Out on the empty field, the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair is amazing. Times like these are what make me feel alive.
Alex nudges me, and I realise that I hadn't heard anything that Mr Harris has said.
"Now go!" Mr Harris commands, and Alex brings his wrist to his mouth and transforms, and I decide to follow suit.
'What are we doing?' I ask Alex.
'Don't you ever pay attention?' he replies in a humorous tone.
'Nope, so, can you please tell me?' I run after the black figure in front of me, catching up quickly.
'Nah.'
'Why not?'
'Because I need to concentrate.' He quickens his pace and I hear his grin, 'Just follow me, and you'll be fine.'
'If you need to concentrate, don't I?' I question.
He doesn't respond.
'I really think you should explain it to me-', I feel his wall go up, and my words can't get through. I try to push through it lightly, but it doesn't work out.
I follow him, silently questioning what will happen.
'Violet. Now!', as I run, I suddenly hear Mr Harris.
'Huh? What's going on?'
'Attack him, now!'
Why am I supposed to fight Alex? That doesn't make sense, but okay. I see that Alex has already stopped, having sensed the mind connection, but not quite being able to hear it.
I jump, and land on top of him, and bring my teeth towards his neck. However, he was ready for it, and he tries to tackle me. A bite to the neck is the only way to get another wolf to transform, but as soon as they can get their wrist back up to their mouth, they can transform again. If you want someone to transform into their wolf, you just have to pressure them, as there is no known way to force it.
He manages to flip me over, and I bear my teeth at him and growl. He flinches, and I push my head onto his jaw, making him jump, his pressure off of me for a second, so I push just a bit harder and manage to throw him off enough to stand up.
However, just as I get to my feet, he pounces on me, this time. I try to shake him off, but his size and strength are too strong compared to my own. I feel his breath on my neck, and the teeth go in.
I laugh as I transform, although slightly annoyed that I lost. I shove Alex away, and he transforms.
"That was predictable." We both jump as we hear our teacher's voice as he walks out from between the trees.
"What do you mean?" I question.
"The results of that conflict", Mr Harris responds, "Violet, you losing to Alex, even though you had the upper hand by being the attacker."
"That's unfair!" I exclaim, "Alex has more training than me in fighting!" Father had never let me train to protect myself.
"Even so, it's the truth." Mr Harris responds, "And Violet, your body isn't built for a fight. You're too small, and your limbs don't have enough muscle on them."
"If I worked on it..."
"No, Violet, you won't ever be successful in fighting as someone like Alex, who has been training his whole life, and is on the bigger side."
Black wolf genetics always were bigger on average, the same with white wolves. I, a grey wolf, definitely did not have the advantage on that factor.
"But, you're about to tell us what she does have the advantage of." The strangely perceptive Alex says, coming over and patting me on the back.
"Correct, Alex. In a fight, Violet, the best thing for you to do, is run. As fast as you can." Mr Harris comments.
"But Alex has Beta blood and how often do you find a rogue like that?" I ask.
"And how often do you think there'd only be one of them?" he asks back.
"If I was trained, I could fight," I argue.
"Vi. Some people aren't built for that. Like you." Alex responds.
"Well, I'm of Alpha blood, surely that has to count for something", I ask.
"It just isn't enough." Mr Harris responds.
"If I was taught how to, I could!" I exclaim.
"Well, in class right now, that is irrelevant. However, what is relevant is that we need to reverse your roles and go. Vi, you have to do what Alex did", Mr Harris says, then continues, "Except, don't just stop randomly."
Alex looks down at the ground, shameful of his mistake, and I grin. I yell, "Catch me if you can!" And then pull up the sleeve of my shirt, and bite into my wrist.
I begin to run, at a sustainable speed, rather than the faster pace I do whilst playing chase.
After a while, I hear Alex's voice in my head, 'Vi. Why don't you just stop?' He sounds hopeful.
'Nah.' I quicken my pace ever so slightly, panting slightly as I do so, as we have been running for around half an hour.
