Moonrises have passed as Everett and I have travelled. The days and the nights are getting colder, and recently the ground has started to become laden with frost and coated in a light layer of snow. We've passed through a few other packs to gather information on the Axinla pack. Not much is known, though I have confirmed that they are somewhere cold. One pack was able to point us in the general direction, and I managed to traded them for some boots, a thicker cloak, and a flask.

Everett stomps around the snow enjoying the crunch under his feet, and bounding ahead to scooping up snow in is hands. He runs over to me and shows me his fingers. With his left hand, he points to his right saying, "Hand iz cold!"

"Snow is like that Ev. If you don't want to be cold, don't touch the snow." I smile down at him and taking the side of my cloak I wipe his fingers off. That must have been the fifteenth time I had to do that this afternoon.

In truth, I can understand why Everett was fascinated with how it melted and shimmered from the moment he saw it. I always thought it was neat, until I was told to go fetch water from the stream. However, it wasn't all bad, for when ice formed on the trees, and shined in the sun, now that was a sight to behold.

"Stop your fidgeting, and playing pretend with those vision Opalescence. We need some water and if you go now you might be back before the storm starts."

As my mother's scolding voice appears, I can picture my sister's face. She thought I didn't see the pitying looks she threw at me, but I could feel them. Her gaze always found me when our mother was telling me off. She pitied me for my disobedience, but I pitied her for her unwillingness to stand up. But as I look back on it, life is easier if you learn mindlessly. If you learn what they want you to do and how they want you to act.

When we were younger we were close. Before the visions plagued me at one hundred and four moon cycles, she used to tell me stories when our mothers back was turned. It all stopped when she shifted. The moment gained her wolf she was whisked away to further her knowledge of etiquette and decorum.

She was never the same afterwards, but who is after the things we were taught. Not long after I joined her. My mother thought it would help snap me out of my 'daydreams'.

The lessons only fuelled my will. I was rebellious, and they didn't like that. I was different, and that wasn't good. I challenged social normalities and that was dangerous. They wanted to break that out of me, train me to be like every other female.

Lily huffs in my mind, resting her head on her paws. Feelings of annoyance flicker between us. She wasn't there at the beginning, but through my memories she understands. Not to mention what we faced together. She is strong. She refused to bow down. We don't bow for the sake of pleasing others and fitting in, but for the respect that has been earned. No one has earned it.

I kick a small rock off the path, the satisfaction of disobedience slowly wearing off. I missed having a pack. Maybe not that pack, but certainly a pack. Lily wasn't meant to be alone, her social nature is ingrained within her. It's not something she could control, just a factor of her nature—our nature.

A warning flashes within my mind, breaching the memories. A small chuffing and some what sounds like grumbling meets my ears as we draw closer.

Looking around, everything is a mixture of mucky greens, giving way to the piles of white and frost. A blanket of snow coats nature all around. My cloak drags along the ground, helping conceal our footprints. The sound I just heard isn't matching with any memory I can recall.

Everett points to the side, and claps while squealing. "What is it?"

It takes me a moment to spot it, but soon enough I see a pair of small black eyes, and a large black nose within the bushes. It reminds me of the honey bears I used to see, but those were brown and black. "I think that's a spirit bear. Though from what I've heard they should bigger."

A kind of hissing sounds, and then a loud growl. Everett jumps, hiding behind my leg as I freeze. Turning to the side, see a larger version of the cubs. The large bear's ears are laid back, and she drops from her hand legs onto all fours. Those large claws grip the earth powerfully and Lily howl's within.

"Everett. We need to be quiet. Back away." I out my arm in from if Everett and slowly push him backwards. One step after another.

Everett falls and the spirit bear rushes at us. Her cub lets out this cooing sound. Hauling Everett to his feet, I pull him and together we stumble further. Unfortunately as we run, we move closer to the cub, which only serves to anger the mother further.

Pushing Everett forward, I skid to the left. A deep growl rumbles in my throat as Lily appears. I gasp as my fingers cracks and a partial shift takes over. The adrenaline is rushing, my nails are now claws, and my eyes are probably glowing. The spirit bear turns, and I don't know what to do next.

The bear approaches, her claws crunching softly in the layer of snow.

I see Everett crawling out of the bushes, and he stands up staring wide eyed at me. I try and send him a reassuring look, however another cuts me off. As I keep moving back, I peer at Everett motioning for him to run. His eyes are wide, and as he stares in my direction, he collapses. His form twitches, and a half scream, half cry escapes his throat. Lily demands me, pushing me to go to Everett. My instincts whisper, two clashing thoughts.

