Noela looked around, she sighed as the looked out into the forest. She yearned to go out there and to be apart of the forest again. "Stupid father! How dare he keep me from my forest!" She hit her fist on the wall. Looking out the window again, she sighed, knowing that it was no use in trying to reason with him, he was as stubborn as nails. She touched the glass with her hand, it was cool to the touch, but then started to warm up from her heat. She smiled, wishing that she could feel the sun on her face again. It has been two weeks since she has been out, and it was driving her insane! She grabbed the edge of the window and pulled, it opened a little.

She opened it all the way and knelt down, letting the suns warmth hit her face. She smiled contently. She then frowned, thinking about just leaving. "Why not? They haven't noticed when I was gone before...why would they now?" She started to push on the scree as hard as she could. She hadn't yet mastered how to switch just one part of her body into a wolf yet, she hadn't even really got down how to fully turn yet...she was still struggling. She didn't want her wolf side to be a curse anymore, so she started to use her free time to practice shifting into the animal at will. She kept pushing, and finally it popped off. She smiled and crawled out her window, she was free!

Linna stood at the edge of the forest, staring thoughtfully at it.

Beyond this lies everything I want.

So many countries to travel, places to see, things to do, people to meet ...
And she was stuck here.

"You must never go into the forest!"

"But you never tell me why not." she murmured to herself, the words she couldn't tell her parents.

"Its dangerous! You'll get hurt."

"But I don't care! I want to see whats beyond it!"
She took a deep breath. Just a little walk. It couldn't hurt to take just a little walk.
Besides, she had been trying to control her Curse. After months of trying, she had realised that it was impossible to simply stop herself from shifting, or to eradicate the Curse in anyway. So instead, she settled for trying to control her change and use it to her advantage.

She had failed. Spectacularly.
She had found out she could morph into it on will, but she couldn't morph out of her animal form. She had to wait until daybreak to regain her original form.
This had led to her getting discovered, and then being lectured for a good many hours.

"Just a little walk." she repeated to herself, trying to gather her courage. "Just a little..."

Noela took off running as soon as she hit the next house. She was going into that forest, whether her father didn't want it or not. She didn't care at this moment. It would just be her, and the forest. She skidded to a halt and looked at the other girl that was standing there. She walked up to the girl, "You going into the forest?" She looked at the forest and could feel a tingle of anticipation and excitement wash over her. It was almost like the forest was calling to her! She looked back at the girl, waiting for a response.

Linna stared wide eyed at the girl who had suddenly come to a halt in front of her as waves of suspicion washed over her. Who was this? She had never met anybody wanting to go into the forest. Was this a trap?

Who would even set such a stupid trap? And I need to stop being paranoid! She scolded herself, turning to regard the other girl with a contemplative gaze, and decided to lay her cards on the table. ( What? She was nervous and needed some bolster to her courage, gosh! )

"Yes, as a matter of fact I am. Are you?" she asked her, direct as always. "And you can call me Linna."

Well, why would anybody randomly ask if she was going into the forest? What were the chances of that? They were forbidden to even think about it, so if someone talked to her about it, that must mean the same thought had appeared to them. It was at least worth knowing her name.

Noela smiled, This girl isn't afraid to talk! I like that! "My name is Noela. I am going into the forest. To hell with his village! I want to explore the forbidden regions of Iskawa!" She smiled as she proudly ended her sentence. She was not afraid to just say it, after all it was the truth and her father always taught her that telling the truth would actually get you somewhere instead of lying to appease to others. But, he also taught her how to have trust issues. But with Linna, everything seemed like it was on the same page.

"I have a feeling that you want to explore as well. I mean, wouldn't that be the only reason why you are standing, looking out into the forest? Wouldn't that be the only reason you want to go into the forest? I know it's not because you want to go for a walk! Ha! You want too!" She laughed and looked at the girl like she solved a great mystery. She then looked back out in the forest and sighed contentedly, knowing that soon she would be there!

Cravens white bushy tail swung gently from side to side, only inches above the pavement.
Tilting his head upwards, as he walked down the street, he looked at the blue sky.
“I should’ve stayed asleep”, he mumbled and shielded his eyes “I’m no good so early in the morning”.
He yawned, stretching his body in the warm sunlight.
“I wonder how it’ll be?”, he thought to himself as he placed his hand on a building’s red, brick wall and let his fingers follow the grey lines between the bricks. “Either way, it’ll be better than this peasant village”, he laughed, “Everywhere is better than this place”.

