“If someone put her up to it, I'll bet they are having a good laugh at our expense, but I doubt it. She looks too wild and panicked to be pranking us.”
“I think you’re right,” Barbara said softly, sitting down on the couch next to the strange wolf. “Okay, ma’am, how about you shift back into your human form and talk to us?”
The wolf whined and hopped down from the couch, looking back and forth between Tristan and Barbara in dismay.
“Is it just me, or does she look embarrassed?” Barbara asked.
“Well, I guess there's only one way to figure this out,” Tristan said before shifting to his wolf form so he might have a better chance at wolf-wolf communication rather than the strange human-to-wolf non-pack link.
Barbara watched as her husband effortlessly shifted from human to wolf. She loved watching his transformation. He was simply stunning as a wolf. He was much larger than the small gray female who had invaded their home. She had to believe the female had come in peace and meant no harm. It was easy to tell from her demeanor.
He circled the female twice before shifting back to his human form.
“You're not gonna believe this.” Tristan ran his fingers through his hair. The look of disbelief was plastered to his hands and face.
“What?” Barbara asked.
“It's Sara!”
“I'm sorry. It sounded like you said that’s Sara?” Barbara swore that her eyes bugged out of her damn head. “Like, new witch in town, Sara?”
“Yep! That's exactly what I said,” Tristan replied.
“That’s impossible. She’s not a shifter.”
Tristan shrugged, pulling on his clothes. “Well, it’s her, alright.”
Barbara's head snapped to the small gray wolf. “Sara? Is that really you? How is this possible?”
The wolf trotted over to her and whined again.
“No way! You need to shift back to your human form, and we clearly need to have a chat!” Barbara couldn't believe her eyes. She wouldn't believe it until she saw Sara shift from wolf to human.
The Sara wolf let out a single, sad howl before training her eyes on the ground in front of her.
“Why won't she shift back to her human form?” Barbara asked, turning to Tristan.
Tristan cocked his head and stared at Sara. “I don't think she knows how.”
Barbara turned back to Sara to see her nodding her head up and down. “Huh. Good guess, honey. This is way too weird.”
Barbara crouched down to be at eye level with Sara. “Listen up, sweetie. All you have to do to shift is to imagine yourself as a human. It's going to feel strange, but you have to allow that magic to overcome you. To swallow you whole. You understand that about magic, right?”
The wolf nodded in agreement.
“Good. Now, don't fight it because if you do, it's going to hurt like hell. Now, take a deep breath and picture yourself in human form. And just remember to follow through with the magic behind it. Don't be scared. Don't panic. You'll be just fine.”
The atmosphere in the living room changed. Barbara could feel the shifter magic all around her. She saw Sara's body begin to vibrate. “Just like that. You've got this. Don't fight the magic,” she encouraged her friend through the transition.
“Did I do it?” Sara asked before collapsing to the ground.
“Oh my, Tristan! Is she okay?” Barbara cried out as Sara fainted.
“What the hell just happened?” Tristan shouted, lunging for Sara.
“Get her up on the couch,” Barbara said before dashing to the bathroom to grab a wet washcloth.
Quickly grabbing the needed supplies, Barbara rushed back to the living room to help her friend.