The air was chilly today; I saw how snow cover peaks gradually disappeared in the background. There had been so many things on my mind. That’s why I liked to get out once in a while just relaxing. To enjoy nature’s cooling presence.

Thoughts of uncertainty overwhelmed my confused self being. Would I pass my last test? Did I know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life? What did the future have in store for me? Would my life at least be joyous and spontaneous, or would I be stuck in a reparative daily style going in and out of some loathsome office?

As another upstart of wind blew over me, I slightly shivered. Barely did I noticed that I had been outside for more than an hour, not even in my full winter’s clothing more so! Most people would be freezing by now in the negatively temperate of such a snow downfall, but to me being in the snow felt great, it always had. Being so near to the forest just made it more worth while. As I stared once more over the horizon, noticing the sun had nearly set, I adored the twilight enveloping the pristine sky. Then I remembered the house was waiting. My father would get concerned if I stayed out any longer.

Walking sluggishly to the wood cabin, I quickly peered into the sky, now completely covered by speckles suspended in the milky way, and there I saw it; The moon. It was graciously large tonight and I could swear the man on there gave me a wink, which was eerie to say the least. Abruptly stopping, I got sucked deeper into the abyss of its pure awe; it’s unmatched beauty. This had always plagued me; the moon’s serenity had always made me feel empowered. I just wanted to jump into the air and scream in pure rejoice.

Something was trying to communicate with me. I suddenly lost my focus on the wonderful sight and noticed someone was talking to me.

“Aren’t you getting cold Blech’e? You’ve been out here for hours” my dad question, a sincere expression on his face.

“Yeah dad, I’m fine. I just needed to think and get away from some stress” I half heartedly replied.

“I know you are worried about the test, and what happened to your mother hasn’t made any of this easier.”

‘what has happened to your mother’ keep resonating in my mind, each instance stinging further and further into my emotions, making a small tear well up in my right eye. I suppressed it, now was not the time to wallow.

“I know… I… I think I’m going to call it an early night, I feel exhausted after so much studying. I really need to be fresh tomorrow.” I said, trying to end the conversation before he asked me again about how the ordeal with mom was making me feel.

“Alright son. I’ll be gone early tomorrow so you’ll have to be riding on your bike. I’ll be out of town, in Singapore, to discuss and finalize some important business connections. There is more than enough food stocked in the fridge and I left some money incase of emergencies. I trust you know what to do if any emergency should arise?”

“Yes, call the police and then stay at aunt Rutherard’s place just a few kilos down the road.”

“That’s my boy.” He remarked with one of his quirky expression, making me let out a small chuckle.

“Well, I don’t want to hold you any longer, go get some rest and ace that test!”

I just nodded, and started walking up the stairs, mumbling a goodnight that was returned with a bit more effort than mine. As I reached the top of the staircase, I turned left and started pacing down the corridor. Finally reaching my room I slowly turned the knob and gently entered my room. I just lunged for the bed, the soft feathery pillow and mattress accompanying my body. Face still stuck against the pillow, I decided to turn around and lay on my back (since it was more comfortable).

The room was filled with posters of wolfs, mostly artic ones. I had always been fascinated about them since I saw one when I had been only three, the white fur and blue eyes just captivated me. They seemed so majestic and powerful. I also have to embarrassingly admit that I had always wonder how it felt to be one, not that such confidential information would be shared with anyone since I might be labeled or deemed as ‘weird’. Sometimes, all I wanted to do was to endlessly run in the woods; to be so agile just made me feel pleasure. Sadly though, that would never happen since people don’t turn into animals. Besides, would I really just leave everything I knew behind for some stupid fantasy?

Contemplating a bit more, I realized that sleep was looming over me, making my feel gloomy and peaceful. Not able to withstand it any longer, I started to fall into a deep slumber.

“Tomorrow would be good day, I just know it” was the last thing I thought before I was completely overtaken by the sandman’s desires.


I woke up to the annoying sound of ringing. Tardily, I smacked my alarm clock straight on the head. Lying for a few second, I steadily turned my head.

6:15AM read on the dial.

Moaning, I sluggishly pulled myself out under the blanket and stood up. Walking to my closet I opened it, an assortment of clothes greeted me. I decided to take my heavy duty boots out with some thick woolen socks. Next, I took my blue ‘Same shirt, different day’ captioned shirt out of the closest. Taking my thick Levi’s jean from my study chair, I wormed my way into the fabric, pulled the shirt over my head, put the socks and then the boots on. Lastly, I took my rather studded leathered jacked down from a hanger over the inner door knob.

