SELF PARA → IT FEELS BETTER THIS WAY
Honestly, there wasn’t too much preparation required for full moons in the State Pack house. Del and Lanta did everything they could to make sure the family was taking care of; dinner’s waiting early, the chains have been checked and then checked again, spare clothes are waiting for the morning after... all Arizona really has to do is show up. After nine years of dealing with the full moon on a monthly basis, she’s pretty much knows exactly what’s going to happen, anyway. They never really get easier, but with anything, experience leads to smoother escapades.
Ari all but slumps down the basement stairs... not the first to arrive, but definitely not the last as she moves to her usual chain and begins to effortlessly shed what little clothing she actually had on. Modesty had never been something the moonskin had struggled with; especially growing up in an environment where a lack of attire was encouraged. Some of the pack, however, preferred to keep covered up... wearing old rags they didn’t mind getting ripped up during the change. As soon as she was free of the fabric, she glances over to the clock to see it’s almost time, exhaling a deep breath before slipping on the oven mitt Delaware had left by her and beginning to adjust the chains.
She winces quietly each time the silver touches her skin, the audible sizzling a sound she’d never quite get used to. Of course, this was just how it was... nothing else would be able to hold them. And any pain she’d have to endure, it was much better than the alternative. A moonskin’s number one priority was protecting the humans; an ideal just as strong in Del’s mind as her own, thankfully. The idea of roaming free, while in a state she couldn’t control-- she’d burn herself a thousand times over to keep herself from harming anyone.
Golden hues glaze over for a moment as she finally finishes wrapping herself up with a few minutes to spare before the moon would bring about the shifting. Memories of the Price’s flashes in her mind; their blatant disregard for the humans as they allowed themselves to be free every full moon, family members returning the next morning with dried crimson stains all over them, a young Willa crying in secret as she heard the news of the fatalities to ‘wild animal attacks.’ That was the past she wished to redeem; the past she never wanted any part of. So this... this was a far better option as she allowed her gaze to move over every wolf in the room.
NJ and Tex remained close, far enough away to not harm each other, but close as they talked to distract themselves from the inevitable foreseeable future. Maryland cowered her petite body in the corner, her eyelids squeezed shut as she obviously just wished it to be over already. Colorado reading almost peacefully from the book he’d strategically placed on the floor just out of reach. Arkansas looking characteristically cheerful as they struck up a conversation, not that they were looking forward to it... but they never allowed the shifting to get them down. Hawaii listening intently to Arkansas, even the rags she worse that were about to be torn apart looked better than half of Ari’s wardrobe. Nevada remained clothed as well, silent and giving off angry vibes; angry at the fact that she had to endure the transformation. And last but not least, her alpha and beta, Del and Lanta exchanged glances; the closest things to love she’d ever seen them express.
This was it; her family that she loved unconditionally. And so she let her eyelids fall softly with an endearment that drowned out the pain she knew was coming. But it was okay-- the chains would prevent her from hurting anyone and she’d awake in the same room with the ones she cared about the most.
Eyes shot open as a sharp breath escaped her when the process began... the sound of breaking bones and different cries of pain that last thing she remembered before it all faded to black.