Nightmares

I send Jordan one of the story’s mom used to tell me. As thanks for the Journals.

One day a lonely Fox met a Magician. The Fox one day while in the forest asked the Magician, what he was doing. The Magician said he was setting snapping bear traps to catch an animal stealing his chickens. The Fox asked if he wanted help doing this. The Magician, and Fox were not friends but got on well as far as neighbors go. And so the Fox helped the Magician set up his traps. The next day two more chickens were killed, and all the traps sprung but nothing caught. Angry, and impressed by the animals cunning the Magician laid another trap. What are you doing? The Fox asked him for a second time. I am brewing a poison potion. Said the Magician. But the animal was far more clever than the Magician gave him credit for. Three chickens were killed this time, and the poison potion lay untouched soaking in meat where the Magician had left it. The Magician played with his spells outside of the coop. There was only two chickens left. Why are you sad? Asked the Fox. The Magician told his tale. I will not have enough eggs to sell for food this winter. Said the Magician sadly. I’m sorry, said the Fox meaning it genuinely. But the other pens, and fences in town were unbreakable. The wildlife had ether flown away, or slept in hibernation. There was non to be found, and the clever young Fox would certainly starve before reaching another town. But the Fox did not like to see the Magician sad so he did not eat the chickens the third night. That day the fox came to the Magician and asked for a second time, Why are you sad? The Magician answered, a visiting Princess died today. How did she die? Asked the Fox. Animal attack. Said the Magician. At least you got to kept your chickens. Said the Fox. You will have enough eggs for winter. The Magician didn’t speak for a long moment. Come spring I will have new chickens. He says. We will share them. The Fox agreed, and so in winter they spent talking, and come spring they ate roasted chicken, and the Magician never brought up the humans disappearing again. For he knew they all needed to eat. And the clever young Fox was now his friend.

There is another version of the story one where after the Princess dies the Magician gives the Fox a small basket of eggs as a gift. The Fox thinking him, and the Magician almost friends eats the eggs. Only to be buried by the Magician the next day. He having set up one last trap with the poison potion. Still the Magician is sad, even though he knows he saved more lives. For even he doing what he had to do, understands that everyone has to eat.

With that I head inside. Conner is on the pouch he makes eye contact with me, with his brown eyes. Before I can walk around to my house, he walks over.

“What did you do?” He asks. What now? “Cheryl won’t say why, but she’s seriously angry with you. Hollyne, and Cheryl aren’t friends anymore.” Oh yeah, I forgot they were friends. Just another thing I take from Hollyne I guess.

It’s a long story, don’t want to get into it. She’s in the hospital as I’m sure you heard, and as I’m sure she told you I can’t visit. And thanks. - Charlotte

It seems whatever happened between them Hollyne’s on my side. I realize she could be so loyal. A trait I value.

“It’s a long story. I just need you to trust me, ok? Cheryl does not want me in a hospital. Besides I’m busy.”

“With what?” He asks. Connor is loud, and annoying often makes up for it with how protective he is over his friends. Right now he’s just getting on my nerves.

“Doesn’t concern you.” Is all I say, and head inside. I have another nightmare that night. I don’t get nightmares very often, but they tend to be back to back. After watching a particular (I’m not easily scared of anything) horror movie I had them for three nights in a row. Luckily for me, I don’t tend to remember my nightmares anyway. But I remember this one. Because it really happened.

Me and Cypress were taking turns shifting, and jumping up to catch birds in the trees. We knew something was wrong when we heard the gunshot. We looked at each other, and raced home in our wolf forms. We weren’t really wolves of course. We weren’t human ether. We believed our God created us to hide amongst humans, or amongst wolves when we hunted. There was many human stories about creatures that looked human. But of course there was no human, or wolf that had an instinct to hunt humans. We needed food, but needed human flesh just as much. There was the body of a wolf-shifter on the ground near the library. Our town was surrounded by trees on all sides. I try to find Mama. I pick up her sent. Mr. Pawn my teacher, he falls to the ground. There’s a scream. Then another. I see a Hunter waving his pistol around. A wolf runs past. I hear hear running towards me. She shifts to human.

“Remember what I thought you. Be the Alpha I know you are. Remember shifting is our power. I need to find your father. Now run. Run!” Mama says. I do as I was told. I run. I don’t know if she found Pops, before they got her, but I like to think she did.