But I know your heart belongs to someone you've yet to meet
Who: Mark When: Midnight Where: Somewhere outside of SO
Mark had done this thousands of times and lost countless pairs of pants, shorts and t-shirts so he always wore his least favourite, oldest pair of pants. He didn't bother with shoes anymore, just calmly made his way out of the Scarlet Oak and shifted effortlessly. It was freeing being in his Were form, like walking around naked in your house when you're all alone. He padded further into the woods and investigated rocks and trees, sniffing anything and everything.
The most startling thing he'd found about Scarlet Oak was the vast array of Were scents he found clinging to the trees and bushes. More so than any other place he'd been, except the cities. It was harder there though, because of all the smells period but his first shift in Scarlet Oak had him quite surprised.
For nights when he was alone like this, he liked to search out for other Weres. It could get lonely when he wasn't with his family and had to explore by himself. Whenever he shifted he inevitably got restless and had to play, hunt (for fun!) or explore as sleep was out of the question. His Were form practically forbid it, so on nights of the full moon he was stuck wandering.
Tonight though, Mark had things to think about. It was the only time he really could, once a month forced into the form of a Dingo with nothing but time and his own thoughts. Like Tara getting married, for instance. Fuck, it was ridiculous how much he still thought about her and how much he cared that she was marrying someone who wasn't him. Mark had long since gotten over her, had stopped loving her but it irked him that she was getting married. 'I'm not the marriage type, Mark.' she'd said, her voice too cold for his liking.
That time Mark had shifted for a good three days and ran wild through the hills of Los Angeles and the only reason he even shifted back was because of school. It didn't take him long to leave her general area, the city and then finally the whole side of the continent. She'd broken him enough that he couldn't trust women, didn't want to be with them longer then a few months and he'd been more or less successful.
Now though, with the appearance of Morrigan in his life? Things were getting mixed up and Mark was actually confused. Sure, he wanted to have sex with her, but the fact that he didn't try to do it right away, was a clear sign that he was actually interested in her. It had happened a few times, each time as confusing as the last and each time he'd spent nights wondering if he was about to tumble over the edge. That scary, scary edge of love and commitment. The one he'd already fallen down and worked years to climb back up and away from.
Curling up at the base of a tree he rested his head on his paws and let things flip through in his head. Not only was he alone but he was alone with serious thoughts and nothing but time to kill. Nights like these he hated his form, wishing instead he could just sleep through the full moon and wake up rested and ready to face the day.
Mark knew he'd only be getting a few hours sleep, if he was lucky and then he'd have his date with Morrigan. That thought alone would probably get him through the day, even though he was confused about her and everything she entailed, he was looking forward to the date. The new distracting thought of the date excited him and he jumped up from the tree, his tail wagging and he bounded off in search of friends.
Later, he'd think about all this adult stuff later. Right now, he wanted to play!