Howling Dead

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

It was nearly midnight when Kira glanced at the clock on the computer screen. She yawned and stretched. Her job search had uncovered nothing new in the Denver area and California looked even worse for systems administrators. Outsourcing was a dirty word to computer professionals. The computer jobs were going offshore to other countries where similar work could be had for thousands less. As she stared at the screen, everything started to blur. Her arm was prickling, and it felt as though her eyes wouldn’t stay open. I’m tired, Kira decided. She stumbled into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. She felt groggy — not quite asleep, but not awake either.

As Kira lay there, she thought she heard a howl from a wolf. Again, she shivered. This is a dream, she told herself. The windows are closed and the door is locked. There are no wolves here.

The thought, however, gave her no comfort. In her dream, she began to worry and she stood up and went to the front door. She checked the door and found it difficult to unlock it, remove the chain, or grasp the doorknob. Her fingers were growing stubby and unresponsive. This is a dream, she thought, Why would my fingers be stubby? As she moved, through the airlock and down the stairwell, her clothes fell away from her. With a last attempt at the front door, she was out on the street, looking up at the midnight sky.

Kira stared at the moon overhead. It was full — as bright as the Intermountain Telecom and Qwest signs that ruled the skies over downtown Denver. She raised her head and a lone howl issued from her throat. Kira stopped and blinked.

Looking down, she saw her legs were no longer human. They were gangly long things with big spread paws and black curved nails. Gray fur ran down her legs and changed to white as it met the wrists and the paws. They were the legs of a dog — or a wolf. She counted her toes — four, not five. She looked back at her body and saw a gray canine form with agouti fur and a plume tail. The back legs were canine too.

Kira gasped and a very canine whine escaped her lips. Damn that cop! she thought. He’s giving me nightmares about wolves again. Her dreams after the attack had been about wolves, but they had been about wolves attacking her. Never about herself becoming a wolf.

Kira looked back up at the moon. Her throat tightened and a small, mournful howl escaped her lips. Kira sat on the sidewalk. Whatever this dream was, she wanted to wake up. She heard another howl. Involuntarily, a howl burbled up in her throat. It seemed to convey the misery she was feeling at losing her best friend, her job, and being unemployed.

The answering howl relayed a message. Come here, I want to meet you.

Kira hesitated. This is a dream, she reminded herself. I can’t die. She stood up and trotted toward 16th Street. The businesses and apartments that lined Wazee Street were extraordinarily quiet. The homeless Kira were used to seeing along the streets had disappeared with the ghostly sentinel overhead. She walked silently, her paw pads making no noise on the cold concrete beneath her feet.

She halted at 16th Street and looked south. She could see the sign for the LoDo Tattered Cover Bookstore and her mouth watered as her sensitive nose picked up the wafting aromas of the Mongolian Barbeque and Mexican restaurants nearby. She paused and slunk into a nearby alleyway as she heard bar patrons come out of one of the establishments, chattering loudly. Two women and two men stopped to talk outside. Kira watched in fascination.

Something cold and wet pressed against her cheek. She jumped away and yipped in surprise, nearly leaping out into the street again. She turned and saw another wolf looking at her. A large gray male wolf.

A wolf! Kira froze in terror. The brute was huge by her reckoning, with those terrifying yellow eyes and gray agouti fur. She wanted to back up and run, but there was nowhere else to go. If she ran to the people, they would think she was a wolf and would run away, or they would call the cops, who would kill her.

You’re new, the wolf said.

Kira yipped in fear and ran down the alleyway, trying to get away.

The wolf loped beside her. It’s okay, he said. I didn’t mean to startle you.

This is a hell of a dream, Kira thought. She wanted to wake up. Wake up; I’ve got to wake up!

It’s not a dream — you’re here with us.

Kira shook her head. No, this is a dream. She turned, leaving the gray wolf dumbfounded. He began to follow her.

Say, don’t I know you?

I don’t think so, Kira replied. Not unless you bit me.

You’re Kira Walker — the girl who got bit by a rogue wolf, the wolf replied.

Fine, whatever.

Alpha wants to meet you. He sidled up to her and tried to sniff her.

Kira snarled and the wolf backed off. Leave me alone! Go away! When was she going to wake up? Not only was this a wolf, but he was a rude pest as well. Kira wanted to wake up and find herself in her own bed. Maybe if she tried thinking about something else the dream would go that direction.

The wolf flashed a smiled and lowered his head. As you wish.

