Loping Along Through the Moonlight (Flash Fiction Friday Just Very Late Indeed)
Loping along through the moonlight, I felt strong and powerful and filled with the pleasure of speed. The trees hung around me like ribbons of darkness cut into the night and the moon flashed through them, winking and laughing in our chase. The night was cooler than it had been for many weeks and a mist clung to the ground, chilling my face and leaving droplets in my hair so that I glittered with light. I ran for the joy of running, not hunting, not hunted. Just alive.
I came to a clearing where the trees and bushes hung back politely. Here the moon shone clearly, the light doubled by the small pool which reflected the moon’s roundness. Thirsty after my long run, I crept up the pool, my tongue hanging out. Slowly I put my head to the water and then leapt back in horror at the beast lurking there. Circling the pool I whined in terror and I felt all four of my limbs tense as I prepared to run if the beast should leap.
Four limbs? I tried to place a hand over my pounding heart and found I could not. I slunk up to the pool again and peeped over the edge. A terrified beast face peered back at me. The beast was me. It has always been me.
I looked at the moon. It was no longer winking at me but staring balefully, cruelly. I threw back my head and howled at it, clawing the sky as if I could rend the heavens and bring the taunting moon crashing to the earth. It shone on. I ran, hunted now, and hunting.
Wow!
The beast was me. It has always been me.
Always is.
Is there a full moon? Lots of warewolves running around here this weekend.
Good portrayal in such a short story.
Ooo, I did a werewolf story, myself. Nicely done, Stuntmomma