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To Be One of Them

By Lykanos Wulfheart

Down the wooded hill the young wolf ran. Gracefully she danced between the trees, the gentle breeze caressing her fur. Each rock, each twig was a familiar sight to her, the path one she had made herself. "I hope the humans are there today," she panted, her tail twitching with excitement. The further she went, the slower she moved, her pace but a crawl as the campsites came into view.

Gradually, she worked her way through the foliage, skirting the clearing with enough distance not to get caught. In all the times she'd done this, not once had she been seen. Her predatory skill protected her as she slipped by, undetected. Eventually, she slid into a gap below two interlocking pines, her dainty black nose poking out with a perfect view of the lot. This was her spot. Below the trees gave the best vantage point to see the creatures below without any chance of them noticing her, the thick needles covering her in the ultimate disguise.

The little she-wolf had been coming to this spot all spring and half of the fair seasons of the previous thaw. It was her little getaway, a place to relax when not on the hunt. A refuge to dream about what could be but never would.

Looking into the clearing did not disappoint. On such a warm and unclouded day the humans had returned, her favorite site occupied by one such being. Down the mound of earth was an older man, his hair turning as white as her belly and cheeks. He had just finished setting up his dome tent when he headed back to his car for gear.

Resting her chin on her paws, the gray wolf in hiding watched with a delicate huff, the fallen pine needles shifting with her sigh. "It would be nice to make my den wherever I so pleased. Just set it up and take it down. I wouldn't have to worry about the other predators finding me. And to close it so easily, escaping from the harshness of the weather. That would be nice." Watching as he removed a stove from his vehicle and started to assemble the propane burner, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. "And those loud runners. The humans don't even need to walk if they don't want to. They just make that thing go for them. No extra energy wasted on the move. I wish I had that. I waste so much energy coming down here to watch them... but I do enjoy it."

Going back over, the man in plaid pulled out a cooler. Hiking it back, he opened the case and pulled forth a burger. Slapping it on the little grill, he headed back to grab a spatula. The little canine's voice was but a whine as she spoke, her tail sweeping in the prickly leaves of her hideout. "And to have unlimited food. They just pull it out of their magic box. Food and colored waters. Not having to hunt for food all the time... I really do wish I could be human, too." The heavy breath lifted a small puff of dust as the needles were swept away from her muzzle.

Returning to his food, the older gentleman slapped a second piece of meat on the fire. After staring for a minute, he reclined on the wooden seat, leaning back against the table and stretching out in a lazy lounge. With a tiny scoot, the wolf closed in, her head peeking from the trees. "To have so much food and not a care in the world. No fight. No risk of hurt. I could go for that. And more time to play human games."

Slowly, her fluff swept at the dirt behind her, the pleasure growing as she thought about how happy these creatures always were. In a hushed whisper, she yipped to herself, "If I were human, I'd play with those colorful throwing disks they toss back and forth. Oh! And those curved clankers! They always cheer so loud when the things bang against the long, thin stump they push in the ground. What did they call that again?" Leaning her head ever so slightly, the she-wolf looked adorable. Her ears wiggled like a dog with a question as she pondered. "Horseshoe. I think that's right." Wagging with triumphant glee, she sat up, the branches pushing at the greys of her back. "I'd love to try that! And maybe those little glow things that flash. All the little humans are always staring at them, like all the time! It must be something amazing!"

As the sizzle grew, the object of her gaze rose and flipped the patties, the scent of the browning meat slowly working its way over to her. The man returned to his seat, this time removing the black-lined, red fabric to expose a white undershirt. Changing out the long sleeves for short, he laid back, the over shirt used like a pillow. Lying back down, herself, the she-wolf put her jaw against her toes once more. "To play those things, though... I'd need human digits. My toes could never do any of that stuff. I really hate being a wolf sometimes."

She didn't notice, but below her face the joints started to shift, lengthening as her claws flattened against the flesh. Another disheartened whimper escaped her mouth. "And to be able to take my fur off or put more on at will. That would be a fun trick. No more heat as I shed in the growing season and bitter chill as I turn white with the snows. I could just, poof! Fur off, fur on." The pleasure of the thought moved her tail as it slowly retreated, the strand of spine shriveling back into her body. Still she remained blissfully unaware to the changes.

While her ears flattened and lowered, the shape changing to something more human, her muzzle retreated, the moist tip becoming sharper as tan fur ended in a similarly colored skin. The wolfess was too focused on the thicker man, him definitely being one of the better fed of his kind. She continued to dream of being one of them, her metamorphosis completely overlooked. "And their packs. They come and seem so happy with each other, even with the other packs nearby. When I was a pup, I was told that the other packs would try to hurt us. We had to keep them away to stay safe. And when my brother and I played too hard, it was always a sharp snarl of disproval. The humans play just as hard and everyone seems to be fine with it. Plus, they have all sorts of older humans in the pack. When I got too old, I had to leave. That's no fair."

