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Thursday, Nov. 9th, 2011

Moon Phase - Waxing Gibbous

Time Until The Shift - 7 Hours

Back at home, Bailey was the first to greet him, though his excited attitude vanished after catching a scent from him. You'll be alright, boy. Alex thought as he kneeled then reached for his dog's head. Bailey's muzzle and nose followed his arm until it touched his fur; after a few strokes, he could tell his dog wasn't happy and stopped.

When his parents noticed him from their seats in the dining area, his mother was the first to comment. "How did it go?"

"Much better than last time." Alex replied.

"That's good to hear."

Alex nodded in response. As he headed towards the kitchen and closer to his mother, he noticed her reach for and grab his arm, stopping him on the spot.

"I'll be alright." Alex said, to which his mother stood up and embraced him, tighter than usual. Returning the gesture until he was let go, his father then approached and did the same.

Friday, Nov. 10th, 2011

Moon Phase - Full

Time Until The Shift - Up

Alex woke from sleep to the feeling of his heart racing; he noticed the taste of blood in his mouth and the sharpness of his fangs a split-second later. When a hand was placed over his chest, his claws and developing pads could be felt through his T-shirt.

After a glance at the bloodstain on his pillowcase, he slipped out of bed and stripped free of his clothes. Bailey was nowhere in the room, but once he found him in the guest room, Alex's deepening breaths woke him.

Sorry, boy. Alex made for the kitchen next, grabbing the water he'd readied from the fridge. His muscles had grown halfway to their fullest already, and the entirety of the glass of cold water served as a perfect counter to his rising body heat.

What he knew was coming next pushed Alex to grab a dish towel and slip into the pantry. Once he was on his hands and knees, he held the towel near his mouth. When he felt the tension shoot through his calves, he gritted his teeth and blocked his mouth, the cloth blocking most of his reaction grunts and growls.

Then came the first strands of his pelt. Alex stayed on his knees, his paws following up the itching from the fur growth with comforting rubs.

With the second jolt down his spine, signaling the growth of his tail and ears, Alex lowered himself onto his back. Just his bones were left. He closed his eyes, curled his legs and held the towel close.

When he heard the cracking of his jaw and skull, he gripped the cloth harder. As before, the first to change were in his legs, the stretching of his flesh, muscles and bones sparking noises backed by unease. Then came his chest, which put a temporary end to his gasps, and then his face. The slackening of his bones was no easier than last time, but he was quicker to get his breathing under control when his bones settled into their new shapes.

Refreshed from sleep, yet suddenly sore in places thanks to the shift, Alex relaxed his tensed-up form and lay silent, past the point when his stomach began to growl. After another glass of water and several warm hot dogs, he returned to his room and laid back down until he felt truly ready to get up.

His parents roused a few hours later as he sat absorbed in one of his books. How huge his paws were, coupled with his claws, had made certain ones difficult to keep open, and free of accidental tears and punctures. By then also, despite his undrawn blinds, he had noticed several flashes of light outside. None were accompanied by thunder until it was close to daybreak.

The rain he was anticipating came suddenly hours later, while he was lounging around inside the garage. As patter of water on the roof, concrete and grass masked most of the sounds nearby, Alex let his olfactory sense catch the new scents the rain was bringing with it. Many of them were, as best as he could tell, bacterial in nature, coupled with hints of plant matter, all of which were drowning out scents he'd been picking up since going outside.

A smirk then spread across his muzzle when he imagined Shane showing up in the yard, looking like he'd just been hosed down for a bath, growling at the raindrops pelting him in the nose and ears. The chuckle that eventually got away from him came out as a scratchy bark, surprising him for a moment.

So that's what laughing as a werewolf sounds like. Alex thought as he went back to watching the rain.

As soon as the torrent slowed, he slipped back inside and after a snack, got back to reading. Wonder if this is what Shane and his old man do every time this happens. Remembering Michael's words about the 36 hours becoming a routine, he could see why he'd mentioned bringing something to help pass the time.

