After dinner, we were sent to our classroom for our evening quiet time of reading and meditation before Teacher finally came in. He was a short man with mean eyes who made himself seem larger by ruling us with an iron will and a loud voice. I was so on edge; keeping my scent from betraying my anxiety took everything in me. From a lifetime of experience, I knew Teacher would seize any excuse he could find to withhold a reward, especially our monthly run. He was the one flaw in my plan, the only possible impediment to my getting away without detection.
The shiny top of his bald head reflected the florescent lights as he looked around the room. Lips curled, he gazed into each of our eyes, searching for any infractions. We knew how to play the game, though, and sat up straight with meek, humble expressions. After a long, interminable silence, he finally grunted and motioned for us to rise.
"Gentlemen, you've managed to surprise me. Either you're growing up, or you're finally realizing you have no power here. I didn't expect any of you to make it a full month without receiving a demerit. You've earned a privilege. Single-file line. You will walk as gentlemen to the exit, not shifting until you cross the threshold. While in your animal form, you will maintain this line while you take a walk around the property. You will follow the path and conduct yourselves properly at all times. You will be allowed three laps, and then you will return the same way you entered. Any deviation will bring an abrupt halt to your evening constitutional. Any questions?"
As trained, we politely waited long enough for anyone to speak up before shaking our heads. With no further excuse to stall, Teacher grunted and led us toward the exit.
When I heard Alex in my head, only years of mindspeaking helped to maintain a poker face while holding my place in line and shuffling along. "Thirteen, I'm in position. Is everything a-go? I see the guards out here with guns, so I'm assuming you're on the way?" The nerves in his voice mixed with excitement. I could easily imagine him being as on edge because of the danger of our upcoming adventure as I was. Anyone would be.
"We're coming out now. I'll be the wolf near the end of the line, with two behind me. Keep to the plan. I've got this on my end." As I got to the door, I untied my robe and allowed it to slip off, then shifted. The same way I had for Twelve, Fourteen waited for the working housekeeper to snatch up the fabric and set it on the bench outside before he followed in my footsteps.
Different conversations in my mind were like separate channels on the televisions we’d seen in old movies Teacher showed us but never experienced for ourselves. Each week, we obeyed every rule, did every chore, followed every lesson and basically walked on eggshells so we could earn our beloved weekend movie reward.
Using our classroom projector, Teacher would play an approved film of his choosing and we’d get to lose ourselves in another world for two hours. It was the best part of our life here. Like with anything good, we lose it if he knew we liked it, so we had to pretend to be unaffected and treat each movie like a lesson we’d be tested on later.
My brain snapped back to the moment at hand. It was time to focus. My brothers were excitedly chattering on one channel in my mind while Alex encouraged me on another. Since giving proper attention to both at the same time wasn’t possible, I focused on steadying myself and preparing for departure.
I cleared my mind and put one paw in front of the other until we made it to the small growth of bushes and trees directly across from the old barn where we lived. It was not merely at the foot of the hill, but the sole place on our approved path where my escape would work.
Heart racing now, everything in me torn between needing a hug from one of my brothers and tearing off at a run before it was time, I had to remind myself to be cool. Left legs forward. Now the right. Keep it together. You've got this.
Seven interrupted my pep talk, the stress in his tone quickly grabbing my attention. "Thirteen, I'm stepping out of the tree zone now and pulling the shadows together. The yard will be dark for a few seconds as Fourteen emerges. Tell him to wait until Four projects the fake you. Slip out beside him into the deepest of the shadows and make a run for it."
I didn't bother reminding him I already knew the plan, since I was literally the one who came up with it. Sarcasm had its place, but not when we were all keyed up. “Got it, Seven. I know you can't look back, but Four has been projecting my holographic twin since we entered the bushes. Make sure you let him know later I give him credit for keeping the hologram perfectly in line behind Twelve. I need to talk to Fourteen now, but until we meet again, remember I love you. Tell everyone to stay safe until I get back with help. We don't know how long it will take, and everything will fall apart when they realize I'm gone.”
The plan was for a pack of barking dogs—again, courtesy of Four's gift to project images and distort sound—to interrupt the walk. While the dogs ran through the yard barking, my brothers would break formation, and Four would allow my hologram to fade. Everything would go down fast, probably before I even cleared the top of the hill. We hoped the distraction would delay the discovery of my disappearance and provide an excuse my brothers could use to feign ignorance. With any luck, Teacher would think I'd freaked out and ran off in terror. And while they were hunting on the east side of the property where they'd think I'd gone, I'd be headed west.
After a quick check-in with Fourteen, who reminded me to pay attention to the world around me and try not to get caught, I merged into the shadows Seven had gathered, while Fourteen followed my fake self along the path. To make sure no one was gazing my way, I hazarded a quick glance at the guardians before taking off at a run.
"Holy shit, is that you, Thirteen? Your dark fur is blending in great. Lucky some clouds drifted overhead or something. I swear the hill down there wasn't so shadowed a few minutes ago." Alex's jubilant voice bounced through my head.
"Yes, this is me. Where are… never mind, I see you. I think. Are you the gray wolf waiting by the tree?" Please, let it be him. Anyone else, and I was done before I'd really gotten started.
Laughter echoed in my mind. "Of course it's me—who else would it be? Don't answer. Stupid question. It's totally me."
As I continued running uphill, Alex started out from the trees and met me, his larger wolf easily matching my pace. I didn't allow myself to look back, but this was already off plan, making me nervous.
Trying not to sound too bossy, I couldn't help but chide him. "What are you doing, Alex? Are you crazy? The two of us will be more easily spotted. You were supposed to wait at the top of the hill. A plan can't work if we don't follow it to the letter."
Alex chuffed, bumping into my side long enough to swat me with his tail. "Only if you're a linear thinker, Thirteen. You'll see. Life happens fast, and sometimes you have to roll with changes as they come. Besides, I got sick of waiting up there. I figured it would be more fun to join you."
I started to respond with a tail slap of my own, but nearly stumbled. Jones, the guard, was a few feet to the left, peeing on a tree and staring the other way. I knew it was him because his camouflage shorts displayed the metallic, artificial limb replacing his right leg. I held my breath, praying to anyone listening he wouldn't look over his shoulder.
Except he did—because then came the sound of barking dogs, courtesy of Four’s powers of illusion. It all happened in slow motion, or so it seemed. His penis came into view, spraying a stream of urine as his hips swung around. He didn't hesitate before lifting a gun and firing. The shot went wide, missing both of us as Alex and I put on a burst of speed.