"NOOOO!" I sat bolt upright in bed, sweat pouring down my body. beside me, my wife Eli stirred and sat up too, holding me. "another nightmare Andrew?" i nodded, breathing fast. she kissed my shoulder softly, murring soothingly. I gradually calmed down, and half smiled. "sorry i woke you, go back to sleep sweetie." i got out of bed as she watched me. "you sure?" i nodded reassuringly. "i just need a little air."

i walked down the hall and stopped at the door to the basement stairs. my hand trembling, i reached out and turned the handle. a slightly musty scent met my nose and i walked slowly down the staircase, flicking on the light as i passed the switch at the top of the stairs. taking a deep breath, i stepped out into the main room and walked over to the bookcase. taking down a photo album, i sat in a large chair. the pages turned slowly as i let my eyes run over the newspaper clippings within. i smiled a little as i felt the old memories come up into my mind.

'Wolf saves child, new hero stops robbery, Wolf honored by mayor.' i gently touched the clippings, taking a deep breath. those had been the days. how well i remembered that day, when the strange glowing stone had fallen from the sky at the zoo and changed me and my life forever. i had gained my special wolf form and with it had come so much power, which i had used it as best i could. as the Wolf, i had stopped robberies, saved lives and met my dear wife. my hand trembled as i turned the last page, my heart beating faster. 'Wolf saves child from burning building.' i closed my eyes as i was carried back to that fateful night...

the smoke was choking my lungs, as i moved through the billowing haze, the heat of the fire singing at my fur. my ears flicked as i heard the plaintive sobbing and found the little skunk girl huddled under her bed. "it's okay, i'll take care of you." i murred softly as the 5 year old clutched at my fur. i wrapped her in my cloak and climbed down the side of the building, my claws finding easy grip in the brickwork. as i passed the third floor window, i heard another child crying. i paused, but the brick gave way under his paw. curling with the fall, i landed safely in the firemans net. handing the child to the medics, i had headed back towards the building, then was thrown back as flames erupted from the windows and door. i would remember that sound for all my days, the scream of that other child, the one i couldnt save.

tears stinging my eyes, i slapped the album shut. letting it fall to the floor, i clenched my fists. i had never shifted since then. i had married my sweetheart, gotten a teaching job and had lived as a full human for these last 5 years. and yet late at night sometimes, that one moment would return and i would have the dreams.

"and so the troops were saved from the ambush, because of the actions of that one man." i finished as i adjusted my glasses and turned to face the class. i smiled to myself at the scribbling of pens. i loved this job, and felt so proud of his students. i looked at a raised hand. "mr welks?" he nodded. "yes amy?" the little girl put her hand down. "why did that man do that, he might've been killed." i nodded. "thats true, but his fellow soldiers needed to know that information." she frowned. "so was he a hero then?" i paused. "well, hero is a loaded word, often a hero is just somene who does what right, even at great risk to themselves." she nodded and wrote it down, as i turnedback to the board, hiding my face.

"scuse me?" i looked down. "oh hello." i smiled at the 11 year old furre child. she held up her student card. "can you tell me how to get to room 213 please?" i told her, while feeling that somehow i knew her from somewhere "thank you sir." she waved as she hurried off to class. i watched her go, feeling that odd recognition again. i went to the teachers lounge and poured a cup of coffee. "you okay Andrew?" miss Jones the art teacher asked me as i stared out the window. "hmm?" i half looked up. "oh yeah sorry." i shook my head. "do you know anything about that new skunkette student, Willa Aims?" she smiled. "yeah she just transferred here, why?" i sat down "i think i've seen her before, but i can't place it." she sat down opposite me. "well, i do know she's lucky to be alive. she was caught in an apartment fire when she was 5." i started. "what!?" she blinked. "you sure youre okay? maybe you need some time off." i stood. "umm maybe, sorry to startle you." i tried to smile and hurried off.

