Pine Peak Sanctuary Máni

July 4th Full Moon
@Katya

---

Traveling to the Sanctuary was new, especially for a full moon for her. Thankfully, Katya had all the information needed for it and they were set. It was an easy air for conversation on the way over and Natalie did her best to push off the worry that was strumming through at every heartbeat like a chord just not hitting right. If after this she woke up with no recollection again, then, well… that was something to deal with when they got there. For right now, she’d focus on pushing off the wolf that was excitedly wiggling around, thrilled about this whole set up.

What a way to spend Fourth of July, too. Occasionally, there'd been the rumble of a pop making its way into the car from firecrackers being shot off down streets and neighborhoods they'd passed. In another life, she'd be going to view the fireworks by the lake in Denver and waving around sparklers with family as they waited for the grand show. Now, she'd be celebrating it with a shift, not exactly something to get excited about unless you liked being torn apart into a different form forcibly. On the bright side though, Katya was going to be with her, already tons better than last moon where change of plans last minute seemingly from everyone had left Natalie shifting in the darkened forest by herself.

Arriving at the gate that opened with the code Katya had, they were soon going up the driveway and towards the parking lot as Natalie looked over to Katya. ”Have you ever run into the bears here?” There was a good chance, right? Funny how she was going from bear territory to bear territory lately.

The firecrackers weren’t a big deal for her. A bit of an internal jerk each time she heard one go off, but no biggie all in all.

There were more important things to think about, like where Natalie’s head was at on the drive in. Because, like, she was sensitive in ways Katya admired. Oh, also, there was the fact that Katya hadn’t shifted with another wolf in like, forever. Which honestly wasn’t a major problem. She had enough canine companionship just by living with Natalie, but that didn’t mean this wasn’t a freaking treat for her.

Even though the reason for it was kinda... depressing, she’d still take it.

”I have. My impression is that they’re pretty chill. A little bear dumb, but chill.” She pulled into a free parking space, having taken charge of driving only because she already knew the way. ”They’ve got some kinda beef with the other bears in town though which, juicy.”

The response had her laughing, the description bringing up the image of a giant brown bear head, with a blank expression. Or Yogi bear. It was a guilty sort of amusement that came with it all. At least they sounded really nice.

Fiddling with the door handle, a nervous tick that had nothing to do with Katya and everything to do with herself, she took in the new area as they went, the wolf very close, ready to smell and roll around everywhere. This place definitely had a different feel to it than Graupel had. News of having problems with Levka’s group was new to her and it was hard to imagine the polite man she’d met having a gripe with a whole other group when he’d been nothing, but welcoming to her. But, things could happen she supposed. ”Really? I wonder why.”

She smirked when Natalie laughed, selfishly satisfied that they were managing to pull through with humour during an antsy time of the month. The little door handle tic went noticed out of the corner of her eye, but she steered clear from assumptions.

”Freaking same. They’re kinda tight-lipped about it too, but I do know these dudes aren’t allowed in Graupel, period. Apparently if they set toe up there they’d get like... literally torn to pieces,” Katya pulled a grimace at Natalie.

Headlights off. Ignition off.

Her eyes widened at the idea. That seemed entirely too much for a quarrel. They wouldn’t spill the beans, but apparently it was bad enough to warrant tearing people into pieces. ”Geeze, it sounds like some kind of decades old grudge when it’s put like that.” And seemingly a very hard path to whatever resolution would be needed.

Car off and she had the door opened before unbuckling, a curl of tension abating. Stepping out of the car, the evening air clutched them as she grabbed her bag from the backseat, hoisting straps over shoulders.

Yeah, the eye widening was mirrored. She nodded in unneeded confirmation to further solidify what she’d heard. ”Forreal.”

Katya simply... dragged her tote bag from the back, roughly pulling it over her shoulder before she joined Natalie outside. There was more to be said, but in that moment she just stopped arm to arm with her, trying for a soothing touch. And a smile, as she looked up at her.

Katya grabbed her bag and then one of Natalie’s arms. She happily hugged it to her for a second, meeting the smile with a tried one of her own.

”So, which way?”

There was a cabin, a smaller building with a sign reading lockers, and then plenty of open area past where they were.

”Do you have a favorite spot?”

Maybe, if she didn't talk about the elephant in the room it'd be okay.