When he heard his phone sound the IM tone a short time later, Alex gave it a second, then picked it up when no more sounds came.

Catherine W.: Everything okay?

Alex smiled as he typed out his reply; Catherine had used the old chatroom with Marcus and Nathan included as receivers.

Alex S.: Yeah. The house feels like a cage, though.

Catherine W.: Can't quite relate, but sorry to hear that.

I'll get used to it, at some point. Alex thought as he put his phone aside. The next thought through his head though was a daydream of being alone in a large, wooded area, one that, although the sun was lighting it up through overcast skies, felt completely safe. The idea was difficult to wipe free of his thoughts, even after some time gaming and an unsuccessful attempt at getting Bailey to come to him.

As his sense of cabin fever grew, Alex set his phone to autoplay some videos he liked before opening his bedroom window and laying back on his bed. With his eyes closed and his muzzle pointing up, the outside scents were quick to reach him and offer a brief dulling of the uneasy feeling.

Sheesh, only six hours... He let several videos play before reopening his eyes. By then, the rain had returned, and more intensely than before. A check of his phone's weather app showed it was likely to stick around for a few days.

When Marcus texted him a short while later, he did so with a comment related to the statement to Catherine. Alex replied within a minute.

Alex S.: Staying outside does help.

Guess it'll be the garage for me for a while.

Marcus A.: What about tomorrow?

Alex S.: I'll change back around 2:00 p.m. This

won't be an issue after that.

* * *

As the time neared noon, Alex heard his father's truck coming up the driveway and slipped back inside. Resisting the urge to shake himself free of water, he waited near the entryway for his father to come inside; Bailey was quick to shower him with affection once he did.

"Did Shane or his dad contact you at all?"

Alex shook his head.

"So then, are you sure you just want me to drop you off?"

"Yeah. Shane will let me in." When his father didn't follow up, Alex added more. "By the way, I told the guys to text you if I don't respond to some texts they'll send me."

"Why? I thought you trusted this kid and his family."

"Just being safe."

"Alright."

Within the next half-hour, Alex's access to his parent's room, and the less visible door to the backyard, was cut off. His father was asleep shortly after, leaving him to pass the time as best he could until his mother came home. With ordered in pizzas set for dinner that night, Alex found his chance to hug both his parents and reassure them that he'd be fine.

Saturday, Nov. 11th, 2011

Moon Phase - Full

Time Until Human Again - 13 Hours

Alex awoke well before one the next morning. The rain from yesterday was still coming down when he did, though the thunder and lightning was mostly gone, and the hunger had yet to show, letting him snack on a few things before he found a spot near the front door windows to watch for his father.

As he did, a text came though from Michael.

Michael B.: On your way?

Alex S.: Not yet. Still waiting.

Michael B.: Shane's watching the street. A few cars

just drove by, and I think parked nearby.

The twinge to his nerves Alex felt didn't last beyond a second.

Alex S.: Dad and I will be quick.

Michael B.: Keep us posted, then.

* * *

When his father at last arrived, Alex gripped his phone and keys tightly. Would his unease from before be stronger in this form? He shook his head and tried to downplay the idea before saying a quiet goodbye to his mother and slipping outside.

His unease perked immediately when he started to climb into the back of the cruiser. Relax. Nothing's happening._The radio chatter and numerous scents, ranging from vile to strange, gave him something to focus on as his father shut him inside and then continued driving._This does feel weird.

The drive lasted only a few minutes, though Alex stayed ready to duck in case another cruiser pulled up near his father's. When they stopped, he pulled his head up and looked around. There were several cars on the street, but no one in sight.

"Ready?" his father asked for a moment.

"Yeah. Open the door when you're ready."

His father waited for almost a minute before getting out and opening the door. Alex slid out once it did, crouching and swinging his head left and right as soon as he touched the ground. Seeing no one again, he bolted for the door, turning around and flashing a thumbs-up to his father as he got back inside his cruiser and drove off.