Feathered Moon

The moon sat in the dark sky. Full and bright as the first snowfall of the winter came upon a small town. The town sat quietly on this cold night. Right on the outskirts of this small town lived a willow tree. Beautiful but haunting. As the snow drifted down hard, covering the lush green grass with ease a lone wolf slowly walked through the path towards the willow... a tree his pack calls the Great Willow Tree. With sadness in his heart, the wolf sat under the Great Willow tree. He stared up at the bright full moon as soft white snowflakes brushed against his grey fur. On one of the branches above sat a bird. This bird stared up at the moon as if it had the same longing as him. Just then a distant howl startled the bird causing it to fly off. As the snow fell from the branch the wolf's heart sank. Loneliness setting in. Slowly the wolf walked away from the Willow to the town below; the image of the bird lingering.

As the wolf walked through the snow to the town below he heard a soft noise. Upon looking up he noticed the bird fly into the old barn on the outskirts. He crept up hoping to catch a glance at the creature before the moonlit night melted away along with his first night in the snow. As a shapeshifter, life is like constant limbo. Feeling the need to be in both worlds. As a wolf, nothing is like the first snowfall especially if the moon is at its fullest. However, the fear of losing one's humanity is always a risk. The wolf knew his time in both worlds was numbered. With his 21st year closing in and no mate, he would eventually shift no more. Sealed in his animal form for the rest of his days. The wolf pondered this thought as he quietly approached. Hiding behind a nearby bale of hay he watched as the creature, a small brown barn owl, fluffed its feathers. Snow fell off the feathers; dusting the hay majestically. Something powerful swelled in the wolf. Powerful, yet gentle. Different from the spirit of the beast he held. He shook his mane in confusion and preceded to leave the owl alone. At the door, he turned to take one last glance at the beautiful barn owl only to be surprised. In place of the owl sat a beautiful woman.

Her brown hair cascaded around her shielding her face from his view. The wolf shifted. This couldn't be right. He had heard of such shapeshifters but they were considered a myth. Wiped out by mankind. They just didn't exist anymore, but right as denial set in he caught a glimpse at her face. Pale ivory, soft features, and the softest brown eyes imaginable. Brown eyes so dark they looked black. Soft and gentle... just like the owl. A familiar howl echoed through his ears, yet the silence was the only thing that fell upon the snow. A feeling deep in his chest started to grow and it was as if the world around him just halted at this moment. He watched as she stood to pull a large coat around her tattered clothes. As she turned to walk out of the barn she came to a sudden stop as they locked eyes. One as a human and one as a wolf. Her face held not an ounce of fear as a soft smile took shape. It was at this moment that the wolf heard the voice of a man in his head. Only one word was muttered by his human form... Mate.