Annalisa Story/Part 4: Life

A cold wind moaned gently through the tops of trees that were bare of leaves. There were still greens to be found, though the pines and spruces seemed muted by the winter despite being evergreen. Woodsmoke was a faint tang upon the air and frost whitened the heather colored grass though actual snow was no more than a distant dream.

"Annalisa!" called Beverly as Annalisa stepped out of a used book store with a new acquisition clutched close in hand.

"Huh, Beverly?" responded Annalisa as she looked around, blinking at her friend and former schoolmate.

"The one and only," responded Beverly cheerfully, she was a full head shorter than Annalisa and had pixie-cut brown hair, "I only ever see you around since you and your sister started being home-schooled... I never thought Anastasia would end up being the wallflower of the two of you!"

Shoulders back, eyes straight, Annalisa simply put on a fake smile and lied with confidence, "She's just been really buckling in to her studies. She has a lot of catching up to do. "

Even at that, Beverly looked a little dubious, "Well, she always was the more likely one to goof off I suppose. So wha'cha doin'?"

"Oh, I was just getting ahold of a book to re-bind on the the cheap. It should sell well to a rare book dealer because it is a second edition printing... " said Annalisa

"Ohmigawd you are so adorable when you nerd out like that!" said Beverly as she suddenly hugged Annalisa, "I've missed you so much since you and your sister stopped coming to school! You have GOT to come over some time."

"Beverly?" called a voice that Annalisa didn't recognize as a taller teenaged boy stepped up behind her friend. He had a strong Germanic heritage like she did, with fair skin and hair. He was definitely good looking, though he had a certain cockiness that Annalisa felt was off putting.

"Oh, Henry," said Beverly, "This is my friend Annalisa, she was in our grade until last year but her family started home-schooling her."

"Wow, too bad," said Henry as he openly leered at Annalisa, "Not enough cute girls around as it is."

"Ugh, you JERK!" said Beverly as she swatted Henry's shoulder, "Keep it up and we are NOT dating anymore. Annalisa, this is Henry... basically my boyfriend, but he's pushing his luck!"

Annalisa smiled as the couple laughed.

She never saw Beverly again.

When Garou first change, things are often messy. Rage, the Garou say is not something you control the first time.

The Get of Fenris had a proud new full moon warrior.

Even the Children of Gaia, Annalisa's own tribe as kin, welcomed Henry, taking pity that he had killed someone he cared about in his firsting.

Beverly's corpse was never found.

Her family would never even know that one of Gaia's supposed defenders had torn apart their daughter.