Once downstairs I did the daily routine; eat breakfast, brush teeth, comb hair, you know the ordinary day to day stuff. I went to our garage and slowly pulled out my 125cc Yamazaki motorcycle. I had used it a lot in the past since my dad was usually on some exotic business trip in some foreign country with people unknown to me. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met one of my dad’s work associates.

It was lightly snowing today and the wind had taken down somewhat. Stopping for another red light, I noticed something I would usually be oblivious to. It was the shop The Second Identity, its name etched into a very old looking wooden plank. For some reason the store appealed to me, and I just knew that I had to visit it sometime today, although I’ve never actually heard or acknowledged it before. The light turned green and I gave gas as best I could, something about that shop intrigued me. I couldn’t wait to finish my biology test.

The 3 hour test hadn’t been that hard, but it was extremely long and some questions had up to 40 marks allocated to them ( that is one question in itself, of note ). Driving down a narrow side road of the country town, I seemed to remember that there was something I still wanted to ensue. Remembering almost instantly, I drove as fast as possible to reach my destination; something about it was making me feel anxious? That did startle me, but I shoved it off, and just went going anyway.

I parked my bike right next to the shop, a bit into some side alley (filled with homeless bums). Entering the door, I heard a quaint (but rather annoying) tune playing. What I saw inside had not lived up to the title, as this was a costume shop. There were costumes of almost every animal or fantasy creature known to man, damn fine ones too. Costumes? I don’t need a costume for anything, Halloween was long gone! But maybe if I just took a look around. It’s not like I have to buy anything. I doubt I could afford such high valued looking costumes in any case. Behind the counter was an old looking man; a serious expression on his face as he contentedly read today’s newspaper. He seemed to concentrate intensely on it too. I just couldn’t put my finger on it but something about him seemed… disconcerting.

“Can I help you?” He said with a slightly miffed tone.

Stunned for a second, I simply replied,”No, I’m just browsing”

Not taking much heed, he just went back to read his newspaper. This was one odd elderly man. Walking around the shop, I too a closer look at the many different animals and surreal entities of imagination he had in stock. Cougars, tigers, certainly a lot of dragons and there were even some pokemon! Suddenly something caught my eye, it was a silver sliver sticking through a pile, but something enticed me to pull it out and have a better look. What I pulled out seemed to be a wolf… an artic wolf. Suddenly my heart skipped a beat and I felt a bit uneasy. Inspecting it a bit further, I found that it had white fur, with tinges of blue and most of the mane tipped with grey. The claws, which looked rather real and deadly, were a dead azure blue. Looking closely, I could see the tail was a marvelous emblazon of different blue shades and some white. The underside of the maw was white, while most of the head was a light tinted blue, with a white patch on the left eye. Even the teeth were the same azure blue as the claws.

When I turned to the shopkeeper, I could see his attention wasn’t fixated on his newspaper anymore, but rather straightly on me, making me feel uncomfortable. As I quickly inspected the fur and synthetic rubber for any rips or tears( that I could have made to get the old man’s attention), I was relived that I had done nothing to it. But why was he still staring at me? I just couldn’t break away from that stare anymore, as I felt fear of some conviction creeping over me.

“Young man, do you like that costume?” He asked with a rather lighter tone then when I entered shop, almost as if he seemed pleased ( but I doubt that anything could really phase someone like him ).

“uhm.. Yes, yes I do kinda like it” I dumbly replied, I felt I was being coerced to trust this old buffoon, getting me into a more and more awkward mood.

“Tell me, what is your name?”

“Bleach’e. And yours sir?”

“Drethan.”

“Tell me Bleach’e. Is there something about this wolf costume, artic is it? Yes, this artic wolf costume that attracts you?” He said as with a more severe expression now.

“I.. I have always wondered what it would be like to be one…” I couldn’t believe what I was saying! None of my most loyal friends or family knew about my obsession, yet I casually blurted it to this complete stranger.

“But, I don’t think I would be able to afford a costume like this in any case.” I desperately replied trying to make him loose interest in my interest.

“Ah, yes… yes, indeed. I believe I have something just for you in the back…”

“But I already said I don’t think I could afford it.”

“Don’t interrupt me.” He agitatedly replied, annoyed by my inconsiderate behavior.

“I’m sorry.” I said with guilt wrecked across me, like I had just offended a close friend rather than some random acquaintance.

“As I was saying, I have an ever better version of that suit in my backroom, and I am feeling gracious so you can take the one in the back.”

