The wind curled behind Hal's hood, he wasn't sure how to take the information, or if he could. He looked down at the ground and at his hands. They started shifting in front of his eyes. Hair sprouted down his knuckles as they stretched into claws. He shook his hands, trying to rid the curse of Ash's words. "No, no. That doesn't make sense." He was panicking, sweat rolling down his face, steam billowing from there. "What happened yesterday?" Even his eyes were struggling to remain human.

Hal shook his head furiously. He couldn't accept it. If he were a werewolf, wouldn't his mother have told him? Told him anything? This had to be a dream. He watched claws push out where his fingernails normally are. He groaned, struggling to keep himself human. "This is a dream, this is a dream." A tail began forming at the base of his spine, stretching the skin in the area, causing Hal to lurch forward. He growled now, foam pooling from his mouth as his snout extended. "Wake up!" He screamed, echoing through the empty parking lot where he and Ash stood. And then, there was blackness again.

A six foot something creature limped towards Ash, with feral eyes. He cocked his head, teeth still bared. "Help me?" His voice was not Hal's, it was a mixture of beast and sickly human. The visible eye was a bright yellow, focusing in on Ash. He let out what sounded like a bellowing laugh before lunging towards the girl. He couldn't control it. It was either fear, or a desperate hunger that led him to chase her. He needed to bite down on something, anything!

All Hal could do was follow the chase. It was as if his body was doing all the work without a single cell focused on thinking this through. His arms were muscular, reaching to the ground now, moving in sync with his legs as he chased her. It was like one of those dreams when you're running from something, running through tunnels and winding through things, but he was the one chasing. He huffed, drool stringing behind him through growling fangs.

Her scent led him through the darkness of night and into the alleyway. Ash's musk made a nearly visible trail for him to follow. Once she was pinned, he licked his lips. His walking slowed, until he was hovering in front of her, reveling in the thought of his next meal with a predatory grin. He sniffed her hair and let out a long howl. He couldn't wait to tear into her.

It didn't make sense. Hal's ear twitched after being lightly grazed by Ash's attempt at self defense. Yet instead of being more angry, his focus was instantly shifted. For some reason, the motion of the stick and the sound of it hitting the ground left Hal confused, and playful. It was out of his control now, his body lurched backwards and darted for the stick. It was a big one, which was even better! He grabbed it, fangs digging into the bark. He flung it around in his mouth for a moment before loping back to Ash. This time, a happy, glazed look was in his eyes. The change of temperament was so quick, that it had to be startling for the girl who almost died. Ah well, he dropped the stick in front of her feet, tail wagging frantically behind him. This was exactly what he needed!

His pupils dilated watching the girl pick up his stick. He lunged for it at the same time that she did, but she was too quick. He didn't want blood on his stick, so he just pulled back, tail wagging anxiously. He licked his lips and growled. It was his stick! Not hers! He put his paws in front of him and bowed down. He didn't want her to break the stick! She didn't know how to carry it properly. He barked with a rabid sort of look in his eyes. He just wanted to show off his stick, not get it taken away. What if she never gave it back? He pawed her thigh, a claw getting caught on her jeans.

His eyes widened again, following the stick's path through the sky. He flipped around and chased it. His paws tore against the street as he struggled to find his footing. He was so happy to have his stick again. He picked it up and shook his head around violently. Yeah, that's what you get stick! He galloped back to the girl, this time not dropping the stick. He held it within arm's distance, playfully taunting her. He could tell by her scent that she was beta, which probably meant she was willing to wrestle a bit. He usually preferred betas, even though omegas were easier targets. They had a fun challenge added to them.

Hal's eyes lit up. Oh, she does like to play eh? He grounded his paws into the dirt and tugged at the stick, testing her strength first. His jaws foamed around the stick, making it slippery. He growled playfully before ripping it out of her hands. He trotted away happily, as if saying haha! I win, I win! The pleasure of victory was short lived though, as the scent of bread hit Hal's nostrils. His ears stuck straight up with his tail, and he went running.

Hal's furry humanoid figure found its way to a back alley near the bakery. An entire dumpster filled with bread! Jackpot! Hal lunged into the dumpster, his back legs fully extending so that he could swoop in. He dropped that stick somewhere behind him, not caring if Ash were to find it. After all, he had more important pursuits. His mouth was full of dough now, foaming and drooling around each bite. He was in heaven!

With his mouth still saturated with the creamy, white drool mixed with bread, he looked over his shoulder. His friend was holding his stick again. Not like that would lure him away from the bread. It was his find after all. He scoffed, continuing to ravage the dumpster. "Mine." He said, coated with growls. Soon after, an iron door flung open. A chef from the restaurant adjacent to the bakery waltzed out with headphones in their ears.

