My brothers and I fed hungrily on the meat that our pack had felled. Every time they hunt, I have to wait, because my teeth are not so long, and I am not quick enough or heavy enough, or even bloodthirsty enough to overpower a moose or an elk. I am allowed to hunt rabbits; their bodies are small and easy to catch and sink my teeth into, and their soft white furs feel good against my skin..I am making a wolf pelt for myself, a white one, sewing it together with tough roots and a small needle of bone. My brothers laugh at me for it, but my mother understands my wish to be more like my family, and to feel at home in my own wolf pelt. I am nearly done with my pelt, and it will feel so good. I have softened the leather so that it will feel nice against my bare skin because it would not look so good with the fur on the inside.
After we were full, I felt a craving for the sweet meats that Halloween brought. I asked my brothers, but they said they were too tired, and that they would get me some later. The moons tugged and tugged at my belly, and I knew I had to have the sweet meats, lest I burst apart in my wanting.
I waited until my pack was asleep. I guessed that it would take me ten minutes to run fast to the village, two minutes to find a sweet meat, and ten minutes to run back. Twenty-two minutes; they would still be sleeping. I donned my wolf pelt, or what was done, and I kissed my mother's soft, furry cheek. I looked up at the moons, and I started running...the moons were near the horizon, and it would be morning in a few hours...
A young boy and his mother were walking from house to house. Onelle came nearer to the village. The little boy shouted the traditional "Trick or treat!", and received his treats. Onelle drooled as she smelled the chocolate, the gum, the chewy delicious candy in the shape of pumpkins and witches and black cats...and wolves. The boy and his mother walked across the street, to the next house. Onelle emerged, half-clothed in her wolf pelt, pale hazel eyes flickering in the half-light of the moons. Her dark hair hung over her browned shoulders and breasts. The boy walked down the street with his mother, tugging at her coat, the mother smiling down at him and petting his head lovingly...Onelle came closer, drawn by the scent of treats...the boy turned at a noise she made...Onelle's eyes widened...the mother screamed and fainted...Onelle whimpered....the little boy whimpered and soiled himself....Onelle hesitated....the boy cried out "It's the wolf-girl! Mommy, help!"...Noises from the other houses...lights on...people running out....guns, nets, knives...Onelle turned...everything seemed to be in slow motion....she tried to run.....her voice caught in her throat as she tried to howl to her pack....a rope caught around her ankle, and she fell to the ground, yelping as she hit, gravel and thorns scratching her....a man shouted in triumph!
I couldn't believe that I had been caught! I hadn't done a thing..I had only wanted to join in their fun, and have a treat or two...I tried desperately to howl, but my captor put a hand over my mouth..I bit him, and he yelled, and cuffed me. They put a gag over my mouth instead. They put me in a cage...I spent the night in there, worrying about my wolf pack...I couldn't understand the human language, and they couldn't understand my lupine language...I cried myself to sleep..it was a cold, frightening night..
"We caught the wolf-girl!" said a proud male voice. It woke Onelle from her slumber, filled with nightmares..she had hoped that her capture had only been a nightmare..but it hadn't been...
"I see," said a cold female voice. "Where have you put the poor girl?"
The 'jailor' stumbled. "We, well, uh, we, um.."
His wife answered for him. "We put the good-for-nothing in a cage, downstairs. Would you like to take a look, Cathairte?"
"Of course, madame. I would like to see her..." The Cathairte Anaess followed the husband and wife downstairs..she gazed upon Onelle, who stared at her in obvious terror.
"The poor darling..you've frightened her half to death!" Anaess admonished the man and woman. The husband looked confused, and the wife looked angry.
"Now see here, Cathairte, this is a wild, bloodthirsty beast!"
"I don't believe it. She's no worse than my Amaroq." At the word, a big, black wolf with intelligent golden eyes came down the stairs. The woman gasped.
"You..you..."
"I have a wolf with me? Yes." Amaroq stared intently at Onelle.
^It's alright, little one^ He spoke softly in wolfish. ^You are coming with us^
Onelle looked at him with surprise and relieved tears came to her eyes. ^Back to my pack?^ she asked.
^Not quite yet^ Amaroq replied, gently.
^Why?^ asked Onelle.
^Because^ replied Amaroq, ^We need you to speak to someone. And you need clothes for that...as sorry as I am to say that, because I see that you are a true wolf, like me^ Amaroq smiled at her, and Onelle felt better.
The wolf Amaroq and his friend, Anaess, took me out of the cage, to their home. I really wanted to see my family again...but first, they put me in clothes, and taught me a few human words...I didn't fight it, but I knew as soon as this ordeal was over, I would escape again, and purposely forget it all..it was no better than being a prisoner..
