The Were Project (introduction/Not SO New Beginnings

intro.———

Some people feel they’re the weird one of the family, some feel they don’t fit in with their family. Some wish for another family, but me? I wish I were born normal. My name is Nathan “Daniel” Morse, and I’m a werelion. 

My family played a major role in werehistory. From making it illegal to hunt us, to the fight to walk freely amongst humans, my family has been on the front lines for it. But with that pride, (no pun intended) comes high expectations. My family is what they call a “full time family” meaning they choose to walk in their half-human half animal forms 24/7. I know, you must be thinking “but Daniel, how do you do that without a full moon?” First of all, it’s 2019, Not the 1600s we’ve evolved past that stereotype. Secondly, the full moon still does cause people to go were, but eh. Back to my story. As I said my family is like this 24/7, have been for generations, and it’s expected of us because of lineage and an image to keep as the strong of our kind. But for me, that’s not for me. You’d think walking around like a lionman would be cool, but the attention you get sometimes from folks, the constant mane maintenance, it’s a lot. So I choose to walk human in public. 

My moms one rule though, is “as long as you’re a were in this house, you’re going to have to be one” meaning as soon as you walk through that front door, you have to change. I mean it’s only 5 seconds, no pain, no bone cracking just simple shifting, but still. dad isn’t really around much, after he and Mom split he found some other lioness out who knows where but continues to be a voice for the community. He wants me to get into the family business, to be an upstanding were and take his place as the figurehead of our family, but honestly I just want to make art that will be the image for me. 

The one thing I feel bad about, is while my mother allows me to walk amongst the normal folks, how much grief she used to get for allowing it. I promised that at anything official, any dinners, family get togethers, parties etc, I would do the lion thing to uphold the “family image”, but only for her.

After Mom and Dad split we moved. Not far just over a district to a smaller house. Which means guess who gets to start at a new school two weeks into the junior year: this guy. The one upside is that I get to go to school with my best bro Teddy. That red panda and i have been inseparable since we were 6. I always love when he introduces me to new music, and his vinyl collection don’t get me started! Jamming out and recording music together in the closet, using it as a recording booth when no ones home, that sort of thing. 

I thought this move would just be “start a new school, chill with teddy, get decent grades, lay low, graduate. Boy, that would be a boring story huh? Buckle up!

But yeah I’m Nathan “Daniel” Morse, and this is my story

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Chapter 1 (not so new beginnings)

-scene: teddy standing at the front door, dressed In a white T-shirt layered with a checkered white and open button down on top. The sun rising over the trees and roof tops on a late summer, early fall morning, momma lion answering the door-

“Good morning Mrs Morse, is D ready to go?” He was greeted by the momma lion, wearing a black business skirt and top. An emerald green and sapphire blue silk Shaw draped over her shoulders. Peridot earrings hung from her ears, the sunlight bouncing off the warm green stones, while a wooden necklace decorated with lions zebras and antelope hung around her neck. She made a chuff and let him in with a warm smile “You know him, it’s like trying to move a bag of bricks getting him up…” the sound of thumping is heard upstairs, the lioness letting off a growl “one second sweetie” she approaches the base of the stairwell, leaving teddy to cover his ears. He knew what was coming. She took a deep breath “NATHAN DANIEL, GET YOUR FUZZY ASS DOWN HERE, NOW!” She turned on her heel to face the red panda, giving him a thumbs up for the all clear as he uncovered his ears. A low rumble was heard at the top of the steps, slowly getting louder, an obviously disgruntled lion descending the stairs. The young lion, clad in a blue pull over hoodie and a pair of baggy blue jeans came into view, a golden crest around his neck shown in the light as the rising sun reflects brilliantly against the gold. 

The mother lion walked into the kitchen to prepare him a plate of food as the young lion continued to awaken, the sight of the red panda perking him. “morning my brotha” he said groggily, giving the panda a fist bump; the smell of bacon suddenly striking his nose. The mother lion poked her head out of the kitchen, “teddy, would you like a plate, we have plenty.” Teddy rubbed his stomach “no thanks Mrs M, my mom already loaded me up, but thank you” she smiled and nodded, before shooting a look at her son, he was sprawled out the table, his head buried in his arms. “At least someone in this house has some manners.” The lion muffled something inaudible, the mother lions ears perked up “what was that?” She asked quickly, waiting for a response. Teddy stood there silent, the red panda knowing better than to get involved when a mother is throwing shade. She place the plate in front of him as teddy sat down at the table, the lion lifting his head before grabbing a strip of bacon, munching on it. “So! You ready for your first day?” Teddy asked him. “Eh, I guess?” He rumbled “I mean, we get to see each other every day again and have a couple of classes together, so there’s a plus. I’m just not looking forward to being the new guy, coming in TWO WEEKS INTO THE YEAR” he grumbled, still not pleased with the timing of their move. Momma lion shot him a look. “Don’t start with me, Daniel, do not ... start” she growled. He finished the last of his plate, before giving the momma lion a hug, placing the dish into the washer. The two headed towards the door, before Daniel paused “one sec” said Daniel, as he darted into the bathroom. “Come on man, were going to be late!” Teddy said obviously frustrated. Daniel soon emerged from the bathroom, where once a frizzy maned lion stood, now stood a young man, same hair, same clothes. As Daniel grabbed his bag, his mom walked into the room, a look of dissatisfaction on her face. “Honestly I don’t understand why you feel the need to do this whole ‘human thing’ when you go out. You look fine... minus your hair...” she said as she attempted to brush some hair out of his face. He dodged her advances, grabbing a black beanie from the hat rack as he and teddy headed out into the chilly morning. “Love you!” He shouted to her. “Bye Mrs M!” Teddy yipped. The lioness stood in the doorway, shaking her head gently as she watched the two boys walk around the corner. 

“Honestly I’m with your mom” teddy said, the two walking across the lawn, “why don’t you try going out for once as, you know, you? New school, new impression!” He said with an air of positivity in his voice. “Come on man, you already know my answer. It’s my choice. I don’t like feeling this ‘expectation’ to ‘uphold the family appearance.’ As far as I’m concerned, out of sight out of mind. People won’t know me, I can lie under the Radar, no one gets hurt.” Teddy flattened his ears, rolling his eyes to his friends reaction “whatever you say dude, personally I think it’s cool you’re from a family that’s had so much of an impact on our history, but that’s just me.” Daniel signed and just looked down at the pavement. “...so what other classes do you have, maybe I can tell you about some of the teachers.” Daniel pulled out his folded schedule from his jeans pocket, opening it up as teddy looked over his shoulder. “Let’s seeeee... hmmm, well we have history together first period with a Mrs Savagn?” “Oh she’s cool, very little homework and she really hits on were history, unlike those teacher that sweep it under the rug..” they looked at each other before going back to the schedule.

“What else?” Teddy asked “uuuuh... well math, bleh, advanced studio art, heck yes” Daniel brushed his shoulders off on that pridefully, making teddy laugh. “What about your music elective, did you get that?” Teddy asked curiously. “Hmmmm oh! Here it is, forth period advanced choir with a... Inglewood III?” Daniels voice sounded a bit unsure “sounds fancy” he muttered. “Oh snap got Mr Inglewood!! He’s dope, everyone loves that class, he’s crazy chill.” Daniel folded the schedule back up and placed it into his pocket. “Well that’s reassuring, I mean I want this year to be as chill as possible. No surprises, no weird stuff.” “You know if you were wound any tighter, you’d snap. You know that right?” Teddy said with a smirk.