The ride back home wasn't too long, and soon my dad was opening up the door as I hop out and look around, sniffing the air and can tell immediately that my mom had left in her car without even looking if the car was missing and...yes, there was the scent of Charlie in the area.
I give out a woof as Charlie pokes his head up from behind the car, laughing, "Aww, I was thinking I could sneak up on the big bad wolf," he says, making me roll my eyes. I mean, I could have spotted him a mile away. Even without all the sweat I could still smell from...gym, I think? Like, how do I know what a gym smells like?
Running up to him, I bark and bounce around slightly, feeling hyper as I want to play with him...but what exactly could a dog and a human pla.... and then, oh god...oh god, I know what we can play, but...do I really want to?
Charlie looks down at me, "So what do you want?" he asks, giving my head a pat. I try to think about it, should I do it? Probably, do I want to do it? No!!!, BUT...it would, in theory, help me be more coordinated and learn how to run and act as a wolf or dog.
Thinking of how to explain it, I look around and get saved as my sister and mom return home, my sister looking all excited as she grins, "Hey, Charlie isn't Fluffy such a cute dog?" she says, holding a bag that I walk over to sniff at curiously. And then I smell IT...oh....oh god no, I guess the decision is made for me.
I hear Shiners nearby, <Mike...I can see from here what is in the bag, and well... you're in for a treat.> He says, as I can already guess what it is from the smell. My sister looks so happy and excited that I don't want to disappoint her.
My sister finally reaches into the bag and pulls out... a ball, yeah, I smelled that coming as I groan slightly while trying to wag my tail. She doesn't notice my concern as she grins, "I got you a ball, Fluffy, you want to play with it?" she asks. I hear Charlie laughing behind me, and I fight the urge to glare,...you know, maybe this is a good time to learn how hard I can bite.
Charlie grins at this, "Why don't we throw the ball for him a few times in the backyard? I bet he enjoys that," he says. Yeah, sure, I had just been thinking about doing that, but ughhh, it doesn't make it any less annoying to think about.
My sister runs off screaming with excitement around the house as I follow her, thinking that I might as well at least get it over with. Though I have concerns about how the ball, grass, and such will taste.
I soon catch up as I bark excitedly, as my instincts are to play, and well, I'm not about to fight them at this point. I might as well go all in, maybe regret it later. She holds up the ball as Charlie catches up and nods to her, and she throws it away from her down the hill.
I bounce a little bit, and as she throws the ball, my ears perk up fully, and my tail goes straight behind me as I watch the arc and see where it lands...oh yeah, run. I was so into the ball that I forgot the chase part as I take off down the hill in the direction the ball had gone. Except...wait, now where did it land? I sniff around, trying to find it as I look for the scent from my sister.
Sniffing around, I soon pick up the scent of where it originally landed, and looking back at my sister who was laughing as I look from her and start looking down hill from the spot, and sure enough, I see the ball in the brown grass and move over to pick it up with my mouth. As soon as I pick it up, I might have the urge to spit it out, ewe rubber and grass smell. But I do keep it as I trot back to my sister with the ball in my mouth and my tail wagging.
Finally reaching my sister, I finally drop it, okay, more spit it out, coughing slightly as I look up at my sister, wagging my tail, okay, that was actually kinda fun, even if I was a bit slow on the uptake. My sister picks up the ball as I decide to let my instincts kick in this time. Shiners laughs, <You did a pretty good job there, Fluffy.> he says, making me roll my eyes. Am I going to forget my actual name by the time I turn human again?
I can't help but roll my eyes at Shiners <You know I have a real name...least I'm pretty sure I do." I half joke. I was going to say more, but I see my sister pull her hand back, causing me to quickly turn around and perk my ears and tail watching for the ball as she throws it, as this time I'm already off before she even begins to throw. My eyes are watching the ball while still running, though this causes me to almost trip.
I follow the ball as it continues flying through the air and see it land ahead of me in the grass as I run over and grab it in my mouth. It felt weird and exciting. I had done it, I had really caught a ball. The taste was still terrible, but it wasn't as bad as I had expected as I look over to see Charlie cheering excitedly.
