The Lycanthrope Club: What If...? Part III

This series, requested by Alex Garcia and others, explores alternate realities in the Lycanthrope Club universe. This is the second part of a story where Yvette is the first Pinebrook teenager to transform into a werewolf rather than Melinda.

Mr. Montague paused for a moment at Yvette's bedroom door. He gently - almost delicately - tapped its wooden surface.

            "Yvette?" he said, just loud enough that it might conceivably be heard on the other side.

            Around five seconds passed. There was no reply.

            "Yvette?" repeated Mr. Montague slightly louder, knocking slightly louder.

            Another five seconds passed and again, nothing happened.

            Mr. Montague's lips constricted into a tight frown. He reached down, gripped the doorknob and slowly twisted. The door tilted open with a soft click. Mr. Montague peered through the crack.

            Yvette's room was dim but not entirely dark, illuminated by the light of the full moon and streetlamps coming through the open window. Mr. Montague scanned the room and noticed a shape under the blankets of Yvette's bed. Though he could not discern much detail in the poor light it was about the size of his daughter. Satisfied, he whispered 'goodnight' in French before shutting the door.

            Had he been more observant, he might have noted that the shadows behind the bed and below the window were much darker than they had any right to be.

            Yvette breathed a long, loud sigh of relief, her massive, furry chest heaving like bellows. She rose from her positioned flattened against the carpet and attempted to stand. Upon rising, however, she felt immediately off-balance and fell. An irritated growl escaped her lips as her thick padded paws hit the floor. She froze; the resulting thump had been far louder than she had anticipated. Several seconds passed. She did not hear her father's footsteps returning.

            Grunting, she turned and awkwardly gripped the side of her bed, using it as leverage to lift herself up on two feet. As she rose her paws slipped off the blanket. She yelped and scrabbled frantically at the mattress, tearing the fabric. The blanket slid away, revealing a pile of clothing hastily molded into the outline of a person. Giving up, Yvette fell back on all fours with a sad whimper.

            This wasn't a dream. Yvette had read a little bit about lucid dreaming and one tended to wake up soon after realizing one was dreaming. To be fair, the experience had a very dreamlike - or rather, nightmarish - quality. Everything once familiar was strange, offensive or exaggerated. Smells were too strong, sounds were too loud and lights...

            ...Well, actually, she could see just fine. It wasn't exactly comforting.

            Worse, her formerly petite form had been inflated and warped into an enormous, ungainly mass of fur and beastly muscle. Her hands and feet had been replaced with thick padded paws tipped with blunt claws. She couldn't stand on two feet any longer; she'd devolved from biped to quadruped. And her face, her nose, her teeth...

            There was a mirror in the bathroom across the hall. Yvette shuddered and decided against it.

            Now what? Should she just...stay here? Wait until morning?

            No! She couldn't let her parents see her like this. They'd panic, call the police; maybe even attack her. And it was way too hot in here. She was boiling under her fur.

            But she couldn't leave. Could she sneak off? Where would she go?

            ...Why was she so hungry? She needed a snack.

            No! Her parents were in the living room, which was right next to the kitchen.

            Maybe she should just...reveal herself to them. They were her parents. They would help her.

            ...No! She needed to get out of here! Being in this tiny, smelly, cramped room was driving her mad!

            Yvette growled - a deep, low, rumbling growl, like distant thunder. Try as she would she couldn't maintain a cogent thought. Emotions, urges and instincts swirled around her mind like a maelstrom, drowning reason and logic. The only thing she could focus on for more than a few seconds was an intense longing to get outside. She looked up at her bedroom window and dismissed the idea. Even if she could remove the screen without making too much noise there was no way she could fit through the frame now.

             As she gazed up at the night sky her eyes drifted towards the full moon. A pleasant tingle ran through her body. Yvette padded a foot closer, sat on her haunches and stared at the white celestial sphere. She'd seen the full moon before, of course, but had never really noticed how beautiful it was. Silent, calm, serene and noble - like an ancient Greek priestess or muse of yore presiding over the firmament. Though her world had become a frightening nightmare the moon remained. The sight of it soothed her febrile mind, washing away uncertainty and fear.

