"Where are they? Tell them to get out of here!" she cried.
"It's OK, it's over," Emily said, rushing to her side, "I'm here."
"What happened? The last thing I remember is I had those two creeps cornered."
"They shot you with some kind of tranquilizer and escaped. You've been asleep since then."
"Damn, they got away? Well, hopefully they won't come back."
"Listen, there's something I have to tell you. While you were asleep your heart stopped beating. Krista did CPR on you."
"She saved my life?" There was an earnest seriousness to Michelle's eyes.
"That's right. She did mouth-to-mouth."
"Oh my God, that means she might have picked up the werewolf infection!"
"We know. We don't know for sure if she did, though. We're all waiting for moonrise to find out."
"I have to go see her," Michelle said, standing up. "I have to thank her, and so much more."
Michelle headed for the door. "Hey, wait!" Emily said.
"What?"
"Robe!"
"Oh, right," Michelle said, taking a robe from the chair and slipping it on. She went down the hall and found Krista on the porch, staring off into the woods.
"I heard what you did for me," Michelle said to her. "I owe you my life. Thank you."
"I'm glad I was here to help," Krista said, "And if I had it to do over again, I would do it again. But now I wonder if... if I'm going to be like you." She pointed to the forest. "Are those woods my destiny too?"
"I don't know," Michelle said, "But if they are, I'll be by your side to show you everything I've learned."
"But what about Emily?"
"Is she a werewolf too?"
"No, but... she loves you. She might be jealous if-"
"This isn't about love," Michelle said, "It's about friendship, and repaying a debt that can never be repaid."
Krista paused, her eyes tearing up. After as rude as she had been to Michelle in the past, today she had saved her life and now the werewolf was offering to train her and guide her!
"Thank you," Krista said, hugging her friend.
"Don't thank me yet," Michelle said, "You might have a major body hair problem because of me!"
They laughed a little, breaking any remaining tension in the air.
"Come on," Michelle said, "Let's get something to eat. It'll be dark before we know it."
Both girls went inside for a sandwich and more conversation.
"Sunset's in fifteen minutes," Lisa said, checking her watch.
"We should get ready," Michelle said to Krista.
"What do we need to do?"
"Take off your clothes," Michelle said, as she began to disrobe.
"What? Here? Now?"
"Well, unless you want what your wearing to be destroyed."
"But... Emily and Lisa are here."
"We'll leave," Emily said, "It's not a problem."
"You need to let go of your modesty," Michelle said, "If you change, you'll be naked until sunrise. You might as well start now."
Krista was a little embarassed. She had been seen naked at the pool locker room and had occassionally bumped into her friends coming out of the shower, but she'd never just sat naked in the room with her buddies.
Michelle was naked by now. "Come on, don't be afraid. We're all friends here. No need to be embarassed. See?" she did a 360 degree turn to show off her immodesty.
Krista kicked off her shoes. "All right, I guess." Her socks were next, then her belt. Then jewelry. Then her scrunchie.
"Nothing left but the majors," Michelle said, teasing.
"Don't rush me," Krista said as she unbuttoned her jeans. They went off next. Then her shirt. Taking a deep breath, her bra and panties were last and Krista sat naked on the sofa.
"See? It's not so bad, is it?" Michelle asked.
"I guess not. It actually feels kind of... good."
"You have nothing to be embarassed about," Lisa said, "Neither of you do."
Emily glanced at Lisa, wondering just where that comment had come from.
Before long the sun was setting and moonrise was imminent.
Sun Jun 9 07:26:39 2002