Sami

***

I sit in the dense forest under my favorite tree. Scratching the thin fur along my arms and legs, I sigh in agitation. Even as I’m changing for the full moon, I still have to keep an eye on my idiot brother. I told okasaan he would be fine with Martin but “No, I never trusted that flame boy.” So, here I sit. In the concealment of the trees. Watching an endless game of “Mindlessly toss the gross-smelling, skin ball.”

Wait, I feel a presence behind me. I look over my shoulder. It’s probably okasaan. Her change is more graceful than mine what with her having decades to get used to it. Soon, though, she’ll be immobilized with a fat belly. That’s when she’ll go to obaasan and ojiisan’s house as she had before.

Ok, that smell...It’s familiar but it’s not okasaan’s…

Oh, great. I forgot about those losers upstairs. Well, whatever. I can just ignore them.

My stomach growls and I sigh. Well, it looks like they’ve gotten tired. I can probably grab a quick meal.

I close my eyes and let instinct take over.

Instinct hears a heartbeat.