0.4 | THE FIRST SHIFT

1500 Words
Most of the pups standing behind us groaned, shrieked, and screamed as their bodies went rigid, forcing them down onto all fours. I could hear the exact moment when they became more wolf than child, their human cries transforming into the melodic bays of wild beasts. Frightened, Carina abandoned her spot and flew to my side, clasping my hand in hers. “I-It looks so painful,” she whimpered. The previous two years, she would always shut her eyes and cover her ears, but for some reason she watched this time around. I couldn’t look at her, or even respond. I was too busy staring at Callisto, my eyes wide and my mouth agape as I watched him drop down to his knees. His arms were stiff and bent at his sides, his hands held out before him. The nails of his fingers had grown to fine, curved claws, and tufts of midnight black fur had sprouted across his deep umber skin. Callisto turned to look at me, and Carina gasped beside me. “W-What’s wrong with him?” she asked. “He’s fighting his wolf,” I realized. One of Callisto’s eyes was its usual shade of mauve-brown; it always reminded me of the florets on a coneflower. The other eye had transformed, taking on a yellow tint akin to a harvest moon. His brow was furrowed in frustration, and tears streamed down his face. “Help,” he choked out, a deeper voice layered over his. I gasped along with Carina this time. That wasn’t Callisto asking for help, but his wolf, eager to free himself from his human form. We closed the distance between us and our friend, and I placed my hands on one of his arms. His fur was soft beneath my fingers. “Callisto, listen to me!” I urged him, shaking his arm. I must have startled him, because he turned and grabbed my shoulders, his claws tearing through my robe and piercing my flesh. I gritted my teeth, doing my best not to cry out as I took his face in my hands. “Listen to me, okay? Just listen--” “Serena, Carina!” Our parents raced off of the stage and over to us, ready to pry us apart. The betas and gammas were right behind them, ready to assist at the drop of a hat. “Get away from him--” “No!” Carina spun around, her arms spread out straight on either side of her as she halted their procession. “Serena knows what she’s doing! Let her help Callisto.” “Cari--” Beta Dione began to explain something, but she clenched her fists and stomped her foot. “No! Callisto is our friend, and once we’ve all shifted, his wolf will be our friend, too. They would never hurt us--not really, not intentionally.” “My darling, we understand you’re concerned for your friend…” Mom tried to reason with her. I was honestly impressed with Carina for standing up to them. Out of the two of us, I was the more assertive twin--and to be honest, I had no idea what I was doing, or why I ran over to Callisto in the first place. I just couldn’t stand to see my best friend struggle through what was supposed to be a momentous, formative occasion. Thanks, Cari, for having my back, I whispered through our link as I refocused on Callisto. Even though her back was turned to me, I could almost see her attempt at my confident smirk. I’ll help you through this, Rena--I’ll always help you. I shook Callisto again, Carina’s determination melding with my own. “Cal’s wolf, what’s your name?” “A… Ar…Kee…” he struggled to get out, but I recognized it instantly. “Arche?” When he nodded, I smiled. “That’s just like Callisto! You’re both named for one of Jupiter’s moons. Arche, why are you having trouble shifting?” “M-My human… Ssscared,” he growled. “Tried taking back c-c-control… Cal is strong of mind.” I scoffed out a short laugh. “Yeah, he’s always been stubborn. Can you give him back control for just a moment? I’ll talk to him so he can let you out.” His head bobbed, and Arche shut his eyes, the orbs dancing behind their lids briefly before they shot open to reveal familiar coneflower brown. Callisto was back. “Rena, I-I don’t want to do that again! Do I have to shift now? Can’t I wait until the next Wolf Moon?” My heart broke at the strain in his words. He was truly terrified to shift. “Cal, what did we learn about the first shift? What happens if we deny our wolves?” His bottom lip quivered. “Th-They grow weak and eventually die.” “Do you think you can do that to yours? To Arche?” His breaths came in short, sputtering bursts. “N-No, I don’t want him to die! I don’t! But I thought… I thought I was dying.” His voice cracked as he spoke, and that broke the last of my resolve. I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him as tightly as he hugged me. “You won’t die tonight, Cal. The shift won’t kill you--I promise.” He sobbed into my shoulder, his tears mixing with my blood as I ran my fingers through his hair and told him it was going to be okay. After a few minutes, his weeping subsided, and the skin of his neck became just as soft and furry as the locks I was brushing. I pulled away and gasped, marveling at the gorgeous black wolf that stood over me. His yellow eyes shined like the harvest moon, and he licked my face playfully. I giggled. “Hi, Arche. I told you he could do it.” He yipped excitedly, only to stop and sniff at me, then whimper regrettably. I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. They’re just scratches I’ll heal,” I assured them, gesturing over my shoulder to the puncture wounds he left behind. Suddenly, Arche stopped whimpering, and his ears shot straight up as he stared at something behind me. Before I had the chance to peek, I felt warmth wash over me, and I was bathed in a soft white glow. I looked up and gasped. “Cari..?” She was glowing white as well, though somehow I knew that the light emanated from her instead of somewhere else. Her black hair stood out even more against the gentle aura she exuded, and I realized a few seconds too late that her hands were on my back, over the talon marks Arche had left in me. The pain dissipated until it was no more, and the warmth and light followed shortly after. Our parents rushed to us, and Mom checked my back through the tears in my robe. I heard her gasp. “She’s healed.” Gasps and mutters rang out through the assembly, interrupted by the one voice that could find a way to bring down the moment: our grandfather. “Witch! That child is a witch!” he snarled, pushing his way through the crowd. The other pups around us, most having shifted into their wolves, skittered out of the way, fearful of the former alpha. Rigel glared down at Carina and I in disgust. “Witch children! A witch shouldn’t be in our midst, let alone be alpha!” Mom pushed us behind her while Dad stood at Rigel’s side, staring the older wolf down. “Father, stand down. You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Rigel scoffed. “I’m the only one here with eyes, apparently. She just healed her--that’s not a wolf trait, boy! And I know for a fact your mother was no witch, so the only way she could have inherited magick is through the outsider you made Luna.” Dad growled, his teeth bared as his eyes flashed black. “If you value your life, then stop talking.” Ignoring him, Rigel turned to meet the eyes of several pack members. “You hear that? Your so-called Luna has bewitched my son--” He stepped away from Dad, his gaze piercing Mom’s as he stepped closer. Callisto growled, the fur of his neck standing at attention. “And she’s given him bastard witch heirs who can’t even shift!” He glared first at me, then at my shivering twin who flinched at the attention. “You should have never been born--!” I was so consumed with rage that I hadn’t noticed I was trembling. My anger outweighed any pain I felt, and before I knew it, I was standing on all fours and staring directly into the shocked eyes of my grandfather. Don’t say that about my sister! I shouted into the void, and his eyes widened further as I slashed his throat.
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