I sense it before it happens. The light fuzz of another conversation, one that is not for my ears. I try to force my way into it, but I can't.
I begin to run faster, as I am not going to make it any easier for him. 'Come on, can't you run any faster?'
Just as I had hoped, he quickens his pace and replies, 'I can at least catch up to you.'
'Wanna bet?'
'No thanks, I don't approve of gambling.'
I make sure to keep a consistent pace, my paws digging slightly into the ground with every footstep, dust flying every time I take a step. I slow down for a few seconds and let him get a little bit closer, then, I begin to sprint faster than ever.
'Now you're just teasing me!', Alex whines.
'So?'
He grumbles, but none of it is comprehensible. 'Can't you just let me catch you.'
I look behind me, and inwardly grin, 'Nah.'
We play cat and mouse for a while, him never quite being able to catch me.
'Are you two done yet?' I hear Mr Harris's voice in my head.
'No.' Alex replies, grimly.
'And we never will be!' I comment.
'I'll catch you eventually!' He exclaims.
'She is correct, Alex. Now, the both of you, transform.'
I stop running, and look back at Alex, then transform into my human form. I stick my tongue out at the fur still stuck to my clothes.
"Why does fur have to shed so easily? After I transform it should all just disappear."
"How many times do I have to remind you, Violet? The fur that you shed isn't part of you, and so it doesn't disappear after transforming. It's the opposite thing when your clothes stick to your skin as a wolf. Well, the particles do. But you know all of this." Mr Harris does his classic thing of appearing out of nowhere.
"Still, it's so annoying. And kind of itchy." I scratch my arm, and Alex laughs at me. "What?"
"You're always so passionate about every little thing, Vi", he grins, "It's honestly ridiculous."
"Oh well."
"Anyway, do either of you want to explain the point of the exercise?" Mr Harris asks.
"To like, show us what we can do if we are attacked. Although, I'm surprised father approved of this lesson..." I say, speaking my thoughts aloud.
"Actually, Violet, this lesson was your father's idea. He wanted to teach you not to act rashly and think that you can fight your way out of every situation." Ahh, so that was it. My father doesn't just change his mind.
"Well, how was it fair that I fought against Alex..." I whine.
"You always have to expect your opponent to be hard so that you won't underestimate them." Mr Harris is always annoyingly correct...
"Anyway, you can leave for the day, children. Alex, remember to do the math work and practice your spelling, Violet. Maybe you two can help each other." Mr Harris walks off into the forest after he finishes for the day. I don't even know where he lives on the property and he's been our teacher for 11 years.
We begin to walk home, and unlike usual, Alex doesn't talk. His face is pale, his cheeks containing no colour, but his forehead hot and flushed looking.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine..."
We continue the walk home, Alex's feet dragging slightly on the ground.
"Are you sure don't need some help walking home?"
"No! Can't you ever just leave me alone." He snaps.
"Okay. I'm sorry." I'm taken aback. Alex is never like this.
We walk back in silence, until Alex speaks quietly, his eyes wet, "I'm sorry, I just have a bit of a headache."
"It's okay, Alex. We all get sick sometimes."
"It's not that. It's... Nevermind, it doesn't matter." For once, I decide not to pressure him. I can tell that he's going through a lot already.
When we reach the front step of his house, he staggers trying to get up it, and I take his arm over my shoulder.
"Mellisa!", I yell up the stairs, the noise making Alex groan, but I'm not strong enough to get him up to his bed.
"Oh, deary me!" Alex's mum appears, still wearing an apron. "Well, I'll get him up to bed. He'll be better soon, I'd say. You just run home now, I don't want you exciting him in this state."
I trail home, still wondering what is wrong with my best friend.
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Hey, my fabulous readers!
What do you think has happened to Alex? Is he sick, or is it something else?
Anyway, thank you so much for reading another one of my chapters, and please feel free to leave feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed the chapter, please consider leaving a vote, I'd really appreciate it. :)
Hope to see you in the next chapter!