I shrug a little bit as I head back, it felt right. As the boy, it was fun to run, especially on all fours. As the wolf, it was a victory over the object. I finally make it back to my sister and drop the ball, panting slightly from the exertion. My sister picks up the ball, laughing, "ewe, it's got all your slobber over it, fluffy," she says.
Internally, I just laugh, okay, you don't like slobber, despite all the things you did to me? Then here is some real slobber. I lean over and lick her hand, being sure to get as much slobber and saliva on it in revenge as I bark, asking her to throw again. She just looks down at me with another ewe, but can't help but laugh, "No, fluffy I don't like slobber, though I will play with you more."
She throws the ball again, and I once again take off, this time going even faster, as I try to get ahead of the ball, which was sailing through the air, and somehow I could still watch it while running. It was starting to become second nature and a lot of fun. This time, I even leap into the air, making a grab for it as it sails right... past me and onto the ground. I wasn't even remotely close to catching it, but was worth a shot.
I give my head a little shake as I look around for the ball, wishing I was a bit taller, sure I have my nose, but it be easier to see the ball if I wasn't so low to the ground. Sniffing around, I finally spot it and grab it again, starting to walk back to my sister, tail wagging and standing tall as I flop down next to her, panting. I was never a great athlete as a boy, and don't feel like one as a wolf, making me wonder just how much, if anything, translates between animals.
My sister laughs at me as she shakes her head, "You need a break, Fluffy?" she asks as I lay there panting, and she smiles, "Okay, let's go in, you're probably hungry." I slowly get up as Charlie stands there smiling, obviously enjoying my antics.
He whispers as my sister runs ahead, "You are quite the goofball, never thought you the ball kind. Though it's nice to see you adapting, I was worried how things were going with you," he says as we head back to the house.
I give a bark and run ahead to my sister as she opens the door for me, and I walk in. Outside, it feels natural, but the place, more than anywhere else, feels weird walking on all fours inside. I know the carpet, I know the tables, the furniture, and everything in this place. So seeing them from the ground leaves me all too aware that I walk on what would have been my hands and feet before. Though my thoughts are cut off as I hear my sister grabbing food from the dog bag, and I lick my lips.
"Okay, fluffy dinner time," she says as she brings the bowl into the kitchen, and puts it on the floor, and I quickly dig into it. I'm not sure I could live on just it alone, but it's an okay taste, though my memories of the taste of meat as an eagle, especially fresh kill, have me salivating, wanting more of that.
Soon I finish eating and give a little belch and feel my ears turning red as I get up and look for the others. Charlie was watching TV with my sister, who was showing him one of her favorite cartoons. It seemed to be The Flintstones. I went over and lay down on the ground to watch. Charlie lifts an eyebrow at that as he seems to find it funny, making me just roll my eyes.
My sister laughs watching me and looks over to Charlie, "So what do you think he's looking at when he watches the tv? Does he even know it's on?" she asks as I just groan a little. It's not like I can miss the TV with all the stuff going on at once. Even if I find myself occasionally distracted by different things.
Charlie laughs, "I'm sure he's just looking for any cute dogs on screen," he says as I glare at him, though I give a small bark, my ears facing toward as I tilt my head at any small movements.
We watch a bit more TV as Charlie gets up and stretches, "I should head home, it's getting late," he says as he moves and gives my head a little ruffle as I bat at him and then bat at the tag on my collar. It feels so great to have it still as Charlie eyes me curiously, "It looks good on you," he says, whispering, "You surprise me, you seem proud of it, we should try to talk tomorrow, just you, me, and Shiners," he says as I follow him to the door.
I give a small bark to Charlie as he waves and heads out the door, It is at that point my dad walks in and gives me a small rub of my head, "You've had a long night, I'm thinking next few nights you sleep in our room, we can keep an eye on you and see if you turn into an eagle again in your sleep. Hopefully it's a one-time thing, but best to avoid any problems it may bring."
I nod my head a little, disappointed but understand it as my sister is told to go to bed she hugs me and runs up, "Night mom, night dad, and Night fluffy." she says before I look to my parents with my ears perked and we head into their bed as I find a spot to sleep on near the window so I'm hidden in case sis came in. Least for tonight, I wouldn't have to worry about bathroom issues as I soon drift off to sleep.
