Wolfman

The Snow was deep and fluffy, making it hard to get through. The large field ahead of him was almost untouched: It looked like a sea of perfect white snow. something from another planet. Where no life had ever existed, and where nobody had ever set foot before. 

He stepped through the deep, fluffy substance, sometimes bounding through it to attempt to speed up but it never seemed to work. Eventually he was able to find a plce where the wind was a bit colder, and the snow had frozen and hardened. This allowed him to walk ontop of the massive heaves of snow and move forward at a regular pace, trotting along, looking about him. The wind whipped at his face, as he looked for a suitable place to hunt for the day.

As he reached the far side of the clearing it was nearly mid day, and the mid winter sun was high in the sky, but much farther away than he would hope for. This had been a long winter, and a difficult one when you live in the woods alone. He was hoping to find a rabbit that had lost its bearings, or maybe even a small raccoon. Something that would feed him for a few days so he could set up a small camp, and rest, feel human for a few nights, maybe even cook the meat this time. The last time he tried to set up camp the bears had come, and he had to scamper off into the forest as the laid waste to everything he had set up for the day, losing out on some very nice meat he had caught himself. It seems that even the bears are thrown off kilter by this unnatural-long winter, he thought as he started to sniff the air, hoping for the scent of a weak or tired animal somewhere in the distance.

None came.

He looked about himself. He wanted to find some old tracks that had been covered by the snow drifts, or maybe some recently broken twigs at about critter-height. He looked and looked and finally found himself a small path that had been created by what seemed to be a family of woodchucks. It looked as if they were staying the a thicket of evergreens just up ahead. He would need to wait them out until one of them moved to understand where they were living. Hunting like this was much easier in packs, but He had been alone like this for years, not quite accepted by anyone, and always alone. Always by himself.

Mid-day passed into late afternoon, and he waited, half buried in a nearby snowbank, and sitting perfectly still. Ever watching, hoping to see the woodchucks come up from their small path, looking for food. Finally, just as the sun started to set, the Male stuck his head out form the ticket, and sniffed the air. He instantly caught his scent, as the wind changed and betrayed his existence to the woodchuck. He sprung up from his hiding place, growling violently, and grabbed the woodchuk by the nect before the realization that he was there even had time to reach his brain. He would eat well tonight.

He carried the woodchuck happily off into the woods, finding a place where snow hadn't fallen much thanks to the thick treecover. Here he would be able to set up camp, just like he had many times before. Hopefully the bears will stay away this time.

He looked up at the sky, and saw that it was a full moon. He laughed to himself slightly, and decided he would sleep as he was tonight. he could worry about all that in the morning. and with that he ripped the woodchuck open with his mouth, and ate ravenously. When he was done, he howled at the still full moon, in celebration of his kill, and almost as a cliche to the day had he had had, and curled up on the warm bed of leaves beneath him to sleep.

The next morning came, and he knew it was time. He stood up on his hind legs, gripping a tree for stability. He slowly closed his eyes. He knew he would need all of his energy for the change. Sinking his claws into the tree bark, he grunted and moaned in agony as the off white fur on his back receded into his skin, as his claws slowly faded away and turned into human hands, as his knees changed direction, and snapped into regular, human form. The process took some 25 minutes to complete. It may have been longer-- the cold sometimes made it worse, but he wasn't so worried about that as he was about having the strength to make it to town as a man now. Today was the day he got to see his daughter, and it was her birthday.

He had been like this his entire life: Born into a small family who lived in the woods and lived off the land, even in a time where so few folks decided to live that kind of life. He remembered his father being off and gone for weeks at a time, and always asking his mother where he had gone. Then without warning he would bust through the door, exhausted, and with a fresh kill with him. Sometimes a squirrell or a raccoon, sometimes a bear. They always ate well: mother was an incredible farmer, and father had an eye for the hunt. He never saw him change, though. Mother didn't have the power.

As he got older, and started to recognize girls, his anger would change him. at first it would just be fangs in his mouth that would cut his jaw. Then he learned to change fully, to become a wolf. to become what his father had given him. He believe it was a great treasure, a gift. His ex wife, Melissa, did not agree. she had left him soon after she found out.

None of that mattered today. He dug up his clothes he had hidden in a plastic bag underneath this tree, and got himself dressed. He checked for his wallet, and opened it. An ID, a credit card that had long ago been maxed out, and $25 in cash. That should be enough, once I sell this woodchuck hide, he thought. he ran off toward the town, buttoning his shirt as he went.

although he preferred to be a wolf these days, he was a very handsome human man. He knew this, and it made his life all the harder, as he had no desire to be a part of this world, save for his daughter. He was tall, and slender. Some men said he was unnaturally tall as he stood at nearly 6 and a half feet tall. He shoulders were broad, and he had always had a hard time finding clothes that fit, especially at the goodwill stores he was usually forced to shop at. He had a tight, curly beard that gripped his face, seemingly holding in the ferocious virility that his face showed.  He remembered when he grew his beard. He remembered he was 14. He knew she would need him soon. She was turning 14 today.  The changes would come soon.

He found his truck at the edge of the woods: an ancient diesel ford with more rust than body, but it ran soundly thanks to an old family friend who knew these trucks better than himself. He would park the truck at the edge of the woods here often and leave the keys in it. Today it bore a note:

Hey,
Fixed the timing chain and gave her a tune up. You owe me some Venison!

Jim

He smiled to himself, and stuffed the note in his pocket. He would be hunting overtime this winter.

He fired up the truck. The engine sputtered to life, and he went to pick up his daughter. She was waiting by herself at the general store, their regular spot as dictated by the court. Her mother was nowhere to be found. She jumped into the truck.

"Hey sweetheart!" He said, he noticed there were tears in here eyes. "What's the matter?" he said, truly concerned. She was always so happy.

she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Daddy, I changed last night, and it was really scary" She broke down at the edge of the sentence.

He held her for what seemed forever. eventually she calmed down. The heat on the truck was just starting to kick in. They relaxed in each others embrace for a few more minutes. The he let her go and looked her straight in the eye.

"Its all OK dear, we knew this day would come." He wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Did your mother see?"

She shook her head.

"Good" He said, pausing, and looking out the window. Memories from their marriage came flooding back. He kept staring out the window. "Good" 

"Now lets go hunt"


He threw the truck into gear and the sped off toward the forest. They woodchuck pelt was forgotten about, the money was forgotten about. Her birthday was forgotten about, but not for her. This was the gift she had been waiting for 14 years to enjoy. A real day with her father, in his truest form, and she in hers.