(c) 1997, Peter 'darkewolf' Crystal (darke@indigo.net.au)

Written 7th of June, 1997

His body shivered, hearing the rain slam into the wind-screen, smothering the noises outside the car, noise inside the car overcome by the music playing loudly on the stereo, bass vibrating through his body and head, always a sign of it being close, when the senses go sharp.

His voice raises, howling deeply, vision sharpening, stare caught on the invisible steam streaming off the bonnet, rain vaporised by the hot metal. Head cocking to one side, seeing the two-foots trapped in their metal-beasts. Their pale skin, lit up by lights from other cars, their hot sticky breaths steaming the windows, eyes squinting past the rain blinded wind-screens, fear in their minds unexplainably, filling their thoughts.

A sly smile drifts across his features, realising this is not good time to change, trapped in car, at red-lights. Howls again, louder then already ridiculous volume of the music, chuckling at the words,

"I want to fuck you like an animal"

The words, "like an animal" resonating true and loud. He howls again, smiling, feeling the words bounce around his mind, his skin crawling, muscles rearranging, gut twisting and leapfrogging. He growls to himself, "Need to get home or out of car", his body shakes, wanting to shift.

Green. His eyes instantly lock into the green-glow of the traffic lights, resists urge to floor the accelerator, another car in front, slowly moves off, waiting for an opening to roar off, leaving all the clumsy two-foots. His head cocks to one side again. sees a gap, and pulls out, car hurtling past the others, slowing down again, once well ahead of everyone else, road hidden behind darkness, barely illuminated by headlights, and the bucketing rain. Mind quick, seeing past the rain, sensing the road, the trees, feeling the night, light and beautiful to his mind.

Car weaving past the trucks and other cars on the road, driving fast, too fast for the road, but staying safely distant from danger. Screeching around the corners, body aching, form shaking, slowly changing, not wanting two-foot shape much longer. Roars up, braking suddenly, parking crookedly, shuts engine down, leaps out of the car, and head for the house door, fumbling with keys, unlocking and opening the door, bundles inside and slams the door behind him.

He growls, deep and guttural, rushing into a bedroom, quickly removing his clothing, his body twisting, muscles changing positions. He drops to all fours, raises his head and howls deeply, his wolf-cry resounding loudly through the house. His form shifts, fur appearing, black fur, dark grey belly-fur, a tail grows quickly, he howls again.

The wolf quietens down and , sniffing the air. Scent of other-wolf is thick and musky, but distant, other-wolf not close. He paws the ground a little, claws clicking on tiled floor, moving crumbled two-foot clothes out of the way. He howls again, going silent, waiting for a reply. Hears only rain beating against the windows. He growls, and stalks out of the room, wolfeyes seeing all in the darkened house, nostrils flaring, drinking in all the scents.

Head cocks to one side, hears rain louder, smells the nature-smell of fresh rain, door is open. Happily pads towards the sound and smell, wolfysmiling. Murrs deeply when he sees an open door, the rain falling fast and heavily outside, the fresh smell biting into his nose, feeling nice. He howls loudly, then listens, hearing a faint reply, mostly drowned out by the rain.

He trots out, fur instantly dampened by the strong rain, rivers of cold water flowing down his body, over his muzzle, down his tail. He howls again, listening again for a reply, this time it is louder, closer. He smiles inwardly and trots faster, through the trees and rain, closer to the other wolf. Sees a faint glimmer of white through the rain and trees, smiles-murrs again, knowing.

The two wolves, almost collide, stopping suddenly, erupting into howls of joy, noses touching, nuzzling, murring. Black fur contrasting against white, tongues lapping at each other, murring. Tails wagging, flicking droplets of water around, lost quickly in the onslaught of the rain. Trying hard to sit still, almost bouncing in their happiness of being together.

Both wolves shift forms, bodies lengthening, straightening. Muscles rearranging. Fur vanishes, replaced by pink skin, long hair drenched, skin glistening with rain. The two forms kiss, and embrace, hugging each other tightly. Their bodies matching almost perfectly, limbs touching, fitting together with experienced ease.

"I've missed you my love", his voice soft and deep. His eyes smile with his love for her, lips softly touching hers, hands lightly stroking along her rain sodden mane.

"I know, and I've missed you too", she replies gently. She arches her back against his touch, a light murr resonating from her chest, her eyes twinkling in the dark-night, burning with love.

The rain stops instantaneously, the clouds part, and a sharp beam of silver moon light streams down and hits them, illuminating their naked forms. They shimmer, their outlines grow fuzzy, and they both drop to the ground, onto all fours, just as the clouds close again, darkness drops onto them. The rain launches itself with renewed fury at the earth, loud, deafening, but still overpowered by two howls that ring loud and deep.

By morning the rain had cleared, the yellow sun, burning its way into the room, harshly lighting the bed, where under a thick blanket two figures slept, limbs and bodies embraced. They stir a little, with the dawn-light but only barely, content in their dreams of each other. The sun slowly drying small puddles on the tiled floor, puddles preceeded by smaller puddles, almost like pawprints.