Post by Asbestos on Jan 9, 2008 22:20:16 GMT -5
This is a chapter from the book that I'm writing. Right now, it's in the sort of editing stage I guess, so it's not really perfect. Feel free to leave comments if you want and I'm open to suggestions and constructive criticism!
Chapter 1
I sloshed my way through the sticky mud, my ebony paws thundering as they smacked against the packed mud and newly condensed puddles. The wind howled in outrage at the brewing storm as rain pelted against the trees, beating a steady rhythm against the leaves. Above, the moon swelled full, glistening, illuminating the dreary, cloud-covered night before me.
Suddenly, I slowed my quick gait to a steady gallop. I was near my home, the little cottage-like house on the outskirts of Chicago, near the woods there. A single window was lit, the only window at the front of the house. From it, a stocky silhouette was visible, pacing from one end of the tiny room, disappearing from view for a brief second, then coming back in to focus as he crossed to the other side of the room.
As I approached closer, I ducked behind a huge fir tree and shedded. My bones crunched and cracked as the shifted position and reformed themselves. I had to clench my jaw shut, bite my tongue to keep from crying out. It was not so much that the transformation hurt: on the contrary, I found the feeling to be wonderful; a natural high….But still, it was unsettling.
After the transformation was complete, and my gently aching bones were finished snapping into place, I grabbed the jeans and soft cotton t-shirt that I always kept in the knot hole at the base of the huge fir for nights such as these. I pulled them on and made my way across the yard, my bare feet scrunching over the damp grass and fallen leaves. The rain continued to fall, dripping through my dark ebony hair and rolling down my cheeks, my nose, my eyes….
I reached the front door and stood under the porch so I was shrouded form the icy rain that I wanted to bask in. I extended my hand to the doorknob, but hesitated half an inch away. Shaking my head, I closed the space and grasped the cool bronze knob, twisting gently. The door eased open, flooding the porch with a creamy light. With a deep sigh, I strode across the threshold, not exactly looking forward to the probable horror that awaited me inside the seemingly cozy cottage.
Surreptitiously, I slunk along the hall that led to the miniature living room. As I had suspected, the “horror” was there, waiting for me.
Pacing in the dark recesses of the little living room was my father. His dark lank hair, exactly the same shade as mine, hung to his shoulders, and a white t-shirt clung to him, emphasizing just how much stronger he was than me. At the sight of my approach, he stopped dead, slowly clenching and unclenching his fists in frustration. He stared me down, and I had to look away from his emerald-fire eyes that I knew were the spitting image of mine, and instead made my way to the short extension that held mine and my father’s rooms.
“Sebastian,” my father said in his deep, rumbling voice. No one could help but be intimidated by its authoritativeness. I stopped mid-step and turned on my heels to face him reluctantly. Never once did I lift my gaze to his.
“Kivan…said he saw you.” He let the statement hang in the air like vapor.
“So,” I responded. I didn’t care about anything dealing with Kivan. He was nothing to me.
“So…he said you’ve been running again. Closer to the city this time.” I could feel his heated gaze on my face and knew that if I looked up, all would be lost. I knew what he was getting at; he didn’t have to go into specifics.
“Yes, but—“ I retorted, although I knew I would never get away with it.
“But what, Sebastian? What could possibly be more important than keeping us a secret?” He raised his rough hands in the air, perplexed.
“Nothing, but—“
“Then, why? Why are you endangering the rest of us? Because if you get caught, they’ll know there are more.” This time, he had his arms folded across his chest, his hands balled into fists. The furry square of his jaw was closed tight, fighting off the change.
“Dad, I…” I sighed. “I love it, Dad. The feel of the wind tangling through my fur, the Earth under my paws, the smell of the forest…it’s…peaceful. I can’t live without it.” It was the truth though. When I was a wolf, I flowed with nature instead of fought against it. Why couldn't he see the wonders of the change? What the Earth has provided for us, right outside our house?
My father drew in a shaky breath, his broad chest expanding with the effort. "You are exactly like your mother...which is why you can not keep this up, Sebastian." I could tell he was struggling to keep his voice even.
"I know," I responded. "Which is why I can't stop. You think you're the only one who's suffered...well, you're wrong. And if I have to keep running to keep the only part of her that she's given me, I will. And you can't stop me." I chuckled at my boldness. "You know, it's no wonder she got what...happened. All the time, she felt trapped, because of you...It was all just a matter of time."
"You can't know that. You can't know how she felt...She never expressed how she felt to me. What would make you think she would for you?" He crossed the room in a few strides until he was right in my face. This time, finally , I looked up into his eyes, hating him.
"She never told me. It wasn't hard to figure out." I glared at him, at...well, if I was being honest with myself...at me. A reflection of me, but older, and it only made me hate him more.
His face fell as what I said sunk in and he realized it was true. When he looked up at mea again, his eyes were soft, though, caring.
"Please, Sebastian. Stop. If you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for us. This has got to end."
With that, he brushed past me and walked down the little extension, shoving into one of the rooms. The door slammed hard enough to make my teeth chatter. I was surprised the door didn't fall off its hinges.
I remained where I was for a few moments longer, thinking through our conversation. Why did he have to mention Mom?
While reminiscing, extremely important words flashed in my memory. 'The people are more dangerous now and getting more and more clever every day. Just look at your mother and brother as an example. Nothing good can happen from lingering with humans.' Those were the exact words my father spoke to me, five years ago, after it happened. And it's true. Nothing good ever did happen to my mom or Kivan from lingering with humans. Nothing good at all.