A light breeze blew through his hair, carrying the scent of sweet, ripened fruit. Probably from the grocery, a little further down the street.
Crevan’s mouth started watering, as he took a deep breath. “It smells so good” he whispered and half walked half ran forward.
OK, so maybe there was something that he was going to miss. Not that he would admit it in a hundred years.
The smell of fruit grew stronger, as he got closer and closer to the shop.
But then he heard two voices, talking about something unusual.
they were talking about the forest.

This imediately spiked Crevan’s interest. Why were they talking about the forest?
Normally the villagers wouldn’t even dare to talk about this, so why now?

whithout thinking further about it, he had started walking in the direction where the voices came from.

"I have a feeling that you want to explore as well. I mean, wouldn't that be the only reason why you are standing, looking out into the forest? Wouldn't that be the only reason you want to go into the forest? I know it's not because you want to go for a walk! Ha! You want too!" She laughed and looked at the girl like she solved a great mystery.

Linna blinked and felt the beginnings of a smile spread over her face too. This girl's energy must be infectious or something!
"Yes, I do. I want to see what lies beyond those forests, and in them. I have always wanted to explore the woods, you know, but I think you already know why I couldn't." she smiled conspiratorially. "But not anymore. I have made up my mind. No matter what anyone says, I'm going to see for myself now!" she waved at the small rucksack she was holding. "I even got enough food and water to last for a day of exploring. " She paused for a second, before speaking shyly. "Say, do you want to explore together? I mean, as exciting as it is, the forest looks a bit scary too, and since everyone says its dangerous, there must be some kind of basis for that, right? So if we go together, we can watch out for each other. Besides, the more the merrier, right? But not if you don't want to. " she added hastily.

Noela laughed, "Of course I want to explore! I had to sneak out of my house just to get to this spot." She grinned. She looked at the forest and smiled, she was going to love exploring what everyone says is dangerous. She could feel the excitement flow through her and she felt like she was glowing! She looked around to make sure that no one else was coming. She looked back at Linna, "I have a question." She felt a little awkward asking this question, but she didn't know if any one else had it... "Can you turn into an animal?"

Crevan hid his tail and stepped into the cold shadows, in the alley, connecting the two streets.
Drawn closer to the owners, who appeared to be two girls, of the voices he had heard before.
“Besides, the more the merrier, right?” one of them said, as he held his hand over his mouth to suppress a grin.
What was he thinking! He couldn’t just walk over to them!
Was he insane or something?
But none than less, that was what he wanted.
“They are not my sisters, so why should I help them?” he asked himself and looked at them once again.
They were so young. Just like Celeste and Viveca…
He ran his hand through his white hair and frowned at the wall, sighting heavily. Well, he could use some company, and one of the girls had supplies…
“I have a question…can you turn into an animal?”
The little redhead suddenly said.
Crevan got Goosebumps and the hairs on his body stood up.

She was the same as him, and probably the little pale girl too.
“Just who are they?” he whispered under his breath and closed his eyes.
Well, he wouldn’t find out if he didn’t do something fast.
He stuck his hands into the pockets, of the faded blue jeans and started walking towards them.
Still arguing with himself, inside his head, if he had made the right decision or not.
“Hey, what are you two talking about? And why in the world, do you wanna go into the forest?”
He stopped a few feet away from them, raising one of his eyebrows.

Noela jumped and gasped at little as a white haired man walked up to them and started to yell, she narrowed her eyes, "Hey! You're not my daddy! What does it matter to you?" She put her hands in her hips and glared at him. She was not about to let someone come in here and tell her what to do. She swung a hip and crossed her arms over her chest, and looked at him.

Stunned for a second by the girl’s cocky tone, he raised both of his eyebrows and made a overly surprised face.
“Thank heaven for that!” he said and smirked widely, before taking a few steps closer to them, so he could speak normally.
As Crevan bent forward, so he could look her in the eyes, the playful smirk disappeared.
“And just why should I tell you, what it matters, when you are such a meanie, little girl?”
He stood up, looking down at her, as the long fox white tail pointed up in the air with a curl on the end.
“I might talk to your friend, if she’s not as rude as you”.
He glanced over at the other girl smiling politely.

