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14
“Lola? Lola, it’s time to wake up,” a gentle voice called.
My eyes fluttered open and I saw Sheila sitting on her cot. She stretched, lifting her arms above her head. “You were out.”
Surprisingly, I slept like the dead. I didn’t even remember falling asleep and I’d had no dreams. I rubbed my eyes, then sat up and stretched before standing up. “How long were we asleep?”
“Few hours,” she said.
My stomach growled and I covered it with my hand.
Sheila laughed. “Let’s find some dinner.”
I pulled on my combat boots, which looked amazing with the shorts Sheila procured for me, and then the two of us emerged from her tent. The sky was purple and I couldn’t even see the sun anymore. It was that magical time of evening right before it changed from day to night.
There had been people around the common area every time I’d passed through, but as we got closer, I realized I’d only seen a fraction of the shifters who lived here.
There were easily a hundred or more shifters gathered around the massive pile of wood. It wasn’t lit yet, but as the sky darkened, I had a feeling we were close.
A group of children ran by. They were carefree and joyous as they weaved around adults. The older people just moved aside for them, unconcerned. Some of them even smiled or laughed when the kids passed by. That kind of interaction didn’t happen where I grew up. Kids played, but always away from the adults.
Sheila dragged me to a table lined with food and we piled up plates. It was the first real meal I’d had in days and I enjoyed every bite of grilled meat and fresh vegetables and even a slice of cake. I had no idea where the food came from, but I wasn’t about to argue.
There was movement near the bonfire and the chatter of conversation quieted. My heart raced and I tensed. “What’s going on?”
Sheila grabbed my hand. “You gotta see this.” She led me through the crowd, taking us closer to the fire.
Greta and an older male I didn’t recognize were next to the pile of kindling Sheila and I had added to earlier today. It had been pushed up under the larger pieces of wood. Newspaper and other flammable items were also mixed in with the sticks.
“They’re going to light it,” Shelia whispered. “The tradition is that the oldest male and female of the group light the fire. Then we get to party.”
Greta lit a match, and held it to a torch of some type the older male was holding. Once it caught, she stepped back and shook out her match. The male lowered the torch until the newspaper and kindling caught. Then he stepped back.
The fire ate through the sticks and newspaper, moving and dancing and growing as it climbed up the larger pieces of wood. A cheer rose up through the crowd. Sheila joined in, yelling with the others. I was swept up in the excitement, joining in with whoops of my own.
The fire crackled and wood shifted as the bonfire took form. It was on its way to being a massive fire and it had enough fuel to burn all night. No wonder Sheila had recommended the nap. It was going to be a late night and giddy anticipation rolled through me. This was already more fun than any gathering I’d been to in my old life.
The shifters around me backed away from the fire and the yelling gave way to howls. The energy around us felt electric, like there was a collective sense of joy and elation. It was exhilarating and I was loving every second of it.
Then the clothes started to come off. Shirts thrown aside, pants tossed to the ground, underwear and bras flew through the air. There wasn’t a speech or any announcement. They were just naked. Though, that didn’t last long, because as soon as their clothes were piled off to the side, they ran toward the woods, shifting while in motion.
I stared, open-mouthed, as they flawlessly changed. None of them seemed to convulse or struggle. It was fluid. Beautiful and seamless transitions from human to wolf.
Something deep within me felt like it was waking. An energy that wanted desperately to get out.
For the first time in my life, I knew with absolute certainty that I was feeling my inner wolf.
Soon.
At that moment, I knew I was going to be joining them in the shift. It would be my turn soon enough. I wanted it. For real wanted it. Not just a passive longing. I was determined to make it happen.
“I’m going to run with them for a bit. Will you be okay here?” Sheila asked.
“Yeah, go, have fun,” I said, making sure I hid the disappointment in my tone. I wasn’t upset that she was leaving, I was discouraged by my lack of ability to shift.
“I’ll be back soon.” She already had her shirt off and quickly removed her clothes before running after the rest of the shifters.
I watched them leave, longing to join them.
