Someone new

The back of my head hurt. I was on the ground. Where am I? My heart was pounding. Sweat drenched my clothes. I was… scared. But I felt like the predator, not the prey. I was somewhere in the mountains, ice and pine surrounded me.

Just calm down. What was that? Who was that? Where did the voice come from? I realised I wasn’t alone, yet I couldn’t see anyone around. The light bouncing off from all the white snow made it hard to see.

“What do you want?!” If it were possible, I became more and more alarmed.

Just calm the fuck down! I don’t need you to faint again. I started to crawl back, hoping to get away from them, when my back hit a tree.

Just stop, please. Your heart is still human, it won’t be able to keep up this rhythm for long. Still human? What were they on about? If you CALM down I’ll explain.

“You can hear my thoughts!” Shock and fear forced the words out of me. I needed to speak aloud to help my brain. It was desperately trying to comprehend all the new information, crafting a picture that would make sense, but failing at every turn. Where are they? What powers do they possess? I’ve only heard about this type of communication in stories. Stories of mages. Are they…?

No. Don’t make me laugh. I’m much more powerful than a silly magic user. I somehow doubted that. I’ll show you, then. They sounded smug, which brought back the fear that dared ebb for a minute. I suddenly felt nauseous and dizzy, I closed my eyes, while breathing deeply, hoping it would ease some of my symptoms. The silence that has settled after my yell, was once again broken this time by the ragged breathing of some animal. A big one… It was close by. My eyes flashed open ready to dart for the trees away from my hunter. The ground was too close, it made me disoriented and lose my footing. Sidestepping to avoid falling, I looked down, noticing that I was no longer on two legs. If my brain was overworking before now it was frozen, throwing in the towel, I just stared at the paws under me. Mine?

No. Mine. What? Ugh. I thought I’d finally found a smart host. Host? Like a parasite. A growl escaped my jaws, or rather theirs. Don’t use that word again. They said slowly, making sure I was clear on the consequences a mistake like this would entail should it happen again. I’m the wolf, you’re the human.

But who’s in charge?

It’s complicated. You’re in charge. Mostly. But don’t forget, I’m as much a part of you as any of your organs, and from now on, just as vital.

Can you… me?...we change back? I asked, confused by what pronouns should I be using.

Why?

I’m not comfortable, it’s too unfamiliar.

You better familiarize yourself with this, cause surviving out here will be much more difficult in human form.

Up here? Can’t I just go home?

You can if you want to take a wolf into your village. If the opportunity to hunt arises a predator won’t think twice. Or at least this one won’t. You’re not in control, not fully. I can take over if the urge is strong enough.

So I’m to live a solitary life, here in the mountains, never to see my family or friends?

Yes. Unless you want to kill them.

This is why you brought me here, then, to not hurt anyone.

There is no me and you anymore. Just us. No, as long as I can, I will differentiate, making an effort to keep- if only a metaphorical- distance between the human and the beast.

Why me? You’ve said you regret choosing me. So why did you?

You seemed lost. Feeling my confusion, he continued. You had no future plans, no motivation, you were adrift, nothing to tie you down. This, me, can give you a purpose, an adventure.

Purpose? Surviving, you mean. Fearing every day might be my last? I’d rather be adrift, than living in such terror.

Don’t lie. I’ve observed you for long enough to know, your instincts are strong, you cling to life strongly, more than others suspected. I knew if you were put into a situation, such as this, you’d do anything to survive.

Ahh, I see, so that was your reason. A resilient host. One that could keep you alive, protect you by protecting themselves. But why? Aren’t you immortal? You had previous hosts, how did their death not kill you?

They aren’t dead. He seemed resentful. It felt childish, almost like this giant beast was holding a grudge. They got rid of me.

There’s a way to do that? How?

You think I’d tell you?

I’ll figure it out, even if you don’t.

Highly doubt it. My nausea was almost unbearable, so we changed back. I stumbled, as the ground again seemed out of place, too far away this time. Try not to faint.

You could be a bit more patient. This is all very new. Did your previous host get the hang of it right away?

Yes.

Oh, come on. I do not believe that.

You don’t have to, but it’s true.

How? How could they get used to this, so quickly?

Don’t know, she was very talented.

I see. Well, I’m not her.

Clearly.

Wow, you really think I’m going to give up on trying to find a way to get you out of my head when you’re so friendly? Before he could utter another insult, which I was sure was his intention, I heard something. It was faint, far away, but close enough for them to pose a danger to me. There were many of them, people, out on a hunt. Or a search. Maybe for me?

Don’t get your hopes up. If they find you out here, they’ll know, or at least suspect what happened, since you know… you’re still alive.

How could they? I never heard of anyone being turned into a werewolf.

I wonder why. Oh. They would kill me, here on the spot? No trial or anything? Obviously, why risk taking you back and allowing you to turn and ravage their village.

So, we should run?

I mean, we could fight them, if you want, I’m much stronger than a few men. I could easily take them if you let me.

No. I’m not hurting my own people.

Fine, then, let’s get going. We changed, and I barfed. This will be great.