Lope

It was a dark October night when it happened. I was sitting on the sofa, watching my brother play games on the TV. It was an xbox, or a wii, I don't really know or care. I also happened to be reading a book. Darren Shan, I think it was. Anywho, there I was. Sitting and watching like any other average person, when I suddenly started to feel...hungry. My mum was out at work, leaving me to cook my own meals. I lazily got up and stretched, then walked out to the fridge and opened it, staring dismally at the contents. Bacon, sausages, a few carrots and some other seemingly unedible junk.

I reached in and took out a packet of bacon, setting it on the counter and opening it. Then I put a few slices inside the microwave and set it to a couple of minutes. That should suffice. I opened the fridge again and was about to put the bacon away when I paused and stared at it. It looked so...delicious. Instead of putting it away, I ran out to the computer and logged on to the internet. I furiously typed in a sentence and hit search, scanning through the results. Oh well, I shrugged. I get disease from eating raw meat, blame it on flu, miss a couple of days off school. No biggie. I ran back to the opened packet of bacon lying on the counter, took out a slice, then stuffed the rest back in the fridge.

I walked over, back to the sofa, trying to be nonchalant. As I settled into my usual spot, I sneaked a glance at my brother. He was making aeroplane noises and waving the controller around. Nope, he didn't suspect a thing. I lifted the rasher to my mouth and half-opened it when my dog came up and sat next to me, staring greedily. I rolled my eyes and ripped the rasher in half, giving a bit to my dog. Never hurt to share. Then I put the slice of bacon in my mouth and started chewing. It tasted like ham. Well, duh. It would. Ham and bacon are both from pig.

The wind howled angrily, fiercely, outside. I looked out the window, reaching down to scratch the back of my hand, but instantly recoiled when they touched. My hand was so freaking hot, like it was burning! I jumped up and ran to the sink, running it under cold water, to no effect. I groaned. Maybe eating raw meat was a bad idea. I walked back, but instead of flopping onto the sofa, I curled up beside the blazing fireplace. Maybe, when my mum got home, I could use it as an excuse as to why I was so warm. I watched the television for a little bit longer, not really interested anymore as the character on screen battled with a dragon.

I suddenly jerked my head up, staring outside the window again. Nothing except the wind howling. But I'd thought I'd heard someone calling my name?
Sasha. There it was again. I stood up wearily and walked to the window, cautiously peering outside. I couldn't make out anything in the pitch-black. Surprise, surprise. But there a definite voice, calling out to me. I knew it was a bad idea to, but I went over and opened the door anyway, poking my head out and looked around. I couldn't see much, but a nearby street lamp helped me a little. I stepped out into the cold, but I wasn't shivering. I wasn't cold at all.

My skin was still burningly hot. I closed the door behind me and walked to the middle of the garden, looking for the voice. The wind rustled through the trees, blowing anxiously.
Sasha. That voice was closer, yet frustratingly far away. I bared my teeth, then froze halfway. What are you doing? My concious asked me angrily. I usually listened to that nagging voice at the back of my mind. Turn around right now and go home, it's cold out here. The voice commanded.

I did something I rarely did. I ignored it. Tonight was a strange night, a very strange night indeed. I bared my teeth all the way now, and a snarl rose in my throat. The wind whipped leaves around my feet. I dropped on to all fours, staring at the ground, and started coughing and shivering. My arms and legs bent the wrong way, and painfully stayed there. I could actually feel the bones remolding themselves into a different shape. Hair grew all over my body, but not really. Not hair. Fur. I felt something trying to poke out of my skin and I realised it was an elongated tailbone.

So much pain. My fingernails grew into claws. The fur grew a reddy-brown colour, the same tint as my hair. I felt my skull change shape, skin stretching over it. And then, it was all over in a few minutes. I lay panting on the ground, my tongue lolling out of the side of my mouth. My new wolf tongue. I jerked up and looked down. Yes, I was a werewolf. A were-freaking-wolf. This kind of thing only happened in movies. But now it was happening to me. Why me? I thought frantically. I'm no one special. Go pick on someone who wants to be a wolf.

I felt something rise up in my throat, and threw my head back. A howl erupted from my now-existant muzzle, dying out at the end. I had to get out of here. I swung my head around, spotting the gate that was used to keep the dog from escape. Not on my watch. I leant back onto my haunches, then ran forward and jumped, sailing over and landed neatly on my feet. Who was I kidding, being a wolf was great!

I dashed down the driveway, a wolfy grin spread wide across my muzzle. I reached the road but didn't stop, instead continuing down to the forest which I knew wasn't far off. The wind blew, ruffling my fur and carrying me the scents of all things delicious. I was a wolf, loping into the night.