Many thanks LoneWolfVIII.  I'm glad my story kept you awake.  I'm working on the next section and should have it ready soon.  I hope.

Hehe, well here it is part 20.  I hope you enjoy! 

Bart looked at his mother and sister as they stood there, holding each other; his own eyes began to water and finally he wrapped his strong arms around them and squeezed them in a tight hug.  The three of them stood there and held each other, not wanting to let go and have the moment end, but a wisp of cold autumn night air blew around them.  The air seemed to cut through them to the bone.  They released each other from their embrace and retreated to the warmth and safety of the farmhouse.

Just beyond the boarder where light halted the advance of darkness, a set of eyes watched the events unfold.  As Elizabeth and the others went inside the entity moved to the adjacent window and peered into the parlor.  A grimace formed on the entity's face as it gazed into the fire light, and saw the display of affection between the three people in the room.  The love, the joy, the sense of forgiveness that they were displaying sickened the being and made it shudder.  Finally it could take no more, it turned from the window and made its retreat back to the forest.

A few hours later, morning sun light began to peer over the horizon.  It bathed the forest in its bright morning light and then it enveloped the farmhouse.  The firelight grew dim as the wood gave its last to the flame.  Elizabeth was laying down with her head on Agatha's lap, soundly sleeping.  Agatha petting her soft blue gray fur.

ooooo, nice. I'm eagerly awaiting your next installment. ^_^

Part 21:
Elizabeth's head was spinning.  More memories were surfacing in her mind and she felt so confused.  If her body hadn't been so tired she would have been kicking her legs in her sleep.  Suddenly she heard a voice, one that she recognized as familiar but she still couldn't place the voice.  It was a deep baritone voice, one that would command respect from anyone it was speaking to.  That was not the case here.  As she listened to the voice it gave off a gentle and melodic tone.

A flash of light filled her mind and she found herself outside.  It appeared to be a hot summer afternoon, with the sun high overhead.  Its heat beating down upon her as she began to perspire.  She looked and saw, on the front porch of the farmhouse, two figures.

One appeared to be a small girl, maybe about six or seven.  The other form was a large man.  He seemed to tower over the little girl.  His large and developed muscles tensing and relaxing unintentionally.  Elizabeth started intently at them and began to hear what they were saying to one another.

“But daddy, why?  I like being that way.â€�

The large man replied with the same gentle tone that Elizabeth had heard before.  “Sweet heart, you are still too young.  You have to learn control.  If you don't learn control now, you will loose yourself later on.â€�

The little girl huffed, and stomped her feet.  Her face began to pout.  The large man wrapped his huge muscular arms around her in a loving hug.  The pout on her face fell away into a grin, which became a full smile as she rubbed her cheek against the man's hairy arms. 

The scene melted away as Elizabeth began to rejoin the waking world.  She felt something strange, that she was not quite herself, but somehow more whole.

ya, keep this wagon train a-moven.

Part 22:  Enjoy!
Elizabeth rolled over and opened her eyes fully.  She saw the face of her mother, smiling at her.  Elizabeth felt strange, she didn't realize what had happened to her as she slept.  She arose from her spot on the couch and glanced at a mirror hanging on the wall.  She starred intently at the image the mirror produced.  She rushed to the mirror and pressed her wet wolf nose against it and looked deeply into her eyes.  Agatha walked up next to her and petted her daughter.  Elizabeth turned and embraces her mother as tears began to flow from her eyes.  Agatha wrapped her arms around her large torso as best she could and said, “Now, you truly are home.â€�

Elizabeth released her mother from her embrace and spoke in a low growl, “Julian?�

Agatha replied, “He's asleep upstairs.  Go to him, he has been waiting for you.â€�

Elizabeth nodded and began to move silently up the stairs.  In this form colors were more vibrant; smells were more intense and sounds were much more defined; it was incredible.  She sniffed the air in the hallway and located Julian's scent.  His sweet and innocent scent; it thrilled her to know he was here.  She moved to the door where the scent was coming from and slowly opened it.

Inside the room she saw Julian.  His little body on the bed surrounded by wolf kin.  She watched intently as his chest rose and fell with his breath, a large tear formed in her right eye.  Slowly the tear caressed her fuzzy cheek as it fell, wetting the fur once more.

Last edited by wolfsongx (2008-08-20 11:59:51)

I may just add that Grayle, I think it's a really good idea.  And thank you for your wonderful comments.  You and your work have been a bit of inspiration to me. 

Very nicely done, Wolfsong - you're describing the instinctive love, protection, and caring of the mother and the innocent love and acceptance of the child very well, to the point of bringing tears to the eyes of the reader, in fact. Very nicely done!
  And I really loved how Julian simply melted into his mother's arms regardless of her form, as well.

  Keep it coming, Wolfsong! Great Job!

Awwwwww, That was beautiful.

Here is a short addition:  Part 24

Bart released a satisfying exhale.  "Mom, that was the best breakfast," he said.  Agatha smiled at him as she finished her plate.  All the family was inside the kitchen of the farmhouse, both human and wolf alike. 

Julian sat next to his mother, now back in her human form, and hugged her arm.  Elizabeth smiled and patted him on his head.  Julian felt like hanging on forever, when he felt something tug at his shirt.  Julian looked down and saw Riverstone; a piece of Julian's shirt tale in his maw.  Riverstone looked at Julian and wagged his tail and tugged again on his shirt.  Julian looked to his mother and asked, "Mommy can I go play?"  Elizabeth was concerned about letting Julian out of her sight.  She looked at Riverstone; Riverstone starred back at her.  They looked deeply into each others eyes; Elizabeth thought she heard a voice.

"I will guard him with my life, I promise you."

She shook her head and looked back at Julian.  "Ok sweetie, just don't wander too far."

Last edited by wolfsongx (2008-09-10 11:03:23)

Goldie makes a good point - you've mastered the loving family by far.

  I also liked how you hinted at telepathy for the lycanthropes. It hasn't really been done much, and it's a logical bridge if some of the family can't shift. You've really got a winner here, Wolfsong.

  Keep it coming!

OMG OMG OMG! I love this story, I'm hooked entirely on it.
There's just something about a gentle, soft, loving and caring family that just pulls at the heart strings.
I so look forward to the next installment. Nice job!