She was looking at the beam in front of her; then, the long-legged, athletic beauty of five feet six inches height stepped forward… one… two… three… she ran fast toward the beam, held onto it, and it carried her up pirouetting in the air—one, two, three times… Andrea landed with her feet firm on the ground as she raised her hands with her back bent backward like a proud wolfess that she was.
Andrea had loved edgy sports such as gymnastics. That was her pastime. When she wanted to have focus and balance, she'd retire to her house that her single mom and namesake, Andrea, left her. There at the backyard, the former Andrea had kept that beam and had a swing pole constructed for her adopted daughter whom she had seen an inclination for some body twisting and twirling adventure. When she grew up a little, she had her sent to a ballet school. Years passed, as she grew taller, she attended gymnastics as an elective after her formal classes.
Time came that Andrea had to choose a profession; she chose to be a journalist like her mother. She was her idol; wanted to be like her who was always on the scene when events happened.
The older Andrea trained her to be independent-minded. When women's right to vote became a burning issue, the younger Andrea was a suffragette. She formed a connection with other wolfesses her age. They had the proposed law passed. Tatin and Isabella were very happy with her activities in the women's circle. Women could work and not only stay at home and be given equal salary as their male counterparts in the employment place. Arts flourished such as painting, sculpture, functional and industrial arts. Cafes became a fad among businesses, old and young people alike from all walks-of-life and where the busiest, the most active, and popular personalities gathered for discussions, formal or informal.
The wolf-dom became a sensational local government. Words got out that it was the jetsetter, the champion of freedom among neighboring towns.
Every now and then, Tatin and Isabella, at the banquet hall, joined their constituents to celebrate important holidays such as birthdays and victory parties.
Women would subsequently be allowed to hold high government offices and ergo participate in town-building. Andrea was proud to be identified with such movement where she became active as a writer-advocate. Her identification earned her the privilege to travel abroad.
One day, Andrea was walking alone. It was almost dark. She had just come back from one of her trips abroad and she was to attend a public gathering that night when a pack of wolves blocked her way. She asked, "Why?" They didn't give her an answer; instead, they sneered. They hated women like her. They hated suffragettes. She went on walking, but they rounded her off. Andrea readied herself for a combat. She transformed into a she-wolf, then, she bent her body a little sideways, and slowly orbited in her place, estimating their moves. Then the closed fists opened up, letting out deadly balls of fire. The flame spread quickly so that they could not get through her. Anyone who tried to, burned. The wolves ran away.
Upon reaching home, Andrea called Hugh. They were like real brothers to her. Since mother was gone, she had depended on her friends' support, the ones she could trust.
"I am glad you are safe." Hugh was too worried for her. "If you want me to stay with you, I can, I will."
"That's not necessary. I only need somebody who will listen right now."
She added: "I thought that things are going to be easier now."
"That's what I thought, too."
Silence.
"Maybe they are stray wolves."
"I hope so. Maybe I'm tired. I'm sorry for bothering you, Hugh, good night."
She hung up.
Hugh called up people he knew after Andrea hung up the phone on him. He wanted to know who attempted to kill Andrea.