Kira trotted deeper into the alleyway that separated 15th and 16th Streets. She noticed that her newfound acquaintance was following her, but she ignored him. As she walked down the alleyway, she found that she could see well even though it was night. The acrid smells of oil, garbage, and dirt filled her nostrils as she strode through the alley. Popping out on 15th Street, she noted it was nearly deserted and started toward Blake Street. The strange wolf dogged her every move.

This is not real, she reminded herself. There is no wolf. I’m safe in bed. Maybe this dream needed her to confront it.

Kira turned around snarling. I said, go away!

The strange wolf lowered his head beneath hers and c****d it slightly to the side, exposing a small portion of his neck. His tongue darted between his teeth, licking her lower jaw and he raised his paw as if in supplication. Kira snarled and swatted him in the head. Instead of fighting, he allowed her to flip him over and continued to lick her chin.

Kira was disgusted. The fawning, the lip licking, the apparent lack of pride was revolting and she snarled louder and bit into his neck. He whimpered but licked her muzzle.

Is he bothering you?

Kira looked up to see a large male black wolf standing a few feet away. She caught her breath. Never before had she seen such a magnificent animal. He was nearly twice her size and his sleek, black coat glistened in the moonlight. His golden eyes seemed to penetrate her very being. He was powerful. Even with the thick coat, she could see the muscle ripple underneath.

Even in her fear, Kira would appreciate the wolf. As terrified as she ought to be, the black wolf was strangely enticing. She could sense the unbridled power the black wolf held and yet, as she looked on him, found she was no longer afraid.

The other male wolf lay at her feet, whimpering and forgotten. Kira had released him in her surprise. When she remembered to breathe, Kira looked down at him in disgust. He’s a pest; nothing more.

The black wolf nodded. Come with me.

Kira stepped over the prone wolf without looking. The black wolf grinned and took off. Kira hesitated and for a moment looked back at the wolf lying on the ground, still looking up at her in adoration.

Come on! she heard the black wolf say.

Kira ran north, following the black wolf toward Commons Park. At first, it felt strange to run on all fours, and yet, as she ran, she found herself stretching out into a full lope. She hardly touched the sidewalks beneath her as she followed the black wolf to the park. Once her feet touched the grass, she howled in delight. The black wolf stopped. She could see by the light of the moon the impish grin on his face. He nipped at her neck and took off with her following.

Kira laughed as she chased him around the park; her laugher came out as throaty growls and yips of delight. He was faster than she could imagine, but he was just as quick to let her catch him and soon she was it in a merry game of tag. When at last they were both out of breath, she lay down and he flopped down beside her. Kira nipped at his legs and he rolled over and let her wrestle with him a while. Soon, their energy was spent and Kira lay beside him as they both panted.

Now that she had a chance to look around, she saw other wolves in the park. Most were lying in the grass, but a few were playing or investigating something on the ground. There were small makeshift shacks down near the Platte River where some homeless men camped. Kira noted that the wolves didn’t approach them.

The black wolf nuzzled her affectionately and then sniffed the air. The lights of the city drowned out the starry sky, but Kira could see the pale glow in the east. The moon was beginning its trek across the western sky toward the Rocky Mountains.

It’ll soon be light, he said. You’d better go back.

Go back? Kira asked. You mean that I’ll wake up?

The black wolf considered her. This is your first time — as a wolf, I mean, he added when he caught her sharp look.

This is my first dream of being a wolf, she replied.

A gleam shone in the black wolf’s eyes as he appeared to consider something. Kira c****d her ear toward him, but he made a very human-like gesture, shaking his head as though discounting the thought. Go home, Kira, he said. I will see you again soon, I believe.

Go home? she repeated.

The black wolf snuffed the air. You don’t have much time — not until you learn to control it. Go home.

Kira stood up and for a moment was about to argue. Then, she got up and trotted off without a word. Dreams were like that, she decided. She followed 15th Street back to Wazee. Turning onto Wazee, she saw the first glimmer of the sun’s rays as it crested the eastern horizon, turning the buildings a rosy pink with its light. She passed a group of street workers preparing to work on a small patch of Wazee.

Kira looked at the doors to her apartment complex, wondering how she was going to open them. It was at that moment that she started to shiver from the early morning cool breeze.

“Whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo!” one of the road workers shouted. “Nice ass!”

“Let’s see your t**s!”

Kira turned to see the road workers gawking and whistling at her. She looked down at her arm and saw pink skin prickled with goose bumps. She was no longer the wolf in her dream, but human. Kira was standing at the door to her apartment complex — completely naked.