog
I'm running. Always running.
Running as far as my body will take me, clearing my mind from all the voices constantly calling out. It suffocated me.
They start moving towards the front of my mind and I clench my fists pushing them back, I breathe out and pick up speed. In the morning when the world is waking up, still in silence, and people are still asleep I run with the light breeze hitting my bare skin as I push myself harder. The dirt, the chilly air, the trees with my markings, everything around me that helps control all the darkness inside. Thick black tendrils like a web, stuck in the back of my mind, slowly branching out reaching to take hold of my thoughts and turn me against all I've ever known.
Stopping to stand for a moment, I reach for my backpack to get my water bottle and towel and wipe the sweat from my chest and brows. Surveying my surroundings deciding which trail to take to head home. Noticing I'm closer than I thought, standing in the clearing where I first started. I hadn't realized I circled back, must be instinct to stay close to the pack. I'm no longer a kid, but like my father has always told me, power is always stronger when we gather together regardless if I'm to be alpha soon or not. "CARTER! YO, CARTER!" I hear my friend Leo calling for me from the backyard of the house almost half a mile away.
I throw my stuff back in my bag, take off my running shorts and throw them in as well. Once I've stripped bare I place the bag next to my feet and change into my wolf form. I already feel more strength pouring into my bones, as I'm stretched and pulled, being covered in a thick layer of fur. I let out a howl after the transformation has finished. I gently pick up my bag from the ground and carry it between my canines sprinting towards my home and friend in the distance.
Ten minutes away from the house and I already know that Leo's aware I'm back and probably starving. Being best friends since birth, and practically growing up together, literally speaking considering he lives across the street from me, well there's nothing about me he doesn't know. From my favorite sandwich, my compulsive need to run, to him being the only person I trust enough to share the doubts that are clouding my mind.
If that wasn't already a reason to being an amazing friend he's also my future beta. There's no one else I trust to watch my back and help guard and protect my pack, than this man I call a brother.
Before entering the backyard I stop, shift by a tree, just beside our fence so I can quickly dress in my clothes. No need to fuel leo with any more jokes. "Leo, you ugly mutt, why hollering so early in the morning. Miss me that much?" I say giving an exaggerated open arms. "You know you complete me." I roll my eyes as leo mockingly holds his hands over his heart. "Alright now come on, what is it that couldn't wait till after I got a shower?" Brushing past him I make my way inside the kitchen to grab some food, before whatever it is my friend had needed to tell me first thing in the morning.
Leo comes in after me and I get to work grabbing two bowls of cereal together for us to eat while we chat. There is a high chance he hadn't eaten yet either, if were not constantly being chastised by our friends and family on how much we eat considering we're always hungry. Though I'm sure we'd wither away. No easy task either. As I'm pouring the milk in the bowls I turn and look up into my friends eyes, they held no trace of humor and only seriousness.
"Carter...the Dowager has called for a meeting this evening. They say she had vision." I finish pouring the milk and look back at him. "I understand, gather the rest of the Arms. The Arms are the closest and bravest in our pack to lead our warriors, hand picked by me and Leo from members we believe can be trusted with the safety of our pack above all else no matter what. "You gonna be ready for this. I mean are you good?" Leo stands there studying me, trying to see in me, like he can see the thoughts I've been struggling to keep hidden, even from me. "I'm good, really man. I 'm good. The run helped clear a few things up and I'll be ready for tonight i swear." "Ok. I'm glad, you know you can talk to me whenever. I've got your back, through heaven or hell." This time I look up to see him with his arms crossed and nothing but loyalty and sincerety staring back at me. I returned the look and let him know " As, I you, brother. Against the devil or god himself." We lock arms and smile, shifting from the seriousness in the air to a more lighthearted one. We relaxed as we ate our food and talked about school, pack meetings, all the girls crushing on the lucky bachelor Leo. Eventually after agreeing to meet up before class we went our seperate ways, and I headed up to my room to shower and get my stuff together for the day ahead.