Onelle sullenly followed Anaess and Amaroq. She knew that they were there to be her friends and help her; they had freed her, after all..but she wanted to be with her wolves..
Anaess took me to a Protectorate..I'm not sure what that is..it was called Kshau, and it was a Healing Den..it was all decorated in orange and black, blood red..the best part were the sweet meats! I ate many, and when I had to leave that room, I gave many more to Anaess to carry for me.
A lady named Baeris came to speak with Anaess. I didn't understand her..but eventually she came to me, and spoke in wolfish. I told her that I wanted to leave, and go back to my pack..
^Onelle^ Amaroq was stern. ^Listen to what Baeris has to say^
I stared at my feet as Baeris spoke to me.
^Look at me, child..I won't keep you here long. I have a present for you, see?^ I looked up, hoping for treats. I took the little orb in my hands, and looked up at Baeris.
^What is it?^ Onelle asked Baeris. Lady Baeris smiled.
^It is a dragonchen egg, Onelle^
^What is that?^ Onelle inquired, gazing at the egg in her palm. It was pretty, black and orange swirls coloring the smooth texture.
^A little creature will come out of it, and you will be able to keep it as a friend, and name it^ Baeris told Onelle.
^Oh^ Onelle still didn't understand, but she waited quietly while Baeris went to get her some meat. When she returned, the egg had already begun to shake. Onelle stared at it, frightened.
^Is it angry?^
^No, it's hatching. Wait. Watch^ Onelle stared intently at the egg. She was very surprised, when the shaking stopped..an orange snout poked out of the egg..soon an entire chen, the color of pumpkin rind, lay in Onelle's palm. Onelle gazed in delight at her new dragonchen.
^Mine?^ she squeaked.
^Yours^ said Baeris with a smile.
I left the Protectorate with Pampkin, and I hoped that then, maybe Anaess would let me go back to my pack. Instead, she and Baeris had another talk at Anaess's Cathair...I thought maybe they were talking about me, because my name was repeated..I couldn't understand the rest.
After Baeris left, Anaess spoke to me.
^We are going to take you back^ she said.
I clapped my hands and got down on my hands and knees, howling for joy. Amaroq smiled at me.
^Come^ said Anaess. Amaroq wagged his tail.
^Farewell, little Onelle. I will see you again^ he told me.
^You aren't coming?^
^No..I don't like to fly^ Amaroq grinned, and turned, walking down the hall to his home.
^Fly?^ I asked Anaess. She smiled at me.
^Yes, Onelle. You are going to meet Umuminaenth..^
Onelle followed Anaess, a little bit scared. Pampkin dug her claws into Onelle's shoulder, feeling Onelle's emotions and reflecting them.
^Ouch! Pampkin!^ Onelle cried, a tear rolling down her cheek. Mini claw-points of blood stained her shoulder. Pampkin whistled in apology, and Onelle petted her.
The trio came out into the duo rays of light from the two suns of Danach. Onelle gasped as she saw a gigantic white replica of Pampkin. Inness smiled.
Hello, said the dragon. I am Umuminaenth.
Anaess helped me onto what she said was a dragon. The creature was huge, bigger even that my leader wolf, a giant among lupines. Umuminaenth moved her wings, and we were in the air! I whined and whimpered..I was scared. Anaess tried to comfort me, but I couldn't be..
Umuminaenth landed in the woods...Onelle jumped off...
I ran. I ran from the dragon, I ran from Anaess..I ran from civilization..I tore off my human clothes and ran, bare, with only the moons, spreading their wings of tender twilight upon me, to cover my nakedness..I would have to make another pelt.
I would not go back, I could not..how could I give up my life once again? Sweet meats could be forgotten if only I could become the wolf-girl again..
I searched for my pack..I found them...my mother-wolf ran to me, tears wetting her soft cheeks...my brothers and sisters and uncles and aunts..my leader..all came to rejoice at my safe return..
I am so glad to be lupine...
"Does she know?" asked Baeris.
"No...I hadn't time to tell her. She ran, quick and far..she is with her pack now," Anaess replied.
"The poor child..she will have to come once again to our land..." Baeris trailed off.
To Imprint.............
Onelle lay dozing gently beside her dragon..she had finished her pelt, and looked strangely wolfen in its furry whiteness. Lupineth snored slightly, a deep rumble that tickled Onelle's humor and made her giggle in her sleep. Onelle's wolf pack had not been quick to accept the strange lizard-like being, but now they liked her as well as Onelle, and the lifemates were accepted as part of the pack. Onelle's wolf-mother snoozed, curled around Lupineth's neck, cheek to cheek with the emerald dragon, and the rest of the pack was not far off. Onelle sighed in her dreams, feeling comfortable and peaceful.
Halloween Frenzy-http://oocities.com/baeris_kshau_masterhealer/halloween.html