With a nonchalant toss, they threw a bag into the trash where Hal was. He yelped and jumped out, growling at the person who inadvertently screamed and ran inside. Hal grabbed Ash's shirt with his teeth, tugging her and looking up at her with sparkly eyes. It was as if he were saying "come on, they're after us!"

Hal tugged Ash out of the alleys and towards the surrounding foliage. The trees consumed them once again. Once back to safety, Hal began digging. His stomach gurgled throughout. He hoped to either eat something, fuck something, or sleep soon. He was wound up and a bit delirious. His hackles stuck straight up along his spine and tail.

Hal whined, tongue lolling form his mouth. He was slowly regaining consciousness, and it was always a strange experience. He was in between wolf and man, clarity and psychosis. He felt everything spinning beneath him. Once Ash displayed the stick, he snatched it from her hands, this time with a clawed paw and buried it. Dirt flew behind him and between his legs, forming a small mound over the stick. He was panting, anxious and tired. With another step forward, he collapsed right in front of Ash's feet. He was already asleep and changing back quickly, though he twitched his paws as if running in his sleep.

When Hal woke, the sun was finally showing its face over the horizon. His eyes were heavy so it took him a moment to realize where he was. It smelled like moss and dirt. He pulled up his blanket... But it wasn't a blanket, it was an oddly familiar jacket. He jumped to his feet. A sleeping Ash laid beside his resting place. He threw his hands to his head in panic. "Ash?! What- What - What happened? Why are we out here? Did we-?" He began to hyperventilate. Hopefully he used protection. She was definitely worth the bang,
but - he didn't remember it whatsoever and didn't need any accidental children. What the fuck?

Hal collapsed on the ground, knees up and arms wrapped around them. It's not that he couldn't believe it, hell it would answer a lot of questions, but he didn't want to believe it. "But I mean, that's not possible. I mean, werewolves are from like - Disney movies, or or fantasy chick flicks right?" He scoffed, looking to Ash with pleading, helpless eyes. "I mean - you're just fucking with me right?" He hoped it was all a joke and they just got black out drunk... Like he had been doing every night before apparently. It didn't make sense at all... None of it did.

He leaned forward, releasing his grip from his legs. "I mean.. I remember walking back from the restaurant... I remember - I remember... Yeah, I remember walking back... That's about it. I don't remember getting anywhere though." He squeezed his eyebrows together, trying to peer through his foggy memories. "Did we have a destination or anything?" He looked tired, heavy bags under his eyes. "Shit man, lets go get some coffee." He scoffed, getting to his feet. "If you see me like that again, I need pictures. I need video. I just - I dunno if I'm the crazy one or if you are. Hey, you could be taking advantage of me!" He joked playfully.

"Hey kid, I was only joking!" Hal wraps his arm around Ash, pulling him in towards the side of his face with one scarred over eye. "And of course you find me attractive!" He chortled, tooting his own horn in order to move on from the werewolf topic. "I mean, why else would we have ended up in such intimate circumstances?" He grinned, deviously trying got push her buttons while she was still in his grasp. He felt big around her, and even though she was a bit of a badass and tough broad herself, it made it more fun to fuck with her knowing that she might be able to take it.

Hal released his friend from his muscular arm, probably releasing her from a bit of body odor as well. "Well, eh-" He scratched the back of his head, kicking his foot against a pine cone. "My mom said I've been having them since I was a kid. I don't remember my first one. But when I was a teenager, it got really bad. Had to drop out of school 'cus of it." He sniffed, never really liked to talk about this stuff. He always wanted to think he was just a normal guy with a regular life. In a lot of ways, he convinced himself that it was true.

Hal's eyes lit up and much like his werewolf form, he jumped up playfully. "Yes! I am starving." He moaned happily. And he didn't have to work today, which lent to a better day. "What do you like to eat besides coffee?" He joked, the bustle of their small town coming into sight and sound now between the thick forest trees.

Hal hung his head and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah no biggie. I've got money in my wallet." He chuckled, digging into his pocket and sifting through his bills and coins. He was desperate to not go back to his house. "I mean, I can pay for you and probably get a good discount at the diner." He smiled awkwardly, digging for her approval.

However, he wouldn't mind seeing the inside of Ash's home. In fact, he was more curious about her than he would care to admit.

Hal lit up and nodded his head. "Yeah that would be great! I mean - if you don't mind..." He chuckled. "I'm not intimidated! Its just that like... I don't know anything about you! You could be a craigslist killer just trying to get my hot bod into your home so you can rape and slaughter me." He joked, flexing playfully. "I mean, I don't blame you." He shrugged, a bright smile on his face.