            A warning impulse shot out from deep within her cerebral cortex, cutting through the haze. Yvette winced and averted her gaze like someone turning away from a sweet-smelling poison.

            The curse had transformed her body and now it was influencing her mind! True, it wasn't as horrific as the legends claimed - she certainly didn't feel like killing, maiming or eating anyone - but it was nonetheless alarming in the extreme.

            Damn it was hot in here! Even though it seemed like a terrible idea she had to get outside. Now. Focus on the task at hand. Don't ruminate or try to plan ahead. Just get through this.

            Yvette crept towards her bedroom door. Hesitating for a moment, she opened her now massive maw, gently gripped the doorknob with her front teeth and turned. Careful as she was she swore she heard the metal and wood strain as she awkwardly twisted the mechanism. The latch clicked. Yvette slowly pulled the door open then released it. She nudged the door fully open with her snout and walked out. She turned and once more clumsily gripped the knob in her mouth to shut the door behind her.

            Yvette hesitated again. The front door was out of the question since she'd have to pass through the living room. The garage door would make too much noise. Her best bet was to exit through her parent's bedroom to the backyard and surreptitiously pass through the gate leading to the street. She turned and made her way down the hallway. As she walked she could feel her fur brushing against both walls. She realized she'd grown so large she barely fit in the hallway. Shaking off this disconcerting datum she shouldered a half-open door open and entered her parents' bedroom. Their scent was particularly strong here, eliciting a variety of confusing feelings in Yvette. She padded over to the glass screen door leading to the backyard. It wasn't locked, but getting through it still proved a challenge. Eventually she forced it open by standing up, one paw pressed against the wall and the other wedged into the handle. The door suddenly slid open and hit the side frame with a loud crack. Yvette yelped and fell to all fours. At first she feared she'd broken the glass but a quick inspection confirmed the door was intact. Swallowing nervously, Yvette squeezed through the door stepped out onto her back patio.

            A gentle breeze passed through the yard as she emerged. The air felt surprisingly nice on her fur. Yvette turned and shut the door behind her using the same maneuver as before - this time far more cautiously so as not to alert her parents. She trotted around the backyard, passed the garbage and recycling bins, slipped through a wooden gate - which had fortunately been left slightly ajar - and onto her front yard.

            Wet grass pressed against the pads of her paws with every step. Yvette looked around uneasily, feeling immediately exposed. Any neighbor gazing out their window or any passing car could see her now. And given her tremendous size they would be unlikely to dismiss her as a stray dog or even a mundane wolf. Attention was the last thing she needed. Fortunately, being outdoors under the open sky was steadying her nerves a bit, making it easier to think.

            Yvette suddenly recalled there was a large forested area - a nature preserve, in fact - right next to her school. Granted it was several miles away but if she moved quickly and stuck to the shadows she could probably avoid any trouble.

            Her mind made up, Yvette scurried off into the night.

***

            Less than fifteen minutes later Yvette realized she was only a few blocks away from her school. Panting, she paused a moment to take in her surroundings. She was standing in a narrow paved alleyway flanked by the sides of homes and wooden fences. Sickly grass grew in thick clumps along the base of the fences. Dull orange and yellow house lamps and distant streetlights hung in the gloom like will o' wisps. It was pleasantly cool out - a far cry from her cramped little bedroom.

            As Yvette sat there, her nose twitched. She smelled cut grass, gasoline, car exhaust, mold, rotting garbage, pesticide, fertilizer, plastic, flowers, and many, many other smells she could not assign an origin. Curiosity overcame urgency. She started actively sniffing the air, mentally filtering through every aroma. Many of the fainter scents were in fact the lingering spoor of dinners from the surrounding homes. She smelled turkey, potatoes, milk, beef, butter, broccoli, bread, salt, sugar, vinegar...

            Yvette realized her mouth was literally watering. She briefly entertained sneaking into one of the houses to steal some food but quickly rejected the notion with a shudder. The fact she even considered doing such a thing meant either she was even hungrier than she realized or that her burgeoning lupine instincts were eroding her self-control. Then, another odor tickled her nostrils. Though not food, Yvette found it almost as enticing.

            Pine needles.

