Instinct is a big part of being a Were. When you're able to become an animal at least full time, it creates a compartment in your mind that no other human being has, a more feral part. Instinct drives a lot of what I do. When fear takes hold, I flee. When it comes down to survival, I fight. A fox is not very high on the food chain as far as predators go but it is still a predator and I'm willing to prove it.

I got up the courage to get away from the life my father has chosen for me and I don't plan on giving up that freedom up so willingly but at the same time, I wonder when I'll get over this fear I have that at any moment, my father or someone from the pack is going to show up and try to take me back. I don't want to go back. I'll never want to go back but what if they all come? What if I'm outnumbered? I could always outrun them. Once I'm out of sight, they'll never find me since they can't hear me.

Am I willing to trust another Were in order to survive? Depends on the Were, I guess. So far this girl has done nothing to hurt me but then she hasn't given me much reason to trust her either. True, she told me to run but what if it's a trap? What if she's in on it with this hooded guy, whoever he is and she's just the lure? I don't want to fall for it but at the same time, my pack instincts are driving me to give her a chance, to let her prove that she's worth my trust. I won't be so easy to win over but so far, so good, as long as I stay free.

I follow her lead, zig zagging behind her. She has long lean legs and so she can easily outdistance me but I'm no slow poke. I make sure to keep her in sight and she even slows down at some points, giving me a look as if that will lend me longer legs but I growl under my breath and try to add more speed, knowing that I don't want to anger a wolf. I hear the sound of a gun and I flinch automatically, hearing something whiz past my ear. He's shooting at us?! I jump and dart to the side, adding as much speed to my run as I can. I don't want to die! I hear the other Were snarl a few times as if to encourage me but I'm so scared of the man behind us that I don't think to do anything back; I just keep pushing for more.

As the wolf turns down an alley, I dart after her, noting the boxes she looks at and catching her meaning. She pokes her paw at the boxes but I'm already leaping headfirst into the pile, crawling my way in between two boxes and hiding my bushy tail behind the pile so I wouldn't be seen. You can just make out two golden eyes staring out of the darkness if you look hard enough but that's it. I nod my head at the wolf, letting her know that I heard her. She leaps up top and I try to follow her path as best I can without moving the boxes but when she's out of sight, I can't help but shiver a little, suddenly scared that I might be alone. What if she leaves me for the hunter? Worse, what if she's going back to tell him where I am? I think of the gun and tighten my jaw, eyes wide with fear.

I can just make out the Hunter's figure stepping into the end of the alley after a minute or so. I shiver again, my fur bristling up. What if he figures it out? What if he knows where I am? Suddenly I hear a sound like creaking metal above and the Hunter looks up, aiming his gun. I inhale sharply. The wolf! I hear a bark and the Hunter fires. I have to fight every urge in my body right now not to give away my position by darting out of the boxes and trying to find an escape. I feel trapped and I hate that feeling. I can still hear the metal creaking up above but what if she got hit? What if she's hurt and dying? I choke back a whine.

Suddenly I hear a voice telling me they'll be back and my eyes widen more. The wolf? So she's still alive?! My tail gives a soft wag, moving the boxes a little and I freeze up in fear. Did he see? But the Hunter is too busy watching the wolf, heading out of the alleyway now as he chases after her. I crouch as low as I can under the boxes, shivering more pronounced now as I think. What if he comes back? What if he gets to her and comes back for me? What do I do? Should I run or should I stay? She said to stay. But what if she doesn't come back? I close my eyes, trying to control my hyped up breathing. I'm panting, my sides heaving and I feel like I'm about to pass out from lack of oxygen. What's going on?!

But then I hear her voice and when I open my eyes, I see the wolf jumping down in front of me, looking toward the pile. I inch slowly out of the boxes, my tail tucked low but wagging a little behind me. My ears are back, my head low and submissive.

"Th....thank you....for helping me."