Elwin shook his head, snapped out of a haze, and turned towards his cave at a trot. It sat inside a sheer cliff face that towered above the surrounding forest. The wolf spirit dwelling inside him discovered the entrance not long after the transformation and his first unfortunate encounter with Torvar and his pack.

An indent in the cliff created a pocket with only one way in and out. A large bush hid the crack in the wall allowing a creature of only his stature access to.

A rumbling belly echoed in chorus with the spirit’s howling. He dared not let it out of its cage now. This served as only a reminder of his failure to fill his stomach. Elwin sat down and groomed the fur on his paws.

Would it be possible to befriend the elves and find shelter within their walls?

Childish fantasy. Hope couldn’t fill his belly.

Elwin ignored the rattling in his mind and focused on the surrounding forest. The need for larger game had to wait for another day.

The wind shifted. Movement in the bushes. The crunch of dead leaves against the packed earth. Teeth chewing. His muscles tensed before Elwin burst into motion. A blur of fur dashed into the clearing and away from him.

Why did I let him change my very being? I want to use a bow!

This had not been the first time Elwin wished he could hunt with a proper weapon instead of claws and teeth. Those doubts vanished under hunger’s iron will. His prey wouldn’t wait for him.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

He gave chase and ignored its back-and-forth pattern. Straight as an arrow, Elwin intercepted the rabbit and snapped the creature's neck. Savoring the taste, the spirit wolf couldn’t wait to tear the creature apart. Elwin agreed.

With the coming breeze came a scent that wolves knew on an instinctual level.

There were wood elves nearby.

Elwin ripped into the rabbit with abandon and devoured it. He left the carcass behind and turned back towards the pack's territory and the scent of his people.

They may have abandoned me, but I will never forsake my vows to them.

Fifteen tense minutes later Elwin reached the wood elves patrol. Careful to stay upwind, he took advantage of his tan brown fur and blended with the forest. He crawled behind thick foliage and monitored their progress. Two men accompanied a female. Her posture and the tone of her voice told the wolf she held dominance over the other two. This female smells familiar. How do I know her?

A new scent filled his nostrils causing the wolf spirit to thrash in its cage.

Sniff. A bear! Sniff. A cub too?

The elf is in danger!

He positioned himself to the right of the patrol where the foliage had been thickest. The bear they were on an intercept course with was off to their left.

That left one choice.

Howl! Elwin sprinted towards the threat disregarding stealth in favor of speed.

Roar!

Confronted with two giant paws and an open maw hovering above him, Elwin assumed he had the bear’s attention. Elwin took a chance and glanced back. The female elf held her ground.

The bear leaned forward, claws diving towards him. He vacated the impact zone and dashed to the side. His foe now stood between him and the elf. It had been a risk allowing the bear to stand between him and the patrol. Would the bear turn around?

Roar!

Rows of meat-tearing, bone-crushing teeth came straight towards him.

Great. Now what?