planned a small surprise party at their house. Hi

n!" they chorused, as h

prise, and a smile spread acr

"Dude, I got you a new gaming control

his eyes lighting up. "Tha

proached him shyly. "Happy birthday

yes crinkling at the corners

box. "It's a watch. I t

ng a sleek silver watch. "Wow,

dropping to the floor.

but notice Emily's gaze on him. She seemed to be c

u for a minute?" Emily asked, h

llowing her to the

id, her eyes shining. "I hope yo

Thanks, Emily. That means a lot coming from you.

, Tristan's friends beg

Tristan said, smiling. "Thi

Alex replied. "We

ristan's. "Happy birthday again," sh

a strange sense of connection, w

sweetie?" Laura asked

till on Emily. "Yeah, Mom.

parkling. "Somewhere spe

for hours, the scenery changing f

ristan asked, gazing o

cial place I once came to when I was y

se of wonder. The trees towered above, the river fl

edible. This is what I

'm glad you like it, sweetie. Let u

an to strum a soft melody. Tristan recognized the tune

Serenade'," Tristan said, a wa

he strings. "I used to sing this to you all th

arching for memories. "I don't know, I

weetie. You were very young when...when we left. Bu

ed. "What do you mean, 'when

re responding. "We will talk about it later,

acing with questions. What had happened in

d Laura sat in comfortable silence,

s senses began to intensify, his hearing sharpening, his vision expanding. And then, he fel

g to me?" Tristan aske

, her face pale. "Tristan, oh

aching, his bones reforming. His senses gre

fixed on Tristan in horror. "Trist

s they transformed into paws. His skin itched, his bod

tan screamed, his vo

ove a whisper. "Tristan, I do not know what is happ

ented. He felt himself losing control, hi

ation accelerated. He fell to the ground, his bo

e forest, her voice hoarse from t

eams grew louder, her voice echoing through the fore

howl, his eyes glowing yellow in the moonlight. H

from what she had just witnessed. She stumbled

apsed to the ground, her body shaking with

unk in, Laura's world went dark. She

more, the only sound the