The night sky was pitch-black. Dark clouds were hiding the moon and stars from sight but Sierra Lumbers, with only a glowing locket to guide her way, walked within a strange woodland without fear.

After her eighteenth birthday, Sierra had been visiting that place twice or thrice a month. It was nearly three years but a big part of that woodland was still unfamiliar to her. 

No matter how long she walks around that place, she kept on returning to that ancient tree that was twice as wide and tall as any other tree in that woodland but aside from the fact that it was very old, towering, and full of life, it was like any ordinary tree.

It was not a talking tree. Sierra tried but it never talked back to her even once. It was neither a killer tree. She had been marking its body in her every visit but it was not retaliating.

She was carving the eighty-fifth line on that tree when she heard footsteps behind her.

The first time she heard that, she was terrified. And the first time she turned to look at what it was, she was paralyzed.

It was a creature that seemed more like an animal rather than a human. It was standing on its feet like a human, but its body was like that of a wolf, covered with black and brown fur. His fingers in both hands and feet had sharp claws instead of nails. Its waist-length hair was untidy and hiding part of his face that was also covered with black and brown fur. Its ears were elongated and also furry. Its golden-brown eyes were glowing with fierceness. Its nose was protruding like a muzzle, and its mouth had a pair of dangerous-looking fangs.

It was staring at Sierra as if she was a delicious dinner. It had been nearly three years since that creature, which she named Jin, had that look in its eyes.

Jin had grown to trust her, to see her as a friend and not a food.

Sierra was wondering if that was because she could not visit for the past two months.

“Jin, it’s me, Sierra,” she held the locket up for Jin to see clearly.

He stared at it and wondered what it was. When he could not recognize the locket, he leaped towards Sierra, pierced her shoulders with his claws, and knocked her down on the ground, making her gasp.

“Jin! I’m Sierra!” But no matter how many times she bellowed her name, Jin could not recognize her.

He aimed for her neck but before his fangs pierced her skin, the locket emitted a blinding white light that lasted for a few heartbeats.

When it vanished, Jin had also disappeared.

Sierra carefully sat up and winced at the pain from her back and shoulders. Her wounds were not that deep but still burning with pain.

What happened to Jin? she wondered. I haven’t seen him for only two months. How can he completely forget about me?

Sierra sighed at the thought that she was back to square one. Taming Jin was never easy.

She tried to get up but was paralyzed when she noticed a naked young man, probably the same age as she was, lying weakly on the ground. His eyes were closed and his brows were creasing, as if he was in great pain.

Is this… JIN?! What did the golden light do? Why did he become a human? Or… is this… Jin’s original form?!

She cautiously got up and took a step backward as the naked man opened his eyes. He must be Jin for his eyes were also a pair of golden brown, though it was not as deadly as a few moments ago. But he was obviously angry.

“Why… did you come… just now?” he weakly whispered while his knuckles trembled.

Sierra ignored his question and kept staring closely at him. The longer she gazed at him, the more he became familiar. Those eyes were of different color but their shape and the rest of his facial features, his long brown hair, and his slender yet muscular body were distinctly identical to someone she frequently sees but barely knew.

“Josh? Is that you?” Sierra asked, completely bewildered.

He stared at her for a long while before asking back, “What if I am Josh?”

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