*Note from Baelnorn: The highlighted text was what was written from the previous two rounds.
Screech…Screech…Screech…
Screech.Screech.Screech.
SCREECHSCREECHSCREECH!!
With a groan a slim arm reached over and slammed the old style alarm clock. And a thought floated across a half conscious brain. “Why that particular alarm…oh yeah it worked…”
Well mostly worked. The body attached to the brain was still not a morning person. Comfy pillows. Warm blankets. Cuddly dog. All encouraged the desire to remain in bed. Well maybe not the dog breath.
And certainly not that persistent annoying dream. Throwing back the covers revealed the pajama clad form buried underneath. A mild shiver cascaded across her body as the brisk morning air touched her exposed skin. After embracing or was it accepting the temperature, she reached down and scratched her dog’s ears. The only response she got was a mild tail thump and a yawn before her dog went back to sleep.
“Lucky fur ball” She smiled affectionately. Gabbing her phone she stumbled into the bathroom to grab her toothbrush. She still wasn’t convinced she like the “U” shape whole mouth system but she was determined to try it for the month.
At least it freed up her hands. Which quickly started to search the internet. ~psychiatrist specialty dreams~ seemed like a good starter keyword search. Flicking though the listings and reviews until one caught her eye. So she quickly made an appointment.
The new toothbrush finished its cycle. She quickly cleaned it off and put the thing back in case. Only to turn and see her dog laying in the hall watching her.
She just shook her head ruefully. “I guess that old joke about dogs is true.” She took one last look at her phone before closing the website since she had confirmed her appointment for that afternoon.
“Maybe now I can figure out why I have had the same dream about a forest and wolves for the last two weeks”.
Her day had slipped by in a blink. She knew she had worked on several accounts and sat through meetings. Ask her now though and she couldn’t remember any of the details. Slipping between various other people in various other business attire she found her self thinking about how she had ended up here.
She had a good job as an account in a good firm. Supportive and caring parents who never ventured into pushy or tyrannical. The question of how she had gotten to this point in her like never bothered her just could things haven been different. That was usually the indicator it was time to take a vacation.
This time though she found herself instead of talking to her boss, She was a dozen blocks from her office turning into another office building. A short elevator ride found her in a classic hall with labeled offices. Inside wasn’t much different than she would have imagined. A few
decorative pictures and planets.
The secretary looked up with a pleasant smile. A little older than she would expect. Although most of her firm’s secretaries were interns trying to get experience and connections. She was a little curious about this woman’s story. Although just as rapidly, she figured it would be one of those stories she would never hear. Such was life.
“I have an appointment.” She stated. Working with numbers had always given her a sense of being definitive.
The pair of them quickly confirmed her details and she was lead back to the office area. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, dearie.”
She had finally started to pick up hints of a carefully concealed southern accent, another little detail she mindless ignored. turning to meet the doctors eyes. She smiled a little. “Hello.”
“Hello.” the doctor repeated. He waved at a matching armchair across a small coffee table from his own. “Have a seat when you’re comfortable.”
She found that a little curious. Giving the patient time to get comfortable. Apart of her mind wondered what had caused him to develop that behavior. She took a moment to look around. The office was much like she had expected from movies and her friends descriptions. With the notable expectation of where the doctor’s credentials where so was the secretary’s. A registered nurse. As well as someone with an IT degree.
Eventually dismissing the oddities she sat down. The doctor had been silent until she was comfortable. “Your intake mentioned dreams. Tell me about them”
Appreciating the doctor’s directness. She began to go over what she remembered. “They’re every night. There’s always a forest. I’m not sure which one though. Sometimes it feels like the redwood forests. Some times it feels like the forests upstate. Its always spring. I’m always naked but that doesn’t bother me.”
She hesitated. “Sometimes I’m a wolf.”
The doctor sighed heavily. “Well the simple answer is your a werewolf.”
She snorted. “Oh is that all? And you can tell that from abbreviated story?”
The doctor set his pen and clipboard aside. “Well it’s my specialty. Among other things.”
The tension between them held for a long moment before She huffed softly, thinking this was probably a bad idea but for now she would indulge him. Mostly because she had already paid for the hour. “So I am crazy and think ill turn into a monstrous beast on the full moon. Running amok, ut in fact will probably just embarrass myself over a under cooked steak?”
“We haven’t used the term ‘Crazy’ professionally for decades. That being said, no I do not mean the mental illness of lycanthropy. I mean an actual werewolf. Once you learn to control the transformation
that is. Which by the way it isn’t tied to the full moon. Never was.” The doctor explained slowly.
This time she out right laughed dismissively. “Wow, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You sure you shouldn’t be in this chair.?”
She watched him. As he sat there calmly barely moving. A simple raised eyebrow as she insulted him. His fingers steepled. Simply listening. Unable to take it any more she stood up and started to pace, almost like a caged animal even though the door was open. “Ok fine. Lets say I believe you for just a moment. Although I have no idea why I should. I have no bite marks. What was I injected with the curse? And what am I supposed to do? Live a normal life but tel my boss I am a pagan witch now and need the full moon off for some dumb ritual?”
“It isn’t a curse.” the doctor countered. “It has never been able to be transmitted via bite. One can be born a werewolf or youcan come across a werewolf and your subconcious or soul can sense something it needs. Then the powers transfer over.”
He reached over and took a sip of water. “As for what you do. Yes you could keep up your normal life but you will be watched heavily by the others. Even once they are sure you aren’t a threat. Or, you can accept the job offer that will be coming your way shortly. The werewolves are part of a conglomerate
that has a very diverse holding package and can assist you. That of your last option. Continue to think I am crazy, Go home and tell yourself you want noting to do with what I am offering. And after the full moon you will wake up normal and think it was all bad sushi or some other plausible explanation.”
Pausing in her pacing, she raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. “You certainly know a lot about this ‘World’ you say I am part of now.”
He softly shrugged his shoulders. “I should I was born into it.”
Stopping her pacing to stare at him intently still sounding incredulous. “Then show me. If you say the moon holds no way and you were born to this world.”
“Nope…”He aid softly. “It doesn’t work like that. You cant be dragged into this world. Your subconcious already senses a connection. To force it would be to sever that connection. You have to choose to want this. To take that first step across the threshold into a new world.”
She collapsed into the couch. Of course he didn’t break. Thinking about what he said for a long moment. Something inside said this was right. Deep places she didn’t look at often. “Fine I’m in.”
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