”Not really. I just walk for like ten minutes in any direction. Spontaneity.” Even in the dark, she tried for an overly emphasised wink which honestly just looked like a bug had landed in her eye. Fucking wink wonk much.

”Shit,” she laughed at her own failure. Whatever. ”Let’s head this way.” Katya pointed towards a small thicket of trees, moving towards it.

”That works, too,” Natalie responded, gaze brimming in mirth at the over the top winking. A laugh escaped with Katya’s own, finding it all too good.

A point in the direction of trees and off they went. ”Perfect.”

Trail crunching underfoot soon enough, she looked once back to the car and then forward, taking note of where the moon was slowly rising over the mountain ridge miles off. Every inch up brought with it uncertainty of the future. What if she really was stuck as a wild animal every night again? What if that poison theory or vampire theory wasn’t right? ”If I, uh,” she shook her head, not exactly sure where that train of thought was going and just let it die.

”Remind me we need to grab some sparklers tomorrow before things shut down for the holiday.” If they were missing festivities, even if her wolf didn’t really like the giant booms and it made her skin crawl, they had to make up for it somehow.

She’d done this so many times by now. Shifted. Katya wondered when it’d become so casual to walk around in the middle of the night, tote on shoulder, heading through big ass woodlands for safety.

Had it been with the Pack? Not... really. She’d never been independent during those shifts, never been best friends with everyone like she would’ve liked, and to top it off she’d always been uncomfortable with seeing the naked dudes and their dicks.

Which meant it’d probably started being the norm when she’d set off from Ridgefield, and had to adapt while on the road. Yeah.

Natalie’s mumble broke the silence and had Katya gazing back up to her. She hummed, noting it. ”You know Fourth of July was never really a thing in my house?”

”Really?” But, the bbq and games and fireworks, it never felt like summer was officially here unless that happened in her mind. Though, all families were different and this was just a reminder of that.

”Did you watch the fireworks at least?” Be it on tv or at a park somewhere.

Katya tried not to, because they were majorly bad for the environment. But she knew better than to say that and risk a drift in conversation right now, SO. (*｡_｡)_

She raised a hand and wobbled it, gesturing 50-50. ”Kindaaa,” she said along with it, and squeezed in past some evergreen trees. ”But the only things we really properly celebrated were Easter and Christmas. Sometimes I did Halloween though, obviously.”

Heh.

Kinda, sorta, so not much. The religious holidays though looked like they were the main thoroughfare. Halloween was a must and a smile whipped up as she stepped over a trunk.

”You have to do that one for sure if nothing else.”

She smiled, huffing a kind of snort. ”Are you big on holidays? Are we gonna be having some kinda Halloween party I don’t know about yet?”

Was she ever! ”Oh, those are so fun! I haven’t had one of those in a looong time,” Natalie smiled with some giddiness at just the thought. How cool would that be?

”And to answer your question, yes! Especially Halloween, it’s my favorite.” What she wouldn’t give to be in fall right now with the morning fog, grey skies, brittle branches, the promise of all things spoOoOky on tv and at stores, as the smells of cinnamon and nutmeg perfumed the air.

Okay not necessarily a conversation for right now, but like-

”We could do that, you know. Like a party. If it’s something you ever wanted,” Katya found herself saying and honestly, it surprised her. Because like... she wasn’t the most selfless thinker. Kinda selfish, most of the time, really.

Under the safety of the dark green trees, she found herself walking side by side again. A tiny smile tugged at her lips.

”How are you feeling about like, being housemates so far?”

They could do that? She looked over at her with sparkling eyes, clasping hands together. ”Really? I’d love that.” Who all that entailed was a mystery to solve whenever they were serious about that sort of plan.

And then a bank to a different topic had Natalie wondering what’d brought that on. Hopefully, she wasn’t being a bad roommate. ”Good, I’ve been liking it. It’s nice to have company and get to spend time with you. How about you?”

Thank fuck her report card wasn't coming back bad. She'd kinda been worried Natalie might be feeling differently to her for no particular reason, so. It was good to know they were still on the same wavelength.

She grinned sweetly, trying to hold a hand around her friend's elbow as they walked. "Same, it's like-" Katya paused for a split second, trying to articulate. "I feel like an idiot for missing out on it before. It's just, like, really calming having you around? For my girl, too. She hasn't got reason to yowl about being lonely."

