After being chased from her home and running herself ragged, Maria had somehow ended up in a lush forest with no idea where to go. She was still unsure why her brother thought she was a monster, how was it her fault bandits attacked him! It's not like she had mind control or something. Her thoughts traveled back to the story about the monster in her blood line. Could it be...
Her thoughts were interrupted by a growl from her stomach.
"Guess its lunch time."
Maria let her backpack slide down her arms, set it in front of her, and unzipped it. Carefully she rummaged through the supplies her mother had given her.
"There has to be more food in here somewhere." She mumbled nervously. Unable to find any by rummaging she dumped her bag on the ground. She scanned her belongings. Throwing knives, skinning knife, shirt, pants, flint and steel, rope, a canteen, her stuffed bear, and her shoes. She took the shoes and put them on her feet mad at herself for not rationing her food better. She stuffed all of her belongings back into her bag leaving out her throwing knives.
"Time to catch some food."
Her brothers had taught her to hunt. She looked around the area she was in, looking for signs of a rabbit or other small creature. As she was examining the ground she heard a rustle. Turning fast on her heel she saw a bush moving. Without hesitation she threw one of her throwing knives where she saw the movement.
She heard a yelp as a wolf cub tumbled from the bush. Marias eyes went wide, where there was a cub there was a mama or worse a pack. She scooted back slowly, hoping the small creature wouldn't see her and call for help.
"Umf." Oh no she had ran into something, hoping it was a tree she turned to climb, face to face with a medium sized wolf all of the blood drained from her face. As it snapped its jaws at her she tumbled backward. Laying on the ground she was fair game. As she watched the wolf leap to land on her, it was as if everything was moving in slow motion. She felt a strange feeling inside her and suddenly she was acting on instinct again. She rolled over onto her four legs and darted for a hole in the roots of a tree.
It was happening again, the world seemed different. Her smell was better and her eyesight keen. She saw the wolf looking confused, sniffing at her cloths and backpack laying on the ground. Marias eyes went wide, why were her cloths over there? She looked down at herself and saw that she was covered in fur. Terrified she let out a scream that sounded more like a growl. What was going on?!
