Max woke up the next morning. His body trembled slightly as he sat up and a cold sweat dampening his forehead. His senses were now heightened as that of a wolf. "You're awake", Kael said from behind. "Good". Max looked over to see Kael standing in the doorway of a small tent.
Max rubbed his eyes. "What happened last night?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember?"
Max frowned. "I don't remember anything after sitting down. What do you mean?" Kael chuckled. "You transformed into a wolf, and that's what happens when the wolf is awakening. You're not the first person to resist the transformation. But you'll get used to it".
Max was shocked. "You mean.....I transformed?!"
Kael nodded. "It's not unusual. The first time is usually rough. But when it happens again, you'll be more prepared".
"I didn't even know what was happening", Max admitted. "I don't know if I can control it."
"You don't have to control it right away", Kael said. "But you do have to learn. The wolf doesn't work by logic. It doesn't listen to reason. You can't fight it forever."
"What happens next?" Max asked with a quiet voice. "How do I become what you want me to be?"
Kael walked towards Max. "You need to embrace the change. The wolf in you is a force that can't be denied. At first you'll fight it, but eventually you'll learn to work with it. It's only when you accept it, that's when you'll learn to control it. Come. Today we begin your training."
So, he and Kael went into the woods, away from the camp to a small area surrounded by trees. "We'll start with the basics," Kael said, turning his face to Max. "This is about turning into the wolf. You have to listen to it. You need to understand it." Max nodded, trying to focus.
"Focus", Kael urged. "Close your eyes."
Max did just so, while trying to calm his breathing.
"Don't fight it", Kael said. "Let it guide you. Let it happen. Trust yourself." Max's body jerked violently, his bones cracked as they reshaped. Claws came out from his fingertips. He could also feel that his senses and scent had heightened, and the sound in the forest had amplified. He suddenly fell to his knees.
After a while, the pain subsided, and he stood up, breathing heavily. He looked down at himself. His legs were now longer and covered in fur. His arms too had changed. He also noticed that the claws on his fingers were sharp.
Kael was watching him. "You did well, Max.
The first shift is always the hardest. But you've just begun, and there's much more ahead of you."
As the adrenaline slowly faded, Max was worried about what he had just become. And more importantly, he was uncertain about what to do with this power in him.