Page 45 of Emerald Moon
Jo nodded.“I’m fine.Just tired.I’m going to go get dressed.”
As they put back on the clothes they’d abandoned by the edge of the forest, Jo got a flash of a crystal clear picture in their mind of running into a creek after, what looked like, Wil and Harry’s wolves.Jo rushed to finish putting on their shirt and made their way over to Wil standing at the tree line.
“Wil, I remember something.”Jo meant to say it louder, but it came out a whisper.
”What?”Wil asked, turning her attention to her friend.
Jo turned towards her, jaw slack and eyes narrowed as they thought through what was going through their mind.“I remember something.”
”You remember something you need to do or —“
”When we were wolves, did I chase after you and Harry in a creek?”
Wil’s eyes widened with recognition.“Oh my god, Jo.Is this your first memory of being a wolf?Yes, you absolutely did.You ended up catching Harry.You’re telling me you remember this?”
Jo nodded.
”This is huge!You’ve made such progress.Jo, I’m so happy for you!”Wil clapped her hands in front of her chest.Wil embraced them, her curls tickling Jo’s cheek.She squeezed harder as she added.“We have to tell the others.They’ll be so excited.”
”Of course, yeah.I just wanted to tell you first.”
Wil tightened her arms around them one last time before pulling back.She grabbed hold of Jo’s hand, gently tugging them forward.“Do you want to go tell Alpha Parisa?”
Jo agreed, excitement bubbling up in their chest as reality set in.They had their first memory as a wolf.And it was a good one.Jo had been playing with their friends.It was exactly the sort of thing they’d wished they could remember, and now that they could — at least this one tiny memory — it made part of them feel more complete.
”Alpha Parisa!Beta Seraphine!”Jo yelled, bouncing on the balls of their feet near their Alpha and Beta as Wil let go of their hand.“I’ve got some news.”
Parisa, still looking flawless even after changing back into clothes that had been left outside for days, turned towards them with a smile.“Can’t wait to hear it.”
”I remembered something!From being a wolf!I mean, I have my first memory of something I did with the pack when I was a wolf.Wil told me it was true, that it was something that really happened.I’m starting to remember!”
Seraphine’s face lit up.“Oh Jo, that’s fantastic!”
”You’ve come a long way already.”Alpha Parisa had a nurturing pride in her expression.
”You’re going to start remembering more and more from now on, and you’ll share all the wonderful pack memories we have.I’m happy for you.We’re all happy for you.Or we will be if you haven’t told everyone yet,” Seraphine added.
”Not yet.I told Wil right away and then you two.”
”Can we tell them now?I mean, not us, but you, and now?The sooner the better.But only if you want to, of course.”Seraphine was struggling to contain her excitement.
Jo was, too.They spun on their heels to face the rest of the pack scattered around in small groups or standing alone as they prepared to leave the woods.“Hey everyone!”
“I had my first wolf memory!”
The pack erupted in cheers and clapping and, in moments, Jo was surrounded by their packmates as they hugged and patted them on the back enthusiastically.If this was as good as it felt to be around their pack while human, Jo couldn’t wait to remember more of what it was like to be together as a pack of wolves.
As soon as they could pull themselves free of their pack, Jo rushed up the steps to the Crooked Creek Pack house, eager to find Cass and Krista and tell them.They found Krista first, lounging on one of the couches in the great room.
“You’re never going to guess what happened.”
“Did you —”
“I had my first wolf memory!I remembered playing in the creek with Harry and Wil.It was totally clear, like I was still there experiencing it.And Wil told me it was true, that it was something that really happened.I did it!I really did it!”
“Oh babe, that’s fantastic.”Krista shot up from the couch and wrapped her arms around Jo’s shoulders.“It’s only going to get better from here on out.”
“I know!I know and I’m so excited.”Jo couldn’t stop themselves from bouncing on the balls of their feet.