            Something deep and primal stirred in Yvette's confused heart as she breathed in the sharp, resinous aroma. It brought her to mind of her camping trip with Melinda and her family. She wondered if she could convince her parents to go back there one day...

            Yvette snorted and shook her head. She needed to keep moving.

            A small child gazing down from their second story bedroom window witnessed a massive wolf with ivory-white fur scurrying along the alleyway. By the time they'd called for their parents, it was long gone.

            Minutes later, Yvette emerged from the alley. Ahead of her across a two-lane street, the suburban landscape transitioned to a mixed forest - the nature preserve. The smell of pinecones, grass, petrichor, deer and other animals was stronger here. Her high school was a little further down the road to the left but that barely registered to her as she stared, almost lustfully, at the greenery. Yvette peered out from the shadows to the left and then the right. Seeing no oncoming headlights or late-night joggers, she darted across the pavement and dove into the woods.

            Relief and exhilaration filled her soul the instant her paws touched the forest floor. She simply ran for a time, ducking and weaving between trees, bushes and logs, tongue lolling from her mouth. She was vaguely aware these feelings weren't normal; that she shouldn't be feeling this happy frolicking out in the nature preserve in the middle of the night. But at this point she didn't care. For the moment, she was free.

            Time blurred. More and more lights went dark back in town. Yvette found herself standing in a small clearing somewhere deep in the preserve. She'd stopped running because she caught a glimpse at the full moon in the sky. This time Yvette did not avert her gaze. She stared up at the white orb as though hypnotized. Breathing softly, she slowly raised her head, shut her eyes, and howled - a resonant ululation that filled the night air. She howled again, this time almost a series of yowls than a single long cry.

            Yvette lowered her head and opened her eyes. She blinked in confusion as though awakening from a stupor. She realized what she had just done and cringed with embarrassment. She opened her mouth to say 'I can't believe I just did that.' But when she spoke, only an odd series of grunts and whines escaped her mouth. She massaged her throat and tried to speak again but simply could not form the phonemes she once could. It was a bizarre and extremely disconcerting experience.

            Of course. She was a wolf. Wolves couldn't talk.

            This realization coupled with the shame she'd experienced after howling sobered her considerably. She looked around the forest, ears flattened, suddenly feeling scared and alone. What if this was permanent? Would she spend the rest of her life out here, trapped in the body of a wild animal? Could she reverse the curse? Would her parents accept her if she returned? How would they even communicate? What if they just called the police or animal control? She'd be captured and locked in a cage forever. What had she done to-

            Her stomach growled.

            Yvette grimaced. She needed some food and needed it now.

            She sniffed the air again. Maybe she ran back to town she could snatch some chips from a vending machine or...or a 24-hour gas station. Hell, maybe she could rummage through some garbage can near a fast food restaurant...like an animal.

            A tear tricked down her eye.

            A soft breeze passed through the forest. Branches, grass and leaves swayed gently in its wake. The zephyr carried a few new scents, including one that immediately grabbed Yvette's attention.

            Blood.

            Not just blood. Flesh. Fat. Bone. Meat. Fear.

            A deer.

            Yvette looked up intently. All traces of sorrow vanished from her furry face. She looked back at the direction the breeze had originated, instinctively understanding the source was upwind. She turned and scampered towards it.

            The odor got stronger. She also started smelling something else - a musky, earthy scent that sort of reminded her of the smell of wet dogs. She'd always hated that particular smell. As Yvette ventured deeper and deeper her keen eyes caught a flash of movement through the shadowy foliage. She slowed down and crouched low. Up ahead she spied four...no, five moving shapes. She heard soft visceral sounds - skin tearing, bones cracking - punctuated by the occasional growl. The smell of blood was particularly strong now. She absently licked her chops. Yvette took a few tentative steps closer and peered through a low hanging branch.

            Before her was a scene right out of a wildlife documentary. A pack of wolves - yes, definitely wolves, not dogs - were clustered around a freshly killed buck. One of the wolves was worrying at the creature's neck, its muzzle slick with blood. Every so often one of the other wolves would approach the corpse, whereupon the first wolf would bear its teeth with a menacing growl. Sometimes it would snap at them. They'd usually back away but kept close by, impatiently waiting for the first wolf to eat its fill.

