Chapter Text
I was sitting at my desk, writing an ad for Voltrons Daily News. I was working on the history tabloid, something about how the myth of werewolves came to exist. A knock sounded on the front door. I slipped out of my room to answer it. Shiro was at the door talking to a delivery boy with brown hair and blue eyes. He looked at me and my breath caught, his smile sent my mind into “crush mode”, as Shiro calls it. I slipped into my thoughts, I thought of befriending that cutie.
“Keith.” Shiro’s voice barely reached my brain. “Keith, come on. Wake up.”
My eyes fluttered open. My laptop was open on my small, red desk and buzzed back to life, my homework lighting up the screen. My text book was open, papers coated the floor. I lifted my head off my desk, getting out of my black, leather office chair. Shiro was standing next to me, clearly concerned.
“Hey… Thanks for waking me up, I’m almost done with my essay. I’ll come down to eat when I finish.” I yawned.
“Keith. You should take a break, it’s not healthy to work all the time. Allura!” Shiro exclaimed.
“What is it? Is something wrong?” Allura asked as she came in.
“Yes. Help me convince the youngest brother that he needs to stop working himself to death.” Shiro explained.
“Keith…” Allura paused, “Shiro is right. I mean you need to take a break for more than eating and sleeping, we all do.”
“What?” Shiro and I asked in unison.
“I booked a vacation for us. We’re going to go camping in the forest.” Allura said.
“WHAT?!?!?” I yelled in shock.
“When?” asked Shiro.
“A camping trip in Marmoran Forest. Spring break.” Allura replied.
“How much did it cost?” Shiro asked
I watched them talk, my mouth agape. I haven’t been camping since the incident.
Several years ago, my adopted parents took Allura, Shiro, and I camping out of state. On the second night, I decided to step outside of the tent for a bit. It was the full moon, and I was seven. I was watching the sun set, when I felt a deep ache in my bones. I tried to cry out, but it hurt to move. I doubled over, gasping for breath, eyes tearing up. Fur sprouted up all over my body. The bones contorted, my mouth elongated into a muzzle, my hands and feet shifted into paws. After two excruciating minutes, the pain finally stopped, I looked around, my eyesight was better, and I could smell more than I thought possible, hear more than could possibly be normal. My clothes were lying in a ripped up pile. I walked over to a small puddle of water and looked at my face. I looked like a wolf, a very large wolf, sort of like a dire wolf. No, I was a dire wolf. I was about as tall as a small horse.
“Keith! Come inside, it’s getting cold.” my father called out.
I panicked, he couldn’t see me like this. I grabbed my clothes, and bolted into the forest, I heard my father call my name. I continued to run. Dawn was approaching, and I was lost. I wandered around, trying to find my way back. The sun started to rise, and I felt an ache in my bones. I tripped over some roots and fell into a stream, then I started to turn back. I scrambled to my feet, buck naked and soaking wet.
“You okay there?” a man asked. He had messy short brown hair, and brown eyes. "First transformation?"
"I think so? You mean into a wolf, right?" I replied.
“Yes that is what I mean. Here.” the man said, tossing a pair of shorts at me.
"Thanks. So um."
"You wanna know about the transformation?"
"Yes."
"Well, you will transform once every month. And when you get older you will start having ruts in the spring. Don't bite people, ever."
"What happens if I bite someone?"
"You'll cause them to turn."
"Oh."
"That should be enough to get you through, but you should go back to the campsites. Whoever you came with is probably looking for you."
"Yeah. Thanks for the info, and pants."
"Your welcome little pup. Now go."
The man ran off into the forest, and I started trekking East. A little while later, I arrived back at the campsite. I was met with Shiro wrapping his arms around me.
"Where were you? We were looking for you all night!" Shiro exclaimed.
"I thought I saw something, and ran after it. I kinda got lost." I replied.
“At least you’re okay. Let's get you cleaned up, and I’ll let Dad and Allura know you're okay.”
Shiro led me into the tent, and cleaned some cuts. He then stepped outside to give me a bit of privacy and called Dad. I quickly changed into a red shirt and faded black jeans, with a black jacket. I laid down on my sleeping bag, and sighed. How would I keep this a secret? What if they find out? Can I live a normal life? What if I bite someone? Am I going crazy? What should I do? Should I tell anyone? If so, who? What should I do?
“Keith?” Dad asked, entering the tent with Allura.
“Yeah?” I replied, sitting up.
“Where were you?” Allura asked.
“I got lost.” I replied.
“Why do you always get into trouble?” Dad wondered.
“Who knows?” I replied, half heartedly.
“You should get some sleep. You had a rough night.” Allura suggested.
“Yes, you should.” Dad agreed. “Sleep tight.”
He kissed my head, and left the room.
“See ya little bro.” Allura stated before leaving.
That morning I fell into an uneasy sleep.