A Lone Wolf

the world turns

I had spent my summer alternating between lounging on the beach with my friends, training and studying with Ady and shopping for my upcoming departure. Ady was a hard task master but always soothed the soreness of my muscles in his own unique way.

My wolf and I had bonded as we ran through the forests near to Ady's home, learning about each other and building a genuine friendship. There wasn't much we disagreed on generally, and her snarky comments amused me greatly. I was curious how she seemed to simply accept and enjoy our lover without question when everything I was reading seemed to suggest that the wolf wouldn't accept anyone other than her mate, even if the human side did but she was fully on board and Even allowed him to pet and ride her; I asked her about it but she simply huffed and declared that the world had changed; I suppose she was right

Even so, I still felt a pang of loneliness each time I thought about being part of a wolf pack.

The time rolled around for me to leave; my parents car was crammed to bursting with all the stuff I needed to go away; Dad packed the back of the land rover like Tetris, everything sticking and interlocking perfectly.

I had said goodbye to Ady the night before over Chinese food and wine. He seemed more subdued than I thought he'd be but we both knew from the start that this couldn't last; Maybe I was just heartless, or maybe I just kept more focused on the reality. I promised to write, text and, if the study room had internet access, I'd email when I got an email address; I was taking my Amiga 1200 for my work but I doubted that my room would be connected.

I felt a strange pang as we pulled away from my childhood home in the chilly September dawn, my cat sitting mournfully on the wall, watching me leave. I wished I could take him.

We stopped at little chef for a road trip breakfast; it was a tradition as a family to take a break at Brentwood; in the car park there were a few cars like ours; stuffed with duvets, pots and pans and apprehensive students, leaving home for the first time; it was Freshers week all over.

As we headed West, the flat patchwork of the east followed by the monotony of the M25 started to give way to rolling hills and sandstone buildings, patches of thick, ancient looking woodland and winding rivers.

We crested the hills overlooking Bath just after lunchtime; the sun hit the circles of sandstone buildings in the valley; here it was, Aquae Sulis, the place where I would spend the next three years of my life.

As we drove through, the blonde town houses towered over the roads, the smooth, pale steps onto the pavement looking like they leaped straight from a regency novel.

It was teaming with life, people of every flavour milling around, the tables out on the streets housing beautiful, laughing people, dour businessmen and colourful students.

The abbey loomed above it all, gothic and gorgeous in its sunshine splendor; I could see street performers drawing crowds in the court as we drove by.

Coming out of the main city, we quickly returned to a more rural feel as we wound towards my college, turning into a long drive with a quaint looking pub at the end.

The drive wound uphill through fields, past lakes, forest surrounding either side; Luci yipped in excitement in my head; there was plenty of areas to run here without being seen.

Finally we arrived at a guarded gate, the cars in front of us each receiving direction to their campus building.

I was pleased to see that mine was just behind the gate and consisted of several large house like buildings around a patch of grass rather than the massive curved dorms I could see behind it. This would suit me fine.

We parked up and went to find my room; even better! I only had to share a shower and kitchen with four others; I was right in the back corner of the building. Unlocking my heavy pine door, I found my room quite large; a narrow, single bed with attached bedside unit and lamp in one corner, a wide, sweeping work desk and bookshelves in the other, my own sink and vanity with a large, lit mirror and a huge picture window. My room was light and bright with plenty of space and storage.

I giggled and talked with Amelia as we went to and from the car, lugging boxes and bags up to my new digs.

The final items to go were two large boxes of beer and a case of wine. As we were moving these, a tall, solid looking girl with a startling shock of violent red hair waved happily.

"I can see we'll be good friends!" She yelled, holding up her two bottles of vodka with a whoop. "Come find me when you're done and we'll walk up to the SU; I'm number 3 in this building!" She waved the vodka vaguely in the direction of the first block.

I gave her the thumbs up and continued on my way.

It was mid afternoon by the time we'd put away my things and dad was eager to get going with a six hour drive ahead of them.

We bid a tearful farewell amid promises to call every week. Strangely though, I wasn't too sad, just excited.

I had a quick shower and threw on a flirty little black midi dress and knee high boots, putting on just enough makeup to make my eyes pop, and a slick of crimson lipstick.

I strode over to the first building and heard the sounds of some loud grungy music and laughter coming from the kitchen so I headed that way.

The white, basic kitchen was full of smoke, bodies and alcohol.

"Heeey!" I spotted the strident redhead at the back waving excitedly. I made my way over and she stuck out her hand.

"Alexandra, " she drawled, "but usually just Alex. Yes, I'm a RAFbrat,"

I laughed and took her hand,

"Delphine..... usually just Della," I grinned.

She pointed round the big table at each person in turn, each one waving and smiling.

"Deb, Marrianne, Jen, Helen and Harriet; guys, this is Della from next door and she needs an Aftershock,"

The petite, dark haired girl that was Marrianne, resplendent in a white cardigan with feathered sleeves, grabbed a bottle of alarmingly pink liquid and poured some generously into what appeared to be a toothpaste mug. She watched my eyebrows shoot up and giggled.

