Autumn Moon

Avery settled down in to the fresh snow, not much more than an inch, but enough to audibly crunch under her large paws. Steam steadily led from her gray snout and dissipated on its way towards the soft glow of the full moon as she looked around her slowly. A rabbit stirred in its burrow not far from her, and the gentle lull of the stream sang not far behind the small mammals' home. With a deep breath she let her guard lax and rolled in the fresh snow, allowing her wolf to push forward, wishing to play. The other half of herself, Alice, rarely had much to say or do, living in a human town with no pack, but she enjoyed the winter months more than anything else. The loneness didn't seem to eat either of them quite as much when they were moving together through the white forest under their mother's watchful gaze. Worries like rent, the human drama of her day to day life, grocery bills, work, how to find her kind, concepts like mates, the nightmares, they all melted away as soon as the ice clung to her fur. Alice pulled and Avery willingly followed her lead, slinking through the trees, listening to and smelling the small and large animals hidden around her for miles. She watched through Alice's eyes as she honed in on a medium-sized hare who had ventured from the warmth of its den, quietly fascinated as her body slid towards it, soundlessly, and sprang before the small creature had even caught her scent. Alice rumbled in pride and settled down to enjoy her prize as Avery once more allowed her mind to wander. Twelve years had past since her pack had fallen for reasons unknown to her. She remembered her eldest brother taking her hand and leading her down the hallway, forcing open the century-old window, taking her hands gently and lifting her thought. His eyes had shone with worry as the screams from down the hallway reached her ears. He whispered to her that she was loved, and to run as fast as she could, not to worry, she had no wolf scent yet, and to head past the river to the neighboring pack. She remembered whimpering as his warm hands left hers, swinging around to face a stranger who had entered the hallway, sending her falling into a snow drift two floors below. She had fought her way from the snow, and ran as quickly as her nightgown and bare feet would allow her towards the tree line, trying not to cry out loud as screams and growls rang around her. Branches had scratched her face and tangled in the lace trim of her nightgown as she ran, trying not to cut her feet on sharp stones so she was less likely to be followed. Every scream from her home caused her throat to tighten more. She had little recollection of getting to the river, but remembered the burnt bridge that greeted her. She had been afraid of the higher than usual water, but a deep howl pushed her forward into the water. She remembered seeing movement towards her from the opposite bank just as her feet were swept from underneath her. After that, she remembered waking up with a strange woman carrying her, but not much else. The woman had brought her into town and stayed with her for two days before leaving to find someone who could help Avery. She had tried to tell her to take her back to the river before she left, how she meant to go to the neighboring packlands, but the woman had smiled sadly at her, touched her face and told her there was simply nothing left of either pack. The kind woman never returned. Avery tried to be a good girl and stay in the motel room like the woman had told her to, but after a week and long after her snacks had run out, the housekeeper had entered and been horrified to find the then eight-year-old girl alone in torn clothes. The next years were a blur; foster care, group homes, medication, therapists, "werewolves are not real honey, where did you come from?" Avery always assumed she had been insane, and Alice appearing had been quite a shock. Avery snapped out of her daydream, feeling Alice rumble in amusement at her memory of their first contact with each other. "Yeah, yeah, a heads up of sorts would have been nice, Alice." " My apologies, I should have written to you." I smiled in my mind, "smartass." She chose not to respond, although I felt her adoration, as she licked her mouth and carried us further into the forest, enjoying our time alone until we needed to head back into town and reassume our role as a normal 20-year-old woman. It was after midnight by the time Avery found herself standing on two legs beside her car, took her keys from their hiding place on the drivers side wheel, and quickly dressed. Happy with her evening, she slid into the car to drive away, completely unaware of the yellow, curious eyes starring at her from deep within the trees.