Transcendence (Book 2)

Chapter 4

Eyes more wonderful than evening.
With the new moon on the hill,
Mouth with traces of God's humor
In its corners lurking still.

Bliss William Carman

It feels as if things are moving in slow motion as I stare helplessly in horror at the large German Shepard that leaps towards me,

I've never been a dog person. Within good reason too. They're just too big, too hairy, too aggressive, too toothy, too- Just too much.

I've always preferred cats, you never read a newspaper headline about someone getting attacked by their neighbour's tabby.

I lift my arms in a protective stance to shield my face, which is I see now is no use as the dog hurls its heavy body onto mine, knocking me down onto the ground and panting heavily in my face.

I start to think about all the bad I've done in my very short, very unremarkable life. I cheated on a math test in 9th grade, I catfished my crush on Club Penguin when I was 10... well he didn't reply, and I deleted the account minutes after creating it, but still it was pretty shitty of me. I even once literally took candy from a baby. But I'm not a terrible person, I definitely don't deserve to get mauled to death by a rabid dog.

As its snout descends closer to my face I wonder if it's going to rip off my face or lick it. Neither sound very pleasant, so I try negotiating to whoever's listening at this point

Dear God, or whoever has the power to listen in on my thoughts right now, if you can somehow stop this dog from tearing into my neck I will try to be a better person, I'll give more to charity, Ill even stop swearing so much. Just please please don't-

My thoughts are interrupted by two male voices calling out for somebody called ''Cody." The dog seems to have heard it too, I watch in relief as his head perks up and he disengages himself from my body and begins trotting off, probably in search of the voices.

Holy fuck, it worked.

I prop myself up into a sitting position and stare at the dog's retreating form.

Then two familiar russet skinned boys appear from the same direction the dog is trotting, looking very flustered and very shirtless. And very, very ripped.

The dog jumps onto one of the boys, who catches in his arms with ease.

I see them looking around the field, the equally ripped boy on the left nudging his friend and pointing in my general direction when he spots me laying on the ground.

Amiyah!" The boy shouts and jogs towards me with a large grin on his face.

Hold up, do I know muscle man?

As he gets closure I recognise the boy as Paul. Paul, who's hair has been cropped even shorter and who looks to have gained biceps that could crush a watermelon.

So, I suppose he's a shifter now.

"Amiyah?" Paul says once he's reached me, I'm struggling to get myself up, so he lends me hand and effortlessly pulls me up.

"Heyy Paul." I say awkwardly.

.

"What are you doing La Push?" He asks curiously.

"I live here." I say unequivocally.

"No shit." He huffs out, surprise evident on his face.

"Yeah, I actually just moved." I say, shuffling around on my feet.

"I haven't seen you around in lately." He lets me know, his eyes trained solely on mine, like he's trying to intimidate me.

"Yeah, I had some family stuff to sort out." I clear my throat uncomfortably when some unwanted thoughts start slithering into my head.