“You would give it away for free? Just like that?” I asked puzzled.

“Well yes, it is one of the special costumes I keep. I need some people to test them out before I can actually sell them out here. I think it’s perfect for you. Yes.. rather think it is.” He started scratching his beard, he went through a door in the back of the shop. He reappeared moments later with a carbon board box.

“Here, take this.” He handed the parcel to me.

“It’s a much better version of the one on display. I do warn you, however, that you should apply caution when using it. It is still rather ‘experimental’.”

“thanks, I guess?” I said rather confused why he would just give it to me.

“Well, anything else I could help you with?”

“Uhm.. no, I guess I’ll be leaving then.” I was still quite unsure of this situation.

“Alright, then go.” He went back to his newspaper and made a waving gesture with his hand, probably indicating that I should leave with haste.

Not hesitating, I quickly left and walked to my bike. I sat down on it and put the box on my lap, starting the bike I reared out and started to drive home. I was just beaming with excitement. But why? I hadn’t even known that I was getting anything like this, not that I actually wanted it and I didn’t even order it. This was the weirdest I’ve ever felt over anything. ‘Oh well, it’s a free costume and I guess that old man was truly being gracious’ I though as I drove on at a steady pace.


I pulled up at home and parked my bike outside, rushing to get inside and try this freebee on. Once in my room, I decided I should probably take my clothes off, since it was rubber and could get uncomfortable if some unnecessary apparel was still on me. Having stripped down to my shorts, I turned around ready to open it. But it was already open? And when I peered down in, I found that it was ( too my surprise ) empty. Scratching my head, I turned around to see if I maybe had misplaced it, but how could I have? I hadn’t taken out of the box. Walking, I stepped into something slippery, and there it was. Almost a replica of the one I had seen in the shop.

“Wait, how am I even going to fit you on? I don’t think I can fit my arms and legs in there!” I exclaimed, somewhat upset that this was probably why it had been giving to me for no cost.

“Since I can’t wear you like as is, I’ll just take you back then.” I said as I tried to step off the suit, but my foot didn’t want to budge.

“Hmm, strange…” I said as I tugged and pulled but my foot was stuck, like to glue or something. Suddenly, I noticed the suit was liquefying? It seemed like it had turned into some rubbery goo. What really surprised me was that now tendrils was forming out of it and encasing my leg.

Panicking, I started to violently pull my leg, using my arms and body weight in a vigorous attempt, but to no avail. As the “goo” kept on creeping up, I noticed something had touched my right arm. Completely startled, I look to see that its paw was constraining me.

“What the hell?” I said as tendrils come out of it and started moving up my arm. Now I was in sheer disbelief.

“This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening…” I almost chanted(like a verse or something, thinking it would repel it), as the goo was now moving over my chest and was really tightening. I felt like I was suffocating. It started moving over my other leg and arm, and I could see how all the goo tendrils were meeting in middle of my body. Looking back, I saw a deflated tail hanging there. The kept Going further and further up my neck, I felt my body was completely immobile now, and this put me into a state of pure terror.

Now I did freak out, completely, and tried every effort to do something. But the compressed material just seemed to hurt me when I tried to struggle. As I noticed the mask moving from behind my head, I looked forward and the bottom part was already under my chin. The top part closed onto it. Now I could really not breathe, and neither could I see. Trying direly in a last attempt to tear it off, I forgot that I still couldn’t move. And then.. Breathe! I opened my eyes and could see through the two eyes of the mask.

My relieve was short lived, however, as I heard loud popping and cracking noises, and pain in my left leg. Looking down ( I found I could move my head now ), I saw it shrinking and reshaping. Then the same thing happened with the right one. Then my arms started popping too as they shortened and paws formed. This thing couldn’t really be turning me into the wolf I had always desired.. Could it? No time to think, as the agony reminded me of my situation. I found my mass shrinking and my torso assuming a more canine type appearance. I felt a shock going up my spine. I yelped, and turned my head around. There the tail was filling out. My tail!

Overwhelmed with immense pain ( and since my legs just couldn’t naturally keep me upright anymore ), I fell on all fours. Still not use to the alien feeling, I double over. I felt my mouth elongating into a muzzle, and my ears starting growing pointy. As my eyesight turned torques, I found that I could see things a lot clearly and in exception detail. I also noticed that a blue and white aura was emitting off me. Some final unpleasant sounds finished off the transformation.

My body being strained and sore past anything I could ever describe, I weakly tried to stand up. Flailing back onto the ground, I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I fainted …