The next morning dawned crisp and bright, the kind of day that made the leaves sparkle like scattered gems in the sunlight. Scarlett adjusted her quiver and double-checked her arrows, feeling a thrill of anticipation buzzing through her chest. Today was different. Today, Misty had agreed to shift. Scarlett's heart fluttered at the thought of seeing her friend's wolf form for the first time—graceful, powerful, and fast.
Misty crouched low, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ready for this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Remember, you do the shooting, I do the running. Don't get distracted!"
Scarlett grinned. "Distracted? Me? Never!"
With a quick inhale, Misty stepped back, and in a fluid, almost magical motion, her body shimmered with light before shrinking and reshaping into the sleek form of a wolf. Her fur was silver with hints of chestnut, and her golden eyes shone bright with alertness. Scarlett's mouth fell open slightly.
"You… wow…" she whispered. Misty wagged her tail excitedly, letting out a playful bark. "Impressive, huh? Now try not to miss me while I run," Misty teased, dashing ahead into the underbrush.
Scarlett lifted her bow with determination, her hands shaking slightly from excitement and nerves. "I won't!" she called, taking careful aim at the target Misty had indicated—a small wooden post placed earlier for practice.
Misty darted forward, weaving between trees, ears flicking at every sound, tail lashing in excitement. Scarlett followed her movements with her eyes, trying to anticipate her path. She released the first arrow. Thwack! It landed harmlessly a foot away from the post. Scarlett groaned.
"Hey! Watch where you're aiming!" Misty barked playfully, bounding around another tree.
Scarlett bit her lip, drew another arrow, and tried again. Thwack! Closer this time, but still off by a few inches. She exhaled, her frustration mixing with determination. She couldn't let this defeat her. Not when Misty was out there, moving like a shadow through the forest, trusting her to do her part.
Hours passed in a rhythm of arrows and pounces. Misty would run, darting through the forest with effortless grace, while Scarlett took careful aim at the posts and branches marked as their "prey." Sometimes the arrows missed; sometimes they landed close enough to give Scarlett a small thrill of accomplishment. They chased each other across the clearing, laughed at their mistakes, and celebrated the rare moments when an arrow landed exactly where she wanted it.
By mid-afternoon, Scarlett's arms ached, her hands were sore, and her cheeks were flushed from both effort and laughter. Misty came to her side, panting but glowing with energy, her wolf form still sleek and silver in the sun.
"You're getting better," Misty said, sitting back on her haunches and wagging her tail. "Just a little more practice and you'll be perfect."
Scarlett smiled, brushing dirt from her knees. "I think I'm getting the hang of it… kind of." She chuckled, shaking her head. "You make it look so easy, Misty. I feel like I'll never be that fast or precise."
Misty padded closer, nudging Scarlett's shoulder gently with her snout. "You don't have to be fast like me. You have your own skills. Archery is your strength. Trust yourself. I trust you."
Scarlett felt warmth bloom in her chest. Misty's words always seemed to give her courage, a quiet push to keep trying, to keep learning. "Thanks," she said softly. "I'll do my best."
They continued their practice until the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Scarlett had missed more times than she had hit, but she didn't care. The laughter, the chase, and the bond she felt with Misty were more important than perfection.
"Race back to the fortress?" Misty barked, her wolf ears flicking.
Scarlett nodded, letting go of her bow and sprinting after Misty. The wolf bounded ahead, agile and unstoppable, but Scarlett ran with all her heart, her feet pounding the soft earth. She didn't win the race—but she didn't fall behind either.
Panting, the girls collapsed on the grass near the courtyard's edge, Scarlett leaning against Misty as she shifted back into her human form. Misty laughed, brushing her hair back from her face. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"
Scarlett shook her head, smiling despite her exhaustion. "No… it was amazing. I've never had so much fun before. I… I'm glad I have you as a friend, Misty."
Misty's grin softened, her eyes warm. "Me too, Scar. Me too. We'll keep getting better together, no matter what."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of pink and orange, Scarlett and Misty packed up their gear and walked toward the fortress, side by side. Scarlett's arms ached, her hands were sore, but her heart felt light. She didn't know what the future held, whether she would ever be as fast as Misty or as powerful as the wolf-born children in the pack—but she knew one thing for certain: with Misty by her side, she could face anything, even the challenges that had seemed impossible just a few months ago.
That night, as Scarlett lay in bed, her muscles tired but her mind racing with excitement, she thought about the day's adventure. For the first time, she didn't feel ordinary. She felt capable, brave, and alive. Misty had given her more than friendship—she had given her a sense of belonging.
And deep down, Scarlett knew that this was just the beginning.