"What's going on?" another voice asked. A girl's voice. "Raina," she said. "My name is Raina!"
"Can it, Raina!" Mark's voice resounded in my head. "Jessica Chavez just changed. Bring her a blanket and some clothes."
"What do I look like? A golden retriever?" Raina protested. I could hear her footfalls hitting hard against the forest floor, getting closer.
"Just do it! Now!" Mark countered.
"Son of a...."
"Raina! You remember what it was like when you changed for the first time, now do as I say and get out here!"
"I'll bring the blanket," another girl said.
"Lexie?" She was in my American Lit class. "You're a wolf, too?" I slowed when I came to an open clearing. Night was falling, as the sun began to sink beyond the horizon, sending shoots of red, orange, and lavender across the blue sky.
"Yeah, for about a month now, actually it's pretty cool," Lexie said, smiling.
"Cool? This is cool? I was literally freaking out. What's happening to me and why are you all wolves? Why are we all wolves?" I asked, exasperated, shaking and pacing, fighting the urge to start running, to escape the horror of this night.
"Jessica, listen to me very carefully," Mark said. Just then a sorrel colored wolf—a deep reddish brown—ran into the clearing, followed by a light brown wolf and a grayish-black wolf. Instinctively, I knew that they were Eric and Micah. "Do you remember the stories of the tribe? We have a close kinship with the bear?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" I mentally shouted.
I could feel Raina roll her eyes. "Drama Queen."
"Raina, kiss my...." Anger flashed through my body, creating the red haze with black around the edges in my vision again.
"Ladies, stop!" Mark ordered. "Focus, Jessica! Listen to my voice and answer the question. Do you remember the stories?"
I sighed, trying to focus, pacing in the clearing. "Yes, I remember."
"Good." Mark paused, giving me time to collect my thoughts. "Now listen carefully. Years ago, people thought that we were bears because of our huge appearance. We actually look like our brother, the bear. From a distance, we were easily confused with them."
"Okay...," I said in disbelief, trying to absorb this.
"The people were seeing our ancestors in their wolf form long ago and they thought we were bears," Mark continued. "But they knew we were their protectors. We don't tell anyone outside of the pack of our existence, so the connection was never made. It also helps to conceal our identity. Today, even though we try to stay hidden, people still think we are bears when we're seen."
Suddenly, a gray wolf, Dylan, burst into the clearing, skidding to a halt as bits of dirt and lichen flew into the air. He trotted up to us, giving me a wide berth.
"But that doesn't tell me how we turn into wolves! Why am I a wolf? Someone please help me to understand!" I pleaded, pacing, trying to get used to this new body. "The old stories never said anything about this!"
"Actually, they do. You weren't ever told all of them. We're shape shifters, Jessica," Mark answered, slowly approaching me. "But the only form we can take is that of the wolf."
"Why do we change into wolves and no other form?" I asked, slowly calming down.
Suddenly, a beautiful mahogany wolf slid into the clearing at full speed. Instinctively, I knew it was Dakota. "Sorry I'm late. I was on the north end of the town patrolling when Jessica changed," Dakota said to Mark.
"See anything?" Mark asked.
"No," Dakota answered, shaking his massive head from side to side. There was a flash of something in Dakota's mind, but it was too quick, and I didn't catch it.
Many took a seat on the ground around us, settling in, preparing to listen to the story. Dakota came to stand beside me but didn't get too close. He was respecting the fact that I was new and not in control, but I knew he was there for moral support. I felt better with Dakota by my side. Even though we had just met, I felt that I had known him all my life. Now, I knew why. The kinship of the pack was strong, like family.
"Long ago," Mark began, "our ancestors were having problems with many supernatural beings."
"Supernatural?" I asked.
"Werewolves, vampires, zombies, witches," Mark explained. "Supernatural forces."
"So, we're werewolves." It was more of a statement than a question.
"No, we're shape shifters, Jessica," Mark corrected. "But we call ourselves wolves in this form."
"So, werewolves and vampires really do exist?" I asked, finally calming down, trying to make sense of it all.
The others were relatively quiet, listening to the story. I sensed that they were all here for moral support for me, too, which touched me. Or at least many were here for that reason.
Raina rolled her eyes.
"We exist, don't we?" Mark answered my question with one of his own.
I nodded my silver head. It was going to take me a while to get used to this new body. "But why do we change into wolves?" I asked, still pacing, trying to focus.
"I was getting to that," Mark added. "Our ancestors were having problems with supernatural forces. Desperate, the chief of the tribe, Chief Ute, performed a ceremony asking the Great Spirit for help, along with some of his trusted warriors. They built a bonfire high enough to reach the heavens to attract the attention of the Great Spirit. Chief Ute and his warriors chanted prayers and danced in the firelight in a ceremony, determined not to quit until they received guidance.
"They continued their chants and prayers to the Great Spirit, asking for protection, help, and guidance for three days. Exhausted, his men finally fell to the ground, immediately falling into a deep sleep. The chief finally felt faint and feared that he, too, would succumb to the weariness of his body. But the Great Spirit gave a vision to Chief Ute as his warriors slept before the blazing fire.
"There was a pack of beautiful wolves nearby, just outside of the firelight, hungry and waiting for the men to fall asleep. Chief Ute feared the wolves might, indeed, get their wish, when suddenly, the flames of the fire burned brighter and climbed higher, reaching toward the stars. Then, a voice came from the fire. It was the Great Spirit. "Since you and your tribe have been faithful to me in your daily lives, I will aid you now in your time of need." He then walked out of the fire and appeared before the chief, who immediately fell to his knees, laying prostrate before him.
"The Great Spirit raised his hands and the wolves around the firelight suddenly came into the clearing, near the fire. This was unheard of. Usually wolves keep their distance from fire. 'Fear not,' the Great Spirit said. And the wise chief lay in wait, trusting, having complete faith.
"The wolves walked to each of the warriors and lay down beside each one. The Great Spirit raised his loving hand and the man and wolf became one, morphing one into the other.
"The chief was surprised by this and asked the Great Spirit why he had done this.
"'You and your men will now serve as protectors of the people,' the Great Spirit said. 'Fear not, for I am giving you a great gift. Since you and your tribe have been faithful to me, this is your reward. Use it wisely.'
"And with that, the Great Spirit raised his hand again, and Chief Ute also fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke the next day, he and his men found that the fire had burned out, but within each of the men, a greater fire burned like no other. From that day forward, the warriors used their great power to protect the people, never succumbing to the ways of the Evil one, and keeping their faithfulness to the Great Spirit.
"Chief Ute and his people soon discovered their power to turn into wolves at will, and quickly defeated their enemies. Now, when there is danger present, the wolves inside of us awaken. The people of this region were named after Chief Ute in remembrance of his great bravery and faithfulness to The Great Spirit."
"So, that's why I'm a wolf?" I said, breaking the magic of the moment. I realized that while Mark was speaking, darkness had fallen over the earth, and the moon had risen majestically above the forest. But despite the encroaching darkness, I could see everyone perfectly through my new eyes.
"That's why we are all wolves," Mark corrected. "We are all descendants of those great warriors and Chief Ute. The wolf flows through our blood and is awakened when there is danger grave enough to threaten the tribe's existence."
"So, there is danger present now, right? Or else we wouldn't have changed," I said, remembering the deaths of the hikers.
"Yes," Mark replied. "The Great Spirit has granted us this honor to protect the tribe."
"But it's your choice, Jessica," Dakota added, moving closer to my side. "The Great Spirit would never take away your free will."