The sky above was full of bright stars lighting the forest floor with a pale white light. The forest floor was alive with the trampling of a dozen wolves foot falls. It was a mad race. Wolves were snapping at each other’s’ legs trying to gain the lead. Others howled at the half full moon as their four paws kept time with those around them. One red wolf pulled from the pack, out running all of those around it. A few others tried to keep up, but with a burst of speed the red wolf left them in the dust.

	Just on the outskirts of the town, the red wolf came to a sliding stop. The rest of the pack came to a stop just behind it, as if they were afraid to go past it. The red wolf laid down and started to shift. Bones cracked, skin pulled and stretched, red fur disappeared, and in the place where the red wolf had laid down a red headed woman stood up. Her strawberry hair was wild, her blue eyes held a tint of yellow left over from the change, and her bare skin was flushed pink from head to toe. She turned around to the rest of the pack not at all ashamed of her naked form.

	“For too long have I kept you cooped in the forest! Tonight you will run! Remember to stay in a wolf form, try to stay hidden, stay with a partner, do not attract attention to yourself, and do not under any circumstances bit a human! Howl if you need me. Go! Run!” The red head lifted her arms and the wolves charged past her. She turned to watch the wolves run into the city. All except one. A grey wolf came to sit beside her as the forest became quiet once again.

	“Hello Kiel.” She said in a dead voice. “You did not have to come tonight.” The grey wolf wined softly. Avina rolled her eyes and walked over to a nearby tree and pulled out some clothes. Once she was dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue tank top she headed into the town.

	Ever since she first changed, Kiel had been trying to apologize. He had purposely left her after promising her a life and family. He faked his own death to get away from her. It was not something she wanted to get over anytime soon. Sure, four hundred years was a long time to hold onto it, but he was always bring it back to her attention. He glued himself to her side most of the time, acting as her second when he was far from second rake in the pack.

	“Go run, Kiel. I don’t want you by my side tonight.” She told him as he started to follow her into the town. Kiel wined but continued to follow her again. She turned to him kneeling down in front of him so that she could look into his eyes. “Go. Run. Kiel.” Her eyes flashed yellow. Kiel whimpered and took off in a slow trout. 

	“Finally…” She mumbled as she continued on deeper into the city.