Return to Nature: Fur and Fury

Atticus felt most alive in the wild. The forest was where the world made sense—straightforward, honest, and untamed. He carried that truth into his work as a lumberjack, the rhythm of axes and saws, the scent of pine sap and earth grounding him in ways that city life never could. Tonight, he’d return to his small cabin, content, save for that nagging feeling at the edge of his mind. Something was off, but try as he might, he couldn’t name it. The next morning Atticus followed his usual routine. The sun streaming through the window dragged him from his bed. He grabbed a towel and headed into the bathroom for his shower. The pour of hot water always felt amazing on his muscles. He quickly washed, dried and got himself ready for work. Jeans and a flannel. Typical lumberjack. He had no need for something fancy though. After his coffee and a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs toast and sausage he climbs into his truck and heads off to the site. The roar of machinery greeted him like a livi

Atticus approached the work building just before sunrise, the horizon a sliver of pale gold barely brushing the treetops. The forest was still, save for the occasional rustle of wind through the pines, and the scent of damp earth hung heavy in the air. In his hands, he carried a small basket of better food—fresh meat, clean water, and a few scraps of fruit he hoped she might like.The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, and he froze.She was sitting upright, her body perfectly still, ears pricked, eyes fixed on the door. Her gaze was sharp, predatory—but there was something more, something aware and intelligent that made him hesitate. He noted the dishes from yesterday; empty. She had eaten. That was a good sign.And yet… something primal tightened his chest. Was she going to attack? Only for a moment did fear flicker, quickly replaced by a strange certainty, deep in the back of his mind, that she wouldn’t hurt him. Slowly, he stepped forward, placing the basket down on the fl

Talia loped into the shadows of the forest, her paws finding rhythm in the familiar cadence of home. The metallic tang of human scent faded behind her, replaced by the cold damp of pine and earth. She didn’t slow until the flicker of two shapes ahead told her she’d caught up to them. Dedrick and Toddry. They stopped when they sensed her fury rolling through the pack link—sharp, cold, and unmistakable. “I was not in danger, and I told you not to come after me!” she snapped, her voice echoing cleanly in their minds. “I wanted to get close to him so I could figure out how to stop their stupid machines!” Dedrick huffed aloud, hackles twitching. “Oh sure. You two looked mighty cozy when we came in. Plus, you know we can’t just leave you alone like that.” Talia rolled her eyes, the motion human even in wolf form. “I’m the pack leader, for heaven’s sake. You think a mere human can overpower me?” Toddry’s mental voice was nervous, higher-pitched. “And what if he shifts? If he gets backe

Sleep was not coming tonight. Atticus lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling, his arms folded behind his head. The hum of the night was alive beyond the walls of his cabin—crickets chirping, wind whispering through pine needles, the distant creak of the forest shifting in its ancient sleep. Normally, those sounds soothed him. Tonight, they felt louder. Closer. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw flashes of the clearing: the wolves circling, the violet-eyed one standing be

 The woods were whispering again. Atticus leaned against the doorframe of the on-site Trailor, gaze fixed on the treeline as twilight melted into night. The air was heavy, thick with the smell of pine sap and damp earth. Beyond the horizon, the moon began to climb—full, fat, silver. Its first light bled through the branches like spilled milk. He should’ve gone home hours ago. The men had left, the equipment was