I tapped on the receptionist desk at the main office. "Harv, can i see the records for Willa Aims please?" the man looked up. "sure, something wrong?" I shook my head. "no, i just need to check something." i was given the file, which i studied carefully. when i found what i was looking for, i felt my face go white. "th, thanks." i put the file down absently and walked off.

i stood before the closet and opened it. there it was. reaching out i took the box off the shelf and opened it. carefully folded within was a bundle of clothing, i took it out and held it in my hands. "been a while hasnt it?" i junped and turned sharply. "oh, Eli." she was standing at the door to the room, smiling with her arms crossed. i carefully unfolded the bundle and laid out the costume on the bed. my wife moved over and put her arms around my neck from the back. "you looked so handsome in that." i chuckled a little. "you would have said that of anyone who'd rescued you from a mugging."she smiled and kissed my cheek. "its been five years love, you can't blame yourself forever." i sighed and sat down next to the cloak and mask. "i met her today." i explained about Willa Aims and that she was the very child i had rescued. she sat next to me. "oh Andrew." i sighed and stood. "why did i do it? there were firefighters, people trained and paid to help others. what was i doing? practically playing a game." i grabbed the clothes and threw them onto the floor. "a GAME!" Eli looked at me, then stood and took me in her arms. "never a game hun, you did what you knew was right. do you think youre the only one to face those choices? you mentioned firemen, they choose. so do police, rescue workers, soldiers." she stroked my cheek wth the back of her hand. "i fell in love with the man who cared enough to help. yes that child died because you failed to save him, but you did save Willa, and others before then." she let me go and picked up the strewn costume. "it's time to choose again Andrew," she put the pile in my arms. "keep hiding, or live again." she left the room and i stared down at the bundle in my hands.

i rang the doorbell. "yes?" a 30ish woman answered the door and i smiled. "good eveming mrs Aims, i'm Andrew Wilks, i teach your daughter Willa history." she nodded and smiled. "oh, oh yes, please come in." i entered and saw willa at the kitchen table. "it seems she forget her homework and i wanted to give it to her. "i explained holding out a bundle of papers. she smiled and i walked over to the table. "hello miss Aims." the skunkette looked up. "oh mr wilks, hello." i handed her the assignment. "i was very imressed with your last assignment, please keep it up." i patted her head and with a freindly nod to her mother i left.

as i walked down the street i felt so much better. a weight had been lifted, i had faced my demons and won. yes i had failed sometimes, but that wasn't important. the true choice was to help those i could. with a whistle on my lips i walked into my house and grabbed Eli, hugging her close. "hey beautiful." i said with a twinkle in my eyes.

i murred to myself as i watched Eli sleep. "thank you darling." i whispered as i kissed her softly. slipping out of the bed i went down to the basement. no vigil of pain this time, i felt my heart filled with renewed purpose. i opened the box and took out the costume. fitting it on i stood before the mirror and smiled. "tonight the wolf howls again" i said and shifted. i groaned as my body contorted. i was bit out of practice, but after a moment of dizziness it wad done. the stretchable fabric of the costume fit me perfectly, just like old times. "good thing i keep in shape." the light of the single bulb shone on my deep brown fur and i grinned toothily. fitting on the cloak, i took a deep breath. after 5 years, i was whole again.

the streetlights shone on the pavement as i crouched on the roof edge. i inhaled deeply, the numerous scents of the city filling my nostrils. i flicked my ears as i scented fear and heard the sounds of scuffle. i leapt across to another roof and looked down at the scene. three young toughs were harrassing a pretty young woman and i drew my lips back in a snarl. in a flash i was down the fire escape, and with a leap two of the thugs were down. i was careful not to hurt them of course, but its amazing what furre muscles can do with one well placed punch. the third guy stared and back away. "what, what are you?" i grinned fully and he went white. "justice." i said and reached out, my claws extended. with a high pitched scream he turnd to run and went smack into the wall. he fell to the ground out cold and i turned to the woman, it had all only taken a moment and she was still frozen in surprise. "good evening ma'am." i nodded and with a few leaps i was back up the fire escape. a few blocks away, i threw my head back and howled joyously. yes i was a man and they make mistakes, but i was also, The Wolf

a new beginning

authors note---a departure for me. i wanted to see how a werewolf would use his newfound power. i was first inspired by the song 'bring me to life' by evanesence