Chapter 1
I sloshed my way through the sticky mud, my ebony paws thundering as they smacked against the packed mud and newly condensed puddles. The wind howled in outrage at the brewing storm as rain pelted against the trees, beating a steady rhythm against the leaves. Above, the moon swelled full, glistening, illuminating the dreary, cloud-covered night before me.
Suddenly, I slowed my quick gait to a steady gallop. I was near my home, the little cottage-like house on the outskirts of Chicago, near the woods there. A single window was lit, the only window at the front of the house. From it, a stocky silhouette was visible, pacing from one end of the tiny room, disappearing from view for a brief second, then coming back in to focus as he crossed to the other side of the room.
As I approached closer, I ducked behind a huge fir tree and shedded. My bones crunched and cracked as the shifted position and reformed themselves. I had to clench my jaw shut, bite my tongue to keep from crying out. It was not so much that the transformation hurt: on the contrary, I found the feeling to be wonderful; a natural high….But still, it was unsettling.
After the transformation was complete, and my gently aching bones were finished snapping into place, I grabbed the jeans and soft cotton t-shirt that I always kept in the knot hole at the base of the huge fir for nights such as these. I pulled them on and made my way across the yard, my bare feet scrunching over the damp grass and fallen leaves. The rain continued to fall, dripping through my dark ebony hair and rolling down my cheeks, my nose, my eyes….
I reached the front door and stood under the porch so I was shrouded form the icy rain that I wanted to bask in. I extended my hand to the doorknob, but hesitated half an inch away. Shaking my head, I closed the space and grasped the cool bronze knob, twisting gently. The door eased open, flooding the porch with a creamy light. With a deep sigh, I strode across the threshold, not exactly looking forward to the probable horror that awaited me inside the seemingly cozy cottage.
Surreptitiously, I slunk along the hall that led to the miniature living room. As I had suspected, the “horror” was there, waiting for me.
Pacing in the dark recesses of the little living room was my father. His dark lank hair, exactly the same shade as mine, hung to his shoulders, and a white t-shirt clung to him, emphasizing just how much stronger he was than me. At the sight of my approach, he stopped dead, slowly clenching and unclenching his fists in frustration. He stared me down, and I had to look away from his emerald-fire eyes that I knew were the spitting image of mine, and instead made my way to the short extension that held mine and my father’s rooms.
“Sebastian,” my father said in his deep, rumbling voice. No one could help but be intimidated by its authoritativeness. I stopped mid-step and turned on my heels to face him reluctantly. Never once did I lift my gaze to his.
“Kivan…said he saw you.” He let the statement hang in the air like vapor.
“So,” I responded. I didn’t care about anything dealing with Kivan. He was nothing to me.
“So…he said you’ve been running again. Closer to the city this time.” I could feel his heated gaze on my face and knew that if I looked up, all would be lost. I knew what he was getting at; he didn’t have to go into specifics.
“Yes, but—“ I retorted, although I knew I would never get away with it.
“But what, Sebastian? What could possibly be more important than keeping us a secret?” He raised his rough hands in the air, perplexed.
“Nothing, but—“
“Then, why? Why are you endangering the rest of us? Because if you get caught, they’ll know there are more.” This time, he had his arms folded across his chest, his hands balled into fists. The furry square of his jaw was closed tight, fighting off the change.
“Dad, I…” I sighed. “I love it, Dad. The feel of the wind tangling through my fur, the Earth under my paws, the smell of the forest…it’s…peaceful. I can’t live without it.” It was the truth though. When I was a wolf, I flowed with nature instead of fought against it. Why couldn't he see the wonders of the change? What the Earth has provided for us, right outside our house?
My father drew in a shaky breath, his broad chest expanding with the effort. "You are exactly like your mother...which is why you can not keep this up, Sebastian." I could tell he was struggling to keep his voice even.
"I know," I responded. "Which is why I can't stop. You think you're the only one who's suffered...well, you're wrong. And if I have to keep running to keep the only part of her that she's given me, I will. And you can't stop me." I chuckled at my boldness. "You know, it's no wonder she got what...happened. All the time, she felt trapped, because of you...It was all just a matter of time."
"You can't know that. You can't know how she felt...She never expressed how she felt to me. What would make you think she would for you?" He crossed the room in a few strides until he was right in my face. This time, finally , I looked up into his eyes, hating him.
"She never told me. It wasn't hard to figure out." I glared at him, at...well, if I was being honest with myself...at me. A reflection of me, but older, and it only made me hate him more.
His face fell as what I said sunk in and he realized it was true. When he looked up at mea again, his eyes were soft, though, caring.
"Please, Sebastian. Stop. If you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for us. This has got to end."
With that, he brushed past me and walked down the little extension, shoving into one of the rooms. The door slammed hard enough to make my teeth chatter. I was surprised the door didn't fall off its hinges.
I remained where I was for a few moments longer, thinking through our conversation. Why did he have to mention Mom?
While reminiscing, extremely important words flashed in my memory. 'The people are more dangerous now and getting more and more clever every day. Just look at your mother and brother as an example. Nothing good can happen from lingering with humans.' Those were the exact words my father spoke to me, five years ago, after it happened. And it's true. Nothing good ever did happen to my mom or Kivan from lingering with humans. Nothing good at all.