I have a question." She felt a little awkward asking this question, but she didn't know if any one else had it... "Can you turn into an animal?"
Linna almost choked on air at the sudden question.

Wait ... what does she ... would she know that if she didn't have the same condition?
Or it could be that she was one of those people who hunt your kind. This whole thing could be a trap for all you know.
But Noella doesn't look the type of person .. she looks honest.

Before she could reply, a white-haired man walked up to them.
“Hey, what are you two talking about? And why in the world, do you wanna go into the forest?”

Linna frowned a little. How had the man heard them? Even though Noella's voice was a little loud, it wasn't loud enough to reach someone they hadn't even seen coming.

And then her eyes fell on the ... fox tail?
He had a tail?
So maybe this wasn't really a trap, after all. Maybe he was the same as her, and even if, by some chance Noella was someone who was setting this all up as a trap (although she didn't think that was it. Noella looked too honest and bold to resort to such tricks. ) she wouldn't attack two of them at the same time.

You never know till you try ...

"We were just thinking of exploring. Everyone says the forest is dangerous and never to set foot there, but nobody ever explains why. I am Linna, and this is Noella. I apologise for her apparent rudeness, but I think you see why she doesn't really trust anybody who approaches us randomly. We could get into serious trouble for even thinking of going into the woods , and we don't know which way your sympathies lie. You could call our families on us for all we know, though for some reason I don't think you will." she replied with a smile, before turning to Noella, "As for your question, yes, I can. Can you?" She turned to the silverette again. "I'm assuming you can, Mr. ... ?"

“Crevan Albis.
Yes I can, quite obviously. It’s relieving that someone has the same problem, no offence”.
He said as he glanced over at the rude girl, but then looked back at her.
“It’s nice to talk to someone, who is a bit more polite. I’m sorry if I frightened you”.
Crevan’s pulse was slowing down, from the sudden exposure, and was relaxing a more.
The little pale girl seemed to be a little more mature, than the cocky redhead.
She could explain to him what they were about to do, instead of insulting him.

“My sympathy, if you can call it that, lies with you.
I have heard it too, that the forest is very dangerous, but I don’t believe it. I thought about going myself, when I heard your conversation”.
Ok that was not totally true, he had been thinking about fruit, but they didn’t have to know about that. Did they?

“And your name is?” he hesitantly gave her an outstretched hand.
This could still be a trap. there was no need to be off guard, just because they seemed nice enough.
At least one of them did…

Noela smiled as suddenly the air seemed to calm down. She nodded to Linna at her question, "Yes I can." She looked back at the man that towered over her. She huffed, she hated being the shortest one. Especially for being a taller wolf...she shook her head and got the thought out of her mind. She then looked at the man's white tail, she was glad that he was someone else who wanted to go into the forest and someone else who could shift. She wondered why it had to be a kept a secret. She looked up at his face again, "My apologies for being rude." She dipped her head.

She sighed looking out into the forest, it still called to her,

He turned to her as he heard her apology and saw the longing look on her face.
“Thank you, but I was rude too so…I’m sorry”
He smiled and followed her eyes into the forest
“How old are you anyway? Aren’t you two a little too young, to run away from home?”
He looked at them wondering if he was making the right decision.
Were they even capable of being on their own?
He sighted and ruffled up his hair, he shouldn’t be thinking like that.
This was their choice, not his.
“Won’t your parents be worried, or something like that?”

Noela rolled her eyes, "My dad wouldn't care if I was dead." She crossed her arms over her breasts, "I am 17 years old, and ready to explore!" She grinned and looked at the sky, with her eyes closed. She couldn't wait to get going! It would be the best thing in the world. To finally get away from her home and her dad and brothers, and finally be her own person. If only she didn't have to come back... But she knew that she wouldn't be able to really live by herself. She had to get supplies if she planned on living out in the woods. Her dad would never notice her being gone anyway, she was supposed to be in her room, grounded.

“Well that sucks”
He scratched his neck, trying to find a way too lighten the mood a bit.
“Well… Uhm… W-What are you gonna do first when you get out in the forest?”
He gave her a crooked smile and made a mess out of her hair, ruffling it up with his hands to take her mind off the gloomy things.
“Oh! And what was your name again?”
He had a hoarse laughter, very different from his usual voice, plus it sounded more like “ku ku ku” than “Ha ha ha”

Noela closes her eyes and puts her head down a little when he ruffles her hair. "I am going to explore every inch! I am going to look at all the animals!" She smiled and then looked at him, "My name is Noela."