Same! Thankfully! It wasn’t starting with a thousand slide powerpoint which was a relief.

Allowing the hold happily, Natalie listened as Katya worked on explaining. She’d been missing out on this, a resounding thought that perfectly encapsulated where Natalie was on this as well. ”That's so good to hear,” she hummed with a big smile. Bumping a hip into her, Natalie continued on. ”I’m really glad you brang it up and it’s working out for us both.”

Hip bump. Katya giggled, rebounding to the side a bit. She acknowledged this moment for what it was, cherishing it while it lasted. Who the fuck knew when she'd get a shot to shift with Natalie or another wolf again?

"Same." She took a breath, smiling, and then repeated herself with more sentimentality behind the tone. "Same."

Idle chatter and another five minutes later, they came upon an area where the trees had spread out a little. Nothing like, staggering, but enough for them to shift safely. "Think this looks good?" Katya checked with her.

So far, this was an easier march to the unknown that she would’ve expected. It was like night and day between the last moon and now. Katya’s steady presence was a shining light that made it harder to worry about much else besides the moment and she was infinitely grateful for her friendship, letting her tag along in what otherwise would be a solo shift.

With time under their belts, more of the trail behind them, eventually Katya was calling it. A look around the area’s trees and she felt the hints of uncertainty rising again as the sun continued its setting, casting long darkened shadows. ”Yeah, this is fine,” she agreed. Nothing was wrong with the place and her wolf was antsy, probably about to really suggest shifting in a few minutes for all she was being as polite as could be expected at this moment.

Picking a bush a few feet away, she began sliding off her bag to set there.

Too easy. She aimed for a reassuring smile and when Natalie began sliding off her bag near a bush, she did the same a short ways off.

Undressing was quick work, and she wouldn’t make a point of avoiding looking towards Natalie or looking at her, either. Just, like. Minding her own business as she usually would?

Sigh. Some people had made this shit weird. Like, in the old Pack, dangling dicks in your face and all. She hadn’t been into that, and she’d only really learned to grow comfortable in her own skin after doing it alone so many times since then.

Once the clothes were off she would kinda just... stand there. And glance over her shoulder, waiting for her to go first, if she wanted. Because for all that this was bonding, Katya had a purpose beyond easing the tension and that was to look out for her friend.

Trying to stifle a sigh, she turned away from Katya and undressed, each piece of garment feeling like another layer of uncertainty took residence its place. She didn’t want to shift. Normally it was just an accepted thing at this point, but now it was an unequivocally clear change that lurched into a beating heart. There was no way to tell how this would go and not having a memory was a fear that was a rising demon of panic that had been pretty easy to beat back till reality was staring her right into the face, the full moon steadily climbing in a timer.

As the summer air took residence where fabric had before, Natalie felt a gaze on her. Balling up her hands, she let them wring out and then balled them up again. ”I’m honestly scared,” she managed to get out as steady as possible, though a slight tremble snuck in. A hand pushed a strand of hair behind and ear. Shaking her head, she took in a steadying breath. Natalie wasn’t alone, it would be okay

The wolf didn’t want to wait for more conversation, this was as good of a greenlight as any and it rushed to begin without consent on its night, a gasp of pain escaping her.

She hadn’t expected that. Like, to be verbalised, so Katya’s expression immediately drooped into a worried frown. God, her fucking heart ached for Natalie. Honestly.

This was so shit. So fucking shit, when she thought about it from a perspective that was not her own shitty selfish one. When she let herself empathise.

Katya considered what would be the best answer to that. Best was to reassure her, without promising anything she couldn’t know for sure. But her wolf had other plans, and her mouth was left hanging slightly when Natalie began her literal descent to the ground.

She’d give it a bit, and then join her in that. When it was all said and done her wolf’s first course of action would be to just...

Be there, for her. Hi.

A fight against a shift was definitely on the books of something a newbie learned very quickly not to do. Natalie was on course to relearn that all over again as the shift came in spasms as she pushed against it, every wave of cracking and breaking that much more painful. She didn’t want to find out the answer to the question since last moon. If it turned out to be the worst case scenario, who was to say she’d ever remember a shift again?

