Nara woke up to the sweet aroma of pancakes coming from the kitchen, pancakes were her favorite thing in the world, her mouth watering at the thought of those pancakes melting in her "hmmmm" she hummed as she quickly stood up from the bed and raced downstairs. And there it was the perfect pancakes, "morning" Nara said letting her cousin, Erin, notice her presence. "Hey, birthday girly! Happy birthday!" Erin said, flipping a pancake. "I hope these pancakes cheer you up, you seem a bit off lately." Nara had been restless and a bit on the edge for the past few days, and Erin noticed.
Nara smiled, appreciating Erin's concern. "Thanks, Erin. I guess being a teenager has its perks hahaha" she laughed softly.
Erin nodded understandingly. "Well, I'm here and we'll figure it out together, I mean why suffer when you have an almost adult teenager as a cousin" she said with a smirk.
After stuffing herself with more pancakes than she could eat, Nara went back to her room to get ready for school, she couldn't discard the fact that she wasn't exactly feeling great as thought she'd be on her 18th birthday, the too many questions, the changes in her body and more she wasn't sure if she was ready. She felt happy to be turning 18, but anxious about what the future would bring for her.
Standing in front of the mirror staring at her complexion she was startled by a rather beautiful and melodic voice "Hi Nara" the voice said to her.
After a minute of staring around the room, checking her door and even checking her to be sure she was really alone, still startled she summoned up some courage, picking up one pair of her stilettos "who are? Show yourself before I do something to you" she said swinging the stiletto in the air "don't be startled Nara" the voice said calmly "look in the mirror", Nara looked in the mirror and there she was, the very wolf Nara had drawn in her sketchbook, with her mouth wide open in shock Nara couldn't stop staring, "I know I'm stunning," the Akira said with a sly grin. "But maybe close your mouth before something flies in."Akira taunted "right ... .who are you? Or what are you?" Nara asked, still in disbelief.
"Hello Nara I am Akira your wolf" Akira replied, "wait what? I have a wolf?" Nara exclaimed, more shocked than ever. "Of course you have a wolf, well I think you should be somewhere else right now or don't you think so?" Akira replied, "oh my God, I am late for school!" Talk to you later Akira" Nara said hurriedly and rushed off to school.
At school, Nara sat on her desk arranging her books into her school bag when Lily walked up to her holding a small giftbox. "Happy birthday, Nara," Lily said, handing her the box. "I hope you like it."
Nara opened the box with excitement, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a tiny crystal pendant. She felt a surge of gratitude towards Lily, this made her want to tell everything that has been bothering her to Lily including what she saw in the art room the other day.
As class ended, Nara couldn't wait to get home so she could ask her grandpa about the medicine and also tell him about everything that had been happening to her. On getting home, she hurried to Grandpa's laboratory, eager to hear all about the medicine she had taken all her Life. But when she got to the laboratory, Grandpa was cold and distant, not the usual cold. This was something else.
"Hello grandpa" Nara said, "Later, Nara," he said, not even looking up from his work. "I'm busy."
Nara felt a pang of disappointment, she felt a pain in her chest that she couldn't describe. She had been looking forward to talking to Grandpa about the medicine and her strange powers. "He didn't even wish me a happy birthday," Nara complained as she fought back her tears while walking back to her room.
On her way back she passed by Erin's room and noticed she was busy chatting with her friends.
"Hey, cuz!" Erin said, waving at her. "I'll talk to you later, alright?"
Nara nodded and continued on her way. Who was going to listen to her now? Who would she talk to? she thought to herself and then she decided to visit Lily, the one person that always had time for her and would surely listen.
When she arrived at Lily's place, Lily welcomed her with a warm smile and a hug. She served her a glass of juice and some cookies. This made Nara feel comfortable and relaxed fueling her decision to tell Lily everything that had been happening to her, and that she did. She told Lily every detail, the dreams, the night she was in the woods and when she woke up naked, she told her about her heightened senses, and even grandpa's medicine.
Lily paid full attention to her, her eyes filled with compassion as she wondered what her friend must have gone through or probably still going through. When Nara finished talking, lily took a ring she had always worn on her finger and gave it to her "it must have been really hard going through all that alone, I can't even imagine what you must be feeling right now" she said "I want you to have this,it was given to me by my grandmother, it has always protected me and I hope it protects you too".
Nara felt relieved, grateful and puzzled at the same time "why was she not asking me anything about being a werewolf?" Nara thought to herself puzzled at the fact that Lily, a human, didn't react after finding out she was a werewolf. Maybe she didn't want to bother her after all, Nara concluded.
As she left Lily's place on her way home, Nara couldn't wait to try on the necklace Lily had given her earlier in school. It would be a perfect pair with this ring, she thought. That instant she felt a pang of guilt thinking about how much this ring must mean to Lily.
Reaching home it felt like no one missed or looked for her so she immediately retired to her room. Once she was in her room "Hi Nara" Akira said "not now Akira" Nara said searching for the necklace in her school bag. As soon as she found it, facing the mirror she quickly put it on with a big smile printed on her face. As soon as she put the necklace on her connection with Akira went silent, she was still trying to learn and know about this whole werewolf thing but she could feel something was wrong, she couldn't feel her wolf anymore.
Amidst her confusion she realized she was no longer in her room. It was as though she had teleported, she was standing in a dark cave, surrounded by lit candles and she could only see their flickering shadows on the walls.
A low but menacing voice spoke from the shadows. "You shouldn't have worn that necklace, Nara."
In panic Nara turned around, trying to see who was speaking to her. But she couldn't see anyone.
"Hello?" she called out, her voice shaking. "Is anyone here?"
There was no response. The only sound was the echoes of her own voice.
Her heart pounded at the thought of being trapped here. She didn't know how to get back home, call for help or even how she got there in the first place.
One second she was in her room, the next, she was in a scary cave. A chill ran down her spine as the candles flickered then dimmed.As she stood there, shivering trying to fight the tears in her eyes, she stood at a spot watching the candles grow dimmer, turning the cave into darkness.