It's been a week in Gaea'na and Rocky had learned a lot about the shifter's community and a little about their language which was called Grale. His wounds had healed leaving no scars, which came as a surprise to him as that was the first time he healed at such a rapid rate. He watched everyone with suspicion even River, who was an annoying person, it's no wonder she was not yet married at her age, which he noticed was quite an old age for a girl to be unmarried in Gaea'na.
One bright morning, with the sky so blue and a few fluffy clouds drifting by, Rocky left the village with the hope of finding the bus where he had been travelling in to look for his backpack which held his mother's box. He had asked River if the villagers had seen the bus and what had happened to its occupants, but she said that no one saw the bus. He hoped that not many were hurt and that no one had died, but he wanted to find the bus.
He walked in the dark and lonely forest, hoping to find it. His mind was occupied as he walked, he thought of what he would do once he found his father.
All his life, he had wanted a father, now what would happen when he finally meets him? Would there be a happy reunion, would his father want him, what would he learn from him?
"No, Rocky. Let's be optimistic," he said to himself. He walked ahead, oblivious to his surroundings because of his roving thoughts when suddenly, he stopped as he heard a low growling. It was coming from behind some trees, and he went over there to investigate only to see two large wolves, one grey and the other, a dazzling white.
The wolves were circling each other and they growled at each other, showing large and sharp teeth with canines longer and sharper.
Rocky was petrified as he had not expected to see two large wolves and he prayed that they did not see him, but he was not to worry because the two wolves jumped on each other, attacking with their teeth and claws. It seemed that the white wolf would win as it was bigger and more muscular but the grey wolf was quicker and moved with such fluid grace. It dodged as the white wolf lunged for its throat, aiming to decapitate it by ripping off the veins in the neck, and then it quickly gave a blow using its right fore paw. This surprised the white wolf who stopped as it faltered, giving the grey wolf a chance to lunge at it with strength, knocking it off its feet.
Rocky watched with awe as the two wolves fought with so much power that for a moment, he forgot his fear and silently watched them fight. Just then, he heard the howling of another wolf, which startled him and made him step back in the process stepped on a twig, alerting the attention of the two wolves, who stopped fighting to look at him.
The white wolf snapped at him and attacked him but was stopped by the grey one. Right at that moment, there was another howling that made the white one leave, dashing into the trees. The grey wolf shifted into its human form right in front of his eyes! Its muscles were torn and bones were broken and reshaped until it stood, naked and in its human form and it was a woman. She stood tall with long, straight, black hair reaching her waist. Her eyes were grey with an unusual glint in them. Her body was well-toned.
Rocky gaped at this transformation, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Who are you?" The female asked in English.
"Uhm....." he stuttered, trying to avert his gaze from her naked form. She, on the other hand, was not ashamed of her nakedness and she came close to him, sniffing the air around him.
"A pure blood," she said. "You must be the one found in the forest a week ago." She looked at him for some seconds as if assessing his importance before saying, "I am Ash. Who are you?"
"Roc...Rocky."
"Hmm."
"Who was that other wolf and why were you fighting?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"That was Ice."
The loud howling was heard again and Ash walked away toward the sound just like Ice did, leaving Rocky alone. He sat down on the ground suddenly weak. All his doubts about the shapeshifter's existence were washed away as he realized that his mother was not blabbing that night, that she was okay but wanted to relay a message to him, which she had not been able to do. Old Lilith was also right and as this realization struck him, he knew he had to be careful and he had to find his father as soon as possible.