The canine's fur receded as her joints shifted, her limbs differentiating between arms and legs. The soft breeze suddenly felt chill against her exposed skin, a little shiver alerting her to what had been going on. By now, her hips were locking in place and shoulders had squared up. As she gasped, soft and human from her pinkened lips, she looked over her fingers, the pads having given way to supple white. "I have digits!" The words were no longer throaty growls or posturing of her body, but instead vibrations in her neck that worked with her strangely thickened tongue. Feeling at her muzzle, she was startled at how flat her face had become. The white whiskers had vanished, a smooth nakedness in its place. Rubbing at her flattened chin and curved jaw she sat as the chill worked over her, the fur parting as her body became exposed. The fluff at the top of her head grew long, a dark brown that flowed over her squared shoulders and ended near her chest. That, too, was an odd change for her, the ribs no longer pushing out, but more rounded, with everything rearranged. Her hips, no longer the sleek things they were, now bulged to the sides, her narrow wolf frame now that of a shapely woman.

Taking in her body, the former wolf got to her knees. Suddenly, the prick of the pine in her back was something she took notice of. "Ouch," she whined as she spun. "That hurt." Moving away, out of the hidden protection of her trees, she continued to take herself in. Hairless arms and legs with wiggly, delicate digits squirmed as she tested them.

From behind, she heard the snap of twigs. It startled her since it was so close, her senses no longer as keen as they once were. "I didn't even smell it," she mumbled as her hand touched her nose. Spinning around, she saw her invader. It was the old man from the campsite, his face a toothy smile as he held out his red plaid shirt.

Seeing that the human was baring his teeth, an obvious sign of aggression to the species of the wild, she dropped her bosom to the ground as she went down on her hands and knees. "I-I am sorry. Please... Do not hurt me. I just wanted to see what your kind do. I meant no harm." Slowly scooting back, she was stopped by the pine against her skin. "Ouch!" Rubbing at her waist, she dropped her gaze once more as the old man took a step forward.

"Hey... hey. No need to be scared, little one. I'm a friend, I promise." A gentle chuckle came with his hand, a kind offering to help her up.

Hesitantly, the woman looked him over, the hand a gesture she'd seen humans do when one needed to get up. It took a moment, but she did as he asked, standing with his aid. "A-are you not scared of me? I am a wolf after all."

"All I see is a beautiful young lady," stated the man, his voice a soothing comfort. "You may have started a wolf, but I heard your plea and decided to grant you your desire."

"Humans can do that," she whispered in mystified surprise. "Your kind really are magic!"

"No, no," he chuckled, "Magic is a lost art. Most people believe it only to be parlor tricks and illusion... Though, there is still some to be had." Holding out the shirt, he added, "You look cold. Here, this will help."

Grabbing the cloth, she was impressed not only by her own strength, but by the textures of the fabric. She tested it against her face like a curious wolf, sweeping one side, then the other. Turning it around, she figured out how to operate the button-up to the point where her arms went through. Tucking it together in front, she took in the soothing warmth it provided. "Thank you," her voice was but a murmur and eyes still low to his glance.

Another chuckle from the man preceded him helping her button up. "Glad to help. I could hear you over here longing to be like us and I just couldn't keep that from someone who desired it with so much of their being." Motioning back to his site, he helped her walk, her two legs a huge change as she wobbled to keep up.

As she moved, her curiosity grew. "How did you understand me? I thought humans could only speak human."

His smile was infectious as he beamed. "Like I said, there is still magic in the world. I may have been a stage magician in my youth, but anymore I practice something for more natural. It's what keeps bringing me back here. Camping. The outdoors. There's a magic here like nothing else. All I did was share that with you."

With a grin of her own, she was overjoyed. Her prayers had been answered and she was now what she had always wanted to be. In a sign of affection, she gave him a tiny lick on his grizzled cheek.

Wiping it away with continued kindness, he laughed as they approached the bench, two cheese burgers, one on either side of the table. "I'm glad you enjoy your new form. If I may be so bold, I was hoping you might stay with me a while. Let me teach you our ways before you take on the world. You don't have to go it alone."

Stopping by the bench, she turned to him, taking his hand with both of hers. "I would like that. I would like that a lot."

The gentleman placed his other palm over her dainty fingers. "I'm glad to hear it. Now, I overheard you talking about food at the start so I made you a burger. Hope you're hungry." Helping her into the seat, his generosity radiated in his face, the smile lighting up her own.

"I am!" With delight, she tore into the food with a primal savagery, her famished body eager to try its first taste of humanity.