Chapter Four - The Melding of Minds

Annebeth awakes from her dream with a completely new perspective. Will she be able to keep her Inner Wolf a secret? Or will her father find out about it?

        Annebeth awoke the next morning, thinking of what Samwelai had shown her, and found that she was not afraid of wolves anymore. It was as if she had been having a nightmare about wolves, and now she has finally awoken for a bright, new day without fear. Annebeth smiled to herself. And it's all thanks to Samwelai. Without him, I would never have overcome my fear of wolves.

       Samwelai's voice came into her mind and she had to laugh. Indeed, young one. I am glad you have realized this.

       You still have the arrogance you had as a pup, don't you, Samwelai? He did not respond, but Annebeth knew that he was embarassed that she had noticed.

       You try having an apparent flaw, then have someone laugh at you for it! You'd be embarassed too!

       I wasn't laughing at you! I'm just...amused that you still have it. This, however, did nothing for Samwelai, who retorted to sulking in the back of her mind. She had to laugh again, and Samwelai said nothing, which surprized her. He was always talking about something to her. Why was he so silent? Had she truly hurt Samwelai? She tried to see what Samwelai was thinking, like he did to her, but she only reached a mental roadblock. Samwelai's message was clear. He did not want to talk to her, which hurt Annebeth, who had grown used to his constant chatter.

      After several minutes, when it seemed like he would never talk again, Samwelai spoke again. Do that again, and it will last longer! Annebeth mentally nodded, and Samwelai told her that, in order to maintain their secret, she would need to act as if she were still afraid of wolves. Annebeth agreed that she would pretend that it was a dream.

      A good idea, but don't overplay it, or they might get suspicious, or even think that you are 'ill in the head', as they say today. Annebeth mentally grinned and got dressed. It was a Saturday, and she didn't need to get ready for school. So Annebeth went downstairs to eat her breakfast.

    "Good morning, sweetie. Did you sleep well?" her mother gently asked. Annebeth nodded.

    "I had this crazy dream last night that I wasn't afraid of wolves. It was so ridiculous, it was almost funny! Well, it would have been if there weren't wolves in them," Annebeth replied, acting as if something frightened her. Her mother laughed and replied, "Yes, it is silly. Then again, most dreams are silly. I'm sure we've all had the 'At School in my Underwear' dream, right?" Annebeth nodded and smiled, remembering the night she'd had it.

    Her father, however, did not laugh and share the time he'd had it. There was a distant look in his eyes, as if he were looking far away.

    "Dad? Are you...okay?" Annebeth asked, slightly worried. Did he think she was 'ill in the head'?

    "Annebeth, can I talk with you in my room for a minute?" Annebeth nodded, trying to act nonchallant.

     I told you not to overplay it! Samwelai scolded, anger and venom in his voice. Annebeth mentally shrank away from his wrath, but kept a calm look on her face.

    "Annebeth, I think I know what you aren't telling us. Do you have an Inner Wolf? Tell me the truth, I won't tell your mother."

    What should I do, Samwelai? Should I tell him, or should I hide it frm him? Annebeth asked frantically.

    Either way, he knows about Inner Wolves. I personally think he could help us, but it's your choice.

    "You're right, Dad. I have an Inner Wolf. His name is Samwelai." Her father's face suddenly contorted with rage, his face turning red and then...gray...and furry. Annebet watched in horror as her father transformed into a large gray wolf, with glowing red eyes like to balls of lava.

   It's him! The alpha that I made enemies with in my past life! Run, Annebeth! Run away, quickly! Annebeth heard Samwelai screaming, but her legs were not responding, so frozen in fear was she. Samwelai decided to take matters into his own paws and do as he had when they first began talking: change her into a wolf and flee!

   Anebeth watched as she too became a wolf. But she wasn't a male wolf with red eyes. She was a female version of Samwelai's adult form, with green eyes and the wing markings as well. Her father - or at least, the wolf who once was her father - narrowed his eyes even further, until they were slits of red, making the room appear as if it were on fire. Annebeth knew she should run, but a deeper instinct, as if from another time, guided her into something else. Her wolf form eyes glowed a dazzling green as she and Samwelai became one mind and one body. Afterwards, Annebeth and Samwelai honestly couldn't tell where Annebeth ended and Samwelai began.

   Annebeth and Samwelai watched as their wing markings became real, white, feathery wings. They watched as the alpha shrank away from them in fear and returned to his human form and his eyes were blueish green once more. Annebeth and Samwelai also returned to human form and were separate minds once more. Annebeth went to her father, who was crying now.

  "Dad, what happened? Why did you change into a wolf?" Through his tears, her father explained.

   "My Inner Wolf was Samwelai's bitter rival, his former alpha. He also gave me his name, which I thought would give me power over him. It actually did the reverse. I suddenly couldn't control him. When he heard that you had Samwelai, he was so enraged that he wanted to kill both of you - well, you, anyway, since Samwelai was already dead. No offence to you, Samwelai.

  None recieved, came the Inner Wolf's audible reply.

  Wait a minute, you actually talked! Aloud! How did you do that? Samwelai chuckled.

  I just talked a little louder. That's the easiest way I can put it without confusing you.

  Annebeth's father was still slumped on the ground, his tears dried on his face. Annebeth could have sworn she still felt the dead alpha's rage through her father's grief. Then, something went even worse. Her father suddenly stood, his eyes red once more. This time, his voice was a distorted version of his normal voice.

  "I was sent by the ruler of the realm of those who were evil to try and gain power over Wolf Heaven through a girl named Annebeth and an Inner Wolf named Samwelai. He knew I would be the only one to let him through to Wolf Heaven, where its ruler would soon perish. I see you won't willingly join me, but I have no problem with that. I also see that Annebeth wonders about her destiny. I can help, little one. Your destiny is to kill the leader of Wolf Heaven. And I'm going to help you. " The distorted voice of her father cackled as he waited for self-doubt to settle in. He didn't count on Samwelai copying him and speaking through Annebeth. Her eyes turned green once more, and her voice changed as well, but it didn't distort. It simply changed.

   "This girl's destiny is not to destroy or kill. None know her destiny yet. You cannot possibly know it. Now just leave this poor man alone so he can live a peaceful life!"

   "Leave him alone? Why? So that good will win and evil perish? Never!" With that, he siezed control over Annebeth, but not Samwelai.

    "Listen up, human. You will kill the leader of Wolf Heaven and let evil prevail!" Annebeth, unable to fight the evil spirit wolf, was about to reply when Samwelai intervened and broke the spell by returning her to her human form. Annebeth shook her head and leaptout the window. Samwelai allowed her to transform into a wolf when she landed so she would be able to just continue her journey. Then she was gone, lost in the shadows of nighttime. Her father, once more in control, sobbed as he stared at the place he'd last seen her in a wounded shock. Unbeknownst to Annebeth, that was the last time she'd see her father as a sane human.