“It’s been waxing for weeks now,” Meredith whispered eerily to her little brother Austin. “Friday evening should be the full moon and then the ritual begins.”

The moon had indeed been progressing in size and brightness over the last fortnight as the small village of Wildwood prepared for the next yearling festival which would take place on the full moon. Austin appeared trepidatious, shaking visibly at his sister’s words. It was his year. He was 12 years old and it was his turn to morph into a werewolf for the first time and join his family pack. He truly had nothing to be nervous for…but what if he did not change and became a quirk like his great grandfather? He would be ostracized, exiled by his own pack to live in solitude. Or it could be excruciating when he morphs. Oh no!

“Does it hurt…I mean…morphing…?” He asked, still trembling.

“Not at all, soothed Meredith…until it does,” she added with a naughty smirk which was met by a palm to the back of the head from her mother.

“Young lady…go finish your chores and stop tormenting your brother, she scolded. No, pumpkin, it doesn’t hurt one bit, she reassured, a twinkle of starlight in her canine-like eyes.

“Good,” he sighed, relieved to know this at least, though he still had other fears.

The next two days passed slow as molasses as he waited impatiently for the festival of doom. At last the day approached and the moon was bright as a diamond and round as a ripened peach. Poor Austin trembled as he put on his best suit and prepared to wolf up.

“What if I don’t…you know…change…” he whispered to his dad.

“You will, bud. Don’t worry” he whispered back, patting him on the head.

Still, he worried deeply. So much so that when it was time at last to go to the ceremony, he snuck away to the woods and hid in his safe place. “If I don’t show up, I can’t make a fool of myself” he thought and smiled with relief.

Meanwhile, panic had taken over his pack. It was time for the ceremony and their yearling was nowhere to be seen. They looked in all of his usual haunts but could not find him anywhere and they were running out of time. They heard all of the other yearlings howling in unison and knew they were missing the changing. What a disaster!

Deep in the woods, Austin didn’t care that it was midnight or that he was missing his coming of age ceremony. He was suddenly overcome by a tickling as his body grew fur all over and claws sprouted out of his hands and feet…or well…paws. On that paw, he saw his family crest emerge in purple. He had morphed. He was a real werewolf. And he had missed the ceremony. Without thinking, he too howled at the moon, overcome by instinct and emotion.

“Over there!” he heard a familiar voice shout. It was Meredith, now full wolf. She ran to him and locked him in a sisterly embrace. Soon, his mom and dad joined the cuddle puddle. All was well again. He had morphed but nothing truly changed. He belonged and his pack’s love for him, unlike the moon, would never wane.