            Ordinarily a sight like this would have horrified Yvette. And indeed she felt no small trepidation staring at the brutal tableau. She'd never liked dogs - let alone wolves - and was almost a vegetarian, consuming meat perhaps once a week at most. But the longer she watched the less anxious she felt. It was, after all, nature's way. The wolves could hardly be blamed for eating to survive.

            The wind shifted. First one, then two of the wolves suddenly looked up directly at Yvette, their pointed ears erect. The other three looked up. Their eyes were faint yellow dots in the moonlight.

            Yvette felt a chill wash over her. She slowly began to back away. Then, she caught a whiff of the deer again - its tangy, salty, succulent, savory flesh.

            Her vision went red.

            Yvette bounded into the clearing with an inhuman snarl. The other wolves leapt back, yelping and growling. The first wolf held its ground and snapped at her as he had the others but Yvette simply rammed into it, sending the creature sprawling to the dirt. It thrashed around the ground for a bit before scrambling to its feet. By then Yvette was standing over the corpse, growling. Although each wolf was nearly as massive as an adult human she dwarfed them in size and weight.

            Slowly, one-by-one, the wolves retreated, keeping their eyes fixed on Yvette. Even the first wolf eventually backed away, whining unhappily. The pack did not actually leave the clearing but maintained a healthy distance from her and waited.

            The crimson mist faded from Yvette's mind. She looked down at the deer and then up at the wolves. She started shaking. Revulsion filled her soul. Fighting back the urge to vomit she took a step back. The wolves, sensing weakness, inched closer but Yvette growled at them again, albeit with less enthusiasm. It was still sufficient to hold them at bay.

            She needed to get out of here. She needed to run back home and beg her parents for help. Even if they just threw her in a cage at least she wouldn't wind up devolving into an animal.

            Yvette looked over at the wolves again and noticed the first one had started approaching her. Now too dejected to muster even a weak growl she simply watched him. The wolf stopped and looked at her quizzically. Yvette waited, half-expecting the beast to lunge at her to take back the deer she'd stolen. Hungry as she was, she didn't even want it any more. Then, she gazed directly into its piercing yellow eyes.

            Later on Yvette would not be able to articulate exactly what occurred. There were no words in English - or possibly any other human language - capable of accurately describing what she experienced. One could say she felt an 'empathic connection' with the wolf but the term was too fanciful yet simultaneously too simplistic to explain what happened. She did communicate with it in a fashion but there was far more to it. She swore she projected herself - or something else - onto the wolves when they 'spoke,' changing them in a subtle but fundamental way. And they spoke not using words or concepts but emotions and actions.

            The first accepted her. Deference.

            The others accepted her. Greater deference.

            Yvette swallowed nervously and then chuckled. Why not? As though the night could get any weirder.

            She...indicated that she accepted them. Dominance.

            The wolves stared at her expectedly. She realized they were waiting for her to eat. The leader/parent ate first. The others consumed what remained.

            With a resigned sigh Yvette looked down at the bloody corpse that was to be her meal. Her gaze met the lifeless black eye of the deer staring accusingly up at her. Her lips tightened. She hesitated for another second or so before simply diving in with an anguished snarl. An electric tingle ran down her tongue as she tasted blood. She didn't remember much after that beyond a frantic, euphoric sense of fullness. By the time she was done there was very little left of the deer.

            Yvette awkwardly wiped her mouth with a paw. Though a part of her was still disgusted by what she had done it had also been one of the best meals she'd ever eaten. The experience brought her to mind of pigging out on a giant chocolate cake - delicious and incredibly satisfying but it left you feeling a bit embarrassed and bloated. She looked up at the wolves. Though their expressions hadn't changed she did sense a degree of...sadness. Disappointment, perhaps a tinge of anger.

            She realized she'd eaten so much there was little left for them.

            Feeling guilty, she wondered how she could make it up to them. She had, after all, basically stolen their kill. Maybe she could...go get them some jerky from a gas store?

            No. There was an easier - and safer - way.

            She began sniffing the air downwind of the corpse, searching for another deer. Soon enough she scampered into the darkness, closely followed by the pack.