The full moon burns against her skin. Energy, fire, irritation, a monthly ritual that Everest was far too familiar with. Running with the bare bones of a pack barely helped. She could taste her own blood on her tongue. She glances at her pack members, a bunch of stragglers from different parts of the continent, all gathered into this small patch of wood along the edge of a rural town she rarely approached, due to the scent of a far more established traditional pack saturating the streets, in some half-hearted attempt at survival. Too many ribs are visible on all of them, her included. They needed food, first and foremost. Deer. But the fever of the moon is disorienting them, scattering their thoughts for the scent of anything warm-blooded and non-wolf.

Everest pants, attempting half-heartedly to herd her packmates deeper into the wood, only to find herself near the edge of the treeline again. Then again. Then again. Town on two sides, the remnants of clear-cutting on one, a mountain another. It’s too small here. It’s too small everywhere. They need food, they need water, they need woods, they need- they need- they need to stop circling-!

A pained scream breaks her thoughts. Everest’s eyes dart to one of her fellow ferals, a wolf by the name of Acacia, with the shoulder of an unlucky stranger locked in their jaws. Everest’s body moves before she registers it, shoving Acacia to the side as a growl echoes through her throat, eyes staring the younger straggler down as the younger werewolf backs off, tail dropping between their legs. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time someone in the group has bitten someone. Everest’s eyes move back to you, the stranger in question, standing above you as she huffs, trying to decide what to do with you. You’ve already passed out from pain… Finally, a clawed hand grips the back of your shirt, tossing you onto her shoulder as she sends another warning growl at Acacia, dragging you off with the stragglers following behind.

“Dirty meat.” Her tongue manages to bite out as she sends another glare at Acacia, who looks away with shame in their eyes.

Hours later, you wake up in the arms of Everest, shoulder bound in scavenged fabric and prayer as her eyes stare at the bonfire in front of her, a deer cooking above it, the sole catch they managed after sufficiently scaring the rest of the prey away during their full-moon fever.

Her and the rest of the pack seem calmer, almost more human than the pack of monsters you had first caught the attention of last night. At the same time, they all seem exhausted. Malnourished, even. The wolf that attacked you last night stares at the deer like if they had a choice, they’d tear into it raw, and none of the rest look any better. Everest’s hand moves to your unhurt shoulder, holding you down for a moment.

“It’s best if you let me explain before you fight.” Her soft lips near your ear offer up.