But even with whatever brakes should could slam in the way, eventually she was forced to succumb to the shift. Fully furred and with a still fearful beating heart, heavy breaths escaped as the new wolf took in the clearing. And there, not really in charge, but definitely present was Natalie, thankfully still aware and not stuck in the dark. The sudden approach of Katya’s wolf had her getting to paws, rushing forward with whines to lean against the other. It was okay.

Living together meant she’d grown really familiar with Natalie’s wolf overtime, so some of that transferred to her dogbrain in this moment. Not all of it, but a lot of it if she was gonna be honest.

Katya would’ve liked to be totally present as Natalie bounded towards her, but the whines kinda did it for her. Sinking in to the simple existence that was... being a dog, she pressed her face all over hers. Under her neck, too, which she shoved up in her carefree attempts to comfort.

Face and neck rubs were immediately comforting, the subtle shaking of her body calming down. She was aware of every touch, not exactly the one calling the one making the choices, but Natalie was present. If a wolf could cry hers would be doing so right now out of happy relief.

”Okay,” she managed to get out, garbled, but it was needing to be said.

Okay?

”Okay,” she grumbled deeply in reply, finding Natalie’s fur to be all kinds of soft. Her tail wagged with a lazy kinda happiness behind her, and—

Oop.

She circled around to try and sniff her butt. Definitely the purest form of comfort, sure.

It was said right back to her and a yawn ending in a squeak was given back with a slow tail wag.

Watching Katya trot around, the sniff towards her butt had the wolf putting up with it for a moment before spinning around. A playful snap at a leg was tried before bouncing back.

She was just chECkINg SOMETHING, poking her nose to her butt when after a couple moments, Natalie snapped towards her leg.

Wolfya squeaked, not unlike how she just had—probably louder, though—and bounced back, setting off into one hell of a run.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

The squeak just egged her on as the wolf bolted away. Setting off after, she barked in excitement, the ground flying by easily as her body fluidly ran, each lunging step further pushing away all the eating feelings from minutes ago.

Putting a burst of power into hind legs, she tried to give a nip to a flank while pulling up close by.

---

Miss

Nothing beat the feeling of running like a wolf. Fucking nothing.

Her paws thundered across the thin layer of grass coating the forest floor, echoed closely behind by a trailing Natalie. A trailing Natalie who was moving in closer, trying to nip along her sensitive little flank.

Oh no you don’t. (۶•̀ᴗ•́)۶

Using her upper body, Wolfya tried to shove her away, hard, which in turn sacrificed a great deal of speed.

---

SHE MISSES

Her teeth missed and then Katya was made to push into her. Playful growl escaping, she side-stepped though part of her frame still hit true causing steps to awkwardly hit the ground for a beat before back into rhythm.

Falling back too, the only in reach part was that fluffy tail and her mouth chomped at it nicely.

---

hit!

It was like a ricochet. A reverse ricochet? Were those a thing?

Natalie snagged her tail and Wolfya all but bounced back with a BIG FAT WHINE, paws scrambling beneath her. She was like, not that great at twisty body movements, so for the moment she just snapped angrily at the air, trying to wag her tail out of her mouth.

---

FAIL TAIL RELEASE

That had the other head back her way and ears went up in surprise, already pushing back against the earth to stop a collision. Sorted, there was a lot trying to remove her hold and she only kept on with it, lowering to the floor some, a playful growl escaping at the snapping.

And then! She let go, aiming to jump into her to barrel Katya over.

---

but it misses

FREEDOM.

Her tail could wave around again. By the time she had eyes on Natalie, she was coming at her. She wouldn’t barrel all of her down, but she did manage to knock out her hind legs and unbalance her as Katya went to bite at her face. Growl.

Like, playful. But still. Growl.

---

SHE MISS

That got some wavering movement, a foreleg coming over brown fur to help in the push. And suddenly there was a mouth coming at her face. Moving back, it still managed to partly nip at a cheek that garnered a squeak.

And then she jerked back out to aim a bite into ruff, ready to lean back.

---

hit

Okay, this was fine.

This was totally fine.

Except the sharp bite at her neck did something. There was some, like... dominant part of Katya’s brain being activated. Pretty sure she could viscerally feel it, and it was decidedly weird, and new, and a little unwanted in this moment.

