Close Encounters

Elizabeth heard Kira, somewhere in the distance. She did not want to answer. Her stomach hurt, as did her head. Her dreams where horrible things: hungry, violent creatures chasing her through trees that ought to be familiar, but looked like claws waving in the night. No, she was in no mood for whatever Kira had in mind for today. Breakfast would have to wait, even if Beth was on the menu.1

She felt the sheet raise - felt Kira move almost instantly against the wall, taking in her breath with a hiss. Elizabeth rose to snap at the other girl for her rudeness, but only heard her jaws close with a bang, accompanied by a snarl. Kira, for once, looked almost as frightened as Beth had been last night. And for good reason.2

The full moon was last night. Liz had felt the cramps, but thought they were because of nerves. She should have known. Women of her kind lived within the phases of the moon, like clockwork. There was no mistake.3

Instead of a young, brown-haired woman, Kira had woken a black wolf: two hundred pounds and four feet from her paws to the tips of her ears. Human speech, without a human voice box, was no longer possible. The snotty retort that Beth threw at the other girl came out as a snarl, dripping with angry white foam from her jaws.4

Kira had spared her through the night. That was unusual for a monster. Perhaps, like Beth's family, this creature was civilized as well. If such was the case, there was no point in frightening the girl any further.5

Beth tucked back her ears - not flat against her head, as in anger - but half-way, in appology. I guess we both have our little secrets, don't we? she asked, intentionally forming the words into thoughts in English. Hopefully, Kira could understand. I completely forgot that last night was the full moon. I'm usually more on top of this.6

Kira did not move. Beth couldn't figure out if the girl understood her or not. easy movements Slowly, Elizabeth turned in the jumble of blankets, crawling on her fuzzy tummy to the edge. She glanced back at Kira and cocked her head to one side, motioning towards the closet. When the other girl continued to stand perfectly still, Liz jumped off the bed and slunk into the closet, her bushy tail tucked between her legs.7

In a flash of snapping bones and ripping fur, she was her human self again, dragging on clothes as fast as she could. Beth looked around the corner of the closet, where Kira still stood, looking particularly pale for her Mediterranean skin.8

"I suppose you'll want a new roommate, right?"