Night fell and Amy stood barefoot on the grass of her back garden. She wanted to free her mind of the ordinary girl she had met that day. She wore only a dressing gown but had neatly folded clothes resting on the rattan furniture by her side. She let the dressing gown slide down then spread her arms, instantly turning into a kestrel, she took flight into the clouded sky.

Feeling the wind ruffling through her feathers as she glided through the silver wisps, Amy made for the Carol national park. Her bird's exceptional eyesight allowed her to spot various rodents scurrying through the thickets and undergrowth. She battled hard with herself to resist the natural instincts of the bird to swoop down and catch one. She had the ability and needs of the animal form she took but her mindset was still her own.

Amy descended into a tree and shapeshifted into a tawny owl and rested on the branch. She examined her surroundings, something felt off. Amy popped into a grey squirrel and scurried down the tree turning into a border collie as she reached the ground. She sniffed the air and the nearby bushes and then back around the tree. What is that? She thought.

As Amy began to move away from the tree she felt something from behind. She turned her head to see a male dog sniffing her end and getting ready to mount.

I don't think so! She retorted and barked at the wannabe intruder and turned into a cat to run off quickly before the other dog could give chase. She ran several lengths of the park before assuring herself it was safe.

"Hello you," came a voice. Amy looked up to see a nearby bench and a man sat on it smiling down at her. She started uncontrollably purring at the attention and stepped slowly forward. "Having quite a night out are we?" The man said pleasantly. He stroked the top of her head. He looked pleasant enough in himself. He held his smile with beaming blue eyes and a clean shaven face and dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. He wore a long clean jacket and polished boots. Amy thought he looked early thirties, she was still skeptical but she felt he was just a kind hearted man.

Unfortunately he then said something Amy expected the least. She was taken by surprise and recoiled when he then said, "You make a lovely cat, but I want to talk to you in your human form if you don't mind." Amy began stepping backwards away from the man. "Don't worry child. I mean you no harm. There is a bag behind me in the bush some twenty feet away. It has clothes in that you can put on. I wouldn't want you to bare all in this cool air."

Amy was frightened, How does he know what I am? She looked around nervously.

"I promise I will not hurt you. You're probably wondering how I know what you are. Transform for me and I will tell you everything." His smile never left his face as he continued to watch her cat form circling backwards figuring out what to do.

Curiosity began to overpower her nerves as she was eager to know how this man knew, Was he what made my senses feel off at the tree? Amy slowly walked over to the bush the man had pointed out. She made sure she could not be seen and popped back into herself and quickly went through the bag, covering herself with whatever she could find.

Amy left the hedge wearing a large blue t-shirt, a sleeveless red bomber jacket, mens boxer shorts and baggy jeans. She looked towards the man as she walked and raised her eyebrows as she locked eyes with him.

"I'm sorry my dear. At first I assumed you were a boy and of slightly bigger build."

"When?" Amy asked. "How long have you known about me and how did you know I would be here?"

The man stood up from the bench, his smile return, "Excuse my manners. My name is Frederick, I am a lycanthrope."

"A werewolf... Like Jacob," Amy gasped.

"I have no idea who that is, but I am not aware of any more lycans around these parts."

Amy finally smiled, "I had no idea werewolves existed."

"They mostly don't," replied Frederick. "There are only five packs that I know of that live in the UK. My pack resides in Wiltshire."

"What do you want? How do you know what I am?"

"I caught your scent in this park three weeks ago, and then again two weeks ago. I followed your moves last week without getting close. You come here on the same night every single week."

Amy blushed, "I like it here at night. It is peaceful and I can listen to every animal without human interference."

Fred listened with delight. He was beginning to fully understand that the girl did not know there were others like her. "To tell you the truth I have never met a shapeshifter before. Tell me, is there anything you can't transform into?"

Amy thought before answering, "Well oddly, I can't pop into fish, crustacean, marine mammal. Well, basically any animal that is associated with living in or by water."

"Pop?" Fred questioned.

"Sorry, it is what I call it. I feel like I'm popping inside every time I transform."

"Interesting," Fred replied as he rested a finger on his chin.

Amy raised her guard again. She found it peculiarly easy to relax around Fred. "You still haven't told me what you want."

"To be honest, I don't want anything that you can offer. You're like what, seventeen, eighteen."

"Nineteen." Amy corrected him sternly.

"Either way, too young to have experienced life yet. I'm here to tell you that you are not alone, you are part of a vast mythoi. There are many like us."

"Seems a little rude." Amy replied.

"Sorry," Fred replied. "I don't talk to many people."

Amy lowered her head, "That seems sad, I am sorry."

"Do not worry yourself over that. I have read about your kind. There are a few of you, if you know where to look. You are my first encounter with a mythoi for a long time. I just felt I had to get to know you."

"There are more like me?" Amy felt a glimmer of hope rise up from her stomach.

"There are many like us. I have met faye, weres, mermaids and a vampire." Fred said proudly.

"Mermaids and vampires? You expect me to believe that?" Amy stiffened her back, ready to run or defend herself.

"You're a shapeshifter, what's difficult to believe about that?"

Amy did not know how to respond to that. "I am pleased to hear there are others like me."

Frederick sat back down on the bench, "How long did it take you to master your abilities?"

Amy felt comfortable enough to sit next to him, "The transforming bit I had controlled almost perfectly after three months, however I do not quite yet understand how to control the instincts and urges that come with the animal I become. Sometimes I feel animal instincts quite distinctively as me."

"You will learn to control it in time. It took me over three years to learn to keep my urges in check."

"I don't think I have three years. The other students are starting to get suspicious already." Amy Exclaimed.

Fred stared at her. "Why are you trying to hide it? Show them what you are. Fully embrace who you really are."

"I can't, I am nothing like you."

"You will be, young one. You haven't told me your name yet."

Amy looked into Fred's eyes. "Amy," she muttered. "Amy Moore."

"Well, Amy, there is much we could discuss but the evening is getting late. I am glad you learnt something tonight. Hopefully knowing there are others like you will ease your mind as you harness your abilities more."

"Thank you, Fred, it has more than you realised. Will I see you again?" Amy asked hopefully, she knew she could learn a lot more from the werewolf.

Fred put an arm around her, "Only if you want to. I will be here every other night." He paused, "Unless it's a full moon." He chuckled.

Amy laughed nervously as Fred stood up and began walking away. She examined the clothes she wore.

"Just leave them where they are if you're planning on 'popping' out of here. Someone will make use of them I'm sure." He called after he reached a fork in the path.

Amy quickly transformed into an owl again and took to the sky. It dawned on her suddenly that she had no idea where the clothes came from or who they belonged to. They certainly did not feel new and did not match Fred's current choice of fashion.

Amy glided home with huge relief. She was not alone. There were more shapeshifters out there. There were more other beings out there. All she had to do was find them.

***