But it meant she didn’t think at all about the force she had when she snapped at Natalie’s left foreleg (her left, not Katya’s).

---

She hit sob

That brought with it a retaliation in a bite at her left foreleg, a retaliation expected, but the force wasn't by far. The feeling of pressured teeth that weren’t friendly brought with it a full on yelp as she tried to wrangle away from the sharp mouth. It hurt! This wasn't part of the game. Ears flattened and if let go she’d skedaddle back a few steps, giving distance.

Aerial shot: a messy flurry of two timber wolves fighting with no real logic between them. Growls, teeth, snaps, curling, and waving tails which had increased in fluff size.

Get this on camera, you creepy National Geographic cameramen who got off on filming animal mating scenes.

Wolfya had no intention of holding onto Natalie. Instead she prepared to lunge again, and she did, but she had enough sense to not actually aim for anything but air as she melted into a brief comedown. Oh, wait. Why were her ears down?

Jaws clamped shut loudly and she stopped in the spot, poofed up and silent, her only movement her breathing.

Another lunge and she took a step back, warily watching as the foreleg tucked against her frame being rather over the top. But it had hurt and it was okay to be a drama queen sometimes when it got biting to stop.

Body language read, her friend was giving her a moment and she tested that leg out delicately. It was fine, all tendons and toes seemed in order. More pressure, sore, but okay, an elk had done her more damage before.

Tail slowly waving, she eyed her before giving a small jump up down into a play bow. They had time to go again before hunting, right?

Bad. Bad Katya, she scolded in her brain. More so at the impulse than the act itself, but. Yeah.

Her fur began to slowly flatten as Natalie tested the leg out, tail picking up again in response to hers. Then there was a play bow and...

Katya tried to roll into her with her weight, gently this time, so they could both topple over in a bundle of wolfish love and nibbles. Maybe playing on the ground would be safer.

---

She fail topple

That brought a wolf coming at her into a roll that she managed to side wind around mostly until not, losing footing. Joining the roll to the ground, an amused huff escaped before making to wriggle over all sneaky but not sneaky like for a nip at an elbow.

---

miss

They rolled down, but not with the advantage Katya would’ve liked. Which was fine because she really wasn’t a sparring mastermind in any form, SO.

Spinning her head around, Wolfya opened her jaws to face the side of Natalie’s face. Not intending to like bite but just to like. Hold. And annoy her with her teeth, as she puffed noisy breaths out of her wet nose.

---

She succeed

Instead of an elbow her own mouth, she just got fur and then a sudden mouth was all over her face. Eyes widened, mirth dancing through as she realized what was going on. The nose puffs tickled, fur brushing this way and that.

Front paws coming up she made an open mouth play growl while trying to push off the bothersome maw.

---

miss

Katya felt so close to Natalie, and it was absolutely because she literally was in the physical sense. Hi. Hi hi hi. She gave out little useless breaths and grumbles as the other wolf tried to push her off.

What if this like-

What if she-

It was just really tempting, because her teeth were already all over Natalie’s face, that she began nibbling at the other wolf in a grooming fashion. Multi-taskers of the animal kingdom. (๑>◡<๑)

No use. She was stuck. Entrapped.

Instead of more playful clamping, grooming nibbles were in place, a change in fashion yet still a type of hold probably. Resigned to the attention with a long huff, her tail did an occasional small thump in appreciation, leaning into it.

This was so good.

She felt Natalie's wolf resign and lean into it, but like, just to be sure she had her for real, Katya flung a foreleg over her back. Cuddle and groom, with every other nibble a bit of a mean one.

---

She succeed

A leg came over her back and it was all over, there was no room to wiggle escape for real, for real, unless of course she wanted to bolt out of there.

This was nice except for every random mean nibble. It became a pattern that eventually she peeled lips at each time a sharp pull of fur was had, a soft growl only escaping then before visibly relaxing and quieting when it went away only to start back up again.

This was so good for the wolven ego in a way which was straight up BAD.

Wolfya kept on with the nibbles, throwing in a useless lick here and there every time Natalie (with every right) got growly. When Katya finally got both bored and tired she plopped her head down on the ground, watching her friend through affectionate yellow eyes.

Big fluffy tail thumps. She wiggled her paws with the promise of energy still yet to be exerted.