Dolph paced the floor while Isolde cleaned up the bloody cloths and wiped down the table with bleach water. When she had bumped into him, splashing the solution on her favorite gown, she had suggested he find something to occupy himself with that was not under her feet.<br/><br/>Dolph chuckled and went to stand by the window, holding back the green plaid curtains to give a clear view of the near blizzard outside. He leaned his head on the window jam and sighed. He would be out there tomorrow night, running, chasing deer with the wolf pack that lived just up the mountains. There were no other wolves like him, no shifters that is, but this pack accepted him as a hunter if not an alpha which was fine with him. He did not like the idea of mating a furry female. He shuddered slightly at the thought.<br/><br/>Yes, they would bound through the unbroken snow, heavy coats of fur and high energy would keep them warm. The kill would be bloody and glorious. His mouth watered at the thought of rich meat and coppery blood that would coat his muzzle.  He enjoyed the howling and the running, especially the running. Now that he would not be preying on humans, Dolph felt he could fully embrace his lupine form without dreading the monthly experience. He began to pace again.<br/><br/>"Have you noticed your beard grows faster when you are moving toward the full moon?" Isolde remarked as she came in the back door, stamping her feet to remove the snow.<br/><br/>"What?" Dolph asked, momentarily puzzled.He had been so completely lost in wolfish thought that hearing her voice was like being slammed with an alternate reality.<br/><br/>"Never mind." she answered, "Come sit by the fire. I never met a dog yet that didn't like to enjoy a good fire."<br/><br/>"Isolde, I'm not a dog. I"m a man who just happens to turn into a wolf once in a while." he snapped. The moon was beginning to drive the survival instincts to a fevered pitch.<br/><br/>"Whoa, I never meant that as an insul..." she began, reaching for him but Dolph grabbed his coat and stormed through the door into the frozen night.<br/><br/>Isolde shook her head, and threw up her hands,<br/>"Are all men alike?" she demanded of the Universe. Still she settled back into her chair. Nothing she could do to stop him and he would be okay.<br/>"Well, good bye dear, see you day after tomorrow." she  said as if she were sending her man off on a hunting expedition. Problem was, he had already left and the hunter would not be a bi pedal one.<br/><br/>~~~~~<br/><br/>By the time Dolph had walked a few blocks, his temper had subsided. A normally easy going man, he found it annoying to have a hair trigger temper during full  moons. What he needed was some male camaraderie, a game of darts, some dark beer, a bawdy song or two. He passed by the tavern, Twin Forks. He couldn't figure out if Twin Forks was the name of a town or twin forks as in the whole place only had two forks. Corny but, this place was so raunchy that it didn't even have a greasy spoon. He went in, the acrid scent of stale cigarette smoke, alcohol and urine hung in the air. Two old guys were playing shuffleboard, a game of dominoes occupied four even older guys, a biker and his lady took up one of the dart boards and all the pool tables were in use. No one was at the bar when he ordered,<br/><br/>"Guinness on tap?" he inquired. The bartender, Rex, indicated it was. Dolph nodded and waited while the glass filled. He slid onto a barstool, sipping at the fragrant white foam, feeling the bite of the brew. He chatted with people as they came and went from the bar before joining the dart game. He threw a few shitty turns and took his drink on tour. Back at the bar he ordered a second round when the door opened to admit five of the skeeziest guys he had seen in Taverton.