Rearing up, to stand on her hind legs, she crashes down onto all fours. Head moving from side to side, the growls emitted are harsh. I step away slowly, keeping my eyes trained on her. Lily is very present as she shares the control over my actions. If it comes down to it, she has a better chance. Not a great chance, but a better one. The thought of shifting crosses my mind, but that may anger the spirit bear even more.

A big paw swings from the side and a hot, searing pain irrupts in my arm. Clutching it with the other hand, I fall backwards. Struggling to my feet, a grunt escapes me, though I can feel the sharp tingles of it starting to heal. Blood pours down, soaking the snow, staining my hands a deep red.

A cry from the bushes. Everett is staring at the scene with horror, complete and utter panic written across his face. No I don't suppose this looked good. A large bear towering over me as everything is turning dark red.

Her other claw comes swinging down to strike. I scurry backwards, bringing my own claws down.

We both come to a stand still.

Stilling, I stand tall and let go of my arm. Holding out my claws ready for the next move, our eyes meet. Neither of us want to be killed, both of us have a youngling in the vicinity. Our eyes meet, and something passes. The spirit bear gives one more low growl before turning, making her way back. Her cub is still actively calling, and I wait before bounding over to Everett.

He is frozen, unresponsive to my calling. My hands are soaked, and I wipe them in the snow which only serves to water it down, dripping onto the ground. Getting them as clean as I can before taking him into my arms. I start to make distance, as spasms ripple through his body.

Everett's fingers twitch, and shake, and he grows cold in my arms. His whimpers etching themselves into my mind, the blood draining from his skin. Instead of it's sunkissed colour, it now matching my pallor-like complexion.

Shaking him softly I try and get his attention, but I can't tell if he can even hear me.

He's shifting.

I've never seen a shift happen quite like this. Sometimes Alphas or Betas will get their pups to shift early, though the stories are not all sunshine and daisies. Some of the tales are true nightmares—shifts gone wrong. It's not supposed to happen like this, it's a last resort.

One hundred and fifty moons cycles is the ideal age. Though it seems to be thought the sooner you shift, the stronger you will be. Everett is about fifty moon cycles, he's way too young.

I throw down my cloak, and lay Everett on it. He grasps my hand, squeezing it as hard as he can.

"I hurt Red. I hurt." His words give way to heaving sobs.

Rubbing his hand, and pushing his hair back I murmur, "I know my inkaer. I know. It will be over soon." I know that's a lie. A bitter lie, but not much comfort would come from telling him it could be hours. Long, painful hours.

"The shift has started! Nya'dein, send word to your father. Opal, fetch some water."

Water.

The snow beneath him starts to melt, and sweat starts to form along his forehead. Dabbing at it I mark the first stage. His ghostly pale cheeks flush with sudden warmth. All shifts start with a temperature rise. I move cold snow to replace the now melted puddles beneath him.

I unfasten his cloak, and throw it to the side.

"Keep him cool." My mother's voice whispers harshly. "If anything goes wrong with your brothers shift, your father will not be happy." Her face is twisted into a scowl as she wipes Seliek's forehead, lying a damp cloth across his chest.

A sharp crack resounds, and I watch as Everett's fingers bend at awkward angles. One finger after another, slowly, and painfully crack one by one. Then another crack, and he starts to kick his feet. Pinning them down, I pull off his shoes, setting them aside.

"I HURT!" His cries cut into me, but there's nothing I can do. Lily paces in silent agony, but she seems to understand the need to stay calm.

"Be strong, Everett. I know you hurt, but it will be okay." If he didn't make it through this—my wolf whimpers and my heart breaks at the thought, he has to make it. I would fight the moon if it meant saving him. I look down at the small pup. It would be cruel to take him, but the moon does as she pleases.

Lua Lupa runs on her own time. Never anyone else's. Unpredictable.

Patches on fur start to appear on his skin, the hairs pushing out from underneath. Blotchy, thin patches of beautiful browns and greys. He tries to claw at his arms and legs, but I hold them back. The fur coming through itches, it burns, but if I don't he could scratch and scratch and cause harm to himself.

"Help. Red. Help, my mouth hurt."

"I'm sorry my inkaer. It will be over soon." Digging into the pack, I pull out a strip of cloth. Balling it up, I hold it to Everett. "Bit on it, Ev."

I can see the red spreading over the white cloth. We could be here until the sun rose again, or until the stars come out.

His bones creak, verging on breaking again, but hovering on the edge. The shift teeters on a mountain point, waiting to crash down. Everything is building up, the intensity growing. Lily can feel it, almost a shimmer in the air, a waver.

Between pants, and tears, Everett curls up. Bringing his knees to his chest, trying to cocoon himself from the pain. I want to pull him to me, stop his pain, but my wolf won't let me. She knows, and she reminds me he needs to bond with his wolf. He needs to break the barrier alone.

