Day 18. Thursday, First Quarter

Hunter awoke to howling winds. The thick layer of duct tape patching up his still-broken window wobbled back and forth. He could feel something like electricity coiling in back, radiating through his nerves.

It was starting again.

He turned over onto his stomach and pinned his arms beneath him. He took several deep breaths. If he didn't ground himself in his surroundings, he would aggravate the condition. He repeated the rhyme his father taught him when was a child.

"I'm arms and legs and hands and feet. I walk upright to cross the street."

It sounded childish and he hated it, but his motor skills were being overwritten, and he needed it to keep them set to 'human'.

"I'm arms and legs and hands and feet. I walk upright to cross the street."

He felt the phone vibrate on the desk. No doubt another text from Grayson who he had been ignoring since Monday night. He still had not found the words to explain why he had run off, or why he was becoming so distant.

Thanks to his heightened senses, he could disappear whenever he felt the other boy too close by. It was an exhausting game of hide and seek as he seemed to sense Grayson more and more each day.

Now the First Quarter was here, and his shifting would begin. Each day his body would assault him until his mind finally caved in, and the wolf would be free again.

Day 22. Monday, Waxing Gibbous

It was now October, and the autumn chill had set in on campus. It seemed everyone was showing off their school spirit, or perhaps trying to stay warm with a Redwood sweatshirt, comforter, jacket, or hoodie--all miraculously on sale at the school store. Pumpkin spice lattes and hot chocolate appeared on the cafeteria menus. Suddenly it was a little harder to gather the energy to get anywhere on time.

Hunter managed to make it on time for Lugosi's class, even with his cane. He spaced out for a moment too long, however, prompting a few words on alertness from Lugosi. His words didn't seem to carry their usual sting. Before he knew if the class was over and he gathered his things feeling no wiser. Perhaps he needed a change in Majors. He wasn't sure he had learned anything in the past week. Maybe he could go to the library and--

"Hunter."

There was the deep voice that made his legs wobble all the more, that familiar cocktail of scents he had been avoiding.

Grayson was waiting outside his class. His usual grin had been traded for a downcast gaze.

"We need to talk."

The game was over.

They moved their conversation to a tree on the south side of the building. The forest was just a few feet away. Oh, great. Hunter thought. Good to know that after I destroy what could have been my first real relationship, I can disappear into the woods forever.

Grayson leaned against the old brick building, arms crossed. The wind picked up, causing several tree leaves to shake loose and scatter on the grass around them. A light above cast an orange glow upon them, contrasting with the dark sky above.

"I need you to be honest with me." Grayson unfolded his arms. The gesture made him feel like a parent scolding a child, and he had been on the receiving end of it far too many times. "I thought we had something going." His gaze dropped to the ground. "I dunno, maybe it was just me." He chuckled softly. "Maybe I was getting carried away."

"Grayson." Hunter stood in front of him. "It's not you." He raked a hand through his overgrown bangs, pulling off his hat off. "I know that's sounds cliche but, you didn't do anything wrong. There's...something." He was running out of time, and yet the words still wouldn't come. Perhaps it was his subconscious trying to prolong their time together.

"Is it someone else?" Grayson asked, his gaze softening.

Hunter's chest heaved. Grayson was trying his best to make sense out of this. And maybe in a way, maybe his guess was right.

"There was a guy... a long time ago." Hunter began. "But he wasn't good for me. You two don't have anything in common, but...He had a similar problem to mine, so it was...easier to relate to him. It's....Really hard living like this." He admitted. "And from here on out, it's only going to get harder. There are some things I just can't do when it starts. Things I'll never be able to do. Things I can't always explain. And they're not ever going to go away. So...I'm not really reliable for hanging out at a moment's notice, or spontaneous stuff, or anything like that. Either it's serious or it's not. And if it's serious, it's going to be a lot. Like...A lot of time and effort. I'm not going to ask you to do that."

"Fine." He grimaced. "Don't ask."

Hunter bristled.

"But at least let me try." Grayson pleaded.

He wanted to try with Grayson, he did. He wanted to let Grayson in. But as he felt the spark radiating from his spine, the urge to twist and bend, and change. He couldn't change here. Not now. Not in front of him. "No." Hunter shivered. "Not yet..."

"What was that?" Grayson asked. He took a step forward, and Hunter took a step back.

Let's close this coffin, Reeds. "I can't show you that side of me, Grayson. I thought maybe it could w-work." There was a prickly sensation in his left leg. "B-But it c-can't." He squeezed his eyes shut. Not, now. Just a little longer. Despite his desire to stop it, he could feel the sensation spreading. He wouldn't be able to stand there much longer.

"I'm sorry!" He ran as quickly as he could, perhaps a little too fast to be seen as normal, but he didn't care. He retreated back to his dorm room, swathed himself in blankets, and pleaded with his body not to change.

Trembling violently, he tried to hold back his tears. As his back arched he clutched the sheets and spoke through clenched teeth.

"I'm arms and legs and hands and feet. I walk upright to cross the street. I'm arms and legs and hands and feet. I walk upright to cross the street..."