The morning washed in through the window, light dancing between the shadows of the leaves. His joints were on fire as if he'd slept on all of them all night. The tingling in his extremities was near unbearable and he immediately stood to try and shake the feeling off. It didn't linger as long as if he'd cut circulation off to his fingers or toes, but the sensation was that familiar pins-and-needles feeling. His jaw felt loose as well. The hinge lengthened when he wolfed-out and fissures in his face and lower jaw came loose, extending his monthly snout.
He was still safe to be in public for a few days, but he always tried to stay indoors and away from people at the end. It wasn't pretty and would be even tougher to explain.
The ground coffee in the can smelled terrific and he inhaled the scent deeply, relishing each new color that it brought to mind. Smells and sounds took on different meaning and quality as his inner monster came closer to revealing itself.
It was eight o'clock and he knew Anne would be walking up the road soon enough. He popped a handful of ibuprofen in his mouth and washed it down with a swig from his coffee mug. Then he grabbed a t-shirt and pulled it on. One last glance in the mirror, including rolling his lower jaw back and forth, and he was satisfied. Anne seemed to know something about him, but he didn't want it to be that obvious. By the time he reached his front door, she was at the end of the drive and walking toward him with her awkward gait.
"Morning," Jason said loud enough for her to hear.
Anne looked around, "Very keen eye you have there, Wa-ya. Morning it is. Good, bad or otherwise." She groaned as she reached the steps and propped herself against the railing.
"Would you like to come in?"
"Nope. It's not my house. You hand me the money and it's your house. At least until you can't pay me anymore. Then I'll take it back from you."
She looked him up and down.
"No shave. Didn't wash your hair. Smell like coffee. You expecting company?"
Jason laughed.
"I was expecting you, Anne. And a friend. Since you brought it up, I was wondering if you might like to meet her."
"Another squirrel?"
"I don't think so. I'm interested in your opinion."
"Wa-ya, we don't know each other. Why would you want my opinion?"
"I think you see things others might miss."
Anne laughed. "That is true. You might be smarter than I first thought."
Her ancient face broke into a wrinkled grin.
"Her name is Rocky."
"Rocky? That is a squirrel's name. Or a boxer. Not a name for a woman. You like the squirrel's, don't you Wa-ya?"
Jason fished the money from his back pocket and counted it out.
"This should be what I owe you plus next month."
"Well then, I'll be going," she said and thumbed through the money.
He stepped down off of the porch and into her path.
"Wouldn't you like some coffee?"
Anne's eyes widened and she sighed, then shook her head. "Fine. I'll stay and meet your squirrel. Then I'd like to be left alone. Don't much like people."
He chuckled at the news which wasn't news and rushed back in the house for another cup.
"No cream, extra sugar," she yelled after him.
He reached the door just as Rocky pulled into the gravel driveway.
"This her?" Anne said.
He didn't even have to look up. Her scent filled his nostrils and he felt the hair on his neck straighten. He smiled as he stepped into the grass.
"That's her."
Rocky shut off the engine. The low thud of bass pumped from the speakers until she opened the door to step out. Her face beamed with happiness.
"You must be Anne," she said.
"Must be. You another squirrel?"
Rocky looked puzzled, but her smile remained. She reached out a hand to shake. Anne looked at it, then grasped it. Her face changed from its usual sour expression to interested amusement. Anne's grasp on Rocky's hand solidified.
"You are wa-ya as well. I see why he's so excited."
Anne chuckled at Jason. Rocky's smile turned uneasy.
"What do you mean, 'wa-ya'?"
"Your spirit," Jason answered. "Wa-ya is wolf. Just like me."
Rocky nodded in understanding and then winked at him. Anne kept hold of her hand.
"You've known each other in the past," she said.
She closed her eyes and continued, "Love and tragedy."
"Tragedy?" Rocky said.
Anne released her hand.
"Something is missing in your world. You two are only pieces of something bigger."