She looked back at the forest and then up at Linna, "What are you going to do?"

“My sympathy, if you can call it that, lies with you.
I have heard it too, that the forest is very dangerous, but I don’t believe it. I thought about going myself, when I heard your conversation”.

Linna looked at the outstretched hand before taking it. "Linna Bel. And I get how you are feeling. Its ... relieving to see I am not the only one with this ... quirk."

"My apologies for being rude."
“Thank you, but I was rude too so…I’m sorry”
Linna couldn't help the smile that spread over her face. It was nice that the hostility was gone. She hated hostility of any kind. It made her want to curl up into a ball and turn into her animal form.

“Won’t your parents be worried, or something like that?”
"My dad wouldn't care if I was dead."
"I am 17 too." she said quickly, subconsciously offering Noella a warm smile, but not making anymore references to her family. She seemed to have bounced back almost instantly, so there was no point in bringing it up again. Besides, Noella didn't seem like she would appreciate a public display of sympathy anyway.

"And ... " Here came the difficult part. She was already feeling guilty enough for running away without being reminded of it. Linna grimaced a little, looking down. "Eh .. Well, don't get me wrong. I love my family and I will come back, but I want to see so much. Once I have proved I can hold my own, they won't stop me anymore, so this is a test run to prove myself, I suppose." she blushed. Way to sound retarded...

"I don't really know ... I am going to explore. I suppose. Look at the animals and the plants ... and maybe we can see what's beyond this forest too. " she shrugged.

“Well that exploring thing sounds kind of exiting. Oh and I’m 18 by the way”.
He said and stuck his hands in his pockets.
He looked around before taking a deep breath
“Ok, Noela and Linna, this is gonna sound weird… would the two of you mind, if I was coming along on this oversized field-trip?” he smirked and stuck his tail up under his deep red shirt, as a human came out from one of the adjoining streets.
Crevan clenched his teeth together, and followed the person with his eyes.
Being so visible while talking wasn’t his cup of tea.
“And maybe we shouldn’t be chatting about something like this, where everyone can see us?”
He suggested and pointed out into the forest.

Noela watched the human as well, and then back up at Linna, she seemed to have a touchy relationship with her parents as well, but she loved them all the same. She looked up at Crevan and tilted her head to the side. He was interesting. She turned towards the forest and then back at them, "We should probably go. We all want to see the forest and explore, but just standing here is not going to get us anywhere." She started to walk into the forest. She was excited and ready to just get on the way.

She looked back to see if they were coming. Her father's face came into her mind suddenly. She stopped and closed her eyes, waiting for the guilt to pass, she shouldn't feel guilty...she was locked up long enough and now she just wanted to get away from her father. Besides, he was probably happier with just his sons. She sighed, because of that, she always tried to act like a boy. She wished that she could be called pretty or beautiful instead of being told to be like her brothers. She sighed and shook her head trying to get that thought out of her mind. She turned back towards the forest.

He Started walking, but almost bumped into Noela as she suddenly stopped.
“What are you doing?” he murmured but clammed up as he saw her face.
He always felt bad whenever he saw his little sisters cry, and this wasn’t much better.
His hairs stood on end and his throat was clogged.
“Hey…You ok?”
He looked down at her and then over at Linna
“And you too. You both seem kinda down”

Noela looked up at Creven, "I am fine." She looked down and started to walk, she wasn't big on letting her feelings out. She always had to try to her true self behind the mask of a bad ass girl. She doesn't want anyone to know she wishes to become a singer... She sighed again and started to walk faster. She hated thinking like this! Why was suddenly all these emotions coming over her now, she was about to go on an adventure!

Crevan sighted and started to walk.
The green forest came closer and filled his chest with excitement.
There was no way he was turning back now, not that he had anything to turn back for.
A light breeze blew and he had to suppress the urge of running into the forest.
This was going to be relieving, he just knew it.
There wouldn’t even be a lack of food, he could eat anything. Which was what he had been doing up until now.
But it was over.
And there was going to be water
A brook
A stream
A lake
And maybe even an ocean, it would be great!
He had to control himself, at least just a little.
“Do any of you like water?”
He asked in a monotone voice, while turning around to wait for Linna.