Time has gone by, and yet Everett still hasn't given way to fur. The amount of snow is scarce, and I have to go further and further. The melted snow is pooling beneath him, but he just keeps burning through it. More and more fur slowly, painstakingly, comes through.

The small crystals start to float to the ground—little snowflakes dancing in the wind. As they start to fall, Everett goes white, and still. He seems to be looking right through me, into a space I cannot see. The look is so distance, so far away from the present, like he is anywhere but here.

A shudder runs through me.

Kneeling by him I close my eyes. Lily and I wait in heavy anticipation. My nerves start to crawl, a shadow of doom looming in front of me. The shadows only deepen as I wait, thinking of possible outcomes.

Everett isn't out of the danger zone, not by a long shot.

A fleeting feeling of lightness dances upon me, and a wave of cold engulfs my consciousness. I'm pulled into a sense of serenity. It is rare for it to happen like this.

I see a boy sitting—Everett, and a wolf. A small fluff ball of a thing is pacing across what seems like an invisible line. The whines and whimpers as the pup tries to gain Everetts attention. Everett however just sits, a nervous look across his face.

Gliding over, a pain shoots up my leg. It almost buckles, but I keep moving forwards; all things come with a cost.

I rest a hand on Everett's shoulder. Looking down I nod. "Go my inkaer. Go and break the barrier."

What happens next, I couldn't say.

The feeling of falling down an endless hole, and then I'm back. Kneeling on the ground, the winds swept off bits of snow, throwing it around.

A wave seems to pass over Everett, and I watch his eyes snap open. The green colour of his eyes is only accentuated by the honey coloured ring around it.

His wolf is finally present.

His bones twist and turn, breaks and healing at remarkable rates. They start to readjust, knitting together to create a new form. The fur irrupts, coating him in an ashy-brown pelt. Everything seems to speed up as the last few changes occur. A tail sprouts, his fingers turn into claws, his mouth elongates, and his fangs finally appear, peeking through his pink gums. His ears grow, turning into soft delicate points, and his gaze sharpens.

The familiar itch rises, and I set my clothing to the side, letting my skin shed and give way to the fur beneath. I nudge the pile of clothing, revealing a pup. Licking his fur, I watch for his eyes to flutter open. A twitch of the leg, and Lily pounces feverishly, pinning the paw down to lap at it.

One ear swivels, and then the other. Stepping back, we sit on my haunches waiting. A small whining growl has us peering down eagerly. The pup lifts his head and slowly, rather awkwardly tries to coordinate his paws. Everett blinks a few times before looking around. Testing one paw, he lifts it up, bringing it closer to himself. Sniffing it, he does the same with the other front paw. Then he proceeds to tap each hind leg, trying out the new muscles. Lifting his black nose to the air he focuses on me.

Slowly, I rub my head against his sides. Licking him, brushing his fur in all directions I imprint his scent into my memory. Ingraining it so I'll always recognize it. His wolf will probably do the same at some point.

I flick my tail from side to side, letting Everett chase it. The action helps develop his coordination. Once in a while I tease him, by brushing it against his side. His paws bat at it, as he tumbles around. The snow that lands on my melts, and the water droplets run off my fur, as the oily coat keeps me insulated. Tilting my head, a thought comes to mind.

Reaching into a section of my mind that I had sealed off completely, I approach it slowly. Wondering to the area of intertwining ribbons—we that's what it looks like to me. The center is pretty empty, all the strands around it frayed or cut. Focusing on Everett I extend my mind, throwing my senses out onto a different level. Sending out wave after wave of energy I search for his signal.

Hitting something, I pull it towards me. A light red, almost a pink shaded ribbon drifts forward. I bring it into my circle, intertwining my own string with it.

A double vision of the mind field as well as the outside overlay. I see Everett frozen, a look of confusion on his face. I send a wave of reassurance towards him, as I work on solidifying the bond between the two. Eventually they start to merge, the silky smooth ribbon bleeding into my well worn string.

Lily stares adoringly at our charge, every instinct our body telling us to protect him. Whispering to keep him safe until he is ready to go out alone.

We will care for him, until he no longer needs us. We will protect him, until his claws are sharp enough to defend himself. We will fight for him, until he can fight his own battles.

I will do what I wish was done for me. He will not be sheltered, but he will not grow up ignorant either. The world is harsh, and he must learn that. But I will not deprive him of a childhood either.

Before I leave, I will teach him to hunt, he will know the basic necessities to survive. I will not leave him without that knowledge. Male and female shifters will be equal in his eyes. I refuse to bring up a child the way my pack did.

The world holds a bias, and I felt its full force.

A tingling sensation fills my skull. The ribbons start to settle into place, and something just snaps. A doorway seems to open.