Surprise!
1000 Words
*Vienna*
Cold. All I feel is a deep, shaking cold. A harsh wind slaps my face, making my eyes water and my hair angrily whip around me. A pressure weighs down heavily on my chest, my breath catching in my throat. My heart is going a hundred miles an hour and feels as though it is going to pop right out of my chest any minute. I turn around over and over again trying to get my bearings, the trees surrounding me flash by my vision as I do so. Tall, dark pine trees loom over my head. I sway, unsteady on my own feet, as I gasp for breath. I lean against the base of a tree, trying to ground myself, and slide down until I am sitting down on the cool damp earth. I need to breathe, but I can't seem to get air into my lungs. The air keeps getting stuck on that pressure. Am I dying? Alone in some goddess-forsaken forest?
Vienna, a soft voice whispers my name.
I jump to my feet and scan the trees around me, but it is so dark and my vision is blurred by my tears.
"Who's there?"
Vienna, you need to breathe.
"Breathing is the least of my problems right now. Who are you and what do you want?!" I shout into the empty forest.
Breathe first, and then we will talk. Breathe in through your nose, feel your chest rise and the air fill your lungs, and then slowly release the air through your mouth letting all of that tension go with it.
I do as the mystery voice says because, frankly, I don't have a whole lot of other options here. With each breath I take with the voice guiding me, I feel the pressure in my chest lessen and the panic dissipate.
Much better.
"Okay, I did as you said. Now talk. Who are you?"
You can stop shouting, Vienna. I am your wolf. My name is Keeta.
My wolf? How can that be? I am only 16. I am not supposed to get my wolf for another year...
I have been with you, in the depths of your mind, for your whole life, Vienna. It is true that wolves usually don't come forward until their human counterpart turns 17. However, you need me now more than ever before and quite possibly more than you ever will. The Moon Goddess is a kind and just goddess. She has witnessed the unjustness of this curse and has granted me permission to come to you a year early.
Why didn't she just stop the curse entirely? Why did this have to happen to me?
The Moon Goddess holds immense power. However, she cannot interfere with the free will of the species that roam the Earth.
Letting out a sigh of frustration, I once again sit on the cool, damp forest floor with my knees tucked to my chest. I am reminded of the hoodie that I am now wearing. Matty's scent envelops me, and I breathe it in deeply, bringing me a sense of calm.
Okay, Keeta? Sorry for snapping at you earlier. I am really happy that you are here with me.
It's okay, Vienna. I am happy too. We will get through this together!
Thanks, Keeta. What do you look like?
Focus on my presence. Feel my soul that is intertwined with your own. Looking inward, you should be able to see me in your mind.
Closing my eyes, I do as she says. Slowly, I start to see the outline of a wolf in my mind until suddenly she comes into focus.
I gasp- Wow Keeta, you are breathtaking. She has beautiful amber eyes. Her fur has a golden hue that I imagine sparkles in the sunlight, but her belly and feet are a creamy white color.
Thank you, Vienna. I can't wait to shift and feel the ground underneath my paws!
Can we shift already too? Or do we have to wait until I am 17?
We can shift whenever you are ready. Although, it may be best to wait until we figure out where we are and whether or not we are safe here.
Good idea. Lets take a look around and start making a plan.
I stand up and start to take inventory, making a list in my head of what I have with me.
1. Sneakers- thank god I decided against sandals today.
2. A pair of jeans, not great, but better than shorts.
3. A short sleeve shirt.
4. Matty's sweatshirt- I am so thankful that he threw this on me. At least I have some protection against the cold wind.
5. On my wrist I have a scrunchie and my thin, gold bracelet, a gift from my mother.
6. In my jean pockets, I have five dollars. Damn it, my phone is sitting on the charger in my bedroom.
7. Last of all, I find Matty's wallet in the pocket of his sweatshirt. He is going to be missing this! Opening it, I find 56 dollars, his human ID, unfortunately no credits cards, and carefully tucked into the plastic sleeve is a picture of the two of us from last June at the local icecream parlor.
Okay, so I pretty much have nothing. Things are looking pretty dim. It's fine, everything is fine. Okay, it's definitely not fine, but it's all we have.
Next I start to walk through the forest. The first thing I notice is that it is cold, maybe 35 or 40 degrees. But on the brightside, it really isn't as cold as I originally thought- that must've been from my little panic attack back there. At least I won't freeze to death! The trees around me are very tall, but rather sparse, which is much different from back home. I then come up to a clearing overlooking a little ridge- Oh, that's why... we are on a literal mountain. I was not expecting that!
- Writer
