21
My story began with fire, and it ends with fire. Water might cleanse, but fire transforms. It burns away all the dead matter and leaves exposed the bare essence of the field and the forest. And of my life.
The newly transformed CLS sufferer—I still have a hard time thinking of myself as a werewolf—goes through fits and starts before settling into the full-moon pattern. Lonna and I both felt the transformation coming on as we arrived back at her apartment from dropping off the rental car, and we hurried in and locked the door behind us. Then, for good measure, we moved her heavy dining room table against it.
Lonna doubled over in a cramp and slumped on the floor, panting. I remembered the capsules in my pocket.
“Here.” I forced her mouth open with shaking fingers and slid one under h
