“This is all my fault!” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
Karyn raised a furry eyebrow. “Your fault?”
I swallowed, guilt curdling in my gut. “Last night, after I got the stone, I made a bunch of wishes. Just little things to make sure that it worked. I gave myself a new computer, repainted my room-"
"Aw. I liked your purple room" Karyn butted it.
"It IS purple. It used to be green" I said.
"Oh. Ew"
"Anyway after a few wishes I told myself that with this stone things might be looking up, you know, exciting wild things. And then I... I said... ‘I wish something interesting would happen.’" I looked at the floor "Nothing happened so, I thought it was maybe too vague to work. Or maybe I didn't speak loudly and clearly enough..." I looked at the beast's face “Karyn, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this. I'm so sorry. And don't worry, I can fix it, I swear” I said, tightening my grip on the stone, ready to make a wish.
“Dude. Stop,” she said firmly, placing a clawed hand on my arm." Let go of the overpowered magical reality-warping rock. I told you, I’ve been a were for years. This isn't new. You didn't do anything to me.”
“Yeah,” I replied slowly. “Just like that branch has always been blue.” pointing to the impossible branch I just wished into existence
That gave her pause "Oh..."
Her ears twitched slightly, and she glanced at the stone in my hand. “But, no, come on. I remember it. The attack in the camp, sneaking out of the house every month, hunting for rabbits and deer.”
"The stone rewrites reality. From your perspective those things actually happened but from mine... Well, technically I don't know for sure you didn't were out for the last 3 years" I sat against the wall. Karyn joined me, pouting.
We were both silent for a few minutes.
"Either way, I don't really think it matters" she finally said. " I like being a were. It’s fun.”
I stared at her, blinking “Fun?”
“Yeah,” she said, grinning wide enough to show off some seriously sharp teeth. “I mean, sure, the first few months sucked, I had all these new instincts and energy I didn't know what to do with, but I got used to it. Night vision, super sniffer. Plus when I'm in wolf form I have super strength. I'm like a superhero!" she said flexing her furry arms. I chuckled.
"You're a badass" I said, laughing.
"Hell yeah I am! Anyway, enough about me, let's go play with reality."