"We're all classy birds in here!" She drawled in a thick Essex accent. I picked the mug up and a sickeningly strong smell of cinnamon smacked me in the face. Luci grimaced in my head and I coughed as my eyes watered.

"Not sure this qualifies as a shot!" I exclaimed in alarm; "what is this stuff? Paint stripper?"

She erupted into a fit of high pitched, nasal giggles before starting a chant of "down the hatch! Down the hatch!" Whilst clapping.

I laughed and necked the foul concoction, swallowing with a cough and a full body shudder.

Jen, a stunning, curvy blonde with a perfect button nose and blue eyes, slapped me on the back heartily, handing me a beer to wash it down.

We drank and chatted, laughing raucously as we got to know each other. Many of them were RAF girls whose parents moved from barracks to barracks, leaving them in expensive private boarding schools. They oozed confidence and were clearly used to the girlie group living.

We finished up and bundled out of the door en masse to make our way up to the SU bar; around us, similar groups of first year students were whooping and yelling in high spirits. It was time to celebrate being eighteen and away from home.

We squeezed through the doors of the main SU building where a group of second years were pointing out the facilities; the library, the bookshop, the mini mart and, more importantly, the bar which was upstairs. I found myself questioning the wisdom of situating a bar upstairs; I had no doubt that the descent home was much quicker and less elegant than getting there.

Everything had that institution feel; the striplights, the coarse blue carpet, the magnolia walls.

We found ourselves stepping into a psychedelic dungeon; the walls were all painted black, the floor was a metallic tile and the whole place had florescent painted murals, glowing in the UV lights.

Around the edge of what I assumed was the dancefloor, there were benches and tables in that itchy fabric used for bus seats. It was filled with excited youngsters making new friends and returning students bellowing at their housemates over the din.

I decided to plump for what seemed to be cheapest; double vodka and red bull; it was slightly bitter but acceptable and we all wandered away to find a table.

"Follow Mr spoon to button mooooooon!" Shrieked Alex and I dissolved into helpless giggles whilst having my feet massaged by one of the college rugby team.

It had been several hours since we hit the bar and we'd reached that stage where we were all professing undying love for Virtual strangers. It was that sort of night.

The 6ft rugby dude had turned out to be a lad called squire..... Of course it wasn't his real name but that had been lost in the midst of college life.

He was a floppy haired young lord whose parents owned half of Wiltshire; not that I gave a rat's backside, I just enjoyed having my feet rubbed.

"I feel a bit drunkered," Alex admitted, her head in my lap, her cropped tee showing her belly.

I stroked her hair and flopped against her. we giggled.

"My lord," I bowed theatrically, " lady Dephine and lady Alexandra do beg thy lordly pardon but we are awfully anaebriated and need to go to bed!" I announced, stumbling slightly.

He stood, Equally unsteadily and drew himself up to his full height.

"Milady Delphine, I insist on conveying you to your chambers!" He roared.

He bent and swept me over his shoulder, giving my ass a good, loud thwack on the way up .

Helpless with laughter, I half heartedly kicked before flopping like a mink stole round his shoulders.

"Milord, you are being positively feudal," I grumbled.

He smacked my backside again, roaring with laughter and continued striding away from my room. After a little while, I began to hear the sound of hedonistic drum beats echoing around the campus.

He eventually put me right way up and grabbed my hand, leading me down a pitch black pathway through the woods. I could see a flickering light up ahead.

The darkness gave way to the flickering shadows thrown by a blazing fire, set in what looked like the ruins of a cottage by the lake.

The flames leaped and danced their rosy reflections over the still, black water whilst the drummer hammered his bongos relentlessly.

All around us, people were sat in groups and the smell of weed fug hung thick in the air.

Around the fire, there were more people dancing wildly.

"Welcome to the pagan society," a slightly slurred voice hailed from my right.

The voice belonged to a tall, wiry lad with golden stubble and a shock of long blonde curls to his shoulders. He stuck out his hand, which I shook enthusiastically.

"You're not our usual type missie," he laughed, you're a bit well to do for a stoner,"

I threw my head back and laughed, the sound echoing around the ruins.

"No, I giggled, I don't smoke, I just heard the drums and followed the noise,"

"Well, why don't you take a seat," he gestured to a large log beside the fire, " and stay to watch the show?"

I sat gladly and accepted a swig of vodka from a bottle someone passed me. Luci groaned in my head at the thought of more alcohol. Squire had gone off to chat with another group, his cheeks ruddy in the glow of the fire. Neither of us really fit in here.

Just then, the drummer picked up the pace and was joined by a fiddle, the rhythm echoing madly around the lake.

All around me, lads started stripping naked and began dancing around the fire. After a few minutes, the first lad leapt through the flickering firelight, to whoops and cheers from the audience. They danced and leapt through the flames with abandon, each jump higher than the last as the onlookers piled up more firewood.

We clapped and cheered them on until the end of the song when the musicians took a break and they returned to their abandoned clothes.

As the noise died down and the gentle murmur of conversation took over, I started to yawn and realised that I was actually exhausted. I crept quietly away from the noise and picked my way towards my block, heading to bed just as dawn was breaking.