The Midnight Prince

Abnormal Behavior

(Flint)

Kaylee lays next to me in bed, sound asleep. Today was a roller coaster of emotion for us, and I’m sure she was exhausted from it all. I can’t sleep, it’s nearly three am and I’ve done nothing but lay here and stare at her silhouette. It’s nearly summer here, which means the sun is only down between 10 pm and 5am. Soon the sun will start its journey through the sky, and sleep seems pointless after that anyway.

Slipping carefully out from under our blanket, I sneak away to the back door. It opens without a sound, and I step barefoot onto the cold wooden deck. Drago stirs inside. Are we going for a run? He yips eagerly and I give myself over to him, shifting into his massive wolf with ease. Shifting used to hurt, having my bones altered and snapped into a different shape. But it gets easier the more you do it, and Drago wants to run almost every single day.

(Drago)

My paws drum against the earth as I gallop lazily through the pine trees. Alaska is the home of our ancestors, and I can feel their magic with every step I take. If Flint hadn’t been born here I would be no where near the size I am, but it is known northern wolves are far more in touch with the mystical work the goddess used to bring us to life. I’m not quite as large as Slate’s wolf Orion, but that doesn’t matter much to me. Orion is big because he’s from Kara’s womb, and simply inherited his size and color. I was graced with mine by the goddess herself. Flint and I are meant to be the change our people need. Flint just doesn’t know it yet.

The ground below me grows softer, and the sound of running water makes my ear perk. Slowing to a trot, I come along a little path made by wild animals that leads to the creek. The water is crystalline and I can spot dozens of little minnows swimming along the gentle current. The sun rises slowly from behind the mountains, waking up all the little birds of the forest. Their shrill chirps and calls soon create a symphony of sounds in the tree branches.

Even though I’ve barely worked my muscles, I lay down amongst the sandy shore and lay my muzzle against my paws. I want to stay here forever. In the wild, there are no human problems. There is not a phone constantly ringing or business meetings to attend. There is only life. All around me life grows. Ferns and Alaskan flowers bloom uncontrollably through the fertile dirt. Fish spawn in the rivers and streams. Bird eggs hatch chicks, and elks drop their fresh summer calves. Mountain goats give birth in the safety of this valley as well, despite the pack of shape-shifting wolves that live here. We’re much less of a threat to their offspring than the bears and real wolves out beyond the mountain ranges. My pack doesn’t kill for sport, we kill for necessity, and never the young or their mothers.

Far off, probably several miles, my ears pick up on a bull elk calling out in search of a mate. I let my eyes drift shut, daydreaming of a world where Flint and I never have to return to his burdensome human life.

The water is calming, and we never just lay in the nursery that nature provides. Flint is too busy. He’s always working under Kara’s watchful eye, learning how to manage each business, how to be an Alpha, and how to be a King. When he’s not following her around the office and on little business trips, he’s fawning over our Kaylee. Perhaps when our little brother steals her from us, he’ll have more time to just sit and relax amongst our homeland. Shut up, he’s not going to steal her. They’re going to reject each other. She said so. Flint whines like a mosquito. Sure she will. And when that happens my fur will magically turn silver and our eyes blue. Flint may not be able to accept it but I saw the way they looked at each other. It’s the way Kara and Emma stare at each other. It was instantaneous love. They will be together. Whether they have the balls to be honest about it or try to hide it from us, it will happen. I want to go home. I’ve had enough of you for today. Flint grumbles and tries to push for control but he is weak when we’re in my true form, just as I am in his. I’m not ready yet. I want to hunt. Even though our food is prepared for us by maids, hunting a wild animal is thrilling. No, we’re leaving now. Again my human presses to shift and I begrudgingly stand, stretching my front and back legs. A quick shake of my ebony fur knocks the sand off of me. With an annoyed yawn, I lope home, wishing I had kept my thoughts to the fish and sky.

The sun warms my back, a sensation I find quite pleasant. It’s short lived though, as soon as we’re home Flint shifts back into our human form and waltzes into the house.

(Flint)

I strut through the back door and my nose is immediately enveloped with the sweet scent of Kaylees flowery shampoos and soaps. The running shower produces a light steam that seeps slowly from the bathroom doorway. A rose petal mist, calling to me. I enter the bathroom and slide the glass shower door open. “Good morning beautiful.” I tell her.

Kaylee spins around so fast she knocks half of the soap bottles off the shelves and slides a bit on the wet floor. “Holy hell Flint! You scared the s**t out of me.” She wraps her arms around herself.

The soap slides down her sleek skin and pools at her feet. “I’m sorry Baby Girl, I didn’t mean to scare you. Here, watch out I’ll come wash your hair to make up for it.” I start to climb in but she shrugs past me and climbs out, reaching for a towel.

“No, that’s okay. You can go ahead and shower. I need to get ready for work.” My shoulders slump with defeat and I stand under the water alone, the shower feeing strangely empty without her in here with me. She’s going to leave us. Drago sighs and I wish just once I could meet him physically so that I could smack him a few times.

Kaylee leaves the bathroom completely and I rinse my dirty body off and go to find her in the bedroom but she’s already dressed and walking out the door, shouting a simple“I love you” as she leaves for work an hour early.