The Full Moon

[new_moony]

OOC: takes place after this

Lost til you're found
Swim til you drown
Know that we all fall down
---All Fall Down, One Republic

It always started with him feeling jittery. Like there was too much energy pent up inside that he couldn’t release and something was just going to burst if it didn’t. Which, to be fair, was true. Remus made it a point to

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[favored_prongs]

James knew whose voice that belonged to before ever turning away from the window. Once he did, he replied without hesitation, "Waiting for you, what does it look like?"

He knew that Remus was angry with him, and James crossed his arms over his chest to show that he was serious about this. "I promised you that I would meet you here, remember?" He set his jaw and looked directly at Remus. He knew that his friend was changing, but it didn't frighten him. James knew where he had to be at this moment.

[new_moony]

Remus tried to ignore the twitching in his shoulders and force his back to straighten. He hoped at this stage he looked imposing rather than borderline disfigured.

"James get out of here. You're hurt, and the others aren't here, which means you can't control me. I don't want to hurt you further, please just go."

He stepped backwards, away from his friend and away from the window, which usually saved him a few extra minutes if needed.

"Just transform and leave. You still need to heal, and since you won't stay in a hospital ward long enough to do that..."

He knew he was being rude, but he didn't care. And if James didn't change soon, he was going to be in danger.

[favored_prongs]

Any other person, except maybe Sirius, would have backed away at this point. It was the sensible thing to do, especially since James knew what was coming. Thankfully, James Potter had never been equated with the word smart.

"These antlers," he pointed to an invisible pair sprouting from his head, "can do the job. You won't hurt me, Moony." However affectionate the nickname was meant, this probably wasn't an appropriate time to use it.

"Besides, if even you do hurt me, which I doubt, it's better me than you. As you so kindly pointed out, I need to go back to the hospital wing anyway."

[new_moony]

Remus sat down in the corner, his entire body starting to shake violently.

"I don't want to fight with you," he said softly, curling around himself and trying to be as small as possible. "Just don't... I don't want you to..."

He couldn't finish because at that moment he let out a pain-wracked scream, his neck arching back and his body convulsing.

"James change!" he choked out, right before his face exploded outwards.

[favored_prongs]

Even through the danger, James could only stand still as his friend's figures distorted before his eyes. He desperately wished he could do more to help. Instead he only stood, watching silently, wanting to be there for his friend who at the moment seemed to want nothing to do with him.

For once, James did as he was told. His body grew and stretched to that of a large stag. In the process, his still fresh and unhealed wound ripped and tore at the strain, streaming his fur covered body in blood.

[new_moony]

Remus still had enough of his sanity left to recognize what had happened. He let out a whine, voicing his concern, his fear for his friend. He took a step towards James then stopped as the scent of blood filled his nostrils and the feral part of his mind tried to take over.

He started to growl deep in his throat, and while he knew he couldn't bite and change James, there wasn't much stopping him from ripping his throat out.

[favored_prongs]

James recognized that look. It had never been addressed to him before, and for the first time as an animagus, he felt truly frightened. Someone was going to get hurt tonight, he knew that going in, and since he was already bleeding, James didn't know what was going to stop the situation from growing worse, but he had to try.

Tilting his head down, James displayed his antlers, pointing the sharp tips toward his friend as a warning. James was already going to the hospital wing later, there was no reason Remus should as well.

[new_moony]

The wolf in Remus didn't care about antlers. He was faster and stronger and more dangerous than the animal in front of him. It wouldn't take long. He just had to come around from the side, get the creature off its feet. There wasn't much space in this room, but it was manageable. He started to prowl along the edge of the room, trying to circle the other animal.

Inside his head, Remus was screaming. He knew what he was doing, he saw through the wolf's eyes, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.

The wolf leaped forward, teeth bared, and Remus could do nothing but hope his friend survived.

[favored_prongs]

James didn't want to hurt Remus, but he had to put a stop to this somehow. Through instinct he turned his head to face Remus as if the whole scenario were in horrible slow motion. While charging to fast, the wolf impaled himself on the antlers.

As the felt the prongs puncture his friend, James felt a deep sense of regret. He'd come this way so that Remus wouldn't come to harm, but ended up hurting him all the same. He quickly pulled his head away from the wolf, hoping it didn't injure his friend too badly, ignoring the now searing pain along his side.

[new_moony]

Remus let out a yelp and staggered back, feeling his conciousness slowly return to him. He blinked, at even that felt different. He was in control of his eyelids, not simply watching them move of their own accord

[favored_prongs]

The stag gave the wolf a slow nod. James understood Remus' meaning. Even as the blood continued to trickle from his wound, James wasn't upset with his friend. Remus was right, as usual. James needed help, quickly. If Remus had this much control over his present state, James reasoned that he could take care of himself from here.

Pawing at the ground with a hoof, James said his goodbye and swiftly left the Shrieking Shack. He knew he'd have to stay in the hospital wing even longer than before, and was already thinking of a story as to the best way to blame himself for his injuries and leave his friend out of it.